March 2024 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New publication: isochrony in pinniped barks
by Anna Osiecka 08 Mar '24

08 Mar '24

Dear MARMAM folks, My co-authors and me and happy to share our recent work, presenting an exploratory study of the isochrony in Cape fur seal pup and adult barking sequences. Osiecka, A.N, Fearey, J., Ravignani, A., & Burchardt, L.S. 2024. Isochrony in barks of Cape fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) pups and adults. Ecology and Evolution The paper in open access can be found here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.11085 Abstract Animal vocal communication often relies on call sequences. The temporal patterns of such sequences can be adjusted to other callers, follow complex rhythmic structures or exhibit a metronome-like pattern (i.e., isochronous). How regular are the temporal patterns in animal signals, and what influences their precision? If present, are rhythms already there early in ontogeny? Here, we describe an exploratory study of Cape fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) barks—a vocalisation type produced across many pinniped species in rhythmic, percussive bouts. This study is the first quantitative description of barking in Cape fur seal pups. We analysed the rhythmic structures of spontaneous barking bouts of pups and adult females from the breeding colony in Cape Cross, Namibia. Barks of adult females exhibited isochrony, that is they were produced at fairly regular points in time. Instead, intervals between pup barks were more variable, that is skipping a bark in the isochronous series occasionally. In both age classes, beat precision, that is how well the barks followed a perfect template, was worse when barking at higher rates. Differences could be explained by physiological factors, such as respiration or arousal. Whether, and how, isochrony develops in this species remains an open question. This study provides evidence towards a rhythmic production of barks in Cape fur seal pups and lays the groundwork for future studies to investigate the development of rhythm using multidimensional metrics. Cheers, Anna

1 0

Upcoming SMM Editors Select Webinar, 21 March 2024: A first investigation of geographical variation in Cape fur seals’ in-air vocalizations, with Dr. Mathilde Martin
by Student Members-at-Large Society for Marine Mammalogy 07 Mar '24

07 Mar '24

Greetings MARMAM community! Join us on Thursday March 21st 2024 at 10 am EDT / 2 pm GMT / 3 pm CET for the next SMM Editors Select Series Webinar: A first investigation of geographical variation in Cape fur seals’ in-air vocalizations, with Dr. Mathilde Martin This event is free to attend and presented online via Zoom, but registration is required. Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_N74nknqfS9ew3imcM-TF5g Space on Zoom is limited to the first 500 attendees. The talk will also be streamed live on the SMM Facebook page <https://www.facebook.com/marinemammalogy/>. About this talk: Marine mammals are known to communicate extensively through acoustic signals in all their social interactions. In pinnipeds (seals, fur seals, and walruses), breeding takes place on land (or on ice) and individuals use in-air vocalisations to exchange information between mating partners or between mother and young. Cape fur seals breed at about 40 different breeding sites distributed along the southwest and south coasts of Southern Africa. These colonies are located on both the mainland and islands and are characterized by various terrains such as bare rock, boulders, ledges, or open sandy beaches. In this study, we compared the acoustic features of Cape fur seals’ vocalisations recorded at 6 different study sites in Namibia and South Africa to investigate potential geographical variation in the species’ vocal repertoire. Comparisons among closely located sites revealed limited geographical variation whereas more pronounced differences were found in the frequency structure of males, females and pups’ vocalisations recorded at more distant sites. Although we were unable to control for certain factors (mainly due to the difficulty of accessing the colonies), we discuss here the potential impact of social and environmental factors in driving intra-species variation in Cape fur seals’ vocalisations. Such investigations help understand how acoustic communication in marine mammals is shaped by ecological drivers. About the presenter: Mathilde Martin is a biologist, specialist in animal behaviour, and more specifically in acoustic communication in terrestrial and marine mammals. Her research focuses on deciphering what information is encoded in their vocalisations and how vocal signals can modulate socials interactions, in relation to the species’ ecological constraints. Her approach combines audio recordings in the field, analyses of the acoustic structure of vocalisations and experimental tests on wild animals. Mathilde first explored the social calls exchanged during mother-calf interactions in humpback whales. Then, during her PhD at the Institute of Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, she investigated several aspects of the acoustic communication network of the Cape fur seal, such as the transmission of individual information, male-male or mother-pup individual vocal recognition systems, as well as the impact of noise pollution on the behaviour of these animals. She is now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Zurich where she is studying the role of meerkats’ close calls in the maintenance of group cohesion during foraging. Open access to this article is made temporarily available in the weeks around the presentation and can be found here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mms.13084 <https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mms.13084>. Current SMM members have access to all Marine Mammal Science papers. Missed a presentation or want to share this series with a friend? All previous Editors' Select presentations are recorded and archived on our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUc78IynQlubS2DVS1VZoplf_t42-yZOO. We hope to see you there! -- Theresa-Anne Tatom-Naecker, Ph.D. Candidate Sophia Volzke, Ph.D. Candidate Clinton Factheu, Ph.D. Candidate Student Members-at-Large (SMaLs) The Society for Marine Mammalogy

