March 2025 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Registration and widening participation applications open: intro distance sampling 05-16May 2025
by Eric Rexstad 21 Mar '25

21 Mar '25

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 cetacean 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 May 2025. 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. 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 approximately 28-30 April 2025. Important details - Workshop dates and time: 05-16 May 2025; 1400-1630 British Standard Time. - For the time of day in your time zone, consult https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=Introductory+dist… - Registration deadline: 23 April 2025 - 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 https://distancesampling.org/training/scholarships.html. Deadline for scholarship application for the May 2025 introductory workshop is 24 March 2025. 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://distancesampling.org/training/announcements/intro-may-2025.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://distancesampling.org/training/training.html Eric Rexstad Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling University of St Andrews Registered Charity in Scotland SC013532

1 1

New paper: Review Paper on Applications of Biologging
by Takashi Iwata 20 Mar '25

20 Mar '25

Dear Colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to share our new publication on "Biologging as a potential platform for resolving ocean environmental issues and threats: Towards the development of the Internet of Animals”, published in Water Biology and Security. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watbs.2025.100383 This paper explains how biologging contributes to solving various marine challenges, with many case studies featuring marine mammal research. ABSTRACT: Biologging is a method that utilizes animal-borne devices to study the behavioural ecology, physiology, and surrounding environment of animals. This is the Lagrangian observation method, which assigns a coordinate system origin to each animal, making the biologging unique among observation platforms. This study reviews biologging as a new tool for understanding the ocean by combining other observation methods, and proposes strategies for applying biologging technology to address various marine issues through relevant policies. Attempts to resolve marine issues using biologging are described, including ocean warming, weather forecasting, marine debris, marine chemical pollution, anthropogenic noise, preservation of marine protected areas, bycatch from fisheries, and anthropogenic disturbance of habitats used by marine top predators. While biologging alone is insufficient to resolve marine issues, it can complement other Lagrangian platforms such as drifting buoys and Eulerian remote sensing, enhancing the predictive accuracy of models, and filling existing gaps in knowledge. The Internet of Animals (IoA), which is a derivative concept of the Internet of Things (IoT), will be a future solution that collects a range of data from inaccessible ocean from animals equipped with devices through a network, making open data access crucial. Conclusively, we present research examples and potential methods involving biologging that will guide the formulation of sustainable ocean management policies. Please e-mail me if you have any questions (iwatatakashi(a)gmail.com <mailto:iwatatakashi@gmail.com>). Kind regards, Takashi Iwata -- Takashi Iwata (Ph.D) Assistant Professor Graduate School of Maritime Sciences, Kobe University 5-1-1 Fukaeminamimachi, Higashinada, Kobe, Hyogo, 658-0022, JAPAN Tel: +81 78 4316323 E-mail1: iwatatakashi(a)gmail.com E-mail2: iwata(a)panda.kobe-u.ac.jp URL:https://iwatatakashi.wixsite.com/tiwata-en URL:http://researchmap.jp/iwatatakashi/?lang=english

1 0

New publication: Validated Environmental DNA Assay for Detection of the Rare Rice's Whale (Balaenoptera ricei).
by Lynsey Wilcox - NOAA Federal 20 Mar '25

20 Mar '25

Dear MARMAM: We are pleased to share our recent publication in *Environmental DNA*: Wilcox Talbot, L.A., Vollmer, N.L., Martinez, A., Dias, L.A., Garrison, L.P. and Rosel, P.E. (2025), Validated Environmental DNA Assay for Detection of the Rare Rice's Whale (*Balaenoptera ricei*). Environmental DNA, 7: e70074. https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.70074 Abstract: The Rice's whale (*Balaenoptera ricei*) is a critically endangered baleen whale species that resides year-round in the Gulf of America (formerly the U.S. Gulf of Mexico). The majority of whale sightings occur where the seafloor varies between 100 and 400 m in depth in a restricted region of the northeastern Gulf of America; however, historical whaling records suggest the species may have inhabited other areas and recent acoustic and visual observation data have detected their presence in the northwestern Gulf of America and southwestern Gulf of Mexico. A better understanding of their distribution and movements could aid in this species' recovery. In recent decades, non-invasive genetic techniques have been developed to detect the presence or absence of species through the use of environmental DNA (eDNA). We developed a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay targeting the mitochondrial DNA control region to detect eDNA shed by Rice's whales. A rigorous validation process was completed to determine the assay's sensitivity and specificity. The final assay detects low copy numbers of the target eDNA, is highly specific to Rice's whale, and was successfully used to detect the whale's presence in “flukeprint” samples ( *n* = 23). In addition, we tested eDNA collection methods such as filter pore size and the ability to detect Rice's whale eDNA at different time intervals after a whale surfaced and were able to detect eDNA as long as 10 min later. We also used eDNA methods to detect Rice's whale DNA obtained from Acousonde tags after being attached to a whale. Taken together, data from these sampling events will help to refine and improve eDNA collection techniques for many marine mammal species. Future research combining the newly developed eDNA assay with traditional survey methods could improve our understanding of the distribution and habitat use of this endangered and rare species. Best, Lynsey Wilcox Talbot Research Geneticist, Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southeast Fisheries Science Center

