March 2019 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

2019 Summer Education Internships
by education mmsc.org 01 Mar '19

01 Mar '19

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, NJ is seeking interns for the education & museum program for summer of 2019. Come help us share our mission with the public about who we are as an organization and some of the animals that we work with at the Stranding Center! Interns will spend their time giving short, guided tours in our museum space, running booths at fairs/festivals/farmers markets,and assisting with our beach programs such as seining and mock stranding classes. Requirements: Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and be in good physical condition, including being able to lift 40 lbs. You must be comfortable working with people of all ages, including children. Interns must be available for at least two days/week, and will work with the education coordinator to develop a schedule. All internships are unpaid. No lodging is provided, and interns must have their own transportation. Students may apply with their college/university to receive college credit, but it is the student's responsibility to make sure all paperwork and requirements are met to receive credit. Experience is not required. Both undergraduates and recent graduates are encouraged to apply. Application Process: To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and list of 3 references (of which 2 MUST be professional) to Dr. Lauren Harshaw at education(a)mmsc.org. Applications are due by 5 pm on Monday, April 1. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis - i.e. you will be contacted within a week of your application submission for an interview if we are interested. If you have any questions, please email education(a)mmsc.org. Lauren Harshaw, PhD Education Coordinator Marine Mammal Stranding Center 3625 Brigantine Blvd. Brigantine, NJ 08203 Phone:609-266-0538 Fax:609-266-6300 www.mmsc.org

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New publication: From the pool to the sea: Applicable isotope turnover rates and diet to skin discrimination factors for bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
by Joan Giménez Verdugo 01 Mar '19

01 Mar '19

Dear all, We are pleased to announce the publication of the following paper in "Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology": Giménez, J., Ramírez, F., Almunia, J., Forero, M. G., de Stephanis, R. (2016) From the pool to the sea: Applicable isotope turnover rates and diet to skin discrimination factors for bottlenose dolphins (*Tursiops truncatus*). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 475:54-61. *Abstract:*One of the most common applications in isotopic ecology is the assessment of animal's assimilated diet through mass-balance mixing models. Its applicability relies on the use of accurate diet to tissue discrimination factors and turnover rates, which are known to vary as a function of several factors including taxon or tissue type. To date, few studies have assessed isotopic discrimination factors and turnover rates in cetacean species under controlled conditions. Previous experimental studies focused on blood, a difficult sample to obtain in the wild, or on a more appropriate tissue, the skin, but assessed in short experimental trials without arriving to the isotopic equilibrium. We carried out the longest controlled feeding experiment available (350 days) in bottlenose dolphins (*Tursiops truncatus*) in order to assess discrimination factors and turnover rates in skin. Animals' isotopic composition was first stabilized by maintaining individuals under an isotopically constant diet during 172 days. Afterwards, diet was shifted and maintained during 178 days to calculate isotopic discrimination and turnover rates. Estimates for isotopic discrimination factors were 1.01 ± 0.37‰ (mean ± sd) for *δ*13C and 1.57 ± 0.52‰ for *δ*15N. Half-life turnover rates were estimated to be 24.16 ± 8.19 days for carbon and 47.63 ± 19 days for nitrogen. This is the first time that applicable values are available to assess the diet of free ranging small cetaceans through stable isotope mixing model analysis. You can download the paper in: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022098115300514 or visit my ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Joan_Gimenez2) Kind Regards, Joan Giménez -- *Joan Giménez Verdugo* *PhD Student* *Severo Ochoa* Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC) Department of Conservation Biology Americo Vespucio Ave, s/n 41092 Sevilla (Spain) www.ebd.csic.es --- Research Gate: Joan Giménez <https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Joan_Gimenez2> Phone: +34 619 176 849 ü Please consider the environment before printing this E-mail

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NEW PhD Positions with The Southern Ocean Persistent Organic Pollutants Program (SOPOPP)
by Susan Bengtson Nash 28 Feb '19

28 Feb '19

Dear MARMAM Colleagues, The Southern Ocean Persistent Pollutants Program (SOPOPP) at Griffith University's Environmental Futures Research Institute, is currently seeking 3 highly motivated PhD students to join our team on 3 exciting research projects: 1) Cetacean Adiposity This project will investigate cetacean body condition, bioenergetics, and the role that energy reserves play in the toxicological risk posed by lipophilic chemical burdens. The project will, in part, contribute to the SOPOPP Humpback Whale Sentinel Program which seeks to capture and interpret change within the Antarctic sea-ice ecosystem. The right candidate for this project will have a passion for, and demonstrate a strong background in at least one of the following areas; organic chemistry, mammalian physiology or biological modelling. 2) Humpback Whale Ecotoxicology Over the past 11 years, SOPOPP have established a comprehensive timeline of POP exposure in the east coast of Australia migrating breeding stock of humpback whales. In addition, it has developed a number of tools for chemical effect assessment, including a toxicokinetic model and the world's first humpback whale cell line. This Project will utilise these tools, and implement new in-vitro methods, to produce much needed cetacean toxicological effect assessment data for the evaluation of toxicological risk in these species. The right candidate for this project will have a passion for, and a strong background in biochemistry. 3) Biogeochemical Cycling of POPs in a Changing Antarctic Environment Polar Regions are environmental ‘sinks’ for man-made POPs. The unique biogeochemical processes governing POP behaviour in the Polar landscape are not well understood yet are necessary to predict their impact in Polar ecosystems. This project will investigate past and present accumulation of POPs in Antarctic ice, seawater, air and Antarctic krill, and explore chemical distribution and fate in a warming climate. The project will be linked to the Scientific Community for Antarctic Research (SCAR) ImPACT (Input Pathways of Persistent organic pollutants to AntarCTica) Action Group. The right candidate for this project will have a keen interest in Polar science and a strong background in organic chemistry. The successful applicants will need to secure an Australian Postgraduate Award Scholarship /Griffith University Postgraduate Scholarship. Scholarship applications close Monday 29th April, 2019 for a late 2019 start. Scholarships are merit based and applicants will need to demonstrate that they hold a 1st class honours or equivalent, or have been leading author on at least one peer-reviewed journal article. Application Details: Interested applicants should send an expression of interest to Associate Professor Susan Bengtson Nash (s.bengtsonnash(a)griffith.edu.au<mailto:s.bengtsonnash@griffith.edu.au>) no later than 29th March, 2019 Associate Professor Susan Bengtson Nash Program Director Southern Ocean Persistent Organic Pollutants Program (SOPOPP) SCAR: Chair of ImPACT | ARC: College of Experts | Editor: Scientific Reports Environmental Futures Research Institute (EFRI), Griffith University, Nathan Campus. 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia. Email: s.bengtsonnash(a)griffith.edu.au | Phone: +61 (0)7 3735 5062 | Mobile: +61 (0)437 888 711 Twitter: @Antarctica_POPs | Skype: s.bengtsonnash | Website: http://www.griffith.edu.au/environment-planning-architecture/southern-ocean… [cid:350760cd-361d-490b-80fa-61ceeff389e5]

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