December 2022 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Marine Mammals of Maine 2023 Harbor Seal Pup Internship Announcement
by Walk, Dominique 14 Dec '22

14 Dec '22

*Marine Mammals of Maine 2023 Summer Internship Announcement* Marine Mammals of Maine (MMoME) is accepting applications for our summer harbor seal pup season internship, now through January 31st, 2023. MMoME is a non-profit organization federally authorized to respond to live and dead marine mammals and sea turtles between Kittery and Rockland, Maine, covering some of the busiest seal stranding activity on the East Coast. MMoME also operates a unique triage and rehabilitation center which provides critical care to nearly 50 sick and injured pinnipeds annually. Additionally, our mission and work heavily encompass marine mammal research, education, and outreach. MMoME is seeking up to six motivated, flexible, positive, and independent interns who will be given the unique opportunity to participate in a variety of activities. Interns will learn marine mammal field health assessment, handling, basic husbandry and clinical care of pinnipeds, as well as Level A data collection, necropsy, and sampling of deceased marine mammals. The internship is based out of Midcoast Maine (town of Brunswick), though travel throughout our response region and New England will be necessary. Interns will work as a team alongside veterinary preceptors and volunteers to accomplish MMoME’s broad scope of work during our busiest time of year and will be required to dedicate a minimum of 40-50 hours per week to the internship (approximately 4 days/week). These hours will include holidays, weekends, late nights and early mornings. This internship is unpaid, though many seasonal job opportunities are available in the area. Housing is not provided but staff may be able to assist with sourcing options. *Key Tasks and Responsibilities:* *Stranding Response:* respond to live and dead cetacean, pinniped, and sea turtle strandings to collect Level A data, perform health assessment, and monitor, relocate, and collect for rehabilitation or humane euthanasia. Carcass collection for disposal or necropsy will also be required. *Patient Care:* assist with all aspects relating to the care of sick, injured, and abandoned pinnipeds (primarily harbor seal pups) undergoing short, or long-term care at MMoME’s center. Tasks include extensive cleaning, meal prep, tube-feeding, assisting with medical procedures, animal restraint for exams, running lab samples, charting and medical record maintenance, and patient transport to other long-term care facilities. *Necropsy:* transport carcasses to necropsy and compost sites, assist staff with necropsy of fresh dead pinnipeds and cetaceans, archive necropsy samples, and maintain and clean necropsy equipment. *Education and Outreach:* give presentations to the public about the organization and our work, attend outreach and fundraising events, and help create educational materials. *Other Tasks:* Additional time will be spent on data entry, fundraising, lots of cleaning, and other tasks as needed. *Internship Requirements:* - Must be 18 years of age or older to apply. This internship is open to undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in an accredited college or university, or recently graduated within 2 years from an undergraduate program. -The ideal candidate is working towards a career in marine mammal science, veterinary technology, marine biology, environmental education, or a related field. -Must commit to at least three months, and be available from May 8, 2023 through August 18th, or October 20th, 2023. *All interns must be able to start on May 8th.* -Must have a valid driver’s license, a good driving record, a reliable vehicle, and comfortable driving a full-size truck in urban and rural areas. -Must be able to work independently and as part of a team with other veterinary and non-veterinary interns and be adaptable to a fast-paced, changing and unpredictable schedule. -Must be able to lift at least 50 pounds and be in good physical shape. -Individuals that are passionate, responsible, hardworking, eager to learn, flexible, able to work under minimal supervision, able to work well with others as a team member, and detail-oriented are encouraged to apply. -Preference given to individuals with a demonstrated interest in marine mammals and are specifically interested in marine mammal response and care. Previous marine mammal experience or animal husbandry a plus. *How to Apply:* Please send a letter of interest which addresses the following questions: 1. Why you would like to be considered for this internship 2. How you meet the requirements 3. What your expectations of this internship are 4. What you hope to gain from this internship 5. The start and end dates you can commit to Your application must also include a resume and one professional letter of recommendation. Completed applications can be sent to info(a)mmome.org by 11:59 PM EST on January 31st, 2023. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Learn more at MMoME's website by visiting www.mmome.org. We look forward to your application for this exciting and unique experience! *Dominique Walk* *Assistant Stranding Coordinator* *Marine Mammals of MaineOffice: 207-844-8718* *Reporting Hotline: 1-800-532-9551* *www.mmome.org <http://www.mmome.org>*

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New publication: Vessel traffic influences distribution of Aotearoa New Zealand's endemic dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori)
by William Carome 14 Dec '22

