October 2025 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

MS / PhD Opportunity in Right Whale PAM at the University of South Carolina
by Erin Meyer-Gutbrod 31 Oct '25

31 Oct '25

Dear Marmam Community, Dr. Erin Meyer-Gutbrod’s Conservation Oceanography lab at the University of South Carolina is recruiting a new graduate student (MS or PhD) in Marine Science for a funded Passive Acoustic Monitoring project. This project would entail collection and analysis of hydrophone data from three types of deployments: archival hydrophones on the sea floor and near real-time hydrophones on stationary buoys and on a Slocum glider. Data are collected between Norfolk, Virginia and Cape Canaveral, FL, with a focus on North Atlantic right whale detections made in and around the calving ground. This project would address sources of environmental, biological, and anthropogenic noise and variation in acoustic propagation by deployment type, location, and season. There would be opportunities to design relevant side projects based on student interest. Qualified applicants could have a background in marine science, biology, acoustics, programming, engineering, or a related field, with an interest in acoustic data analysis. Please contact Dr. Erin Meyer-Gutbrod at emgutbrod(a)seoe.sc.edu with a CV and statement of interest by November 15, 2025 for full consideration. Cheers, Erin -- Dr. Erin L. Meyer-Gutbrod *(she/her)* Assistant Professor School of the Earth, Ocean & Environment University of South Carolina https://meyer-gutbrod.weebly.com/ emgutbrod(a)seoe.sc.edu 216-548-9082

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SMM DEI Committee Positions Available
by Shiva Jian-Javdan 31 Oct '25

31 Oct '25

Dear MARMAM Community, The Society for Marine Mammalogy's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee is excited to share that the following volunteer (non-paid) positions are currently available: 1. Neurodiverse and Differently Abled Subcommittee Chair 2. Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Minorities Subcommittee Chair 3. Student representatives If you are interested, or wish to nominate someone in any of these roles, please reach out to us directly (diversity(a)marinemammalscience.org) noting "Committee Involvement" in the subject line. Please note that in order to be eligible to lead subcommittees (#1 and #2 above) as Chair, you must have an active membership to the Society for Marine Mammalogy (and continue to hold membership through your tenure). As such, we ask that you confirm your membership if you are applying for these positions as part of your email to us. We would also appreciate hearing a little bit about yourself, your experiences, and your goals in joining this committee (or leading a subcommittee). Finally, while the positions noted above are currently vacant, please know that all are welcome - so feel free to also reach out to us if you are interested in joining the wider DEI Committee in a non-leading role and as part of the subcommittees listed above or any of the following that you most identify with: LGBTQIA+, Indigenous Representation, Women and Families, International Representation. We look forward to hearing from you soon! Sincerely, Shiva -- Shiva Jian-Javdan Chair, Diversity and Inclusion Committee Society for Marine Mammalogy diversity(a)marinemammalscience.org

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New Study on Captive Cetacean Welfare
by Lori Marino 31 Oct '25

31 Oct '25

A newly published peer-reviewed paper<https://peerj.com/articles/19878/> in the journal PeerJ shows that, despite some limited improvements for bottlenose dolphins in accredited facilities, serious welfare challenges persist for captive cetaceans, especially for orcas and belugas. The paper provides the most comprehensive review to date of the challenges faced by captive cetaceans. While acknowledging species-specific variations and some areas of progress, the authors present clear evidence that captivity continues to compromise the health and welfare of all cetaceans held in marine parks and aquariums. “The current state of captive cetacean welfare shows that, while incremental improvement can be made, there are some aspects of marine park and aquarium living that remain incompatible with well-being and flourishing,” stated lead author Dr. Lori Marino. The findings echo growing concern among scientists and the public, who increasingly question the ethics of confining such intelligent and socially complex animals for entertainment and display. The authors conclude that cetaceans are fundamentally unsuited to life in captivity – both ethically and practically. The paper was co-authored by six animal behavior and welfare experts: Lori Marino, Ph.D., neuroscientist and President of the Whale Sanctuary Project, Catherine Doyle, M.S., Director of Science, Research, and Public Policy, Performing Animal Welfare Society, Heather Rally, D.V.M. medical director, ThriveWild Lester O’Brien, Palladium Elephant Consulting, Mackenzie Tennison, M.A.,University of Washington, and Bob Jacobs, Ph.D., neuroscientist and emeritus professor at Colorado College. Contact information: Lori Marino, marinolori(a)outlook.com<mailto:marinolori@outlook.com>

