January 2024 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Funded PhD position about marine mammals in variable soundscapes
by Jakob Tougaard 24 Jan '24

24 Jan '24

Dear colleagues, As part of the Marie S. Curie Doctoral network SEASOUNDS, we are looking for strong candidates for the PhD position ‘Moving animals in a variable soundscape’. The overall aim of SEASOUNDS is to link the physical characterization of marine soundscapes with impact on marine organisms. The particular PhD project at Aarhus University deals with linking noise exposure experienced by individual marine mammals, quantified by on-animal recorders (D-Tags), to the noise levels modelled by hindcasting soundscape models. The overarching question is: "Do the modelled soundscape maps reflect the actual noise the animals are exposed to?". The call is now open on Aarhus University's website. You can find the announcement here.<https://phd.tech.au.dk/for-applicants/apply-here/saeropslag/seasounds-movin…> The deadline of application is Thursday 29 February 2024 at 23.59. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered. The PhD project is scheduled to start 1. November 2024. Note that EU eligibility requirements in Marie Curie Doctoral Networks apply and will be enforced strictly: * Candidates already in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of the recruitment will not be considered eligible. * Recruited researchers can be of any nationality but must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Denmark for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date (i.e. the period 1. November 2021 - 31. October 2024). Looking forward to receive applilcations Jakob Tougaard ************************************************************************* Jakob Tougaard, Ph.D. Professor in Marine Conservation Ecology Department of Ecoscience, section for Marine Mammal Research Aarhus University Building 1131 C.F. Møller’s Allé 3 DK-8000 Aarhus Denmark Phone: +45 4098 4585 E-mail: jat(a)ecos.au.dk<mailto:jat@ecos.au.dk> CVR/VAT: 31119103 EAN: 5798000419988

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New publication: Documenting the Endangered North Atlantic Right Whale: Policies, Conservation Efforts, and Stakeholders Depicted in 'Entangled' and 'Last of the Right Whales'
by Reamer, Marcus 24 Jan '24

24 Jan '24

Dear MarMam Community, On behalf of my co-authors, we are pleased to share our recent paper titled "Documenting the Endangered North Atlantic Right Whale: Policies, Conservation Efforts, and Stakeholders Depicted in Entangled and Last of the Right Whales. This article was recently published in the Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy. Here is the link to the article<https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13880292.2023.2294590>. If you do not have access to the Journal through your organization, you may contact me directly for a PDF copy. Abstract: Wildlife documentaries are a form of environmental media widely used in public engagement around sustainability and conservation issues, including biodiversity loss. Two recently released wildlife documentaries, Entangled (2020) and Last of the Right Whales (2021), are the first to tell stories focused on the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale (NARW) through film, despite the species having been imperiled for more than a century and experts sounding the alarm about the population’s decline for decades. While whales are highly regarded worldwide and their conservation has strong public support, the NARW case study is a complicated one due not only to biological and ecological challenges, but also to sociopolitical ones. Without drastic policy actions and changes to industry practices throughout its migratory range, the NARW may disappear within decades, becoming the first great whale species to reach extinction since the industrial whaling era. In this article we address a gap in current environmental media and documentary studies by engaging critically with Entangled and Last of the Right Whales and considering them within the socioecological contexts they showcase and aim to influence. Our findings indicate that these two films share an important environmental problem with their viewers but fail to overcome some important pitfalls that limit the ability of environmental films to achieve collective action and policy change. We use this case study to highlight opportunities and challenges associated with wildlife documentaries more broadly, specifically, their role in biodiversity conservation in the Anthropocene. We conclude with opportunities for future interdisciplinary research and collaborative practice that can help wildlife films to achieve more than accolades for filmmakers and mere general awareness of conservation challenges. Citation: Reamer, M., Vaughan, H., & Shriver-Rice, M. (2024). Documenting the Endangered North Atlantic Right Whale: Policies, Conservation Efforts, and Stakeholders Depicted in Entangled and Last of the Right Whales. Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy, 26(4), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/13880292.2023.2294590 All my best, Marcus B. Reamer, MPS, MPA (he/him/his) Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Environmental Science and Policy Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science ORCiD<https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4140-0989> | LinkedIn<http://linkedin.com/in/mreamer> | +1 305.496.4555 [cid:c84e8300-9d41-4c32-a7ca-91b37d36597a]<https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13880292.2023.2294590> ✉️ I try to limit my use of email throughout the day to allow for deep focus. ✉️ 📩 Please allow up to 48 hours for a response before following up. 📩 📫 If I contact you outside of your normal working hours, please know that I do not expect an immediate response 📫

