December 2021 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

PSO Certification Course on February 19-20, 2022
by Angela Bostwick 21 Dec '21

21 Dec '21

MPSC is offering an online training course that provides Protected Species Observer (also known as Marine Mammal Observer) certification on February 19-20, 2022. This training is approved by the federal agencies Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) in coordination with National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to provide Protected Species Observer Certification for geological and geophysical surveys in the Gulf of Mexico, and is a long-standing industry standard which is often accepted in other regions or industries where monitoring for protected species and mitigation of impacts is required (such as renewable energy construction and monitoring). Course cost includes the instruction, advice on applying to PSO positions, the professional certification, and various regulatory documents and supplementary identification guides. PSOs monitor mainly for ESA-listed animals and marine mammals. PSOs complete certain reports on protected species activity and industry operations, and advise on the measures required to reduce impacts to the animals. As discussed in the course, working offshore as a PSO is fun, but it involves long hours of standing watch for the animals; thus, the job requires patience and persistence. The course examines the regulations for reducing impacts to marine mammals, sea turtles and other protected species, how to visually locate and identify the animals, and objective documentation of animal behavior and industry operations for reporting to regulatory agencies. The course includes a live discussion on how to pack for offshore and how to work effectively onboard vessels. Attendees are also provided a packing list with recommended items and tips for productive personal interactions when living and working offshore. Additional potential requirements for offshore work are also discussed. Additional information may be found on the MPSC website at http://www.protectedspeciesobservers.com/, by contacting me at ABostwick(a)psocertifications.com, or by phone at 832-523-2402. Thank you, Angela Bostwick Founder / Marine Protected Species Consulting ProtectedSpeciesObservers.com https://Facebook.com/ProtectedSpeciesObservers/

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New publication: North Pacific right whale sightings from IWC-POWER surveys
by Jessica Crance - NOAA Federal 21 Dec '21

21 Dec '21

Greetings, On behalf of my co-authors I'm pleased to announce the publication of our manuscript detailing recent sightings of the critically endangered eastern population of North Pacific right whales from the IWC-POWER surveys. Matsuoka K, Crance JL, Taylor JKD, Yoshimura I, James I, An Y. 2021. North Pacific right whale sightings in the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea during IWC-Pacific Ocean Whale and Ecosystem Research (IWC-POWER) surveys. *Marine Mammal Science*, DOI: 10.1111/mms.12889 Summary: The eastern North Pacific right whale (*Eubalaena japonica*) is one of the most critically endangered large whale populations (n≈30) in the world. During three cruises in Alaska waters, sixteen individual right whales were photographed. Nine of the animals were matched to known individuals; five of the seven unmatched animals were confirmed new. One right whale was identified as a juvenile, the first non-adult seen in the Bering Sea since 2004. Biopsy samples collected from six individuals of previously unknown sex, including the juvenile, resulted in five males and one female. These results improve our knowledge on the status of this critically endangered population. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12889 Pdf available upon request. Best, Jessica -- Jessica Crance (she/her) Marine Mammal Laboratory Alaska Fisheries Science Center 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle, WA 98115 work: 206-526-4063 cell: 619-733-1386

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ECS ASHDOD 2022 - important survey
by conference2022＠europeancetaceansociety.eu 21 Dec '21

21 Dec '21

We are pleased to see abstracts coming in to participate in the 33rd annual European Cetacean Society conference that will take place in Ashdod, on the Mediterranean coast of Israel, between 5-7 April 2022. It will be the first hybrid ECS conference, allowing anyone from anywhere to participate! We know the pandemic situation is changing in many countries, so we would like to check again if you plan to participate. It would help us tremendously in anticipating the turnout for both virtual and in-person participation. Please answer the following survey - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1r-jQSwXHPNAhw0955KKHDBKBmxjn11hV6bgKE2jCob… Keep in mind the upcoming deadline - 01.01.22 Abstract submission deadline Visit the conference website for more information: https://www.europeancetaceansociety.eu/conference/ecs-conference-2022-ashdo… Thank you! ECS ASHDOD 2022 organizing committee

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Marine Mammals of Maine Veterinary Preceptorship Announcement
by Walk, Dominique 20 Dec '21

