April 2025 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New publication: Cetaceans and vessels overlap assessment within a migration corridor using passive acoustic monitoring
by Braulio Leon Lopez 29 Apr '25

29 Apr '25

Dear colleagues, On behalf of my coauthors, I am pleased to share our recent publication in the journal Regional Studies in Marine Science: Cruz-Villagan, H., Leon-Lopez, B., Paniagua-Mendoza, A. & Romero-Vivas, E. (2025). Cetaceans and vessels overlap assessment within a migration corridor using passive acoustic monitoring.* Regional Studies in Marine Science*, 104203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104203 Abstract Migratory cetaceans travel from feeding grounds in summer to mating and calving grounds in winter, and consequently, significant efforts are made to protect those grounds. However, areas along the migration corridors also play a significant role in cetacean ecology since many important activities occur in between those grounds. The increase of anthropogenic pressure in those intermediate areas creates the need to assess cetacean habitat use and overlap with human activities. The Cerralvo Channel in the Gulf of California, Mexico is a clear example of such areas. In this study, bimonthly passive acoustic monitoring during the cold season (November 2022 -May 2023) provided information on the presence, diel-pattern and vessel and cetacean overlap in the area. Migratory blue whales, fin whales, Bryde’s whales, sperm whales and dolphins (Delphinidae) were detected. Based on the type of calls it was found that besides transit, blue whales might also use the area for breeding and feeding. For the other species, important activities such as feeding, socializing and probably breeding also take place in the channel. Out of 200 h recordings, vessels were detected during 91 h, cetaceans during 80 h, and both overlapped during 30 h. Although vessels were detected for 45.5 % of the time of all recordings, the overlap time was relatively low (15 %). However, given the increase in tourist activities in the area, continuous monitoring is recommended to identify potential threats to cetaceans. You can access the full publication until 16th June 2025: https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1k-xj_rVKIPzlY <https://kwnsfk27.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F%2Fauthors.elsevier.co…> Best regards, -- *Braulio León-López, Ph.D.* *Postdoctoral Researcher, SECIHTI Fellowship* Acoustics and Signal Processing Research Group & Natural History Museum Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR. S. C.) <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campai…> Virus-free.www.avast.com <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campai…> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> -- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- _La información de este correo, así como sus documentos adjuntos, puede ser objeto de solicitudes de acceso a la información, y _ *cualquier archivo adjunto al mismo pueden contener información que podría considerarse confidencial y/o reservada. Si ha recibido el mensaje por error, por favor notifique al remitente contestando el correo, y destruyendo el mensaje original y sus anexos.*

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VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED in Sep/Oct 2025 for a humpback whale Behavioural Response Study in Australia
by Kelsey Stone 29 Apr '25

