February 2024 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Update to SOCPROG
by Hal Whitehead 01 Jul '24

01 Jul '24

A new and updated version of SOCPROG, SOCPROG2.9 (both compiled and uncompiled downloads) is available at: http://whitelab.biology.dal.ca/SOCPROG/social.htm SOCPROG is a MATLAB-based package of programs for the analysis of animal social structures, movements and populations. The compiled version does not need MATLAB itself. This version is compatible with MATLAB2018b (although it will likely work well on recent and soon-to-be-released versions of MATLAB). It fixes a few bugs and adds functionality compared to previous versions (especially association complexity). Thanks Hal Whitehead, Dalhousie University, Canada

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UF Summer online aquatics courses - Manatee Health
by Larkin,Iskande (Iske) 29 Apr '24

29 Apr '24

Hi All, Registration is currently open for Summer 2023. The University of Florida, Aquatic Animal Health Program is offering the Manatee Health & Conservation course, fully online. Classes starts Monday May 15th and run through Friday Aug 11th. Registration will remain open through May 17th. Manatee Health and Conservation Class (VME4016 and VME6017) is an online course (3 credits) that will provide students (upper level undergraduate and graduate) and professionals (with an AA or higher degree) with a detailed overview of manatee natural history, health assessment, and research findings as well as explore conservation issues. For more information about the class or enrollment, contact Dr. Iskande Larkin (ivlarkin(a)ufl.edu)<mailto:ivlarkin@ufl.edu%29.*This> Sincerely, Dr Iske Larkin [AAH logo blue E-Mail Sig] Iske V. Larkin, PhD Senior Lecturer & Education Coordinator Director of Aquatic Animal Health Program Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine University of Florida PO Box 100136 2015 SW 16th Ave Gainesville, Florida 32610 Office phone - 352-294-4095 Work cell - 352-494-1742 Fax - 352-392-8289 Program web page: http://aquatic.vetmed.ufl.edu<http://aquatic.vetmed.ufl.edu/> "To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world." -Anonymous ________________________________

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Job Opportunities at Maine Department of Marine Resources
by Murray, Anita 21 Mar '24