14 Dec '22

My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of a paper observing a relationship between vessel traffic and the acoustic presence of endangered and endemic Hector's dolphins in Marine Mammal Science. The citation and abstract are given below and the full .pdf is available via open access at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/mms.12995 Carome, W., Rayment, W., Slooten, E., Bowman, M. H., & Dawson, S. M. (2022). Vessel traffic influences distribution of Aotearoa New Zealand's endemic dolphin (*Cephalorhynchus hectori*). *Marine Mammal Science*, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.1299522 Cetacean tourism and vessel traffic have grown considerably around the world in recent decades. At Akaroa Harbor, Aotearoa New Zealand, recreational vessel traffic, dolphin tourism, and cruise ship presence increased substantially between 2008 and 2020. We examined the relationship between vessel traffic parameters and the presence of Hector’s dolphins (*Cephalorhynchus hectori*) during the austral summer 2019 – 2020, using automated vessel tracking and autonomous passive acoustic monitoring. Data were collected between December 2019 and May 2020, including the entirety of the first COVID-19 nationwide lockdown. Generalized additive models revealed that increasing levels of motor vessel traffic, the presence of cruise ships, and high levels of dolphin tour vessel traffic resulted in decreases in acoustic detections of dolphins. Our findings suggest that Hector’s dolphins at Akaroa Harbor were displaced from core habitat in response to each of these vessel traffic parameters. We recommend that managers use immediately actionable tools to reduce the impacts of vessels on these dolphins. You are very welcome to contact me (william.carome(a)gmail.com) with any questions. Ngā mihi, Will Carome -- William Carome Aerial Observer | Right Whale Ecology Program | Center for Coastal Studies MSc, Marine Science | Te Whare Wānanga o Otāgo | University of Otago william.carome(a)gmail.com | (+1) 202-531-1033

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New publication: Multimodal assessment of bottlenose dolphin auditory nuclei using 7-Tesla MRI, immunohistochemistry and stereology
by Ksenia Orekhova 13 Dec '22

13 Dec '22

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are very happy to share our most recent publication on the *Multimodal assessment of bottlenose dolphin auditory nuclei using 7-Tesla MRI, immunohistochemistry and stereology*. You will find the open access publication here: https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9120692 Citation: Orekhova, K.; Selmanovic, E.; De Gasperi, R.; Gama Sosa, M.A.; Wicinski, B.; Maloney, B.; Seifert, A.; Alipour, A.; Balchandani, P.; Gerussi, T.; Graïc, J.-M.; Centelleghe, C.; Di Guardo, G.; Mazzariol, S.; Hof, P.R. Multimodal Assessment of Bottlenose Dolphin Auditory Nuclei Using 7-Tesla MRI, Immunohistochemistry and Stereology. *Vet. Sci.* *2022*, *9*, 692. Abstract: The importance of assessing neurochemical processes in the cetacean brain as a tool for monitoring their cognitive health and to indirectly model human neurodegenerative conditions is increasingly evident, although available data are largely semiquantitative. High-resolution MRI for post-mortem brains and stereology allow for quantitative assessments of the cetacean brain. In this study, we scanned two brains of bottlenose dolphins in a 7-Tesla (7T) MR scanner and assessed the connectivity of the inferior colliculi and ventral cochlear nuclei using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Serial thick sections were investigated stereologically in one of the dolphins to generate rigorous quantitative estimates of identifiable cell types according to their morphology and expression of molecular markers, yielding reliable cell counts with most coefficients of error <10%. Fibronectin immunoreactivity in the dolphin resembled the pattern in a human chronic traumatic encephalopathy brain, suggesting that neurochemical compensation for insults such as hypoxia may constitute a noxious response in humans, while being physiological in dolphins. These data contribute to a growing body of knowledge on the morphological and neurochemical properties of the dolphin brain and highlight a stereological and neuroimaging workflow that may enable quantitative and translational assessment of pathological processes in the dolphin brain in the future. Please feel free to contact us for any questions you may have, or if you would be interested in sharing your samples for further analyses on cetacean brains. Best wishes, Ksenia Orekhova _____________________________________________________________ Ksenia Orekhova, DVM, Doctoral candidate Dipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata e Alimentazione (BCA) - Università degli Studi di Padova (It) ksenia.orekhova(a)phd.unipd.it ksenia.orekhova(a)studenti.unipd.it

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Two New Online Ocean Science Technical Training Courses!
by Elizabeth Ferguson 13 Dec '22

