February 2019 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Marine Mammal Photo ID Internship job post
by James Stewart 19 Feb '19

19 Feb '19

Aquarium of the Pacific Marine Mammal Photo ID Internship The purpose of the photo ID intern position is to give candidates experience in the process of collecting sighting photos and data in the field and preparing that material for later research. Photo ID interns will be collecting data on various cetaceans (dolphins, blue whales, humpbacks, fin whales, gray whales, etc.) while on whale watches. Primary responsibilities of the position include but are not limited, to handling photography equipment, participating in whale watches in various weather conditions, uploading photos and data to our database, and processing photos and sighting data for further utilization. Commitment: 240 hours total, average 15-20 hours per week for 12-15 weeks Interns will receive training and experience in the following Learning the methods of wildlife observation and data collection in the field Using DSLR photography equipment Taking dorsal and caudal fin photos of animals encountered during daily whale watches Maintaining detailed data logs of sightings Create a project to display to Aquarium guests using whale data Photo processing with Adobe Lightroom and data entry with Microsoft Access What the Aquarium of the Pacific expects from interns The drive and ability to learn tasks quickly and well To perform all of their assigned duties promptly and reliably To be prompt and on time To exercise care and judgment when working on a boat To abide by all Aquarium of the Pacific staff guidelines and policies The ability to meet the minimum time commitments of the position Qualifications Must be 18 years of age or older Completed and pass a background check Skills, Knowledge and Abilities Basic knowledge of ecological and biological principles Some background knowledge of marine mammals Strong communication skills to transmit information to staff, visitors and whale watch participants in a clear and thorough manner Ability to manage multiple tasks Must be able to lift and carry 50 lbs on stairs, boats, docks, etc. Prior experience with DSLR cameras or photo software is preferred but not required Requirements Must complete general orientation session Research project completed during internship period (to be determined by student in collaboration with program coordinator) Go to http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/volunteer/college_internships/marine_mamma… to apply James Stewart Education Coordinator of Boat Programs Aquarium of the Pacific

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Heart rate and breathing in dolphins
by Andreas 19 Feb '19

19 Feb '19

Dear all, Me and my co-authors are pleased to share our recent publication with you: Cauture, F., SterbaBoatwright, B., Miedler, S., Rocho-Levine, J., Harms, C. and Fahlman, A. (2019). Using Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia to Estimate Inspired Tidal Volume in the Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Frontiers in Physiology 10. 128. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00128 The article describes heart rate changes associated with breathing and uses these to assess how well they correlate with inspired tidal volume. In addition, once we correct the resting heart rate for the respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) it appears that the resting heart rate at the surface is close to, or similar to the heart rate reported for diving dolphins. Consequently, without accounting for the RSA studies may incorrectly overestimate the importance of the dive response in diving dolphins. We realize this may be controversial but deserves further investigation. A B S T R A C T Man-made environmental change may have significant impact on apex predators, like marine mammals. Thus, it is important to assess the physiological boundaries for survival in these species, and assess how climate change may affect foraging efficiency and the limits for survival. In the current study, we investigated whether the respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) could estimate tidal volume (VT) in resting bottlenose dolphins. For this purpose, we measured respiratory flow and electrocardiogram (ECG) in five adult bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) at rest while breathing voluntarily. Initially, an exponential decay function, using three parameters (baseline heart rate, the change in heart rate following a breath, and an exponential decay constant) was used to describe the temporal change in instantaneous heart rate following a breath. The three descriptors, in addition to body mass, were used to develop a Generalized Additive Model (GAM) to predict the inspired tidal volume (VTinsp). The GAM allowed us to predict VTinsp with an average ( SD) overestimate of 3 2%. A jackknife sensitivity analysis, where 4 of the five dolphins were used to fit the GAM and the 5th dolphin used to make predictions resulted in an average overestimate of 2 10%. Future studies should be used to assess whether similar relationships exist in active Please feel free to download the article here (open access): https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2019.00128 <https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2019.00128> If you have additional questions or cannot download a copy of the paper, please send an email to: afahlman(a)whoi.edu Sincerely, Andreas

