August 2019 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Survey: Do Marine Mammals in Aquariums receive more freedom debate than Terrestrial Mammals in Zoos?
by Sonja Samokovlija 12 Aug '19

12 Aug '19

I am doing a survey-based study about animals in captivity and professional opinion about the same. Data collected will be used and interpreted for my degree Honours project in Environmental Conservation, Bangor University. This is an anonymous survey that is targeting professionals in fields of Marine Biology, Zoology, Environmental Conservation, Veterinary Science and Animal care specialists as well as similar fields. The survey will take approximately 15 minutes and it is structured out of short, clear, simple to answer questions with question types such as yes/no questions, scales, and ranking as well as open ending questions. If you have a few minutes to spare and fill it in please do, feel free to ask your colleagues to do the same if they are interested. Thank you! https://szonyas.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/do-marine-mammals-in-aquariums-receive-… Public opinion questionnaire surveys can experience several types of bias, which are proven by many previous studies (Wassermann et al. 2018). Survey for this study, therefore, focuses on surveying educated professional to determine whether bias can be spotted across different fields due to exposure to debates, animal welfare, and job-creation issues. Furthermore, this study will seek to see what opinion is shared when it comes to the improvement of the welfare of captive mammals.

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Registration open for Fall 2019 - Aquatic Animal Conservation Issues
by Larkin,Iskande (Iske) 11 Aug '19

11 Aug '19

Hi All, The University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine would like to send notice that registration for our fall online course is open. Aquatic Animal Conservation Issues is an online course (3 credits) designed to introduce students (upper level undergraduate and graduate) and professionals (with an AA or higher degree) to the controversial issues surrounding aquatic animal species ranging from invertebrates to marine mammals, with an emphasis on marine mammals, but also including sea turtles, fisheries, and marine ecosystems. Students enrolled at any College or University within the US or internationally can take this course. For more information about this classes or enrollment, contact Dr. Iskande Larkin (ivlarkin(a)ufl.edu<mailto:ivlarkin@ufl.edu> ). If you are interested in taking this class, registration is now open for Fall (2019). The semester runs from Monday, August 20th - Wednesday, December 4th. Sincerely, Dr Larkin [Description: AAH logo blue E-Mail Sig] Iske V. Larkin, PhD Lecturer & Education Coordinator Interim Director Aquatic Animal Health Program Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine University of Florida PO Box 100136 2015 SW 16th Ave Gainesville, Florida 32610 Office phone - 352-294-4095 Work cell - 352-494-1742 Fax - 352-392-8289 Program web page: http://aquatic.vetmed.ufl.edu<http://aquatic.vetmed.ufl.edu/> "To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world." -Anonymous ________________________________ Please note that Florida has a broad public records law, and that all correspondence to or from University of Florida employees via email may be subject to disclosure.

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new publication on beaked whale acoustics
by Laura Joan Feyrer 09 Aug '19

09 Aug '19

For those interested in beaked whale acoustics, we are pleased to announce our publication "Click characteristics of northern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus) and Sowerby's beaked whales (Mesoplodon bidens) off eastern Canada," has been published in The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (Vol.146, No.1). It can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1121/1.5111336 DOI: 10.1121/1.5111336 ABSTRACT Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is crucial to expanding the knowledge of beaked whales, including the northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus) and Sowerby's beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens). Existing descriptions of clicks produced by these species are limited by sample size, number of individuals recorded, and geographic scope. Data from multiple encounters in the western North Atlantic are used to provide a quantitative description of clicks produced by these species. Recordings from nine encounters with northern bottlenose whales in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland were analyzed (N = 2239 clicks). The click type described had a median peak frequency of 25.9 kHz (10th–90th percentile range: 22.9–29.3 kHz), and a median inter-click interval (ICI) of 402 ms (N = 1917, 10th–90th percentile range: 290–524 ms). Recordings from 18 Sowerby's beaked whale encounters from Nova Scotia were analyzed (N = 762 clicks). The click type described had a median peak frequency of 65.8 kHz (10th–90th percentile range: 61.5–76.5 kHz), and a median ICI of 237 ms (N = 677, 10th–90th percentile range: 130–315 ms). These results will contribute to the development of methods to detect and classify beaked whale clicks to the species level, improving the effectiveness of PAM and enhancing scientific understanding and conservation efforts for cryptic and at-risk cetaceans. Cheers, Laura Feyrer, PhD Candidate Dalhousie University Northern Bottlenose Whale Project https://northernbottlenosewhale.weebly.com/ <https://northernbottlenosewhale.weebly.com/contact.html>

