January 2020 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

SEAMAMMS 2020 - Registration Now Open!
by Richardson, Jill L 03 Jan '20

03 Jan '20

SEAMAMMS 2020 Registration Now Open! Stay Updated via Instagram/Twitter! The 2020 Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Marine Mammal Symposium (SEAMAMMS) will take place March 27-29 in Miami, Florida, hosted by the University of Miami - Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (UM-RSMAS). SEAMAMMS is a long-standing, regional, student-oriented, scientific marine mammal meeting. Preference will be given to marine mammal research conducted by students in the mid-Atlantic or Southeast U.S. For meeting details, including registration, abstract submissions, and hotel specials, please visit https://seamamms.wordpress.com<https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fseamamms.…> and follow us @seamamms on Instagram and Twitter. We hope to see you in Miami! Warm Regards, Jill Jill Richardson, Ph.D. Department of Marine Ecosystems and Society (MES) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (305) 421-4340 jrichardson(a)miami.edu

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New Publication: Network analysis reveals underlying syntactic features in a vocally learnt mammalian display, humpback whale song
by Jenny Allen 03 Jan '20

03 Jan '20

Dear MARMAM, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to announce the following publication: Jenny A. Allen, Ellen C. Garland, Rebecca A. Dunlop, & Michael J. Noad. (2019). Network analysis reveals underlying syntactic features in a vocally learnt mammalian display, humpback whale song. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Vol. 286. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.2014 Abstract: Vocal communication systems have a set of rules that govern the arrangement of acoustic signals, broadly defined as ‘syntax’. However, there is a limited understanding of potentially shared or analogous rules across vocal displays in different taxa. Recent work on songbirds has investigated syntax using network-based modelling. This technique quantifies features such as connectivity (adjacent signals in a sequence) and recurring patterns. Here, we apply network-based modelling to the complex, hierarchically structured songs of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) from east Australia. Given the song’s annual evolving pattern and the cultural conformity of males within a population, network modelling captured the patterns of multiple song types over 13 consecutive years. Song arrangements in each year displayed clear “small-world” network structure, characterised by clusters of highly connected sounds. Transitions between these connected sounds further suggested a combination of both structural stability and variability. Small-world network structure within humpback songs may facilitate the characteristic and persistent vocal learning observed. Similar small-world structures and transition patterns are found in several birdsong displays, indicating common syntactic patterns among vocal learning in multiple taxa. Understanding the syntactic rules governing vocal displays in multiple, independently evolving lineages may indicate what rules or structural features are important to the evolution of complex communication, including human language. The paper is available via the following link: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2019.2014 Alternatively, please email me on jenny.allen(a)griffith.edu.au or j.allen3(a)uq.edu.au for a pdf copy. Best regards, Jenny Allen -- Dr. Jenny Allen Marine Science Lecturer Environmental Futures Research Institute Griffith School of Environment and Science Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus Building G24, Room 4.13

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Internship - Marine mammal research in Spain
by Bruno Diaz Lopez 03 Jan '20

