June 2025 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

MARMAM - Full time Projects Manager in Devon (England) or Edinburgh
by Zoe Wright 24 Jun '25

24 Jun '25

Senior Projects Manager (Full Time) Location: Remote or Hybrid Working with office locations in Devon or Edinburgh Benefits: Competitive Salary + 25 days holiday plus bank holidays++ 5% Employer Pension Contribution+++Life Assurance (4 x salary)++++Access to training and personal development+++++Excellent career progression opportunities About Seiche Seiche specialises in underwater acoustics and marine mammal detection. As the global market leader and at the forefront of passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) technology, our engineering, environmental, bioscience and research teams come together to provide full service and support to offshore energy, renewables, construction, and marine science sectors. We are currently working on some of the largest offshore wind developments in the world and we have many exciting projects lined up to commence soon. The Role We are looking for a talented and driven Senior Project Manager to join our growing Environmental Team, to lead the planning, execution, and delivery of large offshore projects to incorporate noise monitoring, marine mammal monitoring and mitigation projects. Project Managers guide and support our clients in meeting regulations set to reduce impacts and improve knowledge of our marine environment. As a Senior, this would be a leading role within the team of Project Managers, you will drive project development, support team growth and sector expansion within Seiche. This position blends technical, commercial, and regulatory knowledge with strong project management expertise and excitement where no two days are ever the same. The Candidate The candidate will:- * Have project oversight - managing complex, multidisciplinary projects from enquiry through to invoicing. * Ensure that the technical, financial, contractual, quality, HSE and other obligations are met in accordance with both company and client standards. * Maintain contact with key clients and build relations to secure future work. * Respond to client queries regarding upcoming work scopes and Seiche capabilities. * Follow up on tender submissions and address client feedback to improve future proposals and work standards. * Lead client visits and presentations, as well as assessment, preparation, QC and submission of pre-qualification and tender documents. * Lead and support development of other Project Managers Desirable Skills * JNCC / BOEM / DOC MMO and PAM training * Project management / Scientific accreditation or equivalent. * Marine Science related degree (BSc - preferably in a marine environmental related subject) * H&S qualification or training - desirable * Leadership Skills Our Culture The culture within Seiche is based on empowerment, trust and responsibility which motivates our employees to work collaboratively towards delivering our business goals. The working environment is built around mutual respect and team behaviours, nurturing a friendly and fun atmosphere and we actively encourage a healthy work-life balance. Ready to take your career to the next level? Apply now and be part of a team shaping the future of marine technology. Email your CV to recruitment(a)seiche.com<mailto:recruitment@seiche.com> Zoe Wright Marketing & Training Communications Officer Seiche Ltd E: z.wright(a)seiche.com W: https://www.seiche.com Bradworthy Industrial Estate, Langdon Road, Bradworthy, Holsworthy, Devon, EX22 7SF, United Kingdom Seiche Ltd is registered in England & Wales. Registered number: 03475558. Registered Office: Bradworthy Industrial Estate, Langdon Road, Bradworthy, Holsworthy, Devon, EX22 7SF, United Kingdom The information contained in this e-mail transmission, and any documents, files or previous e-mail messages attached to it, is privileged and confidential, and solely intended for the use of the individual(s) to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient or a person responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient you should not read, copy, distribute or otherwise use the information, and you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of any of the information contained in or attached to this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify sender immediately and delete this e-mail and attached documents.

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ONLINE COURSE: US Wildlife Law & Policy
by CWS Admin 23 Jun '25

23 Jun '25

Learn from anywhere in the world with internet access! Early bird discount ($75) available until August 3. COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course provides a thorough introduction to wildlife policy in the United States. First, students will learn about the motivations behind policy, who creates policy, and why policy is important for wildlife biologists and scientists. Students will also learn about how policy is implemented and enforced in practice and about the different agencies involved. The course also covers several specific wildlife policies that are influential in the United States, including The Lacey Act and the Endangered Species Act. The final module of the course focuses on marine life and examines the Marine Mammal Protection Act and other relevant marine policy. Throughout the course, we will discuss how these policies influence wildlife management initiatives and vice versa. Students will be asked to think critically and discuss their thoughts in a number of discussion board posts and complete quizzes to gauge their understanding of the material. DATES: September 2 - November 23, 2025 PRICE: Starts at $425 students / $525 professionals (early bird ends August 3rd) LEARN MORE & REGISTER HERE: https://www.centerforwildlifestudies.org/courses/p/us-wildlife-policy [image: Logo] <https://www.centerforwildlifestudies.org/> *Emily J. Uhrig*, PhD Director of Education Center for Wildlife Studies <https://www.centerforwildlifestudies.org/> *Center for Wildlife Studies is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose **global mission is to provide accessible environmental education and promote wildlife conservation **through science.*

