March 2021 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Access to free Webinar of the European Cetacean Society 2021
by Webeditor ECS 10 Mar '21

10 Mar '21

Dear all, We hope this message finds you well. As previously announced, the ECS WEBINAR will take place between 15th and the 19th March 2021; in less than a week! We are delighted to share with you the FINAL PROGRAM of the webinar with detailed information of the presentations (including abstracts). <https://www.europeancetaceansociety.eu/ecs-webinar-2021> https://www.europeancetaceansociety.eu/ecs-webinar-2021 The webinar is open to everyone and no registration is needed. It will be hosted by the ECS using ZOOM WEBINAR. To get access to the webinar, please send an email to webinar2021(a)europeancetaceansociety.eu <mailto:webinar2021@europeancetaceansociety.eu> . The presentations will be recorded and posted online to render them accessible to a wider audience after the event, unless indicated otherwise by those presenters who may be sharing some sensitive material (e.g., unpublished data). Sincerely yours, ECS Council -- Apologies for cross-posting

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New publication on humpback whale resting behaviour
by Takashi Iwata 09 Mar '21

09 Mar '21

My colleagues and I are pleased to announce the publication of the following paper: Using an omnidirectional video logger to observe the underwater life of marine animals: Humpback whale resting behaviour. Takashi Iwata, Martin Biuw, Kagari Aoki, Patrick J. O. Miller, and Katsufumi Sato. (2021) Behavioural Processes. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376635721000565 Abstract Animal-borne video loggers are powerful tools for investigating animal behaviour because they directly record immediate and extended peripheral animal activities; however, typical video loggers capture only a limited area on one side of an animal being monitored owing to their narrow field of view. Here, we investigated the resting behaviour of humpback whales using an animal-borne omnidirectional video camera combined with a behavioural data logger. In the video logger footage, two non-tagged resting individuals, which did not spread their flippers or move their flukes, were observed above a tagged animal, representing an apparent bout of group resting. During the video logger recording, the swim speed was relatively slow (0.75 m s−1), and the tagged animal made only a few strokes of very low amplitude during drift diving. We report the drift dives as resting behaviour specific to baleen whales as same as seals, sperm whales and loggerhead turtles. Overall, our study shows that an omnidirectional video logger is a valuable tool for interpreting animal ecology with improved accuracy owing to its ability to record a wide field of view. This is an open-access paper. You can download it free. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376635721000565 Kind regards, Takashi Iwata, Ph.D -- Takashi Iwata (Ph.D) Graduate School of Maritime Sciences, Kobe University 5-1-1 Fukaeminamimachi, Higashinada, Kobe, Hyogo, 658-0022, JAPAN Tel: +81 78 4316323 E-mail1: iwatatakashi(a)gmail.com E-mail2: iwata(a)panda.kobe-u.ac.jp URL:https://iwatatakashi.wixsite.com/tiwata-en URL:http://researchmap.jp/iwatatakashi/?lang=english -----

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Reminder - Survey on photo-ID data management
by PhotoID Survey 09 Mar '21

09 Mar '21

*Reminder* Thank you all for your responses to our survey so far, we appreciate your time. This is a reminder for those that may have missed the initial post. If you haven’t had the chance yet, please consider providing a response at the survey link below. The survey will be available through Sunday, March 14, 2021. Thank you! Greetings, We are reaching out to the greater marine mammal research community to better understand photo-ID data archival challenges and how you all manage these challenges. Some challenges include the availability of and access to well-supported archival platforms that provide multi-decadal stability, access to image processing and analysis tools, and cross-collaborative data-sharing functions. Other concerns may be related to public accessibility, proper attribution for catalog curators and funding sources, and the registering of persistent identifiers (e.g., DOIs) for archives. We encourage all marine mammal researchers who manage photo-ID data collections to respond to the survey link below. The survey will only take a few minutes to complete and it is anonymous. The results will be used to inform a presentation submitted to the Society for Marine Mammalogy Biennial Conference in December 2021. Please feel free to forward the survey link to other marine mammal researchers. If applicable, kindly coordinate with your team to avoid duplicative responses. The survey will be available for responses until Sunday, March 14, 2021. Link: https://forms.gle/ND8MKvCkWKGpcS3b7 We appreciate your help and interest. For questions or technical issues related to the survey please contact photoidsurvey(a)gmail.com. Annie Gorgone, Cascadia Research Collective Errol Ronje, NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information

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New publication: Characterization and comparison of echolocation clicks of white-beaked dolphins (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) off the Northumberland coast, UK.
by Liangliang YANG 09 Mar '21