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Research Project Coordinator
by Madelyn Woods 19 Feb '19

19 Feb '19

*Research Project Coordinator* - The Shaw Institute is recruiting to fill the position of Research Project Coordinator to implement research and monitoring initiatives at its Blue Hill Research Center on the mid-Maine coast. This is a challenging opportunity for a highly motivated individual with a background in marine sciences, environmental toxicology/chemistry or a related field, and excellent organizational, analytical, and communications skills. The Coordinator will help design and carry out collaborative research and monitoring projects, supervise interns, interact with partner organizations, and assist with obtaining funding to expand the research. Examples of current projects include: Plastics -- Quantifying microplastics in Gulf of Maine waters, marine mammals and commercial seafood; POPs -- Assessing impacts of emerging flame retardant chemicals in marine mammals from three oceans; Climate change -- Tracking water quality (warming) and food web shifts in the Gulf of Maine. This is a full time position. *The Position is Open Until Filled. Start Date April 1, 2019* Please follow the link for the full job description https://www.shawinstitute.org/sites/default/files/uploaded/2019%20Research%… Madelyn Woods Marine Research Coordinator Shaw Institute, Blue Hill Research Center 55 Main St. Blue Hill, ME 04614 207.374.2135 Please Note: *my email address has changed*. Please update my contact information in your system.

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New publication: A review of unmanned vehicles for the detection and monitoring of marine fauna
by Ursula Verfuss 18 Feb '19

18 Feb '19

Dear all, On behalf of my co-authors I am pleased to share our recent publication with you: Verfuss, U.K., Aniceto, A.S., Harris, D.V., Gillespie, D., Fielding, S., Jiménez, G., Johnston, P., Sinclair, R.R., Sivertsen, A., Solbø, S.A., Storvold, R., Biuw, M., Wyatt, R., 2019. A review of unmanned vehicles for the detection and monitoring of marine fauna. Marine Pollution Bulletin 140, 17-29. The paper reviews currently available unmanned platforms suitable for surveying marine mammals and may therefore be of interested to the MARMAM community. A B S T R A C T Recent technology developments have turned present-day unmanned systems into realistic alternatives to traditional marine animal survey methods. Benefits include longer survey durations, improved mission safety, mission repeatability, and reduced operational costs. We review the present status of unmanned vehicles suitable for marine animal monitoring conducted in relation to industrial offshore activities, highlighting which systems are suitable for three main monitoring types: population, mitigation, and focal animal monitoring. We describe the technical requirements for each of these monitoring types and discuss the operational aspects. The selection of a specific sensor/platform combination depends critically on the target species and its behaviour. The technical specifications of unmanned platforms and sensors also need to be selected based on the surrounding conditions of a particular offshore project, such as the area of interest, the survey requirements and operational constraints. Please feel free to download the article here (open access): https://authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S0025326X19300098 Best, Ursula Dr Ursula Verfuss Principal Scientist · Bioacoustics [1] SMRU Consulting|New Technology Centre|North Haugh|ST ANDREWS|Fife KY16 9SR|Scotland email: ukv(a)smruconsulting.com<mailto:ukv@smruconsulting.com> |Tel: +44 (0)1334 466011 websites: www.smruconsulting.com<http://www.smruconsulting.com/> | [cid:image005.png@01CE7722.381114C0] @SMRU_Consulting [cid:image006.jpg@01CE7722.381114C0] www.linkedin.com/company/smru-marine<http://www.linkedin.com/company/smru-marine> P Please consider whether you really need a hard copy of this email before printing it - thank you NOTICE OF CONFIDENTIALITY: This message, and any attachments, are intended solely for the addressee and may contain privileged or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it, is prohibited and may be unlawful. If you believe that you have received this email in error, please contact the sender immediately and destroy this email. Although we have taken steps to ensure that this email and any attachments are free from any virus, we advise that, in keeping with good computing practice, the recipient should ensure they are actually virus free. SMRU Consulting is a trading name of SMRU Limited, which is a limited company registered in Scotland, Registered Number: SC296937. Registered Office: 5 Atholl Crescent, Edinburgh EH3 8EJ.