1 0

New publication: Fin whales movements and behaviour in the Mediterranean Sea
by Viola Panigada 07 Mar '24

07 Mar '24

Dear MARMAM community, On behalf of my coauthors, I am thrilled to share our new publication in Royal Society Open Science titled: Targeting fin whale conservation in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea: insights on movements and behaviour from biologging and habitat modelling. Abstract: Biologging and habitat modelling are key tools supporting the development of conservation measures and mitigating the effects of anthropogenic pressures on marine species. Here, we analysed satellite telemetry data and foraging habitat preferences in relation to chlorophyll-a productivity fronts to understand the movements and behaviour of endangered Mediterranean fin whales (*Balaenoptera physalus*) during their spring–summer feeding aggregation in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea. Eleven individuals were equipped with Argos satellite transmitters across 3 years, with transmissions averaging 23.5 ± 11.3 days. Hidden Markov Models were used to identify foraging behaviour, revealing how individuals showed consistency in their use of seasonal core feeding grounds; this was supported by the distribution of potential foraging habitat. Importantly, tracked whales spent most of their time in areas with no explicit protected status within the study region. This highlights the need for enhanced time- and place-based conservation actions to mitigate the effects of anthropogenic impacts for this species, notably ship strike risk and noise disturbance in an area of exceptionally high maritime traffic levels. These findings strengthen the need to further assess critical habitats and Important Marine Mammal Areas that are crucial for focused conservation, management and mitigation efforts. Panigada V, Bodey TW, Friedlaender A, Druon J-N, Huckstädt LA,Pierantonio N, Degollada E, Tort B, Panigada S. 2024. Targeting fin whale conservation in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea: insights on movements and behaviour from biologging and habitat modelling. *R. Soc. Open Sci*.*11*: 231783. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.231783 The paper is open access and can be downloaded here: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.231783 Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about our work! Cheers, Viola Panigada -- Tethys Research Institute / School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen violapani00(a)gmail.com

1 0

Scientist position project coordinator harbour porpoise bycatch PAL
by Denkinger Judith Dr. 07 Mar '24

07 Mar '24

Dear Marmam community, The Ocean Museum Stralsund is currently looking for a project coordinator for the PAL-CE project. The research project PAL-CE is funded by the “Bundesamt für Naturschutz“ with the main task to test acoustic porpoise alert systems (PAL) for long-term use to prevent bycatch of harbour porpoises in gillnets. The position will be based in Stralsund, Germany from mid April to December 31st. The ideal candidate combines a good knowledge about Harbor porpoises with bio-acoustics. Please find the job description here https://www.deutsches-meeresmuseum.de/karriere?_gl=1*1yyg2r1*_ga*Mzc5MzEzMz…. For further questions feel free to contact me. With kind regards, Dr. Judith Denkinger Mit freundlichen Grüßen aus dem Deutschen Meeresmuseum OZEANEUM | MEERESMUSEUM | NAUTINEUM | NATUREUM i.A. Dr. Judith Denkinger Kuratorin für Meeressäuger Deutsches Meeresmuseum Museum für Meereskunde und Fischerei ∙ Aquarium Stiftung des bürgerlichen Rechts Judith.Denkinger(a)meeresmuseum.de<mailto:Diana.Meyen@meeresmuseum.de> www.deutsches-meeresmuseum.de<http://www.deutsches-meeresmuseum.de/> Direktorium Prof. Dr. Burkard Baschek Andreas Tanschus Ust. ID Nr.: DE 162 772 269 Steuernr.: 082/126/00068 Hinweis zum Datenschutz: www.deutsches-meeresmuseum.de/datenschutz<http://www.deutsches-meeresmuseum.de/datenschutz> Postanschrift: Katharinenberg 14 - 20 18439 Stralsund Dienstsitz: OZEANEUM Stralsund Hafenstraße 11 18439 Stralsund

