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SPONDYLITIC CHANGES IN LONG-FINNED PILOT WHALES pdf available
by Michael Moore 27 Feb '06

27 Feb '06

A pdf of the following is available from mmoore(a)whoi.edu Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 41(4), 2005, pp. 717–727 SPONDYLITIC CHANGES IN LONG-FINNED PILOT WHALES (GLOBICEPHALA MELAS) STRANDED ON CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS, USA, BETWEEN 1982 AND 2000 Melinda M. Sweeny,1 Janet M. Price,2 Gwilym S. Jones,3 Thomas W. French,4 Greg A. Early,1 and Michael J. Moore1,5 1 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA 2 Sepracor, Inc., 84 Waterford Dr., Marlborough, Massachusetts 01752, USA 3 Northeastern University, Biology Department, 650 Huntington Ave., Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA 4 Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, 1 Rabbit Hill Rd., Westborough, Massachusetts 01581, USA 5 Corresponding author (email: mmoorewhoi.edu) ABSTRACT: The primary bone pathology diagnoses recognized in cetacea are osteomyelitis and spondylosis deformans. In this study, we determined the prevalence, type, and severity of vertebral pathology in 52 pilot whales, a mass stranding species that stranded on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, between 1982 and 2000. Eleven whales (21%) had hyperostosis and ossification of tendon insertion points on and between vertebrae, chevron bones, and costovertebral joints, with multiple fused blocks of vertebrae. These lesions are typical of a group of interrelated diseases described in humans as spondyloarthropathies, specifically ankylosing spondylitis, which has not been fully described in cetacea. In severe cases, ankylosing spondylitis in humans can inhibit mobility. If the lesions described here negatively affect the overall health of the whale, these lesions may be a contributing factor in stranding of this highly sociable species. -- Michael Moore Biology Department Mailstop 50 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Woods Hole MA 02543 USA 508 289 3228 t 508 457 2089 f www.whoi.edu/people/mmoore

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New Articles
by David S. Janiger 25 Feb '06

