September 2022 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Job Opportunity
by Kirsten Donald 07 Sep '22

07 Sep '22

Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC) is a nonprofit organization, in Laguna Beach, California, that rescues and rehabilitates sick and injured marine mammals that is also a research and educational hub focused on marine conservation. We currently have a job opportunity available. If interested, please email your resume to kdonald(a)pacificmmc.org<mailto:kdonald@pacificmmc.org>. Grant/Donor Funded Education Programs Coordinator (Full Time - Permanent) Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC) is looking for an enthusiastic and gregarious team player to join its' stellar education department in Laguna Beach, California. This position is responsible for coordinating PMMC grant/donor funded programs that reach title I school children, at risk youth, patients in children's hospitals, service members and more, particularly: Pinniped Pollution Project (PPP), Saving Seals, Healing Seals, Sea Lions for Service Members & other Grant Based Programs (see descriptions at www.pacificmmc.org) Responsibilities include: * Coordinate reservations and individual programs * Manage program materials, including updating, ordering/inventory/disseminating materials * Promote and advertise programs, particularly using social media * Research and reach out to new organizations and schools that might benefit from programs * Train new staff/volunteer instructors on programs * Lead these and other programs as needed * Coordinate photography & video of programs and subsequent production of program video * Inventory, set up and break down materials for programs as needed * Updating program descriptions and other information on PMMC's website * Assist in the continual growth, development, and enhancement of give back programs * Coordinate and train volunteers to conduct outreach programs Miscellaneous responsibilities * Assist with paid education programs as needed (camp, teen lab, Ocean Heroes, scouts, field trips, distance learning, etc.) * Assist with curriculum development of all education programs as needed * Meet weekly with the director to communicate progress/events * Take initiative to further the success of the department via working with director on ideas, complete outside research, develop and implement new educational programs * Represent PMMC through the participation of community special events, including the preparing and working of the event * Administration tasks and other duties as assigned by the Education Director Skills and Qualifications: * Prior experience teaching children, ages 8 - 17 years old, (formal or informal) in an enthusiastic, positive, and entertaining manner. * Knowledge of marine science/ecology. Marine mammal knowledge a plus. * Proven track record of developing and maintaining collaborative relationships with multiple institutions * Highly organized * Ability to learn quickly and work independently * Skilled in Microsoft Office Suite * Adept at social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, etc. * Compassionate * Flexible * Excellent team player * Works well under pressure * Demonstrated ability to consistently go above and beyond in job Requirements: * Must be 18 or older * Bachelor's degree in marine science * CPR first aid certification * Background check with clean record * Valid driver's license & clean driving record * Must be able to work under pressure in an upbeat, positive fashion * Must be able to climb steep stairs and lift a minimum of 50lbs * Must be able to work in the summer heat. * Excellent communication skills Time Commitment: 40 hours per week. Includes some evenings and weekends. Hourly Rate: starting at $20/hour Kind regards, Kirsten Donald Director of Education Marine Mammal Biologist MSc in Marine Mammal Science Pacific Marine Mammal Center<http://www.pacificmmc.org/> 20612 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 (949) 494-3050 Ext. 206 [cid:image001.png@01D8C2A5.874618A0] [cid:image002.jpg@01D8C2A5.874618A0]

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New publication on bottlenose dolphin acoustic communication
by Alessandro Gallo 06 Sep '22

