- MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Cetacean Testes Measurements
by KelleyT＠DFO-MPO.GC.CA 12 Oct '06

12 Oct '06

Hi, I am researching mating systems and testes size in cetaceans, and I am looking for data on testes weight, diameter, and body length at maturity for both males and females, separately. I would like to get as much data as possible, so if anyone could send me any data they have on any cetacean species, I would really appreciate it. Thanks, Trish Trish Kelley Phone (204) 984-2425| facsimile / télécopieur (204) 984-2403 <mailto:KelleyT@dfo-mpo.gc.ca> KelleyT(a)dfo-mpo.gc.ca Central & Arctic Region | Région du Centre et de l'Arctique Fisheries and Oceans Canada | 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N6 Pêches et Océans Canada | 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6 Government of Canada | Gouvernment du Canada

1 0

New Articles
by David S. Janiger 12 Oct '06

12 Oct '06

Hi, All Here's the latest posting of new PDF's that are available. File sizes have been included. Abstracts also available on request. I'll be at the ACS conference in Ventura next month, so the next posting will be a week later, probably 11/16. Hope to see some of you there. Please don't hit the reply button. Make all requests to: janiger(a)bcf.usc.edu Cheers! David Janiger - Curatorial Assistant (Mammals) Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007 (213) 763-3369 janiger(a)bcf.usc.edu djaniger(a)nhm.org Janiger Journals ACEVEDO, JORGE A.; ANELIO AGUAYO-LOBO and LUIS A. PASTENE. REVISTA DE BIOLOGIA MARINA Y OCEANOGRAFIA 41(1):11-19. 2006. Filopatría de la ballena jorobada (Megaptera novaeangliae Borowski, 1781), al área de alimentación del estrecho de Magallanes. (Site fidelity of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae Borowski, 1781) to the Magellan Strait feeding ground) 0.323 MB AZNAR, F. J.; P. FOGNANI; J. A. BALBUENA; M. PIETROBELLI and J. A. RAGA. PARASITOLOGY 133(3):369-380. 2006. Distribution of Pholeter gastrophilus (Digenea) within the stomach of four odontocete species: The role of the diet and digestive physiology of hosts. 0.219 MB BIANUCCI, GIOVANNI and WALTER LANDINI. ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY 148(1):103-131. 2006. Killer sperm whale: A new basal physeteroid (Mammalia, Cetacea) from the Late Miocene of Italy. 1.373 MB BODSON, ANAIS; LARS MIERSCH; BJOERN MAUCK and GUIDO DEHNHARDT. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 120(3):1550-1557. 2006. Underwater auditory localization by a swimming harbor seal (Phoca vitulina). 0.321 MB BROWN, JUDITH C. and PATRICK J. O. MILLER. ECHOES - NEWSLETTER OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 16(3):45-47. 2006. Classifying killer whale vocalization using time warping. 0.252 MB BUTLER, PATRICK J. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 145(1):1-6. 2006. Aerobic dive limit. What is it and is it always used appropriately? 0.287 MB CARSTENSEN, J.; O. D. HENRIKSEN and J. TEILMANN. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 321:295-308. 2006. Impacts of offshore wind farm construction on harbour porpoises: Acoustic monitoring of echolocation activity using porpoise detectors (T-PODs). 0.571 MB CARVAJAL, JUAN; LUIS E. DURAN and MARIO GEORGE-NASCIMENTO. SYSTEMATIC PARASITOLOGY 5(4):169-173. 1983. Ogmogaster heptalineatus n.sp. (Trematoda: Notocotylidae) from the Chilean sea lion Otaria flavescens. 0.253 MB CHAMPAGNE, CODY D.; DORIAN S. HOUSER and DANIEL E. CROCKER. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY - REGULATORY INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 291(4):R1129-R1137. 2006. Glucose metabolism during lactation in a fasting animal, the northern elephant seal. 0.767 MB CORNICK, LESLIE; WILLIAM NEILL and WILLIAM E. GRANT. ECOLOGICAL MODELLING 190(1):107-114. 2006. Assessing competition between Steller sea lions and the commercial groundfishery in Alaska: A bioenergetics modelling approach. 0.306 MB CREMER, MARTA JUSSARA; FERNANDO AUGUSTO SLIVA HARDT and ANTONIO JOSE TONELLO JUNIOR. BIOTEMAS 19(2):83-86. 2005. Evidence of epimeletic behavior involving a Pontoporia blainvillei calf (Cetacea, Pontoporiidae). 0.137 MB DALEBOUT, MEREL L.; DANIEL E. RUZZANTE; HAL WHITEHEAD and NILS I. OIEN. MOLECULAR ECOLOGY 15(11):3115-3129. 2006. Nuclear and mitochondrial markers reveal distinctiveness of a small population of bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus) in the western North Atlantic. 0.205 MB ENDO, TETSUYA; OSAMU KIMURA; YOHSUKE HISAMICHI; YASUHIKO MINOSHIMA; KOICHI HARAGUCHI; CHIHARU KAKUMOTO and MARI KOBAYASHI. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 144(1):145-150. 2006. Distribution of total mercury, methyl mercury and selenium in pod of killer whales (Orcinus orca) stranded in the northern area of Japan: Comparison of mature females with calves. 0.174 MB HAMMERSCHLAG, NEIL; R. AIDAN MARTIN and CHRIS FALLOWS. ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY OF FISHES 76(2-4):341-350. 2006. Effects of environmental conditions on predator-prey interactions between white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) and Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) at Seal Island, South Africa. 0.336 MB HATCH, LEILA T.; ERIK B. DOPMAN and RICHARD G. HARRISON. MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION 41(1):12-27. 