June 2021 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Consequences of culturally-driven ecological specialization: Killer whales and beyond
by Hal Whitehead 12 Jun '26

12 Jun '26

The following paper has just been published: Consequences of culturally-driven ecological specialization: Killer whales and beyond. by: Hal Whitehead and John K.B. Ford Journal of Theoretical Biology 456: 279-294 Abstract: Culturally-transmitted ecological specialization occurs in killer whales, as well as other species. We hypothesize that some of the remarkable demographic and ecological attributes of killer whales result from this process. We formalize and model (using agent-based stochastic models parametrized using killer whale life history) the cultural evolution of specialization by social groups, in which a narrowing of niche breadth is spread and maintained in a group through social learning. We compare the demographic and ecological results of cultural specialization to those of a similar model of specialization through natural selection. We found that specialization, through either the cultural or natural selection routes, is adaptive in the short term with specialization often increasing fitness. Generalization, in contrast, is rarely adaptive. The cultural evolution of specialization can lead to increased rates of group extirpation. Specialization has little effect on group size but tends to reduce population size and resource abundance. While the two specialization processes produce similar results, cultural specialization can be very much faster. The results are generally consistent with what we know of the formation and maintenance of specialist ecotypes in killer whales, and have implications for the persistence, nature and ecological effects of these apex predators. You can read a .pdf at: http://whitelab.biology.dal.ca/labpub.htm Hal Whitehead Dalhousie University hwhitehe(a)dal.ca

1 9

Update to SOCPROG
by Hal Whitehead 01 Jul '24

01 Jul '24

A new and updated version of SOCPROG, SOCPROG2.9 (both compiled and uncompiled downloads) is available at: http://whitelab.biology.dal.ca/SOCPROG/social.htm SOCPROG is a MATLAB-based package of programs for the analysis of animal social structures, movements and populations. The compiled version does not need MATLAB itself. This version is compatible with MATLAB2018b (although it will likely work well on recent and soon-to-be-released versions of MATLAB). It fixes a few bugs and adds functionality compared to previous versions (especially association complexity). Thanks Hal Whitehead, Dalhousie University, Canada

1 1

Florida Manatee Management Job Opportunity
by Pasawicz, Michelle 17 Oct '23

17 Oct '23

Greetings everyone, The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is seeking a Fisheries and Wildlife Biological Scientist IV to aid the Imperiled Species Management Section with rule development and related permits and variances associated with species and their habitat under the responsibility of the Section. This position will have a focus on rules associated with the Florida manatee, but it will also act as subject matter expert and provide administrative guidance for rule related tasks for the Section's other species (marine turtles, Florida panthers, and Florida black bears). Please follow this link to the job posting to learn more about this opportunity: https://jobs.myflorida.com/job/TALLAHASSEE-F-&-W-BIOLOGICAL-SCIENTIST-IV-77… Sincerely, Michelle R. Pasawicz Biological Administrator Imperiled Species Management Section Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission<https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/manatee/> Michelle.Pasawicz(a)MyFWC.com<mailto:Michelle.Pasawicz@MyFWC.com>