1 0

New paper: Diagnosing lung health in stranded dolphins
by Andreas Fahlman 20 Mar '25

20 Mar '25

Dear All We wanted to share this new open access publication, which shows how spirometry can be used to predict respiratory/lung health in bottlenose dolphins. If anyone has any questions, or have problems accessing the pdf of the article, please do not hesitate to contact me at the email address below. In addition, lung function testing is now being used in a few stranding networks (and also for animals in human care) to help evaluate respiratory health, and if anyone has an interest in the technology, or would like to know more about the procedure, please do not hesitate to contact me at the email below. Title: Spirometry as a diagnostic tool to assess respiratory health in beached bottlenose dolphins Tursiops spp. Authors: Fahlman, A., Sterba-Boatwright, B., Cauture, F., Sweeney, J., Stone, R. Journal: Diseases of Aquatic Organisms doi: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03843 Abstract: In this study, we used a dataset including 42 individual bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.) to determine the reliability of lung function testing as a method for assessing respiratory health. Each dolphin was trained to beach voluntarily, allowing researchers to measure respiratory flow in a controlled, beached state. From the collected respiratory flow data, alongside timing parameters, we extracted 18 specific variables, supplemented by additional factors such as body mass, age, and sex. These variables were hypothesized to serve as potential variables for identifying respiratory compromise. A model was developed that reduced the number of predictive variables, showing that 4 specific variables were particularly effective, yielding an accuracy of 88.4% in determining whether a dolphin was free from respiratory disease. This high level of accuracy underscores the potential of lung function testing as a diagnostic tool in the context of stranded dolphins, where rapid, non-invasive methods are crucial for assessing health status. These results suggest that lung function testing provides a non-invasive and efficient method for evaluating respiratory health in stranded dolphins and supports the use of lung function assessments in wildlife management and conservation. By enabling early detection of respiratory issues, this approach can enhance the success of rehabilitation efforts, potentially improving the survival rates of dolphins that have stranded, which is often a critical concern in marine conservation initiatives. E-mail for contact: gdrsl16(a)gmail.com<mailto:gdrsl16@gmail.com>

1 0

Call-out to experts re dugong boat strike innovative mitigation strategies (deadline for responses 10th April 2025)
by William Paterson 20 Mar '25

20 Mar '25

Dear MARMAM Community, My name is William Paterson, Senior Marine Megafauna Specialist at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia, working on behalf of our Client (NEOM) and in collaboration with Edith Cowan University (ECU), Australia. We are reaching out to researchers / experts in their fields to seek advice / suggestions on innovative survey and analysis techniques for boat strike mitigation regarding dugongs. This call-out also seeks to learn from researchers similarly working with other marine mammal taxa. We are seeking to understand the 'state of the art' in innovative mitigation options with potential for collaboration on upcoming funded projects. Our study area is in the northeast Red Sea in NEOM. For more details about the project and this call-out, please see the document in this LINK<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dibuQb4QTljhpSXzSHAtmA5yo8OZLOqA/view?usp=…>. We would very much appreciate your input and if you can contribute, please could you do so by 10th April 2025. We look forward to hearing from you either in response to this email or in a personal meeting if you prefer. Please contact both myself (william.paterson(a)kaust.edu.sa<mailto:william.paterson@kaust.edu.sa>) and Amanda Hodgson (a.hodgson(a)ecu.edu.au<mailto:a.hodgson@ecu.edu.au>) with your contributions. Best regards, William Paterson [Image] William David Paterson, PhD Senior Marine Megafauna Specialist KAUST Beacon Development King Abdullah University of Science & Technology M : +966 53 487 4006 Innovation.kaust.edu.sa<https://innovation.kaust.edu.sa/> [signature_1461941630]<https://twitter.com/KAUSTinnovation>[signature_739662762]<https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kaust-innovation-&-economic-development/>[signature_65938910]<https://www.instagram.com/kaustentrepreneurship>[signature_3631462427]<https://www.youtube.com/user/KAUSTInnovation>

