July 2020 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New Publication on interspecies postmortem attentive behavior (iPAB) in humpback whales (Jodi Frediani)
by jodifredi＠aol.com 31 Jul '20

31 Jul '20

My co-authors and I are pleased to announce publication of our short note in Aquatic Mammals. Jodi G. Frediani, Nancy A. Black, and Fred Sharpe, Postmortem Attractions: Humpback Whales Investigate the Carcass of a Killer Whale-Depredated Gray Whale Calf. Aquatic Mammals 2020, 46(4), 402-410, DOI 10.1578/AM.46.4.2020.402 IntroductionScientists have observed postmortem attentiveness to a deceased member of one’s own species, or thanatology, in various animal taxa including cacophonous aggregations in crows (Swift & Marzluff, 2015), skull fondling by elephants (McComb et al., 2006), and leaf-dropping/adornment by chimps (Anderson, 2016). Biologists, cetacean field researchers, captive cetacean trainers, naturalists and whale watchers have observed cetaceans caring for, attending to, being aroused by, or showing interest in dead or dying individuals (see Bearzi et al., 2018 for a review). Recently, a female Southern Resident killer whale carried and pushed her deceased calf for approximately 1,000 miles over at least 17 days (Center for Whale Research, 2018). To date, nearly all records of postmortem attentive behavior (PAB) in cetaceans are from odontocetes and directed towards members of their own species (Hubbs, 1953; Norris & Prescott, 1961; Caldwell & Caldwell, 1996; Calloway, 2010). Among the mysticetes, only one observation of PAB has been published (Pack et al., 1998). This involved two adult humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) males displaying sexual interest in a dead adult conspecific that had been observed in ongoing, strenuous competitive activities (rapid travel, chasing, head lunging) nearly two hours previously (Pack et al., 1998). Such activities are common behaviors in competitive groups (Baker et al., 1984). The cause of death was not determined. Here we report on two adult humpback whales investigating and making gentle physical contact (touching with flippers, flukes, back, abdomen and top of head) with a dead gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) calf. This extends the list of unusual social behaviors exhibited by humpbacks, while also providing the first report of interspecies postmortem attentive behavior (iPAB) between wild species of cetaceans. The note is available here: https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.46.4.2020.402 PDF requests can be sent to: jodifredi(a)aol.com Best Regards,Jodi Jodi Frediani 831-426-1697jodifredi(a)aol.comJodi Frediani Photography Wild Monterey Bay

1 0

From the MARMAM Editors: anonymous postings from the unpaid internship discussion
by MARMAM Editors 31 Jul '20

