September 2019 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Protected Resources Job Opportunity
by Jon Kurland - NOAA Federal 11 Sep '19

11 Sep '19

NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region, Protected Resources Division, is advertising to fill a second Marine Mammal Specialist position (different from the marine mammal stranding coordinator job posted last month). This is a ZP-401-2/3 position (GS 7/9 or 11/12 equivalent) located in Anchorage, and involves co-management of subsistence use of northern fur seals with our Alaska Native partners on the Pribilof Islands, as well as opportunities to work on other marine mammal conservation issues. The job is posted three ways: MAP (status applicants) and DE (non-status applicants) at the ZP-2 level, and Direct Hire (all qualified applicants) at the ZP-3 level. The announcements open on Thursday, September 12, 2019, and close on Wednesday, September 25, 2019. Please encourage qualified people to apply, and forward this email to anyone who may be interested. Anyone with questions should contact Greg Balogh (907-271-3023 or greg.balogh(a)noaa.gov) or me (907-586-7638 or jon.kurland(a)noaa.gov) Thanks! *Job Announcement # (MAP): * NMFS-AKR-2019-0022 https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/545354300 *Job Announcement # (DE/CR):* NMFS-AKR-2019-0020 https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/545354400 *Job Announcement # (DHA):* NMFS-AKR-2019-0030 https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/545354500 Jon Kurland Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected Resources NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region

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New paper: Bottlenose dolphins' behavior towards artisanal fisheries
by Eduardo Morteo 11 Sep '19

11 Sep '19

Dear All, On behalf of my co-authors, I'm pleased to announce the publication of our article: Morales-Rincon, N., Morteo, E., & Delfín-Alfonso, C. (n.d.). Influence of artisanal fisheries on the behaviour and social structure of Tursiops truncatus in the South-western Gulf of Mexico. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 1-9. doi:10.1017/S002531541900078X Abstract Behavioural plasticity in animals is tested whenever competitive interactions for space and/or food resources occur between wildlife and human activities. This study uses the concepts of operational and non-operational interactions between bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and artisanal fisheries in Alvarado, to search for differences in behaviour, age structure and group size. We conducted 20 surveys between 2015 and 2016, and recorded 64 groups by means of scan sampling from either a research boat or a fixed vantage point. Average dolphin group size was small (x= 3.2, SD = 2.2 individuals) and fewer individuals were commonly present when interaction with fisheries occurred. Operational interactions were defined within the first 30 m and occurred mainly with lone individuals (54% recorded from the lighthouse and 82% during surveys); this benchmark also accounted for higher frequencies in locomotion and feeding (X2= 83.10; df = 7; P< 0.001). We found a higher rate of new behavioural events for dolphin groups furthest from human activities, as well as a decrease in behaviours that imply greater body exposure as dolphins approach the fishing spots. Age structure and dolphin group size were not different during and in the absence of interaction with fisheries, but most interactions involved male dolphins. Behavioural variations in the dolphins' repertoire are likely a strategy to reduce the risk of injuries or death when interacting with human activities; these dolphins seem to have habituated to or at least tolerate fishing activities within the study area, possibly constituting a sex-biased pressure. The article is available at: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-the-marine-biological-as… To request a PDF copy, please email me at eduardo.morteo(a)gmail.com <mailto:eduardo.morteo@gmail.com> Cheers, Eduardo Morteo, Dr. Head Researcher Level C Marine Mammal Laboratory (LabMMar, IIB-ICIMAP) Institute of Biological Research Universidad Veracruzana Calle Dr. Castelazo Ayala S/N, Col. Industrial Ánimas, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, CP 91190. Ph/Tel: +52 (228) 841 89 00 E-mail: emorteo(a)uv.mx http://www.uv.mx/personal/emorteo/ http://uv-mx.academia.edu/EMorteo https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Eduardo_Morteo/?ev=hdr_xprf http://scholar.google.com.mx/citations?user=fDUl-IIAAAAJ

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MARINE MAMMAL INTERNSHIP IN PORT CHARLOTTE, FL
by Schubert, Molly 11 Sep '19

