June 2021 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

FALL Internship Opportunities Available with Hawaii Marine Animal Response
by marisa.goin＠h-mar.org 05 Jun '21

05 Jun '21

JOIN OUR FIELD RESPONSE TEAM on the beautiful island of Oahu in the State of Hawaii. We are accepting applications for interns for our Fall 2021 internship period. The deadline is July 31, however, applications will be reviewed as they come in, and positions will be assigned as responses are received so apply soon. Here is more detail about this opportunity. ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION Hawaii Marine Animal Response (HMAR) is the field operations arm of Hawaii Marine Mammal Alliance Inc. and is the largest Hawaii-based non-profit marine species conservation and response organization. We cover nearly 300 miles of coastline on the islands of Oahu and Molokai with our team of volunteers, interns and staff. We are a U.S. based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation, conservation and stewardship of Hawaii's protected marine species and our ocean ecosystem. We focus our work on marine species whose natural behaviors and habitat put animals in close proximity to and are therefore most affected by human impacts. These species include the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, the threatened green sea turtle, the endangered hawksbill sea turtle and several vulnerable seabird species. HMAR is supported by private donations, corporate funding and government grants and operates under partnerships with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the State of Hawaii and others. More information about HMAR is available at http://h-mar.org. FIELD OUTREACH AND SUPPORT (FSO) TEAM INTERN DUTIES: -Responding to sightings of endangered or threatened marine species such as Hawaiian monk seals and sea turtles to provide shoreline response to haul-outs and strandings. -Perform or assist in field escalations, interventions, stranding support and rescues. -Report on animal behavior, provide animal assessment information, provide photo-documentation and other important data used in protected marine species research, health management and species recovery efforts. -Perform outreach to the public to teach sustainable human interaction and fishery behaviors and encourage stewardship of protected marine species and the ocean ecosystem. -Participate in dispatch and reporting activity such as the taking and documenting phone call reports of marine species activity, coordinating field response activity, data entry and generating reports. LOCATION: These positions require on-island travel throughout the island of Oahu in the State of Hawaii. FIELD SUPPORT AND OUTREACH (FSO) INTERN GENERAL REQUIREMENTS: -This is an un-paid internship that requires the intern to live on the island of Oahu in the State of Hawaii for the period beginning 2 weeks prior to the start of the internship until the end of the internship. The intern is responsible for all lodging, living and transportation costs associated with the internship. -U.S. citizenship or possession of a passport and all applicable visas and work permits are needed prior to and during the internship period. -18 or more years of age. -English language fluency. -Must be a degree-seeking student or a graduate of a college or university program associated with one of the following courses of study: marine biology, marine ecology, conservation, environmental science or a related field. -Minimum grade point average (GPA). For college/university graduates, a 2.7 cumulative GPA prior to the internship. For current students, a 2.7 cumulative GPA prior to and during the internship. -If college credit for this internship is desired it is the responsibility of the intern to obtain necessary approvals from the applicable college or university. -Ability to walk in sandy, rocky and unstable shoreline conditions for 2 miles. - Ability to work outdoors in a sunny, rainy, windy and hot climate. -Ability to lift and carry a minimum of 75 pounds for 100 feet in shoreline beach and rocky conditions. -Ability to swim required. -Ability to maintain a calm demeanor in potentially stressful conditions. -Possess a team-based work ethic and attitude. -Acceptance of our Intern Policies, Waivers, Releases and Indemnifications agreement. -Attend mandatory in-field or classroom training sessions as required. - Possess an interest in and a desire to engage with the public. - Must have access to a reliable car or truck (truck preferred) during the internship period. Motorcycles or scooters will not be sufficient. -Possession of a valid driver's license. -Proof of automobile insurance carrying Hawaii minimum liability coverage levels. -Access to a cellular phone with 4G data service and camera. -Access to a digital camera (not a smartphone) with at least a 35X zoom lens and Wi-Fi capability. If it does not have wifi capability, you can buy an adapter. FIELD SUPPORT AND OUTREACH INTERNSHIP ACTIVITY EXPECTATIONS: - Internship term: Minimum of 3 months (may be extended for up to 1 year upon mutual agreement). Start date for 3-month minimum internship is somewhat flexible, but must be between September 15th and November 30th, 2020. Interns must be on Oahu, settled and ready to begin training at least 2 weeks prior to the internship start date. -Hours per week: 25 hours minimum, however, due to the unpredictable nature of marine animal response, the intern may sometimes be required to work beyond, or outside of, their normal scheduled hours. Work hours flexibility is required. Travel time to and from training and field response locations is not included in these minimum hours. The intern must be able and willing to work flexible hours including weekends and holidays. -The intern must be available for response anywhere on the Island of Oahu in the State of Hawaii. FIELD SUPPORT AND OUTREACH INTERNSHIP DEADLINE AND APPLICATION PROCESS: The deadline for Fall 2021 internships is July 31, 2021, however, applications will be reviewed as they come in and internship positions will be assigned as they are received so apply soon. You can find more information about the internship at https://h-mar.org/jointheteam/. To apply, please go to http://h-mar.org/application and complete the online application. IN ADDITION to completion of the online application, please submit the following information via email to marisa.goin(a)h-mar.org. A cover letter of interest, maximum of 1 page, including your dates of availability. Confirmation that you have, or will have, access to a reliable car or truck during the internship period (truck preferred). A resume describing your training, experience, relevant skills and GPA (maximum of 2 pages). Names and contact information for three references. Your application cannot be considered unless both the online application and the required documents listed above are received. We look forward to receiving your application and thank you for your interest in Hawaii Marine Animal Response (HMAR). Marisa Goin Field Support & Outreach Lead Internship Coordinator Hawaii Marine Animal Response marisa.goin(a)h-mar.org Direct: (808) 225-1228 Sighting Hotline: (888) 256-9840