31 Jul '20

Dear MARMAM Community, These are the two anonymous postings we previously mentioned. The entirety of each posting has been copied into this one posting. Neither posting has been edited in any way. The MARMAM Editors Erin LaBrecque Robin Baird Annie Gorgone Courtney Smith __________________________________________________________________________ Dear MARMAN community, I am an early career scientist from an underrepresented minority who is currently an unpaid intern. I have been disheartened by the status quo of unpaid experience in the field for several years. I am reaching out in response to Phil Clapham and Paul Dayton, both of whom dismiss critical discussions to reform a system from which they continue to benefit, and who are biased by their interactions with success stories: like Eric Archer suggests, we do not hear from those who had to choose putting food on the table over contributing to a field they love. Here, I offer a perspective from a contemporary unpaid worker. The expectation of unpaid work in marine mammal science actively discourages bright, passionate, and hardworking students, especially minorities, from reaching their potential and bringing valuable insights to our field. Of all the disciplines in biology, ecology and evolution remains a sub-field with especially poor racial diversity (e.g. O’Brien et al. 2020, Social Psychology of Education). Phil Clapham pins the crux of the issue on a lack of early exposure to science, yet marine mammals are undeniably charismatic and interesting to the public. Surely, if interest from middle school students was the main cause of underrepresentation in MARMAM, we should at least be doing as well as the field of molecular biology (with its core concepts that are much harder to comprehend) in terms of diversity. Middle schoolers dreaming of becoming marine biologists was so common in my generation that it became a cliché. We should absolutely strive for greater public engagement with science, but a lack of interest from young students is certainly not the greatest barrier to entry for minorities entering our field. I have worked unpaid alongside two types of people who are serious about marine mammal research: those who are supported by their families while they work without pay, and those who must find ways to support themselves. It is not uncommon for the former to spend over a year gaining a diversity of (often international) consecutive experiences, while the latter saves up money for years to afford to work for free for a few months, then repeats the cycle again (assuming that they have not moved on by this point). As someone who fits more into the latter group, I do not see how I can compete with the former, especially given that paid job postings demand years, not weeks or months of direct experience. Not to mention the sheer impossibility of working unpaid while being financially responsible for other family members! Unfortunately, members of racial minorities disproportionately find themselves in this position regardless of their grit or competence. I am glad Paul Dayton has mentored minority students during his tenure, but I suspect that he has interacted with exceptions, not the rule. The staff pages of research institutions do not show the diversity that he claims exists, and I am inclined to believe Eric Archer, an actual Black marine scientist, when he affirms the existence of these barriers. Phil Clapham rightly points out that many research programs struggle for funding, but when I think of “small underfunded non-profits,” my mind does not go to prestigious institutions like the Smithsonian or Scripps. To put it bluntly, if even these organisations are barely scraping by and relying on unpaid workers to complete essential tasks, maybe we need to rethink our models for conducting research. Perhaps a diversity of solutions are needed, but it is absolutely an urgent discussion that we should be having openly, and I appreciate that Eiren Jacobson’s letter has brought the issue of unpaid work to the forefront. Even more modest initiatives, like capping the number of volunteer hours allowed per week or ensuring that full-time field work at least covers living expenses can make a big difference to would-be applicants. Some smaller organisations may well have no choice but to rely on “internship fees,” but let us call it what it is: edutourism or ecotourism. We all chose to be marine scientists because we love and want to protect the ocean. Not one of us is a scientist because it is lucrative, but if we want new and interesting perspectives, entrants to the field must be able to make a living. The plight of marine mammals grows more urgent every day, and we desperately need a diversity of expertise if we are to tackle these global issues. That starts with finding ways to encourage historically excluded members of society to meaningfully participate in research and outreach, beyond a short volunteer stint. I want to remind those who think this is a minority opinion that people in my position are not likely to speak out for fear of alienating those we want to work with. I truly hope to one day work to improve the field from the inside, but for now I have no choice but to focus on a backup career plan because unfortunately, I cannot survive on great mentorship and passion alone. Anonymous _________________________________________________________________________ Good morning MARMAM Administrators, Thank you for what you do for all of us within this community. It is important work and I am grateful. I am not sure if Students are permitted to offer insight to the current conversation regarding unpaid internships but if so, I would like to offer this: Your words are being read, we the future of this field are watching and offer some advice. Be careful not to tokenize the experience of your unpaid interns that you might claim were within the minority scope. Just because you struggled personally and made it doesn’t mean that others should struggle as well. Beyond this, be mindful of your privilege when making comparisons. As Dr. Archer said, the voices of those who did not make it are not here to be heard. This is not a personal attack on your ability to care for interns but rather an opportunity for our field to step up. If there is a way to be more inclusive and care for your interns, why would should we not explore this option? Be careful not to qualify your words where you are unqualified to speak on the experience and disproportional disparities that students and volunteers within the Black, Indigenous or Person of Colour community must face. Be wary of tone-policing, the use of DARVO, and/or amplifying your own voice above those within the BIPOC community. Thank you for your consideration. A student -- *The MARMAM listserv is for the communication of marine mammal research and conservation.* https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam

1 0

A note from the MARMAM Editors to the community regarding SMM and unpaid internships
by MARMAM Editors 31 Jul '20