20 Dec '21

*Marine Mammals of Maine Summer 2022 Veterinary Preceptorship Announcement* Marine Mammals of Maine (MMoME) is now accepting applications through February 3, 2022, for marine mammal veterinary preceptorship positions. The preceptorship begins on May 16th, 2022, and extends through August 15th, 2022. 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 and education. We are seeking actively enrolled veterinary students to assist with the upcoming 2022 harbor seal pup season. Preceptors, interns, and volunteers are critical in fulfilling our mission and are given the unique opportunity to participate in a variety of activities. On a day-to-day basis, preceptors work under the supervision and direction of MMoME staff and join our marine mammal veterinarian for regular patient rounds and a mentored project. Additionally, preceptors work daily alongside non-veterinary interns as a team leader to accomplish our broad scope of work during our busiest time of year. Preceptors will learn marine mammal field health assessment, handling, basic husbandry and clinical care of pinnipeds, as well as data collection, necropsy, and sampling of deceased marine mammals. The preceptorship is based out of Midcoast Maine (town of Brunswick), though travel throughout our response region and New England will be necessary. Preceptors will be required to dedicate a minimum of 50 hours per week (minimum of 4 days/week), and will include holidays, weekends, late nights, early mornings, and overnight care for critical patients as needed. This opportunity is unpaid, though seasonal job opportunities are available in the area. Housing is not provided but staff can assist with sourcing options. *Key Tasks and Responsibilities* * Shared Among Preceptors and Non-Veterinary Interns: **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. *In-House 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 animal transport to other long-term care facilities. *Necropsy: *Transport carcasses to necropsy or 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. *Veterinary Preceptor-Specific Responsibilities: *-Collect and process biological and diagnostic samples from stranded marine mammals, as well as from pinniped patients in MMoME’s care. For example, blood samples from live marine mammals for diagnostic health evaluation, swabs from live and dead marine mammals for disease monitoring with partner research labs and patient health testing, culture samples from live and dead cases, necropsy tissue samples for histology or PCR testing, etc. -Regular clinical rounds with MMoME’s veterinarian. -Assist staff and veterinarian with, and carry out clinical procedures such as IV, IM, or SQ injections and fluid therapy. -Provide more advanced medical care to critical patients with direction from staff at the late-night feed when needed (IV fluid administration, blood glucose monitoring, checking vitals, etc.) -Provide after-hours medical care of triage or rehab patients in need of extended critical care as needed, and as directed by staff and veterinarian. -Generally responsible for ensuring daily workflow in the animal care room follows the feed and treatment schedule created by staff and veterinarian. -Conduct a project mentored by MMoME’s veterinarian (case study, nutritional study, etc.) to be completed during the preceptorship and presented to MMoME staff, veterinarian, and community. Research opportunities may be available depending on student interest, time, resources, and permitting. *Preceptorship Requirements* -Must be actively enrolled in an accredited veterinary program pursuing a DVM or similar degree. First, second, and third year domestic and international students are encouraged to apply. -Must be available to start no later than May 16th, 2022, and must be able to commit to the full preceptorship extending through August 15th, 2022. Preference given to those that can start prior to May 16th. These dates may be flexible +/- a few days, but shorter time periods are not permitted. -Must have demonstrated experience with physical restraint of animals in a clinical setting. Wildlife handling is preferred, though not required. -Must be able to work well as a positive team member with other non-veterinary interns, volunteers, staff, and veterinarian; work well with limited supervision; and be adaptable to a changing and unpredictable workday. -Must be able to lift at least 50 pounds and be in good physical shape. -Must have a valid driver’s license, a good driving record, and a reliable vehicle, and willing to drive a full-size truck in urban and rural areas. -Preference given to applicants with wildlife husbandry experience and a demonstrated interest in marine mammal or conservation medicine. -Proof of rabies vaccination or current titer. *How to Apply* Please send a letter of interest which addresses the following questions: why you would like to be considered for this preceptorship, how you meet the requirements, what your expectations are, what you think MMoME’s expectations are, what you hope to gain from this opportunity, and the start and end dates you can commit to. Your application must also include a resume, one professional letter of recommendation, a copy of your current transcript, and proof of rabies vaccination or current titer. Completed applications must be sent to info(a)mmome.org by 11:59 PM EST on February 3, 2022. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. 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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Marine Mammals of Maine Summer Internship Announcement
by Walk, Dominique 20 Dec '21