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Looking for pictures showing the blow of an Atlantic white-sided dolphin, white-beaked dolphin or harbour porpoise
by Jan Herrmann 05 Jun '21

05 Jun '21

Dear MARMAM community, we are looking for pictures showing the blow of an Atlantic white-sided dolphin, white-beaked dolphin or harbour porpoise. The UNESCO World Heritage Wadden Sea Visitor Centre in Wilhelmshaven, Germany is currently remodelling its exhibition. In the whale room there will be a game where visitors have to identify a whale by its blow. While it is no problem to get corresponding photos or videos of large whales, the blow of harbour porpoises and dolphins is only clearly visible under certain weather conditions, if at all. Did you manage to take such a picture or film? We would be happy to show your footage in our exhibition. Please get in touch with Dr. Juliana Köhler, info(a)wattenmeer-besucherzentrum.de. Many thanks, Jan -- Jan Herrmann Cetacea.de Heidkämpe 25 | 26409 Wittmund | Germany +49 4462 923341 | jan.herrmann(a)cetacea.de

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Job Opportunity Pre-announcement Notification
by Rebeccah Hazelkorn - NOAA Federal 04 Jun '21

04 Jun '21

This email is to announce the intention of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to post a solicitation within the next 30 days. Advanced notice is provided to alert potentially interested parties given the busy summer study season, however the official and expanded announcement to follow should be referenced for all application information. Please feel free to circulate broadly. *Questions on the solicitation will not be answered until an official announcement has been made.* *GENERAL INFORMATION* In 2016, the Natural Resource Trustees for the *Deepwater Horizon* oil spill finalized a comprehensive restoration plan for the Gulf of Mexico that includes a settlement of up to $8.8 billion in order to resolve claims for natural resource damages related to the spill. Initial research and injury assessments indicated injury to various marine mammal species as a result of the spill. The Trustees proposed funding for various marine mammal conservation efforts in the Gulf of Mexico to compensate for injuries incurred by these species. Specifically, the Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group approved and funded a marine mammal project titled “Reduce Impacts of Anthropogenic Noise on Cetaceans” and the project factsheet is available here: https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/2019-05%20OOT… The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) through a partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), seeks a qualified independent Contractor(s) to support work under the initial phase of the anthropogenic underwater noise reduction project to identify and prioritize locations and sources of underwater noise within the Gulf of Mexico based on their impact to cetaceans; and to prioritize noise reduction opportunities that show the greatest potential for testing in future phases. This solicitation is part of a larger project that includes both short and long-term acoustic monitoring that will be used to evaluate pilot project effectiveness and overall project success. NFWF will employ a competitive process that assesses the Offerors’ plan for achieving stated work items, technical qualifications, and cost considerations. The award level will be based on the Foundation’s evaluation of the proposal and budget documentation. The contract period of performance is estimated to be two years but may be extended. The selected Contractor(s) should have the willingness and ability to start immediately (within 2 weeks of offer) and travel within the Gulf of Mexico region when appropriate and safe to do so. *SCOPE OF WORK* The selected Contractor(s) will support the Project Management Team (PMT) in the implementation of three tasks; 1) Risk Assessment and Sound Propagation Modeling, 2) Industry Collaboration and Engagement and 3) Development of a Recommended Options Paper. Offerors should indicate which task(s) they wish to complete and describe the knowledge and experience that qualifies them to perform the role(s) identified. If several Offerors apply as a team who would collectively perform all three tasks, the proposal should clearly itemize the distribution of labor expected among the entities, should ensure that the full list of requirements can be accounted for across the team as a whole and that a clear plan is proposed to support coordination among team members, which will be supported by NFWF if the team is selected. The level of effort required will vary by year and within a given year. A ‘not to exceed cost’ will be negotiated upon award. -- Rebeccah A. Hazelkorn Protected Resources Division NOAA, NMFS, Southeast Regional Office 263 13th Avenue South St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Office: 727-551-5751 Cell: 941-724-3906

