April 2019 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Protected Species observer &Passive Acoustic Monitoring
by Stephanie Barnicoat 05 Apr '19

05 Apr '19

Dear Colleagues, Seiche Training will be delivering their Protected Species Observer (PSO) course and Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) course in Boston this summer * PSO - 5-6 August * PAM-7-9th August This PSO training BOEM (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management) compliant to provide Protected Species Observer certification for seismic surveys and is accepted in various other industries and regions where mitigation for marine mammals is needed. PSO's monitor for marine mammals and sea turtles and advise on the measures required to reduce impacts to the animals worldwide. The PSO course looks at Noise in the ocean, the regulations for minimising risks to marine mammals during industrial activities, Types of dredging, marine mammal identification and documenting animal behaviour, data collection and report writing. The PAM course includes an introduction into sound in water, looking at how sound propagates, marine mammal vocalisations, using PAMGuard, with hands on practical sessions and hardware set up, installing and deploying the equipment on a vessel, as the PAM course will include a boat trip to provide experience in locating and identifying protected species at sea, as well as practice in methods for distance estimation. The PSO course is £300 and the PAM course is £625. If you would like a course brochure, require more info or wish to book, please contact trainng(a)seiche.com<mailto:trainng@seiche.com> Seiche Ltd Stephanie Barnicoat Project Officer Seiche Ltd Bradworthy Industrial Estate, Langdon Road, Bradworthy, Holsworthy, Devon, EX22 7SF, United Kingdom T: +44(0)1837 503386 E: s.barnicoat(a)seiche.com W: www.seiche.com Registered in England & Wales No. 3475558, Registered Office: The Custom House, The Strand, Barnstaple, Devon The information contained in this e-mail transmission, and any documents, files or previous e-mail messages attached to it, is privileged and confidential, and solely intended for the use of the individual(s) to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient or a person responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient you should not read, copy, distribute or otherwise use the information, and you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of any of the information contained in or attached to this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify sender immediately and delete this e-mail and attached documents.

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Bioacoustics Conference
by GMail 05 Apr '19

05 Apr '19

The sixth International Conference on Bio-Acoustics, organised by the Institute of Acoustics, will be held at Holywell Park, Loughborough University, UK, 13-14 August 2019. The purpose of the conference will be to review the present state of this continually evolving subject area, to report on new developments and to examine future trends. Equal emphasis will be given to papers dealing with underwater, land-based and airborne studies, covering work which includes but is not limited to the bio-acoustics of birds, bats, insects, and marine and terrestrial mammals. Particular themes of this conference will embrace, but are not restricted to: - Biological sound production and reception mechanisms - Performance evaluation of biological active and passive sonar systems - Biological acoustic countermeasures and predator evasion techniques - Physiological and behavioural impacts of anthropogenic sound - Acoustic methods to reduce contention between animals and man - Measurement and instrumentation systems used to study biological sounds - Classification and analysis techniques for biological sounds - Bio-inspiration and bio-mimetics - applying nature’s solutions to man-made systems - Fisheries acoustics and other industrial applications related to bio-acoustics. This conference will include an area for posters, exhibits and demonstrations. The aim of the poster area is to allow the informal exchange of scientific ideas, views and information. Presenting authors will be encouraged to make use of the poster area to further explore their topic. Space will be made available if they wish to demonstrate working equipment. Prospective authors should submit a title and abstract (up to 300 words) to linda.canty(a)ioa.org.uk, indicating whether they prefer poster or oral presentation. Accepted abstracts will be listed on the website. Lead authors will be notified by email as soon as possible and will be given the option of submitting an extended abstract or a full paper by Friday 14 June 2019 for inclusion in the conference proceedings. Papers may be up to eight pages long, including diagrams, and must be prepared in the correct electronic format. Further details of the conference, such as registration and programme will appear on the IOA web site www.ioa.org.uk when details have been finalised. Organising committee and further information: Peter Dobbins (peterdobbins1(a)gmail.com <mailto:peterdobbins1@gmail.com>), Linda Canty (linda.canty(a)ioa.org.uk <mailto:linda.canty@ioa.org.uk>)

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Duke University Marine Lab Summer Courses: Marine Mammals (July 8-August 9, 2019) - Beaufort, NC
by Reny Tyson Moore 04 Apr '19

