December 2022 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New publication: Whales & Marine Traffic
by Bruno Diaz Lopez 03 Dec '22

03 Dec '22

On behalf of my co-authors and myself, I am delighted to bring to your attention the publication of our last research published by the scientific journal Marine Pollution Bulletin. Bland R, Methion S, Sharp SP, Diaz Lopez B (2022) Assessing variability in marine traffic exposure between baleen whale species off the Galician Coast, Spain. Marine Pollution Bulletin 186:114439. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114439. Abstract: Increases in marine traffic represent a growing issue for marine wildlife, posing threats through the impacts of ship strikes and noise pollution. Baleen whales are especially vulnerable to these impacts, yet regional and species-specific information on exposure to such threats is lacking. This study uses AIS and observational data to provide the first assessment of baleen whale exposure to vessel traffic on the NW coast of Spain. Overlap with vessel traffic was detected for all areas where whales were sighted, indicating that these species may be at risk of vessel exposure and its associated impacts. Level of exposure to vessel traffic experienced by whales was species specific, with risk of exposure appearing highest for minke whales. Vessel exposure also displayed intra- and inter-annual variability and a significant influence of feeding behaviour highlighting the need for dynamic management tools to minimise interactions between baleen whales and marine traffic off the Galician Coast. The article can be found and download in the following link: < https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1gBAm,asi2GjD > Please feel free to contact me for further questions or to request a pdf at: bruno(a)thebdri.com Bruno Diaz Lopez Ph.D Chief biologist and Director The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI - www.thebdri.com Avenida Beiramar 192, O Grove 36980, Pontevedra, Spain Tel. 0034 684248552 he/him/his ResearchGate - GoogleScholar -https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0388-3289 This email is confidential to the intended recipient(s) and the contents may be legally privileged or contain proprietary and private informations. It is intended solely for the person to whom it is addressed. If you are not an intended recipient, you may not review, copy or distribute this email. If received in error, please notify the sender and delete the message from your system immediately. Please note that neither the Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI nor the sender accept any responsibility for any viruses and it is your responsibility to scan the email and the attachments (if any). Thank you for your cooperation.

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Fwd: Walrus Wildlife Biologist Position Announcement- GS11/12
by jenipher cate 02 Dec '22

02 Dec '22

Good afternoon, The Alaska Fish and Wildlife Service is hiring for a GS-11/12 Wildlife Biologist Position to work in the Pacific Walrus Program. The announcement is open from 11/30-12/13/22 and the links are posted below. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the Program Lead, Jen Cate (Jenipher_cate(a)fws.gov) if you have any questions on the position or the work the program is doing. https://www.usajobs.gov/job/691378500 - Federal https://www.usajobs.gov/job/691378400 - open to the public Cheers, ~Jen *Jenipher Cate, PhD* Marine Mammals Management – Walrus and Sea Otter Program Lead U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Phone: 907-205-8322

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Florida Wildlife Job Opportunity
by Pasawicz, Michelle 02 Dec '22

02 Dec '22

Greetings everyone, The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is seeking a seasonal Fisheries and Wildlife Biological Scientist III to aid the Imperiled Species Management Section with project-specific manatee conservation activities in Brevard County, Florida. This position is scheduled to begin mid-December 2022, and not to exceed 6 months or June 30, 2023. Primary duties will include providing field-based project oversight, management of daily tasks and personnel, and coordination with state and federal management staff. Responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to: 1. Manages daily field station operations and scheduled personnel, including: provides direction and training on required tasks, documents routine activities and changes to protocol, and regular communication; 2. Collaborates with state and federal wildlife staff on project methods, situational developments, and messaging; 3. Meets identified safety requirements and ensure a safe and secure working environment; 4. Participates in environmental and species monitoring, data collection, and assessment; 5. Ensures all materials and equipment are in clean and working condition; inventories, orders, and organizes supplies; 6. Attends regular team and project coordination meetings and presents on updates, issues, and needs; 7. Communicates via organizational structure and chain-of-command; 8. Participates in response efforts, carcass recovery, and other field work assignments as needed; 9. Successfully enroll in and complete required agency training; and 10. Performs other project-related duties and tasks as directed. Please follow this link to the job posting to learn more about this opportunity: https://jobs.myflorida.com/job/TALLAHASSEE-OPS-F-&-W-Biological-Scientist-I… 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>

