May 2020 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

MS student opportunity at University of North Carolina Wilmington - Antarctic Blue & Fin Whales
by Alyson Fleming 07 May '20

07 May '20

We are seeking a Master’s student to begin Fall 2020 for a project on blue and fin whale biology and Antarctic historical ecology. This project will use an archive of baleen plates from Antarctic blue and fin whales harvested in the mid 1940s that was recently rediscovered in the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. A suite of modern molecular techniques will be applied to these archived specimens to ask how blue and fin whale foraging and reproduction responded to climate variability, changes at the base of the food web, and whaling activities in the early 1940s. Methods will include bulk stable isotope analysis, compound-specific stable isotope analyses (CSIA-AA), and hormone analysis. The student will be based at the University of North Carolina Wilmington under the supervision of Dr. Alyson Fleming and collaborate with Drs. Ari Friedlaender and Matt McCarthy (UC Santa Cruz) and Dr. Kathleen Hunt (George Mason University). The student will do extensive museum specimen work, subsampling, and lab work. After an initial period of training and supervision, the student will be expected to operate independently on lab work. We are looking for candidates who are very detail oriented, extremely organized, careful, can work with peers and senior students, and are happy to work independently. Previous lab work and database management strongly preferred. MS students at UNCW are supported on teaching assistantships during the academic year and will be supported by grant funding during the summer months. Out of state tuition waivers are typically available to reduce costs. Interested candidates should send a CV/resume, cover letter, and unofficial transcripts to Dr. Fleming at FlemingA(a)uncw.edu as soon as possible.

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DOLPHIN RESEARCH INTERNSHIP IN PORTUGAL
by AIMM Internships 07 May '20

07 May '20

*BACKGROUND: *The Marine Environment Research Association - AIMM, is a non-profit, non-governmental organization focused on the research and conservation of marine species, running an ongoing study of cetaceans in southern Portugal (Algarve). This project aims to obtain baseline information on species occurrence, behavior, and social structure of the local cetacean populations in order to obtain scientific data to support conservation measures and inform marine management policies. The main species observed are Short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), and Harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), although other species such as Minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) can also be sighted. AIMM Interns are young, hard-working individuals who are willing to contribute to the association and support on-going activities, while experiencing fieldwork at sea, learning data collection and processing methodologies, and being a part of AIMM's team of researchers and marine biologists for a period of time. All team members and participants share accommodation, house tasks, knowledge and experience in an environmental friendly and multicultural environment. Interns have the additional option to enrich their time with AIMM by beginning or improving their SCUBA skills with a PADI or SSDI instructor. *WHERE:* Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal *WHEN:* The field season lasts from 1st of July to 31st November 2020. The minimum internship attendance is 14 days, preferably starting on a Monday. *FIELDWORK: *The field trips are conducted in AIMM's research vessel, Ketos. Fieldwork is dependent on weather conditions. The field days can be intense, especially in the peak of summer, but are fulfilling and good fun. The interns will be trained to: · Conduct on-board surveys of marine species occurrence; · Record effort tracks on a handheld GPS; · Access and collect environmental data; · Collect data on behavior, group size, species, etc.; · Collect photos to photo-identification, acoustic recording, and underwater videos; · Measure water visibility with the Secchi disk methodology; · Help to collect of drone footage from the marine mammals. *DATA ANALYSIS: *This will be conducted on a daily basis and will entail entering data into established databases and spreadsheets, photo-identification processing, and preliminary data interpretation. *INTERNSHIP FEES:* AIMM is a non-profit organization that relies on donations from our volunteers, partners, and conservation-minded people like you so that we may continue our important research and education programs in the Algarve. This internship requires a monetary contribution which is used to off-set the cost of accommodation and running a non-profit. For more information on internship fees for the 2020 season, please contact: interns(a)aimm-portugal.org *Included* in the fee is: · Accommodation in the research house; · Transportation to/from the marina; · Meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner); · Fieldwork in the research vessel. *Not included* in the fee is: · Transportation to/from Albufeira; · Meals in restaurants and snacks; · Free time activities; · Personal insurance (all participants should have health and/or travel insurance); · Personal expenses. *INTERNS ARE EXPECTED TO:* · Be above the age of 16; · Have a mature attitude towards marine mammal research and environment; · Be autonomous and flexible; · Be able to live and work in an international team and mainly outdoors at sea; · Speak English; · Participate for minimum 14 days. *Preference will be given* to those who have: · Relevant marine mammal field experience · Working experience on research vessels · Experience working from dolphin/whale watching platforms · Experience in photo-identification · Professional cameras that can be used for photo-ID · Availability to stay for longer periods of time *INTERNSHIP APPLICATION: * Applicants should fill up the online application at: https://www.aimmportugal.org/application-form AIMM will send a confirmation e-mail with all the details about the internship and asking for your Resume/CV, motivation letter (small statement or a video, on which are your expectations and why do you want to work with AIMM) and the period of time that you want to do the program. OR Applicants should send an e-mail to: interns(a)aimm-portugal.org, with the subject “*DOLPHIN RESEARCH INTERNSHIP*”. You will receive and e-mail with the availability and all the other details. Applications will be accepted during all season. However, early application is recommended due to limited vacancies. The follow links are a shorts videos about the internship in Albufeira. You get a different perspective and feedback from old participants about it: https://youtu.be/hTJJQPHBdI0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zTIEQEsftA *Contacts*: interns(a)aimm-portugal.org | www.aimmportugal.org | -- *AIMM Portugal* - Ass. Investigação do Meio Marinho | Marine Environment Research Association *Website*: www.aimmportugal.org [image: AIMM Portugal | facebook] <https://www.facebook.com/AIMM.org/> [image: AIMM Portugal | twitter] <https://twitter.com/AIMMPortugal> [image: AIMM Portugal | instagram] <https://www.instagram.com/aimmportugal_org/> [image: AIMM Portugal | youtube] <http://www.youtube.com/c/AimmportugalOrg>

