February 2020 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

21st Century Post-Doctoral Scholar in Environmental Biology at Georgetown University, Washington DC
by Vivienne Foroughirad 17 Feb '20

17 Feb '20

Dear Colleagues, Please see below for a postdoctoral fellowship opportunity at Georgetown University. If you are interested in a topic related to marine mammals, especially bottlenose dolphins, but also comparative research (e.g., responses to extreme climate events, disease transmission, network modeling, migration, longitudinal study) please contact Janet Mann mannj2(a)georgetown.edu before applying. Application review begins March 15, 2020. ********************* The Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior (EEB) Faculty of Georgetown’s Department of Biology invites applications for the 21st Century Postdoctoral Fellowship. Recognizing the educational benefits of a diverse scientific workforce, the aim of the fellowship is to encourage the development of an inclusive community of scholars with the background, expertise, and experience to address the multitude of contemporary and future environmental challenges. Thus, one of the goals of this postdoctoral fellowship is to support outstanding scholars who are committed to building a diverse intellectual community. The program is particularly interested in scholars with a demonstrated interest in bringing to their academic careers the critical perspective that comes from a nontraditional educational background and/or understanding of the experiences of members of groups historically underrepresented in EEB and Environmental Biology. This is a two-year fellowship (with second year renewal required) that combines research and teaching. The primary expectation is that fellows will carry out independent research in collaboration with one or more of our EEB faculty (and potentially faculty from other departments). Please contact prospective mentors in advance of your application. The fellow will be fully integrated into the intellectual life of the department, including department colloquia, research presentations, laboratory meetings, journal clubs, and professional mentoring. The fellow will also teach or co-teach one course on a topic in environmental biology during each year of the program. QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates should have completed their PhD within the last three years in ecology, evolutionary biology or a related discipline (those who will have documentation of their PhD by August 2020 are also eligible). Fellows are expected to demonstrate a commitment to inclusive scholarship and have a demonstrated record of research productivity and publication. APPLICATION: We encourage applicants to reach out to prospective mentor(s) to discuss their interests and plans. Review of applications will begin by March 15 and continue until the position has been filled. Applications should be submitted to the following website: https://apply.interfolio.com/74149. and be ready to upload (as three separate .pdf files): 1) A 1-2 page cover letter describing their experience, long-term research and teaching goals and how their interests and background (in terms of culture, race, gender, ethnicity, disability/ability, socioeconomic status, work/life experience, etc.) would contribute to a more diverse (broadly defined) research community, 2) a 2-3 page proposal for specific research activities to be carried out during this fellowship program, and 3) a short CV including names and contact information of three references. The Biology Department at Georgetown (biology.georgetown.edu) is a vibrant, multidisciplinary academic community in the heart of the Nation’s capital. Georgetown University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer fully dedicated to achieving a diverse faculty and staff. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and expression, and sexual orientation), disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. ********************* -- Vivienne Foroughirad Postdoctoral Fellow Georgetown University 202-568-3919

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First Announcement: 7th International Bio-Logging Symposium - October 2020
by Charles Littnan - NOAA Federal 17 Feb '20

17 Feb '20

Tracking the Changing World Around Us THE 7TH INTERNATIONAL BIO-LOGGING SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM11 - 16 OCTOBER 2020HONOLULU, HAWAII Aloha Marine Mammal Bio-Logging Community! We are incredibly excited to announce that abstract submission for the The 7th International Bio-Logging Symposium is now open! We thank you all for your patience while we pulled together all the pieces for what is going to be an amazing conference. Our theme for the conference "Tracking the Changing World Around Us" is intended to explore how we do our work with emerging new technologies, advances in analytical approaches, a rapidly changing environmental and socio-political climate and more. As always, we want to create a conference that embraces the work of our global bio-logging community, and we hope you will be part of it! Over the coming weeks we will be announcing more news about the conference but lots of good information can be found on our regularly updated webpage: https://www.bls7hawaii.com If you would like to jump straight to abstract submission, please do! https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/login?redirect=/stages/1709/submitter Our next major milestone will be registration which will open on March 1. We look forward to hosting you in Honolulu later this year. Let us know if you have any questions! Send questions to bls72020(a)gmail.com Your BLS7 Organizing Team, Charles, Josh, Kenady, Kim and Aude. *Charles Littnan, PhD.* Division Director Protected Species Division NOAA IRC NMFS/PIFSC/PSD/Charles Littnan 1845 WASP Blvd., Building 176 Honolulu, HI 96818 PH: (808) 725-5711 Fax: (808) 725-5567