06 Sep '22

Dear Colleagues, I am happy to announce the publication of a new paper in which we present a new promising low-cost and safe recordings acoustic tag to identify individual emitters of bottlenose dolphins under human care. It can be accessed and downloaded in open access on Frontiers in Marine Science: ( [ https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.915168/full | Frontiers | Identification of individual bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) emitters using a cheap wearable acoustic tag (frontiersin.org) ] ABSTRACT Study of animal communication and its potential social role implies associating signals to an emitter. This has been a major limitation in the study of cetacean communication as they produce sounds underwater with no distinctive behavioral signs. Different techniques have been used to identify callers, but all proved to have ethical or practical limitations. Bio-logging technology has recently provided new hopes, but tags developed so far are costly and do not allow sufficiently reliable discrimination between calls made by the tagged individual and those made by the surrounding individuals. We propose a new device developed at reasonable cost while providing reliable recordings. We tested caller identification through recordings of vocal production of a group of captive bottlenose dolphins under controlled and spontaneous contexts. Our device proved to identify callers through visual examination of sonograms and quantitative measures of amplitudes, even if tagged emitters are 0.4 m apart (regardless of body orientations). Although this device is not able to identify emitters in an entire group when all individuals are not equipped, it enables efficient exclusion of individuals who were not the caller, suggesting that identification of a caller would be reliable if all the individuals were equipped. This is to our knowledge the first description of a promising low-cost safe recording device allowing individual identification of emitters for captive dolphins. With some improvements, this device could become an interesting tool to increase our knowledge of dolphin acoustic communication. Gallo, A., Thieffry, A., Boye, M., Monmasson, K., Hausberger, M., & Lemasson, A. (2022). Identification of individual bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ) emitters using a cheap wearable acoustic tag. Frontiers in Marine Science , 1599. Best regards, Alessandro Gallo

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Arctic Frontiers Moving North Conference
by Jenny Turton 06 Sep '22

06 Sep '22

Dear Marmam community, Arctic Frontiers is a non-profit organisation based in Tromsø, Norway, and has been organising conferences and workshops on Arctic themes since 2007. Our 2023 conference is January 30th to February 2nd in Tromsø and digitally. Our abstract submission deadline is coming up (September 16th) and we have seven exciting, interdisciplinary sessions for you to submit to. One session specifically calls for megafauna research in the Arctic, whilst three sessions are of interest to the mammal research community. * Impacts and adaptations in response to Atlantification of the Arctic Ocean * Adaptive management of rapidly changing Arctic ecosystems using interdisciplinary and system-science approaches * Plastic pollution, priorities and perspectives in the Arctic For more information and to submit an abstract see here: https://www.arcticfrontiers.com/arctic-frontiers-2023-moving-north/science-… For any questions, please email jenny(a)arcticfrontiers.com<mailto:jenny@arcticfrontiers.com>. Thanks! Jenny Turton Senior Adviser Email: jenny(a)arcticfrontiers.com<mailto:jenny@arcticfrontiers.com> Phone: +4741236783 [cid:image001.png@01D8C1D2.10BACC40]<https://www.arcticfrontiers.com/> Jenny Turton Senior Adviser Arctic Frontiers, Fram Centre, PO Box 6606 Stakkevollan, 9296 Tromsø, Norway, Phone (+47) 777 50 300 [cid:ARCTIC_FRONTIERS_RGB_100_0eb7e8b2-8d55-4b51-8c8c-44cc613719da.png]<http://www.arcticfrontiers.com/> <http://www.mynewsdesk.com/no/arctic-frontiers> [cid:fb-icon_0e5f7191-56cc-491a-8e03-db06864c0912.png] <http://facebook.com/arcticfrontiers> [cid:tw-icon_f85f315a-b138-4a05-92ed-d2a97484aac4.png] <https://twitter.com/arcticfrontiers> [cid:in-icon_f815019d-6dfd-4699-bcf1-65c28ea63134.png] <http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=3159219> <https://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=3159219> <http://www.mynewsdesk.com/no/arctic-frontiers>

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New publication: Blue whales increase feeding rates at fine-scale ocean features (James Fahlbusch)
by James Fahlbusch 05 Sep '22

