December 2019 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New publication: A comparison between aerial photography and observer-based methods to monitor floating marine litter and marine mega-fauna (Odei Garcia-Garin)
by Odei Garcia-Garin 13 Dec '19

13 Dec '19

Dear MARMAM list members, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to share our recent study. The paper is currently in press with *Environmental Pollution*: *Who's better at spotting? A comparison between aerial photography and observer-based methods to monitor floating marine litter and marine mega-fauna* *Garcia-Garin, O.; Aguilar, A.; Borrell, A.; Gozalbes, P.; Lobo, A.; Penadés-Suay, J.; Raga, J.A.; Revuelta, O.; Serrano, M.; Vighi, M. (2019). *Who's better at spotting? A comparison between aerial photography and observer-based methods to monitor floating marine litter and marine mega-fauna*. Environmental Pollution. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113680 *Abstract*: Pollution by marine litter is raising major concerns due to its potential impact on marine biodiversity and, above all, on endangered mega-fauna species, such as cetaceans and sea turtles. The density and distribution of marine litter and mega-fauna have been traditionally monitored through observer-based methods, yet the advent of new technologies has introduced aerial photography as an alternative monitoring method. However, to integrate results produced by different monitoring techniques and consider the photographic method a viable alternative, this ‘new’ methodology must be validated. This study aims to compare observations obtained from the concurrent application of observer-based and photographic methods during aerial surveys. To do so, a Partenavia P-68 aircraft equipped with an RGB sensor was used to monitor the waters off the Spanish Mediterranean coast along 12 transects (941 km). Over 10000 images were collected and checked manually by a photo-interpreter to detect potential targets, which were classified as floating marine macro-litter, mega-fauna and seabirds. The two methods allowed the detection of items from the three categories and proved equally effective for the detection of cetaceans, sea turtles and large fish on the sea surface. However, the photographic method was more effective for floating litter detection and the observer-based method was more effective for seabird detection. These results provide the first validation of the use of aerial photography to monitor floating litter and mega-fauna over the marine surface. The paper can be accessed using the following link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113680 Or send me an e-mail (odei.garcia(a)ub.edu) for the full text. All the best, Odei Garcia-Garin

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New paper: Galapagos sea lion personality and coping with disturbance
by Geno DeRango 13 Dec '19

13 Dec '19

Dear MARMAMers, My co-authors and I are happy to make you all aware of our new publication in Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. Significance statement and link to the paper are found below: Intraspecific variation in boldness and exploration shapes behavioral responses to stress in Galápagos sea lion pups. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 73, 166 (2019) doi:10.1007/s00265-019-2775-8 Galápagos sea lions are an endangered pinniped species which live within a habitat characterized by a large degree of environmental uncertainty. We hypothesized that, depending on their personality, Galápagos sea lion pups may show varying degrees of behavioral plasticity in response to a dynamic early life environment. We show that bold pups and those that were less explorative during novel object tests and within their natural habitat were more likely to habituate quickly to stressful experiences (i.e., a capture and handling regime). We postulate that a familiarity with the physical and social environment in addition to personality traits may play an important role in how individual sea lion pups assess and cope with early life risks. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337833176_Intraspecific_variation_… Best, Geno DeRango Galapagos sea lion Project Bielefeld University Department of Animal Behaviour

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VOLUNTEER AND INTERN RECRUITMENT FOR THE MONTENEGRO and ALBANIA DOLPHIN RESEARCH
by aylin akkaya 12 Dec '19