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Applied Spatial and Spatio-Temporal Modelling using R-INLA
by Oliver Hooker 19 Jun '25

19 Jun '25

Applied Spatial and Spatio-Temporal Modelling using R-INLA *Do you work with marine mammal sightings, telemetry, or acoustic data? Ready to deepen your analysis with advanced spatial modelling techniques?* Join our 5-day *Spatial and Spatio-Temporal Modelling using R-INLA* course, designed for researchers working with complex spatial datasets—especially in *marine ecology and conservation*. *Course Dates:* 22–26 September 2025 *Instructor:* Prof. Virgilio Gómez Rubio, author of *Bayesian Inference with INLA* This course will give you practical experience in: - Building spatial and spatio-temporal models using the *R-INLA* package - Applying spatial models to *presence-absence*, *density estimation*, and *environmental drivers* - Implementing best practices for *reproducibility* and *interpretability* Why it's ideal for marine mammal researchers: - Understand how to model *spatial autocorrelation* in sightings or acoustic detections - Explore how *Bayesian methods* can improve inference for small or patchy datasets - Learn to address *data gaps*, *observation bias*, and *temporal dynamics.* This course is ideal for *PhD students, postdocs, academics, and professionals* working in marine mammal ecology, conservation, or spatial data analysis. *Limited places available – early booking is advised!* -- Oliver Hooker PhD. PR stats

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Map Marine Mammal Habitats with Confidence
by Oliver Hooker 18 Jun '25

18 Jun '25

*Species Distribution Modelling (SDMs) & Ecological Niche Modelling (ENMs) using R – SDMR06* *Dates:* 22–26 September 2025 *Format:* Live Online (GMT+1 – Portugal time) 8 hours a day *Cost:* £480 *Register Now:* PR Statistics – SDMR06 <https://www.prstats.org/course/species-distribution-modelling-using-r-sdmr0…> ------------------------------ *Course Overview:* Are you working to understand the spatial patterns of *whales, dolphins, seals*, or other *marine mammals*? This five-day intensive course is designed for researchers and students who want to build robust *species distribution models (SDMs) *suitable for marine mammals using *R*. Whether you're trying to inform *conservation strategies*, design *marine protected areas*, or explore how oceanographic variables influence species presence, this course will give you the tools to model distributions and ecological niches with confidence. ------------------------------ *Specifically Relevant for Marine Mammal Scientists:* - Apply ENMs/SDMs to *marine environments* using occurrence data and environmental predictors like SST, salinity, depth, and chlorophyll - Learn to tackle the challenges of *spatial bias*, *data scarcity*, and *model transferability*—common issues in marine mammal research - Gain experience with tools such as *Maxent*, *Biomod2*, and *Ecospat* to assess habitat use and species range shifts under climate scenarios - Option to use your *own marine mammal datasets* in practical sessions ------------------------------ *You’ll Learn How To:* - Build and compare models using Maxent, logistic regression, and more - Validate models and evaluate predictive performance - Use R packages tailored for ecological modelling ------------------------------ *Who Should Attend:* - Marine biologists, ecologists, and conservationists working with marine mammals - Postgraduate students or early-career researchers in marine science, spatial ecology, or biogeography - Anyone with a foundation in R and a passion for marine mammal ecology ------------------------------ *Course Requirements:* - Working knowledge of R/RStudio - Experience with GIS and ecological data - Webcam for interaction in live sessions ------------------------------ *Why Join?* Live expert instruction with practical, real-world focus Apply techniques directly to your own species or region of interest Earn 3 ECTS credits + access to recordings post-course Maximise your modelling skills in just one week ------------------------------ *Limited to 20 places – secure yours today: *Register Here <https://www.prstats.org/course/species-distribution-modelling-using-r-sdmr0…> -- Oliver Hooker PhD. PR stats