21 Mar '24

Dear MARMAM community, Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is hiring two Marine Resource Scientist II - Acoustic Project Lead positions. We previously posted the job advertisement for these positions, but due to an error in the previous advert we are re-posting a revised job advertisement and have extended the application deadline to August 18, 2023. These positions are part of a new North Atlantic right whale monitoring and research program. This program is being formed with three primary objectives in mind: 1. Collect baseline information on right whale occurrence, distribution, and habitat use in the Gulf of Maine. 2. Contribute to and create new right whale, fishery, and risk assessment models 3. Provide support for innovative gear testing and research, including on-demand fishing gear A link for the Acoustic Project Lead positions is included below along with the job description. These positions will be based at the DMR laboratory in West Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Feel free to contact me (anita.murray(a)maine.gov<mailto:anita.murray@maine.gov>) or Erin Summers (erin.l.summers(a)maine.gov<mailto:erin.l.summers@maine.gov>) 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/fk0xglj/ [cid:image004.png@01D9C930.DE59F1B0] [Logo Description automatically generated with medium confidence] http://www.maine.gov/dmr Public Service Career Diversity Retirement Promotional Opportunities Benefits Over 10,000 Employees Paid Holidays Statewide Locations Training Seasonal Jobs Full Time Part Time HOW TO APPLY: Interested applicants need to complete and submit an online State of Maine Direct Hire Application along with a Cover Letter, and detailed Resume at: https://www.maine.gov/nrsc/jobs/index.shtml#dmr If you are unable to apply online, Direct Hire Application forms can be obtained by contacting the NRSC Personnel Office at (207) 624-6370 or by accessing the NRSC website at: https://www.maine.gov/nrsc/jobs/application.shtml APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY: August 18, 2023 (EXTENDED) Direct Hire Career Opportunity Bulletin DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES State House Station #21, Augusta, ME 04333 - *Offices Located at 32 Blossom Lane, Augusta MARINE RESOURCE SCIENTIST II Acoustics Project Leads (Anticipated Vacancies) Opening Date: July 26, 2023 Closing Date: August 18, 2023 (EXTENDED) Location: West Boothbay Harbor Position #'s: 07200-2724 07200-2725 Position Type: Limited Period Full Time Class Code: 9363 Grade/Salary: Grade 25 $52,582.40 - $70,907.20 Annually* (*This includes the 5.5% salary adjustment) ________________________________ BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION: The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is hiring two positions to lead various passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) projects. The positions will be responsible for planning and designing PAM projects within DMR's passive acoustics monitoring program and setting project goals, protocols, and timelines that address data gaps and management needs. The positions will also be responsible for managing data collection, data storage, data quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC), acoustic analyses, and statistical analyses using species detection and/or ambient noise data depending on project goals. This position will also supervise a team of Marine Resource Scientist I positions, including dividing up tasks amongst analysts, leading project meetings, overseeing data analysis, and setting priorities and timelines for staff. The positions will also be responsible for disseminating information from the PAM projects by publishing in the peer-reviewed literature, representing DMR at meetings and conferences, and making recommendations to DMR's policy group and Commissioner's Office. These positions may foster and manage collaborations with external partners for various PAM projects as well as seek grant funding opportunities as appropriate. Finally, the positions will work across programmatic lines within the DMR to foster collaboration and maximize DMR's strengths. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES PREFERRED: A high level of supervisory, organization, and project management experience is necessary. Expertise in PAM and cetacean bioacoustics is necessary, including project design, methodologies, and data analysis. The candidate should be able to manage the operation and maintenance of a network of PAM sites, including the ability to troubleshoot acoustic equipment issues and issues that arise during deployment and retrieval of PAM moorings. There is a preference for a candidate with experience in automatic detection performance evaluation, acoustic localization and tracking of cetaceans, acoustic density estimation, calculating species detection range, sound propagation modeling, and/or ambient noise analysis and statistics. Preference will also be given to candidates who have experience working with RavenPro acoustic analysis software, SoundTrap acoustic recorders, LFDCS or other automatic detection algorithms, ArcGIS Pro mapping software, and/or computer programming in R, Python, and/or MATLAB. This position requires excellent communication skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A Bachelors Degree in a scientific, technical, or engineering field or equivalent in directly related work experience and three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in the field of marine resource research and/or management or related field. Preference will be given to previous experience in a supervisory capacity. Equivalent experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis. No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto-"Dirigo" or "I lead"-as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including: * Work-Life Balance - Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave. * Health Insurance Coverage- The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($9,893.52-$11,057.52 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs<https://www.maine.gov/bhr/oeh/benefits/som-health-plan/premium-rates> for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State. * Health Insurance Premium Credit - Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements<https://www.maine.gov/bhr/oeh/benefits/health-premium-credit>. * Dental Insurance- The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($350.40 annual value). * Retirement Plan- The State of Maine contributes 13.00% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee. * Gym Membership Reimbursement- Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense. * Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts- Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses. * Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness- The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office<https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service>. * Living Resources Program - Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program. * Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child-including fathers and adoptive parents-receive four weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act<https://www.maine.gov/bhr/state-employees/rules-policies/policy-practices-m…>. * Voluntary Deferred Compensation- Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions. * Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness<https://www.maine.gov/bhr/oeh/>. There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role. As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics. If you're looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we'd love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Thinking about applying? Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you're currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart.

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Florida Manatee Management Job Opportunity
by Pasawicz, Michelle 11 Mar '24

11 Mar '24

Greetings everyone, The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is seeking a Fisheries and Wildlife Biological Scientist IV to aid the Imperiled Species Management Section with implementation of the Manatee Warm-water Habitat Action Plan. This management position will serve in a leadership capacity on one or more regional warm-water habitat partnership teams, facilitate the long-term prioritization of warm-water habitat networks, and coordinate interagency habitat restoration and enhancement efforts. Please follow this link to the job posting to learn more about this opportunity: https://jobs.myflorida.com/job/TALLAHASSEE-FISHERIES-&-WILDLIFE-BIO-SCIENTI… Sincerely, Michelle R. Pasawicz Manatee Management Program Coordinator Imperiled Species Management Section Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission<https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/manatee/> 620 South Meridian Street - 6A Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600 (850) 922-4330 Michelle.Pasawicz(a)MyFWC.com<mailto:Michelle.Pasawicz@MyFWC.com>

