January 2023 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New publication on the impacts of drones on belugas
by Jaclyn Aubin 19 Jan '23

19 Jan '23

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to share our recent paper in Marine Mammal Science on the impacts of drones on beluga whales: “Fly with care: belugas show evasive responses to low altitude drone flights” Aubin, J. A., Mikus, M.-A., Michaud, R., Mennill, D., & Vergara, V. (2023). Fly with care: belugas show evasive responses to low altitude drone flights. Marine Mammal Science, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12997 Summary: Drones have become an important research tool for studies of cetaceans, providing valuable insights into their ecology and behavior. However, drones are also recognized as a potential source of disturbance to cetaceans, particularly when flown at low altitudes. In this study, we examined the impact of drones on endangered St. Lawrence belugas (*Delphinapterus leucas*), and reviewed drone studies of cetaceans to identify altitude thresholds linked to disturbance. We repurposed drone footage of free-living belugas taken at various altitudes, speeds, and angles-of-approach, and noted the animals' reactions. Evasive reactions to the drone occurred during 4.3% (22/511) of focal group follows. Belugas were more likely to display sudden dives during low-altitude flights, particularly flights below 23 m. Sudden dives were also more likely to occur in larger groups and were especially common when a drone first approached a group. We recommend that researchers maintain a lower altitude limit of 25 m in drone-assisted studies of belugas and approach larger groups with caution. This recommendation is in line with our literature review, which indicates that drone flights above 30 m are unlikely to provoke disturbance among cetaceans. *The paper can be accessed here:* https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12997 All the best, Jaclyn

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SEAMAMMS 2023 Registration Now Open!
by Seamamms 2023 19 Jan '23

19 Jan '23

Hello, We are happy to announce that registration is now open for the 2023 Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Marine Mammal Symposium (SEAMAMMS) in Mobile, AL, on March 17th-19th. Early-bird registration will be available until February 28th. We have some exciting additional activities that attendees can register for outside of the symposium program, including: - A FREE icebreaker at the University of South Alabama - A banquet at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab - Two choices of optional field trip The registration page can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/seamamms-2023-registration-425160655967 Check out https://seamamms.wordpress.com/ for updates, and please reach out to seamamms(a)gmail.com if you have any questions. We hope to see you in March! The SEAMAMMS Planning Committee

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Hiring: Associate Registrar and Compliance Administrator
by E L 19 Jan '23

19 Jan '23

Georgia Aquarium (GAI) is seeking an Associate Registrar and Compliance Administrator to support the Zoological Compliance Administrator (ZCAR) with the management and execution of GAI’s compliance with federal regulations, standards and guidelines from accrediting organizations and institutional policies and procedures pertaining to the animal care and use program. Summarized Responsibilities: 1. Supports the ZCAR as needed with Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) business needs. 2. Interfaces effectively with other departments to maintain the highest quality standards of animal welfare and research ethics; ensures timely follow up and communication to staff, committees, chairs, and GAI leadership on important compliance and/or welfare matters. 3. Serves as the Assistant Tracks Administrator; ensures that all applicable staff are trained on the use of Tracks; serves as a liaison between GAI IT and Tracks Administration. 4. Assists with managing and monitoring animal transactions and coordinates with curatorial staff to ensure legal compliance with local, state, federal and international laws, government regulations and industry-specific standards. 5. Supports the ZCAR in ensuring compliance with accreditation/certification organizations (i.e., Association of Zoos & Aquariums, Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks & Aquariums, American Humane, International Marine Animal Trainers Association); stays current with standards and guidelines and maintains the schedule for accreditation/certification inspections and maintains/updates documents, as necessary. To apply, please visit www.georgiaaquarium.org/careers.