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Workshop Announcement for Marine Mammal Emergency Response and Preparedness at the World Marine Mammal Conference
by Mendy Garron - NOAA Federal 09 Aug '19

09 Aug '19

Management of Marine Mammal Morbidity and Mortality Events – Emergency Response and Preparedness Full-day Workshop Sunday, December 8, 2019 Increasing climate and environmental variability may lead to unusual and elevated marine mammal stranding events. The increase in frequency of Unusual Stranding Events (UME) has taxed the resources of established stranding responders as well as local, state, and federal agencies. The need to identify ways to rapidly locate and deploy resources is critical to addressing these emerging events. At the start of 2019, nine federally declared Unusual Mortality Events (UME) were open in the United States, with seven events actively responding to elevated stranding rates of marine mammal taxa from whales to pinnipeds. These mortality events increased the demands placed on the national stranding response network and required a significant amount of additional resources to manage. Over the last decade, stranding responders have worked with local, state, and federal government emergency response frameworks to integrate response efforts related to large scale marine mammal morbidity and mortality events into their response operations. Case studies of large mortality events, high profile stranding cases, and complex incidents will be presented in this workshop, along with lessons learned documented through extensive after-action review processes with stranding network professionals. Recommendations developed by stranding responders and government agencies will be provided and interactive training sessions for marine mammal field responders will be integrated into the workshop. Unusual stranding events considered in this workshop will include mass strandings, elevated stranding rates over an extended time period, oil spill related events, out-of-habitat situations, carcass disposal and general response that taxes the local resources during an emergency response. Intended audience includes existing, as well as newly formed, stranding response organizations, non-governmental, academic, local, state and federal response entities. Workshop Information and Registration <https://www.wmmconference.org/workshops/#Management%20of%20Marine%20Mammal%…> We look forward to seeing you in Barcelona! Mendy Garron and Robert DiGiovanni Jr. (workshop organizers) mendy.garron(a)noaa.gov / rdigiovanni(a)amseas.org

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Vacancies: 1 x MMO & 3 x PAMO
by Recruitment 09 Aug '19

09 Aug '19

Dear MMOs and PAMOs, OSC has the following contract vacancies: 1 x PAMO on a short piling job in North Sea, expected to commence 16th August for approximately 2 weeks. 1 x PAMO for a seismic vessel in North Sea, expected to commence 11th September for approximately 5-6 weeks 1 x MMO and 1 x PAMO for a seismic vessel in North Sea, expected to commence 11th September for approximately 5-6 weeks These vacancies are restricted to EU citizens, or overseas citizens in possession of a current work visa. If you have not worked for OSC previously or recently, we will require scans/copies of your CV, passport, degree certificate(s), MMO and PAM, survival and medical. OSC also has numerous short-notice vacancies at present, some with only 1-2 days' notice, with durations varying from a few days to months, so if personnel are available and seeking work for any duration, it's worthwhile dropping us an email to see if any projects are aligned. We also receive requests for personnel certified to monitor seabirds, so these professionals are also welcome to apply. Kind regards, -- Recruitment Ocean Science Consulting Limited (OSC) Spott Road, Dunbar, East Lothian, EH42 1RR, Scotland, UK T: +44 (0)1368 865 722 W: www.osc.co.uk<http://www.osc.co.uk/>

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New publication: UK seas act as migratory stopover/alternative destination for humpback whales
by Emily Cunningham 09 Aug '19

