September 2022 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Call for voluntires Guafo Science
by Guafo Science 23 Sep '22

23 Sep '22

*Announcement:* *The Guafo Island research team is seeking enthusiastic and motivated individuals to assist with fieldwork and data collection activities of wild South American fur seals at Guafo Island, Northern Chilean Patagonia. The field working season this year is between December 5th 2022 and March 15th 2023 with the possibility of starting on January 5th 2022.The project responsibilities include capturing and restraining South American fur seal adults and pups and depending on volunteer skills and experience collection of blood, swabs, and feces. Volunteers will also assist veterinary staff during Necropsies of fur seal pups following a standard protocol of sample collection.The work also includes helping with domestic tasks, keeping the campsite, and assisting with the work of the field laboratory (mainly help with CBCs, blood smears and osteological samples processing).Guafo Island is a pristine and large oceanic island with no permanent human inhabitants. During the prolong fieldwork (2 to 3 months) communication is very limited and our campsite does not have electricity or running fresh water. The weather is cold, rainy, and windy with an average thermal sensation in the summer of 9 Celsius degrees.Requirements:At least 20 years of age.Health compatible with physically demanding field work.Health insurance.Must meet travel requirements for Chile (this includes a completed vaccination protocol for COVID-19 that can be validated in Chile https://www.chile.travel/en/traveltochileplan/ <https://www.chile.travel/en/traveltochileplan/>)Benefits:Our research group pays for in-country travel, housing, and meals during the duration of the fieldwork. International flight tickets and health insurance cannot be covered.Desired Skills* Strong Interest in and awareness of animal and ecosystem health* Willingness to get wet and dirty* Attention to detail* Able to live in an isolated place without regular communication and basic services* Ability to multi-task* Desired previous experience handling blood and tissue samples * Desired previous experience in restraining wild animals. * Able to resist bad weather navigation. * Basic Spanish.Individuals interested in applying to the position should send an email describing their motivations and a Curriculum Vitae to:Dr. Diego Perez-Venegas: guafoscience(a)gmail.com <guafoscience(a)gmail.com>Additional information about research projects at Guafo Island can be found at http://www.guafoislandscience.com/ <http://www.guafoislandscience.com/>Best Regards,Mauricio Seguel DVM, PhD, DACVPAssistant ProfessorDepartment of PathobiologyOntario Veterinary CollegeUniversity of Guelph, Canada. * *Saludos. / Regards.* *Equipo / Team Guafo Science.* *Webpage: www.giafoislandscience.com <http://www.giafoislandscience.com>* *Intagram: @guafoscience *

1 0

Veterinarian/ Post-doctoral researcher Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network
by Elizabeth Hieb 22 Sep '22

22 Sep '22

The Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) seeks a full-time veterinarian and research post-doc to join our dedicated team of staff, students, researchers and volunteers as part of the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network (ALMMSN). The successful candidate will lead live animal response and necropsy of cetaceans and manatees, as well as write necropsy reports, make diagnostic assessments, assist with training support staff in stranding and necropsy techniques, and support and conduct independent research projects related to pathology, diagnostic assessments, or other relevant topics that lead to peer-reviewed publications. More information on the position and how to apply can be found here: https://www.disl.org/about/employment/veterinarian-post-doctoral-researcher [image: Dauphin Island Sea Lab Logo] Elizabeth Hieb Research Technician/Lab Manager 251-861-2141 <1-251-861-2141> ext. 7547 ehieb(a)disl.edu https://www.disl.edu 101 Bienville Blvd Dauphin Island, AL 36528 [image: facebook logo] <https://www.facebook.com/disealab> [image: twitter logo] <https://twitter.com/disealab> [image: YouTube logo] <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCphmeb5XTCoBhzk2b937_Rw> [image: Instagram logo] <https://www.instagram.com/disealab/> [image: LinkedIn logo] <https://www.linkedin.com/company/dauphin-island-sea-lab> This document, including any attachments, contains privileged and/or confidential information. You may neither use, copy, nor deliver to anyone this document or any of its contents or attachments. All data (broadly defined as but not limited to numerical, descriptive, narrative, image, biological or environmental samples, raw or summary data, or any other content herein) belong to the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network (ALMMSN) and/or the Manatee Sighting Network under the auspices of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) as an agent of the state of Alabama. Use of these data in any form must be requested and approved by contacting Dr. Ruth H. Carmichael (rcarmichael(a)disl.org) ALMMSN/MSN and DISL reserve the right to review, comment and consult on all data sharing and requests for data use. All data use, including analyses and products of any kind (print, oral, visual, archival, internal or external), after approval, must acknowledge and properly cite the DISL, ALMMSN and/or MSN, and data-specific personnel (that may include but not be limited to students, staff, faculty or administrators who contributed data). Approved data users must request the most up-to-date citation from Dr. Carmichael immediately prior to each use.