2006. Phylogenetic relationships among the baleen whales based on maternally and paternally inherited characters. 1.142 MB HORIKOSHI-BECKETT, CHIFUYU and BRUCE A. SCHULTE. ZOO BIOLOGY 25(4):285-301. 2006. Activity patterns and spatial use of facility by a group of captive female manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris). 0.593 MB HOUSER, DORIAN S. and JAMES J. FINNERAN. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 120(3):1713-1722. 2006. A comparison of underwater hearing sensitivity in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) determined by electrophysiological and behavioral methods. 0.151 MB HOWARD, RED S.; JAMES J. FINNERAN and SAM H. RIDGWAY. ANESTHESIA AND ANALGESIA 103(3):626-632. 2006. Bispectral index monitoring of unihemispheric effects in dolphins. 0.459 MB HUNG, C. L. H.; Y. XU; J. C. W. LAM; D. W. CONNELL; M. H. W. LAM; S. NICHOLSON; B. J. RICHARDSON and P. K. S. LAM. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 144(1):190-196. 2006. A preliminary risk assessment of organochlorines accumulated in fish to the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) in the Northwestern waters of Hong Kong. 0.287 MB IWANAMI, KENTARO; HAJIME MITA; YASUHIKO YAMAMOTO; YOSHIHIRO FUJISE; TADASU YAMADA and TOMOHIKO SUZUKI. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY B BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 145(2):249-256. 2006. cDNA-derived amino acid sequences of myoglobins from nine species of whales and dolphins. 1.105 MB KEXIONG WANG; DING WANG; TOMONARI AKAMATSU; KAORU FUJITA and RIKA SHIRAKI. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 120(3):1361-1365. 2006. Estimated detection distance of a baiji's (Chinese river dolphin, Lipotes vexillifer) whistles using a passive acoustic survey method. 0.142 MB KHAN, CHRISTIN B.; HAL MARKOWITZ and BRENDA MCCOWAN. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 120(3):1684-1694. 2006. Vocal development in captive harbor seal pups, Phoca vitulina richardii: Age, sex, and individual differences. 0.198 MB KWAN, DONNA; HELENE MARSH and STEVE DELEAN. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION 33(2):164-171. 2006. Factors influencing the sustainability of customary dugong hunting by a remote indigenous community. 0.229 MB LAIDRE, KRISTIN L. and RONALD J. JAMESON. JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY 87(4):799-807. 2006. Foraging patterns and prey selection in an increasing and expanding sea otter population. 0.172 MB LANYON, J. M. and G. D. SANSON. JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY (LONDON) 270(2):277-289. 2006. Mechanical disruption of seagrass in the digestive tract of the dugong. 0.536 MB LIGHTSEY, JESSICA D; SENTIEL A. ROMMEL and ALEXANDER M. COSTIDIS. JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE 37(3):262-275. 2006. Methods used during gross necropsy to determine watercraft-related mortality in the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris). 2.336 MB LOCKWOOD, SERENA K.; JUDITH L. CHOVAN and JOSEPH K. GAYDOS. JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE 37(3):281-291. 2006. Aerobic bacterial isolations from harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) stranded in Washington: 1992-2003. 0.065 MB LUIS DO VALLE, ANDERSON and FRANCIELLI CRISTINE CUNHA MELO. BIOTEMAS 19(1):75-80. 2005. Alteracoes comportamentais do golfinho Sotalia guianensis (Gervais, 1953) provocadas por embarcacoes. (Behavioral alterations in the gray dolphin Sotalia guianensis (Gervais, 1953) caused by sea traffic) 0.072 MB LUSSEAU, SUSAN MAERSK and STEPHEN R. WING. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 321:283-293. 2006. Importance of local production versus pelagic subsidies in the diet of an isolated population of bottlenose dolphins Tursiops. 0.222 MB MORISHITA, JOJI. MARINE POLICY 30(6):802-808. 2006. Multiple analysis of the whaling issue: Understanding the dispute by a matrix. 0.135 MB MURPHY, SINEAD and EMER ROGAN. ACTA ZOOLOGICA (STOCKHOLM) 87(4):315-329. 2006. External morphology of the short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis: Growth, allometric relationships and sexual dimorphism. 0.362 MB MYERS, MATTHEW J.; LORRIE D. REA and SHANNON ATKINSON. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 145(1):90-98. 2006. The effects of age, season and geographic region on thyroid hormones in Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). 0.300 MB NORTON, SCOTT A. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY 55(4):723-724. 2006. Dolphin-to-human transmission of lobomycosis? 0.121 MB PANIGADA, SIMONE; GIOVANNA PESANTE; MARGHERITA ZANARDELLI; FREDERIC CAPOULADE; ALEXANDRE GANNIER and MASON T. WEINRICH. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 52(10):1287-1298. 2006. Mediterranean fin whales at risk from fatal ship strikes. 0.255 MB PARSONS, E. C. M.; NAOMI A. ROSE; CLAIRE BASS; CLARE PERRY and MARK P. SIMMONDS. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 52(9):1118-1120. 2006. It's not just poor science - Japan's "scientific" whaling may be a human health risk too. 0.090 MB PONGANIS, P. J.; T. K. STOCKARD; D. H. LEVENSON; L. BERG and E. A. BARANOV. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 145(1):123-130. 2006. Intravascular pressure profiles in elephant seals: Hypotheses on the caval sphincter, extradural vein and venous return to the heart. 0.538 MB QUINTANA-RIZZO, ESTER; DAVID A. MANN and RANDALL S. WELLS. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 120(3):1671-1683. 2006. Estimated communication range of social sounds used by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). 0.321 MB RAJAMANI, LEELA; ANNABEL S. CAHANBAN and RIDZWAN ABDUL RAHMAN. AMBIO 35(5):266-268. 2006. Indigenous use and trade of dugong (Dugong dugon) in Sabah, Malaysia. 0.126 MB RAMU, KARRI; NATSUKO KAJIWARA; PAUL K. S. LAM; THOMAS A. JEFFERSON; KAIYA ZHOU and SHINSUKE TANABE. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 144(2):516-523. 2006. Temporal variation and biomagnification of organohalogen compounds in finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) from the South China Sea. 0.362 MB REICH, KIMBERLY J. and GRAHAM A. J. WORTHY. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 322:303-309. 2006. An isotopic assessment of the feeding habits of free-ranging manatees. 0.198 MB (Will need Acrobat 6.0 or greater to view) RIDGWAY, SAM; DON CARDER; JAMES FINNERAN; MANDY KEOGH; TRICIA KAMOLNICK; MARK TODD and ALLEN GOLDBLATT. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY 209(18):3621-3628. 2006. Dolphin continuous auditory vigilance for five days. 0.489 MB ROSS, HOWARD A. and SUMATHI MURUGAN. MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION 40(3):866-871. 2006. Using phylogenetic analyses and reference datasets to validate the species identities of cetacean sequences in GenBank. 0.176 MB SASAKI, TAKESHI; MASATO NIKAIDO; SHIRO WADA; TADASU K. YAMADA; YING CAO; MASAMI HASEGAWA and NORIHIRO OKADA. MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION 41(1):40-52. 2006. Balaenoptera omurai is a newly discovered baleen whale that represents an ancient evolutionary lineage. 0.990 MB SEGURA, IRIS; AXAYACATL ROCHA-OLIVARES; SERGIO FLORES-RAMIREZ and LORENZO ROJAS-BRACHO. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION 133(3):336-346. 2006. Conservation implications of the genetic and ecological distinction of Tursiops truncatus ecotypes in the Gulf of California. 0.740 MB SHAPIRO, ARI D. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 120(3):1695-1705. 2006. Preliminary evidence for signature vocalizations among free-ranging narwhals (Monodon monoceros). 0.570 MB SIMMONDS, MARK PETER. APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR SCIENCE 100(1-2):103-116. 2006. Into the brains of whales. 0.309 MB SONNE, CHRISTIAN; PALL S. LEIFSSON; RUNE DIETZ; ERIK W. BORN; ROBERT J. LETCHER; LARS HYLDSTRUP; FRANK F. RIGET; MAJA KIRKEGAARD and DEREK C. G. MUIR. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 40(18):5668-5674. 2006. Xenoendocrine pollutants may reduce size of sexual organs in East Greenland polar bears (Ursus maritimus). 0.543 MB SPITZ, JEROME; YANN ROUSSEAU and VINCENT RIDOUX. ESTUARINE, COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE 70(1-2):259-270. 2006. Diet overlap between harbour porpoise and bottlenose dolphin: An argument in favour of interference competition for food? 0.323 MB STEVICK, P. T.; J. ALLEN; P. J. CLAPHAM; S. K. KATONA; F. LARSEN; D. K. MATTILA; P. J. PALSBOLL; R. SEARS; J. SIGURJONSSON; T. D. SMITH; G. VIKINGSSON; N. OIEN and P. S. HAMMOND. JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY (LONDON) 270(2):244-255. 2006. Population spatial structuring on the feeding grounds in North Atlantic humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). 0.513 MB SUN, LIGUANG; XUEBIN YIN; XIAODONG LIU; RENBIN ZHU; ZHOUQING XIE and YUHONG WANG. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 368(1):236-247. 2006. A 2000-year record of mercury and ancient civilizations in seal hairs from King George Island, West Antarctica. 0.304 MB TEUTEN, EMMA L.; BYRON E. PEDLER; ALEXANDRA N. HANGSTERFER and CHRISTOPHER M. REDDY. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 144(1):336-344. 2006. Identification of highly brominated analogues of Q1 in marine mammals. 0.270 MB TSUTSUMI, CHIKA; KOTARO ICHIKAWA; NOBUAKI ARAI; TOMONARI AKAMATSU; TOMIO SHINKE; TAKESHI HARA and KANJANA ADULYANUKOSOL. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 120(3):1356-1360. 2006. Feeding behavior of wild dugongs monitored by a passive acoustical method. 0.217 MB VAN DER MEIJ, SANCIA E. T. and KEES C. J. CAMPHUYSEN. LUTRA 49(1):3-28. 2006. The distribution and diversity of whales and dolphins (Cetacea) in the southern North Sea: 1970-2005. 1.921 MB WILLIAMS, ROB; DAVID LUSSEAU and PHILIP S. HAMMOND. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION 133(3):301-311. 2006. Estimating relative energetic costs of human disturbance to killer whales (Orcinus orca). 0.284 MB WILSON, J. W.; M. -H. BURLE and M. N. BESTER. POLAR BIOLOGY 29(10):905-908. 2006. Vagrant Antarctic pinnipeds at Gough Island. 0.293 MB WOLKERS, HANS; BERT VAN BAVEL; INGRID ERICSON; ELI SKOGLUND; KIT M. KOVACS and CHRISTIAN LYDERSEN. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 370(1):70-79. 2006. Congener-specific accumulation and patterns of chlorinated and brominated contaminants in adult male walruses from Svalbard, Norway: Indications for individual-specific prey selection. 0.293 MB ZHAO, LIYING Y.; MICHAEL A. CASTELLINI and DONALD M. SCHELL. PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ZOOLOGY 79(5):965-976. 2006. Metabolic adjustments to varying protein intake in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina): Evidence from serum free amino acids. 0.166 MB

