February 2019 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Research Internship 2019_Namibia
by Sea Search & Namibian Dolphin Project 15 Feb '19

15 Feb '19

The Namibian Dolphin Project is an organization run by several independent scientists based in southern Africa. We are running research internships between June and August 2019 in Walvis Bay, Namibia and would like to invite students enrolled in marine biology, ecology and zoology degrees to attend. Interns will join an active research programme during an intensive period of field work aiming to tackle a number of research questions including long-term population monitoring (photo ID and static acoustic monitoring), behavioural acoustics of bottlenose dolphins(linking sounds to behaviours), behavioural and acoustic responses to anthropogenic activities and response to stranded cetaceans (refloatation/data collection). Our focal study species are Heaviside's dolphins, a small population of common bottlenose dolphins and humpback whales with additional data collection on right whales, sunfish (Mola mola), African Penguins, sea turtles, jackals and Cape fur seals. Internships are research focused with an emphasis on learning (and using) field skills in cetacean research such as photo-identification, bioacoustics, eDNA, spatially explicit capture-recapture and behavioural data collection, as well as data management and team work. There is a fee associated with the internship. If you are interested in this placement please send a copy of your CV and a letter of motivation to info(a)seasearch.co.za. More information can be found on the Namibian Dolphin Project and our umbrella organisation Sea Search Research and Conservation (including publications) by following these links (www.namibiandolphinproject.org/ www.seasearch.co.za) Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions regarding this training opportunity. Kind regards Namibian Dolphin Project Team www.namibiandolphinproject.org

1 0

New publication: Whales in warming water
by solene derville 14 Feb '19

14 Feb '19

Dear MARMAM community, We are pleased to announce the publication of the following article in Global Change Biology: *Derville, S., Torres, L.G., Albertson, R., Andrews, O., Baker, C.S., Carzon, P., Constantine, R., Donoghue, M., Dutheil, C., Gannier, A., Oremus, M., Poole, M.M., Robbins, J. & Garrigue, C. (2019) Whales in warming water : Assessing breeding habitat diversity and adaptability in Oceania ’ s changing climate. Global Change Biology, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14563* Abstract In the context of a changing climate, understanding the environmental drivers of marine megafauna distribution is important for conservation success. The extent of humpback whale breeding habitats and the impact of temperature variation on their availability are both unknown. We used 19 years of dedicated survey data from seven countries and territories of Oceania (1,376 survey days), to investigate humpback whale breeding habitat diversity and adaptability to climate change. At a fine scale (1 km resolution), seabed topography was identified as an important influence on humpback whale distribution. The shallowest waters close to shore or in lagoons were favored, although humpback whales also showed flexible habitat use patterns with respect to shallow offshore features such as seamounts. At a coarse scale (1° resolution), humpback whale breeding habitats in Oceania spanned a thermal range of 22.3–27.8°C in August, with interannual variation up to 2.0°C. Within this range, both fine and coarse scale analyses of humpback whale distribution suggested local responses to temperature. Notably, the most detailed dataset was available from New Caledonia (774 survey days, 1996–2017), where encounter rates showed a negative relationship to sea surface temperature, but were not related to the El Niño Southern Oscillation or the Antarctic Oscillation from previous summer, a proxy for feeding conditions that may impact breeding patterns. Many breeding sites that are currently occupied are predicted to become unsuitably warm for this species (>28°C) by the end of the 21st century. Based on modeled ecological relationships, there are suitable habitats for relocation in archipelagos and seamounts of southern Oceania. Although distribution shifts might be restrained by philopatry, the apparent plasticity of humpback whale habitat use patterns and the extent of suitable habitats support an adaptive capacity to ocean warming in Oceania breeding grounds. The paper may be downloaded on https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/gcb.14563 Feel free to contact me directly for a PDF copy: solene.derville(a)ird.fr <mailto:solene.derville@ird.fr> Best, -- Solène Derville PhD - Marine & Geospatial Ecology Association Opération Cétacés UMR Entropie - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement ---------- 101 Promenade Roger Laroque, BPA5 98848 Noumea cedex, New Caledonia Phone: +687 912299 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Solene_Derville