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IMMS Fall Dolphin Photo-ID Research Internship
by Jessica Post 06 May '20

06 May '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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Update: 2020 DOSITS Webinar Series for the International Regulatory Community
by Holly Morin 05 May '20

05 May '20

****apologies for cross postings**** The first two webinars of the free, four-part *Discovery of Sound in the Sea* *(DOSITS)* <http://www.dosits.org>webinar series on underwater sound will now take place in June and July 2020; subsequent webinars will still take place in the fall of 2020. - *Fundamentals of Underwater Sound, Tuesday, June 2, 2020,* at 12pm EDT (Tracianne Neilsen – Department of Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University) - *Review of the NMFS Regulatory Approach to Underwater Noise, Thursday, July 23, 2020,* at 12pm EDT (Jolie Harrison – Permits and Conservation Division, NMFS Office of Protected Resources) Regulators, decision makers, public affairs officers, industry representatives, other members of the international regulatory community, and others interested in underwater acoustics are encouraged to participate in these 60-minute, informative webinars. Each webinar will consist of one, focused presentation 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. All webinars will be recorded and archived on the DOSITS website (Decision Makers Webinars <https://dosits.org/decision-makers/webinar-series/>). *Interested individuals must register in advance for these webinars.* To register please visit: https://dosits.org/decision-makers/webinar-series/2020-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. 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.

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announcement of new ringed seal publication in *Ecology and Evolution*
by Andrew VonDuyke 05 May '20

