April 2020 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

IFAW Marine Mammal Stranding Internships - Fall 2020
by Kasper, Kira 03 Apr '20

03 Apr '20

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is currently accepting applications for Fall 2020 Marine Mammal Stranding Internships. Fall Session 2020 (First week of September - Mid-January) Complete Applications due: May 1st, 2020 Program Background IFAW is an international non-profit organization. This internship is based out of our International Operations Center in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, USA. IFAW's Marine Mammal Rescue and Research program is a federally authorized program dedicated to marine mammal stranding response on Cape Cod and southeastern Massachusetts. Our program strives to promote the conservation of marine mammal species and their habitat by improving the rescue and humane care of stranded marine mammals, advancing stranding science, and increasing public awareness through education. Cape Cod is a marine mammal stranding "hot spot," with an average of over 251 strandings occurring each year. These strandings include live and dead seals, whales, porpoises, and dolphins. Stranding Intern Duties * Stranding hotline coverage: answer calls, document reports, educate callers, dispatch volunteers, complete associated paperwork and enter data. * Marine mammal stranding response and necropsy: assist staff with all aspects of marine mammal stranding response, including live animal health assessment and supportive care, biological data collection, post-mortem examinations and sampling in both field and laboratory settings. * Stranding / necropsy readiness: cleaning, organizing and maintaining stranding response and necropsy gear, equipment and facilities, restocking kits and supplies. * Data entry / sample processing: assist in entry of stranding data. Assist in organizing, cataloging, disseminating and archiving of photos, videos, datasheets, samples, etc. * Outreach: assist staff with training and outreach material preparation and organization, participate in opportunistic outreach at stranding sites, participate in community events. Please see the following link for the full posting and to apply: https://recruiting.ultipro.com/INT1059IFFA/JobBoard/17b588a3-808b-4bc9-aea8… Kira Kasper Stranding Technician Marine Mammal Rescue and Research 290 Summer Street Yarmouth Port, MA 02675 United States +1 508 744 2265 (office) +1 508 743 9548 (stranding hotline) www.ifaw.org<https://www.ifaw.org/> [ifaw]<https://www.ifaw.org/> The content of this email is intended only for the use of the above-named addressee and may contain information that is confidential, proprietary, and/or legally privileged. Please notify the sender if you received this email in error.

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Underwater Acoustics: 2020 DOSITS Webinar Series for the International Regulatory Community
by Holly Morin 03 Apr '20

03 Apr '20

****apologies for cross postings**** The *Discovery of Sound in the Sea (DOSITS)* <http://www.dosits.org> Team is pleased to announce that it will again facilitate a *free*, *four-part webinar series on underwater sound* for regulators, decision makers, public affairs officers, industry representatives, other members of the international regulatory community, and others interested in underwater acoustics. Each webinar is scheduled for approximately 60 minutes and will consist of one, focused presentation (topics listed below), followed by a period of facilitated discussion. Prior to each webinar, an outline of the presentation, with links to relevant background content on DOSITS, will be made available. *Participants are encouraged to review these outlines, as well as archived DOSITS webinars <https://dosits.org/decision-makers/webinar-series/>, prior to each webinar.* All webinars will be recorded and archived on the DOSITS website (Decision Makers Webinars <https://dosits.org/decision-makers/webinar-series/>). New to this year, the DOSITS Team will be *offering a certificate of professional development, or the like*, in accordance with webinar participation and other activities. Details on this is forthcoming, and will be shared with those registered for the webinar series. The first two webinars of this four-part series will take place in May and June 2020; subsequent webinars will take place in fall 2020. - *Review of NMFS Regulatory Approach to Underwater Noise, Tues., May 19, 2020 at 12pm EDT* - Jolie Harrison – Permits and Conservation Division, NMFS Office of Protected Resources - *Fundamentals of Underwater Sound, Tues., June 2, 2020 at 12pm EDT* - Tracianne Neilsen – Department of Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University *Interested individuals must register in advance for these webinars. * *To register please visit: **https://dosits.org/decision-makers/webinar-series/2020-webinar-series/ <https://dosits.org/decision-makers/webinar-series/2020-webinar-series/>.* To learn more about this webinar series or to view previous webinars, please visit the DOSITS webpage, https://dosits.org/decision-makers/webinar-series/. Associated webinars conducted in 2019, 2018, and 2015 and 2016, and their resources, have been archived here. Questions? Please contact Holly Morin at holly_morin(a)uri.edu. ****************** Holly Morin Marine Biologist/Education Specialist URI/GSO/ISC (401) 874-6414 holly_morin(a)uri.edu

