June 2025 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Workshop and special issue on ML/AI in Marine Mammal Research
by Christine Erbe 26 Aug '25

26 Aug '25

Dear Colleagues, We would like to let you know about a workshop on “Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Marine Mammal Research” to be held Sunday, Nov 10, at the SMM conference in Perth, Western Australia: Workshops - SMM Conference | | | | | | | | | | | Workshops - SMM Conference SMM2024 workshops are half day, full day, or two day events that are proposed and organised by individual resear... | | | The workshop will accommodate both in-person and virtual/online attendance. Online attendance is free of charge. If you wish you join online, please register your name and email address with Guy: oliver(a)ucsc.edu The workshop will cover ML/AI methods in marine mammal bioacoustics, photogrammetry, behaviour analysis, distribution modeling, and ethics. We are also running a special issue on the topic in a peer-reviewed journal (we’re still negotiating with potential publishers, but will let you know in due course). The special issue will take manuscripts focussing on methods or results. If you are interested in finding out how to contribute to this special issue, please contact Christine: c.erbe(a)curtin.edu.au Have a nice day, everyone. Cheers, Christine Erbe Guy Oliver Shyam Madhusudhana Paul Nguyen Hong Duc Aiden Lundberg

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Photo-identification Volunteer Position in Kaikōura, New Zealand, 3 month period
by Krista Van Der Linde 19 Aug '25

19 Aug '25

Sperm Whale Photo-identification Volunteer Position in Kaikōura, New Zealand for three-month period A volunteer is required to assist with sperm whale photo-identification research in Kaikōura, New Zealand. DATES: Currently volunteers are needed from 20th April – 31st October 2025. A minimum commitment of three months is required, and priority will be given to those who can commit for longer periods. FIELDWORK: The volunteer position involves conducting field surveys for marine mammals, primarily focussing on sperm whales and collecting photo-identification. The successful applicant will gain valuable experience in conducting marine mammal field research, identifying individuals based on fluke characteristics, and the use of databases for archiving field data. Field work is physically and at times mentally demanding, but it is a great opportunity to gain knowledge in visual cetacean surveying, to get hands-on field experience in relation to survey techniques, photo-identification, behavioural observations, and improve practical skills (data analysis, photo-identification). Fieldwork is weather dependent and can vary between weekdays and weekends. Surveys will be conducted from a 24 m tourism vessel. RESPONSIBILITIES: . Assisting with boat-based photo-identification surveys from a tourism vessel collecting environmental, location, and behavioural data. . Subsequent data entry and archiving of photo-identification information. As this is a volunteer position, there is unfortunately no monetary compensation or living provisions provided. The successful candidate should arrange their own accommodation in Kaikōura, living expenses, travel costs and visa. PREREQUISITES: . Be reliable, adaptable, hardworking, and patient as fieldwork is highly weather dependent. This means time off during bad weather and long consecutive days in the field when weather permits. . Have a mature and independent attitude towards marine mammal research . Be able to work independently . Speak fluent English . Be sociable, enthusiastic and have a positive attitude . Strong interest in the marine environment and conservation . Participants should be comfortable working on boats QUALIFICATIONS: . The project is well suited to upper-level undergrads, recent graduates and graduate students who have some background in biology, marine biology, ecology, zoology, or related fields . Basic computer proficiency in MS Office Preferred qualifications but not required: . Field research including photo-identification experience . Previous experience in survey techniques and especially in marine mammal research . Prior experience working on research vessels APPLICATION PROCESS: Applicants should send a short email to krista(a)whalewatch.co.nz, using ‘photo-identification position’ as the subject line. The email should include an outline of why you would like to work on this project, the dates when you are available to assist on the project, your qualifications and relevant experience. Please also attach a brief CV including at least one reference acknowledging your relevant experience. Early application is recommended as applications will be examined in order of reception. Best, Krista ---------------------------------- Dr. Krista van der Linde Principle Marine Mammal Scientist Whale Watch Kaikōura Tel: +64 (0)220 256 290 Email: krista(a)whalewatch.co.nz<mailto:krista@whalewatch.co.nz> Krista Van Der Linde | Whale Watch Kaikōura, PO Box 89, Kaikōura | www.whalewatch.co.nz <http://www.whalewatch.co.nz/> [Image] <https://www.whalewatch.co.nz/> [cid:image001.jpg@01DBA55F.A374D260] <https://www.kaikoura.co.nz/> [cid:image002.jpg@01DBA55F.A374D260] <https://www.alpinepacific.nz/> Kaikōura - An Earthcheck Platinum Certified Community – www.kaikoura.co.nz<http://www.kaikoura.co.nz/> Whakaarohia a Papatūānuku i mua i te tānga mai o tēnei ī-mera. Please consider the environment before printing this email. CAUTION: If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you must not use, disseminate, distribute or copy this email message or its attachments. If you received this message in error, please return the original message to the writer by email and destroy any copies.