1 0

Fin whale deformity
by Eduard 14 Feb '19

14 Feb '19

We would like to draw attention to a fin whale spotted during the 2018 spring expedition hold under our yearly Edmaktub Rorqual Project. This fin whale was found in the North West Mediterranean (Southward Barcelona) with a clear deformity in its caudal peduncle. It was a male, sized around 14 meters (pretty much the size of our research boat). The animal was able to swim, but if you pay attention to the rippling water surface, the efficiency was at certain degree compromised. Although it could be associated with a pathological process or malformation, we believe that this deformity, could be the result of an old boat collision. This area of the W. Mediterranean suffers from heavy marine traffic, seasonally high presence of fin whales and probably many more collisions than recorded. We would really appreciate any feed back, comments or thoughts about this animal. If any of you have photo ID this animal in other area we will also appreciate you contact us and share that information. See the drone video footage in the following link https://youtu.be/DqImLLzirko More information about the project in http://www.edmaktub.org/en/fin-whale-project/ Best regards, Eduard Degollada Bastos DVM PhD President Associació EDMAKTUB www.edmaktub.org <http://www.edmaktub.com> Facebook edmaktub edmaktub(a)edmaktub.com <mailto:edmaktub@edmaktub.com> edmaktub(a)edmaktub.org <mailto:edmaktub@edmaktub.com> tf +34 630038829

1 0

Whale Museum Summer Internship Opportunity - San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network
by Jennifer Olson 14 Feb '19

14 Feb '19

The Whale Museum's Stranding Network Program: Summer Internships! The San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network (SJCMMSN), a program of The Whale Museum established in 1980, is authorized by NMFS to respond to all marine mammal strandings in San Juan County, WA. We typically respond to more than 200 calls of both live and deceased animals per year. SJCMMSN is currently recruiting a San Juan Island-based intern to help respond to marine mammal strandings during our busy season. Interns and volunteers of this critical program serve as ambassadors between humans and marine mammals as well as contribute scientific data that is crucial to both human and animal health. Internship is based in Friday Harbor, WA and requires approximately 35-40 hours per week from June-August. Schedule may vary and involve "on call" time. There will be a variety of tasks both in the field and in an office setting. Intern will receive a small stipend. Housing is not provided, but shared housing at a reasonable cost is likely available. KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: * Assist with stranding response including: conducting health assessments of live seal pups in the field; tagging harbor seals that are not collected for rehabilitation; transferring harassed or injured pups to a local rehabilitation center; conducting Level A examinations of dead marine mammals * Perform first mate duties on board The Whale Museum's stranding boat, the R/V Buzzard * Assist with necropsies of fresh dead marine mammals including: transferring carcasses to the lab space; preparing, setting-up, and taking down necropsy supplies; organizing and archiving biological samples * Assist with data entry and analysis for SJCMMSN as well as The Whale Museum's marine mammal sightings network REQUIREMENTS: At least 18 years of age, physically fit (able to lift 40 lbs), possess a valid US driver's license. Preference will be given to undergraduates or recent graduates in the marine or wildlife sciences. Animal handling and/or boating experience is preferred but not required. HOW TO APPLY FOR INTERNSHIP POSITION: Please submit a letter of interest, a resume, and three letters of recommendation. Please include what dates you are available. Applications accepted until March 8, 2019. Decisions will be made by April 5, 2019. Please send application materials to: ATTN Jennifer Olson The Whale Museum, P.O. Box 945, Friday Harbor, Washington 98250 Or email (preferred) to: jennifer(a)whalemuseum.org For more information, visit the Stranding page on our website <http://whalemuseum.org/pages/marine-mammal-stranding-network> .