09 Mar '21

Dear Marmamers, We are pleased to share our recent publication: Yang L, Sharpe M, Temple AJ, Berggren P (2021) Characterization and comparison of echolocation clicks of white-beaked dolphins (*Lagenorhynchus albirostris*) off the Northumberland coast, UK. J Acoust Soc Am 149:1498-1506. The paper is available at: https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0003560 and https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349826918_Characterization_and_com… *Abstract*: Odontocetes produce ultrasonic clicks for navigation and foraging. These are commonly categorized as regular or buzz clicks based on the inter-click interval. Buzz clicks are linked to foraging behaviors and may be subdivided into slow buzz clicks for prey chase, and regular buzz clicks for prey capture. This study recorded these three click types produced by white-beaked dolphins (*Lagenorhynchus albirostris*) off the Northumberland coast, UK. Acoustic parameters (including duration, centroid frequency, and root-mean-squared bandwidth) were calculated and compared across the three click types. The results showed that the regular clicks had shorter durations and higher frequencies than both the buzz click types. The regular buzz clicks had longer durations, lower frequencies, and narrower bandwidths than the slow buzz clicks. Additionally, regardless of click type, about 30% of the clicks had high-frequency (200–250 kHz) secondary peaks and >90% of the clicks displayed spectral peak and notch patterns between 20 and 80 kHz. These findings are useful for future quantitative assessment of the echolocation performance of white-beaked dolphins in the wild. The patterns of spectral peaks and notches identified may facilitate for acoustic identification of this species. If you have any questions, please feel free to email: yllxmu(a)gmail.com or per.berggren(a)newcastle.ac.uk. Best regards, Dr Liangliang Yang (on behalf of all authors) School of Natural and Environmental Sciences Newcastle University, UK

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Permanent Passive Acoustics Monitoring Operator (PAMO) position OSC
by Sophie Cox 08 Mar '21

08 Mar '21

Dear Marmam Members, Ocean Science Consulting Limited<https://www.osc.co.uk/> (OSC) seeks to expand its UK-based team. This is a rare opportunity for permanent, full-time employment as an experienced Passive Acoustic Monitoring<https://www.osc.co.uk/services/passive-acoustic-monitoring-pam/> Operator (PAMO). Applicants must be technically minded and capable of configuring, troubleshooting, operating, deploying, recovering, and servicing, PAM and other scientific equipment/instrumentation, e.g. noise recorders<https://www.osc.co.uk/services/acoustic-measurements/>, C-PODs<https://www.osc.co.uk/services/t-pod-c-pod-click-detectors/>, acoustic releases and Acoustic Deterrent Devices<https://www.osc.co.uk/services/acoustic-mitigation-devices-3/> (ADDs) aka "seal scarers". Full job description: http://www.osc.co.uk/careers<http://www.osc.co.uk/careers/> Please send your CV and cover letter to : admin(a)osc.co.uk<mailto:admin@osc.co.uk>. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Deadline: 1 April 2021 Kind regards, -- Sophie Cox Junior Consultant Ocean Science Consulting Limited (OSC) Spott Road, Dunbar, East Lothian, EH42 1RR, Scotland, UK M: +44 (0)7974 135 788 T: +44 (0)1368 865 722 W: www.osc.co.uk . MMO or PAM requirement? We wrote the book. Now available on Amazon: www.marinemammalobserverhandbook.com

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SMM Editor’s Select Series for March 11: Impact of warm water anomalies on Guadalupe fur seal foraging habitat
by Student Members-at-Large Society for Marine Mammalogy 07 Mar '21

07 Mar '21

Greetings MARMAM! We invite everyone to join us this *Thursday, March 11, 2021 from 8-9:30PM (EST)* for the Society for Marine Mammalogy Editor's Select Series event:* Impact of warm water anomalies on Guadalupe fur seal foraging habitat* *The SMM Seminar Editor's Select Series highlights the latest and most exciting marine mammal science published in the Marine Mammal Science Journal. This is your chance to engage with marine mammal scientists, learn and ask questions from anywhere in the world. All are welcome. * *About this talk: *The Guadalupe fur seal (GFS), currently is recovering from near extinction. As this species continues to recover, it is important to understand how its foraging success may be affected by warm water and other oceanographic anomalies in the northeastern Pacific. We assessed the foraging ecology of the GFS over a period that was characterized by normal (2013) ocean temperatures followed by warm conditions (2014–2016). We used scat analysis to identify differences in GFS prey between 2013 and anomalous years. The most important prey species among these years was the jumbo squid, followed by the neon flying squid during warmer years. An additional analysis based on stable isotope suggested a broader northerly or offshore foraging areas during these anomalous conditions. Our findings are an important step toward better understanding the impacts of climate change on the recovery of the GFS *About the Presenter:* Maria Jose Amador-Capitanachi is an MSc student at the Instituto Politécnico Nacional The event is free to attend but registration is required. You can register for the talk on Zoom here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_63ShGwXDTsqkzJBh4q73lw Or join us on Facebook like on our page here: https://www.facebook.com/marinemammalogy Looking forward to an exciting presentation! Best regards, -- Eric Angel Ramos, Ph.D. Candidate *Ayça Eleman, Ph.D. *Candidate *Theresa-Anne Tatom-Naecker, Ph.D. Student* *Student Members-at-Large* Society for Marine Mammalogy SMM Students: https://www.marinemammalscience.org/for-students/ Check us out on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/marinemammalogy/ <http://www.facebook.com/events/1060310684008883/>

