December 2021 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Editorial Board Search at Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment
by Richard Wallace 07 Dec '21

07 Dec '21

Hello Marmam, We are seeking to fill at least one slot (possibly more) with a specialist in marine mammal science and conservation. All info below. Thanks! Rich Wallace (he/him) Editor-in-Chief, Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment Ecological Society of America [Ecological Society of America logo]<https://www.esa.org/> Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment Seeks to Expand its Editorial Board with An Open Call for Editorial Board Members December 2021 The Ecological Society of America's top-ranked journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment seeks a diverse group of scholars to help expand its existing editorial board. Frontiers publishes cutting-edge interdisciplinary science, and prides itself on clear, accessible language and broad appeal to a diverse international audience. Frontiers' content is renowned for its value to scientists, resource managers, policy makers, teachers, students, and many others in applied science and conservation. Frontiers' editorial board members, also known as associate editors, serve as the journal's subject-matter experts. Their principal responsibilities are to assess manuscripts, assign reviewers to vet manuscripts deemed appropriate for review, and ultimately make recommendations to the editor-in-chief (EiC) based on their own assessment and the reviewers' comments. Frontiers values diversity in all its forms. As an ESA journal, Frontiers welcomes and encourages participation by all individuals regardless of age, culture, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, national origin, physical or mental difference, politics, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or subculture. In our efforts to expand and build a broadly representative editorial board, Frontiers is actively seeking a wide applicant pool that is diverse in geography, nationality, culture, race and ethnicity, gender identity and expression, and areas of expertise. Frontiers especially encourages applications from members of groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in academic publishing. For information on how to apply, please see the application details in the attached pdf or visit ESA's Careers page: https://www.esa.org/career-development/opportunities-at-esa/. For more information on Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, go here: https://www.esa.org/frontiers-in-ecology-and-the-environment/.

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ECS ASHDOD 2022
by conference2022＠europeancetaceansociety.eu 07 Dec '21

07 Dec '21

Hello, Please send the following message to MARMAM mailing list with the subject - ECS ASHDOD 2022 - Abstract submission is now open! thank you ECS ASHDOD organizing committee The European Cetacean Society's 33rd annual conference is accepting abstracts! Workshop submission deadline - 20.12.21 Abstract submission deadline - 1.1.22 The upcoming ECS conference will take place in Ashdod, Israel on 5-7 April 2022. The conference will be hybrid, allowing participation and presentations from all around the world! As guidance, we'd like to reiterate the conference theme so that your proposed posters and presentations fit the scope of the conference. Marine mammal research and conservation effort – are we on the right path? Marine Mammalian research dates back to the 1940s, with the first underwater recordings, tracking attempts and biological scans. Since then, our research questions have grown by leaps and bounds, and new directions are exponentially changing the face of the field. In the interest of the mammals themselves, we have to pause every so often to ask if our efforts are working... Are these megafaunas and their habitats being conserved and properly managed? Are we asking the right questions in order to present the best information to decision makers? In this upcoming conference, we challenge the approaches to date and the prescient new directions in marine mammal science in hopes of engaging scientists in a debate over the future of conservation studies. Visit our website for more information - https://www.europeancetaceansociety.eu/conference/ecs-conference-2022-ashdo… ECS ASHDOD 2022 Organizing team

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Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) Operator Course in British Columbia (February/March 2022)
by Edgewise Environmental 07 Dec '21

07 Dec '21

The Edgewise Environmental Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) Operator course is a comprehensive program that focuses on passive acoustic mitigation processes of marine environmental projects that may impact marine mammals. Our upcoming PAM course in BC consists of 3 weeks of online theory (February 10 - March 4), with two in-person sessions taking place at the end on March 3rd and 4th in Victoria, BC. Visit our website https://www.edgewiseenvironmental.com/training/passive-acoustic-monitoring-… for further information on our PAM course, such as the learning outcomes, course syllabus, and pricing packages. Registration is now open and can be completed through our website. Edgewise also offers a variety of other training programs, including Canada-Marine Mammal Observer. Our full course calendar for 2022 can be found here: https://www.edgewiseenvironmental.com/events/ If you have any questions please reach out to info(a)edgewiseenvironmental.com -- Edgewise Team Edgewise Environmental Ltd. St. John's, NL, Canada phone: 1 (709) 770-0492 info(a)edgewiseenvironmental.com www.edgewiseenvironmental.com [image: Facebook icon] <https://www.facebook.com/edgewiseenvironmental> [image: LinkedIn icon] <https://www.linkedin.com/company/edgewise-environmental/> [image: Twitter icon] <https://twitter.com/edgewiseNL> [image: Instagram icon] <https://www.instagram.com/edgewiseenvironmental> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: *The contents of this email message and any attachments are intended solely for the addressee(s) and may contain confidential and/or privileged information and may be legally protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient of this message or their agent, or if this message has been addressed to you in error, please immediately alert the sender by reply email and then delete this message and any attachments. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, dissemination, copying, or storage of this message or its attachments is strictly prohibited. *