29 Apr '25

VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED FOR A BEHAVIOURAL RESPONSE STUDY ON HUMPBACK WHALES IN AUSTRALIA from 11 September to 16 October, 2025 The Cetacean Ecology Group (CEG) at the University of Queensland is seeking volunteers to participate in fieldwork from 11 Sep.-16 Oct. at Peregian Beach on Australia’s Sunshine Coast. Building on a series of successful behavioural response studies (BRS) at Peregian Beach, this field study will assess how humpback whales respond to various acoustic deterrent signals to inform more effective entanglement mitigation strategies. Each year, approximately 5,000 humpback whales pass within 10 km of the study site during the peak southbound migration (September/October), making a local coastal vantage point, Emu Mtn, an ideal location for observing whale behaviour. During acoustic playback experiments, teams of volunteers atop Emu Mountain will use binoculars, a theodolite, and tracking software to record whale behaviour and movement patterns before and during sound exposure. Volunteers should expect their roles to be primarily land-based; opportunities for volunteers to collect data on the ‘source vessel’ may sometimes occur, but boat time cannot be guaranteed. In addition to assisting with data collection and processing, volunteers will be expected to contribute to communal living tasks like cooking, shopping, cleaning, and other shared duties. The team will include up to 15 or more people (researchers, staff, and volunteers) living and working together in close proximity, so it is vital that all participants be sociable, responsible, respectful, and team-orientated. Positions are unpaid, but room and board at Peregian Beach will be provided. Accommodation will be in shared rooms (double occupancy), and meals will be communal (dietary restrictions can be accommodated). The field housing is modern, comfortable, and within walking distance of both the beach and local cafés/shops. Peregian Beach is part of Australia’s famously beautiful Sunshine Coast, and volunteers often use downtime between shifts or during periods of unsuitable survey conditions to surf, hike, or explore popular destinations such as Noosa National Park and Australia Zoo. This project is best suited to individuals with a background in science, including recent graduates, graduate students, or advanced undergraduates, who are keen to gain experience in cetacean survey techniques, bioacoustics, and behavioural research. Applicants should be highly motivated, enthusiastic, and capable of maintaining focus for extended periods. Prior experience with marine mammal or wildlife surveys is desirable but not required. *Please note: this project involves working long, consecutive days outdoors in a range of weather conditions (including rain, wind, and heat). Volunteers will also be required to carry the survey equipment to and from the observation site daily. While the hike up Emu Mtn is short (~10 min), the terrain is uneven, and some gear is heavy and/or fragile. A high standard of safety will be maintained throughout the project, and volunteers will receive comprehensive training related to equipment use, data collection protocols, and safety procedures at the start of the season. As such, only applicants available for the full 5 weeks of fieldwork will be considered. Volunteers must arrive at Peregian Beach on 11 September and will be responsible for arranging and funding their transport to the study site (approximately 1.5 hours from Brisbane Airport or 30 minutes from Sunshine Coast Airport). International volunteers are welcome but will need to organise their own visas, travel insurance, and any other requirements for entry into Australia. This field study forms a vital component of CEG PhD candidate Kelsey Stone’s research, which aims to develop a reliable acoustic deterrent signal to reduce baleen whale entanglements and is made possible through funding from the Sea World Foundation’s Marine Megafauna Research Grants Program (Gold Coast, Australia) and the Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries Queensland). TO APPLY: Please email Kelsey Stone (kelsey.stone(a)uq.edu.au) Liam Johnson (l.e.johnson(a)uq.edu.au) and Rebecca Dunlop (r.dunlop(a)uq.edu.au) your resume/CV, contact information for two references, and a brief statement of interest that addresses: *your relevant experience, *why you are suited to this work, and *why you would like to participate. The application deadline is 30 May, and successful applicants will be notified in mid-June. A downloadable PDF of this call for volunteers can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1am6XR2dQC57BWqT0rJD0VV0g9blJ4yBm/view?usp=… Learn more about the past and present research by the Dunlop and Noad labs at UQ by visiting the CEG social media pages: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CetaceanEcologyGroup/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cetaceanecologygroup_uq/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/CEG_UQ Cheers, Kelsey Kelsey Stone PhD Candidate, Cetacean Ecology Group School of the Environment The University of Queensland Email: kelsey.stone(a)uq.edu.au

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Vacancy: Postdoc position in passive acoustic monitoring of marine mammals around offshore wind
by Benjamin Williamson - ERI 27 Apr '25

27 Apr '25

Dear colleagues, We are recruiting for a Research Associate in passive acoustic monitoring of marine mammals around offshore and marine energy, as part of a wider multidisciplinary recruitment campaign including 3 additional posts. * Research Associate in Passive Acoustic Monitoring * Research Associate in Active Acoustic Monitoring * Research Associate in Marine Sensing * Research Associate in Algorithm Development and Data Science A Job Description PDF with more details and a recruitment pack is linked at the bottom of each vacancy page here: https://www.nwh.uhi.ac.uk/en/staff/vacancies/ To learn more about the research projects, please see here: https://uhi.ac.uk/energy Please could you also help share this on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7320796637516226561 https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4215376253 Thank you. Best wishes, Benjamin Williamson University of the Highlands and Islands, UK Benjamin.Williamson(a)uhi.ac.uk UHI North, West and Hebrides is a trading name of The Board of Management of UHI North, West and Hebrides which is a registered charity, number SC021215. The contents of this message are intended for the addressee only and may contain the personal views of the sender which do not necessarily reflect the views of UHI North, West and Hebrides. The College does not accept liability for the personal views of its staff. Please note that all email traffic is monitored for the purposes of security and spam filtering, and as such, individual emails may be examined in detail to ensure that emails are compliant with Policy. However, no liability is accepted for viruses, and it is your responsibility to scan any attachments to emails.