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Observer performance and the effect of ambiguous taxon identification for fixed strip-width dugong aerial surveys
by Rachel Groom 02 Apr '20

02 Apr '20

Hi all My colleagues and I are pleased to announce the publication of our new article in the Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022098117303623?dgcid=a… [https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0022098120X00037-cov150h.gif]<https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022098117303623?dgcid=a…> Observer performance and the effect of ambiguous taxon identification for fixed strip-width dugong aerial surveys<https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022098117303623?dgcid=a…> Aerial survey methods for census of wildlife populations are widely used to manage species. There has been considerable research to develop methods to… www.sciencedirect.com Abstract: Aerial survey methods for census of wildlife populations are widely used to manage species. There has been considerable research to develop methods to cope with imperfect detection during aerial surveys, however misidentification remains an unresolved but significant issue. Using data from a comprehensive dugong aerial survey of the coastline of the Northern Territory, Australia, we assessed the influence of observer, sighting and environmental variables on probabilities of both observers in double-count, dual-observer teams detecting dugongs and dolphins (‘duplicate sighting probability’), the confidence with which observers could distinguish between dugongs and dolphins, and the reliability of post-detection observations by comparing data between observers. Dolphin duplicate sighting probability varied dependent on group size, Beaufort sea state and the lateral position inside the strip-width transect in relation to the aircraft. Dugong duplicate sighting probability varied across dual-observer teams. Counts of individuals in dugong and dolphin groups were unreliable past ≈5 individuals. Observer confidence in taxon identification varied by individual observer and throughout the duration of the survey (dolphin sightings) and potentially by the lateral position inside the transect strip-width in relation to the aircraft (dugong sightings). The probability of taxon identification disagreement between observers for duplicate dugong and dolphin sightings varied with group size, and markedly if one observer was uncertain (i.e. not 100% confident) of their assigned taxon. We believe this is predominately due to the presence of Australian snubfin dolphins (Orcaella heinsohni) in the survey area, which look like dugongs when seen from a distance, momentarily. We further show that application of different data filtering scenarios for uncertain taxonomic identifications and taxon identification disagreements between dual observers produces highly variable estimates of observer-specific dugong detection probability (ranging from 0.26 to 0.80 in a single observer) and dugong abundance (x̅ ± S.D., 40% ± 25%: difference between highest and lowest estimate, relative to the lowest estimate, across different data filtering scenarios). These results are particularly relevant not only to researchers conducting dugong aerial surveys, but also for other marine mammal aerial surveys in passing mode that target sympatric, morphologically similar species. We recommend development of operating procedures and analytical methods to quantify and adjust for misidentification and uncertain taxon identifications. Thanks Rachel Rachel Groom CDU-AIMS Fellowship College of Indigenous Futures, Arts & Society NORTHERN INSTITUTE <http://www.cdu.edu.au/northern-institute> T: +61 8 8946 7136 E: rachel.groom(a)cdu.edu.au<mailto:%20rachel.groom@cdu.edu.au> W: cdu.edu.au<http://cdu.edu.au/> Northern Institute acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians across the lands on which we live and work and we pay our respects to elders both past and present.

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IMMS Fall Dolphin Photo-ID Research Internship
by Jessica Post 01 Apr '20

01 Apr '20

The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS) Research Internship Program is designed as a way for students interested in a career in marine science to gain valuable research experience in a real-world setting. As an intern, you will be trained in all aspects of dolphin photo-ID research as well as any other current research projects at IMMS that may involve species such as: bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles, or diamondback terrapins. Interns will also participate in other operations at IMMS including: stranding response, aquarist and reptile care, and animal care. Our goal is to give interns a well-rounded experience in a variety of areas while providing expert training and experience in marine science research. Interns must: - Commit to a minimum of 12 weeks. The internship can be extended depending on work performance - Be available to work Mon-Fri and must be available for all boat-based surveys. Some field days may fall on the weekends. - Have a strong sense of responsibility, work ethic, attention to detail, and ability to admit mistakes. - Produce high quality research efforts and exhibit strong interpersonal skills Principle Duties include: data entry, learning all research protocols, cropping and sorting photo-ID fin images, learning to use photo-ID programs such as Darwin (fin matching software) and FinBase (Microsoft Access), boat based field research (21' boat), and learn how to use ArcGIS Secondary Duties include: assisting animal care staff, attending marine mammal necropsies, responding to marine mammal and sea turtle strandings, and assisting educational staff Field Days: Interns must be able to spend many hours on the water and on shore in sometimes extreme seasonal conditions. Seasonal temperatures range from over 100 °F in summer to 30 °F in winter. Field days typically exceed eight hours and occur at least two or three times a week. Eligibility Requirements Applicants must be 18 or older and must have a genuine interest in marine research. Applicants should be actively pursuing a college degree or be a recent graduate in oceanography, marine science/biology, biology, or a related field. Previous research experience in any capacity is a plus. Applicants must be able and willing to fulfill all duties outlined for this internship program. This is an unpaid position and interns are responsible for their own housing and transportation. Once accepted, IMMS staff will assist interns in finding rooms available to rent, usually with other staff members. The deadline to apply for the fall sessions (August 3-October 23, 2020 or September 14-December 4, 2020) is June 1, 2020. For application and full details on how to apply please visit our website at http://imms.org/internship/ Jessica Post Research Assistant Research Intern Coordinator The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies 10801 Dolphin Lane Gulfport, MS 39503