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MARMAM] New publication: Anisakid nematodes in Black Sea harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena ssp. relicta) from the Turkish Western Black Sea: with notes about association with body length and stomach content
by Erdem Danyer 30 Jun '25

30 Jun '25

Dear MARMAM colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to share our new publication: Danyer, E., Aytemiz Danyer, I., Tonay, A. M., Dede, A., & Akkaya, H. (2025). Anisakid nematodes in Black Sea harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena ssp . relicta) from the Turkish Western Black Sea : with notes about association with body length and stomach content. Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, 49(2), 85–93. https://doi.org/10.55730/1300-0128.4374 Abstract: Parasites are naturally present in the natural gastrointestinal fauna of marine mammals without necessarily causing any pathology. However, under various stress conditions, parasites can cause pathological disorders in the gastrointestinal system. There is insufficient information on parasite fauna of mammals living in the Black Sea waters off the Turkish coast. This study examined the stomach contents of bycaught and stranded harbour porpoises collected between 2002 and 2003 along the Turkish coast of the western Black Sea for parasitic presence. In a previous stomach content study, 450 nematode fragments (including 232 intact specimens) were occasionally collected from 33 harbour porpoises (27 females and 6 males) and preserved in 70% ethanol at room temperature. Nema- todes were detected in 78.5% of the examined harbour porpoise stomachs. The nematodes were identified as Contracaecum spp. and Hysterothylacium spp. in their larval forms, as well as adult specimens of the family Anisakidae (Railliet & Henry, 1912). Understanding the parasitological fauna of cetaceans is crucial for both their health and conservation efforts. This study presents the first findings on the parasitological findings of harbour porpoises from the Turkish coast of the western Black Sea and explores the association between stomach contents, parasitological findings, and body length. You can find the open access paper here: https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/veterinary/vol49/iss2/7/ or here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/391138263_Anisakid_nematodes_in_Bl… Kind regards, Dr. Erdem DANYER, PhD, MSc Turkish Marine Research Foundation erdemdanyer(a)gmail.com +90 5362557666 +39 3284627938 Çevreye olan sorumluluğumuzu düşünerek gerekmedikçe çıktı almayınız. Please consider your environmental responsibility before printing

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Subject: Orcinus orca sighting in northern Peru – request for collaboration and ID support
by Annette S. Galan 30 Jun '25

30 Jun '25

Dear MARMAM community, My name is Annette S. Galán, a marine biologist based in Peru. I am reaching out to share a recent sighting of two Orcinus orca individuals observed on June 29th, 2025, during a whale watching excursion off Los Órganos, northern Peru (Tropical Eastern Pacific), conducted with Corales Tours. The sighting was documented with photographs and behavioral notes, and I am currently coordinating efforts to begin photo-identification analysis. I am seeking collaboration or input from researchers working on Orcinus orca throughout the Pacific coast of South America, including but not limited to the Tropical Eastern Pacific and southeastern Pacific regions (e.g., Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, Panama, Galápagos, etc.). If you are involved in orca research, maintain photo-ID catalogs, or have relevant knowledge of regional populations and movements, I would greatly appreciate your insights or the opportunity to collaborate. Please feel free to contact me at stephi012094(a)gmail.com, and I would be happy to share the report and visual material for review. Annette S. Galán Marine Biologist – Peru stephi012094(a)gmail.com

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IMMS Bottlenose Dolphin Photo-ID Program Fall Internship
by Kailey Pamperin 30 Jun '25

