November 2021 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

JOB- FAU Harbor Branch Marine Mammal Stranding and Population Assessment Assistant
by Steve Burton 20 Dec '21

20 Dec '21

FAU Harbor Branch Marine Mammal Stranding and Population Assessment Assistant REQ09960 Position Summary: Florida Atlantic University is seeking a Marine Mammal Stranding and Population Assessment Assistant, Ft. Pierce, FL. With over 30,000 students from all 50 states and over 180 countries, 21 intercollegiate teams, 180 plus degree programs, and an administration that thrives on discovery and excellence, FAU is pushing the boundaries of higher education. Florida Atlantic's faculty and staff are trailblazers and innovators with a passion for finding creative solutions while advancing science, art, and technology in all disciplines. Our work environment is a hub of cultures from across the nation and the world, making FAU a place where collaboration flourishes. Summary of Responsibilities Include: * Performs as a NOAA NMFS authorized primary responder on marine mammal strandings and collects Level A stranding data, working in the field and office. * Performs as a co-investigator on population assessment permit. Duties include boat-based surveys, photo analysis, data entry and data QA/QC. * Assists with maintenance of vessels, vehicles and equipment used for operations. * Participates in on-call rotation with other members of the group. * Assists with curation of marine mammal tissue archives. * Participates in presentations or other outreach activities regarding stranding and population assessments. * Assists with necropsy facilities maintenance and management operations. * Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor of Science from an accredited institution in Biology, Environmental Sciences, or related field with one year of marine mammal stranding experience and related activities required. Appropriate college coursework may substitute at an equivalent rate for the required experience. Must have valid Florida driver’s license with acceptable driving record or the ability to obtain within 30 days of hire required. Successfully complete the USGS Motorboat Operator Certification (MOCC) within 6 months of hire required. Experience driving various vessels in coastal and offshore waters required. Comfortable driving large vehicles and towing boats required. Florida certificate of Boating Safety Education required or the ability to obtain within 30 days of hire required. Ability to become a NOAA NMFS primary responder on marine mammal stranding activities (Article 3 and 4) required within one year of hire. Ability to immediately be approved for NOAA NMFS primary responder is preferred. The ability to be able to work within a team and independently required. Experience with population assessment data collection, photo-ID boat surveys, photo analysis and database input preferred. Experience with Microsoft Office preferred. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential to success in this position. Salary: $16.76 - $21.07 per hour College or Department: Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Location: Harbor Branch (HBOI) Work Days and Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Ability to work flexible hours including on-call times on weeknights, weekends, and holidays to meet program objectives required as needed. Application Deadline: 2021-03-30-07:00 How to Apply Applications must be submitted electronically on the FAU Jobs site, www.fau.edu/jobs<http://www.fau.edu/jobs>. Special Instructions to Applicant: Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodation, please call 561-297-3057. 711 Preference in appointment will be given to eligible veterans, spouses of eligible veterans, and certain family members of eligible veterans, in accordance with Florida Statutes, Section 295.07. Please submit your DD214 (Member 4 preferred) showing your dates and character of service with your application as an attachment or fax to 561-297-3915 or scan and email to jobs(a)fau.edu, prior to the closing date of the position. If faxing your DD214, please also send an email to jobs(a)fau.edu to notify us that the form was faxed, make sure the email includes your name and the REQ# of the job that was applied to. Final candidate will be required to have official, sealed transcripts and original NACES evaluation, if applicable, sent from their educational institution to Human Resources prior to the start of employment. Successful completion of a background check, which may include a motor vehicle check, credit check, fingerprinting or additional screening, is required for the selected candidate prior to the start date. A resume and a cover letter are required for this position. Make sure to attach these required documents in the Attachments section of the application. Any missing required documents may result in disqualification. This position is funded with recurring grant funds with an expiration date on June 30, 2022. Renewal of funding is anticipated; however, not guaranteed.