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JNCC MMO AND PAM TRAINING BY SEICHE TRAINING
by Sherry Baruwa 04 Jun '21

04 Jun '21

Good morning, Seiche Training is pleased to inform you of its first classroom session this year for our MMO, PSO and PAM courses JNCC Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) Training Course (GBP 250 +VAT per person) DATE – 12th and 13th July 2021 LOCATION – Okehampton, Devon, UK Passive Acoustic Monitoring and PAMGUARD Software Training Course (GBP 375 per person) Date – 14th to 16th July 2021 LOCATION – Okehampton, Devon, UK Our Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) course is accredited by Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and run over two days to provide comprehensive coverage of the MMO role. Insight into life offshore and the practicalities of the MMO role ensure a very thorough preparation for prospective MMOs. However, those from an industry background (working alongside MMOs) will benefit from the full exploration of the complexities of mitigation requirements. A scientific background will be an advantage to delegates and a keen interest in marine mammals is key. Our well established Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) course is a three-day course that provides comprehensive PAM training for personnel new to the offshore industry. This course provides the skills needed to use all equipment currently in the marketplace and is aimed at delegates with a scientific background, preferably in biology and marine sciences. The course includes modules on sound in water, marine mammal evolutionary biology and sound production, anthropogenic noise sources and their effect on marine mammals, PAM principles and the role of the PAM operator, Seiche PAM hardware with deployment and operations, PAM software and an introduction to PAMGuard. Our PAM course also includes a practical boat trip on day three. To register on any of our courses, please send an email to training(a)seiche.com<mailto:training@seiche.com> Seiche Training Limited https://www.seiche.com/training/ Kind regards, Sherry [Seiche Ltd]<http://www.seiche.com/> Sherry Baruwa Business Administrator Seiche Ltd Bradworthy Industrial Estate, Langdon Road, Bradworthy, Holsworthy, Devon, EX22 7SF, United Kingdom <https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bradworthy+Industrial+Estate,+Langdon+Roa…> T: +44(0)1409 404050<tel:+44(0)1409%20404050> E: s.baruwa(a)seiche.com<mailto:s.baruwa@seiche.com> W: www.seiche.com<http://www.seiche.com> Registered in England & Wales No. 3475558, Registered Office: The Custom House, The Strand, Barnstaple, Devon The information contained in this e-mail transmission, and any documents, files or previous e-mail messages attached to it, is privileged and confidential, and solely intended for the use of the individual(s) to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient or a person responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient you should not read, copy, distribute or otherwise use the information, and you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of any of the information contained in or attached to this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify sender immediately and delete this e-mail and attached documents. Sherry Baruwa Training Administrator Seiche Ltd T: +44(0)1409 404050 E: s.baruwa(a)seiche.com W: https://www.seiche.com Bradworthy Industrial Estate, Langdon Road, Bradworthy, Holsworthy, Devon, EX22 7SF, United Kingdom Registered in England & Wales No. 03475558, Registered Office: C/O Seiche Group, Bradworthy Industrial Estate, Langdon Road, Bradworthy, Holsworthy, Devon, EX22 7SF, United Kingdom The information contained in this e-mail transmission, and any documents, files or previous e-mail messages attached to it, is privileged and confidential, and solely intended for the use of the individual(s) to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient or a person responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient you should not read, copy, distribute or otherwise use the information, and you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of any of the information contained in or attached to this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify sender immediately and delete this e-mail and attached documents.