25 Feb '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. 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 ARNOLD, PETER W.; R. ALASTAIR BIRTLES; ANDY DUNSTAN; VIMOKSALEHI LUKOSCHEK and MONIQUE MATTHEWS. MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM 51(2):277-307. 2005. Colour patterns of the dwarf minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata sensu lato: Description, cladistic analysis and taxonomic implications. 0.904 MB ARNOLD, P. W.; R. A. BIRTLES; S. SOBTZICK; M. MATTHEWS and A. DUNSTAN. MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM 51(2):309-332. 2005. Gulping behaviour in rorqual whales: Underwater observations and functional interpretation. 1.135 MB BAIRD, ROBIN W.; GREGORY S. SCHORR; DANIEL L. WEBSTER; SABRE D. MAHAFFY; ANNE B. DOUGLAS; ANTOINETTE M. GORGONE and DANIEL J. MCSWEENEY. Report to Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries under Order No. AB133F05SE5197. 16pp. 2006. A survey for odontocete cetaceans off Kaua'I and Ni'ihau, Hawai'I, during October and November 2005: Evidence for population structure and site fidelity. 0.237 MB BAKER, ALYSON R.; THOMAS R. LOUGHLIN; VLADIMIR BURKANOV; COLE W. MATSON; ROBERT G. TRUJILLO; DONALD G. CALKINS; JEFFREY K. WICKLIFFE and JOHN W. BICKHAM. JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY 86(6):1075-1084. 2005. Variation of mitochondrial control region sequences of Steller sea lions: The three-stock hypothesis. 0.280 MB BASBERG, BJORN L. Discussion Paper 19/05. 21pp. Presented at The Second Symposium on Whaling & History, Com. Chr. Christensen's Whaling Museum, Sandefjord, Sep. 2005. In the wake of Tonnessen and Johnsen: Trends in whaling history research after 1970. 0.066 MB BETTS, MATTHEW and T. MAX FRIESEN. JOURNAL OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL ARCHAEOLOGY 25(1):59-81. 2006. Declining foraging returns from an inexhaustible resource? Abundance indices and beluga whaling in the western Canadian Arctic. 0.712 MB BOWEN, L.; B. M. ALDRIDGE; R. DELONG; S. MELIN; C. GODINEZ; A. ZAVALA; F. GULLAND; L. LOWENSTINE; J. L. STOTT and M. L. JOHNSON. MOLECULAR ECOLOGY 15(2):529-533. 2006. MHC gene configuration variation in geographically disparate populations of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus). 0.156 MB BUSSE, L. B.; E. L. VENRICK; R. ANTROBUS; P. E. MILLER; V. VIGILANT; M. W. SILVER; C. MENGELT; L. MYDLARZ and B. B. PREZELIN. HARMFUL ALGAE 5(1):91-101. 2006. Domoic acid in phytoplankton and fish in San Diego, CA, USA. 0.209 MB DAURA-LORGE F. G.; L. L. WEDEKIN; V. D. PIACENTINI and P. C. SIMOES-LOPES. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE ZOOLOGIA 22(4):1014-1021. 2005. Seasonal and daily patterns of group size, cohesion and activity of the estuarine dolphin, Sotalia gulanensis (P.) van Beneden) (Cetacea, Delphinidae), in southern Brazil. 0.944 MB FERGUSON, MEGAN C.; JAY BARLOW; PAUL FIEDLER; STEPHEN B. REILLY and TIM GERRODETTE. ECOLOGICAL MODELLING 193(3-4):645-662. 2006. Spatial models of delphinid (family Delphinidae) encounter rate and group size in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. 0.607 MB FISH, FRANK E.; ANTHONY J. NICASTRO and DANIEL WEIHS. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY 209(4):590-598. 2006. Dynamics of the aerial maneuvers of spinner dolphins. 0.385 MB FRANKLIN, TRISH and DANIEL BURNS. MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM 51(2):308. 2005. (Note) A southern right whale, (Eubalaena australis), in Hervey Bay, Qld and Ballina, N NSW. 0.054 MB GARRICK, RITA ANNE; BRUCE R. WOODIN; JOANNA Y. WILSON; BOBBY L. MIDDLEBROOKS and JOHN J. STEGEMAN. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM) 76(3-4):295-305. 2006. Cytochrome P4501A is induced in endothelial cell lines from the kidney and lung of the bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus. 0.317 MB HEIDE-JORGENSEN, M. P.; K. L. LAIDRE; M. V. JENSEN; L. DUECK and L. D. POSTMA. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE 22(1):34-45. 2006. Dissolving stock discreteness with satellite tracking: Bowhead whales in Baffin Bay. 0.197 MB KARLSSON, OLLE; LEX HIBY; TORKEL LUNDBERG; MART JUSSI; IVAR JUSSI and BJORN HELANDER. AMBIO 34(8):628-634. 2005. Photo-identification, site fidelity, and movement of female gray seals (Halichoerus grypus) between haul-outs in the Baltic Sea. 0.281 MB KASTELEIN, R. A.; N. JENNINGS; W. C. VERBOOM; D. DE HAAN and N. M. SCHOONEMAN. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 61(3):363-378. 2006. Differences in the response of a striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) and a harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) to an acoustic alarm. 0.244 MB KAZAR, EMESE and DAN GRIGORESCU. JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY 25(4):929-935. 2005. Revision of Sarmatodelphis moldavicus Kirpichnikov, 1954 (Cetacea: Delphinoidea), from the Miocene of Kishinev, Republic of Moldavia. 0.268 MB KIYOTA, MASASHI and HIROSHI OKAMURA. JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY 86(6):1227-1236. 2005. Harassment, abduction, and mortality of pups by nonterritorial male northern fur seals. 0.158 MB LAMMERS, MARC O.; MICHIEL SCHOTTEN and WHITLOW W. L. AU. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 119(2):1244-1250. 2006. The spatial context of free-ranging Hawaiian spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) producing acoustic signals. 