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Last Chance to Apply- Cetacean Field Course
by Yeater, Prof. Deirdre M. 17 Feb '20

17 Feb '20

STUDY ABROAD BIMINI, THE BAHAMAS BI/PS 247 Bimini Field Course in Cetacean Ecology for Biology/Psychology Majors and Non-Majors elective (3 Credits) Summer 2020: May 26 - June 1, 2020 Please apply before March 1, 2020! Led by Dr. Deirdre Yeater in the Sacred Heart University Psychology department in collaboration with Dolphin Communication Project, this course will examine the behavioral and social ecology of coastal cetaceans, particularly Atlantic spotted and bottlenose dolphins. You will enjoy a hands-on learning experience with wild dolphins, in the beautiful waters surrounding the island of Bimini in the Bahamas. On the program, you will earn three credits while learning to record and analyze dolphin behaviors. You will also learn about ecotourism and human impacts on the marine environment. The field work at Bimini will consist of 4 to 5 hour boat surveys. If the group is able to make underwater observations, you will be assisting in the use of underwater slates, video cameras, and digital still cameras. The number of students accepted will be limited by the size of the research vessel. Therefore, you should apply as soon as possible. You MUST be able to swim and snorkel as part of the program. Application Deadline March 1! For more information, contact: Sacred Heart University Office of Global Affairs studyabroad(a)sacredheart.edu<mailto:studyabroad@sacredheart.edu> www.sacredheart.edu/studyabroad<http://www.sacredheart.edu/studyabroad> Bahamas or Dolphin Communication Project http://www.dolphincommunicationproject.org/ Deirdre Yeater, Ph.D Professor Sacred Heart University 5151 Park Avenue Fairfield, CT 06825 Phone: 203-365-4870 Fax: 203-371-7998

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Marine Mammal Field Assistant Opportunity - Summer 2020, Cedar Key Dolphin Project
by Rebecca Hamilton 17 Feb '20

17 Feb '20

Dear Marmamers, We are seeking full-time field assistants for part of the Cedar Key Dolphin Project 2020 field season this upcoming summer, between June and September. Applicants available for this entire period will be given priority. The field season will be focused on gathering acoustic and behavioral data during specialized foraging tactics as part of a long-term study (www.cedarkeydolphinproject.org<http://www.cedarkeydolphinproject.org>). Research will take place in Cedar Key, Florida, 3 hours north of Tampa and 60 miles west of Gainesville. The assistant will be expected to work on a boat on all good weather days (typically 5 to 7 days per week), for up to 10 hours at a time. Typical weather conditions in summer include 95 degree heat, high humidity, and no breezes. When the weather does not permit fieldwork, work will consist of photo matching, processing, and data entry. This is a volunteer position. Assistants will be responsible for arranging their own transportation to Florida, but housing and food will be covered while on-site. Applicants must be flexible, mature, and hard-working individuals. The team works and lives in close quarters for the duration of the season, so applicants must work well in small groups and have a positive attitude. Prior field experience with photo-ID and boat handling is preferred, but not required. Those with no experience should demonstrate their willingness to learn. An application form and instructions on submitting materials (CV, cover letter, and contact for 3 references) can be accessed through the project website via the following link: https://www.cedarkeydolphinproject.org/field-assistant-application.html Completed applications are due by February 25th. A short-list of applicants will be asked to conduct a short, informal skype interview in early March. For more information or to ask any questions, please contact field manager Becca Hamilton: rebeccahamilton64(a)gmail.com<mailto:rebeccahamilton64@gmail.com> Best Wishes, The Cedar Key Dolphin Project

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New Publication: Simond et al., 2020
by Antoine Simond 17 Feb '20