03 Jan '20

Internship - Marine mammal research in Spain The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute (BDRI), a research institution dedicated since 2005 to the understanding and conservation of marine mammals and the marine environment in which they live, is now accepting applications for its Internship Research Programme 2020. Our internship programme aims to prepare students for a professional career in the research of marine mammals, and conservation of the marine environment. This training experience provides the opportunity for highly motivated individuals to work with and learn from a multidisciplinary team of marine mammal scientists, including internationally renowned investigators. The BDRI also offers a limited number of independent studies to advanced undergraduate and graduate students (bachelor and master students). The position is located in O Grove (Galicia, NW Spain). The BDRI is a very international environment, and the everyday working language is English. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION - Internships are open to applicants 18 years of age or older. An academic background in biology, veterinary or natural science, coupled with motivation and interest in marine research make the most qualified individuals. Lasting between one and nine months, there’s a variety of research projects that will help you explore what you may want to do long term. With state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, participants will be trained to get involved with multiple research projects involving a combination of boat-based surveys onboard research vessels, land-based observations, laboratory work (photo-identification, GIS, bioacoustics, diet analysis, diving behaviour, video analysis, database work, etc), and strandings (response, rescue, necropsy, and data collection). The main research topics of the 2020 BDRI research season will include marine mammal ecology, social and feeding behaviour, ecological modelling, and bioacoustics (on cetaceans), as well as marine birds, sharks, and otters ecology. The incredible diversity of cetaceans present in Galician waters allows the BDRI team to have several ongoing research projects focused on the study of the ecology and behaviour of different species of cetaceans (bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoises, Risso’s dolphins, common dolphins, striped dolphins, pilot whales, humpback whales, minke whales, fin whales, and blue whales), marine birds, Eurasian otters, and sharks. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - Start and end dates are flexible depending on the needs of the institute and the intern’s availability, but the position requires a minimum of 30 days continuous commitment sometime between January 2020 through to November 2020. BDRI internships are not paid and this training experience requires a tuition fee which is used to off-set the cost of training, use of research equipment, facilities and research vessels, shared accommodation, and other expenses. The fee reflects the real world costs and expenses that go into making the research program possible and the BDRI Internship Program worthwhile. HOW TO APPLY - Interested candidates should submit an e-mail to info(a)thebdri.com, and we will provide you further information about the program. Approved applications are accepted on a first-come, first serve basis. Positions are open until filled. For more information and details, please visit: <https://www.thebdri.com/internships.html> A feedback from old participants at: <https://youtu.be/UAuO2XasBnw> Regular updates with photos and videos about our research at <https://www.facebook.com/thebdri/> BDRI’s reputation for success rests solidly on its ability to carry out studies published in prestigious scientific journals. Scientific articles published by the BDRI team in 2019 (for a full list of publications please visit: <https://www.thebdri.com/papers.html>): - Methion S, Diaz Lopez B (2019) Individual foraging variation drives social organization in bottlenose dolphins. Behavioral Ecology. doi:10.1093/beheco/arz160 - Diaz Lopez B, Methion S (2019) Habitat drivers of endangered rorqual whales in a highly impacted upwelling region. Ecological Indicators 103, 610 – 616. - Methion B, Diaz Lopez B (2019) First record of atypical pigmentation pattern in fin whale Balaenoptera physalus in the Atlantic Ocean. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 135:121-125. - Diaz Lopez B, Methion S, Giralt Paradell O (2019) Living on the edge: Overlap between a marine predator’s habitat use and fisheries in the Northeast Atlantic waters (NW Spain). Progress in Oceanography 175, 115 – 223. - Methion S, Diaz Lopez B (2019) Natural and anthropogenic drivers of foraging behaviour in bottlenose dolphins: influence of shellfish aquaculture. Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 29(6), 927-937. - Giralt Paradell O, Diaz Lopez B, Methion S, (2019) Modelling common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) coastal distribution and habitat use: insights for conservation. Ocean and Coastal Management 179, 104836. - Diaz Lopez B (2019) "Hot deals at sea": responses of a top predator (Bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus) to human-induced changes in the coastal ecosystem. Behavioural Ecology 2(3), 291-300. See you in Spain! Bruno Diaz Lopez Ph.D Chief biologist and Director The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI Avenida Beiramar 192, O Grove 36980, Pontevedra, Spain www.thebdri.com 0034 684248552 Like us on Facebook (thebdri). Follow us on Instagram (thebdri). Mention us on Twitter (thebdri).

