July 2024 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Announcement of application for student travel awards to SMM from ACS/PS - CORRECTION: Email address
by Stephanie Norman 14 Jul '24

14 Jul '24

Hello all, We're very happy to announce that, once again, is offering student/intern/postdoc travel grants to the Society for Marine Mammalogy Conference in Perth, Western Australia later this year. Thank you and here are the details: *American Cetacean Society – Puget Sound Chapter* *Call for student/intern travel grants to the Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals!* We are back with another opportunity to apply for student/intern travel grant awards! The American Cetacean Society-Puget Sound Chapter (ACS/PS) ( https://www.acspugetsound.org/index.php) would like to once again solicit submissions for student/intern travel grants to the Society for Marine Mammalogy's *25th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals* (Perth, Western Australia, 11-15 November 2024). *Two* student travel grants (US$750 each) will be selected from all eligible applications received by *Friday, 16 August 2024*. *The focus of the research must be on cetaceans within the inland waters (Puget Sound/Salish Sea) OR the outer coast of Washington State, USA.* *Qualifications to apply:* 1. Obtain ACS membership if selected for the grant. Application for membership to ACS may be completed at the following website: https://www.acsonline.org/membership 2. Currently enrolled as a student or postdoc at a recognized academic institution or an intern at a recognized organization conducting cetacean research. 3. Be first author on an accepted oral or poster presentation. 4. Register for the conference by the early registration deadline ( https://www.smmconference.org/ <http://www.marinemammalscience.org>). 5. Though you do not need to be a student/intern at a Washington State organization/institution, the focus of the research *must* be in Washington State waters. International student/intern applications are accepted as long as the research takes place within Washington State. US/Canada cross-boundary research must take place a majority of the time within Washington State waters. *To apply:* 1. Submit an accepted title and abstract to the SMM conference. 2. Provide your name and school/organization affiliation. 3. E-mail your application to: acspsgrant(a)acspugetsound.org <acspsgrants(a)acspugetsound.org> (Corrected email from earlier post) Note: As an awardee, you will be asked to provide a summary of your poster/spoken presentation to be posted on ACS/PS social media and website. And you may be asked to present your poster or oral talk at a future ACS/PS general meeting. *The application period closes Friday 16 August 2024 (11:59pm PST)!* Notification of the student travel grant awards will be made by *1 September 2024.* IMPORTANT: If you are selected for an award, you will need to make sure you register for the conference by the end of the early registration period or the award will be given to someone else. For questions or to submit your application, contact Dr. Stephanie Norman, ACS/PS Grants Chair: acspsgrant(a)acspugetsound.org <acspsgrants(a)acspugetsound.org> (Corrected email from earlier post)

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Announcement - Funded MMO Training Programme for five students/graduates in Ireland
by Marine Mammal Observer Association 14 Jul '24

