January 2026 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

IFAW Marine Mammal Stranding Internships - Winter/Spring 2026
by Wellman, Michaela 13 Jan '26

13 Jan '26

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is currently accepting applications for Winter/Spring 2026 Marine Mammal Stranding Internships. IFAW Marine Mammal Stranding Internship Winter/Spring Session 2026 (Mid January, 2026 - End of May, 2026) Complete Applications due: October 5th, 2025 Program Background IFAW is an international non-profit organization. This internship is based out of our International Operations Center in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, USA. IFAW's Marine Mammal Rescue (MMR) program is a federally authorized program dedicated to marine mammal stranding response on Cape Cod and southeastern Massachusetts. Our program strives to promote the conservation of marine mammal species and their habitat by improving the rescue and humane care of stranded marine mammals, advancing stranding science, and increasing public awareness through education. Cape Cod is a marine mammal stranding "hot spot," with an average of over 315 strandings occurring each year. These strandings include live and dead seals, whales, porpoises, and dolphins. In addition to stranding response, IFAW's MMR division has developed the Cetacean Intensive Care Unit (CICU) located at the Dolphin Rescue Center in Orleans, MA. CICU is a short-term holding facility (96 hours) that aims to provide rehabilitative care to dolphins and porpoises experiencing acute effects of stranding. Stranding Intern Duties * Stranding hotline coverage: answer calls, document reports, educate callers, dispatch volunteers, complete associated paperwork and enter data. * Marine mammal stranding response & necropsy: assist staff with all aspects of marine mammal stranding response, including live animal health assessment and supportive care, biological data collection, post-mortem examinations and sampling in both field and laboratory settings. * CICU operations: assist staff with aspects of CICU operations, including animal care (i.e. in-water support, assist during procedures, monitoring animal behavior etc.), CICU education and outreach, CICU readiness and cleaning, etc. Please note experiences will be opportunistic as cases arise. We do not have a long-term rehabilitation program or animals on-site regularly. * Stranding & necropsy readiness: cleaning, organizing and maintaining stranding response and necropsy gear, equipment and facilities, restocking kits and supplies. * Data entry & sample processing: assist in entry of stranding data. Assist in organizing, cataloging, disseminating and archiving of photos, videos, datasheets, samples, etc. * Outreach: assist staff with training and outreach material preparation and organization, participate in opportunistic outreach at stranding sites, participate in community events. Please see the following link for the full posting and to apply: https://recruiting.ultipro.com/INT1059IFFA/JobBoard/17b588a3-808b-4bc9-aea8… Michaela Wellman Stranding Technician Marine Mammal Rescue 290 Summer Street Yarmouth Port, MA 02675 United States www.ifaw.org<https://www.ifaw.org/> +1 (774) 212-1103 (cell) +1 (508) 743-9548 (stranding hotline) [ifaw]<https://www.ifaw.org/> The content of this email is intended only for the use of the above-named addressee and may contain information that is confidential, proprietary, and/or legally privileged. Please notify the sender if you received this email in error.

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New Paper on the Response of Goose-Beaked Whales to Simulated Military Sonar
by Andrew Read, Ph.D. 13 Jan '26

13 Jan '26

We are pleased to report publication of our paper: Southall et al. (2026). Behavioral responses of goose-beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) to simulated military. Ecosphere https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.70501. The paper is open-access, and you can find it here: https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecs2.70501 Abstract We report direct measurements of changes in diving and movement behavior for 53 goose-beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) in relation to experimentally controlled mid-frequency (3–4 kHz) active sonar (MFAS) signals. These signals simulate powerful Navy sources that have been associated with multiple mortal stranding events for this species. We deployed a multi-scale combination of tags to monitor individual whales, including 50 long-duration (weeks), coarse-resolution satellite-transmitting tags and 3 short-duration (hours), high-resolution archival depth, orientation, and acoustic tags. We evaluated behavioral responses during 13 experimental trials (9 MFAS; 4 no-MFAS controls), resulting in 72 exposure events; some individuals were exposed in multiple trials. Whales were exposed at known and modeled horizontal ranges from ~2 to >200 km and from below ambient noise levels to received levels (RLs) up to ~142 dB re: 1μPa (root-mean-square [RMS]). We investigated changes in diving and movement behavior separately, with a suite of metrics, descriptive evaluations, and statistical tests. We observed similar patterns and probabilities of behavioral changes for control trials and the lowest RL conditions (<100 dB). Above 100 dB RLs, increasingly prevalent and consistent responses occurred, including extended deep dives, prolonged periods between deep dives, directed spatial movement away from the source, and cessation of echolocation. Aspects of these cryptic responses typically persisted for hours following exposure but did not result in broad-scale habitat abandonment. Our study builds upon experimental and observational studies conducted on sonar testing ranges and expands our understanding of the response of this species to MFAS in a region where operational sonar use occurs far less commonly than on Navy testing ranges. These data are directly applicable in the conservation and effective management of this sensitive, protected species. Andy Read (aread(a)duke.edu)