20 Dec '21

*Marine Mammals of Maine 2022 Summer Internship Announcement* Marine Mammals of Maine (MMoME) is accepting applications for our summer harbor seal pup season internship now through February 3, 2022. 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 four 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 (approximately 4 days/week). These hours will include holidays, weekends, late nights and early mornings. This internship is unpaid, though seasonal job opportunities are available in the area. Housing is not provided but staff can 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 assessment, and monitor, relocate, and collect for rehabilitation or humane euthanasia. Carcass collection for disposal or necropsy will also be required. *In-House 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 extensive cleaning, as well as meal prep, tube-feeding, assisting with medical procedures, animal restraint for exams, running lab samples, charting and medical record maintenance, and animal 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 and fundraising events, and help create educational materials. *Other Tasks:* Additional time will be spent on data entry, fundraising, lots of cleaning, and other tasks as needed. *Internship Requirements:* - Must be 18 years of age or older to apply. This internship is open to undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in an accredited college or university (or recently graduated within 2 years from an undergraduate program). -The ideal candidate is working towards a career in marine mammal science, veterinary technology, marine biology, environmental education, or a related field. -Must commit to at least three months, and be available from May 9, 2022 to August 20th, or October 20th, 2022. *All interns must be able to start on May 9th.* 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 fast-paced, changing and unpredictable schedule. -Must be able to lift at least 50 pounds and be in good physical shape. -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 is a plus. *How to Apply:* Please send a letter of interest which addresses the following questions: 1. Why you would like to be considered for this internship. 2. How you meet the requirements. 3. What your expectations of this internship are and what you think MMoME’s expectations of interns are. 4. What you hope to gain from this internship. 5. 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 on February 3rd, 2022. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. We look forward to your application for this exciting and unique 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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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.

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New Publication: Dugong Feeding Grounds and Spatial Feeding Patterns in Subtidal Seagrass
by Heng Wei Khang 19 Dec '21

19 Dec '21

Dear MARMAM colleagues, On behalf of the co-authors, I am pleased to share our new publication. This paper presents a case for dugongs being strategic feeders that modify their grazing behaviour in response to the availability of seagrass. Heng, H. W. K., Ooi, J. L. S., Affendi, Y. A., Kee Alfian, A. A., & Ponnampalam, L. S. (2022). Dugong feeding grounds and spatial feeding patterns in subtidal seagrass: A case study at Sibu Archipelago, Malaysia. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 264, 107670. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2021.107670 [Abstract]: In Southeast Asia, seagrass meadows are under threat through coastal development and increased pollution, but remain understudied. The dugong is a marine herbivore that is dependent on the availability of seagrass as a primary food source. In this study, we assess the patterns of co-occurrence between dugongs and seagrass. We hypothesize that the changing spatial patterns of dugong feeding are positively correlated to the seasonal variation in distribution and abundance of mixed species in subtidal tropical seagrass meadows. We documented seagrass cover and dugong feeding trails in the Sibu Archipelago meadow in Johor, Malaysia, across the monsoon seasons of 2016–2017 using an underwater towed video method. Moran’s I and Getis-Ord Gi* statistics were used to quantify the degree of clustering in feeding trails, feeding patch size, and to identify feeding hotspots and coldspots. This site has the single largest subtidal meadow in Peninsular Malaysia known to date, measuring 12.88 km2. The study captured a reduction in seagrass extent and coverage during the study. Feeding trail occurrence averaged three per image throughout the seasons, with the maximum number being 14 trails per image. Dugongs fed in a spatially clustered manner leaving two distinct feeding trail patterns: (1) a dispersed pattern when seagrass cover was high or low (76–100% and 0–25%) that resulted in larger patch sizes, and (2) a concentrated pattern in moderate seagrass cover (26–75%) that resulted in smaller patch size. Feeding hotspots and coldspots had significantly different seagrass cover, suggesting that dugongs foraged strategically within the meadow. Our results demonstrate that seagrass cover played a significant role in driving dugong feeding patterns and in creating feeding hotspots and coldspots in tropical subtidal meadows. The journal provided open limited downloads by using the following link: https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1e823~1MBfsMF Please, feel free to contact me at hengweikhang(a)gmail.com or the corresponding author jillian_03(a)um.edu.my for any comment, question or for a PDF copy of the manuscript. Kind regards, Harris Heng (he/him), MPhil Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences Universiti Malaya, Malaysia Team Sea Habitats Lab <http://teamseahabitats.weebly.com/> | Personal Website <https://harrishengwk.weebly.com/>

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Funded Stats Ecology PhD Studentship at the University of St Andrews
by Eiren Jacobson 17 Dec '21