0.321 MB LUSSEAU, DAVID; BEN WILSON; PHILIP S. HAMMOND; KATE GRELLIER; JOHN W. DURBAN; KIM M. PARSONS; TIM R. BARTON and PAUL M. THOMPSON. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY 75(1):14-24. 2006. Quantifying the influence of sociality on population structure in bottlenose dolphins. 0.280 MB MARSHALL, CHRISTOPHER D.; HEIDI AMIN; KIT M. KOVACS and CHRISTIAN LYDERSEN. ANATOMICAL RECORD PART A-DISCOVERIES IN MOLECULAR CELLULAR AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY 288A(1):13-25. 2006. Microstructure and innervation of the mystacial vibrissal follicle-sinus complex in bearded seals, Erignathus barbatus (Pinnipedia: Phocidae). 0.943 MB MATTHEE, C. A.; F. FOURIE; W. H. OOSTHUIZEN; M. A. MEYER and K. A. TOLLEY. MARINE BIOLOGY (BERLIN) 148(4):899-905. 2006. Mitochondrial DNA sequence data of the Cape fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) suggest that population numbers may be affected by climatic shifts. 0.291 MB MCKENZIE, JANE; LAURA J. PARRY; BRAD PAGE and SIMON D. GOLDSWORTHY. JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY 86(6):1237-1246. 2005. Estimation of pregnancy rates and reproductive failure in New Zealand fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri). 0.116 MB MIDDLEMAS, STUART J.; TIM R. BARTON; JOHN D. ARMSTRONG and PAUL M. THOMPSON. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON SERIES B BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 273(1583):193-198. 2006. Functional and aggregative responses of harbour seals to changes in salmonid abundance. 0.139 MB MILLER, NATALIE J.; CHRISTOPHER B. DANIELS; SAMUEL SCHURCH; W. MICHAEL SCHOEL and SANDRA ORGEIG. RESPIRATORY PHYSIOLOGY & NEUROBIOLOGY 150(2-3):220-232. 2006. The surface activity of pulmonary surfactant from diving mammals. 0.399 MB MONESTIEZ, P.; L. DUBROCA; E. BONNIN; J. -P. DURBEC and C. GUINET. ECOLOGICAL MODELLING 193(3-4):615-628. 2006. Geostatistical modelling of spatial distribution of Balaenoptera physalus in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea from sparse count data and heterogeneous observation efforts. 0.722 MB MUIR, DEREK C. G.; SEAN BACKUS; ANDREW E. DEROCHER; RUNE DIETZ; THOMAS J. EVANS; GEIR W. GABRIELSEN; JOHN NAGY; ROSS J. NORSTROM; CHRISTIAN SONNE; IAN STIRLING; MITCH K. TAYLOR and ROBERT J. LETCHER. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 40(2):449-455. 2006. Brominated flame retardants in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from Alaska, the Canadian Arctic, East Greenland, and Svalbard. 0.275 MB MURPHY, S.; A. COLLET and E. ROGAN. JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY 86(6):1247-1258. 2005. Mating strategy in the male common dolphin (Delphinus delphis): What gonadal analysis tells us. 0.358 MB O'BRIEN, J. K. and T. R. ROBECK. REPRODUCTION, FERTILITY AND DEVELOPMENT 18(3):319-329. 2006. Development of sperm sexing and associated assisted reproductive technology for sex preselection of captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). 0.283 MB PARRA, GUIDO J.; PETER J. CORKERON and HELENE MARSH. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION 129(2):167-180. 2006. Population sizes, site fidelity and residence patterns of Australian snubfin and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins: Implications for conservation. 0.495 MB ROSS, PETER S. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES 63(1):224-234. 2006. Fireproof killer whales (Orcinus orca): Flame-retardant chemicals and the conservation imperative in the charismatic icon of British Columbia, Canada. 0.270 MB SUNDARAM, BALA; ANDREW C. POJE; RICHARD R. VEIT and HERVE NGANGUIA. JOURNAL OF THEORETICAL BIOLOGY 238(4):764-770. 2006. Acoustical dead zones and the spatial aggregation of whale strandings. 0.426 MB TREMBLAY, YANN; SCOTT A. SHAFFER; SHANNON L. FOWLER; CAREY E. KUHN; BIRGITTE I. MCDONALD; MICHAEL J. WEISE; CHARLE-ANDRE BOST; HENRI WEIMERSKIRCH; DANIEL E. CROCKER; MICHAEL E. GOEBEL and DANIEL P. COSTA. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY 209(1):128-140. 2006. Interpolation of animal tracking data in a fluid environment. 0.416 MB TRIPOVICH, JOY S.; TRACEY L. ROGERS and JOHN P. Y. ARNOULD. BIOACOUSTICS 15(1):79-96. 2005. Species-specific characteristics and individual variation of the bark call produced by male Australian fur seals, Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus. 0.129 MB VAN BRESSEM, MARIE-FRANCOISE; KOEN VAN WAEREBEEK; DAVID MONTES; SEAMUS KENNEDY; JULIO C. REYES; IGNACIO A. GARCIA-GODOS; KARINE ONTON-SILVA and JOANNA ALFARO-SHIGUETO. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 68(2):149-165. 2006. Diseases, lesions and malformations in the long-beaked common dolphin Delphinus capensis from the Southeast Pacific. 2.016 MB VIANNA, J. A.; R. K. BONDE; S. CABALLERO; J. P. GIRALDO; R. P. LIMA; A. CLARK; M. MARMONTEL; B. MORALES-VELA; M. J. DE SOUZA; L. PARR; M. A. RODRIGUEZ-LOPEZ; A. A. MIGNUCCI-GIANNON; J. A. POWEL and F. R. SANTOS. MOLECULAR ECOLOGY 15(2):433-447. 2006. Phylogeography, phylogeny and hybridization in trichechid sirenians: Implications for manatee conservation. 0.293 MB WEIFFEN, MICHAEL; BETTINA MOLLER; BJORN MAUCK and GUIDO DEHNHARDT. VISION RESEARCH 46(11):1777-1783. 2006. Effect of water turbidity on the visual acuity of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). 0.226 MB WILKE, MONIKA; MIKE BOSSLEY and WADE DOAK. AQUATIC MAMMALS 31(4):427-433. 2005. Managing human interactions with solitary dolphins. 0.107 MB