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Cetacean Session #6: You are what you eat - PCBs in North Atlantic Killer Whales
by Jared Towers 03 Jun '21

03 Jun '21

In Cetacean Sessions #6 on Thursday, June 10th at 4:00 pm Pacific Time we will take a closer look at the high PCB levels in different populations of killer whales in the northern North Atlantic. Anaïs Remili will discuss results from her paper 'Individual prey specialization drives PCB levels in Icelandic killer whales' recently published in Environmental Science and Technology and Clare Andvik will provide an overview of results from her latest papers 'High levels of legacy and emerging contaminants in killer whales (Orcinus orca) from Norway, 2015 to 2017' published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry and 'Preying on seals pushes killer whales from Norway above pollution effects thresholds' published in Scientific Reports. This is the final Cetacean Session of Season 1 and is focused on the issue of PCBs in killer whales in honour of Orca month. Presentation and discussion will be followed by live Q&A with the audience. Register for the session at https://www.crowdcast.io/e/cetacean-session-6/register Cetacean Sessions is a bi-weekly webinar series where we discuss impactful recently published scientific research on cetaceans with those conducting it around the world. Cetacean Sessions is informal, educational, interactive and geared towards those working with or interested in cetaceans. You can register for sessions and follow our channel for free at https://www.crowdcast.io/cetaceansessions Thx. Jared Towers

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Biomarkers of Failed Pregnancy in Bottlenose Dolphins
by Ashley Barratclough 03 Jun '21

03 Jun '21

Dear All, My co-authors and I would like to share our Open Access publication in Diseases of Aquatic Organisms: Barratclough, Ashley, Forrest M. Gomez, Jeanine S. Morey, Jennifer M. Meegan, Celeste Parry, Lori Schwacke, Eric D. Jensen, and Cynthia R. Smith. "Biochemical and hematological biomarkers of reproductive failure in bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus." Diseases of aquatic organisms 144 (2021): 197-208. https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/dao/v144/p197-208/ <https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/dao/v144/p197-208/> DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03591 <https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03591> ABSTRACT: The physiological demands of pregnancy inevitably result in alterations in both biochemical and hematological parameters as fetal development occurs. The shifts observed in successful pregnancy in bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus to support both fetal physiological needs and maternal basal requirements have been established according to each trimester. Detecting aberrations in blood-based biomarkers could help facilitate diagnosis of gestational abnormalities, improve our understanding of factors influencing reproductive outcomes and aid in prediction of reproductive failure. This study retrospectively analyzed 263 blood samples from 15 bottlenose dolphins in 21 failed pregnancies over 28 yr (1989-2017). Most samples remained within normal pregnancy reference ranges; however, significant shifts were observed between trimesters. Hematological alterations, compared to successful pregnancy reference ranges from previously published data, were consistent across failed pregnancies and included an increased prevalence of elevated 2nd and 3rd trimester neutrophils, elevated 2nd trimester monocytes and decreased 3rd trimester eosinophils. In addition, low hematocrit and low red blood cells were more prevalent in the 2nd trimester. Biochemical shifts included an increased prevalence of elevated creatine phosphokinase in the 3rd trimester outside of the normal reference ranges. Across failed pregnancies, calcium and iron were decreased in the 3rd trimester. Significantly decreased progesterone in the 3rd trimester was a negative prognostic indicator of pregnancy outcome with decreasing 3rd trimester progesterone associated with failed pregnancy. This study demonstrates the use of blood-based biomarkers as possible predictors of pregnancy outcome in bottlenose dolphins. KEY WORDS: Dolphin · Pregnancy · Failure · Blood · Biochemistry · Hematology · Biomarker Best Wishes, Ashley Barratclough Conservation Medicine Veterinarian National Marine Mammal Foundation 2240 Shelter Island Drive San Diego, CA 92106