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Marine Research Expeditions in the Mediterranean Sea
by Manuel Marinelli 18 Jan '23

18 Jan '23

Project Manaia is a sailboat based Marine Conservation NGO offering spots for (marine) biologists to join on board: Our work focuses on (but is not limited to) - Mapping habitats, with a focus on Posidonia oceanica - Marine mammal observations when underway - Marine debris assessments as well as beach cleanups and recycling workshops - replanting posidonia oceanica But we also encourage participants to take on their own project with some of the gear we have on board including (but not limited to) - Sofar Ocean Trident ROV - Aerial drone - Hydrophone - Microscopes - Plakton net While we are a small NGO we do ask for a contribution towards the running costs of each person to cover the ongoing costs of the boat. This means 550 Euros per week for people from related fields, covering food, accommodation, lecturers, all gear and of course travel once on board, so in comparison I think a really fair deal. All payments are considered donations to a non profit NGO (based in Austria) and are (in Austria) tax deductible! For more information please check www.projectmanaia.at/schedule <http://www.projectmanaia.at/schedule> You will find the planned route and possible legs to join the journey. More information about the boat and crew can also be found there! All the best, Manuel Manuel Marinelli Marine Biologist/Skipper Director and Founder | Project Manaia Marine Research Expeditions +43 660 6965601 <tel:+43 660 6965601> manuel(a)projectmanaia.at <mailto:manuel@projectmanaia.at> www.projectmanaia.at <https://www.projectmanaia.at/> Mannstorfferstr. 15, 9800 Spittal, AUSTRIA <https://www.facebook.com/projectmanaia> <https://www.linkedin.com/in/manuel-marinelli-1144b135/> <https://www.instagram.com/projectmanaia/> Support our Work <http://projectmanaia.at/manaia/support.html>

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New publication: Age- and sex-specific survivorship of the Southern Hemisphere long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas edwardii)
by Emma Betty 18 Jan '23

18 Jan '23

Kia ora MARMAM community, My colleagues and I are happy to share the publication of our new open-access paper: Emma L Betty, Karen A Stockin, Bethany Hinton, Barbara A Bollard, Mark B Orams, Sinéad Murphy, Age- and sex-specific survivorship of the Southern Hemisphere long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas edwardii), Journal of Mammalogy, 2022;, gyac085, https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyac085 Abstract: Biodiversity loss is a major global challenge of the 21st century. Ultimately, extinctions of species are determined by birth and death rates; thus, conservation management of at-risk species is dependent on robust demographic data. In this study, data gathered from 381 (227 females, 154 males) long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas edwardii) that died in 14 stranding events on the New Zealand coast between 2006 and 2017 were used to construct the first age- and sex-specific life tables for the subspecies. Survivorship curves were fitted to these data using (1) a traditional maximum likelihood approach, and (2) Siler’s competing-risk model. Life table construction and subsequent survival curves revealed distinct differences in the age- and sex-specific survival rates, with females outliving males. Both sexes revealed slightly elevated rates of mortality among the youngest age-classes (<2 years) with postweaning mortality rates decreasing and remaining relatively low until the average life expectancy is reached; 11.3 years for males and 14.7 years for females. Overall (total) mortality is estimated to be 8.8% and 6.8% per annum for males and females, respectively. The mortality curve resembles that of other large mammals, with high calf mortality, lower postweaning mortality, and an exponentially increasing risk of senescent mortality. An accelerated mortality rate was observed in mature females, in contrast to the closely related short-finned pilot whale (G. macrorhynchus), which selects for an extension to the postreproductive life span. The reason for the observed differences in the mortality rate acceleration and postreproductive life span between the two pilot whale species have not been established and warrant further investigation. Obtaining robust information on the life history of long-lived species is challenging, but essential to improve our understanding of population dynamics and help predict how future pressures may impact populations. This study illustrates how demographic data from cetacean stranding events can improve knowledge of species survival rates, thus providing essential information for conservation management. Ngā mihi nui, Emma Emma Betty, PhD Postdoctoral Fellow School of Natural Sciences | Massey University Postal Address: Private Bag 102 904, North Shore, Auckland 0745, New Zealand Physical Address: Building 5, Gate 4, The Station Crescent, Albany, Auckland, New Zealand [cid:dc21d1ab-6c82-45f6-a4f1-e23186e490e3] <https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Emma_Betty> [cid:98f74ef6-cfb7-487e-a0d3-d490afb0fc57] <https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?hl=en&user=2RDsBAIAAAAJ> [cid:f8ef8cf5-9ddc-4107-94d9-7d7bcefab55b] <https://twitter.com/emmalbetty> [cid:580e6943-6186-49c3-ba82-6d57462aa796] <https://www.facebook.com/CetaceanEcologyOrg> [cid:33efa7e7-5973-48b9-8231-9c64a0f98689] <https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-betty-04ab8817/> [cid:d9d2e4ae-e4ad-48d7-af85-62560cd91446]<https://www.cetaceanecology.org/> <https://www.cetaceanecology.org/>