1 2

2022 Soundwatch Boater Education Program Internship
by Alanna 30 Nov '21

30 Nov '21

The Whale Museum's Soundwatch Boater Education Program: 2022 Summer Internship Openings The Soundwatch Boater Education Program is seeking interns for the 2022 summer field season. Soundwatch is a research, education and monitoring program operated by The Whale Museum (TWM), a not-for-profit organization located in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island in Washington State. The Soundwatch program mission is to reduce vessel disturbance to marine wildlife, particularly the endangered Southern Resident killer whales, in the Salish Sea region of Washington State (USA) and British Columbia (Canada). Soundwatch is looking for three interns to help conduct seasonal vessel patrols, educate boaters on regional/federal Be Whale Wise guidelines and regulations, and collect data while monitoring vessel activity around whales. Data from this critical program characterizes vessel activity trends around endangered killer whales and other marine wildlife. The data is used to promote better boater compliance and to inform marine mammal management strategies such as state and federal vessel laws and guidelines. To learn more, please visit our website and read Soundwatch’s most recent Contract Report and publications. INTERN RESPONSIBILITIES: • Perform a variety of tasks in the field aboard small research vessels and in a research office setting. • Produce high quality research efforts and exhibit strong interpersonal skills. • Interact with the public during education and outreach events. • Be able to spend many hours on the water aboard a small vessel, sometimes in extreme seasonal conditions. Field days occur at least four to five times a week and may exceed eight hours per day. Internship is located in Friday Harbor, Washington. Interns are responsible for finding their own housing and having a mode of transportation. This position provides a stipend to offset housing costs. Once accepted, TWM staff will be able to assist interns in suggesting suitable housing options and locations. APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS: • Commit to at least 12 weeks between May and September. • Be able to work approximately 35-40 hours per week, Mon-Sun. • At least 18 years of age, physically fit (able to lift 40 lbs.), must be able to swim, not easily susceptible to seasickness, and familiar with Microsoft Office Suite (particularly Excel) and Google Workspace. • Valid US passport or an enhanced driver's license (for the entirety of their position) and CPR/First Aid certification. A state boater license or equivalent safe boating card is not required, but is encouraged. • Knowledge of the area and Southern Resident killer whales is preferred, but not required. • Preference will be given to undergraduates or recent graduates in the marine or wildlife sciences. HOW TO APPLY FOR INTERNSHIP POSITION: Please send a letter of interest, a resume, and contact information for three references. Be sure to include what dates you can start/end. Submit application materials via email as one PDF if possible. Please include in your subject line: Soundwatch Internship Application (Last Name). Active review of applications will begin immediately until 01 March 2022 with decisions made by 15 March 2022. The successful candidate will follow governmental mandates related to COVID-19, i.e., mask compliant and fully vaccinated. PLEASE SEND APPLICATION MATERIALS TO: Alanna Frayne Soundwatch Boater Education Program and Be Whale Wise Coordinator alanna(a)whalemuseum.org Feel free to contact with any questions. Alanna Frayne Pronouns: she/her/hers Soundwatch Program Coordinator Be Whale Wise Coordinator The Whale Museum Phone: (360) 378-4710 ext. 33 My response to emails may be delayed during the field season (May-Sept). Thank you for your patience.

1 0

New publication on porpoise heart rate
by Gitte McDonald 30 Nov '21

30 Nov '21

Dear MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our new paper examining heart rate in foraging harbor porpoises published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: McDonald BI, Elmegaard SL, Johnson M, Wisniewska DM, Rojano-Doñate L, Galatius A, Siebert U, Teilmann J, Madsen PT. 2021. High heart rates in hunting harbour porpoises. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 288: 20211596. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2021.1596 Don't hesitate to get in touch with questions, comments and/or requests for a pdf. birgitte.mcdonald(a)sjsu.edu All the best on behalf of the authors, Gitte McDonald Abstract: The impressive breath-hold capabilities of marine mammals are facilitated by both enhanced O2 stores and reductions in the rate of O2 consumption via peripheral vasoconstriction and bradycardia, called the dive response. Many studies have focused on the extreme role of the dive response in maximizing dive duration in marine mammals, but few have addressed how these adjustments may compromise the capability to hunt, digest and thermoregulate during routine dives. Here, we use DTAGs, which record heart rate together with foraging and movement behaviour, to investigate how O2 management is balanced between the need to dive and forage in five wild harbour porpoises that hunt thousands of small prey daily during continuous shallow diving. Dive heart rates were moderate (median minimum 47–69 bpm) and relatively stable across dive types, dive duration (0.5–3.3 min) and activity. A moderate dive response, allowing for some perfusion of peripheral tissues, may be essential for fuelling the high field metabolic rates required to maintain body temperature and support digestion during diving in these small, continuously feeding cetaceans. Thus, despite having the capacity to prolong dives via a strong dive response, for these shallow-diving cetaceans, it appears to be more efficient to maintain circulation while diving: extreme heart rate gymnastics are for deep dives and emergencies, not everyday use. Birgitte I. McDonald Associate Professor Moss Landing Marine Laboratories San Jose State University 8272 Moss Landing Rd. Moss Landing, CA 95039 ----------------------------------------------- birgitte.mcdonald(a)sjsu.edu 831-771-4417