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First evidence of bubble-net feeding and the formation of ‘super-groups’ by the east Australian population of humpback whales during their southward migration
by Vanessa Pirotta (HDR) 03 Jun '21

03 Jun '21

Dear MARMAM readers, My colleagues and I would like to share our new publication: First evidence of bubble-net feeding and the formation of ‘super-groups’ by the east Australian population of humpback whales during their southward migration. Pirotta V, Owen K, Donnelly D, Brasier MJ, Harcourt R. First evidence of bubble-net feeding and the formation of ‘super-groups’ by the east Australian population of humpback whales during their southward migration. Aquatic Conserv: Mar Freshw Ecosyst. 2021;1–8. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3621 Abstract 1. The recovery of overexploited populations is likely to reveal behaviours that may have been present prior to harvest but are only now reappearing as the population size increases. The east Australian humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) population (group V, stock E1) has recovered well from past exploitation and is now estimated to be close to the pre-whaling population size. 2. Humpback whales were thought to follow a ‘feast and famine’ model historically, feeding intensively in high-latitude feeding grounds and then fasting while migrating and in calving grounds; however, there is growing evidence that animals may feed outside of known foraging grounds. 3. This short article reports on the first photographically documented evidence of bubble-net feeding by humpback whales in Australian coastal waters (n = 10 groups observed) and provides the first evidence of a second site in the southern hemisphere for the formation of ‘super-groups’ (n = 6 super-groups at discrete locations). 4. The formation of super-groups may be linked to changes in the type or density of prey available, either along the migratory route or in the feeding grounds of the previous summer. It is also possible that the increased population size following recovery make large group sizes while feeding more common. These findings strongly support evidence that feeding behaviour is not restricted to high-latitude foraging grounds in the Southern Ocean, and that prey consumption prior to leaving the coastal waters of Australia may be a significant component of the migratory ecology of this population. 5. Understanding how environmental variation influences the extent to which humpback whales depend on foraging opportunities along their migratory route, and where feeding occurs, will help to predict how future changes in the ocean will influence whale populations. This will also allow for more effective management measures to reduce the impact of threats during this important period of energy consumption. Vanessa Dr. Vanessa Pirotta Marine Predator Research Group Department of Biological Sciences Faculty of Science and Engineering Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia Twitter: @vanessapirotta Superstar of STEM 2021-2022 Watch my TEDx talk here<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PXgFoTtwi0> [cid:9c1ab06f-565c-404b-ab7b-00ce0d5276bc]

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New paper on the vaquita just published
by Thomas Jefferson 02 Jun '21

