========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 11:39:16 -0800 From: Armando Jaramillo Legorreta Subject: SOMEMMA web page Dear colleagues: The SOMEMMA web page (Sociedad Mexicana para el Estudio de los Mamiferos Marinos) is active again in the address: http://somemma.ens.uabc.mx In this page you can get information on the XXV Annual Meeting for the Study of Marine Mammals, which is going to be held during May, 2000 at La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico. The deadline to receive abstracts is February 28th. This meeting is commemorative and, between other celebrations, some Symposia presentations are going to be dictated by world experts. We expect this meeting a great success. Armando Jaramillo SOMEMMA General Secretariat ajaram(\)faro.ens.uabc.mx somemma(\)c2k.ens.uabc.mx ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2000 14:45:47 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly marine mammal summary to U.S. Congress (fwd) The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS {Dolphin-Safe Logo. In late December 1999, U.S. Dept. of Commerce officials announced that the Dept. will propose adopting an official dolphin- safe logo in conjunction with a tuna tracking program to assure consumers that no dolphins were injured or killed during tuna harvesting. An interim final rule establishing specific requirements for the program is expected to be published shortly by NMFS.} [Environment News Service] {Canadian Sealing. On Dec. 21, 1999, Canadian Fisheries Minister Herb Dhaliwal announced that the year 2000 harp seal kill quota will remain at 275,000 animals, saying no information justifies a change from last year. The hooded seal kill quota would remain at 10,000 animals. In addition, a kill of several hundred grey seals will be allowed in areas other than Sable Island.} [Canadian Press] {Japanese Whaling. On Dec. 20, 1999, Greenpeace activists harassed Japanese whalers killing minke whales in the Antarctic. On Dec.21, 1999, the Japanese factory whaling ship Nisshin Maru collided with the Greenpeace vessel Arctic Sunrise carrying activists protesting Japan's research kill of Antarctic minke whales. There were no reported injuries and damage appeared to not be serious. [Reuters, Greenpeace press release, Environment News Service, personal communication] Steller Sea Lion Shooting. On Dec. 16, 1999, a Petersburg, AK, man was charged in U.S. District Court (Anchorage, AK) with shooting and killing several Steller sea lions near Wrangell, AK, in February 1998. Arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 20, 2000. [Assoc Press] Cook Inlet Beluga Whales. On Dec. 16, 1999, NMFS biologists, speaking at a public scoping meeting on drafting an NMFS environmental impact statement for managing Cook Inlet beluga whales, reported the results of summer 1999 surveys, indicating that decline in this whale population had ceased and that the population was stable. The 1999 population estimate was 357 whales, nearly the same as the 1998 estimate of 347 animals. [Anchorage Daily News] Whale and Dolphin Transport. As of Dec. 7, 1999, Lufthansa Airlines adopted the policy that it will no longer transport whales and dolphins for aquariums and water parks. This action was taken in response to a request from Sea Shepherd Europe that the airline review its policies on transport of wild animals after a November 1999 incident wherein 2 dolphins died in a Lufthansa cargo machine. [Environment News Service] Mexican Salt Project. On Nov. 30, 1999, the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO, meeting in Marrakech, Morocco, unanimously adopted a report [ http://www.savebajawhales.com/documents/worldheritagefinal2.doc ] by an August 1999 fact-finding mission to Mexico's Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site on whether the site might be threatened by a proposed solar salt evaporation facility. The mission's balanced report was viewed as favoring the position of both proponents and opponents of the project. The report concludes that the site and whales are not currently in danger, but recommends a thorough monitoring of the area so that any impacts of any significant changes, such as construction of the proposed facility, can be evaluated. [Mitsubishi International Corp. press release, Environment News Service, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release] Norwegian Whaling. On Nov. 26, 1999, Norway's Minister of Fisheries Peter Angelsen announced that the minke whale harvest quota for 2000 would be 655, a reduction from the quota of 753 animals in 1999. The downward revision was attributed to improvement of the quota calculation model and revised whale population assessments. The next hunt is scheduled to begin in early May 2000. [High North Alliance News] Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. Date: Sun, 3 Jan 0100 14:47:17 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MARMAM FAQ and Editorial Policy ====================================================== MARMAM EDITORIAL POLICY AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ====================================================== This message will be sent out monthly - new additions or recent changes are marked >> *Please save this message for future reference!* Topics: EDITORIAL POLICY 1. The MARMAM list 2. Messages posted on MARMAM 3. Messages not posted on MARMAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 4. How do I post messages to the list? 5. How do I reply to individual subscribers? 6. How do I subscribe/unsubscribe/temporarily signoff? 7. How do I receive MARMAM postings as a single daily digest rather than as individual messages? 8. How do I retrieve old postings to MARMAM? 9. Subscriber list 10. How do I get help using listserver commands? 11. Why did my MARMAM subscription stop? 12. Useful websites 13. Other email discussion lists 14. Who do I contact with my questions or concerns? ===================================================== MARMAM EDITORIAL POLICY 1. The MARMAM list MARMAM is an edited e-mail discussion list which focuses on marine mammal research and conservation. The list was established in August 1993 and as of April 1999 there were about 3,500 subscribers from 60 different countries. Anyone may subscribe to the list. Editors of the MARMAM list work on a volunteer basis. At any one time there may be between three and five editors. We have endeavoured to make the editorial policy as uniform and explicit as possible (detailed below), but there may be some individual editor variation in the standard of messages sent to the list. _______________________________________________________________ 2. Messages posted on MARMAM A wide spectrum of message types are found on MARMAM, all related to marine mammal research and/or conservation. MARMAM endeavours to provide unbiased information on these issues (e.g, is not anti-whaling or anti-hunting per se). Commonly seen messages include: - requests for information regarding current or recent research projects, publications, or research techniques - current or previously unreported unusual news events - meeting announcements - job or volunteer opportunities - abstracts from scientific papers or reports - books/techniques/products announcements - requests for products (eg., photographs) which will benefit MARMAM subscribers (eg., photographs that will be of widespread use or for payment) - brief summaries of meetings or conferences related to marine mammals, including resolutions passed NOTE: Notices from regional student chapters of the Society for Marine Mammalogy should be restricted to: - a single message announcing each new student chapter (including contact details and website address). - a single message concerning each regional meeting (providing details as to the time and place of that meeting, schedule of speakers or events, and a website or email address to contact for further information). Before sending a message to MARMAM, please read the following. An increasing number of messages are being sent to the list which require modification by the authors or the Editors. As the Editors moderate the list on a volunteer basis, there is often limited time available to help with or to facilitate such modifications. We ask that before sending a message to the list, the author ensure that: - An appropriate subject heading is included - Your name and e-mail address are included in the body of the message - Your message is interesting enough to go to 3000+ list members. Therefore messages about small local meetings will not be posted. - Your replies are meant to go to ALL the subscribers of MARMAM, rather than just to the original author. If you feel your submission is of general interest, please send it both to the original author and cc it to MARMAM. (In many cases we ask that summaries of responses to questions are later posted to the list so individual responses to the list are often unneccessary.) - Requests for information provide details in the body of the message justifying the request (providing background information or details on why the information is needed). Such requests should also demonstrate that available means to obtain the information requested have been exhausted. Please do not use the list merely because you have not checked your library. (A follow up of responses to any such request should later be posted to the list.) - Messages in another language provide an english translation - Messages do not include attached files. The MARMAM account cannot deal with attachments and any messages with attachments will not be sent. All information should therefore be included as text within the body of the message. - Messages are properly formatted and do not contain excessive numbers of typos. As editing the list is a volunteer job and there are often too many messages to easily deal with, messages which are inproperly formatted (e.g., missing a subject heading, missing the senders name and e-mail address in the body of the message, or formatted too wide for a computer screen) or those full of typos may not be sent to the list. In most cases the author will be contacted regarding resubmitting their message, but at times of high volume, this may not always be done. NB. Many messages ask for information which would be of interest to many of the list subscribers. We therefore ask that a summary of responses is prepared and submitted back to the MARMAM list. Respondents to calls for information should therefore be aware that their response may be resubmitted to the entire list. Authors should therefore state that they do not wish their reply to go to the list, if this is the case. Summaries to the MARMAM list should fulfil other editorial criteria (relevent, concise, no flames, etc) ______________________________________________________________ 3. Messages not posted on MARMAM Examples of messages not posted to the MARMAM list include: - THOSE UNRELATED TO MARINE MAMMAL RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION - ANIMAL RIGHTS CALLS FOR ACTION - "COMMUNICATION" BETWEEN HUMANS AND ANIMALS - "CASUAL" REQUESTS for information that is easily available elsewhere. A specific request, with a brief description of what the information is to be used for, is most likely to stimulate feedback from other subscribers. If the author lives in a country where limited library resources are available and is conducting original research, exceptions to this rule may be made (though the message author must state that they have no easy access to library resources). - INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION: information requests without details as to why this is being requested. Messages which include only an information request without providing any background information justifying the request and demonstrating that available means to obtain this information have been exhausted, will not be posted. - COMMON EVENTS: news reports of common events (e.g. strandings of common species of marine mammals, deaths of captive animals, etc) - MEDICAL REPORTS ON CAPTIVE ANIMALS FOR WHICH HELP IS BEING SOUGHT - REQUESTS FOR SMALL NUMBERS OF SPECIFIC ITEMS (eg., photographs) that would be better directed to individuals working on the species in question. - OPINION STATEMENTS OFFERING LITTLE OR NO NOVEL INFORMATION. Messages of a duplicative nature which do not contribute new information are generally not posted to the list. Exceptions include event-related postings, such as conference information, job openings, and surveys. New subscribers are strongly encouraged to monitor MARMAM for a period before submitting messages to the list, or to review recent archived messages, to reduce the number of duplicative submissions. - CRITICISMS OF RESEARCHER'S STATEMENTS QUOTED IN NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, unless they are corrections from the person being quoted. - 'FLAMES'. Messages which are derogatory or serve to insult or inflame rather than contribute to the discussion at hand are not posted to the list. - RHETORIC: messages with some substance surrounded by a lot of rhetoric - HUMOUROUS ANECDOTES - JOB/ VOLUNTEER POSITION/ INTERNSHIP WANTED. Requests for employment or volunteer opportunities are not posted to the list. Persons seeking such positions are encouraged to monitor MARMAM for opportunities, which they can apply to directly. Students interested in careers in marine mammal science are encouraged to consult the Society for Marine Mammalogy's 'Strategies for Pursuing a Career in Marine Mammal Science', which can be found at the Society for Marine Mammalogy's website: http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~smm/strat.htm - JOB OFFERS FOR ANIMAL TRAINERS OR FOR NATURALISTS ON WHALE WATCH BOATS ===================================================== MARMAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 4. How do I post messages to the list? All messages meant for MARMAM subscribers should be sent to marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca Messages should include the sender's name and e-mail address within the body of the text, and a detailed subject heading. ______________________________________________________________ 5. How do I reply to individual messages? Messages meant soley for a particular subscriber and not for MARMAM may be sent directly to that subscriber using his or her e-mail address, which will appear in the header of the message and/or in the body of the message. Subscribers are asked to include their e-mail address within the body of their messages, as not all subscribers receive headers including this information with their messages. If your reply is of general interest to the subscribers, please reply to the list, otherwise you should reply directly to the individual posting the original message. NOTE: Many subscribers will find that use of the 'reply' option will reply to MARMAM, not to the intended recipient. Please check your header when using the 'reply' option. ______________________________________________________________ 6. How do I subscribe/ unsubscribe/ temporarily signoff? All messages not meant for MARMAM subscribers should be sent to the listserver (listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca). As the list-server is an automated service, it is important that commands be sent without errors or extraneous text. To subscribe, send a message to "listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca" which says: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastnamename To unsubscribe, send a message to "listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca" saying: signoff marmam If you want to temporarily discontinue your subscription without signing off the list, send the message: set marmam nomail to continue it, send the message: set marmam mail NOTE: If your email address is going to change and you will lose access to your old address please unsubscribe that address from marmam, and then subscribe under your new address. If you no longer have access to the email account from which you subscribed, send a brief message to marmamed(\)uvic.ca, providing the email addess that you no longer have access to, and the editors will delete this address from the list. You can then subscribe from your new address. _______________________________________________________________ 7. How do I receive MARMAM postings as a single daily digest rather than as individual messages? To receive marmam messages daily as a single file, send a message to "listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca", saying set marmam digests To change this setting to individual messages, send the message: set marmam mail _______________________________________________________________ 8. How do I retrieve messages previously sent to MARMAM? All MARMAM messages since 1995 are archived and are retrievable by sending the message: get marmam logxxyy to the listserver (listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca), where xx = year and yy = month (e.g. get marmam log9601). Two searchable websites hold archived MARMAM postings: Links to both of these can be found via the MARMAM homepage http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/marmam.htm http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ This archive includes all messages from June 2, 1998 and the monthly logs dating back to January 1995. The archive can be searched by keyword and will return a list of files (messages) containing that keyword. For long messages (i.e., the monthly logs) - using the "find" command (under "Edit") will speed up searching within the message. http://www.reference.com/cgi-bin/pn/listarch?list=MARMAM(\)uvvm.uvic.ca This archive contains all messages from November 1997. To search this archive back to 11/97, change the date range at the bottom of the "Advanced Search" page. The archive manager is Quyen Lam __________________________________________________________________ 9. Subcriber list Due to mis-use of the subscriber list, the list is no longer available through a listserv command. To find out who subscribes to MARMAM, you must send a request to the MARMAM editors (marmamed(\)uvic.ca) and it will be sent out to you along with a request to not mis-use the list and guidelines to proper use of the list. Subscribers not wanting this information available to others can send the command: set marmam conceal to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca _______________________________________________________________ 10. How do I get help using listserver commands? A list of common commands for different listserver functions (subscribing, retrieving files, etc.) is obtainable by sending the message: help to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. A more detailed list of listserver commands may be obtained by sending the message: info refcard to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca _______________________________________________________________ 11. Why did my MARMAM subscription stop? Your subscription may be cancelled if your email is undeliverable. This can happen, for example, if your in-box is full or if your server is down for a period of time. When this happens the marmamed account will receive error messages, and those whose accounts bounce back are either automatically deleted from the list or manually deleted by the list Editors every once in a while. If you find that you receive no MARMAM messages for a few days, try subscribing to the list again. ______________________________________________________________ 12. Useful websites Detailed below are some World Wide Web Marine Mammal related links. Many of these contain further links to other sites. The Society for Marine Mammalogy: "http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~smm/" The National Marine Mammal Laboratory Homepage: "http://nmml01.afsc.noaa.gov/" The Acoustical Society of America: "http://asa.aip.org/" The European Cetacean Society: "http://web.inter.NL.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs.htm" International Whaling Commission: "http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/iwcoffice" WhaleNet "http://whale.wheelock.edu/" ______________________________________________________ 13. Other email discussion lists Some other email lists that may be relevent to marine mammals include the following. (Lists on a variety of topics which may vary in relevence are included - the editors take no responsibility for the content of these and are included here for reference only.) Lists are shown as topic, listserver and mailing list name. To subscribe send a message to the appropriate listserver with the message "subscribe " Bioacoustics: listproc(\)cornell.edu, Bioacoustics-L Biotelemetry: LISTSERV(\)BGUVM.BGU.AC.IL, biotelem Conservation network: listserv(\)sivm.si.edu, conslink Ecology, Ecological Society of America: listserv(\)umdd.umd.edu, ecolog-l Fish and Wildlife Information Management: listserv(\)listserv.vt.edu, FWIM-L Fisheries and Social Science: listserv(\)mitvma.mit.edu, fishfolk Marine Studies and Information: listserv(\)ccgc.tc.gc.ca, marine-l Mammal: LISTSERV(\)SIVM.SI.EDU, Mammal-l (please let the editors know of other lists to include here) ______________________________________________________________ 14. Who do I contact with my questions and concerns? Questions and concerns about MARMAM can be sent to the list editors (Robin Baird, Sascha Hooker, Shannon Gowans and Daniel Palacios) at marmamed(\)uvic.ca _______________________________________________________________ The MARMAM Editorial Policy and FAQ can also be found at the website: http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/marmam.htm Updated October 1999 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 4 Jan 0100 09:30:18 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: NMFS publishes Interim Final Rule implementing the IDCPA (fwd) From: Nicole LeBoeuf On January 3, 2000, NMFS published the Interim Final Rule implementing the provisions of the International Dolphin Conservation Program Act (IDCPA) in the Federal Register. These new regulations will meet internationally adopted standards for protecting dolphins in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP) and assure the public that tuna labeled dolphin-safe had no dolphins seriously injured or killed during tuna fishing operations. Under the regulations, tuna products will be allowed to be imported into the United States if they are harvested in compliance with the International Dolphin Conservation Program Act. The regulations will also implement a new labeling standard that allows tuna products to carry a dolphin-safe label only if no dolphins were killed or seriously injured during a set in which tuna were caught. The new regulations will further establish general requirements to track and verify of the status of tuna imports from the ETP. The new tuna tracking program will track both dolphin-safe tuna and non-dolphin-safe tuna throughout the tuna harvest and processing. In addition, U.S. fishing vessels would be allowed to operate on the same basis as other signatory nations under a streamlined permitting process for purse seine fishing in the ETP. There will be a 90-day public comment period on the rule, which closes on April 3, 2000. For more information, please visit the NMFS Office of Protected Resources web site at: www.nmfs.gov/prot_res/main/tunadolphin.html. Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2000 14:39:47 -0500 From: Laurie McDonough Subject: Marine Mammal Internship Mystic Aquarium has an opening for a volunteer college intern in our Research and Veterinary Services Department for Spring, 2000. This internship may involve daily duties working with stranded seals and a research project related to analysis of satellite tracking data. Contact the Assistant Director of Education at (860) 572-5955 x206 or interninfo(\)mysticaquarium.org immediately if you are interested. Please view complete details of our college internship program on our webpages, www.mysticaquarium.org (click on Education). ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2000 12:21:21 -0500 From: Marthajane Caldwell Subject: decline in whale population had ceased? The following item was included in the weekly January 3, 2000 CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress: "Cook Inlet Beluga Whales. On Dec. 16, 1999, NMFS biologists, speaking at a public scoping meeting on drafting an NMFS environmental impact statement for managing Cook Inlet beluga whales, reported the results of summer 1999 surveys, indicating that decline in this whale population had ceased and that the population was stable. The 1999 population estimate was 357 whales, nearly the same as the 1998 estimate of 347 animals. [Anchorage Daily News]" I am a graduate student at the University of Miami and am interested in conservation and stock management issues. This press release left me with several questions: Is it realistic to say that a population has ceased to decline after only one year? What were the population estimates before 1998? Are they greater than 347? In other words has there been a steady increase in the population over more than just one year? What if the population estimates are lower next year? I would like to know what others think. Marthajane Caldwell caldwell(\)fig.cox.miami.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2000 17:43:20 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: NMFS publishes Interim Final Rule implementing the IDCPA (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- I have posted on this topic in the past and of course the debate on the tuna/ dolphin and "dolphin safe" issues has been going on for several years now. That being the case, I am severely disappointed to see the US government still making statements and claims that are deliberately misleading and have consistently failed to pass a simple test of logic. Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Scientist The Humane Society of the United States 2100 L Street, NW Washington, DC 20037 ph: 301/258-3048 fax: 301/258-3080 eml: nrose(\)hsus.org http://www.hsus.org >>> MARMAM Editors 01/04/00 12:40PM >>> <> First of all, the newly defined and designed "dolphin safe" label will not assure the public of anything of the kind. It will assure the public that no observer on board a tuna purse seine vessel OBSERVED dolphins receive serious injuries or die during tuna fishing operations IN THE EASTERN TROPICAL PACIFIC ONLY. The ability of ETP observers to see everything that happens during a dolphin set, including the presence or absence of dead or dying dolphins, is not infallible and never has been. The fact that the US government still insists on making this statement with certainty rather than with the necessary caveats is very disappointing. Secondly, the old label, far more than the new one, assured the public that no dolphins were seriously injured or killed during tuna fishing operations in the ETP. Why? BECAUSE NO SETS ON DOLPHINS WERE ALLOWED under the old definition. The old definition prohibited an inherently flawed fishing method. The new definition allows the fishing method and relies on a fallible human observer to note mortalities. Under the old definition, no dolphins died in purse seine nets in the ETP to catch the tuna in the can because PURSE SEINE NETS SET ON DOLPHINS WERE NOT ALLOWED. Under the new definition, no dolphins were OBSERVED to die in purse seine nets in the ETP to catch the tuna in the can because an observer didn't report any mortalities. Which is the stronger definition for "dolphin safe" in the ETP? Under both definitions, dolphins MAY die in tuna fishing operations in OTHER fisheries, using OTHER methods - truly incidental mortality (as opposed to mortality associated with intentional harassment). Which definition misleads the public more into believing no dolphins died at all? The one that prohibits outright a fishing method that is inherently dangerous to dolphins, in the only fishery known to use this method - no more and no less - or the one that allows this inherently dangerous fishing method in this same fishery, while setting a "no mortality" standard without adding the caveats that this standard is only for this fishery and is based on observations of a single human observer? The doublespeak employed by NMFS, the IATTC, and the conservation groups that support this new definition and label in their efforts to imply that this new label is somehow stronger in its protection of dolphins in the ETP is astounding. This doesn't even take into account the fact that under the new definition and label, intentional harassment of up to 3 million dolphins a year, chasing them for 20 minutes on average (and for as long as 2 hours) with speedboats and then encircling them with a mile-long purse seine net, then pushing them out of the net with a human swimmer in the water, will now be considered "dolphin safe." I certainly hope that all dolphin biologists on MARMAM see the problem with this definition. <> Again, this does not clarify that this "no mortality or serious injury" standard is based on the observations of a single human observer on board a tuna vessel. It does not clarify that the definition of serious injury is "any injury likely to lead to mortality" - a circular and highly subjective definition that has yet to be specifically standardized through regulations (again, leading to a reliance on a fallible human observer to determine what a serious injury is). It does not clarify that the harassment suffered by the dolphins intentionally targeted by the tuna vessels is discounted when considering what is "dolphin safe." It does not clarify that this harassment may well be responsible for the apparent failure of the targeted dolphin stocks to show any sign of recovery, despite nine years of significantly decreased mortality (and based on preliminary results from research conducted by NMFS and the IATTC themselves). It does not clarify that the OLD definition didn't allow the fishing method that intentionally targeted dolphins at all, so of course it too had a "no mortality" standard - at least for this fishing method and for the ETP, which is all the new definition covers as well. <> The new requirements will allow tuna from sets in which mortality was observed and sets in which mortality was not observed to be mixed on board the tuna vessels while still at sea. The tuna will be sorted in port, based on a weight guesstimate made by the observer at the time of the sets. In other words, the tuna in a can wearing the new label may well have been caught by killing dolphins, but it's all relative. The tuna in the unlabeled can next to it on the same shelf may have been caught by not killing dolphins, so fraud isn't an issue... <> In other words, for the first time since 1992, US fishing vessels will be allowed to set their nets on dolphins and will be granted dolphin mortality limits. How this is considered a step FORWARD for dolphin protection is simply beyond my ability to process logically. <> I strongly urge anybody who thinks that chasing and encircling dolphins (particularly highly excitable _Stenella_ spp.) is NOT "dolphin safe" to comment on this interim final rule. And to take very good care at the grocery store when purchasing tuna after February 2. For more information on the "other side" of this highly politicized issue, please visit and select "dolphin safe tuna" under the options selection. Date: Tue, 5 Jan 0100 17:45:42 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: black lung disease in dolphins - urgent (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Nick Costa To Anyone: Please respond as soon as you can with ANY information about black lung disease in dolphins. Any links, articles, or any info. would be greatly appreciated. It may also be under Pneumoconiosis (Black Lung). Thank you very much. I appreciate your urgent response! Please respond to ncosta(\)cascobay.org as soon as you can. Its an emergency. Thanks again! Nick Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2000 20:46:26 +1100 From: "Daniel R. Gore (by way of Graham J. Clarke)" Subject: Whales and high speed ships Their is a significant risk to whales that I think is being overlooked by the whale preservation community. High speed ferries have become a big industry world wide and these high speed ferries are killing whales, probably in numbers close to what the whale hunters are. The high speed ships that pose the biggest threat, are ones that incorporate a motion control system that uses a foil extended from a strut below the hulls. There is only a couple companies that make this kind of system and the prominent one, Maritime Dyanmics, is in the US. They make 99% of the systems that are now out there. Martitime Dynamics is fully aware that there systems kill whales frequently. They have addressed this problem by making their foils break away so that when they hit a whale, it does not cause damage to the boat, it just kills thewhale. They have incorporated location beepers into the foils so that, after a strike and breakaway of the foil, they are able to recover the foil and use it again. They have had whale strikes that have been significantly brutal and have filled the compartment where the foil attaches with blubber. I know they have had about 25 strikes in the last five years. The most recent whale strike occured within the last month off the coast of Maine and they will probably be searching for the foil soon using there location device. If you have any doubts on the accuracy of my report, please contact Maritime Dynamics, and pose as a propsective customer. Tell them you are trying to establish a high speed ferry operation some place. Use a location that you know is populated with whales (as few as they may be). Tell them you would like to use a high speed catamaran that is about 60 meters in length and travels about 45 knots. Tell them you are worried about losing foils due to "forign" objects in the water and ask them what solution do they to ensure your boat does not get damaged. There number is US (301) 863 -5499. Ask for Joe Kubinek, he is the company manager, he will do anything for a sale. Don't let them know who you are, they know what a disaterous thing they do to our environment. Sincerely, Daniel R. Gore dangore(\)erols.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2000 10:37:32 -0800 From: "Phillips, Alana" Subject: Abstract: California sea lion mortality linked to a toxic diatom bloom. The Marine Mammal Center is pleased to announce the publication of the following article in this week's edition of Nature. This paper represents the collaborative effort of researchers from numerous organizations. For more information, please contact Frances Gulland (gullandf(\)tmmc.org) or Susan Andres (andress(\)tmmc.org). ======= Scholin, C.A., Gulland, F., Doucette, G.J., Benson, S., Busman, M., Chavez, F.P., Cordaro, J., DeLong, R., De Vogelaera, A., Harvey, J., Haulena, M., Lefebvre, K., Lipscomb, T., Loscutoff, S., Lowenstine, L.J., Marin, R. III, Miller, P.E., McLellan, W.A., Moeller, P.D.R., Powell, C.L., Rowles, T., Silvagni, P., Silver, M., Spraker, T., Trainer, V., and Van Dolah, F.M. 1999. Mortality of sea lions along the central California coast linked to a toxic diatom bloom. Nature 403 (6765): 80-84 (6 January 2000). ABSTRACT: Over 400 California sea lions (_Zalophus californianus_) died and many others displayed signs of neurological dysfunction along the central California coast during May and June 1998. A bloom of _Pseudonitzschia australis_ (diatom) was observed in the Monterey Bay region during the same period. This bloom was associated with production of domoic acid (DA), a neurotoxin that was also detected in planktivorous fish, including the northern anchovy (_Engraulis mordax_), and in sea lion body fluids. These and other concurrent observations demonstrate the trophic transfer of DA resulting in marine mammal mortality. In contrast to fish, blue mussels (_Mytilus edulus_) collected during the DA outbread contained no DA or only trace amounts. Such findings reveal that monitoring of mussel toxicity alone does not necessarily provide adequate warning of DA entering the food web at levels sufficient to harm marine wildlife and perhaps humans. ===== This research underscores the importance of The Marine Mammal Center's work in monitoring marine mammal population health, the links with ocean environment health, as well as the scientific collaboration occurring between The Marine Mammal Center and other scientific organizations. Seizure episodes in California sea lions had occurred previously but this was the first time the cause was identified. The finding is significant because of the implications for marine mammal and human health. The Marine Mammal Center, a non-profit rehabilitation hospital, rescues marine mammals that are ill, injured or orphaned. The Center uniquely combines its rehabilitation program with scientific discovery and education programs. For more information, please visit our website: www.tmmc.org. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2000 10:42:38 -0500 From: Trevor Spradlin Subject: ANPR for Whale Watching in the Northeast Region To all MARMAM subscribers: Following is the notice published on January 4, 2000, in the Federal Register by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) regarding an "Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking" (ANPR) for whale watching in the Northeast Region (Maine to Virginia). Please note that comments from the public on this ANPR must be received in writing by March 6, 2000. Comments may be either submitted to NMFS by post mail or fax to the address or fax number provided below (e-mail comments cannot be accepted). Once comments are received on the ANPR, a decision will be made whether or not to proceed with a "Proposed Rule" for whale watching in the Northeast. If so, there will be another public comment period for the Proposed Rule. *********************************** [Federal Register: January 4, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 2)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 270-272] >From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr04ja00-24] ===================================================================== --------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Parts 216 and 222 [Docket No. 990901242-9242-01; I.D.072099E] North Atlantic Whale Protection AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking. --------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS publishes an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) in response to a request by the Whale Watch Advisory Group (WWAG) that NMFS solicit comments on the appropriateness of codifying, through rulemaking, operational procedures for vessels engaged in whale watching in NMFS Northeast Region (Virginia to Maine). The scope of this ANPR encompasses the activity of any vessel (commercial or private) that is engaged in whale watching. NMFS is requesting comments on whether existing whale protection measures are adequate to address the potential threat of injury or mortality by vessels engaged in whale watching (commercial and private) to large whales, (primarily humpback, fin, and minke whales), and, if not, what whale protection measures are needed. DATES: Comments must be received at the appropriate address or fax number [[Page 271]] (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. eastern standard time, on March 6, 2000. ADDRESSES: Comments on this Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) should be addressed to Chief, Permits Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or fax to 301-713-0376. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Terbush, Office of Protected Resources, 301-713-2289; or Doug Beach, Northeast Region, 978-281-9254. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Whale watching is a popular recreational activity in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS) and throughout the Northeast Region. Whale watch vessel operators seek out areas where whales congregate. This has led to large numbers of vessels gathering around groups of whales, which has increased the potential for harassment, injury or even the death of these animals. NMFS has received complaints from the public charging that marine mammals are being harassed and injured by commercial whale watching, fishing, and pleasure craft vessels. In 1998, whale watch vessels struck two whales while returning to their home port. In 1997, there was a report from a private citizen while aboard a whale watch excursion that the vessel had hit a whale. There were no reported ship strikes of whales by vessels engaged in whale watching in 1999; however, there were three reports of harassment in 1999 which are all currently under investigation. NMFS Northeast Region has attempted to address the impacts of whale watching through a combination of enforcing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and Endangered Species Act (ESA) prohibitions against the taking of listed species, and issuing operational guidelines to give vessel operators guidance on how to approach large whales without causing harassment. In addition, to minimize the detrimental effects of directed vessel interactions with northern right whales, NMFS issued an interim final rule prohibiting the approach of a right whale within 500 yards on February 13, 1997. Although this rule provides certain exemptions, it generally prohibits vessels and aircraft from approaching a right whale within 500 yards, and is believed to provide adequate protection to this species from whale watching vessels. The Recovery Plan for the Northern Humpback Whale (NMFS, 1991) places high priority on reducing any detrimental effects of directed vessel interactions with that species, specifically in regard to collisions with ships or boats. The Northeast Implementation Team, established by NMFS to implement the ESA Right Whale and Humpback Whale Recovery Plans, set up the WWAG under its Ship Strike Sub-Committee to look into appropriate measures to address what is believed to be an increasing threat to whales, as evidenced by the whale watch vessel strikes in 1998 and recent reports of harassment. The WWAG is made up of representatives from the whale watch industry, conservation organizations, and state and Federal agencies. In March, 1999, the WWAG recommended that NMFS revise its 1985 whale watch guidelines to help address the issue, and prepare an ANPR to solicit comments on the appropriateness of codifying, through rulemaking, operational procedures for vessels engaged in whale watching in the Northeast Region. NMFS revised the guidelines as requested by the WWAG on June 1, 1999 (64 FR 29270). The guidelines were revised to provide specific vessel speed recommendations, decrease the number of vessels in close proximity to whales, recommend the use of lookouts when entering or departing known whale aggregation areas, and increase the circular Whale Awareness Zone. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), in performing its maritime law enforcement role under the ESA, has monitored whale watch operations at various times. The USCG established a program utilizing the Coast Guard Auxiliary to monitor whale watching activities in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS) and elsewhere in NER waters during the 1999 season. Observations are conducted from USCG vessels and aircraft, and by placing uniformed, specially trained Auxiliary observers in the wheel houses of whale watch vessels. However, it should be noted that the USCG Auxiliary has no enforcement authority. USCG Auxiliary observers provide written reports of their observations to NOAA. NMFS and SBNMS intend to review all comments and recommendations received, as well as information received on observed compliance with the revised guidelines, in the course of determining whether to propose a rule. Request for Comments NMFS is requesting comments on (1) whether existing whale protection measures are adequate to address the potential threat of injury or mortality by vessels engaged in whale watching (commercial and private) to large whales, (primarily humpback, fin, and minke whales), and, if not, (2) what whale protection measures are needed. NMFS offers the following as possible options: Further revisions of the existing whale watch guidelines - The revised guidelines include several measures intended to decrease the likelihood of adverse interactions with whales, such as collisions. The revised guidelines, which cover an area two miles from any observed whale: (1) establish certain speed levels as a vessel approaches or departs from observed whales at two miles (13 knots), one mile (10 knots), and one-half mile (7 knots); (2) provide more specific instructions for multi-vessel approaches within 600 feet and a maximum number of vessels (three) within that area; and (3) recommend the posting of a dedicated lookout when vessels are within two miles of observed whales to keep track of all whales in the vicinity. The guidelines could be further revised to increase or decrease these requirements or establish new ones, such as minimum approach distances or general speed restrictions in specific whale high use areas. Codify the whale watch guidelines - Codifying the whale watch guidelines as regulations would make them requirements rather than just recommendations, and would provide for enforcement of these provisions and penalties for violations. Minimum approach rules - Similar to the right whale minimum approach rule, some limit could be established by regulation to accommodate a reasonable level of whale watching opportunity while providing space for individual animals to avoid harassment and possible injury. This could be accomplished independently of any revision or codification of the whale watch guidelines. Operator Permit or Certification Program - Requiring operators of vessels engaged in whale watching to obtain a permit or certification. Issuance of a permit or certification would be based on the operator demonstrating knowledge of whale behavior and proper whale watch vessel operation. Sanctions, up to and including loss of permit or certification for nonconformance with applicable regulations, would be possible. [[Page 272]] Dated: December 28, 1999. Penelope D. Dalton, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 00-87 Filed 1-3-00; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2000 12:19:39 -0000 From: Andy Williams Subject: Job opportunity, UK research programme boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0089_01BF5A9B.CD2EF2A0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0089_01BF5A9B.CD2EF2A0 charset="iso-8859-1" I would like to post the following job advert. Applicants should reply = to the addresses included in the advert only. DURLSTON MARINE PROJECT RESEARCH ASSISTANT ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTORATE DURLSTON MARINE PROJECT CONTRACT: FIXED TERM CONTRACT FOR ONE YEAR, 20 HOURS PER WEEK SALARY: SCALE 1, SPINAL COLUMN POINT 6. =A39252 (pro rata) Per annum The Durlston Marine Project (DMP) is a community-based research and = education=20 project that has been operating successfully since 1992. The project is = funded by a partnership consisting of WWF, Friends of Durlston, The = National=20 Trust, Dorset Wildlife Trust, and Dorset County Council. DMP is involved = in a=20 diverse range of marine research, including a new project, The Dorset = Marine=20 Mammal Research Programme, funded by BP Amoco, to investigate the = ecology and=20 significance of the bottlenose dolphins and other marine mammal species = that=20 frequent Dorset's waters. The research assistant will be responsible for the day to day = administration=20 of the project, computerised data management and disseminating project=20 information including a Website update. S/he will also assist with = financial=20 management and sponsorship and assist the Project Officer and research = team=20 with all aspects of the research including being active in data = gathering,=20 liaison and development of educational and promotional materials Candidates should have a good general education, computer literacy = skills,=20 and good oral and written communication abilities. A knowledge and = commitment=20 to the marine environment, scientific research qualifications and = experience,=20 and practical boat handling experience are desirable.=20 For an application form, returnable by Jan 31st, write to the = Environmental=20 Services Directorate, Dorset County Council, County Hall, Dorchester, = DT1 1XJ=20 or telephone (01305) 224355 (24-hour answerphone). =20 =20 DORSET COUNTY COUNCIL ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTORATE PLANNING DIVISION APPOINTMENT OF DURLSTON MARINE PROJECT RESEARCH ASSISTANT BASED AT DURLSTON COUNTRY PARK POST NUMBER: ES 0648 CONTRACT: FIXED TERM CONTRACT FOR ONE YEAR, 20 HOURS PER WEEK SALARY: SCALE 1, SPINAL COLUMN POINT 6.=20 =A39252.00 (pro rata) PER ANNUM GENERAL The Durlston Marine Project (DMP) is a community-based research and = education=20 project that has been operating successfully since 1992. The project is = funded by a partnership consisting of WWF, Friends of Durlston, The = National=20 Trust, Dorset Wildlife Trust, and Dorset County Council. DMP is involved = in a=20 diverse range of marine research projects, including a new project, The=20 Dorset Marine Mammal Research Programme, funded by BP Amoco, to = investigate=20 the ecology and significance of the bottlenose dolphins and other marine = mammal species that frequent Dorset's waters. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Day to day line management by the Marine Project Officer.=20 The principal duties and responsibilities will be to; Manage the day to day general administration of the Marine Project. Operate and further develop a computerised database for inputting, = storage,=20 analysis and access of information. Account for delegated project budget and assist the investigation and=20 application for relevant project funding, sponsorship and grant aid. Update and disseminate project information including newsletters, = diaries,=20 displays and Website. Attend and minute regular meetings. Assist the Project Officer and research team with all aspects of the=20 project including being active in Literature searches, reviews, and report writing. Data gathering from all aspects of the project, data inputting, = analysis=20 and presentation The liaison work of the project. The development of educational and promotional material for the = project. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE The successful candidate will have=20 A good general education Administrative and organisational experience and skills Significant computer experience including knowledge of = word-processing,=20 data handling, and software packages =20 Good oral and written communication skills Enthusiasm, self motivation and ability to work well independently and = in a=20 small team A current driving licence Desirable qualifications / skills include =20 A Graduate in marine-based science or have significant experience of=20 working in a research environment with a fund-raising element Genuine interest in marine matters, particularly marine mammals = Previous=20 work in marine conservation or related area Scientific research experience is desirable Experience of organising and leading volunteer teams Practical boat handling experience TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT The salary will be within Scale 1, spinal point 6 (=A39252.00 pro = rata) Hours of duty will be 20 hours per week to be arranged with the Marine = Project Officer The post will be for one year, after which it will be reviewed. The appointment will, in an appropriate case, be subject to a = probationary=20 period of 26 weeks. The period of notice to terminate employment by either side is four = weeks=20 in writing as extended where appropriate by the Employment Protection=20 (Consolidation) Act in respect of the minimum notice the County Council = are=20 required to give to terminate the employment up to a maximum of 12 = weeks. If=20 the successful applicant is subject to a probationary term of 26 weeks = the=20 notice during that period will be one week by either side. =20 Andy Williams Biscay Dolphin Research Programme 6 Manor Way Lee on the Solent Hampshire PO13 9JH England Tel/fax +44 (0)1705 552631 e-mail Andy.Williams(\)Biscay-Dolphin.org.uk Visit us at www.Biscay-dolphin.org.uk Department of Mathematics and Environmental Science University of East London Romford Road, London England=20 ------=_NextPart_000_0089_01BF5A9B.CD2EF2A0 charset="iso-8859-1"
I would like to post the following job advert. Applicants should = reply to=20 the addresses included in the advert only.
 
DURLSTON MARINE PROJECT RESEARCH ASSISTANT

ENVIRONMENTAL = SERVICES=20 DIRECTORATE

DURLSTON MARINE PROJECT


CONTRACT: FIXED = TERM=20 CONTRACT FOR ONE YEAR, 20 HOURS PER WEEK
SALARY: SCALE  1, = SPINAL COLUMN=20 POINT 6. =A39252 (pro rata) Per annum

The Durlston Marine Project = (DMP) is=20 a community-based research and education
project that has been = operating=20 successfully since 1992.  The project is
funded by a = partnership=20 consisting of WWF, Friends of Durlston, The National
Trust, Dorset = Wildlife=20 Trust, and Dorset County Council. DMP is involved in a
diverse range = of=20 marine research, including a new project, The Dorset Marine
Mammal = Research=20 Programme, funded by BP Amoco, to investigate the ecology and =
significance=20 of the bottlenose dolphins and other marine mammal species that =
frequent=20 Dorset's waters.

The research assistant will be responsible for = the day=20 to day administration
of the project, computerised data management = and=20 disseminating project
information including a Website update. S/he = will also=20 assist with financial
management and sponsorship and assist the = Project=20 Officer and research team
with all aspects of the research including = being=20 active in data gathering,
liaison and development of educational and = promotional materials

Candidates should have a good general = education,=20 computer literacy skills,
and good oral and written communication = abilities.=20 A knowledge and commitment
to the marine environment, scientific = research=20 qualifications and experience,
and practical boat handling = experience are=20 desirable.

For an application form, returnable by Jan 31st, = write to the=20 Environmental
Services Directorate, Dorset County Council, County = Hall,=20 Dorchester, DT1 1XJ
or telephone (01305) 224355 (24-hour = answerphone). =20





 
DORSET COUNTY = COUNCIL

ENVIRONMENTAL=20 SERVICES DIRECTORATE

PLANNING DIVISION

APPOINTMENT OF = DURLSTON=20 MARINE PROJECT RESEARCH ASSISTANT

BASED AT DURLSTON COUNTRY=20 PARK

POST NUMBER: ES 0648

CONTRACT: FIXED TERM CONTRACT = FOR ONE=20 YEAR,
        20 HOURS PER=20 WEEK

SALARY: SCALE  1, SPINAL COLUMN POINT 6.=20
        =A39252.00 (pro rata) PER = ANNUM


GENERAL
The Durlston Marine Project (DMP) is a community-based research and = education
project that has been operating successfully since = 1992.  The=20 project is
funded by a partnership consisting of WWF, Friends of = Durlston,=20 The National
Trust, Dorset Wildlife Trust, and Dorset County = Council. DMP is=20 involved in a
diverse range of marine research projects, including a = new=20 project, The
Dorset Marine Mammal Research Programme, funded by BP = Amoco, to=20 investigate
the ecology and significance of the bottlenose dolphins = and=20 other marine
mammal species that frequent Dorset's = waters.


DUTIES=20 AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Day to day line management by the Marine Project Officer. =

The=20 principal duties and responsibilities will be to;
  Manage the = day to=20 day general administration of the Marine Project.
  Operate and = further=20 develop a computerised database for inputting, storage,
analysis and = access=20 of information.
  Account for delegated project budget and = assist the=20 investigation and
application for relevant project funding, = sponsorship and=20 grant aid.
  Update and disseminate project information = including=20 newsletters, diaries,
displays and Website.
  Attend and = minute=20 regular meetings.
  Assist the Project Officer and research team = with=20 all aspects of the
project including being active in
  = Literature=20 searches, reviews, and report writing.
  Data gathering from all = aspects=20 of the project, data inputting, analysis
and presentation
  = The=20 liaison work of the project.
  The development of educational = and=20 promotional material for the project.


QUALIFICATIONS AND=20 EXPERIENCE
The successful candidate will have
  A good general=20 education
  Administrative and organisational experience and=20 skills
  Significant computer experience including knowledge of=20 word-processing,
data handling, and software packages  =
  Good=20 oral and written communication skills
  Enthusiasm, self = motivation and=20 ability to work well independently and in a
small team
  A = current=20 driving licence

Desirable qualifications / skills include
 
A Graduate in marine-based science or have significant experience = of=20
working in a research environment with a fund-raising = element
 =20 Genuine interest in marine matters, particularly marine mammals Previous =
work in marine conservation or related area
  Scientific = research=20 experience is desirable
  Experience of organising and leading = volunteer=20 teams
  Practical boat handling experience


TERMS OF=20 EMPLOYMENT

  The salary will be within Scale 1, spinal point = 6=20 (=A39252.00 pro rata)
  Hours of duty will be 20 hours per week = to be=20 arranged with the Marine
Project Officer
  The post will be = for one=20 year, after which it will be reviewed.
  The appointment will, = in an=20 appropriate case, be subject to a probationary
period of 26 = weeks.
 =20 The period of notice to terminate employment by either side is four = weeks
in=20 writing as extended where appropriate by the Employment Protection=20
(Consolidation) Act in respect of the minimum notice the County = Council are=20
required to give to terminate the employment up to a maximum of 12 = weeks. If=20
the successful applicant is subject to a probationary term of 26 = weeks the=20
notice during that period will be one week by either=20 side.    


Andy Williams
Biscay Dolphin = Research Programme
6 Manor Way
Lee on the Solent
Hampshire PO13 = 9JH
England
 
Tel/fax +44 (0)1705 552631
e-mail Andy.Williams(\)Biscay-= Dolphin.org.uk
Visit=20 us at www.Biscay-dolphin.org.uk
 
Department of Mathematics and Environmental Science
University = of East=20 London
Romford Road,
London
England
------=_NextPart_000_0089_01BF5A9B.CD2EF2A0-- ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 10 Jan 0100 11:31:03 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: ANPR for Whale Watching in the Northeast Region (fwd) Editors note: Some MARMAM subscribers may receive this message twice - our apologies, the original was sent out Friday and a number of subscribers did not receive it, so we are resending it. --------------------------------------------------------- Forwarded message: From: Trevor Spradlin To all MARMAM subscribers: Following is the notice published on January 4, 2000, in the Federal Register by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) regarding an "Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking" (ANPR) for whale watching in the Northeast Region (Maine to Virginia). Please note that comments from the public on this ANPR must be received in writing by March 6, 2000. Comments may be either submitted to NMFS by post mail or fax to the address or fax number provided below (e-mail comments cannot be accepted). Once comments are received on the ANPR, a decision will be made whether or not to proceed with a "Proposed Rule" for whale watching in the Northeast. If so, there will be another public comment period for the Proposed Rule. *********************************** [Federal Register: January 4, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 2)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 270-272] >From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr04ja00-24] ===================================================================== --------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Parts 216 and 222 [Docket No. 990901242-9242-01; I.D.072099E] North Atlantic Whale Protection AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking. --------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS publishes an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) in response to a request by the Whale Watch Advisory Group (WWAG) that NMFS solicit comments on the appropriateness of codifying, through rulemaking, operational procedures for vessels engaged in whale watching in NMFS Northeast Region (Virginia to Maine). The scope of this ANPR encompasses the activity of any vessel (commercial or private) that is engaged in whale watching. NMFS is requesting comments on whether existing whale protection measures are adequate to address the potential threat of injury or mortality by vessels engaged in whale watching (commercial and private) to large whales, (primarily humpback, fin, and minke whales), and, if not, what whale protection measures are needed. DATES: Comments must be received at the appropriate address or fax number [[Page 271]] (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. eastern standard time, on March 6, 2000. ADDRESSES: Comments on this Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) should be addressed to Chief, Permits Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or fax to 301-713-0376. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Terbush, Office of Protected Resources, 301-713-2289; or Doug Beach, Northeast Region, 978-281-9254. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Whale watching is a popular recreational activity in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS) and throughout the Northeast Region. Whale watch vessel operators seek out areas where whales congregate. This has led to large numbers of vessels gathering around groups of whales, which has increased the potential for harassment, injury or even the death of these animals. NMFS has received complaints from the public charging that marine mammals are being harassed and injured by commercial whale watching, fishing, and pleasure craft vessels. In 1998, whale watch vessels struck two whales while returning to their home port. In 1997, there was a report from a private citizen while aboard a whale watch excursion that the vessel had hit a whale. There were no reported ship strikes of whales by vessels engaged in whale watching in 1999; however, there were three reports of harassment in 1999 which are all currently under investigation. NMFS Northeast Region has attempted to address the impacts of whale watching through a combination of enforcing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and Endangered Species Act (ESA) prohibitions against the taking of listed species, and issuing operational guidelines to give vessel operators guidance on how to approach large whales without causing harassment. In addition, to minimize the detrimental effects of directed vessel interactions with northern right whales, NMFS issued an interim final rule prohibiting the approach of a right whale within 500 yards on February 13, 1997. Although this rule provides certain exemptions, it generally prohibits vessels and aircraft from approaching a right whale within 500 yards, and is believed to provide adequate protection to this species from whale watching vessels. The Recovery Plan for the Northern Humpback Whale (NMFS, 1991) places high priority on reducing any detrimental effects of directed vessel interactions with that species, specifically in regard to collisions with ships or boats. The Northeast Implementation Team, established by NMFS to implement the ESA Right Whale and Humpback Whale Recovery Plans, set up the WWAG under its Ship Strike Sub-Committee to look into appropriate measures to address what is believed to be an increasing threat to whales, as evidenced by the whale watch vessel strikes in 1998 and recent reports of harassment. The WWAG is made up of representatives from the whale watch industry, conservation organizations, and state and Federal agencies. In March, 1999, the WWAG recommended that NMFS revise its 1985 whale watch guidelines to help address the issue, and prepare an ANPR to solicit comments on the appropriateness of codifying, through rulemaking, operational procedures for vessels engaged in whale watching in the Northeast Region. NMFS revised the guidelines as requested by the WWAG on June 1, 1999 (64 FR 29270). The guidelines were revised to provide specific vessel speed recommendations, decrease the number of vessels in close proximity to whales, recommend the use of lookouts when entering or departing known whale aggregation areas, and increase the circular Whale Awareness Zone. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), in performing its maritime law enforcement role under the ESA, has monitored whale watch operations at various times. The USCG established a program utilizing the Coast Guard Auxiliary to monitor whale watching activities in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS) and elsewhere in NER waters during the 1999 season. Observations are conducted from USCG vessels and aircraft, and by placing uniformed, specially trained Auxiliary observers in the wheel houses of whale watch vessels. However, it should be noted that the USCG Auxiliary has no enforcement authority. USCG Auxiliary observers provide written reports of their observations to NOAA. NMFS and SBNMS intend to review all comments and recommendations received, as well as information received on observed compliance with the revised guidelines, in the course of determining whether to propose a rule. Request for Comments NMFS is requesting comments on (1) whether existing whale protection measures are adequate to address the potential threat of injury or mortality by vessels engaged in whale watching (commercial and private) to large whales, (primarily humpback, fin, and minke whales), and, if not, (2) what whale protection measures are needed. NMFS offers the following as possible options: Further revisions of the existing whale watch guidelines - The revised guidelines include several measures intended to decrease the likelihood of adverse interactions with whales, such as collisions. The revised guidelines, which cover an area two miles from any observed whale: (1) establish certain speed levels as a vessel approaches or departs from observed whales at two miles (13 knots), one mile (10 knots), and one-half mile (7 knots); (2) provide more specific instructions for multi-vessel approaches within 600 feet and a maximum number of vessels (three) within that area; and (3) recommend the posting of a dedicated lookout when vessels are within two miles of observed whales to keep track of all whales in the vicinity. The guidelines could be further revised to increase or decrease these requirements or establish new ones, such as minimum approach distances or general speed restrictions in specific whale high use areas. Codify the whale watch guidelines - Codifying the whale watch guidelines as regulations would make them requirements rather than just recommendations, and would provide for enforcement of these provisions and penalties for violations. Minimum approach rules - Similar to the right whale minimum approach rule, some limit could be established by regulation to accommodate a reasonable level of whale watching opportunity while providing space for individual animals to avoid harassment and possible injury. This could be accomplished independently of any revision or codification of the whale watch guidelines. Operator Permit or Certification Program - Requiring operators of vessels engaged in whale watching to obtain a permit or certification. Issuance of a permit or certification would be based on the operator demonstrating knowledge of whale behavior and proper whale watch vessel operation. Sanctions, up to and including loss of permit or certification for nonconformance with applicable regulations, would be possible. [[Page 272]] Dated: December 28, 1999. Penelope D. Dalton, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 00-87 Filed 1-3-00; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 11:34:09 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly summary to U.S. Congress (fwd) The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS {AK Sea Otters. Jan. 11, 2000 is the deadline for public comments to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on a request by a consultant to 2 Japanese aquariums to capture a up to 2 sea otters apiece from Kodiak waters for export and public display in Japan.} [Anchorage Daily News, Fed. Register] {CA Sea Lion Deaths. The Jan. 6, 2000, issue of Nature contained an article concluding that the deaths of more than 400 CA sea lions between Monterey Bay and Morro Bay in 1998 was caused by domoic acid from a toxic dinoflagellate plankton bloom.} [San Jose Mercury] {FL Manatees. On Jan. 5, 2000, the FL Marine Research Institute announced that a record high 73 manatees were killed by boats in the first 10 months of 1999. This exceeded the previous record loss of 60 manatee deaths in all of 1996.} [Assoc Press] Dolphin-Safe? On Dec. 22, 1999, U.S. Dept. of Commerce officials published notice in the Federal Register, proposing adoption of an official dolphin-safe logo in conjunction with a tuna tracking program to assure consumers that no dolphins were injured or killed during tuna harvesting. {On Jan. 3, 2000, NMFS published an interim final rule in the Federal Register, implementing provisions of the International Dolphin Conservation Program Act and establishing specific requirements for the program. Public comment on the new rule will be accepted through Apr. 3, 2000. The regulations implement a new labeling standard for dolphin-safe tuna, effective Feb. 2, 2000, and establish requirements to track and verify the status of tuna imports from the eastern tropical Pacific.} [Environment News Service, Fed. Register, Environmental News Network, Dept. of State, Humane Society of the United States press release] Canadian Sealing. On Dec. 21, 1999, Canadian Fisheries Minister Herb Dhaliwal announced that the year 2000 harp seal kill quota will remain at 275,000 animals, saying no information justifies a change from last year. The hooded seal kill quota would remain at 10,000 animals. In addition, a kill of several hundred grey seals will be allowed in areas other than Sable Island. [Canadian Press] Japanese Whaling. On Dec. 20, 1999, Greenpeace activists harassed Japanese whalers killing minke whales in the Antarctic. On Dec.21, 1999, the Japanese factory whaling ship Nisshin Maru collided with the Greenpeace vessel Arctic Sunrise carrying activists protesting Japan's research kill of Antarctic minke whales. There were no reported injuries and damage appeared to not be serious. [Reuters, Greenpeace press release, Environment News Service, personal communication] Steller Sea Lion Shooting. On Dec. 16, 1999, a Petersburg, AK, man was charged in U.S. District Court (Anchorage, AK) with shooting and killing several Steller sea lions near Wrangell, AK, in February 1998. Arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 20, 2000. [Assoc Press] Cook Inlet Beluga Whales. On Dec. 16, 1999, NMFS biologists, speaking at a public scoping meeting on drafting an NMFS environmental impact statement for managing Cook Inlet beluga whales, reported the results of summer 1999 surveys, indicating that decline in this whale population had ceased and that the population was stable. The 1999 population estimate was 357 whales, nearly the same as the 1998 estimate of 347 animals. [Anchorage Daily News] Whale and Dolphin Transport. As of Dec. 7, 1999, Lufthansa Airlines adopted the policy that it will no longer transport whales and dolphins for aquariums and water parks. This action was taken in response to a request from Sea Shepherd Europe that the airline review its policies on transport of wild animals after a November 1999 incident wherein 2 dolphins died in a Lufthansa cargo machine. [Environment News Service] Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. Date: Sun, 10 Jan 0100 15:11:42 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Abstract: California sea lion mortality linked to a toxic diatom (fwd) Editors note: Some MARMAM subscribers may receive this message twice - our apologies, the original was sent out Friday and a number of subscribers did not receive it, so we are resending it. ================================================================= From: "Phillips, Alana" > The Marine Mammal Center is pleased to announce the publication of the > following article in this week's edition of Nature. This paper represents > the collaborative effort of researchers from numerous organizations. For > more information, please contact Frances Gulland (gullandf(\)tmmc.org) or > Susan Andres (andress(\)tmmc.org). > > ======= > Scholin, C.A., Gulland, F., Doucette, G.J., Benson, S., Busman, M., > Chavez, F.P., Cordaro, J., DeLong, R., De Vogelaera, A., Harvey, J., > Haulena, M., Lefebvre, K., Lipscomb, T., Loscutoff, S., Lowenstine, L.J., > Marin, R. III, Miller, P.E., McLellan, W.A., Moeller, P.D.R., Powell, > C.L., Rowles, T., Silvagni, P., Silver, M., Spraker, T., Trainer, V., and > Van Dolah, F.M. 1999. Mortality of sea lions along the central > California coast linked to a toxic diatom bloom. Nature 403 (6765): > 80-84 (6 January 2000). > > ABSTRACT: > Over 400 California sea lions (_Zalophus californianus_) died and many > others displayed signs of neurological dysfunction along the central > California coast during May and June 1998. A bloom of _Pseudonitzschia > australis_ (diatom) was observed in the Monterey Bay region during the > same period. This bloom was associated with production of domoic acid > (DA), a neurotoxin that was also detected in planktivorous fish, including > the northern anchovy (_Engraulis mordax_), and in sea lion body fluids. > These and other concurrent observations demonstrate the trophic transfer > of DA resulting in marine mammal mortality. In contrast to fish, blue > mussels (_Mytilus edulus_) collected during the DA outbread contained no > DA or only trace amounts. Such findings reveal that monitoring of mussel > toxicity alone does not necessarily provide adequate warning of DA > entering the food web at levels sufficient to harm marine wildlife and > perhaps humans. > > ===== > This research underscores the importance of The Marine Mammal Center's > work in monitoring marine mammal population health, the links with ocean > environment health, as well as the scientific collaboration occurring > between The Marine Mammal Center and other scientific organizations. > Seizure episodes in California sea lions had occurred previously but this > was the first time the cause was identified. The finding is significant > because of the implications for marine mammal and human health. > > The Marine Mammal Center, a non-profit rehabilitation hospital, rescues > marine mammals that are ill, injured or orphaned. The Center uniquely > combines its rehabilitation program with scientific discovery and > education programs. For more information, please visit our website: > www.tmmc.org. > Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 14:33:36 -0800 Reply-To: bmccowan(\)vmtrc.ucdavis.edu From: bmccowan Subject: Question on hydrophone arrays Hello Marmamers: I am looking for information on the state-of-the-art of hydrophone arrays (or other technology) for localizing wild cetacean signals. For example, what are the best commercial systems available? What are their resolutions (in feet or meters) for localizing individual dolphin vocalizers, e.g. whistles? How accurate are they in localizing individual vocalizers as a function of distance between individuals? Thank you for your help in advance. You can reply directly to me at the email address below. Thanks again, Brenda McCowan -- Brenda McCowan, Ph.D. Behavioral Biology Laboratory Department of Population Health & Reproduction/VMTRC School of Veterinary Medicine University of California, Davis 18830 Road 112 Tulare, CA 93274 (559) 688-1731 x264 Fax: (559) 686-4231 Email: bmccowan(\)vmtrc.ucdavis.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2000 12:33:21 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: abstract - killer whale predation on herring (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Please direct reprint inquiries and other correspondence to the email address listed below. ***************************************************************************= * Killer whales (Orcinus orca) feeding on schooling herring (Clupea harengus) using underwater tail-slaps: kinematic analyses of field observations Paolo Domenici, Robert S. Batty, Tiu Simil=E4 and Erick Ogam International Marine Centre, Localit=E0 Sa Mardini, 09072 Torregrande (Oristano), Italy, Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, PO Box 3, Oban PA34 4AD, Scotland, Norwegian College of Fishery Science, University of Troms=F8 N-9037, Troms=F8, Norway and Laboratoire de Mecanique et Acoustique, 31 Chemin J. Aiguier, 13402 Marseille, France Address for correspondence: domenici(\)barolo.icb.ge.cnr.it appears in Journal of Experimental Biology 203(2): 283-294. 2000. Summary Killer whales (Orcinus orca) feeding on herring (Clupea harengus) in a fjord in northern Norway were observed using underwater video. The whales cooperatively herded herring into tight schools close to the surface. During herding and feeding, killer whales swam around and under a school of herring, periodically lunging at it and stunning the herring by slapping them with the underside of their flukes while completely submerged. The kinematics of tail-slapping were analysed in detail. Tail-slaps were made up of a biphasic behaviour consisting of two phases with opposite angles of attack, a preparatory phase (negative angles of attack) and a slap phase (positive angles of attack). During the slap phase, the mean maximum angle of attack of the flukes was 47 =B0. The maximum speed of the flukes, measured at the notch, increased with whale length (Lw) and was 2.2 Lw s-1, while the maximum acceleration of the flukes was size-independent and was 48 m s-2. When killer whales slapped the herring successfully, disoriented herring appeared on the video at approximately the time of maximum fluke velocity, in synchrony with a loud noise. This noise was not heard when the tail-slaps 'missed' the target, suggesting that the herring were stunned by physical contact. Killer whales then ate the stunned herring one by one. Of the tail-slaps observed, 61 % were preceded by lunges into the school. We suggest that lunging was aimed at directing the school rather than at capturing the herring, since it occurred at a relatively low speed and there were no observations of the killer whales attempting to capture the herring during lunging behaviour. Given the high performance of the tail-slaps in terms of speed and acceleration, we suggest that tail-slapping by killer whales is a more efficient strategy of prey capture than whole-body attacks, since acceleration and manoeuvrability are likely to be poor in such large vertebrates. Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2000 12:49:39 +0000 From: Emer Rogan Subject: ECS - Cork 2000 2nd announcement Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Fourteenth Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society Cork, Ireland, 2 - 5th April 2000 - 2nd announcement. Hello all, This is a reminder that the date for EARLY registeration is FRIDAY 14th JANUARY. Conference bookings and fees are outlined on the registeration form, available from the website: http://web.inter.nl.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs/index.htm Please be advised that payment should be posted or faxed to the ECS Treasurer - ROLAND LICK, Kaiserstr. 27B, D-24143 Kiel, Germany. FAX: +49 - 40 - 360 - 309 - 4854. Confirmation will be by email only. A dedicated conference information website has been set-up, containing details and maps of University College Cork and Cork city. The site can be accessed at the following address: http://ecs2000.ucc.ie ABSTRACTS Just over 180 abstracts were submitted. These have now been reviewed and authors will be notified tomorrow about the outcome. WORKSHOPS A number of workshops are planned immediately before (Sunday 2nd) and after (Thursday 6th) the conference. There will be a nominal charge for workshop attendees, payable on the day of the workshop, to cover room and equipment hire, teas/coffees etc. Two workshops will be held simultaneously on Sunday 2nd April. These are full day workshops and will be held in Jury's Hotel, Western Road: MOVEMENT PATTERNS IN EUROPEAN SEALS - Vincent Ridoux (vridoux(\)univ-lr.fr) LINKING STOCK STRUCTURE ASSESSMENT TO MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES - Krystal Tolley (krystal.tolley(\)imr.no). On Thursday 6th April there will be one full-day workshop and two half day workshops: NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN TRACKING OF MARINE MAMMALS -Andrew Westgate (westgate(\)duke.edu) and Tony Martin (Arm(\)smru.ac.uk). Full day workshop. Thursday morning. PREPARING SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS - Sinead Murphy/Simon Ingram (sinmurphy(\)hotmail.com), Peter Evans and Greg Donovan. The aim of the workshop is to help people communicate their scientific work more effectively. Aspects covered will include the planning of scientific projects from inception to presentation. While this workshop is open to everybody, it may particularly benefit students and there will be no charge for attendance. There is the possibility of a further workshop on Thursday afternoon dealing with issues relating to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Sanctuary. Confirmation and further details of this workshop will be posted on the website before the end of February. The workshop organisers will circulate details of their workshops shortly and all those interested in attending workshops must register with the organiser. Payment (in Irish #) will be on the day - #10 for a full day workshop and #5 for the half day workshop. INFORMATION BOARDS will be in place in the poster area. These are for ECS members who may wish to display information relating to - # work in progress or completed - brief notes (this information will not appear in the proceedings); # exchanges - equipment; accommodation; expertise; # studentships, research opportunities; # fringe meetings. To get this vaguely organised, please send (by email) any information you wish to display to Nick Tregenza (nick(\)chelonia.demon.co.uk) who will be responsible for these boards. ACCOMMODATION Details of all types of accommodation in Cork city are given on the Irish Tourist Board (Bord Failte) website: http://www.ireland.travel.ie/home/index.asp and bookings can be made online. University College, Cork (UCC) is a 20 minute walk from the city centre, close to hotels, guesthouses and bed and breakfast (B&B) accommodation. There are a large number of B&Bs and guesthouses along the Western Road and College Road, within a five minute walk of UCC. In addition, there are a number of hostels, all within 30 minutes of UCC, offering very good value dormitory - style and small room options, but you will need to book early! Contact numbers (phone/fax) for some of these are given in the "student" section of the UCC website: http://ecs2000.ucc.ie and all can be seen on the Bord Failte website. Conference rates have been negotiated for the following hotels/guesthouses. Prices are inclusive of breakfast: Jury's Hotel on the Western Road (phone: +353 21 276622, fax: +353 21 274477, email Clodagh_Wall(\)Jurys.com) will provide a special conference rate for conference delegates. Prices are #70 per night for a single room and #40 per night per person sharing (twin room). Brookfield Hotel on College road (phone +353 21 804700, fax +353 21 804793, email brookfieldhotel(\)eircom.net) #35 per night for a single room and #25 per night per person sharing. Lancaster lodge guesthouse on the Western Road (phone +353 21 251125, fax +353 21 251126) #40 per night for a single room and #30 per night per person sharing (twin or double). Victoria lodge guesthouse (Victoria Cross - 15 minute walk) prices are #30 per night per person sharing and #36 per night for a single room (phone: +353 21 542233, fax +353 21 542572). To avail of these discounts, do NOT book online and when making a booking with any of the above, please ensure that you state that you are associated with the ECS conference at UCC. Information on Cork city can be found on the Cork guide website: http://www.cork-guide.ie/ Hope to see you all in Cork, Slan, Emer Emer Rogan Conference organiser Dept. of Zoology and Animal Ecology, University College, Cork, Ireland. Phone: + 353 21 904197; Fax: +353 21 277922. E-mail: E.Rogan(\)ucc.ie ECS website: http://web.inter.nl.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs/index.htm Conference website: http://ecs2000.ucc.ie ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2000 19:02:42 +0100 From: Manel Gazo Subject: Tursiops feeding on entangled fishes Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 ------ Dear all, We are working with a population of Bottlenose dolphins from the=20 Balearic Islands, Mediterranean Sea. Interactions with fishermen appears to be common, and as a result=20 dolphins take the fishes entangled in the trammel nets.=20 Any idea how to prevent Tursiops approaching and catch fishes=20 from trammel nets? Pingers only will advice dolphins where the food is and Acoustic=20 Harassment Devices seem to be too much dangerous for these=20 cetaceans.... Thanks in advanced any information will be greatly appreciate. Please reply directly to my e-mail: manelg(\)bio.ub.es Manel ****************************************************** Manel Gazo GRUMM Grup d'Estudi i Conservaci=F3 de Mam=EDfers Marins Dept. Biologia Animal Facultat de Biologia Universitat de Barcelona Avgda. Diagonal, 645 08028 Barcelona - SPAIN e-mail: manelg(\)bio.ub.es FAX: +34-93-4034554 Telf: +34-93-4034556 ****************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2000 17:19:38 -1000 From: "Louis M. Herman" Subject: Abstract I would appreciate the following message being posted. The following article was recently published: Herman, L. M. Abichandani, S. L. , Elhajj, A. N., Herman, E. Y. K., Sanchez, J. L. & Pack, A. A. (1999). Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) comprehend the referential character of the human pointing gesture. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 113, 347-364. Abstract. The authors tested a bottlenosed dolphin's (Tursiops truncatus) understanding of human manual pointing gestures to three distal objects located left, right, or behind the dolphin. The human referred to an object through a direct point (Pd), a cross-body point (Px), or a familiar symbolic gesture (S). In Experiment 1 the dolphin responded correctly to 80% of the Pds toward laterally placed objects, but only to 40% of Pds to the object behind. Responding to objects behind improved to 88% correct in Experiment 2 after exaggerated pointing was briefly instituted. Spontaneous comprehension of Pxs was also demonstrated. In Experiment 3, the human produced a sequence of 2 Pds, 2 Pxs, 2 Ss, or all 2-way combinations of these three, to direct the dolphin to take the object referenced second to the object referenced first. Accuracy ranged from 68% to 77% correct (chance = 17%). These results established that the dolphin understood the referential character of the human manual pointing gesture. Reprints are available from Louis M. Herman, Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory, 1129 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, Hawaii 96814. Electronic mail may be sent to lherman(\)hawaii.edu. --============_-1264475293==_ma============ I would appreciate the following message being posted. Times_New_Roman The following article was recently published: Herman, L. M. Abichandani, S. L. , Elhajj, A. N., Herman, E. Y. K., Sanchez, J. L. & Pack, A. A. (1999). Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) comprehend the referential character of the human pointing gesture. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 113, 347-364. Abstract. The authors tested a bottlenosed dolphin's (Tursiops truncatus) understanding of human manual pointing gestures to three distal objects located left, right, or behind the dolphin. The human referred to an object through a direct point (Pd), a cross-body point (Px), or a familiar symbolic gesture (S). In Experiment 1 the dolphin responded correctly to 80% of the Pds toward laterally placed objects, but only to 40% of Pds to the object behind. Responding to objects behind improved to 88% correct in Experiment 2 after exaggerated pointing was briefly instituted. Spontaneous comprehension of Pxs was also demonstrated. In Experiment 3, the human produced a sequence of 2 Pds, 2 Pxs, 2 Ss, or all 2-way combinations of these three, to direct the dolphin to take the object referenced second to the object referenced first. Accuracy ranged from 68% to 77% correct (chance = 17%). These results established that the dolphin understood the referential character of the human manual pointing gesture. Reprints are available from Louis M. Herman, Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory, 1129 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, Hawaii 96814. Electronic mail may be sent to lherman(\)hawaii.edu. --============_-1264475293==_ma============-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2000 15:03:25 -0500 From: "Dr. Jason F. Schreer" Subject: New Marine Mammals and Seabirds field course - New Brunswick, Canada In-Reply-To: <200001121852.NAA05490(\)setosa.uwaterloo.ca> A new Marine Mammals and Seabirds field course will be offered from July 16-July 29, 2000 at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre, St. Andrews New Brunswick, Canada. See the websites and information below for details. http://www.unb.ca/web/huntsman/mammals.htm http://www.unb.ca/web/huntsman/contents.htm http://sciborg.uwaterloo.ca/~jfschree/ Marine Mammals & Seabirds University of Waterloo: Biol 492 July 16 - July 29 Numerous species will be observed under natural conditions through frequent field trips at sea and ashore. There is a strong emphasis on field research and each student must complete an independent research project. Lectures and labs will introduce the evolution, zoogeography, morphology, ecology, physiology and behaviour of diving, air-breathing vertebrates. Prerequisite: Introduction to biology, ecology, or zoology course; preference will be given to students entering their third or fourth year of a B. Sc. program. Instructor: Dr. Jason F. Schreer Evaluation: Participation (10%); Field log book (10%); Project seminar (10%); Project paper (40%); Written final exam (30%). Fee: $1,200.00 ==================================================================== Jason F. Schreer Ph.D. Office: B1-293A Assistant Professor Phone: 519-888-4567 ext. 6530 Department of Biology Fax: 519-746-0614 University of Waterloo jfschree(\)sciborg.uwaterloo.ca Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1 http://sciborg.uwaterloo.ca/~jfschree =================================================================XOQ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2000 13:21:21 -0700 From: "Fertl, Dagmar" Subject: forwarded news; Bryde's whale hit by cruise boat Marmammers, I received the following from a colleague who is on the coral list. I answered the person's question regarding collisions with whales, but if you'd like to touch base with this person for additional information on the incident, please see below for the email address. Dagmar Fertl -----Original Message----- From: Kalli De Meyer [mailto:kdm(\)bonairelive.com] Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2000 1:33 PM To: coral-list(\)coral.aoml.noaa.gov Subject: unexpect whale visit Coral listers Yesterday Bonaire saw the unexpected arrival of a Tropical Whale (Balaeonoptera edeni) aboard a cruise boat. It had been impaled on the bow of the vessel. The Captain of the vessel said they noticed nothing but ships log showed a slowing in their speed from which we can guess where the incident occured (15 miles SW of Los Aves island off the Venezuelan coast). As far as we could see it was an adult (12.4m) animal with nothing obviously wrong with it which could not be accounted for by the impact of the collision. Does anyone know of any other such incidents or are we dealing with an isolated daft/unfortunate animal ?? Kalli De Meyer ********************************************************* Email address for Kalli De Meyer is kdm(\)bonairelive.com ********************************************************* Please note that as of February 1999 it will only be possible to contact the Bonaire Marine Park at marinepark(\)bmp.org Bonaire Marine Park tel: 599-7-8444 fax: 599-7-7318 email: marinepark(\)bmp.org homepage: http://www.bmp.org ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 11:46:26 +0100 From: Krystal Tolley Subject: ANNOUNCEMENT: Stock structure workshop, ECS, April 2000 ------ The following workshop will be held on Sunday 2 April 2000, at the Europe= an Cetacean Society annual conference in Cork, Ireland. =20 WORKSHOP TITLE: Linking Stock Structure Assessment to Management Objectives Objective: To examine current topics in stock/population structure assessment and review how the information from these studies can be bette= r utilised in a conservation and management context. =20 This workshop will focus on current areas of research in population/stock structure assessments and the needs of managers for the application of scientific data to conservation and management plans. Invited speakers will focus their presentations on the general topics associated with current areas of research, techniques, and analyses. Additional presentations will outline the needs of managers for implementation of conservation and management plans. In addition to presentations, a discussion session will be held which will focus on the concerns associat= ed with properly designing and interpreting population structure studies to meet conservation and management goals. The discussion session will draw on both the presentations and the expertise of the participants, and address the problems and potential solutions relating to population structure assessment. =20 Attendance is open for persons involved in stock structure/population structure studies, or persons planning to enter this field of research. =20 Attendance will be limited.=20 The workshop is scheduled from 8:30 to 17:30. A fee of =A310 (Irish) wil= l be payable on that day. Further details regarding the schedule, meeting place, and list of speake= rs will be circulated in the upcoming months.=20 Details for the conference can be found at: http://ecs2000.ucc.ie To register for the workshop, contact: Krystal Tolley Marine Mammal Division Institute of Marine Research Bergen, Norway krystal(\)imr.no ************************************************************ Krystal A. Tolley Marine Mammal Division Institute of Marine Research P.O. Box 1870 Nordnes 5817 Bergen, Norway Tel. +47-55 23 8619 Fax. +47-55 23 8617 Email: krystal(\)imr.no ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 13 Jan 0100 11:44:59 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications (fwd) Here are some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Publications recently posted to MARMAM are not included. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. Low-frequency whale sounds recorded on hydrophones moored in the eastern tropical Pacific. Stafford, KM; Nieukirk, SL; Fox, CG. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA. December 1999 v106 i6 p3687-3698 Transmission beam pattern and echolocation signals of a harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Au, WWL; Kastelein, RA; Rippe, T; Schooneman, NM. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA, December 1999 v106 i6 p3699-3705 Development in the Baltic grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) and ringed seal (Phoca hispida) populations during the 20th century. Harding, KC; Harkonen, TJ. AMBIO. November 1999 v28 i7 p619-627 Use of a surface-current model and satellite telemetry to assess marine mammal movements in the Bering sea. Longhlin, TR; Ingraham, WJ; Baba, N; Robson, BW Source DYNAMICS OF THE BERING SEA, May-June 1999 v99 i3 p615-630 Visual lateralization of pattern discrimination in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). von Fersen, L; Schall, U; Gunturkun, O. BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH. January 2000 v107 i1-2 p177-181 Quantitative analysis of tonal calls from five odontocele species, examining interspecific and intraspecific variation. Rendell, LE; Matthews, JN; Gill, A; Gordon, JCD; Macdonald, DW. JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY. December 1999 v249 part4 p403-410 Winter sighting of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Yakutat-Disenchantment Bay, Alaska. Hubbard, JD; Hansen, DJ; Mahoney, BA. ARCTIC. December 1999 v52 i4 p411-412 Cetacean observations during a winter voyage into Antarctic sea ice south of Australia. Thiele, D; Gill, PC. ANTARCTIC SCIENCE. March 1999 v11 i1 p48-53 Pupping season, perinatal sex ratio and natality rates of the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) from the Cabo Blanco colony. Gazo, M; Layna, JF; Aparicio, F; Cedenilla, MA; Gonzalez, LM; Aguilar, A JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, December 1999 v249 part4 p393-401 Recent population change of the southern elephant seal at Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen: the end of the decrease?. Guinet, C; Jouventin, P; Weimerskirch, H. ANTARCTIC SCIENCE. June 1999 v11 i2 p193-197 Population status and seasonal haulout patterns of the southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) at Heard Island. Slip, DJ; Burton, HR. ANTARCTIC SCIENCE. March 1999 v11 i1 p38-47 Observation of adoption in polar bears (Ursus maritimus). Derocher, AE; Wiig, O. ARCTIC. December 1999 v52 i4 p413-415 Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 11:49:19 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: use of video for photo-id (fwd) From: Sean Todd Hi all, Allied Whale (at College of the Atlantic, Maine) has a long-standing tradition of participation in photo-id studies of large whales. Although we are better known for our work with humpbacks, we also keep a substantial catalog of Gulf of Maine fin whales. As some of you may know, finback photo-id is a far more intricate process requiring multiple shots of the entire whale's head, back and dorsal fin as it surfaces. In an effort to evolve the photo-id process of finbacks, we are looking into the use of a video camera/camcorder to film the entire surfacing sequence, from which we can then frame-capture onto a pc for visual analysis. We would like to ask for the scientific community's advice as to the kind of video equipment we should look into. Specific questions we need help with are: 1) Should the system be analog or digital? 2) At a distance of 100ft or less (according to permit), can we get good enough detail with a standard lense or do we need an add-on? 3) Would such a system provide enough resolution to detail the kinds of nicks, scrapes, and subtle pigmentation pattern differences needed to id an individual? We recognize that this system may be completely unworkable, but we would appreciate your comments. Thanks for your help in advance. At the end of our field season we will report our findings to the Marmam group in the hopes of further developing this field. Sean _______________________ Sean Todd, Ph.D, Director, Allied Whale, College of the Atlantic, 105 Eden Street, Bar Harbor, ME, 04609, US Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 11:52:58 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Abstract: Mediterranean monk seal (fwd) From: Jaume Forcada I would appreciate if the following message on a recently published article was posted. Forcada, J., Hammond, P. S. and Aguilar, A. (1999) The status of the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus in the western Sahara and the implications of a mass mortality event. Marine Ecology Progress Series 188:249-261 ABSTRACT. The largest aggregation of the highly endangered Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) is located on the Cap Blanc peninsula in the western Sahara. Photographic identification of individuals was used in a capture-recapture analysis to estimate the abundance and composition of the colony during 1993-1998. Results of the application of these techniques to Mediterranean monk seals were satisfactory, and allowed to produce independent annual population estimates. No significant trends in abundance over the period 1993-1996 were detected, and the mean estimate for the period was 317 seals (CV=0.16; 95% CI: 237- 447). Environmental changes affecting suitability of habitat, particularly food availability, are suggested as major factors for having limited population recovery during this period. In spring 1997, a mass mortality reduced the population size to 109 individuals (CV=0.14; 95% CI: 86- 145). Mortality was age-specific and resulted in a severe change in the stage composition of the population. Adults were the most affected, and therefore the proportion of juveniles increased from an initial 12% before the event to about 29% after. As a result of both the decrease in seal numbers and the change in population composition, the number of individuals potentially contributing to reproduction fell to about 77 or fewer. This number may not be enough to maintain genetic variability and overcome the effect of demographic stochasticity. The demographic changes caused by the die-off are expected to have both positive and negative effects on the reproductive success of the colony. However, they are undoubtedly potential factors which threaten the stability and survival of the colony in the near future. Reprints are available from Jaume Forcada, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NMFS, P.O.Box 271, La Jolla, CA 92038, e-mail: jforcada(\)ucsd.edu Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 22:30:02 +0100 Reply-To: pieterburen_seals(\)wxs.nl From: Karst Organization: SRRC Pieterburen Subject: SRRC the Netherlands needs volunteers The SRRC Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre in Pieterburen, the Netherlands, needs urgently: Volunteers who are experienced in handling, tube feeding and force-feeding harbour seals and young grey seals. Among the seal population in the Dutch Waddensea a huge problem has risen: the number of seals in trouble, that are found along the coast line and the islands north of the Waddensea has increased tremendously the last years. This increase of seals with problems (mostly lung worms and other problems with respiratory tracks) is in strong contrast with the small growths of the population last year in the Waddensea. That population of only 2380 animals in 1998 increased until 2488 individuals in 1999: a growth of 5% or 108 individuals. In the same time the number of seals (harbour seals and grey seals) that were taken into rehabilitation during December and the beginning of January increased from 67 to 128. As a result the SRRC is at this moment overcrowded with both species; in total more than 120 seals. We have built new containers and small pools to add sufficient quarantine space, because we work according strict protocols. Our scientists work day and night to find the cause of this extreme high number of very sick animals. But what we need is: experienced helpers. It is almost impossible for the staff of the SRRC to carry out tube feeding and force feeding to many tens of seals several times per day. So if you have experience with those activities and those species, and if you are available in the coming two or three months, please contact the SRRC Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre. What we can offer: - Reimbursement of travel expenses - (Fine) food and lodging at the centre - A good atmosphere with an enthusiastic international group of colleagues SRRC Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre Hoofdstraat 94-a 9968 AG PIETERBUREN The Netherlands Phone: (31) 595 - 526 526 Fax: (31) 595 - 528 389 Email: pieterburen_seals(\)wxs.nl Website: www.zeehondencreche.nl ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2000 21:32:36 +1300 From: Lesley Douglas Subject: sperm whale ascent/descent rates. Hi All Can anyone point me in the direction of papers regarding ascent and descent rates of sperm whales during dives? I have found a few papers mentioning descent rates, which for obvious reasons are easier to record than ascents. I'm in the process of writing my Masters thesis on sperm whale click rates (specifically for abundance estimation using the click counting method), but at the moment am trying to explain some of the variation in click rate that occurs during sperm whales' dives. Many thanks Lesley Douglas Department of Marine Science University of Otago P.O.Box 56 Dunedin New Zealand lesley.douglas(\)stonebow.otago.ac.nz ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2000 14:38:22 -0900 From: Lee Kellar Subject: Internships Available at the Alaska SeaLife Center The Alaska Sealife Center is accepting resumes for internship opportunities in the Animal Husbandry Department. This is a full time position for three months during the summer. Applicants must be currently enrolled in a community college or university with a primary area of study in the field of Biology, Zoology, Psychology or other related field. Recent college graduates are encouraged to apply. This position will introduce basic animal care, husbandry skills and rehabilitation experience in a research oriented setting. For Marine Mammal internships email tarar(\)alaskasealife.org Other internships are available. email amyh(\)alaskasealife.org Or see our website at www.alaskasealife.org R. Lee Kellar Director of Animal Husbandry Alaska SeaLife Center PO Box 1329 Seward, Alaska 99664 (907) 224-6364 (907) 224-6360 Fax leek(\)alaskasealife.org ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2000 18:42:57 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Curatorial Specialist in Mammalogy (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- The University of Oklahoma Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History The Museum has a position of Curatorial Specialist in Mammalogy. Minimum requirements: Bachelor=B9s Degree in Zoology, Biology or other related museum discipline, and 48 months experience with systematic collections or other museum-related work to include computerization of data and specimen preparation; OR Master=B9s Degree in one of these disciplines, and 24 month= s of similar experience. The person selected will assist the Curators with technical supervision, management, and maintenance of the mammal collection. Will include fieldwork in U.S. and abroad. Position available immediately, salary is $25,000 (plus full fringe benefits), and applications will be considered until position is filled. Hiring contingent upon background check. Applicants should submit a r=E9sum=E9, cover letter and three reference letters to Personnel Services, 905 Asp Avenue, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, and should refer to job #01014N. Materials submitted in application for position(s) become the property of OU. Contact Dr. Janet K. Braun, Curator of Mammals, for specific job information (phone: 405-325-0801; email: jkbraun(\)ou.edu). For further information about the Museum, see its web site: www.snomnh.ou.edu. For other information on employment at the University of Oklahoma, call (405) 325-1826 or TDD at (405) 325-5529. AA/EOE Dr. Michael A. Mares Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History 2401 Chautauqua University of Oklahoma Norman, OK 73072 phone: 405-325-4712 fax: 405-325-7699 Forwarded by Richard W. Thorington, Jr. Division of Mammals, NHB 390 Smithsonian Institution Washington, DC 20560-0108 Phone:202-357-2150 Thorington.Richard(\)NMNH.SI.EDU =20 Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2000 18:44:42 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly summary to U.S. Congress (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS {Mexican Salt Project. On Jan. 11, 2000, the CA Coastal Commission voted 8-1 in adopting a resolution asking Mitsubishi Corp. to withdraw plans to build a $120 million salt evaporation operation at Laguna San Ignacio, Mexico. Mitsubishi officials had asked the Commission to postpone the vote.} [Assoc Press, Los Angeles Times] AK Sea Otters. Jan. 11, 2000 is the deadline for public comments to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on a request by a consultant to 2 Japanese aquariums to capture a up to 2 sea otters apiece from Kodiak waters for export and public display in Japan. [Anchorage Daily News, Fed. Register] {FL Dolphin Mortality. On Jan. 10, 2000, NOAA scientists reported that examinations of some of the 115 dolphins that died in bays along the FL panhandle since August 1999 show lung and respiratory tract lesions similar to those found in manatees determined to have died from red tide toxins in 1996. Red tide toxins were also found in the stomach contents in some of the dolphins.} [Assoc Press] CA Sea Lion Deaths. The Jan. 6, 2000, issue of Nature contained an article concluding that the deaths of more than 400 CA sea lions between Monterey Bay and Morro Bay in May-June 1998 was caused by domoic acid from a toxic dinoflagellate plankton bloom. [San Jose Mercury, Environmental News Network]] {CA Power Plant Mortalities. In early January 2000, NMFS officials announced that they were considering enforcing federal law requiring nuclear power plants that kill or disturb endangered species and marine mammals to obtain permits. About 20 harbor seals, sea otters, and other marine mammals were reported to have died at southern CA power plants in 1999.} [Assoc Press] FL Manatees. {On Dec. 28, 1999, Blue Spring State Park officials counted a record 112 manatees in the park's spring run.} On Jan. 5, 2000, the FL Marine Research Institute announced that a record high 73 manatees were killed by boats in the first 10 months of 1999. This exceeded the previous record loss of 60 manatee deaths in all of 1996. {On Jan. 8, 2000, the FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported that 268 manatees had died during 1999, with 82 of those deaths related to watercraft injuries. On Jan. 13, 2000, a coalition of 19 environmental and animal protections organizations planned to file two lawsuits in Washington, DC, and Tallahassee, FL, against the FL Dept. of Environmental Protection and the federal government (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Dept. of the Interior) for alleged failure to protect manatees.} [Orlando Sentinel, Naples Daily News, Assoc Press, Daytona Beach News-Journal, Save the Manatee Club pre! ss release] {{CITES and Whales. In late December 1999, the Icelandic Parliament approved by consensus a recommendation that the nation become a party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). In accordance with CITES, Iceland lodged reservations for 14 cetacean species listed on CITES Appendix I and II. Iceland deposited instruments for accession to CITES within the deadline required to obtain voting rights at the April 2000 meeting of CITES Parties in Kenya. On Jan. 14, 2000, officials of the European Union meeting in Brussels were to vote on whether or not to support a CITES petition by Japan and Norway that would lift the current prohibition on international trade of some whale products.}} [High North Alliance News, Greenpeace press release] Dolphin-Safe? On Dec. 22, 1999, U.S. Dept. of Commerce officials published notice in the Federal Register, proposing adoption of an official dolphin-safe logo in conjunction with a tuna tracking program to assure consumers that no dolphins were injured or killed during tuna harvesting. On Jan. 3, 2000, NMFS published an interim final rule in the Federal Register, implementing provisions of the International Dolphin Conservation Program Act and establishing specific requirements for the program. Public comment on the new rule will be accepted through Apr. 3, 2000. The regulations implement a new labeling standard for dolphin-safe tuna, effective Feb. 2, 2000, and establish requirements to track and verify the status of tuna imports from the eastern tropical Pacific. [Environment News Service, Fed. Register, Environmental News Network, Dept. of State, Humane Society of the United States press release] Canadian Sealing. On Dec. 21, 1999, Canadian Fisheries Minister Herb Dhaliwal announced that the year 2000 harp seal kill quota will remain at 275,000 animals, saying no information justifies a change from last year. The hooded seal kill quota would remain at 10,000 animals. In addition, a kill of several hundred grey seals will be allowed in areas other than Sable Island. [Canadian Press] Japanese Whaling. On Dec. 20, 1999, Greenpeace activists harassed Japanese whalers killing minke whales in the Antarctic. On Dec.21, 1999, the Japanese factory whaling ship Nisshin Maru collided with the Greenpeace vessel Arctic Sunrise carrying activists protesting Japan's research kill of Antarctic minke whales. There were no reported injuries and damage appeared to not be serious. [Reuters, Greenpeace press release, Environment News Service, personal communication] Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2000 09:39:05 -0800 From: Tracy Romano/SBR12/49871 Subject: Job Opportunity Job Opportunity in Marine Mammal Science Laboratory Research Technician II (laboratory located in San Diego, CA) Texas A&M University is looking for a full-time (5 days/wk; 40 hrs/wk) laboratory research assistant to participate in a project studying the effects of environmental challenges on the cetacean immune system. A Bachelor's degree in the Life Sciences and 2 years laboratory experience in basic or clinical research is required. Skills in molecular biology, cell culture, antibody production/characterization, and immunology are desirable. Candidate will also carry out data analysis, sample archiving, literature reviews, and routine laboratory maintenance. Candidate must be able to work independently, be organized, and flexible in hours. Starting salary is $11.59/hour, however negotiable depending on qualifications and experience. Refer to Job#000541 and FAX or E-mail resume to: Employment Office, Texas A&M University, 809 East University Dr. Ste. 101-A, College Station, Texas 77843-1475. FAX:(409)-847-8877 Phone:(409)-845-5154 E-Mail: emploffice(\)tamu.edu. Looking to fill position as soon as possible. Texas A&M is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer committed to diversity. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 20:24:44 -0700 From: Leslie Strom Subject: Re: use of video for photo-id (fwd) In-Reply-To: <200001132010.MAA13458(\)smtp12.nwnexus.com> I've been checking out video equipment for a land surveyor who occasionally does imaging from airplanes. We've been very impressed with the Sony PD-100A. (the PD-100 has been replaced by the 100A with better picture acquisition.) It's the professional digital DVCam format, has SMPTE time code for machine control editing, 3 chip, and the DVCam format is more robust and able to take more abuse than the related Sony DV product.It gets 40 minutes out of a 60 minute tape to do this. There is a zoom feature that I found to be pretty darned good (ask a dealer of pro equipment for a demo.) Picture quality can be 640x480 regular video or the higher density HD wide format, It can take stills that are stored on videotape or PCMCIA card, and the best (most applicable) part is that there is a very high res stills option and a progressive scan option (none of that deinterlacing trouble) that would suit your use very well. They're handy-cam sized, with steady shot, stereo sound, the ability to plug XLRs into it for audio. Tapes cost about the same as hi-8. Use Fuji tape if you can. I would recommend the DVCam format over the DV format. For bouncy boat shooting and the ability to hand the tapes to any broadcast house, you'll be happy you did. They run about $2500-$3000. Right now they come with a wide angle converter which makes the cost of the consumer product (which doesn't have this) the same if you add it. Panasonic has a similar camcorder (can't recall the model) but it's a lot more expensive and in the DV Pro format. Panasonic DV Pro will play back both the Sony and Panasonic tapes. Sony will not tolerate Panasonic tapes. Cloning digital tapes from format to format is loss-less, and the camera can be used as a deck. Get the extended warranty and buy from an actual store. >From: Sean Todd > >Hi all, > >Allied Whale (at College of the Atlantic, Maine) has a long-standing >tradition of participation in photo-id studies of large whales. Although >we are better known for our work with humpbacks, we also keep a >substantial catalog of Gulf of Maine fin whales. As some of you may know, >finback photo-id is a far more intricate process requiring multiple shots >of the entire whale's head, back and dorsal fin as it surfaces. > >In an effort to evolve the photo-id process of finbacks, we are looking >into the use of a video camera/camcorder to film the entire surfacing >sequence, from which we can then frame-capture onto a pc for visual >analysis. > >We would like to ask for the scientific community's advice as to the kind >of video equipment we should look into. Specific questions we need help >with are: > >1) Should the system be analog or digital? > >2) At a distance of 100ft or less (according to permit), can we get good >enough detail with a standard lense or do we need an add-on? > >3) Would such a system provide enough resolution to detail the kinds of >nicks, scrapes, and subtle pigmentation pattern differences needed to id >an individual? > >We recognize that this system may be completely unworkable, but we would >appreciate your comments. Thanks for your help in advance. At the end of >our field season we will report our findings to the Marmam group in the >hopes of further developing this field. > >Sean > >_______________________ >Sean Todd, Ph.D, >Director, Allied Whale, >College of the Atlantic, >105 Eden Street, Bar Harbor, >ME, 04609, US > > >------------------------------------------------------------------- >-To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.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") >-To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca >saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname >-To unsubscribe, send a message saying: unsub marmam (to the >listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca address) >-To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca >-MARMAM Editorial Policy & FAQ: http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/marmam.htm ******************************************** Leslie Strom, Editor - mailto:lstrom(\)halcyon.com NEW DECEMBER ISSUE ON LINE! Get Lost Magazine - A Journal of Natural and Unnatural Events http://www.GetLostMagazine.com If lawyers were required to present each case as an opera, I bet people would think twice before going to divorce court. (Pam Pickard, Ruminations) When I hear someone say they give "110%" to whatever they're doing, it makes me feel good inside -- because I know I'm not as big a moron as that person is. (Jim Rosenberg, Ruminations) ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 15:30:46 -0800 From: Vicki Kirkland Subject: Anesethizing Cetaceans This is for all of the medical experts out there. Everything I have read claims that you cannot put a cetacean under general anesthesia as they are voluntary breathers and they will die. Then I read something lately that said yes you can, it is just that the combination/amount/type of product is the key to successfully putting an animal under. I would be very interested in the answer. Thanks for taking the time to help me out. Victoria L. Kirkland vickikirkland(\)csi.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 12:04:15 -0500 From: Owen Nichols Subject: Branded Gray Seals Dear MarMamers, I am employed as a field naturalist on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. I am seeking information on the gray seal (Halichoerus grypus) branding program undertaken by Canadian researchers (DFO). To be more specific, I am looking for a way to "key" the individual letter and number series that is found on an individual so that I may be able to discern the birthplace (ie Sable Island) and age of an animal. Any other information about the branding and tagging programs (including studies of other East Coast phocids) would also be appreciated. Responses may be directed to the address below. Thank you for your time. Owen Nichols ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2000 16:11:11 -0500 From: Geoffrey Patton Subject: "Fleecing" Article Hello All: Frank Miniter authors an Article in the Winter 2000 issue of Outdoor Life Magazine titled "Special Report: Misplaced Trust" purporting how the U.S. Government misuses sportsmen's tax dollars in misguided Projects for non-game animals including marine mammals. An accompanying table, "Stickin' It To The States" shows marine mammals with the largest sum of those listed ($791,174) out of a total of over $8M. Sincerely, (signed) Geoffrey W. Patton, Ph.D. Airway Disease Research Center USF Dept. of Internal Medicine Division of Asthma and Immunology 13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (111D) Tampa, FL 33612 (813) 972-2000 x7631 (813) 910-4041 FAX gpatton(\)hsc.usf.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2000 16:43:14 +0200 From: Dan Kerem Subject: humpb-backed Dolphin in Mediterranean Shalom Marmamers, Seems that the Indo-Pacific-hump-backed dolphin (Sousa chinensis) is the first mammal to officially join the list of Lessepsian migrants from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean. This was suggested by Marchessaux in his 1980 review of Eastern Mediterranean cetcean species, re a personal communication of a sighting at the entrance to Port Said harbor, near the opening of the canal. We have, for the last week, been following an apparently young individual which was observed for several hours at a time in very shallow waters in baylets and harbors along the coast from Jaffa to Haifa. We hope he is the first of many future sightings. Sincerely, Oz Goffman and Dan Kerem Dan Kerem, Ph.D. President, IMMRAC (Israeli Marine Mammal Research and Assistance Center) The Recanati Center for Maritime Studies The University of Haifa Mount Carmel, Haifa 31905 Israel e-mail: dankerem(\)research.haifa.ac.il Tel: + 972-4-8249449 Fax: + 972-4-8240493 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 16:16:42 +0100 From: Michael Earle Subject: marine mammals and fisheries Dear all A special scientific advisory committee has recently submitted to UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) a report on proposals to cull marine mammals. Entitled "PROTOCOL FOR THE SCIENTIFIC EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS TO CULL MARINE MAMMALS" it can be obtained in either hard copy or electronic format by sending me a note. This is an initiative of the Marine Mammal Action Plan (MMAP), whose membership comprises a number of inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations which share an interest in marine mammals: UNEP, FAO, I-ATTC (Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission), IOC (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission), Greenpeace International, IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare), IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature)and WWF (Worldwide Fund for Nature). The MMAP struck a Scientific Advisory Committee to examine the question of ecological interactions between marine mammals and fisheries. During two meetings, the SAC identified what it felt to be the minimum set of scientific information which would be necessary to evaluate a proposal to cull marine mammals to benefit fisheries. It noted that, although it would be impossible to evaluate the merits of a proposal thoroughly without this minimum set, more information might be required in many cases. The Committee adopted the basic assumption that cull proposals should be evaluated objectively and openly, and it considered that this would be facilitated by development of a common protocol for evaluation. The reports of the two workshops are also available. If anybody wishes a copy of either the protocol or the reports from the workshops, please specify which word processing language you prefer. Unfortunately, the reports are only available in English. Sincerely, Michael Earle ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Earle Fisheries Advisor Green Group in the European Parliament LEO 2C23 Rue Wiertz 1047 Brussels BELGIUM Tel: +32 (2) 284-2849 email mearle(\)europarl.eu.int ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2000 09:45:54 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Current Contents: 2:1,Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy (fwd) Editor's note: the DOCUMENTS section in this message contains marine mammal-related information. --------------- From: JIWLP Subject: Current Contents: 2:1,Journal of International Wildlife Law & Poli= cy Full of some of these articles, as well as articles in past issues, is available on our web site. Wil Burns, Editor-in-Chief Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy 1210 Floribunda Ave. #7 Burlingame, CA 94010 USA Phone: 650.703.3280 Fax: 801.838.4710 JIWLP(\)earthling.net=20 http://www.jiwlp.com/ _______________________________________________________________ Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy Contents of Volume 2:2 (1999) MAIN ARTICLES * Charles Chester, Civil Society, International Regimes, and the Protection of Transboundary Ecosystems: Defining the International Sonoran Desert Alliance and the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (pp. 159-203) =09 Abstract: The International Sonoran Desert Alliance (ISDA) and the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) are transboundary conservation initiatives rooted in civil society. While similar efforts have appeared on other border areas in North America, they have yet to be defined as a specific "type" of international initiative. Identification would allow for a greater understanding of what these initiatives are trying to accomplish. After case studies of ISDA and Y2Y, this article reviews the applicability of the terms NGO, coalition, and network to these international initiatives. Arguing that these three terms inaccurately or incompletely describe ISDA and Y2Y, this article proposes that they can be better understood as private international regimes. Although traditionally applied to international relations between states, international regime theory provides a comprehensive framework for the diverse and numerous actors and activities within ISDA and Y2Y, and illuminates how these civil society phenomena are working to conserve biodiversity in the Sonoran Desert and Northern Rockies. Keywords: International regime theory; International Sonoran Desert Alliance; Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative; civil society; nongovernmental organizations; transboundary ecosystems * Ashish Kothari & R.V. Anuradha, Biodiversity and Intellectual Property Rights: Can the Two Co-Exist?(pp. 204-238) Full Text (PDF format, requires Adobe Acrobat Reader, available at: Adobe site) Abstract: The 1990s has been characterized by contentious debate about how to reconcile the protection of biodiversity and intellectual property rights. Two international treaties, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) agreement of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) have significant implications for the nexus of intellectual property rights (IPRs), biodiversity and associated knowledge systems. This article provides a brief history of IPRs related to biodiversity; explores the precise relationship between IPRs and biodiversity; examines the contradictions between TRIPs and the CBD; examines the provisions in existing regimes for implementation of appropriate national action; and assesses possible alternative regimes and actions that could help to resolve the conflicts between IPRs and protection of biodiversity. Keywords: Biodiversity; intellectual property rights; Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights Agreement, World Trade Organization; World Intellectual Property Organization; genetic resources. COMMENTS * Sandra Jen, The Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern, 1979): Procedures of Application in Practice (pp. 239-258) Full Text (PDF format, requires Adobe Acrobat Reader, available at the Adobe site) Abstract: The Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats was signed in Bern, Switzerland in 1979 and came into force on 1 June 1982. Over the past 20 years, various mechanisms have been developed to monitor the implementation of the Convention and to improve its effectiveness. The purpose of this article is to examine the application of these mechanisms and assess the effectiveness of the Convention as a tool for biodiversity conservation. Keywords: The Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats; Bern Convention. * Vivienne Sol=EDs Rivera & Patricia Madrigal Cordero, Costa Rica's Biodiversity Law: Sharing the Process (pp. 259-265) Abstract: This article assesses the prospects for Costa Rica's new Biodiversity Law. We believe that this analysis could also provide a valuable case study of national implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The article is not intended to be a primer on the CBD, nor will it defend its precepts. The authors believe that each nation must formulate a legal framework to regulate biodiversity that reflects their unique national circumstances. =09Keywords: Costa Rica; Convention on Biological Diversity; biodiversity; intellectual property =09 o Biodiversity Law of Costa Rica (Spanish)=20 o Biodiversity Law of Costa Rica (English translation) =09 DOCUMENTS * Resolutions of the 51st Meeting of the International Whaling Commission= =20 * Plants in Peril: What Should We Do?, Remarks of Peter H. Raven, XVI International Botanical Congress * Aquaculture Europe 99. Norway Conference. Plenary presentation to the Environmental Effects of Aquaculture Session Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2000 11:15:02 +0100 From: teresa hernandez Subject: Marine Mammals Images Request ------ > Dear MARMAM subscribers, >=20 > We are a Spanish Cultural Productions Company preparing a Marine > Centre in Southern Spain. >=20 > We are looking for some photographs difficult to find, of the > following sea mammals: > * Stenella Clymene (Short-snouted spinner dolphin) > * Kogia Breviceps (Pygmy sperm whale) >=20 > The images would be used in a permanent museum exhibition. Please let > me know where to look them up or send me an e-mail if you can find > them. >=20 > Thank you in advance for your time. >=20 > Kind regards, >=20 > M=AA Teresa Hern=E1ndez > ----------------------------------------------------- > InGeNiA, S.A. Producciones Culturales > e-mail: teresa(\)ingenia.org > S. Laureano, 2-1. 41002 Sevilla. SPAIN > Tel. +34-95-490 4510 Fax +34-95-490 3083 >=20 >=20 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2000 03:35:53 EST From: Joseph Cordaro Subject: California Sea Lion Deaths; California Power Plant Mortalities Regarding the January 14 CRS Weekly Summary, two items referring to marine mammals in California contain inaccurate information. California Sea Lion Deaths: The media has been reporting that in 1998 over 400 California sea lions died from domoic acid poisoning from a toxic algae bloom in Monterey Bay. This was not the case. 1998 was the year of a very strong El Nino. Between January 1 and December 31, 1998, a total of 3,568 seals and sea lions (2,576 California sea lions) stranded, both live and dead, on California beaches. Most of these were 7 month old to 2 year old animals suffering from emaciation and dehydration. Between May 16 and October 17, 1998, 83 California sea lions and one northern fur seal exhibiting seizuring behavior live-stranded on California beaches from San Luis Obispo County north to San Mateo County. Sixty-seven of the animals were adult females, 29 were pregnant. Seizuring behavior is believed to be one of the symptoms of domoic acid poisoning. The animals were captured and taken to a marine mammal center located in Sausalito. Fifty-seven of these animals eventually died. The 27 remaining animals were nursed back to health and released back into the wild. We were only able to definitively link these 84 animals to the toxic algae bloom occurring in Monterey Bay. The January 6, 2000, Nature article claim stating that over 400 California sea lions died along the central California coast during May and June 1998 is untrue. We were able to document only 134 dead sea lions between San Luis Obispo and San Mateo counties in May and June. We did document 321 live sea lion strandings in this area during this same time period. Apparently, the total number of both live and dead strandings (455) somehow became "over 400 dead strandings" in the Nature article. The Nature article also states "the total number of sea lions that may have suffered from domoic acid poisoning is unknown, but is certainly much greater than the 70 animals brought to TMMC." The stranding evidence does not support this statement. Although we can assume that other undetected sea lions may have been involved in this event, we can only speculate as to the magnitude of the event. It appears that, for unknown reasons, adult females may be more susceptible to toxic algae blooms than are other sea lion age classes. Very few dead adult animals were recovered in 1998. The majority of dead animals were pups, yearlings, and sub-adults; the same age classes that have been documented with high mortality in previous El Nino events. As one of the co-authors of the Nature article, I must assume some of the blame for the release of this inaccurate information. Unfortunately, I was not given the opportunity to review the final draft before it was submitted to Nature. My apologies to all. California Power Plant Mortalities: The National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Region (NMFS-SWR), has been monitoring marine mammal takes in California power plants, both steam and nuclear, since the early 1980's. We have determined that the past take has been negligible. The majority of takes have been California sea lions and harbor seals, although one northern elephant seal was taken in 1979. In 1999, 6 California sea lion and 4 harbor seal mortalities were caused by entrainment in California power plants. To the best of my knowledge, no sea otters have ever been taken in California power plants. In order to be consistent with NMFS national policy, the NMFS-SWR will begin undertaking small take permit consultations with all power plants in California later this year. Joseph Cordaro Wildlife Biologist Coordinator of the California Marine Mammal Stranding Network National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Region 501 West Ocean Boulevard, Suite 4200 Long Beach, California 90802-4231 Phone: 562-980-4017 FAX: 562-980-4027 CJOECORDARO(\)AOL.COM or Joe.Cordaro(\)noaa.gov ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2000 14:26:43 -0600 From: Joel Ortega Subject: New Book on Marine Mammals of the Gulf of Mexico ------ The book "The Marine Mammals of the Gulf of Mexico" by Bernd W=FCrsig, Th= omas A. Jefferson, and David J. Schmidly, with paintings by Larry Foster, will come out from press in March. It is published by Texas A & M University Press and the price will be $34.95. As an special offer for the past 13th Biennial Conference for Marine Mammals, held in Maui, Hawai'i, TAMU Pres= s gives a 20% discount to any orders placed before February 3rd 2000. =20 You can order the book by telephone (1-800-826-8911). Do not forget to mention the 20% discount for the Society for Marine Mammalogy members. To find out more about the book or to order on-line visit the following website: http://www.tamu.edu/upress/books/2000/wursig.htm =3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D= -=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D Joel G. Ortega-Ortiz Graduate Student Marine Mammal Research Program Texas A & M University at Galveston 4700 Avenue U, Building 303 Galveston, TX 77551 U.S.A. Phone: (409) 740-4718 Fax: (409) 740-4717 =3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D= -=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2000 09:06:39 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: WebSite for European Association for Aquatic Mammals (fwd) From: Jeanette_Thomas(\)ccmail.wiu.edu The European Association for Aquatic Mammals (EAAM) has a new website http://www.eaam.org This website contains information on: 1) Upcoming EAAM meeting hosted by Mundomar in Benidorm, Spain, March 11-15 2) Instructions to Authors for preparation of manuscripts for Aquatic Mammals 3) Previous Tables of Content for issues of Aquatic Mammals 4) Information on becoming a member of EAAM 5) Information on subscribing to Aquatic Mammals Jeanette Thomas, Editor Aquatic Mammals Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2000 13:18:09 -0600 Reply-To: Jeanette_Thomas(\)ccmail.wiu.edu From: Jeanette_Thomas(\)ccmail.wiu.edu Subject: Aquatic Mammals The following information regards subscriptions to Aquatic Mammals: Jeanette Thomas, Editor Western Illinois University 3561 60th St. Moline, IL 61265 USA Tel: 309-762-9481 Fax: 309-762-6989 E-mail: Jeanette_Thomas(\)ccmail.wiu.edu Thank you for inquiring about the subscription rate to Aquatic Mammals. This is a peer-reviewed journal of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals (EAAM) and is published as 3 issues each year. If you are a member of EAAM, the subscription rate is $50.00 US. If you are not an EAAM member, the subscription rate is $95.00 US. Application for membership in EAAM is accomplished through the organization secretary, Mr. Kai Mattsson. His E-mail address is: Kai.Mattsson(\)sarkanniemi.fi Becoming a member of EAAM requires an application and vote of approval by the membership at the annual meeting. Please see the EAAM webpage at http://www.eaam.org At present, there is no discount rate for students. If you would like to subscribe as a non-member, please mail a money order in US dollars to me at the information listed above. Payment also can be by MasterCard or Visa. If paying by credit card, please provide the name as it appears on the credit card, account number, expiration month/year, and the card holder's signature. This information can be sent via mail, fax, or E-mail. Please designate whether you want to purchase: __Volume 25, 3 issues for 1999 __Volume 26, 3 issues for 2000 __Both 1999 and 2000 issues Back issues are available for most volumes in the last 5 years. If you have any questions, please contact me. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2000 09:11:15 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: FW: tenure-track position (fwd) Please note position #2 below, which may be of interest to some on this list, or your students or colleagues. Unfortunately, this ad did not make it into Science and time is short. I'll be happy to answer any questions. Links to our university and dept. websites are on my home page (below). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Department of Biology Valdosta State University The Department of Biology announces two academic-year tenure-track faculty positions at the assistant professor level beginning August 2000. Both positions require a Ph.D. in the biological sciences and have the expectation of a continuing research program in the advertised discipline, demonstrated expertise in integrated science helpful, and a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching. (1) MYCOLOGIST/PLANT PATHOLOGIST, with ability to teach Mycology. (2) ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGIST, with ability to teach Developmental Biology. Submit letter of application stating position applied for and addressing qualifications for that position, along with a Curriculum Vitae, statements of teaching philosophy and research interests, transcripts, and 3 letters of recommendation by 31 January 2000 to: Dr. David L. Bechler, Dept. of Biology, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA 31698-0015. Valdosta State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brad Bergstrom, Ph.D., Professor TEL 912-333-5770 /-5759 Department of Biology FAX 912-333-7389 Valdosta State University e-mail: bergstrm(\)valdosta.edu Valdosta, GA 31698-0015 Home: 912-333-0743 Home Page-- http://www.valdosta.edu/~bergstrm/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2000 15:59:02 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: requests for Marine Mammals and Fisheries report Please send your requests for copies of the MMAP/UNEP report to Michael Earle, the author of the posting, rather than to the MARMAM List. The marmamed account has been flooded in the last two days with requests from subscribers who hit the reply button without noticing in the header that the 'reply' option will reply to MARMAM, not to the intended recipient. Michael Earle's contact information, including his e-mail, is reproduced below: Michael Earle Fisheries Advisor Green Group in the European Parliament LEO 2C23 Rue Wiertz 1047 Brussels BELGIUM Tel: +32 (2) 284-2849 email mearle(\)europarl.eu.int The MARMAM editorial policy and FAQ is posted at the begining of each month, and can be viewed on-line at: http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/marmam.htm Archived MARMAM messages can be viewed at: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ -Daniel Palacios MARMAM assistant editor The following is from Reuters news service Up to 100 dolphins beached in Florida Keys By Michael Connor MIAMI (Reuters) - An estimated 75 to 100 bottlenose dolphins have beached themselves along jagged shores in the Florida Keys and as many as 25 have died, marine police said Monday. Some dolphins were injured by rocks and sharp coral as they came ashore overnight along Long Key or thrashed in shallow waters, wildlife officials said. Other strandings involving fewer dolphins had been reported at two other spots in the Keys, a string of narrow islands south of Miami, according to spokesman Stephen Acton of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. No cause for the beachings, similar to one involving more than 100 dolphins in 1999, had been determined. A cause was not likely to be uncovered until detailed physical examinations now underway on some dead animals had been completed, Acton said. Bottlenosed dolphins normally live 40 miles or more offshore but have been known to head for the coast when one or more in a group falls ill. ``This is an unusually large number of animals to be involved in something like this,'' Acton said. ``It could be from a bacterial or viral infection or some bad water.'' Dozens of aquatic experts in black wetsuits, neighborhood volunteers, divers, and police rescue workers were working at Long Key to treat the sick animals and persuade the others to return to safe waters. Many dolphins had returned to open waters, he said. But some 25 to 30 of the sleek, light-colored dolphins remained in a deep pool off the small town of Layton on Long Key, Acton said. Some were sick but most were unharmed and were even taking food from the rescuers, he said. ``A lot of the healthy animals won't leave because of the sick ones. They keep responding to the sounds of the sick ones squealing, chirping and popping,'' he said. Acton said the rescuers were planning to move the sick animals to a tank at a nearby aquatic research center outside the hearing of the other dolphins in a bid to encourage the healthy ones to swim out to safer waters. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2000 23:09:37 -0800 From: JIWLP1 Subject: FW: 5th International Wildlife Law Conference Content-type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" The program and registration materials for the 5th International Wildlife Law Conference, "CITES: A Twenty-Five Year Report Card" are available on the American Society of International Law - Wildlife Interest Group website. We hope you can join us in Washington on March 25. Wil Burns, Co-Chairman American Society of International Law - Wildlife Interest Group 1210 Floribunda Ave. #7 Burlingame, CA 94010 USA Phone: 650.703.3280 Fax: 801.838.4710 ASILwildlife(\)pacbell.net http://www.eelink.net/~asilwildlife ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2000 14:49:44 -0800 Reply-To: Russell Markel From: Russell Markel Subject: Ship-based marine biology field courses marbio(\)marinelabs.sarasota.fl.us boundary="----=_NextPart_000_00EE_01BF6355.969E7400" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_00EE_01BF6355.969E7400 charset="iso-8859-1" SHIP-BASED MARINE BIOLOGY FIELD COURSES Postels Marine Educational Expeditions is offering a series of = accredited and non-accredited ship-based marine biology field courses in = the Spring and Summer of 2000 including: Survey of the Invertebrates (18-days) Ecology of Rocky Intertidal and Subtidal Communities (8-days) Marine Biology for Teachers, Guides and Interpreters (8-days) Marine Mammal Field Course (8-days) =20 These unique field courses feature: 1.. The rich marine life, intertidal zones, kelpforests and = old-growth rainforests of British Columbia=92s West Coast=20 2.. Integrated workshops, practical field activities and techniques=20 3.. Independent research projects=20 4.. Ship-based living, travelling and learning=20 5.. Seamanship instruction and certification=20 6.. Snorkeling and SCUBA diving (optional) For more information about these courses and our high school and summer = youth programs please contact: Postels Marine Educational Expeditions Ltd. Box 21, 463 Bamfield Inlet Bamfield, BC, Canada, V0R 1B0 tel. (250) 728-3437 / fax. (250) 728-3439 website: http://www.postels.com e-mail: expeditions(\)postels.com ------=_NextPart_000_00EE_01BF6355.969E7400 charset="iso-8859-1"

SHIP-BASED MARINE BIOLOGY FIELD COURSES

Postels Marine Educational Expeditions is offering a series of = accredited and=20 non-accredited ship-based marine biology field courses in the Spring and = Summer=20 of 2000 including:

Survey of the Invertebrates=20 (18-days)
Ecology of Rocky Intertidal and = Subtidal=20 Communities (8-days)
Marine Biology for Teachers, Guides = and=20 Interpreters (8-days)
Marine Mammal Field Course=20 (8-days)
 
These unique field courses=20 feature:
  1. The rich marine life, intertidal zones, kelpforests and = old-growth=20 rainforests of British Columbia’s West Coast=20
  2. Integrated workshops, practical field activities and techniques=20
  3. Independent research projects=20
  4. Ship-based living, travelling and learning=20
  5. Seamanship instruction and certification=20
  6. Snorkeling and SCUBA diving (optional)

For more information about these courses and our high school and = summer youth=20 programs please contact:

Postels Marine Educational Expeditions = Ltd.
Box=20 21, 463 Bamfield Inlet
Bamfield, BC, Canada, V0R 1B0
tel. (250) = 728-3437 /=20 fax. (250) 728-3439
website: http://www.postels.com
e-mail: expeditions(\)postels.com

------=_NextPart_000_00EE_01BF6355.969E7400-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2000 14:48:30 -0800 Reply-To: Russell Markel From: Russell Markel Subject: Marine Mammal Field Course boundary="----=_NextPart_000_00E0_01BF6355.6A96C920" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_00E0_01BF6355.6A96C920 charset="iso-8859-1" MARINE MAMMAL FIELD COURSE Postels Marine Educational Expeditions is offering a ship-based marine = mammal field course. This course is intended for post-secondary = students, teachers, guides, interpreters and marine mammal enthusiasts = seeking a hands-on, educational and adventurous experience. Join us as = we search for seals, sea lions, killer, gray and humpback whales! = Course features include: 1.. The spectacular marine life of British Columbia=92s West Coast=20 2.. Practical marine mammal research skills including species = identification, photo-identification techniques and applications, = behavioural sampling, line transect methods, acoustic and prey sampling = methods=20 3.. Discussion-based workshops considering marine mammal = identification, ecology, evolution, physiology and conservation=20 4.. Instruction by experienced researchers=20 5.. Ship-based living, travelling and learning Course dates: Summer 2000 Duration: 8-days Cost: $1400.00 CDN/ $995.00 US (plus 7% GST) =20 For more information please contact: Postels Marine Educational Expeditions Ltd. Box 21, 463 Bamfield Inlet Bamfield, BC, Canada, V0R 1B0 tel. (250) 728-3437 / fax. (250) 728-3439 website: http://www.postels.com e-mail: expeditions(\)postels.com ------=_NextPart_000_00E0_01BF6355.6A96C920 charset="iso-8859-1"

MARINE MAMMAL FIELD COURSE

Postels Marine Educational Expeditions is offering a ship-based = marine mammal=20 field course. This course is intended for post-secondary students, = teachers,=20 guides, interpreters and marine mammal enthusiasts seeking a hands-on,=20 educational and adventurous experience. Join us as we search for seals, = sea=20 lions, killer, gray and humpback whales!  Course features include:

  1. The spectacular marine life of British=20 Columbia’s West Coast=20
  2. Practical marine mammal research skills = including=20 species identification, photo-identification techniques and = applications,=20 behavioural sampling, line transect methods, acoustic and prey = sampling=20 methods=20
  3. Discussion-based workshops considering = marine mammal=20 identification, ecology, evolution, physiology and = conservation=20
  4. Instruction by experienced = researchers=20
  5. Ship-based living, travelling and=20 learning
Course dates: Summer = 2000
Duration: = 8-days
Cost: $1400.00 CDN/ $995.00 = US (plus=20 7% GST)
 
For more information please=20 contact:

Postels Marine Educational = Expeditions=20 Ltd.
Box 21, 463 Bamfield Inlet
Bamfield, BC, Canada, V0R = 1B0
tel.=20 (250) 728-3437 / fax. (250) 728-3439
website: http://www.postels.com
e-mail: expeditions(\)postels.com
------=_NextPart_000_00E0_01BF6355.6A96C920-- ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2000 11:56:02 -0500 From: Jennifer Lewis Subject: Internship Announcement Interns needed for help with Masters thesis project on the behavior of Bottlenose Dolphins in the Florida Keys for the following dates: March 1-31, 2000. Position is volunteer. Data collection will be boat based. Work involved will include the following: Piloting small 18 foot vessel, collecting data using video recorders, data entry. Qualifications: Prefer students with background in the biological sciences and goals to continue on with this type of education. Experience with word processing and spreadsheet applications, as well as previous experience with camera equipment and or work piloting boats a plus, but not a requirement. If interested please contact: Jennifer Lewis jennifer.lewis(\)mail.ua.edu (813) 914-7804 8215 Fisherman's Point Dr. Temple Terrace, Florida 33637 (813)914-7804 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 14:33:33 PST From: leslie grella Subject: Seeking volunteers to monitor harbor seals >The Gulf of Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (GFNMS) and the Farallones >Marine Sanctuary Association (FMSA) are looking for volunteers to help with >its SEALS (Sanctuary Education Awareness & >Long-Term Stewardship) program. > >This innovative and effective program is designed to protect harbor seals >in the sanctuary. Volunteers document the impact of human activity on >harbor seals in Bolinas Lagoon and Tomales Bay. The goal of the program is >to minimize disturbance to the seal colonies and educate the community >about protection of habitat. > >Two volunteer orientations are set for Saturday Jan 22 and 29 at 10 AM at >the GFNMS office at the Presidio of San Francisco. > >For more information, contact Leslie Grella at lesgrella(\)hotmail.com or >415/561-6622 (sanctuary office). > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2000 10:20:26 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly marine mammal summaries to US Congress (fwd) The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} {Dolphin Mass Stranding. On Jan. 16, 2000, about 100 bottlenose dolphins became stranded in a shallow lagoon at Long Key, FL, with at least 23 dying before volunteers and the FL Marine Patrol could free the others.} {{On Jan. 18, 2000, an additional group of 9 bottlenose dolphins stranded at Little Torch Key, FL, with 3 dying.}} [Miami Herald, Assoc Press, MSNBC] {Japanese Whaling. In mid-January 2000, the Director General of Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research informed Greenpeace that, if confrontational protests continue, the Captain of the Japanese whaling vessel Nisshin Maruwill, under Japanese domestic law, take Greenpeace activists into custody.} [Japan Whaling Assoc press release] {Keiko. In mid-January 2000, divers finished stringing a net across the mouth of Klettsvik Bay, Iceland, where Keiko's handlers hope to release the orca whale from its holding pen into the enclosed bay in February 2000.} [Assoc Press] Mexican Salt Project. On Jan. 11, 2000, the CA Coastal Commission voted 8-1 in adopting a resolution asking Mitsubishi Corp. to withdraw plans to build a $120 million salt evaporation operation at Laguna San Ignacio, Mexico. Mitsubishi officials had asked the Commission to postpone the vote. [Assoc Press, Los Angeles Times] AK Sea Otters. Jan. 11, 2000 is the deadline for public comments to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on a request by a consultant to 2 Japanese aquariums to capture a up to 2 sea otters apiece from Kodiak waters for export and public display in Japan. [Anchorage Daily News, Fed. Register] FL Dolphin Mortality. On Jan. 10, 2000, NOAA scientists reported that examinations of some of the 115 dolphins that died in bays along the FL panhandle since August 1999 show lung and respiratory tract lesions similar to those found in manatees determined to have died from red tide toxins in 1996. Red tide toxins were also found in the stomach contents in some of the dolphins. [Assoc Press] CA Sea Lion Deaths. The Jan. 6, 2000, issue of Nature contained an article concluding that the deaths of more than 400 CA sea lions between Monterey Bay and Morro Bay in May-June 1998 was caused by domoic acid from a toxic dinoflagellate plankton bloom. [San Jose Mercury, Environmental News Network]] CA Power Plant Mortalities. In early January 2000, NMFS officials announced that they were considering enforcing federal law requiring nuclear power plants that kill or disturb endangered species and marine mammals to obtain permits. About 20 harbor seals, sea otters, and other marine mammals were reported to have died at southern CA power plants in 1999. [Assoc Press] Dolphin-Safe? On Jan. 3, 2000, NMFS published an interim final rule in the Federal Register, implementing provisions of the International Dolphin Conservation Program Act and establishing specific requirements for the program. Public comment on the new rule will be accepted through Apr. 3, 2000. The regulations implement a new labeling standard for dolphin-safe tuna, effective Feb. 2, 2000, and establish requirements to track and verify the status of tuna imports from the eastern tropical Pacific. [Environment News Service, Fed. Register, Environmental News Network, Dept. of State, Humane Society of the United States press release] FL Manatees. On Dec. 28, 1999, Blue Spring State Park officials counted a record 112 manatees in the park's spring run. On Jan. 5, 2000, the FL Marine Research Institute announced that a record high 73 manatees were killed by boats in the first 10 months of 1999. This exceeded the previous record loss of 60 manatee deaths in all of 1996. On Jan. 8, 2000, the FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported that 268 manatees had died during 1999, with 82 of those deaths related to watercraft injuries. On Jan. 13, 2000, a coalition of 19 environmental and animal protections organizations planned to file two lawsuits in Washington, DC, and Tallahassee, FL, against the FL Dept. of Environmental Protection and the federal government (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Dept. of the Interior) for alleged failure to protect manatees. [Orlando Sentinel, Naples Daily News, Assoc Press, Daytona Beach News-Journal, Save the Manatee Club press release] CITES and Whales. In late December 1999, the Icelandic Parliament approved by consensus a recommendation that the nation become a party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). In accordance with CITES, Iceland lodged reservations for 14 cetacean species listed on CITES Appendix I and II. Iceland deposited instruments for accession to CITES within the deadline required to obtain voting rights at the April 2000 meeting of CITES Parties in Kenya. On Jan. 14, 2000, officials of the European Union meeting in Brussels were to vote on whether or not to support a CITES petition by Japan and Norway that would lift the current prohibition on international trade of some whale products. {In mid-January 2000, the Secretariat to CITES recognized the Japanese and Norwegian argument that minke whales and eastern Pacific gray whales are not threatened with extinction and are inappropriately included on CITES Appendix I, but provisionally recommended that a "zero quota" for minke whale harvest be adopted if trade is permitted by Parties at the April 2000 meeting.} [High North Alliance News, Greenpeace press release, The Antarctican] Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2000 10:27:10 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, TENURE TRACK, MARINE BIOSCIENCE (fwd) Tenure Track Assistant Professor Teaching/Research Position The School of Marine Affairs seeks a scientist to fill an Assistant Professor, tenure track position. The School is in the College of Ocean and Fishery Sciences and offers a two-year program leading to a Master of Marine Affairs professional degree. Faculty of the School cover areas as diverse as law, economics, political science, policy analysis, anthropology, fisheries science and oceanography. The School proposes to add a specialist with a natural science background. The appointee will teach marine affairs courses building upon his or her specialty and will conduct policy-relevant research in which marine affairs students participate. Criteria for the appointment include a Ph.D., preferably in a marine bioscience, and interest and experience in teaching and research on living marine resources as they relate to ocean and coastal management or to marine environmental questions. Examples of topics in these areas include, but are not limited to, integrated coastal management, ecosystem management, habitat protection and restoration, fisheries management, and marine protected areas. Candidates must have a strong commitment to teaching, the ability to procure external funding, a willingness and ability to participate in interdisciplinary research teams, and demonstrated excellence in written and oral communication. Preference will be given to candidates with training or experience in marine affairs and who can connect scientific research to policy development. Salary will be competitive with similar positions at major research universities. The University of Washington is building a culturally diverse faculty and strongly encourages applications from female and minority candidates. The University is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action employer. Further application information is available on the SMA home page: http://www.sma.washington.edu. Applications should be mailed to: Faculty Search Committee, ATTN: Mary Prior, School of Marine Affairs, 3707 Brooklyn Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98105-6715. For full consideration by the Search Committee, applications should reach us by February 23, 2000. Mary Prior Secretary to the Director and the Faculty Search Committee School of Marine Affairs, University of Washington, Seattle Phone: 206-543-4007; Fax: 206-543-1417; Email: mprior(\)u.washington.edu ---------------------------------- School of Marine Affairs University of Washington Seattle, Washington Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2000 10:29:50 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: volunteer positions at the MFWC (fwd) Seasonal Volunteer Posts Available. The Moray Firth Wildlife Centre (Scotland) requires 3 volunteers this year to further develop an ongoing seasonal research project monitoring the movements of Bottlenose Dolphins and other cetaceans along the southern Moray Firth. Post 1. Shore Watch Officer. Responsible for collecting and collating data from the shore watch at Spey Bay, you will be required to organise daily watches and record all sightings. Collation of the data throughout the season together with a report at the end of the period is required. Other duties include, project admin, interpretation to the public & organising volunteers to assist. This project is funded by the Moray Firth Dolphin Trust. Post 2. Boat Survey & Photo I.D. project officer. Responsible for carrying out coastal surveys aboard a local wildlife cruise boat, you will be required to record all encounters with cetaceans and obtain photographs for use in Photo I.D. studies. You will be required to collate all data into a end of season report. Other duties include project admin,public interpretation and organising volunteers. This project is Funded by the Moray Firth Dolphin Trust Post 3. Education Officer. Working mainly at the Wildlife Centre, you will be responsible for organising a seasonal programme of events and activities. You will be working with the public both indoors inside the exhibition, interpreting the dolphins and other local wildlife, and outside at times during events. Other duties include working with school groups & voluntary organisations, carry out slide talks, help with the shore watch, and admin tasks relating to the post. All 3 posts are voluntary. Food & Accommodation is provided. Applicants will need to be self sufficient in their other needs. All 3 posts run from April to the end of Sept and provide an opportunity to gain valuable experience. Applicants should be suitably qualified, min requirement for post 1& 2 a degree in marine biology or other closely related subject. Previous experience in similar projects an advantage. Interested applicants should forward a C.V. together with a brief application letter stating which post/s they are interested in. Closing date for applications is February 21st 2000. Shortlist applicants only will be contacted before 29th February. Tony Archer The Moray Firth Wildlife Centre Spey Bay Scotland IV32 7PJ Tel: 01343 820339 Fax 01343 821314 Email mfwc(\)dial.pipex.com Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2000 10:31:35 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Conservation Genetics (fwd) From: A R Hoelzel Announcing a new journal: CONSERVATION GENETICS which now has a web page: http://www.wkap.nl/journalhome.htm/1566-0621 This site provides general information on the format of the journal, the editorial board, instructions for authors, and subscription details. The first issue is due out this spring. Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2000 09:22:06 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: manatee captive behavior (fwd) Dear all, I am a student of biology at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia and I am writing my thesis on captive behavior of the Amazon manatee. There is very little published in this regard and we don't have access to many journals at our library. I am seeking for information about manatee behaviour in captivity, any paper or personal observation is useful for me. The specific topics are : strees, circadian rythm, space use, interaction with another animals, interaction with man, interaction with inanimated objets, potential role of vocalization behaviour, diseases in captivity etc. any information for T. inunguis or any species of manatee is useful. Thank you for your help. ************************************************************ Nataly Castelblanco-Martinez Biologia-tesista "Manati Amazonico" UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE COLOMBIA Telephone: 5353386 Adress: Diag. 85 N:81-71 Santafi de Bogota/Colombia Postal Code: 056878 Santafe de Bogota/Colombia Email: naticastel(\)hotmail.com dncm(\)altavista.com ************************************************************ ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2000 08:51:57 -0500 From: Dave Johnston Organization: IMMA Inc. Subject: New Web-based Marine Mammal Discussion Site >Marine Mammal Net is pleased to announce the implementation of a new, web based >marine mammal science and conservation discussion site: Coda (\) Marine Mammal Net ------------------------- http://coda.marinemammal.net >What is Coda? -------------- Coda is an automated storytelling homepage, designed to provide internet users in the marine mammal science and conservation community a place to share ideas and thoughts on current issues in their field(s). It is an interactive place on the net, allowing people to provide their thoughts and opinions on the information presented. Postings to the site are grouped by subject area, and the current list of subjects includes Acoustics, Advocacy, Books, Bright Ideas, Conferences, Conservation, Evolution, Fisheries, Humour, Jobs, Mysticetes, Odontocetes, Organizations, Pinnipeds, Students, Tech Stuff, Unusual Sightings etc...and the list is growing. Postings to the site and replies are stored in a database, which is fully searchable by keyword, subject and author. Coda content is also automagically published as a "My Netscape" type internet information channel, and can be easily added to your My Netscape start page with the click of a button. You can also subscribe to Coda through the NewsBoy e-mail service, simply by visiting this URL: http://www.xmltree.com/newsBoy/subscribeForm.cfm?ResourceID=4408 >How do I use Coda? -------------------- The site is viewed and read just like any other website and if you read something that you think your colleagues in the marine mammal science and conservation community should know about, it's time to post it! Coda has a very simple web-based interface for doing this. Simply click on the "post article" link underneath the main site title icon and you'll bring up an easy to fill out online form. To learn more about how the site works, point your browser to: http://coda.marinemammal.net/coda1 Here you can find out how to use the site, how the site is moderated and what you can do to make it a useful, productive place to hang out on the net. >How do articles get posted? ----------------------------- Although Coda is a fully automated and database-driven site, all original articles posted to Coda are moderated by a human being. There are a number of moderators (currently 10 and we are looking for more), from a variety of institutions and organizations around the world. Comments on posted material are currently unmoderated to facilitate discussions and provide a more dynamic atmosphere to the site. If you post an article, and it doesn't show up on the main page within 24 hrs or so, it has been moderated out of existence for any number of reasons. The article could be (only a few examples): - off topic - already posted - a blatant troll or flame Comments on postings are unmoderated, and we are relying on you to keep the discussion civil (this can change, and will if things get out of hand). This means that you can't post racist or sexist (or any other "ist") material and that the use of offensive language is completely out of the question. Offenders will be excluded from the site and, possibly, reported to their internet service provider. >What are those changing images across the top? ------------------------------------------------ Across the very top is a banner ad section, where you will see a variety of advertisements for marine mammal related organisations and products. The advertising will be minimal, politically non-partisan and directed towards products and services that internet users in the marine mammal community might want to know more about. If you'd like to post a banner ad, let us know. (The site administrators do, however, reserve the right to refuse advertising for products and organisations whose philosophy is inconsistent with those of the site). >How is the site supported? ---------------------------- Coda runs on open source software, on the Linux operating system. The application server is a product called Zope and the actual discussions product is called Squishdot (A small spoof of the now extremely popular Slashdot site). This means that all the software used to run the site is free! System administration is supported by Marine Mammal Net (http://www.marinemammal.net). Coda bandwidth and hardware are currently provided by IMMA Inc (http://www.imma.org). If you are interested in supporting this project, let us know! Coda is the definition of a work in progress, so don't be shy about letting us know how we can improve the end-user experience. >Privacy Statement for Coda ---------------------------- Marine Mammal Net has created this privacy statement in order to demonstrate our firm commitment to privacy. The following discloses our information gathering and dissemination practices for this website. We use your IP address to help diagnose problems with our server, and to administer our Web site. Your IP address is used to help identify you and your postings. We use cookies to save your contact information so you don't have to re-enter it each time you visit our site. This site contains links to other sites. Coda is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such Web sites. This site is an online discussion forum. Please remember that any information that is disclosed in these areas becomes public information and you should exercise caution when deciding to disclose your personal information. >Finally, feel free to contact Dave Johnston (djohnsto(\)imma.org) if you'd >like to discuss your thoughts on improving the site or have a problem with >any of the content >Enjoy! Dave Johnston -- "The future masters of technology must be light-hearted and intelligent. The machine easily masters the grim and the dumb." Marshall McLuhan ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2000 08:37:12 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications (fwd) Here are some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Publications recently posted to MARMAM are not included. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. Cloning and sequencing of a bottle-nosed dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) interleukin-1 alpha and-1 beta complementary DNAs. Inoue, Y; Itou, T; Ueda, K; Oike, T; Sakai, T. JOURNAL OF VETERINARY MEDICAL SCIENCE. December 1999 v61 i12 p1317-1321 Assisting manual dolphin identification by computer extraction of dorsal ratio. Kreho, A; Kehtarnavaz, N; Araabi, B; Hillman, G; Wursig, B; Weller, D. ANNALS OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING. November-December 1999 v27 i6 p830-838 Investigating potential associations between chronic exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and infectious disease mortality in harbour porpoises from England and Wales. Jepson, PD; Bennett, PM; Allchin, CR; Law, RJ; Kuiken, T; Baker, JR; Rogan, E; Kirkwood, JK. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. December 15, 1999 v244 p339-348 Patterns and levels of organochlorines (DDTs, PCBs, non-ortho PCBs and PCDD/Fs) in male harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from the Baltic Sea, the Kattegat-Skagerrak Seas and the west coast of Norway. Berggrena, P; Ishaq, R; Zebuhr, Y; Naf, C; Bandh, C; Broman, D. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN. December 1999 v38 i12 p1070-1084 Manatee mortality in Puerto Rico. Mignucci-Giannoni, AA; Montoya-Ospina, RA; Jimenez-Marrero, NM; Rodriguez-Lopez, MA; Williams, EH; Bonde, RK. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT. February 2000 v25 i2 p189-198 Essential elements and priority contaminants in liver, kidney, muscle and blubber of harp seal beaters. Yeats, P; Stenson, G; Hellou, J. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. December 15, 1999 v244 p157-167 The diet of the Saimaa ringed seal Phoca hispida saimensis. Kunnasranta, M; Hyvarinen, H; Sipila, T; Koskela, JT. ACTA THERIOLOGICA. December 1999 v44 i4 p443-450 Dynamic age-distributions in a declining population of southern elephant seals. Pistorius, PA; Bester, MN; Kirkman, SP. ANTARCTIC SCIENCE. December 1999 v11 i4 p445-450 Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 13:30:12 GMT2 From: Ronel du Preez Organization: Universitas Hospital Subject: Re: Baby Sodwana and information Hallo there, Can anyone help me? Can you please send me information on Dolphins,Whales and other sea animals.(Mammals)- I am a medical technologist and I `m doing a study comparing the diseases of these animals and humans. Especially viral diseases and also Cancers. (I am working currently in the cytology lab where we diagnose cancer and other infections.) Or can you tell me where I can find information on these animals and their diseases? Please - I need it urgently! Thanks a lot Ronel Ronel du Preez Chief Medical Technologist Department of Cytology Private Bag x20660 Universitas Hospital Bloemfontein 9300 gnstrdp(\)ixia.ofs.gov.za "Astronomy is a typical monastic activity:it provides food for meditation and strengthens spirituality" Paul Couteau / // // */ */ // //* /**/// /* / ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 24 Jan 0100 10:23:24 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Navy sonar and cetaceans impact, which are the news ? (fwd) Editor's Note: If anyone has any information on this, please forward it to the MARMAM list, in addition to the message author. Thank you. ============================================================= From: Gauthier Chapelle Hello everybody, some months ago, there has been a mass of emails about the LFA sonar and its potential impacts. Some of you asked for reactions to be sent before decision was taken, and so did many of us. What are the news today the 15th of January 2000 ? As members of a french NGO, we had the opportunity to collect a lsit of people interested to write, or petition to influence the US government politics on the subject. What can we do now ? Is it too late ? Too early ? Should we move through the US embassy ? Could someone summarize all of this ? Thanks a lot, Gauthier Chapelle president of Cetus ...................................... Gauthier CHAPELLE IRSNB rue Vautier 29 1000 Bruxelles tel: ** 32 2 627 42 78 fax: ** 32 2 627 42 77 email: chapelle(\)kbinirsnb.be (work) or reymchap(\)village.uunet.be (home) ...................................... Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2000 11:50:40 -0800 From: JIWLP Subject: Updated version of Climate Change/Biodiversity Bibliography Bioregional - L Comments: cc: "Catherine Ripley (Biodiversity)" The latest version of our research bibliography on the possible impacts of climate change on flora and fauna species and associated ecosystems is now available on our site at: http://www.eelink.net/~asilwildlife/bib.html Over 200 citations have been added since the last update in December. The 2013 citation bibliography is fully searchable (Boolean) and can be downloaded in a PDF version. Please contact me with corrections or additions for the site. Thank you. Wil Burns, Co-Chairman American Society of International Law - Wildlife Interest Group 1210 Floribunda Ave. #7 Burlingame, CA 94010 USA Phone: 650.703.3280 Fax: 801.838.4710 ASILwildlife(\)pacbell.net http://www.eelink.net/~asilwildlife ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2000 21:03:34 -0500 From: "Daniel K. Odell" Organization: American Sirenian Society Subject: Downloadable database of Society for Marine Mammalogy publications A downloadable database of SMM publications is now available on the SMM web page. http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~smm/mms.htm This database was prepared by and the content is maintained by Dana Seagars. It is posted on the SMM web site as a courtesy to marine mammal scientists and other interested individuals. The database is formatted for importation into a commercially available literature citation program and in a generic format that can be imported into a variety of database programs. It contains the contents of Marine Mammal Science volumes 1-15 and the Society's special publications. Dan Odell Society for Marine Mammalogy odell(\)pegasus.cc.ucf.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2000 21:01:38 -0500 From: "Daniel K. Odell" Organization: American Sirenian Society Subject: Society for Marine Mammalogy Newsletter Contents The latest issue of the SMM newsletter (vol 7., No. 4) is now available on the SMM web site. http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~smm/ Contents: U.S. - Russian Marine Mammal Protection Meeting Mediterranean Cetacean Sanctuary Cataloging Museum Specimens and Samples from Steller Sea Lions Society Membership Status Scientific Advisory Committee - New Procedures Grants-in-Aid of Research Membership Directory Changes Minutes of the Interim Board of Governors Meeting - January 1999 Education Committee News Awards Presented at the Maui Conference Forthcoming Conferences, Workshops, Symposia and Courses Book Reviews ---------------- Dan Odell Society for Marine Mammalogy odell(\)pegasus.cc.ucf.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2000 09:50:45 +1000 From: marine and coastal community network SA Subject: Man fined over Port Phillip Bay dolphins The Age (Melbourne Victoria, Australia) Man fined over Port Phillip Bay dolphins By STEVE BUTCHER Monday 24 January 2000 In the first prosecution under Victorian legislation to protect dolphins, a Queenscliff boat charter operator was yesterday fined $4000 for interfering with the creatures in Port Phillip Bay. David Brett Golightly pleaded guilty to two charges of interfering with whales and faced a maximum fine of $10,000 when he appeared in Frankston Magistrates Court. Golightly, 39, was charged under the Wildlife (Whales) Regulations 1998 after incidents in January and February last year when his boat, Impulse, was seen less than 10 metres from dolphins. Mr Ian Gray, prosecuting, told the court the first incident occurred at 3.20pm on 22 January when the Impulse was observed following a pod of between six and eight dolphins. Mr Gray said the boat was in the area of the Ticonderoga Bay Sanctuary Zone between Police Point and Cattle Jetty Ruins near Point Nepean and as Golightly had no permit to conduct dolphin swims he could not approach them there within 200 metres. Impulse came from behind to within less than 10 metres of the dolphins, which were between the shore and the vessel, then overtook the creatures and stopped about 10 metres ahead of them, he said. Mr Gray also said that at about 3.25pm on 10February, witnesses from the Dolphin Research Institute saw the Impulse off Point King, near Sorrento, when it came within about 10 metres of a pod of dolphins. Mr Gray said six swimmers entered the water and swam towards the dolphins who moved away and that Golightly was forbidden to approach them there within 150 metres. Mr Matthew Harvey, defending, said Golightly, who has no prior convictions, did not intend to approach the dolphins and did not realise they were so close to his boat. Mr Harvey said Golightly had invested many thousands of dollars in his dolphin swim charters, but halted the dolphin swims after the second incident. He said no dolphin was harmed and the interference was at the lower end of the scale. Mr Harvey submitted that the purpose of the legislation was to catch "hoons" and that it was not appropriate to make an example of Golightly. The magistrate, Mr Lionel Winton-Smith, fined Golightly $2000 on each charge, without conviction, and ordered him to pay $5191 in costs. Mr Winton-Smith said the offences were serious and that his sentence should send a strong message to the community. **************************************** Tony Flaherty South Australian Coordinator Marine & Coastal Community Network (SA) c/o University of South Australia, Holbrooks Road, Underdale South Australia 5032 Phone 61 8 8302 6568 Fax 61 8 8302 6550 * NOTE changed mobile prefix - mobile 04029 678 869 E-dress - web - To be on our free snail mail list (Australia only) to receive our quarterly newsletters WAVES and Regional Ripples contact Kerri at Issues are available via our website. To receive regular summaries of Australian marine related media and media releases compiled from the web and other sources - contact mccnsa(\)senet.com.au and ask to subscribe to WET STUFF Views expressed in summaries and other material forwarded are not necessarily those of the MCCN. The Network is a non government program (as opposed to an organisation) administered through the Australian Marine Conservation Society and funded through the Federal Government's Marine Program. The Network's role is to work strategically in order to raise community awareness of marine and coastal conservation and the need for improved marine and coastal management throughout Australia. Focussing closely on marine issues, the Network facilitates information exchange between community organisations, government agencies, scientific institutions and industry. We have a regional coordinator in each state and the Northern Territory. In South Australia the MCCN is hosted by University of South Australia. ************************************** ,///, <')<:::>{ `` ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2000 19:31:42 -0500 Reply-To: denhamlc(\)bellsouth.net From: Lisa Denham Subject: [Fwd: US COURT APPEAL AGAINST WHALE HUNT TO BE FINALLY HEARD] This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------64B12C4563A753A1B39FC0A9 boundary="------------F5308EC88B3F94597D0780C7" --------------F5308EC88B3F94597D0780C7 To All Interested Parties, I have been fighting the hunting of gray whales in Washington State for over a year now. It looks like our chance to be heard is here. The Gray Whale Lawsuit filed in 1997 (Metcalf et al., v. Daley, et al., (Civ. No. 985289) is finally going to be heard. The official date is February 8, 2000. I must state that this is not a lawsuit against the Makah nation, who are doing the hunting, but a lawsuit against the U.S. government for issuing a permit. The U.S. government went against its membership in the International Whaling Commission and issued a permit due to treaty rights. Our Native American tribe (Makah) had been given the right to hunt gray whales in a treaty signed back in the 1920s, however they stopped hunting on their own. The International Moratorium on whaling states that a permit for whaling may be issued to a native peoples if a subsistence need can be proven and that there has been no gap in whaling time. In the case of the Makah nation, they had not whaled in over 75 years until last year. Last years hunt resulted in the confirmed kill of one young female gray whale (YABIS) and an unconfirmed kill of another gray whale. The unconfirmed kill was the first kill and the whale was struck by the harpoons, yet got away. A gray whale was later reported to have washed ashore on a Washington beach with an apparent "V" shaped wound on its head. According to the permit, the hunt should have stopped at that time. If a whale is harpooned, but the whalers fail to land the whale, the permit is supposed to become void. A new permit should have been applied for. (Source: Management Plan for Makah Treaty Gray Whale Hunting for the Years 1998-2002 http://www.conbio.rice.edu/nae/docs/makahplan.html Permits, paragraph D) Our government also failed to perform many environmental impact studies as it had promised to do before issuing the permit. There are too many to list here. I have these in the copy of the lawsuit I urge each of you to consider standing behind the lawsuit. The migration season of the gray whale is upon us, let's stop the killing before the spring migration. If you wish to donate you may do so through Meyer and Gliztenstein or Breach Marine Protection, if you are outside the United States. Please mark envelopes "Gray Whale Lawsuit". The quickest way to donate is directly to the lawfirm. If you need any information on the lawsuit, contact me at spotteddolphins(\)yahoo.com or Jon Lovvorn: Jon Lovvorn Meyer & Glitzenstein Suite 700, 160l Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC 20009, USA Email: JonLovvorn(\)aol.com Tele: (202) 588-5206 Fax: (202) 588-5049 You may also contact David Smith of Breach Marine Protection: BreachEnv(\)aol.com I have a copy of the lawsuit and would be willing to share it with anyone who is interested. For information on the history of the whaling, please visit: www.stopwhalekill.org I once again pose the question, how can we convince other countries to stop whaling if we are allowing it in our own waters when subsistence need has not been proven and permission by the International Whaling Commission has not been obtained? Thank you for your patience and endurance during this difficult time. May the year 2000 see the end of whaling within the United States! For YABIS, Lisa C. Denham --------------F5308EC88B3F94597D0780C7 To All Interested Parties,

 I have been fighting the hunting of gray whales in Washington State for over a year now.  It looks like our chance to be heard is here.  The Gray Whale Lawsuit filed in 1997 (Metcalf et al., v. Daley, et al., (Civ. No. 985289) is finally going to be
heard. The official date is February 8, 2000.

I must state that this is not a lawsuit against the Makah nation, who are doing the hunting, but a lawsuit against the U.S.
government for issuing a permit. The U.S. government went against its membership in the International Whaling Commission
and issued a permit due to treaty rights. Our Native American tribe (Makah) had been given the right to hunt gray whales in a
treaty signed back in the 1920s, however they stopped hunting on their own.

The International Moratorium on whaling states that a permit for whaling may be issued to a native peoples if a subsistence need can be proven and  that there has been no gap in whaling time.  In the case of the Makah nation, they had not whaled in over 75 years until last year.  Last years hunt resulted in the confirmed kill of one young female gray whale (YABIS) and an unconfirmed kill of another gray whale.  The unconfirmed kill was the first kill and the whale  was struck by the harpoons, yet got away. A gray whale was later reported to have washed ashore on a Washington beach with an apparent "V" shaped wound on its head.

According to the permit, the hunt should have stopped at that time.  If a whale is harpooned, but the whalers fail to land the
whale, the permit is supposed to become void.  A new permit should have been applied for. (Source: Management Plan for
Makah Treaty Gray Whale  Hunting for the Years 1998-2002  http://www.conbio.rice.edu/nae/docs/makahplan.html
Permits, paragraph D)

Our government also failed to perform many environmental impact studies as it had promised to do before issuing the permit.
There are too many to list here.  I have these in the copy of the lawsuit

I urge each of you to consider standing behind the lawsuit. The migration season of the gray whale is upon us, let's stop the killing before the spring migration. If you wish to donate you may do so through Meyer and Gliztenstein or Breach Marine Protection, if you are outside the United States.  Please mark envelopes "Gray Whale Lawsuit".  The quickest way to donate is directly to the lawfirm.

If you need any information on the lawsuit, contact me at spotteddolphins(\)yahoo.com
or Jon Lovvorn:
Jon Lovvorn
 Meyer & Glitzenstein
 Suite 700, 160l Connecticut Ave NW,
 Washington DC 20009, USA
 Email: JonLovvorn(\)aol.com
 Tele: (202) 588-5206
 Fax: (202) 588-5049

You may also contact David Smith of Breach Marine Protection:
BreachEnv(\)aol.com

I have a copy of the lawsuit and would be willing to share it with anyone who is
interested.

For information on the history of the whaling, please visit: www.stopwhalekill.org

I once again pose the question, how can we convince other countries to stop whaling if
we are allowing it in our own waters when subsistence need has not been proven and permission by the
International Whaling Commission has not been obtained?

Thank you for your patience and endurance during this difficult time.
May the year 2000 see the end of whaling within the United States!