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Protected Resources Job Opportunity
by Jon Kurland - NOAA Federal 06 Dec '21

06 Dec '21

NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region, Protected Resources Division, is advertising to fill a Marine Mammal Specialist position, ZP-2 (GS 7/9 equivalent) or ZP-3 (GS 11/12 equivalent). The division is responsible for the conservation and recovery of marine mammals including whales, fur seals, ice seals, harbor seals, and Steller sea lions. The position will be located either in Anchorage or Juneau. The person hired for this job will work in a team environment to conduct analyses and implement conservation actions to promote the management and recovery of protected species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The job primarily involves conducting consultations with other federal agencies under section 7 of the ESA to assess and minimize impacts to listed species, with opportunities for engagement in other marine mammal conservation activities. We're looking for someone with excellent project management, analytical, writing, and verbal communication skills, and hopefully having experience with the MMPA and ESA. The announcements are posted at www.usajobs.gov and open through December 24. Please encourage qualified people to apply. The job is posted three ways: ZP-3 Direct Hire, #NMFS-AKR-2022-0001 <https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/625329900> (all qualified US citizens or nationals) ZP-2 MAP, #NMFS-AKR-2022-0004 <https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/625334500> (current or former federal civilian employees who hold or held non-temporary appointments in the competitive service) ZP-2 DE, #NMFS-AKR-2022-0003 <https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/625330400> (all qualified US citizens or nationals) Anyone who has questions about the job should feel free to contact Greg Balogh (greg.balogh(a)noaa.gov) or me. Please forward this email to others who may be interested. Thanks! Jon Kurland (pronouns: he/him/his) Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected Resources NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region Office: 907-586-7638 Mobile: 907-321-4377 www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/alaska

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Job: Programmer/Technician
by Emma Dvorak 06 Dec '21

06 Dec '21

Integrated Statistics is looking for a Programmer/Technician to support the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Marine Mammals Management (MMM) program in Alaska. This person will support research and analyses related to northern sea otter population management in Alaska, including assisting with the implementation and analysis of a photo-based aerial survey strategy to provide an updated estimate of northern sea otter population size and distribution across southeast Alaska. To provide updated information to guide management strategies with stakeholders across southeast Alaska, USFWS MMM is developing new methods for photo-based aerial surveys. The methodologies include the use of an integrated digital camera platform to collect georeferenced images, the application of coding strategies such as machine learning, deep learning, and/or other artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to streamline image processing, and incorporation of the processed data into population models. *Duties* The position duties include: * Develop an understanding of population survey methods and objectives, and then work closely with the sea otter team to implement solutions that meet those objectives. * Gain familiarity with the operation of the camera platform for collecting digital images along transect lines during sea otter surveys. * Assist with the collection, review, compilation, and analysis of georeferenced imagery data. * Develop computer programs that streamline image processing strategies: 1. Assist with development of post-processing strategies to manage the collected imagery, including rotating, aligning, and editing images 2. Facilitate development of computer algorithms to distinguish sea otters (and other wildlife) from image background such as ocean waters and coastline 3. Develop a computer algorithm to count sea otters using an automated approach. *Qualifications, Skills, and Experience* * B.S. or B.A. degree in computer science, data science, scientific programming, geospatial science, remote sensing, or biological science/environmental science with an emphasis on data science. Work experience may potentially be substituted for this requirement. * Demonstrated proficiency in Python coding is required. * Photogrammetry experience, including the ability to work with georeferenced imagery and to view, manage, and organize images in ArcGIS, Agisoft, and/or other software is required. * Experience with Tensorflow and/or other ML software and coding languages is desirable. * Familiarity with wildlife population survey design and/or strategies to automate the process of object detection from digital images is desirable. * Ability to organize and manage big data sets through the use of database software on internal networks and online platforms is desirable. * Demonstrated experience working with GIS data in either ArcMap or ArcGIS Pro is desirable. * Ability to work collaboratively and take constructive criticism. * US Citizenship is required. COVID-19 vaccination is required. Must pass a government-administered background investigation in order to be granted access to government IT systems. * Ability and willingness to at least visit USFWS offices in Anchorage and participate in some field work activities is required. The position starts in December 2021 and is expected to last until October 31, 2022. The rate of pay is $24.01 and the position is eligible for the benefits described on the Integrated Statistics website. While much of the work can be completed remotely, visits to Anchorage are required. Integrated Statistics is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Consistent with its obligations under federal law, Integrated Statistics is committed to taking affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified women, minorities, disabled individuals, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam era, and other eligible veterans. For assistance with accessibility of applications, posters, forms, and/or documents, please email the Integrated Statistics office. -- Integrated Statistics, Inc. 16 Sumner Street Woods Hole, MA 02543 Cell: (508) 648-8308 Office: (508) 540-8560 Fax: (508) 721-6841