17 Dec '21

Dear Colleagues, Dr Debbie Russell, Prof Len Thomas and I are looking for a PhD student interested in statistical ecology to start at the University of St Andrews in 2022/2023. The student will collaborate with researchers at the Sea Mammal Research Unit and the Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling to develop new methods for estimating grey seal pup production in the UK. The World-Leading Doctoral Scholarship is a fully funded (tuition/fees + stipend) studentship and is not restricted by citizenship or domicile. The student could choose to matriculate in either Biology or Mathematics and Statistics. For more information and to apply, see: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/postgraduate/scholarshi… Please contact us if you have any questions or would like to chat about the project or your application! Cheers, Eiren Eiren Kate Jacobson, PhD Research Fellow Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling School of Mathematics and Statistics University of St Andrews eiren.jacobson(a)st-andrews.ac.uk Pronouns: she/her or they/their

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New publication: Advanced image recognition: a fully automated, high-accuracy photo-identification matching system for humpback whales
by Ted Cheeseman 17 Dec '21

17 Dec '21

Dear MARMAM readers, on-behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to share our new publication: Advanced image recognition: a fully automated, high-accuracy photo-identification matching system for humpback whales. Authors: Cheeseman T, Southerland K, Park J, Olio M, Flynn K, Calambokidis J, Jones L, Garrigue C, Frisch Jordán A, Howard A, Reade W, Neilson J, Gabriele C, Clapham P (2021) Mamm Biol 2021 1–15. doi: 10.1007/S42991-021-00180-9 An online (but not downloadable) full version is available here: https://rdcu.be/cCOtw or send me an email if you’d like a pdf We describe the development and application of a new convolutional neural network-based photo-identification algorithm for individual humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). The method uses a Densely Connected Convolutional Network (DenseNet) to extract special keypoints of an image of the ventral surface of the fluke and then a separate DenseNet trained to look for features within these keypoints. The extracted features are then compared against those of the reference set of previously known humpback whales for similarity. This offers the potential to successfully automate recognition of individuals in large photographic datasets such as in ocean basin-wide marine mammal studies. The algorithm requires minimal image pre-processing and is capable of accurate, rapid matching of fair to high-quality humpback fluke photographs. In real world testing compared to manual image matching, the algorithm reduces image management time by at least 98% and reduces error rates of missing potential matches from approximately 6–9% to 1–3%. The success of this new system permits automated comparisons to be made for the first time across photo-identification datasets with tens to hundreds of thousands of individually identified encounters, with profound implications for long-term and large population studies of the species. …or more succinctly: we built a magic box that can ID most any humpback whale fluke nearly instantly and have now aggregated in Happywhale.com a database of over 64000 individuals in one global dataset. We believe this tool is bettering the lot of marine conservation; that’s the goal. Yay whales :) Ted — Ted Cheeseman ted(a)happywhale.com www.Happywhale.com https://www.facebook.com/happywhales/ ** know your whales :) **

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New paper on sex-related population dynamics of common bottlenose dolphins
by Eduardo Morteo 17 Dec '21

17 Dec '21

Dear MARMAM colleagues, On behalf of the co-authors, I am pleased to share our new publication. This is the second paper of the Doctoral thesis by Jaime Bolaños, exploring the sexual differences in 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., Fruet P., Secchi E., Delfín-Alfonso C., Bello-Pineda J. Seasonal population parameters reveal sex-related dynamics of bottlenose dolphins off open waters of the Southwestern Gulf of Mexico. Marine Mammal Science ISSN: 1748-7692, doi: 10.1111/MMS.12897 Abstract: In coastal populations of the common bottlenose dolphin, resident females are usually more abundant and have more restricted home ranges than males. Here, we studied sex-specific population dynamics of bottlenose dolphins off the Alvarado Lagoon System, southwestern Gulf of Mexico. We used standard photo-identification and capture-mark-recapture methods to determine population parameters under the superpopulation approach. Seasonal survival fluctuated around 0.96 (range: 0.80–1.00) and was equal for the sexes; recruitment of putative females (PF) and males (PM) was low, asynchronous, and reached 0.14 (range: 0.04–0.10) and 0.09 (range: 0.09–0.09), respectively, indicating high residency. PF abundance ranged from 60, 95% CI [48, 74] in the northern winds' season of 2008 to a low of 38, 95% CI [31, 47] in the dry season of 2010. PM abundance ranged from a high of 14, 95% CI [12, 16] in the northern winds' season of 2008 to a low of 9, 95% CI [7, 11] in the dry season of 2010. A regression analysis showed significant autocorrelation, and a pattern in the residuals of abundance, indicating no trends as well as temporal fluctuations that suggest a possible carrying capacity effect. Accordingly, high site fidelity, restricted ranging patterns, and low sporadic recruitment from the superpopulation are likely driving population parameters for this population. Full text and PDF versions are available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mms.12897 <https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mms.12897> 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

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