12 Dec '19

The Montenegro Dolphin Research is a scientific project run by Marine Mammals Research Association (DMAD). Our study is the only long term research study of marine mammals in Montenegrin and Albanian coastal waters. We aim to address questions about marine mammal abundance, distribution and behavior, define critical habitats and investigate the impact of major threats, ranging from tourism to seismic practices. Our wider attention focuses on the promotion and implementation of awareness initiatives targeted at the local community, particularly youth and women. WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR We offer several volunteering and internship positions: this is a valuable opportunity for graduates, that wish to gain experience in the marine mammal research field, and undergraduates, that would like to obtain internship academic credits. It could be used to develop a scientific project for BSc and MSc thesis. However, we are also open to accept applications from anyone whose love for dolphins is strong and sincere. Opportunities are available starting from February 2019 onwards. The minimum duration of the placements is 2 MONTHS, with possible exceptions for skilled candidates. FIELD WORK AND RESPONSIBILITIES-Performing land-based surveys at least three times a week, including sunrise and sunset hours;-Performing boat-based surveys once a week, weather allowing-Collecting dolphins sighting and behavior data, as well as environmental and anthropogenic data;-Operating theodolite and managing its software Pythagoras;-Data entry and analysis;-Cataloging and matching individuals of target species for photo-ID studies via Discovery software;-Raising stakeholder awareness through conservation actions.-Promoting citizen-science activities TRAININGThe Montenegro Dolphin Research team provides intensive lectures and field work training as well as constant mentoring every week.You will be given the chance to learn the most popular methodologies used in marine mammals research such as:-ArcGIS mapping-Theodolite operation and Pythagoras software;-Photo-identification;-Discovery and Logger 2010 software;-Systematic data collection and data analysis;-Visual and acoustic behaviour of marine mammals-Scientific manuscript and technical report writing skills PROJECT PARTICIPATION FEEThe positions require a contribution fee of 700 Euros/ month which fully goes to support the project and the participation fee includes:-Accommodation and expenses-Transportation between the project sites within and between Montenegro and Albania-Training and lectures-Scientific support-Field work-Use of the equipmentApplicants are responsible for their transportation to/from Montenegro, meals, insurance (all participants should have health and/or travel insurance) and personal expenses. HOW TO APPLYEmail your CV and cover letter to akkayaaylinn(a)gmail.com (Aylin Akkaya) and info(a)dmad.org.tr, explaining why you are the perfect asset for our team and which goals you hope to achieve with us! Please mention the PERIOD OF INTEREST AND DURATION OF AVAILABILITY!If you wish to have more info about our work and get to know us better follow our websites:DMAD - Marine Mammals Research Associationhttps://www.instagram.com/marinemammalsresearch/https://www.face… the best,Dr. Aylin AkkayaScientific Director of Marine Mammals Research Association (DMAD)

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Interns needed for Four Intensive Surveys in One Month throughout Turkey
by aylin akkaya 12 Dec '19

12 Dec '19

>From Small Cetaceans to the Great Whales of the East DMAD is launching an intense set of research expeditions, utilising advanced acoustic and visual survey techniques to research cetaceans in the three seas of Turkey; starting from the city of Istanbul(1), where ancient and contemporary culture collide, moving to one of the oldest protected areas of Turkey- the Dilek Peninsula(2) followed by offshore surveys encompassing the first High Sea Marine Protected Area and unique habitats -Finike and Fethiye Canyon (3) and on to our final location, Antalya(4). We are looking for passionate, hardworking, enthusiastic individuals who have the desire to learn and support the project to have a positive impact on marine wildlife protection and conservation! The project has been constructed to collect missing scientific data, which has been deemed to be one of the most important barriers in the way of effective conservation strategies. The upcoming winter survey effort is going to collect critical but missing information on species abundance, distribution, behavioural and acoustic patterns whilst identifying major threats within the Turkish waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The project focuses on all cetacean and turtle species, including but not limited to bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins, Black sea harbour porpoises, striped dolphins, Risso’s dolphins, Cuvier’s beaked whales, sperm whales, green turtles and loggerhead turtle. 1.Istanbul Strait There will be a day of photo-identification survey effort, covering the entire strait. The survey is planned to take approximately 10 hours. The survey is focused on the Black Sea subspecies of bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins and harbour porpoises and collected photographs will be added and compared to a photo identification catalogue which has been collected over 10 years. 2. Aegean Dolphins (Dilek Peninsula) Acoustic and visual data will be collected on common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins. The survey will be for 1 day, lasting approximately 6 hours. Photo-identification data will be added to an existing catalogue. 3. Deep Sea Canyons The survey will take minimum of 6 days, following pre-determined transects between Göcek and Antalya. The survey will continue 24 hours a day, with night survey efforts. Acoustic, visual and photo-identification data will be collected for the deep sea cetacean species. 4. Dolphins of the Bay (Antalya) Both land and boat surveys will be conducted for 10 days. The majority of the training on GIS, photo-ID, scientific report writing and data interpretation will take place in Antalya. There will be intensive training on;- Theodolite setup and Pythagoras software-Photo-ID and Discovery software-Logger 2010 software-Detecting, localising and logging cetacean calls with PamGuard software-Behavioural and acoustical patterns- Data interpretation- GIS mapping The participation fee is 1000Euro for the entire course and it covers all the training, accommodations, equipment, boat surveys and transportation between the project sites. The research fee does not cover: Travel Insurance (Highly Recommended), Meals (other than whilst on-board the Deep Seas Canyon expedition), Personal Expenses and Transportation If you are interested or looking for further information, do not hesitate to email us at info(a)dmad.org.tr and akkayaaylinn(a)gmail.com.All the best, Dr. Aylin AkkayaScientific Director of Marine Mammals Research Association (DMAD) Marine Mammal Consultant of WWF-Turkey Research Director of Montenegro Dolphin Research (MDR) +38260024363skype: aylin.akkaya3info(a)dmad.org.tr DMAD - Marine Mammals Research Associationwww.sancet.orghttps://www.instagram.com/marinemammalsresearch/DM… - Marine Mammals Research Association | | | | | | | | | | | DMAD - Marine Mammals Research Association DMAD - Marine Mammals Research Association is a non-profit and a non-governmental organization that aims to crea... | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DMAD - Marine Mammals Research Association DMAD - Marine Mammals Research Association. 2.1K likes. DMAD creates an ecological consciousness through science... | | |