05 Sep '22

Hello everyone, On behalf of my coauthors, I am pleased to share our recently published paper titled “Blue whales increase feeding rates at fine-scale ocean features”. Fahlbusch, J. A., Czapanskiy, M. F., Calambokidis, J., Cade, D. E., Abrahms, B., Hazen, E. L., & Goldbogen, J. A. (2022). Blue whales increase feeding rates at fine-scale ocean features. *Proceedings of the Royal Society B*, 289(1981), 20221180. Abstract: Marine predators face the challenge of reliably finding prey that is patchily distributed in space and time. Predators make movement decisions at multiple spatial and temporal scales, yet we have limited understanding of how habitat selection at multiple scales translates into foraging performance. In the ocean, there is mounting evidence that submesoscale (i.e., <100 km) processes drive the formation of dense prey patches that should hypothetically provide feeding hot spots and increase predator foraging success. Here we integrated environmental remote-sensing with high-resolution animal-borne biologging data to evaluate submesoscale surface current features in relation to the habitat selection and foraging performance of blue whales in the California Current System. Our study revealed a consistent functional relationship in which blue whales disproportionately foraged within dynamic aggregative submesoscale features at both the regional and feeding site scales across seasons, regions, and years. Moreover, we found that blue whale feeding rates increased in areas with stronger aggregative features, suggesting that these features indicate areas of higher prey density. The use of fine-scale, dynamic features by foraging blue whales underscores the need to take these features into account when designating critical habitat and may help inform strategies to mitigate the impacts of human activities for the species. The paper is open access and can be downloaded here: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2022.1180 Code and documentation can be found on my github page: https://github.com/physalus/Blue-Whales-and-Lagrangian-Features A knitted R-Markdown with the analysis and results for this manuscript (including the code to produce them) can be found at: https://physalus.github.io/Blue-Whales-and-Lagrangian-Features/ Please contact me at musculus(a)stanford.edu if you have any questions. Best regards, James Fahlbusch PhD Candidate Hopkins Marine Station Stanford University

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Fisheries interviews in Baltic Germany
by Fiona Read 05 Sep '22

05 Sep '22

Dear Marmamers, Whale and Dolphin Conservation have a grant from ASCOBANS to interview fishers on fishing gear and their perceptions of alternative gear(s). The interviews are currently being undertaken in SE England and NW Spain. We have translated the interview form into German and are looking for someone to undertake the interviews in the German Baltic. All travel expenses will be covered and there will be a small stipend to do the work. It is essential that the person speaks fluent German and is willing to speak to fishers in fishing harbour during unsociable hours (generally very early mornings). The interviews need to be conducted by the end of 2022. The interview does not contain controversial questions, although we have found that morale in the industry is very low so interviewers need to be sympathetic to the fisher’s current situation. Please contact me on Fiona.read@whales<mailto:Fiona.read@whales> if you are interested in conducting the German interviews. If you prefer to message in German, please contact Fabian.ritter(a)whales.org<mailto:Fabian.ritter@whales.org> in WDC’s German office. Best wishes, Fiona Dr Fiona Read Research coordinator Mobile: +44 (0)791 869 3023<tel:+44%20(0)791%20869%203023> WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation Scottish Dolphin Centre Spey Bay Moray IV32 7PJ United Kingdom whales.org<https://whales.org/> [cid:image001.png@01D8C156.CBD2D5D0]<https://whales.org/> [cid:image002.png@01D8C156.CBD2D5D0]<https://www.facebook.com/whalesorg> [cid:image003.png@01D8C156.CBD2D5D0]<https://www.twitter.com/whalesorg> [cid:image004.png@01D8C156.CBD2D5D0]<https://www.instagram.com/whalesorg> [cid:image005.png@01D8C156.CBD2D5D0]<https://www.youtube.com/whalesorg> [cid:image006.png@01D8C156.CBD2D5D0]<https://uk.whales.org/category/news/> [cid:image007.png@01D8C156.CBD2D5D0]<https://uk.whales.org/newsletter> [cid:image008.png@01D8C156.CBD2D5D0]<https://www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/> [cid:image009.png@01D8C156.CBD2D5D0]<https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/business-charity-awards-short-term-partnershi…> Whale and Dolphin Conservation (“WDC”) is a company registered in England and Wales (No. 02737421) and a registered charity (in England and Wales No. 1014705, in Scotland No. SC040231) WDC Shop is a trading name of WDC (Trading) Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales (No. 02593116) Registered office : Brookfield House, 38 St. Paul Street, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 1LJ. Tel: +44 (0)1249 449 500 This message is private and confidential. If you have received this message in error, please notify us and remove it from your system.