17 Feb '20

Dear colleagues, We are very pleased to announce the recent publication of our last paper "Metabolomic profiles of the endangered St. Lawrence Estuary beluga population and associations with organohalogen contaminants". The article is available here: https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1aaCEB8cco9t6 Alternatively, please feel free to email me to get a PDF copy. AUTHORS Simond, A.E., Houde, M., Lesage, V., Michaud, R. and Verreault, J. ABSTRACT The endangered beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) population residing in the St. Lawrence Estuary (SLE; Eastern Canada) is declining. The elevated tissue concentrations of a wide range of organohalogen contaminants might play a role in the non-recovery of this whale population. Organohalogens have been reported to impair the reg- ulation ofseveral metabolic products fromcellular reactions in mammals such as amino acids and fatty acids. The objective of this study was to investigate a suite of organohalogens including polychlorinated biphenyls, organ- ochlorine pesticides, short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and selected emerging flame retardants in blubber (biopsy) collected from 40 SLE male belugas, and their relationships to skin concentrations oftargetedmetabolites (i.e., 21 amino acids, 22 biogenic amines, 18 fatty acids, and 17 energy metabolites). A cluster analysis based on metabolomic profiles distinguished two main subgroups of belugas in the upper and lower sector of their summer habitat in the SLE. These results indicate that ecological factors such as local prey availability and diet composition played a role in shaping the metabolite profiles of belugas. Moreover, SCCP concentrations in SLE male belugas correlated negatively with those of four unsaturated fatty acids (C16:1ω7, C22:5ω3c1, C22:5ω3c2, and C22:6ω3), and positively with those of acetylornithine (biogenic amine). These findings suggest that biological functions such as lipid metabolism represent potential targets for organohalogens in this population, and further our understanding on potential health risks associated with elevated organohalogen exposure in cetaceans. Our results also underscore the necessity of considering ecolog- ical factors (e.g., diet and habitat use) in metabolomic studies. KEYWORDS Marine mammal; Metabolomic; Halogenated flame retardant; Organochlorine; Short-chain chlorinated paraffin; Lipid metabolism Regards and all the best, ********************************************************************************************** *ANTOINE SIMOND* *Candidat au doctorat | PhD candidate* Département des sciences biologiques | Biological Sciences Department Université du Québec à Montréal | University of Quebec at Montreal C.P. 8888, Succursale Centre-Ville | P.O. Box 8888, Downtown branch Montréal (Québec), Canada, H3C 3P8 | Montreal (Quebec), Canada, H3C 3P8 Bureau SB-3650 | Office SB-3650 Courriel | E-mail: simond.antoine(a)courrier.uqam.ca ********************************************************************************************** « *We feel fundamentally disconnected from nature and therefore not responsible for the ecological consequences of our actions. Once we learn that our very being, essence, health and happiness depend on Mother Earth, we have no choice but to radically shift the way we treat her.* » - David Suzuki.

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Cetacean photo-id internship in Reykjavík, Iceland
by Sabrina Voswinkle 17 Feb '20

17 Feb '20

Cetacean photo-id internship in Reykjavík, Iceland Elding Whale Watching, based in Reykjavík, Iceland, will be offering 3 students (Bachelor's or Master's) the opportunity to join us for an internship of up to 5 months to learn the basic skills of cetacean behaviour, cetacean data collection, data preparation and photo-identification. This is a great way to get your marine biology career started! Interns are expected to work 5 days a week and will either be on our boats to collect behavioural and photographic data or in the office to process data on a computer. Timings and exact days can be flexible once the basic training is completed. As data is collected during whale watching trips, applicants need to agree to also interact with passengers from time to time as we want to increase awareness about cetaceans and their threats. Main aspect of the research will be photo-identification which is done not only in our company internally but also in cooperation with other institutes. However, also geographical as well social analyses are done. For further information we try to update our website regularily, www.eldingresearch.com *Requirements: *Enrolment in a biology, environmental or eco-tourism degree, some knowledge and experience with photography and use of DSLR cameras, basics in Excel. A personal laptop as well as a DSLR camera are beneficial. Good English is necessary and the love for outdoors and marine mammals. Weather in Iceland can be harsh and data may still be collected despite rain, snow and strong winds. *Living:* Accommodation and food are not covered and are of the interns own responsibility. However, on working days lunch and/or snacks as well as hot drinks are provided. Also we will do our best to aid in the search of affordable accommodation. Successful applicants will receive a pdf file with further useful information about the internship as well as living in Iceland. Beginning of the internship is from *15.05.2020* with a preferred duration of 3 months or more. A personal project for a BSc or alike university credits can be considered and developed during the internship. I encourage students who are seeking to gain experience in the field of marine biology/ eco-tourism to send a cv, a short motivation letter and period of availability to *sabrina(a)elding.is* <sabrina(a)elding.is>* by 01.03.2020* -- Sabrina Voswinkel *Elding Whale Watching* *Elding Viðey Tours* Tel: (+354) 519 5000 <callto:+354)+519+5000> elding(a)elding.is www.elding.is / www.videy.com