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dsmextra R package
by Phil Bouchet 12 Dec '19

12 Dec '19

Dear colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to announce the release of ‘dsmextra’ v1.0.0 - our new R package for diagnosing, summarising, and visualising various forms of extrapolation in multivariate environmental space. The package can be freely downloaded from Github, and a comprehensive tutorial vignette is available here: https://densitymodelling.github.io/dsmextra/ Underlying concepts are fully described in our recent technical report: Bouchet PJ, Miller DL, Roberts JJ, Mannocci L, Harris CM, Thomas L (2019). >From here and now to there and then: Practical recommendations for extrapolating cetacean density surface models to novel conditions. CREEM technical report 2019-01, Centre for Research into Ecological & Environmental Modelling (CREEM), University of St Andrews, 59 p. https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/handle/10023/18509 dsmextra is an output from the LMR-funded DenMod project (https://synergy.st-andrews.ac.uk/denmod/) which aims to advance available methods and improve practice in density surface modelling. The project is an ongoing collaboration between the University of St Andrews, Duke University, NOAA and the United States Navy. For more information, questions, or bug reports, feel free to contact me at pb282(a)st-andrews.ac.uk Best wishes, Phil ----------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Phil Bouchet | Postdoctoral Research Fellow Centre for Research into Ecological & Environmental Modelling (CREEM) The Observatory, Buchanan Gardens University of St Andrews, St Andrews Fife KY16 9LZ, Scotland (UK) Associate Editor | Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation Review Editor | Frontiers in Marine Science (Megafauna section) M +44 7398 342547 • E pjbouchet(a)gmail.com | pb282(a)st-andrews.ac.uk Twitter @pjbouchet • Web pjbouchet.github.io • ResearcherID K-5365-2012 -----------------------------------------------------------

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Virginia Aquarium - Summer Stranding Response Internship
by Sarah R. Mccormack 11 Dec '19