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PSO, JNCC MMO and PAM Online eLearning Training Courses
by Alison Gill 06 Mar '24

06 Mar '24

Intelligent Ocean Ltd is pleased to offer three eLearning courses which can be started at any time. - *BOEM/BSEE Protected Species Observer (PSO) eLearning Training Course for the U.S. Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico (GBP 200 per person)* - *JNCC Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) eLearning Training Course (GBP 150 per person)* - *Passive Acoustic Monitoring and PAMGUARD Software eLearning Training Course (GBP 150 per person)* The *BOEM/BSEE PSO course* is required for you to work as a Protected Species Observer (PSO) in the U.S. Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico and covers an in-depth explanation of mitigation principles and example mitigation measures for a range of project types (geophysical surveys, piling, explosives (introduction to the PROP program) and vessel strike avoidance). Additionally, there is an in-depth section on dredging operations and the role of the PSO for monitoring and collection of specific data and tissue sampling (aim as a pre-runner course to further specialised training). Further details and how to book can be found at this link https://www.intelligentocean.com/pso-elearning/ The *Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) MMO registered course *is required for you to work as a Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) in UK Continental Shelf waters during offshore projects such as seismic surveys, pile-driving and projects involving the use of explosives. This course has been approved by the JNCC as a valid alternative to the usual classroom taught course. Alternatively, project managers or interested parties may wish to complete this course for awareness of how MMOs work or for Continuous Professional Development (CPD). Further details and how to book can be found at this link https://www.intelligentocean.com/jncc-mmo-elearning/ The *Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) course* is designed to introduce this technique of monitoring for marine mammals to MMOs, researchers, project managers or any other interested parties. It covers basic acoustic theory, the use of a spectrogram to view example marine mammal vocalisation types and other ocean noise, PAM equipment components, assembly and deployment and finally an exercise in configuring the industry standard PAM software - PAMGUARD. *This course has received recognition as an accredited Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST). * Further details and how to book can be found at this link https://www.intelligentocean.com/pam-elearning/ To complete the eLearning courses you simply log in, read, learn and then pass assessments based on the course content. You set the pace of your learning. You will have access to the extensive course material for 3 years with the option to renew after this for another 3 years for a small fee if you would like continuous access to the course material and any updates that may occur. This means that even after the training you will have continuous access to material which is current for regulations and PAMGUARD software. A great resource for any working professional. The JNCC MMO and PAM courses usually take between 1 to 2 full days to complete. The BOEM/BSEE PSO course is a much more detailed and extensive course and will take 3 to 4 days to complete. Companies wishing to sign up members of their staff please email support(a)intelligentocean.com for registration and invoicing. Intelligent Ocean’s staff have extensive experience of working offshore as MMOs and PAM operators in addition to marine mammal survey work and nature guiding. We have been offering training courses since 2009 and have trained over 2000 persons working in marine mammal mitigation. Regards Alison Gill Director and Trainer Intelligent Ocean Ltd *https://www.intelligentocean.com/ <https://www.intelligentocean.com/>* Registered in England Company Registration Number: 07590688

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Speaker Series (FL) - The Journey of the Rice’s Whale
by Cheryl Munday 29 Feb '24