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New publication - Size and body condition drive the energetic cost of a baleen whale foraging in shallow habitat
by Clara Bird 30 Oct '25

30 Oct '25

Hi MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are excited to share with you our new publication in PeerJ. Bird CN, Pirotta E, New L, Cornelius JM, Sumich JL, Colson KM, Bierlich KC, Hildebrand L, Fernández Ajó AA, Doron A, Torres LG. 2025. Size and body condition drive the energetic cost of a baleen whale foraging in shallow habitat. PeerJ 13:e20247 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20247 Abstract: Energy expenditure strongly influences an animal’s foraging decisions and activity budgets. Diving animals especially need to be energetically efficient because they exercise while oxygen is limited. By estimating the energetics of behavior, we can better understand the cascading effects of individual responses to disturbance and environmental change. Pacific Coast Feeding Group (PCFG) gray whales use a variety of foraging tactics in shallow habitats (<20 m), which present challenges associated with maneuverability and buoyancy. We use a seven-year dataset of concurrent individual behavior, morphology, and breath-by-breath respiration data collected via drone paired with two years of tri-axial accelerometry tag data to study patterns and correlates of respiration. We assess how several respiration metrics (acting as proxies for oxygen consumption) are associated with individual length, body condition and behavior (forage and travel), and test whether respiration reflects recovery from, or anticipation of, a foraging dive using Bayesian linear mixed effects models. Given model results, we simulated daily field metabolic rate (FMR) to explore how diving costs may affect energetics at a daily scale. We find that respiration reflects recovery from the preceding dive and that dives are more energetically expensive for longer, more buoyant whales. Longer dives and the most common foraging tactics also incur higher energetic costs. FMR simulations show that individual size and dive duration have the largest effects on energy expenditure. Thus, PCFG gray whale foraging success may be limited by the energetic costs associated with size and buoyancy, highlighting the costs of a shallow habitat foraging niche. The article is open access and available here: https://peerj.com/articles/20247/ Please reach out with any questions. Cheers, Clara (clara.bird(a)oregonstate.edu) ---- *Clara Bird, Ph.D. (she/her)* Postdoctoral Scholar GEMM Lab <https://mmi.oregonstate.edu/gemm-lab> | LABIRINTO <https://mmi.oregonstate.edu/cantorlab> Marine Mammal Institute Dept. of Fisheries, Wildlife, & Conservation Sciences Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center

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Shannon Dolphin Project Internship: Applications open for 2026 Internship
by Mags Daly 30 Oct '25