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Due in one week: Submit Your Abstracts - ECS2023
by Bruno Diaz Lopez 02 Dec '22

02 Dec '22

Just One Week Left! Submit Your Talk and Poster Abstracts & Join Us in Spain! 34th European Cetacean Society Conference April 18-20, 2023 O Grove, Galicia, Spain Deadline: Friday, December 9 - 2022 (23:45 CET) We invite you to submit abstracts for oral presentations and posters for the 2023 ECS Conference, which will be held April 18th-20th in O Grove, Galicia, Spain. This will be a great opportunity to reconnect in person after the pandemic years and talk about marine mammals, science, conservation, discuss research, meet colleagues, have fun and make friends. Abstracts are encouraged to address the meeting theme “OUR OCEANS, OUR FUTURE: Marine Mammal Behavioural Ecology & the Sustainable Use of Marine Resources” if appropriate, but doing so is not necessary. We welcome submissions on any topic that reports on new discoveries in marine mammal science. This also includes proposals on interdisciplinary work, addressing communication with a wide audience, or exploring new ways of studying marine mammals through the use of new technologies. Abstracts will be reviewed by experts in each field. Abstracts must be submitted through the online form <https://www.europeancetaceansociety.eu/conference/submit-abstract-0> by December 9th, 2022 at 23:45 (CET). No late or emailed abstracts will be considered. In April 2023, scientists from around the world will come together at the 34th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society. All oral and poster presenters will be required to attend the meeting in person. At this conference, the ECS2023 plenary speakers include a world-renowned marine mammal expert, a woman scientist with expertise in the use of new technologies to study acoustic ecology of deep diving cetaceans, and a distinguished university professor with extensive experience in the study of baleen whales. We are delighted to share that the plenary speakers for ECS2023 will be: Bernd Würsig, Natacha Aguilar de Soto, and Alex Aguilar. As part of the 34th Conference of the European Cetacean Society, we will organize a series of events that will allow participants to discover the beauty of the local surroundings, its nature, cultural traditions and the treasures of the local gastronomy. Congress participants will enjoy authentic and unforgettable environmentally–friendly activities, all while having fun and expanding their knowledge. For more information, visit <https://www.europeancetaceansociety.eu/conference/34th-annual-conference-ga…> If you have any further questions, please contact us at: <ecs2023(a)thebdri.com> See you in Galicia, Warm regards, Bruno Díaz López Ph.D Chair of the Local Organising Committee ECS 2023 34 ECS Conference - O Grove - Galicia, Spain he/him/his The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI - www.thebdri.com Avenida Beiramar 192, O Grove 36980, Pontevedra, Spain Tel. 0034 684248552 he/him/his ResearchGate - GoogleScholar -https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0388-3289 This email is confidential to the intended recipient(s) and the contents may be legally privileged or contain proprietary and private informations. It is intended solely for the person to whom it is addressed. If you are not an intended recipient, you may not review, copy or distribute this email. If received in error, please notify the sender and delete the message from your system immediately. Please note that neither the Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI nor the sender accept any responsibility for any viruses and it is your responsibility to scan the email and the attachments (if any). Thank you for your cooperation.

