January 2021 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Marine Mammals of Maine Internship: Application Deadline Approaching
by Walk, Dominique 26 Jan '21

26 Jan '21

Marine Mammals of Maine (MMoME) is now accepting applications through February 3rd for the summer 2021 harbor seal pup season internship. MMoME is a non-profit organization federally authorized to respond to live and dead marine mammals and sea turtles between Kittery and Rockland, Maine, covering some of the busiest seal stranding activity on the East Coast. MMoME also operates a unique triage and rehabilitation center which provides critical care to sick and injured pinnipeds. Additionally, our mission heavily encompasses marine mammal research, education, and outreach. MMoME is seeking up to 4 motivated, flexible, positive, and independent interns who will be given the unique opportunity to participate in a variety of activities. Interns will learn marine mammal field health assessment, handling, basic husbandry and clinical care of pinnipeds, as well as Level A data collection, necropsy, and sampling of deceased marine mammals. The internship is based out of Midcoast Maine (town of Brunswick area), though travel throughout our response region and New England will be necessary. Interns will work as a team alongside veterinary preceptors to accomplish MMoME’s broad scope of work during our busiest time of year, and will be required to dedicate a minimum of 40-50 hours per week to the internship (minimum of 4 days/week). These hours will include holidays, weekends, and late nights and early mornings. This internship is unpaid, though seasonal job opportunities are available in the area. Housing is not provided but staff may be able to assist with sourcing options. *KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: * · *STRANDING RESPONSE:* respond to live and dead cetacean, pinniped and sea turtle strandings to collect Level A data, perform health assessments, and monitor, relocate, and collect for humane euthanasia or rehabilitation. Carcass collection for disposal or necropsy will also be required; · *PATIENT CARE:* assist with all aspects relating to the care of sick, injured and abandoned pinnipeds (primarily harbor seal pups) undergoing short, or long-term care at MMoME’s center. Tasks include primarily cleaning, but also meal prep, tube-feeding, assisting with medical procedures, animal restraint for exams, running lab samples, medical record maintenance, and transport to other long-term care facilities; · *NECROPSY:* transport carcasses to necropsy and compost sites, assist staff with necropsy of fresh dead pinnipeds and cetaceans, archive necropsy samples, and maintain and clean necropsy equipment; · *EDUCATION AND OUTREACH:* give presentations to the public about the organization, attend outreach events, and help create educational materials; · *OTHER TASKS:* additional time will be spent on data entry, fundraising, extensive cleaning, and other tasks as needed. *REQUIREMENTS: * · Must be 18 years of age or older to apply. This internship is open to undergraduate students currently enrolled in, or recently graduated (within two years) from an accredited college or university; · The ideal candidate is working towards a career in marine mammal science, veterinary technology, marine biology, environmental education, or related field; · Must commit to at least three months, and be available from May 10th to August 15th, or October 15th. *All interns must be able to start on May 10th* , preference given to those that can stay through the end of August or later. · Must have a valid driver’s license, a good driving record, a reliable vehicle, and comfortable driving a full-size truck in urban and rural areas; · Must be able to work independently and as part of a team with other veterinary and non-veterinary interns, and be adaptable to a changing and unpredictable schedule; · Must be able to lift at least 50 pounds; · Individuals that are passionate, responsible, hardworking, eager to learn, flexible, able to work under minimal supervision, able to work well with others as a team member, and detail-oriented are encouraged to apply; · Preference given to individuals with a demonstrated interest in marine mammals, and are specifically interested in marine mammal response and care. Previous marine mammal experience or animal husbandry a plus. *HOW TO APPLY: *Please send a letter of interest which addresses the following questions: why you would like to be considered for this internship, how you meet the requirements, what your expectations are of this internship, what you think MMoME’s expectations are of interns, what you hope to gain from this internship and the start and end dates you can commit to. Your application must also include a resume and one professional letter of recommendation. Completed applications can be sent to info(a)mmome.org by 11:59 PM EST February 3rd, 2021. *Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.* For more information on MMoME and our internship programs, visit https://www.mmome.org/internship/. We look forward to your application for this exciting experience! *Dominique Walk* *Assistant Stranding Coordinator* *Marine Mammals of MaineOffice: 207-844-8718* *Reporting Hotline: 1-800-532-9551* *www.mmome.org <http://www.mmome.org>*

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IWC Job opportunity - Ship Strikes and Strandings Data Manager
by Iain Staniland 26 Jan '21