30 Oct '25

*The Shannon Dolphin Project (SDP) is accepting applications for its 2026 spring and summer internship program* *Background* The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) is a registered charity and NGO in the West of Ireland. The group has been running the SDP photo ID catalogue since 1993, focused on monitoring Ireland’s only resident population of bottlenose dolphins. This volunteer internship is based in Kilrush, Co. Clare, Ireland. *To apply, email your CV (resume) and your letter of interest by Sunday, 30th November 2025 to **mags.daly(a)iwdg.ie * <luisa.lopez(a)iwdg.ie> The SDP internship programme in 2026 will run from mid-January to October, and interns are requested to stay for a minimum of 10 weeks to gain enough experience. Please include your preferred start and end dates when submitting your application *Intern Duties* *Shannon Dolphins Surveys* Join surveys on board the IWDG’s RIB, Muc Mhara, to record sightings, capture photo data, record behaviour, group size, and environmental conditions. Assist with coming in and out of port. Download and sort the data captured during the survey. Interns will also join a week-long survey on board the IWDG’s research vessel, Celtic Mist, where the whole Shannon Dolphin range will be surveyed, involving similar duties as RIB surveys, with the addition of assisting with running the boat with other crew members. Interns will also join local tour boat operators to collect data. Data will also be captured from land during monthly watches from several headlands. Two interns will conduct 6-hour surveys, on a 30-minute watch rotation. *Photo ID & Data Handling* Interns will process the photo id data they collect in the field, including matching photographed animals to the known catalogue of animals in the population. Other duties include double-checking processed trips for quality control, collating images into catalogues and adding data collected to databases. *Education & Outreach* The Shannon Dolphin Centre offers free tours to the public. Interns will be trained on the collection of artefacts in the centre and how to give a tour to the public. Other E&O duties include writing social media posts and a blog about a specific survey or task during the season. *Miscellaneous* Ad hoc tasks may come up during an intern’s time with the project. These may include assisting the SDP Officer with occasional post mortems, sampling of stranded cetaceans, responding to local strandings, deploying or recovering acoustic devices and bird surveys. *Requirements* *Applicants should be enrolled or have completed a BSc. / MSc. in STEM, particularly biology, ecology, or marine science program.* Applicants should also possess a strong work ethic and the ability to work effectively with others; this is especially important, as interns will be working in close quarters at sea. *Advantageous Experience or Skills* - Previous data collection or handling experience in any research setting - Experience at sea - Education and outreach experience - Knowledge of marine mammals - Small power boat handling - Photography - Driver’s License: Several of the headlands for watches are not within walking distance of the office; therefore, some intern positions require a full, clean driver’s license, valid in the Republic of Ireland, and applicants who are over 25 years of age, to be covered under our motor insurance policy *Expenses and housing* This is an unpaid internship. Successful applicants are responsible for their living expenses. However, the IWDG will help organise accommodation. There will be no fee for Celtic Mist surveys; your food onboard will be covered. Any food purchased while on land will be at the intern’s own expense. Mags Daly Shannon Dolphin Project Officer Irish Whale & Dolphin Group Merchants Quay, Kilrush, Co. Clare Tel: +353 (0) 838401102 Email: mags.daly(a)iwdg.ie Website:www.iwdg.ie

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New publication: Environmental influence on Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) abundance in Southern Portugal
by Joana Castro 29 Oct '25

29 Oct '25

Dear all, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to announce and share our recent paper titled: "*Environmental influence on Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)* *abundance in Southern Portugal*". The full paper is available here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104569 Feel free to email me if you have any questions. Abstract: The common bottlenose dolphin (*Tursiops truncatus*) is a keystone species and bioindicator of marine ecosystem health. Factors influencing its abundance in southern Portugal’s Algarve region remain poorly understood. This study examines nine years (2015–2023) of sighting records, collected through platforms of opportunity and a dedicated research vessel, to assess the relationship between monthly dolphin abundance and key oceanographic factors across four age classes (adults, juveniles, calves, and neonates). Among the environmental variables assessed, sea surface temperature (SST), chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), coastal upwelling index, dissolved oxygen, and sea surface salinity, only SST and Chl-a were retained as key predictors in the final ecological models (GLMMs). Results showed a significant positive relationship between Chl-a and adults abundance, while SST was positively correlated with neonates but negatively correlated with adults and juveniles abundance. This pattern was reflected in a geospatial temperature-driven gradient, with neonates primarily concentrated in warmer eastern waters, and juveniles in cooler western waters closer to the Atlantic. The indirect effects of SST and Chl-a on dolphin abundance, mediated through prey availability, and the direct effects of SST on thermal regulation, were explored. Warmer waters may act as a thermal barrier, restricting the occurrence of older dolphins while providing a thermal ‘cushion’ for neonates, enhancing their survival chances. These findings underscore the need to validate the Algarve’s potential role as a key breeding and nursery ground, essential for shaping age-specific conservation strategies within the Site of Community Importance (SCI) designated in 2019 to protect Annex II species.