04 Apr '19

Greetings! The Duke University Marine Lab is currently accepting enrollments for the summer Marine Mammals course taught by Dr. Reny Tyson Moore, July 9- August 10, 2018. The mammals course may be taken concurrently with Conservation Biology and Policy *or* Drones in Marine Biology, Ecology and Conservation. See below for details. *Marine Mammals (Reny Tyson Moore)** (Taught Monday, Wednesday, Thursday)* This field-intensive course covers the biology, management and conservation of marine mammals using a variety of tools including photo-identification, bio-logging, bioacoustics, and genetic analysis. Detailed consideration is given to adaptation to a marine environment, ecology, history of exploitation of the large whales, and conservation. Laboratory and field exercises address behavior, ecology, and communication of local populations of marine mammals. The course is suitable for both undergraduate and graduate students. BIO 376LA (undergrad)/ENV 776LA (grad) 4 Duke credits. *Conservation Biology & Policy (Rachel Gittman)** (Taught Tuesday & Friday)* Immersion in marine conservation biology and policy. Basic tools of marine conservation for 21st Century society intertwined with current issue modules (e.g., fisheries/aquaculture). Hands-on, team-based, experiential learning w/meaningful faculty-student engagement. Phenomena affecting maintenance and loss of biodiversity (climate change, habitat destruction); key concepts of social science and law for instituting conservation policy; unique experiential learning highlighting ecological, economic, cultural, and institutional complexity associated with current conservation issues. BIO 270A (undergraduate)/BIO709A (grad). 3 Duke credits. *Drones in Marine Biology, Ecology and Conservation (David Johnston) **(Taught Tuesday & Friday)* Includes a full overview of past and emerging applications for ecology and biology of marine species and coastal habitats with in-depth discussion on future of drone applications in coastal biological and ecological research. Comprehensive exploration of current drone technologies, including detection limits of target species, payload selection, operational procedures aeronautical concepts, rules and regulations, safety, mission planning, aircraft design, maintenance, data collection, management and analysis. Biological and technical lab components tailored to student interests: Active participation in megafaunal or environmental research and data analysis. Building, operating and maintaining aircraft, programming for manual and autonomous flight. The use of unoccupied aircraft systems (UAS) is changing how marine scientists collect data on animals and the environments they inhabit. This course introduces students to the basics of using UAS in marine environments, presenting examples of existing and emerging applications, detailing the types of sensors used for marine applications, describes the sampling complexities of the marine environment, and provides and overview of typical workflows and data management. Details on regulatory and permitting requirements to fly UAS and legally and safely are also covered. The lab portion of the course will focus on basic aeronautics, flight planning and simulations, and the design, assembly, operation and maintenance of unoccupied aerial vehicles. ENV 335A (undergrad) /735A (grad). 3 Duke credits. For additional information on Duke’s new Marine Robotics & Remote Sensing Facility, visit the website <http://superpod.ml.duke.edu/uas/>. Please visit our web pages for additional information: · For graduate students: https://nicholas.duke.edu/marinelab/programs/graduate/summerII · For undergraduate students: https://nicholas.duke.edu/marinelab/programs/undergraduate/summerII · To enroll: contact Katie Wood (katie.wood(a)duke.edu) * *Students will receive a Duke University transcript at the conclusion of the course.* Tuition & Fees: https://nicholas.duke.edu/marinelab/programs/undergraduate/tuition-fees#Sum… A limited number of tuition scholarships are available (deadline for submission is Friday, May 24): https://nicholas.duke.edu/marinelab/programs/undergraduate/financial-assist… -- Reny Tyson Moore, PhD Staff Scientist Sarasota Dolphin Research Program Chicago Zoological Society (352) 408-6018 cell rtysonmoore(a)mote.org <rtyson(a)mote.org>

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Announcement of new publication
by Eva Maria Leunissen 04 Apr '19

04 Apr '19

Dear MARMAM community, On behalf of my co-authors, I'm pleased to announce the publication of our article: Impact of pile-driving on Hector's dolphin in Lyttelton Harbour, New Zealand Eva M. Leunissen, William J. Rayment and Stephen M. Dawson. Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 142, 31-42 Abstract Several dolphin species occur close inshore and in harbours, where underwater noise generated by pile-driving used in wharf construction may constitute an important impact. Such impacts are likely to be greatest on species such as the endangered Hector's dolphin (*Cephalorhynchus hectori*), which has small home ranges and uses this habitat type routinely. Using automated echolocation detectors in Lyttelton Harbour (New Zealand), we studied the distribution of Hector's dolphins using a gradient sampling design over 92 days within which pile-driving occurred on 46 days. During piling operations, dolphin positive minutes per day decreased at the detector closest to the piling but increased at the mid-harbour detector. Finer-grained analyses showed that close to the piling operation, detections decreased with increasing sound exposure level, that longer piling events were associated with longer reductions in detections, and that effects were long-lasting - detection rates took up to 83 h to return to pre-piling levels. The full article, is available at https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1Yjxk,ashtxHy To request a PDF copy, please email me at eva.leunissen(a)gmail.com Cheers, Eva Leunissen Department of Marine Science, University of Otago Dunedin, New Zealand