11 Dec '19

The Virginia Aquarium’s Research & Conservation Division is now accepting applications for its Summer 2020 Stranding Response Internship. The application deadline is January 30, 2020. Internship duration is May 25, 2020 – August 10, 2020. Please note that all positions are non-compensatory and housing is not provided by the Virginia Aquarium. Interns are fully responsible for fulfilling all requirements of their home institutions to receive academic credit. Position Overview Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program (VAQS) interns promote the conservation of marine animal species through research, rescue, rehabilitation, and education. Once accepted, interns will be assigned to a focus area of either necropsy or rehabilitation. Interns will be cross-trained in all aspects of stranding response, however, daily tasks will be assigned to interns according to focus area. Stranding work is unpredictable, therefore experiences will vary by internship session. VAQS staff will provide as many learning opportunities as possible during each session. Duties * Respond to live and dead marine mammals and sea turtles in the field. * Participate in all aspects of post-mortem examinations: cutting and sampling, data collection, photographing, carcass removal, and cleaning. * Perform daily husbandry tasks, including food preparation, feeding, and cleaning the rehab area, kitchen and associated supplies. * Assist staff with new admits and daily treatments of patients. Restrain animals for exams, collect vitals (heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature) and morphometrics, take photographs, administer medications, and perform wound care. * Ensure response preparedness by stocking response bags, fueling vehicles, and cleaning gear. * Assist with releases of rehabilitation patients, public outreach events, and volunteer/cooperator trainings. * Assist staff with daily administrative tasks, including answering hotline calls, data entry, and completing response paperwork. * Complete other projects and tasks as assigned by VAQS staff. Qualifications * Must be at least 18 years old. * Must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, or have recently graduated (within last two years). * Must be physically fit with the ability to lift 50lbs and walk long distances on the beach in adverse conditions such as extreme heat and cold, humidity, rain, and wind. * Must be self-motivated, articulate, mature, reliable, and responsible. Should work well independently as well as with a team. * Should be comfortable around dead and decomposing animals. * Should be comfortable driving large pick-up trucks and vans (preferred). Willing to learn how to drive response vehicles, if accepted (required). * Background in biology and familiarity with stranding response (preferred). * Experience with DSLR cameras and Microsoft Access (preferred). Position Requirements * Attend VAQS orientation and City of Virginia Beach Defensive Driving. * Possess a valid driver’s license. Internship Learning Objectives Develop fundamental hands-on stranding response and rehabilitation skills: * Perform post-mortem examinations on sea turtle and marine mammals. * Perform basic health assessments of rehabilitation patients, including vitals collection, wound treatment, administering medications, and blood processing. * Complete Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network (STSSN) and Level A forms. * Enter stranding data in Microsoft Access. Intern Schedule Intern is expected to be available 3-4 days per week, 8am-4:30pm. Weekend and holiday coverage is expected. Minimum Commitment Required 24 hours per week for the duration of the internship. Intern Supervisor/Mentor VAQS Volunteer Manager and project supervisor. Work Location Virginia Aquarium’s Marine Animal Care Center Application Requirements If applying via email, please send application to interns(a)virginiaaquarium.com<mailto:interns@virginiaaquarium.com> and copy vaqstranding(a)gmail.com<mailto:vaqstranding@gmail.com>. A complete Stranding Response Intern packet must include the following components. Incomplete applications will not be considered. * Cover letter including preferred focus area (necropsy or rehabilitation) and internship expectations. While we will do our best to accommodate intern preferences, staff will make the final focus area determination. There is some flexibility with internship start/end dates; please include any known schedule conflicts in your cover letter. * Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center internship application form. * Two letters of recommendation; one must be an academic reference. Letters can be sent separately to vaqstranding(a)gmail.com<mailto:vaqstranding@gmail.com> * Resume * College transcript(s) For more information about the application process, please visit: https://www.virginiaaquarium.com/about-us/Pages/internship-application.aspx Sarah McCormack Stranding & Research Technician P: (757) 385-6485 C: (917) 880-2160 SMccormack(a)VirginiaAquarium.com Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center<http://www.virginiaaquarium.com/><http://www.virginiaaquarium.com/><http://www.virginiaaquarium.com/> Stranding Response Hotline: (757) 385-7575 717 General Booth Blvd. Virginia Beach, Virginia 23451 [cid:8c738a7f-6711-4eea-a139-5abc3ab2de03]

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Virginia Aquarium - Sea Turtle & Marine Mammal Stranding Response Batten Fellowships
by Sarah R. Mccormack 11 Dec '19