1 0

Job Posting - Marine Mammal Biologist / Technical Project Manager
by Engelhaupt, Daniel 20 Mar '25

20 Mar '25

Good Morning, I'd like to post the following job announcement on MARMAM: HDR EOC's Marine Science team is currently in need of a Marine Mammal Biologist / Technical Project Manager to work out of our Virginia Beach, VA office. In this role, you will assist our U.S. Navy client with a wide range of project management, aerial survey, vessel-based fieldwork, reporting, and team support in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of America (Mexico), and Pacific Ocean operating areas as well as assist with expanding our client-base in the Norfolk, VA area. The ideal candidate will have consulting and project management expertise along with an extensive knowledge in Marine Science with specific interests focused on one or more of the following: marine mammal behavior, ecology, abundance, distribution, health assessments using UAS, behavioral responses to stimuli, and/or understanding anthropogenic effects on marine mammals. This position is subject to a governmental background check. In the role of Marine Biologist, we'll count on you to: -Manage multiple projects from conception, planning, budgeting, reporting, and completion -Perform scientific/environmental project assignments requiring application of moderately complex objectives and limited variables -Direct the work of scientists, subcontractors, technical, and clerical personnel -Work independently on medium-size projects, or assist more-senior scientists on larger projects -Conduct biological field surveys, data interpretation and analysis, and plan and manage written environmental reports -Conduct assessments to determine potential impacts from military or energy activities -Work on assignments that require dealing with diverse working conditions while in the field as needed -Assist with offshore small twin-engine aerial surveys for large whales -Assist with small and large vessels surveys which may require overnight multi-day trips -Assist with or lead deploying offshore passive acoustic monitoring gear -Assist with or lead the analysis of acoustic data collected from whale suction-cup tags, behavioral studies or controlled exposure experiments -Assist with photo-identification studies -Assist with or lead biopsy sampling of free-ranging dolphins or whales -Work on projects requiring scuba diving if certified or supporting scuba diving operations if not certified -Publish scientific and technical reports -Assist with other field work as needed -Potentially assist other HDR clients with project management and team support roles -Have excellent time management skills -Have a strong work-ethic with demonstrated history of reliability and team-oriented performance -Travel up to 25% throughout the United States -Perform other duties as needed Preferred Qualifications -Masters or Ph.D. in Marine Biology or a related field with a minimum of 3 years of relevant marine mammal-related experience, managing scientific research projects focused on marine mammal biology, ecology, or behavior in a consulting, federal government, or university-related research capacity -Alternatively, we will consider someone with a Bachelor's degree in Marine Biology with a minimum of 5 years relevant marine mammal-focused experience, managing scientific research projects focused on marine mammal biology, ecology, or behavior in a consulting, federal government, or university-related research capacity -Due to client contract requirements US Citizenship is required. -Ability to obtain a Common Access Card (CAC) upon hire -Ability to obtain clearance at the Secret level -Have a current or obtain a security clearance at the secret level. Please research the clearance requirements before applying -Highly proficient in writing procedures, guide, and/or studies -Knowledge of U.S. Navy training, oil and gas development, construction noise monitoring, or offshore renewable energy activities -Experience with manned aerial systems and FAA Part 107 certification a plus but not required to apply -Scuba diving experience - scientific or extensive open-water experience but not required to apply -MATLAB and/or R Studio programming experience -Local candidates or candidates willing to relocate preferred Required Qualifications -Bachelor's degree in Biology or closely related field -A minimum of 5 years experience managing biological/environmental projects -Leadership skills and ability to work in a team environment -Proficiency with Microsoft Office -Strong oral and written communication skills -An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must What We Believe HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve. Our Commitment As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day. Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees. Primary Location: United States, Virginia, Virginia Beach Industry: Federal Schedule: Full-time Employee Status: Regular BusinessClass: Marine Planning and Sciences Salary range: $65,000-$100,000 (commensurate with experience) Job Posting: Mar 19, 2025 To apply please visit: https://hdr.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=184319 Dan Engelhaupt, Ph.D. Program Manager