For YABIS,
Lisa C. Denham
  --------------F5308EC88B3F94597D0780C7-- --------------64B12C4563A753A1B39FC0A9 Received: from mail10.bellsouth.net (mail10.bellsouth.net [205.152.0.52]) by mail1.lig.bellsouth.net (3.3.5alt/0.75.2) with ESMTP id KAA18256 for ; Sat, 8 Jan 2000 10:12:36 -0500 (EST) From: BreachEnv(\)aol.com Received: from imo-d05.mx.aol.com (imo-d05.mx.aol.com [205.188.157.37]) by mail10.bellsouth.net (3.3.5alt/0.75.2) with ESMTP id KAA16840 for ; Sat, 8 Jan 2000 10:10:32 -0500 (EST) Received: from BreachEnv(\)aol.com by imo-d05.mx.aol.com (mail_out_v24.6.) id f.8c.8c2baf65 (3699); Sat, 8 Jan 2000 10:05:12 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: <8c.8c2baf65.25a8ac28(\)aol.com> Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2000 10:05:12 EST Subject: US COURT APPEAL AGAINST WHALE HUNT TO BE FINALY HEARED X-Mailer: AOL 3.0.i for Windows 95 sub 158 To: undisclosed-recipients:; X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000 US COURT APPEAL AGAINST WHALE HUNT TO BE FINALY HEARED The Appeal to the United States judiciary seeking to overturn a ruling=20 handed down by the U.S District Court in Tacoma, Washington State will be=20 heard by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on February 8, 2000. Breach Marin= e=20 Protection will be calling for massive support by US and international=20 community citizens leading up to, and on the day of, the hearing. We will=20 keep you informed - PLEASE HELP ALL YOU CAN - this could be the final chance= =20 to stop American mainland whaling in the future=85 The Tacoma Judge rejected plaintiffs' attempt to set aside the U.S=20 government's controversial authorisation of the Makah Indian Tribe's plans t= o=20 hunt Gray whales in the protected waters of the Olympic Coast National Marin= e=20 Sanctuary. Despite this Appeal, on May 17 1999 - supported and financed by=20 the US National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the US Coast Guard - the= =20 Makah illegally slaughtered a juvenile Gray whale just 1.5 miles off the=20 Washington coast. Probably a member of the resident (to the Sanctuary) grou= p=20 of Gray whales; and well used to whalewatching vessels, this baby was easy=20 pickings for the Makah's .50 calibre gun. =20 Meyer & Glitzenstein, a team of public interest lawyers based in Washington= =20 D.C. will represent Breach Marine Protection and a growing coalition of whal= e=20 preservation organisations from various countries, whale watching companies,= =20 Congressman Jack Metcalf and a range of individuals and others opposed to=20 Makah whaling. We invite you/ your organisation to become a part of this Lawsuit Appeal. =20= =20 We need to demonstrate overwhelming domestic and international opposition to= =20 Makah whaling by co-ordinating as many groups and individual people as=20 possible to support our Lawsuit Appeal, and highlight the disastrous=20 international repercussions of the U.S. Government's actions. You are=20 invited to help by contributing financially to this effort too; perhaps the=20 last chance to stop the U.S. Government from setting a world-wide whaling=20 precedent that could result in the slaughter of thousands upon thousands of=20 our cetacean cousins all over the planet. =20 The original lawsuit, filed on the 17th October 1997 (Metcalf et al., v.=20 Daley, et al., (Civ. No. 985289), sought redress against the U.S. Department= =20 of Commerce for its role in facilitating and permitting the Makah whale hunt= =20 in violation of federal law. In that lawsuit, plaintiffs allege that the=20 U.S. government has violated multiple federal laws, including NEPA, the=20 Marine Sanctuaries Act, the Administrative Procedures Act, and the Endangere= d=20 Species Act, throughout its 4 year effort to facilitate the resumption of=20 whaling by the Makah tribe. Indeed, contrary to the claims by the U.S.=20 government and the Makah tribe that the whale hunt is in compliance with all= =20 domestic laws and has been approved by the International Whaling Commission,= =20 the facts overwhelmingly demonstrate otherwise. =20 Will you join us now in this attempt to put aside that infamous Tacoma=20 ruling and show all whaling interests that they must, sooner or later,=20 succumb to the will of the vast majority of the international community. =20 Together we can demonstrate that will through legal means and reinforce our=20 determination to fight whale killing in the United States, and so make other= =20 nations world-wide think again. =20 For donations, or advice on how you/ your organisation can support the=20 Appeal, please contact:=20 =20 David Smith Breach Marine Protection 3, St. John's Street Goole East Yorkshire DN14 5QL, UK Email: BreachEnv(\)aol.com Tele/Fax: +44 1405 769375 =20 For questions related to the legal issues, please contact: Jon Lovvorn Meyer & Glitzenstein Suite 700, 160l Connecticut Ave NW,=20 Washington DC 20009, USA Email: JonLovvorn(\)aol.com Tele: (202) 588-5206 Fax: (202) 588-5049 =20 =20 Thank you for your continued attention. --------------64B12C4563A753A1B39FC0A9-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2000 21:31:42 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: marine mammals and fisheries (fwd) From: Michael Earle Earlier this month, I sent a note to both FishFolk and Marmam lists, offering a document entitled "Protocol for the scientific evaluation of proposals to cull marine mammals." The response far surpassed my wildest imaginations - so far, almost 200 requests have come through! Rather than wear out my mouse with all that clicking or dry out my tongue from licking stamps, I'm arranging for the documents to be accessible on the web. That explains why so few of you have received a copy. As soon as the website is operational I shall send the address and, meanwhile, please accept my apologies for the delay. Michael Earle Date: Wed, 27 Jan 0100 09:24:20 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Anesthetizing cetaceans (fwd) From: "Vicki Kirkland" I received many replies to my request for information on the ability to anesthetize cetaceans. Thanks again for your time and information. The most extensive list of publications came from Sam Ridgway of the Navy Marine Mammal Program. It follows: ANESTHESIA PUBLICATIONS on cetaceans: Publications are listed in reverse chronological order. I have more modern methods that we use today but I have not published an update on our methods recently. I will probably include that in a revision of Mammals of the Sea 2nd edition circa 2002. Sam Ridgway (1987) Ridgway, S.H. The Dolphin Doctor. Yankee Books, 160p hard cover; (1988) Fawcett, New York, 195p paperback, 2nd Edition (1995) Dolphin Science Press, San Diego, 131p paperback. (1974) Ridgway, S.H., J.G. McCormick, and E.G. Wever. Surgical approach to the dolphin's ear. J. Exp. Zool., 188:265276. (1972) Ridgway, S.H., Ed. Mammals of the Sea: Biology and Medicine. Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, 812 pp. (1971) Ridgway, S.H. and J.G. McCormick. Anesthesia of the porpoise. In:Textbook of Veterinary Anesthesia, 28:394403, Ed. L.R. Soma. (The Williams & Wilkins Co., Baltimore) (1970) Medway, W., J.G. McCormick, S.H. Ridgway, and J.F. Crump. Effects of prolonged halothane anesthesia on some cetaceans. JAVMA, 157:(5)576582. (1968) Ridgway, S.H. The bottlenosed dolphin in biomedical research. In: Methods of Animal Experimentation, Volume 3, Ed. W.I. Gay, Academic Press Inc., New York, pp. 387440. (1967) Ridgway, S.H. and J.G. McCormick. Anesthetization of porpoises for major surgery. Science, 158:(3800)510512. Sam H. Ridgway Navy Marine Mammal Program, D3503 (PLBS) 49620 Beluga Rd San Diego CA 92152-6266 The rest are personal experiences with anesthesia. Roger Reep passed on your request for information. I have heard the story that once anesthetized, cetaceans cease breathing and it has been the practice of anyone anesthetizing dolphins that they have to be ventilated with a positive inspiratory hold. I found an old Russian reference that spoke of sedation/anesthesia with continued spontaneous breathing and having to anesthetize a very ill [aka moribund] dolphin, I gassed it down with isoflurane using a non-rebreathing circuit applied with a dog mask over the blow hole. The dolphin became anesthetized and continued to breath - at that point we opened her mouth, dislocated her larynx and proceeded to intubate her and use conventional positive pressure ventilation. We had a CO2 monitor and actually got her end-tidal CO2 down very low - too low I think. So, I believe that on the basis of an n of 1, that cetaceans can breath spontaneously when anesthetized. However how good this would be for any prolonged period is unknown [to me at least]. Hope this provides a bit more info - feel free to contact me if you have any further questions. Alistair Webb Dept. Physiological Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine University of Florida PO Box 100144, HSC B2-10 1600 SW Archer Road Gainesville, FL 32610-0144 voice: (352) 392 4700 X3828 fax: [352] 392 5145 webb(\)ufl.edu Dear Vicki, As a veterinary assistant that has worked with marine mammals, I can tell you that cetaceans certainly can be held under anesthesia using a forced respirator with a specific proportion of Isoflurane gaseous anesthetic and oxygen. Miguel. I have used propofol as a premed and then isoflurane induction with a specially designed machine with large tidal volume availability and a converted in-line Bird MK 7 apneustic plateau circuit designed by JD medical systems of Phoenix, AZ specifically for the purpose of anesthetizing moderate to large cetaceans...We were successful in a young, healthy tursiops and unsuccessful in an older female with significant pulmonary and renal pathology.... I have never actually anaesthetized a cetacean, but plenty of seals. From that and from literature reading I would suspect that, yes, they do stop breathing spontaneously, but that if the respiration is assisted, ie by plac ement of an endotracheal tube and IPPV (intermittent positive pressure ventilation: ie squeezing a bag full of air), they can be maintained until awakening. I would imagine that this is only practical for the smaller species. I can recommend the CRC handbook on Marine Mammal Medicine, ed Dierauf (I think that's spelt correctly). If you can't find it, let me know and I'll give you the exact title etc. Richard Saunders And finally, Try the chapter on anesthesia in L. Dierauf, Handbook of Marine Mammal > Medicine-CRC Press, 1990. > [Dr. Pam Tuomi] Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2000 02:28:58 +0100 From: Rene Visser Subject: Position Announcement The Oceanic Marine Mammal Research Foundation often has positions available. All positions will be posted on our web-site (position page). We currently have the following positions. Fundraiser Were seeking people with a strong background in non-profit fund raising as well as having a commitment to our marine environment. In addition you should have excellent communication skills. Application information, inquire to info(\)whale -foundation.org or fax +31 (0)72 5203016 Newsletter editor For our quarterly newsletter were seeking an editor who will be responsible for our English edition. Members of the oceanic marine mammal research foundation receive a quarterly newsletter with the latest news on our organisation and the world of marine mammals. For this position we are seeking people with excellent writing skills and in addition having a strong commitment to our marine environment. This position is an unpaid position, however with many benefits. For more information please contact our office in the Netherlands. We would also like to encourage MARMAM subscibers to join our marine mammal discussion forum on our new web-site www.whale-foundation.org You're welcome to discuss the latest issues in marine science. Cheers, Paul Zonneveld Oceanic Marine Mammal Research Foundation P.O.Box 3023 1801 GA Alkmaar The Netherlands Phone +31 (0)72 5280661 Facsimile +31 (0)72 5203016 www.whale-foundation.org info(\)whale-foundation.org Paul(\)whale-foundation.org ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2000 09:31:07 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: marine mammals and fisheries (fwd) From: Michael Earle Dear all The "Protocol for the Scientific Evaluation of Proposals to Cull Marine Mammals" is now posted on the web and can be viewed at: http://www.cull.org The reports of the two meetings which led up to the protocol are not yet there and may not be for some time, but when that has been arranged I shall send another message. Meanwhile, if anybody really does want them I can e-mail them if you send me another request. Also, if any of you do not have access to the web I am happy to fulfill my original offer and send you a copy, but hopefully there will not be 200 of you!! Michael ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Earle Fisheries Advisor Green Group in the European Parliament LEO 2C23 Rue Wiertz 1047 Brussels BELGIUM Tel: +32 (2) 284-2849 email mearle(\)europarl.eu.int Date: Wed, 27 Jan 0100 22:33:56 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: SOMEMMA meeting (fwd) The 25th annual meeting of SOMEMMA (Sociedad Mexicana para el Estudio de los Mamiferos Marinos) will be held in La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico, from May 7-11, 2000. The final announcement for the 25th Meeting, including an English version, can be found at: http://somemma.ens.uabc.mx/Spanish/finalcall.html The button "SAMPLE" is a link to the page containing abstract submission directions. Armando Jaramillo SOMEMMA Secretariat somemma(\)c2k.ens.uabc.mx Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2000 13:03:11 -0800 Reply-To: Len Thomas From: Len Thomas Subject: CONFERENCE: Distance Sampling, St Andrews, 2001 ------------------------------------------------- INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DISTANCE SAMPLING Estimating wildlife abundance for Ecology, Management and Conservation July 30 - August 3 2001 St. Andrews, Scotland http://www.ruwpa.st-and.ac.uk/icods/ ------------------------------------------------- PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT ------------------------------------------------- Invitation ---------- We invite you to participate in the first International Conference on Distance Sampling, to be held on July 30 - August 3 2001 in St. Andrews, Scotland. This announcement contains preliminary information about the conference. Please visit our web site for more details and to register interest in attending. Objectives ---------- The aim of this conference is to bring together for the first time all those interested in the estimation of wildlife abundance using distance sampling methods. Determining the density or abundance of wildlife populations is a key component of population ecology, wildlife management and biological conservation. For many taxa, distance sampling methods such as line transects, point transects (variable circular plots) and trapping webs are the most efficient approach. These methods are now in very widespread use by biologists, and there have been many recent developments in the underlying theory that increase the scope of the methods. The time is right for a major international gathering. Our major objectives are to: -Bring together practitioners from a wide range of disciplines and systems, as well as statisticians involved in methodological development -Present examples of new research and best practice through invited plenary talks -Provide a forum for the exchange of ideas, techniques and methods through contributed talks, posters and informal discussion sessions -Provide world-class training for those new to the subject, through linked workshops to be held before the conference We hope that the conference will prove to be a major milestone in the application of wildlife survey techniques, producing a quantum leap in the effectiveness of field studies and stimulating many new areas of research. Conference program ------------------ The conference will be a mix of plenary papers, giving state of the art reviews of theory and practice, and contributed papers and posters. In addition, meeting rooms will be available for delegates to schedule and attend informal discussion groups on topics of their choice. The following leading experts in the field have agreed to give plenary paper. (The preliminary topic of their paper is given in brackets.) - David R. Anderson Colorado Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Colorado, USA (Passive sampling and remote detection of objects: trapping webs, cameras and other extensions.) - Colin Bibby Birdlife International, Cambridge, UK (Estimation of bird abundance and its relevance to conservation.) - David L. Borchers University of St Andrews, UK (Unified models for estimating wildlife abundance.) - Stephen T. Buckland University of St Andrews, UK (Overview of research linked to the Distance4 project.) - Kenneth P. Burnham Colorado Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Colorado, USA (Large scale, long term monitoring.) - Jeffrey L. Laake National Marine Mammal Lab, Seattle, USA (TBA) - Bryan F.J. Manly University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand (Simultaneous estimation of population size and habitat selection by distance sampling.) - Kenneth H. Pollock North Carolina State University, USA (Combining capture recapture and distance sampling, or Comparisons of detectability estimation methods for circular plots on birds.) - Fred L. Ramsey Oregon State University, USA (A general paradigm for all variable area survey procedures.) In addition, we are planning field trips and a full social program. Further information ------------------- More information about the conference, including a form for registering interest, is at the conference web site: http://www.ruwpa.st-and.ac.uk/icods/ If you would like a printed copy of this information or have any administrative questions about the conference, please contact Rhona Rodger Conference Organizer Research Unit for Wildlife Population Assessment Mathematical Institute University of St. Andrews St. Andrews Scotland KY16 9SS Tel:+44 1334 463228 Fax: +44 1334 463748 Email: rhona(\)mcs.st-and.ac.uk For questions about the scientific program, please contact Len Thomas Scientific Coordinator [same address and fax as above] Tel: +44 1334 463807 Email: len(\)mcs.st-and.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2000 12:15:21 -0500 From: Samantha Eide Subject: LIFE HISTORY WORKSHOP LIFE HISTORY STUDIES OF MARINE MAMMALS A WORKSHOP ON THEORY-TECHNIQUES-SYNTHESIS-APPLICATIONS 30 May-8 June 2000 Rationale: Few areas of biological research relate so directly to species conservation as studies of life history, defined as those traits (adaptations) for which variation directly influences fecundity, survival, and population growth. However, life history studies may be somewhat difficult and time-consuming to conduct, and they may be perceived to lack the "sexiness" of some recently developed and applied approaches including use of PCR (polymerase chain reaction) for genetic research, GIS (Geographic Information Systems) for habitat utilization studies, and different procedures associated with uses or effects of acoustics. With the exciting array of new techniques available for studies of marine mammals, the fundamental importance of life history studies has sometimes been overlooked. Few approaches could be more fruitful, however, for scientists who want to understand the basic biology of species and to provide pragmatic insight into their conservation and management. This workshop provides analytical tools and a theoretical framework for interested scientists. Who Would Benefit from the Workshop: Due to its practical nature, enriched by appropriate theory, case studies, and conservation applications, the workshop is appropriate for any of the following: advanced students looking for avenues by which to learn more about marine mammal biology and conservation; established scientists wishing to gain expertise in this area; government or other marine mammal program directors; and technical staff in research laboratories. Location and Date: The workshop is being sponsored by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Florida Marine Research Institute (FWC-FMRI) in St. Petersburg, Florida from Wednesday, 30 May 2000, through Thursday, 8 June 2000. Lectures, laboratory work, and field work will occur at the FWC-FMRI Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory, Eckerd College, and Mote Marine Laboratory. Resources: Although the following list is incomplete, we anticipate that these individuals will be involved in delivering the workshop: Ms. Meghan E. Bolen, University of California Santa Cruz, FWC-FMRI: Bolen has worked extensively with age determination in sirenians, and to a lesser extent delphinids. Bolen will focus on demonstrating techniques and instructing workshop participants in use of equipment associated with age determination. Dr. James A. Powell, Jr., FWC-FMRI: The director of the marine mammal research program at FWC- FMRI, Powell brings 30 years experience working with sirenians around the world and forest elephants. His focus will be conservation applications of life history data. Dr. Andrew J. Read, Duke University: Read is an expert on life history analyses of small cetaceans, especially phocoenids. Read will discuss life history theory and specific case studies that involve both field work and assessment of growth layer groups and reproductive status. (over) Dr. John E. Reynolds, III, Eckerd College and U.S. Marine Mammal Commission: Reynolds has done life history research with both manatees and small cetaceans. His research involves both field studies and anatomical research, and his work as Commissioner involves him in a range of conservation issues. He will provide aspects of life history theory and contribute conservation applications. Dr. Sentiel A. Rommel, FWC-FMRI: Rommel, a functional morphologist anatomist, has recently focused on easy methods by which to assess relative, rather than chronological age of marine mammals. He also studies reproductive anatomy. His focus in the course will be to describe the wealth of life history data that can be acquired from carcasses. Dr. Randall S. Wells, Chicago Zoological Society and Mote Marine Laboratory: Wells coordinates and supervises the world's longest-running field study of free-ranging dolphins. His focus in this course will be to take participants into the field to learn how field studies, especially those conducted over the long term, can provide vital life history information. Aside from the human resources, the workshop will take advantage of the state-of-the-art Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory (MMPL), library and classroom facilities at Eckerd College and Mote Marine Laboratory, and the accessibility of the best studied group of free-ranging bottlenose dolphins in the world. Tentative Schedule: 30 May: Arrival in St. Petersburg 31 May: Theory and applications; overview of approaches to the study of marine mammal life histories. What can be learned about life history from carcasses? Laboratory--examination of reproductive organs. 1 June: Age determination. Laboratory--examination of teeth and ear bones. Sectioning and tissue preparation. 2 June: Laboratory--calculation of age at sexual maturity. Demonstration necropsy. 5 June: What can be learned about life history from living animals? Case studies. 6 June: Field studies--photo-identification. 7 June: Laboratory--examination of photographs/matching. Implications of life history information for conservation; case studies. 8 June: Wrap-up discussions. For those taking the workshop for academic credit, exam. Limit on Number of Participants: Since a goal of the workshop is to provide hands-on opportunities and to provide interactions in a small-group setting, a maximum of 16 people may be enrolled in the workshop. Academic Credit: For those who wish to take the workshop and receive academic credit, we anticipate that a transcript for 3 semester hours of credit will be created at Eckerd College. The credits will be for a 400 level course. You must take the final exam to be eligible for academic credit. Cost: Cost of participating in the workshop is $1,100/person. Accommodations: For those needing housing in the St. Petersburg area, dormitory housing and meals may be acquired at Eckerd College for the period of 30 May-8 June (departure on 8 June). There are nearby motels at which rooms may be rented relatively inexpensively. For Further Information, Contact: Dr. John E. Reynolds, III (E-mail: reynolje(\)eckerd.edu) ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2000 15:35:31 +1000 From: marine and coastal community network SA Subject: Kangaroo Island sea lion mortalities Extract from Adelaide Advertiser The Advertiser - South Australia Mystery deaths of KI sea lions By KATE UREN 28jan00 RECORD numbers of sea lion pups have been dying on Kangaroo Island. Up to 40 per cent of the new-borns at Kangaroo Island's three sea lion colonies were found dead during the 1999 breeding season, an internationally acclaimed expert says. Dr Peter Shaughnessy, of the CSIRO's wildlife and ecology department in Canberra, said a mortality rate of about 10 per cent was considered normal for sea lion pups. "The mortality rates at some of the colonies are well above normal," Dr Shaughnessy said yesterday. "We really need to investigate what's happening, see why there is this trend." Dr Shaughnessy said researchers had monitored the colonies during last year's seven-month breeding season and found many babies were being killed by their own parents. Others were left exposed to rough conditions while their parents went searching for food at the rugged beaches of Dangerous Reef and The Pages. The protected Seal Bay recorded a mortality rate of 10 per cent. "It has safe places where mothers can leave their pups during the day so the number of pup deaths is quite normal," Dr Shaughnessy said. "But Dangerous Reef had 406 pups last season and 40 per cent of those died. Three years ago, it had a 30 per cent pup mortality rate. "In some cases, the parents are killing their own young because they can't care for them or maybe it's deliberate, for all we know. "The pupping seasons are very long and they happen at different times of the year for each colony so it's difficult to monitor them. Seal Bay has just started so we'll watch that with interest." Dr Shaughnessy is on Kangaroo Island to determine why the species is not replenishing its numbers. He said the fur seal population was growing at an annual rate of 10 per cent but sea lion colonies fluctuated. "Both the fur seal and the sea lion were over-harvested last century, but the fur seal is recovering," he said. "Sea lion numbers are fluctuating and we don't know why. There are only 12,000 sea lions in South Australia and Western Australia and that's not a very big population. "They are a tourist icon and we need to know why they aren't thriving." Dr Shaughnessy said he would try to isolate the factors which stymied growth of sea lion colonies. "Shark fishermen have told me they catch sea lions in their nets so that's the link I would like to investigate," he said. **************************************** Tony Flaherty South Australian Coordinator Marine & Coastal Community Network (SA) c/o University of South Australia, Holbrooks Road, Underdale South Australia 5032 Phone 61 8 8302 6568 Fax 61 8 8302 6550 * NOTE changed mobile prefix - mobile 04029 678 869 E-dress - web - To be on our free snail mail list (Australia only) to receive our quarterly newsletters WAVES and Regional Ripples contact Kerri at Issues are available via our website. To receive regular summaries of Australian marine related media and media releases compiled from the web and other sources - contact mccnsa(\)senet.com.au and ask to subscribe to WET STUFF Views expressed in summaries and other material forwarded are not necessarily those of the MCCN. The Network is a non government program (as opposed to an organisation) administered through the Australian Marine Conservation Society and funded through the Federal Government's Marine Program. The Network's role is to work strategically in order to raise community awareness of marine and coastal conservation and the need for improved marine and coastal management throughout Australia. Focussing closely on marine issues, the Network facilitates information exchange between community organisations, government agencies, scientific institutions and industry. We have a regional coordinator in each state and the Northern Territory. In South Australia the MCCN is hosted by University of South Australia. ************************************** ,///, <')<:::>{ `` ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2000 18:30:54 -0700 From: Serge L Dedina Subject: New Gray Whale/Baja Book Joe Knox , Tom Knudson , George Kourous , Ann Krumboltz , Pam Kylstra , Scott Lampman , Ted Landreth , Diana Liverman , Brian Lowinger , Chris Lunt , Alan Macearchren , Nancy Mackinnon , Ron Mader , Ian Manners , Teri Marsh , Green Martha , Laura Martinez , Barbara Massey , Bruce Mate , Steve McCormick SAVING THE GRAY WHALE A New Book By Serge Dedina From The University of Arizona Press Now available from: http://savingthegraywhale.org and Amazon.com or from your local bookstore Telephone order 1-800-426-3797 E-mail order: orders(\)uapress.arizona.edu Check out the web site for Saving the Gray Whale International Tour information. "Everyone who's ever patted a whale needs to read this. . . . The gray whale is a symbol for one environmental success, but it may also symbolize the great perils of failure. Serge Dedina has written an excellent book, a must-read for all who think saving gray whales is a simple issue." -- Ann Zwinger, author of A Desert Country Near the Sea: A Natural History of the Cape Region of Baja California "Serge Dedina threads the social and political labyrinths that surround gray whale conservation in Baja California as densely as mangroves surround the breeding lagoons. Dedina's book is required reading for anyone who would understand contemporary man's interaction with the gray whale." -- Bruce Berger, author of Almost an Island: Travels in Baja California Once hunted by whalers and now the darling of ecotourists, the gray whale has become part of the culture, history, politics, and geography of Mexico's most isolated region. After the harvesting of gray whales was banned by international law in 1946, their populations rebounded; but while they are no longer hunted for their oil, these creatures are now chased up and down the lagoons of southern Baja California by whalewatchers. This book uses the biology and politics associated with gray whales in Mexican waters to present an unusual case study in conservation and politics. It provides an inside look at how gray whale conservation decisions are made in Mexico City and examines how those policies and programs are carried out in the calving grounds of San Ignacio Lagoon and Magdalena Bay, where catering to ecotourists is now an integral part of the local economy. Saving the Gray Whale also explores the politics behind the battle over San Ignacio Lagoon-where Mitsubishi has proposed building the world's largest industrial salt facility. More than a study of conservation politics, Dedina's book puts a human face on wildlife conservation. The author lived for two years with residents of Baja communities to understand their attitudes about wildlife conservation and Mexican politics, and he accompanied many in daily activities to show the extent to which the local economy depends on whalewatching. "It is ironic," observes Dedina, "that residents of some of the most isolated fishing villages in North America are helping to redefine our relationship with wild animals. Americans and Europeans brought the gray whale population to the brink of extinction. The inhabitants of San Ignacio Lagoon and Magdalena Bay are helping us to celebrate the whales' survival." By showing us how these animals have helped shape the lifeways of the people with whom they share the lagoons, Saving the Gray Whale demonstrates that gray whales represent both a destructive past and a future with hope. Serge Dedina grew up in San Diego and has spent the last twenty years traipsing the back roads and surfing the remote coastline of the Baja California peninsula. He is currently Conservation Director of Wildcoast, an international conservation team preserving the last coastal wildlands of the Californias. Serge received a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Tezas at Austin. 200 pp. / 8 color plates, 10 line drawings / 6 x 9 / 2000 Paper (0-8165-1846-7) $17.95 Cloth (0-8165-1845-9) $37.50s ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 28 Jan 0100 13:12:52 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: dolphin ID reprint available on internet (fwd) Forwarded message: The following is a follow-up to the publication list that was posted earlier in the week. One of the articles, full-text, is available on the web. See below. ******************* Assisting manual dolphin identification by computer extraction of dorsal ratio. Kreho, A; Kehtarnavaz, N; Araabi, B; Hillman, G; Wursig, B; Weller, D. ANNALS OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING. November-December 1999 v27 i6 p830-838 http://ojps.aip.org/journal_cgi/dbt?KEY=ABMECF&Volume=27 The Annals of Biomedical Engineering are kind enough to offer publications for free until April 2000. Glenn _______________________________ Glenn Gailey Marine Mammal Research Program Texas A&M University at Galveston 4700 Ave. U, Bldg. 303 Galveston, TX 77551 Home Tel: (409) 621-1904 Lab Tel: (409) 740-4718 Email: Gailey(\)tamu.edu Http://www.tamug.tamu.edu/mmrp/ _______________________________ Date: Fri, 29 Jan 0100 10:45:59 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications (fwd) Here are some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Publications recently posted to MARMAM are not included. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. Loss of genetic diversity in the endemic Hector's dolphin due to fisheries-related mortality. Pichler, FB; Baker, CS. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON SERIES B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES. January 7, 2000 v267 i1438 p97-102 Accumulation of butyltin compounds in dolphins stranded along the mediterranean coasts. Focardi, S; Corsolini, S; Aurigi, S; Pecetti, G; Sanchez-Hernandez, JC. APPLIED ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMISTRY. January 2000 v14 i1 p48-56 A comparative study of neuropeptide Y-immunoreactivity in the retina of dolphin and several other mammalian species. Chen, ST; Shen, CL; Wang, JP; Chou, LS. ZOOLOGICAL STUDIES. October 1999 v38 i4 p416-422 Balancing conservation with development in small-scale fisheries: Is ecotourism an empty promise?. Young, EH. HUMAN ECOLOGY. December 1999 v27 i4 p581-620 (includes info on Baja gray whale ecotourism) Archaeological evidence for the extinction of a breeding population of elephant seals in Tasmania in prehistoric times. Bryden, MM; O'Connor, S; Jones, R. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY. November-December 1999 v9 i6 p430-437 The integrative role of seals in an East Greenlandic hunting village. Hovelsrud-Broda, GK. ARCTIC ANTHROPOLOGY. November-December 1999 v36 i1-2 p37-50 Cloning and sequence analysis of the extracellular region of the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) luteinizing hormone receptor (LHr), follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHr), and prolactin receptor (PRLr) genes and their expression in the testis of the black bear (Ursus americanus). Howell-Skalla, L; Bunick, D; Bleck, G; Nelson, RA; Bahr, JM. MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT. February 2000 v55 i2 p136-145 ) Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2000 12:12:20 -0500 From: Samantha Eide Subject: Marine Mammal Course Offering Summer Courses in Marine Mammalogy Eckerd College and Mote Marine Laboratory 19 June through 14 July 2000 Biology of Marine Mammals-----MSN 431 Conservation of Marine Mammals----MSN 432 Professor of Record: Dr. John E. Reynolds, III, Professor of Marine Science, Eckerd College, and Chairman, U.S. Marine Mammal Commission Other Participating Faculty (Anticipated): Dr. Gordon B. Bauer, New College Ms. Martha B. Benaroya, Chicago Zoological Society Ms. Meghan E. Bolen, University of California, Santa Cruz Dr. W. Guy Bradley, Eckerd College Dr. Douglas P. Nowacek, Mote Marine Laboratory Dr. James A. Powell, Florida Marine Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Dr. Sentiel A. Rommel, Florida Marine Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Dr. Daniel I Rubenstein, Princeton University Dr. Peter L. Tyack, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Dr. Edward S. Van Vleet, University of South Florida Dr. Richard L. Wallace, Eckerd College Dr. Randall S. Wells, Chicago Zoological Society, and Center for Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Research, Mote Marine Laboratory Description: The two courses are interwoven over the course of four weeks to provide a thorough and intensive forum in which students can learn about marine mammals and their conservation from some of the top marine mammalogists and other scientists in the country. The courses are geared towards upper-level undergraduates and graduate students. Specifically, the courses provide the following: 1) an opportunity to observe or to engage in research with a wide variety of marine mammal species either in the wild or in a zoological park setting; 2) fundamental principles of behavioral ecology, evolution, communication, cognition, functional morphology, and physiology; 3) application and illustration of these principles using several marine mammal species; 4) hands-on opportunities to engage in field and laboratory techniques used in marine mammal research; 5) the chance to get to know a number of leading marine mammal scientists and educators, including authors of the new textbook for the courses; and 6) exposure to and discussion of policy and conservation efforts involving marine mammals with scientists, policy makers, and others involved with these topics at both the national and international levels. The classes meet approximately 6-8 hours each weekday---total immersion in the topic! Evaluations will be based on participation in discussions, examinations, and laboratory exercises. Special Features: The courses cover a number of topics one would expect in marine mammalogy courses, but they are special due to a combination of several features, including: 7 involvement of nationally and internationally renowned faculty 7 waterfront location--easy access to free-ranging dolphins and manatees 7 sites of highly regarded, long-term studies of marine mammals, including the world's longest-running study of wild dolphins 7 excellent facilities--boats, library, classrooms 7 state-of-the-art laboratory for anatomical and life history research 7 trips to Sea World of Florida and Mote Marine Laboratory to see a variety of marine mammals and speak with scientists, trainers, and veterinarians 7 an unusual mix of theory and principles, practical applications and case studies, and hands-on laboratory and field work 7 the availability of a new textbook edited and written by many of the course instructors. Course Credit: Students completing the courses receive 7 semester hours of course credit. Costs: Tuition for both courses totals $2,799. This fee includes books, film, lab fees, admission to Sea World, and other expenses associated with the classes. Dormitory housing, for those that need it, costs an additional $800. Information: For information on course content contact Dr. John Reynolds, at reynolje(\)eckerd.edu. For application materials and information on course logistics contact Ms. Cheryl Gold at goldcc(\)eckerd.edu. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2000 10:11:55 -0800 Reply-To: bmccowan(\)vmtrc.ucdavis.edu From: bmccowan Subject: Summary of Question on hydrophone arrays Sorry for the delay but here is a summary of information I received on my question regarding hydrophone arrays and localization. In general, there does not appear to be any commercial arrays available yet with the type of resolution needed to localize the vocalizations (whistles) closely interacting individuals (dolphins) but several people suggested the references below as a place to start. I have also listed a list of suggested contacts below. Thanks again to all who responded to my query!! References (1) Freitag, Lee E.; Tyack, Peter L.. Passive acoustic localization of the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin using whistles and echolocation clicks. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, v.93, n.4 PART 1, 1993.:2197-2205. (2) Spiesberger, J.L.; Fristrup, K.M. Passive localization of calling animals and sensing of their acoustic environment using acoustic tomograph in The American Naturalist vol 135, pp.107-153. Contacts for additional information and/or systems under development: (1) Jonathon Gordon, jonathon.gordon(\)zoology.ox (2) Joe Olson, olson(\)cetaceanresearch.com (3) John Potter, National University of Singapore, johnp(\)arl.nus.edu.sg. who has developed some very high quality systems. (4) Some web sites: http://www.ultrasonic.com/products/hydros.htm http://www.sto-p.com/dp/ Best, Brenda McCowan -- Brenda McCowan, Ph.D. Behavioral Biology Laboratory Department of Population Health & Reproduction/VMTRC School of Veterinary Medicine University of California, Davis 18830 Road 112 Tulare, CA 93274 (559) 688-1731 x264 Fax: (559) 686-4231 Email: bmccowan(\)vmtrc.ucdavis.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2000 17:14:06 -0400 From: CORE Subject: Internship Opportunities Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" ------ Center for Oceanic Research and Education Internship Opportunity The Center for Oceanic Research and Education (CORE), based in Essex, MA= , is an organization dedicated to the study and conservation of cetaceans.=20 Cetaceans are whales, dolphins and porpoises. CORE=B9s mission is to pro= mote stewardship and conservation of cetaceans and their marine environment. = In collaboration with other research organizations, CORE=B9s research focuse= s on the fascinating social interactions among whales. Through whale watch education programs, school presentations and public outreach activities, CORE hopes to educate as many people as possible about the lives of endangered whales and their fragile marine environment. =20 CORE collects most of its research data aboard commercial whale watching vessels operating out of Gloucester & Nantucket, MA, and Rye, NH. Intern= s are aboard each trip as research assistants, and are primarily responsibl= e for data collection. The types of data recorded on each trip include physical information =AD such as climate conditions, sea state, weather trends, water depth, temperature, location, number and species of each cetacean, as well as behavioral information and photographs of focus animals. Other duties aboard the boats include answering passenger questions, assisting with fund raising efforts, helping crew on deck with lines and keeping the boat clean. =20 Additionally, interns assist with data entry and general office work. T= hey are also taught all aspects of analysis including data analysis and individual identification of whales through photo analysis. CORE accepts only college-aged students (or older) and requires a minimu= m commitment of two months. Though we do not charge anything for participating in the intern program, interns are responsible for providin= g their own room, board and transportation. If you are interested in participating in CORE=B9s intern program, please send your resume, a lett= er of intent and a completed application to CORE, 245 Western Avenue, Box 8, Essex, MA 01929, to the attention of Lisa Foerster. You may also visit CORE's web site at: http://www.coreresearch.org for further information about our organization. If you have questions, please feel free to e-mail us: core(\)coreresearch.org ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2000 13:23:11 PST From: Dagmar Fertl Subject: reprints - Risso's dolphin; Gulf of Mexico The following was recently published. D. Fertl, J. Turner, and S. Taillon. 1999. First record of a Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) stranding for Louisiana. Gulf of Mexico Science 1999(2): 95-98. Details of the first Risso's dolphin stranding in Lousiana (Gulf of Mexico) are provided. Skull measurements are provided, as well as age (22 GLGs) determined by tooth aging. No stomach contents were available; the carcass was in an advanced stage of decomposition. Reprints are available by contacting the senior author at: Dagmar Fertl Minerals Management Service U.S. Dept of Interior MS5432 1201 Elmwood Park Blvd New Orleans, LA 70123 Dagmar.Fertl(\)mms.gov ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 09:58:13 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Satellite telemetry technology (fwd) From: Gauthier Y-S Dear MARMAM subscribers, We are investigating the possibility to use satellite telemetry technology for tracking fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in the Mediterranean Sea during the winter season . Therefore we are looking for information such as description, price, manufacturers of the following items : tag implanting device, satellite tag/transmitter, harmless and efficient tag attachment, data collection and monitoring system. It would be also very interesting to have names and addresses of tagging experts who can help us to streamline our project. Thank you in advance for your help. You can reply at the following email's address : Swiss Working Group for Protection of Marine Mammals Antenne Romande Alain Pasche apasche(\)cortex.ch Yves Gauthier yves-sylvie.gauthier(\)span.ch Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 13:10:02 -0400 From: Andrew Westgate Subject: Workshop Announcement Subject: Workshop Announcement for ECS Cork, April 2000 There will be a full day workshop held on Thursday April 6th immediately following the ECS meeting in Cork. The title of this workshop is "NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN TAGGING AND TRACKING OF MARINE MAMMALS". The workshop will be chaired by Tony Martin and Andrew Westgate. Anybody is welcome to attend but seating will be limited to approx. 50 people so it will be first come first served. The charge for the workshop will be 15 Irish pounds. If you are interesting in attending please send an email to: Andrew Westgate email westgate(\)duke.edu Please include "Cork Workshop" in the subject heading. Notifications will be emailed back ASAP. The agenda for the workshop follows this message. Thank-you Andrew Westgate Duke Marine Lab Workshop Agenda 0900-0915 Introductions etc 0915-0945 Presentation 1: Unique insights that have been gained using telemetry. (Tony Martin) 0945-1015 Discussion 1015-1045 Coffee Break 1045-1115 Presentation 2: Problems associated with tagging cetaceans. (Andrew Westgate) 1115-1145 Discussion 1145-1215 Presentation 3: Application of tagging data to conservation and management. (Andy Read) 1215-1245 Discussion 1245-1345 Lunch 1345-1415 Presentation 4: Data collection and analysis. (Phil Lovell) 1415-1445 Discussion 1445-1515 Presentation 5: The ethics of tagging marine animals. (Dave Johnston) 1515-1545 Discussion 1545-1615 Coffee Break 1615-1645 Presentation 6: Tagging rehabilitated and refloated animals. (TBA) 1645-1715 Discussion 1715-1800 Summary Discussion ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 16:56:54 +0100 From: ruben huele Subject: North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sperm Whale Catalogue ------ Dear all, The North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sperm Whale Catalogue (NAMSC) is the product of a group of cooperating sperm whale researchers. The catalogue contains photographic material of sperm whales, mainly of flukes. A CD containing the version 1.0 of NAMSC was published in 1999 by the International Fund of Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the Centre of Environmental Science, Leiden University (CML). Sperm Whales are individually identifyable by the contour of the trailing edge of their flukes. Photographic catalogues open possibilities for research on life history, population size and migration. In support of this, a method to retrieve material based on the identifying feature was tried out. Using a wavelet based contour extraction and matching algorithms, the photos in the catalogue were analysed and likely matches were grouped. The results of the analysis can be found on: http://www.leidenuniv.nl/interfac/cml/ssp/namsc.html The North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sperm Whale Catalogue is the result of a cooperative effort of the following, who keep the copyright over their contributed material: Alexandros Frantzis Alnitak Project, Spain Andenes Cetacean Research Unit, Norway Centro Interdisciplinare Di Bioacustica, Italy CML, Leiden University, Netherlands Dalhousie University, Canada Department of Oceanography and Fisheries, Azores Groupe de Recherche sur les Cetaces, France Gulf-Cet, USA International Fund for Animal Welfare Michel Andr=E9 Shetland Sea Mammal Group, Scotland Tethys Research Institute, Italy Whale Watch Azores Further information: Ruben Huele Centre of Environmental Science Leiden University po box 9518 2300 RA Leiden The Netherlands tel +31 71 527 74 77 fax +31 71 527 74 34 email huele(\)rulcml.leidenuniv.nl ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Feb 0100 16:57:17 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: article - Marine Mammals of the northern Gulf of Mexico (fwd) Forwarded message: Mullin, K.D. and L.J. Hansen. 1999. Marine mammals of the northern Gulf of Mexico. In: H. Kumpf, K. Steidinger, and K. Sherman. The Gulf of Mexico Large Marine Ecosystem: Assessment, Sustainability, and Management. Blackwell Science. In the northern Gulf of Mexico, two cetacean species, the bottle-nosed and Atlantic spotted dolphins, inhabit the continental shelf (waters <200 m deep). Twenty species regularly inhabit oceanic waters (>200m deep) where about 50% of the cetaceans are pantropical spotted dolphins. Although sperm whales represent less than 1% of the cetaceans in oceanic waters, because of their large size they make up about 60% of the total cetacean biomass. Cetaceans are widely distributed in both space and time in the northern Gulf. Thirteen species have been sighted during three or more seasons of the year. Some species are found throughout the oceanic northern Gulf, whereas others are typically only found in specific parts of the region. ______________________________________________________ Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 17:02:34 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRU Internship Annoucement, MA, USA (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Internship Announcement The Cetacean Research Unit is a non-profit research organization, comprised of approximately 10 people involved with the study of behavior, ecology, and natural history of the whales and dolphins found in the waters off Cape Ann, MA. Primary concentration is on an individually identified population of some several hundred humpback whales that spend portions of the spring, summer, and fall in these waters. Since 1982, interns have been responsible for collecting, organizing, transcribing, and analyzing data dealing with the behavior and identification of N. Atlantic cetaceans. We are currently looking to fill openings for the summer (May 21 - Aug 26), fall (Aug 20 - Dec 16) semesters of 2000 and the spring semester of 2001 (Jan 21 - May 26). The internship will involve extensive photo and computer work (training provided), plus field data collection aboard commercial whale watching vessels and our research boat. A common apartment is used, where interns live together and share cooking and cleaning duties. Rooms are shared with one other person. A living arrangement such as this is conducive to open discussion and interaction between peers and home life is often a continuation of the day in the field. Therefore, it is essential that candidates can combine these two areas. A fee of $1000 for the period will be charged and in return interns will receive housing and a weekly food stipend. In the past, applicants for these positions have been primarily undergraduate college students. Although we do not limit these positions to that group, the internship is tailored to their needs, and they are given priority. College credit may be arranged by the student through their department or as an independent research program at their college or university. The Cetacean Research Unit encourages this, and will take whatever steps are required to facilitate such efforts. An applicant for an internship should have the following: * A background in biology * Some knowledge of research methods and design * An ability to work, live and communicate well with others * Enthusiasm and dedication to work long days in the field or lab (sometimes 12 hours or more) In order to formally apply for an internship, please send us a curriculum vitae or resume, a cover letter detailing your reason for applying, one letter of reference, and a transcript. An in-person interview is required, necessitating travel to Gloucester, MA. Internships are open to college students that have completed their freshman year. The application deadline is March 1st. Application materials should be sent to: Cetacean Research Unit P.O. Box 159 Gloucester MA 01930-0159 ATTN. David Morin/Intern Coordinator If you have any questions please visit our web site at www.cetacean.org, or contact David Morin at 978-281-6351. David Morin david(\)cetacean.org Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2000 20:14:53 EST From: Bio900T(\)aol.com Subject: New Technology for transporting stranded marine mammals On feb 1. 2000 a dolphin was transported from NC to Mote Marine Labs in Sarasota, FL. A new tecnology developed for treating humans with severe bed sores and burns was used to support the dolphin during transport. The Biologics microsolo900t is a microprocessor controlled support surface which simulated immersion in salt water. The dolphin experianced no additional physiological stress associated with prolonged transport. The device weighs only 16 pounds and is battery operated. We expect that this new technology will have a significant impact on the survival rate of stranded marine mammals. For further info contact Biologics Inc. at Info(\)Biologics900t.com or web site biologics900t.com. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2000 12:44:08 -0500 From: "Ruth E. Shaw" Subject: ATLANTIC COAST CONTAMINANTS WORKSHOP MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE (MERI) announces the : ATLANTIC COAST CONTAMINANTS WORKSHOP: "Endocrine Disruptors in the Marine Environment: Impacts on Marine Wildlife and Human Health" 22-25 June 2000 Sponsored by The Marine Environmental Research Institute, The University of Connecticut Department of Pathobiology and The Jackson Laboratory. KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Dr. Theo Colborn, Senior Scientist, World Wildlife Fund FOCUS: The purpose of the Atlantic Coast Contaminants Workshop is to provide a regional forum for researchers working in the fields of ecotoxicology, immunotoxicology, endocrinology, pathobiology, environmental chemistry, clinical and veterinary medicine, epidemiology, public health, and related fields. Participants will (1) review current perspectives on endocrine disruption; (2) examine current evidence of the presence of endocrine disruptors in the marine ecosystems and their potential impacts in marine wildlife and humans; (3) share newly developed methods and approaches to ecotoxicological research; and (4) identify research needs and new directions in the field. The workshop's focus is a result of growing concerns expressed throughout the world scientific and regulatory communities about the potential for certain environmental chemicals with estrogenic or dioxin-like activity to cause endocrine disruption, which may lead to reproductive problems, immune impairment, neurotoxocity, and other toxicities related to sexual differentiation, growth and development in wildlife and humans. OBJECTIVES: The main objectives of the workshop are: - To review new evidence and recent findings from scientific research and monitoring programs focusing on: *sources, levels (spatial and temporal trends), pathways and dynamics of persistent endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the western Atlantic marine ecosystem; and *levels and health effects of EDCs in marine wildlife and humans, especially effects on infants and children in high-risk populations (e.g., the Inuit). -To facilitate an exchange of knowledge between individuals and groups working on the effects of environmental contamination by EDCs in wildlife and those working on the effects of contaminant exposure in humans; -To share newly developed biotechnological methods and approaches to epidemiological and ecotoxicological research; -To identify uncertainties and data gaps that could be filled by future collaborative research activities; -To develop the first drafts of a summary report containing conclusions and recommendations and identifying research needs and new directions in the field. The workshop should be of interest to individuals and groups working on: *sources, levels and trends, pathways and effects of persistent endocrine disruptors (e.g., organochlorines) in the marine ecosystem; *sources, levels and trends, pathways and effects of novel compounds (e.g., toxaphene, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, etc) in the marine ecosystem; * levels and effects of EDCs in marine wildlife species; * levels and effects of EDCs in human populations; * perinatal exposure and effects of EDCs in young animals and/or humans. POTENTIAL OUTCOMES: It is anticipated that this workshop will result in increased multidisciplinary research, information-sharing, and standardization of methods and protocols among researchers in the region, and will serve as an opportunity to review current data on the potential risks and uncertainties associated with environmental endocrine disruption in marine wildlife and humans. The Workshop Summary Report will identify research priorities and funding needs for future ecotoxicological and epidemiological studies in the western Atlantic marine ecosystem. The report will be distributed to regional, national, and international scientific and regulatory bodies and conservation groups responsible for the management of marine habitats and wildlife as well as those agencies charged with protecting public health. WORKSHOP ORGANIZERS: Susan Shaw, Dr. P.H., Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) Sylvain De Guise, D.M.V., Ph.D. University of Connecticut, Dept. of Pathobiology SPEAKERS: Keynote Speaker: Theo Colborn, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, World Wildlife Fund Faculty: John S. Barclay, Ph.D., Wildlife Conservation Research Center, U. of Connecticut Sylvain De Guise, D.M.V., Ph.D., U. of Connecticut, Department of Pathobiology Eric Dewailly, M.D., Ph.D., WHO/PAHO Center, U. of Quebec Michel Fournier, Ph.D., Centre de Recherche en Sante, INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, Quebec Phillipe Grandjean, M.D., Boston University, Boston U. School of Public Health (Confirmation Pending) Louis Joseph Guillette Jr., D.V.M., Ph.D., University of Florida Mark Hahn, Ph.D., and Brenda Jensen, M.S., Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Corine Koopman-Esseboom, M.D., Ph.D., Children's Hospital, Utrecht Angela Matz, Ph.D., No. Alaska Ecological Services, US Fish & Wildlife Service Mats Olsson, Ph.D., Contaminant Research Group, Swedish Museum of Natural History Ross J. Norstrom, Ph.D., Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service Christopher R. Perkins, M.S., Environmental Research Institute (ERI), University of Connecticut Susan D. Shaw, Dr. P.H., Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) Janneche Utne Skaare, Ph.D., Dept. of Toxicology and Chemistry, National Veterinary Institute, Oslo John Sowles, M.S., Marine Environmental Monitoring Program, State of Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection David J. St. Aubin, Ph.D., Director of Research and Veterinary Services, Mystic Aquarium John Stegeman, Ph.D., Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution REGISTRATION AND SCHOLARSHIPS: Registration Fee: Includes: hors d'oeuvres at registration, lunches, reception for faculty and participants, coffee breaks and lobster dinner. Academic: $400 For Profit: $700 Student: $250 Application deadline: May 1, 2000 Student application deadline: March 15, 2000 MERI will offer at least 10 travel scholarships based on need to enable qualified graduate students to attend this important meeting. Please include your request for a scholarship in your application. For further information and an updated list of speakers, visit the MERI website: http://www.meriresearch.org/workshop.html ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2000 04:39:11 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Positions available, Scotland (fwd) From: mfwc Revised vacancies list. The Moray Firth Wildlife Centre (Scotland)=20 =20 Formerly advertised as voluntary posts, the following seasonal posts are now being re-advertised with details of remuneration packages which have now been made available from sponsorship. The Moray Firth Wildlife Centre (Scotland) has three vacancies to further develop an ongoing seasonal research and education project monitoring the movements of Bottlenose Dolphins and other cetaceans along the southern Moray Firth. Post 1. Shore Watch Officer. =20 Responsible for collecting and collating data from the shore watch at Spey Bay, you will be required to organise daily watches and record all sightings. Collation of the data throughout the season together with a report at the end of the period is required. Other duties include, project admin, interpretation to the public & organising volunteers to assist. =20 The renurmaration package for this post includes Accommodation Food and =A375.00 per week living allowance. This post is funded by the Moray Firth Dolphin Trust & The Moray Firth Wildlife Centre. Post 2. Boat Survey & Photo I.D. project officer. =20 Responsible for carrying out coastal surveys aboard a local wildlife cruise boat, you will be required to record all encounters with cetaceans and obtain photographs for use in Photo I.D. studies. You will be required to collate all data into a end of season report. In addition to your recording duties, you will be required to carry out interpretative duties on board the boat, and at the visitor centre, together with adminastrative tasks related to the project. =20 Remuneration includes accommodation, food and =A375.00 per week living allowance. This Post is funded by the Moray Firth Dolphin Trust, Benbola Wildlife Cruises and the Moray Firth Wildlife Centre. =20 Post 3. Education Officer. =20 Working mainly at the Wildlife Centre, you will be responsible for organising a seasonal programme of events and activities. You will be working with the public both indoors inside the exhibition, interpreting the dolphins and other local wildlife, and outside at times during events. = =20 Other duties include working with school groups & voluntary organisations, carry out slide talks, help with the shore watch, and admin tasks relating to the post. Remuneration includes accommodation, food and =A375.00 per week living allowance. =20 All 3 posts run from April to the end of Sept and provide an opportunity to gain valuable experience in cetacean research and environmental education. =20 Applicants should be suitably qualified, min requirement for post 1& 2 a degree in marine biology or other closely related subject. Previous experience in similar projects an advantage. =20 Interested applicants should forward a C.V. together with a brief application letter stating which post/s they are interested in. =20 Applications already recivied for the previously listed posts will automatically be considered for the above revised posts. =20 =20 Closing date for applications is February 21st 2000. Shortlisted applicants only will be contacted before 29th February. =20 Tony Archer The Moray Firth Wildlife Centre Spey Bay Scotland IV32 7PJ Tel: 01343 820339 Fax 01343 821314 Email mfwc(\)dial.pipex.com Tony Archer The Moray Firth Wildlife Centre Spey Bay Scotland IV32 7PJ Tel: 01343 820339 Fax 01343 821314 Email mfwc(\)dial.pipex.com Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2000 04:41:08 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Internship Announcement Whales and Marine Systems (fwd) From: Whale Research Lab Internship Announcement! SEACR - Society for Ecological And Coastal Research, a Non-profit organization, currently has spaces open for summer internships starting June 1999. SEACR works in conjunction with scientists and researchers from the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada; and from Queens University in Ontario, Canada. The research site is situated in breathtaking Clayoquot Sound, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Interns will have the opportunity to assist on a variety of ecological and coastal marine research projects learning valuable field research techniques and data handling skills. Current projects include studies on Gray Whale Site Fidelity, and Habitat Use, Whale Foraging Ecology, and Landscape Ecology of Coastal Environments. Clayoquot Sound is home to a variety of coastal marine fish, birds, and mammals. Animals who frequent the area include tufted puffins, oystercatchers, gulls, bald eagles, river otters, sea lions and sea otters, harbor porpoise, killer whales, gray whales, and humpback whales. Black bears forage in the intertidal zone and are often visible from the boat. For complete details of the research projects, living conditions, application form and payment options please visit our web site: http://office.geog.uvic.ca/dept/whale/seacr-home.html Please feel free to post or distribute this message to those who might be interested. Christina Tombach Whale Research Lab whalelab(\)office.geog.uvic.ca http://office.geog.uvic.ca/dept/whale/wrlmp.html SEACR - Society for Ecological And Coastal Research http://office.geog.uvic.ca/dept/whale/seacr-home.html Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2000 16:07:39 EST From: Joy Hampp Subject: Position Available From: Joy Hampp Subject: Position Available: Managing Director of Education and Research, DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER Located in the middle of the Florida Keys, Dolphin Research Center provides a unique home for a colony of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, and two California Sea Lions. Providing these animals with the best possible care is the Center's primary objective, followed closely by a mission to provide quality education for the ultimate benefit of marine mammals and the environment we all share. This mission is accomplished through innovative interactive programs ranging in length from one half a day to a full week and supporting research projects covering a broad range of disciplines. Dolphin Research Center seeks the right individual to join its management team. The Managing Director will report directly to the President. Primary focus of this position is to oversee the integrity of current education and research programs while assessing changes needed in an increasingly competitive market and developing new approaches and strategies to meet those challenges. The unique composition of Dolphin Research Center's staff, which includes a group of highly dedicated and inspired individuals, requires that the successful candidate have commitment, flexibility, and an all-around good nature. In addition, the right individual will be able to contribute to DRC's shared vision with passion, enthusiasm, and common sense. The successful candidate will have a strong management background, proven leadership skills, and life experiences that have prepared them to manage two departments with a combined staff of nine while working as a change agent within their peer group. Requirements include five to seven years experience in management, and a minimum of a bachelors degree, though an advanced degree is preferred. If you would like to become part of a talented, motivated, active team dedicated to creating a better understanding of marine mammals and the environment we share, please email a cover letter, resume or curriculum vitae, salary history, and three references to the following: Michelle Barylsky, Human Resources Coordinator Email: drc-hr(\)dolphins.org Further information regarding Dolphin Research Center can be located at www.dolphins.org ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2000 22:33:29 -0600 From: Windsor Aguirre Organization: Gulf Coast Research Laboratory Subject: Info request on vertebral anomalies of cetaceans My name is Windsor Aguirre, I am a graduate student working with sciaenids (drums and croakers; fish). As an undergrad in Ecuador I was active with marine mammals and have retained a strong interest in them. In the last few years I have become aware of several cases of stranded cetaceans collected along the coast of Guayas province, Ecuador, with anomalous osteological growth and fusion of dorsal, lumbar and caudal vertebrae. I'd like to learn more about vertebral growth in cetaceans, and pathological conditions affecting vertebrae such as spondylitis and vertebral osteomyelitis. Any info or useful references would be appreciated. For those interested, below is a list of the papers on vertebral anomalies in marine mammals I have already found. Best wishes, Windsor -------------------------------------------- *Alexander, J.W., M.A. Solangi, and L.S. Riegel. 1989. Vertebral osteomyelitis and suspected diskospondylitis in an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Journal of Wildlife Diseases 25(1):118-121. *Barcellos, L.P. 1977. Nota sobre osteopatologia em um exemplar de Hyperoodon planifrons (Ziphiidae- Cetacea), Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Atlantica 2(1):118-123. *Crovetto, A. 1982. A propos d'une malformation laterale da la colonne vertebrale d'une baleine bleue, Balaenoptera musculus L. (Cetacea, Balaenipteridae) et de sa signification fonctionnelle. 107 Congres National des Societes Savantes, Brest, Sciences, Fasc. II:89-98. *Kinze, C.C. 1986. Note on the occurence of Spondylitis deformans in a sample of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena (L.)) taken in Danish waters. Aquatic Mammals 12(1):25-27. *Morton, B. 1978. Osteomyelitis (pyogenic spondylitis) of the spine in a dolphin. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 173(9):1119-1120. *Paterson, R.A. 1984. Spondylitis deformans in a byrde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni Anderson) stranded on the southern coast of Queensland. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 20(3):250-252. *Slijper, E.J. 1936. Die Cetaceen vergleichend anatomisch und systematisch. Capita Zoologica Vi & VII: 1-590. *Thomas-Baker, B. 1986. Diskospondylitis in a California sea lion. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 189(9):1151. *Van Bree, P.J.H., and R. Duguy. 1970. Sur quelques aberrations pathologiques chez les petit Cetaces. Der Zoologische Garten 39:11-15. *Wells, C., and P. Lawrance. 1976. A pathological dolphin. Medical and Biological Illustration 26:35-37. -- Windsor Aguirre GCRL Museum- Gulf Coast Research Laboratory 703 East Beach Drive- Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39566 Telf: (228)872-4238 / Fax:(228)872-4204 windsor.aguirre(\)usm.edu http://lionfish.ims.usm.edu/~musweb/seatrout/winzhmpg1.html ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2000 10:13:36 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MARMAM Editorial Policy and FAQ ====================================================== MARMAM EDITORIAL POLICY AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ====================================================== This message will be sent out monthly - new additions or recent changes are marked >> *Please save this message for future reference!* Topics: EDITORIAL POLICY 1. The MARMAM list 2. Messages posted on MARMAM 3. Messages not posted on MARMAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 4. How do I post messages to the list? 5. How do I reply to individual subscribers? 6. How do I subscribe/unsubscribe/temporarily signoff? 7. How do I receive MARMAM postings as a single daily digest rather than as individual messages? 8. How do I retrieve old postings to MARMAM? 9. Subscriber list 10. How do I get help using listserver commands? 11. Why did my MARMAM subscription stop? 12. Useful websites 13. Other email discussion lists 14. Who do I contact with my questions or concerns? ===================================================== MARMAM EDITORIAL POLICY 1. The MARMAM list MARMAM is an edited e-mail discussion list which focuses on marine mammal research and conservation. The list was established in August 1993 and as of April 1999 there were about 3,500 subscribers from 60 different countries. Anyone may subscribe to the list. Editors of the MARMAM list work on a volunteer basis. At any one time there may be between three and five editors. We have endeavoured to make the editorial policy as uniform and explicit as possible (detailed below), but there may be some individual editor variation in the standard of messages sent to the list. _______________________________________________________________ 2. Messages posted on MARMAM A wide spectrum of message types are found on MARMAM, all related to marine mammal research and/or conservation. MARMAM endeavours to provide unbiased information on these issues (e.g, is not anti-whaling or anti-hunting per se). Commonly seen messages include: - requests for information regarding current or recent research projects, publications, or research techniques - current or previously unreported unusual news events - meeting announcements - job or volunteer opportunities - abstracts from scientific papers or reports - books/techniques/products announcements - requests for products (eg., photographs) which will benefit MARMAM subscribers (eg., photographs that will be of widespread use or for payment) - brief summaries of meetings or conferences related to marine mammals, including resolutions passed NOTE: Notices from regional student chapters of the Society for Marine Mammalogy should be restricted to: - a single message announcing each new student chapter (including contact details and website address). - a single message concerning each regional meeting (providing details as to the time and place of that meeting, schedule of speakers or events, and a website or email address to contact for further information). Before sending a message to MARMAM, please read the following. An increasing number of messages are being sent to the list which require modification by the authors or the Editors. As the Editors moderate the list on a volunteer basis, there is often limited time available to help with or to facilitate such modifications. We ask that before sending a message to the list, the author ensure that: - An appropriate subject heading is included - Your name and e-mail address are included in the body of the message - Your message is interesting enough to go to 3000+ list members. Therefore messages about small local meetings will not be posted. - Your replies are meant to go to ALL the subscribers of MARMAM, rather than just to the original author. If you feel your submission is of general interest, please send it both to the original author and cc it to MARMAM. (In many cases we ask that summaries of responses to questions are later posted to the list so individual responses to the list are often unneccessary.) - Requests for information provide details in the body of the message justifying the request (providing background information or details on why the information is needed). Such requests should also demonstrate that available means to obtain the information requested have been exhausted. Please do not use the list merely because you have not checked your library. (A follow up of responses to any such request should later be posted to the list.) - Messages in another language provide an english translation - Messages do not include attached files. The MARMAM account cannot deal with attachments and any messages with attachments will not be sent. All information should therefore be included as text within the body of the message. - Messages are properly formatted and do not contain excessive numbers of typos. As editing the list is a volunteer job and there are often too many messages to easily deal with, messages which are inproperly formatted (e.g., missing a subject heading, missing the senders name and e-mail address in the body of the message, or formatted too wide for a computer screen) or those full of typos may not be sent to the list. In most cases the author will be contacted regarding resubmitting their message, but at times of high volume, this may not always be done. NB. Many messages ask for information which would be of interest to many of the list subscribers. We therefore ask that a summary of responses is prepared and submitted back to the MARMAM list. Respondents to calls for information should therefore be aware that their response may be resubmitted to the entire list. Authors should therefore state that they do not wish their reply to go to the list, if this is the case. Summaries to the MARMAM list should fulfil other editorial criteria (relevent, concise, no flames, etc) ______________________________________________________________ 3. Messages not posted on MARMAM Examples of messages not posted to the MARMAM list include: - THOSE UNRELATED TO MARINE MAMMAL RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION - ANIMAL RIGHTS CALLS FOR ACTION - "COMMUNICATION" BETWEEN HUMANS AND ANIMALS - "CASUAL" REQUESTS for information that is easily available elsewhere. A specific request, with a brief description of what the information is to be used for, is most likely to stimulate feedback from other subscribers. If the author lives in a country where limited library resources are available and is conducting original research, exceptions to this rule may be made (though the message author must state that they have no easy access to library resources). - INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION: information requests without details as to why this is being requested. Messages which include only an information request without providing any background information justifying the request and demonstrating that available means to obtain this information have been exhausted, will not be posted. - COMMON EVENTS: news reports of common events (e.g. strandings of common species of marine mammals, deaths of captive animals, etc) - MEDICAL REPORTS ON CAPTIVE ANIMALS FOR WHICH HELP IS BEING SOUGHT - REQUESTS FOR SMALL NUMBERS OF SPECIFIC ITEMS (eg., photographs) that would be better directed to individuals working on the species in question. - OPINION STATEMENTS OFFERING LITTLE OR NO NOVEL INFORMATION. Messages of a duplicative nature which do not contribute new information are generally not posted to the list. Exceptions include event-related postings, such as conference information, job openings, and surveys. New subscribers are strongly encouraged to monitor MARMAM for a period before submitting messages to the list, or to review recent archived messages, to reduce the number of duplicative submissions. - CRITICISMS OF RESEARCHER'S STATEMENTS QUOTED IN NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, unless they are corrections from the person being quoted. - 'FLAMES'. Messages which are derogatory or serve to insult or inflame rather than contribute to the discussion at hand are not posted to the list. - RHETORIC: messages with some substance surrounded by a lot of rhetoric - HUMOUROUS ANECDOTES - JOB/ VOLUNTEER POSITION/ INTERNSHIP WANTED. Requests for employment or volunteer opportunities are not posted to the list. Persons seeking such positions are encouraged to monitor MARMAM for opportunities, which they can apply to directly. Students interested in careers in marine mammal science are encouraged to consult the Society for Marine Mammalogy's 'Strategies for Pursuing a Career in Marine Mammal Science', which can be found at the Society for Marine Mammalogy's website: http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~smm/strat.htm - JOB OFFERS FOR ANIMAL TRAINERS OR FOR NATURALISTS ON WHALE WATCH BOATS ===================================================== MARMAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 4. How do I post messages to the list? All messages meant for MARMAM subscribers should be sent to marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca Messages should include the sender's name and e-mail address within the body of the text, and a detailed subject heading. ______________________________________________________________ 5. How do I reply to individual messages? Messages meant soley for a particular subscriber and not for MARMAM may be sent directly to that subscriber using his or her e-mail address, which will appear in the header of the message and/or in the body of the message. Subscribers are asked to include their e-mail address within the body of their messages, as not all subscribers receive headers including this information with their messages. If your reply is of general interest to the subscribers, please reply to the list, otherwise you should reply directly to the individual posting the original message. NOTE: Many subscribers will find that use of the 'reply' option will reply to MARMAM, not to the intended recipient. Please check your header when using the 'reply' option. ______________________________________________________________ 6. How do I subscribe/ unsubscribe/ temporarily signoff? All messages not meant for MARMAM subscribers should be sent to the listserver (listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca). As the list-server is an automated service, it is important that commands be sent without errors or extraneous text. To subscribe, send a message to "listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca" which says: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastnamename To unsubscribe, send a message to "listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca" saying: signoff marmam If you want to temporarily discontinue your subscription without signing off the list, send the message: set marmam nomail to continue it, send the message: set marmam mail NOTE: If your email address is going to change and you will lose access to your old address please unsubscribe that address from marmam, and then subscribe under your new address. If you no longer have access to the email account from which you subscribed, send a brief message to marmamed(\)uvic.ca, providing the email addess that you no longer have access to, and the editors will delete this address from the list. You can then subscribe from your new address. _______________________________________________________________ 7. How do I receive MARMAM postings as a single daily digest rather than as individual messages? To receive marmam messages daily as a single file, send a message to "listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca", saying set marmam digests To change this setting to individual messages, send the message: set marmam mail _______________________________________________________________ 8. How do I retrieve messages previously sent to MARMAM? All MARMAM messages since 1995 are archived and are retrievable by sending the message: get marmam logxxyy to the listserver (listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca), where xx = year and yy = month (e.g. get marmam log9601). Two searchable websites hold archived MARMAM postings: Links to both of these can be found via the MARMAM homepage http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/marmam.htm http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ This archive includes all messages from June 2, 1998 and the monthly logs dating back to January 1995. The archive can be searched by keyword and will return a list of files (messages) containing that keyword. For long messages (i.e., the monthly logs) - using the "find" command (under "Edit") will speed up searching within the message. http://www.reference.com/cgi-bin/pn/listarch?list=MARMAM(\)uvvm.uvic.ca This archive contains all messages from November 1997. To search this archive back to 11/97, change the date range at the bottom of the "Advanced Search" page. The archive manager is Quyen Lam __________________________________________________________________ 9. Subcriber list Due to mis-use of the subscriber list, the list is no longer available through a listserv command. To find out who subscribes to MARMAM, you must send a request to the MARMAM editors (marmamed(\)uvic.ca) and it will be sent out to you along with a request to not mis-use the list and guidelines to proper use of the list. Subscribers not wanting this information available to others can send the command: set marmam conceal to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca _______________________________________________________________ 10. How do I get help using listserver commands? A list of common commands for different listserver functions (subscribing, retrieving files, etc.) is obtainable by sending the message: help to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. A more detailed list of listserver commands may be obtained by sending the message: info refcard to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca _______________________________________________________________ 11. Why did my MARMAM subscription stop? Your subscription may be cancelled if your email is undeliverable. This can happen, for example, if your in-box is full or if your server is down for a period of time. When this happens the marmamed account will receive error messages, and those whose accounts bounce back are either automatically deleted from the list or manually deleted by the list Editors every once in a while. If you find that you receive no MARMAM messages for a few days, try subscribing to the list again. ______________________________________________________________ 12. Useful websites Detailed below are some World Wide Web Marine Mammal related links. Many of these contain further links to other sites. The Society for Marine Mammalogy: "http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~smm/" The National Marine Mammal Laboratory Homepage: "http://nmml01.afsc.noaa.gov/" The Acoustical Society of America: "http://asa.aip.org/" The European Cetacean Society: "http://web.inter.NL.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs.htm" International Whaling Commission: "http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/iwcoffice" WhaleNet "http://whale.wheelock.edu/" ______________________________________________________ 13. Other email discussion lists Some other email lists that may be relevent to marine mammals include the following. (Lists on a variety of topics which may vary in relevence are included - the editors take no responsibility for the content of these and are included here for reference only.) Lists are shown as topic, listserver and mailing list name. To subscribe send a message to the appropriate listserver with the message "subscribe " Bioacoustics: listproc(\)cornell.edu, Bioacoustics-L Biotelemetry: LISTSERV(\)BGUVM.BGU.AC.IL, biotelem Conservation network: listserv(\)sivm.si.edu, conslink Ecology, Ecological Society of America: listserv(\)umdd.umd.edu, ecolog-l Fish and Wildlife Information Management: listserv(\)listserv.vt.edu, FWIM-L Fisheries and Social Science: listserv(\)mitvma.mit.edu, fishfolk Marine Studies and Information: listserv(\)ccgc.tc.gc.ca, marine-l Mammal: LISTSERV(\)SIVM.SI.EDU, Mammal-l (please let the editors know of other lists to include here) ______________________________________________________________ 14. Who do I contact with my questions and concerns? Questions and concerns about MARMAM can be sent to the list editors (Robin Baird, Sascha Hooker, Shannon Gowans and Daniel Palacios) at marmamed(\)uvic.ca _______________________________________________________________ The MARMAM Editorial Policy and FAQ can also be found at the website: http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/marmam.htm Updated October 1999 Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network (TMMSN) Job Posting Development Officer Duties of the Development Officer: This individual would be responsible for raising money required for the TMMSN to continue it's daily operations. He/she would be responsible for the acquisition of money through grants, general donations, and the organization of fund-raising events. Job Qualification: This individual must have extensive experience in: grant searching, grant writing, organizing fund-raising events, and public relations. He/she must also be a very self-motivated individual, willing to devote approximately 10-20 hr per week searching for money. Salary: Compensation will consist of 10% of monies that are raised as a direct result of his/her efforts. TMMSN: The Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network is a non-profit (501 (c)3), volunteer organization dedicated to the conservation and understanding of marine mammals. It is the only organization in the state of Texas who is permitted by the Federal Government to handle stranded marine mammals along the entire Texas Gulf Coast. When an animal strands alive, the TMMSN provides the necessary care to rehabilitate and eventually release it back into the wild. The TMMSN also recovers all dead marine mammal strandings and collects vital data for researchers around the world to analyze. Please send inquiries, resume's, and CV's to: TMMSN 5001 Avenue U, Suite 105C Galveston, TX 77551-5926 For more information contact us: State Office 409-740-4455 tmmsn(\)tamug.tamu.edu www.tmmsn.org State Director: Dr. Graham A. J. Worthy 409-740-7421 worthyg(\)tamug.tamu.edu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network 5001 Avenue U, Suite 105C Galveston, TX 77551-5926 Office 409-740-4455 Fax 409-744-1358 http://www.TMMSN.org TMMSN(\)arctic.tamug.tamu.edu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Feb 0100 05:03:49 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications (fwd) Here are some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Publications recently posted to MARMAM are not included. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. Kogia pusilla from the Middle Pliocene of Tuscany (Italy) and a Phylogenetic analysis of the family Kogiidae (Odontoceti, Cetacea). Bianucci, G; Landini, W. RIVISTA ITALIANA DI PALEONTOLOGIA E STRATIGRAFIA. December 1999 v105 i3 p445-453 Diffuse effects in food webs. Yodzis, P. ECOLOGY. January 2000 v81 i1 p261-266 [includes info on Cape fur seal] Environmental and physiological determinants of successful foraging by naive southern elephant seal pups during their first trip to sea. Hindell, MA; McConnell, BJ; Fedak, MA; Slip, DJ; Burton, HR; Reijnders, PJH; McMahon, CR. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY-REVUE CANADIENNE DE ZOOLOGIE. November 1999 v77 i11 p1807-1821 In-air and underwater hearing sensitivity of a northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris). Kastak, D; Schusterman, RJ. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY-REVUE CANADIENNE DE ZOOLOGIE. November 1999 v77 i11 p1751-1758 Strategy and capability of wild belugas, Delphinapterus leucas, during deep, benthic diving. Martin, AR; Smith, TG. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY-REVUE CANADIENNE DE ZOOLOGIE. November 1999 v77 i11 p1783-1793 Estimation of juvenile survival, adult survival, and age-specific pupping probabilities for the female grey seal (Halichoerus gryprus) on Sable Island from capture-recapture data. Schwarz, CJ; Stobo, WT. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES. January 2000 v57 i1 p247-253 Density-dependent habitat selection and the modeling of sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) exploitation. Whitehead, H. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES. January 2000 v57 i1 p223-230 A review of virus infections of cetaceans and the potential impact of morbilliviruses, poxviruses and papillomaviruses on host population dynamics. Van Bressem, MF; Van Waerebeek, K; Raga, JA. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS. October 11, 1999 v38 i1 p53-65 Toxoplasmosis in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from the St Lawrence Estuary: Two case reports and a serological survey. Mikaelian, I; Boisclair, J; Dubey, JP; Kennedy, S; Martineau, D. JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PATHOLOGY. January 2000 v122 i1 p73-76 Growth layer patterns in teeth from the franciscana, Pontoporia blainvillei: Developing a model for precision in age estimation. Pinedo, MC; Hohn, AA. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE. January 2000 v16 i1 p1-27 Harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) abundance in Alaska: Bristol Bay to Southeast Alaska, 1991-1993. Dahlheim, M; York, A; Towell, R; Waite, J; Breiwick, J. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE. January 2000 v16 i1 p28-45 The effects of acoustic alarms on the behavior of harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in a floating pen. Kastelein, RA; Rippe, HT; Vaughan, N; Schooneman, NM; Verboom, WC; De Haan, D. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE. January 2000 v16 i1 p46-64 Habitat use and preferences of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins Sousa chinensis in Algoa Bay, South Africa. Karczmarski, L; Cockcroft, VG; McLachlan, A. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE. January 2000 v16 i1 p65-79 Occurrence, photo-identification and prey of pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhyncus obliquidens) in the Broughton Archipelago, Canada 1984-1998. Morton, A. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE. January 2000 v16 i1 p80-93 Foraging strategies of sympatric killer whale (Orcinus orca) populations in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Saulitis, E; Matkin, C; Barrett-Lennard, L; Heise, K; Ellis, G. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE. January 2000 v16 i1 p94-109 Bacular and testicular growth and allometry in the Cape fur seal Arctocephalus p. pusillus (Otariidae). Oosthuizen, WH; Miller, EH. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE. January 2000 v16 i1 p124-140 Changes in morphology with age in Mediterranean monk seals (Monachus monachus). Samaranch, R; Gonzalez, LM. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE. January 2000 v16 i1 p141-157 Pup survival in the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) colony at Cabo Blanco Peninsula (Western Sahara-Mauritania). Gazo, M; Aparicio, F; Cedenilla, MA; Layna, JF; Gonzalez, LM. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE. January 2000 v16 i1 p158-168 Attendance patterns of California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) females and pups during the non-breeding season at San Miguel Island. Melin, SR; DeLong, RL; Thomason, JR; VanBlaricom, GR MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE, January 2000 v16 i1 p169-185 Laser safety thresholds for cetaceans and pinnipeds. Zorn, HM; Churnside, JH; Oliver, CW. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE. January 2000 v16 i1 p186-200 Age- and sex-specific mortality and population structure in sea otters. Bodkin, JL; Burdin, AM; Ryazanov, DA. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE, January 2000 v16 i1 p201-219 Observations on an interaction between a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) and pilot whales (Globicephala melas). Ciano, JN. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE. January 2000 v16 i1 p245-248 Nocturnal acoustic location of the galapagos fur seal Arctocephalus galapagoensis. Merlen, G. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE. January 2000 v16 i1 p248-253 Age at first parturition in a Mediterranean monk seal monitored long-term. Gazo, M. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE. January 2000 v16 i1 p257-260 A review of recent extralimital records of the bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) on the west European continental coast. van Bre, PJH. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE. January 2000 v16 i1 p261-263 ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 15:47:43 +0000 From: "J.C.Goold" Subject: MMS Short Communication Dear All, The following short communication appears in the January issue of Marine Mammal Science, reprints are available. Goold J.C. (2000). A diel pattern in the vocal activity of short-beaked common dolphins, (Delphinus delphis). Marine Mammal Science 16(1), 240-244. Summary of Findings Vocalisations of common dolphins were recorded during two field seasons off the West Wales Coast of the British Isles. From a total of over 1,400 hours of underwater recording, dolphin vocal events (mainly whistles) were found to concentrate during the hours of darkness. ----------------- Dr. John C. Goold Development & Academic Manager Institute of Environmental Science University of Wales, Bangor Robinson Building Deiniol Road Bangor Gwynedd. LL57 2UW. UK. Tel: +44 (0)1248 388165 Fax: +44 (0)1248 383646 Email: j.c.goold(\)bangor.ac.uk Web: http://www.bangor.ac.uk/ies/ies.html ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2000 09:58:26 -0500 From: Nicole LeBoeuf Subject: NMFS proposes revised stranding forms The National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on revised marine mammal stranding collection forms, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). See 65 FR 5614, published on February 4, 2000. All written comments must be submitted on or before April 4, 2000 and should be directed to Linda Engelmeier, Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 5027, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington DC 20230 (or via Internet at LEngelme(\)doc.gov). Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions should be directed to Nicole R. Le Boeuf, Office of Protected Resources, F/PR2, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. The forms can also be obtained on the NMFS Office of Protected Resources web site at: http://www.nmfs.gov/prot_res/overview/mmhealth.html ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Feb 0100 14:41:26 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Use of experimental mattress for cetaceans (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Howard Rhinehart Dear Marmam, We have received numerous inquiries about a special mattress to transport cetaceans. Biologics, Inc has graciously loaned us a unit to try. These computer-controlled air mattresses are used in human medicine, especially in burn units and for cancer patients to alleviate pressure points. Mote's Dolphin and Whale Hospital is currently investigating its usefulness in stranded cetaceans during transport or physical examinations. As of this date we have used it twice with one stranded dolphin. Therefore, it is too early to make any claims as to effectiveness, except to say that it merits further study. We plan to do scientific testing of this mattress in the coming months and hope to present our results at this year's International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine (IAAAM) conference in September. Howard Rhinehart, CVT Charles Manire, DVM ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2000 13:22:09 -1000 From: "Louis M. Herman" Subject: Reprints available I would appreciate your posting the following message: Reprints of the following article are available from Louis M. Herman, lherman(\)hawaii.edu. Salden, D. R., Herman, L. M., Yamaguchi, M. and Sato. F. (1999). Multiple visits of individual humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) between the Hawaiian and Japanese winter grounds. Canadian Journal f Zoology, 77, 504-508. Abstract We document through photographic identifications, three humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) winter ground exchanges between Hawaii and Japan. Two of these whales, identified as males by their behavioral roles, made multiple interchanges across years; i.e., they were initially seen in Hawaii, were later observed in Japan, and subsequently returned to Hawaii. The third whale was seen in only two different years, once in Japan and once in Hawaii. Prior to this report, there has been only one published report of a Hawaii-Japan interchange and only eight between Hawaii and Mexico. None of these involved multiple exchanges. The current findings demonstrate that individual whales may be highly flexible in their annual choice of widely separated winter destinations and suggest that these wanderers may be mainly males. The occurrence of wanderers provides a mechanism for increasing genetic variability in the breeding populations and also suggests a mechanism for noted song similarities across different North Pacific winter grounds. --============_-1262588741==_ma============ I would appreciate your posting the following message: TimesReprints of the following article are available from Louis M. Herman, 0000,0000,00FFlherman(\)hawaii.edu. Salden, D. R., Herman, L. M., Yamaguchi, M. and Sato. F. (1999).=20 Multiple visits of individual humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) between the Hawaiian and Japanese winter grounds. Canadian Journal f Zoology, 77, 504-508. Abstract We document through photographic identifications, three humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) winter ground exchanges between Hawaii and Japan. Two of these whales, identified as males by their behavioral roles, made multiple interchanges across years; i.e., they were initially seen in Hawaii, were later observed in Japan, and subsequently returned to Hawaii. The third whale was seen in only two different years, once in Japan and once in Hawaii. Prior to this report, there has been only one published report of a Hawaii-Japan interchange and only eight between Hawaii and Mexico. None of these involved multiple exchanges. The current findings demonstrate that individual whales may be highly flexible in their annual choice of widely separated winter destinations and suggest that these wanderers may be mainly males. The occurrence of wanderers provides a mechanism for increasing genetic variability in the breeding populations and also suggests a mechanism for noted song similarities across different North Pacific winter grounds. --============_-1262588741==_ma============-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2000 19:02:30 -0330 From: Jon Lien Subject: PLEASE POST-Capture and Captivity of Marine Mammals My report completed last year for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans which examined the capture and captive maintenance of marine mammals is now available from the Department. Copies can be obtained by writing Brian Wong. Wongb(\)DFO-MPO.GC.CA Jon Lien Ph.D. Honorary Research Professor Ocean Sciences Centre and Biopsychology Programme c/o Whale Research Group Memorial University of Newfoundland St. John's, Newfoundland AlC 5S7 Phone (709) 753-5495 Mobil (709) 685-0710 Pager (709) 553-5382 Fax (709) 737-2450 E-mail: jlien(\)morgan.ucs.mun.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 09:14:52 -0800 From: JIWLP Subject: Migratory Species Discussion List Content-type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Discussion List: Migration The Migration discussion list provides a forum for researchers, conservationists and members of the legal profession interested in the conservation of migratory species. The list is sponsored by the Zoological Research Institute and Museum Alexander Koenig (ZFMK) and the American Society of International Law - Wildlife Interest Group Subscription instructions: o Send an email message to: majordomo(\)listserv.uni-bonn.de; o Leave the subject line blank; o In the body of the message, type: subscribe migration Wil Burns, Editor-in-Chief Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy 1210 Floribunda Ave. #7 Burlingame, CA 94010 USA Phone: 650.703.3280 Fax: 801.838.4710 JIWLP(\)earthling.net http://www.jiwlp.com/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2000 09:07:10 -0000 Reply-To: gregIWC(\)compuserve.com From: Greg Donovan Subject: Publications Information In-Reply-To: <38A03A9F.ADBA39CB(\)bangor.ac.uk> Dear All For those of you who are interested, the International Whaling Commission website (<>) has recently been updated and revised. It includes the Contents of all the first Volume of the new Journal of Cetacean Research and Management as well as the first special issue of the Journal - Chemical Pollutants and Cetaceans. As you probably know, ECS and SMM members receive a discount on the Journal. Best wishes Greg Donovan Editor Journal of Cetacean Research and Management International Whaling Commission, The Red House, 135 Station Road, Impington, Cambridge CB4 9NP, UK Tel: +44 (0)1223 233971 Fax: +44 (0)1223 232876 E-mail (personal): E-mail (Journal): E-mail (Subscriptions): E-mail (Large files): Web site: ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2000 07:29:34 -0500 Reply-To: karen.bernt(\)sympatico.ca From: "Karen E. Bernt" Subject: Abstract: PCBs & OCs in harbour and grey seals Bernt KE, Hammill MO, Lebeuf M and Kovacs KM. 1999. Levels and patterns of PCBs and OC pesticides in harbour and grey seals from the St Lawrence Estuary, Canada. The Science of the Total Environment, vol. 243-244, pgs 243-262. Abstract Blubber samples from harbour (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) captured in the St Lawrence Estuary were analysed for PCBs and OC pesticides. Concentrations of SPCB, SDDT, SCHLOR and mirex were higher in harbour than in grey seals, while SHCH and HCB were similar in the two species. Age versus concentration plots showed that SPCB, SDDT and SCHLOR concentrations increased with age in males, but plateaued at sexual maturity in females. Concentrations of SHCH decreased and mirex increased with age for post-weaning animals, regardless of gender. HCB did not show age-related trends. PCB congener and OC pesticide patterns varied within harbour seals (based on gender and maturity) and between harbour and grey seals. PCB and OC concentrations in harbour seals were lower than those seen in a sample of significantly older beluga whales. Both species remain in the Estuary year-round. PCB and OC pesticide concentrations were higher in resident harbour seals than in either grey or harp seals that visit the Estuary seasonally. PCB and OC pesticide concentrations in harbour seals from the Estuary were generally higher than in harbour seals from other regions of North America. They were comparable to, or higher than those from the NE Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, and lower than those from the Wadden and Baltic Seas. Please note that if you do not have access to the journal, reprint requests may be sent to Karen Bernt via email: karen.bernt(\)sympatico.ca ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2000 09:33:51 -0800 From: "William F. Perrin" Subject: Meeting Report--Molecular Genetic Identification of Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises Comments: cc: adizon(\)ucsd.edu > >The final version of the report of our meeting, Molecular >Genetic Identification of Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises: >Proceedings of a Workshop on the Forensic Use of Molecular >Techniques to Identify Wildlife Products in the Marketplace, is >available at the following location. It can also be found by >pointing your browser at swfc.ucsd.edu and clicking on the >Publications link. > >http://swfsc.ucsd.edu/ftproot/MOLID_V7.pdf > > The file requires >Adobe Read to view and print out. The report itself is >formatted to be copied double-sided. > >Andrew Dizon >Southwest Fisheries Science Center >adizon(\)ucsd.edu > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ William F. Perrin, Ph.D. Senior Scientist Adjunct Professor, SIO/UCSD Tel.: (858) 546-7096 (office), (858) 535-0840 (home), FAX (858) 546-7003 Southwest Fisheries Science Center P.O. Box 271, La Jolla, CA 92038, USA Email: wperrin(\)ucsd.edu (office), william.perrin(\)noaa.gov (office), dolarperri(\)aol.com (home) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2000 16:44:49 +0900 Reply-To: amano(\)wakame.ori.u-tokyo.ac.jp From: masao amano Subject: Dugong in Okinawa, Japan From: Masao Amano Following message is forwarded from the wildlife mailing list in Japan. ------------------ $B!! (B Save the Dugong From Extinction! The lethargic sea-mammal, the dugong, dwelling off-shore Okinawa (one of the "South-Western Islands" of Japan), is now on the verge of extinction. A group of six dugong was sighted in the spring of 1999; the largest group in this the Northern-most habitat of the species native to South-Eastern Asia. The Mammalogical Society of Japan classifies the dugong in the South-Western Islands, using the IUCN criteria, as "critically endangered"; Washington Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) lists the animal in Appendix 1 (a species to be dealt with under the most strict regulations). The Japanese Fisheries Agency and the Agency for Cultural Affairs also recognize the dugong as a species which needs special protection. Their habitat around Camp Schwab in Okinawa is one of the "Global 200", the areas chosen by the WWF as ecological domains to be protected. In spite of all these, and against the will of the Okinawan people and the local citizens of the Nago City, Camp Schwab is now being targeted as the construction site for an enlarged US military base to 'replace' the Futenma base which is to be returned to Japan. The Japanese government is putting pressure upon Okinawa Prefecture and Nago City so that Camp Schwab site will be officially chosen for the new base. The Japanese government wants to finalize the plan to be presented at the "Summit" in July, 2000 to be held in Okinawa. We are certain that the enlarged base in Camp Schwab will destroy one of the most precious remaining habitats of the dugong in the entire South-Western Islands region. We urge all the individuals and groups who care for the conservation of nature, and the preservation of life, to help us stop this destruction by expressing your concern. Association To Save The Dugong Of The Northern-most Habitat Suzuki Masako tel;fax:(Japan) 045-771-3658 E-mail: ccf72790(\)nyc.odn.ne.jp http://www.hoops.ne.jp/~sea-jugon/ Please contact to: Hon. William J. Clinton The President of the U.S.A. c/o The White House Washington D.C. 20045 U.S.A. Hon. Obuchi Keizo The Prime Minister of Japan Prime Minister's Official Residence Nagata-cho 2-3-1 Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Japan Tel: 03-3581-0101 Fax: 03-3581-3883 Hon. Inamine Keiichi The Governor of Okinawa Prefecture Izumizaki 1-2-2, Naha City, Okinawa Japan Tel: 098-866-2000 Fax: 098-860-1453 Hon. Kishimoto Tateo The Mayor of Nago City Minato 1-1-1, Nago-shi, Okinawa Japan Tel: 0980-53-1212 Fax: 0980-53-6210 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2000 04:32:31 -0330 From: Jon Lien Subject: A conservation basis for whale watching regulations Exploitation and management of marine wildlife in Canada is basically controlled under the Fisheries Act. The Oceans Act of l997 has a more environmental approach to oceans management but at present is still without regulations. Hence the Fishery Act is the available, practical basis for regulating whale watching in Canada. For this act to apply, prohibitions and regulations of any activity must have a conservation basis. In other words, the Department must have defendable reasons for believing that certain types of vessel activity which could occur during whale watching would affect the survival of the focus animal or populations. Normally whale watching is considered a non-consumptive activity. Recent court rulings in Canada have dismissed whale harassment charges because, although there was clearly harassment, the relationship between disturbance of the animal and its long-term conservation impact was not demonstrated. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is considering establishing a license programme and regulations for whale watching. In developing this programme it is critical that relationships between disturbances of animals who are engaged in essential life processes and the conservation impact of this harassment is documented. I am presently preparing a paper for the Department which presents such documentation. As you likely know there is a minimum of published literature on the longer term impact of whale watching. Thus I'm soliciting any instances anyone may have where long term impacts of disturbance can be documented. These could be individual experiences, case studies or grey literature. Such examples may not necessarily involve whale watching per se but any sort of human/vessel activity. The present opportunity gives us a chance to better protect animals from the explosive growth in the whale watching industry in Canada and assist DFO in beginning a programme in an area that is new for them. I'd appreciate hearing from anyone with ideas or information that would help in demonstrating conservation impacts from whale watching disturbances. Thanks! Jon Lien Ph.D. Honorary Research Professor Ocean Sciences Centre and Biopsychology Programme c/o Whale Research Group Memorial University of Newfoundland St. John's, Newfoundland AlC 5S7 Phone (709) 753-5495 Mobil (709) 685-0710 Pager (709) 553-5382 Fax (709) 737-2450 E-mail: jlien(\)morgan.ucs.mun.ca ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2000 07:18:47 -0600 From: Osha Gray Davidson Subject: disease and density A recent article in "Science" points out that the high density of birds at feeders has led to the emergence of diseases (Emerging Infectious Diseases of Wildlife, Daszak, et al, 21 Jan 2000). On a recent trip to Florida, I saw over 240 manatees gathered around the warm water outflows of a power plant after a record cold night. While it was a rare treat to see so many manatees in one place I wondered about the effect these phenomena have on disease outbreaks among these rare creatures. I haven't found anything in the literature about manatees, power stations and disease, but wondered if anyone is doing such research? Or similar research on other marine creatures? If so, I would be interested in hearing from you. Cheers, Osha Osha Gray Davidson Adjunct Associate Professor International Programs, University of Iowa MAILING ADDRESS: Osha Gray Davidson 14 S. Governor St. Iowa City, IA 52240 USA Phone: 319-338-4778 Home page: www.OshaDavidson.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 15:12:54 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS Weekly marine mammal summary to U.S. Congress (fwd) The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS {{Seal Barge? On Feb. 14, 2000, the local Chamber of Commerce and business owners plan to petition Seal Beach, CA, City Council officials to allow the anchoring of a barge offshore to provide an artificial attractant habitat for seals and sea lions as a means of boosting tourism.}} [Assoc Press, Orange County Register] {{VA Beach Dolphins? On Feb. 9, 2000, the Board of the VA Beach Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals voted to hold a public forum in late February or early March 2000 to discuss the pros and cons of plans by the VA Marine Science Museum to display live dolphins.}} [Virginian-Pilot] {Dolphin Conservation Lawsuit. On Feb. 8, 2000, a coalition of environmental and animal protection groups filed suit in the U.S. Court of International Trade against the Clinton Administration, claiming the federal government was not abiding by U.S. laws on dolphin conservation. These groups claim that NMFS's final rule of Jan. 3, 2000, ignores the requirements of the International Dolphin Conservation Program Act.} [Defenders of Wildlife press release, Humane Society of the United States press release, American Humane Assoc press release] Makah Whaling. On Feb. 8, 2000, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments on an October 1997 lawsuit (Metcalf et al. v. Daley et al.) alleging the U.S. government acted improperly in granting a permit to the Makah to kill gray whales, without anticipating safety and environmental risks. [personal communication, Seattle Times, Assoc Press] {Northern Right Whale. On Feb. 7, 2000, the Administration's FY2001 Federal Budget proposal was released, containing a proposed $4.3 million for endangered right whale research.} [Assoc Press] Mexican Salt Project. On Feb. 3, 2000, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Greenpeace released the results of a Japanese public opinion survey indicating that, of those with an opinion, 75% opposed Mitsubishi Corp. plans to build a salt evaporation facility at Laguna San Ignacio, Mexico. [Assoc Press, Los Angeles Times, IFAW press release] {{Namibia Seal Cull. In early February 2000, Namibia's Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Abraham Iyambo announced that the quota for the year 2000 seal cull would be increased drastically. Officials of the Wildlife Society of Namibia challenged the Minister to release scientific data justifying the increased cull.}} [The Namibian] {Monk Seal Lawsuit. On Jan. 26, 2000, a coalition of 3 conservation groups filed suit in federal court, claiming NMFS had failed to properly manage the Hawaii-based crustacean (lobster) fishery and bottomfish fishery to avoid harming the monk seals.} [EarthJustice Legal Defense Fund press release, personal communication] {Resident Orca Whales. In late January 2000, observers at Monterey Bay, CA, discovered pods of Puget Sound resident orca whales in Monterey Bay, far from where they had ever been previously reported. Researchers questioned whether lack of adequate food in Puget Sound had caused the whales to travel far from their normal waters.} [Scripps McClatchy Western Service] Northern Right Whale Mortality? On Jan. 19, 2000, a fisherman spotted a dead 3-year-old female northern right whale about 10 miles southeast of Block Island, off RI. Only about 300 animals remain in the endangered northern right whale population. [Assoc Press, Boston Herald] Dolphin Mass Stranding. On Jan. 16, 2000, about 100 bottlenose dolphins became stranded in a shallow lagoon at Long Key, FL, with at least 23 dying before volunteers and the FL Marine Patrol could free the others. On Jan. 18, 2000, an additional group of 9 bottlenose dolphins stranded at Little Torch Key, FL, with 3 dying. [Miami Herald, Assoc Press, MSNBC] Steller Sea Lions. In mid-January 2000, U.S. District Judge Thomas Zilly issued a one-page order, concluding that the NMFS "no jeopardy" biological opinion was arbitrary and capricious, and that NMFS actions to protect Steller sea lion fell short of what was required by the Endangered Species Act (ESA). On Jan. 25, 2000, NMFS published an emergency interim rule implementing reasonable and prudent alternatives and revising management measures for the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands pollock fisheries during 2000. These measures would disperse commercial fishing effort and provide increased protection from fisheries competition for prey in waters adjacent to Steller sea lion rookeries and important haulouts. Public comment is to be accepted on this rule through Feb. 24, 2000. On Jan. 25, 2000, Judge Zilly issued an Order, directing NMFS to invest more effort in determining whether commercial fishing is harming Steller sea lions. {{The Court concluded that NMFS is in continuing violation of the ESA until a comprehensive biological opinion addressing the full impacts of the pollock fisheries is completed.}} [Anchorage Daily News, Assoc Press, Fed. Register, Reuters, personal communication] Japanese Whaling. In mid-January 2000, the Director General of Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research informed Greenpeace that, if confrontational protests continue, the Captain of the Japanese whaling vessel Nisshin Maruwill, under Japanese domestic law, take Greenpeace activists into custody. [Japan Whaling Assoc press release] Keiko. In mid-January 2000, divers finished stringing a net across the mouth of Klettsvik Bay, Iceland, where Keiko's handlers hope to release the orca whale from its holding pen into the enclosed bay in February 2000. [Assoc Press] CITES and Whales. On Jan. 14, 2000, officials of the European Union meeting in Brussels were to vote on whether or not to support a CITES petition by Japan and Norway that would lift the current prohibition on international trade of some whale products. On Dec. 29, 1999, the Secretariat to CITES recognized the Japanese and Norwegian argument that minke whales and eastern Pacific gray whales are not threatened with extinction and are inappropriately included on CITES Appendix I, but provisionally recommended that a "zero quota" for minke whale international trade be adopted if selected populations of minke whales are transferred from CITES Appendix I to Appendix II by the Conference of the Parties at the April 2000 meeting. [High North Alliance News, Greenpeace press release, The Antarctican] Mid-Atlantic Harbor Porpoise. On Jan. 13-14, 2000, the Mid-Atlantic Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Team met in Alexandria, VA, concluding that no further fishing restrictions were warranted at this time. The Team heard reports that interactions between commercial gillnetters and harbor porpoise have declined significantly, and agreed to increase observer coverage and support pinger research. [Garden State Seafood Assoc Weekly Update] FL Manatees. On Jan. 13, 2000, a coalition of 19 environmental and animal protection organizations filed two lawsuits in Washington, DC [ http://www.eswr.com/mancomp.pdf ], and Tallahassee, FL, against the FL Dept. of Environmental Protection and the federal government (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Dept. of the Interior) for alleged failure to protect manatees. In mid-January 2000, a total of 1,629 FL manatees were counted in an aerial survey of these animals, conducted by 13 agencies, laboratories, and universities. This was lower than the 2,353 animals counted in March 1999. Researchers blamed manatee dispersal due to warm weather for the low count, rather than a decline in the manatee population. [Orlando Sentinel, Naples Daily News, Assoc Press, Daytona Beach News-Journal, Save the Manatee Club press release] Whale Watching. On Jan. 4, 2000, NMFS published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking concerning the possible codification of operational procedures for whale watching vessels in the Atlantic coast from ME to VA. Public comment will be accepted through Mar. 6, 2000. [Fed. Register] Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2000 10:19:35 -0500 From: william rossiter Subject: Phillipine humpback researchers need data Following posted on behalf of sender who needs data for humpback conservation. Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2000 08:00:13 +0900 To: William_Rossiter(\)compuserve.com From: Steve & Debbie Marks Subject: Recently discovered humpback breeding grounds in the Philippines Dear MARMAM: Recently, WWF (World Wildlife) discovered a potential new breeding ground in the Philippines for humpbacks. We are students working on our undergraduate thesis at the University of the Philippines, and plan to begin the initiate research on this site in April including distribution and abundance, habitat and toxicology analysis, DNA, reproductive behaviors, and sound recording. Unfortunately, we do not have access to the already published data on breeding grounds in Hawaii, etc. We would like to obtain copies of the published data (habitat analysis, etc.), so that we may compare it to our data after it has been collected. The Philippines is a third world country which literally ignores its budget for higher education, which is why we don't have access to the journals necessary. If you count point us in the right direction as to where we could obtain copies of this information, it would be much appreciated. WWF's plan is to try to introduce this area as an "eco-tourism" area and whale watching area much like Hawaii. Currently, whales are still poached in the Philippines, on a regular basis. So, if we can have an impact to change these individuals from hunters to tourist guides, we will have done the humpback a great service. Please let us know if you can assist us. Thank you very much. Debbie Marks ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 17:12:38 -0800 From: Tonia Binder Organization: Mystic Aquarium Subject: Available Marine Mammal Care positions To All MARMAM subscribers: We are posting these two open positions on your web list serve because we at Mystic Aquarium utilize your site as a valuable resource for Marine Mammal news and updates in the field and industry. If there are any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for your consideration and assistance in recruiting qualified candidates. Sincerely, Tonia L. Binder Recruitment/Training Specialist Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration Human Resources email: tabinder(\)mysticaquarium.org PHONE: 860-572-5955 ext. 308 POSTINGS: 1) Aquarist/Marine Mammals & Birds A newly rennovated Mystic Aquarium has restructured the Marine Mammal and Bird arena. This open position will care for and maintain our marine mammal and bird collection and exhibits; perform behavioral conditioning and environmental enrichment tasks, animal observations, public demonstrations and classes, and record keeping; assist in animal husbandry and veterinary procedures. Qualifications include degree in related field or equivalent. Candidates need a minimum 3 years experience working with marine animals. Comprehensive benefits and competitive salary. Forward resume and references by February 25, 2000 to: 2) Senior Aquarist/Cetaceans This open position involves hands-on supervisory responsibilities in animal care and exhibit maintenance of our cetacean collection; supervising staff; developing, overseeing, and conducting cetacean presentations and classes; directing day-to-day efforts in behavioral conditioning; and facilitating aquarium programming. Qualifications include degree in related field or equivalent. Candidates need a minimum 5 years experience in cetacean husbandry; supervisory experience with strong teamwork skills; and SCUBA certification. Comprehensive benefits and competitive salary. Forward resume and references by February 25, 2000 to: Mystic Aquarium Human Resources 55 Coogan Boulevard Mystic, CT 06355 FAX: 860-572-5984 EOE ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 13 Feb 0100 11:17:52 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Disease and Manatees (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Osha Gray Davidson At the request of the MARMAM editors, here are the responses I received to my query about the possible problem of disease transmission among the manatees that gather at power plant warm-water outflows: davebulloch(\)webtv.net (David Bulloch): I suspect you will find mortalities by disease is trivial (albeit disease in bottlenosed dolphins has suddenly become a hot topic). The two main causes of manatee deaths in Florida are (1) collisions with boats - an ongoing threat as boating increases and boaters operate at higher speeds in inshore waters and (2) outbreaks of red tide when manatees are inshore. Iske L. V. Larkin Physiological Sciences University of Florida HSC Box 100144 Gainesville, Fl 32610 Phone (352) 392-0069 Fax (352) 392-5145 e-mail: Larkini(\)mail.vetmed.ufl.edu: That is actually a very important observation that only recently has come to light as the discovery of a papilloma virus has brought plenty of worry to the manatee community. I am a PhD student finishing up a study on manatee reproduction. I know a veterinarian down at Miami Seaquarium, Dr. Greg Bossart, who is studying this newly discovered papilloma virus in manatees. It was first noticed in a group of captive animals at Homosassa Spring State Wildlife Park. Now, more animals along the west coast are exhibiting the papilloma warts. Although I have to say, up until the emergence of the papilloma virus, there was really very little information available on any known diseases that affected manatees. I do know that a few studies were done to try to identify possible toxins that may concentrate in manatee tissues, but found nothing in high concentrations. anmlpepl(\)whidbey.com (Merritt Clifton, editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE.): You've raised a good question re manatees, who are highly susceptible to both bovine and canine diseases, I understand, and whose congregations could accordingly make them vulnerable. I have not heard of any research in that area, but am aware of several mass die-offs during the past 15 years or so in which unnatural crowding may have had a part--though conditions such as cold snaps and red tide seem to more involvement in mass deaths than animal-to-animal disease transmission. Morgan Barnebee : Being a native Floridian, and having done numerous manatee rescues, I can tell you that the warm water around power plants is one of the favorite places for these loveable creatures to hang out when the temperature drops down. To the best of my knowledge, they seem to suffer no ill effects from this and actually seem healthier. Why is beyond me, I specialize in cetaceans, but I do know from associates' research that the plant life in these areas is abundant & full of minerals that the manatees seem to thrive on,(Side Note: there is one aging male at SeaWorld, San Diego who loves marinated artichokes!). There have no major outbreaks of disease due to these mass gatherings that I know of personally. I did a little calling around after I read your post and haven't been able to find anyone doing this particular type of research, but my guess is that since no harm has been done (that we can tell), the thought has been "if it ain't broke....". Trevor Gilbert Principal Adviser Scientific & Environmental Maritime Safety & Environmental Strategy Australian Maritime Safety Authority PO Box 2181 Canberra ACT 2601 Tel 02 6279 5680 Int. +61 2 6279 5680 Fax 02 6279 5026 Int +61 2 6279 5026 Email Trevor.Gilbert(\)amsa.gov.au: I used be be in the Power Station environmental monitoring field. It is not just the probability of disease but Power stations use biocides to kill shell fish, algae and other biological life that grow in the cooling water system. This flows straight through and out to the discharge pipes to ensure complete 'kill' . Always dosed to excess to ensure a clean system ie residual on end of discharge pipe. There is a huge number of biocides used the most common is sodium hypochlorite (chlorine releasing agents) and they are swapped over to other chemicals to avoid the biota being conditioned. Also anticorrosion agents are injected into these systems to ensure condensers do not corrode too quickly due to sea water. They are very expensive to replace. Sometimes these injection systems get quite poorly maintained and huge slugs of these chemicals get through the cooling water system. Also the metals of the condenser tubes slowly break down release into the water.. copper etc. Depends on the type of metal of the condenser tubes. Some species of fish etc become so dependant on the constant flow of warm water from outlets that kills sometimes result when the plant goes off line. Thermal shock effects. Geoffrey Patton : I, too, share your concern about the unnatural congregations of manatees at artificial warm water refuges. This was a management scheme adopted in the late 1970's-early 1980's as a means to gain some meager control over the protection of manatees by state and federal officials. It is my view that secret discussions led to an organized drive to establish a "ring of pearls" around Florida in the form of protected habitats which would not only provide restricted access areas for manatees to avoid boats but would allow for exclusion of fishermen and others users who tend to degrade otherwise wild habitats. Large aggregations of manatees at power plants provided striking images used to promote protection zones. Thus, many manatee preserves were established without scientific investigation nor public discussion about the management value of this alteration of the animlas' normal migration patterns of southward Fall movements to scatter in Florida Bay with redistribution in Spring up both coasts. Indeed, the first radio-tracking detection of northward Fall migration by an animal in the 1980's was heralded as manatees learning where the refuges are and additional study looked at manatees transfering from one warm water refuge to others in Tampa Bay when one had to be decommissioned. One principle of coastal ecology is that the natural state is best. It is questionable how intentional restructuring of normal migration patterns cannot be viewed as flawed wildlife management in terms of disease transmission, increased risk from catastrophies (i.e., power plant shutdowns during life-threatening cold periods), and aggregating animals in areas known to be devoid of vegetation where they must travel out into cold water for forage. Kent Smith SmithK(\)gfc.state.fl.us Bureau of Protected Species Management 620 S. Meridian St. Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600 (850) 922-4330 FAX (850) 922-4338 My name is Kent Smith and I work with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission as the habitat coordinator for their manatee management program. You posed an interesting question to which I would like to reply. Yes, we are concerned with disease transmission between manatees when they aggregate in large numbers at places like power plant outfalls. There is a serious risk of dramatic regional population loss if an infectious pathogen get into an aggregation of manatees. Although we are concerned about this issue, I am not aware of any published research on the topic. Our research biologists dealing with manatee population and pathology are Dr. Bruce Ackerman and Dr. Scott Wright respectively. I am forwarding your e-mail to them in an effort to have them better address your question. We continue to hope that a worst case scenario does not result from this aggregation behavior, but there may be nothing more than we can do but monitor such populations for signs of an emerging epidemic. Daniel K. Odell, Manatees have been concentrating at natural and artificial warm water 'refugia' in Florida in the winter for decades (in the case of artificial warm water) and who knows how long in the case of natural warm springs. Just about everyone is well aware of the potential for disease transmission in these situation but apparently nothing has happened. Concentrations of manatees are bigger targets for accidental collisions with boats and that is probably one of the biggest concerns. Even though the refugia are off-limits to boats, there is a lot of manatee traffic to and from the sites. The biggest manatee dieoff in recent years (1996, about 150 animals in southwest Florida) was due to red tide toxin. Cheers, Osha Osha Gray Davidson Adjunct Associate Professor International Programs, University of Iowa MAILING ADDRESS: Osha Gray Davidson 14 S. Governor St. Iowa City, IA 52240 USA Phone: 319-338-4778 Home page: www.OshaDavidson.com Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2000 09:57:08 -0500 From: Jean Boddy Subject: Summer Graduate Course: Intro to Whales, Porpoises, Seals College of the Atlantic announces a two-week summer graduate course, Introduction to Whales, Porposies and Seals July 30-August 12. This comprehensive course gives elementary and secondary school teachers the chance to study and observe the marine mammals common to New England. Campus lectures, slide presentations and discussion examining behavior, ecology and world-wide issues in the conservation of marine mammals will be supplemented with field trips cruising the off-shore waters of the Maine coast to observe whales, proposies and seals. Instructor: Gregory Stone, Ph.D. University of South Pacific, Associate Director for Coservation, New England Aquarium, Boston, MA. Course fee: $1575, includes room, board, tuition For further information contact Jean Boddy, Assistant Director of Summer Programs at College of the Atlantic phone: 800-597-9500 or e-mail: jdb(\)ecology.coa.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 18:39:57 -0500 From: william rossiter Subject: Fast ferries vs. whales ------ Forwarded to MARMAM for assistance with issue of cetacean fatalities from fast ferries. Please be kind enough to respond to both Alvarez and Rossit= er (addresses below). Thank you, Bill Rossiter Cetacean Society International=20 >>>>>>>>>>>>FORWARDED MESSAGE >>>>>>>>> From: Dario Gonzalez Alvarez To: "'William_Rossiter(\)compuserve.com'" Subject: Fast Ferrys-I need some information Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 12:00:17 -0000 Please help:=20 I'm working whith an ecological group named TEA from Tenerife (Canary Islands). We are working about a big problem we have now whith th= e Fast Ferrys that since last year are saliling in our seas. They have kill= ed some whales (at least 4 whales in a few months, we do not know the exactl= y number because the companys dont say when an accident of these characteristcs happens and it=B4s very possible that this number could be bigger). The biggest problem is that between La Gomera and Tenerife (two Islands) the concentracion of cetacean is one of the biggest in Europe an= d the colision whith this kind of ships along the year is 100%. I suppose the same problem have happened in other parts of the world, we need all the information possible of this topic, if you know a= ny goberment in the world who have forbideen this kind of ships or where I c= an ask for this questions, e-mails of ecological groups, etc, In short, we need all the possible information you could give us. Thank you for all and sorry if this is not a place for this kind of questions but we dont know were look for information. Thanks again. Dario Gonzalez Alvarez P.S: Sorry for my English. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 14 Feb 0100 19:59:13 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications (fwd) Here are some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Publications recently posted to MARMAM are not included. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. Sound reception in marine mammals, depending on sound parameters and sound conduction pathways. Babushina, ES. BIOFIZIKA, November-December 1999 v44 i6 p1101-1108 (in Russian, with English abstract) In vitro maturation and ultrastructural observation of cryopreserved minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) follicular oocytes. Asada, M; Horii, M; Mogoe, T; Fukui, Y; Ishikawa, H; Ohsumi, S. BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION. February 2000 v62 i2 p253-259 Molecular cloning, phylogenetic analysis and expression of beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) interleukin 6. St-Laurent, G; Archambault, D.VETERINARY IMMUNOLOGY AND IMMUNOPATHOLOGY. January 31, 2000 v73 i1 p31-44 Lead, cadmium, mercury and selenium intake by Greenlanders from local marine food. Johansen, P; Pars, T; Bjerregaard, P. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. January 17, 2000 v245 i1-3 p187-194 Amide proton hydrogen exchange rates for sperm whale myoglobin obtained from N-15-H-1 NMR spectra. Cavagnero, S; Theriault, Y; Narula, SS; Dyson, HJ; Wright, PE. PROTEIN SCIENCE. January 2000 v9 i1 p186-193 Gift of the whale: The Inupiat bowhead hunt, a sacred tradition. Jackson, DD. SMITHSONIAN. December 1999 v30 i9 p152-+ Maternal care in the subantarctic fur seals on Amsterdam Island. Georges, JY; Guinet, C. ECOLOGY. February 2000 v81 i2 p295-308 Organochlorines in Greenland ringed seals (Phoca hispida). Cleemann, M; Riget, F; Paulsen, GB; de Boer, J; Dietz, R. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. January 17, 2000 v245 i1-3 p103-116 An assessment of selenium to mercury in Greenland marine animals. Dietz, R; Riget, F; Born, EW. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. January 17, 2000 v245 i1-3 p15-24 Temporal trends of cadmium and mercury in Greenland marine biota. Riget, F; Dietz, R. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. January 17, 2000 v245 i1-3 p49-60 Temporal and spatial trends of persistent organochlorines in Greenland walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus). Muir, DCG; Born, EW; Koczansky, K; Stern, GA. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. January 17, 2000 v245 i1-3 p73-86 Immobilization of California sea lions using medetomidine plus ketamine with and without isoflurane and reversal with atipamezole Author(s) Haulena, M; Gulland, FMD; Calkins, DG; Spraker, TR Source JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES, January 2000 v36 i1 p124-130 Low level of mitochondrial DNA variation in sea otter populations from Kamchatka and Komandor islands. Tul'skaya, OL; Derenko, MV; Malyarchuk, BA. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF GENETICS. January 1999 v35 i1 p11-15 Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2000 18:48:29 -0600 From: David Herman Subject: Re: Info request on vertebral anomalies of cetaceans Dear Windsor, Unfortunately, I do not have any information for you, but I do have some thoughts that I would like to share with you. I am a veterinarian and have only seen cetaceans in a tank or at a distance in water. I have not had the priviledge of close work with them. One of the things that struck me most in watching cetaceans, especially dophins, swim is that their means of locomotion is totally dependent on flexion and extension of the spinal column. I am much better acquainted with terrestial animals that utilize the pectoral and pelvic girdles to stabilize their limbs which provide much of the impetus for locomotion. Some terrestial animals that can attain high speeds, like the cheetah, utilize their spinal column in a way that is more reminencent of cetaceans. Older bulls, who have mated many times, develop osteoarthritis and fusion of lumbar vertebrae. I have been surprized that ceteceans do not develop similar as a result of the tremendous forces placed on their vertebral column. Male dogs and other species can develop spondylitis of an infectious nature. I believe the agent in dogs is Brucellosis canis. I hope that you can find some animal models. I am especially curious about bony changes in noncaptive cheetahs. Thanks, Anne P. Osher davherm(\)ibm.net ----- Original Message ----- From: "Windsor Aguirre" To: Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2000 10:33 PM Subject: Info request on vertebral anomalies of cetaceans > > My name is Windsor Aguirre, I am a graduate student working with > sciaenids (drums and croakers; fish). As an undergrad in Ecuador I was > active with marine mammals and have retained a strong interest in them. > In the last few years I have become aware of several cases of stranded > cetaceans collected along the coast of Guayas province, Ecuador, with > anomalous osteological growth and fusion of dorsal, lumbar and caudal > vertebrae. I'd like to learn more about vertebral growth in cetaceans, > and pathological conditions affecting vertebrae such as spondylitis and > vertebral osteomyelitis. Any info or useful references would be > appreciated. For those interested, below is a list of the papers on > vertebral anomalies in marine mammals I have already found. > > Best wishes, > Windsor > > -------------------------------------------- > *Alexander, J.W., M.A. Solangi, and L.S. Riegel. 1989. Vertebral > osteomyelitis and suspected > diskospondylitis in an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). > Journal of Wildlife Diseases > 25(1):118-121. > > *Barcellos, L.P. 1977. Nota sobre osteopatologia em um exemplar de > Hyperoodon planifrons (Ziphiidae- > Cetacea), Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Atlantica 2(1):118-123. > > *Crovetto, A. 1982. A propos d'une malformation laterale da la colonne > vertebrale d'une baleine bleue, > Balaenoptera musculus L. (Cetacea, Balaenipteridae) et de sa > signification fonctionnelle. 107 Congres > National des Societes Savantes, Brest, Sciences, Fasc. II:89-98. > > *Kinze, C.C. 1986. Note on the occurence of Spondylitis deformans in a > sample of harbour porpoises > (Phocoena phocoena (L.)) taken in Danish waters. Aquatic Mammals > 12(1):25-27. > > *Morton, B. 1978. Osteomyelitis (pyogenic spondylitis) of the spine in a > dolphin. Journal of the American > Veterinary Medical Association 173(9):1119-1120. > > *Paterson, R.A. 1984. Spondylitis deformans in a byrde's whale > (Balaenoptera edeni Anderson) stranded > on the southern coast of Queensland. Journal of Wildlife Diseases > 20(3):250-252. > > *Slijper, E.J. 1936. Die Cetaceen vergleichend anatomisch und > systematisch. Capita Zoologica Vi & VII: > 1-590. > > *Thomas-Baker, B. 1986. Diskospondylitis in a California sea lion. > Journal of the American Veterinary > Medical Association 189(9):1151. > > *Van Bree, P.J.H., and R. Duguy. 1970. Sur quelques aberrations > pathologiques chez les petit Cetaces. > Der Zoologische Garten 39:11-15. > > *Wells, C., and P. Lawrance. 1976. A pathological dolphin. Medical and > Biological Illustration 26:35-37. > > -- > Windsor Aguirre > GCRL Museum- Gulf Coast Research Laboratory > 703 East Beach Drive- Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39566 > Telf: (228)872-4238 / Fax:(228)872-4204 > windsor.aguirre(\)usm.edu > http://lionfish.ims.usm.edu/~musweb/seatrout/winzhmpg1.html > ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 18:21:09 +0200 From: DELPHIS-HELLENIC CETACEAN RESEARCH & CONSERVATION SOCIETY Subject: CETACEANS' MONITORING FIELD RESEARCH-ANNOUNCEMENT FOR VOLUNTEERS Cetaceans Monitoring Field Research Announcement for Volunteers On-going seasonal field research and education program concerning monitoring the movements of cetaceans along Ionion and Aegean Sea, in Greece is conducted since 1996, by DELPHIS-Hellenic Cetacean Research and Conservation Society, a not for profit organization. Currently, there are available openings for volunteers who would like to join the 2000 field research team. Cetaceans sightings and characteristics on aspects of their population, biology, ecology and behavior are recorded mainly by using cameras/videos and identified later with the method of photo-identification. Acoustic and scanning recordings were also applied and experimented last year by using hydrophones and sonar although the techniques need further understanding. Data are collected during daily watches made by a local 16m long motor sailer and a raft. Coastal waters extend about 15,021km around Greece and the place of 9,838 islands which all together blend into a diverse marine ecosystem. This is home to a variety of coastal marine fish, sea turtles, birds and mammals. Animals who frequent the numerous inlets, bays, gulfs, straits, coves or peninsulas include gulls, European buzzards, pelicans, storks and herons, ospreys, falcons, sea turtles, and seals. Bottle-nosed, striped, common and Risso s dolphins, fin, sperm, pilot or Cuvier s beaked whales are few of the cetaceans species which live or migrate along the coastal zones and often visible from the boat. If you meet the following conditions, and would like to receive further information of the project, living conditions, application form and payment options, please sent your full address through E-mail: delphisaimilia(\)excite.com , delphis(\)hol.gr or, by post. ? Volunteers assist the scientists for recording data of cetaceans sightings and their characteristics, aboard a local motor sailer, during daily watches. ? Volunteers are dedicated to field survey, minimum 7 days between 17th of June and 20th October 2000. ? Volunteers need to be reasonably physically fit for working extensive hours on board. ? Volunteers assist in teams in all areas of work, including day field data acquisition and processing, extensive photographing, cooking and cleaning, interpretation to the public and conservation. ? Volunteers should be able to work, live and communicate well in English with others. ? Volunteers should be suitably qualified, giving priority to those with a degree in Biology or other closely related subject. Previous experience in similar projects or some knowledge of research methods and design an advantage. ? Volunteers should be able to cover their travel and participation expenses (food and living accommodations). Closing date for applications is March 21st 2000. This is an excellent opportunity to gain first hand experience working with endangered species so do not be discouraged about applying even if you think that you cannot meet the above criteria as training is provided. Please feel free to post or distribute this message to those who might be interested. DELPHIS Application Request, c/o AIMILIA DROUGAS Cetacean Research Project Coordinator 75-79 Pylis Street 185 33 PIRAEUS GREECE Tel/Fax: (+301) 4223305 Email: delphis(\)hol.gr or, delphisaimilia(\)excite.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 10:50:56 +1100 From: Dolphin Research Institute Organization: Dolphin Research Institute Subject: Re: A conservation basis for whale watching regulations The Dolphin Research Institute has been working on the management of dolphin-based tourism (largely dolphin swims) in Port Phillip Bay (Melbourne, Australia) for the last five years. With co-operation of the government and tour operators, we developed a voluntary code of practice that eventually became entrenched in legislation in 1997 (because the code needed to become "less voluntary"). Regulations that include a permit system for tour operators followed and only two weeks ago we had our first prosecution under the new laws. I should stress though, that the regulations were a pragmatic outcome to deal with a situation that had become unacceptable, rather than the result of an assessment of the capacity of the population to susstain the attention. We still have away to go. The Dolphin Research Institute is monitoring compliance to the regulations and undertaking studies of the animals' time-budgets (including time spent with boats), response to tour boats (presence and approach style) and spacial and temporal patterns (including a comparison to the abundance of all boats). This current summer will be the third year of "post regulation" monitoring and we hope will yield the data needed to 1) further nurture the regulations and 2) publish something concrete. Over all we feel that the process has been a huge success with a major change in the "style of operations" of the tour operators, especially after the prosecution. However, we have a major challenge to come up with the science that will enable us to determine the level of pressure that is sustainable for the population, to empower/encourage/force the government to set some limits ot reduce the industry. We also have to overcome a ideological position of our previous government that let "market forces" regulate everything. I am very interested in the posting that Jon Lien made on 9 Feb regarding the work in Canada. We too would like to hear ideas that can help us to come up with a conservation-based framework to put a ceiling on the "stress" that we are placing on these animals. Jeff Weir, MSc; Dip.Ed, Executive Director. Dolphin Research Institute PO Box 1245 Frankston, Victoria, 3199 AUSTRALIA Phone: 613 9783 7466 Fax: 613 9783 7048 Email: dolresin(\)iaccess.com.au Jon Lien wrote: > Exploitation and management of marine wildlife in Canada is basically > controlled under the Fisheries Act. The Oceans Act of l997 has a more > environmental approach to oceans management but at present is still without > regulations. Hence the Fishery Act is the available, practical basis for > regulating whale watching in Canada. For this act to apply, prohibitions and > regulations of any activity must have a conservation basis. In other words, > the Department must have defendable reasons for believing that certain types > of vessel activity which could occur during whale watching would affect the > survival of the focus animal or populations. > > Normally whale watching is considered a non-consumptive activity. Recent > court rulings in Canada have dismissed whale harassment charges because, > although there was clearly harassment, the relationship between disturbance > of the animal and its long-term conservation impact was not demonstrated. > > The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is considering establishing a license > programme and regulations for whale watching. In developing this programme > it is critical that relationships between disturbances of animals who are > engaged in essential life processes and the conservation impact of this > harassment is documented. > > I am presently preparing a paper for the Department which presents such > documentation. As you likely know there is a minimum of published literature > on the longer term impact of whale watching. Thus I'm soliciting any > instances anyone may have where long term impacts of disturbance can be > documented. These could be individual experiences, case studies or grey > literature. Such examples may not necessarily involve whale watching per se > but any sort of human/vessel activity. > > The present opportunity gives us a chance to better protect animals from the > explosive growth in the whale watching industry in Canada and assist DFO in > beginning a programme in an area that is new for them. I'd appreciate > hearing from anyone with ideas or information that would help in > demonstrating conservation impacts from whale watching disturbances. > > Thanks! > > Jon Lien Ph.D. > Honorary Research Professor > Ocean Sciences Centre and Biopsychology Programme > c/o Whale Research Group > Memorial University of Newfoundland > St. John's, Newfoundland AlC 5S7 > Phone (709) 753-5495 Mobil (709) 685-0710 > Pager (709) 553-5382 Fax (709) 737-2450 > E-mail: jlien(\)morgan.ucs.mun.ca -- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 13:10:34 -0800 From: Michele Halvorsen Subject: High frequency tape recorder does anyone know of a tape recorder that can record into ultrasonic frequencies (up to 70 KHz)? This is to help with my research in recording communication calls. Thanks for any help. Mhalvo1(\)uic.edu Michele B. Halvorsen Graduate Student University of Illinois at Chicago 312.413.9624 Lab ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2000 10:31:16 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Position Announcement (fwd) From: Dr Kevin Robinson We are currently seeking a fundraiser with a strong background in non-profit fund raising and interests in cetaceans and conservation. Based in the NE of Scotland, the position will be voluntary in the first instance, but may offer huge rewards for the right candidate and certainly plentiful opportunities to participate in our on-going cetacean research and rescue programme (sea legs a must!). In addition to experience in fund-raising and good oral and written communication skills, the most important requirements for applicants are enthusiasm, open-mindedness and a good sense of humour. Computer literacy skills are desirable, but not necessary as they will be taught. A knowledge and commitment to the marine environment and an interest in cetaceans or background in biology would also be useful to the applicant. Interested persons should email the unit at CRRU(\)dial.pipex.com giving a brief resume of their background, personal details/interests and suitability for this post. Cheers Kevin Robinson ======oOOO=========================== Dr Kevin P Robinson Director, Cetacean Research (& Rescue) Unit P.O. Box 11307 Banff AB45 3WB SCOTLAND Tel/fax: +44 1261 851696 Email: kpr1(\)dial.pipex.com Contributing Editor, Whale World Magazine Nature Alert P.O. Box 2060 BATH BA1 3YB ENGLAND Tel/fax: 01225 444929 Email: naturalert(\)aol.com ============================oOOO===== Don't do the Foxtrot, do the "Bottlenose Boogie" at: http://freespace.virgin.net/glyn.dodwell/boogie/ Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2000 18:56:32 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Postdoctoral position - phylogeny (fwd) From: "Maureen O'Leary [Anatomy]" POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH POSITION CETACEAN PHYLOGENY NSF-funded postdoctoral position in the Department of Anatomical Sciences at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. The one-year position is for systematics research on the position of cetaceans among mammals. Candidates with expertise in soft anatomy and/or histology are particularly encouraged to apply. Term: One year, starting September of 2000 Requirements: Ph.D. in Anatomy, Biology, Paleontology or related field. Preference: Candidates with experience/publications in phylogenetic systematics and anatomy of extant cetaceans and ungulates. Women and members of minority groups are encouraged to apply. To Apply: Send 1) curriculum vitae with the names, addresses, e-mail and phone numbers of three references 2) a one-page description of prior research and training relevant to this project To: MAUREEN A. O'LEARY Department of Anatomical Sciences HSC T-8 (040) State University of New York at Stony Brook Stony Brook, New York 11794-8081 Please do not send applications by e-mail. Review of applications will begin on Feb 18, 2000 and continue until the position is filled. Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2000 18:58:26 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Information request: Boat collisions with cetaceans in UK /European waters (fwd) From: vanessaw(\)wdcs.org Following the recent posting by Bill Rossiter of CSI, on behalf of Dario Gonzalez Alvarez, of the Tenerifian ecological group TEA, I would also like to request the assistance of Marmam colleagues on this issue. The UK-based Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) has been concerned for some time about the rise in reports of fatal and non-fatal vessel collisions with cetaceans coming in from our field researchers and colleagues around the world. I am collating information on collisions (both fatal and non-fatal) between cetaceans and vessels of all types (fast ferries, cruise ships, whale watch vessels, pleasure boats, etc) for a WDCS report on this issue. I am particularly interested in such incidents occuring in UK/European waters, but would be very keen to receive reports from colleagues elsewhere, particularly if linked to campaigns which have succeeded in bringing about legislative change, rerouting fast ferries from core cetacean habitat, etc. I will obviously be in close contact with both Bill and Dario on this issue, so unless respondents indicate otherwise, I will also copy any responses to the above colleagues. Many thanks, Vanessa Williams WDCS Conservation Manager. Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2000 22:27:39 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent papers on humpback whale bioacoustics and dolphin cognition (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Copies of the following papers are available at: http://www.cmbn.rutgers.edu/~mercado/pubs.html Mercado, E., III, & Frazer, L. N. (1999) Environmental constraints on sound transmission by humpback whales. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 106, 3004-3016. Abstract: Singing humpback whales in Hawaii produce a variety of sounds at high source levels (ca. 185 dB re: 1 5Pa), in coastal waters 15-500 m deep. These sounds are attenuated and distorted as they propagate away from a singer, limiting the utilizable range of the sounds. In the current study, simulations based on normal-mode theory were used to investigate how the effects of shallow-water propagation constrain humpback whales' use of sound. It is shown that humpbacks can greatly affect transmission range by adjusting their positions and sounds in response to environmental factors. Source depth, in particular, is shown to be a major determinant of which frequencies propagate the farthest. A preliminary analysis of range-dependent distortion suggests that spectral cues can potentially provide listening whales with information about how far a sound has traveled. Mercado, E., III, & Murray, S. O. (1999) Explicit knowledge in dolphins?. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 22, 774-775. (Commentary on Dienes, Z., & Perner, J. (1999). "A theory of implicit and explicit knowledge") Abstract: The theoretical framework proposed by Dienes & Perner sets the wrong standards for knowledge to be considered explicit. Animals other than humans possess knowledge, too, some of which is probably explicit. We argue that a comparative approach to investigating knowledge is likely to be more fruitful than one based on linguistic constructs and unobservable phenomena. Frazer, L. N., & Mercado, E., III (2000) A sonar model for humpback whale song. IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering, 25, 160-182. Abstract: Humpback whales summer at high latitudes where they feed and winter at low latitudes where they aggregate for breeding. While on the breeding grounds in Hawaii, male humpbacks space themselves and "sing" the long "songs" that have fascinated scientists and poets. Female humpbacks are outnumbered by males and generally ignore or avoid singing males; however, singers often abruptly stop singing and then swim quickly toward distant nonvocalizing whales. Humpback song has usually been explained as sexual advertisement. The suggestion that song is a form of sonar has been dismissed by cetologists on the grounds that the humpback whale song does not resemble the click trains used by toothed whales for echolocation, and that the signal-to-noise ratios of echoes from humpback song are too low for detection. In this paper, we examine humpback whale song and associated behaviors in the light of modern advances in underwater sound and signal processing, buttressing our earlier conclusion that humpback whale song is a long-range sonar used by male humpbacks to locate other whales on the breeding ground. Simulations with the parabolic equation show that the acoustic environment of the breeding ground (100-500 m water depth, weak surface duct, and sandy bottom) is often excellent for sonar in the 4-5 octave band of humpback song, enabling singers to locate other pods at ranges up to 6 km. All humpback whale behaviors are consistent with the sonar model. In particular, the sonar model explains how singing males find nonvocalizing females, despite the fact that females generally ignore or avoid singers. It also explains why males hardly ever sing while in the company of females or while competing with other males for the position of primary escort. A secondary purpose of the paper is to allay a confusion in the cetology literature between specialized structures for high frequency localization and echolocation itself, which takes place in the brain. Modern sonar algorithms, which do not require click-type sources and which appear to be mimicked in more robust forms in the brains of bats, suggest that, when dealing with any cetacean, it is always more conservative to presume that echoes are being used than that they are not being used. Many cetacean vocalizations currently thought to be exclusively for communication undoubtedly also have a sonar function. An experiment is proposed to test the humpback sonar model. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Eduardo Mercado III, Postdoctoral Fellow Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Rutgers University Phone:(973) 353-1080 x3226 197 University Ave. Fax: (973) 353-1272 Newark, New Jersey 07102 Email: mercado(\)pavlov.rutgers.edu Date: Tue, 16 Feb 0100 18:58:15 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Job: seal research (fwd) ------- Forwarded Message Follows ------- To: "'european cetacean society'" Please see the vacancy described below, which is forwarded on behalf of Tore Haug. In responding, please ensure that you reply to the correct address given and not to me or the ECS! Note the deadline. Thank you for your attention, Christina Lockyer ECS Chairman ............................................................................ SEAL RESEARCH - VACANT POSITION FOR SCIENTIST at the Norwegian Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture ("Fiskeriforskning"), N-9291 Tromso, Norway Fiskeriforsknings research addresses questions of relevance to the management of seal and whale populations in the northeast Atlantic, in the Barents Sea and in coastal waters of Norway. The ecology and interactions with fisheries of whales and seals have been the most important issues so far. From this year on, also the responsibility to perform stock assessments of seal populations in these waters (particularly harp, hooded, harbour and grey seals) was allocated to Fiskeriforskning. For this reason, the institute will employ a new scientist whose area of responsibility will be biological and ecological investigations in seal populations. Questions of relevance to the monitoring and rational management of these populations (which are all exploited) will be given particular priority. The main field of research for the new position will be related to demography and reproduction. For seal populations resident in Norwegian coastal waters (grey and harbour seals), also questions concerning stock identity, food habits (and related issues) and seal-fisheries interactions will have to be addressed by the new scientist. In addition to the responsibility fields described above, the applicant must also be prepared to contribute in other related research questions addressed by Fiskeriforskning. Applicants must hold a PhD (or have a comparable competence at this level) in biology, and should preferably have experience with field studies of vertebrates both on the individual and population level. Experience form management related work is an advantage. Any questions about the vacant scientific position should be directed to professor Tore Haug or director of researech Jens-Eric Eliassen, tlf. +47 776 29000, e-mail: toreh(\)fiskforsk.norut.no. Applications should be sent to: Fiskeriforskning, N-9291 Tromso, Norway. Deadline for applications: 25 February 2000. Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2000 16:52:14 -0500 From: Jooke Robbins Subject: request for info- ww research Dear all, We have been asked to compile and review results from whale watch-based research for the IWC's upcoming workshop on whale watching. To this end, we are seeking input from other research labs or individual scientists that perform research aboard whale watching boats (or use data obtained from that type of platform). The subject of the research need not be whale watching itself or issues of harassment. Rather, we are interested in any study in which whale watch data has been used, wholly or in part, to elucidate cetacean biology, population structure, habitat use etc. In the latter case, particularly, we believe that bibliographic searches have missed relevant studies because any reference to whale-watch data collection will be limited to the methods (which are rarely indexed). The following information would therefore be greatly appreciated: Name of scientist(s) using whale watch data Research lab/professional affiliation Type of whale watch platform (commercial or research)* Species studied (any cetacean) Geographic area List of publications, if any, that depend partially or entirely upon whale watch data *Please indicate whether the movement of the boat is determined primarily by commercial interests (commercial whale watch), or by research objectives (research whale watch). An example of the latter case would be a research cruise supported by paying customers. Please reply directly to me at jrobbins(\)coastalstudies.org. Jooke Robbins Associate Scientist Center for Coastal Studies Provincetown, MA phone: 508-487-3622 e-mail: jrobbins(\)coastalstudies.org ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2000 09:06:11 +0100 From: "Dirk R. Neumann" Organization: Massey University Subject: Sexing of common dolphins ; x-mac-type="54455854"; x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" Can YOU tell the sex of a common dolphin in the field, based on external morphology ? I am currently working on my dissertation on common dolphin behaviour and ecology in New Zealand. One of the variables I am interested in is group composition - in particular sex ratio within these groups. Is there any way to get any indication of a common dolphin's gender (besides mothers traveling with calves), short of looking at genital slits, or analyzing DNA samples ? I have noticed some animals have a larger, straighter dorsal fin than others, and also feature a more pronounced peduncle keel. Could this be an indication of sexual dimorphism ? Can you sex common dolphins in the field somehow ? I have contacted several experts in the field, who were unable to answer this question for me. I have also been unable to find any published material on sexual dimorphism in common dolphins. I would assume that if such dimorphism exists, people would have described it based on stranded or caught animals in which sex could be determined. If you are aware of any such publications, or have any other information on this topic, I would greatly appreciate to hear from you ! Thank you very much for your time ! Kind regards, Dirk Neumann Please respond to : D.R.Neumann(\)massey.ac.nz Dirk R. Neumann PhD Candidate Massey University Albany New Zealand ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Feb 0100 19:19:22 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: New Technology for marine mammal transport-(Thermoregulation) (fwd) From: Bio900T(\)aol.com It appears that proper thermo-regulation of marine mammals during out of water transport is a key life support issue. The microsolo900t low airloss therapy bed is designed to cool tissue through the aeration/evaporation method. Approx 60 liters of air/hour pass through the surface membrane. In human subjects the advantage of cooling is to decrease the metabolic demand of the tissue which is already compromised by trauma. I.e. decubitus ulcers(bed sores) and burns. Would this feature be beneficial for marine mammals during transport since water is constantly poured over the mammal resulting in additional cooling through immediate evaporation on the low air loss surface? Has anyone quantified specific parameters for proper thermo-regulation during marine mammal transport? As we can regulate the volume of air flow through our surface membrane resulting in variable rates of fluid evaporation it would be beneficial for us to have data concerning the thermo-regulatory requirements of marine mammals. Your help is greatly appreciated. Mark Hagopian Director Biomedical Engineering Biologics Inc. Date: Tue, 16 Feb 0100 23:27:29 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: (Fwd) Bioethics Workshop ------- Forwarded Message Follows ------- From: Miguel Araujo To: CONSLINK(\)SIVM.SI.EDU Please distribute Call for applications Announcing=20 FLAD International Bioethics Institute Curso Internacional de Bio=E9tica Lisbon, Portugal July 8-14, 2000 For Life Science Faculty Members Funda=E7ao Luso-Americana para o Desenvolvimento (FLAD) Luso-American Development Foundation FLAD's International Bioethics Institute (FIBI) is an innovative co-operation between the EU and the USA, aiming at helping life science faculty to guide their students in bioethics. FIBI will be held at FLAD's headquarters in Lisbon, Portugal, and it consists of a series of one week long faculty development summer workshops.Participants listen to lectures from European and American experts, participate in sessions devoted to ethical theory, pedagogy, and policy, and write case studies for use in their biology, marine, agricultural, animal, or environmental science classes. The Institute emphasizes active learning skills, with the goal o= f promoting the integration of ethics discussions into the life sciences curriculum. Particular attention is paid to ethical issues in the marine sciences. Also issues such as environmental ethics, intergenerational equality, genetic engineering, and animal welfare and rights. All participants receive lunches, books, case studies, exercises, and bibliographies. Participants from European countries other than Portugal receive 1000 Euro as travel and living expense allowance. Participants fr= om Portuguese Universities outside the area of Lisbon receive a 500 Euro tra= vel and living expense allowance. Participants from Portuguese Universities i= n the area of Lisbon receive a 250 Euro travel and living expense allowance. Participants from the US receive a travel stipend of $ 1950. Workshop conducted in English. Applicants must be tenured or tenure-track life science faculty members. Applicants are favored who are interested i= n integrating discussions of ethics into existing marine science courses; a= nd who apply with colleagues as a team from their institution. Funded by FLA= D, the U. S. National Science Foundation, the European Union DGXII, Iowa Sta= te University Bioethics Program and Office of Biotechnology, and the Foundat= ion for Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Portugal. Hosts include the Centre of Environmental Biology and the Centre of Philosophy of the University of Lisbon. Deadline for applications: April 30, 2000. Late applications will be considered, if space is available. For more information and application form, go to: http://www.biotech.iastate.edu/Bioethics/Institute/Bioethicsinstintro.htm= l Contact person: Humberto Rosa e-mail: hr.lg(\)mail.telepac.pt=20 phone: +351. 21 3923681 (home +351.21 4521061) fax +351.21 3968905 Date: Tue, 16 Feb 0100 23:30:26 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: PhD Position - Genetics (fwd) From: A R Hoelzel NERC PhD Studentship - Available in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Durham, Durham, England. Topic: Evolution of MHC diversity in cetacean species; investigating the role of pathogen environment. Summary: Various studies have indicated that the evolution of diversity in the immune system genes responsible for antigen presentation in terrestrial mammals is driven by selection. However, it is not clear that mammals in the marine environment would experience the same selective pressures as terrestrial mammals, given their different pathogen environment. The diversity and pattern of radiation of Class II MHC loci will be investigated for a broad range of cetacean species, including an extended sample for four focal species (two odontocetes and two mysticetes). The role of natural selection and the evolutionary history of these loci will be evaluated based on phylogenetic and genetic distance analyses (e.g. comparing synonymous and non-synonymous rates of change). Qaulifications: The student should have a background in molecular genetic work, experience with lab methodologies including cloning and DNA sequencing, and a strong interest in evolution and phylogenetics. Note that full support from a NERC grant is only available to students with British citizenship. Applications: Please send your c.v., a cover letter outlining your research interests and summarizing your qualifications for the project, and have two letters of reference sent to: Dr. A.R. Hoelzel Department of Biological Sciences University of Durham South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, England Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2000 22:02:19 -0000 From: Nick Tregenza Subject: Vertebral abnormalities in cetaceans boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0036_01BF7800.53F8A340" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0036_01BF7800.53F8A340 charset="iso-8859-1" A living bottlenose dolphin with vertebral abnormalities is well-known around the south-west coasts of England. It was first seen in October 1991 as a neonate with a severe deformity of its dorsal fin which is bent through nearly 90 degrees just above the back. Since then this dolphin has grown and become a local celebrity with the name 'Benty'. It now has a visible twist to the spine, so that the fail flukes are not horizontal, and there is a deep fold down the side behind the dorsal fin on the side to which it is deflected. There is also an appearance of some muscle wasting posterior to the deformity and a shortness of the whole animal. It seems possible that the dorsal fin deformity may reflect an inability of the foetal dolphin to rotate around its long axis while in the uterus, because of a spinal anomaly. This might be verified by noting a lack of foetal folds on one side after birth, but we did not think of this soon enough to pursue observation of both sides. These major dorsal fin deformities may not be as reliable as individual markers as first appears. Nick Tregenza ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Beach Cottage Long Rock Penzance Cornwall TR20 8JE UK nick(\)chelonia.demon.co.uk http://www.chelonia.demon.co.uk ------=_NextPart_000_0036_01BF7800.53F8A340 charset="iso-8859-1"

A living bottlenose dolphin with vertebral = abnormalities is=20 well-known around the south-west coasts of England. It was first seen in = October=20 1991 as a neonate with a severe deformity of its dorsal fin which = is bent=20 through nearly 90 degrees just above the back. Since then this dolphin = has grown=20 and become a local celebrity with the name 'Benty'. It now has a visible = twist=20 to the spine, so that the fail flukes are not horizontal, and there is a = deep=20 fold down the side behind the dorsal fin on the side to which it is = deflected.=20 There is also an appearance of some muscle wasting posterior to the = deformity and a shortness of the whole animal.
 
It seems possible that the dorsal fin deformity may = reflect an=20 inability of the foetal dolphin to rotate around its long axis while in = the=20 uterus, because of a spinal anomaly. This might be verified by noting a = lack of=20 foetal folds on one side after birth, but we did not think of this soon = enough=20 to pursue observation of both sides. These major dorsal fin deformities = may not=20 be as reliable as individual markers as first appears.
 
Nick Tregenza
 
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beach = Cottage
Long=20 Rock
Penzance
Cornwall
TR20 8JE
UK
 
nick(\)chelonia.demon.co.ukhttp://www.chelonia.demon.co.uk<= /A>
------=_NextPart_000_0036_01BF7800.53F8A340-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Feb 0100 09:35:00 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: marine protected areas (fwd) Announcement: February 16, 2000 Marine Conservation Biology Institute (MCBI) and The Cousteau=20 Society are proud to release the documents from their recent workshop,=20 Establishing a National System of Marine Protected Areas in the United=20 States. The workshop, held in Washington DC, included more than a dozen=20 leading social and natural scientists from around the world and over thir= ty=20 observers from federal agencies, universities, and NGOs in the USA and=20 Canada. The workshop participants have produced an unprecedented set of=20 recommendations calling for the immediate establishment of high-level=20 federal process to create a comprehensive national system of marine=20 protected areas, and recommended criteria for the design and management o= f=20 the proposed system. Please find the letter outlining the group=92s recommendations to= =20 President Clinton and Vice President Gore below. The full text of the=20 document, Safeguarding America=92s Seas: Establishing a National System o= f=20 Marine Protected Areas, can be accessed through MCBI=92s website:=20 http://www.mcbi.org February 14, 2000 President William Jefferson Clinton Vice President Albert Gore The White House Washington DC 20500 Dear Mr. President and Mr. Vice President: Among the many challenges the United States faces in the 21st=20 Century, the greatest one is bequeathing future generations a livable=20 planet. This requires that our leaders safeguard our nation=92s unequale= d=20 marine environments no less than our terrestrial landscapes. The=20 Clinton-Gore Administration has made major contributions toward that end,= =20 including holding the first National Ocean Conference in June 1998 in=20 Monterey CA and outlining needed initiatives in Turning to the Sea:=20 America=92s Ocean Future. We strongly believe that, if implemented=20 effectively, the recommendation in that report to establish a national=20 system of marine protected areas would be one of your Administration=92s=20 greatest environmental legacies, one whose historic impact would be=20 comparable to those of Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Rooseve= lt=20 and Jimmy Carter in protecting the American landscape. To help you achieve this bold and critically important goal, Mari= ne=20 Conservation Biology Institute and The Cousteau Society convened an=20 international group of more than a dozen natural and social scientists, a= ll=20 of whom are experts in marine conservation, to propose measures that this= =20 and succeeding Administrations could undertake to protect the biological=20 diversity and integrity of our nation=92s estuaries, coastal waters and=20 oceans. In the document that follows we outline a plan your Administrati= on=20 can initiate that would be an unprecedented step toward protecting Americ= a=92s=20 ocean legacy, and offer state-of-the-art guidelines for establishing mari= ne=20 protected areas to achieve this purpose. We encourage you to create a=20 National Marine Protected Area Council via Executive Order to coordinate = and=20 carry out this plan, much as you have coordinated efforts to address=20 invasive species and coral reef protection through other farsighted=20 Executive Orders. This is not a task for those lacking in vision, but we come to yo= u=20 knowing that establishing this system will benefit our nation, our childr= en=20 and all generations of Americans to come. Sincerely, Tundi Agardy Ph.D., Senior Director, Global Marine Program, Conservation= =20 International, Washington DC Angel C. Alcala, Ph.D., Research Professor, Silliman University, Pasig Ci= ty,=20 The Philippines Louis W. Botsford, Ph.D., Professor of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation=20 Biology, University of California-Davis, Davis CA Phillip Dustan, Ph.D., Professor of Biology, College of Charleston,=20 Charleston SC Peter M. Emerson, Ph.D., Senior Economist, Environmental Defense, Austin = TX Jon Lien, Ph.D., Honorary Research Professor, Ocean Sciences Centre,=20 Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. Johns, Canada James Lindholm, Ph.D., Postoctoral Fellow, University of Connecticut=20 National Undersea Research Center, Groton CT Michael Mascia, Ph.D. Candidate, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beauf= ort=20 NC Amy Mathews-Amos, M.S., M.P.A., Program Director, Marine Conservation=20 Biology Institute, Washington DC Elliott A. Norse, Ph.D., President, Marine Conservation Biology Institute= ,=20 Redmond WA John C. Ogden, Ph.D., Director, Florida Institute of Oceanography, St.=20 Petersburg FL Alison Rieser, J.D., Director, Marine Law Institute, University of Maine,= =20 Portland ME cc: The Honorable William M. Daley, Secretary of Commerce The Honorable Bruce Babbitt, Secretary of the Interior George Frampton, Chairman, Council on Environmental Quality James B. Steinberg, Deputy Assistant to the President for Nationa= l=20 Security Affairs, National Security Council Ellen Athas, Associate Director for Oceans, Council on Environmen= tal=20 Quality Ian Bowles, Director of Environmental Affairs, National Security=20 Council ________________________________________________________________________ Jocelyn Garovoy, Program Assistant Marine Conservation Biology Institute 15806 NE 47th Court, Redmond WA 98052-5208 ph: 1-425-883-8914; fax: 1-425-883-3017; e-mail: jocelyn(\)mcbi.org MCBI is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to advancing the science of marine conservation biology and promoting cooperation essential to protecting and restoring the Earth's biological integrity. To learn more, please visit our web site at http://www.mcbi.org Date: Wed, 17 Feb 0100 09:44:16 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Paying volunteers: Oceania Project, Australia (fwd) From: "Trish and Wally Franklin, The Oceania Project" The Oceania Project's 11th Whale and Dolphin Expedition to Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia - August to October 2000 - provides the platform for an ongoing long term study of the humpback whales passing through the bay. The study is being undertaken by The Oceania Project, in conjunction with the Queensland Environment Protection Agency. For general information about the Expedition see: For general information about The Oceania Project see: There are a limited number of places for Interns aboard the Expedition vessel. The Intern program is open to graduates, post graduates and teaching staff and general staff involved in marine related courses and/or organisations. Involvement is for a minimum of 5 nights/ 6 days - (Sunday to Friday) at a cost of $950 Australian...approx US$608.............the cost includes living aboard the Expedition vessel, all meals and full participation in the fieldwork. For futher information contact Wally & Trish Franklin at: Wally & Trish Franklin Directors, The Oceania Project -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Trish and Wally Franklin The Oceania Project PO Box 646 Byron Bay NSW 2481 Australia Email: trish.wally(\)oceania.org.au Phone: Local 02 6685 8128 International: +61 2 6685 8128 Fax: Local 02 6685 8998 International: +61 2 6685 8998 Mobile Phone: 0418 797326 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please visit The Oceania Project Web Site at: http://www.oceania.org.au If you would like to link to The Oceania Project Site from your Site use: The Oceania Project SoundNet - Whale & Dolphin News at: Annual Whale & Dolphin Expedition at: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 17 Feb 0100 17:10:01 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: New Technology for marine mammal (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Terrie Williams Just a quick note about cooling in dolphins. We've looked thermal images of dolphins, and heat flow from central and peripheral sites. One problem with trying to cool animals when they are being transported is a paradoxical peripheral vasoconstriction. As a result cooling peripheral sites (i.e. fins, flukes) leads to local vascular shutdown with the result that the "thermal windows" the animal uses for natural cooling are actually prevented from working. Something to consider in this discussion. Best Regards, Terrie Williams At 07:19 PM 2/16/00 -0800, you wrote: >From: Bio900T(\)aol.com > >It appears that proper thermo-regulation of marine mammals during out of >water transport is a key life support issue. The microsolo900t low airloss >therapy bed is designed to cool tissue through the aeration/evaporation >method. Approx 60 liters of air/hour pass through the surface membrane. In >human subjects the advantage of cooling is to decrease the metabolic demand >of the tissue which is already compromised by trauma. I.e. decubitus >ulcers(bed sores) and burns. >Would this feature be beneficial for marine mammals during transport since >water is constantly poured over the mammal resulting in additional cooling >through immediate evaporation on the low air loss surface? Has anyone >quantified specific parameters for proper thermo-regulation during marine >mammal transport? As we can regulate the volume of air flow through our >surface membrane resulting in variable rates of fluid evaporation it would be >beneficial for us to have data concerning the thermo-regulatory requirements >of marine mammals. Your help is greatly appreciated. > >Mark Hagopian >Director Biomedical Engineering >Biologics Inc. > Date: Thu, 18 Feb 0100 11:13:41 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: branding and darting seals (fwd) From: "Brad Page" Hello, we seek any unpublished information on branding of pinnipeds. We propose to compare the results of hot and cold branding fur seals in a study we will conduct on New Zealand fur seals in the near future. We seek information from reseachers who have had experience with one or both of these methods. Secondly, we are seek information on types and concentrations of drugs used to sedate pinnipeds using darts (we do not need help with type of guns used). We will compile a summary and post the results on marmam. Thanks, Brad Page Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 11:15:49 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Sexing of common dolphins (fwd) From: Tom Lewis I worked for the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (U.S.A.) for nine years from 1986-1995, in the Marine Mammal Laboratory. The NHMLA is a research museum, and the MML is a research facility, where research centers on anatomy of marine mammals. One of the studies I undertook while there was Sexual di-morphism in common dolphins off Southern California. I presented a poster at the Society for Marine Mammalogy conference in Chicago. The work is otherwise unpublished. I found that local common dolphins, both species, do in fact have a sexually dimorphic character. The adult males develop a post-anal hump similar to spinner dolphins. In spinner dolphins the hump is the result of an increase in connective tissue in the ventral caudal peduncle. In Delphinus, the hump is a result of an increase in mass of the large ventral muscle in the peduncle. It begins to develop at the onset of sexual maturity in males, and can become quite large in older adults. The character is easily identifiable in the field if you are looking for it. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact me. Sincerely, Tom Lewis ----- Original Message ----- From: Dirk R. Neumann To: MARMAM(\)UVVM.UVIC.CA Sent: Thursday, February 17, 2000 12:06 AM Subject: Sexing of common dolphins Can YOU tell the sex of a common dolphin in the field, based on external morphology ? I am currently working on my dissertation on common dolphin behaviour and ecology in New Zealand. One of the variables I am interested in is group composition - in particular sex ratio within these groups. Is there any way to get any indication of a common dolphin's gender (besides mothers traveling with calves), short of looking at genital slits, or analyzing DNA samples ? I have noticed some animals have a larger, straighter dorsal fin than others, and also feature a more pronounced peduncle keel. Could this be an indication of sexual dimorphism ? Can you sex common dolphins in the field somehow ? I have contacted several experts in the field, who were unable to answer this question for me. I have also been unable to find any published material on sexual dimorphism in common dolphins. I would assume that if such dimorphism exists, people would have described it based on stranded or caught animals in which sex could be determined. If you are aware of any such publications, or have any other information on this topic, I would greatly appreciate to hear from you ! Thank you very much for your time ! Kind regards, Dirk Neumann Please respond to : D.R.Neumann(\)massey.ac.nz Dirk R. Neumann PhD Candidate Massey University Albany New Zealand Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 00:26:52 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Internship Positions: Gulf World Marine Park (fwd) From: dakcali Gulf World Marine Park is pleased to announce two internship positions in the Marine Mammal Department for the summer of 2000. These unpaid, three month positions, are designed to involve students in the workings of a marine mammal facility. Active involvement with ongoing research projects, educational programs, and support with tasks involving the care of Gulf World's animals will give participants invaluable experience. If interested, please send a resume with references by March 20, 2000 to: Gulf World Marine Park Attn: Barb Losch 15412 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32413 For further inquiries you may call Gulf World at 850-234-5271 ext. 15 and ask for Barb Losch or e-mail her at dakcali(\)panama.gulf.net Date: Fri, 19 Feb 0100 00:34:41 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Paying volunteers: Hebrides, Scotland (fwd) From: Rean =20 The Oceanic Marine Mammal Research Foundation is a Dutch non-profit charity organisation dedicated to research, conservation and education on cetaceans. In the European summer months we will be conducting extensive research in the Outer Hebrides region northwest of Scotland. The Hebrides is known to be home to the most diverse cetacean population in Europe. =20 Currently 23 species of cetaceans have been sighted in the Hebridean waters. We are inviting students and whale enthusiasts to assist in our research in the Outer Hebrides as "paying volunteers". Different aspects of the biology and ecology of the cetaceans will be researched in the pristine region of the Outer Hebrides. Our main aims and objectives are: =B7 To build up a photo-ID catalogue of cetaceans in our research area =B7 To build up an acoustical ID catalogue of cetaceans in our research a= rea =B7 To look at the impacts of human activities on cetaceans in the resear= ch area o The effects of oil pollution on cetaceans o The effects of fish farms on cetaceans =B7 To look at the effects of global warming on the distribution of cetacean's prey abundance =B7 To gather information on abundance of cetacean species in our researc= h area o The feeding behaviour in relation to prey abundance All volunteers are fully supervised and become an integral part of the research team being led by the project leaders. The research is conducte= d from the Venitofte. The Venitofte is a 70-ft traditional Danish sailing cutter. The vessel is well equipped for the research work and can accommodate up to 20 passengers. At night we sail back to Stornoway wher= e the accommodation is in a bunkhouse. Volunteers will learn different aspects of the biology of the cetaceans in the area. Furthermore, photo-identification techniques, acoustic surveys, marine pollution, conservation issues and even sailing technique= s will be covered. The cost includes: tuition, all meals and accommodation= , surveys on the Venitofte for the duration of your stay. We still have volunteer places available on the following dates: 24th June, 1st July, 8th July, 15th July, 22nd July, 29th July, 5 August= , 12th August, 19th August. For more information please contact: Oceanic Marine Mammal Research Foundation P.O. Box 3023 1801 GA Alkmaar The Netherlands Tel: (31) (072) 5280661 Email: info(\)whale-foundation.org Web Page: http://www.whale-foundation.org Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 13:38:51 EST From: Jan Ostman-Lind Subject: Hawaii Marine Mammal Summer Courses ANNOUNCING TWO COURSES ON MARINE MAMMALS IN HAWAII, SUMMER 2000, THROUGH= THE=20 UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII, HILO. Directed Study on Social Behavior and Social Organization of Dolphins and= =20 Whales (MARE 399). Taught on the Island of Hawaii=20 June 13- July 21, 2000. This is a seminar course. Students will read and discuss the current=20 literature on the subjects of social behavior and social organization of=20 cetaceans. Relevant literature on terrestrial mammals will also be broug= ht=20 in. Each student will be responsible for leading a class discussion and = for=20 research and writing a term paper in preparation for a potential study of= a=20 species of cetacean. This course may be taken in preparation for MARE 39= 4F. =20 3 credits. Cetaceans of Midway Atoll. (MARE 394 F) Taught on Midway Atoll National=20 Wildlife Refuge. July 22- July 29, 2000 A one-week intensive course focusing on the cetaceans of Midway Atoll, wi= th=20 special emphasis on Hawaiian spinner dolphins. This upper division cours= e is=20 designed for students with a background in college level biology. The cou= rse=20 will cover topics such as evolution, anatomy, physiology, ecology, behavi= or,=20 acoustics, research methods, and human impacts on marine mammals. Studen= ts=20 will also be responsible for leading a discussion on some of the reading=20 materials, for keeping a field journal and for a short final presentation= on=20 a topic of interest. Prerequisite : College level biology course. Cost = $=20 538.02 airfare (roundtrip from Honolulu-Midway) plus $ 465. shared room a= nd=20 board, bike use, boat trips and refuge fee plus tuition for 2 credits. Tuition : Hawai=91i resident 126.00 per credit, Non-resident tuition 130.= 00 per=20 credit The instructors of both courses are Dr. Jan Ostman-Lind and Ania=20 Driscoll-Lind. The same instructors will also be teaching Tropical Marine Research=20 Investigations (MARE 366) a hands-on course in coral reef studies. For mo= re=20 information on these and other exciting courses in marine science both on= the=20 island of Hawaii and Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge contact : UH Hilo Continuing Education and Summer session 200 W. Kawili Street, SSB #118 Hilo, HI. 96720-4091 Phone: (808) 974-7664 Fax: (808) 974-7691 email: summer(\)uhh.hawaii.edu web: Http://www.kmec.uhh.hawaii.edu =20 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 11:36:45 -0800 From: "Paul K. Anderson" Subject: Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists Subject: Call for papers: Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists. The 80th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists will be held June 17-21 at the University of New Hamshire, Durham, N. H. The ASM Marine Mammals Committee makes a special effort each year to encourage participation and presentation of research by marine mammalogists. For further information, abstract, and registration forms please check the ASM Web page or contact: : Dr. John Litvaitis, Dept. of Natural Resources, James, Hall, Univ. of N. H. Durham, N. H. 03824. Phone 603-862-2094, e-mail john(\)christa.unh.edu. There is some confusion at the moment over deadlines for submission of abstracts ( variously given as 1 March, 15 March, and 1 May 2000). For security I suggest authors shoot for the 1 March deadline! Paul K. Anderson Chair, ASM Marine Mammals Committee Paul K. Anderson Emeritus Professor of Zoology University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4 ph: 403-932-5458 403-220-5268 Fx 403-289-9311 e-mail pkanders(\)cadvision.com ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 19:55:29 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Erysipelas survey (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- I am trying to finalize a general survey, for a publication, on Erysipelothrix occurrences in marine mammals in the last years. I am of course trying to have the most complete results possible. It is actually in completion of the data I gave during the reproduction workshop in San Diego in June 1999. Since then there have at least been three repertoriated cases of peracute erysipelothrix septicaemia death in cetaceans kept in zoological environment. The disease is a real actual thread for our cetacean population and we need to still learn more about it. I would really appreciate if you could help me with this, as there are probably more occurrences of erysipelas than what we actually think. It should only take you a few minutes to fill this in. I would be more than pleased to also send you the preliminary results or any more information on our Erysipelas research in cetaceans. I also plan on presenting the updated data during the next EAAM conference, March 11-15, 2000, in Spain. Just as an idea, in the preliminary results from this survey, there have been in the last 10 years, 14 fatal cases with isolation; 2 fatal cases without isolation (diagnosis : one : rhombo=EFd lesions, the other : necropsy findings); 5 non-fatal cases with isolation; 19 non-fatal cases without isolation but diagnosed by rhombo=EFd lesions and 2 accidental findings. I think these are already interesting findings. Thank you beforehand for your help. G=E9raldine. ERYSIPELAS SURVEY HAVE YOU HAD A CASE OF ERYSIPELOTHRIX RHUSIOPATHIAE IN MARINE MAMMALS IN THE LAST 10 YEARS? WAS IT FATAL? WAS NON FATAL? HOW WAS IT DIAGNOSED? (culture (hemoculture, from lesions) - rhombo=EFd lesions, others) IF BY CULTURE, DO YOU STILL HAVE THE STRAIN IN YOUR POSSESSION (LYM medium?, lyophilized ?, ...) HOW WAS IT TREATED IN CASE OF A NON FATAL OCCURRENCE? WAS THAT PARTICULAR ANIMAL VACCINATED? IF YES, WHEN AND HOW OFTEN? DO YOU VACCINATE YOUR ANIMALS? AND IF SO: HOW OFTEN? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION. Dr. G=E9raldine Lacave geraldine.lacave(\)skynet.be =20 Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 17:50:59 -1000 Reply-To: rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca From: "Robin W. Baird" Organization: Dalhousie University Subject: Ship shock trial off the US east coast - DEIS available I've not seen any mention of this proposed "Shock Trial" on the list before, and it seems it might be of interest to those who work with marine mammals off the eastern U.S., given previous controversy surrounding ship-shock trials. Robin ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Federal Register: January 26, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 17)] >From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Navy Notice of Public Hearings and Extension of Public Comment Period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Shock Trial of the WINSTON S. CHURCHILL (DDG 81) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy (DON) has prepared and filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) a DEIS evaluating the environmental effects for the shock trial of the WINSTON S. CHURCHILL (DDG 81) at a site to be located offshore of either Norfolk, Virginia, Mayport, Florida, or Pascagoula, Mississippi. The DON is the lead agency and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is a cooperating agency in the development of the DEIS. The comment period, previously announced in the Federal Register on December 10, 1999 (64 FR 69267) has been extended. This notice announces the dates and locations for the three public hearings and the extension of the public review period. Public hearings will be held in order to receive oral and written comments on the DEIS. Federal, state and local agencies, and interested individuals are invited to be present or represented at the hearings. DATES AND ADDRESSES: The public hearings will be jointly hosted by the DON and the NMFS. The hearings have been scheduled as follows: 1. March 13, 2000, 7:00 PM, Granby High School Auditorium, 7101 Granby Street, Norfolk, Virginia. 2. March 14, 2000, 7:00 PM, Pensacola Junior College, Hagler Auditorium, 1000 College Boulevard, Pensacola, Florida. 3. March 15, 2000, 7:00 PM, Fletcher High School Auditorium, 700 Seagate Avenue, Neptune Beach, Florida. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Lyn Carroll, Marconi Systems Technologies, 2611 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 5000, Arlington, Virginia 22202, telephone (703) 413-4099 or e-mail address at ddg81eis(\)tst.tracor.com. The DON is extending the public comment period to March 31, 2000. All written comments should be postmarked no later than that date. This comment period is expected to coincide with the NMFS comment period provided in its Advance Notice of Proposed Rule (ANPR) on the DON'S application for the taking of marine mammals incidental to the proposed shock trial of the WINSTON S. CHURCHILL. The NMFS will provide details on the ANPR by separate notice in the Federal Register. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Post-doctoral Fellow, Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Current mailing address: C-201, 2747 South Kihei Road, Kihei, HI, 96753 USA Phone/Fax 1-808-879-7061 E-mail: rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/rwb/robin.htm ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2000 00:14:12 -0400 From: Kimberly Amaral Subject: mass stranding in France? I'm a graduate student studying Atlantic white-sided dolphins. I found an article in a German newspaper this weekend about a stranding of 300 dolphins along the French coast (Bayonne). I haven't been able to find out any more about it. If anyone knows what kind of dolphins stranded and whom I may be able to contact about it, I would really appreciate the info. Thanks, Kimberly Amaral **************************************************************************** Biology Department Molecular Ecology Laboratory UMass Dartmouth Department of Zoology Old Westport Road Cambridge University North Dartmouth, MA 02747 Cambridge CB23EJ, U.K. (508) 999-9227 011-44-1223-336677 kamaral(\)umassd.edu kaa28(\)hermes.cam.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2000 03:26:24 +0100 From: Eric PONCELET Subject: Re: mass stranding in France? ------ Dear Kimberly and Marmamers, The "Centre de Recherche sur les Mammif=E8res Marins" in La Rochelle is in charge of the management of the French national stranding network. Numerous field operators (mostly volunteers) along the French littoral help in the collection of data and tissue samples. Since 10 Feb 2000, we are experiencing multiple strandings on the French Atlantic coast (from Brittany to southern France): 300+ dead stranded dolphins have been recorded yet. Most are common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), but some striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) have also been recorded. Their condition ranges from fresh to very decomposed. Lots of fresh to slightly decomposed individuals present bycatch marks (amputated fluke or tail, rope around tail stock, broad abrasion wound encircling the tail stock, net incisions on the skin, beak fracture, full forestomach, etc.). For the last 10 years, the mean annual number of strandings on the French Atlantic coast is around 330, with a usual peak in Feb-March. But some years can be considered as "black" ones: 1997, and 1989 and 1992 in a lesser extent. In Feb 1997, we recorded 667 strandings (ca. 79% of the annual number of strandings for the area). At that time, 74% of the individuals examined by the CRMM staff presented bycatch marks. The conjunction of bycatches and conditions favouring the drift of the carcasses towards the coast is thought to result in those increased numbers of strandings. For further details about this issue, I would recommend the following paper (available from our web site): TREGENZA, N.J.C. & COLLET, A., 1998. Common dolphin _Delphinus delphis_ bycatch in pelagic trawl and other fisheries in the Northeast Atlantic. Reports of the International Whaling Commission, 48: 453-459. (Many other interesting related papers are listed in the references) Sincerely yours, Eric ------------------------------------------------------------ Eric PONCELET, Research Assistant Centre de Recherche sur les Mammif=E8res Marins (CRMM) Institut de la Mer et du Littoral Port des Minimes - 17000 La Rochelle, France Phone: +33 (0)546 44 99 10 - Fax: +33 (0)546 44 99 45 E-mail: poncelet (\) univ-lr.fr - Web: http://crmm.univ-lr.fr ------------------------------------------------------------ -----Message d'origine----- De : Kimberly Amaral =C0 : MARMAM(\)UVVM.UVIC.CA Date : mardi 22 f=E9vrier 2000 00:36 Objet : mass stranding in France? I'm a graduate student studying Atlantic white-sided dolphins. I found an article in a German newspaper this weekend about a stranding of 300 dolphins along the French coast (Bayonne). I haven't been able to find out any more about it. If anyone knows what kind of dolphins stranded and whom I may be able to contact about it, I would really appreciate the info. Thanks, Kimberly Amaral ********************************************************************** ****** Biology Department Molecular Ecology Laboratory UMass Dartmouth Department of Zoology Old Westport Road Cambridge University North Dartmouth, MA 02747 Cambridge CB23EJ, U.K. (508) 999-9227 011-44-1223-336677 kamaral(\)umassd.edu kaa28(\)hermes.cam.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2000 10:42:55 -0500 From: "Ruth E. Shaw" Subject: Atlantic Coast Contaminants Wkshp Poster Session ------ Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) announces CALL FOR POSTER ABSTRACTS STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS ATLANTIC COAST CONTAMINANTS WORKSHOP 22-25 JUNE 2000 BAR HARBOR, MAINE "ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT: IMPACTS ON MARINE WILDLIFE AND HUMAN HEALTH" KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Dr. Theo Colborn, World Wildlife Fund: "An Overview of Endocrine Disruption: The Marine/Human Connection" TOPICS =B7 SESSION I: Endocrine-disrupting contaminants: Quantitation and dyna= mics in the marine food web =B7 SESSION II: Impacts of endocrine disruptors: Evidence in marine wil= dlife and humans =B7 SESSION III: Methods and markers: Update on biomarkers, analytic iss= ues, tools and techniques =B7 SESSION IV: From wildlife to humans: Wildlife as sentinels and surro= gates in human health risk assessment SPONSORS: Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) The University of Connecticut Department of Pathobiology The Jackson Laboratory FOR UPDATED INFORMATION: http://www.meriresearch.org/workshop.html CALL FOR POSTERS POSTER ABSTRACT DEADLINE: APRIL 1, 2000 The Atlantic Coast Contaminants Workshop is accepting abstracts for poste= rs from Workshop Registrants. Space is limited and posters will be selected = on a competitive basis. Posters should address critical issues and themes of the conference. STUDENTS THAT ARE FIRST AUTHORS OF INVITED POSTERS WILL = BE GIVEN FIRST PRIORITY FOR MERI TRAVEL GRANTS. INSTRUCTIONS FOR ABSTRACT PREPARATION AND SUBMITTAL Abstracts should include a statement of objectives, brief description of methods used, concise presentation of results, and a summary of conclusions/inferences drawn. Abstracts must be submitted as an attached-message e-mail saved as a Microsoft Word 6.0 document. Abstract= s will only be accepted up until April 1, 2000 to permit peer review evaluation of all abstracts. FAXED abstracts will NOT be accepted. EMAIL YOUR ABSTRACT TO: adminmeri(\)downeast.net. SEND YOUR ABSTRACT BY E-MAIL ONLY ONCE, please. You will be notified of receipt within 2 weeks by email. Please do not contact us about your abstract until at least 2 weeks have elapsed following submission. Autho= rs will be notified of acceptance/rejection no later than May 1, 2000. ABSTRACT FORMAT: Accuracy and appearance of the abstract are the responsibility of the author(s). Please follow instructions carefully. Abstracts, including author and title lines, are to be no more than 500 words. LONGER ABSTRACTS WILL BE EDITED. The preferred font is Times Rom= an. The title should be in 12 pt font and text should be in 10 pt font, single-spaced. Include at the top of the file the following information: 1) Author list: List all authors of the poster: First name, middle initial, last name. 2) Key Words: List four key words to be used to identify your poster. 3) Author to contact (the presenting author) Institution Complete mailing address Phone number Fax number E-mail address 4) Who will present the poster? 5) If your abstract is invited, please indicate here, and list who invite= d your abstract. 6) Skip a line and follow the format shown in the example below. ABSTRACT LAYOUT: * Type the title of abstract in bold. * Leave a blank line between title and names of author(s) * For authors, list the first name, middle initial, then last name * In cases of multiple authors, use superscript numbers to indicate institutions * Include the name of institution and full addresses of the author(s) * Skip a line before beginning the text of the abstract. DO NOT INDENT any part of the abstract. The text should be a single paragraph. Abstracts must be submitted in Microsoft Word format For further information, please contact adminmeri(\)downeast.net POSTER ABSTRACT DEADLINE: APRIL 1, 2000 STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS MERI encourages graduate student participation in the Atlantic Coast Contaminants Workshop and has committed funds in the form of 10 Student Travel Grants to help defray the travel expenses associated with the Bar Harbor meeting. Students must be currently enrolled in a degree-granting program at a recognized college or university. Applicants need to posses= s a masters degree or equivalent, or be advanced graduate students. Please include your request for a scholarship in your application letter and describe need. Submit applications to: http://www.jax.org/courses/documents/meriworkshop.html GRANT APPLICANTS THAT ARE FIRST AUTHORS OF INVITED POSTERS WILL BE GIVEN FIRST PRIORITY FOR MERI TRAVEL GRANTS. STUDENT APPLICATION DEADLINE: EXTENDED TO APRIL 1, 2000 FOR UPDATED INFORMATION: http://www.meriresearch.org/workshop.html ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2000 12:07:10 +0100 From: fabio taddei Subject: DNA damage in cetaceans Dear MARMAN, My name is Fabio Taddei, I got a bachelor degree in Biology at Pisa University. I am looking for information about DNA damage in cetaceans lymphocytes, and immunosoppression related to environmental pollution, exspecially PCBs and Methyl-Hg. I have been studying DNA damage in lymphocytes of bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus, after in vitro exposure to the environmental polluttans PCBs and Metil-Hg. The biomarker of DNA damage that I used is the "Comet Assay". Among the several non-distructive biomarkers I know from published scientific journals, DNA damage studies seem to be suitable and sensitive. For this reason I would like to know if there is any data about DNA damage in cetaceans evaluated by Comet Assay, in order to better discuss the data I obtained . I also would like to propose the biomarker "Comet Assay", as a possible system for monitoring feral populations of Cetaceans looking at their in vitro susceptibility to pollutants, or as a monitoring system of envrionmental stress. If you have any information, please, contact me at my e.mail: ftaddei(\)internetsurf.it, or at: Fabio Taddei c/o Dip. di Morfologia Umana e Applicata Via Volta, 4 56124 Pisa Italy Best regards ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Feb 0100 11:35:49 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Employment opportunity: Director of Research (fwd) Forwarded message: Director of Research, Pacific Whale Foundation Pacific Whale Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to marine research, conservation, and education, seeks a highly experienced and self-motivated individual to coordinate our research program. Headquartered in Maui, Hawaii, the Pacific Whale Foundation has conducted marine research for twenty years in various locations around the world. While we emphasize marine mammals, we also do research on coral reefs, protection of marine ecosystems, biological diversity, and hope to expand in other areas. We are looking for an individual who has a history of successful research on the marine environment, as well as initiative, creativity, enthusiasm, and leadership abilities. They should have strong public speaking skills, great people management skills, and experience working in both a team environment and in the non-profit sector. Responsible for 50% research and 50% administrative duties, including: Leading teams of researchers studying marine mammals and other marine life; Researching, writing and publishing articles, documents, reports, action alerts, fact sheets; Coordinating research activities in Hawaii, Australia, and elsewhere; Public speaking, assisting in fundraising, and preparing reports and proposals; Administrative duties include maintaining research database; International travel possible. Qualifications Ph.D. or equivalent experience Highly-regarded record of research on the marine environment; Proven, peer-reviewed track record with marine mammals, Ability to work independently and to meet deadlines; Strong interpersonal and organizational skills; Excellent communication skills, including proven speaking and writing skills; Ability to analyze, summarize and distribute information quickly and succinctly; Adobe Photoshop, Desktop Publishing, SYSTAT a plus To apply: please submit a resume, cover letter, the names of at least 2 references and a short writing sample to: Dr. Robert J. Wilder Pacific Whale Foundation 101 North Kihei Road Kihei, Maui, Hawaii 96753 rob(\)pacificwhale.org visit our web site: http://www.pacificwhale.org No phone calls please. Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2000 11:04:43 -0500 From: Tammy Adams Subject: call for electronic sources of info on marine mammals The new edition of the CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine will include a chapter on electronic sources for marine mammal information. If you know of or use any good websites, chat rooms, list serves, etc. relating to marine mammals, please take a moment to tell us what they are so that we can make this chapter as effective and complete as possible. Direct your responses to Leslie Dierauf by email (LESAVE(\)newmexico.com) or FAX (505/474-5948). Thank you for your time and assistance. Tammy C. Adams Marine Wildlife Conservation Program Center for Marine Conservation 1725 DeSales St. NW #600 Washington, D.C. 20036 phone: (202) 429-5609 ext. 674 FAX: (202) 872-0619 email: tadams(\)dccmc.org www.cmc-ocean.org ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2000 16:12:52 -0500 From: Suzanne Tarr STP Subject: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Internships INTERNS AND VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Tampa BayWatch, Inc. St. Petersburg, Florida Focus: Manatees In cooperation with the Manatee Awareness Coalition (MAC) and the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Tampa BayWatch seek 7 interns to assist in Tampa Bay Manatee Watch, a potentially precedent setting research study and educational program designed to protect manatees and promote stewardship of Tampa Bay. Interns participate in three main components: 1) Manatee/boater interaction research to assess the effectiveness of educational efforts 2) Boater education on the water aboard a specially designed pontoon boat, and 3) Boater education on shore at area boat ramps, marinas, and festivals. Position Descriptions: Manatee Watch Research Project Assistants The research project is a 3-year manatee/boater interaction study. There are three 10-week sampling sessions each year (summer, fall, and winter). Five positions are available for each 10-week sampling session. The summer session (SS4) runs June 1 - August 30, 2000 and the fall session (SS5) is scheduled as October 1 - December 15, 2000. Junior and senior college students and recent graduates are eligible. Interns work approximately 35-40 hours per week and are required to commit to the full sampling period, plus training. Interns serve as "site captains" at one of five locations and use spotting scopes and binoculars for boater activity data collection. They are responsible for data entry and verification, equipment maintenance, and volunteer support. Interns are paired with a community volunteer and 3-hour shifts, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, either on one weekday (Tuesday - Thursday) or one weekend day (Saturday). Although the manatee/boater interaction study is the primary focus, interns will participate in manatee photo-identification during the fall and winter sessions and may participate in photo-identification and habitat restoration projects during the summer session. Qualifications: Interns should have some research field experience, be computer literate and proficient in the use of Microsoft Access97, and be proficient in the use of a 35-mm camera, various filters and lenses. Small water craft and spotting scope experience are desirable, but not necessary. In addition, interns must be able to stand for up to 3-hours in harsh weather conditions (sun), able to carry approximately 50 lbs. over a sandy terrain, swim, and have a valid driver's license. These positions are unpaid, housing is not provided, and interns must have or find transportation to FMRI. While these internships are not paid positions, they are excellent resume builders. Interns will have the opportunity to participate in scientific research and other manatee-related projects, as well as meet other marine scientists. Manatee Watch Coordinator Assistants Boater education is targeted at actual Bay users. Interns provide users with a free educational boater kit and easy techniques to protect manatees and seagrass habitat. They talk with the community at boat ramps, marinas, festivals, and on Tampa Bay aboard a specially designed pontoon boat. Two positions are available for each 10-week sampling session (longer internships may be possible). Interns will assist the Manatee Watch Coordinator with all aspects of the program. Interns will work both in the field and in the office. Interns work approximately 35-40 hours per week and are required to commit to the full sampling period, plus training. Interns should expect to work Tuesday -Saturday and some weeknights during the sampling session. Interns must be friendly, with an open attitude since both positions will speak publicly, recruit volunteers, and interact frequently with the public. The Education Assistant Intern will primarily assist with the educational program. The interns will spend a minimum of three days in a busy office. Office tasks include: developing and preparing materials for boater education, writing and publishing the community newsletter, scheduling training sessions, preparing the volunteer calendars, tracking administrative information, and fielding program questions by phone. Fieldwork includes primarily boater education with occasional research project fieldwork. The Research Assistant Intern will assist the research program. Fieldwork includes providing back up to the line-of-sight surveys and conducting community volunteer visits during scheduled field days. In the office, the intern will enter boater education information data and track volunteer hours for the research project. Qualifications: Interns must be computer literate and proficient in the use of Microsoft Excel, Word, and Access2000. In addition, interns must be able to stand for up to 3-hours in harsh weather conditions (sun), able to carry approximately 50 lbs. over a sandy terrain, swim, and have a valid driver's license. Interns must have excellent phone and communication skills and have strong leadership potential with a great amount of patience. Teaching, writing and boat handling experience are preferred. These positions are unpaid, housing is not provided, and interns must have reliable transportation. Here, you will work with marine scientists, participate in Bay restoration projects, polish your public speaking and writing skills while participating in an innovative environmental education program that may change manatee protection strategies statewide. Additional information about FWC' s manatee programs and internships may be found at www.fmri.usf.edu Please send internship application including project interest (manatees), transcripts, cover letter, and references to (due to the response level expected, please do not call/E-mail directly): Mr. Bill Arnold FWC/FMRI 100 8th Ave. SE St. Petersburg, FL 33701-3095 727-896-8626 PLEASE NOTE! APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY MARCH 15 2000 TO BE CONSIDERED FOR SS4 OR SS5. from suzanne.tarr(\)dep.state.fl.us ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 21:22:39 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Sperm whale stranded in the Amazon (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Salvatore Siciliano Dear All, A 11m sperm whale was found dead on 11 February 2000 at the locality of Colares, northeastern Par=E1 State, some 200km inside of the Amazon River mouth. Apparently the whale was still alive when found on the river banks at Colares. This is not the first whale to be found stranded in the Amazon Basin. In the early 70's a small baleen whale, probably a minke whale, was found in the area. Strandings of sperm whales are common along the northeastern Brazilian coast but little is known about the cetacean fauna at the mouth of the Amazon River. A review of stranding records and catching data for sperm whales along the Brazilian coast is under preparation by S. Siciliano, Alexandre N. Zerbini and colleagues. Salvatore Siciliano Museu Nacional/UFRJ Depto. de Vertebrados, Setor de Mamiferos Rio de Janeiro, RJ 20940-040 Brazil Date: Wed, 24 Feb 0100 10:35:19 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly marine mammal summary to US congress (fwd) The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS {MMPA Hearing. On Mar. 30, 2000, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans has scheduled an oversight hearing on the Marine Mammal Protection Act.} [personal communication] Seal Barge? On Feb. 14, 2000, the local Chamber of Commerce and business owners plan to petition Seal Beach, CA, City Council officials to allow the anchoring of a barge offshore to provide an artificial attractant habitat for seals and sea lions as a means of boosting tourism. [Assoc Press, Orange County Register] {Whale Watch Vessel Fire. On Feb. 14, 2000, a Gloucester, MA, man was arraigned in Gloucester District Court for allegedly setting fire to a whale water boat in Gloucester harbor in early February 2000. A hearing on this case is scheduled for Feb. 22, 2000.} [Boston Herald] VA Beach Dolphins? On Feb. 9, 2000, the Board of the VA Beach Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals voted to hold a public forum in late February or early March 2000 to discuss the pros and cons of plans by the VA Marine Science Museum to display live dolphins. [Virginian-Pilot] Dolphin Conservation Lawsuit. On Feb. 8, 2000, a coalition of environmental and animal protection groups filed suit in the U.S. Court of International Trade against the Clinton Administration, claiming the federal government was not abiding by U.S. laws on dolphin conservation. These groups claim that NMFS's final rule of Jan. 3, 2000, ignores the requirements of the International Dolphin Conservation Program Act. [Defenders of Wildlife press release, Humane Society of the United States press release, American Humane Assoc press release] Makah Whaling. On Feb. 8, 2000, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments on an October 1997 lawsuit (Metcalf et al. v. Daley et al.) alleging the U.S. government acted improperly in granting a permit to the Makah to kill gray whales, without anticipating safety and environmental risks. [personal communication, Seattle Times, Assoc Press] Northern Right Whale. On Feb. 7, 2000, the Administration's FY2001 Federal Budget proposal was released, containing a proposed $4.3 million for endangered right whale research. [Assoc Press] Mexican Salt Project. On Feb. 3, 2000, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Greenpeace released the results of a Japanese public opinion survey indicating that, of those with an opinion, 75% opposed Mitsubishi Corp. plans to build a salt evaporation facility at Laguna San Ignacio, Mexico. [Assoc Press, Los Angeles Times, IFAW press release] Namibia Seal Cull. In early February 2000, Namibia's Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Abraham Iyambo announced that the quota for the year 2000 seal cull would be drastically increased, claiming large seal populations threaten fisheries. On Feb. 9, 2000, officials of the Wildlife Society of Namibia challenged the Minister to release scientific data justifying the increased cull. [The Namibian] Monk Seal Lawsuit. On Jan. 26, 2000, a coalition of 3 conservation groups filed suit in federal court, claiming NMFS had failed to properly manage the Hawaii-based crustacean (lobster) fishery and bottomfish fishery to avoid harming the monk seals. [EarthJustice Legal Defense Fund press release, personal communication] Resident Orca Whales. In late January 2000, observers at Monterey Bay, CA, discovered pods of Puget Sound resident orca whales in Monterey Bay, far from where they had ever been previously reported. Researchers questioned whether lack of adequate food in Puget Sound had caused the whales to travel far from their normal waters. [Scripps McClatchy Western Service] Steller Sea Lions. On Jan. 25, 2000, NMFS published an emergency interim rule implementing reasonable and prudent alternatives and revising management measures for the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands pollock fisheries during 2000. These measures would disperse commercial fishing effort and provide increased protection from fisheries competition for prey in waters adjacent to Steller sea lion rookeries and important haulouts. Public comment is to be accepted on this rule through Feb. 24, 2000. On Jan. 25, 2000, U.S. District Judge Thomas Zilly issued an Order, directing NMFS to invest more effort in determining whether commercial fishing is harming Steller sea lions. The Court concluded that NMFS is in continuing violation of the Endangered Species Act until a comprehensive biological opinion addressing the full impacts of the pollock fisheries is completed. [Anchorage Daily News, Assoc Press, Fed. Register, Reuters, personal communication] Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. Date: Wed, 24 Feb 0100 10:38:27 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Job: Center for Marine Conservation, Florida (fwd) From: Uneeda Green 1725 DeSales Street, NW #600 Phone: 202 857-1680 Project Manager, Florida marine Wildlife St. Petersburg, Florida Position Announcement The Center for Marine Conservation (CMC), a non profit marine conservation organization, announces the availability of a position for a Project Manager in our St. Petersburg Office. CMC, established in 1972, is committed to protection ocean environments and conserving the global abundance and diversity of marine life. Through science-based advocacy, research and public education, CMC promotes informed citizen participation to reverse the degradation of our oceans. Petersburg, Florida, and San Francisco, California. Basic Function: Plan and execute programs that secure policies to prevent overexploitation of living marine resources and restore the abundance, productivity and ecological roles of overexploited marine wildlife populations in Florida. Promote policies and practices that reduce the indirect/incidental takes of marine species and protect their habitat with emphasis on the conservation of marine mammals, particularly manatees and sea turtles. Specific Responsibilities: Research, develop and implement CMC's programs to prevent overexploitation of marine mammals and sea turtles from direct and incidental takes and promote programs that further the development of ecosystem management and the conservation of marine mammals and sea turtles and their habitat; prepare written and oral comments on state and federal activities affecting marine wildlife in Florida, including correspondence with state and federal agencies, and congressional and public testimony. Research and prepare scientific and policy reports, articles, and informational materials for grassroots activists. Participate as necessary in congressional lobbying, legislative drafting and media and public relations; represent CMC at public and congressional hearings, negotiations, or negotiated rulemakings, and meetings with other conservation organization, industry, government and scientific or other professional societies; seek and undertake opportunities for professional growth and development in marine policy, conservation, sea turtle biology, and marine mammal science that may include research and publication in peer-reviewed scientific and public policy journals; prepare and monitor the status of work plans and budgets; assist in the conception and drafting of development proposals to support project activity; supervise interns working on marine mammal issues within the Marine Wildlife Conservation Program. Qualifications: M.S. in marine science or biology, preferably with an emphasis on marine mammals or sea turtles. One to three years experience in experience in marine conservation or other environmental advocacy. Familiarity with current Florida marine wildlife and habitat conservation issues, environmental and industry organizations, state and federal legislative and regulatory agencies highly desirable. Excellent writing and communication skills. Required ability to clearly translate scientific, technical and policy issues to the lay public and the media. Demonstrated commitment to marine wildlife conservation in the public interest. Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2000 08:10:26 EST From: Joe Blue Subject: Fast ferries and whales Japanese Kokai Patent Application No. Hei 3(1991) - 57791 addresses the problem of hydrofoil crafts' collision with marine mammals and other objects. It provides a high frequency directional acoustic wave ahead of the device to alert marine mammals to get out of the ships' paths and provides shock absorbing mechanisms to lessen the impact collisions on the vessel and its crew. An acoustic device that has less hydrodynamic effect on small boats has been proposed for protecting manatees from collisions with motor boats. "The underwater audiogram of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus)", J. Acoustical Society of America (JASA), Vol. 105(6), June 1999 compares the audiograms of some marine mammals and discusses the impact of the Lloyd Mirror Effect on their audiograms. Manatee researchers had long contended that manatees were sub-sonic hearers which is refuted in the JASA paper. Because of the Lloyd Mirror Effect and the need for marine mammals to communicate with their young near the surface, one might expect marine mammals to have higher frequency hearing capability than previously susposed. The lower frequencies required for whales may make the Japanese device impractical because of the size requirements for directional low frequency devices from linear antenna theory. However, acoustic devices can be built to address this problem if it exists. Joseph E. Blue jblue46498(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2000 08:31:11 +0100 From: Giovanni Bearzi Subject: Tethys Research Institute - Marine mammal information on-line The Tethys Research Institute, founded in 1986, is a non-profit NGO dedicated to the preservation of the marine environment. It focuses on marine animals and particularly on cetaceans inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea. Its recently-renewed web site at www.tethys.org features marine mammal information including: PHOTO ALBUMS - An extensive collection of some of the best photographs of Mediterranean cetaceans Information on the Ligurian Sea CETACEAN SANCTUARY, first conceived by Tethys 10 years ago VOLUNTEER PROGRAMMES (In English and Italian) How to participate in whale and dolphin courses in the Ligurian Sea, in the northern Adriatic Sea (Croatia), and in the eastern Ionian Sea (Greece) INTERNSHIP opportunities MARINE MAMMAL LIBRARY A list of about 6,000 titles available at the Tethys' library in Venice, Italy Downloadable CETACEAN SOFTWARE TETHYS NEWS (In Italian): The Tethys newsletter on-line How to report a CETACEAN SIGHTING About 130 marine mammal LINKS and comprehensive information on the research, conservation and capacity building activities conducted by Tethys over the last 14 years. __________________________________________ Tethys Research Institute c/o Acquario Civico Viale G.B. Gadio 2, I-20121 Milano, Italy ph. +39 0272001947; fax +39 0272001946 Tethys Research Institute / Venice Dolphin Project c/o Thetis SpA Castello 2737/f, I-30122 Venezia, Italy ph. +39 0412406353; fax +39 0415210292 tethys(\)tethys.org www.tethys.org ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Feb 0100 16:31:37 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications (fwd) Here are some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Publications recently posted to MARMAM are not included. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. Japanese festival foods. Wada, JY; Pogosian, B; Sato, Y; Grivetti, LE. ECOLOGY OF FOOD AND NUTRITION. January-February 1999 v38 i4 p307-350 Concentrations of progesterone in milk from bottlenose dolphins during different reproductive states. West, KL; Atkinson, S; Carmichael, MJ; Sweeney, JC; Krames, B; Krames, J. GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY. February 2000 v117 i2 p218-224 Geographical variation in temporal and spatial vocalization patterns of male harbour seals in the mating season. Van Parijs, SM; Hastie, GD; Thompson, PM. ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR. December 1999 v58 part6 p1231-1239 Metabolic effects of low-energy diet on Steller sea lions, Eumetopias jubatus. Rosen, DAS; Trites, AW. PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ZOOLOGY. November-December 1999 v72 i6 p723-731 Variation in milk production and lactation performance in grey seals and consequences for pup growth and weaning characteristics. Mellish, JAE; Iverson, SJ; Bowen, WD. PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ZOOLOGY. November-December 1999 v72 i6 p677-690 Sperm whales (Physeter catodon L-1758) do not react to sounds from detonators. Madsen, PT; Mohl, B. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA. January 2000 v107 i1 p668-671 Sperm whale clicks: Directionality and source level revisited. Mohl, B; Wahlberg, M; Madsen, PT; Miller, LA; Surlykke, A. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA. January 2000 v107 i1 p638-648 Molecular genetic evidence of a novel morbillivirus in a long-finned pilot whale (Globicephalus melas). Taubenberger, JK; Tsai, MM; Atkin, TJ; Fanning, TG; Krafft, AE; Moeller, RB; Kodsi, SE; Mense, MG; Lipscomb, TP. EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES. January-February 2000 v6 i1 p42-45 Relationship between sexual maturity and serum and testis testosterone concentrations in short-finned pilot whales Globicephala macrorhynchus. Kita, S; Yoshioka, M; Kashiwagi, M. FISHERIES SCIENCE. December 1999 v65 i6 p878-883 The hunting of the Greenland right whale in Svalbard, its interaction with climate and its impact on the marine ecosystem. Hacquebord, L. POLAR RESEARCH. January-February 1999 v18 i2 p375-382 Bacteria and fungi of marine mammals: A review. Higgins, R. CANADIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL-REVUE VETERINAIRE CANADIENNE. February 2000 v41 i2 p105-116 Source levels and estimated yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) detection ranges for dolphin jaw pops, breaches, and tail slaps. Finneran, JJ; Oliver, CW; Schaefer, KM; Ridgway, SH. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA. January 2000 v107 i1 p649-656 Nursing parameters in captive killer whales (Orcinus orca). Clark, ST; Odell, DK. ZOO BIOLOGY. January-February 1999 v18 i5 p373-384 Seal appeal. Watts, M. IRISH VETERINARY JOURNAL. February 2000 v53 i2 p71-71 A carbon flow model and network analysis of the northern Benguela upwelling system, Namibia. Heymans, JJ; Baird, D. ECOLOGICAL MODELLING. February 1, 2000 v126 i1 p9-32 Market squid (Loligo opalescens) in the diet of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) in southern California (1981-1995). Lowry, MS; Carretta, JV Source CALIFORNIA COOPERATIVE OCEANIC FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS REPORTS, October 1999 v40 p196-207 Adaptation of the muscles of mastication to the flat skull feature in the polar bear (Ursus maritimus). Sasaki, M; Endo, H; Yamagiwa, D; Takagi, H; Arishima, K; Makita, T; Hayashi, Y. JOURNAL OF VETERINARY MEDICAL SCIENCE. January 2000 v62 i1 p7-14 Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2000 13:36:22 GMT From: Nathan Gricks Subject: computer-aided correction of angle in cetacean id. photos Sirs, I would like to know if any subscribers are aware of software (easily available ideally) that will correct the distortion in a cetacean id. photo arising from the (observer-to-subject) angle being less than 90 degrees ? I know of seal skull photo computer-aided correction techniques that are, as far as I am aware, not freely available. Many thanks, Nathan Gricks M.Sc.Ecology candidate UWBangor ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2000 18:14:20 +0200 From: "A. Frantzis" Subject: Mediterranean harbour porpoises (one more stranding) x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" Dear fellows, Harbour porpoises have been considered extinct from the Mediterranean Sea since the begining of the 19th century, or even earlier. In a previous message sent to Marmam and ECS-all in 1997, we mentionned the stranding of a live specimen which had been succesfully rescued by the rescue team of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in the North Aegean Sea (Eastern Mediterranean). This stranding confirmed an earlier sighting made in the same area and demonstrated that harbour porpoises occur in this region of the Mediterranean. At the present time, we do not know whether their presence in this area is sporadic or regular, nevertheless, there are two feasible scenarios to explain the presence of harbour porpoises in the North Aegean. One is that harbour porpoises from the Black and Marmara Sea disperse into the North Aegean through the Chanakkale Strait. The second possibility is that Aegean porpoises belong to a local, isolated and, geographically discrete population. If this is the case, then this population could be remnant of that formerly dispersed more widely through the Mediterranean Sea. All the above is discussed in a relevant paper that we have recently submitted to Marine Mammal Science. Two weeks ago, one more harbour porpoise stranded in the North Aegean Sea. This time the animal was a male, 1.30 meters long and was found dead close to Alexandroupolis (i.e., in the eastern part of the North Aegean Sea); closer to Chanakkale Strait than the previous stranding and sighting. Genetic samples from this third record will hopefully shed light on the question regarding the degree of isolation of the Aegean harbour porpoises. Although evidence is far from conclusive, if a relict population in the North Aegean does exist, it is of great conservation significance. Even if it is just a part of the Black Sea population, the sub-species Phocoena phocoena relicta will be less vulnerable if it is established in two locations (i.e. Black and Aegean Seas), bearing in mind the poor ecological health of the Black Sea and its history of intense hunting and bycatch. In view of the significance of a discrete harbour porpoise population in the Aegean, our priority is to conduct dedicated surveys (using joint acoustic/visual methods) to determine the extent of this "population". The monitoring of threats is another necessary action to be undertaken in order to design a conservation plan for these last Mediterranean harbour porpoises. All the best, Alexandros -- ________________________________________________________ Dr. Alexandros Frantzis Institute of Marine Biological Resources National Centre for Marine Research Agios Kosmas GR-166 04 Hellenikon GREECE tel : ++301 / 9821354 fax : ++301 / 9811713 Personal address: Terpsichoris 21 16671 VOULIAGMENI GREECE tel : ++301 /8962730 fax : ++301 /8960108 e-mail : afrantzis(\)mail.otenet.gr ________________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2000 00:14:10 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Turks and Caicos Marine Mammal Conference (fwd) From: william rossiter Posted to MARMAM for DECR by Cetacean Soceity International. The Turks and Caicos Department of Environment and Coastal Resources and the TCI Tourist Board are planning a Marine Mammal Conference March 21-23, 2000 and would like to invite all interested persons to attend. If possible, we would ask that you post this message through your newsletter/website to further its distribution. Our website address is www.tcimall.tc/whalewatching/index.htm . For further information, our email address is whales(\)tciway.tc or phone 649-946-2970 (contact Michelle Fulford, Dir. DECR) or FAX 649-946-1895. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration. Respectfully, Michelle Fulford Director, DECR Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 13:38:39 -0800 From: JIWLP Subject: 5th International Wildlife Law Conference: Program and Registration Comments: To: "Steven Aitken (TC)" APOLOGIES FOR CROSS POSTINGS. The program and registration materials for the 5th International Wildlife Law Conference, to take place on March 25, 2000 at the Washington College of Law at American University, Washington, DC., are available on the American Society of International Law - Wildlife Interest Group site at: http://www.eelink.net/~asilwildlife/conf5.html The theme for this year's conference is: "The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species: A Quarter Century Report Card." Early registration is strongly encouraged. Wil Burns, Co-Chairman American Society of International Law - Wildlife Interest Group 1210 Floribunda Ave. #7 Burlingame, CA 94010 USA Phone: 650.703.3280 Fax: 801.838.4710 ASILwildlife(\)pacbell.net http://www.eelink.net/~asilwildlife ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Feb 0100 12:52:51 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly summary to U.S. Congress (fwd) Forwarded message: The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS MMPA Hearing. On Mar. 30, 2000, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans has scheduled an oversight hearing on the Marine Mammal Protection Act. [personal communication] {{CA Sea Otters. On Feb. 22, 2000, officials of the Monterey Bay Aquarium announced that a sea otter, raised in captivity, rehabilitated, and then released to the wild, had given birth in the wild in November 1999 and appeared to be successfully raising this pup. This was reportedly a first for the Aquarium's 16-year sea otter pup rescue program.}} [San Jose Mercury] {{Keiko. On Feb. 23, 2000, Ocean Futures announced a postponement, at least until early March 2000, of the planned release of the orca whale Keiko from his seapen into the net-enclosed Klettsvik Bay, Iceland, due to tidal surges and wind loosening anchoring bolts of the barrier net.}} [Portland Oregonian] {French Dolphin Mortality Event. In mid-February 2000, more than 200 dead common and striped dolphins were found from Brittany south along the west coast of France. Many of the dead dolphins appeared wounded, with some blaming encounters with fishing gear or fishing trawlers.} [BBC News, Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society press release] Seal Barge? On Feb. 14, 2000, the local Chamber of Commerce and business owners plan to petition Seal Beach, CA, City Council officials to allow the anchoring of a barge offshore to provide an artificial attractant habitat for seals and sea lions as a means of boosting tourism. [Assoc Press, Orange County Register] Whale Watch Vessel Fire. On Feb. 14, 2000, a Gloucester, MA, man was arraigned in Gloucester District Court for allegedly setting fire to a whale water boat in Gloucester harbor in early February 2000. A hearing on this case is scheduled for Feb. 22, 2000. [Boston Herald] VA Beach Dolphins? On Feb. 9, 2000, the Board of the VA Beach Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals voted to hold a public forum in late February or early March 2000 to discuss the pros and cons of plans by the VA Marine Science Museum to display live dolphins. [Virginian-Pilot] Dolphin Conservation Lawsuit. On Feb. 8, 2000, a coalition of environmental and animal protection groups filed suit in the U.S. Court of International Trade against the Clinton Administration, claiming the federal government was not abiding by U.S. laws on dolphin conservation. These groups claim that NMFS's final rule of Jan. 3, 2000, ignores the requirements of the International Dolphin Conservation Program Act. [Defenders of Wildlife press release, Humane Society of the United States press release, American Humane Assoc press release] Makah Whaling. On Feb. 8, 2000, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments on an October 1997 lawsuit (Metcalf et al. v. Daley et al.) alleging the U.S. government acted improperly in granting a permit to the Makah to kill gray whales, without anticipating safety and environmental risks. [personal communication, Seattle Times, Assoc Press] Northern Right Whale. On Feb. 7, 2000, the Administration's FY2001 Federal Budget proposal was released, containing a proposed $4.3 million for endangered right whale research. {On Feb. 22-24, 2000, NMFS held a workshop in Danvers, MA, to determine ways commercial fishing might be modified to increase protection for northern right whales.} [Assoc Press, Boston Herald] Mexican Salt Project. On Feb. 3, 2000, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Greenpeace released the results of a Japanese public opinion survey indicating that, of those with an opinion, 75% opposed Mitsubishi Corp. plans to build a salt evaporation facility at Laguna San Ignacio, Mexico. [Assoc Press, Los Angeles Times, IFAW press release] Namibia Seal Cull. In early February 2000, Namibia's Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Abraham Iyambo announced that the quota for the year 2000 seal cull would be drastically increased, claiming large seal populations threaten fisheries. On Feb. 9, 2000, officials of the Wildlife Society of Namibia challenged the Minister to release scientific data justifying the increased cull. [The Namibian] Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 11:22:37 +0100 From: Giovanni Bearzi Subject: Summer internship opportunities at the Ionian Dolphin Project (Greece) Comments: To: ecs-all(\)mailbase.ac.uk The Ionian Dolphin Project (IDP) is a long-term study conducted by the Tethys Research Institute in the eastern Ionian Sea coastal waters. The study, initiated in 1992, focuses on the comparative behavioural ecology of a sympatric community of bottlenose dolphins and short-beaked common dolphins, by means of research methods ranging from individual photo-identification to behavioural sampling and collection of remote biopsy samples for toxicological and genetic analyses. The project is looking for a total of 4 interns with appropriate qualifications, who will participate in the research activities and share all the duties at the field station. Interns will be required to assist the principal field investigator and one intern student in the project management and in dealing with up to 6 paying volunteers. Each intern will stay at the IDP base - an old Greek house facing the sea on the beautiful, pristine island of Kalamos, Greece - for a total of one month. A fee of 20 US$/day is required for room & board. Internship periods range approximately between 20 May - 10 October 2000. Interested applicants can send a CV (as an attached .rtf document) and two letters of presentation (e-mail would be fine) to Elena Politi, IDP Director, at . Applications should arrive no later than 20 March. An answer is expected to be provided to all the applicants by 30 March. A detailed description of the project, together with photographs and downloadable information, can be found at www.tethys.org (check "Volunteer programmes", "Photo album", and "Activities") ______________________________________________ Giovanni Bearzi bearzi(\)tin.it Tethys Research Institute / Venice Dolphin Project c/o Thetis SpA, Castello 2737/f, 30122 Venezia, Italy tel. +39 0412406353; fax +39 0415210292 www.tethys.org ______________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2000 16:09:28 +0100 From: Christian MICHEL Subject: Manatee heartbeat ? Best salutations to all, I hope that my question is not part of those too common to hope for an answer... I'm zoologist in a Public Aquarium in Belgium and we don't want to involve marine mammals in our presentation... not at all !! But, a Science Museum (to be opened soon) here in Belgium wants to made a presentation of old things coming from different private collections. Among those oldies, they have a collection of hearts preserved in alcohol, including a marine mammal labelled Manatus australus. As far as I'm concern, Manatus australus seems to be a misspelling of Manatus australis, junior synonym of Trichechus senegalensis (Link, 1795). Right or wrong ? Optional question : As the presentation device of those animal's remains will include some picture of the animal (in order to get image) and a repetitive sound supposed to be the heartbeat of the animal (in order to get sound), does somebody has an idea of the rythm of the manatee heartbeat ??? Does it slow down during dive as in dolphins ?? Thanking you in advance, Cordially, Christian PS : In order to not disturb more longer serious discussion on the list, answers or remarks can be directly sent to my e-mail address : mailto:Christian.Michel(\)ulg.ac.be ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact : Mailto:Christian.Michel(\)ulg.ac.be ICQ Number: 9135757 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aquarium de l'Universite de Liege Institut de Zoologie 22, Quai Van Beneden Tel:+ 32 (0)4 366 5007 B-4020 Liege BELGIQUE Fax:+ 32 (0)4 366 5093 Plus d'infos : Mailto:Aquarium(\)ulg.ac.be http://www.ulg.ac.be/aquarium/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 29 Feb 2000 21:44:03 +0000 From: Emer Rogan Subject: ECS conference update Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Fourteenth Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society Cork, Ireland, 2 - 5th April 2000 - update. Hello all, This is a reminder that the date for LATE registeration is FRIDAY 3rd MARCH. Conference bookings and fees are outlined on the registeration form, available from the website: http://web.inter.nl.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs/index.htm Please be advised that payment should be posted or faxed to the ECS Treasurer - ROLAND LICK, Kaiserstr. 27B, D-24143 Kiel, Germany. FAX: +49 - 40 - 360 - 309 - 4854. Some people had problems with this fax number for early registeration, so if you are encountering difficulties, please send the membership form/registeration form by ordinary post. Registration forms will be accepted which are POSTMARKED on or before 3rd of March. Confirmation will be by email only. IMPORTANT !! Registration fee (Student or Full Member) does NOT include the membership fee for the calendar year 2000. To get the lower member registration rate you have to be a member for calendar year 2000. So, please don't forget to send your membership form for renewal or for joining the Society. The conference information website has been updated to include some of the programme. There are 46 verbal presentations and 120 poster presentations. The site can be accessed at the following address: http://ecs2000.ucc.ie. Conference registration will commence on Sunday 2nd April at 1800 - 1900hrs in the Stone corridor in the West wing of the quadrangle on the UCC campus. This will be followed at 1900 - 2000 by a Crinniz (pronounced "crin-oo", it means a gathering) - an informal reception in the Aula Maxima, hosted by the President of UCC. It will also be possible to register early on Monday morning, from 0830 - 0930hrs in the Boole lecture complex. Please note that ON-SITE registeration will be in Irish punts (Ir#) and it will not be possible to use credit cards for payment. Poster presentations should be put up in the poster area on Monday morning, from 0830 to 0930, before the official opening commences at 10.00 in the Boole 4 lecture theatre. Delegates will be able to avail of email access during the conference and further details will be posted soon. WORKSHOPS There is some room left for people who are planning to attend the following workshops - please contact the workshop organisers directly if you wish to attend: Sunday 2nd April - Jury's hotel, Western Road, Cork, commencing at 0900hrs BEAKED WHALES - Colin MacLeod (macleod_c(\)colloquium.co.uk) or Andy Williams (Andy.Williams(\)Biscay-Dolphin.org.uk) Half-day workshop. LINKING STOCK STRUCTURE ASSESSMENT TO MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES - Krystal Tolley (krystal.tolley(\)imr.no) Full-day workshop. Thursday 6th April - Boole 5 NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN TRACKING OF MARINE MAMMALS -Andrew Westgate (westgate(\)duke.edu) and Tony Martin (Arm(\)smru.ac.uk). PLEASE NOTE - THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW FULL. Thursday morning PREPARING SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS - Sinead Murphy/Simon Ingram (sinmurphy(\)hotmail.com), Peter Evans and Greg Donovan. Thursday afternoon IRISH WHALE AND DOLPHIN SANCTUARY - Simon Berrow (SDBE(\)pcmail.nerc-bas.ac.uk) All those interested in attending workshops must register with the organiser. Payment (in Irish #) will be on the day - #10 for a full day workshop and #5 for half day workshops. INFORMATION BOARDS will be in place in the poster area. These are for ECS members who may wish to display information relating to - # work in progress or completed - brief notes (this information will not appear in the proceedings); # exchanges - equipment; accommodation; expertise; # studentships, research opportunities; # fringe meetings. Please send (by email) any information you wish to display to Nick Tregenza (nick(\)chelonia.demon.co.uk) who will be responsible for these boards. See you in Cork! Slan, Emer Emer Rogan Conference organiser Dept. of Zoology and Animal Ecology, University College, Cork, Ireland. Phone: + 353 21 904197; Fax: +353 21 277922. E-mail: E.Rogan(\)ucc.ie ECS website: http://web.inter.nl.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs/index.htm Conference website: http://ecs2000.ucc.ie ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 29 Feb 2000 20:13:10 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: FACTS ABOUT:THE FIRST AND THE SECOND DOCUMENTED SIGHTING OF HARBOR PORPOISE IN GREECE. (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: DELPHIS-HELLENIC CETACEAN RESEARCH & CONSERVATION SOCIETY FACTS ABOUT: a) THE FIRST DOCUMENTED SIGHTING OF A FEMALE WOUNDED HARBOR PORPOISE IN MEDITERRANEAN SEA, 1997 - A UNIQUE CASE OF SUCCESSFUL REHABILITATION, and b) SECOND DOCUMENTED STRANDING OF A MALE HARBOR PORPOISE IN GREECE, 2000 On 26th of June 1997, an adult female Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena L.) stranded wounded at the shallows of Panagia s Bay, at Halkidiki, N.Aegean Sea, Greece. The animal had a deep wound on the missing right eye and many smaller external wounds scattered all over her body. Immediately after the Harbor Porpoise s rescue and diagnosis of her critical condition, she was treated between 26-29th of June, in situ (in the sea), with antibiotics by DELPHIS s scientific advisor and veterinarian Dr. Anastasia Komnenou from Aristotle s University of Thessaloniki, Greece, veterinary students and DELPHIS volunteers. Along with the macroscopic data, which were also collected, photographs and video documented the rescue and rehabilitation operation of the Harbor Porpoise. The animal was surprisingly, very co-operative to the human contact, swam herself inshore to receive treatment at a self-programmed timing and recovered from her wounds in four days. At the end of the 4th day the animal started, day after day, swimming offshore and finally, disappeared and never observed inshore, since then, again. Three years later, on 11th of February 2000 a young male (1,26m) Harbor Porpoise stranded dead at Apalou beach of Alexandroupolis , in Northern Aegean Sea, Greece. These two cases are the first documented sightings of Harbor Porpoises, in Greece and in the entire Mediterranean Sea documented by photographs and video-recordings. In Greece, the Hellenic Cetacean Research and Conservation Society-DELPHIS has received a few undocumented sightings of this species in recent years. In detail, two sightings of the species were reported from coastal areas along the N. Aegean Sea: on January 1995 near Strymonicos Gulf, East Macedonia and during January 1999 offshore Evros Delta, while during early 1960 s, a local naturalist had reported sightings of accidentally trapped individual porpoises in fishing nets along Syros island straits, at the Central Aegean Sea region. Both cases are unique because: a) the 1997 case, is the first documented sighting of a Harbor Porpoise in Greece and in the entire Mediterranean Sea. So far, there are scarce unconfirmed data with no evidence of recorded sightings, for the distribution of this endangered species in the Mediterranean Sea, (Evans P., 1987), (Leatherwood S., & Reeves R.,1983), (Dr. Martin A.,1990), and others. Additionally, it has enriched our knowledge and experience on an exceptional and unknown behavior of such a timid species while being in a critical condition in the wild, and it was an amazingly successful treatment in situ, of a relative sensitive species that is known to be very stressful to survive in captivity and b) the recent stranding of the dead male Harbor Porpoise proves the existence of migration movements of the species Phocoena phocoena, especially on Northern Aegean Sea. During 1998, after the first documented incident of sighting, DELPHIS extended the ongoing Cetacean Sighting Data Collection and Monitoring Research Project at Ionian Sea to the N.Aegean Sea, with emphasis in the research of Harbor Porpoises population dynamics. For more information and documents : Drougas A. Oceanographer ,Ph.D , President of DELPHIS Hellenic Cetacean Research and Conservation Society, 75-79 Pylis str., 185 33 PIRAEUS , GREECE, e-mail:delphis(\)hol.gr , delphisaimilia(\)excite.com Komnenou A, DVM , PhD, Surgery Clinic, Faculty of Vererinary Medicine , Aristotle Univercity of Thessaloniki, St. Voutyra 11 Str, 546 27 Thessaloniki, GREECE , e-mail: natakomn(\)vet.auth.gr Date: Tue, 29 Feb 2000 20:22:22 -1000 From: Alison Craig Subject: Abstract: Humpback Whales The following article has just been published: Craig, A.S. and Herman, L.M. 2000. Habitat preferences of female humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae in the Hawaiian Islands are associated with reproductive status. Marine Ecology Progress Series 193:209-216. The main Hawaiian Islands are the primary winter reproductive area for the majority of North Pacific humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Identification photographs of individual whales, including 63 females sighted in at least two different years and with at least one calf, were collected from waters off the islands of Maui and Hawaii ("Big Island") between 1977 and 1994. Calves formed a significantly larger proportion of the population off Maui than off the Big Island. The overall proportion of calves to all whales identified (crude birth rate) was 0.099 off Maui and 0.061 off the Big Island. Also, considering only females seen in more than one year, the number of calves per female per year (calving rate) was 0.71 off Maui and 0.52 off the Big Island. These rates may be inflated somewhat because of the greater likelihood of sighting and identifying females with calf than females without. Females sighted at both Maui and the Big Island in different years were with a calf significantly more often in Maui waters than in Big Island waters. It was concluded that habitat utilisation by females varies between Maui and the Big Island, and appears to depend in part upon reproductive status. Reprints should be available within the next few weeks. Please send requests to acraig(\)hawaii.edu or to the following address: Alison S. Craig Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory 1129 Ala Moana Blvd. Honolulu, HI 96814 USA. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Mar 0100 17:11:09 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MARMAM FAQ and Editorial Policy ====================================================== MARMAM EDITORIAL POLICY AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ====================================================== This message will be sent out monthly - new additions or recent changes are marked >> *Please save this message for future reference!* Topics: EDITORIAL POLICY 1. The MARMAM list 2. Messages posted on MARMAM 3. Messages not posted on MARMAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 4. How do I post messages to the list? 5. How do I reply to individual subscribers? 6. How do I subscribe/unsubscribe/temporarily signoff? 7. How do I receive MARMAM postings as a single daily digest rather than as individual messages? 8. How do I retrieve old postings to MARMAM? 9. Subscriber list 10. How do I get help using listserver commands? 11. Why did my MARMAM subscription stop? 12. Useful websites 13. Other email discussion lists 14. Who do I contact with my questions or concerns? ===================================================== MARMAM EDITORIAL POLICY 1. The MARMAM list MARMAM is an edited e-mail discussion list which focuses on marine mammal research and conservation. The list was established in August 1993 and as of April 1999 there were about 3,500 subscribers from 60 different countries. Anyone may subscribe to the list. Editors of the MARMAM list work on a volunteer basis. At any one time there may be between three and five editors. We have endeavoured to make the editorial policy as uniform and explicit as possible (detailed below), but there may be some individual editor variation in the standard of messages sent to the list. _______________________________________________________________ 2. Messages posted on MARMAM A wide spectrum of message types are found on MARMAM, all related to marine mammal research and/or conservation. MARMAM endeavours to provide unbiased information on these issues (e.g, is not anti-whaling or anti-hunting per se). Commonly seen messages include: - requests for information regarding current or recent research projects, publications, or research techniques - current or previously unreported unusual news events - meeting announcements - job or volunteer opportunities - abstracts from scientific papers or reports - books/techniques/products announcements - requests for products (eg., photographs) which will benefit MARMAM subscribers (eg., photographs that will be of widespread use or for payment) - brief summaries of meetings or conferences related to marine mammals, including resolutions passed NOTE: Notices from regional student chapters of the Society for Marine Mammalogy should be restricted to: - a single message announcing each new student chapter (including contact details and website address). - a single message concerning each regional meeting (providing details as to the time and place of that meeting, schedule of speakers or events, and a website or email address to contact for further information). 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(In many cases we ask that summaries of responses to questions are later posted to the list so individual responses to the list are often unneccessary.) - Requests for information provide details in the body of the message justifying the request (providing background information or details on why the information is needed). Such requests should also demonstrate that available means to obtain the information requested have been exhausted. Please do not use the list merely because you have not checked your library. (A follow up of responses to any such request should later be posted to the list.) - Messages in another language provide an english translation - Messages do not include attached files. The MARMAM account cannot deal with attachments and any messages with attachments will not be sent. All information should therefore be included as text within the body of the message. - Messages are properly formatted and do not contain excessive numbers of typos. As editing the list is a volunteer job and there are often too many messages to easily deal with, messages which are inproperly formatted (e.g., missing a subject heading, missing the senders name and e-mail address in the body of the message, or formatted too wide for a computer screen) or those full of typos may not be sent to the list. In most cases the author will be contacted regarding resubmitting their message, but at times of high volume, this may not always be done. NB. Many messages ask for information which would be of interest to many of the list subscribers. We therefore ask that a summary of responses is prepared and submitted back to the MARMAM list. Respondents to calls for information should therefore be aware that their response may be resubmitted to the entire list. Authors should therefore state that they do not wish their reply to go to the list, if this is the case. Summaries to the MARMAM list should fulfil other editorial criteria (relevent, concise, no flames, etc) ______________________________________________________________ 3. Messages not posted on MARMAM Examples of messages not posted to the MARMAM list include: - THOSE UNRELATED TO MARINE MAMMAL RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION - ANIMAL RIGHTS CALLS FOR ACTION - "COMMUNICATION" BETWEEN HUMANS AND ANIMALS - "CASUAL" REQUESTS for information that is easily available elsewhere. A specific request, with a brief description of what the information is to be used for, is most likely to stimulate feedback from other subscribers. If the author lives in a country where limited library resources are available and is conducting original research, exceptions to this rule may be made (though the message author must state that they have no easy access to library resources). - INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION: information requests without details as to why this is being requested. Messages which include only an information request without providing any background information justifying the request and demonstrating that available means to obtain this information have been exhausted, will not be posted. - COMMON EVENTS: news reports of common events (e.g. strandings of common species of marine mammals, deaths of captive animals, etc) - MEDICAL REPORTS ON CAPTIVE ANIMALS FOR WHICH HELP IS BEING SOUGHT - REQUESTS FOR SMALL NUMBERS OF SPECIFIC ITEMS (eg., photographs) that would be better directed to individuals working on the species in question. - OPINION STATEMENTS OFFERING LITTLE OR NO NOVEL INFORMATION. Messages of a duplicative nature which do not contribute new information are generally not posted to the list. Exceptions include event-related postings, such as conference information, job openings, and surveys. New subscribers are strongly encouraged to monitor MARMAM for a period before submitting messages to the list, or to review recent archived messages, to reduce the number of duplicative submissions. - CRITICISMS OF RESEARCHER'S STATEMENTS QUOTED IN NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, unless they are corrections from the person being quoted. - 'FLAMES'. Messages which are derogatory or serve to insult or inflame rather than contribute to the discussion at hand are not posted to the list. - RHETORIC: messages with some substance surrounded by a lot of rhetoric - HUMOUROUS ANECDOTES - JOB/ VOLUNTEER POSITION/ INTERNSHIP WANTED. Requests for employment or volunteer opportunities are not posted to the list. Persons seeking such positions are encouraged to monitor MARMAM for opportunities, which they can apply to directly. Students interested in careers in marine mammal science are encouraged to consult the Society for Marine Mammalogy's 'Strategies for Pursuing a Career in Marine Mammal Science', which can be found at the Society for Marine Mammalogy's website: http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~smm/strat.htm - JOB OFFERS FOR ANIMAL TRAINERS OR FOR NATURALISTS ON WHALE WATCH BOATS ===================================================== MARMAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 4. How do I post messages to the list? All messages meant for MARMAM subscribers should be sent to marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca Messages should include the sender's name and e-mail address within the body of the text, and a detailed subject heading. ______________________________________________________________ 5. How do I reply to individual messages? Messages meant soley for a particular subscriber and not for MARMAM may be sent directly to that subscriber using his or her e-mail address, which will appear in the header of the message and/or in the body of the message. Subscribers are asked to include their e-mail address within the body of their messages, as not all subscribers receive headers including this information with their messages. If your reply is of general interest to the subscribers, please reply to the list, otherwise you should reply directly to the individual posting the original message. NOTE: Many subscribers will find that use of the 'reply' option will reply to MARMAM, not to the intended recipient. Please check your header when using the 'reply' option. ______________________________________________________________ 6. How do I subscribe/ unsubscribe/ temporarily signoff? All messages not meant for MARMAM subscribers should be sent to the listserver (listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca). As the list-server is an automated service, it is important that commands be sent without errors or extraneous text. To subscribe, send a message to "listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca" which says: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastnamename To unsubscribe, send a message to "listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca" saying: signoff marmam If you want to temporarily discontinue your subscription without signing off the list, send the message: set marmam nomail to continue it, send the message: set marmam mail NOTE: If your email address is going to change and you will lose access to your old address please unsubscribe that address from marmam, and then subscribe under your new address. If you no longer have access to the email account from which you subscribed, send a brief message to marmamed(\)uvic.ca, providing the email addess that you no longer have access to, and the editors will delete this address from the list. You can then subscribe from your new address. _______________________________________________________________ 7. How do I receive MARMAM postings as a single daily digest rather than as individual messages? To receive marmam messages daily as a single file, send a message to "listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca", saying set marmam digests To change this setting to individual messages, send the message: set marmam mail _______________________________________________________________ 8. How do I retrieve messages previously sent to MARMAM? All MARMAM messages since 1995 are archived and are retrievable by sending the message: get marmam logxxyy to the listserver (listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca), where xx = year and yy = month (e.g. get marmam log9601). Two searchable websites hold archived MARMAM postings: Links to both of these can be found via the MARMAM homepage http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/marmam.htm http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ This archive includes all messages from June 2, 1998 and the monthly logs dating back to January 1995. The archive can be searched by keyword and will return a list of files (messages) containing that keyword. For long messages (i.e., the monthly logs) - using the "find" command (under "Edit") will speed up searching within the message. http://www.reference.com/cgi-bin/pn/listarch?list=MARMAM(\)uvvm.uvic.ca This archive contains all messages from November 1997. To search this archive back to 11/97, change the date range at the bottom of the "Advanced Search" page. The archive manager is Quyen Lam __________________________________________________________________ 9. Subcriber list Due to mis-use of the subscriber list, the list is no longer available through a listserv command. To find out who subscribes to MARMAM, you must send a request to the MARMAM editors (marmamed(\)uvic.ca) and it will be sent out to you along with a request to not mis-use the list and guidelines to proper use of the list. Subscribers not wanting this information available to others can send the command: set marmam conceal to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca _______________________________________________________________ 10. How do I get help using listserver commands? A list of common commands for different listserver functions (subscribing, retrieving files, etc.) is obtainable by sending the message: help to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. A more detailed list of listserver commands may be obtained by sending the message: info refcard to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca _______________________________________________________________ 11. Why did my MARMAM subscription stop? Your subscription may be cancelled if your email is undeliverable. This can happen, for example, if your in-box is full or if your server is down for a period of time. When this happens the marmamed account will receive error messages, and those whose accounts bounce back are either automatically deleted from the list or manually deleted by the list Editors every once in a while. If you find that you receive no MARMAM messages for a few days, try subscribing to the list again. ______________________________________________________________ 12. Useful websites Detailed below are some World Wide Web Marine Mammal related links. Many of these contain further links to other sites. The Society for Marine Mammalogy: "http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~smm/" The National Marine Mammal Laboratory Homepage: "http://nmml01.afsc.noaa.gov/" The Acoustical Society of America: "http://asa.aip.org/" The European Cetacean Society: "http://web.inter.NL.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs.htm" International Whaling Commission: "http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/iwcoffice" WhaleNet "http://whale.wheelock.edu/" ______________________________________________________ 13. Other email discussion lists Some other email lists that may be relevent to marine mammals include the following. (Lists on a variety of topics which may vary in relevence are included - the editors take no responsibility for the content of these and are included here for reference only.) Lists are shown as topic, listserver and mailing list name. To subscribe send a message to the appropriate listserver with the message "subscribe " Bioacoustics: listproc(\)cornell.edu, Bioacoustics-L Biotelemetry: LISTSERV(\)BGUVM.BGU.AC.IL, biotelem Conservation network: listserv(\)sivm.si.edu, conslink Ecology, Ecological Society of America: listserv(\)umdd.umd.edu, ecolog-l Fish and Wildlife Information Management: listserv(\)listserv.vt.edu, FWIM-L Fisheries and Social Science: listserv(\)mitvma.mit.edu, fishfolk Marine Studies and Information: listserv(\)ccgc.tc.gc.ca, marine-l Mammal: LISTSERV(\)SIVM.SI.EDU, Mammal-l (please let the editors know of other lists to include here) ______________________________________________________________ 14. Who do I contact with my questions and concerns? Questions and concerns about MARMAM can be sent to the list editors (Robin Baird, Sascha Hooker, Shannon Gowans and Daniel Palacios) at marmamed(\)uvic.ca _______________________________________________________________ The MARMAM Editorial Policy and FAQ can also be found at the website: http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/marmam.htm Updated October 1999 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 12:12:55 +0900 From: Tomoko Kuba Subject: ICR Homepage address To all those interested: ICR would like to inform all those interested that we have recently opened a Japanese language website. Our address is http://www.icrwhale.org Our English website remains at http://www.whalesci.org Sincerely, Tomoko Kuba Public Information, The Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) kuba(\)icr-unet.ocn.ne.jp ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Mar 0100 00:01:43 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: (Fwd) Database of SMM publications - Papyrus version ------- Forwarded Message Follows ------- From: Jan Herrmann To: ecs-all(\)mailbase.ac.uk The Digital Bibliography of Society for Marine Mammalogy Publications=20 is now available for the Papyrus Bibliography System (DOS/Windows and=20 Macintosh). Please visit http://www.cetacea.de/mms/mms.html to get further=20 details and to download the files. If you work on a Macintosh computer and don't own any of the=20 supported bibliography management applications it might be=20 interesting to use the free limited edition of Papyrus as a database=20 browser with limited rights. Originally the database was prepared by Dana Seagars as a ProCite and=20 ASCII version and is available on the SMM web page at=20 http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~smm/mms.htm. The database is posted as a courtesy to marine mammal scientists and=20 other interested individuals. It contains the contents of Marine=20 Mammal Science volumes 1-15 and the Society's special publications. Please send any inquiries regarding the Papyrus version to me=20 (jherrm(\)anatgw.tiho-hannover.de). Best Wishes, Jan Herrmann --=20 ---> Jan Herrmann Anatomisches Institut Tier=E4rztliche Hochschule Hannover Bischofsholer Damm 15 Tel.:(0511) 856-7482 30173 Hannover Fax :(0511) 856-7683 Vorlesungsreihe Wal und Mensch +----> http://www.cetacea.de Date: Tue, 2 Mar 0100 00:02:34 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: (Fwd) Conference update: Measuring Behavior 2000 ------- Forwarded Message Follows ------- To: eCS-all(\)mailbase.ac.uk Reply-to: "Wineke Schoo " MEASURING BEHAVIOR 2000 3rd International Conference on Methods and Techniques in Behavioral Research Nijmegen, The Netherlands, 15-18 August 2000 CONFERENCE UPDATE * The conference web site has been completely updated. Check it out at http://www.noldus.com/events/mb2000/. Several program topics have been added. * Registration has officially started. You can register on-line or request paper registration forms. Special student rates are available. * Submission of abstracts for oral papers, posters and demonstrations has started. Detailed guidelines and procedures for submission, as well as the Abstract Submission Form can be found on the conference web site. * Read all about the exciting social program of the Measuring Behavior 2000 conference. DEADLINES: 31 March 2000: Deadline for submission of abstracts for oral papers, posters and demonstrations. 31 May 2000: Deadline for early registration (reduced fee). Please let us know if you have any questions, remarks, etc. Contact information can be found on the web site. Or you can send an e-mail to mb2000(\)noldus.nl. Yours sincerely, Wineke Schoo Chair of the Local Organizing Committee Measuring Behavior 2000 Conference Secretariat Email: mb2000(\)noldus.nl URL: http://www.noldus.com/events/mb2000/ Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 19:01:25 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Papers of Cetacean Homosexual behavior (fwd) From: Shimomaki Mahoko Dear everyone, I'm a graduate student and now I'm studying especially homosexual behaviors among wild bottlenose dolphins. I'd like to collect papers about cetacean homosexual and nonreproductive sexual behaviors. If you have informations, please tell me. I'm reading "Biological Exuberance-Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity"(1999 St. Martin's Press) by Bruce Bagemihl, but many reference papers couldn't be found in Japan. This book says homosexual behaviors are reported in captive male Amazon river dolphins, captove/wild bottlenose dolphins, spinner dolphins, captive male harbor porpoises and commerson's dolphins, common dolphins, bridled dolphins, wild male killer whales, male sperm whlaes, captive male beluga whales, both sexes of gray whales and bowhead whales, right whales. I couldn't find following papers: * Caldwell & Caldwell(1977) "Ceatceans" in T.A.Sebeol,ed. How Animals Communicate pp794-808 Bloomington Indiana Univ. Press *Connor & Smolker(1995) Seasonal Changes in the Stability of Male-male bonds in Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphins. Aquatic Mammals 21:213-16 *Herzing&Johnson(1997) Interspecific interactions between Atlantic spotted dolphins and bottlenose dolphin in the Bahamas, 1985-1995. Aquatic Mammals 23:85-99 *Rose,N.A(1992)The social Dynamics of Male Killer whales in Johnstone Strait, British Columbia. Ph.D.thesis, Univ. of California- Santa Cruz. Please contact me if you have any informations about homosexual and nonreproductive sexual behaviors. Thank you. *********************************** Mahoko Shimomaki Wildlife Biology Master's degree 1st grade Agricultural Life and Science Faculty Univesity of Tokyo, Japan Tel: 81-3-5841-7542 Fax: 81-3-5841-8192 e-mail: mahoko(\)uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp *********************************** Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2000 11:12:59 -0800 Reply-To: Len Thomas From: Len Thomas Subject: WORKSHOPS: Distance sampling, Aug-Sept 2000, St Andrews ------------------------------------------------ RESEARCH UNIT FOR WILDLIFE POPULATION ASSESSMENT INTERNATIONAL TRAINING WORKSHOPS 2000 ------------------------------------------------ Introduction to Distance Sampling August 28 - 30 Advanced Techniques and Recent Developments in Distance Sampling August 31 - September 2 University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland ----------------------------------------------- http://www.ruwpa.st-and.ac.uk/distanceworkshop/ ----------------------------------------------- Overview -------- Distance sampling is the most widely used method for estimating the abundance of wildlife populations. The aim of these workshops is to train participants in the latest methods for design and analysis of distance sampling surveys, including line and point transects. The workshops are taught by leading researchers in the field, using industry-standard software. The first workshop will run at an introductory level, and will focus on "conventional" distance sampling methods, as described in the standard reference book Distance Sampling. The workshop will be a blend of theory and practice and participants will learn how to use the program Distance (version 3.5). Participants will gain a solid grounding in both survey design and methods of analysis for distance sampling surveys. The second workshop will cover the latest advances in distance sampling research and software. It is intended for those already familiar with conventional distance sampling methods. Participants will learn the use of covariates for modelling the detection function, double-platform methods for when g(0) < 1, spatial modelling of density, automated survey design and adaptive sampling. Computer sessions will use a preliminary version of the new software Distance 4. For both workshops, participants are encouraged to bring their own data sets, and can expect to do some preliminary analyses with their data. Instructors ----------- The workshop instructors are Prof. Stephen Buckland, Dr. David Borchers and Dr. Len Thomas. All three are at the forefront of research into distance sampling methods, and development of software to apply the new methods. They have extensive experience teaching distance sampling, including previous highly successful workshops taught in the UK, USA, Norway, and New Zealand. Cost ---- The course fees are 440 UK pounds for one workshop and 745 pounds for both workshops, with a 25% discount for registered students. For registrations received after June 30th, a late-registration supplement of 50 pounds will apply. The fee covers tuition, all course materials and refreshments at morning and afternoon breaks. The number of places is limited to 30 on the first workshop and 18 on the second, and will be filled on a first-come first-served basis. Further information ------------------- The workshop booklet is on the world-wide web at http://www.ruwpa.st-and.ac.uk/distanceworkshop/ Registration forms are available at that site. If you would like a printed copy of this information or have any questions about the workshops, please contact Rhona Rodger Workshop Organizer Research Unit for Wildlife Population Assessment Mathematical Institute University of St. Andrews St. Andrews Scotland KY16 9SS Tel:+44 1334 463228 Fax: +44 1334 463748 Email: rhona(\)mcs.st-and.ac.uk Alternative contact: Steve Buckland +44 1334 463787 steve(\)mcs.st-and.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2000 11:15:06 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MEXICO HALTS SALT PLANT EXPANSION (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: TEYELIZ March 2, 2000 MEXICO HALTS SALT PLANT EXPANSION Filed at 10:28 p.m. EST By The Associated Press MEXICO CITY (AP) -- After months of protests by ecological groups, Mexico's president on Thursday halted plans to expand a huge salt plant in a southern Baja California lagoon where gray whales breed. The company that had proposed the expansion, Exportadora de Sal, S.A., or ESSA, said it would not challenge the order. The San Ignacio lagoon is a winter breeding ground for the gray whale, a fact environmental groups cited in their opposition to the project. But President Ernesto Zedillo, pointing to an extensive environmental study that showed the plant would pose no threat to the whales, chastised plant opponents for focusing on that issue. "There are few places in the world like the Vizcaino Reserve," Zedillo said. "We're dealing with a unique place in the world both for the species that inhabit it and for its natural beauty, which we should preserve. ESSA is a joint venture between Japan's Mitsubishi Corp. and the Mexican Commerce Ministry. "Both of us shared the vision that we should not go ahead with the project," Mitsubishi director James E. Brumm said at a news conference after Ernesto Zedillo announced his decision. "We considered a number of arguments from different people, but the one we decided on was that the site should be preserved for ecotourism." ESSA is outgrowing its current salt plant, which is the world's largest salt evaporation facility and is located in the Ojo de Liebre lagoon just south of the city of Guerrero Negro in southern Baja. The company planned to construct another $150 million operation near the San Ignacio lagoon, a pristine site nearby that forms part of the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve. The reserve was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1993. Environmental groups hailed the decision. "It has been a very tough fight for five years with one of the richest companies of the world and the Mexican government," said poet-novelist Homero Aridjis, president of the environmental Group of 100, the first of many organizations to denounce the plan. Joel Reynolds of the New York-based Natural Resources Defense Council, called this "one of the most important environmental decisions in our generation, not just for Mexico but for the world as well." Environmental groups in Mexico and the United States launched an international campaign to prevent the salt plant's expansion. Last July, 34 of the world's most distinguished scientists signed a letter protesting the plant's expansion that appeared in newspapers across the world, while the Natural Resources Defense Council led a letter-writing campaign. The new plant would have created more than 200 jobs. Zedillo said the government would create special projects and provide compensation for the communities. Date: Wed, 3 Mar 0100 15:32:54 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly marine mammal summary to U.S. Congress (fwd) Forwarded message: The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS MMPA Hearing. On Mar. 30, 2000, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans has scheduled an oversight hearing on the Marine Mammal Protection Act. [personal communication] {{Mexican Salt Works Project. On Mar. 2, 2000, Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo and officials of Mitsubishi Corp. announced that the government of Mexico and Mitsubishi Corp. would not continue to pursue construction of a salt works project adjacent to San Ignacio lagoon.}} [Embassy of Mexico press release, Reuters, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release] {Whale Research Irregularities? On Feb. 29, 2000, the Pacific Whale Foundation is scheduled for arraignment and plea hearing in 2nd Circuit District Court (Maui) on 91 misdemeanor charges for allegedly conducting whale research in HI waters before a state permit was issued in February 1998. The federal government has also charged the foundation with 7 civil violations under the MMPA and Endangered Species Act. A hearing on the federal charges is scheduled for late March 2000.} [Maui News] CA Sea Otters. On Feb. 22, 2000, officials of the Monterey Bay Aquarium announced that a sea otter, raised in captivity, rehabilitated, and then released to the wild, had given birth in the wild in November 1999 and appeared to be successfully raising this pup. This was reportedly a first for the Aquarium's 16-year sea otter pup rescue program. [San Jose Mercury] Keiko. On Feb. 23, 2000, Ocean Futures announced a postponement, at least until early March 2000, of the planned release of the orca whale Keiko from his seapen into the net-enclosed Klettsvik Bay, Iceland, due to tidal surges and wind loosening anchoring bolts of the barrier net. {On Mar. 3, 2000, Keiko was released from his pen into the larger net-enclosed Klettsvik Bay [http://www.oceanfutures.org].} [Portland Oregonian, Reuters, Ocean Futures press release] French Dolphin Mortality Event. In mid-February 2000, about 400 dead common and striped dolphins were found from Brittany south along the west coast of France. Many of the dead dolphins appeared wounded, with some blaming encounters with {{French and Spanish fishing trawlers pulling massive pelagic nets after anchovies, hake, herring, and other fish.}} [BBC News, Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society press release, London Times] Seal Barge? On Feb. 14, 2000, the local Chamber of Commerce and business owners plan to petition Seal Beach, CA, City Council officials to allow the anchoring of a barge offshore to provide an artificial attractant habitat for seals and sea lions as a means of boosting tourism. [Assoc Press, Orange County Register] Whale Watch Vessel Fire. On Feb. 14, 2000, a Gloucester, MA, man was arraigned in Gloucester District Court for allegedly setting fire to a whale water boat in Gloucester harbor in early February 2000. A hearing on this case is scheduled for Feb. 22, 2000. [Boston Herald] VA Beach Dolphins? On Feb. 9, 2000, the Board of the VA Beach Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals voted to hold a public forum in late February or early March 2000 to discuss the pros and cons of plans by the VA Marine Science Museum to construct a 1.6 million gallon marine tank and display live dolphins. [Virginian-Pilot] Dolphin Conservation Lawsuit. On Feb. 8, 2000, a coalition of environmental and animal protection groups filed suit in the U.S. Court of International Trade against the Clinton Administration, claiming the federal government was not abiding by U.S. laws on dolphin conservation. These groups claim that NMFS's final rule of Jan. 3, 2000, ignores the requirements of the International Dolphin Conservation Program Act. [Defenders of Wildlife press release, Humane Society of the United States press release, American Humane Assoc press release] Makah Whaling. On Feb. 8, 2000, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments on an October 1997 lawsuit (Metcalf et al. v. Daley et al.) alleging the U.S. government acted improperly in granting a permit to the Makah to kill gray whales, without anticipating safety and environmental risks. [personal communication, Seattle Times, Assoc Press] Northern Right Whale. On Feb. 7, 2000, the Administration's FY2001 Federal Budget proposal was released, containing a proposed $4.3 million for endangered right whale research. On Feb. 22-24, 2000, NMFS held a workshop in Danvers, MA, to determine ways commercial fishing might be modified to increase protection for northern right whales. {On Mar. 1, 2000, rescue teams attempted to disentangle a 20-year old male northern right whale found tangled in fishing gear off Manomet, MA, in Cape Cod Bay. Initial attempts were unsuccessful, but the whale appeared to be strong and in good health.} [Assoc Press, Boston Herald] Mexican Salt Project. On Feb. 3, 2000, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Greenpeace released the results of a Japanese public opinion survey indicating that, of those with an opinion, 75% opposed Mitsubishi Corp. plans to build a salt evaporation facility at Laguna San Ignacio, Mexico. [Assoc Press, Los Angeles Times, IFAW press release] Namibia Seal Cull. In early February 2000, Namibia's Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Abraham Iyambo announced that the quota for the year 2000 seal cull would be drastically increased, claiming large seal populations threaten fisheries. On Feb. 9, 2000, officials of the Wildlife Society of Namibia challenged the Minister to release scientific data justifying the increased cull. [The Namibian] Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2000 22:25:53 +0100 From: "Dirk R. Neumann" Organization: Massey University Subject: Volunteers wanted - dolphin research in New Zealand ; x-mac-type="54455854"; x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" VOLUNTEER RESEARCH ASSISTANTS WANTED ...for a study on the behavioral ecology of Common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and their interactions with tourism operations in New Zealand. I am looking for enthusiastic, dedicated volunteers with a background in mammalogy and animal behavior to assist me during part of the upcoming field season (October 2000 to April 2001). This would be the perfect opportunity for you to get some hands-on experience, if you are thinking of pursuing a degree and/or career in marine mammal research. THE FIELDWORK ...will consist mainly of taking our 5.5m, 90 hp research boat offshore in search of dolphins. We will conduct focal group follows and collect data on pod size, location, movement patterns, as well as behavioral states and events. Variables whose effect on the dolphins behavior will be assessed include boat presence, boat noise, and the actions of tourists swimming with the dolphins. Besides assisting with data collection, volunteers will also be expected to help with boat maintenance, data entry, and photo-identification analysis. APPLICANTS MUST ...feel confident in a small open boat 20 miles from the nearest coastline in moderately rough sea conditions and not mind getting splashed. ...be able to swim. ...have a strong interest in marine mammal research and conservation. ...be enthusiastic and dedicated about their work and be good team players. ...be available for a period of 6 weeks during the period October 10, 2000 - April 10, 2001. ...be able to finance their flight to New Zealand and pay for their own accommodation during their stay. Unfortunately, this study is operated on an extremely tight budget, and I will not be able to give volunteers any kind of financial reimbursements for their help. APPLICANTS SHOULD ...have some boating experience. ...have good English language skills. ...have a strong academic background in mammalogy, and/or marine Biology, and/or observational studies on animal behavior. Applicants who hold a degree - or are currently enrolled - in Biology or a related discipline will be preferred. Expertise in ichthyology would also be highly valued. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED ...in becoming a volunteer research assistant and observing dolphins close-up, please send me the following : * Current Resume and CV * 1 or more letter(s) of recommendation * Statement of purpose (Why you are interested in the position, and what you hope to get out of it) * Period of time during which you would be available for six weeks. PLEASE AIR-MAIL THE ABOVE TO : Dirk Neumann 200 Cook Drive Whitianga New Zealand DEADLINE : MAY 1, 1999 ! IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ...or would like to find out more before applying, do not hesitate to contact me at the following e-mail address : D.R.Neumann(\)massey.ac.nz THANKS ! - Dirk Dirk Neumann PhD Candidate Massey University at Albany New Zealand ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 4 Mar 2000 16:55:15 -0400 Reply-To: shooker(\)is2.dal.ca From: Sascha Hooker Organization: Dalhousie University Subject: journal publishing The website "Journals - Where to Publish?", on selecting journals when considering where to publish papers, has recently been updated. http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/sh/journals.htm It now includes: - links to over 70 journal homepages, with easy access to instructions to authors, submission details, tables of contents, etc. - Scientific Citation Index information (Impact Factors) for some of these journals, showing variation from 1995-1997. This website was originally set up as a resource for students within the Society for Marine Mammalogy and European Cetacean Society, and contains presentations given on this topic at the student workshop prior to the World Marine Mammal Science Conference in Monaco, 1998. If anyone has recommendations of other journal webpage links to add to this growing list, please let me know. I am more familiar with behavioural and ecological journals but I would like the page to be useful to a wide variety of marine mammal researchers. Sascha Hooker shooker(\)is2.dal.ca ======================================================================= Sascha K. Hooker, Ph.D. C-201, 2747 S. Kihei Rd, Kihei, HI 96753, USA Phone/Fax: 808 879-7061 Please note change of address after March 25, 2000: British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK Fax: 44-1223-362616; Phone: 44-1223-221611 email: shooker(\)is2.dal.ca http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/index.htm ======================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 4 Mar 0100 22:09:32 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MARMAM Editorial Policy and FAQ ====================================================== MARMAM EDITORIAL POLICY AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ====================================================== This message will be sent out monthly - new additions or recent changes are marked >> *Please save this message for future reference!* Topics: EDITORIAL POLICY 1. The MARMAM list 2. Messages posted on MARMAM 3. Messages not posted on MARMAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 4. How do I post messages to the list? 5. How do I reply to individual subscribers? 6. How do I subscribe/unsubscribe/temporarily signoff? 7. How do I receive MARMAM postings as a single daily digest rather than as individual messages? 8. How do I retrieve old postings to MARMAM? 9. Subscriber list 10. How do I get help using listserver commands? 11. Why did my MARMAM subscription stop? 12. Useful websites 13. Other email discussion lists 14. Who do I contact with my questions or concerns? ===================================================== MARMAM EDITORIAL POLICY 1. The MARMAM list MARMAM is an edited e-mail discussion list which focuses on marine mammal research and conservation. The list was established in August 1993 and as of April 1999 there were about 3,500 subscribers from 60 different countries. Anyone may subscribe to the list. Editors of the MARMAM list work on a volunteer basis. At any one time there may be between three and five editors. We have endeavoured to make the editorial policy as uniform and explicit as possible (detailed below), but there may be some individual editor variation in the standard of messages sent to the list. _______________________________________________________________ 2. Messages posted on MARMAM A wide spectrum of message types are found on MARMAM, all related to marine mammal research and/or conservation. MARMAM endeavours to provide unbiased information on these issues (e.g, is not anti-whaling or anti-hunting per se). Commonly seen messages include: - requests for information regarding current or recent research projects, publications, or research techniques - current or previously unreported unusual news events - meeting announcements - job or volunteer opportunities - abstracts from scientific papers or reports - books/techniques/products announcements - requests for products (eg., photographs) which will benefit MARMAM subscribers (eg., photographs that will be of widespread use or for payment) - brief summaries of meetings or conferences related to marine mammals, including resolutions passed NOTE: Notices from regional student chapters of the Society for Marine Mammalogy should be restricted to: - a single message announcing each new student chapter (including contact details and website address). - a single message concerning each regional meeting (providing details as to the time and place of that meeting, schedule of speakers or events, and a website or email address to contact for further information). Before sending a message to MARMAM, please read the following. An increasing number of messages are being sent to the list which require modification by the authors or the Editors. As the Editors moderate the list on a volunteer basis, there is often limited time available to help with or to facilitate such modifications. We ask that before sending a message to the list, the author ensure that: - An appropriate subject heading is included - Your name and e-mail address are included in the body of the message - Your message is interesting enough to go to 3000+ list members. Therefore messages about small local meetings will not be posted. - Your replies are meant to go to ALL the subscribers of MARMAM, rather than just to the original author. If you feel your submission is of general interest, please send it both to the original author and cc it to MARMAM. (In many cases we ask that summaries of responses to questions are later posted to the list so individual responses to the list are often unneccessary.) - Requests for information provide details in the body of the message justifying the request (providing background information or details on why the information is needed). Such requests should also demonstrate that available means to obtain the information requested have been exhausted. Please do not use the list merely because you have not checked your library. (A follow up of responses to any such request should later be posted to the list.) - Messages in another language provide an english translation - Messages do not include attached files. The MARMAM account cannot deal with attachments and any messages with attachments will not be sent. All information should therefore be included as text within the body of the message. - Messages are properly formatted and do not contain excessive numbers of typos. As editing the list is a volunteer job and there are often too many messages to easily deal with, messages which are inproperly formatted (e.g., missing a subject heading, missing the senders name and e-mail address in the body of the message, or formatted too wide for a computer screen) or those full of typos may not be sent to the list. In most cases the author will be contacted regarding resubmitting their message, but at times of high volume, this may not always be done. NB. Many messages ask for information which would be of interest to many of the list subscribers. We therefore ask that a summary of responses is prepared and submitted back to the MARMAM list. Respondents to calls for information should therefore be aware that their response may be resubmitted to the entire list. Authors should therefore state that they do not wish their reply to go to the list, if this is the case. Summaries to the MARMAM list should fulfil other editorial criteria (relevent, concise, no flames, etc) ______________________________________________________________ 3. Messages not posted on MARMAM Examples of messages not posted to the MARMAM list include: - THOSE UNRELATED TO MARINE MAMMAL RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION - ANIMAL RIGHTS CALLS FOR ACTION - "COMMUNICATION" BETWEEN HUMANS AND ANIMALS - "CASUAL" REQUESTS for information that is easily available elsewhere. A specific request, with a brief description of what the information is to be used for, is most likely to stimulate feedback from other subscribers. If the author lives in a country where limited library resources are available and is conducting original research, exceptions to this rule may be made (though the message author must state that they have no easy access to library resources). - INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION: information requests without details as to why this is being requested. Messages which include only an information request without providing any background information justifying the request and demonstrating that available means to obtain this information have been exhausted, will not be posted. - COMMON EVENTS: news reports of common events (e.g. strandings of common species of marine mammals, deaths of captive animals, etc) - MEDICAL REPORTS ON CAPTIVE ANIMALS FOR WHICH HELP IS BEING SOUGHT - REQUESTS FOR SMALL NUMBERS OF SPECIFIC ITEMS (eg., photographs) that would be better directed to individuals working on the species in question. - OPINION STATEMENTS OFFERING LITTLE OR NO NOVEL INFORMATION. Messages of a duplicative nature which do not contribute new information are generally not posted to the list. Exceptions include event-related postings, such as conference information, job openings, and surveys. New subscribers are strongly encouraged to monitor MARMAM for a period before submitting messages to the list, or to review recent archived messages, to reduce the number of duplicative submissions. - CRITICISMS OF RESEARCHER'S STATEMENTS QUOTED IN NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, unless they are corrections from the person being quoted. - 'FLAMES'. Messages which are derogatory or serve to insult or inflame rather than contribute to the discussion at hand are not posted to the list. - RHETORIC: messages with some substance surrounded by a lot of rhetoric - HUMOUROUS ANECDOTES - JOB/ VOLUNTEER POSITION/ INTERNSHIP WANTED. Requests for employment or volunteer opportunities are not posted to the list. Persons seeking such positions are encouraged to monitor MARMAM for opportunities, which they can apply to directly. Students interested in careers in marine mammal science are encouraged to consult the Society for Marine Mammalogy's 'Strategies for Pursuing a Career in Marine Mammal Science', which can be found at the Society for Marine Mammalogy's website: http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~smm/strat.htm - JOB OFFERS FOR ANIMAL TRAINERS OR FOR NATURALISTS ON WHALE WATCH BOATS ===================================================== MARMAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 4. How do I post messages to the list? All messages meant for MARMAM subscribers should be sent to marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca Messages should include the sender's name and e-mail address within the body of the text, and a detailed subject heading. ______________________________________________________________ 5. How do I reply to individual messages? Messages meant soley for a particular subscriber and not for MARMAM may be sent directly to that subscriber using his or her e-mail address, which will appear in the header of the message and/or in the body of the message. Subscribers are asked to include their e-mail address within the body of their messages, as not all subscribers receive headers including this information with their messages. If your reply is of general interest to the subscribers, please reply to the list, otherwise you should reply directly to the individual posting the original message. NOTE: Many subscribers will find that use of the 'reply' option will reply to MARMAM, not to the intended recipient. Please check your header when using the 'reply' option. ______________________________________________________________ 6. How do I subscribe/ unsubscribe/ temporarily signoff? All messages not meant for MARMAM subscribers should be sent to the listserver (listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca). As the list-server is an automated service, it is important that commands be sent without errors or extraneous text. To subscribe, send a message to "listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca" which says: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastnamename To unsubscribe, send a message to "listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca" saying: signoff marmam If you want to temporarily discontinue your subscription without signing off the list, send the message: set marmam nomail to continue it, send the message: set marmam mail NOTE: If your email address is going to change and you will lose access to your old address please unsubscribe that address from marmam, and then subscribe under your new address. If you no longer have access to the email account from which you subscribed, send a brief message to marmamed(\)uvic.ca, providing the email addess that you no longer have access to, and the editors will delete this address from the list. You can then subscribe from your new address. _______________________________________________________________ 7. How do I receive MARMAM postings as a single daily digest rather than as individual messages? To receive marmam messages daily as a single file, send a message to "listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca", saying set marmam digests To change this setting to individual messages, send the message: set marmam mail _______________________________________________________________ 8. How do I retrieve messages previously sent to MARMAM? All MARMAM messages since 1995 are archived and are retrievable by sending the message: get marmam logxxyy to the listserver (listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca), where xx = year and yy = month (e.g. get marmam log9601). Two searchable websites hold archived MARMAM postings: Links to both of these can be found via the MARMAM homepage http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/marmam.htm http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ This archive includes all messages from June 2, 1998 and the monthly logs dating back to January 1995. The archive can be searched by keyword and will return a list of files (messages) containing that keyword. For long messages (i.e., the monthly logs) - using the "find" command (under "Edit") will speed up searching within the message. http://www.reference.com/cgi-bin/pn/listarch?list=MARMAM(\)uvvm.uvic.ca This archive contains all messages from November 1997. To search this archive back to 11/97, change the date range at the bottom of the "Advanced Search" page. The archive manager is Quyen Lam __________________________________________________________________ 9. Subcriber list Due to mis-use of the subscriber list, the list is no longer available through a listserv command. To find out who subscribes to MARMAM, you must send a request to the MARMAM editors (marmamed(\)uvic.ca) and it will be sent out to you along with a request to not mis-use the list and guidelines to proper use of the list. Subscribers not wanting this information available to others can send the command: set marmam conceal to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca _______________________________________________________________ 10. How do I get help using listserver commands? A list of common commands for different listserver functions (subscribing, retrieving files, etc.) is obtainable by sending the message: help to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. A more detailed list of listserver commands may be obtained by sending the message: info refcard to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca _______________________________________________________________ 11. Why did my MARMAM subscription stop? Your subscription may be cancelled if your email is undeliverable. This can happen, for example, if your in-box is full or if your server is down for a period of time. When this happens the marmamed account will receive error messages, and those whose accounts bounce back are either automatically deleted from the list or manually deleted by the list Editors every once in a while. If you find that you receive no MARMAM messages for a few days, try subscribing to the list again. ______________________________________________________________ 12. Useful websites Detailed below are some World Wide Web Marine Mammal related links. Many of these contain further links to other sites. The Society for Marine Mammalogy: "http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~smm/" The National Marine Mammal Laboratory Homepage: "http://nmml01.afsc.noaa.gov/" The Acoustical Society of America: "http://asa.aip.org/" The European Cetacean Society: "http://web.inter.NL.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs.htm" International Whaling Commission: "http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/iwcoffice" WhaleNet "http://whale.wheelock.edu/" ______________________________________________________ 13. Other email discussion lists Some other email lists that may be relevent to marine mammals include the following. (Lists on a variety of topics which may vary in relevence are included - the editors take no responsibility for the content of these and are included here for reference only.) Lists are shown as topic, listserver and mailing list name. To subscribe send a message to the appropriate listserver with the message "subscribe " Bioacoustics: listproc(\)cornell.edu, Bioacoustics-L Biotelemetry: LISTSERV(\)BGUVM.BGU.AC.IL, biotelem Conservation network: listserv(\)sivm.si.edu, conslink Ecology, Ecological Society of America: listserv(\)umdd.umd.edu, ecolog-l Fish and Wildlife Information Management: listserv(\)listserv.vt.edu, FWIM-L Fisheries and Social Science: listserv(\)mitvma.mit.edu, fishfolk Marine Studies and Information: listserv(\)ccgc.tc.gc.ca, marine-l Mammal: LISTSERV(\)SIVM.SI.EDU, Mammal-l (please let the editors know of other lists to include here) ______________________________________________________________ 14. Who do I contact with my questions and concerns? Questions and concerns about MARMAM can be sent to the list editors (Robin Baird, Sascha Hooker, Shannon Gowans and Daniel Palacios) at marmamed(\)uvic.ca _______________________________________________________________ The MARMAM Editorial Policy and FAQ can also be found at the website: http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/marmam.htm Updated October 1999 ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 5 Mar 2000 10:22:15 -0600 From: Rita Carroll Subject: response to cetacean menapause Marmam subscribers: I received a number of responses to my inquiry regarding menopause in cetaceans. There seems to be a significant interest in this topic as most were inquiries regarding the results of my research. The focus of my research has centered around the evolutionary ecology of menopause in primates (limited to humans and to a small degree in Macaques) and in those cetacean species that appear to have a long post-reproductive life span that includes both behavioral and physiological markers. As I'm not certain when this study will be published due to other commitments, I will offer a brief conclusion. It appears that species in which females exhibit a significant post-reproductive life span (up to 30% of their total life span) also exhibit a strong matrilineal and/or matrifocal social organization. The evolutionary implication is that humans also exhibited such a social organization. This is contradictorily to most human evolutionary scenarios that place humans in a social organization similar to our closest genetic relatives the chimpanzee. In cetaceans, this appears to be limited to killer whales and short finned pilot whales. Long finned pilot whales and sperm whales do not appear to follow the same physiological/behavioral patterns although the data is somewhat inconclusive. I will be happy to supply references to anybody who asks. Rita Fisher Carroll PhD candidate, Environmental Dynamics University of Arkansas email rlfishe(\)comp.uark.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2000 00:14:23 -0000 From: "Colin D. MacLeod" Subject: Interspecies Interactions in Odontocetes in Captivity Dear Marmammers, I am looking for information on interspecific interactions between odontocete species in captivity. In particular, I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has any observations regarding dominance and male-female (inter- or intraspecific pairings) where 3 or more individuals consisting of more than one species were kept together. This information is for some work I am undertaking on the potential of the existence of pre-copulatory species isolating mechanisms in cetaceans. Thank you in advance for your help. Colin MacLeod =========================================================================== Colin D. MacLeod, B.Sc., M.Sc. Flat 2/2, 13 Kennoway Drive, Thornwood, Glasgow, G11 7UA. U.K. Tel: 0141 337 2209 International: +44 141 337 2209 Email: macleod_c(\)colloquium.co.uk =========================================================================== = ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 6 Mar 2000 08:41:20 -0500 From: "Kari A. Higgs" Subject: Reannouncement of Life History Workshop LIFE HISTORY STUDIES OF MARINE MAMMALS A WORKSHOP ON THEORY-TECHNIQUES-SYNTHESIS-APPLICATIONS 30 May-8 June 2000 Rationale: Few areas of biological research relate so directly to species conservation as studies of life history, defined as those traits (adaptations) for which variation directly influences fecundity, survival, and population growth. However, life history studies may be somewhat difficult and time-consuming to conduct, and they may be perceived to lack the "sexiness" of some recently developed and applied approaches including use of PCR (polymerase chain reaction) for genetic research, GIS (Geographic Information Systems) for habitat utilization studies, and different procedures associated with uses or effects of acoustics. With the exciting array of new techniques available for studies of marine mammals, the fundamental importance of life history studies has sometimes been overlooked. Few approaches could be more fruitful, however, for scientists who want to understand the basic biology of species and to provide pragmatic insight into their conservation and management. This workshop provides analytical tools and a theoretical framework for interested scientists. Who Would Benefit from the Workshop: Due to its practical nature, enriched by appropriate theory, case studies, and conservation applications, the workshop is appropriate for any of the following: advanced students looking for avenues by which to learn more about marine mammal biology and conservation; established scientists wishing to gain expertise in this area; government or other marine mammal program directors; and technical staff in research laboratories. Location and Date: The workshop is being sponsored by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Florida Marine Research Institute (FWC-FMRI) in St. Petersburg, Florida from Wednesday, 30 May 2000, through Thursday, 8 June 2000. It will take place at three locations: (1) the FWC-FMRI Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory; (2) Eckerd College; and (3) Mote Marine Laboratory. Resources: Although the following list is incomplete, we anticipate that these individuals will be involved in delivering the workshop: Ms. Meghan E. Bolen, University of California Santa Cruz, FWC-FMRI: Bolen has worked extensively with age determination in sirenians, and to a lesser extent delphinids. Bolen will focus on demonstrating techniques and instructing workshop participants in use of equipment associated with age determination. Dr. James A. Powell, Jr., FWC-FMRI: The director of the marine mammal research program at FWC- FMRI, he brings 30 years experience working with sirenians around the world and forest elephants. His focus will be conservation applications of life history data. Dr. Andrew J. Read, Duke University: Read is an expert on life history analyses of small cetaceans, especially phocoenids. Read will discuss life history theory and specific case studies that involve both field work and assessment of growth layer groups and reproductive status. Dr. John E. Reynolds, III, Eckerd College and U.S. Marine Mammal Commission: Reynolds has done life history research with both manatees and small cetaceans. His research involves both field studies and anatomical research, and his work as Commissioner involves him in a range of conservation issues. He will provide aspects of life history theory and contribute conservation applications. Dr. Sentiel A. Rommel, FWC-FMRI: Rommel, a functional morphologist anatomist, has recently focused on easy methods by which to assess relative, rather than chronological age of marine mammals. He also studies reproductive anatomy. His focus in the course will be to describe the wealth of life history data that can be acquired from carcasses. Dr. Randall S. Wells, Chicago Zoological Society and Mote Marine Laboratory: Wells coordinates and supervises the world's longest-running field study of free-ranging dolphins. His focus in this course will be to take participants into the field to learn how field studies, especially those conducted over the long term, can provide vital life history information. Aside from the human resources, the workshop will take advantage of the state-of the art Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory (MMPL), library and classroom facilities at Eckerd College and Mote Marine Laboratory, and the accessibility of the best studied group of free-ranging bottlenose dolphins in the world. Tentative Schedule: 30 May: Arrival in St. Petersburg 31 May: Theory and applications; overview of approaches to the study of marine mammal life histories. What can be learned about life history from carcasses? Laboratory--examination of reproductive organs. 1 June: Age determination. Laboratory--examination of teeth and ear bones. Sectioning and tissue preparation. 2 June: Laboratory--calculation of age at sexual maturity. Demonstration necropsy. 5 June: What can be learned about life history from living animals? Case studies. 6 June: Field studies--photo-identification. 7 June: Laboratory--examination of photographs/matching. Implications of life history information for conservation; case studies. 8 June: Wrap-up discussions. For those taking the workshop for academic credit, exam. Limit on Number of Participants: Since a goal of the workshop is to provide hands-on opportunities and to provide interactions in a small-group setting, a maximum of 16 people may be enrolled in the workshop. Academic Credit:For those who wish to take the workshop and receive academic credit, a transcript for 3 semester hours of credit will be created at Eckerd College. The credits will be for a 400 level course. You must take the final exam to be eligible for academic credit. Cost: Cost of participating in the workshop is $1,100/person. Accommodations: For those needing housing in the St. Petersburg area, dormitory housing and meals may be acquired at Eckerd College for the period of 30 May-8 June (departure on 8 June). There are nearby motels at which rooms may be rented relatively inexpensively. For Further Information, Contact: Dr. John E. Reynolds, III (E-mail: reynolje(\)eckerd.edu) ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 4 Mar 2000 13:08:19 -0500 From: Keith Ronald Subject: Marine Mammal Managemnet Pleased be advised that the next offering of Marine Mammal Management Distance Education course offered by the Oceanographic Center of Nova Southeastern University will be presented at three levels, full graduate credit (3 credits), full undergraduate level (3 credits), and for general interest. This course may be taken by anyone, anywhere in the world (and has almost been, we still are missing polar region candidates). The next course will start on July 10th and run until September 18th, 2000. Professor Keith Ronald, Coordinator . kronald(\)ocean.nova.edu kronald(\)ocean.nova.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2000 19:20:55 +1000 From: Benjamin Kahn Organization: APEX Environmental Subject: Indonesian cetacean surveys - Komodo National Park boundary="------------1754FE48AFA93BCF509FBD73" --------------1754FE48AFA93BCF509FBD73 Kahn, B. 2000. Komodo National Park cetacean surveys 1999 - A rapid ecological assessment of cetacean diversity, abundance & distribution. Report to The Nature Conservancy - Indonesia Coastal and Marine Program. 29pp. Abstract During May and October 1999 visual and acoustic cetacean surveys were conducted in Komodo National Park (KNP), Indonesia and adjacent waters. The surveys were conducted as a rapid ecological assessment on KNP cetacean diversity, abundance and distribution with the aim to: 1. Identify which cetacean species occur in these waters. Acoustic and visual cetacean surveys would include all marine areas of KNP such as: i. Coastal habitats of KNP to monitor the presence of vulnerable coastal cetaceans. ii. Inter-island straits and deep channels of KNP to examine their significance as migration corridors for wide-ranging migratory cetaceans occurring in eastern Indonesian waters. iii. Oceanic areas to the north and south of KNP to monitor the presence of oceanic cetaceans. 2. Monitor seasonal patterns in KNP cetacean diversity, abundance and distribution, in order to determine whether the waters of KNP include sensitive marine areas for cetaceans such as preferred feeding grounds, mating locations and migration corridors. 3. Identify regional marine environmental impacts affecting cetaceans. 4. Provide site-specific information on cetaceans for educational and environmental awareness programs and to promote alternative livelihood options. 5. Initiate a volunteer cetacean monitoring program for TNC-YPAN staff and interested Labuan Bajo and live-aboard dive operations. In total, 14 cetacean species were identified during 207 active survey hours conducted over 26 field days. The surveys covered an estimated 1443 nautical mile (nm). The species encountered were predominantly toothed whales and dolphins, and include the long-nosed spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris), bottlenosed dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), pan-tropical spotted dolphin (S. attenuata), melon headed whale (Peponocephala electra), minke whale (Balaenoptera acutostrata), sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), Fraser's dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei), pygmy killer whale (Feresa attenuata), false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens), rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis), common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), pygmy or dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sp.) and the Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris). An estimated total of 2423 individual cetaceans were sighted during the survey periods. The acoustic surveys included 93 hydrophone listening stations. These covered an estimated 5912 nm2. Acoustic contact with cetaceans was recorded during 29% of the listening stations. The sightings within KNP borders were dominated by members of the Family Delphinidae, especially T. truncatus and S.longirostris. The offshore waters adjacent to KNP have a far more diverse pattern and high diversity of cetaceans, some rare and endangered. Three species were seen regularly throughout the survey period: S. longirostris, T. truncatus and S. attenuata. For eight species a relative abundance index was calculated using multiple species-specific visual search times. Species were assigned a local abundance category (abundant, common, uncommon, and rare) according to their sighting frequency and visual search time. On six occasions species associations were observed, including one school comprising of four different dolphin species. The presence of new-born calves was observed for seven dolphin species as well as the sperm whale, indicating the KNP area could be an important cetacean calving (and breeding) ground. Several environmental impacts were identified of relevance to cetaceans, which are especially sensitive to acoustic disturbances, such as reef bombing, as well as chemical pollution. Responsible cetacean watching potential in the area has increased due to the survey results. However, this may not be an appropriate activity without strict permit and operational conditions, educational programs and adequate enforcement realised from the start. The survey's outreach activities include a volunteer cetacean monitoring program. The Nature Conservancy - Yayasan Pusaka Alam Nusantara field staff and several dive tourism operators interested in cetacean ecology and ocean conservation have advanced their identification skills through workshops and field training. This program is currently active with staff recording cetacean sightings on standardised data sheets. This community involvement will increase the information available on KNP cetacean diversity and abundance during times other than the priority survey periods. Komodo National Park and World Heritage Area has been identified as one of the richest marine diversity sites in the Indo-Pacific. The rapid ecological assessment for cetaceans shows that the Komodo region is also an important habitat for whales and dolphins, and would benefit from continued cetacean survey efforts to assist resource management plans, conservation measures and alternative livelihood options. Extensions of the Park and its buffer zones have been proposed by the management authorities in order to protect cetacean preferred habitats and migration routes and a 25 year management plan is currently being finalised. For more information please contact the author Benjamin Kahn Director APEX Environmental PO Box 59 Clifton Beach - Cairns 4879 Qld Australia Tel: +61-7-4059 0270 Fax: +61-7-4059 0849 bkahn(\)apex-environmental.com or Jos Pet Deputy Director TNC Indonesia Coastal and Marine Program Jl. Hang Tuah Raya 42, Kebayoran Baru 12120 Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia Tel: +62-(0)21-7206484 Fax:+62-(0)21-7245092 jpet(\)ibm.net --------------1754FE48AFA93BCF509FBD73 Kahn, B. 2000.  Komodo National Park cetacean surveys 1999 - A rapid ecological assessment of cetacean diversity, abundance & distribution. Report to The Nature Conservancy - Indonesia Coastal and Marine Program. 29pp.

Abstract

During May and October 1999 visual and acoustic cetacean surveys were conducted in Komodo National Park (KNP), Indonesia and adjacent waters.  The surveys were conducted as a rapid ecological assessment on KNP cetacean diversity, abundance and distribution with the aim to:

1. Identify which cetacean species occur in these waters. Acoustic and visual cetacean surveys would include all marine areas of KNP such as:

 i. Coastal habitats of KNP to monitor the presence of vulnerable coastal cetaceans.
 ii. Inter-island straits and deep channels of KNP to examine their significance as migration corridors for wide-ranging migratory cetaceans occurring in eastern Indonesian waters.
 iii. Oceanic areas to the north and south of KNP to monitor the presence of oceanic cetaceans.

2. Monitor seasonal patterns in KNP cetacean diversity, abundance and distribution, in order to determine whether the waters of KNP include sensitive marine areas for cetaceans such as preferred feeding grounds, mating locations and migration corridors.

