January 2020 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

CETASMUS 2020– Internship in North Western Mediterranean Sea
by Pao Tepsich 08 Jan '20

08 Jan '20

CIMA Research Foundation is a private non-profit research organization aimed at the advancement of science and engineering in environmentally related fields, focusing on public health and safety, civil protection and the preservation of terrestrial and water-related ecosystems. CIMA RF is based in Savona,Italy, and it is seeking undergraduate/postgraduate students for the CETASMUS PROGRAM 2020. General details about the CETASMUS program can be found here ( https://www.cimafoundation.org/foundations/research-development/cetasmus.ht… ). CETASMUS foresees two different types of internship: - Field Internship: aim of the internship is to provide hands on experience on cetacean surveys. Interns will be involved in all the surveys of a specific project. As office work is not foreseen for this type of internship, interns will have free time when not involved in sea surveys. Field internship is particularly indicated for students willing to gain field experience and also needing time to prepare exams or personal projects (without supervision) - Research Internship: aim of the internship is to provide hands on experience on cetacean research, from data collection at sea to data analysis. Interns will be involved in surveys of their specific project AND will be trained on data-entry and data analysis. Office work can be used for the development of a thesis / internship report. Free time will be agreed directly with supervisor. We are currently looking for *FIELD INTERNS* who will join our research expeditions. Open positions refer to two different projects: · FERRIES – this project is held in collaboration with a national ferry company. CETASMUS interns will be on-board of ferries operating between Italy and Corsica at least twice a week and they will be part of the Marine Mammal Observer team working on the ferries. Calendar of surveys is available at the beginning of the season, allowing interns to organize in advance their free time *2 Field Interns (4 months, from June to end of September)* · ZIPHIUS – this is an interdisciplinary project aimed to study Cuvier’s beaked whale population in the Ligurian Sea. Surveys are conducted on board of our research vessels and last usually 3-4 consecutive days. CETASMUS interns will assist research team on board both on data collection and vessel routine (cooking, cleaning and so on). Surveys are highly weather depending so free time will be arranged according to surveys schedule, which will be decided on a daily basis. *2 Field Interns (4 months, from June to end of September)* *Even if applications for shorter periods will be accepted, considering the training required preference will be given to interns applying for the entire period (June-September). * Qualifications - Applicants must have previous field experience in marine mammal surveys. - Applicants should possess or be enrolled in a BS or MS course in biology, environmental sciences or a related major; - Applicants must be reliable, motivated and team oriented, have a positive attitude as well as a genuine interest in marine mammal sciences; - Applicants must be adaptable and patient as fieldwork is highly weather dependent. This means long consecutive days in the field when weather permits while no cruises during bad weather periods; These positions are an excellent opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students interested in pursuing a career in marine mammal research to strengthen their skills and above all to gain practical experience in the field. These are unpaid positions and successful applicants are responsible for their own transportation expenses to and from Italy and for accommodation in Savona during the entire staying. All costs related to sea surveys will be covered by CIMA RF If you are interested in applying for these positions, please submit your CV and a cover letter with contact information of at least one reference to: cetasmus(a)cimafoundation.org -- Non stampare questa mail, pensa all'ambiente!! Before printing, think about the environment! Avant d'imprimer, pensez à l'environnement!

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Volunteer for Acoustic Research Month at Dolphin Encountours Research Centre, Mozambique
by sasha dines 08 Jan '20