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Object identification from stomach contents (fwd)
by MARMAM Editors 24 Feb '06

24 Feb '06

From: "Dani Kerem" <dankerem(a)research.haifa.ac.il> Dear Marmamers, Help needed in identifying the object in the link below, found (many of them, of different sizes yet all equal to or smaller in size than the one in the photo) in the stomach of a bottlenose dolphin. http://immrac.haifa.ac.il/pictures/stomach-content_object.jpg Many thanks, Dan Dan H Kerem, PhD IMMRAC (Israel Marine Mammal Research & Assistance Center) The Recanati Institute for Maritime Studies The University of Haifa Mt. Carmel, Haifa 31905 Israel Phone: 972-4-8249449 Fax: 972-4-9240493 e-mail: dankerem(a)research.haifa.ac.il ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(a)lists.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions, and ensure your message has an appropriate subject heading (ie., not "Message for MARMAM") -Do not submit attached files or HTML/MIME messages. -To subscribe to MARMAM, go to lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(a)uvic.ca -MARMAM Editorial Policy & FAQ: http://whitelab.biology.dal.ca/marmam.htm

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CARDIGAN BAY MARINE WILDLIFE VOLUNTEERS
by CBMWC 23 Feb '06

23 Feb '06

Apologies for the previous mailing with incorrect dates. CARDIGAN BAY MARINE WILDLIFE VOLUNTEERS Opportunities for Volunteering in association with the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre, New Quay, West Wales 2006. For more information please visit our website <http://www.cbmwc.org/> www.cbmwc.org. Our 2005 Bottlenose dolphin photo-identification catalogue can be found on our website, (http://www.cbmwc.org/current_res/photo-idcatalogue.htm) We are recruiting willing volunteers to assist with our ongoing research and education programmes concerning the marine wildlife of Cardigan Bay, primarily the bottlenose dolphins (photo-identification), harbour porpoise and Atlantic grey seals. Volunteers are needed from mid March until mid October 2006. Undergraduate and postgraduate student research projects can be supported with boat time and office space. Please contact us to discuss feasible projects email: info(a)cbmwc.org. We support non-invasive and non-disruptive research. About the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre (Est.1996): The Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre, based in New Quay, West Wales is a non-profit organisation run by a group dedicated to working for and in the interest of Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre. The group is part of and affiliated to the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. Our headquarters are located in the heart of New Quay in a heritage building overlooking the beautiful beach and harbour. This facility is a valuable and important marine wildlife and conservation asset, which is used for interpretation, education and research and furthermore acts as a focal point of interest and reference for visitors to the area. The Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre is dedicated to promoting public awareness of the marine species, habitats and conservation of the marine wildlife in Cardigan Bay through research and education. It is also dedicated to forming links and working with established marine conservation and research groups to set up specific projects and new initiatives both within and outside the local area. The primary purpose of our ongoing research supported by Environment Wales and the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, is to monitor the marine mammal populations found within Cardigan Bay's Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and beyond. We endeavour to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of the local marine wildlife and habitats, to encourage respect and conservation of these important entities and to ensure the long term well-being of these animals and the local marine environment. Our intention is to establish an enduring and stimulating education programme for all. We also aim to provide interpretational materials on the species and habitats in Cardigan Bay and to conduct public awareness initiatives. This is a fantastic opportunity for volunteers to make a positive contribution to marine wildlife research, to gain knowledge and experience of the species and habitats in Cardigan Bay and of public awareness and education programmes. Shorter Term Posts Research & Education Assistant Sightings Officer Longer Term Posts (5-6 Months) Bottlenose dolphin Photo-id catalogue Officer Education Officer We are also looking for volunteers with website building experience for a new project, volunteers with accountancy experience, fundraising experience and any other experience that may be of benefit to the CBMWC. For more information on the work you will be involved in please email: volunteer(a)cbmwc.org Volunteer positions are available from mid March until October 2006, commitment for a minimum of 2 weeks is required. Priority will be given to volunteers available for longer periods. Accommodation can be arranged for committed volunteers (approx 45 - 50GBP per week). Volunteers are responsible for their own food, travel and accommodation costs. Local volunteers are always welcome to join us. For further information about the work we do please visit - <http://www.cbmwc.org/> www.cbmwc.org To apply: Please contact us by email at volunteer(a)cbmwc.org and include a copy of your CV detailing your background and relevant experience together with a covering letter indicating when and how long you are available to volunteer. Or alternatively post your application to: Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre Patent Slip Building Glanmor Terrace New Quay Ceredigion SA45 9PS West Wales (UK) Tel: +44 (0) 1545 560032/ (0) 7796135490 www.cbmwc.org <http://www.cbmwc.org/>