11 Dec '19

The Virginia Aquarium’s Research & Conservation Division is now accepting applications for Sea Turtle and Marine Mammal Stranding Response Batten Fellows. The application deadline is January 20, 2020. Fellows are expected to work 800 hours over approximately five months beginning in May, but actual start and end dates are somewhat flexible. Housing is not provided by the Virginia Aquarium. Fellows are fully responsible for fulfilling all requirements of their home institutions to receive academic credit. This competitive position includes modest compensation to help offset personal and incidental expenses over the course of the appointment period. Position Overview Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program (VAQS) Fellows promote the conservation of marine animal species through research, rescue, rehabilitation, and education. Fellows will be trained in all aspects of stranding response. Stranding work is unpredictable, therefore experiences will vary by fellowship session. VAQS staff will provide as many learning opportunities as possible during each session. Duties * Respond to live and dead marine mammals and sea turtles in the field. * Participate in all aspects of post-mortem examinations: cutting and sampling, data collection & entry, photographing, report writing, carcass removal, and cleaning. * Perform daily husbandry tasks, including food preparation, feeding, and cleaning the rehab area, kitchen and associated supplies and equipment. * Assist staff with new patients, including: daily treatments, restraining animals for exams, collecting vital rates (heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature) and morphometrics, taking photographs, administering medications, and performing wound care. * Assist with research projects and field activities involving sea turtles and marine mammals. * Ensure response preparedness by stocking response bags, fueling vehicles, and cleaning/restocking gear and supplies. * Assist with releases of rehabilitation patients, public outreach events, and volunteer/cooperator training. * Assist staff with daily administrative tasks, including answering hotline calls, data entry, completing response paperwork, and when trained acting as stranding and live animal lead (under the supervision of a staff member), as well as acting as after-hours hotline point of contact. * Complete other projects and tasks as assigned by VAQS staff. Required Qualifications * Must be at least 18 years old. * Must be a rising junior, recent graduate, or currently pursuing a post-graduate degree in a science-based (or veterinary) program. * Must be self-motivated, articulate, mature, reliable, and responsible. Should work well independently as well as with a team. * Must be physically fit with the ability to lift 50lbs and walk long distances (>5 mi/8 km) on the beach in adverse conditions such as extreme heat and cold, humidity, rain, and/or wind. * Be able to swim and be comfortable in and around open water and boats. * Be willing to learn how to drive response vehicles, if accepted (required). Preferred Qualifications * Demonstrate interest in a career in marine or veterinary science. * Have some experience in stranding response, field research, and/or wild/exotic animal care. * Have basic math and computer skills using MS spreadsheets, relational databases, and data entry (advanced programs such as SQL, GIS, R, etc. preferred). * Be comfortable around dead and decomposing animals. * Be comfortable driving large pick-up trucks and vans. Position Requirements * Attend VAQS orientation and City of Virginia Beach Defensive Driving. * Possess a valid U.S. driver’s license. * Be available to perform support activities (24-7) as needed during the period of appointment. Fellowship Learning Objectives * Develop fundamental hands-on stranding response and rehabilitation skills: * Perform basic post-mortem examinations on sea turtle and marine mammals. * Perform basic health assessments of rehabilitation patients, including collecting vital rates, treating wounds, administering medications, and processing blood samples. * Be able to complete Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network (STSSN) and Marine Mammal Stranding Level A forms. * Enter stranding data in Microsoft Access. * Complete an individual project with a final deliverable (paper/report and oral presentation). Fellow Schedule Fellow is expected to be available 4-5 days per week, 8am-4:30pm. Weekend and holiday coverage is expected. Minimum Commitment Required 800 hours Fellow Supervisor/Mentor VAQS Volunteer Manager and project supervisor Work Location Virginia Aquarium’s Marine Animal Care Center Application Requirements A complete application includes: * Cover letter. There is some flexibility with Fellowship start/end dates; please include any known schedule conflicts in your cover letter. Please indicate the specific Batten Fellowship opportunity to which you are applying. * Fellowship expectations letter. This should include what you expect to do and get from your experience at VAQS. * Resume * College transcript(s) * Two letters of recommendation; one must be an academic reference. If applying via email, please send application to interns(a)virginiaaquarium.com<mailto:interns@virginiaaquarium.com> and send a copy of the application to vaqstranding(a)gmail.com<mailto:vaqstranding@gmail.com>. Incomplete applications will not be considered. If applying via mail, please send application to: Volunteer Services Office – Batten Fellows Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center 717 General Booth Boulevard Virginia Beach, VA 23451 For more information about the application process, please visit: https://www.virginiaaquarium.com/about-us/Pages/Fellowships.aspx Sarah McCormack Stranding & Research Technician P: (757) 385-6485 C: (917) 880-2160 SMccormack(a)VirginiaAquarium.com Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center<http://www.virginiaaquarium.com/><http://www.virginiaaquarium.com/><http://www.virginiaaquarium.com/> Stranding Response Hotline: (757) 385-7575 717 General Booth Blvd. Virginia Beach, Virginia 23451 [cid:d5fa1ce3-c8b6-490c-bfae-60d1d75506b1]