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Job - Final call - Marine Mammal Advisor - Natural Resources Wales
by Stringell, Tom 17 Feb '20

17 Feb '20

Job Opening in Wales (UK) - Marine Mammal Advisor - Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Deadline 26th February. Hurry, just over a week left to apply! We're hiring! Our marine team currently have several exciting opportunities for ambitious and passionate marine experts to join #TeamNRW as part of our new Offshore Renewable Energy Programme (OREP). This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a programme of work that is designed to support sustainable offshore renewable energy such as wind, wave and tidal power, and join our team in making a difference for Wales, our environment and energy security. Take a look at our Blog here: https://naturalresources.wales/about-us/news-and-events/blog/exciting-oppor… Specialist Advisor: Marine Mammals - As one of NRW's marine mammals specialist advisors, you'll be responsible for providing expert advice on potential impacts and management of the marine environment. You will likely have expertise in environmental assessment and be able to critically analyse technical reports and data. Advert and application information here: https://naturalresources.wales/about-us/jobs-and-placements/jobs/202442-spe… All posts are FTAs for a period of 3 years (March 2023). Salary : £34,427. The closing date for applications is 26th February. Thanks and good luck! Dr Thomas Stringell Cynghorydd Arbenigol Arweiniol: Rhywogaethau'r Môr (mamaliaid, crwbanod, pysgod) Lead Specialist Advisor: Marine Species (mammals, turtles, fish) Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru / Natural Resources Wales Ffôn /Tel: 0300 065 4912 / 07789 878284 cyfoethnaturiol.cymru / naturalresources.wales Twitter: twitter.com/NatResWales<http://www.twitter.com/NatResWales> Facebook: facebook.com/NatResWales<http://www.facebook.com/NatResWales> Flickr: flickr.com/NatResWales<http://www.flickr.com/NatResWales> Youtube: youtube.com/NatResWales<http://www.youtube.com/NatResWales> Yn falch o arwain y ffordd at ddyfodol gwell i Gymru trwy reoli'r amgylchedd ac adnoddau naturiol yn gynaliadwy. Proud to be leading the way to a better future for Wales by managing the environment and natural resources sustainably. Croesewir gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg a byddwn yn ymateb yn Gymraeg, heb i hynny arwain at oedi Correspondence in Welsh is welcomed, and we will respond in Welsh without it leading to a delay

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FIRST CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR A BEHAVIOURAL RESPONSE STUDY ON HUMPBACK WHALES IN AUSTRALIA
by Michael Noad 16 Feb '20