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E-book of VAQUITA 99-cent sale, through January
by Jen Hawse 02 Jan '20

02 Jan '20

Please help us spread the word about the catastrophic decline of the world's smallest cetacean. The number one threat to the vaquita is incidental capture in illegal gillnets, and with the species plummeting to less than 15 individuals, education is ever-more imperative. Following the recent poaching scandal in vaquita habitat, we at Island Press felt compelled to take action. For a limited time, our internationally praised e-book VAQUITA: Science, Politics, and Crime in the Sea of Cortez is available through Amazon (Kindle)<https://www.amazon.com/Vaquita-Science-Politics-Crime-Cortez-ebook/dp/B07F1…> and our Island Press website (e-Pub version)<https://islandpress.org/books/vaquita> at a price of only 99 cents! A 97% discount. Sale ends February 1. Our decision to offer this unique sale came after 80 boats holding hundreds of poachers took to the waters off San Felipe, Mexico, where no fishing is allowed. They brazenly entered the Vaquita Refuge-the "zero tolerance area"-and working together in broad daylight hauled in a maelstrom of gillnets stuffed with over 500 endangered totoabas. The fishes' swim bladders were carved out to be dried and smuggled to China as part of the multi-billion-dollar black market in wildlife parts, bloody bodies quickly dumped overboard. When authorities arrived on scene, they were reportedly held back by gunfire. In addition to totoaba, how many vaquitas may have been killed in the frenzy? We MUST heighten awareness. As conservationists struggle against a stronghold of organized crime and corruption, biologist Brooke Bessesen takes readers on a first-hand journey to understand why and how this is happening. The story applies to species protection efforts around the globe and adeptly addresses key elements in the worldwide conservation crisis. Take this opportunity to read VAQUITA. And send a 99-cent copy to anyone you think may be interested. A lucid, informed, and gripping account...a must-read. -Science Passionate...a heartfelt and alarming tale. -Publishers Weekly Intrepid conservation detective story. -Nature Compelling. -Library Journal Wonderful, heartbreaking... beautifully written. -Nature Conservancy A well-told and moving tale of environmentalism and conservation. -Kirkus STARRED -Booklist Jen Hawse | Partnership Manager Island Press 2000 M St NW, Suite 650 Washington, DC 20036 202.232.7933 fax 202.234.1328 http://www.islandpress.org<http://www.islandpress.org/> +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the addressee and may not be disclosed to or used by anyone other than the addressee. If you have received this e-mail in error, please advise the sender immediately and delete the email (and all attachments) from your computer system. Thank you.

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New publication
by Rowenna Gryba 02 Jan '20

02 Jan '20

Dear colleagues, I'm please to announce the publication of our manuscript "Inferred foraging locations and water masses preferred by spotted seals Phoca largha and bearded seals Erignathus barbatus" in Marine Ecology Progress Series. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13145 (https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13145) Gryba RD, Wiese FK, Kelly BP, Von Duyke AL, Pickart RS, Stockwell DA (2019) Inferring foraging locations and water masses preferred by spotted seals Phoca largha and bearded seals Erignathus barbatus. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 631:209-224. ABSTRACT: Spotted seals Phoca largha and bearded seals Erignathus barbatus are ice-associated seals that have overlapping range in the Beaufort, Chukchi, and Bering Seas, but have different foraging ecologies. The link between foraging behaviour and specific oceanographic variables is not well understood for these species, nor is the influence of different dive metrics when modelling their foraging behaviour. To explore the value of different dive metrics to estimate foraging behaviour, and the relationships between foraging and water bodies/oceanographic variables, we tagged 3 spotted seals and 2 bearded seals with satellite telemetry tags that recorded movement and oceanographic data. To infer foraging behaviour, we included dive metrics in Bayesian state-space switching models, and found that models that included depth-corrected dive duration were more parsimonious than models that included dive shape. The addition of vertical movements to the model enabled better determination of foraging areas (inferred from area-restricted searches) and provided insights into the probabilities of switching between foraging and transiting behaviours. The collection of oceanographic data in situ at a scale relevant to seals helped identify water masses, and how they were used, and potential oceanographic cues used by seals to identify foraging locations. Fine-scale spatiotemporal clustering analysis revealed spotted and bearded seal foraging ‘hotspots’ in the Chukchi and Bering Seas that overlap with hotspots identified for other marine mammals and marine birds. Please feel free to contact me at r.gryba(a)stat.ubc.ca (mailto:r.gryba@stat.ubc.ca) if you would like to request a copy. Best, Rowenna --------- Rowenna Gryba, MSc PhD Student Statistical Ecology Research Group University of British Columbia Vancouver xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Territory