08 Jan '20

**Volunteer - February is Acoustic Research Month at Dolphin Encountours Research Centre!** Sea Search Research and Conservation will be joining the Dolphin Research Team in the Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve in Mozambique over the month of February 2020. During this time Sasha Dines will be visiting and collecting data for her PhD "Using novel acoustic methodology to inform conservation actions for South Africa's most endangered dolphin; the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea)” During this time we aim to undertake dedicated field trips which will find us using an array of equipment including hydrophones, recorders and camera’s both in-water and out to further study our local population of dolphins. Data will be processed and analysed to use in conservation measures to further protect these species along the African coastline. We have four spaces for volunteers who would like to dive in and explore the way of wild dolphins and this fascinating area of research. Volunteers can expect to gain knowledge on ethical and responsible dolphin tourism that funds research and conservation Dates: 25 January to 23 February There is a once off fee of R22 200 which includes: - Accommodation sharing 30 nights (Two meals per day) - Training for specific tasks - DolphinCare contribution - Dedicated Acoustic Research Field trips ~ 3 p/week - Mentoring by the Dolphin and Acoustic Research Team - Dolphin Pack with t-shirts to be worn while working, certificate of attendance, pictures & dolphin diaries from your stay; information on our dolphins, research & interesting reference papers. - Gear use (mask, snorkel and fins) - Return private transfer from Maputo International For more information please head over to https://www.dolphinencountours.org/blog/volunteer-february-is-acoustic-rese… <https://www.dolphinencountours.org/blog/volunteer-february-is-acoustic-rese…> or to reserve your spot please email angie(a)dolphincare.org <mailto:research@dolphincare.org> ______________________ Sasha Dines PhD Candidate Sea Search Research and Conservation, Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch Cape Town Cell: (ZA) +27 791223150 (UK) +44 7875011927 sdines(a)sun.ac.za <mailto:sdines@sun.ac.za> http://seasearch.co.za <http://seasearch.co.za/> https://www.sousaproject.org <https://www.sousaproject.org/>

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SeaSeal Volunteer Oportunity at Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre, New Quay, Wales
by CBMWC 08 Jan '20

08 Jan '20

The Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre (CBMWC) <https://www.welshwildlife.org/visitor-centres/cardigan-bay-marine-wildlife- centre/> is looking for dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers to join our Living Seas Team for the 2020 research season, to help with our marine mammal research and community engagement work. The Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre is the Living Seas wing of The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales <http://www.welshwildlife.org/> . Since 1996 we have been dedicated to raising awareness of the local marine environment through research and education. Using land and boat based surveys, photo-identification and acoustic studies we collect data on marine megafauna, focusing on bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoises and Atlantic grey seals in the Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the wider Irish Sea. We operate a busy visitor centre (average 17,000 visitors per year) and also provide marine educational activities for families, school and groups. Volunteering with CBMWC is a unique opportunity for you to carry out marine mammal research and to help inspire the public through our visitor centre and community engagement events. You'll learn about the marine species of Cardigan Bay and gain experience in field work, processing data, environmental education, community engagement and much more! The volunteer programme at CBMWC has received national recognition after achieving the Investing in Volunteers Award (IiV), the UK's quality standard for volunteer management. We provide a fantastic volunteer experience! The Volunteering Role The SeaSeal volunteer will assist with our Living Seas research focused on the Atlantic grey seals of Cardigan Bay. Volunteer responsibilities include (but not limited to) - * Conducting land based seal surveys (weather dependant) * Photographing seals and other marine mammals * Assisting with the annual seal pup survey (During October) * Conducting photo ID - sorting/matching images * Analysing data and writing the SeaSeal report * Providing updates for our website and social media * Reporting back to the Living Seas Staff * You will also assist with other areas of our work including land and boat based surveys, running our visitor centre and community engagement activities Visit https://www.welshwildlife.org/visitor-centres/cardigan-bay-marine-wildlife-c entre/volunteer/seal-photo-id/ for further information on the roles and how to apply. Deadline for applications is 23:59pm on Sunday 2nd February 2020. Contact - Laura Evans at volunteer(a)cbmwc.org or 01545 560224 for more information. ----------------------------- Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre, Ffon/Phone: 01545 560224 Boat trip Bookings: 01545 560032 Website: www.cbmwc.org <http://www.cbmwc.org/> Website: www.welshwildlife.org <http://www.welshwildlife.org/>

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recent Cook Inlet beluga publication
by Stephanie Norman 07 Jan '20

