April 2021 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New paper reconstructing cephalopod prey communities of cetacean deep divers - Cuvier's beaked whale and Risso's dolphin
by fvisser＠kelpmarineresearch.com 06 Apr '21

06 Apr '21

Dear Marmam, My co-authors and I are happy to announce the publication of our paper: Deep-sea predator niche segregation revealed by combined cetacean biologging and eDNA analysis of cephalopod prey, in Science Advances. Link (open access): https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/7/14/eabf5908 We combined Dtag data with eDNA analysis of cephalopods in the whale foraging zones and find that, while the Risso's dolphin and Cuviers beaked whale have discrete foraging zones, they target comparable prey communities. As many squid migrate to deeper waters as they mature, Cuvier's beaked whales may thus target similar prey species, but have access to larger, more mature and possibly brooding individuals, than Risso's dolphins. Abstract Fundamental insight on predator-prey dynamics in the deep sea is hampered by a lack of combined data on hunting behavior and prey spectra. Deep-sea niche segregation may evolve when predators target specific prey communities, but this hypothesis remains untested. We combined environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding with biologging to assess cephalopod community composition in the deep-sea foraging habitat of two top predator cetaceans. Risso’s dolphin and Cuvier’s beaked whale selectively targeted distinct epi/meso- and bathypelagic foraging zones, holding eDNA of 39 cephalopod taxa, including 22 known prey. Contrary to expectation, extensive taxonomic overlap in prey spectra between foraging zones indicated that predator niche segregation was not driven by prey community composition alone. Instead, intraspecific prey spectrum differences may drive differentiation for hunting fewer, more calorific, mature cephalopods in deeper waters. The novel combination of methods presented here holds great promise to disclose elusive deep-sea predator-prey systems, aiding in their protection. All the best, Fleur

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Summer placements with Marine Mammal Research Association
by Selina Brouwer 06 Apr '21

06 Apr '21

Dear all, Please find below details of our last placement for the Summer Vacancies at our Montenegro Dolphin Research project in the south Adriatic Sea. WHO IS DMAD AND WHAT DO WE DO? DMAD - Marine Mammals Research Association has scientific projects running in Turkey, Montenegro and Albania. We conduct long-term studies of marine mammals in Istanbul, Antalya, the Levantine Sea, Montenegrin coastal waters and the northern coastline of Albania. We aim to address questions about marine mammal abundance, distribution and behaviour, define critical habitats and investigate the impact of major threats, ranging from tourism to hydrocarbon exploration. Our wider attention focuses on the promotion and implementation of awareness initiatives targeted at the local community. More details on the project can be found here: http://www.dmad.org.tr/montenegro-dolphin-research WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR We offer several volunteering and internship positions: this is a valuable opportunity for graduates that wish to gain experience in the marine mammal research field, and undergraduates, that would like to obtain internship academic credits. It could be used to develop a scientific project for BSc and MSc thesis. However, we are also open to accept applications from anyone whose passion for marine mammals is strong and sincere. This opportunity is available from July 2020. The minimum duration of the placement is 2 Months, with possible exception for a skilled candidate. REQUIREMENTS -True interest for marine conservation, self-motivation, maturity and ability to work responsibly; -Ability to cohabit in a dynamic and multicultural environment; -Respect for the organisation's rules and willingness to follow standards and procedures; -Proven experience of working effectively as part of a team; -Fluent English (both spoken and written) and good communication skills; -Willingness to learn new software applications. -Background in marine biology and previous fieldwork experience are an advantage. FIELD WORK AND RESPONSIBILITIES -Performing land-based surveys at least three times a week, including sunrise and sunset hours; -Performing boat-based surveys once a fortnight (occasionally more if possible). -Collecting dolphins sighting and behavioural data, as well as environmental and anthropogenic data; -Operating theodolite and managing its software Pythagoras; -Data entry and analysis; -Cataloguing and matching individuals of target species for photo-ID studies via Discovery software; -Raising stakeholder awareness through conservation actions. -Promoting citizen-science activities TRAINING The Montenegro Dolphin Research team provides lectures and field work training as well as constant mentoring. You will be given the chance to learn the most popular methodologies used in marine mammal research including: -GIS mapping -Theodolite operation and Pythagoras software; -Photo-identification; -Discovery and Logger 2010 software; -Systematic data collection and data analysis; PROJECT CONTRIBUTION The contribution fee for volunteers is €840 per month. For a timeframe longer than 2 months the fee is from the third month €780. For interns, it’s €940 per month. For a timeframe longer than 2 months the fee is from the third month €880. All of which goes directly to supporting the projects. The fee includes:  Accommodation and expenses (excluding self-quarantine and special requests);  Transportation between the project sites within and between Montenegro and Albania;  Training and lectures with all training materials provided in PDF format;  Fieldwork (land- and boat surveys);  Use of the equipment; And for Interns this also includes:  Scientific support, average 30 hours supervision per month;  Additional courses related to the selected subject; The fee does not include:  Transportation to/from Montenegro or transfer to accommodation  Health and/or travel insurance which is a mandatory requirement  Meals  Additional training Courses Applicants are responsible for their transportation to/from Montenegro, meals, insurance (all participants should have health and/or travel insurance) and personal expenses. HOW TO APPLY Email your CV and motivation letter to info(a)dmad.org.tr, explaining why you are a suitable asset for our team and which goals you hope to achieve with us! If you wish to have more info about our internships and work please take a look at some of our web pages and social media: Our research: http://www.dmad.org.tr/our-projects Our internships: http://www.dmad.org.tr/our-internships Our publications: http://www.dmad.org.tr/our-publications All the best, DMAD team *Deniz Memelileri Araştırma Derneği* *info(a)dmad.org.tr <info(a)dmad.org.tr>* *www.dmad.org.tr <http://www.dmad.org.tr/>* *Follow us on: Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/DMADforNature/> & **Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/DMADforNature/>*