3. Identify regional marine environmental impacts affecting cetaceans.

4. Provide site-specific information on cetaceans for educational and environmental awareness programs and to promote alternative livelihood options.

5. Initiate a volunteer cetacean monitoring program for TNC-YPAN staff and interested Labuan Bajo and live-aboard dive operations.

In total, 14 cetacean species were identified during 207 active survey hours conducted over 26 field days.  The surveys covered an estimated 1443 nautical mile (nm). The species encountered were predominantly toothed whales and dolphins, and include the long-nosed spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris), bottlenosed dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), pan-tropical spotted dolphin (S. attenuata), melon headed whale (Peponocephala electra), minke whale (Balaenoptera acutostrata), sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), Fraser's dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei), pygmy killer whale (Feresa attenuata), false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens), rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis), common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), pygmy or dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sp.) and the Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris).

An estimated total of 2423 individual cetaceans were sighted during the survey periods. The acoustic surveys included 93 hydrophone listening stations.  These covered an estimated 5912 nm2.   Acoustic contact with cetaceans was recorded during 29% of the listening stations. The sightings within KNP borders were dominated by members of the Family Delphinidae, especially T. truncatus and S.longirostris.  The offshore waters adjacent to KNP have a far more diverse pattern and high diversity of cetaceans, some rare and endangered. Three species were seen regularly throughout the survey period:  S. longirostris, T. truncatus and S. attenuata.

For eight species a relative abundance index was calculated using multiple species-specific visual search times.  Species were assigned a local abundance category (abundant, common, uncommon, and rare) according to their sighting frequency and visual search time. On six occasions species associations were observed, including one school comprising of four different dolphin species. The presence of new-born calves was observed for seven dolphin species as well as the sperm whale, indicating the KNP area could be an important cetacean calving (and breeding) ground.

Several environmental impacts were identified of relevance to cetaceans, which are especially sensitive to acoustic disturbances, such as reef bombing, as well as chemical pollution. Responsible cetacean watching potential in the area has increased due to the survey results.  However, this may not be an appropriate activity without strict permit and operational conditions, educational programs and adequate enforcement realised from the start.

The survey's outreach activities include a volunteer cetacean monitoring program.  The Nature Conservancy - Yayasan Pusaka Alam Nusantara field staff and several dive tourism operators interested in cetacean ecology and ocean conservation have advanced their identification skills through workshops and field training. This program is currently active with staff recording cetacean sightings on standardised data sheets. This community involvement will increase the information available on KNP cetacean diversity and abundance during times other than the priority survey periods.

Komodo National Park and World Heritage Area has been identified as one of the richest marine diversity sites in the Indo-Pacific. The rapid ecological assessment for cetaceans shows that the Komodo region is also an important habitat for whales and dolphins, and would benefit from continued cetacean survey efforts to assist resource management plans, conservation measures and alternative livelihood options.  Extensions of the Park and its buffer zones have been proposed by the management authorities in order to protect cetacean preferred habitats and migration routes and a 25 year management plan is currently being finalised.

For more information please contact the author

Benjamin Kahn
Director
APEX Environmental
PO Box 59 Clifton Beach - Cairns
4879 Qld Australia
Tel:  +61-7-4059 0270
Fax: +61-7-4059 0849
bkahn(\)apex-environmental.com
 

or

Jos Pet
Deputy Director
TNC Indonesia Coastal and Marine Program
Jl. Hang Tuah Raya 42, Kebayoran Baru 12120
Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia
Tel: +62-(0)21-7206484
Fax:+62-(0)21-7245092
jpet(\)ibm.net
 
  --------------1754FE48AFA93BCF509FBD73-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2000 08:51:02 +0100 From: Elena Politi Subject: photoidentification catalogue A photoidentification catalogue of short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) living in the eastern Ionian Sea has been made available on the internet at: www.tethys.org This represents the first step to make public the extensive photoidentification catalogues by the Tethys Research Institute, featuring Mediterranean species including fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), Cuvier's beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris), Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus), bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), and short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis). ================================== Elena Politi Tethys Research Institute Viale G.B. Gadio 2 20121 Milano, Italy ph. +39 02 72001947 fax +39 02 72001946 email: politie(\)tin.it Internet: www.tethys.org ================================== =============================== Elena Politi Tethys Research Institute c/o Thetis SpA Castello 2737/f I-30122 Venezia - Italy ph: +39 041 2406353 email: politie(\)tin.it http://www.tethys.org ================================ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 Mar 2000 13:19:52 GMT0BST From: SWEETING Subject: telling a life story from seal teeth In-Reply-To: <200003050612.GAA25368(\)cheviot2.ncl.ac.uk> Dear subscribers I am looking for information on seal teeth particularly the hooded and harps seals. I would specifically be interested in hearing from anyone who undertakes tooth based ageing, tooth development or isotope analysis studies on these species particularly or seals in general. The idea behind this study is to try and interpret patterns in the growth rings found in seal teeth to try and reconstruct events from its life, for example does a poor years growth relate to a poor year class of prey item? Can a stress line in cementum or dentine be related to weaning or moulting events? etc. The literature on seal teeth that I have been able to obtain is limited and often old, while isotope work on seal teeth seems rare. I would also value a recommendation on a review paper concerning the lifetime behaviour of these animals in looking for stress events. Current study suggests these animals undergo massive stress events which are far greater than many other mammals I have studied. I would be grateful for your help and thank you in advance. Chris Sweeting Christopher.Sweeting(\)ncl.ac.uk Department of Marine Sciences Ridley Building University of Newcastle Newcastle upon Tyne United Kingdom +44 (0)191 2659105 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2000 11:16:04 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Problems with captive finless porpoise (fwd) Date: Mon, 6 Mar 2000 21:15:29 +0800 Dear list, We have some captive finless por poises in our institute, three of them were newly captured from the Yangtse River, in December, 1999. Two of the three animals are adult ones, one male and one femal, and the last is a young female porpoise. All of the three have adapted to the aquarium quite well. But the male is not very good in the past three weeks. It has caught a heavy skin disease on Feb. 11th, and suddenly and drastically, it became so thin that the neck became very obvious just like human being! After sevral days' treatment with antiphlogistin and antipyrotic injection, the skin turned better and the white blood cells lowered from around 13,000 to 7,000. It seems everything is getting better, although the figure hasn't become a little better, I mean, it's still very thin. During the whole course, we haven't observed any abnormal behavior of the male one and it's appetite is always very good. It even ate more than someone larger that it. Today, after a routine medical examination, we found the skin is much better, but the WBC is 190,000!!! As i know, the normal WBC should be no more than 10,000. The miserable one is been re-isolated now. But we don't know what's wrong with it, except high WBC and terrible thinness. Does anyone know what is happening to the porpoise? Or can anyone make some suggestions that what treatment may help the porpoise or what check-up we should perform to it? Or can anybody tell me someone's email address, from whom we can get some help? I know the details is very much limited, maybe I can give you more details tomorrow or later. I wish you can understand my anxiety, as no one knows how much the animal's life is left. Thanks for your help! May god bless it! Yours, XIAO Jianqiang My email is akhan(\)371.net ======================================================= Date: Tue, 7 Mar 2000 10:23:40 +0800 Dear list, I'm sorry that i have made a mistake in the WBC number of the male one. When it caught the skin disease and became thin, the WBC is about 30,000 per uL. After two weeks' treatment, it was about 7,000. And yesterday, it's about 17,000 (not 190,000, I'm terribly sorry for that silly mistake). While for the newly captured mature female, it's also more than 10,000, at about 13,000. So it seems the "abnormal" WBC is partly the result of the great chage of living enviroment between wild and the captive, and perhaps is not the reason of the abnormal thinness of the male. So what I wonder at present is why the male eats so much while is still so thin and what shall we do? Yours, XIAO Jianqiang My email is akhan(\)371.net Date: Thu, 11 Mar 0100 21:51:10 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly marine mammal summary to US congress (fwd) The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS {{CITES Hearing. On Mar. 28, 2000, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans has scheduled an oversight hearing on April 2000 meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).}} [personal communication] {{Soviet Navy Mammals. In early March 2000, the London Times reported that Crimean authorities had completed the sale and transfer to Iran of 27 marine mammals (dolphins, beluga whales, walruses, and sea lions) trained by the former Soviet Navy.}} [London Times] {Sea Lion Protection. In early March 2000, New Zealand closed a squid fishery around the Auckland Islands after endangered New Zealand sea lion bycatch mortality reached 65 animals. The early closure may result in as much as a NZ$50 million loss to the fishing industry.} [Southland Times] {Dolphins in the Navy. In early March 2000, the U.S. Navy flew two female dolphins from San Diego, CA, to Sitka, AK, for participation in the Northern Edge 2000 military exercise.} [Anchorage Daily News] Mexican Salt Works Project. On Mar. 2, 2000, Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo and officials of Mitsubishi Corp. announced that the government of Mexico and Mitsubishi Corp. would not continue to pursue construction of a salt works project adjacent to San Ignacio lagoon. [Embassy of Mexico press release, Reuters, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release] Whale Research Irregularities? On Feb. 29, 2000, the Pacific Whale Foundation is scheduled for arraignment and plea hearing in 2nd Circuit District Court (Maui) on 91 misdemeanor charges for allegedly conducting whale research in HI waters before a state permit was issued in February 1998. The federal government has also charged the foundation with 7 civil violations under the MMPA and Endangered Species Act. A hearing on the federal charges is scheduled for late March 2000. [Maui News] Keiko. On Feb. 23, 2000, Ocean Futures announced a postponement, at least until early March 2000, of the planned release of the orca whale Keiko from his seapen into the net-enclosed Klettsvik Bay, Iceland, due to tidal surges and wind loosening anchoring bolts of the barrier net. On Mar. 3, 2000, Keiko was released from his pen into the larger net-enclosed Klettsvik Bay [http://www.oceanfutures.org]. [Portland Oregonian, Reuters, Ocean Futures press release] North Atlantic Right Whale. On Feb. 22-24, 2000, NMFS held a workshop in Danvers, MA, to determine ways commercial fishing might be modified to increase protection for northern right whales. On Mar. 1, 2000, rescue teams attempted to disentangle a 20-year old male northern right whale found tangled in fishing gear off Manomet, MA, in Cape Cod Bay. Initial attempts were unsuccessful, but the whale appeared to be strong and in good health. {On Mar. 3, 2000, the Conservation Law Foundation (Boston, MA) filed a 60-day notice of intent to sue NMFS, claiming failure to take action sufficient to protect endangered north Atlantic right whales under the Endangered Species Act.} [Assoc Press, Boston Herald, Boston Globe] CA Sea Otters. On Feb. 22, 2000, officials of the Monterey Bay Aquarium announced that a sea otter, raised in captivity, rehabilitated, and then released to the wild, had given birth in the wild in November 1999 and appeared to be successfully raising this pup. This was reportedly a first for the Aquarium's 16-year sea otter pup rescue program. [San Jose Mercury] French Dolphin Mortality Event. In mid-February 2000, about 400 dead common and striped dolphins were found from Brittany south along the west coast of France. Many of the dead dolphins appeared wounded, with some blaming encounters with French and Spanish fishing trawlers pulling massive pelagic nets after anchovies, hake, herring, and other fish. [BBC News, Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society press release, London Times] Seal Barge? On Feb. 14, 2000, the local Chamber of Commerce and business owners plan to petition Seal Beach, CA, City Council officials to allow the anchoring of a barge offshore to provide an artificial attractant habitat for seals and sea lions as a means of boosting tourism. [Assoc Press, Orange County Register] Whale Watch Vessel Fire. On Feb. 14, 2000, a Gloucester, MA, man was arraigned in Gloucester District Court for allegedly setting fire to a whale water boat in Gloucester harbor in early February 2000. A hearing on this case is scheduled for Feb. 22, 2000. [Boston Herald] Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. Date: Thu, 11 Mar 0100 21:55:01 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Summer internships with Island Marine Institute, Hawaii (fwd) Island Marine Institute, in Lahaina, Maui, is seeking three researchers in marine mammal biology or a related field for a spring/summer internship. Internships are with the Research and Education department for the annual humpback whale migration and consist of data entry, photo analysis, and some field work. Island Marine Institute is under the direction of Dr. Joe Mobley and Dr. Robin Baird. The Institute works with volunteer undergraduates and graduates who are working toward a career in marine mammal research. The minimum requirements for these postions are: 24 volunteer hours per week with at least a three month commitment, computer experience, familiarity with scientific literature and reference library, and public speaking. A background in photography and/or photo-identification is preferred. Darkroom experience desirable. There are no charges or fees for participation in this program. This is an opportunity for those persons interested in gaining real practical experience in conducting marine mammal research. All applicants must send a resume with a cover letter detailing interest, experience, and availability with three references ASAP to : Island Marine Institute 113 Prison Street Lahaina, HI 96761 Attention: Heather Medic Research Project Manager (808)249-TAIL FAX: (808)661-5792 Research(\)whalewatchmaui.com Please do not send resume via email Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 13:35:27 -0500 From: Emily Hanson Subject: Vacancy Announcement The Office of Protected Resources of the National Marine Fisheries Service is hiring a Fishery Biologist (equivalent to a GS 11/12) to provide policy advice to implement the Tuna/Dolphin program and other international marine mammal programs. The vacancy announcement is open for 3 weeks, from March 14 to April 4. The identification number for the vacancy is H/NMF/000021.KMC. Details on applying for the position can be found at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/a9noaa.htm and you can view the status of the vacancy at http://www.rdc.noaa.gov/~hrmo/va-status.htm ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Mar 0100 19:27:55 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Tuberculosis in fur seals (fwd) From: Diego Rodriguez TUBERCULOSIS IN A WILD SUBANTARCTIC FUR SEAL FROM ARGENTINA. Bastida,R., J.Loureiro, V.Quse, A.Barnardelli, D.Rodriguez & E.Costa. 1999. Journal of Wildlife Diseases: 35(4): 766-768. The first case of tuberculosis is described in a wild subantarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis) found on the Argentine coast. There was an hydrothrorax and white firm granutomatous lesions of 40-50 mm in diameter in the lungs. Lesions consisted of a central area of caseous necrosis, an intermediate zone of epithelioid and lymphocitic mononuclear cells, and a peripheral zone of connective tissue. Biochemical and drug sensitivity tests and inoculation of Guinea pigs confirmed the identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Arctocephalus tropicalis is the fifth pinniped species in which the M.tuberculosis complex has been detected. Since subantarctic fur seals are widely distributed in the Southern Hemisphere, it is possible that the tuberculosis cases may have a common origin and could spread to other austral region and species. A limited number of reprints are available upon request to: Diego Rodriguez (dhrodri(\)mdp.edu.ar) or Casilla de Correos 43, (7600) Mar del Plata, Argentina. _________________________________________ Dr. Diego Rodriguez Departamento de Ciencias Marinas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Casilla de Correo 43, (7600) Mar del Plata, Argentina. Email: dhrodri(\)mdp.edu.ar TE: +54 (0) 223 4752426 (int.456)/ 4751107 FAX: +54 (0) 223 4753150 Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2000 19:33:27 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Current Issue: Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy (2:3) (fwd) From: JIWLP The Table of Contents for Volume 2, No. 3 of the Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy can be found below. The online version of the Table of Contents includes the full text of the French & Schiffman articles, as well as all major documents addressed in all of the Issue's articles. To access the Table of Contents, go to: http://www.jiwlp.com/past.html Subscription information for the Journal is also available on the site. To receive announcements of future additions to the site, which will soon include a number of wildlife research bibliographies relevant to both policymakers and scientists, sign up on the site's mailing list on the home page: www.jiwlp.com. Wil Burns, Editor-in-Chief Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy 1210 Floribunda Ave. #7 Burlingame, CA 94010 USA Phone: 650.703.3280 Fax: 801.838.4710 JIWLP(\)earthling.net http://www.jiwlp.com/ Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy Volume 2/No.3/1999 MAIN ARTICLES Sustainable Development and the 1991 Madrid Protocol to the 1959 Antarctic Treaty: The Primacy of Protection in a Particularly Sensitive Environment, Duncan French COMMENTS The Southern Bluefin Tuna Case: ITLOS Hears Its First Fishery Dispute, Howard S. Schiffman Southern Bluefin Tuna Feedlotting - ESD, the Precautionary Principle and Burden of Proof, Mark Parnell The 51st Annual Meeting of the International Whaling Commission: One Minute Before Midnight?, Karen Simpson Searching For Tigers in Canada: Limitations of Forensic Analysis, Brian Petrar DOCUMENTS Cover Letter, Submission pursuant to Article 14 of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC) and Council Resolution 99-06: Alleged violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of the United States * Registry of Submission: Commission for Environmental Cooperation * Petition to the Commission for Environmental Cooperation BOOK REVIEWS Song for the Blue Ocean, Carl Safina, Reviewed by Michael Rivlin Animals and Nature: Cultural Myths, Cultural Realities, Rod Preece, Reviewed by David Orton Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2000 09:36:47 +0100 From: Krishna Das Subject: abstract ------ The following article is now available. Please note that if you do not ha= ve access to the journal, reprint requests may be sent to Krishna Das via email: Krishna.Das(\)student.ulg.ac= .be Das, K., Lepoint, G., Loizeau, V., Debacker, V., Dauby, P., and Bouquegneau, J.M. (2000). Tuna and dolphin associations in the Northeast Atlantic: evidence of different ecological niches from stable isotope and heavy metal measurements. Marine Pollution Bulletin 40 (2): 102-109 Abstract: ABSTRACT: Associations of tunas and dolphins in the wild are quite freque= nt events and the question arises how predators requiring similar diet in th= e same habitat share their environmental resources. As isotopic composition of an animal is related to that of its preys, stable isotopes (13C/12C an= d 15N/14N) analyses were performed in three predator species from the Northeast Atlantic: the striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba, the commo= n dolphin Delphinus delphis, and the albacore tuna, Thunnus alalunga, and compared to their previously described stomach content. Heavy metals (Cd, Zn, Cu and Fe) are mainly transferred through the diet and so, have been determined in the tissues of the animals. Tunas muscles display higher d1= 5N than in common and striped dolphins (mean: 11.4 0/00 vs. 10.3 0/00 and 10= .4 0/00, respectively) which reflects its higher trophic level nutrition. Higher d13C are found in common (-18.4 0/00) and striped dolphin (-18.10/00) muscles than in albacore tuna (-19.3 0/00) likely in relation with its migratory pattern. The most striking feature is the presence of two levels of cadmium concentrations in the livers of the tunas (32 mg kg= -1 dry weight vs. 5 mg kg-1 dry weight). These two groups also differ by the= ir iron concentrations and their d15N and d13C liver values. These results suggest that in the Biscay Bay, tunas occupy two different ecological niches likely based on different squid input in their diet. Keywords: Marine mammals; tunas, stable isotopes, heavy metals, food webs= , Northeast Atlantic Laboratoire d'Oc=E9anologie B6, Universit=E9 de Li=E8ge Institut de Chimie B-4000, Li=E8ge Belgium Tel: 00 32 (0)4 3664829 Fax: 00 32 (0)4 3663325 http://www.ulg.ac.be/oceanbio/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2000 10:11:29 +0200 From: Dan Kerem Subject: "Jealousy" in Cetaceans ? looking for info. Shalom Dear MARMAMERS In conjunction with an ongoing study of a solitary sociable female dolphin, I'm looking for information about "jealousy" behaviour in wild female Cetaceans and especially in dolphins (Tursiops). I an using this term to define female aggressiveness towards an(other) female(s) in a context of direct interaction/association with a male. I have been unable to find mention of such behavior in material available to me and am not exactly sure how to search for it. Anyone who can set me on the right track or, better still, supply references/instances will receive my sincere gratitude. Thank you in advance, Oz Oz Goffman, Ph.D. Student Director, IMMRAC Israeli Marine Mammal Research & Assistance Center Home address: 57 HaKongress Street Kiriat Haim, Haifa 26222 IL tel/fax: 972-4-8664638 goffman(\)research.haifa.ac.il Dan Kerem, Ph.D. President, IMMRAC (Israeli Marine Mammal Research and Assistance Center) The Recanati Center for Maritime Studies The University of Haifa Mount Carmel, Haifa 31905 Israel e-mail: dankerem(\)research.haifa.ac.il Tel: + 972-4-8249449 Fax: + 972-4-8240493 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Mar 0100 13:15:34 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly marine mammal summary to U.S. Congress (fwd) The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} CITES Hearing. On Mar. 28, 2000, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans has scheduled an oversight hearing on April 2000 meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). [personal communication] {{Japanese Whaling. On Mar. 16, 2000, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Greenpeace release the results of a survey of 1,185 Japanese adults on attitudes about whaling and whalemeat consumption. About 55% of the Japanese public had no opinion or were neutral regarding commercial whaling, 14% opposed whaling outright, 11% supported commercial whaling, and 20% reported that the reason for killing whales would affect whether they supported whaling. In addition, about 61% had not eaten whalemeat since childhood, if at all.}} [IFAW press release] {Manatee and Sea Turtle Ruling. On Mar. 10, 2000 and in response to a lawsuit by a coalition of environmental groups, a FL Circuit Court judge ruled that, contrary to a specific exemption by the FL Legislature, a FL constitutional amendment gives the FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission the right to protect marine species (e.g., manatees and sea turtles) as well as land animals.} [Assoc Press] Soviet Navy Mammals. In early March 2000, the London Times reported that Crimean authorities had completed the sale and transfer to Iran of 27 marine mammals (dolphins, beluga whales, walruses, and sea lions) trained by the former Soviet Navy. [London Times] Sea Lion Protection. In early March 2000, New Zealand closed a squid fishery around the Auckland Islands after endangered New Zealand sea lion bycatch mortality reached 65 animals. The early closure may result in as much as a NZ$50 million loss to the fishing industry. [Southland Times] Dolphins in the Navy. In early March 2000, the U.S. Navy flew two female dolphins from San Diego, CA, to Sitka, AK, for participation in the Northern Edge 2000 military exercise. [Anchorage Daily News] Mexican Salt Works Project. On Mar. 2, 2000, Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo and officials of Mitsubishi Corp. announced that the government of Mexico and Mitsubishi Corp. would not continue to pursue construction of a salt works project adjacent to San Ignacio lagoon. [Embassy of Mexico press release, Reuters, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release] Whale Research Irregularities? On Feb. 29, 2000, 2nd Circuit District Court (Maui) Judge Shackley Raffetto held an arraignment and plea hearing for the Pacific Whale Foundation, which was cited on 91 misdemeanor charges for allegedly conducting whale research in HI waters before a state permit was issued in February 1998. The federal government has also charged the foundation with 7 civil violations under the MMPA and Endangered Species Act. {{The Foundation pleaded not guilty, and May 22, 2000 was set as the state trial date.}} A hearing on the federal charges is scheduled for late March 2000. [Maui News] Keiko. On Feb. 23, 2000, Ocean Futures announced a postponement, at least until early March 2000, of the planned release of the orca whale Keiko from his seapen into the net-enclosed Klettsvik Bay, Iceland, due to tidal surges and wind loosening anchoring bolts of the barrier net. On Mar. 3, 2000, Keiko was released from his pen into the larger net-enclosed Klettsvik Bay [http://www.oceanfutures.org]. [Portland Oregonian, Reuters, Ocean Futures press release] North Atlantic Right Whale. On Feb. 22-24, 2000, NMFS held a workshop in Danvers, MA, to determine ways commercial fishing might be modified to increase protection for northern right whales. On Mar. 1, 2000, rescue teams attempted to disentangle a 20-year old male northern right whale found tangled in fishing gear off Manomet, MA, in Cape Cod Bay. Initial attempts were unsuccessful, but the whale appeared to be strong and in good health. On Mar. 3, 2000, the Conservation Law Foundation (Boston, MA) filed a 60-day notice of intent to sue NMFS, claiming failure to take action sufficient to protect endangered north Atlantic right whales under the Endangered Species Act. [Assoc Press, Boston Herald, Boston Globe] CA Sea Otters. On Feb. 22, 2000, officials of the Monterey Bay Aquarium announced that a sea otter, raised in captivity, rehabilitated, and then released to the wild, had given birth in the wild in November 1999 and appeared to be successfully raising this pup. This was reportedly a first for the Aquarium's 16-year sea otter pup rescue program. [San Jose Mercury] Items in this Summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2000 17:18:14 -0500 From: "Ruth E. Shaw" Subject: Update: Atlantic Coast Contaminants Workshop Travel Grants UPDATE: ATLANTIC COAST CONTAMINANTS WORKSHOP 22-25 JUNE 2000 BAR HARBOR, MAINE "ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT: IMPACTS ON MARINE WILDLIFE AND HUMAN HEALTH" KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Dr. Theo Colborn, World Wildlife Fund: "An Overview of Endocrine Disruption: The Marine/Human Connection" SPONSORED BY: Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI), The University of Connecticut Department of Pathobiology, and The Jackson Laboratory RECENT GRADUATES ELIGIBLE FOR MERI TRAVEL GRANTS MERI announces that additional student travel grants are available for the Atlantic Coast Contaminants Workshop to be held 22-25 June 2000 at The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine. Workshop organizers invite RECENT GRADUATES of a recognized college or university as well as current graduate students to apply for these grants. STUDENT APPLICATION DEADLINE: APRIL 1, 2000. POSTER ABSTRACTS The Atlantic Coast Contaminants Workshop encourages poster presentations by graduate students and recent graduates. Space is limited and posters will be selected on a competitive basis. Posters should address critical issues and themes of the conference. DEADLINE FOR POSTER ABSTRACT SUBMISSION: APRIL 1, 2000. NOTE: FIRST AUTHORS OF INVITED POSTERS WILL BE GIVEN FIRST PRIORITY FOR MERI TRAVEL GRANTS. To apply: http://www.meriresearch.org/workshop.html Ruth E. Shaw Assistant to the Director Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) P. O. Box 300, Brooklin, ME 04616 Voice: 207-359-8078 Fax: 207-359-8079 Email: adminmeri(\)downeast.net ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2000 13:10:19 -0900 From: Beth Mathews Subject: Undergraduate Research Experiences in Marine Biology in Alaska Undergraduate Research Experiences in Marine Biology in Alaska The University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) offers research experiences to undergraduate students interested in the physiology, ecology, and behavior of marine organisms. In addition to the Juneau area, field research projects take place in Glacier Bay National Park, the Gulf of Alaska, and the Arctic Ocean. Students will conduct research under the guidance of UAS Biology faculty or collaborating research scientists. The program is supported with funds from the National Science Foundation and UAS. Participants will receive a stipend of $325 per week and campus housing while in Juneau. Travel and subsistence costs within Alaska will also be provided. Applications received by MARCH 30, 2000 will receive priority consideration. (See WEB site address below for application information.) Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and enrolled as undergraduate students at accredited institutions. The program seeks academically strong students interested in marine biological research. Minority applicants are especially encouraged. Field research projects include: BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY OF RINGED SEALS DEMOGRAPHY OF PACIFIC WALRUSES FORAGING ECOLOGY OF SEA OTTERS BEHAVIOR OF HARBOR PORPOISES POPULATION BIOLOGY OF HARBOR SEALS IN GLACIER BAY EFFECTS OF VESSEL TRAFFIC ON HARBOR SEALS BEHAVIOR AND DEMOGRAPHY OF STELLER SEA LIONS EFFECTS OF TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS (TDS) ON SALMONIDS REGULATION OF GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION IN DECAPOD CRUSTACEA LARVAL DEVELOPMENT OF DUNGENESS CRABS INTERACTIONS OF PARASITES WITH DUNGENESS AND KING CRAB BIOCHEMISTRY OF CRUSTACEAN HORMONES NURSERY AREAS FOR DUNGENESS CRABS BIOGEOGRAPHY OF INTERTIDAL MARINE ORGANISMS For more information on this program, please see our web site: WEB SITE: http://www.uas.alaska.edu/uas/biology/nsf.html or CONTACT: Elizabeth Mathews, M.S. Assistant Professor of Biology beth.mathews(\)uas.alaska.edu -- Elizabeth A. Mathews Assistant Professor of Biology University of Alaska Southeast 11120 Glacier Hwy. Juneau, AK 99801 907-465-1827 Beth.Mathews(\)uas.alaska.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 09:22:27 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CMS Documents now available on ASIL WIG site (fwd) From: JIWLP The full text of the resolutions from the Sixth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn Convention) are now available on the American Society of International Law - Wildlife Interest Group website, at: http://www.eelink.net/~asilwildlife/6_meeting.html The CMS is particularly relevant to marine mammals because three of its primary agreements are marine mammal agreements: ASCOBANS and ACCOBAMS (cetaceans) and the Wadden Sea Seals accord. The site's documents section also includes the full text of many international wildlife treaty regimes, conference resolutions and national legislation, with many resources to be added in the next few weeks. If you wish to be informed when additions are made to the site, please sign up on our announcement list on the home page. Wil Burns, Co-Chairman American Society of International Law - Wildlife Interest Group 1210 Floribunda Ave. #7 Burlingame, CA 94010 USA Phone: 650.703.3280 Fax: 801.838.4710 ASILwildlife(\)pacbell.net http://www.eelink.net/~asilwildlife Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 11:55:18 -0800 From: Carlos Alvarez Organization: NMML Subject: Annual meeting of graduate students in the NW. *****apologies for cross postings***** Dear Fellow Students, Professors and Colleagues: Graduate students working on marine mammal issues in the NW region of the American Continent will be holding their annual meeting on April 29-30, 2000 in the new building of the School of Fisheries at the University of Washington in Seattle. Details can be found in the following URL that takes you to the meeting's internet site and includes links to the pre-registration form. http://students.washington.edu/calvarez/call.html IMPORTANT NOTE: The pre-registration form can only be accessesed using the Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape is unable to open the document. If you absolutely can't open it at all, I'll email it. Please address questions regarding this meeting directly to me. Regards Carlos Alvarez School of Fisheries University of Washington Box 355020 Seattle WA. 98195. Phone NMML (206)526 6331 Fax (206)685 7471 Email alvarez(\)fish.washington.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 09:48:17 -0800 From: MICHAEL GALLOWAY Subject: Non-invasive tagging of Pacific Harbor Seals To whom it may concern, My name is Michael Galloway and I'm a graduate student at San Francisco State University collecting field data on Pacific harbor seals in the San Francisco Bay. I'm interested in somehow identifying the seals from one of the sites where we conduct our research to record individual behavior patterns in regards to haul-out patterns, haul-out site fidelity, and effects of disturbance caused by watercraft and other human factors. I would like to find some means of marking these animals from a distance without subjecting these animals to the stress of mark-and-recapture methods that normally involve rushing the haul-out site by a boat and netting these animals. Since we have access to conduct our surveys from the land above the haul-out site, I would be able to mark the seals from there. Although our observation points place us anywhere from 50-90 meters from the seals, previous studies at the site have been conducted as near as 30 meters from the seals. We haven't attempted to get closer to the seals since they can be rather skittish, but due to the availability of trees and brush at the site it may be possible to get even closer. I have talked to researchers in the past who have mentioned spaghetti tags, but data collected so far indicates that they may not be too reliable in future identification (they appear to fall off rather easily). If anyone has any suggestions, they can contact me, Michael Galloway, at mjgallow(\)sfsu.edu. Thank you very much for your time and consideration of this message. Sincerely, Michael Galloway ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 21 Mar 0100 00:18:14 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications (fwd) Here are some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Publications recently posted to MARMAM are not included. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. Whale high-molecular-weight and low-molecular-weight kininogens. Semba, U; Shibuya, Y; Okabe, H; Hayashi, I; Yamamoto, T. THROMBOSIS RESEARCH. March 15, 2000 v97 i6 p481-490 Environmental contamination in bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus): Relationship between levels of metals, methylmercury, and organochlorine compounds in an adult female, her neonate, and a calf. Storelli, MM; Marcotrigiano, GO. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY. March 2000 v64 i3 p333-340 Hearing characteristics of harbor porpoise, Phocoena phocoena. Klishin, VO; Popov, VV. DOKLADY AKADEMII NAUK. January 2000 v370 i3 p413-415 Whale Sanctuary finalized. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN. January 2000 v40 i1 p4-4 Phocoenobacter uteri gen. nov., sp nov., a new member of the family Pasteurellaceae Pohl (1979) 1981 isolated from a harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Foster, G; Ross, HM; Malnick, H; Willems, A; Hutson, RA; Reid, RJ; Collins, MD. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY. January 2000 v50 part1 p135-139 Investigation of white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) biology in reproductive period Author(s) Bel'kovich, VM; Kirillova, OI Source ZOOLOGICHESKY ZHURNAL, January 2000 v79 i1 p89-96 Influence of sea ice dynamics on habitat selection by polar bears. Ferguson, SH; Taylor, MK; Messier, F. ECOLOGY. March 2000 v81 i3 p761-772 Evaluation of 2,3,7,8 specific congener and toxic potency of persistent polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans in cetaceans from the Mediterranean Sea, Italy. Jimenez, B; Gonzalez, MJ; Jimenez, O; Reich, S; Eljarrat, E; Rivera, J. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. March 1, 2000 v34 i5 p756-763 Tracing the sources of PCDD/Fs and PCBs to Lake Baikal. Mamontov, AA; Mamontova, EA; Tarasova, EN; McLachlan, MS. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. March 1, 2000 v34 i5 p741-747 Ontogeny of swimming and diving in northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) pups. Baker, JD; Donohue, MJ.CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY-REVUE CANADIENNE DE ZOOLOGIE. January 2000 v78 i1 p100-109 Organochlorine exposure and bioaccumulation in the endangered Northwest Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) population. Weisbrod, AV; Shea, D; Moore, MJ; Stegeman, JJ. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY. March 2000 v19 i3 p654-666 Bioaccumulation patterns of polychlorinated biphenyls and chlorinated pesticides in Northwest Atlantic pilot whales. Weisbrod, AV; Shea, D; Moore, MJ; John, JJ. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY. March 2000 v19 i3 p667-677 Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 10:09:21 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Availability of 1999 NMFS Pacific Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports (fwd) From: James V. Carretta Under the 1994 amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) are required to publish Stock Assessment Reports for all stocks of marine mammals within U.S. waters, to review new information every year for strategic stocks and every three years for non-strategic stocks, and to update the stock assessment reports whenever significant new information becomes available. 1999 Pacific stock assessment reports published by the Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) are now available on the World Wide Web through the Southwest Fisheries Science Center Homepage (http://swfsc.ucsd.edu) through the 'Publications' link. Reports may be accessed directly through http://swfsc.ucsd.edu/sars/. In addition, reports from SWFSC and other NMFS centers (Alaska and Atlantic regions) are now available in PDF format through the NMFS Office of Protected Resources Home Page at http://www.nmfs.gov/prot_res/mammals/sa_rep/sar.html. The 1999 SWFSC reports contains significant new information on 11 marine mammal stocks in California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaiian waters (monk seals, harbor porpoise (4 stocks), killer whales (3 stocks), short-finned pilot whales, sperm whales, and humpback whales). REFERENCE 1999. U.S. Pacific Marine Mammal Stock Assessments: 1999. U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum, NMFS-SWFSC-282. 62pp. **************************************************************************** James V. Carretta Southwest Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service P.O. Box 271 La Jolla, CA 92038 ph. (619)-546-7171 FAX (619)-546-5653 email: jcarretta(\)caliban.ucsd.edu OR Jim.Carretta(\)noaa.gov "If I had the choice of knowing the truth or searching for the truth, I'd take the search"- Walker Percy **************************************************************************** Date: Sun, 21 Mar 0100 10:14:40 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Abstract: La Plata Dolphin (fwd) From: Gustavo Thompson Ecology and behaviour of the franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) in Bah=ED= a Anegada, Argentina. Bordino, P.; Thompson, G.; & I=F1=EDguez, M..JOURNA= L OF CETACEAN RESEARCH & MANAGEMENT, 1(2):213-222 (1999) ABSTRACT >From January 1993 to July 1997, franciscana sightings were recorded from shore-based stations and vessels at Bah=EDa Anegada, Argentina. In total,= 321 hours were spent in direct observation of dolphins following the Ad libit= um and Focal sampling methods. The present study provides information on the ecology and behaviour of the franciscana in the study area. A total of 25= 1 sightings were made and the number of sightings per unit effort (SPUE) wa= s significantly greater during spring (p=3D0.001). Dolphins were recorded a= t a mean distance from shore of 3.2km (0.4km-10.7km), although they were foun= d at a significantly greater mean distance from shore during winter (p=3D0.= 005). More sightings were recorded during flood tide than during ebb tide (p=3D0.016). A higher SPUE was also recorded from a sailboat than from a = motor boat (p=3D0.005). Group size was small, ranging from 1 to 6 individuals. Calves were recorded during spring and summer and only one calf was obser= ved per group. The behaviour showed a seasonal pattern with co-operative feed= ing and travelling activities increasing during winter. Tide and depth also influenced behaviour. Co-operative feeding increased during flood tide, while travelling decreased. The behavioural ecology of the franciscana appears similar to that of other coastal and river dolphins. This study represents the first attempts to understand the behaviour of the francisc= ana in its natural habitat.=20 Lic. Gustavo Thompson Dpto. Cs. Biologica Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales Universidad de Buenos Aires Ciudad Universitaria - Pab. II 1428 Buenos Aires ARGENTINA Tel 4576-3300 int. 248 Tel 4576-3349 Fax 4576-3384 Date: Mon, 22 Mar 0100 14:41:26 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: (Fwd) seismic survey impacts ---Forwarded Message From ---- The following is forwarded on behalf of Rob McCauley, r.mccauley(\)cmst.curtin.edu.au . Please direct replies to him, not to me. Dave Mellinger Bioacoustics-L list manager ------------------------------------------------------------------ Dear all, Please find below an abstract summarising a three year study. This publication will become available in May this year. The paper is a discussion of a larger body of work which should be avaliable in electronic format by May also. The full report will then be published a book. Regards, Rob McCauley McCauley, R.D., Fewtrell, J., Duncan, A.J., Jenner, C., Jenner, M-N., Penrose, J., Prince, R.I.T., Adhitya, A., Murdoch, J., McCabe, K. (2000 in press). Marine seismic surveys - A study of environmental implications. APPEA Journal, May 2000 ABSTRACT An experimental program was run by the Centre for Marine Science and Technology of Curtin University between March 1996 and October 1999 to study the environmental implications of offshore seismic survey noise. This work was initiated and sponsored by the Australian Petroleum Production Exploration Association. The program: characterised air-gun signal measurements; modelled air-gun array sources and horizontal air-gun signal propagation; developed an 'exposure model' to predict the scale of potential biological effects for a given seismic survey over its duration; made observations of humpback whales traversing a 3D seismic survey; carried out experiments of approaching humpback whales with a single operating air-gun; carried out trials with an air-gun approaching a cage containing sea turtles, fishes or squid; and modelled the response of fish hearing systems to air-gun signals. The generalised response of migrating humpback whales to a 3D seismic vessel was to take some avoidance manoeuvre at > 4 km then to allow the seismic vessel to pass no closer than 3 km. Humpback pods containing cows which were involved in resting behaviour in key habitat types, as opposed to migrating animals, were more sensitive and showed an avoidance response estimated at 7-12 km from a large seismic source. Male humpbacks were attracted to a single operating air-gun due to what was believed the similarity of an air-gun signal and a whale breaching event (leaping clear of the water and slamming back in). Based on the response of captive animals to an approaching single air-gun and scaling these results, indicated sea turtles displayed a general 'alarm' response at an estimated 2 km range from an operating seismic vessel and behaviour indicative of avoidance estimated at 1 km. Similar trials with captive fishes showed a generic fish 'alarm' response of swimming faster, swimming to the bottom, tightening school structure, or all three, at an estimated 2-5 km from a seismic source. Modelling the fish ear predicted that at ranges < 2 km from a seismic source the ear would begin a rapid increase in displacement parameters. Captive fish exposed to short range air-gun signals were seen to have some damaged hearing structures, but showed no evidence of increased stress. Captive squid showed a strong startle responses to nearby air-gun start up and evidence that they would significantly alter their behaviour at an estimated 2-5 km from an approaching large seismic source. keywords - seismic, noise effects, fish, whales, squid, sea turtles, underwater sound, air-guns Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 14:50:29 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Bahamian whale mortality and navy military excercises (fwd) Editor's note - full text of a news article on the subject referred to is included below. ========================================== From: Jim Moore I just saw an article in the San Diego Union-Tribune stating that 14 whales beached and 8 died in the Bahamas between 15-17 March, following (but not necessarily related to) US Navy ASW exercises. The close of the article states that "the mammals included several deep-water beaked whales, goose-beaked whales measuring 16 to 19 feet, dense-beaked whales measuring 10 to 13 feet, baleen whales measuring up to 27 feet and small minke whales." My question: assuming that AP got fuzzy about "baleen whales" and "small minke whales" such that those are one & the same, that is still at least 3 species that are not (to my knowledge) knwon to associate. How frequently do individuals of 3 or more taxa strand within a limited geographical and temporal span? I assume this is a rare "event"; is it historically unique? Many thanks, Jim -------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Moore The secret of success is honesty and Anthro 0532 fair dealing. If you can fake those, UCSD you've got it made. [Groucho Marx] La Jolla CA 92093 voice 858 534-5572 fax 858 534-5946 jjmoore(\)ucsd.edu http://weber.ucsd.edu/~jmoore/ SoCal Primate Research Forum: http://weber.ucsd.edu/~jmoore/SCPRFweb/ African Ape Study sites: http://weber.ucsd.edu/~jmoore/apesites/ ========================================================= From: www.nandotimes.com (Health/Science) Scientists investigate whale deaths after Navy test in Bahamas Copyright 2000 Nando Media Copyright 2000 Associated Press By JESSICA ROBERTSON FREEPORT, Bahamas (March 22, 2000 6:18 a.m. EST http://www.nandotimes.com) - Eight whales beached and died soon after the U.S. Navy conducted anti-submarine exercises off the northern Bahamas. The deaths prompted an investigation and calls for an end to the exercises. The Navy said Tuesday that there was no evidence to link the whale deaths to last week's exercise testing sonar detection of submarines. Navy Cmdr. Greg Smith said the tests took place from about 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. March 15 off Abaco Island - part of a series of exercises testing "sonar buoys" that were to continue through March 22. Marine biologist Ken Balcomb of the Earthwatch environmental group said beachings began that same day, and within two days at least 14 whales had grounded themselves on Abaco, Grand Bahama to the north, and Eleuthera to the south. Eight died, prompting investigations by Bahamian and U.S. scientists and authorities. "A whale beaching in the Bahamas is a once-in-a-decade occurrence," said Balcomb, an American who has been studying whales around Abaco island for nine years. "We will be making recommendations to the Bahamian government that these sort of exercises be terminated," he said. "The fact that it coincides with the military exercises cannot be just coincidental." But the Navy spokesman said there was no evidence linking the two events. "My understanding of the actual locations would put the island between the operations where the `sonobuoys' were located and where the whales eventually beached themselves," said Smith. Naomi Rose of the Washington-based Humane Society of the United States, maintained the signals could still do damage. "These signals, depending on frequency, could travel quite a distance and could even wrap around the island," said Rose, a marine mammal scientist. "One could argue that they fled the area where the sonar was being transmitted." Another U.S. marine biologist here to investigate, Charles Potter of the Smithsonian Institute, said the number of whales beached is "extremely unusual. But he said the postmortems showed the whales had suffered no physical damage, such as broken ear drums. Balcomb said the mammals included several deep-water beaked whales, goose beaked whales measuring 16-19 feet, dense beaked whales measuring 10-13 feet, baleen whales measuring up to 27 feet and some small minke whales. Michael Breynan, director of the Bahamian Fisheries Department, said he was working with U.S. scientists to try to determine the cause. Breynan said his department kept no records of beached whales but added: "I am not aware of any similar incident (having occurred) in the Bahamas." He said further tests on the dead whales would be carried out in the United States, a process that could take months. Smith said the exercise was testing for upgrades of what the Navy calls the Directional Command Activated Sonobuoy System. The exercise involved a Navy P-3 aircraft dropping two buoys north of Abaco, one as close as 35 miles to the island, the other 70 to 75 miles from the island. One buoy emitted a sonar signal which was received by the other, and a submarine was moving between the two buoys. He said the exercise had nothing to do with low frequency active sonar, a new and controversial system that transmits sonar pulses so loud they can match the roar of a rocket launch. The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service, responsible for overseeing all U.S. actions that could affect the environment at home or abroad, said it approved the Navy's environmental assessment for its exercise. Roger Gentry, coordinator of the service's acoustics team, said the exercises shouldn't have affected the whales. "Yet we have beached whales." The service has also sent veterinarians and acoustic experts to investigate. Marine scientists have been expressing growing concern in recent years about the possible effects of man-made noises on marine mammals who rely on their hearing perhaps more than their sight. "We already know from preliminary research that's been done that there are some problems with man-made noise in the marine environment," said Rose of the Humane Society. However, other experts have been quick to point out that none of the research has been able to conclusively blame man-made noise for events such as the whale beachings in the Bahamas. Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 17:54:12 PST From: Stephanie Burkhart Subject: General Research Assistant Position Research Assistant, Pacific Whale Foundation Pacific Whale Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to marine research, conservation, and education, seeks a general research assistant to lead their cetacean research internship programs. The research program depends on the financial and logistical support of interns, and a significant portion of the work involves training, supervising and teaching interns, working with them both on the water and at the research house, as well as sharing accommodation and a living environment with them. Training and supervising other volunteers will also be required. Land-based work will involve logistics for field work and the group living environment, giving evening research-related slide shows to interns, research-related activities such as slide labeling and organizing, and long-term research and educational activities such as Intern Advance Information Packages, etc. Field work will be undertaken approximately one quarter of the time, and will involve unsupervised operation of a research vessel, including operation of GPS, 35-mm cameras, video cameras, as well as trailering and launching boats, supervising staff, and keeping detailed records. Public relations activities will also be required, including promoting the research program to local whale watching operations, with other researchers, etc. Some attendance at meetings of local dolphin-oriented environmental groups will also be required. The candidate will have to be able to work closely with one other staff member, and communicate closely with (and report to) the Research Director. The job requires living in tight quarters with up to six interns and one other staff member at any given time. Depending on the number and gender of interns, some (or all) of the time will be spent sharing a room with an intern or staff member. The job is six days per week, and the days off are dependent on the research schedule. Working in the evenings will also be required approximately four to five evenings per week. This often involves long hours (e.g., from 5 am till 10 pm). Most meals will also have to be eaten with interns. The work and living environment allows for very little free time or privacy during the period when interns are present (and often even when interns are not present). In general, interns will be present for approximately 9 of every 10 days, and the research house may also be used for other research/educational activities during non-intern periods. Intern sessions run from June 1, 2000-October, 2000 and December 15, 2000-May, 2001. Salary dependent on qualifications and experience. Qualifications: B.Sc. in Marine Biology, Animal Behavior or related field Strong interpersonal and organizational skills Excellent communication skills, including proven speaking and writing skills Experience supervising volunteers or staff Proficiency in Word and Excel Familiar with photo-identification (sorting and matching slides) Experience taking photographs of small cetaceans with 35-mm camera Helpful: Experience operating hydrophones, DATs, GPS Small boat-handling around cetaceans in the wild Ability to launch boat and tow trailer To apply: please submit a resume, cover letter, and the names of at least 3 references: Pacific Whale Foundation Research Department 101 North Kihei Road Kihei, Maui, Hawaii 96753 research(\)pacificwhale.org visit our web site: http://www.pacificwhale.org No phone calls please. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Mar 0100 20:18:23 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: letter to U.S. Navy re: Bahamas whale strandings (fwd) Forwarded message from Andrew Wetzler (awetzler(\)nrdc.org) The following is a copy of a letter sent to the Secretary of the Navy by the National Resources Defense Council in regards to the recent strandings of cetaceans in the Bahamas. By Certified Mail and Facsimile Return Receipt Requested March 21, 2000 Hon. Richard Danzig Secretary of the Navy United States Department of the Navy United States Pentagon Rm. 4E-686 Washington, DC 20350 FAX (703) 614-3477 Hon. Steven Preston General Counsel United States Department of the Navy 1000 Navy Pentagon Washington, DC 20350-1000 FAX (703) 693-7560 Ms. Ivonna Sustersic Counsel Office of Naval Research United States Department of the Navy 800 North Quincy Street Arlington, VA 22217 FAX (703) 696-6909 Re: Littoral Warfare Advanced Development (LWAD) 00-1 Sea Test Dear Sirs and Madam: On behalf of the Natural Resources Defense Council ("NRDC") and the Humane Society of the United States, and our over 7.4 million members and constituents, we write to express our serious concern about the Littoral Warfare Advanced Development ("LWAD") Sea Test, program number 00-1, currently under way off the southeast coast of the United States, and to urge that this Sea Test and all future LWAD Sea Tests be immediately suspended pending an investigation into the mass stranding of cetaceans that occurred March 15 and 16, 2000, within its vicinity. Managed by the Office of Naval Research, the LWAD Program is intended to provide at-sea testing of advanced technologies in the field of littoral warfare. Sea Test 00-1, the first of several such LWAD operations scheduled to run this year, appears to have been designed to test technologies with active acoustic components. These systems include the AN/SQQ-89(V) Echo Tracker Classifier, the Channel Probe Pulse Program, Environmentally Adaptive Sonar Technology, GenAcoustic Inversion, the Light Weight Sound Source, the Littoral Sea Mine, the Multipulse Airgun, the Shallow Water Active Detection/Classifier, and the Shallow Water DICASS (1). Adding to the din produced by these sources is a mid-frequency active sonar system used by a participating destroyer, as well as aircraft flyovers and other activities incidental to systems testing and data collection. Sea Test 00-1 was scheduled to unfold in three broad areas of operation. Area "A", where tests began on March 15, extends from Cape Canaveral in the north to the Bahamas in the south, approximately 100 nm east of Florida; Areas "B" and "C", where tests are slated to continue through March 22, track the eastern seaboard approximately 50 nm off the coast of South Carolina.(2) Future tests are apparently scheduled for sometime in late May/early June (LWAD 00-2) and late September/early October (LWAD 00-3). (3) Not long into the first round of testing, however, with activities focused near the Bahamas in the southern portion of Area "A", reports of an extraordinary event began to surface: cetaceans of multiple species were stranding themselves en masse along the coast of Grand Bahama and the Abacos chain. Among the stranded animals were two species of beaked whale, Blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris) and Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris); one unidentified species of spotted dolphin; and two mysticete species, including one Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and one unidentified balaenopterid, either a fin or a Bryde's whale. Precise numbers at this stage are difficult to fix: at least four fatally stranded beaked whales were recovered and necropsied by a response team led by Dr. Darlene Ketten of Harvard Medical School; Reuters wire service has reported that at least nine other beaked whales beached on Grand Bahama were pushed back to sea;(4) and accounts have circulated of an unknown additional number of beaked whales being buried by Bahamian authorities a short time after discovery. It is possible that other beached or stranded animals may be located by researchers from the National Marine Fisheries Service, who have begun a more extensive survey of Grand Bahama and the surrounding islands. As you are well aware, concern over the adverse impacts of anthropogenic ocean noise has risen substantially within the scientific community over the last ten years. Sound has been shown to divert bowhead and gray whales and other whales from their migration paths, to cause sperm and humpback whales to cease vocalizing, and to induce a range of other disturbances varying from agonistic behavior to panic.(5) A mass stranding of beaked whales off the west coast of Greece in 1996 was identified as a possible impact of a low-frequency active sonar system operated by NATO.(6) Given this precedent, and given the extraordinary nature of the events we have witnessed in the Bahamas, one would have expected the Navy to immediately suspended Sea Test 00-1 pending an investigation-yet astonishingly it has continued operations, moving up the coast into critical habitat occupied by the endangered Northern right whale. (7) The Navy's failure to suspend Sea Test 00-1 only adds to a list of legal violations and other inadequacies through which its project initially received authorization. To our knowledge, it obtained neither an incidental harassment authorization nor a small take permit, as the Marine Mammal Protection Act requires for species "take." 16 U.S.C. ' 1371(a)(5). Nor did it engage in formal consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service or obtain an Incidental Take Permit, as regulations implementing the Endangered Species Act demand of actions that may "adversely affect" endangered or threatened species.(8) 50 C.F.R. ' 402.14. Nor, finally, did it prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for United States waters or the "global commons," as the National Environmental Policy Act and Executive Order 12114 respectively require; the environmental assessment (EA) that the Navy did prepare under the executive order is now plainly inadequate. 42 U.S.C. ' 4332(2)(C) and (E); Exec. Order No. 12114, 44 Fed. Reg. 1957 (1979), reprinted in 42 U.S.C. ' 4321. In order to cure these legal infirmities the Navy must comport with the following requirements: First, the Marine Mammal Protection Act ("MMPA"), 16 U.S.C. '' 1361 et seq., requires all federal agencies to obtain a permit or other authorization from the National Marine Fisheries Service or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service prior to any "take" of marine mammals, whether on the high seas or in waters under U.S. jurisdiction. The Navy is not exempted from this requirement. See, e.g., Natural Resources Defense Council v. United States Department of the Navy, 857 F. Supp. 734 (C.D. Ca. 1994). Second, the federal Endangered Species Act ("ESA"), 16 U.S.C. '' 1531 et seq., requires the Navy to enter into formal consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service ("NMFS") or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and receive a legally valid Incidental Take Permit prior to its "take" of any endangered or threatened marine mammals or other threatened or endangered species, including fish, sea turtles, or birds, or its "adverse modification" of critical habitat. See, e.g., 16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2); Romero-Barcelo v. Brown, 643 F. 2d 835 (1st Cir. 1981), rev'd on other grounds, Weinberger v. Romero-Barcelo, 456 U.S. 304, 313 (1982). Under NMFS' regulations, formal consultation must be requested by the Navy (or by NMFS) and reinitiated where "new information reveals effects of the action that may affect listed species or critical habitat in a manner or to an extent not previously considered." 50 C.F.R. ' 402.16. Third, the National Environmental Policy Act ("NEPA"), 42 U.S.C. ' 4332(2)(C) and (E), establishes mandatory procedures for objective disclosure and analysis of a project's individual and cumulative impacts, consideration of alternatives, and identification of feasible mitigation to ensure that the project will not needlessly or carelessly destroy or harm the affected environment or species. See, e.g., Tongass Conservation Society v. Cheney, 924 F. 2d 1137 (D.C. Cir. 1991); Natural Resources Defense Council, 857 F. Supp. at 738-39. By Executive Order, these procedures also apply to federal actions that take place outside U.S. jurisdiction. See Exec. Order No. 12114, 44 Fed. Reg. 1957 (1979), reprinted in 42 U.S.C. ' 4321; 32 U.S.C. ' 187 (implementing regulations). In light of the mass strandings potentially caused by Sea Test 00-1, the Navy is required, at a minimum, to prepare a supplemental EA for this, and all future Sea Tests. Oregon Natural Resources Council v. Lyng, 882 F.2d 1417, 1421 (9th Cir. 1989). Indeed, based upon the information at our disposal, we believe that the preparation of an EIS is necessary. When preparing that EIS, the Navy should not evaluate the Sea Tests in isolation, but rather prepare a programmatic EIS for all scheduled LWAD Sea Tests. City of Tenakee Springs v. Clough, 915 F.2d 1308, 1313 (9th Cir. 1990). Each of these statutes is applicable to LWAD Sea Tests, and each imposes permitting or other administrative review requirements. Under these circumstances, we believe that further testing cannot legally be undertaken without compliance with the MMPA, ESA, NEPA, and other applicable federal and international laws. Accordingly, NRDC hereby requests that you immediately suspend the current LWAD Sea Test and postpone upcoming LWAD Sea Tests-two of which are scheduled for May and September-until all required permits have been obtained, legally adequate Biological Opinions have been issued, an environmental impact statement (including an analysis of reasonable alternatives and feasible mitigation) has been prepared and properly noticed, and a thorough, independent, and transparent investigation has been made into the recent mass stranding of cetaceans off the Bahamian coast. In order to avoid the necessity of NRDC taking further action in this matter, we urge you to contact our office as soon as possible and confirm that the Navy has suspended the LWAD Sea Test program and discuss the appropriate steps that should be taken by the Navy before future tests are allowed to proceed. We look forward to hearing from you. Very truly yours, Joel R. Reynolds Senior Attorney Director, Marine Mammal Protection Program Dr. Naomi Rose Marine Mammal Scientist Humane Society of the United States cc: Mr. John W. Twiss, Executive Director U.S. Marine Mammal Commission 4340 East-West Highway Bethesda, MD 20814 FAX (301) 504-0099 Ms. Donna Wieting, Chief Marine Mammal Conservation Division Office of Protected Resources National Marine Fisheries Service 1315 East-West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910-3326 FAX (301) 713-0376 Dr. Roger Gentry Office of Protected Resources National Marine Fisheries Service 1315 East-West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 FAX (301) 713-0376 Footnotes 1Office of Naval Research, Overseas Environmental Assessment for the Littoral Warfare Advanced Development (LWAD) 00-1 Sea Test at iv (Feb. 2000) (attached as "Exhibit 1"). 2 Id. 3University of Delaware, College of Marine Studies, Oceanic Research Ship Schedules, (visited on May 20, 2000) (attached as "Exhibit 2"). 4 Ten Whales Beached in Bahamas, Reuters, Mar. 16, 2000, available in LEXIS, Nexis Library. In the same article, the Director of the Bahamian Department of Fisheries was observed to remark that the stranding of so many animals was, to his knowledge, unprecedented. Id. (Attached as "Exhibit 3"). 5 The scientific literature is too voluminous to summarize here. For a review of research on biological and physiological impacts of undersea noise, see, e.g., passim W. John Richardson, Charles R. Greene, Jr., Charles I. Malme, and Denis H. Thomson, Marine Mammals and Noise (1995); Jonathan Gordon and Anna Moscrop, Underwater Noise Pollution and Its Significance for Whales and Dolphins, in The Conservation of Whales and Dolphins (M.P. Simmons and J.D. Hutchinson eds., 1996). For more recent surveys of published and unpublished data, see also W. John Richardson, Darlene Ketten, Ron Schusterman, and others, Presentations and Discussion at the National Marine Fisheries Service's Acoustic Criteria Workshop (Sept. 9- 11, 1997); W. John Richardson, Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Minerals Management Service's High-Energy Seismic Survey Team (Oct. 30, 1999). 6 See SACLANT Undersea Research Center, Summary Record, La Spezia, Italy, 15-17 June 1998, SACLANTCEN Bioacoustics Panel, SACLANTCEN M-133. 7 Office of Naval Research, Overseas Environmental Assessment, supra n. 2 at 5. 8 The Navy did apparently engage in informal consultations with NMFS. See Letter from S.M. Tilden to National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office (Feb. 18, 2000) (attached as "Exhibit 1"). We believe that in this case formal consultations were required. Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 09:05:08 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: information request on genetic sampling of illegal whale and turtle-meat (fwd) From: MUNDO AZUL Dear colleagues, my name is Stefan Austerm=FChle and I am the Director of Projects and Scientific Research of the Peruvian NGO Mundo Azul. We are in the process of designing a project-proposal for an investigation on the illegal hunting of dolphins, small porpoises and marine turtles as well as the black market in Peru. I know that some researchers used genetic sampling to verify the black market on illegal whale-meat in Japan. Therefore I was wondering if this method could be usefull in our case too. Because I do not have much knowledge about this method and the costs of it I would like to ask for help on some basic information concerning this method. I know that it would be possible to identify the species and the relationship between hunted individuals in a certain area. What other information could be expected from this method ? Would we need specialized laboratories to make this genetic sampling ? If so which laboratory would be able to make this genetic analysis (directions) ??? If we would not need a specialised laboratory and if it would be possible to look for such an laboratory in Peru, what kind of a laboratory with what kind of experience and equipment I would have to look for ??? What kind of quality should the samples have ? We would aquire fresh meat, meat of old cadavers and processed meat. Which one could we analyse with what quality of results ? What would be the approximate costs per sample ? Is there someone with experience who could help me setting up the sampling procedure or could help in organizing this kind of analysis ??? Is there any literature on this available ??? Who would be interested in cooperating with us in this topic ?? Sorry for putting so many basic questions at the net, but we would appreciate very much any help on this topic. Thanks a lot for your patience Stefan Austerm=FChle ************************************************************************* MUNDO AZUL President: Nina Pardo de Austerm=FChle Vice Presidente: Sergio Bambaren Director de Proyectos e Investigaci=F3n Cient=EDfica: Stefan Austerm=FChle Las Acacias 185-A, Lima 18, PERU Tel/Fax: + 51-1-4460414 Email: mundoazul(\)computextos.net Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 07:51:14 +0000 From: Hal Whitehead Subject: Beaked whale strandings and naval excercises From: Hal Whitehead, hwhitehe(\)is.dal.ca To my knowledge, there are four long-term studies of living beaked whales: off Greece, the Canary Islands, the Bahamas, and our own study in the Gully off Nova Scotia. The report of the recent stranding of beaked whales during naval excercises off the Bahamas follows similar events in the Canaries (Simmonds MP, Lopez-Jurado LF 1991 Whales and the military. Nature, 351:448) and Greece (Frantzis A 1998 Does acoustic testing strand whales? Nature, Lond 392:29). We will be very wary of any naval operations near the Gully! Hal Whitehead Dept of Biology Dalhousie University 1355 Oxford St Halifax Nova Scotia CANADA B3H 4J1 email: hwhitehe(\)is.dal.ca http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/index.htm ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2000 14:36:24 -0500 From: william rossiter Subject: Request for blue whale ------ Forwarded to MARMAM on behalf of a request from Mexico for blue whale data and photographs. Please respond to . From: weasel(\)prodigy.net.mx Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2000 00:05:00 -0600 Hello! My name is Ignacio Arcas, I=B4m working to the Antares Ecological=20 Group in Mexico=B4s Baja, we are working in a proyect to preserve=20 the Sea of Cortez I=B4m taxidermist and I=B4m searching for the blue whales photo=B4s=20 and info, because we have aproyect to do a blue whale lifesize=20 reproduction to put them in a museum in Loreto, Mexico=B4s baja I hope you can tell me where can I search this photos=20 Thank=B4s for all sincerely,=20 Ignacio Arcas weasel(\)prodigy.net.mx ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Mar 0100 11:13:53 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Bahamas whale strandings (further information) (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Ken Balcomb & Diane Claridge, Bahamas Marine Mammal Survey, Abaco, Bahamas Email: bmms(\)oii.net To: Michael Braynen, Director of Fisheries, Nassau, Bahamas Bob Gisiner, Office of Naval Research, Arlington, Virginia Subject: March Whale Strandings in the Bahama Islands Date: 23 March 2000 The following is a summary of thirteen whale and dolphin stranding events that we know about in the northern Bahama Islands during March 2000 as of this date. We were directly involved in assisting with rescue or necropsy during nine of these events and can document them in some detail. We will provide our comments on the events that we were not directly involved in to assist in their evaluation. The number of stranded cetaceans involved is seventeen, and all but one of these apparently stranded the same day - March 15, 2000 apparently beginning in the early morning hours. Both the large number of coincident strandings and the fact that they involved at least four species in three families of two suborders of cetaceans can be considered highly unusual and probably related in some way. The animals we examined or assisted were mostly immature and in good body condition. The focal area of the strandings (15 of 17) is along shores of the Northeast and Northwest Providence Channel, which is between Nassau/Eleuthera and Grand Bahama/Abaco. In two recent flights we have surveyed shorelines of most of this area and estimate that there are probably not significant additional strandings referable to this timeframe. We escorted four of the stranded beaked whales (two goose-beaked whales and two dense-beaked whales) back to sea, and we heard that two other "beaked whales" and two rorquals were returned to sea alive. Nine of the whales/dolphins reported are dead, and specimen materials are available from six of these. It is worth noting that we have been gathering reports of marine mammal strandings, and have been conducting field studies of living marine mammals in the Bahama Islands since 1991; and, the stranding rate of cetaceans is typically on the order of one or two reported per year in the entire island chain. Beaked whale strandings are particularly rare. We were fortunate to have a team of volunteers from Earthwatch on site to assist with the effort required to keep up with these events. 1. March 4 (\) 0900, a forty-eight foot long rorqual (Balaenoptera sp.) stranded alive at Lower Bogue, North Eleuthera (24 28N 76 24W which is 28 miles from the nearest direct deep water in Exuma Sound, or 12 miles circuitously to NE Providence Channel). The whale died on March 5, 2000. Diane Claridge flew to Eleuthera on March 7 to identify and examine the whale, but it had been buried by the time she arrived. She was able to obtain a tissue sample for DNA analysis, an eyeball and two shreds of baleen (collected March 5) for possible species identification. The collected material is in a freezer at Sandy Point, Abaco, and the skeletal material can be exhumed at some later date for analysis. 2. March 15 (\) 0815, a sixteen foot long (estimated) goose-beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) stranded alive in front of our rented house at Sandy Point, Abaco (26 00N 77 24W). We immediately pushed it off the shore and guided it by boat to deep water by 0912, where it swam away. The whale appeared very disoriented, but was swimming strongly. This rescue was videotaped and the tape can be analyzed to better estimate length and sex, if possible. The whale was not mature. It is worth noting that we had previously photo-identified this whale on March 1 swimming off Southwest Point, Abaco at 25 50.439N 77 16.576W. 3. March 15 (\) 0700, a twelve foot long (estimated) goose-beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) was discovered stranded alive at Rocky Point one mile south of event 2 and reported to us at 0835. It was almost completely out of water due to tide having ebbed. Low tide was at 1018, and we estimate the whale must have been hard aground by 0700. We were still guiding the whale of event #2 to deep water when whale event #3 was discovered, so we divided our team of volunteers and had them work with other local people to cover the whale #3 with towels and sheets and keep it wet. When the tide rose sufficiently to get this whale onto a blue tarp and have twelve people lift and drag it off the shoals, we escorted it to water deep enough to release it and escort it with kayaks and an inflatable boat to deep water at 1303. This was challenging because the whale was bleeding from several superficial ventral and tail scratches and several 6-8' sharks were attempting to get close to the whale as we were knee to waist deep in the water. Three people with poles and boards were assigned to keep the sharks away. The whale stopped bleeding and the sharks dispersed before the whale was escorted to deep water. The whale appeared very disoriented, and was not swimming as strongly as the whale in event #2. We have some scraped skin samples of this whale for DNA analysis. This rescue was also videotaped, and the whale was photographed for later identification. 4. March 15 (\) 0830, a twelve foot long (estimated) dense-beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris) was discovered stranded alive at Sandy Point one hundred yards north of event 2. Our neighbors pushed it off the shore and escorted it with kayaks and an inflatable boat to deep water by about 1033. After seeing whale #2 safely in deep water, we returned to this whale, and the last few minutes of this rescue were videotaped as the whale swam off into very deep water, and the whale was photographed for later identification. 5. March 15 (\) 0700, a five foot long Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) was reported stranded alive at Powell Cay (26 54N 77 29W) while we were rescuing the whales in events 2,3,4. Tourists kept the dolphin wet for much of the day until a veterinarian (Dr. Bater from Freeport, Grand Bahama) and Diane Claridge arrived around 1700. The dolphin died shortly afterwards and we froze it entire in a freezer at Sandy Point, Abaco at 2000, awaiting CITES permit for export for further analysis. 6. March 15 (\) 1530, a twelve foot long (estimated) dense-beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris) was reported stranded alive at Gorda Cay (26 06N 77 32W). The whale was first seen around 1100 in a mangrove lagoon on the northwest side of the island, but could have been there earlier. We responded by boat to the report around 1600 and used the blue tarp method of wrapping the whale and hand holding it alongside the boat as we took it toward deep water. Disney personnel on a jet ski conducted the final escort to deep water at sunset as we returned to Sandy Point. The rescue was partially videotaped, the whale was photographed for later identification, and a sloughed skin sample was saved for DNA analysis. 7. March 15 (\) 1230, an 18 foot long whale with a pointed nose, and a calf whale were reportedly stranded alive on opposite sides of Peterson Cay, Grand Bahama (26 36N 78 31W). Tourists pushed out both whales to sea. No photographs or specimen material known, but these were probably beaked whales. 8. March 15 (\) 1600, an 18 foot long goose-beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) was reported to have been stranded dead at High Rock, Grand Bahama (26 37N 78 17W) and towed out to sea. It was, however, buried after Eden Butler of UNEXSO took photographs and measurements. The specimen could be exhumed if it is considered important for analysis. 9. March 15 (\) time unknown, two 18 foot long whales were reported stranded at Burrows Cay (26 26N 77 46W). Fishermen reported that one on shore had "funny" teeth and one was in the water. Ken Balcomb flew over the island on March 16 and saw a whale on shore at Water Cay in the Burrows Group, but none in the water. Ken and Dave Ellifrit went by inflatable boat to the area on March 17 and collected the head of the whale on shore, identifying it as a goose-beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) about sixteen feet long. It had been badly attacked by sharks and the dorsal fin, flippers and tail were missing. It apparently exsanguinated, suggesting the attacks were pre mortem. The head was frozen at 2000 on March 17, and Dr. Ketten removed the earbones on March 21, remarking that they were in an excellent state of preservation. Currently, the earbones and specimen materials from this specimen are preserved at Sandy Point, Abaco awaiting CITES export permit to send appropriate materials to Dr. Ketten and to Charles Potter who has offered to curate the specimen. 10. March 15 (\) time unknown, two goose-beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) were reported stranded at Gold Rock Creek, Grand Bahama (26 36N 78 32W). Dr. Bater of Freeport, Grand Bahama conducted a preliminary examination of these whales on March 17 and determined that one was male and the other was a female. He requested that a veterinary Pathologist assist with necropsy, and Dr. Ruth Ewing from NMFS Southeast arrived on March 18 to assist. Unfortunately, the whales had been buried on order of local authorities. Ken Balcomb also arrived on March 18 to assist and the whales were exhumed at 1200. Dr. Ewing and Dr. Bater conducted the necropsy of the whales, which were by then decomposing. The heads were removed and taken to Dr. Bater's office where they were iced down. Dr. Ketten arrived on March 19 and removed the earbones for analysis, noting that they were not in a good state of preservation. The male specimen was 17 feet total length and the female was 18 feet total length. The male had erupted teeth, which Ken Balcomb collected and has at Sandy Point, Abaco. It has been reported to us that the other specimen materials are at Dr. Bater's office in Freeport awaiting CITES export permit to send to Dr. Ewing, who will forward the earbones to Dr. Ketten. Hoyt Peckham and Nan Hauser assisted with the necropsy and documented it on film and video. 11. March 15 (\) time unknown, two whales were reported stranded alive near Royal Island, North Eleuthera (26 31N 76 47W). These turned out to be a live minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) about 27 feet long stranded on a sandbar at the north end of Royal Island, and a rorqual (Balaenoptera sp.) reportedly ten feet longer swimming in ten to fifteen foot deep water in Royal Island Harbour. The stranded whale was kept alive by locals and boaters and escorted through the reef out to deep water around 1600 on March 16. A photograph of this whale published in the Nassau Tribune on March 17 confirms its identification as a minke whale. The larger whale was escorted out of the harbour to deep water off Egg Island on March 17. No specimen materials were taken of either whale. 12. March 16 (\) 1000, an eleven foot long male dense-beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris) was found by Diane Claridge stranded dead in the mangrove lagoon of Cross Harbour Creek, Abaco (25 58N 77 16W). We towed the fresh carcass to a nearby beach and conducted an amateur necropsy, saving organ specimen materials, stomach contents and the entire head (which was put into a freezer by 1730). The specimen was in an excellent state of preservation and was estimated to have been dead less that twenty-four hours. It is likely that this whale swam into shallow water on March 15 and died early on March 16. Dr. Ketten would like to cat scan the frozen head, before removing earbones. The necropsy was photographed and videotaped, and specimen materials are preserved in formalin and in freezers in Sandy Point, Abaco awaiting CITES export permits for sending them for analysis. 13. March 20 (\) time unknown, one goose-beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) was reported stranded at Freetown, Grand Bahama (26 35N 78 29W); but, it was subsequently learned that this whale was on the beach as early as March 17, already "stinking". Dr. Bater and Charles Potter conducted a brief necropsy, noting that the whale was an 18 feet long male, decomposing; and, it presumably died about the same time as the other Grand Bahama strandings reported above (i.e. March 15). The tip of the jaw had been cut off, presumably by someone who wanted to obtain the teeth. Earbones were collected for Dr. Ketten. Hoyt Peckham and Nan Hauser documented the necropsy on film and video. Additionally, we had a late report received 23 March: March 15 during afternoon, one fifteen to eighteen foot long whale was seen swimming in shallow water near Meek's Patch, North Eleuthera (25 30N 76 46W) by boaters aboard sailboat "Morning Wind". This vessel also first reported the two whales at Royal Island (event #11). We are trying to locate these boaters for further details. As far as we know this whale did not strand. Note: It has been suggested that naval operations may have somehow affected the whales involved in these events, as has been surmised following at least two other military exercises in recent years in which there were multiple strandings of beaked whales. Beaked whales (Suborder Odontoceti, Family Ziphiidae), in particular may be sensitive to acoustic activities and may be frightened/disoriented by sound sources and levels that are not otherwise permanently damaging to them. If they are frightened into habitats totally unfamiliar to them such as shallow water, they appear to become extremely disoriented and may strand. Scratching their skin on coral and hard surfaces of shallow bottoms will cause them to bleed, which in turn may attract sharks that further frighten and injure them. The coincident military activities known to us at this time from published reports are: 1) a Notice reported in the Nassau Tribune describing a live surface firing exercise during the hours of darkness between 12-14 March near AUTEC in Tongue of the Ocean at 23 32N 77 29W, involving a derelict vessel; and, 2) a Department of the Navy Notice to the National Marine Fisheries Service of an LWAD 00-1 Sea Test scheduled for 15-22 March 100 nautical miles east of Florida (3140 Ser 321B/023/00 dated 18 February 00. A detailed post analysis of those military exercises and any others in the area on the night of March 14 and the early morning of March 15 might yield important information concerning the cause(s) of these anomalous stranding events. Sound travels at about fifty miles per minute underwater and it would arrive in canyons in the area of the whale strandings within minutes of originating. The AUTEC recordings should reveal all of the detail needed to determine timing, frequencies and pressure levels of that military event, as well as any natural or other event, such as seismic activity. The details of the LWAD exercise as conducted should likewise reveal all of the detail needed to determine timing, frequencies and pressure levels of sounds resulting from that exercise. Given the fact that very sophisticated equipment was involved in all of the reported military activities, it is certain that any and all significantly loud sound sources in the region were known to the US Navy, whether or not they produced them. We respectfully request that a thorough post analysis be undertaken to determine what could have caused the tragic events reported above. Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 20:58:29 +0200 From: "A. Frantzis" Subject: Re: Atypical mass strandings and naval excercises x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" Dear all, Unfortunately, we didn't have to wait very long since 1996 (when NATO LFAS exercises and beaked whales mass stranding occured in Greece). Some people will say it is too early to speak about possible causes for the Bahamas mass stranding. Perhaps they are scientifically right and certainely, we will all wait for the results of the good specialists who went to Bahamas to collect samples and data. Nevertheless, since the news seem to confirm that the US Navy was there at the right time and the right place performing "submarine detection" once more, I would like to make the following comments: 1) The Bahamas case seem to be one more "atypical mass stranding", defined as such by the number of different species involved and the fact that all animals came ashore during a relatively short period of time, but in different places of the coasts of Bahamas. 2) After the experience of the beaked whale atypical mass stranding in Greece, a serious effort is made now to collect the ears of the stranded animals. I would like to mention that if no physiological damage is detected in the ears, by no means such a finding proves that underwater sound was not the cause of the stranding. I have to say this now, because later the Navy could use it as an argument to claim their "innocence". Although we have no idea of the mechanism that drived whales and dolphins (exposed to Navy's sounds) ashore, in the past we formulated the hypothesis that this mechanism could be psychological or psycho-physiological. We do not know if these animals feel strong pain or dizziness or disorientation or they just try to avoid the loud, unknown sounds which possibly panic them. Unfortunately, all this is very difficult to prove scientifically. And we cannot interview the stranded animals asking them "why are you here?" 3) Some months ago, in her comments on the Environmental Impact Statement of the Navy's LFAS program (sent to Marmam), Lindy Weilgart wrote prophetically the following: (do you think the omission described below was just a coincidence? Anyway, it will be difficult to ignore the new Bahamas evidence) "Most disturbingly, this EIS fails to mention the only open-and-shut case we do know of which clearly demonstrates an undeniably biologically significant effect (i.e. death) of LFAS or even noise pollution in general--the Frantzis (1998) paper in which 13 Cuvier's beaked whales died in the Mediterranean. These deaths were as conclusively tied to LFAS transmissions (both in timing of transmissions and movement of the broadcasting vessel) as is possible in any natural system. Bear in mind that this was just one case that happened to have been observed and correlated to LFAS. How many more such cases happen in the vast ocean or on remote shores that we know nothing about? The fact that the Navy in its EIS is assiduously avoiding any mention, even a citation, of this vital study in the world's most major scientific, peer-reviewed journal, speaks volumes...." Let's hope that this atypical mass stranding will be the last and we will not need other strandings to convence the world Navies that their games are very dangerous. It also depends on how strong will be the reaction of all specialists who can contribute towards this direction. Best wishes, Alexandros -- ________________________________________________________ Dr. Alexandros Frantzis Institute of Marine Biological Resources National Centre for Marine Research Agios Kosmas GR-166 04 Hellenikon GREECE tel : ++301 / 9821354 fax : ++301 / 9811713 Personal address: Terpsichoris 21 16671 VOULIAGMENI GREECE tel : ++301 /8962730 fax : ++301 /8960108 e-mail : afrantzis(\)mail.otenet.gr ________________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2000 08:09:17 +0000 From: Hal Whitehead Subject: Abstract: Density-dependent habitat selection and sperm whales Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 ------ From: Hal Whitehead, hwhitehe(\)is.dal.ca I now have reprints available for the following paper: Whitehead H (2000) Density-dependent habitat selection and the modeling of sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) exploitation. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 57:223-230 Abstract: The monitoring and management of sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) populations have proved problematic. Studies of living animals indicate that movements are largely determined by resource availability, thus suggesting that density-dependent habitat selection may be a realistic framework within which to study sperm whale populations. A model, in which animals migrate between 2 =D7 2=B0 squares at rates that depend on relative resource availability, was used to examine the effects of whaling on measures of sperm whale abundance. The model simulated four types of whaling: shore-based whaling, pelagic open-boat whaling by many boats, pelagic whaling by a fleet based around one factory ship, and pelagic whaling by a fleet sequentially exploiting different parts of the study area. Catch per unit effort was found to have little relationship with population size in any part of the study area for shore-based whaling and for pelagic whaling when the study area was sequentially exploited. Thus, in these circumstances, catch per unit effort should not be used as a measure of depletion. To give a reasonable assessment of depletion, visual or acoustic surveys must extend well beyond the areas being exploited.=20 Hal Whitehead Dept of Biology Dalhousie University 1355 Oxford St Halifax Nova Scotia CANADA B3H 4J1 email: hwhitehe(\)is.dal.ca http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/index.htm ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2000 23:35:16 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly summary to U.S. congress (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS {{MMPA Hearing. On April 6, 2000, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans has scheduled an oversight hearing on the Marine Mammal Protection Act.}} [personal communication] {{HABs and Marine Mammals. On Mar. 29, 2000, NMFS and National Ocean Service staff are scheduled to brief congressional staff in Dirksen Senate Office Bldg., Washington, DC, on the existing collaborative response network to respond to harmful algal blooms (HABs) and marine mammal mortality problems associated with these HABs.}} [personal communication] CITES Hearing. On Mar. 28, 2000, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans has scheduled an oversight hearing on April 2000 meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). [personal communication] {Canadian Sealing. In late March 2000, the Canadian harp seal hunt off Prince Edward Island was scheduled to begin. However, seals are scarce and not concentrated due to the lack of pack ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.} [Canadian Press] Japanese Whaling. On Mar. 16, 2000, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Greenpeace release the results of a survey of 1,185 Japanese adults on attitudes about whaling and whalemeat consumption. About 55% of the Japanese public had no opinion or were neutral regarding commercial whaling, 14% opposed whaling outright, 11% supported commercial whaling, and 20% reported that the reason for killing whales would affect whether they supported whaling. In addition, about 61% had not eaten whalemeat since childhood, if at all. {{On Mar. 23, 2000, the Japan Whaling Association and Japanese government officials questioned the validity of the IFAW survey, citing previous surveys taken in 1992-1995 indicating strong public support in Japan for whaling.}} [IFAW press release, Japan Whaling Association press release, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (Japan) press release] {Bahamas Whale/Dolphin Standings. On Mar. 15, 2000, seventeen whales and dolphins of at least four species in three families (dense-beaked whales, goose-beaked whales, spotted dolphin, minke whales, rorqual) beached and 9 died in various locations around the Bahamas, coincidental to U.S. Navy antisubmarine exercises off the northern Bahamas on Mar. 15. The Navy denies any evidence linking the unusual whale beachings and the Naval exercises, which did not involve low-frequency active sonar. However, some biologists consider the large number of coincident strandings as well as the involvement of several species highly unusual and probably related in some way.} [Assoc Press, Washington Post, personal communication] Manatee and Sea Turtle Ruling. On Mar. 10, 2000 and in response to a lawsuit by a coalition of environmental groups, a FL Circuit Court judge ruled that, contrary to a specific exemption by the FL Legislature, a FL constitutional amendment gives the FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission the right to protect marine species (e.g., manatees and sea turtles) as well as land animals. [Assoc Press] Soviet Navy Mammals. In early March 2000, the London Times reported that Crimean authorities had completed the sale and transfer to Iran of 27 marine mammals (dolphins, beluga whales, walruses, and sea lions) trained by the former Soviet Navy. [London Times] Sea Lion Protection. In early March 2000, New Zealand closed a squid fishery around the Auckland Islands after endangered New Zealand sea lion bycatch mortality reached 65 animals. The early closure may result in as much as a NZ$50 million loss to the fishing industry. [Southland Times] {Inuit Bowhead Whale Permit. In early March 2000, the Canadian Inuit community of Coral Harbour (on Southampton Island), Nunavut, asked the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board to request federal ministerial approval for the community to hunt and kill an endangered bowhead whale in mid-July 2000.} [Canadian Press] Dolphins in the Navy. In early March 2000, the U.S. Navy flew two female dolphins from San Diego, CA, to Sitka, AK, for participation in the Northern Edge 2000 military exercise. [Anchorage Daily News] Keiko. On Mar. 3, 2000, Keiko was released from his pen into the larger net- enclosed Klettsvik Bay, Iceland [http://www.oceanfutures.org]. [Portland Oregonian, Reuters, Ocean Futures press release] Mexican Salt Works Project. On Mar. 2, 2000, Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo and officials of Mitsubishi Corp. announced that the government of Mexico and Mitsubishi Corp. would not continue to pursue construction of a salt works project adjacent to San Ignacio lagoon. {{On Mar. 22, 2000, Mexican officials announced that the San Ignacio lagoon area would be preserved and developed in a manner beneficial to local residents, emphasizing eco-tourism and nature-friendly businesses.}} [Embassy of Mexico press release, Reuters, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release, Assoc Press] North Atlantic Right Whale. On Mar. 1, 2000, rescue teams attempted to disentangle a 20-year old male northern right whale found tangled in fishing gear off Manomet, MA, in Cape Cod Bay. Initial attempts were unsuccessful, but the whale appeared to be strong and in good health. On Mar. 3, 2000, the Conservation Law Foundation (Boston, MA) filed a 60-day notice of intent to sue NMFS, claiming failure to take action sufficient to protect endangered north Atlantic right whales under the Endangered Species Act. [Assoc Press, Boston Herald, Boston Globe] {Sonar Lawsuit. On Feb. 29, 2000, a coalition of 10 national and Hawaiian organizations and Hawai'i County Council member Julie Jacobson filed suit in federal court (Honolulu) seeking to halt the U.S. Navy from deploying their Surveillance Towed Array Sonar System (SURTASS) low frequency active (LFA) sonar system. The plaintiffs claim the Navy is violating environmental law by developing this system before completing an analysis of the system's environmental effects and that the sonar system poses a threat to marine life and to human swimmers and divers. The lawsuit also seeks an injunction to prevent NMFS from processing the Navy's application for a deployment permit for the system.} [Environment News Service] Whale Research Irregularities? On Feb. 29, 2000, 2nd Circuit District Court (Maui) Judge Shackley Raffetto held an arraignment and plea hearing for the Pacific Whale Foundation, which was cited on 91 misdemeanor charges for allegedly conducting whale research in HI waters before a state permit was issued in February 1998. The federal government has also charged the foundation with 7 civil violations under the MMPA and Endangered Species Act. The Foundation pleaded not guilty, and May 22, 2000 was set as the state trial date. A hearing on the federal charges is scheduled for late March 2000. [Maui News] Items in this Summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2000 23:36:58 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: NESCSMM Meeting (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Celine Godard The US Northeast Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy (NESCSMM) invites you to attend its third meeting scheduled for April 8th, 2000 at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The meeting will begin at 9:30 am and adjourn at 4:30 pm. The meeting will include the following speakers: Roger Payne of the Ocean Alliance/Whale Conservation Institute, Richard Connor of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Amy Sierra-Williams from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Mason Weinrich of the Cetacean Research Unit, and Paul Forestell of the Southampton College of Long Island University. During lunch, students will have the opportunity to meet with the speakers. In the afternoon, students will have the option to give oral or poster presentations of their research/marine mammal interests. Prizes will be given to best oral and poster presentations. Following this, chapter organization will be discussed and interested candidates for board elections will have the opportunity to introduce themselves. The meeting is open to all interested. You can register for the meeting via the NESCSMM website: http://www.whoi.edu/science/B/NESCSMM/membership.html, by filling out your name in the membership form and checking the box to attend the meeting. You can also check the meeting agenda at http://www.whoi.edu/science/B/NESCSMM/meetings.html Thank you, The NESCSMM board _______________________________________________________________________________ President: Celine Godard (cgodard(\)whoi.edu) Vice President: Sara Wetmore Secretary: Rebecca Thomas Treasurer: Sarah Davidson Outside Advisor: David Morin Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2000 16:09:18 EST From: "Thomas R. Kieckhefer" Subject: Re: PCG Internship Announcement ------ PCG Internship Announcement The Pacific Cetacean Group, a non-profit research/education organization,= is=20 looking for 1-2 dedicated interns to help with a humpback whale feeding=20 ecology project in Monterey Bay, CA. Other tasks would be assisting with = a=20 sea otter project and outreach education programs. Interns gaining school= =20 credits for their field experiences with us are preferred, but not mandat= ory. We are currently trying to fill openings for the summer (June 1-Aug 15) a= nd=20 fall/winter (Sep 1-Nov 15) of 2000 (time is flexible). The internship wil= l=20 involve field and lab work. Interns will be trained to observe and collec= t=20 behavioral event data using a laptop computer, plankton tows and=20 identification, and whale photo-identification and matching. For this sea= son,=20 a 20 ft. Boston Whaler equipped with differential GPS, video/depth sounde= r=20 imaging (50 & 200 kHz transducers), portable time/event recorder interfac= ed=20 with the vessel=92s GPS, and a davit and winch for small plankton tows wi= ll be=20 used. Private rooms are available in quiet country home and interns will be=20 expected to share cooking and cleaning duties. No fee for the period will= be=20 charged, but interns will need to pay for all their food expenses while=20 interning, as well as travel to/from Monterey. Please email your Resume/CV to us at WEBPCG(\)aol.com or send to address be= low. Also, you can check out our web site at http:www.pacificcetaceangroup.org= for=20 further information about the humpback and other projects that you will b= e=20 helping with. Thank you, Tom Kieckhefer Pacific Cetacean Group UC MBEST Center 3239 Imjin Rd. #122 Marina, CA 93933 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 27 Mar 0100 22:29:20 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: FW: Job for Mammalian Systematist Forwarded message: From: Richard Thorington [mailto:Thorington.Richard(\)NMNH.SI.EDU] MAMMALIAN SYSTEMATIST Applications are invited for a full-time, permanent GS-12/13 position as Research Zoologist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Patuxent Wildlife Research Center stationed in the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC. Incumbent must have a Ph.D. degree in Zoology or related discipline OR appropriate training and experience which includes specimen-based research on mammalian systematics. Incumbent will develop a program of research founded on systematics, biogeography, and biodiversity of mammals with emphasis on, but not limited to, North American species. Scope of research includes site and problem specific studies at regional, national, and international scales. Incumbent serves USGS and the scientific community as an authority on mammals and represents USGS in contacts with other agencies and organizations on matters involving policies and programs, application of research results, and coordination in the field of wildlife research. Incumbent will publish results of research in peer-reviewed journals and present findings at professional meetings. Incumbent may be expected to travel as a representative of USGS and in the course of research activities. Salary commensurate with experience (GS-12 salary range is $51204-$66564; GS-13 salary range is $60890-$79155). Generally, first-time Federal employees are hired at the entry level salary for the grade level at which they are appointed. Contact the USGS Office of Personnel at (703) 648-6131 to receive a complete vacancy announcement that includes a full description of the job and qualification requirements (including knowledge, skills, and abilities (KASOC's) required for this position) and application and evaluation procedures. Applications (Optional Application for Federal Employment OF-612, or resume) must be received at the address below by May 11, 2000, and should reference H-00-905. A narrative qualifications statement addressing the KASOC's also should be submitted by the above date and will be used in evaluation of candidates. U.S. Geological Survey, Office of Personnel, Staffing Services Branch, MS601, Reston, Virginia 20192 The USGS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. U.S. citizenship is required. Forwarded by: Richard W. Thorington, Jr. Division of Mammals, NHB 390 Smithsonian Institution Washington, DC 20560-0108 Phone:202-357-2150 Thorington.Richard(\)NMNH.SI.EDU Date: Sat, 27 Mar 0100 22:31:26 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: correction of cetacean id photo distortion (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Nathan Gricks Subject: re: correction of cetacean id photo distortion (fwd) Results of my brief investigation (original message below) were as follow: >From Glen Allen: The image editing and photo manipulation program, from ArcSoft, "Photo Studio" (newest versions for IBM PC's and possibly older Mac versions) has a perspective controlling function that should provide "Correction" for off angle ID shots. As a perspective control device would, it will provide view camera-like "Swings, Tilts and Shifts". I have not tried it for cetacean ID correction, but it may provide for an inexpensive enhancement. Retail: 39.95 (US dollars ?)and it's often "Bundled" with Sony imaging products. See: http://www.arcsoft.com Ruben Huele, Centre of Environmental Science, Leiden University has been working on this problem for sperm whales, as part of a program for photo-ID based on the trailing edge of the fluke. The software he developed is in Matlab might or might not be of use, but it is as yet not useable by outsiders. He hopes to make it available some time this year via http://www.leidenuniv.nl/interfac/cml/ssp/namsc.html Regards, Nathan Gricks ------- Original Message ------- Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2000 13:36:22 GMT From: Nathan Gricks Subject: computer-aided correction of angle in cetacean id. photos Sirs, I would like to know if any subscribers are aware of software (easily available ideally) that will correct the distortion in a cetacean ID photo arising from the (observer-to-subject) angle being less than 90 degrees ? I know of seal skull photo computer-aided correction techniques that are, as far as I am aware, not freely available. Many thanks, Nathan Gricks M.Sc.Ecology candidate UWBangor Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 20:19:29 +0100 From: Emer Rogan Subject: ECS Cork 2000 Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Fourteenth Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society Cork, Ireland, 2 - 5th April 2000 Hi all, Final announcement! ON-SITE REGISTRATION & CRINNIZ Conference registration will commence on Sunday 2nd April at 1800 - 1900hrs in the Stone corridor in the West wing of the quadrangle on the UCC campus. This will be followed at 1900 - 2000 by a Crinniz - an informal reception in the Aula Maxima, hosted by the President of UCC. It will also be possible to register early on Monday morning, from 0830 -0930hrs in the Boole lecture theatre complex. Please note that ON-SITE registration will be in Irish punts (Ir#) ONLY and it will not be possible to use credit cards for payment. Conference bookings and fees are outlined on the registration form, available from the website: http://web.inter.nl.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs/index.htm IMPORTANT !! Registration fee (Student or Full Member) does NOT include the membership fee for the calendar year 2000. To get the lower member registration rate you have to be a member for the calendar year 2000. Poster presentations should be put up in the poster area on Monday morning, from 0830 to 0930, before the official opening commences at 10.00 in the Boole 4 lecture theatre. COMPUTER USE The Computer Bureau at UCC will provide internet access to conference participants and will set up a number of terminals that you can use to check your email during the conference. If you wish to take advantage of this service, you will need to know the domain name and address of your email server. Please check with your system administrator before the conference on how to use the TELNET programme to connect to your email. WORKSHOPS There are still some places available for the student workshop, being held on Thursday morning, 5th April: PREPARING SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS - Sinead Murphy/Simon Ingram (sinmurphy(\)hotmail.com), Peter Evans and Greg Donovan. VIDEO EVENING A video evening will take place on Tuesday 4th April at 20.00. Details are available on the conference website. See you in all soon! Slan, Emer Emer Rogan Conference organiser Dept. of Zoology and Animal Ecology, University College, Cork, Ireland. Phone: + 353 21 904197; Fax: +353 21 277922. E-mail: E.Rogan(\)ucc.ie ECS website: http://web.inter.nl.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs/index.htm Conference website: http://ecs2000.ucc.ie ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 13:22:10 +0000 Reply-To: lvermeer(\)earthwatch.org From: Lotus Arrieta Vermeer Organization: Center for Field Research at Earthwatch Subject: Call for Proposals x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" ------ THE CENTER FOR FIELD RESEARCH AT EARTHWATCH INSTITUTE announces a Call for Proposals on Marine Mammalogy Earthwatch Institute is a non-profit institution that sponsors scholarly field research in the biological, physical, social and cultural sciences. To date, Earthwatch has supported over 1,000 research projects in 118 countries with $37 million in research grants and over 50,000 volunteer field assistants. The volunteers are well-educated and highly motivated individuals who are recruited, screened and trained to meet scientists=92 needs. The Center for Field Research is the affiliate organization of Earthwatch Institute that develops and recommends programs for Earthwatch support. The Center is now accepting proposals for field work on cetacean and pinniped biology, ecology and conservation. ELIGIBILITY Scientists, resource managers and others involved in marine mammal research and conservation are eligible to apply as individuals or as teams. Project Managers or Principal Investigators must oversee all field work through the production of project reports and policy recommendations. Professionals from any nationality, for work in any regional area, are eligible to apply. THE PROJECTS Field-based projects which address a broad range of questions and issues related to marine mammal research and conservation are encouraged, e.g.: =95 Photoidentification studies of marine mammal populations =95 Studies of the impact of human activities on cetaceans and pinnipeds =95 Research on marine mammal reproduction, behavior, and movement patterns =95 Investigations of marine mammal intelligence, communication an= d cognition =95 Studies that assess the impact of coastal pollution and development on marine mammals =95 Basic research on marine mammal ecology and biology GRANTS Grants range from $10,000 to $100,000 depending on project length and number of volunteer participants involved. Typical projects might employ 4 to 8 volunteers, from different professions on 3 to 6 sequential teams over several months. Project teams normally spend 7 to 15 days in the field as most participants are on leave from their professional organizations. Preliminary proposals should be submitted at least one year in advance of anticipated field dates and will be responded to within 30 days. Full proposals, if invited, will be peer reviewed. All correspondence should be directed to: _________________________________________________ Lotus Vermeer Program Director, Earth and Marine Sciences The Center For Field Research at Earthwatch Institute 3 Clock Tower Place, Suite 100, Box 75, Maynard, MA USA 01754 Tel. (978) 461-0081 x129 Fax (978) 461-2332 Toll Free (800) 776-0188 E-mail: lvermeer(\)earthwatch.org World Wide Web: http://www.earthwatch.org/cfr/cfr.html __________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 00:14:58 +0200 From: Rune Frovik Organization: High North Alliance (http://www.highnorth.no) Subject: High North Alliance publication The High North Alliance has published "Trade in minke whales - conservation in action", in the run up to the CITES meeting next month. The brochure is essential reading for anyone interested in the whaling debate. It lays out the arguments why minke whales in the North Atlantic should be taken off the "threatened with extinction" list, known as Appendix I. For the third time in a row, Norway has proposed to CITES to transfer the North East and the North Atlantic Central minke whale stocks from Appendix I to Appendix II. While it was supported by a simple majority in 1997, it failed to achieve the necessary two-thirds majority. Science shows that these two minke whale stocks are healthy. The hunt is strictly regulated, sustainable, good for the environment, the economy and local people. The brochure shows how previous actions of the International Whaling Commission and CITES have resulted in a whale blubber mountain of several hundred tonnes in Norway. Although Norwegians eat minke whale meat, they do not have a taste for blubber, which is considered a delicacy in other cultures. International trade would be an efficient solution, allowing rural coastal communities access to markets and economic development. A unique DNA trade control system has been pioneered, through which the origins of minke whale products can be traced through a DNA database. "Trade in minke whales conservation in action" is available in the three official CITES languages: English, French and Spanish. Printed copies of the brochure can be ordered at no cost by e-mail to hna(\)highnorth.no. It is also available online at: Trade in minke whales - conservation in action http://www.highnorth.no/cites2000/Publication/English.pdf Commerce du petit rorqual - conservation en action http://www.highnorth.no/cites2000/Publication/French.pdf El comercio de rorcual menor - conservacisn en accisn http://www.highnorth.no/cites2000/Publication/Spanish.pdf Sincerely, Rune Frovik Secretary -- High North Alliance, Rune(\)highnorth.no, http://www.highnorth.no P.O. Box 123, N-8398 Reine i Lofoten, Norway Tel.: + 47-76 09 24 14, Fax.: + 47-76 09 24 50 The High North Alliance is working for the future of coastal cultures and the sustainable use of marine resources ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Mar 0100 04:18:07 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications (fwd) Here are some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Publications recently posted to MARMAM are not included. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. Declining carrying capacity in the Bering Sea: Isotopic evidence from whale baleen. Schell, DM. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY. March 2000 v45 i2 p459-462 Matched-field processing, geoacoustic inversion, and source signature recovery of blue whale vocalizations. Thode, AM; D'Spain, GL; Kuperman, WA. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA. March 2000 v107 i3 p1286-1300 Identification of marine mammal species in food products. Martinez, I; Danielsdottir, AK. JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE. March 2000 v80 i4 p527-533 Genetic structure of harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena populations in the northwest Atlantic based on mitochondrial and nuclear markers. Rosel, PE; France, SC; Wang, JY; Kocher, TD. MOLECULAR ECOLOGY. December 1999 v8 i12 sup1 pS41-S54 Sublingual squamous cell carcinoma in an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Renner, MS; Ewing, R; Bossart, GD; Harris, D. JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE. December 1999 v30 i4 p573-576 Genetic structure of harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena populations in the northwest Atlantic based on mitochondrial and nuclear markers Author(s) Rosel, PE; France, SC; Wang, JY; Kocher, TD Source MOLECULAR ECOLOGY, December 1999 v8 i12 sup1 pS41-S54 Molecular characterization of Brucella strains isolated from marine mammals. Bricker, BJ; Ewalt, DR; MacMillan, AP; Foster, G; Brew, S. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY. March 2000 v38 i3 p1258-1262 Subcutaneous implantation of satellite transmitters with percutaneous antennae into male polar bears (Ursus maritimus). Mulcahy, DM; Garner, G. JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE. December 1999 v30 i4 p510-515 Postsealing genetic variation and population structure of two species of fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella and A-tropicalis). Wynen, LP; Goldsworthy, SD; Guinet, C; Bester, MN; Boyd, IL; Gjertz, I; Hofmeyr, GJG; White, RG; Slade, R. MOLECULAR ECOLOGY. March 2000 v9 i3 p299-314 Patterns of paternal relatedness in British grey seal colonies. Wilmer, JW; Overall, AJ; Pomeroy, PP; Twiss, D; Amos, W. MOLECULAR ECOLOGY. March 2000 v9 i3 p283-292 Date: Thu, 1 Apr 0100 03:21:24 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly marine mammal summary to US congress (fwd) The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS MMPA Hearing. On April 6, 2000, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans has scheduled an oversight hearing on the Marine Mammal Protection Act. [personal communication] {{Steller Sea Lions. On Mar. 30, 2000, plaintiffs in a lawsuit brought by environmental groups against NMFS filed a motion asking U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Zilly to halt all trawling for pollock, Atka mackerel, Pacific cod, sole, and rockfish in Steller sea lion critical habitat in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska until NMFS finishes a report requested by Judge Zilly on whether bottomfishing is harming Steller sea lions.}} [Anchorage Daily News] {{Zoo Polar Bears Killed. On Mar. 30, 2000, four polar bears, released by vandels, were shot to death at the Nuremberg, Germany, zoo after zoo personnel failed in attempts to tranquillize them.}} [Canadian Press] HABs and Marine Mammals. On Mar. 29, 2000, NMFS and National Ocean Service staff have scheduled two briefings for congressional staff ? in Dirksen Senate Office Bldg. (morning) and in Longworth House Office Bldg. (afternoon), Washington, DC -- on the existing collaborative response network to respond to harmful algal blooms (HABs) and marine mammal mortality problems associated with these HABs. [personal communication] CITES Hearing. On Mar. 28, 2000, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans has scheduled an oversight hearing on April 2000 meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). [personal communication] Canadian Sealing. In late March 2000, the Canadian harp seal hunt off Prince Edward Island was scheduled to begin. However, seals are scarce and not concentrated due to the lack of pack ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. {{Because of the poor ice conditions, seal pups are reportedly being born in the water or are drowning before they can be weaned.}} [Canadian Press, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release] Japanese Whaling. On Mar. 16, 2000, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Greenpeace release the results of a survey of 1,185 Japanese adults on attitudes about whaling and whalemeat consumption. About 55% of the Japanese public had no opinion or were neutral regarding commercial whaling, 14% opposed whaling outright, 11% supported commercial whaling, and 20% reported that the reason for killing whales would affect whether they supported whaling. In addition, about 61% had not eaten whalemeat since childhood, if at all. On Mar. 23, 2000, the Japan Whaling Association and Japanese government officials questioned the validity of the IFAW survey, citing previous surveys taken in 1992-1995 indicating strong public support in Japan for whaling. [IFAW press release, Japan Whaling Association press release, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (Japan) press release] Bahamas Whale/Dolphin Standings. On Mar. 15, 2000, seventeen whales and dolphins of at least four species in three families (dense-beaked whales, goose-beaked whales, spotted dolphin, minke whales, rorqual) beached and 9 died in various locations around the Bahamas, coincidental to U.S. Navy antisubmarine exercises off the northern Bahamas on Mar. 15. The Navy denies any evidence linking the unusual whale beachings and the Naval exercises, which did not involve low-frequency active sonar. However, some biologists consider the large number of coincident strandings as well as the involvement of several species highly unusual and probably related in some way. [Assoc Press, Washington Post, personal communication] Manatee and Sea Turtle Ruling. On Mar. 10, 2000 and in response to a lawsuit by a coalition of environmental groups, a FL Circuit Court judge ruled that, contrary to a specific exemption by the FL Legislature, a FL constitutional amendment gives the FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission the right to protect marine species (e.g., manatees and sea turtles) as well as land animals. [Assoc Press] Soviet Navy Mammals. In early March 2000, the London Times reported that Crimean authorities had completed the sale and transfer to Iran of 27 marine mammals (dolphins, beluga whales, walruses, and sea lions) trained by the former Soviet Navy. [London Times] Sea Lion Protection. In early March 2000, New Zealand closed a squid fishery around the Auckland Islands after endangered New Zealand sea lion bycatch mortality reached 65 animals. The early closure may result in as much as a NZ$50 million loss to the fishing industry. [Southland Times] Inuit Bowhead Whale Permit. In early March 2000, the Canadian Inuit community of Coral Harbour (on Southampton Island), Nunavut, asked the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board to request federal ministerial approval for the community to hunt and kill an endangered bowhead whale in mid-July 2000. [Canadian Press] Dolphins in the Navy. In early March 2000, the U.S. Navy flew two female dolphins from San Diego, CA, to Sitka, AK, for participation in the Northern Edge 2000 military exercise. [Anchorage Daily News] Keiko. On Mar. 3, 2000, Keiko was released from his pen into the larger net- enclosed Klettsvik Bay, Iceland [http://www.oceanfutures.org]. [Portland Oregonian, Reuters, Ocean Futures press release] Mexican Salt Works Project. On Mar. 2, 2000, Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo and officials of Mitsubishi Corp. announced that the government of Mexico and Mitsubishi Corp. would not continue to pursue construction of a salt works project adjacent to San Ignacio lagoon. On Mar. 22, 2000, Mexican officials announced that the San Ignacio lagoon area would be preserved and developed in a manner beneficial to local residents, emphasizing eco-tourism and nature-friendly businesses. [Embassy of Mexico press release, Reuters, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release, Assoc Press] North Atlantic Right Whale. On Mar. 1, 2000, rescue teams attempted to disentangle a 20-year old male northern right whale found tangled in fishing gear off Manomet, MA, in Cape Cod Bay. Initial attempts were unsuccessful, but the whale appeared to be strong and in good health. On Mar. 3, 2000, the Conservation Law Foundation (Boston, MA) filed a 60-day notice of intent to sue NMFS, claiming failure to take action sufficient to protect endangered north Atlantic right whales under the Endangered Species Act. [Assoc Press, Boston Herald, Boston Globe] Sonar Lawsuit. On Feb. 29, 2000, a coalition of 10 national and Hawaiian organizations and Hawai'i County Council member Julie Jacobson filed suit in federal court (Honolulu) seeking to halt the U.S. Navy from deploying their Surveillance Towed Array Sonar System (SURTASS) low frequency active (LFA) sonar system. The plaintiffs claim the Navy is violating environmental law by developing this system before completing an analysis of the system's environmental effects and that the sonar system poses a threat to marine life and to human swimmers and divers. The lawsuit also seeks an injunction to prevent NMFS from processing the Navy's application for a deployment permit for the system. [Environment News Service] Items in this Summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. Date: Thu, 1 Apr 0100 03:29:01 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Northwest SMM Student Chapter web site (fwd) From: Kristin Kaschner The web site for the Northwest (Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon) Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy (NWSSMM) is now accessible. Please contact http://www.marinemammals.org/nwssmm for more chapter information and registration for the next meeting on April 29, 2000 in Seattle. Kristin Kaschner Marine Mammal Research Unit University of British Columbia Room 18, Hut B-3, 6248 Biological Sciences Road Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6T 1Z4 Phone: (604) 822-8181, Fax: (604) 822-8180 Date: Sat, 1 Apr 2000 03:33:11 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Marine Mammalogy undergraduate course, Gulf of Maine (fwd) From: Sean Todd College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor ME, is pleased to announce the following undergraduate-level course for external applicants, Summer 2000: Field Studies in Marine Mammalogy (June 18 - July 5) INSTRUCTOR: Sean Todd, Ph.D. The northern waters of the Gulf of Maine are highly productive and each summer are resident to a number of macrofauna, including cetaceans and seals. This course is an intensive three weeks designed to introduce students to the practicalities and logistics of researching marine mammals in the field. In the first week we prepare for our fieldwork, learning and maintaining the equipment we will be using, and performing background research. Next, we spend an intensive 8 days at Mount Desert Rock (MDR), our field lighthouse station located 20 miles south of Mount Desert Island (MDI). Research at MDR is unique in that it has provided a longitud- inal record of marine mammal activity for the past 25 years. During this course students get the opportunity to help contribute to that database, and in return may collect data that may be used for personal research projects. While at MDR, time will be divided between working on small boats, performing research on the island (working with the resident seal colony or collecting observations from the lighthouse tower), and contributing towards the island community needs (cooking, etc.). Evaluation for this course is by individual participation, and a student project presented orally and as a final paper following return to dry land. Prerequisite: a back- ground in biological sciences, any college math course, demonstration of self-reliance skills, and permission of the instructor. Class size limited to 8 people. Course Fee:$2139 (1 credit/3.3 semester hours) Additional fees: $200-250 (depends on size of enrollment: includes room and board while on MDR). On campus housing: $180 * While on campus, meals will be available to purchase on an individual basis. For more information, please contact the course instructor, Sean Todd, , or the College's admission officer Donna McFarland, _______________________ Sean Todd, Ph.D, Director, Allied Whale, College of the Atlantic, 105 Eden Street, Bar Harbor, ME, 04609, US Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 17:11:58 +0200 From: Simone Panigada Subject: reprints available Good morning Marmam, for those interested in receiving reprints of the following paper, please note that they are available at: panigada(\)tin.it Panigada, S., Zanardelli, M., Canese, S. and Jahoda, M. 1999. How deep can baleen whales dive? Marine Ecology Progress Series 187: 309-311. ABSTRACT: This paper presents evidence of deep diving performances by fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in the Mediterranean Sea, never directly recorded for any other species of baleen whales. By means of velocity-time-depth-recorders applied to the whales with suction cups, depths of at least 470 m were registered twice, over 7 dives below 150 m recorded during a total of 12 h 38 min of remote tracking. The deep bouts occurred in late afternoon, in coincidence with the diel vertical upwards migration of the krill Meganyctiphanes norvegica, the principal prey species for Mediterranean fin whales. The data presented indicate that fin whale diving capabilities are opportunistically adapted to deep prey availability in the area. KEY WORDS: Deep diving - Fin whale - Mediterranean Sea - Feeding ecology - Telemetry - Krill migration ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Apr 0100 03:38:04 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Paleontology job posting, Texas (fwd) From: Dan Brooks [mailto:dbrooks(\)HMNS.ORG] Greetings, Sorry for cross-postings. Please send info. directly to Lisa Rebori (address below) if interested. Best wishes, Dan Brooks Curator of Paleontology Houston Museum of Natural Science Houston, Texas The Houston Museum of Natural Science seeks an energetic, and creative paleontologist with a minimum of three years experience with museum collections, exhibits, and public programs. The successful applicant will be an organized team player, with excellent people skills and an enthusiastic willingness to regularly interact with school groups, museum docents, members, and the general public. Responsibilities will include temporary and permanent exhibits development, curation, and the development of public education programs for students of all ages. Applicants must be self-motivated and capable of creating opportunities to pursue collection-based research as well as spearhead self-directed field work, particularly in the state of Texas. Ph.D. preferred, but will consider all qualified candidates. Please send a letter of application, CV, and reprints of professional and popular writings, and 3 references. Applications must be recieved by August 1, 2000, and should be sent to L. Rebori, Houston Museum of Natural Science, #1 Hermann Circle Drive, Houston, Texas 77030-1799. The HMNS is an equal opportunity employer. ____________________________________________________________________________ Daniel M. Brooks, Ph.D. Curator of Vertebrate Zoology Houston Museum of Natural Science One Hermann Circle Drive Houston, TX 77030-1799 Telephone: 713-639-4776 E-mail: dbrooks(\)hmns.org Date: Thu, 1 Apr 0100 03:39:32 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: (Fwd) The Emily B. Shane Award ------- Forwarded Message From ------- The Emily B. Shane Award ---------------------------------- The Emily B. Shane Award supports conservation-oriented, non-harmful research on free-ranging Odontocetes and Sirenians. The award honors Emily B. Shane (1924-1995), a fine amateur naturalist and dedicated conservationist. The award, given annually, will total approximately $10,000. Typically, the award has been divided between two or three winners. Although awards will be made for no more than one year at a time, applicants may apply more than once for the same project. Applications are due by Monday, 12 June 2000 and should be sent to: Dr. Bernd Wursig Professor of Marine Biology Texas A & M University 4700 Ave. U, Bldg. 303 Galveston, TX 77551 USA E-mail applications will be accepted at: wursigb(\)tamug.tamu.edu. Applicants outside the U.S. must take responsibility for insuring the timely delivery of their applications. Award recipient(s) will be announced by 1 September 2000. __Eligibility: The award is available to students and other researchers who meet the evaluation criteria. The application should be submitted by the person conducting the research. A student's professor should send a cover letter of support, if his/her involvement in the project is essential to the completion of the project. __Evaluation Criteria: Applicants should send four copies of the proposal (one e-mail copy is sufficient) to the address above. The following materials should be included: * A proposal, not exceeding three pages (use Times font, 12 point type, single space, 2 cm margins) in length, outlining the proposed research, its objectives, methods, the role of the proposed work in conservation, the time period for research, the persons conducting field research and their roles, and literature cited. In addition to the 3 page proposal, applicants must include: * A budget, including other funding applied for or already held for the proposed research (applicants demonstrating the greatest financial need will be given special attention)(requests for funds covering direct research expenses will be given greater consideration); * A current C.V./resume of the applicant (include a demonstration of the applicant's ability to convey scientific information to both general and professional audiences via writing and speaking; an applicant's age and level of schooling will be taken into consideration); * Three references with phone number, e-mail address and relationship to the applicant. __General: Applicants must have applied for any necessary permits or authorizations for conducting the proposed research. Permits and authorization must be obtained before the award funds are disbursed. Non-harmful research is that which poses a proven minimal risk to the health and life of an individual animal and to other species within the ecosystem. Research which involves handling animals or invasive techniques is acceptable only if carried out by competent, experienced personnel and provides clear benefits in terms of conservation and scientific knowledge. A report summarizing the research completed with support from the Emily B. Shane Award must be submitted at the end of the year of funding. This report should include relevant conservation recommendations, plans for publication of the results and ongoing research plans. Ten percent (10%) of the total amount of the award will be withheld until the final report is received at the above address. __________________________________ Giovanni Bearzi President, Tethys Research Institute bearzi(\)tin.it Tethys Research Institute c/o Thetis SpA Castello 2737/f 30122 Venezia, Italy tel. +39 0412406353 fax +39 0415210292 tethys(\)tethys.org www.tethys.org __________________________________ Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 21:37:46 -0300 From: Adolfo de Jesus Subject: Public Health : Research about human infection after they have contact with marine mammals Hello ! My name is Adolfo Hubner, biologist, I'm working to the Projeto MAMA in Brazil, and I'm trying to collect data about human infection after they have contact with marine mammals. I'm having some difficults searching any material about it, for now I have found some issues in Geraci, Marine Mammals Ashore : A Few Guide for Strandings. If you have any work about this please contact me, I would really appreciate that... Sincerely, Adolfo Hubner ahubner(\)uol.com.br ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Apr 0100 00:48:17 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications (fwd) Here are some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Publications recently posted to MARMAM are not included. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. Observations of marine birds and mammals wintering at polynyas and ice edges in the Belcher Islands, Nunavut, Canada. Gilchrist, HG; Robertson, GJ. ARCTIC. March 2000 v53 i1 p61-68 Distribution and numbers of bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) in northwestern Hudson Bay in August 1995. Cosens, SE; Innes, S. ARCTIC. March 2000 v53 i1 p36-41 Close-up whale adventures - locations around the globe!. AUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL. March 2000 v78 i3 p144-144 Seasonal regression in testicular size and histology in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena, L.) from the Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Maine Author(s) Neimanis, AS; Read, AJ; Foster, RA; Gaskin, DE Source JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, February 2000 v250 part2 p221-229 Finescale topographical correlates of behavioural investment in offspring by female grey seals, Halichoerus grypus. Twiss, SD; Caudron, A; Pomeroy, PP; Thomas, CJ; Mills, JP. ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR. February 2000 v59 part2 p327-338 Stirling, I; Lunn, NJ; Iacozza, J. (article with no title) ARCTIC, March 2000 v53 i1 p86-87 (article about the size of the western Hudson Bay polar bear population) Visser, I.N. 1999. A summary of interactions between orca (Orcinus orca) and other cetaceans in New Zealand waters. New Zealand Natural Sciences 24: 101-112. Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 16:36:45 -0400 From: Darren Long Subject: Animal Social Complexity & Intelligence conference announcement boundary="------------A748D8C0DDCDE05CD9334490" --------------A748D8C0DDCDE05CD9334490 X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by rmys5.rmy.emory.edu id QAA04150 Announcement for Animal Social Complexity & Intelligence Conference August 23-26, 2000 http://www.AnimalSocialComplexity.org 1) Introduction We are pleased to announce that the Chicago Academy of Sciences (CAS), the Living Links Center (LLC) of Emory University, and the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) have joined forces to organize a major scientific conference entitled, =93Animal Social Complexity and Intelligence=94 to b= e held at the new Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago from August 23 through 26, 2000. Visit the conference web site (http://www.animalsocialcomplexity.org) .for more information and on-line registration. The conference brings together researchers who share an interest in long-term studies of large-brained, long-lived animals. For the first time, scientists and students working on a wide variety of mammal and bird species will assemble in one place to exchange new findings. Discussions will focus on long-range studies concerning social organization, social cognition, cooperation, reconciliation, communication, and culture =96 topics common to many different animals, but seldom discussed across taxonomic lines. The conference organizers are Dr. Frans B. M. de Waal (LLC) and Dr. Peter Tyack (Woods Hole) with an Advisory Committee that includes Dr. Paul G. Heltne (CAS); Dr. Jan A. R. A. M. van Hooff (University of Utrecht), Dr. Craig Packer (University of Minnesota), and Dr. Richard W. Wrangham (Harvard University). 2) Program and Speakers The first three days of the conference, will be dedicated to academic seminars and round-table discussions featuring the world=92s most prominent researchers in this area. The program also includes a paper and poster session for advanced graduate students and junior Ph. D.=92s. The fourth day of the conference, Saturday, August 26th, will feature discussions on the results of 40 years of research at Gombe. It is a special part of this conference dovetailing with the kickoff to a worldwide 40th anniversary celebration (http://www.janegoodall.org/) of Jane Goodall=92s long-term research on wild chimpanzees at Gombe National Park, Tanzania. Dr. Goodall, one of the first and foremost scientists to conduct the sort of research we will be drawing from, will also deliver a public address sponsored by the Chicago Academy of Sciences on Friday evening, August 25th. Featured Speakers: Dr. Christophe Boesch, Dr. Jack Bradbury, Dr. Dorothy Cheney or Dr. Robert Seyfarth, Dr. Laurence Frank, Dr. Jane Goodall, Dr. Bernd Heinrich, Dr. Jan van Hooff, Dr. Hans Kummer, Dr. Tetsuro Matsuzawa, Dr. William McGrew, Dr. Toshisada Nishida, Dr. Craig Packer, Dr. Katherine Payne, Dr. Susan Perry, Dr. Anne Pusey, Dr. Ronald Schusterman, Dr. Carel van Schaik, Dr. Peter Tyack, Dr. Frans de Waal, Dr. Randy Wells, Dr. Meredith West, Dr. Hal Whitehead, and Dr. Richard Wrangham. See the Featured Speakers page (http://www.animalsocialcomplexity.org/speakers.htm) of our web site for more information on all of the speakers=92 backgrounds and presentations. 3) Graduate student/post-doc competition This is a call for submission of abstracts for papers and posters to the Animal Social Complexity and Intelligence Conference. All abstracts are due May 15th, 2000. Applicants will be notified by June 15th of their submission=92s acceptance. See the Abstracts page (http://www.animalsocialcomplexity.org/abstracts.htm) of our web site for further details on suggested contents, format of the abstract, and how to enter your work into the competition. The competition will be open to all graduate students, in the US and elsewhere, with an approved dissertation project, and also to scientists who have received their Ph. D. degree in the past four years. 4) Registration (on-line form) $350 for non-students $225 for university and college students Fees reduced to $100 for students and $225 for post-docs with accepted submissions (register at regular rate to reserve your spot, and we will bill you accordingly if your submission is accepted). Register on-line at (https://www.pshift.com/asc/registration.asp). Hotel space in Chicago at this time of year is in short supply. We have booked two local hotels within walking distance of the conference site for your accommodation. Details are included on the web site. Breakfast is provided free for guests of both conference hotels (http://www.animalsocialcomplexity.org/accomodations.htm), with lunch and coffee breaks provided free to all attendees for the 4 days of the conference. 5) Contacts Email Betsy Altman of the Chicago Academy of Sciences for general information (Betsy(\)ElizabethAltmanAssoc.com), Darren Long of Living Links for questions on the conference program (dlong(\)rmy.emory.edu) and the Jane Goodall Institute for information on the Gombe 40 celebration (JGIinformation(\)janegoodall.org). Other correspondence: Mr. Darren Long Living Links Center, Emory University Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center 954 N. Gatewood Road, Atlanta GA 30322 Tel. 404/727-3696, Fax. 404/727-3270 http://www.emory.edu/LIVING_LINKS/ --------------A748D8C0DDCDE05CD9334490 X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by rmys5.rmy.emory.edu id QAA04150 Announcement for Animal Social Complexity & Intell= igence Conference
August 23-26, 2000
= http://www.AnimalSocialComplexity.org
 

1) Introduction

We are pleased to announce that the Chicago Academy of Sciences (CAS), the Living Links Center (LLC) of Emory University, and the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) have joined forces to organize a major scientific confere= nce entitled, =93Animal Social Complexity and Intelligence=94 to be held at t= he new Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago from August 23 through 26, 2000.  Visit the conference web site (http://www.animalsocialcomplexity.org) .for more information and on-line registration.

The conference brings together researchers who share an interest in long-term studies of large-brained, long-lived animals. For the first tim= e, scientists and students working on a wide variety of mammal and bird spec= ies will assemble in one place to exchange new findings.  Discussions will focus on long-range studies concerning social organization, social cognition, cooperation, reconciliation, communication, and culture =96 to= pics common to many different animals, but seldom discussed across taxonomic lines.

The conference organizers are Dr. Frans B. M. de Waal (LLC) and Dr. Peter Tyack (Woods Hole) with an Advisory Committee that includes Dr. Pau= l G. Heltne (CAS); Dr. Jan A. R. A. M. van Hooff (University of Utrecht), Dr. Craig Packer (University of Minnesota), and Dr. Richard W. Wrangham (Harvard University).
 

2) Program and Speakers

The first three days of the conference, will be dedicated to academic seminars and round-table discussions featuring the world=92s most promine= nt researchers in this area. The program also includes a paper and poster session for advanced graduate students and junior Ph. D.=92s. The fourth day of the conference, Saturday, August 26th, will feature discussions on the results of 40 years of research at Gombe. It is a special part of this conference dovetailing with the kickoff to a worldwide 40th annivers= ary celebration (http://www.janegooda= ll.org/) of Jane Goodall=92s long-term research on wild chimpanzees at Gombe Natio= nal Park, Tanzania. Dr. Goodall, one of the first and foremost scientists to conduct the sort of research we will be drawing from, will also deliver a public address sponsored by the Chicago Academy of Sciences on Friday evening, August 25th.

Featured Speakers:
Dr. Christophe Boesch, Dr. Jack Bradbury, Dr. Dorothy Cheney or Dr. Robert Seyfarth, Dr. Laurence Frank, Dr. Jane Goodall, Dr. Bernd Heinrich= , Dr. Jan van Hooff, Dr. Hans Kummer, Dr. Tetsuro Matsuzawa, Dr. William McGrew, Dr. Toshisada Nishida, Dr. Craig Packer, Dr. Katherine Payne, Dr. Susan Perry, Dr. Anne Pusey, Dr. Ronald Schusterman, Dr. Carel van Schaik= , Dr. Peter Tyack, Dr. Frans de Waal, Dr. Randy Wells, Dr. Meredith West, Dr. Hal Whitehead, and Dr. Richard Wrangham.

See the Featured Speakers page (http://www.animalsocialcomplexity.org/speakers.h= tm) of our web site for more information on all of the speakers=92 background= s and presentations.
 

3) Graduate student/post-doc competition

This is a call for submission of abstracts for papers and posters to the Animal Social Complexity and Intelligence Conference. All abstracts are due May 15th, 2000.  Applicants will be notified by June 15th of their submission=92s acceptance. See the Abstracts page (http://www.animalsocia= lcomplexity.org/abstracts.htm) of our web site for further details on suggested contents, format of the abstract, and how to enter your work into the competition. The competitio= n will be open to all graduate students, in the US and elsewhere, with an approved dissertation project, and also to scientists who have received their Ph. D. degree in the past four years.
 

4) Registration (on-line form)

$350 for non-students
$225 for university and college students
Fees reduced to $100 for students and $225 for post-docs with accepte= d submissions (register at regular rate to reserve your spot, and we will bill you accordingly if your submission is accepted).  Register on-l= ine at (https://www.p= shift.com/asc/registration.asp).

Hotel space in Chicago at this time of year is in short supply. We hav= e booked two local hotels within walking distance of the conference site for your accommodation. Details are included on the web site. Breakfast is provided free for guests of both conference hotels (http://www.animalsocial= complexity.org/accomodations.htm), with lunch and coffee breaks provided free to all attendees for the 4 day= s of the conference.
 

5) Contacts

Email Betsy Altman of the Chicago Academy of Sciences for general info= rmation (Betsy(\)ElizabethAltmanAssoc.com), Darren Long of Living Links for questio= ns on the conference program (dlong(\)rmy.emory.edu) and the Jane Goodall Inst= itute for information on the Gombe 40 celebration (JGIinformation(\)janegoodall.o= rg).

Other correspondence:
Mr. Darren Long
Living Links Center, Emory University
Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center
954 N. Gatewood Road, Atlanta GA 30322
Tel. 404/727-3696, Fax. 404/727-3270
http://www.emory.edu/L= IVING_LINKS/
  --------------A748D8C0DDCDE05CD9334490-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 10:16:17 -0700 From: Kristin Kaschner Subject: Northwest SMM Student Chapter web site - correction I apologize for overlooking a rather crucial typo in the URL in my earlier posting. The correct site address for the SMM Northwest Student Chapter webpage is: http://www.marinemammal.org/nwssmm With apologies, Kristin Kaschner Marine Mammal Research Unit University of British Columbia Room 18, Hut B-3, 6248 Biological Sciences Road Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6T 1Z4 Phone: (604) 822-8181, Fax: (604) 822-8180 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2000 10:16:23 -0700 From: Carlos Alvarez Organization: NMML Subject: Fw: Abstract deadline Hi-- Just a reminder that the deadline to submit your abstract for participation in the NW student meeting is next Wednesday April 5th. Details on the meeting are found in http://students.washington.edu/calvarez/call.html If you have problems downloading the registration form, please let me know immediately, I'll send it to you directly (MARMAM can't recieve/send attachments). Please, contact me if you want to participate but have conflicts to send your abstract on time, with transportation, accommodation or other related problem. We will do as much as we can to help everybody to get to be with us. If you are in Vancouver you can contact Andrea Hunter at: hunter(\)zoology.ubc.ca Act today! We hope to see all of you here! Cheers Carlos Alvarez School of Fisheries University of Washington Box 355020 Seattle WA. 98195. Phone NMML (206)526 6331 Fax (206)685 7471 Email alvarez(\)fish.washington.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 4 Apr 0100 23:54:16 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Marine Mammal Science - contents (fwd) MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE 16(2) CONTENTS Ortega-Ortiz, J.G., B. Villa-Ramirez, and J.R. Gersenowies. 2000. Polydactyly and other features of the manus of the vaquita, Phocoena sinus. Marine Mammal Science 16(2): 277-286. Acevedo-Gutierrez, A. and N. Parker. 2000. Surface behavior of bottlenose dolphins is related to spatial arrangement of prey. Marine Mammal Science 16(2): 287-298. Werth, A. 2000. A kinematic study of suction-feeding and associated behavior in the long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas (Traill). Marine Mammal Science 16(2): 299-314. Smith, S.C. and H. Whitehead. 2000. The diet of Galapagos sperm whales Physeter macrocephalus as indicated by fecal sample analysis. Marine Mammal Science 16(2): 315-325. Weinrich, M.T., R.D. Kenney, and P.K. Hamilton. 2000. Right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) on Jeffreys Ledge: a habitat of unrecognized importance? Marine Mammal Science 16(2): 326-337. Blackmer, A.L., S.K. Anderson, and M.T. Weinrich. 2000. Temporal variability in features used to photo-identify humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Marine Mammal Science 16(2): 338-354. Friday, N., T.D. Smith, P.T. Stevick, and J. Allen. 2000. Measurement of photographic quality and individual distinctiveness for the photographic identification of humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae. Marine Mammal Science 16(2): 355-374. Lagerquist, B.A., K.M. Stafford, and B.R. Mate. 2000. Dive characteristics of satellite-monitored blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) off the central California coast. Marine Mammal Science 16(2): 375-391. Parrish, F.A., M.P. Craig, T.J. Ragen, G.J. Marshall, and B.M. Buhleier. 2000. Identifying diurnal foraging habitat of endangered Hawaiian monk seal using a seal-mounted video camera. Marine Mammal Science 16(2): 392-412. Maunder, M.N., P.J. Starr, and R. Hilborn. 2000. A Bayesian analysis to estimate loss in squid catch due to the implementation of a sea lion population management plan. Marine Mammal Science 16(2): 413-426. Pitcher, K.W., D.G. Calkins, and G.W. Pendleton. 2000. Steller sea lion body condition indices. Marine Mammal Science 16(2): 427-436. Janik, V.M., S.M. van Parijs, and P.M. Thompson. 2000. A two-dimensional acoustic localization system for marine mammals. Marine Mammal Science 16(2): 437-447 Carr, T. and R.K Bonde. 2000. Tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis) occurs in Nicaragua, 800 km north of its previously known range. Marine Mammal Science 16(2): 447-452 Gill, P.C., G.J.B. Ross, W.H. Dawbin, and H. Wapstra. 2000. Confirmed sightings of dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) in southern Australia waters. Marine Mammal Science 16(2): 452-459 Visser, I.N. and P. Makelainen. 2000. Variation in eye-patch shape of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in New Zealand waters. Marine Mammal Science 16(2): 459-469 Bininda-Emonds, O.R.P. 2000. Pinniped brain sizes. Marine Mammal Science 16(2): 469-481 van Parijs, S.M., G.D. Hastie, and P.M. Thompson. 2000. A design for a two-dimensional boat-bound hydrophone array for studying harbor seals, Phoca vitulina. Marine Mammal Science 16(2): 481-488 Lydersen, C., K.M. Kovacs, and M.O. Hammill. 2000. Reversed molting patterns in starveling gray (Halichoerus grypus) and harp (Phoca groenlandica) seal pups. Marine Mammal Science 16(2): 489-493 Wilkinson, I.S., S.J. Childerhouse, P.J. Duignan, and F.M.D. Gulland. 2000. Infanticide and cannibalism in the New Zealand sea lion, Phocarctos hookeri. Marine Mammal Science 16(2): 494-500 Galimberti, F., S. Sanvito, and L. Boitani. 2000. Marking of southern elephant seals with passive integrated transpoders. Marine Mammal Science 16(2): 500-504 Hindell, M.A. and C.R. McMahon. 2000. Long distance movement of a southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) from Macquarie Island to Peter 1 Oy. Marine Mammal Science 16(2): 504-507 Book review: _Marine Mammal Survey and Assessment Methods_ Boersma, P.D. 2000. Three southern right whales dead along Argentine coast. Marine Mammal Science 16(2): 511-512. Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2000 00:23:23 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Photo-id volunteers in Yucatan, Mexico (fwd) From: revay(\)earthling.net The Yucatan Stranding Network (Red de Varamientos de Yucatan, A.C. -REVAY) will have this summer a marine mammal photo-id project, Delphis Project 2000, at the Biosphere Reserve of Ria Celest=FAn, in Yucatan, Mexico. This project is supported by volunteers that stay on field for 15 days, working with the research team. The project is based in a part on Maddalena Bearzi's "Yucatan Project" (many thanks to her), trying to maintain an homogeinity on observation methods. For more information, please consult the web page at: http://www.geocities.com/delphis2000 Thanks. RED DE VARAMIENTOS DE YUCATAN, A.C. Calle 53E No.232 x 44 y 46 Fracc. Francisco de Montejo C.P. 97 200 M=E9rida Yucat=E1n, M=E9xico Tel/Fax: 52 (99) 27 36 18 Del interior del Estado sin costo: 01 (800) 71 03370 e-mail: revay(\)earthling.net ---------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2000 12:39:24 -0400 From: "Ruth E. Shaw" Subject: MERI announces Seal Ecology Internship - Immediate Opening The Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI), a nonprofit research/education organization, has an immediate opening for 1-2 dedicated interns to help conduct a harbor seal ecology study on Mount Desert Island, Maine. Other tasks include assisting with marine mammal monitoring and education outreach programs in Blue Hill Bay. We are moving quickly to fill an opening for the spring/summer beginning as early as late April 2000. The internship will involve fieldwork, data entry and statistical analysis using SPSS (PC). The intern(s) will observe and collect behavioral and survey data during the pupping season (late April - mid June) from a coastal location adjacent to a harbor seal colony. The intern(s) will be working with an inflatable Zodiak (Avon) outboard, portable time /event recorder interfaced with a GPS, long range telescope and camera equipment for seal photo-identification. Successful candidates will possess a strong field research background, computer skills, be highly motivated and able to work in an isolated setting. Recent graduates in wildlife ecology, marine mammology, zoology, environmental sciences, and related fields are encouraged to apply. The intern(s) will be housed in a private coastal home on the western side of Mount Desert Island. We are offering a stipend of $2,500 for this position. Interns are expected to pay for their food and other personal expenses, as well as travel to/ from Maine. Please email your resume/ CV and letter of interest to: adminmeri(\)downeast.net. Also, see our website: www.meriresearch.org for further information about the organization and its programs. Thank you, Ruth E. Shaw Assistant to the Director Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) P. O. Box 300, Brooklin, ME 04616 Voice: 207-359-8078 Fax: 207-359-8079 Email: adminmeri(\)downeast.net ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2000 10:28:55 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: ABSTRACT: bubble curtains, underwater noise, and hump-backed dolphins (fwd) Wursig, B., C.R. Greene, Jr., T.A. Jefferson. 2000. Development of an air bubble curtain to reduce underwater noise of percussive piling. Marine Environmental Research 49: 79-93. Underwater bubbles can inhibit sound transmission through water due to density mismatch and concomitant reflection and absorption of sound waves. For the present study, a perforated rubber hose was used to produce a bubbl= e curtain, or screen, around pile-driving activity in 6-8 m depth waters of western Hong Kong. The percussive hammer blow sounds of the pile driver wer= e measured on 2 days at distances of 250, 500, and 1000 m; broadband pulse levels were reduced by 3-5 dB by the bubble curtain. Sound intensities were measured from 100 Hz to 25.6 kHz, and greatest sound reduction by the bubbl= e curtain was evident from 400 to 6400 Hz. Indo-Pacific hump-backed dolphins (Sousa chinensis) occurred in the immediate area of the industrial activity before and during pile driving, but with a lower abundance immediately afte= r it. While hump-backed dolphins generally showed no overt behavioral changes with and without pile driving, their speeds of travel increased during pile driving, indicating that bubble screening did not eliminate all behavioral responses to the loud noise. Because the bubble curtain effectively lowered sound levels within 1 km of the activity, the experiment and its applicatio= n during construction represented a success, and this measure should be considered for other appropriate areas with high industrial noises and resident or migrating sound-sensitive animals. Please direct reprint inquiries to: Dr. Bernd W=FCrsig Professor of Marine Biology Texas A&M University 4700 Ave. U, Bldg. 303 Galveston, TX 77551 U.S.A. wursigb(\)tamug.tamu.edu Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2000 16:23:50 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly marine mammal summary to U.S. Congress (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS MMPA Hearing. On April 6, 2000, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans has scheduled an oversight hearing on Sections 118 and 119 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. [personal communication] {Dolphin-Safe Tuna. In an Apr. 3, 2000 hearing before U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson, animal protection groups asked that modifications to requirements for labeling tuna as "dolphin-safe" be halted, rather than allowed to take effect on Apr. 11, 2000. These groups fear new regulations allowing tuna to be labeled as dolphin-safe as long as no dolphins are observed to have been killed or seriously injured when tuna are caught by surrounding dolphins with purse seine nets.} [Fox New, Assoc Press] Steller Sea Lions. On Mar. 30, 2000, plaintiffs in a lawsuit brought by environmental groups against NMFS filed a motion asking U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Zilly to halt all trawling for pollock, Atka mackerel, Pacific cod, sole, and rockfish in Steller sea lion critical habitat in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska until NMFS finishes a report requested by Judge Zilly on whether bottomfishing is harming Steller sea lions. [Anchorage Daily News] Zoo Polar Bears Killed. On Mar. 30, 2000, four polar bears, released by vandels, were shot to death at the Nuremberg, Germany, zoo after zoo personnel failed in attempts to tranquillize them. [Canadian Press] HABs and Marine Mammals. On Mar. 29, 2000, NMFS and National Ocean Service staff have scheduled two briefings for congressional staff ? in Dirksen Senate Office Bldg. (morning) and in Longworth House Office Bldg. (afternoon), Washington, DC -- on the existing collaborative response network to respond to harmful algal blooms (HABs) and marine mammal mortality problems associated with these HABs. [personal communication] CITES Hearing. On Mar. 28, 2000, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans has scheduled an oversight hearing on April 2000 meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). [personal communication] {Seal Branding. In late March 2000, Australia's Environment Minister Robert Hill ordered an end to hot iron branding of Macquarie Island elephant seals for a research program, after a report for the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service found branded seals were almost 3 times as likely to be in poor physical condition as unbranded seals.} [Environment News Service, The Antarctican] Canadian Sealing. In late March 2000, the Canadian harp seal hunt off Prince Edward Island was scheduled to begin. However, seals are scarce and not concentrated due to the lack of pack ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Because of the poor ice conditions, seal pups are reportedly being born in the water or are drowning before they can be weaned. {{In early April 2000, Newfoundland's Fisheries Minister John Efford issued a renewed call for a harp seal cull, saying that exploding populations of seals are wiping out cod stocks off the north coast of Newfoundland.}} [Canadian Press, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release] Japanese Whaling. On Mar. 16, 2000, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Greenpeace release the results of a survey of 1,185 Japanese adults on attitudes about whaling and whalemeat consumption. About 55% of the Japanese public had no opinion or were neutral regarding commercial whaling, 14% opposed whaling outright, 11% supported commercial whaling, and 20% reported that the reason for killing whales would affect whether they supported whaling. In addition, about 61% had not eaten whalemeat since childhood, if at all. On Mar. 23, 2000, the Japan Whaling Association and Japanese government officials questioned the validity of the IFAW survey, citing previous surveys taken in 1992-1995 indicating strong public support in Japan for whaling. [IFAW press release, Japan Whaling Association press release, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (Japan) press release] Bahamas Whale/Dolphin Standings. On Mar. 15, 2000, seventeen whales and dolphins of at least four species in three families (dense-beaked whales, goose-beaked whales, spotted dolphin, minke whales, rorqual) beached and 9 died in various locations around the Bahamas, coincidental to U.S. Navy antisubmarine exercises off the northern Bahamas on Mar. 15. The Navy denies any evidence linking the unusual whale beachings and the Naval exercises, which did not involve low-frequency active sonar. However, some biologists consider the large number of coincident strandings as well as the involvement of several species highly unusual and probably related in some way. {On Apr. 3, 2000, officials of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society accused the U.S. Navy's exercises of causing whale beachings and deaths, and called on NMFS to take action to protect these marine mammals. Sea Shepherd officials announced that they were planning to file a lawsuit against the Navy and NMFS.} {{On Apr. 6, 2000, Navy officials responded by letter to the Humane Society, denying accusations that anti-submarine activities near the Bahamas had harmed marine mammals.}} [Assoc Press, Washington Post, personal communication] Manatee and Sea Turtle Ruling. On Mar. 10, 2000 and in response to a lawsuit by a coalition of environmental groups, a FL Circuit Court judge ruled that, contrary to a specific exemption by the FL Legislature, a FL constitutional amendment gives the FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission the right to protect marine species (e.g., manatees and sea turtles) as well as land animals. [Assoc Press] Soviet Navy Mammals. In early March 2000, the London Times reported that Crimean authorities had completed the sale and transfer to Iran of 27 marine mammals (dolphins, beluga whales, walruses, and sea lions) trained by the former Soviet Navy. [London Times] Sea Lion Protection. In early March 2000, New Zealand closed a squid fishery around the Auckland Islands after endangered New Zealand sea lion bycatch mortality reached 65 animals. The early closure may result in as much as a NZ$50 million loss to the fishing industry. [Southland Times] Inuit Bowhead Whale Permit. In early March 2000, the Canadian Inuit community of Coral Harbour (on Southampton Island), Nunavut, asked the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board to request federal ministerial approval for the community to hunt and kill an endangered bowhead whale in mid-July 2000. [Canadian Press] Dolphins in the Navy. In early March 2000, the U.S. Navy flew two female dolphins from San Diego, CA, to Sitka, AK, for participation in the Northern Edge 2000 military exercise. {{After 2 weeks in Sitka, these animals were reported to have returned to San Diego, CA, having performed their tasks extremely well and providing Navy scientists with a wealth of environmental data.}} [Anchorage Daily News, personal communication] Keiko. On Mar. 3, 2000, Keiko was released from his pen into the larger net- enclosed Klettsvik Bay, Iceland [http://www.oceanfutures.org]. [Portland Oregonian, Reuters, Ocean Futures press release] Mexican Salt Works Project. On Mar. 2, 2000, Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo and officials of Mitsubishi Corp. announced that the government of Mexico and Mitsubishi Corp. would not continue to pursue construction of a salt works project adjacent to San Ignacio lagoon. On Mar. 22, 2000, Mexican officials announced that the San Ignacio lagoon area would be preserved and developed in a manner beneficial to local residents, emphasizing eco-tourism and nature-friendly businesses. [Embassy of Mexico press release, Reuters, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release, Assoc Press] North Atlantic Right Whale. On Mar. 1, 2000, rescue teams attempted to disentangle a 20-year old male northern right whale found tangled in fishing gear off Manomet, MA, in Cape Cod Bay. Initial attempts were unsuccessful, but the whale appeared to be strong and in good health. On Mar. 3, 2000, the Conservation Law Foundation (Boston, MA) filed a 60-day notice of intent to sue NMFS, claiming failure to take action sufficient to protect endangered north Atlantic right whales under the Endangered Species Act. [Assoc Press, Boston Herald, Boston Globe] Items in this Summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2000 16:25:11 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Positive impacts of dolphin-watching on tourists (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Dear MARMAMERS, We have just started work for the Moray Firth Dolphin Trust in Scotland. One issue we are interested in looking at this year is whether the Wildlife Centre and dolphin-watching activities have a positive impact on visitors =96 i.e. does their experience encourage them to support conservation, have they learnt much from their experience etc. We are thinking of questionaires (maybe before and after) and would really appreciate any information on past or present research in this area. We are currently discussing the content of the questionaires, and it would be particularly useful to have a look at other questionaires on this subject. We are quite a way from a University library (in fact a long way from anywhere!) so your help would be very much appreciated. Thanks. Kerryn Wood (Education Project Officer) Ellie Dickson (Boat Survey Officer) Please reply to: matc59(\)dial.pipex.com Date: Wed, 7 Apr 0100 19:36:20 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Canada, CITES and gray whales (fwd) Forwarded message: ============================= Canada's credibility on the ecological front will be on the line next month when it votes on a proposal to lift the ban on the trade of grey whale meat SARAH SCHMIDT Special to The Globe and Mail Thursday, March 30, 2000 Victoria -- David Anderson looks very much the outdoorsman as he steps off the zodiak onto Race Rooks, an internationally recognized ecological reserve located on Canada's most southern point in the Pacific. The nine rocky outcrops, home to seals, sea lions, elephant seals and birds, extend from the ocean floor in the middle of the Strait of Juan de Fuca between southern Vancouver Island and Washington State. Grey whales pass through the nearby waters on their spring and fall migrations between Mexico and Alaska, the longest trek of any mammal. A handful of leviathans make these British Columbia waters their summer home. On this sunny Saturday afternoon in March, Canada's Environment Minister basks in accolades from the world's most noted deep-sea explorer, Joseph MacInnis, the first person to dive under the North Pole and among the first to dive to the Titanic. Mr. Anderson, he says, is "the definition of the word environmental." Back in Ottawa, the flurry around the fate of the grey whale, one of B.C.'s most prized marine mammals and the basis of a multi- million dollar eco-tourism industry, isn't nearly as upbeat. And beyond its borders, Canada's environmental reputation isn't nearly as rosy. On the eve of the meeting of the Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to be held April 10-20 in Kenya, Canada continues to send conflicting signals about its take on a controversial proposal to lift the ban on the trade of grey whale meat. The world's whalers, led by the Japanese, long eager to lift the 14- year-old global moratorium on commercial whaling, are proposing to remove Eastern Pacific grey and minke whales from Appendix I of CITES. Appendix I includes all those species "threatened by extinction which are or may be affected by trade." International trade in these species is prohibited "and must only be authorized in exceptional circumstances." Stakeholders say Ottawa's heart -- at least its bureaucratic heart -- is with the whalers. In the early part of the 20th century, an army of commercial whalers nearly emptied the waters off the west coast of whales. The Atlantic population had already been hunted to extinction, restricting the grey whale to shallow waters of the Pacific Ocean. At its peak in the 1950s, more than 50,000 whales were killed annually. Then, the international community stepped in. The International Whaling Commission, established in 1946 to regulate whaling, and CITES, developed in 1975 in response to the threat posed to endangered species by high levels of international trade, worked together to rein in the whalers. In 1986, the IWC enacted a global moratorium on commercial whaling and CITES banned the international trade of all whale meat. The two policies went hand in hand. Since their hunted years, the grey whale has made a dramatic comeback in the Eastern North Pacific, from a population of a few hundred to more than 20,000. Grey whales are extinct in the North Atlantic and near-extinct in the Western North Pacific. "This is an animal that we chased to extinction not long ago and it's made a wonderful comeback. We should celebrate that, not undo it," says whale researcher Paul Spong, based on Hanson Island off the northern coast of Vancouver Island. The United States and Mexico, the other countries in which the grey whale is present (called "range" states), are unequivocal about their opposition to the Japanese proposal to downlist the grey whale to open up trade. The grey whale in the Eastern North Pacific may have recovered from the brink of extinction; the U.S. even removed the grey whale from its endangered species list in 1994. But Rolland Schmitten, deputy assistant secretary for international affairs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the U.S., says Japan's proposal must be analyzed within a larger context. "We view this as a move toward commercial whaling. We believe it's an end run around the IWC." Japan and Norway have consistently ignored the IWC's moratorium on commercial whaling and repeatedly raised their whale quotas. Norwegian whalers have been caught trying to smuggle whale meat into Japan. Meanwhile, DNA tests have shown that whale meat from endangered species has been sold in Japan, including humpback whale from Mexican waters and blue whale from Icelandic waters. Mr. Schmitten says the U.S. believes it is inappropriate to even consider downlisting the grey whale until the IWC completes the revision of its management regime in order to bring all whaling under effective IWC control. Canada isn't nearly as unwavering. Howard Powles, director of Ottawa's fisheries research branch, says Canada "can't speculate on their [Japan and Norway] motives. We feel they are being upfront." Earlier this month, when Canada released its tentative voting position on Japan's proposals to downlist the grey and minke whales, it unleashed an environmental furor beyond its borders. The document states Canada "supports, with reservation," Japan's proposals. If Japan presented sufficient details on a control mechanism to guarantee endangered whales weren't traded, Canada was willing to support Japan at the CITES meeting. The rationalizations underlying the position were clear: The stock, the document states, does not meet biological criteria to be placed on Appendix I of CITES. Besides, CITES should list species based on its own criteria, not automatic listing based on decisions of the IWC. The IWC has repeatedly asked CITES to honour the request for assistance in enforcing the moratorium. At its 1999 meeting, the IWC passed a resolution reaffirming the importance of the continued co-operation between the two bodies, recognizing "the important role of CITES in detecting illegal trade in whale meat through inclusion of whale species in CITES Appendix I." Canadian officials have since stated that the international community has been unnecessarily alarmed, chalking up the preliminary position to a typographical error. It meant to say "oppose," not "support" the Japanese whale proposals, says Mr. Powles. Still, he says Canada is willing to revisit its position before the CITES meeting if Japan provides details about a control mechanism. Chuck Dauphiny, CITES scientific authority at Canada's ministry of the environment, is equally soft. Canada's positions are fluid -- up to and during -- the CITES meeting, he says. "If we get new information from the floor, we can change our positions. We call these flexible negotiating positions." Such declarations are out of step with Mr. Anderson's assertion. "You are for it or you are against," he says, referring to Japan's downlisting proposals. "It's a yes or no. We share the view that it should not be removed from its current listing. There's no question of the strength of the position. That is the position." This statement offers little consolation for Canada's environmental and animal-rights lobby. "The [Environment] Minister should talk to his colleagues in Fisheries. Canada is equivocating all over the place when our position on whaling should be a no-brainer," says Rick Smith, Canadian director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare. "Scientifically and legally, the Japan proposals are out of whack with the international community." Canada's international credibility on the green front is already tainted. Despite repeated calls to rejoin the IWC, Canada has refused. It has provided financial support and strategic advice to the B.C.-based World Council of Whalers, established in 1997 with seed money from Japan. Meanwhile, Canada has yet to sign the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. "You just have to connect the dots. Our record is shameful," says Mr. Smith. 1. http://www.globeandmail.com/ Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2000 03:27:28 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Historical Biology 14(1-2) - Contents (fwd) From: David S. Janiger HISTORICAL BIOLOGY 14(1-2) - CONTENTS Taylor, Michael A. 2000. Functional significance of bone ballastin in the evolution of buoyancy control strategies by aquatic tetrapods. Historical Biology 14(1-2):15-31. Department of Geology and Zoology, National Museums of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1JF, Scotland. Email: mat(\)nms.ac.uk The primary function of pachyostosis, pachyosteosclerosis, and osteosclerosis may be to act as ballast, not so much (as previously suggested) to neutralise the buoyancy of existing lungs, but to allow enlargement of the lungs. Enlarged lungs cause an animal to lose buoyancy more rapidly with depth. They also provide a larger oxygen store. These features are useful for slow swimmers and shallow divers, such as feeders on benthic plants and invertebrates. Examples are sirenians, primitive sauropterygians ("nothosaurs"), placodonts, and the sea otter Enhydra. These last two show convergent evolution of adaptations to feeding on hard-shelled invertebrate prey in shallow water. Mesosaurids are problematical. Bone ballast uses body mass and volume less efficiently than other buoyancy control strategies. Theoretical analysis predicts that bone ballast should not occur in semiaquatic forms, fast swimmers or deep divers. It does not usually occur in such organisms. Marine iguanas of the Galapagos, desmostylians, and the aquatic sloth Thalassocnus are all littoral feeders and all lack bone ballast as predicted. Plesiosaurs adopted varied strategies: some used bone ballast, and others used gastroliths. Biomechanical considerations lead to the prediction that a new marine tetrapod clade will typically evolve bone ballast as part of its adaptation to life in water. Slow swimmers and grazers on sessile food, like sirenians and placodonts, develop it more strongly, but active predators like ichthyosaurs and cetaceans secondarily lose this character. Keywords: Pachyostosis; Pachyosteosclerosis; Osteosclerosis; Buoyancy; =20 Swimming; Plesiosaur; Enhydra; Sirenian; Mesosaurid; Amblyrhynchus; =20 Cetacean; Odontocete; Mesoplodon; Thalassocnus =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Oelschlager, Helmut H. A. 2000. Morphological and functional adaptations of the toothed whale head to aquatic life. Historical Biology 14(1-2):33-39. Department of Anatomy (Dr. Senckenbergische Anatomie), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Theodor Stern-Kai 7, Building 26, D-60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Email: Oelschlaeger(\)em.uni-frankfurt.de Evolutionary adaptations of toothed whales to their aquatic habitat are expressed in a variety of morphogenetic trends, involving every part of these animals. Some of the most conspicuous of these trends are observed in the structures of major organ systems throughout the head, including the upper respiratory tract, cranium, masticatory complex, and middle and inner ear, as well as in the size and differentiation of related areas of the brain, particularly the auditory system. The information now available on the structural and functional properties of these systems shows that much additional knowledge is needed to provide us with a deeper understanding of these animals. Keywords: Head morphology; Function; Evolution; Toothed whales; Odontoceti =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Kemp, Birgit* and Helmut H. A. Oelschlager. 2000. Evolutionary strategies of Odontocete brain development. Historical Biology 14(1-2):41-45. *Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rheinisch-Westfalische Technische Hochschule, Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52057 Aachen, Germany. Email: Oelschlaeger(\)em.uni-frankfurt.de The development of the brain was studied in several species of toothed whales (harbour porpoise, spotted dolphin, narwhal, and sperm whale). As embryos, odontocetes show the general mammalian bauplan. The olfactory bulb, lacking in adult toothed whales, forms in embryos but then disappears in early fetal development. In contrast, the terminal nerve persists and shows a great increase in neuron number. Some components of the limbic system are reduced while others grow to become relatively large. The pyramidal tract is inconspicuous. The auditory system and the extrapyramidal system show rapid size increase. In the sperm whale, growth of the telencephalic hemispheres relative to the size of the brain as a whole (telencephalization) and expansion of the cortical areas (neocorticalization) are greater than in other mammals. Increases in the diameters of the cranial nerves seem to be correlated with their presumed functional roles in the postnatal animal. Keywords: Brain development; Evolution; Cetacea; Physeter macrocephalus, Sperm whale =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Lindenlaub, Thies and Helmut H. A. Oelschlager*. 2000. Preliminary observations on the morphology of the inner ear of the fetal narwhal (Monodon monoceros). Historical Biology 14(1-2):47-51. Department of Anatomy (Dr. Senckenbergische Anatomie), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Theodor Stern-Kai 7, Building 26, D-60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Email: Oelschlaeger(\)em.uni-frankfurt.de The inner ear of the narwhal (Monodon monoceros) was investigated on the basis of a complete series of microslides of an early fetus. In this well-preserved specimen, the cochlea is about twice as large as the vestibular apparatus. The latter exhibits a high degree of specialization. Whereas the utriculus and sacculus are of normal size in comparison with those of other mammals, the semicircular canals are miniaturized but not obliterated, as in the case of some adult toothed whales. In comparison with other mammals, there is relatively little perilymphatic space around the vestibular organ, but the inner radius of the lymphatic ducts comes close to that of the adult human. Although there are some hints that the sensitivity of the vestibular system may be high in this species, detailed analysis of the adult narwhal ear is needed to confirm this inference. Keywords: Labyrinth; Vestibular system; Cochlea; Narwhal; Cetacea =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Schulmeyer, Frank J.*; Joe C. Adams and Helmut H. A. Oelschlager. 2000. =20 Specialized sound reception in dolphins - A hint for the function of the dorsal cochlear nucleus in mammals. Historical Biology 14(1-2):53-56. *Department of Neurosurgery, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss- Allee 11, D-93042 Regensburg, Germany. Email: =20 SCHULMEY(\)rknchnwl.ngate.uni-regensburg.de Dolphins have developed a specialized system for sound reception. Their pinnae are reduced and shifted under the skin, and sound is transduced via the lower jaw to the auditory ossicles. In line with their auditory functions (notably echolocation), most auditory nuclei in the brain stem of dolphins are extremely well-developed. In contrast, the dorsal cochlear nucleus is drastically reduced. In the La Plata dolphin the volume of the dorsal cochlear nucleus is 4 mm^3, while that of the ventral cochlear nucleus is 98 mm^3. The reduction in size of the dorsal cochlear nucleus is also seen in baleen whales, which do not echolocate and are, in contrast to dolphins, tuned to deep frequencies. However, dolphins and baleen whales have the reduction of the outer ear in common. In humans, cats, bats and seals, there is a correlation between the development of pinnae and the dorsal cochlear nucleus. So, we conclude that the function of the dorsal cochlear nucleus in mammals could be to eliminate "auditory artifacts" arising from the operation of the pinnae. Keywords: Dorsal cochlear nucleus, Auditory system, Brain stem, Dolphin, Whales, Cetacea =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D De Buffrenil, V*; L. Zylberberg; W. Traub and A. Casinos. 2000. Structural and mechanical characteristics of the hyperdense bone of the rostrum of Mesoplodon densirostris (Cetacea, Ziphiidae): Summary of recent observations. Historical Biology 14(1-2):57-65. *Laboratoire d'Anatomie comparee, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 55 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France. This note provides a brief account of several recent studies of the basic physical properties, histology and ultrastructure, and biomechanical behaviour of the bone that forms the rostrum of the beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris. The density (2.612 to 2.686 g cm^-3), mineral content (86% to 87%) and compactness (99%) of this bone reach the highest values hitherto observed for mammalian bone. Histologically, the rostrum is composed of dense Haversian tissue, the secondary osteons of which are oriented longitudinally, themselves consisting of hypermineralized parallel-fibered osseous tissue. The ultrastructure of the walls of the secondary osteons is characterized by a strong volumetric reduction of the collagenous network, which is composed of very thin fibrils (0.017 =B5m in diameter) that are oriented longitudinally. The biomechanical behaviour of the rostrum is that of an exceptionally rigid (Young's modulus up to 46.9 GPa), hard (hardness > 200 VHN) but also very brittle (bending strength > 59 MPa) material. These data are discussed in reference to the possible functiona1 role(s) of the hyperdense rostrum. Keywords: Whale, Rostrum, Bone, Density, Mineralization, Histology, Ultrastructure, Biomechanics, Mesoplodon densirostris =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Hoch, Ella. 2000. Olfaction in whales: Evidence from a young Odontocete of the Late Oligocene North Sea. Historical Biology 14(1-2):67-89. Geologisk Museum, University of Copenhagen, Oster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark. Email: eh(\)savik.geomus.ku.dk An incomplete skull and endocranial cast of a small (about one metre long) = =20 toothed whale (Cetacea: Odontoceti) of late Chattian (latest Oligocene) age, from the marine Vejle Fjord Formation in northern Denmark, is preserved in an almost perfect three-dimensional state. Osteological features suggest physical immaturity, but not a very early developmental stage. Preserved parts of the right tympano-periotic complex include the anterior part of a very large tympanic bulla and attached large malleus, the form of which supports a platanistoid relationship (superfamily Platanistoidea sensu de Muizon, 1987). Advanced telescoping of the skull and facial asymmetry skewed to the left is combined with a primitive (that is, complex) narial structure. Reduced, but functional olfactory chambers are represented by a subsymmetrical pair of cavities lodged in the ethmoid and three (or four) pairs of ethmoturbinals associated with a cribriform plate. Olfaction persisted in this whale after cranial specialization had reached a level that is generally associated with the capacity for echolocation. Keywords: Cetacea, Odontoceti, Cranial anatomy, Olfaction, Oligocene, North Sea, Denmark =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Kubota, Kinziro*; Shunji Shibanai; Junko Kubota and Shigeru Togawa. 2000. = =20 Development transition to monophyodonty in adaptation to marine life by the northern fur seal, Callorhinus ursinus (Otariidae). Historical Biology 14(1-2):91- 95. *[Tokyo Medical and Dental University], Kubota Dental Clinic, 1-2-15 Sangenjaya, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 154-0024, Japan. The foetus of the northern fur seal has a rudimentary deciduous dentition that is shed into the amniotic fluid at a late stage of pregnancy. At birth, the pup possesses a well developed permanent dentition. Normally, the first postcanine is monophyodont, its deciduous predecessor having been eliminated from the pattern of development. In rare cases, an atavistic first postcanine is present on one side of the jaw. These observations document the evolutionary transition from a diphyodont to a monophyodont condition in the development of the masticatory system of the northern fur seal. Fur seal pups acquire their permanent dentitions at an early developmental stage so as to be able to hunt independently even prior to being weaned. Keywords: Fur seal, Callorhinus, Dentition, Deciduous teeth, Polymorphism, Atavism, Asymmetry, Development, Adaptation, Aquatic life =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D Inuzuka, Norihisa. 2000. Aquatic adaptations in Desmostylians. Historical Biology 14(1-2):97-113. Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Medicine, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan. Osteological characteristics of extant, quadrupedal, aquatic or amphibious mammals are compared and used to determine the presence and state of development, or absence, of aquatic adaptations in the order Desmostylia. The specimens compared include seventeen bones from in each species four higher taxa: Rodentia, Carnivora, Mustelidae and Artiodactyla. The aquatic form is compared with its terrestrial counterpart within each group. Quantitative evidence of convergence is used to sort out characters that are adaptive in relation to aquatic habits. Aquatic conformations or tendencies are identified as those characters, displayed by aquatic forms in different taxonomic groups, that have more in common with each other than with corresponding characters of land animals in the same taxa. About 80% of the 49 aquatic adaptive characters identified are also found in desmostylians. This analysis documents the gradual evolutionary transition of desmostylians to an aquatic mode of life. Furthermore, the results show that the desmostylian swam better using its hind-limbs at least than the hippopotamus. Keywords: Amphibious adaptation, Aquatic adaptation, Comparative osteology, Desmostylia, Desmostylus, Functional morphology, Methodology =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Domning, Daryl P. 2000. The readaptation of Eocene Sirenians to life in water. Historical Biology 14(1-2):115-119. Laboratory of Paleobiology, Department of Anatomy, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA. Eocene sirenians and cetaceans simultaneously and independently evolved similar morphological adaptations to aquatic life. These included increased flexibility in the sacral region, reduction and loss of hind limbs, shortening of the neck, increased skeletal mass, and other modifications. Loss of hind limbs was probably driven by selection for the maintenance of horizontal trim. The advantage of a shorter neck lay in the more anterior position and consequently the greater turning moments of forelimb control surfaces that it made possible. Keywords: Cetacea, Diving, Evolution, Hydrodynamics, Hydrostasis, Sirenia, Swimming =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D David S. Janiger Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 15:29:01 +1000 From: Australian Marine Mammal Research Centre Subject: PhD research opportunity - Antarctica AUSTRALIAN MARINE MAMMAL RESEARCH CENTRE, SYDNEY PHD RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY IN ANTARCTICA. We are seeking a postgraduate research student who is interested in pursuing a PhD program looking at the effects of visitor activity on weddell seals in Prydz Bay, Antarctica. This student will be based at the Australian Marine Mammal Research Centre which is a collaboration between the University of Sydney and the Zoological Parks Board of New South Wales. The student will need to be available from September 2000 and possess a BSc (Honours) degree or equivalent. For more information please email; Dr Tracey Rogers ammrc(\)speednet.com.au -- Australian Marine Mammal Research Centre Taronga Zoo / University of Sydney PO Box 20 Mosman, NSW. 2088 Ph: +61 2 9978 4707 Fax: +61 2 9978 4502 email: ammrc(\)speednet.com.au ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 11:24:18 -1000 Reply-To: rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca From: "Robin W. Baird" Organization: Dalhousie University Subject: Cetacean Societies book available MARMAM subscribers might be interested in a new publication by the University of Chicago Press: Cetacean Societies: Field Studies of Dolphins and Whales. Edited by J. Mann, R.C. Connor, P.L. Tyack and H. Whitehead. University of Chicago Press. 2000. 433 pp. 16 color plates. Available from: http://www.press.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/hfs.cgi/00/13846.ctl Price: hard cover $80 US, paperback $35 US. Table of contents: Foreword by R. Wrangham. Introduction: The social lives of whales and dolphins, by R.C. Connor, J. Mann, P.L. Tyack and H. Whitehead. Part 1. History and Methods 1. Flukeprints: A history of studying cetacean societies, by A. Samuels and P.L. Tyack. 2. Unraveling the dynamics of social life: long-term studies and observational methods, by J. Mann. 3. Studying cetacean social structure in space and time: innovative techniques, by H. Whitehead, J. Christal and P.L. Tyack. Part 2. Four Species 4. The bottlenose dolphin: social relationships in a fission-fusion society, by R.C. Connor, R.S. Wells, J. Mann and A.J. Read. 5. The killer whale: foraging specializations and group hunting, by R.W. Baird. 6. The sperm whale: social females and roving males, by H. Whitehead and L. Weilgart. 7. The humpback whale: seasonal feeding and breeding in a baleen whale, by P.J. Clapham. Part 3. Comparative Studies, Theory, and Conservation 8. Group living in whales and dolphins, by R.C. Connor. 9. Female reproductive strategies of cetaceans: life history and calf care, by H. Whitehead and J. Mann. 10. Male reproductive strategies and social bonds, by R.C. Connor, A.J. Read and R. Wrangham. 11. Functional aspects of cetacean communication, by P.L. Tyack. 12. Science and the conservation, protection, and management of wild cetaceans, by H. Whitehead, R.R. Reeves and P.L. Tyack. Epilogue: the future of behavioral research on cetaceans in the wild, by P.L. Tyack, R.C. Connor, J. Mann and H. Whitehead. ========================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Post-doctoral Fellow, Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Current mailing address: C-201, 2747 South Kihei Road, Kihei, HI, 96753 USA Phone/Fax 1-808-879-7061 E-mail: rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/rwb/robin.htm Please note my mailing address will be changing (effective April 25, 2000) to: c/o Dr. S.K. Hooker British Antarctic Survey High Cross, Madingley Road Cambridge, CB3 OET England ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Apr 0100 11:07:19 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications (fwd) Here are some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Publications recently posted to MARMAM are not included. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. Tuna and dolphin associations in the North-east Atlantic: Evidence of different ecological niches from stable isotope and heavy metal measurements. Das, K; Lepoint, G; Loizeau, V; Debacker, V; Dauby, P; Bouquegneau, JM. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN. February 2000 v40 i2 p102-109 Distribution of mercury in the organs and tissues of five toothed-whale species of the Mediterranean. Frodello, JP; Romeo, M; Viale, D. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION. Winter 2000 v108 i3 p447-452 Some data on macrobenthos composition on feeding grounds of the gray whale (Eschrichtius gibbosus Erxl., 1777) on the northeastern Sakhalin shelf. Sobolevskii, EI; Yakovlev, YM; Kusakin, OG. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY. March-April 2000 v31 i2 p126-128 Rhythmic dimension in the echolocation click trains of sperm whales: a possible function of identification and communication. Andre, M; Kamminga, C. JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. February 2000 v80 i1 p163-169 Spatial distribution of persistent organochlorines in ringed seal (Phoca hispida) blubber. Severinsen, T; Skaare, JU; Lydersen, C. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH. April 2000 v49 i3 p291-302 Behaviour of southern elephant seal weanlings during the post-weaning fast in Patagonia. Falabella, V; Campagna, C. MAMMALIA. Spring 1999 v63 i3 p257-272 Fostering in a subantarctic fur seal. Georges, JY; Sevot, X; Guinet, C. MAMMALIA. Spring 1999 v63 i3 p384-388 Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 15:16:34 -0400 From: John Kucklick Organization: NIST Charleston Laboratory Subject: SETAC Marine Mammal Session This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------D2D37B8AE19662B6732B1275 Dear Colleague, Marine mammals readily accumulate a variety of persistent organic contaminants (POPs) and trace elements. For POPs, some of the highest concentrations observed in nature are found in marine mammals, especially odontocetes (toothed whales). The toxicological consequences and trends of POPs and heavy metals in marine mammals are poorly understood. To highlight recent research in this field, we are organizing a session on this topic for the 2000 Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry meeting. The meeting will be held November 12-16 in Nashville, TN. The title of the session is "Effects and Trends of Contaminants in Marine Mammals" (session code 4W). The issues to be addressed during the session may include (1) the use of biomarkers for and toxicological effects of these contaminants, e.g., oxidative stress, immunosuppression and endocrine disruption; (2) the spatial/temporal trends of POPs/ metabolites and trace elements; (3) the use of POPs and trace elements for defining stocks; (4) studies of processes and bioaccumulation in marine mammal food webs. At this time we are soliciting abstracts for posters and talks for this session and encourage you to pass this announcement to your colleagues. The first call for abstracts is already out and can be accessed through SETAC's web site: www.setac.org. The deadline for abstract submission is May 1, 2000. If you have any questions, please contact us. We hope to see you at SETAC, John Kucklick and Peggy Krahn John Kucklick National Institute of Standards and Technology Charleston Laboratory (843) 762-8572 (voice) (843) 792-8724 (fax) john.kucklick(\)noaa.gov Margaret Krahn NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service Northwest Fisheries Science Center (206) 860-3326 (voice) (206) 860-3335 (fax) peggy.krahn(\)noaa.gov --------------D2D37B8AE19662B6732B1275 name="John.Kucklick.vcf" filename="John.Kucklick.vcf" begin:vcard n:Kucklick;John tel;fax:843-762-5724 tel;home:843-795-8592 tel;work:843-762-8572 x-mozilla-html:FALSE url:www.nist.gov org:National Institute of Standards and Technology;Analytical Chemistry version:2.1 email;internet:john.kucklick(\)nist.gov title:Research Biologist adr;quoted-printable:;;NIST Charleston Laboratory=0D=0A219 Fort Johnson Road;Charleston;SC;29412;USA fn:Dr. John R. Kucklick end:vcard --------------D2D37B8AE19662B6732B1275-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 00:00:39 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Summer courses: CA state, Monterey Bay (fwd) From: Jenifer Hurley California State University Monterey Bay is offering the following summer courses for individuals interested in pursuing careers in the marine mammal (or training) field. Successful completion of either course results in the opportunity to pursue an intensive one-week hands-on internship at the lab (for an additional fee). And the successful completion of both courses and the internship will earn a certificate in Beginning Marine Mammalogy. WORKING WITH MARINE MAMMALS: This course explores career directions and current topics working with marine mammals. It will provide practical information about marine mammals and working with them, drawing on the rich background of marine mammal work in the Monterey Bay area. The course will be primarily lecture, however, it will include live experiences with the marine mammals at Moss Landing Marine Labs and in the surrounding areas. Topics covered will include practical knowledge of captive marine mammal husbandry (care and maintenance), training, basic physiology, an overview of common research topics and techniques, as well as public display, education, and current issues in marine mammalogy. Students will intern at least one day at Moss Landing Marine Labs assisting in the care of research-trained California sea lions. They will also develop a resume and application packet based on researching a specific job of interest, go through a mock interview and oral examination, and there will be one written exam. SYLLABUS: Working with Marine Mammals Introduction: Overview of careers working with marine mammals (i.e.: research, training, education, naturalist, veterinary medicine, etc.) and description of course structure. Marine Mammals-General: General overview of taxonomy and natural history of marine mammal species (i.e.: pinnipeds, cetaceans, sirenia, and misc.), introduction to legislative issues (MMPA, AWA) Marine Mammal Science: Overview of general research topics in marine mammal science (ex: sensory perception, basic ecology, physiology, cognition, evolution) and about graduate school Field Research: Overview of the experience working in the field (techniques of handling animals, working in remote locations, instrumentation, and research paradigms) Laboratory Research: Overview of research with animals brought into the laboratory (captivity) Physiology: Description of the unique adaptations of marine mammals and how this makes them interesting and difficult research and husbandry subjects (i.e.: diving adaptations, thermoregulation, sensory abilities) Basic Husbandry: How to care for marine mammals in captivity (i.e.: food, vitamins, water quality) Veterinary Care: Medical careers working with marine mammals (rehab and veterinary); common medical exam procedures, problems, and treatments of marine mammals; strandings Animal Training: Overview of philosophy and methodology of training marine mammals (i.e.: what is training, why train? and training jobs) Animal Training: Basic Training Tools: How to explain to animal what you want them to do (i.e.: bridge and target techniques) and get them to want to cooperate (i.e.: motivation, desensitization and aggression) Education: Educating the public about marine mammals (i.e.: careers in education, what should the public know? How to be a good marine mammal educator, animal rights activism) Summary and Current Topics: Final words of wisdom on working with mm and group discussion about what is hot in the news about marine mammals (i.e.: captivity, ATOC, Free Willy, etc.) Working with marine mammals will be offered twice in the summer of 2000. A one-week intensive 3 credit course will be offered 6/19/00 to 6/23/00 8:00am-6:00pm (ESSP 395 sec 02, CRN 35025) at a cost of $431 U.S. Working with marine mammals will also be offered as a full 4 credit course MWF 8:00am-noon, 7/3/00 to 7/28/00, at a cost of $545 U.S (ESSP 395 sec 03, CRN 35030). TECHNIQUES AND THEORIES OF ANIMAL TRAINING (ESSP 395 sec 01, CRN 35024): This 4 credit course explores the field of animal training from a psychological and a technical perspective. It provides a theoretical background in relevant animal behavior and psychological principles related to the practical goal of modifying captive animal behavior. Topics explored include the history and ethics of animal use and training. Students also receive a solid education in the practical discipline of animal training techniques. These techniques will be demonstrated using the trained sea lion collection at Moss Landing Marine Labs where the course is taught. Students will intern at least one day at Moss Landing Marine Labs assisting in the care and training of research-trained sea lions. Topics covered will include: Captivity, Why Train?, Communication, Motivation, Desensitization, Aggression, and Practical Training. This class is offered once in the summer of 2000. The class will meet MWF 2-6:00pm from 7/3/00 to 7/28/00. This class will cost $545 U.S. SYLLABUS: Techniques and Theories of Animal Training. Introduction to class and facilities. Captivity: Pros, cons, and ethical issues concerning animals in captivity. Why Train?: Arguments concerning why to train animals in captivity Communication I: Historical perspectives on training and description of classical conditioning techniques and theory. Communication II: Operant conditioning techniques and theory Group practice (classical and operant) Sea lion demo: operant and classical techniques Communication III: Bridge and target training techniques, modern marine animal training. Group practice (bridge and target) Sea lion demo: bridge and target Motivation: Motivational drive state analysis, reinforcers; punishers Desensitization: Habituation theory, passive and active desensitization procedures. Sea Lion Demo: desensitization Aggression I: Understanding animal aggression, motives, and indicator signs Group practice (desensitization) Aggression II: Techniques for coping with and avoiding aggression in captive animals. Sea Lion Demo: aggression Practical Training: Troubleshooting problems, rules of thumb, and planning a training session. Courses will be taught at Moss Landing Marine Labs in Moss Landing, CA. The courses are open for enrollment of any interested person, however no transportation or housing is provided. Enrollment for each class limited to 40. Registration begins May 1. For registration, enrollment and other logistical information please contact Cal State Monterey Bay- http://dlee.monterey.edu/ or call them at 831-582-4500. To get onto a class list or for content related inquiries you may contact me by email: jhurley(\)mlml.calstate.edu. Jenifer A. Hurley, Ph.D. Director of Research and Training Science Learning and Experimenting With The Help of Sea lions Moss Landing Marine Laboratories 7700 Sandholdt Rd, Bldg. D Moss Landing, CA 95039-0450 v: (831)-633-5642 fax:(831)-633-0805 web site: http://www.mlml.calstate.edu/www/slewth Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2000 16:16:20 -0400 From: Bob Bowman Subject: Coast Guard Hearing on High-speed Vessels Dear Marmam, This hearing has just come to our attention. "Abstract for Document USCG-2000-7205-1 The Coast Guard is holding a public meeting to solicit comments on the impact of high-speed commercial vessels, both ferries and cargo vessels, on the users of the navigable waters of the United States. The growth of fast ferries in some metropolitan areas is increasing because these ferries appear to be viable options to highway commuting. Likewise, the logistical preference for "just in time" supply increases the likehood that operation of fast cargo vessels will grow. By their speed and potential numbers, high speed commercial vessels introduce another dimension into the conventional mix of slower commercial vessels, fishing vessels, and recreational vessels." For more information go to: http://dms.dot.gov/search/document.asp?qdocumentid=76815&qdocketid=7205 go to the bottom left corner and download the pdf version, for full detail. The impact of high-speed vessels on marine mammals is not specifically mentioned in this notice, but this might be an opportunity for those with comments on that topic as well. The public hearing is in Oakland, California on May 2 and written comments are due to them on or before July 2. ------------------------------------------------------- Bob Bowman Center for Coastal Studies bbowman(\)acadia.net ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 15:21:14 -0700 From: Jim Moore Subject: Infrasound navigation Something just caught my eye in the "Editors Choice" section of the 31 March issue of _Science_ (v. 287: 2377): a study of navigation by homing pigeons found that in four pigeon races, "an unfortunate juxtaposition of the Concorde's shock wave and the racecourses appears to have led to catastrophic losses of birds." The interpretation is that the birds are using infrasonic cues produced by microseisms produced by oceanic waves. Ref: Hagstrum (2000) J. Exp. Biol. 203:1103. Seems of possible relevance to the beaked whale strandings in the Bahamas from two angles: 1) is it possible that whales also use such infrasound and thus that a similar mechanism might be involved in their navigation (and disorientation in face of sounds)? IE, homology [loosely speaking] ?? 2) the paragraph in _Science_ doesn't mention whether any of the pigeons were found, and if so whether they showed anatomically detectable evidence of trauma; ? if the J Exp Biol article does either. _Pending that_, seems like a possible case of anthropogenic noise causing disorientation and [possibly] mortality* perhaps without anatomical trace -- hence, _possible_ analogy **. * hinges on definition of "catastrophic losses" which I'd take to mean the birds never came back, and so inferentially, died. ** my logic here is that if corpses were found, and they had obvious traumatic damage, the interpretation would be "flew too close to Concorde & got blasted" and so would not form the basis of an article on a longstanding puzzle about bird navigation. Clearly this might be a red herring. On other hand, might be a significant missing piece... cheers Jim -------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Moore The secret of success is honesty and Anthro 0532 fair dealing. If you can fake those, UCSD you've got it made. [Groucho Marx] La Jolla CA 92093 voice 858 534-5572 fax 858 534-5946 jjmoore(\)ucsd.edu http://weber.ucsd.edu/~jmoore/ SoCal Primate Research Forum: http://weber.ucsd.edu/~jmoore/SCPRFweb/ African Ape Study sites: http://weber.ucsd.edu/~jmoore/apesites/ ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 09:47:51 -0300 From: David M F Chapman Subject: Infrasonic navigation A comment on Jim Moore's musings on pigeons, infrasonic navigation, and whales... "1) is it possible that whales also use such infrasound and thus that a similar mechanism might be involved in their navigation (and disorientation in face of sounds)?" My understanding of the hypothesis is that the land-based birds are using the directionality of the infrasound that is generated in the ocean, propagates as seismo-acoustic waves onto land, and then is coupled into the air. The direction of propagation of the sound would point more-or-less to the nearest ocean mass, and would thus form an acoustic "compass", albeit one that the birds would need to calibrate throughout their range. Whales, on the other hand, would find themselves within the distributed source of the infrasound, which I imagine would be significantly more diffuse and less useful as a compass. Think of it as "infra-surround-sound". It is interesting to speculate how either pigeons or whales could estimate the direction of infrasonic waves, having such small acoustic apertures relative to the wavelength. Would they be combining stimuli from their ears coherently as superdirective arrays? _______________________________________________________________ David M.F. Chapman dave.chapman(\)drea.dnd.ca Defence Research Establishment Atlantic (902) 426-3100 x228 PO Box 1012, Dartmouth Nova Scotia B2Y 3Z7 CANADA ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2000 11:39:42 +0200 Reply-To: humpback(\)mweb.co.za From: East Coast Humpback Surveys Subject: East Australian Humpback Survey 2000: Observers required A shore-based survey of the East Australian humpback whale population will be conducted at Point Lookout, North Stradbroke Island, Queensland, Australia from late May until the end of August 2000, during the whales' northward migration. We are inviting applications for observers to help carry out the project. Surveys have been conducted since 1980 as part of a long-term monitoring programme funded by Environment Australia (Commonwealth government) as part of the Natural Heritage Trust. This population was severely depleted by commercial whaling earlier this century and remains at a fraction of its original population size. Data collected in 1999 could not be used to calculate a reliable population estimate, because of gaps in the data due to poor weather. The last succesful survey, conducted in 1996, gave a population estimate of approximately 3000 and a rate of annual increase of 12% over the period 1981-1996. The survey is entirely shore-based and runs daily from 0700 to 1700h in all weather conditions except high winds or rain. Teams of two to four observers take shifts on the headland. Each observer is on watch for a total of five hours a day, divided into one three hour watch and one two-hour watch. The observers scan the sea with binoculars and the naked eye, and record details of humpback whale sightings and other marine mammals (dolphins, dugongs) and also maintain half-hourly weather recordings. In the evenings observers check the data collected and enter the data into a computer database. No prior experience is required, and all training will be provided. We ask that first-time observers come for a minimum of two weeks, but preference will be given to those who can stay for longer. Observers need to have a keen interest in the subject, and to be able to work as part of a team, and live in a communal environment. Observers will receive food and accommodation but will not receive any remuneration, or any contribution towards transport or other expenses. For more information, see the survey website: http://members.xoom.com/whale_survey OR http://mzone.mweb.co.za/residents/mfield/humpback.html Applications, including a brief CV and an indication of when you would be available, should be submitted by email: humpback(\)mweb.co.za (DO NOT RESPOND DIRECTLY TO MARMAM) Miranda Brown PhD & Martin Field MA East Coast Humpback Survey 2000 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 08:41:17 +1000 From: Jane McKenzie Subject: Reproductive hormonal profiles in pinnipeds Reproductive hormonal profiles in pinnipeds I am currently working on a study into the population demographics of New Zealand fur seals in South Australia and am interested in investigating pregnancy rates. Unfortunatly there is limited published literature on hormonal profiles in pinnipeds. If any one knows of any work that has been conducted or is currently been conducted in this area I would be greatful for any information or contacts. Please contact Jane McKenzie email janem0(\)utas.edu.au St. Aubin, D & Geraci, J.H. (1986) Adrenocortical function in pinniped hyponatremia, Mar. Mamm. Sci. 2, 243 Gilmartin, WG et al (1976) Premature parturition in the California sea lion, J. Wildl. Dis. 12, 104 Jane McKenzie Antarctic Wildlife Research Unit School of Zoology University of Tasmania PO Box 252-05 Hobart, 7001 Tasmania, Australia email janem0(\)utas.edu.au Ph intl 3 6226 2594 Fax intl 3 6226 2745 Fax. 03 62 262745 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 06:39:23 -0400 From: "James T. Carlton" Subject: Marine Ecology Instructor sabbatical position marbio , FISHFOLK , ECOLOG , fish-sci(\)segate.sunet.se, neerslst(\)umbsky.cc.umb.edu, coastnet(\)uriacc.uri.edu, ALGAE-L(\)LISTSERV.HEANET.IE, AQUA-L(\)killick.ifmt.nf.ca, benthos(\)ecology.bio.dfo.ca, conslink(\)vims.si.edu, glin-announce(\)great-lakes.net Please post or pass on. Many thanks. ______________________________________________________________ POSITION AVAILABLE -- FALL SEMESTER 2000 MARINE ECOLOGY INSTRUCTOR One Semester Sabbatical Replacement -- August 28 - December 21, 2000 A POSITION IS AVAILABLE to teach a one-semester course in Marine Ecology for the fall of 2000 at the Williams College -- Mystic Seaport Maritime Studies Program in Mystic, Connecticut. RESPONSIBILITIES include instructing a third-year course in Marine Ecology (class size 14), including two lectures and one laboratory per week; supervising original student research projects; availability on some weekends and evenings, and participation in other Williams-Mystic activities, including two field seminars (California for 10 days, Nantucket for four days). Ph.D. (or at ABD stage) required. WILLIAMS-MYSTIC is a one-semester multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary program emphasizing the interrelationships of marine science, marine policy, maritime history, and literature of the sea. Up to 24 students typically representing 15 different colleges and as many different majors participate in this study-away program, often in their junior year. Original research and thinking and comparative field seminars are important emphases. APPLICATION DEADLINE: June 15, 2000 Mail, fax, or email resume, letter of interest, and names/email addresses of three references to: Dr. James Carlton Williams-Mystic Program 75 Greenmanville Ave., P. O. Box 6000 Mystic CT 06355 T: 860 572 5359 F: 860 572 5329 E: jcarlton(\)williams.edu W: www.williamsmystic.org Minority candidates are encouraged to apply. Mystic Seaport is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action employer. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2000 23:39:35 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: New book: Singing to the Sound (fwd) From: MermaidInk(\)aol.com To: MARMAMers A new book by nature writer and environmental journalist Brenda Peterson is coming out May 25, 2000 entitled Singing to the Sound. Peterson is the author of 10 books, including the award-winning Living by Water, Pacific Northwest: Land of Light and Water (with photographer Art Wolfe) and the forthcoming Sightings : The Migrations of the Gray Whale for National Geographic Books, due out in 2001. Her new anthology with Toni Frohoff, Ph.D. is on dolphins, due out Feb. 2002 from Sierra Books. Highlights ~ Singing to the Sound *Behind-the-scenes negotiations between moderate Makah and conservationists from 1996-2000 on whale hunt. Intertribal and U.S. federal politics on whaling. B.C. response to Makah whaling. *Interview with OrcaLab researchers in B.C. who study orcas through underwater hydrophones *Water pollution, contaminated cetaceans, and possible environmental solutions Early Review: "Brenda Peterson is amazing, a soulful and profound observer of the oceans and its creatures - from whale to human - in all their glory and distress. I eagerly await her books, knowing that any drama that inspires her is bound to fascinate me, because she always brings the natural world into focus with her sparkling vision." ~ Diane Ackerman, author of The Moon by Whale Light and Natural History of the Senses From the publisher: Singing to the Sound This passionate yet contemplative collection of nature stories is the long-awaited sequel to Brenda Peterson's popular classic Living by Water first published in 1990. >From her two decades on the shores of Puget Sound, Peterson now advances her "Love song for a region," (Seattle Times) into a new century. An acclaimed nature writer, Peterson's literate, lyrical writing moves from stately reporting to memoir. Singing to the Sound reveals darker and more troubled waters - from the Makah whale hunt to the feared extinction of Northwest salmon. For the first time in book form, Peterson unravels the complexities of the highly controversial Makah whale hunt - the first off U.S. mainland shores in nearly a century. As mediator and reporter (Seattle Times) of this international story for five years, Peterson now writes as historian with an eye for the future of both people and whales. She moves beyond the polarized view of "Indians versus environmentalists" to portray a multi-faceted, human drama with no easy answers to a story that is still unfolding. Peterson asks her readers to look at our land, waters, and wildlife in a new way, one that is interconnected, compassionate, and mature. Singing to the Sound moves from love song to prophecy, from the way things are to a vision of what they might be. Brenda Peterson is a nature writer, environmental journalist, and the author of three novels, one of which, Duck and Cover, was selected as a New York Times "Notabl e Book of the Year." Her four works of non-fiction include the Library Journal's Editor's Choice book Living by Water and Pacific Northwest: Land of Light and Water (with photographer Art Wolfe). Her articles have appeared in The New York Times, Sierra, Utne Reader, Seattle Times, Chicago Tribune, and Orion: People and Nature. She is currently at work on a National Geographic book on the gray whale and an anthology on dolphins with Toni Frohoff, Ph.D. for Sierra Books. Peterson lives on Puget Sound. Singing to the Sound is available now from NewSage Press in Troutdale, Oregon. A special discount is offered to MARMAMers of $17.50 for the original hardback (reg. $21.95. SAVE $4.50) Add $2.50 shipping and handling for first book, plus $1.00 shipping/handling for each additional book ordered.Toll-free to order:1-877-695-2211. Fax: 503-695-5406. E-mail: newsage(\)teleport.com. Or the website is: http://www.newsagepress.com Also see reviews on Amazon.com Date: Sat, 17 Apr 0100 10:13:48 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly marine mammal summary to US congress (fwd) The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS {Contraceptives for Seals? On Apr. 11, 2000, Tory politicians suggested that seals should be given contraceptives to restrict their abundance and preserve fish stocks, in response to information that Scotland's grey seal population had doubled in 10 years.} [London Times] MMPA Hearing. On April 6, 2000, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans has scheduled an oversight hearing on Sections 118 and 119 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. [personal communication] {Whale Research Irregularities. In early April 2000, the Pacific Whale Foundation (PWF) signed a settlement agreement with NOAA, with PWF admitting to 2 charges ($5,000 fine), NOAA dismissing one charge, and NOAA issuing a single written warning for 4 alleged charges. All these charges related to PWF's research activities during 1998.} [personal communcation] Dolphin-Safe Tuna. In an Apr. 3, 2000 hearing before U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson, animal protection groups asked that modifications to requirements for labeling tuna as "dolphin-safe" be halted, rather than allowed to take effect on Apr. 11, 2000. These groups fear new regulations allowing tuna to be labeled as dolphin-safe as long as no dolphins are observed to have been killed or seriously injured when tuna are caught by surrounding dolphins with purse seine nets. {On Apr. 11, 2000, U.S. District Court Judge Thelton Henderson (San Francisco), in response to a lawsuit filed by environmental and animal protection groups, blocked NMFS implementation of more relaxed standards for what tuna might qualify to be labeled as "dolphin-safe," saying that NMFS had failed to assess whether the proposed labeling change would cause harm to dolphin populations. Judge Henderson concluded that NMFS failed to complete critical stress research testing of dolphins that were repeatedly captured and released. The ruling does not alter U.S. action lifting an import ban on tuna caught using purse seines.} {{On Apr. 12, 2000, Mexican officials called the court ruling "a great loss for Mexico...not only unfair, but clearly uninformed." On Apr. 12, 2000, the U.S. Court of International Trade (New York) heard oral arguments on a separate lawsuit by environmental groups seeking to continue the embargo on Mexican tuna, claiming that Mexico has not fully complied with U.S. regulations intended to reduce dolphin mortality.}} [Seattle Times, Fox New, Assoc Press] Bahamas Whale/Dolphin Standings. On Apr. 3, 2000, officials of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society accused the U.S. Navy's Mar. 15, 2000, exercises near the Bahamas of causing whale beachings and deaths, and called on NMFS to take action to protect these marine mammals. Sea Shepherd officials announced that they were planning to file a lawsuit against the Navy and NMFS. On Apr. 6, 2000, Navy officials responded by letter to the Humane Society, denying accusations that anti-submarine activities near the Bahamas had harmed marine mammals. [Assoc Press, Washington Post, personal communication] Steller Sea Lions. On Mar. 30, 2000, plaintiffs in a lawsuit brought by environmental groups against NMFS filed a motion asking U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Zilly to halt all trawling for pollock, Atka mackerel, Pacific cod, sole, and rockfish in Steller sea lion critical habitat in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska until NMFS finishes a report requested by Judge Zilly on whether bottomfishing is harming Steller sea lions. [Anchorage Daily News] Zoo Polar Bears Killed. On Mar. 30, 2000, four polar bears, released by vandels, were shot to death at the Nuremberg, Germany, zoo after zoo personnel failed in attempts to tranquillize them. [Canadian Press] HABs and Marine Mammals. On Mar. 29, 2000, NMFS and National Ocean Service staff have scheduled two briefings for congressional staff ? in Dirksen Senate Office Bldg. (morning) and in Longworth House Office Bldg. (afternoon), Washington, DC -- on the existing collaborative response network to respond to harmful algal blooms (HABs) and marine mammal mortality problems associated with these HABs. [personal communication] CITES. On Mar. 28, 2000, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans has scheduled an oversight hearing on April 2000 meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). [personal communication] Seal Branding. In late March 2000, Australia's Environment Minister Robert Hill ordered an end to hot iron branding of Macquarie Island elephant seals for a research program, after a report for the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service found branded seals were almost 3 times as likely to be in poor physical condition as unbranded seals. [Environment News Service, The Antarctican] Canadian Sealing. In late March 2000, the Canadian harp seal hunt off Prince Edward Island was scheduled to begin. However, seals are scarce and not concentrated due to the lack of pack ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Because of the poor ice conditions, seal pups are reportedly being born in the water or are drowning before they can be weaned. In early April 2000, Newfoundland's Fisheries Minister John Efford issued a renewed call for a harp seal cull, saying that exploding populations of seals are wiping out cod stocks off the north coast of Newfoundland. [Canadian Press, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release] Dolphins in the Navy. In late March 2000, after 2 weeks in Sitka, AK, two female Navy dolphins animals were reported to have returned to San Diego, CA, having performed their tasks extremely well and providing Navy scientists with a wealth of environmental data during the Northern Edge 2000 military exercise. [personal communication] Mexican Salt Works Project. On Mar. 22, 2000, Mexican officials announced that the San Ignacio lagoon area would be preserved and developed in a manner beneficial to local residents, emphasizing eco-tourism and nature- friendly businesses. [Embassy of Mexico press release, Reuters, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release, Assoc Press] Japanese Whaling. On Mar. 16, 2000, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Greenpeace release the results of a survey of 1,185 Japanese adults on attitudes about whaling and whalemeat consumption. About 55% of the Japanese public had no opinion or were neutral regarding commercial whaling, 14% opposed whaling outright, 11% supported commercial whaling, and 20% reported that the reason for killing whales would affect whether they supported whaling. In addition, about 61% had not eaten whalemeat since childhood, if at all. On Mar. 23, 2000, the Japan Whaling Association and Japanese government officials questioned the validity of the IFAW survey, citing previous surveys taken in 1992-1995 indicating strong public support in Japan for whaling. {In early April 2000, the Japanese whaling fleet returned from Antarctic waters, having killed 439 minke whales for scientific research.} [London Observer, IFAW press release, Japan Whaling Association press release, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (Japan) press release] Items in this Summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 09:15:20 +0200 From: Krishna Das Subject: abstract ------ The following article is now available. Please note that if you do not ha= ve access to the journal, reprint requests may be sent to Krishna Das via email: Krishna.Das(\)student.ulg.ac.be Cheers Krishna Das Das, K., Debacker, V., Bouquegneau, J.M. (2000). Metallothioneins in mari= ne mammals: a review. Cellular and Molecular Biology 46 (2): 283-294 Abstract: Metallothioneins (MTs) have been detected in livers and kidneys of 10 marine mammals species (Pinnipeds and Odontocetes). Characterisatio= n of renal MTs of striped dolphin has shown that the protein has two isofor= ms (MT-1 and MT-2) with a molecular weight estimated around 6800. MT concentrations also vary widely in marine mammals tissues (from 58 to 120= 0 =B5g.g-1 fw) underlying the numerous parameters involved: physiological status, pregnancy, age, diet. The participation of this protein in metal detoxification has been investigated since high levels of cadmium (Cd) an= d mercury (Hg) have been measured in livers and kidneys of marine mammals. = It has been suggested that those animals can mitigate at least in part, the toxic effects of Cd and Hg through binding to MTs. The percentage of the cytosolic Cd bound to MTs can reach almost 100%. On the contrary, the percentage of hepatic and renal Hg bound to MT is very low (generally les= s than 10 %) and this metal is mainly associated with selenium (HgSe) under= a detoxified form in the insoluble fraction of the tissues. MTs appear to play a minor role in the binding and detoxification of Hg by marine mammals. On the contrary, close and dynamic interactions occur between Cd and MTs. Cytosolic MTs appear as a potential short term way of detoxification of Cd accumulated from diet. Long-term detoxification woul= d imply a sequestration of the metal under a precipitated form (e.g. in lysosomes). Key words : metallothioneins, marine mammals, cadmium, mercury Laboratoire d'Oc=E9anologie B6, Universit=E9 de Li=E8ge Institut de Chimie B-4000, Li=E8ge Belgium Tel: 00 32 (0)4 3664829 Fax: 00 32 (0)4 3663325 http://www.ulg.ac.be/oceanbio/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 11:16:48 -0400 From: Robert Kenney Subject: Re: Infrasonic navigation Following up on Jim Moore's and Dave Chapman's postings on infrasonic navigation in pigeons and possible extrapolation to whales.... It has been relatively well-established that navigation in homing pigeons involves a true "map-and-compass" capability. A homing pigeon released at an unfamiliar location distant from its home loft uses its map sense to "know" where it is, then uses its compass sense to navigate from there back home. Multiple experiments have shown that the principal compass mechanism is the sun (specifically its azimuth), with a geomagnetic compass used as a back-up under overcast conditions. Various hypotheses have been put forward regarding the nature of the "map," but the evidence to date has been relatively sparse and not always consistent in replicate experiments in different locations. Both infrasounds (pigeons are capable of hearing sounds below 20 Hz) and olfactory cues have been hypothesized as contributing to the pigeon's map sense. My interpretation of the study summarized in the Science item is that the coincidental occurrence of sonic booms from the Concorde and high loss rates of pigeons during races was considered to be supportive of the infrasound hypothesis. A group of pigeons who don't know their location relative to home when released, even with perfectly functioning compasses, should not be able to do better than random at selecting the correction direction to home. An acoustic source which provided a false map cue could result in homing even poorer than random chance (i.e. everybody went the same wrong way). JM> 1) is it possible that whales also use such infrasound and thus that JM> a similar mechanism might be involved in their navigation JM> (and disorientation in face of sounds)? Ken Norris in 1967 (Some observations on the migration and orientation of marine mammals, pp. 101-125 in: R.M. Storm (ed), Animal Orientation and Navigation, Oregon St. U. Press) hypothesized that migrating whales used consistent sound sources as acoustic "landmarks." Both Ketten (1991, The cetacean ear: form, frequency, and evolution, pp. 53-75 in: J.A. Thomas et al. (eds), Marine Mammal Sensory Systems, Plenum Press) and Richardson et al. (1995, Marine Mammals and Noise, Academic Press) suggest a capability of localizing the direction of infrasound sources. JM> 2) the paragraph in _Science_ doesn't mention whether any of the JM> pigeons were found, and if so whether they showed JM> anatomically detectable evidence of trauma..... It is my understanding that in any race some small percentage of birds simply never make it home. I would interpret "catastrophic losses" to mean that the number which did not return in the four races in question was very much greater, but not necessarily that there was any mortality involved (who is going to notice a few extra pigeons in their city park?). DC>My understanding of the hypothesis is that the land-based birds are DC>using the directionality of the infrasound that is generated in the DC>ocean, propagates as seismo-acoustic waves onto land, and then is DC>coupled into the air. The direction of propagation of the sound would DC>point more-or-less to the nearest ocean mass, and would thus form an DC>acoustic "compass", albeit one that the birds would need to calibrate DC>throughout their range. ..... However pigeons (and/or whales) do it, the working hypothesis is that infrasound is a component of the map sense rather than part of the compass sense. Perhaps it is only one piece of a bicoordinate map system, but regardless - knowing your latitude without your longitude doesn't make you much less lost. Cheers, Bob =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= | Robert D. Kenney, Ph.D. www.gso.uri.edu/faculty/kenney.html | | University of Rhode Island rkenney(\)gso.uri.edu | | Graduate School of Oceanography | | Bay Campus - Box 41 TEL: (401) 874-6664 | | Narragansett, RI 02882-1197, U.S.A. FAX: (401) 874-6497 | =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= | "But why would people so woefully lacking in the basic facts of an | | issue think they were the best informed? Social scientists call the | | phenomenon 'pseudo-certainty.' I call it 'being a f***ing moron.'" | | (Franken, Al. 1996. Rush Limbaugh Is A Big Fat Idiot. Delacorte | | Press, New York, NY. p. 12.) | =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 09:56:20 -0400 From: Nicole LeBoeuf Subject: 1998 MMPA Annual Report to Congress The NMFS Office of Protected Resources has just published the 1998 MMPA Annual Report to Congress. This report can be found in PDF on the NMFS Office of Protected Resources web site at: http://www.nmfs.gov/prot_res/PDF_docs/1998_MMPA_Annual_Report.pdf ******************************************************************* Nicole R. Le Boeuf Marine Mammal Division Office of Protected Resources National Marine Fisheries Service 1315 East-West Highway #13736 Silver Spring, MD 20910 p (301) 713-2322, ext. 156 f (301) 713-4060 nicole.leboeuf(\)noaa.gov "I am not afraid of storms, for I'm am learning to sail my ship." Louisa May Alcott ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 18 Apr 0100 23:38:41 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Position available, Taronga Zoo, Australia (fwd) From: "Camper, John" The following position is available: ZOOLOGICAL PARKS BOARD OF NEW SOUTH WALES KEEPER, MARINE MAMMAL DIVISION, TARONGA ZOO. Pos No. 00/19. Salary range $31,545 to $37,519 per annum. Duties: Husbandry tasks associated with the care, training and presentation of captive native and exotic pinnipeds including cleaning and maintenance of exhibits, giving public talks, observation and maintenance of records, and participate in animal behavioural enrichment activities and research projects. Essential: Minimum two years demonstrated experience training pinnipeds or other marine mammals. Comprehensive knowledge and experience in animal training, early conditioning and husbandry skills. Excellent communication skills including ability to perform in marine mammal shows and presentations and public relations skills. Demonstrated experience in problem solving and task management. Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team and encourage team building. Possession of, or ability to obtain Zookeepers Certificate, or equivalent. Demonstrated commitment to high quality customer service. Commitment to EEO & OH&S policies and principles. Current drivers license. Currently hold or ability to obtain Open Water Diving Certificate. High level of observation skills. Australian permanent resident visa status. Desirable: Demonstrated skills and experience in training animals for public interaction. Ability to coordinate and participate in research programs. Computing skills including knowledge of the applications of SPARKS, ARKS and REGASP. Possession of / or ability to obtain Class 2 Firearms licence. Inquiries: John Camper, Manager, Marine Mammals (02) 9978 4764 or jcamper(\)zoo.nsw.gov.au Applications can be obtained from the contact officer mentioned above and should be forwarded to the Personnel Officer, Taronga Zoo, PO Box 20, Mosman, 2088 by Friday 5th May 2000. Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2000 23:41:35 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Job opening: Collections manager, LA, USA (fwd) From: Richard Thorington [mailto:Thorington.Richard(\)NMNH.SI.EDU] COLLECTIONS MANAGER OF MAMMALOGY The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County invites applications for a collections manager position in Mammalogy. The Museum has important world-class holdings housed at two facilities (see: http://www.lam.mus.ca.us/lacmnh/departments/research/mammals/). The collections manager reports to the curator of mammalogy, and provides leadership in areas pertaining to the maintenance and research use of the mammal collections. This position requires a familiarity with systematic mammalogy and current practices in the discipline of collection management, a working understanding of pertinent technology, and experience in field collecting. A Masters degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field is required. Applicants should send a curriculum vitae, statement of interests, and the names and addresses of three references by June 1, 2000 to: Dr. Ines Horovitz, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles CA 90007; FAX: (213) 747-0204. EOE. Inquiries prior to May 1 can be directed to Dr. John E. Heyning (jheyning(\)nhm.org) John E. Heyning, Ph.D. Deputy Director of Research and Collections and Curator of Mammals Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007 213 763 3404 FAX 213 747 0204 forwarded by Richard W. Thorington, Jr. Division of Mammals, NHB 390 Smithsonian Institution Washington, DC 20560-0108 Phone:202-357-2150 Thorington.Richard(\)NMNH.SI.EDU Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2000 23:45:32 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: ABSTRACT: Mediterranean monk seal surveys (fwd) From: Jaume Forcada New paper on Mediterranean monk seal population assessment: Forcada, J. 2000. Can population surveys show if the Mediterranean monk seal colony at Cap Blanc is declining in abundance? Journal of Applied Ecology 37 171-181 The Mediterranean monk seal is an endangered marine mammal with only a few populations thought to be viable. The largest aggregation of this species is found at the Peninsula of Cap Blanc, on the western Sahara, where a colonial structure is maintained. The size of this colony is estimated by annual capture-recapture surveys, but it is unclear if the attained level of precision is enough to detect changes in numbers in the short term. In this study, simulated capture-recapture experiments were used to investigate the relationship between population estimates and abundance. The statistical power necessary to detect a population decline with ongoing surveys was estimated, and the requirements for an improvement in precision were evaluated. Additionally, changes in abundance over consecutive surveys were examined for comparison with an alternative method of Bayesian inference. Results indicated that the power to detect trends from the actual surveys was lower than should be required for the conservation of a small population, such as the colony at Cap Blanc. A 5% annual rate of decline in abundance would only be detected with high power after 12 years, with a population of 317 seals being reduced to 172. If the annual rate of decline was 10%, 8 years would be required to detect a reduction of 317 to 136 seals. Capture=96recapture surveys can produce reliable data but do not identify moderate or low population declines. The increase in precision of surveys is costly and time consuming, and other monitoring methods are needed to detect early signs of a decline. Bayesian methods cannot provide a better result because they are not robust to small sample size and heterogeneity in capture probabilities. Despite the need for alternative methods for earlier detection, capture-recapture surveys are still required to estimate the size of the colony, and precision in population estimates can be evaluated in relation to cost effectiveness. Reprints are available from: Jaume Forcada Southwest Fisheries Science Center P.O.Box 271, La Jolla, CA 92038-0271 e-mail: jforcada(\)ucsd.edu Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2000 10:15:02 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: JIWLP website: IWC resolutions 1990-99 (fwd) From: JIWLP The full text of the resolutions from the 42nd-51st meetings (1990-1999) of the parties to the International Whaling Commission are now available on our site at: http://www.eelink.net/~asilwildlife/docs.html Please join our announcement list to receive notice of future additions to the site. The announcement list can be found our home page at: www.eelink.net/~asilwildlife. Wil Burns, Co-Chairman American Society of International Law - Wildlife Interest Group 1210 Floribunda Ave. #7 Burlingame, CA 94010 USA Phone: 650.703.3280 Fax: 801.838.4710 ASILwildlife(\)pacbell.net http://www.eelink.net/~asilwildlife Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2000 13:26:29 -0400 From: Kathleen Kohlberg Subject: Size of Dolphin Genome Dear MARMAMers - I am writing my Masters' thesis on the work I did on some aspects of the dolphin immune system, and I performed several Southern blots as part of that project. In my thesis I want to make some comparisons between the results that I found and the size of the dolphin genome. However, the only papers that I have been able to find so far have karyotypes, but not a genome size specifically. Is there any information in the literature on this that I missed? Thanks! Kathleen Kohlberg email: kekohlbe(\)edisto.cofc.edu ~~~~*~~~~*~~~~*~~~~*~~~~ Kathleen E. Kohlberg Marine Biology Graduate Program, University of Charleston 205 Ft. Johnson Rd. Charleston SC 29412 (843) 762-5540 kekohlbe(\)edisto.cofc.edu ~~~~*~~~~*~~~~*~~~~*~~~~ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 21:35:44 -0400 From: Heather Picot Walton Subject: Data by waterbody crust-l(\)vims.edu, iamslic(\)ucsd.edu, aliens-l(\)ns.planet.gen.nz, annelida(\)net.bio.net, netcoast(\)postkamer.minvenw.nl, coral-list(\)coral.aoml.noaa.gov, FISH-SCI(\)SEGATE.SUNET.SE, fish-ecology(\)helios.ulpgc.es, mangrove(\)essun1.murdoch.edu.au, mollusca(\)ucmp1.Berkeley.Edu, marbio(\)marinelab.sarasota.fl.us, coastnet(\)uriacc.uri.edu, conslink(\)vims.si.edu, meh2o(\)taunivm.tau.ac.il, medsea-l(\)helios.edvz.univie.ac.at, fisheries(\)ecology.bio.dfo.ca, shellfish(\)kenyon.edu, oceantech(\)ucsd.edu, ACN-L(\)pinetree.org, EUROFISH-L(\)imbc.gr, infoterra(\)pan.cedar.univie.ac.at, marine-l(\)cgc.ns.ca, poseidon(\)zzz.it, consgis(\)uriacc.uri.edu, biodiv-l(\)cnsibm.albany.edu, matbi-l(\)sivm.si.edu, class-l(\)ccvm.sunysb.edu Dear Colleague: I write to request the following information for as many waterbodies as possible (including streams, rivers, lakes, bays, estuaries, seas, oceanside coastal zones, continental shelves, open oceans, etc): 1) Surface area of each waterbody (square kilometers). (I particularly need information on small lakes and streams.) 2) Number of native species. 3) Number of non-native species. 4) Number of extinct/extirpated species (during historical time). 5) Literature references or contacts. I recognize that exact numbers may not be available-- even estimates and taxonomically-specific (for example, fish only) personal communications would be VERY helpful. Please e-mail/postal mail/fax/phone me any ideas, along with unpublished data, reprints, and other publications (address below). This data will be compiled in a forthcoming book chapter, which we think will be useful to anyone interested in the present state of our aquatic systems. Thank you in advance for your help, Heather P. Walton Heather P. Walton Doctoral student Nicholas School of the Environment Duke University Marine Laboratory Email: heather.walton(\)duke.edu 135 Duke Marine Lab Road Phone:(252)504-7530 Beaufort, NC, USA 28516-9721 Fax:(252)504-7648 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2000 10:21:59 -0600 From: Toshihide Hamazaki Subject: Inter-specific interactions among cetaceans Dear Colleague I am preparing for a class on cetacean ecology in fall. In this class, I am planning to teach cetacean ecology in comparison with large terrestrial mammals. For terrestrial animals, inter-specific interactions plays a significant role, and there are piles of researches on this subject. However, I have not found single publications (research articles) on inter specific interactions. Recent book, 'Biology of Marine Mammals' does not have a single entity on this subject. I scanned through all the available literature searches (e.g.,BIOSIS); however, I found no literature. Most studies on cetaceans focus on single species rather mult-species. Do these mean there there is genuinely no inter-specific interactions among cetaceans, or there is no studies on this subject? If you know literature regarding this subject, please e-mail me. Thank you in advance for your help. -- Toshihide Hamazaki / Hamachan Dept. Fishery & Wildlife Science New Mexico State University PO Box 30001 MSC 4901 Las Cruces NM 88003 Ph: 505-646-1215 Fax: 505-646-1281 E-mail: thamazak(\)nmsu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 24 Apr 0100 09:33:12 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly marine mammal summary to US congress (fwd) The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS {Manatee Lawsuit. On Apr. 18, 2000, a coalition of 18 environmental and animal protection groups asked a federal judge, hearing their lawsuit (Save the Manatee Club v. Ballard) seeking to force federal agencies to give more attention to saving FL manatees, to issue a preliminary injunction banning the Army Corps of Engineers from issuing permits for any new boat slips and marinas in coastal waters of 16 FL counties and parts of 3 other counties until the lawsuit is decided. This action was taken after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved and the Corps of Engineers issued a permit for 180 new boat slips in a critical manatee area. According to preliminary FL data, about 100 manatees have died in the first 3 months of 2000.} [Assoc Press, Save the Manatee Club press release] {Makah Whaling. On Apr. 17, 2000, the Makah Whaling Commission issued a permit to one family to hunt a gray whale. No whale was killed, but the Coast Guard arrested a protester and seized his boat, after they allegedly entered the 500-yard exclusion zone around the Makah canoe. A total of 5 families have been preparing to hunt gray whales this spring.} {{On Apr. 20, 2000, an inflatable Coast Guard vessel collided with a personal watercraft operating inside the Marine Exclusion Zone and harassing Makah whalers, injuring the watercraft operator. The Makah whalers had thrown a harpoon at a gray whale, but the harpoon did not stick. A second personal watercraft was confiscated, and its operator arrested.}} [Assoc Press, personal communication, Reuters, Seattle Post-Intelligencer] Contraceptives for Seals? On Apr. 11, 2000, Tory politicians suggested that seals should be given contraceptives to restrict their abundance and preserve fish stocks, in response to information that Scotland's grey seal population had doubled in 10 years. [London Times] MMPA Hearing. On April 6, 2000, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans has scheduled an oversight hearing on Sections 118 and 119 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. [personal communication] Whale Research Irregularities. In early April 2000, the Pacific Whale Foundation (PWF) signed a settlement agreement with NOAA, with PWF admitting to 2 charges ($5,000 fine), NOAA dismissing one charge, and NOAA issuing a single written warning for 4 alleged charges. All these charges related to PWF's research activities during 1998. [personal communcation] Japanese Whaling. In early April 2000, the Japanese whaling fleet returned from Antarctic waters, having killed 439 minke whales for scientific research. [London Observer, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (Japan) press release] Dolphin-Safe Tuna. In an Apr. 3, 2000 hearing before U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson, animal protection groups asked that modifications to requirements for labeling tuna as "dolphin-safe" be halted, rather than allowed to take effect on Apr. 11, 2000. These groups fear new regulations allowing tuna to be labeled as dolphin-safe as long as no dolphins are observed to have been killed or seriously injured when tuna are caught by surrounding dolphins with purse seine nets. On Apr. 11, 2000, U.S. District Court Judge Thelton Henderson (San Francisco), in response to a lawsuit filed by environmental and animal protection groups, blocked NMFS implementation of more relaxed standards for what tuna might qualify to be labeled as "dolphin-safe," saying that NMFS had failed to assess whether the proposed labeling change would cause harm to dolphin populations. Judge Henderson concluded that NMFS failed to complete critical stress research testing of dolphins that were repeatedly captured and released. The ruling does not alter U.S. action lifting an import ban on tuna caught using purse seines. On Apr. 12, 2000, Mexican officials called the court ruling "a great loss for Mexico...not only unfair, but clearly uninformed." On Apr. 12, 2000, the U.S. Court of International Trade (New York) heard oral arguments on a separate lawsuit by environmental groups seeking to continue the embargo on Mexican tuna, claiming that Mexico has not fully complied with U.S. regulations intended to reduce dolphin mortality. [Seattle Times, Fox New, Assoc Press] Bahamas Whale/Dolphin Standings. On Apr. 3, 2000, officials of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society accused the U.S. Navy's Mar. 15, 2000, exercises near the Bahamas of causing whale beachings and deaths, and called on NMFS to take action to protect these marine mammals. Sea Shepherd officials announced that they were planning to file a lawsuit against the Navy and NMFS. On Apr. 6, 2000, Navy officials responded by letter to the Humane Society, denying accusations that anti-submarine activities near the Bahamas had harmed marine mammals. [Assoc Press, Washington Post, personal communication] Steller Sea Lions. On Mar. 30, 2000, plaintiffs in a lawsuit brought by environmental groups against NMFS filed a motion asking U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Zilly to halt all trawling for pollock, Atka mackerel, Pacific cod, sole, and rockfish in Steller sea lion critical habitat in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska until NMFS finishes a report requested by Judge Zilly on whether bottomfishing is harming Steller sea lions. [Anchorage Daily News] Zoo Polar Bears Killed. On Mar. 30, 2000, four polar bears, released by vandels, were shot to death at the Nuremberg, Germany, zoo after zoo personnel failed in attempts to tranquillize them. [Canadian Press] HABs and Marine Mammals. On Mar. 29, 2000, NMFS and National Ocean Service staff have scheduled two briefings for congressional staff ? in Dirksen Senate Office Bldg. (morning) and in Longworth House Office Bldg. (afternoon), Washington, DC -- on the existing collaborative response network to respond to harmful algal blooms (HABs) and marine mammal mortality problems associated with these HABs. [personal communication] CITES. On Mar. 28, 2000, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans held an oversight hearing on April 2000 meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). {On Apr. 15, 2000, delegates to the CITES Conference of Parties rejected 4 proposals to resume limited trading in certain whale products. A Norwegian proposal to remove Northeast Atlantic and North Atlantic Central stocks of minke whales from CITES Appendix I was defeated by a secret ballot vote of 52-57, with 9 abstentions and 2 spoiled ballots. Norwegian delegates to CITES indicated that Norway may consider ignoring the CITES trade ban. A Japanese proposal to downlist Eastern North Pacific gray whales was defeated by a secret ballot of 40-63, with 6 abstentions. The Japanese proposal to downlist Southern Hemisphere minke whales was defeated by a secret ballot of 46-69, with 4 abstentions and 4 spoiled ballots. A Japanese proposal to downlist Okhotsk Sea/West Pacific minke whales was defeated by a secret ballot of 49- 67, with 3 abstentions and 2 spoiled ballots.} {{On Apr. 20, 2000, at the CITES Conference of Parties, Norway offered an amended proposal, limited to whales taken in waters under national jurisdiction and monitored by a DNA- based identification system. This proposal failed to gain the required two- thirds majority, with 53 voting favorable and 52 against.}} [personal communication, High North Alliance News, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release] Seal Branding. In late March 2000, Australia's Environment Minister Robert Hill ordered an end to hot iron branding of Macquarie Island elephant seals for a research program, after a report for the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service found branded seals were almost 3 times as likely to be in poor physical condition as unbranded seals. [Environment News Service, The Antarctican] Canadian Sealing. In late March 2000, the Canadian harp seal hunt off Prince Edward Island was scheduled to begin. However, seals are scarce and not concentrated due to the lack of pack ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Because of the poor ice conditions, seal pups are reportedly being born in the water or are drowning before they can be weaned. In early April 2000, Newfoundland's Fisheries Minister John Efford issued a renewed call for a harp seal cull, saying that exploding populations of seals are wiping out cod stocks off the north coast of Newfoundland. [Canadian Press, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release] Dolphins in the Navy. In late March 2000, after 2 weeks in Sitka, AK, two female Navy dolphins animals were reported to have returned to San Diego, CA, having performed their tasks extremely well and providing Navy scientists with a wealth of environmental data during the Northern Edge 2000 military exercise. [personal communication] Items in this Summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. Date: Sat, 24 Apr 0100 09:36:58 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications (fwd) Here are some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Publications recently posted to MARMAM are not included. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. Habitat preferences of female humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae in the Hawaiian Islands are associated with reproductive status. Craig, AS; Herman, LM. MARINE ECOLOGY-PROGRESS SERIES. December-January 2000 v193 p209-216 Toxicity reference values for the toxic effects of polychlorinated biphenyls to aquatic mammals. Kannan, K; Blankenship, AL; Jones, PD; Giesy, JP. HUMAN AND ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT. February 2000 v6 i1 p181-201 Can population surveys show if the Mediterranean monk seal colony at Cap Blanc is declining in abundance?. Forcada, J. JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY. February 2000 v37 i1 p171-181 Analysis of organochlorine compounds and extractable organic halogen in three subspecies of ringed seal from Northeast Europe. Kostamo, A; Medvedev, N; Pellinen, J; Hyvarinen, H; Kukkonen, JVK. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY. April 2000 v19 i4 part1 p848-854 Finnish lake fisheries and conservation of biodiversity: coexistence or conflict? Salmi, P; Auvinen, H; Jurvelius, J; Sipponen, M. FISHERIES MANAGEMENT AND ECOLOGY, February 2000 v7 i1-2 p127-138 (includes info on Saimaa ringed seal, Phoca hispida saimensis) Metallothioneins in marine mammals. Das, K; Debacker, V; Bouquegneau, JM. CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY. March 2000 v46 i2 p283-294 Daylight occurrence of humpback dolphins Sousa chinensis in Algoa Bay, South Africa. Karczmarski, L; Thornton, M; Cockcroft, VG. AFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY. March 2000 v38 i1 p86-90 Comparative morphology of Lacazia loboi (syn. Loboa loboi) in dolphins and humans. Haubold, EM; Cooper, CR; Wen, JW; McGinnis, MR; Cowan, DF. MEDICAL MYCOLOGY. February 2000 v38 i1 p9-14 Ecology - DNA banks for endangered animal species. Ryder, OA; McLaren, A; Brenner, S; Zhang, YP; Benirschke, K. SCIENCE. April 14, 2000 v288 i5464 p275-+ Japan squares up to conservationists over grey whale's status. Saegusa, A. NATURE. April 6, 2000 v404 i6778 p531-532 Immunosuppression in mice fed on diets containing beluga whale blubber from the St Lawrence Estuary and the Arctic populations. Fournier, M; Degas, V; Colborn, T; Omara, FO; Denizeau, F; Potworowski, EF; Brousseau, P. TOXICOLOGY LETTERS. March 15, 2000 v112 p311-317 Mass change in Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) pups in relation to maternal characteristics at the Kerguelen Islands. Guinet, C; Lea, MA; Goldsworthy, SD. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY-REVUE CANADIENNE DE ZOOLOGIE. March 2000 v78 i3 p476-483 The ontogeny of metabolic rate and thermoregulatory capabilities of northern fur seal, Callorhinus ursinus, pups in air and water. Donohue, MJ; Costa, DP; Goebel, ME; Baker, JD. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY. March 2000 v203 i6 p1003-1016 Changes in the abundance of New Zealand fur seals, Arctocephalus forsteri, in Western Australia. Gales, NJ; Haberley, B; Collins, P. WILDLIFE RESEARCH. Spring 2000 v27 i2 p165-168 Ecotoxicological risk assessment of environmental pollutants in the Arctic. Brunstrom, B; Halldin, K. TOXICOLOGY LETTERS. March 15, 2000 v112 p111-118 Geographical differences and time trends of persistent organic pollutants in the Arctic. Muir, DCG; Norstrom, RJ. TOXICOLOGY LETTERS. March 15, 2000 v112 p93-101 Organochlorines in top predators at Svalbard - occurrence, levels and effects. Skaare, JU; Bernhoft, A; Derocher, A; Gabrielsen, GW; Goksoyr, A; Henriksen, E; Larsen, HJ; Lie, E; Wiig, O. TOXICOLOGY LETTERS. March 15, 2000 v112 p103-109 Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2000 18:53:30 -0700 From: "Zagzebski, Kathy" Subject: JOB OPPORTUNITY - Facilities Assistant at The Marine Mammal Cente r JOB OPENING Facilities Assistant The Marine Mammal Center, a non-profit organization, seeks an individual to operate/maintain the physical plant and buildings including our critical water filtration system. You will ensure the prescribed water quality, use chemical alterations as necessary, record valves, and perform ongoing repairs of plumbing, electrical and other systems. Requires an AA or equivalent from a 2-year college or technical school, or 8-12 months related experience and/or training. If qualified, please submit cover letter, resume, and salary requirements to: Al Jennings, HR Director The Marine Mammal Center Marin Headlands 1065 Fort Cronkhite Sausalito, CA 94965-2069 Fax: (415) 289-7376 Equal Opportunity Employer. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kathryn A. Zagzebski Manager of Stranding E-mail: kzagzebski(\)tmmc.org The Marine Mammal Center Phone: 415.289.0184 Marin Headlands, 1065 Ft. Cronkhite Pager: 415.457.9009 Sausalito, CA 94965-2609 Fax: 415.289.7376 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 25 Apr 0100 10:49:53 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Abstract: Quantitative analysis of tonal calls from five odontoc (fwd) Forwarded message: With apologies for cross-postings. Reprints are now available for the following article which appeared recently in the Journal of Zoology. Please direct reprint requests to and be prepared for a delay in response since I can access e-mail only once every three weeks. Cheers, Luke Rendell L.E. Rendell, J.N. Matthews, A. Gill, J.C.D. Gordon & D.W. Macdonald (1999) Quantitative analysis of tonal calls from five odontocete species, examining interspecific and intraspecific variation. J. Zool. Lond. 249, 403-410 Abstract : Whistle vocalisations of five odontocete cetaceans, the false killer whale P. crassidens, short-finned pilot whale G. macrorhynchus, long-finned pilot whale G. melas, white-beaked dolphin L. albirostris and Risso's dolphin G. griseus, were analysed and summarized quantitatively. Recordings were acquired from a number of locations and encounters. Significant differences were found between species, and to a lesser extent, between locations. The calls of the two pilot whale species are distinct despite their close relatedness, and similar size and morphology. This may be due to selection pressures to maintain distinctiveness. The variance was partitioned into between-species, between location (within species) and within location factors. For the frequency variables, variation between species is high relative to variation between locations. Thus geographic variation is a relatively minor effect, compared to the many processes which cause interspecific differences. The within-location component includes such factors as social context, behaviour and group composition. This component is of a similar magnitude to the between-species component, indicating that whistles vary considerably with these factors. Significant between-location components may be attributable to these confounding factors. For whistle duration, most of the variation occurred within location. There is less significant variation in duration between species compared with the frequency measures. This study highlights the need to collect samples across all potential strata whenever possible, and provides a framework for future, more comprehensive work. Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2000 20:29:12 +0000 Reply-To: lbejder(\)is2.dal.ca From: Lars Bejder Subject: Night vision goggles Dear MARMAM Readers, I am looking into conducting night-time observations of bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, Western Australia. I would like to get some information from researchers who have experience in following cetaceans at night (with night scopes), i.e. specification requirements for the night vision goggles, brand names, prices, availability, and so on. I look forward to hearing from you. Lars Bejder Biology Department Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1 CANADA Phone: ++ (902) 494 3723 Fax: ++ (902) 494 3736 Email: lbejder(\)is2.dal.ca http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/index.htm Lars Bejder Biology Department Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1 CANADA Phone: ++ (902) 494 3723 Fax: ++ (902) 494 3736 Email: lbejder(\)is2.dal.ca http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/index.htm ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2000 21:47:53 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: use of jetboats (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Sean Todd Hi all, I hoping that this email does not attract too many 'flames'. My question below is stated as honest (but perhaps naive) inquiry. We're looking into the purchase of a new research boat - a rigid hull inflatable around 15ft, with 50-80 hp, to work in close proximity to large cetaceans (mostly humps and fins). When browsing the secondhand market we came across several used jet boats. These definitely have the power needed, and of course no propeller to worry about. But of course, there are major concerns about the noise these things generate, and about maneuverability. Personally I'm highly skeptical that such boats would be of any use, or if ethically they would even be acceptable. Given in our case that we do need a powered boat, are there any data out there to suggest that these smaller jetboats are substantially more intrusive than 2- or 4-stroke outboard engines? Does anyone out there use jetboats in their research? My initial thought would be that the cavitation caused by a jet (in contrast to outboards) would be extremely loud to a submerged marine mammal (not that outboards are 'whisper-quiet' either). To emphasize and repeat, and given the bioacoustics, I *strongly* suspect jetboats are *not* a viable option. In fact, as a group we may even be completely against them. But I would be interested to see if there were any data out there to substantiate this viewpoint. Sean _________________ Sean Todd, Director, Allied Whale, College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, ME Date: Mon, 26 Apr 0100 08:33:42 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: use of jetboats (fwd) From: JBlue46498(\)aol.com A 24-foot boat with twin 225-Hp Johnson's produces about 130 dB re 1 microPa at 1 m broad spectrum noise when traveling at 25 MPH with water depth of 10 feet. The peak in the noise spectrum is from about 500 Hz to 3 kHz. The cavitation spectrum remains above 100 dB out to at least 25 kHz. This is from unpublished data that I have analyzed. I have not seen jet boat noise data but would expect the underwater spectrum to be lower than from a prop boat. Above water the noise level is usually louder than from a jet boat than from a prop boat. Above water noise is primarily reflected by the surface and does not get into the water, according to Snell's Law. Joe Blue In a message dated 4/25/00 9:52:24 PM Pacific Daylight Time, marmamed(\)UVic.CA writes: > From: Sean Todd > > Hi all, > > I hoping that this email does not attract too many 'flames'. My question > below is stated as honest (but perhaps naive) inquiry. > > We're looking into the purchase of a new research boat - a rigid hull > inflatable around 15ft, with 50-80 hp, to work in close proximity to large > cetaceans (mostly humps and fins). When browsing the secondhand market we > came across several used jet boats. These definitely have the power > needed, and of course no propeller to worry about. > > But of course, there are major concerns about the noise these things > generate, and about maneuverability. Personally I'm highly skeptical that > such boats would be of any use, or if ethically they would even be > acceptable. Given in our case that we do need a powered boat, are there > any data out there to suggest that these smaller jetboats are > substantially more intrusive than 2- or 4-stroke outboard engines? Does > anyone out there use jetboats in their research? > > My initial thought would be that the cavitation caused by a jet (in > contrast to outboards) would be extremely loud to a submerged marine > mammal (not that outboards are 'whisper-quiet' either). > > To emphasize and repeat, and given the bioacoustics, I *strongly* suspect > jetboats are *not* a viable option. In fact, as a group we may even be > completely against them. But I would be interested to see if there were > any data out there to substantiate this viewpoint. > > Sean > > _________________ > Sean Todd, Director, > Allied Whale, > College of the Atlantic, > Bar Harbor, ME > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2000 08:41:40 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: gray whale info request (fwd) From: Dickrusl(\)aol.com I am currently completing a book about the gray whale, under contract to Simon & Schuster. The book covers natural history, history (Scammon primarily), current topics such as the San Ignacio Lagoon saltworks controversy and the Makah hunt, and my travels along the gray's migration trail, from Baja to Russia. I am wondering if anyone has information about the large number of gray whale strandings being reported again this year along the northern migration route. Also, any other gray whale tales of current interest you'd care to pass along would be much appreciated, or notices of new scientific research being done. Thank you. Dick Russell (dickrusl(\)aol.com) Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2000 16:54:40 -0400 From: David Morin Subject: Position Opening Position Opening: Whale watch naturalist in the Massachusetts area The Cetacean Research Unit based in Gloucester, MA, has an immediate opening for a seasonal naturalist for the 2000 season (May through October). We use whale watches out of Gloucester, Salem and Boston, MA as a platform both for public education and for data collection on humpback, fin, and other cetaceans in New England waters. Extensive information on our work can be found on our web site, www.cetacean.org, including titles and abstracts of our published work. Responsibilities of a naturalist will include narration of public whale watches 4-7 days per week (6-11 hours per day), and collection and preliminary refinement of photo-identification and behavioral data (primarily on humpback whales). A training period where the naturalist will learn about the organization, the procedures on whale watch boats, and the biology and identification of individual whales will be expected. Naturalists will earn from $300 - $600/week depending on scheduling and weather. Although this is a seasonal position, if the naturalist is successful the opportunity to return in subsequent years is possible. Applicants MUST have extensive experience working with humpback whales or prior experience acting as the primary naturalist on whale watch boats in New England or other areas. Applicants must also have their own reliable transportation. Interested parties should send an e-mail with an attached resume to David Morin (david(\)cetacean.org); we will then contact those applicants with whom we would like to have further discussion. David Morin Cetacean Research Unit PO Box 159 Gloucester, MA 01930 david(\)cetacean.org www.cetacean.org ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Apr 0100 13:20:14 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: SMM Grants for research (fwd) Society for Marine Mammalogy - Grants-in-aid programme Announcement of awards The International Society for Marine Mammalogy has established a new program to help support marine mammal research in economically disadvantaged countries. Between 5 and 10 awards of approximately $1000 (U.S.) will be made annually in the foreseeable future, and continue to be awarded as long as finances of the Society permit. The first awards will be made in the year 2000. These grants are intended to support the purchase of essential equipment, travel to field sites, or other fundamental components of "getting the job done". Applications for conference travel or salaries will not be considered. The grants-in-aide program is open to all components of our Society including established researchers. Although we all recognize that all projects in our field, everywhere, could benefit from increased funds --- these small awards are intended to support very practical research needs in areas of the world where other support is difficult or impossible to obtain. Established researchers with access ti existing funding sources and/or alternative institutional sources of support are asked to refrain from applying for these grants. Applications will be reviewed, and rated, by a subcommittee within the Scientific Advisory Board that serves the Board of Directors of the Society. There is no official application form: Applications should include: (1) a CV (2-pages maximum) for the principle applicant and (2) a 2 page (maximum) letter of request in English that outlines the basics of the research project and (3) the specific financial requirement that is to be supported. Grants will be awarded based on NEED and scientific excellence. Electronic submissions in Word Perfect 6-7-8, MS Word for windows, ASCII DOS Text files are preferred formats. Applications should be sent to the Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee: Steven L. Swartz, Ph.D. NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, Florida 33149, U.S.A. or e-mail steven.swartz(\)noaa.gov). Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2000 23:48:58 -0700 Reply-To: megillw(\)cerf.bc.ca From: William Megill Subject: Marine Mammal Research Course Marine Mammal Course Announcement The Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation is accepting applications for its 2000 course on marine mammal research techniques. A Canadian registered charitable organisation, CERF has been conducting ecological research and teaching its continuing education level marine mammal course since 1994, focusing on a group of grey and humpback whales that return every summer to feed on the Central Coast of British Columbia, Canada. This year's course will concentrate on grey & humpback whale abundance & movements, grey whale feeding ecology, heart physiology, and swimming biomechanics. Additional topics include the measurement of abiotic variables and coastal biodiversity. Research & instruction will be carried out from a pair of 38' converted fishboats, smaller motorboats, sea-kayaks, and shore stations. Instruction consists of semi-formal lectures, workshops and hands-on learning, in which participants will be incorporated directly into research teams to work alongside CERF biologists. In addition to the field research techniques, instruction and hands-on experience in navigation & sea-kayaking will be provided. Cost includes tuition, all meals, return transportation from Port Hardy to the base camp, and tent accommodation. Topics covered during the week-long course: grey whale-mysid shrimp ecology: succession, disturbance, optimal foraging, carrying capacity; photo-identification & mark-recapture abundance models; grey whale heart physiology & swimming biomechanics; orca social structure & acoustic behaviour; First Nations cultural ecology; conservation issues. Prerequisites: None. Min Age: 15 Max participants per session: 10 Dates June 25 - July 1, August 6 - 12, 13 - 19, September 10 - 16, 2000. Cost Adults: $1400 CAD ($1075 USD) Students*: $1275 CAD ($995 USD) * Some scholarship support is available. See website for details. For more information, contact: Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation 2648 Tennis Cr., Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 2E1 Tel: (604) 224-4729 Toll-free: 1-877-223-2373 Fax: (815) 327-0183 Email: info(\)bcwhales.org Web: http://www.bcwhales.org ____________________ William Megill Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation megillw(\)cerf.bc.ca ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2000 12:27:43 -0000 Reply-To: megillw(\)cerf.bc.ca From: William Megill Subject: Help wanted: Research Assistants Hi ! The following job offers might be of interest to some Marmam readers. Regards, William ______________________________________________ Research Assistants: Marine Biology The Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation, a non-profit research group based in Port Hardy and Vancouver, BC, is now hiring for the summer. Two full-time positions are available, June 12th to September 18th, 2000. Minimum-wage salaries for the two positions are subject to government funding, so applicants must be BC residents, 18-24, or Canadian residents planning on returning to school this fall. Both jobs will be based out of an isolated wilderness camp on the Central Coast, north of Port Hardy. RA: Grey Whale Feeding and Subtidal Ecology Diver required to assist with studies of subtidal ecology on the southern Central Coast of British Columbia. Underwater duties will include biodiversity mapping, species identification, zooplankton sampling, underwater video operation, and current measurement. Surface duties will include operating a 38' fishboat, observing & recording the behaviour of grey whales from the cabin roof and from shore stations. Experience with the identification of coastal BC subtidal species an asset. Applicants must have open-water SCUBA certification & experience - preference will be given to those with higher SCUBA qualifications. RA: Intertidal Ecology Research Assistant required to assist with a study of the effects of disturbance on intertidal biodiversity on the southern Central Coast of British Columbia. Duties will include field mapping, species identification, development & deployment of devices to measure wave exposure, GIS analysis, Access database programming. Experience with the identification of coastal BC intertidal species and measurement of wave exposure a must. Familiarity with Fisheries & Oceans Canada's Shorekeepers' protocol an asset. Applicants must also have experience with sea- kayaks, and have current wilderness first aid certification. Successful applicants will also hold a Bachelor's or equivalent degree in marine biology or related field. Application Procedure Submit a resume, two letters of reference, and a writing sample (term paper, essay, or equivalent) to the address below, on or before the 12th of May, 2000. Do not telephone or email. Interviews will be held in Vancouver, BC, during the week of the 15th to 19th of May, 2000. Human Resources Dept. Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation 2648 Tennis Cr., Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 2E1 Fax: (815) 327-0183 Email: research(\)cerf.bc.ca Web: http://cerf.bc.ca _________________ William Megill Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation megillw(\)cerf.bc.ca ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 09:57:50 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: use of jetboats (fwd) From: "Conway, Jerry" Last year we purchased a 22 ft rigid hull inflatable equipped with two 115 outboards with jet drive. Our intention was and still is to use this boat in carrying out disentanglements of whales in the Bay of Fundy. Besides only getting 85% of the engines efficiency they guzzle gas,,,,we were beginning to look at buying a tanker to accompany the boat. Also once slowed down steering became extremely poor, the only effective way to maneuver was to use the engines....coming along side was at times more of a collision. >From a practical point of view I would recommend against using jet boats in the context of working around whales. > -----Original Message----- > From: MARMAM Editors [SMTP:marmamed(\)UVic.CA] > Sent: April 26, 2000 12:34 PM > To: MARMAM(\)UVVM.UVIC.CA > Subject: Re: use of jetboats (fwd) > > From: JBlue46498(\)aol.com > > A 24-foot boat with twin 225-Hp Johnson's produces about 130 dB re 1 > microPa at 1 m broad spectrum noise when traveling at 25 MPH with water > depth > of 10 feet. The peak in the noise spectrum is from about 500 Hz to 3 kHz. > The > cavitation spectrum remains above 100 dB out to at least 25 kHz. This is > from > unpublished data that I have analyzed. > I have not seen jet boat noise data but would expect the underwater > spectrum to be lower than from a prop boat. Above water the noise level is > usually louder than from a jet boat than from a prop boat. Above water > noise > is primarily reflected by the surface and does not get into the water, > according to Snell's Law. > > Joe Blue > > In a message dated 4/25/00 9:52:24 PM Pacific Daylight Time, > marmamed(\)UVic.CA > writes: > > > From: Sean Todd > > > > Hi all, > > > > I hoping that this email does not attract too many 'flames'. My > question > > below is stated as honest (but perhaps naive) inquiry. > > > > We're looking into the purchase of a new research boat - a rigid hull > > inflatable around 15ft, with 50-80 hp, to work in close proximity to > large > > cetaceans (mostly humps and fins). When browsing the secondhand market > we > > came across several used jet boats. These definitely have the power > > needed, and of course no propeller to worry about. > > > > But of course, there are major concerns about the noise these things > > generate, and about maneuverability. Personally I'm highly skeptical > that > > such boats would be of any use, or if ethically they would even be > > acceptable. Given in our case that we do need a powered boat, are there > > any data out there to suggest that these smaller jetboats are > > substantially more intrusive than 2- or 4-stroke outboard engines? Does > > anyone out there use jetboats in their research? > > > > My initial thought would be that the cavitation caused by a jet (in > > contrast to outboards) would be extremely loud to a submerged marine > > mammal (not that outboards are 'whisper-quiet' either). > > > > To emphasize and repeat, and given the bioacoustics, I *strongly* > suspect > > jetboats are *not* a viable option. In fact, as a group we may even be > > completely against them. But I would be interested to see if there were > > any data out there to substantiate this viewpoint. > > > > Sean > > > > _________________ > > Sean Todd, Director, > > Allied Whale, > > College of the Atlantic, > > Bar Harbor, ME > > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Apr 0100 19:49:19 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly marine mammal summary to U.S. Congress (fwd) Forwarded message: The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS {{Norwegian Whaling. On Apr. 27, 2000, the Norwegian Fishermen's Sales Association announced minimum prices to be paid for blubber and whalemeat for the 2000 whaling season. Blubber was set a 0.10 crown per kilogram, down significantly from 1999's minimum price of 3.0 crowns per kilogram. The minimum price of whalemeat is 27.5 crowns per kilogram, slightly higher than the 25.5 crowns per kilogram in 1999. As many as 35 Norwegian vessels are to begin hunting minke whales in early May 2000, with a quota of 655 animals. To deal with mounting stocks of blubber in Norway, aging blubber is being transformed into heating oil under a state-sponsored program.}} [Reuters] {{Captive Orcas. On Apr. 27, 2000, the Vancouver Public Aquarium announced that it would phase-out it's killer whale display, sending its last whale to Sea World in the United States.}} [Canadian Press] {Right Whale Protection. On Apr. 24, 2000, as many as 7 lobster boats began a $12,000 program, financed by the International fund for Animal Welfare in cooperation with the Cape Cod Lobsterman's Association and the MA Div. of Marine Fisheries, to spend several weeks removing abandoned fishing gear (e.g., lobster buoys, ropes, and pots) from Cape Cod Bay to improve protection for north Atlantic right whales.} [Assoc Press] {Sea Otter Lawsuit. On Apr. 20, 2000, the Center for Biological Diversity (AZ) notified the CA Dept. of Fish and Game of its intent to sue because of alleged inaction that allowed sea otters to be killed by large-mesh gillnets commercially fished in Monterey Bay.} [Assoc Press] Manatee Lawsuit. On Apr. 18, 2000, a coalition of 18 environmental and animal protection groups asked a federal judge, hearing their lawsuit (Save the Manatee Club v. Ballard) seeking to force federal agencies to give more attention to saving FL manatees, to issue a preliminary injunction banning the Army Corps of Engineers from issuing permits for any new boat slips and marinas in coastal waters of 16 FL counties and parts of 3 other counties until the lawsuit is decided. This action was taken after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved and the Corps of Engineers issued a permit for 180 new boat slips in a critical manatee area. According to preliminary FL data, about 100 manatees have died in the first 3 months of 2000. [Assoc Press, Save the Manatee Club press release] Makah Whaling. On Apr. 17, 2000, the Makah Whaling Commission issued a 10-day permit to the Paul Parker family to hunt a gray whale. No whale was killed, but the Coast Guard arrested a protester and seized his boat, after they allegedly entered the 500-yard exclusion zone around the Makah canoe. A total of 5 families have been preparing to hunt gray whales this spring. On Apr. 20, 2000, an inflatable Coast Guard vessel collided with a personal watercraft operating inside the Marine Exclusion Zone and harassing Makah whalers, injuring the watercraft operator. The Makah whalers had thrown a harpoon at a gray whale, but the harpoon did not stick. A second personal watercraft was confiscated, and its operator arrested. {{On Apr. 21, 2000, charges were filed in U.S. District Court against the injured watercraft operator for violating the moving exclusionary zone. Maximum sentence for conviction is 6 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. On Apr. 24, 2000, the Makah whaling crew appeared as witnesses in a District Court hearing into charges against one of the protesters. Judge Kelley Arnold ordered the injured watercraft operator to stay away from personal watercraft and the Makah Reservation. A preliminary hearing will be held on the alleged violation on May 5, 2000.}} [Assoc Press, personal communication, Reuters, Seattle Post- Intelligencer, APB Multimedia] {Dolphin Live Capture. On Apr. 16-21, 2000, NMFS staff participated in live capture of bottlenose dolphins at Beaufort, NC, to collect samples for stock identification and health assessment. Satellite and radio transmitters were depolyed on several animals to track distribution and movement over several months.} [personal communication] CITES. On Apr. 15, 2000, delegates to the CITES Conference of Parties rejected 4 proposals to resume limited trading in certain whale products. A Norwegian proposal to remove Northeast Atlantic and North Atlantic Central stocks of minke whales from CITES Appendix I was defeated by a secret ballot vote of 52-57, with 9 abstentions and 2 spoiled ballots. Norwegian delegates to CITES indicated that Norway may consider ignoring the CITES trade ban. A Japanese proposal to downlist Eastern North Pacific gray whales was defeated by a secret ballot of 40-63, with 6 abstentions. The Japanese proposal to downlist Southern Hemisphere minke whales was defeated by a secret ballot of 46-69, with 4 abstentions and 4 spoiled ballots. A Japanese proposal to downlist Okhotsk Sea/West Pacific minke whales was defeated by a secret ballot of 49-67, with 3 abstentions and 2 spoiled ballots. On Apr. 20, 2000, at the CITES Conference of Parties, Norway offered an amended proposal, limited to whales taken in waters under national jurisdiction and monitored by a DNA-based identification system. This proposal failed to gain the required two-thirds majority, with 53 voting favorable and 52 against. [personal communication, High North Alliance News, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release] Contraceptives for Seals? On Apr. 11, 2000, Tory politicians suggested that seals should be given contraceptives to restrict their abundance and preserve fish stocks, in response to information that Scotland's grey seal population had doubled in 10 years. [London Times] MMPA Hearing. On Apr. 6, 2000, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans has scheduled an oversight hearing on Sections 118 and 119 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. [personal communication] Whale Research Irregularities. In early April 2000, the Pacific Whale Foundation (PWF) signed a settlement agreement with NOAA, with PWF admitting to 2 charges ($5,000 fine), NOAA dismissing one charge, and NOAA issuing a single written warning for 4 alleged charges. All these charges related to PWF's research activities during 1998. [personal communcation] Japanese Whaling. In early April 2000, the Japanese whaling fleet returned from Antarctic waters, having killed 439 minke whales for scientific research. [London Observer, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (Japan) press release] Canadian Sealing. In early April 2000, Newfoundland's Fisheries Minister John Efford issued a renewed call for a harp seal cull, saying that exploding populations of seals are wiping out cod stocks off the north coast of Newfoundland. [Canadian Press, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release] Dolphin-Safe Tuna. In an Apr. 3, 2000 hearing before U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson, animal protection groups asked that modifications to requirements for labeling tuna as "dolphin-safe" be halted, rather than allowed to take effect on Apr. 11, 2000. These groups fear new regulations allowing tuna to be labeled as dolphin-safe as long as no dolphins are observed to have been killed or seriously injured when tuna are caught by surrounding dolphins with purse seine nets. On Apr. 11, 2000, U.S. District Court Judge Thelton Henderson (San Francisco), in response to a lawsuit filed by environmental and animal protection groups, blocked NMFS implementation of more relaxed standards for what tuna might qualify to be labeled as "dolphin-safe," saying that NMFS had failed to assess whether the proposed labeling change would cause harm to dolphin populations. Judge Henderson concluded that NMFS failed to complete critical stress research testing of dolphins that were repeatedly captured and released. The ruling does not alter U.S. action lifting an import ban on tuna caught using purse seines. On Apr. 12, 2000, Mexican officials called the court ruling "a great loss for Mexico...not only unfair, but clearly uninformed." On Apr. 12, 2000, the U.S. Court of International Trade (New York) heard oral arguments on a separate lawsuit by environmental groups seeking to continue the embargo on Mexican tuna, claiming that Mexico has not fully complied with U.S. regulations intended to reduce dolphin mortality. [Seattle Times, Fox New, Assoc Press] Bahamas Whale/Dolphin Standings. On Apr. 3, 2000, officials of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society accused the U.S. Navy's Mar. 15, 2000, exercises near the Bahamas of causing whale beachings and deaths, and called on NMFS to take action to protect these marine mammals. Sea Shepherd officials announced that they were planning to file a lawsuit against the Navy and NMFS. On Apr. 6, 2000, Navy officials responded by letter to the Humane Society, denying accusations that anti-submarine activities near the Bahamas had harmed marine mammals. [Assoc Press, Washington Post, personal communication] {Steller Sea Lions. On Mar. 30, 2000, environmental plaintiffs in the lawsuit against NMFS over management of fisheries in Steller sea lion habitat filed a motion seeking to enjoin all trawling in Steller sea lion critical habitat in the Bering Sea.} [personal communication] Items in this Summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. Date: Mon, 1 May 2000 14:18:13 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Volunteer Position: Moray Firth, Scotland (fwd) From: kerryn wood Full Time Volunteer Position - Available for Immediate Start A full time volunteer position at the Moray Firth Wildlife centre exists for someone to start immediately. Work will involve helping with dolphin research in the Moray Firth (both shore and boat-based), as well as Environmental Education. Experience in one of these fields would be an advantage, however training will be provided. Applicants should be an enthusiastic, hard-working and reliable team member. The post-holder will gain valuable experience and numerous skills, however a committment until September is desirable. Shared accomodation will be provided. Please send CV and covering letter including details of when you can start and how long you can work with us. Send to: The Moray Firth Wildlife Centre Spey Bay Scotland IV32 7PJ Tel: 01343 820 339 Email: mfwc(\)dial.pipex.com Date: Mon, 1 May 2000 15:19:58 -0700 From: ACS/Puget Sound Organization: Puget Sound Chapter of the American Cetacean Society Subject: ACS/Puget Sound General Meeting Announcement: 3 May 2000 The next general meeting of the Puget Sound Chapter of the American Cetacean Society will be held on 3 May 2000 at 7:00pm. The meeting will take place at Odyssey - the Maritime Discovery Center on Pier 66 in Seattle. Admission to this meeting is free. Our featured speaker will be Jennifer Quan of Cascadia Research Collective. Ms. Quan's talk will be based on her recently completed Masters thesis and is entitled "Summer Resident Gray Whales and Management Implications of Makah Whaling." For more information please contact: Joe Olson, President ACS/Puget Sound Chapter P.O. Box 17136 Seattle, WA 98107 206-297-1310 acs(\)cetaceanresearch.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 May 2000 15:39:26 -0600 From: Toshihide Hamazaki Subject: Inter-specific interactions citations summary Last month, I requested articles on inter-specific interactions among cetaceans, and I have received quite a few responses. Thank you very much for responses. Though many respondents claim that inter-specific interactions are common, there seem to be a few published articles. Following is a summary of citations. Most of articles are individualistic and behavioral study. Few papers dealt with population or community level interactions that are rather norm for studies of terrestrial animals. Bisther, A., " Acoustic communication of Norwegian killer whales, Orcinus orca, during competitive group interactions," 9 European Research on Cetaceans 28 (1995); Baird,R.W., and L.M. Dill. 1996. Ecological and social determinants of group size in transient killer whales. Behavioral Ecology 7: 408-416. Baird,R.W., and L.M. Dill. 1995. Occurrence and behaviour of transient killer whales: seasonal and pod-specific variability, foraging behaviour and prey handling. Canadian Journal of Zoology 73:1300-1311. Visser, I.N., " A summary of interactions between orca (Orcinus orca) and other cetaceans in New Zealand waters," 24 New Zealand Natural Sciences 101-102 (1999); Jefferson,T.A., P.J. Stacey and R.W. Baird. 1991. A review of killer whale interactions with other marine mammals: predation to co-existence. Mammal Review 21:151-180. Larsen, Dotte (1988). LETTERS: Scientific Correspondence: Killer whale-minke whale interaction. Marine Mammal Science 4(1): 78. Patterson, I.A.P., et al., " Evidence for infanticide in bottlenose dolphins; an explanation for violent interactions with harbour porpoises?," 265 Proceedings of the Royal Society of London 1167-1170 (1998); Ross, H.M. & Wilson, B., "Violent interactions between bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises," 263 Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 283-286 (1996); Baird,R.W. 1998. An interaction between Pacific white-sided dolphins and a neonatal harbor porpoise. Mammalia 62:129-134. Herzing, Denise L. 1996. Vocalizations and associated underwater behavior of free-ranging Atlantic spotted dolphins, Stenella frontalis, and bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus. Aquatic Mammals,22.2:61-79. Herzig, D.L. & Johnson, C.M., "Interspecific interactions between Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Bahamas, 1985-1995," 23(2) Aquatic Mammals 85-99 (1997); DiNatale, A. & Mangano, A., "Killer whale, Orcinus orca (Linnaeus) and false killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens Owen, in the Italian seas," 28(5) Rapp. Comm. int. Mer Medit. 181-182 (1983) Weller, David W.//Wursig, Bernd//Whitehead, Hal//Norris, Jeffrey C.//Lynn, Spencer K.//Davis, Randall W.//Clauss, Nathalie//Brown, Patricia (1996). Observations of an interaction between sperm whales and short finned pilot whales in the Gulf of Mexico. Marine Mammal Science 12(4): 588-593. Baraff, Lisa S.//Asmutis-Silvia, Regina A. (1998). Long-term association of an individual short-finned pilot whale and Atlantic white-sided dolphins. Marine Mammal Science 14(1): 155-161. Shelden, K.E.W., A. Baldridge, and D.E. Withrow. 1995. Observations of Risso's dolphins, Grampus griseus, with gray whales, Eschrichtius robustus. Marine Mammal Science 11(2):231-240. Whalewatcher, Journal of the American Cetacean Society, Volume 26, No. 1, 1992. "Family, Friends, and Neighbors," by Denise Herzing. Pp 13-15. Payne M. P. et al. 1990. Recent fluctuations in the abundance of baleen whales in the southern gulf of Maine in relation to changes in selected prey. Fishery Bulletin, U.S. 88:687-696. Polacheck, Tom (1987). Relative abundance, distribution and inter-specific relationship of cetacean schools in the eastern tropical Pacific. Marine Mammal Science 3(1): 54-77. Whitehead H. and C. Carlson. 1986. Social behaviour of feeding finback whales off Newfoundland: comparisons with the sympatric humpback whale. Canadian Journal of Zoology 66:217-221 Clapham P.J. and R. L. Brownell 1996. The poetntial interspecific competition in baleen whales. Reprot of the international whaling commission 46:361-367 Baird,R.W., P.M. Willis, T.J. Guenther, P.J. Wilson and B.N. White. 1998. An intergeneric hybrid in the family Phocoenidae. Canadian Journal of Zoology 76:198-204. -- Toshihide Hamazaki / Hamachan Dept. Fishery & Wildlife Science New Mexico State University PO Box 30001 MSC 4901 Las Cruces NM 88003 Ph: 505-646-1215 Fax: 505-646-1281 E-mail: thamazak(\)nmsu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 2 May 0100 10:56:38 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: use of jetboats (fwd) From: "Sean Corrigan" On the topic of jet boats and moving at slow speeds I would instead recommend something a little different. We have a 50ft catamaran which did have twin props on out-drives. We have changed this year to surface piercing props. This is a propeller that is half in and half out of the water. I know that sounds strange and you are asking yourself about cavitation problems but the design and pitch of the prop allows for this and it actually uses air to help move the vessel along. The company that we purchased ours from are in Florida and if you wish to contact me then I can send more information along on how to contact them if anyone is interested. Our vessel is not in the water as the props are being installed this week but they promise no loss in manoeuvring. We did check with many other owners who have the new props and they swear by them. Sean E. Corrigan Quoddy Link Marine St. Andrews, NB Canada New Brunswick Fish and Wildlife Research Unit University of New Brunswick Fredericton, NB E2B 6E1 Canada Date: Sun, 2 May 0100 10:57:58 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Volunteer Positions Available (fwd) From: "david briggs" Position Available: Volunteer Research Assistants The BC Parks contract for the monitoring of killer whale and boat use in the Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve and adjacent waters has just been awarded to Beaveridge Cotracting in BC, Canada and positions are avilable to assist with data collection from June 20-Septemebr 10, 2000. Volunteers will work with a crew stationed on a remote island directly across from the reserve and will be expected to stay for at least 2 weeks. Camping in tents, assisting in camp chores and a very rewarding experience in the introduction to whale identification, data collection and wildlife viewing can be expected. For more information please email David Briggs at dbriggsa12(\)hotmail.com. Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2000 11:46:07 -0400 From: "Samantha D. Eide" Subject: Reposting of Marine Mammals Course Announcement Summer Courses in Marine Mammalogy Eckerd College and Mote Marine Laboratory 19 June through 14 July 2000 Biology of Marine Mammals-----MSN 431 Conservation of Marine Mammals----MSN 432 Professor of Record: Dr. John E. Reynolds, III, Professor of Marine Science, Eckerd College, and Chairman, U.S. Marine Mammal Commission Other Participating=20 Faculty (Anticipated): Dr. Gordon B. Bauer, New College Ms. Martha B. Benaroya, Chicago Zoological Society=20 Ms. Meghan E. Bolen, University of California, Santa Cruz Dr. W. Guy Bradley, Eckerd College Dr. Douglas P. Nowacek, Mote Marine Laboratory Dr. James A. Powell, Florida Marine Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Dr. Sentiel A. Rommel, Florida Marine Research Institute, Florida Fish an= d Wildlife Conservation Commission Dr. Daniel I Rubenstein, Princeton University=09 Dr. Peter L. Tyack, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Dr. Edward S. Van Vleet, University of South Florida Dr. Richard L. Wallace, Eckerd College Dr. Randall S. Wells, Chicago Zoological Society, and Center for Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Research, Mote Marine Laboratory Description: The two courses are interwoven over the course of four week= s to provide a thorough and intensive forum in which students can learn about marine mammals and their conservation from some of the top marine mammalogists and other scientists in the country. The courses are geared towards upper-level undergraduates and graduate students. Specifically, the courses provide the following: 1) an opportunity to observe or to engage in research with a wide variety of marine mammal species either in the wild or in a zoological park setting; 2) fundamental principles of behavioral ecology, evolution, communication, cognition, functional morphology, and physiology; 3) application and illustration of these principles using several marine mammal species; 4) hands-on opportunities to engage in field and laboratory techniques used in marine mammal research; 5) the chance to get to know a number of leading marine mammal scientists and educators, including authors of the new textbook for the courses; and 6) exposure to and discussion of policy and conservation efforts involvin= g marine mammals with scientists, policy makers, and others involved with these topics at both the national and international levels. The classe= s meet approximately 6-8 hours each weekday---total immersion in the topic! Evaluations will be based on participation in discussions, examinations, and laboratory exercises. Special Features: The courses cover a number of topics one would expect i= n marine mammalogy courses, but they are special due to a combination of several features, including: =B7 involvement of nationally and internationally renowned faculty =B7 waterfront location--easy access to free-ranging dolphins and manatee= s =B7 sites of highly regarded, long-term studies of marine mammals, includ= ing the world's longest-running study of wild dolphins =B7 excellent facilities--boats, library, classrooms =B7 state-of-the-art laboratory for anatomical and life history research =B7 trips to Sea World of Florida and Mote Marine Laboratory to see a variety of marine mammals and speak with scientists, trainers, and veterinarians =B7 an unusual mix of theory and principles, practical applications and c= ase studies, and hands-on laboratory and field work =B7 the availability of a new textbook edited and written by many of the course instructors. Course Credit: Students completing the courses receive 7 semester hours o= f course credit. Costs: Tuition for both courses totals $2,799. This fee includes books= , film, lab fees, admission to Sea World, and other expenses associated wit= h the classes. =20 Dormitory housing, for those that need it, costs an additional $800. =20 Information: For information on course content contact Dr. John Reynolds= , at reynolje(\)eckerd.edu. For application materials and information on course logistics contact Ms. Cheryl Gold at goldcc(\)eckerd.edu. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 3 May 2000 10:55:10 +0900 From: "Anthony A. Flaherty" Subject: Southern Hemisphere Marine Mammal Conference 2001 This may be of interest to the MARMAM list ************************************* Southern Hemisphere Marine Mammal Conference 2001 Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia May 28 - June 1 FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT Continental Phillip Island Conference Centre The Esplanade COWES - Phillip Island Victoria, Australia We are pleased to announce the convening of a Southern Hemisphere Marine Mammal Conference, to be held at Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia, in May 2001. We particularly wish to extend an invitation to researchers in South America and Africa to make this a truly Southern Hemisphere conference. A theme for the conference will be 'Marine mammal/ Human interactions', but work in other areas is very welcome. The Phillip Island Nature Park will host the conference. The conference will comprise oral and poster presentations, student and presentation awards, technical demonstrations, options for specialist workshops before and/or after the conference, tours of local wildlife tourist facilities and a suitable social program. Selected conference presentations will be sought to include in a book on Southern Hemisphere marine mammal/ human interactions, to be published following the conference. Conference Venue The conference venue will be 'The Continental Phillip Island Conference Centre' in Cowes on Phillip Island. This is an excellent venue located in the centre of Cowes, the principal township on Phillip Island, and overlooking Western Port. Accommodation will be available at 'The Continental' (www.theconti.net.au) and at other hotels/ hostels/ caravan parks on Phillip Island (for example, see www.phillipisland.net.au) Phillip Island is located 100 km south-east of Melbourne. It has a rural/ coastal setting and is a popular tourist destination. The conference is timed between school holidays to maximise the availability of accommodation and minimise its price. Timetable May 2000 - First Announcement October 2000 - Call for papers March 2001 - Program 27 May - Pre-conference registration/ drinks at Continental Hotel, Cowes 28 May - Conference opening/ talks 29 May - Conference talks, afternoon visit to Sea Life Centre, evening visit to Penguin Parade 30 May - Conference talks, afternoon visit by boat to Seal Rocks Australian fur seal colony, evening conference dinner 31 May - Conference talks More Information To get on the mailing list for announcements, please send your full address details to the conference email address, 2001.mm.odyssey(\)penguins.org.au. In due course, announcements will be posted on the Phillip Island Nature Parks' web-page (www.penguins.com.au). If you wish to propose a workshop to be held before/after the conference, please contact the organising committee. We look forward to meeting you. Getting to Phillip Island Fly in to Melbourne International Airport (Tullamarine). Bus/ hire car to city or direct to Phillip Island, 3 hr south of Tullamarine, via the city. Organising committee Roger Kirkwood, rogerk(\)penguins.org.au Ros Jessop, rosj(\)penguins.org.au Nick Gales, nicholasg(\)calm.wa.gov.au Mark Hindell, mark.hindell(\)utas.edu.au Phillip Island Nature Park PO Box 97 Cowes, Victoria, 3922 Australia Phone (03) 59568300 Fax (03) 59568394 Conference Email: 2001.mm.odyssey(\)penguins.org.au Web site: http://www.penguins.org.au/conference Conference sponsors Phillip Island Nature Park Other sponsors welcome ************************************ Forwarded by Tony Flaherty South Australian Coordinator Marine & Coastal Community Network (SA) c/o University of South Australia, Holbrooks Road, Underdale South Australia 5032 Phone 61 8 8302 6568 Fax 61 8 8302 6550 - mobile 0429 678 869 E-dress - web - ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 May 2000 16:57:31 -0400 From: Jennifer Lewis Subject: Internship Announcement Interns needed for help with project on the behavior of Bottlenose Dolphins. Positions will be in the following areas: Florida Keys: June 27-July 27 Tampa Bay, Florida: during the late summer and early fall of 2000. Positions are volunteer. Work involved will include the following: Piloting small 18 foot vessel, collecting data in the field, data entry, as well as upkeep and maintenance of equipment. Qualifications: Prefer students with background in the biological sciences and goals to continue on with this type of education. Experience with word processing and spreadsheet applications, as well as previous experience with camera equipment and or work piloting boats a plus, but not a requirement. If interested please contact: Jennifer Lewis jennifer.lewis(\)mail.ua.edu (813) 914-7804 University of Alabama Dauphin Island Sea Lab Marine Sciences Program ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 3 May 2000 13:34:16 -0400 From: Nicole LeBoeuf Subject: 4th Quarter 1999 MMPA Bulletin The NMFS Office of Protected Resources has published the 4th Quarter 1999 edition of the MMPA Bulletin. This issue of the MMPA Bulletin is dedicated entirely to the MMPA Reauthorization. The articles in this issue include: Overview of the MMPA Amendments of 1994 Statutory Requirements of the 1994 Amendments NMFS Implementation of the 1994 Amendments NMFS Hears from Stakeholders on Harassment of Spinner Dolphins NMFS Hears from Stakeholders on MMPA Reauthorization NMFS Drafts Legislative Proposal for MMPA Reauthorization MMPA Implementation Task Force >From the Editors The MMPA Bulletin can be found in PDF format on the Office of Protected Resources web site at: http://www.nmfs.gov/prot_res/mammals/bulletin.html To obtain a hard copy of the MMPA Bulletin or to be added to the mailing list, please contact Nicole Le Boeuf at nicole.leboeuf(\)noaa.gov. You can also call 301-713-2322, ext. 156 or write to NOAA/NMFS/F/PR2, Attn. MMPA Bulletin, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 4 May 2000 13:40:02 +0000 From: mqr Subject: Re: use of jetboats (fwd) Content-type: multipart/alternative; boundary="MS_Mac_OE_3040292402_1006516_MIME_Part" > THIS MESSAGE IS IN MIME FORMAT. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. --MS_Mac_OE_3040292402_1006516_MIME_Part Some more on the topic of jet boats. We have recently returned from the field where we study sperm whales in Kaikoura, New Zealand. The local whal= e watch company operates three 12-16m catamarans equipped with jet drives, an= d one 12m rigid hulled inflatable powered by three 225hp outboards. The jet drive boats seem a great deal quieter than the prop boat and the various fishing and recreational vessels in the area. When tracking whales with directional hydrophones, we can often hear conventionally powered boats before we can see them; with jet drives, the opposite is usually the case. One of the on-going projects is a study of the impacts of whale watching on the whales. As part of this work, we recently recorded the four company vessels at full and idle speeds with a hydrophone (and calibrated pinger) at 20m in 500-1000m of water. Initial analysis supports our impression tha= t jet drives are much quieter than props. The jet drive vessels appear to be 3-4dB re 1 =B5Pa quieter than the prop boat at idle, and 7-9dB quieter at ful= l speeds. We have yet to have time to analyse these recordings in depth, and the results may not be directly applicable to your question: these are relatively large, high capacity and high speed vessels, presumably larger than the research vessel you contemplate. And the biggest drawback to jet drives is their lack of manoeuvrability at slow speeds, a major problem for marine mammal research. But at least in terms of underwater noise, they do have distinct advantages. ---------------------------- Marcus Q. Rhinelander Marine Mammal Research Group Department of Marine Science University of Otago Dunedin NEW ZEALAND mqr(\)xtra.co.nz --MS_Mac_OE_3040292402_1006516_MIME_Part Re: use of jetboats (fwd) Some more on the topic of jet boats.  We have recently returned fr= om the
field where we study sperm whales in Kaikoura, New Zealand.  The local= whale
watch company operates three 12-16m catamarans equipped with jet drives, an= d
one 12m rigid hulled inflatable powered by three 225hp outboards.  The= jet
drive boats seem a great deal quieter than the prop boat and the various fishing and recreational vessels in the area.  When tracking whales wi= th
directional hydrophones, we can often hear conventionally powered boats
before we can see them; with jet drives, the opposite is usually the case.<= BR>
One of the on-going projects is a study of the impacts of whale watching on=
the whales.  As part of this work, we recently recorded the four compa= ny
vessels  at full and idle speeds with a hydrophone (and calibrated pin= ger)
at 20m in 500-1000m of water.  Initial analysis supports our impressio= n that
jet drives are much quieter than props.  The jet drive vessels appear = to be
3-4dB re 1 =B5Pa quieter than the prop boat at idle, and 7-9dB quieter at ful= l
speeds.  We have yet to have time to analyse these recordings in depth= , and
the results may not be directly applicable to your question:  these ar= e
relatively large, high capacity and high speed vessels, presumably larger than the research vessel you contemplate.  And the biggest drawback to= jet
drives is their lack of manoeuvrability at slow speeds, a major problem for=
marine mammal research.  But at least in terms of underwater noise, th= ey do
have distinct advantages.