07 Jan '20

Please find below information on a recent Cook Inlet beluga publication that is Open Access at the journal Ecosphere. Citation: Norman, S.A., R.C. Hobbs, L.A. Beckett, S.J. Trumble, and W.A. Smith. 2019. Relationship between per capita births of Cook Inlet belugas and summer salmon runs: age-structured population modeling. Ecosphere 11(1): e02955. 10.1002/ecs2.2955 Abstract. Anthropogenic disturbances may alter a population’s conservation status if the ability of individuals to survive and breed is affected. We used an adaptation of the Heligman-Pollard model to estimate survival at age of Cook Inlet belugas (CIB; Delphinapterus leucas), an endangered population in south-central Alaska. We developed an age-structured Leslie matrix model, based on the life history parameters sur- vival and fecundity probability, to evaluate the sensitivity of population size and growth of CIB, to variation in estimate values of Chinook and coho salmon abundance in the Deshka River, a major tributary of the Susitna River. Birth effect (eb) was regressed against Chinook and coho salmon levels for the year of, the year before, and two years before a beluga calf birth. The effect of a range of modiﬁcations of salmon availability was illustrated in CIB with a series of simulations. The maximum annual population growths (k) were set at 1.036 (3.6%). Ranges of CIB survival and fecundity probabilities indicated small changes in survival probabilities have a greater impact on population growth than similar changes in birth probability. As either survival (es) or fecundity (eb) was reduced, the annual growth declined, with either es = 0.961 or eb = 0.388, causing a decreased annual growth of -0.4%. Regressions of Chinook salmon for the year of, the year before, and two years before a birth were all signiﬁcant at the 5% level as was coho in the year of and year prior to birth. The mechanism model with the best ﬁt was the sum of Chinook and coho in the year of birth and year prior to birth. Simulations showed that if salmon runs remained at their current levels, the CIB population would likely continue its current slow decline and per capita births would continue to be low. The results from this study suggest reproductive success in CIB is tied to salmon abundance in the Deshka River. Current management practices should consider this when setting research priorities, designing new studies, and developing management actions to achieve CIB population recovery targets. The paper can be downloaded at the following link: https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecs2.2955 Thank you, Stephanie Stephanie A. Norman, DVM, MS, PhD Marine-Med: Marine Research, Epidemiology, and Veterinary Medicine E-mail: stephanie(a)marine-med.com Website: www.marine-med.com Phone: 206-321-0249 Twitter: whaledocsteph

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Marine Bioacoustics Summer School (SeaBASS) 2020
by Susan E Parks 07 Jan '20

07 Jan '20

We are pleased to announce this year's Marine Bioacoustics Summer School program (SeaBASS 2020). SeaBASS provides the opportunity for currently enrolled graduate students interested in pursuing careers in marine bioacoustics to develop a strong foundation of both marine animal biology and acoustics from distinguished lecturers in the field. The goals of SeaBASS are to discuss important topics in marine bioacoustics, foster technical communication across disciplines, and promote mentoring and collaboration. SeaBASS gives students an opportunity to learn from experts who will discuss a suite of topics not often offered at any one university. The topics covered in the course include: Introduction to Underwater Sound, Sound Propagation,Marine Mammal Biology & Behavior, Fish Communication & Behavior, Hearing, Echolocation, Fisheries Acoustics/Active Acoustic Monitoring, and Passive Acoustic Monitoring & Signal Processing. WHEN: June 1-5, 2020 WHERE: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY COSTS: The costs of student attendance (room and board, based on double occupancy for students) will be funded from sponsor support. There is no registration fee. Full-time participation of all participants is required. Travel costs are the responsibility of the student, but travel assistance can be requested during the application process. APPLICATION: The on-line application is available at https://eos.unh.edu/center-acoustics-research-education/courses/bioacoustic… DEADLINE: The application deadline is February 28, 2020. Please direct questions to Dr. Jennifer Miksis-Olds (J.MiksisOlds(a)unh.edu<mailto:J.MiksisOlds@unh.edu>) or Dr. Susan Parks (sparks(a)syr.edu<mailto:sparks@syr.edu>). Susan Parks Associate Professor Biology Department T 315.443.4672 F 315.443.2012 sparks(a)syr.edu 258 Life Sciences Complex, Syracuse, NY 13244 parkslab.syr.edu<http://parkslab.syr.edu> Syracuse University