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3rd Humpback Whale World Congress in Santo Domingo, March 6-10, 2023
by olivier.adam＠sorbonne-universite.fr 01 Dec '22

01 Dec '22

The 3rd Humpback Whale World Congress (https://www.hwwc.mg/) will be held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, from March 6 to March 9, 2023. This congress is dedicated to the scientific research on humpback whales, and also to all the human activities, including conservation, blue economy, social activities, education and arts. Different topics about humpback whales will be discussed including biology, ecology, genetics, bioacoustics, migratory routes, marine protected areas, blue economy. The official language of the conference is English. IMPORTANT DATES - Dec 1, 2022: Opening for abstract submission - Jan 8, 2023: Deadline for abstract submissions - Jan 28, 2023: Decisions for abstract submissions - Feb 24, 2023: Deadline for early registration - March 6, 7, 8 and 9, 2023: Workshop in Santo Domingo - March 10, 2023: special day to see humpback whales off Samana Bay ABSTRACT Abstracts have to be written in English. Contributors are invited to send abstract including: - first names and last names of author and co-authors - affiliation(s) - email of the corresponding author - main text (350 words max) Detailed instructions for submissions and abstract are available on the conference website: https://www.hwwc.mg Please send your abstract to olivier.adam(a)sorbonne-universite.fr <mailto:olivier.adam@sorbonne-universite.fr> and cc to hwwc(a)cetamada.org <mailto:hwwc@cetamada.org> HONORARY PRESIDENT - Peter Stevick, College of the Atlantic - USA INVITED SPEAKERS (alphabetic order) - Liliana Betancourt Fernández, CEBSE - Dominican Republic - Jaime Bolaños-Jiménez, Caribbean-Wide Orca Project - Venezuela - Erich Hoyt, Whale and Dolphin Conservation - UK - Lindsey Jones, College of the Atlantic - USA - Amy Kennedy, NOAA - USA - Lyne Morissette, M Expertise Marine - Canada - Adam Pack, University of Hawaii - USA - Joy Reidenberg, Icahn School of Medicine - USA - Jooke Robbins, Center for Coastal Studies - USA - Oswaldo Vásquez, Atemar - Dominican Republic SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE (alphabetic order) - Olivier Adam, Sorbonne University - France - Aristide Andrianarimisa, University of Antananarivo - Madagascar - Liliana Betancourt, CEBSE - Dominican Republic - Jaime Bolaños-Jiménez, Caribbean-Wide Orca Project - Venezuela - Isabelle Charrier, Institute of Neuroscience - France - Yann Doh, Terre Mer Veille – France - Rebecca Dunlop, University of Queensland - Australia - Nadège Gandilhon, NG Marine Studies Office – France - Claire Garrigue, IRD – France - Chloé Huetz, Institute of Neuroscience - France - Lindsey Jones, College of the Atlantic - USA - Jean-Luc Jung, French Museum of Natural History - France - Amy Kennedy, NOAA - USA - Michael Noad, University of Queensland - Australia - Per Palsbøll, University of Groningen - The Netherlands - Christina Perazio, University at Buffalo - USA - Jooke Robbins, Center for Coastal Studies - USA - Anjara Saloma, Cetamada – Madagascar - Alison Stimpert, San José State University – USA - Paul White, University of Southampton – UK - Alex Zerbini, NOAA - USA The Scientific Committee is keen to encourage the attendance of students, as well as established researchers, engineers and professionals. REGISTRATION Registration fees give access the conference, the official program, lunches from March 6 to 9. Please note that online early registration is open until Feb 24, 2023. The workshop fees are: - regular attendees: €350 (€450 after Feb 24) - student: €190 (€250 after Feb 24) For any question, please feel free to send an email to hwwc(a)cetamada.org <mailto:hwwc@cetamada.org> Sincerely, Dr. Olivier ADAM Professor Institut d'Alembert Sorbonne University Paris, France

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VAQS Summer 2023 Internship Application Open
by Sydney P. Lundquist 01 Dec '22