02 Jun '21

Dear MARMAM, The vaquita, Gulf of California harbor porpoise (Phocoena sinus), is highly endangered. We present a synopsis of the situation, with a summary of earliest "scientific" discovery of the species. As an appendix, we are also fortunate to have a lovely retrospective by the great marine mammal biologist Kenneth S. Norris, of describing the species from several skulls found in the 1950's. Let us hope that vaquita may survive. Vaquita: beleaguered porpoise of the Gulf of California, México Bernd Würsig, Thomas A. Jefferson, Gregory K. Silber and Randall S. Wells The vaquita (Phocoena sinus), an endemic porpoise of the Gulf of California, México, was first described scientifically in 1958, from three skulls. It is considered a sister taxon of an ancestor of the Southern Hemisphere Burmeister’s porpoise (P. spinipinnis) and spectacled porpoise (P. dioptrica), a case of antitropical distribution and speciation. Vaquita in modern times seem to have existed largely in waters 10 to 30 m deep of the very northern Gulf of California, and may have already existed in relatively low numbers by the 1950s and 1960s. The external appearance of the vaquita was not described until the late 1970s, and not until the 1980s and 1990s did additional information about ecology and biology emerge. Those studies and more recent shipboard and aerial visual line transect surveys, as well as stationary and boat-towed acoustic arrays, mapped occurrence patterns and approximate numbers in greater detail than before. The first credible estimates of abundance appeared in the 1990s, with numbers in the mid-hundreds and declining. While several reasons for the decline were originally postulated, mortality due to entanglement in nets has been established as the only known cause of decline, especially due to bycatch in large-mesh gillnets set for the endangered croaker fish totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi). This fish is prized in China for human consumption of its swim bladder, generally ground up for purported therapeutic purposes. An extensive, lucrative fishery for totoaba, now illegal for many decades, has existed since at least the 1920s, and has recently increased. Although there have been laudable attempts to stem or halt totoaba fishing, these have largely been unsuccessful, and as of this writing the vaquita is on the brink of extinction. However, rapid concentrated action against illegal fishing with gillnets may yet save the species, and hope (with attendant action) must be kept alive. This overview is followed by an appendix of a previously unpublished popular essay by K.S. Norris describing when, where, and how he first discovered the species, and subsequent early work relative to this newly-described porpoise. The PDF is available for free download at this link: https://www.revistas-conacyt.unam.mx/therya/index.php/THERYA/article/view/1… Bernd Würsig and co-authors

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New publications on spatial capture-recapture models for marine mammal surveys
by Gowan, Tim 02 Jun '21

02 Jun '21

We are pleased to announce 2 recent publications that may be of interest. Both papers, which include accompanying R code, are Open Access. Timothy A. Gowan, Nathan J. Crum, Jason J. Roberts. 2021. An open spatial capture-recapture model for estimating density, movement, and population dynamics from line-transect surveys. Ecology and Evolution [Early View] https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7566 Abstract: The purpose of many wildlife population studies is to estimate density, movement, or demographic parameters. Linking these parameters to covariates, such as habitat features, provides additional ecological insight and can be used to make predictions for management purposes. Line-transect surveys, combined with distance sampling methods, are often used to estimate density at discrete points in time, whereas capture-recapture methods are used to estimate movement and other demographic parameters. Recently, open population spatial capture-recapture models have been developed, which simultaneously estimate density and demographic parameters, but have been made available only for data collected from a fixed array of detectors and have not incorporated the effects of habitat covariates. We developed a spatial capture-recapture model that can be applied to line-transect survey data by modeling detection probability in a manner analogous to distance sampling. We extend this model to a) estimate demographic parameters using an open population framework and b) model variation in density and space use as a function of habitat covariates. The model is illustrated using simulated data and aerial line-transect survey data for North Atlantic right whales in the southeastern United States, which also demonstrates the ability to integrate data from multiple survey platforms and accommodate differences between strata or demographic groups. When individuals detected from line-transect surveys can be uniquely identified, our model can be used to simultaneously make inference on factors that influence spatial and temporal variation in density, movement, and population dynamics. Nathan J. Crum, Lisa C. Neyman, Timothy A. Gowan. 2021. Abundance estimation for line transect sampling: A comparison of distance sampling and spatial capture-recapture models. PLoS ONE 16(5): e0252231 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0252231 Abstract: Accurate and precise abundance estimation is vital for informed wildlife conservation and management decision-making. Line transect surveys are a common sampling approach for abundance estimation. Distance sampling is often used to estimate abundance from line transect survey data; however, search encounter spatial capture-recapture can also be used when individuals in the population of interest are identifiable. The search encounter spatial capture-recapture model has rarely been applied, and its performance has not been compared to that of distance sampling. We analyzed simulated datasets to compare the performance of distance sampling and spatial capture-recapture abundance estimators. Additionally, we estimated the abundance of North Atlantic right whales in the southeastern United States with two formulations of each model and compared the estimates. Spatial capture-recapture abundance estimates had lower root mean squared error than distance sampling estimates. Spatial capture-recapture 95% credible intervals for abundance had nominal coverage, i.e., contained the simulating value for abundance in 95% of simulations, whereas distance sampling credible intervals had below nominal coverage. Moreover, North Atlantic right whale abundance estimates from distance sampling models were more sensitive to model specification compared to spatial capture-recapture estimates. When estimating abundance from line transect data, researchers should consider using search encounter spatial capture-recapture when individuals in the population of interest are identifiable, when line transects are surveyed over multiple occasions, when there is imperfect detection of individuals located on the line transect, and when it is safe to assume the population of interest is closed demographically. When line transects are surveyed over multiple occasions, researchers should be aware that individual space use may induce spatial autocorrelation in counts across transects. This is not accounted for in common distance sampling estimators and leads to overly precise abundance estimates. ------------------- Timothy Gowan Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute 100 8th Avenue SE St. Petersburg, FL 33701 tim.gowan(a)myfwc.com<mailto:tim.gowan@myfwc.com>