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MARINE ANIMAL REHABILITAION INTERNSHIP
by Gabbie Nicoletta 24 Jan '24

24 Jan '24

MARINE ANIMAL REHABILITATION INTERNSHIP The National Marine Life Center (NMLC) is now accepting applications for the Marine Animal Rehabilitation Internship for the Summer 2024 session. The application deadline is March 1, 2024. The internship session will run from the third week of May 2024 through the fourth week of August 2024. Animal Care Responsibilities: Depending on need, case load, and time of year, interns may assist with the care of the NMLC rehabilitation patients including seals, sea turtles, and a variety of native turtle species. Animal Care duties may include animal restraint; cleaning; disinfecting tanks, equipment, and environmental enrichment devices; diet preparation; administering feeds (including tube feeding); record keeping; facility maintenance; and water quality testing. Interns may also assist animal care staff with medical procedures, admission exams, animal necropsies, and release events. Other Responsibilities: Each intern is assigned to multiple projects in different areas of the organization. A weekly chore will be delegated to each intern to assist with the upkeep of the facility and equipment. Each intern is required to attend regularly scheduled meetings throughout their time at NMLC. At the end of the internship, the intern will deliver a presentation about their experience and projects to staff and volunteers. Positions are unpaid. Interns must have their own transportation. Housing is not provided, but NMLC will offer suggestions. Qualifications * Must be currently enrolled in, or recently graduated from an accredited college or university; preference will be given to students or recent graduates working towards biology, environmental studies, marine science, education, or other related fields. * Must demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills. * Must be adaptable, responsible, hardworking, willing to learn, and have attention to detail. * Must be able to work independently and as part of a team. * Must be willing to engage in a positive and informative manner with members of the public on a regular basis. * Must be willing to participate in and receive constructive feedback. * Must expect to work approximately 40 hours per week, which can include early morning and/or late-night seal feedings depending on the season. * Interns may be required to work some holidays. * Interns may be required to participate in fundraisers held by NMLC, which may occur outside of normally scheduled hours * International applicants are responsible for their own VISA arrangements, etc. * If an intern plans to receive school credit for an internship they must notify staff prior to the internship start date, and it will be the responsibility of the applicant to ensure all required paperwork is completed and submitted. Physical Requirements: * Must be able to endure some physical exertion, such as long periods of standing; recurring bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, or similar activities; recurring lifting of moderately heavy items such as medical equipment and boxes of medical supplies. * The work may require specific but common physical characteristics and abilities such as lifting up to 50 pounds, above-average agility, and dexterity. To Apply: Send your resume, cover letter, and one letter of recommendation to internship(a)nmlc.org<mailto:internship@nmlc.org> or P.O. Box 269, Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts 02532. Due to the high number of applications, only qualified candidates will be contacted. Gabriella Nicoletta Animal Care, Necropsy, & Operations Coordinator National Marine Life Center P.O. Box 269, 120 Main Street Buzzards Bay, MA 02532-0269 Office: (508)-743-9888 Cell: (585)-775-5354 Email: gnicoletta(a)nmlc.org www.nmlc.org

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New publication: Diel patterns of humpback whale singers in Hawai‘i
by Anke K 24 Jan '24