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Aerial photo ID of sei whales
by Conor Ryan 05 Apr '21

05 Apr '21

I am writing on behalf of Sea Fever Productions to see if anyone in the MARMAM community has a North Atlantic sei whale photo-identification catalogue, specifically using aerial (e.g. UAV) imagery. We are interested in searching for matches using images we collected around the Azores and over offshore seamounts. Please do get in touch if you are interested and think you may have comparable data. Best wishes, Conor Ryan website: conorryan.photography twitter: @whale_nerd <https://twitter.com/whale_nerd> instagram: @whale_nerd <https://www.instagram.com/whale_nerd/>

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Mondays Ocean Talks with Dr. Gregory K. Silver
by AIMM Internships 02 Apr '21

02 Apr '21

*Mondays Ocean Talks* Interview with Dr. Gregory K. Silber 5th April, 3 pm (GMT+1) on AIMM YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UZul_ukRho Mondays Ocean Talks are a set of recorded interviews between Joana Castro, the founder of AIMM, and invited guests from all over the world who play an important role within the ocean and marine life. The Mondays Ocean Talks were launched in February and every two weeks a new interview is released. Each interview has a duration of appr. one hour and presents an informal talk, a sharing of experiences and an exchange of knowledge. The interviews are completely free to access from AIMM YouTube channel. Subscribe and meet an Ocean Researcher! The next interview will be with Dr. Gregory K. Silber. You can find out more information about Dr. Gregory K. Silber here https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gregory-Silber-2 More info: info(a)aimmportugal.org *AIMM Portugal* - Ass. Investigação do Meio Marinho | Marine Environment Research Association *Website*: www.aimmportugal.org [image: AIMM Portugal | facebook] <https://www.facebook.com/AIMM.org/> [image: AIMM Portugal | twitter] <https://twitter.com/AIMMPortugal> [image: AIMM Portugal | instagram] <https://www.instagram.com/aimmportugal_org/> [image: AIMM Portugal | youtube] <http://www.youtube.com/c/AimmportugalOrg>