1 0

Bottlenose Dolphin Photo-identification Internships - Spring 2007
by R.H. Defran 12 Oct '06

12 Oct '06

From: Dr. R.H. Defran: rh.defran(a)gmail.com The Marine Mammal and Protected Resources (MMPR) Program in Charleston, South Carolina is recruiting to fill one or two Dolphin Photo-identification Internship positions for the Spring of 2007. The MMPR is organized within NOAA's National Ocean Service and is located at the Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research (CCEHBR) laboratory in Charleston, SC. The intern position involves a commitment of 20 hours per week extending over a 15 week period from Monday, January 8, 2007 to Friday, April 20, 2007. The intern will participate in the field and laboratory activities of the Charleston Dolphin Abundance and Distribution Project (CDAD). Three useful sources of information about the CDAD project are: 1) Zolman, E. 2002. Residence patterns of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Stono River estuary, Charleston County, South Carolina. Marine Mammal Science 18:879-892; and 2) The Charleston Dolphin Abundance and Distribution (CDAD) Project: Standard Operating Protocols (SOP) for Field and Photographic Analysis Procedures; and 3) Speakman, T., E. Zolman, J. Adams, R.H. Defran, D. Laska, L. Schwacke, J. Craigie, and P. Fair. 2006. Temporal and spatial aspects of bottlenose dolphin occurrence in coastal and estuarine waters near Charleston, South Carolina. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 37. You can download pdf versions of these documents at the web sites listed below. The CDAD project carries out boat-based photo-identification surveys in the coastal and inland waterways of the Charleston SC area. This research is designed to provide an understanding of the population characteristics, including temporal and spatial aspects of the distribution of Charleston area Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. The internship offers an excellent opportunity for qualified and motivated individuals to obtain field and laboratory training in photo-identification methodology and analysis under the mentorship of experienced dolphin researchers. There is no compensation for this internship position and the successful applicant will be responsible for their living and transportation expenses during the time of the internship. During the internship interns must have a personal vehicle to allow them to travel to and from the laboratory and to some of the local field sites in the Charleston area. Ideal internship applicants will be advanced undergraduates or a recent graduate of a scientifically oriented university program in the behavioral or biological sciences. A typical applicant should have a strong interest in the scientific study of cetacean behavioral ecology, have potential interests in future graduate study in marine mammal science, and is an individual who seeks extensive and intensive exposure to the field work, data analysis techniques, and research literature in this field. Preference will be given to the selection of an intern with well developed computer skills and boat-based field experience. The internship application will consist of a letter of interest, transcripts of university coursework and two letters of recommendation from professors or research supervisors who are familiar with your scholarship, research skills and work habits. Interested applicants should first correspond with Dr. Defran by email before preparing and submitting application materials. We anticipate filling this internship position by late November, 2006. Interested applicants should correspond by email to: Dr. R.H. Defran Email: rh.defran(a)gmail.com Defran Home Page: http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/CBL/Director.html Zolman .pdf download: http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/classes/psychology/psy211/defran/CDAD/Zolman2002.pdf CDAD SOP .pdf download: http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/classes/psychology/psy211/defran/CDAD/CDAD_Internsh… Speakman et. al. pdf download: http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/classes/psychology/psy211/defran/CDAD/Speakman_et_a…

1 0

New paper on Charleston, SC dolphins
by R.H. Defran 12 Oct '06

12 Oct '06

On behalf of Todd Speakman The Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research at Charleston, SC is pleased to announce the publication of "Speakman, T., E. Zolman, J. Adams, R.H. Defran, D. Laska, L. Schwacke, J. Craigie, and P. Fair. 2006. Temporal and spatial aspects of bottlenose dolphin occurrence in coastal and estuarine waters near Charleston, South Carolina. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 37." Hard copy reprints may be requested by email from Todd Speakman ( Todd.Speakman(a)noaa.gov) A PDF copy of this TM may be downloaded from: http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/classes/psychology/psy211/defran/CDAD/Speakman_et_a… Note that this PDF has an extensive appendix containing sighting information for each identified dolphin and takes about 4 or 5 minutes to download. or http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/classes/psychology/psy211/defran/CDAD/Speakman_et_a…. This PDF is the same as that above but without the lengthy appendix, and downloads quickly. Todd Speakman Todd.Speakman(a)noaa.gov Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research NOAA/NOS/NCCOS 219 Fort Johnson Road Charleston, South Carolina 29412-9110