09 Aug '19

Dear MARMAM colleagues, We are pleased to announce our new open access publication: O'Neil, K.E., Cunningham, E.G. and Moore, D.M., 2019. Sudden seasonal occurrence of humpback whales *Megaptera novaeangliae* in the Firth of Forth, Scotland and first confirmed movement between high-latitude feeding grounds and United Kingdom waters. *Marine Biodiversity Records*, 12(12). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41200-019-0172-7 Plain English Summary In this publication, we report on the first confirmed record of a UK-sighted humpback whale in their Arctic feeding grounds (Svalbard-Scotland) and suggest that UK seas act as a migratory stopover or alternative destination for eastern North Atlantic humpback whales on their southbound migration. With all data collected by volunteer whale watchers, our new publication is a strong example of the power of citizen science and of science-community collaboration. Abstract Here we report on the sudden seasonal occurrence of humpback whales *Megaptera novaeangliae* within the Firth of Forth, Scotland, UK over the winter months of 2017 and 2018. Sightings and photographs collected by citizen scientists of the Forth Marine Mammal Project were inspected and a fluke photograph compared to existing catalogues from all known feeding and breeding grounds across the North Atlantic. No matches to breeding grounds were found but a fluke match to a non-catalogued individual in Svalbard (Norway) constitutes the first confirmed movement of a UK-recorded humpback whale from high-latitude feeding grounds. A different individual was photographed in the Firth of Forth in both 2017 and 2018, providing evidence of a whale returning to the Firth of Forth in consecutive years. Despite year-round observation, the discrete seasonality of sightings suggests that the Firth of Forth may represent a migratory stopover or alternative destination for humpback whales on their southbound migration. Overall, these findings constitute a formalised baseline of information regarding the occurrence of humpback whales in the Firth of Forth and contribute to our understanding of the migration habits of humpback whales in the eastern North Atlantic. The open access article can be found at the following link: https://mbr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s41200-019-0172-7 A plain English summary (for popular science audiences) can be found at: www.emilycunningham.co.uk/news/ All questions to me at emily(a)emilycunningham.co.uk Best wishes, Emily *Emily Cunningham* Marine Conservation Research & Consultancy England, UK LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilygcunningham/> | Twitter <https://twitter.com/EG_Cunningham> www.emilycunningham.co.uk

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New publication: Habitat use models of spatially auto-correlated data: a case study of the common bottlenose dolphin
by Rodrigo Tardin 09 Aug '19

09 Aug '19

Dear all, We are pleased to announce our latest paper: Rodrigo H. Tardin, Yongwan Chun, Sheila M. Simão & Maria Alice S. Alves (2019) Habitat use models of spatially auto-correlated data: a case study of the common bottlenose dolphin, *Tursiops truncatus truncatus*, in southeastern Brazil,Marine Biology Research, DOI: 10.1080/17451000.2019.1644773 <https://doi.org/10.1080/17451000.2019.1644773> Abstract: A common approach to studying habitat use in cetaceans is to conduct line-transect surveys, to investigate their distribution. In developing countries, there are limited resources for data collection. One solution is to employ field surveys to collect a wide range of ecological and behavioural data, for which a haphazard sampling schedule is adopted, to optimize the cost–benefit ratio. As with line-transect surveys, the haphazard sampling may lead to spatial autocorrelation (SAC), an overlooked problem in ecology. Here, we investigated common bottlenose dolphins (*Tursiops truncatus truncatus*) habitat use on an upwelling area and tested an approach that can improve model-based inference on auto-correlated data. We collected data in Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro, photo-identified 429 individuals and compared the predictions and model coefficients of standard generalized linear model (GLM) without correcting for spatial autocorrelation with a spatial eigenvector generalized linear model (SEV-GLM) which compensates for SAC. Our best SEV-GLM predicted dolphins are more likely to occur on cold waters with increased chlorophyll concentration, indicating dolphins are influenced by the upwelling. Moreover, by correcting for SAC, our models had a better fit to data, magnified the relevance of significant variables and showed smaller and less clumped residuals than when not correcting. The paper is available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17451000.2019.1644773 or email me at: rhtardin(a)gmail.com. Cheers, Rodrigo Rodrigo Tardin Pós-doutorando - Departamento de Ecologia - IB - UFRJ Pesquisador Associado - Laboratório de Bioacústica e Ecologia de Cetáceos D.Sc. em Ecologia e Evolução - IBRAG - UERJ ----- Post-doctoral fellow - Ecology department - IB - UFRJ (RJ, Brazil) D.Sc. in Ecology and Evolution - UERJ Associate scientist at Cetacean Bioacoustics and Ecology Lab http://lattes.cnpq.br/3231576901208672 http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0807-6937 http://www.researcherid.com/rid/J-6566-2013 https://lbec.jimdo.com/