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Job Opportunities at Maine Department of Marine Resources
by Murray, Anita 18 Jan '23

18 Jan '23

Dear MARMAM community, I am happy to share that the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) in West Boothbay Harbor, Maine is seeking applicants for three new Marine Resource Scientist I positions for our Cetacean Research Program (CRP) which is part of our Ecology and the Environment Division. These positions will play an integral role in the CRP's passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) program by analyzing acoustic data, maintaining our various PAM stations, and conducting various research projects. For more information, please see below a link to the job posting and the job description. Feel free to contact me with any questions about these positions. Cheers, Anita Anita Murray, PhD (she/her) Lead, Cetacean Research Program Maine Department of Marine Resources 194 McKown Point Road West Boothbay Harbor, ME., 04575, USA anita.murray(a)maine.gov<mailto:anita.murray@maine.gov> Link to Job Posting: https://mainebhr.hire.trakstar.com/jobs/fk0x3jm/ ________________________________ Opening Date: January 18, 2023 Closing Date: January 31, 2023 Location: West Boothbay Harbor Position #: 07200-2707 07200-2708 07200-2709 Position Type: Limited Period Full Time Class Code: 9362 Grade/Salary: 23 $47,611.20 - $64,230.40(*Includes 5.5% Stipend) ________________________________ BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION: The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is seeking applicants with strong scientific skills to fill three Marine Resource Scientist I positions in the Ecology and the Environment Division/Bureau of Marine Science located at the West Boothbay Harbor Laboratory*. These positions will be responsible for processing acoustic recordings for species-specific vocalizations using various acoustic analysis software. The positions will also be responsible for statistical and ambient noise analyses. The positions will perform deployment, servicing, and purchasing duties needed to maintain various passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) projects. The positions will stay up to date on literature and relevant regional projects, and work with the Cetacean Research Program (CRP) lead to present and publish results. Each position may conduct a research project using the species detection and/or vocal activity data generated by the team's analysis. With direction from the program lead, this could include identifying a research question, applying for external grant funding, implementing the necessary statistical analyses, and disseminating results. As needed, the positions will work across DMR programmatic lines, including for other Division of Ecology and the Environment programs. Applicants should demonstrate knowledge of cetacean biology, ecology, and/or behavior (particularly vocal behavior). Applicants should demonstrate knowledge of management issues with respect to fisheries and/or offshore wind energy development, e.g., entanglement, anthropogenic noise, displacement, vessel strikes. Candidates should demonstrate strong analytical, writing, and communication skills. Candidates should demonstrate an ability to work independently as well as cooperatively within a team. Applicants should demonstrate strong organization skills and be detailed oriented. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in PAM, bioacoustics, soundscape ecology, ambient noise, statistical modeling, and/or artificial neural networks. Experience with Raven Pro, PAMGUARD, LFDCS, Python, MATLAB and/or GIS software are preferred but not required. Experience deploying research equipment in a marine environment is preferred but not required. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A Bachelors Degree in a scientific, technical, or engineering discipline, or equivalent in directly related work experience; and two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in the field of marine resource research and management or related field. *The selected candidate will be eligible, upon department approval, to work partially remote.