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Two new publications: Both sonar received level and source-receiver distance affect sperm whale behavioural disturbance
by Paulus Jacobus Wensveen - HI 18 Jun '25

18 Jun '25

Dear colleagues, On behalf of our coauthors, we are happy to share two new publications resulting from the 3S Behavioural Response Study. Using different but complementary analyses of the same set of experiments, these studies show that behavioural responses of sperm whales to operational naval sonar are affected by both sonar received level and source-receiver distance. Paper 1: Curé, C, Isojunno, S, Wensveen, PJ, Siemensma, ML, von Benda-Beckmann, AM, Kvadsheim, PH, Burslem, A, Benti, B, Roland, R, Lam, FPA & Miller, PJO (2025). Severity scoring of sperm whale behavioral responses to an operational sonar source reveals importance of received level and source-receiver distance. Aquatic Mammals 51, 8-27 Naval sonar's impact on marine life is a long-standing concern. Our study conducted off Norway aimed to investigate the effect of both the received level (RL) and the source-receiver distance on whales' responses to sonar. We cooperated with a naval frigate and used an experimental sonar (SOCRATES) to conduct controlled sonar exposure experiments at different source levels and at various distances from sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) tagged with acoustic-and-movement-recorder devices (Mixed-DTAGs). Behavioral responses were scored using a severity scale from 0 to 9. We showed that the probability and severity of scored responses increased significantly with higher RL (scored as SELmax, the maximum sound exposure level received during an exposure session) and lower distance (scored as DISTmin, the minimum source-receiver distance during an exposure session). Various behavioral responses occurred over a broad range of severities (1 to 7), including changes in vocal and dive behaviors, avoidance responses, cessation of feeding or resting activities, orientation responses, and changes in locomotion. Close proximity (< 1.5 km) of the source vessel without sonar transmission influenced whale behavior, although it was to a significantly lesser extent than with sonar. Dose-response relationships, including onset response RL and source-receiver distance, revealed that whale responsiveness declined more sharply with source-receiver distance than expected based solely on RL. The model predicted 14 km as a statistically significant distance threshold beyond which no responses would be expected independent of RL. At 225 dB re 1 µPa m source level, the model predicted that the estimated effective impacted area dropped from 1,770 km2 when only RL was considered to 27 km2 (factor 65) when both RL and source-receiver distance were considered. These findings underline the importance of taking into account both RL and source-receiver distance in assessing the impact of naval sonar on whale behavior. Open access link: https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.51.5.2025.8 Paper 2: Wensveen, PJ, Isojunno, S, Kvadsheim, PH, Lam, FPA, Curé, C von Benda-Beckmann, AM & Miller, PJO (2025). Distance matters to sperm whales: Behavioural disturbance in response to both sonar received level and source distance. Marine Pollution Bulletin 214, 117742. Understanding the main drivers of behavioural disturbance in deep-diving cetaceans would improve predictions of anthropogenic noise effects on individual animals, habitats and populations. To investigate the potential roles of received level and source distance on behavioural disturbance, we tagged 14 sperm whales in northern Norway with multi-sensor data loggers and conducted dose-escalation experiments. Each experiment included 1 to 4 tagged individuals and involved multiple vessel passes ('exposure sessions', n = 25 total) by a navy frigate or research vessel towing a naval sonar, at different starting distances and maximum source levels. We analysed behaviour state series and proxies for locomotor activity and foraging success with generalized additive mixed models. The probability of occurrence of non-foraging active behaviour was affected by received level, source distance and session order, with decreased foraging effort at higher received levels and shorter distances, and during subsequent sessions (indicating short-term sensitisation). Prey capture attempts decreased with increasing received level when whales kept foraging. Similar to what has been suggested for some populations of blue whales and beaked whales regularly exposed to navy sonar, but unlike northern bottlenose whales in more pristine waters, source distance affected sperm whale behavioural responses on a high-latitude foraging ground. Open access link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117742 All the best, Paul