1 0

New publication: Ultrasonic antifouling devices negatively impact Cuvier's beaked whales near Guadalupe Island, México
by Jenny Trickey 22 Sep '22

22 Sep '22

Dear MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are pleased to share our new publication in Communications Biology: Trickey, J.S., Cárdenas-Hinojosa, G., Rojas-Bracho, L., Schorr, G.S., Rone, B.K., Hidalgo-Pla, E., Rice, A., & Baumann-Pickering, S. Ultrasonic antifouling devices negatively impact Cuvier’s beaked whales near Guadalupe Island, México. Communications Biology 5, 1005 (2022). DOI:10.1038/s42003-022-03959-9 ABSTRACT: Widespread use of unregulated acoustic technologies in maritime industries raises concerns about effects on acoustically sensitive marine fauna worldwide. Anthropogenic noise can disrupt behavior and may cause short- to long-term disturbance with possible population-level consequences, particularly for animals with a limited geographic range. Ultrasonic antifouling devices are commercially available, installed globally on a variety of vessel types, and are marketed as an environmentally-friendly method for biofouling control. Here we show that they can be an acoustic disturbance to marine wildlife, as seasonal operation of these hull-mounted systems by tourist vessels in the marine protected area of Guadalupe Island, México resulted in the reduced presence of a potentially resident population of Cuvier’s beaked whales (*Ziphius cavirostris*). Human activities are rapidly altering soundscapes on local and global scales, and these findings highlight the need to identify key noise sources and assess their impacts on marine life to effectively manage oceanic ecosystems. The full article is open access and available online: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-03959-9 -- Jenny Trickey Scripps Acoustic Ecology Lab UCSD Scripps Institution of Oceanography http://sael.ucsd.edu/ <http://baumann.ucsd.edu/>

1 0

Canada-Marine Mammal Observer Course in Vancouver, British Columbia
by Emily Ricketts 22 Sep '22

22 Sep '22

Edgewise Environmental is offering a Canada - Marine Mammal Observer program scheduled for October 12th - November 7th. This course consists of 4 weeks of online theory with one in-person, at-sea practical taking place on November 7th in Vancouver, BC. The course shall focus on mitigation processes of offshore and coastal programs that may impact marine mammals and other megafauna. Click here <https://www.edgewiseenvironmental.com/training/> for more information or email info(a)edgewiseenvironmental.com. -- *Emily Ricketts* *Marketing and Business Development Support/Logistics Coordinator* Edgewise Environmental Ltd. St. John's, NL, Canada www.edgewiseenvironmental.com [image: Facebook icon] <https://www.facebook.com/edgewiseenvironmental> [image: LinkedIn icon] <https://www.linkedin.com/company/edgewise-environmental/> [image: Twitter icon] <https://twitter.com/edgewiseNL> [image: Instagram icon] <https://www.instagram.com/edgewiseenvironmental> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: *The contents of this email message and any attachments are intended solely for the addressee(s) and may contain confidential and/or privileged information and may be legally protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient of this message or their agent, or if this message has been addressed to you in error, please immediately alert the sender by reply email and then delete this message and any attachments. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, dissemination, copying, or storage of this message or its attachments is strictly prohibited.*

1 0

New publication: Specificity of Stenurus (Metastrongyloidea: Pseudaliidae) infections in odontocetes stranded along the north-west Spanish coast
by Saldaña Ruíz Ana 22 Sep '22