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Paid Undergraduate Summer Research Program in One Health and the Environment
by Kristina Cammen 02 Jan '20

02 Jan '20

The University of Maine Initiative for One Health and the Environment is excited to announce an NSF-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program for summer 2020. Our fully paid summer program will focus on Accelerating New Environmental Workskills (REU ANEW). From June 1 to August 8, 2020, we will invite 10 motivated undergraduate students to join our faculty and graduate students to conduct cutting-edge research at the intersection of human, animal (including marine mammals!), and environmental health. REU ANEW students will have the opportunity to work directly with faculty research mentors, as well as Broader Impacts mentors who are working in the field to apply One Health research to real world problems. Through our program, students will develop critical research and thinking skills that are directly relevant to future career success, and build lasting professional relationships with their undergraduate peers, graduate students, and faculty and broader impacts mentors. All REU participants will receive a generous stipend and living expenses, including partial travel expenses and housing at the University of Maine in Orono. For more information and to apply, visit https://nsfa.umaine.edu/one-health/REU. Students should apply by January 31 for full consideration. Direct any questions you have about the program or the application process to anne.lichtenwalner(a)maine.edu.

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CetaceaLab 2020
by Hermann Meuter 02 Jan '20

02 Jan '20

CetaceaLab, aka Whalepoint, is a land based whale research facility located in the territory of the Gitga’at First Nation on Gil Island, British Columbia, Canada. We are now accepting applications for the 2020 field season from May until the end of September. All positions are for a minimum of 4-8 weeks in duration. There is a weekly fee for food. These are volunteer/intern positions to help with the collection of visual and acoustic data on the habitat use and abundance of northern resident/transient Killer whales, Humpback whales and Fin whales. Due to our extreme remote location, applicants need to be in good physical condition, able to participate with the daily routine of living off the grid and comfortable sleeping in a tent in the wilderness of BC. You must be fit without any physical injuries. There are no roads, very limited Internet access, very limited medical service and power is completely off the grid. - Daily shifts involve scanning for whales, documenting all sightings and when possible take identification pictures of whales - Listening and recording all whale vocalizations that are transmitted to the lab facility from our network of hydrophone stations - Data entry from land based and marine vessel based surveys - Identification work of all whales from photographs taken in the field There will also be a lot of heavy lifting and moving over uneven terrain, chopping wood ( our only source of heat) and assistance with the physical maintenance of hydrophone stations. Experience with carpentry, electronics, IT, social media, website building and environmental communications would be a valuable asset. Interested applicants should send a letter describing why they would like to join our team, CV and letter of reference to: whalepoint(a)outlook.com<mailto:whalepoint@outlook.com> References will be contacted. More information about our research can be found at: www.whalepoint.org<http://www.whalepoint.org> All the Best and Good Luck, Hermann Meuter

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Blue Ocean Society- Summer and Fall Internships Available
by dianna＠blueoceansociety.org 01 Jan '20