1 0

Operations Manager
by Internship Coordinator 30 Nov '21

30 Nov '21

Background Seal Rescue Ireland (SRI) is a Registered Charity (RCN 20108519) that works around the clock to rescue, rehabilitate and release seal pups found sick, injured or orphaned across the coast of Ireland. Based in Courtown, Co Wexford, as the only seal rescue centre in the Republic of Ireland, they respond to reports nationwide and aim to rehabilitate the seal pups to full health so they can be returned to the wild. SRI promotes ocean conservation and sustainability through research, education, community outreach and habitat restoration programmes, in order to protect our marine environment and all life within. Position SRI is currently accepting applications for the full-time role of Operations Manager, with immediate start. This is a salary position with accommodation in staff/volunteer housing available. The Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing the daily operations at SRI’s visitor centre and hospital. The candidate must have strong leadership skills and be versatile with the ability to delegate and multitask. The successful candidate will supervise managers, interns, & volunteers and will work closely with the Executive Director and the senior management team to help the organisation continue to grow and improve through continuous review, problem solving, streamlining and improvement of key processes, policies and procedures. Reporting Relationship This position reports to the Executive Director Full Time Position: 40 hrs/week Responsibilities - ● General Management - - Ensure smooth running of daily operations at the education centre, seal hospital, and staff/volunteer housing. - - Utilise and develop SRI’s custom-built CRM for programme management and animal database - - Lead and delegate a vast array of duties to staff and volunteers - - Carry out administration tasks as needed - ● Human Resources - ○ Oversee scheduling, timesheets and annual leave requests - ○ Implement and develop Company Handbook and employee/volunteer policies - ○ Liaise with HR Consultancy as required to ensure compliance with employment legislation - ○ Schedule and facilitate team meetings and check ins - ○ Intern/Volunteer recruitment, training, evaluations and management ● Health & Safety - ○ Oversee, review and ensure compliance with existing policies and procedures to ensure safety of staff, volunteers, visitors and animals in care - ○ Serve as COVID-19 Health & Safety Officer ● Finances - ○ Manage day to day finances i.e. invoicing, bill payment, and cash handling - ○ Liaise with SRI’s bookkeeper, accountant and auditor to ensure accurate and up to date accounts The above is not an exhaustive list and the candidate must be willing to perform various tasks as they arise within a dynamic, fast-paced work environment. Experience and Qualities required: Essential - ● Minimum of 2 years management experience; proven track record of effectively managing volunteers is preferred. - ● Degree/Qualification or equivalent experience in Business Administration, Operation Management, Project Management, Communication Management, HR or related field - ● Professional experience within the non-profit/charity sector - ● Driven to work under own initiative with the ability to problem solve complex issues and find workable solutions - ● Must be proficient in computer programs such as Excel, Word and Powerpoint etc. - ● Excellence in organisational management with a strong leadership ability to coach staff, manage and develop high-performance teams, set and achieve strategic objectives. - ● The ability to multitask and handle multiple projects simultaneously is required. - ● Strong written and verbal communication skills; a persuasive communicator with excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people. Fluency in English is required. - ● Must be eligible to work within Ireland/EU and must be physically based in Ireland at the time of hiring due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. - ● The Operations Manager must be thoroughly committed to SRI’s mission of promoting animal welfare and environmental conservation. Desired - ● Interest/experience in the field of conservation, environmental protection and/or animal care - ● Full, clean driving license. - - - ● Advanced Degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Project Management, Communication Management, HR or similar Role details The Operations Manager position is full-time, 40-hours per week, and requires the ability to work on site. The position is based in Courtown, Co. Wexford. The successful candidate has the option to avail of accommodation within volunteer & staff housing at no cost (utilities and basic food are also provided). Salary is €22,500 - €24,000 based on experience. Garda vetting is required. Application deadline : 5th December 2021 To apply For more information and to download an application form, visit our website here: www.sealrescueireland.org/careers/ *Gabriella Kohler* Intern Coordinator On Behalf of Seal Rescue Ireland Phone: 053 942 4980 Rescue hotline: 087 195 5393 Site: www.sealrescueireland.org Email: intern(a)sealrescueireland.org Registered Charity Number (RCN): 20108519 Address: Courtown Harbour, Co. Wexford, Ireland Visit North Wexford this Summer! <https://lovegorey.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Wake-up-in-North-Wexford-Su…> <https://www.facebook.com/sealrescueireland> <https://twitter.com/seal_rescue> <https://www.instagram.com/sealrescueireland/?hl=en> <https://sealrescueireland.tumblr.com/>