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Join the 2021 International Cetacean Symposium & TEDxCityUHongKong (11-12 June 2021)
by Dr. KOT Brian Chin Wing 02 Jun '21

02 Jun '21

Dear friends of MARMAM, Hope you are doing well and staying healthy in these tough COVID-19 times. While things are getting better in 2021, we are delighted to announce our annual "International Cetacean Symposium" with the theme of "Interaction" will be back on 11 June 2021 (HK time - UTC+8), where invited experts will share their knowledge and experiences with the wider community on a range of topics covered natural and human impacts on cetacean health in multi-disciplinary dimension. Apart from "2021 International Cetacean Symposium", this year we will also bring TEDx conference alongside by hosting "TEDxCityUHongKong" with the theme as "Sink or Swim" on 12 June 2021 (HK time - UTC+8). It is never an easy task for us, as a researcher, academic or person who works for animal and conservation. The result always highly depends on one's effort. We aim to bring together minds to give talks that are idea-focused, and on a wide range of subjects, to foster learning, inspiration and wonder, and provoke conversations that matter. Two sessions, i.e. morning and evening session will be held in a hybrid mode, with live online broadcast and physical attendance respectively. The venue of the evening session will be in the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, located at the Central Pier 8, Hong Kong. NO registration fee is applied on both events, but all the participants are required to register to the events via the online registration links provided below in advance. Space is limited. Reservations will be accepted in the order they are received. Please register only once. It would be our honoured to have you and your colleague joining us on these 2 days. We hope that the events we put together is as interesting to you, as they are to us! Please also find the following links for your reference: 2021 International Cetacean Symposium Details: https://bit.ly/3fgNMzH Invited speaker full list and talk titles: https://bit.ly/3fIgpHB Registration: https://forms.gle/EagFC76FmEVdd4mT7 TEDxCityUHongKong Details: https://bit.ly/2RgdEne Invited speaker full list and talk titles: https://bit.ly/3uICPws Registration: https://forms.gle/nPpzacucaMhYLqMr5 For any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me (briankot(a)cityu.edu.hk<mailto:briankot@cityu.edu.hk>), Mr. Henry Tsui (cltsui9(a)cityu.edu.hk<mailto:cltsui9@cityu.edu.hk>) or Dr. Tabris Chung (ytchung(a)cityu.edu.hk<mailto:ytchung@cityu.edu.hk>) anytime. Please circulate as you deem appropriate to interested parties. Act Fast, Make Plans Now to Attend and we look forward to seeing you all soon. Warm regards, Brian Kot Ph.D. in Diagnostic Imaging, B.Sc. (Hons) in Radiography, Cert. (RPC), Cert. (Virtopsy) Visiting Assistant Professor Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences City University of Hong Kong cum Research Associate State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution City University of Hong Kong E: briankot(a)cityu.edu.hk<mailto:briankot@cityu.edu.hk>, briankot(a)yahoo.co.uk<mailto:briankot@yahoo.co.uk> W: https://www.cityu.edu.hk/jcc/staff/dr-brian-kot-chin-wing Aquatic Animal Virtopsy Lab Follow us at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AAVLab2014 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aavlab2014 Disclaimer: This email (including any attachments) is for the use of the intended recipient only and may contain confidential information and/or copyright material. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately and delete this email and all copies from your system. Any unauthorized use, disclosure, reproduction, copying, distribution, or other form of unauthorized dissemination of the contents is expressly prohibited.

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