14 Jul '24

Calling Ireland Based Marine Science Students & Graduates - ESB announces funding for Marine Mammal Observer Training Programme following success of first year. - Industry-approved training courses and medicals will again be funded through the initiative in 2024 - Support and endorsements are being provided by the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, The Marine Mammal Observer Association, and The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology www.ESB.ie plans to fund its Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) training programme for a second year. The programme is open to graduates, final-year undergraduates, and postgraduate students studying or working in marine science or related disciplines in Ireland. In 2023, five participants successfully completed the programme and availed of industry-approved training courses and medicals, which were also funded through the initiative. A key objective of the programme is to assist in developing marine ecology education and skills to support successful applicants at the early stages of their careers in the marine environmental profession. An additional key aim is to fill a gap in the Irish offshore wind industry’s local supply chain due to a lack of locally-based MMOs on the island of Ireland. ESB will again award up to five places on the MMO training programme this year. All applicants must be available to participate in person for training at Kilrush, Co Clare in September. *Application forms can be requested from ESB via mmotraining(a)esb.ie <mmotraining(a)esb.ie>. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, 31st July*. Please check eligibility before applying. In addition to the MMO training aspect, the costs associated with the delivery of the necessary industry-approved training courses and medicals will also be funded with the aim of ensuring all trainees are up to the standard level of competency for offshore work. These courses include Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET), United Kingdom's Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) MMO training with Irish Guideline certifications, and Offshore Energies U.K (OEUK) approved medical and Fit-to-Train certifications. The training programme has been proudly endorsed by the Marine Mammal Observer Association and the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST). The MMO training will be provided by the Irish Whale & Dolphin Group and will include classroom-based training, two nights’ accommodation and a half-day at sea experience onboard the research vessel, Celtic Mist. Sincerely, Niru Dorrian -- The Marine Mammal Observer Association (MMOA) 4 Old Park Lane LONDON W1 K1QW *info(a)mmo-association.org <info(a)mmo-association.org> * *www.mmo-association.org <http://www.mmo-association.org>* * <https://www.facebook.com/The-Marine-Mammal-Observer-Association-MMOA-152181…> <https://twitter.com/MMO_association> [image: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3028634?trk=tyah&trkInfo=clickedVertical%3…] <https://www.linkedin.com/company/3028634?trk=tyah&trkInfo=clickedVertical%3…>*

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JNCC MMO course (remote delivery) and online PSO course
by Carolyn Barton 13 Jul '24

13 Jul '24

Spaces are available on a JNCC-recognised MMO course for UK waters on 15th and 16th August 2024, remote delivery by Zoom. The course is taught by an instructor with over 25 years' experience of training MMOs, working as an MMO, analysing MMO data and being involved with the development of JNCC guidelines. The course will cover all the information needed for work as a Marine Mammal Observer in UK waters: 1) Impacts of noise on marine mammals 2) Introduction to activities that require mitigation 3) Legislation protecting marine mammals and marine licensing 4) Detailed examination of the JNCC guidelines for geophysical surveys, pile driving and explosives 5) Data recording and reporting requirements 6) Visual monitoring and distance estimation 7) Overview of passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) 8) Working as an MMO/ PAM operator 9) Identification of marine mammals Zoom sessions will be a mixture of lectures and exercises, over 1.5 days. There is also an online multiple choice exam to be done at your convenience after the Zoom sessions (re-sits are possible if you don't pass first time). Each delegate gets individual feedback on their exercises and the exam. On successful completion of the course you will receive JNCC-recognised certification, which is required for work as an MMO in UK waters. The cost of the MMO course is £150 (150GBP), which includes a comprehensive resource pack and ongoing support available after the course. Also available is an online, self-navigated PSO course, for Protected Species Observers working in offshore waters of the US Gulf of Mexico and US Atlantic on activities such as geophysical surveys and offshore wind energy developments. Topics include: 1) Marine mammals and sea turtles, their biology and threats to populations 2) Sound in the seas and the impact of noise on marine mammals 3) US legislation protecting marine mammals and sea turtles 4) Activities requiring mitigation 5) Geophysical survey mitigation 6) Vessel strike avoidance 7) Explosive removal of structures 8) Offshore wind energy developments and mitigation 9) Visual monitoring and distance estimation 10) Introduction to passive acoustic monitoring 11) Working as a PSO 12) Life at sea 13) Identification of marine mammals and sea turtles 14) Final assessment The cost of the PSO course is £180 (180GBP). On successful completion of the course you will receive PSO certification, which is required as part of the approval process for work as a PSO in US waters. For further details and for a registration form for either course see www.carolynbarton.co.uk or e-mail info(a)carolynbarton.co.uk .