01 Dec '22

The Virginia Aquarium’s Research & Conservation Division is now accepting Stranding Response Intern applications for summer 2023. The application deadline is February 1st, 2023. Internships will be approximately three months long, starting between May and June. Internships will be fulfilled in accordance with COVID-19 safety guidelines and positions are subject to change based on the most current recommendations. Please note that all positions are non-compensatory and housing is not provided by the Virginia Aquarium. Interns are fully responsible for fulfilling all requirements of their home institutions to receive academic credit. Position Overview Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program (VAQS) interns promote the conservation of marine animal species through research, response, rehabilitation, and education. Interns will be cross-trained in all aspects of stranding response; however, daily tasks will be assigned to interns according to interest and case load. Stranding work is unpredictable; therefore, experiences will vary by internship. VAQS staff will provide as many learning opportunities as possible during each internship. Duties * Respond to live and dead marine mammals and sea turtles in the field. * Participate in all aspects of post-mortem examinations: cutting and sampling, data collection, photographing, carcass recovery, and cleaning. * Perform daily husbandry tasks, including food preparation, feeding, and cleaning the rehab area, kitchen and associated supplies. * Assist staff with new admits and daily treatments of patients. Restrain animals for exams, collect vitals (heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature) and morphometrics, take photographs, administer medications, and perform wound care. * Ensure response preparedness by stocking response bags, fueling vehicles, and cleaning gear. * Assist with releases of rehabilitation patients, public outreach events, and volunteer/cooperator trainings. * Assist staff with daily administrative tasks, including answering hotline calls, data entry, and completing response paperwork. * Complete other projects and tasks as assigned by VAQS staff. Required Qualifications * Must be at least 18 years old. * Must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, or have recently graduated (within the last two years). * Must be physically fit with the ability to lift 50 lbs and walk long distances on the beach in adverse conditions such as extreme heat and cold, humidity, rain, and wind. * Must be self-motivated, articulate, mature, reliable, and responsible. Should work well independently as well as with a team. * Should be comfortable around dead and decomposing animals. * Should be comfortable driving large pick-up trucks and vans (preferred) and willing to learn how to drive response vehicles, if accepted (required). * Have a background in biology and familiarity with stranding response (preferred). * Have experience with DSLR cameras and Microsoft Access (preferred). Position Requirements * Attend VAQS orientation and City of Virginia Beach Defensive Driving upon starting. * Possess a valid driver’s license. * Pass a City of Virginia Beach background check. * Comply with all organizational COVID-19 preventative measures. Internship Learning Objectives Develop fundamental hands-on stranding response and rehabilitation skills: * Perform post-mortem examinations on sea turtle and marine mammals. * Perform basic health assessments of rehabilitation patients, including vitals collection, wound treatment, administering medications, and blood processing. * Complete Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network (STSSN) and Marine Mammal Stranding Level A forms. * Enter stranding data in Microsoft Access. Intern Schedule Intern is expected to be available 3-4 days per week, 8am - 4:30pm. Weekend and holiday coverage is expected. Minimum Commitment Required 24/32 hours per week for the duration of the internship. Intern Supervisor/Mentor VAQS Volunteer Manager and project supervisor. Work Location Virginia Aquarium’s Darden Marine Animal Conservation Center Application Requirements A complete Stranding Response Internship packet must include the following components: * Cover letter including preferred focus area (necropsy or rehabilitation) and internship expectations. While we will do our best to accommodate intern preferences, staff will make the final focus area determination. There is some flexibility with internship start/end dates; please include any known schedule conflicts in your cover letter. * Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center internship application form found at https://www.virginiaaquarium.com/support/work-with-us * Two letters of recommendation; one must be an academic reference. Letters can be sent separately to vaqstranding(a)gmail.com<mailto:vaqstranding@gmail.com> * Resume * College transcript(s) Completed Application Packets Email completed application packet to: Interns(a)VirginiaAquarium.com<mailto:Interns@VirginiaAquarium.com> and copy vaqstranding(a)gmail.com<mailto:vaqstranding@gmail.com>. Please type "Stranding Response Intern Application Packet" in the subject line. OR Mail your completed application packet to: Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center 717 General Booth Boulevard Virginia Beach, Virginia 23451 Attn: Volunteer Engagement - Intern Applicant For more information, please visit: https://www.virginiaaquarium.com/about-us Thank you! Sydney Lundquist, MPhil Stranding & Research Scientist: Field Response & Volunteer Manager Phone: (757) 385-6484 SLundqui(a)VirginiaAquarium.com<mailto:Email@VirginiaAquarium.com> Stranding Response Hotline: (757) 385-7575 Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center<http://www.virginiaaquarium.com/> 717 General Booth Blvd. Virginia Beach, Virginia 23451 [cid:48f8dc7c-8aa6-4b5d-9e86-5cfce9f83db7]

