May 2021 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Scientists warn: European whales and dolphins “Under Pressure” of extinction
by slueber＠oceancare.org 04 May '21

04 May '21

Scientists warn: European whales and dolphins “Under Pressure” of extinction When confronted with disturbing images of dolphins and porpoises entangled in fishing gear, stranded and hunted whales, many of us think of regions far away from Europe. But sadly, it is also happening here in European waters. A new report by leading scientists exposes this cruel and alarming reality. 33 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises live in European seas. From the enormous blue whales in the North Atlantic, sperm whales in the Mediterranean, orcas in the Strait of Gibraltar, to dolphins and harbour porpoises in the North Sea, these European whales are – in theory – among the best protected wildlife on the planet, enjoying a progressive and extensive legal framework. But in reality, they face a menacing array of threats both to their individual well-being as well as to the survival of their populations as such. These are the findings of “UNDER PRESSURE”, a new report published by OceanCare<https://www.oceancare.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Report_UNDER-PRESSURE_…>, which brought together leading scientists from all over Europe to compile a comprehensive overview of the myriad of threats and the state of survival and conservation of Europe´s whales and dolphins. Despite their legal protection on paper, in particular by the EU’s nature and species protection laws and international conservation conventions, whales and dolphins are still hunted by the thousands in European waters, are in constant conflict with fishing activities, face an agonising death as by-catch of fishing fleets or get entangled in floating fishing gear (“ghost nets”). They are constantly exposed to noise pollution from shipping, construction, underwater oil and gas exploration and military activities and live in polluted waters full of plastic debris. They are also contaminated by chemical pollutants which negatively impact their immune systems and reproduction rates, and on top of all this, they also face the overlying threat to their survival that comes with climate change. “UNDER PRESSURE” takes a look at all the different 33 species that inhabit our waters, spread out in numerous regional populations. Of most concern are the orcas in the Strait of Gibraltar which number fewer than 40 animals; the around 20 common dolphins left in the Gulf of Corinth (Greece), and the fewer than 500 harbour porpoises left in the Baltic Sea. All are categorised as “critically endangered”, the ranking of utmost concern within the IUCN’s Red List. The North Atlantic´s right whale is also listed in the same category with fewer than 400 individuals, of which most live on the American side of the Atlantic, meaning this species is already technically extinct in the European part of the Atlantic. “Europeans pride themselves as being progressive and “green”. So, it may come as a surprise to learn that for some species the risk to survival is greater to them in Europe than in other world regions”, says Nicolas Entrup, Co-Director of International Relations at OceanCare. “European waters are among the most polluted and dangerous seas of the world. If we want to give those slow breeding whales and dolphins a chance to survive off our coasts, the strict protection measures need to be enforced and any violation strictly sanctioned. We’ve been waiting for too long.” “The public might be taken by surprise to find out that in the past ten years, more than 50.000 whales, dolphins and porpoises have been killed in directed hunts in northern European waters of the autonomous territories Greenland and the Faroe islands that belong to the Kingdom of Denmark, as well as Norway and Iceland” says Fabienne McLellan, Co-Director at OceanCare focusing to end direct hunts and adds that “many of these hunts are not even overseen by any kind of management or internationally set quotas”. Given its comprehensive scope and in-depth scientific studies, the report “UNDER PRESSURE” is set to be a standard work for years to come and intends to be a guideline for policy makers in Europe on what actions need to be taken to take the pressure off and to ensure the survival of Europe´s whales and dolphins. “We certainly need to scale up appropriate actions to avoid losing cetacean populations and species, including by better protecting their habitats, which will also improve the health and resilience of European waters” concludes Fabienne McLellan, the report´s coordinator. Recommendations: Recommendations that are put forward in the report by the individual authors, as well as from OceanCare, include<https://www.oceancare.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/UNDER-PRESSURE_Recomme…>: * ban the deliberate take (hunting) of all cetacean species by all European States * ban the use of fishing gear known to cause significant cetacean mortality and habitat destruction * a ban on all oil and gas exploration activities in European waters, including pending licences, following the example of France (and Spain, whose forthcoming Climate Energy Law includes a ban on all new hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation projects throughout its territory). * impose speed reduction for shipping where possible * phase out and totally ban the most hazardous substances and materials used in plastic packaging * European States to support a new international, legally binding treaty on plastic, addressing the full lifecycle of plastics, including measures to reduce virgin plastic production and prevent microplastic pollution * provide Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) with properly implemented and funded conservation management plans Executive Summary can be found here<https://www.oceancare.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/UNDER-PRESSURE_Exec-Su…>. ____________________________________ OceanCare Sigrid Lueber, President and Founder Gerbestrasse 6, P.O.Box 372 CH-8820 Waedenswil - Switzerland Phone: +41-44-780 6688 Directline: +41-43- 477 6124 Cellphone +41-79-475 2687 slueber(a)oceancare.org<mailto:slueber@oceancare.org> www.oceancare.org<http://www.oceancare.org/> OceanCare is a Swiss non-profit organisation. It was founded in 1989 and has a strong commitment to realistic and cooperative initiatives. The organisation works at national and international level in the areas of marine pollution, environmental changes, fisheries, whaling, sealing, captivity of marine mammals and public education. OceanCare holds Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) and is a partner of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), and the UNEP/CMS Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans in the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area (ACCOBAMS), as well as UNEP/MAP. OceanCare has also been accredited to the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), which is the governing body of UNEP and is part of the Sciences and Technology Major Group, and a member of the UNEP Global Partnership on Marine Litter.