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IMMS Dolphin Photo-ID Research Internship Fall 2021
by Jessica Post 02 Apr '21

02 Apr '21

The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS) Research Internship Program is designed as a way for students interested in a career in marine science to gain valuable research experience in a real-world setting. As an intern, you will be trained in all aspects of dolphin photo-ID research as well as any other current research projects at IMMS that may involve species such as: bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles, or diamondback terrapins. Interns will also participate in other operations at IMMS including: stranding response, aquarist and reptile care, and animal care. Our goal is to give interns a well-rounded experience in a variety of areas while providing expert training and experience in marine science research. Interns must: - Commit to a minimum of 12 weeks. The internship can be extended depending on work performance - Be available to work Mon-Fri and must be available for all boat-based surveys. Some field days may fall on the weekends. - Have a strong sense of responsibility, work ethic, attention to detail, and ability to admit mistakes. - Produce high quality research efforts and exhibit strong interpersonal skills Principle Duties include: data entry, learning all research protocols, cropping and sorting photo-ID fin images, learning to use photo-ID programs such as Darwin (fin matching software) and FinBase (Microsoft Access), boat based field research (21' boat), and learn how to use ArcGIS Secondary Duties include: assisting animal care staff, attending marine mammal necropsies, responding to marine mammal and sea turtle strandings, and assisting educational staff Field Days: Interns must be able to spend many hours on the water and on shore in sometimes extreme seasonal conditions. Seasonal temperatures range from over 100 °F in summer to 30 °F in winter. Field days typically exceed eight hours and occur at least two or three times a week Eligibility Requirements Applicants must be 18 or older and must have a genuine interest in marine research. Applicants should be actively pursuing a college degree or be a recent graduate in oceanography, marine science/biology, biology, or a related field. Previous research experience in any capacity is a plus. Applicants must be able and willing to fulfill all duties outlined for this internship program. This is an unpaid position and interns are responsible for their own housing and transportation. Once accepted, IMMS staff will assist interns in finding rooms available to rent, usually with other staff members. The deadline to apply for the fall sessions (August 2-October 22, 2021 or September 20-December 10, 2021) is June 1, 2021. For application and full details on how to apply please visit our website at http://imms.org/internship/ Jessica Post Research Assistant Research Intern Coordinator The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies 10801 Dolphin Lane Gulfport, MS 39503

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NWSSMM Meeting Reminder
by Grace Freeman 02 Apr '21

02 Apr '21

Calling all Northwest Marine Mammalogy Students! As a reminder, the annual spring meeting of the Northwest Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy (NWSSMM) will take place virtually on May 8th, 2021, hosted by the Marine Mammal Ecology Lab at Western Washington University (WWU). There is no cost to participate in this virtual conference. If you are interested in simply participating, you can register for the event up until May 7th. If you are interested in giving an oral or poster presentation, please register and submit your abstract by April 9th, 2021. Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfJCwlYwr4uBiKjkUsXVHJhz3tYqvNPF7i…<https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdocs.goog…> Keynote Speaker: We are pleased to announce that the Keynote Speaker for the 2021 NWSSMM conference will be Dr. Valentina Melica! Dr. Melica was born and raised in northeast Italy. She obtained her BS and MS from the University of Trieste in marine environmental biology. During her master's, she spent two semesters in the United States as an exchange student, one of which was spent at Western Washington University, and completed her dissertation research in Slovenia, investigating reproductive biology of moon jellyfish. After a two-year break while she worked as an aquarist and volunteered at non-profit research organizations, her interest in marine mammal physiology led her to start a PhD in Fisheries at University of Alaska Fairbanks in Juneau, AK. She graduated last fall with a dissertation on reproductive and stress-related endocrinology in blue and gray whales. Valentina will share her career and academic experience and present some of the results from her research on how hormone concentrations in blubber can be used to estimate reproductive status (e.g., tell whether a whale is pregnant) and to provide benchmark data on the relationship between life history data and stress hormones profiles. If you have any questions or would like any clarification about the upcoming meeting, please do not hesitate to contact the planning committee via Grace Freeman at freemag4(a)wwu.edu<mailto:freemag4@wwu.edu>. We look forward to seeing you for this virtual meeting!