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Sources Sought for Marine Mammal Monitoring Plans in the Pacific
by Rivers, Julie A CIV NAVFAC PAC 22 Feb '06

22 Feb '06

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY. A SOLICITATION IS NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. REQUESTS FOR A SOLICITATION WILL NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command-Pacific is conducting market research to identify interested sources for information and planning purposes only. We are seeking qualified and experienced sources for preparation of a marine species monitoring plan for Navy Operating Areas (OPAREA) and training ranges in 1) Hawaiian Islands, 2) Southern California, 3) Gulf of Alaska, 4) Pacific Northwest and 5) Marianas Islands. Responses may be provided for any or all of these five areas. All qualified and experienced contractors, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, state and federal agencies are encouraged to respond. The Hawaii OPAREA covers approximately 745,000 square kilometers, surrounding the main Hawaiian Islands as well as Kaula and Nihoa. The OPAREA runs up to the Hawaiian shoreline off northwestern Hawaii, western Molokai, southwestern Kauai, at three locations around Oahu, and around the entire island of Kaula. The offshore component is extensive, stretching beyond the limits of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in three locations. The Southern California OPAREA covers approximately 411,000 square km and is located in the eastern North Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Southern California and Baja Mexico. It includes a nearshore and offshore component. The nearshore component encompasses ocean waters along the Southern California Coast, from Oxnard to just north of the California/Mexico border, as well as all of San Diego Bay. The offshore component surrounds many of the Channel Islands, and extends in a southwesterly direction out to 125 degrees West longitude. The Gulf of Alaska OPAREA covers approximately 82,000 square km and is located in the northern Gulf of Alaska southeast of Kenai Peninsula and northeast of Kodiak Island. The Pacific Northwest OPAREA covers approximately 445,000 square kilometers. The OPAREA has both an inshore and offshore component. The offshore component encompasses ocean waters along the coasts of Washington, Oregon and Northern California. The inshore component includes the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the southern Strait of Georgia, and the entire Puget Sound. The OPAREA runs up to the shoreline in portions of Puget Sound and the Quinault Area. The Marianas OPAREA covers approximately 40,000 square kilometers and is comprised of both inshore and offshore components. The inshore component contains nearshore areas of Guam, Tinian and Farallon de Medinilla. The offshore component is a polygon extending southwest of Guam to approximately 10 degrees north. Each particular OPAREA/range has specific baseline and monitoring needs depending on the current level of knowledge and data availability. All methods of monitoring will be considered, including, but not limited to, aerial and shipboard surveys, passive acoustics, and individual-level behavioral studies, to form the foundation of the monitoring program. Preparation of the plan is anticipated to include assessing current information (species composition, distribution, etc), modeling the movement and responses of a marine fauna in the OPAREA, investigating survey designs and analyses to assess potential effects of training. Plan must be completed in coordination with Navy biologists and regulatory agencies, and on-site meetings will be required. The contractor must provide or contract all equipment and team members needed for the proposed study, monitoring and reporting of results. Species to be included in the plan include marine mammals, sea turtles and commercially important fish. Implementation of the plan, including systematic monitoring to assess trends in species composition, distribution, and abundance may follow plan preparation. This announcement is open until 12:00 Hawaii Standard Time, 17 March 2006. The Government reserves the right to make this requirement a set-aside. If a contract is awarded for this effort, the Government anticipates a Firm Fixed Price/Indefinite Quantity contract for a duration of five (5) years (1 basic plus 4 option years). However, contract type and duration could change. Proposed submissions of interest and/or statements of capability in the area mentioned above should include the following information, taking into consideration that the information submitted may not be used for a procurement action: (1) Reference to reference number N62742-06-R-1884; (2) Company Name and Address; (3) Point of contact name, telephone, and email address; (4) If a United States or Foreign company; (5) Company Size, NAICS Code 541710 with a size standard of 500 employees (6) If your company is a Small Business, specify if your company is or is not one of the following: a. Small Disadvantaged Business, b. HubZone Business, c. Women-Owned Business, d. 8a Business; (7) Proposer's capabilities and related experience, or unique combination of these which are integral factors in achieving the proposed objective (8) Capability to perform the required tasks with a general approach to baseline research and monitoring (9) the qualifications and experience of the principal investigator(s), team leader(s), or key personnel who are critical in achieving the objectives of the proposed tasks, and (10) Any other specific or pertinent technical information as pertains to this particular area of solicitation that would enhance our understanding of your qualifications and abilities. Contractors should mark any data that is proprietary or has restricted data rights as appropriate. Questions regarding this announcement should be sent via email to annette.tijerina(a)navy.mil or richard.keener(a)navy.mil, or via fax to (808) 474-5909. Announcement responses should be sent to: Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Code AQ12 Annette Tijerina, 258 Makalapa Drive, Ste. 100, Pearl Harbor, HI 96860; facsimile (808) 474-5909; or email annette.tijerina(a)navy.mil. This announcement is not a Request for Proposal, but is a sources sought for information and planning purposes only. The Government will not pay for any effort or materials expended in response to this announcement. All information submitted shall become the property of the Government. This announcement does not obligate the Government to issue a solicitation or award a contract for any items for which information is voluntarily submitted for assessment.