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Seiche Training MMO/PAM
by Stephanie Barnicoat (Training) 07 Jan '20

07 Jan '20

Dear Colleagues, Seiche training are now taking bookings for BOEM/BSSE compliant Protected Species Observer (PSO) course running 6-7 July and Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) Level 1 course on the 8-10 July, in Cape Town, South Africa. This PSO training is accredited by BOEM (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management) 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, 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 in the marine environment, marine mammal vocalisation using PAMGuard, with practical sessions and hardware set up, installing and deploying the equipment on a vessel. Certificates will be given on completion of the course, qualifying you for offshore work. For more information, please follow the relevant link or contact training(a)seiche.com<mailto:training@seiche.com> https://www.seiche.com/seichetraining/protected-species-observer-training/ http://www.seichetraining.com/passive-acoustic-monitoring-pam-level-1/ Please note, this course will only go ahead if there are enough bookings. Booking Deadline 5th June, no bookings will be taken after this date.. Stephanie Barnicoat Training Co-ordinator Tel: 01837 503386 [cid:image002.png@01D1D160.82B0DE70] Seiche Training Bradworthy Industrial Estate, Langdon Road, Bradworthy, Holsworthy, Devon, EX22 7SF, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1409 404050<tel:%2B44%20%280%291409%20404050> http://www.seichetraining.com<http://www.seichetraining.com/> Registered in England & Wales No. 3475558, Registered Office: The Custom House, The Strand, Barnstaple, Devon Seiche Training Ltd Stephanie Barnicoat (Training) Seiche Training Ltd Bradworthy Industrial Estate, Langdon Road, Bradworthy, Holsworthy, Devon, EX22 7SF, United Kingdom T: +44(0)1837 503386 E: s.barnicoat(a)seichetraining.com W: http://www.seichetraining.com Registered in England & Wales No. 9312435, 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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IWC recruitment opportunity - Lead for Science
by Marguerite Tarzia 07 Jan '20

07 Jan '20

The International Whaling Commission Secretariat is currently recruiting a Lead for Science: https://iwc.int/vacancies Lead for Science The IWC Secretariat is recruiting a new lead for science. This is an important role, providing support to the Scientific Committee, its leadership, meetings and work programme. The wide-ranging responsibilities of the post also include facilitating communication and co-ordination between science and other areas of the IWC work programme, supporting the strategic development of the Secretariat, and management of a small team. The postholder is also Editor of the Journal of Cetacean Research and Management. The successful candidate will: * hold a Ph.D. degree or equivalent in a relevant subject (Zoology, Marine Biology, Fisheries Science, Environmental/Fisheries Policy etc.) * have the ability to explain complex scientific information to a non-specialist audience and the ability to form credible relationships with scientists, Contracting Governments and other stakeholders * have a track record of delivering work on time and on budget * have extensive knowledge of the peer review process and experience of working in an editorial or similar role * be able to lead, develop and empower a team This full-time (37.5 hours), permanent post will be based at the IWC headquarters in Impington. Closing date for applications: 5pm Monday 3rd February 2020 - download full job spec here<https://iwc.int/public/downloads/ZN89h/20200106%20Science%20Lead%20Job%20De…> How to apply: Please send a CV and covering letter setting out how you meet the requirements set out in the person specification to julie.creek(a)iwc.int<mailto:%20julie.creek@iwc.int> by 5pm GMT on Monday 3rd February 2020 We welcome applications from overseas candidates. Equal opportunities statement We are an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their sex; religious or similar philosophical belief; political opinion; race; age; sexual orientation; or, whether they are married or are in a civil partnership; or, whether they are disabled; or whether they have undergone, are undergoing or intend to undergo gender reassignment Marguerite Tarzia Bycatch Co-ordinator INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION The Red House, 135 Station Road, Impington, Cambridge, CB24 9NP, UK t. +44 (0) 1223 233971 f. +44 (0) 1223 232876 www.iwc.int<http://iwc.int/> [iwc] This e-mail and any files transmitted with it may contain confidential or legally privileged information and is intended only for the use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the named addressee you should delete the email and notify the sender immediately. E-mails are not secure and cannot be guaranteed to be error free as they can be intercepted, amended, or contain viruses. Any opinion and other statement contained in this message and any attachment are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the International Whaling Commission.