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new publication on baleen whale jaw biomechanics
by Alex Werth 01 Apr '20

01 Apr '20

My coauthor Haruka Ito and I are pleased to announce the publication of our new article in the Journal of Experimental Biology, "Whale jaw joint is a shock absorber." https://jeb.biologists.org/content/223/7/jeb224642 Abstract: The non-synovial temporomandibular jaw joint of rorqual whales is presumed to withstand intense stresses when huge volumes of water are engulfed during lunge feeding. Examination and manipulation of TMJs in fresh carcasses, plus CT scans and field/lab mechanical testing of excised tissue blocks, reveals that the TMJ's fibrocartilage pad fully and quickly rebounds after shrinking up to 68-88% in compression (by axis) and stretching 176-230%. It is more extensible along the mediolateral axis and less extensible dorsoventrally, but mostly isotropic, with collagen and elastin fibers running in all directions. The rorqual TMJ pad compresses as gape increases. Its stiffness is hypothesized to damp acceleration, whereas its elasticity is hypothesized to absorb shock during engulfment; to allow for rotation or other jaw motion during gape opening/closure; and to aid in returning jaws to their closed position during filtration via elastic recoil with conversion of stored potential energy into kinetic energy. The article can be found on the JEB website, or contact me if interested in receiving a copy. Best regards, Alex _______________________________ Alexander J. Werth, Ph.D. Trinkle Professor of Biology Hampden-Sydney College Box 162, Hampden-Sydney, VA 23943 434-223-6326, fax 434-223-6374 http://www.hsc.edu/alex-werth

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New publication - acoustic coordination in bottlenose dolphins
by Stephanie King 01 Apr '20

01 Apr '20

Hi all, We are pleased to share our new publication in Proceedings B: Moore BL, Connor RC, Allen SJ, Krützen M, King SL (2020). Acoustic coordination by allied male dolphins in a cooperative context. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2019.2944<https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2019.2944?fbclid=IwAR3H…> Abstract Synchronous displays are hallmarks of many animal societies, ranging from the pulsing flashes of fireflies, to military marching in humans. Such displays are known to facilitate mate attraction or signal relationship quality. Across many taxa, synchronous male displays appear to be driven by competition, while synchronous displays in humans are thought to be unique in that they serve a cooperative function. Indeed, it is well established that human synchrony promotes cooperative endeavours and increases success in joint action tasks. We examine another system in which synchrony is tightly linked to cooperative behaviour. Male bottlenose dolphins form long-lasting, multi-level, cooperative alliances in which they engage in coordinated efforts to coerce single oestrus females. Previous work has revealed the importance of motor synchrony in dolphin alliance behaviour. Here, we demonstrate that allied dolphins also engage in acoustic coordination whereby males will actively match the tempo and, in some cases, synchronize the production of their threat vocalization when coercing females. This finding demonstrates that male dolphins are capable of acoustic coordination in a cooperative context and, moreover, suggests that both motor and acoustic coordination are features of coalitionary behaviour that are not limited to humans. You can access the paper here: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2019.2944 All the best, Stephanie, Bronte, Richard, Michael and Simon ---------------------------------- Dr Stephanie L. King Senior Lecturer School of Biological Sciences Life Sciences Building | 24 Tyndall Avenue University of Bristol | Bristol BS8 1TQ | U.K. +44 (0) 117 39 41191 Twitter: @_StephanieLKing<https://twitter.com/_stephanielking> website: www.slkinggroup.weebly.com<http://www.slkinggroup.weebly.com> website: www.sharkbaydolphins.org<http://www.sharkbaydolphins.org> [signature_169810542]

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New publication: HAB-associated chuffing behavior in dolphins
by Spencer Fire 01 Apr '20