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Recruiting - 3 PhD Opportunities
by Michelle Shero 09 Aug '19

09 Aug '19

Recruiting 3 PhD students at: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Texas Tech University, and University of Nevada Las Vegas in Marine Mammal Physiology, Behavior, and Genetics We are seeking PhD candidates to work on an NSF-funded project using Weddell seals in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica as a model to examine why some individuals within populations produce more offspring than others. The successful candidates will be part of a highly-collaborative team that aims to distinguish which plastic (physiologic and behavioral) and fixed (genetic) traits make some ‘robust’ female Weddell seals particularly successful at producing pups year-after-year, while other ‘frail’ females produce far fewer pups throughout their lifetime than the population’s average. The positions ideally would begin Fall 2020, but it would be possible to start later. Student research projects will reflect program needs in the following core fields, but will also be tailored to student interest. Physiology: One student will focus on the physiological factors that impact energy dynamics, aerobic capacity, and reproductive success so experience with biochemistry/molecular labwork is a plus. Example projects include studying female-to-pup energy transfer during lactation in ‘robust’ vs ‘frail’ female Weddell seals, links between female physiologic dive capacities and her pup’s, and differences in female reproductive phenology (ovulation timing, pregnancy rates, pregnancy loss) and hormones between ‘robust’ and ‘frail’ seals. This student would be housed at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s Biology Department, in a joint-program with MIT, advised by Dr. Michelle Shero (www.shero-lab.com <http://www.shero-lab.com/>). Details on the WHOI/MIT joint PhD program and admission criteria can be found at http://mit.whoi.edu/program-description <http://mit.whoi.edu/program-description>, applications due Dec 15. Behavior & Bioenergetics: One student will focus on year-round foraging behavior and the impact this has on activity budgets and bioenergetics, so any prior modeling or programming experience would be viewed favorably. Example projects include studying female-pup pair dive behavior during lactation, differences in summer/winter dive behavior between ‘robust’ and ‘frail’ seals, impacts of physiology on post-weaned pup dive behavior, and developing a bioenergetics model to identify crucial deviations in how ‘robust’ vs ‘frail’ seals navigate critical life history events. This student would be housed at Texas Tech University’s Department of Biological Sciences with Dr. Jennifer Burns (http://burnslab.wix.com/burnslab <http://burnslab.wix.com/burnslab>). Prospective student information can be found at https://www.depts.ttu.edu/biology/academics/graduate/prospective-students/ <https://www.depts.ttu.edu/biology/academics/graduate/prospective-students/>, applications due Jan 15. Genomics: One student will focus on the inherent genomic differences between ‘robust’ and ‘frail’ Weddell seals, so experience with bioinformatics analysis would be an asset. Example projects include identifying genetic variants in genes responsible for energy allocation, aerobic scope, and fertility between Weddell seal cohorts through whole-genome sequencing. This student would also perform experiments to demonstrate that genetic variants ultimately have functional effects on animal phenotype (i.e., transcription, translation), and there is additional opportunity for cell culture experiments. This student would be advised by Dr. Allyson Hindle (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Allyson_Hindle <https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Allyson_Hindle>) at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, and would also work closely with Dr. Brandon Briggs (University of Alaska Anchorage; https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/college-of-arts-and-sciences/departmen… <https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/college-of-arts-and-sciences/departmen…>). Interested students should see: https://www.unlv.edu/degree/phd-biological-sciences <https://www.unlv.edu/degree/phd-biological-sciences>; application deadline is Jan 15. Preference will be given to highly motivated candidates with a Bachelor of Science or Master of Science degree in biology or closely related field, who have a strong academic record, and that enjoy working both in the laboratory and field. Candidates must be physically fit, able to work long hours outdoors in the cold, able to pass medical and dental screening criteria for long deployments in remote field locations and be the holder of a valid passport (U.S. or other). Prior laboratory and/or field research in ecology of mammals is a plus. The successful applicants will spend 2-4 months in the field at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, each year. The grant/institutions will provide student stipend and tuition, and students will be expected to occasionally work as a teaching assistant (varies slightly by institution). The positions are open until filled. Interested applicants should contact Dr. Michelle Shero at <mshero(a)whoi.edu <mailto:mshero@whoi.edu>> and provide a C.V., unofficial transcript, and a cover letter that indicates which project aspect(s) is/are of greatest interest to the applicant. For further information, please also contact Michelle Shero. Dr. Michelle R. Shero Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution 266 Woods Hole Rd MS#50 Woods Hole, MA 02543 508-289-3961