1 0

Soundwatch Internship Oppurtunity
by Taylor Shedd 14 Feb '19

14 Feb '19

The Whale Museum's Soundwatch Boater Education Program: 2019 Summer Internships Available! Soundwatch is a successful and internationally acclaimed education and monitoring program working to reduce vessel disturbance to orcas and other marine wildlife in the Salish Sea region of Washington State (USA) and British Columbia (Canada). Soundwatch needs interns to help conduct seasonal vessel patrols, educate boaters on regional/federal guidelines and regulations, and collect data while monitoring vessel activities around whales. Data from this critical program characterizes vessel activity trends around endangered orcas and other marine wildlife. The data is used to promote better boater compliance and to inform marine mammal management strategies such as state and federal vessel laws and guidelines. The Soundwatch program is operated by The Whale Museum (TWM), a not-for-profit organization located in Friday harbor on San Juan Island in Washington State. To learn more, please visit our website and read our most recent Contract Report and publications. Interns Must: . Commit to at least 12 weeks between May and September. . Be able to work approximately 35-40 hours per week, Mon-Sun. . Perform a variety of tasks both in the field, aboard small research vessel and in an office setting. . Have a strong sense of responsibility, work ethic and attention to detail. * Produce high quality research efforts and exhibit strong interpersonal skills. * Field days: Interns must be able to spend many hours on the water sometimes in extreme seasonal conditions. Field days typically exceed eight hours and occur at least three or four times a week. Internship is located in Friday Harbor, Washington. This position provides a housing stipend. Interns are responsible for finding their own housing and having a mode of transportation. Once accepted, TWM staff will be able to assist Interns in suggesting suitable housing options and locations. Applicant requirements: At least 18 years of age, physically fit (able to lift 40 lbs), must be able to swim, not easily susceptible to seasickness, and familiar with database spreadsheets. Preference will be given to undergraduates or recent graduates in the marine or wildlife sciences. Interns will need (for the entirety of their position) a valid US passport or an enhanced driver's license and CPR/First Aid certification. A state boater license/or equivalent safe boating card, not required, but is encouraged. Knowledge of the area and Southern Resident orca whales is preferred, but not required. HOW TO APPLY FOR INTERNSHIP POSITION: Please send a letter of interest, a resume, and contact information for three references. Be sure to include what dates you can start/end. Applications accepted until March 1, 2019, and decisions made by March 21, 2019. PLEASE SEND APPLICATION MATERIALS TO: Taylor Shedd Soundwatch Coordinator P.O. Box 945 Friday Harbor, Washington 98250 Or email (preferred) to: <mailto:soundwatch@whalemuseum.org> soundwatch(a)whalemuseum.org Please visit The Whale Museum's Web site for more information on Soundwatch: <http://www.whalemuseum.org/programs/soundwatch/soundwatch.html> http://www.whalemuseum.org/programs/soundwatch/soundwatch.html Taylor Shedd, M.A.S. Soundwatch Program Coordinator The Whale Museum P.O. Box 945 (62 1st St. N.) Friday Harbor, WA 98250 Phone: (360) 378-4710 ext. 33

1 0

New paper on a large cetotheriid, and the status of Tranatocetidae
by Felix Marx 13 Feb '19

13 Feb '19

Dear colleagues, please find below the abstract and link to our recently published open access paper on a new large cetotheriid from the Late Miocene of the Netherlands, and the status of the extinct baleen whale family Tranatocetidae: Marx, F.G., Post, K., Bosselaers, M., and Munsterman, D.K. (2019). A large Late Miocene cetotheriid (Cetacea, Mysticeti) from the Netherlands clarifies the status of Tranatocetidae. PeerJ 7, e6426. Abstract: Cetotheriidae are a group of small baleen whales (Mysticeti) that evolved alongside modern rorquals. They once enjoyed a nearly global distribution, but then largely went extinct during the Plio-Pleistocene. After languishing as a wastebasket taxon for more than a century, the concept of Cetotheriidae is now well established. Nevertheless, the clade remains notable for its variability, and its scope remains in flux. In particular, the recent referral of several traditional cetotheriids to a new and seemingly unrelated family, Tranatocetidae, has created major phylogenetic uncertainty. Here, we describe a new species of Tranatocetus, the type of Tranatocetidae, from the Late Miocene of the Netherlands. Tranatocetus maregermanicum sp. nov. clarifies several of the traits previously ascribed to this genus, and reveals distinctive auditory and mandibular morphologies suggesting cetotheriid affinities. This interpretation is supported by a large phylogenetic analysis, which mingles cetotheriids and tranatocetids within a unified clade. As a result, we suggest that both groups should be reintegrated into the single family Cetotheriidae. Link: https://peerj.com/articles/6426/ Kind regards, Felix Marx