1 3

Re: [MARMAM] Manatee Position in Melbourne Beach, FL
by Greer, Bill 21 Aug '23

21 Aug '23

https://jobs.myflorida.com/job/MELBOURNE-BEACH-OPS-BIOLOGICAL-SCIENTIST-I-F… This position will assist in the coordination of salvage and recovery efforts of marine mammal carcasses for the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) East Central Field Laboratory. The incumbent will serve as member of FWC’s manatee necropsy team conducting field and laboratory necropsies on manatee and other marine mammal carcasses, record observations and complete associated necropsy reports. This position will recover marine mammal carcasses for necropsy from the East Central region (coastal and inland waterways of southern Volusia County through Indian River County) of Florida and assist in manatee rescue and transport operations in the East Central region as well as assist with manatee rescue and capture operations away from designated area as needed. This position will be responsible for preparation and labeling of sample containers, carcass disposal, and cleaning of equipment and instruments. This position will be responsible for managing the East Central region’s intern and volunteer network which includes identifying candidates, interviewing, tracking their effort and training when needed. This position will be responsible for deployment, retrieval, maintenance and data collection of temperature probes throughout the winter months. This position will be responsible for assisting with other East Central regions projects such as photo identification and assisting with basic maintenance of vehicles, trailers and vessels as well purchasing needs and other tasks as assigned by supervisor. This position will assist with aerial surveys for manatees as needed. This position will have an assigned work schedule of Tuesday to Saturday (8:00 am-5:00 pm) and will be asked to respond to marine mammal emergencies and carcasses outside of normal work schedule as needed or assigned. This position will serve in a rotation with other East Central staff members for the purpose of covering the East Central Region during state holidays. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: * Knowledge of the Florida Manatee Recovery Plan and state and federal legislation protecting manatees * Knowledge of methods of data collection and principles and techniques of research and analysis * Knowledge of marine mammal anatomy and necropsy techniques * Knowledge of digital SLR cameras, filters, and lenses * Knowledge of marine mammal capture, handling, and transport techniques * Able to trailer flatbeds/utility trailers and watercraft vessels * Able to safely operate watercraft vessels 26’ in length and smaller * Be capable of daily manual labor requiring handling of heavy and sharp objects and working under unpleasant conditions * Must be physically fit, able to vertically lift at least 75 lbs, and be able to swim sufficiently to save oneself * Able to conduct fieldwork in all weather conditions * Able to establish and maintain effective working relationships * Be comfortable speaking to the public * Possess or be able to obtain and maintain a Florida driver’s license within a month of employment Minimum Requirements: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the biological sciences. Experience with dissection, pathology, or animal necropsies and data management. **Preference may be given to candidates who have experience with dissection, pathology, or animal necropsies and data management; having live and dead marine mammal stranding/necropsy experience; having photo-id collection experience in the field; or experience working alongside volunteers/interns. WHAT IS OPS EMPLOYMENT? Other Personal Services (OPS) temporary employer/employee relationship used solely for accomplishing short term or intermittent tasks. OPS employees do not fill established positions and may not be assigned the duties of any vacant authorized position. OPS employees are at-will employees and are subject to actions such as pay changes, changes to work assignment and terminations at the pleasure of the agency head or designee. WHAT BENEFITS ARE APPLICABLE TO OPS EMPLOYEES? * State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan - mandatory * Workers’ Compensation - mandatory * Reemployment Assistance (Unemployment Compensation) - mandatory * Participation in state group insurance (must meet eligibility requirements. Consult with People First or the servicing Human Resource Office for details.) * Deferred Compensation - voluntary * Employee Assistance Program – voluntary WHAT BENEFITS ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO OPS EMPLOYEES? * Any form of paid leave * Paid holidays * Participation in the Florida Retirement System * Reinstatement rights or retention rights Application Process: Applicants are required to submit a complete, up-to-date, State of Florida Employment Application Form electronically in People First (http://peoplefirst.myflorida.com<http://peoplefirst.myflorida.com/>) by the closing date listed. Resumes and supporting documentation may be submitted at the same time you are applying online, faxed, or mailed to People First, but do not replace the requirement for a completed State of Florida Employment Application Form. The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or the People First Service Center (1-877-562-7287). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation. The State of Florida hires only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers. If a conditional offer of employment is made, you will be required to provide identification and proof of citizenship or authorization to work in the United States for the hiring authority to which application is made. The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation. The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act. Nearest Major Market: Melbourne Bill Greer Marine Mammal Biologist Melbourne Beach Marine Mammal Lab 4020 South Highway A1A Melbourne Beach, Florida 32951 Cell (321) 626-7367 Office (321) 953-5037 [FWC LOGO1] Wildlife Alert: 1-888-404-3922 From: Greer, Bill Sent: Friday, October 18, 2019 7:44 PM To: marmam(a)lists.uvic.ca Subject: Manatee Position in Melbourne Beach, FL https://jobs.myflorida.com/job/MELBOURNE-BEACH-OPS-BIOLOGICAL-SCIENTIST-I-F… Bill Greer Marine Mammal Biologist Melbourne Beach Marine Mammal Lab 4020 South Highway A1A Melbourne Beach, Florida 32951 Cell (321) 626-7367 Office (321) 953-5037 [FWC LOGO1] Wildlife Alert: 1-888-404-3922

2 1

New Online Training Course: An Introduction To Integrating QGIS/GIS And R For Spatial Analysis - 6th to 8th May 2020
by cdmacleod＠gisinecology.com 20 Jan '23