16 Feb '20

The Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratories (CEAL) Group at the University of Queensland is seeking expressions of interest from volunteers for a five week behavioural response study (BRS) on humpback whales from September 20 to October 25 this year (2020). The study will attempt to determine the hearing range of humpback whales by measuring their behavioural response to tones of various frequencies. The study will be conducted at Peregian Beach on the Sunshine Coast, just north of Brisbane, and follows several successful studies of humpback whale vocalisations and behaviour at the same site during the Humpback whale Acoustic Research Collaboration (HARC; 2002 - 2008) and the BRAHSS experiments in 2010 - 2015 (http://www.brahss.org.au/; https://www.ceal.lab.uq.edu.au/ ). Volunteers are required mainly to conduct land-based observations of the whales as they pass our study site. Approximately 5,000 whales should migrate southwards within 10 km of Peregian Beach during the field period making the site ideal for land-based tracking and observations of behaviour. We will also have a fixed hydrophone array moored offshore allowing us to record ambient noise and whale vocalisations and acoustically track singing whales in real time. Some whales will be tagged with Dtags. Although volunteers will be used to help out on the boats, opportunities for volunteers to participate in boat work are limited and most time will be spent doing land-based observations. Volunteers will also have opportunities to participate in the acoustic recording and tracking of whales. Individual volunteers will spend approximately five hours daily (in two shifts) observing and recording the behaviours of passing whales from the land. Volunteers will get at least one day off per week, usually during bad weather. Due to the complex nature of the study, volunteers will receive detailed training at the beginning of the project and therefore successful applicants must be available for the entire duration of the project. A high standard of safety will be maintained throughout the field work and volunteers will be trained in safety procedures. Volunteers must be sociable as they will be expected to work and live as part of teams with shared cooking and cleaning duties. We expect that there will be up to 30 people (researchers, staff and volunteers) at the site. Volunteers must organise and pay for their own transport to the study site (approximately 1.5h from the Brisbane International Airport) but food and accommodation are provided once there. Meals are communal. This project will suit people with a background in science (including recent graduates and graduate students as well as higher level undergraduate students) keen to gain experience in cetacean survey techniques, acoustics and behavioural response studies. Applicants should also be highly motivated, enthusiastic, sociable, and able to concentrate for several hours at a time. Those with previous survey experience of marine mammals or other taxa will be preferred. We are also seeking a part-time child carer. This person will be required to care for a 5-year old on a few occasions and will be part of the project as a regular volunteer when not required as a carer. Carer duties are likely to be one or two days a fortnight (daytime only) and applicants must have had previous child care experience (please include details of this on the application). Preference for a volunteer position will be given to the successful applicant for the carer position. The research project is being funded by the U.S. Navy Living Marine Resources (LMR) applied research program. Applicants should reply with an email to Rebecca Dunlop (r.dunlop(a)uq.edu.au<mailto:r.dunlop@uq.edu.au>) and Michael Noad (mnoad(a)uq.edu.au<mailto:mnoad@uq.edu.au>) outlining why they would be suitable for this work, why they would like to participate, an outline of previous relevant experience, and any other relevant details. The email should include an attached CV and the names and contact details of two professional referees. The closing date for volunteer applications is 30 April and successful field applicants will be notified in late May. A second call for volunteers will be placed on Marmam in early April.

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Offer for internships studying cetaceans in Sicily - Marecamp association
by Chiara Susini 16 Feb '20