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New publication: Ecological interactions between Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) and baleen whales in the South Sandwich Islands region
by Mick Baines 05 Sep '22

05 Sep '22

Dear MARMAM list subscribers, Together with my co-authors, we are pleased to announce the following new publication in Deep Sea Research Part 1: *Ecological interactions between Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) and baleen whales in the South Sandwich Islands region – Exploring predator-prey biomass ratios.* Authors: Mick Baines, Jennifer Jackson, Sophie Fielding, Vicky Warwick-Evans, Maren Reichelt, Claire Lacey, Simon Pinder and Phil Trathan. Abstract: Following the cessation of whaling, the southwest Atlantic humpback whale (*Megaptera novaeangliae*) population is thought to be close to pre-exploitation size, reversing 20th century changes in abundance. Using a model-based approach applied to concurrently collected data on baleen whale abundance and Antarctic krill (*Euphausia superba*) biomass in the South Sandwich Islands (SSI) region, we explore ecological interactions between these taxa. Krill biomass and baleen whale density were highest to the north and northeast of the SSI, where the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) is deflected around the island chain. Humpback whale density was elevated at locations of krill biomass density >150 gm-2. Krill consumption by baleen whales was estimated at 19–29% of the available krill standing stock. We used historic whaling data to confirm the plausibility of these consumption rates and found evidence of rapid weight gain in humpback whales, such that blubber depleted during the breeding season could be restored in a much shorter period than previously assumed. Little is known about krill replenishment rates in the flow of the ACC, or about niche separation between recovering baleen whale populations; both factors may affect species carrying capacities and further monitoring will be required to inform the management of human activities in the region. The paper is published as an open source article, currently available as a journal pre-proof through the following doi : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2022.103867 Mick Baines www.wildscope.com

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CCS Right Whale Ecology Program - Aerial Observer
by Brigid McKenna 03 Sep '22

03 Sep '22

Center for Coastal Studies North Atlantic Right Whale Aerial Observer Job Announcement The Center for Coastal Studies (CCS), a non-profit institution dedicated to the understanding and protection of our coastal environment and marine ecosystems, is seeking a seasonal right whale aerial observer from January 2023 through May 2023. Observers will be flying surveys to assess the abundance, distribution, conservation status and behavior of North Atlantic right whales in Cape Cod Bay and adjacent waters. We fly between one and four surveys weekly throughout the field season, occasionally on back to back days. Observers are often required to work on weekends and holidays, often for long hours in a small aircraft and/or aboard a research vessel. Housing will be provided. This is a seasonal full-time salaried position. Salary will range from $1480 to $1528 biweekly, depending on qualifications and experience. Details of our work can be found on our website: coastalstudies.org/right-whale-research/ Primary Responsibilities: - Participate in right whale aerial surveys by rotating through the three positions: observer/data recorder, observer/photographer, and ground contact - Process aerial survey data: enter and proof data recorded during surveys, complete effort and sightings data tables, photo-analysis and photo-identification of individuals, update in-house identification catalog, and prepare data for submissions to the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium - Familiarize oneself with current entanglement cases and protocols, as well as individuals of interest Other responsibilities may include: - Assist program director, data manager, and/or flight coordinator with relevant projects - Participate in vessel cruises and assist interns - Write field notes to be shared with the public - Finalize data entry and photo analysis from previous field seasons Minimum Requirements: - Excellent attention to detail and organization skills - Ability to work well under pressure - Proficient with DSLR cameras in a variety of lighting conditions - Experience in species-identification of marine mammals, particularly in the Northwest Atlantic - Demonstrated knowledge of photo-identification of individuals - Computer literacy and working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) - Must work well in a team. Field hours can be long and the winter fieldwork conditions are cold and often uncomfortable - Ability to work in small aircraft for up to 9 hours per day with continual focus - Must not suffer from air sickness - COVID-19 vaccination required Preferred Qualifications: - A bachelor’s degree, preferably in biological/ environmental sciences - Previous aerial survey and/or right whale experience - Working knowledge of R, iMatch, and/or Mysticetus software - Aircraft ditch and EBS training within the last five years - Enthusiasm, a sense of humor, attention to detail and willingness to learn How to Apply: Please email your cover letter, CV/resume, college transcripts (unofficial are sufficient), and the contact information for three references as a single PDF to bmckenna(a)coastalstudies.org with the subject line: 2023 RW Aerial Observer Position. Deadline for submission: September 16th, 2022.