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New publication on sexually dimorphic measurements in Delphinus spp.
by Sam Leander 02 Apr '21

02 Apr '21

Dear members of the MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of the following paper on sexually dimorphic measurements in *Delphinus *spp. in waters off California: Leander SGM, Durban JW, Danil K, Fearnbach H, Joyce TW, Ballance LT. Sexually dimorphic measurements from stranded and bycaught specimens contribute to the characterization of group composition in free-ranging common dolphins (*Delphinus *spp.) from aerial images. Mar Mam Sci. 2021;1–7. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12804 Summary: Here we use data from stranded and fisheries bycaught common dolphins to develop sexually diagnostic measurements of *D. d. delphis* and *D. d. bairdii* that can be applied to aerial images of free ranging *Delphinus* spp. to describe demographic composition. Based on criteria designed to ensure accurate measurability in aerial images, three morphometrics were selected for further analysis: standard total body length (hereafter “total length”), an “anterior” measurement of length between the snout to anterior insertion of the dorsal fin, and a “posterior” measurement of length between the anterior insertion of the dorsal fin and the fluke notch. All three measurements exhibited interspecific differences, but they varied in the extent of sexual dimorphism within species. For both species, posterior showed the greatest degree of sexual dimorphism, with 58.7% and 37.3% of adult *D. d. bairdii* and* delphis* males, respectively, were larger than 95% of adult females. Total length showed the next greatest degree of sexual dimorphism and anterior showed the lowest. We then applied these measurements to an aerial image taken at an altitude of 58m (190ft). We were able to successfully measure five flat individuals using a segmented line and determine, using the posterior measurement, that two of the five measured were likely males. Our results will facilitate characterization of group composition in aerially photographed *Delphinus* spp. schools off Southern California (photogrammetric analysis currently underway). Additionally, these methods are broadly applicable to free-ranging cetacean populations around the world, providing a non-invasive monitoring tool that can be integrated into management and conservations plans of vulnerable species. Best, *Sam Leander *(*she/her)* Associate Scientist *Southall Environmental Associates, Inc.*

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New publication: Compliance of dolphin ecotours (Lindsay Hooper)
by LK H 01 Apr '21

01 Apr '21

Dear MARMAM community, My coauthors and I are pleased to share our new paper titled, “Compliance of dolphin ecotours to marine mammal viewing guidelines”. Hooper, L. K., Tyson Moore, R. B., Boucquey, N., McHugh, K. A., & Fuentes, M. M. P. B. (2021). Compliance of dolphin ecotours to marine mammal viewing guidelines. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 1-19. doi:10.1080/09669582.2021.1900206 To request a PDF copy of the paper, please contact Lindsay Hooper ( Lkh13(a)my.fsu.edu) ABSTRACT Ecotour compliance to viewing guidelines should be evaluated holistically, considering actual and perceived compliance levels, as well as boat captain and passenger knowledge of the guidelines. This multi-faceted approach was used to assess ecotour compliance levels to the NOAA marine mammal viewing guidelines while interacting with bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Southwest Florida. Ecotour compliance was assessed via observations of boat-based dolphin ecotours in 2019. Captain and passenger knowledge and opinions of the guidelines were obtained through questionnaires, as well as captains’ perceived compliance and how compliance affected passenger experience. Ecotour captains violated an average of 44% of the guidelines. Captains generally knew and supported the guidelines, as well as knew when they were being noncompliant, with 75% demonstrating equally perceived and observed compliance levels. This may reflect a lack of understanding of the cumulative effects of noncompliance on dolphins. Passengers supported the guidelines and valued compliance but did not have enough knowledge about the guidelines to recognize captain violations. Most passengers were willing to pay more for compliant tours, and 84% reported that guideline violations would negatively affect their trip. Our findings can inform management and outreach initiatives in the region to increase compliance. Kind regards, Lindsay Hooper M.S. in Biological Oceanography Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA Phone: (678) 643-2167