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Announcement of application for student travel awards to SMM from ACS/PS
by Stephanie Norman 12 Jul '24

12 Jul '24

Hello all, We're very happy to announce that, once again, is offering student/intern/postdoc travel grants to the Society for Marine Mammalogy Conference in Perth, Western Australia later this year. Thank you and here are the details: *American Cetacean Society – Puget Sound Chapter* *Call for student/intern travel grants to the Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals!* We are back with another opportunity to apply for student/intern travel grant awards! The American Cetacean Society-Puget Sound Chapter (ACS/PS) ( https://www.acspugetsound.org/index.php) would like to once again solicit submissions for student/intern travel grants to the Society for Marine Mammalogy's *25th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals* (Perth, Western Australia, 11-15 November 2024). *Two* student travel grants (US$750 each) will be selected from all eligible applications received by *Friday, 16 August 2024*. *The focus of the research must be on cetaceans within the inland waters (Puget Sound/Salish Sea) OR the outer coast of Washington State, USA.* *Qualifications to apply:* 1. Obtain ACS membership if selected for the grant. Application for membership to ACS may be completed at the following website: https://www.acsonline.org/membership 2. Currently enrolled as a student or postdoc at a recognized academic institution or an intern at a recognized organization conducting cetacean research. 3. Be first author on an accepted oral or poster presentation. 4. Register for the conference by the early registration deadline ( https://www.smmconference.org/ <http://www.marinemammalscience.org>). 5. Though you do not need to be a student/intern at a Washington State organization/institution, the focus of the research *must* be in Washington State waters. International student/intern applications are accepted as long as the research takes place within Washington State. US/Canada cross-boundary research must take place a majority of the time within Washington State waters. *To apply:* 1. Submit an accepted title and abstract to the SMM conference. 2. Provide your name and school/organization affiliation. 3. E-mail your application to: acspsgrants(a)yahoo.com Note: As an awardee, you will be asked to provide a summary of your poster/spoken presentation to be posted on ACS/PS social media and website. And you may be asked to present your poster or oral talk at a future ACS/PS general meeting. *The application period closes Friday 16 August 2024 (11:59pm PST)!* Notification of the student travel grant awards will be made by *1 September 2024.* IMPORTANT: If you are selected for an award, you will need to make sure you register for the conference by the end of the early registration period or the award will be given to someone else. For questions or to submit your application, contact Dr. Stephanie Norman, ACS/PS Grants Chair: acspsgrants(a)acspugetsound.org Thank you, Stephanie Norman, ACS/PS Grants Chair

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New publication - Pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata attenuata) abundance estimates in Maui Nui, Hawaiʻi reveal small population in need of monitoring
by PWF Research Department 12 Jul '24

12 Jul '24

Aloha MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce our recent publication: Barber-Meyer, S.M., Olson, G.L., and Currie, J.J. 2024. Pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata attenuata) abundance estimates in Maui Nui, Hawaiʻi reveal small population in need of monitoring. Frontiers in Mammal Science, 3, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmamm.2024.1412415 Please find our open access article at: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/mammal-science/articles/10.3389/fmamm.… Abstract Introduction: Recent minimum population estimates are critical for effective marine mammal conservation, yet such estimates are often lacking at the stock or management level. Throughout the Main Hawaiian Islands, pantropical spotted dolphins (PSD; Stenella attenuata attenuata) are comprised of a pelagic and three island-associated stocks (O‘ahu, 4-Islands, and Hawai‘i Island). The insular stocks, in particular, face multiple anthropogenic and natural threats such as vessel impacts, fisheries interactions, marine debris, climate change, and disease. Prior to this study, no abundance estimates of the 4-Islands (i.e., the Maui Nui region) PSD stock existed that were suitable for management use and inclusion in stock assessment report calculations. Methods: We generated annual mark-recapture abundance estimates of naturally marked adults in a POPAN-framework using photo-identification data collected from small-boat surveys during 2014–2022 in the Maui Nui region. We extrapolated these estimates to the wider population using dorsal fin mark rates. Results and discussion: We collected data on 62 groups of PSD, throughout all months of the year, and with an average group size of 55.70 (SD = 17.31). We analyzed encounter histories of 174 distinct individuals. Annual recapture rate averaged 1.84 (SD = 1.32) with a maximum of 7. Individuals detected per year averaged 35.67 (SD = 21.16) with a maximum of 77 in 2017. Overall mark rate was 0.495 (SE = 0.010), resulting in total annual abundance estimates that averaged 154.87 (SE = 14.25) and ranged from 105 (SE = 13) in 2014 to 232 (SE = 31) in 2017. Although abundance estimates fluctuated, generally 250 animals or less used the study area each year and we found no overall evidence of a trend. Our benchmark results revealed a small population in need of monitoring given the numerous threats facing this stock, the uncertainty of their impacts, and the decreased resiliency and recovery potential of small populations to negative demographic and environmental stochastic events. Our findings, including documenting long-term site fidelity and year-round presence of PSD in Maui Nui, further signify this area as one of future research and conservation importance. Sincerely, Shannon Dr. Shannon Barber-Meyer (she/her) Senior Research Manager Pacific Whale Foundation shannonbarbermeyer(a)pacificwhale.org [cid:mkt_donation_email_sig_r3_500px_59742678-0de9-40fc-ac98-07ce516adf52.png]<https://secure.pacificwhale.org/forms/emailsignature>