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Ocean Sciences Meeting 2020 session: Climate Impacts on Marine Species
by Erin Meyer-Gutbrod 08 Aug '19

08 Aug '19

Dear Colleagues, The 2020 Ocean Sciences Meeting < https://www2.agu.org/ocean-sciences-meeting/> will take place 16-21 February 2020 in San Diego, California. We are chairing a new session entitled "Climate Impacts on Marine Species" (PC002) < https://agu.confex.com/agu/osm20/prelim.cgi/Session/85723>. This session is an opportunity to exchange ideas about natural and anthropogenic climate effects on marine species. We welcome studies that focus on a wide variety of taxa, including fish, marine mammals, seabirds, corals, invertebrates and plankton. We also welcome research on adopting fishery and/or marine conservation policies in response to climate impacts. Please consider submitting an abstract: < https://agu.confex.com/agu/osm20/pc/papers/index.cgi?sessionid=85723>. Abstracts are due by 11 September 2019. More information on the session is below. Topic: Past, Present and Future Climate Title: Climate impacts on marine species Session ID: PC002 The marine environment is disproportionately impacted by climate change, as evidenced through increasing water temperature, ocean acidification, deoxygenation, rising sea levels, shifting circulation patterns and increased storm activity. We invite presentations that explore the observed or modeled response of marine organisms to climate variability or climate change. Recent studies have revealed climate-mediated declines in some marine species, while others have shown remarkable resilience to climate change. For example, Arctic sea ice loss threatens species that rely on ice for habitat such as polar bears and ringed seals, whereas tuna species that target moderate sea surface temperatures may experience range expansion. Ecological impacts can derive from changes in physiology, bioenergetics, abundance, distribution, habitat, community structure, reproduction, behavior, and phenology. A wide range of marine organisms will be considered, including invertebrates, fish, reptiles, mammals, and sea birds. We also invite presentations that explore climate impacts on marine fisheries in terms of spatial distribution, changing target species and/or gear type, or simply the challenges faced by fisheries management in a changing climate. This session will showcase observed and predicted responses of marine organisms to climate change and provide a venue for researchers to contrast climate-driven phenomena across regions and taxa. Erin Meyer-Gutbrod; University of California, Santa Barbara; elmg(a)ucsb.edu Vincent S Saba; NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service; Vincent.Saba(a)noaa.gov Kristin Liisa Laidre; Polar Science Center; klaidre(a)uw.edu Barbara Muhling; University of California, Santa Cruz; barbara.muhling(a)noaa.gov -- Erin Meyer-Gutbrod, Ph.D. http://meyer-gutbrod.weebly.com/ Marine Science Institute; Rm 3405 University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 93106-6150 eringutbrod(a)gmail.com 216-548-9082

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Potomac-Chesapeake Dolphin Project Field Assistant Ad
by Ann-Marie Jacoby 08 Aug '19