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New publication on gray whale body condition
by Adrianne Akmajian 06 Dec '21

06 Dec '21

Dear Colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to share our new publication, "Body condition of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) feeding on the Pacific Coast reflects local and basinwide environmental drivers and biological parameters" published in the Journal of Cetacean Research and Management, volume 22. The paper and supplementary materials are Open Access and free to download here: https://archive.iwc.int/?r=18973 Abstract A small subset of the Eastern North Pacific gray whale population does not make the full migration from wintering grounds in Mexico to feeding grounds in the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort seas and instead feed along the Pacific Coast between northern California and northern British Columbia. This group is known as the Pacific Coast Feeding Group (PCFG). We evaluated the body condition of PCFG whales observed in northern Washington and along Vancouver Island to evaluate how body condition of gray whales changes within and between years. We found that PCFG gray whales improve in body condition through the feeding season and at varying rates by year and that they have variability in their body condition at the start and end of each feeding season. The inclusion of environmental factors, particularly the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, drastically improved the ability of regression models to predict average whale body condition for a given year as compared to models without environmental factors included. A comparison of our findings to a previously published study on body condition of gray whales at Sakhalin Island, Russia highlight the differences between these two distinct feeding groups. Whales feeding at Sakhalin Island gain body condition quicker and more predictably to a good body condition by the end of the feeding season than the whales we studied in the PCFG. This method of visual photographic assessment may be an effective method for monitoring the effects of climate change on PCFG gray whales. Adrianne Akmajian Marine Ecologist, Makah Fisheries Management marine.ecologist(a)makah.com (360) 645-3079 (Office)

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New publication: Soundscape and ambient noise levels of the Arctic waters around Greenland
by Michael Ladegaard 06 Dec '21