1 0

Opportunity for a PhD in machine learning to extract marine pathology data- Inverness & Stirling, UK
by Andrew Brownlow 13 Feb '19

13 Feb '19

Dear colleagues SRUC are currently recruiting for a PhD studentship to look at techniques for automating the extraction of data from marine animal pathology archives to make it analyzable by standard epidemiological techniques. Would suit candidates with an interest in marine pathology, machine learning, computer science or data mining: https://atsv7.wcn.co.uk/search_engine/jobs.cgi?owner=5062827&ownertype=fair… Scotland’s Rural College PhD Studentship - Animal health in marine ecosystems: machine learning and data science to discover structure in unstructured data A great deal of data has been collected on marine animal health in the UK, including wild marine mammals and farmed salmon, but this material often exists in formats that are not amenable to large-scale analysis. These materials represent a wealth of untapped data for conducting population-based investigations of marine animal health. Computing science has led to advances in our ability to search material in many formats, including natural-language documents. Recent development of “deep learning” and related techniques are advancing the automated extraction of context-specific information. We are seeking a student to develop and apply approaches for deducing the structure of data from unstructured or loosely structured documents, and for augmenting this with data from other sources (e.g., photographs or digital images), to generate useful, context-specific knowledge regarding the health and welfare of marine animals. The experimental approach will involve the application of machine learning, text mining/natural language processing (NLP), signal/image processing, and artificial intelligence to address problems in context detection and automated data extraction. The suitability of the approaches developed will be evaluated based on their ability to provide useful information from veterinary records for the investigation of spatial and temporal trends in disease and mortality in farmed salmon and in wild marine mammals. Specific objectives of this project are 1) to develop and apply methods for the transformation of existing, relatively inaccessible archives and formats into data sets suitable for larger-scale analysis; 2) to explore automated methods for augmenting written data with material from other sources, such as photographs or digital images; and 3) to evaluate these methods by applying them to existing loosely structured data resources to identify spatial and temporal trends in marine animal health. Applicants should have a Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computing science, data science, mathematics, or a closely related field, or a track record of research or work history in such a field in combination with a post-secondary degree. The student will be located at Stirling and the SRUC Epidemiology Research Unit in Inverness and registered with the University of Stirling in the Division of Computing Science and Mathematics and starting on 1st October 2019. The stipend will be set at UKRI recommended levels for a 3.5 year-period and the studentship is funded to pay domestic tuition fee levels for UK/EU students. The student will receive an annual student stipend (of £14,777 at 2018/19 rate). This studentship will fund to pay the tuition fees at home fees rate only. International students must provide evidence of sufficient funds to cover the higher international student tuition fee level (approximately £16,740 per year would be required) SRUC, Scotland’s Rural College, delivers comprehensive skills, education and business support for Scotland’s land-based industry founded on world class, sector leading research, education and consultancy. SRUC’s joint submission with the University of Edinburgh to the Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Science subpanel of the Research Excellence Framework (REF2014) ranks top in the UK on research power. To apply for this studentship, please complete the application and equal opportunities monitoring forms available by clicking on the relevant links below. Completed forms and any questions should be sent to SRUC’s Postgraduate Administrator pg.research(a)sruc.ac.uk quoting reference SRUC/2019-06/Reeves. CVs will not be accepted without a completed application form. If English is not an applicant’s first language, an approved English language certificate may be required – see further particulars for more details. To have an informal discussion about this studentship, contact Dr. Aaron Reeves at SRUC (aaron.reeves(a)sruc.ac.uk or +44 1463 246068) and/or Dr. Deepayan Bhowmik at the University of Stirling (deepayan.bhowmik(a)stir.ac.uk or +44 1786 466407). The closing date for the return of applications is 5pm on 3rd March 2019.

