June 2023 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Marine mammal internship positions (MeRiS - Mediterraneo Ricerca e Sviluppo)
by Alessandra Vanacore 05 Jun '23

05 Jun '23

The non-profit organization MeRiS – Mediterraneo Ricerca e Sviluppo (Agrigento, Italy) is offering an unprecedented opportunity for a maximum of 4 students interested in conducting a data-analysis internship. *MeRiS* MeRiS – Mediterraneo Ricerca e Sviluppo is an NGO with the mission to increase scientific knowledge on cetacean species in the Strait of Sicily, as well as to spread awareness on marine mammals and their habitat. Our research focuses on a population of common bottlenose dolphins inhabiting the waters of Agrigento. We have been monitoring and studying these dolphins since 2016 under the project “Dolphins of the Akragas Sea”, using photo-identification and the collection of behavioural and acoustic data. *THE POSITION* This is an offer for students of marine biology or related fields (environmental sciences, zoology, ecology) wishing to carry out their internship (bachelor’s or master’s) in the field of marine mammal science. You will be tasked with cataloguing and analysing the data collected on the field, including: - Photo-identification of common bottlenose dolphins - Ethological data on common bottlenose dolphins and seabirds - Geographical and environmental data. For students with previous experience in acoustics, there is also a possibility to process acoustic recordings of bottlenose dolphins. You will be expected to work approximately 30-40 hours/week from Monday to Friday. *DATES* The internship requires a minimum commitment of 2 months with two turns: - mid June - mid August - mid August - mid October Two interns will be accepted for every turn. *LOGISTICS* The activities will be conducted in MeRiS’s base office in Favara, Agrigento. Unfortunately, this year we are unable to offer accommodation, but we can suggest some options to help you. *REQUIREMENTS* Any student interested in the position can apply, however, since we are a small organization and we are not able to offer a stipend, we strongly encourage the participation of students who have access to a scholarship or can apply for one. The preferred candidates will have these characteristics: - Proficiency with Microsoft Office appliances, especially Microsoft Excel - Previous experiences with GIS applications, preferably QGIS (desired but not required) - Strong attention to details and organizational skills - Good ability of completing tasks independently (you will have the full support of our team, but the internship coincides with the summer field season, so the researchers will be out at sea when the weather allows it) - Good knowledge of English and/or Italian - Great team player. We are a small organization and everyone must be welcoming and inclusive: bring a positive attitude! *HOW TO APPLY* Send your CV and a motivation letter to info.meris(a)gmail.com before the 17th of May with the subject “DATA ANALYSIS INTERN”. The selected candidates will be contacted for an introductory meeting.

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New publication on energy flow in aquatic and terrestrial mammals
by Andreas Fahlman 04 Jun '23

04 Jun '23

Dear colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I am happy to announce the publication of our new paper in Physiological Reports Title: Allometric scaling of metabolic rate and cardiorespiratory variables in aquatic and terrestrial mammals Authors: Rebecca S. He, Stacy De Ruiter, Tristan Westover, Jason A. Somarelli, Ashley M. Blawas, Divya L. Dayanidhi, Ana Singh, Benjamin Steves, Samantha Driesinga, Lewis G. Halsey, Andreas Fahlman Journal: Physiological Reports Full view access to the article can be found here: https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.14814/phy2.15698 Abstract: While basal metabolic rate (BMR) scales proportionally with body mass (Mb), it remains unclear whether the relationship differs between mammals from aquatic and terrestrial habitats. We hypothesized that differences in BMR allometry would be reflected in similar differences in scaling of O2 delivery pathways through the cardiorespiratory system. We performed a comparative analysis of BMR across 63 mammalian species (20 aquatic, 43 terrestrial) with a Mb range from 10 kg to 5318 kg. Our results revealed elevated BMRs in small (>10 kg and <100 kg) aquatic mammals compared to small terrestrial mammals. The results demonstrated that minute ventilation, that is, tidal volume (VT)·breathing frequency (fR), as well as cardiac output, that is, stroke volume·heart rate, do not differ between the two habitats. We found that the “aquatic breathing strategy”, characterized by higher VT and lower fR resulting in a more effective gas exchange, and by elevated blood hemoglobin concentrations resulting in a higher volume of O2 for the same volume of blood, supported elevated metabolic requirements in aquatic mammals. The results from this study provide a possible explanation of how differences in gas exchange may serve energy demands in aquatic versus terrestrial mammals. Feel free to contact me with any questions. Andreas

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DOSITS WEBINAR - EXTREME NATURAL SOUNDS
by Ellen Bellagamba Fucile 02 Jun '23

02 Jun '23

The Discovery of Sound in the Sea (DOSITS) <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.dosits.org_&d=DwMFa…> Team is pleased to announce that it will again facilitate a free, four-part webinar series on underwater sound. Topics covered will include natural underwater sound, extreme sounds (natural and anthropogenic), how animals (marine mammals, fishes, and even humans) may use ambient sound, and the potential impacts of underwater sound associated with vessels (Saturn Project). Each webinar will run approximately 60 minutes in length and will consist of a presentation by one or more experts followed by a period of facilitated discussion. The webinar series is open to all interested individuals, however, registration is required. All webinars are presented in Zoom and via a YouTube stream. Post webinar recordings will also be available on the DOSITS website. Register Now for the 2nd 2023 Discovery of Sound in the Sea Webinar: Extreme Natural Sounds Tuesday June 6, 2023 at 12:00 PM EDT. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/extreme-natural-sounds-registration-6267548696… This webinar will examine common natural sources of extreme underwater sounds. PD Certificate DOSITS will offer a Certificate of Professional Development in association with the 2023 Underwater Acoustics Webinar Series. There are no fees associated with this certificate. See the DOSITS 2023 webpage for more information (https://dosits.org/decision-makers/webinar-series/2023-webinar/) Questions? Please contact the DOSITS Team at dositswebinar(a)uri.edu<mailto:dositswebinar@uri.edu>. **apologies for cross-postings**