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New Article: Empirical determination of severe trauma in seals from collisions with tidal turbine blades
by Joseph Onoufriou 04 Apr '19

04 Apr '19

New Article: Empirical determination of severe trauma in seals from collisions with tidal turbine blades Dear MARMAM, We are pleased to announce the publication of our new paper in Journal of Applied Ecology: Onoufriou, J. , Brownlow, A. , Moss, S. , Hastie, G. and Thompson, D. (2019) Empirical determination of severe trauma in seals from collisions with tidal turbine blades. J Appl Ecol. Accepted Author Manuscript. doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.13388 <https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13388> Abstract: 1.Tidal energy converters (turbines) are being developed in many countries as part of attempts to reduce reliance on hydrocarbon fuels. However, the moving blades of tidal turbines pose potential collision risks for marine animals. Accurate assessment of mortality risk as a result of collisions is essential for risk management during planning and consenting processes for marine energy developments. In the absence of information on the physical consequences of such collisions, predicting likely risks relies on theoretical collision risk models. The application of these at a population level usually assumes that all collisions result in mortality. This is unlikely and the approach therefore produces upwardly biased estimates of population consequences. 2.In this study, we estimate the pathological consequences of direct collisions with tidal turbines using seal carcasses and physical models of tidal turbine blades. We quantify severe trauma at a range of impact speeds and to different areas of seal carcasses. A dose‐response model was developed with associated uncertainty to determine an impact speed threshold of severe trauma to use in future collision risk models. 3.Results showed that severe trauma was restricted to the thoracic region, with no evidence of injury to the lumbar or cervical spine. Pathological indicators of mortality were only predicted to occur in collision speeds in excess of 5.1 m.s−1 (95% c.i. 3.2 to 6.6) and was affected by body condition; increasing blubber depth reduced the likelihood of severe trauma. 4*.Synthesis and applications*. This study provides important information for policy makers and regulators looking to predict the potential impacts of tidal turbines on marine mammals. We demonstrate that the probability of severe trauma in seals due to collisions with turbine blades is highly dependent upon collision speed, and that the majority of predicted collisions are unlikely to cause fatal skeletal trauma. We recommend that collision risk models incorporate appropriate mortality assumptions to ensure accurate estimates of the population consequences are produced in risk assessments for tidal turbine deployment please feel free to e-mail me at *jo26(a)st-andrews.ac.uk <jo26(a)st-andrews.ac.uk>* if you have any questions. Best wishes, Joe Onoufriou & co-authors Joe

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Job opportunity Mathematics / Statistics / Cetacean acoustics
by Nick Tregenza 04 Apr '19

04 Apr '19

Job title: Applied Statistician / Mathematician (KTP Associate) Job reference: P66906 Application closing date: 22/04/2019 Location: Cornwall, UK. Salary: The starting salary will be from £35,211 up to £43,267 on Grade F, depending on qualifications and experience. This is a unique opportunity to work as the KTP Associate on a Knowledge Transfer Partnership<http://ktp.innovateuk.org/> <http://ktp.innovateuk.org/> between the University of Exeter and Chelonia Ltd. This post is available immediately, for 36 months, with the possibility of a permanent position within Chelonia after the project finishes. Full details about the position, and a link to apply online can be found at the link here.<https://jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecruitment/wrd/run/ETREC107GF.open?VACAN…> <https://jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecruitment/wrd/run/ETREC107GF.open?VACAN…> For informal enquiries, please contact: Dr TJ McKinley (T.McKinley(a)exeter.ac.uk <mailto:T.McKinley@exeter.ac.uk><mailto:T.McKinley@exeter.ac.uk> <mailto:T.McKinley@exeter.ac.uk>; 01326 259331) at the University of Exeter, Dr Nick Tregenza (nick.tregenza(a)chelonia.co.uk <mailto:nick.tregenza@chelonia.co.uk><mailto:nick.tregenza@chelonia.co.uk> <mailto:nick.tregenza@chelonia.co.uk>; 01736 732462) at Chelonia Ltd. Summary of the role/position You will be employed by the University of Exeter, but will be based at the company premises in Mousehole, Cornwall. They will work closely with both the academic team and Chelonia Ltd to develop novel statistical / machine learning techniques for counting and identifying marine mammals from passive acoustic monitoring data. The academic team are based at the Penryn Campus of the University of Exeter, which is a world leading centre for ecology and conservation and close to the Chelonia premises in Mousehole. This is a unique opportunity to launch or develop a highly skilled career in Cornwall, an area of the country which offers an exceptionally high quality of life. You should: * have a mathematics or statistics background, with a PhD or nearing completion; * be able to demonstrate a high level of proficiency in applied spatial or ecological modelling and programming proficiency in technical computing languages such as R or Python, and/or C/C++; * experience with computational statistics, machine learning and data analysis will be an advantage and the successful applicant will have a strong interest in this area; * possess excellent time management and communication skills (both written and oral); * be self-motivated and able to work both independently and collaboratively with the company and academic teams; * a demonstrable interest in nature conservation, particularly cetaceans, will also be an advantage.