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New paper, Hormone-mediated foraging strategies in Galapagos sea lions
by Geno DeRango 03 May '21

03 May '21

Dear Marmam, We are pleased to share a new open-access paper describing hormones and individual foraging strategies in Galapagos sea lions. Please find the link to the original manuscript or Researchgate page below: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ece3.7590 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/351285913 <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/351285913_Hormone-mediated_foragin…> Abstract: 1. Hormones are extensively known to be physiological mediators of energy mobilization and allow animals to adjust behavioral performance in response to their environment, especially within a foraging context. 2. Few studies, however, have narrowed focus toward the consistency of hormonal patterns and their impact on individual foraging behavior. Describing these relationships can further our understanding of how individuals cope with heterogeneous environments and exploit different ecological niches. 3. To address this, we measured between-and within-individual variation of basal cortisol (CORT), thyroid hormone T3, and testosterone (TEST) levels in wild adult female Galapagos sea lions (Zalophus wollebaeki) and analyzed how these hormones may be associated with foraging strategies. In this marine predator, females exhibit one of three spatially and temporally distinct foraging patterns (i.e., "benthic," "pelagic," and "night" divers) within diverse habitat types. 4. Night divers differentiated from other strategies by having lower T3 levels. Considering metabolic costs, night divers may represent an energetically conservative strategy with shorter dive durations, depths, and descent rates to exploit prey which migrate up the water column based on vertical diel patterns. 5. Intriguingly, CORT and TEST levels were highest in benthic divers, a strategy characterized by congregating around limited, shallow seafloors to specialize on confined yet reliable prey. This pattern may reflect hormone-mediated behavioral responses to specific risks in these habitats, such as high competition with con-specifics, prey predictability, or greater risks of predation. 6. Overall, our study highlights the collective effects of hormonal and ecological variation on marine foraging. In doing so, we provide insights into how mechanistic constraints and environmental pressures may facilitate individual specialization in adaptive behavior in wild populations. Best regards, Geno -- Geno DeRango PhD Student Department of Animal Behaviour Bielefeld University Galapagos sea lion Project

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Marine Mammal Veterinary Internship at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center
by Alissa Deming 03 May '21

03 May '21

The Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC) is accepting application for a one-year Veterinary Intern position (Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine and 1-year clinical experience required). PMMC rescue, rehabilitates and releases sick and injured marine mammals in Orange County, California. This 1-year veterinary training program will provide experience with wild pinniped rehabilitation as well as small and large cetacean stranding response, triage and transport. Position: Marine Mammal Veterinary Internship Location: Laguna Beach, California Duration: 1 year Dates: June 21, 2021 to June 21, 2022 (start date flexible base on availability) Due Date: May 17, 2021 or sooner; applications will be reviewed as received The Pacific Marine Mammal Center rescues, rehabilitates, and releases marine mammals and inspires ocean stewardship through research, education, and collaboration. As part of our mission of education, we offer a 1-year clinical veterinary internship that provides training in wild marine mammal medicine, rehabilitation, husbandry, necropsy and research for veterinarians interested in pursuing a career in marine mammal medicine and conservation. The Veterinary Intern will be trained by our clinical veterinarians, medical team and animal care specialists. This one-year internship will provide experience in pinniped husbandry, physical examination, medical treatments, anesthesia, phlebotomy, radiography, ultrasound, endoscopy and surgery. In addition, the selected candidate will participate in marine mammal stranding response, triage, stabilization, transport and necropsy of pinnipeds, dolphins and whales. The Intern will have the opportunity to pursue one or more clinical or research projects, with the goal of a publication in a peer-reviewed journal. In addition, the intern will mentor veterinary externs and visiting graduate students during their clinical rotations through the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, as well as work with our animal care, docents and education teams. Requirements and Preferences * Must have Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM, VMD) from U.S. AVMA accredited veterinary school * Must have or be able to obtain a State of California veterinary medical license prior to or within 1 month of starting internship * Must have completed 1-year clinical veterinary internship (or practice experience) in small, large or exotic animal medicine * Must be able to lift 50 pounds, be able to work outdoors in all weather conditions and maintain a safe work environment * Hours and availability: 40 hours per week; must be available for afterhours emergencies, weekends and holidays. * Preference will be given to those with marine mammal and/or research experience * Ability to provide excellent medical care to patients * Excellent communication skills * Ability to accurately and effectively completed medical records To apply, please include the below materials (PDF saved with the applicant’s name): 1. Cover letter including available start date 2. Curriculum vitae (including 3 contacts for references) 3. One letter of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant's clinical performance All materials should be submitted by May 17, 2021 or sooner to: To: ademing(a)pacificmmc.org<mailto:ademing@pacificmmc.org> Subject: 2021 Veterinary Internship Alissa C. Deming, DVM, MS, PhD Vice President of Conservation Medicine and Science [cid:85339748-3bc6-43f9-a4f2-a87100cd0d95] 20612 Laguna Canyon Road Laguna Beach, CA 92651 ademing(a)pacificmmc.org | ph 949.494.3050 | fax<http://fax> 949.494.2802 | www.pacificmmc.org<http://www.pacificmmc.org/>