26 Jan '21

Employment opportunity- IWC Ship Strikes and Strandings Data Manager The role will develop the IWC's capacity in data collation, management and provision focussing on Ship Strikes and Cetacean Strandings. In addition, the postholder will contribute to the development of a coherent approach to reporting, databases and data management across the IWC and its work programmes, enhancing both the useability of IWC data holdings and sharing of these data with other organisations. The successful applicant will have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to develop effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders in a politically sensitive environment. They will have demonstrable professional experience in data management and the management of databases in addition to awareness of marine conservation issues and threats to cetaceans. They will be fluent in English. This post is advertised on a fixed term basis for 12 months from the date of appointment, with a possibility of extension subject to approval by the Commission and funding. Given the current restrictions on travel, remote working, will be considered for the initial year of the post, including from outside the UK. Applications should be sent to secretariat(a)iwc.int<mailto:secretariat@iwc.int> by 19 February. For further information see candidate application pack.<https://iwc.int/bycatch-coordinator-pack.download> Equal opportunities statement We are an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their sex; religious or similar philosophical belief; political opinion; race; age; sexual orientation; or, whether they are married or are in a civil partnership; or, whether they are disabled; or whether they have undergone, are undergoing or intend to undergo gender reassignment Iain Staniland Lead for Science INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION The Red House, 135 Station Road, Impington, Cambridge, CB24 9NP, UK t. +44 (0) 1223 233971 d. +44 (0) 1223 XXXXXX m. +44 (0) XXXX XXXXXX www.iwc.int<http://www.iwc.int> Working hours: X am - X pm, Monday-Friday [cid:image001.png@01D6F3FA.5010A510] This e-mail and any files transmitted with it may contain confidential or legally privileged information and is intended only for the use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the named addressee you should delete the email and notify the sender immediately. E-mails are not secure and cannot be guaranteed to be error free as they can be intercepted, amended, or contain viruses. Any opinion and other statement contained in this message and any attachment are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the International Whaling Commission.

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IWC Scientific Committee - request for papers on bycatch
by Marguerite Tarzia 26 Jan '21

26 Jan '21

Dear colleagues, The International Whaling Commission's (IWC) Scientific Committee<https://iwc.int/sc68c> meeting is taking place virtually from April 27 - May 14, 2021. The IWC's Bycatch Mitigation Initiative<https://iwc.int/bycatch> is encouraging the submission of papers focused on cetacean bycatch, or directly relevant to this topic. We would be interested in research addressing bycatch in all types of fisheries, although particularly in small-scale fisheries and gillnet gears. This could include: bycatch assessments, monitoring approaches, technical mitigation and community or socio-economic approaches to bycatch management as well as other topics. In particular, any papers relevant to Peru, Republic of Congo, Thailand, Pakistan, Kenya, Indonesia, Malaysia, and India would be particularly welcomed. These countries have been identified by the Bycatch Mitigation Initiative as priority countries to develop a series of collaborative bycatch 'pilot projects'. If you have any relevant information on our priority countries, or would like to submit a paper please send a suggested title and a very brief abstract to marguerite.tarzia(a)iwc.int<mailto:marguerite.tarzia@iwc.int> by 1st February 2021 . We can then discuss with you whether a full paper submission or a brief summary would be most appropriate to share with the Scientific Committee meeting, and explain the registration and paper review process in detail. Please do get in touch with any questions or suggestions. Kind regards, Marguerite Tarzia Bycatch Coordinator INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION The Red House, 135 Station Road, Impington, Cambridge, CB24 9NP, UK t. +44 (0) 1223 233971 d. +44 (0) 1223 209 316 m. +44 (0) 429904062 www.iwc.int<http://www.iwc.int/> Working hours: 9 am - 5 pm, Monday-Friday [cid:image003.png@01D6F3F7.101B8900] This e-mail and any files transmitted with it may contain confidential or legally privileged information and is intended only for the use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the named addressee you should delete the email and notify the sender immediately. E-mails are not secure and cannot be guaranteed to be error free as they can be intercepted, amended, or contain viruses. Any opinion and other statement contained in this message and any attachment are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the International Whaling Commission.