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Marine Mammal Postdoctoral Researcher
by Joanne OBrien 18 Jan '23

18 Jan '23

Dear colleagues, The Atlantic Technological University (ATU, Galway, Ireland) are recruiting a Marine Mammal Postdoctoral Researcher on the EU funded project, Strategic Infrastructure for improved animal Tracking in European Seas (STRAITS) P1025. If you are interested, please see www.atu.ie/jobs-galway-mayo<http://www.atu.ie/jobs-galway-mayo> Closing Date: 12 noon on Wednesday, 8th February 2023 Contact Person : Dr. Joanne O'Brien Contact Email : joanne.obrien(a)atu.ie<mailto:joanne.obrien@atu.ie> Best wishes, Joanne Dr Joanne O'Brien Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta an Atlantaigh OTA Cathair na Gaillimhe, Bóthar Átha Cliath, Gaillimh, H91 T8NW, Éire Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Atlantic Technological University ATU Galway City, Dublin Road, Galway, H91 T8NW, Ireland Tel: +353 (0)91 742260 www.atu.ie<http://www.atu.ie> Confidentiality Note: The information contained in this email and any attachments to it may be legally privileged and include confidential information. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender immediately of that fact. Tá an ríomhphost seo faoi réir an tséanta seo leanas atá le fáil ag Séanadh Ríomhphost Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta an Atlantaigh<https://www.atu.ie/email-disclaimer> This e-mail is subject to the following disclaimer available at Atlantic TU Email Disclaimer<https://www.atu.ie/email-disclaimer>

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DOLPHIN RESEARCH INTERNSHIP IN PORTUGAL
by AIMM Internships 18 Jan '23

18 Jan '23

*BACKGROUND: *The Marine Environment Research Association - AIMM, is a non-profit, non-governmental organization focused on the research and conservation of marine species, running an ongoing study of cetaceans in southern Portugal (Algarve). This project aims to obtain baseline information on species occurrence, behavior, and social structure of the local cetacean populations in order to obtain scientific data to support conservation measures and inform marine management policies. The main species observed are Short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), and Harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), although other species such as Minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) can also be sighted. AIMM Interns are young, hard-working individuals who are willing to contribute to the association and support on-going activities, while experiencing fieldwork at sea, learning data collection and processing methodologies, and being a part of AIMM's team of researchers and marine biologists. All team members and participants share accommodation, house tasks, knowledge and experience in an friendly and multicultural environment. Interns have the additional option to enrich their time with AIMM by beginning or improving their SCUBA skills with a PADI-certified instructor, hiking, kayaking, surf classes and others. *WHERE:* Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal *WHEN:* The field season lasts from 15tg April to 30th November 2023. The minimum internship attendance is 7 days, preferably starting on a Monday. *FIELDWORK: *The field trips are conducted in AIMM's research vessel, Ketos. Fieldwork is dependent on weather conditions. The field days can be intense, especially in the peak of summer, but are fulfilling and good fun. The interns will be trained to: - Conduct on-board surveys of marine species occurrence; - Record effort tracks on a handheld GPS; - Access and collect environmental data; - Collect data on behavior, group size, species, etc.; - Collect photos to photo-identification, acoustic recording, and underwater videos; - Measure water visibility with the Secchi disk methodology; - Help to collect of drone footage from the marine mammals; - Land base monitoring of marine mammals. *DATA ANALYSIS: *This will be conducted on a daily basis and will entail entering data into established databases and spreadsheets, photo-identification processing, and preliminary data interpretation. *INTERNSHIP FEES:* AIMM is a non-profit organization that relies on donations from our volunteers, partners, and conservation-minded people like you so that we may continue our important research and education programs in the Algarve. This internship requires a monetary contribution which is used to off-set the cost of accommodation and running a non-profit. For more information on internship fees for the 2023 season, please contact: interns(a)aimmportugal.org *Included* in the fee is: - Accommodation in the research house; - Transportation to/from the marina; - Meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner); - Fieldwork in the research vessel. *Not included* in the fee is: - Transportation to/from Albufeira; - Meals in restaurants and snacks; - Free time activities; - Personal insurance (all participants should have health and/or travel insurance); - Personal expenses. *INTERNS ARE EXPECTED TO:* - Be above the age of 16; - Have a mature attitude towards marine mammal research and environment; - Be autonomous and flexible; - Be able to live and work in an international team and mainly outdoors at sea; - Speak English; - Participate for minimum 7 days. *Preference will be given* to those who have: - Relevant marine mammal field experience - Working experience on research vessels - Experience working from dolphin/whale watching platforms - Experience in photo-identification - Professional cameras that can be used for photo-ID - Availability to stay for longer periods of time *INTERNSHIP APPLICATION: * You can apply on AIMM website here <http://www.aimmportugal.org/opportunities/dolphin-research-internship/>*.* *or * Send us an e-mail to: interns(a)aimmportugal.org, with the subject “*DOLPHIN RESEARCH INTERNSHIP*” with your CV and motivation letter. We will send you a confirmation email with the availability and all the other details. Applications will be accepted during all season. However, early application is recommended due to limited vacancies. The follow links are a shorts videos about the internship in Albufeira. You get a different perspective and feedback from old participants about it: http://bit.ly/aimm-movie <https://bit.ly/AIMM-movie> https://youtu.be/hTJJQPHBdI0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zTIEQEsftA *Contacts*: interns(a)aimmportugal.org | www.aimmportugal.org | <http://aimm-marineresearch.blogspot.com/>