20 Jan '23

We will be running a new online training course called 'An Introduction To Integrating QGIS/GIS and R For Spatial Analysis' between the 6th and 8th of May 2020. It will be held via the Zoom video-conferencing platform. This course is aimed at those who wish to learn how to use and integrate QGIS (the leading freely available GIS software package) and R (the leading freely available data analysis software package) for spatial analysis. It will be taught by Dr. Colin D. MacLeod, the author of 'An Introduction To Integrating QGIS And R for Spatial Analysis [1]' (Pictish Beast Publications) and a renowned expert in using GIS in biological and ecological research. He is also a co-author of the recenntly publised 'An Introduction To Basic Statistics For Biologists Using R [2]', which is a practical guide to carrying out the analysis of biological data in R. The course assumes no prior knowledge of either QGIS/GIS or R, and so is open to complete beginners as well as those how know how to use one of these software packages, and wish to learn how to integrate it with the other. Attendance will be limited to a maximum of 16 people. The course for this three day course will cost GBP 395 per person (with a discounted rate of GBP 300 for students, the unwaged and those working for registered charities). To book a place, or for more information, visit http://gisinecology.com/online-course-an-introduction-to-integrating-qgis-g… or email info(a)GISinEcology.com. GIS and statistical analysis are two of the most fundamental software tools for marine mammalogists wishing to conduct spatial analyses, which is, itself, a cornerstone for the management and conservation of marine mammal species. However, GIS and statistical analyses have their own sets of software packages, and sometimes it can be difficult to know how to integrate the two. This course will provide an introduction to the integration of QGIS (the leading freely available GIS software package) and R (the leading data analysis software packages used by biologists) to create a combined tool set that makes the most of the strengths of each of these individual software packages. It will consist of a series of background sessions on using GIS and R for spatial analysis, mixed in with practical sessions where you will learn how to use QGIS, how to use R, and how to integrate two to complete a spatial analysis project. This last part will include working through an example project, starting with creating a high quality map for publication through creating raster data layers of environmental variables, joining data together based on their spatial relationships and analysing the combined data set using R (including creating summary statistics, conducting linear regressions and conducting generalised additive modelling - GAMs). While it will primarily be based around QGIS, this course is taught using software-independent approach, and it is also open to those who wish to learn how to use ArcGIS to do biological GIS. When you attend this course you will receive a free copy of An Introduction To Integrating QGIS And R for Spatial Analysis [1] (GIS For Biologists Workbooks) as the practical exercises in that course are based on the ones contained in that book. NOTE: If you wish to use ArcGIS software for this course, alternative materials will be provided for the practical sessions. ================================================================================== GIS IN ECOLOGY - Providing Training, Advice And Consultancy On The Use Of GIS In Ecology Web: www.GISinEcology.com Email: info(a)GISinEcology.com Need to ask a question about using GIS? Try the GIS In Ecology Forum: www.GISinEcology.com/GIS_in_Ecology_forum.htm Books From GIS In Ecology Staff: GIS For Biologists: A Practical Introduction For Undergraduates; RRP: £24.99 An Introduction To Using GIS In Marine Biology; RRP: £44.99 An Introduction To Using GIS In Marine Biology: Supplementary Workbook One - Creating Maps Of Species Distribution; RRP: £19:99 If you wish to purchase these books, visit: http://www.gisinecology.com/Book_Shop.htm To help the environment, please do not print out this email unless it is unavoidable. ================================================================================== Links: ------ [1] http://gisinecology.com/an-introduction-to-integrating-qgis-and-r-for-spati… [2] http://gisinecology.com/stats-for-biologists-1

1 36

New paper on spatial variabilities in humpback whale acoustic presence in the Southern Ocean
by Elena Schall 19 Aug '22

19 Aug '22

We are pleased to announce our new paper in Royal Society Open Science on humpback whales in the Southern Ocean: *Large-scale spatial variabilities in the humpback whale acoustic presence in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean* Elena Schall, Karolin Thomisch, Olaf Boebel, Gabriele Gerlach, Stefanie Spiesecke and Ilse Van Opzeeland Southern Hemisphere humpback whales (/Megaptera novaeangliae/) inhabit a wide variety of ecosystems including both low- and high-latitude areas. Understanding the habitat selection of humpback whale populations is key for humpback whale stock management and general ecosystem management. In the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean (/ASSO/), the investigation of baleen whale distribution by sighting surveys is temporally restricted to the austral summer. The implementation of autonomous passive acoustic monitoring, in turn, allows the study of vocal baleen whales year-round. This study describes the results of analysing passive acoustic data spanning 12 recording positions throughout the/ASSO/applying a combination of automatic and manual analysis methods to register humpback whale acoustic activity. Humpback whales were present at nine recording positions with higher acoustic activities towards lower latitudes and the eastern and western edges of the/ASSO/. During all months, except December (the month with the fewest recordings), humpback whale acoustic activity was registered in the/ASSO/. The acoustic presence of humpback whales at various locations in the/ASSO/confirms previous observations that part of the population remains in high-latitude waters beyond austral summer, presumably to feed. The spatial and temporal extent of humpback whale presence in the/ASSO/suggests that this area may be used by multiple humpback whale breeding populations as a feeding ground. The paper is available with open access under the following link: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.201347 Best regards, Elena Schall -- Elena Schall PhD Student Ocean Acoustics Lab Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research Klußmannstr. 3d 27570 Bremerhaven email: elena.schall(a)awi.de Phone: +49(471)4831-2157