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PSO/PAM Brazil
by Stephanie Barnicoat 04 Apr '19

04 Apr '19

Dear Colleagues, Seiche Training will be delivering their Protected Species Observer (PSO) course and Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) course in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil * PSO - 7-8TH Nov * PAM-9-11TH Nov This PSO training BOEM (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management) compliant to provide Protected Species Observer certification for seismic surveys and is accepted in various other industries and regions where mitigation for marine mammals is needed. PSO/PAM operators monitor for marine mammals and sea turtles and advise on the measures required to reduce impacts to the animals worldwide. The PSO course looks at Noise in the ocean, the regulations for minimising risks to marine mammals during industrial activities, Types of dredging, marine mammal identification and documenting animal behaviour, data collection and report writing. The PAM course includes an introduction into sound in water, looking at how sound propagates, marine mammal vocalisations, using PAMGuard, with hands on practical sessions and hardware set up, installing and deploying the equipment on a vessel, as the PAM course will include a boat trip to provide experience in locating and identifying protected species at sea, as well as practice in methods for distance estimation. The PSO course is £250 and the PAM course is £450. If you would like a course brochure, require more info or wish to book, please contact trainng(a)seiche.com<mailto:trainng@seiche.com> Seiche Ltd Stephanie Barnicoat Project Officer Seiche Ltd Bradworthy Industrial Estate, Langdon Road, Bradworthy, Holsworthy, Devon, EX22 7SF, United Kingdom T: +44(0)1837 503386 E: s.barnicoat(a)seiche.com W: www.seiche.com Registered in England & Wales No. 3475558, Registered Office: The Custom House, The Strand, Barnstaple, Devon The information contained in this e-mail transmission, and any documents, files or previous e-mail messages attached to it, is privileged and confidential, and solely intended for the use of the individual(s) to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient or a person responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient you should not read, copy, distribute or otherwise use the information, and you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of any of the information contained in or attached to this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify sender immediately and delete this e-mail and attached documents.

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PSO Training Summer Courses: Monterey, CA and Boston, MA
by Angela Bostwick 04 Apr '19

04 Apr '19

MPSC is offering Protected Species Observer training courses this summer in Monterey, CA and Boston, MA. PSO training will take place in Monterey, CA on June 1st and 2nd, and will include a vessel trip to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. PSO training in Boston will take place on June 8th and 9th, and will include a vessel trip to Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Both sanctuaries are top whale-watching locations, and the vessel trips will provide opportunity to practice the protected species monitoring identification techniques discussed in class. Students will also be able to practice wildlife photography using digital SLR cameras, and distance estimation using binoculars with reticles. The course examines the regulations for reducing seismic survey impacts to marine mammals and sea turtles, how to visually locate and identify the animals, and objectively documenting animal behavior for reporting to regulatory agencies. Lunch is provided each day, along with various identification guides and regulatory documents (yours to keep), advice on applying to PSO positions, the vessel trip, and the professional certification. Additional information may be found on the MPSC website at http://www.protectedspeciesobservers.com/, by contacting me at ABostwick(a)PSOCertifications.com, or by phone at 832-523-2402. Thank you, Angela Bostwick Founder / Marine Protected Species Consulting ProtectedSpeciesObservers.com https://Facebook.com/ProtectedSpeciesObservers/

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Glacier Bay & Icy Strait, Alaska Humpback Whale Population Monitoring: 2018 Update
by Neilson, Janet 03 Apr '19