1 0

New publication: High-frequency vessel noise can mask porpoise echolocation
by Line Hermannsen 20 Mar '25

20 Mar '25

Dear all, We are pleased to announce the publication of our new paper “High-frequency vessel noise can mask porpoise echolocation” in the Journal of Experimental Biology. In this paper, we investigated the echolocation performance of two harbor porpoises tasked with discriminating between two targets, while exposed to noise resembling high-frequency vessel noise. We show that moderate levels of high-frequency noise can mask porpoise echolocation resulting in a significant decrease in echolocation performance (success rate dropped from 94-100% to 64-85%), despite porpoises trying to compensate by using more clicks, increasing their click source levels, and spending longer time on a task. We highlight that auditory masking effects should be considered in impact assessments of cavitating vessels around echolocating toothed whales. The paper can be accessed at the following link: https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.249963 Abstract Ultrasonic cavitation noise from fast vessels overlaps spectrally with echolocation clicks of toothed whales and therefore has the potential to degrade echolocation performance through auditory masking of returning echoes. Here, we tested that hypothesis by exposing two trained echolocating porpoises carrying DTAGs to two different levels of decidecade noise centered on 2 kHz (non-masking) and 125 kHz (masking) during an active target discrimination task. We found no click level adjustments or effects on discrimination performance in trials with non-masking noise or low-level masking noise. However, when exposed to high-level masking noise of 113±3 dB re. 1 µPa root mean square (RMS), the porpoises increased their mean click source levels by 7–17 dB. Despite this Lombard response of 0.2–0.5 dBsignal/dBnoise, and longer time and more clicks used by the porpoises to perform the task in noise, both animals were still significantly poorer at discriminating the targets (64–85% success rate) than in the other treatments (94–100%), thus demonstrating adverse masking effects. When the porpoises were offered spatial release from masking by relocating the noise source off-axis relative to the animal-to-target axis, echolocation performance was regained. We conclude that moderate levels of high-frequency noise, such as from cavitating vessel propellers several hundred meters from a vessel, can mask porpoise echolocation in a way that cannot be fully compensated for. As biosonar is vital for foraging and navigation around hazards such as gillnets for porpoises and other toothed whales, this study highlights that masking effects should be considered in impact assessments of cavitating vessels around echolocating toothed whales. Best regards, On behalf of all co-authors, Line Line Hermannsen, PhD Postdoctoral Researcher Section for Coastal Ecology DTU Aqua, National Institute of Aquatic Resources Øroddevej 80, Nykøbing Mors, Denmark lher(a)aqua.dtu.dk<mailto:lher@aqua.dtu.dk> / Tel: +45 20 70 52 77

1 0

JNCC MMO Training
by Stephanie Barnicoat 19 Mar '25

19 Mar '25

Hello Ocean Watch will be delivering the JNCC accredited Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) training course on 27-28th February 09:00-17:00. The course will be delivered in Mevagissey, Cornwall. The course will include one and a half days of classroom learning about marine mammals, underwater acoustics, impacts of underwater noise, marine mammal mitigation and working as an MMO. Delegates will then put the skills to practice on a vessel launching from Mevagissey harbour on the afternoon of day 2. More information on the course can be found here: https://www.oceanwatchmmotraining.co.uk/mmo-training-course <https://www.oceanwatchmmotraining.co.uk/mmo-training-course?fbclid=IwZXh0bg…> Any questions, or if you wish to book, please email steph(a)oceanwatchmmotraining.co.uk Stephanie Barnicoat BSc (Hons), MSc, CMarSci/CSci IMarEST JNCC Accredited MMO Trainer Ocean Watch | Marine mammal observer (oceanwatchmmotraining.co.uk) <https://www.oceanwatchmmotraining.co.uk/>

1 1

New Publication: If These Walls Could Talk: Investigating Bottlenose Dolphin Occupancy and Range in Fiord Ecosystems Using Passive Acoustic Monitoring and Visual Surveys
by Leah Crowe 18 Mar '25