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Upcoming MMO and PAM Training in Victoria, BC
by Emily Welsh 13 Jan '26

13 Jan '26

Edgewise Environmental is offering Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) Operator and Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) courses with in-person at-sea practicals taking place in Victoria, BC. All course theory is delivered online in a semi-asynchronous format. See below for dates and information: *Marine Mammal Observer (MMO)* Online Theory: February 16 - March 16 In-person Practical: March 23rd, 2026 *Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) Operator* Online Theory: February 19 - March 12 In-person Practical: March 19th & 20th, 2026 Courses can be taken simultaneously and a discount is applied when registering for multiple courses. Click here <https://www.edgewiseenvironmental.com/events/> for more information or email info(a)edgewiseenvironmental.com Cheers, Emily Welsh *Social Media & Marketing Coordinator* Edgewise Environmental Ltd. (709) 317-0366 St. John’s, NL, Canada www.edgewiseenvironmental.com [image: Facebook icon] <https://www.facebook.com/edgewiseenvironmental> [image: LinkedIn icon] [image: Instagram icon] CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The contents of this email message and any attachments are intended solely for the addressee(s) and may contain confidential and/or privileged information and may be legally protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient of this message or their agent, or if this message has been addressed to you in error, please immediately alert the sender by reply email and then delete this message and any attachments. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, dissemination, copying, or storage of this message or its attachments is strictly prohibited.

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Advance Your Ecological Data Analysis with Causal Inference
by Oliver Hooker 13 Jan '26

13 Jan '26

Causal Inference for Ecologists (CIFE01) *Applied R Training for Marine Mammal Researchers* *23–27 March 2026 | Live Online* Marine mammal researchers are often tasked with answering causal questions from complex ecological data: *How does shipping noise affect whale behaviour? Do management interventions reduce bycatch risk? How will changing ocean temperatures influence survival or distribution?* Addressing these questions requires methods that go beyond correlation. *Causal Inference for Ecologists* is a five-day, applied R course designed to identify and estimate causal effects using both experimental and observational data. The course provides a practical framework for determining when causal questions can be answered with available data—and how to model them appropriately. In this course, you will learn how to: - Construct and interpret *Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs)* to formalise causal assumptions. - Identify and avoid bias arising from *confounders, colliders, and inappropriate conditioning* - Understand why common model selection approaches (e.g. AIC) can be misleading for causal inference - Apply causal inference principles to real-world problems The live online format combines short lectures with hands-on coding exercises and discussion. All sessions are recorded and available to participants across time zones. Who Should Attend This course is aimed at quantitative scientists with experience in R who are testing hypotheses, estimating causal effects, or developing predictive models from ecological data. Software We will work in R using *lme4* and *rstanarm*, covering both frequentist and Bayesian modelling approaches commonly used in marine mammal research. *Secure your place and strengthen the causal foundations of your research.* Register at: https://prstats.org/course/causal-inference-for-ecologists-cife01/ <https://prstats.org/course/causal-inference-for-ecologists-cife01/?utm_sour…> For enquiries, email *oliver(a)prstats.org* -- Oliver Hooker PhD. PR stats

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New publication - Blackfish as a conservation unit: a review of five Globicephalinae species with a focus on the Pacific
by Catherine Meyer 12 Jan '26