1 2

Registration open for Fall 2020 - Aquatic Animal Conservation Issues
by Larkin,Iskande (Iske) 18 Jul '22

18 Jul '22

Hi All, The University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine would like to send notice that registration for our fall online course is open. Aquatic Animal Conservation Issues is an online course (3 credits) designed to introduce students (upper level undergraduate and graduate) and professionals (with an AA or higher degree) to the controversial issues surrounding aquatic animal species ranging from invertebrates to marine mammals, with an emphasis on marine mammals, but also including sea turtles, fisheries, and aquatic ecosystems. Students enrolled at any College or University within the US or internationally can take this course. For more information about this class or enrollment, contact Dr. Iske Larkin (ivlarkin(a)ufl.edu<mailto:ivlarkin@ufl.edu> ). If you are interested in taking this class, registration is now open for Fall (2020). The semester runs from Monday, August 31st - Wednesday, December 9th. Sincerely, Dr Larkin [Description: AAH logo blue E-Mail Sig] Iske V. Larkin, PhD Lecturer & Education Coordinator Interim Director Aquatic Animal Health Program Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine University of Florida PO Box 100136 2015 SW 16th Ave Gainesville, Florida 32610 Office phone - 352-294-4095 Work cell - 352-494-1742 Fax - 352-392-8289 Program web page: http://aquatic.vetmed.ufl.edu<http://aquatic.vetmed.ufl.edu/> "To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world." -Anonymous ________________________________ Please note that Florida has a broad public records law, and that all correspondence to or from University of Florida employees via email may be subject to disclosure.

1 2

Summer distance sampling workshop series - registration open
by Len Thomas 04 Apr '22

04 Apr '22

Distance sampling is a survey technique widely used to estimate the density and abundance of marine mammal populations, and other taxa. The Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling are pleased to announce that we will be running 3 live online workshops this summer on aspects of distance sampling. Registration is now open for 2 of them, and will be for the 3rd soon. The workshops are: 1. Spatially explicit models for distance sampling data: density surface modelling in practice, 16th-20th August 2021. 2. Distance sampling when animals are missed at zero distance, 30th-31st August 2021. 3. A practical guide to distance sampling survey design and simulation, 13th, 14th and 16th September 2021. For more details, and to register, go to https://workshops.distancesampling.org We are offering one free place on each workshop with the goal of to widening participation to scientists from countries with fewer resources and groups traditionally under-represented in wildlife science. More details are at http://workshops.distancesampling.org/widening-participation and the closing date for applications for the widening participation scholarships is June 15th. -- Len Thomas len.thomas(a)st-andrews.ac.uk lenthomas.org @len_thom Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling and School of Mathematics and Statistics The Observatory, University of St Andrews, Scotland KY16 9LZ Office: UK+1334-461801 Admin: UK+1334-461842 While I may be sending this email outside of my normal office hours, I have no expectation to receive a reply outside of yours. The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland, No SC013532.

1 1

JOB- FAU Harbor Branch Marine Mammal Stranding and Population Assessment Assistant
by Steve Burton 20 Dec '21