11 Sep '19

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Marine Mammals section at the Charlotte Harbor Field Lab in Port Charlotte, FL is accepting applications for fall interns. The Southwest Field Lab is offering two internships to driven, self-motivated individuals for the Spring 2020 season. The expected start date for the internship is mid to late January, however, start dates will be flexible. Working hours are typically four to five days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Some additional night and weekend hours may be required. The position is located in Port Charlotte on the west coast of Florida, just north of Fort Myers. The intern's duties would include assisting with manatee and cetacean carcass salvage, necropsies, research projects (temperature monitoring, Photo ID, etc.), public outreach, and occasional rescues. The intern will also assist with office duties including mortality reports, upkeep of databases, and other office work as needed. To perform the tasks mentioned, interns will operate FWC trucks and dependent upon experience, trailers and boats up to 22' in length. At the end of the internship, interns are required to complete a project and a 10-15 minute presentation on a marine mammal topic of their choosing. Unfortunately, this is an unpaid position and FWC cannot provide housing or transportation. Qualifications: * College juniors, seniors, recent graduates, and graduate students are eligible * Interns must have some research field experience * Interns must be comfortable operating large trucks and speaking to the public * Familiarity with digital cameras, telephoto lenses, and filters is preferred, but can be trained * Computer literacy * Previous animal handling experience is desirable but not necessary * Ability to trailer and operate watercrafts up to 22' in length and experience with radio telemetry tracking gear is desirable, but not necessary * Interns must be able to lift 50 lbs., swim, and possess a valid US driver's license * Interns should understand that this job will require them to be wet, dirty and outdoors in all weather conditions for long periods of time Application Process: If you are interested in applying for an internship with FWRI, please provide the following information: * A cover letter describing area(s) of interest and the dates, days, and hours of availability * A resume describing training and experience * Names and contact information for at least three references * An unofficial copy of your academic transcript Please send these items as e-mail attachments to: Interns(a)MyFWC.com If electronic submission is not possible, hard copies can be mailed to: Internship Coordinator 585 Prineville Street Port Charlotte, FL 33954

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Minimizing the impact of biologging devices - Research Article in Methods in Ecology and Evolution
by Kay William.P. 11 Sep '19

11 Sep '19

Dear MARMAM, I am pleased to share with you all our paper in Methods in Ecology and Evolution on minimizing the impact of biologging devices. We think that this paper will be of broad interest to marine mammologists and particularly those conducting their research using biologging devices: Kay WP, Naumann DS, Bowen HJ, Withers SJ, Evans BJ, Wilson RP, Stringell TB, Bull JC, Hopkins PW, Börger L (2019) Minimizing the impact of biologging devices: Using computational fluid dynamics for optimizing tag design and positioning. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 10(8), 1222-1233. URL: https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/2041-210X.13216 Summary: In this paper we sought to find the best way to minimize the drag of biologging tags. We used Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to model how drag changed with tag size, shape and positioning. Our results showed that improving tag shape is more important than reducing size, suggesting that the persistent aim to ‘miniaturize’ biologging devices may be too simplistic. We also observed that having a hydrodynamic design can reduce the effect of positioning on tag-induced drag. This is important as it is of course not always possible to place a device in the optimum position on an animal with respect to minimizing drag. We also provide a step-by-step guide for ecologists to repeat our method and we hope this will encourage future partnerships. There is also an associated blog piece, published yesterday, which provides a more informal overview of the work. You can find this here: https://methodsblog.com/2019/09/10/biologging-cfd/ For any correspondence, please email: william.p.kay(a)swansea.ac.uk<mailto:william.p.kay@swansea.ac.uk>. Best, William Kay and co-authors

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Alaska pinnipeds research position
by Peter Boveng - NOAA Federal 10 Sep '19

10 Sep '19

A marine mammal-related job opening has just been posted by the University of Washington Joint Institute for the Study of Atmosphere and Oceans (JISAO). The position, located in Seattle, Washington, contributes to several projects conducted cooperatively by JISAO and the NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Marine Mammal Laboratory. The duties are primarily focused on instrument-based assessment of remote pinniped populations in Alaska. The announcement, instructions for applying, and more details are available on the web at https://uwhires.admin.washington.edu/ENG/Candidates/default.cfm?szCategory=… *Peter Boveng, PhD* *Polar Ecosystems Program Leader* Marine Mammal Laboratory NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center +1.206.526.4244 peter.boveng(a)noaa.gov https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/marine-mammal-laboratory

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WMMC 2019: Coll Perske Memorial Fund for Marine Mammals Student Presentation Awards
by Jason Mulsow 10 Sep '19