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Reminder: Passive Acoustics Monitoring webinar on Thursday, April 8, 2021
by Holly Morin 01 Apr '21

01 Apr '21

*apologies for cross-postings** Next week, the Discovery of Sound in the Sea (DOSITS) <http://www.dosits.org/> Team will host the first webinar in its 2021 webinar series. On Thursday, April 8, 2021, at 12pm ET, Dr. Sofie Van Parijs, Passive Acoustic Program Lead with NOAA Fisheries, will present on passive acoustic monitoring, providing an overview of applications for marine mammals and fishes. This free webinar will be hosted virtually via Zoom, last approximately 60 minutes, and will be comprised of a presentation followed by a period of facilitated discussion. The webinar will be recorded and archived on the DOSITS website (DOSITS Webinars <https://dosits.org/decision-makers/webinar-series/>). The 2021 DOSITS webinar series is open to all interested individuals, however, registration is required. Please visit the 2021 DOSITS Webinar Series page (https://dosits.org/decision-makers/webinar-series/2021-webinar-series/ <https://dosits.org/decision-makers/webinar-series/2021-webinar-series/>) for a registration link and additional webinar series details. An outline of Dr. Van Parijs' presentation, with links to relevant background content on DOSITS, is also available on the 2021 DOSITS webinar page. All registered participants are encouraged to preview this webinar outline prior to next week’s event. DOSITS will again offer a Certificate of Professional Development for interested individuals that participate in all four of the webinars in the 2021 Underwater Acoustics Webinar Series. There are no fees associated with this certificate, however, in addition to webinar participation, after each webinar, interested individuals must complete a brief survey. If you have any questions, please contact Holly Morin (holly_morin(a)uri.edu)

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New Publication: Age-specific behavior and habitat use in humpback whales: implications for vessel strike
by Julia Stepanuk 01 Apr '21

01 Apr '21

Hello Marmam, We are excited to announce the publication of our manuscript: "Age-specific behavior and habitat use in humpback whales: implications for vessel strike" in Marine Ecology Progress Series. Our manuscript is available at https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v663/p209-222/ or you can contact me directly for a copy. ABSTRACT: Vessel strikes are a major threat impacting large whales globally. Juvenile whales often represent a high proportion of lethal vessel strikes, but few studies have investigated whether juvenile whales show different behaviors that might influence their risk of vessel strike. We evaluated how variability in habitat use and foraging behavior by age class influences the risk of vessel strike for humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae in the New York Bight (NYB), a highly urbanized region with frequent vessel strikes. We used data from unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveys to compare the habitat use and foraging behavior of adult and juvenile humpback whales and compared length measurements of foraging individuals with those confirmed to have been killed by vessel strikes. Further, using Automatic Information System data, we analyzed the speed and density of vessel traffic relative to humpback whale habitat use. The vast majority (93%) of humpback whales confirmed to have been struck by vessels in the NYB were juveniles. Whales foraging in nearshore waters were exclusively juveniles that were surface feeding, while both juveniles and adults foraged cooperatively in offshore waters. Passenger vessel density and speed were highest in nearshore waters. The habitat use and surface foraging behavior of juvenile humpback whales may make them particularly vulnerable to vessel strikes in nearshore waters, and passenger vessels in these waters may be a risk factor. This work highlights the importance of understanding age-specific differences in habitat use to better understand and mitigate the risk of anthropogenic threats to large whales. Cheers, Julia Stepanuk -- PhD Candidate M.S. Marine Science Stony Brook University Department of Ecology and Evolution

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