16 Feb '20

New offer for internships studying cetaceans in Sicily - Marecamp association The Marecamp association has launched the new offer for internships in Marine biology / Ecology / Natural sciences for the year 2020. Field activities will be carried out in the Gulf of Catania, departing from the harbors of Catania and Aci Castello for daily monitoring trips. All the surveys will be supervised by the marine biologists of the association. Subjects studied are: * Population ecology and behavior * Photo-IDentification * Habitat and distribution * Anthropic impact and conservation Main investigated species: bottlenose dolphin, striped dolphin, common dolphin, sperm whal Priority will be given to students of all gender and nationalities whose intend to draft a research thesis. Only correctly completed requests and with all the required attachments will be considered. For selection purposes, candidates may be contacted for face to face or phone interviews. Marecamp never asks for money from interns, traineeships activities are totally free. Offsite trainees will be able to take advantage of subsidized board, lodging and transport. PERIOD From April to October 2020 NUMBER OF OPEN POSITIONS 3 GOALS 1) Acquire specialist skills for the experimental research at sea applied to marine mammals. 2) Develop skills and competences in collecting and interpreting experimental data. 3) Acquire mastery of one or more methodologies to be applied in the subjects proposed in this call. TASKS TO BE DONE Bibliographic and statistical research; field data collection (at sea and from land); data analysis; drafting of scientific report; participation in the monitoring campaign "Dolphin watching and Conservation in the Gulf of Catania 2020". REQUIREMENTS Excellent physical condition and predisposition to team work; excellent mastery of the Office package; good knowledge of bio/geo-statistical software. Good speaking of at least one language different by the Italian. To apply send an email to info(a)marecamp.com<mailto:info@marecamp.com> by February 29th 2020, writing in the object “Internship 2020 [your name and surname]”. ________________________________ Who is Marecamp? Marecamp is a voluntary association born in 2014, recognized by the CONI, the Regione Siciliana and ACCOBAMS, which carries out and promotes sports, educational, eco-tourism, and research activities at sea. It aims at social inclusion and respect for the marine environment and can count among its members both federal instructors and marine biologists with many years of experience. The association uses the proceeds of its activities to offer free experiences to less fortunate children and to support the research on cetaceans in the Gulf of Catania. Marecamp was born for sea lovers and is open to athletes, tourists, beginners and experts from the scientific world, nature and photography enthusiasts, and simple curious. Marecamp is currently the unique reality in Sicily to have the potential to become the first multi-purpose marine-themed center that combines water sports, research and training in environmental issues, and eco-tourism. Its activities are dictated by a great passion for the sea, and place professionalism and safety first. Supervised degree thesis are linked to the project “Dolphin watching and Conservation in the Gulf of Catania (Ionian Sea)”. Monitoring activities permit to collect year round data on cetaceans about population structure, distribution, behaviour, seasonality, fishery interaction, photo-identification and bio-acoustics. Common bottlenose dolphins, striped dolphin, Risso’s dolphin, common dolphin and sperm whale are the main sighted species; sighting of Cuvier’s beaked whale, fin whale and pilot whale are less frequent. Sincerely Chiara Susini and Clara Monaco Marecamp Team www.marecamp.com

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New publication - Tsai Collareta and Bosselaers 2020 Pliocene Eschrichtius
by Tsai, CH 15 Feb '20

15 Feb '20

Dear colleagues We are very pleased to announce a new paper - describing a Pliocene gray whale (*Eschrichtius*) from Beligum. Tsai C.-H., Collareta A., and Bosselaers M. 2020. A Pliocene gray whale ( *Eschrichtius* sp.) from the Eastern North Atlantic. Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia (Research in Paleontology and Stratigraphy) 126: 189-196. Abstract The gray whale *Eschrichtius robustus*, the only living member of the eschrichtiid lineage, currently inhabits only the North Pacific. Interestingly, however, the holotypes of both *E. robustus* and the late Miocene *Archaeschrichtius ruggieroi *(the oldest known eschrichtiid species) come from the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean, respectively. Here we describe a partial mysticete mandible from the Pliocene (3.71–2.76 Ma) of Belgium (Eastern North Atlantic). This new fossil displays a combination of morphological features that makes it nearly identical to modern *E. robustus*. Nevertheless, given its incomplete nature, the studied specimen is here identified in open nomenclature as belonging to *Eschrichtius* sp. The recognition of such an early record of *Eschrichtius* in the North Atlantic suggests that this genus developed a circum-Northern Hemisphere distribution not later than in Pliocene times, thus complicating our understanding of its origin, evolutionary history, and palaeobiogeographic patterns. The paper is freely accessible: https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/RIPS/article/view/13040 Alternatively, please feel free to email me or Alberto for a pdf copy further discussion: Tsai: craniata(a)gmail.com; whaletsai(a)ntu.edu.tw Alberto: alberto.collareta(a)unipi.it Regards and all the best, Tsai 蔡政修（Cheng-Hsiu Tsai さいまさのぶ) Lab of evolution and diversity of fossil vertebrates（古脊椎動物演化及多樣性實驗室） Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University（台灣大學生命科學系） No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei, 106-17, Taiwan（台灣 106-17 台北市羅斯福路 4 段 1 號） Email: whaletsai(a)ntu.edu.tw; craniata(a)gmail.com; cheng-hsiu.tsai(a)otago.ac.nz https://www.facebook.com/NTUWhaleTsai/?modal=admin_todo_tour

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