22 Sep '22

Dear MARMAM community: My co-authors and I are very pleased to announce the publication of our new paper: "Specificity of Stenurus (Metastrongyloidea: Pseudaliidae) infections in odontocetes stranded along the north-west Spanish coast". We hope it'll be interesting for any other parasite enthusiast out there! Abstract: Parasites extracted from the lungs and the pterygoid sinus complex of 6 species of odontocetes stranded along the north-west Spanish coast (Northeast Atlantic) between 2009 and 2019 were morphologically identified. The samples belonged to 14 specimens, including 3 harbour porpoises, Phocoena phocoena, 6 short-finned pilot whales, Globicephala macrorhynchus, 1 long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas, 1 Risso’s dolphin, Grampus griseus, 1 striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba and 2 bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus. All animals (14/14) were infected by nematodes of the genus Stenurus spp.; moreover, two of them presented a mixed lung nematode infection by Stenurus spp. and Halocercus spp., and another two a mixed infection by Stenurus spp. and the trematode Nasitrema spp. in the pterygoid sinuses. The morphological characterization of the Stenurus specimens revealed the existence of three different species: Stenurus minor, present in the pterygoid sinuses of harbour porpoises with a mean intensity of 43.0 ± 9.0; Stenurus globicephalae, in the pterygoid sinuses of pilot whales and the Risso’s dolphin (370.3 ± 579.4); and Stenurus ovatus infecting bottlenose and striped dolphins’ lungs (47.7 ± 76.5). This is the first citation of S. minor and S. ovatus in odontoceti from the Galician coast. Nematodes of the genus Stenurus are frequent in odontocetes stranded along the north-west Spanish coast. A clear host-parasite association was observed between S. minor and the Phocoenidae family, between S. globicephalae and the sub- family Globicephalinae and between S. ovatus and subfamily Delphininae. Different trophic position and niche segregation may lead to different patterns of specificity. The article is open access, feel free to read it in the following link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2022.09.002 For further information don't hesitate to contact me at ana.saldana.ruiz(a)rai.usc.es Best wishes, Ana Saldaña

1 0

PSO Training Course on Oct 15-16, 2022
by Angela Bostwick 21 Sep '22

21 Sep '22

MPSC is offering an online training course that provides Protected Species Observer (also known as Marine Mammal Observer) certification on October 15-16, 2022. This training is approved by the federal agencies Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) in coordination with National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to provide Protected Species Observer Certification for geological and geophysical surveys in the Gulf of Mexico, and the certification is often accepted in many other regions or industries where monitoring and mitigation is needed for reducing impacts to protected species. Course cost includes the instruction, advice on applying to PSO positions, the professional certification, and the provision of various regulatory documents and supplementary identification guides which will be yours to keep. This course will examine the regulations for reducing impacts to marine mammals, sea turtles, and protected fish, how to locate and identify the animals, and objective reporting for regulatory agencies. After discussing regulatory requirements, we will examine key identifying traits and behaviors of protected species found in the region. The course will also include a discussion on the different techniques for locating animals, estimating distance, and the monitoring gear that is required. Additional information may be found on the MPSC website at http://www.protectedspeciesobservers.com/, by contacting me at ABostwick(a)psocertifications.com, or by phone at 832-523-2402. Regards, Angela Bostwick Founder / Marine Protected Species Consulting ProtectedSpeciesObservers.com https://Facebook.com/ProtectedSpeciesObservers/

1 0

NEW PAPER: Reef effect of offshore structures on the occurrence and foraging activity of harbour porpoises
by Oihane Ne 21 Sep '22

21 Sep '22

Dear MARMAM colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to share our recent publication in Frontiers in Marine Science "Reef effect of offshore structures on the occurrence and foraging activity of harbour porpoises". Fernandez-Betelu O, Graham IM and Thompson PM (2022) "Reef effect of offshore structures on the occurrence and foraging activity of harbour porpoises" Front. Mar. Sci. 9:980388. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2022.980388 The publication is open access and is available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.980388/full Abstract: With increasing numbers of offshore structures being installed and decommissioned, a better understanding of their effect on marine predators is timely. There is some evidence that oil and gas platforms may attract marine mammals, acting as artificial reefs. However, it is unclear whether different man-made structure designs have similar effects or whether artificial structures modify the diel patterns of occurrence and foraging of marine mammals. Here, we used passive acoustics to investigate the occurrence and foraging activity of harbour porpoises (*Phocoena phocoena*) around four artificial structures of different age and complexity. We deployed an array of echolocation click detectors (CPODs) in 2021, along a gradient of distances to these structures and assessed the extent to which porpoises were attracted to them and their effect on porpoises’ diel patterns of occurrence and foraging activity. The probability of porpoise occurrence and foraging activity decreased with distance from offshore structures. A significant increase in porpoise occurrence and foraging was detected during night-time compared to daytime around all four offshore structures (< 200 m). Comparing pre- and post-installation porpoise detections, the daily patterns of occurrence and foraging activity shifted from a weak diel pattern before the structure was installed, to a strong nocturnal pattern when the structure was present. These findings provide evidence that marine mammals are attracted to man-made structures and that porpoises modify their diel patterns of occurrence and foraging activity around them. This research suggests that offshore structures play an important role as foraging areas for some marine mammals and provides key information for decommissioning considerations and the planning of decommissioning activities. Please, do not hesitate to email me at oihane.fernandez(a)abdn.ac.uk if you have any questions. Best wishes, *Dr Oihane Fernández-Betelu* Research Fellow Lighthouse Field Station, Institute of Biological & Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen

1 0

New publication: First evidence for fin whale migration into the Pacific from Antarctic feeding grounds at Elephant Island
by Herr, Dr. Helena 21 Sep '22

21 Sep '22

Dear all, we are pleased to share with you our new publication on fin whales tagged at Antarctic feeding grounds at the end of the feeding season: Herr, H., Hickmott, L., Viquerat, S., Panigada, S. (2022) First evidence for fin whale migration into the Pacific from Antarctic feeding grounds at Elephant Island, Royal Society Open Science 9: 220721. http://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.220721 Abstract This study presents the first long-distance tracks of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) equipped with satellite transmitters off the Antarctic Peninsula. Southern Hemisphere fin whales were severely depleted by twentieth century industrial whaling, yet recently, they have returned to historical feeding grounds off the northern Antarctic Peninsula, forming large aggregations in austral summers. To date, our knowledge only extended to summer behaviour, while information regarding migration routes and the location of breeding and wintering grounds are lacking. During the austral autumn of 2021, we deployed nsatellite transmitters on four fin whales at Elephant Island. Two transmitters stopped working while the animals were still at the feeding grounds, while two continued to transmit during the transition from feeding activity to migration. Both migrating animals left the feeding ground on 15 April 2021, travelling northward into the Pacific and up along the Chilean coast. The most northerly position received before all tags stopped transmitting on 1 May 2021 was at 48°S. These tracks provide initial evidence of seasonal migratory routes and a first indication toward possible locations of winter destinations. This information, even if preliminary, is critical for investigations of population connectivity, population structure and the identification of breeding grounds of Southern Hemisphere fin whales. The paper is open access and can be downloaded at https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.220721 Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions. Best wishes, Helena, on behalf of all co-authors. --- Dr. Helena Herr Institute of Marine Ecosystem and Fishery Science (IMF) Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN) University of Hamburg Große Elbstraße 133 22767 Hamburg, Germany Tel +49 (0)40 42838 6677 Email helena.herr(a)uni-hamburg.de<mailto:helena.herr@uni-hamburg.de> and Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) Section Polar Biological Oceanography AG Ecophysiology of Pelagic Key Species Am Handelshafen 12 / Building E, Room 2390 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany helena.herr(a)awi.de

1 0

Right Whale Habitat Internship January through May 2023
by CCS Employment 21 Sep '22

21 Sep '22

Valerie Daniels Human Resources Manager The Center for Coastal Studies Provincetown, MA

1 0

New paper: Dynamics of short‑finned pilot whales long‑term social structure in Madeira
by Ruth Esteban 21 Sep '22

21 Sep '22

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are sharing here our new paper "Dynamics of short‑finned pilot whales long‑term social structure in Madeira." Esteban, R. Verborgh, P., Freitas, L. Dynamics of short‑finned pilot whales long‑term social structurein Madeira. Mamm Biol (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42991-022-00280-0 <https://doi.org/10.1007/s42991-022-00266-y> Abstract: The associations of social individuals are normally represented by a social network, which is a static representation of dynamic relationships, generally influenced by spatio-temporal, demographic, environmental and kinship drivers. We examined the social structure of core resident short-finned pilot whales off Madeira, an archipelago in the Northeast Atlantic, delineating their spatial overlapping, temporal evolution, demographic process and site fidelity, between two sub-periods (1997–2013 and 2014–2019). Decades of individual photo-identification work showed that social clusters were formed by preferred companions. The results indicate that this short-finned pilot whale community consists of social clusters, with most individuals showing long-term stability of cluster membership. However, clusters can be also subject to dynamic changes, and sometime split up into two which may be due to an increase in the number of individuals in the original cluster and, consequently, challenges to maintaining associations among individuals in large groups. In general, the probability of associations among core resident individuals within a cluster decreased with time (decreased by half in 18–54 years), which was related to demographic events. All clusters showed highly overlapping distribution areas, suggesting that their social structure is not driven by spatial factors but likely social preferences. You can access the full text on https://doi.org/10.1007/s42991-022-00280-0 <https://doi.org/10.1007/s42991-022-00266-y> ; read it online on https://rdcu.be/cVKHY ; through researchgate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ruth-Esteban) or be email to me (ruthesteban(a)museudabaleia.org) All the best, Ruth Esteban Ruth Esteban Bióloga Marinha - Marine Biologist <http://www.museudabaleia.org/> Siga-nos em / follow us at: <https://www.facebook.com/museu.baleia.madeira/> <https://www.instagram.com/museudabaleia/?hl=pt>

1 0