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Aerial images of east coast large whale species etc. (fwd)
by MARMAM Editors 25 Sep '05

25 Sep '05

From: Michael Moore <mmoore(a)whoi.edu> Recently the following website came on line: http://www.gulfofmaineproductions.com/ This site is more than just a place to view/acquire spectacular images taken by Tim Voorheis. There are a number of images that show unique perspectives of marine mammal behavior. Apologies for cross-postings. Right whale afficianados will especially enjoy the image of Admiral skim-feeding. FYI the altitude from which these images were taken is 1000 to 1200 feet. -- Michael Moore Biology Department, Mailstop 50 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Woods Hole MA 02543 508 289 3228 t, 508 457 2134 f www.whoi.edu/people/mmoore ------------------------------------------------------------------- -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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Lunnar effect on behavior humpback whales
by Isabel Avila 25 Sep '05

25 Sep '05

Dear Marmams Im doing a research about the behavior of humpback whales in Colombia, South America. I found that some adults show differences in some of its behavior across the moon phases. The phase of the moon seems to influence the behavior of a number of animals, but until now I didnt found studies about the lunar effect on cetacean. Please send me an email if anybody knows something about this theme. Thanks Isabel Cristina Avila Isabel_c_avila(a)yahoo.com Isabel Cristina Ávila Jiménez Bióloga Investigadora en Mamíferos Marinos Estudiante MSc Biología, Universidad del Valle Investigadora Adjunta, Fundación Yubarta Tel. celular: (57) 315 7550330 Colombia, Sur América E-mail: isabel_c_avila(a)yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Correo Yahoo! Espacio para todos tus mensajes, antivirus y antispam ¡gratis! Regístrate ya - http://correo.espanol.yahoo.com/

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pilot whale fetus
by Mota, Mario J 23 Sep '05

23 Sep '05

Good afternoon. Sorry for the mass posting, but this is for US folks... While cleaning our freezer I found a pilot whale fetus that we got from a life stranding a couple of years ago. I got it CAT scanned and the images will be eventually available online through a collaborative project with the Univ of Florida vet school for a marine mammal anatomical/histological library. However, before I necropsy it, I was wondering if anyone out there in marmam has any particular interest in getting specific body parts. Please have the required permits and contact me at motamj(a)kscems.ksc.nasa.gov before I necropsy it on Sunday. Regards, Mario

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Please post to MARMAM: Marine Mammal Aerial Survey Safety
by Leslie Cornick 23 Sep '05

23 Sep '05

Dear MARMAM Subscribers, At the 2003 Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals in Greensboro, NC the Scientific Advisory Committee took up the issue of aerial survey safety, and formed a working group to develop guidelines for improving aerial survey safety. We have enlisted the assistance of a low-altitude flight safety expert to develop a set of recommendations for the working group, but we are also interested in hearing directly from scientists and technicians in the field. The committee is interested in hearing your experiences, questions, concerns, etc. relative to planning and executing marine mammal aerial surveys. We're particularly interested in hearing about concerns related to the following: * aircraft * pilotage * training * equipment * funding (related specifically to survey safety) * risk assessment * mishap response * issues in developing countries Once fully developed, these guidelines will be posted on the Society's website to be freely available to the worldwide aerial survey community. Please help us to develop a set of guidelines that will meet your safety needs! ************************************************************** Leslie A. Cornick, Ph.D. Chair, Aerial Survey Safety Working Group Assistant Professor, Marine Biology & Statistics Department of Environmental Science Alaska Pacific University 4101 University Drive Anchorage, AK 99508 lcornick(a)alaskapacific.edu 907-564-8885

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Announcement: 16th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine M ammals Workshop Announcement
by Juli Goldstein 23 Sep '05