1 0

M.E.E.R. field course, springtime 2007
by Fabian Ritter, MEER e.V. 12 Oct '06

12 Oct '06

------ Dear All! The non-profit association M.E.E.R. would like to announce it's next field course in behavioural biology in the Canary Islands: "Assisting in field research of the project M.E.E.R. La Gomera" from 11-25 March 2007 The project M.E.E.R. La Gomera is conducting a study on the interactions between cetaceans and whale watching boats since many years. The participants of these 2-weeks practical courses will get an insight into the behavioural research conducted from whale watching boats operating off the island of La Gomera. In this area, 21 cetaceans species could be identified during the last years, representing one of the highest known species diversities in the world. A list of publications that resulted from this project is given below. The course includes a full training program: the theory and practice of behavioural research will be learned and profound background information on whale watching will be given. Research experience that will be gained includes sighting data recording, behavioural sampling, photo identification and others. The course is fully accepted for the study of Biology at the Humboldt-Universitaet Berlin (Germany) and the University of Vienna (Austria). Moreover, the research is embedded in conservation efforts aiming at the preservation and promotion of whale watching as a sustainable use of cetaceans and the establishment of a marine sanctuary in the waters off La Gomera. M.E.E.R. La Gomera was honoured in 2001 with the international environmental award "Tourismus und Umwelt", which is granted since 1987 by the German Association of Travel Agencies and Travel Operators (DRV). As was said during the bestowal, the project "realises new ways of co-operation of research and tourism in an exemplary and innovative way". For further information (including downloads of a detailed brochure and a booking form) please visit http://www.m-e-e-r.de/praktikum.0.html One course is offered during the 2006 autumn field season: 11-25 March 2007. The price is 875.- € including 7 whale watching research excursions, accommodation, full training program, scientific supervision, donation to M.E.E.R. e.V., written working material, certificate of attendance and one year MEER e.V. membership (The journey to and from La Gomera is not included in the price.) Early bookings are accepted until 31 December 2006 at a price of 814.- € For further information, booking, etc., please send an e-mail to newsletter(a)m-e-e-r.de _____________________________________ The non-profit association M.E.E.R. is registred and based in Berlin. The objectives of the association are conservation, research and education in order to protect cetaceans in their natural habitats. Our work aims at increasing the public awareness for the oceans and to present ways how humans can deal with nature in a responsible way. Our co-operation partners are the "Deutsche Umwelthilfe" (Radolfzell/Germany) "Gesellschaft zur Rettung der Delphine" (Munich/Germany), " and the "Club de Mar" (whale watching operator/La Gomera). _____________________________________________ Publications in conjunction with the work of the project M.E.E.R. La Gomera: Ritter, F. & Ladner, U.A. 1996. Whale Watch Research on La Gomera: A new Interdisciplinary Approach. European Research on Cetaceans 9. Proc. 9th Ann. Conf. ECS, Lisbon 1996, 48ff. Ritter, F. 1996. Abundance, Distribution and Behaviour of Cetaceans off La Gomera (Canary Islands) and Their Interaction with Whale Watching-Boats and Swimmers. Diploma Thesis to the University of Bremen, Faculty of Biology. 114pp. Ritter, F. & Brederlau, B. 1998. First Report of Blue Whales (Balaenoptera musculus) Frequenting the Canary Island Waters. European Research on Cetaceans 12. Proc. 12th Ann. Conf. ECS, Monaco, 20-24th January 1998, 95-98. Ritter, F. & Brederlau, B. 1999. Abundance, Distribution and Behaviour of Dense Beaked Whales (Mesoplodon densirostris) off La Gomera (Canary Islands) and their Interactions with Humans. AQUATIC MAMMALS, 25.2, 55-61. Ritter, F. 2001. Twenty-one Cetacean Species off La Gomera (Canary Islands): Possible Reasons for an extraordinary Species Diversity. Poster presented at the 11th Annual Conference of the ECS, 5-7 May 2001, Rome, Italy. Ritter, F. 2002. Behavioural Observations of Rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) off La Gomera (Canary Islands) with a special Reference to their Interactions with Humans. AQUATIC MAMMALS 28.1, 46-59. Smit, V., Ritter, F. & Neumann, K. 2003. Feasibility study: Land-based observations of cetaceans off La Gomera. Abstr. 14 Ann. Conf. ECS, Gran Canaria, Spain. Ritter, F. 2003. Boat-Related behaviours as a tool for the development of species-specific whale watching guidelines. Abstr. 14 Ann. Conf. ECS, Gran Canaria, Spain. Ritter, F. 2003. Interactions of Cetaceans with Whale Watching Boats - Implications for the Management of Whale Watching Tourism. M.E.E.R. e.V., Berlin, Germany, 91 pp. Mayr, I. & Ritter, F.: PHOTO-IDENTIFICATION OF ROUGH-TOOTHED DOLPHINS OFF LA GOMERA (CANARY ISLANDS) WITH NEW INSIGHTS INTO SOCIAL ORGANISATION. Poster presented at the Annual Conference of the ECS, La Rochelle, France, April 2005. Ritter, F. & Neumann, K. (2006): The Year of the Whale - Extraorbinary occurrence of Bryde's whales (Balaenoptera edeni) off La Gomera (Canary Islands). Poster presented at the 20th Annual Conference of the ECS in Gdynia, April 2006. -- _________________________ Fabian Ritter MEER e.V. Bundesallee 123 D-12161 Berlin TEL/FAX: (0)30-85 07 87 55 e-mail: info(a)m-e-e-r.de www.m-e-e-r.org _________________________ "The dolphins were having a great relaxed time and had no major answers they wished to know the question to." (after Douglas Adams)