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Request for help in findig an old paper
by Thomas Jefferson 25 Jan '21

25 Jan '21

Dear Colleagues, I have been searching long and hard for a copy of this very elusive paper, but with no luck: Burmeister, H. 1865. Relación preliminar sobre un cetáceo nuevo (Ziphiorrhynchus cryptodon) tomado en la playa de Buenos Aires. Revista Farmaceutica, Buenos Aires 4:363-368. If anyone has a copy they could send me, or knows where I might be able to find a copy, I would really appreciate the help.Best wishes,Thomas A. Jefferson, Ph.D.Clymene Enterprises sclymene(a)aol.com

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New publication in the journal Oceans
by Stephanie Norman 25 Jan '21

25 Jan '21

My co-authors and I would like to announce the publication of our recent article: Antibiotic Resistance of Bacteria in Two Marine Mammal Species, Harbor Seals and Harbor Porpoises, Living in an Urban Marine Ecosystem, the Salish Sea, Washington State, USA by Stephanie A. Norman, Dyanna M. Lambourn, Jessica L. Huggins, Joseph K. Gaydos, Sandra Dubpernell, Susan Berta, Jennifer K. Olson, Victoria Souze, Alysha Evans, Betsy Carlson, Mandi Johnson, Rachel Mayer, Cathy King, Alyssa Scott Abstract The pervasive use of antibiotics in human medicine, veterinary medicine, and agriculture can result in a significant increase in the spread and environmental persistence of antibiotic resistance in marine ecosystems. This study describes the presence and distribution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in Salish Sea harbor seals (*Phoca vitulina*) and harbor porpoises (*Phocoena phocoena*) and evaluates species, age class, and geographic differences in resistance patterns. Isolates from 95 dead-stranded animals (74 seals/21 porpoises) were tested for resistance to a suite of 15 antibiotics. Of the 95 sampled, 85 (89%) (67 seals/18 porpoises) successfully yielded 144 isolates, with 37% resistant to at least one antibiotic and 26% multi-drug resistant (24% and 39% of seal and porpoise isolates, respectively). Overall, and by study region, porpoises were significantly more likely to harbor resistant organisms compared to seals. Significant differences between age classes were noted for the antibiotics amoxicillin, cephalexin, and cefovecin. Overall isolate resistance was significantly greater in porpoises than seals for several individual antibiotics. Multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) indices greater than 0.2 were observed in 55% of multi-drug resistant isolates, suggesting seal and porpoise exposure to anthropogenic pollution. The relatively high and disparate prevalence of antibiotic resistance in these common, but ecologically dissimilar, marine mammals reflects a potentially large environmental pool of antibiotic resistant organisms in the Salish Sea or inherently different resistance gene patterns between the two species. Full text .pdf available here: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-1924/2/1/6/pdf Thank you, Stephanie Norman Stephanie A. Norman, DVM, MS, PhD Marine-Med: Marine Research, Epidemiology, and Veterinary Medicine E-mail: stephanie(a)marine-med.com Phone: 206-321-0249 Marine-Med website <https://www.marine-med.com/> | Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/MarineMed1> | Twitter <https://twitter.com/whaledocsteph> | LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieanorman/> [image: Click here to visit Marine-Med]

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Cetacean Research Assistant position in Portugal
by AIMM Internships 25 Jan '21

25 Jan '21

*Cetacean Research Assistant – Portugal* *BACKGROUND: * The Marine Environment Research Association – AIMM, is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation founded in Portugal in 2010, focused on the research and conservation of marine species and running an ongoing study of cetaceans in southern Portugal (Algarve). This project aims to obtain baseline information on species occurrence, behaviour and social structure of the local cetacean populations. Each year, from the 1st of May until the 31st of October, AIMM operates a Dolphin Research Internship Programme <https://www.aimmportugal.org/internship-highlights?fbclid=IwAR3yRVHJdSR93Ov…> during our summer field season. We receive interns of all ages from across the globe to participate in this programme and are currently looking for applicants to fill two Volunteer Research Assistant positions for the forthcoming field season in 2021. You will be joining a small and dedicated team of scientists and researchers to provide vital support to the ongoing success of our data collection and internship programme. All team members and participants share accommodation, house tasks, knowledge and experience in an environmentally friendly and multicultural environment. *WHAT WE REQUIRE:* Ideal candidates for this *volunteer position* will: · be at least 21 years of age; · be fluent in English (*mandatory*) and Portuguese (*highly desirable*); · have previous experience with cetaceans and/or marine sciences ( *mandatory*); · hold a full, manual Driving License, valid in the EU (*mandatory*); · have a valid skippers powerboat license and boating experience (*highly desirable*); · be able to commit to until the end of the season (October); · have proven experience in team leadership and group supervision; · be highly motivated, responsible and organised with genuine attention to details; · have a friendly, patient and tolerant personality, and be capable of dealing with people from different cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds. *WHAT WE OFFER: * The Research Assistants will participate directly in our fieldwork and will receive training and supervision in species identification, research & data collection methods, photo-identification and the use of GPS and camera equipment. In turn, you will be responsible for supervising the interns while conducting surveys in AIMM's research vessel, Ketos, and on the commercial dolphin watching boats. You will also have to ensure that data is collected and entered accurately and according to AIMM's established methodologies. Field days can be long and intense, especially in the peak of summer, but are always fulfilling and good fun! Additionally, you will also receive 3 meals a day and accommodation in AIMM's shared research house with all the other members of the team. Each assistant will be entitled to 1 day off per week when you may explore the local area or simply rest with a good book by the pool! More Info: www.aimmportugal.org/cetacean-research-assistant To apply please send CV and motivation letter to info(a)aimm-portugal.org with the subject "*RA Albufeira 2021*". Thank you! -- *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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RAAlg - Regional Algarve Stranding Network (Southern Portugal)
by Ana Marçalo 25 Jan '21