23 Sep '05

16th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals Workshop Announcement: Health Assessment of Bottlenose Dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida and Charleston, South Carolina Chairs: Drs. Gregory D. Bossart and Patricia A. Fair Symposium Coordinator: Dr. Juli D. Goldstein E-mail: jgoldstein(a)hboi.edu Day/Date: Sunday December 11 Time: 9:00-5:00pm Location: Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego: Conference room TBD. Cost: Free to all conference registrants Summary: The Bottlenose Dolphin Health and Risk Assessment (HERA) Project was initiated in 2003 by researchers at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/National Ocean Service. The HERA Dolphin Project is a comprehensive, integrated, multi-disciplinary research program designed to assess overall dolphin health and environmental and anthropogenic stressors that may affect health and long-term viability. Standardized and comprehensive protocols are being used to understand dolphin health, the top-predator of coastal ecosystems in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), FL and Charleston (CHS), SC. This study is focusing on developing tools and techniques to better assess the health of bottlenose dolphins and to identify health threats and develop linkages to possible environmental stressors. This symposium will highlight studies by multiple HERA investigators who will report on their findings from a wide range of disciplines such as emerging disease, pathology, biomarkers, contaminants, and immunology. Tentative Agenda and List of Speakers 9:00-9:10 am Welcome/Introductions Dr. Gregory D. Bossart, Dr. Patricia A. Fair, Dr. Juli D. Goldstein 9:10-9:25 am Overview of Dolphin Health Assessments Dr. Teri Rowles, National Marine Fisheries 9:25-9:40 am Overview, Goal, and Objectives of HERA Dolphin Project Dr. Patricia Fair and Dr. Gregory D. Bossart, National Ocean Service, Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, Charleston, SC/Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution 9:40-9:55 am Integrating Bottlenose Dolphin Health and Photo-Identification Data Jeffrey D. Adams, National Ocean Service, Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, Charleston, SC 9:55-10:10 am Spatial Aspects of Bottlenose Dolphin Occurrence Near Charleston, SC and in the Indian River Lagoon, FL Dr. R.H Defran, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution & National Ocean Service, Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, Charleston, SC 10:10-10:25 am Hematologic, Serum Biochemistry and Cytologic Findings From Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin Inhabiting the Indian River Lagoon, Florida Dr. Juli D. Goldstein, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution 10:25-10:40 am Evaluation of a portable clinical analyzer of the critical care blood gases and electrolytes in Atlantic bottlenose dolphins Dr. Rene A Varela, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution 10:40-10:55 am COFFEE BREAK 10:55-11:10 am Lobomycosis in Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) From the Indian River Lagoon, Florida 11:10-11:25 am New Viral Findings and the Development of Seroepidemiological Screening Tests and the Corresponding Vaccines Dr. Manuela Rehtanz and Dr. Gregory D. Bossart, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Brown Cancer Center 11:25-11:40 am Antibiotic Resistant Escherichia coli Found in Florida and South Carolina Wild Bottlenose Dolphins Barbara Lyon, National Ocean Service, Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, Charleston, SC 11:40-11:55 pm Orogenital Neoplasia in Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) Dr. Gregory D. Bossart, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution 11:55-1:00 pm LUNCH BREAK 1:00-1:15 pm Feeding Habits of Indian River Lagoon bottlenose dolphins assessed using stable isotope and fatty acid signature analysis Dr. Graham Worthy, Department of Biology, University of Central Florida 1:15-1:30 pm Emerging contaminants in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the Charleston Harbor, SC and the Indian River Lagoon, Fl Magali Houde, Environmental Biology University of Guelph/National Water Research Institute, Burlington, Ontario 1:30-1:45 pm Comparisons of trace metal contamination in bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) populations along the southeast Atlantic coast Hui-Chen Wang, National Ocean Service, Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, Charleston, SC 1:45-2:00 pm Changes in Gene Expression in the Skin-Blubber Biopsy as Measures of Chemical Exposure and Effect in the Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus Eric Montie, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution 2:00-2:15 pm Establishment of Epidermal Cell Lines Derived from the Skin of the Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus Blake C. Ellis, Department of Neurosciences and Neuroscience Institute/Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences Center, Charleston, SC 2:15-2:45 pm COFFEE BREAK 2:45-3:00 pm Genetic structure of bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida Christine Politz, Harbor Brach Oceanographic Institution 3:00-3:15 pm Development of a Dolphin cDNA Microarray Dr. Annalaura Mancia, Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences Center, Medical University of South Carolina 3:15-3:30 pm DNA Strand Breaks as Determined by the Comet Assay in Blood Samples from Dolphins Collected from Charleston Harbor(SC) and Indian River Lagoon (FL) Dr. Richard Lee, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography 3:30-5:00 pm PANEL DISCUSSION/CLOSING REMARKS Juli D. Goldstein, D.V.M. Post-Doctoral Fellow Division of Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Harbor Branch Oceanographic 5600 US 1 North Ft. Pierce, Fl 34946 772-465-2400 ext. 434