29 Feb '24

For those of you in Florida, you don't want to miss this speaker series at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Clearwater Marine Aquarium proudly presents *Echoes of the Ocean*, a marine life speaker series encompassing national research, as well as insights into CMA's own groundbreaking studies and encompassing our mission of rescue, rehabilitation, and release. The series will explore whales, dolphins, sea turtles, manatees, and other emerging topics that are making waves in marine science. We are excited to connect our visitors and members with the passionate experts who dedicate their lives to exploring and protecting the ocean and its inhabitants. This first event will be held on Thursday, March 7 and will feature the fascinating story of a newly discovered species of whale found in the Gulf of Mexico, formally named the *Rice’s whale *in 2021. After years of research, scientists used genetic and morphological evidence to determine that the Rice’s whale is a distinct species. The Rice’s whale is one of the most critically endangered species in the world with fewer than 100 individuals remaining. Tickets are on sale today: https://visit.cmaquarium.org/#/Admissionlist/SpeakerSeries <https://visit.cmaquarium.org/?fbclid=IwAR1q9AGG_vSopsZQw3dRdrpqIZanksjshXoz…> Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working marine rescue center dedicated to inspiring the human spirit through leadership in education, research, rescue, rehabilitation, and release. CMA is a stranding network partner in the Southeast U.S. *Cheryl Munday* cheryl(a)cherylmunday.com *Cheryl Munday* Principal Consultant The Conservation Marketing Group, LLC 727.735.2601 (c)

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New publication: selection of welfare indicators for Sousa chinensis
by agathe serres 28 Feb '24

28 Feb '24

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our latest article entitled "Selection of parameters to assess the welfare of free-ranging Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins using expert opinion survey " in the journal Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. This article represents the first step in the creation of a welfare assessment tool for Sousa chinensis. Here is the link to the article: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/aqc.4091 <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969724005369> Below is the abstract of this article, please feel free to contact me if you want a PDF copy. 1. Animal welfare assessments have recently been suggested to be useful for free-ranging animals. Nevertheless, few standardized welfare assessment frameworks have been built for wildlife, including cetaceans. 2. Coastal cetaceans like Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (*Sousa chinensis*, IPHDs) that form resident populations impacted by a wide range of human activities are subject to reliable photo-identification efforts and thus represent perfect candidates for welfare monitoring. 3. Parameters that may inform us on some aspects of the welfare of free-ranging IPHDs were selected through literature review. A panel survey including three consecutive rounds was then conducted to collect the opinion of selected experts on these parameters. 4. The survey allowed the validation of a list containing 31 parameters that provide information on the welfare of IPHDs. The opinion of experts also allowed to set the modalities of the data collection required to measure/observe these parameters. 5. After establishing a consistent scoring method and testing it on existing data, this standardized framework will allow for obtaining a wide picture of the living conditions of IPHDs. Variations across time periods, among dolphin populations and locations, or following major environmental changes (e.g., conservation measures or human disturbances) could then be analysed. 6. Added to traditional conservation approaches, standardized welfare monitoring will greatly participate in the conservation of these animals. 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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New Publication: Threats on Marine Mammals: an Anthropological Perspective
by arion＠arion.org.gr 28 Feb '24

28 Feb '24

Dear all, we are pleased sharing with you our new publication about the "Threats on Marine Mammals: an Anthropological Perspective" that is published in the Global Journal of Archaeology and Anthropology, by Stergios Pardalis, Athanasios Exadactylos, Anastasia Komnenou, Aimilia Drougas, Elena Akritopoulou, Joanne Sarantopoulou and Georgios A Gkafas* (https://doi.org/10.19080/GJAA.2024.13.555869) Published: February 20, 2024 *Corresponding author: Georgios A Gkafas, Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, 38446 Volos, Greece Abstract Many species of marine mammals are threatened and their populations decline worldwide due to the increase of anthropogenic activities such as fishing, shipping, pollution and climate change. Our understanding of marine mammal behavior/ecology remains poor and under-documented since studies of the species are extremely challenging in practice and theory. Applied anthropology can help provide effective strategies based on cultural compatibility. Marine biology has already validated that biodiversity is beneficial to the ecosystem and so should anthropology promote the significance of mutualism in society. Download open access text: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/378499534_Threats_on_Marine_Mammal…". Best regards, Dr. Aimilia Drougas ARION-Cetacean Rescue and Rehabilitation Research Center 110 Markou Mpotsari Street, 54653 Thessaloniki, Greece Email: arion(a)arion.org.gr; adrougas(a)gmail.com

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New paper on decreasing body size and calving probability in North Atlantic right whales
by Enrico Pirotta 28 Feb '24