31 Jul '20

Dear MARMAM Community, We, the MARMAM Editors, want to thank everyone for participating in the discussion on the role of unpaid internships and barriers to diversity in the field of marine mammalogy. This is a timely discussion and we want to thank those of you who posted for providing an open, honest, and courteous dialogue. To use Dr. Eric Archer’s words, “I think everybody in this debate is well-intentioned and truly wants to help improve the situation. In order to do that, we have to keep talking openly and respectfully listening to each other.” There were a few postings that we did not release from the queue because they were signed “Anonymous” or “A student” from obviously newly made email accounts for the purpose of sending the post, or the posting repeated viewpoints that were already made. It is part of the MARMAM Editorial Policy that each posting we release from the queue be attributed to a person, group, or organization. But we also recognize that providing a viewpoint steeped in personal experiences within a discussion about removing barriers to equality and fostering equity, inclusion, and diversity can be challenging if you are early in your career. We acknowledge that repercussions are real. The two anonymous postings will be collated and sent from the MARMAM email account. We are not trying to stifle any voices, but a Listserv is not a good tool to have a free-flowing conversation, especially one as important and nuanced as breaking down barriers to inequalities in our field. No posts have been deleted, and all postings that were not released from the queue will be forwarded to both the President of the Society for Marine Mammalogy (SMM) and the SMM Diversity and Inclusion Committee by Monday, August 3rd. We ask that all future postings on the topic of unpaid internships within the SMM be sent to Dr. Charles Littnan as the President of the SMM ( president(a)marinemammalscience.org*)* or the SMM Diversity and Inclusion Committee (diversity(a)marinemammalscience.org) If you are a member of the SMM, you can log into the SMM website and leave your thoughts on the subject: https://marinemammalscience.org/presidents-blog/update-regarding-petition-r… . You can read Dr. Littnan’s update on the unpaid internship discussion in the MARMAM archive here: https://lists.uvic.ca/pipermail/marmam/2020-July/012031.html And a note of clarification: MARMAM is not affiliated with any organization. We are not associated with the SMM or any other marine mammal society or organization. We are a small group of marine mammal researchers, managers, and conservationists who volunteer our time to make sure your inboxes do not get overloaded with spam, and we strive to provide you with consistently formatted postings so you can easily find information that matters to you. The views expressed in any posting are the express views of that person, group, or organization. They are not necessarily the views of the Editors. All Editors are all based in the US and we are all members of the SMM, but MARMAM is not a communication tool solely for the SMM. As of today, MARMAM has over 15,000 subscribers worldwide. MARMAM is, and will continue to be, a tool for the communication of marine mammal research and conservation around the globe. We hope you are all well and safe. Sincerely, Your MARMAM Editors Erin LaBrecque Robin Baird Annie Gorgone Courtney Smith -- *The MARMAM listserv is for the communication of marine mammal research and conservation.* https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam

1 0

New paper: Incorporating in-situ prey distribution into foraging habitat modelling
by Putu Mustika 30 Jul '20

30 Jul '20

Dear all, With gratitude, my main author (Mochamad Iqbal Herwata Putra) and I announce the following paper as being published in “Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems” as “Early View”: “Incorporating in-situ prey distribution into foraging habitat modelling for marine megafauna in the Solor waters of the Savu Sea, Indonesia” The published article is accessible via this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3379 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3379> Many thanks for your interest and support, and also for the support of the Aquatic Conservation editors and reviewers. Icha Dr Putu Liza Mustika https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5157-4635 <https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5157-4635> Cetacean Sirenian Indonesia James Cook University Australia On behalf of Mochamad Iqbal Herwata Putra https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9202-7857 <https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9202-7857> Misool Foundation, Larantuka, Indonesia ABSTRACT • Many marine animals aggregate seasonally at predictable locations to exploit their prey in oligotrophic environments, making them vulnerable to human disturbance. • The foraging strategies and habitats of manta rays and Stenella spp. in the Solor waters were largely unknown, despite the importance of this information for their effective management, e.g. through the establishment of marine protected areas in this region. • Over the last few decades, the use of foraging habitat models in describing the foraging strategy and delineating the predicted habitats has grown in popularity. However, most of these studies have relied on remotely sensed data such as sea surface chlorophyll‐a to estimate prey distribution. Very few studies have used the distribution of in situ prey, which is that closer to the trophic level of modelled species, although such a strategy would improve model performance. • The study compares foraging habitat model performance for manta rays and Stenella spp. in the waters of Solor using remotely sensed sea surface chlorophyll‐a concentrations and in situ zooplankton biomass as proxies for prey quantities and distribution. A Maximum Entropy model that integrated species sightings with environmental predictors was used to quantify the importance of predictors in explaining habitat preference and distribution of manta rays and Stenella spp. and to compare model performance and predict foraging habitats. • Results indicate that the use of prey proxy closer to the trophic level of examined species improve model performance, ecological explanations, and spatial predictions. • The zooplankton biomass distribution performed much better in explaining the manta rays' habitats compared to that of Stenella spp., indicating that a trophic level gap might influence the zooplankton's ability to predict foraging habitats of Stenella spp. • This study highlights the importance of integrating foraging habitat models into marine protected area design to ensure the effectiveness of species management.