13 Dec '22

Greetings MARMAM Colleagues, We are pleased to announce the upcoming launch of two new online technical training courses, *PAM: Large Acoustic Datasets* and *R for Ocean Science Data Analysis*! Each course is accredited by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST <https://www.imarest.org/membership/education-careers/imarest-recognised-cpd…>), and is offered in an online, flexible format. Courses include a combination of guided videos, instructional materials, and scaffolded activities intended to provide you with hands-on software experience. *PAM: Large Dataset Analysis*: Big ocean data requires an efficient and effective means of analysis, and passive acoustic data is no exception! This training leads you through an analytical method using PAMGuard and acoustic packages in R programming language. *R for Ocean Science Data Analysis**:* Join us as we explore how to use R for a wide range of ocean science data needs, including data wrangling, visualization, and analysis. R is free, open source, and includes ample packages to do almost any desired ocean science analyses. This course is intended for beginner/novice learners and will take learners through intermediate skills. Details regarding each of the courses, including a list of course topics and registration can be found on Technical Training <https://www.oceanscienceanalytics.com/technical-training> page. For January 2023’s training session, we will be offering both courses, but *SPACE IS LIMITED* as these courses involve our support and feedback! Register today to secure your space by visiting the course page you are interested in. Ocean Science Analytics (OSA) is an ocean science research and online technical training company headquartered in San Diego, CA. We use our expertise in technology-based analytical methods and software tools to monitor and assess oceanic and coastal ecosystems for conservation and management purposes and provide technology-centered training to a broad audience. We are excited to partner with Jennifer Pettis Schallert of BioSci <https://www.biosci.science/> to bring you the R for Ocean Science Data Analysis course! For questions or more information, feel free to contact Liz Ferguson via eferguson(a)oceanscienceanalytics.com. Regards, Liz Ferguson *CEO and Founder* *Ocean Science Analytics* *www.oceanscienceanalytics.com <http://www.oceanscienceanalytics.com/>*

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Volunteer position at Cetacealab in British Columbia, Canada
by Hermann Meuter 13 Dec '22

13 Dec '22

CetaceaLab, aka Whalepoint, is a land based whale research station located in the territory of the Gitga’at First Nation on Gil Island, British Columbia, Canada. We are now accepting applications for the 2023 field season from mid May until the end of September. All positions are for a minimum of 4-8 weeks in duration. There is a weekly fee for food. These are volunteer/intern positions to help with the collection of visual and acoustic data on the habitat use and abundance of northern resident/transient Killer Whales, Humpback Whales and Fin Whales. Due to our extreme remote location, applicants need to be in good physical condition, able to participate in daily routine of living off the grid and comfortable sleeping in a tent in the wilderness of BC. There are no roads, very limited Internet access and very limited medical service. Daily shifts involve scanning for whales, documenting all sightings and behaviour and identifying whales. Listening and recording all whale vocalizations that are transmitted to the lab facility from our network of hydrophone stations Data entry from land based and marine vessel-based surveys. Identification work of all whales from photographs taken in the field. Experience in carpentry, electronics, social media, website building and environmental communications would be a valuable asset. Interested applicants should send their CV and a letter of motivation to: whalepoint(a)outlook.com<mailto:whalepoint@outlook.com> References will be contacted. More information about our research can be found at: www.whalepoint.org<http://www.whalepoint.org> All the Best and Good Luck, Hermann Meuter

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Shannon Dolphin Project - Volunteer Internships
by Mags Daly 13 Dec '22

13 Dec '22

The Shannon Dolphin Project (SDP) is offering several volunteer internships positions during the 2023 field season. The internship runs from May - September 2023 and the minimum duration for successful applicants is 10 weeks. *Background:* The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) is a registered charity and NGO in the West of Ireland. The group have been running the SDP photo ID catalogue since 1993, focused on monitoring Ireland’s only resident population of bottlenose dolphins. *Successful applicants will gain experience in:* Photo- ID techniques. Collecting and processing data. Improving field skills and gaining at sea experience – dedicated dolphin surveys / opportunistic surveying on tour boats. Education and Outreach to the public in the visitor centre. Complete other tasks assigned by the project manager. The internship will include one-week designated surveying on the IWDG’s research vessel, Celtic Mist. *Qualifications: *Applicants should have a Bsc. degree in biology, ecology, and/ or marine science program. Previous data collection experience in a research setting and or/ knowledge of marine mammals are great advantages. While training will be provided and no prior boating/ camera experience is required, skills in photography and a clean driving licence are also an advantage. *Expenses and housing: *This is an unpaid internship. Successful applicants are responsible for their living expenses. However, the IWDG will help organise accommodation. Rent and expenses will be approximately €350 per month *To apply: *Please send a cover letter and CV to mags.daly(a)iwdg.ie with Shannon Dolphin Project Intern as the subject line. Please also advise for provisional dates you are available for an online interview. *The closing date is close business on the 19th February 2023* Mags Daly Shannon Dolphin Project Officer Irish Whale & Dolphin Group Merchants Quay, Kilrush, Co. Clare Tel: 0838401102 Email: mags.daly(a)iwdg.ie Website:www.iwdg.ie