1 0

New publication: Population dynamics reveal a core community of bottlenose dolphins in Gulf of Mexico's open waters
by Eduardo Morteo 29 Nov '21

29 Nov '21

Dear MARMAM colleagues, On behalf of the co-authors, I am pleased to share our new publication. This is one of the resulting papers of the Doctoral thesis of Jaime Bolaños, exploring the residency patterns of common bottlenose dolphins and their effect in the parameters of a coastal population in the Southwestern Gulf of Mexico. Bolaños-Jiménez J., Morteo E., Delfín-Alfonso C.A., Fruet P.F., Secchi E.R. and Bello-Pineda J. 2021. Population Dynamics Reveal a Core Community of the Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in Open Waters of the South-Western Gulf of Mexico. Front. Mar. Sci. 8:753484. ISSN: 2296-7745, doi: 10.3389/fmars.2021.753484 Abstract: The presence of transient and temporary individuals in capture-mark-recapture studies may violate the assumption on equal catchability, and thus yield biased estimates. We investigated the effects of residency patterns on population parameters of bottlenose dolphins inhabiting the coastal waters off the Alvarado Lagoon System (ALS), Veracruz, Mexico. We hypothesized that this population is open but there exists a “core community” that behaves as a closed population. Between 2006 and 2010, we conducted 75 photo-identification surveys and recorded 263 dolphin group encounters, in which 231 dolphins were identified. Individuals present during only one season, classified as transients (n = 85), were excluded from the study, and a standardized residency index (IH4) was computed for each dolphin that remained in the sample (n = 146). We used the K-means clustering method to split the sample into groups based on individual (seasonal, annual) IH4 values. These clusters were named as regular residents (RR, n = 55), occasional residents (OR, n = 45), and occasional visitors (OV, n = 46). The cumulative frequency of newly identified individuals displayed an asymptotic trend for the whole sample and all clusters, indicating that most of the individuals present in the study area during the study period were identified. The assumption of demographic closure was tested to define the core community, and was rejected for the whole sample and the OV cluster (p < 0.001 in both cases), indicating that the population is open. The closure assumption was not rejected for RR and OR clusters (χ2 = 6.88, DF = 13, p = 0.91, and χ2 = 17.8, DF = 16, p = 0.33, respectively), indicating that these clusters were demographically closed over the 5-year period. Thus, we defined this aggregation of individuals as the “core community”. The closed population model Mth indicated that the total abundance of this core community was 123 individuals (95% CI: 114–133). Our results provide quantitative evidence of the existence of a core community in open waters of the Gulf of Mexico, and points toward residency pattern as a main driver of population dynamics. These results highlight the importance of considering residency patterns when dealing with heterogeneity in the sample of a highly mobile species. Full text and PDF versions are available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.753484/full?utm_sou… <https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.753484/full?utm_sou…> Feel free to contact me at eduardo.morteo(a)gmail.com <mailto:eduardo.morteo@gmail.com> if you have questions or comments. Cheers! Dr. Eduardo Morteo Director Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Universidad Veracruzana Calle Dr. Castelazo Ayala S/N, Col. Industrial Ánimas CP 91190, Xalapa, Veracruz, México. Ph/Tel: +52 (228) 841 89 00 E-mail: emorteo(a)uv.mx http://www.uv.mx/personal/emorteo/ http://uv-mx.academia.edu/EMorteo https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Eduardo_Morteo/?ev=hdr_xprf http://scholar.google.com.mx/citations?user=fDUl-IIAAAAJ

1 0

Virtual Book Talk Nov 30 7pm US Eastern - We Are All Whalers
by Michael Moore 29 Nov '21