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UK based cetacean research internships
by katrin.lohrengel＠seawatchfoundation.org.uk 07 Jan '20

07 Jan '20

UK based cetacean research charity, Sea Watch Foundation, is looking to recruit seven Research Interns (RI), an Education and Outreach Assistant (EA), a National Whale and Dolphin Watch Assistant (NWDWA) and a Research Assistant (RA) for the 2020 summer season. Positions are unpaid but accommodation is provided free of charge for the RESEARCH ASSISTANT. APPLICATIONS CLOSE 14TH JANUARY FOR THE RESEARCH ASSISTANT POSITION AND 30TH JANUARY FOR RESEARCH INTERN POSITION. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND HOW TO APPLY VIST: https://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/internships/ Interns are invited to assist the Sea Watch Foundation (SWF) with the running of the “Cardigan Bay Monitoring Project”. The project is based in New Quay, West Wales, and supports the conservation management of the bottlenose dolphin, harbour porpoise and grey seal populations of Cardigan Bay, monitoring their abundance, distribution, reproductive success and population structure using a combination of vessel-based and land-based surveys. SWF has been monitoring these populations on behalf of the Welsh government (through funding provided by Natural Resources Wales) for over a decade. Cardigan Bay contains Britain’s largest coastal population of bottlenose dolphins, for which two Special Areas of Conservation have been established under the EU Habitats Directive. Interns will help the Cardigan Bay Monitoring Officer and the Sightings Officer by taking part in the following tasks: Land-based surveys Boat-based surveys Photo-identification matching Data entry Raising public awareness Education initiatives and events Assisting with and participation in training courses and other needs of the charity. In addition to these tasks, we have some specialist equipment, two hydrophones and a drone, to opportunistically collect acoustic and aerial data during boat-based surveys. Sea Watch have also been contributing to a project to collect dolphin blow samples for population genetics and microbiome analyses. Interns interested in these subjects may also have the opportunity to assist in data collection for these projects. Interns are required from early April until the end of October 2020. The research season is split into four separate periods, each lasting 7 weeks. The research periods for the 2020 season are: Period 1: April 13 – May 31 Period 2: June 1- July 19 Period 3: July 20 – September 6 Period 4: September 7 – October 25 Interns are expected to arrive on the first day of their chosen period and depart on the first day of the next period. Start and end dates are not flexible. Preference will be given to those applying for more than one period. Interns will be based in New Quay, Ceredigion, West Wales. Accommodation is provided by a private landlord through rental of a house that interns share at a rate of around £74 per person per week. Rooms are shared between two or three people, with a total of nine people in the house at any given time. Please be aware that while all effort is made to accommodate interns in single gender rooms, in some cases it might not be possible. If you have a strong preference, please indicate so in the application form and we will try our best to accommodate this. Interns are responsible for their own travel, accommodation and living expenses, but it is generally quite easy to obtain part-time paid work in the area if required. Important skills/qualifications Essential: an ability to work independently in a meticulous and reliable manner strong commitment to volunteering work willingness to work long hours outdoors in often changeable Welsh weather good IT skills (Office package) an ability to get on well with others in a small team and in shared accommodation Desirable: a strong interest and knowledge of British cetaceans a background in marine biology/environmental science or similar prior experience in boat-based survey work good verbal and written communication skills and in public speaking experience in interacting with the public All interns will be trained in cetacean observation and identification, in boat survey protocols, and photo-identification of bottlenose dolphins. Normal office hours are from 10:00 to 17:00 hrs but field work regularly falls outside these hours, particularly land-based watches which take place throughout the day in two hour shifts from 07:00 to 21:00. Interns will sometimes be scheduled onto ‘early’ and ‘late’ shifts to accommodate these. Line transect surveys are all day surveys and will typically start in the early morning hours and run for at least 8 hours. Prospective interns should be aware that they will be contributing to ongoing, established research projects that routinely inform government agencies on the status of cetaceans in the UK, and accordingly are expected to take the internship seriously and prioritise it over extra-curricular activities. Working in a small NGO environment in a tight knit team can be a challenging experience and requires a high degree of flexibility, tolerance and a positive attitude. After initial training, interns will often be expected to work in the absence of direct supervision so the ability to work independently and maintain a positive, proactive outlook is essential. Internships with Sea Watch have frequently led to established posts in national and international research and conservation bodies, as well as providing a stepping stone for students to undertake doctoral studies in marine mammal science. International applications are welcome but it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure visa requirements are met and we ask applicants to highlight their chosen visa option in their application. Please note that Sea Watch Foundation is unable to sponsor visa applications for Research Interns.