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Programmatic EIS scoping meetings planned
by Shor, Alexander N. 23 Sep '05

23 Sep '05

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced its intention to prepare a Programmatic EIS/Overseas EIS to address potential impacts on the marine environment related to the use of seismic sources in support of NSF-funded research by U.S. academic scientists. The National Marine Fisheries Service will be invited to be a cooperating agency in the preparation of the Programmatic EIS/OEIS. To begin the process, NSF is holding a series of public scoping meetings. Public scoping meetings will be held at the following dates, times, and locations: 1. Wednesday, October 5, 2005, 1-5 P.M., Silver Spring Metro Center Building 4, Science Center, 1301 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD; 2. Thursday, October 6, 2005, 5-9 p.m., J. Erik Jonsson Center of the National Academy of Sciences, Carriage House, 314 Quissett Avenue, Woods Hole, MA; 3. Wednesday, October 12, 2005, 5-9 p.m., Room C126, 1000 Discovery Drive, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; 4. Friday, October 14, 2005, 5-9 p.m., Egan Civic and Convention Center, Space 1, 13-14, 555 West Fifth Ave. Anchorage, AK; 5. Monday, October 17, 2005, 5-9 p.m., Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 100 Vaughn Hall, Discovery Way, La Jolla, CA; and 6. Wednesday, October 19, 2005, 5-9 p.m., Ala Moana Hotel, 410 Atkinson Drive, Honolulu, HI. Written comments will be accepted at these meetings as well as during the scoping period, and can be sent to NSF by October 28, 2005. Information on addressing comments and details on NSF's proposal is available in the September 22, 2005 Federal Register. Alexander Shor Program Director Oceanographic Instrumentation and Technical Services Division of Ocean Sciences, NSF 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 725 Arlington, VA 22230 Phone: (703) 292-7711 (Direct Line) Phone: (703) 292-8583 (Program Assistant) Fax: (703) 292-9085; Email: ashor(a)nsf.gov

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call for tissue samples
by Delphinus CapeVerde 23 Sep '05

23 Sep '05

The Cetacean Research Group of the University of Thessaly is conducting research on the distribution and genetic differentiation of Mediterranean striped dolphin populations (Stenella coeruleoalba). Any possible assistance on the collection of tissue samples for DNA analysis will be greatly appreciated. The study will result in a PhD and relevant peer-reviewed publications available to the open scientific community. If you are interested in contributing a tissue sample (i.e. from a tissue library or stranded animal) please contact: Vasilis Podiadis info(a)delphinus.gr University of Thessaly School of Agricultural Sciences Dept. of Agriculture, Animal Production and Aquatic Environment __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail.yahoo.com

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Right Whale Air Survey Contract Solicitation (fwd)
by MARMAM Editors 22 Sep '05

22 Sep '05

From: "Barb Zoodsma" <Barb.Zoodsma(a)noaa.gov> The Department of Commerce, NOAA, issued a solicitation on August 26, 2005, for a contract to conduct right whale aerial surveys along the United States' Southeast Coast (Georgia/Florida coastline). The primary objective of this work is to locate right whales on their winter calving grounds and to report those locations in near-real time to mariners operating commercial, military, and other vessels in these areas so they may take actions to reduce the likelihood of collisions with right whales. Surveys will be flown from December 1, 2005, until March 31, 2006. The deadline for submitting proposals is September 26, 2005. The requirement was advertised in the FedBizOpps on June 7, 2005. For additional information or to receive a copy of the solicitation, please contact Jackie Shewmaker at (816)426-7462 or Jacquelyn.A.Shewmaker(a)noaa.gov. My apologies for the late posting to this listserv. ------------------------------------------------------------------- -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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Whaling for Food - New WCW Publication
by World Council of Whalers 22 Sep '05