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Job Posting for Soundwatch Program Coordinator
by Jenny Atkinson 11 Dec '19

11 Dec '19

Job Posting by The Whale Museum <https://whalemuseum.org/pages/job-internship-volunteer-opportunities> Position: Soundwatch Boater Education Program Coordinator. Year-round FT employment includes health care benefits. http://www.whalemuseum.org/programs/soundwatch/soundwatch.html Location: Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, Washington, USA Established in 1979 as the first U.S. museum dedicated to whales living in the wild, The Whale Museum promotes stewardship of whales and the Salish Sea ecosystem through education and research. The Soundwatch Boater Education Program was initiated in 1993 by The Whale Museum to reduce disturbances to marine wildlife caused by irresponsible boater behaviors. This innovative program educates boaters on guidelines and regulations for marine wildlife through shore-based education, reinforces the learning experience through on-the-water educational patrols, monitors vessel activities to characterize vessel trends, and evaluate existing guidelines and laws. The main focus of our work is the endangered Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs) but there are other marine mammal species of importance in our region, including Transient killer whales, Minke whales, Humpback whales, Fin whales, Harbor porpoise, Dall's porpoise, Harbor seals, Steller sea lions, and many other cetacean and pinniped species. The Program Coordinator is expected to oversee all aspects of the Soundwatch Program including, but not limited to: coordination of seasonal field operations; small vessel operations/maintenance, Be Whale Wise education/outreach on marine stewardship; maintenance of the program long-term data sets and database; preparation of program reports; training, mentoring and coordination of volunteers, interns and seasonal contract employees; assistance with grant writing/fund raising; collaborate with partner monitoring programs, the whale watch industry and federal and state marine mammal management and enforcement teams. The successful candidate should understand and have experience with U.S. and Canadian recovery priorities related to the endangered SRKWs. The Program Coordinator reports to the Museum Executive Director and must work cooperatively with other museum staff. This position is classed as year-round, full-time Management/Administrative with field work responsibilities. Qualifications: * Bachelor's Degree plus 7 years' experience in a relevant field, specifically marine mammal research in the wild * Experienced boat operator with expertise in boat maintenance * Strong knowledge of marine ecosystems, marine mammal biology and natural history, specifically the endangered SRKWs and the Salish Sea. * Strong verbal and written communication skills necessary for public interaction, conflict resolution, department planning, grant writing and project management experience * Team player with excellent interpersonal skills, able to interact effectively with staff & board, interns/volunteers, visitors, members, and the public. * Ability to multi-task and work flexible schedule, specifically some weekends and evenings. * Ability to collect and synthesize information; effective problem solving skills. * Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. * Ability to lift 40 lbs. or more and to stand for long periods of time * Excellent computer/technological skills (i.e., database management, ArcGIS, Microsoft Office) Soundwatch Program Coordinator should plan to be in place by March 2, 2020 (start date may be negotiable). Active review of submitted applications will begin January 2nd and continue until the position is filled. Note: International applicants required to have approved Visa and documentation to work in the U.S. at the time of submission. Application package should include: a cover letter, resume and up to five references (reference letter or contact information for each reference). Electronic submissions are encouraged in the form of a PDF compiled with the requested information. Please send to: Jenny L. Atkinson, Executive Director, The Whale Museum, P. O. Box 945, Friday Harbor, WA 98250 or Email: jenny(a)whalemuseum.org <mailto:jenny@whalemuseum.org> Click to download <https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0249/1083/files/Soundwatch_Program_Coordi nator_ad.pdf?91> a PDF of this posting. Jenny L. Atkinson Executive Director The Whale Museum P. O. Box 945 Friday Harbor, WA 98250 (360) 378-4710 ext. 26 www.whalemuseum.org