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New publication on the impacts of anthropogenic noise on cooperation in bottlenose dolphins
by Pernille Meyer 18 Jan '23

18 Jan '23

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to share our recent paper in Current Biology on the impacts of anthropogenic noise on cooperation in bottlenose dolphins: *PM Sørensen, A Haddock, E Guarino, K Jaakkola, C McMullen, FH Jensen, PL Tyack and SL King (2023). Anthropogenic noise impairs cooperation in bottlenose dolphins. Current Biology, 33, 1-6. * Summary: Understanding the impact of human disturbance on wildlife populations is of societal importance, with anthropogenic noise known to impact a range of taxa, including mammals, birds, fish, and invertebrates. While animals are known to use acoustic and other behavioural mechanisms to compensate for increasing noise at the individual level, our understanding of how noise impacts social animals working together remains limited. Here, we investigated the effect of noise on coordination between two bottlenose dolphins performing a cooperative task. We previously demonstrated that the dolphin dyad can use whistles to coordinate their behaviour, working together with extreme precision. By equipping each dolphin with a sound-and-movement recording tag (DTAG-3) and exposing them to increasing levels of anthropogenic noise, we show that both dolphins nearly doubled their whistle durations and increased whistle amplitude in response to increasing noise. While these acoustic compensatory mechanisms are the same as those frequently used by wild cetaceans, they were insufficient to overcome the effect of noise on behavioural coordination. Indeed, cooperative task success decreased in the presence of noise, dropping from 85% during ambient noise control trials to 62.5% during the highest noise exposure. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate in any non-human species that noise impairs communication between conspecifics performing a cooperative task. Cooperation facilitates vital functions across many taxa and our findings highlight the need to account for the impact of disturbance on functionally important group tasks in wild animal populations *The paper can be accessed here:* https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.12.063 All the best on behalf of all co-authors, Pernille

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Dugong population genomics - PhD project opportunity
by Christophe Cleguer 17 Jan '23

17 Jan '23

Dear all, A PhD project on dugong population genomics at James Cook University is now open for applications. The PhD student will be based in Townsville (QLD, Australia). Details are provided here: https://www.marine-omics.net/phd-projects-on-offer/ Interested applicants should send their 1) CV, 2) academic transcript and 3) a short (max. 1 page) letter outlining their suitability and interest in the project to Prof. Jan Strugnell (jan.strugnell(a)jcu.edu.au<mailto:jan.strugnell@jcu.edu.au>) Applications close 6th February. Kind Regards Christophe Cleguer, PhD Senior Research Officer TropWATER James Cook University JCU Townsville I Bebegu Yumba campus I Douglas 1 James Cook Drive Townsville QLD 4811 AUSTRALIA tropwater.com<https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tropwa…> | jcu.edu.au<https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jcu.ed…> Mob: 04 0294 8723 Follow me on Twitter: @CCleguer [cid:image001.png@01D92B2C.B084F840]

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