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CCS Right Whale Ecology Program - Observer Internship
by Brigid McKenna 03 Sep '22

03 Sep '22

Center for Coastal Studies Right Whale Ecology Program Observer Internship The Center for Coastal Studies (CCS), a nonprofit institution dedicated to the understanding and protection of our coastal environment and marine ecosystems, is seeking a seasonal Right Whale Ecology Program observer intern from January 2023 through May 2023. This long-term project focuses on documenting the abundance, distribution and behavior of North Atlantic right whales and their food resource in Cape Cod Bay and adjacent Massachusetts waters. The observer intern will be the primary vessel observer for the project and will participate in research cruises. Fieldwork responsibilities include photographing critically endangered North Atlantic right whales, collecting behavioral and environmental data, recording other sighting events (species, vessels, and fishing gear), and working with a habitat research team both in the field and office. Office responsibilities include photo-analysis (downloading images, inputting sightings information, matching individuals to known animals using an online and in-house catalog, cataloging), database entry and maintenance, assisting the aerial team and maintaining vessel field equipment. Minimum Requirements: - Previous marine mammal survey experience, including background in species identification and photo-identification of large cetaceans - Experience with digital SLR cameras, lenses, and filters - Basic computer literacy and working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) - Experience working on boats and ability to withstand harsh elements for up to 10 hrs at a time - Not prone to seasickness - Must be able to live and work well in a team - Enthusiasm and willingness to learn field and lab-based research methods - Strong attention to detail and ability to work well under pressure - COVID-19 vaccination required Preferred Qualifications: - A bachelor’s degree, preferably in biological/ environmental sciences - Experience using iMatch image database software - Experience with database entry and management - Experience using GPS equipment - Demonstrated ability to estimate object ranges from a vessel - A valid US driver’s license The successful applicant will be required to work a minimum of four full days per week and will need to be flexible for research cruises due to weather constraints. The intern will often collect data independently in the field, thus responsible, detail-oriented applicants are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be available for the full field season and must be willing to work weekends, holidays and evenings as needed. Housing will be provided, as well as a biweekly stipend. International applicants must secure their own visas or other required documentation. CCS has a long history of conservation and research work with the North Atlantic right whale and Cape Cod Bay has been a major critical habitat for over 50% of the estimated population in recent years. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone wishing to expand their skills in marine mammal survey techniques, and will offer the successful applicant the unique chance to work with one of the world’s most endangered cetaceans. This internship will afford the successful applicant an invaluable opportunity to work within a well-established institution, with highly-qualified scientists, and to gain experience in photo-identification, matching, and data entry and analysis. Experience in oceanographic sampling can also be gained. Details of our work can be found on our website: http://coastalstudies.org/right-whale-research/ How to Apply: The application package should include the following as a single PDF: 1) Cover letter describing your specific interests in marine mammal science, internship qualifications, and how the experience would assist you in reaching career goals 2) CV/resume 3) College transcripts, if applicable (unofficial are sufficient) 4) The names and contact information of two references Application materials must be e-mailed to: bmckenna(a)coastalstudies.org with the subject line: 2023 RW Observer Internship. Deadline for submissions: September 16th, 2022.