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WDC North America Science and Conservation Internships
by Monica Pepe 06 Mar '21

06 Mar '21

In an effort to make the marine mammal conservation field accessible to all, Whale and Dolphin Conservation’s North American office is excited to offer two new internship opportunities for 2021. These internships are introductory and best suited for anyone who is considering a career in marine conservation but doesn’t yet have practical experience. Full details on both positions and application instructions can be found on our website at http://bit.ly/2Sr8SQi Part-time science internships: Interns will gain transferable skills that are applicable to a wide range of scientific studies, regardless of the study subject, including protocols associated with field data collection, species and individual identification, and data processing. As a part-time internship, this position was specifically designed to allow interns the option to hold a paying job outside of their internship. Fieldwork (pending COVID-19 restrictions) will be based out of our office in Plymouth, MA. The deadline to apply is March 14th. Full-time conservation internships: This opportunity will provide interns with transferable job skills and insight to the inner workings of a non-profit focused on the conservation of marine mammals. Interns will build a strong set of skills working on projects related to public outreach (including formal and informal education), communications, and fundraising. This is a seasonal, temporary position for 2021. Because these positions are paid, candidates must be able to demonstrate that they are legally eligible to work in the U.S. We will consider both in-person and remote candidates for the two available positions. The deadline to apply is March 31st. Diverse candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for both of these positions. Whale and Dolphin Conservation embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We recognize that the field of marine mammal research and conservation lacks diversity, including within our own organization. WDC is dedicated to creating inclusive opportunities which represent diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. Monica Pepe Policy Manager Conservation and Education Pronouns: she, her, hers Telephone: +1 508 746 2522 WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation 7 Nelson Street Plymouth, MA 02360-4044 United States whales.org<http://whales.org> [WDC - Protecting Whales and Dolphins for over 30 years]<https://whales.org> [WDC on Facebook]<https://www.facebook.com/uswhalesorg> [WDC North America on Twitter] <https://www.twitter.com/whales_org> [WDC on Instagram] <https://www.instagram.com/whales_org> [WDC on YouTube] <https://www.youtube.com/whalesorg> [WDC Blogs] <https://us.whales.org/category/news/> [WDC E-Newsletter] <https://us.whales.org/> [WDC on GuideStar]<https://www.guidestar.org/profile/02-0749188>

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New Publication: Endangered predators and endangered prey: Seasonal diet of Southern Resident killer whales
by Brad Hanson 05 Mar '21