1 0

Abstracts: beaked whale diving behavior
by Robin W Baird 12 Oct '06

12 Oct '06

Two new publications/reports are available on Cuvier's and Blainville's beaked whale diving behavior. The report also contains information on site fidelity of Kogia sima in Hawaii. Full citations and abstracts are below, and pdf files of both can be downloaded from www.cascadiaresearch.org/robin/hawaii.htm Robin ------------------------- Baird, R.W., D.L. Webster, D.J. McSweeney, A.D. Ligon, G.S. Schorr and J. Barlow. 2006. Diving behaviour of Cuvier's (Ziphius cavirostris) and Blainville's (Mesoplodon densirostris) beaked whales in Hawai'i. Canadian Journal of Zoology 84:1120-1128. Abstract Beaked whales (family Ziphiidae) are thought to be among the longest and deepest diving mammals, and some species appear to be prone to mass-strand in response to high-intensity sonar. We studied diving behaviour of Cuvier's (Ziphius cavirostris G. Cuvier, 1823) and Blainville's (Mesoplodon densirostris (Blainville, 1817)) beaked whales in Hawaiian waters using suction-cup attached time-depth recorders. Six whales, two Cuvier's and four Blainville's, were tagged and 41 hours of dive data were collected. While Cuvier's beaked whales were found in significantly deeper water depths (median depth = 2,079 m) than Blainville's beaked whales (median depth = 922 m), several aspects of diving were similar between the species: 1) both regularly dove for 48-68 minutes to depths greater than 800 m (maximum 1,408 m for Blainville's, 1,450 m for Cuvier's); 2) ascent rates for long/deep dives were substantially slower than descent rates, while for shorter dives there were no consistent differences; and 3) both spent prolonged periods of time (66 - 155 minutes) in the upper 50 m of the water column. Based on time intervals between dives for the Cuvier's beaked whales, such long dives were likely aerobic, but both species appeared to prepare for long dives by spending extended periods of time near the surface. --------------------------- Baird, R.W., G.S. Schorr, D.L. Webster, D.J. McSweeney, and S.D. Mahaffy. 2006. Studies of beaked whale diving behavior and odontocete stock structure in Hawai'i in March/April 2006. Report prepared under contract No. AB133F-06-CN-0053 to Cascadia Research from the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NMFS, La Jolla, CA. SUMMARY Small-boat surveys were undertaken in March/April 2006 off the west side of the island of Hawai'i for the purposes of obtaining dive data from Blainville's (Mesoplodon densirostris) and Cuvier's (Ziphius cavirostris) beaked whales, as well as collecting biopsy samples and photo-identification of these and other species of odontocetes for studies of stock structure and residency patterns. There were 157 sightings of 13 species of odontocetes in 4,264 km of effort, with 120 genetic samples from seven species and over 29,000 photographs from 13 species obtained. Photographic matching to existing catalogs is currently underway for eight species. Site fidelity of dwarf sperm whales (Kogia sima) was evidenced by a high rate of both within- and between-year photographic re-sightings. Photographs of distinctive individual Cuvier's (3) and Blainville's (11) beaked whales were obtained from 8 encounters (2 with Cuvier's, 6 with Blainville's). One of the three Cuvier's and three of the 11 Blainville's had been previously documented in the area, with matches for two individuals (one of each species) spanning a 15-year period, demonstrating long-term site fidelity for both species. Time-depth recorder/radio tags were deployed on three Blainville's beaked whales, with 30.65 to 64.53 hours of data collected from each individual (sum = 135 hours). Overall dive patterns were similar to the smaller sample of dive data for this species presented by Baird et al. (2006), with dives >800 m occurring an average of once every 2.49 hour and averaging approximately 1,100 m in depth and 54 minutes in duration (maximum 1,520 m, 83.4 minutes). One Blainville's beaked whale was tagged in deep water (>3,000 m) and regularly dove to 1,100 - 1,500 m. Diel patterns were assessed using data from these individuals and from one tagged in 2004 by Baird et al. (2006). Deep (>800 m) dives occurred slightly more often at night (mean = 0.46 h-1, SD = 0.11) than during the day (mean = 0.35 h-1, SD = 0.08), though this difference was not significant, and deep dive depths and durations were similar between the day and night. Dives to mid-water (100-600 m) occurred more than five times as often during the day (mean = 1.74 h-1, SD = 0.44) than at night (mean = 0.32 h-1, SD = 0.23), and whales spent more time in the top 100 m at night than during the day. Dive data collected simultaneously from two individuals in the same group (one adult male, one adult female) indicated whales closely coordinated their dive depths in the top 600 m of the water column (average vertical distance between the pair of 10 m), while below 600 m the whales diverged and likely foraged independently (average vertical distance of 95 m). ======================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Research Biologist Cascadia Research Collective 218 1/2 W. 4th Avenue Olympia, WA 98501 USA Phone 1-360-943-7325 Fax 1-360-943-7026 e-mail: rwbaird(a)cascadiaresearch.org www.cascadiaresearch.org/robin/robin.htm

1 0

N. Pacific right whales up-swept calls?
by Bashar, Mohammad 12 Oct '06

12 Oct '06

Dear all. It is Bashar. I am doing PhD in Passive Acoustic Monitoring. (Detection of North Pacific Right Whales) Do you have any sample of typical up-swept call (non dispersive ones) of Right Whale in the Bering Sea in Alaska? Your help would be appreciated Regards Bashar EPS, Heriot Watt University Edinburgh, UK e-mail mb41(a)hw.ac.uk