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INTERNSHIP 2020-LAST CALL
by Davide Ascheri 07 Jan '20

07 Jan '20

*DELFINI DEL PONENTE RESEARCH PROJECT, IMPERIA, ITALY* *Cetacean and Marine Fauna research * *Delfini del Ponente is currently looking for and accepting interns to join our pilot project on bottlenose dolphins in the Western Ligurian Sea, Imperia (Italy) from March to June**.* (DEADLINE 15th January)-LAST CALL *The project* The dolphin research project “Delfini del Ponente” is the first project focused on monitoring bottlenose dolphins in the Western Ligurian Sea. Due to the morphology of the seafloor, this area is not a usual habitat for this species and historically, sightings have a been rarer and more sporadic than in the Levantine side of the region. The continental shelf is, in fact, very short and high depths (around 2000 m) are reached quite close to the shore making the area suitable for other cetacean species but not for bottlenose dolphins, which tend to remain in waters with a depth not exceeding 200 m. Despite this knowledge of the range of the species, an interesting change has been noted in recent years in the area, where sightings of bottlenose dolphins have almost tripled. For this reason, Costa Balenae started in 2018 the project Delfini del Ponente to monitor bottlenose dolphins in the region to understand the extent of this change and what drove it. The project is structured on an annual basis, to obtain data not only on the distribution during the Summer, but also changes during the different seasons. The project is already providing very interesting information about bottlenose dolphins and their distribution in the study area, and also about the seasonal presence of other marine fauna such as Mediterranean shearwaters (*Puffinus yelkouan)*, Scopoli’s shearwaters (*Calonectris diomedea*), Northern gannets (*Morus bassanus*), Sandwich terns ( *Thalasseus sandvicensis*), sunfish (*Mola mola*) among others. *WHERE:* Imperia, Italy *WHEN:* 1 March-30 -October 2020; Minimum required: 30 days Number of interns for month: 2 /3 Activities: • boat-based surveys monitoring the presence and distribution of bottlenose dolphins • data collection of other cetaceans, fishes, seabirds, turtles • classwork, database updating • photo-id matching and analysis • land-based surveys /opportunistic surveys • lessons and training about cetacean ecology, biology and research techniques PIERCE This is a great opportunity to get involved in cetacean research, encounter marine biodiversity while gaining fieldwork experience, travel and explore the beautiful Liguria region and support cetacean research and conservation . Surveys will be made in coastal waters onboard a dedicated zodiac (6 m inflatable boat) around 10 times per month. Training will focus on collecting photo for photo-ID purposes, environmental, marine traffic, geographical (GPS) and dolphins' behavioural data. Land-based surveys will be done In Imperia, in 2 different points around 10-12 times/month collecting data on the presence/absence of dolphins, fishing boats and marine birds. Surveys are weather dependent, and their number can change each month. Office work (6 hours per day) includes training, lessons, photo-id work, transcription of data, data entry, QGIS work etc. Interns will be involved 5 days a week, 6-8 hours/day (depending on fieldwork or lab work) During free time, interns will have the opportunity to experience all sorts of activities: swimming, diving, hiking, exploring historical sites, visit museums, sailing. *Skills/qualification: * · Minimum age of 18 · Prior experience in cetaceans or boat-based surveys is not required, but preferred · Degree or on-going studies in biology, natural science, veterinary or similar (preferred) · Strong motivation and interest in cetaceans and research · Speak, read and write in fluent English · Be adaptable as fieldwork is weather dependent · Be willing to spend many hours on a small zodiac (5-6 m) and under the sun · Be sociable as they are expected to live and work in an international team *Internship fee * Delfini del Ponente is a self-funded research project, so participation in this programme requires a tuition fee. Fee includes the accommodation in an apartment in Imperia, tuition and all associated field costs during the internship period (use of research vessel, training, use of equipment, field trips). Transportation expenses to and from Imperia (Italy), own insurances, and food costs during the stay are not included in the fee. *How to apply: * Send your CV with a letter of interest to delfinidelponente(a)gmail.com before 15th of January For any further enquiries and details, please send an email to delfinidelponente(a)gmail.com Davide Ascheri and Elena Fontanesi