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Collections with whale earwax plugs
by Justīne Vernera 18 Jun '25

18 Jun '25

Hi! Pauls Stradiņš' Museum of History of Medicine in Riga, Latvia is looking for museums / research institutions having pieces of whale earwax in their collections. So far, we know about Natural History Museum in the UK and Smithsonian, but we'd be happy to hear about others. Those can also be research institutions that have used whale earwax plugs in their research. Looking forward to receiving any hints! Justīne

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New paper: Multiyear Baleen Endocrine Profiles Suggest a Longer Estimated Gestation in Southern Right Whales
by Els Vermeulen 17 Jun '25

17 Jun '25

Dear colleagues, On behalf of all co-authors, I hereby share a new paper recently published on southern right whale baleen endocrine profiles. ABSTRACT Gestation length is a key reproductive parameter influencing fecundity, population growth rates, and the recovery potential of baleen whales. However, direct knowledge of the gestation length in these large mammals remains limited, primarily inferred from whaling and observational data. Over the past decade, southern right whales have experienced a decline in reproductive success, likely linked to climate-change-induced shifts in foraging conditions. Understanding the population-level consequences of these changes requires detailed longitudinal reproductive data. This study analyzes multiyear steroid hormone profiles in the baleen of adult female southern right whales stranded along the South African coast. Results show an extended hormonal pattern characterized by two peaks in progestogens between 20 and 25 months—suggesting putative pregnancies lasting substantially longer than previous estimates. Sharp estrogen peaks during periods of elevated progestogen phases may indicate hormonal regulation of myometrial contractions at birth. A positive correlation between progestogens and glucocorticoids suggests a role for glucocorticoids in pregnancy maintenance, while androgens provide limited insight into female reproduction in this species. These findings imply a longer-than-expected gestation period for southern right whales and potentially across the balaenid family. This has important implications for understanding the timing and location of conception, relevant for conservation management strategies. Multipopulation studies alongside individual sighting histories are recommended to refine our understanding of southern right whale reproduction further. The paper is open access and available at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.71528 With kind regards, Els Dr Els Vermeulen Senior Lecturer and Research Manager Mammal Research Institute Whale Unit Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences University of Pretoria, South Africa +27 (0)60 9714301 / els.vermeulen(a)up.ac.za https://www.mammalresearchinstitute.science/whale-unit “For the love of whales, for the future of our oceans” -- This message and attachments are subject to a disclaimer. Please refer to http://upnet.up.ac.za/services/it/documentation/docs/004167.pdf <http://upnet.up.ac.za/services/it/documentation/docs/004167.pdf> for full details.

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New publication on Reproductive stage vs. residency and site fidelity in female bottlenose dolphins...
by Eduardo Morteo 16 Jun '25

16 Jun '25

Dear MARMAM community, On behalf of my co-authors I'm very pleased to share our new publication on Marine Mammal Science: Escobar-Lazcano M., Morteo E., Delfín-Alfonso C.A., Islas-Villanueva V., Pérez-España H., Bello-Pineda J., 2025. Reproductive stage influences residency and site fidelity in female common bottlenose dolphins from the coastal waters off the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. Marine Mammal Science. ISSN: 1748-7692. doi.org/10.1111/mms.70040 ABSTRACT Movements and behavior of cetaceans are shaped by their habitat, but reproductive physiology can further influence residency and spatial use, especially in gestating and calf- rearing females. We analyzed a long- term photo- ID dataset to assess differences in residency and behavior among the reproductive stages (gestation, dependent calf, and interbreeding interval) of adult female bottlenose dolphins, in the heavily fished waters off Alvarado, Veracruz. From 143 surveys, we identified over 400 individuals, from which 142 were sexed (122 females and 20 males) across five periods, spanning 2002–2023. Reproductive stages were reliably assigned to 11.5% of females (representing 27% of the local core community). Individual residency and site fidelity metrics grouped females in three main clusters (i.e., regular residents, occasional residents, and occasional visitors). Females in gestation were rarely recorded and spent half of this stage outside our study area, whereas dependent calf and interbreeding interval were more common. Calf- rearing females showed higher residency and site fidelity, but their weaning period was within the lower range for the species (x = 2.6 years), suggesting possible behavioral adjustments to local human- induced stressors such as fishing pressure and vessel traffic. In contrast, males showed significantly higher residency indices across most metrics and periods, highlighting strong sex- based differences in spatial ecology. Behavioral budgets confirmed that this region remains an important feeding ground for both sexes and a nursing habitat for females, despite well- known fisheries- related threats. Notably, a sharp increase in the proportion of occasional visitor females over the end of the study, suggests a potential population- level shift. Our findings highlight the critical role of reproductive status in shaping fine- scale movement ecology of bottlenose dolphins and the importance of long- term monitoring in human- impacted ecosystems. This article is available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/author/QKFYCFEJGXM5KZHZTNBT?target=10… We hope you fin this work useful and look forward to your questions and comments. Kind regards, Dr. Eduardo Morteo Director Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Universidad Veracruzana Calle Dr. Castelazo Ayala S/N, Col. Industrial Ánimas CP 91190, Xalapa, Veracruz, México. Ph/Tel: +52 (228) 841 89 00 E-mail: emorteo(a)uv.mx http://www.uv.mx/personal/emorteo/ http://uv-mx.academia.edu/EMorteo https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Eduardo_Morteo/?ev=hdr_xprf http://scholar.google.com.mx/citations?user=fDUl-IIAAAAJ