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Survey: Caretaker Accessibility at SMM Biennial
by Amy Van Cise 28 Oct '25

28 Oct '25

Dear MARMAM, The SMM DEI Women and Families Subcommittee is collecting feedback about caretaker accessibility efforts at the 2024 Biennial in Perth in advance of the upcoming Biennial. If you are a caretaker, please take a moment to share your feedback with us using this short survey: https://forms.gle/6mfQa7ivJRJKtAp3A Thank you in advance for your feedback! Warm regards, Amy, on behalf of SMM DEI W&F Subcommittee <*)))>< <*)))>< <*)))>< <*)))>< <*)))>< <*)))>< <*)))>< <*)))>< Amy M. Van Cise, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) Assistant Professor Whale and Dolphin Ecology Lab <http://amyvancise.com> University of Washington | School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences 1122 NE Boat St, Box 355020 Seattle, WA 98105 Office: FSH 216B 206-221-6118 "My paper was one long gigantic blunder from beginning to end." -Charles Darwin

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New publication: Glider-based acoustic monitoring of baleen whales in relation to offshore wind in the New York Bight
by Lesley Thorne 23 Oct '25

23 Oct '25

Dear colleagues, I am happy to share our new open access publication on behalf of lead author Katie Gallagher and coauthors entitled "Passive acoustic monitoring of baleen whales using autonomous gliders in relation to offshore wind energy areas in the New York Bight" Gallagher KL, Baumgartner M, Miles T, Kohut J, Flagg C, McSweeney J, Warren J, Thorne LH. 2025. Passive acoustic monitoring of baleen whales in relation to offshore wind development using autonomous gliders. Endangered Species Research 58:257–273 https://doi.org/10.3354/esr01452 Abstract: The rapid expansion of offshore wind development in the northeast USA has amplified the need to understand baseline patterns of habitat use for protected species relative to offshore wind lease areas. Here, we used 5 years of intermittent passive acoustic monitoring via autonomous glider deployments to monitor baleen whales in the New York Bight, a region of the US east coast where offshore wind construction is imminent. We assessed the daily presence of humpback *Megaptera novaeangliae*, sei *Balaenoptera borealis*, North Atlantic right *Eubalaena glacialis*, and fin *B. physalus* whale vocalizations, and examined spatial (10s-100s of km) and temporal (seasonal) habitat use patterns in the wind energy areas and the broader New York Bight region. All species were observed year-round in the New York Bight, with humpback and sei whales detected most frequently in spring, and right whales detected more frequently in winter. Humpback and North Atlantic right whales were detected closer to the coast in winter than in other seasons. The overlap between whale habitat and wind energy areas was greatest in winter for all species except for sei whales, which showed similar overlap in summer and winter. This new understanding of the overlap of baleen whale habitat use relative to offshore wind energy areas illustrates the utility of routine seasonal glider surveys as passive acoustic monitoring platforms. Furthermore, this information will be helpful for developing appropriate mitigation and management strategies to minimize impacts of wind energy development on baleen whales. Best, Lesley ...................................................... *Lesley Thorne* *Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Research* *School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences* *Stony Brook University* Office: 631.632.5117 www.thornelab.com <http://www.thornelab.com> [image: Stony Brook University logo] <http://www.stonybrook.edu/>

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New publication: Occurrence of delphinids off Egmont Atoll, Chagos Archipelago: Detection, characterisation, and temporal variability of vocalisations
by Udayanga Sampath 23 Oct '25