30 Jun '25

Dear Marmam Members, The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies is currently conducting interviews for our Research Internship Program this Fall. Below is a description of the position. Please pass along this information. Thank you for your help. Best Regards, Kailey Pamperin Research Program Institute for Marine Mammal Studies *Bottlenose Dolphin Photo-ID Program Fall Internship* *Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS)* *Gulfport, Mississippi* Application Deadline: July 31st Internship Start Date: September *Job Description* IMMS’ Research Internship Program is designed to provide exceptional research and learning experiences in a real-world setting to early career scientists in the fields of marine biology and ecology, marine mammal population ecology and behavior, veterinary sciences and conservation. In this position, interns will primarily assist the institute’s Bottlenose Dolphin Photo-ID Program in collecting and processing photographs of bottlenose dolphins in the Mississippi Sound. Interns will also gain diverse experience working in other program areas including marine mammal and sea turtle stranding response, sea turtle surveys, aquaria maintenance and animal care, and marine education and conservation. *As part of a research team, primary duties include: * Sort and process photographs of bottlenose dolphins Conduct boat-based bottlenose dolphin photo-ID surveys up to 7 days per month in estuarine and nearshore marine Gulf Coast waters. Dolphin surveys generally take around 8 hours and may occur in challenging weather and coastal conditions. Photograph dolphins and collect survey data during boat-based field surveys Match dolphin photographs to our catalog of known individuals using finFindR Enter collected bottlenose dolphin and environmental data in FinBase/Microsoft Access Assist in diverse research efforts related to bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles, and estuarine and near-shore marine ecology When needs arise, assist other program areas including stranding response, sea turtle surveys, animal care and marine education. *Internship Requirements* Applicants must be 18 years or older. Applicants should be actively pursuing a college degree or be a recent graduate in biology, marine science, marine biology, marine and estuarine ecology, oceanography or a related field. Previous research experience is preferred. Applicants must be able and willing to fulfill all of the duties described in this internship position. Internship positions are 40 hours per week (generally Mon-Fri/8 am-4 pm). As needs arrive, responding to stranded dolphins and sea turtles, for instance, interns may need to shift their schedules to assist our Stranding Department in these efforts. Internship start and end dates for this Fall are flexible, but preferred early September. We do require a minimum of a 12-week commitment for this internship position. *Additional Information* Research internships are unpaid positions. IMMS provides a reimbursement per week for groceries. Interns are responsible for their own housing and transportation. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the positions are filled. To apply, please send a completed application form (found on our IMMS website), resume (with 3 references), a copy of your college transcripts, and a one-page statement of interest to researchintern(a)imms.org. For information about the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, please visit our website https://imms.org/internship/.

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New publication on methods comparison to observe small mammals!
by Mirinda Dinkel 30 Jun '25

30 Jun '25

Dear colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, we are excited to share our recently published paper in **Scientific reports**, which evaluates theodolites and drones as land-based tools to observe small marine mammals, using the harbour porpoise as a case study. It includes a review of previous studies and gives some guidelines on method selection depending on the research question. TITLE: Performance of theodolites versus drones in land-based studies of marine mammals ABSTRACT Theodolites and drones are key instruments for observing small whales in coastal areas. This study compared their performance while observing the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in the western Baltic Sea. The methods were used simultaneously providing information on location, behaviour and group size during a field campaign in 2022. Theodolite observers were able to detect surfacing positions during 80.5% of porpoise sightings while a drone collected data during 50.7% of total sightings detected by plain eye. The drone footage quality was poor during 47.3% of these sightings. An in-depth analysis of 75:36 h of good quality footage resulted in 16:55 h (22.4%) of cetacean appearance. The determination of group size was significantly more precise using drone footage while the theodolite was more accurate in determining the start/end of a sighting. The accuracy of locations was modelled using the distance (Dt-d) between recorded theodolite and drone coordinates of the same surfacing porpoise. Dt-d varied significantly based on the point quality. Sea state and porpoise to theodolite observer distance did not influence Dt-d. Both methods complement each other and should ideally be used simultaneously to obtain both accurate and detailed information on harbour porpoises and other marine mammals during land-based observation studies. The paper is Open Access and can be found at: https://rdcu.be/etp3Q Enjoy! Thaya Dinkel