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New publication: Behavior of the gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) during its wintering season in a lagoon of Baja California peninsula
by Tatiana Acosta Pachon 25 Apr '25

25 Apr '25

Dear MARMAM colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to share our new publication in Journal for Nature Conservation, Vol. 86: Fabiola D. Molina-Carrasco, Alfredo Ortega-Rubio, Tatiana A. Acosta-Pachón, Noé López-Paz, Everardo Mariano-Meléndez, Celerino Montes-García, Raúl O. Martínez-Rincón Behavior of the gray whale (*Eschrichtius robustus*) during its wintering season in a lagoon of Baja California peninsula Ojo de Liebre Lagoon is a critical wintering site for the North Pacific gray whale (*Eschrichtius robustus*), hosting over 2,000 individuals per season. The species’ recovery has been attributed to conservation efforts along its migratory route, particularly in their wintering areas. However, the simultaneous exploitation of marine resources raises concerns about potential impacts on whale behavior. This study aims to characterize gray whale behavior within the lagoon, with a focus on anthropogenic activities such as tourism and resource extraction. Surveys were conducted from boats to document whale behavior, spatial distribution, and the intensity of human activities across different lagoon zones. The results indicate that whales exhibit a broader range of behaviors in areas with greater bathymetric depth, even in the presence of human activities. However, in highly touristic areas, gray whales primarily engage in transit, resting, and breaching behaviors. Additionally, the findings suggest that friendly behavior (i.e., vessel approach) increases with the number of vessels. These insights are crucial for informing management strategies aimed at balancing species conservation with sustainable resource use. You can find de paper here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1617138125001190 Or you can write to: tatyacosta(a)gmail.com If you have any questions about our work, please reach out. Cheers, Tatiana. *---* *Dra. Tatiana A. Acosta Pachón* tatyacosta(a)gmail.com Profesora - Investigadora Departamento Académico de Ciencias Marinas y Costeras Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur Baja California Sur, Mexico Tel: +52 612 1238800 Ext. 4140

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NEW Glacier Bay, Alaska humpback whale monitoring report available
by Neilson, Janet L 24 Apr '25

24 Apr '25

The following report summarizing humpback whale monitoring results from 2024 is now available: Neilson, J.L., C.M. Gabriele, and H.K. Hoffbauer. 2025. Glacier Bay & Icy Strait Humpback Whale Population Monitoring: 2024 Update. National Park Service Resource Brief, Gustavus, Alaska. https://www.nps.gov/glba/learn/nature/upload/Neilson_etal_2024_Humpback_Wha… [7.8 MB, 10 pages] KEY FINDINGS FROM 2024: * Whale abundance in Glacier Bay-Icy Strait increased after a four-year period (2020-2023) in which abundance had remained relatively flat, however numbers remain ~30% lower than before the 2014- 2016 NE Pacific marine heatwave. * We documented a “baby boom” with a record-high number of mother/calf pairs (n = 24). This year’s crude birth rate (12.8%) was one of the highest on record; not only reaching, but exceeding, the pre-marine heatwave mean (9.2%). * Several of this year’s mothers had unusually long calving intervals (9-11 years) and seven females had their first known calves at ages much older than the average for this population. These delays are likely attributable to the NE Pacific marine heatwave and its aftermath. * For the second year in a row, we received several reports of killer whales “attacking” or “harassing” humpback whales and in June a humpback calf acquired injuries consistent with a killer whale predation attempt, which is extremely rare in Southeast Alaska. * An unusually high number of whale-vessel collisions were reported in Icy Strait. In addition, two humpback whales were found dead: * 1) an unidentified juvenile male near Elfin Cove had injuries consistent with a vessel collision and 2) 23-year-old pregnant female #1731 had injuries suggestive of blunt force trauma but her cause of death could not be confirmed. -- Janet Neilson Humpback Whale Monitoring Program Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve PO Box 140 Gustavus, AK 99826 907-697-2658 Xunaa Káawu Aaní áwé yéi xat yatee ka ax’ yéi jixané I live and work in Huna Łingít Homeland.

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Vacancies at the International Whaling Commission (IWC)
by Iain Staniland 24 Apr '25