03 Apr '19

The following report summarizing humpback whale monitoring results from Glacier Bay and Icy Strait, Alaska in 2018 is now available: Neilson, J.L., and C.M. Gabriele. 2019. Glacier Bay & Icy Strait Humpback Whale Population Monitoring: 2018 Update. National Park Service Resource Brief, Gustavus, Alaska. https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/DownloadFile/620535 [692 K, 6 pages] *KEY FINDINGS:* - We documented 100 unique humpback whales, our lowest annual count since 2002. - Humpback whale abundance in Glacier Bay and Icy Strait has declined by >50% since peaking in 2013. - This downtrend trend has been most dramatic in Glacier Bay, where we identified only 45 whales in 2018, a 72% decline compared to our record high count of 161 whales in 2013. - We documented only one mother/calf pair in 2018 but by mid-August the mother had lost her calf, marking total reproductive failure for the first time in this 34-year study. - An increasing number of whales that exhibited long-term site fidelity to GB-IS in 2004-2013 (n = 66) have not been documented since 2013. In 2018, over half (56%) of these well-known whales were missing. - For the third year in a row, we observed numerous abnormally thin whales, however it appears this was less common than in 2017. - Although our monitoring results clearly indicate dramatic population level changes over the past five years, we do not know if the declines in whale numbers represent a shift in distribution and/or increased mortality from 2014-2018. Efforts to locate the whales missing from Glacier Bay and Icy Strait in catalogs from other feeding areas (e.g., British Columbia and Prince William Sound) have so far yielded no matches. Through a new collaboration with Happywhale.com, we recently initiated expanding our search area to the broader North Pacific. - Within Alaska, the consistent, long-term, monitoring of humpback whales is limited to Glacier Bay and Icy Strait, although our findings are consistent with negative trends in abundance, reproduction, and body condition for humpbacks in other areas in the central North Pacific. - Growing evidence suggests that recent declines in humpback whales and other marine species may be related to the unprecedented marine heatwave that occurred in the North Pacific from 2014-2016. -- Janet Neilson Humpback Whale Monitoring Program Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve PO Box 140 Gustavus, Alaska 99826 907-697-2658

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Underwater Sound Sources: 2019 Webinar Series for the International Regulatory Community
by Holly Morin 03 Apr '19

03 Apr '19

****apologies for cross postings**** The ocean is full of both natural and anthropogenic (human-made) sources of sound. Much attention has been focused on anthropogenic sound sources in the ocean and potential effects on marine mammals, fishes, and invertebrates. Regulators, decision makers, public affairs officers, industry representatives, other members of the international regulatory community, and others interested in underwater acoustics are invited to participate in the *Discovery of Sound in the Sea (DOSITS)* <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.dosits.org&d=DwMFAw…> *free, four-part webinar series on anthropogenic underwater sound sources*. The webinars will include an overview of anthropogenic sound sources, including commercial shipping, pile driving, seismic sources, and sonar. Each webinar will last approximately 60 minutes and provide an update on current research efforts along with a review of noise mitigation measures. An extended period of facilitated discussion will also be included at the end of each webinar. Prior to each webinar, an outline of the presentation(s), with links to relevant background content on DOSITS, will be made available. *Participants are encouraged to review these outlines, as well as **archived webinars on the potential effects of underwater sound on marine animals* <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__dosits.org_decision-2D…>*, before each sound source webinar.* All webinars will be recorded and archived on the DOSITS website (*Decision Makers Webinars* <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__dosits.org_decision-2D…>). A summary of questions asked, and their answers, will be posted online after each webinar. The first two webinars of this four-part series will take place in May 2019 and will focus on underwater sound associated with seismic sources, pile driving, and wind turbines. Subsequent webinars will take place in fall 2019 and will focus on commercial shipping, sonar, and echosounders. *Wednesday, May 1, 2019, 12:00 pm ET* - Dr. Robert Gisiner: Seismic Sound Sources *Wednesday, May 22, 2019, 12:00 pm ET* - Dr. James Miller and Dr. Kathleen Vigness-Raposa: Pile-driving - Dr. Jakob Tougaard: Wind Turbines *Interested individuals must register in advance for each webinar*. *To register please visit: https://dosits.org/decision-makers/webinar-series/webinars-2019/ <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__dosits.org_decision-2D…>* To learn more about this webinar series or to view previous webinars or other, upcoming webinar dates and speakers, please visit the DOSITS webpage, *Decision Makers Webinars* <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__dosits.org_decision-2D…>. Associated webinars and their resources were conducted in 2018, and have been archived here <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__dosits.org_decision-2D…> . Questions? Please contact Holly Morin at holly_morin(a)uri.edu.

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