1 0

Marine Science Field Study- Apply for 07 Now
by Beam Reach Marine Science and Sustainability School 11 Oct '06

11 Oct '06

, Beam Reach offers undergraduates a rare opportunity to carry out an independent research project in the fields of marine science and sustainability. Please share this information with colleagues, department listserves, students, and anyone else you think might be interested. Thanks for your help in spreading the word. Students- this is your chance to follow your own curiosities about the marine environment and sustainability through an independent research project. During a 10- week experience, you will design a research project at the Friday Harbor Labs and implement it at sea, learning from instructors and guest experts about the marine environment, endangered killer whales, practicing science sustainably, and living sustainably. There is still time to apply for the Spring or Fall 07 program Apply Now: http://beamreach.org/apply.html/?1lrng06a07p We encourage non-science and science majors alike to apply. We do not have specific academic requirements. However, you must have the academic maturity of an advanced undergraduate. We accept undergraduates, recent graduates, and post-baccalaureates. What you can get by studying with Beam Reach that you can't get on campus: - two instructors for a maximum of 12 students - earn 18 science credits from the University of Washington outside the traditional classroom - learn to sail while exploring the San Juan Islands - the opportunity to pursue your interests in sustainability, the marine environment, and killer whales through the entire scientific process, from initial proposal to final presentation - the opportunity to work with a group of peers to create and implement positive solutions to marine environmental problems Learn More: http://beamreach.org/?2lrng06a07p Tracy Smith Beam Reach | Marine Science and Sustainability School www.beamreach.org tracy(a)beamreach.org 206.371.1254

1 0

Marine Bioacoustics Course
by greene 11 Oct '06

11 Oct '06

Dear colleagues: Please bring the following course announcement to the attention of all potentially interested students. Participants will be primarily graduate students and postdocs although we will consider applications from highly qualified, advanced undergraduates as well. The course is sponsored by the Office of Naval Research and Friday Harbor Laboratories; therefore, significant financial aid is available. Enrollment is capped at 12 students. Thank you. Cheers, Chuck Greene MARINE BIOACOUSTICS Session B July 16 - August 18, 2007 5 weeks: M-F 8-5; S 8-12 Ocean 578 (9 credits) Dr. Chuck Greene and Dr. John Horne The primary goal of this course is to provide advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral investigators with a broad understanding of the acoustic tools and techniques used to study fundamental questions about the behavior and ecology of cetaceans, fishes and zooplankton. By bringing together many of the top research scientists and students in marine bioacoustics and bioacoustical oceanography, new cross-disciplinary interactions will be encouraged. Students will be exposed to the latest methods in underwater acoustics as they pertain to studying pelagic animal behavior and ecology 'in situ.' Student also will have a unique opportunity to work with leading scientists using state-of-the-art tools and techniques. Previous versions of this course have been offered with generous support from the Office of Naval Research since 1993. This summer's course will have a new, week-long component focusing on acoustic tracking of tagged animals. Enrollment limited to 12 students. For additional information contact: http://depts.washington.edu/fhl/studentClasslist2007.html chg2(a)cornell.edu http://www.geo.cornell.edu/geology/faculty/Greene.html. jhorne(a)u.washington.edu http://www.acoustics.washington.edu -- Charles H. Greene, Director Ocean Resources and Ecosystems Program Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences 2130 Snee Hall, Cornell University Telephone: (607) 255-5449 Ithaca, NY 14853-2701 FAX: (607) 254-4780

1 0

Marine Mammal Sessions_Defenders of Wildlife's 6th Biennial Carnivore Conference-One Month Away
by Jim Curland 11 Oct '06