23 Oct '25

Dear MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are pleased to share our recent open-access publication in Bioacoustics, "Occurrence of delphinids off Egmont Atoll, Chagos Archipelago: Detection, characterisation, and temporal variability of vocalisations" in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (JASA). *Reference:* Udayanga Sampath, Clare B. Embling, Danielle V. Harris, Tom B. Letessier, Isha Shyam, Simon N. Ingram, M. F. M. Fairoz, Samina Sharmin Rouf, Asha de Vos; Occurrence of delphinids off Egmont Atoll, Chagos Archipelago: Detection, characterisation, and temporal variability of vocalisations. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 1 October 2025; 158 (4): 3226–3238. https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0039671 *Abstract* Passive acoustic monitoring techniques are useful for studying vocally active marine species, particularly in remote and difficult to access areas. In this study, three months of acoustic recordings were collected off Egmont Atoll, Chagos Archipelago in the central Indian Ocean to detect, characterise, and investigate temporal variability of delphinid whistles. A subsample (3.6% of the total dataset) was used to manually annotate whistles and test automated whistle detectors. Higher frequency whistles (6–25 kHz, n = 126) were manually classified into six categories: upsweep (56%), convex (19%), downsweep (13%), concave (5%), sine (4%), and constant frequency (3%). An automated whistle detector was evaluated under five detection thresholds (measured in dB): 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, and 7.5 above background noise. The 6.5 dB threshold demonstrated the best balance between precision (0.9) and recall (0.5). The whistles were detected on 78% of days, with a bimodal diel pattern, where whistles peaked after sunrise (0800–1000 h) and before sunset (1600–1800 h), with fewer detections in the middle of the day and at night. This study highlights the value of passive acoustic monitoring techniques to better understand the delphinid occurrence in remote and understudied areas. The full publication is available at: https://pubs.aip.org/asa/jasa/article/158/4/3226/3368763/Occurrence-of-delp… Please feel free to email me if you have any questions: udayanga.930(a)gmail.com Kind regards, Udayanga Sampath PhD (Reading, OCUSL), BSc (Hons, USJ) PhD Candidate, Ocean University of Sri Lanka.

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Request for unpublished data on nurturant behaviour in cetaceans
by Iolanda Silva 23 Oct '25

23 Oct '25

Dear colleagues, We are currently compiling *unpublished data *on nurturant behaviour in cetacean species for a forthcoming scientific publication and would greatly appreciate your collaboration. The term “nurturant behaviour” was first described by Caldwell and Caldwell (1966) to refer to behaviour involving care or attention towards dead young individuals. If you have relevant records or observations, please provide the following information: § Location (mandatory, if possible with GPS coordinates) § Date of observation (mandatory) § Species (mandatory) § Decomposition stage (if possible). Following the classification by da Cunha Ramos et al. (2024): o Stage I: Animal recently dead, body intact, natural body shape with no signs of bloating, skin smooth and normal in colour, eyes clear. o Stage II: Slight bloating due to gas formation, reddish discolouration on rostrum and flanks, a small amount of bloody fluid may be seen around the mouth, skin mostly intact, minor changes visible. o Stage III: pronounced bloating (especially in the abdominal area), abundant bloody fluid from the mouth or blowhole, strong odour present, some skin slippage or loss (5% - 25%). o Stage IV: Extensive skin loss (25%-50% or more), loss of eyes and teeth, exposure of bones in jaws and limbs, possible evisceration, flattened body shape with collapse of soft tissues, advanced decay and strong odour, skeletal elements visible. § Duration of carrying behaviour observed (if possible) § Whether the carcass was abandoned or removed (if possible) Please send the information by *November 30th*, either: § By email to iolanda.silva(a)ciimar.up.pt with the subject line: Nurturant Behaviour Data, or § Via the Google Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScSxqUwA3J7JhLGx3h4UmhRJ67WoCb-g_e… In recognition of contributions, one co-authorship will be offered per shared dataset. For larger datasets, additional co-authors may be considered and discussed individually with the contributors. If preferred by the data provider, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) may also be established to formalise data sharing and authorship conditions. Thank you very much for your time and valuable contribution to this collaborative effort. Best regards, Iolanda Silva

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