06 Dec '21

Dear MARMAM subscribers and colleagues, We are pleased to announce the publication of our new study titled: Soundscape and ambient noise levels of the Arctic waters around Greenland Michael Ladegaard, Jamie Macaulay, Malene Simon, Kristin L. Laidre, Aleksandrina Mitseva, Simone Videsen, Michael Bjerre Pedersen, Jakob Tougaard & Peter Teglberg Madsen Scientific Reports 11, article 23360 (2021) https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-02255-6 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-02255-6 The motivation for doing the study was to establish a base line for the ambient noise levels around Greenland, as the Arctic environment is likely to see considerable changes in the near future. Human encroachment, which is enhanced by the retreating polar ice cap, is likely to result in increased anthropogenic noise emissions, but to monitor changes in noise pollution it is key to establish base lines for future comparison. Here we quantify the ambient noise levels recorded at 26 stations off the Greenland coast. The recording stations provide a large geographical coverage that includes Melville Bay, Baffin Bay and Davis Strait, Southern Greenland, the North Atlantic Ocean off Tasiilaq and the Greenland Sea. The underwater sounds were recorded for durations up to a year at a time so that the soundscapes (i.e. the acoustic environments created by a multitude of different sound sources) could be investigated and compared across seasons and geographic areas. The analysed data consists of ~17 TB of recordings that were sampled at 8, 16 or 32 kHz either continuously or in duty cycles. In addition to our quantifications of ambient noise levels in various frequency bands, we also applied a set of generic detectors in order broadly describe the soundscape and main sound sources. The detectors were set up to find different transients (e.g. seismic airgun pulses, ice-generated transients, and toothed whale echolocation clicks) and tonal sounds (e.g. marine mammal communication sounds and squeaking ice noises). Our study highlights the large noise fluctuations in the Arctic marine environment and we further show that generic detectors serve as a highly useful tool for describing main sound sources in the environment. For example, bearded seals could be vocally highly active for weeks or months at a time without being markedly noticeable from the ambient noise level analysis, however, the tonal detectors readily discovered this key biological feature of the soundscape. The paper is published as 'open access' and can be downloaded using the link above. On behalf of the authors, Michael Ladegaard Abstract A longer Arctic open water season is expected to increase underwater noise levels due to anthropogenic activities such as shipping, seismic surveys, sonar, and construction. Many Arctic marine mammal species depend on sound for communication, navigation, and foraging, therefore quantifying underwater noise levels is critical for documenting change and providing input to management and legislation. Here we present long-term underwater sound recordings from 26 deployments around Greenland from 2011 to 2020. Ambient noise was analysed in third octave and decade bands and further investigated using generic detectors searching for tonal and transient sounds. Ambient noise levels partly overlap with previous Arctic observations, however we report much lower noise levels than previously documented, specifically for Melville Bay and the Greenland Sea. Consistent seasonal noise patterns occur in Melville Bay, Baffin Bay and Greenland Sea, with noise levels peaking in late summer and autumn correlating with open water periods and seismic surveys. These three regions also had similar tonal detection patterns that peaked in May/June, likely due to bearded seal vocalisations. Biological activity was more readily identified using detectors rather than band levels. We encourage additional research to quantify proportional noise contributions from geophysical, biological, and anthropogenic sources in Arctic waters.

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New paper: Risso's dolphin's perform spin dive for deep foraging
by fvisser＠kelpmarineresearch.com 06 Dec '21

06 Dec '21

Dear all, My co-authors and I are happy to announce our paper on a spin dive performed by Risso's dolphins that they specifically enables them to very quickly reach deep prey layers. Their foraging dive starts with a rapid spin, a the surface, and reaches 300-600 m deep. Off the Azores, Risso's dolphin foraging depth also directly traced the depth of the deep scattering layer, foraging deep during the day and shallow at night. Link to the paper: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.202320 ABSTRACT Foraging decisions of deep-diving cetaceans can provide fundamental insight into food web dynamics of the deep pelagic ocean. Cetacean optimal foraging entails a tight balance between oxygen-conserving dive strategies and access to deep-dwelling prey of sufficient energetic reward. Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus) displayed a thus far unknown dive strategy, which we termed the spin dive. Dives started with intense stroking and right-sided lateral rotation. This remarkable behaviour resulted in a rapid descent. By tracking the fine-scale foraging behaviour of seven tagged individuals, matched with prey layer recordings, we tested the hypothesis that spin dives are foraging dives targeting deep-dwelling prey. Hunting depth traced the diel movement of the deep scattering layer, a dense aggregation of prey, that resides deep during the day and near-surface at night. Individuals shifted their foraging strategy from deep spin dives to shallow non-spin dives around dusk. Spin dives were significantly faster, steeper and deeper than non-spin dives, effectively minimizing transit time to bountiful mesopelagic prey, and were focused on periods when the migratory prey might be easier to catch. Hence, whereas Risso's dolphins were mostly shallow, nocturnal foragers, their spin dives enabled extended and rewarding diurnal foraging on deep-dwelling prey. Reference Fleur Visser, Onno A. Keller, Machiel G. Oudejans, Douglas P. Nowacek, Annebelle C.M. Kok, Jef Huisman and Elisabeth H.M. Sterck Risso’s dolphins perform spin dives to target deep-dwelling prey Royal Society Open Science 1 dec 2021 https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.202320 All the best, Fleur

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New publication on microplastic exposure of whales in the Hauraki Gulf (New Zealand)
by Zantis, L.J. (Laura Julia) 06 Dec '21