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SMM2024 Workshop Announcement - Nicole Adimey
by nicole adimey 11 Jul '24

11 Jul '24

Dear MARMAM Community, Please join us for the Tenth International Sirenian Symposium! This full-day event will be hosted in association with the Biennial Conference this November in Perth Australia on Sunday, November 10, 2024 at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. If you are interested in attending please register at the pre-conference workshop webpage at: *https://www.smmconference.org/workshops <https://www.smmconference.org/workshops>*. This Symposium will be an entire day dedicated to international collaboration, networking and mentorship among those interested in Sirenian research and conservation. Objectives for the Symposium include: supporting collaboration and building Sirenian networks among scientists across Sirenian Range States (the >80), especially in the 70+ developing countries, disseminating new Sirenian science, addressing current and emerging threats and promoting mentoring for students interested in marine mammal science and conservation. Presentations may include human interactions, physiology, monitoring applications, modeling, genetics, captive care and rehabilitation, management, general biology, stranding response and education/outreach. The agenda will include full length presentations, speed talks, a poster session, an update from the Sirenian Specialist Group and time allotted for networking. Those interested in presenting research (either poster or talk) should submit an abstract by August 15, 2024. For further information email to Nicole Adimey at: *adimey22(a)gmail.com <adimey22(a)gmail.com>.* Preference will be given to speakers from developing countries and those talks addressing the conference theme 'Culture and Conservation: Fishing for Change'. Researchers are encouraged to present novel work and how it contributes to Sirenian conservation and supports regional initiatives or current management challenges. ----------------------------------- Nicole Adimey adimey22(a)gmail.com 904.655.0730 -- Nicole Adimey 904-655-0730

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Introductory distance sampling workshop 07-18 Oct 2024; registration now open
by Eric Rexstad 11 Jul '24