25 Jan '21

Dear all Marmam members, On behalf of our team, I would like to announce that the regional Algarve Stranding Network (RAAlg) has been re-activated. We therefore attend any stranded cetaceans or marine turtles that strand dead along the Algarve coast in Southern Portugal. We also developed a responsive webpage, which allows citizens to register information on any seen stranded animal. The alert is communicated to the team via email, and provides a faster response so we can access the animal and sample it. This unique page also provides information regarding our team, our work, results and ID of species of animals that strand in our coast. Check our website at www.raalg.pt. We hope you enjoy our page. Best wishes, Ana Marçalo, PhD Fisheries biologist; Post Doc; Invited Assistant Professor email: amarcalo(a)ualg.pt; amarcalo(a)gmail.com CCMAR - Centro de Ciências do Mar, Universidade do Algarve Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal http://ccmar.ualg.pt Office: L 23 Tlf: +351 289 800 051 (ext. 7394) https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ana_Marcalo2 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0485-341X Project iNOVPESCA - Reducing bycatch of cetaceans in Algarve ( https://www.facebook.com/inovpesca) Project RAAlg - Algarve Stranding Network (www.raalg.pt)

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New paper: A novel approach to foraging strategies in sea lions
by Jonas Schwarz 24 Jan '21

24 Jan '21

Dear all, My co-authors and I are happy to present our new paper titelt: Individuality counts: A new comprehensive approach to foraging strategies of a tropical marine predator The PDF is available open-access on Researchgate or direct from Oecologia: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348735245_Individuality_counts_A_n… <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348735245_Individuality_counts_A_n…> https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00442-021-04850-w <https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00442-021-04850-w> Abstract Foraging strategies are of great ecological interest, as they have a strong impact on the fitness of an individual and can affect its ability to cope with a changing environment. Recent studies on foraging strategies show a higher complexity than previously thought due to intraspecific variability. To reliably identify foraging strategies and describe the different foraging niches they allow individual animals to realize, high-resolution multivariate approaches which consider individual variation are required. Here we dive into the foraging strategies of Galápagos sea lions (Zalophus wollebaeki), a tropical predator confronted with substantial annual variation in sea surface temperature. This affects prey abundance, and El Niño events, expected to become more frequent and severe with climate change, are known to have dramatic effects on sea lions. This study used high-resolution measures of depth, GPS position and acceleration collected from 39 lactating sea lion females to analyze their foraging strategies at an unprecedented level of detail using a novel combination of automated broken stick algorithm, hierarchical cluster analysis and individually fitted multivariate hidden Markov models. We found three distinct foraging strategies (pelagic, benthic, and night divers), which differed in their horizontal, vertical and temporal distribution, most likely corresponding to different prey species, and allowed us to formulate hypotheses with regard to adaptive values under different environmental scenarios. We demonstrate the advantages of our multivariate approach and inclusion of individual variation to reliably gain a deeper understanding of the adaptive value and ecological relevance of foraging strategies of marine predators in dynamic environments. Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions at jonas.fl.schwarz(a)gmail.com <mailto:jonas.fl.schwarz@gmail.com> Best regards, __ Jonas Schwarz PhD Student Galapagos Sea Lion Project Department of Animal Behaviour Bielefeld University

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New paper on the conservation status of snubfin dolphins in Western Australia
by Phil Bouchet 24 Jan '21