01 Jan '20

Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation is accepting applications for Summer and Fall 2020 Interns. Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation is a nonprofit organization based in Portsmouth, NH, USA with a mission to protect marine life in the Gulf of Maine through research, education and inspiring action. We achieve our goals primarily through our core programs which involve studying whales from commercial whale watch boats, collecting data on debris found during beach cleanups and offshore, and interacting with thousands of people each year during programs and events. Blue Ocean Society's Internship Program is structured and designed to provide undergraduates and recent post-grads with hands-on experience in the field of whale research, education and marine conservation. Interns will be directly involved in a variety of programs, including contributing to our long-term studies of several wild cetacean species (humpback, fin, minke whales, etc.) in the Gulf of Maine while working aboard a commercial whale watching vessel departing from Rye, NH. Interns will also assist with marine education through our outreach programs, beach cleanups and at our Blue Ocean Discovery Center in Hampton Beach, NH. Responsibilities: * Collect detailed data (environmental and behavioral) on local marine species and marine debris * Interact with program participants of all ages and backgrounds * Assist with beach cleanups * Interact with visitors at our Blue Ocean Discovery Center * Enter data * Attend weekly meetings and lectures * Complete weekly reading assignments Qualifications: * Must possess a strong work ethic, have high attention to detail and the ability to work with limited supervision * Must be self-motivated, enthusiastic, friendly and able to communicate effectively * Must be 18 or older * Must have reliable transportation * Must be available on weekends and holidays * Must be available to start by May 27, 2020 (summer session) or August 5, 2020 (fall session) Prior experience is not required and all training is provided. This is an unpaid position. Interns are responsible for their own housing and transportation. Those who can work full-time hours for at least 10 weeks will be given preference. Please visit http://www.blueoceansociety.org/internships/ for full Internship information and application instructions. Application deadline is March 1, 2020. Dianna Schulte Director of Research Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation Gov. John Langdon House 143 Pleasant Street Portsmouth, NH 03801 Office: 603-431-0260 Cell: 603-498-6368 www.blueoceansociety.org <http://www.blueoceansociety.org>

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RARE MARINE MAMMAL BOOKS AVAILABLE
by Thomas Jefferson 01 Jan '20

01 Jan '20

RARE MARINE MAMMAL BOOKS AVAILABLE ¡VIVA Vaquita! is a non-profit organization dedicated to working to help save the vaquita from extinction. All funds raised are actively used for research and conservation work on the vaquita (Phocoena sinus), the world’s most endangered marine mammal species. The global population of this species now numbers less than 15 individuals and is nearing extinction. Visit our website at www.vivavaquita.org for more details. ¡VIVA Vaquita! has hundreds of marine mammal books, reprints, monographs, and journals that are available for a donation to the organization. Below is a sample of some of the rarer items we have (price listed is suggested donation), but there are many, many more and suggested donation amounts range from US$1-150. For a list of additional books available (and photos), check this link: http://www.vivavaquita.org/assets/vv-bookstore2.pdf. HC = hardcover, PB = paperback/soft wrappers. For more info, or to order books, please contact Tom Jefferson at sclymene(a)aol.com. Goode, G. B. 1884, 1887. The Fisheries and Fishery Industries of the United States (volume on marine mammals and fisheries). Government Printing Office. HC. $85. Hawley, F. 1958. Whales and Whaling in Japan (separate of whaling section). Kyoto. HC. $65. Kaiser, H. E. 1974. Morphology of the Sirenia. A Macroscopic and X-ray Atlas of the Osteology of Recent Species. S. Karger, Basel. HC (new in plastic wrap). $25 Kleinenberg, S. E., A. V. Yablokov, B. M. Belkovich and M. N. Tarasevich. 1964. Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas): Investigation of the Species. Israel Program for Scientific Translations. HC. $22 Mitchell, E. D. 1975. Porpoise, dolphin and small whale fisheries of the world. IUCN Monograph 3:129 pp. PB. $8 Mitchell, E. (ed.) 1975. Review of biology and fisheries for smaller cetaceans (special issue on dolphins and porpoises). Pp 879-1242. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada. PB. $12 Norris, K. S. and J. H. Prescott. 1961. Observations on Pacific cetaceans of Californian and Mexican waters. University of California Publications in Zoology 63:291-402. PB. $28 Norris, K. S. (ed.) 1966. Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises. 789 pp. University of California Press, Berkeley (reprint edition). HC. $35 Pryor, K. and K. S. Norris (eds.). 1991. Dolphin Societies: Discoveries and Puzzles. 397 pp. University of California Press. HC. $22 Starbuck, A. 1878. History of the American Whale Fishery. Castle. (reprint edition). HC. $24 True, F. W. 1889. Contributions to the natural history of the cetaceans, a review of the family Delphinidae. Bulletin of the United States National Museum 36:191 pp. + plates. HC. $120 True, F. W. 1904. Whalebone Whales of the Western North Atlantic Compared with Those Occurring in European Waters with Some Observations on the Species of the North Pacific. Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge (first edition). HC. $85 True, F. W. 1904. Whalebone Whales of the Western North Atlantic Compared with Those Occurring in European Waters with Some Observations on the Species of the North Pacific. Smithsonian Institution Press. (1983 reprint edition). HC. $32 True, F. W. 1910. An account of the beaked whales of the family Ziphiidae in the collection of the United States National Museum, with remarks on some species in other American museums. Bulletin of the United States National Museum 73:42 pp. + plates. PB. $34 Twiss, J. R. and R. R. Reeves (eds). 1999. Conservation and Management of Marine Mammals. 471 pp. Smithsonian Institution Press. HC. $18