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New publication: Vessel types that co-occur and elicit responses in marine mammals in coastal areas
by Emily Hague 30 Jun '25

30 Jun '25

Dear MARMAMers, I'm pleased to share our latest publication from the 'Scottish Vessel Project': 'Marine monitors: Land-based citizen science observations show AIS data underrepresents coastal vessel traffic co-occurring with marine mammals' published in Biological Conservation, which used 3 years of land-based citizen science data recording vessels seen at the same time as marine mammals to show that AIS data did not represent vessel traffic with marine mammals 70% of the time, with 59% of co-occurring powered vessels not broadcasting AIS. Furthermore, non-AIS powered (e.g. speedboats) and human-powered vessels (e.g. kayaks, paddleboards, skiffs) were the most likely type to have a response recorded (e.g. behavioural change). The paper discusses how best to monitor and manage this data poor fleet of vessels, given their increasing overlap with (and potential to disturb) whales, dolphins, porpoise and seals in coastal areas. You can read the full paper at the link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111284 Warm wishes, Emily Emily Hague ·.¸.·´¯`·...¸.·><((((º> Post-doctoral Research Associate BLUE CONNECT Project ·...¸><((((º> [UHI Shetland logo] www.emily-hague.com<http://www.emily-hague.com/> emily.hague(a)uhi.ac.uk<mailto:emily.hague@uhi.ac.uk> Tel: 01595771029 Find me on Google Scholar<https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=hs8dFYwAAAAJ&hl=en>, LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-hague-a55411110/>, Twitter<https://x.com/emilyhague/>, Bluesky<https://bsky.app/profile/emily-hague.bsky.social> shetland.uhi.ac.uk<https://www.shetland.uhi.ac.uk/> Scottish charity no. SC050701 This message is intended for the use of only the person(s) ("intended recipient") to whom it is addressed. It may contain information that is privileged and confidential. Accordingly any dissemination, distribution, copying or other use of this message or any of its content by any person other than the intended recipient may constitute a breach of civil law or criminal law and is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender as soon as possible.

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New Publication: Effects of Network Selection & Acoustic Environment on Bounding Box Object Detection
by Liz Ferguson 29 Jun '25

29 Jun '25

Dear MARMAM Colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I am thrilled to share the publication of our work regarding the "Effects of network selection and acoustic environment on bounding-box object detection of delphinid whistles using a deep learning tool" in The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (Vol. 157, Issue 6). We were particularly interested to learn that CSP-DarkNet-53 and Tiny YOLO demonstrated strong performance, highlighting their potential for further network assessments. *Authors*: Peter C. Sugarman, Elizabeth L. Ferguson, Gabriela C. Alongi, Jennifer Pettis Schallert, and Heidi Lyn. *Abstract*: Deep learning methods offer automated solutions for detecting marine mammal calls, yet require time-intensive development for optimized neural network performance, including carefully curating data and creating a robust network architecture. Using data collected in two aquarium and two open ocean environments, we evaluated the performance of a series of pre-trained object detection networks CSP-DarkNet-53, ResNet-50, and Tiny YOLO in detecting highly variable bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) whistles using DeepAcoustics, a user-friendly deep learning tool. We compared the F1-score, average precision (AP), and mean AP performance of all network architectures with combinations of training samples from each acoustic environment. CSP-DarkNet-53 consistently outperformed Tiny YOLO and ResNet-50 across various test datasets, demonstrating robustness, but underperformed in select scenarios. Performance remained higher for aquarium data compared to open ocean data based on AP and mean AP values, indicating a greater ability of the networks to accurately detect whistles in these environments. However, networks trained on open ocean datasets showed only slightly improved APs on open ocean data, highlighting the challenge of achieving generalizability across divergent acoustic environments. This effort highlights the importance of network architecture selection, and the effects of different acoustic environments on deep learning methods for detecting complex underwater vocalizations. This open access text is now available (DOI: 10.1121/10.0036942 <https://pubs.aip.org/asa/jasa/article/157/6/4613/3350873/Effects-of-network…>) and details of a DeepAcoustics guide and tutorial will be available soon! Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Regards, Liz Ferguson *CEO and Founder* *Ocean Science Analytics* *www.oceanscienceanalytics.com <http://www.oceanscienceanalytics.com>*