11 Jul '24

Interactive introductory distance sampling training The University of St Andrews has been training ecologists and statisticians in design and analysis of distance sampling studies for decades. Distance sampling methods are widely used in population assessment of many taxonomic groups. It is commonly used in assessments of marine mammal populations. Perhaps you've wanted to attend a previous workshop, but schedules conflicted with your field work. We are offering the training workshop in 10 2.5-hour blocks in October 2024. You will be invited to interact in short lectures on distance sampling principles. Exercises analysing data sets in R will reinforce those principles and the lecturer will be available to assist during the practical session via screen sharing. The session will conclude with a summary of the exercise and question/answer session for both lecture and exercise. You can participate in polls during the workshop to assess your comprehension of topics discussed. In addition to questions at any time during the lectures and practicals, an optional additional half hour will be set aside each session for discussion of topics arising. New for October 2024: Simultaneous translation of lectures and discussions will be available in closed captions courtesy of Zoom. If English is not your first language, translation will be available into (most) languages. Contact instructor for more details. The workshop will be delivered using Zoom web conferencing software along with R-Studio "in the cloud". You will need (free) accounts for both pieces of software. I encourage you to experiment with Zoom (at https://zoom.us) and https://posit.cloud before the workshop begins. There will be an internet connection testing and general orientation session the week of 23 September 2024. Important details - Workshop dates and time: 07-18 October 2024; 1400-1630 British Standard Time. - For the time of day in your time zone, consult this time-keeping sit<https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=Introductory+dist…>e - Registration deadline: 09 September 2024 - Enrolment limit: 14 - Cost: 225 British pounds - What is included: Lectures, exercises, code, data all available online Widening participation scholarship One place will have the registration fee waived, for participants from under-represented groups. Details of eligibility and application process at http://workshops.distancesampling.org/widening-participation. Deadline for scholarship application for the October 2024 introductory workshop is 22 July 2024. What they are saying I would like to say I really liked RStudio Cloud and it is working just fine and I am really enjoying using it as a student. I'm looking forward to using it as an instructor too. I really liked the first half of the course. I love distance sampling and I am enjoying every second of the course! The only thing I can say about this particular workshop is it deserves more time. -- Kaan Özgencil, PhD student, Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara Further details https://workshops.distancesampling.org/intro-oct-2024.html At the webpage above, you will find a link to the St Andrews online shop where payment is made. After you registration, I will contact you with additional details regarding workshop electronic materials, etc. Feel free to contact me with questions. Please share this announcement with interested colleagues. Information regarding all distance sampling workshops can be found at https://workshops.distancesampling.org Eric Rexstad Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling University of St Andrews Registered Charity in Scotland SC013532

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New Publication: First paired observation of sexual behavior and calls in wild leopard seals
by Sarah Kienle 10 Jul '24

10 Jul '24

Hi MARMAM’ers! My co-authors and I are excited to share our recently published open-access paper on leopard seal sexual behavior: Kienle, S. S., Bonin, C. A., Gómez, G., Goebel, M. E., Donke, M., Sperou, E. S., Guerrero, A. I. & Borras-Chavez, R. (2024). First paired observations of sexual behavior and calls in wild leopard seals. *Polar Biology*, 1-13. The paper is available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00300-024-03275-4 Abstract: Little is known about the reproductive biology of the leopard seal (*Hydrurga leptonyx*), a Southern Ocean predator. Here we observed sexual behavior in wild leopard seals in Laguna San Rafael, Chile during a 2 h courtship interaction between a female and male. The female was hauled out on ice, mostly lying still (69% of the time) or moving (19%). The male was mostly under water (87%) or at the water’s surface (11%). The female made seven in-air calls (i.e., thump pulse, noseblast, blast, growl). The male produced 65 underwater calls (i.e., low- and high-double trills, unidentified trills). The underwater calls appeared to be directed toward the female. After the primary male vocalized for an hour, one or two unidentified leopard seals briefly swam near the female. After leaving the area, we heard underwater calls for another 8 h. The next day, the primary male was hauled out on ice with a swollen genital opening. The male was bleeding from a laceration caudal to the preputial opening, suggesting the male attempted to mate and that the female, or another seal, was responsible for the injury. Together, we find that leopard seal courtship involves a suite of behavioral and acoustic behaviors by both sexes, both in air and under water. This is the first description of leopard seal sexual behavior in the wild. Our study also provides the first evidence that leopard seals mate in South America. Feel free to email me at sarah_kienle(a)baylor.edu for a pdf copy or for further discussion. Wishing everyone a lovely week, Sarah -- *Sarah S. Kienle, PhD* | she/her/hers Assistant Professor Department of Biology Baylor University Kienle Lab <https://www.sarahskienle.com/>

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SMM24 Workshop: Pinniped Entanglement Prevention, Response, Training, and Lessons Learned
by Kim Raum-Suryan - NOAA Federal 10 Jul '24