29 Nov '21

Please join me for a virtual conversation about, and readings from my book: “We Are All Whalers”. We'll talk about North Atlantic right whales, anthropogenic trauma and what we all can do about it. Hosted by Veronique LaCapra. 7pm US Eastern, Tuesday, November 30th. Please register at https://www.whoi.edu/we-are-all-whalers/ Thank you. -- Michael Moore Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

1 0

Louis M. Herman Research Scholarship 2022: Application now open
by Lindsay Porter 29 Nov '21

29 Nov '21

*Louis M. Herman Research Scholarship 2022* *The Society for Marine Mammalogy * *Application OPEN NOW* Louis M. Herman, Ph.D. and Emeritus Professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, will always be remembered for his innovative, creative, and scientifically rigorous approach to the study of the marine mammals he so loved, and for the future generations of marine mammal researchers he and his work continue to inspire. The *Louis M. Herman Research Scholarship* supports a research project that contributes to our understanding of either cetacean cognition and sensory perception (laboratory or field studies), or humpback whale behavioral ecology or communication. Work with other marine mammals that especially enhances our understanding of their cognitive abilities will also be considered. Eligible candidates include graduate students and those students who have completed their Masters or PhD within the past three years and are members of the Society of Marine Mammalogy.The award is for a maximum of USD 5000 (~AUD6900; ~Mexican Peso 100,000; ~Fijian Dollar 10,000; ~EUR 4500). Full details of application submission materials and criteria can be found on the Society for Marine Mammalogy webpage (https://marinemammalscience.org/awards-funding/awards-and-scholarships/loui…) Submission deadline is *Monday,* *7* *February 2022 (10pm,* *Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time GMT-10 hours) * Enquiries to Lindsay Porter (awardsc <awardschair(a)marinemammalscience.org> hair(a)marinemammalscience.org <awardschair(a)marinemammalscience.org>)

1 0

Job Posting for Sightings Network Coordinator/GIS Specialist
by Jenny Atkinson 29 Nov '21

29 Nov '21

Position: Sightings Network Coordinator & GIS Specialist Location: Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, Washington, USA The Whale Museum is seeking a person to fulfill the role of Sightings Network Coordinator & GIS Specialist. This is a year-round, full-time salaried position with benefits. Established in 1979 as the first U.S. museum dedicated to whales living in the wild, The Whale Museum's mission is to promote stewardship of whales and the Salish Sea ecosystem through education and research. Our facility is located on San Juan Island, northwest of Seattle, Washington. This remote island is accessible only by ferry, boat or plane. This position works closely with the Executive Director as the Sightings Network Coordinator & GIS Specialist to manage a 60+ year longitudinal marine mammal sightings database, perform data entry and analysis, conduct outreach & promotion to increase sightings reports, manage and fulfill data requests, write and manage grants, and generate data reports. In addition, the sightings database provides long-term scientific data that supports The Whale Museum's research as well as provides substance for the museum's education programs and exhibits. Current research projects focus on: maintaining longitudinal data sets that track Southern Resident orcas' movement patterns through a 40+ year sighting database; 38 years of marine mammal stranding data; over 25 years of vessel monitoring & trends data; acoustics monitoring data; and a museum collections database of artifacts and recorded media. Partnerships with other organizations and researchers are critical to our work. Current partnerships include, but are not limited to, NOAA-Northwest Region, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Transport Canada, WRAS, ECHO, Quiet Sound, and SMRU Ltd. Qualifications: a Bachelor's Degree or 3 years' experience in a relevant field, excellent communication skills (oral and written), excellent attention to detail, fluent in analytical programs such as ArcGIS and R, excellent computer/technological skills (i.e., Microsoft Office particularly Access & Excel), grant writing skills, experience with conflict resolution & public communication, and project management experience; experience with field work is a plus. A varied skill set and flexibility are major assets. Please note: To be considered, international applicants are required to have an approved Visa and documentation to work in the U.S. at the time of submission. The successful candidate will follow governmental mandates related to COVID-19, i.e., mask wearing and fully vaccinated. Salary varies based on experience and relocation support needs. Benefit package includes: Health Care (medical, vision, dental), Simple IRA Retirement Plan, and Vacation. The position will start in early 2022 with the opportunity for a brief training period with the outgoing employee. Active review of submitted applications will begin immediately, but applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled. Electronic submissions are encouraged. Please send a cover letter, resume, and three references (either reference letter or contact information for each reference) in a combined PDF to: Jenny L. Atkinson, Executive Director The Whale Museum P. O. Box 945 Friday Harbor, WA 98250 Email: jenny(a)whalemuseum.org <mailto:jenny@whalemuseum.org> Website: www.whalemuseum.org <http://www.whalemuseum.org>