20 Dec '21

FAU Harbor Branch Marine Mammal Stranding and Population Assessment Assistant REQ09960 Position Summary: Florida Atlantic University is seeking a Marine Mammal Stranding and Population Assessment Assistant, Ft. Pierce, FL. With over 30,000 students from all 50 states and over 180 countries, 21 intercollegiate teams, 180 plus degree programs, and an administration that thrives on discovery and excellence, FAU is pushing the boundaries of higher education. Florida Atlantic's faculty and staff are trailblazers and innovators with a passion for finding creative solutions while advancing science, art, and technology in all disciplines. Our work environment is a hub of cultures from across the nation and the world, making FAU a place where collaboration flourishes. Summary of Responsibilities Include: * Performs as a NOAA NMFS authorized primary responder on marine mammal strandings and collects Level A stranding data, working in the field and office. * Performs as a co-investigator on population assessment permit. Duties include boat-based surveys, photo analysis, data entry and data QA/QC. * Assists with maintenance of vessels, vehicles and equipment used for operations. * Participates in on-call rotation with other members of the group. * Assists with curation of marine mammal tissue archives. * Participates in presentations or other outreach activities regarding stranding and population assessments. * Assists with necropsy facilities maintenance and management operations. * Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor of Science from an accredited institution in Biology, Environmental Sciences, or related field with one year of marine mammal stranding experience and related activities required. Appropriate college coursework may substitute at an equivalent rate for the required experience. Must have valid Florida driver’s license with acceptable driving record or the ability to obtain within 30 days of hire required. Successfully complete the USGS Motorboat Operator Certification (MOCC) within 6 months of hire required. Experience driving various vessels in coastal and offshore waters required. Comfortable driving large vehicles and towing boats required. Florida certificate of Boating Safety Education required or the ability to obtain within 30 days of hire required. Ability to become a NOAA NMFS primary responder on marine mammal stranding activities (Article 3 and 4) required within one year of hire. Ability to immediately be approved for NOAA NMFS primary responder is preferred. The ability to be able to work within a team and independently required. Experience with population assessment data collection, photo-ID boat surveys, photo analysis and database input preferred. Experience with Microsoft Office preferred. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential to success in this position. Salary: $16.76 - $21.07 per hour College or Department: Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Location: Harbor Branch (HBOI) Work Days and Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Ability to work flexible hours including on-call times on weeknights, weekends, and holidays to meet program objectives required as needed. Application Deadline: 2021-03-30-07:00 How to Apply Applications must be submitted electronically on the FAU Jobs site, www.fau.edu/jobs<http://www.fau.edu/jobs>. Special Instructions to Applicant: Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodation, please call 561-297-3057. 711 Preference in appointment will be given to eligible veterans, spouses of eligible veterans, and certain family members of eligible veterans, in accordance with Florida Statutes, Section 295.07. Please submit your DD214 (Member 4 preferred) showing your dates and character of service with your application as an attachment or fax to 561-297-3915 or scan and email to jobs(a)fau.edu, prior to the closing date of the position. If faxing your DD214, please also send an email to jobs(a)fau.edu to notify us that the form was faxed, make sure the email includes your name and the REQ# of the job that was applied to. Final candidate will be required to have official, sealed transcripts and original NACES evaluation, if applicable, sent from their educational institution to Human Resources prior to the start of employment. Successful completion of a background check, which may include a motor vehicle check, credit check, fingerprinting or additional screening, is required for the selected candidate prior to the start date. A resume and a cover letter are required for this position. Make sure to attach these required documents in the Attachments section of the application. Any missing required documents may result in disqualification. This position is funded with recurring grant funds with an expiration date on June 30, 2022. Renewal of funding is anticipated; however, not guaranteed.

1 2

UF Spring online course - Aquatic Wildlife Health
by Larkin,Iskande (Iske) 08 Nov '21

08 Nov '21

Hi All, Registration is currently open for Spring 2020. The University of Florida, Aquatic Animal Health Program, is offering the following course for those that may be interested. Class begins Jan 6th and runs through Wednesday April 22nd. Registration will remain open until Friday, Jan 10th. Aquatic Wildlife Health Issues is an online course (3 credits) designed to introduce students (upper level undergraduate and graduate) and professionals (with an AA or higher degree) to the natural history, anatomy, physiology, behavior and common health issues of aquatic species: whales and dolphins, seals and sea lions, manatees, sea turtles, crocodilians, fish and invertebrates. For more information about the class or enrollment, contact Dr. Iskande Larkin (ivlarkin(a)ufl.edu)<mailto:ivlarkin@ufl.edu%29.*This> Sincerely, Dr Iske Larkin [Description: AAH logo blue E-Mail Sig] Iske V. Larkin, PhD Lecturer & Education Coordinator Interim Director Aquatic Animal Health Program Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine University of Florida PO Box 100136 2015 SW 16th Ave Gainesville, Florida 32610 Office phone - 352-294-4095 Work cell - 352-494-1742 Fax - 352-392-8289 Program web page: http://aquatic.vetmed.ufl.edu<http://aquatic.vetmed.ufl.edu/> "To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world." -Anonymous ________________________________ Please note that Florida has a broad public records law, and that all correspondence to or from University of Florida employees via email may be subject to disclosure.

1 3