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Aus/NZ SMM student chapter conference
by ANZSCSMM ANZSCSMM 16 Jun '25

16 Jun '25

Dear Marine Mammal Community, The committee of the Australia and New Zealand Regional Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy (ANZSCSMM) are pleased to announce our 7th annual conference. This year our meeting will be hosted by the Cetacean Ecology Research Group (CERG) at Massey University in Auckland, New Zealand from October 24th to 27th, 2025. The conference is an opportunity to connect with your peers, present your work and network! Abstract submissions and registrations are now open - simply go to the Google Form (link below) and submit by the *20th of June* to secure your spot at the conference and accommodation (if needed): https://forms.gle/47kZfX1RDkRrtXGM6 To keep up to date with what's happening with the conference, please head on over to our conference website ( https://anzscsmm.wixsite.com/anzscsmm/home) and if you have any questions please feel free to contact us on this email. Please circulate among your labs – this is a great experience for students! We look forward to reading your abstract and seeing you in Auckland. On behalf of the ANZSCSMM Chapter Heads (Ciara Browne, Gabrielle Genty, Evi Hanniger, Marissa Hutchings, Brodee Lowe and Catherine Meyer) Australia/New Zealand Student Chapter for the Society of Marine Mammalogy (ANZSCSMM) anzscsmm(a)gmail.com ANZSCSMM Facebook Page <https://www.facebook.com/groups/ANZSCSMM> ANZSCSMM Website <https://lpogsonmanning.wixsite.com/anzscsmm/>

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QGIS for Marine Science Professionals
by Liz Ferguson 15 Jun '25

15 Jun '25

Greetings MARMAM Community, We are excited to announce the launch of our newest online training course - QGIS for Marine Science Professionals! This hands-on training is designed specifically for those new to QGIS and eager to apply spatial tools in a marine science context. The IMarEST CPD recognized self-paced course introduces foundational Geographic Information System (GIS) concepts while guiding participants through practical workflows using real-world ocean and coastal data. With step-by-step video tutorials and activities, you'll build the skills needed to map, analyze, and visualize spatial data for marine conservation, habitat assessment, and research applications. Whether you're a student, researcher, or practitioner, this course will help you confidently navigate QGIS and strengthen your spatial analysis toolkit. Given the utility of GIS for studying marine mammals, we incorporated marine mammal observation data from OBIS-SEAMAP (Ocean Biodiversity Information System Spatial Ecological Analysis of Megavertebrate Populations) across all of our course modules and activities. By weaving in blue whale observation data in the Channel Island guided videos, and harbour porpoise observations in the Scotland-centric activities, we specifically believe the marine mammal community will find this course useful. Learn more on the QGIS for Marine Science Professionals <https://www.oceanscienceanalytics.com/qgis-essentials> page! We are holding a training session this month (join anytime in June and receive 30 full days of access), and next in August - contact us 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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