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New publication
by Thompson, Kirsten 18 Feb '19

18 Feb '19

Dear MARMAM colleagues, Myself and coauthors would like to announce that the following paper is now available online: Abreo N, Thompson KF, Arabejo G, Superio M. (2019). Social media as a novel source of data on the impact of marine litter on megafauna: The Philippines as a case study. Marine Pollution Bulletin 140: 51-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.01.030 Abstract Marine litter is a global threat to marine biodiversity. However, there is a key knowledge gap on the impacts of marine litter in the Philippines – a country of high marine biodiversity and large exclusive economic zone. This gap is addressed here by using information shared on the internet by citizen scientists and conservation groups to assess the impacts of marine litter on megafauna. Facebook, presently the largest social media platform, was scanned for posts concerning the interaction between litter and marine species in the Philippines. Results showed thirty-two individuals from 17 species were affected by marine litter in the country. Furthermore, ingestion (61%) was the most frequent interaction reported. Mindanao was also identified as a hotspot for marine litter interactions. The study highlights the utility of social media in providing data to create an inventory of marine species adversely affected by litter and the spatial distribution of these interactions. An copy can be downloaded at the following url for a limited time period: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X19300402?dgcid=c… Kind regards, Kirsten Dr Kirsten Thompson Lecturer in Ecology (E&S) University of Exeter t. +44 (0) 1392 727426 www.exeter.ac.uk<http://www.exeter.ac.uk> Room C5, Hatherly Laboratories, University of Exeter, Exeter , Devon, EX4 4PS

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PAM operators wanted for study
by Mary Jo Barkaszi 18 Feb '19

18 Feb '19

We are looking for PAM operators of all levels to participate in a IOGP-funded study for the development of a new Pamguard module. The study is being conducted by CSA Ocean Sciences, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and the University of St. Andrews. Participation will require only desktop work and the ability to run Pamguard. The test will take approximately 3 hours of your time and there will be a 1- hour webinar training session 1-2 weeks prior to the module test. We are looking for operators from those who have only taken a Pamguard course, with no field work, all the way through highly experienced operators who have extensive hours aboard seismic vessels. There will be a small stipend provided for your time and acknowledgment in the final report. Testing is expected to be conducted in late March or early April. If interested, please send your PAM-related resume and contact information to: mbarkaszi(a)conshelf.com In the subject line write: Pamguard Testing

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Job opportunity in Reunion Island (Indian ocean)
by Violaine Dulau 18 Feb '19

18 Feb '19

Dear MARMAM-ers, GLOBICE-REUNION is currently advertising a full-time position for a French-speaking research assistant /education program coordinator. The research assistant will be in charge of conducting ship-based cetacean surveys as part of marine mammal’s impact assessments. She/he will also be in charge of managing and developing education programs and communicate with the medias. *Speaking/writing French fluently is a requirement*. Full details of the post can be found at the following link: https://www.reseau-tee.net/55355_offre-emploi-chargne-de-mission-h-f.html The closing date for the return of applications is the 10^th of March 2019. All the best, Violaine Dulau Globice-Reunion www.globice.org

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CfP Special Issue on Marine Wildlife Experiences and Safety
by Michael Lueck 17 Feb '19