----------------------------

Marcus Q. Rhinelander

Marine Mammal Research Group
Department of Marine Science
University of Otago
Dunedin
NEW ZEALAND

mqr(\)xtra.co.nz

 --MS_Mac_OE_3040292402_1006516_MIME_Part-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 4 May 2000 08:35:45 -0400 Reply-To: shooker(\)is2.dal.ca From: Sascha Hooker Organization: Dalhousie University Subject: Abstract: Cetacean Strandings on Sable Island This paper collates and documents cetacean strandings on Sable Island, a sand bar at the edge of the continental shelf off eastern Canada (170 km offshore) over the last 30 years. Lucas, Z.N., and S.K. Hooker. 2000. Cetacean Strandings on Sable Island, Nova Scotia, 1970-1998. Canadian Field-Naturalist 114: 45-61 Abstract: Two hundred and sixty-seven cetaceans, in 102 stranding events, were recorded between 1970 and 1998 on Sable Island off the coast of Nova Scotia. Seventeen species were represented: Blue Whale (1 single stranding), Fin Whale (1 single stranding), Minke Whale (3 single strandings), Humpback Whale (4 single strandings), Sperm Whale (8 strandings, 13 animals), Pygmy Sperm Whale (3 strandings, 4 animals), Dwarf Sperm Whale (2 single strandings), Northern Bottlenose Whale (3 single strandings), Sowerby's Beaked Whale (1 single stranding), Killer Whale (1 single stranding), Long-finned Pilot Whale (37 strandings, 173+ animals), White-beaked Dolphin (1 stranding, 2 animals), Atlantic White-sided Dolphin (9 strandings, 13 animals), Risso's Dolphin (1 single stranding), Striped Dolphin (8 strandings, 22 animals), Short-beaked Common Dolphin (4 strandings, 6 animals), Harbour Porpoise (11 strandings, 13 animals). The records of the Dwarf Sperm Whale and that of the Risso's Dolphin are the first for eastern Canada. The record of the Sowerby's Beaked Whale is the first reported stranding in Nova Scotia. Humpback, Minke, and Killer Whales, and Short-beaked Common Dolphins have not previously been recorded stranded on Sable Island. The majority of stranding events (84) were of a single animal; nine involved two animals; eight involved 3-10 animals; and one event involved over 130 animals. Recorded strandings increased from 1.9 strandings/year between 1970-1989 to 7.1 strandings/year between 1990-1998. Mass strandings of multiple male Sperm Whales have occurred three times (all since 1990). All Atlantic White-sided Dolphin strandings investigated were also comprised of male animals. Key Words: cetacean, stranding, Sable Island, Nova Scotia For reprints, please contact Sascha Hooker ======================================================================= Sascha K. Hooker, Ph.D. Please note change of address (effective immediately): British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK Fax: 44-1223-362616; Phone: 44-1223-221611 email: shooker(\)is2.dal.ca http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/index.htm ======================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 4 May 2000 15:41:00 +0100 From: Research Subject: Footage needed for UK Documentary Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Diverse Production, an independent television documentary company based in London, has been commissioned to produce a one-hour science/wildlife documentary for Channel 4 Television in the UK that will explore sexual diversity in the animal kingdom. Following the publication of Zoologist Dr Bruce Bagemihl's "Biological Exhuberance" last year, we wish to address the debate surrounding non-hetrosexual mating, bonding and parenting behaviours in a television documentary format. Clearly we are aware that there are many different points of view on Dr Bagemihl's findings and also generally on this subject. Therefore we hope our programme will widen the interest in sexual diversity and perhaps encourage further research into it. At this stage, we are particularly keen to locate any film or video footage that shows same sex "non-hetrosexual" behaviour in a range of species. If anyone can help, please get in touch with Andrew Parkin at research(\)diverse.co.uk Diverse Production Gorleston Street London W14 8XS England Tel: 011 44 207 603 4567 Fax: 011 44 207 603 2148 e-mail: research(\)diverse.co.uk web: http://www.diverse.co.uk ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 19:36:39 -0400 From: Lanie Williams Subject: Cetacean Vocalizations I am an undergraduate student in Ocean Engineering at the University of Rhode Island. I am currently working on the spectra analysis of various cetacean vocalization to be used as a part of a larger detection program. I need vocalizations for the Blainsville Beaked Whale, Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin, Atlantic Spotted Dolphin, Risso's Dolphin, Dwarf Sperm Whale, Minke Whale, Pygmy Sperm Whale, Short Finned Pilot Whale, and Sperm Whale. If anyone has any recordings available or know of where I can locate some it would be of great help. Thanks for any help. Lanie Williams williams(\)pyrcon.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 3 May 2000 09:28:18 -0700 Reply-To: wburns(\)pacinst.org From: Wil Burns Subject: FW: New website (fwd) Marc Levy , Infoterra For those of you interested in fisheries issues (which this site's designer construes to also include marine mammal harvesting) I'd highly recommend this new site. Great set of primary documents, a comprehensive list of fisheries discussion lists, good tips for other sites to find primary documents in this context, and a nice list of links to fishery regulatory bodies. William C.G. Burns, Chairman American Society of International Law - Wildlife Interest Group 1210 Floribunda Ave. #7 Burlingame, CA 94010 Phone: 510.325.3037 Fax: 801. 838.4710 mailto:asilwildlife(\)pacbell.net http://www.eelink.net/~asilwildlife -----Original Message----- From: owner-fish-games(\)UCAR.EDU [mailto:owner-fish-games(\)UCAR.EDU]On Behalf Of Kathleen Miller Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2000 4:03 PM To: fish-games(\)UCAR.EDU Subject: New website (fwd) *************************************** FISH-GAMES ---------- Forwarded message ---------- *************************************** Date: Tue, 2 May 2000 21:44:39 +0100 From: Chris Hedley To: fish-games(\)ucar.edu Subject: New website Dear All This is just to announce a new website I have been working on, which is now available although not 100 per cent complete. Called the Internet Guide to International Fisheries Law, it's a comprehensive (and free) guide to the subject, including a large collection of legal texts, copies of fisheries cases, information on international fisheries organizations, a glossary, a news section and a large collection of links. There is a considerable amount of information relevant to shared stocks. I am also intending to set up a new mailing list to discuss law of the sea/environmental issues, which I hope some of you may be interested in. (Information about it is on the website in the Bulletin section). The url of the site is: http://www.oceanlaw.net This is a personal project and not a commercial one. It is the product of many hours (months) work but I hope users will find it useful. I would greatly appreciate any feedback or comments/constructive criticism and, in particular, would be grateful if you could notify me of any errors (of which I am sure there are many). Kind regards Chris Hedley __________________ Chris Hedley Cardiff Law School hedleyc(\)cardiff.ac.uk www.oceanlaw.net ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 6 May 2000 10:52:49 -0400 From: Dave Johnston Organization: Duke Marine Lab Subject: THE MONACHUS GUARDIAN ------ THE MONACHUS GUARDIAN Dear Colleagues, This is to let you know that IMMA Inc. has now published the May 2000 issue of The Monachus Guardian, a biannual electronic periodical focusing on the Mediterranean, Hawaiian and Caribbean monk seals. The site can be accessed at http://www.monachus.org. Highlights of the current issue include: > Guest Editorial - Monachus in Memoria: Reflections on a quarter century= of monk seal conservation - by Keith Ronald... > When Fishermen Save Seals: Why the artisanal fishers of the Mediterrane= an are beginning to save monk seals in order to save their own fragile livelihoods - by William M. Johnson & Alexandros A. Karamanlidis... > Final Millennium for the Caribbean monk seal: Florida Keys historian Ga= il Swanson reflects on the Caribbean monk seal=92s lethal encounters with European explorers and native Indians... > Surf=92s Up, Live! Maui on less than $500 a day: Snapshots and outtakes= from the 13th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Maui, Hawaii - by William M Johnson... MONACHUS SCIENCE: > Kompanje, E.J.O., H. G=FC=E7l=FCsoy & P.J.H. van Bree. Insufficient ca= lcium intake as a possible cause of osteoporosis in an adult female monk seal Monachus monachus from =C7esme, Turkey. > van Bree, P.J.H, & A. Panou. Do monk seals eat aborted fetuses? > Baird, R.W. High levels of human interaction with a Hawaiian monk seal = on the island of Maui. > Karamanlidis, A.A. Monitoring human and Mediterranean monk seal activit= y in the National Marine Park of Alonnissos and Northern Sporades, Greece. Plus=85=20 > Letters to the Editor, including Monk Seals in the Main Hawaiian Island= s - by Thea Johanos... > International, Mediterranean and Hawaiian News=85Recent Publications et= c. Current and back issues of The Monachus Guardian are also available from the Monachus Library, and may either be viewed on-line, or downloaded as single files in cross-platform Adobe Acrobat format. Should you have any comments on the web site or its contents, please contact us at the following email address: editor(\)monachus.org Similarly, we look forward to hearing from you if you experience any difficulty in accessing this service. Sincerely, William M. Johnson editor(\)monachus.org=20 --=20 "The future masters of technology must be light-hearted and intelligent. The machine easily masters the grim and the dumb." =20 Marshall McLuhan ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 8 May 0100 13:42:24 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly marine mammal summary to US congress (fwd) The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS {Japanese Whalemeat Sale. On May 2, 2000, the Tomiyamamachi Fishermen's Cooperative in Chiba Prefecture was verbally reprimanded by the Japan Fisheries Agency (JFA) for selling meat from a humpback whale that died after being trapped in nets in Tokyo Bay on Feb. 1, 2000. JFA guidelines of June 1990 provide that meat from dead whales may be consumed by local residents or buried, but cannot be sold. Officials of the cooperative stated that they were forced to sell the whalemeat to cover the costs of towing the whale ashore and burying its remains.} [Yomiuri Shimbun] {CA Sea Lion Shootings. On May 2, 2000, the 21st potential shooting of a CA sea lion in 2000 was reported at Bolsa Chica State Beach, CA. In 1999, a total of 77 CA sea lions were reported to have been killed by gunfire.} [Orange County Register] {Beluga Whales. On May 1, 2000, Anchorage, AK, Superior Court Judge Sigurd Murphy denied a request by the AK Dept. of Natural Resources to lift a year-old court order that excluded 70 tracts from an August 2000 oil and gas lease sale in Cook Inlet to protect beluga whale habitat. In addition, Judge Murphy added an additional 56 tracts to the exclusion area on NMFS advice that these areas were beluga whale gathering places.} [Anchorage Daily News] {Faroe Islands Whaling. On May 1, 2000, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society announced plans for a direct action campaign in June/July 2000 [ http://www.seashepherd.org/campaigns/grindstop2000/grindstop2000.html ] focused on stopping pilot whale kills in the Faroe Islands.} [Environment News Service] {Contaminated AK Marine Mammals? On May 1, 2000, AK Natives reported to the International Conference on Arctic Development, Pollution, and Biomarkers of Human Health, meeting in Anchorage, AK, that they are beginning to avoid consuming traditional marine mammals due to fear these animals are contaminated with pesticides, heavy metals, and other toxins. Increasing notice of tumors, lesions, spots, and sores in wild game has been documented by the Alaska Native Science Commission in a Traditional Knowledge and Contaminant Project over the past 4 years.} [Anchorage Daily News] Norwegian Whaling. On Apr. 27, 2000, the Norwegian Fishermen's Sales Association announced minimum prices to be paid for blubber and whalemeat for the 2000 whaling season. Blubber was set a 0.10 crown per kilogram, down significantly from 1999's minimum price of 3.0 crowns per kilogram. The minimum price of whalemeat is 27.5 crowns per kilogram, slightly higher than the 25.5 crowns per kilogram in 1999. As many as 35 Norwegian vessels are to begin hunting minke whales in early May 2000, with a quota of 655 animals. To deal with mounting stocks of blubber in Norway, aging blubber is being transformed into heating oil under a state-sponsored program. [Reuters] Captive Orcas. On Apr. 27, 2000, the Vancouver Public Aquarium announced that it would phase-out it's killer whale display, sending its last whale to Sea World in the United States. [Canadian Press] Right Whale Protection. On Apr. 24, 2000, as many as 7 lobster boats began a $12,000 program, financed by the International fund for Animal Welfare in cooperation with the Cape Cod Lobsterman's Association and the MA Div. of Marine Fisheries, to spend several weeks removing abandoned fishing gear (e.g., lobster buoys, ropes, and pots) from Cape Cod Bay to improve protection for north Atlantic right whales. {On May 1, 2000, Richard Max Strahan filed suit in U.S. District Court (Portland, ME) against NMFS, the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, and the ME Dept. of Marine Resources, alleging violation of the Endangered Species Act by licensing fishing gear that can harm northern right whales and sea turtles. The lawsuit asks the court to stop the use of commercial fishing gear that is not whale-safe, and seeks to fine federal and state officials if whales are entangled in fishing gear.} [Assoc Press] Sea Otter Lawsuit. On Apr. 20, 2000, the Center for Biological Diversity (AZ) notified the CA Dept. of Fish and Game of its intent to sue because of alleged inaction that allowed sea otters to be killed by large-mesh gillnets commercially fished in Monterey Bay. [Assoc Press] Florida Manatees. On Apr. 18, 2000, a coalition of 18 environmental and animal protection groups asked a federal judge, hearing their lawsuit (Save the Manatee Club v. Ballard) seeking to force federal agencies to give more attention to saving FL manatees, to issue a preliminary injunction banning the Army Corps of Engineers from issuing permits for any new boat slips and marinas in coastal waters of 16 FL counties and parts of 3 other counties until the lawsuit is decided. This action was taken after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved and the Corps of Engineers issued a permit for 180 new boat slips in a critical manatee area. {In early May 2000, officials of the FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported that a total of 124 dead manatees had been reported from January through April 2000 - a pace of slightly more than one manatee death per day.} [Assoc Press, Save the Manatee Club press release] Makah Whaling. On Apr. 17, 2000, the Makah Whaling Commission issued a 10-day permit to the Paul Parker family to hunt a gray whale. No whale was killed, but the Coast Guard arrested a protester and seized his boat, after they allegedly entered the 500-yard exclusion zone around the Makah canoe. A total of 5 families have been preparing to hunt gray whales this spring. On Apr. 20, 2000, a Coast Guard SAFE (Secure Around Flotation Equipped) boat collided with a personal watercraft that was operating inside the Marine Exclusion Zone and harassing Makah whalers, injuring the watercraft operator. The Makah whalers had thrown a harpoon at a gray whale, but the harpoon did not stick. A second personal watercraft was confiscated, and its operator arrested. On Apr. 21, 2000, charges were filed in U.S. District Court against the injured watercraft operator for violating the moving exclusionary zone. Maximum sentence for conviction is 6 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. On Apr. 24, 2000, the Makah whaling crew appeared as witnesses in a District Court hearing into charges against one of the protesters. Judge Kelley Arnold ordered the injured watercraft operator to stay away from personal watercraft and the Makah Reservation. A preliminary hearing will be held on the alleged violation on May 5, 2000. [Assoc Press, personal communication, Reuters, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, APB Multimedia] Dolphin Live Capture. On Apr. 16-21, 2000, NMFS staff participated in live capture of bottlenose dolphins at Beaufort, NC, to collect samples for stock identification and health assessment. Satellite and radio transmitters were depolyed on several animals to track distribution and movement over several months. [personal communication] CITES. On Apr. 15, 2000, delegates to the CITES Conference of Parties rejected 4 proposals to resume limited trading in certain whale products. A Norwegian proposal to remove Northeast Atlantic and North Atlantic Central stocks of minke whales from CITES Appendix I was defeated by a secret ballot vote of 52-57, with 9 abstentions and 2 spoiled ballots. Norwegian delegates to CITES indicated that Norway may consider ignoring the CITES trade ban. A Japanese proposal to downlist Eastern North Pacific gray whales was defeated by a secret ballot of 40-63, with 6 abstentions. The Japanese proposal to downlist Southern Hemisphere minke whales was defeated by a secret ballot of 46-69, with 4 abstentions and 4 spoiled ballots. A Japanese proposal to downlist Okhotsk Sea/West Pacific minke whales was defeated by a secret ballot of 49-67, with 3 abstentions and 2 spoiled ballots. On Apr. 20, 2000, at the CITES Conference of Parties, Norway offered an amended proposal, limited to whales taken in waters under national jurisdiction and monitored by a DNA-based identification system. This proposal failed to gain the required two-thirds majority, with 53 voting favorable and 52 against. [personal communication, High North Alliance News, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release] Contraceptives for Seals? On Apr. 11, 2000, Tory politicians suggested that seals should be given contraceptives to restrict their abundance and preserve fish stocks, in response to information that Scotland's grey seal population had doubled in 10 years. [London Times] MMPA Hearing. On Apr. 6, 2000, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans has scheduled an oversight hearing on Sections 118 and 119 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. [personal communication] Whale Research Irregularities. In early April 2000, the Pacific Whale Foundation (PWF) signed a settlement agreement with NOAA, with PWF admitting to 2 charges ($5,000 fine), NOAA dismissing one charge, and NOAA issuing a single written warning for 4 alleged charges. All these charges related to PWF's research activities during 1998. [personal communcation] Japanese Whaling. In early April 2000, the Japanese whaling fleet returned from Antarctic waters, having killed 439 minke whales for scientific research. {{On May 3, 2000, Japan announced that, in April 2000, it forwarded a proposal to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to expand its scientific whaling program by killing 50 Bryde's whales and 10 sperm whales annually in the North Pacific during 2000-2001 to investigate these species' diets. This proposal will be discussed at the IWC's annual meeting in Australia in June 2000.}} [London Observer, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (Japan) press release, Environment News Service, BBC News, The Guardian] Canadian Sealing. In early April 2000, Newfoundland's Fisheries Minister John Efford issued a renewed call for a harp seal cull, saying that exploding populations of seals are wiping out cod stocks off the north coast of Newfoundland. {On May 3, 2000, animal protection groups were reported to have scheduled about 20 demonstrations at various locations in Europe, Canada, and the United States to protest the Canadian seal harvest.} [Canadian Press, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release] Dolphin-Safe Tuna. In an Apr. 3, 2000 hearing before U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson, animal protection groups asked that modifications to requirements for labeling tuna as "dolphin-safe" be halted, rather than allowed to take effect on Apr. 11, 2000. These groups fear new regulations allowing tuna to be labeled as dolphin-safe as long as no dolphins are observed to have been killed or seriously injured when tuna are caught by surrounding dolphins with purse seine nets. On Apr. 11, 2000, U.S. District Court Judge Thelton Henderson (San Francisco), in response to a lawsuit filed by environmental and animal protection groups, blocked NMFS implementation of more relaxed standards for what tuna might qualify to be labeled as "dolphin-safe," saying that NMFS had failed to assess whether the proposed labeling change would cause harm to dolphin populations. Judge Henderson concluded that NMFS failed to complete critical stress research testing of dolphins that were repeatedly captured and released. The ruling does not alter U.S. action lifting an import ban on tuna caught using purse seines. On Apr. 12, 2000, Mexican officials called the court ruling "a great loss for Mexico...not only unfair, but clearly uninformed." On Apr. 12, 2000, the U.S. Court of International Trade (New York) heard oral arguments on a separate lawsuit by environmental groups seeking to continue the embargo on Mexican tuna, claiming that Mexico has not fully complied with U.S. regulations intended to reduce dolphin mortality. [Seattle Times, Fox New, Assoc Press] Bahamas Whale/Dolphin Standings. On Apr. 3, 2000, officials of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society accused the U.S. Navy's Mar. 15, 2000, exercises near the Bahamas of causing whale beachings and deaths, and called on NMFS to take action to protect these marine mammals. Sea Shepherd officials announced that they were planning to file a lawsuit against the Navy and NMFS. On Apr. 6, 2000, Navy officials responded by letter to the Humane Society, denying accusations that anti-submarine activities near the Bahamas had harmed marine mammals. {On Apr. 21, 2000, U.S. Navy officials announced that the Navy was cooperating with NMFS to review acoustic, oceanographic, biological, and environmental data to determine whether transit of 7 ships and 3 submarines though the Bahamas area may have had a role in the Mar. 15, 2000, marine mammal strandings. The Navy reported no use of low frequency sonar, of any type, in the Bahamas.} [Assoc Press, Washington Post, personal communication, U.S. Navy press release] Steller Sea Lions. On Mar. 30, 2000, environmental plaintiffs in the lawsuit against NMFS over management of fisheries in Steller sea lion habitat filed a motion seeking to enjoin all trawling in Steller sea lion critical habitat in the Bering Sea. [personal communication] Items in this Summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. Date: Mon, 8 May 2000 13:50:12 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: 4th Franciscana Dolphin Workshop (first announcement) (fwd) From: eduardo secchi Dear Colleagues, We are glad to announce the convening of the FORTH WORKSHOP ON RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION OF FRANCISCANA, Pontoporia blainvillei, IN THE WESTERN SOUTH ATLANTIC (4WPB). The 4 WPB should be held in Tramandai, Rio Grande do Sul State, southern Brazil, from 6 to 9 of November 2000. The workshop will be sponsored by the Centro de Estudos Costeiros, Limnol=F3gicos e Marinhos da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (CECLIMAR/UFRGS), the Grupo de Estudos de Mam=EDferos Aqu=E1ticos do Rio Grande do Sul (GEMARS) and the Museu Oceanogr=E1fico/Funda=E7=E3o Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (MO-FURG). As agreed during the Third Workshop held in Buenos Aires in 1997 we assumed the responsibility to continue this sequence of meetings started in 1992. These systematic workshops have significantly contributed for progresses on the knowledge of the species' biology and conservation matters. Therefore, the 4WPB intends to maintain the systematic information exchange among researchers from the three countries (Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina) where the species occurs in order to re-evaluate the status and to establish future plans for the research and conservation of the species. It follows some of the guidelines presented by the IUCN/CSG-SSC's Action Plan. The Tentative Agenda follows in the Annex. The Second Announcement should be delivered soon. All correspondences regarding to the Forth Workshop should be sent to the following address: GEMARS Rua Felipe Neri, 382/203 Porto Alegre - RS, BRAZIL 90440-150 or by e-mail: pontoporia4ws(\)zaz.com.br=20 Yours Sincerely, Eduardo R. Secchi, Chairman Paulo H. Ott, Vice-Chairman Daniel Danillewicz, Secretary Co-sponsors of the Workshop:=20 International Union for the Conservation of Nature/Cetacean Specialists Group (IUCN/CSG) International Whaling Commission (IWC) Cetacean Society International (CSI) Yaqu Pacha ANNEX 1: TENTATIVE AGENDA 1) DISTRIBUTION=20 a) Limits (latitudinal and depth) b) Habitat characteristics=20 c) Seasonal variation 2) BEHAVIOUR (FREE-RANGING AND CAPTIVITY) a) Diving b) Acoustics c) Group size and composition d) Age and sexual segregation=20 e) Migration 3) BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY a) Morphology, physiology and histology=20 b) Feeding habits (intra and inter-specific studies) c) Predators d) Parasite loads e) Contaminants f) Genetics g) Reproduction (timing of reproduction, sexual ratio, gestation length, ca= lving interval, birth size) 4) VITAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS a) Age structure b) Age at attainment of sexual maturity c) Fecundity=20 d) Survivorship e) Longevity f) Rate of population increase=20 5) INTERACTIONS WITH FISHERIES a) Fleet size, fishing gears and target species b) Social and economic aspects of the fisheries c) Catch per unit effort (CPUE) by areas and seasons d) Time series of absolute mortality and trends e) Age and sexual distribution of the by-catch f) Utilization of caught animals g) Experiments carried out with fishing nets 6) ABUNDANCE ESTIMATES a) Methodologies=20 b) Results obtained=20 c) New sampling designs and research possibilities 7) IDENTIFICATION OF STOCKS a) Distributional Data (distribution and abundance);=20 b) Population Response Data (vital and demographic parameters and other bio= logical information) c) Phenotypic Data (morphological differences of every type)=20 d) Genotypic Data 8) LEGISLATION AND EDUCATION a) Update on national and international legislation concerning the protection of the species. b) Educational Programmes 9) FUTURE ACTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS a) Priorities for research b) Conservation proposals c) Training of human resources d) 5th Workshop Date: Sun, 9 May 0100 00:31:31 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications (fwd) Here are some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Publications recently posted to MARMAM are not included. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. A combined stereo-photogrammetry and underwater-video system to study group composition of dolphins Author(s) Brager, S; Chong, A; Dawson, S; Slooten, E; Wursig. HELGOLAND MARINE RESEARCH, Spring 1999 v53 i2 p122-128 A modelling-based perspective on the past, present, and future polychlorinated biphenyl contamination of the St. Lawrence beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) population. Hickie, BE; Kingsley, MCS; Hodson, PV; Muir, DCG; Beland, P; Mackay, D. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES. January-June 2000 v57 sup1 p101-112 Detection distances of bottom-set gillnets by harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Kastelein, RA; Au, WWL; de Haan, D. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH. May 2000 v49 i4 p359-375 Biological transport and mammal to mammal transfer of organochlorines in Arctic fauna Author(s) Kleivane, L; Severinsen, T; Skaare, JU. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH, May 2000 v49 i4 p343-357 Evaluation of age- and sex-dependent rates of tag loss in southern elephant seals. Pistorius, PA; Bester, MN; Kirkman, SP; Boveng, PL. JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT. April 2000 v64 i2 p373-380 ------------------------------------------------ Also From: Himansu Das Dear MARMAM Following publications may be included in your recent publication list of marine mammals. 1.Observation on the dugong, Dugong dugong (Muller), in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, India. H S Das and S C Dey. Journal Bombay Natural History Society, 96(2): 195-198. 1999. 2.Onges and their Vanishing mermaids. H S Das. Hornbill, January-March, 2000, Bombay Natural History Society, 4-8. For more informations and reprint, Dr H S Das ERWDA PB # 45553 Abu Dhabi, UAE email: hsdas(\)erwda.gov.ae Date: Tue, 9 May 2000 15:58:55 +0300 From: Dan Kerem Subject: Minke whale in Eastern Mediterranean Shalom fellow Marmamers (ECS members, sorry for cross posting!) A male calf Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) was found Monday morning entangled in a gill-net, 3.5 km in front of Acko, in northern Israel. To our knowledge, this is the first report on a Minke whale in the Eastern Mediterranean. The fresh carcass allowed an IMMRAC volunteer team headed by S. Amiel, DVM, to carry out a detailed autopsy, including the first practice trial of a Pentax video-monitored endoscope, newly donated to IMMRAC by SiLab Israel Inc. The 355 cm, 340 kg calf had milk at various digestive stages along the GI tract with no evidence of other intake other than small pieces of plastic. While this finding could point to the mother also being in area , we have not received a report of such a sighting from vessels frequenting this rather well-traveled portion of the coastline. The preliminary autopsy did not reveal any significant gross pathology other than drowning. The near-intact skeleton will be prepared for display. We will be grateful for any input as to the estimated age, the normal weight for this length and the residence time of milk in the stomach of this or any other Balenopterid species. Mia Elasar, Oz Goffman and Dan Kerem Dan Kerem, Ph.D. President, IMMRAC (Israeli Marine Mammal Research and Assistance Center) The Recanati Center for Maritime Studies The University of Haifa Mount Carmel, Haifa 31905 Israel e-mail: dankerem(\)research.haifa.ac.il Tel: + 972-4-8249449 Fax: + 972-4-8240493 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 10 May 0100 10:47:53 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Popplanet.org (fwd) From: Dan Durett RE: Population Reference Bureau and National Council for Science and the Environment Launch Population-Health-Environment Web Site www.PopPlanet.org Dear Colleague: On May 8th, the Population Reference Bureau (PRB) and the National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) will officially launch their new Web Site, , to examine the relationships among population, health, and environmental issues. PopPlanet.org will feature an on-line moderated Bulletin Board where you can post notices, share ideas, ask questions, get answers, communicate! Stimulate discussion on topics such as: environment and health issues, water pollution and scarcity; land resources and degradation; protection of biological, flora and mineral resources; environmental health impacts etc. Visitors can post questions, opinions, experiences, and observations about population-health-environment projects, research and data, and can network with other visitors. Launched on Monday, April 24, 2000 we encourage you to use it now. Although the briefing books are primarily in English at present, Spanish and French-language mirror pages are currently being developed. Through informational dialogue and database expansion made possible by you, it is expected that the Bulletin Board will provide a medium for global information sharing in several languages. PopPlanet.org addresses three regions and features nine countries in a briefing book format (in English, Spanish, and French) that will include data and information on key trends for each region and country. The briefing books will provide an overview and in-depth analysis of regional and country-specific information on the varied and complex relationships between population, health, environmental quality and sustainable economic and human development. The diversity of topics in the briefing books addresses, inter alia: forestry and desertification, biodiversity, energy, environmental health, environmental law, cultural resources, ecotourism and sustainable development issues. Currently, the regional briefing books cover: * Africa - Madagascar, Tanzania, and Nigeria * Central America - Costa Rica, Belize, and Guatemala * Southeast Asia - Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines PopPlanet.org is part of PRB's Southern Population and Environment Initiative, launched in 1999 with support from the Summit Foundation and PRB though its MEASURE Communication project (funded by USAID). In addition to the leadership shown in launching PopPlanet.org, PRB's Initiative is coordinating regional networks that bring together nongovernmental organizations, interest groups, scientific institutions, the media, and policymakers through electronic moderated bulletin boards, electronic briefing sites, and regional seminars that identify research and work in progress on population, health, and environment issues. Our special thanks to the Academy for Educational Development and Rice University Center for Conservation Biology Network for technical support, and numerous scholars around the world for their contributions. Visit www.PopPlanet.org and the moderated Bulletin Board today! For more information, please contact: Roger-Mark DeSouza Coordinator, Population and Environment Programs Population Reference Bureau Tel: (202) 939 - 5430 Fax: (202) 328 - 3937 Email: rdesouza(\)prb.org Or: Peter Saundry Executive Director National Council for Science and the Environment 1725 K Street, NW, Suite 212 Washington, DC 20006 Tel: 202-530-5810 Fax: 202-628-4311 Email: peter(\)cnie.org Thank you, Peter Saundry -- Dan Durett, Program Manager National Council for Science and the Environment 1725 K Street, NW, Suite 212, Washington, DC 20006 ph: 202-530-5810 ext. 208 fax: 202-628-4311 e-mail: dan(\)cnie.org Date: Wed, 10 May 2000 11:59:30 HST From: Donald Schug Subject: biomedical or genetics research on pinnipeds I have just recently subscribed to marmam so please excuse me if this topic has already been thoroughly discussed. I am interested in the "scientific value" of pinnipeds as part of an Environmental Impact Statement for a fishery that may impact seal populations. Specifically, I am searching for references regarding use of pinnipeds in biomedical or genetics research. I vaguely recall that in the past researchers were studying seals for possible cures for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome but do not have any details. Any leads anyone might have regarding any such areas of research (not necessarily limited to SIDS research) would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Donald Schug dmschug(\)hotmail.com ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 13 May 0100 00:14:24 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly marine mammal summary to US congress (fwd) The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS Japanese Whaling. On May 3, 2000, Japan announced that, in April 2000, it forwarded a proposal to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to expand its scientific whaling program by killing 50 Bryde's whales and 10 sperm whales annually in the North Pacific during 2000-2001 to investigate these species' diets. This proposal will be discussed at the IWC's annual meeting in Adelaide, Australia on July 3-6, 2000. {{On May 4, 2000, Australian officials announced that they would protest the new Japanese plans.}} [London Observer, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (Japan) press release, Environment News Service, BBC News, The Guardian, Reuters] Canadian Sealing. On May 3, 2000, animal protection groups were reported to have scheduled about 20 demonstrations at various locations in Europe, Canada, and the United States to protest the Canadian seal harvest. [Canadian Press, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release] Japanese Whalemeat Sale. On May 2, 2000, the Tomiyamamachi Fishermen's Cooperative in Chiba Prefecture was verbally reprimanded by the Japan Fisheries Agency (JFA) for selling meat from a humpback whale that died after being trapped in nets in Tokyo Bay on Feb. 1, 2000. JFA guidelines of June 1990 provide that meat from dead whales may be consumed by local residents or buried, but cannot be sold. Officials of the cooperative stated that they were forced to sell the whalemeat to cover the costs of towing the whale ashore and burying its remains. [Yomiuri Shimbun] CA Sea Lion Shootings. On May 2, 2000, the 21st potential shooting of a CA sea lion in 2000 was reported at Bolsa Chica State Beach, CA. In 1999, a total of 77 CA sea lions were reported to have been killed by gunfire. [Orange County Register] Cook Inlet Beluga Whales. On May 1, 2000, Anchorage, AK, Superior Court Judge Sigurd Murphy denied a request by the AK Dept. of Natural Resources to lift a year-old court order that excluded 70 tracts from an August 2000 oil and gas lease sale in Cook Inlet to protect beluga whale habitat. In addition, Judge Murphy added an additional 56 tracts to the exclusion area on NMFS advice that these areas were beluga whale gathering places. {On May 8, 2000, a coalition of 6 environmental groups and a Native whaler filed suit in U.S. District Court (District of Columbia) against NMFS, alleging NMFS has violated the Endangered Species Act by not moving quickly enough to protect Cook Inlet beluga whales. In addition, NMFS did not meet a Mar. 3, 2000 deadline on deciding whether to list this population as "depleted" under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.} [Anchorage Daily News, Center for Marine Conservation press release] Faroe Islands Whaling. On May 1, 2000, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society announced plans for a direct action campaign in June/July 2000 [ http://www.seashepherd.org/campaigns/grindstop2000/grindstop2000.html ] focused on stopping pilot whale kills in the Faroe Islands. [Environment News Service] Contaminated AK Marine Mammals? On May 1, 2000, AK Natives reported to the International Conference on Arctic Development, Pollution, and Biomarkers of Human Health, meeting in Anchorage, AK, that they are beginning to avoid consuming traditional marine mammals due to fear these animals are contaminated with pesticides, heavy metals, and other toxins. Increasing notice of tumors, lesions, spots, and sores in wild game has been documented by the Alaska Native Science Commission in a Traditional Knowledge and Contaminant Project over the past 4 years. [Anchorage Daily News] Norwegian Whaling. On Apr. 27, 2000, the Norwegian Fishermen's Sales Association announced minimum prices to be paid for blubber and whalemeat for the 2000 whaling season. Blubber was set a 0.10 crown per kilogram, down significantly from 1999's minimum price of 3.0 crowns per kilogram. The minimum price of whalemeat is 27.5 crowns per kilogram, slightly higher than the 25.5 crowns per kilogram in 1999. As many as 35 Norwegian vessels are to begin hunting minke whales in early May 2000, with a quota of 655 animals. To deal with mounting stocks of blubber in Norway, aging blubber is being transformed into heating oil under a state-sponsored program. [Reuters] Captive Orcas. On Apr. 27, 2000, the Vancouver Public Aquarium announced that it would phase-out it's killer whale display, sending its last whale to Sea World in the United States. [Canadian Press] Right Whale Protection. On Apr. 24, 2000, as many as 7 lobster boats began a $12,000 program, financed by the International fund for Animal Welfare in cooperation with the Cape Cod Lobsterman's Association and the MA Div. of Marine Fisheries, to spend several weeks removing abandoned fishing gear (e.g., lobster buoys, ropes, and pots) from Cape Cod Bay to improve protection for north Atlantic right whales. On May 1, 2000, Richard Max Strahan filed suit in U.S. District Court (Portland, ME) against NMFS, the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, and the ME Dept. of Marine Resources, alleging violation of the Endangered Species Act by licensing fishing gear that can harm northern right whales and sea turtles. The lawsuit asks the court to stop the use of commercial fishing gear that is not whale-safe, and seeks to fine federal and state officials if whales are entangled in fishing gear. {On May 9, 2000, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) announced the beginning of a $150,000 project to benefit north Atlantic right whales, consisting of deployment of 6 passive acoustic buoys east of Nantucket in the Great South Channel. The passive acoustic monitoring devices will record right whale sounds and ship noise for 40 days while scientists visually record whale distribution near the buoys.} [Assoc Press, IFAW press release] Bahamas Whale/Dolphin Standings. On Apr. 21, 2000, U.S. Navy officials announced that the Navy was cooperating with NMFS to review acoustic, oceanographic, biological, and environmental data to determine whether transit of 7 ships and 3 submarines though the Bahamas area may have had a role in the Mar. 15, 2000, marine mammal strandings. The Navy reported no use of low frequency sonar, of any type, in the Bahamas. {On May 10, 2000, a coalition of environmental and animal welfare organizations was scheduled to hold a press conference in Washington, DC, where they claimed they would present evidence directly linking the March 2000 mass standing of whales and dolphins in the Bahamas to U.S. Navy use of active sonar devices in the area. The Navy responded, calling the allegations unsupported.} [Assoc Press, Washington Post, personal communication, U.S. Navy press release, Animal Welfare Institute press release, MSNBC] Sea Otter Lawsuit. On Apr. 20, 2000, the Center for Biological Diversity (AZ) notified the CA Dept. of Fish and Game of its intent to sue because of alleged inaction that allowed sea otters to be killed by large-mesh gillnets commercially fished in Monterey Bay. [Assoc Press] Florida Manatees. On Apr. 18, 2000, a coalition of 18 environmental and animal protection groups asked a federal judge, hearing their lawsuit (Save the Manatee Club v. Ballard) seeking to force federal agencies to give more attention to saving FL manatees, to issue a preliminary injunction banning the Army Corps of Engineers from issuing permits for any new boat slips and marinas in coastal waters of 16 FL counties and parts of 3 other counties until the lawsuit is decided. This action was taken after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved and the Corps of Engineers issued a permit for 180 new boat slips in a critical manatee area. In early May 2000, officials of the FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported that a total of 124 dead manatees had been reported from January through April 2000 - a pace of slightly more than one manatee death per day. [Assoc Press, Save the Manatee Club press release] Makah Whaling. On Apr. 17, 2000, the Makah Whaling Commission issued a 10-day permit to the Paul Parker family to hunt a gray whale. No whale was killed, but the Coast Guard arrested a protester and seized his boat, after they allegedly entered the 500-yard exclusion zone around the Makah canoe. A total of 5 families have been preparing to hunt gray whales this spring. On Apr. 20, 2000, a Coast Guard SAFE (Secure Around Flotation Equipped) boat collided with a personal watercraft that was operating inside the Marine Exclusion Zone and harassing Makah whalers, injuring the watercraft operator. The Makah whalers had thrown a harpoon at a gray whale, but the harpoon did not stick. A second personal watercraft was confiscated, and its operator arrested. On Apr. 21, 2000, charges were filed in U.S. District Court against the injured watercraft operator for violating the moving exclusionary zone. Maximum sentence for conviction is 6 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. On Apr. 24, 2000, the Makah whaling crew appeared as witnesses in a District Court hearing into charges against one of the protesters. Judge Kelley Arnold ordered the injured watercraft operator to stay away from personal watercraft and the Makah Reservation. {On May 5, 2000, a preliminary hearing was held on the alleged violation, and the injured watercraft operator pleaded innocent. On May 6-7, 2000, the Paul Parker family hunted gray whales for the 4th time in a month, without success. The family's current 10-day permit to hunt whales expires May 16, 2000. On June 12, 2000, the injured watercraft operator is scheduled to appear in federal court on charges she violated the whaling exclusionary zone.} [Assoc Press, personal communication, Reuters, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, APB Multimedia] Dolphin Live Capture. On Apr. 16-21, 2000, NMFS staff participated in live capture of bottlenose dolphins at Beaufort, NC, to collect samples for stock identification and health assessment. Satellite and radio transmitters were depolyed on several animals to track distribution and movement over several months. [personal communication] CITES. On Apr. 15, 2000, delegates to the CITES Conference of Parties rejected 4 proposals to resume limited trading in certain whale products. A Norwegian proposal to remove Northeast Atlantic and North Atlantic Central stocks of minke whales from CITES Appendix I was defeated by a secret ballot vote of 52-57, with 9 abstentions and 2 spoiled ballots. Norwegian delegates to CITES indicated that Norway may consider ignoring the CITES trade ban. A Japanese proposal to downlist Eastern North Pacific gray whales was defeated by a secret ballot of 40-63, with 6 abstentions. The Japanese proposal to downlist Southern Hemisphere minke whales was defeated by a secret ballot of 46-69, with 4 abstentions and 4 spoiled ballots. A Japanese proposal to downlist Okhotsk Sea/West Pacific minke whales was defeated by a secret ballot of 49-67, with 3 abstentions and 2 spoiled ballots. On Apr. 20, 2000, at the CITES Conference of Parties, Norway offered an amended proposal, limited to whales taken in waters under national jurisdiction and monitored by a DNA-based identification system. This proposal failed to gain the required two-thirds majority, with 53 voting favorable and 52 against. [personal communication, High North Alliance News, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release] Items in this Summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. Date: Thu, 13 May 0100 07:06:15 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: articulated humpack skeleton (fwd) From: Shannon Kelly Hello! I work for a Canadian company that primarily molds, casts and mounts cast replicas of modern and extinct animal skeletons for museums. We are currently working on a humpback whale skeleton (it is the one described by Cope, 1865 from the Niagara Falls Museum collection) and we are having difficulty finding illustrations or photographs of a complete skeleton to use as reference as well as literature relating to the articulation of the skeleton. I was wondering if anyone on the list would be able to point me in the right direction for reference material. Thanks alot for your time and help. Sincerely, Shannon Kelly Research Casting International Date: Tue, 9 May 2000 09:30:28 -0400 From: "Lucas, Marcy" Subject: Re: Marking of Harbor Seals in the water Dear MARMAM: I am a graduate student at The University of Maine pursuing a Master's in Wildlife Ecology. My thesis topic relates to interactions between pinnipeds and finfish aquaculture farms in Downeast Maine. As part of my research project I hope to mark individual seals (specifically harbor seals) around salmon farms in an effort to document the frequency and patterns of seal predation and to determine if such predation is the result of repetitive attacks by certain individuals. I have found information regarding techniques for marking individuals at haul-outs (i.e. paint marking). I have found no information, however, regarding the marking of animals in the water. My study sites will afford limited opportunity to actually capture the seals. Thus, I am looking for any information regarding compounds that may enable me to mark the seals while they are swimming, at the surface, around the net pens. At the farms I am liable to get within fairly close range to the seals and am hoping someone might provide insight into a way in which I can identify individuals. I have talked with a few individuals regarding photo identification. Has anyone had success with this methodology yet? Any information, be it compounds in use that are viscous enough to actually stick to the animal long enough for a paint/dye of some sort to set or more information regarding photo-identification, would be greatly appreciated. Best Regards, Marcy L. Lucas M.S. Candidate University of Maine and Maine Department of Marine Resources P.O. Box 8 West Boothbay Harbor, Maine 04575 Telephone: (207) 633-9502 Fax: (207) 633-9579 e-mail: marcy.lucas(\)state.me.us ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 14 May 2000 00:13:23 GMT+1 From: martin Boye Subject: Marine Mammal Cognition This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. --=_NextPart_Caramail_015236958248952_ID Bonjour =e0 tous, A website about Marine Mammal Cognition (memory, problem solving, conceptual skills, langage,...) is now open on : http://perso.libertysurf.fr/marine.mammal.cognition/ (translation in english in some places is still in process, sorry about that..) It is quite new so, we need some suggestions. Principle: every one having an interest in marine mammals cognition is invited to share his knowledges in different pages such as "Forum" "Definitions" "Interviews" "Actuality" Cognitive sciences tries to understand the way an organism interact with his environnement thrue psychology, ethology, sociology and philosophy. Participate :if you want to talk about a topic related to cognition and marine mammals send your works to marinemammal.cognition(\)caramail.com Thanks, Martin B=d6YE DEA de Neurosciences Center for Research in Cognitives Neurosciences CNRS 13 000 Marseille (FRANCE) _______________________________________________________ Vendez tout... aux ench=e8res - http://www.caraplazza.com --=_NextPart_Caramail_015236958248952_ID-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 May 2000 10:12:11 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: WDCS swim review (fwd) From: vanessaw(\)wdcs.org Dear Colleagues, I would like to thank all those who responded to my recent posting on behalf of WDCS, for input on the issue of swimming with cetaceans, both in the wild and in captivity. WDCS has now completed its review and from this, we have updated our Swim Policy, which can be viewed either on our website: http://www.wdcs.org.uk/wdcs2/conserve/watching/swimming.html or see the full text below. Useful references on the issue follow the policy text. Many thanks, Vanessa Williams WDCS Conservation Manager. WDCS Policy on Swimming with Whales and Dolphins =B7 Introduction Dolphin interaction programmes, from touching and feeding, to swimming = in the dolphin?s environment, be it captive or wild, are increasing in range a= nd popularity. An understandable love for dolphins may encourage the publ= ic to want to get close to them. This desire may stem from the belief that c= lose contact with these special animals can provide, at the very least, a re= lease from day-to-day stresses and boredom and, at the other extreme, some so= rt of miracle cure for physical and mental illness, and disability. Such bel= iefs have helped encourage the growth of interaction programmes by both commercia= l interests and alternative therapists. =B7 Swimming with captive cetaceans WDCS is increasingly concerned about the growing number of captive ?Dol= phin Assisted Therapy? (DAT) programmes in the United States, Latin America = and elsewhere. We are currently reviewing details of existing and proposed DAT programmes and investigating whether "benefits" claimed by, or on behal= f of, patients, using this kind of therapy exceed those claimed of less contr= oversial interactions with pets, horses and other domesticated animals. WDCS believes that the arguments against the confinement of cetaceans a= re so over-whelming, that any proposal to keep them captive, for whatever rea= son, should be rejected on animal welfare grounds alone. WDCS has a series of well-substantiated concerns about interactions bet= ween humans and dolphins in captivity. These concerns, relating to the welfa= re of humans as well as dolphins, apply equally to DAT. They include the welf= are of the animal; the risk of aggression towards people; the potential for di= sease transmission from human to dolphin or vice versa; the fact that dolphin= s may be forced into interactions with humans and have little respite from these actions, and the fact that in so many DAT and other interaction programmes, dolp= hins are captured from the wild and are transported thousands of miles to suffer the effects of confinement in captivity. Dolphins are large, strong animals, perfectly adapted to the conditions of the open ocean. Held in a confined space and subjected to forced interactio= n with humans, aggressive behaviour can have serious consequences. A recent st= udy carried out by WDCS into dolphin/visitor interactions at marine parks i= n America records many incidents of aggressive behaviour by dolphins towards huma= n visitors such as threats, biting and butting. This study also raises se= rious concerns regarding the potential for the transmission of disease betwee= n human visitors and dolphins. Inadequate regulations exist in relation to interactions between captiv= e dolphins and members of the public. WDCS is bringing its concerns and e= vidence to the attention of relevant governments and other interested parties, = who must address the potential consequences for both human and dolphins of these interaction programmes. =B7 Swimming with wild cetaceans Swimming with wild whales and dolphins is, potentially, an exhilarating= and unforgettable experience. Sadly, it is very difficult to ensure that t= he encounter takes place on the whale or dolphins? terms and is not an int= rusive or stressful experience for what are, after all, wild animals. For this r= eason, WDCS is unable to recommend public support for commercial swim-with wil= d cetacean programmes which have sprung up in various parts of the world = in recent years. Whilst there are responsible and thoughtful swim operators, sadly, it i= s also true that, in some locations, wild whales or dolphins are harassed and repeatedly disturbed by swim boats which tend to drop swimmers in the w= ater as close as possible to the animals. Research indicates that, in some are= as heavily targetted by commercial swim tours and other human activities, = dolphins are actually leaving their traditional habitat in favour of quieter are= as. There is concern that disruption to feeding, resting, nursing and other behav= iour may have a long term impact on the health and wellbeing of individuals and populations. Another consideration is the safety of both swimmers and cetaceans. Wha= les and dolphins are large, powerful animals and if not treated with respect, a= re capable of injuring people in the water, either accidentally, or if the= y feel threatened in any way. Like all animals, cetaceans are protective of t= heir young. Many people are unaware that their insurance may not cover them= for what are classified as high risk activities, such as swimming with cetaceans= . Cetaceans have also been injured by boat propellers, and by thoughtless behaviour from swimmers. Disease transmission is also a possibility. WDCS is funding research into the potential impact of swim tours upon w= ild whales and dolphins, and plans to offer advice and expertise to managem= ent bodies responsible for regulating swim programmes. Until more is known = of the longer-term, cumulative effect of swim tours upon the animals, WDCS is adopting a precautionary approach. =B7 Whale watching in the wild WDCS encourages the public to go whale and dolphin watching rather than= on ?swim-with? programmes. It is always important that you choose a respon= sible whale watch operator. For more information about what to look for in a good whale-watch trip, please ask for our fact sheet, or why not visit the whale-watch section on the WDCS website www.wdcs.org There follows some useful references on this issue: Barber, A , Barber R. and Jackson, M. 1995. The presence of spinner dol= phins ( Stenella longirostris) affects human use and sex ratios of swimmer in K= ealakekua Bay, Hawaii. (Page 7 in Abstracts, Tenth Biennial Conference of the Bi= ology of Marine Mammals, Orlando, Florida, 1995.) Barr, K. & Slooten, E. 1999. Effects of tourism on dusky dolphins at Ka= ikoura. International Whaling Commission Scientific Committee, SC/50/WW11. pp30= . Bejder, L. & Dawson, S.M. 1998. Responses by Hector's Dolphin to boats = and swimmers in Porpoise Bay, New Zealand. IWC Scientific Committee, SC/50/= WW11. pp13. Blane, J.M. & Jaakson, R. 1994. The impact of ecotourism boats on the St. Lawrence beluga whales. Environmental Conservation 21: 267-269. Colbert, D.E. & Cunningham, p.A. 1998. Incidents of recorded bites by a= wild bottlenose dolphin,Tursiops truncatus, known as "Beggar". Mote Marine Laboratory. Pers comm. Colborn, K. 1999. Interactions between humans and bottlenose dolphins, = Tursiops truncatus, near Panama City, Florida. Master's thesis. Duke University, NC. 45 pp. Conner, R.C. & Smolker, r.S. 1985. Habituated dolpins (Tursiops sp.) i= n Western Australia. Journal of Mammology 66(2): 398 -400. Constantine, R.L. 1995. Monitoring the commercial swim with the bottlen= ose ( Tursiops truncatus) and common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. Master's thesis. University of Auckland, New Zeal= and. Constantine, R.L. & Baker, C.S. 1996. Monitoring of commercial swim-wit= h-dolphin operations in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. Dept. of Conservation, A= uckland. 54 pp. Constantine, R. 1999. Effects of tourism on marine mammals in New Zeala= nd. Science for Conservation 106: 60pp. Constantine, R. 1999. Increased avoidance of swimmers by bottlenose dol= phins in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. Abstracts of the 13th Biennial Confere= nce of the Biology of Marine Mammals, December 1999. Dudzinski, K.M., Frohoff, T.G. & Crane, N.L. 1995. Occurence and behavi= our of a lone, sociable female dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) off the coast of Bel= ize. Aquatic Mammals 21(2): 149-153. Frohoff, T.G. 1993. Behavior of captive dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) a= nd humans during controlled in-water interactions. M.S. Thesis, Texas A&M Univers= ity. Frohoff, T.G. 1994. Captive dolphins and dolphin facilities in the Baha= mas: a preliminary assessment. Unpub report prepared for the Ministry of Agric= ulture and Fisheries, Nassau, Bahamas. Frohoff, T.G. & Packard, J.M. 1995. Human interactions with free-rangin= g and captive bottlenose dolphins. Anthrozoos 8(1):44-54. Frohoff, T.G. 1996. Human-dolphin interactions: research and management= . Journal of the International Society for Anthrozoology 11:5-7. Frohoff, T.G. & Dudzinski, K.M. 1996. Interactions between free-ranging spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) and human swimmers: a quantitative examin= ation. p16 in Program of the 1996 ACS Conference, San Pedro, California, Novem= ber 1996. Iannuzzi, D. & Rowan, A.N. 1991. Ethical issues in animal-assisted ther= apy programs. Antrozoos 4(3): 154-162. Janik, V.M & Thompson, P.M. 1996. Changes in surfacing patterns of bott= lenose dolphins in response to boat traffic. Marine Mammal Science 12:597-602.= National Marine Fisheries Service. 1990. A final environmental impact s= tatement on the use of marine mammals in swim-with-the-dolphins programs. Office of Protected Resources, Silver Spring. MD. NMFS. 1994. Report to Congress on results of feeding wild dolphins, 198= 9-1994. Office of Protected Resources, Silver Spring, MD. Rice, N. 1981. Responses to Man of free-ranging dusky dolphins (Lagenor= hynchus obscurus). The Dolphin Action and Protection Group, No. 3, Cape Town, South Africa. 12pp. Ritter, F. 1996. Abundance, distribution and behaviour of cetaceans off= La Gomera (Canary Islands) and their interaction with whale watching boats and swimmers. Thesis. University of Bremen, Germany. 114pp. Samuels, A. & Bejder, L. 1998. Habitual interaction between humans and = wild bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) near Panama City Beach, Florid= a. Marine Mammal Commission, Silver Spring, Maryland. 13pp. Samuels, A. & Spradlin, T. 1995. Quantitative behavioral study of bottl= enose dolphins in swim-with-the-dolphins programs in the United States. Marin= e Mammal Science 11(4): 510-519. Santos, M.C.O. 1995. Lone, sociable bottlenose dolphin in Brazil: human= fatality and management . Marine Mammal Science.13(2):355-356. Shane, S.H.,Tepley, L. & Costello, L. 1993. Life-threatening contact be= tween a woman and a pilot whale captured on film. Marine Mammal Science 9(3):33= 1-336. Smith, H. 1999. Dolphin social behaviour in the presence of humans. Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia. 14pp. Weir, J., Dunn, W., Bell, A. & Chatfield, B. 1996. An investigation in= to the impact of "dolphin swim encounters" in Southern Port Phillip Bay. Dolph= in Research Project Inc., Hampton, Victoria, Australia. 31 pp. Wursig, B., Barr.K., Constantine, R., Dudzinski, K., Forest, A. & Yin, = S. 1995. Swim-with-dolphin programs: monitoring results and needs. Page 124 in A= bstracts, Tenth Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Orlando, Fl= orida. = Date: Mon, 15 May 2000 15:19:47 +1200 From: Nathalie Jaquet Subject: Abstract: Sperm whales off Kaikoura (New Zealand) >From Nathalie Jaquet nathalie.jaquet(\)stonebow.otago.ac.nz This is a new paper on sperm whale residency and diving behaviour off Kaikoura New Zealand. It analysed data collected since 1990. Jaquet, N., Dawson, S and Slooten, E. (2000). Seasonal distribution and diving behaviour of male sperm whales off Kaikoura: Foraging implications. Can. J. Zool. 78 (3): 407-419. Abstract: Male sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) have been the preferred targets of the whaling industry between 1950 and 1985, but despite hundreds of thousands of kills very little is known about their ecology. To partially redress this, we present data on residency, seasonal distribution and diving behaviour of individually identified sperm whales off Kaikoura (New Zealand), gathered in 15 field seasons over eight years. One hundred and thirty six sperm whales were identified within the study area. Lack of statistically significant differences in the abundance of sperm whales between summer and winter, and among the 15 seasons of field work, suggests sufficient food supply all year round. Significant differences in distribution between summer and winter suggest that, off Kaikoura, male sperm whales may change their diet in response to fluctuations in prey biomass. Diving behaviour was also significantly different between summers and winters: sperm whales dived for longer, stayed longer at the surface and travelled further between consecutive fluke-ups in summer than in winter. Unlike female sperm whales, males at Kaikoura spent little time at the surface. These males spent about 83% of their total time underwater. This paper represent the most extensive non-invasive study of male sperm whales and provides new insights into their ecology. --------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------- Dr Nathalie Jaquet Research Fellow Phone office: ++ 64 (3) 479 52 41 Dept of Marine Science Fax: ++ 64 (3) 479 83 36 Otago University PO Box 56 Phone home : ++ 64 (3) 467 23 86 Dunedin New Zealand Cell Phone: 025/ 598 690 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 15 May 0100 15:38:12 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Effects of salmon farms on marine mammals (fwd) From: "Alexandra Morton" Dear Marine mammal researchers: I have been studying killer whales in the Broughton Archipelago on the = Central Coast of British Columbia for the past sixteen years. My study = spans the entire year and includes detailed records of cetacean = occurrence (Morton 2000 Mar.Mam.Sci). During this study Atlantic = salmon farms moved into the area and began proliferating rapidly. Today = they line all marine access to the archipelago and its associated = inlets. Whale occurrence appeared normal for the first few years after = arrival of the net pens. Then while the whales continued to frequent = the adjacent waters of Blackfish Sound, where there are no salmon farms, = their frequency of occurrence plummeted in areas where there are salmon = farms. Helena Symonds of Orcalab and myself have a paper on this under = review. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans also found harbour porpoise = abandon areas near salmon farms if the farms used acoustic harassment = devices (Olesiuk et al 1995), but they never published the paper. There have been many other problems which appear closely associated with = salmon farming, including discovery of Atlantic salmon with open sores = in the streams, a sharp rise in annual occurrence of heterosigma blooms = (up from zero pers. comm. Pacific Biological Station), aggressive = culling of pinnipeds, and accumulation of waste on the sea floor. = Despite an effort by many individuals and organizations to keep some of = the wild salmon (and killer whale) migration routes in this area free of = salmon farms, this has not occurred. In fact the last access route, = Clio Channel is now a proposed site for an additional salmon farm. =20 I am writing to ask if any of you have noted ill effects of salmon farms = on marine mammals could you forward them to the government offices = responsible for the current round of new salmon farm applications at = jon.oriordan(\)gems4.gov.bc.ca (Dr. Jon O'riordan) and = Duwillia(\)nanaimo.env.gov.bc.ca (Duncan Williams) and Cc me a copy at = wildorca(\)capescott.net. Thank you, Alexandra Morton (250) 949-1664 (250) 956-2121 fax General Delivery Simoom Sound, B.C. V0P 1S0 wildorca(\)capescott.net Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 06:40:11 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: study nocturnal behavior (fwd) From: XIAO Jianqiang Dear list, I am carrying out a study on captive finless porpoises' behavior and I'm interested to study the behavior in night. While carrying out observation in night, I had to turn on the light, which would surely affect the animals. Maybe I should keep the lights burning, but I'm afraid the brightness will affect the biological clock of the animals and also their behavior. I was told that some collegues in US had used some night vision equipments to observe dolphins in darkness. I have tried to find some information about that equipment, but I have limited access to the information and I failed at last. Maybe someone among the MARMAM subscribers who have carried out some research in night on cetacean behavior with the equipment could help me get some information about the night scopes, such as brand names, prices, availability, and so on. Or can anyone tell me how to contact those have carried out such research? Any information or suggestion on night-time observation on cetacean behavior will also be appreciated. Please respond direct to me at akhan(\)371.net Thanks for your time and help in advance. Sincerely yours, XIAO Jianqiang ================================== XIAO Jianqiang | Institute of Hydrobiology | the Chinese Academy of Sciences | Wuhan, 430072 | China | akhan(\)371.net | ================================== Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 17:29:19 -0300 From: Andrea Carolyn Ottensmeyer Subject: Pilot whale fin photos? Hello! I am a Master's student studying the social structure of long-finned pilot whales, _Globicephala melas_, using photo- identification methods. The ability to distinguish male from female pilot whales using a character which is readily visible at the surface would be extremely useful in this work. To the best of my knowledge, there are a few characteristics of the dorsal fin (notably, the height of the leading edge, and overall "hookedness" of the fin) which early work by David Sergeant (J. Mammal. 1962 43:395-413) suggested differed between mature males and females, but which have never been formally tested. In order to test differences in these characters, I require, at a minimum, photographs of the dorsal fin of _G. melas_ individuals for which the sex and overall length are known with certainty. Likely opportunities for collecting this sort of data are mass stranding events and individuals in captivity. I have already contacted Micheal Moore, Greg Early, Dave Sergeant, David St. Aubin, Charles Potter and Dorete Bloch, but this type of data does not appear to exist. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions for other people to contact who are or have been involved in pilot whale stranding events and/or other research on long-finned pilot whale sexual dimorphisms. I would be able to provide compensation for film and/or processing costs for anyone willing to take appropriate pictures and measurements should the opportunity arise. Please contact me at: aottensm(\)is2.dal.ca Best regards, Andrea Ottensmeyer Department of Biology Dalhousie University Halifax, N.S. B3H 4J1 Canada aottensm(\)is2.dal.ca http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/index.htm ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 May 2000 12:48:26 -0400 From: Emily Hanson Subject: Draft 2000 Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports Janeen Quintal , Richard Merrick , Tim Price , Douglas Demaster , Karin Forney , Gordon Waring , Steven Swartz , Jim Carretta , Jay Barlow , Donna Wieting , Tom Eagle The National Marine Fisheries Service published a notice of availability and request for comments for the Draft 2000 Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports (SARs) in the Federal Register on May 18, 2000 (65 FR 31520). The Draft SARs are available at the following web site: http://www.nmfs.gov/prot_res/mammals/sa_rep/sar.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Emily Hanson NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service Marine Mammal Conservation Division (F/PR2) 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301) 713-2322, ext. 101 Emily.Hanson(\)noaa.gov ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 May 2000 16:12:20 +0200 Reply-To: ems(\)bcn.servicom.es From: ems(\)bcn.servicom.es Subject: Searching for GPS TAGS to be used with seals Dear Sirs, We are a UW technology and oceanographic equipment company sited in Barcelona. We represent leading equipment manufacturers (listed below) but we also act as a scientific /technical consulting service and systems integrator. We are mainly active in the precision instrumentation area, but now we are involved in an international project where we need to consider the integartion of 10 units of GPS Tags that give positioning, tempareture and pressure (ideally) via satelite, if possible NOT Argos. Is it possible to have something with Inmarsat, Orbcomm or GOES ? as an alternative. These tags would be integrated on seals in the latin-america pacific. Have you worked with any NON-Argos alternatives for monitoring Seals? Do you know any ARGOS GPS TAG that you think can be usefull for us? Have you used any GPS TAG for non ARGOS systems? Can you give us any contact person? Thank you very much for your help,please receive my best regards, Marc Ribas Application Engineer. EMS Sistemas de Monitorizacisn Medio Ambiental, S.L. c/ Teodora Lamadrid, 40 E-08022 Barcelona, Spain Tel + 34 93 253.09.09 Fax + 34 93 253.12.20 e-mail : ems(\)bcn.servicom.es web : www.ems-sistemas.com _________________________________________________ We represent following OCEANOGRAPHIC Instrumentation and UW TECHNOLOGY companies : SEA BIRD Electronics Oceanographic Precision Instruments RD Instruments ADCPs for oceanography WETLabs Oceanographic Atenaution/Absoption Biospherical Instruments UW Optical Instruments Deep Ocean Engineering ROVs and special UW vehicles SUBCONN UW conectors MacArtney / Euroceanique Underwater Technology Components Sea Sciences Light Towed Vehicles Chelsea Instruments Heavy Towed Vehicles Focal Technologies Slip Rings & OPCs ORE Accusonic Technologies UW Acoustic Positioning Richter & Wiese Water Sampling We represent following UW FOTO, VIDEO and LIGHT manufacturers : AVC UW Professional Lighting KOWALSKI Torches for divers SEALUX UW Foto SLR and Video Housings SUBTRONIC UW Strobes SUBAL UW Foto SLR Housings BLUESCREEN UW Film Service and Rental ________________________________________________________ Proveemos Servicio Ticnico y somos especialistas en aplicaciones especiales y equipaminetos asociados : Conszltenos ! ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 May 2000 13:51:02 -0400 From: GREMM Subject: A new web site: "Whales online" Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" ------ If you would like to See the whales of the St. Lawrence, Discover their world and Read current events about the St. Lawrence and whales from far = and wide, the GREMM team invites you to surf Whales online at: http://www.whales-online.net Something new every week: - The whale news network - St. Lawrence current events - Whales from far and wide Explore Whales online and discover: - Whale watching in Qu=E9bec: When? Where? How? - How to recognize them at sea? - Are whales endangered? - The whale researchers - Research project: better understanding for better protection - And a lot more! You can even submit your questions to our naturalists. The site is also available in French as "Baleines en direct" http://www.baleinesendirect.net V=E9ronik de la Cheneli=E8re webmaster for Baleines en direct/ Whales online GREMM 108 de la Cale S=E8che Tadoussac,Qu=E9bec, Canada G0T 2A0 tel.: (418) 235-4701 fax.: (418) 235-4325 e-mail: info(\)gremm.org http://www.baleinesendirect.net http://www.whales-online.net ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 May 2000 22:43:43 -0400 From: Stephen McCulloch Subject: POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP IN AQUATIC ANIMAL MEDICINE AND PATHOLOGY An 18 month postdoctoral fellowship commencing January 1, 2001 will be offered by the Division of Marine Mammal Research and Conservation, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution (HBOI), Ft. Pierce, Florida. The Division of Marine Mammal Research and Conservation has multifaceted programs involving marine mammal strandings, manatee rescue and rehabilitation, free-ranging bottlenose dolphin photo identification and broad research investigating the pathologic basis of disease in marine mammals. The HBOI Marine Mammal Stranding Center provides temporary or long-term care for various marine mammal species. Animals which can be treated successfully are rehabilitated, released and typically monitored post-release via telemetry devices. Collaborative programs in medicine exist with the Miami Seaquarium and marine mammal facilities in Mexico, Belize, Argentina, and Brazil. Pathologic studies involve the gross and histopathologic characterization of diseases in marine mammals with special emphasis on the effects of biotoxins in these species. Collaborative programs in pathology exist with the Wildlife and Avian Laboratory, Division of Comparative Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida. An opportunity is also available for the postdoctoral fellow to interact with the Division of Aquaculture at HBOI, which has intensive programs in clam, shrimp and tropical fish aquaculture. An original research project, the results of which will be written for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, is required for successful completion of this program. In addition, the postdoctoral fellow will be responsible for coordinating marine mammal rescues, handling all aspects of clinical care for marine mammal patients, and completing necropsies with the supervision of the HBOI marine mammal staff. Follow-up histopathologic tissue evaluations will be done with the resident comparative pathologist or at the University of Miami School of Medicine. Applicants must possess a D.V.M. or equivalent degree. Selection of the successful applicant will be based on a combination of academic, relevant interest and experience, and an assessment of the candidate's career goals and objectives. The stipend is currently $27,072 annually, and the fellowship is non-renewable. Requests for further information and application procedures should be addressed to Gregory D. Bossart, V.M.D., Ph.D., c/o personnel(\)hboi.edu. For information about Harbor Branch, please consult our website, http://www.hboi.edu Stephen D. McCulloch Division Director Dolphin Research and Conservation Program Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution 5600 U.S. 1 North Ft. Pierce, FL 34946 ph: (561) 465-2400, x604 fx: (561) 595-3332 http://www.hboi.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 May 2000 13:34:50 -0500 From: Joel Ortega Subject: Postdoctoral position: Disease Impacts on Southern Sea Otters POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, MADISON Evaluation of Disease Impacts on Southern Sea Otters A two-year postdoctoral research associate position is available to work on the demographic impacts of disease mortality on the southern sea otter population. The Research Associate will have the primary responsibility for evaluating the temporal and spatial patterns of disease mortality and determining the demographic impacts of disease in this threatened marine mammal population. The position will be supervised by the Principal Investigator in close consultation with Wildlife Disease Specialists at the National Wildlife Health Center and the California Department of Fish and Game. This position provides an excellent opportunity to work closely with sea otter biologists, quantitative ecologists, and wildlife disease specialists and to make significant contributions on the biology of a highly visible and declining keystone species. Qualifications: 1. Ph.D. in wildlife biology, mammalogy, or biometrics. 2. Strong background in population biology, demographic analysis, and computer modeling. 3. Knowledge of biometric methods for spatial analysis. 4. Experience and knowledge in computer applications and statistical analysis. 5. Knowledge of wildlife disease principles. 6. Demonstrated ability in oral and written communication. Salary range: $30,000 - $35,000 per year Location: Principal work station will be at the National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI. Application deadline: June 30, 2000 Starting date: July, 2000, actual starting date negotiable. Contact: Send a current curriculum vitae documenting appropriate knowledge, skills, and experience, together with names, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of 3 references who can substantiate work experience and communication skills, to the Principal Investigator: Dr. Michael D. Samuel USGS - National Wildlife Health Center 6006 Schroeder Road Madison, WI 53711 Phone: (608) 270-2441 FAX: (608) 270-2415 E-mail: michael_samuel(\)usgs.gov ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 May 2000 14:10:00 -0400 From: Darren Long Subject: Reminder: Animal Social Complexity & Intelligence conference boundary="------------6C8BD2F8A003C22F7271E1B2" --------------6C8BD2F8A003C22F7271E1B2 Just a reminder: ANIMAL SOCIAL COMPLEXITY & INTELLIGENCE CONFERENCE August 23-26, 2000 Chicago Academy of Sciences Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum http://www.AnimalSocialComplexity.org We are pleased to announce that the Chicago Academy of Sciences, the Living Links Center of Emory University, and the Jane Goodall Institute have joined forces to organize this major scientific conference. For the first time, scientists and students will come together for the express purpose of comparing numerous aspects of behavior across species lines. An diverse and distinguished group of speakers will lead conference sessions whose topics include Communication, Social Knowledge, Culture, Cooperation and Social Evolution. Registrations are filling quickly, but there are still spaces available. Join us for what promises to be a very exciting and memorable event in animal behavior. The conference will also feature the U.S. kickoff of Jane Goodall's Gombe 40 Celebration, commemorating 40 years of continuous field research at Gombe National Park, Tanzania. Special guest speaker Dr. Jane Goodall. Visit the conference web site (http://www.AnimalSocialComplexity.org) for more detailed information, speakers, and secure on-line registration. Please contact Darren Long (dlong(\)rmy.emory.edu) with any questions. Darren Long Living Links Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center Emory University 954 N. Gatewood Rd. Atlanta, GA 30329 p: (404) 727.3696 f: (404) 727.3270 dlong(\)rmy.emory.edu http://www.emory.edu/LIVING_LINKS --------------6C8BD2F8A003C22F7271E1B2 Just a reminder:

ANIMAL SOCIAL COMPLEXITY & INTELLIGENCE CONFERENCE
August 23-26, 2000
Chicago Academy of Sciences Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
http://www.AnimalSocialComplexity.org

We are pleased to announce that the Chicago Academy of Sciences, the Living Links Center of Emory University, and the Jane Goodall Institute have joined forces to organize this major scientific conference.  For the first time, scientists and students will come together for the express purpose of comparing numerous aspects of behavior across species lines.  An diverse and distinguished group of speakers will lead conference sessions whose topics include Communication, Social Knowledge, Culture, Cooperation and Social Evolution.  Registrations are filling quickly, but there are still spaces available.  Join us for what promises to be a very exciting and memorable event in animal behavior.

The conference will also feature the U.S. kickoff of Jane Goodall's Gombe 40 Celebration, commemorating 40 years of continuous field research at Gombe National Park, Tanzania.  Special guest speaker Dr. Jane Goodall.

Visit the conference web site (http://www.AnimalSocialComplexity.org) for more detailed information, speakers, and secure on-line registration.

Please contact Darren Long (dlong(\)rmy.emory.edu) with any questions.
 

Darren Long
Living Links
Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center
Emory University
954 N. Gatewood Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30329
p: (404) 727.3696
f: (404) 727.3270
dlong(\)rmy.emory.edu
http://www.emory.edu/LIVING_LINKS
  --------------6C8BD2F8A003C22F7271E1B2-- ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 23 May 0100 11:28:52 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: FW: Sad news from the High Arctic (fwd) I am uncertain who is most appropriate to provide such news, but I think that it is important for the research community to know soon. Yesterday, I confirmed the following with B. Hyrcyk at Polar Continental Shelf Project, Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, and today the news have been announced in the Canadian press. Late Saturday or early Sunday May 19-20, Malcolm Ramsay (polar bear biologist and Professor at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon) and Stuart Innes (seal biologist and Research Scientist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg) died in a helicopter crash during research out of Resolute Bay, Nunavut. The pilot survived. Circumstances surrounding the crash are under investigation. My deepest sympathies go to their families, close friends and colleagues. I was in Resolute in late April and spent several hours talking to both of them, as my field season was ending and their season was just starting. Stu was busy being interviewed by a BBC film crew for a series hosted by a veterinarian. They were interested in how Stu trains and then uses Black Labrador Retrievers to find ringed seal dens. Those of you in Britain may want to watch for this show in coming months. Among other things, the three of us casually speculated whether the lack of multi-year ice in the High Arctic may create extensive new denning and other habitat for ringed seals, and thereby feeding habitat for polar bears. Although our jury was still out, it could compensate for apparently negative habitat changes for polar bears in Hudson Bay as the climate warms (Stirling et al. 2000. Arctic). Unfortunately this jury will not re-convene at a later date. I had known Malcolm for many years, but these were my first lengthy chats with Stu. As Malcolm marked students' exams, Stu worked with me on some population models for Arctic tundra caribou on his computer, and agreed to help me further with these models after his field season. That won't happen now. It is a sad event... during the season when 24-hour sunlight returns to the High Arctic, and new-born life blossoms in the ocean and on the land. Mike Dr. Michael A.D. Ferguson Regional Widlife Biologist Nunavut Wildlife Service Department of Sustainable Development Government of Nunavut Pond Inlet, Nunavut X0A 0S0 Phone: (867)899-8876 Fax: (867)899-8711 E-mail: baffbio(\)nunanet.com Date: Sun, 23 May 0100 13:57:16 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications (fwd) Here are some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Publications recently posted to MARMAM are not included. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. Toxic metals and selenium in blood from pilot whales (Globicephala melas) and sperm whales (Physeter catodon). Nielsen, JB; Nielsen, F; Jorgensen, PJ; Grandjean, P. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN. April 2000 v40 i4 p348-351 The fin whale Balaenoptera physalus in waters off the Chukotka Peninsula. Mel'nikov, VV. ZOOLOGICHESKY ZHURNAL. March 2000 v79 i3 p357-361 Development of a risk assessment methodology for evaluating potential impacts associated with contaminated mud disposal in the marine environment. Clarke, SC; Jackson, AP; Neff, J. CHEMOSPHERE, July 2000 v41 i1-2 p69-76 In order to assess impacts associated with disposal of contaminated mud arising from Hong Kong's dredging and reclamation projects, a methodology has been formulated to determine the level of risk posed by consumption of seafood/marine prey species to humans and to the Chinese White Dolphin (Sousa chinensis). This methodology improves on previously used techniques by incorporating risks for organic contaminants, accounting for doses from sources other than seafood, and incorporating additional local knowledge on Sousa chinensis behaviour. It thus represents an advance in risk assessment techniques and a new integration of risk assessment and monitoring in environmental management. Determination of toxaphenes in fish and marine mammals. Foreid, S; Rundberget, T; Severinsen, T; Wiig, O; Skaare, JU. CHEMOSPHERE. August 2000 v41 i4 p521-528 Enantioselective determination of persistent and partly degradable toxaphene congeners in high trophic level biota. Vetter, W; Luckas, B. CHEMOSPHERE. August 2000 v41 i4 p499-506 Influenza B virus in seals. Osterhaus, ADME; Rimmelzwaan, GF; Martina, BEE; Bestebroer, TM; Fouchier, RAM. SCIENCE. May 12, 2000 v288 i5468 p1051-1053 Levels of C-10-C-13 polychloro-n-alkanes in marine mammals from the Arctic and the St. Lawrence River estuary. Tomy, GT; Muir, DCG; Stern, GA; Westmore, JB. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. May 1, 2000 v34 i9 p1615-1619 Trace element levels in harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus) and hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) from the Greenland Sea. A multivariate approach. Julshamn, K; Grahl-Nielsen, O. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. April 24, 2000 v250 i1-3 p123-133 Pseudoterranova cattani sp nov (Ascaridoidea : Anisakidae), a parasite of the South American sea lion Otaria byronia De Blainville from Chile Author(s) George-Nascimento, M; Urrutia, X Source REVISTA CHILENA DE HISTORIA NATURAL, March 2000 v73 i1 p93-98 The whaling issue. Aron, W; Burke, W; Freeman, MMR. MARINE POLICY. May 2000 v24 i3 p179-191 Methylsulfone polychlorinated biphenyl and 2,2-bis(chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene metabolites in beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) from the St. Lawrence River estuary and western Hudson Bay, Canada. Letcher, RJ; Norstrom, RJ; Muir, DCG; Sandau, CD; Koczanski, K; Michaud, R; De Guise, S; Beland, P. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY. May 2000 v19 i5 p1378-1388 Southern elephant seal movements and Antarctic sea ice. Bornemann, H; Kreyscher, M; Ramdohr, S; Martin, T; Carlini, A; Sellmann, L; Plotz, J. ANTARCTIC SCIENCE. March 2000 v12 i1 p3-15 Cephalopod diet of the southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina, at King George Island, South Shetland Islands. Daneri, GA; Carlini, AR; Rodhouse, PGK. ANTARCTIC SCIENCE. March 2000 v12 i1 p16-19 Food habits of the South American sea lion, Otaria flavescens, off Patagonia, Argentina. Alonso, MK; Crespo, EA; Pedraza, SN; Garcia, NA; Coscarella, MA FISHERY BULLETIN, April 2000 v98 i2 p250-263 Diaphragm structure and function in the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) Author(s) Rommel, S; Reynolds, JE. ANATOMICAL RECORD, May 1, 2000 v259 i1 p41-51 Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 23:31:50 +0200 From: "A. Frantzis" Subject: Are NATO forces going to use LFAS again? bmms(\)oii.net x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" Dear all, A few weeks ago, we were informed that NATO forces are going to conduct a large scale military exercise in the Mediterranean Sea, under the name "Dynamic Mix". The exercise started yesterday (22nd of May 2000) and will take place in Greece, in its larger part (in time and geographical areas). The subject could present a special interest for the scientific community working with cetaceans for two reasons: - To our knowledge, the Dynamic Mix exercise was always related with the use of Low Frequency Active Sonars (LFAS) - The last part of the exercise will take place in Kyparissiakos Gulf (the 1st of June?), where in 1996 the use of LFAS was the only possible cause (according to NATO!) of the mass stranding of at least 13 Cuvier's beaked whales (Frantzis, 1998 in Nature) During the previous days we tried to find out if LFAS will be deployed. We also informed various departments in the Greek Ministry of Defense regarding the hazards for cetaceans, since the particular area is known to be an important habitat for deep diving cetacean species (Cuvier's beaked whales and Sperm whales). The answers we got indicate that the organisers of the NATO exercise do not realize the problem or do not care about the potential consequences for marine mammal life. Nobody wanted to give us a clear answer regarding the use of LFAS. Unfortunately, our sources from the Ministry (officers who prefer to stay anonymous for obvious reasons) as well as the sources of independent journalists indicate that LFAS are going to be used once more. We are not in the position to confirm the above information and we can only wish that the confirmation will not arrive a posteriori, when we will have to perform the necropsy of stranded animals... We just hope that NATO policy makers are clever enough to avoid repeating the same error in the same place, twice. We want to remind everybody that after the conference that had been organized by NATO in 1998, in order to investigate the causes of the mass stranding in Kyparissiakos Gulf, the Greek Navy declared that it will not allow the use of LFAS in the future at least in Kyparissiakos and NATO prepared a "code of conduct" as well mitigation measures within the framework of its "Marine Mammal Environmental Policy". At this moment, the use of LFAS, the sound levels and frequencies at which they will be possible deployed, the timing, the exact area, and the related risks for cetaceans can only be subject of speculation. However, we believe that the scientific community should contribute in a way that operations that are hazardous for marine mammals like the use of LFAS, should be stopped before they lead to a desaster and not afterwards. Dr. Alexandros Frantzis Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute Terpsichoris 21 166 71 VOULIAGMENI GREECE tel: +301-8960108 fax: +301-8960108 web page: www.pelagosinstitute.gr -- ________________________________________________________ Dr. Alexandros Frantzis Institute of Marine Biological Resources National Centre for Marine Research Agios Kosmas GR-166 04 Hellenikon GREECE tel : ++301 / 9821354 fax : ++301 / 9811713 Personal address: Terpsichoris 21 16671 VOULIAGMENI GREECE tel : ++301 /8962730 fax : ++301 /8960108 e-mail : afrantzis(\)mail.otenet.gr ________________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 May 2000 17:29:59 -0400 From: Anna Chambers Subject: the accidental death of Stuart Innes and Malcolm Ramsay As you have already heard in the media or through colleagues, two great Arctic scientists and cherished friends, Drs. Stuart Innes (Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans) and Malcolm Ramsay (University of Saskatchewan), were lost in a helicopter crash outside Resolute, Nunavut this past weekend. Those of us at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans remember Stu as energetic, outspoken and a talented researcher who had a great love of the Arctic. His research interests were diverse, he was involved with work in the areas of population ecology and modeling, reproduction and physiology, genetics and contaminants. He authored and co-authored numerous papers for various journals and other publications. He was also a leader on international, national and regional projects and committees. Doubtless, anyone who has met Stu has quickly come to realize that his knowledge of issues concerning the Arctic was broad and deep. In fact, there was no limit to his interests regarding Arctic marine mammals. A dedicated scientist, Stu spent an average of three to four months a year in remote Arctic field camps, conducting research. He had great respect for the people of the north and their land; this evidenced itself in many ways, including his ongoing efforts to learn Inuktitut. He frequently lived and worked alongside the Inuit, and understood and promoted the value of incorporating traditional knowledge into scientific studies. Stu was extremely excited about the groundbreaking project he and Malcolm were involved with regarding relationships between polar bears and ringed seals. Of the many trips he was making to the Arctic this summer, this is the one he talked about most. He loved being in the Arctic, and even more, being in the Arctic with some or all of his dogs (he had five). He also trained his two black labs, two golden retrievers and Chesapeake Bay retriever to hunt upland game birds and waterfowl. He spent a week each fall with colleagues hunting for the elusive moose......mostly just an excuse to spend a week canoeing and traipsing around the bush with close friends. Stuart had a highly inquisitive mind and a real appetite for life. His joys were simple: good friends, dedicated colleagues and the loyal companionship of his dogs. His sudden passing is a great loss to his family, friends and colleagues. He will long be remembered by all those fortunate enough to have known him. A memorial service will be held in Winnipeg next week. Any best wishes or fond remembrances that you would like to share may be sent to ChambersA(\)dfo-mpo.gc.ca. These will be passed along to his family and colleagues. Donations in memory of Stuart may be made to the University of Guelph, University of Manitoba or a graduate student support fund to be established in his name by the Freshwater Institute Staff Association. ----------------------------- Anna Chambers Biologist, Marine Mammal Research Department of Fisheries and Oceans 501 University Cres., Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6 Tel: (204) 983-5338 Fax:(204) 984-1403 e-mail: ChambersA(\)DFO-MPO.gc.ca ----------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 May 2000 10:38:56 -0500 From: "Patrick H. Ressler" Subject: Re: Are NATO forces going to use LFAS again? In-Reply-To: <200005240708.CAA90404(\)smtp-relay-2.tamu.edu> Dear all, A. Frantzis wrote: >- The last part of the exercise will take place in Kyparissiakos Gulf >(the 1st of June?), where in 1996 the use of LFAS was the only possible >cause (according to NATO!) of the mass stranding of at least 13 Cuvier's >beaked whales (Frantzis, 1998 in Nature) In response, I quote the last paragraph of the Nature reference: "ALTHOUGH PURE COINCIDENCE CANNOT BE EXCLUDED [my emphasis], it seems improbable that the two events [meaning the LFAS testing and the stranding] were independent." To me that does not say that "the use of LFAS was the only possible cause" of the mass stranding, as claimed in the recent email by A. Frantzis to the MARMAM list. Could the anecdotal evidence presented in the Nature letter support such an "only possible cause" conclusion? There was an after-the-fact NATO study of the incident, which is apparently no longer available on the web; however one web page on the LFAS stuff refers to the study and says it "presented no conclusions" (http://home1.gte.net/leetpley/new_lfas.html). I've been paying close attention to this LFAS/acoustics debate on MARMAM in recent months. There's plenty of cause for concern. But I think we need to be more careful when making statements like this. If LFAS is being used in the current exercise and no stranding takes place, would that allow the conclusion that it was IMPOSSIBLE for LFAS to strand Cuvier's beaked whales in the Mediterranean? ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Patrick H. Ressler Department of Oceanography Texas A&M University Office: O&M 506D 3146 TAMU Voice: 979-845-2597 College Station, TX 77843-3146 Email: pressler(\)ocean.tamu.edu ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 May 2000 09:29:35 +0100 From: "J.C.Goold" Subject: Re: Are NATO forces going to use LFAS again? Although Patrick Ressler is quite correct in his comments, I have seen Alexandros Frantzis make a more detailed presentation of the facts at the recent ECS conference, with the benefit of NATO data on position and transmission times. It makes a far more convincing case than the original nature paper, and left me in little doubt that the LFA transmissions were responsible for the mass stranding. Best regards John Goold "Patrick H. Ressler" wrote: > > Dear all, > > A. Frantzis wrote: > >- The last part of the exercise will take place in Kyparissiakos Gulf > >(the 1st of June?), where in 1996 the use of LFAS was the only possible > >cause (according to NATO!) of the mass stranding of at least 13 Cuvier's > >beaked whales (Frantzis, 1998 in Nature) > > In response, I quote the last paragraph of the Nature reference: "ALTHOUGH > PURE COINCIDENCE CANNOT BE EXCLUDED [my emphasis], it seems improbable that > the two events [meaning the LFAS testing and the stranding] were > independent." To me that does not say that "the use of LFAS was the only > possible cause" of the mass stranding, as claimed in the recent email by A. > Frantzis to the MARMAM list. Could the anecdotal evidence presented in the > Nature letter support such an "only possible cause" conclusion? There was > an after-the-fact NATO study of the incident, which is apparently no longer > available on the web; however one web page on the LFAS stuff refers to the > study and says it "presented no conclusions" > (http://home1.gte.net/leetpley/new_lfas.html). > > I've been paying close attention to this LFAS/acoustics debate on MARMAM in > recent months. There's plenty of cause for concern. But I think we need to > be more careful when making statements like this. If LFAS is being used in > the current exercise and no stranding takes place, would that allow the > conclusion that it was IMPOSSIBLE for LFAS to strand Cuvier's beaked whales > in the Mediterranean? > > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > Patrick H. Ressler > Department of Oceanography > Texas A&M University Office: O&M 506D > 3146 TAMU Voice: 979-845-2597 > College Station, TX 77843-3146 Email: pressler(\)ocean.tamu.edu > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ -- ----------------- Dr. John C. Goold Development & Academic Manager Institute of Environmental Science University of Wales, Bangor Robinson Building Deiniol Road Bangor Gwynedd. LL57 2UW. UK. Tel: +44 (0)1248 388165 Fax: +44 (0)1248 383646 Email: j.c.goold(\)bangor.ac.uk Web: http://www.bangor.ac.uk/ies/ies.html ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 May 2000 18:11:55 +1000 From: WID News Subject: IWC52 Draft Agenda DRAFT AGENDA 52nd ANNUAL MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION 3-6 July 2000, Adelaide, Australia 1. ADDRESS OF WELCOME 2. OPENING STATEMENTS (Papers IWC/52/OS) 3. ARRANGEMENTS OF AGENDA 4. ADOPTION OF AGENDA 5. SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS AND SMALL-TYPE WHALING (Chairman's Report of the 51st Meeting, Paragraph 5) 5.1 Action arising (Any provisions adopted may require amendment of the Schedule) 6. WHALE WATCHING (Chairman's Report of the 51st Meeting, Paragraph 6) 6.1 Report of the Scientific Committee 6.2 Action arising 7. SANCTUARIES (Chairman's Report of the 51st Meeting, Paragraph 7) 7.1 Southern Ocean Sanctuary 7.1.1 Report of the Scientific Committee 7.2 South Atlantic Sanctuary 7.2.1 Report of the Scientific Committee 7.3 South Pacific Sanctuary 7.3.1 Report of the Scientific Committee 7.4 Action arising 7.4.1 Recommendations from the Scientific Committee 7.4.2 Other (Any provisions adopted may require amendment of the schedule) 8. WHALE KILLING METHODS AND ACCOCIATED WELFARE ISSUES (Chairman's Report of the 51st Meeting, paragraph 9 and Appendicies 1 and 2) 8.1 Report of the Working Group on Whale Killing Methods and Associated Welfare Issues (Paper IWC/52/12) 8.1.1 Information on improving the humaneness of aboriginal subsistance whaling 8.1.2 data on whales killed 8.2 Other Matters 8.3 Action arising (Any provisions adopted may require amendment of the Schedule) 9. INFRACTIONS, 1999 SEASON (Chairman's Report of the 51st Meeting, Paragraph 10) 9.1 Report of Infractions Sub-committee (Paper IWC/52/6) 9.1.1 Infractions reports from Contracting Governments (Paper IWC/52/6) 9.1.2 Reports from Contracting Governments on availability, sources and trade in whale products 9.1.3 Other Matters 9.2 Action arising 9.2.1 Recommendations from the Infractions Sub-committee 9.2.2 Other 10. ABORIGINAL SUBSISTANCE WHALING (Chairman's Report of the 51st Meeting, Paragraph 11) 10.1 Aboriginal subsistance whaling scheme 10.1.1 Report of Aboriginal Subsistance Whaling Sub-committee (Paper IWC/52/13) 10.1.2 Future work 10.1.3 Action arising 10.1.3.1 Recommendations from the Aboriginal Subsistance Whaling Sub-committee 10.1.3.2 Other (Changes to the management procedure or other regulations may require amendment of the Schedule including paragraphs 12, 13 and Table 1) 10.2 Review of aboriginal subsistance whaling catch limits 10.2.1 Report of Aboriginal Subsistance Whaling Sub-committee (Paper IWC/52/13) 10.2.1.1 Bering-Chukchi-Beauford Seas stock of Bowhead whales 10.2.1.2 North Pacific Eastern stock of Gray whales 10.2.1.3 North Atlantic West Greenland stock of Minke whales 10.2.1.4 North Atlantic Humpback whales 10.2.2 Action arising 10.2.2.1 Recommendations from the Aboriginal Subsistance Whaling Sub-committee 10.2.2.2 Other (Changes to the catch limits or other regulations may require amendment of the Schedule including paragraphs 12, 13 and Table 1) 10.3 Catches by non-member nations 10.3.1 Report of Aboriginal Subsistance Whaling Sub-committee (Paper IWC/52/13) 10.3.2 Action arising 10.3.2.1 Recommendations from the Aboriginal Subsistance Whaling Sub-committee 10.3.2.2 Other 11. COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF WHALE STOCKS (Chairman's Report of the 51st Meeting, Paragraph 12) 11.1 Revised Management Procedure 11.1.1 Report of the Scientific Committee (Paper IWC/52/4) 11.1.1.1 CLA program revision and tuning 11.1.1.2 Abundance estimation 11.1.1.3 North Pacific Minke whale trials 11.1.1.4 North Pacific Bryde's whales trials 11.1.2 Action arising 11.1.2.1 Recommendations from the Scientific Committee 11.1.2.2 Other (Changes to the management procedure, classification and catch limits of stocks, areas or sub-areas may require amendment of the Schedule including paragraphs 9. 10. 11, 12 and Tables 1,2 and 3) 11.2 Whale Stocks 11.2.1 Report of the Scientific Committee (Paper IWC/52/4) 11.2.1.1 Southern Hemisphere Minke whales 11.2.1.2 Southern Hemisphere Humpback whales 11.2.1.3 Western North Atlantic Right whales 11.2.1.4 Southern Hemisphere Blue whales 11.2.1.5 Other small stocks 11.2.2 Action arising 11.2.2.1 Recommendations from the Scientific Committee 11.2.2.2 Other 12. REVISED MANAGEMENT SCHEME (Chairman's Report of the 51st Meeting, Paragraph 13) 12.1 Report of the Working Group on the Revised Management Scheme (Paper IWC/52/14) 12.1.1 Inspection and observation schemes 12.1.2 Total catches over time 12.1.3 DNA identification and tracking 12.1.4 Other matters 12.1.5 Schedule amendments 12.2 Action arising 12.2.1 Recommendations from the Working Group 12.2.2 Other (Incorporation of the Revised Management Procedure and the Revised Management Scheme, and changes to the data requirements, survey guidelines and observer schemes may require amendments of the Schedule, including Paragraph 10 and Chapters V and VI) 13. SCIENTIFIC PERMITS (Chairman's Report of the 51st Meeting, Paragraph 14 and Appendices 3 and 4) 13.1 Report of the Scientific Committee (Paper IWC/52/4) 13.1.1 Southern Hemisphere Minke whales 13.1.2 North Pacific Minke whales 13.2 Action arising 13.2.1 Recommendations from the Scientific Committee 13.2.2 Other 14. ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS (Chairman's Report of the 51st Meeting, Paragraphs 15 AND 18, and Appendices 5 and 6) 14.1 Report of the Scientific Committee (Paper IWC/52/4) 14.1.1 Pollution 2000+ programme 14.1.2 SOWER 2000 programmes 14.1.3 Arctic matters 14.2 Reports from Contracting Governments 14.3 Health effects 14.4 Action arising 14.4.1 Recommendations from the Scientific Committee 14.4.2 Other 15. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH (Chairman's Report of the 51st Meeting, Paragraphs 16 and Appendix 6) 15.1 Report of the Scientific Committee (Paper IWC/52/4) 15.2 Action arising 16. CO-OPERATION WITH OTHER ORGANISATIONS (Chairman's Report of the 51st Meeting, Paragraphs 17 and Appendix 7) (Paper IWC/52/4) 16.1 CITES 16.2 CMS 16.2.1 ASCOBANS 16.2.2 ACCOBAMS 16.3 CCAMLR 16.4 FAO 16.5 GLOBEC 16.6 ICES 16.7 IATTC 16.8 ICCAT 16.9 NAMMCO 16.10 Other 16.11 Actions arising 17. ADOPTION OF REPORT OF THE SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE (Chairman's Report of the 51st Meeting, Paragraphs 18 and Appendices 8, 9 and 10) (Paper IWC/52/4) 17.1 Future Work Plan 17.2 Small Cetaceans 17.2.1 Small Cetacean topics for consideration by the Scientific Committee in 2001, 2002 and 2003 17.3 Other 17.4 Actions arising 18. THE FUTURE OF THE IWC (Chairman's Report of the 51st Meeting, Paragraph 20) 19. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND BUDGET ESTIMATES (Chairman's Report of the 51st Meeting, Paragraph 21) 19.1 Report of Budgetary Sub-committee 19.1.1 Review of provisional financial statement, 1999/2000 (Paper IWC/52/8) 19.1.2 Consideration of estimated basic budgets, 2000/2001 and 2001/2002 (Paper IWC/52/8) 19.1.3 Scientific programme (See also Item 15 and Paper IWC/52/4) 19.2 Report of Contributions Sub-committee 19.2.1 Method of assessing member contributions 19.2.2 Assessment of contributions from Contracting Governments 19.3 Action arising 20. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS 20.1 Guidlines for opening statements from observers (Chairman's Report of the 51st Meeting, Paragraph 22.3) 20.2 Communications 20.2.1 General (Chairman's Report of the 51st Meeting, Paragraph 22.4.1) 20.2.2 Between the Scientific Committee and the Commission (Chairman's Report of the 51st Meeting, Paragraph 22.4.2) 20.3 Annual Meeting arrangements (Chairman's Report of the 51st Meeting, Paragraphs 22.5 and 22.7) 20.3.1 Need for Annual Meetings 20.3.2 Press 20.3.3 Verbatim Record 20.3.4 Technical Committee 20.4 Action arising 21. DATE AND PLACE OF ANNUAL MEETINGS (Rules and Procedure, Rule B.1; Chairman's Report of the 51st Meeting, Paragraph 24) 21.1 53rd Annual Meeting, 2001 21.2 54th Annual Meeting, 2002 22. ADOPTION OF REPORT OF FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE (Paper IWC/52/9) 23. ADVISORY COMMITTEE (Chairman's Report of the 51st Meeting, Paragraph 26) 24. ANNUAL REPORT 1999-2000 (Paper IWC/52/11 Draft) 25. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN 26. ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN 27. APPOINTMENT OF NEW SECRETARY TO THE COMMISSION 28. ANY OTHER BUSINESS =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= WID News - http://whales.magna.com.au/NEWS/FLASH.html Member of the World Alternate News Network(WANNet) The News You Just Don't Sea - http://sites.netscape.net/altnewsnet/ Whales in Danger - W.O.T.N. - http://whales.magna.com.au/home.html =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 26 May 0100 07:27:02 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Proposed whale sanctuary in Walker Bay, South Africa (fwd) ------- Forwarded Message Follows ------- Forwarded from the UKCetnet(\)egroups.com list Date: Thu, 25 May 2000 13:15:35 -0000 From: vince.smith(\)tesco.net Subject: PROPOSED WHALE SANCTUARY IN WALKER BAY- SOUTH AFRICA. -------------------------------------------------- Cape Town, May 19, 2000 News released via WILDAFRICA.NET on behalf of Ministry of=20 Environmental Affairs and Tourism For Immediate Release CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON PROPOSED WHALE=20 SANCTUARY IN WALKER BAY, HERMANUS The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Mohammed=20 Valli Moosa today announced that a whale sanctuary is to be=20 established in Walker Bay, Hermanus, in the Western Cape=20 during the whale breeding season. Speaking during his Budget Vote in the National Assembly today=20 Minister Moosa said: "Walker Bay in the Southern Cape is a=20 highly significant breeding area for whales, which come in from=20 the southern seas.=20 "It is one of the few sites in the world that provide the opportunity to=20 engage shore-based whale watching. In the recent years, owners of=20 recreational boats and other crafts have tended to ignore=20 regulations aimed at protecting the whales. It is therefore my=20 intention to prohibit boats and other vessels from entering the bay=20 during the whaling season from July to December.' =20 Today's Government Gazette announced that the Minister's=20 intention under Section 43 of the Marine Living Resources Act=20 (Act No 18 of 1998) to declare an area of Walker Bay a Marine=20 Protected Area to serve as a whale sanctuary. The proposed=20 declaration will apply from 1 July to 15 December each year. The=20 co-ordinates and map of the proposed area are available from=20 Jeremy Davids at Marine and Coastal Management head office=20 (021) 402 3164. In addition to the provisions of Section 43 of the Act, regulation=20 58 of the regulation published under Government Notice No R=20 111 of 2 September 1998 (Gazette No 19205), which pertains to=20 the protection of whales, will also be applied.=20 Furthermore, no person shall operate any fishing boat, vessel,=20 jetski, kayak or craft of any kind within the Marine Protected Area=20 without written permission, with the exception of any legally=20 permitted boat-based whale watching vessels, which may=20 operate subject to the relevant permit conditions and the closed=20 areas for boat-based whale watching, as published in=20 Government Notice No 417 of 18 February 2000 (Gazette No=20 20877). Comments on the above proposal are invited in writing from all=20 interested and affected parties to reach the Chief Director:=20 Marine and Coastal Management, Private Bag X2, Roggebaai,=20 8012; Fax: (021) 425 2920 within 30 days of this notice. Note to journalists: If you use this information in a written or radio=20 article, please credit WILDAFRICA.NET. We know you cannot=20 always include the organisation's contact details, but this way=20 people can at least find them if they want to - all their details are on=20 the site. =20 For further information please contact... Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Cape Town Tel: + 27-21-465-7240 or 27-21-3110-3611 Fax: + 27-21-465-3216 or 27-21-322-0082 tabane(\)iafrica.com www.environment.gov.za=20 =A0 A service from WildNet Africa - Promoting Conservation Through=20 Communication =09 ________________________________________________________ Date: Sat, 27 May 2000 15:06:25 +0200 From: "A. Frantzis" Subject: Re: Are NATO forces going to use LFAS again? Dear fellows, The purpose of my message regarding NATO LFAS was not to re-open the discussion on the Ziphius mass stranding in 1996. I think that we all have our own thoughts or opinions about that incident, especially those who had access to the entire set of data, which have been declassified only after the the publication of the Nature paper. What I intended to do was to inform the cetological community about the fact that LFAS probably continue to be deployed, even in areas with a particular interest for cetaceans; areas that have been characterised even by NATO and/or the Greek Navy as the ones to be excluded from future LFAS tests or deployment! To my knowledge, there is no scientist who claims that sound levels and frequencies used by LFAS (or any similar military technology) are completely harmless for cetaceans, and this is why most of us agree now with the statement of Patrick Ressler who wrote: "there's plenty of cause for concern", especially after the Bahamas stranding which will hopefully, shed more light on the issue. >Could the anecdotal evidence presented in the Nature letter support such an >"only possible cause" conclusion? I aggree with Patrick Ressler that we should be carefull and perhaps my sentence should be better rephrased as "Among all known possible causes, the sounds produced by LFAS were practically the only cause that NATO could not reject". However, I don't think that this will affect a lot the facts or the conclusions. I would like to add that the mass stranding in Kyparissiakos was not an anecdotal one. Three similar beaked whale mass strandings occurred in the Canary Islands during military manoeuvres (Vonk & Martin 1989 in European Research on Cetaceans; Simmonds & Lopez-Jurado 1991 in Nature) and recently, we have all been informed about the Bahamas mass stranding. The "Kyparissiakos case" is just the only one up to now, for which we had enough data to strongly correlate the stranding event with the use of LFAS. Possibly, the same will happen with the Bahamas case. I think that NATO and the US Navy do not always make public announcements before every deployment of LFAS or related technologies, so it rarely comes to our knowledge, therefore the possible effects are rarely recorded. Usually, NATO and US Navy avoid declassifying all relevant data even after a mass stranding event. Finally, it is important to mention that simple coincidences in time and location like the one recorded in Kyparissiakos Gulf are statistically very very very improbable (in Nature a probability < 0.07% was given). Of course, in scientific language we have to say "a pure coincidence cannot be excluded" since the probability is not equal to absolute zero, but in our every day's scientific life we also use confidence limits in order to reject (or not) the null hypothesis... Just because some people say (or have written) that a paper in Nature is just a letter to the editor, I would like to inform those who are not aware, that Nature's section "Scientific Correspondence" is peer-reviewed as well as most other sections of the journal. Usually, no more than 10% of submitted papers are accepted. The paper "Does acoustic testing strand whales?" was reviewed and changes were made according to the comments made by the referees and the editor. Important scientific questions were submitted and I had to answer accordingly before final acceptance. For those who didn't have the NATO conference report (to which I made a reference in my previous message), I will just copy some parts of the document below, so that anyone can draw his/her own conclusions. I would like to remind you that the following was not published in Nature, it was written by NATO(!) after the relevant meeting of experts who represented their countries. Please consider that the "probability of pure coincidence" argument was not taken into account in this meeting. NATO SACLANTCEN BIOACOUSTIC PANEL Findings and Recommendations "Likelihood of acute hearing damage: Possible at very close range but no definitive conclusions can be drawn because ear samples were not taken during the necropsies. Non-auditory effects: Ziphius inner ear anatomy suggests that there may be a unique vestibular sensitivity to lower frequencies compared to other odontocetes that could engender disorientation or discomfort if exposed to intense lower sound frequencies. Purely behavioural responses to sound, such as precipitous flight, cannot be dismissed. Toxins and chemical pollutants are unlikely causes of strandings of this nature, but cannot be dismissed due to lack of tissue analysis. Stomach contents analyses were negative. Tests for morbilivirus and herpes antibodies were negative... Parasite loads were consistent with normal wild cetacean populations.... Based on the evidence presented, the generally robust condition of the stranded animals is not consistent with common pathogenic causes for strandings with the possible exception of biotoxins. There is no evidence that unusual geochemical events contributed to the strandings. Tectonic activity was recorded during the time of the stranding but no link was established. (My note: earthquakes occur very very often in Kyparissiakos Gulf as well as in almost all Greece) There were no significant magnetic anomalies found in the area. Unusual meteorological events were not considered to be a contributory factor to the strandings. Measured seawater temperatures were consistent with normal seasonal variations." ...and the CONCLUSION: "An acoustic link can neither be clearly established nore eliminated as a direct or indirect cause for the May 1996 strandings." Finally, in the Panel recommendations you can read: "With regard to high intensity acoustic sources, there was a strong recommendation from the panel that appropriate environmental assessment procedures be implemented as soon as possible with a view to recommending suitable mitigation and monitoring protocols." I feel that I shouldn't add anything more. Leading specialists in bioacoustics have already presented to this list their scientific arguments regarding the LFAS case, extensively. Best wishes to all. Alexandros -- ________________________________________________________ Dr. Alexandros Frantzis Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute Terpsichoris 21 16671 Vouliagmeni GREECE tel & fax: +301-8962730 e-mail: afrantzis(\)otenet.gr web site: www.pelagosinstitute.gr ________________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 28 May 2000 18:50:16 -0700 From: "Amanda L. Bradford" Subject: SMM Student Survey From: Amanda Bradford Kristin Kaschner Greetings students in the Society of Marine Mammalogy! We know that all of you have been focused on the happenings of your local SMM student chapters, but the time has come for us to begin organizing our next meeting as the SMM student body. Yep, we are already thinking about the 2001 Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals to be held 28 November - 3 December 2001, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada! In order for us (the Northwest SMM Student Chapter; Brenda Jensen, our current SMM Student Member-at-Large; and our newly-elected SMM Student Member-at-Large) to initiate plans for a student workshop at the Vancouver Conference, we need to work out the details of the timing, duration, and nature of the meeting. To accomplish this task, we need YOUR input! If you have participated in the last couple of conferences, you know that student participation has grown immensely. While this increase in student involvement is extremely positive, organizers of the student workshop are faced with accommodating the needs of a highly diversified student body. To keep us better informed of these needs as we plan the 2001 student workshop, please take a few minutes to fill out the following brief survey. When replying, it would be most helpful if you would just copy the questions and add your answers to a new email message. Feel free to insert specific comments after each question. Email your replies to either Amanda Bradford at or Kristin Kaschner at , but not to MARMAM! Please respond by 15 June 2000, so that we begin necessary preparations. Thanks for your time! 1) Are you currently an undergraduate or graduate student? UNDERGRAD GRAD 1) Will you be attending the 2001 SMM Biennial Conference in Vancouver? YES NO 2) Did you attend the 1999 SMM Biennial Conference in Maui? YES NO 3) Did you participate in the student workshop in Maui? YES NO 4) Did you find the meeting well suited to your particular needs as a student? YES NO 5) If we organized a student workshop similar (in timing, duration, and content) to the one in Maui, would you attend? YES NO 6) Would you be interested in having the student workshop divided, in order to focus more specifically on the different stages of SMM students? (For example, a workshop providing more introductory information about the field of marine mammalogy, including internship possibilities, graduate school considerations, and career opportunities, might better accommodate our undergraduate members; whereas, a workshop offering more specific information regarding career advancement, for instance grant writing, publication preparation, and idea exchange, may assist our graduate members.) YES NO 7) The following are possible agenda items for the next student workshop. Place an "X" next to those topics you would consider VERY IMPORTANT to address at the Vancouver student workshop. Keep in mind that not everything can be covered, so BE SELECTIVE and try to limit your selection to five topics. __ Types of careers in marine mammalogy (including "non-traditional" examples). __ Marine mammal job/internship/funding opportunities in North America. __ Marine mammal job/internship/funding opportunities outside of North America (a specific request after Maui). __ Balancing a family and a career in marine mammalogy (another specific request after Maui). __ Publishing tips. __ Grant writing tips and funding sources. __ Getting into graduate school. __ "Surviving" graduate school (i.e. maintaining the momentum necessary to succeed as a marine mammal scientist). __ Applying to graduate school in another country. __ Considerations when choosing a thesis/dissertation project __ Choosing statistical analyses for data. __ Student opportunities within the SMM (e.g. student chapters, travel grants). __ Small group discussions led by experts in each category of marine mammal research (e.g. acoustics, behavior, genetics, population dynamics). Please list area(s) of research which interest you: __ OTHER: 8) If two student workshops were offered, would you object to them being held concurrently (i.e. you would only be able to participate in one workshop)? YES NO 9) Would you prefer the Vancouver student workshop(s) to be longer, shorter, or the same length (approximately three hours) as the Maui student workshop? LONGER SHORTER SAME LENGTH 10) Would you be more likely to attend the Vancouver student workshop(s) prior to the conference (i.e. a pre-conference workshop) or during the conference (i.e. in the evening)? PRIOR DURING 11) If the student workshop(s) were held during the conference, would you be more likely to attend if it were earlier (like Maui) or later in the week of the conference period? EARLIER LATER 12) If the Vancouver conference budget does not permit free food and beverages at the student workshop (like Maui), would you rather keep the workshop free of charge (with only tea/coffee/soda available) or pay a small fee (less than $5-7 U.S.) so that food would be available? KEEP FREE PAY SMALL FEE FOR FOOD ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 14:06:59 +0000 Reply-To: lbejder(\)is2.dal.ca From: Lars Bejder Subject: Replies on night vision equipment Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 ------ Dear MARMAM readers, I recently posted a request on MARMAM asking for information on=20 night vision equipment to be used for observations on =20 cetaceans. I am forwarding some of the replies to the list. I=20 hope it is of some use to the readers. Cheers Lars Bejder Biology Department Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1 CANADA Email: lbejder(\)is2.dal.ca REPLY #1: Webpages with information on night vision equipment: http://www.ittnv.com/ http://www.stano.night-vision.com/ http://www.nightquest.com/ http://208.147.33.2/idscorp/ http://members.aol.com/nightvis/index.html http://www.nvoptics.com/page1.htm http://www.dedal.cz/ http://www.nvoptics.com/ http://www.nightline-inc.com/nightline/index.html http://www.webtek.com/nightvision/ REPLY #2: There are two different devices that allow the nocturnal vision:the IR (infra-red) device and the light amplifier. The=20 IR visor perceives some differences in temperature ,but they are=20 disturbed by external lights or thermal sources.Some of these=20 devices are not disposable commercially because they are used by=20 military forces (e.g. to detect incoming missiles) but there are=20 a lot of companies that product these devices,like FLIR and=20 AGEMA. The FLIR (www.flir.com) address is:(For North and South=20 America) FLIR Systems, Inc. 16505 SW 72 av. Portland, OR 97224=20 USA Tel. (503) 684-3731 And the AGEMA (www.agema.com) address:(USA) AGEMA Infrared Systems Inc. 550 County Av. Secaucus New Jersey 07094 Tel +1 201 867 5390 Fax +1 201 867 2191 Altogether,the IR works well than light amplifier for the sea observations.The IR device costs from 12.000 to 25.000 US$ approx. The light amplifier uses the stars/moon light and amplifies it using the phosphorus technology;it works well if the climate conditions are good:if there is a cloudy night the light amplifier doesn't work very well. The light amplifier has a lower price than the IR.=20 REPLY #3: I've been using night vision goggles for that last year watching harbor seal foraging at the mouth of a river at night in Santa Cruz, California. We were using the latest head-mounted goggle that allows for hands free operation and accepts a 3x magnifier. One of the limitations we've encounter is the distance and area that can be observed. The goggle and most night scopes I've seen are ~1.1x magnification. Some scopes accept a magnifying lens (3x or 5x), and some monoculars can accept camera lens, such as a 70-300mm zoom. Magnifier work well to identify animals and fish species being consumed within approx. 100m, and depending on light conditions a fast camera lens is possible. Much beyond 100m it is difficult to distinguish objects and behaviors. The type of equipment you need depends on the specifics or what you'll be observing (size of animals or objects, distance, and activity), and the platform you'll be using for observations. Thermal imaging equipment has also been used for observing cetaceans, and may be appropriate for your work depending on the specifics. In general, I can recommend ITTs home page to browse through various scopes, and there are a variety of retailers with varying prices depending on your needs. REPLY #4: My recollections were that the Raytheon Pal IR, the EMX 3000 IR and the MPN40K Gen 2 Binocular (pg 2-5) were the most suitable and best performing units. They (the others) really liked the inframetrics but this unit was big bulky and expensive and really is intended for lab use only. The other three (as best I can recall) all were suitable for field use. The decision you need to make is whether or not to go w/IR. Both the Raytheon Palm IR and the EMX 3000 IR had B&W displays. These were at times difficult to see animals with but after a while the user becomes pretty good at distiguishing animate from inanimate objects. If you are doing observations at relatively close ranges (< 100m) then all three of the above are good choices - mostly a matter of cost and personal prefs. I thought the light-amplifying equipment worked great. If you are working under full moon or in areas with high ambientlight (e.g. a city nearby) I would go with these. You could also set up a flood/search light on your boat although you'd have to worry about any effects on the animals you are studying (although the noise from your boat would probably be a much bigger/obtrusive stimulus than any light source). The Raytheon Palm IR had very good resolution, was light easy to use (much like a camcorder) and (I think) can be hooked up to an external monitor. I think this unit was pretty expensive though. I don't remember too much about the EMX other than this had a gun grip (like a police radar-gun) and a small LCD screen on the back. I thought the MPN Gen 2 binoculars were great bcs they were relatively easy to use (no eye fatigue) and had good light enhancing quality. I recall that the optics were lacking though. There are numerous light-enhancing choices available so you should really look around. Anyplace that sells military surplus equipment would know about these. Many of the newer technologies are not available to the general public (at least in the US) so you might have to get access via law-enforcement or the military. REPLY #5: I have experience of 3rd generation ITT night vision binoculars called mariner 260 available in the UK at a cost of =A32000 ($3,200). And a 2nd generation monocular. This type of equipment in my experience has limitations associated with height of eye and contrast. The problem is a dark animal against a dark sea proves a difficult target to spot unless you are within about 100m and on a vessel with a low freeboard. Many people who are keen on the use of this equipment have been close to the animals and have been on yachts or small boats and this seems to be where they are of use. Lars Bejder Biology Department Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1 CANADA Phone: ++ (902) 494 3723 Fax: ++ (902) 494 3736 Email: lbejder(\)is2.dal.ca http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/index.htm ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 30 May 0100 09:15:01 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly marine mammal summary to U.S. Congress (fwd) Forwarded message: The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS Endocrine Disruption. On June 22-25, 2000, the Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) , the Univ. of CT, and the Jackson Laboratory will hold an Atlantic Coast Contaminants Workshop on "Endocrine Disruptors in the Marine Environment: Impacts on Marine Wildlife and Human Health" in Bar Harbor, ME. [MERI press release] {{Keiko. On May 25, 2000, Keiko was released for his first open-ocean excursion, wherein he following a boat for 2 hours and 4 miles off Iceland's Westman Islands before returning to the enclosed Klettsvik Bay where he has been kept since September 1998. While Keiko was at sea, workmen dynamited rock to build a new pier in the Vestmannaeyar harbor.}} [Reuters] {Sea Otters and the Exxon Valdez Spill. The May 23, 2000 issue of theProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences contained an article [ http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/120163397 ] studying chronic effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill of March 1989 on sea otter populations in Prince William Sound, AK. The study concluded that sea otters continued to be adversely affected by the spill almost a decade later, although these effects have gradually dissipated.} [BBC News] {Whale Sanctuary. On May 19, 2000, South Africa's Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism proposed the creation of a sanctuary for southern right whales in Walker Bay, one of the few sites offering an opportunity for shore-based whale watching. A proposed new law would prohibit anyone from operating a fishing boat, vessel, jetski, or kayak within the marine protected area without a permit annually from July 1 through December 15. Comments on the proposal are being accepted through June 19, 2000.} [Panafrican News Agency, Environment News Service] Dolphin-Safe Tuna. On May 19, 2000, Secretary of Commerce Daly announced that the United States plans to appeal a lower court ruling of Apr. 11, 2000, that prevents the government from authorizing the use of a new definition for "dolphin-safe" tuna sold in the United States. The appeal will be decided by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (San Francisco). [NOAA press release] {Low Frequency Sound. On May 12, 2000, the Ocean Studies Board of the National Research Council released its report "Marine Mammals and Low- Frequency Sound: Progress Since 1994."} [National Research Council] Bahamas Whale/Dolphin Standings. On May 10, 2000, a coalition of environmental and animal welfare organizations was scheduled to hold a press conference in Washington, DC, where they claimed they would present evidence directly linking the March 2000 mass standing of whales and dolphins in the Bahamas to U.S. Navy use of active sonar devices in the area. The Navy responded, calling the allegations unsupported. [Assoc Press, Washington Post, personal communication, U.S. Navy press release, Animal Welfare Institute press release, MSNBC] Makah Whaling. On May 5, 2000, a preliminary hearing was held on the Apr. 20 alleged violation, and the injured watercraft operator pleaded innocent. On May 6-7, 2000, the Paul Parker family hunted gray whales for the 4th time in a month, without success. The family's current 10-day permit to hunt whales expires May 16, 2000. On June 12, 2000, the injured watercraft operator is scheduled to appear in federal court on charges she violated the whaling exclusionary zone. [Assoc Press, personal communication, Reuters, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, APB Multimedia] Florida Manatees. In early May 2000, officials of the FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported that a total of 124 dead manatees had been reported from January through April 2000 - a pace of slightly more than one manatee death per day. [Assoc Press, Save the Manatee Club press release] Japanese Whaling. On May 3, 2000, Japan announced that, in April 2000, it forwarded a proposal to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to expand its scientific whaling program by killing 50 Bryde's whales and 10 sperm whales annually in the North Pacific during 2000-2001 to investigate these species' diets. This proposal will be discussed at the IWC's annual meeting in Adelaide, Australia on July 3-6, 2000. On May 4, 2000, Australian officials announced that they would protest the new Japanese plans. [London Observer, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (Japan) press release, Environment News Service, BBC News, The Guardian, Reuters] Canadian Sealing. On May 3, 2000, animal protection groups were reported to have scheduled about 20 demonstrations at various locations in Europe, Canada, and the United States to protest the Canadian seal harvest. {On May 24, 2000, Canada's federal advisory group, the Fisheries Resource Conservation Council, issued a report supporting fishermen by calling for measures to be taken to protect cod stocks from seals. The Council recommended establishing "seal exclusion zones" suggesting that seal culls might be targeted to areas where cod congregate to overwinter.} [Canadian Press, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release] Japanese Whalemeat Sale. On May 2, 2000, the Tomiyamamachi Fishermen's Cooperative in Chiba Prefecture was verbally reprimanded by the Japan Fisheries Agency (JFA) for selling meat from a humpback whale that died after being trapped in nets in Tokyo Bay on Feb. 1, 2000. JFA guidelines of June 1990 provide that meat from dead whales may be consumed by local residents or buried, but cannot be sold. Officials of the cooperative stated that they were forced to sell the whalemeat to cover the costs of towing the whale ashore and burying its remains. [Yomiuri Shimbun] CA Sea Lion Shootings. On May 2, 2000, the 21st potential shooting of a CA sea lion in 2000 was reported at Bolsa Chica State Beach, CA. In 1999, a total of 77 CA sea lions were reported to have been killed by gunfire. [Orange County Register] Cook Inlet Beluga Whales. On May 1, 2000, Anchorage, AK, Superior Court Judge Sigurd Murphy denied a request by the AK Dept. of Natural Resources to lift a year-old court order that excluded 70 tracts from an August 2000 oil and gas lease sale in Cook Inlet to protect beluga whale habitat. In addition, Judge Murphy added an additional 56 tracts to the exclusion area on NMFS advice that these areas were beluga whale gathering places. On May 8, 2000, a coalition of 6 environmental groups and a Native whaler filed suit in U.S. District Court (District of Columbia) against NMFS, alleging NMFS has violated the Endangered Species Act by not moving quickly enough to protect Cook Inlet beluga whales. In addition, NMFS did not meet a Mar. 3, 2000 deadline on deciding whether to list this population as "depleted" under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. On May 16, 2000, the AK Dept. of Natural Resources announced that it wouldn't lease 126 tracts in Cook Inlet identified as important beluga whale habitat. [Anchorage Daily News, Center for Marine Conservation press release] Faroe Islands Whaling. On May 1, 2000, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society announced plans for a direct action campaign in June/July 2000 [ http://www.seashepherd.org/campaigns/grindstop2000/grindstop2000.html ] focused on stopping pilot whale kills in the Faroe Islands. [Environment News Service] Contaminated AK Marine Mammals? On May 1, 2000, AK Natives reported to the International Conference on Arctic Development, Pollution, and Biomarkers of Human Health, meeting in Anchorage, AK, that they are beginning to avoid consuming traditional marine mammals due to fear these animals are contaminated with pesticides, heavy metals, and other toxins. Increasing notice of tumors, lesions, spots, and sores in wild game has been documented by the Alaska Native Science Commission in a Traditional Knowledge and Contaminant Project over the past 4 years. [Anchorage Daily News] Right Whale Protection. On May 1, 2000, Richard Max Strahan filed suit in U.S. District Court (Portland, ME) against NMFS, the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, and the ME Dept. of Marine Resources, alleging violation of the Endangered Species Act by licensing fishing gear that can harm northern right whales and sea turtles. The lawsuit asks the court to stop the use of commercial fishing gear that is not whale-safe, and seeks to fine federal and state officials if whales are entangled in fishing gear. On May 9, 2000, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) announced the beginning of a $150,000 project to benefit north Atlantic right whales, consisting of deployment of 6 passive acoustic buoys east of Nantucket in the Great South Channel. The passive acoustic monitoring devices will record right whale sounds and ship noise for 40 days while scientists visually record whale distribution near the buoys. [Assoc Press, IFAW press release] Norwegian Whaling. On Apr. 27, 2000, the Norwegian Fishermen's Sales Association announced minimum prices to be paid for blubber and whalemeat for the 2000 whaling season. Blubber was set a 0.10 crown per kilogram, down significantly from 1999's minimum price of 3.0 crowns per kilogram. The minimum price of whalemeat is 27.5 crowns per kilogram, slightly higher than the 25.5 crowns per kilogram in 1999. As many as 35 Norwegian vessels are to begin hunting minke whales in early May 2000, with a quota of 655 animals. To deal with mounting stocks of blubber in Norway, aging blubber is being transformed into heating oil under a state-sponsored program. [Reuters] Captive Orcas. On Apr. 27, 2000, the Vancouver Public Aquarium announced that it would phase-out it's killer whale display, sending its last whale to Sea World in the United States. [Canadian Press] Items in this Summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 02:10:54 GMT From: will rayment Subject: Re: Cetacean reaction to aquaculture sites Dear subscribers I am seeking information on behavioural reactions or displacement of cetaceans, specifically dolphins, in reaction to the construction of fixed structures, specifically aquaculture sites, in their habitat. The information is required for a report on the potential effects of mussel farms on Hector's dolphins in New Zealand. I have conducted a literature search with all the facilities available to me and have found several informative reviews concerning cetacean reaction to human disturbance (eg Richardson and Wursig, 1997; Richardson et al, 1995) but nothing specifically concerning aquaculture sites. Please reply to Will Rayment, email: billyray31(\)hotmail.com Many thanks. References cited: Richardson, WJ and Wursig, B. 1997. Influences of man-made noise and other human actions on cetacean behaviour. Mar. Fresh. Behav. Physiol. 29 : 183-209. Richardson, WJ, Greene, CR, Malme, CI, and Thonson, DH. 1995. Marine Mammals and Noise. Academic Press Inc. San Diego, CA. ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 12:38:53 +0100 From: Vincent Smith Subject: U.S. Navy Cancels Tests Believed to Harm Marine Mammals. U.S. Navy Cancels Tests Believed to Harm Marine Mammals. WASHINGTON, DC, May 29, 2000 (ENS) - U.S. Navy submarine detection tests using loud noises believed to harm marine mammals have been cancelled for the first time. In a statement Friday, the United States Navy officially cancelled the Littoral Warfare Advanced Development (LWAD 00-2) Sea Test scheduled to begin this week off the east coast of the United States. The Navy said its LWAD 00-2 test 45 miles off the New Jersey coast will go ahead but will "not include active acoustic sources." Density surveys of marine mammals will be conducted using only commercial locators and passive technology. There will be no use of low frequency active sonar. Environmentalists applauded the decision as the first time the Navy has backed away from high intensity acoustic testing. The submarine detection test uses high intensity - 200 decibel - broadcasts which are twice as loud as the sound of a jackhammer. Marine mammals use their highly sensitive hearing and echo-location senses for navigation and finding food. Many scientists and environmentalists believe that the LWAD tests disrupt these navigation and feeding patters, cause whales and dolphins intense pain and may make them beach themselves to avoid the sounds. A lawsuit filed in Hawai'i in February challenges the environmental impact statement (EIS) process being conducted by the Navy for its low frequency active sonar system. Environmental groups, the Hawaii County Green Party, and a member of the Hawaii County Council are plaintiffs in the case. Attorney for the plaintiffs, Lanny Sinkin, alleges that the entire Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process is compromised because the Navy spent at least $350 million preparing to deploy this system without preparing an EIS first, as required by law. A hearing set for June 13 will consider the defendants' motion to dismiss the case and a motion filed by plaintiffs' counsel seeking to reopen a 1998 LFAS case for further litigation. During the week of March 13 to 17, seventeen whales from four species beached themselves in Bahamas at the same time Navy conducted Littoral Warfare Advanced Development Sea Tests LWAD 00-1. Shortly after these tests began, whales began to beach. Over the Navy's test period, at least 14 whales beached themselves on the islands of Abaco, Grand Bahama, and Eleuthra. At least five whales died. Two whales had bleeding eyes which, according to Kathy Wang of the National Marine Fisheries Service, suggested acute shock trauma. After fewer than 30 days of analysis, the Navy concluded that testing in the Bahamas did not cause the strandings and deaths of whales. The Navy claimed the whale beachings were coincidental to its testing. On March 21, Washington, DC based environmental groups the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Humane Society of the United States sent a letter to Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig demanding a suspension of these tests. On May 5, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) informed the Navy the agency was "not able to concur with your determination that the proposed action is not likely to adversely affect listed species under the National Marine Fisheries Services jurisdiction." The agency was given 30 days to approve the Overseas Environmental Assessment for the Navy tests off the New Jersey shore. The letter by Patricia Kurkul, the NMFS regional administrator, Northeast Region, stated that additional time would be needed to complete the review. Given the short time frame available, the NMFS letter requested that the Navy postpone the operation. Sinkin, who will present the case against the Navy's testing June 13 before a Hawaiian court says the Overseas Environmental Assessment is "seriously deficient" because there is no discussion of the Bahamas, and there is no discussion of the history of cetacean strandings and deaths now associated with low frequency active sonar in the Mediterranean Sea in 1996. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Join the Cornish Wildlife Mailing List: send a blank e-mail to CornishWildlife-subscribe(\)egoups.com or from the following webpage: http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/cornwall ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 12:46:49 +0100 Reply-To: graeme.cresswell.pt(\)norfolk.gov.uk From: graeme cresswell Subject: photo request - id guide to whales, dolphins and porpoises in the Bay of Biscay Dear all Apologies for cross posting. We are currently working on a photographic identification guide to the whales, dolphins and porpoises in the Bay of Biscay and adjacent waters. The proposal is to illustrate 26 species of cetacean with 3 or 4 good surface photographs of each. We have most of the species required, but are trying to obtain pictures (above surface) of the following species. Sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis), Gervais beaked whale (Mesoplodon europaeus), True's beaked whale (Mesoplodon mirus), pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) and dwarf sperm whale (Kogia simus). The publisher will pay 20 pounds ( UK sterling) for each photograph which is published, along with a complimentary copy of the book. Could any photographs please be sent to the following address: Bay of Biscay Cetacean Group 35 Melrose Road Norwich Norfolk NR4 7PN U.K. The publication is approaching completion therefore we would appreciate any submissions as soon as possible. Many thanks Graeme Cresswell & Dylan Walker ================================================= Graeme Cresswell, Environment Division, Norfolk County Council, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 2SG, U.K. Tel + 44 1603 222765 / Fax + 44 1603 232129 EMAIL: graeme.cresswell.pt(\)norfolk.gov.uk ================================================= ------- End of forwarded message ------- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 03:07:39 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: In-cave behaviour of the Med. monk seal is under observation. (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: SADIZMIR The Underwater Research Society / Mediterranean Seal Research Group (SAD-AFAG) is executing a project to observe the in-cave behavior of the Mediterranean monk seal within resting caves, but without disturbing the animals. A group of three infra-red sensitive cameras, two infrared light sources, and a microphone, powered by solar panels and batteries were placed in a cave known to be used by the seals on the southern coasts of Turkey, within the Cilician Basin project area of SAD-AFAG. A television monitor, receiver, and recording equipment were placed in an observation station 2 km away from the cave. Audio and video signals captured within the cave are transmitted by a broadcasting link system. The recording equipment used in the observation base is capable of recording up to 36 hours of continuous footage in VHS format video tapes when unmanned, and can be used to selectively record footage when manned. By this project it should be possible to observe in-cave behaviour of the seals in a completely natural environment. The team has high hopes for the project and these hopes may be justified as the first footage of a seal was recorded on the same day that the set-up of the equipment was just completed. The system has been operating for almost two weeks by now and more than 100 hours of seals activity have already been recorded. This phase of the project will run for approximately 3 months before the in-cave equipment will be moved to a second cave that the seals use for birthing and rearing of young. Here the project members hope to be able to record the birthing of a pup and the mother-pup relationship within the cave. Expenses for this project were provided by WWF Belgium and the batteries used in the cave unit were donated by Turkish battery producer MUTLU. Yalcin Savas (sadizmir(\)ttnet.net.tr) & Dr. Ali C. Gucu (gucu(\)ims.metu.edu.tr) Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 09:01:34 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: North Atlantic Gray whale (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: "Kinze, Carl Christian (MSX)" To: "'ecs-all(\)mailbase.ac.uk'" NEW PAPER ON THE NORTH ATLANTIC GRAY WHALE Please note the recently published account on the North Atlantic gray whale providing substantial new information on the historical occurrence of the species: Lindquist, Ole: "The North Atlantic gray whale (Escherichtius robustus): An historical outline based on Icelandic, Danish-Icelandic, English and Swedish sources dating from ca 1000 AD to 1792". Occasional papers 1. Centre for Environmental History and Policy, Universities of St. Andrews and Sterling, Scotland, March 2000, ISSN 14790-0263 (53pp A4) HOW TO ORDER The paper can be obtained for a payment of GBP 5 (five) per copy (postage included) if paid by cheque or bank draft made payable to the University of St Andrews, from: Mrs Margaret Richards Institute for Environmental History St John's House, South Street, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9QW Scotland. For further information, please, contact Mrs Margaret Richards mer(\)st-andrews.ac.uk . ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 09:13:27 -0700 From: Ann Close Subject: Introductory Marine Mammal Course on Catalina Island SPACE STILL AVAILABLE! Introductory Marine Mammals Course July 2-8, 2000 USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies Santa Catalina Island Instructor: Dennis Kelly, Professor of Marine Science Coastal Dolphin Survey Project Director and Founder Marine Science Department Orange Coast College Course Cost: $500 (includes all room and board and transportation to and from Catalina from San Pedro, CA). Scholarships are available. The course is open to twenty students. Students will participate in lectures on marine mammal biology,laboratory activities which include examination and reconstruction of the skeletons of a dolphin and a sea lion, studies of comparative marine mammal internal anatomy, and will carry out an internet personal research assignment. Additionally, students will take part in field trips, including a circumnavigation of Santa Catalina Island on a USC vessel to find dolphins, sea lions, and whales (see photos at http://www.occ.cccd.edu/depts/dolphin/CDSP.html of previous class). Everyone will stay at the apartments at the marine lab and dine in the cafeteria (vegetarians are welcome). The class will also visit the Hyperbaric Chamber at the lab and learn about diving physiology, mixed gasses, and hyperbaric research. Students will have the opportunity to go snorkling in the beautiful clear water off the marine lab and borrow kayaks for a paddleout into the large cove nearby. There will also be opportunities for hiking and viewing other animals that live on Santa Catalina Island. Registration for the class is on a first come, first served basis. If you wish to learn more about the class and USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies please visit their web site at: http://wrigley.usc.edu or contact: Ann Close Program Manager USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies University of Southern California AHF 232 Los Angeles, CA 90089-0371 Phone: (213) 740-6705 Fax: (213) 740 - 6720 email: close(\)wrigley.usc.edu -- ---------------------------------------------------------- Ann Close Program Manager USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies University of Southern California AHF 232 Los Angeles, CA 90089-0371 Phone: (213) 740-6705 Fax: (213) 740-6720 email: close(\)wrigley.usc.edu http://wrigley.usc.edu/ ---------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 31 May 0100 15:05:19 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: In memory of Ellie Dorsey (fwd) Forwarded message: BOSTON GLOBE Eleanor Dorsey marine biologist and conservation advocate; at 51 By Globe Staff, 5/28/2000 Eleanor M. Dorsey, a marine biologist and conservation advocate, died of brain cancer May 17 at the Montgomery General Hospital in Oleny, Md. She was 51. She was born in Beverly and attended the Pingree School in South Hamilton. She graduated from Cornell University in 1971, where she studied psychology and linguistics. She spent a year studying at the Sorbonne and the Ecole Pratique des Hautes in Paris and obtained her master's degree in marine zoology at the University of Washington in 1976. >From 1977 to 1988, she conducted research at the Long Term Research Institute in Lincoln on the biology and behavior of baleen whales, and wrote or coauthored 13 scientific papers on that topic. >From 1988 to 1998 she worked for the Conservation Law Foundation in Boston, where she advocated for the protection and restoration of marine resources, with an emphasis on improving management of New England's depleted groundfish stocks. At the time of her death she was working as an independent marine biologist and conservation advocate based in Maryland. She was a member of the board of directors of the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Association from 1987 to 1994. She wrote an award-winning book, ''A Guide to Marine Mammals of Greater Puget Sound.'' She was recently the lead editor of the book ''Effects of Fishing Gear on the Sea Floor of New England,'' and had been nominated for the Pew Fellowship this year. She leaves her husband, Bruce J. Steadman; a son, Connor Steadman; and a daughter, Eleanor R. Steadman, all of Sandy Springs, Md.; her parents, William R. and Eleanor P. of Wenham; two brothers, Brad of Hopkinton, N.H., and Peter of Wenham; two sisters, Sarah of Greensboro, N.C., and Rebecca of Eugene, Ore. A memorial service will be held June 11 at 2 p.m. in Ascension Memorial Church in Ipswich. ------------------------------------------------------- For those of you who may wish to send condolences to Ellie's parents in Massachusetts, their address is as follows: Dr. William and Eleanor Dorsey 12 Grapevine Road Wenham, MA 01984 Date: Tue, 1 Jun 0100 00:10:53 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: (fwd) Position available, Assistant Director - AMNH CBC Please reply directly to address below! Sorry for cross-postings. Please note closing date is June 23rd. Assistant Director Center for Biodiversity and Conservation The American Museum of Natural History's Center for Biodiversity and Conservation (CBC) seeks an Assistant Director to work closely with the CBC Director and Program Managers to oversee and coordinate interdisciplinary initiatives in research, capacity building, and outreach. RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES: The successful candidate will: assume responsibility for day-to-day operations of the CBC; work with Program Managers to identify strategic opportunities for program implementation; ensure quality of scientific content and translation accuracy for CBC publications; lead CBC staff in topic selection for, and organization of, the annual Spring Symposium series; and participate in proposal development and fund-raising activities. QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must have: a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology, ecology, conservation biology or a related field; substantial knowledge of systematics and collections-based research; a minimum of 5 years managerial and program development experience; excellent organizational and time-management skills; attention to detail; superior oral and written communication skills; and proven interpersonal abilities;Spanish proficiency and a minimum of 2 years field experience are referred. Applications, including a curriculum vitae, salary requirements and complete contact information for three references should be sent by June 23rd to: Director Center for Biodiversity and Conservation American Museum of Natural History Central Park West at 79th Street New York, N.Y. 10024 For more information on the CBC, please visit our web site: http://research.amnh.org/biodiversity/index.html. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2000 10:07:07 +0100 From: Michel Andre Subject: Sperm whale communication and echolocation The following paper has been published in the Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom (JMBA). J.Mar:Biol.Ass. U.K. (2000), 80, 163-169 Rhythmic dimension in the echolocation click trains of sperm whales: a possible function of identification and communication Michel Andri & Cees Kamminga Department of Morphology, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain Information Theory Group, Delft University of Technology Delft, The Netherlands Fourier spectral analysis was used to highlight a rhythmic dimension of the click repetition pattern of the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). Analysis of numerous series of regular clicks only showed occasionally the previously described codas used for communication. Out of a sample recording of vocalising sperm whales, an apparent cacophony, belonging to a year-round resident group foraging a few miles off the coast of Gran Canaria, the individual click sequences of four animals have been unravelled by cross-correlating their time wave shapes. The Fourier spectrum, which yields the harmonic aspects of each isolated click sequence, shows a deterministic structure that appears as a strong modulating frequency. This shows that click production is not a random process and possibly characterises, in fact, a signature of the animal. Here we introduce a new concept: this rhythmic modulation represents the acoustic signature of each individual sperm whale, which we have called RIME (Rhythmic Identity Measurement). The RIME would allow a whale to distinguish its own echo time pattern from the background of other click trains during echolocation. The RIME appears to represent a new concept in communication strategies and might also be present in other-social-odontocete repertoires. ____________________________________ Michel Andre, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Conservation Research Unit Department of Morphology, Veterinary School University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Trasmontaqa, 35416 Arucas Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain Tel. 34-928 45 11 03, Fax. 34-928 45 11 41 mandre(\)cicei.ulpgc.es ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2000 14:12:31 -0400 From: "Lucas, Marcy" Subject: Marking/capturing of harbor seals in the water. Dear MARMAM readers: I recently posted a request on MARMAM for information regarding the marking or capture of harbor seals while in the water. More specifically, I requested information regarding photo-identification of swimming harbor seals or methods of marking wet seals with dyes/paints. Below are some of the responses I have received. I hope this information is useful for other readers. #1) Hiby, L. and Lovell, P 1990. Computer aided matching of natural markings: a prototype system for grey seals. In: Hammond, Mizroch, Donovan (Eds.). Individual recognition of cetaceans. IWC Special Issue 12, pp. 57-62. #2) A number of years ago I had three harbour seals constructed out of fiberglass to test whether harbour seal haulout sites could be influenced by the presence of other individuals. I found that seals would haulout next to the decoys in areas that they had not previously hauled out. I am not sure whether you could make this work to capture harbour seals. Capturing harbour seals is not easy. I have spent many hours in frustration trying to capture them. Typically, I found that I could capture young and naive animals with gillnets suspended in open water. However, capturing seals that were used to nets was next to impossible. I wish that I had some simple advise for you. I suggest you begin by trying the suspended net technique. #3) I'm sure you know about the many long-term photo-identification studies of gray seals both in the US and Europe. But, you're right there are fewer with harbor seals. there are a few ongoing studies at Indian Point, on Mount Desert Island (Leslie Copperthwaite - and this year, MERI,) on the Skillins River,(Gail McCullough) and with gray seals, Valerie Rough, through COA In my experience, harbor seals are easy to photo-ID when they are hauled out, but in the water, well, there just aren't that many distinctive marks on their heads that I've been able to see. Gray seals, on the other hand, are easy to photo-ID in the water. I wonder if photo-Id using vibrissae has been tried? Might be worth a shot. You should be close enough to the critters who visit the pens to get good pictures of the head, one would imagine. Perhaps you might review your pictures of seals to see if any patterns emerge. I know of no way to mark a wet, free-swimming seal. I have often thought about whether there was some sort of paintball or something that could be used for short-term marking. It seems to me that the biggest issue for you is that the large degree of harassment that you will cause through the application of any active marking system at the site will be so likely to affect your data that it will be useless. #4) At whale strandings, zinc oxide cream is used on the animals for sun protection. The nice thing about it is that it can be applied and will stick to wet skin, and it can even be applied underwater (it won't stick to broken skin). On the downside it usually has to be applied reasonably slowly in a circular motion to cover the desired area. It may be different for hairy skin? Certainly one only has to brush past a zinc-coated whale while wearing a black wetsuit for large smears of zinc oxide to adhere tenaciously to the wetsuit. I imagine that zinc oxide is relatively inert and perhaps could be used as a base for some sort of dye which may permanently mark the coat if the zinc were to stay in contact with the seal for long enough? We have used zinc as a base for medications we wanted to apply topically to cetacean skin (e.g. around the blowhole). I have visions of you leaning over the side of a boat with a zinc-coated paint roller on a VERY long handle. #5) You might be able to ID them without catching and painting them, by using pelage markings. Teri Nicholson at Moss Landing Marine Labs has done this for years now with the population around Monterey, CA, and has several hundred individuals in a catalog. Mostly she gets good looks at the markings (usually on top of the head) while seals are hauled out. Then she can ID them in the water later on. I don't know how often she can ID them in the water -- you might want to talk with her about it. She's at nicholson(\)mlml.calstate.edu, 831-657-9438. #6) I have been working with harbour seals in the Bay of Fundy off and on for the last 20 years. At present I have a M. Sc. student who is measuring the sound levels of acoustic seal scarers and we are planning to develop a model that will describe the apparent loudness of these sounds at different depths and distances from the sites. I and a number of my other students have considered individual marking harbour seals and discarded the idea. Two of my students managed to get a dye mark onto one seal (on two consecutive days). That seal was by itself on a haul-out site and they were able to approach it from behind. Although seals are very vigilant while on shore they don't tend to look directly behind themselves. In the Bay of Fundy the average flushing distance when approached by a boat or canoe is about 100 m. I suspect that it will be a greater distance if the seals are approached on foot over a haul-out site. It will be virtually impossible to sneak up on a group of seals (which is why they haul out in groups). Because of the difficulty in getting observable marks onto the seals I have not conducted projects that required individual recognition. Photo identification will also be difficult. Many of the seal attacks are presumed to occur at night and from Novemeber to March. The fur is very dark when wet and it would be difficult to get photos that would show up pelage patterns. A long time ago there was a study showing that lions could be identified by the locations of the vibrissae (relative numbers and placement on the snout) but again that would require close up photos. You might get lucky with finding some seals with scar patterns but again, you would need a photo from a particular angle for a particular scar to show up. If you were to try paint-ball marking, the paint would have to be able to stick to fur that is both greasy and wet. I have my doubts. I have used standard aerosol paints (enamels and even day-glo colours) to mark harp seal pups. These pelts were dry and the paint did not stick particularly well. After about 4-5 days it was almost impossible to see the remaining paint. You might want to try building a raft which would float near the cage site. Seals will sometimes haul out onto a raft as is lies just above the water and offers good viewing of the surroundings and has deep water all around and thus is easy to escape from. If you could get your seals to haul out onto a raft, you could smear the surface of the raft with paints, dyes or bleaches. If the seals lie on this, they would be there long enough to pick up the dyes etc. This is a bit of a long shot however, particularly if the cage owners have been trying to "dissuade" seals from coming close to their cages. If the seals have been shot at, they are not likely to haul out near a cage site. You will also have an "animal care" consideration. Its one thing to mark the back of the head of a seal with a paint or dye "bullet" but what happens when you hit one in the eye? This is something you must consider in order to receive approval from the various regulatory agencies. #7) I am currently working on my Master's at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. My advisor, Brendan Kelly, and other labmates have successfully developed a photo-identification method for hauled-out seals. Unfortunately, all persons involved in that project are currently in the field. I suspect however that their results won't help you much either. I recall that the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, ADFG, (Bob Small, I believe) was also working on taking head-on photographs from seals in the water for individual recognition. I believe this method worked, but in terms of population assessment, it made more sense to photograph seals at haul-outs. I know that the work out of our lab was presented as a poster at the Int'l Conf on Bio of Mar Mam this past November in Hawaii, so there is an abstract available. I do not know if ADFG has published in regard to the using the head as the focus of photo-id. Hope this helps. Let me know if I can help you contact anyone. I don't have the ADFG emails, but I suspect they are online. #8) I would be careful of the usual ballistic marking devices (paintballs) for seals. There has been quite a bit of work done in the UK on gray seal photo identification (usually profile shots of head and neck). Someone (Leslie Cowperswaith) had (I do not know if she is still doing it or not) done quite a bit of individual id work on harbor seals that haul out around Mt. Desert rock during the spring and early summer. She was able to identify individuals and document them quite well with photographs. My guess is that the more an animal is a "repeater" the easier it will be to identify it using photographs. #9) Reference Type: Journal Article Record Number: 14 Author: Fossi, M.C.; Marsili, L. Year: 1997 Title: The use of non-destructive biomarkers in the study of marine mammals Journal: Biomarkers Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Pages: 205-216 #10) I'm the project leader for Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's manatee photo-identification project. We've had some luck with marking indistinct animals with Max Factor Pan-stik make up stick. Sounds bizarre, but it works well on animals covered with algae, barnacles, you name it. The only thing is, you have to be close enough to lean over and draw on the animal as it swims by. We attach our stick to a long piece of PVC and sort of swipe animals as they swim by, rest by the boat, or approach us. Works well if you have a team strategy, one person shooting film while the other marks the animal. It stays on for about a week. If you need any more info about this, let me know. #11) In the past we have used a hinged capture net . It is placed on a floating dock, when the seal hauls out to rest we pull a line and enclose the seal.If you would like this method you may want to give us a call.(609)266-0538 Sincerely, Marcy Lucas Maine Department of Marine Resources PO Box 8 West Boothbay Harbor, Maine 04575 (207) 633-9502 Fax - (207) 633-9579 marcy.lucas(\)state.me.us ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 10:27:54 +0000 Reply-To: lvermeer(\)earthwatch.org From: Lotus Arrieta Vermeer Organization: Center for Field Research at Earthwatch Subject: job announcement x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" ------ Would you be able to post the following announcement on MARMAM? Many thanks, Lotus ************************************************ PROGRAM MANAGER, EARTH AND MARINE SCIENCES CENTER FOR FIELD RESEARCH, EARTHWATCH INSTITUTE Maynard, MA. The job involves managing 25 to 30 domestic and international field research projects. Duties include contract and budget negotiations, project evaluation, grant administration, liaising between project scientists and Earthwatch Institute Headquarters, and aiding in marketing initiatives. International coordination of projects among Earthwatch Offices in the US, UK, Australia and Japan also required. Master=92s degree and field experience in earth or marine sciences required, as well as excellent communication and computer skills. International travel experience is a plus. Immediate start. Send cover letter and resume by email to mstuder(\)earthwatch.org ************************************************* _________________________________________________ Lotus Vermeer, Ph.D. Program Director, Earth and Marine Sciences The Center For Field Research at Earthwatch Institute 3 Clock Tower Place, Suite 100, Box 75, Maynard, MA USA 01754 Tel. (978) 461-0081 x129 Fax (978) 461-2332 Toll Free (800) 776-0188 E-mail: lvermeer(\)earthwatch.org World Wide Web: http://www.earthwatch.org/cfr/cfr.html __________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 10:40:03 -0700 From: Ellen Hines Subject: Fwd: Partnership Protects from Oil Spill ------ Thought this message might be of interest: >Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 09:50:32 -0700 >Reply-To: SEA-GIS Coastal and Marine GIS Distribution List > >Sender: SEA-GIS Coastal and Marine GIS Distribution List > >From: Paul Veisze >Subject: Fwd: Partnership Protects from Oil Spill >To: SEA-GIS(\)LISTSERV.HEANET.IE > > > >=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-= =3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D >Paul Veisze, Regional GPS/GIS Coordinator >California Department of Fish and Game >Information Technology Branch -- GIS Unit >1807 13th Street, Suite 201=20 >Sacramento, CA 95814 >(916) 323-1667; Fax: -1431 >pveisze(\)dfg.ca.gov >http://www.dfg.ca.gov >=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-= =3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D >Received: from OCRMHQ.NOS.NOAA.GOV > by dfg.ca.gov; Wed, 31 May 2000 09:38:36 -0700 >Received: from ragged.mbnms.nos.noaa.gov ([140.90.166.50]) > by OCRMHQ.NOS.NOAA.GOV (Netscape Messaging Server 3.62) > with SMTP id 481; Wed, 31 May 2000 12:15:45 -0400 >Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 09:07:59 -0700 >Message-Id: <393538DF.1A982700(\)noaa.gov> >From: Brady Phillips >Subject: Partnership Protects from Oil Spill >To: MBNMS - Media List > , MBNMS - Ocean Issues > >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=3Diso-8859-1; x-mac-type=3D"54455854"; x-mac-creator=3D"4D4F5353" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit > >PRESS RELEASE >FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE > >Contact: Brady Phillips >May 31, 2000 >831-647-4237 or 831-595-5083 (cell) >brady.phillips(\)noaa.gov > > > Unprecedented Partnership Protects California >Sanctuaries From Catastrophic Oil Spills > > The threat of hazardous spills resulting from vessel collisions and >groundings along California=F7s central coast was greatly reduced today, >as the United Nations' International Maritime Organization finalized a >U.S. proposal to move large ships further offshore and modify certain >approaches to and from major ports. These new routing measures are >primarily designed to improve protection of the Monterey Bay National >Marine Sanctuary, the Gulf of the Farallones and Channel Islands >National Marine Sanctuaries, and to ensure safe, efficient and >environmentally sound transportation within this vital global trade >corridor. Officials from NOAA and the U.S. Coast Guard announced the >details of the IMO approval at a ceremony held on San Francisco's Yerba >Buena Island today. > >Meeting in London, the IMO gave final approval to the shipping lane >proposal developed through a two-year collaborative effort led by the >Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the U.S. Coast Guard. In a >series of meetings along the central California coast participants from >local, state and federal government agencies, the shipping and oil >industries, environmental groups and elected officials played key roles >in crafting the final solution. > > "This landmark agreement is an excellent example of how NOAA=F7s Nation= al >Marine Sanctuaries can be a catalyst to bring agencies, industry and >environmental groups together to protect marine resources and ensure the >viability of the region=F7s critical shipping industry," said Secretary = of >Commerce William Daley. "This cooperative effort allowed the group to >reach consensus on the vessel traffic recommendations and stands as a >model for resolving other resource management issues around the >country." > > More than 4,000 large vessels transit the central California coast >every year, most traveling between 2.5 and 15 miles from the Monterey >Bay Sanctuary=F7s shoreline. They pose a potential risk of catastrophic >spills from the large amounts of heavy fuel oil they use in their >powerplants. The proposal announced today will place large vessels >further offshore in north-south tracks ranging from 13 to 20 nautical >miles from shore between Big Sur and the San Mateo coastline. Ships >carrying hazardous materials would follow north-south tracks between 25 >and 30 NM from shore. Tankers would remain at least 50 NM offshore. To >facilitate the alignment of these offshore routes, the proposal also >extends the vessel traffic separation lanes in the western end of the >Santa Barbara Channel and rotates the southern-most approach into San >Francisco Bay further offshore to reduce the risk of grounding. > > "These vessel routing initiatives will enhance the safety of navigation >along the California Coast by increasing order and predictability for >vessel traffic patterns," said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney >E. Slater. "This will reduce the already low risk of collision for >vessels navigating in and around the marine sanctuaries." > > Secretary Slater also noted that routing vessels further offshore will >provide more time for responding to disabled vessels to prevent them >from grounding. At a cost of just 20 to 30 minutes in transit time, the >new routing measures will reduce the likelihood of an already extremely >low probability event. The California sanctuaries are home to an >extraordinarily diverse array of marine mammals, sea birds, fish and >invertebrates. Many of these inhabitants, such as sea otters and >seabirds, are particularly susceptible to the effects of an oil spill. >"I am very pleased that this important initiative, developed with >extensive local involvement, was formally adopted internationally,=92 sa= id >William J. Douros, superintendent of the Monterey Bay National Marine >Sanctuary. =94These measures will greatly reduce the chance for a >catastrophic accident in our sanctuary." > > Additional Contacts: > Jeff Robertson, United States Coast Guard, (510) 437-3325 > Warner Chabot, Center for Marine Conservation (415) 391-6204 > Donna Blitzer, Congressman Sam Farr=F7s office (831) 429-1976 > John McLaurin, Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (415) 352-0710 > > For more information about these measures and associated maps showing >the new shipping lanes please visit: http://www.mbnms.nos.noaa.gov/ > > > >Click here for a visual image of the IMO approved vessel traffic routing >measures. >http://bonita.mbnms.nos.noaa.gov/intro/press_releases/vessel_map.jpg >This image is also available in an EPS version (2.3 mb) >http://bonita.mbnms.nos.noaa.gov/intro/press_releases/vessel_map.eps > > >Click here to view the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Vessel >Traffic Managment Executive Summary >http://bonita.mbnms.nos.noaa.gov/intro/press_releases/000vtexec.html > > > Note: B-roll and press packages will be available at the press >conference. > > The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is one of 12 marine >sanctuaries administered by the Commerce Department's National Oceanic >and > Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Sanctuary extends from southern >Marin County to Cambria in San Luis Obispo County, encompassing 300 >miles of shoreline and 5,322 square miles of ocean. This remarkably >productive coastal environment is home to numerous marine mammals, >seabirds, fish, invertebrates and plants. Information on the Monterey >Bay National Marine Sanctuary may be found at >http://www.mbnms.nos.noaa.gov > > ### > > > > Driving Directions to Yerba Buena Island Coast Guard Facility > > Note--Allow yourself plenty of time to arrive at the facility by 10:30 >A.M. on May 31 to account for traffic heading towards the Oakland Bay >Bridge. > Also, be alert for the exit from the bridge to the island--it is the >only exit from the bridge, but is a small one and easy to miss. > > From San Francisco > > =95 Follow major connecting highways to the Oakland Bay Bridge, which i= s >Interstate 80 Eastbound. > > =95 From the toll plaza, travel approximately 3.0 miles across the brid= ge >and slow down as you approach the tunnel. Note your odometer as the exit >is > easy to miss. Take the Yerba Buena Island exit, which is a right-hand >exit in the middle of the tunnel which goes through Yerba Buena Island. > > =95 Slow down as you enter the off-ramp, and make a 90-degree turn to >your right. > > =95 Travel about 30 yards. > > =95 Turn left. Follow the written or red logo signs down the hill towar= ds >Coast Guard Group San Francisco. This road travels beneath the freeway. > > =95 As you approach the main offices and the docks, travel past the >parking lot with the flagpole and park in the designated press parking >area near the > head of the Coast Guard pier. > > From the East Bay > > =95 Follow the major connecting highways to the Oakland Bay Bridge, whi= ch >is Interstate 80 Westbound. > > =95 Take the Yerba Buena Island exit (left-hand exit just before the >tunnel on the bridge) > > =95 Slow down as you enter the off-ramp, and make a sharp 180-degree tu= rn >to your left, going down a short hill > > =95 There is a stop sign at the bottom of this hill; turn right, and >travel about 30 yards > > =95 Turn left, and follow the written or red logo signs down the hill >towards Coast Guard Group San Francisco. This road travels beneath the >freeway. > > =95 As you approach the main offices and the docks, travel past the lot >with the flagpole and park in the designated press parking area near the >head of the Coast Guard pier. > > ### > >***************************** >Visit NOAA'a >National Marine Marines Sanctuaries >Home Page >at http://www.sanctuaries.nos.noaa.gov >and follow the exciting explorations of >the Sustainable Seas Expeditions at >at http://sustainableseas.noaa.gov > > > >Brady Phillips >Community and Media Affairs >Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary >299 Foam Street >Monterey, CA 93940 >Phone: (831) 647-4237 >Fax: (831) 647-4250 >e-mail: Brady.Phillips(\)noaa.gov >website: http://www.mbnms.nos.noaa.gov > > > > Ellen Hines Whale (and Dugong!) Research Lab Department of Geography University of Victoria Box 3025 Victoria, BC, Canada V8W 3P5 (250)472-4746 Fax: (250)721-6216 ehines(\)office.geog.uvic.ca http://office.geog.uvic.ca/dept/whale/wrlmp.html ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2000 09:45:53 +0100 From: "Corpe, Heather" Subject: Management of the Moray Firth SAC for bottlenose dolphins NEWS RELEASE - 5 June 2000 MANAGEMENT GROUP TO HELP DOLPHINS A group has been set up to oversee management of the Moray Firth candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC), with the specific aim of protecting the resident population of bottlenose dolphins. Plans to develop a management scheme for the cSAC come amongst growing concerns over the future of the Moray Firth dolphins, following publication last year of a report by Scottish Natural Heritage, predicting a decline in the population. Establishment of the management group has been co-ordinated by the Moray Firth Partnership, a voluntary coalition of nearly 500 individuals and organisations from various sectors with interests in and around the Firth. cSAC Management Group Chair, Mike Comerford of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said: "There is already a great deal of interest in how this extremely vulnerable population of dolphins can and should be managed. There is a clear challenge here for future management of the Moray Firth and we must all rise to meet that challenge ." The international importance of the Moray Firth dolphin population has led to recognition of a large part of the Firth as a candidate marine SAC under the EC Habitats Directive. Subsequently all relevant authorities have a shared responsibility to safeguard its interests. The cSAC management group includes representatives from Cromarty Firth Port Authority, Crown Estate, Fisheries Research Services Marine Laboratory, the Highland Council, Inverness Harbour Trust, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the Moray Council, North of Scotland Water Authority, Northern Constabulary, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage. The group provides a forum for co-operation and information exchange amongst the organisations that manage activities or developments which might affect the dolphins. However, Mike Comerford went on to say that ultimate success will depend on more than the laws and regulations applicable to SAC status. "Much will also depend on the attitudes of individuals, and widespread awareness and participation is essential. We are working towards a voluntary, co-operative approach; one that involves people working together to conserve the dolphins and their habitat, whilst at the same time maintaining the Firths valuable economic and social resources for future generations. It certainly won't be easy, but we are confident that it can be done. We want people to help by taking part." More than 40 individual issues of concern to the dolphins and their habitat have been identified and will be addressed by the management scheme, along with opportunities and benefits afforded by the SAC designation. The next step is to develop management recommendations that will help protect the dolphins. The views and advice of all interested individuals and organisations will be sought in drawing up the recommendations, and a public consultation on the draft scheme will be held later this year. For further information about the Moray Firth cSAC and how to get involved, contact the Moray Firth LIFE Project Officer, Heather Corpe, at mfp(\)sepa.org.uk BACKGROUND The Moray Firth Special Area of Conservation: Protecting the bottlenose dolphins The Moray Firth dolphin population is one of only two known resident populations found around the British coastline and the only one in the North Sea. There are believed to be about 130 dolphins living in the Firth, but recent research predicts that the population is in decline. The reasons for this decline are not clear, but are understood to be a combination of factors - some natural, and some man-made. Since the dolphin population is relatively small, isolated and vulnerable, and because it is rare in a European context, a large part of the Moray Firth has been put forward to Europe for designation as a marine Special Area of Conservation (SAC) (see enclosed maps). SACs are European designations covering areas of land or sea which protect rare, endangered or vulnerable habitats and species in the European Community. The designations are made under the 1992 "Habitats Directive" (92/43/EEC). The Habitats Directive is one of the EC's major contributions to the Biodiversity Convention agreed by over 150 countries at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Its main aim is to ensure that biodiversity is maintained through conservation of important, rare or threatened habitats and the habitats of certain species. In terms of UK legislation, the Habitats Directive is implemented through "The Conservation (Natural Habitats &c) Regulations 1994". The management of land areas put forward as SACs can usually be achieved through existing management measures (particularly SSSIs). However, the management of marine areas for their conservation interest is a relatively new concept in the UK. SSSIs can not extend below the mean low water mark and thus, as a rule, can not be used to underpin management arrangements for marine SACs. The regulations therefore make specific provisions for the management of marine sites, which are relevant to future management of the Moray Firth SAC. These provisions are outlined in the enclosed booklet "Natura 2000 - European Marine Sites, an introduction to management". Sites such as the Moray Firth, that have been agreed by the UK Government and submitted to the European Commission, are currently referred to as candidate SACs. However, it is Government Policy that these sites should be treated as if they were already designated as SACs. Responsibility for the conservation and management of SACs lies with the relevant authorities. The recommended way of ensuring effective management of marine SACs is for the relevant authorities to work together, ideally within a management group, to develop a sustainable management scheme for each site. It is also required that management of SACs should take into account the economic, cultural, social and recreational needs of the local people. The development of a management scheme for the Moray Firth marine cSAC is being co-ordinated by the Moray Firth Partnership, an independent voluntary company of numerous individuals and organisations with interests in the future sustainable management of the Moray Firth (see enclosed information pack). The concepts of managing the Moray Firth cSAC are closely aligned to the Partnership's own objectives of promoting sustainable development within the marine and coastal environment, and there are clear links to the Partnership's on-going task of implementing voluntary Management Guidelines for the whole Moray Firth (copy enclosed). The Partnership has appointed a Project Officer to co-ordinate development of the management scheme, as part of its "Moray Firth LIFE Project". The Project receives backing from the European LIFE Environment fund, Cromarty Firth Port Authority, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage. As is required for all UK SACs, government advisors Scottish Natural Heritage have developed conservation objectives for the Moray Firth site, together with advice on operations which may cause deterioration or disturbance. This will remain in draft format until the site comes back from Europe (copy enclosed). The conservation objectives are as follows: 'Restore and maintain the Moray Firth population of bottlenose dolphins at a viable level.' 'Subject to natural change, ensure that the Moray Firth provides the environmental and economical processes necessary for the restoration and maintenance of a viable population of bottlenose dolphins.' These conservation objectives are statements that present goals for the restoration and subsequent maintenance of the Moray Firth bottlenose dolphin population. Plans to develop the Moray Firth cSAC Management Scheme are well underway. A relevant authorities management group has been set up to oversee the development, implementation and monitoring of the SAC management scheme. As representatives of the relevant authorities, the management group are working to ensure that the conservation objectives for the site are met. The group also has a scientific advisor At a recent workshop, the relevant authorities met to discuss the key activities and operations likely to impact on the dolphins, to clarify all existing regulation of those activities, both voluntary and statutory, to identify existing gaps and weaknesses in the existing regulation and to identify information and research requirements to better inform management decisions. More than 40 individual potential issues of concern to the dolphins were identified and will be addressed by the management scheme, along with opportunities and benefits afforded by the SAC designation. The next step is to develop management recommendations that will help to protect the dolphins. The management group will be seeking the views and advice of all interested individuals and organisations in drawing up the recommendations. A draft management scheme will be drawn up by October 2000, when there will be further opportunity for input through widespread public consultation. For further information about the Moray Firth SAC please contact: Heather Corpe Moray Firth LIFE Project Officer The Moray Firth Partnership c/o Graesser House Fodderty Way Dingwall IV15 9XB Tel: 01349 860360 Fax: 01349 863987 E-mail: mfp(\)sepa.org.uk ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 6 Jun 0100 11:56:27 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly marine mammal summary to US congress (fwd) The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS Endocrine Disruption. On June 22-25, 2000, the Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) , the Univ. of CT, and the Jackson Laboratory will hold an Atlantic Coast Contaminants Workshop on "Endocrine Disruptors in the Marine Environment: Impacts on Marine Wildlife and Human Health" in Bar Harbor, ME. [MERI press release] Keiko. On May 25, 2000, Keiko was released for his first open-ocean excursion, wherein he following a boat for 2 hours and 4 miles off Iceland's Westman Islands before returning to the enclosed Klettsvik Bay where he has been kept since September 1998. While Keiko was at sea, workmen dynamited rock to build a new pier in the Vestmannaeyar harbor. [Reuters] Sea Otters and the Exxon Valdez Spill. The May 23, 2000 issue of theProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences contained an article [ http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/120163397 ] studying chronic effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill of March 1989 on sea otter populations in Prince William Sound, AK. The study concluded that sea otters continued to be adversely affected by the spill almost a decade later, although these effects have gradually dissipated. [BBC News] Whale Sanctuary. On May 19, 2000, South Africa's Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism proposed the creation of a sanctuary for southern right whales in Walker Bay, one of the few sites offering an opportunity for shore-based whale watching. A proposed new law would prohibit anyone from operating a fishing boat, vessel, jetski, or kayak within the marine protected area without a permit annually from July 1 through December 15. Comments on the proposal are being accepted through June 19, 2000. [Panafrican News Agency, Environment News Service] Dolphin-Safe Tuna. On May 19, 2000, Secretary of Commerce Daly announced that the United States plans to appeal a lower court ruling of Apr. 11, 2000, that prevents the government from authorizing the use of a new definition for "dolphin-safe" tuna sold in the United States. The appeal will be decided by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (San Francisco). {On May 30, 2000, NMFS published final regulations designating an official mark that can be used to label tuna products as being "dolphin-safe."} [Fed. Register, NOAA press release] Low Frequency Sound. On May 12, 2000, the Ocean Studies Board of the National Research Council released its report "Marine Mammals and Low- Frequency Sound: Progress Since 1994." [National Research Council] U.S. Navy and Sonar. On May 10, 2000, a coalition of environmental and animal welfare organizations was scheduled to hold a press conference in Washington, DC, where they claimed they would present evidence directly linking the March 2000 mass standing of whales and dolphins in the Bahamas to U.S. Navy use of active sonar devices in the area. The Navy responded, calling the allegations unsupported. {On May 26, 2000, U.S. Navy officials announced that Littoral Warfare Advanced Development tests , scheduled for early June 2000 off the NJ coast, would exclude active acoustic sources. Environmental groups took this as a sign that the Navy had become more responsive to addressing concerns that sonar may affect marine mammals.} [Assoc Press, Washington Post, personal communication, U.S. Navy press release, Animal Welfare Institute press release, MSNBC] Makah Whaling. On May 5, 2000, a preliminary hearing was held on the Apr. 20 alleged violation, and the injured watercraft operator pleaded innocent. On May 6-7, 2000, the Paul Parker family hunted gray whales for the 4th time in a month, without success. The family's current 10-day permit to hunt whales expires May 16, 2000. On June 12, 2000, the injured watercraft operator is scheduled to appear in federal court on charges she violated the whaling exclusionary zone. {On May 29, 2000, Makah whalers resumed hunting gray whale, but did not kill an animal.} [Assoc Press, personal communication, Reuters, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, APB Multimedia] Florida Manatees. In early May 2000, officials of the FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported that a total of 124 dead manatees had been reported from January through April 2000 - a pace of slightly more than one manatee death per day. [Assoc Press, Save the Manatee Club press release] Japanese Whaling. On May 3, 2000, Japan announced that, in April 2000, it forwarded a proposal to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to expand its scientific whaling program by killing 50 Bryde's whales and 10 sperm whales annually in the North Pacific during 2000-2001 to investigate these species' diets. This proposal will be discussed at the IWC's annual meeting in Adelaide, Australia on July 3-6, 2000. On May 4, 2000, Australian officials announced that they would protest the new Japanese plans. [London Observer, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (Japan) press release, Environment News Service, BBC News, The Guardian, Reuters] Canadian Sealing. On May 3, 2000, animal protection groups were reported to have scheduled about 20 demonstrations at various locations in Europe, Canada, and the United States to protest the Canadian seal harvest. On May 24, 2000, Canada's federal advisory group, the Fisheries Resource Conservation Council, issued a report supporting fishermen by calling for measures to be taken to protect cod stocks from seals. The Council recommended establishing "seal exclusion zones" suggesting that seal culls might be targeted to areas where cod congregate to overwinter. [Canadian Press, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release] Japanese Whalemeat Sale. On May 2, 2000, the Tomiyamamachi Fishermen's Cooperative in Chiba Prefecture was verbally reprimanded by the Japan Fisheries Agency (JFA) for selling meat from a humpback whale that died after being trapped in nets in Tokyo Bay on Feb. 1, 2000. JFA guidelines of June 1990 provide that meat from dead whales may be consumed by local residents or buried, but cannot be sold. Officials of the cooperative stated that they were forced to sell the whalemeat to cover the costs of towing the whale ashore and burying its remains. [Yomiuri Shimbun] CA Sea Lion Shootings. On May 2, 2000, the 21st potential shooting of a CA sea lion in 2000 was reported at Bolsa Chica State Beach, CA. In 1999, a total of 77 CA sea lions were reported to have been killed by gunfire. [Orange County Register] Cook Inlet Beluga Whales. On May 1, 2000, Anchorage, AK, Superior Court Judge Sigurd Murphy denied a request by the AK Dept. of Natural Resources to lift a year-old court order that excluded 70 tracts from an August 2000 oil and gas lease sale in Cook Inlet to protect beluga whale habitat. In addition, Judge Murphy added an additional 56 tracts to the exclusion area on NMFS advice that these areas were beluga whale gathering places. On May 8, 2000, a coalition of 6 environmental groups and a Native whaler filed suit in U.S. District Court (District of Columbia) against NMFS, alleging NMFS has violated the Endangered Species Act by not moving quickly enough to protect Cook Inlet beluga whales. In addition, NMFS did not meet a Mar. 3, 2000 deadline on deciding whether to list this population as "depleted" under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. On May 16, 2000, the AK Dept. of Natural Resources announced that it wouldn't lease 126 tracts in Cook Inlet identified as important beluga whale habitat. {{On May 31, 2000, NMFS published final regulations declaring the Cook Inlet stock of beluga whales to be "depleted" under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.}} [Anchorage Daily News, Center for Marine Conservation press release, Fed. Register] Faroe Islands Whaling. On May 1, 2000, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society announced plans for a direct action campaign in June/July 2000 [ http://www.seashepherd.org/campaigns/grindstop2000/grindstop2000.html ] focused on stopping pilot whale kills in the Faroe Islands. [Environment News Service] Contaminated AK Marine Mammals? On May 1, 2000, AK Natives reported to the International Conference on Arctic Development, Pollution, and Biomarkers of Human Health, meeting in Anchorage, AK, that they are beginning to avoid consuming traditional marine mammals due to fear these animals are contaminated with pesticides, heavy metals, and other toxins. Increasing notice of tumors, lesions, spots, and sores in wild game has been documented by the Alaska Native Science Commission in a Traditional Knowledge and Contaminant Project over the past 4 years. [Anchorage Daily News] Right Whale Protection. On May 1, 2000, Richard Max Strahan filed suit in U.S. District Court (Portland, ME) against NMFS, the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, and the ME Dept. of Marine Resources, alleging violation of the Endangered Species Act by licensing fishing gear that can harm northern right whales and sea turtles. The lawsuit asks the court to stop the use of commercial fishing gear that is not whale-safe, and seeks to fine federal and state officials if whales are entangled in fishing gear. On May 9, 2000, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) announced the beginning of a $150,000 project to benefit north Atlantic right whales, consisting of deployment of 6 passive acoustic buoys east of Nantucket in the Great South Channel. The passive acoustic monitoring devices will record right whale sounds and ship noise for 40 days while scientists visually record whale distribution near the buoys. [Assoc Press, IFAW press release] Items in this Summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. Date: Sun, 6 Jun 0100 12:01:37 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications (fwd) Here are some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Publications recently posted to MARMAM are not included. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. Histopathological and immunohistochemical studies on cetaceans found stranded on the coast of Italy between 1990 and 1997. Cornaglia, E; Rebora, L; Gili, C; Di Guardo, G. JOURNAL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE SERIES A-PHYSIOLOGY PATHOLOGY CLINICAL MEDICINE. April 2000 v47 i3 p129-142 Acoustic interaction of humpback whales and whale-watching boats. Au, WWL; Green, M. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH. June 2000 v49 i5 p469-481 The common seal (Phoca vitulina) in last century. van der Kamp, JS; Osterhaus, ADME. TIJDSCHRIFT VOOR DIERGENEESKUNDE. March 15, 2000 v125 i6 p194-196 Use of maternal reserves as a lactation strategy in large mammals. Oftedal, OT. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NUTRITION SOCIETY. February 2000 v59 i1 p99-106 Classification of electronically generated phantom targets by an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Aubauer, R; Au, WWL; Nachtigall, PE; Pawloski, DA; DeLong, CM. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA. May 2000 v107 i5 part1 p2750-2754 Post-mortem investigations on stranded dolphins and porpoises from Hong Kong waters. Parsons, ECM; Jefferson, TA. JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES. April 2000 v36 i2 p342-356 An evaluation of a management saga: The Banks Peninsula Marine Mammal Sanctuary, New Zealand. Hughey, KFD. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT. March 2000 v58 i3 p179-197 To bend a dolphin: Convergence of force transmission designs in cetaceans and scombrid fishes. Pabst, DA.AMERICAN ZOOLOGIST. February 2000 v40 i1 p146-155 Proteolytic preparation of a heme binding fragment from sperm whale myoglobin: Micro-myoglobin. Schwarzinger, S; Ahrer, W; Muller, N. MONATSHEFTE FUR CHEMIE. April 2000 v131 i4 p409-416 Measuring the exposure of subsistence fish and marine mammal species to aromatic compounds following the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Hom, T; Brown, DW; Stein, JE; Varanasi, U. EVALUATING AND COMMUNICATING SUBSISTENCE SEAFOOD SAFETY IN A CROSS-CULTURAL CONTEXT: LESSONS LEAENED FORM THE EXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILL. January-February 1999 p169-194 Biological characterisation of Sarcocystis neurona isolated from a Southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis). Lindsay, DS; Thomas, NJ; Dubey, JP. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY. April 24, 2000 v30 i5 p617-624 Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2000 00:12:53 GMT From: will rayment Subject: cetacean response to aquaculture sites Dear subscribers Many thanks to all who provided information on effects of aquaculture on cetaceans. There were many useful personal observations, although not much published data. Most examples concerning displacement or behavioural disruption occur where aquaculture uses acoustic deterrent devices (ADDs)in an attempt to keep seals from taking farmed fish. For example, these ADDs have been shown to displace harbour porpoises and possibly humpback whales (Peter Olesiuk, OlesiukP(\)pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca, personal communication). It has also been demonstrated that orcas tend to avoid areas where there are salmon farms in British Columbia (Alexandra Morton, wildorca(\)capescott.net, personal communication) I received the following responses concerning entanglement of cetaceans in aquaculture facilities : - common and bottlenose dolphins entangled in sea pens off South Australia used to grow blue-fin tuna (Tony Flaherty, mccnsa(\)senet.com.au, personal communication, paper in writing for this month's IWC meeting in Adelaide) - grey whales entangling in temporary net pens set for herring (Robin Baird, in press, rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca) - adult Bryde's whale entangled and died in a mussel farm at Port Fitzroy on Great Barrier Island, New Zealand in 1997 (Chris Roberts, personal communication). Will Rayment (billyray31(\)hotmail.com) references cited : Baird,R.W., P.J. Stacey, D.A. Duffus and K.M. Langelier. In press. An evaluation of gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus)mortality incidental to fishing operations in British Columbia, Canada. Reports of the International Whaling Commission Special Issue 17. ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2000 15:54:25 -0400 From: Jack Schneider Subject: Job Posting Hello, I understand that you post job announcements pertaining to marine mammals. Please post this. Should you have any questions you may contact me through my email. Thanks. Jack Seal Census Researcher The Maritime Aquarium is seeking an individual to lead a project to determine the occurrence of seals in the Western end of Long Island Sound. Responsibilities include mentoring middle school teachers and students in the research process. This is a full time, salaried position with full benefits, beginning immediately with funding anticipated to last at least through 2001. Candidates having Ph.D., with field research experience in ecology, and teaching preferred. Interested candidates should send resume to The Maritime Aquarium, North Water Street, Norwalk, CT 06854-2228, FAX to 203-838-5416 or email to Jack.Schneider1(\)worldnet.att.net. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2000 09:22:18 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Yarsinia in cetaceans (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- A lab reported to us the presence of the bacteria Yarsinia sp. in blood and tissue samples of stranded cetaceans. This bacteria is reported mainly in fishes, and in domestic animals it behaves as Brucella. We didn't found any references about this bacteria in marine mammals, but we don't have enough material available. We need to know about records, effects, diseases, symptoms or zoonosis caused by this bacteria in marine mammals. If anybody can help us in this sense, please contact Diana Antochiw-Alonzo at the Yucatan Stranding Network: revay(\)earthling.net Thanks in advance. RED DE VARAMIENTOS DE YUCATAN, A.C. Calle 53E No.232 x 44 y 46 Fracc. Francisco de Montejo C.P. 97 200 M=E9rida Yucat=E1n, M=E9xico Tel: 52 (9) 946 55 58 Fax: 52 (9) 927 36 18 Del interior del Estado sin costo: 01 (800) 71 03370 e-mail: revay(\)earthling.net ---------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 9 Jun 0100 07:20:01 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications (fwd) Here are some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Publications recently posted to MARMAM are not included. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. Food-related bray calls In wild bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Janik, VM. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON SERIES B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES. May 7, 2000 v267 i1446 p923-927 Genital diseases in the Peruvian dusky dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus). Van Bressem, MF; Van Waerebeek, K; Siebert, U; Wunschmann, A; Chavez-Lisambart, L; Reyes, JC. JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PATHOLOGY. May 2000 v122 i4 p266-277 Vagococcus fessus sp nov., isolated from a seal and a harbour porpoise. Hoyles, L; Lawson, PA; Foster, C; Falsen, E; Ohlen, M; Grainger, JM; Collins, MD. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY. May 2000 v50 part3 p1151-1154 Molecular phylogenetic examination of the Delphinoidea trichotomy: Congruent evidence from three nuclear loci indicates that porpoises (Phocoenidae) share a more recent common ancestry with white whales (Monodontidae) than they do with true dolphins (Delphinidae). Waddell, VG; Milinkovitch, MC; Berube, M; Stanhope, MJ. MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION. May 2000 v15 i2 p314-318 Reconstruction of pinniped diets: accounting for complete digestion of otoliths and cephalopod beaks. Bowen, WD. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES. May 2000 v57 i5 p898-905 Histopathology of a harbor seal Phoca largha stranded on the coast of Toyama Bay, Sea of Japan. Honma, Y; Ushiki, T; Hitomi, J; Takeda, M; Yoshida, T; Kano, Y. FISHERIES SCIENCE. April 2000 v66 i2 p304-309 Ministers ban seal branding program. AUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL. May 2000 v78 i5 p289-289 Seal uproar: Big questions arise. McGilvray, G. AUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL. May 2000 v78 i5 p299-299 Phylogeography of mitochondrial DNA variation in brown bears and polar bears. Shields, GF; Adams, D; Garner, G; Labelle, M; Pietsch, J; Ramsay, M; Schwartz, C; Titus, K; Williamson, S. MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION. May 2000 v15 i2 p319-326 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2000 00:38:18 -0800 From: "Christina M. Tombach" Subject: Study Gray Whales this Summer! Internships Available Study Gray Whales This Summer! Internships Available! Internship Announcement! SEACR - Society for Ecological And Coastal Research, a Non-profit organization, currently has spaces open for summer internships June - September 2000. SEACR works in conjunction with scientists and researchers from the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada; and from Queens University in Ontario, Canada. The research site is situated in breathtaking Clayoquot Sound, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Interns will have the opportunity to assist on a variety of ecological and coastal marine research projects learning valuable field research techniques and data handling skills. Current projects include studies on Gray Whale Site Fidelity, and Habitat Use, Whale Foraging Ecology, Studies on Whale Prey, and Landscape Ecology of Coastal Environments. Clayoquot Sound is home to a variety of coastal marine fish, birds, and mammals. Animals who frequent the area include tufted puffins, oystercatchers, gulls, bald eagles, river otters, sea lions and sea otters, harbor porpoise, killer whales, gray whales, and humpback whales. Black bears forage in the intertidal zone and are often visible from the boat. For complete details of the research projects, living conditions, application form and payment options please visit our web site: http://office.geog.uvic.ca/dept/whale/seacr-home.html Please feel free to post or distribute this message to those who might be interested. *************************************************** Christina M. Tombach MSc. in Progress Whale Research Lab University of Victoria http://office.geog.uvic.ca/dept/whale/wrlmp.html Note: New E-mail address: tombach(\)attglobal.net ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 22:06:44 +0200 From: "A. Frantzis" Subject: The NATO exercise and one Ziphius stranding Dear all, We recently informed you about the large NATO exercise "Dynamic Mix", the possible use of LFAS (or other submarine detection systems) in Kyparissiakos Gulf (Ionian Sea, Greece), and our concern for their deployment in areas important for deep diving cetaceans. The aforementioned exercise has now been completed. Its most "delicate" naval part during which submarine detecting systems could have been deployed took place on the 1st and 2nd of June, and possibly also one or two days before that. NATO naval forces were deployed in the area (including the southern part of the neighboring island of Zakynthos) a few days previous to the amphibious landing (2nd June). According to locals in Zakynthos Island, warships were manoeuvering in the sea area of Laganas Gulf, South Zakynthos Island during the exercise. All the above information is just what we have succeded to collect from the press and the locals, and in no way implies use or no use of submarine detection systems. It should be stressed, that we did not receive any official answer to our questions regarding LFAS use during the exercise. On the 1st of June, a Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), approximately 4 meters long, stranded alive in Laganas Gulf, South Zakynthos Island (position 37 41,0' N - 020 50,5' E approximately). The animal was spotted by locals around 14:00. According to their descriptions and to the video tape that we received, it appeared to be in good health and good physical condition, but it seemed disoriented. Three times, while assisted back to open sea, it swam back into shallow waters at high speed until it crashed its beak on the rocks of the seabed, at a depth of about 1-1.5 meters. Then it stayed almost motionless for a while. Finally, after various unsuccessful efforts (towing it by a rope attached around its flukes...), the people drove the animal to the open sea, by swimming in with it. It did not reappear close to the coast. An English tourist captured the stranding on video, including underwater footage (9 minutes). The videotape was obtained by a local conservationist of the Zakynthian Ecological Movement, Ms Ada Vlahoutsikou. Only a short part of the video is of a quality high enough to provide some more information regarding the stranding. It appears that the animal had a brownish color, no apparent tooth scars, no errupted teeth and could swim and breath normally. All things considered, it appeared to be an immature individual. No other cetacean stranding was refered by the port-police authorities of Kyparissiakos Gulf, during the NATO exercise. The last Ziphius stranding that had been recorded in the entire South Ionian Sea (Zakynthos Island, Kyparissiakos Gulf and South-West Peloponnisos) before the recent stranding, dates back in the 2nd of October 1998. Although the recent Ziphius stranding in Zakynthos Island is yet another coincidence in time and location with naval exercises, our "data" are obviously very limited this time, to allow us to draw any conclusions. We hope that this message can be useful, Alexandros Frantzis Giorgos Paximadis Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute Terpsichoris 21 166 71 Vouliagmeni GREECE tel: +301-8960108 fax: +301-8960108 web site: www.pelagosinstitute.gr ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2000 16:10:38 -0400 From: "Ben S. Roesch" Subject: Orca vocalizations In-Reply-To: <200006051118.EAA68346(\)unix4.UVic.CA> Hi all, I am in search of recorded orca vocalizations that I need for field research in South Africa. If anyone is involved in orca research and has an audio-tape of vocalizations, or knows someone who might, I'd appreciate it if you could contact me off-list. It is not necessary that the context (i.e. social, predatory, etc.) of the vocalizations be known (though this would be helpful), but it would be ideal if the recordings were fairly long, loud, clear and uninterrupted. A recording of one whale alone would also be preferred, though I am also interested in obtaining recordings of vocalizations of several whales together. Thanks cheers Ben Roesch bspeersr(\)uoguelph.ca ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 00:07:00 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: job announcement - Marine Mammal Commission (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION 4340 East-West Highway, Room 905 Bethesda, Maryland 20814 =20 =20 POSITION: Executive Director =20 ANNOUNCEMENT NO. MMC-00-04 =20 AD-301 - $114,500-$122,400 LOCATION: Marine Mammal Commission =20 Opening Date: 6/6/00 =20 Room 905 4340 East-West Highway Bethesda, Maryland 20814 =20 Closing Date: 6/20/00 AREA OF CONSIDERATION: Open to all qualified persons DUTY LOCATION: Bethesda, Maryland PROMOTION POTENTIAL: None This position is in the Excepted Service. =20 =20 DUTIES: The incumbent: Has overall responsibility for the management of all agency affairs in accordance with the provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and guidance provided by the three part-time Commissioners; Is responsible for ensuring that the work of the Commission meets the highest ethical standards and that the consultative processes set forth in the Marine Mammal Protection Act are fully observed; Is responsible for staff selection, training, development, and overall management and supervision of the staff; Establishes and maintains good working relationships with the authorizing and appropriations committees and such other Congressionalcommittees as may be appropriate; Testifies on behalf of the Commission before Congress and supervises the preparation of all reports and testimony for presentation to Congress on behalf of the Commission; Is responsible for strategic planning and recommending policies to further the Commission's statutory mandate; Develops and justifies budget estimates and tracks allocation of resources throughout each year to ensure conformance with the budget; Ensures that the Commissioners and members of the Committee of Scientific Advisors are aware of the concerns and activities of relevant domestic and international organizations, groups, and agencies, and ensures that the Commission's view= s and recommendations are made known to these entities as appropriate; Ensures that the staff keep abreast of major domestic and international actions affecting marine mammals and their habitats and provides guidance t= o the staff in its evaluation of the impacts of, and proper responses to, suc= h actions; In furtherance of conservation objectives consistent with the Marine Mammal Protection Act, fosters partnerships with other federal agencies, state agencies, international organizations, the scientific community, and non-governmental organizations; and Ensures that areas requiring research and analytical investigations are identified and made known to the Commission and that appropriate follow-up actions are taken. =20 =20 MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must possess the essential qualifications listed below to meet the eligibility requirements for this position. In addition, a substantialportion of an applicant's experience must have been at a sufficiently highlevel of complexity to show clearly that he or she possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities as outlined above. =20 =20 QUALITY RANKING FACTORS Applicants who meet the basic qualification requirements will be further evaluated in light of their experience, education, training, awards, and performance appraisals to assess the level of their knowledge, skills, and abilities. =B7: Knowledge of the federal appropriations process and the ability to describe science-based conservation programs to Congressional committee members, Congressional staff, and the public; =B7: Extensive experience in the marine sciences, particularly marine biology, with a broad understanding of marine mammal science and policy;= =20 =B7:Significant experience in the management of marine science research gra= nts and contracts; =B7: Expert knowledge of federal agency programs and missions and domestic and international statutes and regulations affecting marine mammals; (=B7) Skill in oral and written communication, including the ability to present information to the highest levels of the governmental and non-governmental communities; (=B7) Knowledge of the legislative process and ability to analyze and predi= ct the impact of proposed legislation on marine systems in general and on marine mammal populations and ecosystems; (=B7) Ability to develop and implement an organizational vision that makes = use of cooperative work with federal, academic, and private organizations in programs to protect and conserve marine mammal populations and their ecosystems; (=B7) Ability to achieve organizational objectives by creatively managing a= nd motivating staff; and (=B7) Demonstrated knowledge and ability in planning, prioritizing, and allocating resources and coordinating large, complex programs or organizations. Ability to make timely and effective decisions and to produce results through strategic planning, the implementation of plans, and the ongoing evaluation of programs and policies. HOW TO APPLY: Please ensure that your application reflects your background in terms of th= e qualification requirements for the position. Submit an Application for Federal Employment, SF-171 (Rev. 6-88), OF-612, o= r a resume. Also applicants should submit a supplement addressing the ranking factors. Clearly describe in your application your work experience, education, and/o= r training as it relates to this vacancy. It is very important that you full= y address how your work experience and your education/training meet both the specialized experience requirements and the ranking factors. The Defense Authorization Act of November 18, 1997, extended veterans' preference to persons who served on active duty during the Gulf War from August 2, 1990, through January 2, 1992. The law grants preference to persons otherwise eligible and who served on active duty during this period regardless of where the person served or for how long. The law also authorizes the Secretary of each military department to award the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for services in Bosnia during the period November 20, 1995, to a date to be determined. The award of the Medal is qualifying for veterans' preference. More information on veterans' preference is available in the VetGuide that may be found on the United States Office of Personnel Management web site at www.opm.gov. To claim 5-point Veterans' Preference, attach a copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or other proof of eligibility. To claim 10-point Veterans' Preference, attach an SF-15, application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference, plus the proof required by that form. If you have severe disabilities or are a 30% or more disabled veteran, you may be considered under special hiring authority. Applicants with severe disabilities must submit a copy of SF-258 "Self-Identification of Handicap." In addition, compensable veterans must submit a letter from the Veterans Administration dated within the last year indicating the percentage of disability. =20 =20 OTHER SUBMISSION INFORMATION 1. All applications must be received at the office by 5:00 P.M. on the closing date of this announcement. 2. Applications submitted by facsimile (Fax) will not be accepted. 3. All applications must be submitted to: =20 =20 Marine Mammal Commission Room 905 4340 East-West Highway Bethesda, Maryland 20814 Attention: Mrs. Nancy L. Shaw (301)504-0087 =20 =20 The Marine Mammal Commission is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 00:08:22 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: results of U.S. gray whale lawsuit (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Dian Hardy ===== A message from the 'makahwhaling' discussion list ===== WHALES WIN HUGE VICTORY IN U.S. APPEALS COURT! ----------------------------------- THIS IS IT! The long-awaited results of the 'Metcalf v. Daley' appeal are in, and just as we predicted, the court ruled 2-1 in favor of the whales! This is HUGE, folks- and we will continue to look into this breaking news, with more information later today. As it stands now, though, the Makah whale hunt is on indefinite hold! ***** FROM KING-5, SEATTLE -------------- Federal appeals court overturns Makah whaling ruling June 9, 2000, 01:30 PM SAN FRANCISCO - A federal appeals court Friday overturned the ruling that allowed Washington state's Makah Indians to resume whaling for the first time in more than 70 years. A panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit of Appeals ruled 2-1 that the environmental impact had not been adequately considered. The case now goes back to federal court in Tacoma, Wash., for additional proceedings, including a new environmental assessment to be done by the government. The Makah had hunted whales for generations until the 1920s, which commercial whaling decimated the whale population. But the tribe moved to resume the hunt after gray whales were removed from the Endangered Species List in 1994. The Makah, claiming whaling rights under an 1855 treaty, hunted and killed a gray whale in 1999. Indian whalers have been out this spring but have not been successful. The decision reinstates a lawsuit filed by Rep. Jack Metcalf, R-Wash., sending it back before U.S. District Judge Franklin Burgess. Burgess had dismissed arguments from the congressman and animal rights groups that the environmental assessment for the hunt was inadequate. Biologists estimate 26,000 gray whales migrate each year between the waters off Alaska and Mexico. Tribal officials in Neah Bay, Wash., could not immediately be reached for comment. ***** QUOTE OF THE DAY ------------ "The Federal Defendants did not engage the NEPA process 'at the earliest possible time.' Instead, the record makes clear that the Federal Defendants did not even consider the potential environmental effects of the proposed action (Makah whaling) until long after they had already committed in writing to support the Makah whaling proposal...." Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, June 9, 2000 ***** ----- ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 00:11:15 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Yarsinia in cetaceans (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- This message probably refers to bacteria of the genus Yersinia which infect a wide range of animals including man. The genus comprises several species and pathogenic strains cause gastro-intestinal infections. In this respect they differ from Brucella. The link to Brucella is that a single serotype (O:9) of Yersinia enterocolitica has an identical immunodominant surface lipopolysaccharide molecule which gives rise to serological titres indistinguishable to those following infection with Brucella. Regards Alastair MacMillan Dr AP MacMillan Head, FAO/WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Brucellosis OIE Brucellosis Reference Centre Veterinary Laboratories Agency Weybridge UK Tel: +44 (0)1932-257216 Fax: +44 (0)1932-257423 email:a.p.macmillan(\)vla.maff.gov.uk -----Original Message----- From: Marine Mammals Research and Conservation Discussion Sent: 08 June 2000 21:39 A lab reported to us the presence of the bacteria Yarsinia sp. in blood and tissue samples of stranded cetaceans. This bacteria is reported mainly in fishes, and in domestic animals it behaves as Brucella. We didn't found any references about this bacteria in marine mammals, but we don't have enough material available. We need to know about records, effects, diseases, symptoms or zoonosis caused by this bacteria in marine mammals. If anybody can help us in this sense, please contact Diana Antochiw-Alonzo at the Yucatan Stranding Network: revay(\)earthling.net Thanks in advance. RED DE VARAMIENTOS DE YUCATAN, A.C. Calle 53E No.232 x 44 y 46 Fracc. Francisco de Montejo C.P. 97 200 M=E9rida Yucat=E1n, M=E9xico Tel: 52 (9) 946 55 58 Fax: 52 (9) 927 36 18 Del interior del Estado sin costo: 01 (800) 71 03370 e-mail: revay(\)earthling.net ---------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2000 03:28:58 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: results of U.S. gray whale lawsuit (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: john griffith Per a message purportedly from Dian Hardy, posted on Marmam. Please explain how the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals verdict on the Makah Whaling case "is HUGE," as described in Hardy's posting, and how the court "ruled 2-1 in favor of the whales." An Associated Press story quoted the dissenting appelate judge: "One appellate judge dissented. Judge Andrew J. Kleinfeld said the majority had 'no warrant' for setting aside the environmental impact report. 'Obviously the agency did not prepare the environmental assessment until its officials had already decided that they wanted to let the Makah Indians hunt whales. Why else would they have gone to the trouble of preparing an environmental assessment?' he wrote. Although the majority said the environmental assessment was performed under suspicious circumstances, Kleinfeld complained that the other judges never identified anything specific within the report that was inaccurate or inappropriate." So, without benefit of having a copy of the Appeals Court order, it may be safe to predict that under remand the District Court will try to guess at what the Appeals judges wanted, and tell NMFS to rewrite that part. Is that a ruling in favor of the whales? Taking only the AP story for facts, it seems more a ruling regarding proceedure. Does anyone in this group know what issues were appealed to the 9th, and what the complaint asked the judges to decide regarding the EIS. All I know about the complaint -- the original and on appeal -- I gathered from news accounts last year and this, but haven't had a chance to read it. John Griffith former reporter Coos Bay OR ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2000 18:32:22 -0700 Reply-To: awillow(\)earthlink.net From: Will Anderson Subject: Makah Ninth Circuit Ruling Marmam Members, The text of the recent (6/9/00) Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on the Metcalf V. Daley suit can be found on the court's website: www.ce9.uscourts.gov/ It should be noted that though Makah elder Alberta Thompson is still listed as a plaintiff, for personal reasons she removed herself during the lower court's proceedings. I delivered that petition on her behalf while she was at IWC 50 in Monaco. She (and other elders) still opposes the hunt using other venues. The actual interpretation and extent of what this ruling does and does not mean, does and does not do, is still being debated by supporters and opponents of the hunt. Regards, Will Anderson Director, Advocacy Department The Progressive Animal Welfare Society Lynnwood, WA -- Will Anderson ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 11:05:32 +0100 Reply-To: Len Thomas From: Len Thomas Subject: WORKSHOPS: Distance sampling, Aug-Sept 2000, St Andrews --------------------------------------------- Deadline for early registration is June 30th! 2nd workshop nearly full! --------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ RESEARCH UNIT FOR WILDLIFE POPULATION ASSESSMENT INTERNATIONAL TRAINING WORKSHOPS 2000 ------------------------------------------------ Introduction to Distance Sampling August 28 - 30 Advanced Techniques and Recent Developments in Distance Sampling August 31 - September 2 University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland ----------------------------------------------- http://www.ruwpa.st-and.ac.uk/distanceworkshop/ ----------------------------------------------- Overview -------- Distance sampling is the most widely used method for estimating the abundance of wildlife populations. The aim of these workshops is to train participants in the latest methods for design and analysis of distance sampling surveys, including line and point transects. The workshops are taught by leading researchers in the field, using industry-standard software. The first workshop will run at an introductory level, and will focus on "conventional" distance sampling methods, as described in the standard reference book Distance Sampling. The workshop will be a blend of theory and practice and participants will learn how to use the program Distance (version 3.5). Participants will gain a solid grounding in both survey design and methods of analysis for distance sampling surveys. The second workshop will cover the latest advances in distance sampling research and software. It is intended for those already familiar with conventional distance sampling methods. Participants will learn the use of covariates for modelling the detection function, double-platform methods for when g(0) < 1, spatial modelling of density, automated survey design and adaptive sampling. Computer sessions will use a preliminary version of the new software Distance 4. For both workshops, participants are encouraged to bring their own data sets, and can expect to do some preliminary analyses with their data. Instructors ----------- The workshop instructors are Prof. Stephen Buckland, Dr. David Borchers and Dr. Len Thomas. All three are at the forefront of research into distance sampling methods, and development of software to apply the new methods. They have extensive experience teaching distance sampling, including previous highly successful workshops taught in the UK, USA, Norway, and New Zealand. Cost ---- The course fees are 440 UK pounds for one workshop and 745 pounds for both workshops, with a 25% discount for registered students. For registrations received after June 30th, a late-registration supplement of 50 pounds will apply. The fee covers tuition, all course materials and refreshments at morning and afternoon breaks. The number of places is limited to 30 on the first workshop and 18 on the second, and will be filled on a first-come first-served basis. Further information ------------------- The workshop booklet is on the world-wide web at http://www.ruwpa.st-and.ac.uk/distanceworkshop/ Registration forms are available at that site. If you would like a printed copy of this information or have any questions about the workshops, please contact Rhona Rodger Workshop Organizer Research Unit for Wildlife Population Assessment Mathematical Institute University of St. Andrews St. Andrews Scotland KY16 9SS Tel:+44 1334 463228 Fax: +44 1334 463748 Email: rhona(\)mcs.st-and.ac.uk Alternative contact: Steve Buckland +44 1334 463787 steve(\)mcs.st-and.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 11:24:30 +0200 From: Kristin Kaschner Subject: Reminder - SMM Student Survey Deadline From: Kristin Kaschner This is a reminder that the deadline for responding to the SMM Student Survey, that we sent out to get an idea about the desired format and content of the Student Workshop at the next SMM Biannual Conference in Vancouver, 2001, is coming up soon (June 15th, 2000). The feedback we have gotten so far has been great and will be very helpful for us when trying to organize the workshop, but we would like to encourage all of you, who haven't gotten around to responding yet, to please fill it out NOW. The more input WE get from you now, the more YOU will profit from the workshop! When replying, just copy the questions and add your answers to a new email message. Feel free to insert specific comments after each question. Email your replies to Kristin Kaschner at (Amanda is leaving for the field soon), but not to MARMAM! Thanks for your time! 1) Are you currently an undergraduate or graduate student? UNDERGRAD GRAD 2) Will you be attending the 2001 SMM Biennial Conference in Vancouver? YES NO 3) Did you attend the 1999 SMM Biennial Conference in Maui? YES NO 4) Did you participate in the student workshop in Maui? YES NO 5) Did you find the meeting well suited to your particular needs as a student? YES NO 6) If we organized a student workshop similar (in timing, duration, and content) to the one in Maui, would you attend? YES NO 7) Would you be interested in having the student workshop divided, in order to focus more specifically on the different stages of SMM students? (For example, a workshop providing more introductory information about the field of marine mammalogy, including internship possibilities, graduate school considerations, and career opportunities, might better accommodate our undergraduate members; whereas, a workshop offering more specific information regarding career advancement, for instance grant writing, publication preparation, and idea exchange, may assist our graduate members.) YES NO 8) The following are possible agenda items for the next student workshop. Place an "X" next to those topics you would consider VERY IMPORTANT to address at the Vancouver student workshop. Keep in mind that not everything can be covered, so BE SELECTIVE and try to limit your selection to five topics. __ Types of careers in marine mammalogy (including "non-traditional" examples). __ Marine mammal job/internship/funding opportunities in North America. __ Marine mammal job/internship/funding opportunities outside of North America (a specific request after Maui). __ Balancing a family and a career in marine mammalogy (another specific request after Maui). __ Publishing tips. __ Grant writing tips and funding sources. __ Getting into graduate school. __ "Surviving" graduate school (i.e. maintaining the momentum necessary to succeed as a marine mammal scientist). __ Applying to graduate school in another country. __ Considerations when choosing a thesis/dissertation project __ Choosing statistical analyses for data. __ Student opportunities within the SMM (e.g. student chapters, travel grants). __ Small group discussions led by experts in each category of marine mammal research (e.g. acoustics, behavior, genetics, population dynamics). Please list area(s) of research which interest you: __ OTHER: 9) If two student workshops were offered, would you object to them being held concurrently (i.e. you would only be able to participate in one workshop)? YES NO 10) Would you prefer the Vancouver student workshop(s) to be longer, shorter, or the same length (approximately three hours) as the Maui student workshop? LONGER SHORTER SAME LENGTH 11) Would you be more likely to attend the Vancouver student workshop(s) prior to the conference (i.e. a pre-conference workshop) or during the conference (i.e. in the evening)? PRIOR DURING 12) If the student workshop(s) were held during the conference, would you be more likely to attend if it were earlier (like Maui) or later in the week of the conference period? EARLIER LATER 13) If the Vancouver conference budget does not permit free food and beverages at the student workshop (like Maui), would you rather keep the workshop free of charge (with only tea/coffee/soda available) or pay a small fee (less than $5-7 U.S.) so that food would be available? KEEP FREE PAY SMALL FEE FOR FOOD Marine Mammal Research Unit University of British Columbia Room 18, Hut B-3, 6248 Biological Sciences Road Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6T 1Z4 Phone: (604) 822-8181, Fax: (604) 822-8180 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 11:32:25 +0900 From: "Anthony A. Flaherty" Subject: Australian National Guidelines for Cetacean Observation The Australian National Guidelines for Cetacean Observation & Areas of Special Interest for Cetacean Observation (249 KB) is available as a PDF download. http://www.environment.gov.au/marine/species_protection/cetaceans/watching_g uidelines.pdf Further information For more information about cetacean observation in Australian waters e-mail whales.info(\)ea.gov.au. URL: http://www.environment.gov.au/marine/species_protection/cetaceans/guidelines .htm ****************************** Forwarded by Tony Flaherty MCCN (SA) **************************************** Tony Flaherty South Australian Coordinator, Marine & Coastal Community Network (SA) c/o University of South Australia, Holbrooks Road, Underdale South Australia 5032 Phone 61 8 8302 6568 Fax 61 8 8302 6550 - mobile 0429 678 869 E-dress - web - For our free snail mail list (Australia only) to receive quarterly newsletters WAVES and Regional Ripples contact Kerri at To receive regular summaries of Australian marine-related issues - contact Tony at mccnsa(\)senet.com.au and ask to subscribe WET STUFF. The Marine and Coastal Community Network (MCCN) works to increase Australians' understanding, appreciation, management and protection of marine and coastal environments and their biodiversity. It does this by initiating and supporting community involvement in marine and coastal conservation efforts including government programs, and by providing information and opinion to MCCN participants from a variety of sources. The MCCN is a national program administered by the Australian Marine Conservation Society. It is supported by the Federal Government's Marine Program. We have a regional coordinator in each state and the Northern Territory.In South Australia the MCCN is hosted by University of South Australia. Views expressed forwarded material are not necessarily those of the MCCN. *************************************************** ,///, <')<:::>{ `` ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 10:44:29 -0400 From: Cheri Recchia Subject: back issues of MMS Dear Marmamers I have back issues of Marine Mammal Science I unfortunately must get rid of. I have complete volumes from 1989 (vol. 5) to 1997 (vol. 13) inclusive. I also have back issues of Animal Behavior, from 1988 (vol. 37) to 1997 (vol. 54). I am happy to provide these to anyone who is willing to pay shipping costs. Cheri Recchia Cheri Recchia Washington, DC tel: (202) 429-5609 fax: (202) 872-0619 e-mail: CRecchia(\)dccmc.org ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 13 Jun 0100 03:45:04 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Abstract: behavioral indicators of stress in odontocetes Frohoff, T.G. 2000. Behavioral Indicators of Stress in Odontocetes During Interactions with Humans: A Preliminary Review and Discussion. International Whaling Commission Scientific Committee, SC/52/WW2 Contact email: frohoff(\)ix.netcom.com ABSTRACT The popularity and occurrence of 'sociable' contact with free-ranging cetaceans has increased substantially over the last two decades. The types and nature of these interactions vary, but are generally characterized by the animals initiating or allowing close and sustained proximity to humans (e.g., swimmers, waders, boaters) and allowing sustained or repeated interaction. The development of programs offering these interactions to the public has resulted in a form of intensive and commercial exploitation of odontocetes around the world. Consequently, numerous accounts of harassment to the animals, including severe injuries and even mortalities, have been reported. Human injuries have also increased, and, in one case, a human fatality was documented as a result of harassing a dolphin. This paper provides a preliminary review of literature that documents odontocete behaviors potentially indicative of stress associated with sociable interactions between free-ranging odontocetes and humans over the last century. A review of the risks of short- and long-term impact to the animals involved in these interactions was also conducted as well as an assessment of these factors in light of management and research. A total of 177 reports (not observed frequencies of the actual occurrences) of stress-related odontocete behaviors observed in the context of sociable human interaction were noted in the review. Of these, 107 reports were made for solitary animals. Eighty-seven (almost 50%) of the total reports involved swimmers only. This high proportion of stress-related responses reported for swimmers alone indicates that their impact on odontocetes may be serious under a variety of conditions. Of the 38 behavior types noted, 'avoidance' was the most frequently reported, followed by 'slaps and splashes' against the water and 'forcefully pushing' and 'biting' swimmers. This review also demonstrates that odontoctes exhibiting the highest degree of contact with humans are generally at the greatest risk of injury, illness, and death. In particular, incidents in which humans intentionally injured or killed animals involved in sociable interactions were reported almost exclusively for solitary animals and animals regularly provisioned with food. The research on this subject illustrates how identification of stress-related behaviors is valuable in determining impacts to animals as well as minimizing impacts when incorporated into management programs. However, research has largely been restricted to studies of short-term impacts on the animals. Because of the difficulties inherent in observing behavioral impacts to odontocetes, determination of no or minimal impact should not be made based on the absence of perceived short-term responses alone. Research, management and legislation of these programs have lagged far behind their expansion. Long-term, quantitative studies of cetaceans targeted for recreational human activity need to be initiated as early as possible in the development of the activity. Management appeared to be most effective when it was based on research, was site- and animal-specific and was implemented early in the development of the interaction. Also, adequate monitoring, education and, occasionally, enforcement were essential for effective management or prohibition of these interactions. The existing research indicates that a precautionary approach to management of these activities is warranted so that the burden of proof lies with those who want to interact with the animals instead of those who want to protect them. In light of the proliferation of programs that are facilitating contact with cetaceans, it is recommended that this observation be supported by legislation and funding of research and management accordingly. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 12:46:01 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly marine mammal summary (fwd) The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS Endocrine Disruption. On June 22-25, 2000, the Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) , the Univ. of CT, and the Jackson Laboratory will hold an Atlantic Coast Contaminants Workshop on "Endocrine Disruptors in the Marine Environment: Impacts on Marine Wildlife and Human Health" in Bar Harbor, ME. [MERI press release] Makah Whaling. On June 12, 2000, an injured watercraft operator is scheduled to appear in federal court on charges she violated the whaling exclusionary zone. On May 29, 2000, Makah whalers resumed hunting gray whale, but did not kill an animal. [Assoc Press, Reuters, Seattle Post- Intelligencer, APB Multimedia] {EU Dolphin Deaths. On June 7, 2000, Britain's fisheries minister announced that British observers had recorded dolphins being killed by intensive pair-trawl fishing for sea bass by Scottish and French fishermen; government officials pledged that action would be taken to reduce this mortality.} [BBC News, London Times] Keiko. On May 25, 2000, Keiko was released for his first open-ocean excursion, wherein he following a boat for 2 hours and 4 miles off Iceland's Westman Islands before returning to the enclosed Klettsvik Bay where he has been kept since September 1998. While Keiko was at sea, workmen dynamited rock to build a new pier in the Vestmannaeyar harbor. [Reuters] Canadian Sealing. On May 24, 2000, Canada's federal advisory group, the Fisheries Resource Conservation Council, issued a report supporting fishermen by calling for measures to be taken to protect cod stocks from seals. The Council recommended establishing "seal exclusion zones" suggesting that seal culls might be targeted to areas where cod congregate to overwinter. [Canadian Press, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release] Sea Otters and the Exxon Valdez Spill. The May 23, 2000 issue of theProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences contained an article [ http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/120163397 ] studying chronic effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill of March 1989 on sea otter populations in Prince William Sound, AK. The study concluded that sea otters continued to be adversely affected by the spill almost a decade later, although these effects have gradually dissipated. [BBC News] Whale Sanctuary. On May 19, 2000, South Africa's Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism proposed the creation of a sanctuary for southern right whales in Walker Bay, one of the few sites offering an opportunity for shore-based whale watching. A proposed new law would prohibit anyone from operating a fishing boat, vessel, jetski, or kayak within the marine protected area without a permit annually from July 1 through December 15. Comments on the proposal are being accepted through June 19, 2000. [Panafrican News Agency, Environment News Service] Dolphin-Safe Tuna. On May 19, 2000, Secretary of Commerce Daly announced that the United States plans to appeal a lower court ruling of Apr. 11, 2000, that prevents the government from authorizing the use of a new definition for "dolphin-safe" tuna sold in the United States. The appeal will be decided by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (San Francisco). On May 30, 2000, NMFS published final regulations designating an official mark that can be used to label tuna products as being "dolphin-safe." [Fed. Register, NOAA press release] Cook Inlet Beluga Whales. On May 16, 2000, the AK Dept. of Natural Resources announced that it wouldn't lease 126 tracts in Cook Inlet identified as important beluga whale habitat. On May 31, 2000, NMFS published final regulations declaring the Cook Inlet stock of beluga whales to be "depleted" under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. [Anchorage Daily News, Center for Marine Conservation press release, Fed. Register] Low Frequency Sound. On May 12, 2000, the Ocean Studies Board of the National Research Council released its report "Marine Mammals and Low- Frequency Sound: Progress Since 1994." [National Research Council] U.S. Navy and Sonar. On May 10, 2000, a coalition of environmental and animal welfare organizations was scheduled to hold a press conference in Washington, DC, where they claimed they would present evidence directly linking the March 2000 mass standing of whales and dolphins in the Bahamas to U.S. Navy use of active sonar devices in the area. The Navy responded, calling the allegations unsupported. On May 26, 2000, U.S. Navy officials announced that Littoral Warfare Advanced Development tests , scheduled for early June 2000 off the NJ coast, would exclude active acoustic sources. Environmental groups took this as a sign that the Navy had become more responsive to addressing concerns that sonar may affect marine mammals. [Assoc Press, Washington Post, personal communication, U.S. Navy press release, Animal Welfare Institute press release, MSNBC] Right Whale Protection. On May 9, 2000, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) announced the beginning of a $150,000 project to benefit north Atlantic right whales, consisting of deployment of 6 passive acoustic buoys east of Nantucket in the Great South Channel. The passive acoustic monitoring devices will record right whale sounds and ship noise for 40 days while scientists visually record whale distribution near the buoys. [Assoc Press, IFAW press release] Items in this Summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 10:09:23 -0400 From: Lori Marino Subject: New article on cetaean brain evolution boundary="------------12513FA76C467C55F825271E" --------------12513FA76C467C55F825271E Dear Colleagues, Below is the abstract from a new paper we have recently published on cetacean brain evolution. For reprints see address below. Marino, L., Uhen, M. D., Frohlich, B., Aldag, J. M. , Blane, C., Bohaska, D., and Whitmore, Jr., F.C. (2000). Endocranial volume of mid-late Eocene archaeocetes (Order: Cetacea) revealed by computed tomography: Implications for cetacean brain evolution. Journal of Mammalian Evolution, 7(2), 81-94. The large brain of modern cetaceans has engendered much hypothesizing about both the intelligence of cetaceans (dolphins, whales, and porpoises) and the factors related to the evolution of such large brains. Despite much interest in cetacean brain evolution, until recently there have been few estimates of brain mass and/or brain-body weight ratios in fossil cetaceans. In the present study, Computed Tomography (CT) was used to visualize and estimate endocranial volume, as well as to calculate level of encephalization, for two fully aquatic mid-late Eocene archaeocete species, Dorudon atrox and Zygorhiza kochii. The specific objective was to address more accurately and more conclusively the question of whether relative brain size in fully aquatic archaeocetes was greater than that of their hypothesized sister taxon Mesonychia. The findings suggest that there was no increase in encephalization between Mesonychia and these archaeocete species. For reprints: Lori Marino, Ph.D. Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology Program Psychology Building Emory University Atlanta, Georgia 30322 (404) 727-7582 Fax: (404) 727-0372 lmarino(\)emory.edu --------------12513FA76C467C55F825271E Dear Colleagues,