11 Oct '06

Carnivores 2006 Logo - Copyright Steve Oliver Here are the various marine mammal sessions (revised slightly as of Oct. 5) sprinkled throughout Defenders of Wildlife's 6th Biennial Carnivore Conference, Habitats, Challenges, and Possibilities, to be held November 12-November 15 at the Hilton Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida. The conference will feature three full days of sessions on terrestrial and marine carnivore issues, plus a poster session, field trip, silent auction, banquet and ambassador wolf sessions. For more information, please visit: http://www.carnivoreconference.org/. You can view a tentative, detailed schedule at this site for other session topics. On this year's Conference Science Advisory Committee is a team of 15 scientists, including 5 marine scientists: * From Mote Marine Lab: Dr. John Reynolds, Dr. Randy Wells, Dr. Nélio B. Barros, Dr. Damon Gannon * From the Center for Ocean Health, U.C. Santa Cruz/Long Marine Lab: Dr. Jim Estes Monday, November 13 Climate Change and Carnivores I 10:00 am-1:30 pm 1. Conservation in the Face of Climate Change, Lara Hansen 2. Effects of Climate Change on Ice-Breeding Harp and Hooded Seals, David Lavigne 3. Impacts of Diminishing Snow Cover on Ringed Seals, Brendan Kelly 4. Long-Term Trends in Polar Bear Ecology in Relation To Climatic Change, Nick Lunn 5. Global Warming, the Arctic Region and Preserving Endangered/Threatened Species- Another Case of Pre-Hurricane Katrina Thinking? Michael Belanger Climate Change and Carnivores II 1:30 pm -3:30 pm 1. Climate-Ocean Effects on the Marine and Terrestrial Habitats of the Hawaiian Monk Seal, Jason Baker 2. The Implications of Global Warming on a Snow Dependent Species - A Case For the Wolverine, Jeffrey Copeland 3. Whitebark Pine, Grizzly Bears, and Climate Change, Katherine Kendall DISCUSSION Human Interactions With Marine Mammals 10:00 am-1:30 pm 1. Human Interactions With Marine Mammals in the Wild: An Overview of the Policies, Guidelines and Regulations Developed in the U.S. To Address Activities of Concern, Trevor Spradlin 2. Feeding and Harassment of Wild Bottlenose Dolphins in the Southeast Region: Overview of Activities of Concern and Mitigation Efforts, Stacey Carlson 3. Evidence of Recreational Fishing Interactions in Stranded Indian River Lagoon Bottlenose Dolphins: 1997-2005, Wendy Durden 4. Impacts of Human Activities on a Long-Term Resident Community of Bottlenose Dolphins on Florida's West Coast, Randall Wells 5. Recent Phocid and Canid Interactions in the Cape Cod Area of Massachusetts, Betty Lentell Human Interactions With Marine Mammals II 1:30 pm-3:30 pm 1. Large Carnivores and Tourism: a Symbiotic Or Parasitic Relationship?, John Dobson 2. The Impacts on Human/Bear Conflicts: Why We Need To Learn To Coexist, Minette Johnson DISCUSSION ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tuesday, November 14 Bottlenose Dolphin Foraging Ecology I 8-10:30 am 1. Assessing the Effects of Fishing on Bottlenose Dolphins With Qualitative Models, Donald Baltz 2. Bottlenose Dolphin Vocalizations Suppress Calling Rates and Elevate Stress Hormones in a Prey Species, the Gulf Toadfish, Opsanus beta, Douglas Nowacek 3. How To Catch a Fish? Foraging Tactic Fidelity of Bottlenose Dolphins in Florida Bay, Florida, Leigh Torres 4. Role of Ecological Disturbance in the Foraging Ecology of Coastal Bottlenose Dolphins, Damon Gannon 5. Stomach Content Analysis of Bottlenose Dolphins Stranded in South Carolina, Michelle Pate 6. Variation in Feeding Habits Among Bottlenose Dolphins From Two Southeastern U.S. Estuaries As Determined By Stable Isotope Analysis, Melissa Recks Bottlenose Dolphin Foraging Ecology II 10:30-1:30 pm 1. Bottlenose Dolphin Population Differentiation and Trophic Studies Using Carbon, Nitrogen, Sulfur Stable Isotopes and Stomach Content Analyses, Nélio Barros 2. Molecular Scatology As a Tool For Investigating Cetacean Diet: Development, Assessment and Application of DNA-Based Diet Investigation Methods For Bottlenose Dolphins, Glenn Dunshea DISCUSSION Sea Otters 3:30 pm-5:30 pm 1. Patterns of Body Size, Growth and Condition Among Sea Otter Populations: What Can It Tell Us About Population Status? Daniel Monson 2. Persistence of Spilled Oil in Nearshore Sediments and Pathways of Exposure To Foraging Sea Otters, James Bodkin 3. Recovery, Foraging Patterns, and Prey Selection of Washington's Sea Otter Population, Harriet Allen 4. Nutrient Composition of the Diet Consumed By Threatened Southern Sea Otters, Alice Green 5. No Place Like Home: a Comparison of Habitat Use Strategies Between Southern Sea Otter Populations of Varying Density, Gena Bentall 6. Movement Patterns of Female Southern Sea Otters Vary With Reproductive Status, Christine Alfano 7. Sea Otters Translocated To San Nicolas Island: Individual Fates, Population Growth, and Projected Persistence of a Small Population, Lilian Carswell Posters Health Assesment of California Sea Lions Utilizing Fluctuating Asymmetry, Amber Bifolck Evidence of Human Interaction in Pinnipeds Stranded in New York State, Rebecca Scott - Jim Curland, Marine Program Associate Defenders of Wildlife P.O. Box 959 Moss Landing, CA. 95039 831-726-9010 (phone) 831-726-9020 (fax) ? Defenders of Wildlife, founded in 1947, is dedicated to the protection of all native wild animals and plants in their natural communities. We focus our programs on what scientists consider two of the most serious environmental threats to the planet: the accelerating rate of extinction of species and the associated loss of biological diversity, and habitat alteration and destruction. Long known for our leadership on endangered species issues, Defenders of Wildlife also advocates new approaches to wildlife conservation that will help keep species from becoming endangered. Our programs encourage protection of entire ecosystems and interconnected habitats while protecting predators that serve as indicator species for ecosystem health. Defenders of Wildlife is pleased to announce Carnivores 2006: Habitats, Challenges and Opportunities A Conference on Carnivore Biology & Conservation Find out more at: November 12-15, 2006 ~ St. Petersburg, Florida http://www.carnivoreconference.org/ http://www.defenders.org http://www.kidsplanet.org http://www.defenders.org/wildlife/new/seaotters.html (Defenders' Main Sea Otter Page) http://www.kidsplanet.org/espanol/espint.html (Defenders' Sea Otter Teaching Unit) http://www.defenders.org/wildlife/new/marine.html (Defenders' Marine Program Page) http://www.defenders.org/california/marine.html (Defenders' California Marine Program)

1 0