17 Feb '19

Kia Ora MARMAMers Please find below a CfP for a Special Issue of Tourism in Marine Environments (Cognizant Communication) on marine wildlife experiences and safety, edited by myself and Mark Orams. We are looking forward to your proposals! Best Wishes Micha & Mark Marine Wildlife Experiences and Safety Over the past three decades, interactions with coastal and marine wildlife in natural settings have increased significantly. These interactions may be facilitated by commercial operators, deliberately sought by individuals and private groups, or incidental during other marine-based activities (such as scuba diving, swimming, surfing, kayaking, etc.). Focal species range from marine mammals to reptiles, birds, elasmobranch and other fish species, and more. Along with the growth in these activities, research has also increased, mostly focusing on the potential and actual impacts on the targeted species, visitor experiences and satisfaction, as well as education and interpretation on commercial tours. In contrast, very little has been published about the potential health and safety risks these interactions pose for both tourists and marine wildlife. Consequently, this special issue seeks to reduce the gap in knowledge about these issues. Topics for this issue may include, but are not limited to: * Injuries and fatalities (of tourists and/or wildlife) as a result of the use of technical equipment to facilitate interaction with marine wildlife (e.g. vessel strike, propeller cuts, cage failure, entrapment and/or entanglement etc.). * Risk taking behaviours of swimmers/snorkelers/divers (e.g. too deep dives, operation of camera equipment, lack of open water experience, swimming skills). * Risk taking behaviours regarding wildlife behaviour (close proximity, wildlife aggression, accidental harmful contact, provisioning, touching/”riding” wildlife, etc.) * Accidental or deliberate acts which result in “near-miss”/injury/fatality (both for tourists and wildlife). * In water interactions with predatory animals and associated risks of injury and fatality. * Potential disease or other transmission resulting from interactions between tourists and marine wildlife. * Safety management regimes implementation and effectiveness (e.g. safety briefings, safety equipment, emergency response protocols, emergency medical treatment, navigation, weather and sea-state, etc.). * Consumptive uses of marine wildlife by tourists (e.g. fishing, shellfish harvesting, shell collecting, fish collecting, sea-bird harvesting) and related health and safety issues. Timeline Abstracts due 1 March 2019 Invitation to submit the full manuscript 1 April 2019 Full manuscript due 1 July 2019 Publication Fast Track (online first) after final acceptance, end 2019 Publication Print Double issue 15(1&2), early 2020 Submission Guidelines Please send an abstract to Michael Lück (mlueck(a)aut.ac.nz<mailto:mlueck@aut.ac.nz>) and Mark Orams (morams(a)usc.edu.au<mailto:morams@usc.edu.au>), and indicate whether you would like your paper to be considered as a full research paper (5000-7000 words), a research note (3000-3500 words), a commentary (3000-3500 words), or an extended postgraduate abstract (1500 to 2000 words). After selection, final manuscripts will be invited to be submitted through the online system for Tourism in Marine Environments (https://time.scholasticahq.com/for-authors) [UT]<https://www.aut.ac.nz/> Professor Michael Lück School of Hospitality & Tourism Auckland University of Technology [S rankings]<https://www.aut.ac.nz/qs> [acebook]<https://www.aut.ac.nz/facebook>[witter]<https://www.aut.ac.nz/twitter>[ouTube]<https://www.aut.ac.nz/youtube> P 09 921 9999 ext 5833 M 0212431916 E mlueck(a)aut.ac.nz<mailto:michael.lueck@aut.ac.nz> W aut.ac.nz<https://www.aut.ac.nz> [https://www.aut.ac.nz/__data/assets/image/0011/571817/teal-strip.gif]

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New Publication - Evaluation of respiratory vapour and blubber samples for use in endocrine assessments of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.)
by Mr Fletcher Mingramm 17 Feb '19