10 Jul '24

Dear MARMAM, We are excited to announce the following workshop at the SMM Conference in Perth, Australia from 08:30 to 17:30 on Saturday, November 9: Pinniped Entanglement Prevention, Response, Training, and Lessons Learned https://www.smmconference.org/workshops/#1718131889797-052b1d22-ba43 Entanglement in marine debris and fishing gear is increasingly recognized as a serious source of human-caused mortality for pinniped populations world-wide. Pinniped rescue specialists and researchers around the world are working to address this issue, but these efforts are often made in isolation from one another. To provide increased global collaboration and communication among scientists, non-government organizations, non-profits, and others, the Pinniped Entanglement Group (PEG) https://pinnipedentanglementgroup.org/ was created in 2009, with a growing membership. Enacting the conference theme of “Culture and Conservation: Fishing for Change”, the PEG collaborates to reduce pinniped entanglements in marine debris and fishing gear through education, outreach, and rescue. This workshop is intended to bring together researchers, managers, and responders interested in working toward the common goal of reducing global pinniped entanglements and interactions with fishing gear. This is an opportunity to unite those already working on pinniped entanglement prevention and response or those interested in learning more about this topic to share ideas and exchange techniques and methods. The workshop will begin with introductions, followed by entanglement response case studies and short presentations focused on 1) pinniped entanglement and fishery interaction prevention, 2) examples of working successfully with the fishing community, 3) equipment used for different entanglement responses, 4) deterrents, and 5) standardized data collection. The workshop will continue with expert panels followed by group discussions. The discussion periods will provide an opportunity to share techniques, establish new connections, identify data gaps, and plan for next steps. The day will conclude with hands-on in classroom training techniques. This conference provides a valuable opportunity for our third international workshop to bring together this global community to improve pinniped entanglement responses, advance mitigation to reduce entanglements, and to enhance the global PEG and their efforts to reduce pinniped entanglements worldwide. Please feel free to reach out with any questions. We hope to see you there! Thank you, Kim Raum-Suryan and Rebecca McIntosh -- Kim Raum-Suryan Marine Mammal Specialist, PRD, Alaska Region NOAA Fisheries | U.S. Department of Commerce Office: (907) 586-7424 www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/alaska

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ANNOUNCEMENT: MMOA Conference: Marine Mammal Monitoring and Mitigation Memberships/MMOA
by Marine Mammal Observer Association 10 Jul '24

10 Jul '24

Dear Marman, We are extremely excited to announce that we are hosting our first-ever conference! The MMOA Conference: Marine Mammal Monitoring and Mitigation is in partnership with the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST). The event is scheduled to take place on *7th September 2024 at the Yotel Hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.* This must-attend event serves as the industry’s main hub for professionals involved in developing, publishing, and implementing mitigation for marine mammals worldwide. The key themes will be: - Mitigation & Monitoring - Consenting & Licensing - Technology & Innovation - Freelance Consultant Life Members and non-members are invited to attend the event. If you wish to attend the event please follow this link (https://mmo-association.org/index.php?option=com_acymailing&ctrl=url&subid=…) <https://mmo-association.org/index.php?option=com_acymailing&ctrl=url&subid=…> to register. If you wish to join as a member, please click here (https://mmo-association.org/join-the-mmoa) <https://mmo-association.org/join-the-mmoa>. If you have any queries, please email back at <info(a)mmo-association.org> info(a)mmo-association.org Thanks, Ashleigh, Chair -- The Marine Mammal Observer Association (MMOA) 4 Old Park Lane LONDON W1 K1QW *info(a)mmo-association.org <info(a)mmo-association.org> * *www.mmo-association.org <http://www.mmo-association.org>* * <https://www.facebook.com/The-Marine-Mammal-Observer-Association-MMOA-152181…> <https://twitter.com/MMO_association> [image: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3028634?trk=tyah&trkInfo=clickedVertical%3…] <https://www.linkedin.com/company/3028634?trk=tyah&trkInfo=clickedVertical%3…>*

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