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To share: scientist sign-on letter for Southern Resident killer whale critical habitat
by Colleen Weiler 10 Dec '19

10 Dec '19

Dear MARMAM community, The Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs) are one of the most endangered marine mammal populations in the world and are continuing to decline with only 73 individuals left in the wild. After being listed under the US Endangered Species Act in 2005, critical habitat was designated in the population's typical spring/summer habitat - the inland waters of the Salish Sea. A designation for the coastal portion of their range (Northern California through Washington coastal waters) was deferred due to lack of data. The information compiled since then overwhelmingly shows the importance of coastal habitat for the SRKWs. They rely on seasonal salmon runs as far south as the Central Valley in California, and spend a significant portion of the year off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the National Marine Fisheries Service to revise critical habitat and include coastal waters in 2014, and the proposed rule was finally released this fall. The SRKW community has continued to decline since their 2005 ESA listing, and are in dire need of additional protective measures. The Center for Biological Diversity and Whale and Dolphin Conservation have collaborated to draft this scientist support letter for expanding SRKW critical habitat, <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdEkWckdGUNiRFNwps-q-KtCpsoroUqbJd…> and we hope the MARMAM scientific community can show strong support for this revision and urge NMFS to finalize this proposal ASAP. The support of expert scientists will help ensure that the essential things SRKWs need to survive - available prey, better water quality, and safe passage conditions - are protected in their coastal range, and helps confirm the strength of the science this rule is based on. The letter and sign-on detail can be viewed/accessed here <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdEkWckdGUNiRFNwps-q-KtCpsoroUqbJd…> Please contact colleen.weiler(a)whales.org with any questions, comments, or minor edits. Cheers, -Colleen --

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New publication - a guide to combining multiple lines of evidence to evaluate population structure
by Karen Martien - NOAA Federal 10 Dec '19

10 Dec '19

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the following publication: Martien*,* Karen K., Aimée R. Lang, Barbara L. Taylor, Patricia E. Rosel, Samantha E. Simmons, Erin M. Oleson, Peter L. Boveng, and M. Bradley Hanson. 2019. The DIP delineation handbook: a guide to using multiple lines of evidence to delineate demographically independent populations of marine mammals. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SWFSC-622. 135pp. In the handbook, we review 11 types of data, which we term 'lines of evidence,' that can be used to evaluate population structure: 1) morphology, 2) genetics, 3) movements, 4) distributional hiatuses, 5) contaminants, 6) stable isotopes and fatty acids, 7) life history, 8) trends in abundance, 9) habitat, 10) association data, and 11) acoustics. For each of these lines of evidence, we discuss their strengths and weaknesses for evaluating structure and give examples of how they have been used. The handbook focuses on the delineation of Demographically Independent Populations (DIPs), which is the level of population structure that is relevant to many management paradigms, including the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Because the availability and utility of different lines of evidence varies among species, we summarize the data that are available for the currently designated MMPA stocks so as document some of the factors that limit our ability to collect robust data sets for certain groups of species. Finally, we discuss Structured Expert Decision Making as a means of integrating multiple different data types and handling uncertainty when delineating DIPs for management purposes. The handbook is intended to serve as a reference at all stages of DIP delineation, from prioritizing and planning research, to reviewing research results, to evaluating proposed DIPs. Though the handbook began as part of an effort to increase consistency and transparency in stock delineation under the MMPA, we believe that it will have wide applicability to both academic and applied studies of population structure at scales relevant to management. The handbook can be downloaded here: https://swfsc.noaa.gov/publications/TM/SWFSC/NOAA-TM-NMFS-SWFSC-622.pdf Cheers, Karen -- Karen K. Martien, Ph.D. Southwest Fisheries Science Center 8901 La Jolla Shores Dr. La Jolla, CA 92037, USA Phone: 858-546-7058 Fax: 858-546-7003 Karen.Martien(a)noaa.gov http://swfsc.noaa.gov/mmtd-mmgenetics

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