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RE: Request to mailing list MARMAM rejected (fwd)
by MARMAM Editors 22 Feb '06

22 Feb '06

***PLEASE REPLY TO corsem(a)metro.dst.or.us The Oregon Zoo is examining the diet we offer to our two sea otters. We are attempting to lower cost, but continue to provide a balanced diet that meets their nutrient needs. We currently offer a diet which is approximately 33% fish and squid, 33% clam and mussels, and 33% crab and shrimp. The diet is quite costly and we are trying to see if we can meet their nutrient needs in another way. We are working with a team of zoo nutrition consultants from the Fort Worth Zoo to help address this concern. A literature search was done and many aquariums that house sea otters were contacted as part of this consultation. A nutritionally complete diet was proposed which consists of 45% fish and squid, 30% clam and mussels, 20% crab and shrimp, and 5% a red-meat based diet. This diet was proposed primarily to lower cost. No information was found in the literature or via consultation with other zoos and aquariums that roughage is needed in the diet. However, it seems to be thought of as "industry standard" that roughage needs to be included in the diet of captive sea otters. The question we are posing now is "is roughage need and if so how much?" We are concerned that this diet might be too low in roughage for these animals. Does anyone have any thoughts on this OR any ideas for cost effective diets for sea otters. Michelle Corse, Nutrition Technician Oregon Zoo email: corsem(a)metro.dst.or.us phone: 503-220-5741

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Northwest Student Chapter Meeting - SMM
by Katie Luxa 22 Feb '06

22 Feb '06

Marine Mammal aficionados in the Pacific Northwest (AK, WA, OR, and BC): The annual spring meeting of the Northwest Student Chapter of the Society of Marine Mammalogy (NWSSMM) is quickly approaching. Were pleased to announce that this years meeting will take place for the first time in Bellingham, WA! We would like to invite all graduate (and undergraduate) students in the Pacific Northwest, who are entangled in the study of marine mammals, to attend and hopefully make a presentation about your research at the upcoming NWSSMM meeting, hosted this year by Western Washington University on April 8th and 9th, 2006. Dont forget to bring your advisors as well! Registration forms and abstracts for oral presentations are due by March 15th to Adria Banks (email below). Students at every stage in the research process are encouraged to present!! The purpose of the meeting is to gather students in a casual, relaxed atmosphere to share research ideas, tribulations, and triumphs. It is an opportunity to meet others across the region, collaborate, and generally have a good time in a supportive, unpretentious setting. The meeting registration form, details, and developments will be posted from here on out on the NWSSMM list serve, called Troll. If you havent already done so, please sign up on Troll by sending an email to troll-request(a)zoology.ubc.ca with subscribe in the subject. Sign up sooneven if youre not sure that you can attend in April, being on Troll will keep you in the loop. If you have any questions or would like any clarification about the upcoming meeting, please do not hesitate to contact Katie Luxa (luxak(a)cc.wwu.edu) or Adria (banksa2(a)cc.wwu.edu) If you have any questions about the NWSSMM, please get in touch with the chapter contact member Amanda Bradford (alb992(a)u.washington.edu) We look forward to seeing you in Bellingham soon! Sincerely, Adria Banks Katie Luxa MSc candidate MSc candidate Department of Biology Department of Biology Western Washington University Western Washington University Bellingham, Washington Bellingham, Washington banksa2(a)cc.wwu.edu luxak(a)cc.wwu.edu

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Report of second workshop on Right Whale Acoustics: Practical Applications in Conservation
by Gillespie, Douglas 22 Feb '06