05 Mar '21

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of the following article: Endangered predators and endangered prey: seasonal diet of Southern Resident killer whales. Hanson, M.B., C.K. Emmons, M.J. Ford, M. Everett, K. Parsons, L.K. Park, J. Hempelmann, D.M. Van Doornik, G.S. Schorr, J.K. Jacobsen, M.F. Sears, M.S. Sears, J.G. Sneva, R.W. Baird, L. Barre. 2021. PLoS ONE 16(3): e0247031. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0247031 ABSTRACT Understanding diet is critical for conservation of endangered predators. Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) (/Orcinus orca/) are an endangered population occurring primarily along the outer coast and inland waters of Washington and British Columbia. Insufficient prey has been identified as a factor limiting their recovery, so a clear understanding of their seasonal diet is a high conservation priority. Previous studies have shown that their summer diet in inland waters consists primarily of Chinook salmon (/Oncorhynchus tshawytscha/), despite that species’ rarity compared to some other salmonids. During other times of the year, when occurrence patterns include other portions of their range, their diet remains largely unknown. To address this data gap, we collected feces and prey remains from October to May 2004-2017 in both the Salish Sea and outer coast waters. Using visual and genetic species identification for prey remains and genetic approaches for fecal samples, we characterized the diet of the SRKWs in fall, winter, and spring. Chinook salmon were identified as an important prey item year-round, averaging ~50% of their diet in the fall, increasing to 70-80% in the mid-winter/early spring, and increasing to nearly 100% in the spring. Other salmon species and non-salmonid fishes, also made substantial dietary contributions. The relatively high species diversity in winter suggested a possible lack of Chinook salmon, probably due to seasonally lower densities, based on SRKW’s proclivity to selectively consume this species in other seasons. A wide diversity of Chinook salmon stocks were consumed, many of which are also at risk. Although outer coast Chinook samples included 14 stocks, four rivers systems accounted for over 90% of samples, predominantly the Columbia River. Increasing the abundance of Chinook salmon stocks that inhabit the whales’ winter range may be an effective conservation strategy for this population. The open-access article can be downloaded from https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0247031 <https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0247031> Any additional questions can be directed to me via email at brad.hanson(a)noaa.gov <mailto:brad.hanson@noaa.gov> Sincerely, Brad Hanson -- =========================================================== M. Bradley Hanson, Ph.D. NOAA/NMFS/Northwest Fisheries Science Center 2725 Montlake Blvd. E Seattle, WA 98112

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Theodolite/Data Collection Systems
by Kayla A. Scheimreif 05 Mar '21

05 Mar '21

Hello, Please see my MARMAM mailing list submission below: I'm interested in hearing about folks' theodolite/data collection systems for tracking cetaceans. I'm especially interested in Pythagoras, systems for freezing temperature/high light conditions, and techniques for tracking individual whales/linking up sightings. Any information would be much appreciated - and I hope to be able to share what we have learned after future field work. Many thanks. Best, Kayla Scheimreif Wildlife Biologist North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management PO Box 69 Utqiagvik, AK 99723 (907) 852-0350 - office (207) 975-6440 - cell

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Job opening: Environmental Specialist - Fisheries
by Emma Dvorak 05 Mar '21

05 Mar '21

Environmental Specialist - Fisheries Integrated Statistics is looking for an Environmental Specialist to work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), which administers NOAA's programs in the Northeastern United States to manage living marine resources for optimum use. NMFS’s Protected Resources Division (PRD) is dedicated to managing, conserving, and rebuilding populations of marine mammals and endangered and threatened marine and anadromous species in rivers, bays, estuaries, and marine waters of the Northeast. The Environmental Specialist will work closely with the Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Program within PRD, which implements conservation programs for endangered and protected marine mammals and sea turtles. The Environmental Specialist assists in the implementation of conservation programs to reduce interactions between commercial fisheries and the North Atlantic right whale under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Tasks include assisting in the development and implementation of policies and analyses to support the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan and the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team. This may also include assisting in the development of analyses related to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. * This position is concerned with regulatory and analytical processes, and does not involve field research.* *Duties* The specific tasks include: * Assisting in the development and implementation of policies and regulations under the MMPA's take reduction process, including efforts to reduce entanglements of North Atlantic right whales in commercial fisheries. * Assisting in the preparation of environmental impact statement and associated analyses related to reducing protected species bycatch in commercial fisheries including developing supporting analyses pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and other relevant statutes and policies. * Conducting analyses and other preparatory work for meetings of Take Reduction Teams, and particularly the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team. * As needed, assisting in conducting analyses to support efforts to implement Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. * Helping to create mitigation measures associated with emerging threats outside of the take reduction process, including consulting on the impact of Exempted Fishing Permit projects on protected species. *Qualifications* * A Bachelor’s or higher degree in marine science, fisheries science, environmental management, natural resource management, marine policy, ecology, public policy, or a related field of study. * A demonstrated understanding of policies, regulations, and processes for fisheries and protected species management, particularly those related to marine species listed under the Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Magnuson-Stevens Act and other Atlantic Coastal Acts, and environmental analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act or other appropriate legislation. * At least three years of specialized work experience in marine environmental regulatory or policy analysis. * Excellent communication skills. A writing sample may be requested. * Ability to work independently, and to meet appropriate project milestones. * US citizenship or green card. * Familiarity with R, ArcGIS, and other analytical tools. Familiarity with LINUX/UNIX is a plus but not required. The position is expected to last approximately 18 months. The position is eligible for the benefits described on the Integrated Statistics website. To apply for this position, go to https://jobs.intstats.com/JobDetails.jsp?jobListingId=277 or visit www.integratedstatistics.com, click Employment Opportunities, click the job name and click the Apply Here link. 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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