22 Sep '05

New WCW Publication - available now. Whaling for Food, a publication of the World Council of Whalers, provides some answers to the question "Why do some people continue to eat whales (when most of us do not)?" As the book notes, "for some people, whales are no longer a necessary food source, yet for some others, whales continue to be their nutritionally-best source of healthy food and to expect them to give up this cherished food (when there are no objective reasons for doing so) makes no sense whatsoever." Essays in this book provide information on some foods enjoyed in countries where whale has been a customary food for many generations and continues to be cherished by members of those societies to this day. Whaling for Food also contains numerous recipes and photos that illustrate the importance of whales as an essential part of some peoples' distinctive food culture and ethnic identity. Edited by Kathy Happynook WCW Publications; 8.5 x 5.5 format, 30 colour photos, numerous black and white photos, illustrations, glossary, 101 pages, $10.00 (CDN) ISBN 0-9733760-1-5 To order a copy click on the New WCW Publication link on the home page of the World Council of Whalers website http://www.worldcouncilofwhalers.com For more information contact the WCW Secretariat: World Council of Whalers PO Box 361 Qualicum Beach, BC V9K1S9 Phone/Fax 250 228-1048 wcw(a)island.net www.worldcouncilofwhalers.com

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SMM Biennial Workshop on Solitary Sociables
by Courtney Stark 21 Sep '05

21 Sep '05

WORKSHOP ON THE RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT OF SOLITARY, SOCIABLE ODONTOCETES December 10, 2005 Conveners: Dr. Toni Frohoff, Courtney S. Vail, and Dr. Mike Bossley Presenters: Scientists, managers, and government personnel from approximately a dozen countries who have worked with solitary, sociable cetaceans Pre-registration deadline: November 21, 2005 The Workshop on the Research and Management of Solitary, Sociable Odontocetes will be held on Saturday, December 10th, as part of the 16th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals in San Diego, California (see http://www.marinemammalogy.org for conference details). It will be convened from 09:00 AM to 6:00 PM at the Manchester Grand Hyatt (the Conference site). Although the pre-registration deadline is November 21, 2005, on-site registration will commence at 08:00AM, prior to the workshop if space is available. Coffee and light refreshments will be served. Participants will not be provided lunch, but a variety of foraging options will be available within the hotel during the lunch break. Please join us for what may be the first workshop specifically designed to discuss and identify critical research and management needs as well as provide a forum for increasing our knowledge of the unique opportunities and challenges that solitary, sociable odontocetes present and how we can best respond to them. This workshop will provide an invaluable opportunity for researchers and managers from around the world to present new case studies and information, share video footage, evaluate various methods, and discuss current problems and possible solutions. We will address the growing phenomenon of solitary, sociable odontocetes, their interactions with humans, and the often-conflicting management challenges that arise in providing for the needs of the animals and an increasing number of people eager to interact with them. Observations of solitary odontocetes who regularly engage in sociable interactions with boaters and swimmers appear to be increasing in many areas around the world. In the past, these animals have typically been small delphinids and, most commonly, bottlenose dolphins. However, there has been a notable growth in the occurrence of other solitary sociable odontocetes; specifically, orcas and beluga whales. Although these animals provide unique opportunities for research, their interactions with humans typically warrant immediate, intensive and innovative methods of management to minimize hazards to humans and the animals. The goal of this workshop is to provide a cohesive update and understanding to augment the relatively few studies of these animals that have been published and the even smaller amount of information that is available about their management. On the day of the workshop, registered attendees will receive a preliminary report that will include the agenda for the workshop, a literature review of published literature on the research and management of solitary sociable cetaceans, summaries of workshop presentations and other relevant information. A limited number of copies of this report will be available following the workshop to those who were not able to attend. Following the workshop, proceedings from the workshop will include a summary of meeting results and recommendations that will also be compiled and posted for distribution. Please do not request reports at this time as we will post information on how they can be ordered and/or viewed via website after the workshop (www.wdcs.org) Workshop Registration forms and additional details can be found at www.wdcs.org/solitaries If you have specific questions or comments about the workshop, feel free to contact Courtney Vail (courtney(a)wdcs.org) We thank the Society for Marine Mammalogy for assistance with this workshop and for the opportunity to convene it. See you at the conference and at the workshop! ______________________________________________________________________ This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System. For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email ______________________________________________________________________

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