1 0

Fwd: New closing date Dec. 6 - Job postings - Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument field camp research positions
by Lizabeth Kashinsky 29 Nov '21

29 Nov '21

The University of Hawaii Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (CIMAR) works with the NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center through a cooperative agreement with the University of Hawaii to conduct population assessment and recovery activities on Hawaiian monk seals. CIMAR hires program staff through the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii (RCUH) and is currently seeking applicants for two separate recruitments for the 2022 field research season: HMSRP Field Camp Research Technician-serves as field camp leader HMSRP Field Camp Research Assistant-serves as assistant to field camp leader Selected individuals will study the endangered Hawaiian monk seal within Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM). This work is part of a long-term annual Hawaiian monk seal population monitoring and conservation program by NOAA Fisheries and includes: conducting trend counts, tagging seals, identifying individual seals by tags, scars, natural markings, and applied bleach marks, monitoring reproduction, survival, injuries, entanglements, migration, vaccinating against morbillivirus, performing necropsies, collecting scat & spew samples for food habitat, parasite load, and hormonal analysis, collecting tissue samples for DNA analysis, and removing debris capable of entangling seals and other wildlife. Behavior data are also collected at some sites. Researchers at some sites may participate in shark mitigation activities. General information about the program can be found via the links below: http://www.conservationcompass.org/index.php/career-guidance/fantastic-fiel… https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/hawaiian-monk-seal#science The number of positions and/or continuation of the program are subject to funding and program needs. Selected candidates will be stationed at one of 5 major monk seal sub-populations located within PMNM. Fieldwork is accomplished by 2-4 member teams consisting of a Technician who will serve as the leader, and one or more assistants in remote camps. Researchers live in wall tents at the various sites. Sites are accessible only by ship (2-8 day travel; 830-2,300 km from Honolulu). Few (if any) resupply opportunities exist and communication with others outside of field sites is limited throughout deployment due to the remoteness and lack of infrastructure. The employment period is expected to include approximately 4-6 weeks of training and packing in Honolulu. Once the field season is over, an additional ~1-4 weeks of employment may take place in Honolulu to clean up gear and summarize data. Dates are subject to change, but the positions may begin as early as February/early March with a field deployment approximately 4-6 weeks after start dates. Field staff could be deployed for approximately 4.5-5 months with a tentative return date at the end of August. The position end date is expected to be 1-4 weeks after return from the field. Applicants must be flexible in their availability as dates could change, including unforeseen delays such as inclement weather or other ship delays. Travel to and from Honolulu and food, lodging, and transportation in Honolulu before deployment are not provided. Transportation between Honolulu and field sites and food and other living costs while deployed are covered by the program. Due to unforeseen circumstances or cruise logistics, departure delays could result in longer periods in Honolulu that may result in additional uncompensated living expenses. Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident Alien, and must be able to meet both the U.S. Department of Commerce and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) security requirements to access the work location, and also the health requirements to board a NOAA vessel. Instructions to apply for both positions are in the job postings below. You must clearly address all qualifications in your cover letter and resume. If you do not clearly address all qualifications, we may not be able to consider you as an applicant. For example, to address the experience qualification, indicate in your cover letter how many years (cumulative months) of field experience you have and be sure that is reflected in your resume. Interested individuals will need to apply directly to RCUH Human Resources via one of the methods stated in the job posting. Applications for both positions must be submitted/received by the closing date on 12/6/2021. If you do not have access to the RCUH system and the closing date is imminent, you may send additional documents to rcuh_employment(a)rcuh.com. If you have questions on the application process and/or need assistance, please call (808)956-7262 or (808)956-0872. Follow the link below to access both recruitments. If applying for both positions, *you must do so separately.* JIMAR/PIFSC HMSRP Field Camp Research Technician (leader) – search job ID #221626 JIMAR/PIFSC HMSRP Field Camp Research Assistant - search Job ID #221625 RCUH Job Postings <https://hcmweb521.rcuh.com/psp/hcmprd_exapp/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_AP…> -- Lizabeth Kashinsky (she/her/hers) Why does this matter? <https://www.mypronouns.org/what-and-why> * <https://www.mypronouns.org/what-and-why>* Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research Program Manager, Protected Species Division Hawaiian Monk Seal Research and Recovery Program Marine Turtle Biology and Assessment Program Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center 1845 Wasp Blvd., B176, Honolulu, HI 96818 Office: (808) 725-5719 Mobile: (808) 285-4578 -- Lizabeth Kashinsky (she/her/hers) Why does this matter? <https://www.mypronouns.org/what-and-why> * <https://www.mypronouns.org/what-and-why>* Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research Program Manager, Protected Species Division Hawaiian Monk Seal Research and Recovery Program Marine Turtle Biology and Assessment Program Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center 1845 Wasp Blvd., B176, Honolulu, HI 96818 Office: (808) 725-5719 Mobile: (808) 285-4578 -- Lizabeth Kashinsky (she/her/hers) Why does this matter? <https://www.mypronouns.org/what-and-why> * <https://www.mypronouns.org/what-and-why>* Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research Program Manager, Protected Species Division Hawaiian Monk Seal Research and Recovery Program Marine Turtle Biology and Assessment Program Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center 1845 Wasp Blvd., B176, Honolulu, HI 96818 Office: (808) 725-5719 Mobile: (808) 285-4578