1 0

New publication on estimating vessel presence in Australian Marine Parks and compliance/surveillance implications
by Logan Kline 29 Jul '20

29 Jul '20

My co-authors and I are excited to announce the publication of our new paper in Marine Policy. This project was the result of a partnership between NOAA NEFSC Passive Acoustics Group in Woods Hole, MA, USA and Parks Australia in Canberra, ACT, Australia. Sleuthing with sound: Understanding vessel activity in marine protected areas using passive acoustic monitoring. Logan R. Kline, Annamaria I. DeAngelis, Candace McBride, Giverny G. Rodgers, Timothy J. Rowell, Jeremy Smith, Jenni A. Stanley, Andrew D. Read, and Sofie M. Van Parijs. Marine Policy: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2020.104138 Abstract: Monitoring compliance and enforcing laws are integral to ensuring the success of marine protected areas (MPAs), but traditional monitoring techniques are costly and resource demanding. Three SoundTrap 300 recorders were deployed for one month between 1 July and September 12, 2018 to collect acoustic data in two marine parks off southeastern Australia: one recorder in Cod Grounds Marine Park (CGMP) and two in the Solitary Islands Marine Park National Park Zone (SIMP NPZ). Extractive activities such as fishing are not permitted in these zones. Raven Pro 2.0 was used to analyze data for vessel presence. Transmission loss equations for each site were generated using patrol boat GPS tracks and used to predict if acoustically recorded vessels were inside park boundaries based on received sound levels. In CGMP, 41 vessels were predicted within the park during the recording period; 34 vessels were predicted within the SIMP NPZ. Thursdays and Saturdays were identified as peak days for vessel presence in CGMP while Thursdays were the peak day in the SIMP NPZ. Most vessel activity at both locations took place between 06:00 and 17:00 AEST. Peak vessel presence in CGMP occurred at 09:00 AEST while the peak vessel presence in the SIMP NPZ occurred at 16:00 AEST. Approximately 12.7 h of vessel sounds were recorded within CGMP; approximately 3.8 h of vessel noise were recorded within the SIMP NPZ. Passive acoustic monitoring of vessel patterns in Australian Marine Parks has provided valuable insight to redirect compliance decisions on how to focus surveillance efforts. This is an open access article and should be available to all, but please e-mail Logan R. Kline at logan.kline(a)maine.edu with PDF requests. Thank you, Logan R. Kline

1 0

NEW PUBLICATION - Cetacean Population Studies (CPOPS) Vol. 2
by Cetacean Population Studies 28 Jul '20

28 Jul '20

Dear Colleagues, We are very pleased to inform you about the Cetacean Population Studies (CPOPS) Vol. 2 <https://cpops.jp/archive/index.html> publishing online. CPOPS is a peer reviewed online journal focusing on cetacean and other marine mammal studies. For detailed information about CPOPS please see here <https://cpops.jp/published_prospectus/index.html>. The next volume, CPOPS Vol. 3, will be designated as* “Memorial Volume for Dr. Seiji Ohsumi”* which passed away in November last year. We would greatly appreciate if you could peruse this information and consider contributing in the near future through submitting papers <https://cpops.jp/paper_submission/index.html> for CPOPS Vol. 3 and also introduce our new journal to your colleagues who may have an interest in cetacean and other marine mammal studies. Best regards, Hidehiro Kato, Ph. D. Chairman, Publication committee for the CPOPS https://cpops.jp