1 0

New paper: Earliest Records of Holocene Cetaceans in the Black Sea
by Pavel Gol'din 06 Mar '24

06 Mar '24

Dear colleagues, On behalf of the coauthors I am pleased to share our recent publication (open access): Earliest Records of Holocene Cetaceans in the Black Sea https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.3609 by Magie Aiken, Elena Gladilina, Canan Çakirlar, Serhii Telizhenko, Luminita Bejenaru, Maia Bukhsianidze, Morten Tange Olsen, Pavel Gol'din The timing of the Holocene transition of the Black Sea from a brackish lake to a marine sea has long been debated. Here, we report on the earliest records of cetaceans in the Black Sea region as a proxy for the connection with the Mediterranean and the transition from a brackish to marine environment. We base our analysis on cetacean skeletal finds and archival data on cetacean skeletal remains from the Bosphorus, the western, northern and eastern Black Sea, and the Kerch Strait. We find that all three contemporary cetacean species in the Black Sea – the harbour porpoise, bottlenose dolphin and common dolphin – had migrated out of the Mediterranean to the Bosphorus and the Black Sea at least 8000–7000 years ago and reached the northern Black Sea by 5500 years ago at the latest. Our study suggests the establishment of a Mediterranean–Black Sea biogeographical connection for marine vertebrates at least 7000 years ago. The early presence of cetaceans in the Black Sea has implications for understanding its Holocene transition, as well as the evolutionary and ecological history of these species more generally. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jqs.3609 (open access) All the best, Pavel

1 0

Job Posting - Assistant Research Scientist, Florida manatee ecology
by Gowan, Tim 06 Mar '24

06 Mar '24

Title: Assistant Research Scientist Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Location: St. Petersburg, Florida or Gainesville, Florida Salary: $52,000 annually Application Deadline: 03/26/2024 To apply: https://jobs.myflorida.com/job-invite/824223/ Job Description: This position designs and conducts research on the ecology, habitat, and population biology of the Florida manatee. The successful candidate will act as a project manager for characterizing manatee habitat networks, conducting risk assessments, and forecasting the impacts of environmental change and management actions to manatee populations and their habitat. The employee will oversee and conduct field data collection, data management, and data analysis; consult with resource managers, research partners, and other stakeholders to identify information needs, assess available data, and develop decision-support tools; develop and parameterize quantitative ecological models; actively collaborate on research teams and working groups; and present research findings through peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and meeting presentations. Additional duties may include supervision of staff, administration of contracts and purchase orders, and public outreach. Qualifications: Applicants must possess a Bachelor's degree in the physical or natural sciences or mathematics and 3 years of professional experience in a related field; or a Master's degree in the physical or natural sciences or mathematics and 2 years of professional experience in a related field; or a Doctorate degree in the physical or natural sciences or mathematics. 4 years of professional experience in a directly related biological field or laboratory program can substitute for the required Bachelor's degree; additional years of experience as described above are also required. Preference may be given to applicants with the following qualifications: knowledge of the principles of experimental design, data collection and management, and ecological modeling; demonstrated experience designing and conducting field research in aquatic/marine ecology; experience with geographic information systems (GIS), relational database management, statistical analysis, and scientific programming; experience in technical writing and consulting with natural resource stakeholders. EO/AA/Veteran Employer To apply please visit the link listed above.

1 0

Registration is now open for The Whale Museum's 2024 virtual Gear Up Workshop for Marine Naturalists
by tracie merrill 06 Mar '24