28 Feb '24

Dear MARMAM colleagues, We are pleased to announce that the following paper is now available online: Enrico Pirotta, Peter L. Tyack, John W. Durban, Holly Fearnbach, Philip K. Hamilton, Catriona M. Harris, Amy R. Knowlton, Scott D. Kraus, Carolyn A. Miller, Michael J. Moore, Heather M. Pettis, Theoni Photopoulou, Rosalind M. Rolland, Robert S. Schick and Len Thomas. Decreasing body size is associated with reduced calving probability in critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. Royal Society Open Science. Abstract: Body size is key to many life-history processes, including reproduction. Across species, climate change and other stressors have caused reductions in the body size to which animals can grow, called asymptotic size, with consequences for demography. A reduction in mean asymptotic length was documented for critically endangered North Atlantic right whales, in parallel with declines in health and vital rates resulting from human activities and environmental changes. Here, we tested whether smaller body size was associated with lower reproductive output, using a state-space model for individual health, survival and reproduction that quantifies the mechanistic links between these processes. Body size (as represented by the cube of length) was strongly associated with a female's calving probability at each reproductive opportunity. This relationship explained 62% of the variation in calving among reproductive females, along with their decreasing health (20%). The effects of decrea! sing mean body size on reproductive performance are another concerning indication of the worsening prospects for this species and many others affected by environmental change, requiring a focus of conservation and management interventions on improving conditions that affect reproduction as well as reducing mortality. Keywords: Bayesian state-space model, body size, capital breeding, Eubalaena glacialis, health, length. A PDF copy of the paper can be downloaded for free from: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.240050 Please do not hesitate to contact me for any question regarding our work. Best Regards, Enrico Pirotta

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New Publication: Foraging behavior and age affect maternal transfer of mercury to northern elephant seal pups
by Peterson, Sarah H 28 Feb '24

28 Feb '24

My coauthors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our 10-year study: 'Foraging behavior and age affect maternal transfer of mercury to northern elephant seal pups' in Scientific Reports. Open access at Scientific Reports: https://rdcu.be/dzF32 Abstract: Deep ocean foraging northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) consume fish and squid in remote depths of the North Pacific Ocean. Contaminants bioaccumulated from prey are subsequently transferred by adult females to pups during gestation and lactation, linking pups to mercury contamination in mesopelagic food webs (200-1000 m depths). Maternal transfer of mercury to developing seal pups was related to maternal mercury contamination and was strongly correlated with maternal foraging behavior (biotelemetry and isotopes). Mercury concentrations in lanugo (hair grown in utero) were among the highest observed worldwide for young pinnipeds (geometric mean 23.01 *g/g dw, range 8.03-63.09 *g/g dw; n=373); thus, some pups may be at an elevated risk of sub-lethal adverse health effects. Fetal mercury exposure was affected by maternal foraging geographic location and depth; mercury concentrations were highest in pups of the deepest diving, pelagic females. Moreover, pup lanugo mercury concentrations were strongly repeatable among successive pups of individual females, demonstrating relative consistency in pup mercury exposure based on maternal foraging strategies. Northern elephant seals are biosentinels of a remote deep-sea ecosystem. Our results suggest that mercury within North Pacific mesopelagic food webs may also pose an elevated risk to other mesopelagic-foraging predators and their offspring. Authors: Sarah H. Peterson, Michael G. Peterson, Joshua T. Ackerman, Cathy Debier, Chandra Goetsch, Rachel R. Holser, Luis A. Hückstädt, Jennifer C. Johnson, Theresa R. Keates, Birgitte I. McDonald, Elizabeth A. McHuron, and Daniel P. Costa Please reach out with any questions about this research or to request the pdf of this paper (sepeterson(a)usgs.gov) Best regards, Sarah Peterson ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Sarah H Peterson, PhD | she/her/hers Wildlife Biologist U.S. Geological Survey Western Ecological Research Center Dixon Field Station 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D Dixon, CA 95620 Email: sepeterson(a)usgs.gov<mailto:sepeterson@usgs.gov> Website: https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/sarah-peterson ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2773-3901

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