1 0

IMMS Animal Training Internship (Winter 2020)
by Stephanie James 25 Jul '20

25 Jul '20

The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, MS is accepting applications for our Animal Training Internship for the Winter term. *The deadline for applications is September 1st.* Please visit our website for details on how to apply or send questions to sjames(a)imms.org https://imms.org/internship/ The IMMS Animal Training Internship Program is designed as a way for students/individuals interested in a career in animal care and training to gain valuable experience in a real-world setting. Interns will primarily be trained in aspects of animal care, but will also participate in other activities at IMMS. Our goal is to give interns a well-rounded experience in a variety of areas while providing expert training and experience. The IMMS animal care and training staff is in charge of caring for Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, and large parrots. Interns will work directly with animal care staff and be exposed to all aspects of the daily routine. Heavy emphasis is placed on basic tasks such as food preparation, and daily cleaning and facility maintenance. Interns will learn how to train animals with operant conditioning through observation and may assist during sessions. Interns will also complete a project during their internship, give educational presentations to guests before they interact with our animals, as well as help staff with daily water quality. Because we want interns to have a well-rounded experience, they will also be asked to assist in other departments. Interns may participate as 1) environmental educators and assist in giving presentations to the public, 2) research assistants that help with our many wild dolphin based research studies, or 3) emergency responders as IMMS is part of the Southeast Regional Marine Mammal Stranding Network and responds to stranded marine mammals and sea turtles. Interested applicants must follow the directions listed on the website to apply. Interns must be: • 18 years or older. • A recent graduate or actively pursuing a college degree in the sciences. • Willing to accept the internship as an unpaid position. • Able to commit to a minimum of at least 12 weeks, 40 hours a week. The internship can be extended depending on work performance. • Available to work weekdays, weekends, and holidays. • Able to lift 50 lbs, work long hours on your feet, and work outside in extreme conditions. • Able to maintain a positive attitude, good work ethic, sense of responsibility, and a strong willingness to learn. • Financially stable enough to obtain housing and transportation, though IMMS staff will do their best to assist you in making arrangements. • Able to comply with IMMS rules and regulations. Stephanie James Marine Mammal Trainer Animal Care Internship Coordinator Institute for Marine Mammal Studies Gulfport, MS

1 0

Unpaid positions in marine mammal science
by Paul Dayton 25 Jul '20

25 Jul '20

Dear Lists people! I would like to join Phil Clapham with a counter argument to the recent posting about unpaid positions in marine mammal science, but also all conservation! I am not sure how to write to the Marmam list, but am pasting my letter and attaching it. Please let me know if this is acceptable. And I suspect most of you are unpaid volunteers as well, and I hope you know that your work is appreciated if unsung. Best regards and I wish you success avoiding this damned virus! I have been stuck in this ancient house for 4 months going on 12 months I fear. Paul Dayton Unpaid positions in marine mammal science Dear Friends, I saw Phil Clapham’s note and learned that Eiren Jacobson was still pushing this issue. I write to offer another objection to this position and to urge the co-signers to reevaluate their support. Phil offered the fact that much marine mammal work is done by relatively impoverished but highly idealistic organizations that would be severely impacted by the loss of volunteers. He also addressed the need to get people involved with marine mammals. Here I hope to broaden his message about the use of volunteers to actually increase diversity in the field, and I hope to persuade you to consider this in the broader context of helping lower income and non-white people move into the field, rather than being excluded as Eiren erroneously argues. I urge those of you who signed the letter to reconsider your signatures to what I feel strongly is a misguided appeal to your sense of fair treatment of other people. In my case I am sure that over my 40+ year career I was responsible for well over 100 volunteers and I strongly reject the argument that they were exploited or that impoverished or minority people were unfairly excluded. Very much to the contrary, in fact. I believe that I received well over 15 requests a year over my 40 years of professorship and there were always volunteers in our lab, usually very well mentored by graduate students but always with me in the background supervising the situation. And as Phil mentioned, we started early as many of them started working for us when they were in high school. They were never exploited, rather they were mentored and brought into marine ecology. Most of the interns in my lab were involved in general ecological research rather than marine mammals, but I was co-advisor or committee member to many marine mammal graduate students and most of them either came into the field via internships or used interns that came to me that I directed to the students. Many of these students have had successful careers in the marine mammal community, and they were damned good mentors. Some may see this letter and offer their own thoughts. Let me address the issue of diversity and class barriers. Eiren’s assertion that this plays to the wealth and excludes those who cannot afford to be a volunteer. Like Phil, I refer back to my own very impoverished undergraduate career working up to 35 hours a week to go to school. I had no ecological direction and actually found low-paying jobs to be able to volunteer with ecology students in Chuck Lowe’s lab at Arizona. The only reason I have had this great career is thanks to the mentoring I received as an unpaid volunteer. I subsequently took this experience to heart and accepted as many of the applicants as I could and made sure that they were well mentored. In many cases it was obvious from our interactions that they had no or very little family financial support, and as I got to know them I can attest that the vast majority were, like I had been, struggling to get through school and find a satisfying career. I can say that in the last several decades most of the students were themselves minorities: African-Americans, Native Americans, Latinos, Asians, and first generation Americans or foreign students. But where Eiren really misses the boat is that most of these interns were so stimulated and well mentored that they switched majors and went into ecology. Over my career I must have written hundreds of letters supporting these student’s graduate school or job applications, and dozens of them went on to advanced degrees and are now working in ecologically related fields. I suspect that almost all of these people now active in our general conservation field were not wealthy and many are minorities. Almost all of these have significant jobs in conservation efforts. And again, referring back to Phil’s letter, many of these interns were encouraged to interact with grade school kids and many are educating young people in their current jobs. I have no words to describe my pride in the success of these unpaid volunteers. Indeed, in the last 2 years, five of them have retired and have made an effort to track me down and thank me for taking them on in the 1970s! Imagine your own pride if you too could receive such messages in your old age. Had Eiren’s position been in place, none of this would have happened. I have always said that I judge my own career by the students I have influenced, and emphatically this includes the interns and volunteers who have passed through my lab. Contrary to the assertions in the letter, these interns do not exacerbate the hideous and increasing wealth gap in the world, nor are they racially divisive; almost all of them serve to improve the status quo in the long run. Certainly, I can point to my own interns as counter examples to the odd claim that they are amplifying these problems. And given that probably almost all interns get intensive mentoring, they surely do not stifle innovation in our field (especially if one looks at the many success stories such as Phil’s magnificent career). Indeed, they enhance innovation, creativity and respect for nature. Eiren and I strongly disagreed about this when she was a student at Scripps. In response I wrote several of the past interns now gainfully employed, and all of them reiterated what I am asserting here, that their experience as unpaid interns changed their lives and was responsible for their success. And again, her assertions of not offering insurance protection, are like other assertions we see these days, is probably simply wrong. I feel sure that all the interns in academia and the government are in fact covered by their insurances. All of ours are covered. I suspect that this is true of the majority of interns. I urge the readers and signers to learn the truth about the interns that are commonly involved in our various research activities. So, consider the reality of the world today and ask yourselves whether we need this sort of misguided controversy. What we need are gentle, warm inclusive people with empathy for other people and compassion for nature. We urgently need many more, not fewer, people helping society come to grasp with the need to nourish and care for nature. We need to attract all people into this struggle, and rather than attack those of us working toward this goal. I believe we need more support. I respectfully ask those of you signing on to this to reconsider. Sincerely Paul Dayton