05 May '20

Hello MARMAM subscribers, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce our new publication in *Ecology and Evolution*. Von Duyke, A.L., Douglas, D.C., Herreman, J.K., and Crawford, J.A. 2020. Ringed seal (Pusa hispida) seasonal movements, diving, and haul‐out behavior in the Beaufort, Chukchi, and Bering Seas (2011–2017). Ecology and Evolution. doi: 10.1002/ece3.6302 ABSTRACT: Continued Arctic warming and sea-ice loss will have important implications for the conservation of ringed seals, a highly ice-dependent species. A better understanding of their spatial ecology will help characterize emerging ecological trends and inform management decisions. We deployed satellite transmitters on ringed seals in the summers of 2011, 2014, and 2016 near Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow), Alaska, to monitor their movements, diving, and haul-out behavior. We present analyses of tracking and dive data provided by 17 seals that were tracked until at least January of the following year. Seals mostly ranged north of Utqiaġvik in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas during summer before moving into the southern Chukchi and Bering Seas during winter. In all seasons, ringed seals occupied a diversity of habitats and spatial distributions, from near shore and localized, to far offshore and wide-ranging in drifting sea ice. Continental shelf waters were occupied for >96% of tracking days, during which repetitive diving (suggestive of foraging) primarily to the seafloor was the most frequent activity. From mid-summer to early fall, 12 seals made ~1-week forays off-shelf to the deep Arctic Basin, most reaching the retreating pack-ice, where they spent most of their time hauled out. Diel activity patterns suggested greater allocation of foraging efforts to midday hours. Haul-out patterns were complementary, occurring mostly at night until April-May when midday hours were preferred. Ringed seals captured in 2011—concurrent with an unusual mortality event that affected all ice-seal species—differed morphologically and behaviorally from seals captured in other years. Speculations about the physiology of molting and its role in energetics, habitat use, and behavior are discussed; along with possible evidence of purported ringed seal ecotypes. Thank you Andrew Von Duyke, PhD Wildlife Biologist North Slope Borough | Dept. of Wildlife Management P.O. Box 69 | Utqiagvik, AK 99723 (907) 852-0350 andrew.vonduyke(a)north-slope.org

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New publication: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to assess humpback whale behavioral responses to swim-with interactions in Vava’u, Kingdom of Tonga
by Lorenzo Fiori 05 May '20

05 May '20

Dear MARMAM community, On behalf of my coauthors Emmanuelle Martinez, Mark B. Orams & Barbara Bollard, I am pleased to announce the publication of our recent article: "Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to assess humpback whale behavioral responses to swim-with interactions in Vava'u, Kingdom of Tonga" on the Journal of Sustainable Tourism. Abstract The Kingdom of Tonga is a one of the few countries worldwide that allow swim-with-whales tourism activities. Most of the tour operators are based in Vava'u archipelago which represents an important breeding ground for Oceania humpback whales (*Megaptera novaeangliae*). This study represents an assessment of the effects of swimmer approaches on humpback whales' behaviour using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). UAV flights took place during the 2016 and 2017 whale breeding seasons from on board research and swim-with-whales vessels. Whales' behavioural states (resting, travelling, surface-active, socialising, nurturing) were assessed from aerial videos and the proportions of time spent in each state in the presence and absence of swimmers were compared. Whale agonistic behaviours directed towards swimmers and the injury of a swimmer caused by a whale were documented. Results indicate that in-water tourism activities significantly altered the time spent in each behavioural state by humpback whale in Vava'u. Mother-calf pairs decreased the proportion of time spent nurturing, while the time spent travelling increased two-fold when approached by swimmers. These findings indicate a potential energy expenditure increase for humpback whale mothers and their calves in response to swim-with tourism activities in Vava'u. Moreover, whales' behavioural responses can pose danger of injury to swimmers. The full article (50 free e-prints) is available online at: https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/JJN5N3HGT4KVIQAHXZP3/full?target=10.1080… Please, do not hesitate to contact me (lfiori(a)aut.ac.nz) if you have any queries regarding to this article or to request a PDF copy. Best regards, Lorenzo Fiori Lorenzo Fiori, PhD, MSc in Marine Biology +64 27 3658099 | Skype: aye.aye-83 New Zealand Institute of Applied Ecology | School of Sciences Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences | Auckland University of Technology

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Reminder: Summer Online Course - Manatee Health
by Larkin,Iskande (Iske) 04 May '20