18 Mar '25

Kia ora MARMAM colleagues, On behalf of my coauthors, I am excited to share with you our latest publication: Crowe, L.M., Corne, C., Dawson, S.M., Pine, M., Rayment, W.J., Schofield, M.R. and Stanley, J.A. (2025), If These Walls Could Talk: Investigating Bottlenose Dolphin Occupancy and Range in Fiord Ecosystems Using Passive Acoustic Monitoring and Visual Surveys. Aquatic Conserv: Mar Freshw Ecosyst, 35: e70084. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70084 ABSTRACT Effective management of protected species requires a comprehensive understanding of their ecology. Within the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Area (FMA) in south-western Aotearoa/New Zealand, two of the four recognised bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) subpopulations are considered resident to discrete fiord systems. Opportunistic sightings outside the Patea/Doubtful and Tamatea/Dusky Sound complexes, however, indicate these subpopulations occupy a larger space than is currently recognised. To investigate bottlenose dolphin use of remote spaces in the FMA, passive acoustic monitoring equipment was deployed in six of the southern fiords. Acoustic data were collected between February 2022 and November 2023 using two types of devices: F-PODs to detect click trains of odontocetes and SoundTraps to collect recordings to explore a variety of call types. We used automated classifiers/detectors and manual browsing to detect various vocalisation types. To better understand dolphin occupancy at each acoustic monitoring site, we constructed a hierarchical Bayesian model to estimate detection prob-abilities of the different data collection and signal detection approaches. Photo-identification was used to identify individual dolphins in remote areas, and differences in detection between visual and acoustic methods were explored. This study demonstrates that dolphins, including two resident subpopulations of Fiordland bottlenose dolphins, regularly use fiords that are not currently considered part of their habitat range and may often use spaces outside the FMA. This increased understanding of the spatial ecology of Fiordland bottlenose dolphins underscores the need for a re- evaluation of their habitat and potential threats throughout this region. This article was published open access and is available at this link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aqc.70084 Please get in touch with any questions! Leah Leah M. Crowe (she/her) PhD Candidate Te Tari Pūtaiao Taimoana-Department of Marine Science Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka-University of Otago Ōtepoti-Dunedin 9054, Aotearoa-New Zealand

1 0

New paper: Automated extraction of right whale morphometric data from drone aerial photographs
by Fredrik Christiansen 18 Mar '25

18 Mar '25

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are happy to announce the publication of the following paper in Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation: Bagchi, C., Medina, J., Irschick, D.J., Maji, S. and Christiansen, F. (2025), Automated extraction of right whale morphometric data from drone aerial photographs. Remote Sens Ecol Conserv. https://doi.org/10.1002/rse2.70001 Abstract Aerial photogrammetry is a popular non-invasive tool to measure the size, body morphometrics and body condition of wild animals. While the method can generate large datasets quickly, the lack of efficient processing tools can create bottlenecks that delay management actions. We developed a machine learning algorithm to automatically measure body morphometrics (body length and widths) of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis, SRWs) from aerial photographs (n = 8,958) collected by unmanned aerial vehicles in Australia. Our approach utilizes two Mask R-CNN detection models to: (i) generate masks for each whale and (ii) estimate points along the whale’s axis. We annotated a dataset of 468 images containing 638 whales to train our models. To evaluate the accuracy of our machine learning approach, we compared the model-generated body morphometrics to manual measurements. The influence of picture quality (whale posture and water clarity) was also assessed. The model-generated body length estimates were slightly negatively biased (median error of -1.3%), whereas the body volume estimates had a small (median error of 6.5%) positive bias. After correcting both biases, the resulting model-generated body length and volume estimates had mean absolute errors of 0.85% (SD = 0.75) and 6.88% (SD = 6.57), respectively. The magnitude of the errors decreased as picture quality increased. When using the model-generated data to quantify intra-seasonal changes in body condition of SRW females, we obtained a similar slope parameter (-0.001843, SE = 0.000095) as derived from manual measurements (-0.001565, SE = 0.000079). This indicates that our approach was able to accurately capture temporal trends in body condition at a population level. The paper is Open Access and can be accessed from the following link: https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/rse2.70001 For questions, please contact the lead author Chhandak Bagchi (cbagchi(a)umass.edu<mailto:cbagchi@umass.edu>). Best regards, Fredrik Christiansen Senior Researcher Marine Mammal Research Department of Ecoscience Aarhus University, Denmark

1 0