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New publication: The longest recorded movement of an inshore common bottlenose dolphin
by Tilen Genov 13 Dec '22

13 Dec '22

Dear MARMAM colleagues On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to announce the publication of our short paper in *Mammalian Biology*: Genov T., Železnik J., Bruno C., Ascheri D., Fontanesi E., Blasi M.F. (2022). The longest recorded movement of an inshore common bottlenose dolphin (*Tursiops truncatus*). *Mammalian Biology*. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42991-022-00316-5 This article is a contribution to the special issue on “Individual Identification and Photographic Techniques in Mammalian Ecological and Behavioural Research – Part 2: Field Studies and Applications” The paper is Open Access and freely available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42991-022-00316-5 ABSTRACT Information on movements and connectivity among populations of animals is important for the delineation of units to conserve, so that demographic parameters, such as abundance, fecundity and mortality, can be placed in an appropriate population and conservation context. Common bottlenose dolphins (*Tursiops truncatus*) are often considered relatively ‘resident’ and demonstrating strong site fidelity to specific areas. However, this perception may partly be an artefact of the distribution and ‘habitat use’ of cetacean researchers, rather than animals themselves, and bottlenose dolphins have been shown to be capable of substantial movements, often in relatively short periods of time. Here, we report on two long-distance movements of a common bottlenose dolphin within the Mediterranean Sea, across the Tyrrhenian, Ionian and Adriatic Seas, and subsequently back across all three seas to Ligurian Sea, making these the two longest recorded movement for this species in the Mediterranean Sea to date and some of the longest in the world. We also review published records of long-distance movements in this species worldwide. This study highlights the utility of photo-identification and the importance of regional data sharing. We argue that photo-identification comparisons are always worthwhile and the results are informative regardless of the presence or absence of matches, especially with the ongoing advances in automated matching software. Please email me at tilen.genov(a)gmail.com if you have any questions or difficulty accessing the paper. Best wishes, Tilen ______________________________________________________________________ Tilen Genov, PhD | Morigenos - Slovenian Marine Mammal Society <http://www.morigenos.org/en> | | Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews | | IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group | | twitter: @TilenGenov <https://twitter.com/TilenGenov> | @Morigenos_org <https://twitter.com/Morigenos_org> | @_SMRU_ <https://twitter.com/_SMRU_> | @IUCNCetaceanSG <https://twitter.com/IUCNCetaceanSG> |

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New publication: Early onset of postnatal individual vocal recognition in a highly colonial mammal species
by Mathilde Martin 12 Dec '22

12 Dec '22

Dear colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to inform you our new publication in /Proceedings of the Royal Society B/ *Early onset of postnatal individual vocal recognition in a highly colonial mammal species * Mathilde Martin, Tess Gridley, Simon Elwen, Isabelle Charrier Abstract: Mother–young vocal recognition is widespread in mammals. The features of vocal recognition are known to be shaped by the ecological constraints faced by each species. In some species, a rapid establishment of mother–young vocal recognition is crucial for offspring’s survival. However, knowledge of the precise features of this recognition system, especially the timing of the onset in the first hours after birth, is often lacking. Here we show that Cape fur seal females can recognize their pup’s voice 2–4 h after parturition and that pups develop this aptitude 4–6 h after birth. This study is the first to investigate this mechanism in a wild and free-ranging mammal from only 2 h after birth. We report the fastest establishment of mother–young vocal recognition for any mammalian species, including humans, described to date. Such early vocal identification in pups suggests an in utero vocal imprinting. These findings highlight the synergistic role of environmental constraints and biological traits in optimizing the timing of individual vocal recognition onset in vertebrates. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or would request the PDF Best regards, -- *Mathilde MARTIN* PhD Student Acoustic Communications Team, Department Cognition & Network Neuroscience NeuroPSI - Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience 151 rue de la Rotonde, 91400 Saclay, FRANCE https://neuropsi.cnrs.fr Tel: +33 (0)1 69 82 63 56 Email: mathilde.martin(a)universite-paris-saclay.fr Website: https://mathildemartin-research.com/

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New publication on the detection of microplastic particles in scats from different colonies of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) in the Gulf of California, Mexico
by José Ángel Ortega Borchardt 12 Dec '22