22 Feb '06

The report of the Second Workshop on Right Whale Acoustics: Practical Applications in Conservation, is now available at www.ifaw.org/us/rightwhales (29page pdf document; 1.5 MBytes download). Executive Summary Since the first workshop on Right Whale Acoustics: Practical Applications in Conservation, held at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on 8-9 March 2001, a great deal of progress has been made in the field of passive acoustic monitoring for right whales. Although passive acoustic monitoring has successfully been used to find and study right whales on a number of projects, there is an urgent need to incorporate these new technologies into effective management measures to prevent the continuing deaths of North Atlantic right whales along the United States east coast. Right whales are killed by collisions with ships and due to entanglement in fishing gear. US Government agencies, working closely with scientific and other stakeholder groups are developing measures that it is hoped will reduce the number of deaths. The primary methods by which they aim to do this are: i) identifying high risk areas where concentrations of right whales are present (or likely to be present) and reducing the likelihood of interactions by re-routing ships and restricting the use of, or requiring modifications to, fishing gear in order to reduce entanglement risk; ii) in situations where re-routing vessels is not possible then speed restrictions may be imposed to reduce the chance of serious injury. Implementation of these measures requires the best possible data on right whale locations both over the long term (i.e. seasonal distribution) and also up to date real time information. The main technologies available in 2001 for long term monitoring used bottom mounted autonomous recording units (ARU's). Not only could the data from these devices not be accessed until they were retrieved, but analysis usually required a human operator to manually go through the data looking for right whale calls; a task that could take many months to complete. Since 2001, a great deal of progress has been made both in software algorithms to automatically detect right whale sounds and also in hardware solutions for data collection and transport. Today, technologies are available which can automatically collect, analyze and transmit to shore, detections of right whale vocalizations from remote locations in near real-time using advanced signal processing techniques and satellite communications technology. The workshop agreed that now that the basic technology for automatic detection of right whales has been developed, a number of possibilities arise. These include incorporating systems into the type of data buoy commonly operated by the National Data Buoy Center and possibly also on those operated by the US Coastguard. Approaches to these organizations to discuss possibilities would now be timely. One priority question that was identified is whether the 30nm radius around port entrances in the proposed rules for shipping in the mid-Atlantic is sufficient. Data from a line of ARUs deployed perpendicular to the shore in the South East US in 2005 could address this question. The workshop recommended that analysis of these data should be given high priority. The information reviewed at the 2001 workshop showed a reasonable understanding of the type of sounds that right whales produce and how often they vocalize in Northeast US waters. In addition, a number of studies have been underway that will provide further data in the near future on the frequency of call types in particular geographic locations and the behavioral context in which calls are produced. At least two studies that will help to assess the number of whales present from the received vocalizations are also ongoing. Understanding the behavioral context in which calls are made may help to predict the likelihood of persistent aggregations forming. Recent studies using multiple receivers with synchronized clocks have shown that it is possible to track right whales rather than just measure presence/absence in a general area. However, location errors are generally several hundreds of meters, which would not be adequate for the routing of individual ships around individual whales. Accuracy may be improved if detailed sound speed profile information is available. In summary, passive acoustic systems now have the potential to be a powerful tool in providing data for effective risk reduction measures. This workshop report attempts to provide an overview of what can, and in some cases what can't, be achieved with passive acoustic monitoring for right whales. It is our hope that this information will help to guide the implementation of effective management to reduce anthropogenic mortality in this species. Douglas Gillepsie dgillespie(a)ifaw.org Song of the Whale Research Team International Fund for Animal Welfare. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW -- www.ifaw.org) works to improve the welfare of wild and domestic animals throughout the world by reducing commercial exploitation of animals, protecting wildlife habitats, and assisting animals in distress. IFAW seeks to motivate the public to prevent cruelty to animals and to promote animal welfare and conservation policies that advance the well-being of both animals and people. This transmission is intended only for use by the addressee(s) named herein and may contain information that is proprietary, confidential and/or legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the information contained herein (including any reliance thereon) is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you received this transmission in error, please immediately contact the sender and destroy the material in its entirety, whether in electronic or hard copy format. Thank you.

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New publications week 6
by Jan Herrmann 20 Feb '06