01 Apr '20

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to share with you the following open-access publication, demonstrating evidence of changes in dolphin behavior indicative of respiratory irritation during harmful algal blooms known to produce aerosolized toxins: Fire, S. E., Miller, G. A., & Wells, R. S. (2020). Explosive exhalations by common bottlenose dolphins during Karenia brevis red tides. Heliyon, 6(3), e03525. ABSTRACT Harmful algal blooms (HABs) such as those produced by Karenia brevis have acute negative impacts on common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Florida coastal waters, frequently causing illness and death. However, much less is known about chronic, sub-acute effects on these important sentinel species. This study investigates whether bottlenose dolphin behavior in Sarasota Bay, Florida is influenced by the presence of severe red tide events, focusing on respiratory and other behaviors likely affected by abundant toxin aerosols produced during these blooms. Through focal animal behavioral follows, we observed free-ranging dolphin respiratory behavior, activity budgets, and movement patterns relative to K. brevis abundance in the study area. We compared behavior from dolphins observed during a 2005 K. brevis bloom to those observed during inter-bloom conditions where K. brevis was present at background concentrations. We found that the rate of "chuffing", an explosive type of exhalation, was significantly greater in dolphins observed during the bloom. No apparent effect on respiratory rate, heading change rate or activity budgets was observed. We propose that this chuffing behavior is analogous to symptoms of respiratory irritation observed in humans exposed to such red tide events, and suggest that this may be a type of disturbance response. With an observed increase in both the frequency and severity of HABs, such disturbance responses may have large-scale chronic impacts to the health and fitness of bottlenose dolphins in regions where such HABs are common. The article can be found at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03525 or please contact me directly. Warm regards (from an appropriate distance), --------------- Spencer Fire, Ph.D. Asst. Professor of Biological Sciences Florida Institute of Technology 150 W. University Blvd. Melbourne, FL 32901 321.674.7138 sfire(a)fit.edu<mailto:sfire@fit.edu> firelabfit.weebly.com<https://firelabfit.weebly.com/> www.<https://www.instagram.com/thefirelab/>instagram.com/thefirelab<https://www.instagram.com/thefirelab/>

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Interactive introductory distance sampling training, 04-15 May 2020; registration now open
by Eric Rexstad 01 Apr '20

01 Apr '20

*Interactive introductory distance sampling training* The University of St Andrews has been training people in design and analysis of distance sampling studies for decades. Perhaps you've wanted to attend but could not get permission for travel to Scotland or the scheduling of workshops in August conflicted with your field work. 👨‍🌾 Distance sampling skills acquired in this training are particularly useful in conducting marine mammal surveys. We are offering the training workshop in 10 two-hour blocks in early May. You will be invited to interact in short lectures on distance sampling principles. 👩‍🎓 Exercises analysing data sets in R will reinforce those principles and the lecturer will be available to assist during the practical session via screen sharing. The block will conclude with a summary of the exercise and question/answer session for both lecture and exercise. 💻 You can participate in polls during the workshop to assess your comprehension of topics discussed. 🤔 The workshop will be delivered using Zoom web conferencing software along with R-Studio "in the cloud".☁️ You will need (free) accounts for both pieces of software. I encourage you to experiment with Zoom (at https://zoom.us) and https://rstudio.cloud before the course begins. 👩‍💻 There will be a training session prior to the first meeting on 04 May. *Companion online training workshops* We are planning additional advanced distance sampling workshops later this summer. These workshops (spatial modelling delivery in early June and mark-recapture distance sampling delivery in late August) will require knowledge of basic distance sampling principles derived from this introductory training workshop. *Important details* Workshop dates and time: 04-15 May 2020; 1700-1900 British summer time (1200-1400 EDT, 0900-1100 PDT) 🕰️ Registration deadline: 17 April 2020📅 Enrolment limit: 15 Cost: 200 British pounds 💵 What is included: Lectures, exercises, code, data all available online📃 *Further details are available at the CREEM website* https://www.creem.st-andrews.ac.uk/distance-live-online-workshops/ At this page you will find a link to the St Andrews online shop where you a) register and b) make payment. Feel free to contact me with questions (eric.rexstad(a)st-andrews.ac.uk) Information regarding all distance sampling workshops can be found at https://www.creem.st-andrews.ac.uk/workshops/ -- Eric Rexstad Research Unit for Wildlife Population Assessment Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling University of St. Andrews St. Andrews Scotland KY16 9LZ +44 (0)1334 461833 The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland : No SC013532

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New paper on blue whales off Sri Lanka
by Maja Nimak-Wood (Cefas) 01 Apr '20