1 0

47th EAAM Annual Symposium - dedicated website
by Élio Vicente 13 Feb '19

13 Feb '19

Dear Colleagues, Dear Friends, "muito boa tarde"! The upcoming Annual Symposium of the EAAM - European Association for Aquatic Mammals is fast approaching. Our teams, at Zoomarine, would be honoured if you would join us in the Algarve, southern Portugal, next MARCH, for yet another memorable gathering of experts and friends, during which you will be exposed to 03 full days packed with scientific communications, amazing networking, and enjoyable social gatherings. As previously announced, the theme of the 2019's Symposium will be "FROM PIONEERS TO NATURE'S GUARDIANS". Nevertheless, and as always, all topics related to marine mammal Science, Innovation in Husbandry, Education for Sustainability, Conservation, Veterinary Medicine, Animal Behaviour, Cognitive Psychology, Bioacoustics, et cetera , will be most welcome. But, please!, keep in mind that the deadline for abstract submission will be the 21st of December. You can find all the information you may need at www.zoomarine.pt/eaam In the meantime, you might also want to dedicate a few minutes to the following links: - "22 reasons why everyone is going to Portugal right now" (www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/portugal/articles/portugal-b…) - Portugal BEST WORLD Destination: www.visitportugal.com/en/content/portugal-worlds-leading-destination - Portugal #1 at the World Travel Awards: www.internationalmeetingsreview.com/portugal/portugal-and-world-travel-awar… - EAAM: www.eaam.org We sincerely look forward to welcome you in the Algarve. With kind regard from Portugal, Élio A. Vicente, marine biologist Dir. External Affairs http://pt.linkedin.com/in/eliovicente Zoomarine Algarve Mundo Aquático - S.A. EN 125. KM 65. Guia. 8201-864 Albufeira. Portugal. GPS: 37.3.37N - 8.18.50W TEL: (+351) 289 560 300 - FAX: (+351) 289 560 308 EMAIL: [ mailto:eliovicente@zoomarine.pt | eliovicente(a)zoomarine.pt ] - WEB: [ https://www.zoomarine.pt/ | www.zoomarine.pt ] [ https://www.zoomarine.pt/ | ] O Zoomarine é orgulhosamente acreditado por | Zoomarine is proudly accredited by [ https://www.ammpa.org/ | ] [ https://www.eaza.net/ | ] [ https://www.imata.org/ | ] [ http://humaneconservation.org/ | ] [ https://www.facebook.com/ZoomarineAlgarve | ] [ https://www.instagram.com/zoomarine_algarve_oficial/ | ] [ https://www.youtube.com/user/ZoomarineAlgarve | ]

2 2

New publication: Estimates of the relative abundance of long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) in the Northeast Atlantic from 1987 to 2015 indicate no long-term trends
by Solveig Enoksen 13 Feb '19