10 Sep '19

WMMC 2019: Coll Perske Memorial Fund for Marine Mammals Student Presentation Awards Call for Applications (Due October 1, 2019) On April 28, 2014, we lost an amazing friend and colleague, Coll Gordon Perske. To honor Coll’s life and unwavering dedication to marine mammals, the National Marine Mammal Foundation established the Coll Perske Memorial Fund for Marine Mammals. The mission of the fund is to improve the lives of marine mammals, with a focus on California sea lions, through scientific research, education, and promotion of ocean stewardship. Award Description The Coll Perske Memorial Fund will be providing two $200 awards for the World Marine Mammal Conference (WMMC) in Barcelona, Spain (December 9-12, 2019). Awards will be given to student members (undergraduate or graduate) of the Society for Marine Mammalogy (SMM) or European Cetacean Society (ECS) that are selected for oral presentations regarding research with pinnipeds. Award winners will be chosen based on the quality of their abstracts, and the alignment of their research with the interests of the Coll Perske Memorial Fund (see https://www.cgpfund.org) Special consideration will be given to research projects with California sea lions, which were of special importance to Coll. To apply, please send the following material to cgpfund(a)gmail.com by October 1, 2019: 1. A copy of the abstract submitted to the WMMC 2. Proof of student registration for the WMMC 3. Proof of acceptance for an oral presentation Award winners will be notified in October 2019. For more information please visit https://www.cgpfund.org On behalf of the committee, Jason Jason Mulsow, Ph.D. Deputy Director, Biologic and Bioacoustic Sciences National Marine Mammal Foundation jason.mulsow(a)nmmf.org

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WMMC Workshop in Barcelona: Marine mammal surveys from satellite imagery: Applications, automation, and challenges
by Caroline Höschle 10 Sep '19

10 Sep '19

Dear all, the workshop "Marine mammal surveys from satellite imagery: Applications, automation, and challenges" will take place in Barcelona: with this workshop we aim to show the latest findings in the emerging field of satellite imagery, applied to great whale species. The workshop will provide participants with manual and automated detection methods, shedding light on high performance computing and automatization performance. We will start with an overview of satellite products leading to species- and region-specific proofs-of concepts. Details: https://www.wmmconference.org/workshops/#Marine%20mammal%20surveys%20from%2… Workshop Leaders: Caroline Hoeschle: c.hoeschle(a)bioconsult-sh.de <mailto:c.hoeschle@bioconsult-sh.de> (BioConsult SH, Germany) Hannah Cubaynes: hannah.cubaynes(a)gmail.com <mailto:hannah.cubaynes@gmail.com> (British Antarctic Survey (BAS), UK) Workshop Date & Time: Saturday, December 7, 2019, 08:30-17:30 (full day) We look forward to seeing you in Barcelona, cheers, Caro and Hannah -- Caroline Höschle BioConsult SH GmbH & Co.KG Schobüller Str. 36 25813 Husum Tel: +49 (0) 48 41 66329 14 Fax: +49 (0) 48 41 66329 19 www.bioconsult-sh.de BioConsult SH GmbH & Co.KG. Sitz der Gesellschaft: Husum. Amtsgericht Flensburg: HRA 6160 FL. Geschäftsführer: BioConsult SH Verwaltungs-GmbH. Sitz der Gesellschaft: Husum. Amtsgericht Flensburg: HRB 7148 FL. Geschäftsführer: Dr. Georg Nehls. Hinweis: Die Speicherung und Verarbeitung Ihrer Daten erfolgt gemäß der DSGVO. Näheres dazu können Sie der Datenschutzinformation auf unserer Homepage entnehmen.

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New Paper: Spatial behavioural response of coastal bottlenose dolphins to habitat disturbance in southern Brazil
by Macarena Agrelo 09 Sep '19

09 Sep '19

Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce the publication of the following paper "Spatial behavioural response of coastal bottlenose dolphins to habitat disturbance in southern Brazil" in Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystem. Abstract: 1. A small population of coastal bottlenose dolphins (*Tursiops truncatus gephyreus*) inhabits the inland waters of Laguna, southern Brazil. A subset of this population interacts with artisanal fishermen. This specialized foraging tactic structures dolphin society into “cooperatives”—participants of the interaction—and “non-cooperatives”—non-participants. 2. Between 2012 and 2015, a bridge was constructed in Laguna over an important core area for dolphins. Photo-identification and georeferenced data collected on boat surveys, conducted both before and during bridge construction, were used to evaluate changes in both “cooperative” and “non-cooperative” dolphin distribution. 3. Changes in dolphin distribution were analysed with kernel densities and hurdle models. A grid of 120 1-km² cells was used to model dolphin distribution and the minimum distance from the grid cell centre to the bridge and to the area of gillnet use were defined as explanatory variables of human activities. Habitat descriptor (depth and distance) from the lagoon margin were also considered in the model procedure. 4. Dolphin distribution patterns shifted between periods. A core area used by “non-cooperative” dolphins near the bridge construction works disappeared. The effects of habitat descriptor and anthropogenic activity on dolphin distribution also differed between periods. Before bridge construction, the abundance of “non-cooperative” dolphin was higher close to the bridge area (p < 0.05). During bridge construction, the presence of “cooperative” and “non-cooperative” dolphins decreased significantly with the distance from gillnet fishing activity (p < 0.01; p < 0.001). 5. This study highlights the importance of accounting for individual variations in response when assessing the effects of a habitat disturbance, or when implementing conservation plans. Keywords: anthropic impacts, bottlenose dolphin, conservation, distribution, habitat disturbance, hurdle models Agrelo, M., Daura‐Jorge, F. G., Bezamat, C., Silveira, T. C., Volkmer de Castilho, P., Rodrigues Pires, J. S., & Simões‐Lopes, P. C. (2019). Spatial behavioural response of coastal bottlenose dolphins to habitat disturbance in southern Brazil. *Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems* . The article is available at the link below: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/aqc.3188 Best regards, Macarena Agrelo *Macarena Agrelo *[image: ] Doutoranda em Ecologia Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos - LAMAq Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina - UFSC - Brasil