24 Apr '25

NEW VACANCIES AT THE IWC SECRETARIAT Three diverse and exciting employment opportunities have arisen at the IWC, each focusing on a different aspect of cetacean science and conservation: https://iwc.int/vacancies With 88 member governments, the work of the IWC is on a global scale and involves multi-disciplinary collaboration with a wide range of other international and regional organisations. All three posts are based in Cambridge, UK, a historic and world-renowned university city, now also firmly established as a hub for environment-related organisations and research. The IWC is a diplomatic mission and, as such, the successful candidates will be assisted in obtaining visas to work in the UK if necessary. All three posts are advertised as full-time (37.5 hours per week) fixed-term contract roles, expiring 31 Dec 2026, with a possibility of extension subject to confirmation from the Commission. CETACEAN BYCATCH MITIGATION COORDINATOR The IWC is seeking a Bycatch Coordinator to coordinate and implement the programme of work for the Bycatch Mitigation Initiative (BMI). The Coordinator will provide advice to the Commission, exchange information and liaise with other inter-governmental organisations, and support governments in addressing the complex issues and challenges relating to bycatch and its mitigation. Apply or read more: https://iwc.int/bycatch-coordinator-job-description-and-person.download MODELLING AND STATISTICS OFFICER A Modelling and Statistics Officer is sought to support the Lead for Modelling and Statistics with programming, compilation, management, visualisations and analysis of input data. This role involves collaboration with external researchers and organisations, as well as across the Secretariat's Science, Conservation and Management team and other Secretariat staff. Apply or read more: https://iwc.int/stats-officer-job-description-March-2025.download VESSEL STRIKES AND STRANDINGS DATA MANAGER The role of the Vessel Strikes and Strandings Data Manager is to contribute to development of a coherent approach to reporting, databases and data management across the IWC and its work programmes, enhancing both the useability of IWC data holdings and sharing of this data with other organisations. Apply or read more: https://iwc.int/Vessel-Strikes-and-Strandings-Data-Manager-JD-and-PS-2025-v… Regards Iain Staniland Head of Science Conservation and Management IWC This e-mail and any files transmitted with it may contain confidential or legally privileged information and is intended only for the use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the named addressee you should delete the email and notify the sender immediately. E-mails are not secure and cannot be guaranteed to be error free as they can be intercepted, amended, or contain viruses. Any opinion and other statement contained in this message and any attachment are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the International Whaling Commission.

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New JRC reports on vessel strikes and stranding networks
by Morgana Vighi 24 Apr '25

24 Apr '25

Dear MARMAM community, on behalf of my colleagues at the European Commission Joint Research Center, I am pleased to share with you our two recently published reports, freely accessible at the links provided: Vessel strikes as a pressure to marine biodiversity ABSTRACT: Marine mammals and other marine megafauna are subject to a variety of impacts related with human activities. Among those, the collisions with vessels (generally known as ship strikes, or vessel strikes) are a significant source of death and severe injuries for large cetacean species, such as fin whales or sperm whales, especially in areas that are subject to intense maritime traffic, such as the Mediterranean Sea. Other large marine vertebrates, such as sea turtles or whale sharks, are also affected by this issue, but limited information is available on the incidence of vessel strikes on species other than cetaceans. Within the EU waters, stranding networks are actively collecting information on the causes of death of cetaceans, seals, and sea turtles that strand along the coastlines, while a number of research projects, NGOs and research institutions that monitor live megafauna in the open sea to assess their abundance and distribution also collect information on the concurrent incidence of threats, such as those related to maritime traffic. This report addresses the issue of vessel strikes as a pressure to marine biodiversity, including information on monitoring, impacts, and potential mitigation measures, through a review of the scientific literature and reports produced within the international agreements in place to deal with marine mammal research and conservation, as well as by directly addressing the institutions dealing with strandings and live megafauna monitoring through a dedicated questionnaire on this issue. https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC141996 Monitoring of strandings in European waters: state of play ABSTRACT: Marine mammals and other marine megafauna are subject to a variety of impacts related with human activities. Within the EU waters, stranding networks are actively collecting information on the causes of death of cetaceans, seals, and sea turtles that strand along the coastlines. However, despite the effort made by international agreements to coordinate stranding networks within the European basins and standardise their operational procedures, large differences still exist among European stranding networks. This report addresses this issue with the aim to identify the level of structuring, operational approaches, data collection standards and data pathways, across these networks, through a review of the scientific literature and reports produced within the international agreements in place to deal with marine mammal research and conservation, as well as by directly addressing the institutions dealing with strandings through an online survey. The survey was designed to assess to which extent data are collected, how (i.e., use of dedicated protocols), and where they are stored (i.e., use of common repositories), with a specific focus on the assessment of three major anthropic impacts (marine litter ingestion, vessel strikes and fisheries interactions), to identify the major gaps and needs for improvement in data collection and reporting at EU level. Strandings report: https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC141997 Hoping these find your interest, please feel free to share among your colleagues and do not hesitate to contact me for further information. Sincerely, Morgana -- Morgana Vighi, PhD +34 633656763 +39 3273244117 skype: morgana.vighi

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New Publication: Report of an extra-limit pregnant subantarctic fur seal
by Renan Lima 24 Apr '25