12 Jan '26

Dear MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are happy to announce the publication of the following review paper in Pacific Conservation Biology: Meyer CE, Constantine R, Zaeschmar JR, Carroll EL. (2026) Blackfish as a conservation unit: a review of five Globicephalinae species with a focus on the Pacific. Pacific Conservation Biology 32, PC25067. https://doi.org/10.1071/PC25067 Abstract: Cetaceans living in the open ocean face many challenges associated with the unpredictability of pelagic environments. The inaccessibility and vastness of these ocean environments has also contributed to critical knowledge gaps in population abundance estimates, genetic structure and foraging ecology of many pelagic cetacean species. This review focuses on one such group of large delphinids, the ‘blackfish’. Within this group, we highlight five species with similar morphologies and overlapping global distributions: false killer whales (*Pseudorca crassidens*), pilot whales (*Globicephala *spp.), melon-headed whales (*Peponocephala electra*) and pygmy killer whales (*Feresa attenuata*), focusing on populations within the Pacific Ocean basin. These species are highly mobile, socially complex, long-lived and slow to reproduce, and often occur in small or disjunct island-associated populations. They are also frequently misidentified and considerably understudied, complicating efforts to assess their conservation status and manage populations effectively. Using a combination of keyword-based searches and synthesis of peer-reviewed and grey literature, we compiled information across seven key thematic areas: taxonomy and subspecies, population abundance estimates and trends, global distribution, social organisation and association patterns, genetic population structure, foraging ecology and habitat use, and conservation concerns, management efforts and future directions. Synthesising available information across species enables meaningful comparisons and consideration of shared conservation challenges. Here, we show that most existing knowledge of blackfish species in the Pacific comes from a few well-studied populations, while all other regions and species remain largely data deficient. This highlights the need for continued future research and implementation of cross-jurisdictional management strategies in this region. The paper is Open Access and available at the following link: https://connectsci.au/pc/article/32/1/PC25067/267629/Blackfish-as-a-conserv… With warm regards, Catherine Meyer, on behalf of the authors -- *Catherine Meyer (she/her)* PhD Candidate Te Kura Mātauranga Koiora | School of Biological Sciences Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland Aotearoa | New Zealand e: cmey106(a)aucklanduni.ac.nz

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Research topic announcement: Lunar phases and the biological and behavioral changes in mammals
by Fannie Shabangu 12 Jan '26

12 Jan '26

Dear MARMAM Community As one of the research topic editors, I would like to announce our research topic entitled "TheInfluence of Lunar Phases on Activity Patterns of Mammals", which is presently accepting manuscripts focusing on all groups of mammals, including marine mammals. Background This Research Topic aims to delve into the intricate relationshipbetween lunar phases and the biological and behavioral changes in mammals.Several species are known to modify their activities based on the cyclicalchanges in the moonlight's intensity, but comprehensive understanding of thisphenomenon remains limited. The Topic will focus on examining activity patterns of a variety ofmammalian species, spanning different habitats and ecological niches. Thenocturnal and crepuscular species, for whom moonlight can significantly impactthe visibility, will be our central focus. We intend to explore the changes intheir sleep patterns, feeding behavior, social interactions, and other movementactivities in response to the lunar cycle. Species activity levels and timing of these activities can respondto moonlight (either positively or negatively), which is interesting butstraightforward. Light intensity is dependent on the lunar phase but will alsobe affected by the habitat/vegetation cover, the seasonal light regimeespecially in northern/southern latitudes, and by the weather conditions/clouding. Anexciting question to ask in this Topic, is whether or not there is also aneffect of the lunar phase irrespective of light intensity - we will investigateif these changes are mere responses to the variation in light conditions or ifthere exists a deeper biological clock aligned with the lunar cycle, as seen insome marine species. Implications of these behaviors on predator-prey dynamics,reproductive habits, and species survival strategies will also be assessed,providing a broad understanding of the topic. This Research Topic holds potential to augmentthe existing literature on wildlife biology, behavior ecology, and conservationplanning by integrating lunar influences into the equation of understandingwildlife behavior patterns. Deadline and author guidelines The deadline for submitting manuscripts is 30 June 2026, and all accepted manuscripts will receive a 25% discount on APC for submitting to this research topic. Accepted manuscripts will be published in one of these Frontiers' journals, Frontiersin Mammal Science or Frontiersin Ecology and Evolution, depending on authors' preference. More information on this research topic, including author guidelines and acceptable article types, can be found at https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/66266/the-influence-of-lunar-ph… Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or ideas for a manuscript(s). Best,Fannie _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Fannie W. Shabangu, PhD (He/Him) Marine BiologistDepartment of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Cape Town, South Africa E-mail address: fannie.shabangu(a)yahoo.com Mobile: +27 74 220 0210 Research Fellow Mammal Research InstituteWhale Unit University of PretoriaHatfield, South Africa