24 Jan '24

Dear MARMAM community, on behalf of my co-authors, I am excited to share our paper on diel spatiotemporal trends of humpback whale singers in Hawai’i that was just published in Royal Society Open Science. You can find this Open Access article following this link: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.230279 <https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.230279> Kügler A, Lammers MO, Pack AA, Tenorio-Hallé L, Thode AM. 2024 Diel spatio-temporal patterns of humpback whale singing on a high-density breeding ground. R. Soc. Open Sci. 11: 230279. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.230279 Abstract: Humpback whale song chorusing dominates the marine soundscape in Hawai‘i during winter months, yet little is known about spatio-temporal habitat use patterns of singers. We analysed passive acoustic monitoring data from five sites off Maui and found that ambient noise levels associated with song chorusing decreased during daytime hours nearshore but increased offshore. To resolve whether these changes reflect a diel offshore–onshore movement or a temporal difference in singing activity, data from 71 concurrently conducted land-based theodolite surveys were analysed. Non-calf pods (n= 3082), presumably including the majority of singers, were found further offshore with increasing time of the day. Separately, we acoustically localized 217 nearshore singers using vector-sensors. During the day, distances to shore and minimum distances among singers increased, and singers switched more between being stationary and singing while travelling. Together, these findings suggest that the observed diel trends in humpback whale chorusing off Maui represent a pattern of active onshore–offshore movement of singers. We hypothesize that this may result from singers attempting to reduce intraspecific acoustic masking when densities are high nearshore and avoidance of a loud, non-humpback, biological evening chorus offshore, creating a dynamic of movement of singers aimed at increasing the efficiency of their acoustic display. Kind regards, -- Anke Kügler PhD Postdoctoral Researcher Bioacoustics and Behavioral Ecology Lab Syracuse University

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PhD opportunity at ATU, Ireland
by Sinead Murphy 24 Jan '24

24 Jan '24

Hi All, We would like to highlight the following 4-year PhD opportunity at the Atlantic Technological University, Galway, Ireland. ‘Improving knowledge on the conservation status of small cetaceans’ For further information see marinebeaconphdjan24.pdf (gmit.ie)<https://www.gmit.ie/sites/default/files/2024-01/marinebeaconphdjan24.pdf> Postgraduate Research Vacancies | ATU - Atlantic Technological University (gmit.ie)<https://www.gmit.ie/research/postgraduate-research/research-vacancies> Closing date Monday 29th Jan 2024 Thanks, Sinéad Dr Sinéad Murphy, Lecturer 3rd Year Programme Chair and Coordinator Placement Coordinator Applied Freshwater and Marine Biology Degree Marine and Freshwater Research Centre Department of Natural Resources & the Environment School of Science and Computing Atlantic Technological University ATU Galway City, Old Dublin Road, Galway, H91 T8NW Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta an Atlantaigh OTA Cathair na Gaillimhe, Seanbhóthar Bhaile Átha Cliath, Gaillimh, H91 T8NW sites.google.com/view/sinead-murphy researchgate.net/profile/Sinead_Murphy2 mfrc-atu.ie 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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Erratum: PhD opportunity on dolphin movements at the University of St Andrews
by Tilen Genov 24 Jan '24