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Mike Donoghue (1949-2022)
by Phil Clapham 01 Dec '22

01 Dec '22

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our beloved friend and colleague, Michael Donoghue, who died on Tuesday following a major stroke. He was 73. Mike was tremendously influential in a wealth of actions regarding protection of the marine environment, and the conservation of marine mammals in New Zealand, the South Pacific and elsewhere. Put simply, he was a champion for a better world. Born in 1949, Mike Donoghue worked for years as a self-employed fisherman in the Hauraki Gulf. After earning a Masters of Science in Oceanography from Southampton University, he joined the New Zealand Department of Conservation in 1987, where he was responsible for the development of the government’s marine mammal policy. His many duties involved the management of whale strandings, as well as bycatch mitigation efforts for marine mammals, notably the endangered Maui and Hector’s dolphins. Mike also led successful efforts to establish marine mammal sanctuaries in the waters of the Banks Peninsula and the sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands. Mike’s influence was apparent everywhere in the waters of Oceania. He worked closely with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) to develop their Marine Species Action Plans, an effort which brought together representatives from 21 Pacific Island states and territories covering over 30 million square km of ocean. Later, Mike joined the organization to take on the role of Threatened and Migratory Species Advisor. For several decades, Mike provided scientific advice to three New Zealand Commissioners to the International Whaling Commission (IWC), during which time he attended 22 Annual Meetings of the IWC; for several years, he led the NZ delegation to the IWC’s Scientific Committee. He was effective at promoting New Zealand’s strong anti-whaling policy while attempting to improve governance of the Convention, and maintain a dialogue with the pro-whaling nations. He will be remembered there as a tenacious advocate for living whales who was respected and liked by all, even those with whom he often battled. Beyond the impressive resumé outlined in the briefest of detail above, we will remember him most fondly as one of the founding members of the South Pacific Whale Research Consortium. The Consortium unites whale researchers across the entire South Pacific, from Australia and New Zealand, across the many island nations of Oceania, and to western South America. The Consortium has been directly or indirectly responsible for the establishment of numerous whale sanctuaries in the region, and Mike’s role in those many individual and collective efforts cannot be overstated. His knowledge of the region, his keen sense of political strategy, and his ability to charm and persuade people from a broad range of constituencies, were key to the Consortium’s work. We’ve often mused among ourselves that the core of our Consortium has always been a second family to us all, and Mike’s warmth and perpetual optimism contributed much to that atmosphere. And beyond all that, Mike was a delight to be around, with a frequent smile and an easy laugh that came from a sometimes deliciously wicked sense of humor. His kindness was boundless, and many people in the field today were helped in their careers by his advice and sheer generosity of spirit. As a conservationist, Mike Donoghue was a tireless and effective advocate for the ocean, and the species which depend upon it. As a person and a friend, he was irreplaceable. Farewell, old chum. Phil Clapham, Olive Andrews, Scott Baker, Simon Childerhouse, Rochelle Constantine, Ellen Garland, Claire Garrigue, Nan Hauser, Yulia Ivashchenko, Mike Noad, Dave Paton, Michael Poole, Debbie Steel and Juney Ward South Pacific Whale Research Consortium, Auckland, New Zealand

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New Publication: Spatial variation in carbon source use and trophic position of ringed seals across a latitudinal gradient of sea ice
by Cody Carlyle 01 Dec '22