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Submission Request
by Hotmail 01 Jun '23

01 Jun '23

Good morning. JOB POSTING: Field Assistant Plettenberg Bay The ORCA (Ocean Research Conservation Africa) Foundation, a conservation node of Ocean Blue Adventures, is recruiting a reliable field assistant work experience position for a 6 month period, starting July 2023. Preference will be given to Nature Conservation/Marine Biology recent graduates or relevant BSc graduates who are interested to gain practical experiential training in marine mammal field research, conservation and education. Please see more information on our website: https://orcafoundation.com/2023/06/field-assistant-vacancy-2023/ <https://orcafoundation.com/2023/06/field-assistant-vacancy-2023/> Please share if possible. Thank you very much. Melissa Nel Researcher | Volunteer Coordinator https://orcafoundation.com

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Fully funded PhD position on beluga whale behavioural ecology
by Sarah Fortune 01 Jun '23

01 Jun '23

Fully Funded Ph.D. Position in whale behavioural ecology We are looking for a skilled and enthusiastic PhD student to join the groups of Dr. Sarah Fortune, the Canadian Wildlife Federation Chair in Large Whale Conservation at Dalhousie University, Halifax (Nova Scotia, Canada) and Dr.Véronique Lesage, Research Scientist at Maurice Lamontagne Institute at Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Mont-Joli, Quebec, Canada). The project aims to examine diving behaviour and foraging activity of St. Lawrence Estuary beluga in the context of noise exposure using digital-tag behavioural and acoustic data. This project and the 4-year PhD position is funded by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Dr. Véronique Lesage is the project lead and will co-supervise the successful candidate during their program. The student will be offered with various opportunities to work in the field with small and large marine mammals in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence. Applicants should possess an internationally recognised Master’s degree from an accredited institution with peer-review publication experience. Candidates should be self-motivated, and able to work within a team framework. They should have an interest in applied ecology and oceanography, and a strong background in behavioural ecology, statistics, and computer science. Start date: September 2023 PhD stipend: $37,000 / year (less tuition and fees) To apply: email your CV and a motivation letter to Veronique Lesage (veronique.lesage(a)dfo-mpo.gc.ca<mailto:veronique.lesage@dfo-mpo.gc.ca>).

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NOAA Fisheries Hiring
by Benjamin Laws - NOAA Federal 01 Jun '23

01 Jun '23

NOAA Fisheries' Office of Protected Resources is hiring two full-time Band 3 Marine Resources Management Specialists in the Marine Mammal Protection Act Incidental Take Program. The announcement opened on *06/01/2023* and closes on 06/14/2023. Job Announcement # (DHA): NMFS OPR-23-11976062-DHA https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/728896200

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New publication on the surface behavior of Sousa chinensis
by agathe serres 31 May '23

31 May '23

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of the article entitled "Context of breaching and tail slapping in Indo‑Pacific humpback dolphins in the northern South China Sea" in the journal "Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology". The link to the article and abstract can be found below and interested people are invited to send me an email to request PDF copies. Abstract Odontocetes display a wide range of surface behaviors, including aerial and percussive behaviors. However, only a handful of studies have quantitatively investigated the context and function of surface behavioral events in odontocetes. Here, the display of breaching, side breaching, and tail-slapping by Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) was observed during surveys conducted in three locations of the northern South China Sea. The analysis of 380 encounters revealed that, while breaching was not associated with particular contexts, side breaching was mostly displayed during foraging, probably to gather prey during feeding events, and could therefore be further used to indicate foraging activity. Tail-slapping was displayed significantly more during spring than in other seasons, during socializing and traveling than during other activities, and in larger than in smaller groups. This behavior was mostly displayed by old individuals in a variety of contexts, indicating a potential range of functions including attracting attention, communicating information, expressing an emotional state, or gathering prey together. Unexpectedly, tail slaps were significantly less frequent when the research boat actively followed dolphins, showing that the link between this behavior and human disturbances is not clear. More research is needed to investigate details regarding the display of tail slaps in order to be able to reliably use it as a cue to monitor during surveys that indicates that dolphins are being impacted due to disturbance from boats. Furthermore, differences in the display of surface behavioral events were observed among locations, which may be attributed to differences in foraging and/or communication strategies among different populations. The results obtained here will be useful for behavioral monitoring during feld surveys. https://link.springer.com/epdf/10.1007/s00265-023-03337-3?sharing_token=gv8… All te best Agathe Serres, Ph.D. Postdoctoral researcher Institute of Deep Sea Science and Engineering, Sanya, China agathe.serres11(a)gmail.com *agathe(a)idsse.ac.cn <agathe(a)idsse.ac.cn>*

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