3 2

2 PhD student positions in Comparative bioacoustics, seal vocal development, evolution of speech, and/or music cognition
by Andrea Ravignani 25 Jul '20

25 Jul '20

Dear all, We are hiring 2 PhD students (4-years, full time, fully funded) to work in Comparative bioacoustics, seal vocal development, evolution of speech, and/or music cognition. PhD students will be part of an international group based in Nijmegen, The Netherlands and will be supervised by Andrea Ravignani. We particularly value motivation, curiosity & interest in our groups’ research topics. More info and application guidelines: https://www.mpi.nl/career-education/vacancies/vacancy/2-phd-student-postion… Kind regards, Andrea Andrea Ravignani Group Leader, Comparative Bioacoustics, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics & Visiting Professor, University of Turin ravignani.wordpress.com

1 0

August Online PAM Software Training Group
by Elizabeth Ferguson 23 Jul '20

23 Jul '20

Hi there MARMAM Community, We would like to inform interested individuals that we are now accepting registration for the August training group of *PAM Software Basics*, the only fully online, IMarEST accredited course designed to teach participants how to use software for the passive acoustic monitoring of marine mammals. *PAM Software Basics* is an eight module, course that provides instruction in two industry-leading bioacoustic software programs, Ishmael and PAMGuard. The course provides instruction in topics of file configuration, data collection, sound detection and localization of marine mammals using guided videos and associated activities. Participants are provided a 30-day period to navigate through materials at their own pace and location, and flexible start times are available through monthly training groups. We provide support and feedback along the way to ensure participants gain confidence and comfort with software. Registration details and additional information regarding this unique training can be found at the course page below. PAM Software Basics <https://www.oceanscienceanalytics.com/pam-software-basics> Regards, Liz Ferguson *CEO and Founder* *Ocean Science Analytics* *www.oceanscienceanalytics.com <http://www.oceanscienceanalytics.com>*

1 0