    Below is the abstract from a new paper we have recently published on cetacean brain evolution. For reprints see address below.

Marino, L., Uhen, M. D., Frohlich, B., Aldag, J. M. , Blane, C., Bohaska, D., and Whitmore, Jr., F.C. (2000). Endocranial volume of mid-late Eocene archaeocetes (Order: Cetacea) revealed by computed tomography: Implications for cetacean brain evolution. Journal of Mammalian Evolution, 7(2), 81-94.

The large brain of modern cetaceans has engendered much hypothesizing about both the intelligence of cetaceans (dolphins, whales, and porpoises) and the factors related to the evolution of such large brains.  Despite much interest in cetacean brain evolution, until recently there have been few estimates of brain mass and/or brain-body weight ratios in fossil cetaceans.  In the present study, Computed Tomography (CT) was used to visualize and estimate endocranial volume, as well as to calculate level of encephalization, for two fully aquatic mid-late Eocene archaeocete species, Dorudon atrox and Zygorhiza kochii.  The specific objective was to address more accurately and more conclusively the question of whether relative brain size in fully aquatic archaeocetes was greater than that of their hypothesized sister taxon Mesonychia.  The findings suggest that there was no increase in encephalization between Mesonychia and these archaeocete species.

For reprints:
Lori Marino, Ph.D.
Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology Program
Psychology Building
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia 30322
(404) 727-7582
Fax: (404) 727-0372
lmarino(\)emory.edu
  --------------12513FA76C467C55F825271E-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 13:08:50 -0400 From: Ed Urban Subject: New National Research Council Report The U.S. National Research Council recently issued a report entitled Marine Mammals and Low-Frequency Sound: Progress Since 1994. The report has three foci. First, it reviews the results of the Marine Mammal Research Program associated with the Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate (ATOC) experiment. Second, the report updates the state of our knowledge and research priorities first developed in the 1994 NRC report entitled Low-Frequency Sound and Marine Mammals: Current Knowledge and Research Needs. Finally, the new report discusses some implications of our current knowledge for reauthorization of the Marine Mammal Protection Act in the United States. The report can be previewed and ordered at http://books.nap.edu/catalog/9756.html. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2000 09:31:44 +0200 From: Juan Antonio Raga Esteve Subject: European Seminar on Marine Mammals The Third European Seminar on Marine Mammals: Biology and Conservation will take place in Valencia (Spain), 11-15 September 2000 hosted by the Universidad Internacional Menendez Pelayo. The programme are available at the ECS web page or also directly at next web site: http://bioweb.uv.es/zoologia/course.html For all information and details contact the ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY: Universidad Internacional Menendez Pelayo Student Office Plaza del Carmen, 4 E-46003 Valencia, Spain Phone +34.96.3869802; Fax +34.96.3869823 E-mail matriculas(\)uimp-v.m400.gva.es IBERIA air company offers a 25% reduction of the costs for UIMP students attending the course. For further information contact the UIMP student office (see above). The organisers, Peter Evans (University of Oxford) & Toni Raga (University of Valencia) -- *************************************************************** Juan Antonio Raga Departamento de Biologia Animal & Telf +34963864375 Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad Fax +34963864372 y Biologia Evolutiva E-mail toni.raga(\)uv.es Universitat de Valencia Dr. Moliner 50 E-46100 Burjasot Valencia, SPAIN *************************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 14:28:13 -0700 From: Jenifer Hurley Subject: Certificate in Beginning Marine Mammmalogy There are still spaces available in the up-coming Working with Marine Mammals and Techniques and Theories of Animal Training classes: California State University Monterey Bay is offering the following summer courses for individuals interested in pursuing careers in the marine mammal (or training) field. Successful completion of either course results in the opportunity to pursue an intensive one-week hands-on internship at the lab. And the successful completion of both courses and the internship will earn a certificate in Beginning Marine Mammalogy. WORKING WITH MARINE MAMMALS: This course explores career directions and current topics working with marine mammals. It will provide practical information about marine mammals and working with them, drawing on the rich background of marine mammal work in the Monterey Bay area. The course will be primarily lecture, however, it will include live experiences with the marine mammals at Moss Landing Marine Labs and in the surrounding areas. Topics covered will include practical knowledge of captive marine mammal husbandry (care and maintenance), training, basic physiology, an overview of common research topics and techniques, as well as public display, education, and current issues in marine mammalogy. Students will intern at least one day at Moss Landing Marine Labs assisting in the care of research-trained California sea lions. They will also develop a resume and application packet based on researching a specific job of interest, go through a mock interview and oral examination, and there will be one written exam. Working with marine mammals will be offered twice in the summer of 2000. A one-week intensive 3 credit course will be offered 6/19/00 to 6/23/00 8:00am-6:00pm (ESSP 395 sec 02, CRN 35025) at a cost of $431 U.S (no internship day is included in this class).Working with marine mammals will also be offered as a full 4 credit course MWF 8:00am-noon, 7/3/00 to 7/28/00, at a cost of $545 U.S (ESSP 395 sec 03, CRN 35030). TECHNIQUES AND THEORIES OF ANIMAL TRAINING (ESSP 395 sec 01, CRN 35024): This 4 credit course explores the field of animal training from a psychological and a technical perspective. It provides a theoretical background in relevant animal behavior and psychological principles related to the practical goal of modifying captive animal behavior. Topics explored include the history and ethics of animal use and training. Students also receive a solid education in the practical discipline of animal training techniques. These techniques will be demonstrated using the trained sea lion collection at Moss Landing Marine Labs where the course is taught. Students will intern at least one day at Moss Landing Marine Labs assisting in the care and training of research-trained sea lions. Topics covered will include: Captivity, Why Train?, Communication, Motivation, Desensitization, Aggression, and Practical Training. This class is offered once in the summer of 2000. The class will meet MWF 2-6:00pm from 7/3/00 to 7/28/00. This class will cost $545 U.S. Courses will be taught at Moss Landing Marine Labs in Moss Landing, CA. The courses are open for enrollment of any interested person, however no transportation or housing is provided. For registration, enrollment and other logistical information please contact Cal State Monterey Bay- http://dlee.monterey.edu/ or call them at 831-582-4500. To get onto a class list or for content related inquiries you may contact: jhurley(\)mlml.calstate.edu. Jenifer A. Hurley, Ph.D. Director of Research and Training Science Learning and Experimenting With The Help of Sea lions Moss Landing Marine Laboratories 7700 Sandholdt Rd, Bldg. D Moss Landing, CA 95039-0450 v: (831)-633-5642 fax:(831)-633-0805 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2000 17:03:35 -0400 From: kronald Subject: Fw: Marine Mammal Distant Education boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0016_01BFD16B.7BC86620" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0016_01BFD16B.7BC86620 charset="iso-8859-1" N O T I C E Registration for The Second Edition of the Distance Education Course = "Marine Mammal Management" will commence on June 19th.2000. This course = is offered at three levels, for=20 1) general interest (audit with completion certificate),=20 2) senior undergraduate credit, and=20 3) the 3 credit graduate level offering. These courses may be taken anywhere in the world (and almost have) by = anyone who has an interest in this curiously unknown group of mammals. Course starts - July 10th, runs until September 22nd, 2000.. Please contact me for further academic materials, after checking the web = site: =20 http:///www.nova.edu/ocean/marmam/marmam.html Professor Keith Ronald kronald(\)uoguelph.ca ------=_NextPart_000_0016_01BFD16B.7BC86620 charset="iso-8859-1"

 
N O T I C E
Registration for The Second Edition of the Distance = Education=20 Course "Marine Mammal Management" will commence on June=20 19th.2000. This course is offered at three levels, for=20
1) general interest (audit with completion = certificate),=20
2) senior undergraduate credit, and
3) the 3 credit graduate level = offering.
 
These courses may be taken anywhere in the world (and almost have) = by=20 anyone who has an interest in this curiously unknown group of = mammals.
 
Course starts - July 10th,  runs until September 22nd,=20 2000..
 
Please contact me for further academic materials, after = checking the=20 web site:
 
http:///ww= w.nova.edu/ocean/marmam/marmam.html
 
 
Professor Keith Ronald
 
------=_NextPart_000_0016_01BFD16B.7BC86620-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2000 11:47:56 -0400 Reply-To: pthompson(\)savethemanatee.org From: Save the Manatee Organization: Save the Manatee Club Subject: request for proposals from Save the Manatee Club Save the Manatee Club (SMC) is interested in sponsoring research projects involving the West Indian manatee, especially projects prioritized in the Florida Manatee Recovery Plan and therefore considered important for recovery of the manatee in the wild. (Proposals submitted for work out of the U.S. should refer to any appropriate recovery document.) Typical awards are about $2,000 - $8,000 inside the U.S. (outside the U.S. - typically a few hundred up to $5,000). Prior to submitting a formal proposal, interested individuals should submit a letter of inquiry [no more than two (2) pages] stating explicitly how the proposed work relates to the goals of the Florida Manatee Recovery Plan and an estimate of cost. Note: SMC does not pay overhead or similar charges. Send preproposals to Patti Thompson at the address, fax or email listed below. Applicants whose preproposals fit SMC's criteria will be sent instructions on submitting a full proposal. preproposals should be submitted as soon as possible as the deadline for full proposals is 15 September 2000. ********************************** Patti Thompson, Staff Biologist Save the Manatee Club 500 N. Maitland Ave. Maitland, FL 32751 phone: 407-539-0990 fax: 407-539-0871 pthompson(\)savethemanatee.org ********************************** ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 17 Jun 0100 02:56:12 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly marine mammal summary to U.S. Congress (fwd) Forwarded message: The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS Endocrine Disruption. On June 22-25, 2000, the Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) , the Univ. of CT, and the Jackson Laboratory will hold an Atlantic Coast Contaminants Workshop on "Endocrine Disruptors in the Marine Environment: Impacts on Marine Wildlife and Human Health" in Bar Harbor, ME. [MERI press release] {BC Aquaculture Kills. On June 14, 2000, the Vancouver, BC, Sunreported that more than 5,000 seals and sea lions, including 500 CA sea lions and 300 Steller sea lions, were legally killed by BC salmon farmers during the 1990s. In 1999, salmon farmers killed 692 marine mammals, including 470 harbor seals, 133 CA sea lions, and 88 Steller sea lions. Special predator control permits issued by the Canadian government allowed salmon farmers to kill marine mammals that threatened salmon net pens. Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans officials have scheduled meetings with fish farmers to communicate the need to improve net pen equipment to reduce the opportunity for marine mammal damage.} [Vancouver Sun, Canadian Press] {IWC. On June 12, 2000, the International Whaling Commission's Secretary Dr. Ray Gambell was reported to have said the IWC must end a decade of inactivity and bring all whaling under international control, implying that the IWC's moratorium on commercial whaling should be reviewed with the aim of ending or modifying it.} [Reuters, BBC News] {CA Sea Otters. On June 12, 2000, the U.S. Geological Survey reported the results of the annual spring count of CA sea otters, with the population estimated to be almost 11% larger than last year. Between Santa Barbara and Half Moon Bay, a total of 2,317 otters were counted this spring, compared to 2,090 in 1999.} [Assoc Press] {Gray Whale Mortalities. As of June 11, 2000, a total of 46 gray whale deaths had been recorded along the CA coast, compared to 48 in all of 1999. Between Mar. 23 and June 11 alone, a total of 24 stranded (dead) gray whales have been reported between San Mateo and Marin Counties. Factors contributing to this increased mortality have not been conclusively identified.} [San Francisco Examiner] Makah Whaling. On May 29, 2000, Makah whalers resumed hunting gray whale, but did not kill an animal. {On June 9, 2000, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voted 2-1 to overturn a lower court ruling, stating that the environmental impact of allowing the Makah to resume whaling had not been adequately considered. The case will be returned to Judge Franklin Burgess in the U.S. District Court in Tacoma, WA. The federal government has been ordered to suspend whaling until a new objective environmental study is completed. Others suggest that treaty rights cannot be abrogated, and the Makah can continue whaling while NMFS completes a new environmental study.} On June 12, 2000, an injured watercraft operator was scheduled to appear in federal court on charges she violated the whaling exclusionary zone. [Assoc Press, Reuters, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, APB Multimedia, The Fund for Animals press release, Humane Society of the United States press release] EU Dolphin Deaths. On June 7, 2000, Britain's fisheries minister announced that British observers had recorded dolphins being killed by intensive pair- trawl fishing for sea bass by Scottish and French fishermen; government officials pledged that action would be taken to reduce this mortality. [BBC News, London Times] U.S. Navy Sonar. On May 26, 2000, U.S. Navy officials announced that Littoral Warfare Advanced Development tests , scheduled for early June 2000 off the NJ coast, would exclude active acoustic sources. Environmental groups took this as a sign that the Navy had become more responsive to addressing concerns that sonar may affect marine mammals. {On June 14, 2000, a biologist hired by NMFS to conduct necropsies on whales that beached in mid-March in the Bahamas reported finding severe trauma and bleeding around their inner ears that may indicate damage from intense sound/pressure. Such damage may suggest a connection to Navy exercises and acoustic activities in the area. The Navy agrees there is a priority need to examine the issue, and has appointed a panel of experts.} [Assoc Press, Washington Post, personal communication, U.S. Navy press release, Animal Welfare Institute press release, MSNBC, ABC News] Keiko. On May 25, 2000, Keiko was released for his first open-ocean excursion, wherein he following a boat for 2 hours and 4 miles off Iceland's Westman Islands before returning to the enclosed Klettsvik Bay where he has been kept since September 1998. While Keiko was at sea, workmen dynamited rock to build a new pier in the Vestmannaeyar harbor. [Reuters] Canadian Sealing. On May 24, 2000, Canada's federal advisory group, the Fisheries Resource Conservation Council, issued a report supporting fishermen by calling for measures to be taken to protect cod stocks from seals. The Council recommended establishing "seal exclusion zones" suggesting that seal culls might be targeted to areas where cod congregate to overwinter. [Canadian Press, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release] Sea Otters and the Exxon Valdez Spill. The May 23, 2000 issue of theProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences contained an article [ http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/120163397 ] studying chronic effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill of March 1989 on sea otter populations in Prince William Sound, AK. The study concluded that sea otters continued to be adversely affected by the spill almost a decade later, although these effects have gradually dissipated. [BBC News] Whale Sanctuary. On May 19, 2000, South Africa's Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism proposed the creation of a sanctuary for southern right whales in Walker Bay, one of the few sites offering an opportunity for shore-based whale watching. A proposed new law would prohibit anyone from operating a fishing boat, vessel, jetski, or kayak within the marine protected area without a permit annually from July 1 through December 15. Comments on the proposal are being accepted through June 19, 2000. [Panafrican News Agency, Environment News Service] Dolphin-Safe Tuna. On May 19, 2000, Secretary of Commerce Daly announced that the United States plans to appeal a lower court ruling of Apr. 11, 2000, that prevents the government from authorizing the use of a new definition for "dolphin-safe" tuna sold in the United States. The appeal will be decided by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (San Francisco). On May 30, 2000, NMFS published final regulations designating an official mark that can be used to label tuna products as being "dolphin-safe." [Fed. Register, NOAA press release] Cook Inlet Beluga Whales. On May 16, 2000, the AK Dept. of Natural Resources announced that it wouldn't lease 126 tracts in Cook Inlet identified as important beluga whale habitat. On May 31, 2000, NMFS published final regulations declaring the Cook Inlet stock of beluga whales to be "depleted" under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. [Anchorage Daily News, Center for Marine Conservation press release, Fed. Register] Items in this Summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 19:06:39 EDT From: Joyce O'Neal Subject: Invitation For Symposium To Discuss Low Frequency Active Sonar (LFAS) The Ocean Mammal Institute invites you to a symposium to discuss Low Frequency Active Sonar (LFAS). The symposium will be held at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine on August 14 and 15, 2000. Some people say the 240 dB sound and pressure wave created by LFAS has the potential to kill, deafen and disorient whales, dolphins and all marine life as well as humans in the water. Others say it is safe to use. The purpose of this symposium is to convene scientists, Navy personnel, National Marine Fisheries Service personnel, Congressional representatives, Environmental groups, interested citizens, and media representatives to discuss all aspects of LFAS including: * How it works * The impact on marine life and humans * The results of LFAS tests * Conflicting statements about its impact. * The future of the system * Updates of legal issues This is the first time a diverse group of people will be convening to specifically discuss LFAS. The goal of this meeting is to clarify and address the very controversial issues surrounding LFAS in order to facilitate the presentation of accurate information to Congress and the public. * Price $ 275.00 per person. * Price includes: 3 night's accommodations at the College of the Atlantic, 2 dinners, 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, wine and cheese reception and refreshments for conference breaks. * Registration will take place between 2:00 and 5:00 PM. Sunday - 13 August 2000. * Wine and cheese reception to be held Sunday - 13 August, 7:00-9:00 PM. * Bar Harbor, Maine is known for its beauty and marine life and is an ideal setting for our discussion. * Accommodations are in the Blair/Tyson dormitory of the College of the Atlantic. * Additional information and registration forms are provided on the Ocean Mammal Institute website, www.oceanmammalinst.org To attend the symposium only - the cost is $40.00 per person Attendance at the wine and cheese reception - $10.00 per person Please join us for this important symposium highlighting the future of our oceans. Contact Joyce O'Neal (onealkiwi(\)aol.com) with any questions. Marsha L. Green, Ph. D. President / Founder Ocean Mammal Institute ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2000 10:27:50 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Otaria and Arctocephalus vocalizations (fwd) From: Daniela Sanfelice We're writing in order to ask for some information referent to aerial and subaquatic sounds emitted by otarids. We're interested in doing the characterization of vocalizations (associated with demographic and ethological aspects) made by Otaria flavescens and Arctocephalus australis in two non-reproductive areas occupied by males in the Brazilian southern coast. Given that, would you mind helping us in order to find out specific literature (especially works with detailed methodology), as well as equipment indication, going from field apparatus for recording to analysis software? We'll look forward for your answer. Sincerely, Lilian Hoffmann (shbinha(\)zipmail.com.br) Daniela Sanfelice (sanfa(\)if.ufrgs.br) ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 22:35:46 -0400 From: Rolando Bernal Subject: Lost Pseudorca? Dear subscribers, Since november 1999 until now (june 2000) a False killer whale have been sigthed at the beaches of central Chile. This specimen has been recorded in an area that involve around 100 km. Its behavior observed close to shore has been swiming slowly and close to the beach (3-4 meters), sometimes all along the day, and sometimes so close that almost stranded. Mostly every day moves to other beaches or disappear for some days. The animal not show any visible injury and its llongitud is about 4 - 5 meters. Do anybody know a similar behavior in this specie?, Are there possible explanations to this apparent uncommon behavior? Thank who can provide some antecedents, Best, Rolando -------------------------------------- Rolando Bernal Facultad de Ciencias del Mar / Universidad de Valparaiso P.O. Box 13-D Vinna del Mar Chile Phone: 56-32-507831 Fax: 56-32-507859 Email: rolando.bernal(\)uv.cl ------------------------------------------------ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 11:23:14 +0300 From: David Zakai Organization: Red Sea Marine Biologist, Israel Nature & National Parks Protection Authority, Eilat District, P.O.Box 667, Eilat, Israel Subject: Interdiction exotic dolphins to the Red Sea Comments: cc: "avi(\)ias.agri.gov.il" Dear colleagues, Ten years ago, six bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) where imparted, for a commercial recreational purposes, from the Black Sea to the city of Eilat located at the Israeli Gulf of Aqaba (northern Red Sea). The of bottlenose dolphins where kept in a closer, in the sea, near by shore. Today the school is includes 5 parents Dolphins (1 male & 4 females), and 6 Dolphins that were born in Eilat (2 females & 4 males, between 0.5-8 years old). Mortality never occurred in Dolphins. Four of the dolphins that were born in Eilat (the younger is 1.5 years old), is regularly released to the wild natural environment, but are returning to the closer. Today we are discussing the subject of interdiction of those exotic dolphins to natural environment of the Gulf of Aqaba. I NEED YOUR KIND HELP with publication or written personal view concerning the question of introduction of bottlenose dolphins from the Black Sea to the natural environment of the Israeli part of the Gulf of Aqaba. 1. What are the breeding possibilities between dolphins from the same species or class, from different groups? 2. What are the possibilities of interaction of new bacteriologic fauna by exotic dolphins? 3. Any other information you may have that can help. Sincerely, David Zakai Red Sea Marine Biologist Israel Nature & Parks Authority P.O.Box 667, Eilat, Israel AND The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Science of Eilat, P.O.Box 469, Eilat, Israel Tel +972-7-637-3988 Fax +972-7-637-5047 Lab: +972-7-636-0166 Mobile + 972-3-776-2308 ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2000 01:13:36 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Int. Network for Whaling Research Digest (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 14:25:07 -0600 From: International Network for Whaling Research International Network for Whaling Research INWR DIGEST=09Number 19=09MAY 2000=09ISSN 1192-3539 =20 Editorial Many readers of INWR Digest have told us that, for them, the references to whaling publications are often the most useful and appreciated section in each issue. Most references we publish are scientific or scholarly articles or books, but more rarely we find a narrative that captures something of the essence of whaling. One such example is the recent book, Gift of the Whale, by Bill Hess, which sensitively describes contemporary Alaskan whaling. Hess successfully explains in words and photographs how and why whaling is important to individuals as members of a whaling community. He writes: "As I observed the food preparation, prayer, blanket toss, and traditional dancing -- and especially the pride on the faces of the captains and their families as they freely distributed the bounty the whale had given them to all who had come, and the happiness on the faces of those who received it -- I realized I was in the midst of something extraordinary and beautiful... in the catching of the bowhead whale and in the ancient traditions that go into the distribution and sharing of it, I did find something ideal." (p. 211). It is fortunate that there are writers who, whilst understanding what they observe, are able to convey the human emotions they observe and what these observations in turn cause them to think and feel. Our knowledge and understanding benefits from such honest personal reflections. Whaling News By early April 2000, the Japanese antarctic whale research program was concluded, with 439 minke whales taken in connection with the current year's scientific program. In May, Japan announced a new research program in the Northwest Pacific Ocean, that will sample 50 Bryde's whales and 10 sperm whale in the summer 2000. =09 The Japanese coastal small-type whale fishery commenced on May 8 with the full quota of eight Baird's beaked whale from the Sea of Japan taken off Hakodate by May 25 (well in advance of the official season ending sat the end of June). Two boats undertook this fishery. Whalers in Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture, has so far (June 1) taken 20 southern form short-finned pilot whales and five Risso's dolphin. This fishery is to close at the end of June. In July, the fishery for Baird's beaked whales from the Pacific Ocean population begins off Wada, Chiba Prefecture, and Ayukawa, Miyagi Prefecture. A whaling crew from the whaling village of Barrouaillie, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, took a single Bryde's whale in early May 2000. The crew were out hunting for their usual target species, short-finned pilot whale (locally known as "blackfish"), but none were found on this particular occasion. However, the boats encountered a small group of Bryde's whales and one was successfully harpooned. Advice on how to cook the meat of this baleen whale was obtained from the renowned Bequian humpback whaler, Athneal Ollivierre. The Norwegian commercial whaling season commenced April 24, although most of the 30 licensed vessels did not leave for the hunt until the second half of May. The season ends at the end of June, except for those vessels operating in the North Sea where the season ends at the end of July. By May 22, 47 minke whales had been taken from this year's quota of 655 animals. Each vessel has a government-appointed inspector on board, and international observers also monitor whaling activities. DNA samples are taken from each whale for purposes of tracking whale meat distribution as well as for research purposes. The minimum opening price for meat paid to whalers this season is NOK 27.59/kg (approx. US$3.10/kg). Blubber sells for NOK 0.10/kg (approx. US$0.01/kg) due to the lack of a market in Norway for this commodity. =20 Arctic Council Discusses Marine Resource Issues=20 The Arctic Council (consisting of eight circumarctic nations and four arctic indigenous peoples' organizations) held an international workshop on the sustainable use of marine living resources in the Arctic. The meeting, taking place in Bod=F8, Norway, April 5-7 2000, was attended by experts from Denmark, Faroe Islands, Norway, Russia, U.K. and U.S.A, together with representatives from the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, the Saami Council, the northern Russian indigenous organization RAIPON, NAMMCO, and WWF. The workshop identified a number of themes concerning the sustainable use of fish and marine mammal resources and the conservation of the marine ecosystem as a whole. The workshop identified a number of human-centred issues of vital importance to marine ecosystem conservation. Moving beyond earlier fisheries concerns involving, e.g. MSY (Maximum Sustainable Yield) of individual resource stocks, concern was expressed about issues that included the scant input of users' ecological and practical knowledge, the paucity of knowledge of human-dominated ecosystems and of human behaviour affecting the fisheries, and the need to emphasize the institutional frameworks within which resource management operates. The workshop also considered a variety of obstacles that may hinder effective sustainable development. It was concluded that despite the presence of existing bilateral and multilateral regulatory institutions in the region, the Arctic Council could play a role in respect to sustainable use and conservation of marine resources in the region as a whole. In order to accomplish this, it was concluded, inter alia, that the Arctic Council adopt a broad perspective, one that considered the social and political aspects of management, how to integrate local/traditional knowledge into management practices, and that did not avoid any elements of the arctic ecosystem in its deliberations. IUCN Expresses Concern about IWC. Recently, IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature - World Conservation Union) has expressed concern about damage to the credibility of IWC caused by its unwillingness to undertake its required management responsibility. This concern was stated in the IUCN opening statement at the 51st Meeting of the IWC, 1999: =09IUCN... views the condition of the IWC with increasing concern... The IWC has shown little sign of an intention to resume its responsibility for the management of whaling... Each Commission meeting that passes without any concrete progress on the RMS [Revised Management Scheme] further dents the credibility of the IWC and jeopardises its ability to re-assert its role as a serious management body. IUCN serves as a scientific advisory body to CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora). In addition to the whale downlisting proposals (see below), the issue of the relationship between IWC and CITES was also subject to debate and a vote-based decision. In regard to that particular issue, the IUCN recommended to the CITES Parties: =09Although IUCN believes that CITES should continue to recognise the IWC as the lead international organisation on the management of whales, this position is losing credibility. IUCN views the condition of the IWC with increasing concern. Six years after completion of the Revised Management Procedure (RMP), the IWC has still not completed and adopted the Revised Management Scheme (RMS), even though the remaining obstacles could be overcome with a modicum of goodwill on both sides. The Parties should send a strong message to the IWC concerning the urgent need to agree and adopt the RMS. U.S. Scholars Urge Completion of the RMS On May 16 2000, five distinguished U.S. scholars knowledgeable about whaling and the IWC, sent a letter to the U.S. Commissioner to the IWC. The text of this letter is reproduced below in full. =09Dear Dr. Baker: =09The undersigned respectfully urge that the United States press forward with the completion of the RMS at the earliest time. The current situation is untenable and weakens not only the IWC, but also the credibility of the United States in its dealings with vastly more important international issues. =09At present, only a small percentage of whaling around the world is managed by the IWC. Non-member whaling states have no incentive to join the IWC and IWC members wishing to whale can do so legally irrespective of non-binding IWC decisions. We believe it should be possible to negotiate a perfectly adequate RMS, as it is in the international interest to have a functioning whaling regime, which accords with recent United Nations' agreements that support the use of non-endangered resources. =09Animal protectionists would clearly be outraged by a position that permits some whaling, but from a conservation point of view a carefully controlled, and strictly monitored hunt, based on the best available science is surely quite defensible to the larger public. =09We have included a paper, which details most of our concerns about the IWC today. The paper describes the legal, cultural and biological ramifications created by allowing an organization charged with a conservation mandate to become a protectionist haven. =09We believe the time is ripe for the United States to step forward on behalf of international conservation and look for ways to solve the dilemma= =2E The letter is signed by:=20 Dr. William Aron (Retired Director, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, and former U.S. Commissioner to the IWC); Dr. William T. Burke (Professor of Law and Marine Affairs Emeritus, University of Washington, Seattle); Dr. John Knauss (Professor and Dean Emeritus, University of Rhode Island, and former U.S. Commissioner to the IWC); Dr. Robert L. Friedheim (Professor of International Relations, University of Southern California, Los Angeles);=20 Dr. Edward Miles (Professor of Marine Affairs, University of Washington, Seattle). [Editor: The paper referred to in the letter is: Aron et al. 2000. Marine Policy 24(3):179-191]. =09 Whaling Issues at CITES The 11th CITES Conference of the Parties (COP 11) was held at the U.N. Centre, Gigiri, Kenya, April 10-20 2000. Included on the agenda were proposals to downlist three stocks of minke whale and the Eastern Pacific stock of gray whale. In addition there were two proposals concerning the relationship between CITES and the IWC. The whale downlisting proposals were all unsuccessful (a two-third majority is required to alter a species listing). Thus minke whale and gray whale remain on Appendix 1, a listing that bans all international trade in products from those species. The votes (cast in a secret ballot) were as follows: Eastern Pacific gray whale (proposed by Japan):=20 40 votes in favour; 63 against; 6 abstentions. Antarctic minke whale (proposed by Japan): This downlisting proposal was amended by Japan to restrict trade to those countries implementing a DNA-based registry of whale specimens. The amended proposal was lost: 46 votes in favour; 69 against; 4 abstentions; 4 spoiled ballots.=20 Suriname proposed a further amendment, to place Antarctic minke "on Appendix 2 with a zero quota until the next meeting of CITES at which time it is expected that IWC will have taken a decision on the RMP". This amendment was also defeated: 47 for; 66 against; 5 abstentions; and 4 spoiled ballots.=20 NW Pacific/Okhotsk Sea minke whale (proposed by Japan): 49 votes in favour; 67 against; 3 abstentions; 2 spoiled ballots. North Atlantic minke whale (proposed by Norway): 52 votes in favour; 57 against; 9 abstentions; 2 spoiled ballots. Norway introduced an amended proposal for the North Atlantic minke which would restrict trade to whales taken in waters under national jurisdiction, and to those nations having DNA-based control systems in place. Votes cast for the amendment were: 53 in favour; 52 against; 8 abstentions.=20 During the debate on these four downlisting proposals, the following countries spoke in favour of downlisting: Antigua-Barbuda, Bangladesh, Cuba, Guinea, Iceland, Japan, Mongolia, Norway, Republic of Korea, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname. The following countries spoke against downlisting: Austria, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Kenya, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal (on behalf of the European Union), Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Sweden, U.K., U.S., Vanuatu. Whaling Reports at CITES During the CITES COP 11 meeting, various non-governmental organizations provided delegates, the media, and the public with reports and pamphlets relating to whaling. These organizations and their publications are listed alphabetically below. Environmental Investigation Agency. "Why CITES must reject proposals to overturn the ban on international trade in whales". 8 pp.=20 Greenpeace. "Downlisting: a disaster for whales". 2 pp.=20 "Whales & commercial fisheries:dispelling a modern myth". 2pp.=20 "A return to commercial whaling". 2 pp. "Japan's whaling offensive". 2 pp.=20 "Why whales still need protection". 2 pp.=20 "Making a quick buck: a history of modern whaling". 2 pp. "CITES and IWC: a special relationship". 2 pp. High North Alliance.=20 "Trade in minke whales -- conservation in action. Downlisting North Atlantic Minke Whales, CITES, 10-20 April, 2000". illus. pamphlet, 7 pp.=20 "The IWC argument is losing credibility says IUCN", "CITES: a puppet of the IWC?" and "The High North Alliance demands WWF substantiate allegations of illegal whale trade and hunts". The Whale Mail, 2 pp. International Fund for Animal Welfare. "Whale for sale. Illegal trade in whale meat and products in Japan and South Korea". 31 pp.=20 "Gray whale proposal: transfer Eastern Pacific stock from Appendix I to Appendix II". 1 p.=20 "Minke whale proposal: transfer southern hemisphere stock from Appendix I to Appendix II". 1 p. "Minke whale proposal: transfer Okhotsk Sea and West Pacific Ocean stock from Appendix I to Appendix II". 1 p. "Minke whale proposal: transfer Northwest Atlantic Ocean and North Atlantic Central stocks from Appendix I to Appendix II". 1 p.=20 "Proposed resolutions relating to cetaceans and the relationship with the International Whaling Commission". 2 pp.=20 IWMC-World Conservation Trust. "Scientists label IUCN WHALE REPORT "misleading"". 2 pp.=20 "The International Whaling Commission's decision to declare a Moratorium (total ban) on Whaling and CITES Resolution Conf. 2.09 are illegal, null and void. Legal Opinion by Professor Pierre Garon, Laval University, Canada". COP 11 Conservation Tribune Vol. 2, 14 pp. "Seeking rights for whales and humans at CITES". COP 11 Conservation Tribune Vol. 3, 13 pp.=20 The Institute of Cetacean Research. "CITES COP 11. Japan's whale downlisting proposals". 4 pp, plus 6 page insert.=20 "Whales are abundant. Here are the facts". 6 pp.=20 "CITES decisions should not be linked to the IWC". 6 pp. "Didn't we forget something? Cetaceans and food for humankind". 4 pp.=20 The Riches of the Sea (and The Institute of Cetacean Research). "What can we do for the coming food crisis in 21st century?" 3 pp.=20 "Whales compete with fishermen for limited resources". 4 pp.=20 Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. "Environmental threats to whales". WDCS Briefing, 4 pp.=20 "DNA testing -- is it ready to prevent illegal trade?" WDCS Briefing, 3 pp.= =20 "Proposals to transfer whale species and populations from Appendix I to Appendix II". WDCS Briefing, 4 pp.=20 "IWC primacy in the management of cetaceans". WDCS Briefing, 2 pp. WWF International. "Get whales off the CITES table says WWF". 1 p.=20 "The Food-Web Effect. Should Whales be culled?" 4 pp. =09=09 Publications=09=09 Aron, W., W. Burke and M.M.R. Freeman 2000. The whaling issue. Marine Policy 24(3):179-191. =09=09=09 Beerens, Johann 1998. 1769 Katastrophe im Nordmeer-Eis. Borkumer und F=F6hrer auf Walfang vor Spitzbergen. Borkum: by the author. 200 pp., illus., boards (novel). DM 39,80. Bohn, Robert (ed. on behalf of the Ferring-Foundation) 1999. Nordfriesische Seefahrer in der fr=FChen Neuzeit. Amsterdam: De Bataafsche Leeuw. 166 pp., illus., boards. Symposium proceedings, whaling articles by Brar C. Roeloffs, Louwrens Hacquebord, Gesche Roeloffs. ISBN 90-6707-514-0 Hfl 39,50. ordering address: De Bataafsche Leeuw, Rooseveltlaan 191, NL - 1079 AP Amsterdam. Brown, S.R. 1999. Ethical considerations in marine mammal management. Journal of the American Veterinary Medicine Association 214(8):1175-1177. Butterworth, D.S. 2000. CITES, IUCN and the precautionary principle, as they relate to classifying marine species as "endangered". Isana 20:3-7.= =20 Conly, Arlyn 1998. Never trust a white man. I am Makah, son of a whaling nation. Gig Harbor, WA: Red Apple Publishing,. 288 pp., illus. by=09Al Zantua, br., Cosens, S.E. and S. Innes. 2000. Distribution and numbers of bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) in northwestern Hudson Bay in August 1995. Arctic 53(1):36-41 Einarsson, N. 1999. Global preservation and the creation of a pest: marine mammals and local responses to a moratorium in arctic Iceland. In: D. A. Posey (editor) Cultural and Spiritual Values of Biodiversity pp. 431-432. London, U.K.:Intermediate Technology Publications, for the United Nations Environment Programme. Frank, Stuart M. 2000. Scrimshaw - occupational art of the whale-hunters. Maritime life and traditions 6: 42-57. Freeman, M. 2000. Is eating whale meat in Japan a risk to consumers' health? Isana 20:13-17. Hacquebord, L.1999. The hunting of the Greenland right whale in Svalbard, its interaction with climate and its impact on the marine ecosystem. Polar Research 18(2):375-382 Hess, B. 1999. Gift of the whale. Outpost, Winter 1999, Issue 14:34-41. Hess, B. 1999. Gift of the Whale: The Inupiat Bowhead Hunt, A Sacred Tradition. vii + 226 pp. illus. US$60. Sasquatch Books, Seattle. ISBN 1-57061-163-7.=20 Kalland, A. 1999. A Japanese view on whales and whaling. In: D. A. Posey (editor) Cultural and Spiritual Values of Biodiversity pp. 426-431. London, U.K.:Intermediate Technology Publications, for the United Nations Environment Programme. Lindquist, Ole 2000. The North Atlantic gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus): An historical outline based on Icelandic, Danish-Icelandic, English and Swedish sources dating from ca 1000 AD to 1792. Centre for Environmental History and Policy, Occasional Papers, 1 St. Andrews: Universities of St Andrews and Stirling. 53 pp., illus., br., A4. Martinez, I. and A.K. Danielsdottir 2000. Identification of marine mammal species in food products. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 80(4):527-533. Mawer, G.A. 1999. Ahab's Trade: The Saga of South Seas Whaling. xiv + 347 pp. illus., maps, glossary, biblio., index. New York, N.Y.: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-22809 Mus=E9e Oc=E9anographique (ed.) 2000. Parures de la mer [exhibition handboo= k, Monaco: Mus=E9e Oc=E9anographique, May-September 2000]. 176 pp., illus, br.= , Articles by IWC commissioner Fran=E7ois Doumenge about L'ivoire marin L'ambre gris & fourrurers de la mer. Philbrick, N. 2000. In the Heart of the Sea: The Epic True Story that Inspired Moby Dick. London, U.K.:Flamingo (imprint of Harper Collins). 302 pp. illus., maps, biblio., index. US$29.95. ISBN 0-00-257212 (paper); 0-00-257057 (hb). Sandefjordmuseene (ed.)1999. Ambra. Sandefjordmuseene =E5rbok 1999. Sandefjord: Sandefjordmuseene. 143 pp., Illus., imitation leather. Five articles about Antarctic whaling, one about Anders Ellefsen's harpoon grenade detonators, one about beluga whaling off Svalbard (Spitzbergen). ISBN 82-993797-33. NOK 180.- Severin, T. 1999. In Search of Moby Dick: Quest for the White Whale. Drawings by Trondur Patursson. London, U.K.:Little Brown. 242 pp. illus., maps. ISBN 0-316-64595-8 Steffen, Uwe 2000. Die Jona-Geschichte. Darstellungen aus achtzehn Jahrhunderten. Das M=FCnster. Zeitschrift f=FCr christliche Kunst und Kunstwissenschaft 53 (1): 2-15, illus. Whitehead, H. 2000. Density-dependent habitat selection and the modelling of sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) exploitation. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science 57:223-230. Conferences Fifth Cologne-Bremerhaven Whaling Meeting, Bremerhaven, 10-12 November 2000. By personal invitation only. Send written application to: Klaus Barthelmess, Cologne Municipal Museum, Zeughausstr. 1-3, 50667 Cologne, Germany INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FOR WHALING RESEARCH www.ualberta.ca/~inwr/inwr.html Editor: Milton Freeman Canadian Circumpolar Institute University of Alberta Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1 Tel.: 1-780-492-4682 FAX: 1-780-492-5273 milton.freeman(\)ualberta.ca Associate Editors Klaus Barthelmess Whaling Research Project P.O. 620255 50695 Cologne Germany Tel.: 49-221-7408396 FAX: 49-221-747342 barthval(\)t-online.de Louwrens Hacqueboard Arctic Centre, University of Groningen P.O. Box 716 9700 AS Groningen The Netherlands Tel.: 31-50-363-6834 FAX: 31-500-363-4900 hacquebr(\)let.rug.nl _________________________________________________________ Elaine L. Maloney, B.S.L., Assistant Director (Programs) Canadian Circumpolar Institute, University of Alberta and Managing Editor, CCI Press #306, 8820-112 Street (Old St. Stephen's College) Edmonton ALBERTA Canada T6G 2E1 Tel.: (780) 492-4999 FAX: (780) 492-1153 Email: emaloney(\)gpu.srv.ualberta.ca or elaine.maloney(\)ualberta.ca ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2000 03:47:23 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Whales and Climate Change Occasional Paper from the Pacific Institute (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Apologies for Cross Listings A new Pacific Institute occasional paper focusing on the impacts of climate change on cetacean species and the role of the International Whaling Commission in addressing this issue is now available on our site, www.pacinst.org: Burns, "From the Harpoon to the Heat: Climate Change and the International Whaling Commission in the 21st Century" (2000) (Click on this title in the "What's New" section) The paper assesses the possible impacts of climate change on cetaceans, the International Whaling Commission's program to address this issue, and the prospects for the IWC and other institutions to protect cetaceans from the potentially serious adverse implications of warming over the next century. Wil Burns, Director of Communications/Research Associate Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security 654 13th St. Oakland, CA 94612 USA Phone: 510.251.1600 Fax: 510.251.2203 wburns(\)pacinst.org http://www.pacinst.org/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2000 17:53:05 -0400 From: PWDolphin Subject: FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR DOLPHIN RESEARCH IN FLORIDA WATERS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR DOLPHIN RESEARCH - Research and education programs that involve the study and preservation of wild dolphin populations in Florida waters will be supported by the Protect Wild Dolphin Program at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution. Projects may involve collection, analysis and archival of scientific data. Projects can also serve to advance the technology associated with tracking and categorizing; to identify wild dolphin through photographic documentation; to provide care and assistance to stranded wild dolphin; and to distribute information to the scientific community, federal, state and local governmental agencies, educational institutions and the public. > A Request for Proposals (RFP) can be obtained from the internet site www.hboi.edu. Click on Harbor Branch divisions, then on Dolphin Research, then on the license plate icon. The limit per award for FY2000 will be $25,000. The deadline for receipt of proposals is 15 August 2000. Marsh Youngbluth, Senior Scientist Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution 5600 U.S. 1, North Fort Pierce, Florida 34946 pwdolphin(\)hboi.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2000 11:34:16 -0400 From: Laurie McDonough Subject: Mammal & Research Internships Mystic Aquarium offers Fall and Spring Semester Internships for college students in the areas of marine mammal husbandry, research and veterinary services and marine science education. Please see our website for more information, www.mysticaquarium.org (click on Education). Our published application deadline for Fall 2000 is July 1, 2000. After reviewing the material on our website, if you are interested in a fall internship please contact Laurie McDonough at interninfo(\)mysticaquarium.org ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 22 Jun 0100 10:38:31 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications (fwd) Here are some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Publications recently posted to MARMAM are not included. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. Observations on the muscles of the eye of the bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus. Zhu, Q; Hillmann, DJ; Henk, WG. ANATOMICAL RECORD. June 1, 2000 v259 i2 p189-204 Precocial development of axial locomotor muscle in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Dearolf, JL; McLellan, WA; Dillaman, RM; Frierson, D; Pabst, DA. JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY. June 2000 v244 i3 p203-215 Polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine pesticides, tris (4-chlorophenyl)methane, and tris(4-chlorophenyl)methanol in livers of small cetaceans stranded along Florida coastal waters, USA. Watanabe, M; Kannan, K; Takahashi, A; Loganathan, BG; Odell, DK; Tanabe, S; Giesy, JP. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY, June 2000 v19 i6 p1566-1574 Trans-Holocene marine mammal exploitation on San Clemente Island, California: A tragedy of the commons revisited. Porcasi, JF; Jones, TL; Raab, LM. JOURNAL OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL ARCHAEOLOGY. June 2000 v19 i2 p200-220 Chlorinated pesticide concentrations, with an emphasis on polychlorinated camphenes (toxaphenes), in relation to cytochrome P450 enzyme activities in harp seals (Phoca groenlandica) from the Barents Sea. Wolkers, H; Burkow, IC; Lydersen, C; Witkamp, RF. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY. June 2000 v19 i6 p1632-1637 Satellite tracking of young Steller sea lion off the coast of northern Hokkaido. Baba, N; Nitto, H; Nitta, A. FISHERIES SCIENCE. February 2000 v66 i1 p180-181 Distribution and habitat use by manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) in Belize and Chetumal Bay, Mexico. Morales-Vela, B; Olivera-Gomez, D; Reynolds, JE; Rathbun, GB. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION, August 2000 v95 i1 p67-75 Gerber, L.R., D.P. DeMaster, and S.P. Roberts. 2000. Measuring success in conservation. American Scientist 88 (July/August): 316-324.(assessing efforts to restore populations of marine mammals is partly a matter of epistemology: how do you know when enough is enough?) Whale songs lengthen in response to sonar. PATRICK J. O. MILLER, NICOLETTA BIASSONI, AMY SAMUELS & PETER L. TYACK. Male humpbacks modify their sexual displays when exposed to man-made noise. Nature: 22 June 2000 Volume 405 No. 6789. Time patterns of sperm whale codas recorded in the Mediterranean Sea 1985-1996. Pavan, G; Hayward, TJ; Borsani, JF; Priano, M; Manghi, M; Fossati, C; Gordon, J. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA. June 2000 v107 i6 p3487-3495 Calibration and comparison of the acoustic location methods used during the spring migration of the bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus, off Pt. Barrow, Alaska, 1984-1993. Clark, CW; Ellison, WT. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA. June 2000 v107 i6 p3509-3517 Recognizing transient low-frequency whale sounds by spectrogram correlation. Mellinger, DK; Clark, CW. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA. June 2000 v107 i6 p3518-3529 Persistent organochlorines and organophosphorus compounds and heavy elements in common whale (Balaenoptera physalus) from the western Mediterranean Sea. Hernandez, F; Serrano, R; Roig-Navarro, AF; Martinez-Bravo, Y; Lopez, FJ. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN. May 2000 v40 i5 p426-433 Review of the distribution of Mesoplodon species (order Cetacea, family Ziphiidae) in the North Atlantic. Macleod, D. MAMMAL REVIEW. March 2000 v30 i1 p1-8 Organochlorine contaminant levels in Eskimo harvested bowhead whales of Arctic Alaska. O'Hara, TM; Krahn, MM; Boyd, D; Becker, PR; Philo, LM. JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES. October 1999 v35 i4 p741-752 Giardiasis in pinnipeds from eastern Canada. Measures, LN; Olson, M. JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES. October 1999 v35 i4 p779-782 Frequency beamforming of dolphin whistles using a sparse three-element towed array. Thode, A; Norris, T; Barlow, J. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA. June 2000 v107 i6 p3581-3584 Temporary shift in masked hearing thresholds of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, and white whales, Delphinapterus leucas, after exposure to intense tones. Schlundt, CE; Finneran, JJ; Carder, DA; Ridgway, SH. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA. June 2000 v107 i6 p3496-3508 NCCAW examining seal branding. AUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL. June 2000 v78 i6 p364-364 Tuberculosis in a wild subantarctic fur seal from Argentina. Bastida, R; Loureiro, J; Quse, V; Bernardelli, A; Rodriguez, D; Costa, E. JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES. October 1999 v35 i4 p796-798 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2000 15:00:00 EDT From: Joe Blue Subject: Manatee Hearing Dissertation MANATEE HEARING Previous research, The underwater audiogram of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), Edmund R. Gerstein, Laura Gerstein, Steven E. Forsythe and Joseph E. Blue, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. Vol. 105, No. 6, pp. 3575-3583,June 1999, showed that manatees hear best in the 12-20 kHz range rather than the 3-5 kHz range widely reported and that their functional hearing range is from 400 Hz to 46 kHz. This and the research reported in the following thesis on manatees contains the most thorough treatment of manatee hearing to date. Dr. Edmund Gerstein obtained this thesis information using manatees he trained at the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, Florida. He is the only researcher to train manatees for scientific research. Partial contents obtained using trained manatees: 1. Audiograms 2. Masked thresholds to continuous frequencies 3. Masked thresholds to pulsed frequencies 4. Masked thresholds to motor boat noise 5. Masked thresholds to various manatee communication sounds 6. Directional hearing 7. Critical ratios for various signals and noises Psychoacoustic Evaluation of the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirosris), Edmund R. Gerstein, Dissertation at Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, 30 July 1999. Abstract Psychoacoustics procedures were used to measure the hearing thresholds of captive West Indian manatees under simultaneous masking conditions. Auditory detection of pulsed and non-pulsed tones, and complex sounds were measured against continuous white noise backgrounds through a series of forced-choice paradigms. Auditory thresholds as a function of signal intensity, center frequency, pulse repetition, spectral characteristics and bandwidth were measured. Resulting critical signal-to-noise ratios for pure tone measurements suggest manatees have relatively acute frequency filtering abilities compared with humans and other marine mammals. Signal characteristics such as repetition rate along with amplitude and frequency modulation may lower detection thresholds by providing temporal contrasts against aperiodic background noise. Thresholds for frequency modulated bandlimited signals, including a species-specific call and samples of boat noise suggest that loudness summation across critical bands, as well as modulation of signals, can reduce the effects of masking observed with pure tones. To test a manatee's ability to localize sound sources in relation to its position in water, a forced-choice egocentric (orientation) paradigm was used. The manatee demonstrated equal localization of sounds from the left or right side. While accuracy improved with higher frequencies, the manatee demonstrated good overall localization of both low and higher frequency sounds, suggesting it may utilize both time of arrival cues and intensity difference cues for localizing sounds. Psychoacoustic data reveal some hearing abilities unique to manatees, as well as hearing phenomena similar to those observed among mammals and other vertebrate species. Manatees are well adapted for hearing high frequency sounds in noisy shallow water habitats where physical boundary and near surface phenomena such as Lloyd Mirror Effect can impede the propagation of low frequencies. Narrow critical bands and selective perception of pulsed signals may be adaptations for detecting species-specific vocalizations. A limited number of copies of this thesis are available from: Dr. Edmund R. Gerstein 1318 SW 14th Street Boca Raton, FL 33486 gerstein2(\)aol.com ====================================================== Submitted by: Joseph E. Blue jblue46498(\)aol.com (407) 851-4105 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2000 05:53:58 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Summary report on Bahamas beaked whale strandings (fwd) DRAFT REPORT For MARMAM distribution and comment=20 06/26/00 Report on the whale and dolphin strandings around March 15, 2000=20 on Abaco, Grand Bahama and North Eleuthera, Bahama Islands=20 By Ken Balcomb & Diane Claridge=20 Bahamas Marine Mammal Survey, Sandy Point, Abaco E-mail bmms(\)oii.net BACKGROUND Concern has been raised about the potential effects of military=20 operations on beaked whale behavior and physiology, with=20 particular reference to the coincidence of their mass stranding=20 concurrent with or following naval maneuvers. Twelve whales=20 stranded in Greece in 1996 (Frantzis, 1998); a total of twenty-four=20 whales stranded in the Canary Islands on three occasions=20 (Simmonds and Lopez-Juraco, 1991); four whales stranded in=20 Bonaire (Van Bree and Kristensen, 1974); and, recently at least=20 fifteen whales and a dolphin stranded on March 15, 2000, in the=20 northern Bahamas (this report). All of these reports note the=20 coincidence of naval maneuvers around the time of the mass=20 strandings, but evidence of cause and effect has been elusive. We=20 are submitting this summary for MARMAM posting so that our=20 colleagues can recognize the subtlety of the etiology of such=20 events and respond appropriately.=20 In the case of the recent strandings in the Bahamas, the US Navy=20 has reported that the coincident naval activities involved an east-to- west transit of US and foreign warships through the Northeast and=20 Northwest Providence Channel, when and where most of the=20 whales stranded. Several of the transiting warships used=20 standard, hull mounted tactical sonar operating within normal mid- range frequencies, power outputs and duty cycles (3.5 and 7.5=20 kHz, 235 dB re 1 micropascal at one meter, pings of one tenth of a=20 second or less on a duty cycle of 24 seconds (Pirie, ltr 9 June=20 2000)).=20 The Navy conducted an unprecedented review of its transit which=20 showed that there was a surface duct approximately 400 to 500=20 feet deep in which sound propagated better than it did below that=20 depth. Within a range of 1000 meters from a ship's sonar in this=20 surface duct, the sound level (RL, received level) reportedly dropped=20 in intensity to less than 180 dB, which has heretofore been=20 considered a "safe" level for single ping non-serious injury to whales=20 (DOEIS, 1999). The biological risk for physical harm may=20 accumulate with the number of pings at a given RL. The Navy is=20 analyzing its acoustical records to look for some confluence of=20 events (multiple pings, terrain, reverberation etc.) that would match=20 up with the observed damage. OVERVIEW OF THE BAHAMAS STRANDINGS Two minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and thirteen=20 beaked whales (Family Ziphiidae) live stranded along shores of the=20 Northwest Providence Channel on or shortly after March 15, 2000=20 coincident with the aforementioned naval transit. Six of the beaked=20 whales and the two minke whales were escorted back to sea alive=20 minutes to many hours after first being noticed. Distant from the=20 reported transit and on the opposite side of Abaco, a spotted=20 dolphin (Stenella frontalis) live stranded early in the morning of=20 March 15 on Powell Cay but died by evening, and a Gervais'=20 beaked whale (Mesoplodon europaeus) stranded on Allans- Pensacola Cay. The latter was not reported or collected until June,=20 2000, and it may be too decomposed for diagnosis. DETAILED SUMMARY STRANDINGS IN THE BAHAMAS March 15, 2000 BMMS 00-01 Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) Immature female 5 ft length 7:00 AM Powell Cay, Abaco (26 54N 77 29W) Stranded alive - died This dolphin was reported to us as we were assisting with the=20 following three whales. Despite efforts to rescue it, the dolphin died=20 at 5 PM. The carcass was placed in a freezer at 8 PM, kept frozen=20 and delivered to Harvard Medical School on March 30 for UHR-CT=20 scanning and subsequent necropsy at Woods Hole Oceanographic=20 Institution. The necropsy indicated this dolphin had been in poor=20 health for some time. BMMS 00-02 Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) Juvenile (gender unknown) 12 ft length (estimated) 7:30 AM - Rocky Point, Abaco (25 59.802N 77 24.344W) Stranded alive rescued This whale was reported to us while we were assisting with the=20 next whale (BMMS 00-03). The tide had dropped enough to=20 completely strand the whale and it could not be re-floated and=20 escorted to deep water until 1:03 PM. While aground, the whale=20 was bleeding from several superficial ventral body and tail=20 scratches. This whale appeared to be very young and disoriented,=20 and it was not swimming strongly when released. We collected=20 some scraped skin samples of this whale for DNA and=20 chromosome analysis prior to release. This rescue was videotaped,=20 and the whale was photographed for later recognition.=20 BMMS 00-03 Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) Sub-adult (gender unknown) 17 ft length (estimated) 8:15 AM - Sandy Point, Abaco (26 01.079N 77 24.150W) Stranded alive =96 rescued This whale live stranded almost at our doorstep as the tide was=20 dropping. We immediately pushed it off the shore and escorted it to=20 deep water by 9:12 AM. The whale appeared to be nearly mature=20 and very disoriented, but was swimming strongly as it departed the=20 shallow water toward deep sea. No samples were collected. This=20 "rescue" was videotaped and the whale was photographed for later=20 recognition. It is worth noting that we had previously photo- identified this whale with three other Cuvier=92s beaked whales on=20 March 1 off Southwest Point, Abaco at 25 50.439N 77 16.576W.=20 BMMS 00-04=20 Blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris)=20 Young adult (probably female) 14 ft length (estimated) 8:35 AM - Sandy Point, Abaco (26 01.271N 77 24.049W) Stranded alive - rescued.=20 This whale stranded about two hundred yards north of our doorstep,=20 and was immediately pushed off the shore and escorted to deep=20 water by 10:33 AM. The rescue was videotaped as the whale swam=20 off into deep water, and it was photographed for later identification.=20 From=20analysis of the video taken of the rescue, this whale is=20 estimated to be of adult size, teeth not erupted and the body fairly=20 clean of scarring, suggesting it was female. No samples were=20 collected, and the whale appeared to be uninjured and swimming=20 strongly.=20 BMMS 00-05 Blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris) Young adult (probably female) 14 ft length (estimated) 11 AM =96 Gorda Cay, Abaco (26 06N 77 32W) Stranded alive - rescued This whale was reported to be swimming in the channel of a=20 mangrove lagoon on northwest side of island before noon. When it=20 stranded and was reported to us at 3:30 PM for assistance with=20 rescue, we responded by boat and assisted in escorting it to deep=20 water by 5:30 PM. The rescue was briefly videotaped, the whale=20 was photographed for later identification, and a sloughed skin=20 sample was saved for DNA and chromosome analysis. =20 BMMS 00-06=20 Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) Juvenile (female) 15 ft length (measured) 12 noon - High Rock, Grand Bahama (26 37N 78 17W) Stranded alive - died This whale was reported by schoolgirls who saw it swimming near=20 the beach. They reported no other whales or sharks in the area.=20 Eden Butler of UNEXSO arrived at 4 PM, by which time the whale=20 was stranded and dead. He took photographs and measurements,=20 and commented that it had no fresh shark bites. Dr. Alan Bater=20 collected skin and blood samples of this whale in the evening of=20 March 15. The carcass was buried on order of local authorities for=20 health reasons. BMMS 00-08=20 Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) Adult (sex unknown) 27 ft length (estimated) Around 12 noon, Meek's Patch, North Eleuthera (25 30N 76 46W) Stranded alive - rescued=20 A whale was reported alive in shallow water 1 mile south of Meek's=20 Patch by the sailing vessel "Morning Wind". We have a videotape=20 taken by observers on the yacht "Snowy Owl" of what may be the=20 same whale in the Harbor at Royal Island (25 31N 76 51W) on the=20 morning of March 16. From the video we can confirm species=20 identity as a minke whale, about 27 feet long. This whale was=20 escorted by local residents out of the harbour to deep water off Egg=20 Island on March 17. No specimen materials were collected. BMMS 00-09 and BMMS 00-10=20 Unidentified whales (cf. Unidentified Ziphiidae) Mother and calf 18 ft length (estimated) and ? Stranded alive - rescued Around 12:30 PM, Peterson Cay, Grand Bahama (26 33N 78 31W) An 18 ft long whale with a pointed nose, and a calf whale were=20 reported stranded alive on opposite sides of the cay. Tourists=20 kayaking nearby pushed the presumed female whale back out and=20 it apparently did not re-strand. Both whales swam away. No=20 specimen materials were collected, but from the description these=20 were probably beaked whales. Reportedly the calf swam into=20 shallow water and the "female" swam around trying to get to it,=20 stranding and bleeding from injuries sustained in the process. BMMS 00-11 and BMMS 00-12=20 Unidentified whales - (cf. Unidentified Ziphiidae).=20 Status unknown - both 18 ft long (estimated) Around 2:30 PM, Red Shank Cay, Grand Bahama (26 28N 77 46W) Stranded alive status unknown Two whales were observed live stranded on sandbars near Red=20 Shank Cay (Burrows Group) east of Grand Bahama. The fishermen=20 who reported the whales noted that one whale that was completely=20 stranded had "funny" teeth 2-3 inches long at the tip of the=20 mandible, and the other whale, which was similar in gross=20 appearance, was still swimming in the shallow water (could not=20 determine if teeth erupted). Photos are being sent to us for species=20 identification. BMMS 00-13=20 Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) Subadult (sex unknown) 21 ft length (estimated) Around 5:30 PM, Royal Island, North Eleuthera (25 31N 76 49W) Stranded alive - rescued One of two whales reported alive in shallow water on March 15, this=20 whale was on the "conch flats" on the north side of nearby Royal=20 Island, North Eleuthera and the following morning it was found near=20 the same location stranded alive. Good quality photographs taken=20 of this whale that permit us to confirm this animal as a minke=20 whale about 21 feet long. This whale was kept wet by local=20 residents and escorted through the reef out to deep water on the=20 north side of Royal Island around 4 PM on March 16. BMMS 00-14=20 Cuvier=92s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) Adult female 18 ft length Afternoon, Gold Rock Creek, Grand Bahama (26 36N 78 22W) Stranded - dead One of two whales stranded within three hundred yards of each=20 other. The carcasses were buried for public health reasons in the=20 morning of March 18, but exhumed again at noon for necropsy.=20 That afternoon, Drs. Ruth Ewing and Alan Bater conducted=20 necropsies on both of the carcasses, which were by then=20 decomposing. Tissue samples and stomach contents were=20 collected, and the heads were removed for dissection of the ears.=20 The remainder of each carcass was reburied. BMMS 00-15 Cuvier=92s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) Sub-adult male 17 ft length Afternoon, Gold Rock Creek, Grand Bahama (26 36N 78 22W) Stranded - dead The other of two whales stranded within three hundred yards of=20 each other. The carcasses were buried for public health reasons in=20 the morning of March 18, but exhumed again at noon for necropsy.=20 That afternoon, Drs. Ruth Ewing and Alan Bater conducted a=20 necropsy of the carcasses, which were by then decomposing.=20 Tissue samples and stomach contents were collected, and the=20 heads were removed for dissection of the ears. The remainder of=20 each carcass was reburied. March 16, 2000 BMMS 00-16=20 Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) Sub-adult male ca. 16 ft length, teeth unerupted 9:30 AM - Water Cay, Grand Bahama (26 26N 77 46W)=20 Stranded - dead During an aerial search for stranded whales we saw and video- documented this dead whale on shore in the Burrows Group, but=20 none in the water or on nearby sandbars. The following day (March=20 17) we went by inflatable boat and collected the head and tissue=20 samples for preservation and later analysis. The whale had been=20 severely attacked by sharks and the dorsal fin, pectoral fins and=20 tail were missing. It apparently exsanguinated, suggesting the=20 attacks were pre-mortem. The frozen head and formalin preserved=20 earbones were delivered to Harvard Medical School on March 30 for=20 UHR-CT scanning, and then to Woods Hole Oceanographic=20 Institution for dissection. We delivered the preserved organ tissues=20 from this whale to Dr. Ruth Ewing=92s laboratory, National Marine=20 Fisheries Service, Southeast Region on May 18, 2000 for histo- pathology studies. BMMS 00-17=20 Blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris) Juvenile male 11 ft length 11 AM - Cross Harbour Creek, Abaco (25 56N 77 16W) Stranded dead We found this freshly dead Blainville's beaked whale carcass in a=20 mangrove lagoon, more than two miles from deep water. Most of=20 the body coloration appeared normal (not darkened or dried from=20 exposure), suggesting the skin had not been exposed to air for a=20 long period, and there were no shark bites. A notable exception to=20 the apparently normal skin coloration was an extensive and well- defined raspberry-tinted discoloration (bruise?) visible on the right=20 side mid-ventrally and laterally, extending from behind and under=20 the right flipper to the anus. We collected the head, skeleton, and=20 samples of liver, heart, right lung, right kidney, right body muscle,=20 and mesenteric lymph nodes. The frozen head was delivered to=20 Harvard Medical School for UHR-CT scanning, on March 30. The=20 formalin-fixed and frozen tissue and stomach samples were=20 delivered to Dr. Ruth Ewing's laboratory, National Marine Fisheries=20 Service, Southeast Region on 18 May, 2000 for histo-pathology. A=20 blubber sample was delivered to Dr. Margaret Krahn, Manager,=20 Environmental Chemistry Branch, National Marine Fisheries=20 Service on April 4 for environmental contaminant analysis. This=20 whale revealed the most significant forensic findings due to its fresh=20 collection and priority handling.=20 Date Unknown BMMS 00-18=20 Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) Male 18 ft length Stranded dead Stranding date unknown - Freetown, Grand Bahama (26 35N 78=20 29W)=20 This whale was reported stranded on March 20; but, it was=20 subsequently learned that it was on the beach as early as March=20 17, already "stinking". Dr. Alan Bater and Charles Potter conducted=20 a brief necropsy on March 20, and estimated that the whale died=20 around the same time as the other Grand Bahama strandings=20 reported above (i.e. March 15). The tip of the jaw had been cut off,=20 presumably by someone who wanted to obtain the teeth. The=20 earbones were collected for analysis. BMMS 00-19=20 Gervais' beaked whale (Mesoplodon europaeus) Adult male length indeterminate Stranded dead Stranding date unknown - Allans-Pensacola Cay, Abaco (26=20 58.509 N 77 38.653W) We received a late report of this whale on June 16, and on June 17=20 collected the skull, mandibles with teeth and dried skin and blubber=20 samples for DNA and toxicological analysis. The earbones appear=20 to be intact, but the soft tissues are extremely decomposed and=20 may be of little forensic value. PRELIMINARY FINDINGS OF UHR-CT SCANS AND=20 NECROPSIES On June 14, 2000, a NOAA Fisheries status report of preliminary=20 findings of postmortem examinations on six of the beaked whale=20 heads from the NW Providence Channel strandings indicated that=20 there was evidence of injuries consistent with an intense acoustic=20 or pressure event (Anonymous, 2000). While these injuries would=20 have caused extreme discomfort, they do not generally cause=20 permanent hearing loss or death (in humans). It was reported that=20 the whales died from being stranded. DISCUSSION We have quickly responded and reported on the whale and dolphin=20 strandings in the Bahama Islands because of the catastrophic=20 multi-species nature of the stranding event(s). It is possible that not=20 all of the animals listed stranded due to the same cause. At the=20 time of the strandings we were unaware of any military maneuvers=20 in the area, therefore for us this was a blind experiment. By mid- day on March 15 we were skeptical that what we were witnessing=20 was a natural mass stranding. Something was causing these=20 animals to flee from their natural habitat. We considered it possible=20 that the only evidence available would be behavioral, but fortunately=20 we were able to obtain and save fresh specimens. Many factors=20 were considered, and we concluded that there must have been an=20 enormous acoustic event or series of events of some kind that=20 triggered the behavioral flight response. The National Marine=20 Fisheries Service and the Navy came to the same conclusion=20 based on the biological results of specimen examination, which=20 indicated that the injuries were all consistent with an intense=20 acoustic or pressure event. It is important to emphasize that=20 grossly the animals appeared healthy, but disoriented. It is also=20 important to note that while the damages observed are considered=20 survivable, the beaked whales that were not assisted died within a=20 very few hours of live stranding. Perhaps the assisted whales also=20 died after being returned to sea. That is a troubling thought,=20 especially if the suspected acoustic events were still ongoing.=20 As the official post-analysis continues, we think it important to=20 keep in mind that not only beaked whales were involved. At least=20 two minke whales swam into remarkably shallow water on March=20 15, and one stranded while the other swam in circles in a harbor for=20 nearly two days. It is also remarkable that so many beaked whales=20 representing at least two species swam into extremely shallow=20 water on March 15, almost coincident in time, but up to 80 nautical=20 miles apart! Both sexes and several age cohorts were represented.=20 The pattern of stranding is nearly as significant as the results of=20 specimen examination, we believe. This pattern rules out certain=20 types of causes, such as a single explosion. It indicates that=20 many, if not all Ziphiids responded with extreme aversion. Considering the similar biological damage to beaked whales over=20 great distance, and considering that it is not likely that all of the=20 whales examined were within 1000 meters of a navy sonar on=20 March 15, the damage pattern suggests to us that beaked whales=20 may have a particular sensitivity to the acoustic stimuli employed.=20 There may be tissue and airspace resonance frequencies that are=20 particularly damaging, particularly at depths where these whales=20 normally forage. Multiple sonar "pings" and oceanographic and=20 topographic conditions probably contributed to efficient sound=20 propagation and regions of enhancement, but the sensitivity is=20 probably biological and could be expected whenever similar=20 received levels of similar frequencies of similar duration occur. The creatures we all study live in an acoustic world that is getting=20 noisier every year from shipping, oil exploration, and military=20 activities that are considered vital defense requirements, etc. These=20 animals evolved in a marine environment that was episodically=20 extremely noisy from underwater volcanoes, severe weather, etc.=20 that over millennia selected for protective mechanisms and=20 behaviors that generally worked. However, humans have introduced=20 a lot of "new" and powerful acoustic energy to them in less than a=20 century, and some of them may not be able to adjust to it very well=20 at times. Maybe they flee and maybe they are damaged, whether=20 or not we recognize it. Over the horizon and on remote beaches it=20 may be difficult to recognize what happened. The public may not=20 understand what is going on, but the scientific community should=20 encourage attempts to find out in ways that do not further harm the=20 animals. By all means we must be vigilant. =09 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thanks to the US Navy's concern, it was revealed that a major=20 naval transit was in the area at the time of the Bahamas=20 strandings. Both the Navy and the National Marine Fisheries=20 Service have assembled expert teams to determine what happened=20 that may be of etiological significance in these strandings, and=20 both have been timely and forthright in their efforts to determine the=20 cause, even though it may turn out to be a very big problem that=20 needs fixing. We thank Michael Braynen, Director of the Bahamas=20 Department of Fisheries for his speedy authorization for specimen=20 collection and permits for exportation. We also thank Dr. Alan=20 Bater for informing us of the Grand Bahama specimens, Bill=20 Anspach for donating flight time, Earthwatch Volunteers for untiring=20 assistance, Dave Ellifrit and Marta Azzolin for coordinating=20 volunteers, the residents of Sandy Point for timely help, Erika and=20 Ed, and Paul for helping locate photographs of whales stranded=20 hither and yon.=20 Literature Cited: Anonymous, 2000. NOAA Press Release June 14, 2000 titled=20 NOAA Fisheries Status Report Preliminary Findings on the=20 Stranding of Beaked Whales in the Bahamas. DOEIS, 1999. Department of the Navy, Chief of Naval Operations.=20 Draft Overseas Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental=20 Impact Statement for Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System=20 Low Frequency Active (SURTASS LFA) Sonar. Issued July 1999.=20 Contact J.S. Johnson, Program Manager eisteam(\)mindspring.com Frantzis, A. Does acoustic testing strand whales? Nature, 392: pg.=20 29. Pirie, R.B. Jr., letter to Ms Penelope D. Dalton, Assistant=20 Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, dated 9 June 2000. Simmonds, M.P. and L.F. Lopez-Jurado, 1991. Whales and the=20 military. Nature, 351: pg 448. Van Bree, Peter, J.H. and Ingvar Kristensen, 1974. On the=20 intriguing stranding of four Cuvier=92s beaked whales, Ziphius=20 cavirostris G. Cuvier, 1823, on the Lesser Antillean Island of=20 Bonaire. Bijdragen tot de Dierkunde, 44(2) pp. 235-238. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 27 Jun 0100 00:57:36 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly marine mammal summary to U.S. Congress (fwd) Forwarded message: The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS {Discovery Cove. On July 1, 2000, SeaWorld Orlando's Discovery Cove is scheduled to open to the public. Providing the opportunity to swim with dolphins, the facility is sold-out for its first two months already. A coral reef swim area has not been completed. Attendance will be limited to 800 to 1,000 people per day.} [Orlando Sentinel] Endocrine Disruption. On June 22-25, 2000, the Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) , the Univ. of CT, and the Jackson Laboratory will hold an Atlantic Coast Contaminants Workshop on "Endocrine Disruptors in the Marine Environment: Impacts on Marine Wildlife and Human Health" in Bar Harbor, ME. [MERI press release] {Caspian Seal Mortality. On June 21, 2000, an official of Kazakhstan's Emergency Situations Agency reported that 11,000 Caspian seals have died this spring of disputed causes. While environmental groups assert that the mortality is related to oil pollution, officials blame unseasonable weather.} [Assoc Press] BC Aquaculture Kills. On June 14, 2000, the Vancouver, BC, Sun reported that more than 5,000 seals and sea lions, including 500 CA sea lions and 300 Steller sea lions, were legally killed by BC salmon farmers during the 1990s. In 1999, salmon farmers killed 692 marine mammals, including 470 harbor seals, 133 CA sea lions, and 88 Steller sea lions. Special predator control permits issued by the Canadian government allowed salmon farmers to kill marine mammals that threatened salmon net pens. Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans officials have scheduled meetings with fish farmers to communicate the need to improve net pen equipment to reduce the opportunity for marine mammal damage. [Vancouver Sun, Canadian Press] IWC. On June 12, 2000, the International Whaling Commission's Secretary Dr. Ray Gambell was reported to have said the IWC must end a decade of inactivity and bring all whaling under international control, implying that the IWC's moratorium on commercial whaling should be reviewed with the aim of ending or modifying it. [Reuters, BBC News] CA Sea Otters. On June 12, 2000, the U.S. Geological Survey reported the results of the annual spring count of CA sea otters, with the population estimated to be almost 11% larger than last year. Between Santa Barbara and Half Moon Bay, a total of 2,317 otters were counted this spring, compared to 2,090 in 1999. [Assoc Press] Gray Whale Mortalities. As of June 11, 2000, a total of 46 gray whale deaths had been recorded along the CA coast, compared to 48 in all of 1999. Between Mar. 23 and June 11 alone, a total of 24 stranded (dead) gray whales have been reported between San Mateo and Marin Counties. Factors contributing to this increased mortality have not been conclusively identified. [San Francisco Examiner] Makah Whaling. On May 29, 2000, Makah whalers resumed hunting gray whale, but did not kill an animal. On June 9, 2000, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voted 2-1 to overturn a lower court ruling, stating that the environmental impact of allowing the Makah to resume whaling had not been adequately considered. The case will be returned to Judge Franklin Burgess in the U.S. District Court in Tacoma, WA. The federal government has been ordered to suspend whaling until a new objective environmental study is completed. Others suggest that treaty rights cannot be abrogated, and the Makah can continue whaling while NMFS completes a new environmental study. On June 12, 2000, an injured watercraft operator was scheduled to appear in federal court on charges she violated the whaling exclusionary zone. [Assoc Press, Reuters, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, APB Multimedia, The Fund for Animals press release, Humane Society of the United States press release] EU Dolphin Deaths. On June 7, 2000, Britain's fisheries minister announced that British observers had recorded dolphins being killed by intensive pair- trawl fishing for sea bass by Scottish and French fishermen; government officials pledged that action would be taken to reduce this mortality. [BBC News, London Times] Cook Inlet Beluga Whales. On May 31, 2000, NMFS published final regulations declaring the Cook Inlet stock of beluga whales to be "depleted" under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. {{On June 22, 2000, NMFS announced that it would not list Cook Inlet beluga whales as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Officials of the Center for Marine Conservation announced that they intended to sue NMFS to force an endangered listing. NMFS is currently investigating 2 cases of possible illegal hunting of Cook Inlet beluga whales.}} [Anchorage Daily News, Fed. Register] Dolphin-Safe Tuna. On May 30, 2000, NMFS published final regulations designating an official mark that can be used to label tuna products as being "dolphin-safe." [Fed. Register] U.S. Navy Sonar. On May 26, 2000, U.S. Navy officials announced that Littoral Warfare Advanced Development tests , scheduled for early June 2000 off the NJ coast, would exclude active acoustic sources. Environmental groups took this as a sign that the Navy had become more responsive to addressing concerns that sonar may affect marine mammals. On June 14, 2000, a biologist hired by NMFS to conduct necropsies on whales that beached in mid-March in the Bahamas reported finding severe trauma and bleeding around their inner ears that may indicate damage from intense sound/pressure. Such damage may suggest a connection to Navy exercises and acoustic activities in the area. The Navy agrees there is a priority need to examine the issue, and has appointed a panel of experts. {On Aug. 14-15, 2000, the Ocean Mammal Institute is sponsoring a symposium on low frequency active sonar, to be held at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, ME. On June 22, 2000, the journal Nature published results of a cooperative study with the U.S. Navy, indicating that male humpback whales lengthen their vocalizations or cease vocalization altogether in response to low-frequency active sonar. No other extreme behavior was noted.} [Assoc Press, personal communication, U.S. Navy press release, Animal Welfare Institute press release, MSNBC, ABC News, London Times, Nature] Keiko. On May 25, 2000, Keiko was released for his first open-ocean excursion, wherein he following a boat for 2 hours and 4 miles off Iceland's Westman Islands before returning to the enclosed Klettsvik Bay where he has been kept since September 1998. While Keiko was at sea, workmen dynamited rock to build a new pier in the Vestmannaeyar harbor. [Reuters] Canadian Sealing. On May 24, 2000, Canada's federal advisory group, the Fisheries Resource Conservation Council, issued a report supporting fishermen by calling for measures to be taken to protect cod stocks from seals. The Council recommended establishing "seal exclusion zones" suggesting that seal culls might be targeted to areas where cod congregate to overwinter. [Canadian Press, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release] Items in this Summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2000 13:46:33 +0200 From: Jan Herrmann Subject: Abstract: skin secretions in the common seal ------ Dear Colleagues, Below is the abstract from a recently published paper on skin=20 secretions in the common seal. For reprints see address below. Aspects of general antimicrobial properties of skin secretions in the=20 common seal Phoca vitulina W. Meyer, M. Bollhorn, M. Stede Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 41:77-79 (2000) ABSTRACT: Considerable amounts of several saccharide residues=20 (alpha-d-Man, beta-d-GlcNAc, alpha-d-GalNAc, beta-d-Gal, alpha-d-Gal,=20 alpha-l-Fuc, NeuNAc) are demonstrated by lectin histochemistry in the=20 sections of the sebaceous glands, and, particularly, the apocrine=20 tubular glands of the common seal. These sugars may be liberated on=20 the skin surface by microbial activities and, then, represent a=20 general antimicrobial protection mechanism of the skin because of=20 their ability to inhibit the adherence of different bacteria and=20 fungi to the epidermis. KEY WORDS: Skin secretions =B7 Free sugars =B7 Antimicrobial protection =B7= Seal Reprints: Prof. W. Meyer, Anatomical Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine=20 Hannover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany E-mail: wmeyer(\)anat.tiho-hannover.de --=20 ---> Jan Herrmann Anatomisches Institut Tier=E4rztliche Hochschule Hannover Bischofsholer Damm 15 Tel.:(0511) 856-7482 30173 Hannover Fax :(0511) 856-7683 Vorlesungsreihe Wal und Mensch +----> http://www.cetacea.de ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2000 19:33:27 -0700 Reply-To: Kevin Robinson From: Kevin Robinson Organization: Cetacean Research (& Rescue) Unit Subject: Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit on-line boundary="----=_NextPart_000_002B_01BFDEDC.3C5F1960" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_002B_01BFDEDC.3C5F1960 charset="iso-8859-1" Apologies for cross postings =20 The Cetacean Research (& Rescue) Unit (CRRU), founded in 1997, is a = small, non-profit NGO dedicated to the understanding, welfare, = conservation and protection of cetaceans in NE Scotland and the marine = environment in which they live.=20 It recently launched it's new web site at www.crru.org.uk/ which = features information on the group including: Detailed information on the research, conservation, rescue and = educational activities carried out by the CRRU Superb photographs of the dolphins, wildlife and scenery of NE Scotland Volunteer/training opportunities with the Unit A detailed, annotated "links section" referencing the best marine mammal = websites worldwide =20 And the first step to make public the extensive photo-identification = catalogues held by the CRRU of individually recognisable bottlenose = dolphins using the southern coastline of the outer Moray Firth __________________________________________ =20 Cetacean Research (& Rescue) Unit P.O. Box 11307 Banff AB45 3WB SCOTLAND ph/fax +44 1261 851696 crru(\)crru.org.uk http://www.crru.org.uk/ ------=_NextPart_000_002B_01BFDEDC.3C5F1960 charset="iso-8859-1"
Apologies for cross = postings
 
The Cetacean Research (& Rescue) = Unit (CRRU),=20 founded in 1997, is a small, non-profit NGO dedicated = to the understanding, welfare, conservation and = protection of=20 cetaceans in NE Scotland and the marine environment in which they live.=20
 
It recently launched it's new web site = at www.crru.org.uk/ which features = information=20 on the group including:

Detailed information on the research,=20 conservation, rescue and educational activities carried out by the=20 CRRU

Superb photographs of the dolphins, wildlife and scenery of = NE=20 Scotland
 
Volunteer/training opportunities with = the=20 Unit
 
A detailed, annotated "links = section"=20 referencing the best marine mammal websites worldwide
 
And the first step to make = public the=20 extensive photo-identification catalogues held by the CRRU of = individually=20 recognisable bottlenose dolphins using the southern coastline of the = outer Moray=20 Firth
 
__________________________________________
 
Cetacean Research (& Rescue) = Unit
P.O. Box=20 11307
Banff  AB45 3WB
SCOTLAND
ph/fax +44 = 1261=20 851696
crru(\)crru.org.uk
http://www.crru.org.uk/
=
------=_NextPart_000_002B_01BFDEDC.3C5F1960-- ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 27 Jun 0100 06:53:46 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Artificial insemination of dolphins, Hong Kong (fwd) CHINA: June 26, 2000 HONG KONG - Scientists in Hong Kong have scored a world first by successfully inseminating a dolphin artificially, paving the way to preserve endangered dolphin species and eliminate inbreeding in captivity. Using ultrasound techniques, scientists at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University were able to accurately predict ovulation in dolphins for the first time, associate professor Fiona Brook, said on Saturday. Dolphins in general have very irregular ovarian cycles, making artificial insemination very difficult. "With ultrasound, we can predict when ovulation will happen, then we can inseminate at the right time," Brook, who headed the 10-year project, told Reuters. Scientists in the United States have previously tried to artificially inseminate dolphins but the attempts proved futile. "They were unsuccessful because they could not define the time of ovulation," said Natalie Rourke, chief veterinarian at Hong Kong's Ocean Park, which collaborated with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University on the project. While dolphins in general do not have problems reproducing, inbreeding has become a headache with dolphins in captivity, which produces genetically weaker offspring. "With AI (artificial insemination), it means that we can take semen from outside facilities and inseminate our females to broaden our genetic variance," Rourke said. Brook said: "It's an amazing event for the genetic health of the animal as inbreeding will produce weaker and weaker animals." Ada, a 20-year-old bottlenose dolphin at the park, is now two months pregnant and is due to deliver in May 2001. She was impregnated with sperm harvested from Molly, a 17-year-old male bottlenose, also resident at Ocean Park. Bottlenose dolphins are found in Southeast Asian seas, and both Ada and Molly originate from Indonesian waters. BRINGING NEW HOPES The breakthrough will help reduce the need to bring in dolphins from the wild for breeding purposes and may even enhance reproduction in endangered dolphin species. "With AI, it can perhaps lead to the reduction of animals taken from the wild into captive facilities to increase their genetic variance. So wild populations may not be interfered with," Rourke said. The next step for the researchers would be to develop a way to freeze dolphin semen, which will then allow semen exchanges between facilities to strengthen genetic pools. "The next important thing is to develop insemination with frozen semen. Once we can use frozen semen, then we can import frozen semen from other facilities," Rourke said. "In October, that is when a few of our females will ovulate, we will time the artificial insemination using frozen semen." Story by Tan Ee Lyn REUTERS NEWS SERVICE ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2000 15:38:16 -0700 From: "Rothe, Mike" Subject: 28th ANNUAL IMATA CONFERENCE The International Marine Animal Trainers Association is holding their 28th annual conference in Playa del Carmen, Mexico October 22-27, 2000. The conference is hosted by Via Delphi and will be held at the Iberostar Quetzal hotel. For additional information, visit the IMATA web site at www.imata.org ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2000 11:11:22 +0900 From: mccnsa(\)pluto.senet.com.au Subject: MACQUARIE ISLAND MARINE RESERVE DECLARED MARINE PROTECTED AREAS Tasmania - Australia http://www.service.tas.gov.au/ David Llewellyn, MHA Minister for Primary Industries, Water and Environment Tuesday, 20 June 2000 MACQUARIE ISLAND MARINE RESERVE DECLARED Parliament today approved a proposal to extend the existing Macquarie Island Nature Reserve to cover all Tasmanian waters out to three nautical miles surrounding the island and nearby Judge and Clerk and Bishop and Clerk Islands. Lying 1,500 kilometres south east of Tasmania, Macquarie Island is home to enormous numbers of seabirds and seals that totally depend upon the island. There are an estimated 3.5 million breeding seabirds and 100,000 breeding seals. Six of the bird and two of the seal species are protected under Tasmanian or Commonwealth endangered species legislation. Minister for Primary Industries, Water and Environment, David Llewellyn said the reserve would now have an extra 74,715 hectares of marine reserve added to the nature reserve, making it one of the largest highly protected marine areas in Australia. "While the land part of the nature reserve protected seals and breeding seabirds, the addition of the marine reserve will now protect the environment of the huge numbers of animals and birds that rely solely on these surrounding waters for food and nursery areas. "The new reserve will also protect access to the island for wildlife, and the island's important geological values," Mr Llewellyn said. "The world-wide significance of Macquarie Island has been recognised by its listing as a World Heritage Area in 1997 and as a biosphere reserve, and the new extension is vitally important to formally protect those listings." The new extension will complement the recently-declared Commonwealth marine park to the east of the island. "The Tasmanian marine reserve is the next logical step to protect the only intertidal and shallow waters in the region and I am looking forward to working with the Commonwealth in cooperatively managing the whole environment," Mr Llewellyn said. Further information: Tasmanian Government Communications Office Phone: (03) 6233 6007 **************************************** Tony Flaherty South Australian Coordinator Marine & Coastal Community Network (SA) c/o University of South Australia, Holbrooks Road, Underdale South Australia 5032 Phone 61 8 8302 6568 Fax 61 8 8302 6550 - mobile 0429 678 869 E-dress - web - For our free snail mail list (Australia only) to receive quarterly newsletters WAVES and Regional Ripples contact Kerri at To receive summaries of Australian marine-related media - contact Tony at mccnsa(\)senet.com.au and ask to subscribe WET STUFF. Views expressed material forwarded are not necessarily those of the MCCN. The Marine and Coastal Community Network (MCCN) works to increase Australians' understanding, appreciation, management and protection of marine and coastal environments and their biodiversity. It does this by initiating and supporting community involvement in marine and coastal conservation efforts including government programs, and by providing information and opinion to MCCN participants from a variety of sources. The MCCN is a national program administered by the Australian Marine Conservation Society. It is supported by the Federal Government's Marine Program. In South Australia the MCCN is hosted by University of South Australia. ************************************** ,///, <')<:::>{ `` ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2000 12:58:30 -0400 From: Tammy Adams Subject: Request for Proposals from the Center for Marine Conservation The following is a Request for Proposals from the Center for Marine Conservation. Please do not reply by email: direct all inquiries to Nina Young by phone only. Please feel free to forward this post to other relevant lists or interested parties. Summary The CENTER FOR MARINE CONSERVATION (CMC) is seeking a person with expertise in underwater acoustics, sensory physiology, and the biology of hearing in aquatic animals (Contractor) to review the current scientific knowledge on underwater acoustics, sound in the ocean, and the effects of sound, especially low frequency noise, on marine animals, in particular marine mammals. The Contractor should include a survey of the proximate and long-term impacts of the proposed Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active (SURTASS LFA) Sonar on marine mammals as well as an evaluation of the impact of other emerging acoustic technologies on marine mammals. Statement of Work Work to be contracted includes researching and evaluating data on the effects of underwater noise on marine mammals and marine wildlife. The Contractor will produce for CMC a review of the scientific literature on hearing in marine mammals and marine wildlife, an assessment of the best available data on the effects of noise pollution on the behavior, physiology, and health of marine mammals and marine wildlife, both their immediate/short-term responses to sound as well as potential long-term effects of chronic exposure on their survival. The Contractor will also provide recommendations for mitigation measures and legal, legislative, and regulatory strategies to protect marine wildlife from potential harm that may be associated with some sound sources. Contractor will provide this assessment to CMC as a report, using lay-terminology when possible. Award Criteria The contract will be awarded based on the following criteria: 1. Demonstrated knowledge and expertise in the areas of underwater acoustics, the biology of hearing, and the impact of noise pollution on marine mammal biology and behavior (40%); 2. Demonstrated ability to communicate, in writing, complex scientific concepts using lay-terminology (40%); 3. Proposed plan, including methodology, schedule, delivery dates, etc. (10%); and 4. Cost (10%) Questions/Background Information Please direct all questions about the RFP process or about the work to Nina Young, Director, Marine Wildlife Conservation Program, (202) 429-5609. Proposal Submission Proposals should not exceed five (5) pages. Proposal should describe how the Contractor will approach the work, including such elements as review of materials, outline of steps needed to complete work, etc. Proposal must estimate time and cost to complete the preparatory and implementation work. Contractor must include references or sample outcome products from comparable projects. As a separate attachment, the Contractor should list their qualifications, experience with similar projects, and familiarity with the specific issue. Samples of published manuscripts or technical reports should be included. Proposals must be received at CMC by 5:00 p.m. July 30, 2000, and they should be addressed to: Center for Marine Conservation, ATTN: Nina Young, Director, Marine Wildlife Conservation Program, 1725 DeSales Street, N.W. Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20036. Faxed proposals will not be accepted. ____________________________ Tammy C. Adams Marine Mammal Specialist Center for Marine Conservation 1725 DeSales St. NW #600 Washington, D.C. 20036 phone: (202) 429-5609 ext. FAX: (202) 872-0619 email: tadams(\)dccmc.org www.cmc-ocean.org ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2000 08:50:21 PDT From: Dagmar Fertl Subject: abstracts - Aquatic Mammals vol 26, no. 1 The following is posted as a courtesy to the editor of _Aquatic Mammals_. _Aquatic Mammals_ is the journal of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals. This message is cross-posted to ECS-mailbase; apologies to those of you on both listserves. Information regarding subscriptions and manuscript submissions EAAM webpage at: http://www.eaam.org If you do not have web access, the editor Dr. Jeannette Thomas may be contacted directly at: Jeanette_Thomas(\)ccmail.wiu.edu, fax: 309-762-6989. Please do not contact the Marmam editors or me directly for reprints; I have provided the address for the corresponding author to whom requests for further information should be directed. Thank you for your continued interest in these postings. Sincerely, Dagmar_Fertl(\)mms.gov ____________________________________________________________________ Barros, N.B.*, E.C.M. Parsons, and T.A. Jefferson. 2000. Prey of offshore bottlenose dolphins from the South China Sea. _Aquatic Mammals_ 26(1): 2-6. *Center for Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Research, Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236, USA The diet of bottlenose dolphins in southeast Asia is poorly known. Two forms of bottlenose dolphins occur off Hong Kong: an inshore form (_aduncus_-type) and an offshore form (_truncatus_-type), which differ in total length and other morphological features. We examined the stomach contents of four offshore bottlenose dolphins stranded between 1994 and 1997. Nine species of fish (of nine families) and three species of cephalopods (of three families) were identified as prey. These species are found in neritic and pelagic habitats, and represent both surface-dwellers as well as demersal inhabitants. Whereas some prey species may be found close to shore, others extend their distribution into deeper waters, suggesting that the dolphins may have also fed in inshore waters in the process of stranding. Although sample sizes are small, little competition with other cetacean species found around Hong Kong (Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins and finless porpoises) is suspected, as few prey species were shared by these dolphins. ***************************************** Baum, C.*, R. Stelzer, W. Meyer, D. Siebers, and L.-G. Fleischer. 2000. A cryo-scanning electron microscopic study of the skin surface of the pilot whale _Globicephala melas_. _Aquatic Mammals_ 26(1): 7-16. *Alfred Wegener Institute Foundation for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, D-27570 Bremerhaven, Germany Surfaces of pilot whale (_Globicephala melas_) skin were studied by scanning electron microscopy with particular emphasis on surface condition and epibiontic marks of biofouling. To minimize artificial cross-linking of cell structures, dislocation of epibionts or dilution of salt crystals, untreated fresh skin samples were stored and examined by cryo-scanning electron microscopy at a controlled low temperature. The samples were compared with aldehyde-fixed skin of pilot whales. The results obtained show that the surfaces of the fresh skin areas are covered with a smooth biofilm of alternating hydrophilic-hydrophobic sectors and exhibit negligibly low concentrations of epibiontic organisms or salt crystals. In contrast to the smooth biofilm observed in cryo-scanned samples, the aldehyde-fixed skin areas were covered with a more spongy layer of irregular structures, supposedly representing denatured remnants of the biofilm. We consider the biofilm to be the structural basis of skin smoothness and the primary site of epibiontic settlement. ************************************************* Berghan, J.* and I.N. Visser. 2000. Vertebral column malformations in New Zealand delphinids with a review of cases worldwide. _Aquatic Mammals_ 26(1): 17-25. *117 Te Haumi Drive, Paihia, Bay of Islands, Northland, New Zealand Few detailed reports of vertebral column malformations in cetaceans have been published. This manuscript documents vertebral column malformations in ten wild delphinids (six bottlenose dolphins, two killer whales, and two Hector's dolphins) sighted in New Zealand waters. Three cases show scoliosis, three show kyphoscoliosis, two show kyphosis, one shows lordosis, and one case shows a slight lateral malformation. Previously documented cases of vertebral column malformations in cetaceans are listed, and further unpublished reports from around the world are presented in a table. The pathogenesis of vertebral column malformations in cetaceans are discussed. ***************************************************** Brown, R.E.* and J.P. Butler. 2000. The absolute necessity of chest-wall collapse during diving in breath-hold diving mammals. _Aquatic Mammals_ 26(1): 26-32. *Department of Anesthesia, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA It has been suggested that the chest-wall (rib-cage, diaphragm, abdominal wall) of a diving animal is nearly incollapsible, and at deep depths can sustain a considerable trans-thoracic pressure P(subscript TT)(=subscript body surface -P subscript intra-thorax). In strong contrast, we argue on circulatory, blood pooling, biological material strength, and ventillatory grounds that this is incompatible with life. At a pressure P(subscript TT) of more than a third of an atm, or that experienced at a depth of only 3.5 m if the interior of the thorax remains at P (subscript sea-level), the heart is unable to perfuse tissues outside the thorax. To the extent that P(subscript TT) is substantially larger than at sea level, blood will pool in the thoracic vessels with potentially lethal consequences of vascular rupture. From estimates of supporting tissue thickness and geometry, a P(subscript TT) >1 atm would exceed the mechanical strength of known biological materials. Finally, a chest-wall sufficiently stiff to support a P(subscript TT >1 atm is not compatible with breathing when the animal is at the surface. ************************************************** Kastelein, R.A.* J. Mosterd, N.M. Schooneman, and P.R. Wiepkema. 2000. Food consumption, growth, body dimensions, and respiration rates of captive false killer whales (_Pseudorca crassidens_). _Aquatic Mammals_ 26(1): 33-44. *Harderwijk Marine Mammal Park, Strandboulevard Oost 1, 3841 AB Harderwijk, The Netherlands Food consumption, growth, body measurements, initial food passage times, and respiration rates of one male and 2 female false killer whales housed at the Harderwijk Marine Mammal Park are described. When between 5 and 10 years old, the two females ate between 5000 and 6000 kg annually. The annual food consumption of the male increased from 5500 kg during his fourth and fifth year to 6400 kg during his sixth year. No pattern of seasonal variation in food intake was observed. One female's body length increased until she was 10 years old. At the age of 5 years (350 kg) she consumed on average 4.1% of her body weight daily and at the age of 8 years (450 kg) she ate 3.4%. The other female's body length increased at least until she was 11 years old. At the age of 6 years (380 kg), she ate on average 4.1% of her body weight per day. The male grew about 310 kg at the age of 3 years to 425 kg at the age of 6 years. His body length increased steadily during the 5-year study. After the age of 5 years the male became more robust than the females. At the age of 4 years (350 kg), he consumed on average 4.3% of his body weight daily. Food consumption and body measurements from this study are compared to those reported in the literature and to unpublished data from Sea Life Park, Hawaii. The mean initial passage times of carmine red dye through the gastrointestinal tract of the two females were 218 and 236 min. The mean respiration rate of the animals varied during the day between 10 and 20 breaths per 5 min. In all 3 animals, the respiration rate was highest between 1200 and 1800 h. ************************************************** Marten, K. 2000. Ultrasonic analysis of pygmy sperm whale (_Kogia breviceps_) and Hubbs' beaked whale (_Mesoplodon carlhubbsi_) clicks. _Aquatic Mammals_ 26(1): 45-48. *current address: Earthtrust, 25 Kaneohe Bay Dr. #205, Kailua, HI 96734, USA A male pygmy sperm whale (_Kogia breviceps_) stranded in Monterey Bay and two juvenile beaked whales (_Mesoplodon carlhubbsi_) stranded at Ocean Beach in San Francisco within a week of each other in August 1989. The animals were rescued and put in holding tanks in two different locations. Their vocalizations were recorded and analysed with ultrasonic equipment. The _Kogia_ always emitted ultrasonic clicks (most of them inaudible) peaking at 125 kHz. The _Mesoplodon_ gave sonic clicks centered at 1.77 kHz and bursts of 3 to 8 pulses ranging between 7 and 78 kHz. ************************************************** Monteiro-Neto, C.*, T.T. Alves-Junior, F.J. Capibaribe Avila, A.A. Campos, A. Fernandes Costa, C.P. Negrao Silva, and M.A.A. Furtado-Neto. 2000. Impact of fisheries on the tucuxi (_Sotalia fluviatilis_) and rough-toothed dolphin (_Steno bredanensis_) populations off Ceara state, northeastern Brazil. _Aquatic Mammals_ 26(1): 49-56. *Grupo de Estudo de Cetaceos do Ceara, Instituto de Ciencias do Mar, Universidade Federal do Ceara, Avenida Abolicao, 3207, Fortaleza - CE, 60165-082, Brazil Incidental catches of cetaceans in fishing gear have been reported worldwide as a major cause of mortality. Two species, the tucuxi (_Sotalia fluviatilis_) and the rough-toothed dolphin (_Steno bredanensis_) have been adversely impacted by fishery interactions in northeast Brazil, an area where few marine mammal studies have been conducted. This paper reports the fishery-related mortality of these species along the coast of Ceara state, northeast Brazil, commenting on the possible conservation implications for the species local populations. From January 1992 to December 1998, the occurrence of mortality of tucuxi _S. fluviatilis_ and _S. bredanensis_ was investigated through surveys of sightings and strandings on 21 municipalities distributed on four state geographic zones. A total of 89 dolphin (76 _S. fluviatilis_ and 13 _S. bredanensis_ strandings occurred along the coast. Incidental catches per year ranged between 7-13, except during 1996 when 31 animals were recorded. Most animals were recovered at state geographic zones II and III where finfish fisheries and stranding survey efforts were highest. Seasonally, incidental catches were more frequent during the austral sprig (October-December). Preliminary population data suggest estimates of only a few hundred individuals of _Sotalia fluviatilis_ along the coast of Ceara. Sightings of _Steno bredanensis_ were few due to their slightly offshore distribution. The small number of individuals in conjunction with long gestation and nursing periods, suggest that an increased mortality due to dolphin-fisheries interactions could severely impact local populations of both species. ******************************* Pace, D.S. 2000. Fluke-made bubble rings as toys in bottlenose dolphin calves (_Tursiops truncatus_). _Aquatic Mammals_ 26(1): 57-64. Via delle Gondole 109, Roma, Italy Cetaceans display considerable patterns of bubble formation and manipulation for different purposes. While position and acoustic functions of bubbles have been extensively discussed, few details are known about their use in playing behaviour. The aim of the present study was to conduct a systematic observational study on a novel pattern of fluke-made bubble rings (FBR) and associated play behaviour in two captive calves of _Tursiops truncatus_. The birth of two, half-siblings bottlenose dolphins less than one month apart in the same aquarium presented a good opportunity to address the issue of individual differences and possible mimicry of such behaviour. Focal animal sampling (Altmann, 1974) sessions lasting 15 min were carried out for each calf according to a decreasing temporal schedule. The following parameters were scored and obtained for each calf: (a) mean frequency of FBR per session, (b) FBR by time of day, and (C) frequency of FBR associated play behaviour per session. FBR formation appeared to be, for both animals, a two-phase action producing a loud percussive sound. A trend in the mean frequency of FBR suggests a possible seasonal negative relationship with human activities. Moreover, the two calves usually were seen together and mimicked each other during FBR formation. Finally, 7 different behavioural categories were observed after FBR formation and their sequence appeared to be well defined. In conclusion, this paper describes a novel form of play in two bottlenose dolphin calves. Even though data are limited by a small sample size and only suggestive, they do indicate that FBR formation and the calves' ability to manipulate bubble rings could reflect the learning flexibility of the young dolphins and implies a high behavioural versatility. ******************************* Arruda Ramos, R.M., A.P. Madeira di Beneditto, and N.R. Wille Lima. 2000. Growth parameters of _Pontoporia blainvillei_ and _Sotalia fluviatilis_ (Cetacea) in northern Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. _Aquatic Mammals_ 26(1): 65-75. Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Laboratorio de Ciencias Ambientais, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000-Campos/RJ, Brazil 28015-620 (abstract was slightly modified to correctly reflect results) Growth parameters of 93 _Pontoporia blainvillei_ and 84 _Sotalia fluviatilis_ accidentally captured in gillnets or stranded along the sea coast of northern Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil (21 degrees 37'-22 degrees 25'S) were analysed (1989-96). Data of length-at-age was fitted by non-linear Gompertz model. _P. blainvillei_ - Although a different body length range might be observed between the sexes, this sexual dimorphism was significant only for the specimens at four years of age; asymptotic length of 117.1 for males and 144.7 for females; length at birth of 71.0 cm; prenatal growth rate of 0.25 cm/day; births occur in all seasons; males and females attain sexual maturity at two years, 115.0 cm and at three years, 130.0 cm, respectively. _S. fluviatilis_ - presented non-sexual dimorphism in body length; asymptotic length of 191.7 cm for males and females,; length at birth of 106.0 cm; prenatal growth rate of 0.31 cm/day; births occur from spring to autumn, with a peak during autumn; males and females attain sexual maturity at six years, with 180.0 cm for male and 160.0 cm for females. The results of the present study suggest that there are alterations in the reproductive investment in _P. blainvillei_. Probably, this species varies its growth strategies along its distribution. _S. fluviatilis_ showed patterns similar to those observed for other populations of this speces. ******************************* Rosen, D.A.S., L. Williams, and A.W. Trites. 2000. Effect of ration size and meal frequency on assimilation and digestive efficiency in yearling Steller sea lions, _Eumetopias jubatus_. _Aquatic Mammals_ 26(1): 76-82. Marine Mammal Research Unit, University of British Columbia, 6248 Biological Sciences Rd., Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4 Assimilation and digestive efficiencies were measured in four juvenile Steller sea lions (_Eumetopias jubatus_) fed three ration sizes of herring (3%, 6%, or 9% of body mass) at three frequencies (2, 3, or 4 times daily). Assimilation efficiency (dry matter digestive efficiency) was 90.0+-2.0% (mean+-SD). Digestive efficiency (efficiency of energy digestion) was 95.5%+-1.0%. There was a strong linear relationship between digestive and assimilation efficiency, but no significant differences in either assimilation or digestive efficiency with changes in feeding frequency or changes in daily food intake within the ranges offered. ******************************* Supin, A. Ya. And V.V. Popov. 2000. Frequency-modulation sensitivity in bottlenose dolphins, _Tursiops truncatus_: evoked-potential study. _Aquatic Mammals_ 26(1): 83-94. Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, 33 Leninsky Prospect, 11701 Moscow, Russia Evoked-potential responses to rhythmic frequency modulations at carrier frequencies from 32 to 128 kHz were recorded in two bottlenose dolphins. The envelope-following response appeared at modulation rates up to 2000 Hz, with the best responses appearing at rates of 600-650 Hz and around 1000 Hz. Frequency-modulation thresholds were measured at a modulation rate of 625 Hz. Thresholds decreased with increasing sound level up to 130-150 dB re 1 uPa. The lowest thresholds were found at carrier frequencies from 45 to 108 kHz: threshold modulation depths were from 0.025% to 0.2%, inter-individual means were approximately 0.05%, which corresponds to 0.1% of peak-to-peak frequency deviation. For comparison, amplitude-modulation thresholds were measured under the same conditions. At all carrier frequencies, amplitude-modulation thresholds (being expressed in terms of modulation depth) were about 10 times higher than frequency-modulation thresholds. ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 30 Jun 0100 01:07:42 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: History Channel Needs Blue Whale Video/Film (fwd) Forwarded by: william rossiter ---------- Forwarded Message ---------- From: Nathalie Neurath, INTERNET:nneurath(\)Wellergrossman.com DATE: 06/23/2000 1:53 PM RE: The History Channel To Whom it may concern: The History Channel series, "The Most" is looking for footage (video or film) of Blue Whales, including conservation and hunting efforts. If you have any such material please contact me as soon as possible if you can help. We must have the material by 15 July. A reasonable fee is available, and shipment would be arranged with FEDEX on our account. Thank you, Sincerely, Nathalie Neurath (818) 755-4800 ext. 174 Fax (818) 755-4820 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2000 14:51:22 -0800 From: Joel Garlich-Miller Subject: Job announcement: Marine Mammal Biologist PLEASE POST/DISTRIBUTE The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is recruiting a Marine Mammal Biologist for our Walrus Program. The duty location is Anchorage, Alaska. The vacancy opens June 28 and closes on July 19. This position may be filled at either the GS-11 or GS-12 level. This is a full-time permanent position. One vacancy. This is a challenging opportunity for a self-starting, motivated, individual, with strong analytical and communication skills. Population assessment and subsistence hunting are the primary issues. Job duties include: Develop biological study proposals, survey designs, and scopes-of-work; Conduct population and harvest surveys, biological sampling and population modeling; Coordinate walrus program activities within the Alaska Region as well as with other Federal and State agencies, Alaska Native organizations, foreign governments, and private organizations; Identify and recommend management strategies, approaches and priorities; Budget planning, projections, formulation, needs and allocation; Develop funding initiatives. We are looking for someone with a strong background in population biology and statistical theory. Qualified candidates must be able to: Statistically analyze biological data, prepare clear, concise technical and administrative reports and transform findings of research and management studies into practical applications for managing marine mammal populations. Knowledge of the habitat, taxonomy, status, ecology and conservation of fauna with emphasis on marine mammals is required. The federal government is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are considered without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, political affiliation, age, sexual orientation or any other non merit factor. For additional information regarding this position, visit the USA Jobs web site at: http://www.usajobs.opm.gov. Look for vacancy announcement number: FH-RD-0-6252 under current job openings. Joel Garlich-Miller, USFWS email: Joel_GarlichMiller(\)fws.gov ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2000 17:38:08 -0400 From: Jim Gilliam Subject: Fisheries Scientist, Assistant Professor Fisheries Scientist Assistant Professor, 12-month, tenure-track Required Qualifications: PhD in fisheries science or related field; post-doctoral experience preferred. The Department of Zoology at NC State University seeks applicants for a 12-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Fisheries Science. This position will address applied fisheries issues relating changes in habitat, water quality, harvest, and management to fisheries production and the dynamics of fish and shellfish populations. Strong candidates will use a combination of field, quantitative, and analytical approaches to conduct research that will result in more effective management. The position will be located at the Center for Marine Sciences and Technology (CMAST), NC State University's new coastal research facility in Morehead City, NC. In addition to advising graduate students, the selected candidate will be expected to establish an externally-funded research program and an active extension/outreach program, capitalizing on cooperative relationships with biologists at the NC Division of Marine Fisheries, UNC Institute of Marine Science, NMFS/NOS Beaufort Lab, Duke Marine Lab, Carteret Community College, and the UNC Sea Grant program, as well as other NC State faculty. To apply, send a letter of application, three letters of recommendation, a curriculum vitae, and statement of research interests to Dr. Jim Rice, Fisheries Scientist Search, Department of Zoology, North Carolina State University, Box 7617, Raleigh, NC 27695-7617. Application review will begin September 1, 2000 and continue until a suitable candidate is identified. We encourage minorities, women and the disabled to apply. North Carolina State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. For more information, visit www.cals.ncsu.edu/zoology or contact Jim Rice (919-515-4592, jim_rice(\)ncsu.edu). --=====================_192547208==_.ALT Fisheries Scientist
Assistant Professor, 12-month, tenure-track

Required Qualifications: PhD in fisheries science or related field;
post-doctoral experience preferred.

     The Department of Zoology at NC State University seeks applicants for a
12-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Fisheries Science.
This position will address applied fisheries issues relating changes in
habitat, water quality, harvest, and management to fisheries production and
the dynamics of fish and shellfish populations. Strong candidates will use
a combination of field, quantitative, and analytical approaches to conduct
research that will result in more effective management. The position will
be located at the Center for Marine Sciences and Technology (CMAST), NC
State University's new coastal research facility in Morehead City, NC. In
addition to advising graduate students, the selected candidate will be
expected to establish an externally-funded research program and an active
extension/outreach program, capitalizing on cooperative relationships with
biologists at the NC Division of Marine Fisheries, UNC Institute of Marine
Science, NMFS/NOS Beaufort Lab, Duke Marine Lab, Carteret Community
College, and the UNC Sea Grant program, as well as other NC State faculty.
     To apply, send a letter of application, three letters of recommendation, a
curriculum vitae, and statement of research interests to Dr. Jim Rice,
Fisheries Scientist Search, Department of Zoology, North Carolina State
University, Box 7617, Raleigh, NC 27695-7617. Application review will begin
September 1, 2000 and continue until a suitable candidate is identified.
We encourage minorities, women and the disabled to apply. North Carolina
State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

For more information, visit www.cals.ncsu.edu/zoology or contact Jim Rice
(919-515-4592, jim_rice(\)ncsu.edu).