24 Apr '25

Dear MARMAM community, I’m pleased to share our new publication in Polar Biology, a brief report on the occurrence of a pregnant subantarctic fur seal (*Arctocephalus tropicalis*) recorded in Brazil, approximately 3,800 km from the species' nearest breeding colony. *de Lima, R.C., de Oliveira, L.R., Drehmer, C.J., Botta, S.* *Longest known foraging journey of a pregnant subantarctic fur seal* https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-025-03383-9 Please feel free to reach out if you’re interested but are unable to access the article through the link. Best regards, Renan -- *Renan C. de Lima, PhD* Postdoctoral fellow Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha - EcoMega Instituto de Oceanografia Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG) *Phone*: +55(53)99718994 | *e-mail*: renancdl(a)gmail.com *RG:* www.researchgate.net/profile/Renan-Lima-2 *ORCID*: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9311-7085

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Short course in statistical modeling this June
by Stacy DeRuiter 24 Apr '25

24 Apr '25

Want to build your stats skills with regression models in R? Join us at Calvin University June 16-18 for a three-day workshop on applied regression modeling using R! Topics will include generalized linear models and touch on mixed-effect models and generalized additive models. Organizers Stacy DeRuiter and Leslie New are both applied statisticians and longtime researchers in marine mammal science, and we are happy to share example publications illustrating how these course materials might be relevant in our field (on request). Workshop is open to grad students, researchers, educators, and professionals with interest in expanding their skills with applied regression. We hope to have participants from a wide range of disciplines and would love to have some fellow marmamers in the mix too. Learn more and register online (https://calvin-regression-workshop-2025.netlify.app/) to reserve your spot! *** This workshop is made possible by the Vos Endowment for Excellence in Mathematics and Statistics of Calvin University. Questions? Contact stacy.deruiter(a)calvin.edu<mailto::stacy.deruiter@calvin.edu>.

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New Publication: Balance between stability and variability in bottlenose dolphin signature whistles offers potential for additional information (Ekaterina Ovsyanikova)
by Katya Ovsyanikova 24 Apr '25

24 Apr '25

Dear MARMAM Community, My co-authors and I are happy to announce our recent open-access publication in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. In this paper, we analyse the stability and variability of signature whistles of wild free-swimming Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (*Tursiops aduncus*). Please see the details and abstract below. The publication is available here: https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0036433 Ekaterina Ovsyanikova, Barry McGovern, Elizabeth Hawkins, Léonie Huijser, Rebecca Dunlop, Michael Noad; Balance between stability and variability in bottlenose dolphin signature whistles offers potential for additional information. *J. Acoust. Soc. Am.* 1 April 2025; 157 (4): 2982–2993. https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0036433 Abstract: Bottlenose dolphins produce individually distinctive signature whistles (SWs) to broadcast identity. Stability of the SW frequency contour is essential to preserve identity information; however, SWs could carry additional information which requires variability. We used acoustic recordings from provisioned free-swimming Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins at Moreton Island (Mulgumpin), Australia, collected in 2002 and 2017–2018, to assess the long-term (15-year) stability in SWs, and if variability of acoustic parameters increases with whistle complexity. Stability was assessed by analyzing basic contour parameters (minimum and maximum frequency, duration, etc.) and visually. We quantified SW variability using two developed variability metrics. Complexity was defined using four developed metrics, and its effect on variability was tested. Our results demonstrated that SW contours remain highly stable over time, but minimum frequency decreased by 8.8%. SWs also showed different degrees of variability between individuals. Variability appeared to be higher in males than in females, possibly indicating differences in SW use in different social contexts. Furthermore, SWs with a greater level of frequency modulation varied more than less modulated whistles. We propose that SWs possess sufficient variation in their frequency contour to contain additional information, possibly related to social and behavioral context, while still maintaining their identity function. Kind regards, Ekaterina Ovsyanikova *Dr Ekaterina (Katya) Ovsyanikova * (she/her) MSc, PhD Casual Academic School of the Environment The University of Queensland Brisbane Qld 4072 Australia *T* +61 7 334 64557* E *e.ovsyanikova(a)uq.edu.au * UQ* *Mental Health* *Champion* – *Supporting the mental health of the UQ community**.* * U**Q* *A**L**L**Y *Supporting the diversity of sexuality and gender identity at UQ. *UQ DIAN **— **Advocating for disability inclusion at UQ* *I acknowledge the Turrbal and Yaggera people, Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which I live and work, and pay my respects to Elders, past, present and emerging.*

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