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Job Opportunity: PAM Operator for project in the Gulf of St. Lawrence
by Edgewise Environmental 03 May '21

03 May '21

Edgewise Environmental is seeking personnel for 2 PAM (Passive Acoustic Monitoring) Operator positions for a mid-May project in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. This project will last approximately 3 weeks, including one week of paid quarantine in Rimouski prior to the start of the project. Due to the timeline of this project and the international travel restrictions in place, candidates must be located within Canada. Applicants will REQUIRE the following: - Experience in setting up, deploying and retrieving PAM equipment - Experience with PAMGUARD - Valid PAM Operator certification - Canadian citizenship or permanent residency - Offshore survival certification (STCW, BST, BOSIET) - Valid medical - WHMIS - Valid passport or seafarer's book - First Aid (preferred) To apply, please follow the link to our website to submit your CV, copies of all valid certifications, and a brief statement of your interest in the position: https://www.edgewiseenvironmental.com/about/careers/ 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>

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Ph.D. positions in conservation genomics
by Timothy Frasier 03 May '21

03 May '21

Dear Marmammers: I have three Ph.D. positions starting in September 2021 (preferably), or January 2022 (if necessary). The three positions are as follows: 1. Epigenetic effects of non-lethal entanglements in North Atlantic right whales. Assessing how methylation patterns change throughout the genomes in response to non-lethal entanglements, and how long such changes persist; 2. Using ddRADSeq data to quantify the impact of inbreeding on health, survival, and recovery potential of North Atlantic right whales; 3. Using genomic data to infer historic demography and estimate genetic load in North Atlantic right whales vs southern right whales. I am located at Saint Mary’s University<https://www.smu.ca> in Halifax<https://www.novascotia.com/places-to-go/regions/halifax-metro>, Nova Scotia. It is a wonderful place to work and live. The right whale community is wonderful as well, and includes the New England Aquarium<https://www.andersoncabotcenterforoceanlife.org/rightwhales/right-whales/> the Canadian Whale Institute<https://www.canadianwhaleinstitute.ca>, and the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium<https://www.narwc.org>. Please contact me (timothy.frasier(a)smu.ca<mailto:timothy.frasier@smu.ca>) if you are interested, and include: 1. Which project you are interested in; 2. Why you are interested in it; 3. Why your background makes you appropriate to work on it; and 4. Your CV Preference will go to applicants who already have M.Sc. degrees. Thanks, and I hope to hear from you soon. Sincerely, Tim Frasier ______________________ Timothy R. Frasier Coordinator - Forensic Sciences Program Associate Professor - Department of Biology Saint Mary's University 923 Robie Street Halifax, NS B3H 3C3, Canada Email: timothy.frasier(a)smu.ca<mailto:timothy.frasier@smu.ca> Tel: (902) 491-6382 www.frasierlab.ca<http://frasierlab.ca>

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Social learning, animal culture and marine mammal conservation
by Philippa Brakes 02 May '21