06 Mar '24

The Whale Museum (TWM) in Friday Harbor, WA, is holding an exciting virtual Gear Up Workshop for Marine Naturalists this Spring on Friday, April 5 from 10:00 am -5:00 pm (Pacific Time) through Zoom. The Whale Museum’s Gear Up Workshop will enhance your knowledge of the Salish Sea marine ecosystem and is open to the general public. This workshop’s theme will be Toxins in killer whales and other local marine life: Emerging and legacy issues. Invited presenters include: • Dr. Dawn P. Noren, Research Fish Biologist, NOAA on the transfer of contaminants from female killer whales and other odontocetes to their calves, with updates on on-going research. • Greg Merrill Jr., Graduate Student, Duke University on microplastic impacts on whales and other marine mammals. • Dr. Anaïs Remili, Postdoctoral Researcher, McGill University on contaminants in North Atlantic killer whales and a comparison to North Pacific killer whales. • Dr. Peter Ross, Senior Scientist and Healthy Waters Program Director, Raincoast Conservation Foundation on contaminants present in killer whales in the Salish Sea. • Caitlin Anne Lawrence & Garrett M. Foster, Graduate Students, WSU on tire chemicals and their impact on salmon. • Puget Soundkeeper Staff on cleaning up priority bays and urban waters in Puget Sound and preventing contamination. • Potentially other presenter(s) TBD The registration fee is $35 for non-members; $25 for current TWM or SSAMN members. Questions can be directed to Tracie Merrill at tracie(a)whalemuseum.org. Zoom link and workshop agenda will be sent to registrants at email provided at registration closer to start of workshop. Register at https://whalemuseum.org/products/gear-up-virtual-workshop-2024?_pos=1&_sid=… Sent from Outlook<http://aka.ms/weboutlook>

1 0

Full-Time Position as Laboratory Manager/Research Associate at the Duke University Marine Laboratory
by Andrew Read, Ph.D. 06 Mar '24

06 Mar '24

I am seeking a Research Associate/Lab Manager to work in my research group at the Duke University Marine Laboratory in Beaufort, N.C. The successful candidate will assist in the preparation of budgets and research proposals, tracking expenditures, and preparing research reports to funding agencies. The position is also responsible for field data collection, management of data accounts, spatial analysis using GIS, and some photo-identification work. The individual will participate in field work with a variety of cetaceans, sometimes on weekends and holidays. A Master’s degree in the natural sciences is preferred, but we will consider individuals with a bachelor’s degree and extensive research experience. Experience with spatial analysis (ArcGIS Pro), R and relational databases (Access) and field work with cetaceans, including photo-identification, is highly desirable. The successful candidate must be able to work in the U.S. Please send expressions of interest, a resume or curriculum vitae, and the names of three references to me at aread(a)duke.edu<mailto:aread@duke.edu> by April 1st. The position offers attractive working conditions and a competitive salary with full benefits.

1 0

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

1 1

[Antarctic fur seal & CMIP6 climate change scenarios] Ouled-Cheikh et al., 2024 new paper!
by Jazel Ouled-Cheikh Bonan 05 Mar '24

05 Mar '24

Dear MARMAM subscribers, My colleagues and I are pleased to announce the publication of our research article: Ouled-Cheikh, J., March, D., Borras-Chavez, R., Drago, M., Goebel, M. E., Fariña, J. M., Gazo, M., Coll, M., & Cardona, L. (2024). Future climate-induced distribution shifts in a sexually dimorphic key predator of the Southern Ocean. Global Change Biology, 30(3), e17191. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.17191 Abstract; The response to climate change in highly dimorphic species can be hindered by differences between sexes in habitat preferences and movement patterns. The Antarctic fur seal, *Arctocephalus gazella*, is the most abundant pinniped in the Southern Hemisphere, and one of the main consumers of Antarctic krill, *Euphausia superba*, in the Southern Ocean. However, the populations breeding in the Atlantic Southern Ocean are decreasing, partly due to global warming. Male and female Antarctic fur seals differ greatly in body size and foraging ecology, and little is known about their sex-specific responses to climate change. We used satellite tracking data and Earth System Models to predict changes in habitat suitability for male and female Antarctic fur seals from the Western Antarctic Peninsula under different climate change scenarios. Under the most extreme scenario (SSP5-8.5; global average temperature +4.4°C projected by 2100), suitable habitat patches will shift southward during the non-breeding season, leading to a minor overall habitat loss. The impact will be more pronounced for females than for males. The reduction of winter foraging grounds might decrease the survival of post-weaned females, reducing recruitment and jeopardizing population viability. During the breeding season, when males fast on land, suitable foraging grounds for females off the South Shetland Islands will remain largely unmodified, and new ones will emerge in the Bellingshausen Sea. As Antarctic fur seals are income breeders, the foraging grounds of females should be reasonably close to the breeding colony. As a result, the new suitable foraging grounds will be useful for females only if nearby beaches currently covered by sea ice emerge by the end of the century. Furthermore, the colonization of these new, ice-free breeding locations might be limited by strong female philopatry. These results should be considered when managing the fisheries of Antarctic krill in the Southern Ocean. The article is available from the publisher's website ( https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.17191) or by request at jazelouled(a)gmail.com Best regards, Jazel Ouled-Cheikh

1 0