01 Apr '20

Dear All, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our paper entitled: ' Blue whales off the southern coast of Sri Lanka during the southwest monsoon season' GRACE RUSSELL, MARCUS BRIDGE & MAJA NIMAK-WOOD J. CETACEAN RES. MANAGE. 21: 1-7, 2020 ABSTRACT Observations of 37 individual blue whales were recorded off the southern coast of Sri Lanka during the southwest monsoon season. Sightings were made during a scientific geophysical survey campaign conducted in July and August 2017. Whilst blue whales are regularly recorded on the continental slope of southern Sri Lanka during the northeast monsoon season (NEM) (December-March) and during the two inter-monsoonal periods (March-April and September-October), limited data are available for the SWM (May-September) mostly due to unfavourable weather conditions and a lack of survey effort. In the Northern Hemisphere, blue whales generally undertake seasonal migrations from higher latitude feeding grounds to lower latitude breeding and wintering areas. However, it has been suggested that a population of blue whales in the northern Indian Ocean (NIO) remains in lower latitudes year-round, taking advantage of the rich upwelling areas off Somalia, southwest Arabia and western Sri Lanka. Data from this study support a hypothesis that a certain number of individuals remain off the southern coast of Sri Lanka during the SWM, suggesting that the productivity in this region is sufficient to support their year-round presence. This study fills a knowledge gap on the presence and movement of blue whales in the NIO, highlighting the importance of data that can be obtained from platforms of opportunity. The paper can be access here: https://archive.iwc.int/pages/search.php?search=%21collection15&k= Best wishes Maja Maja Nimak-Wood CSci CMarSci MIMarEst Senior Marine Ecologist Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, NR33 0HT, UK Tel: +44(0) 01502 526253 | Email: maja.nimak-wood(a)cefas.co.uk<mailto:maja.nimak-wood@cefas.co.uk> World Class Science for the Marine and Freshwater Environment [cid:image001.png@01D4E612.80049210] Follow us on: [cid:image001.gif@01D09A11.D21ECDA0]<https://twitter.com/CefasGovUK>[cid:image002.gif@01D09A11.D21ECDA0]<http://www.linkedin.com/company/cefas> ________________________________ This email and any attachments are intended for the named recipient only. Its unauthorised use, distribution, disclosure, storage or copying is not permitted. If you have received it in error, please destroy all copies and notify the sender. In messages of a non-business nature, the views and opinions expressed are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of Cefas. Communications on Cefas' computer systems may be monitored and/or recorded to secure the effective operation of the system and for other lawful purposes. All messages sent and received by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science may be monitored in line with relevant UK legislation . <https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/centre-for-environment-fisherie…>

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New publication - humpback whale telemetry
by solene.derville＠ird.fr 31 Mar '20

31 Mar '20

Dear MARMAM community, We are pleased to announce the publication of the following article in Scientific Reports: Derville, Solène, Leigh G Torres, Alexandre N Zerbini, Marc Oremus, and Claire Garrigue. 2020. “Horizontal and Vertical Movements of Humpback Whales Inform the Use of Critical Pelagic Habitats in the Western South Pacific.” Scientific Reports 10:4871 [ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-61771-z | https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-61771-z ] Abstract Humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) are known for their nearshore distribution during the breeding season, but their pelagic habitat use patterns remain mostly unexplored. From 2016 to 2018, 18 humpback whales were equipped with depth-recording satellite tags (SPLASH10) to shed light on environmental and social drivers of seamount association around New Caledonia in the western South Pacific. Movement paths were spatially structured around shallow seamounts (<200 m). Indeed, two males stopped over the Lord Howe seamount chain during the first-ever recorded longitudinal transit between New Caledonia and the east coast of Australia. Residence time significantly increased with proximity to shallow seamounts, while dive depth increased in the vicinity of seafloor ridges. Most of the 7,986 recorded dives occurred above 80 m (88.5%), but deep dives (>80 m, max 616 m) were also recorded (11.5%), including by maternal females. Deep dives often occurred in series and were characterized by U-shapes suggesting high energy expenditure. This study provides new insights into the formerly overlooked use of pelagic habitats by humpback whales during the breeding season. Given increasing anthropogenic threats on deep sea habitats worldwide, this work has implications for the conservation of vulnerable marine ecosystems. The article can be downloaded in open access. Best wishes, -- Solène Derville PhD - Marine & Geospatial Ecology Association Opération Cétacés UMR Entropie - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement ---------- 101 Promenade Roger Laroque, BPA5 98848 Noumea cedex, New Caledonia Phone: +687 912299 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Solene_Derville

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