13 Feb '19

Dear MARMAM members, The North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission is pleased to announce the early online publication of the first article of Volume 11 in our Scientific Publication Series, "Estimates of the relative abundance of long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) in the Northeast Atlantic from 1987 to 2015 indicate no long-term trends" by Daniel G. Pike, Thorvaldur Gunnlaugsson, Geneviève Desportes, Bjarni Mikkelsen, Gísli A. Vikingsson & Dorete Bloch. Abstract: North Atlantic Sightings Surveys (NASS) and associated surveys, covering a large but variable portion of the North Atlantic, were conducted in 1987, 1989, 1995, 2001, 2007 and 2015. Previous estimates of long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) abundance, derived using conventional distance sampling (CDS), are not directly comparable to one another because of differing survey coverage, field methods and, in the case of the 1989 NASS, different survey timing. CDS was used to develop indices of relative abundance to determine if pilot whale abundance has changed over the 28-year period from 1987 to 2015. The varying spatial coverage of the surveys is accommodated by delineating common regions that were covered by: i) all 6 surveys, and ii) the 3 largest surveys (1989, 1995, and 2007). These "Index Regions" were divided into East and West subregions, and post-stratification was used to obtain abundance estimates for these index areas only. Estimates are provided using the sightings from the combined platforms for surveys that used double platforms or the primary platform only. Total abundance in the Index Regions, uncorrected for perception or availability biases, ranged from 54,264 (CV=0.48) in 2001 to 253,109 (CV=0.43) in 2015. There was no significant trend in the numbers of individuals or groups in either the 6 or 3 Survey Index Regions, and no consistent trend over the period. Power analyses indicate that negative annual growth rates of -3% to -5% would have been detectible over the entire period. The Index Regions comprise only a portion of the summer range of the species and changes in annual distribution clearly affect the results. Operational changes to the surveys, particularly in defining pilot whale groups, may also have introduced biases. Recommendations for future monitoring of the long-finned pilot whale population are provided. The article is open access and available here: https://doi.org/10.7557/3.11. Volume 11: North Atlantic Sightings Surveys - Counting whales in the North Atlantic 2002-2016 will consist of a series of articles dealing with the results of NASS, a series of internationally coordinated cetacean surveys that were conducted in the North Atlantic in 1987, 1989, 1995, 2001, 2007 and 2015. Best, Solveig Enoksen Scientific & Communication Assistant NAMMCO - North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission POB 6453, N-9294 Tromsø, Norway +47 77 68 73 71, solveig.enoksen(a)nammco.no<mailto:solveig.enoksen@nammco.no>, www.nammco.no<http://www.nammco.no/>, www.facebook.com/nammco.no/<http://www.facebook.com/nammco.no/> https://twitter.com/NAMMCO_sec [NammRGB email]

1 0

CETASMUS 2019– Internship in North Western Mediterranean Sea
by Pao Tepsich 13 Feb '19

13 Feb '19

CETASMUS 2019– Internship in North Western Mediterranean Sea CIMA Research Foundation is a private non-profit research organization aimed at the advancement of science and engineering in environmentally related fields, focusing on public health and safety, civil protection and the preservation of terrestrial and water-related ecosystems. CIMA RF is based in Savona,Italy, and it is seeking undergraduate/postgraduate students for the CETASMUS PROGRAM 2019. General details about the CETASMUS program can be found here ( http://www.cimafoundation.org/cima-foundation/research-development/cetasmus… ). CETASMUS foresees two different types of internship: - Field Internship: aim of the internship is to provide hands on experience on cetacean surveys. Interns will be involved in all the surveys of a specific project. As office work is not foreseen for this type of internship, interns will have free time when not involved in sea surveys. Field internship is particularly indicated for students willing to gain field experience and also needing time to prepare exams or personal projects (without supervision) - Research Internship: aim of the internship is to provide hands on experience on cetacean research, from data collection at sea to data analysis. Interns will be involved in surveys of their specific project AND will be trained on data-entry and data analysis. Office work can be used for the development of a thesis / internship report. Free time will be agreed directly with supervisor. We are currently looking for *FIELD INTERNS* who will join our research expeditions mainly on board of our research vessel. It is possible to apply for one (or both) of the following periods: Period I : 15 May 2019 – 30 July 2019 Period II : 1 August 2019 – 30 September 2019 *Because of the training required, preference will be given to interns applying for both periods (May-September). * Qualifications - Applicants must have previous field experience in marine mammal surveys. - Applicants should possess or be enrolled in a BS or MS course in biology, environmental sciences or a related major; - Applicants must be reliable, motivated and team oriented, have a positive attitude as well as a genuine interest in marine mammal sciences; - Applicants must be adaptable and patient as fieldwork is highly weather dependent. This means long consecutive days in the field when weather permits while no cruises during bad weather periods; These positions are an excellent opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students interested in pursuing a career in marine mammal research to strengthen their skills and above all to gain practical experience in the field. These are unpaid positions and successful applicants are responsible for their own transportation expenses to and from Italy and for accommodation in Savona during the entire staying. All costs related to sea surveys will be covered by CIMA RF If you are interested in applying for these positions, please submit your CV and a cover letter with contact information of at least one reference to cetasmus(a)cimafoundation.org -- Non stampare questa mail, pensa all'ambiente!! Before printing, think about the environment! Avant d'imprimer, pensez à l'environnement!

1 0