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Invitation to Participate in Noise Effects on Marine Biota Survey part 2
by michael.daehne＠gmx.com 29 Jun '25

29 Jun '25

Dear MARMAM list members, I hope this message finds you well. Some of you have already answered our survey part one on the regulation of underwater noise and effect on marine biota (particularly on marine mammals) in the last two weeks. The feedback has been good so far and we have reached 43 experts from 14 countries around the globe. We are still missing feedback from Asia and Africa. To get more detailed data and especially find meaningful conclusions regarding future challenges to regulate underwater sound, we would now like to invite you again to take part 1 of the survey, but also to provide feedback for part 2 of the survey. We are planning to put the results into a publication and invite participating experts to join us on the author list. Who we are: We are Michael Dähne researching underwater sound and marine mammals for the last 15 years and my bachelor student Alexander Henning at the University Rostock, Germany. He is currently writing his bachelor thesis in Biosciences. Our goal: We would be truly grateful if you would consider participating in one or both parts of the survey depending on what is most convenient for you. The surveys will take approximately 15 to 25 minutes each to complete, depending on your level of experience and familiarity with the national legal context. Deadlines: For Alexanders bachelor thesis, we are running on a tight timeline and would like to ask you to answer the surveys by July 5. An answer received afterwards can only be considered for the publication, but not for the BA-Thesis. LINKS: Here are the links for your convenience: * Part 1: <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeD6IS8unzPo56rsGUo1HBCZfzqSLXWHjT XvtJmhdmxEO19sw/viewform?usp=header> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeD6IS8unzPo56rsGUo1HBCZfzqSLXWHjTX vtJmhdmxEO19sw/viewform?usp=header * Part 2: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScpEGowYh2PwDkMqxLP0X46L-gAuHYe6BDo UndblIvqnCPdGA/viewform?usp=header The first part mainly refers to national guidelines on noise-intensive offshore activities, whereas the second part deals more with noise thresholds and your professional opinion on current efficacy of the regulation to achieve good conservation outcome. If you have any questions or encounter difficulties accessing the survey, please dont hesitate to contact Alexander. He will be more than happy to assist. With sincere thanks and kind regards, Michael Dähne and Alexander Henning University of Rostock, Department of Biosciences alexander.henning(a)uni-rostock.de <mailto:alexander.henning@uni-rostock.de>

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New publication: Movements of the endangered sei whale Balaenoptera borealis in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean
by Clarencio Baracho 27 Jun '25

27 Jun '25

Dear colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I’m pleased to share our recently published paper in *Marine Ecology Progress Series*, which investigates the movements of the endangered sei whale (*Balaenoptera borealis*) in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean. ABSTRACT The sei whale *Balaenoptera borealis* was once abundant in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean (SWA); however, the species was severely depleted by whaling and is now Endangered. While some occurrence data exists for sei whales in the SWA, understanding of this species’ population ecology remains limited. Here, we used visual surveys and satellite telemetry to investigate sei whales’ occurrence and movements in Santos Basin (southeastern Brazil). Between 2016 and 2024, 119 sei whale groups were sighted (1-32 ind.; mean: 3.4 ± 4.1). Although the Brazilian coast is a presumed breeding ground, only 3 calves were recorded. In total, 26 sei whales were tagged, with track durations of 3-53 d (mean: 22.5 ± 16.9). Total distance traveled ranged from 112.6 to 4313.7 km (mean: 1522.1 ± 1179.5). A hidden Markov model was fitted to telemetry data to predict behavioral states; models showed that sei whales predominantly engaged in area-restricted search (ARS) (53.6%) and transiting behavior (46.4%). Most locations estimated as ARS were near topographic features such as submarine canyons along the continental slope and close to seamounts. Occupancy time indicates frequent annual use of these areas, but movement patterns were not predictable; nevertheless, they provide important information on use of breeding grounds. ARS occurred in productive areas and may be related to opportunistic feeding, but more research is needed to describe this species’ behavior in tropical breeding grounds. We provide a robust data set, showing the regular occurrence and movements of sei whales in the pelagic waters off southeastern Brazil during winter and spring. The paper can be found at: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14878 With kind regards, Clarêncio Baracho

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