12 Dec '22

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce our recent publication in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin: Ortega-Borchardt, J.A., Ramirez-Alvarez, N., Rios Mendoza, L.M., Gallo-Reynoso, J.P., Barba-Acuna, I.D., Garcia-Hernandez, J., Egido-Villarreal, J., Kubenik, T. (2023) Detection of microplastic particles in scats from different colonies of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) in the Gulf of California, Mexico: A preliminary study. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114433 Abstract: Microplastics (MPs, < 5 mm in size) are highly bioavailable to many taxa within the marine ecosystem, either ingested directly or indirectly through trophic transfer from polluted prey. The ingestion analysis of these MPs from top predators, such as pinnipeds in Mexico, is relatively unexplored. Forty-eight scats from California sea lions were collected on six rookeries along the Gulf of California. From these scat samples, 294 suspected MPs particles were classified and chemically analyzed; 34% were synthetic and semi-synthetic, and 66% were non-synthetic. Blue-colored polyethylene terephthalate fibers were the most common type of MP registered. During laboratory work, multiple contamination control measures were implemented. Although the ingestion pathway is still unknown, our results support the other authors that suggest the potential trophic transfer of MPs to top predators and incidental ingestion while foraging. The particles documented here provide important baseline information for future MP research in the Gulf of California. Elsevier is kindly giving free access to our article to anyone clicking on this link before January 27, 2023: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1gDEB,asi2GiM All the best, M.C. Jose Angel Ortega Borchardt +52 (662) 137 6171 ResearchGate <https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jose-Ortega-Borchardt> LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseangelortegaborchardt/>

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New publication: Marine mammal presence in US marine sanctuaries
by Annamaria DeAngelis - NOAA Federal 12 Dec '22

12 Dec '22

Dear MARMAM community, We are pleased to announce that our article, Exploring marine mammal presence across seven US national marine sanctuaries, has been recently published in a special issue of Frontiers in Remote Sensing. The article is open access and can be found here: https://doi.org/10.3389/frsen.2022.970401 Abstract The United States of America’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) hosts 15 National Marine Sanctuaries (NMS) and two Monuments in its waters. Charismatic marine megafauna, such as fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), and various delphinid species frequent these areas, but little is known about their occupancy. As part of a national effort to better understand the soundscapes of NMS, 22 near-continuous passive acoustic bottom mounted recorders and one bottom-mounted cable hydrophone were analyzed within seven NMS (Stellwagen Bank, Gray’s Reef, Florida Keys, Olympic Coast, Monterey Bay, Channel Islands, and Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale sanctuaries). The daily acoustic presence of humpback and fin whales across 2 years (November 2018–October 2020) and hourly presence of delphinids over 1 year (June 2019–May 2020) were analyzed. Humpback whales showed variability in their acoustic presence across NMS, but in general were mostly present January through May and September through December, and more scarce or fully absent June through August. Consecutive days of humpback whale vocalizations were greatest at sites HI01 and HI05 in the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale NMS and fewest at the Channel Islands NMS. Fin whales exhibited a similar seasonal pattern across the West Coast NMS and Stellwagen Bank NMS. Monterey Bay NMS had the greatest number of median consecutive presence of fin whales with fewest at Stellwagen Bank NMS. Delphinid acoustic presence varied throughout and within NMS, with sites at the Channel Islands and Hawaiʻi NMS showing the highest occupancy. All NMS showed distinct monthly delphinid acoustic presence with differences in detected hours between day versus night. Sixteen sites had medians of delphinid presence between one and three consecutive days, while three sites had 5 days or more of consecutive presence, and one site had no consecutive delphinid presence, showing clear variation in how long they occupied different NMS. Marine mammals utilized all NMS and showed a wide range of occupancy, emphasizing the importance of understanding species use across different NMS as biological areas for migration, breeding and foraging. Article citation: DeAngelis, A. I., Van Parijs, S. M., Barkowski, J., Baumann-Pickering, S., Burger, K., Davis, G. E., Joseph, J., Kok, A. C. M., Kügler, A., Lammers, M., Margolina, T., Pegg, N., Rice, A., Rowell, T. J., Ryan, J. P., Stokoe, A., Zang, E. & Hatch, L. (2022). Exploring marine mammal presence across seven US national marine sanctuaries. Frontiers in Remote Sensing*,* 3 doi:10.3389/frsen.2022.970401 Cheers, Annamaria DeAngelis -- Annamaria DeAngelis Research Biologist | Passive Acoustics Research Group | NEFSC NOAA Fisheries | U.S. Department of Commerce Office: (508) 955-0250 Fax: (508) 495-2066 NEFSC PSB Passive Acoustics Research Group <https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/endangered-species-…>

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