17 Feb '19

Dear MARMAM colleagues, We are pleased to announce that the following paper is now available online: F.M.J. Mingramm, R.A. Dunlop, D. Blyde, D.J. Whitworth, T. Keeley (2019). Evaluation of respiratory vapour and blubber samples for use in endocrine assessments of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.), General and Comparative Endocrinology, 274, 37-49. Abstract: Blubber and respiratory vapour (‘blow’) are now commonly used for endocrine studies on cetaceans, primarily because they can be obtained using minimally invasive methods. For many species, these samples have yet to be validated for these purposes. The objective of this study was to examine the performance of blow and blubber hormone monitoring, relative to serum hormone monitoring, for evaluating the reproductive and adrenal condition of captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.). Eighteen bottlenose dolphins were sampled five times for serum and blow and twice for blubber throughout a one-year period. Concentrations of progesterone, testosterone, oestradiol and cortisol were measured in each sample type. Hormone levels were examined in relation to dolphin age, sex, reproductive status, season, time of sample collection (morning/afternoon) and collection type (in- or out-of-water sampling). Patterns in hormone levels were similar for serum and blubber. For instance, in both sample types, progesterone levels were significantly higher in pregnant (serum: 34.10 ± 8.64 ng/mL; blubber: 13.01 ± 0.72 ng/g) than in non-pregnant females (serum: 0.32 ± 0.09 ng/mL; blubber: 1.17 ± 0.10 ng/g). This pattern was not detected in blow, primarily because seawater contamination, nylon sampling materials and variable sample volumes influenced measured concentrations. In addition, the respiratory water content of a blow sample is known to affect measured hormone levels. Two methods were trialled to control for variability in sample volumes and dilution: (1) normalising blow hormone concentrations relative to urea nitrogen levels (a potential endogenous standard), and (2) measuring the relative proportions (i.e. ratios) of blow hormones. These correction measures had little influence on blow hormone results. Further refinement of blow hormone monitoring methods is required before they can be used for reproductive or adrenal assessments of bottlenose dolphins. Blubber, on the other hand, should be a suitable proxy for serum when attempting to classify pregnancy status and male maturity in these species. An open access copy can currently be downloaded from: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1YZby3oGhDvP5 Kind regards, Fletcher Fletcher Mingramm B.Sc. (Hons) PhD (Marine Science) Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory University of Queensland School of Veterinary Science, Gatton, QLD

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First Announcement: VI International Symposium on killer whales in Spain 2020. orca.world
by Renaud de Stephanis 17 Feb '19

17 Feb '19

Dear friends. This mail is just an invitation to the next world killer whales symposium/conference, that will take place in Tarifa (Strait of Gibraltar, Spain), in April 2020. The meeting will take place in Tarifa between the 13th and 18th April 2020 in Tarifa, Strait of Gibraltar. All researchers on killer whales are invited to the event. The meeting will be organised by CIRCE, and follows the symposium that was held previously by the CEBC-CNRS in Chizé (France) in 2002. In the web page www.orca.world you can read all the information about. The objective of the meeting will be to gather all the researchers of the world for a week in Tarifa, to present the latest advances on killer whales research. All the participants are invited to present one or more posters (Send us the abstract to organise the poster sessions!! You can bring as many posters as you want, but almost one is needed to participate in the meeting) or an oral presentation (abstract submission needed to organise the program). The first 2.5 days will be reserved for oral presentations and plenary sessions. The last 2 days will be reserved for workshops, which will be defined throughout the plenary sessions. The symposium will leave broad scope for discussion, and interaction among researchers. A broad social and cultural parallel agenda will be organized, as well so do not hesitate to come accompanied if you wish. The spirit of the meeting will be the same as in previous meetings. The more socialization the better. Accompanying the symposium, CIRCE will take the opportunity to carry out parallel training activities in the Campo de Gibraltar, which will consist of an exhibition of photographs on orcas in the premises of Tarifa, a campaign of micro-volunteers in schools in Algeciras, Barbate and Tarifa, video exposition, and talks open to the general public. Sorry for Cross posting. More info: www.orca.world Renaud de Stephanis Chairman, of the Symposium

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