1 0

New publication: Comparing Uncertainty Associated With 1-, 2-, and 3D Aerial Photogrammetry-Based Body Condition Measurements of Baleen Whales
by Bierlich, Kevin C 29 Nov '21

29 Nov '21

Hi there MARMAM Community, On behalf of my colleagues, I am pleased to share our recent publication in Frontiers in Marine Science: Bierlich KC, Hewitt J, Bird CN, Schick RS, Friedlaender A, Torres LG, Dale J, Goldbogen J, Read AJ, Calambokidis J and Johnston DW (2021) Comparing Uncertainty Associated With 1-, 2-, and 3D Aerial Photogrammetry-Based Body Condition Measurements of Baleen Whales. Front. Mar. Sci. 8:749943. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2021.749943 Abstract: Body condition is a crucial and indicative measure of an animal’s fitness, reflecting overall foraging success, habitat quality, and balance between energy intake and energetic investment toward growth, maintenance, and reproduction. Recently, drone-based photogrammetry has provided new opportunities to obtain body condition estimates of baleen whales in one, two or three dimensions (1D, 2D, and 3D, respectively) – a single width, a projected dorsal surface area, or a body volume measure, respectively. However, no study to date has yet compared variation among these methods and described how measurement uncertainty scales across these dimensions. This associated uncertainty may affect inference derived from these measurements, which can lead to misinterpretation of data, and lack of comparison across body condition measurements restricts comparison of results between studies. Here we develop a Bayesian statistical model using known-sized calibration objects to predict the length and width measurements of unknown-sized objects (e.g., a whale). We use the fitted model to predict and compare uncertainty associated with 1D, 2D, and 3D photogrammetry-based body condition measurements of blue, humpback, and Antarctic minke whales – three species of baleen whales with a range of body sizes. The model outputs a posterior predictive distribution of body condition measurements and allows for the construction of highest posterior density intervals to define measurement uncertainty. We find that uncertainty does not scale linearly across multi-dimensional measurements, with 2D and 3D uncertainty increasing by a factor of 1.45 and 1.76 compared to 1D, respectively. Each standardized body condition measurement is highly correlated with one another, yet 2D body area index (BAI) accounts for potential variation along the body for each species and was the most precise body condition metric. We hope this study will serve as a guide to help researchers select the most appropriate body condition measurement for their purposes and allow them to incorporate photogrammetric uncertainty associated with these measurements which, in turn, will facilitate comparison of results across studies. This article is open-access and available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.749943/full?&utm_so… Cheers, KC KC (Kevin) Bierlich, PhD, MEM Postdoctoral Scholar Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna (GEMM<https://mmi.oregonstate.edu/gemm-lab>) Lab Marine Mammal Institute | Dept. of Fisheries, Wildlife, & Conservation Sciences Oregon State University Pronouns: he, him, his kcbierlich.com<https://www.kcbierlich.com> kevin.bierlich(a)oregonstate.edu<mailto:kevin.bierlich@oregonstate.edu>

1 0