--=====================_192547208==_.ALT-- ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 3 Jul 0100 15:16:01 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MARMAM editorial policy and FAQ ====================================================== MARMAM EDITORIAL POLICY AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ====================================================== This message will be sent out monthly - new additions or recent changes are marked >> *Please save this message for future reference!* Topics: EDITORIAL POLICY 1. The MARMAM list 2. Messages posted on MARMAM 3. Messages not posted on MARMAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 4. How do I post messages to the list? 5. How do I reply to individual subscribers? 6. How do I subscribe/unsubscribe/temporarily signoff? 7. How do I receive MARMAM postings as a single daily digest rather than as individual messages? 8. How do I retrieve old postings to MARMAM? 9. Subscriber list 10. How do I get help using listserver commands? 11. Why did my MARMAM subscription stop? 12. Useful websites 13. Other email discussion lists 14. Who do I contact with my questions or concerns? ===================================================== MARMAM EDITORIAL POLICY 1. The MARMAM list MARMAM is an edited e-mail discussion list which focuses on marine mammal research and conservation. The list was established in August 1993 and as of April 1999 there were about 3,500 subscribers from 60 different countries. Anyone may subscribe to the list. Editors of the MARMAM list work on a volunteer basis. At any one time there may be between three and five editors. We have endeavoured to make the editorial policy as uniform and explicit as possible (detailed below), but there may be some individual editor variation in the standard of messages sent to the list. _______________________________________________________________ 2. Messages posted on MARMAM A wide spectrum of message types are found on MARMAM, all related to marine mammal research and/or conservation. MARMAM endeavours to provide unbiased information on these issues (e.g, is not anti-whaling or anti-hunting per se). Commonly seen messages include: - requests for information regarding current or recent research projects, publications, or research techniques - current or previously unreported unusual news events - meeting announcements - job or volunteer opportunities - abstracts from scientific papers or reports - books/techniques/products announcements - requests for products (eg., photographs) which will benefit MARMAM subscribers (eg., photographs that will be of widespread use or for payment) - brief summaries of meetings or conferences related to marine mammals, including resolutions passed NOTE: Notices from regional student chapters of the Society for Marine Mammalogy should be restricted to: - a single message announcing each new student chapter (including contact details and website address). - a single message concerning each regional meeting (providing details as to the time and place of that meeting, schedule of speakers or events, and a website or email address to contact for further information). Before sending a message to MARMAM, please read the following. An increasing number of messages are being sent to the list which require modification by the authors or the Editors. As the Editors moderate the list on a volunteer basis, there is often limited time available to help with or to facilitate such modifications. We ask that before sending a message to the list, the author ensure that: - An appropriate subject heading is included - Your name and e-mail address are included in the body of the message - Your message is interesting enough to go to 3000+ list members. Therefore messages about small local meetings will not be posted. - Your replies are meant to go to ALL the subscribers of MARMAM, rather than just to the original author. If you feel your submission is of general interest, please send it both to the original author and cc it to MARMAM. (In many cases we ask that summaries of responses to questions are later posted to the list so individual responses to the list are often unneccessary.) - Requests for information provide details in the body of the message justifying the request (providing background information or details on why the information is needed). Such requests should also demonstrate that available means to obtain the information requested have been exhausted. Please do not use the list merely because you have not checked your library. (A follow up of responses to any such request should later be posted to the list.) - Messages in another language provide an english translation - Messages do not include attached files. The MARMAM account cannot deal with attachments and any messages with attachments will not be sent. All information should therefore be included as text within the body of the message. - Messages are properly formatted and do not contain excessive numbers of typos. As editing the list is a volunteer job and there are often too many messages to easily deal with, messages which are inproperly formatted (e.g., missing a subject heading, missing the senders name and e-mail address in the body of the message, or formatted too wide for a computer screen) or those full of typos may not be sent to the list. In most cases the author will be contacted regarding resubmitting their message, but at times of high volume, this may not always be done. NB. Many messages ask for information which would be of interest to many of the list subscribers. We therefore ask that a summary of responses is prepared and submitted back to the MARMAM list. Respondents to calls for information should therefore be aware that their response may be resubmitted to the entire list. Authors should therefore state that they do not wish their reply to go to the list, if this is the case. Summaries to the MARMAM list should fulfil other editorial criteria (relevent, concise, no flames, etc) ______________________________________________________________ 3. Messages not posted on MARMAM Examples of messages not posted to the MARMAM list include: - THOSE UNRELATED TO MARINE MAMMAL RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION - ANIMAL RIGHTS CALLS FOR ACTION - "COMMUNICATION" BETWEEN HUMANS AND ANIMALS - "CASUAL" REQUESTS for information that is easily available elsewhere. A specific request, with a brief description of what the information is to be used for, is most likely to stimulate feedback from other subscribers. If the author lives in a country where limited library resources are available and is conducting original research, exceptions to this rule may be made (though the message author must state that they have no easy access to library resources). - INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION: information requests without details as to why this is being requested. Messages which include only an information request without providing any background information justifying the request and demonstrating that available means to obtain this information have been exhausted, will not be posted. - COMMON EVENTS: news reports of common events (e.g. strandings of common species of marine mammals, deaths of captive animals, etc) - MEDICAL REPORTS ON CAPTIVE ANIMALS FOR WHICH HELP IS BEING SOUGHT - REQUESTS FOR SMALL NUMBERS OF SPECIFIC ITEMS (eg., photographs) that would be better directed to individuals working on the species in question. - OPINION STATEMENTS OFFERING LITTLE OR NO NOVEL INFORMATION. Messages of a duplicative nature which do not contribute new information are generally not posted to the list. Exceptions include event-related postings, such as conference information, job openings, and surveys. New subscribers are strongly encouraged to monitor MARMAM for a period before submitting messages to the list, or to review recent archived messages, to reduce the number of duplicative submissions. - CRITICISMS OF RESEARCHER'S STATEMENTS QUOTED IN NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, unless they are corrections from the person being quoted. - 'FLAMES'. Messages which are derogatory or serve to insult or inflame rather than contribute to the discussion at hand are not posted to the list. - RHETORIC: messages with some substance surrounded by a lot of rhetoric - HUMOUROUS ANECDOTES - JOB/ VOLUNTEER POSITION/ INTERNSHIP WANTED. Requests for employment or volunteer opportunities are not posted to the list. Persons seeking such positions are encouraged to monitor MARMAM for opportunities, which they can apply to directly. Students interested in careers in marine mammal science are encouraged to consult the Society for Marine Mammalogy's 'Strategies for Pursuing a Career in Marine Mammal Science', which can be found at the Society for Marine Mammalogy's website: http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~smm/strat.htm - JOB OFFERS FOR ANIMAL TRAINERS OR FOR NATURALISTS ON WHALE WATCH BOATS ===================================================== MARMAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 4. How do I post messages to the list? All messages meant for MARMAM subscribers should be sent to marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca Messages should include the sender's name and e-mail address within the body of the text, and a detailed subject heading. ______________________________________________________________ 5. How do I reply to individual messages? Messages meant soley for a particular subscriber and not for MARMAM may be sent directly to that subscriber using his or her e-mail address, which will appear in the header of the message and/or in the body of the message. Subscribers are asked to include their e-mail address within the body of their messages, as not all subscribers receive headers including this information with their messages. If your reply is of general interest to the subscribers, please reply to the list, otherwise you should reply directly to the individual posting the original message. NOTE: Many subscribers will find that use of the 'reply' option will reply to MARMAM, not to the intended recipient. Please check your header when using the 'reply' option. ______________________________________________________________ 6. How do I subscribe/ unsubscribe/ temporarily signoff? All messages not meant for MARMAM subscribers should be sent to the listserver (listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca). As the list-server is an automated service, it is important that commands be sent without errors or extraneous text. To subscribe, send a message to "listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca" which says: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastnamename To unsubscribe, send a message to "listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca" saying: signoff marmam If you want to temporarily discontinue your subscription without signing off the list, send the message: set marmam nomail to continue it, send the message: set marmam mail NOTE: If your email address is going to change and you will lose access to your old address please unsubscribe that address from marmam, and then subscribe under your new address. If you no longer have access to the email account from which you subscribed, send a brief message to marmamed(\)uvic.ca, providing the email addess that you no longer have access to, and the editors will delete this address from the list. You can then subscribe from your new address. _______________________________________________________________ 7. How do I receive MARMAM postings as a single daily digest rather than as individual messages? To receive marmam messages daily as a single file, send a message to "listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca", saying set marmam digests To change this setting to individual messages, send the message: set marmam mail _______________________________________________________________ 8. How do I retrieve messages previously sent to MARMAM? All MARMAM messages since 1995 are archived and are retrievable by sending the message: get marmam logxxyy to the listserver (listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca), where xx = year and yy = month (e.g. get marmam log9601). Two searchable websites hold archived MARMAM postings: Links to both of these can be found via the MARMAM homepage http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/marmam.htm http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ This archive includes all messages from June 2, 1998 and the monthly logs dating back to January 1995. The archive can be searched by keyword and will return a list of files (messages) containing that keyword. For long messages (i.e., the monthly logs) - using the "find" command (under "Edit") will speed up searching within the message. http://www.reference.com/cgi-bin/pn/listarch?list=MARMAM(\)uvvm.uvic.ca This archive contains all messages from November 1997. To search this archive back to 11/97, change the date range at the bottom of the "Advanced Search" page. The archive manager is Quyen Lam __________________________________________________________________ 9. Subcriber list Due to mis-use of the subscriber list, the list is no longer available through a listserv command. To find out who subscribes to MARMAM, you must send a request to the MARMAM editors (marmamed(\)uvic.ca) and it will be sent out to you along with a request to not mis-use the list and guidelines to proper use of the list. Subscribers not wanting this information available to others can send the command: set marmam conceal to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca _______________________________________________________________ 10. How do I get help using listserver commands? A list of common commands for different listserver functions (subscribing, retrieving files, etc.) is obtainable by sending the message: help to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. A more detailed list of listserver commands may be obtained by sending the message: info refcard to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca _______________________________________________________________ 11. Why did my MARMAM subscription stop? Your subscription may be cancelled if your email is undeliverable. This can happen, for example, if your in-box is full or if your server is down for a period of time. When this happens the marmamed account will receive error messages, and those whose accounts bounce back are either automatically deleted from the list or manually deleted by the list Editors every once in a while. If you find that you receive no MARMAM messages for a few days, try subscribing to the list again. ______________________________________________________________ 12. Useful websites Detailed below are some World Wide Web Marine Mammal related links. Many of these contain further links to other sites. The Society for Marine Mammalogy: "http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~smm/" The National Marine Mammal Laboratory Homepage: "http://nmml01.afsc.noaa.gov/" The Acoustical Society of America: "http://asa.aip.org/" The European Cetacean Society: "http://web.inter.NL.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs.htm" International Whaling Commission: "http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/iwcoffice" WhaleNet "http://whale.wheelock.edu/" ______________________________________________________ 13. Other email discussion lists Some other email lists that may be relevent to marine mammals include the following. (Lists on a variety of topics which may vary in relevence are included - the editors take no responsibility for the content of these and are included here for reference only.) Lists are shown as topic, listserver and mailing list name. To subscribe send a message to the appropriate listserver with the message "subscribe " Bioacoustics: listproc(\)cornell.edu, Bioacoustics-L Biotelemetry: LISTSERV(\)BGUVM.BGU.AC.IL, biotelem Conservation network: listserv(\)sivm.si.edu, conslink Ecology, Ecological Society of America: listserv(\)umdd.umd.edu, ecolog-l Fish and Wildlife Information Management: listserv(\)listserv.vt.edu, FWIM-L Fisheries and Social Science: listserv(\)mitvma.mit.edu, fishfolk Marine Studies and Information: listserv(\)ccgc.tc.gc.ca, marine-l Mammal: LISTSERV(\)SIVM.SI.EDU, Mammal-l (please let the editors know of other lists to include here) ______________________________________________________________ 14. Who do I contact with my questions and concerns? Questions and concerns about MARMAM can be sent to the list editors (Robin Baird, Sascha Hooker, Shannon Gowans and Daniel Palacios) at marmamed(\)uvic.ca _______________________________________________________________ The MARMAM Editorial Policy and FAQ can also be found at the website: http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/marmam.htm Updated October 1999 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2000 09:22:32 EDT From: PH4stel(\)aol.com Subject: Corporate use of marine mammal images in advertising Dear Colleagues, As part of a manuscript on changes in public attitudes toward marine mammals I am gathering data on the use of images of marine mammals in corporate advertisement of products or services that are unrelated to marine mammals. I am interested in examples from popular magazines or newspapers, brochures, public posters, or television. Examples from the United States or any other country are of interest. The only library I have direct access to is our relatively small campus library, and I have gone through past issues of most popular magazines - I would appreciate additional information from others. I am most interested in material from the past five years, but will be happy to get examples from any time frame. Examples that I already have include: 1. Advertisements by Rolex showing dolphins swimming around one of their watches; 2. A poster from the Bank of Nova Scotia showing dolphins swimming in the background while someone is working away at their desk; 3. A Leatherman Tool ad claiming one of their knives was used to free a whale from entanglement; 4. An American car manufacturer who shows dolphins leaping out of their mini-van. I am not interested in advertisements about diving or boat excursions, or other situations in which marine mammals might be expected to have some relation to the product or service. Please respond to the email shown below with details about: a description of the advertisement, the type of media in which it appeared, whether or not you have access to hard copy. Thank you in advance for your assistance. send replies to: pforestell(\)southampton.liunet.edu Paul H. Forestell, Ph.D. Associate Professor and Coordinator Interdisciplinary Psychology/Biology Program Southampton College of Long Island University Southampton, NY 11968 Tel: 631-287-8268 Fax: 631-287-8203 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 5 Jul 2000 06:55:17 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Temporary Instructor/Vertebrate Ecology (fwd) From: John Koprowski [mailto:jkoprows(\)WILLAMETTE.EDU] Position Opening: Vertebrate Ecologist/Evolutionary Biologist The Department of Biology at Willamette University in Salem Oregon is seeking a Vertebrate Ecologist/Evolutionary Biologist for the academic year 2000-2001, to fill a one-year vacancy resulting from a research leave. The person would ideally be responsible for teaching two labs and two courses per semester including Behavioral Ecology, Principles of Biology, Ecology, and Vertebrate Form & Function. PhD preferred; Master's degree required. If interested, please submit a letter of interest, CV, and names & contact information or letters for three references to Dr. John Koprowski or Dr. Susan Kephart, Biology, Willamette University, Salem, OR 97301. E-mail: jkoprows(\)willamette.edu, skephart(\)willamette.edu. Please see Willamette University web site: http://www.willamette.edu for more information. Review of applications will begin in early July and continue until the position is filled. Willamette University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and embraces excellence through diversity. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jul 0100 07:33:48 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications (fwd) Here are some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Publications recently posted to MARMAM are not included. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. High PCB concentrations in free-ranging Pacific killer whales, Orcinus orca: Effects of age, sex and dietary preference. Ross, PS; Ellis, GM; Ikonomou, MG; Barrett-Lennard, LG; Addison, RF. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN. June 2000 v40 i6 p504-515 Stable-isotope and electron-microscopic evidence that cyamids (Crustacea : Amphipoda) feed on whale skin. Schell, DM; Rowntree, VJ; Pfeiffer, CJ. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY-REVUE CANADIENNE DE ZOOLOGIE. May 2000 v78 i5 p721-727 Cystacanths of Bolbosoma vasculosum in the black scabbard fish Aphanopus carbo, oceanic horse mackerel Trachurus picturatus and common dolphin Delphinus delphis from Madeira, Portugal. Costa, G; Chubb, JC; Veltkamp, CJ. JOURNAL OF HELMINTHOLOGY. June 2000 v74 i2 p113-120 PCBs, DDTs and methyl sulphone metabolites in various tissues of harbour porpoises from Swedish waters. Karlson, K; Ishaq, R; Becker, G; Berggren, P; Broman, D; Colmsjo, A. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION. May-June 2000 v110 i1 p29-46 Mercury in the traditional diet of indigenous peoples in Canada. Chan, HM; Receveur, O. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION. May-June 2000 v110 i1 p1-2 Circumpolar trends of PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in the arctic marine environment inferred from levels in ringed seals. Muir, D; Riget, F; Cleemann, M; Skaare, J; Kleivane, L; Nakata, H; Dietz, R; Severinsen, T; Tanabe, S. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. June 15, 2000 v34 i12 p2431-2438 Weaning mass and the future survival of juvenile southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina, at Macquarie Island. McMahon, CR; Burton, HR; Bester, MN. ANTARCTIC SCIENCE. June 2000 v12 i2 p149-153 Metabolic response to fasting in 6-week-old Steller sea lion pups (Eumetopias jubatus). Rea, LD; Rosen, DAS; Trites, AW. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY-REVUE CANADIENNE DE ZOOLOGIE. May 2000 v78 i5 p890-894 Controversial council decision aims to balance sea lion recovery with fishing interests. FISHERIES. February 1999 v24 i2 p36-37 Ganglion layer organization and retinal resolution in the sea otter Enhydra lutris. Mass, AM. DOKLADY AKADEMII NAUK. April 2000 v371 i4 p544-547 Better protection for Australian dugong Source MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN, June 2000 v40 i6 p467-467 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2000 10:48:01 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Position available, Museum - UC, Berkeley (fwd) From: Anne Caulfield [mailto:caulfiel(\)SOCRATES.BERKELEY.EDU] Curatorial Associate and Researcher - Vertebrate Biology Career appointment (Associate Specialist) in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley. Requirements include: advanced degree (Ph.D. preferred), prior curatorial experience, and experience with museum database management. Responsibilities include: 1a) curatorial and managerial functions in large collections of amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, and genetic resources, 1b) training and supervision of student Curatorial Assistants, 1c) outreach to researchers, state and federal government officials, environmental organizations and the general public (80% time); and 2) maintenance of a personal, high-quality research program (20% time). Preference will be given to individuals with skills in application of computer technology, and in either systematic mammalogy or herpetology. Applicants should submit a resume and statement of his/her vision for museum collections in the academic setting of a major research university, and have letters from three referees sent to: Director, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley CA 94720-3160 USA. Completed applications must be received by September 15, 2000, with a potential starting date of January 1, 2001. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. **************************************************** Anne Caulfield Administrative Assistant Museum of Vertebrate Zoology 310l Valley life Sciences Building University of California Berkeley, CA 94720-3160 Phone: 510/643-7715 FAX: 510/643-8238 Email: caulfiel(\)socrates.berkeley.edu **************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2000 09:34:51 +0100 From: Katie Boyle Subject: Seal bone query I am an archaeozoologist who is currently working on a faunal assemblage (c. 6000 years old) at which there is a fair amount of seal material. The site is a coastal one in Brittany. I have been having problems tracking down information concerning methods for assigning age to individual animals and bones based on such things as rates of tooth eruption and bone epiphysis fusion. This is the sort of information regularly used for species such as sheep, cattle, horse, dog and pig but I have drawn a complete blank for the seal. Any help, one way or another, would be much appreciated. The species I have are: Erignathus barbatus, Phoca groenlandica and (most importantly) Phoca vitulina (Replies off line please) Katie Dr K V Boyle McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research University of Cambridge Cambridge CB2 3ER Tel: +44 1223 339341 Fax: +44 1223 339341 or 333536 e-mail: kvb20(\)cus.cam.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 13 Jul 2000 11:05:34 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Request for Information on Extinct Pinniped Species. (fwd) From: cornes My name is Robert Cornes, (e-mail robert(\)cornes1.fsnet.co.uk). Having had a long term interest in the life and behaviour of pinniped species at a non professional level, I have been fascinated with the rather outlandish theory of the possible existence of a pinniped that has evolved a long neck. Although the archaic phocid, acrophoca longirostris has been termed a `Swan necked seal`, there is little scientific evidence to support such a notion. Although over the years there have been some reports of animals that appear to resemble long necked pinnipeds and some open minded zoologists such as Dr Bernard Heuvelmans have written on the subject, (`In The Wake of The Sea Serpents`, Rupert Hart-Davis 1968), it remains a little known topic. My own personal interest in the subject has led me to create my own website (http://www.cornes1.fsnet.co.uk) which includes a brief overview the theory along with possible descriptions of such animals. "The Mackintosh Bell Account"- a clear description and sketch of a pinniped which seems to have a long neck. "The Filey Encounter"- A long necked creature seen on land at night which seems to move like an otariid. "The Discovery Island Encounter"- Sighting of a mammal, (ears and fur), with a long neck. "The Corinthian Encounter"- An account of a Seal Like animal seen at sea. "Dinosaurs That Look Like Seals, or Seals That Look Like Dinosaurs?" Speculation on Eskimo reports (Alaska), that seem to describe a northern counterpart to The Leopard Seal. "Delusion Down Under"- analysis of Australian sightings of Seal like creatures. I have also included my own logical reasoning on the subject, "Putting It All Together"-A speculative description of such an animal. "A Speculative Natural History of The Long Necked Seal"- Speculation on how and why a pinniped species may evolve a long neck. Having read of `acrophoca longirostris` in Berta`s "Marine Mammals, Evolutionary Biology, I have been trying to obtain information on extant pinniped species and pinnipedimorphs, in an attempt to speculate further on the existence of such an animal. However, my access to such information is limited, as I have no formal scientific qualification. I would therefore welcome any suggestions, information or feedback on this topic from open minded members of the scientific community and information pertaining to the ancestry of pinnipeds, especially otariid, and pinnipedimorphs to further my personal research and collate more information on the subject which may be of interest to the people who access my website. I understand that such a notion at first glance may seem unlikely, but I remain intrigued by the subject. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 Jul 0100 08:46:01 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly marine mammal summary to US congress (fwd) The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS Discovery Cove. On July 1, 2000, SeaWorld Orlando's Discovery Cove is scheduled to open to the public. Providing the opportunity to swim with dolphins, the facility is sold-out for its first two months already. A coral reef swim area has not been completed. Attendance will be limited to 800 to 1,000 people per day. [Orlando Sentinel] {Whales and Climate Change. On June 27, 2000, the Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security (PISDES) released a report "From the Harpoon to the Heat: Climate Change and the International Whaling Commission in the 21st Century" [ http://www.pacinst.org/IWCOP.pdf ], concluding that global warming may pose a significant threat to many cetacean species.} [PISDES press release] {Whale Watching. On June 26, 2000, NMFS published proposed regulations that would place restrictions on humpback whale-watching activities in Alaska. Public comment will be accepted through Aug. 10, 2000.} [Fed. Register, Assoc Press] {Northern Right Whales. In late June 2000, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) released a report "Northern Right Whale: the Most Endangered Great Whale in the World," reporting declining populations, slower reproduction rates, and a high mortality rate from ship strikes. WWF urges the International Whaling Commission to take action to better protect right whales from ship strikes and fishing gear entanglement.} [WWF press release] Endocrine Disruption. On June 22-25, 2000, the Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) , the Univ. of CT, and the Jackson Laboratory will hold an Atlantic Coast Contaminants Workshop on "Endocrine Disruptors in the Marine Environment: Impacts on Marine Wildlife and Human Health" in Bar Harbor, ME. [MERI press release] Cook Inlet Beluga Whales. On June 22, 2000, NMFS announced that it would not list Cook Inlet beluga whales as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Officials of the Center for Marine Conservation announced that they intended to sue NMFS to force an endangered listing. NMFS is currently investigating 2 cases of possible illegal hunting of Cook Inlet beluga whales. [Anchorage Daily News, Fed. Register] Caspian Seal Mortality. On June 21, 2000, an official of Kazakhstan's Emergency Situations Agency reported that 11,000 Caspian seals have died this spring of disputed causes. While environmental groups assert that the mortality is related to oil pollution, officials blame unseasonable weather. {On July 10, 2000, Turkmen officials reported that more than 300 dead seals have washed up along the Turkmen coast, near the Kazakh border. The first deaths were observed in early April 2000, with seals continuing to die in small numbers. Conflicting reports suggest the cause to be either pasteurolosis or cumulative toxic poisoning that has lowered the animals' immunity.} [Assoc Press, Agence France Presse] BC Aquaculture Kills. On June 14, 2000, the Vancouver, BC, Sun reported that more than 5,000 seals and sea lions, including 500 CA sea lions and 300 Steller sea lions, were legally killed by BC salmon farmers during the 1990s. In 1999, salmon farmers killed 692 marine mammals, including 470 harbor seals, 133 CA sea lions, and 88 Steller sea lions. Special predator control permits issued by the Canadian government allowed salmon farmers to kill marine mammals that threatened salmon net pens. Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans officials have scheduled meetings with fish farmers to communicate the need to improve net pen equipment to reduce the opportunity for marine mammal damage. [Vancouver Sun, Canadian Press] U.S. Navy Sonar. On June 14, 2000, a biologist hired by NMFS to conduct necropsies on whales that beached in mid-March in the Bahamas reported finding severe trauma and bleeding around their inner ears that may indicate damage from intense sound/pressure. Such damage may suggest a connection to Navy exercises and acoustic activities in the area. The Navy agrees there is a priority need to examine the issue, and has appointed a panel of experts. On Aug. 14-15, 2000, the Ocean Mammal Institute is sponsoring a symposium on low frequency active sonar, to be held at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, ME. On June 22, 2000, the journal Nature published results of a cooperative study with the U.S. Navy, indicating that male humpback whales lengthen their vocalizations or cease vocalization altogether in response to low-frequency active sonar. No other extreme behavior was noted. [Assoc Press, personal communication, U.S. Navy press release, Animal Welfare Institute press release, MSNBC, ABC News, London Times, Nature] IWC. On June 12, 2000, the International Whaling Commission's Secretary Dr. Ray Gambell was reported to have said the IWC must end a decade of inactivity and bring all whaling under international control, implying that the IWC's moratorium on commercial whaling should be reviewed with the aim of ending or modifying it. {On June 28-29, 2000, the IWC is scheduled to hold a working group session, with the objective of completing the Revised Management Scheme under which commercial whaling would be managed. The agenda focuses on supervision and control of commercial whaling activities, with the draft proposal calling for both national and international observers aboard whaling vessels, DNA profiles of all whales killed, and a vessel monitoring system (VMS) for satellite tracking of all whaling vessels. Whaling nations would cover all costs of supervisory requirements. A July 4, 2000 letter from the Secretary General to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to the Chairman of the IWC reportedly expressed concerns that a lack of progress at the IWC has caused a transfer of the IWC debate to CITES fora, causing significant discord. On July 4, 2000, the IWC adopted, without a vote, a resolution to direct the IWC Secretariat to prepare a draft text of the legal document for the Revised Management Scheme (RMS) before December 2000, and that the RMS working group meet before the end of February 2001 to discuss that draft. On July 5, 2000, the IWC passed 2 non-binding resolutions requesting Japan to stop scientific whaling. For the resolution on scientific whaling in the North Pacific, the vote was 19 for, 12 against, and 2 abstentions. For the resolution on scientific whaling in the Southern Ocean, the vote was 20 for, 10 against, and 3 abstentions. On July 6, 2000, the IWC adopted a resolution asking Canada to refrain from issuing hunting permits for bowhead whales and to rejoin the IWC. On July 10, 2000, President Clinton announced his intent to appoint Rolland A. Schmitten, former Assistant Administrator for NMFS, to serve as U.S. Commissioner of the International Whaling Commission.} [White House press release, Reuters, BBC News, High North Alliance News] CA Sea Otters. On June 12, 2000, the U.S. Geological Survey reported the results of the annual spring count of CA sea otters, with the population estimated to be almost 11% larger than last year. Between Santa Barbara and Half Moon Bay, a total of 2,317 otters were counted this spring, compared to 2,090 in 1999. [Assoc Press] Gray Whale Mortalities. As of June 11, 2000, a total of 46 gray whale deaths had been recorded along the CA coast, compared to 48 in all of 1999. Between Mar. 23 and June 11 alone, a total of 24 stranded (dead) gray whales have been reported between San Mateo and Marin Counties. Factors contributing to this increased mortality have not been conclusively identified. [San Francisco Examiner] Makah Whaling. On June 9, 2000, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voted 2-1 to overturn a lower court ruling, stating that the environmental impact of allowing the Makah to resume whaling had not been adequately considered. The case will be returned to Judge Franklin Burgess in the U.S. District Court in Tacoma, WA. The federal government has been ordered to suspend whaling until a new objective environmental study is completed. Others suggest that treaty rights cannot be abrogated, and the Makah can continue whaling while NMFS completes a new environmental study. On June 12, 2000, an injured watercraft operator was scheduled to appear in federal court on charges she violated the whaling exclusionary zone. [Assoc Press, Reuters, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, APB Multimedia, The Fund for Animals press release, Humane Society of the United States press release] EU Dolphin Deaths. On June 7, 2000, Britain's fisheries minister announced that British observers had recorded dolphins being killed by intensive pair- trawl fishing for sea bass by Scottish and French fishermen; government officials pledged that action would be taken to reduce this mortality. [BBC News, London Times] Items in this Summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 15 Jul 2000 12:34:37 -0700 From: Shirley Pacheco Subject: Arnoux's Beaked Whale Skeleton Hello friends, I'm an oceanographer working at FUNDAMAR, a small foundation that operates on the north coast of Sco Paulo State, Brazil. I have been monitoring the occurrence of marine mammals in this area for the last five years and have registered a significant number of stranding animals, mostly of dead dolphins and sightings of whales and dolphins. As a result of this work FUNDAMAR has opened a Museum last December, where we are exposing some skeletons of the dead animals collected by our team. Among them we have a partially complete Arnoux's Beaked Whale (Berardius arnuxii) skeleton (some phalanges missed), 7.5 meters long, which was found dead, floating in the inner waters of Sco Sebastico Channel on August 1993. That record was a noticeable one due to the fact that the known occurrence areas for the Arnoux's Beaked Whale in the southern hemisphere are situated at least 200 latitude southern from here. How that beaked whale was found so far from its range it's a question still to be answered. Its skeleton has been assembled and it's displayed in natural shape, hanging from the Museum's ceiling, attracting the visitors, which are astonished by the big dimensions of the animal. Beside that, the Museum presents 5 more skeletons of different species of dolphins, all of them assembled and hanging from the ceiling among a collection of different marine animals skeletons and shells. That kind of material has proved to be an excellent resource for educational purposes as it has a great appeal to the visitors, someway materializing the marine mammals, which normally live much more at people's imagination than in their real world. I'd like to communicate the existence of our Museum to everybody that could be interested to know it and to ask (if somebody knows) how many Arnoux's beaked whale skeletons are there in such a display around the world. That question has been asked for many of our visitors and I have no answer for it. I'd be pleased to exchange information and experiences with people that work assembling skeletons at other Museums. We are preparing the FUNDAMAR website showing some pictures of the Museum including the beaked whale skeleton and it must be online very soon. By now if someone wants to see the Arnoux's skeleton, please contact me and I'll send you a picture by email. Thanks for the attention, Shirley Pacheco de Souza FUNDAMAR - Fundagco Museu de Histsria, Pesquisa e Arqueologia do Mar Sco Sebastico, Brazil Phone: (55-21-12- 462 1099) Email: shirleypacheco(\)yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get Yahoo! Mail Free email you can access from anywhere! http://mail.yahoo.com/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 16:55:47 +0100 From: "J.C.Goold" Subject: JMBA Abstract ------ Dear All, The following paper appears in the current issue of JMBA. I expect to ha= ve reprints shortly. Best regards John Goold -------------- Goold J.C. & Clarke M.R. (2000). Sound velocity in the head of the dwarf sperm whale, Kogia sima, with anatomical and functional discussion.=20 Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK, 80(3), 535-542. The velocity of sound through spermaceti oil from the melon of two Kogia sima (Owen, 1866) specimens, stranded in Florida in 1995, was determined across a range of temperatures between 7 and 38=BAC and at pressures betw= een 0 and 90 atm. Sound velocity values ranged between 1395-1669 m/s, increasing linearly with increasing pressure but decreasing non-linearly with increasing temperature. Polynomials were generated to describe soun= d velocity as a function of temperature and pressure for the core and peripheral lipids of the melon. The results suggest that, at normal body temperature, sound travelling from the back to the front of the melon wou= ld have a tendency to focus during dives to any depth, largely due to heat exchange across the periphery of the melon. Effects of changes in ambient temperature and pressure are described and discussed in relation to anatomy. ----------------- Dr. John C. Goold Development & Academic Manager Institute of Environmental Science University of Wales, Bangor Robinson Building Deiniol Road Bangor Gwynedd. LL57 2UW. UK. Tel: +44 (0)1248 388165 Fax: +44 (0)1248 383646 Email: j.c.goold(\)bangor.ac.uk Web: http://www.bangor.ac.uk/ies/ies.html ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2000 13:20:19 -0800 From: Yvette Welsh Subject: Rehab Coordinator/Research Assistant position announcement Rehab Coordinator / Research Assistant Looking for a self-motivated individual with an interest in rescue/rehabilitation endeavors and marine wildlife research. Responsibilities include: the rescue and care of animals admitted for rehabilitation, medical data collection; blood handling and processing; database development and maintenance; tissue archival; administration of rehabilitation protocols; maintenance of the rehabilitation clinic and quarantine areas; and records management. Requirements: Bachelors degree in Animal Science field, Veterinary Technician diploma or equivalent working experience. A doctorate in Veterinary Medicine is preferred. Candidate should have a minimum of 5 years experience in a supervisory role at an Institutional Rehabilitation or Animal Research Program. Experience in Volunteer Program development and operation would be considered an asset. Must be available to work long, odd hours. This is a regular, full-time position with benefits. Salary DOE. Resume and/or application must be received by August 11, 2000. Mail to Yvette Welsh, Human Resources Officer at ASLC, PO Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664, or email yvette_welsh(\)alaskasealife.org. Yvette Welsh Human Resources Officer/Executive Secretary Alaska SeaLife Center P.O. Box 1329 Seward, AK 99664 Phone: 907-224-6349 Fax: 907-224-6360 yvette_welsh(\)alaskasealife.org ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2000 12:57:40 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Announcement: Second Symposium on Marine Conservation Biology (fwd) From: Jocelyn Garovoy Second Symposium on Marine Conservation Biology San Francisco State University June 21-26, 2001 (Please save this announcement and share it with your colleagues) In response to growing interest since our first Symposium on Marine Conservation Biology at the University of Victoria, British Columbia in 1997, Marine Conservation Biology Institute (MCBI), with co-sponsorship of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB), will hold the Second Symposium on Marine Conservation Biology next summer in San Francisco, California. The Second Symposium will be a forum for established researchers and students in the natural and social sciences (including oceanography, marine biology, fisheries science and anthropology) and for science-minded managers and others interested in the science of protecting, restoring and sustainably using biodiversity in the world=92s estuaries, coastal waters, enclosed seas and open oceans. It will feature: 1) invited papers, contributed papers and poster sessions 2) skills workshops 3) a participatory forum on funding for research and training, as well as other policy issues 4) special accommodations for reporters to encourage coverage of emerging issues 5) a popcorn and video night to showcase research-related footage by participants 6) displays by publishers and other vendors 7) sign language and foreign language interpreters upon request, and 8) field trips that take advantage of the Bay Area=92s outstanding natural, scientific and cultural resources. To ensure the quality of the Second Symposium, a Scientific Advisory Committee (for its membership, see www.mcbi.org) is helping to shape the meeting=92s the structure and content We could not be holding this event without the generosity of the Pew Charitable Trusts and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. We invite other foundations, individuals, companies, academic institutions, NGOs and government agencies to join them as funders of this landmark event. In mid-August, MCBI and SCB will be posting a detailed announcement with information on registration, field trips, housing, meal plans, etc. =20 Scientific conference coordinator Julie Morrison will be handling all Second Symposium logistics. For more information, please contact Julie at juliem(\)selway.umt.edu or at her toll-free phone number: 1-877-712-3777. Please note: Unlike the first Symposium on Marine Conservation Biology, the Second Symposium will not be at SCB's annual meeting, to be held July 30 -August 4, 2001 at University of Hawaii in Hilo. SCB's 2001 annual meeting will contain select marine themes. MCBI is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to advancing the science of marine conservation biology and promoting cooperation essential to protecting and restoring the Earth's biological integrity. =20 Headquartered in Redmond, Washington, MCBI also has a public policy office in Washington DC. See http://www.mcbi.org ________________________________________________________________________ Jocelyn Garovoy, Program Assistant Marine Conservation Biology Institute 15806 NE 47th Court, Redmond WA 98052-5208 ph: 1-425-883-8914; fax: 1-425-883-3017; e-mail: jocelyn(\)mcbi.org =20 MCBI is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to advancing the science of marine conservation biology and promoting cooperation essential to protecting and restoring the Earth's biological integrity. To learn more, please visit our web site at http://www.mcbi.org ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2000 16:02:39 -0400 From: "Tarr, Suzanne" Subject: looking for a satellite service provider If you use a satellite service provider other than Service Argos, to monitor tagged animals, please respond to Beth Wright at beth.wright(\)fwc.state.fl.us with the service provider name and web site if available. Thank you, Suzanne Tarr suzanne.tarr(\)fwc.state.fl.us ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2000 21:21:47 EDT From: Joe Blue Subject: Water Air Sound Power Comparisons I have posted water and air sound power comparisons for LFA, Delaware Bay tests, motor boat noise, Saturn rockets, etc at the bottom of my hydrophone web site page. http://members.aol.com/jblue46498/hydrphns.htm Joe Blue jblue46498(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 09:55:52 -0300 From: carl haycock Subject: atlantic whitesided dolphin vocalizations John Ruthven of the BBC in London is looking for atlantic white-sided dolphin vocalizations for their television series,"The Blue Planet." They filmed here in the Bay of Fundy last summer and are currently editing and dubbing the final product. Any help would be appreciated. You can email me or John directly at john.ruthven(\)bbc.co.uk Sincerely, Carl Haycock Brier Island, Nova Scotia Canada ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Jul 0100 05:01:22 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: gray seals in the Bay of Fundy (fwd) Forwarded message: We seem to be getting our fair share of gray seals between Grand Manan and Deer Island in the Bay of Fundy Canada. As one who spends many hours every summer for the last four years in this area I know that this is new for us. We have in the past had the odd gray appear for a day or so but for the last two weeks we have been seeing them on a regular basis. Not in huge numbers but we must have atleast 10 around. I would love to find out why this may be happening if someone has an answer or if this is of interest to you then let me know and I could send along some photos and sighting reports. The gray seals we are seeing are somewhat larger then the adult harbor seals but certainly do not appear to be adult grays. As well the number of whales in the area is greatly reduced. At present we have only 2-3 minke and one or two finback. Any thought would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance Sean Corrigan Quoddy Link Marine St. Andrews, NB email: rockweed(\)nbnet.nb.ca ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 24 Jul 0100 23:56:07 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications (fwd) Here are some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Publications recently posted to MARMAM are not included. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. Predicted decline of protected whales based on molecular genetic monitoring of Japanese and Korean markets. Baker, CS; Lento, GM; Cipriano, F; Palumbi, SR. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON SERIES B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES. June 22, 2000 v267 i1449 p1191-1199 New species of Paralomis (Decapoda, Anomura, Lithodidae) from a sunken whale carcass in the San Clemente Basin off southern California. Williams, AB; Smith, CR; Baco, AR. JOURNAL OF CRUSTACEAN BIOLOGY. June 2000 v20 i2 sp iSI p281-285 Identification of morbilliviruses of probable cetacean origin in carcases of Mediterranean monk seals (Monachus monachus). Van de Bildt, MWG; Martina, BEE; Vedder, EJ; Androukaki, E; Kotomatas, S; Komnenou, A; Sidi, BA; Jiddou, AB; Barham, MEO; Niesters, HGM; Osterhaus, ADME.VETERINARY RECORD. June 10, 2000 v146 i24 p691-694 Radionuclide contaminant burdens in Arctic marine mammals harvested during subsistence hunting Author(s) Cooper, LW; Larsen, IL; O'Hara, TM; Dolvin, S; Woshner, V; Cota, GF Source ARCTIC, June 2000 v53 i2 p174-182 Remote estimation of grey seal length, width, and body mass from aerial photography. Twiss, SD; Pomeroy, PP; Thomas, CJ; Mills, JP.PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ENGINEERING AND REMOTE SENSING. July 2000 v66 i7 p859-866 Metabolic compensation during high energy output in fasting, lactating grey seals (Halichoerus grypus): metabolic ceilings revisited. Mellish, JE; Iverson, SJ; Bowen, WD. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON SERIES B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES. June 22, 2000 v267 i1449 p1245-1251 Food consumption and growth of a female dusky dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus). Kastelein, RA; van der Elst, CA; Tennant, HK; Wiepkema, PR. ZOO BIOLOGY. Summer 2000 v19 i2 p131-142 The south-eastern North Sea: losses of vertebrate fauna during the past 2000 years. Wolff, WJ. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION. September 2000 v95 i2 p209-217 Caught out - Where does Japan's whale meat really come from. Knight, J. NEW SCIENTIST. July 1, 2000 v167 i2245 p11-11 Risk assessment and decision analysis in conservation. Harwood, J. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION. September 2000 v95 i2 p219-226 (article is about harbor porpoise) Immunohistological and serological investigation of morbillivirus infection in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from the German Baltic and North Sea. Muller, G; Siebert, U; Wunschmann, A; Artelt, A; Baumgartner, W. VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY. July 3, 2000 v75 i1 p17-25 The enantioselective bioaccumulation of chiral chlordane and alpha-HCH contaminants in the polar bear food chain. Wiberg, K; Letcher, RJ; Sandau, CD; Norstrom, RJ; Tysklind, M; Bidleman, TF. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. July 1, 2000 v34 i13 p2668-2674 Skin temperatures during free-ranging swimming and diving in Antarctic fur seals. Boyd, IL. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY. June 2000 v203 i12 p1907-1914 Hydrodynamic drag in steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). Stelle, LL; Blake, RW; Trites, AW. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY, June 2000 v203 i12 p1915-1923 How vulnerable are denning bears to disturbance?. Linnell, JDC; Swenson, JE; Andersen, R; Barnes, B. WILDLIFE SOCIETY BULLETIN. Summer 2000 v28 i2 p400-413 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2000 11:24:19 -0800 From: Bob Small Subject: Job Announcement: Alaska Harbor Seal Research Program The Division of Wildlife Conservation within the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is recruiting for the Principal Investigator for a large and complex harbor seal research project. The Principal Investigator will have full responsibility for managing the project, and will have the following administrative duties: (1) preparation of research proposals and reports; (2) developing and tracking budgets; (3) preparing and tracking contracts and cooperative agreements; and (4) supervising biologists, technicians, and other support staff. Science related aspects of the project will include: (1) planning and conducting field work on harbor seals throughout their range in Alaska; (2) data management and analysis; (3) writing reports and scientific publications; and (4) presenting results of research to colleagues and the public at conferences, workshops, etc. Fieldwork will require experience working with small skiffs in marine waters, catching and sedating wild animals, conducting aerial surveys, and recording behavioral observations. Applicants should have extensive biological background, preferably with experience working on marine mammals. The selected candidate will be expected to cooperate with marine mammal researchers (from ADF&G and other agencies) to evaluate research projects, priorities, data analyses, and fieldwork. Interaction with the Alaska Native Harbor Seal Commission and Alaska Native subsistence hunters will also be required. The recruitment notice for this position and information on how to apply is posted on the Internet at the Workplace Alaska website: http://notes.state.ak.us/jobs Click on the Job Posting Board , then Department , then Fish & Game , then Wildlife Biologist III posted on 6/22/2000. Note that non-Alaska residents are eligible to apply. The recruitment period closes on 11 August 2000. Additional information can be obtained by contacting Bob Small at bob_small(\)fishgame.state.ak.us or 907-465-6167 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 28 Jul 2000 00:29:55 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Abstract: measuring sizes of humpback whales (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Spitz, S. S., Herman, L. M. and Pack, A. A. (2000). Measuring sizes of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) by underwater videogrammetry. Marine Mammal Science, 16, 664-676. Measurements of body sizes of living humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) can aid significantly in the understanding of important aspects of their biology and behavior, such as age-related demographics of the population, social organization, reproductive behaviors and strategies, and calf growth rates. We report here on a new inexpensive technique we call underwater videogrammetry for measuring sizes of whales that, at the same time, offers opportunities for gathering data on individual identification, behavior, social role, and sex. We demonstrate the accuracy and reliability of the technique by measuring objects of known size. We also provide size data of female humpback whales ("mothers") accompanied by their calf, and on male whales acting as single escorts to mother-calf pairs (Herman and Antinoja 1977). We obtained both data sets during the annual winter assembly of humpback whales in Hawaiian waters. Reprints are available from Louis M. Herman Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory 1129 Ala Moana Blvd. Honolulu HI 96814 lherman(\)hawaii.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 28 Jul 2000 00:32:09 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Job Announcement: Program Assistant, Marine Conservation Biology Institute (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Jocelyn Garovoy Program Assistant, Marine Conservation Biology Institute Marine Conservation Biology Institute (MCBI) is seeking a Program Assistant in its Redmond WA headquarters. (Redmond is a suburb located approximately 15 miles from Seattle.) MCBI is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to advancing the science of marine conservation biology and promoting cooperation essential to protecting and restoring the Earth's biological integrity. To learn more, please visit our web site at www.mcbi.org The Program Assistant will work in Redmond with the President and other staff to further MCBI goals by: 1) Doing research, writing, and otherwise helping to develop MCBI positions on policy issues 2) Helping to communicate and advocate MCBI positions to Congress, federal agencies, other non-governmental organizations, funders, the scientific community and the general public, in both written and oral form 3) Helping to identify emerging marine conservation issues, assisting with organizing and facilitating scientific workshops and symposia on these issues, and generating products directed towards policymakers, the public and the scientific community 4) Assisting with other MCBI activities such as fundraising, press events and administrative tasks, as deemed necessary Minimum qualifications: Bachelor=92s degree in conservation biology, ecology, environmental studies or one of the marine sciences Experience with Windows and its office applications Excellent oral and written communication skills Excellent library and Web research skills Reliable, well-organized, attentive to details, able to maintain confidentiality, juggle priorities and meet deadlines, possess a courteous, positive, professional manner Able to work both as a member of a close-knit team and independently with little supervision Willing to do occasional overnight travel Desirable attributes: Graduate training or experience in one of the above fields and in public policy issues, especially at the national level Experience in foundation or major donor fundraising Experience in outreach, either PR or news media Knowledge of Web site design/maintenance MCBI provides competitive salaries, excellent benefits (including health insurance and a 403(b) pension plan with employer matching) and a rewarding work experience in an informal, smoke-free home office environment. We encourage candidates from groups traditionally underrepresented in the sciences. Start Date: ASAP To apply, send r=E9sum=E9 (including names and contact information for thre= e references) with cover letter (maximum 3 pages total) and a writing sample to: Jocelyn Garovoy Program Assistant Search Coordinator Marine Conservation Biology Institute 15806 NE 47th Court Redmond WA 98052 Phone: (425) 883-8914 Fax: (425) 883-3017 email: jocelyn(\)mcbi.org ________________________________________________________________________ Jocelyn Garovoy, Program Assistant Marine Conservation Biology Institute 15806 NE 47th Court, Redmond WA 98052-5208 ph: 1-425-883-8914; fax: 1-425-883-3017; e-mail: jocelyn(\)mcbi.org =20 MCBI is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to advancing the science of marine conservation biology and promoting cooperation essential to protecting and restoring the Earth's biological integrity. To learn more, please visit our web site at http://www.mcbi.org=20 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jul 0100 13:08:27 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly marine mammal summary to US congress (fwd) The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS U.S. Navy Sonar. On Aug. 14-15, 2000, the Ocean Mammal Institute is sponsoring a symposium on low frequency active sonar, to be held at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, ME. [personal communication] {Manatees. On July 25, 2000, FL Governor Jeb Bush announced that FL would not approve construction of additional boat slips in counties that have not developed manatee protection plans. Only four of 13 FL counties ordered to develop manatee protection plans under the State's Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1989 have done so. Manatee deaths from watercraft have increased to 82 this year, compared to 62 at this time last year.} [MSNBC, Bradenton Herald] {Cape Fur Seal Harvest. On July 21, 2000, officials of the Namibian government announced that they will nearly double Namibia's annual harvest of Cape fur seals from 1999 levels of 30,000 pups and 5,000 bulls to 60,000 pups and 7,000 bulls for the Aug. 1 to Nov. 15, 2000 season. The increase was justified as responding to rapid population increase and its perceived threat to the fishing industry.} [South Africa Press Assoc] Steller Sea Lions. On July 20, 2000, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Zilly ruled that NMFS managers were not doing enough to protect endangered Steller sea lions and ordered all trawling in sea lion critical habitat to cease until NMFS completes a study of the impacts of fishing on these marine mammals. As a result, pollock trawlers will be forced to fish farther from shore, possibly resulting in a loss of as much as $100 million to the industry if a settlement is not reached before Aug. 8, 2000, when the next pollock fishery begins. [MSNBC] Haul of Shame. In mid-July 2000, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals released a report entitled "Haul of Shame" claiming that fishing practices off the United Kingdom's coasts may have killed as many as 20,000 harbor porpoises in the last 6 years. A Harbor Porpoise Conservation Strategy is to be discussed at the July 26-28, 2000 Meeting of the Parties to the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Seas, in Bristol, UK. [Environment News Service] Caspian Seal Mortality. On July 10, 2000, Turkmen officials reported that more than 300 dead seals have washed up along the Turkmen coast, near the Kazakh border. The first deaths were observed in early April 2000, with seals continuing to die in small numbers. Conflicting reports suggest the cause to be either pasteurolosis or cumulative toxic poisoning that has lowered the animals' immunity. [Agence France Presse] Discovery Cove. On July 1, 2000, SeaWorld Orlando's Discovery Cove is scheduled to open to the public. Providing the opportunity to swim with dolphins, the facility is sold-out for its first two months already. A coral reef swim area has not been completed. Attendance will be limited to 800 to 1,000 people per day. [Orlando Sentinel] IWC. On June 28-29, 2000, the IWC is scheduled to hold a working group session, with the objective of completing the Revised Management Scheme under which commercial whaling would be managed. The agenda focuses on supervision and control of commercial whaling activities, with the draft proposal calling for both national and international observers aboard whaling vessels, DNA profiles of all whales killed, and a vessel monitoring system (VMS) for satellite tracking of all whaling vessels. Whaling nations would cover all costs of supervisory requirements. A July 4, 2000 letter from the Secretary General to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to the Chairman of the IWC reportedly expressed concerns that a lack of progress at the IWC has caused a transfer of the IWC debate to CITES fora, causing significant discord. On July 4, 2000, the IWC adopted, without a vote, a resolution to direct the IWC Secretariat to prepare a draft text of the legal document for the Revised Management Scheme (RMS) before December 2000, and that the RMS working group meet before the end of February 2001 to discuss that draft. On July 5, 2000, the IWC passed 2 non-binding resolutions requesting Japan to stop scientific whaling. For the resolution on scientific whaling in the North Pacific, the vote was 19 for, 12 against, and 2 abstentions. For the resolution on scientific whaling in the Southern Ocean, the vote was 20 for, 10 against, and 3 abstentions. On July 6, 2000, the IWC adopted a resolution asking Canada to refrain from issuing hunting permits for bowhead whales and to rejoin the IWC. On July 10, 2000, President Clinton announced his intent to appoint Rolland A. Schmitten, former Assistant Administrator for NMFS, to serve as U.S. Commissioner of the International Whaling Commission. [White House press release, Reuters, BBC News, High North Alliance News] Items in this Summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jul 0100 13:10:46 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications (fwd) Here are some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Publications recently posted to MARMAM are not included. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. Auditory and behavioral responses of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and a beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) to impulsive sounds resembling distant signatures of underwater explosions. Finneran, JJ; Schlundt, CE; Carder, DA; Clark, JA; Young, JA; Gaspin, JB; Ridgway, SH. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA. July 2000 v108 i1 p417-431 Detection of whale calls in noise: Performance comparison between a beluga whale, human listeners, and a neural network. Erbe, C. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA. July 2000 v108 i1 p297-303 Interspecific relationships in density among the whale community in the Antarctic. Kasamatsu, F; Matsuoka, K; Hakamada, T. POLAR BIOLOGY. July 2000 v23 i7 p466-473 Synthesis and modification of the whistles of the bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus. Buck, JR; Morgenbesser, HB; Tyack, PL. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA. July 2000 v108 i1 p407-416 Morbillivirus ecology in polar bears (Ursus maritimus). Garner, GW; Evermann, JF; Saliki, JT; Follmann, EH; McKeirnan, AJ. POLAR BIOLOGY. July 2000 v23 i7 p474-478 Assignment of crystallin beta-polypeptide 1 (CRYBA1) to Atlantic bottlenose dolphin chromosome band 16p11 by in situ hybridization. Bielec, P; Gallagher, D; Yang, YP; Womack, J; Davis, S; Taylor, J; Busbee, D. CYTOGENETICS AND CELL GENETICS. April-June 2000 v89 i1-2 p96-97 Comparison of three techniques for lipid removal from seal blubber: Gel permeation, acid treatment, and dialysis with semipermeable membrane. Rantalainen, AL; Crewe, NF; Ikonomou, MG. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY. July-August 2000 v76 i1 p31-47 Major histocompatibility complex class I loci from the gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus). Flores-Ramirez, S; Urban-Ramirez, J; Miller, RD. JOURNAL OF HEREDITY. July-August 2000 v91 i4 p279-282 The flipper factor. Pitta, J. FORBES, July 24, 2000 v166 i3 p198-198 (A research psychologist links dolphin behavior and Web surfers. One day that could mean better Internet searches) Mammal research in southern Africa: present patterns and future priorities Author(s) du Toit, JT; Broomhall, LS Source SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, May 2000 v96 i5 p225-230 Pulmonary pathology of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) stranded in England and Wales between 1990 and 1996. Jepson, PD; Baker, JR; Kuiken, T; Simpson, VR; Kennedy, S; Bennett, PM. VETERINARY RECORD. June 17, 2000 v146 i25 p721-728 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jul 0100 13:13:42 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: 1st Quarter 2000 MMPA Bulletin (fwd) From: Nicole Leboeuf The NMFS Office of Protected Resources has published the 1st Quarter 2000 edition of the MMPA Bulletin. The articles in this issue include: NMFS National Observer Program National Observer Program Advisory Team Meets Fisheries Observer Workshop Announcement Gray Whale Strandings Continue Mass Stranding in the Bahamas Update on the Right Whale Mandatory Ship Reporting System Death of an Entangled Right Whale NMFS Develops an Official "Dolphin-Safe" Mark Publication of the Interim Final Rule to Implement the IDCPA Timeline of Events in Reducing Dolphin Mortality in the ETP NMFS Publishes the 1999 Stock Assessment Reports NMFS Publishes the 2000 Final List of Fisheries Right Whale Research Operation Signs Settlement Report on the Status of Endangered Large Whales Available Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team Meets >From the Editors The MMPA Bulletin can be found in PDF format on the Office of Protected Resources web site at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/mammals/bulletin.html To obtain a hard copy of the MMPA Bulletin or to be added to the mailing list, please contact Nicole Le Boeuf at nicole.leboeuf(\)noaa.gov. You can also call 301-713-2322, ext. 156 or write to NOAA/NMFS/F/PR2, Attn. MMPA Bulletin, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 30 Jul 2000 09:12:51 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: lawsuit against NMFS re. longlining and ESA (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Hello, Below is another lawsuit against the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for being in violation of the Endangered Species Act. NMFS allows unregulated longlining to continue in other US Pacific states via allowable landings of longline caught fish. Currently, longlining off the US West Coast is prohibited within 200 n.mi. of California only but landings are permitted. Thus, longliners fishing in similar areas as those with Hawaiian permits but delivering to West Coast and Alaska ports are possibly having similar impacts on protected species. Liz Mitchell Seabird Bycatch Project ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brendan R. Cummings Attorney at Law P.O. Box 4944 Berkeley, California 94704 Tel: (510)848-5486 Fax: (510)848-5499 CERTIFIED MAIL: RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED July 6, 2000 William M. Daley, Secretary U.S. Department of Commerce 14th and Constitution Aves., NW Washington, DC 20230 Bruce Babbitt, Secretary U.S. Department of the Interior 18th and C Streets NW Washington DC 20240 Rodney McInnis Acting Regional Director National Marine Fisheries Service 501 West Ocean Blvd, Ste 4200 Long Beach, CA 90802 RE: 60 Day Notice of Intent to Sue over violations of Sections 7 and 9 of the Endangered Species Act; Actions Relating to the issuance of permits pursuant to the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act of 1995 This letter serves as a sixty day notice on behalf of the Sea Turtle Restoration Project of the Turtle Island Restoration Network, the Center for Biological Diversity, and the Recreational Fishing Alliance of intent to sue the National Marine Fisheries Service ("NMFS") over violations of Sections 7 and 9 of the Endangered Species Act ("ESA") for actions and inactions related to the management, regulation, and issuance of permits to longline fishing vessels operating in the Pacific that have resulted in or are likely to result in illegal take of and other harm to legally protected leatherback sea turtles, loggerhead sea turtles, green sea turtles, olive ridley sea turtles, Steller sea lions, Guadalupe fur seals, Hawaiian monk seals, short-tailed albatross and other threatened and endangered species. This letter is provided pursuant to the 60?day notice requirement of the citizen suit provision of the ESA, to the extent such notice is deemed necessary by a court. See 16 U.S.C. 1540(g). Background The High Seas Fishing Compliance Act of 1995 ("HSFCA")(16 U.S.C. 5501 et seq.) was passed to implement the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas, adopted by the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on November 24, 1993; and to establish a system of permitting, reporting, and regulation for vessels of the United States fishing on the high seas. 16 U.S.C. 5501. All U.S. fishing vessels that operate in the high seas (beyond the 200 mile EEZ) are required to obtain permits from NMFS pursuant to the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act of 1995. 16 U.S.C. 5503. Without such permits these vessels cannot lawfully operate in the high seas. 16 U.S.C. 5505. Regulations at 50 C.F.R. part 300, subpart B govern permit application and issuance procedures under the HSFCA. Longline fishing by U.S. vessels fishing in the Pacific is partly regulated by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ("Magnuson Act"). Longline fishing vessels based out of Hawaii are governed by the Fishery Management Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region ("FMP") promulgated pursuant to the Magnuson Act. U.S. longline fishing vessels operating in the North Pacific outside the EEZ that are not based in Hawaii are not directly subject to the FMP even though they fish in areas that overlap with the FMP area. These vessels are however subject to the requirements of the HSFCA. It is undisputed that the Hawaiian longline fishery interacts with several threatened and endangered species, including leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles, Hawaiian monk seals, and the short- tailed albatross. Those longline vessels operating in the same region but not subject to the FMP are virtually certain to interact with these same species. Longline fishing vessels operating out of California have increased in numbers in recent years. In a report dealing with this fishery published by NOAA, the authors, California Department of Fish and Game ("DFG") employees, state "we have seen a home videotape showing striped marlin, Tetrapturus audux, bird, marine mammal, and turtle bycatch." (The California-based Longline Fishery for Swordfish, Xiphias gladius, beyond the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, Vojkovich and Barsky, 1998) As all North Pacific sea turtle species are listed as either threatened or endangered this report is conclusive proof that listed species are being impacted by the fishery. Other DFG documents also show this fishery's impacts on listed species. Partial logbook data from 1995 shows 2 leatherback turtles caught by vessels landing swordfish in California. Data from 1996 show bycatch of the critically endangered leatherback rising to 11 individuals reported hooked. DFG summary information through 1999 show 12 green sea turtles, 35 leatherback sea turtles, 21 loggerhead sea turtles, 19 olive ridley sea turtles, 7 unidentified sea turtles, 100 albatross of various species, a Hawaiian monk seal, and other unidentified birds and sea lions reported caught in the fishery since August 1995 (DFG letter, 6/27/00). As self-reporting is generally considered to underestimate non-target bycatch, these numbers must be considered minimum estimates of the impacts of this fishery. Violations of Section 7 and 9 Section 7(a)(2) of the ESA requires federal agencies to "insure that any action authorized, funded, or carried out by such agency . . . is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered species or threatened species or result in the adverse modification of habitat of such species . . .determined . . . to be critical . . . ." 16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2); 50 C.F.R. 402.14(a). To accomplish this goal, agencies must consult with the delegated agency of the Secretary of Commerce or Interior whenever their actions "may affect" a listed species. 16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2); 50 C.F.R. 402.14(a). Where, as here, NMFS is both the acting agency and the delegated wildlife agency for purposes of the listed species in question, NMFS must undertake internal consultation with itself as well as with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Section 7 consultation is required for "any action [that] may affect listed species or critical habitat." 50 C.F.R. 402.14. Agency "action" is defined in the ESA's implementing regulations to include "(c) the granting of licenses, contracts, leases, easements, rights- of-way, permits, or grants-in-aid; or (d) actions directly or indirectly causing modifications to the land, water, or air." 50 C.F.R. 402.02. At the completion of consultation FWS or NMFS issues a Biological Opinion that determines if the agency action is likely to jeopardize the species. If so the opinion must specify reasonable and prudent alternatives that will avoid jeopardy and allow the agency to proceed with the action. 16 U.S.C. 1536(b). FWS or NMFS may also "suggest modifications" to the action during the course of consultation to "avoid the likelihood of adverse effects" to the listed species even when not necessary to avoid jeopardy. 50 C.F.R. 402.13. Section 7(d) of the ESA, 16 U.S.C. 1536(d), provides that once a federal agency initiates consultation on an action under the ESA, the agency, as well as any applicant for a federal permit, "shall not make any irreversible or irretrievable commitment of resources with respect to the agency action which has the effect of foreclosing the formulation or implementation of any reasonable and prudent alternative measures which would not violate subsection (a)(2) of this section." The purpose of Section 7(d) is to maintain the status quo pending the completion of interagency consultation. Section 7(d) prohibitions remain in effect throughout the consultation period and until the federal agency issuing the permit has satisfied its obligations under Section 7(a)(2) that the permit issuance will not result in jeopardy to the species or adverse modification of its critical habitat. Issuance of permits pursuant to the HSFCA is clearly agency action as defined by the ESA and its implementing regulations. As described above, fishing authorized pursuant to these permits "may affect" listed species by entangling and drowning them as bycatch. NMFS is in violation of Section 7(a)(2) of the ESA and its implementing regulations by failing to initiate and complete consultation on the effects of longline fishing carried out by U.S. vessels operating outside the U.S. EEZ pursuant to permits issued pursuant to the HSFCA on leatherback sea turtles, loggerhead sea turtles, green sea turtles, olive ridly sea turtles, Steller sea lions, Guadalupe fur seals, Hawaiian monk seals, short tailed albatross and other threatened and endangered species. NMFS has not carried out consultation on the issuance of individual permits or on the California-based longline fishery as whole. NMFS has also not carried out consultation on longline fishing by U.S. vessels landing swordfish and other highly migratory species in Alaska and other western states that are not part of the Hawaiian FMP. If and when NMFS initiates or reinitiates consultation, NMFS will be in violation of Section 7(d) if it engage in any activity that would foreclose reasonable and prudent alternatives. Such activity would include, but not be limited to, the authorization or otherwise permitting of any fishing activity that might result in take of a listed species pending the completion of consultation. Issuance of HSFCA permits would be such a violation. The ESA prohibits any "person" from "taking" threatened and endangered species. 16 U.S.C. 1538, 50 C.F.R. 17.31. The definition of "take", found at 16 U.S.C. 1532(19), states, The term "take" means to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct. In a case dealing with fisheries, the Court ruled "the stature not only prohibits the acts of those parties that directly exact the taking, but also bans those acts of a third party that bring about the acts exacting a taking. We believe that_a governmental third party pursuant to whose authority an actor directly exacts a taking of an endangered species may be deemed to have violated the provisions of the ESA" Strahan v. Coxe, et al, 127 F.3d 155 (1st Cir. 1997). NMFS' issuance of HSFCA permits directly authorizes fishing activities that have been documented to take leatherback sea turtles, loggerhead sea turtles, green sea turtles, olive ridly sea turtles, Hawaiian monk seals, and other listed species. Such take is ongoing. NMFS is therefore also in violation of Section 9 of the ESA. In 1996 NMFS carried out an internal informal consultation regarding the Interim Final Rule Implementing a Permitting System for U.S. Vessels Fishing on the High Seas (2/14/96). NMFS concluded that the interim regulations were not likely to affect listed species. This consultation does not absolve NMFS of its Section 7 duties under the ESA. First and foremost, this consultation addressed only the interim regulations, not the issuance of actual permits under the HSFCA and the subsequent fishing activity. As detailed above, such activity is clearly "likely to adversely affect" listed species. The take of leatherback sea turtles is especially critical given recent new information showing the species is on an extinction trajectory due to fisheries bycatch. Additionally, the 1996 informal consultation did not cover FWS managed species such as the short-tailed albatross. Finally, the consultation document itself called for reinitiation of consultation within 18 months to more fully address the impacts of HSFCA fishing on listed species. No such reinitiation of consultation has occurred. Reinitiation of consultation is governed by 50 C.F.R. 402.16. NMFS is also in violation of this provision for failing to reinitiate consultation on the interim regulations. If the National Marine Fisheries Service does not act within 60 days to correct this violation of the ESA, the Sea Turtle Restoration Project of the Turtle Island Restoration Network, the Center for Biological Diversity, and the Recreational Fishing Alliance will pursue litigation in Federal Court against NMFS. These parties will seek injunctive and declaratory relief, and legal fees and costs regarding these violations. An appropriate remedy that would prevent litigation would be for the National Marine Fisheries Service to initiate/reinitiate consultation on its actions related to the fishery and to suspend all HSFCA permits for fishing activities that may result in take of listed species. If you have any questions, wish to meet to discuss this matter, or feel this notice is in error, please contact me at (510) 848-5486. Thank you for your concern. Sincerely, Brendan Cummings Attorney at Law cc James J. Tutchton, Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund ______________________ Elizabeth Ann Mitchell P.O. Box 933 Eugene, Oregon 97440 Tel: 541/607-8838 E-mail: emitch(\)efn.org ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 30 Jul 2000 11:34:28 -0700 From: Katy Penland Subject: ACS 7th Int'l Conference in Monterey, CA Apologies for cross-postings. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The American Cetacean Society will host its 7th International Conference, "Whales 2000: Celebrating the Past, Working for the Future," in Monterey, CA, November 17-19, 2000, at the Monterey Conference Center. The conference will address =93Hot Issues in Cetacean Conservation,=94 =93Legislative Issues in Cetacean Conservation,=94 =93Ad= vances in Marine Mammal Science,=94 and =93The Future of Whaling and Whale Management.=94 Individual presentations, panel discussions and workshops will be conducted by world-renowned marine mammal scientists, educators, and writers in a format that encourages discussion and audience participation. Guest speakers are from around the world and include: Phil Clapham, Peter Ross, Bernd Wursig, Jon Lien, Karen Steuer, Thomas Jefferson, Mark Carwardine, Naomi Rose, John Potter, Michael Jasny, Don Croll, Lindy Weilgart, Wil Burns, Brenda Peterson, and Capt. Charles Moore, and others are still being added. The conference will officially begin on Friday night, November 17, at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, with a special reception and dance honoring Dr. Alan and Sheila Baldridge. Reception is open to all conference attendees and the general public. Additional conference activities include a banquet with keynote speaker, poster session, art show, special book signings, photography competition, and silent auction, as well as field trips that include whale watching, kayaking, and wildlife tours. A surprise movie screening is scheduled to close the conference. Conference attendance strictly limited to 450. Poster abstract submission deadline is September 1, 2000. Early registration deadline is October 15, 2000. Visit our website for more information and registration forms: www.acsonline.org American Cetacean Society National Headquarters P.O. Box 1391 San Pedro, CA 90733-1391 310-548-6279 (voice) 310-548-6950 (fax) acs(\)pobox.com (email) www.acsonline.org (website) ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 4 Aug 2000 00:06:09 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Abstract: reproductive parameters of female Pontoporia (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Danilewicz, D.S., Secchi, E.R., Ott, P.H. & Moreno, I.B. (2000). Analyses of the age at sexual maturity and reproductive rates of franciscanas (Pontoporia blainvillei) from Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. Comunica=E7=F5es do Museu de Ci=EAncias e Tecnologia da PUCRS, s=E9rie zool= ogia. 13: 89-98. Age-specific reproductive parameters have been an important tool for understanding the dynamics of marine mammal populations. We here present an estimation of age at sexual maturity and reproductive rates for female franciscanas (Pontoporia blainvillei) in a region of intense incidental catches in southern Brazil. Estimates of the mean age at attainment of sexual maturity using three estimators were 3,7, 3,5 and 3,3 years. Age at sexual maturity in Rio Grande do Sul is attained significantly later than in a previous study for Uruguay. The estimated annual pregnancy rate was 0,65, translating into an interval between births of 1,5 years. It indicates that about half of mature females are reproducing annually, while other half are reproducing biennially. The low age at sexual maturity, short interval between births and high pregnancy rates found here place the franciscana among the species of odontocetes with fastest life history traits. Reprints are available from: =20 Daniel Danilewicz Grupo de Estudos de Mam=EDferos Aqu=E1ticos do Rio Grande do Sul - GEMARS Rua Felipe Neri, 382 conj. 203 90440-150 - Porto Alegre - RS Fone/fax: (51) 335-2886 gemars(\)zaz.com.br ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 3 Aug 2000 23:28:08 -0700 From: JIWLP Subject: IWC Resolutions Now Available on ASIL WIG Site Content-type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Now available on the ASIL-WIG site: Resolutions of the 52nd Meeting of the International Whaling Commission (2000) Look under the "What's New" Section on the site. Wil Burns, Chair American Society of International Law - Wildlife Interest Group 1210 Floribunda Ave. #7 Burlingame, CA 94010 USA Phone: 650.703.3280 Fax: 801.838.4710 ASILWildlife(\)pacbell.net http://www.eelink.net/~asilwildlife ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 6 Aug 2000 14:34:12 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Radio Transmitter (fwd) From: ken watterson Does anyone have any information concerning possible effects of long wave radio transmission on sea mammals? We have a proposed development of a 33m crossfield aerial, 500kw output at 279kHz on a coastal site frequented by cetaceans and seals. I understand that the aerial height is substantially lower than "normal" construction which I have been told is usually of the order of approx. 270m and that this is largely untested technology. I believe the only similar construction is in Kiel and that unit is not yet operational. Thank you Ken Watterson ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 6 Aug 0100 14:36:44 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications (fwd) Here are some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Publications recently posted to MARMAM are not included. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. Ultrasonographic imaging of the testis and epididymis of the bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus aduncas. Brook, FM; Kinoshita, R; Brown, B; Metreweli, C. JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTION AND FERTILITY. July 2000 v119 i2 p233-240 Lipophilic contaminants in marine mammals: review of the results of ten years' work at the Department of Environmental Biology, Siena University (Italy). Marsili, L. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENT AND POLLUTION. Summer 2000 v13 i1-6 p416-452 Satellite-monitored movements of radio-tagged bowhead whales in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas during the late-summer feeding season and fall migration. Mate, BR; Krutzikowsky, GK; Winsor, MH. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY-REVUE CANADIENNE DE ZOOLOGIE. July 2000 v78 i7 p1168-1181 Long-term vocal recognition in the northern fur seal. Insley, SJ. NATURE. July 27, 2000 v406 i6794 p404-405 Blood volume in hooded seals: implications for diving capacity. Cabanac, AJ. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY-REVUE CANADIENNE DE ZOOLOGIE. July 2000 v78 i7 p1293-1299 Transfer of fatty acids from female seal blubber via milk to pup blubber. Grahl-Nielsen, O; Hammill, MO; Lydersen, C; Wahlstrom, S. JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY B-BIOCHEMICAL SYSTEMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY. June 2000 v170 i4 p277-283 Aspects of general antimicrobial properties of skin secretions in the common seal Phoca vitulina. Meyer, W; Bollhorn, M; Stede, M. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS. May 25, 2000 v41 i1 p77-79 Nutrient, fatty acid, amino acid and mineral analysis of natural prey of the Hawaiian monk seal, Monachus schauinslandi" (vol 124A, pg 137, 1999). Goodman-Lowe, GD; Carpenter, JR; Atkinson, S; Ako, H. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY. March 2000 v125 i3 p415-416 Seasonal variations in blood parameters of the Amazonian manatee, Trichechus inunguis. Colares, EP; Colares, IG; Bianchini, A; Santos, EA. BRAZILIAN ARCHIVES OF BIOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY, May-June 2000 v43 i2 p165-171 Whaling models for cetacean conservation. Boyce, MS. QUANTITATIVE METHODS FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY. Spring 1998 p109-126 Direct calculation of a tree length using a distance matrix. Pauplin, Y. JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EVOLUTION. July 2000 v51 i1 p41-47 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2000 09:04:24 -0400 From: Jim_Valade(\)fws.gov Subject: Re: CRS weekly marine mammal summary to US congress Per your 7/28 marine mammal summary, information cited in the piece about manatees is incorrect. As of July 24, 2000, 189 Florida manatees have died in the US since the beginning of the year. Of this number, 61 died from watercraft collisions (not 82, as cited in the summary). I'm afraid that I don't know how this compares to this time last year, although the number of watercraft-related deaths is up significantly and appears to be heading towards a new record. (Last year's range-wide totals: 274 total, 83 due to watercraft + 23 due to other human-related causes.) Jim Valade U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Jacksonville Field Office 6620 Southpoint Drive, South Suite 310 Jacksonville, Florida 32216-0958 Telephone: (904) 232-2580 extension 118 FAX: (904) 232-2404 e-mail: jim_valade(\)fws.gov ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 7 Aug 0100 00:18:06 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: M.E.E.R. ecovolunteer program (fwd) From: "M.E.E.R. e.V." M.E.E.R. Ecovolunteer Project Assisting in field research on human-cetacean interactions Two weeks practical course on behavioural research in the Canary Islands. Learn to know ecological whale watching and participate in all stages of a study on interactions between cetaceans and whale watching vessels of the project "M.E.E.R. La Gomera". Date: 1st-15th October 2000 Places available: 9 Qualification: English language, special interest in field research. No other skills needed, experience in research and photography welcome. Detailed information on the course available on request (fax or e-mail) and provided with booking. If you are interested in further information, please let us know as soon as possible! Note the limited number of places. M.E.E.R. e.V. Fabian Ritter TEL/FAX: +49-30-85 07 87 55 E-mail: meer(\)infocanarias.com The non-profit association M.E.E.R. is registred and based in Berlin, Germany. The objectives of the association are conservation, research and education in order to protect cetaceans and 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. With the project "M.E.E.R. La Gomera" we present an example of how whale watching can be done in an ecologically sustainable way. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 7 Aug 2000 09:01:29 -0700 From: Katy Penland Subject: ACS Conference Poster Instructions As a reminder and in response to several emails regarding poster instructions for ACS' 7th International Conference in Monterey, Nov. 17-19, the instructions are available online at: www.acsonline.org. Poster submission deadline is September 1. Thank you! Katy Penland President American Cetacean Society whaleid(\)earthlink.net ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2000 23:23:22 +0200 From: Gianni Pavan Subject: searching for aerial photographs of marine mammals In-Reply-To: <200008040706.e7476eL02339(\)falcon.telnetwork.it> Dear colleagues, to set up training materials for an aerial survey we are looking for aerial photographs of marine mammals. As the survey will take place in the central Mediterranean Sea, species of interest are primarily sperm whales, fin whales, pilot whales, risso's dolphins, striped dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins and cuvier's beaked whales. Photographs of other species will be welcome as well. We will appreciate any contribution of photographs or indications about where to find them. Contributions in digital format can be sent by email to gpavan(\)cibra.unipv.it All contributors will be acknowledged. Thank you, Sincerely, Gianni Pavan -------------------------------------------------------------- Gianni Pavan Centro Interdisciplinare di Bioacustica e Ricerche Ambientali Universita' degli Studi di Pavia Via Taramelli 24 27100 PAVIA, ITALIA Tel/Fax +39-0382-525234 Laboratori Tel/Fax +39-0382-526208 Segreteria Email gpavan(\)telnetwork.it Web http://www.unipv.it/cibra/welcome.html -------------------------------------------------------------- Personal Home Page at http://members.xoom.com/gpavan ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2000 09:35:40 -1000 Reply-To: rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca From: "Robin W. Baird" Organization: Dalhousie University Subject: Abstract: plastic ingestion by a harbour porpoise Baird, R.W., and S.K. Hooker. 2000. Ingestion of plastic and unusual prey by a juvenile harbour porpoise. Marine Pollution Bulletin 40:719-720. Summary Since many species of whales and dolphins live in waters far from shore, and may sink upon death, opportunities to record instances of ingestion of marine debris by cetaceans are infrequent. Here we document the third reported case of plastic ingestion by a harbour porpoise, and discuss factors that might have contributed to ingestion. A 95 cm harbour porpoise was found dead on a beach near Pictou, Nova Scotia, and was visibly emaciated, with a distinct concavity of the dorsal surface on both sides of the body, indicating atrophy of the epaxial muscles. Upon examination of the esophagus, a balled up piece of black plastic (measuring when stretched out about 5 by 7 cm, weighing 0.36 grams) was found adjacent to the junction with the stomach. Immediately cranial to this plastic was a mass of fish bones, partially digested fish, and three intact fish (a total of 2.7 grams), all occluding the esophagus. The fish remains recovered were identified as three-spined stickleback (a species not previously reported as prey of harbour porpoise); a total of 18 individuals were represented, ranging in size from 22-28 mm standard length, and all had been recently ingested. The ingested plastic probably blocked the esophagus, although for how long is not clear, though it is unlikely to have been for very long, given there was no necrosis associated with the blockage. We do not know whether this plastic caused the death of the individual, but its emaciated state and the presence of a previously undocumented prey species suggests that the porpoise may have been investigating inappropriate prey items. Based on its size and timing of the stranding, it is likely that this individual was only a few months of age, and likely had not yet been weaned, thus pre-weaning separation from its mother may have led to the ingestion of inappropriate items. Reprints may be obtained by writing to: rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca A pre-publication PDF version of this paper can be found at: http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/rwb/rwbpub.htm ========================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Post-doctoral Fellow, Dalhousie University, Canada E-mail: rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/rwb/robin.htm Please note my new mailing address is: 2 Supanee Court, French's Road Cambridge, CB4 3LB, England Phone 44 1223 504210 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 10 Aug 0100 00:42:19 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: satellite service providers (fwd) Here is the (small) list of satellite services. If you responded to my request, thank you. Telonics in Mesa, AZ (ARGOS certified transmitters) www.telonics.com Lotek Engineering in Ontario, Canada www.lotek.com/lotek Titley Electronics in Australia www.titley.com.au ORBCOMM -tracks mostly vehicles....I wasn't provided a web site for them suzanne tarr suzanne.tarr(\)fwc.state.fl.us ------- Original Message ------- Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2000 16:02:39 -0400 Subject: looking for a satellite service provider If you use a satellite service provider other than Service Argos, to monitor tagged animals, please respond to Beth Wright at beth.wright(\)fwc.state.fl.us with the service provider name and web site if available. Thank you, Suzanne Tarr suzanne.tarr(\)fwc.state.fl.us ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2000 14:23:43 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Canadian bowhead hunt (fwd) Editors' Note: we have placed a copy of a resolution passed at the recent IWC meeting relevant to this subject after this message. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- >From Northern News Services (Yellowknife, NWT) August 7, 2000 Bowhead hunt to proceed The Nunavut Wildlife Management Board announced last week that Coral Harbour's bowhead whale hunt would proceed August 8 provided that a few final conditions were met. The board has already reviewed and approved the Coral Harbour Planning Committee's hunt plan and the minister of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has accepted the board's decision. Final approval will be granted once DFO officers have inspected the hunting equipment and ensured all hunters are trained. The inspection will also consider that proper arrangements have been made for butchering and transporting the kill. The hunt is the third one to be undertaken since the Nunavut land claims agreement was signed. James Hrynyshyn ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Vancouver, B.C., Canada ~~~ jamesh(\)cyamid.net 604.222.8008 ~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://www.cyamid.net --------------------------------------------------- IWC Resolution 2000-2 RESOLUTION ON WHALING OF HIGHLY ENDANGERED BOWHEAD WHALES IN THE EASTERN CANADIAN ARCTIC WHEREAS the 52nd meeting of the Scientific Committee concluded that the Davis Strait and the Hudson Bay-Foxe Basin bowhead whale stocks are two distinct and separate populations, both of which number in the low hundreds; CONSIDERING THAT the Government of Canada withdrew from the IWC in 1982 but continues to allow the taking of bowhead whales in the Eastern Canadian Arctic; CONCERNED THAT the Government of Canada has agreed to grant one license if requested from the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board to take one bowhead whale from the Hudson Bay-Foxe Basin stock in 2000-2001; WHEREAS the IWC is concerned about whaling not conducted under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (1946); NOTING THAT the Government of Canada has been notified of IWC Resolutions 1996-9, 1998-13 and 1999-7, each of which calls for refraining from issuing permits to hunt either highly endangered bowhead whale stocks in the Eastern Canadian Arctic; FURTHER NOTING THAT Canada is signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982) which under Article 65 (Marine Mammals) requires that States co-operate through the appropriate international organizations for the conservation, management and study of cetaceans; NOW THEREFORE THE COMMISSION: REAFFIRMS its opposition to whaling conducted on highly endangered stocks of whales; EXPRESSES particular concern that whaling activities in the Eastern Canadian Arctic are ongoing outside the control of the IWC; URGES the Government of Canada to refrain from issuing a license for the taking of one bowhead whale from the Hudson Bay-Foxe Basin population; INVITES the Government of Canada to rejoin the IWC and, in the meantime, not to issue further whaling permits; REQUESTS THAT the Secretariat transmit the text of this Resolution to the Government of Canada. http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/iwcoffice/IWCResolutions2000.htm#CanBowheads ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 13 Aug 2000 13:18:09 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Position Announcement (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Tomas Follett COASTAL OREGON MARINE EXPERIMENT STATION POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT POSITION: Full time 12-month Administrative Assistant at the Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University. The 12-month position, with possible extension at discretion of the Principle Investigator, carries the faculty rank of a professional, non-teaching position. SALARY: $24,000-$30,000 per annum, depending on qualifications. POSITION DESCRIPTION: A full-time Administrative Assistant is sought for the Marine Mammal Program (MMP) that is based at the Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, Oregon. The position is responsible for program office and database management, grant administration, technical report writing/editing, and corporate/donor communications. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: 1) a B.S. or higher degree in science; 2) experience in writing grants, scientific papers and/or office administration; 3) good verbal communications and writing skills; and 4) office computer skills. APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Send resume with cover letter as well as the names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses (if available) of three references to: Carol Cole, COMES Coordinator, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, Oregon 97365. Telephone number 541-867-0230, FAX: 541-867-0105, e-mail: carol.cole(\)hmsc.orst.edu. APPLICATION DEADLINE: Review of applications will begin September 11, 2000. OSU is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and has a policy of being responsive to the needs of dual-career couples. Oregon State University Marine Mammal Research Oregon State University Hatfield Marine Science Center Newport, OR 97365 (541)867-0164 Program Web Page: http://hmsc.orst.edu/groups/marinemammal/index.html ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2000 10:33:53 -0700 From: James Hrynyshyn Subject: bowhead harvest >From NNSL, Aug. 14, 2000: There she blows! Coral hunters land whale within four days of starting the hunt Maria Canton Northern News Services Coral Harbour (Aug 14/00) - Only a day after getting the final approvals, bowhead hunters found success. They harvested one bowhead whale near the community last week, only four days into the third bowhead whale hunt since the signing of the Nunavut land claim agreement in 1993. Hunters were operating out of a base camp near Expectation Point on Southampton Island, about 120 km from Coral Harbour, when a whale from the Hudson-Foxe Basin population was harpooned and brought to shore. The whale is now being skinned and cut up for a territory-wide distribution of the muktaaq. In the days leading up to the kill, spotters constantly scanned the waters with binoculars, looking for any signs of bowheads. Little to no water traffic was permitted while spotters were looking for whales and only when one was spotted would the boats be launched. The licence that gave the 10 members of the Coral Harbour hunt committee the go-ahead to start actively pursuing one whale was officially issued on Aug. 8. On Aug. 10, Department of Fisheries and Oceans officials gave their final inspection and approval of the whaling equipment. The next day, the whale was landed. DFO on hand Two DFO officials remained with the hunters to ensure the hunt plan was being followed and to take scientific evidence once the whale was caught. On the day the licence was issued, hunt committee chairperson Louie Bruce said they were not concerned with when the month-and-a-half long permit expired. "We are only concerned with when we can start; we're not interested in when it ends," said Bruce, whose father Mikitok Bruce is the hunt captain and an experienced whaler. Back in Coral Harbour, the community was buzzing with activity. Several more charters began flying and boating into the Kivalliq community on the weekend -- 15 elders from Rankin Inlet flew in Saturday in order to partake in the celebrations. Acting senior administrative officer Emelda Angootealuk said a committee is organizing a feast, dances and games. "There are so many things going on right now, the community is very excited," she said. The daughter of Mikitok Bruce said she and the community were anxiously awaiting the return of the hunters. "It's been really rainy and windy and no-one has been able to come back yet," said Rosemary Sandy on Saturday morning from her father's house. "Everyone is very excited and we're getting ready to have tea and games as soon as they get back." Although the hunt was conducted in the Coral Harbour area with local hunters, the muktaaq from the whale will be distributed among Nunavut's 26 communities. The first hunt was held in 1996 in Repulse Bay and the second was held in 1998 in Cumberland Sound. James Hrynyshyn ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Vancouver, B.C., Canada ~~~ jamesh(\)cyamid.net 604.222.8008 ~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://www.cyamid.net ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 15 Aug 0100 05:25:49 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Aug 4 CRS weekly summary to U.S. Congress (fwd) Forwarded message: The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS U.S. Navy Sonar. On Aug. 14-15, 2000, the Ocean Mammal Institute is sponsoring a symposium on low frequency active sonar, to be held at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, ME. [personal communication] {Japanese Whaling. On July 29, 2000, four Japanese whaling vessels departed for the northwest Pacific Ocean on a two-month scientific research expedition to kill 10 sperm whales, 50 Bryde's whales, and 100 minke whales. On July 31, 2000, U.S. officials were reported to have "forcefully expressed" U.S. opposition "at the highest level" threatening sanctions if Japan continued its new whaling venture. On Aug. 1, 2000, Japan denounced the U.S. threat as unwarranted and warned the United States against taking any punitive action.} [Reuters, London Times, Assoc Press, BBC News] Manatees. On July 25, 2000, FL Governor Jeb Bush announced that FL would not approve construction of additional boat slips in counties that have not developed manatee protection plans. Only four of 13 FL counties ordered to develop manatee protection plans under the State's Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1989 have done so. Manatee deaths from watercraft have increased to 82 this year, compared to 62 at this time last year. [MSNBC, Bradenton Herald] Cape Fur Seal Harvest. On July 21, 2000, officials of the Namibian government announced that they will nearly double Namibia's annual harvest of Cape fur seals from 1999 levels of 30,000 pups and 5,000 bulls to 60,000 pups and 7,000 bulls for the Aug. 1 to Nov. 15, 2000 season. The increase was justified as responding to rapid population increase and its perceived threat to the fishing industry. [South Africa Press Assoc] Steller Sea Lions. On July 20, 2000, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Zilly ruled that NMFS managers were not doing enough to protect endangered Steller sea lions and ordered all trawling within 20 miles of sea lion critical habitat to cease until NMFS completes a study of the impacts of fishing on these marine mammals [ http://www.eswr.com/zilly7200.pdf ]. As a result, pollock trawlers will be forced to fish farther from shore, possibly resulting in a loss of as much as $93 million to the industry if a settlement is not reached before Aug. 8, 2000, when the next pollock fishery begins, increasing to a loss of as much as $173 million in 2001. [MSNBC, Anchorage Daily News, Endangered Species and Wetlands Report] {Sea Otters. On July 19, 2000, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a Biological Opinion [ http://www.r1.fws.gov/news/seaotter.htm ] on southern sea otter, concluding that removal of sea otters from the southern CA "otter free management zone" would jeopardize the population's continued existence.} [personal communication] Haul of Shame. In mid-July 2000, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals released a report entitled "Haul of Shame" claiming that fishing practices off the United Kingdom's coasts may have killed as many as 20,000 harbor porpoises in the last 6 years. A Harbor Porpoise Conservation Strategy is to be discussed at the July 26-28, 2000 Meeting of the Parties to the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Seas, in Bristol, UK. [Environment News Service] Caspian Seal Mortality. On July 10, 2000, Turkmen officials reported that more than 300 dead seals have washed up along the Turkmen coast, near the Kazakh border. The first deaths were observed in early April 2000, with seals continuing to die in small numbers. Conflicting reports suggest the cause to be either pasteurolosis or cumulative toxic poisoning that has lowered the animals' immunity. [Agence France Presse] IWC. A July 4, 2000 letter from the Secretary General to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to the Chairman of the IWC reportedly expressed concerns that a lack of progress at the IWC has caused a transfer of the IWC debate to CITES fora, causing significant discord. On July 4, 2000, the IWC adopted, without a vote, a resolution to direct the IWC Secretariat to prepare a draft text of the legal document for the Revised Management Scheme (RMS) before December 2000, and that the RMS working group meet before the end of February 2001 to discuss that draft. On July 5, 2000, the IWC passed 2 non-binding resolutions requesting Japan to stop scientific whaling. For the resolution on scientific whaling in the North Pacific, the vote was 19 for, 12 against, and 2 abstentions. For the resolution on scientific whaling in the Southern Ocean, the vote was 20 for, 10 against, and 3 abstentions. On July 6, 2000, the IWC adopted a resolution asking Canada to refrain from issuing hunting permits for bowhead whales and to rejoin the IWC. On July 10, 2000, President Clinton announced his intent to appoint Rolland A. Schmitten, former Assistant Administrator for NMFS, to serve as U.S. Commissioner of the International Whaling Commission. [White House press release, Reuters, BBC News, High North Alliance News] Discovery Cove. On July 1, 2000, SeaWorld Orlando's Discovery Cove is scheduled to open to the public. Providing the opportunity to swim with dolphins, the facility is sold-out for its first two months already. A coral reef swim area has not been completed. Attendance will be limited to 800 to 1,000 people per day. [Orlando Sentinel] Items in this Summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2000 18:19:28 -0700 From: stephanie norman Subject: deep sea cable whale entanglements This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------2F14D9F02E106A57EAAC1E3F Hello to all subscribers: A colleague of mine and I are working on collecting data on occurrences of deep sea cable (i.e. coaxial and fiberoptic) entanglements involving cetaceans. We would like to write an update to a report by Bruce Heezen (1957) that covered this topic. We would like to know if anyone has heard of or come across suspect /confirmed whale cable interactions or deaths? We have researched many resources for data, but would also like to pose this question to MARMAM. Please do not reply to MARMAM, but send responses directly to me. Thank you for your help! Stephanie A. Norman, DVM 1223 Spring St. #400 Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 903-6278 e-mail: whaledoc(\)flash.net --------------2F14D9F02E106A57EAAC1E3F name="whaledoc.vcf" filename="whaledoc.vcf" begin:vcard n:Norman;Stephanie tel;home:(206) 903-6278 x-mozilla-html:FALSE adr:;;;;;; version:2.1 email;internet:whaledoc(\)flash.net fn:Stephanie A. Norman, DVM end:vcard --------------2F14D9F02E106A57EAAC1E3F-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 17 Aug 0100 14:52:36 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Abstract: Inia import in the U.S. (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Aldemaro Romero Romero, A. 2000. Should Venezuelan Botos Be Imported into the United States? WhaleWatcher 33(1):13-15. Abstract In 1997, the Dallas World Aquarium applied to the National Marine Fisheries Service (PHF#852-1356) for the capture and import into the U.S. of four botos (Inia geoffrensis) from the Apure River, near San Fernando de Apure, Venezuela. The application and the attached support material based the request on the premises that the boto: a) is not endangered in Venezuela; b) are not hunted in that country; c) the species is carefully controlled by the Venezuelan government; and that, d) aquarium facilities in Venezuela have a good track record handling these mammals. This article is aimed to demonstrate that these premisses are false and that, in consequence, requests to import Venezuelan botos into the U.S. should be rejected. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 19 Aug 0100 00:45:00 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly marine mammal summary to U.S. Congress (fwd) Forwarded message: The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} MARINE MAMMALS U.S. Navy Sonar. On Aug. 14-15, 2000, the Ocean Mammal Institute is sponsoring a symposium on low frequency active sonar, to be held at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, ME. [personal communication] {Canadian Bowhead Whaling. On Aug. 10, 2000, the Canadian Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans approved whaling equipment of Inuit from Coral Harbor, Nunavut, for bowhead whaling. On Aug. 11, 2000, a bowhead whale was killed and landed by the 10-member Coral Harbor hunt committee, near Expectation Point on Southampton Island. This was the third Canadian Inuit bowhead whale hunt since the Nunavut land claims agreement of 1993; Canadian Inuit are allowed to kill one bowhead whale every other year.} [Northern News Services] {Mexican Dolphin Consultation. On Aug. 6, 2000, the Mexican Government announced that it had made an urgent call to the U.S. Government for political consultations to ensure compliance of commitments signed by the United States in the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Program and regarding the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. While Mexico reports that substantial effort has been take to eliminate dolphin deaths by the Mexican tuna industry, the United States has not yet lifted the import ban nor changed the "dolphin-safe" definition, due to a case before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The ruling by this Court is not anticipated until mid-2001. Thus, Mexico holds that the United States is not in full compliance with the Panama Declaration, nor with the U.S. International Dolphin Conservation Program Act. Mexico states that it reserves its right to use the dispute resolution mechanisms of the World Trade Organization.} [Embassy of Mexico press release] Japanese Whaling. On July 29, 2000, four Japanese whaling vessels departed for the northwest Pacific Ocean on a two-month scientific research expedition to kill 10 sperm whales, 50 Bryde's whales, and 100 minke whales. On July 31, 2000, U.S. officials were reported to have "forcefully expressed" U.S. opposition "at the highest level" threatening sanctions if Japan continued its new whaling venture. On Aug. 1, 2000, Japan denounced the U.S. threat as unwarranted and warned the United States against taking any punitive action. {In early August 2000, Japanese whalers were reported to have killed their first Bryde's whale in their North Pacific research whaling program.} [Humane Society of the United States press release, Reuters, London Times, Assoc Press, BBC News] Manatees. On July 25, 2000, FL Governor Jeb Bush announced that FL would not approve construction of additional boat slips in counties that have not developed manatee protection plans. Only four of 13 FL counties ordered to develop manatee protection plans under the State's Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1989 have done so. {{As of July 24, 2000, a total of 189 manatees had been reported to have died during 2000, with 61 of these deaths attributed to watercraft.}} [MSNBC, Bradenton Herald, personal communication] Cape Fur Seal Harvest. On July 21, 2000, officials of the Namibian government announced that they will nearly double Namibia's annual harvest of Cape fur seals from 1999 levels of 30,000 pups and 5,000 bulls to 60,000 pups and 7,000 bulls for the Aug. 1 to Nov. 15, 2000 season. The increase was justified as responding to rapid population increase and its perceived threat to the fishing industry. [South Africa Press Assoc] Steller Sea Lions. On July 20, 2000, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Zilly ruled that NMFS managers were not doing enough to protect endangered Steller sea lions and ordered all trawling within 20 miles of sea lion critical habitat to cease until NMFS completes a study of the impacts of fishing on these marine mammals [ http://www.eswr.com/zilly7200.pdf ]. As a result, pollock trawlers will be forced to fish farther from shore, possibly resulting in a loss of as much as $93 million to the industry if a settlement is not reached before Aug. 8, 2000, when the next pollock fishery begins, increasing to a loss of as much as $173 million in 2001. [MSNBC, Anchorage Daily News, Endangered Species and Wetlands Report] Sea Otters. On July 19, 2000, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a Biological Opinion [ http://www.r1.fws.gov/news/seaotter.htm ] on southern sea otter, concluding that removal of sea otters from the southern CA "otter free management zone" would jeopardize the population's continued existence. [personal communication] Items in this Summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 20 Aug 0100 05:35:30 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: bibliography on marine mammal cognition (fwd) From: martin Boye Bonjour a tous, You can now find references of more than 130articles concerning marine mammal cognition classified by thema or authors on http://perso.libertysurf.fr/marine.mammal.cognition Salutations Martin BOYE DEA de Neurosciences Universit=E9 de Provence Marseille (France) ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 22 Aug 2000 10:41:23 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Table of Contents for 3:1 of JIWLP (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- The Table of Contents for Issue 3:1 of the Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy, which focuses on cetacean issues, is now available on our site, under Past Issues, 3:1 (www.jiwlp.com). Topics covered in the issues include ethical issues related to scientific research whaling under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, the possible impacts of climate change on cetaceans and the IWC response, and the impact of scientific distortion on the decision making of the IWC. In the documents section, the full text of the European Union's new position on the precautionary principle and an address by Daniel Janzen on the need for an ecosystem approach to conservation of tropical wildland diversity are also included. Wil Burns, Editor-in-Chief Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy 1210 Floribunda Ave. #7 Burlingame, CA 94010 USA Phone: 650.703.3280 Fax: 801.838.4710 JIWLP(\)pacbell.net http://www.jiwlp.com/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 13:33:28 -0800 From: Larry Dill Subject: Harbour seal surface splashing Dear Colleagues: The harbour seals in this area (BC) are frequently seem performing exaggerated splashing behaviour at the surface, producing a high arcing spray and a load noise. I am interested in what its function might be. Some salient observations: 1. the seal appears to do this by an exaggerated follow through of its hind flippers when performing a flip-up dive 2. it was apparently not seen before 5-6 years ago, but is now common along the BC coast 3. it is performed in bouts of 3-4, followed by periods of inactivity, and seems to be performed regularly in the same spots (deep water) 4. it is performed both day and night (even on moonless ones). 5. seals are usually alone, though sometimes other seals can be seen nearby doing the same thing. Is it a foraging behaviour (like kerplunking in dolphins) or an attempt to get rid of parasites? Could its recent appearance be due to increased rates of parasitism? Or is ther ea cultural transmission phenomenon going on. If anyone knows of published descriptions of this behaviour, or has seen it, and has any thoughts on its function, I'd be happy to hear them. Thanks, Larry Dill Lawrence M. Dill, FRSC, Professor and Director, Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University Burnaby, B.C. V5A 1S6 CANADA Phone: 604-291-3664 FAX: 604-291-3496 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 18:01:19 -0400 From: William Rossiter Subject: Smithsonian Seminar on Animal Emotions Seminar Announcement - Animal Emotions: Passionate Natures (October 27-28, 2000) The Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. (co-sponsored with Discovery Communications, Inc.) In this informative seminar, eminent scientists give evidence of the range and versatility of animal emotions based upon their research in their respective fields. Working from their observations of animals, including dogs, wolves, chimpanzees, elephants, and dolphins, they recount compelling stories of animals' emotions and detail the current research and interpretations of this information. Speakers Dr. Marc Bekoff, professor of organismic biology, University of Colorado, Boulder Wolves: Dr. John Fentress, adjunct professor of psychology, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, and the University of Oregon. Chimpanzees: Dr. Richard Wrangham, professor of anthropology, Harvard University. Dolphins: Dr. Toni Frohoff, director, TerraMar Research. Elephants: Dr. Joyce Poole, director, Ambseli Elephant Research Project in Kenya. More information can be found on the Smithsonian Institute Website at:http://ResidentAssociates.org/com/animal.htm William W. Rossiter President Cetacean Society International P.O.Box 953, Georgetown, CT 06829 USA ph/fx 203-431-1606 william_rossiter(\)compuserve.com http://elfi.com/csihome.html ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 16:31:47 EDT From: Bruce Bloxom Subject: Re: Harbour seal surface splashing In a message dated 8/24/00 2:59:28 AM, ldill(\)sfu.ca writes: << Dear Colleagues: The harbour seals in this area (BC) are frequently seem performing exaggerated splashing behaviour at the surface, producing a high arcing spray and a load noise. I am interested in what its function might be. Some salient observations: 1. the seal appears to do this by an exaggerated follow through of its hind flippers when performing a flip-up dive 2. it was apparently not seen before 5-6 years ago, but is now common along the BC coast 3. it is performed in bouts of 3-4, followed by periods of inactivity, and seems to be performed regularly in the same spots (deep water) 4. it is performed both day and night (even on moonless ones). 5. seals are usually alone, though sometimes other seals can be seen nearby doing the same thing. Is it a foraging behaviour (like kerplunking in dolphins) or an attempt to get rid of parasites? Could its recent appearance be due to increased rates of parasitism? Or is ther ea cultural transmission phenomenon going on. If anyone knows of published descriptions of this behaviour, or has seen it, and has any thoughts on its function, I'd be happy to hear them. Thanks, Larry Dill Lawrence M. Dill, FRSC, Professor and Director, Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University Burnaby, B.C. V5A 1S6 CANADA Phone: 604-291-3664 FAX: 604-291-3496 >> Another set of informal observations to add to your list, based on watching and hearing this behavior at three locations in the US San Juan Islands is: The behavior has been observed in waters with steep, rocky drop-offs of the adjacent land and where there is heavy tidal flow (Johns Pass between Johns and Stuart Islands; off the western edge of Iceberg Point on the south end of Lopez island; and an unnamed pass between Ram Island and the northwest side of Sperry Peninsula on the south end of Lopez Island. The behavior is somewhat more prevalent at night and at twilight, although it does occur during daylight hours also. The behavior may serve more than one function, of course. An additional hypothesis to consider is that it may be part of an echo-location activity associated with feeding on fish moving through passes. If a seal's ears are submerged during their own splashing (or splashing by other seals), they could detect accoustical variations associated with objects (i.e., their prey) that are closer to them than the background field (rocky drop-offs), because echos from those objects are returned sooner than the echos from the background field. With binaural hearing and repeated splashing, the seals may also be able to infer the approximate rate and direction of travel of the prey. An associated function of the splashing may be that it could prompt their prey to swim faster or more erratically, producing more visible bioluminescence in low-light, deep-water conditions. The bioluminescence could, "in one sense", make the prey easier to catch. If you have resources to investigate this problem, you might consider use of sonar sensors in the close vicinity of the splashing to see if you can triangulate in on locations of various objects in the echo field -- to see if there are objects reflecting a pattern consistent with a school of prey. This would be unobtrusive -- not requiring you to be generating a sound, but instead using the sound generated by the seals themselves. Good luck with it all. And I look forward to learning more about this activity. I hope that you and/or your students are able to investigate it further. Bruce Bloxom, Ph.D. Research Psychologist P.O. Box 222375 Carmel, CA 93923 USA (831) 625-1281 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2000 10:14:41 +0100 From: "J.C.Goold" Subject: Mediterranean Sperm Whale Skin ------ Dear All, As part of a collaborative project on Mediterranean Sperm Whale Ecology between the University of Wales Bangor and the Centre de Recherche sur le= s C=E9tac=E9s, we hope to do a genetic analysis of Mediterranean vs Atlanti= c animals. Due to generous donations we now have healthy number of skin samples from Atlantic Sperm Whales. However, our planned field collectio= ns in the Mediterranean this summer did not produce the number of samples we had hoped for, and hence we are still short of Mediterranean Sperm Whale skin samples. Does anybody out there have preserved skin samples from Mediterranean Spe= rm Whales and, more importantly, would they be willing to provide us with samples for our project? Your assistance would be much appreciated. Best regards John Goold PS. I apologise in advance for any delay is responding to your replies, I will be away from the office for the next five days. ----------------- Dr. John C. Goold Development & Academic Manager Institute of Environmental Science University of Wales, Bangor Robinson Building Deiniol Road Bangor Gwynedd. LL57 2UW. UK. Tel: +44 (0)1248 388165 Fax: +44 (0)1248 383646 Email: j.c.goold(\)bangor.ac.uk Web: http://www.bangor.ac.uk/ies/ies.html ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 25 Aug 0100 07:16:36 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: global report on whalewatching (fwd) Forwarded message: From: "Ferguson-Mitchell, Jennifer" International Fund for Animal Welfare, 411 Main St., Yarmouth Port, MA 02675 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jennifer Ferguson-Mitchell (IFAW) August 22, 2000 Tel: (508) 744-2076 or Mobile (508) 737-1584 Editor's note: For further information, downloadable images, or to view the video news release, visit: http://www.ifaw.org/press/ma081800.html IFAW Global Report on Whale Watching Released - Industry Worth $1Billion and Growing (Cape Cod, MA - 22 August) The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW -- www.ifaw.org) has today released a comprehensive, 175-page global report on the economic boom of whale watching, citing it as a billion-dollar industry. Internationally renowned whale researcher Erich Hoyt authors the report, which is titled Whale Watching 2000: Worldwide Tourism Numbers, Expenditures, and Expanding Socioeconomic Benefits. The International Fund for Animal Welfare has led the global initiative in whale watching research and promotion over the last 15 years. Recently, IFAW has carried out many activities in this area, including hosting international seminars, developing local whale watching guidelines, creating educational material for schoolchildren, and distributing safe operating information for recreational and commercial boaters. "We have found that whale watching is making a dramatic economic contribution to tourism and local coastal communities worldwide," said IFAW President Fred O'Regan, from the organization's international headquarters on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. The report notes that whale watching tourism expenditures more than doubled from 1994-1998; expenditures now are more than a billion dollars per year. In the US alone, more than 4.3 million people went whale watching in 1998, accounting for 47% of the global whale watching industry. Since the last global survey on whale watching, conducted in 1994, the number of people who took part in a whale watching trip grew 40%. At least 492 communities in 87 countries now have whale watching businesses, while since 1994, 22 countries have started whale watch tours. Africa has the fastest growth in whale watching of any continent. Central America and the West Indies are second, and Asia is third in growth. In addition to economic benefits, the whale watching industry makes important educational, environmental, socioeconomic and scientific contributions. "This report is very exciting in that it highlights not only the growth of whale watching as an economically successful global industry, but that it signifies a growing global appreciation of whales and marine environments," said Dr. Carole Carlson, IFAW Senior Marine Biologist and whale watching expert, from Provincetown, MA, once a whaling center and now home to one of the world's most prosperous whale watching industries. "The experience of whale watching is a magical one," said Carlson. "After seeing whales in their natural environment, many people return year after year, bringing their children with them to share the experience." Jennifer Ferguson-Mitchell Manager, Communications IFAW -- International Fund for Animal Welfare International Headquarters 411 Main Street, Yarmouthport, MA 02675-1822 USA Tel: (508) 744-2076; Fax: (508) 744-2079; Cell: (508) 737-1584 visit our website at http://www.ifaw.org ! and check out our anti-whaling campaign at http://www.stopwhalingnow.com ! ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2000 02:03:12 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: NPAL/ATOC incidental take request (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- [Federal Register: August 24, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 165)] >From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] 50 CFR Part 216 Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Operation of a Low Frequency Sound Source by the North Pacific Acoustic Laboratory ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; receipt of an application for a small take exemption; request for comment and information. ------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS has received a request from the University of California San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography (Scripps), for a small take of marine mammals incidental to the continued operation of a low frequency (LF) sound source previously installed off the north shore of Kauai by the Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate (ATOC) project. As a result of that request, NMFS is considering whether to propose regulations that would authorize the incidental taking of a small number of marine mammals. In order to issue regulations for this taking, NMFS must determine that this taking will have no more than a negligible impact on the affected species and stocks of marine mammals. NMFS invites comment on the application and suggestions on the content of the regulations. DATES: Comments and information must be postmarked no later than September 25, 2000. Comments will not be accepted if submitted via e- mail or the Internet. ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Donna Wieting, Chief, Marine Mammal Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226. A copy of the application, which contains the references used in this document, may be obtained by writing to this address, or by telephoning the contact listed here (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). A copy of the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) may be obtained from Marine Acoustics Inc., 809 Aquidneck Ave., Middletown, RI 02842, attn. Kathy Vigness Reposa, 401-847-7508. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth R. Hollingshead (301) 713- 2055, ext. 128. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) (MMPA) directs the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to allow, upon request, the incidental, but not intentional taking of small numbers of marine mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specified geographical region if certain findings are made and regulations are issued. Permission may be granted for periods of 5 years or less if the Secretary finds that the taking will be small, will have no more than a negligible impact on the species or stock(s), and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the species or stock(s) for Arctic Ocean subsistence uses, and if regulations are prescribed setting forth the permissible methods of taking and the requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking. Summary of Request On May 21, 2000, NMFS received an application for an incidental, small take authorization under section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA from Scripps to take marine mammals incidental to the continued operation of a LF sound source previously installed off the north shore of Kauai by the ATOC project. An alternative source location under consideration in the DEIS and here is for Midway Island. A final decision on whether to re-use the ATOC source (or to install a new source and cable at Midway), in order to combine a second phase of research on the feasibility and value of large- scale acoustic thermometry with long range underwater sound transmission studies and marine mammal monitoring and studies will be made based, in part, on findings and determinations made under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). As the principal funding agency for the proposed action, a DEIS has been prepared by the Office of Naval Research (ONR). NMFS is a cooperating agency in the preparation of this DEIS. Project Description Acoustic thermometry is a method for obtaining information about the temperature field in the ocean from precise measurements of the travel times of sound pulses transmitted through the ocean. It is also a technique for acoustic remote sensing of the ocean interior, in which the properties of the ocean between the acoustic sources and receivers are determined, rather than the properties of the ocean at the instruments as is the case for conventional thermometers and current meters. Acoustic thermometry in the ocean is closely related to seismology, in which properties of the Earth's interior are inferred from travel times of earthquake waves. Under the proposed action, the seabed power cable and sound source from the ATOC project would remain in their present locations on Kauai, and transmissions would continue with approximately the same signal parameters and transmission schedule used in the earlier ATOC project. The typical schedule consists of six 20-minute (min) transmissions (one every 4 hours), every fourth day, with each transmission preceded by a 5-min ramp-up period during which the signal intensity was gradually increased, representing an average duty cycle of 2 percent. With the possible exception of short duration testing with duty cycles of up to 8 percent, or equipment failure, this schedule would continue for a period of 5 years. The signals transmitted by the source would have a center frequency of 75 Hertz (Hz) and a bandwidth of approximately 35 Hz (i.e., sound transmissions are in the frequency band of 57.5-92.5 Hz). Approximately 260 watts of acoustic power would be radiated during transmission. At 1 meter (m)(33 feet (ft)) from the source (at 807 m (2,648 ft) water depth at the Kauai location), sound intensity (i.e., source level) would be about 195 decibels (dB) referenced to the intensity of a signal with a sound pressure level (SPL) of 1 microPascal (1 Pa). According to Scripps, the signal parameters and source level have been found in the ATOC project to provide adequate, but not excessive, signal-to-noise ratios in the receiver ranges of interest. While the proposed action involves the continued operation of the source installed at the Kauai, HI location, an alternative location under consideration in the ONR DEIS would be installing a sound source and cable at a location off the coast of Midway Island. Marine Mammals A summary of the marine mammal species that may potentially be found in the vicinity of the ATOC source at either Kauai or Midway is presented here. For more detail on marine mammal abundance, density and the methods used to obtain this information, reviewers are requested to refer to the ONR DEIS. For general information on North Pacific Ocean marine mammals, reviewers may refer to Barlow et al. (1997). Six species of baleen whales, humpback (Megaptera novaengliae), fin Balaenoptera physalus), blue B. musculus), Bryde'sB. borealis), minke (B. acutorostrata), and right (Eubalaena glacialis) whales, may occur in the Kauai or Midway Atoll areas. Although not reported near Midway Atoll, the humpback whale is the only balaenopterid whale known to be present in reasonably large numbers. Humpback whales are considered abundant in coastal waters of the main Hawaiian Islands from November through April. Fin whales and blue whales have the potential to occur in the area; however, their distribution and abundance in the region is believed to be uncommon (Balcomb, 1987), although only a single fin whale was observed during recent ATOC marine mammal research. Right whales in the North Pacific Ocean are extremely rare and therefore, would also be rare in the Hawaiian Islands. Bryde's whales, and minke whales may be occasionally seen in the area of Midway Atoll (Leatherwood et al., 1988), but are not usually found off Kauai. Sixteen species of odontocetes (toothed whales, dolphins and porpoises) may be found in the Kauai and Midway areas. These species are sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris, Berardius bairdi, and Mesoplodon spp.), spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris), spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata), striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), rough- toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis), pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps), dwarf sperm whale (Kogia simus), killer whales (Orcinus orca), false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens), pygmy killer whale (Feresa attenuata), and melon-headed whale (Peponocephala electra). It should be noted, however, that the latter 7 species were not sighted in or near the proposed Kauai area during marine mammal surveys conducted between 1993 and 1998. The Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) occurs in the area of the Leeward Hawaiian Islands. Potential Impacts on Marine Mammals The effects of underwater noise on marine mammals are highly variable, and can be categorized as follows (based on Richardson et al., 1995): (1) The noise may be too weak to be heard at the location of the animal (i.e. lower than the prevailing ambient noise level, the hearing threshold of the animal at relevant frequencies, or both); (2) the noise may be audible but not strong enough to elicit any overt behavioral response; (3) the noise may elicit behavioral reactions of variable conspicuousness and variable relevance to the well being of the animal; these can range from subtle effects on respiration or other behaviors (detectable only by statistical analysis) to active avoidance reactions; (4) upon repeated exposure, animals may exhibit diminishing responsiveness (habituation), or disturbance effects may persist (the latter is most likely with sounds that are highly variable in characteristics, unpredictable in occurrence, and associated with situations that the animal perceives as a threat); (5) any man-made noise that is strong enough to be heard has the potential to reduce (mask) the ability of marine mammals to hear natural sounds at similar frequencies, including calls from conspecifics and/or echolocation sounds, and environmental sounds such as ice or surf noise; and (6) very strong sounds have the potential to cause either a temporary or a permanent reduction in hearing sensitivity (referred to respectively as temporary threshold shift (TTS) or permanent threshold shift (PTS). Few data on the effects of non-explosive sounds on hearing thresholds of marine mammals have been obtained, however, in terrestrial mammals, and presumably in marine mammals, received sound levels must far exceed the animal's hearing threshold for there to be any TTS. Received levels must be even higher for there to be risk of PTS. For this project, Scripps has established the threshold for risk of harm as a single ping at 180 dB re 1 Parms (180 dB). Harm is defined in this context as onset TTS, or the lower end of Level A harassment. Although recently some scientists have questioned whether TTS is actually an injury (see Navy, 1999, Appendix E-1, Criteria for Marine Mammal Auditory Shift), in this action, TTS is being categorized as the onset for a Level A harassment take. In this proposed action, a marine mammal would have to receive one ping greater than, or equal to 180 dB in order to be considered receiving a non-serious injury (Level A harassment) or many pings at a received level (RL) slightly lower than 180 dB in order to potentially incur a significant biological response (Level B harassment). In order to understand the biological significance of the risk of Level A or Level B harassment, it is necessary to determine how this risk might affect a population of marine mammals, starting with acoustic criteria. First, the marine mammal must be able to hear LF sound. Second, the animal must incur a reaction to the LF sound that is more than momentary. Third, any effect from LF sound must involve a significant behavioral change in a biologically important activity, such as feeding, breeding, or migration, all of which are potentially important for reproductive success of the population. Based on California and Hawaii ATOC Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP), Scripps found no overt or obvious short-term changes (1) in the abundance and distribution of marine mammals in response to the ATOC transmissions (intensive statistical analyses of aerial survey data showed some subtle shifts in distribution of humpback (and possibly sperm) whales away from the California site (Calambokidis et al., 1998) and humpback whales away from the Kauai site); (2) in the behavior of humpback whales or elephant seals in response to the playback of ATOC- like sounds (intensive statistical analyses revealed some subtle changes in the behavior of humpback whales (Frankel and Clark, 1998; 1999b); or (3) in the singing behavior of humpback whales in the vicinity of the Kauai ATOC sound source. Bioacoustic experts concluded that these subtle effects would not adversely affect the survival of an individual whale or the status of the North Pacific humpback whale population (Frankel and Clark, 1999a). To assess the potential environmental impact of the North Pacific Acoustic Laboratory (NPAL) sound source on marine mammals, it was necessary for Scripps to predict the sound field that a given marine mammal species could be exposed to over time. This is a multi-part process involving (1) the ability to measure or estimate an animal's location in space and time, (2) the ability to measure or estimate the three- dimensional sound field at these times and locations, (3) the integration of these two data sets to estimate the potential impact of the sound field on a specific animal in the modeled population, (4) the conversion of the resultant cumulative exposures for a modeled population into an estimate of the risk from a prolonged disruption of a biologically important behavior, and (5) the conversion of these estimates of behavioral risk into an assessment of risk in terms of the level of potential biological removal. Next, a relationship for converting the resultant cumulative exposures for a modeled population into an estimate of the risk to the entire population of a prolonged disruption of a biologically important behavior and of injury was developed. This process assessed risk in relation to RL and repeated exposure. The resultant risk continuum is based on the assumption that the threshold of risk is variable and occurs over a range of conditions rather than at a single threshold. Taken together, the recent results on marine mammals from LF sounds, the acoustical modeling, and the risk assessment, provide an estimate of potential environmental impacts to marine mammals. The acoustical modeling process was accomplished by Scripps using the U.S. Navy's standard acoustical performance prediction transmission loss model- Parabolic Equation (PE) version 3.4. The results of this model are the primary input to the Acoustic Integration Model (AIM). AIM was used in this analysis to estimate mammal sound exposures and integrate simulated characteristics of marine mammals (e.g., species distribution, density, dive profiles, and general movement, NPAL sound transmissions (e.g., duty cycle, transmission length), and the predicted sound field for each transmission to estimate acoustic exposure during a typical NPAL source transmission. A description of the PE and AIM models (including AIM input parameters for animal movement, diving behavior, and marine mammal distribution, abundance, and density) and the risk continuum analysis are described in detail in the Scripps application and the ONR DEIS and are not discussed further in this document. At this time, NMFS recommends reviewers read these documents if additional information is desired. If NMFS proceeds with rulemaking on this action, that rulemaking document will discuss the risk continuum and estimates of affected marine mammal populations in greater detail. Scripps, however, has drawn some general conclusions from the relative abundance of various marine mammal species in relationship to the NPAL sound field. Under the proposed alternative (utilizing the ATOC sound source at Kauai), the only mysticete (baleen) whale species expected in the area in substantial numbers is the humpback whale, and Scripps believes that because they usually prefer nearshore locations (inside the 100-fathom (188 m) depth contour), few are expected to be exposed to received levels greater than 120 dB (i.e, the SPL level presumed by Scripps to be zero for marine mammals having the potential to incur a prolonged disturbance of biologically important behavior). Similarly, sperm whales are the most common deep-diving odontocete (toothed) whale in the area, but because they usually prefer offshore waters (i.e., water depths greater than 4,000 m (12,700 ft)), few are expected to be exposed to received levels greater than 120 dB. According to Scripps, these distributional preferences are supported by the Kauai ATOC MMRP (Mobley, 1999a). Using the risk continuum and acoustic modeling Scripps estimated the potential for biologically significant reactions by marine mammals under the proposed action. Scripps determined that only humpback whales that remain in the vicinity of the sound source for a full day of transmissions may potentially experience any effect from the source transmissions. However, humpback whales typically travel parallel to the coast of Kauai, and, therefore, Scripps believes, would probably not receive sound from more than a single transmission. At the Midway site, the mysticete whale expected in greatest abundance is the Bryde's whale. Because they usually prefer nearshore locations, Scripps expects few animals would be exposed to RLs greater than 120 dB. Similarly, sperm whales are the most common deep-diving odontocetes in the area, but because they usually prefer offshore waters (i.e., water depths greater than 4,000 m (12,700 ft)), few are expected to be exposed to received levels greater than 120 dB. A much higher abundance of Hawaiian monk seals is expected near Midway Island than Kauai since this species prefers the small, mostly uninhabited chain of islands and atolls northwest of the main Hawaiian Islands. Using the risk continuum and acoustic modeling Scripps determined that there would be no potential for biologically significant effects on marine mammals from source transmissions at Midway Island, although some subtle effects may occur. Mitigation Scripps' proposed action includes mitigation that would minimize the potential effects of the NPAL sound source to marine mammals. First, the sound source would operate at the minimum duty cycle necessary to support the large-scale acoustic thermometry and long-range propagation objectives. Transmissions would contiue with approximately the same transmission schedule as that used during the first feasibility phase of the ATOC study. Second, any increases in the duty cycle beyond the nominal 2 percent (with a maximum of 8 percent) would not occur during the peak humpback whale season (January-April). The proposed action includes the possibility of an 8-percent duty cycle for up to 2 months out of each year; this action, however, would not occur during the period of time humpback whales inhabit Hawaiian waters. Third, the sound source would operate at the minimum power level necessary to support large-scale acoustic thermometry and long-range sound transmission objectives. The fourth mitigation measure proposed is to ramp-up the NPAL sound source transmissions over a 5-min period. This is believed to reduce the potential for startling marine mammals in the vicinity of the NPAL sound source and provides them an opportunity to move away from the sound source before transmitting at the maximum power levels. Monitoring and Reporting In an effort to understand the potential for long-term effects of man- made sound on marine mammals, Scripps proposes to monitor the distribution and abundance of marine mammals in the vicinity of the sound source, by conducting a total of 4 aerial surveys during each humpback whale season. The data collected will be compared with data collected during the Kauai ATOC Marine Mammal Research Program. Reports on the aerial survey results will be available to the public in reports. A report on activites will be provided to NMFS annually. NEPA The ONR has released a DEIS under NEPA (see ADDRESSES). NMFS is a cooperating agency, as defined by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR 1501.6), in the preparation of this DEIS. Endangered Species Act (ESA) NMFS will be consulting with the ONR under section 7 of the ESA on this action. In that regard, the ONR has submitted to NMFS a Biological Assessment under the ESA. This consultation will be concluded prior to a determination on issuance of a final rule and exemption. Classification This action has been determined to be not significant under Executive Order 12866. Information Solicited NMFS requests interested persons to submit comments, information, and suggestions concerning the request and the structure and content of the regulations to allow the taking. NMFS requests that commenters review the ONR DEIS and/or Scripps' small take application and not submit comments based solely on this document. NMFS will consider information submitted in developing proposed regulations to authorize the taking. If NMFS proposes regulations to allow this take, interested parties will be given ample time and opportunity to comment on the proposed rule. Dated: August 15, 2000. Penelope D. Dalton, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 20:56:15 -1000 Reply-To: rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca From: "Robin W. Baird" Organization: Dalhousie University Subject: humpback whale diving study report A report on humpback whale diving behavior off Maui, Hawaii, is available on-line as an Adobe PDF file. This research was funded by the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, and supported by Island Marine Institute, Lahaina, and the Hawaii Wildlife Fund, Paia. The full report can be accessed at: http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/rwb/humpback.htm Acrobat Reader 4.0 (available from a link on this page) is needed to read the PDF file. A summary and citation of the report follows. Baird, R.W., A.D. Ligon and S.K. Hooker. 2000. Sub-surface and night-time behavior of humpback whales off Maui, Hawaii: a preliminary report. Report prepared under Contract # 40ABNC050729 from the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Kihei, HI, to the Hawaii Wildlife Fund, Paia, HI. Summary Using suction-cup attached time-depth recorder/VHF radio tags, we documented the diving behavior of humpback whales off the west side of Maui, Hawaii. Between February and April 2000, tags were deployed on 15 individuals, and dive data were obtained from 13 of the 14 tags recovered. Reactions to tagging were observed less often than has been documented for biopsy darting, and were generally short-term. A total of 62 hours of dive data were obtained. All tagged whales were known or thought to be adult or sub-adult males, and most were involved in competitive groups for all or part of the time tags were attached. In many cases, dive depths were potentially limited by bottom depth, that is, many tagged whales were found in relatively shallow (<100 m bottom depth) water for all (n=5) or part (n=5) of the time tags were attached. Maximum dive depth was 176 m, and dives greater than 100 m in depth occurred an average of 1.37 times per hour (SD=2.35). Some of these deep dives were to the bottom. Excluding periods when tagged whales were known to be in less than 100 m of water, dives to over 100 m occurred an average of 1.73 times per hour (SD=2.52). Where the whales spent their time in the water column varied considerably between individuals. Whales that had modal depth distributions between 10 and 30 m spent some of their time apparently motionless at depth, a behavior similar to that documented for singing humpbacks. Most whales in competitive groups and one escort to a mother/calf pair spent the majority of their time in the top 10 m of the water column, while two individuals in competitive groups spent a substantial proportion of their time (10% and 29%) at depths greater than 100 m. We discuss a variety of factors that potentially influence diving behavior, including the presence of a calf within the group, time of day, and behavioral role. Management implications of dive data, including aerial survey calibration factors and exposure to depth-specific threats, are also discussed. ========================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Post-doctoral Fellow, Dalhousie University, Canada E-mail: rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/rwb/robin.htm Please note my new mailing address is: 2 Supanee Court, French's Road Cambridge, CB4 3LB, England Phone 44 1223 504210 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 18:44:35 -0300 From: Leonardo Wedekin Subject: About Aardvark boundary="----=_NextPart_000_000A_01C012B2.57E862E0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_000A_01C012B2.57E862E0 charset="iso-8859-1" Dear coleagues, I=B4d like to know if anyone has any information (price, how to buy, = etc.) about the computer program called "aardvark"? The program is used = to plote angles taken by a theodolite in land-based marine mammals = research. Is there any other similar computer program? Thank you very much for the information. Sincerely, Leonardo Wedekin Florian=F3polis - SC - Brasil E-mail: lwedekin(\)uol.com.br ------=_NextPart_000_000A_01C012B2.57E862E0 charset="iso-8859-1"
Dear coleagues,
 
I´d like to know if anyone has = any=20 information (price, how to buy, etc.) about the computer program called=20 "aardvark"? The program is used to plote angles taken by a = theodolite=20 in land-based marine mammals research.
Is there any other similar computer=20 program?
Thank you very much for the=20 information.
Sincerely,
 
Leonardo Wedekin
Florianópolis - SC - Brasil
E-mail: lwedekin(\)uol.com.br
<= /BODY> ------=_NextPart_000_000A_01C012B2.57E862E0-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2000 12:03:50 +0930 From: "Gibbs, Susan (DEH)" Subject: Pale Grey Southern Right Whales Dear Subscribers I am seeking information on pale grey southern right whales (Eubalaena australis). I would appreciate anybody that is researching, having information about or knowledge of people that know of or about pale grey southern right whales contacting me at the following email address: sgibbs(\)picknowl.com.au Almost any information will be of interest to me including, sightings, known distibutions, population sizes, individual animal sizes, even local stories or historical whaling stories. Thankyou for your co-operation. > Sue Gibbs > Marine Mammal Research > South Australian Museum > > ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 1 Sep 2000 00:00:09 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: ATOC comments (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Another 5 years of ATOC: Science Under False Pretenses? A Comment by Paul K. Anderson Member, Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate Marine Marine Mammal Research Project Advisory Board e-mail pkanders(\)cadvision.com With release of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), for which the comment period expired on 25 July 2000, and the application for an "incidental small take of marine mammals" permit ATOC is progressing towards another 5 years of broadcasting intense low frequency sounds in the Pacific. Both the DEIS and the Small Take Permit Application pretend that the Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate Marine Mammal Research Project effectively dispelled any concerns as to the effect of these sounds on marine mammals. The DEIS states that "all of the effects detected by the ATOC Marine Mammal Research Program[s] were subtle and found only after intensive statistical analyses. Therefore, the need to conduct further marine mammal monitoring studies is now to advance the understanding of the potential for long-term effects from the acoustic transmissions." It is true that MMRP found only "subtle" effects. It is not true that the effects were demonstrated to be "biologically insignificant" or that because no less subtle or more dramatic effects were not detected they did not exis. Moreover the use of the MMRP conclusions in this way is interpretable as in contravention of a section of the Agreement of 11 June 1995 between the University of California and the consortium of environmental organizations which stated that,"the MMRP does not claim that it will be able to prove or disprove long-term impacts on marine mammals, and therefore the results of the MMRP will not be so used." My personal opinion is that the ATOCMMRP not only did not demonstrate long term effects, but that it failed to adequately investigate short term responses. The proposal for continuation of ATOC is based on false pretenses. As the National Research Council Ocean Studies Board review panel stated, "the MMRP was added to an existing research program rather than being designed to fulfill its own objectives." And, as the panel concluded, "the results of the MMRP do not conclusively demonstrate that the ATOC signal either has an effect or has no effect on marine mammals in the short- or long-term." In my view the MMRP program failed in two major respects: 1. Although the pre-ATOC Heard Island Experiment demonstrated that monitoring of marine mammal vocalizations was the most sensitive means of measuring impact of ATOC-like sounds (Bowles et al. 1994), such monitoring was not successfully deployed in the ATOCMMRP. Microphones and autonomous data recorders repeatedly flooded, failed, or could not be recovered. Data promised from the Point Sur SOSUS sensors was not forthcoming. A measure of collective humpback song intensity made no distinction between animals potentially within the 120 dB field of the ATOC source and those that were not. 2. Commitments for full public information were not met. In June of 1995 The ATOC Project was allowed to proceed without legal challenge under terms of a formal agreement between the University of California and an environmental coalition made up of National Resources Defence Council (NRDC), the League for Coastal Protection (LCP), The Environmental Defence Fund (EDF), Earth Island Institute, (EII) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Commitments made under the terms of the agreement were not honored. The agreement specified that regular reports would be " provided by the MMRP to the Advisory Board including at minimum, bimonthly Pilot Study Status Reports and the Final Pilot Study Report." Towards the end of the program bimonthly reports fell several months into arrears and became available only when I pointed out the discrepancy. There has been no "Final Pilot Study Report." Most significantly, there has been no report from the final Advisory Board meeting.Due to a conflict I was unable to attend the final Advisory Board meeting. I therefore submitted comments to be appended as a "minority" review of MMRP results, should ATOC receive an Advisory Board stamp of approval. I was told that my comments played a substantial role in the AB discussions. The MMRPAB final meeting took place in June 1999 and the Advisory Board seemingly passed into history. Unfortunately, after 14 months, the report of that final Advisory Board meeting has not appeared. I am there summarizing the main points of this "minority view" here and appending the full text below. The main points: 1. The research, and reviews by the Board, had proceeded without any agreement as to what criteria should define "biologically significant" effects. 2. The documents provided to the Board for review in advance of the final meeting were inappropriate and/or inadequate. 3. Very few of the possible impacts of ATOC sounds were addressed by MMRP research. In particular, aerial survey (the major component of the MMRP effort) was only marginally sensitive to any possible effects, This was in part because under conditions favourable for aerial survey ATOC sounds would be muted and or inaudible in the near-surface zone that is visible from an aircraft, and in part because of the design of the aerial survey itself. 4. Most attempts at monitoring vocal responses of marine mammals had failed or were suspect. 5. Shore based observation from Kauai was ineffective because there was only slight overlap between the area observed and and the area where received ATOC sound was expected to reach significant intensities. 6. Comparisons of relative humpback numbers off Kauai in 1994 and 1998 were not likely to be relevant. 7. Elephant seal studies off California were compromised by small sample size and lack of adequate audiograms for the subject animals. 8. Boat-based observations had produced negligible results and little analysis. 9. The planned photo-id work apparently never yielded relevant information (at least no results were reported). 10.. Overall, the MMRP failed to record and analyse a significant number of cases in which the received intensity of ATOC sounds was above the minimum of 120 dB (aquatic measure) at which the literature indicated a response could be anticipated. 1l. Throughout, and particularly in the later stages of the program, the Advisory Board recommendations were ignored and commitments for reporting to the Board and to the public had not been met. 12. Te MMRP had faced a very difficult challenge, but had failed to meet it having demonstrated neither that ATOC sounds had, or did not have, impacts meriting concern. Since I submitted my statement, the National Research Council Ocean Studies Board's Committee to Review Results of ATOC's Marine Mammal Research Program has published its report, " Marine Mammals and Low-Frequency Sound: Progress Since 1994." The volume is obtainable from the National Academy Press, Washington D. C. It should be read by all who have concern with the ATOC program. The panel concluded that, "Because the MMRP did not provide unambiguous results about the effects (or lack thereof) of the ATOC transmissions, the Committee cannot state unequivocally whether or not ATOC transmissions should continue." Final comments: . The DEIS and the Small Take Application refer to three concrete provisions that represent the inadequate extent of genuine effort "to advance the understanding of the potential for long-term effects of acoustic transmissions" and "mitigate the sound source." I reproduce them below and append a brief comment on each: "An initial 5-minute stepped ramp-up period....helps reduce the potential for startling animals and provides them an opportunity to move away from the source before transmissions at the maximum power level begin." COMMENT: I know of no research showing that startle reactions are reduced by a 5 minute ramp-up,that animals will move away in a five minute period, or that such movement mitigates injury, disturbance, or interference with communication. " A total of four aerial surveys would be conducted during each humpback whale season." COMMENT: Aerial survey is potentially capable of detecting acute distress. Beyond that it is a most insensitive means of detecting impact. To justify continued broadcasts in 1998-99 ATOC argued that " a full 24 months " of aerial surveys were necessary to provide adequate data for statistical analysis. Applying past ATOC logic, four aerial surveys in each humpback season are unlikely to "advance the understanding of the potential for long-term effects of the sound transmissions on marine life." "Coordination with the local marine mammal stranding network would be conducted to detect any long term trends." COMMENT: Accumulation of stranding data, although valuable, is not dependent on ATOC and is an empty gesture with respect to mitigation of impact. There is no mention of how any relation to ATOC sounds will be evaluated In my view the "mitigation and monitoring" measures currently proposed are all superficial and can only prove ineffective. ************************************************************************** Full Text of Comments submitted to the final (11 June 1999) meeting of the Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate Advisory Board at Cornell University. Viewing the objective of the MMRP research program as an assessment of risks that ATOC might pose to marine mammals I submit these points: 1. It has been repeatedly stated that no biologically significant impacts have been detected. Biological significance has not been defined, but it can be as much a matter of opinion as of scientific verification. Statistical testing can assess whether or not an observed effect would be expected by chance (a prerequisite to biological significance in most cases), but it cannot test biological significance in the absence of a specific and agreed-upon definition. Can the Advisory Board arrive at a definition of biologically significant effects for use in its deliberations? 2. In preparation for this final meeting we have so far received draft manuscripts to be submitted for publication in peer reviewed journals. Peer reviewed journal articles are a highly desirable outcome of all research BUT they are not appropriate either as progress or final reports of contractual assessment of risk. Would any government or industry accept MMRP reports to date as adequate from a consulting firm? The material provided to the Advisory Board for final review should have stated the problem to be assessed, referred back to each specific approach proposed, stated the degree to which each was successful, and evaluated what each revealed or failed to reveal. The Advisory Board has not been provided with this kind of consultants' report. Can the Advisory Board take any action to see that such a comprehensive report is forthcoming. Can it come to any conclusion without such a report? 3. Very few of the possible impacts of ATOC have been addressed by MMRP in the field. Much reliance has been placed on aerial survey. Aerial survey is a very insensitive approach. As used at PSM, aerial survey might detect dead or persistently and severely distressed marine mammals, or shifts in temporal and spatial distribution persisting over several hours to several days. The aerial survey analysis has considered only DAYS on which broadcast occurred, NOT PERIODS OF ACTUAL TRANSMISSION. In the design, the position of the aircraft did not have any relationship to the two minute broadcasts that would have permitted observation of any immediate responses. Further, only animals at the surface are visible to the aircraft. In the vertical zone visible from the aircraft the acoustics at the air-water interface (mirror effects) potentially cancel out ATOC sounds. The sounds may also be masked by background noise. To my knowledge received levels, and potentially masking ambient noise, specific to the depth range of aerial visibility have not been mapped. Given the bluntness of the instrument, John Calalmbokidis and his crew deserve much credit for completing an arduous and dangerous task. Unfortunately, we have no yardstick for judging the biological significance of the results. At one stage I understood that aerial survey at Pioneer Sea Mount had generated two statistically significant results (whales farther from the source and more whales at the surface) for days when broadcasts occurred. the biological significance of the first is difficult to judge. The second, which I regard as potentially more significant, seems to have been quietly forgotten. Can this finding be revived and reviewed? 4. Observations at the time of the Heard Island experiment indicated that monitoring of cetacean vocalizations would be the most sensitive measure of response to ATOC sounds. As far as I know all attempts to monitor vocalizations at Pioneer Sea Mount have either failed or are classified and unavailable. Where vocalizations have been monitored (Kauai) only total acoustic power was measured and the measure is of aggregate singing behavior of whales irrespective of position relative to the ATOC sound field. Further, were vocalizations of singers likely to be relatively sensitive or relatively insensitive measures of ATOC impact? Are the singers at depth or positions where [ATOC] sounds would be cancelled by mirror effects or masked by ambient sound" Has MMRP measured vocalization of any other species engaged in other activities? 5. Shore based observation at Kauai was largely ineffective because there was little or no overlap between the zone of observation and the zone where the received level in the 60-90 Hz band was potentially either 120 dB, or above ambient levels. In view of this can the shore-based results be regarded as significant? 6. Relative abundance and distribution of humpback whales off Princeville between 1994 and 1998 has been compared and it has been implied that similarity indicates a lack of ATOC impact. Similarity of the two data sets may be coincidence, reflecting many unanalysed variables. It is an extremely gross measure of potential ATOC impact. Can equivalence of 1994 and 1998 results tell anything concrete about ATOC response or lack thereof? Are there data to allow a test of whether the approximation has even statistical significance? 7. The elephant seal work at Pioneer Sea Mount, while elegant, is compromised by small sample size and necessary reliance on animals for which there were not specific audiograms. Can we be confident that the seals in question could hear the ATOC frequency" Have there been any further results beyond those reported in 1996? Can precise and firm conclusions be drawn as to the exposure seals actually experienced, and to seal responses or lack thereof? 8. Boat-based observations produced very little information and as a result have produced little in the way of analysis. Is boat-based observation worthwhile in this kind of research? Could it have been more effective? Did the photo-id approach yield any relevant results? 9. the "rule of thumb" for anticipated cetacean response to low frequency sound is a received level of 120dB in the band in which the target species is expected to hear. In which instances can MMRP demonstrate, using this criterion, that a response might have been anticipated? Should MMRP results be considered only where at least 120 dB exposure is demonstrable? 10. It is the misfortune of physical oceanographers that the sea contains organisms that are culturally valued, and ecosystems and populations of ecological and economic importance. ATOC/MMRP performance suggests a lack of serious dedication to protecting marine organisms. Throughout, but particularly in the later states of MMRP, commitments for reports and/or promises of response to AB recommendations have been poorly met. The commitment to bimonthly reports was largely ignored in the last months of the study. Should the Advisory Board make any comment on this, or on the degree to which Advisory Board recommendations were followed? 12. [sic] On the basis of the reports received it is my opinion that MMRP has not met its objective. If observed marine mammal responses were absent or slight, is the impact of ATOC truly negligible or were the methods used inadequate for detection of responses? What yardstick of significance was available and agreed on? I believe that MMRP has failed to show either that ATOC sound have, or do not have, effects worthy of concern. Can the Advisory Board conclude otherwise in good conscience? Perhaps the goal was out of reach. There have been many constraints, but will the Board recommend that further and more conclusive studies be conducted before ATOC should be allowed to proceed? Paul K. Anderson Emeritus Professor of Zoology University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4 ph: 403-932-5458 403-220-5268 Fx 403-289-9311 e-mail pkanders(\)cadvision.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 3 Sep 0100 10:24:12 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Risso's dolphin harassment in the Mediterranean Sea (fwd) Forwarded message: From: "Giovanni Bearzi" Risso's dolphin school harassed by pleasure boaters off the island of Ischia, central Mediterranean Sea We would like to report a remarkable example of the potential impact of pleasure boating on Mediterranean cetaceans - in this case Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus). The observation took place off the island of Ischia, Italy, in the central Mediterranean Sea. On Sunday 27 August, at about 10:00, a group of approximately 20 Risso's dolphins is sighted by pleasure fishermen one mile off the southern coast of Ischia. The animals are apparently travelling above the 300m depth contour. By 11:00 a number of pleasure boats have joined the travelling group of dolphins. The number of boats keeps increasing. At 12:00 the Harbour Master's office is alerted, and its officiers contact us to prevent harm to the animals. By means of the Harbour Master's inflatable we reach the group at about 13:00. By that time, the animals have moved to the northern side of the island, thus managing to cross and "survive" the heavy traffic of speedboats and hydrofoils that connects the port of Ischia with the nearby city of Neaples. We find the Risso's dolphin group in Lacco Ameno, a large enclosure and popular beach were about 400 boats are randomly anchored. The dolphins are surrounded by over 100 other boats with their engine turned on. All these boats keep harassing the animals by heading towards them at high speed every time they surface, with sudden changes of route, apparently in order to take pictures and attempt to approach the animals. The animals are increasingly "penned" by the boats into the enclosure, and end up on a sea bottom that is only 3m deep. By this time, all group members show clear signs of distress and seem to be unable to orientate. They swim erratically at high speed, with no directionality, often colliding with each other. One of the at least three calves observed in the group is seen spinning and swimming in circles, apart from the others. "Breachings", "surfings", "tail slaps", "head stands" and "spy hops" are repeatedly performed by several adult individuals. Interblow intervals are short (about 60sec). As we try to prevent a mass stranding by placing our boat between the animals and the beach, the group responds by splitting in two tight subgroups, one of which including the calves. None of the pleasure boaters appears to realize what is really going on: they all seem to be excited to see the animals at close quarters. Through a two-hour effort, we finally manage to create an area clear of pleasure boats. As soon as the "opening" is about 400m wide, the animals associate in a single tight group, and slowly start heading offshore. We "escort" the group at distance while it moves in safer waters. At 16:00 we stop the observations due to unfavourable sea conditions. The occurrence of this kind of dramatic human-dolphin interactions is becoming everyday routine in the busy summer months. On the day preceding the reported observation, a disoriented and distressed lone Risso's dolphin calf was found in the harbour of Mergellina (Neaples). Moreover, the day after the reported observation we found a freshly-dead striped dolphin calf with the skull wide-opened by a propeller strike. He was a 80cm long male. Interestingly, national newspapers and television often provide quite a different picture to the wide public. Regarding the Risso's dolphin event, the news reported about dolphins enjoying a "summer party" in the coastal water of the island. --- Since 1991, a long-term study on the cetacean fauna off the island of Ischia has been conducted by Studiomare. The geomorphology of the study area, including productive submarine canyons, seems to play a role in the nearshore abundance of cetaceans - possibly attracted by local prey availability. The Risso's dolphin is seasonally present in these waters, used as a feeding and breeding ground. Striped dolphins, common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are commonly seen. The area is also used as a feeding ground by fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus). Timely management measures to protect cetaceans in this key area are clearly needed. reported by Barbara Mussi and Angelo Miragliuolo / Studiomare translated/edited by Giovanni Bearzi / National contact person, European Cetacean Society To receive further information please contact Barbara Mussi at studiomare(\)pointel.it ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 5 Sep 0100 00:09:20 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: theodolite computer programs (fwd) From: "Leonardo Wedekin" Dear subscribers, I posted a message in the list asking information about the computer programs used to analyse theodolite traking data. I got information about three: Pythagoras (PC): Is currently being developed by Joel Ortega and Glenn Gailey at the Marine Mammal Research Program at the Texas A & M University at Galveston. For more information contact Joel Ortega (joelg(\)tamu.edu). Aardvark (MAC): For more information contact Harold Mills (hgm1(\)cornell.edu). Cyclops (PC): Visit the following web site: http://mimas.newcastle.edu.au/~cyclops Thank you very much for the valuable information. Sincerely, Leonardo Wedekin lwedekin(\)uol.com.br Graduate student at the Santa Catarina Federal University - Brasil ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 4 Sep 2000 14:57:50 -0700 From: Howard Garrett Subject: San Island Island, WA, Sept 17 events Orca Conservancy invites you to join us for three very special events Sunday, September 17th on San Juan Island Contact: Howard Garrett or Susan Berta Ph: (360) 678-3451 tokitae(\)pugetsound.net susanb(\)whidbey.net Noon Lime Kiln Point State Park (next to Lime Kiln Lighthouse) "State of the Pods" Address with Ralph Munro, Ken Balcomb, Kelley Balcomb-Bartok, Howard Garrett, Rich Osborne Come learn the latest about the health of the Southern Resident Community of orcas. 2 - 4 pm San Juan Island Yacht Club, 273 Front St, Friday Harbor Panel Discussion: "Southern Resident Community - Endangered?" The population of the Southern Resident Community of orcas in Puget Sound has declined by 15% over the past 5 years, and has been designated "Threatened" by Canada. Orca Conservancy has assembled a panel of experts with diverse backgrounds and opinions to discuss the population decline and the possibility and implications of listing J, K and L pods under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Panelists will discuss their views and invite questions and discussion from the audience. 4 - 7 pm San Juan Island Yacht Club "Ralph Roast" Celebration of Secretary of State Ralph Munro's whale conservation efforts $10 Admission Fee - Includes Appetizers, Desserts, Wine/Beer and Silent Auction Ralph Munro has long been known as a champion of the whales. Please join us in thanking (and roasting!) Ralph for all he has done as he prepares to leave office. If you know Ralph, you know his sense of humor, and this event promises to be a fun time of sharing stories, memories and laughter with Ralph and his friends. And all are invited to join in on the roasting! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Howard Garrett Orca Conservancy tokitae(\)pugetsound.net www.rockisland.com/~tokitae & www.freelolita.net ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Sep 2000 12:09:28 +1200 From: Neil Gemmell Subject: Molecular Ecology PostDoc - NZ sea lion Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 ------ Mating System and Social Dynamics of Hooker=B9s Sea Lion Vacancy No: ZO PD6 Closing Date: 6 October 2000 Applications are invited for a 2-year Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Department of Zoology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, NZ. The successful applicant will undertake a combination of field and laboratory based research to investigate the mating system and social dynamics of Hooker's sea lion. Applicants should possess experience in both behaviou= ral ecology and molecular genetics, in addition to possessing a high degree o= f investigative and interpretative skills. Further information about the University of Canterbury and the Department= of Zoology can be found in the University=B9s World Wide Website at www.canterbury.ac.nz. Enquiries of an academic nature should be directed to Dr Neil Gemmell. E-mail: n.gemmell(\)zool.canterbury.ac.nz Application enquiries should be made to: g.clinton(\)regy.canterbury.ac.nz _____________________________________________________ Dr. Neil J Gemmell Lecturer in Molecular Genetics Department of Zoology, University of Canterbury Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand Phone: +64 3 364 2009 Fax: +64 3 364 2024 e-mail: n.gemmell(\)zool.canterbury.ac.nz http://www.zool.canterbury.ac.nz/ _____________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 6 Sep 0100 09:13:18 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: 2001 meeting of western section of The Wildlife Society (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Bill Standley [SMTP:standleyb(\)WILDLIFER.COM] 2001 Annual Meeting of the Western Section of The Wildlife Society February 22 - 24, 2001 Radisson Hotel, Sacramento, California CALL FOR PAPERS Abstracts are solicited for the following sessions: Deer Management Partners in Flight Conservation Plans Wildlife Toxicology Seabirds Waterbird and Wetland Habitat Conservation Habitat Restoration & Management Reptiles and Amphibians Forest-Dependent Wildlife Technology Carnivores Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Sierra Nevada Southern California Northern California Great Basin and Deserts Nevada Hawaii and Pacific Islands General Papers Large Mammals Poster Session Contributed papers will be 20 minute oral presentations. Papers may be submitted for possible publication in the Section's journal "Transactions of the Western Section of The Wildlife Society." Speakers are expected to register for the conference. We may ask that some oral presentations become posters and that some papers be placed in different sessions. Abstracts should not exceed 200 words (title and author addresses are not included in word count) and should be in Arial 12 pt font. Indicate the preferred session and if the paper will be an oral presentation or poster. Students should indicate their intent to compete for Student Awards. Please submit abstracts either electronically or on 3.5-inch floppy disk in ASCII or Wordperfect 6/7/8 format no later than October 1, 2000 to Barry Garrison, California Department of Fish and Game, Lands and Facilities Branch, 1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, E-mail bagarris(\)dfg.ca.gov. Call 916-653-1738 (FAX 916-653-1019) if you have any questions or need additional information. ABSTRACT FORMAT: Preferred Session: Wildlife Toxicology Type of paper: Oral presentation Paper Title: RISK ASSESSMENT FOR TERRESTRIAL BIRDS AT KESTERSON RESERVOIR SANTOLO, GARY M. CH2M HILL, Inc., 2485 Natomas Park Drive, Suite 600, Sacramento CA, 95833, USA. 916-920-0212 Ext. 283, E-mail Gsantolo(\)ch2m.com YAMAMOTO, JULIE T. University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis CA, 95616, USA. OHLENDORF, HARRY M. CH2M HILL, Inc., 2485 Natomas Park Drive, Suite 600, Sacramento CA, 95833, USA. A risk assessment conducted in 1992 for Kesterson Reservoir developed a food chain model using data from biological monitoring conducted at Kesterson during 1989 to 1992. This model used estimated water-extractable selenium concentration in soil to predict the expected range of mean selenium concentrations for biota at Kesterson in the next 20 years. Red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) and northern harriers (Circus cyaneus) were two high trophic level species for which dietary selenium predictions were made using the model. Since the risk assessment was completed, feeding studies with captive American kestrels (Falco sparverius) have been conducted, and further biological monitoring data were collected at Kesterson. We present an updated model of selenium accumulation in terrestrial biota at Kesterson Reservoir and provide a more complete description of the pathway from bioavailable selenium in the soil to American kestrels. In addition, data from birds fed small mammals collected from Kesterson are compared with model predictions to evaluate model performance. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 6 Sep 0100 23:54:30 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly marine mammal summary to U.S. Congress (fwd) Forwarded message: The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS {Dolphin Communication? In the Aug. 25, 2000 issue of Science, a Scottish biologist reported that dolphins use a clear and consistent vocabulary to communicate, with each individual animal developing a specific signature acoustic signal. Dolphins also used distinctive calls when they found food.} [Detroit Free Press] Whale Watching Report. On Aug. 22, 2000, the International Fund for Animal Welfare released a draft report "Whale Watching 2000: Worldwide Tourism Numbers, Expenditures, and Expanding Socioeconomic Benefits" [ http://www.ifaw.org/press/2000report.doc ] concluding that whale watching expenditures more than doubled between 1994 and 1998, with this $1 billion activity occurring in almost 500 communities in at least 87 countries. In 1998, about 47% of all whale watching occurred in the United States. [Assoc Press] Low-Frequency Active Sonar. On Aug. 14-15, 2000, the Ocean Mammal Institute sponsored a symposium on low frequency active sonar at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, ME. [personal communication] Canadian Bowhead Whaling. On Aug. 10, 2000, the Canadian Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans approved whaling equipment of Inuit from Coral Harbor, Nunavut, for bowhead whaling. On Aug. 11, 2000, a bowhead whale was killed and landed by the 10-member Coral Harbor hunt committee, near Expectation Point on Southampton Island. This was the third Canadian Inuit bowhead whale hunt since the Nunavut land claims agreement of 1993; Canadian Inuit are allowed to kill one bowhead whale every other year. [Northern News Services] Mexican Dolphin Consultation. On Aug. 6, 2000, the Mexican Government announced that it had made an urgent call to the U.S. Government for political consultations to ensure compliance of commitments signed by the United States in the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Program and regarding the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. While Mexico reports that substantial effort has been take to eliminate dolphin deaths by the Mexican tuna industry, the United States has not yet lifted the import ban nor changed the "dolphin-safe" definition, due to a case before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The ruling by this Court is not anticipated until mid-2001. Thus, Mexico holds that the United States is not in full compliance with the Panama Declaration, nor with the U.S. International Dolphin Conservation Program Act. Mexico states that it reserves its right to use the dispute resolution mechanisms of the World Trade Organization. [Embassy of Mexico press release] Japanese Whaling. On Aug. 1, 2000, Japan denounced U.S. threats as unwarranted and warned the United States against taking any punitive action. In early August 2000, Japanese whalers were reported to have killed their first Bryde's whale in their North Pacific research whaling program. On Aug. 20, 2000, a letter of protest on Japan's north Pacific research whaling signed by the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Netherlands, and Germany (and possibly other nations) was reportedly scheduled to be delivered to Japan's Foreign Minister Yohei Kono. In addition to 6 minke whales, Japan's whaling fleet is reported to have killed 4 Bryde's whales and 1 sperm whale. {On Aug. 30, 2000, U.S. officials notified Japan's ambassador to Washington that the U.S. had decided to boycott a UN conference in Kitakyushu, Japan, beginning Aug. 31 and sponsored by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. A subsequent meeting of environment ministers will also be boycotted. The boycott is meant to protest Japan's expansion of research whaling. The U.S. is also suggesting that the International Whaling Commission find a new venue for its 2001 annual meeting, currently scheduled for Japan. In addition, U.S. Dept. of Commerce officials announced that Japan will likely be certified under the Pelly Amendment sometime in September 2000.} {{As of Sept. 4, 2000, the Japanese whaling fleet had killed 2 sperm whales, 5 Bryde's whales, and 22 minke whales.}} [Fox News, Reuters, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release, Humane Society of the United States press release, London Times, Assoc Press, BBC News] Items in this Summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2000 04:46:31 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Wild, sociable dolphin ? Advice sought (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Management problems of wild, sociable dolphin This summer we have another incident of a wild sociable dolphin in Ireland. She is an immature female bottlenose dolphin and has become remarkably friendly in a very short period, letting people touch and stroke her blowhole and dorsal fin within 2 months of approaching swimmers. The area she is residing in is very dangerous with strong currents and high unstable cliffs. The local community and authorities are concerned that if this dolphin continues to stay in this area, then there could be a fatality amongst visitors. We are hosting a meeting to inform locals of similar dolphins elsewhere and discuss options for the best management of this phenomena. I have the review of wild sociable dolphins by Christina Lockyer in The Bottlenose Dolphin (Edited by Leatherwood, S. & Reeves, R.R. 1990, Academic Press Inc) but am requesting information on more recent wild, sociable dolphins since then (post 1990). Are there further incidents of aggression towards swiummers such as documented by Lockyer (1990) ? We feel it is not practical to stop people swimming with her, but are there codes of conduct or best practices developed in other countries for such solitary dolphins ? Please send any information to: Dr Simon Berrow Irish Whale and Dolphin Group SDWF(\)oceanfree.net ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Sep 2000 05:15:25 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Lost old articles - Cetaceans of Venezuela. (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Dear marmamers: Information about the existence of two cetacean works, very little known and poorly documented, lost since the year of 1993 but published in October 15 1995: Reference one: Agudo, A. Ignacio. 1995. Notes about the specific taxonomic identity of the baleen whale skeleton exhibited at the Museo del Mar, Cumana, Sucre state, northeastern Venezuela. Rev. Ecol. Lat. Am. RECOL (ULA-Merida-Venezuela) 3 (1-3): 1-6. Balaenoptera edeni Anderson 1878 is the specific status of baleen whale mounted skeleton exhibited in the Museo del Mar of the Cumana City, Sucre State, under the erroneous identity of Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski) 1781. This conclution are based in directly taxonomical examination of the specimen, personal observations analisis and printed information. Key Words: Baleen Whale, Mounted Skeleton, Specific Status, Balaenoptera edeni, Megaptera novaeangliae, Venezuela. For a abstract in English/Spanish languages and References, see the site : http://www.ciens.ula.ve/~cires/RECOL/rv3n1a06.html Reference two : Agudo, A. Ignacio. 1995. About the occurrence of the baleen whale Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus)1758 (CETACEA: MYSTICETI: BALAENOPTERIDAE) in Venezuela. Rev. Ecol. Lat. Am. RECOL (ULA-Merida-Venezuela) 4 (1-3): 07-09. Ocurrence of the Fin Whale or Common Rorqual Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus) 1758 is revised in this contribution for Venezuelan coastal waters based on the study of one national museum specimen and printed information. Key Words: Baleen Whale, Mysticeti, Balaenoptera physalus, Venezuela. For a abstract in English/Spanish languages and References, see the site : http://www.ciens.ula.ve/~cires/RECOL/rv4n1a02.html Thanksfull to all for your important attention. Sincerely, Ignacio Agudo. ******************************* Prof. A.IGNACIO AGUDO P. Researcher General Director FUNDACETACEA, F.C. The Whale Foundation c/o HELICULTURE Lorenzi Agudo, P.O. Box 010, 88010-970 Florianopolis, Santa Catarina-SC, Brazil. iagudo(\)lycos.com Fax: (048)223.2343 Tlf.: (048)244.0967 ******************************* ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 Sep 0100 09:58:47 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: abstract - kleptoparasitism between frigatebird and Sotalia in Brazil (fwd) Forwarded message: The following is posted upon behalf of the authors of the article. Please direct reprint inquiries to the address following the abstract. The article is in Portuguese (I think), with an English abstract. Dagmar Fertl Marine Mammal Biologist Geo-Marine, Inc. 550 East 15th Street Plano, Texas 75074 Tel: (972) 423-5480 FAX: (972)422-2736 dfertl(\)geo-marine.com *************************************** Lodi, L. and B. Hetzel. 2000. Kleptoparasitism between magnificent frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) and gray dolphin (Sotalia fluviatilis) in Paraty Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Biociencias, Porto Alegre, v. 8, n. 1, pp. 59-64. The objective of this paper is to add one more type to the existing association between cetaceans and marine birds during feeding events, still not reported in the literature: the kleptoparasitism observed among magnificent frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) and gray dolphin (Sotalia fluviatilis) in the area of the Paraty Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Between April of 1997 and January of 1999, 21 cruises were accomplished in order to observe the distribution, movements, and behavior of cetaceans in Paraty Bay. During that period, in three different occasions, magnificent frigatebirds were observed taking fishes captured by gray dolphin which were forced to let the fish loose in the water surface as an apparent result of the several attacks of the magnificent frigatebirds on its heads. Such behavior can be considered an innovation recently learned that can become common in the magnificent frigatebird population that inhabit Paraty Bay. Reprints: Projeto Golfinhos, CP 24075 - CEP 20522-970, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil email: lodi(\)domain.com.br ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Sep 2000 10:11:35 -0500 From: "Patrick H. Ressler" Subject: recent cetacean habitat publications ------ The following papers published recently in the journal _Gulf of Mexico=20 Science_ may be of interest to MARMAM subscribers. These interrelated=20 papers report some results of a cetacean habitat study in the northern Gu= lf=20 of Mexico. Biggs,DC; Leben,RR; Ortega-Ortiz,JG (2000): Ship and satellite studies of= =20 mesoscale circulation and sperm whale habitats in the northeast Gulf of=20 Mexico during GulfCet II. Gulf Mex. Sci. 18(1), 15-22. Wormuth,JH; Ressler,PH; Cady,RB; Harris,LH (2000): Zooplankton and=20 micronekton in cyclones and anticyclones in the northeast Gulf of Mexcio.= =20 Gulf Mex. Sci. 18(1), 23-34. Weller,DW; W=FCrsig,B; Lynn,SK; Schiro,AJ (2000): Preliminary findings on= the=20 occurence and site fidelity of photo-identified sperm whales (Physeter=20 Macrocephalus) in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Gulf Mex. Sci. 18(1), 35-3= 9. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Patrick H. Ressler Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University 3146 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-3146 =09 Office: O&M 506D Voice: 979-845-2597 Email: pressler(\)ocean.tamu.edu ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Sep 0100 01:47:00 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Search for sounds - wild bottlenose dolphins (fwd) From: michaelscheer(\)t-online.de (Michael Scheer) Dear MARMAM Subscribers, I am looking for sound sequences of the following categories: 1. Sound sequences of free-ranging Tursiops truncatus. 2. Sound sequences of underwater natural physical sounds like e.g. rainfall, ice-creaking, underwater quakes, current noise, beaufort states etc. The sounds should be of good quality (loud enough, good signal-to-noise ratio, not embedded in musical context). I would appreciate any information regarding commercial CDs. It would be okay when sequences are embedded in a variety of e.g. 'ocean sounds' or 'whale and dolphin sounds'. The sounds are going to be used for educational purposes. Thanks for any information. Yours Michael ************************************************** Michael Scheer Behr, Hofmann und Scheer GbR Project e.a.s.i.* Cetacean Field Studies *encounters and scientific interactions Am Wall 69/70 28195 Bremen Germany Phone: +49/421/731 87 Fax: +49/421/764 82 e-mail: michaelscheer(\)t-online.de ************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 11 Sep 0100 02:01:47 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Upcoming issue of Aquatic Mammals (fwd) ------- Forwarded Message from ECS-list Follows ------- From: "Manuel Garcia Hartmann" Appologies for any cross postings. For all questions about the journal, please contact the editor: Dr. Jeanette Thomas Jeanette_Thomas(\)ccmail.wiu.edu Western Illinois University Regional Center 3561 60th St. Moline, IL 61265 USA For reprints, please contact the authors directly. Aquatic Mammals, Volume 26, number 2, 2000 ISSN 0167-5427 TABLE OF CONTENTS: HARTMANN, M. G. The European studbook of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus): 1998 survey results. E-mail: Hartmann(\)zoo-duisburg.de HALE, P. T., BARRETO, A. and G. J. B. ROSS. Comparative morphology and distribution of the aduncus and tursiops forms of bottlenose dolphin Tursiops in the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans E-mail: Phale(\)ccb.uq.edu.au GANNIER, A. Distribution of cetaceans off the Society Islands (French Polynesia) as obtained from dedicated surveys KASTELEIN, R. A., WALTON, S., ODELL, D., NIEUWSTRATEN, S. H., and P. R. WIEPKEMA. Food consumption of a captive female killer whale (Orcinus orca) E-mail: r.kastelein(\)dolfinarium.nl LYAMIN, O. I., OLEKSENKO, A. I., SEVOSTIYANOV, V. F., NAZARENKO, E. A., and L. M. MUKHAMETOV. Behavioral sleep in captive sea otters LANDER, M. E., GULLAND, F. M. D., and R. L. DELONG. Satellite tracking a rehabilitated Guadalupe fur seal (Arctocephalus townsendi) E-mail: Landerm(\)tmmc.org DUIGNAN, P. J., HUNTER, J. E. B., VISSER, I. N., JONES, G. W., and A.NUTMAN. Stingray spines: A potential cause of killer whale mortality in New Zealand GUERRERO-RUIZ, M. and J. URB?N R. First report of remoras on two killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the Gulf of California, Mexico E-mail: megr(\)uabcs.mx TRITES, A. W., and R. A. H. JONKER. Morphometric measurements and body condition of healthy and starveling Steller sea lion pups (Eumetopias jubatus) E-mail: trites(\)zoology.ubc.ca ABSTRACTS FROM 28TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION FOR AQUATIC MAMMALS BOOK REVIEW: VAN DER TOORN, J. Animal Training-Successful Animal Management Through Positive Reinforcement. Book by Ken Ramirez E-mail: jaap(\)rosmarus.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 03:09:57 -0500 From: Leszek Karczmarski Subject: recent paper on Sousa chinensis ------ A paper contributing to conservation of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins ha= s been published in the July issue of ORYX (abstract below). This work is partially based on several previously published papers, and a list of tho= se follows here after the abstract. Anyone interested, who have difficultie= s in accessing any of these journals, feel free to give me a buzz at the address below. Karczmarski, L. (2000) -- Conservation and management of humpback dolphin= s: the South African perspective. Oryx =96 The International Journal of Conservation 34(3): 207-216. ABSTRACT Population biology and socio-ecology of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins So= usa chinensis were investigated during a 3-year study period in the Algoa Bay region, South Africa. The dolphins inhabit a narrow strip of coastal waters, mostly less than 15m deep. Groups are small (mean =3D 7 animals)= and their daily activities concentrate around shallow rocky reefs - the prima= ry feeding grounds. Dependence on these restricted, shallow water habitats = is evident throughout the year. Site fidelity is generally weak and is subj= ect to seasonal migration; although female site fidelity seems to be related = to reproductive stage. Births occur predominantly in summer. The social system is highly fluid, structured to some degree by sex and age, =93mate-searching=94 behaviour being the most likely male reproductive st= rategy. The dolphins inhabiting Algoa Bay are part of a substantially larger population that uses a considerable length of the coastal zone. Estimate= d population parameters are generally low, as are modelled population growt= h rates, and an increase in the population size seems unlikely. Humpback dolphins appear to be vulnerable to negative environmental pressure and t= he alteration/destruction of inshore habitats is probably among the greatest threats to them. Conservation of this species should be given high prior= ity and be seen as an important part of integrated coastal zone management. Establishment of multiple-use management areas with controlled ecotourism and several priority sites declared as strict reserves seems to be the mo= st effective conservation approach. In order to be successful, conservation and management policies need to recognise the needs and life styles of th= e local inhabitants. Other humpback dolphin papers: Karczmarski, L., Thornton, M. & Cockcroft, V.G. (2000). Daylight occurre= nce of humpback dolphins Sousa chinensis in Algoa Bay, South Africa. African Journal of Ecology 38: 86-90. Karczmarski, L., Cockcroft, V.G. & McLachlan, A. (2000). Habitat use and preferences of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins Sousa chinensis in Algoa Ba= y, South Africa. Marine Mammal Science 16: 65-79. Karczmarski, L. (1999). Group dynamics of humpback dolphins Sousa chinen= sis in the Algoa Bay region, South Africa. Journal of Zoology, London 249: 283-293. Karczmarski, L., Cockcroft, V.G. & McLachlan, A. (1999). Group size and seasonal pattern of occurrence of humpback dolphins Sousa chinensis in Al= goa Bay, South Africa. South African Journal of marine Science 21: 89-97. Karczmarski, L., Winter, P.E.D., Cockcroft, V.G. & McLachlan, A. (1999). Population analyses of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins Sousa chinensis in Algoa Bay, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Marine Mammal Science 15: 1115-11= 23. Karczmarski, L., & Cockcroft, V.G. (1999). Daylight behaviour of Humpbac= k dolphins Sousa chinensis in Algoa Bay, South Africa. Zeitschrift f=FCr S=E4ugetierkunde - International Journal of Mammalian Biology 64: 19-29. Karczmarski, L. & Cockcroft, V.G. (1998). Matrix photo-identification technique applied in studies of free-ranging bottlenose and humpback dolphins. Aquatic Mammals 24: 143-147. Karczmarski, L., Cockcroft, V.G., McLachlan, A. & Winter, P.E.D. (1998). Recommendations for the conservation and management of humpback dolphins Sousa chinensis in the Algoa Bay region, South Africa. Koedoe 41: 121-12= 9. Karczmarski, L., Thornton, M. & Cockcroft, V.G. (1997). Description of selected behaviours of humpback dolphins Sousa chinensis. Aquatic Mammal= s 23: 127-133. ________________________________________ Leszek Karczmarski, Ph.D. Texas A&M University at Galveston Marine Mammal Research Program 4700 Avenue U, Building 303 Galveston, TX 77551 U.S.A. E-mail: karczmal(\)tamug.tamu.edu ________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2000 11:49:35 +0200 From: Hal Whitehead Subject: Workshop on Marine Mammal Culture? TO: MARMAMers: From: Lance Barrett Lennard, University of British Columbia (barrett(\)zoology.ubc.ca) Luke Rendell, Dalhousie University (lrendell(\)is2.dal.ca) Hal Whitehead, Dalhousie University (hwhitehead(\)erl.ornithol.mpg.de) Harald Yurk, University of British Columbia (yurk(\)zoology.ubc.ca) We are considering trying to arrange a workshop on Marine Mammal Culture (especially cetaceans) at the next Biennial Marine Mammal Conference in Vancouver in November 2001. The workshop would take place one or two days before the Conference and there would be a fee (very approximately US$30-50). It would last half or a full day depending on interest. We would like to invite one or two experts on the study of culture in other animals, probably chimps and/or birds, to give introductory talks, then have presentations by people who have been studying, or thinking about, culture in cetaceans or other marine mammals, as well as round- table discussions. So that we do not get bogged down in terminological wrangling, for the purposes of the workshop, we suggest that culture perhaps be defined broadly as information passed between conspecifics through social learning (also defined broadly) which affects the behaviour of members of a population or sub-population. We would like to address: the evidence for, or against, culture in marine mammals the evolution of marine mammal culture the evolutionary consequences of marine mammal culture the conservation/management consequences of marine mammal culture We do not expect the workshop to answer the question "do cetaceans have culture?" once and for all. For us the workshop should be more about how we can address this question, and where the current evidence is leading. If you are interested in attending such a workshop, or presenting, please let us know by returning an email to Hal Whitehead (hwhitehead(\)erl.ornithol.mpg.de): a) I am interested in attending a workshop on marine mammal culture Y/N b) I might be interested in presenting Y/N If so what: c) Other thoughts on such a workshop: A reply is only an expression of interest and not a commitment of any kind. Thanks very much; Lance Barrett Lennard, University of British Columbia (barrett(\)zoology.ubc.ca) Luke Rendell, Dalhousie University (lrendell(\)is2.dal.ca) Hal Whitehead, Dalhousie University (hwhitehead(\)erl.ornithol.mpg.de) Harald Yurk, University of British Columbia (yurk(\)zoology.ubc.ca) Please reply to Hal Whitehead (hwhitehead(\)erl.ornithol.mpg.de) ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2000 12:38:51 -0800 From: Yvette Welsh Subject: Research Coordinator position announcement <<...>> The Alaska SeaLife Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to marine research, rehabilitation, and public education is seeking applications for the following: RESEARCH COORDINATOR The Research Department is looking for a self-motivated individual with an interest in coordinating research projects conducted at the Alaska SeaLife Center. In particular, this position will be responsible for coordinating and assisting research projects for the ASLC Steller Sea Lion program. Responsibilities include: coordination of facility use and services for research projects, assist with logistical review of proposed research projects, coordinate and organize data collection, assist investigators with special project needs, supervise research technicians. Requirements include: Bachelors or Masters Degree in Biology/Zoology preferred or equivalent project management experience. A minimum of five years experience in a management/supervisory role required. Individuals with Steller Sea Lion experience preferred. Must be available to work long, odd hours. Individual must have the ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels. Computer skills including Windows 95, Excel, Word, and Access is preferred. This is a regular, full-time, exempt position. Salary DOE. Position open until September 22, 2000. If interested in this position, send detailed resume with references to Yvette Welsh, Human Resources Officer, Alaska SeaLife Center, PO Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664-1329, or email yvette_welsh(\)alaskasealife.org. The ASLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Posted 09/14/00 Yvette Welsh Human Resources Officer Alaska SeaLife Center PO Box 1329 Seward, AK 99664-1329 907.224.6313 907.224.6320 fax yvette_welsh(\)alaskasealife.org ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2000 12:37:06 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Canine distemper virus and Caspian seal die-off (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Seamus.Kennedy(\)dardni.gov.uk Thousands of Caspian seals (Phoca caspica) have died in the Caspian Sea since April 2000. An international team, working as part of the Caspian Environment Programme's Ecotoxicology Project (ECOTOX), has now concluded that canine distemper virus (CDV) infection was the primary cause of this die-off. The results have been posted on the Emerging Infectious Diseases journal website at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/index.htm. Workers from the Institute of Zoology, Regents Park, London, the Seal Rehabilitation and Research Center, Pieterburen, The Netherlands, the Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St. Andrews, Scotland and the Tara Seal Research Centre, Portaferry, Northern Ireland, visited areas of seal mortality in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan during May and June 2000 to carry out post-mortem examinations and collect tissue and blood samples from dead seals. They worked in collaboration with staff from the Geological Institute of the Azerbaijan Republic Academy of Sciences, Baku, Azerbaijan, the Laboratory of Virus Ecology, Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Almaty, Kazakhstan and Akademgorodok, Institute of Zoology, Almaty, Kazakhstan. Blood and tissue samples, collected from 16 dead seals found on the Caspian coasts of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, were then analysed in the Veterinary Sciences Division of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Belfast, Northern Ireland, the Institute of Animal Health, Pirbright, England and the Institute of Virology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Microscopic lesions, characteristic of canine distemper, were found in over 50% of seals from which suitable tissues were available. These lesions were frequently associated with large amounts of morbillivirus antigen as demonstrated by immunohistochemical labelling. Canine distemper virus (CDV)infection was identified by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction technique in tissues from 9 of 12 seals tested, and also by nucleotide sequencing of selected P gene fragments. IgG and/or IgM antibodies to CDV were found in 12 of 13 sera tested. These findings in seals from several geographically dispersed regions of the Caspian Sea indicate recent infection with CDV and provide strong evidence that this virus was the primary cause of the epizootic. Canine distemper virus is a morbillivirus which, in 1987-1988, caused high mortality in Baikal seals (Phoca siberica) in Lake Baikal in Siberia and is suspected of having caused a die-off of crabeater seals in Antarctica in 1955. It was previously identified in a single Caspian seal in 1997 but could not be linked to disease in Caspian seals at that time. Other morbilliviruses (phocine and cetacean morbilliviruses) have caused several major epizootics among aquatic mammal populations in various regions of the world in recent years. Further studies are underway to determine the potential role of pollution in the recent epizootic, which was recently continuing in some areas of the Caspian Sea. This investigation was supported by the World Bank through a donation by the Japanese Consultant Trust Fund, and by the Offshore Kazakhstan International Operating Company. Seamus Kennedy Veterinary Sciences Division Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Belfast BT4 3SD Northern Ireland Telephone +44 (0)28 9052 5701 Fax +44 (0)28 9052 5767 e-mail seamus.kennedy(\)dardni.gov.uk ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2000 16:13:14 -0400 From: "Higginson, Deanna R." Subject: Missing paper Odell 1985 If anyone has this paper in their library, I would greatly appreciate a copy. Please note I have check with the author and the contracting company. Odell, D. K. 1985. An Evaluation of Current and Future Naval Bombing Activities at Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, on Sea Turtles and Marine Mammals, including the Manatee, Miami, Florida. Thank you in advance, Deanna Higginson Wildlife Biologist Atlantic Division Naval Facilities Engineering Command 1510 Gilbert Street Norfolk, VA 23511-2699 higginsondr(\)efdlant.navfac.navy.mil (757) 322-4940 DSN 262-4940 (757) 322-4894 fax ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 17 Sep 2000 20:06:42 -0700 From: Katy Penland Subject: Poster deadline extended Dear MARMAMers, To accommodate the start of the new academic year, the poster submission deadline for American Cetacean Society's 7th International Conference has been extended to October 1, 2000. Please go to our website, www.acsonline.org, for complete instructions, as well as more updated information on the conference speakers, events, and special hotel rates. ACS 7th International Conference Whales 2000: Celebrating the Past, Working for the Future November 17-19, 2000 Monterey Conference Center Monterey, CA www.acsonline.org for registration and information For information not on the website, contact ACS headquarters: Ph: 310-548-6279 Fx: 310-548-6950 Email: acs(\)pobox.com ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 18 Sep 0100 06:51:05 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: FW: Job announcement Subject: Job announcement JOB ANNOUNCEMENT Animal Physiologist The Department of Biology at the University of Memphis invites applications for an Animal Physiologist at the Assistant Professor level. The area of research is open, however those using an integrative, comparative, or ecological approach are encouraged to apply. Candidates will be expected to develop strong, extramurally funded research programs, direct MS and PhD students, and teach effectively at graduate and undergraduate levels. Teaching expertise should include animal physiology and related courses. Applicants must have a PhD, established research credentials, and teaching and post-doctoral experience. Applicants should submit a letter of application, curriculum vitae, a concise description of research and teaching interests, and names, phone numbers and email addresses of at least four references to: Search Committee, Department of Biology, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152. Contacts for more information: Phone (901) 678-2581, FAX (901) 678-4746, Email: jwolff(\)memphis.edu. or see our webpage. Review of applications will begin November 20, 2000 and may continue until the position is filled. Women and minority candidates are encouraged to apply. The University of Memphis is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 19 Sep 0100 06:46:31 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly summary to US Congress (fwd) Forwarded message: The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS {FL Manatees. On Sept. 12, 2000, FL Governor Jeb Bush and his Cabinet discussed various measures aimed at reducing manatee mortality rates, including whether to require manatee protection plans of additional FL counties.} [Assoc Press] {Steller Sea Lions. On Sept. 11, 2000, AK Governor Tony Knowles announced that the state of AK was joining the fishing industry and local government in an expedited request that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals overturn or modify District Court Judge Thomas Zilly's July 19, 2000 injunction that prohibited pollock and cod fishing within 20 miles of the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska coast to increase protection for Steller sea lion critical habitat. In addition, Governor Knowles wrote to President Clinton seeking assurances that NMFS would complete its updated biological opinion by Oct. 31, 2000; and appointed a Sea Lion Restoration Team of scientists, fishermen, and environmentalists to develop an alternative management strategy for Steller sea lion protection that would all sustainable fishing to occur.} [WorldCatch News Network, Anchorage Daily News] {Whale Activist Fined. In early September 2000, a Faroe Island court fined whale activist Paul Watson $37,000 for violations of immigration laws when he entered Faroese waters with Sea Shepherd's vessel Ocean Warrior to protest the Faroese pilot whale hunt during the summer of 2000.} [High North Alliance News] {Norwegian Whaling. On Aug. 31, 2000, the Norwegian whaling season ended, with a total of 487 minke whales killed against a quota of 655. This is lower that the total of 589 killed in 1999. The 2000 harvest was particularly low in the North Sea, where only 83 whales of a quota of 244 were killed. Altogether, 32 vessels took part in the 2000 hunt. Because of the low price paid for blubber, it was estimated that more than 100 metric tons of blubber were dumped at sea while 93 metric tons were brought to shore and sold for about $0.03 per kilogram. Whalemeat sold for about $3.60 per kilogram landed, or about $11.60 per kilogram to consumers. Most of this meat has already been sold.} [High North Alliance News] Dolphin Communication? In the Aug. 25, 2000 issue of Science, a Scottish biologist reported that dolphins use a clear and consistent vocabulary to communicate, with each individual animal developing a specific signature acoustic signal. Dolphins also used distinctive calls when they found food. [Detroit Free Press] Whale Watching Report. On Aug. 22, 2000, the International Fund for Animal Welfare released a draft report "Whale Watching 2000: Worldwide Tourism Numbers, Expenditures, and Expanding Socioeconomic Benefits" [ http://www.ifaw.org/press/2000report.doc ] concluding that whale watching expenditures more than doubled between 1994 and 1998, with this $1 billion activity occurring in almost 500 communities in at least 87 countries. In 1998, about 47% of all whale watching occurred in the United States. [Assoc Press] Japanese Whaling. On Aug. 20, 2000, a letter of protest on Japan's north Pacific research whaling signed by the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Netherlands, and Germany (and possibly other nations) was reportedly scheduled to be delivered to Japan's Foreign Minister Yohei Kono. In addition to 6 minke whales, Japan's whaling fleet is reported to have killed 4 Bryde's whales and 1 sperm whale. On Aug. 30, 2000, U.S. officials notified Japan's ambassador to Washington that the U.S. had decided to boycott a UN conference in Kitakyushu, Japan, beginning Aug. 31 and sponsored by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. However, Japanese officials reported that they had been told more than a month ago that the U.S. representative would not be attending the UN conference due to a scheduling conflict. A subsequent meeting of environment ministers was also to be boycotted as well as a bilateral fishery meeting scheduled for September 2000. The boycott is meant to protest Japan's expansion of research whaling. The U.S. is also suggesting that the International Whaling Commission find a new venue for its 2001 annual meeting, currently scheduled for Japan. In addition, U.S. Dept. of Commerce officials announced that Japan will likely be certified under the Pelly Amendment sometime in September 2000. As of Sept. 4, 2000, the Japanese whaling fleet had killed 2 sperm whales, 5 Bryde's whales, and 22 minke whales. On Sept. 5, 2000, Shunji Tanai, Japan's ambassador to the United States, indicated that Japan might file a complaint with the World Trade Organization if the United States imposed trade sanctions on Japan for whaling. {On Sept. 11, 2000, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met with Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono in New York City to discuss U.S. concerns over Japanese whaling. Views on the issue were exchanged, but little progress was made in settling the dispute. On Sept. 13, 2000, after receiving certification of Japan under the Pelly Amendment to the Fishermen's Protective Act and the Packwood-Magnuson Amendment to the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act by Secretary of Commerce Norman Mineta, President Clinton directed the Dept. of State to inform Japan that the United States will not negotiate a new Governing International Fishery Agreement, denying fishing rights in U.S. waters to Japan. In addition, he asked Cabinet officials to investigate additional actions including trade sanctions and other economic measures. President Clinton must report to Congress within 60 days on actions taken in response to the Pelly Amendment certification. U.S. officials also offered to help Japan develop a scientific research program that did not involve killing whales. As of Sept. 13, 2000, Japan had killed 36 minke whales, 43 Bryde's whales, and 5 sperm whales.} [White House press release, Fox News, Reuters, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release, Humane Society of the United States press release, London Times, Assoc Press, BBC News, Yomiuri Shimbun] Items in this Summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2000 11:41:27 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent papers on dolphin cognition and whale bioacoustics (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: mercado(\)pavlov.rutgers.edu Mercado, E, III, Killebrew, DA, Pack, AA, Macha, IVB, Herman, LM (2000) Generalization of 'same-different' classification abilities in bottlenosed dolphins. Behavioural Processes, 50, 79-94. Abstract Two bottlenosed dolphins taught to classify pairs of three-dimensional objects as either same or different were tested with novel stimulus sets to determine how well their classification abilities would generalize. Both dolphins were immediately able to classify novel pairs of planar objects, differing only in shape, as same or different. When tested on sets of three objects consisting of either all different objects or of two identical objects and one different object, both dolphins proved to be able to classify 'all different' sets as different and 'not all different' sets as same, at levels significantly above chance. These data suggest that dolphins can use knowledge about similarity-based classification strategies gained from previous training to perform successfully in a variety of novel same-different classification tasks. Visual classificatory abilities of dolphins appear to be comparable to those that have been demonstrated in primates. Mercado, E, III, Michalopoulou, Z-H, Frazer, LN (2000) A possible relationship between waveguide properties and bandwidth utilization in humpback whales. OCEANS 2000 MTS/IEEE Conference Proceedings, 1743-1747. Abstract Humpback whales may use different sounds based on the propagation characteristics of the environment within which they are vocalizing. We used computational techniques to assess how well different frequencies propagate in environments frequented by humpback whales. The results of these simulations suggest that humpbacks should use different frequencies in northern feeding grounds from those they use in southern breeding areas in order to achieve maximal propagation ranges in both regions. Preliminary data from previous reports suggest that humpback whales do use different frequencies in these different environments, consistent with the predictions of our simulations. **** Available online at http://www.cmbn.rutgers.edu/~mercado/pubs.html If you are interested in whale bioacoustics, you may find the following list of animal bioacousticians useful: http://www.cmbn.rutgers.edu/~mercado/abcom.html --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Eduardo Mercado III, Postdoctoral Fellow Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Rutgers University Phone:(973) 353-1080 x3226 197 University Ave. Fax: (973) 353-1272 Newark, New Jersey 07102 Email: mercado(\)pavlov.rutgers.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2000 13:32:26 -0700 From: SFSU Harbor Seal Project Organization: San Francisco State University Subject: Opportunity for supported graduate study Opportunity for Supported Graduate Study: Our lab is looking for a maximum of 2 new students interested in working towards an M.A. in Biology with an emphasis on harbor seals. We specifically will give preference to applicants with a minimum GPA of 3.5 and some expertise in acoustics. Funding will be provided through a contract currently extended to 2005. The beginning rate is $15.18/hr and 15-20 hrs/wk will be required. Hal Markowitz, Professor of Biology & P.I. San Francisco State University 1600 Holloway Avenue Biology Dept., HH521 San Francisco, CA 94132 For further information about the project, you may check out the project web page at: http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~halmark/seals.htm Or you may contact Emma Grigg (Field Coordinator) or Debbie Green (Project Manager) at: San Francisco State University 1600 Holloway Avenue Biology Dept., HH222 San Francisco, CA 94132 seals(\)sfsu.edu 415.338.2007 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2000 08:06:23 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: franciscana workshop - second announcement (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- FORTH WORKSHOP ON RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION OF FRANCISCANA, Pontoporia blainvillei, IN THE WESTERN SOUTH ATLANTIC (Second Announcement) Dear Colleagues, We are glad to confirm to you the convening of the FORTH WORKSHOP ON RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION OF FRANCISCANA, Pontoporia blainvillei, IN THE WESTERN SOUTH ATLANTIC (4WPB). Due to an increase in the number of potential participants it was decided to change the venue of the workshop in order to improve logistical conditions. The 4WPB will be held, between the 5th and the 9th November 2000, in the "Instituto Latino-Americano de Estudos Avan=E7ados (ILEA), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, in Porto Alegre, southern Brazil. The first day (5th November) will be dedicated to the registration and distribution of the Working Papers (WP), which will happen from 2:00 PM. The last day will be dedicated to the reading of the Final Report of the workshop and to define the convenor(s) and place of the 5th Workshop. Following the systematic of the previous workshops, we urge the participants to prepare the WP according to the subjects listed in the Tentative Agenda (in annex). The WP could be written in Portuguese, Spanish or English, however, all must present an abstract in English. It is intended, after the 4WPB, to prepare an special issue about the species, which should include the Report of the Workshop and some selected papers presented during the event. We encourage those people interested to have their papers included in this publication to submit the WP in English. The WP should be typed in Word and submited no latter than 10th October to GEMARS (address: Rua Felipe Neri, 382/203, Porto Alegre, RS 90440-150, Brazil) or, preferentially, to the e.mail address: pontoporia4ws(\)zaz.com.br. A floppy disk and a hard copy is required to those who could not submit their WP by e.mail. The participants are invited to briefly present (no more than 20 minutes) the methodology and results of their researches. The reading of the WP before the presentations has shown to be an efficient way to allow detailed discussion about each subject. Audio-visual equipment (i.e. slides projector, overhead, video) will be available. In case any other equipment is required, please let us know as soon as possible. An updated Tentative Agenda is attached. Information regarding transport and housing will be sent to each of the participants. Yours Sincerely, Eduardo R. Secchi=20 Paulo H. Ott=20 Daniel Danilewicz Chairman=20 Vice-Chairman=20 Secretary Co-sponsors of the Workshop: Instituto Brasileiro para o Meio Ambiente e Recursos Naturais Renov=E1veis-IBAMA (Brazilian Government) International Union for the Conservation of Nature/Cetacean Specialists Group (IUCN/CSG) International Whaling Commission (IWC) Cetacean Society International (CSI) Yaqu Pacha Foundation TENTATIVE AGENDA 5th November, 2:00 PM: registration and distribution of the Working Papers 6th to 8th November: overture (8:30 AM on the 6th Nov.) followed by paper presentations according to the proposed subjects, bellow. 1) DISTRIBUTION a) Limits (latitudinal and depth) b) Habitat characteristics=20 c) Seasonal variation 2) BEHAVIOUR (FREE-RANGING AND CAPTIVITY) a) Diving b) Acoustics c) Group size and composition d) Age and sexual segregation=20 e) Migration 3) BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY a) Morphology, physiology and histology=20 b) Feeding habits (intra and inter-specific studies) c) Predators d) Parasite loads e) Contaminants f) Genetics g) Reproduction (timing of reproduction, sexual ratio, gestation length, calving interval, birth size) 4) VITAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS a) Age structure b) Age at attainment of sexual maturity c) Fecundity=20 d) Survivorship e) Longevity f) Rate of population increase=20 5) INTERACTIONS WITH FISHERIES a) Fleet size, fishing gears and target species b) Social and economic aspects of the fisheries c) Catch per unit effort (CPUE) by areas and seasons d) Time series of absolute mortality and trends e) Age and sexual distribution of the by-catch f) Use of caught animals g) Experiments carried out with fishing nets 6) ABUNDANCE ESTIMATES a) Methodologies=20 b) Results obtained=20 c) New sampling designs and research possibilities 7) IDENTIFICATION OF STOCKS a) Distributional Data (distribution and abundance);=20 b) Population Response Data (vital and demographic parameters and other biological information) c) Phenotypic Data (morphological differences of every type);=20 d) Genotypic Data 8) LEGISLATION AND EDUCATION a) Update on national and international legislation concerning the protection of the species b) Educational Programmes 9) FUTURE ACTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS a) Priorities for research b) Conservation proposals c) Training of human resources 9th November, 8:30 AM: reading of the Workshop's Report and definition of the convenor and venue of the 5th Workshop. ********************************************* Eduardo R. Secchi Marine Mammal Research Group University of Otago, P.O.Box 56 Dunedin - NEW ZEALAND e.mail: edu.secchi(\)xtra.co.nz seced001(\)student.otago.ac.nz Phone: ++ 64 3 479-5240 (Lab.) ++64 3 479-0412 (home) Fax: ++64 3 479-8336 Check out the website of our research group at http://telperion.otago.ac.nz:800/Marine/Mammals/HOME.HTM ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Sep 0100 03:25:13 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly marine mammal summary to U.S. Congress (fwd) Forwarded message: The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS {Canadian Right Whale Funds. In mid-September 2000, the Canadian Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans and Environment Canada announced the award of grants totaling $371,000 to develop a sonar technique to help ships avoid collisions with right whales in the Bay of Fundy, test fishing gear designed to release entangled whales, and analyze right whale distribution and ship traffic so that shipping lanes can be adjusted in the bay of Fundy to prevent ship strikes on whales.} [Environment News Service] {Brazilian Whale Sanctuary. In mid-September 2000, Brazil's President Fernando Henrique Cardoso signed a decree establishing an Environmental Protection Area in the state of Santa Catarina to protect a southern right whale birthing and nursery site.} [Environmental News Network] FL Manatees. On Sept. 12, 2000, FL Governor Jeb Bush and his Cabinet discussed various measures aimed at reducing manatee mortality rates, including whether to require manatee protection plans of additional FL counties. [Assoc Press] Steller Sea Lions. On Sept. 11, 2000, AK Governor Tony Knowles announced that the state of AK was joining the fishing industry and local government in an expedited request that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals overturn or modify District Court Judge Thomas Zilly's July 19, 2000 injunction that prohibited pollock and cod fishing within 20 miles of the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska coast to increase protection for Steller sea lion critical habitat. In addition, Governor Knowles wrote to President Clinton seeking assurances that NMFS would complete its updated biological opinion by Oct. 31, 2000; and appointed a Sea Lion Restoration Team of scientists, fishermen, and environmentalists to develop an alternative management strategy for Steller sea lion protection that would all sustainable fishing to occur. [WorldCatch News Network, Anchorage Daily News] Whale Activist Fined. In early September 2000, a Faroe Island court fined whale activist Paul Watson $37,000 for violations of immigration laws when he entered Faroese waters with Sea Shepherd's vessel Ocean Warrior to protest the Faroese pilot whale hunt during the summer of 2000. [High North Alliance News] Norwegian Whaling. On Aug. 31, 2000, the Norwegian whaling season ended, with a total of 487 minke whales killed against a quota of 655. This is lower that the total of 589 killed in 1999. The 2000 harvest was particularly low in the North Sea, where only 83 whales of a quota of 244 were killed. Altogether, 32 vessels took part in the 2000 hunt. Because of the low price paid for blubber, it was estimated that more than 100 metric tons of blubber were dumped at sea while 93 metric tons were brought to shore and sold for about $0.03 per kilogram. Whalemeat sold for about $3.60 per kilogram landed, or about $11.60 per kilogram to consumers. Most of this meat has already been sold. [High North Alliance News] Japanese Whaling. On Aug. 30, 2000, U.S. officials notified Japan's ambassador to Washington that the U.S. had decided to boycott a UN conference in Kitakyushu, Japan, beginning Aug. 31 and sponsored by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. However, Japanese officials reported that they had been told more than a month ago that the U.S. representative would not be attending the UN conference due to a scheduling conflict. A subsequent meeting of environment ministers was also to be boycotted as well as a bilateral fishery meeting scheduled for September 2000. The boycott is meant to protest Japan's expansion of research whaling. The U.S. is also suggesting that the International Whaling Commission (IWC) find a new venue for {{an IWC working group meeting on the Revised Management Scheme, currently scheduled in Japan before the end of February 2001.}} In addition, U.S. Dept. of Commerce officials announced that Japan will likely be certified under the Pelly Amendment sometime in September 2000. As of Sept. 4, 2000, the Japanese whaling fleet had killed 2 sperm whales, 5 Bryde's whales, and 22 minke whales. On Sept. 5, 2000, Shunji Tanai, Japan's ambassador to the United States, indicated that Japan might file a complaint with the World Trade Organization if the United States imposed trade sanctions on Japan for whaling. On Sept. 11, 2000, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met with Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono in New York City to discuss U.S. concerns over Japanese whaling. Views on the issue were exchanged, but little progress was made in settling the dispute. On Sept. 13, 2000, after receiving certification of Japan under the Pelly Amendment to the Fishermen's Protective Act and the Packwood-Magnuson Amendment to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act by Secretary of Commerce Norman Mineta, President Clinton directed the Dept. of State to inform Japan that the United States will not negotiate a new Governing International Fishery Agreement, denying fishing rights in U.S. waters to Japan. In addition, he asked Cabinet officials to investigate additional actions including trade sanctions and other economic measures. President Clinton must report to Congress within 60 days on actions taken in response to the Pelly Amendment certification. U.S. officials also offered to help Japan develop a scientific research program that did not involve killing whales. As of Sept. 13, 2000, Japan had killed 36 minke whales, 43 Bryde's whales, and 5 sperm whales. {On Sept. 21, 2000, the Japanese research whaling fleet returned to port from the northwestern Pacific, after having killed 88 whales ? 40 minke whales, 43 Bryde's whales, and 5 sperm whales. Japanese whalers reportedly plan to sample the same three species next year.} [White House press release, Fox News, Reuters, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release, Humane Society of the United States press release, London Times, Assoc Press, BBC News, Yomiuri Shimbun] Dolphin Communication? In the Aug. 25, 2000 issue of Science, a Scottish biologist reported that dolphins use a clear and consistent vocabulary to communicate, with each individual animal developing a specific signature acoustic signal. Dolphins also used distinctive calls when they found food. [Detroit Free Press] Items in this Summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2000 22:01:05 -0400 From: ras01(\)jps.net Subject: Cetacean Sounds Content-type: multipart/alternative; boundary="MS_Mac_OE_3051900065_265204_MIME_Part" > THIS MESSAGE IS IN MIME FORMAT. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. --MS_Mac_OE_3051900065_265204_MIME_Part Dear MARMAM subscribers: I am a high school senior working on an Intel project relating to cetacean sound generation. I am looking for high-quality recordings, preferably in .aiff or .au format and without too much background noise, as I am performing a frequency analysis of the sounds and have or will be receiving the appropriate programs to analyze .aiff and .au format. One of my mentors, Dr. Joy Reidenberg of Mt. Sinai Medical Center, has anatomical data on the following species: Blue whale, fin whale, humpback whale, minke whale, right whale, sperm whale, pygmy sperm whale, Cuvier's beaked whale, Gervais beaked whale, Gulf Stream beaked whale, True's beaked whale, killer whale, pilot whale, Risso's dolphin, harbor porpoise, common dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, Atlantic and Pacific white-sided dolphin, white-beaked dolphin, and striped dolphin. Thanks for any information. Sincerely, Rebecca Sealfon ras01(\)jps.net --MS_Mac_OE_3051900065_265204_MIME_Part Cetacean Sounds Dear MARMAM subscribers:

    I am a high school senior working on an Intel proje= ct relating to
cetacean sound generation.  I am looking for high-quality recordings, = preferably in .aiff or .au format and without too much background noise, as = I am performing a frequency analysis of the sounds and have or will be recei= ving the appropriate programs to analyze .aiff and .au format.
    One of my mentors, Dr. Joy Reidenberg of Mt. Sinai = Medical Center, has anatomical data on the following species: Blue whale, fi= n whale, humpback whale, minke whale, right whale, sperm whale, pygmy sperm = whale, Cuvier's beaked whale, Gervais beaked whale, Gulf Stream beaked whale= , True's beaked whale, killer whale, pilot whale, Risso's dolphin, harbor po= rpoise, common dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, Atlantic and Pacific white-sided= dolphin, white-beaked dolphin, and striped dolphin.

    Thanks for any information.

Sincerely, Rebecca Sealfon
ras01(\)jps.net
 --MS_Mac_OE_3051900065_265204_MIME_Part-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2000 22:36:26 +0200 From: Stefan Miedler Subject: ultrasound/heart In my literature research for aquatic mammals I found described that they diagnosed in the pathologic seccion of stranded mammals infarctions of the myocard and pulmonary oedema.My searching took me to a pygmy sperm whale on which a cardiomyopathie was described. In my specification in heart ultrasound of animals I would like to know for interest if anybody has done ultrasound messurements of the heart of aquatic mammals ( certanly up to a limited size) and which heart diseases and their known and suggested causes are described. I would appreciate any answer very much Stefan Miedler e-mail: anorak(\)i-one.at ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 24 Sep 2000 16:41:22 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications Here are some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Publications recently posted to MARMAM are not included. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. Brylske, A. 2000. To swim with dolphins: interaction or intrusion? Dive Training 10(10): 32-44. Dudley, S.F.J., M.D. Anderson-Reade, G.S. Thompson, and P.B. McMullen. 2000. Concurrent scavenging off a whale carcass by great white sharks, Carcharodon carcharias, and tiger sharks, Galeocerdo cuvier. U.S. Fishery Bulletin 98: 646-649. (the whale is a Bryde's, off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Article also lists predation by sharks on other whale carcasses) Tryland, M. 2000. Zoonoses of arctic marine mammals. The Infectious Disease Review 2:55-64. In March 2000, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Geological Survey convened a workshop on walrus census methods. The goal of the workshop was to evaluate various techniques to estimate the Pacific walrus population and to monitor trends in walrus abundance. Workshop participants reviewed information on walrus distributions; seasonal variation of survey conditions; survey aircraft capabilities and limitations; and potential applications of remote sensing techniques. Workshop discussions covered topics such as the best time, location and techniques to survey walrus. Workshop participants identified several research priorities to resolve problems associated with survey methods, and evaluated various approaches to obtain a new population estimate. To obtain a copy of the workshop proceedings, contact: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Marine Mammals Management 1011 East Tudor Road Anchorage Alaska 99503 posted by: Joel Garlich-Miller joel_garlichmiller(\)fws.gov ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2000 11:54:21 -0700 From: David Rosen Subject: Vomiting sea lions Captive pinnipeds often injest foreign objects, and our Steller sea lions are no exception. On several occassions we have wanted to induce vomiting. We have tried chemical edemics, but they do not appear to work with otariids (proven to be unsuccessful with phocids). We are looking for additional remedies that might be out there. Sincerely Dave Rosen rosen(\)zoology.ubc.ca *********************************** Dr. David A. Rosen Marine Mammal Research Unit University of British Columbia Vancouver, B.C., V6T 1Z4 Ph: (604) 822-8184 Fax: (604) 822-8180 ************************************ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2000 23:38:48 GMT From: Stephanie Burkhart Subject: Director of Naturalists Closing: October 16, 2000. Director of Naturalists, Pacific Whale Foundation Pacific Whale Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to marine research, conservation, and education, seeks a highly experienced and self-motivated individual to coordinate our naturalist program. Headquartered in Maui, Hawaii, the Pacific Whale Foundation has conducted marine research for twenty years in various locations around the world. While we emphasize marine mammals, we also do research on coral reefs, protection of marine ecosystems, biological diversity, and hope to expand in other areas. We are looking for an individual who has a strong marine science education background coupled with a history of supervisory experience. The successful candidate should have strong people management skills, excellent public speaking skills and experience working in both a team environment and in the non-profit sector. They should also demonstrate initiative, creativity, enthusiasm, and leadership abilities. Responsible for 50% supervisory and 50% educational outreach duties, including: Leading and training naturalists in interpretive programs about marine mammals and other marine life, marine research and conservation, the natural history of the Hawaiian Islands and Hawaiian culture; Evaluating, updating and improving existing marine science interpretive programs from both land- and boat-based platforms; Developing and implementing marine education/conservation outreach curricula, materials and programs; Maintaining a marine science reference library of current events, conservation topics and action alerts, fact sheets, and scientific articles and reports; Public speaking, assisting in fundraising, and preparing educational grant proposals; Administrative duties including coordination and scheduling of staff for eco-tours, school visits and other education activities; Acting as a liaison between eco-tours and the education department; Qualifications B.Sc. (or higher degree) in Marine Science; Highly-regarded record of supervising ten or more staff; Strong interpersonal and organizational skills; Ability to work independently and to meet deadlines; Experience as a marine science interpreter; Excellent communication skills, including proven speaking skills; Boat skills and knowledge a plus. To apply: please submit a resume, cover letter, and the names of at least 3 references to: Stephanie M. Burkhart, M.Sc. Director of Education Pacific Whale Foundation 101 North Kihei Road Kihei, Maui, Hawaii 96753 stephanie(\)pacificwhale.org visit our web site: http://www.pacificwhale.org No phone calls please. _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 27 Sep 0100 11:37:22 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Recent publications Here are some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Publications recently posted to MARMAM are not included. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. Erbe, C. and Farmer, D.M. 2000. A software model to estimate zones of impact on marine mammals around anthropogenic noise. J Acoust Soc Am 108: 1327-1331. Erbe, C. and Farmer, D.M. 2000. Zones of impact around icebreakers affecting beluga whales in the Beaufort Sea. J Acoust Soc Am 108: 1332 ff. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 27 Sep 2000 17:24:31 -0400 From: "Michael A. Rivlin" Subject: Endocrine disruptors In-Reply-To: <200009272054.NAA21165(\)mx7-w.mail.home.com> Greetings, I'm an editor with Amicus Journal, a national magazine of environmental news and features published in New York with a circulation of 300,000, and also on the web at http://www.nrdc.org/amicus/f-ami.htm. I'm beginning work on a feature story about the effects of endocrine disruptors on marine ecosystems, and in addition to the usual suspect toxicants I'd be interested in talking with any of you I don't already know from this spring's Bar Harbor symposium who are conducting research into phthalates, nonylphenols, and the like. If you're doing field work in New England and the Mid-Atlantic, including rescue of stranded harbor seals or tissue sampling from dead animals, I'd also like to talk with you. Please contact me offlist at and let me know how to get in touch. Thank you, Michael Rivlin ***************************************************************************** Michael A. Rivlin Contributing Editor, Amicus Journal 321 Shore Drive #6 Highlands, NJ 07732 Voice: 732.708.0982 Fax: 732.708.0973 Email: Any opinions expressed in this post are strictly my own, and do not necessarily represent those of Amicus Journal or its publisher. ******************************************************************************* ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 29 Sep 2000 09:14:11 -0400 From: Sean Todd Subject: Request for info on escape behavior in cetaceans and pinninpeds Hi all, In Hawaii last year we presented a poster that described a mathematical model predicting collisions between marine mammals and high speed vessels. We are now working towards a submission for publication, but find that our model is weak in several areas that we need to further research. Of prime importance is the escape behavior performed by the target animal. While this seems to be a well-researched area for terrestrials animals (e.g. stotting in deer), we are having problems finding similar references for marine mammals: Specifically; 1) Threshold distance of reaction 2) Angle of escape path relative to source of danger 3) Specific escape behaviors (e.g. stotting) that animals might use to disuade a pursuer Any leads that the marmam readership can supply would be greatfully appreciated. Sean _______________________ Sean Todd, Ph.D, Director, Allied Whale, College of the Atlantic, 105 Eden Street, Bar Harbor, ME, 04609, US http://www.coa.edu/faculty/webpages/stodd ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Sep 0100 08:35:42 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: New publications For your information: Here are some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Publications recently posted to MARMAM are not included. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. Gonzalez, L.M. 2000. Mediterranean monk seal. Pages 196-201 in R.P. Reading and B. Miller, eds. Endangered animals: a reference guide to conflicting issues. Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut. Mujica-Jorquera, E. and E.O. Boede, 2000. Orinoco River dolphin. Pages 224-229 in R.P. Reading and B. Miller, eds. Endangered animals: a reference guide to conflicting issues. Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut. Ralls, K. 2000. Southern sea otter. Pages 264-268 in R.P. Reading and B. Miller, eds. Endangered animals: a reference guide to conflicting issues. Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut. Rathbun, G.B. and R.L. Wallace. 2000. Florida manatee. Pages 107-111 in R.P. Reading and B. Miller, eds. Endangered animals: a reference guide to conflicting issues. Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 2 Oct 0100 05:36:42 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: FW: Smithsonian Fellowships. (fwd) From: Richard Thorington [SMTP:Thorington.Richard(\)NMNH.SI.EDU] To: MAMMAL-L(\)SIVM.SI.EDU The Smithsonian has fellowships for doctoral and postdoctoral fellows, available at the National Museum of Natural History, the National Zoological Park (including the Conservation Research Center at Front Royal, Virginia), and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. The due-date for applications is 15 January 2001. You will find the details at http://web1.si.edu/ofg/sifell.htm. Please encourage your students to submit applications. Richard W. Thorington, Jr. Division of Mammals, NHB 390 Smithsonian Institution Washington, DC 20560-0108 Phone:202-357-2150 Thorington.Richard(\)NMNH.SI.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 3 Oct 2000 14:19:42 GMT From: Dagmar Fertl Subject: abstracts - Aquatic Mammals, vol. 26(2), 2000 The following are abstracts for articles appearing in the most recent issue of Aquatic Mammals. Please do not direct reprint requests to me or to the Marmam editors. I have provided the addresses for the corresponding authors. The European Association for Aquatic Mammals publishes Aquatic Mammals three times per year. Please direct all questions regarding manuscript submissions and subscriptions to the editor: Thank you for your continued interest and support for the posting of these abstracts. Dagmar Fertl ********************************************************************** Hartmann, M.G. 2000. The European studbook of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus): 1998 survey results. Aquatic Mammals 26(2): 95-100. [Zoo Duisburg, Meulheimer Str. 273, 47058 Duisburg, Germany) In 1998, the first complete census of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in human care in Europe was achieved with the cooperation of all European dolphinaria in the regional studbook of this species. As of 1 January 1998, a total of 181 dolphins were kept in European facilities. The average age of founder animals was around 20 years for both sexes and 35.4% of the population was born in captivity. Successful breeding most probably started at the end of the nineteen eighties, but breeding success and population developments could not be evaluated fully until now. Further data collection is needed to establish basic parameters for the European population of bottlenose dolphins in human care, such as birth rate, calf survival, death rate, average and maximum age, and ultimately population sustainability. ********************************************************************** Hale, P.T.*, A.S. Barreto, and G.J.B. Ross. 2000. Comparative morphology and distribution of the aduncus and truncatus forms of bottlenose dolphin Tursiops in the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans. Aquatic Mammals 26(2): 101-110. [*Centre for Conservation Biology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia Qld 4072] Two morphological forms of the bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, are recognised in Indo-Pacific waters: a coastal form referred to as T. cf. aduncus and an offshore form, T. truncatus. The two are distinguished primarily on the basis of ventral spotting, present in adult T. cf. aduncus and absent in T. truncatus. We compared the morphology of specimens obtained from parts of their range where both forms are found: south-east Africa, the East and South China Seas, and eastern Australia. Across its range, T. cf. aduncus has a shorter body and skull length and on average more teeth than T. truncatus from the same areas. No difference in body length was noted between sexes in T. cf. aduncus, while male T. truncatus were larger than females. T. cf. aduncus from tropical waters were distinctly smaller than in subtropical/temperate regions. Differences in the pattern of the dorsal cape between forms from eastern Australia enabled their geographic distribution to be investigated. T. cf. aduncus was found in estuarine and near-coastal oceanic waters. Differences in morphology, and likely niche separation in this partially sympatric distribution of the two forms suggests two species, but there are arguments for and against the assignment of species status to each morphotype. ********************************************************************** Gannie, A. 2000. Distribution of cetaceans off the Society Islands (French Polynesia) as obtained from dedicated surveys. Aquatic Mammals 26(2): 111-126. [Laboratoire d'Ecologie Marine, U.P.F., BP6570 Faaa Aeroport, Tahiti, French Polynesia] Small boat surveys were organised off the Society Islands (French Polynesia), with 2-3 active observers on board. Sampling was done with Beaufort 4 sea state or less, cruising at 10 km/h mostly on engine power, from March 1996 to May 1999. The area of study extends over 400 km from Tahiti at the southeast, to Maupiti at the northwest, and was divided into 4 sectors: the lagoon stratum (<10 km from the barrier reef) of the Windward and Leeward Islands, and the offshore stratum. For a seasonal analysis the survey data were divided into a September-November period and a March-May period. A sighting rate and a relative abundance index (individuals/km of effort) was estimated for delphinids, for each stratum and each period. Mean and variance estimates were computed with Distance 2.2 software. Some 134 sightings were obtained during a total effective effort of 6482 km, including 5222 km with sea state less than Beaufort 3. The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) was observed 35 times, the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) and the dwarf sperm whale (Kogia simus) once, two species of beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris and Ziphius cavirostris) were observed 8 times, and seven species of delphinid were sighted 91 times, in order of decreasing frequency: Stenella longirostris, Steno bredanensis, Globicephala macrorhynchus, Peponocephala electra, Lagenodelphis hosei, Tursiops truncatus and Grampus griseus. The inshore strata had relative abundance indices of 0.258 delphinid/km (Windward Islands) and 0.219 delphinid/km (Leeward Islands), while only 0.021 delphinid/km were found in the offshore stratum. Cetaceans in general favour the inshore waters. An index of 0.123 delphinid/km was found during the March-May period, compared to 0.345 delphinid/km during the September-November period. Factors influencing the distribution of cetaceans are discussed and comparisons given with results obtained in other archipelagos and the eastern tropical Pacific. ********************************************************************** Kastelein, R.A.*, S. Walton, D. Odell, S.H. Nieuwstraten, and P.R. Wiepkema. 2000. Food consumption of a captive killer whale (Orcinus orca). Aquatic Mammals 26(2): 127-131. [*Harderwijk Marine Mammal Park, Strandboulevard Oost 1, 3841 AB Harderwijk, The Netherlands] This report is on the food consumption of a captive female killer whale between 1978 and 1996 (estimated age 3-21 years), while she was at 3 different zoological parks. The study is based on historical data collected for short-term husbandry purposes. The composition and caloric value of the diet sometimes varied from day to day. The food intake quantities should therefore be viewed as rough estimates of what wild, non-reproducing female conspecifics might eat. Although differences in activity levels caused by social factors and changes in the caloric value of the food could have played a role, the whale's annual food consumption after the initial growth spurt appears to have been affected primarily by the water temperature in the pools. She ate less when the water temperature was increased, and more when it was decreased. When she was around 18 years old she was weighed and found to eat on average 3.6% of her body weight per day. Despite seasonal water temperature fluctuations at Windsor Safari Park, there were no obvious seasonal patterns in her food intake. She grew in length at least until she was approximately 19 years old. ********************************************************************** Lyamin, O.I., A.I. Oleksenko, V.F. Sevostiyanov, E.A. Nazarenko, and L.M. Mukhametov. 2000. Behavioral sleep in captive sea otters. Aquatic Mammals 26(2): 132-136. [Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, 33 Leninksy prospekt, Moscow, 117071, Russia] We observed the behavior of two captive sea otters (Enhydra lutris) in water and on land at the Utrish Marine Station of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The behavior of otters was divided into 4 distinct stages: active wakefullness (40.5-50.5% of 24 h), quiet wakefulness (21.5-30.8%), quiet sleep (23.9-35.0%), and paradoxical sleep (1.1-2.5%). During quiet sleep in water, otters floated on the back at the surface in the typical posture with both eyes closed. Paradoxical sleep was recorded both in water and on land and was characterized by jerks and twitches of the head, paws and whole body and evident muscle tone hypotina. The main sleep period (quiet and paradoxical sleep) occurred in otters during the night when they usually slept on land. During the day otters slept only in water. ********************************************************************** Lander, M.E.*, F.M.D. Gulland, and R.L. DeLong. 2000. Satellite tracking a rehabilitated Guadalupe fur seal (Arctocephalus townsendi). Aquatic Mammals 26(2): 137-142. [*The marine Mammal Center, Marin Headlands, GGNRA, Sausalito, CA 94965 USA] A female Guadalupe fur seal (Arctocephalus townsendi), which stranded on 4 January 1998 at Point Lobos State Reserve, Carmel, California, was the first Guadalupe fur seal rehabilitated by The Marine Mammal Center, since establishment during 1975. Hematology and serum biochemistry data collected during rehabilitation indicated values were within ranges reported for northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus), and the first published for this species. To monitor this rare individual after release, a Satellite-Linked Time-Depth recorder, which was optimized to record locations and depths and durations of dives using the service ARGOS satellite system, was glued to the dorsum using 5-min epoxy. The fur seal was released 5 March 1998 at Point Piedras Blancas, California. After release, 25 positions were received, indicating the fur seal travelled south to eastern Guadalupe Island before travelling approximately 1430 km north (39 degrees 30.6'N, 127 degrees 18.0'W) along a similar track. Minimum distance travelled from time of release was approximately 2890 km and mean rate of travel was 3.2+- 1.4 km/hr. Transmissions ceased seven weeks after release on 22 April 1998 when the animal was approximately 315 km off-shore of Mendocino County, California. During transit, the majority of dives were shallow (<20.2 m) and most dives ranged from 2-4 min. Oceanographic conditions, as a result of El Nino, probably attributed to initial stranding of the fur seal and also could have affected the movements and behaviour of this animal after release. This is the first documentation of the post-release survival for a rehabilitated Guadalupe fur seal. ********************************************************************** Duignan, P.J.*, J.E.B. Hunter, I.N. Visser, G.W. Jones and A. Nutman. 2000. Stingray spines: a potential cause of killer whale mortality in New Zealand. Aquatic Mammals 26(2): 143-147. [*New Zealand Wildlife Health Centre, Institute of Veterinary Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand] Stingrays are a significant component of the diet of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in New Zealand waters. However, encounters between stingrays and several marine mammal species are known to have fatal consequences for the latter. Thus, it was speculated that similar injuries could be a mortality factor among killer whales in New Zealand. An autopsy examination of a sub-adult female killer whale found floating in the Hauraki Gulf, revealed deep body penetration by two stingray spines and superficial penetration by a third spine. One of the deeply-embedded spines appeared to be recently acquired as it was still covered by an intact integument. It was located posterior to the cranium in the region of the vascular cranial rete mirabile and in close proximity to three major arteries. Otherwise, the whale was in good body condition and there was no evidence of pre-existing disease or injury. It is likely that death occurred either as a result of blood loss, or as a result of an acute reaction to toxins related by the stingray spine. Predation of stingrays is probably a learned behavior among killer whales in New Zealand, and given its prevalence among the resident whales, it is generally a successful foraging strategy. However, this case indicates that the strategy is not without risk. Thus, stingray spine injury should be considered a potential cause of stranding or beaching among killer whales in New Zealand. ********************************************************************** Guerrero-Ruiz, M. and J. Urban R. 2000. First report of remoras on two killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Aquatic Mammals 26(2): 148-150. [Departamento de Biologia Marina, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California Sur, AP 19-B, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, 23081] In different parts of the world, there have been many sightings of cetaceans with remoras attached to their bodies. Recently, two killer whales (Orcinus orca) cow-calf pairs were sighted travelling together in the Gulf of California; one of these pairs had many remoras attached to both cow and calf. Despite the photographs taken, it was not possible to determine which species of remoras they carried. Usually killer whales are not seen with remoras and this is the first published report of a remora-killer whale association for the Gulf of California. ********************************************************************** Trites, A.W.* and R.A.H. Jonker. 2000. Morphometric measurements and body condition of healthy and starveling Steller sea lion pups (Eumetopias jubatus). Aquatic Mammals 26(2): 151-157. [*Marine Mammal Research Unit, Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, 2204 Main Hall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4] The thickness and weight of skin, blubber, and body core were measured from 12 dead Steller sea lion pups (Eumetopias jubatus). These necropsied pups represented a wide range of body sizes and conditions (small to large, and fat to no-fat), and were chosen to compare the relative body conditions of healthy and starved pups. Seven of the pups lacked blubber and were significantly lighter for a given length compared to the five that had fat at their time of death. Volume exceeded mass by a factor of 1.3% with density averaging 0.987 g cm ^-3. Skin and blubber were not uniformly thick over the body surface. Skin was thinnest on the head and around the flippers (3 mm), and became thicker towards the rump (5 mm). Skin thickness did not differ between dorsal and ventral sides, unlike blubber, which was thickest on the ventral side, increasing from the snout (1.5 mm) to mid-trunk (7 mm) and decreasing posteriorly (5 mm at the tail). Along the back, blubber increased from 1 mm at the snout to about 4.5 mm at mid-trunk. The five pups that died of trauma had about 13% skin and 10% blubber (expressed as a proportion of total body mass). Starvelings lost an estimated 43% of their body mass before dying (10% blubber, and 33% body core). Morphometric measurements applied to three proposed indices of body condition suggest that girth is not a good predictor of body condition for Steller sea lion pups. Only the ratio of observed to predicted body mass derived from standardized mass-length relationships could distinguish starvelings from pups with body fat. ********************************************************************** Abstracts from the 28th Annual Symposium of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals. Aquatic Mammals 26(2): 158-164. [condensed by Editor, Jeanette Thomas] ********************************************************************** Book review by J. van der Toorn: Animal training - successful animal management through positive reinforcement (book by Ken Ramirez). Aquatic Mammals 26(2): 165-166. [jaap(\)compuserve.com] _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 3 Oct 0100 13:51:13 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MARMAM editorial policy and FAQ ====================================================== MARMAM EDITORIAL POLICY AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ====================================================== This message will be sent out monthly - new additions or recent changes are marked >> *Please save this message for future reference!* Topics: EDITORIAL POLICY 1. The MARMAM list 2. Messages posted on MARMAM 3. Messages not posted on MARMAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 4. How do I post messages to the list? 5. How do I reply to individual subscribers? 6. How do I subscribe/unsubscribe/temporarily signoff? 7. How do I receive MARMAM postings as a single daily digest rather than as individual messages? 8. How do I retrieve old postings to MARMAM? 9. Subscriber list 10. How do I get help using listserver commands? 11. Why did my MARMAM subscription stop? 12. Useful websites 13. Other email discussion lists 14. Who do I contact with my questions or concerns? ===================================================== MARMAM EDITORIAL POLICY 1. The MARMAM list MARMAM is an edited e-mail discussion list which focuses on marine mammal research and conservation. The list was established in August 1993 and as of April 1999 there were about 3,500 subscribers from 60 different countries. Anyone may subscribe to the list. Editors of the MARMAM list work on a volunteer basis. At any one time there may be between three and five editors. We have endeavoured to make the editorial policy as uniform and explicit as possible (detailed below), but there may be some individual editor variation in the standard of messages sent to the list. _______________________________________________________________ 2. Messages posted on MARMAM A wide spectrum of message types are found on MARMAM, all related to marine mammal research and/or conservation. MARMAM endeavours to provide unbiased information on these issues (e.g, is not anti-whaling or anti-hunting per se). Commonly seen messages include: - requests for information regarding current or recent research projects, publications, or research techniques - current or previously unreported unusual news events - meeting announcements - job or volunteer opportunities - abstracts from scientific papers or reports - books/techniques/products announcements - requests for products (eg., photographs) which will benefit MARMAM subscribers (eg., photographs that will be of widespread use or for payment) - brief summaries of meetings or conferences related to marine mammals, including resolutions passed NOTE: Notices from regional student chapters of the Society for Marine Mammalogy should be restricted to: - a single message announcing each new student chapter (including contact details and website address). - a single message concerning each regional meeting (providing details as to the time and place of that meeting, schedule of speakers or events, and a website or email address to contact for further information). Before sending a message to MARMAM, please read the following. An increasing number of messages are being sent to the list which require modification by the authors or the Editors. As the Editors moderate the list on a volunteer basis, there is often limited time available to help with or to facilitate such modifications. We ask that before sending a message to the list, the author ensure that: - An appropriate subject heading is included - Your name and e-mail address are included in the body of the message - Your message is interesting enough to go to 3000+ list members. Therefore messages about small local meetings will not be posted. - Your replies are meant to go to ALL the subscribers of MARMAM, rather than just to the original author. If you feel your submission is of general interest, please send it both to the original author and cc it to MARMAM. (In many cases we ask that summaries of responses to questions are later posted to the list so individual responses to the list are often unneccessary.) - Requests for information provide details in the body of the message justifying the request (providing background information or details on why the information is needed). Such requests should also demonstrate that available means to obtain the information requested have been exhausted. Please do not use the list merely because you have not checked your library. (A follow up of responses to any such request should later be posted to the list.) - Messages in another language provide an english translation - Messages do not include attached files. The MARMAM account cannot deal with attachments and any messages with attachments will not be sent. All information should therefore be included as text within the body of the message. - Messages are properly formatted and do not contain excessive numbers of typos. As editing the list is a volunteer job and there are often too many messages to easily deal with, messages which are inproperly formatted (e.g., missing a subject heading, missing the senders name and e-mail address in the body of the message, or formatted too wide for a computer screen) or those full of typos may not be sent to the list. In most cases the author will be contacted regarding resubmitting their message, but at times of high volume, this may not always be done. NB. Many messages ask for information which would be of interest to many of the list subscribers. We therefore ask that a summary of responses is prepared and submitted back to the MARMAM list. Respondents to calls for information should therefore be aware that their response may be resubmitted to the entire list. Authors should therefore state that they do not wish their reply to go to the list, if this is the case. Summaries to the MARMAM list should fulfil other editorial criteria (relevent, concise, no flames, etc) ______________________________________________________________ 3. Messages not posted on MARMAM Examples of messages not posted to the MARMAM list include: - THOSE UNRELATED TO MARINE MAMMAL RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION - ANIMAL RIGHTS CALLS FOR ACTION - "COMMUNICATION" BETWEEN HUMANS AND ANIMALS - "CASUAL" REQUESTS for information that is easily available elsewhere. A specific request, with a brief description of what the information is to be used for, is most likely to stimulate feedback from other subscribers. If the author lives in a country where limited library resources are available and is conducting original research, exceptions to this rule may be made (though the message author must state that they have no easy access to library resources). - INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION: information requests without details as to why this is being requested. Messages which include only an information request without providing any background information justifying the request and demonstrating that available means to obtain this information have been exhausted, will not be posted. - COMMON EVENTS: news reports of common events (e.g. strandings of common species of marine mammals, deaths of captive animals, etc) - MEDICAL REPORTS ON CAPTIVE ANIMALS FOR WHICH HELP IS BEING SOUGHT - REQUESTS FOR SMALL NUMBERS OF SPECIFIC ITEMS (eg., photographs) that would be better directed to individuals working on the species in question. - OPINION STATEMENTS OFFERING LITTLE OR NO NOVEL INFORMATION. Messages of a duplicative nature which do not contribute new information are generally not posted to the list. Exceptions include event-related postings, such as conference information, job openings, and surveys. New subscribers are strongly encouraged to monitor MARMAM for a period before submitting messages to the list, or to review recent archived messages, to reduce the number of duplicative submissions. - CRITICISMS OF RESEARCHER'S STATEMENTS QUOTED IN NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, unless they are corrections from the person being quoted. - 'FLAMES'. Messages which are derogatory or serve to insult or inflame rather than contribute to the discussion at hand are not posted to the list. - RHETORIC: messages with some substance surrounded by a lot of rhetoric - HUMOUROUS ANECDOTES - JOB/ VOLUNTEER POSITION/ INTERNSHIP WANTED. Requests for employment or volunteer opportunities are not posted to the list. Persons seeking such positions are encouraged to monitor MARMAM for opportunities, which they can apply to directly. Students interested in careers in marine mammal science are encouraged to consult the Society for Marine Mammalogy's 'Strategies for Pursuing a Career in Marine Mammal Science', which can be found at the Society for Marine Mammalogy's website: http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~smm/strat.htm - JOB OFFERS FOR ANIMAL TRAINERS OR FOR NATURALISTS ON WHALE WATCH BOATS ===================================================== MARMAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 4. How do I post messages to the list? All messages meant for MARMAM subscribers should be sent to marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca Messages should include the sender's name and e-mail address within the body of the text, and a detailed subject heading. ______________________________________________________________ 5. How do I reply to individual messages? Messages meant soley for a particular subscriber and not for MARMAM may be sent directly to that subscriber using his or her e-mail address, which will appear in the header of the message and/or in the body of the message. Subscribers are asked to include their e-mail address within the body of their messages, as not all subscribers receive headers including this information with their messages. If your reply is of general interest to the subscribers, please reply to the list, otherwise you should reply directly to the individual posting the original message. NOTE: Many subscribers will find that use of the 'reply' option will reply to MARMAM, not to the intended recipient. Please check your header when using the 'reply' option. ______________________________________________________________ 6. How do I subscribe/ unsubscribe/ temporarily signoff? All messages not meant for MARMAM subscribers should be sent to the listserver (listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca). As the list-server is an automated service, it is important that commands be sent without errors or extraneous text. To subscribe, send a message to "listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca" which says: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastnamename To unsubscribe, send a message to "listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca" saying: signoff marmam If you want to temporarily discontinue your subscription without signing off the list, send the message: set marmam nomail to continue it, send the message: set marmam mail NOTE: If your email address is going to change and you will lose access to your old address please unsubscribe that address from marmam, and then subscribe under your new address. If you no longer have access to the email account from which you subscribed, send a brief message to marmamed(\)uvic.ca, providing the email addess that you no longer have access to, and the editors will delete this address from the list. You can then subscribe from your new address. _______________________________________________________________ 7. How do I receive MARMAM postings as a single daily digest rather than as individual messages? To receive marmam messages daily as a single file, send a message to "listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca", saying set marmam digests To change this setting to individual messages, send the message: set marmam mail _______________________________________________________________ 8. How do I retrieve messages previously sent to MARMAM? All MARMAM messages since 1995 are archived and are retrievable by sending the message: get marmam logxxyy to the listserver (listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca), where xx = year and yy = month (e.g. get marmam log9601). Two searchable websites hold archived MARMAM postings: Links to both of these can be found via the MARMAM homepage http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/marmam.htm http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ This archive includes all messages from June 2, 1998 and the monthly logs dating back to January 1995. The archive can be searched by keyword and will return a list of files (messages) containing that keyword. For long messages (i.e., the monthly logs) - using the "find" command (under "Edit") will speed up searching within the message. http://www.reference.com/cgi-bin/pn/listarch?list=MARMAM(\)uvvm.uvic.ca This archive contains all messages from November 1997. To search this archive back to 11/97, change the date range at the bottom of the "Advanced Search" page. The archive manager is Quyen Lam __________________________________________________________________ 9. Subcriber list Due to mis-use of the subscriber list, the list is no longer available through a listserv command. To find out who subscribes to MARMAM, you must send a request to the MARMAM editors (marmamed(\)uvic.ca) and it will be sent out to you along with a request to not mis-use the list and guidelines to proper use of the list. Subscribers not wanting this information available to others can send the command: set marmam conceal to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca _______________________________________________________________ 10. How do I get help using listserver commands? A list of common commands for different listserver functions (subscribing, retrieving files, etc.) is obtainable by sending the message: help to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. A more detailed list of listserver commands may be obtained by sending the message: info refcard to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca _______________________________________________________________ 11. Why did my MARMAM subscription stop? Your subscription may be cancelled if your email is undeliverable. This can happen, for example, if your in-box is full or if your server is down for a period of time. When this happens the marmamed account will receive error messages, and those whose accounts bounce back are either automatically deleted from the list or manually deleted by the list Editors every once in a while. If you find that you receive no MARMAM messages for a few days, try subscribing to the list again. ______________________________________________________________ 12. Useful websites Detailed below are some World Wide Web Marine Mammal related links. Many of these contain further links to other sites. The Society for Marine Mammalogy: "http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~smm/" The National Marine Mammal Laboratory Homepage: "http://nmml01.afsc.noaa.gov/" The Acoustical Society of America: "http://asa.aip.org/" The European Cetacean Society: "http://web.inter.NL.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs.htm" International Whaling Commission: "http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/iwcoffice" WhaleNet "http://whale.wheelock.edu/" ______________________________________________________ 13. Other email discussion lists Some other email lists that may be relevent to marine mammals include the following. (Lists on a variety of topics which may vary in relevence are included - the editors take no responsibility for the content of these and are included here for reference only.) Lists are shown as topic, listserver and mailing list name. To subscribe send a message to the appropriate listserver with the message "subscribe " Bioacoustics: listproc(\)cornell.edu, Bioacoustics-L Biotelemetry: LISTSERV(\)BGUVM.BGU.AC.IL, biotelem Conservation network: listserv(\)sivm.si.edu, conslink Ecology, Ecological Society of America: listserv(\)umdd.umd.edu, ecolog-l Fish and Wildlife Information Management: listserv(\)listserv.vt.edu, FWIM-L Fisheries and Social Science: listserv(\)mitvma.mit.edu, fishfolk Marine Studies and Information: listserv(\)ccgc.tc.gc.ca, marine-l Mammal: LISTSERV(\)SIVM.SI.EDU, Mammal-l Surface/groundwater issues: waterforum-subscribe(\)egroups.com, Waterforum (please let the editors know of other lists to include here) ______________________________________________________________ 14. Who do I contact with my questions and concerns? Questions and concerns about MARMAM can be sent to the list editors (Robin Baird, Sascha Hooker, Shannon Gowans and Daniel Palacios) at marmamed(\)uvic.ca _______________________________________________________________ The MARMAM Editorial Policy and FAQ can also be found at the website: http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/marmam.htm Updated October 1999 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2000 17:17:33 -0400 From: William Rossiter Subject: Need Marine Mammal Science 15/2 Would you be interested in donating your copy of "Marine Mammal Science", Volume 15, #2, to a museum in Uruguay, to complete a set available to all? Cetacean Society International has donated a complete and continuing set of this journal to National Natural History Museum in Montevideo, except for this issue that was never returned to us by an outside borrower. This set of the journal may be the only such set publically available in the country, and is part of CSI's effort to engage Latin American scientists in international research. If you find your journals gathering dust in the garage please consider similar donations. We have many suggestions for places that need them, and we may be able to help get them there. To save postage costs to Uruguay, and to reap some tax-deductible benefit (US only, at least US$15 but will have to check with editors for actual value), please send the issue to CSI, POB 953, Georgetown, CT 06829 USA. We will forward it at our cost. If you prefer to send it direct to the museum the address is: Alvaro Mones, Director Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Casilla de Correo 399, 11.000 Montevideo, URUGUAY Tels.: (005982) 916 0908; 916 7825, Fax: +598-2-917 0213 , Thanks, William W. Rossiter President Cetacean Society International P.O.Box 953, Georgetown, CT 06829 USA ph/fx 203-431-1606 william_rossiter(\)compuserve.com http://elfi.com/csihome.html ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2000 13:06:55 +0900 From: Tomonori Hiramatsu Subject: Inquiry from Tokyo Japan: looking for cetacean vocalization samples for an aquarium exhibit From: Tomonori Hiramatsu Kanno Creative, Co., Ltd. Tokyo Japan To whom it may concern: Our team is currently planning for an exhibition of a new aquarium in Japan. The exhibition will expose visitors with various cetacean vocalizations and explain the types of vocalization and their usage. In planning this, we are collecting vocal recordings of various dolphins and whales around the world. If you have any vocal data of any cetacean, please let us know along with the possibility to use it in a Japanese public aquarium for educational purposes, and the terms and conditions. If you need more information regarding the exhibit, please do not hesitate to contact me at: Tomonori Hiramatsu t.hiramatsu(\)hurricane.co.jp Thank you for your cooperation Tomonori Hiramatsu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 26 Sep 2000 15:28:29 -0500 From: "Emily A. Buchholtz" Subject: Whale milk In-Reply-To: <200009242332.TAA03508(\)cliff.wellesley.edu> Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 A friend who is a biochemist at Tuft's University working on the milk protein lactoferrin would love to have a small quantity (a few ccs) of whale milk for comparative studies. If there is anyone on list who would be able / willing to supply it, I would very much appreciate hearing from you. Emily Buchholtz Department of Biological Sciences Wellesley College Wellesley, MA 02481 ebuchholtz(\)wellesley.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2000 10:42:16 -0400 From: Dave Johnston Organization: Duke Marine Lab Subject: THE MONACHUS GUARDIAN ------ THE MONACHUS GUARDIAN The international periodical dedicated to the Mediterranean, Hawaiian &=20 Caribbean monk seals Dear Colleagues, This is to let you know that we are now inviting submissions for the=20 November 2000 issue of The Monachus Guardian. The following guide to the=20 various sections of the periodical may prove useful to contributors: > International News / Hawaiian News / Mediterranean News The Monachus Guardian should receive standard news items no later than 20=20 October. Please contact the editor in the event of urgent breaking news=20 beyond this deadline. > Cover Story / In Focus / Perspectives=85 Proposals for feature articles should be addressed to the editor(\)monachus.org. > Monachus Science Submissions and queries should be addressed to both the review chair, David=20 Lavigne (email: dlavigne(\)imma.org), and the editor (editor(\)monachus.org). > Recent Publications Lists recent and forthcoming papers, articles, books, reports etc. relevant=20 to Mediterranean, Hawaiian and Caribbean monk seals. Submissions deadline:=20 31 October. > Monachus Library As a separate service of www.monachus.org, the Monachus Library makes=20 previously published material available to an international online=20 readership. Contributions to the Library (including abstracts, posters,=20 papers and reports in electronic format) are welcome at any time. > Merchandise & Fund Raising Organisations wishing to submit news of recently-produced merchandise (e.g.=20 posters, postcards, T-shirts, calendars etc) should ensure that all=20 relevant information, including photographs and illustrations, is supplied=20 to The Monachus Guardian by 15 October. > Letters to the Editor May be submitted at any time. We look forward to hearing from you William M. Johnson editor(\)monachus.org Dave Johnston davej(\)duke.edu The Monachus Guardian, Library and Network can be accessed at the following=20 address: http://www.monachus.org --=20 "The future masters of technology must be light-hearted and intelligent. The machine easily masters the grim and the dumb." =20 Marshall McLuhan ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2000 15:31:11 +0200 From: Daniel Pike Subject: North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission ------ The web site of the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (NAMMCO) now contains updates on the following: 1. The Tenth Meeting of NAMMCO Council, held 25-28 September in Sandefjord, Norway. 2. The Eighth Meeting of the NAMMCO Scientific Committee. The Committee provided advice on West Greenland narwhal and beluga, fin whales in the Faroe Islands area, North Atlantic harbour porpoise, white-beaked, white-sided and bottlenose dolphins, and economic aspects of marine mammal-fisheries interactions. 3. The publication of the second volume of NAMMCO Scientific Publication= s, entitled "Minke whales, harp and hooded seals: Major Predators in the North Atlantic ecosystem". A description of the volume including abstract= s is available on the web site. The address of the NAMMCO web site is http://www.nammco.no/ Daniel Pike Daniel Pike Scientific Secretary, North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission, University of Troms=F8 9037 Troms=F8, Norway. Tel: +47 77 64 59 08 Fax: +47 77 64 59 05 Dan.Pike(\)nammco.no See us on the Web at www.nammco.no ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 5 Oct 0100 06:51:49 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: new book: hearing by whales and dolphins (fwd) Forwarded message: New Marine Mammal Book: Hearing by Whales and Dolphins Springer Handbook of Auditory Research, vol. 12 Edited by W.W.L. Au, A.N. Popper, and R.R. Fay Springer-Verlag (NY), 2000, 485 pp. $129 U.S. ISBN 0-387-94906-2 Contents: Au, W.W.L. Hearing in whales and dolphins: an overview Ketten, D.R. Cetacean ears Cranford, T.W. In search of impulse sound sources in odontocetes Tyack, P.L. and C.W. Clark. Communication and acoustic behavior of dolphins and whales Herzing, D.L. Acoustics and social behavior of wild dolphins: implications for a sound society Ridgway, S.H. The auditory central nervous system of dolphins. Dolphin, W.F. Electrophysiological measures of auditory processing in odontocetes Nachtigall, P.E., D.W. Lemonds, and H.L. Roitblat. Psychoacoustic studies of dolphin and whale hearing Au, W.W.L. Echolocation in dolphins Aroyan, J.L., M.A. McDonald, S.C. Webb, J.A. Hildebrand, D. Clark, J.T. Laitman, and J.S. Reidenberg. Acoustic models of sound production and propagation *************************************** This book can be ordered on-line from the Springer-Verlag web site at: http://www.springer.de/cgi-bin/search_book.pl?isbn=0-387-94906-2 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2000 23:53:11 GMT From: Heather Medic Subject: Winter internship with Island Marine Institute, Maui Island Marine Institute, in Lahaina, Maui, is seeking five researchers in marine mammal biology or related field for a winter internship. Internships are with the Research and Education department for the annual humpback whale migration and consisit of data entry, photo analysis,data and photo collection. Island Marine Institute is under the direction of Dr. Joe Mobley and Dr. Robin Baird. The Institute works with volunteer undergraduates and graduates who are working toward a career in marine mammal research. The minimum requirments for these positions are: 24 hours per week (8 hour days)with at least a four month commitment, computer experience, familiarity with scientific literature and reference library, and public speaking. A background in photography and/or photo-identification is perferred. Negative scanner or "photo-shop" experience desirable. There are no charges or fees for participation in this program. This is an opportunity for those persons interested in gaining real pracitical experience in conducting marine mammal research. Housing is not provided. All applicants must send a resume with a cover letter detailing interest, experience, and availability with references by October 25, 2000. Do not send resume via email and if you are not contacted for an interview do not call the Institute. Your resume will be kept on file for six months. Island Marine Institute 658 Front Street Suite 101 Lahaina, HI 96761 Attention: Heather Medic, Research Project Manager Fax: (808) 661-5792 www.whalewatchmaui.com _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2000 12:46:51 -0700 From: "Louis M. Herman" Subject: whale Internship opportunity I would appreciate your posting the following message: The Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory (KBMML) has openings for intern research assistants to participate in its annual study of the population of humpback whales wintering in Hawaii. The field site will be the waters between the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and Kahoolawe. Established in 1975, KBMML's whale project is the longest ongoing scientific study of humpback whales in the Hawaiian Islands. Its studies of humpback whale migration, distribution, demographics, reproductive and social behavior, and communication have resulted in over 50 scientific publications, reports, theses, and dissertations. Interns will receive intensive training and education and will participate in both daily shore-based and boat-based humpback whale field research activities as well as in data processing. There is no charge for the internship, and room and board are provided. The internship runs from December 15, 2000 through to May 30, 2001. Some flexibility in dates may be possible. To apply, provide a complete resume of your education and experience, a letter describing your interests, goals, and availability, a copy of your college transcripts, and three letters of recommendation. Relevant experience can include fieldwork with animals, small-boat handling, photography, and previous work with marine mammals. Send all materials to KBMML, 1129 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu, HI 96814. Email attachments or inquiries may be sent Dr. Adam Pack, Assistant Director (pack(\)hawaii.edu), with a cc to Mark Deakos, Field Coordinator (deakos(\)hawaii.edu). --============_-1241433681==_ma============ whale Internship opportunity

I would appreciate your posting the following message:


The Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory (KBMML) has openings for intern research assistants to participate in its annual study of the population of humpback whales wintering in Hawaii.  The field site will be the waters between the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and Kahoolawe.  Established in 1975,  KBMML's whale project is the longest ongoing scientific study of humpback whales in the Hawaiian Islands.  Its studies of humpback whale migration, distribution, demographics, reproductive and social behavior, and communication have resulted in over 50 scientific publications, reports, theses, and dissertations.  Interns will receive intensive training and education and will participate in both daily shore-based and boat-based humpback whale field research activities as well as in data processing.  There is no charge for the internship, and room and board are provided.  The internship runs from December 15, 2000  through to May 30, 2001.  Some flexibility in dates may be possible.  To apply, provide a complete resume of your education and experience, a letter describing your interests, goals, and availability, a copy of your college transcripts, and three letters of recommendation.   Relevant experience can include fieldwork with animals, small-boat handling, photography, and previous work with marine mammals.  Send all materials to KBMML, 1129 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu, HI 96814. Email attachments or inquiries may be sent Dr. Adam Pack, Assistant Director (pack(\)hawaii.edu),  with a cc to  Mark Deakos, Field Coordinator (deakos(\)hawaii.edu).