06 Dec '21

Dear MARMAM colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I am excited to share our new publication. We measured the microplastic exposure of Bryde’s and Sei whales in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand and inferred whether this exposure comes from the environment or the food. Zantis L.J., Bosker T., Lawler F., Nelms S.E., O’Rorke R., Constantine R., Sewell M. and E.L. Carroll, 2021. Assessing microplastic exposure of large marine filter-feeders. Science of the Total Environment, 151815, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151815 Abstract: Large filter-feeding animals are potential sentinels for understanding the extent of microplastic pollution, as their mode of foraging and prey mean they are continuously sampling the environment. However, there is considerable uncertainty about the total and mode of exposure (environmental vs trophic). Here, we explore microplastic exposure and ingestion by baleen whales feeding year-round in coastal Auckland waters, New Zealand. Plastic and DNA were extracted concurrently from whale scat, with 32 ± 24 (mean ± SD, n = 21) microplastics per 6 g scat sample detected. Using a novel stochastic simulation modeling incorporating new and previously published DNA diet information, we extrapolate this to total microplastic exposure levels of 24,028 (95% CI: 2119, 69,270) microplastics per mouthful of prey, or 3,408,002 microplastics (95% CI: 295,810, 10,031,370) per day, substantially higher than previous estimates for large filter-feeding animals. Critically, we find that the total exposure is four orders of magnitude more than expected from microplastic measurements of local coastal surface waters. This suggests that trophic transfer, rather than environmental exposure, is the predominant mode of exposure of large filter feeders for microplastic pollution. Measuring plastic concentration from the environment alone significantly underestimates exposure levels, an important consideration for future risk assessment studies. Full text and PDF are available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969721068911?via%3Di… Please feel free to contact me at zantislaurajulia(a)gmail.com<mailto:zantislaurajulia@gmail.com> if you have any questions or comments, or would like a copy of the PDF. Best wishes, Laura Zantis PhD Candidate, Department of Environmental Biology Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) | Leiden University e: l.j.zantis(a)cml.leidenuniv.nl<mailto:l.j.zantis@cml.leidenuniv.nl> | t: @ZantisLaura w: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/staffmembers/laura-julia-zantis

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New paper on Kerguelan Plateau cetaceans (and birds) in relation to oceanographic features in Polar Biology
by Dr. Victoria Todd 06 Dec '21

06 Dec '21

Dear marmam list subscribers, Drs. Victoria Todd & Laura Williamson at Ocean Science Consulting are pleased to announce publication of our latest paper: Todd, V.L.G., and Williamson, L.D. (2021): Cetacean distribution in relation to oceanographic features at the Kerguelen Plateau. Polar Biology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-021-02977-3 Abstract The Kerguelen Plateau in the south-eastern Indian Ocean is one of the most isolated and understudied regions on earth. As part of the Kerguelen Plateau Drifts project, Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) data were collected during a seismic survey in the austral summer (January-February 2020). Relationships between observation effort, cetacean sightings, seismic operations, and oceanographic variables-including bathymetry (depth and slope), nutrient concentrations, and indices of primary productivity-were investigated using Generalized Additive Models (GAMs). In total, 354 h and 45 min of observation effort resulted in 191 cetaceans (178 adults and at least 13 juveniles) of nine species observed on 48 occasions, over 14 days along the transect line. Marine mammal sightings occurred in water depths of 624-4699 m, with a hotspot of sightings recorded along the northern flank of the Kerguelen Plateau, in proximity to shelf edges. There was one sighting of a mixed pod of Kerguelen Commerson's dolphins (Cephalorhynchus commersonii kerguelenensis) and dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus), which to the best of our knowledge, is the first confirmed sighting of dusky dolphins in the Kerguelen Islands. Of the nine cetacean species observed, no niche separation was apparent, and all species were observed throughout the survey area. Dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll-a were the most significant predictors of cetacean occurrence. Systematic MMO data combined with synoptic satellite-derived/empirical oceanographic metadata have great potential to facilitate understanding of behaviour, geographical range, and population-status monitoring of cetaceans. This is especially important for cetacean stock assessment and minimising potential acoustic disturbance in Antarctic ecosystems. Kind regards, -- Dr. Victoria Todd Managing Director Ocean Science Consulting Limited (OSC) Spott Road, Dunbar, East Lothian, EH42 1RR, Scotland, UK T: +44 (0)1368 865 722 W: www.osc.co.uk<http://www.osc.co.uk/> Check out my latest papers on: Cetaceans & oceanography: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-021-02977-3 Ecosystem modelling: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2021.105098 Acoustic Deterrent Devices: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112171 ROVs: https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsaa245 Underwater-noise: https://asa.scitation.org/doi/abs/10.1121/10.0002958 MMO or PAM requirement? We wrote the book available on Amazon: www.marinemammalobserverhandbook.com<http://www.marinemammalobserverhandbook.com/>

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