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Marine Mammal Genomics Community slack workspace
by Alana Alexander 06 Jan '20

06 Jan '20

Kia ora folks, Following the WMMC2019 conference, we've established a slack workspace to facilitate interactions within the marine mammal genomics community outside of conferences, especially seeing as we are spread over so many time zones/countries, to help stay in touch and share tips, tricks, trials and tribulations. All who work on (or are interested in) marine mammal (or their bugs!) genomics (or genetics!) welcome, so please feel free to flick this email on to others who might be interested (apologies to those who have already received this email through other channels). Slack is a bit like twitter and the old internet chatrooms from back in the day had a baby. It is a workspace limited to those who have the link (pasted below), so is a bit more private than twitter, but you can still do much the same stuff in it (e.g. directly message folks if you want to start a direct conversation with them). I've found it pretty handy for sharing useful resources with folks in other groups, without spamming them with a ton of emails (e.g. you can check into the slack as rarely or as often as you like). To join up to our slack space, you'll need to head to: https://join.slack.com/t/marinemammalgenomics/shared_invite/enQtODgyNjMyMDg… After you've signed up, to log back into the slack space in the future you just have to head to the following URL and sign in with the email address you signed up with: https://marinemammalgenomics.slack.com. Alternately if you go to slack.com you can search for our workspace, which is called 'Marine Mammal Genomics Community'. There is also an app for smartphones, but I haven't figured that one out yet, sorry :) Once you get into the workspace, the slack is split into channels to help group messages together (handy if you sign in only once a year and then there are a bazillion posts to read!). At the moment we've got the following (however I am very happy to add more if you reckon we are missing a channel that would be useful!): # community_engagement: Discussion related to communication and inclusion of local communities in our research # edna_and_adna: eDNA and aDNA (e.g. low copy number target) related chatter # field_and_lab_techniques: Tips, tricks, and troubleshooting obtaining and preserving samples # functional_genomics: adaptive SNPs or candidate genes to local environments (adaptive stuff) # general: Any general tidbits that would be useful across all our geneticsy fields # hq_genomes: Chatter related to generating HQ and VGP-quality genomes # kicking_it_oldschool: Discussion for tried and tested microsatellite and Sanger sequencing markers # microbiome: Microbiome and pathogen genetic analyses # random: A place for non-work-related stuff # rna_seq: Transcriptomics and gene expression chatter # reduced_representation_sequencing: RADseq, GTseq, and other kinds of NGS reduced rep sequencing # software_and_bionformatics: A place to share and get help about software and bioinformatics packages I'm hoping this might be a useful way to keep in touch as a community, and to support each other in the neat science that is going on in this space. Ngā mihi (thanks), Alana -- Alana Alexander *Postdoctoral Researcher*Department of Anatomy | School of Biomedical Sciences | University of Otago Te Tari Kikokiko | Te Kura Mātai Rongoā-Koiora | Te Whare Wānanga o Otāgo Tel/Waea: 64 3 479 7376 Fax/Waea whakāhua: 64 3 479 7254 Mail/Wāhitau: PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand Address/Wāhi mahi: 270 Great King Street <https://www.google.co.nz/maps/place/270+Great+King+St,+Dunedin,+9016/data=!…>, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand Email/Īmēra: alana.alexander(a)otago.ac.nz

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