01 Dec '22

Hello MARMAM, On behalf of my co-authors I am pleased to share our new publication "Spatial variation in carbon source use and trophic position of ringed seals across a latitudinal gradient of sea ice" available open access in Ecological Indicators. Carlyle, C.G., Roth, J.D., Yurkowski, D.J., Kohlbach, D., Young, B.G., Brown, T.A., Riget, F.F., Dietz, R., Ferguson, S.H. 2022. Spatial variation in carbon source use and trophic position of ringed seals across a latitudinal gradient of sea ice. Ecological Indicators. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.109746 The publication can be accessed through this link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X22012195 Abstract Anthropogenic climate change is causing changes to the Arctic sea-ice system with implications for the magnitude and timing of Arctic pelagic and ice-associated (sympagic) primary production that influences food web interactions. Ringed seals (Pusa hispida) are generalist predators that, as a species experience vastly different icescapes from low to high-Arctic latitudes. Quantifying spatial variation in their diet can help us understand how changes in sea-ice dynamics affect trophic interactions in Arctic marine food webs. However, multiple complementary analytical tools to examine variation in carbon source use and trophic dynamics in the diet of ringed seals have not yet been applied across their latitudinal range in the Arctic. We conducted stable isotope analysis (δ13C and δ15N) and measured highly branched isoprenoid diatom lipid biomarkers of ringed seals from the low, intermediate, and high Arctic (from 61.1◦N to 77.5 ◦N) to investigate spatial variation in their carbon source use and trophic position in relation to sea-ice dynamics. Both δ13C and highly branched isoprenoids indicated that ringed seals from higher latitudes had more sympagic carbon in their diet (liver δ13C: 18.3 ± 0.2 ‰, HBI: 89.9 ± 2.08 %) than ringed seals at lower latitudes (liver δ13C: 21.1 ± 0.1 ‰, HBI: 22.0 ± 2.73 %). Ringed seal trophic position increased from the low (3.78 ± 0.02) to high (4.76 ± 0.03) Arctic, suggesting increased fish consumption or a different trophic structure coinciding with the latitudinal change in carbon source. Ringed seals demonstrated a clear shift from low to high Arctic in the relative contribution of phytoplanktonic vs sympagic primary production. These patterns are likely linked to the vastly different icescapes in these environments and demonstrate that shifts in primary producer composition and Arctic food webs can be identified in ringed seal diets. Information on these prey and energy shifts over large spatial scales also provides insights into potential future changes to Arctic ecosystem function with continued sea-ice decline. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions. Thanks, Cody Carlyle, MSc PhD Student, University of New Brunswick Saint John, NB cgcar12(a)gmail.com https://codygcarlyle.squarespace.com/home

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Publication - winter distribution of common dolphins
by Charlotte Lambert 01 Dec '22

01 Dec '22

Dear MARMAMers, We are pleased to announce the publication of our paper entitled "Delayed response to environmental conditions and infra-seasonal dynamics of the short-beaked common dolphin distribution" in Royal Society Open Science. The article is available in open access at https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.220379 Abstract: Cetaceans adjust their distribution and abundance to encountered conditions across years and seasons, but we poorly understand such small-scale changes for many species, especially in winter. Crucial challenges confront some populations during this season, such as the high levels of fisheries-induced mortality faced by the common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) in the Northeast Atlantic shelves. For such species, understanding the winter fine-scale dynamics is crucial. We aimed to identify the dolphin distribution drivers during the winters of 2020 and 2021, with a focus on determining the lag between changes in oceanographic conditions and dolphin distribution. The changes were related to temporal delays specific to the nature and cascading effects that oceanographic processes had on the trophic chain. By determining the most important conditions and lags to dolphin distributions, we shed light on the poorly understood intrusions of dolphins within coastal waters during winter: they displayed a strong preference for the coastal-shelf waters front and extensively followed its spatial variations, with their overall densities increasing over the period and peaking in March–April. The results presented here provide invaluable information on the winter distribution dynamics and should inform management decisions to help reduce the unsustainable mortalities of this species in the by-catch of fisheries. Best, Charlotte Lambert

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New publication: humpback calling, whale-watching impacts & the Covid pandemic (Amelie Laute)
by Amelie Laute 01 Dec '22

01 Dec '22

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