--============_-1241433681==_ma============-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 6 Oct 2000 09:16:30 -1000 From: Jason Baker Organization: NOAA Subject: Position Announcement, NMFS Hawaiian Monk Seal Program A new federal position with the National Marine Fisheries Service, Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program is currently open. To see the announcement, go to: http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/wfjic/jobs/IO1998.HTM NOTE: Applicants must be citizens of (or owe allegiance to) the United States. New appointees must present proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Jason Baker jason.baker(\)noaa.gov ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 0100 02:24:15 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly marine mammal summary to U.S. Congress (fwd) Forwarded message: The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS {Japanese Dolphin Hunt. On Oct. 1, 2000, the Japanese dolphin hunting season began in the central Japan port of Taiji. Plans are for fishermen to catch nearly 2,400 dolphins at Taiji, with a total of nearly 17,000 dolphins to be taken in several ports combined, before the end of April 2001.} [Environmental News Network] {Tuna-Dolphin. On Sept. 29, 2000, Mexican officials announced that they would take a dispute with the United States over tuna fishing to the World Trade Organization, and that Mexico might renounce an international agreement protecting dolphins that is reported to be hurting Mexican fishermen. Mexico asserts that its fishermen lose $150 million to $200 million annually because access to the U.S. market for Mexican tuna is denied. In the meantime, Mexico accuses Spanish and Ecuadorean fleets of developing predatory practices in the eastern Pacific that harm marine species other than dolphins.} [WorldCatch News Network] {MMC Science Program Director. On Sept. 28, 2000, Tim Ragan, NMFS Steller sea lion recovery coordinator in AK, announced his resignation, effective Oct. 31, 2000 (the day NMFS's biological opinion on Steller sea lions is due to be delivered to Judge Zilly), to become Science Program Director of the Marine Mammal Commission, Washington, DC.} [WorldCatch News Network] {{NAMMCO Meeting. On Sept. 25-28, 2000, the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (NAMMCO) held its 10th Annual Meeting in Sandefjord, Norway. Agenda items included a report on the severely depleted status of beluga off West Greenland, the economic aspects of marine mammal- fisheries interactions, data on marine mammal bycatch, international observation of Norwegian sealing and whaling activities and pilot whaling in the Faroes, and plans for a workshop on weapons and ammunition.}} [NAMMCO press release] Canadian Right Whale Funds. In mid-September 2000, the Canadian Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans and Environment Canada announced the award of grants totaling $371,000 to develop a sonar technique to help ships avoid collisions with right whales in the Bay of Fundy, test fishing gear designed to release entangled whales, and analyze right whale distribution and ship traffic so that shipping lanes can be adjusted in the bay of Fundy to prevent ship strikes on whales. [Environment News Service] Brazilian Whale Sanctuary. In mid-September 2000, Brazil's President Fernando Henrique Cardoso signed a decree establishing an Environmental Protection Area in the state of Santa Catarina to protect a southern right whale birthing and nursery site. [Environmental News Network] FL Manatees. On Sept. 12, 2000, FL Governor Jeb Bush and his Cabinet discussed various measures aimed at reducing manatee mortality rates, including whether to require manatee protection plans of additional FL counties. {As of Sept. 18, 2000, at least 68 manatees were reported to have been killed in FL waters from boat collisions during 2000.} [Assoc Press, Humane Society of the United States press release] Steller Sea Lions. On Sept. 11, 2000, AK Governor Tony Knowles announced that the state of AK was joining the fishing industry and local government in an expedited request that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals overturn or modify District Court Judge Thomas Zilly's July 19, 2000 injunction that prohibited pollock and cod fishing within 20 miles of the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska coast to increase protection for Steller sea lion critical habitat. In addition, Governor Knowles wrote to President Clinton seeking assurances that NMFS would complete its updated biological opinion by Oct. 31, 2000; and appointed a Sea Lion Restoration Team of scientists, fishermen, and environmentalists to develop an alternative management strategy for Steller sea lion protection that would all sustainable fishing to occur. {On Oct. 3, 2000, NMFS officials were reported to have 29 investigations in progress for violations of Judge Zilly's order prohibiting fishing in Steller sea lion critical habitat areas of the Bering Sea. Thus far, all the violations appear to be civil, rather than criminal. Many of the investigations arose from vessels "self-reporting" inadvertent violations of the closure boundaries.} [WorldCatch News Network, Anchorage Daily News] Whale Activist Fined. In early September 2000, a Faroe Island court fined whale activist Paul Watson $37,000 for violations of immigration laws when he entered Faroese waters with Sea Shepherd's vessel Ocean Warrior to protest the Faroese pilot whale hunt during the summer of 2000. [High North Alliance News] Japanese Whaling. As of Sept. 4, 2000, the Japanese whaling fleet had killed 2 sperm whales, 5 Bryde's whales, and 22 minke whales. On Sept. 5, 2000, Shunji Tanai, Japan's ambassador to the United States, indicated that Japan might file a complaint with the World Trade Organization if the United States imposed trade sanctions on Japan for whaling. On Sept. 11, 2000, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met with Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono in New York City to discuss U.S. concerns over Japanese whaling. Views on the issue were exchanged, but little progress was made in settling the dispute. On Sept. 13, 2000, after receiving certification of Japan under the Pelly Amendment to the Fishermen's Protective Act and the Packwood-Magnuson Amendment to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act by Secretary of Commerce Norman Mineta, President Clinton directed the Dept. of State to inform Japan that the United States will not negotiate a new Governing International Fishery Agreement, denying fishing rights in U.S. waters to Japan. In addition, he asked Cabinet officials to investigate additional actions including trade sanctions and other economic measures. President Clinton must report to Congress within 60 days on actions taken in response to the Pelly Amendment certification. U.S. officials also offered to help Japan develop a scientific research program that did not involve killing whales. As of Sept. 13, 2000, Japan had killed 36 minke whales, 43 Bryde's whales, and 5 sperm whales. On Sept. 21, 2000, the Japanese research whaling fleet returned to port from the northwestern Pacific, after having killed 88 whales ? 40 minke whales, 43 Bryde's whales, and 5 sperm whales. Japanese whalers reportedly plan to sample the same three species next year. [White House press release, Fox News, Reuters, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release, Humane Society of the United States press release, London Times, Assoc Press, BBC News, Yomiuri Shimbun] Items in this Summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 6 Oct 2000 17:40:09 -0700 From: "Joseph R. Olson" Subject: Cetacean Vocalizations now in MP3 format on Cetacean Research Web Site Comments: To: "MarMam Editors (E-mail)" , "Bioacoustics-L (E-mail)" Comments: cc: "American Cetacean Society (E-mail)" Hello bioacoustics and marine mammal communities, (Please forgive any cross postings) I have just updated the Cetacean Research Technology web site with MP3 files of cetacean vocalizations and some other underwater sounds and noise. There's even a very unique underwater recording of Seattle's Kingdome stadium being demolished. The new MP3 format allows the files to be much longer than the previous WAV files that I had on the site. In addition to the samples being longer (up to two minutes), I have also added more files. You can listen to the files in streaming mode with Real Player or the Microsoft Windows 98 media player, or you can download the files to your computer and listen to them off line. To access the sound files, go to www.cetaceanresearch.com, scroll down the page and click on the "recordings" link. Please let me know what you think of the sounds. Best regards, Joe ======================= Joseph R. Olson Cetacean Research Technology PO Box 70186 Seattle, WA 98107 Tel/Fax: +1 206-297-1310 olson(\)cetaceanresearch.com http://www.cetaceanresearch.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2000 09:13:36 +1100 From: "Corey J. A. Bradshaw" Subject: new website - Antarctic Wildlife Research Unit The Antarctic Wildlife Research Unit (AWRU) would like to announce its new website (http://www.zoo.utas.edu.au/awru/AWRU.htm). The site describes the ecological research being done by AWRU on marine mammals and marine birds in Australia, the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. The website includes contact details, profiles on staff and students at the AWRU, details of the current research programmes, links to collaborating institutions, recent publications and links to funding sources. We would appreciate constructive comments. Corey Bradshaw corey.bradshaw(\)utas.edu.au AWRU, School of Zoology University of Tasmania ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2000 11:40:36 +0100 From: Annabelle Subject: Contraceptions for doplhins Dear Subscribers, The ASMS-Antenne Romande is a non-profit NGO dedicated to marine mammals research and protection. It is particularly aimed at serving as a link between the scientific community, the political authorities and the public. In this context, we organise events, conferences and workshops on various themes regarding cetaceans. We are currently planning to set up a workshop on breeding and we will tackle the subject of breeding in captive mammals. However, we have difficulties in finding accurate information on birth regulation. We would like to have more information on the various possibilities of contraception for dolphins, i.e. on how captive facilities with adult males can regulate their breeding. If anyone can help us and provide us with information on the matter, we would greatly appreciate it . Many thanks in advance, Regards, Annabelle Cuttelod E-mail: annabelle.cuttelod(\)span.ch =============================================================== Annabelle Cuttelod Scientific Coordinator ASMS-Antenne Romande The Swiss Working Group for the Protection of Marine Mammals Switzerland ASMS-Antenne Romande is a non-profit NGO providing services to the marine mammals research and authorities. ================================================================ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Oct 0100 02:03:02 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Job Posting: Aquarist, Mystic Aquarium (fwd) From: tabinder(\)mysticaquarium.org JOB POSTING DATE: October 3, 2000 POSITION: Aquarist/Marine Mammals & Birds SCHEDULE: Full time, Non-Exempt JOB SUMMARY: Care and maintenance of marine mammal and bird collection and exhibits, including diet preparation and administration. Animal observations and record keeping. Animal handling and assisting in veterinary procedures. Exhibit maintenance of sea lion area and Marine Theater. Public presentations of California sea lions. REQUIREMENTS: Bachelor's degree in related discipline and/or equivalent. Minimum 3 years experience in pinniped husbandry and behavioral conditioning. Public presentation skills. Effective communication and teamwork skills. Must be physically able to execute the work of the position. SCUBA certification. Closing Date - October 16, 2000 Excellent working environment and comprehensive benefits package. Forward resume and references to: Mystic Aquarium & the Institute for Exploration Human Resources 55 Coogan Boulevard Mystic, CT 06355 FAX: 860-572-5984 email: humanresources(\)mysticaquarium.org EOE Thank you very much for your assistance in posting on your listserve. Sincerely, Tonia L. Binder Recruitment/Training Specialist Human Resources Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration 55 Coogan Boulevard Mystic, CT 06355 PHONE: 860-572-5955 FAX: 860-572-5984 visit us at: www.mysticaquarium.org ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2000 13:21:29 -0500 From: Leslie Cornick Subject: Texas Student Chapter Announcement The Texas Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy is gearing up for another year! We're planning to have a general interest meeting very soon to take nominations for officers and committee members, and set the agenda for the coming year. If you would like to receive information about this upcoming meeting, please send an email to smm(\)tamug.tamu.edu. This chapter is open to undergraduate students, graduate students, interns, and all those in Texas interested in marine mammal science. Check out our website! http://wfscnet.tamu.edu/smmtx/smmtxstu.htm Leslie Cornick Student Member-at-Large Society for Marine Mammalogy Ph.D. Candidate Laboratory for Applied Biotelemetry & Biotechnology Physiological Ecology & Bioenergetics Lab Texas A&M University 5001 Avenue U, Suite 105 Galveston, TX 77551 cornickl(\)tamug.tamu.edu 409.740.4885 office 409.740.5002 fax ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2000 13:21:51 -0400 From: Hans Neuhauser Subject: Right Whale News Right Whale News is a quarterly newsletter that seeks to improve recovery efforts for the North Atlantic and North Pacific right whales. Thanks to the Massachusetts Environmental Trust, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Grays Reef National Marine Sanctuary, the Northeast Implementation Team and the Savannah Presbytery, subscriptions to Right Whale News are free. To subscribe, please send your mailing address to gepi(\)ix.netcom.com Articles and news are always welcome. Thanks, Hans Neuhauser Editor Right Whale News ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 11 Oct 0100 09:25:47 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: skins of southern fur seals (fwd) Forwarded message: For a study I am doing of the decline of southern fur seals (Arctocephalus spp.) I am trying to find information on the uses that were made of the skins that were shipped to China. I know that some were used for leather and the majority for felt, but I am wondering if anyone knows of studies of 18th and 19th century Chinese felt or leather manufactories. Please respond off-list. Richard Ellis 17 East 16th Street New York, NY 10003 Ph. (212) 243-6950 Fax (212) 243-6932 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2000 18:45:05 -0500 From: Laboratory for Applied Biotelemetry & Biotechnology Subject: new website for Texas A&M University's Applied Biotelemetry Lab The Laboratory for Applied Biotelemetry & Biotechnology (LABB) at Texas A&M University would like to announce it's new website: http://www.tamug.tamu.edu/labb/ Our website describes the research performed by the LABB on issues related to basic science, conservation and management of marine living resources, including marine mammals, birds and reptiles. The LABB is dedicated to the development and application of the next generation of modern research tools and technology. The website includes detailed descriptions of current research projects, profiles of LABB members, detailed information on technologies used and under development, a technology glossary, as well as downloadable documents and links to other sites of interest. Markus Horning The Laboratory for Applied Biotelemetry & Biotechnology Texas A&M University at Galveston, 5007 Avenue U, Galveston, TX 77551, USA Tel. 409.740.4541 Fax .5002 email: biotele(\)tamug.tamu.edu http://www.tamug.tamu.edu/labb/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2000 11:04:57 -1000 Reply-To: JEFFREY_S_WALTERS(\)EXEC.STATE.HI.US From: Jeff Walters Subject: Research Funding Available - humpback whales in Hawaii Proposals Requested for Humpback Whale Research in Hawaii by the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Proposal deadline - October 21, 2000 The State of Hawaii, Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's, National Marine Sanctuaries Program, and in coordination with the National Marine Fisheries Service, intends to fund up to three research projects designed to provide information useful in managing the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. The research projects will be funded to assist successful completion of work associated with DLNR's Federal contract modification, which includes development of research efforts supporting the following objectives: 1) characterization of the central North Pacific stock of humpback whales in their Hawaiian habitat to establish a baseline for detecting and monitoring natural and human induced changes; and 2) establishing a comprehensive long-term ecological monitoring program for monitoring humpback whales on their wintering breeding grounds in the main Hawaiian Islands. Project 1. Abundance Estimate of Humpback Whales in Hawaii This project will entail the review of existing literature, interviews with experts, and fieldwork as practicable to estimate the absolute abundance of humpback whales found in Hawaiian waters during their mating and calving period. The main purpose of the project is to provide management agencies with the most accurate and up-to-date estimate of the total number of whales that visit Hawaiian waters, and to continue development of an accurate estimate of the rate of change of total abundance over time. As much as possible, the project will also estimate average residence times of humpbacks, by age and sex, in Hawaiian waters. The project is intended to produce a final report for management purposes, which synthesizes all available information on humpback whale abundance in Hawaii. The final report will augment and update information regarding population and abundance presented in Part II, Section B of the Sanctuary's Final Environmental Impact Statement (1997). Project 2. Estimation of Spatial Distribution by Age and Sex of Humpback Whales in Hawaii This project will entail the review of existing literature, interviews with experts, and fieldwork as practicable to estimate and map the spatial distribution, by age and by sex, of humpback whales in Hawaiian waters. The main purpose of this project is to provide management agencies with baseline information on the average spatial distribution and general habitat preference of the different sexes and age classes of humpback whales. The results should be of a quality suitable for comparison with future studies. The project is intended to produce a final report for management purposes, which synthesizes all available information on spatial distribution of humpbacks in Hawaii. The final report will augment and update information regarding distribution and habitat preference presented in Part II, Section B of the Sanctuary's Final Environmental Impact Statement (1997). Project 3. Characterization of Sub-Surface Behavior of Humpback Whales in Hawaii This project will entail the review of existing literature, interviews with experts, and fieldwork as practicable to describe the various sub-surface behaviors of humpback whales in Hawaii. The main purpose of the project is to provide management agencies with a summary of the most accurate and current information regarding under-water behaviors, e.g., singing, mating, calving, and deep water activities, for consideration in developing effective management strategies. The project is intended to produce a final report for management purposes, which synthesizes all available information on sub-surface humpback whale behavior in Hawaii. The final report will augment and update information regarding whale behaviors presented in Part II, Section B of the Sanctuary's Final Environmental Impact Statement (1997). Funding Information and General Requirements The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has provided a total of $40,000 (via contract with the State of Hawaii) to complete these 3 projects and to cover all administrative costs incurred by DLNR. No single project is expected to cost more than $25,000. Applicants, as individuals or groups, may apply for more than one project, but separate proposals, as described below, must be submitted for each project. While the scope of work and deliverables for each project are unique, logistical coordination and information sharing between project implementers will be encouraged. Each project will be funded via a State of Hawaii Requisition and Purchase Order in accordance with State of Hawaii small purchase procedures. Each project will be expected to provide the following deliverables on or before June 1, 2001: 1. A project inception report providing comprehensive descriptions of all expected elements and processes of the project, e.g., work schedule, methods, personnel involved, and expected types of results. 2. A final report, synthesizing and analyzing all information gathered during the project, and providing comprehensive descriptions of all aspects of the project, e.g., scope of work, methods employed, personnel involved, results, discussion and recommendations for future research. The report will contain information presented as text, tables, figures and/or maps of quality and style suitable for reproduction in Sanctuary education and outreach publications. 3. At least one manuscript, documenting selected scientifically novel or pertinent findings of the project, suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. 4. A public outreach component. The project implementers will be expected to publicly present selected aspects of the project on at least two different occasions, e.g., Sanctuary Advisory Council meetings. 5. Research data and results in digital form compatible with State and Federal Geographical Information Systems (GIS), e.g., ArcInfo Coverage and Shape files. (For project 2 only.) 6. Acknowledgement of funding support of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and the State of Hawaii, DLNR during any public presentation and on any manuscripts or reports intended for publication. During implementation of the project, the Sanctuary will facilitate access to information from State and Federal offices and other sources as much as possible. The project implementers and the Sanctuary will share copyrights to all information presented in the project inception and completion reports, and GIS data (deliverables 2,3 and 5). Any Federal or State permits required for field research must be obtained prior to commencing field research activity or transfer of funds. How to Apply Completed proposals containing the following information must be postmarked or received at the address specified below on or before October 21, 2000. Proposals should not exceed 4 pages and must include the following: 1. A cover letter outlining the applicant's experience, approaches and other qualifications relevant to successful completion of the project. 2. A scope of work describing the applicant's plan of action, specific tasks, work schedule and personnel involved. Send completed proposals to: Jeff Walters, Co-Manager Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Division of Aquatic Resources Department of Land and Natural Resources 1151 Punchbowl, Rm 330 Honolulu, HI 96813 For more information contact Jeff Walters at (808) 587-0106 or jeffrey_s_walters(\)exec.state.hi.us ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jeffrey S. Walters, Ph.D. Co-Manager Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Department of Land and Natural Resources 1151 Punchbowl St., Rm 330 Honolulu, HI 96813 (808) 587-0106, fax (808) 587-0115 jeffrey_s_walters(\)exec.state.hi.us ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2000 08:01:01 -0700 From: ACS/Puget Sound Organization: Puget Sound Chapter of the American Cetacean Society Subject: ACS/PS General Meeting Featuring Dr. Toni Frohoff on 17 October 2000 Comments: To: MarMam Editors The next general meeting of the Puget Sound Chapter of the American Cetacean Society will be on Tuesday, 17 October at Odyssey - The Maritime Discovery Center on Pier 66 in Seattle. The meeting starts at 7:30pm and doors open at 7:00pm. As usual, our meetings are open to the pubic and free of charge. Our guest speaker will be Dr. Toni Frohoff. Her talk is entitled: "Dolphin Emotions: Beneath the Surface" Synopsis: New insights into dolphin behavior that provide compelling indications that dolphins experience rich and complex emotional lives will be discussed. This will be addressed with respect to how we may attempt to study emotions in dolphins and how this endeavor may lead us to re-evaluate the ways in which we interact with them. Biography: Dr. Toni Frohoff is a behavioral biologist who specializes in the study of marine mammal behavior. Her research on human-dolphin interactions in captivity and in the wild has contributed to management regulations in several countries and has been featured in various publications, television shows, and documentaries. She is co-editing a book about dolphins with Brenda Peterson for Sierra Club Books. Currently, with the Whale Stewardship Project and TerraMar Research, she is studying free-ranging solitary beluga whales who regularly initiate sociable interaction with people. Please let us know if you have any questions. ===================================== Joe Olson, President ACS/Puget Sound Chapter P.O. Box 17136 Seattle, WA 98107 206-297-1310 acs(\)cetaceanresearch.com www.cetaceanresearch.com/acs/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 13 Oct 0100 04:32:11 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: job announcement - involves marine mammals (fwd) http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/index.htm There is a protected species specialist position with the New Orleans office of the Minerals Management Service, U.S. Dept. of Interior. It is a GS 11/12. Below-listed is the announcement number. ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: S-00-44 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2000 12:59:00 -0700 From: Elaine Allen Subject: new website _ Marine Animal rescue Society In-Reply-To: <200010070530.sttr9u.ldn.37kbi1o(\)niles.mail.mindspring.net> The Marine Animal rescue Society would like to invite everyone to visit their new site at http://www.marineanimalrescue.org . The site includes a new message board, rescue updates and how to become a member or volunteer, links to other marine mammal sites. If you have any comments or ideas they would be greatly appreciated. We can be contacted at marineanimalrescue(\)hotmail.com Elaine Allen Marine Animal Rescue Society (MARS) marineanimalrescue(\)hotmail.com http://www.marineanimalrescue.org ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 14 Oct 2000 02:03:44 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Pythagoras Theodolite Program (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Dear MARMAM readers, We are introducing a newly developed computer program called Pythagoras, designed to assist researchers in tracking cetacean movement with a theodolite, as well as managing and analyzing collected data. The PC-based program communicates with a digital theodolite and provides a dynamic and user-friendly interface. Theodolite station information (such as the observation height, geographical position, and reference azimuth) can be saved for multiple stations and used for real-time calculation of distance, bearing, and geographic location information of each "fix". Pythagoras is dynamic in allowing researchers to define their "fix type" objects, such as dolphins, whales, and boats; and the behaviors associated with each defined object. Environmental and other data not related to the fix itself ("Non-Fix data") are also user-defined. Pythagoras provides various optional components to efficiently collect and graphically display newly entered data. Selected options include group dispersion, focal behavior, and observer data. Tide height data can be imported a priori or post-hoc to utilize predicted or "real" tide height values, respectively. Digital line (vector) maps of the researcher's study area can be imported as Arc Info (ungenerated), Surfer, and Mat lab file formats. If a study area map is imported, Pythagoras can plot in real-time the track of the objects being fixed. Data can be exported to various GIS and popular database management (i.e. Microsoft Access and Microsoft Excel) programs. Pythagoras includes an Analysis module to calculate 1) leg speed, linearity, and reorientation rates within a recorded trackline and 2) distance and course information within and between one or more trackline(s). Behavioral data can be analyzed for occurrence, frequency, and behavioral intervals (i.e. "First Surface" to "Dive" = "Surface time") for user-defined behaviors within a trackline. The program is available for free to anyone interested. You can download the program at http://www.tamug.tamu.edu/MMRP/Pythagoras/. Please note that we can not provide support for the use of the program nor the theory behind theodolite use. However, there is a help file provided to assist the program users. If you have any feedback or suggestions about Pythagoras, please contact us at either Gailey(\)tamu.edu or Joelg(\)tamu.edu. Glenn Gailey and Joel Ortega-Ortiz ___________________________________ Glenn Gailey Marine Mammal Research Program Texas A&M University at Galveston 4700 Ave. U, Bldg. 303 Galveston, TX 77551 Email: Gailey(\)tamu.edu ___________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 16 Oct 0100 00:45:36 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Conservation Genetics (fwd) Forwarded message: news about CONSERVATION GENETICS Issue 1 of a new journal on conservation genetics is now available as a free on-line copy at the following web page: http://www.wkap.nl/journalhome.htm/1566-0621 ___________________________________________________ CONSERVATION GENETICS Volume 1, Part 1 Articles Genetic variation and population structure in desert bighorn sheep: implications for conservation. GA Gutierrez-Espeleta, ST Kalinowski, WM Boyce, PW Hedrick Genetic distinction of pallid, shovelnose, and Alabama sturgeon: emerging species and the US Endangered Species Act. DE Campton, AL Bass, FA Chapman & B Bowen Relationships between population size and loss of genetic diversity: Comparisons of experimental results with theoretical predictions. ME Montgomery, LM Woodworth, RK Nurthen, DM Gilligan, DA Briscoe, R Frankham Genetic variability and gene flow in the globally, critically endangered Taita thrush. P Galbusera, L Lens, E Waiyaki, T, Schenck, E Matthysen Conservation genetics of the endangered conifer Fitzroya cupressoides in Chile and Argentina. AC Premoli, T Kitzbereger, TT Veblen Commentary Questioning species realities. AP Hendry, SM Vamosi, SJ Latham, JC Heilbuth, T Day Abandon all species concepts? - a response. JC Avise, D Walker Short Communications Caviar species identification and the polyphyletic nature of Russian sturgion: forensic and evolutionary implications. VJ Birstein, P Doukakis, R DeSalle Technical Notes A set of microsatellite loci for the hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus krefftii & L. latifrons). LB Beheregaray, P Sunnucks, DL Alpers & AC Taylor Microsatellite primers for the kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) and their utility in other parrots. BC Robertson, EO Minot, DM Lambert ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2000 14:58:48 -1100 From: "C. Scott Baker" Subject: Graduate Studies of Whales and Dolphins in New Zealand For posting on MARMAM 17 October, 2000 Opportunities for Graduate Studies of Whales and Dolphins in New Zealand Population characteristics of Bryde's whales in the Gulf of Hauraki, New Zealand. Funding is available to support a PhD student to investigate the distribution, abundance and population identity of Bryde's whales in the Gulf of Hauraki, New Zealand. The work will be based partly on a individual identification photographs and behavioral observations collected aboard a commercial whale-watch vessel operating daily from Auckland. This will be augmented by the collection of biopsy samples during directed surveys by small vessels. Interested applicants should be should have a strong background in field methods, statistics and some experience with the application of molecular markers to natural populations. Molecular ecology of bottlenose dolphins in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. Funding is being sought to support a PhD student to undertake a detailed investigation of genetic relatedness, social affiliations and habitat use among bottlenose dolphins in the Bay of Islands. Work over the past six years has provided an individual identification catalogue and extensive sighting records for nearly 400 animals in this population (R. Constantine, PhD dissertation in preparation). A permit has been approved for the collection of skin samples (using a scrub pad method) from up to 300 of these animals. Interested applicants should have a strong background in the application of molecular markers to natural populations and an interest in field work. Academic qualifications and Conditions A MSc degree in an appropriate subject or a BSc with honors is required for enrollment in a PhD program at the University of Auckland.(in some cases, a BSc or BA from a North American institution is acceptable). Applicants should be aware that overseas fees will apply to students who are not citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand or Australia. Further information on general policy for international applications can be found at: http://www.auckland.ac.nz/io/index.php3 Information on the Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Evolution can be found through links to Dr. Scott Baker or the Ecology and Evolution Research Group at http://www.sbs.auckland.ac.nz/ Applications and Deadlines Make all expressions of interest in writing to the address below accompanied by a CV and a copy of your academic record (unofficial). No email applications, please. Applications received before 15 December, 2000, will receive full attention. Dr. Scott Baker Ecology and Evolution Group School of Biological Sciences University of Auckland Private Bag 92019 Auckland, New Zealand Fax: 64-9-373-7417 C. Scott Baker, Senior Lecturer Ecology and Evolution Group School of Biological Sciences University of Auckland Private Bag 92019 Auckland, New Zealand phone: 64-9-373-7599 ext 7280 (office) or 4588 (lab) fax: 64-9-373-7417 Street address: School of Biological Sciences Thomas Bldg, Rm 110-250 3a Symonds Street Auckland, New Zealand ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2000 07:24:06 -0700 From: "Rothe, Mike" Subject: 28th ANNUAL IMATA CONFERENCE The International Marine Animal Trainers Association is holding the 28th annual conference in Playa del Carmen, Mexico October 22-27, 2000. The conference is hosted by Via Delphi and will be held at the Iberostar Quetzal hotel. http://www.imata.org/Conference/conference.html has additional information, including an overview of the conference program. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 17 Oct 0100 07:44:47 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly marine mammal summary to U.S. Congress (fwd) Forwarded message: The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS {{Polar Bears. On Oct. 16, 2000, the United States and Russia were scheduled to sign an agreement increasing protection of polar bears in AK and northeastern Siberia by setting quotas restricting how many bears can be killed for Native subsistence. In addition, the agreement will prohibit hunting in maternity denning areas, killing female bears with cubs and bears less than one year old, and use of aircraft, traps, or snares to hunt polar bears.}} [Assoc Press] {Expanded VA Stranding Center. On Oct. 10, 2000, the Virginia Beach City Council voted 10-1 to accept a $231,250 grant from the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development for design of an expanded stranding center at the VA Marine Science Museum. Animal protection groups had asked the Council to refuse the grant, expressing concern about Museum plans to construct a 1.6 million-gallon dolphin tank.} [Virginian Pilot] Steller Sea Lions. On Oct. 3, 2000, NMFS officials were reported to have 29 investigations in progress for violations of Judge Zilly's order prohibiting fishing in Steller sea lion critical habitat areas of the Bering Sea. Thus far, all the violations appear to be civil, rather than criminal. Many of the investigations arose from vessels "self-reporting" inadvertent violations of the closure boundaries. [WorldCatch News Network, Anchorage Daily News] Japanese Dolphin Hunt. On Oct. 1, 2000, the Japanese dolphin hunting season began in the central Japan port of Taiji. Plans are for fishermen to catch nearly 2,400 dolphins at Taiji, with a total of nearly 17,000 dolphins to be taken in several ports combined, before the end of April 2001. [Environmental News Network] Tuna-Dolphin. On Sept. 29, 2000, Mexican officials announced that they would take a dispute with the United States over tuna fishing to the World Trade Organization, and that Mexico might renounce an international agreement protecting dolphins that is reported to be hurting Mexican fishermen. Mexico asserts that its fishermen lose $150 million to $200 million annually because access to the U.S. market for Mexican tuna is denied. In the meantime, Mexico accuses Spanish and Ecuadorean fleets of developing predatory practices in the eastern Pacific that harm marine species other than dolphins. [WorldCatch News Network] MMC Science Program Director. On Sept. 28, 2000, Tim Ragan, NMFS Steller sea lion recovery coordinator in AK, announced his resignation, effective Oct. 31, 2000 (the day NMFS's biological opinion on Steller sea lions is due to be delivered to Judge Zilly), to become Science Program Director of the Marine Mammal Commission, Washington, DC. [WorldCatch News Network] NAMMCO Meeting. On Sept. 25-28, 2000, the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (NAMMCO) held its 10th Annual Meeting in Sandefjord, Norway. Agenda items included a report on the severely depleted status of beluga off West Greenland, the economic aspects of marine mammal- fisheries interactions, data on marine mammal bycatch, international observation of Norwegian sealing and whaling activities and pilot whaling in the Faroes, and plans for a workshop on weapons and ammunition. [NAMMCO press release] Japanese Whaling. On Sept. 21, 2000, the Japanese research whaling fleet returned to port from the northwestern Pacific, after having killed 88 whales ? 40 minke whales, 43 Bryde's whales, and 5 sperm whales. Japanese whalers reportedly plan to sample the same three species next year. Fox News, Reuters, London Times, Assoc Press, BBC News, Yomiuri Shimbun] FL Manatees. As of Sept. 18, 2000, at least 68 manatees were reported to have been killed in FL waters from boat collisions during 2000. {{In mid- October 2000, the FL Governor's Office has scheduled a "manatee summit" to consider what measures might be necessary to better protect manatees.}} [Assoc Press, Humane Society of the United States press release] Right Whales. In mid-September 2000, the Canadian Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans and Environment Canada announced the award of grants totaling $371,000 to develop a sonar technique to help ships avoid collisions with right whales in the Bay of Fundy, test fishing gear designed to release entangled whales, and analyze right whale distribution and ship traffic so that shipping lanes can be adjusted in the bay of Fundy to prevent ship strikes on whales. {On Oct. 6, 2000, The Humane Society of the United States filed suit against NMFS in U.S. District Court (Boston), demanding increased efforts to protect north Atlantic right whales from death and injury. Humane Society officials reportedly believe the current right whale protection plan is inadequate.} [Humane Society of the U.S. press release, Environment News Service] Brazilian Whale Sanctuary. In mid-September 2000, Brazil's President Fernando Henrique Cardoso signed a decree establishing an Environmental Protection Area in the state of Santa Catarina to protect a southern right whale birthing and nursery site. [Environmental News Network] Items in this Summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 18 Oct 0100 00:00:48 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: New website - Sea Mammal Ecology Group, Australia (fwd) From: Simon Goldsworthy The Sea Mammal Ecology Group (SMEG, La Trobe University) would like to announce its new website (http://www.zoo.latrobe.edu.au/sdg). The site describes the ecological research being undertaken by the SMEG on marine mammals in Australia and the Southern Ocean. Most of this work is on the population ecology, foraging ecology, molecular ecology and behavioural ecology the fur seals - primarily the Antarctic, subantarctic and New Zealand fur seals. The website includes contact details, profiles on staff and students at the SMEG, details of the current research programmes, links to collaborating institutions and recent publications and links. We would appreciate any constructive comments on the site. Cheers Simon Dr Simon Goldsworthy (s.goldsworthy(\)zoo.latrobe.edu.au) Lecturer Department of Zoology Latrobe University Victoria 3086, Australia Ph: 61-3-9479 1983 Fax: 61 -3- 9479 1551 http://www.zoo.latrobe.edu.au/sdg ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2000 22:48:22 -0400 From: Lizz Singh Subject: next Florida student meeting The next meeting of the Florida regional student chapter will be held on November 11th at the Tampa campus of the University of South Florida. For more information, please contact Lizz Singh (lizz(\)marine.usf.edu) or Jennifer Lewis (jennifer.lewis(\)mail.ua.edu). Also, be sure to check out our web page at http://ompl.marine.usf.edu/mmsg It is constantly being updated with the latest regional happenings. Thanks. Lizz Singh University of South Florida lizz(\)marine.usf.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2000 16:14:02 -0400 From: Steven Christopher Subject: 2001 Round-Robin Trace Elements in Marine Mammals This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------9595E2F391ECE2D164D6352D My name is Steven Christopher and I am the trace metals chemist at NIST Charleston, USA. NIST Charleston provides specimen banking, quality assurance, measurement and research services to the analytical marine community under the vehicle of the National Marine Analytical Quality Assurance Program (NMAQAP) and through support from the NOAA/NMFS Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (Dr. Teresa K. Rowles, Program Manager). Activities include the production of reference and proficiency testing materials that are distributed in annual interlaboratory comparison exercises, performing baseline analytical measurements on marine mammal samples collected and stored in the National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank (a component of the National Biomonitoring Specimen Bank), and conducting interdisciplinary research with various partners at the new Marine Environmental Health and Research Laboratory (MEHRL) in Charleston, SC. This year (2000) marked the inauguration of the Interlaboratory Comparison Exercise for the Determination of Trace Elements in Marine Mammals. In all, 7 U.S. laboratories participated. A Beluga whale liver homogenate sample (unknown) was issued along with a Pilot Whale Liver Control sample that has reference values for 39 trace elements. A NIST traceability sample (SRM 1946 Lake Superior Fish Tissue) was also issued as an unknown in the exercise. I am posting to MARMAM to increase the visibility of the NIST Charleston activities (http://www.cstl.nist.gov/nist839/NCWebsite.html) and to determine if there are additional laboratories that would perhaps be interested in participating in the 2001 round-robin exercise. Interested parties can email me directly at steven.christopher(\)nist.gov. --------------9595E2F391ECE2D164D6352D name="steven.christopher.vcf" filename="steven.christopher.vcf" begin:vcard n:Christopher;Steven tel;fax:843-762-8724 tel;work:843-762-8562 x-mozilla-html:FALSE org:NIST-Charleston adr:;;219 Fort Johnson Road;Charleston;SC;29412; version:2.1 email;internet:steven.christopher(\)nist.gov title:Research Chemist fn:Steven J. Christopher, Ph.D. end:vcard --------------9595E2F391ECE2D164D6352D-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 20 Oct 0100 09:49:17 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: ACS 7th International Conference (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Katy Penland FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Whales 2000 Conference to be held Nov. 17-19, 2000 in Monterey, CA Whales 2000: Celebrating the Past, Working for the Future, is the theme of the 7th International Conference hosted by the American Cetacean Society (ACS), the oldest whale conservation organization in the world. Founded in 1967, ACS's mission is the protection of whales, dolphins and porpoises through public education, research grants and conservation action. ACS's educational programs and conferences are designed to bridge the gap between the world of scientific research and the general public. Whales 2000 features world-renowned scientists, writers, and artists in a program centered around four primary themes: Hot Issues in Whale Conservation featuring Dr. Phil Clapham (right whales), Dr. Peter Ross (ocean toxins), and author Brenda Peterson (gray whales and the Makah); Legislative Issues in Whale Conservation featuring Dr. Steve Palumbi (DNA tracking of whale meat) and Karen Steuer (CITES); Advances in Marine Mammal Science featuring Dr. Bruce Mate (satellite tracking of blue whales), Dr. Bernd Wursig (cetaceans and climate change), and Dr. Don Croll (the place of whales in the ecosystem); and The Future of Whaling and Whale Management featuring Dr. Mark Orams (whaling in Tonga) and Dr. Linda Weilgart (the Precautionary Principle). There are also important panels covering ocean acoustics, whale entanglements and marine debris, the reauthorization and future of the Marine Mammal Protection and Endangered Species Acts, as well as a technology workshop featuring the highly specialized equipment scientists must use to study animals who spend most of their lives out of sight of humans. An Art Show, Poster Session, Silent Auction, Raffle, Banquet, and Author Booksigning round out conference activities. The conference takes place at the Monterey Conference Center's Steinbeck Forum. The conference is dedicated to long-time marine researchers and environmentalists, Alan & Sheila Baldridge, and the conference's kick-off reception honoring them will be held Friday night, Nov. 17, at the beautiful Monterey Bay Aquarium. The reception is co-hosted by Friends of Hopkins Marine Station, Friends of the Sea Otter, Save Our Shores, Audubon Society of Monterey, Sierra Club of Monterey, Friends of Moss Landing Research Laboratory, Elkhorn Slough Foundation, Friends of Long Marine Laboratories,and ACS. Anyone interested in whales, dolphins and porpoises, and the oceans they inhabit, should attend. The conference is open to everyone, and marine biology students are paricularly urged to attend. Registration forms, information on hotels, field trips and the full program schedule, are available on ACS's website: www.acsonline.org, or contact ACS's national headquarters at the numbers below. American Cetacean Society P.O. Box 1391 San Pedro, CA 90733-1391 Ph: 310-548-6279 Fx: 310-548-6950 Email: acs(\)pobox.com http://www.acsonline.org ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 21 Oct 2000 03:33:06 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: new book on bottlenose dolphins (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- The Bottlenose Dolphin: Biology and Conservation presents for the first time a comprehensive, colorfully illustrated, and concise overview of a species that has fascinated humans for at least 3,000 years. After reviewing historical myths and legends of the dolphin back to the ancient Greeks and discussing current human attitudes and interactions, the authors replace myths with facts--up-to-date scientific assessment of dolphin evolution, behavior, ecology, morphology, reproduction, and genetics--while also tackling the difficult issues of dolphin conservation and management. Although comprehensive enough to be of great value to professionals, educators, and students, the book is written in a manner that all dolphin lovers will enjoy. Randall Wells's anecdotes interspersed throughout the work offer a first-hand view of dolphin encounters and research based on three decades working with them. Color photographs and nearly 100 black and white illustrations, including many by National Geographic photographer Flip Nicklin, beautifully enhance the text. Readers of The Bottlenose Dolphin will better appreciate what dolphins truly are and do, as well as understand some of the controversies surrounding them. While raising compelling questions, the book provides a wealth of information on a legendary species that is loved and admired by many people. John E. Reynolds, professor of marine science at Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida, is chair of the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission. He has written over 100 articles on marine mammal biology and conservation and is coauthor with Daniel K. Odell of Manatees and Dugongs and coeditor of Biology of Marine Mammals. Randall S. Wells is a behavioral ecologist with the Conservation Biology Department of the Chicago Zoological Society and adjunct associate professor of ocean sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He also serves as director of the Center for Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Research at Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida, where he conducts the world's longest running study of wild dolphins. Samantha D. Eide, a graduate student at the University of South Florida, is field leader for the Eckerd College Dolphin Project, St. Petersburg, Florida. CONTENTS: 1. A Crisis at the Turn of the Twenty-First Century? 2. Bottlenose Dolphins: Special or Not? 3. Dolphin Evolution: Origins and Outcomes 4. Function and Structure 5. Life History Strategies 6. The Daily Lives of Dolphins 7. Intelligence and Cognition 8. Human Interactions with Dolphins 9. The Stock Question: Lumpers vs. Splitters 10. Conservation Strategies and Legislation Glossary Notes,=20 Bibliography Index 304pp. 6 X 9. 13 color plates, 59 b&w photos, 36 figures, 4 tables, glossary, notes, bibliography, index. ISBN 0-8130-1775-0 Cloth, $34.95 Available through full service booksellers, online at www.upf.com, or via credit card direct from University Press of Florida at 1-800-226-3822. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =20 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2000 12:43:20 -0400 Reply-To: jhannah(\)imma.org From: Janice Hannah Organization: IMMA Inc. Subject: Information on creating man made seal islands The following message has been forwarded to me for information. If anyone could help this gentleman out by emailing information or contacts to me (address at the bottom), it would be greatly appreciated. I would assume that he would also be interested in success/failure stories from anyone who has tried a similar project. Thank you very much. I am working on drilling projects in the north east Caspian. The plan is to build some artificial islands from limestone and place a land rig on the island. Part of the reason for this is that some areas are too shallow for even swamp barge rigs. Plus, swamp barges have to be reworked to stand up to ice loads in winter. Usually ice and swamp rigs are two different things. Anyway, we want to make the point that these artificial structures if left in place after drilling will be good habitat for wildlife. Seals are a big concern here and haul out to pup on some islands to the south of our area. Do you know of any relevant studies I might reference? ___________________________________________________ Janice Hannah Education Coordinator and Research Associate International Marine Mammal Association (IMMA) 1474 Gordon Street, Guelph, ON, Canada N1L 1C8 http://www.imma.org 519-767-1948 ext. 27 (tel) 519-767-0284 (fax) jhannah(\)imma.org ___________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2000 12:24:10 -0700 From: John Foss Subject: Sanctions on Japan for Whaling Farm Associations and NFI Oppose Sanctions on Japan for Whaling Seafood.com Oct. 16- A group of U.S. farm organizations has sent a letter to the U.S. administration protesting possible economic sanctions against Japan over whaling violations. The farm groups say =93By imposing unilateral restrictions on imports of Japanese products, the U.S. could potentially be found guilty of violating its WTO obligations. ..An unfavorable WTO ruling could authorize Japan to impose countermeasures against U.S. exports..=94 The National Fisheries Institute has also strongly opposed economic sanctions against Japan over the whaling issue, and joined the farm organizations in sending the letter. [News and commentary written or edited by John Sackton at www.seafood.com, the web site for commercial seafood buyers, sellers and consumers. Email Comments.] ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 21 Oct 2000 03:43:50 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Harbor Seal Aggression (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Heather Bumbalough The North Carolina Zoo houses two intact, ten year old, male Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina). The seals share their habitat with 1.2 California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus); the male is neutered, but the females are not. When the seals reached sexual maturity they began to demonstrate seasonal aggression. Until this past year the aggression only lasted for two to three weeks beginning in mid July. This year, however, the period of aggression lasted from the final days of June through mid August. In addition, the aggression was much more severe. Both animals received multiple injuries. It should be noted that this year, unlike in the past, the seals physically separated themselves when the subordinate seal "hid" in the holding area. Keepers believe that this voluntary separation contributed to the length of time that the aggression lasted. The Pinniped staff at the NC Zoo would like to prevent or at least minimize these injuries as well as the accompanying stress associated with seasonal aggression. We are interested in learning if other institutions have had the same or similar problems. Also, what is being done to prevent or improve the situation? For example, we would like to know if any of the following have been attempted and what the results were, separation, hormonal treatment, neutering or behavior modification through operant conditioning. Thank you for your assistance in this matter, Lynn Klein - Keeper II Rocky Coast ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 23 Oct 2000 15:50:32 GMT0BST From: Christopher Sweeting Subject: Request for NAtlantic sample material Dear subscribers My name is Chris Sweeting (E-mail Christopher.Sweeting(\)ncl.ac.uk) i'm a PhD student with the department Marine Sciences at the University of Newcastle, UK and first I would like to thank all those on Marmam that aided me in references on my undergraduate project almost a year ago looking at stable isotopes of hooded seal teeth. (references can be found below) I have now been granted a PhD studentship working on a very similar issue - working title "Large scale changes in North Atlantic food webs using stable isotope ratios of top predators" and am looking for material for this project. The project is now much wider than my honours project potentially involving many types of mammalian top predators. I am therefore asking if anyone has any materials of any predatory marine mammal that they would be willing to contribute, particularly teeth (of greatest value) or bone. It would be most valuable were this material in a time series (although it may be possible to construct a series from different sources) and ideally as long as possible. Other tissues can be used (e.g. blubber, muscle, gonads) but do have complications. In addition i am looking to also to obtain a set of samples where the same tissue from one animal has been stored in several ways. This in theory can be any type of tissue, however treatment must include freezing or freeze drying plus any other method(s) e.g. formalin, alcohol, oven dry...... Potentially all samples can be smaller than 1g dwt, although sampling is destructive. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Please find included below a reference list which was in part provided by Marmam subscribers on teeth and isotopes. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all contributors again. (Sorry no italic etc as there is no text formating on my e-mail system) > > > Chris Sweeting > > Benjaminsen, T. (1973). Age determination and the growth and age > distribution from cementum growth layers of bearded seals at > Svalbard. Fiskeridirektoratets Skrifter Serie Havundersokelse 16, > 159-170 > > Born, E.W. (1982). Reproduction in the female hooded seal, > Cystophora cristata Erxleben, at South Greenland. Journal of > Northwest Atlantic Fishery Science 3, 57-62. > > Bowen, W.D. Sergeant, D.E. and Ortsland, T. (1983). Validation of > age estimation in the harp seal, Phoca groenlandica, using dental > annuli. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 40, > 1430-1441 > > Boyd, I.L. Lunn, N.J. Rothery, P. and Croxall, J.P. (1990). Age > distribution of breeding female Antarctic fur seals in relation to > changes in population growth rate. Canadian Journal of Zoology 68, > 2209-2213 > > Brent, K.E. Hammill, M.O. and Kovacs K.M. (1996). Age estimation of > grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) using incisors. Marine Mammal > Science 12(3), 476-482 > > Bryant, D.J. Luz, B. and Froelich, P.N. (1994). Oxygen isotopic > composition of fossil horse tooth phosphate as a record of > continental palaeoclimate. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, > Palaeoecology 107, 303-316 > > Burns, J.M. Castellini, M.A. & Testa, J.W. (1999). Movements and > diving behavior of weaned weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) > pups. Polar Biology 21(1), 23-36 > > DeNiro, M.J. and Epstein, S. (1978). Influence of diet on the > distribution of carbon isotopes in animals. Geochimica et > Chosmochimica Acta 42, 495-506 > > DeNiro, M.J. and Epstein, S. (1981). Influence of diet on the > distribution of nitrogen isotopes in animals. Geochimica et > Chosmochimica Acta 45, 3341-351 > > Dietz, R. Heide-Jorgensen, M.-P. Harkonen, T. Teilmann,J. and > Valentin, N. (1991). Age determination of the European harbour seal, > Phoca vitulina L. Sarsia 76, 17-21 > > Folkow, L.P. and Blix, A.S. (1999). Diving behaviour of hooded seals > (Cystophora cristata) in the Greenland and Norwegian Seas. Polar > Biology 22(1), 61-74 > > Fricke, H.C. and O'Neil, J.R. (1996). Inter- and intra-tooth > variation in the oxygen isotope composition of mammalian tooth > enamel phosphate: implications for palaeoclimatological and > palaeobiological research. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, > Palaeoecology 126, 91-99 > > Gearing, J.N. 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Interfacing an automatic > elemental analyser with an isotopic ratio mass spectrometer: The > Analyst 108 971-977 > > Reeves, R.R. and Ling, J.K. (1981). Hooded Seals in Handbook of > Marine Mammals: Volume 2 - Seals (Ridgeway, S.H. and Harrison R.J. > Eds) London, Academic Press > > Scheffer, V.B. (1950). Growth layers on teeth of Pinnepedia as an > indication of age. Science 112, 309-311 > > Scheffer, V.B. and Myrick Jr, A.C. (1980). A review of studies to > 1970 of growth layer s in teeth and marine mammals. Age > determination of toothed whales and sirenians. Report to the > International Whaling. Commission Special Issue 3, 229 > > Schell, D.M. (2000). Declining carrying capacity in the Bering Sea: > Isotopic evidence from whale baleen. Limnology and Oceanography > 45(2), 459-462 > > Schiavini, A.C.M. Lima, M. and Batalles, L.M. (1992). Growth > structures of maxillary canines of the southern fur seal > (Arctocephalus australis). 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(1970). Elements of Marine Ecology: an introductory > course. London, Butterworths > > Wainright, S.C. Fogarty, M.J. Greenfield, R.C.,and Fry, B. (1993). > Long-term changes in the George's Bank food web: trends in stable > isotope compositions of fish scales. Marine Biology 118: 481-493 > > Walker, J.L. Potter, C.W. and Macko, S.A. (1999). The diets of > Modern and historic bottlenose dolphin populations reflected through > stable isotopes. Marine Mammal Science 15(2), 335-350 > > Walker, J.L. and Macko, S.A. (1999). Dietary studies of marine > mammals using stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios of teeth. > Marine Mammal Science 15(2) 314-334 > > Chris Sweeting -------------------- Christopher Sweeting Dept of Marine Sciences University of Newcastle Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU Tel +44 (0)191 2225345 Fax 0191 2227891 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 23 Oct 2000 13:03:33 -0400 From: Keith Ronald Subject: Marine Mammal Management, Distance Education Please note that the second edition of the certificate, undergraduate and graduate degree course "Marine Mammal Management" will be offered by the Oceanographic Center of Nova Southeastern University through Distance Education to candidates anywhere in the world . Although this course will not be given this term (October-December 2000) it will be run from January 2 -March, 2001 registrations opens December 15th. Please review the web site www.nova.edu/ocean/marmam/marmam.html and contact me afterwards if you wish further information, Professor Keith Ronald kronald(\)nova.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 24 Oct 0100 00:02:34 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Job Opportunity (fwd) From: Steven Swartz U. S. Department of Commerce RECRUITMENT ANNOUNCEMENT National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Opening Date: 10/10/00 Closing Date: 11/07/00 Position Title: Interdisciplinary - Research Fishery Biologist/Research Biologist/ Mathematical Statistician Series & Grade: GS-0482/0401/1529-12 Duty Station: Miami, Florida Vacancy Number: C/NMFS/01003.CAH -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Organization: National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Fisheries Science Center Protected Resources and Biodiversity Division -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Area of Consideration: Non-Status applicants nationwide. Plus DOC CTAP applicants nationwide, ICTAP applicants within the local commuting area. Veterans who are preference eligibles or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after 3 years or more of continuous active service may apply. Work Schedule: Full-time Type of Appointment: Permanent Number of Vacancies: One Service: Competitive Promotion Potential: GS-12 Salary Range: $51,557 to $67,022 per year -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note: Only one position will be filled. Specify the position title/series for which you are applying. If you wish to be considered for more than one position title/ series, then you must submit a separate application package for each. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- RELOCATION EXPENSES ARE AUTHORIZED FOR ELIGIBLE STATUS APPLICANTS. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Duties: Develops and undertakes analyses of marine mammal population data to contribute to status of stock assessments for protected species of marine mammals in Region, including the writing of final and peer reviewed articles reporting findings of research. Develops, reviews and comments on proposed experimental designs for surveys of marine mammal populations in Region to assure that scientifically and statistically valid data are collected. Participates in field studies, particularly population assessment surveys for marine mammals to evaluate and recommend improvements in the design of such field programs. Qualifications: Applicants must possess the following Basic Requirements for each title/series for which they apply: Research Fishery Biologist (GS-0482) - Applicants must have a degree in biology, zoology or biological oceanography that included at least 30 semester hours in biological and aquatic science and 15 semester hours in the physical and mathematical sciences. This course work must have included: - At least 15 semester hours of preparatory training in zoology beyond introductory biology or zoology in such courses as invertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy, histology, physiology, embryology, advanced vertebrate zoology, genetics, entomology, and parasitology; and - At least 6 semester hours of training applicable to fishery biology in such subjects as fishery biology, ichthyology, limnology, oceanography, algology, planktonology, marine or fresh water ecology, invertebrate ecology, principles of fishery population dynamics, or related course work in the field of fishery biology; and - At least 15 semester hours of training in any combination of two or more of the following: chemistry, physics, mathematics, or statistics. Research Biologist (GS-0401): Applicants must possess A or B as described. A. Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR B. Combination of education and experience--Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Mathematical Statistician (GS-1529): Applicants must possess A or B as described. A. Degree: that included 24 semester hours of mathematics and statistics, of which at least 12 semester hours were in mathematics and 6 semester hours were in statistics. OR B. Combination of education and experience--at least 24 semester hours of mathematics and statistics, including at least 12 hours in mathematics and 6 hours in statistics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. In addition applicants must possess at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the federal service. Specialized experience is experience which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and which is typically in or related to the position to be filled. This includes experience that is in or related to one or more of the following areas: fishery biology, biology, or statistics. OR Possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree may be combined with appropriate experience. Selective Placement Factors: None. Knowledge/Skills & Abilities (KSA): Applicants MUST include a supplemental sheet describing how their experience and education relates to each KSA. 1) Knowledge of existing state-of-the-art mathematical and statistical models applicable to population biology studies. 2) Knowledge of techniques for mark-and-recapture analyses. 3) Knowledge of the biological processes underlying mammalian population dynamics. 4) Demonstrated abilities with various computer package/languages to include SAS, S-Plus, Fortran, and Visual Basic. 5) Ability to communicate in person and in writing Application Address: Contact: Cheryl A. Hensley DOC/NOAA/CASC - Human Resources 816/426-5016 x311 601 E 12th Street, Room 1737 816/426-7085 FAX Kansas City, MO 64106 816/426-7471 TDD For listing of selectees, please see our selection results website: http://www.casc.noaa.gov/hrd/results.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------- REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Provide the following information: a. The recruitment announcement number, position title, and grade level(s); b. Your full name, social security number, day and evening phone numbers, mailing address, country of citizenship, veterans preference, reinstatement eligibility, and highest Federal civilian grade ever held on a permanent basis; c. The name, city and state of high schools attended and date of diploma or GED; d. The name, city and state of colleges/universities attended, majors, type and date of degrees; e. The job titles, duties and accomplishments, salaries, employers' names and addresses, supervisors' names and phone numbers, starting and ending dates, and hours per week of any paid or non-paid work experience that relates to this vacancy; f. A statement as to whether or not we may contact your current supervisor; g. Any job-related training courses, special skills, certificates and licenses, honors, or awards. 2. Use a resume, Optional Application for Federal Employment form (OF-612), Application for Federal Employment (SF-171), or any other written format, and send it to the Application Address. 3. Meet all eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date. 4. Ensure that the application is postmarked by the closing date and received within the Human Resources office within five calendar days. Applications transmitted by facsimile machine are acceptable but must be received by the closing date. This agency bears no responsibility for ensuring that our machines are available for receipt of applications or for the quality of the copies. Note: Department of Commerce Career Transition Assistance Program eligibles may apply at any time until a certificate of eligibles is issued. 5. Apply at your own expense. Applications mailed in government postage-paid envelopes will not be accepted. Facsimiles from non-government machines are acceptable. 6. Submit a copy of your college transcripts to verify education. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. 7. Submit a copy of your DD-214 if you are a candidate without status who claims veterans' preference. 8. Submit a copy of Standard Form 15 and a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying your disability if you are a candidate without status who claims 10-point veterans' preference. The form may be obtained from Federal human resources offices. 9. False statements on an application may lead to loss of consideration for Federal employment, removal and punishment by fine or imprisonment. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SPECIAL INTEREST INSTRUCTIONS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance program (ICTAP) eligibles: a. CTAP eligibles must submit a copy of their specific RIF notice and documentation from their agency reflecting the promotion potential of their most recent Federal position. b. ICTAP eligibles must submit one of the following as proof of eligibility for selection priority: a separation notice; a "Notification of Personnel Action" (SF-50) documenting separation; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation as been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; OR a Military Department or National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 6 U.S.C. 8837(h) or 8456. c. CTAP and ICTAP eligibles will be given selection priority if rated well-qualified by meeting the critical quality ranking factors (as identified by an asterisk on each announcement). To be rated well-qualified candidates must meet or exceed the fully satisfactory level (or equivalent) of the crediting plan. 2. Current and former Federal employees are encouraged to: a. Submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal; and b. Include a copy of their last Notice of Personnel Action, SF-50. 3. Handicapped, disabled veteran, VRA and other eligibles for noncompetitive appointments under special appointing authorities must clearly specify this eligibility on their applications and be prepared to show proof upon request. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GENERAL INFORMATION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Applicants must meet the citizenship requirements defined in the Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government Appropriations Act. New appointees must present proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States. 2. Any required investigations and clearances must be completed before a selectee is placed in the position. 3. Male selectees born after December 31, 1959, must certify their Selective Service registration status using forms available at most Federal agency human resources offices. 4. Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): The information requested here is used to determine qualifications for employment and is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361. 5. You will not be notified of vacancy outcome and we cannot return your application. 6. Salaries shown for this vacancy include locality pay. Applicants interested in relocating to a different geographic location should be aware that their salary is subject to change. 7. Applicants without previous Federal service begin at the minimum salary quoted. 8. Those selected from outside the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will be required to complete the Declaration for Federal Employment, OF-306. 9. Applicants are evaluated on the basis of the type and quality of job related experience, training, and awards (indicate dates received) and are encouraged to submit a supplementary statement addressing how they meet the knowledge, skills and abilities. 10. Failure to submit all required documents and information requested by the specified date of this announcement may result in your not receiving full consideration. Applicant's qualifications will be evaluated solely on the information submitted in their applications. It is the applicant's responsibility to provide Selective Placement Factor(s) if required; Knowledge/Skills/Abilities; and documentation/proof of claimed qualifications, education, veterans preference, status (SF-50) and/or verification of eligibility for non-competitive appointment will not be contacted for additional information if their applications are incomplete or inadequate. 11. If no well-qualified DOC CTAP eligibles apply for this vacancy, first consideration may be given to permanent NOAA employees with competitive status. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Department of Commerce (DOC) does not condone or tolerate discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Steven L. Swartz, Ph.D. Chief, Protected Species and Biodiversity Branch Southeast Fisheries Science Center NOAA Fisheries 75 Virginia Beach Drive Miami, Florida 33149 Phone : 305-361-4487 FAX: 305-361-4478 e-mail: steven.swartz(\)noaa.gov ========================================== ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 23 Oct 2000 13:21:40 -0700 From: Larry Fletcher Subject: Whales that give new meaning to longevity (fwd) ------ Science News Week of Oct. 14, 2000; Vol. 158, No. 16 Cetacean Seniors By Janet Raloff Like a stream of massive torpedoes, thousands of blubbery dynamos are making a southwest migration through the icy Arctic Ocean. They're bowhead whales heading toward winter haunts in the Bering Sea, just north of the Aleutian Islands. Along the way, I=F1upiat Eskimos in Alaska will legally harvest severa= l of these endangered mammals-30-to-60-foot-long behemoths that sometimes tip the scales at 50 tons or more. Having hunted these whales for centuries, the I=F1upiat are keen observers of the bowhead (Balaena mysticetus). Their tales recall whales that hunters had recognized by distinctive scars. In some cases, several generations of storytellers described encountering the same whale, leading to speculation that bowheads might live some 60 years. Studies now suggest that these whales can actually outlive people-perhaps by a century. The new research was triggered by hunters finding ancient harpoon points in the foot-thick blubber of newly landed whales. Six points made of stone or ivory have turned up since 1981. None of the I=F1upia= t subsistence whalers could remember having seen such primitive tools used. ancient harpoon points Ancient harpoon points found in modern whales include two of slate, two of stone, a triangular metal blade, and an ivory head bearing a piercing metal blade, which perhaps represents a transitional type. (George and Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission) "You have to understand that [the I=F1upiat] are technological pickpockets," quips biologist David W. Norton, with a grin of respect. Now working in Fairbanks, he conducted research in Barrow, Alaska, over roughly 3 decades. During that time, he saw I=F1upiat hunters in Alaska's northernmost county, the North Slope Borough, quickly embrace any useful technology to which they were exposed. Indeed, history shows that as soon as I=F1upiat whalers gained access to metal, around 1870, they swapped it for stone and ivory in their tools. Against that backdrop, the old harpoon points suggest that at least some contemporary bowheads are survivors of run-ins with whalers 100 years earlier, observes biologist Todd M. O'Hara of the borough's Department of Wildlife Management in Barrow. To investigate this provocative possibility, O'Hara's colleague J. Craig George began looking for a way to determine the age of elder bowheads. A little research led him to Jeffrey L. Bada of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, Calif. A geochemist, Bada has been refining a technique for dating fossils on the basis of changes in their aspartic acid. This amino acid can exist in either of two mirror-image forms. Living things make and use only the left-handed version. However, after death, a body's aspartic acid gradually converts to a 50-50 mix of the two forms. In fossils, that conversion takes about 1 million years. Bada's team had shown that this change in the ratio also occurs in living animals' body parts that are not undergoing metabolism, such as teeth and the lens of the eye. In such tissues, body heat sets the pace of change in the ratio of left-handed to right-handed aspartic acid. Indeed, the conversion rate appears to be identical in the lenses of all animals with the same basic body temperature. The scientists have tested more than 20 species, including people and bowhead whales. Bada offered to help calculate the age of North Slope bowheads from that ratio of the two forms of aspartic acid in eye lenses. George sent tissues from 48 bowhead whales to Bada without letting him know whether each had come from an infant, juvenile, young adult, or mature adult. The chemist's assays accurately dated the relative age of the young whales and indicated that most adults had been 20 to 60 years old at death. However, the lens analyses from five large males suggested that at the time that I=F1upiat hunters harpooned them, one was 90, four were between 135 and 180, and one was more than 200 years old. O'Hara's group has recently recruited two other research teams to apply other techniques to estimate bowhead ages. Next month, for instance, Mark Baskaran of Wayne State University in Detroit expects to start measuring radioactive lead in samples of bowhead bone. The lead isotope forms during the decay of radium, a naturally occurring calciumlike radionuclide in seawater. Because both the radium and lead decay at known rates, Baskaran can use their ratio to determine the age of bones more than a year old. Cheryl Rosa of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks plans to assay pentosidine in samples of whales' skin. Aging leads to a progressive build-up of this chemical in many animals' skin. Rosa envisions eventually using it to determine the ages of living whales. A tethered dart can extract a small chunk of skin from a passing animal. Rosa notes, "The whale doesn't even seem to notice." Bada points out that these complementary studies are important to confirm the longevity indicated by his work. They might even provide further surprises. Unless whales' eyes are much warmer than people's and therefore have a faster aspartic acid conversion rate, Bada says, "what we have assigned the bowheads are only minimum ages-which is staggering! These are truly aged animals, perhaps the most long-lived mammals." However, he points out that other members of the whale family may also have the capacity to be centenarians, even if they don't live as long as bowheads. Bada claims to have "a bunch of pretty compelling data" to suggest several other whales can get "quite old." From Science News, [16]Vol. 158, No. 16, Oct. 14, 2000, p. 254. 1. http://sciencenews.org/index.asp -- end of forwarded message -- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2000 13:39:47 CEST From: Gauthier Chapelle Subject: Group of striped dolphins in harbour Hello everyone, On the 23rd of September, 7 striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) entered the Mediterranean French harbour of the island "Les Embiez", west of the main military base Toulon. 2 of them left on the night between the 28th and 29th, leaving behind 5 of them, all of which were juveniles not longer than 1.5 meters (I have no informations yet about the size of the 2 others). When we went a second time there, on the 6th of October, only one specimen was still there. Another 2 had left, and one was dead (her body was found 4 days after her disappearance, and partly dissected. The head is still waiting for an ear dissecting protocole, due to the proximity of the Navy harbour of Toulon). The final specimen disappeared during the night between the 13th and 14th. The follow up of the event has been ensured mainly by Pascal Mayol (NGO "Souffleurs d'icume") & Eric Demay (DVMC, cineast), with the collaboration of at least Frank Dhermain (GECEM), Malourhne Corbeille (Cetus) and Pierre Beaubrun (EPHE). Some of us will prepare a more detailed report to be posted later, meanwhile we would like to know if anybody of you is aware of such an entrance of A GROUP of striped dolphins in any other harbour. We are aware of (very few) stranded alive, or "ambassador" solitary dolphins, but not of any groups. Would anybody fill the gap ? Thanks in advance, Gauthier CHAPELLE Association CETUS ...................................... Gauthier CHAPELLE IRSNB rue Vautier 29 1000 Bruxelles tel: ** 32 2 627 42 78 fax: ** 32 2 627 42 77 email: chapelle(\)kbinirsnb.be (work) or reymchap(\)village.uunet.be (home) ...................................... _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 25 Oct 0100 13:48:59 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly marine mammal summary to U.S. Congress (fwd) Forwarded message: The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS Polar Bears. On Oct. 16, 2000, the United States and Russia signed an agreement increasing protection of polar bears in AK and northeastern Siberia by setting quotas restricting how many bears can be killed for Native subsistence. In addition, the agreement will prohibit hunting in maternity denning areas, all commercial hunting, killing female bears with cubs and bears less than one year old, and use of aircraft, traps, or snares to hunt polar bears. [Assoc Press] FL Manatees. On Oct. 19, 2000, FL Governor Jeb Bush convened a 20- member panel of diverse interests for a "Manatee Summit" in Tallahassee to consider what measures might be necessary to better protect manatees while respecting the rights of boaters. [Assoc Press, Humane Society of the United States press release, Orlando Sentinel] {Nuisance Fur Seals. On Oct. 18, 2000, Tasmanian government officials announced that they had decided to permit the killing of certain nuisance fur seals, a protected species, if translocation did not solve the problem and the animal had been previously tagged as an offensive individual. Aggressive acts by seals against commercial fishermen led to this change in policy.} [Sydney Morning Herald] Expanded VA Stranding Center. On Oct. 10, 2000, the Virginia Beach City Council voted 10-1 to accept a $231,250 grant from the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development for design of an expanded stranding center at the VA Marine Science Museum. Animal protection groups had asked the Council to refuse the grant, expressing concern about Museum plans to construct a 1.6 million-gallon dolphin tank. [Virginian Pilot] Right Whales. On Oct. 6, 2000, The Humane Society of the United States filed suit against NMFS in U.S. District Court (Boston), demanding increased efforts to protect north Atlantic right whales from death and injury. Humane Society officials reportedly believe the current right whale protection plan is inadequate. [Humane Society of the U.S. press release, Environment News Service] Steller Sea Lions. On Oct. 3, 2000, NMFS officials were reported to have 29 investigations in progress for violations of Judge Zilly's order prohibiting fishing in Steller sea lion critical habitat areas of the Bering Sea. Thus far, all the violations appear to be civil, rather than criminal. Many of the investigations arose from vessels "self-reporting" inadvertent violations of the closure boundaries. {{On Oct. 20, 2000, NMFS announced a delay, until Nov. 30, 2000, in the public release of its comprehensive biological opinion assessing the effects of groundfish fisheries in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska on Steller sea lions and their critical habitat. NMFS officials believe the delay will not foreclose the opening of the January 2001 fishery.}} [WorldCatch News Network, Anchorage Daily News, NMFS press release] Japanese Dolphin Hunt. On Oct. 1, 2000, the Japanese dolphin hunting season began in the central Japan port of Taiji. Plans are for fishermen to catch nearly 2,400 dolphins at Taiji, with a total of nearly 17,000 dolphins to be taken in several ports combined, before the end of April 2001. [Environmental News Network] Tuna-Dolphin. On Sept. 29, 2000, Mexican officials announced that they would take a dispute with the United States over tuna fishing to the World Trade Organization, and that Mexico might renounce an international agreement protecting dolphins that is reported to be hurting Mexican fishermen. Mexico asserts that its fishermen lose $150 million to $200 million annually because access to the U.S. market for Mexican tuna is denied. In the meantime, Mexico accuses Spanish and Ecuadorean fleets of developing predatory practices in the eastern Pacific that harm marine species other than dolphins. [WorldCatch News Network] MMC Science Program Director. On Sept. 28, 2000, Tim Ragan, NMFS Steller sea lion recovery coordinator in AK, announced his resignation, effective Oct. 31, 2000 (the day NMFS's biological opinion on Steller sea lions is due to be delivered to Judge Zilly), to become Science Program Director of the Marine Mammal Commission, Washington, DC. [WorldCatch News Network] NAMMCO Meeting. On Sept. 25-28, 2000, the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (NAMMCO) held its 10th Annual Meeting in Sandefjord, Norway. Agenda items included a report on the severely depleted status of beluga off West Greenland, the economic aspects of marine mammal- fisheries interactions, data on marine mammal bycatch, international observation of Norwegian sealing and whaling activities and pilot whaling in the Faroes, and plans for a workshop on weapons and ammunition. [NAMMCO press release] Japanese Whaling. On Sept. 21, 2000, the Japanese research whaling fleet returned to port from the northwestern Pacific, after having killed 88 whales ? 40 minke whales, 43 Bryde's whales, and 5 sperm whales. Japanese whalers reportedly plan to sample the same three species next year. {On Oct. 11, 2000, a coalition of 19 U.S. farm associations, trade organizations, and exporters was reported to have sent a letter to U.S. government officials voicing opposition to any sanctions of Japan for whaling, fearing an unfavorable WTO ruling on U.S. sanctions could result in countermeasures against U.S. agricultural products.} [Fox News, Reuters, London Times, Assoc Press, BBC News, Yomiuri Shimbun, Jiji Press] Items in this Summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2000 11:29:38 -0400 From: Andrew Wetzler Subject: California Coastal Commission to Hold Hearing on Navy Sonar The public hearing on Navy LFA for California will be Tuesday Dec. 12, 2000. The December meeting will be at the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco (5 Embarcadero Center, SF, CA 94111). Also, after Nov. 22 people will be able to download the CCC staff recommendation on the item, from the Commission's web site, at: ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 28 Oct 2000 08:45:34 -0700 From: ACS/Puget Sound Organization: Puget Sound Chapter of the American Cetacean Society Subject: ACS Whales 2000 Conference Technology Exhibit The American Cetacean Society's "Whales 2000" conference will feature an exhibit of technologies used in cetacean research. Devices to be displayed include a sonobuoy, a live internet connection to underwater sounds, audio analysis software, various tags and more. We still have space in the exhibit and are looking for more examples of current technology! If you plan on attending the conference and would like to include your novel (or not-so-novel) technology in the exhibit, please contact me by 3 November 2000. We will need a short (one paragraph) description of the instrument's theory of operation as well as another paragraph describing its applications to cetacean research. We will also accept items from people who cannot attend the conference, but please contact me as soon as possible so we can arrange for delivery. Thank you, Joe Olson, President ACS/Puget Sound Chapter P.O. Box 17136 Seattle, WA 98107 206-297-1310 acs(\)cetaceanresearch.com www.cetaceanresearch.com/acs/ ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 30 Oct 0100 21:53:57 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) (fwd) Forwarded message: From: "Liz Allan" Work is underway in Cardigan Bay, West Wales, UK, to produce a management plan that will aim to conserve a bottlenose dolphin population estimated to be 130 animals. Bottlenose dolphins have been seen all round the Welsh coast, but mainly throughout Cardigan Bay where they are reported most frequently inshore from about Aberystwyth to the Teifi estuary. The Cardigan Bay dolphins appear to use the area for all essential activities including feeding and breeding. For this reason, the area was submitted as a candidate European marine site. The management plan is due to be completed by the end of this year and has been prepared by a partnership of statutory authorities and local people. Details of how the work is progressing can be found on: http://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/cbsac Liz Allan, Coast & Countryside Project Officer, Department of Environmental Services & Housing, Ceredigion County Council, Penmorfa, Aberaeron, Wales, UK, SA46 0PA ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2000 21:55:44 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Looking for past publications whale watching.... (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Hi everyone, I am currently writing my Master's thesis in designing an education program that will be effective in managing whale watching in Canada. I am unable to obtain some critical publications from any source that I have tried. If anyone has access to the publications or information on any of the following publications, please let me know. Thanks! Stephanie Meinhold PO Box 1947 Homer, AK 99603 huggies(\)homernet.net Dinga, Elizabeth Reid. 1993. An environmental profile: the whale watchers of Encounter Bay, South Australia. Adelaide University thesis. Madigan, Lesley M. 1995 Environmental, economic and social impacts of whale watching in the Encounter Bay region. Adelaide University thesis. Orams,M. B. 1994 Creating effective interpretation for managing interaction between tourists and wildlife. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 10:21-34. Postle, D & Simonds, M. 1993 Encounters with whales '93. Workshop series No 20. A conference to further explore the management issues relating to human/whale interactions. Proceedings of a conference held at Lady Elliot Island, Australia. September 6-10, 1993. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Townsville, Qld. 137 pp. Way, Nicholas. 1995 Whale tourism in Australia: building of whalewatch tower. Whale Watch Business Review Weekly 17(12): 13-22. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 10:02:01 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: ECS Annual meetintg, Rome 2001. First Announcement (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- EUROPEAN CETACEAN SOCIETY: 15TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE 6 - 10 May 2001 - Rome, Italy FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR PAPERS The fifteenth Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society will take place in Rome, Italy on May 6 - 10th 2001, hosted by the Central Institute for Applied Marine Research (ICRAM). The theme of the conference is: 'Marine protected areas and other approaches for the management of threats to marine mammals' although, as usual, papers on all aspects of the biology of cetaceans and other marine mammals will be included in the programme. The main purpose is to stimulate a discussion on the role of both coastal and pelagic MPAs (zoning, time-area closure) for the conservation and the management of marine mammals, and simultaneously to identify other strategies necessary to manage the threats (human disturbance, pollution, habitat degradation, conflict with fisheries, etc.). The conference will be held at the Frentani Conference Center (Via dei Frentani, 4 - 00185 Rome) which is a five minute walk from the Termini Railway Station, the city's central travel gateway. From Termini you can reach any area in Rome as well as any city in Italy if you like. Registration will take place on Sunday afternoon May 6th and early on Monday 7th at the Conference Center. Conference sessions will be held on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, May 7th - 9th. The morning session each day will open with an invited talk, followed by verbal presentations in a standard 15 minute format. Posters will be on display throughout the meeting and time will be reserved for discussion with authors. Call For Papers Communications, in English, are invited as verbal or poster presentations. For both types of presentations, authors should submit an abstract by e-mail to Junio Fabrizio Borsani: (jfaber(\)tin.it). Guidelines for abstracts will be mailed by 1 th December 2000 and are available upon request to Junio Fabrizio Borsani. Submission should arrive NO LATER THAN THURSDAY FEBRUARY 1st 2001. Failure to follow the guidelines may result in the rejection of the Abstract. Faxed or posted submissions are not acceptable. The time available for each verbal presentation will be 15 minutes, followed by five minutes for questions and discussion. =20 Dedicated time will be given for posters. A Scientific Committee chaired by Junio Fabrizio Borsani will review all abstracts in February. Authors will be informed by e-mail on the acceptability of their material by the end of February 2001. In addition to the Abstract, authors of both verbal and poster presentations should provide an Extended Summary (maximum three pages of text plus two pages of graphics), to be included in the Proceedings of the Conference. Guidelines for the preparation of the Summary will be sent to authors after the acceptance of their presentation. To ensure rapid publication of the Proceedings, summaries must be forwarded to the Editor by June 1st . Summaries arriving late may not be included in the Proceedings. Student Awards As at previous conferences, there will be awards for the best student presentations: verbal and poster. Students (graduate and undergraduate) are encouraged to submit presentations for the award but to be eligible, students must be the first author of their paper. Further details will be given with the Abstract submission documentation. Workshops Workshops are planned for the ECS meeting on Sunday 6th and Thursday 10th May 2001. Further information will be included with the second announcement in early December. There will be a nominal charge for workshop attendees. Workshop topics are still welcome. Anyone interested in organising a workshop should submit a detailed proposal to the conference organiser by 15th November. Video Evening It is intended to have a video session during the conference. All those intending to show a video should complete the relevant sections of the Abstract submission form. The video evening will be organized by Beatrice Jann who may request videos for evaluation in advance. Student volunteers Throughout the conference help will be needed with organisation and logistics. Applications (to the Student member of the Council ursula.verfuss(\)t-uni-tuebingen.de) are invited from students who are willing to spend a few hours helping out at registration, looking after stands, sales etc. Students who are selected will have their registration fees waived. There will be a second announcement on this matter with the coming Newsletter in early December. Grants The Society offers limited financial support to students (and occasionally others), as long as they are the first and presenting author of an accepted talk or poster, as a contribution towards expenses at the Conference. The amount granted will depend upon the number of students attending and the total funds available. Further details are given with the Abstract submission documentation. Conference Booking and Fees Conference bookings and fees are outlined in the following table:=20 =09=09=09Early =09=09Late=20 =09(before march 1st) =09(after march 1 st but before april 1 st) - Full member:=09 =09200 DM =09275 DM =09 - Student member: 90 DM =09150 DM - Non-member: 350 DM =09425 DM Payment at on-site (all registration after April 1 st) registration rate in LIRE only. Early registration for the conference is strongly encouraged. Travel and accomodation There are good air and railway links between Rome and most European cities. Further details can be obtained from Alitalia, the Italian Air Company (www.alitalia.it). City-airports links are available from the main airport (www.adr.it) Roma Fiumicino "Leonardo da Vinci" to the center of town. A useful city-airport link connects the "Leonardo da Vinci" airport to the Rome Termini railway station (five minutes walk from the Conference Center).=20 Rome is a beautiful and fascinating city rich in cultural events, history and a fun place to be; most of the important information about travel, accomodation, events and fun can be obtained from the following web-sites: www.romeguide.it, www.romapreview.it Furthermore, for the ECS'annual meeting, the agency Roma Comunicando will ensure booking in bed & breakfasts and hotels near the Conference Center (info(\)romacomunicando.com). Roma Comunicando will offer the following discount (on booking fee and accomodation price):=20 - 15 % for all people booking before 30 th November 2000 - 10 % for all people booking before 15 th January 2001 - 5 % for all people booking before 15 th March 2001 Local Visits Rome is Italy's capital. The city offers its visitors the opportunity to experience the magic of many places of historical and cultural interest, such as, the Vatican, Castel Sant'Angelo, the Colosseum, the Quirinale, Via Veneto, Piazza di Spagna, the Pincio and the Botanic garden. Other visitor attractions located nearby include the countryside and towns to the north (Viterbo, the Medieval town) and south of Rome (The castelli). = =20 The weather in May is mild (20=B0C) but with frequent rain showers. Further information can be found on the following web-sites: www.romahomes.com/rome-guide.htm, www.virtualrome.com, www.romeguide.it, www.romapreview.it _____________________________________________________ Giancarlo Lauriano & Fabrizio Borsani Conference organizers Central Institute for Applied Marine Research - ICRAM Via di Casalotti 300, 00166 Rome, Italy Phone: +39 06 61570409/7; Fax: +39 06 61550581 web: www.icram.org =20 E-mail: lauriano(\)tin.it=20 _____________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 23:56:41 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Principal Investigator Position - Steller sea lions (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- The Division of Wildlife Conservation within the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is recruiting for the Principal Investigator for a large and complex Steller sea lion research project. The Principal Investigator will have full responsibility for managing the project, including the following science related tasks: (1) planning and conducting field work on sea lions throughout their range in Alaska; (2) data management and analysis; (3) writing reports and scientific publications; and (4) presenting results of research to colleagues and the public at conferences, workshops, etc. Fieldwork will require experience working with small skiffs in marine waters, catching and sedating wild pinnipeds, conducting aerial surveys, and recording behavioral observations. The selected candidate will be expected to cooperate with other marine mammal researchers, especially from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), to evaluate projects, priorities, data analyses, and fieldwork. Administrative duties will include (1) preparation of research proposals and reports; (2) developing and tracking budgets; (3) preparing and tracking contracts and cooperative agreements; and (4) supervising biologists, technicians, and other support staff. These administrative duties will require knowledge of State of Alaska procedures and policies, and coordination with the federal funding agency (NMFS) to satisfy their contracting, accounting, and reporting requirements. The selected candidate will face the challenging objective of determining why Steller sea lions continue to decline in some areas of Alaska and to provide information needed for their conservation and recovery. The recruitment notice for this position is posted on the Internet at the Workplace Alaska website: http://notes.state.ak.us/jobs Click on the Job Posting Board, then Department, then Fish & Game, then Wildlife Biologist III posted on 10/31/2000. The recruitment bulletin for this position (ID #11-2220) will provide information on how to apply. NOTE: Non-Alaska residents are eligible to apply. Non-U.S. citizens may apply only if they have a legal right to accept employment in the United States. The recruitment period closes on 15 November 2000. Additional information can be obtained by contacting Bob Small at bob_small(\)fishgame.state.ak.us ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 23:58:04 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Second Symposium on Marine Conservation Biology (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Lance Morgan Apologies for cross-postings Please forward to interested colleagues Registration: Marine Conservation Biology Symposium Registration is now open for the Second Symposium on Marine Conservation Biology, sponsored by Marine Conservation Biology Institute http://www.mcbi.org/ The event will be held from June 21-26, 2001, at San Francisco State University (California). It will be a forum for established researchers and students in natural and social sciences, marine resource managers, representatives of ocean-oriented NGOs, and other individual interested in protection, restoration and sustainable use of marine life and the oceans. MCBI especially encourages participation from outside North America. The Second Symposium will feature invited and contributed papers, poster sessions, area field trips, a forum on funding for research and other policy issues, skills workshops and more. For registration, submission of abstracts for presentations, and other details, please visit http://www.mcbi.org/. Attendance will be limited to 700 registrants, so we strongly advise that interested people register as soon as possible. Cosponsors for the Second Symposium include the Society for Conservation Biology, the President's Council on Environmental Quality, and the US Department of the Interior. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 1 Nov 2000 15:42:43 -1000 From: Brenda Becker Organization: NOAA Subject: Hawaiian monk seal field positions This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------5579C83C3A10FB053AC589AE The Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR) is currently advertising for field staff to work with the National Marine Fisheries Service to study the endangered Hawaiian monk seals in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. There are two primary periods of employment available: 12 Feb - 17 Aug, and 16 April - 17 Aug. IMPORTANT: Please specify the dates you are available when applying. The first 3 weeks of employment are spent in Honolulu for training and packing, and the last 2 weeks are also in Honolulu to clean up gear and work on data. Food and lodging in Honolulu is at the employee's expense; a listing of potential housing options is available. Transportation from Honolulu to and from the field site, food (mostly canned and dried), and lodging in the field are provided. Field work is accomplished by 2-5 member teams in remote camps. Researchers live either in wall tents or buildings at the various sites. All sites are accessible by ship (2-8 day travel; 830-2,300 km from Honolulu), and two are accessible by plane. Few supply opportunities exist and outside communication is limited. This work is part of a long-term annual Hawaiian monk seal population monitoring and management program which includes: conducting trend counts; tagging seals; identifying individual seals by tags, scars, natural markings, and applied bleach marks; monitoring reproduction, survival, injuries, entanglements, migration, performing necropsies; collecting scat and spew samples for food habitat analysis; collecting tissue samples for DNA analysis; inventorying, sampling and removing debris capable of entangling seals and other wildlife. Behavior data is also collected at some sites. For general information about the program, visit this website: http://www.swfc2nmfs.gov/psi/index.htm To view the job postings, go to http://www.careergiant.com/JobProfile.asp?jobid=2693 http://www.careergiant.com/JobProfile.asp?jobid=2692 Inquiries on application processes may be directed to: Kevin Higaki, (808) 956-8083 Inquires on the duties/work conditions of the positions may be directed to: Chad Yoshinaga E-mail: Chad.Yoshinaga(\)noaa.gov phone (808) 983-5717 Brenda Becker E-mail: Brenda.Becker(\)noaa.gov phone (808) 983-5714 Bulletin Board Posting: October 30, 2000 Career Giant: October 30, 2000 JIMAR/NMFS BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH SUPERVISOR - ID#700133. Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR). Six (6), Regular, Full-Time, RCUH Non-Civil Service positions, located at the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in Honolulu, HI. Post is located on an isolated Northwestern Hawaiian Island. Appointment is for a limited term of three to six months. Continuation of employment is dependent upon program/operational needs, satisfactory work performance, and availability of funds. Minimum Monthly Salary: $2,369.00. Duties: Serves as field camp leader. Leads and supervises field personnel to ensure quality and timeliness of work. Responsible for maintaining a safe working environment for field personnel. Responsible for ensuring all necessary equipment and supplies for remote research camp is prepared for field camp. Performs daily maintenance and operation of field camp. Collects census and life history data on Hawaiian monk seals. Conducts boating operations at multiple-island atolls. Responsible for relocating all field equipment and supplies at the end of camp. Collaborates with scientists within NMFS to conduct and analyze field studies on the Hawaiian monk seal in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's Degree in marine biology, biology, fisheries oceanography or other marine related field. 1-3 years experience in field work in marine biology or related field. Prior experience in handling wildlife. Good communications skills (both written and oral). Leadership and decision-making skills. Knowledge of personal computers including use of word processing, spreadsheets, databases, statistics, and graphics programs. Ability to perform data entry and basic data analysis. Must be able to operate motor boat. Ability to swim. Must be able to pass pre-deployment training requirements including field medical training before being deployed to remote island. Ability to work in remote locations for extended periods of time. Must be able to work long hours in the sun. Must be able to walk long distances (up to 7 miles) in the sand carrying 25-35 pounds of field gear. Must be able to manually restrain immature seals (up to 200 pounds). Must be able to obtain medical clearance for working on NOAA research vessels and may be required to pass post job offer physical examination. Desirable Qualifications: Prior field experience in a NMFS/MMRP Hawaiian monk seal field camp. Previous experience in field or laboratory studies of marine mammals, previous experience handling marine mammals, working knowledge of MS-DOS in computers, previous data entry experience, prefer applicants interested in pursuing career in marine mammology or related field. Inquiries: Kevin Higaki, 956-8083. Application Requirements: Send cover letter (note ID#) with narrative on your qualifications for the position, resume with salary history, the names and phone numbers of three work related references, and copy(ies) of diploma(s) and/or certificate(s) used to qualify for position to the Director of Human Resources, Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii, 2530 Dole Street, Sakamaki Hall D-100, Honolulu, HI 96822. Emailed resume packets may be submitted via www.CareerGiant.com. Closing Date: November 22, 2000. EEO/AA Employer. Bulletin Board Posting: October 30, 2000 Career Giant: October 30, 2000 JIMAR/NMFS BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH TECHNICIAN I, II, III - ID#700132. Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR). Eleven (11), Regular, Full-Time, RCUH Non-Civil Service positions, located at the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in Honolulu, Hawaii. Post is located on an isolated Northwestern Hawaiian Island. Appointment is for a limited term of three to six months. Continuation of employment is dependent upon program/operational needs, satisfactory work performance, and availability of funds. Minimum Monthly Salary: Level I - $1,727.00, Level II - $1,869.00, Level III - $2,020.00. Duties: Prepares equipment and supplies for remote research camp. Performs daily maintenance and operation of field camp. Collects census and life history data on Hawaiian monk seals. Conducts boating operations at multiple-island atolls. Responsible for relocating all field equipment and supplies at the end of camp. Collaborates with scientists within NMFS to conduct and analyze field studies on the Hawaiian monk seal in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Minimum Qualifications: Associate's Degree with course work in marine biology, biology, fisheries oceanography or other marine related field (or at least 2 years of college/university education). Level I - 0-6 mons, Level II - 6-12 mons., Level III - 1-3 years of field or laboratory experience in marine biology or related field. Experience with handling of wildlife. Good communication skills (both written and oral). Knowledge of personal computers including use of word processing, spreadsheets, databases, statistics, and graphics programs. Ability to perform data entry. Ability to work in remote locations for extended periods of time. Must be able to operate motor boat. Ability to swim. Must be able to pass pre-deployment training requirements including field medical training before being deployed to remote island. Must be able to work long hours in the sun. Must be able to walk long distances (up to 7 miles) in the sand carrying 25-35 pounds of field gear. Must be able to manually restrain immature seals (up to 200 pounds). Must be able to obtain medical clearance for working on NOAA research vessels and may be required to pass post job offer physical examination. Desirable Qualifications: Previous experience in field or laboratory studies of marine mammals. Prefer applicants interested in pursuing career in marine mammology or related field. Inquiries: Kevin Higaki, 956-8083. Application Requirements: Send cover letter (note ID#) with narrative on your qualifications for the position, resume with salary history, the names and phone numbers of three work related references, and copy(ies) of diploma(s) and/or certificate(s) used to qualify for position to the Director of Human Resources, Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii, 2530 Dole Street, Sakamaki Hall D-100, Honolulu, HI 96822. Emailed resume packets may be submitted via www.CareerGiant.com. Closing Date: November 22, 2000. EEO/AA Employer. --------------5579C83C3A10FB053AC589AE name="Brenda.Becker.vcf" filename="Brenda.Becker.vcf" begin:vcard n:;Jeff_Hill%Cromwell(\)ccmail.rdc.noaa.gov x-mozilla-html:FALSE adr:;;;;;; version:2.1 email;internet:Jeff_Hill%Cromwell(\)ccmail.rdc.noaa.gov end:vcard --------------5579C83C3A10FB053AC589AE-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 1 Nov 2000 12:22:12 +0100 Reply-To: ursula.verfuss(\)uni-tuebingen.de From: Ursula Verfuss Subject: correction to: ECS Annual Meeting, Rome 2001. First Announcement SORRY FOR CROSS POSTING! Please notice a mistake in the announcement: the email address for sending student volunteers applications is as follows : ursula.verfuss(\)uni-tuebingen.de not the one named below. Thanks, Ursula EUROPEAN CETACEAN SOCIETY: 15TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE 6 - 10 May 2001 - Rome, Italy FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR PAPERS Student volunteers Throughout the conference help will be needed with organisation and logistics. Applications (to the Student member of the Council ursula.verfuss(\)t-uni-tuebingen.de) are invited from students who are willing to spend a few hours helping out at registration, looking after stands, sales etc. Students who are selected will have their registration fees waived. There will be a second announcement on this matter with the coming Newsletter in early December. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 3 Nov 2000 08:10:56 -0500 From: William Rossiter Subject: Can you assist withBrazil's stranding response regulations? ------ This is a request for examples of national or regional laws, regulations and policies regarding responses to stranded marine mammals.=20 Brazil is preparing a "Normative Instruction" to improve regulations relating, in part, to official and public responses to stranded marine mammals. The official agency, IBAMA (Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambient= e e dos Recursos Naturais Renovaveis), might benefit from any formal exampl= es that they receive in time. The Normative Instruction is expected to be formalized within a month, and the earlier they receive material for revi= ew the better the chance that appropriate elements may be incorporated in th= e regulation. Please send information by attached file to the official, below, coordinating the draft Normative Instruction. If only printed documents a= re available we urge a rapid post. CSI is willing to FEDEX material sent to = us on Brazil's behalf. They may also benefit from appropriate website and contact addresses. =20 =20 Please send the material to: Maria Iolita Bampi =20 Chefe - DEVIS, (Diretoria Unidades de Conserva=E7=E3o e Vida Silvestre) =3D Wildlife Department =20 Departamendo de Vida Silvestre - DEVIS =20 SAIN AV. L4 Norte Lt. 4/8 Bloco A -=20 Brasilia - DF - CEP 70.800-200 BRAZIL fax: 061-316-1067 =20 =20 Or send it to CSI for FEDEX shipment to the same address.=20 In the interest of gathering a file of these materials for other users please consider sending copies to the following address. Thank you, William W. Rossiter President Cetacean Society International P.O.Box 953, Georgetown, CT 06829 USA ph/fx 203-431-1606 william_rossiter(\)compuserve.com http://elfi.com/csihome.html =20 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 3 Nov 2000 10:12:01 -0500 From: Richard Ellis Subject: Sea otter parturition I am working on a study of the fur-bearing animals of the Pacific, and I cannot find anything on the parturition of sea otters. Most recent discussions of Enhydra lutris (Kenyon 1969, 1981; Reeves, Stewart and Leatherwood, 1992, etc.) say something like "there is little information on where the birth takes place, but there have been some observations of newborn pups on land." Can anyone tell me if there is any new information on whether the pups are born on land or in the water? Thanks, Richard Ellis 17 East 16th Street New York, NY 10003 Ph. (212) 243-6950 Fax (212) 243-6932 --=====================_16071349==_.ALT I am working on a study of the fur-bearing animals of the Pacific, and I cannot find anything on the parturition of sea otters. Most recent discussions of Enhydra lutris (Kenyon 1969, 1981; Reeves, Stewart and Leatherwood, 1992, etc.) say something like  "there is little information on where the birth takes place, but there have been some observations of newborn pups on land." Can anyone tell me if  there is any new information on whether the pups are born on land or in the water?

Thanks,


Richard Ellis
17 East 16th Street
New York, NY 10003
Ph. (212) 243-6950
Fax (212) 243-6932
<rellis(\)idt.net> --=====================_16071349==_.ALT-- ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 5 Nov 2000 02:50:33 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Draft EIS for Cook Inlet Alaska Beluga harvest (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- >From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 216 Taking of the Cook Inlet (CI), Alaska, Stock of Beluga Whales by Alaska Natives ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of hearing; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS is proposing regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) that would limit the harvest and use of CI beluga whales. The management objectives of the proposed regulations are to recover this depleted stock to its Optimum Sustainable Population (OSP) level, and to provide for the continued traditional subsistence use by Alaska Natives. The MMPA imposes a general moratorium on the taking of marine mammals; however, it provides an exception to the moratorium that allows Alaska Natives to harvest marine mammals for subsistence use or for traditional Native handicrafts. Under the MMPA, the Federal government may regulate Native subsistence harvest when the stock in question is designated as depleted pursuant to the MMPA and after regulations specific to the depleted stock are issued. NMFS designated the CI beluga whale stock as depleted on May 31, 2000 and believes that control of the harvest is necessary to promote recovery of this stock. NMFS has also prepared a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on this proposed action. NMFS solicits public comments on the proposed rule and the DEIS. DATES: Comments on the proposed rule and on the DEIS must be received in the Office of Protected Resources (see ADDRESSES no later than 5 pm, eastern standard time, on November 27, 2000. NMFS has scheduled a formal on-the-record hearing regarding these proposed regulations before Administrative Law Judge Parlen McKenna, to commence at 9 am, December 5, 2000, in Anchorage, Alaska, at the Federal Building. A pre-hearing conference is scheduled at 9 am, November 15, 2000. Filing Deadlines: By November 1, 2000, any interested person or party must file an initial notice of intent to participate in the hearing, any direct testimony and any documentary evidence. By November 15, 2000, any rebuttal testimony and documentary evidence must be filed. Interested parties should consult procedural regulations at 50 CFR part 228 (65 FR 39560, June 27, 2000) for additional deadlines and hearing procedures. ADDRESSES: Written comments on the proposed rule and DEIS should be sent to Chief, Marine Mammal Division, Office of Protected Resources, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Comments will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or Internet. All filings, including those of NMFS, become part of the record. The record for the proposed rule and the DEIS are available and all original filings and written comments should be filed at: Chief, Marine Mammal Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. One copy should also be filed at: ALJ Docketing Center, 40 South Gay Street, Room 412, Baltimore, Maryland 21202-4022. Fax copies are accepted at (410) 962-1746 or -1742. Another copy should also be filed at: Judge Parlen McKenna, U.S. Coast Guard Island, Building 54-C, Alameda, California 94501, email PMcKenna(\)D11.USCG.mil, (510) 437-3361, fax (510) 437-2717. Also, the record for the proposed rule and the DEIS is available at NMFS Alaska Region, 709 W. 9th St, Federal Building room 461, Juneau, AK 99802. Information related to the hearing and the DEIS will be available on the NMFS, Alaska Region Protected Resources website at: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/protectedresources/whales/beluga.htm FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Mahoney, NOAA/NMFS, Alaska Region, Anchorage Field Office, (907) 271- 5006, fax (907) 271-3030, or Michael Payne, NOAA/NMFS, Alaska Region, (907) 586-7235, fax (907) 586-7012, or Thomas Eagle, Office of Protected Resources, (301) 713-2322, ext. 105, fax (301) 713-4060. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The MMPA was enacted to conserve and protect marine mammals by regulating activities of U.S. citizens and activities of all persons conducted within the jurisdiction of the United States. As such, the MMPA imposes a general moratorium on the taking of marine mammals. However, it also provides an exception to the moratorium by allowing "any Indian, Aleut or Eskimo who resides in Alaska and who dwells on the coast of the North Pacific Ocean or the Arctic Ocean . . ." to take any marine mammal if such taking is for subsistence purposes or for creating traditional Native handicrafts and is not accomplished in a wasteful manner. Under the MMPA, the Federal government may regulate Native subsistence harvest when the stock in question is designated as depleted pursuant to the MMPA, and after regulations specific to the depleted stock are issued (16 U.S.C. 1371). Whenever a species or stock of marine mammal subject to taking by Indian, Aleut, or Eskimo has been determined to be depleted, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) may limit the harvest using the following procedures, which are found in section 101(b)(3) of the MMPA: [The Secretary] may prescribe regulations upon such taking of such marine mammals by any Indian, Aleut, or Eskimo described in this subsection. Such regulations may be established with reference to species or stocks, geographical description of the area included, the season for taking, or any other factors related to the reason for establishing such regulations and consistent with the purposes of this Act. Such regulations shall be prescribed after notice and hearing required by section 103 of this title and shall be removed as soon as possible as the Secretary determines that the need for their imposition has disappeared. On May 31, 2000, NMFS designated the CI stock of beluga whales as depleted pursuant to the MMPA (65 FR 34590). Abundance estimates from surveys conducted between 1994 and 1998 indicated that the number of individuals in this stock declined dramatically during this period. The 1998 estimate (347 animals) was nearly 50 percent lower than the 1994 estimate (653 animals). This represents a decline of 15 percent per year. The Native harvest is the only factor that has been identified to account for the observed level of decline, and, therefore, the control of the harvest is directly related to the immediate protection for this stock. .... The rest of this message can be obtained from the Federal Register Online (see above) ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 5 Nov 2000 02:56:06 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent marine mammal publications Following is a list of some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Authors are encouraged to send abstracts of their publications to the MARMAM list. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors for reprints. Thank you. Habitat use and habitat selection by spotted seals (Phoca largha) in the Bering Sea L.F. Lowry, V.N. Burkanov, K.J. Frost, M.A. Simpkins, R. Davis, D.P. DeMaster, R. Suydam, and A. Springer Pages 1959-1971 Canadian Journal of Zoology Volume 78, Number 11, November 2000 Indications of two genetically different subpopulations of Atlantic walruses (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) in west and northwest Greenland L.W. Andersen and E.W. Born Pages 1999-2009 Canadian Journal of Zoology Volume 78, Number 11, November 2000 Developmental changes in circulatory vitamin A (retinol) and its transport proteins in free-ranging harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) pups Wendy Simms and Peter S. Ross Pages 1862-1868 Canadian Journal of Zoology Volume 78, Number 10, October 2000 Grey seal, Halichoerus grypus, habitat selection around haulout sites in the Baltic Sea: bathymetry or central-place foraging? M. Sjoberg and John P. Ball Pages 1661-1667 Canadian Journal of Zoology Volume 78, Number 9, September 2000 Vocalisations of Minke Whales Balaenoptera acutorostrata in the St. Lawrence Estuary. P.L. Edds-Walton 31-50 Bioacoustics Volume 11 2000 ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2000 00:07:42 BST From: Hedgard Goulli Subject: pinnipeds parasitology Dear marmamers, I am actually preparing my phD about parasites found in Pinnipeds in Pacific ocean. I am looking for pictures of eggs and larvas (nematodes/cestodes/trematodes). If anyone could help me in this, I would sincerely appreciate , Thanks, Hedgard Goulli Hedgar Goulli Universite Pierre et Maris Curie Laboratoire de parasitologie Parie VI 95344 PARIS VI FRANCE Email: gargoulli(\)hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 5 Nov 2000 23:20:17 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Monterey Bay Cetaceans (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- American Cetacean Society, Monterey Bay (California) Chapter, celebrated its twentieth anniversary by publishing a supplement to the June 2000 issue of the chapter newsletter, Soundings. Purpose of the issue is information about Monterey Bay cetaceans, as well as chapter activities. Now the issue is available on the chapter's web site at: http://www.starrsites.com/acsmb/ Contents: Cover photographs of Monterey Bay Cetaceans - Nancy Black The Whale Year - Richard Ternullo Blue Whales for the First Time - Barbara Oliver Blue Whales in Central California - Alan Baldridge Whales for Kids Program - Jo Guerrero Gray Whales and Humpbacks - Esta Lee Albright ACSMB Grants and Common Dolphin - Libby Osnes-Erie ACSMB Research Grant Awards 1983-2000 - Alan Baldridge Volunteers Don't Work for Nothing - Milos Radakovich Marine Mammals Found in the Monterey Bay Area - Alan Baldridge Please direct questions and comments about the issue or questions about ACS membership to the editor of the special issue, Esta Lee Albright: estalee(\)inreach.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 7 Nov 2000 12:38:47 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: cetacean cognitive characteristics (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON STATUS OF RESEARCH ON CETACEAN COGNITIVE CHARACTERISTICS During the 1970's I worked for Dr. J.C. Lilly, S. Ridgeway and B. Cummings before embarking on long-term field work in a remote site in British Columbia, Canada. In researching a book in progress I would like to get in touch with anyone who has pursued the mapping of cetacean cognitive characteristics. Thank you, Alexandra Hubbard-Morton 250-949-1664 wildorca(\)capescott.net ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 7 Nov 2000 12:40:24 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: 3 tenure track jobs available in Alaska (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- There are three new, tenure-track, assistant professor openings in the Biology department at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Close date and application procedures are the same for all three positions and are detailed after the last announcement. Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences/Molecular Physiology, PCN:301439 Full-time, Regular appointment with benefits, 9 months/yr. LOCATION: Biological Sciences, University of Alaska Anchorage SALARY: Appropriate to entry-level Assistant Professor REQUIREMENTS: Candidate must have the following: 1. Ph.D. in biology or relevant scientific field 2. Evidence of teaching experience in relevant area 3. Post doctoral research experience 4. At least one publication as first author in a refereed journal 5. Ability to obtain extramural research funding 6. Ability to establish an independent research program RESPONSIBILITIES: The Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alaska Anchorage invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position as an Assistant Professor, available after August 15, 2001. We seek applicants with postdoctoral training and the ability to develop an externally funded research program in animal physiology that uses molecular approaches to investigate adaptations of animals to arctic and high latitude environments. Opportunities for collaboration exist both within the University of Alaska and among the statewide community. Candidates whose research areas complement those of existing programs are strongly encouraged to apply. Primary teaching responsibilities include Human Anatomy and Physiology, and upper division and/or graduate classes in area of expertise. The standard five part workload is two parts teaching, two parts research, and one part University/public service, with modifications to the workload possible pending EPSCoR funding. Further information about the department can be found at http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/biohome/biology.html Position announcement: http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/humanres/f301439AsstProfBioSci.html **************************************************************************** ******* Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences/Population Genetics or Evolutionary Biology, PCN:300320 Full-time, Regular appointment with benefits, 9 months/yr. LOCATION: Biological Sciences, University of Alaska Anchorage SALARY: To be negotiated REQUIREMENTS: Candidate must have the following: 1. Ph.D. in Biology or relevant scientific field. Post doctoral research experience preferred. 2. Evidence of teaching potential/experience in relevant area 3. At least one publication as first author in a refereed journal 4. Ability to obtain extramural research funding 5. Ability to establish an independent research program RESPONSIBILITIES: Primary teaching responsibilities will be to teach population genetics, biometry, and/or evolution, as well as undergraduate/graduate courses in area of expertise. Research responsibilities are to develop a strong research program in population genetics or evolutionary biology applicable to our northern location and to obtain extramural funding. The standard five part workload is two parts teaching, two parts research, and one part university/public service, with modifications to the workload possible with external funding. Further information about the department can be found at http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/biohome/biology.html Position announcement: http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/humanres/f300320PopGenEvBioSciences.html **************************************************************************** ******* Instructor of Biological Sciences/Anatomy/Physiology, PCN:301417 Full-time, Regular appointment w/benefits, Non-tenure Track, 9 months/yr. LOCATION: Biological Sciences, University of Alaska Anchorage SALARY: Appropriate to entry-level Instructor REQUIREMENTS: Candidates must have the following: 1. M.S. in Biology or relevant scientific field 2. Evidence of teaching experience in a relevant area 3. Willingness to work in a team environment 4. Strong organizational skills RESPONSIBILITIES: Primary responsibilities will be to teach human anatomy and physiology laboratories and upper level laboratories as assigned, coordinate lecture and laboratory for human anatomy and physiology, prepare laboratory equipment, develop curriculum, and supervise laboratory instructors. The standard five part workload is four parts teaching and one part university/public service. Further information about the department can be found at http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/biohome/biology.html Position announcement: http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/humanres/f301417BioSciAnatPhy.html **************************************************************************** ******* REVIEW DATE: All three searches will remain open until filled; however, review of applications will begin January 1, 2001. APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Send letter of application, curriculum vitae, description of teaching philosophy, future teaching aspirations, and names of three references to: University of Alaska Anchorage Human Resource Services Administration Building, Suite 245 3211 Providence Drive Anchorage, AK 99508-8136 Voice (907) 786-4608 - TTY (907) 786-1420 - Fax (907) 786-4727 University of Alaska Anchorage Employment Information Website: www.finsys.uaa.alaska.edu/uaahrs Applicants needing reasonable accommodations to participate in the application or interview process should contact the Human Resource Services. UAA is an AA/EO Employer and Educational Institution. Applicants must be eligible for employment under the Immigration Reform and Control Act as of 1986 and subsequent amendments. Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure. Jennifer Burns, Ph.D. Department of Biological Sciences University of Alaska Anchorage 3211 Providence Dr. Anchorage, AK 99508 ph: (907) 786-1527 fax: (907) 786-4607 email: afjmb4(\)uaa.alaska.edu homepage: http://cwolf.uaa.alaska.edu/~afjmb4/default.htm ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2000 00:52:51 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Abstract: winter observations of cetaceans off Washington (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Winter observations of cetaceans off the northern Washington coast K.E.W. Shelden, D.J. Rugh, J.L. Laake, J.M. Waite, P.J. Gearin, and T.R. Wahl Pages 54-59 Northwestern Naturalist Volume 81, Autumn 2000. This note describes results from aerial and vessel surveys conducted off the coast of Washington state during the winter of November 1998-January 1999. These results were compared to observations obtained opportunistically and during dedicated marine mammal surveys that have occurred sporadically in these waters since the 1950s. The document focuses specifically on gray whales, humpback whales, minke whales, killer whales, Risso's dolphins, Pacific white-sided dolphins, Dall's porpoise, and harbor porpoise. Sightings of interest included: 1) a gray whale calf observed 18 Nov. '98 in Puget Sound (one of the northernmost and earliest reported live calf sightings on record); 2) apparent killer whale predation on a Steller sea lion on 4 Dec. '98; and 3) large, mixed groups of dolphins and sea lions with humpback whales feeding on masses of schooling fish. Reprints are available from: Kim.Shelden(\)noaa.gov Kim Shelden National Marine Mammal Laboratory Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA, NMFS 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle, WA 98115-6349 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2000 00:54:48 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: faculty position at U.Alaska Fairbanks (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Shannon Atkinson ANNOUNCEMENT OF FACULTY POSITION - EXTERNAL RECRUITMENT Research Assistant Professor - Ref No. R01-29 School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences University of Alaska Fairbanks Responsibilities: The School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences is seeking qualified professional scientists to conduct research on Steller sea lions. The positions available are designated as research faculty and all support for the research activities and salary will be derived from federal appropriations to the Alaska SeaLife Center. An important part of the assignment is the preparation and submission of research proposals, reports, and peer-reviewed manuscripts to external funding sources and permitting agencies. While subject to annual review, the appointments are expected to be on-going, subject to the continuation of funding. Successful applicants will be expected to advise graduate students on projects located at the Alaska SeaLife Center. Capabilities: The School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences has coastal facilities with laboratory space and field support capabilities in Seward (the home port of the R/V Alpha Helix) and a working agreement with the Alaska SeaLife Center. The facilities of the new Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward offer unique opportunities for marine mammal and bird research, with an on-going program in Steller sea lion biology. The majority of the Institute of Marine Science faculty are located on the Fairbanks campus, including oceanography, limnology, fisheries, fishery oceanography, marine biology, aquaculture, and fisheries and seafood technology. Minimum Qualifications: The candidate must have an earned doctorate in a biological science, such as oceanography, marine science, fisheries or a related field. Experience with pinnipeds is essential. He/she must have demonstrated success in obtaining support for and conducting research programs, and must have a strong publication record in national or international peer-reviewed journals. Desirable Qualifications: Experience with Steller sea lions or endangered pinnipeds is desirable. Areas of expertise in the physiology and nutritional condition of Steller sea lions in captive and free-ranging habitats, or on the field biology and population dynamics of Steller sea lions are desirable. Salary: To be determined, depending on qualifications, and will be commensurate with experience. In each case, it will be consistent with UAF faculty salary levels. Closing Date: Open until filled. NOTE: Screening of applications will begin on Nov 30, 2000. Contact: Send a copy of signed University of Alaska application (A copy of the UA Employment Application Form can be obtained from any of the UA Human Resources offices or downloaded from this site at:: http://www.uaf.edu/uafhr/pdf_files/employment_app_0998.pdf ), statement of interest, curriculum vitae, selected reprints (or manuscripts submitted to journals), and the names of three references to: Mr. Juan Goula, PO Box 757220, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220. Direct Inquiries: Please call Dr. Shannon Atkinson 907-224-6346 (voice), 907-224-6360 (fax) or e-mail shannon_atkinson(\)alaskasealife.org. The University of Alaska is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and educational institution, encourages applications from women and members of culturally diverse groups. Candidates must be eligible for employment under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2000 11:48:20 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: right-handed sperm whales (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Gauthier Chapelle Dear All, This summer, we have observed in the Ligurian Sea (North-West Mediterranean Sea) a "right-handed" sperm whale, thus with its blow hole on the right side (4 years ago, it was a "left-handed" fin whale...). We are here asking for similar ssperm whales observations (published or not), especially (but not only) in the Mediterranean Sea. Thanks a lot in advance, Gauthier Chapelle Association Cetus ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Nov 0100 21:25:07 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRS weekly marine mammal summary to U.S. Congress (fwd) Forwarded message: The following is the weekly CRS marine mammal summary provided to the U.S. congress, by Eugene H. Buck, Senior Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments Recent new info and changes are bracketed {...} Most recent new info and changes are double-bracketed {{...}} MARINE MAMMALS {Whales by Satellite. On Nov. 3, 2000, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) officials announced the scheduled Nov. 18, 2000 launch of a Delta rocket with the satellite SAC-C, carrying an instrument designed to receive signals from instrumentation attached to southern right whales off Argentina. Information from the whales will be used to monitor their migration.} [Dow Jones News, Assoc Press] Sea Ice Symposium. On Oct. 31-Nov. 2, 2000, scientists and Native whalers met in Barrow, AK, for a 3-day symposium to merge scientific research with traditional knowledge of sea ice to improve public safety for subsistence hunters, whalers, sealers, and fishermen. [Assoc Press] Steller Sea Lions. On Oct. 20, 2000, NMFS announced a delay, from Oct. 31, 2000, until Nov. 30, 2000, in the public release of its comprehensive biological opinion assessing the effects of groundfish fisheries in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska on Steller sea lions and their critical habitat. NMFS officials believe the delay will not foreclose the opening of the January 2001 fishery. [WorldCatch News Network, Anchorage Daily News, NMFS press release] FL Manatees. On Oct. 19, 2000, FL Governor Jeb Bush convened a 20- member panel of diverse interests for a "Manatee Summit" in Tallahassee to consider what measures might be necessary to better protect manatees while respecting the rights of boaters. [Assoc Press, Humane Society of the United States press release, Orlando Sentinel] Nuisance Fur Seals. On Oct. 18, 2000, Tasmanian government officials announced that they had decided to permit the killing of certain nuisance fur seals, a protected species, if translocation did not solve the problem and the animal had been previously tagged as an offensive individual. Aggressive acts by seals against commercial fishermen led to this change in policy. [Sydney Morning Herald] Polar Bears. On Oct. 16, 2000, the United States and Russia signed an agreement increasing protection of polar bears in AK and northeastern Siberia by setting quotas restricting how many bears can be killed for Native subsistence. In addition, the agreement will prohibit hunting in maternity denning areas, all commercial hunting, killing female bears with cubs and bears less than one year old, and use of aircraft, traps, or snares to hunt polar bears. [Assoc Press] Japanese Whaling. On Oct. 11, 2000, a coalition of 19 U.S. farm associations, trade organizations, and exporters was reported to have sent a letter to U.S. government officials voicing opposition to any sanctions of Japan for whaling, fearing an unfavorable WTO ruling on U.S. sanctions could result in countermeasures against U.S. agricultural products. {Nov. 11, 2000 is the scheduled date for the Japanese research whaling fleet to depart for Antarctic waters to kill and study minke whales. Nov. 13, 2000 is the deadline for President Clinton to report to Congress on whether or not trade sanctions will be imposed on Japan in response to certification for whaling activities under the U.S. Pelly Amendment.} [Jiji Press, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release] Items in this Summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2000 15:06:51 -0600 From: Leslie Cornick Subject: SMM Texas Student Chapter Fall Meeting The Texas Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy announces its fall meeting! The meeting will be held at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, November 15, in CLB 100 of the Pelican Island, Galveston campus of Texas A&M University, Galveston. Agenda: Introductory Remarks by Lara Hinderstein, chapter President Remarks by Leslie Cornick, SMM Student Member-at-Large Election of new officers Take suggestions for Spring meeting invited speaker Slide presentation by Steve Maclean - Inuit Whaling All are invited! For more information: www.tamug.tamu.edu/marinemam Leslie A. Cornick Ph.D. Candidate Laboratory for Applied Biotelemetry & Biotechnology Physiological Ecology & Bioenergetics Lab Texas A&M University 5001 Avenue U, Suite 105 Galveston, TX 77551 cornickl(\)tamug.tamu.edu 409.740.4885 office 409.740.5002 fax ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2000 10:27:23 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Southern Hemisphere Marine Mammal Conference 2001 (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- REGISTRATION & CALL FOR PAPERS Southern Hemisphere Marine Mammal Conference 2001 May 29 - June 1 Theme 'Marine mammal/ Human interactions'. CHECK THE CONFERENCE WEB PAGE FOR FUTURE UPDATES http://www.penguins.org.au/conference/index.html The Conference We are pleased to announce the convening of a Southern Hemisphere Marine Mammal Conference, to be held at Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia, in May 2001. The conference will comprise oral and poster presentations, awards, technical demonstrations, specialist workshops, tours and a suitable social program (to include the 'Groovy Lounge Covers' dance band for after the conference dinner). Conference Venue The conference venue will be 'The Continental Phillip Island Conference Centre' in Cowes on Phillip Island. This is an excellent venue located in the centre of Cowes, the principal township on Phillip Island, and overlooking Western Port. Accommodation will be available at 'The Continental' Email: david(\)theconti.com.au and at other hotels/ hostels/ caravan parks on Phillip Island. For examples, see http://www.phillipisland.net.au Phillip Island is located 100 km south-east of Melbourne. It has a rural/ coastal setting and is a popular tourist destination. The conference is timed between school holidays to maximise the availability of accommodation and minimise its price. Modes of getting to Phillip Island 1. Drive/ hire car - see maps and follow signs. 2. Airport Shuttle bus ($28.50) Airport Shuttle bus from Tullamarine (Melbourne) Airport (departs every ~2h, 7am to 7pm) to Cranbourne, we collect you from there (1 hour from Phillip Is). BOOKING IN ADVANCE ESSENTIAL Ph 61-3-97826766 LET US KNOW IN ADVANCE FOR CRANBOURNE COLLECTION 3. SKYBUS/ VLine ($11 + $14) SKYBUS from Tullamarine (Melbourne) Airport (departs every 30 min, 7am and 7pm) to Spencer St Railway Station. 1. Catch 9:03am VLine train to Dandenong, transfer, bus to Anderson, we collect you from there (20 min from Phillip Is.). 2. Catch 3:50pm VLine train to Dandenong, transfer, bus to Cowes, Phillip Is. 3. Catch 6:10pm VLine bus to Anderson, we collect you from there (20 min from Phillip Is.). Conference Timetable 10 March 2001 - deadline for registration and acceptance of abstracts. Tue. 29 May - Pre-conference registration/ drinks at Continental Hotel, Cowes Sponsored by Argos CLS Wed. 30 May - Conference opening/ talks, evening visit to Penguin Parade Thu. 31 May - Conference talks Fri. 1 June - Conference talks/ close, evening conference dinner Sat. 2 June - Field trip to Seal Rocks Australian fur seal colony Depending on the response for talks and workshops, the agenda may need to be extended an extra day. Key note speakers David Lavigne from the International Marine Mammal Association Inc will be a key note speaker at the conference, and will address the Ecological issues associated with calls for culls of marine predators (pinnipeds and cetaceans). Other key note speakers are being approached and will be announced on the web page. Workshops Specific interest groups are encouraged to organise their own workshops and notify the conference committee of requirements (preferable prior to 10 March, although workshops can by announced at the conference). Times and venues for these will be facilitated in the conference agenda. Workshop themes most frequently requested in responses to the 'First Announcement' were, Marine mammals and acoustics, Aquaculture/ pinniped interactions, Whale/ Dolphin swims and boating operations. Publications Delegates are encouraged to consider the publication of their presentations in a special issue of the journal 'Australian Mammalogy', that will result from the conference. Those wishing to do so are requested to indicate this on the registration forms and bring completed manuscript to the conference. In addition, a companion volume on 'Marine mammal/ human interactions in the Southern Hemisphere', comprising invited reviews, will be published after the conference. Authors of the chapters will present synopses of their reviews at the conference. More Information For more information, visit the following web address http://www.penguins.org.au/conference/index.html Or contact the conference organisers Email: 2001.mm.odyssey(\)penguins.org.au Phone: (03) 59512800 or 844 (or international + 61 3 59512844) Fax: (03) 59568394 Mail: Phillip Island Nature Park, PO Box 97, Cowes, Victoria, 3922. Australia Organising committee Roger Kirkwood, rkirkwood(\)penguins.org.au Ros Jessop, rjessop(\)penguins.org.au Nick Gales, nicholasg(\)calm.wa.gov.au Mark Hindell, mark.hindell(\)utas.edu.au ------------------------------ Roger Kirkwood Phillip Island Nature Park PO Box 97 Cowes Victoria 3922 Australia Phone +613 59512844 Fax +613 59568394 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2000 10:32:02 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Alaska Research Scientist position announcement (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- The Alaska SeaLife Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to marine research, rehabilitation, and public education is seeking applications for the following: Research Scientist This position is responsible for conducting research on Steller sea lions, including preparing and submitting research proposals, reports, and peer-reviewed manuscripts to external funding sources and permitting agencies. Requirements include a doctorate in a biological science, such as oceanography, marine science, fisheries, or a related field; experience with pinnipeds; success in obtaining support for and conducting research programs; strong publication record in national or international peer-reviewed journals. Experience with Steller sea lions or endangered pinnipeds preferred. This is a regular, full-time, exempt position based at the Alaska SeaLife Center and expected to continue as part of a federal appropriation. Salary DOE. The facilities at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward offer unique opportunities for marine mammal and bird research, with an on-going program in Steller sea lion biology. Applications must be received by November 24, 2000. Send detailed resume, Alaska SeaLife Center application, and references to Yvette Welsh, Human Resources Officer, Alaska SeaLife Center, P.O. Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664-1329, or email yvette_welsh(\)alaskasealife.org. The ASLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. * Posted 11/08/00 Yvette Welsh Human Resources Officer Alaska SeaLife Center PO Box 1329 Seward, AK 99664-1329 907.224.6313 907.224.6320 fax yvette_welsh(\)alaskasealife.org ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 11 Nov 2000 16:13:43 +1100 From: Kasey Hamilton Subject: How flighty are your seals? A questionnaire for seal researches boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0005_01C04BFA.5D2532C0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0005_01C04BFA.5D2532C0 charset="iso-8859-1" =20 =20 =20 Dear all, =20 I am a post-graduate student investigating disturbance behaviour of = Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus). I have been = observing the Australian fur seals at Seal Rocks, Victoria and would = like to compare the seals' responses with those of other otariids and = with those of Australian fur seals at other colonies. From talking with = a number of researches, I suspect that the Australian fur seal is more = flighty than some of the other species of otariids. I would like to = establish whether this is the case and if so, why? Is this flightiness a = fur seal characteristic or a sea lion characteristic? Is this behaviour = related to evolution, tourism, harvesting or to something else? From = initial observations I have found that boats, aircraft, rain, bulls = fighting, seagulls and even starlings flying overhead can send = Australian fur seals fleeing for the water. The severity of response = seems to be related to the type of disturbance. =20 >From a management perspective this information can be useful in = establishing guidelines for approaches to seal colonies. Some species = may need stricter guidelines than others and some colonies may need = stricter guidelines than other colonies of the same species. =20 In order to better understand what makes otariids flee I would like to = learn from others who have worked in fur seal and sea lion colonies. To = quantify this information I have designed a short questionnaire. It = consists of three parts: Part 1- Background on the seal colony. Part 2- The seals' response to different approaches. Part 3- Any additional comments and information. I realise that few researches would have measured the seals' response = accurately and a lot will probably be based on gut feeling alone. =20 Please E-mail your responses to me at: kaseystam(\)waterfront.net.au =20 I will post a summary of responses on MARMAM .=20 =20 Let me know if you would prefer I send you the questionnaire as an = attachment. =20 Thanking you for your time, Kasey Stamation. Disturbance Behaviour of Otariids Questionnaire =20 If responses are different at different colonies please fill in a = separate questionnaire for a representative of each colony type. =20 PART 1 =20 Seal species (scientific or common name) =20 =20 =20 Location of colony =20 =20 =20 =20 Is this an island colony or mainland colony? Island Mainland =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 Is this a breeding colony or haul-out site? Breeding colony Haul-out site Unknown =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 Do the seals have any land predators in this area? Yes No Unknown =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 If yes what are they? =20 =20 =20 PART 2 1) Please highlight the seals' usual response to the following = approaches. =20 a) Boat=20 Approach Seal response Comments (e.g. no observations, do some =20 distance Breeding Season Non Breeding season age classes react more than others) =20 100m 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware =20 =20 50m 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware =20 =20 10m 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware =20 =20 =20 Other comments: e.g. boat size, boat speed, seal acclimation (number and = type of boat visits made to seal colony each year) =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 b) Aircraft - fixed wing Approach Seal response Comments (e.g. no observations, do some =20 height Breeding Season Non Breeding season age classes react more than others) =20 3000ft (~900m) 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware =20 =20 1500ft (~460m) 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware =20 =20 500ft (~150m) =20 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware =20 =20 =20 Other comments: e.g. aircraft type, aircraft size, aircraft speed, seal = acclimation (number of aircraft visits made to seal colony each year) =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 c) Aircraft - helicopter Approach Seal response Comments (e.g. no observations, do some =20 distance Breeding Season Non Breeding season age classes react more than others) =20 3000ft (~900m) =20 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware =20 =20 1500ft (~460m) 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware =20 =20 500ft (~150m) 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware =20 =20 =20 Other comments: e.g. aircraft type, aircraft size, aircraft speed, seal = acclimation (number of aircraft visits made to seal colony each year) =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 d) Foot approach - standard Standard =3D walking directly at seals from distance of infinity dressed = conspicuously Approach Seal response Comments (e.g. no observations, do some =20 distance Breeding Season Non Breeding season age classes react more than others) =20 100m 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware =20 =20 50m 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware =20 =20 10m 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware =20 =20 =20 =20 Other comments: e.g. speed, activity, seal acclimation (number of land = visits made to seal colony each year) =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 e) Foot approach - careful Careful =3D creeping towards seals from an angle, from distance = infinity, dressed inconspicuously (Does not include crawling or belly = creeping) Approach Seal response Comments(e.g. no observations, do some =20 distance Breeding Season Non Breeding season age classes react more than others) =20 100m 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware =20 =20 50m 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware =20 =20 10m 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware 100% flee 100% aware 50% flee 50% aware 25% flee 25% aware 5% flee 5% aware =20 =20 =20 Other comments: e.g. speed, activity, seal acclimation (number of land = visits made to seal colony each year) =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 2) Are the seals likely to be frightened enough to flee by =20 =20 Bulls fighting =20 =20 =20 Falling rocks =20 =20 =20 Birds =20 =20 =20 Heavy rain =20 =20 =20 Smell (e.g. boat engine, human) =20 =20 =20 =20 Other =20 =20 =20 =20 Comments: =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 PART 3 =20 1) Any additional comments/information. =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 ------=_NextPart_000_0005_01C04BFA.5D2532C0 charset="iso-8859-1"
 

 

 

Dear=20 all,

 

I=20 am a post-graduate student investigating disturbance behaviour of = Australian fur=20 seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus). =20 I have been observing the Australian fur seals at Seal Rocks, = Victoria=20 and would like to compare the seals’ responses with those of other = otariids and=20 with those of Australian fur seals at other colonies. From talking with = a number=20 of researches, I suspect that the Australian fur seal is more flighty = than some=20 of the other species of otariids. I would like to establish whether this = is the=20 case and if so, why? Is this flightiness a fur seal characteristic or a = sea lion=20 characteristic?  Is this = behaviour=20 related to evolution, tourism, harvesting or to something else?  From initial observations I = have found=20 that boats, aircraft, rain, bulls fighting, seagulls and even starlings = flying=20 overhead can send Australian fur seals fleeing for the water. The = severity of=20 response seems to be related to the type of = disturbance.

 

From a management=20 perspective this information can be useful in establishing guidelines = for=20 approaches to seal colonies. Some species may need stricter guidelines = than=20 others and some colonies may need stricter guidelines than other = colonies of the=20 same species.

 

In=20 order to better understand what makes otariids flee I would like to = learn from=20 others who have worked in fur seal and sea lion colonies. To quantify = this=20 information I have designed a short questionnaire. It consists of three=20 parts:

Part 1- Background = on the=20 seal colony.

Part 2- The seals' = response=20 to different approaches.

Part 3- Any = additional=20 comments and information.

I=20 realise that few researches would have measured the seals’ = response accurately=20 and a lot will probably be based on gut feeling = alone.

 

Please E-mail your = responses=20 to me at: kaseystam(\)waterfront.net.au

 

I=20 will post a summary of responses on MARMAM .

 

Let=20 me know if you would prefer I send you the questionnaire as an=20 attachment.

 

Thanking you for = your=20 time,

Kasey=20 Stamation.




Disturbance = Behaviour of=20 Otariids Questionnaire

 

If=20 responses are different at different colonies please fill in a separate=20 questionnaire for a representative of each colony = type.

 

PART=20 1

 

Seal species = (scientific or common name)

 

 

Location of=20 colony

 

 

 

Is this an = island=20 colony or mainland colony?

Island

Mainland

 

 

 

 

Is this a = breeding=20 colony or haul-out site?

Breeding=20 colony

Haul-out=20 site

Unknown

 

 

 

 

 

Do the seals = have any=20 land predators in this area?

Yes

No

Unknown

 

 

 

 

If yes what = are=20 they?

 

 

 PART =20 2

1)=20 Please highlight the seals’ usual response to the following=20 approaches.

 

a)=20 Boat

Approach

Comments = (e.g. no=20 observations, do some

distance

Breeding = Season

Non Breeding = season

 age classes react more = than=20 others)

100m

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

 

50m

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

 

10m

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

 

Seal=20 response

 

Other comments: = e.g. boat=20 size, boat speed, seal acclimation (number and type of  boat visits made to seal = colony each=20 year)

 

 

 

 

b)=20 Aircraft - fixed wing

Approach

Comments = (e.g. no=20 observations, do some

height

Breeding = Season

Non Breeding = season

age classes = react more=20 than others)

3000ft

(~900m)

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

 

1500ft

(~460m)

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

 

500ft

(~150m)

 

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

 

Seal=20 response

 

Other comments: = e.g.=20 aircraft type, aircraft size, aircraft speed, seal acclimation (number = of=20 aircraft visits made to seal colony each year)

 

 

 

 

c)=20 Aircraft - helicopter

Approach

Comments = (e.g. no=20 observations, do some

distance

Breeding = Season

Non Breeding = season

age classes = react more=20 than others)

3000ft

(~900m)

 

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

 

1500ft

(~460m)

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     5%    =20 aware

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

 

500ft

(~150m)

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

 

Seal=20 response

 

Other comments: = e.g.=20 aircraft type, aircraft size, aircraft speed, seal acclimation (number = of=20 aircraft visits made to seal colony each year)

 

 

 

 

d)=20 Foot approach - standard

Standard =3D = walking directly=20 at seals from distance of infinity dressed = conspicuously

Approach

Comments = (e.g. no=20 observations, do some

distance

Breeding = Season

Non Breeding = season

 age classes react more = than=20 others)

100m

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

 

50m

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

 

10m

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

 

Seal=20 response

 

 

Other comments: = e.g. speed,=20 activity, seal acclimation (number of =20 land visits made to seal colony each year)

 

 

 

 

e)=20 Foot approach - careful

Careful =3D = creeping towards=20 seals from an angle,  from = distance=20 infinity,  dressed = inconspicuously=20 (Does not include crawling or belly creeping)

Approach

Comments(e.g. no=20 observations, do some

distance

Breeding = Season

Non Breeding = season

age classes = react more=20 than others)

100m

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

 

50m

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

 

10m

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

100% = flee     100%=20 aware

50%   flee     = 50%   = aware

25%   flee     = 25%   = aware

5%     = flee     = 5%    =20 aware

 

Seal=20 response

 

Other comments: = e.g. speed,=20 activity, seal acclimation (number of =20 land visits made to seal colony each year)

 

 

 

 

 

2)=20 Are the seals likely to be frightened enough to flee = by

 

 

Bulls=20 fighting

 

 

Falling=20 rocks

 

 

Birds

 

 

Heavy=20 rain

 

 

Smell (e.g. = boat=20 engine, human)

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

Comments:

 

 

 

 

PART=20 3

 

1)=20 Any additional comments/information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

------=_NextPart_000_0005_01C04BFA.5D2532C0-- ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2000 09:58:44 +1000 From: Barbara Louise Chilvers Subject: The adaptability of bottlenose dolphins to human influences and impacts Dear Marmam subscribers My names Louise Chilvers, I am finishing my PhD on bottlenose dolphins at James Cook University, Australia. I am looking for information that is published or that can be referenced on the adaptability of bottlenose dolphins to human influences and impacts. Their ability to change their behaviour, distribution, habitat use or social structure to benefit or at least not be detrimentally affected by human influences. In particular I am looking for examples where bottlenose dolphins may have adapted to human influences but other species of marine mammals have not, or not as well. Examples I already have are situations like hand feeding at Monkey Mia and Tangalooma, Australia, feeding in association with fisheries, cooperative feeding with humans, feeding from dumped garbage, bowriding with boats or their abiity to easily be kept in captivity. Information on examples of bottlenose dolphins adapting to habitat modifications, avoidance of nets, or any other examples of adaptations would be appreciated. Please reply directly to my email barbara.chilvers(\)jcu.edu.au Thank you for you time B. Louise Chilvers B. Louise Chilvers School of Tropical Environmental Studies and Geography James Cook University Townsville 4811 Australia Phone: (07) 47816943 Fax: (07) 47814020 Email: barbara.chilvers(\)jcu.edu.au ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2000 11:10:35 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Sea otter parturition (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Richard Ellis Following a request from the MARMAM editors, I have collected some of the more interesting and relevant replies to this query to the list: I am working on a study of the fur-bearing animals of the Pacific, and I cannot find anything on the parturition of sea otters. Most recent discussions of Enhydra lutris (Kenyon 1969, 1981; Reeves, Stewart and Leatherwood, 1992, etc.) say something like "there is little information on where the birth takes place, but there have been some observations of newborn pups on land." Can anyone tell me if there is any new information on whether the pups are born on land or in the water? (1) It may be helpful to refer to Marianne L. Reidman. On page 68 of the report she co-authored (see entry below) there is a paragraph that says parturition occurs both in the water and on land in California, and on land in Alaska, with references to unpublished sources by Reidman and Jameson. Locally here in Monterey, we were aware that a birth in the water was observed at Pt. Lobos State Park. Reidman, Marianne L. and James A. Estes, "The Sea Otter (Enhydra Lutris): Behavior, Ecology, and Natural History." U. S. Dept. of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Biological Report 90 (14), September 1990. (2) There is not much really known concerning many aspects of sea otter ecology interestingly enough. Sea otters, unlike pinnipeds and polar bears, do not need to return to land or ice to give birth to young. Sea otter reproduction is also largely aseasonal - highly variable from location to location (Rotterman and Simon-Jackson, 1988, pages 235-237, Selected Marine Mammals of Alaska. US Marine Mammal Commission, Wash. DC). Overall, sea otter reproductive biology is not well documented but info. suggests that their reproductive pattern varies according to local environmental conditions. Check out Jameson and Johnson 1993, Marine Mammal Science 9: 156-167 as well. (3) Maybe these might help. JAMESON, RONALD J. and ANCEL M. JOHNSON. 1993. Reproductive characteristics of female sea otters (Enhydra lutris).MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE 9(2):156-167. MONSON, DANIEL H. and ANTHONY R. DEGANGE. 1995. Reproduction, preweaning survival, and survival of adult sea otters at Kodiak Island, Alaska.CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 73(6):1161-1169. RIEDMAN, M. L., J. A. ESTES; M. M. STAEDLER; A. A. GILES and D.R. CARLSON. 1994. Breeding patterns and reproductive success of California sea otters (Enhydra lutris). JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 58(3):391-399. SINIFF, D. B. and K. RALLS. In: Population status of California sea otters. D. B. Siniff and K. Ralls (eds.). p.13-32. Final report to the Minerals Management Service, U.S. Dept. Interior, Los Angeles, CA. Contract #14-12-001-3003. 1988. Reproduction, survival and tag loss in California sea otters. (Enhydra lutris) SINIFF, DONALD B. and KATHERINE RALLS. Reproduction, survival and tag loss in California sea otters. (Enhydra lutris).MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE 7(3):211-229. 1991. WENDELL, FREDERICH E.; JACK A. AMES and ROBERT A. HARDY. 1984. Pup dependency period and length of reproductive cycle: Estimates from observations of tagged sea otters, Enhydra lutris, in California.CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 70(2):89-100. (4) Certainly here in California birth occurs in the water. It's a major behavioral difference between the California population and other populations: Our sea otters don't haul out as often as other populations. Until fairly recently, they were thought to never haul out, but in recent years haul-out behaviour has been on the rise. During a recent census 77 animals out of the near 2000 were observed hauled out on shore (I may be off one or two in my numbers). Let me know if you need any more info. Steve Shimek, Executive Director The Otter Project, Inc. (5) In Biology of Marine Mammals by Reynolds & Rommel (eds.) (1999), it says that sea otters do not need to return to land to give birth and that their reproduction in largely aseasonal, although there is some evidence for peaks of births at different times in different locations. They say male otters appear to have no seasonal cycle of repro. They mention that sea otters, like pinnipeds, have delayed implantation. This seems to be of variable length, making gestation variable as well ((\)6-8 months). Period of active fetal growth has been estimated at 4.5-5.5 months. Sea otters are able to repro annually, but probably have intervals of more than 1 year between births because pups are nursed for 4-8 months and there is little evidence for concurrent lactation and pregnancy. Like your sources, they mention that sea otter repro patterns are not well documented. They also note that although photoperiod seems to play an important role in timing of delayed implantation in pinnipeds, it doesn't seem to play a role in otter cycles, probably because otters don't need to synchronize breeding since potential mates and food all occur in the same location. They include a lot of other life history info about otters, as well as listing some good references regarding repro and other info. I highly recommend you take a look at it. I have heard anecdotally that sea otters have not been observed ever giving birth on land even if pups themselves have been seen on land. Hope that helps! (6) I don't see any specific references to parturition in this paper, but the literature cited may lead you somewhere: Packard, J. M. and C. A. Ribic. 1982. Classification of the behavior of sea otters (Enhydra lutris). Can. J. Zool. Vol. 60. pp. 1362-1373. One reference that caught my eye was: Sandegren, R. E., E. W. Chu, and J. E. Vandevere. 1973. Maternal behavior in the California sea otter. J. mammal. 54: 668-679. (7) Sea otters are most likely the most recent of the mammals to return to the ocean. So, the thought is that they are the least adapted to a fully oceanic way of life. So I really don't think it is that odd that they can give birth on land or in the ocean. What is weird is that the sea otters here in California really don't seem to haul out. No one really knows if hauling out is a "learned" behavior that was somehow erased when they we hunted to near extinction. Or, perhaps otters never hauled out in what's now California. We just don't know. I would imagine that there is a tremendous energetic benefit to getting out of the water. With sea otters having such a high metabolic rate, and requiring 20-30 percent of body weight in food every day, it would seem reasonable they would use behaviours that are energetically more efficient. Steve Shimek, Executive Director The Otter Project, Inc. (8) All the Northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris) at the Vancouver Aquarium have given birth to the pups in the water, involving much forward rolling and tumbling!. Except for one female that had trouble during parturition. In this instance the female came up on to land and tried to pull the pup from her body. She was unsuccessful and required veterinary assistance to remove the pup. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2000 19:00:53 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: small cetaceans/climate change bibliographies (fwd) The Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy's bibliography of peer-reviewed and gray literature related to small cetaceans has been updated, with over 400 entries added since the last incarnation was posted in August. The bibliography now contains 2713 citations, searchable, and downloading in both HTML and PDF formats. Additions and corrections are always greatly appreciated. To be informed of future updates to the site, please sign up for our announcement list, on the site's index page. http://www.jiwlp.com -------------------------------- The latest version of the Pacific Institute's online bibliography on climate change (defined herein as global warming or ozone depletion) impacts on biodiversity is now available, with over 400 citations added since the last installment was posted in August. The bibliography can be found at: http://www.pacinst.org/wildlife.html The bibliography includes citations culled from peer-reviewed and gray literature (including journal articles, newspaper articles, reports and materials on the Internet), is searchable, and downloadable as a PDF. The bibliography will continue to be updated every two months. Suggestions for additions or corrections to the bibliography are greatly appreciated. To be informed of future updates to the Pacific Institute site, please sign up on the site's announcement list. Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security 654 13th St., Preservation Park Oakland, CA 94612 USA Phone: 510.251.1600 Fax: 510.251.2203 Pager: 510.288.6346 wburns(\)pacinst.org http://www.pacinst.org/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 13 Nov 2000 11:26:08 +0000 Reply-To: mtg197(\)soton.ac.uk From: Michelle Therese Gilboy Subject: Satellite tracking of marine life and birds Dear All, (apologies if this is not relevant to you) I am investigating interest in the use of satellite data for various purposes, for potentially very low cost, obtained by a group of nanosatellites (small satellites weighing between 1 and 10 kilograms). If you are involved/interested in satellite tagging of cetaceans, other marine life or birds, please read on.... I currently do not know a great deal about satellite tracking of animals. However, I personally have an interest in cetaceans and other wildlife, and would like to find out more about the study and conservation of these creatures. I am currently involved in a market study into a diverse range of research and commercial sectors, to identify potential users of data from a nanosatellite cluster, and what these potential users would require from a system. The tracking of animals has been identified as one of the areas which could benefit from the low cost services that nanosatellites may be able to offer. Nanosatellites (small satellites weighing between 1 and 10 kilograms) are lighter and smaller than conventional satellites. This reduction in size and weight leads to decreased launch costs, which in turn allows satellite services to be offered to users at a lower cost. In addition, a cluster of nanosatellites may operate as a network, allowing capabilities that would be difficult to achieve with a single, conventional satellite. Some of the benefits of using such a network (particularly for tracking purposes) include increased ground coverage, and increased frequency of overpass of an object on the Earth or a satellite ground station. The department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the University of Southampton currently have funding for research into the design and development of a nanosatellite or a cluster of nanosatellites. It must be stressed that the project is still in its early stages, and no satellite has yet been flown by the University of Southampton. However, several feasibility and preliminary design studies have been conducted, and, should enough interest be shown, this may lead to the development of a satellite system within the next few years. I would like to be involved in initiating steps to the development of a low cost tracking service if there is sufficient interest. I intend to send out a questionnaire by e-mail, asking what you would require of such a system. The questionnaire should be dispatched within the next week. If you should wish to supply additional information about your requirements, do not hesitate to contact me. Many thanks, Michelle. ---------------------- Michelle Therese Gilboy mtg197(\)soton.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 13 Nov 2000 23:54:32 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: 2nd/3rd MMPA Bulletin available (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- The NMFS Office of Protected Resources has published the 2nd/3rd Quarter 2000 special combined edition of the MMPA Bulletin. The articles in this issue include: NMFS Is Now: NOAA Fisheries Secretary of Commerce on Japanese Whaling Report on Human-Induced Mortality in Small Cetaceans Update on the Bahamas Stranding Event Multi-Agency Proposal on MMPA Reauthorization Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission Annual Meeting Finding Process for Lifting Tuna Embargoes NOAA Fisheries Revises the Stock Assessment Reports Update on Conservation for Cook Inlet Belugas Update on Marine Mammal Viewing Issues International Marine Debris Conference The Office of Protected Resources Web Site Has Moved Upcoming TRT Meetings The Effects of Manmade Noise on Marine Mammals NOAA Fisheries Large Whale Disentanglement Program Visiting Faculty at the Office of Protected Resources Intermediary Nation Embargoes Lifted Frequently Asked Questions on the List of Fisheries NOAA Fisheries Hears from Stakeholders: Stranding Response Steller Sea Lion Critical Habitat and Trawling in AK Export and Comity Agreements for Live Marine Mammals >From the Editors The MMPA Bulletin can be found in PDF format on the Office of Protected Resources web site at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/PR2/MMPA_Bulletin/mmpabulletin.html. To obtain a hard copy of the MMPA Bulletin or to be added to the mailing list, please contact Nicole Le Boeuf at nicole.leboeuf(\)noaa.gov. You can also call 301-713-2322, ext. 156 or write to NOAA/NMFS/F/PR2, Attn. MMPA Bulletin, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2000 09:25:32 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: The Monachus Guardian 3(2): November 2000 (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- THE MONACHUS GUARDIAN This is to let you know that IMMA Inc. has now published the November 2000 issue of The Monachus Guardian, a biannual electronic periodical focusing on the Mediterranean, Hawaiian and Caribbean monk seals. The site can be accessed at http://www.monachus.org. Highlights of the current issue include: > Guest Editorial: Lessons in Perfection - by Turkish Aegean fisherman, Sevki Avci... > Four Thorny Issues: Claudia Giammatteo of WWF MedPO reveals some of the broader ecological links that are at stake in the fight to save the Mediterranean habitat of Europe's most endangered marine mammal... > Monk Seal Philately: Why monk seal postage stamps from around the world have become a miniature mirror of society's attitudes, superstitions and misconceptions towards these animals - by William M. Johnson, Alexandros A. Karamanlidis, David M. Lavigne & Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni... > Sayings of 3000 Years: The most humorous, insightful and slack-witted comments on monk seals throughout the ages. Book I: 900 B.C. to 1563 A.D. Compiled by William M Johnson from the nominations of numerous contributors... MONACHUS SCIENCE: > Pires R., & H. C. Neves. Monk seal sightings on open beaches in the Desertas Islands - Madeira archipelago. MONACHUS SCIENCE POSTERS:. > Dendrinos, P., E. Tounta & S. Kotomatas. A field method for age estimation of Mediterranean monk seal pups. > Dendrinos, P. & A. Demetropoulos. The Mediterranean monk seal in Cyprus. Plus... > Letters to the Editor, including Tourism in the Dock by Xavier-Jacques Bacquet... > International, Mediterranean and Hawaiian News... Recent Publications etc. Current and back issues of The Monachus Guardian are also available from the Monachus Library, and may either be viewed on-line, or downloaded as single files in cross-platform Adobe Acrobat format. Should you have any comments on the web site or its contents, please contact us at the following email address: editor(\)monachus.org Similarly, we look forward to hearing from you if you experience any difficulty in accessing this service. Sincerely, William M. Johnson editor(\)monachus.org _________________________________ editor(\)monachus.org www.monachus.org _________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2000 09:29:41 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications (fwd) The following is a list of some recent marine mammal publications. This list is not intended to be comprehensive. Authors are encouraged to submit full citations and abstracts, including information on where copies or reprints may be obtained, of all recent scientific publications on marine mammals. Lefebvre, L.W. et al. 2000. Characterizing manatee habitat use and seagrass grazing in Florida and Puerto Rico: implications for conservation and management. Pac. Conserv. Biol. 5: 289-298. Bradshaw, C.J.A. et al. 2000. Geographic and temporal variation in the condition of pups of the New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri): evidence for density dependence and differences in the marine environment. J. Zool. 252: 41-51. Irvine, L.G. et al. 2000. The influence of body size on dive duration of underyearling southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina). J. Zool. 251: 463-471. Janik, V.M. Whistle matching in wild bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Science 289: 1355-1357. Gjertz, I. et al. 2000. Movements and diving of adult ringed seals (Phoca hispida) in Svalbard. Polar Biology 23: 651-656. Dellinger, T. and F. Trillmich. 2000. Fish prey of the sympatric Galapagos fur seals and sea lions: seasonal variation and niche separation. Can. J. Zool. 77: 1204-1216. Janik, V.M. and P.J.B. Slater. The different roles of social learning in vocal communication. Animal Behaviour 60: 1-11. van Parijs, S.M. et al. 2000. Individual and geographic variation in display behaviour of male harbour seals in Scotland. Anim. Behav. 59: 559-568. Malik, S. et al. 2000. Assessment of mitochondrial DNA structuring and nursery use in the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis). Can. J. Zool. 77: 1217-1222. McCulloch, S. and D.J. Boness. 2000. Mother-pup recognition in the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) of Sable Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. J. Zool. 25: 449-455. Mignucci-Giannoni, A.A. et al. Mass stranding of pygmy killer whales (Feresa attenuata) in the British Virgin Islands. J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. U.K. 80: 759-760. Amstrup, S.C. et al. 2000. Movements and distribution of polar bears in the Beaufort Sea. Can. J. Zool. 78: 948-966. Theile, D. et al. 2000. Cetacean distribution off Easern Antarctica (80-150 degrees E) during the Austral summer of 1995/1996. Deep-Sea Res. Part II. Top. stud. Oceanogr. 47: 2543-2572. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 20:42:44 -0900 From: JENNIFER BURNS Subject: M.Sc. Position available M.Sc. Assistantship in Biology at the University of Alaska Anchorage. The purpose of the project is to study the development of oxygen stores in juvenile harbor seals, and to relate that development to changes in diving ability. The project entails capturing and handling harbor seals in the St. Lawrence River ecosystem, and extensive laboratory analysis of collected samples. Start Date: Field work will begin June 2001; student will enter program at UAA either in January 2001 or August 2001. Qualifications: B.S. degree or equivalent in Biology, Zoology, Wildlife Science, or other closely related field. Field experience with marine mammals preferred but not required. If interested, send a statement of interest, detailed resume, copies of undergraduate transcripts, and names of three references to: Dr. Jennifer Burns Department of Biological Sciences 3211 Providence Drive University of Alaska Anchorage, AK 99508-8104 Phone: 907-786-1527 email: afjmb4(\)uaa.alaska.edu webpage: http://cwolf.uaa.alaska.edu/~afjmb4/default.htm ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 00:42:38 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Abstract: dugong grazing (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Lemnuel V Aragones Aragones, L. and H. Marsh. 2000. Impact of dugong grazing and turtle cropping on tropical seagrass communities. Pacific Conservation Biology 5: 277-288. Abstract The impact of grazing by two megaherbivores, the dugong (Dugong dugon) and the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) on the community structure of intertidal seagrasses was investigated experimentally over two time frames (shorter-term: 1-4 months; longer-term: 10-13 months), at three levels of grazing intensity (leaf cropping, light grazing, intensive grazing), at two seagrass meadows in tropical Queensland, Australia: (1) a mixed species bed of Zostera capricorni, Halophila ovalis, Halodule uninervis, Cymodocea rotundata and Cymodocea serrulata, and (2) a monospecific bed of Halodule uninervis. From the perspective of the megaherbivores, grazing improved the structure and dynamics of the tropical seagrass communities by altering their biomass, volume of detritus, net aboveground biomass productivity and the species composition of the mixed-species bed. Recovery from grazing disturbance occurred after several months to a year. key words: seagrass, disturbance, grazing, dugong, green turtle Reprints could be requested from any of the authors. Lemnuel V Aragones, PhD Assistant Professor University of the Philippines Los Ba=F1os College, Laguna 4031 PHILIPPINES Phone: (049) 536 2843 (work) Fax: (049) 536 2517 Cellphone: 0918 9126098 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 00:53:53 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: U.S. Pelly petition regarding sanctions against Japan over whaling policies (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Forwarded from the CITES-L list ================================================= http://www.postnet.com/postnet/news/wires.nsf/National/428FF721 BE06F98A862569990063AD5E?OpenDocument Humane Society of United States Files Pelly Petition Urging Sanctions Against Japan Over Whaling Policies Nov. 16, 2000 | 12:11 p.m. To: National Desk Contact: Howard White, 301-258-3072; hwhite(At)hsus.org, Rachel Querry, 301-258-8255; rquerry(At)hsus.org, both of the Humane Society of the United States WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the nation's largest animal protection organization, announced today that it has filed a petition asking the Interior Department to certify that Japan is diminishing the effectiveness of an international program to protect endangered and threatened species by trading in whale meat. The HSUS sent a petition to Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt today urging him to certify Japan under the provisions of the Pelly Amendment, a law that allows the President to impose trade sanctions against a country that is diminishing the effectiveness of an international program to protect endangered and threatened species. By law, the President was required to respond by Monday, Nov. 13, to an earlier Commerce Department Pelly certification asking him to pursue sanctions against the Japanese government after its fleets hunted and killed five endangered sperm whales, 43 Bryde's whales, and 40 minke whales this year in clear violation of International Whaling Commission (IWC) recommendations. As of close of business Tuesday, Nov. 14, the President had not responded to the Commerce petition. ``President Clinton has forced our hand,'' said HSUS Executive Vice President Patricia Forkan. ``Japan is openly daring the United States and the international community to stop it. In the short run, we believe that trade sanctions by the United States may be the only way of stopping Japan from killing these three whale species. In the long run, sanctions may be the only way of stopping Japan and its allies from re-opening the world's oceans to full-scale commercial whaling.'' Although there has been a moratorium on commercial whaling in effect since 1986, Japan has continued to whale by exploiting an unintended loophole in IWC regulations that allows nations to self- issue special permits to kill select whale species for ``scientific purposes.'' As part of its ``scientific'' whaling program, Japan has killed up to 540 minke whales annually. Independent DNA analysis of whale meat in the Japanese market indicate that many species, in addition to the minkes caught under special permit, are actually being sold as luxury food items. These include blue, humpback and sperm whales. Japan, often in concert with Norway, another whaling nation, has sought to overturn the international moratorium since its inception. In recent years, it has admitted to checkbook diplomacy, using its economic clout to buy the votes of smaller, poorer nations in an attempt to overturn the IWC whaling ban. Unlike the Commerce certification, which focused on violations of the IWC, the HSUS petition centers on Japanese actions as they affect the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the international agreement that governs trade in endangered species. The petition asks the Secretary of the Interior to certify that Japan is engaging in trade ``diminishing the effectiveness'' of CITES. But recent history gives little cause for optimism. ``The United States has a history of invoking Pelly and then refusing to enforce it with sanctions,'' said Forkan. Although the U.S. has issued certifications on several occasions during the past decade, she notes, only once were sanctions actually applied. In 1993, the Department of Interior certified China and Taiwan because their trade in rhinoceros horn and tiger products was deemed to diminish the effectiveness of CITES. Trade sanctions were imposed on Taiwan. ``We are gravely concerned by President Clinton's lack of response,'' Forkan said. ``The world faces a critical juncture at this moment, one that may decide the fate, the very survival, of the world's whale populations. If the United States backs down now, commercial whaling may again become widespread and the threat of extinction becomes very real.'' - ------ /U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/ AP-NY-11-16-00 1308EST ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 13:57:52 +0000 From: Shannon Gowans Subject: Abstract: Photographic and molecular sexing of bottlenose whales Gowans, S., Dalebout. M.L., Hooker, S.K., Whitehead, H.(2000) Reliability of photographic and molecular techniques for sexing northern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus). Canadian Journal of Zoology 78:1224-1229 Abstract: Identification of the sex of living cetaceans can be difficult, even when species are sexually dimorphic. We compare two methods of molecular sexing (ZFY; zinc-finger protein gene and SRY; sex-determining region Y gene), and evaluate the effectiveness of photographic techniques, for the identification of sex in northern bottlenose whales, Hyperoodon ampullatus, in the Gully, off Nova Scotia, Canada. Samples from individuals of known sex from historical Norwegian whaling (n=19) and recent strandings (n=3) were used to test the reliability of the molecular techniques. Although both methods gave accurate results, the ZFY method was found to be unsuitable for degraded (whaling) samples, due to the large size of the target DNA fragment. Results from both molecular sexing methods were in agreement for biopsy samples taken from bottlenose whales in the Gully (7 males, 13 females). Photographs of the melon profile were used to assign free-swimming animals to the categories, female/immature male, sub-adult male and mature male. Melon photographs of adult-size animals taken up to seven years apart were consistently assigned to the same category. Overall, sex identification from melon photographs was in agreement with results from molecular sexing. Reprints are available from: Shannon Gowans sgowans(\)is2.dal.ca Department of Biology Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada B3H 4J1 Shannon Gowans, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Dalhousie University Halifax Nova Scotia B3H 4J1 sgowans(\)is2.dal.ca phone: (902)494-3723 fax: (902)494-3736 http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/index.htm Blind Bay Cetcean Studies 5012 Highway 333, Blind Bay RR#1 West Dover, NS Canada B0J 3L0 (902) 852-4385 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 12:40:43 GMT From: Sofie Van Parijs Subject: Abstract: Sounds of Irrawaddy dolphins Van Parijs S.M., Parra G. and Corkeron, P.J. 2000. Sounds produced by Australian Irrawaddy dolphins, Orcaella brevirostris. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 108 (4), 1938 1940. Sounds produced by Irrawaddy dolphins, Orcaella brevirostris, were recorded in coastal waters off northern Australia. They exhibit a varied repertoire, consisting of broad-band clicks, pulsed sounds and whistles. Broad-band clicks, 'creaks' and 'buzz' sounds were recorded during foraging, while 'squeaks' were recorded only during socializing. Both whistle types were recorded during foraging and socializing. The sounds produced by Irrawaddy dolphins do not resemble those of their nearest taxonomic relative, the killer whale, Orcinus orca. Pulsed sounds appear to resemble those produced by Sotalia and non-whistling delphinids (e.g. Cephalorhynchus spp.). Irrawaddy dolphins exhibit a vocal repertoire that we suggest reflects the acoustic specialization of this species to its environment. Reprints can be requested from: Sofie Van Parijs, Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsx, N 9296, Norway. Sofie(\)npolar.no _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 08:20:38 -0500 From: "Tarr, Suzanne" Subject: manatee internship opportunity INTERNS AND VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!! Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Tampa BayWatch, Inc. St. Petersburg, Florida Focus: Manatees In cooperation with the Manatee Awareness Coalition (MAC) and the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Tampa BayWatch seek 7 interns to assist in Tampa Bay Manatee Watch, a research study and educational program designed to protect manatees and promote stewardship of Tampa Bay. Interns participate in three main components: 1) Manatee/boater interaction research to assess the effectiveness of educational efforts 2) Boater education on the water aboard a specially designed pontoon boat 3) Boater education on shore at area boat ramps, marinas and festivals Position Descriptions: Manatee Watch Research Project Assistants The research project is a 3-year manatee/boater interaction study. There are three 10-week sampling sessions each year (summer, fall, and winter). Five positions are available for each 10-week sampling session. The spring session (SS6) runs January 9- March 31, 2001 and the summer session (SS7) is scheduled as June - August, 2001. Junior and senior college students and recent graduates are eligible. Interns work approximately 35-40 hours per week and are required to commit to the full sampling period, plus training. Interns serve as "site captains" at one of five locations and use spotting scopes and binoculars for boater activity data collection. They are responsible for data entry and verification, equipment maintenance, and volunteer support. Interns are paired with a community volunteer and 3-hour shifts, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, either on one weekday (Tuesday - Thursday) or one weekend day (Saturday). Although the manatee/boater interaction study is the primary focus, interns will also participate in manatee photo-identification program and other manatee-related programs as necessary. Qualifications: Interns should have some research field experience, be computer literate and proficient in the use of Microsoft Access97, and be proficient in the use of a 35-mm camera, various filters and lenses. Small watercraft and spotting scope experience are desirable, but not necessary. In addition, interns must be able to stand for up to 3-hours in harsh weather conditions (sun), able to carry approximately 50 lbs. over a sandy terrain, swim, and have a valid driver's license. These positions are unpaid, housing is not provided, and interns must have or find transportation to FMRI. While these internships are not paid positions, they are excellent resume builders. Interns will have the opportunity to participate in scientific research and other manatee-related projects, as well as meet other marine scientists. Manatee Watch Coordinator Assistants Boater education is targeted at actual Bay users. Interns provide users with a free educational boater kit and easy techniques to protect manatees and seagrass habitat. They talk with the community at boat ramps, marinas, festivals, and on Tampa Bay aboard a specially designed pontoon boat. Two positions are available for each 10-week sampling session (longer internships may be possible). Interns will assist the Manatee Watch Coordinator with all aspects of the program. Interns will work both in the field and in the office. Interns work approximately 35-40 hours per week and are required to commit to the full sampling period, plus training. Interns should expect to work Tuesday -Saturday and some weeknights during the sampling session. Interns must be friendly, with an open attitude since both positions will speak publicly, recruit volunteers, and interact frequently with the public. The Education Assistant Intern will primarily assist with the educational program. The interns will spend a minimum of three days in a busy office. Office tasks include: developing and preparing materials for boater education, writing and publishing the community newsletter, scheduling training sessions, preparing the volunteer calendars, tracking administrative information, and fielding program questions by phone. Fieldwork includes primarily boater education with occasional research project fieldwork. The Research Assistant Intern will assist the research program. Fieldwork includes providing back up to the line-of-sight surveys and conducting community volunteer visits during scheduled field days. In the office, the intern will enter boater education information data and track volunteer hours for the research project. Qualifications: Interns must be computer literate and proficient in the use of Microsoft Excel, Word, and Access2000. In addition, interns must be able to stand for up to 3-hours in harsh weather conditions (sun), able to carry approximately 50 lbs. over a sandy terrain, swim, and have a valid driver's license. Interns must have excellent phone and communication skills and have strong leadership potential with a great amount of patience. Teaching, writing and boat handling experience are preferred. These positions are unpaid, housing is not provided, and interns must have reliable transportation. Here, you will work with marine scientists, participate in Bay restoration projects, polish your public speaking and writing skills while participating in an innovative environmental education program that may change manatee protection strategies state-wide. Additional information about FWC' s manatee programs and internships may be found at www.fmri.usf.edu and at www.tampabaywatch.org. Please send internship application including project interest (manatees)/session number, a copy of transcripts, cover letter, and references to: Mr. Bill Arnold FWC/FMRI 100 8th Ave. SE St. Petersburg, FL 33701-3095 727-896-8626 **PLEASE NOTE!! WE ARE CURRENTLY INTEVIEWING FOR SPRING AND SUMMER 2001 SESSIONS. PLEASE SEND APPLICATION MATERIALS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Please do not send E-mail or applications directly to Suzanne Tarr. I'm just posting information. Thanks! Suzanne Tarr suzanne.tarr(\)fwc.state.fl.us ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 21:00:15 EST From: "Wendy A. Cover 98" Subject: Mostly white humpback whale seen in Niue Hello Marmam, Last month (October 2-6, 2000) several people on the island of Niue spotted an unusual humpback whale--mostly white. It has a dark patch on top of its head, a dark dorsal fin, and thin dark strip on the ridge behind its dorsal fin. I was unable to view the tail. The rest, as far as we could see, is white and from a distance when it surfaces it appears to be entirely white. Niue is a small island nation in the South Pacific, east of Tonga and south of Samoa. I am not sure if the few humpback whales that migrate here continue on to Tonga or if Niue is their only destination. Perhaps if this whale is spotted elsewhere it will clarify their migration pattern. We certainly will keep an eye out to see if the whale returns next year. We on the island are curious to know if anyone has seen this whale before. Its markings are quite distinctive and recognizable from a long distance away. You would know immediately if you had seen it. Is it quite rare to have markings like this? Any insight that anyone has on Niue's mostly white whale would be greatly appreciated. Please email me at Wac(\)alum.dartmouth.org. Many thanks, Wendy Cover Peace Corps Volunteer Fisheries Department Niue WAC(\)alum.dartmouth.org ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2000 09:22:22 -1000 Reply-To: rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca From: "Robin W. Baird" Organization: Dalhousie University Subject: Abstract: social organization of mammal-eating killer whales Baird, R.W., and H. Whitehead. 2000. Social organization of mammal- eating killer whales: group stability and dispersal patterns. Can. J. Zool. 78: 2096-2105. Abstract: The social organization of mammal-eating "transient" killer whales (Orcinus orca) was studied off southern Vancouver Island from 1985 through 1996. Strong and long-term associations exist between individual transients, so sets of individuals with consistently high association levels, termed pods, can be delineated. Pods consist of individuals of mixed ages and sexes, and typically contain an adult female and one or two offspring (averaging 2.4 individuals). The mother-offspring bond remains strong into adulthood for some male (and less often for female) offspring. Other males disperse from their maternal pod and appear to become "roving" males, spending some of their time alone, and occasionally associating with groups that contain potentially reproductive females. These males appear to have no strong or long-term relationships with any individuals, and adult male - adult male associations occur significantly less often than expected by chance. Females that disperse from their natal pod appear to be gregarious (having high average association rates) but socially mobile (having low maximum association rates). Differences in social organization from the sympatric fish-eating "resident" killer whales (where no dispersal of either sex occurs) likely relate to differences in foraging ecology. Transient killer whales maximize per capita energy intake by foraging in groups of three individuals, whereas no such relationship has been documented for resident killer whales. ========================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Post-doctoral Fellow, Dalhousie University, Canada E-mail: rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/rwb/robin.htm Contact info (till March 2001 only): Address 336a Ailana Place Kihei, HI 96753 USA phone: 808-874-3911 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 18 Nov 2000 15:53:01 -0500 Reply-To: pmoreno(\)tamu.edu From: PAULA MORENO Subject: MMRP Internship - Spring 2000 Term VOLUNTEER POSITIONS The Marine Mammal Research Program at Texas A&M University, Galveston still has vacancies for the Internship/Spring term, and the previous deadline has been extended. The new deadline to submit applications is December 08, 2000. The Spring term will begin on January 08, 2001 and lasts 3 months. Applications are accepted from any country. Details about our internships are available at www.tamug.tamu.edu/mmrp/ For further questions, please contact our internship coordinator: Paula Moreno, tel. (409) 740-4718, fax (409) 740-4717, email: pmoreno(\)tamu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2000 19:50:43 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Abstract: Genetic relationships among right whales (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Howard Rosenbaum World-wide genetic differentiation of Eubalaena: questioning the number of right whale species. H. C. Rosenbaum, R. L. Brownwell Jr, M. W. Brown, C. Schaeff, V. Portway, B. N. White, S. Malik, L. A. Pastene, N. J. Patenaude, C. S. Baker, M. Goto, P. B. Best, P. J. Clapham, P. Hamilton, M. Moore, R. Payne, V. Rowntree, C. T. Tynan, J. L. Bannister & R. DeSalle. Molecular Ecology, November 2000, Volume 9, Issue 11, Pgs. 1793-1802 Abstract Few studies have examined systematic relationships of right whales (Eubalaena spp.) since the original species descriptions, even though they are one of the most endangered large whales. Little morphological evidence exists to support the current species designations for Eubalaena glacialis in the northern hemisphere and E. australis in the southern hemisphere. Differences in migratory behaviour or antitropical distribution between right whales in each hemisphere are considered a barrier to gene flow and maintain the current species distinctions and geographical populations. However, these distinctions between populations have remained controversial and no study has included an analysis of all right whales from the three major ocean basins. To address issues of genetic differentiation and relationships among right whales, we have compiled a database of mito-chondrial DNA control region sequences from right whales representing populations in all three ocean basins that consist of: western North Atlantic E. glacialis, multiple geographically distributed populations of E. australis and the first molecular analysis of historical and recent samples of E. glacialis from the western and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Diagnostic characters, as well as phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses, support the possibility that three distinct maternal lineages exist in right whales, with North Pacific E. glacialis being more closely related to E. australis than to North Atlantic E. glacialis. Our genetic results provide unequivocal character support for the two usually recognized species and a third distinct genetic lineage in the North Pacific under the Phylogenetic Species Concept, as well as levels of genetic diversity among right whales world-wide. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2000 22:08:10 +0100 From: Karl Zbinden Subject: Dolphin sonar signal expander Dear all For my personal use in dolphin sonar research I have developed a signal expander dedicated to convert very short ultrasonic clicks to the audio range. This inexpensive, portable electronic converter employs analog sampling techniques and replaces heavy and expensive high speed data recorders in scientific applications. A prototype of the device which covers a frequency range of 10-30 kHz was tested in the field in 1999 and produced very good results with sonar of free ranging Stenella frontalis and Tursiops truncatus. In case of interest you can obtain further information under kks.zbinden(\)bluewin.ch. I apologise for any cross postings. Karl Zbinden, PhD bioacoustician Garbenweg 3 CH-3027 Bern Switzerland Email kks.zbinden(\)bluewin.ch Tel. +41 (0)31 991 57 27 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2000 11:58:22 -0500 From: Rebecca Brudek Subject: kidney cell culture Hello all- I am a new graduate student at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. My research is going to involve isolating virus from stranded cetaceans using various cell lines. At the moment we are unable to obtain dolphin kidney cells from American Type Culture due to some hold by Fish and Wildlife. I was wondering if anyone was using these cell lines and would be willing to spare a flask. Thank you all. Please respond directly to: BrudekR(\)mail.vetmed.ufl.edu Rebecca Brudek ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2000 13:28:27 +0000 From: vanessaw(\)wdcs.org Subject: Marine Protected Areas for Cetaceans - Get Listed! GET LISTED!! MARINE PROTECTED AREAS FOR CETACEANS - PROPOSED AND EXISTING. Are you involved in the planning, research, or other aspect of a marine protected area that features or includes cetaceans? If so, the UK-based Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) is preparing a compendium of the cetacean protection sites worldwide that have been proposed, or already approved. By contacting us, we can help: Give a higher profile to the reserve proposal or the reserve, and to cetacean research that is being conducted there. Facilitate exchange of research, management and other ideas between reserve managers, scientists, NGOs and others. To be included, please contact WDCS consultant Erich Hoyt at ehoyt(\)compuserve.com (FAX 44 1620 895 257) for a survey form. He will give you an address to send background information, management plans, or proposals. *********** This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. It may not be disclosed, copied or distributed in any form unless it contains an express statement to the contrary. WDCS does not accept responsibility for changes made to this message after it was sent. Any personal opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the policy of the organisation. If you have received this email in error please notify the sender. WDCS (Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society) Alexander House James Street West Bath BA1 2BT UK Tel:+44 (0)1225 334511 Fax:+44 (0)1225 480097 email: info(\)wdcs.org http://www.wdcs.org http://www.phinz.com registered charity 1014705 registered company 2737421 WDCS - The global voice for the protection of whales and dolphins. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2000 15:55:38 -0500 From: Kathryn Ono Subject: Marine Mammal Rehab Coordinator and Marine Mammal Vet positions Stine Brown The University of New England has two positions open for a new Marine Mammal Rehabilitation facility in southern Maine: Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Coordinator The University of New England is announcing an opening for a Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Coordinator to start April 1, 2001. The successful candidate will be responsible for daily operations of the rehabilitation facility, recruiting/training/coordinating volunteers, public education and outreach, coordination with governmental agencies, budgeting and purchasing, grant writing and other fundraising in conjunction with University Relations Office. The position requires excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, previous experience with marine mammals, availability during nights, weekends and holidays. Please send a letter describing qualifications for the position, resume or CV, and three (3) letters of reference. Application should be sent to: Dr. Kathryn Ono, Associate Professor, Department of Life Sciences, University of New England, 11 Hills Beach Rd., Biddeford, ME 04005. Deadline for application is Dec. 15, 2000. The University of New England is an equal opportunity employer, which strongly encourages the application of candidates of diverse backgrounds. Questions about the coordinator position can be addressed to: kono(\)mailbox.une.edu Marine Mammal Veterinarian The University of New England is announcing an opening for a veterinarian to start July 1, 2001. Responsibilities will include 1/2 time duties as veterinarian in the marine mammal rehabilitation facility and 1/2 time academic duties, including teaching in the Department of Life Sciences (1 course with lab / semester; possible classes - pathobiology, comparative anatomy, comparative physiology, microbiology). DVM and board certification required. Previous experience with marine mammals, especially phocids, preferred. Please send a letter describing qualifications for the position, resume or CV, and three (3) letters of reference. Application should be sent to: Dr. A. Christine Brown, Director, Marine Science Education and Research Center, University of New England, 11 Hills Beach Rd., Biddeford, ME 04005. Deadline for application is Jan. 15, 2001. The University of New England is an equal opportunity employer, which strongly encourages the application of candidates of diverse backgrounds. Questions about the veterinarian position can be addressed to: sbrown(\)mailbox.une.edu The University of New England web site is at: www.une.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2000 13:16:47 -0800 From: Kathryn Zagzebski Subject: JOB OPPORTUNITY - Veterinary Technician at The Marine Mammal Cent er Comments: cc: JenningsA(\)TMMC.org Open Position: VETERINARY TECHNICIAN The Marine Mammal Center, a non-profit organization, seeks an experienced individual to assist veterinarians in performing a variety of animal health care duties. This will include routine medical treatments, sample collection, assistance and maintenance of equipment for surgery, ultrasound exams, endoscopy, and radiology. You will also function as a satellite liaison to ensure consistent animal care at Monterey Bay, San Luis Obispo, and Anchor Bay operations, supervise animal care crew supervisors and volunteers, aid in volunteer education, and assist in transport, handling, and release of animals. This opportunity requires a licensed veterinary technician with 3-5 years experience optimum. You must be able to work rotating shifts, weekends, and holidays, and be on 24-hour on-call rotation to answer animal care questions or return to the site to administer emergency medical care. You should possess strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills. If qualified, send your resume and salary requirements to: Human Resources The Marine Mammal Center Marin Headlands 1065 Fort Cronkhite Sausalito, CA 94965-2609 Fax: 415.289.7376 or e-mail: jenningsa(\)tmmc.org Equal Opportunity Employer ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kathy Zagzebski Manager of Stranding The Marine Mammal Center Sausalito, California, 94965 Phone: 415.289.0184 Pager: 415.257.9009 Fax: 415.289.7376 E-mail: zagzebskik(\)tmmc.org "Advancing rehabilitation, scientific discovery, and education." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2000 17:09:18 -0500 Reply-To: Katie Touhey From: Katie Touhey Subject: Vacancy Announcement Position Title: Marine Mammal Stranding Coordinator, Cape Cod Stranding Network Opening Date: 20 November 2000 Closing Date: 20 December 2000 Position Location: Buzzards Bay, Cape Cod, Massachusetts The Cape Cod Stranding Network, Inc. (CCSN) is a non-profit organization that responds to stranded whales, dolphins, porpoises, and seals. The CCSN mission is to provide rapid response and humane care to stranded marine mammals and to conduct research and education, with the goals of reducing suffering and preventing avoidable mortality, and with the ultimate aim of releasing stranded animals back to the wild. CCSN was formed in 1998 by a coalition of non-profit organizations that had historically responded to marine mammal strandings on Cape Cod. These organizations recognized the need for a full time stranding response staff to handle the demands of both single and mass strandings of cetaceans, and the increasing number of pinniped strandings in the region. CCSN has been fully operation since November of 1998 and responds to over 300 reports of stranded marine mammals each year. Duties and Responsibilities: Reports directly to the Program Director Coordinates on-site stranding response and necropsy Recruits, trains, and supervises a large core of field and office volunteers Maintains volunteer, stranding, and sample tracking databases; oversees data entry by interns and volunteers Assists in preparation of bi-monthly reports to the National Marine Fisheries Service Maintains equipment and supply inventory Interacts with other Network agencies and federal, state, and local authorities Assists the Director with other responsibilities as assigned In conjunction with the Program Director, the Stranding Coordinator: Provides emergency hotline and pager coverage Responds to stranded animals Participates in research and public outreach programs Interacts with the CCSN Board of Directors Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts, or Sciences degree in biology or marine science; a relevant higher degree is preferred Experience in marine mammal stranding management, species identification, and clinical care Understanding of veterinary technology, photography, necropsy, small boat handling, database management, and telemetry a plus A valid Massachusetts driver's license required Ability to walk on rough terrain during inclement weather, swim, and lift moderate weights Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Working knowledge of marine mammals and significant experience with field techniques Hands-on experience with stranded cetaceans and pinnipeds is preferred Strong written and verbal communication skills Working knowledge of Microsoft WORD, EXCEL, and ACCESS software Familiarity with the Cape Cod region is a plus The Cape Cod Stranding Network, Inc. affirms its commitment to equal employment opportunity for all persons, regardless of race, religion, color, sex, marital status, age, national origin and disability. Submit resumes to: Katie Touhey, Program Director The Cape Cod Stranding Network, Inc P.O. Box 287 Buzzards Bay, MA 02532 Kt2e(\)cape.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2000 16:13:40 -0500 From: Dave Johnston Organization: Duke University Marine Laboratory Subject: Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Marine Mammal Symposium 2001 Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Marine Mammal Symposium 2001 The first Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Marine Mammal Symposium (SEAMAMMS) will be held at the Duke University Marine Laboratory from Friday, 30 March to Sunday, 01 April, 2001. This meeting, formerly known as the Atlantic Coastal Dolphin Conference, is intended to be a forum for biologists conducting research on all species of marine mammals in waters from Maryland to Texas. We particularly encourage students to present the results of their work at this meeting. The theme of the meeting will be Diversity and Conservation of Marine Mammals, but abstracts on any aspects of the biology, management and policy of marine mammals in the southeastern United States are welcomed. The scientific program will consist of a plenary address, 25 oral presentations, a poster session and workshops. There will be a mixer on Friday night, followed by posters and oral presentations all day Saturday and Sunday morning. Optional workshops and field trips will be held on Sunday afternoon. Individuals wishing to hold a workshop on Sunday should contact Caterina D'Agrosa (see below). A banquet will be held on Saturday night. Abstracts for spoken and poster presentations should be submitted electronically (see conference website: http://kogia.ml.duke.edu). Abstracts and registration must be received by 02 February, 2001. The number of spoken and poster presentations is limited; selection of abstracts for presentation will be made on the basis of anonymous peer review. We particularly encourage the submission of poster presentations; posters will be displayed all day Saturday, with a dedicated viewing session, accompanied by refreshments. Each individual may present only a single poster or spoken paper. Awards will be given for best student poster and best student oral presentation. All activities will take place at the Marine Laboratory, a campus of Duke University located on Pivers Island. Beaufort, NC, is a small, historic coastal community situated at the southern end of the Outer Banks. The closest regional airports are New Bern (45 minutes by car), Wilmington (120 minutes) and Jacksonville, NC (120 minutes). Raleigh-Durham airport is the closest hub, three and a half hours away by car. For more information, visit the conference website (http://kogia.ml.duke.edu), e-mail us at: ced(\)duke.edu or contact Caterina D'Agrosa, (phone: 252-504-7530; fax: 252-504-7648). Cheers Dave Johnston -- "The future masters of technology must be light-hearted and intelligent. The machine easily masters the grim and the dumb." Marshall McLuhan ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2000 12:39:44 -0800 From: K David Hyrenbach Subject: Abstract: Pelagic MPAs Marmam suscribers, We have just published a paper that may be of interest to many of you: Hyrenbach, K.D., Forney K.A., & Dayton, P.K. 2000. Marine Protected Areas and Ocean Basin Management. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 10:437-458. ABSTRACT 1) All reserve designs must be guided by an understanding of natural history and habitat variability. 2) Differences in scale and predictability set aside highly dynamic pelagic systems from terrestrial and nearshore ecosystems, where wildlife reserves were first implemented. Yet, as in static systems, many pelagic species use predictable habitats to breed and forage. Marine protected areas (MPAs) could be designed to protect these foraging and breeding aggregations. 3) Understanding the physical mechanisms that influence the formation and persistence of these aggregations is essential to define and implement pelagic protected areas. We classify pelagic habitats according to their dynamics and predictability into three categories: static, persistent, and ephemeral features. 4) While traditional designs are effective in static habitats, many important pelagic habitats are neither fixed nor predictable. Thus, pelagic protected areas will require dynamic boundaries and extensive buffers. 5) Additionally, the protection of far-ranging pelagic vertebrates will require dynamic MPAs defined by the extent and location of large-scale oceanographic features. 6) Recent technological advances and our ability to implement large-scale conservation actions will facilitate the implementation of pelagic protected areas. 7) The establishment of pelagic MPA's should include enforcement, research, and monitoring programs to evaluate design effectiveness. 8) Ultimately, society will need a holistic management scheme for entire ocean basins. Such overarching management will rely on many innovative tools including the judicious use of pelagic MPAs. Key words: MPA, Marine Protected Area, Seamounts, Fronts, Highly Migratory Species, Migration Routes, Pelagic Conservation, Ocean Basin Conservation This article is available at the "Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems" Volume 10 web-page: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/issuetoc?ID=75502950 If you have any problems obtaining a copy, email me: khyrenba(\)coast.ucsd.edu Thank you and enjoy. David K. D. Hyrenbach Graduate Department (Q-0208) Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California, San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla, CA 92093-0208 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2000 10:59:54 -0500 From: Ed Bousfield Subject: Cyamid ectoparasites of Cetacea Content-type: multipart/alternative; boundary="MS_Mac_OE_3057649194_589452_MIME_Part" > THIS MESSAGE IS IN MIME FORMAT. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. --MS_Mac_OE_3057649194_589452_MIME_Part Abstract The Whale Lice (Amphipoda: Cyamidae) of the Northeastern Pacific Region. by Leo Margolis, T. E. McDonald, and E. L. Bousfield. in Amphipacifica II(4): 63-119 (2000). This study treats the systematics and host relationships of cyamid ectoparasites of whales (Cetacea) of the northeastern Pacific region. Th= e caprellidean amphipod family Cyamidae is revised, and keys to all component genera, subgenera and regional species are provided. Orcinocyamu= s n. g., Cyamus (Apocyamus ) n. subg., and Cyamus (Mesocyamus) n. subg., Cyamus (Mesocyamus) mesorubraedon n. sp., and Cyamus (Apocyamus) eschrichtii n. sp., are newly defined, and subgenus Cyamus (Paracyamus) G. O. Sars is revived. Redescribed and refigured, wholly or in part, are: Cyamus (Cyamus) ceti (L.) Lamarck, C. (Cyamus) monodontis L=FCtken, C. (Cyamus) erraticus R. de Vauz=E8me, C. (Cyamus) ovalis R. de Vauz=E8me, C. (Cyamus) gracilis R. de Vauz=E8me, Cyamus (Paracyamus) balaenopterae K. H. Barnard, C. (Paracyamus) boopis L=FCtken, C. (Mesocyamus) catodontis Margolis= , C. (Mesocyamus) orubraedon Waller, C. (Apocyamus) scammoni Dall, C. (Apocyamus) kessleri Brandt, Neocyamus physteris (Pouchet); Isocyamus delphinii (Gu=E9rin-M=E9neville), I. globicipitis L=FCtken, and Platycyamus flaviscutatus Waller. Analysis of a broad range of characters and char-acter states suggests that the phyletic position of the Cyamidae withi= n the Caprellidea may be closer to Caprogammaridae-Caprellidae than to the Caprellinoididae-Phtisicidae evolutionary grouping as suggested elsewhere. Phyletic classification of the Cyamidae accords reasonably well with that of the host Cetacea. Thus, species of the most primitive genus Cyamus (and subgenera) are found mainly on the most primitive whales (Mysticeti) whereas the more advanced genera of cyamids (Isocyamus, Neocyamus, Orcinocyamus, Syncyamus, and Scutocyamus) occur only on the more advanced Odontoceti. Some species of Cyamus occur on more primitive members of the Odontoceti (e.g., on Physeter, Berardius, Monodontidae) but host size and life style may also prove significant factors here. Two distinct group= s of advanced cyamids recognized herein could support other evidence for polyphyletic origin within the Odontoceti. However, such conclusions would seem premature since many host-parasite relationships remain undiscovered. Marine mammalogists are alerted to the need for further collection of cyamid amphipod specimens, especially from smaller fast-moving whales, and from those not commonly encountered (e.g., some Ziphiidae). Confirmation is needed for the postulated absence of these ectoparasites from freshwater whales and for postulated association of the most primitive extant cyamid species with the Pygmy right whale, Caperea marginata. Please contact: Dr. E. L. Bousfield, Managing Editor, AMPHIPACIFICA, 1710-1275 Richmond Rd.= , Ottawa, ON, Canada. e-mail: elbousf(\)magma.ca. Subcription rate: $50 (CAN) or $40 (US) per volume (4 issues), including surface postage. --MS_Mac_OE_3057649194_589452_MIME_Part Cyamid ectoparasites of Cetacea
 Abstract
 The Whale Lice (Amphipoda: Cyamidae) of the Northeastern Pacific = Region.
 by Leo Margolis, T. E. McDonald, and E. L. Bousfield.  in  Amphipacifica II(4): 63-119 (2000).
 This study treats the systematics and host relationships of cyamid ec= toparasites of whales (Cetacea) of the northeastern Pacific  region. &n= bsp; The caprellidean  amphipod family Cyamidae is revised, and &n= bsp;keys to all component genera, subgenera and regional species are provide= d.  Orcinocyamus n. g., Cyamus (Apocyamus ) n. subg., and= Cyamus (Mesocyamus)  n. subg.,  Cyamus (Mesocyamus) mes= orubraedon  n. sp., and Cyamus (Apocyamus) eschrichtii n. sp= ., are newly defined, and subgenus Cyamus (Paracyamus)  G. O. Sa= rs is  revived.    Redescribed and refigured, wholly or = in part, are: Cyamus (Cyamus) ceti  (L.) Lamarck, C. (Cyamus)= monodontis  L=FCtken, C. (Cyamus) erraticus R. de Vauz=E8me, C. (Cyamus) ovalis R. de Vauz=E8me, C. (Cyamus) gracilis R. de Vau= z=E8me, Cyamus (Paracyamus) balaenopterae K. H. Barnard, C. (Paracya= mus) boopis L=FCtken, C. (Mesocyamus) catodontis Margolis, C. (M= esocyamus) orubraedon Waller, C. (Apocyamus) scammoni  Dall,= C. (Apocyamus) kessleri  Brandt, Neocyamus physteris &nb= sp;(Pouchet);  Isocyamus delphinii  (Gu=E9rin-M=E9neville), = I.  globicipitis L=FCtken, and Platycyamus flaviscutatus Walle= r.   Analysis of a broad range of characters and char-acter states= suggests that the phyletic position of the Cyamidae within the Caprellidea = may be closer to  Caprogammaridae-Caprellidae than to the Caprellinoidi= dae-Phtisicidae evolutionary grouping as suggested elsewhere.        Phyletic classification of the Cyamidae accords rea= sonably well with that of the host Cetacea.  Thus, species of the most = primitive genus Cyamus  (and subgenera) are found mainly on the = most primitive whales (Mysticeti) whereas the more advanced genera of cyamid= s (Isocyamus, Neocyamus, Orcinocyamus, Syncyamus, and Scutocyamus<= /I>) occur only on the more advanced Odontoceti.    Some spec= ies of Cyamus  occur on more primitive members of the Odontoceti=  (e.g., on Physeter, Berardius, Monodontidae) but host size and= life style may also prove significant factors here.  Two distinct grou= ps of advanced cyamids recognized herein could support  other evidence = for polyphyletic origin within  the Odontoceti.    Howev= er, such conclusions would seem premature since many host-parasite relations= hips remain undiscovered.
     Marine mammalogists= are alerted to the need for further collection of cyamid amphipod specimens= , especially from smaller fast-moving whales, and from those not commonly en= countered (e.g., some Ziphiidae).   Confirmation is needed for the= postulated absence of these ectoparasites from freshwater whales and for po= stulated association of the most primitive extant cyamid species with the Py= gmy right whale, Caperea marginata.

Please contact:
Dr. E. L. Bousfield, Managing Editor, AMPHIP= ACIFICA, 1710-1275 Richmond Rd., Ottawa, ON, Canada.   e-mail: elb= ousf(\)magma.ca.   Subcription rate: $50 (CAN) or $40 (US) per volum= e (4 issues),  including surface postage.