24 Jan '24

Dear MARMAMers Further to my previous message (below), please note that one of the links was modified on the university website after I posted my message, so it no longer works. Here are the two links again: - Information about the project is available here: Studying movements of bottlenose dolphins with a spatio-temporal networks approach <https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/assets/university/schools/school-of-geography-…> - For information on where and how to apply, please visit: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/geography-sustainable-development/prospective/… Apologies for the hiccup. Tilen ______________________________________________________________________ Tilen Genov, PhD Assistant Professor | Morigenos - Slovenian Marine Mammal Society <http://www.morigenos.org/en> | | Department of Biodiversity, University of Primorska <http://www.famnit.upr.si> | | Consortium for the Conservation of the Atlantic Humpback Dolphin <http://www.sousateuszii.org> | | IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group <https://iucn-csg.org/> | | twitter: @TilenGenov <https://twitter.com/TilenGenov> | @Morigenos_org <https://twitter.com/Morigenos_org> | @sousateuszii <https://twitter.com/sousateuszii> | @IUCNCetaceanSG <https://twitter.com/IUCNCetaceanSG> | On Mon, 22 Jan 2024 at 19:38, Tilen Genov <tilen.genov(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Dear MARMAM > > The University of St Andrews, in collaboration with Morigenos - Slovenian > Marine Mammal Society, is recruiting a PhD student interested in studying > dolphin movements. This is a fully funded PhD at the School of Geography > and Sustainable Development, University of St Andrews, UK. > > Movement is an important function of organisms, which has an impact on > lives of individuals, populations, interactions between species and with > humans, as well as on ecosystem processes. Ecologists collect data on > animal movement through multiple approaches, including > photo-identification. > In this project, the successful applicant will study movements of > bottlenose dolphins using a spatio-temporal networks approach from human > mobility research. Specifically, the project will use long-term > photo-identification data to build origin-destination (OD) flow networks, > which are common in studies of different types of human mobility, but they > are not well-known in movement ecology. Here, we will investigate how > spatio-temporal network analysis can be applied to the study of marine > mammal movement, using a well-studied population of bottlenose dolphins (*Tursiops > truncatus*) in the northern Adriatic Sea as a case study. > > The student will be based at the University of St Andrews under the > supervision of Dr Urska Demsar (University of St Andrews), and > co-supervised by Dr Tilen Genov (Morigenos and the University of > Primorska). Candidates should have a solid technical background in spatial > data science or geoinformatics, and an interest in modelling of ecological > processes. They should also have coding experience (preferably R or Python, > but also Matlab, C++ or similar is appropriate). > > More information about the project is available here: > https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/assets/university/schools/school-of-geography-… > > For information on where and how to apply, please visit: > https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/geography-sustainable-development/prospective/… > Application deadline is 9 February 2024. > > > Kind regards, > > > Tilen Genov > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > Tilen Genov, PhD > Assistant Professor > > | Morigenos - Slovenian Marine Mammal Society > <http://www.morigenos.org/en> | > | Department of Biodiversity, University of Primorska > <http://www.famnit.upr.si> | > | Consortium for the Conservation of the Atlantic Humpback Dolphin > <http://www.sousateuszii.org> | > | IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group <https://iucn-csg.org/> | > | twitter: @TilenGenov <https://twitter.com/TilenGenov> | @Morigenos_org > <https://twitter.com/Morigenos_org> | @sousateuszii > <https://twitter.com/sousateuszii> | @IUCNCetaceanSG > <https://twitter.com/IUCNCetaceanSG> | >

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Vacancy - ORCA Ocean Conservationist - North Sea (Newcastle - Ijmuiden)
by Kate Weston 24 Jan '24

24 Jan '24

Do you have a passion for protecting whales and dolphins? Would you like to join a growing team of at-sea conservation professionals working with the public to raise awareness for marine conservation? We have an exciting opportunity to join our team of Ocean Conservationists sailing on board DFDS, working on board the King or Princess Seaways. *Please note the candidate will need to be fluent in English, and** the ability to speak either Dutch or German is beneficial. * With our unique take on marine conservation, ORCA is a charity that’s entirely dedicated to studying and protecting whales, dolphins and porpoises around the world. We work to identify and protect critical whale and dolphin habitats in our waters and beyond. What makes ORCA unique is our dedication to combining accessible marine education with our conservation activities, allowing us to give ordinary people opportunities to take an active role in marine science and conservation. A key part of ORCA’s education and outreach work is the Ocean Conservation programme, which we deliver across the world on board ferry and cruise ships. Working closely with our cruise and ferry partners, Ocean Conservationists work remotely at sea, inspiring thousands of passengers every year. The team will educate passengers on the marine wildlife around them during their voyage and show them the wonders of the ocean. We are looking for passionate individuals to showcase the diversity and abundance of wildlife that can be spotted across the North Sea; encouraging passengers to help protect the whales and dolphins. This education work is conducted through lectures, or other interactive activities. In addition, you will be collecting scientific data based on your sightings using the OceanWatchers app, data that contributes to the protection of whales and dolphins. *This role is on a fixed-term basis, week commencing 01/04/2024 - week commencing 07/10/2024. *You will work remotely on board the vessels with a 1-month on on, 1-month off rotation. You must be 18 or over to apply for this role. To apply for the Ocean Conservationist role, please send a 2-minute video outlining why you think you’d be a good fit for this role and why you want to help protect whales, dolphins, and porpoises, as well as an up-to-date CV (no more than 2-pages). Applications should be submitted through the Application Form on the ORCA website. The deadline for this position is *Sunday 4th February 2024 23:59 (GMT).* Find out more at www.orca.org.uk/vacancies

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IFAW Marine Mammal Cetacean Intensive Care Unit (CICU) Internship - Summer 2024
by Millen, Emily 23 Jan '24

23 Jan '24

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is currently accepting applications for Summer 2024 Marine Mammal Cetacean Intensive Care Unit Internships. IFAW Marine Mammal Cetacean Intensive Care Unit (CICU) Internship Summer Session 2024 (First Week of June, 2024 - Last Week of August, 2024) Complete Applications due: February 15th, 2024 Program Background IFAW is an international non-profit organization. This internship is based out of our International Operations Center in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, USA. IFAW's Marine Mammal Rescue and Research program is a federally authorized program dedicated to marine mammal stranding response on Cape Cod and southeastern Massachusetts. Our program strives to promote the conservation of marine mammal species and their habitat by improving the rescue and humane care of stranded marine mammals, advancing stranding science, and increasing public awareness through education. Cape Cod is a marine mammal stranding "hot spot," with an average of over 270 strandings occurring each year. These strandings include live and dead seals, whales, porpoises, and dolphins. In addition to stranding response, IFAW's MMRR division is introducing the Cetacean Intensive Care Unit (CICU) located at the Dolphin Rescue Center in Orleans, MA. CICU is a short-term rehabilitation facility (96 hrs) that aims to provide supportive care to dolphins and porpoises experiencing acute effects of stranding. CICU Intern Duties * Animal care: Provide in-water support to small cetaceans including dolphins and porpoises, monitor animal behavior, assist staff during diagnostic procedures and veterinarian prescribed treatment regimes. Please note experiences will be opportunistic as cases arise. We do not have a long-term rehabilitation program or animals on site regularly. * CICU readiness: cleaning, organizing, and maintaining the Cetacean ICU including pools, related equipment and gear, restocking kits and supplies. * CICU education and outreach: act as a docent at CICU to provide general public with information relating to the Cetacean ICU and IFAW's marine mammal stranding response program, assist staff with training volunteers and other network members, participate in community events. * Data collection and sample processing: assist with collection of data and samples relating to CICU patients, organize and archive animal records and samples. * Marine mammal stranding response and necropsy: May assist stranding response program opportunistically and as needed with aspects of marine mammal stranding response, help maintain stranding response and necropsy readiness. Please see the following link for the full posting and to apply: https://recruiting.ultipro.com/INT1059IFFA/JobBoard/17b588a3-808b-4bc9-aea8… Emily Millen Animal Care Technician Marine Mammal Rescue 290 Summer Street Yarmouth Port, MA 02675 United States www.ifaw.org<https://www.ifaw.org> [ifaw]<https://www.ifaw.org/> The content of this email is intended only for the use of the above-named addressee and may contain information that is confidential, proprietary, and/or legally privileged. Please notify the sender if you received this email in error.

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New publication: Bomb radiocarbon determines absolute age of adult fin whales, and validates use of earplug growth bands for age determination
by Guðjón Már Sigurðsson - HAFRO 23 Jan '24

23 Jan '24

We are pleased to share our new publication in Frontiers in Marine Science with the MARMAM community: Campana SE, Finnsdóttir SV and Sigurðsson GM (2024) Bomb radiocarbon determines absolute age of adult fin whales, and validates use of earplug growth bands for age determination. Frontiers in Marine Science. 11:1327752. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2024.1327752 Summary: Baleen whales are one of the few vertebrate taxa for which there are no confirmed estimates of longevity or methods of age determination. Lamina counts in the waxy earplug are assumed to represent age, but ageing accuracy is completely unknown. In this study, bomb radiocarbon assays of the earplug growth sequence in three adult fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) were used to prepare the most complete within-individual bomb radiocarbon chronologies yet reported for any vertebrate. The whale radiocarbon chronologies matched those of known-age carbonate reference chronologies very well, indicating that the earplug laminae were both metabolically stable and formed throughout the life of the whale. Earplug lamina counts accurately represented absolute ages of 65-85 yr to within 6% of the correct age. Detection of a significant declining trend in δ13C with year of lamina formation within individual whales was consistent with that of the Suess effect, again underlining the metabolic stability of the earplug laminae. Given our results, recent applications of earplug laminae for reconstructing diet and life history events appear to be firmly based, with the potential for further elemental and isotopic applications analogous to those of the otolith. The article is open access and available here: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1327752/full All the best, Gudjon ---- Guðjón Már Sigurðsson, Ph.D, M.Sc. Sjávarlíffræðingur / Marine biologist Uppsjávarsviði / Pelagic division Hafrannsóknastofnun / Marine and Freshwater Research Institute Hafnarfjörður, Iceland gudjon(a)hafogvatn.is<mailto:gudjon@hafogvatn.is> +354 575-2113

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New paper: 30 years of mamrine mammals stranding data in New Caledonia (spatio-temporal distribution, biometry, stable isotopes, traces elements, genetic diversity, diet)
by Claire GARRIGUE 22 Jan '24

22 Jan '24

Dear MARMAM community, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to announce our more recent publication “*Marine mamals strandings recorded in New Caledonia, South west Pacific Ocean, 1877 to 2022*, published in Pacific Conservation Biology. /ABSTRACT / /Context. Strandings are an important source of information for estimating marine mammal biodiversity, particularly in data-sparse ocean basins such as Oceania. Aims. Here, we report on knowledge acquired from 218 stranding events recorded in the waters of New Caledonia (1877–2022). Methods. We investigated spatio-temporal distribution, stable isotope signatures, trace element concentrations, biometry measurements, genetic diversity, and diet, for the four most commonly stranded taxa (dugongs, 35% of events; sperm whales, 19%; Delphinidae, 18%; pygmy and dwarf sperm whales, 14%). Key results. Beginning in 1991, reports of stranding events increased (183 events, 322 individuals, 20 species from seven families: Dugongidae, Physeteridae, Delphinidae, Kogiidae, Ziphiidae, Balaenopteridae, Otariidae), with hotspots identified on the west coast (Bourail, Ouano, Nouméa) and in Prony Bay. Causes of death were not determined in 84% of stranding events, but were identified in the majority of expert-led necropsies (24 of 29 individuals from 10 species). Yet, valuable information regarding the impact of anthropogenic activities was gathered for some species of concern, such as the endangered dugong (28% human- caused). Since 2016, training and outreach have been provided to rangers, veterinarians, and various public safety officers to support their engagement in the scientific monitoring of marine mammal strandings. A website (www.rescue.ird.nc) was developed to facilitate standardised data collection and storage, and to provide public access to stranding records. Conclusion. Although the number of individuals reported here remains modest, this study provides new information on poorly documented species in New Caledonia. Implications. Long-term monitoring of strandings can help design effective conservation measures/ *The article is available via open-access at: *https://doi.org/10.1071/PC23016 Best regards -- Dr Claire Garrigue UMR ENTROPIE - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement 101 Promenade Gabriel Laroque BPA5 98848 Nouméa Cedex Nouvelle-Calédonie Phone: +687 829560 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Claire_Garrigue

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