02 May '21

Dear MarMam I'm pleased to announce the following multi-authored, open access paper in Proceeding B on animal culture and conservation. Whilst a cross-taxa publication, it may be of interest to many on this list: A deepening understanding of animal culture suggests lessons for conservation Philippa Brakes, Emma L. Carroll, Sasha R. X. Dall, Sally A. Keith, Peter K. McGregor, Sarah L. Mesnick, Michael J. Noad, Luke Rendell, Martha M. Robbins, Christian Rutz, Alex Thornton, Andrew Whiten, Martin J. Whiting, Lucy M. Aplin, Stuart Bearhop, Paolo Ciucci, Vicki Fishlock, John K. B. Ford, Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara, Mark P. Simmonds, Fernando Spina, Paul R. Wade, Hal Whitehead, James Williams and Ellen C. Garland Proc. R. Soc. B.288: 20202718 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2020.2718 Abstract A key goal of conservation is to protect biodiversity by supporting the long-term persistence of viable, natural populations of wild species. Conservation practice has long been guided by genetic, ecological and demographic indicators of risk. Emerging evidence of animal culture across diverse taxa and its role as a driver of evolutionary diversification, population structure and demographic processes may be essential for augmenting these conventional conservation approaches and decision-making. Animal culture was the focus of a ground-breaking resolution under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), an international treaty operating under the UN Environment Programme. Here, we synthesize existing evidence to demonstrate how social learning and animal culture interact with processes important to conservation management. Specifically, we explore how social learning might influence population viability and be an important resource in response to anthropogenic change, and provide examples of how it can result in phenotypically distinct units with different, socially learnt behavioural strategies. While identifying culture and social learning can be challenging, indirect identification and parsimonious inferences may be informative. Finally, we identify relevant methodologies and provide a framework for viewing behavioural data through a cultural lens which might provide new insights for conservation management. This paper is a follow-on from a Science article by the same group, published in 2019: Animal Cultures Matter for Conservation Science 08 Mar 2019: Vol. 363, Issue 6431, pp. 1032-1034 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaw3557 https://science.sciencemag.org/content/363/6431/1032 Abstract Animal culture, defined as "information or behavior-shared within a community-which is acquired from conspecifics through some form of social learning" (1), can have important consequences for the survival and reproduction of individuals, social groups, and potentially, entire populations (1, 2). Yet, until recently, conservation strategies and policies have focused primarily on broad demographic responses and the preservation of genetically defined, evolutionarily significant units. A burgeoning body of evidence on cultural transmission and other aspects of sociality (3) is now affording critical insights into what should be conserved (going beyond the protection of genetic diversity, to consider adaptive aspects of phenotypic variation), and why specific conservation programs succeed (e.g., through facilitating the resilience of cultural diversity) while others fail (e.g., by neglecting key repositories of socially transmitted knowledge). Here, we highlight how international legal instruments, such as the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), can facilitate smart, targeted conservation of a wide range of taxa, by explicitly considering aspects of their sociality and cultures. Kind regards Philippa Brakes Research Fellow Telephone: +64-(0)21 612306 WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation PO Box 17711 Sumner Christchurch Canterbury 8840 New Zealand whales.org<http://whales.org> [WDC is 30 Years old!' Help us protect whales and dolphins over the next 30 years]<http://whales.org/> [WDC on Facebook]<http://www.facebook.com/whales.org> [WDC on Twitter] <http://www.twitter.com/WHALES_org> [WDC on Instagram] <http://www.instagram.com/whaleanddolphinorg> [WDC on YouTube] <http://www.youtube.com/wdcsuk> [WDC Blogs] <http://whales.org/en/blog> [WDC E-Newsletter] <http://whales.org/en/newsletter> [Registered with Fundraising Regulator] <https://www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/> [http://www.wdcs.org/images/ESM/CampaignImages/NWF.png]<https://notwhalefood.com/> ________________________________ Whale and Dolphin Conservation ("WDC") is a company registered in England and Wales (No. 02737421) and a registered charity (in England and Wales No. 1014705, in Scotland No. SC040231) WDC Shop is a trading name of WDC (Trading) Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales (No. 02593116) Registered office : Brookfield House, 38 St. Paul Street, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 1LJ. Tel: +44 (0)1249 449 500 This message is private and confidential. If you have received this message in error, please notify us and remove it from your system. ________________________________

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Marine Mammal / Sea Turtle Observer Certification - May 29-30, 2021
by Angela Bostwick 01 May '21

01 May '21

MPSC is offering an online training course that provides Protected Species Observer (also known as Marine Mammal Observer) certification on May 29-30, 2021. This training in 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 seismic surveys in the Gulf of Mexico, and is a long-standing industry standard which is often accepted in other regions or industries (such as renewable energy construction and monitoring) where monitoring for protected species and mitigation of impacts is required. Course cost includes the live 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 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 and sea turtles, how to visually locate and identify the animals, and objective documentation of animal behavior for reporting to regulatory agencies. 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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