24 Jan '21

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce that the following paper is now available online: Bouchet PJ, Thiele D, Marley SA, Waples K, Weisenberger F, Balanggarra Rangers, Bardi Jawi Rangers, Dambimangari Rangers, Nyamba Buru Yawuru Rangers, Nyul Nyul Rangers, Uunguu Rangers and Raudino H (2021) Regional Assessment of the Conservation Status of Snubfin Dolphins (Orcaella heinsohni) in the Kimberley Region, Western Australia. Front. Mar. Sci. 7:614852. DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2020.614852 This work is the outcome of a long-term collaborative effort involving many dedicated individuals, including staff at the Western Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) and numerous Traditional Owners / Indigenous Ranger Groups from the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia. Importantly, it is the reflection of the tireless efforts of Dr. Deborah Thiele, who has spent over a decade conducting surveys of snubfin dolphins to gain a better understanding of their ecology, distribution, and conservation needs. The paper was published as part of the Frontiers Research Topic entitled “Small Cetacean Conservation: Current Challenges and Opportunities” and can be downloaded freely from: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2020.614852/full Abstract: Implementing conservation measures for data-limited species is a fundamental challenge for wildlife managers and policy-makers, and proves difficult for cryptic marine animals occurring in naturally low numbers across remote seascapes. There is currently scant information on the abundance and habitat preferences of Australian snubfin dolphins (Orcaella heinsohni) throughout much of their geographical range, and especially within the Kimberley region of northern Western Australia. Such knowledge gaps curtail rigorous threat assessments on both local and regional scales. To address this and assist future conservation listings, we built the first comprehensive catalog of snubfin dolphin sightings for the Kimberley. We used these data to estimate the species’ extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) along the region’s 7,000 km coastline, following a simple Bootstrap bivariate kernel approach to combine datasets of varying quality and quantify uncertainty. Our catalog consists of 1,597 visual detections of snubfin dolphins made over a period of 17 years (2004–2020) and collated from multiple sources, including online biodiversity repositories, peer-reviewed scientific articles, citizen science programs, as well as dedicated marine wildlife surveys with local Indigenous communities and Ranger groups. Snubfin dolphins were consistently encountered in shallow waters (<21 m depth) close to (<15 km) freshwater inputs, with high detection rates in known hotspots (e.g., Roebuck Bay, Cygnet Bay) as well as in coastal habitats suspected to be suitable (e.g., Prince Regent River and surrounds, King Sound, Doubtful Bay, Napier Broome Bay and the upper Cambridge Gulf). Bootstrap estimates of EOO and AOO were 38,300 (95% CI: 25,451–42,437) km2 and 700 (656–736) km2 respectively, suggesting that snubfin dolphins in the Kimberley are likely Vulnerable under IUCN criteria B2 at a regional scale, in keeping with their global classification. Our study offers insights into the distribution of a vulnerable coastal cetacean species and demonstrates the value of integrating multiple data sources for informing conservation assessments in the face of uncertainty. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions regarding our work. Best wishes and stay safe, Phil Bouchet Postdoctoral Research Fellow Centre for Research into Ecological & Environmental Modelling (CREEM) The Observatory, Buchanan Gardens University of St Andrews, St Andrews Fife KY16 9LZ, Scotland (UK) E pjbouchet(a)gmail.com | pb282(a)st-andrews.ac.uk Twitter @pjbouchet • Web pjbouchet.github.io

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New publication - Boats affect a dolphin-fisher cooperation
by Bianca Romeu 23 Jan '21

23 Jan '21

Dear colleagues, We would like to share with you the last article from our research group, published in Animal Conservation: "Boat disturbance affects the acoustic behaviour of dolphins engaged in a rare foraging cooperation with fishers" Link to the full article: https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/acv.12667 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12667 Abstract Acoustic behaviour is a key component of specialized foraging tactics for many aquatic species, especially cetaceans. However, in recent decades the natural environment has been increasingly exposed to a variety of anthropogenic noise sources, with the potential to impact natural foraging specializations dependent on acoustic communication. Here we evaluated whether boat noise has the potential to impact a rare foraging tactic used by individuals from a small population of the vulnerable Lahille’s bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus gephyreus) specialized in cooperation with artisanal fishers in southern Brazil. We tested whether the presence of boats changed the acoustic behaviour of dolphins when engaged in this cooperative foraging. We found that whistles and echolocation click rates were lower when boats were present, suggesting that cooperative foraging may potentially be reduced or interrupted by the presence of boats. Whistle parameters changed in response to the number, type and speed of boats, indicating a behavioural change and acoustic masking. Locally, our results reinforce the need for boat traffic regulations to minimize their impacts on these endangered dolphins and their rare cooperative tactic. From a broad perspective, we demonstrate how nonlethal impacts such as vessel disturbance can manifest subtle changes in animals’ natural behaviour and, in this case, present an insidious threat to a unique foraging specialization. PDF requests can be sand to: romeu.bianca(a)gmail.com -- *Bianca Romeu * CRBio 88562/03-D ^ | \ __ - | - \ __ _ _/ -- -- \ __ _/ -- \ / @ ) _ / __-- ===> / _ __ -- _ _ _ _ -- -- / / | / / / |/ __/ /__ /__^__ /

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