SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR ABSTRACTS What: Influences of Environmental Variability on Top Predator Distribution, Abundance and Behavior (Session Code: 136) Where: 2012 Ocean Sciences Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA When: 20-24 February 2012 Abstract submission deadline: 7 October 2011 (23:59 U.S. Central Time) Session Description: Patterns in top marine predator distribution, abundance and behavior are influenced by spatial and temporal variability in the ocean occurring at a variety of scales. From diel periodicity in diving and acoustic behavior to distribution shifts caused by climate change, variability in oceanographic conditions and prey distribution can have profound effects on top marine predators. This session seeks to bring together biologists, ecologists, oceanographers, and conservation practitioners who are using traditional and novel technologies (e.g. instrumentation, numerical and habitat modeling) to investigate relationships between environmental variability and the ecology and/or management of fishes, marine turtles, seabirds, pinnipeds and cetaceans. The session will focus on understanding the linkages between physical and biological processes across a variety of scales and on how these relationships can be used to manage and conserve top predator populations. Organizers: Daniel Palacios, Mark Baumgartner, Steven Bograd, Elliott Hazen, George Shillinger THE 2012 OCEAN SCIENCES MEETING This joint meeting is an international gathering of more than 4,000 attendees and is being sponsored by The Oceanography Society, the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography and the American Geophysical Union. Please note that: - Only one abstract is permitted per first author, and each abstract must be accompanied by a paid registration. - The deadline for abstract submission is 23:59 U.S. Central Time on 7 October 2011. Because of the anticipated size of this meeting, this deadline will be strictly adhered to. - All submissions must be accompanied by a paid abstract and registration fee. Otherwise, abstracts will not be accepted. Meeting web site: http://www.sgmeet.com/osm2012/default.asp Session category: 3. Biological oceanography, aquatic biology http://www.sgmeet.com/osm2012/special_sessions03.asp