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Marine Mammal Mania! - New outreach video series
by Lake, Barb D (DFG) 12 Jan '26

12 Jan '26

"Marine Mammal Mania!" is a growing collection of behind-the-scenes videos with more in the works. This new series of short videos features the work of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) Marine Mammal Program. https://vimeo.com/showcase/11018392 This month's article in Alaska Fish and Wildlife News highlights the newest episode offering insights in how trained and authorized biologists catch large and potentially dangerous marine mammals for research. https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=wildlifenews.view_article&articl… Stay tuned and keep an eye out for future episodes as the series continues to dive deeper into the remarkable world of Alaska’s marine wildlife. Gunalchéesh, Barb Lake Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Wildlife Conservation Marine Mammal Program Support fish and wildlife research, monitoring, and education programs in Alaska by purchasing a conservation stamp.<https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=hottopics.conservationstamp> I live and work on the unceded territories of the Áakʼw Ḵwáan, Taantʼá Ḵwáan, and Sheet’ká Ḵwáan, on Lingít Aaní, the current and ancestral home of the Lingít, X̱aadas, and Ts’msyen peoples.

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Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Internship – Coastal Cambodia
by Khmer Ocean Life 11 Jan '26

11 Jan '26

Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Internship – Coastal Cambodia Khmer Ocean Life (KOL) is a UK non-profit in partnership with a local NGO Samaky Organization in Cambodia, based in the coastal town of Kampot. The organisation focuses on supporting the conservation of marine mammal species (Irrawaddy dolphins, Indo-pacific humpback dolphins, Indo-pacific finless porpoises, and dugongs), and their habitats, through research, capacity building, community collaboration, and outreach. We are looking for marine mammal research and conservation interns to join the team who can commit to at least one month. We conduct our work year-round, and applicants are encouraged to apply any time. Longer-term applicants are encouraged to apply. We are looking for people to join as soon as possible, as we have current *openings from February 2026 onwards*. *What to expect?* Internships are customized to each intern based on personal and academic skills and interests, and interns are encouraged to specialize in targeted areas of conservation including social media management and ecological research. We are open to collaborations with universities for the completion of a thesis or associated report. You are also welcome to conduct your own research or outreach project with us, depending on your interest, skill set, and length of stay. Our work is multifaceted and extends into multiple areas of conservation. While a large part of our project activities and intern training involves data collection, we prioritize internal and external capacity building for our team members and the local community. Prioritizing the empowerment of community members allows us to engage with conservation work in a variety of ways and become immersed in science and local life. Project activities: · Ecological surveys (weather dependent!) with a basis in animal behaviour and anthropogenic impact monitoring: - Boat surveys in collaboration with local fishing communities - Land surveys · Post fieldwork activities: - Photo-identification - Data entry and proofing · Community involvement and capacity building - Responding to marine mammal bycatch and stranding events - Social media and content creation - Education and outreach in local schools - Beach clean-ups - Monthly team outings e.g. visiting a local waterfall or mangrove planting - Citizen science training for community members · Current Projects: - Depending on your length of stay and project stage there may be the opportunity to become involved with the following: - Cambodian Marine Mammal Bycatch and Stranding Network (CMMBSN) - Bycatch mitigation and action plan (BMAP) - Ghost net removal - Acoustic deterrent device implementation - University collaboration - Partnerships with international marine mammal organizations Internship training includes: · Research method training on observational land and boat surveying techniques · Marine mammal identification and behaviour training · Marine vessel identification training · Field data collection and data entry training · Grant writing workshop · Weekly Khmer language lessons Internship requirements: We are looking for dedicated and motivated interns who would love to join our fantastic team of Khmer and International members. Everybody with a keen interest in marine mammals and their conservation is welcome, including University students, recent graduates, experienced conservationists, and individuals who want to gain experience in marine mammal conservation. Project site & fee: The project is based in Kampot, Cambodia. The project office and intern accommodation are at the same site. Intern accommodation is fitted with everything you will need, it is very comfortable and right in the heart of the town. All marine mammal research training and accommodation are included in the 700 USD per month fee, but not your food, giving you freedom with your meals and the chance to explore Khmer food as you like. For more information visit our website: Khmer Ocean Life <https://www.khmeroceanlife.com/> There are limited spaces available, if interested, please send a CV/resume stating your available dates and desired length of stay, to info(a)khmeroceanlife.co <info(a)khmeroceanlife.com>m