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WCA Ship Strikes Online Training Course
by Elizabeth Cuevas 01 Jan '20

01 Jan '20

Dear colleagues, I am writing on behalf of the World Cetacean Alliance (WCA). As part of our efforts to progressively ensure the conservation and protection of whales and dolphins and their environment, we are currently developing an online training course to assist the cruise ship industry and other tour operators to reduce the likelihood of ship strikes and boat disturbance on cetaceans. The project is called “Becoming ‘Whale Aware’: a training course to mitigate the impacts of ship strikes and boat disturbance on cetaceans”. With this course we also aim to raise both industry and general public awareness, resulting in better informed and better trained crews. We’ve started developing the presentations and videos for the course, but we are still lacking photos and (especially) videos that show ship strikes and their effects. We believe that using these forms of media will have maximum impact on our learners and make the subject real for them. We would be grateful to anyone who can help with this project by providing relevant photos and/or videos. They will be used exclusively on this online course and will be duly credited. We are looking for photos and/or video footage of any large whale: - Next to or near a cruise ship (or a large boat). - Ship strike incidents. - Operational maneuvers by a ship avoiding a strike with a whale. - Injured or dead whales caused by ship strikes. - Any other photo/video relating to ship strikes. Please send them to Elizabeth at elizabeth.cuevas(a)worldcetaceanalliance.org (large files could be sent or linked via googledrive, yousendit or dropbox). We believe that this course will fill essential gaps, improve collaboration and contribute the global effort to reduce ship strike risk, so any input from you would be greatly appreciated. I would be more than happy to answer any questions. Many thanks in advance for your help and happy New Year to all! Sincerely, Elizabeth More about the WCA: The WCA, with headquarters in the UK, represent the world's largest marine conservation partnership working to protect cetaceans and their habitats. The WCA currently has over 100 Partners in 38 countries around the world, including non-profit organisations, commercial tour companies, scientific institutions and individual members of the public. We are the world's leading NGO in responsible whale and dolphin watching tourism, working with companies on the ground, large tour operators, governments and destination management bodies, amongst others. Through cooperation, the WCA aim to conserve and protect cetaceans and their habitats. http://worldcetaceanalliance.org/ -- *Elizabeth Cuevas* Whale Watching Programme Manager *World Cetacean Alliance* Studio 3, Lower Promenade Madeira Drive, Brighton, BN2 1ET, UK. t: +44 (0) 1273 355011 e: elizabeth.cuevas(a)worldcetaceanalliance.org <sophie.lewis(a)worldcetaceanalliance.org> *www.worldcetaceanalliance.org <http://www.worldcetaceanalliance.org/>www.whaleheritagesites.org <http://www.whaleheritagesites.org/>* The World Cetacean Alliance (WCA) is a Partnership of over 100 non-profit organisations, whale and dolphin watching tour operators and individuals in 40 countries worldwide working collaboratively to protect cetaceans and their habitats. World Cetacean Alliance, the Secretariat to the Partnership, is a UK registered Charity no. 1160484. The content of this e-mail is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received this communication in error, be aware that forwarding it, copying it, or in any way disclosing its content to any other person, is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the author by replying to this e-mail immediately. Please consider the environment before printing this email or it's attachments.

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