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New publication: foraging behavior and social organization in dolphins
by Severine Methion 09 Sep '19

09 Sep '19

Dear MARMAM colleagues, We are pleased to announce our new publication: Methion S, Diaz Lopez B (2019) Individual foraging variation drives social organization in bottlenose dolphins. doi:10.1093/beheco/arz160 Abstract Identifying foraging variation within a population and assessing its relationship with social structure is essential to increase knowledge about the evolution of social systems. Here, we investigated individual foraging variation in bottlenose dolphins and its potential influence on their social organization. We used generalized affiliation indices and applied social network analysis to data collected over four consecutive years of research in a coastal area subject to significant use and pressure by humans. Our findings revealed variation in foraging behavior among individual bottlenose dolphins, which in turn shapes their social organization. Our results indicated that individuals that frequently foraged within human-altered areas (i.e., shellfish farms) exhibited weaker Strength, Reach, and Affinity compared to others. These bottlenose dolphins profit from a reliable and easily located food source, which may increase their energy intake and interindividual competition. In contrast, individuals that foraged less frequently within the shellfish farms occupied a central position within the network and exhibited strong associations. These individuals may benefit from increased cooperation and reduced intragroup competition, thus increasing learning and information sharing, as they may face a patchy and irregular distribution of prey. We also demonstrated that bottlenose dolphins preferred to affiliate with other individuals with similar foraging strategies (i.e., homophily), which could promote, through time, a segregation of the population into behaviorally distinct groups. These findings provide valuable insight into the evolution of bottlenose dolphin social systems and their response to human-induced changes in the marine environment. The article can be found at the following link: https://academic.oup.com/beheco/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/beheco… Feel free to contact me to request a pdf or for any question regarding our work at: severine(a)thebdri.com Best regards, Séverine Methion, MSc PhD candidate, Université de Bordeaux Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI Av. Beiramar 192, 36980, O Grove, Pontevedra, Spain www.thebdri.com

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LAST CHANCE-- Survey: Communicating Science for the Conservation of Marine Mammals
by Roxanne Carini 09 Sep '19

09 Sep '19

LAST CHANCE-- Survey: Communicating Science for the Conservation of Marine Mammals https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RJCsurvey Disclaimer: This survey is part of a study being conducted by Roxanne J Carini, PhD (the principal investigator), independent of her one-year Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship at the Marine Mammal Commission. Participation is voluntary and anonymous. The purpose of this survey is to better understand attitudes/opinions and levels of engagement of those who work on marine mammal issues regarding how scientific results are applied to marine mammal conservation, policy, and management. A similar survey was originally designed and conducted in 2007 by Vicki Cornish and Raychelle Daniel, while working for the Ocean Conservancy. The survey is re-administered, with minor changes for modernization, to assess current attitudes and how they might have changed since 2007. The results of this survey will be shared as a poster presentation at the World Marine Mammal Conference in Barcelona, Spain, in December 2019 (Abstract 1121). The results will also be distributed to the MARMAM list-serve and shared broadly with interested government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and others interested in improving communication efforts related to the conservation of marine mammals. This survey will be open on SurveyMonkey for a period of six weeks (until 20 September 2019). https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RJCsurvey Thank you, Roxanne J Carini Roxanne J Carini, PhD John A Knauss Marine Policy Fellow Marine Mammal Commission rcarini(a)mmc.gov | 301-504-0087 Twitter: @MarineMammalCom<https://twitter.com/MarineMammalCom> Website: www.mmc.gov<https://www.mmc.gov/>

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