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New paper in Royal Society Open Science - Dugongs
by songhai 03 Sep '22

03 Sep '22

Dear MARMAM recipients, New open access paper in Royal Society Open Science: Functional extinction of dugongs in China Authors: Mingli Lin, Samuel T. Turvey, Chouting Han, Xiaoyu Huang, Antonios D. Mazaris, Mingming Liu, Heidi Ma, Zixin Yang, Xiaoming Tang and Songhai Li Link: Functional extinction of dugongs in China | Royal Society Open Science (royalsocietypublishing.org) <https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.211994> Abstract: Dugongs (Dugong dugon) experienced a serious population decline in China during the twentieth century, and their regional status is poorly understood. To determine their current distribution and status, we conducted a large-scale interview survey of marine resource users across four Chinese provinces and reviewed all available historical data covering the past distribution of dugongs in Chinese waters. Only 5% of 788 respondents reported past dugong sightings, with a mean last-sighting date of 23 years earlier, and only three respondents reported sightings from within the past 5 years. Historical records of dugongs peak around 1960 and then decrease rapidly from 1975 onwards; no records are documented after 2008, with no verified field observations after 2000. Based on these findings, we are forced to conclude that dugongs have experienced rapid population collapse during recent decades and are now functionally extinct in China. Our study provides evidence of a new regional loss of a charismatic marine megafaunal species, and the first reported functional extinction of a large vertebrate in Chinese marine waters. This rapid documented population collapse also serves as a sobering reminder that extinctions can occur before effective conservation actions are developed. Best Regards Songhai ------------------------------------------------------------------- Songhai Li Ph.D. & Prof. Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering Chinese Academy of Sciences 28 Luhuitou Road, Sanya, 572000, China Phone: +86-898-88222393 Email: <mailto:lish@sidsse.ac.cn> lish(a)idsse.ac.cn <http://www.idsse.cas.cn/yjsgk2015/zzjg2015/yftx2015/shkxyjb2015/hybrdwyhysw sxyjz2015/> http://www.idsse.cas.cn/yjsgk2015/zzjg2015/yftx2015/shkxyjb2015/hybrdwyhysws xyjz2015/ <http://www.cetacean.csdb.cn/> http://www.cetacean.csdb.cn/

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New publication on pygmy blue whale diving behaviour
by Andrew Davenport 02 Sep '22

02 Sep '22

Dear Colleagues, On behalf of my coauthors, I am happy to announce the publication of a new open access paper published in the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering on the diving behaviour of an eastern Indian Ocean pygmy blue whale, and how it relates to their song structure. Davenport, A.M.; Erbe, C.; Jenner, M.-N.M.; Jenner, K.C.S.; Saunders, B.J.; McCauley, R.D. Pygmy Blue Whale Diving Behaviour Reflects Song Structure. *J. Mar. Sci. Eng.* 2022, *10*, 1227. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10091227 Abstract Passive acoustic monitoring is increasingly employed to monitor whales, their population size, habitat usage, and behaviour. However, in the case of the eastern Indian Ocean pygmy blue whale (EIOPB whale), its applicability is limited by our lack of understanding of the behavioural context of sound production. This study explored the context of singing behaviour using a 7.6-day biotelemetry dataset from a single EIOPB whale moving north from 31.5° S to 28.5° S along the Western Australian coast and a simultaneously collected, but separate, acoustic recording. Diving behaviour was classified using an automated classification schema. Singing was identified in the depth, pitch, and fluking time series of the dive profile. The EIOPB whale sang profusely as it migrated, spending more time singing during the day (76.8%) than at night (64.9%), and most during twilight periods (83.3%). The EIOPB whale almost exclusively produced the three-unit (P3) song while milling. It sang the two-unit (P2) song in similar proportions to the P3 song while travelling, except at night when P3 was sung 2.7 times more than P2. A correlation between singing depth, migration duration, and water temperature provides a biological basis to explain depth preferences for sound production, which may contribute to the cause of intra- and inter-annual sound frequency trends. It can be accessed and downloaded from here: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/10/9/1227 Best regards, Andrew Davenport, Research Associate Centre for Whale Research PO Box 1622 Fremantle WA 6959 Australia T: +61 (0)400 455 229 www.cwr.org.au

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