04 May '20

Hi All, Just sending out a final reminder: the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, Aquatic Animal Health Program has registration for our summer online course open and COVID-19 free. Manatee Health and Conservation is an online course (3 credits) that will provide students (upper level undergraduate and graduate) and professionals (with an AA or higher degree) with a detailed overview of manatee natural history, health assessment, and research findings as well as explore conservation issues. More information about this class can be found here. Students enrolled at any College or University within the US or internationally can take this course. For more information about this classes or enrollment, contact Dr. Iskande Larkin (ivlarkin(a)ufl.edu<mailto:ivlarkin@ufl.edu> ). The first day of the summer semester is Monday May 11th and registration will be open until May 15th. Sincerely, Dr Larkin [Description: AAH logo blue E-Mail Sig] Iske V. Larkin, PhD Lecturer & Education Coordinator Interim Director Aquatic Animal Health Program Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine University of Florida PO Box 100136 2015 SW 16th Ave Gainesville, Florida 32610 Office phone - 352-294-4095 Work cell - 352-494-1742 Fax - 352-392-8289 Program web page: http://aquatic.vetmed.ufl.edu<http://aquatic.vetmed.ufl.edu/> "To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world." -Anonymous ________________________________ Please note that Florida has a broad public records law, and that all correspondence to or from University of Florida employees via email may be subject to disclosure. ________________________________

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New Publication: nocturnal movements & habitat use of estuarine bottlenose dolphins
by Liz Hartel 01 May '20

01 May '20

Dear MARMAM community, My coauthors and I are pleased to announce a new publication on the nocturnal movements of bottlenose dolphins. Hartel, E.F., Noke Durden, W. & O’Corry-Crowe, G. Testing satellite telemetry within narrow ecosystems: nocturnal movements and habitat use of bottlenose dolphins within a convoluted estuarine system. *Anim Biotelemetry* *8*, 13 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-020-00200-4 The article can be found here: https://animalbiotelemetry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40317-020-00… ABSTRACT: Background: While cetaceans have been extensively studied around the world, nocturnal movements and habitat use have been largely unaddressed for most populations. We used satellite telemetry to examine the nocturnal movements and habitat use of four bottlenose dolphins (*Tursiops truncatus*) from a well-studied population in a complex estuary along the east coast of Florida. This also enabled us to explore the utility of satellite tracking on an apex predator within a very narrow and convoluted ecosystem. Our objectives were to evaluate (1) nocturnal home ranges and how individual dolphins moved within them, (2) nocturnal utilization of habitats surrounding ocean inlets, (3) nocturnal movements outside of the population’s known range (i.e., the study area), and (4) nocturnal use of select environmental variables. Results: Satellite tags were active between 129 and 140 days (136 ± 4.99) during nocturnal hours (summer/fall 2012), yielding 3.3 ± 1.4 high-quality transmissions per night. Results indicated substantial individual variation among the four tagged dolphins, with home ranges varying in length from 53.9 to 83.6 km (x̅ = 71.9 ± 12.9). Binomial tests and MaxEnt models revealed some dolphins preferred habitats surrounding inlets, seagrass habitats, and various water depths, while other dolphins avoided these areas. All dolphins, however, showed substantial movement (x̅ = 5.8 ± 7.4 km) outside of the study area, including travel into rivers/canals and the adjoining ocean (6.0–8.6% and 0.8–2.9% of locations per dolphin, respectively). Conclusions: This study was the first to utilize satellite telemetry on Indian River Lagoon dolphins and provided the first detailed insights into the nocturnal movements and habitat use of this population. Our findings suggest that while individual dolphin home ranges may overlap, they use different foraging strategies, feed on different prey, and/or exhibit intraspecific resource partitioning. In contrast with a prior study, all tagged dolphins showed considerable movement into the adjoining ocean and freshwater sources. This suggests this population has a much larger range than previously thought, which is important to consider for future research and conservation efforts. Thank you, Liz Hartel Seven Degrees of Mapping LLC [image: image.png]

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Latest issue of Sirenews available for download
by James Powell 01 May '20

01 May '20

The editors of Sirenews, the newsletter of the IUCN Sirenia Specialist Group, are pleased to announce that the latest issue (April 2020, Number 71) is available at: http://cmaresearchinstitute.org/sirenews/ You can also find archived issues of Sirenews there as well. To join our distribution list to receive Sirenews directly, please email sirenews(a)sea2shore.org to be added to the list. Robert Bonde and James Powell Editors Sirenews

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