20 Feb '06

Dear all, here are some new publications of week 06 / 2006, which haven't been announced on MARMAM earlier AFAIK. By clicking the following link you are guided to a website, where the following references are linked to their according journal homepages. There you can find abstracts and contact information: http://www.mmbib.com/news.html Please do not contact MARMAM, the MARMAM editors or me for reprints. Thank you. Kindest Regards, Jan Herrmann CETACEA Beedholm, K., L.A. Miller, and M.-A. Blanchet (2006): Auditory brainstem response in a harbor porpoise show lack of automatic gain control for simulated echoes. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 119(3): EL41-EL46. Brown, J.C., A. Hodgins-Davis, and P.J.O. Miller (2006): Classification of vocalizations of killer whales using dynamic time warping. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 119(3): EL34-EL40. Garrick, R.A. et al. (2005): Cytochrome P4501A is induced in endothelial cell lines from the kidney and lung of the bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus. Aquatic Toxicology 76(3-4): 295-305. Sweeny, M.M. et al. (2005): Spondylitic changes in long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) stranded on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA, between 1982 and 2000. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 41(4): 717-727. PINNIPEDIA Burek, K.A. et al. (2005): Poxvirus infection of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in Alaska. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 41(4): 745-752. Casaux, R., A. Baroni, and A. Ramón (2006): The diet of the Weddell Seal Leptonychotes weddellii at the Danco Coast, Antarctic Peninsula. Polar Biology 29(4): 257-262. Kuhn, C.E. et al. (2006): Diving physiology and winter foraging behavior of a juvenile leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx). Polar Biology 29(4): 303-307. Lake, S., H. Burton, and S. Wotherspoon (2006): Movements of adult female Weddell seals during the winter months. Polar Biology 29(4): 270-279. OTHERS / GENERAL Miller, N.J. et al. (2006): The surface activity of pulmonary surfactant from diving mammals. Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology 150(2-3): 220-232. Muir, D.C.G. et al. (2006): Brominated flame retardants in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from Alaska, the Canadian Arctic, East Greenland, and Svalbard. Environmental Science & Technology 40(2): 449-455. Newman, L.A. and P.R. Robinson (2005): Cone visual pigments of aquatic mammals. Visual Neuroscience 22(6): 873-879. -- --> jan.herrmann -at - cetacea.de

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CARDIGAN BAY MARINE WILDLIFE VOLUNTEERS
by CBMWC 20 Feb '06

20 Feb '06

CARDIGAN BAY MARINE WILDLIFE VOLUNTEERS Opportunities for Volunteering in association with the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre, New Quay, West Wales 2005 For more information please visit our website <http://www.cbmwc.org/> www.cbmwc.org. Our 2005 Bottlenose dolphin photo-identification catalogue can be found on our website, (http://www.cbmwc.org/current_res/photo-idcatalogue.htm) We are recruiting willing volunteers to assist with our ongoing research and education programmes concerning the marine wildlife of Cardigan Bay, primarily the bottlenose dolphins (photo-identification), harbour porpoise and Atlantic grey seals. Volunteers are needed from mid March until mid October 2005. Undergraduate and postgraduate student research projects can be supported with boat time and office space. Please contact us to discuss feasible projects email: info(a)cbmwc.org. We support non-invasive and non-disruptive research. About the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre (Est.1996): The Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre, based in New Quay, West Wales is a non-profit organisation run by a group dedicated to working for and in the interest of Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre. The group is part of and affiliated to the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. Our headquarters are located in the heart of New Quay in a heritage building overlooking the beautiful beach and harbour. This facility is a valuable and important marine wildlife and conservation asset, which is used for interpretation, education and research and furthermore acts as a focal point of interest and reference for visitors to the area. The Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre is dedicated to promoting public awareness of the marine species, habitats and conservation of the marine wildlife in Cardigan Bay through research and education. It is also dedicated to forming links and working with established marine conservation and research groups to set up specific projects and new initiatives both within and outside the local area. The primary purpose of our ongoing research supported by Environment Wales and the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, is to monitor the marine mammal populations found within Cardigan Bay's Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and beyond. We endeavour to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of the local marine wildlife and habitats, to encourage respect and conservation of these important entities and to ensure the long term well-being of these animals and the local marine environment. Our intention is to establish an enduring and stimulating education programme for all. We also aim to provide interpretational materials on the species and habitats in Cardigan Bay and to conduct public awareness initiatives. This is a fantastic opportunity for volunteers to make a positive contribution to marine wildlife research, to gain knowledge and experience of the species and habitats in Cardigan Bay and of public awareness and education programmes. Shorter Term Posts Research & Education Assistant Sightings Officer Longer Term Posts (5-6 Months) Bottlenose dolphin Photo-id catalogue Officer Education Officer We are also looking for volunteers with website building experience for a new project, volunteers with accountancy experience, fundraising experience and any other experience that may be of benefit to the CBMWC. For more information on the work you will be involved in please email: volunteer(a)cbmwc.org Volunteer positions are available from mid March until October 2006, commitment for a minimum of 2 weeks is required. Priority will be given to volunteers available for longer periods. Accommodation can be arranged for committed volunteers (approx 45 - 50GBP per week). Volunteers are responsible for their own food, travel and accommodation costs. Local volunteers are always welcome to join us. For further information about the work we do please visit - <http://www.cbmwc.org/> www.cbmwc.org To apply: Please contact us by email at volunteer(a)cbmwc.org and include a copy of your CV detailing your background and relevant experience together with a covering letter indicating when and how long you are available to volunteer. Or alternatively post your application to: Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre Patent Slip Building Glanmor Terrace New Quay Ceredigion SA45 9PS West Wales (UK) Tel: +44 (0) 1545 560032/ (0) 7796135490 www.cbmwc.org <http://www.cbmwc.org/>

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