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2026 Training & Analytical Support for Marine Mammal Monitoring
by Liz Ferguson 11 Jan '26

11 Jan '26

Dear MARMAM community, As the year gets underway, we wanted to take a moment to highlight Ocean Science Analytics’ current training offerings and analytical support for marine mammal monitoring and research. *2026 Training Courses* Our courses are built around the same analytical workflows we use in applied marine mammal projects and include: • *QGIS Essentials for Marine Science Professionals* • *R for Ocean Science Data Analysis* • *PAM: Large Dataset Analysis* • *PAM Software Basics (Raven + PAMGuard)* Training emphasizes practical, reproducible approaches to passive acoustic monitoring, spatial analysis, and data exploration. In parallel, OSA provides analytical services supporting marine mammal monitoring and mitigation, including passive acoustic data analysis, interactive data exploration tools, spatial analysis, and user-focused analytical documentation. Across both training and services, our goal is to make complex analytical results transparent, usable, and relevant to research and decision-making. More information is available here: *Training:* https://www.oceanscienceanalytics.com/technical-training *Services:* https://www.oceanscienceanalytics.com/our-services Wishing everyone a great start to 2026! Regards, Liz Ferguson *CEO and Founder* *Ocean Science Analytics* *www.oceanscienceanalytics.com <http://www.oceanscienceanalytics.com>*

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New publication on cetacean respiratory mechanics (Cameron Nemeth)
by Nicholas Nemeth 09 Jan '26

09 Jan '26

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to share our new publication in *Marine Mammal Science*, entitled: Nares modulation in breathing cetaceans reflects respiratory mechanics I am happy to share a copy of the publication with anyone interested! You can reach me at the following email address: ncnemeth(a)hawaii.edu Summary: Cetaceans possess highly specialized respiratory systems that facilitate efficient gas exchange during brief surfacing intervals. Recent observations have shown that baleen whale blowholes undergo shape changes during breathing and exhibit between-breath variation in size, yet no studies have quantified dynamic changes in blowhole area throughout the breath. Using publicly available drone footage across multiple mysticete and odontocete species, we quantified changes in nares area throughout the respiratory cycle and show that blowholes are dynamically modulated—remaining relatively constricted during exhalation and rapidly expanding during inhalation. Across species, nares area approximately doubled from the end of exhalation to the maximum area during inhalation, with the largest increase approaching a fivefold expansion. We propose that this modulation reflects fundamental respiratory mechanics, with narrowed nares during exhalation supporting lower airway patency, reducing ventilatory effort, and aiding water clearance, while widened nares during inhalation may stabilize the upper airways, reduce resistance, and facilitate high flow rates and tidal volume. The observed nares expansion curves during inhalation closely resemble inspiratory flow-rate curves measured during cetacean spirometry studies, suggesting that, with proper validation, nares expansion may provide a useful proxy for estimating tidal volume in free-ranging animals. Taken together, our findings suggest that cetacean blowholes are not merely passive conduits for airflow, but actively modulated structures that form an integral part of an extremely efficient respiratory system. Best, Cameron

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