08 Aug '19

Potomac-Chesapeake Dolphin Project Field Assistant Ad The Potomac-Chesapeake Dolphin Project (PCDP) is seeking two dedicated research assistants for the upcoming fall field season (September 3rd to October 23rd, 2019) in Heathsville, Virginia, USA. The PCDP was established in 2015 by Professor Janet Mann of Georgetown University. The PCDP’s mission is to better understand and protect bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Chesapeake Bay and greater western North Atlantic Ocean. Despite being the largest, and most populated estuary in the US, almost nothing is known about bottlenose dolphins in the Chesapeake. Yet, reports of dolphins in the area date back to the 1800s, with sightings as close as 13km from the US’ capitol, Washington, DC. This field season is part of an ongoing PhD project studying the populations dynamics, behavior, and historical presence of bottlenose dolphins in the Potomac River-Chesapeake Bay area. Field work is demanding and requires long hours both on and off the water. There is no guarantee of seeing dolphins on a daily basis given their seasonal presence. However, when dolphins are sighted, there can be well over 100 in a group and spending time with them is incredibly fun and rewarding. Field assistants will gain valuable research experience. We particularly encourage those interested in pursuing graduate school in marine mammalogy to apply. Timeframe: ~2 months Field site: Heathsville, Virginia, USA. Heathsville is approximately 200km south east of Washington, D.C. in the Northern Neck of Virginia. Our field site is located where the Potomac River meets the Chesapeake Bay. Even though Heathsville is in relatively close proximity to DC, Heathsville is remote. We do have a fieldhouse with electricity, water, limited cell phone service, and limited internet. Housing will be provided, and the research team will share cooking and cleaning responsibilities in a communal kitchen. We eat a predominantly vegetarian diet. Job responsibilities: Research assistants will help collect transect and behavioral surveys on bottlenose dolphins. Boat work is dependent on weather, but even on windy days we need to be ready to pack up and quickly get out on the water if the wind drops. Days on the water can be consecutive, long, and tiring in variable environmental conditions (often very hot and humid conditions). Days on land require extensive, and tedious, data entry and processing. Most of your time will be spent: -Searching for and spotting dolphins -Driving the boat -Scribing data during surveys -Entering transect surveys and coding photographs on the computer -Doing basic maintenance and equipment prep and cleaning Qualifications: The ideal candidate will be a recent graduate with a science background and a genuine interest in marine mammal science and behavior. This position is well suited for recent graduates of marine biology, animal behavior, zoology, ecology, or similar fields looking to gain additional analytical and in-field experience. Applicants must be able to work closely with a small team (3 people). We not only work together, but also live, cook, and eat together, so being mature and a strong team player is critical. The candidate must: -Possess basic computer skills -Be detail oriented, flexible, and patient -Possess excellent verbal and communication skills -Work well both independently and in a team -Be fluent in English -Have prior research experience (preferably fieldwork) -Be comfortable on a small boat -Be prepared to work long, consecutive days, including weekends The most essential qualifications are that you are flexible, conscientious, and hard-working, and are excited about the research. Salary/funding: This is an unpaid, volunteer position. However, all living expenses (housing, food, and internet) will be fully covered by the project. If you are unable to pay for domestic travel to and from the field site due to any student loans, or other moderate monthly expenses, that could prevent you from accepting this position, please apply anyway. If you are selected, we may be able to use other sources of funding to cover those expenses so that you can take the job. We particularly want to encourage candidates from groups that are underrepresented in STEM fields to apply. If interested please email Ann-Marie Jacoby at amj58(a)duke.edu<mailto:amj58@duke.edu> with the subject line Research Assistant Last_Name. Application review will begin immediately, and candidates will be evaluated until the position is filled. In the email, please include: 1. A cover letter describing your research interests, the skills and strengths that you will bring to the position, and what you hope to gain from the project and apply to your career. Please list the full range of your skills, both practical (boat handling, photography, etc.) and academic (statistics, computer programming, etc.). 2. CV 3. A copy of your unofficial transcript 4. Email contacts for 2 references

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