 --MS_Mac_OE_3057649194_589452_MIME_Part-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2000 12:56:02 +0100 From: Karl Zbinden Subject: Re: Dolphin sonar signal expander In-Reply-To: <3A1290BE001BB69E(\)mta1n.bluewin.ch> (added by postmaster(\)bluewin.ch) Dear all Unfortunately an error crept in when specifying the frequency range of the device. The frequency range covered by the prototype is 10-300 kHz (which makes it much more useful, of course). >For my personal use in dolphin sonar research I have developed a signal >expander dedicated to convert very short ultrasonic clicks to the audio >range. This inexpensive, portable electronic converter employs analog >sampling techniques and replaces heavy and expensive high speed data >recorders in scientific applications. A prototype of the device which >covers a frequency range of 10-30 kHz was tested in the field in 1999 and >produced very good results with sonar of free ranging Stenella frontalis >and Tursiops truncatus. >In case of interest you can obtain further information under >kks.zbinden(\)bluewin.ch. I apologise for any cross postings. Karl Zbinden, PhD bioacoustician Garbenweg 3 CH-3027 Bern Switzerland Email kks.zbinden(\)bluewin.ch Tel. +41 (0)31 991 57 27 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Nov 2000 15:09:08 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: SirenianVoice Newsletter (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Caryn Self Sullivan Please forgive cross postings... As several of you have subscribed to the SirenianVoice, this is the last time I will forward it to Manatee Watchers Listbot, Marmam, and SIRENIAN Listserv. If you haven't subscribed and want to continue receiving SirenianVoice, please follow the subscription directions included below. Happy Thanksgiving! SirenianVoice Newsletter 24 November 2000 The SirenianVoice brings you periodic updates on Sirenian International, our 'neonate' grass roots organization dedicated to funding manatee & dugong research, conservation, and education projects around the world. We also include recent manatee & dugong announcements, press releases, and news articles, which we think will be of interest to our audience. We welcome your feedback; please send your comments and suggestions to Caryn Self Sullivan, Editor caryn(\)sirenian.org. To learn more about Sirenian International, visit our website at http://www.sirenian.org/. You may subscribe to SirenianVoice online at: http://www.egroups.com/group/SirenianVoice; to un-subscribe, send an email to: SirenianVoice-unsubscribe(\)egroups.com. ======================================================= In this issue: 1. SIRENIAN INTERNATIONAL: IRS TAX-EXEMPTION APPLICATION FILED 2. ATTENTION ARTISTS: MANATEE ARTWORK NEEDED FOR NEW DECAL DESIGN 3. FLORIDA: SEASONAL SPEED ZONES IN EFFECT AMID MANATEE MIGRATION 4. INTERNATIONAL: NATIONAL MANATEE WEEK IN BELIZE 13-17 NOVEMBER ======================================================= 1. SIRENIAN INTERNATIONAL FILES FOR TAX-EXEMPT STATUS November 22, 2000 Contact: Caryn Self Sullivan (caryn(\)sirenian.org) As anyone who has been involved with organizing a non-profit corporation knows, one major hurtle is the IRS TAX-EXEMPT STATUS application! We are extremely pleased to announce that we have officially submitted our application well within the 15-month period required for new organizations. We fully expect to receive 501 (c) 3 status within the next few months . This means all contributions made to Sirenian International are tax-deductible within the limits of the law, retroactive to the date of incorporation (21 June 2000). As the holiday season approaches, we encourage you to consider joining and/or giving a gift membership to Sirenian International. For membership information, visit our website at: http://www.sirenian.org/membership.html 2. ARTISTS: MANATEE ARTWORK NEEDED FOR NEW DECAL DESIGN November 17, 2000 Contact: Bonnie J. Abellera As part of November's Manatee Month celebrations around the state, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) invites all environmental artists, art students and manatee supporters to submit artwork for the 2001-2002 Manatee Decal. The FWC will accept entries Nov. 27 - Jan. 5. Artwork should be no larger than 8 = by 11 inches, and the design, medium and colors are the artist's choice. Final decal layout and captions are to be completed by the FWC. For more information or entry forms, interested persons can contact the FWC Bureau of Protected Species Management at (850) 922-4330. The completed decals are distributed through County tax offices around the state and are available to individuals for a $5 donation. They may be purchased at the time of vehicle or vessel registration. Manatee decals, on average, raise about $100,000 for the state's manatee recovery program. The money goes into the Save the Manatee Trust Fund, which supports research, rehabilitation, habitat protection, management and educational programs for the recovery of Florida's manatees. Currently, nine different manatee decals are available from the FWC Bureau of Protected Species Management. Internet users can visit the FWC's Web site at www.state.fl.us/fwc/psm/ to view the decals or to get ideas for entries. 3. FLORIDA: SEASONAL SPEED ZONES IN EFFECT AMID MANATEE MIGRATION November 17, 2000 Contact: Kipp Frohlich With the onset of autumn, Florida's waters cool down, and manatees begin to move south or to the warmer waters of springs and power plants. Boaters should be aware that many waterways have seasonal speed zones that change during this time of the year. The speed zones reflect the seasonal migration of manatees. Manatees prefer water temperatures above 68 degrees F. Manatees exposed to colder temperatures for prolonged periods can become sick or even die. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation (FWC) is cautioning boaters to abide by posted speed zones, stay in marked channels, wear polarized sunglasses and to pole, paddle or use trolling motors when over shallow seagrass beds during the migration period. Kipp Frohlich, chief of the FWC's Bureau of Protected Species Management, said manatees tend to travel to the same areas each winter and know where warm water sites are. "If you boat near any of these manatee congregation spots or in known manatee travel routes, please slow down to the appropriate speed for the area," Frohlich said. "Scan the water near or in front of your boat for any swirls that look like a huge footprint, a repetitive line of half- moon swirls, a mud trail or any breaking of the surface by a snout or a tail. If you see a manatee, give it plenty of room. It may have a calf or be traveling with other manatees that are close by." As with other wild animals, the FWC encourages passive observation. "Please do not give food or water or attempt to touch a manatee," Frohlich said. "Repeated human contact with wild animals often contributes to the animals' deaths. If you would like to see manatees, you are encouraged to visit places where manatees are in captivity for rehabilitation purposes." Several oceanaria facilities around the state have manatee exhibits. Frohlich said when boaters see an injured, dead, orphaned or tagged manatee, or one that is being harassed, they should notify the Florida Marine Enforcement Office on VHF Channel 16 or by mobile phone at *FWC. The Resource Protection Hotline number is 1-800-DIAL- FMP (1-800-342-5367). A marine law enforcement officer will assist with the rescue or recovery or provide the appropriate follow- through. "If you can locate the injured or orphaned animal again, stay nearby and report its location and direction of travel," Frohlich said. "The more information you can provide, the better chance there is that an injured or orphaned manatee can be rescued, rehabilitated and returned to the population to reproduce again." Manatees are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. The Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978 designates the entire state of Florida as a manatee sanctuary. For more information, interested persons can write or call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 620 South Meridian St., OES-BPS, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600 or call the FWC at (850) 922-4330. Internet users can get more information at the FWC's Web site at www.state.fl.us/fwc/psm/. 4. INTERNATIONAL: NATIONAL MANATEE WEEK IN BELIZE 13-17 NOVEMBER 2000 Support the Manatee Cause: Act today or lose them tomorrow, by Jill Heff, San Pedro Sun The Island Newspaper, Ambergris Caye, Belize, Vol. 10, No. 41, November 16, 2000 Source: http://sanpedrosun.net/old/00-423.html In a national effort to raise awareness for the plight of the threatened West Indian manatee native to Belize, Coast Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMA/I) held their annual "Manatee Week" this week. In San Pedro, the week was organized with the assistance of volunteers from Green Reef, the local marine conservation organization, and Saga Society, the island humane society. This week was designed to help spread information and build concern about the status of this unique marine mammal. The West Indian manatee is a familiar site to many tour guides and fishermen who frequent the waters near Ambergris Caye. This large mammal is often found around mangrove cayes and rivers where there is abundant food supplies. This animal feeds primarily on the sea grass beds found in shallow bays and lagoons. An adult manatee usually weighs around 1000 pounds and can eat almost 10-15% of its body weight in grass each day. That's almost 100 pounds of sea grass every day! Manatees are slow to reproduce, giving birth to a calf every two to five years. Mothers nurse their young and a calf may stay with its mother for up to two years. Manatees have no natural predators, yet the number of manatees found in Belize and worldwide have declined steadily during the last several decades. The last national aerial survey conducted by CZMA/I during March of this year observed a total of 292 manatees. The greatest threat to manatees is from the activities of humans. Manatees inhabit the shallow bays and rivers on the coast of Belize and near many of the offshore cayes. This area has a significant amount of high-speed boat traffic. It can be difficult to spot manatees, which often feed and rest just below the surface of the water. Deaths or injuries from collisions with boat hulls or propellers are significant sources of manatee mortality. Loss of habitat, poaching, pollution/litter and harassment are also other human-induced factors which can lead to higher rates of mortality. In order to protect these "gentle giants of the sea" from being pushed closer to extinction, Belize is working to promote a combination of environmental education, research, rehabilitation and conservation. Activities such as Manatee Week help to increase awareness of this animal's physiology, habitat requirements and threatened status to a large number of individuals. Specialized training for manatee tour guides are also conducted in an effort to teach them about ways to view manatees without disturbing them. CZMA/I conducts annual aerial surveys to gain a count of the total number of manatees found in the country to try to determine if the populations are decreasing, increasing or remaining stable. The Belize Marine Mammal Stranding Network (BMMSN) is a group of concerned citizens, scientists and veterinarians who work to rehabilitate injured animals or perform necropsies of dead animals in an effort to better understand the dangers to manatees. "Woody"(currently in Sarteneja, Belize) and "Hercules" (currently in Xcaret, Mexico) are two manatee calves that the BMMSN has worked diligently to rehabilitate this year and plan to release back into the wild. Protecting the habitat of these animals is especially important and the "Friends of Swallow Caye" are working to establish this mangrove caye and surrounding area as a wildlife sanctuary. If the proposal for the wildlife sanctuary is approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Cabinet, the Friends of Swallow Caye plan to hire a warden to control activities and boat speeds in this area that manatees are known to frequent. IN BELIZE: If you see a dead, injured, sick or tagged manatee, or one being harassed, contact the Manatee Researcher at Coastal Zone at 02-30719. Note from SirenianVoice Editor: The National Manatee Researcher in Belize is Nicole Auil, who also serves on Sirenian International's Board of Directors. We applaud her dedicated work towards conservation of manatees in Belize! ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2000 17:48:13 +0100 From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Erland=20Lettevall?= Subject: whale watching impacts Hello All! I am currently preparing a talk for a conference on research and tourism in Sweden. My talk will be on "what tourism mean for research and the vice verse". One of my aims is to present suggestions on how to develop sustainable research-tourism projects with minimal negative impacts. I am still locking for information were there has been a documentation of negative effects from whale watching or safari on nature and/or culture. Any suggestion will be appreciated. All the best! Erland Lettevall Gvteborg University e.lettevall(\)kmf.gu.se _____________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Ditt_namn(\)yahoo.se - skaffa en gratis mailadress pe http://mail.yahoo.se ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Nov 2000 15:39:37 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Northern sea otter as candidate species for U.S. ESA listing (fwd) >From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] November 9, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 218, Page 67343-67345) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 17 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Designation of the Northern Sea Otter in the Aleutian Islands as a Candidate Species SUMMARY: In this document, we present information on the recent addition of the northern sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) found in the Aleutian Islands to the list of candidates for listing under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. Identification of candidate taxa can assist environmental planning efforts by providing advance notice of potential listings, allowing resource managers to alleviate threats and thereby possibly remove the need to list taxa as endangered or threatened. Even if we subsequently list this candidate species, the early notice provided here could result in fewer restrictions on activities by prompting candidate conservation measures to alleviate threats to this species. We also announce the availability of the candidate and listing priority assignment form for this candidate species. This document describes the status and threats that we evaluated to determine that the northern sea otter in the Aleutian Islands warrants consideration for listing, and to assign a listing priority to this species. We request additional status information that may be available for the northern sea otter. We will consider this information in evaluating, monitoring, and developing conservation strategies for this species. DATES: We will accept comments on this document at any time. ADDRESSES: Submit written comments and data regarding the northern sea otter to the Marine Mammals Management Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 E. Tudor Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99503. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Burn, Wildlife Biologist, Marine Mammals Management Office at the above address, or telephone 907/786-3800 or facsimile 907/786-3816. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), requires that we list taxa of wildlife and plants that are endangered or threatened, based on the best available scientific and commercial information. As part of this program, we also identify taxa that we regard as candidates for listing. Candidate taxa are those taxa for which we have on file sufficient information to support issuance of a proposed rule to list under the Act. In addition to our annual review of all candidate taxa (64 FR 57534; October 25, 1999), we have an on-going review process, particularly to update taxa whose status may have changed markedly. Section 3 of the Act generally defines an endangered species as any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range, and a threatened species as any species which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. A species may be determined to be an endangered or threatened species due to one or more of the five factors described in section 4(a)(1) of the Act: (A)The present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of the species' habitat or range; (B)Overutilization of the species for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes; (C) Disease or predation affecting the species; (D) The inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms to protect the species; and (E) Other natural or manmade factors affecting the species' continued existence. We are required to make the listing determination ``solely on the basis of the best scientific and commercial data available'' and ``taking into account those efforts, if any, being made by any State or foreign nation, or any political subdivision of a State or foreign nation, to protect such species, whether by predator control, protection of habitat and food supply, or other conservation practices, within any area under its jurisdiction, or on the high seas.'' Sections 4(a)(1) and 4(b)(1)(A) and our regulations at 50 CFR 424.11(f) require us to consider any State or local laws, regulations, ordinances, programs, or other specific conservation measures that either positively or negatively affect a species' status (i.e., efforts that create, exacerbate, reduce, or remove threats identified through the section 4(a)(1) analysis). We maintain the list of candidate species for a variety of reasons, including: to provide advance knowledge of potential listings that could affect decisions of planners and developers; to solicit input from interested parties to identify those candidate taxa that may not require protection under the Act or additional taxa that may require the Act's protections; to solicit information on the status of species and measures necessary to conserve species, and to solicit information needed to prioritize the order in which we will propose taxa for listing. We encourage consideration of candidate taxa in environmental planning, such as in environmental impact analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (implemented at 40 CFR parts 1500-1508) and in local and Statewide land use planning. According to our 1983 Listing Priority System (48 FR 43098; September 21, 1983), all species that are candidates for listing are assigned a listing priority number. This system ranks species according to--(1) the magnitude of threats they face, (2) the immediacy of these threats, and (3) the taxonomic distinctiveness of the entity that may be listed. Listing priority numbers range from 1 (highest priority) to 12 (lowest priority). We will complete proposals to list candidate species, based on their listing priority, to the extent that our resources for listing activities and our workload for other listing activities will allow. This notice provides specific explanations of why we classified the northern sea otter as a candidate. This decision was approved by the Service's Director Jamie Rappaport Clark, on August 22, 2000. It is important to note that candidate assessment is an ongoing function and changes in status should be expected. If we remove taxa from the candidate list, they may be restored to candidate status if additional information supporting such a change becomes available to us. We issue requests for such information in a Candidate Notice of Review published in the Federal Register every year. Findings The worldwide population of sea otters in the early 1700s has been estimated at 150,000 (Kenyon 1969) to 300,000 (Johnson 1982). Extensive commercial hunting of sea otters began following the arrival in Alaska of Russian explorers in 1741 and continued during the 18th and 19th centuries. By the time sea otters were afforded protection from commercial harvests by international treaty in 1911, the species was nearly extinct throughout its range, and may have numbered only 1,000-2,000 individuals (Kenyon 1969). Following the international treaty in 1911, only 13 isolated remnant populations scattered throughout the historic range remained. However, once commercial harvests ceased, these populations began to grow and recolonize their former range. Today three subspecies of sea otter have been identified (Wilson et al. 1991). The northern sea otter contains two subspecies: Enhydra lutris kenyoni which occurs from the Aleutian Islands to Oregon, and Enhydra lutris lutris which occurs in the Kuril Islands, Kamchatka Peninsula, and Commander Islands in Russia. The third subspecies, Enhydra lutris nereis, occurs in California and is known as the southern sea otter. The period of recolonization was marked by high reproductive rates and range expansion. Survey data indicate that otters were present in all island groups in the Aleutians by the 1980s (Brueggeman et al. 1988, Estes 1990). Calkins and Schneider (1985) calculated the sea otter population in the Aleutians as 55,100 to 73,700 individuals, which represented over half the Alaska population. The entire Aleutian archipelago was not systematically surveyed again until 1992. During these surveys Evans et al. (1997) estimated the Aleutian Islands sea otter population as 19,157 3,281. The most striking results of this survey were that sea otter density and abundance in the Rat, Delarof, and western Andreanof Islands had unexpectedly declined by more than 50 percent. Boat-based surveys of sea otters at several islands in the Near, Rat, and Andreanof Islands further documented an ongoing decline of sea otters during the 1990s (Estes et al. 1998). As few as 6,000 sea otters may remain in the Aleutians today (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Unpublished Data). Potential threats include both natural fluctuations and human activities, which may have caused changes in the Bering Sea ecosystem. Subsistence hunting occurs at very low levels and does not appear to be a factor in the decline. While disease, starvation, and contaminants have not been implicated at this time, additional evaluation of these factors is warranted. The hypothesis that predation by killer whales is causing the sea otter decline (Estes et al. 1998) should also be studied further. Due to the precipitous and rapid nature of the ongoing population decline, we have assigned the northern sea otter in the Aleutian Islands listing a priority of three under our Listing Priority System. Additionally we note that the imminence of the threats underscores the urgent need for more information regarding the cause of the decline in this population. Request for Information We request you submit any further information on the northern sea otter as soon as possible or whenever it becomes available. We are seeking the following types of information: (1) Biological, commercial trade, or other relevant data concerning any threat (or lack thereof) to the northern sea otter; (2) Reasons why any habitat of this species should or should not be determined to be critical habitat pursuant to section 4 of the Act; (3) Additional information concerning the range, distribution, and population size of this species; and (4) Current or planned activities in the subject area and their possible impacts on this species. Information regarding the range, status, habitat needs, and listing priority assignment for the northern sea otter is available for review by contacting the Service as specified in the ADDRESSES section. Our practice is to make comments, including names and home addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular business hours. Individual respondents may request that we withhold their home address from the rulemaking record, which we will honor to the extent allowable by law. In certain circumstances, we would withhold from the rulemaking record a respondent's identity, as allowable by law. If you wish for us to withhold your name and/or address, you must state this request prominently at the beginning of your comment. However, we will not consider anonymous comments. We will make all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety. References Cited A complete list of all references cited herein, as well as others, is available upon request from the Marine Mammals Management Office (see ADDRESSES section). References Cited Brueggeman, J.J., G.A. Green, R.A. Grotefendt, and D.G. Chapman. 1988. Aerial surveys of sea otters in the northwestern Gulf of Alaska and southeastern Bering Sea. Minerals Management Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Final Report. Anchorage, Alaska. Calkins, D.G., and K.B. Schneider. 1985. The sea otter (Enhydra lutris). Pages 37-45. In: Marine Mammals Species Accounts. J.J. Burns K.J. Frost,and L.F. Lowry (Eds.). Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Technical Bulletin 7. Estes, J.A. 1990. Growth and equilibrium in sea otter populations. Journal of Animal Ecology 59:385-401. Estes, J.A., M.T. Tinker, T.M. Williams, and D.F. Doak. 1998. Killer Whale Predation Linking Oceanic and Nearshore Ecosystems. Science 282: 473-476. Evans, T.J., D.M. Burn, and A.R. DeGange. 1997. Distribution and Relative Abundance of Sea Otters in the Aleutian Archipelago. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management Technical Report MMM 97-5. 29 pp. Johnson, A.M. 1982. Status of Alaska sea otter populations and developing conflicts with fisheries. Trans. 47th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference:293-299. Kenyon, K. W. 1969. The Sea Otter in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. United States Department of the Interior. North American Fauna, Number 68. 352 pp. Wilson, D.E., M.A. Bogan, R.L. Brownell, Jr., A.M. Burdin, and M.K. Maminov. 1991. Geographic variation in sea otters, Enhydra lutris. Journal of Mammalogy 72:22-36. Author This notice was compiled from materials supplied by staff biologists located in the Service's regional and field offices. The materials were compiled by, Division of Endangered Species (see ADDRESSES section). Authority The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. Dated: November 3, 2000. David B. Allen, Regional Director, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 25 Nov 2000 16:59:58 -1000 From: lfoote Subject: Seeking cetacean researchers for educational website ------ Dear subscribers of MARMAM, I am the president and founder of Project S.E.A.-LINK. We are a nonprofit= =20 organization based in Maui, Hawaii, and our mission is to promote marine=20 Science, Education, and Awareness. Our goal is to provide a LINK between=20 students, teachers, scientists, the local community, the general public,=20 other nonprofit organizations, and governmental agencies. I would like to invite the cetacean research community to participate in=20 the educational website I am currently developing. The site will be a=20 resource for students and teachers, and will feauture a section where=20 scientists and their work will be profiled. Students may write in=20 questions, and teachers will be able to download curricular materials=20 based on the researchers' work.=20 I would especially like to feature cetacean researchers' profiles on the=20 site. To become profiled, just answer some questions about your career=20 and philosophy about science via our questionnaire, and provide photo(s).= =20 If you wish, you may also participate in other opportunities such as a=20 question/answer board or other more direct interactions with students and= =20 science classrooms around the country. The questionnaire and instructions are provided below. You may also write= =20 to profiles(\)projectsealink.org to request PDF and Word versions. If you have any specific questions, please send a message directly to me. Thank you very much! Liz Foote, President, Project S.E.A.-LINK president(\)projectsealink.org -------------------------------------------------------------------------= - INSTRUCTIONS Please answer the following questions. You may send your responses by=20 email or through regular mail. email: profiles(\)projectsealink.org =20 Mailing Address: Project S.E.A.-LINK; 3740 Lower Honoapiilani Hwy. D206;=20 Lahaina, HI 96761 Contact: Liz Foote, President (president(\)projectsealink.org). Questions for Web Profile: 1. Name. 2. Job Title. 3. Degree(s) held and from where. 4. Brief description of your job. 5. Briefly describe the project(s) you are currently working on. 6. Explain how/why your job is important to society. 7. How did you end up doing what you=B9re doing? 8. Were you inspired by anyone in particular? If so, who, and how did=20 he/she influence your career choice? 9. What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? 10. If you could change one aspect of your job, what would it be? 11. Describe the most fun and exciting experience you have had during=20 your career. 12. Describe the most disappointing or frustrating experience you have=20 had during your career. 13. What do you like to do on your days off? 14. What advice would you give to a student who is thinking about=20 pursuing a career similar to yours? 15. Can you recommend any particular educational programs/internships,=20 etc. that will help students prepare for a career like yours? Additional Information Requested: *Please attach your current C.V/Resume, and add on any additional=20 educational experiences (such as summer camps, internships, or other=20 programs--through high school and earlier, if applicable) which helped=20 you prepare for your career. These will be linked directly from the=20 website.=20 *Please attach a photo of yourself. Additional photos are welcomed, the=20 more action-oriented the better. You may send a jpeg file to the email=20 address above, or the photo can be sent by US mail to the postal address=20 above. *Please indicate whether you would like your email address posted with=20 your profile. *Please indicate whether you would be interested in answering students=B9= =20 questions as relayed by the Project S.E.A.-LINK webmaster (students will=20 not contact you directly). *Please indicate whether you would be interested in participating in=20 Project S.E.A.-LINK=B9s Online Mentoring Program or Classroom Connection=20 Program. *For Project S.E.A.-LINK=B9s records, please provide your address=20 (home/work), phone number, and email address. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 25 Nov 2000 16:17:44 -0800 From: ACS/Puget Sound Organization: Puget Sound Chapter of the American Cetacean Society Subject: ACS/Puget Sound General Meeting: Wed. 29 November 2000 The next general meeting of the Puget Sound Chapter of the American Cetacean Society will be on Wednesday, 29 November at Odyssey - The Maritime Discovery Center on Pier 66 in Seattle. The meeting starts at 7:30pm and doors open at 7:00pm. As usual, our meetings are open to the pubic and FREE of charge. As of this meeting, Odyssey will be charging us for use of the meeting space, so any donations from attendees will be greatly appreciated! This meeting will feature a panel discussion entitled: "Orcas and Underwater Sound: Motors, Measurement, and Music" Our panelists will be: Dr. David Bain (University of Washington & Six Flags Marine World in the Vallejo, CA) Jim Nollman (Interspecies Communication, Inc.) Dr. Toni Frohoff (TerraMar Research). Synopsis: The underwater world is a noisy environment -- much more so than our terrestrial world. Many of the sounds in the oceans come from natural sources, but over the last century the sounds contributed by humans have increased at an alarming rate. At the turn of the 21st century, human caused (anthropogenic) sounds dominate in many frequency ranges. Our panel will discuss the effects of sound as it relates to the southern resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the waters of Washington State and southern British Columbia. In considering the types of sounds to which these orcas are exposed, the panel will address such questions as the following. Is the introduction of anthropogenic sound useful in studying these whales? Might some anthropogenic sounds be considered benign while others be harmful? Is it possible to determine such distinctions with our current knowledge? Biographies: Dr. David Bain received his Ph.D. in Biology from the University of California at Santa Cruz. His post-doctoral work was at the University of California at Davis and the National Marine Mammal Laboratory. He has been working as a researcher at Marine World in the San Francisco Bay area since 1978. His other affiliations have included the University of Washington, The Whale Museum, and as a contractor for federal agencies including the National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and Minerals Management Service. His work has addressed human disturbance of marine mammals since 1983. These studies have included effects of vessel traffic on orcas, masking effects of noise on orca hearing, the use of noise to free entrapped orcas, the use of acoustic deterrence as an alternative to lethal removal of sea lions at Ballard Locks, the use of pingers to protect porpoises from gill nets, and effects of seismic survey noise on marine mammals. He has studied many aspects of killer whale biology, both in captivity and in the wild from Puget Sound to Prince William Sound. Jim Nollman is a conceptual artist and author who uses live music to communicate with whales and dolphins in the wild. Over the past 25 years, He has worked with orcas in Canada, Pilot whales in Tenerife, humpbacks in Japan, gray whales in Alaska, and belugas in Russia. Nollman's current project involves a unique blend of music, cognitive science, archeology, and ecological preservation in a collaboration with the Russian Academy of Science on the Karelian White Sea. The international team is starting to unravel the complex language of the local beluga whales in an area rich in 6000 year old petroglyphs, some of which show ancient shamans also using music to converse with the ancestors of these same whales. The project is introducing eco-tourism into an area lacking any viable economy, as the most beneficial way to stop the destruction of this distinct whale population. Dr. Toni Frohoff is a behavioral biologist who specializes in the study of marine mammal behavior. Her research on human-dolphin interactions in captivity and in the wild has contributed to management regulations in several countries and has been featured in various publications, television shows, and documentaries. She is co-editing a book about dolphins with Brenda Peterson for Sierra Club Books. Currently, with the Whale Stewardship Project and TerraMar Research, she is studying free-ranging solitary beluga whales who regularly initiate sociable interaction with people. Our general meeting announcements are now posted on our web site at www.cetaceanresearch.com/acs. Please let us know if you have any questions. ===================================== Joe Olson, President ACS/Puget Sound Chapter P.O. Box 17136 Seattle, WA 98107 206-297-1310 acs(\)cetaceanresearch.com www.cetaceanresearch.com/acs/ ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 26 Nov 2000 18:49:05 -0500 From: Ursula Keuper-Bennett Subject: Tumours (tumors) in dolphins Dear Researchers, My husband and I dive with a group of Hawaiian green turtles and we've documented the expression of fibropapilloma disease in this population since 1988. Hawaii is unique as far as tumours go. Oral tumours are common in Hawaiian green turtles. In stark contrast, green turtle populations in other parts of the world seldom ever get mouth tumours. We've been puzzled by this for years. Presently we're trying to find information on tumours in other animals besides turtles. We're particularly interested in tumours in dolphins --ESPECIALLY oral ones. Even in captive ones. When I went through the MARMAM archives the word "tumor" showed up only in three messages. In addition I scoured the Internet for references to papers/literature and can only conclude that tumour incidence in dolphins is extremely rare. And so I've come here. I'd appreciate any information about the existence/incidence of tumours (especially oral) on dolphins/whales in the wild or captivity. Many thanks, Ursula -------------------------------------------------- ^ Ursula Keuper-Bennett 0 0 mailto: howzit(\)turtles.org /V^\ /^V\ /V Turtle Trax V\ http://www.turtles.org / \ "One is always a long way from solving a problem until one actually has the answer." \ / --Stephen Hawking / \ / \ /__| V |__\ malama na honu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2000 13:30:14 -0500 From: Helen Nearing Subject: Duke University Marine Lab summer course Duke University Marine Lab summer course: Marine Mammals 2001 Summer Term II (July 9 - August 10) Submit application and current transcript. For application visit the Marine Lab's web site (address in signature below) or send complete mailing address to hnearing(\)duke.edu. Tuition scholarships awarded on a competitive basis; scholarship application deadline is March 1. A core course BIO 109/ENV 209 (Conservation Biology and Policy) may be taken with Marine Mammals. Students are encouraged (but not required) to take both courses. See http://www.env.duke.edu/marinelab/mlterm2.html for more information about Term II's Integrated Marine Conservation Program. If funds are available, full support for several international students will be awarded on a competitive basis for BIO 109/ENV 209 only. Applications must be received by April 1st. Helen Nearing, Coordinator, Academic Programs Duke Univ Marine Laboratory; 135 Duke Marine Lab Rd Beaufort NC 28516; 252/504-7502; fax 504-7648 http://www.env.duke.edu/marinelab/marine.html ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 29 Nov 0100 20:59:14 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MARMAM Editorial Policy and FAQ ====================================================== MARMAM EDITORIAL POLICY AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ====================================================== This message will be sent out monthly - new additions or recent changes are marked >> *Please save this message for future reference!* Topics: EDITORIAL POLICY 1. The MARMAM list 2. Messages posted on MARMAM 3. Messages not posted on MARMAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 4. How do I post messages to the list? 5. How do I reply to individual subscribers? 6. How do I subscribe/unsubscribe/temporarily signoff? 7. How do I receive MARMAM postings as a single daily digest rather than as individual messages? 8. How do I retrieve old postings to MARMAM? 9. Subscriber list 10. How do I get help using listserver commands? 11. Why did my MARMAM subscription stop? 12. Useful websites 13. Other email discussion lists 14. Who do I contact with my questions or concerns? ===================================================== MARMAM EDITORIAL POLICY 1. The MARMAM list MARMAM is an edited e-mail discussion list which focuses on marine mammal research and conservation. The list was established in August 1993 and as of April 1999 there were about 3,500 subscribers from 60 different countries. Anyone may subscribe to the list. Editors of the MARMAM list work on a volunteer basis. At any one time there may be between three and five editors. We have endeavoured to make the editorial policy as uniform and explicit as possible (detailed below), but there may be some individual editor variation in the standard of messages sent to the list. _______________________________________________________________ 2. Messages posted on MARMAM A wide spectrum of message types are found on MARMAM, all related to marine mammal research and/or conservation. MARMAM endeavours to provide unbiased information on these issues (e.g, is not anti-whaling or anti-hunting per se). Commonly seen messages include: - requests for information regarding current or recent research projects, publications, or research techniques - current or previously unreported unusual news events - meeting announcements - job or volunteer opportunities - abstracts from scientific papers or reports - books/techniques/products announcements - requests for products (eg., photographs) which will benefit MARMAM subscribers (eg., photographs that will be of widespread use or for payment) - brief summaries of meetings or conferences related to marine mammals, including resolutions passed NOTE: Notices from regional student chapters of the Society for Marine Mammalogy should be restricted to: - a single message announcing each new student chapter (including contact details and website address). - a single message concerning each regional meeting (providing details as to the time and place of that meeting, schedule of speakers or events, and a website or email address to contact for further information). 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Students interested in careers in marine mammal science are encouraged to consult the Society for Marine Mammalogy's 'Strategies for Pursuing a Career in Marine Mammal Science', which can be found at the Society for Marine Mammalogy's website: http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~smm/strat.htm - JOB OFFERS FOR ANIMAL TRAINERS OR FOR NATURALISTS ON WHALE WATCH BOATS ===================================================== MARMAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 4. How do I post messages to the list? All messages meant for MARMAM subscribers should be sent to marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca Messages should include the sender's name and e-mail address within the body of the text, and a detailed subject heading. ______________________________________________________________ 5. How do I reply to individual messages? 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Two searchable websites hold archived MARMAM postings: Links to both of these can be found via the MARMAM homepage http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/marmam.htm http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ This archive includes all messages from June 2, 1998 and the monthly logs dating back to January 1995. The archive can be searched by keyword and will return a list of files (messages) containing that keyword. For long messages (i.e., the monthly logs) - using the "find" command (under "Edit") will speed up searching within the message. http://www.reference.com/cgi-bin/pn/listarch?list=MARMAM(\)uvvm.uvic.ca This archive contains all messages from November 1997. To search this archive back to 11/97, change the date range at the bottom of the "Advanced Search" page. The archive manager is Quyen Lam __________________________________________________________________ 9. Subcriber list Due to mis-use of the subscriber list, the list is no longer available through a listserv command. To find out who subscribes to MARMAM, you must send a request to the MARMAM editors (marmamed(\)uvic.ca) and it will be sent out to you along with a request to not mis-use the list and guidelines to proper use of the list. Subscribers not wanting this information available to others can send the command: set marmam conceal to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca _______________________________________________________________ 10. How do I get help using listserver commands? A list of common commands for different listserver functions (subscribing, retrieving files, etc.) is obtainable by sending the message: help to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. A more detailed list of listserver commands may be obtained by sending the message: info refcard to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca _______________________________________________________________ 11. Why did my MARMAM subscription stop? Your subscription may be cancelled if your email is undeliverable. This can happen, for example, if your in-box is full or if your server is down for a period of time. When this happens the marmamed account will receive error messages, and those whose accounts bounce back are either automatically deleted from the list or manually deleted by the list Editors every once in a while. If you find that you receive no MARMAM messages for a few days, try subscribing to the list again. ______________________________________________________________ 12. Useful websites Detailed below are some World Wide Web Marine Mammal related links. Many of these contain further links to other sites. The Society for Marine Mammalogy: "http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~smm/" The National Marine Mammal Laboratory Homepage: "http://nmml01.afsc.noaa.gov/" The Acoustical Society of America: "http://asa.aip.org/" The European Cetacean Society: "http://web.inter.NL.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs.htm" International Whaling Commission: "http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/iwcoffice" WhaleNet "http://whale.wheelock.edu/" ______________________________________________________ 13. Other email discussion lists Some other email lists that may be relevent to marine mammals include the following. (Lists on a variety of topics which may vary in relevence are included - the editors take no responsibility for the content of these and are included here for reference only.) Lists are shown as topic, listserver and mailing list name. To subscribe send a message to the appropriate listserver with the message "subscribe " Bioacoustics: listproc(\)cornell.edu, Bioacoustics-L Biotelemetry: LISTSERV(\)BGUVM.BGU.AC.IL, biotelem Conservation network: listserv(\)sivm.si.edu, conslink Ecology, Ecological Society of America: listserv(\)umdd.umd.edu, ecolog-l Fish and Wildlife Information Management: listserv(\)listserv.vt.edu, FWIM-L Fisheries and Social Science: listserv(\)mitvma.mit.edu, fishfolk Marine Studies and Information: listserv(\)ccgc.tc.gc.ca, marine-l Mammal: LISTSERV(\)SIVM.SI.EDU, Mammal-l Surface/groundwater issues: waterforum-subscribe(\)egroups.com, Waterforum (please let the editors know of other lists to include here) ______________________________________________________________ 14. Who do I contact with my questions and concerns? Questions and concerns about MARMAM can be sent to the list editors (Robin Baird, Sascha Hooker, Shannon Gowans and Daniel Palacios) at marmamed(\)uvic.ca _______________________________________________________________ The MARMAM Editorial Policy and FAQ can also be found at the website: http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/marmam.htm Updated October 1999 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2000 10:31:28 -0800 From: Ellie Dickson Subject: Cetaceans and tides Please could you post the following message: Dear Marmam Subscribers, Does anyone have any abstracts for papers on cetacean movements relating to tidal state? I am currently writing up my end of season report for the Moray Firth Dolphin Trust (Scotland) and would appreciate any information you have (I am not near a University library - so I havn't got access to the information). Many thanks, Ellie Dickson ellie_dickson(\)hotmail.com _____________________________________________________________________________________ Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 1 Dec 2000 10:08:56 +1300 From: "Orams, Mark" Subject: Marine Mammals and the Social Sciences Hi all At the recent American Cetacean Society International Conference a number of participants encouraged me to initiate the posting on "Marmam" of research from the social sciences relevant to the conservation and management of marine mammals. To that end I include below an abstract of a recent publication relevant to whale-watching. In doing so I would add that I consider that there is a real need for an increased role for social science researchers (economists, sociologists, social anthropologists, political scientists etc) to become more involved in marine mammal issues. Our "compartmentalisation" of science means that, unfortunately, we are seldom exposed to relevant work ocurring in other disciplines. Fora such as "Marmam" provide a mechanism whereby we can draw attention to relevant work that is occurring in disciplines other than our own (which is often work we might not normally be exposed to). Thus, I encourage subscribers to suggest to social scientists who they know are conducting research relevant to marine mammals to post such work here in the future. Orams, M.B. 2000. Tourists getting close to whales, is it what whale watching is all about? Tourism Management 21(5), 561-569. Abstract To date research on whale-watching has tended to focus on impacts on the whales. Management approaches often rely on minimum approach distances. An associated assumption is that whale-watchers wish to get close to whales. Studies of motivation for other recreational activities show that humans seldom undertake recreation for simplistic reasons. As a result, a study was developed to determine the influences over whale-watchers' enjoyment, more specifically, to assess the importance of the geographical proximity of whales. Twelve whale watch cruises at Tangalooma, Australia were surveyed and 704 questionnaires analysed. Results showed that the number of whales and their behaviour, numbers of fellow passengers, cruise duration, boat construction and sea-sickness influenced satisfaction. The geographical proximity of the whales was not a major influence. Many whale-watchers (35 per cent) returned satisfied even when no whales were sighted. Whale-watching is not simply about getting close to whales, many other variables are important. A better understanding of the watchers, as well as the whales, will assist in the sustainable management of this growing tourism industry. Mark B. Orams PhD Centre for Tourism Research Massey University at Albany Private Bag 102 904 North Shore MSC New Zealand e-mail: M.B.Orams(\)massey.ac.nz ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2000 23:27:08 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Review panel volunteers needed - new CRS report (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Colleagues: I'm seeking volunteers for an expert panel to provide review comments on a draft 5-page short report for Congress that I've just completed. This report summarizes and reviews fishery, aquaculture, and marine mammal online news and information sources. I should have this product ready for review by the middle of next week (December 6 or so). Draft Abstract: "A variety of free online sources can be useful for Members of Congress and staff seeking current and breaking news on fisheries, aquaculture, and marine mammals. Services identified include newswires and news services, press release services, regional and topical newsletters, and topical discussion groups. This report emphasizes services which deliver news and information directly to the user by e-mail, and will be updated periodically to assure that a broad array of useful sources are covered." I'm seeking reviewers who are able to get comments back to me within a month (no later than January 2). If interested, please e-mail me a few sentences stating briefly your qualifications for serving on this expert panel. I anticipate selecting about 4-5 individuals in each of the three areas (fisheries, aquaculture, marine mammals) to serve on this panel. I will provide the text for review by regular mail (please provide your postal mailing address when you respond to this message). I'd like to receive your comments either by fax or e-mail. Comments should address the need for CRS to provide comprehensive, objective, and non-partisan information to Congress. Participation on this review panel will be anonymous, and no attributions will be made to reviewers or review comments without permission. Thanks to all who have participated on my expert panels in the past; your continued and excellent critiques of my products have been extremely beneficial to Congress!! Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 1 Dec 2000 08:22:20 +1100 From: Graham Ross Subject: Re: Cetaceans and tides Dear Ellie You may already know of this reference, which relates to Sousa (humpback dolphins) tending to feed on a rising tide. Since they live within a km of shore this would make sense as their prey take up feeding positions with the tide. Saayman, G.S. & Taylor, C.K. (1979). The socioecology of Hympback Dolphins (Sousa sp.). Pp 165-226 in Behaviour of Marine Animals 3, ed by Winn and Olla. Plenum Press : New York 438 pp. As aye Graham Graham J B Ross Australian Biological Resources Study Canberra >>> Ellie Dickson 1/12/2000 5:31:28 am >>> Please could you post the following message: Dear Marmam Subscribers, Does anyone have any abstracts for papers on cetacean movements relating to tidal state? I am currently writing up my end of season report for the Moray Firth Dolphin Trust (Scotland) and would appreciate any information you have (I am not near a University library - so I havn't got access to the information). Many thanks, Ellie Dickson ellie_dickson(\)hotmail.com _____________________________________________________________________________________ Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2000 11:56:00 -0800 Reply-To: cmeps(\)whaleprotection.org From: Annelise Subject: Canadian Bowhead Whale Hunt [New Zealand] 17-11-00 07:44 pm Regular National NEW RESEARCH CAST DOUBT ON WHALE SLAUGHTER SUSTAINABLE RATES Wellington, Nov 17 - Research results announced yesterday on the longevity of the bowhead whales cast doubt on claims made by indigenous whalers that they are slaughtering the species at a sustainable rate, conservationists say. Indigenous whaling leader Canadian Tom Happynook told the World Council of Whalers conference in Nelson this week that if whale hunting was sustainable, ``there is no reason why indigenous peoples in coastal communities should not economically benefit from the resources. ``It is about sustainability versus unsustainability,'' he said. But scientists said yesterday the bowhead whales being hunted by indigenous communities in the Arctic may be the oldest mammals on earth, with some of the animals over 200 years when killed. And New Scientist magazine reported Kerry Finley, an independent biologist who has studied bowhead behaviour for 14 summers in the Canadian Arctic, said the surprising longevity of bowheads suggested that even without interference the population would grow extremely slowly. This meant decisions by authorities to allow their slaughter by hunters looked misguided. ``To play statistical brinkmanship with such odds is irresponsible,'' Dr Finley said. ``The consequences won't be known for a long time." An Auckland-based anti-whaling campaigner, Sarah Duthie, of Greenpeace, said the whales' long life and slow breeding suggested Arctic indigenous communities claiming to be slaughtering whales ``sustainably'' were only guessing. The latest research raised real questions over scientific basis on which indigenous communities around the Arctic could claim their whale kill was at sustainable levels, she said. The United States permits the killing of some 60 bowhead whales each year by Native Americans in Alaska for ``cultural reasons'' even though bowhead whales are on the World Conservation Union red list. But this week's New Scientist reported that it was impossible to say whether the kill of bowhead whales in Arctic waters was sustainable -- adequate data was simply not available. Craig George, lead scientist with Alaska's North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management, said the age of the whales came to light only after hunters from the 6000 Inupiat Eskimos who live along Alaska's northern edge found stone-age harpoon heads inside bowheads they were butchering. Dr George noted the whales that survived those old attacks were probably already mature when they were first harpooned, which would make bowheads among the most long-lived animals on Earth. __________ End of article __________ FYI - The International Whaling Commission has adopted 4 resolutions in the past 5 years which urge Canada to stop hunting highly endangered bowhead whales. Three of these resolutions also urge Canada to re-join the IWC. A founding member of the IWC, Canada left when the global moratorium on whaling was announced in 1982. Annelise Sorg, Executive Director Canadian Marine Environment Protection Society Box 461-1755 Robson Street Vancouver, BC V6G 3B7 Canada Tel: (604) 736-9514 ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 3 Dec 2000 09:35:55 +0100 From: Tiu Simila Subject: Re: Cetaceans and tides Hi Ellie! I do have some information for you. In my thesis on killer whale behavioral ecology in northern Norway I looked into the possible effect the tides might have on killer whale feeding behavior (whales feeding on wintering schools of herring). It seemed that the killer whales favoured feeding on small schools of herring during rising tide, and I thought this could have been due to the fact that the tide brought small schools into the shallower areas where the whales like to feed. The picture is naturally much more complex. In my study area the killer whales feed on wintering herring which winters in THICK layers of up tp 200-250 meters. The herring migrates diurnally being close to the surface at night and it appears that during the downwards migration of the herring small, isolated schools are "created" and I believe this is the favourite meal for killer whales. They need to have reasonable sized schools to be able to keep the fish together while feeding. The whales are capable of scaring up schools from the thick layer, but this ofcourse is much more work. The whales ofcourse want to have a "easy snack" if possible and therefore they tend to feed in areas where they are likely to find small isolated schools (usually shallow waters with varied topography). The tides are important in this context since they might bring such schools closer to the shallower areas. I have not had the opportunity to study this in fixed locations, but I do believe this would be the only way I really could do it. In my study area (a fjord system) there is a very big difference in the strength of the tidal current between locations. I guess this was all too vague to be of real help. I will send you a copy of some relevant pages in my thesis as soon as I am back from doing field work (around mid-december). When I was writing my thesis I found only a few references into the subject: W|rsig,B. and W|rsig, M. 1979.Behavior and ecology of the bottlenose dolphin in the south Atlantic.Fish. Bull.U.S.77:399-412. Saayman, G.S and Tyler,C.K. 1979. The socioecology of humpback dolphins (Sousa sp.) In: Behavior of Marine Animals Vol 3. Cetaceans Edited by H.E.Winn and B.L. Olla. Plenum Press, New York. Felleman et a. 1991, Heimlich-Boran, J.R and Osborne, R. 1991. The feeding ecology of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the Pacific Northwest. In: Dolphin Societies - discoveries and puzzles. Edited by K. Pryor and K.S.Norris. University of California Press, Berkeley, pp. 113-147. There are also ofcourse a lot of references about the killer whales which hunt marine mammals by "beaching themselves". obviously, tidal regime is of importance to this behavior, but I imagine that is far off from what you are looking for. I hope this is of some help for you. Please do not hesitate to ask if you have specific questions. Best regards Tiu Simild, PhD Box 181 8465 Straumsjoen Norway iolaire(\)online.no ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ellie Dickson" To: Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2000 7:31 PM Subject: Cetaceans and tides > Please could you post the following message: > > Dear Marmam Subscribers, > > Does anyone have any abstracts for papers on cetacean movements relating to > tidal state? > I am currently writing up my end of season report for the Moray Firth > Dolphin Trust (Scotland) and would appreciate any information you have (I am > not near a University library - so I havn't got access to the information). > > Many thanks, > > Ellie Dickson > ellie_dickson(\)hotmail.com > > > ____________________________________________________________________________ _________ > Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com > > ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2000 07:43:10 -0000 From: Sofie Van Parijs Subject: Display behaviour of male harbour seals Van Parijs, S.M., Janik V.M. and Thompson, P.M. 2000. Display area size, tenure length and site fidelity in the aquatically mating male harbour seal. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 78, 2209 - 2217. Previous studies of the distribution and activity of male harbour seals, Phoca vitulina, based on telemetric techniques have shown that, males restrict their range size at the onset of the mating season and perform vocal and dive displays. While these data have illustrated broad changes in male behaviour and distribution, they have not been sufficiently precise to determine to what extent individual males return repeatedly to the same locations to display. In this study, we used an acoustic array to localise male vocalisations. This technique provided small scale behavioural information on male behaviour over three consecutive years. This study provides the first detailed results of display area size in an aquatic mating phocid. Male vocalisations were located in two discrete areas between 40 to 135 m2 in size. Vocalisations were repeatedly located in the same two areas over the three-year period. Comparisons of vocal parameters suggested that only one individual occupied each area throughout a mating season. Furthermore, comparative analysis suggested that males might return to the same two display areas over successive years. Although the number of males using the site were small, this study has shown that acoustic localisation can provide a valuable tool for studying detailed underwater behaviour in aquatic mating pinnipeds. Dr. Sofie Van Parijs, Norwegian Polar Institute, Troms N - 9296,Norway sofie(\)npolar.no _____________________________________________________________________________________ Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2000 13:54:27 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Bahamas beaked whale strandings (fwd) The following are two press/information releases provided by the U.S. Navy regarding the investigation into the beaked whale strandings in the Bahamas ---- Update of the ongoing investigation into the stranding of Beaked Whales 15 November 2000 The U.S. Navy is continuing to assist the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Marine Mammal Commission in determining the cause of the mass stranding of beaked whales in the Bahamas on March 15th of this year. Navy contributions to this ongoing analysis include a thorough review of sound propagation features that would have affected SONAR sounds made by U.S. Navy ships that transited Northwest Providence Channel in the Bahamas just prior to the whale strandings. The detailed acoustic analysis of the SONAR operations of the Navy ships will provide additional data that may be useful in the assessment of any connection between the strandings and Navy operations. The Navy is working closely with all concerned agencies and will continue to refine the acoustic data and models to be combined with other ongoing research expected to be completed by summer of 2001. Simultaneously, NMFS is conducting an examination of the recovered marine mammal specimens to determine what trauma, if any, occurred and what caused the animals to beach themselves. The analysis of the acoustic fields present in the New Providence Channel on the day of the strandings last March was done by the Navy Undersea Warfare Command (NUWC) and the Office of Naval Research (ONR) as part of the Navy's overall investigative effort led by the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. This acoustic modeling uses state-of-the-art technology and was validated by a panel of independent scientists and experts in the fields of oceanography and underwater sound. The Navy's acoustic analysis, which has been shared with NMFS and the MMC, addressed the sound pressure levels created by the ships' SONARs. The detailed analysis confirms the preliminary analysis conducted by NUWC that was discussed in June of this year. A surface duct was present in the New Providence Channel at the time of the stranding. A surface duct is a phenomenon in which sound energy is contained mostly within a surface layer of the ocean. It is the result of particular vertical distribution of sound velocity in the water that is typical of early spring conditions in many parts of the world. Within the duct, the sound propagates further than it does at lower depths. The Navy analysis included a thorough examination of the environmental conditions that affect sound propagation. For purposes of the computer modeling effort, conservative values were used to ensure that the models did not underestimate the propagation ranges. At the same time, source levels of the Navy ships' SONARs were estimated at the maximum levels they are capable of producing at their reported operational modes. Consequently, any condition that could not be confirmed from the on-scene, real-time observations of the ocean at the time of the stranding was given a value that was ideal for sound transmission. Factors that would have weakened sound propagation were excluded from the analysis. As noted earlier, the Navy's analysis of the sound field has addressed the sound pressure levels and propagation ranges from the ships' SONARs in the Channel. The Navy is now exploring whether the acoustic modeling effort will be able to analyze other acoustic characteristics from associated with the SONARs, such as the repetitive rate of active transmission. The Navy is also considering additional research on beaked whales to learn more about the effects of acoustic energy on these unique deep diving mammals. The Navy is committed to continue its program of marine mammal research, and as part of that research, to specifically address whether, and in what circumstances, midrange operational SONARs may pose a risk to beaked whales. The Navy is the worldwide leader in funding research into the effects of sound on marine mammals. That research is conducted to ensure essential naval operations and systems---such as SONAR---are operated with minimal impacts upon marine mammals. The proliferation of quiet, diesel-electric submarines operated by unfriendly nations and competitors constitutes one of the top naval threats to the United States and its allies. Unlike the blue-water submarines and cold-war tactics of former Soviet navies, those submarines are operated in the world's littoral regions and ocean choke points --- areas that are vital to international commerce, peace, and stability. This year the Navy increased its research budget on this topic by more than 50 percent (to more than 3 million dollars, annually). ONR programs, including this one, are reviewed frequently by external peer panels, including the National Academy of Science. All work is unclassified and researchers are encouraged to publish their findings in open, peer-reviewed literature. Research projects from 1999 and 2000 can be found at http://www.onr.navy.mil/sci_tech/personnel/onrtxaaf.htm If, either as a result of the investigation into the Bahamas stranding or future research, it is determined that mid-range frequency, tactical Navy SONARs can produce traumas in beaked whales or any other marine life under identified conditions, the Navy will reassess its management and use of those SONARs in the course of peacetime training. -------------------------- DEFENSE ENVIRONMENT ALERT 21 NOV 00 Navy Pinpoints environmental conditions during whale strandings By Suzanne Yohannon The Navy, in a detailed acoustic analysis, has found certain environmental conditions existed when Navy ships transiting through the Bahamas last March used active sonar systems at the same time over a dozen whales beached themselves on islands nearby. The use of Navy sonar systems under these environmental conditions may have affected whales in the area, the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service says in a Nov. 15 press release. The findings could have implications for the Navy's use of active sonar, which it frequently employs in training operations worldwide. The Navy and the fisheries service last week released information from a detailed Navy analysis of a computer model that confirmed the presence of a "surface duct" in the New Providence Channel at the time the whales stranded. Surface ducts affect how sound travels. The analysis examined the acoustic field that was created by several ships' sonar systems last March and included a thorough look at the environmental conditions that affect sound travel, according to the fisheries service. Five ships and one submarine using sonar were transiting through the channel at the time. The ships were using sonar at a power output of 235 decibels, at mid-range frequencies of 3,500 to 7,500 hertz. A surface duct is a natural phenomenon that often occurs in the early spring. Within the duct, sound travels further at the surface than it would if a duct weren't present, according to the Navy and the fisheries service. Also, sound travels further at the surface than at lower depths, they say. The Navy presented the detailed analysis to the fisheries service Oct. 27, a Navy spokesman says. "While this analysis does not answer all questions, it is possible that the Navy tactical sonars, particularly in the surface duct, caused effects to beaked whales that would otherwise not have occurred," the fisheries service says in the press release. The Navy doesn't go quite as far in its Nov. 15 press statement, saying that its detailed acoustic analysis of sonar operations "will provide additional data that may be useful in the assessment of any connection between the strandings and Navy operations." Beaked whales were the predominant marine mammal that stranded on beaches in the Bahamas from March 15-17. A total of 16 marine mammals stranded, 10 of which were beaked whales - reclusive, deep diving whales of which little is known. Seven of the whales died, and post-mortem examinations of several of them indicated evidence of auditory trauma (Defense Environment Alert, June 20, p22). The fisheries service, however, says it "is still not possible to attribute the biological damage to a specific source of acoustic energy or pressure." But the service has ruled out volcanic eruptions, underwater landslides, other Navy tests or an explosion. It is continuing a detailed examination of the marine mammal specimens that it hopes to finalize in a report by next summer. The next step for the Navy is to analyze whether the computer model can take into account other acoustic characteristics, such as the repetitive rate of sonar - which involves short pings at timed intervals - and the overlapping of several sonars in use at the same time, the Navy spokesman says. The Navy in its press statement reiterates that it will reassess its use of sonars during peacetime training if the investigation or further research reveals that mid-range frequency, tactical Navy sonars can produce trauma in marine animals. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2000 09:37:35 -0800 From: WCW Subject: World Council of Whalers Assembly World Council of Whalers The World Council of Whalers held its General Assembly in Nelson, New Zealand, November 16-19 2000. About 250 representatives from whaling and dugong hunting communities, governments (including current and former IWC commissioners), scientists, legal scholars, and conservationists from more than 20 countries participated. Thirty-eight papers were presented at the WCW conference "Securing Food, Health, and Traditional Values through the Sustainable Use of Marine Resources". Topics discussed were "Sustainable Whaling: Benefits & Barriers", "Contaminants, Customary Foods and Health", "Indigenous/Local Knowledge and Management Practices", "Cultural, Social, and Economic Importance of Traditional Whale Resources", and "Whale Sanctuaries". In association with the WCW meeting there was a workshop on whale bone and ivory-based artwork, a meeting of the Sustainable Use Parliamentarians' Union (chaired by Richard Pombo of the U.S. Congress) and a Maori tribal meeting on whaling. Resolutions on international trade and whale sanctuaries were unanimously adopted by the WCW Assembly. World Council of Whalers PO Box 291 Brentwood Bay, BC V8M1R3 Canada Tel/Fax:1-250- 652-8352 wcw(\)island.net www.worldcouncilofwhalers.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2000 14:01:50 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: acoustic harassment (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Dear Colleagues: I have failed to impress the relationship between habitat loss and cetacean survivorship on the agency mandated with marine mammal management in Canada, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). This is a request for assistance. Predation by harbour seals and seal lions (primarily California, but also Steller) is apparently causing significant economic hardship on salmon farmers growing Atlantic salmon in net pens. While predator nets work, they are impracticable in many locations and so acoustic harassment and shooting are two preferred alternatives. An unpublished study completed in 1995 by the DFO Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo B.C. by Dr. Peter Olesuik, with Dr. John Ford of the Vancouver Aquarium showed harbour porpoise "declined precipitously" when an Airmar acoustic harassment device was activated emitting a 10kHz 194dB re 1uPa (\)1m signal underwater. This research supports my own findings, currently under review on the impact of the same type of acoustic harassment devices on killer whales (Morton and Simmons in prep.). The federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans acknowledges the 'by catch' impact of acoustic harassment on a non-target species, but seems to feel it's transient and therefore harmless. With harbour porpoise, in particular, which show site fidelity in this area, but also killer whales facing reduced forage opportunity as salmon stocks decline, I suspect intermittent displacement over the decade or more of the farm lease represents potential harmful impact. "It is correct that while the acoustic devices you mention are operating do cause harbour porpoise to leave an area, however, they return shortly after the devices are turned off." - The Honourable Herb Dhaliwal Minister of Fisheries in letter addressed to me Nov. 24,2000. I feel this is an important issue and that I have not adequately communicated the implications of displacing cetaceans from their habitat to the Minister. Harbour porpoise are declining off southern Vancouver Island to the south of my study area and the different populations of killer whales of British Columbia have been listed as "threatened" and of "special concern" by the federal Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). If there are any among you who feel they can present a convincing case for the potential impact of cetacean displacement on their survivorship I am asking for your assistance. Alexandra Morton (250) 949-1664 wildorca(\)capescott.net ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2000 19:49:13 -0500 From: Lori Marino Subject: Magnetite in dolphins? Dear colleagues, I am trying to find out if magnetite or any other paramagnetic substances are present in the head or body of the bottlenose dolphin. The literature seems mixed on this issue. I have read some reports of magnetite in the brains and retina of other cetacean species. If anyone has any information on this, especially your own observations, I'd appreciate if you could let me know. I will submit a summary of responses to this request. Thanks very much, Lori Marino -- Lori Marino, Ph.D. Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology Program Psychology Building Emory University Atlanta, Georgia 30322 (404) 727-7582 Fax: (404) 727-0372 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2000 18:46:13 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Transponder chips in Pinnipeds (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Hi all We are seeking some information about long distance reading of transponder chips. We currently implant PIT tags as a back up to flipper tags in New Zealand sea lions, but face similar problems reported by others in that we have to approach within 6 inches of the chip to read it. Does anyone out there have any information on transponder systems which allow long range/ automatic reading of chips to avoid close approach/repeat disturbance of animals Any assistance with this would be much appreciated Thanks Ian Dr Ian Wilkinson Marine Mammalogist Department of Conservation Science & Technical Centre 65 Victoria Street PO Box 10420 WELLINGTON New Zealand Tel: +64-4-471-3073 Fax: +64-4-471-3279 E-mail: iwilkinson(\)doc.govt.nz ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2000 11:16:04 -0500 From: ldunn(\)mysticaquarium.org Subject: MYSTIC AQUARIUM INTERNSHIP AQUATIC ANIMAL MEDICINE INTERNSHIP The Department of Research and Veterinary Services of Mystic Aquarium, a division of Sea Research Foundation, offers a one-year internship/research opportunity in aquatic animal medicine. With agreement by both parties, an additional year in the program is possible. Applicants must possess a VMD/DVM degree or equivalent. Preference will be given to applicants with graduate degrees and/or postgraduate clinical experience in a practice or internship setting. General familiarity with ultrasound, radiology and endoscopy systems is expected. The stipend is $22,500 per annum. The successful applicant will assist in the diagnosis and treatment of cases from the Aquarium's extensive collection of invertebrates, fresh and saltwater fishes, penguins, seals, sea lions, fur seals, and beluga whales. In addition the intern will participate in our rescue, rehabilitation, and release program for stranded marine mammals. Collateral opportunities at area academic, government, and private industry laboratories are encouraged. The intern will have an opportunity to develop teaching skills by mentoring veterinary externs at the Aquarium and by presenting informal seminars. The intern will pursue one or more clinical or research projects and prepare the findings for presentation at an appropriate professional meeting and for publication in the peer reviewed literature. Past interns have gone on to acceptance into well-recognized graduate/residency programs or employment in the field of aquatic, comparative, or zoological medicine. Applicants should submit transcripts from all their post baccalaureate programs, three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with their academic performance and potential in the clinical and research arenas, a current C.V. or resume and a statement reflecting the applicant's goals in the area of aquatic animal medicine and research to: J. Lawrence Dunn VMD, Mystic Aquarium, 55 Coogan Boulevard, Mystic, CT 06355; phone 860-572-5955 ext. 103, e-mail ldunn(\)mysticaquarium.org. The internship period extends nominally from 1 June 2001 through 15 June 2002. The application deadline is March 15, 2001. Potential applicants visiting the southern New England area should contact us for a tour of our facilities and a chance to meet with our staff. Mystic Aquarium is an AA/EOE. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2000 08:33:03 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Canadian Bowhead Whale Hunt (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- I would like to point out a few errors of fact and omission in both this article and in the New Scientist article on which it is based. The main problem with this article is that it confuses and combines at least 3 stocks of bowheads in reaching the conclusion that that "it was impossible to say whether the kill of bowhead whales in Arctic waters was sustainable". The Alaskans and Canadian Inuvialuit take whales from the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort (BCB) stock. Nunavut Inuit have taken 3 bowheads since 1996: 2 from the North Hudson Bay - Foxe Basin stock, and one from the Baffin Bay stock. No less an authority than the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission has provided management advice saying that harvests from the BCB stock are well within sustainable levels (IWC 1999), and this with the new information on the longevity of bowheads in hand. The two eastern stocks are much less well studied and the status of these is therefore less certain. However the Inuit Bowhead Knowledge Study (NWMB 2000) has documented an increase in the relative numbers and range of bowheads in these areas. While we as scientists may be quick to dismiss such "traditional" knowledge, we do so at our peril as it offers a time depth and detail that no scientific survey can match. In addition, recent aerial surveys of the North Hudson Bay - Foxe Basin stock have shown that this stock, which was probably never large, may be approaching or at pre-exploitation levels (Cosens et al. 1997, Cosens and Innes 2000, Reeves and Mitchell 1990). The total allowable harvests for the two eastern stocks have been very conservative (3 whales in the last 5 years, not the 2 whales per year mentioned in the New Scientist article). The stocks are co-managed through the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board. Present scientific advice is that no more than 1 whale every 2 years should be taken from the North Hudson Bay - Foxe Basin stock (DFO 1999), and no more than 1 whale every 10-13 years from the Baffin Bay stock. The main point of both articles is the great longevity of bowheads. From this, the authors seem to make the connection that, because the species is long-lived, it must be "slow breeding". I believe this is a fallacy. The rate of increase of a stock surely depends on the balance between births and age-specific mortality. It has not, to my knowledge, been demonstrated that a large proportion of the BCB stock is reproductively senescent. Moreover, the increase in this stock has been demonstrated through repeated surveys (Zeh et al. 1995), and it is not lower than that of many other species of baleen whales. Why should the longevity of the whales necessarily be a negative factor in their productivity? I would also point out that humans, among the most long-lived of mammals, are doing just fine in the reproductive department. In conclusion, I suggest we should be a bit more critical of articles written in the non-peer-reviewed, popular press, including magazines like New Scientist. It is quite easy to see the slant of such articles when they throw around terms like "slaughtering the species". Daniel Pike, Tromso, Norway. daniel.pike(\)lycos.com Cosens, S.E and Innes, S. 2000. Distribution and numbers of bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) in northwestern Hudson Bay in August 1995. Arctic 53:36-41. Cosens, S.E., Qamukaq, T., Parker, B., Dueck, L.P. and Anarjuak, B. 1997. The distribution and numbers of bowhead whales, Balaena mysticetus, in northern Foxe Basin in 1994. Can. Field Naturalist 111:381-388. [DFO] Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 1999. Hudson Bay-Foxe Basin Bowhead Whales. DFO Science Stock Status Report E5-52(1999). [IWC] International Whaling Commission. 1999. Report of the Scientific Committee. J. Cetacean Res. Manage. 1 (suppl.): 1-50. [NWMB] Nunavut Wildlife Management Board. 2000. Final report of the Inuit Bowhead Knowledge Study. NWMB, Iqaluit, NU, Canada. 90 pp. Reeves, R.R. and Mitchell, E. 1990. Bowhead whales in Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait and Foxe Basin: A review. Naturaliste canadien 117:25-43. Zeh, J. E., George, J.C. and Suydam, R. 1995. Population size and rate of increase, 1978-1993, of bowhead whales, Balaena mysticetus. Rep. Int. Whale. Commn. 45:339-344. -- On Mon, 04 Dec 2000 16:04:15 Annelise wrote: >[New Zealand] > >17-11-00 07:44 pm Regular National >NEW RESEARCH CAST DOUBT ON WHALE SLAUGHTER SUSTAINABLE RATES > >Wellington, Nov 17 - Research results announced yesterday on the >longevity of the bowhead whales cast doubt on claims made by >indigenous whalers that they are slaughtering the species at a >sustainable rate, conservationists say. > >Indigenous whaling leader Canadian Tom Happynook told the World >Council of Whalers conference in Nelson this week that if whale >hunting was sustainable, ``there is no reason why indigenous peoples >in coastal communities should not economically benefit from the >resources. > >``It is about sustainability versus unsustainability,'' he said. > >But scientists said yesterday the bowhead whales being hunted by >indigenous communities in the Arctic may be the oldest mammals on >earth, with some of the animals over 200 years when killed. > >And New Scientist magazine reported Kerry Finley, an independent >biologist who has studied bowhead behaviour for 14 summers in the >Canadian Arctic, said the surprising longevity of bowheads suggested >that even without interference the population would grow extremely >slowly. > >This meant decisions by authorities to allow their slaughter by >hunters looked misguided. > >``To play statistical brinkmanship with such odds is >irresponsible,'' Dr Finley said. ``The consequences won't be known >for a long time." > >An Auckland-based anti-whaling campaigner, Sarah Duthie, of >Greenpeace, said the whales' long life and slow breeding suggested >Arctic indigenous communities claiming to be slaughtering whales >``sustainably'' were only guessing. > >The latest research raised real questions over scientific basis >on which indigenous communities around the Arctic could claim their >whale kill was at sustainable levels, she said. > >The United States permits the killing of some 60 bowhead whales >each year by Native Americans in Alaska for ``cultural reasons'' >even though bowhead whales are on the World Conservation Union red >list. > >But this week's New Scientist reported that it was impossible to >say whether the kill of bowhead whales in Arctic waters was >sustainable -- adequate data was simply not available. > >Craig George, lead scientist with Alaska's North Slope Borough >Department of Wildlife Management, said the age of the whales came >to light only after hunters from the 6000 Inupiat Eskimos who live >along Alaska's northern edge found stone-age harpoon heads inside >bowheads they were butchering. > >Dr George noted the whales that survived those old attacks were >probably already mature when they were first harpooned, which would >make bowheads among the most long-lived animals on Earth. >__________ End of article __________ > >FYI - The International Whaling Commission has adopted 4 resolutions in >the past 5 years which urge Canada to stop hunting highly endangered >bowhead whales. Three of these resolutions also urge Canada to re-join >the IWC. A founding member of the IWC, Canada left when the global >moratorium on whaling was announced in 1982. > >Annelise Sorg, Executive Director >Canadian Marine Environment Protection Society >Box 461-1755 Robson Street >Vancouver, BC V6G 3B7 Canada >Tel: (604) 736-9514 > > > > ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2000 09:14:50 -0800 From: Jim Moore Subject: Re: Canadian Bowhead Whale Hunt (fwd) At 8:33 AM -0800 12/5/00, Daniel Pike wrote: >I would also point out that humans, among the most long-lived of mammals, >are doing just fine in the reproductive department. It may be hair-splitting, but note that humans are highly unusual within the apes in having a number of physiological and social adaptations to increase our reproductive rate; relatively speaking, we are "r-selected". A better comparison group would be the great apes. I hopefully don't need to dwell on their conservation status (see e.g. http://bushmeat.org/). For more on humans as "r-selected" [the r/K idea has problems but is useful shorthand] see Lovejoy, C. O. (1981). The origin of man. Science. 211: 341-350. and Kaplan, H., Hill, K., Lancaster, J. & Hurtado, A. M. (2000). A theory of human life history evolution: diet, intelligence and longevity. Evol. Anthropol. 9: 156-185. Jim -------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Moore The secret of success is honesty and Anthro 0532 fair dealing. If you can fake those, UCSD you've got it made. [Groucho Marx] La Jolla CA 92093 voice 858 534-5572 fax 858 534-5946 jjmoore(\)ucsd.edu http://weber.ucsd.edu/~jmoore/ SoCal Primate Research Forum: http://weber.ucsd.edu/~jmoore/SCPRFweb/ African Ape Study sites: http://weber.ucsd.edu/~jmoore/apesites/ --============_-1236085991==_ma============ At 8:33 AM -0800 12/5/00, Daniel Pike wrote: I would also point out that humans, among the most long-lived of mammals, are doing just fine in the reproductive department. It may be hair-splitting, but note that humans are highly unusual within the apes in having a number of physiological and social adaptations to increase our reproductive rate; relatively speaking, we are "r-selected". A better comparison group would be the great apes. I hopefully don't need to dwell on their conservation status (see e.g. http://bushmeat.org/). For more on humans as "r-selected" [the r/K idea has problems but is useful shorthand] see GenevaLovejoy, C. O. (1981). The origin of man. Science. 211: 341-350. and GenevaKaplan, H., Hill, K., Lancaster, J. & Hurtado, A. M. (2000). A theory of human life history evolution: diet, intelligence and longevity. Evol. Anthropol. 9: 156-185. Jim -------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Moore The secret of success is honesty and Anthro 0532 fair dealing. If you can fake those, UCSD you've got it made. [Groucho Marx] La Jolla CA 92093 voice 858 534-5572 fax 858 534-5946 jjmoore(\)ucsd.edu http://weber.ucsd.edu/~jmoore/ SoCal Primate Research Forum: http://weber.ucsd.edu/~jmoore/SCPRFweb/ African Ape Study sites: http://weber.ucsd.edu/~jmoore/apesites/ --============_-1236085991==_ma============-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 1 Dec 2000 07:39:11 -0800 From: Jim Moore Subject: Re: Canadian Bowhead Whale Hunt In-Reply-To: <200012010749.eB17nbk19082(\)mailbox2.ucsd.edu> >17-11-00 07:44 pm Regular National >NEW RESEARCH CAST DOUBT ON WHALE SLAUGHTER SUSTAINABLE RATES > >Wellington, Nov 17 - Research results announced yesterday on the >longevity of the bowhead whales cast doubt on claims made by >indigenous whalers that they are slaughtering the species at a >sustainable rate, conservationists say. > But scientists said yesterday the bowhead whales being hunted by >indigenous communities in the Arctic may be the oldest mammals on >earth, with some of the animals over 200 years when killed. > >And New Scientist magazine reported Kerry Finley, an independent >biologist who has studied bowhead behaviour for 14 summers in the >Canadian Arctic, said the surprising longevity of bowheads suggested >that even without interference the population would grow extremely >slowly. What data are available on right whale longevity? Could this offer a partial explanation for their slow recovery rate, given they are closely related and ecologically similar to bowheads? And would that influence evaluation of right whale "incidental take"? Jim -------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Moore The secret of success is honesty and Anthro 0532 fair dealing. If you can fake those, UCSD you've got it made. [Groucho Marx] La Jolla CA 92093 voice 858 534-5572 fax 858 534-5946 jjmoore(\)ucsd.edu http://weber.ucsd.edu/~jmoore/ SoCal Primate Research Forum: http://weber.ucsd.edu/~jmoore/SCPRFweb/ African Ape Study sites: http://weber.ucsd.edu/~jmoore/apesites/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2000 09:02:16 -0800 From: James Hrynyshyn Subject: Re: Canadian Bowhead Whale Hunt (fwd) In-Reply-To: I would like to respond to the misleading and inaccurate reference to the New Scientist article" The Old Man and the Sea by Daniel Pike in MARMAM today. I wrote the article and would like to point out that contrary to Pike's claim, the article quite clear distinguishes between the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort population and the Hudson-Bay/Baffin stock. I quote: "Although the 8,000-strong bowhead population of the western arctic is growing at about three per cent a year, recovery elsewhere is proving elusive. In Canada's Eastern Arctic, for example, there are probably no more than 1,000, and possible a few as 500 left." Pike also fails to acknowledge that, regardless of how many bowheads the Inuit of Nunavut harvested since their land claim was raitified, Land Claim gives the them the right to hunt two bowheads a year, subject to conservation concerns. I have no problem with criticism of my work, but I would hope that critics would at least fairly represent the work being criticized. James Hrynyshyn ~~~~~~~~~~~~ 604.222.8008 4310 West 9th Avenue ~~~~~~~~ jamesh(\)cyamid.net Vancouver, B.C., V6R 2C7 ~~~~ http://www.cyamid.net ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2000 09:29:46 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Cetaceans and tides (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: "Carlos De Luna L=F3pez" Dear Ellie: Here I've got an abstract that may be useful for you. It is about gray whal= e (Eschrichtus robustus) movement in Ojo de Liebre Lagoon in Mexico. The authors and source are: Alvarado, BJ; Galindo, J; Invadane, M; Migoya, R; Vazquez, M.; Evaluacion de los parametros ambientales y su relacion con la distribucion y movimientos de la ballena gris Eschrichtius robustus Lacepede 1804 en la Laguna Ojo de Liebre, B.C.S. Mexico; Ciencia pesquera. [CIENC. PESQ.], no. 5, pp. 33-49,1986. And the abstract is: "Environmental data influence was investigated in gray whale Eschrichtius robustus movements and distribution along Ojo de Liebre Lagoon. Some of the lagoon's physicochemical environmental data were evaluated. Differential distribution was found among the different areas which had specific characteristics. There is a possible flow along these areas during observation time. Major whale's density per unit area zone coincided with site where seatide had minimum effect over whale's passage. The number of isolated whales suddenly decreased. Whale's movements were analyzed in relation to day's time as well as seatide. It was concluded that swimming direction is under seatide influence but the answer differs from one channel to other. Movement's variations at different hours were only noticeable in the "Boca Lagoon zone". I hope you find this information well. Adios Carlos De Luna Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnologia Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ellie Dickson" To: Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2000 12:31 PM Subject: Cetaceans and tides > Please could you post the following message: > > Dear Marmam Subscribers, > > Does anyone have any abstracts for papers on cetacean movements relating to > tidal state? > I am currently writing up my end of season report for the Moray Firth > Dolphin Trust (Scotland) and would appreciate any information you have (I am > not near a University library - so I havn't got access to the information). > > Many thanks, > > Ellie Dickson > ellie_dickson(\)hotmail.com > > > ___________________________________________________________________________= _ _________ > Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2000 09:08:33 -0500 From: Andrew Wetzler Subject: Undersea Noise Op. Ed.--Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times Wednesday, December 6, 2000 | =20 We Need Sound Sensibility on California's Coast=20 By JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU,, ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR., JOEL R. REYNOLDS =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0On March 15, whales began stranding on the beaches of Abac= o Island in=20 the Bahamas. Local residents and a team of scientists in the area pushed = a=20 lucky few out to sea, but many of the whales did not survive.=20 =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0Three months later, the U.S. Navy and the National Oceanic= and=20 Atmospheric Administration released the results of a three-month=20 investigation, establishing with near certainty that the mass mortality w= as=20 caused by the use of extremely loud "active" sonar by a Navy battle group= =20 traversing the adjacent New Providence Channel. Unlike previous whale=20 strandings, where the absence of physical evidence has precluded a defini= tive=20 connection to military operations, prompt analysis of the inner ears of s= ix=20 of the dead animals confirmed, for the first time, the dangerous role of=20 active sonar to a level of certainty that even the Navy could not ignore.= =20 =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0The immediate importance of this "smoking gun" reaches bey= ond the=20 victims of the Bahamas incident. On Dec. 12, the California Coastal=20 Commission will consider a Navy application to deploy off the California=20 coast a global low-frequency active sonar, or LFA, system intended for us= e=20 over 80% of the world's oceans, one of the loudest man-made sound sources= =20 ever deployed, operating at levels millions of times more intense than is= =20 considered safe for human divers and literally billions of times more int= ense=20 than the level known to disturb large whales. According to the Navy, it w= ould=20 function much like a floodlight, using sound waves to scan the ocean for=20 quiet enemy submarines at enormous geographic distance. Indeed, it is a=20 system so powerful that a single sound source can flood with intense soun= d=20 hundreds of thousands of square miles of ocean at one time.=20 =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0The wisdom of the system--either strategically or environm= entally--is=20 disputed. Even assuming that a serious submarine threat still exists, som= e=20 defense experts believe that, at the same time it "lights up" enemy subs,= the=20 LFA system would expose our own vessels to attack, thereby jeopardizing,=20 rather than protecting, our troops. Unfortunately, because aspects of the= =20 system remain largely classified, there has been virtually no public=20 discussion of the system's strategic viability.=20 =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0Its environmental impacts, on the other hand, have been ho= tly debated.=20 While the Navy claims that the system can be operated safely,=20 environmentalists cite a growing body of scientific evidence linking ocea= n=20 "noise pollution" to environmental harm. Whales and other marine mammals = are=20 particularly vulnerable to noise pollution; they rely on hearing at least= as=20 much as we rely on our sight. In the ocean, a deaf whale is a dead whale.= =20 =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0Scientists fear that LFA, together with a growing number o= f industrial=20 sources of noise, from supertankers to the giant air guns used in oil=20 exploration, could interfere with essential biological functions--mating,= =20 feeding, navigating, nursing and communicating--of already depleted or=20 endangered species whose survival depends on their ability to hear and be= =20 heard. What is at stake is not just the survival of individual animals, o= r=20 even entire species, but the very integrity of our oceans, from our large= st=20 marine mammals to the smallest fish and even invertebrates.=20 =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0Darlene Ketten of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution= , who=20 conducted the necropsies on the dead whales in the Bahamas, properly labe= led=20 the event a "red flag." Before the Coastal Commission allows the Navy to=20 deploy near California's biologically rich coast the largest active sonar= =20 system ever devised, the commission and the general public need to unders= tand=20 far more about the Bahamas strandings and, more broadly, about the Navy's= =20 entire active sonar program.=20 =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0While we can't afford to ignore our national defense, neit= her can we=20 afford to accept blindly the Navy's assurances that active sonar--and, in= =20 particular, LFA--is essential to our national security and harmless to ou= r=20 global ecosystem.=20 =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0Especially given the strandings' stunning confirmation of = the risks, we=20 cannot allow the Navy to play Russian roulette with our oceans.=20 - - - Jean-michel Cousteau Is Founder and President of Ocean Futures Society.=20 Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Is an Attorney With the Natural Resources Defense=20 Council in New York. Joel R. Reynolds Is an Attorney and Director of Nrdc= 's=20 Marine Mammal Protection Project in Los Angeles ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2000 12:59:28 -0500 From: Phil Clapham Subject: Re: Canadian Bowhead Whale Hunt (fwd) In response to Daniel Pike's message about bowheads, I don't disagree with most of his points, and the IWC clearly (and with good reason) considers the BCB takes to be sustainable. This population has a positive growth despite the well-managed hunt. However, I would note that "no less an authority" than the IWC also passed a resolution (number 2000-2) at its Adelaide meeting with regard to eastern Canadian Arctic bowhead whaling, reaffirming the IWC's "opposition to whaling conducted on highly endangered stocks of whales", expressing "particular concern" that such whaling is going outside the control of the IWC, and urging the Government of Canada to "refrain from issuing a license for the taking of one bowhead whale from the Hudson Bay-Foxe Basin population". This resolution was essentially a repeat of three previous resolutions passed in 1996, 1998 and 1999. Also, the statement that this population "was probably never large" and may be "approaching or at pre-exploitation levels" takes the minimal historic data on eastern bowheads well beyond what they can support. We don't know what the pre-exploitation population was, and probably never will. As an aside, I would be interested to see the Inuit Bowhead Knowledge Study posted somewhere, and for Dan Pike or anyone else to tell us how it was peer-reviewed. Phil Clapham -- Phillip J. Clapham, Ph.D. Large Whale Biology Program Northeast Fisheries Science Center 166 Water Street Woods Hole, MA 02543 Internet: phillip.clapham(\)noaa.gov ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2000 10:05:03 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Canadian Bowhead Whale Hunt (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Daniel Pike wrote: <> While I do not deny that "traditional knowledge" can add a depth of detail to scientific information that should not be ignored, managers who rely over-much on it do so at *their* peril (and the peril of the systems they are managing). For example, Inuit hunters who observe an increase in relative numbers of bowheads on their hunting grounds may merely be observing a shift in distribution of the same number of (or even fewer) animals rather than an actual increase in numbers. I am unaware of how "traditional" observers could distinguish these two causations (and frankly it would take some time for scientific observers to distinguish them). If a negative habitat change has resulted in a distribution shift (for example, if decreased ice cover and/or lowered productivity has resulted in large-scale movements of animals), then "traditional" observers noting a relative increase in numbers of whales in the areas they frequent might lead managers to an entirely erroneous conclusion about the stock as a whole. <> There is another element of concern here, aside from the conservative (or otherwise) nature of the quota. Canada is no longer a member of the IWC. It left the IWC some years ago because its citizens no longer engaged in whaling. With a return to a Native bowhead hunt in the Arctic, Canada is now whaling outside of the only international organization currently recognized as having universal authority over the practice of whaling. Neither is Canada a full-fledged member of any regional organization that cooperates on issues relating to marine mammal management and conservation. In short, Canada is acting as a loose cannon in this regard. Again, setting aside the sustainability of their bowhead quota, they are whaling without any international oversight of any kind, a situation a large majority of nations has agreed is unacceptable (as evidenced by resolutions passed at CITES meetings). The IWC has in fact passed resolutions calling on Canada to cease its whale hunts unless and until it once again becomes a member of the IWC. This is a highly reasonable request, which to date Canada has ignored. Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Scientist Wildlife and Habitat Protection The Humane Society of the United States 2100 L Street, NW Washington, DC 20037 USA ph 301/258-3048 fax 301/258-3080 eml http://www.hsus.org ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2000 10:07:14 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Canadian Bowhead Whale Hunt (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Daniel G Pike Mr Hrynshyn is correct in that the New Scientist article does distinguish between the eastern and western groups of bowheads. I apologize for being unclear on this point- this resulted from my trying to respond to both articles in the same piece. The New Zealand piece was certainly not clear on this point. However Mr Hrynshyn is NOT correct when he states that the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement gives Nunavut Inuit the right to hunt two bowheads per year, subject to conservation concerns. The relevant Article is 5.6.18, and I will quote it in full: "By the first anniversary of the commencement of the study pursuant to Part5, the NWMB shall establish a total allowable harvest for harvesting by Inuit in the Nunavut Settlement Area of at least one bowhead whale, subject to Sections 5.3.3 to 5.3.6 and considering the results of the study to date and other information as may be available to it. For greater certainty, the decision of the NWMB respection the total allowable harvest is subject to Sections 5.3.16 to 5.3.23. Thereafter, the total allowable harvest shall be dealt with by the NWMB from time to time under Sections 5.6.16 and 5.6.17, considering the results of the study and other information as may become available" Now obviously, one needs the entire Nunavut Land Claims Agreement to fully interpret this clause. I will merely point out that nowhere does it say that Inuit can take two bowhead per year. And all takes are subject to the principles of conservation as set out in the Agreement (Article 5.1.5). All decisions of the NWMB are subject to acceptance or rejection by the relevant minister, in this case the Minister of DFO (Articles 5.4.16-23). Co-management is just that: cooperative management by 2 or more parties. Inuit harvesting rights in Nunavut are in all cases subject to the principles of conservation. Obviously it would have been foolish to give anyone a legal right to harvest, regardless of the conservation status of the species. Daniel Pike, Tromso, Norway. -- On Wed, 06 Dec 2000 08:49:59 James Hrynyshyn wrote: >I would like to respond to the misleading and inaccurate reference to the >New Scientist article" The Old Man and the Sea by Daniel Pike in MARMAM >today. I wrote the article and would like to point out that contrary to >Pike's claim, the article quite clear distinguishes between the >Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort population and the Hudson-Bay/Baffin stock. I quote: > >"Although the 8,000-strong bowhead population of the western arctic is >growing at about three per cent a year, recovery elsewhere is proving >elusive. In Canada's Eastern Arctic, for example, there are probably no >more than 1,000, and possible a few as 500 left." > >Pike also fails to acknowledge that, regardless of how many bowheads the >Inuit of Nunavut harvested since their land claim was raitified, Land Claim >gives the them the right to hunt two bowheads a year, subject to >conservation concerns. > >I have no problem with criticism of my work, but I would hope that critics >would at least fairly represent the work being criticized. > >James Hrynyshyn ~~~~~~~~~~~~ 604.222.8008 >4310 West 9th Avenue ~~~~~~~~ jamesh(\)cyamid.net >Vancouver, B.C., V6R 2C7 ~~~~ http://www.cyamid.net > > > ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2000 17:28:36 +0100 From: Giancarlo Lauriano Subject: ECS Annual Meeting, Rome 2001. Second Announcement EUROPEAN CETACEAN SOCIETY: 15TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE 6 - 10 May 2001 - Rome, Italy 'Marine protected areas and other approaches for the management of threats to marine mammals' fifteenth annual conference of the European Cetacean Society Rome, Italy, 6 - 10th May 2001 - 2nd announcement. This is a reminder of the registration date for the next ECS annual meeting that will be held in Rome at the Frentani Conference Center Early - before 1st March 2001 Late - after 1st March but before April 1th 2001 On-site - ALL registration after April 1th. Payment at on-site registration rate in LIRE only. Conference bookings and fees are outlined within the registration form, available from the website: http://web.inter.NL.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs Please be advised that the payment should be posted or faxed to the ECS Treasurer: Dr. Roland Lick, Kaiserstr. 27 B, D-24143 Kiel, Germany, Fax: + 49-40-360309 4854 ABSTRACTS Should be submitted to jfaber(\)tin.it in .rtf format no later than thursday february 1st 2001. Abstract guidelines are available from the ECS-web site directly http://web.inter.NL.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs POSTERS The allowed maximum size for posters is: w 90 / h 100 cm VIDEOS The Video format is PAL in VHS or SVHS. Length should not exceed 20 minutes. A short abstract of the contents and target of the footage should be submitted to: Beatrice Jann, Via Nolgio 3, CH-6900 Massagno, Switzerland (Jann(\)dial.eunet.ch) no later than 1 February 2001. Beatrice may ask you to provide a ready-to-view copy of your footage if too many films are submitted and a jury needs to be set up for selection. WORKSHOPS To date, workshop are planned on Sunday 6 th and on Thursday 10 th. THERE IS STILL ONE HALF-DAY SLOT AVAILABLE! There will be a nominal charge (amount to be determined by the wkshop organizers) for workshop attendees, payable on the day of the workshop, to cover equipment hire, teas/coffees etc. Workshops will be held at the Frentani Center. To date two workshop are planned: a) on Sunday 6th, there will be one half day workshop with the title: COLLISIONS BETWEEN VESSELS AND CETACEANS: CAN WE FIND SOLUTIONS? Giovanna Pesante/Tethys Research Institute (giovannape(\)libero.it) This workshop is intended to: 1) bring this pressing problem out to everybody's attention; 2) gather information from target areas all over the world, particularly focusing on European waters, understanding where, which and how many species are involved; 3) understand which are the possible solutions for this problem, relating them to different species, different habitats and different type and level of ship traffic; 4) find out precautionary measures in order to minimize mortality and incidents. b) on Thursday 10th there will be one full day workshop with the title: ACOUSTIC PLAYBACK EXPERIMENTS ON MARINE MAMMALS IN THE WILD: RATIONALE AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS. Jonathan Gordon / Sea Mammal Research Unit, Gatty Marine Laboratory, University of St Andrews (JG20(\)ST-ANDREWS.AC.UK) This workshop will consider aspects other than noise exposure related to fisheries. INFORMATION BOARDS will be in placed in the poster area. These are for ECS members who may wish to display information relating to: work in progress or completed - brief notes (this information will not appear in the proceedings); exchanges - equipment; accommodation; expertise; studentships, research opportunities; fringe meetings. TRAVEL AND ACCOMODATION There are good air and railway links between Rome and most European cities. Further details can be obtained from Alitalia, the Italian Air Company (www.alitalia.it). City-airports links are available from the main airport (www.adr.it) Roma Fiumicino "Leonardo da Vinci" to the center of town. A useful city-airport link connects the "Leonardo da Vinci" airport to the Rome Termini railway station (five minutes walk from the Conference Center). Rome is a beautiful and fascinating city rich in cultural events, history and a fun place to be; most of the important information about travel, accomodation, events and fun can be obtained from the following web-sites: www.romeguide.it, www.romapreview.it Furthermore, for the ECS'annual meeting, the agency Roma Comunicando will ensure booking in bed & breakfasts and hotels near the Conference Center (info(\)romacomunicando.com). Roma Comunicando kindly will offer the following discount (on booking fees and accomodation prices), PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE HAVE CHANGED (to the better): - 15 % for people booking before January 15 th 2001 - 10 % for people booking before March 15 th 2001 ********************************************** Giancarlo Lauriano & J. Fabrizio Borsani Conference organizers Central Institute for Applied Marine Research - ICRAM Via di Casalotti 300, 00166 Rome, Italy Phone: +39 06 61570409/7; Fax: +39 06 61550581 web: www.icram.org E-mail: lauriano(\)tin.it ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2000 22:32:41 +0100 From: Jaap van der Toorn Subject: EAAM Conference Announcement The European Association for Aquatic Mammals would like to announce its 29th annual Symposium, which will be held in Genova, Italy, from 9 to 12 March, 2001. The Symposium will be hosted by the Acquario di Genova. There will be three sessions for presentations: one session open to all presentations relevant to marine mammal science, husbandry and training; a second session dedicated to marine mammal reproduction and a third session on pinnipeds. Next to these sessions, there will be two workshops: one dedicated to "Environmental enrichment in dolphins" and another one focussing on "Basic veterinary requirements for dolphin transfers". Authors are encouraged to submit paper and poster abstracts. Abstract submission forms are available for download on the 29th Symposium web page on the EAAM Web site at http://eaam.org. The deadline for abstract submission is January 15, 2001. More details about the symposium will be announced on the web site as soon as they become available. Greetings, Jaap van der Toorn (EAAM Webmaster) webmaster(\)eaam.org ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2000 18:37:13 +0000 From: Ben Wilson Subject: Recent publication - dolphin skin lesions The following recently appeared in MEPS Wilson B, Grellier K, Hammond PS, Brown G & Thompson PM (2000) Changing occurrence of epidermal lesions in wild bottlenose dolphins. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 205: 283-290. Abstract: There are increasing concerns that human activities promote the development of natural diseases in aquatic organisms. Of these, diseases concerning small cetaceans have received increasing attention. Most studies have focused on dead animals and provided information on pathogens, contaminant exposure and probable causes of death. However, our understanding of diseases in living populations, particularly with respect to prevalence during the lives of individuals, and for whole populations in different years, remains limited. This study was designed to provide such information on epidermal lesions (abnormalities not directly attributable to physical trauma that may indicate disease) in a wild population of bottlenose dolphins. An 8 yr time series of photographs of 82 free-ranging dolphins from NE Scotland was used to investigate the occurrence and dynamics of epidermal lesions in 7 age classes of young dolphins and for an adult group. Lesions were found at high prevalence (90 to 100%) in both young and adult dolphins, with 1st-summer calves having the lowest levels. Lesions of different appearance showed 2 patterns of occurrence, either being restricted to young individuals or becoming more common with age. When severity was compared between calves (in their 2nd summer of life) born in 8 different years, a significant decline over time was observed (p<0.005). Comparison of this change with environmental and anthropogenic factors may help identify which may be promoting the ubiquitous epidermal lesions in these dolphins. A limited number of reprints are available from Ben Wilson NERC Sea Mammal Research Unit, Gatty Marine Lab, St. Andrews University, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB, The UK Fx: +44-(0)-1334-462632 bw9(\)st-andrews.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2000 11:04:31 -0500 From: wenzel Subject: re.: Canadian Bowhead Whale Hunt I would like to briefly comment on aspects of the initial report and subsequent observations and rejoinders that have been circulated on MARMAM about the (Eastern Arctic) Canadian bowhead hunt. The first is that the use by Ms. Sorg (29 Nov.) and Dr. Rose (6 Dec.) of the word "slaughter" to describe the three Eastern Arctic bowhead hunts that have been conducted seems rather hyperbolic. While the first (Repulse Bay) hunt was not as well organized as may have been hoped and was so criticized by Inuit themselves, the Cumberland Sd. and Salliq hunts were exemplary. Given that only three animals have been hunted in the last half decade and that Inuit have made deliberate effort to improve the manner in which the hunt is organized and carried out, I, therefore, assume that terming the hunt a slaughter refers either to the practice of any whaling (by Inuit or by others) or, possibly, to emphasize that the taking of three animals from what everyone, including Inuit, agree are populations of bowheads much reduced by the former European/American commercial hunt is fraught with danger. I suspect in both instances that it is the former case, but do agree that even the most generous estimate of Eastern Arctic bowhead numbers suggests that a cautious approach to any human activities centered on these animals is required (as Jim Moore notes). My second comment pertains mainly to Dr. Rose's statement about the utility of traditional knowledge re. the present situation. I agree with her that TK has limits, not least in answering the questions she poses in her communication. However, it is worth recalling that it was Alaskan Inupiat (and Yupik) traditional knowledge "claims" that stimulated the extensive integrated research program on BCB bowheads which, in turn, reversed perceptions within the IWC about the efficacy of Eskimo bowhead whale exploitation. (It may also be noted that the Alaskan Eskimo Whaling Commission, a body somewhat analogous to the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, has by all reports acted effectively in bringing Western scientific and traditional knowledge together in its management of the BCB hunt.) Also, as Dr. Clapham notes, the FINAL REPORT OF THE INUIT BOWHEAD KNOWLEDGE STUDY, carried out and published by the NWMB, has not yet undergone (published) peer review. It has, however, been a public document since March of this year and presumeably available upon request. Having read the report, I am not yet persuaded that it definitively establishes that the Eastern Arctic population(s) can sustain any level of hunting pressure. But I also feel that the qualitative data (on bowhead "numbers", movements, and behavior) within it offer important insights and need to be usefully and seriously incorporated within a research effort like that carried out in Alaska. Last, the longevity of bowheads (see EQUINOX 112:48-59) seems to be of importance to some in this discussion. It is worth mention that Savelle and McCartney have published biometrical data on prehistoric Eskimo bowhead selection based on osteological elements recovered from Thule Culture archaeological sites [see Savelle and McCartney, 1991, "Thule Eskimo Bowhead Whale Procurement and Selection", in HUMAN PREDATORS AND PREY MORTALITY, ed. by M. Stiner (Westview Press); 1994, "Thule Inuit bowhead Whaling: A Biometrical Analysis" in THREADS OF ARCTIC PREHISTORY, ed. by D. Morrison and J.-L. Pilon, Archaeological Survey of Canada Paper No.149 (Canadian Museum of Civilization); Savelle, McCartney and Dyke, "Human Predators and Migratory Megafauna: The Case of Thule Eskimo Bowhead Whaling" (ms. copy)] that strongly suggest that Thule whalers selected juvenile whales over the large(st) adults. If some archaeological "analogy" will be permitted, the "stone age" harpoons recovered in the course of recent North Alaskan whale hunts may have been implanted in then juvenile animals. G.W. Wenzel Dept. of Geography McGill University Montreal, Canada H3A 2K6 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2000 23:28:25 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Canadian Bowhead Whale Hunt (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Daniel G Pike > >Also, the statement that this population "was probably never large" and >may be "approaching or at pre-exploitation levels" takes the minimal >historic data on eastern bowheads well beyond what they can support. We >don't know what the pre-exploitation population was, and probably never >will. While it is certainly true that we will never know what the pre-commercial exploitation size of the stock was, there are estimates available based on the known take gleaned from whaling records and reasonable assumptions about bowhead biological parameters (Reeves and Mitchell 1990, Woodby and Botkin 1993), within the range of 500 to 700 animals. The combined aerial survey estimates total around 345 animals (Cosens et al. 1997, Cosens and Innes 2000, DFO 1999). Given that the aerial surveys did not cover the known range of bowheads in this area, and were not corrected for diving animals or animals missed by observers, they almost certainly underestimate the total abundance, perhaps by a considerable degree. This was the reasoning behind my statement, which I agree is pushing the data somewhat. I note also that recent genetic studies support the putative stock delineation for this stock (DFO 1999). >As an aside, I would be interested to see the Inuit Bowhead Knowledge >Study posted somewhere, and for Dan Pike or anyone else to tell us how >it was peer-reviewed. > It is copyrighted and not posted on the net as far as I know. I suggest that you contact the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board if you want a copy. As far as peer review goes, I don't know how the study was reviewed. But I don't think it was meant to be a piece of scientific literature. Daniel Pike Tromso, Norway daniel.pike(\)lycos.com Cosens, S.E., Qamukaq, T., Parker, B., Dueck, L.P. and Anarjuak, B. 1997. The distribution and numbers of bowhead whales, Balaena mysticetus, in northern Foxe Basin in 1994. Can. Field Naturalist 111:381-388. Cosens, S.E and Innes, S. 2000. Distribution and numbers of bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) in northwestern Hudson Bay in August 1995. Arctic 53:36-41. [DFO] Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 1999. Hudson Bay-Foxe Basin Bowhead Whales. DFO Science Stock Status Report E5-52(1999). Reeves, R.R. and Mitchell, E. 1990. Bowhead whales in Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait and Foxe Basin: A review. Naturaliste canadien 117:25-43. Woodby, D.A. and Botkin, D.B. 1993. Stock sizes prior to commercial whaling. In: Burns, J.J., Montague, J.J and Cowles, C.J. (eds.) The Bowhead Whale. Society of Marine Mammalogy Special Publication No. 2, 787 pp. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2000 23:31:08 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: NFWF Whale Fund Program Manager position (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is currently accepting applications for the position of Whale Fund Program Manager. Foundation Background: The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (Foundation) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization created by an Act of Congress in 1984 with a charter to conserve fish, wildlife, and plant resources. The Foundation uses federally appropriated dollars to initiate matching grants, and establishes special funds to meet pressing conservation needs. Whale Fund Background: In 1998, Congress enacted legislation (P.L.105-277) to create the National Whale Conservation Fund (Fund). The law authorizes the Foundation to establish a national whale conservation endowment fund, to be used to support research, management activities, or educational programs that contribute to the protection, conservation, or recovery of whale populations in waters of the United States. Since that time, an appropriation of $232,000 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has been obtained to fund start-up and development of the Fund. The Fund will focus its initial efforts on the preservation and recovery of the Northern right whale (Eubalaena glacialis), in accordance with the legislative purpose of the Fund, by identifying, supporting, and funding initiatives which address the recovery and conservation of whale populations including habitat protection, species conservation and management, scientific research, and education and outreach activities which publicize the plight of the whales. The Fund will seek to assist projects and initiatives that are innovative, cooperative, and seek to leverage Fund resources. Although initial efforts are focused on the Northern right whale, the Foundation has also established a Whale Fund Program coordinator for Pacific Coast whale efforts located in our Southwest Region Office in San Francisco, CA. The policies of the Fund will be developed and implemented by the Foundation in consultation with the Marine Mammal Commission, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and a National Whale Conservation Council" which is in the process of being formed. Additionally, a Scientific Advisory Panel will be established to ensure that efforts receiving support through the Fund will have the highest scientific credibility. Job Performance Expectations: The Whale Fund Program Manager would be expected to accomplish the following: Responsibilities: 1) Identify and involve potential Council and Advisory Panel members; 2) Raise private funding for the Fund from Foundations, corporations, individuals, and others in coordination with the Foundation's Department of Development and Marketing; 3) Develop a visual identity (logo), public relations and marketing materials, and other ways to raise awareness about whales and publicize the existence of the Fund; Develop briefings and reports on the progress of the Fund and Fund projects for a Whale Fund website. 4) Coordinate whale conservation efforts of Foundation staff, Council, and Advisory Panel 5) Coordinate up to 4 meetings annually of the Council and Advisory Panel respectively 6) Develop and maintain detailed short- and long-term work plan for Fund 7) Develop RFP's in coordination with Foundation staff and Council members, and solicit high-caliber project proposals 8) Develop grant evaluation criteria in coordination with the Council, Advisory Panel, and Foundation staff 9) Administer grants given through the Fund 10) Develop and draft partnership agreements with organizations, industries, and others interested in supporting or sponsoring whale conservation; and Make presentations on behalf of the Foundation at conferences/meetings focused on whale conservation efforts Education and Qualifications: A masters degree in a field related to marine conservation is preferred. A minimum of 4 years work experience with either private natural resource conservation organizations, state or federal marine agencies, or Congressional experience working with natural resource agencies is recommended. Experience working with business, private, or corporate sector is encouraged. In addition, the following skills are important to the success of a serious candidate for this position: - excellent research, writing and oral communication skills - knowledge of marine conservation issues and policies, especially those related to cetacean conservation - ability to work well with others at many levels, especially in small to mid-size groups of diversely skilled and interested persons Location, Salary and Benefits: The Position is currently available and will remain so until filled. It will be located in either Boston, MA or Washington, DC. Salary is commensurate with experience and abilities. Excellent benefits package. To apply, please mail cover letter and resume to (no phone calls please): Whitney C. Tilt National Fish and Wildlife Foundation 1120 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Suite 900 Washington, DC 20036 Please use tilt(\)nfwf.org if you would rather e-mail your personal qualifications National Fish and Wildlife Foundation 1120 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Suite 900 Washington, D.C. 20036 Voice: (202) 857-0166 Fax: (202) 857-0162 Email: nordstrom(\)nfwf.org ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2000 23:32:50 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: J. Cetacean Research & Management abstracts (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: David S. Janiger The abstracts are scanned and OCRed, so I apologize to the authors for any spelling mistakes. LE BOEUF, B. J.*; H. PEREZ-CORTES M.; J. URBAN R.; B. R. MATE and F. OLLERVIDES U. THE JOURNAL OF CETACEAN RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT 2(2):85-99. 2000. High gray whale mortality and low recruitment in 1999: Potential causes and implications. Abstact: This paper documents the high incidence of gray whale deaths in 1999 and presents the hypothesis that some of the whales were starving. Predictions from this hypothesis are tested using data on the frequency and distribution of stranding, the sex and age composition of strandings, estimates of recruitment and physiological condition, and observations of foraging during migration. The data come from multiple sources. The mortality count of 274 gray whales in 1999 was twice as high as in any previous year dating back to 1985. Dead whales were widely distributed along the migratory route, with the majority observed on the northward migration from the Mexican breeding lagoons to Alaska. Most mortalities in Mexico and California were adults and immatures, rather than the usual calves and yearlings. The majority of dead adults in Mexico, California, and the Oregon/Washington region were females. Many dead whales were emaciated. Calf production was lower than in the previous six years. Aberrancies in timing and location of migration, as well as foraging on pelagic prey, were observed. These results, and an even higher stranding rate in the Mexican breeding lagoons in 2000, are consistent with the hypothesis that the whales were undernourished. It is argued that the most likely cause of this condition was a decline in the biomass of their principal prey, the benthic amphipods in the Bering and Chukchi Seas over the last decade, due in part to the combined effects of increasing sea surface temperatures and increased predation from the growing population of gray whales themselves. A significant decline in amphipod density could have long-term effects on the future growth and stability of the gray whale population because amphipods recover slowly given their low fecundity and long generation times. Annual monitoring of the status of the amphipods in the Bering and Chukchi Seas, and the effect of inter alia sea surface temperature on their biomass, is vital for understanding fluctuations in gray whale mortality and numbers, and the extent to which they are dependent on this food resource. Keywords: Gray whale; predation; Pacific Ocean; Bering Sea; El Ni=F1o; feeding grounds; food/prey; health; strandings; nutrition; mortality rate; recruitment rate. * Department of Biology and Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064. ----------------------------------- URBAN R., J.; A. JARAMILLO L.; A. AGUAYO L.; P. LADRON DE GUEVARA P.; M. SALINAS Z.; C. ALVAREZ F.; L. MEDRANO G.; J. K. JACOBSEN; K. C. BALCOMB; D. E. CLARIDGE; J. CALAMBOKIDIS; G. H. STEIGER; J. M. STRALEY; O. VON ZIEGESAR; J. M. WAITE; M. E. DAHLHEIM; J. D. DARLING and C. S. BAKER. THE JOURNAL OF CETACEAN RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT 2(2):101-110. 2000. Migratory destinations of humpback whales wintering in the Mexican Pacific. Abstract: The migratory destinations of humpback whales that winter off the Pacific coast of Mexico were examined using photo-identification. Fluke photographs taken between 1983 and 1993 from the three main whale aggregations in this area (383 from the Mainland coast; 471 from Baja California Peninsula; and 450 from Revillagigedo Archipelago) were compared with collections from all known summering grounds in the North Pacific (593 off California-Oregon-Washington; 48 off British Columbia; 429 off Southeastern Alaska; 141 off Prince William Sound; and 133 from the western Gulf of Alaska). The migratory movements of these whales were clearly non-random. The results of the photographic comparisons and the statistical tests show clear evidence for preferred migratory destinations of humpback whales from Mainland and Baja California to California-Oregon-Washington and British Columbia summering regions. Nevertheless, differences in whale abundance estimates between these summering and wintering aggregations indicate the presence of some unsampled summering region(s). The principal migratory destination was not detected for the Revillagigedo region, although matches were found with all the summering regions sampled. This supports the hypothesis that the humpback whales from Revillagigedo are separate from the 'American stock'. Based on the known abundance estimates, historical whaling records and genetic structure of the populations, it is proposed that historical feeding grounds off the Aleutian Islands and/or the Bering Sea are the main summer destinations of the whales from Revillagigedo. Keywords: Humpback whale; breeding grounds; distribution; migration; site fidelity; photo-id; northern hemisphere; Pacific Ocean. * Departamento de Biologia Marina, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California Sur. Ap. Post 19-B, La Paz, B.C.S. 23081, Mexico. ----------------------------------- GARRIGUE, CLAIRE; PAUL FORESTELL; JACQUI GREAVES; PETER GILL; PATRICIA NAESSIG; NATHALIE M. PATENAUDE and SCOTT C. BAKER. THE JOURNAL OF CETACEAN RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT 2(2):111-115. 2000. Migratory movements of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) between New Caledonia, East Australia and New Zealand. Abstract: 'Discovery' marks and their recoveries from humpback whales in the southwest Pacific provide no evidence of migratory interchange between wintering grounds in New Caledonia and migratory corridors off east Australia (Moreton Island) and New Zealand, or wintering grounds in Tonga. To provide further insight into the migratory connections among these regions, images of 169 individually-identified humpback whales from New Caledonia were compared with the published catalogues of Australian (n=3D1,088), Tongan (n=3D78) and New Zealand (n=3D1) humpback whales. Four = of the New Caledonian humpbacks were found to have migrated past east Australia and one past New Zealand in separate years. No movement was found between New Caledonia and Tonga. These data provide the first photographic information on exchanges between regions of the southwest Pacific. Reviewed in light of historical records, these data also highlight the necessity for further research in the South Pacific region to resolve the question of the proposed segregation of the Southern Hemisphere Group V stock into an eastern group (New Zealand and the Pacific Islands) and a western group (east Australia). Keywords: Humpback whale; photo-identification; migration; southern hemisphere; Australasia. * Operation Cetaces, BP 12827 Noumea, New Caledonia. ----------------------------------- DURBAN, J. W.; D. A. ELSTON; X. LAMBIN and P. M. THOMPSON. THE JOURNAL OF CETACEAN RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT 2(2):117-123. 2000. A role for Bayesian inference in cetacean population assessment. Abstract: Decisions concerning the management and conservation of cetacean populations depend upon knowledge of population parameters, which generally must be estimated from sample data using statistical models. However, data from the cetacean populations are often sparse, and resultant parameter estimates can be uncertain and difficult to obtain. This review uses examples from published work to highlight the utility of the Bayesian statistical paradigm as a suitable estimation framework in these situations. By evaluating the probability of obtaining the available data, given a specified estimator model, for a whole prior distribution of possible parameter values, the Bayesian approach is capable of quantifying the uncertainty associated with parameter estimates. The potential also exists for reducing uncertainty by incorporating relevant information into the prior distributions used in the Bayesian estimation procedure. The paper describes how the use of graphical model specification and graphical output of parameter estimates can make Bayesian methods attractive for data analysis and explains the recent advances in computational methods that have made Bayesian techniques more available for providing useful estimates of cetacean population parameters. Keywords: Statistics; population assessment; population parameters; management; conservation. * University of Aberdeen, Department of Zoology, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, UK. ----------------------------------- PUNT, ANDRE E. and DOUGLAS S. BUTTERWORTH. THE JOURNAL OF CETACEAN RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT 2(2):125-133. 2000. Why do Bayesian and maximum likelihood assessments of the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Seas stock of bowhead whales differ? (Balaena mysticetus) Abstract: An approach to baleen whale stock assessment based on maximum likelihood estimation is outlined. This approach is able to consider uncertainty in all of the parameters of the BALEEN II population dynamics model used for the assessment of the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort (B-C-B) Seas stock of bowhead whales. It replaces the prior distributions used in the Bayesian analyses to incorporate indirect information by bounds (only) on model quantities. The results from this approach are notably different from Bayesian analyses based on the same data/assumptions. These differences result from two factors: the specific shapes chosen for the priors for biological parameters needed for the Bayesian approach, and the updating of these priors, together with the covariance introduced between them, by the exclusion process which ensures consistency of parameter sets generated from these priors with the population model, before the data are taken into account in the assessment. The second of these factors is shown to be much important in accounting for the difference between the results. However, it is unclear whether this exclusion process is defensibly accorded the probabilistic interpretation that the Bayesian approach assumes of it. Until this question is satisfactorily settled, the bounded maximum likelihood method introduced in this paper may provide a more defensible basis for assessment of the B-C-B bowhead population, even though it may be unable to take account of some information which could be incorporated in a Bayesian approach. Keywords: Bowhead whale; population assessment; modelling; trends; biological parameters; whaling-aboriginal; Arctic. * CSIRO Marine Research, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia. ----------------------------------- MURRAY, KIMBERLY T.; ANDREW J. READ and ANDREW R. SOLOW. THE JOURNAL OF CETACEAN RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT 2(2):135-141. 2000. The use of time/area closures to reduce bycatches of harbour porpoises: Lessons from the Gulf of Maine sink gillnet fishery. (Phocoena phocoena) Abstract: In 1994, the United States National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) implemented a series of time/area closures for the Gulf of Maine sink gillnet fishery to reduce the bycatch of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena). The present study evaluates the effectiveness of the Mid-Coast closure area, implemented during November 1994. Rates of porpoise bycatches are analysed prior to, during and after the closure. In addition, individual vessels are tracked and the spatial distribution of fishing effort examined to determine how fishermen responded to the closure. The highest bycatch rate occurred in September in the Mid-Coast region, well before the closure. During November, fishermen concentrated much of their effort adjacent to the closed area in unrestricted waters, where bycatch occurred. The Mid-Coast closure was not in place for a long enough period, nor was it large enough, to be effective in reducing bycatch rates of harbour porpoises. The failure of the Mid-Coast closure is attributed to temporal and spatial variation in patterns of bycatch rates, and to the displacement of fishing effort and porpoise bycatch outside the closed area. Keywords: Harbour porpoise; incidental catches; gillnets; effort; conservation; regulations; Atlantic Ocean. * Marine Policy Center, M.S. #41, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Woods Hole, MA 02543. ----------------------------------- REID, KEITH; ANDREW S. BRIERLEY and GABRIELLE A. NEVITT. THE JOURNAL OF CETACEAN RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT 2(2):143-149. 2000. An initial examination of relationships between the distribution of whales and Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) at South Georgia. Abstract: The distribution of whales and krill in two survey boxes north of South Georgia was examined by comparing sightings and underway acoustic data collected as part a of multi-disciplinary research cruise carried out during January/February 1998. A total of 222 cetaceans of 10 species was recorded with the southern right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) and humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) the two most frequent. The largest aggregation of cetaceans (21 southern right whales, 16 fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), 4 sei whale (B. borealis), 1 humpback whale and 8 hourglass dolphins (Lagenorhynchus cruciger) occurred close to the largest single aggregation of krill. The level of association between baleen whales and krill was examined at a number of spatial scales. There was a positive relationship between whale abundance and mean krill density at the largest spatial scale examined (80x100km). At progressively smaller scales the relationship weakened, due mainly to the increased frequency of areas of high krill density where whales were not recorded. In particular, whales were absent from inshore areas (up to 300m depth) that had higher mean krill densities compared with areas where whales were recorded. To thoroughly compare krill and whale distribution, particularly at smaller scales, will require information on krill swarm structure and density, as well as more information on the behaviour and feeding requirements of whales. Such information may also be crucial to understanding the role of scale-dependence in potential interspecies competition among krill-feeding marine predators. Keywords: Whales; feeding; euphausiids; South Georgia; Antarctic; habitat. * British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK. ----------------------------------- PUNT, ANDRE E.; DOUGLAS S. BUTTERWORTH and SHIRO WADA. THE JOURNAL OF CETACEAN RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT 2(2):151-158. 2000. On the use of allele frequency data within a Bayesian framework: Evaluation of the relative probabilities of alternative stock structure hypotheses for North Pacific minke whales. Abstract: Genotype frequency information for one or more loci is used within a Bayesian modelling framework to assign relative probabilities to alternative stock-structure hypotheses using the Bayes factor approach. This framework has advantages over maximum-likelihood estimation as it provides the information needed to select amongst hypotheses. For primarily illustrative purposes, the approach is applied to the data for the Adh-1 and Gpi loci for sub-areas 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11 for North Pacific minke whales. The results confirm those of previous studies that there are (at least) two stocks to the east and west of Japan. In contrast, the results support the hypothesis of a single stock in sub-areas 7, 8 and 9 unless a priori the allele frequencies for stocks that are adjacent spatially are likely to be similar. This last result needs to be interpreted with caution as the mutation rate of allozymes is slow and so this caveat might apply in this case. Keywords: Genetics; stock identity; northern hemisphere; North Pacific Ocean; common minke whale. * CSIRO Marine Research, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2000 23:34:54 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Outside tampering with captive marine mammals (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Rowan Johnston Dear Marmamers, I am collecting information for a publication which in part, examines incidents in which captive dolphins and whales have been deliberately harassed, harmed, or illegally tampered with by outside influences. I am currently aware of two incidents (1977 & 1999), where outside tampering proved fatal to the animals involved. In the case of the 1999 incident in Western Australia, I was working with the animals as a trainer at the time they were attacked. As yet, the offenders have not been found. I am interested to know how isolated these occurrences are. I have not been able to find evidence of other similar incidents in the literature, but I feel there may be unreported situations in which captive marine mammals have been harmed or were at risk of being harmed by people making unauthorized contact either with or without malicious intent. Other examples I am interested in are attempts to illegally swim with or feed captive marine mammals. After seeing animals being lost in such a senseless and unforeseeable way, I would like to raise the issue of safety for our captive marine mammals from members of the public with undesirable agendas. If anyone can provide me with any information please post to MARMAM or contact me directly. I will request full permission before using any material. I will also submit a summary of responses / incidents (with permission) on MARMAM. Thank you. Rowan Johnston perthdolphins(\)hotmail.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Dec 2000 09:15:13 -0800 From: Greg Krutzikowsky Subject: bowhead abstracts ------ The following papers published last July may be of interest to some MARMA= M=20 readers. I've included abstracts here. These papers are available through= =20 the journal's website http://www.nrc.ca/cisti/journals/ . Limited reprin= ts=20 are available from the lead authors. Mate, B. R., Krutzikowsky, G. K., Windsor, M. 2000. Satellite-monitored=20 movements of radio-tagged bowhead whales in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas= =20 during the late-summer feeding season and fall migration. Canadian Journ= al=20 of Zoology. 78:1168-1181. ABSTRACT From 30 August to 6 September 1992, we tagged 12 juvenile bowhead whales= =20 (Balaena mysticetus) with Argos satellite-monitored radio tags in the=20 Canadian Beaufort Sea off the Mackenzie River Delta. Eight tags=20 documented >=3D9820 km of movements between 392 locations during 111=20 whale-tracking days. The whales did not move in unison. Individual=20 movements and average speeds (1.1-5.8 km/h) varied widely. One whale stay= ed=20 in Mackenzie Bay for 23.5 d, while the rest stayed an average of only 2.4= =20 d. The majority of locations for all whales were in shallow water: 65% at= =20 <50 m depth and 87% at <100 m depth. Seven whales went into water >100 m=20 deep and four were in water >500 m deep. The whale with the longest recor= d=20 traveled >=3D3886 km to Siberia in 32.5 d, averaging 5.0 km/h. Its wester= ly=20 route through the Beaufort and Chukchi seas was between 70=B0 and 72=B0N = and=20 primarily in heavy ice (>=3D90% coverage), which was continuous west of=20 151=B0W. This whale's speed was faster, though not significantly, in heav= y=20 ice than in more open water. This is the first detailed documentation of=20 the route and speed of a bowhead whale during its fall migration from=20 Canadian to Russian waters. Contact: Bruce R. Mate, OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, OR=20 97365 USA. bruce.mate(\)hmsc.orst.edu ____________________________________________________________________ Krutikowsky, G. K., and Mate, B. R. 2000. Dive and Surfacing=20 Characteristics of Bowhead Whales (Balaena mysticetus) in the Beaufort an= d=20 Chukchi Seas. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 78:1182-1198. ABSTRACT We received data from eight bowhead whales (Ballaena mysticetus) equipped= =20 with satellite-monitored radio tags for 3-33 days. Of 42,306 dives made b= y=20 eight whales during 1695 h, 9573 were sounding dives (>1 min duration). T= he=20 mean duration of sounding dives for individuals varied from 6.9 to 14.1 m= in=20 (mean =3D 10.4 + - 2.4 min, n =3D 8). Five whales recorded dives >=3D61 m= in; the=20 longest dives for the other three lasted 56, 45, and 32 min. Five tags=20 measured maximum depths of 29,499 dives during 1220 h and time-at-depth=20 during 1228 h. All five whales dived >100 m; the deepest dive was 352 m.= =20 Whales spent most of their time at depths <=3D16 m, but three whales spen= t=20 most of their time at depths >48 m during some sampling periods. Mean=20 surfacing rates ranged from 18.2 to 47.0/h (mean =3D 26.2+ - 9.0/h, n =3D= 8).=20 Tags were exposed to air 4.0 to 7.3% of the time (mean =3D 5.5 + - 0.95%,= n =3D=20 8), and whales were potentially visible from aircraft 8.5 to 16.4% of the= =20 time (mean =3D 11.1 + - 2.4%, n =3D 8). Three whales made longer sounding= dives=20 and had lower surfacing rates when in >=3D90% ice cover. No consistent di= el=20 patterns were found. Contact: Gregory K. Krutzikowsky, OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center,=20 Newport, OR 97365 USA. greg.krutz(\)hmsc.orst.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2000 11:10:56 -0800 From: William Burke Subject: Re: Canadian Bowhead Whale Hunt (fwd) In-Reply-To: <200012061827.KAA08867(\)mxu2.u.washington.edu> It would be useful to know the basis for the statement that the IWC is currently recognized as the only international organization having universal authority over the practice of whaling. In the current state of international law, as I understand it, no State is required to bcome a party to an international organization unless it has committed itself to do so by agreement. The 1982 Law of the Sea treaty has no such commitment and I can't think of another source for it. Prof. Burke William T. Burke Professor of Law Emeritus University of Washington 1100 NE Campus Parkway Seattle, Washington 98105 burke(\)u.washington.edu phone 206-543-2275 fax 206-685-4469 On Wed, 6 Dec 2000, MARMAM Editors wrote: > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > Daniel Pike wrote: > > < these is therefore less certain. However the Inuit Bowhead Knowledge Study > (NWMB 2000) has documented an increase in the relative numbers and range > of bowheads in these areas. While we as scientists may be quick to dismiss > such "traditional" knowledge, we do so at our peril as it offers a time > depth and detail that no scientific survey can match.>> > > While I do not deny that "traditional knowledge" can add a depth of detail > to scientific information that should not be ignored, managers who rely > over-much on it do so at *their* peril (and the peril of the systems they > are managing). For example, Inuit hunters who observe an increase in > relative numbers of bowheads on their hunting grounds may merely be > observing a shift in distribution of the same number of (or even fewer) > animals rather than an actual increase in numbers. I am unaware of how > "traditional" observers could distinguish these two causations (and > frankly it would take some time for scientific observers to distinguish > them). If a negative habitat change has resulted in a distribution shift > (for example, if decreased ice cover and/or lowered productivity has > resulted in large-scale movements of animals), then "traditional" > observers noting a relative increase in numbers of whales in the areas > they frequent might lead managers to an entirely erroneous conclusion > about the stock as a whole. > > < conservative (3 whales in the last 5 years, not the 2 whales per year > mentioned in the New Scientist article). The stocks are co-managed through > the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board. Present scientific advice is that > no more than 1 whale every 2 years should be taken from the North Hudson > Bay - Foxe Basin stock (DFO 1999), and no more than 1 whale every 10-13 > years from the Baffin Bay stock.>> > > There is another element of concern here, aside from the conservative (or > otherwise) nature of the quota. Canada is no longer a member of the IWC. > It left the IWC some years ago because its citizens no longer engaged in > whaling. With a return to a Native bowhead hunt in the Arctic, Canada is > now whaling outside of the only international organization currently > recognized as having universal authority over the practice of whaling. > Neither is Canada a full-fledged member of any regional organization that > cooperates on issues relating to marine mammal management and > conservation. In short, Canada is acting as a loose cannon in this > regard. Again, setting aside the sustainability of their bowhead quota, > they are whaling without any international oversight of any kind, a > situation a large majority of nations has agreed is unacceptable (as > evidenced by resolutions passed at CITES meetings). The IWC has in fact > passed resolutions calling on Canada to cease its whale hunts unless and > until it once again becomes a member of the IWC. This is a highly > reasonable request, which to date Canada has ignored. > > > > Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. > Marine Mammal Scientist > Wildlife and Habitat Protection > The Humane Society of the United States > 2100 L Street, NW > Washington, DC 20037 USA > ph 301/258-3048 > fax 301/258-3080 > eml > http://www.hsus.org > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.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") > -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca > saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname > -To unsubscribe, send a message saying: unsub marmam (to the > listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca address) > -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca > -MARMAM Editorial Policy & FAQ: http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/marmam.htm > -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ > ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2000 22:32:28 +0100 From: EAAM Webmaster Subject: EAAM web site update and job announcement ------ The EAAM web site at http://eaam.org has been updated. Apart from information about the upcoming 29th Symposium (see our separate announcement) the following additions have been made: - the list of tables of contents of the journal Aquatic Mammals has been expanded and now covers issue 1(1) and volumes 13 through 26 - a "Job Opportunities" page has been added. On this page we will host jo= b announcement for positions in the marine mammal field. If you wish to hav= e a job announcement hosted on the EAAM web page, please send the text (plain text, RTF, Word or WordPerfect format) to the webmaster: webmaster(\)eaam.o= rg. A company logo can be included in the announcement (GIF or JPEG images prefered). - The first job announcement has been added: this is an announcement from Kolm=E5rdens Djurpark in Sweden, seeking applicants for the position of dolphin keeper/trainer. Greetings, Jaap van der Toorn (EAAM Webmaster) webmaster(\)eaam.org ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 9 Dec 2000 12:59:41 -0800 From: Ellen Hines Subject: web-based report for the GIS/RS workshop in Maui Greetings all: A web-based report is now available that documents the poster abstracts, presentations, and discussion from the SMM Maui 1999 conference workshop on GIS and remote sensing for marine mammal scientists. You can access the report from the link on the following web page: http://office.geog.uvic.ca/dept/whale/wrlmp.html Comments, corrections, etc. are all welcome. Ellen Hines Ellen Hines Whale (and Dugong!) Research Lab Department of Geography University of Victoria Box 3025 Victoria, BC, Canada V8W 3P5 (250)472-4746 Fax: (250)721-6216 ehines(\)office.geog.uvic.ca http://office.geog.uvic.ca/dept/whale/ellen.html ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Dec 2000 14:14:56 -0800 ignored. From: Lance Morgan Subject: Call for Contributed Papers, Symposium on Marine Conservation Biology In-Reply-To: <02c801c04486$46511800$902a2526(\)CACMC.ORG> boundary="=====================_15308375==_.ALT" Apologies for cross-postings Please forward to interested colleagues Second Call for Contributed Papers Second Symposium on Marine Conservation Biology Registration and Information available online www.mcbi.org Deadline for Submission is Jan. 12, 2001 (changed from original date) MCBI invites submissions from scientists and students in physical, biological and social sciences pertaining to marine conservation. Topics include, but are not limited to: biodiversity, alien species, ecosystem mapping, population dynamics, oceanography, climate change, human effects on marine systems, marine protected areas, large-scale management strategies, and effects of fishing on marine ecosystems and biodiveristy. Additionally, we encourage presentations by individuals from government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs) and countries outside North America. Each contributed-paper presentation will last 15 minutes (timed) with an additional 5 minutes for questions and answers. Abstract Submission Instructions MCBI will accept abstracts only as email messages (no attachments please). Abstracts should be written in English, run no longer than 250 words (not including title and author information) and concisely describe the topic of presentation. Please indicate senior author and include full contact information for all authors (name, affiliation, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address). All submissions must specify whether they are for oral presentation, poster presentation, or no preference. Abstracts without this information will not be accepted. When submitting abstracts, please include the subject line "Abstract Submission." To submit an abstract or for questions regarding appropriate scientific content, contact Dr. Lance Morgan at lance(\)mcbi.org If you have general Symposium inquiries or difficulty with the website, please contact Amy Moe at amymoe(\)mcbi.org. --=====================_15308375==_.ALT Apologies for cross-postings
Please forward to interested colleagues

Second Call for Contributed Papers
Second Symposium on Marine Conservation Biology  

Registration and Information available online www.mcbi.org

Deadline for Submission is Jan. 12, 2001
 (changed from original date)

MCBI invites submissions from scientists and students in physical, biological and social sciences pertaining to marine conservation. Topics include, but are not limited to: biodiversity, alien species, ecosystem mapping, population dynamics, oceanography, climate change, human effects on marine systems, marine protected areas, large-scale management strategies, and effects of fishing on marine ecosystems and biodiveristy.
Additionally, we encourage presentations by individuals from government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs) and countries outside North America. Each contributed-paper presentation will last 15 minutes (timed) with an additional 5 minutes for questions and answers.

Abstract Submission Instructions

MCBI will accept abstracts only as email messages (no attachments please). Abstracts should be written in English, run no longer than 250 words (not including title and author information) and concisely describe the topic of presentation. Please indicate senior author and include full contact information for all authors (name, affiliation, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address). All submissions must specify whether they are for oral presentation, poster presentation, or no preference. Abstracts without this information will not be accepted. When submitting abstracts, please include the subject line "Abstract Submission." To submit an abstract or for questions regarding appropriate scientific content, contact Dr. Lance Morgan at lance(\)mcbi.org If you have general Symposium inquiries or difficulty with the website, please contact Amy Moe at amymoe(\)mcbi.org.
--=====================_15308375==_.ALT-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 1 Dec 2000 18:07:26 -0500 From: Susan Roberts Subject: Position Available The Ocean Studies Board at the National Research Council (part of the National Academies) has a position open for Program Officer. The job description and contact information appear below: Program Officers at The National Academies' Ocean Studies Board are responsible for planning study programs, maintaining contacts with academic scientists and government personnel, assisting with proposal preparation and reporting, managing budgets, directing administrative staff, and effectively synthesizing and expressing conplex technical and public policy concepts through written and oral communication. Credentials must include a Ph.D. or the equivalent in Ocean Sciences and at least 1 year of relevant experience in the marine sciences. A background in Fisheries Science, Marine Biology/Ecology, or Biological Oceanography is desired. Excellent written/verbal scientific communication skills demonstrated through presentations and in writing, good organizational skills, and familiarity with the oceanographic community are essential. We offer a competitive salary, an excellent benefits package, and a dynamic work environment. Information and/or consideration may be obtained by forwarding your resume with salary requirements, indicating the Job Code RC/613.011. The National Academies Office of Human Resources -- GR 146 Jo Code RC 613.011 2101 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20418 Fax: (202) 334-1746 email: ohrresum(\)nas.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 0100 09:37:28 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications The following is a list of some recent marine mammal publications. This list is not intended to be comprehensive. Authors are encouraged to submit full citations and abstracts, including information on where copies or reprints may be obtained, of all recent scientific publications on marine mammals. Domenici, P. et al. 2000. Spacing of wild schooling herring while encircled by killer whales. Journal Fish Biology 57(3): 831-836. Derocher, A.E. et al. 2000. Predation of Svalbard reindeer by polar bears. Polar Biology 23(10): 675-678. Pertoldi, C. et al. 2000. Effect of the 1990 die-off in the northern Italian seas on the developmental stability of the striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba (Meyen, 1833). Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 71(1): 61-70. Rosen, D.A.S. and A.W. Trites. 2000. Pollock and the decline of Steller sea lions: testing the junk-food hypothesis. Canadian Journal of Zoology 78(7): 1238-1242. Mate, B.R., et al. 2000. Satellite-monitored movements of radio-tagged bowhead whales in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas during the late-summer feeding season and fall migration. Canadian Journal of Zoology 78(7) 1168-1181. Kirkman, S.P. et al. 2000. Diet and estimated food consumption of Antarctic fur seals at Bouvetoya during summer. Polar Biology 23(11): 745-752. Akamatsu, T. et al. 2000. A method for individual identification of echolocation signals in free-ranging finless porpoises carrying data loggers. Journal of Acoustical Society of America 108(3) I, pp 1353-1356. Janik, V.M. 2000. Source levels and the estimated active space of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) whistles in the Moray Firth, Scotland. J. Comp. Physiol. A Sens. Neural. Behav. Physiol. 186(7-8): 673-680. Krutzikowsky, G.K. and B.R. Mate. 2000. Dive and surfacing characteristics of bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas. Canadian Journal of Zoology 78(7): 1182-1198. LeBoeuf, B.J. et al. 2000. Foraging ecology of northern elephant seals. Ecological Mongraphs 70(3): 353-382. Lyamin, O.I. 2000. Rest and activity states in a gray whale. Journal of Sleep Research 9(3): 261-267. Hochachka, P.W. 2000. Pinniped diving response mechanism and evolution: a window on the paradigm of comparative biochemistry and physiology. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A Mol. Integr. Physiol. 126(4): 435-458. Erbe, C. and D.M. Farmer. 2000. A software model to estimate zones of impact on marine mammals around anthropogenic noise. Journal of Acoustical Society of America 108(3) I, 1327-1331. Wagermann, R. et al. 2000. Mercury species in the liver of ringed seals. Science of the Total Environment 261(1-3): 21-32. Weisbrod, A.V. et al. 2000. Species, tissue and gender-related organochlorine bioaccumulation in white-sided dolphins, pilot whales and their common prey in the northwest Atlantic. J. Mar. Environ. Res. 1(1): 29-50. Becker, P.R. 2000. Concentration of chlorinated hydrocarbons and heavy metals in Alaska Arctic marine mammals. Marine Pollution Bulletin 40(10): 819-829. Southall, B.L. Masking in three pinnipeds: underwater, low-frequency critical ratios. Journal of Acoustical Society of America 108(3) I, 1322-1326. Erbe, C. and D.M. Farmer. 2000. Zones of impact around icebreakers affecting beluga whales in the Beaufort Sea. Journal of Acoustical Society of America 108(3) I, 1332-1340. Ishaq, R. et al. 2000. Tissue distribution of polychlorinated napthalenes (PCNs) and non-ortho chlorinated biphenyls (non-ortho CBs) in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from Swedish waters. Chemosphere 41(12) 1913-1925. Minh, T.B. et al. 2000. Isomer-specific accumulation and toxic assessment of polychlorinated biphenyls, including coplanar congeners, in cetaceans from the North Pacific and Asian coastal waters. Arch. Environ. Contamin. Toxicol. 39(3): 398-410. MICHAEL J. NOAD, DOUGLAS H. CATO, M. M. BRYDEN, MICHELINE -N. JENNER & K. CURT S. JENNER. 2000. Cultural revolution in whale songs. Nature 408: 537. The song patterns of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) depend on where they live, with populations inhabiting different ocean basins normally singing quite distinct songs. Here we record a unique and radical song change in the song of humpback whales in the Pacific Ocean off the Australian east coast. Their song was replaced rapidly and completely by the song of the Australian west coast population from the Indian Ocean, apparently as a result of the introduction of only a small number of 'foreign' singers. Such a revolutionary change is unprecedented in animal cultural vocal traditions and suggests that novelty may stimulate change in humpback whale songs. ******************** Robert L. Brownell Jr., Michael F. Tillman, Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara, Per Berggren, and Andrew J. Read. Science 2000 December 1; 290: 1696 ********************************* Scientific Whaling: Source of Illegal Products for Market? C. Scott Baker, G. M. Lento, F. Cipriano, M. L. Dalebout, S. R. Palumbi;, Mutsuo Goto, and Seiji Ohsumi . Science 2000 December 1; 290: 1695-1696b. (in Letters) ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2000 15:45:34 +0800 Reply-To: research(\)pacificwhale.org From: PWF Research Organization: Pacific Whale Foundation Subject: job announcement ; x-mac-type="54455854"; x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" IMMEDIATE OPENING PACIFIC WHALE FOUNDATION RESEARCH DIRECTOR Pacific Whale Foundation announces a opening for a research Director in Kihei, Hawaii. The successful candidate will be a professional zoologist/biologist, preferably with a Ph.D. and a proven track record in marine mammal research and publication. The successful candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the non-profit environmental sector, a clear commitment to the goals and mission statement of the Pacific Whale Foundation, an ability to communicate effectively to the general public, and a willingness to work collaboratively within the framework of the Foundation's corporate structure. Necessary qualifications will include: a professional zoologist/biologist with a minimum five years field research experience, the equivalent of three years teaching experience at the post secondary level, and appropriate ability to manage staff, budget and field logistics. Desirable qualifications include the ability to live in the field with student groups, familiarity with marine mammals in the North and South Pacific, experience applying research findings to conservation issues, interacting with government agencies, and attracting research funding. This is a senior level position that answers directly to the president of Pacific Whale Foundation. Primary responsibilities are supervision and management of all aspects of Pacific Whale Foundation's marine mammal research projects throughout the North and South Pacific, publication of results in peer reviewed journals, and public representation of Pacific Whale Foundation. Secondary responsibilities include direct involvement in the development of public education and interpretive materials and programs, staff training, and fund raising. Term: The initial appointment is for one year with potential for annual renewal. Salary: Commensurate with qualifications and experience. Pacific Whale Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Must be a U.S. citizen or have a working Visa. Applications may be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to: Pacific Whale Foundation 101 North Kihei Road Kihei, HI, USA 96753 Phone; 808-879-8860 Fax: 808-879-2615 e-mail: research(\)pacificwhale.org -- Research Department Pacific Whale Foundation 101 North Kihei Road Kihei, Hawaii 96753 USA Phone (808) 879-8860 Fax (808) 879-2615 E-mail: research(\)pacificwhale.org http://www.pacificwhale.org/learn/index.html ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2000 13:29:42 -1000 Reply-To: rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca From: "Robin W. Baird" Organization: Dalhousie University Subject: Re: job announcement (in Hawaii) For any MARMAM subscribers thinking of applying for the Research Director position with the Pacific Whale Foundation in Hawaii, I worked in that position from December 1998 to December 1999. Recognizing that things may have changed since that time, I would be happy to provide comments on what the position was like during my time with the organization to anyone who is thinking of applying. Robin ========================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Post-doctoral Fellow, Dalhousie University, Canada E-mail: rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/rwb/robin.htm Contact info (till March 2001 only): Address 336a Ailana Place Kihei, HI 96753 USA phone: 808-874-3911 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 1 Dec 2000 17:32:57 -0800 From: JIWLP Subject: New Research Bibliography on the JIWLP site: Cetaceans/DNA Content-type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" A new research bibliography has been posted on the Journal's website, "DNA Testing and Cetaceans." The bibliography is fully searchable and will be updated monthly. Suggestions for additions or corrections will be greatly appreciated. The site also contains a regularly updated bibliography on small cetaceans. The bibliography currently contains more than 2700 citations. Please sign up on the site's announcement list for notice of future additions to the site. Wil Burns, Editor-in-Chief Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy 1210 Floribunda Ave. #7 Burlingame, CA 94010 USA Phone: 650.703.3280 Fax: 801.838.4710 JIWLP(\)pacbell.net http://www.jiwlp.com/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2000 17:47:15 -0800 From: JIWLP Subject: Call for Speakers: 6th International Wildlife Law Conference Content-type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" Speakers are being sought for the first and second panels of the 6th International Wildlife Law Conference, details of which are provided below. If you are interested in speaking at the conference, please submit a one to two paragraph abstract to my attention as soon as possible. The Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy, www.jiwlp.com, will publish longer versions of some of the presentations from the conference, and ASIL WIG, in cooperation with Earthscape of Columbia University, will publish an online version of the conference proceedings. Travel funds for this conference will be extremely limited and probably limited to speakers from non-OECD nations. Wil Burns, Co-Chair American Society of International Law - Wildlife Interest Group 1210 Floribunda Ave. #7 Burlingame, CA 94010 USA Phone: 650.703.3280 Fax: 801.838.4710 ASILWildlife(\)pacbell.net http://www.eelink.net/~asilwildlife _________________________________________________________________________________________ Sixth International Wildlife Law Conference The Sixth International Wildlife Law Conference will take place on March 31, 2001 at the Washington College of Law, American University, in Washington, DC. The event is sponsored by the American Society of International Law's Wildlife Interest Group and co-sponsored by the Washington College of Law, American University, Kluwer Law International, and the Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University. As always, the conference's themes and speakers will emphasize the interface of science, management, politics, and law in international wildlife conservation initiatives. The themes for the conference's three panels are: * Panel 1: The Effectiveness of International Fisheries Conventions; * Panel 2: The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea: Selected Issues; * Panel 3: Implementation and Compliance with Sea Turtle Conventions and Agreements For additional information about the conference, visit our webpage at: www.eelink.net/asilwildlife/programs.html If you wish to be placed on our mailing list for the conference brochure and registration materials, please contact me via phone or email, or sign up on the ASIL-WIG announcement list on the site. I hope you can join us. Wil Burns, Co-Chair American Society of International Law - Wildlife Interest Group 1210 Floribunda Ave. #7 Burlingame, CA 94010 USA Phone: 650.703.3280 Fax: 801.838.4710 ASILWildlife(\)pacbell.net http://www.eelink.net/~asilwildlife ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2000 15:23:10 +0100 From: Georg Blichfeldt Subject: Re: Canadian Bowhead Whale Hunt (fwd) > Still on Bowheads, Phil Clapham makes it look he points out an inconsistency in Daniel Pikes argumentation, but he doesn't. Pike referred to "no less an authority than the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission" to support his notion that the harvest from the BCB stock is well within sustainable levels. Clapham is seemingly echoing Pike by referring to the seemingly same source of authority: "I would note that "no less an authority" than the IWC also passed a resolution ... with regard to eastern Canadian Arctic bowhead whaling, reaffirming the IWC's "opposition to whaling conducted on highly endangered stocks of whales", expressing "particular concern" that such whaling is going outside the control of the IWC, " The rhetorical trick here is to imply that because Pike is willing to acknowledge the IWC as an authoritative source when it comes to conservation status he should also be willing to recognise the IWC as the proper authority when it comes to management advice. But it should be noted that while Pike is pointing to a scientific body, the IWC scientific committee, Clapham is referring to a political body, the assembly of IWC member nations. The IWC political body has a reputation of not listening to scientific advice and several IWC members has taken a standpoint to which biological assessments are not relevant. Therefor it might be perfectly logical to acknowledge the authority of the IWC scientific committee and not that of the IWC political body. Georg Blichfeldt Bxvfr, NO-9385 Skaland, Norway ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2000 21:09:40 -0500 From: Katie LaCommare Subject: Re: Intern Posting Volunteer Intern Position Available Title: Logistics and Research Intern Project: Behavioral and Habitat Ecology of Manatees in Belize, Central America Location: Drowned Cayes, Belize, Central America Term: January 3 - March 23, 2001 (with a possible return during the Summer of 2001) Although we prefer someone who can stay in the field for the complete season, we will consider dividing the position into two terms: January 3 - February 9; February 17 - March 23. Qualifications: Science oriented upper level undergraduate, graduate, or post-doc. The person must be a strong swimmer, must be well organized and comfortable with coordinating logistics (with an emphasis on meals) for groups of 10 people, must have cooking experience, and must be comfortable working with volunteers and living under rustic/primitive conditions. First aid and CPR experience are of added value as is a background in biology, zoology, wildlife ecology, environmental or marine science, or conservation biology. Preference will be given to Belizean Nationals who meet the above qualifications. Accepting Applications Immediately. CLOSING DATE: December 22, 2000. This intern will have three principle responsibilities: They will help coordinate and train volunteers. They will help coordinate camp logistics (with an emphasis on meals). And, they will help collect and reduce data. Depending on the person's interests, there may be opportunities for the person to conduct an independent project. Typical duties will include: training volunteers, helping volunteers collect and enter data, helping organize and clean equipment at the end of the day, helping organize meals and cooking. The intern will help lead snorkeling trips on the reef. In addition, the intern will help collect all kinds of data including, GPS data, acoustic recordings, and seagrass samples. Camp Conditions: Our camp is situated on a small, mangrove island that is 10 or so miles from Belize City and 2 or 3 miles from the Belize barrier reef. Aside from the staff and occasional guests at a resort that is on the other side of our island, we and our Earthwatch volunteers will be the only inhabitants. We live in framed, wood cabins and have a shower, toilet, with limited water and electricity. The intern will have time to travel around Belize between Earthwatch Teams, if he or she desires. Compensation: This is a volunteer position and the intern will be expected to purchase their own airfare to Belize. While at our camp, living expenses (room and board) will be taken care of. To Apply: Submit a resume and three references (names, telephone numbers, and email addresses) by email (PREFERRED), mail or fax to be received by December 22, 2000 to: Katherine S. LaCommare Katie.lacommare(\)umb.edu MAIL: Department of Biology University of Massachusetts, Boston 100 Morrissey Blvd. Boston, MA 02125 FAX: 617.287.6650 and/or Caryn Self Sullivan caryns(\)tamu.edu MAIL: 200 Stonewall Drive Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401 FAX: 540-373-6035 Katherine LaCommare and Caryn Self Sullivan. Co-Principle Investigators ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 11 Dec 2000 14:53:43 +1100 From: Robyn Mcculloch Subject: tender for small cetacean survey in Timor Sea 106174.3301(\)compuserve.com, dthiele(\)deakin.edu.au, K.dobbs(\)gbrmpa.gov.au, darrellstorey(\)hotmail.com, Helene.Marsh(\)jcu.edu.au, 61418912669(\)mobilenet.telstra.net, mfield(\)mweb.co.za, d.paton(\)nbcnet.com.au, op.cetaces(\)offratel.nc, pcgill(\)ozemail.com.au, Kemper.Cath(\)saugov.sa.gov.au Comments: cc: Milena Rafic This is a MIME message. If you are reading this text, you may want to consider changing to a mail reader or gateway that understands how to properly handle MIME multipart messages. --=_80DB83B4.BBDA9B29 Environment Australia (the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage) propose to let a tender for two boat-based surveys for small cetaceans in the Timor Sea between Indonesia and Australia in 2001 (April-May and October) or 2001/2002 (October and April/May). Prior to the first survey, the successful tenderer will also conduct a three day workshop in Indonesia to train local scientists and managers in identification, survey and analysis techniques. Copies of tender documents can be obtained by e-mailing robyn..mcculloch(\)ea.gov.au Tenders will be assessed in part on: prior experience conducting surveys of this type; prior experience working with Indonesian researchers; and suitability of vessel (although it may be possible to access a research vessel from the Indonesian Government). This is a collaborative project between Indonesia and Australia. Funds to support this work have been contributed by the Convention on Migratory Species and the Natural Heritage Trust in Australia. Tenders will close at noon on 15 January 2001. Robyn McCulloch Environment Australia Robyn McCulloch Marine Species Section Marine and Water Division Environment Australia Ph 02 6274 2548 Fax 02 6274 1006 e-mail:robyn.mcculloch(\)ea.gov.au --=_80DB83B4.BBDA9B29 BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:2.1 X-GWTYPE:USER FN:Mcculloch, Robyn EMAIL;WORK;PREF;NGW:Robyn.Mcculloch(\)ea.gov.au TEL;PREF;FAX:(02)62742723 X-GWUSERID:rmccullo ORG:;Wildlife Management Section N:Mcculloch;Robyn TEL;WORK:(02)62742548 END:VCARD --=_80DB83B4.BBDA9B29-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 11 Dec 2000 11:09:35 -0500 From: Naomi Rose Subject: Re: Canadian Bowhead Whale Hunt (fwd) My statement was in reference to the fact that CITES, to which approximately 150 nations are a party, passed a resolution at its last Conference of the Parties (COP11, Conf. 11.4) that, inter alia, observed "that any commercial utilization of species and stocks protected by the IWC jeopardizes their continued existence"; recognized "that although these species and stocks of whales are protected from commercial whaling by nationals of IWC member nations, they are commercially harvested by nationals of non-IWC member nations and that such harvesting circumvents and diminishes the effectiveness of the protective regime of the IWC"; welcomed "the Resolution passed by the IWC at its Special Meeting in December 1978 requesting that the Conference of the Parties to the Convention [CITES], at its second meeting, take all possible measures to support the IWC ban on commercial whaling"; and recognized "that the IWC is the major source of information on whale stocks around the world." ! T! he Parties therefore recommended that, inter alia, "those Parties that do not currently adhere to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling be encouraged to do so." To my mind this indicates that the IWC is the international body that a vast majority of nations recognize as having management authority over whaling (my use of the word "universal" was meant to encompass both commercial and aboriginal whaling). The recommendation can clearly be directed at Canada. I *did* also point out that Canada is also not a member of any regional organization. I never meant to imply that Canada was *required* to join anything. Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Scientist Wildlife and Habitat Protection The Humane Society of the United States 2100 L Street, NW Washington, DC 20037 USA ph 301/258-3048 fax 301/258-3080 eml http://www.hsus.org >>> William Burke 12/06/00 02:10PM >>> It would be useful to know the basis for the statement that the IWC is currently recognized as the only international organization having universal authority over the practice of whaling. In the current state of international law, as I understand it, no State is required to bcome a party to an international organization unless it has committed itself to do so by agreement. The 1982 Law of the Sea treaty has no such commitment and I can't think of another source for it. Prof. Burke William T. Burke Professor of Law Emeritus University of Washington 1100 NE Campus Parkway Seattle, Washington 98105 burke(\)u.washington.edu phone 206-543-2275 fax 206-685-4469 On Wed, 6 Dec 2000, MARMAM Editors wrote: > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > Daniel Pike wrote: > > < these is therefore less certain. However the Inuit Bowhead Knowledge Study > (NWMB 2000) has documented an increase in the relative numbers and range > of bowheads in these areas. While we as scientists may be quick to dismiss > such "traditional" knowledge, we do so at our peril as it offers a time > depth and detail that no scientific survey can match.>> > > While I do not deny that "traditional knowledge" can add a depth of detail > to scientific information that should not be ignored, managers who rely > over-much on it do so at *their* peril (and the peril of the systems they > are managing). For example, Inuit hunters who observe an increase in > relative numbers of bowheads on their hunting grounds may merely be > observing a shift in distribution of the same number of (or even fewer) > animals rather than an actual increase in numbers. I am unaware of how > "traditional" observers could distinguish these two causations (and > frankly it would take some time for scientific observers to distinguish > them). If a negative habitat change has resulted in a distribution shift > (for example, if decreased ice cover and/or lowered productivity has > resulted in large-scale movements of animals), then "traditional" > observers noting a relative increase in numbers of whales in the areas > they frequent might lead managers to an entirely erroneous conclusion > about the stock as a whole. > > < conservative (3 whales in the last 5 years, not the 2 whales per year > mentioned in the New Scientist article). The stocks are co-managed through > the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board. Present scientific advice is that > no more than 1 whale every 2 years should be taken from the North Hudson > Bay - Foxe Basin stock (DFO 1999), and no more than 1 whale every 10-13 > years from the Baffin Bay stock.>> > > There is another element of concern here, aside from the conservative (or > otherwise) nature of the quota. Canada is no longer a member of the IWC. > It left the IWC some years ago because its citizens no longer engaged in > whaling. With a return to a Native bowhead hunt in the Arctic, Canada is > now whaling outside of the only international organization currently > recognized as having universal authority over the practice of whaling. > Neither is Canada a full-fledged member of any regional organization that > cooperates on issues relating to marine mammal management and > conservation. In short, Canada is acting as a loose cannon in this > regard. Again, setting aside the sustainability of their bowhead quota, > they are whaling without any international oversight of any kind, a > situation a large majority of nations has agreed is unacceptable (as > evidenced by resolutions passed at CITES meetings). The IWC has in fact > passed resolutions calling on Canada to cease its whale hunts unless and > until it once again becomes a member of the IWC. This is a highly > reasonable request, which to date Canada has ignored. > > > > Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. > Marine Mammal Scientist > Wildlife and Habitat Protection > The Humane Society of the United States > 2100 L Street, NW > Washington, DC 20037 USA > ph 301/258-3048 > fax 301/258-3080 > eml > http://www.hsus.org ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2000 15:58:09 -0500 From: kronald Subject: Marine Mammal Distance Ed. Course boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0005_01C05E0A.FF688E20" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0005_01C05E0A.FF688E20 charset="iso-8859-1" The second edition of the global course Marine Mammal Management = ,offered by the Oceanographic Center of Nova Southeastern University In = Florida, will be accepting new registrants Dec 12th. 2000. There are three versions:=20 a) for certificate, for those who have a general interest in the = ecology, biology, and interactions of these curiously unknown species = with other animals, including humans; b) the undergraduate course for = credit, and=20 c) the three credit graduate version. Successful candidates in b) and c) will receive an official university = transcript. Please check our web site http://www.nova.edu/ocean/marmam/marmam.html = and if you wish to register = http://www.nova.edu/ocean/marmam/m3regform.html, or contact the = coordinator Professor Keith Ronald. kronald(\)nova.edu ------=_NextPart_000_0005_01C05E0A.FF688E20 charset="iso-8859-1"
The second edition of the global course Marine Mammal Management ,offered by the Oceanographic Center of Nova = Southeastern=20 University In Florida, will be accepting new registrants Dec 12th. = 2000.
There are three versions:
a) for certificate, for those who have a general interest in the = ecology,=20 biology, and interactions of these curiously unknown species with other = animals,=20 including humans; b) the undergraduate course  for credit, and =
c) the three credit graduate version.
Successful candidates in  b) and c) will receive an official =20 university transcript.
Please check our web site http://www.nova.ed= u/ocean/marmam/marmam.html and=20 if you wish to register http://www.nova.= edu/ocean/marmam/m3regform.html,=20 or contact the coordinator Professor Keith Ronald.
 
= ------=_NextPart_000_0005_01C05E0A.FF688E20-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 11 Dec 2000 16:44:02 -0600 Reply-To: "dfertl(\)geo-marine.com" From: dfertl Subject: abstract - stress and marine mammals Dear Marmam readers, The following might be of interest to you. Please do not request the article from me or the Marmam editors; I have provided an address for the author to whom correspondence should be directed. Fair, P.A.* and P.R. Becker. 2000. Review of stress in marine mammals. Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Stress and Recover 7: 335-354. *NOAA, NOS, CCEHBR, Charleston, SC 29412 USA There has been a growing concern over the last few decades about the effects of environmental stress, including anthropogenic impacts, on marine mammals. This paper provides an overview of the wide range of anthropogenic stressors that marine mammals may encounter and the level of understanding on their potential effects. Sources of stress and physiological responses of the animals are explored. Many of the life history traits of marine mammals (i.e., long-life spans, late maturity, relatively low reproductive potential, and feeding high in the food chain), make them susceptible to various anthropogenic stressors. Since marine mammals are exposed to a diverse array of multiple stressors, this paper focuses on three case studies(acute and chronic effects from oil spills; chronic effects from environmental contaminants, and fishery-induced stress) to emphasize relevant hazards and to provide a perspecitve on the use of marine mammals in assessing ecosystem health. Additional research to enhance our understanding of stress on marine mammals and to provide the science needed to guide management decisions is recommended. Dagmar Fertl Marine Mammal Biologist Geo-Marine, Inc. 550 East 15th Street Plano, Texas 75074 Tel: (972) 423-5480 FAX: (972)422-2736 dfertl(\)geo-marine.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2000 11:35:26 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: CRS Right Whale Report: seeking volunteers for expert review panel Comments: To: fishfolk(\)mitvma.mit.edu Colleagues: I'm seeking volunteers for an expert panel to provide review comments on a draft 6-page short report for Congress that I've just updated. This report discusses north Atlantic right whales and their management, including vessel collisions and fishing gear entanglement. I should have this product ready for review by late this week (probably December 15). Draft Abstract: "The endangered northern right whale is not recovering after centuries of commercial harvest. Despite aggressive U.S. efforts under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the north Atlantic right whale population has declined about 2% per year since the early 1990s. Human-influenced mortality is primarily from collisions with large ships and, to a lesser extent, entanglement in commercial fishing gear. Congress has responded by increasing appropriations for research on this species." I'm seeking reviewers who are able to get comments back to me within a month (no later than January 16th). If interested, please e-mail me a few sentences stating briefly your qualifications for serving on this expert panel. I anticipate selecting about 4-5 individuals each representing fisheries and marine mammal interests to serve on this panel. I will provide the document for review by regular mail (please provide your postal mailing address when you respond to this message). I'd like to receive your comments either by fax or e-mail. Comments should address the need for CRS to provide comprehensive, objective, and non-partisan information to Congress. Participation on this review panel will be anonymous, and no attributions will be made to reviewers or review comments without permission. Thanks to all who have participated on my expert panels in the past; your continued and excellent critiques of my products have been extremely beneficial to Congress!! Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 12 Dec 0100 23:54:12 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: aircraft noise and cetaceans (fwd) Forwarded message: From: "Anthony Rouphael" Dear Sir or Madam I am preparing an environmental plan for a proposal to undertake an aeromagnetic survey off Ningaloo reef, Western Australia. The survey will be conducted mainly in Australian waters. The environmental plan, which adresses the environmental and socioeconomic issues relating to the survey is a requirement of the Commonwealth Government. One of the issues I need to address relates to the potential disturbance of cetaceans and whale sharks by noise associated with the aeromagnetic survey aircraft. The aircraft will fly along parallel flight paths (spacing approx. 700 m) at an altitude of 140 m. Each path will be traversed only once. The survey will last 40 days or less. Do you know of any literature relating to the disturbance of marine organisms by aircraft noise. I would also like to report in the environmental plan that I have sought your advice on this issue(is this ok?). Kind regards Tony Rouphael URS (previously Dames and Moore) Perth ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 14 Dec 2000 15:20:04 -0500 From: Kari Clifton Subject: Position announcement- marine mammal medicine Marine Mammal Medicine Specialist. The Whitney Laboratory and the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, are seeking to hire an individual, preferably a veterinarian, having strong leadership skills and advanced training or interest in the care of marine mammals. The successful applicant will initiate and oversee a training program in marine mammal health, with emphasis on the care of manatees, for veterinary medical students, clinical residents, and graduate students, in collaboration with the Florida Marine Research Institute, and cooperating oceanaria within the State of Florida. The successful candidate also will be encouraged to develop an extramurally funded research program in marine animal health. This position is a joint, non-tenure accruing faculty appointment in the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Whitney Laboratory and is funded for three years by a special appropriation from the Florida Legislature with the possibility of continued funding! . ! During this time the incumbent will be expected to identify and obtain funding for the long-term continuation and growth of this program through legislative appropriations, philanthropic donations, and extramural grant awards and therefore must be able to work effectively with state legislators, college development officers, and funding agencies. Salary and rank will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The closing date for applications is January 1, 2001. The successful applicant must begin employment no later than September 1, 2001, but employment by an earlier date is preferred. A letter of application, curriculum vitae, and three letters of reference should be sent to Dr. Peter A. V. Anderson, Director, The Whitney Laboratory, University of Florida, 9505 Ocean Shore Boulevard, St. Augustine, FL 32080-8610; email paa(\)whitney.ufl.edu. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Dec 0100 08:33:22 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Wildlife Studies Harbor Seal Volunteer Opportunity (fwd) Forwarded message: From: David Osorio WILDLIFE STUDIES VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY The SEALS Program is seeking dedicated volunteers to participate in harbor seal population data collection and monitoring Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and its nonprofit affiliate, the Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association (FMSA) are recruiting for dedicated volunteers to participate in the SEALS program. The SEALS program was established in 1996 to document the impact of human activity on the harbor seals in Bolinas Lagoon and Tomales Bay and to educate the public about the protection of the habitat. Volunteers will have an opportunity to learn about, observe and monitor the harbor seal populations at Tomales Bay and Bolinas Lagoon. It is an exciting opportunity to learn more about harbor seals and their habitat and get "wet" (real fieldwork) while protecting our marine sanctuary. The training program begins February 1, 2001 through March 10, 2001 and will meet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings (some exceptions) at the GFNMS Headquarters in San Francisco and several weekend field trips. If you would like to learn more abut the SEALS program and the upcoming volunteer training please attend one of our informational orientations: Saturday, January 13, 2001, 10:30 AM-Noon Saturday, January 20, 2001, 10:30 AM-Noon Thursday, January 25, 2001, 7:00 PM-9:00 PM Saturday, January 27, 2001, 10:30 AM-Noon Call the Volunteer Coordinator, Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association office at 415-561-6625 or email us at beachwatchinfo(\)yahoo.com to sign up for the orientations, obtain directions and for more information. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2000 14:07:20 +0100 From: Gianni Pavan Subject: XVIII IBAC MEETING - FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT XVIII IBAC MEETING - FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT The XVIII IBAC (International Bio Acoustic Council) meeting will be organized by the "Centro Interdisciplinare di Bioacustica e Ricerche Ambientali" of the University of Pavia in September 2001. It will take place in Cogne, in the core of the "Gran Paradiso" National Park (Val d'Aosta, western Alps). The meeting will follow the international nature film festival "Stambecco d'Oro" (26 August - 1 September 2001) organized in Cogne by Ente Progetto Natura and by the University of Pavia every two years. The IBAC meeting will take place in September 3rd - 6th, 2001. September, Sunday 2nd Arrivals September, Monday 3rd to Thursday 6 Meeting September, Friday 7th Excursion / Departures Main themes will be: Communication and Echolocation in Terrestrial animals Underwater Bioacoustics and Acoustical Oceanography Digital Signal Processing techniques for the study of animal vocalizations Locating and tracking animals by sound Noise and wildlife Deadlines: February 28th abstract submission with the list of instruments needed Acceptance and presentation modalities (oral or poster) will be confirmed no later than March 15th March 30th conference registration April 30th hotel booking (early booking is strongly recommended) For updated information visit the web page or write to To know more about the conference location visit the web page ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Centro Interdisciplinare di Bioacustica e Ricerche Ambientali Universita' degli Studi di Pavia Web http://www.unipv.it/cibra ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------- Gianni Pavan Centro Interdisciplinare di Bioacustica e Ricerche Ambientali Universita' degli Studi di Pavia Via Taramelli 24 27100 PAVIA, ITALIA Tel/Fax +39-0382-525234 Laboratori Tel/Fax +39-0382-526208 Segreteria Email gpavan(\)telnetwork.it Web http://www.unipv.it/cibra -------------------------------------------------------------- Personal Home Page at http://members.xoom.com/gpavan ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 11 Dec 2000 09:55:16 -0800 From: JIWLP Subject: Re: Canadian Bowhead Whale Hunt (fwd) In-Reply-To: <200012111748.MAA06285(\)smv08.iname.net> Content-type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" It should also be noted that The United Nation's Conference on Environment and Development in interpreting the "appropriate international organizations" provision of UNCLOS, Article 65, recognized "[t]he responsibility of the International Whaling Commission for the conservation and management of whale stocks and the regulation of whaling pursuant to the 1946 International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling." United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Agenda 21, ch. 17.66(a), reprinted in 22 ENVT'L. POL'Y AND LAW 281, 285 (1992). While Agenda 21 is a "soft law" document, given the almost universal participation of nations at Rio, I think it's additional support for the proposition that this interpretation of Article 65 constitutes customary international law. Wil Burns, Chair American Society of International Law - Wildlife Interest Group 1210 Floribunda Ave. #7 Burlingame, CA 94010 USA Phone: 650.703.3280 Fax: 801.838.4710 ASILWildlife(\)pacbell.net http://www.eelink.net/~asilwildlife -----Original Message----- From: Marine Mammals Research and Conservation Discussion [mailto:MARMAM(\)UVVM.UVIC.CA]On Behalf Of Naomi Rose Sent: Monday, December 11, 2000 8:10 AM To: MARMAM(\)UVVM.UVIC.CA Subject: Re: Canadian Bowhead Whale Hunt (fwd) My statement was in reference to the fact that CITES, to which approximately 150 nations are a party, passed a resolution at its last Conference of the Parties (COP11, Conf. 11.4) that, inter alia, observed "that any commercial utilization of species and stocks protected by the IWC jeopardizes their continued existence"; recognized "that although these species and stocks of whales are protected from commercial whaling by nationals of IWC member nations, they are commercially harvested by nationals of non-IWC member nations and that such harvesting circumvents and diminishes the effectiveness of the protective regime of the IWC"; welcomed "the Resolution passed by the IWC at its Special Meeting in December 1978 requesting that the Conference of the Parties to the Convention [CITES], at its second meeting, take all possible measures to support the IWC ban on commercial whaling"; and recognized "that the IWC is the major source of information on whale stocks around the world." ! T! ! he Parties therefore recommended that, inter alia, "those Parties that do not currently adhere to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling be encouraged to do so." To my mind this indicates that the IWC is the international body that a vast majority of nations recognize as having management authority over whaling (my use of the word "universal" was meant to encompass both commercial and aboriginal whaling). The recommendation can clearly be directed at Canada. I *did* also point out that Canada is also not a member of any regional organization. I never meant to imply that Canada was *required* to join anything. Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Scientist Wildlife and Habitat Protection The Humane Society of the United States 2100 L Street, NW Washington, DC 20037 USA ph 301/258-3048 fax 301/258-3080 eml http://www.hsus.org >>> William Burke 12/06/00 02:10PM >>> It would be useful to know the basis for the statement that the IWC is currently recognized as the only international organization having universal authority over the practice of whaling. In the current state of international law, as I understand it, no State is required to bcome a party to an international organization unless it has committed itself to do so by agreement. The 1982 Law of the Sea treaty has no such commitment and I can't think of another source for it. Prof. Burke William T. Burke Professor of Law Emeritus University of Washington 1100 NE Campus Parkway Seattle, Washington 98105 burke(\)u.washington.edu phone 206-543-2275 fax 206-685-4469 On Wed, 6 Dec 2000, MARMAM Editors wrote: > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > Daniel Pike wrote: > > < these is therefore less certain. However the Inuit Bowhead Knowledge Study > (NWMB 2000) has documented an increase in the relative numbers and range > of bowheads in these areas. While we as scientists may be quick to dismiss > such "traditional" knowledge, we do so at our peril as it offers a time > depth and detail that no scientific survey can match.>> > > While I do not deny that "traditional knowledge" can add a depth of detail > to scientific information that should not be ignored, managers who rely > over-much on it do so at *their* peril (and the peril of the systems they > are managing). For example, Inuit hunters who observe an increase in > relative numbers of bowheads on their hunting grounds may merely be > observing a shift in distribution of the same number of (or even fewer) > animals rather than an actual increase in numbers. I am unaware of how > "traditional" observers could distinguish these two causations (and > frankly it would take some time for scientific observers to distinguish > them). If a negative habitat change has resulted in a distribution shift > (for example, if decreased ice cover and/or lowered productivity has > resulted in large-scale movements of animals), then "traditional" > observers noting a relative increase in numbers of whales in the areas > they frequent might lead managers to an entirely erroneous conclusion > about the stock as a whole. > > < conservative (3 whales in the last 5 years, not the 2 whales per year > mentioned in the New Scientist article). The stocks are co-managed through > the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board. Present scientific advice is that > no more than 1 whale every 2 years should be taken from the North Hudson > Bay - Foxe Basin stock (DFO 1999), and no more than 1 whale every 10-13 > years from the Baffin Bay stock.>> > > There is another element of concern here, aside from the conservative (or > otherwise) nature of the quota. Canada is no longer a member of the IWC. > It left the IWC some years ago because its citizens no longer engaged in > whaling. With a return to a Native bowhead hunt in the Arctic, Canada is > now whaling outside of the only international organization currently > recognized as having universal authority over the practice of whaling. > Neither is Canada a full-fledged member of any regional organization that > cooperates on issues relating to marine mammal management and > conservation. In short, Canada is acting as a loose cannon in this > regard. Again, setting aside the sustainability of their bowhead quota, > they are whaling without any international oversight of any kind, a > situation a large majority of nations has agreed is unacceptable (as > evidenced by resolutions passed at CITES meetings). The IWC has in fact > passed resolutions calling on Canada to cease its whale hunts unless and > until it once again becomes a member of the IWC. This is a highly > reasonable request, which to date Canada has ignored. > > > > Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. > Marine Mammal Scientist > Wildlife and Habitat Protection > The Humane Society of the United States > 2100 L Street, NW > Washington, DC 20037 USA > ph 301/258-3048 > fax 301/258-3080 > eml > http://www.hsus.org ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2000 14:23:04 -0500 From: Patrick Miller Subject: FYI - Recent paper in Animal Behaviour boundary="------------2E92ABA687D35F34A1CE1599" --------------2E92ABA687D35F34A1CE1599 Within-pod variation in the sound production of a pod of killer whales, Orcinus orca Patrick J. O. Miller and David E. Bain ABSTRACT: Pod-specific calling behaviour of resident killer whales has been shown to include: discrete call types not shared among pods, different production rates of shared call types, and differences in the detailed structure of shared call types. To investigate the mechanisms leading to pod-specific calling, we compared the repertoire and structure of calls produced by three different matrilineal units within the same pod, and described call features encoding matrilineal-unit distinctiveness. The three matrilineal units had different production rates of shared calls, including one call type used almost exclusively by one matrilineal unit. Cross-validated discriminant function analyses revealed matrilineal-unit distinctive structure in five of the six shared call types examined, with duration of the terminal component being the most distinctive feature for all call types containing a terminal component. Calls generally consist of low- and high-frequency components that may follow different time-frequency contours. In our sample, a particular high-frequency contour was consistently paired with a particular low-frequency contour, both contours had roughly equal overall variability, and each contained independent matrilineal-unit distinctive information. The only call type that did not differ structurally between matrilineal units is reportedly used more in interpod meetings than in intrapod contexts. The differences in calling behaviour between matrilineal units were similar in form to previously described differences between pods, although more subtle. These results suggest that pod-specific calling behaviour in resident killer whales arises primarily as a consequence of accumulated drift or divergence between highly cohesive matrilineal units as they gradually separate into different pods. Copyright 2000 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour Correspondence: P. J. O. Miller, WHOI, MS#34, Woods Hole, MA 02543, U.S.A. (email:pmiller(\)whoi.edu). D. E. Bain is now at Six Flags Marine World Vallejo, Vallejo, CA 94589, U.S.A. --------------2E92ABA687D35F34A1CE1599 Within-pod variation in the sound production of a pod of killer whales, Orcinus orca
Patrick J. O. Miller and David E. Bain

ABSTRACT:

Pod-specific calling behaviour of resident killer whales has been shown to include: discrete call types not shared among pods, different production rates of shared call types, and differences in the detailed structure of shared call types. To investigate the mechanisms leading to pod-specific calling, we compared the repertoire and structure of calls produced by three different matrilineal units within the same pod, and described call features encoding matrilineal-unit distinctiveness. The three matrilineal units had different production rates of shared calls, including one call type used almost exclusively by one matrilineal unit. Cross-validated discriminant function analyses revealed matrilineal-unit distinctive structure in five of the six shared call types examined, with duration of the terminal component being the most distinctive feature for all call types containing a terminal component. Calls generally consist of low- and high-frequency components that may follow different time-frequency contours. In our sample, a particular high-frequency contour was consistently paired with a particular low-frequency contour, both contours had roughly equal overall variability, and each contained independent matrilineal-unit distinctive information. The only call type that did not differ structurally between matrilineal units is reportedly used more in interpod meetings than in intrapod contexts. The differences in calling behaviour between matrilineal units were similar in form to previously described differences between pods, although more subtle. These results suggest that pod-specific calling behaviour in resident killer whales arises primarily as a consequence of accumulated drift or divergence between highly cohesive matrilineal units as they gradually separate into different pods.

Copyright 2000 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour

Correspondence: P. J. O. Miller, WHOI, MS#34, Woods Hole, MA 02543, U.S.A. (email:pmiller(\)whoi.edu).
D. E. Bain is now at Six Flags Marine World Vallejo, Vallejo, CA 94589, U.S.A.
  --------------2E92ABA687D35F34A1CE1599-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2000 14:25:05 -0800 From: Kathryn Zagzebski Subject: JOB OPPORTUNITY - Marine Mammal Medicine Internship If you are interested in this job opportunity, please e-mail: jenningsa(\)tmmc.org. (Do not reply to the sender.) Thanks. Posting follows. ***************************************************** > MARINE MAMMAL MEDICINE INTERNSHIP > > The Marine Mammal Center offers a one-year internship in marine mammal > medicine. Applicants must possess a VMD/DVM degree or equivalent. > Preference will be given to applicants with graduate degrees and/or > postgraduate clinical experience in a practice or internship setting. The > successful applicant will participate in the medical care of and post > mortem examinations of stranded marine mammals. In addition, they will > assist researchers with sample collection and processing, and staff with > database maintenance. > Applicants should submit transcripts from all their post baccalaureate > programs, three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with > their academic performance and potential in the clinical and research > arenas, a current C.V. or resume and a statement reflecting the > applicant's goals in the area of aquatic animal medicine and research by > February 15, 2001. > > The internship is available from April 1st 2001. > > For immediate consideration, send your resume and salary requirements to > Director of Human Resources, The Marine Mammal Center, Marin Headlands, > 1065 Fort Cronkhite, Sausalito, CA 94965-2609 or fax it to (415) 289-7376. > Equal Opportunity Employer. > > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kathy Zagzebski Manager of Stranding The Marine Mammal Center Sausalito, California, 94965 Phone: 415.289.0184 Pager: 415.257.9009 Fax: 415.289.7376 E-mail: zagzebskik(\)tmmc.org "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 17:07:07 +0100 From: Boris Culik Subject: odontocete migration Content-type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" ------ Dear colleagues, I urgently need your help for a review of available knowledge on small cetacean migratory patterns! There are around 70 species of odontocete whales and many of those may be migratory. This is of interest to the Bonn Convention on Migratory Specie= s of Wild Animals (CMS), because protection of migrants can only be ensured= on an international basis, if the necessary agreements are reached. In order to obtain an overview of migratory odontocetes, I have been aske= d by the secretariat of CMS, Bonn, to summarize the currently available knowledge on all 70 species with respect to migratory patterns/behaviour= at the species and population level such as: - migratory routes, - periodicity of migration, - numbers / percentage of the population involved, - schooling, - reasons of migration (Overwintering, reproduction, disturbance) - critical habitat along migratory routes (feeding, resting, calving grou= nds), - threats related directly or indirectly to migratory behaviour including loss of critical habitats. The task is quite vast. However, I beleive it is worth it, because all of= us would profit by an extensive summary on the current "state of the art". I would like to suggest that all of you who wish to contribute to the overview (and will be referenced properly) contact me via email. I would like to know : - which species / population you wish to comment on, - what methods you used to investigate migratory behaviour, - if so, where the results of your work have been published (please do provide complete references).=20 I am also grateful for any reprints you may wish included in the extensiv= e overview and the accompanying materials. The full report will be available from the CMS secretariat by summer 2001 either in hard copy or via the internet. Thank you all for your cooperation, Merry Christmas and have a Whale of a New Year, Boris ______________________________________________________ Boris Culik Prof. Dr. habil. B. Sc. (Hs.) Meereszoologie Institut f=FCr Meereskunde D=FCsternbrooker Weg 20 D- 24105 Kiel Germany Tel.: ++ 49 - 431 - 597 38 28 Fax.: ++ 49 - 431 - 56 58 76 email: bculik(\)ifm.uni-kiel.de home: http://www.ifm.uni-kiel.de/zo/penguin/culik.htm ______________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2000 20:38:06 -0500 From: Allison Glass Subject: Internship position Spring Internship Announcement The Whale Center of New England is a non-profit research organization, comprised of approximately 10 people involved with the study of behavior, ecology, and natural history of the whales and dolphins found in the waters off Cape Ann, MA. Primary concentration is on an individually identified population of some several hundred humpback whales that spend portions of the spring, summer, and fall in these waters. Since 1982, interns have been responsible for collecting, organizing, transcribing, and analyzing data dealing with the behavior and identification of N. Atlantic cetaceans. We are currently looking to fill an opening for the spring semester of 2001 (Jan 21 - May 26). The internship will involve extensive photo and computer work (training provided), plus field data collection aboard commercial whale watching vessels and our research boat Silver II. A common apartment is used, where interns live together and share cooking and cleaning duties. Rooms are shared with one other person. A living arrangement such as this is conducive to open discussion and interaction between peers and home life is often a continuation of the day in the field. Therefore, it is essential that candidates can combine these two areas. A fee of $1000 for the period will be charged and in return interns will receive housing and a weekly food stipend. In the past, applicants for these positions have been primarily undergraduate college students. Although we do not limit these positions to that group, the internship is tailored to their needs, and they are given priority. College credit may be arranged by the student through their department or as an independent research program at their college or university. The Whale Center of New England encourages this, and will take whatever steps are required to facilitate such efforts. An applicant for an internship should have the following: * A background in biology * Some knowledge of research methods and design * An ability to work, live and communicate well with others * Enthusiasm and dedication to work long days in the field or lab (sometimes 12 hours or more) In order to formally apply for an internship, please send us a curriculum vitae or resume, a cover letter detailing your reason for applying, one letter of reference, and a transcript. Interviews will be arranged once we' ve received the completed application. Internships are open to college students that have completed their freshman year. The position will be filled on a first come, first serve basis from a pool of qualified applicants. Application materials should be sent to: The Whale Center of New England P.O. Box 159 Gloucester MA 01930-0159 ATTN. Allison Glass/Intern Coordinator Allison(\)whalecenter.org www.whalecenter.org Office: (978) 281-6351 Fax: (978) 281-5666 Allison Glass Intern Coordinator/Staff Scientist The Whale Center of New England Allison(\)whalecenter.org www.whalecenter.org ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 22 Dec 2000 22:31:42 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: NMFS proposed rule regarding NPAL/ATOC, Hawaii (fwd) [Federal Register: December 22, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 247)][Page 80815-80827]From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 216 Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Operation of a Low Frequency Sound Source by the North Pacific Acoustic Laboratory AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; request for comments. ------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS has received a request from the University of California San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography (Scripps), for a Letter of Authorization (LOA) to take a small number of marine mammals incidental to the continued operation of a low frequency (LF) sound source previously installed off the north shore of Kauai by the Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate (ATOC) project. By this notice, NMFS is proposing regulations to govern that take. In order to grant the exemption and issue the regulations, NMFS must determine that these takings will have no more than a negligible impact on the affected species and stocks of marine mammals. NMFS invites comment on the application and the proposed regulations. DATES: Comments and information must be postmarked no later than February 5, 2001. Comments will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or the Internet. Comments regarding the burden-hour estimate or any other aspect of the collection of information requirement contained in this rule should be sent to the Chief, and to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Attention: NOAA Desk Officer, Washington, DC 20503. ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Donna Wieting, Chief, Marine Mammal Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226. A copy of the application, which contains the references used in this document, may be obtained by writing to this address or by telephoning the contacts listed here (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). A copy of the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) may be obtained from Marine Acoustics Inc., 809 Aquidneck Ave., Middletown, RI 02842, attn. Kathy Vigness Reposa, 401-847-7508. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth R. Hollingshead (301) 713- 2055, ext. 128, and Margaret Dupree, 808- 973-2935, ext. 210. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) (MMPA) directs the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to allow, upon request, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers of marine mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specified geographical region if certain findings are made and regulations governing the take are issued. Permission may be granted for periods of 5 years or less if the Secretary finds that the taking will be small, will have no more than a negligible impact on the species or stock(s), and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the species or stock(s) for Arctic Ocean subsistence uses, and if regulations are prescribed setting forth the permissible methods of taking and the requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking. Summary of Request On May 21, 2000, NMFS received an application for an incidental, small take authorization under section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA from Scripps to take a small number of marine mammals incidental to the continued operation of a LF sound source previously installed off the north shore of Kauai by the ATOC project. An alternative source location under consideration in the DEIS is for Midway Island. A final decision on whether to re-use the acoustic source (or to install a new source and cable at Midway), in order to combine a second phase of research on the feasibility and value of large-scale acoustic thermometry with long range underwater sound transmission studies and marine mammal monitoring and studies will be made based, in part, on findings and determinations made under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). As the principal funding agency for the proposed action, a DEIS has been prepared by the Office of Naval Research (ONR). NMFS is a cooperating agency in the preparation of this DEIS. Project Description Acoustic thermometry is a method for obtaining information about the temperature field in the ocean from precise measurements of the travel times of sound pulses transmitted through the ocean. It is also a technique for acoustic remote sensing of the ocean interior, in which the properties of the ocean between the acoustic sources and receivers are determined, rather than the properties of the ocean at the instruments as is the case for conventional thermometers and current meters. The purposes for conducting the proposed action are: (1) To perform the second phase of research on the feasibility and value of large- scale acoustic thermometry; and (2) to study the behavior of sound transmissions in the ocean over long distances. Large-scale acoustic thermometry is needed: (1) To study seasonal and interannual ocean variability associated with ocean phenomena such as El Nino, La Nina, and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation; (2) to use acoustic thermometry data in combination with a variety of other data types, including satellite altimeter data, surface drifter data, surface mooring data, and others to test and constrain computer models of ocean circulation in order to gain a better understanding of ocean variability and the earth's changing climate; and (3) to make an objective assessment of the value of acoustic methods for remote sensing of the ocean interior as one component of an integrated ocean observing system for ocean weather and climate. Long-range underwater sound transmission studies are needed: (1) To improve the understanding of the basic principles of LF, long- range underwater sound transmission (i.e., acoustic propagation) in the ocean; (2) to determine the effects of ocean environmental variability on acoustic signal stability and coherence; (3) to study the seasonal and annual variations in acoustic conditions in the North Pacific and the impact of environmental variability on acoustic propagation; and (4) to determine the fundamental limits to acoustic signal processing at long-range imposed by the ocean environment. This second phase of acoustic research requires longer time series of acoustic measurements in order to determine whether the acoustically-derived time series of large-scale ocean temperature and heat content variability prove to be as valuable as anticipated in studying seasonal and interannual ocean variability. It is anticipated that there will be a growing effort to monitor the variability of the North Pacific using a combination of satellite altimeter data, surface and subsurface drifter data, surface moorings and bathythermograph data, in addition to acoustic thermometry data. Combining all of these different data types in computer models of the ocean circulation will allow testing and refinement of ocean general circulation and climate models in order to gain a better understanding of the earth's changing climate. Under the proposed action, which is for Scripps to operate the sound source previously installed off the north shore of Kauai by the Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate (ATOC) project, the seabed power cable and sound source from the ATOC project would remain in their present locations on Kauai, and transmissions would continue with approximately the same signal parameters and transmission schedule used in the earlier ATOC project. The typical schedule would consist of six 20-minute (min) transmissions (one every 4 hours), every fourth day, with each transmission preceded by a 5-min ramp-up period during which the signal intensity is gradually increased, representing an average duty cycle of 2 percent. With the possible exception of short duration testing with duty cycles of up to 8 percent, or equipment failure, this schedule would continue for a period of 5 years. The signals transmitted by the source would have a center frequency of 75 Hertz (Hz) and a bandwidth of approximately 35 Hz (i.e., sound transmissions are in the frequency band of 57.5-92.5 Hz). Approximately 260 watts of acoustic power would be radiated during transmission. According to Scripps, the signal parameters and source level in the ATOC project have been found to provide adequate, but not excessive, signal-to-noise ratios in the receiver ranges of interest. At 1 meter (m)(3.3 feet (ft)) from the source (at 807 m (2,648 ft) water depth at the Kauai location), sound intensity (i.e., source level) would be about 195 decibels (dB) referenced to the intensity of a signal with a sound pressure level (SPL) of 1 microPascal (1 'Pa). Average ambient noise levels in the 60-90 Hz band offshore central Kauai can be 76-98 dB (with various degrees of shipping traffic) and are expected to be higher (105 dB) when humpback whales are present. The received level from the NPAL source is not expected to exceed 137 dB at the water's surface anywhere in the vicinity of the sound source. The received level in the top 100 m (328.1 ft) has been measured to decrease to about 120 dB at 5 km (2.7 nm) shoreward of the source. The near-surface received level is predicted to decrease to about 120 dB at 7.5 km (4 nm) seaward of the source. Underwater sound levels in the immediate vicinity of the source are expected to be: 140 dB at 245 m (804 ft) depth (562 m (1844 ft) from the source); 145 dB at 491 m (1611 ft) depth (316 m (1037 ft) from the source; 150 dB at 629 m (2064 ft) depth (178 m (564 ft) range around the source); and 165 dB at 775 m (2543 ft) (32 m (105 ft) range around source (ONR/NMFS, 2000; ARPA/ NMFS, 1995). While Scripps' preferred alternative to use the ATOC source off Kauai, HI involves the continued operation of the source installed at that location, an alternative under consideration in ONR's DEIS would be installing a sound source and cable at a location off the coast of Midway Island. Comments and Responses On August 24, 2000 (65 FR 51584), NMFS published a notice of receipt of Scripps' application for a small take exemption and requested comments, information, and suggestions concerning the request and the structure and content of regulations to govern the take. During the 30-day public comment period, NMFS received letters from the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the Marine Mammal Commission (MMC), the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS), the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, the State of Hawaii, and a number of U.S. citizens, including several form letters. Comments made regarding ONR's DEIS, that are not germane to the Scripps' application for taking marine mammals incidental to the activity will be addressed in ONR's Final EIS (FEIS). Comments postmarked after the close of the comment period are not addressed in this document. Activity Concerns Comment 1: The MMC notes that it is not clear whether the ATOC program will terminate in 5 years, as indicated in both the DEIS and the request for taking authorization, or continue further. Response: NMFS understands that the authorization requested by Scripps, for the taking of marine mammals incidental to operating the NPAL acoustic source, will be for a single 5-year authorization and will not be renewed thereafter. Scripps notes that, by the time the next 5-year research and marine mammal monitoring program ends, the acoustic source will have been deployed for over 10 years, and therefore questions whether it will continue to be usable after that time. NMFS notes, however, that if the project was continued thereafter, a new small take rulemaking would be required. Moreover, if the project were proposed to continue beyond 5 years at the Hawaii location (Kauai or Midway), NMFS strongly recommends that long-term monitoring studies be designed and carried out so that remaining issues regarding cumulative impacts can be addressed. Comment 2: Several commenters noted that the application omitted discussion and comparison with the beaked whale stranding in the Bahamas. One commenter noted that, while the sonar applications are different, the application did not mention the beaked whale stranding which, the commenter asserted, was caused by a sonar experiment known as Littoral Warfare Advanced Deployment (LWAD) Sea Test 00-1. An important similarity may be found in the island habitats. Another commenter noted that NPAL was the world-wide deployment of the Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active (SURTASS LFA) sonar system with a different name. Response: Naval ship sonars have signal and operational characteristics very different from those of the Kauai NPAL source. For example, in response to the stranding of beaked whales in the Bahamas on March 15, 2000, the Navy and NMFS are investigating the transit of several ships (not associated with the LWAD 00-1 Sea Test) using standard, hull-mounted sonar operations within normal frequency ranges, power outputs, and duty cycles, which are, respectively: 3.5 and 7.5 kHz, 235 dB (and lower) and ``pings'' of short duration (about one- tenth of a second or less duration on a standard duty cycle of 24 seconds. Since these sonars do not have signal and operational characteristics similar to the NPAL source, ONR does not believe it is appropriate for either the DEIS or the small take application to analyze those strandings. NMFS concurs. The Bahamian beaked whale stranding could not have been caused by the LWAD 00-1 Sea Test, because these strandings began prior to the Navy's beginning that test. In addition, LWAD Sea Test 00-1 did not employ sonar around the time of the strandings. The U.S. Navy and NMFS are continuing the investigation into the cause of the beaked whale strandings and will report on their findings next summer at the conclusion of investigations. In addition, NPAL should not be confused with the Navy's SURTASS LFA sonar system, a ship-mounted LF sonar array for detecting submarines. The two systems have distinctly different operating systems, frequencies, duty cycles, and operating characteristics. Marine Mammal Concerns Comment 3: One commenter noted that the Hawaiian monk seal was not listed in the application for Kauai waters because preliminary studies by Scripps were totally outdated and inadequate. The request did not list earlier aerial surveys which reported numerous monk seals around Kauai and Niihau. The WDCS believes that Scripps has not given full consideration to the impacts of its actions on the marine environment, particularly the Hawaiian monk seal, noting that the species lives only in the Hawaiian Islands and is very sensitive to human disturbance. Response: NMFS has been informed that ONR and Scripps will include information in the FEIS on the abundance of Hawaiian monk seals around Kauai, that was not available at the time the DEIS was written. In addition, ONR and Scripps have added the Hawaiian monk seal to the marine mammals species in the Acoustic Integration Model (AIM) for Kauai (it was previously modeled only for the Midway alternative). NMFS has added this species to the list of marine mammal species potentially affected off Kauai. However, NMFS does not believe that Hawaiian monk seals will be impacted by the NPAL source considering that monk seals are believed to be high-frequency-specialist hearers, the relatively low SPL of the NPAL source at the water surface in the offshore vicinity of the source (less than 136 dB), and the coastal nature of the Hawaiian monk seal where SPLs will be even lower. Marine Mammal Impact Assessment Concerns Comment 4: The HSUS finds that, while the AIM model may result academically in the best guesses possible for estimating received levels for free ranging animals, it is inadequate for management purposes. If cetaceans, or monk seals act contrary to the assumptions made in the model, the received levels to which the animals are exposed may in fact be far higher (or far lower) than the model predicts, thus invalidating the mitigation protocols established by Scripps. Response: The MMPA requires NMFS to use the best scientific information available when making determinations of negligible impact from maritime activities. NMFS believes the AIM model incorporates the best scientific information available on each species in order to predict the acoustic impact on these species. Independent of the AIM model, however, scientific information is available to NMFS from several other sources to assist NMFS in making its negligible impact determination for this activity. NMFS notes, for example, the limited duty cycle of the sound source (2 percent during humpback whale presence, 8 percent at other seasons), the depth of the sound source (few marine mammals could dive to depths that would put them in proximity to sound fields that could affect them), the amount of attenuation of the SPL by the time the sounds reach the upper water depths, and the LF of the NPAL source that many species of marine mammals are unlikely to hear. In addition, the California and Hawaii ATOC Marine Mammal Research Programs (MMRPs) did not find any overt or obvious short-term changes in the abundance or distribution of marine mammals in response to the transmissions of the ATOC sound sources. Costa et al. (1998) and Mobley et al. (1999) showed no significant changes in the abundance of humpback and sperm whales from the control periods, when the source was not operating, to the experimental periods, when it was on. While intensive statistical analyses of aerial survey data showed some subtle shifts in distribution of humpback (and possibly sperm) whales away from the Pioneer Seamount ATOC source during transmission periods, no statistically significant shifts in distribution were found for any other species of marine mammal. In addition, comparison of the 1993, 1995, and 1998 population estimates for humpback whales in Hawaii show an almost statistically significant increase in population size of approximately 8 percent annually. Comment 5: The HSUS believes that the ``single ping equivalent'' (SPE) concept is based on assumptions that have not and cannot be verified. The calculation that 10 pings at 120 dB are equivalent to one ping at 130 dB is entirely speculative--no empirical data were used to establish this relationship. Response: The SPE concept is explained in detail in ONR's DEIS. The purpose of the SPE is to take into account repeated exposure to sound. Richardson et al. (1995) discussed the relationship between repeated exposures of the human ear to impulsive sound and the temporary elevation in hearing sensitivity (referred to as temporary threshold shift (TTS)). While recognizing that no empirical data have been collected to establish this relationship, and there is no guarantee that marine mammal behavioral responses exhibit patterns similar to human hearing, the human model is the best objective foundation for an assessment and is consistent with Crocker (1997). Richardson et al. (1995) noted the risk threshold is lowered by 5 dB per tenfold increase in the number of sounds in the exposure. As such, an SPE RL will always be larger than the maximum RL of any single ping in a sequence. In addition, NMFS believes that dividing the single, 20-min NPAL source signal into 20 one-minute ``pings'' accurately represents the impact on the animals during diving and movement. For these two reasons, therefore, NMFS believes that the SPE concept, which is based on the best science currently available, is significantly more conservative than assumptions made for previous marine mammal impact assessments. Comment 6: The HSUS express concern that the assumption that a RL of 180 dB would result in TTS for 95 percent of exposed baleen whales, far from being conservative, is completely unsubstantiated. Response: As explained in ONR's DEIS, to date, there are no authoritative studies of TTS in mysticetes. However, as noted in the DEIS, studies of human hearing indicate that the normal process of hearing loss with age (termed presbycusis) can be accelerated by chronic exposure to sounds 80 dB above the absolute threshold of hearing (Richardson et al., 1995). Here chronic is interpreted as about 8 hours per day for about 10 years. While hearing thresholds are not known in mysticetes, the lowest value is speculated to be 80 dB (Ketten, 1998). This suggests that 10 years of exposure to 160 dB RL (i.e., 80 dB threshold plus 80 dB exposure level) for 8 hours per day would cause auditory damage. As a result, because TTS may result from a brief exposure to a loud sound, prolonged exposure to a faint sound, or intermediate exposure to a sound of intermediate loudness, sound duration and intensity can be considered to trade off with each other in causing TTS. Therefore, by estimating that 95 percent of baleen whales would experience TTS (a level which would not result in any hearing damage), after exposure to a 1-minute ping at 180 dB is considered conservative. Comment 7: ONR believes that certain language found in the ANPR implies that the Navy and Scripps: (1) Categorized harm as the onset of TTS; (2) categorized the onset of TTS as the lower end of Level A harassment; (3) categorized TTS as the onset for a Level A harassment take; and (4) determined that a marine mammal would have to receive one ping greater than or equal to 180 dB re 1 micro Pa in order to be considered to have received a non-serious injury, or many pings at a received level slightly lower than 180 dB re 1 micro Pa in order to potentially incur a significant biological response (Level B harassment). Each of these statements is inaccurate: Neither Navy nor Scripps state in the DEIS or application that TTS is the onset of Level A harassment, or that harm is the onset of TTS, or that TTS is a threshold for Level A harassment, or that marine mammals are considered to receive non-serious injury when exposed to a single ping of LF sound from NPAL at a receive level of 180 dB re 1 micro Pa, or that Level B harassment occurs when exposed to multiple pings at receive levels below 180 dB re 1 micro Pa. Response: The model used by the Navy for the SURTASS LFA sonar, which is also used by Scripps and ONR for this action, establishes a single-ping RL of 180 dB as a scientifically reasonable estimate for the potential onset of non-serious injury to marine mammals (Navy, 1999). According to the Navy (1999), a marine mammal would have to receive a single ping greater than, or equal to, 180 dB, or many pings at a slightly lower RL to possibly incur non-serious injury. For serious injury, the marine mammal would need to be well within the 180- dB sound field at the onset of the sound transmission. While the ONR DEIS and the Scripps' application for a small take authorization do not go into the depth of analysis found in other documents (see Navy, 1999), their use of the same model requires acceptance of the same assumptions, unless it is made clear that different assumptions apply. At the time of publication of the ANPR for this action, such clarification had not been made by the Navy. At a workshop on marine mammals and LF sound convened by the Minerals Management Service-sponsored High-Energy Seismic Survey (HESS) Team in 1997, an expert panel concluded that it was apprehensive about levels above 180 dB re 1 'Parms regarding overt behavioral, physiological, and hearing effects on marine mammals in general (HESS, 1997). These concerns were expressed again at an Acoustic Criteria workshop convened by NMFS in 1998. The latter workshop clarified, that a safety zone for pinnipeds, for impulse sounds only, could be safely set at 190 dB, instead of 180 dB, due to their different ear structure from cetaceans and, secondarily, to their generally lower sensitivity to LF sounds. It must be clarified further however, that the 180/190 dB safety zones were established for impulse noise, not intermittent noise, such as is under discussion in this document and elsewhere. Adopting the precautionary approach, safety zones need to be established for the marine mammal species most sensitive to the frequency of the sound source that has more than a remote potential to be in the area at the time of the activity. For LF sounds, the species most likely to be affected are the mysticete whales and sperm whales. At this time, there is no evidence that TTS would occur in marine mammals at an SPL of 180 dB, and, in fact, Schlundt et al. (2000) indicates that onset TTS, for at least some species, occurs at significantly higher SPLs. NMFS scientists and other scientists are in general agreement that TTS is not an injury (i.e., does not result in tissue damage) but is an impairment to hearing (resulting in an increased elevation in hearing sensitivity) that may last for a few minutes to a few days, depending upon the level and duration of exposure. In this document, NMFS makes clear that, although TTS is not an injury (i.e., Level A harassment), because a permanent elevation in hearing sensitivity (termed permanent threshold shift (PTS)) is considered an injury (Level A harassment), and because scientists have noted that a range of only 15-20 dB may exist between the onset of TTS and the onset of PTS, TTS is considered by NMFS to be in the upper portion of the Level B harassment zone (near the lower end of the Level A harassment zone). Therefore, onset PTS, not onset TTS, is considered by NMFS to be the lower end of Level A harassment. NMFS believes that establishing TTS at the upper end of the Level B harassment zone is both precautionary and warranted by the science. However, mitigation measures, such as establishing safety zones, should be applied whenever a marine mammal has the potential to incur a TTS in hearing in order to prevent an animal incurring a PTS injury. Therefore, while the commenter's statement is true, the Navy's precautionary approach for assessing impacts by using TTS as the onset of non-serious injury needs to be amended to better reflect current scientific findings that TTS does not result in injury to a marine mammal. For this action, NMFS understands that this clarification will be made by ONR in its FEIS on this action. Comment 8: ONR further notes that it is not the view of the Navy that TTS constitutes injury, harm, or level A harassment under the MMPA. TTS is a method of determining when the level of sound input temporarily reduces the ear's ability to respond fully (Schlundt et al., 2000). TTS is defined as a reversible decrease in hearing sensitivity as a result, for example, of exposure to a loud noise (Green, 1976). The leading analysis of TTS in marine mammals was conducted by Schlundt et al. (2000), in a series of experiments involving bottlenose dolphins and white whales. That effort included and expanded on pure-tone TTS data collected by Ridgway et al. (1997). The analysis generally within the range of 192 to 201 dB re 1 micro Pa, for exposures to one-second tones at frequencies of 0.4, 3, 10, 20, and 75 kHz. The threshold shift was generally in the nature of a 6- to 17- dB masking in the animal's hearing and was of short duration and completely recoverable. Response: Please see response to Comment 7. Comment 9: The HSUS states that the acceptance of TTS as a working definition for Level B harassment, although not expressly stated in the LOA request, is implicit in its risk continuum analysis (where 95 percent of baleen whales are estimated to experience TTS at 180 dB). Response: Although NMFS considers TTS to be Level B harassment, a sound source would not need to cause TTS in order to result in harassment. For impulse, intermittent, and continuous sounds, NMFS considers both TTS impairment and any significant behavioral response to the signal on the part of the mammal to constitute Level B harassment of marine mammals. (Non- significant behavioral responses include, but are not limited to, a heads up display by pinnipeds, and minor adjustments in course direction or swimming speed by a marine mammal). For impulse, intermittent, and continuous types of noise, maritime activities such as the one in this document need to consider the level of take due to their activities resulting in a significant behavioral response. However, for single explosive events, because of the extremely short duration of the signal, NMFS scientists and other scientists believe that marine mammals cannot have a significant behavioral response because of the transient nature of the signal. For explosives therefore, only TTS needs to be considered for determining the level of Level B impact. As mentioned previously, the consensus of scientific opinion is that TTS is not an injury. The National Research Council (NRC)(NRC, 2000), supports this statement noting that animals that experience small levels of TTS are not injured, suggesting that TTS is a conservative standard for the prevention of injury. However, the risk continuum estimates that 95 percent of the marine mammals exposed to a single 1-min sound at 180 dB could have the potential for a risk of TTS. If 180 dB is accepted as a precautionary de facto level for onset TTS (even though onset TTS probably occurs at a significantly higher SPL) and TTS itself is not an injury, the Scripps/ONR assumption for estimating risk is very conservative. Comment 10: The HSUS notes that both the risk analysis and the AIM model require assumptions to be made for several key variables; if these assumptions are violated or are inaccurate or invalid to begin with, then the analysis and model are not valid. Response: NMFS believes the AIM model has incorporated the best scientific information currently available on the levels of abundance of marine mammals in Hawaiian waters and on acoustic characteristics of both the ATOC source and surrounding waters. NMFS considers this information to be the best information currently available, especially since it allows NMFS to consider impacts in three dimensions as opposed to the usual two dimensions used in previous impact assessments. However, the AIM model is not the only source of information that NMFS intends to use in this action for the necessary determinations under the MMPA for levels of impacts. Comment 11: The HSUS states that the principal assumption of the risk analysis is the use of the SPL ``harm'' criteria, which is not based on any empirical data. For example, determining these criteria requires gross speculation on baleen whale hearing thresholds, which are unknown. Response: While NMFS agrees that baleen whale hearing thresholds are unknown empirically, until such time as this information becomes available, the AIM model uses assumptions on pre-industrial era ambient noise levels as a hearing threshold for low frequency sensitive marine mammals. This assumption was explained in ONR's DEIS. Comment 12: The AWI strongly objects to the issuance of permits that allow the intentional infliction of suffering on marine mammals, especially by the propagation of sound. AWI believes that NMFS cannot issue the permit knowing that the sound intensity will reach 195 dB, a sound intensity 55 dB louder than the sound known to cause neurological damage in human beings, who are not nearly as sensitive to sound as cetaceans. Response: The NPAL acoustic source operating at full intensity produces approximately 260 Watts of acoustic power, resulting in a sound level of 195 dB re 1 micro Pa at one meter. NMFS does not believe that any marine mammals will be exposed to the source at this full intensity, since they would need to be immediately adjacent to the source, 807 m (2,648 ft) below the water surface during the 2-8 percent of the time the source was transmitting. This depth is approximately 550 m (1,804 ft) deeper than the deepest recorded humpback whale dive depth, the only deep-diving marine mammal species expected to be commonly found in the offshore NPAL waters. Chapman and Ellis (1998) note that this comparison with humans is incorrect, for the following reasons: (1) The reference sound pressures used in underwater acoustics and in-air acoustics are not the same; (2) the statement compares a source level with a received level; and (3) there is no obvious connection between an annoying or harmful sound level for humans in air and an annoying or harmful sound level for a marine animal in water. NMFS recommends that reviewers unfamiliar with underwater acoustics read Appendix A of ONR's DEIS, and/or Richardson et al. (1995). Comment 13: Several comments noted that the DEIS and the Scripps application did not cite several scientific papers relating to whale stranding events. Other commenters expressed concern about sperm whales and beaked whales, two species that, in addition to humpback whales, are deep divers and sensitive to LF sounds. Response: NMFS and Scripps are unaware of any scientific reports regarding a relationship between transmissions of the ATOC source and marine mammal strandings in either California or Hawaii. Marine mammal stranding events elsewhere in the world that may be linked to acoustic noise, to date, have not been noted to be associated with LF sounds in the range of 60-90 Hz, but instead are more likely related to high intensity mid-frequency sounds. Please refer to the response to Comment 2 for discussion on the Bahamian beaked whale stranding event. While audiograms are unavailable for beaked whales, they are believed to be mid- frequency hearers, not low-frequency hearers. Discussion on sperm whales, beaked whales, and other species and on the potential impact from the NPAL source on these species is provided in ONR's DEIS. Comment 14: One commenter states that the risk assumptions in this action rely on the same information provided to NMFS as justification for the planned LWAD Sea Test 00-2 off New Jersey. Those tests involved use of LF sonar devices. NMFS found justification insufficient to warrant NMFS concurrence with those tests and the Navy cancelled the acoustic portion of the tests. Response: On April 23, 2000, the U.S. Navy submitted to NMFS an Environmental Assessment (EA) for LWAD 00-2 and requested NMFS concur that these tests were unlikely to adversely affect species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). NMFS responded on May 19 and May 26, 2000, that, because of the complexity of the project and the fact that the information provided in the EA was incomplete, NMFS could not concur with the Navy that the proposed action was not likely to adversely affect listed species under NMFS' jurisdiction. As a result, NMFS recommended that the Navy initiate formal consultation under section 7 of the ESA. Because there was insufficient time to complete formal consultation before the date the LWAD 00-2 Sea Test was scheduled to begin, the Navy cancelled the acoustic portion of the testing. NMFS finds no basis to conclude that the risk assumptions made for LWAD 00-2 were the same ones used for assessing marine mammal/sea turtle impacts for NPAL. Moreover, for the action under discussion in this document, ONR has requested formal consultation under section 7 of the ESA. That consultation will be completed prior to final determinations being made by ONR and Scripps on whether to proceed with its proposed action. Mitigation Concerns Comment 15: The HSUS believes that authorizing the continued use of the sound source for the next 5 years with minimal mitigation is unwarranted and premature, especially with recent strandings and research strongly suggesting that some low to mid- frequency sounds can result in significant negative impacts to cetaceans. Response: It should be understood that NMFS does not authorize the activity, only the taking of marine mammals incidental to that activity. NMFS believes that the NPAL acoustic source, which at 75 Hz and 195 dB is significantly lower in frequency and intensity than those of many other sound sources in the world's oceans and is anchored in water depths of 807 m (2,648 ft), does not warrant comparison with open-water, mobile sources using loud mid- frequency sonars. The mitigation measures proposed for NPAL are listed in the application, the ONR's DEIS, and in this document. NMFS invites public comment on additional practical mitigation measures for this acoustic source located in deep water. NMFS also solicits comment on any relevant scientific information on impacts of LF sound on marine mammals, other than that cited in these documents. NMFS believes that the information obtained during the ATOC MMRP and the SURTASS LFA sonar Scientific Research Program (SRP) provide the best scientific information to date on this subject. Comment 16: The WDCS questioned mitigation measure 2 which stated that increases in duty cycle (of the NPAL's acoustic source) would not occur during the peak humpback whale breeding season, but that transmissions will be conducted during this season. Response: The NPAL acoustic source has been proposed to transmit on a 2-percent duty cycle. The proposed duty cycle would be six 20-minute transmissions (one every 4 hours), every fourth day, with each transmission preceded by a 5-minute ramp-up period. This is the minimum duty cycle necessary to support the large-scale acoustic thermometry and long-range propagation objectives. The 20-minute transmission period is designed to spread the energy over time, at much lower source levels, than if the signals were sent as short, loud pulses of the same total energy. However, the duty cycle may be increased to 8-percent for up to two months out of each year, to support short-term, long- range acoustic propagation studies. The 8 percent duty cycle would not occur during the humpback whale season (January- April). The rationale supporting the conduction of transmission studies during the humpback whale season is explained in detail in Chapter 2.1.3 of ONR's DEIS. Comment 17: The WDCS notes that, to its knowledge, there is no research that supports the statement that ``the five-minute ramp-up period would give all marine animals the opportunity to depart the immediate area of the source.'' Response: NMFS recognizes that ramp-up may not be effective as a mitigation tool. However, NMFS notes that ramp-up is not the only mitigation measure proposed by the Navy and therefore, until such time as there is evidence that it is not effective, NMFS, Scripps, and ONR prefer to err on the side of caution and incorporate ramp-up into the mitigation program for NPAL's acoustic source. Monitoring Concerns Comment 18: The MMC notes that the DEIS and the application indicate only that a total of four aerial surveys would be conducted each year in the period from January through April. There is no indication of how or by whom the aerial surveys would be conducted or what area(s) would be surveyed. The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary (HIHWNMS) recommends the four aerial surveys be augmented by at least two additional surveys to assess seasonal trends in abundance and distribution. Response: After review, Scripps now proposes to conduct eight surveys each year from February through early April, during the peak of the humpback whale season. In order to maintain a basis for comparison with previous aerial surveys conducted in the area off the north shore of Kauai, the proposed survey protocol would follow the protocol used in the earlier 1993-1998 surveys (see Mobley et al., 1999). The surveys would be scheduled eight days apart to match the NPAL transmission schedule. Based on an average of seven humpback sightings per survey observed during the 1998 season and assuming a moderate-sized effect due to NPAL transmissions, eight surveys should produce a minimum of 56 sightings of humpback whales, which would result in an estimated power of 0.80 (i.e., there would be an 80-percent probability of detecting a change in distribution if an effect is present). The estimate of 56 sightings is presumed to be a minimum, given previously reported evidence that Hawaiian wintering population of humpback whales is increasing. Comment 19: The MMC notes that there is no indication of the baseline information now available or the kinds of changes in distribution or abundance that would trigger a review and suspension or termination of the project. Response: Protocols similar to those used during the ATOC project would be followed for the review, suspension, and termination of the project. If at any time a monitoring team member identifies the occurrence of an acute or short-term effect on marine mammals, the information would be immediately communicated to the Team's Principal Investigator (PI). If the PI ascertains that an acoustic transmission coincided with the observed acute response, Scripps would suspend the source immediately and contact NMFS. In addition, NMFS and Scripps propose to coordinate closely with the Hawaiian stranding network and will investigate all strandings. While there is contradictory information in the comments received on this rulemaking regarding the level of competency of the local stranding network, NMFS believes that the location of the NPAL source allows for an acceptable level stranding response. If an investigation by NMFS of a stranding event indicated that the NPAL acoustic source was responsible for causing the event, NMFS would suspend the LOA until such time as the cause was corrected, or Scripps applied, and obtained a new LOA that would authorize the incidental taking of marine mammals by mortality. NMFS however, continues to believe that the NPAL source would result not in any marine mammal strandings. NMFS does not believe that the level of data from the monitoring program will allow determinations to be made that the NPAL acoustic source was responsible for any decreases in abundance of humpback whales or other marine mammals in the vicinity of the source. At this time, evidence indicates that the numbers of humpback whales and Hawaiian monk seals off Kauai are increasing, however, it is unclear whether this is due to total abundance increases or geographic shifts due to oceanographic changes. Similarly, a cause and effect between operation of the NPAL source and any decrease in abundance of marine mammals in the offshore Hawaiian Islands over the short-term period of 5 years is unlikely. Comment 20: The HIHWNMS recommends boat-based surveys and, if possible, shore-based theodolite studies should be conducted. One citizen recommended additional aerial surveys year-round to assess impacts on dolphins and smaller whales. Response: Scripps notes that additional aerial surveys, boat-based surveys, and theodolite studies are not an efficient use of NPAL's resources and believes that this additional monitoring is unlikely to provide NMFS and the public with better data than would be provided by the humpback whale aerial surveys. Under current funding levels for this project, conducting these additional studies would necessitate a reduced aerial survey effort for humpback whales. NMFS notes that boat- based surveys do not provide an encounter rate high enough to give statistically significant results. Theodolite studies, being shore based, are not near the NPAL source site, and therefore animals would show less reaction than animals closer to the source. While the proposed humpback whale aerial surveys will also detect other marine mammal species, because the smaller whales and dolphins are not expected to be sensitive (e.g., react) to the Kauai NPAL acoustic source transmission, NMFS does not believe that conducting additional aerial monitoring for these species is warranted. Reporting Concerns Comment 21: The MMC recommends that any proposal to issue the requested authorization include a description of the proposed monitoring program, in sufficient detail, to enable reviewers to judge the likelihood that it will be capable of detecting biologically significant long-term effects in time to stop and reverse them. Response: A description of the monitoring program has been provided in this document. MMPA Concerns Comment 22: The HSUS notes that the criterion of ``prolonged disturbance of biologically important behavior'' is not consistent with either Level A or Level B harassment in the MMPA. ``Prolonged disturbance'' is a criterion apparently invented for the purposes of this LOA request. It is of concern that applicants continue to create ``take'' definitions inconsistent with the MMPA. Response: The NRC (2000) states that NMFS should promulgate uniform (noise) regulations based on their potential for a biologically significant impact on marine mammals. NMFS concurs. However, the term ``prolonged,'' as used in ONR's DEIS and Scripps' application, implies an increase in time or duration beyond normal limits. This, NMFS believes, exceeds the criterion used by NMFS to note that harassment must refer to a reaction that is behaviorally significant on the part of the animal in the course of that animal's conducting a biologically important activity, such as breeding, feeding, migrating. In this context, it is the impact of the activity on the animal, not the duration of the disturbance, that is critical. NMFS requests additional comment on this criterion. By further clarifying Level B harassment as being more than a momentary reaction on the part of a marine mammal that has no consequence to the animal's survival or reproduction, NMFS believes that Scripps and ONR are in compliance with both the MMPA definition and NMFS' guidance for calculating takings of small numbers of marine mammals incidental to a maritime activity. NMFS believes that interpretation of the definition of Level B harassment to include trivial reactions like a change in breathing rates is inappropriate and would greatly increase the affected universe of activities that would need to apply for small take authorizations under the MMPA, including the U.S. shipping, recreational boating, and ecotourism industries. Comment 23: The HSUS states that the concept that TTS is Level B harassment has seemingly been established de facto for some time now but never subject to public notice or comment. This is simply unacceptable, and in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. The HSUS is disturbed at its continued appearance in documentation associated with Navy or ONR projects (such as the WINSTON S. CHURCHILL shock trial). Response: Because part of this rulemaking is the criterion NMFS proposes to use to determine levels of harassment incidental to takings of small number of marine mammals by the continued operation of a LF sound source previously installed off the north shore of Kauai by the ATOC project there is no violation of section 553(b) of the APA. NMFS invites comment on the criterion for assessing impacts from explosives on marine mammals. Comment 24: The AWI requests NMFS officially state its policy with regard to the requirement for researchers to apply for a small take permit if the levels of sound transmissions are under 180 dB. Do you currently require a permit if researchers subject marine mammals to Level B harassment? Does your agency currently consider sound of under 180 dB insignificant and therefore exempt from an incidental take permit? Response: First, NMFS must clarify between different types of researchers. Researchers planning to conduct research directed at marine mammals need to apply for a scientific research permit under section 104 of the MMPA. This document does not discuss applications for scientific research under section 104 of the MMPA. Those researchers, and others, whose activity will have an incidental interaction with marine mammals can apply for a small take exemption under section 101(a)(5)(A) or (a)(5)(D) of the MMPA. That is the type of application under discussion in this document. Secondly, NMFS must clarify that there is a difference between a source level of 180 dB and a sound level of 180 dB received at the marine mammal. While NMFS considers that a received level at the marine mammal of 180 dB or greater has the potential to result in a taking of marine mammals, in most cases, an underwater acoustic device or instrument with a source level of 180 dB or less, is likely to attenuate (e.g., reduce in intensity) within a few meters to insignificant levels. Therefore, unless there is an abundance of marine mammals in close proximity to a source of this intensity, marine mammals are unlikely to be taken. In that regard, several factors need to be considered by a potential applicant prior to applying for a small take authorization. That person needs to consider: (1) The SPL and the frequency of the acoustic source (the higher the frequency, the greater the loss in intensity relative to distance); (2) whether the source results in an explosive, impulse, or intermittent noise; (3) the location and the duty cycle of the source; (4) the duration of the activity; and (5) the relative abundance of those species of marine mammals in the area of the source whose hearing range coincides with the frequencies of the acoustic source. However, it is the responsibility of the proponents of an activity to determine whether marine mammals will be harassed, injured, or killed by an activity. NMFS recommends that, if there is a potential for marine mammals to be harassed by an acoustic source and for the response on the part of the mammal(s) to be more than a simple alert, startle, or dive reaction, the responsible party should contact NMFS to ascertain whether a small take authorization should be obtained. NMFS believes that an animal simply hearing a noise and making a minor course correction to avoid the noise is not a behavioral reaction sufficient to warrant a small take application, provided the reaction does not result in a response on the part of the animal that is biologically significant. A biologically significant response is one that has the potential to affect reproduction and survival, including feeding and migration. Comment 25: One citizen wanted to know why NMFS is considering this (incidental harassment) proposal which potentially threatens to deprive the whale watching business of its vital coastal environment? Why should NMFS favor acoustic polluters over and above environmentally friendly businesses? Response: Under section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA, NMFS is charged with determining that the total taking by a lawful maritime activity is having no more than a negligible impact on a small number of marine mammals. If that determination can be made, then an authorization can be issued (provided monitoring and reporting are carried out). However, because the Kauai MMRP demonstrated that no overt or obvious short-term change in abundance, distribution, or behavior of humpback whales occurred as a result of the ATOC sound transmissions, no direct effects on the economy through a reduction in whale-watching are expected to occur from operation of this source over the next 5 years. The intentional taking of marine mammals by whale watching and other recreational boating activities that seek out marine mammals for either business or personal enjoyment are an issue for discussion under NEPA. NMFS understands that the ONR FEIS will be expanded with new economic data on the tourism industry. Comment 26: The same citizen asks whether NMFS has considered the combined influences that these high intensity acoustic sources will create? Response: Unless one were also to consider vocalizing whales as being high intensity sources, NMFS does not believe that the NPAL source (at 195 dB) qualifies as a high intensity acoustic source. Under section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA, NMFS is required to determine that the total taking by the specified activity is not having more than a negligible impact on affected marine mammal stocks. In this case, the specified activity under consideration is the operation of the NPAL acoustic source by Scripps. However, the cumulative impact on the marine environment from oceanic anthropogenic noise sources, such as Navy mid-frequency and LF sonars, commercial shipping, and recreational boating noise in the vicinity of Kauai, are subject to consideration by ONR in its EIS. Other Concerns Comment 27: The HSUS noted that they and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) submitted extensive comments in October 1999 on the Navy's DEIS on SURTASS LFA sonar and its use of SURTASS LFA SRP data. The HSUS incorporates herein by reference concerns noted in those comments. Response: The proposed action in this document is the taking of marine mammals incidental to operation of the NPAL acoustic source that is stationary off Kauai, Hawaii, not the incidental taking of marine mammals by the world-wide deployment of SURTASS LFA sonar. Those comments will be addressed by the Navy in the FEIS for that activity. NMFS has reviewed the comments submitted by HSUS and the NRDC for the SURTASS LFA sonar DEIS and notes that most comments are not germane to this action. Marine Mammals A summary of the marine mammal species that may potentially be found in the vicinity of the NPAL acoustic source at either Kauai or Midway is presented here. For more detail on marine mammal abundance, density, and the methods used to obtain this information, reviewers are requested to refer to ONR's DEIS. For general information on North Pacific Ocean marine mammals, reviewers may refer to Barlow et al. (1997). Six species of baleen whales, humpback (Megaptera novaengliae), fin (Balaenoptera physalus), blue (B. musculus), Bryde's (B. edeni), minke (B. acutorostrata), and right (Eubalaena glacialis) whales, may occur in the Kauai or Midway Atoll areas. Although not reported near Midway Atoll, the humpback whale is the only balaenopterid whale known to be present in reasonably large numbers. Humpback whales are considered abundant in coastal waters of the main Hawaiian Islands from November through April. Fin whales and blue whales have the potential to occur in the area; however, their distribution and abundance in the region is believed to be uncommon (Balcomb, 1987), although only a single fin whale was observed during recent ATOC marine mammal research. Right whales in the North Pacific Ocean are extremely rare and therefore, would also be rare in the Hawaiian Islands. Bryde's whales, and minke whales may be occasionally seen in the area of Midway Atoll (Leatherwood et al., 1988), but are not usually found off Kauai. Sixteen species of odontocetes (toothed whales, dolphins and porpoises) may be found in the Kauai and Midway areas. These species are sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris, Berardius bairdi, and Mesoplodon spp.), spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris), spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata), striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis), pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps), dwarf sperm whales (Kogia simus), killer whales (Orcinus orca), false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens), pygmy killer whales (Feresa attenuata), and melon-headed whales (Peponocephala electra). It should be noted, however, that the latter 7 species were not sighted in or near the proposed Kauai area during marine mammal surveys conducted between 1993 and 1998. The Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) occurs in the area of the Leeward Hawaiian Islands and, more recently in the main Hawaiian Islands, including the island of Kauai. Potential Impacts on Marine Mammals The effects of underwater noise on marine mammals are highly variable, and can be categorized as follows (based on Richardson et al., 1995): (1) The noise may be too weak to be heard at the location of the animal (i.e. lower than the prevailing ambient noise level, the hearing threshold of the animal at relevant frequencies, or both); (2) the noise may be audible but not strong enough to elicit any overt behavioral response; (3) the noise may elicit behavioral reactions of variable conspicuousness and variable relevance to the well being of the animal; these can range from subtle effects on respiration or other behaviors (detectable only by statistical analysis) to active avoidance reactions; (4) upon repeated exposure, animals may exhibit diminishing responsiveness (habituation), or disturbance effects may persist (the latter is most likely with sounds that are highly variable in characteristics, unpredictable in occurrence, and associated with situations that the animal perceives as a threat); (5) any man-made noise that is strong enough to be heard has the potential to reduce (mask) the ability of marine mammals to hear natural sounds at similar frequencies, including calls from conspecifics and/or echolocation sounds, and environmental sounds such as ice or surf noise; and (6) very strong sounds have the potential to cause either a temporary or a permanent reduction in hearing sensitivity (i.e., TTS or PTS, respectively). Few data on the effects of non-explosive sounds on hearing thresholds of marine mammals have been obtained; however, in terrestrial mammals, and presumably in marine mammals, received sound levels must far exceed the animal's hearing threshold for there to be any TTS. Received levels must be even higher for there to be risk of PTS. In this proposed action, a marine mammal would have to receive one ping greater than, or equal to 180 dB in order to be considered receiving a non- serious injury, or many pings at an RL slightly lower than 180 dB in order to potentially incur a significant biological response (Level B harassment). In order to understand the biological significance of the risk of Level A or Level B harassment, it is necessary to determine how this risk might affect a population of marine mammals, starting with acoustic criteria. First, the marine mammal must be able to hear LF sound. Second, the animal must incur a reaction to the LF sound that is more than momentary. Third, any effect from LF sound must involve a significant behavioral change in a biologically important activity, such as feeding, breeding, or migration, all of which are potentially important for reproductive success of the population. Based on California and Hawaii ATOC MMRPs, Scripps found no overt or obvious short-term changes: (1) In the abundance and distribution of marine mammals in response to the ATOC transmissions (intensive statistical analyses of aerial survey data showed some subtle shifts in distribution of humpback (and possibly sperm) whales away from the California site (Calambokidis et al., 1998) and humpback whales away from the Kauai site); (2) in the behavior of humpback whales in response to the playback of ATOC-like sounds (intensive statistical analyses revealed some subtle changes in the behavior of humpback whales (Frankel and Clark, 1998; 1999b); or (3) in the singing behavior of humpback whales in the vicinity of the Kauai ATOC sound source. Bioacoustic experts concluded that these subtle effects would not adversely affect the survival of an individual whale or the status of the North Pacific humpback whale population (Frankel and Clark, 1999a). To assess the potential environmental impact of the NPAL sound source on marine mammals, it was necessary for Scripps to predict the sound field that a given marine mammal species could be exposed to over time. This is a multi-part process involving (1) the ability to measure or estimate an animal's location in space and time, (2) the ability to measure or estimate the three- dimensional sound field at these times and locations, (3) the integration of these two data sets to estimate the potential impact of the sound field on a specific animal in the modeled population, and (4) the conversion of the resultant cumulative exposures for a modeled population into an estimate of the risk from a disruption of a biologically important behavior. Next, a relationship for converting the resultant cumulative exposures for a modeled population into an estimate of the risk to the entire population of a significant disruption of a biologically important behavior and of injury was developed. This process assessed risk in relation to RL and repeated exposure. The resultant ``risk continuum'' is based on the assumption that the threshold of risk is variable and occurs over a range of conditions rather than at a single threshold. Taken together, the recent results on marine mammals from LF sounds, the acoustical modeling, and the risk assessment, provide an estimate of potential environmental impacts to marine mammals. The acoustical modeling process was accomplished by Scripps using the U.S. Navy's standard acoustical performance prediction transmission loss model-Parabolic Equation (PE) version 3.4. The results of this model are the primary input to the AIM model. AIM was used in this analysis to estimate mammal sound exposures and integrate simulated characteristics of marine mammals (e.g., species distribution, density, dive profiles, and general movement, NPAL sound transmissions (e.g., duty cycle, transmission length), and the predicted sound field for each transmission to estimate acoustic exposure during a typical NPAL source transmission. A description of the PE and AIM models (including AIM input parameters for animal movement, diving behavior, and marine mammal distribution, abundance, and density) and the risk continuum analysis are described in detail in the Scripps application and ONR's DEIS and are not discussed further in this document. At this time, NMFS recommends reviewers read these documents if additional information is desired. Scripps has drawn some general conclusions from the relative abundance of various marine mammal species in relationship to the NPAL sound field. Under the proposed alternative (utilizing the ATOC sound source at Kauai), the only mysticete (baleen) whale species expected in the area in substantial numbers is the humpback whale, and Scripps believes that because they usually prefer nearshore locations (inside the 100-fathom (188 m) depth contour), few are expected to be exposed to received levels greater than 120 dB (i.e, the SPL level presumed by Scripps to be zero for marine mammals having the potential to incur significant disturbance of biologically important behavior). Similarly, sperm whales are the most common deep-diving odontocete (toothed) whale in the area, but because they usually prefer offshore waters (i.e., water depths greater than 4,000 m (12,700 ft)), few are expected to be exposed to received levels greater than 120 dB. According to Scripps, these distributional preferences are supported by the Kauai ATOC MMRP (Mobley, 1999a). Using the risk continuum and acoustic modeling, Scripps estimated the potential for biologically significant reactions by marine mammals under the proposed action. Scripps determined that only humpback whales that remain in the vicinity of the sound source for a full day of transmissions may potentially experience any effect from the source transmissions. However, humpback whales typically travel parallel to the coast of Kauai, and, therefore, Scripps believes, would probably not receive sound from more than a single transmission. At the Midway site, the mysticete whale expected in greatest abundance is the Bryde's whale. Because they usually prefer nearshore locations, Scripps expects few animals would be exposed to RLs greater than 120 dB. Similarly, sperm whales are the most common deep-diving odontocetes in the area, but because they usually prefer offshore waters (i.e., water depths greater than 4,000 m (12,700 ft)), few are expected to be exposed to received levels greater than 120 dB. A much higher abundance of Hawaiian monk seals is expected near Midway Island than Kauai since this species prefers the small, mostly uninhabited chain of islands and atolls northwest of the main Hawaiian Islands. Using the risk continuum and acoustic modeling Scripps determined that there would be no potential for biologically significant effects on marine mammals from source transmissions at Midway Island, although some subtle effects may occur. Mitigation Scripps' proposed action includes mitigation that would minimize the potential effects of the NPAL sound source to marine mammals. First, the sound source would operate at the minimum duty cycle necessary to support the large-scale acoustic thermometry and long- range propagation objectives. Transmissions would continue with approximately the same transmission schedule as that used during the first feasibility phase of the ATOC study. Second, any increases in the duty cycle beyond the nominal 2 percent (with a maximum of 8 percent) would not occur during the humpback whale season (January-April). The proposed action includes the possibility of an 8-percent duty cycle for up to 2 months out of each year; this action, however, would not occur during the period of time humpback whales inhabit Hawaiian waters. Third, the sound source would operate at the minimum power level necessary to support large-scale acoustic thermometry and long-range sound transmission objectives. The fourth mitigation measure proposed is to ramp-up the NPAL sound source transmissions over a 5-min period. This is believed to reduce the potential for startling marine mammals in the vicinity of the NPAL sound source and provides them an opportunity to move away from the sound source before transmitting at the maximum power levels. Monitoring and Reporting In an effort to understand the potential for long-term effects of man- made sound on marine mammals, Scripps proposes to monitor the distribution and abundance of marine mammals in the vicinity of the sound source by conducting eight surveys each year from February through early April. In order to maintain a basis for comparison with previous aerial surveys conducted in the area off the north shore of Kauai, the proposed survey protocol would follow the protocol used in the earlier 1993-1998 surveys (see Mobley et al., 1999). The surveys would be scheduled eight days apart to match the NPAL transmission schedule. Based on an average of seven humpback sightings per survey observed during the 1998 season, and assuming a moderate sized effect due to NPAL transmissions, eight surveys should produce a minimum of 56 sightings of humpback whales, which would result in an estimated power of 0.80 (i.e., there would be an 80- percent probability of detecting a change in distribution if an effect is present). The estimate of 56 sightings is presumed to be a minimum, given previously reported evidence that Hawaiian wintering population of humpback whales is increasing. Reports on the aerial survey results will be available to the public in reports. A report on activities will be provided to NMFS annually upon the conclusion of that year's aerial surveys. Preliminary Determinations Based on the scientific analyses detailed in Scripps' application and further supported by information and data contained in ONR's DEIS, NMFS concurs with Scripps and ONR that the incidental harassment of marine mammals incidental to the continued operation of an LF acoustic source previously installed off the north shore of Kauai by the ATOC project would result in only small numbers (as the term is defined in Sec. 216.103) of marine mammals being taken, have no more than a negligible impact on the affected marine mammal stocks or habitats and not have an unmitigable adverse impact on Arctic subsistence uses of marine mammals. In addition to the mitigation measures described previously, the following factors need to be considered when determining whether the taking by the NPAL acoustic source would be negligible: (1) The limited duty cycle of the source (2-8 percent); (2) the information that most species of marine mammals are relatively insensitive to acoustic sounds as low as the NPAL source; (3) the fact that relatively few marine mammals that inhabit the acoustic source area that are known to dive to depths that would put them in the proximity to sound fields that could disrupt biologically significant behavior; and (4) the low potential for a marine mammal actually being within the acoustic sound field during sonar transmissions. In consideration of these factors, NMFS preliminarily concludes that the operation of the acoustic source at Kauai (or Midway) would result in no more than small numbers of marine mammals being affected, and that the proposed action would have a negligible impact on affected marine mammal species and stocks. NEPA The ONR has released a DEIS under NEPA (see ADDRESSES). The comment period for that document ended on July 24, 2000. NMFS is a cooperating agency, as defined by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR 1501.6), in the preparation of this DEIS and the Final EIS, currently under preparation. Endangered Species Act (ESA) NMFS is in consultation with the ONR under section 7 of the ESA on this action. In that regard, the ONR has submitted to NMFS a Biological Assessment under the ESA. This consultation will be concluded prior to a determination on the issuance of a final rule and LOA. Costs and Benefits In addition to allowing Scripps to take a small number of marine mammals incidental to conducting scientific research using the NPAL acoustic source off Hawaii, this rule would require Scripps to provide NMFS and the public with information on the NPAL source's effect on certain species of marine mammals. Without an authorization under the MMPA, NMFS and the public may not receive this information. NMFS believes that obtaining this information is important because scientific findings resulting from the monitoring program is likely to be directly applicable to other oceanographic research activities that employ LF acoustic sources. The cost to ONR and Scripps cannot be fully determined at this time but these costs would be incurred through implementation of the aerial monitoring program that will be required under this proposed rule. Preliminarily, NMFS believes that this cost would be approximately $ 300,000 during the 5-year program. Information Solicited NMFS requests interested persons and organizations to submit comments, information, and suggestions concerning the content of the proposed regulations to authorize the taking. All commenters are requested to review the application prior to submitting comments and not submit comments solely on this Federal Register document. Because the comment period on the draft EIS has ended, comments on issues not relevant to either the potential impact of the NPAL acoustic source on marine mammals or NMFS' responsibilities under the MMPA will not be considered. Classification This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866. The Assistant General Counsel for Legislation and Regulation of the Department of Commerce has certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration that this proposed rule, if adopted, would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities since it would apply only to Scripps and would have no effect, directly or indirectly, on small businesses. It will also affect a small number of contractors providing services related to reporting the impact of the NPAL source on marine mammals. Some of the affected contractors may be small businesses, but the number involved would not be substantial. Further, since the monitoring and reporting requirements are what would lead to the need for their services, the economic impact on them would be beneficial. Because of this certification, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to respond to nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number. This proposed rule contains collection-of- information requirements subject to the provisions of the PRA. This collection has been approved previously by OMB under section 3504(b) of the PRA issued under OMB control number 0648-0151. These requirements include an application for an LOA and an annual report on monitoring. Other information requirements in the rule are not subject to the PRA since they apply only to a single entity and, therefore, are not contained in a rule of general applicability. The reporting burden for this collection is estimated to be approximately 80 hours, including the time for gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. It does not include time for monitoring the activity. List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 216 Administrative practice and procedure, Imports, Indians, Marine mammals, Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Transportation. Dated: December 15, 2000. William T. Hogarth, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. For reasons set forth in the preamble, 50 CFR part 216 is proposed to be amended as follows: PART 216--REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE TAKING AND IMPORTING OF MARINE MAMMALS 1. The authority citation for part 216 continues to read as follows: Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq. 2. Subpart P is added to read as follows: Subpart P--Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Operating A Low Frequency Acoustic Source by the North Pacific Acoustic Laboratory Sec. 216.170 Specified activity and specified geographical region. 216.171 Effective dates. 216.172 Permissible methods of taking. 216.173 Prohibitions. 216.174 Mitigation. 216.175 Requirements for monitoring and reporting. 216.176 Letter of Authorization. 216.177 Renewal of a Letter of Authorization. 216.178 Modifications to a Letter of Authorization. Subpart P--Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Operating A Low Frequency Acoustic Source by the North Pacific Acoustic Laboratory Sec. 216.170 Specified activity and specified geographical region. (a) Regulations in this subpart apply only to the incidental taking of small numbers of marine mammals specified in paragraph (b) of this section by U.S. citizens engaged in conducting acoustic research using a moored, low-frequency acoustic source by the North Pacific Acoustic Laboratory off either Kauai or Midway Islands, Hawaii. (b) The incidental harassment of marine mammals under the activity identified in paragraph (a) of this section is limited to small numbers of the following species: humpback whales (Megaptera novaengliae), fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), blue whales (B. musculus), Bryde's whales (B. edeni), minke whales (B. acutorostrata), North Pacific right whales (Eubalaena glacialis), sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris, Berardius bairdi, and Mesoplodon spp.), spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris), spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata), striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis), pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps), dwarf sperm whales (Kogia simus), killer whales (Orcinus orca), false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens), pygmy killer whales (Feresa attenuata), and melon-headed whales (Peponocephala electra). and Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi). Sec. 216.171 Effective dates. Regulations in this subpart are effective from April 1, 2001, through March 31, 2006. Sec. 216.172 Permissible methods of taking. (a) Under a Letter of Authorization issued pursuant to Secs. 216.106 and 216.176, the Holder of this Letter of Authorization may incidentally, but not intentionally, take marine mammals by harassment within the area described in Sec. 216.170(a), provided the activity is in compliance with all terms, conditions, and requirements of these regulations and the Letter of Authorization. (b) The activities identified in Sec. 216.170(a) must be conducted in a manner that minimizes, to the greatest extent practicable, any adverse impacts on marine mammals and their habitat. Sec. 216.173 Prohibitions. Notwithstanding takings authorized by Sec. 216.170(b) and by a Letter of Authorization issued under Secs. 216.106 and 216.176, no person in connection with the activities described in Sec. 216.170(a) shall: (a) Take any marine mammal not specified in Sec. 216.170(b); (b) Take any marine mammal specified in Sec. 216.170(b) other than by incidental, unintentional harassment; (c) Take a marine mammal specified in Sec. 216.170(b) if such take results in more than a negligible impact on the species or stocks of such marine mammal; or (d) Violate, or fail to comply with, the terms, conditions, and requirements of these regulations or a Letter of Authorization issued under Secs. 216.106 and 216.176. Sec. 216.174 Mitigation. As described in the Letter of Authorization issued under Secs. 216.106 and 216.176, the North Pacific Acoustic Laboratory acoustic source must: (a) Operate at the minimum duty cycle necessary for conducting large-scale acoustic thermometry and long-range propagation objectives. (b) Not increase its duty cycle for long-range propagation studies during the months of January through April. (c) Operate at the minimum power level necessary for conducting large-scale acoustic thermometry and long-range propagation objectives. (d) Precede all transmissions from the acoustic source by a 5- minute ramp-up of the acoustic source's power. Sec. 216.175 Requirements for monitoring and reporting. (a) The holder of the Letter of Authorization is required to cooperate with the National Marine Fisheries Service and any other Federal, state or local agency monitoring the impacts of the activity on marine mammals. The holder must notify the Southwest Regional Administrator at least 2 weeks prior to commencing monitoring activities. (b) The Holder of this Authorization must conduct a minimum of eight surveys each year from February through early April in the area off the north shore of Kauai, Hawaii. (c) The Holder of this Authorization must, through coordination with marine mammal stranding networks in Hawaii, monitor strandings of marine mammals to detect long-term trends in stranding and the potential relationship to the North Pacific Acoustic Laboratory acoustic source. (d) Activities related to the monitoring described in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, or in the Letter of Authorization issued under Secs. 216.106 and 216.176 may be conducted without the need for a separate scientific research permit. (e) In coordination and compliance with marine mammal researchers operating under this subpart, at its discretion, the National Marine Fisheries Service may place an observer on any aircraft involved in marine mammal surveys in order to monitor the impact on marine mammals. (f) The holder of a Letter of Authorization must annually submit a report to the Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, no later than 120 days after the conclusion of humpback whale aerial survey monitoring program. This report must contain all the information required by the Letter of Authorization, including the results, if any, of coordination with coastal marine mammal stranding networks. (g) A final comprehensive report must be submitted to the Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service no later than 240 days after completion of the final year of humpback whale aerial survey monitoring conducted under Sec. 216.175. This report must contain all the information required by the Letter of Authorization. Sec. 216.176 Letter of Authorization. (a) A Letter of Authorization, unless suspended or revoked, will be valid for a period of time specified in the Letter of Authorization but may not exceed the period of validity of this subpart. (b) A Letter of Authorization with a period of validity less than the period of validity of this subpart may be renewed subject to renewal conditions in Sec. 216.177. (c) A Letter of Authorization will set forth: (1) Permissible methods of incidental taking; (2) Authorized geographic area for taking; (3) Means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on the species of marine mammals authorized for taking and its habitat; and (4) Requirements for monitoring and reporting incidental takes. (d) Issuance of a Letter of Authorization will be based on a determination that the number of marine mammals taken by the activity will be small, and that the number of marine mammals taken by the activity, specified in Sec. 216.170(b), as a whole will have no more than a negligible impact on the species or stocks of affected marine mammal(s). (e) Notice of issuance or denial of a Letter of Authorization will be published in the Federal Register within 30 days of a determination. Sec. 216.177 Renewal of a Letter of Authorization. (a) A Letter of Authorization issued under Sec. 216.106 and Sec. 216.176 for the activity identified in Sec. 216.170(a) will be renewed upon: (1) Notification to the National Marine Fisheries Service that the activity described in the application for a Letter of Authorization submitted under Sec. 216.176 will be undertaken and that there will not be a substantial modification to the described work, mitigation or monitoring undertaken during the upcoming season; (2) Timely receipt of the monitoring reports required under Sec. 216.175, which have been reviewed by the National Marine Fisheries Service and determined to be acceptable; (3) A determination by the National Marine Fisheries Service that the mitigation, monitoring and reporting measures required under Secs. 216.174 and 216.175 and the Letter of Authorization were undertaken and will be undertaken during the upcoming period of validity of a renewed Letter of Authorization; and (4) Renewal of a Letter of Authorization will be based on a determination that the number of marine mammals taken by the activity continues to be small, and that the number of marine mammals taken by the activity, specified in Sec. 216.170(b) will have no more than a negligible impact on the species or stock of affected marine mammal(s). (b) A notice of issuance or denial of a renewal of a Letter of Authorization will be published in the Federal Register within 30 days of a determination. Sec. 216.178 Modifications to a Letter of Authorization. (a) In addition to complying with the provisions of Secs. 216.106 and 216.176, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no substantive modification (including withdrawal or suspension) to the Letter of Authorization issued pursuant to Secs. 216.106 and 216.176 and subject to the provisions of this subpart shall be made by the National Marine Fisheries Service until after notification and an opportunity for public comment has been provided. For purposes of this paragraph, a renewal of a Letter of Authorization under Sec. 216.177, without modification, except for the period of validity is not considered a substantive modification. (b) If the Assistant Administrator determines that an emergency exists that poses a significant risk to the well-being of the species or stocks of marine mammals specified in Sec. 216.170(b), a Letter of Authorization issued pursuant to Secs. 216.106 and 216.176 may be substantively modified without prior notification and an opportunity for public comment. Notification will be published in the Federal Register within 30 days subsequent to the action. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2000 14:00:35 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Position Available (fwd) From: Mason Weinrich The Whale Center of New England (formerly The Cetacean Research Unit) is looking for an office manager. The position is part-time (25 hours/week), which can be spread over 3-5 days, and year-round. We are ideally looking for someone young and enthusiastic, who can bring in organizational skills, in return for the opportunity to gain some insight into the marine mammal field. The employee will be responsible for supervising membership correspondence and our membership database, payroll and basic bookkeeping, etc (see below for a complete description). While this is not a marine mammal position as such, the employee will have opportunities to be exposed to all aspects of the organizations work, and will also be trained to respond to calls about distressed marine mammals, especially seals. A successful candidate should also be self-motivated, as there will be many times (especially in summer) when they will be working in our office unsupervised. The Whale Center of New England is a private, non-profit organization based in Gloucester MA, incorporated in 1979. Our mission is to conduct research on whales and their habitat and to actively engage in marine conservation and education. For more information about what we do, please visit our web site at www.whalecenter.org. For more information, contact us at info(\)whalecenter.org or by phone at 978-281-6351. If you would like to apply, please send a cover letter and resume to the same e-mail address with the subject line "Office Manager Application," or send it by regular mail to The Whale Center of New England, PO Box 159, Gloucester MA 01930. Job description - Office Manager at The Whale Center of New England Job Responsibilities: 1) Responsible for daily correspondence, including reading and answering letters, e-mail, and phone calls requesting general information about the organization, membership issues, or general requests for information; 2) Scheduling and maintaining contact with research cruise passengers; 3) Carrying out membership services, including maintenance and development of the membership database, timely correspondence with members (including overseeing mailing of newsletters and renewal notices) and fulfilling merchandise orders from members; 4) Handling of accounts receivable/payable and general daily book-keeping; 5) Maintenance of organizational supplies, including monitoring and ordering membership materials, research supplies, office supplies, and other supplies as needed; 6) Organization and maintenance of office filing system (ie. correspondence, records, pay data, research data, references etc). 7) Other duties as assigned by the Senior Staff Employee will report and answer to the Executive Director of the organization Time Requirements: 25 hours/week; hours to be agreed upon by employee and Executive Director. Salary: $18,000/annum Benefits: 2 weeks paid vacation after one year (one week in first year after six months employment (none of which may be taken during the months of July and August)); paid major holidays (Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day); up to $130/month for health benefits (which must be arranged by the employee independently of the Whale Center of New England); Unemployment benefits as required by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Experience: Office Experience (ie filing, "PR", record keeping , handling phones etc.); Accounting or bookkeeping skills; Basic PC computing skills (Word Processing, Financial software, Database software) Intangibles: Outgoing personality, self-starter, pleasant phone demeanor, an interest in whales and the environment, and an ability to prioritize and balance several tasks simultaneously. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 28 Dec 2000 15:44:07 +0100 From: Jan Herrmann Subject: Contents: Marine Mammal Science Vol 17(1) ------ Dear all, Marine Mammal Science Vol 17(1) has the following table of contents. Abstracts and contact information are available from:=20 http://apt.allenpress.com/aptonline/?request=3Dget-issue&issn=3D0824-0469= &volume=3D017&issue=3D01. Users of the Papyrus Bibliography System (Mac and DOS/Windows) can=20 download the references with abstracts and contact information from=20 http://www.cetacea.de/mms. Please do not contact MARMAM, the MARMAM editors or me for reprints. Than= k you. Happy New Year, Jan Herrmann -----------------------------Marine Mammal Science Vol=20 17(1)------------------------- Uhen, M.D., and P.D. Gingerich. 2001. New genus of dorudontine=20 archaeocete (Cetacea) from the middle-to-late Eocene of South=20 Carolina. Marine Mammal Science 17:1-34. Laist, D.W., A.R. Knowlton, J.G. Mead, A.S. Collet, and M. Podesta.=20 2001. Collisions between ships and whales. Marine Mammal Science=20 17:35-75. Gowans, S., and H. Whitehead. 2001. Photographic identification of=20 northern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus): sources of=20 heterogeneity from natural marks. Marine Mammal Science 17:76-93. Fedak, M.A., P. Lovell, and S.M. Grant. 2001. Two approaches to=20 compressing and interpreting time-depth information as collected by=20 time-depth recorders and satellite-linked data recorders. Marine=20 Mammal Science 17:94-110. Hoover-Miller, A., K.R. Parker, and J.J. Burns. 2001. A reassessment=20 of the impact of the exxon valdez oil spill on harbor seals (Phoca=20 vitulina richardsi) in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Marine Mammal=20 Science 17:111-135. Snyder, G.M., K.W. Pitcher, W.L. Perryman, and M.S. Lynn. 2001.=20 Counting steller sea lion pups in Alaska: an evaluation of=20 medium-format, color aerial photography. Marine Mammal Science=20 17:136-146. Luque, S.P., and D. Aurioles-Gamboa. 2001. Sex differences in body=20 size and body condition of California sea lion (Zalophus=20 californianus) pups from the Gulf of California. Marine Mammal=20 Science 17:147-160. Evans, K., C. Kemper, and M. Hill. 2001. First records of the=20 spectacled porpoise Phocoena dioptrica in continental australian=20 waters. Marine Mammal Science 17:161-170. Kerem, D., O. Goffman, and E. Spanier. 2001. Sighting of a single=20 humpback dolphin (Sousa sp.) along the Mediterranean coast of Israel.=20 Marine Mammal Science 17:170-171. Baker, A.N., P.J. Duignan, R.J. De B. Norman, and A.L. Van Helden.=20 2001. A juvenile Hector's beaked whale, Mesoplodon hectori (Gray=20 1871), without functional throat grooves, plus notes on endoparasites=20 (Cetacea: Ziphiidae). Marine Mammal Science 17:171-175. Ciano, J.N., and R. Huele. 2001. Photo-identification of Sperm whales=20 at Bleik Canyon, Norway. Marine Mammal Science 17:175-180. Razafindrakoto, Y., H.C. Rosenbaum, and D.A. Helweg. 2001. First=20 description of humpback whale song from Antongil Bay, Madagascar.=20 Marine Mammal Science 17:180-186. S=E1nchez-Pacheco, J.=C1., A. V=E1zquez-Hanckin, and R. De Silva-D=E1vila= .=20 2001. Gray whales' mid-spring feeding at Bah=EDa de Los =C1ngeles, Gulf=20 of California, Mexico. Marine Mammal Science 17:186-191. Nowacek, D.P., P.L. Tyack, and R.S. Wells. 2001. A platform for=20 continuous behavioral and acoustic observation of free-ranging marine=20 mammals: overhead video combined with underwater audio. Marine Mammal=20 Science 17:191-199. Kelly, B.P., and E.A. Mathews. 2001. BOOKS: Reviews: Marine Mammals :=20 Evolutionary Biology, Annalisa Berta and James L. Sumich. ISBN=20 0-12-093225-3. Academic Press, San Diego. 1999. 494 pp. $59,95.=20 Marine Mammal Science 17:200-201. VanBlaricom, G.R. 2001. BOOKS: Reviews: Biology of Marine Mammals,=20 John E. Reynolds III and S. A. Rommel, eds. ISBN 1-56098-375-2.=20 Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington and London. 1999. 578 pp.=20 $75.00. Marine Mammal Science 17:202-205. Michaud, R., and P. B=E9land. 2001. LETTERS: Looking for Trends in the=20 Endangered St. Lawrence Beluga Population a critique of Kingsley,=20 M.C.S. 1998. Population Index Estimates for the St. Lawrence Belugas,=20 1973-1995. Marine Mammal Science 14:508-530. Marine Mammal Science=20 17:206-212. Kingsley, M.C.S. 2001. LETTERS: Beluga Surveys in the St. Lawrence: a=20 Reply to Michaud and B=E9land. Marine Mammal Science 17:213-218. Martineau, D. 2001. LETTERS: Reproductive Status of a Beluga from the=20 St. Lawrence Estuary. Marine Mammal Science 17:219-222. McAlpine, D.F., P.-Y. Daoust, P.F. Brodie, and M.C.S. Kingsley. 2001.=20 LETTERS: Additional Evidence for Recent Reproductive Activity in an=20 Aged St. Lawrence Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas): A Reply to=20 Martineau. Marine Mammal Science 17:222-226. Anon. 2001. Guide for Authors. Marine Mammal Science 17:227-230. --=20 ---> Jan Herrmann Department of Anatomy School of Veterinary Medicine Bischofsholer Damm 15 Tel.:+49-(0)511-856-7482 30173 Hannover Fax :+49-(0)511-856-7683 Germany Vorlesungsreihe Wal und Mensch +----> http://www.cetacea.de ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 28 Dec 2000 15:02:17 -0800 From: Monica Engebretson Subject: New Marine Protected Areas web site Announcing new web site: Marine Protected Areas of the United States http://mpa.gov/ The United States Department of Commerce and the Department of the Interior are pleased to announce the first version of a new web site on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) of the United States. The web address is http://MPA.GOV/ MPA.GOV is designed to provide information, facilitate partnerships, help identify key needs and challenges, and encourage public participation in the design, implementation and evaluation of marine protected areas. In May, 2000, the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior were directed by President Clinton (Executive Order 13158) to establish and jointly manage a website to share information, tools and strategies on MPAs, and provide access to a complete list of MPAs in U.S. waters. The President also directed federal agencies to work closely with local, state, territorial, tribal and other stakeholders to strengthen existing MPAs and build a scientifically-based, comprehensive national system of MPAs. The first version of MPA.GOV provides a variety of services such as (1) general information on the role of MPAs ocean and coastal management, (2) a virtual library of references on MPAs, and (3) the beginnings of a comprehensive inventory of U.S. marine protected areas. The site will be updated as new material is available, and will provide reports on progress towards a building a comprehensive system of marine protected areas. We hope the site is useful to a broad range of interests, from educators and students to managers, scientists, policy makers, fishermen, boaters and other users of ocean and coastal resources. We welcome suggestions on how to improve the web site. Public input is also requested on two issues related to completing a list of all U.S. MPAs (see section on MPA Inventory). The issues are (1) the proposed criteria for defining an MPA, and (2) the proposed data/information to be provided on each MPA. Our goal is to develop a list of U.S. MPAs that is a valuable resource and tool for managers, users, the public and others. Input is requested on what kind of information on each MPA site to include in the database, and how to clearly interpret the definition of MPAs provided in the Executive Order. Table of Contents for MPA.GOV: Foreword Introduction What is a Marine Protected Area? What MPAs Provide the Nation. The Challenges The National MPA Initiative An Inventory of MPAs The MPA Library The MPA Center The MPA Advisory Committee Agency Progress Reports Monica Engebretson Animal Protection Institute P.O. Box 22505 Sacramento, CA 95822 email: monica(\)api4animals.org ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 29 Dec 2000 12:33:08 +1030 Reply-To: Whales-online From: Whales-online Organization: Whales-online Subject: New cetacean web resource Notice - New cetacean web resource online www.whales-online.org Whales-online - a new cetacean conservation website focusing on Southern Hemisphere issues has been launched. Early in 2001 the site will feature online chat sessions and interviews with cetacean researchers and campaigners from around the world, while providing solid information for the interested public about the threats cetaceans face. It will also feature a learning resource section for a younger audience of upper primary and high school students. The whales-online editors are offering the site as a forum to publish research information online for wide distribution - public information purposes. Whales-online does not seek ownership of any work. We are also seeking interested scientists to be part of our community chat sessions to commence next year. Please email any comments, links or expressions of interest to - info(\)whales-online.org. Or online register as a member to receive regular updates - www.whales-online.org Margi Prideaux Whales-online info(\)whales-online.org ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 9 Dec 2000 14:26:26 -0800 From: amhughes(\)ucdavis.edu Subject: Wildlife Medicine Symposium, Jan 20, 2001 volunteers-list(\)tmmc.org Dear Colleagues, Enclosed please find the announcement for the 7th Annual Wildlife Medicine Symposium hosted by the Wildlife and Aquatic Animal Medicine Club at the School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis. We would like to invite the public and other individuals within the fields of wildlife biology, ecology, wildlife rehabilitation and medicine to join us in our one day event. The date of the Symposuim is Saturday, January 20, 2001. Please RSVP or send any inquires by email at amhughes(\)ucdavis.edu or return the bottom portion of this email to the address given below. Thank you for your consideration and we hope to see you at the Symposium. Sincerely, Angela Hughes Class of 2002 UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine WAAM Co-President The UC Davis Wildlife and Aquatic Animal Medicine Club presents the 7th Annual WILDLIFE MEDICINE SYMPOSIUM Saturday, January 20, 2001 9am-5pm 170 Schalm Hall, Medical Sciences Complex, UC Davis 8:30-9:00 Welcome and Continental Breakfast Buffet 9:00-9:55 Dr. Walt Cook, Veterinarian, Wyoming Game & Fish Department Chemical and Physical Immobilization and Restraint of Pronghorn Antelope. 10:00-10:55 Dr. Dennis Schmitt, Professor and Veterinarian, Southwest Missouri State University Reproductive biology and assisted reproduction in elephants. 10:55-11:15 Break 11:15-12:10 Dr. Murray Dailey, Research Parasitologist, The Marine Mammal Center Marine mammal parasites. 12:10-1:15 Lunch 1:15-2:10 Dr. Dave Jessup, Wildlife Veterinarian, California Department of Fish and Game Sea Otters 2:15-3:10 Dr. Scott Citino, Veterinarian, White Oak Conservation Center The veterinarian's role in metapopulation management 3:10-3:30 Break 3:30-5:00 Wildlife Forum: Management of the Interface Between Wildlife and Domestic Animals Moderator: Dr. Jonna Mazet, UC Davis Wildlife Health Center Panelists: Dr. Walt Cook Dr. Dave Jessup Dr. Scott Citino All are welcome and Admission is Free. Lunch and Breakfast Buffet Provided. Please Pre-Register by 1/8, at amhughes (\)ucdavis.edu or 3313 Monterey Ave, Davis, CA 95616. If you would like to order proceedings or t-shirts or posters and cannot attend the symposium, please contact the above email address for more information. Directions: Take Interstate 80 towards Sacramento; then take Route 113 north to Woodland. Exit at Hutchinson Dr/UC Davis and turn right. Take the first right into the Medical Sciences Complex. Follow signs to parking and lecture hall. Pre-Registration Form Due 1/8: Please email or send the following information to the above address. Name: Address: Phone: Email: Affiliation: