========================================================================= Date: Sat, 1 Jan 0101 17:39:38 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: US ESA Section 7 consultations workshop, CA (Feb 2001) (fwd) Forwarded message: Expediting Section 7 Consultations: A Biological Assessment Workshop Wednesday, February 21, 2001, 1:00-5:00 Radisson Hotel, 500 Leisure Lane, Sacramento, CA 95815 Preparing a good biological assessment (BA) is a key to expediting section 7 Endangered Species Act consultations with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In this free workshop, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel will share tips on how to avoid common pitfalls and write effective BAs. Topics will include: - writing complete project descriptions - assessing direct, indirect, interrelated, interdependent, and cumulative effects - addressing conservation and protection of ecosystems - making effect determinations - importance of monitoring and compliance - conservation banking - the ESA/NEPA interface Although the BA workshop is free of charge, attendees must register with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to receive handout materials. To register, please call Leslie Murphy at (916) 414-6650 or email Leslie_D_Murphy(\)fws.gov. This workshop will be held the day before the annual conference of the Western Section of The Wildlife Society (Feb. 22-24), which is also being held at the Sacramento Radisson. Attendees of the free BA workshop need not be registered for the annual conference, but may take advantage of a special conference hotel lodging rate of $95 per night plus sales and room tax. This rate is available through January 21, 2001. Contact the Radisson Hotel at 800-333-3333 or 916-922-2020 and tell them that you are with "The Wildlife Society" to qualify for the special rate. If you are an employee of the State of California, you can complete form STD 255C that allows you to exceed the standard lodging rate. Information, including a registration form, for the Western Section of The Wildlife Society's annual conference can be found at http://www.tws-west.org/2001conference/. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Jan 2001 17:38:26 -0800 From: pdg1 Subject: Ecologist Position at Humboldt State ------ Dear colleagues, I'd like to pass along a job announcement for a tenure track Animal Ecologist position at Humboldt State University. STARTING AUGUST, 2001 TENURE TRACK POSITION Area of Instruction: Ecology Professional Qualifications: A Ph.D. in the biological sciences is required at time of appointment. Expertise in animal population or community ecology, with skills in quantitative analyses and field studies= , are essential. Prior teaching experience is required, at least at the graduate assistant level. Dedication to superior instruction of undergraduates is a long-standing tradition at Humboldt. The Department of Biological Sciences is known fo= r providing students with balanced degrees in biology, botany, and zoology. The candidate must have a demonstrated interest and ability to teach a broad range of courses to diverse students. Candidates whose qualificatio= ns also suit them to prepare individuals to function in a culturally and ethnically diverse society are especially encouraged to apply. Professional Duties: Primary responsibility will be to teach a course in principles of ecology. The successful candidate will be encouraged to teach advanced undergraduate and graduate courses and lead graduate seminars in ecology. Other course assignments are possible (e.g., biomet= ry or an introductory course in biology or zoology), depending on the candidate's experience and departmental needs. The new person will also advise undergraduate and master's students and otherwise assist in the functioning of the department. Research is expected. General Information: Additional information about Humboldt State University can be found at http://www.humboldt.edu. Humboldt State University is committed to achieving the goals of equal opportunity and Affirmative Action and endeavors to employ faculty and staff of the highest quality reflecting the ethnic and cultural diversity of the State. Application: Qualified candidates should apply to: Ecology Search Committee Department of Biological Sciences Humboldt State University One Harpst Street Arcata, CA 95521-8299 Phone: (707) 826-4166/FAX: (707) 826-3201 Application materials must include a detailed curriculum vita or resum=E9= , undergraduate and graduate transcripts of academic work (unofficial copie= s sufficient for initial review), and three recent letters of recommendatio= n from persons familiar with the candidate's professional preparation and experience. If available, include 3 representative publications. In the letter of application, please refer to Job #01/02-16 Application Deadline: All application materials, including letters of recommendation, must be postmarked no later than January 16, 2001. Candidates are welcome to utilize fax (707/826-3201) or e-mail (turner(\)humboldt.edu) for communications, but applications via fax or e-mail are not acceptable. Applications from and nominations of qualifie= d disabled, minority and women candidates are particularly encouraged. The University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Title IX Employer. Job #01/02-16 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dawn Goley Assistant Professor of Zoology Marine Mammal Education and Research Program Department of Biological Sciences Humboldt State University Arcata, California 95521-8299 office - Science B - 234 voice mail - 707-826-4168 fax - 707-826-3201 :>) ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2001 10:14:00 +1100 From: "Mail (Tomaree)" Subject: Impact of Aquaculture on cetaceans request for information Dear Subscribers / researchers, I am seeking information, references or contacts on the impact of aquaculture on cetaceans. In particular I am interested in offshore fish farm pens and the potential for entanglement of cetaceans in the pen or mooring structures / rigs associated with the farm. This relates to proposals for expansion of a snapper farm 3km off the coast of Port Stephens, New South Wales, Australia. Species of concern would be bottlenose and common dolphins, Humpback, Pilot, Southern Right, Minke and Kogia whales. Any information on this subject would be very much appreciated. Please reply to Rob Gibbs, email: tomaree(\)npws.nsw.gov.au Regards Rob Gibbs Area Manager - Hunter Coast Area NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Postal Address: PO Box 302 ANNA BAY NSW 2316 Australia ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2001 13:34:24 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: JOB ANNOUNCEMENT (fwd) Research Associate I - Marine Mammal Auditory Systems lab needs technician to perform 3-D reconstruction of section data on marine organisms, manipulate CT/MRI files, assist with laboratory technical work, including statistical analyses, graphics productions, and manuscript preparation. Bachelor's degree in a specifically related field with minimal experience or evidence of appropriate skills gained through experience. Relevant experience of 2 or more years in 3-D reconstruction of biomedical data, image processing principles desired. Familiarity with biomedical image file formats, Siemens and GE images is preferred. Send resume to: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Box 54SFT137, MS #15, Woods Hole, MA 02543. EOE/M/F/D/V If you need additional information, please let me know. Please advise me of the cost, if any. Thank you. Susan Tomeo Human Resources Representative 508-289-2705 stomeo(\)whoi.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Jan 2001 14:43:29 -0800 From: Martin BVYE Subject: Querry for pinnipeds sounds 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_012757978463498_ID Bonjour, I need for my PhD work some recordings of communicative sounds between several species of pinnipeds. (pups mother interaction, sexual behaviors, fight between bulls, etc...) If you have some, can you tell me how I can get a copy of it. Thanks for helping me. B=D6YE Martin Saldorfer Str. 2 90 429 N=FCrnberg DEUTSCHLAND t=E9l: 00 49 (0)911 26 45 890 http: //perso.libertysurf.fr/marine.mammal.cognition/ ______________________________________________________ Bo=EEte aux lettres - Caramail - http://www.caramail.com --=_NextPart_Caramail_012757978463498_ID-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Jan 2001 18:30:26 -0800 Reply-To: Howard Breen From: Howard Breen Subject: new Marine Reserve Guide * Marinelife I highly recommend the following WWF book (& accompanying overheads). Apologies for duplicated messages. - Howard "Fully-protected Marine Reserves: A Guide." by Callum Roberts & Julie Hawkins Funded by WWF UK Contact for copies: Julie P. Hawkins Environment Department University of York York, YO10 5DD UK Tel: +44 1904 434073; Fax: +44 1904 432998; email: jph7(\)york.ac.uk OR WWF Endangered Seas Campaign, 1250 24th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 5 Jan 2001 13:58:13 EST From: NEAQ Conservation Subject: Two New Hector's Dolphin Publications Two new publications on Hector's dolphins are available. Stone, G.S. and A. Yoshinaga. 2000. Hector's Dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori) calf mortalities may indicate new risks from boat traffic and habituation. Pacific Conservation Biology. 6(2): 162-171. Send request for reprint to: Aaron Dunning Conservation Department New England Aquarium Central Wharf Boston, MA 02110, USA or to NEAQconservation(\)aol.com Also available: Stone, G.S.; Cavagnaro, L.; Hutt, A.; Kraus, S.; Baldwin, K.; Brown, J. 2000. Reactions of Hector's dolphins to acoustic gillnet pingers. Published report on contract 3071, Conservation Services Levy Program. Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand. 29p. This paper is available online at: http://www.doc.govt.nz/cons/scires/csl/CSL3071.PDF ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 7 Jan 0101 21:34:20 -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 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, 10 Jan 0101 01:02:53 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: FW: Old & rare books on Cetacea (fwd) > > -----Original Message----- > From: Jan Willem Broekema [SMTP:J.W.Broekema(\)INTER.NL.NET] > Sent: Sunday, January 07, 2001 4:09 PM > To: ECS-ALL(\)JISCMAIL.AC.UK > Subject: Old & rare books on Cetacea > > Dear fellow members, > > I am happy to have been informed again, after quite some time, of the > availability of some old and rare books on cetaceans. If you want any of > these, please let me know and I will bring you into contact with the > original owner. Prices are generalised Euro, excl VAT (obliged 6% by EU > citizens) and long distance shipment. > > 286 - Eschricht, D.F., 1844-1948. Undersogelser over Hvaldyrene I-V, 5 > volumes, Copenhagen. Euro 570. (Dansk) > > 310 - Matthews, L.H. (ed), 1968. The Whale. 287 p., London. Euro 36,50. > > 327 - Slijper, E.J., 1958. Walvissen. 524 p., Amsterdam. Euro 62,=. (Dutch) > > 335 - Utrecht, W.L. van, 1965. On the growth of the baleen plates of the > Fin and Blue Whale. 36 p., Amsterdam. Euro 20,=. > > Kind regards, > > Jan Willem Broekema > < Welcome to the 21st Century > > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2001 10:10:26 -0500 From: Susan Tomeo Organization: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Subject: "JOB ANNOUNCEMENT" Please add the following to your listing: Research Assistant I - Marine mammal laboratory specimen archive database maintenance, basic lab management (purchases, payments, travel arrangements, computers & software maintenance.) Bachelor's degree, or Associates' degree in related field plus one year related experience or high school diploma or equivalent plus three years related experience. Database and/or Macintosh computer skills required. Send resume to: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Box 54SFT134, MS #15, Woods Hole, MA 02543 EOE/M/F/D/V Thank you. Susan Tomeo Human Resources Representataive 508-289-2705 stomeo(\)whoi.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2001 14:27:27 -0800 From: David Osorio Subject: ***Volunteer Opportunity*** ucdbm(\)ucdavis.edu, vcsf(\)vcsf.org, scuttlebutt(\)vims.edu, larkin(\)vims.edu, soozi(\)ilm.com January 8, 2001 ***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. Volunteers participate in an intensive natural history and data collection training and then are assigned to teams of citizen scientists to monitor the harbor seal behavior and document human activities near the seals. 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. To become a SEALS volunteer: * You must be at least 18 years of age; * Attend all the required training; and * Be responsible for 3 hours of field monitoring, every 4 weeks, for at least one year s duration If you would like to learn more abut the SEALS program and the upcoming volunteer training program 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 beachwatch(\)yahoo.com to sign up for the orientations. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Photos - Share your holiday photos online! http://photos.yahoo.com/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2001 13:56:11 -0800 From: Lance Morgan Subject: Call for Papers- Marine Conservation Biology Symposium Apologies for cross-postings Please forward to interested colleagues 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 Marine Conservation Biology Institute 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 --=====================_15021845==_.ALT Apologies for cross-postings
Please forward to interested colleagues

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


Marine Conservation Biology Institute 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
 --=====================_15021845==_.ALT-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2001 17:59:52 -0500 From: "edward o. keith" Subject: Marine Mammalogy Course at Dolphin Research Center This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------5F5B53CAD67552F7B54DDC01 boundary="------------47C476B5AC7A72917458146E" --------------47C476B5AC7A72917458146E ; x-mac-type="54455854"; x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" The Oceanographic Center at Nova Southeastern University and Dolphin Research Center announce a one-week residential course in marine mammalogy with 3 credits of undergraduate university credit. The course is offered from 5-11 May 2001, and will be held at Dolphin Research Center in the Florida Keys. The total cost for the course, including tuition, room and board, and use of DRC facilities is $1995.00. Transportation costs to Marathon, Florida, are not included. More information may be obtained at the following web site: http://www.nova.edu/cwis/oceanography/dolphinlab/dolphinlab.html Edward O. Keith edwardok(\)nova.edu Associate Professor Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center 8000 N. Ocean Drive Dania Beach, FL 33004 --------------47C476B5AC7A72917458146E The Oceanographic Center at Nova Southeastern University and Dolphin Research Center announce a one-week residential course in marine mammalogy with 3 credits of undergraduate university credit.  The course is offered from 5-11 May 2001, and will be held at Dolphin Research Center in the Florida Keys.  The total cost for the course, including tuition, room and board, and use of DRC facilities is $1995.00.  Transportation costs to Marathon, Florida, are not included.  More information may be obtained at the following web site:

 http://www.nova.edu/cwis/oceanography/dolphinlab/dolphinlab.html
 

Edward O. Keith                 edwardok(\)nova.edu
Associate Professor
Nova Southeastern University
Oceanographic Center
8000 N. Ocean Drive
Dania Beach, FL  33004 --------------47C476B5AC7A72917458146E-- --------------5F5B53CAD67552F7B54DDC01 name="edwardok.vcf" filename="edwardok.vcf" begin:vcard n:Keith;Edward O. tel;cell:305-720-8936 tel;fax:954-262-3931 tel;work:954-262-8322 x-mozilla-html:FALSE org:Nova Southeastern University;Oceanographic Center adr:;;8000 N. Ocean Drive;Dania Beach;FL;33004; version:2.1 email;internet:edwardok(\)nova.edu title:Associate Professor x-mozilla-cpt:;3 fn:Edward O. Keith end:vcard --------------5F5B53CAD67552F7B54DDC01-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 17:56:04 -0800 From: Dian Hardy Subject: US: Makah whale hunt DEA out now for public comment For opposition background on the hunt, see www.seashepherd.org, or www.stopwhalekill.org Those in Seattle are urged to attend the public hearing on this important matter. It's rare for NMFS to hold public hearings but they're under heavy court scrutiny to produce a "waterproof" document. Dian Hardy ***************************** The FR notice announcing the availability of the "Draft Environmental Assessment on Issuing a Quota to the Makah Indian Tribe for a Subsistence Hunt on Gray Whales for the Years 2001 and 2002" filed yesterday and will publish in the Federal Register on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. You can view the draft EA and today's NMFS press release at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/PR2/Conservation_and_Recovery_Program/maka h_DEA.html Comments on the draft EA should be submitted by February 16, 2000. A public hearing will be held in Seattle, Washington on February 1st. Additional details on the public hearing are available in today's press release and in the Federal Register notice (which will be posted on the website above upon publication). ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 13 Jan 2001 09:43:22 -0500 From: William Rossiter Subject: Switzer Environmental Fellowship Program The Switzer Environmental Fellowship Program provides $13,000 Fellowships per year to ten graduate students studying in New England, selected from nominations by certain invited organizations. CSI is one of those invited to submit a nomination, with a deadline of 23 February 2001. The Program is administered by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation in partnership with the Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation, with a mission to "identify and nurture those individuals who have the ability and determination to make a significant environmental impact and to support projects which will have direct, early and measurable results in improving the quality of our natural environment". CSI is soliciting requests to be considered as our 2001 nominee. One of the criterion is a direct, personal knowledge of the student, which may be impractical. However, besides the obvious c.v. and _short_ project description, CSI specifically requests names and contacts for established scientists and environmentalists that we might know, as references. Another concerns leadership, consensus building, and creative solutions. The last asks why you would benefit from the Fellowship. CSI is obviously interested in nominating someone on a career track involving marine mammals. We have some constraints against captive and invasive research, but some tagging techniques are acceptable depending on the total effort and result. If you or someone you know is interested please submit material to me at the address below, by post, fax or email/attached file, no later than 10 February 2001. Keep it simple, informal and honest. Make certain all email contacts for references will work; addresses change and people find reasons to do research in warm, remote locations in February. Good luck, 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, 13 Jan 0101 17:32:42 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Position vacancy at the Center for Marine Conservation - TO BE PO (fwd) > > Derrick Pullen, Recruiter > Center for Marine Conservation > Dpullen(\)dccmc.org > > > Marine Mammal Specialist > > The Center for Marine Conservation (CMC), a national non-profit marine > conservation organization, is seeking a Marine Mammal Specialist to work in > our Washington, DC headquarter office. Selected candidate will plan and > execute projects that would secure policies and practices to prevent the > overexploitation of living marine resources, with an emphasis on the > conservation of marine mammals. These projects will work to restore the > abundance, productivity and ecological roles of overexploited marine > wildlife populations. Incumbent will also research, develop and implement > CMC's projects to prevent overexploitation of marine mammals; promote > projects that further the development of ecosystem management and the > conservation of marine mammals; and provide accurate scientific and policy > information on marine mammals and other living marine resources to CMC staff > and the general public. Please visit our web site at www.cmc-ocean.org > for a complete position description. > > Qualified candidates will have a Master of Science degree, in marine biology > or a closely related field; a strong background in marine conservation > biology or marine ecology, with a particular emphasis on population biology; > demonstrated research experience and publication record on threatened and > endangered marine species highly desirable; proficient in advocacy, policy > work and a thorough understand of statutes and the legislative process; > ability to communicate complex scientific concepts to the different > audiences; and excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ph.D. > preferred. An understanding of U.S. and international policy processes in > relation to protected species is desired. > > Send resume, cover letter and salary expectations to the Center for Marine > Conservation, Attn: Recruiter, 1725 DeSales Street, NW, Suite 600, > Washington, DC 20036. E-mail: jobs(\)dccmc.org. Fax: (202) 872-0619. Please > visit us on the web at www.cmc-ocean.org. EOE. > > ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 13 Jan 2001 11:14:48 -0800 From: JIWLP Subject: New bibliography on ACCOBAMS Content-type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" I have developed a searchable bibliography on The Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area. The bibliography currently contains 1288 citations and will be updated monthly. Suggestions for additions or corrections to the bibliography are greatly appreciated. The bibliography's URL is: http://www.jiwlp.com/cgi-bin/bibliog.cgi This site also contains two other cetacean bibliographies, small cetaceans and DNA issues, which are also updated on a regular basis. To receive updates on additions to the JIWLP site, sign up on the site's announcement list at: 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(\)pacbell.net http://www.jiwlp.com/ ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 14 Jan 2001 12:23:12 +0100 From: Georg Blichfeldt Subject: Canadian bowhead whaling and international law boundary="----=_NextPart_000_003E_01C07E24.C31AA680" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_003E_01C07E24.C31AA680 charset="iso-8859-1" To the discussion on Canadian bowhead whaling: Will Burns wrote: "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. 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."=20 My comments:=20 Burn's argument seems to be that all states are bound by customary law = to let the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling rule = their actions on whaling whether they have signed the convention or not. = In contradiction to the Agenda 21 the whaling convention is "hard" and = binding law; that is: binding to those that have signed it. So lets see what the whaling convention says. Preamble: "[The Parties have] decided to conclude a convention for the = proper conservation of whale stocks and thus make possible the orderly = >development of the whaling industry .... RECOGNIZING that the whale = stocks are susceptible of natural increases if whaling is properly = regulated, and that increases in the size of whale stocks will permit = increases in the=20 numbers of whales which may be captured without endangering these = natural resources;" Article V.2: "Amendments of the schedule .. shall provide for the = conservation, development and opitimum utilisation of the whale = resources, . shall be based on scientific findings, ... and shall take = into consideration the interests of the consumers of whale products and = the whaling industry". I am here only quoting enough of the convention text to provide some = understanding for the complaint of Ian Steward, the former New Zealand = commissioner to the IWC: "The whole convention is geared to promote = whaling". (The New York Times, 18 May, 1993.) Steward claimed that a = majority of the IWC member nations did not any longer agree to the goal = of the whaling convention. According to the convention text the members = are bound to work actively to promote its goal. A great number of them don't. Let's look at the New Zealand position: "While there remain a handful of = countries committed to revive commercial whaling., it is our belief = that they seek the return of an age that is past. . We will work to = maintain the moratorium on commercial whaling because it reflects the = current reality of world opinion." (Opening Statement to the International Whaling Commission's 46th Annual = Meeting, 1994 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico) And the Australian position: "There should be no commercial whaling at all. We believe the killing = of whales is unjustifiable." (Robert Hill, Australian Environmental Minister, Media release, 17 June, = 1996) And the UK position: "Commercial whaling is opposed by the vast majority of our citizens and = by Parliament ... Accordingly, the UK will oppose any move to end the = current moratorium on commercial whaling". (Tony Baldry, Britain's Fisheries Minister, in a statement to = Parliament, May 8, 1996) And the US position: "Since...scientific analyses now shows that some populations of minke = whales are likely to be able to sustain a limited harvest, it was time = to review US policy...(T)here is presently no support in the U.S. = Congress or among the American public for commercial whaling. Therefore, = the United States has decided not to support resumption of commercial = whaling." (US Note to Iceland, May 1993) As we now have seen these nations do not refer to the Convention text to = justify their position, (as they would have found no support for it!), = but to public opinion, which is something quite different from law. The main reason why Canada does not become a party to the Convention is = that the actions by the Whaling Commission could not longer be deduced = and predicted from the Convention text. Finally I would like to point out that Burns understanding of customary = law does not seem to be on line with what are the ruling notion of this = concept amongst leading scholars, here represented by Patricia Birnie = 1992:=20 "Legal Custom, based on observation of state practise, crytallizes into = law, i.e. becomes legally binding, only if accompanied by a subjective = belief on the part of the state concerned that it is under legal = obligation to conform to the custom". =20 (Patricia Birnie 1992: International Environmental Law: Its adequacy for = present and future needs in Hurrel, A and Kingsbury, B (eds): The = International Politics of the Environment. Claredon Press. Oxford). However you put it, Canada is under no legal obligation to let the IWC = regulate its whaling operations. Georg Blichfeldt, geobli(\)trollnet.no adr: B=F8v=E6r, NO-9385 Skaland, Norway ------=_NextPart_000_003E_01C07E24.C31AA680 charset="iso-8859-1"

To the discussion on Canadian bowhead=20 whaling:

Will Burns wrote:
"It should also be noted that The = United=20 Nation's Conference on Environment and Development in interpreting the=20 "appropriate international organizations" provision of UNCLOS,  = Article 65,=20 recognized "[t]he responsibility of the International Whaling Commission = for the=20 conservation and management of whale stocks and the regulation of = whaling=20 pursuant to the 1946 International Convention for the Regulation of = Whaling.=20 While Agenda 21 is a "soft law" document, given the almost universal=20 participation of nations at Rio, I think it's additional support for the = proposition that this interpretation of Article 65 constitutes customary = international law."

My comments:
Burn's argument seems to be = that=20 all states are bound by customary law to let the International = Convention for=20 the Regulation of Whaling rule their actions on whaling whether they = have signed=20 the convention or not.  In contradiction to the Agenda 21 the = whaling=20 convention is "hard" and binding law; that is: binding to those that = have signed=20 it.

So lets see what the whaling convention = says.

Preamble: "[The=20 Parties have] decided to conclude a convention for the proper = conservation of=20 whale stocks and thus make possible  the orderly >development of = the=20 whaling industry .... RECOGNIZING that the whale stocks are susceptible = of=20 natural increases if whaling is properly regulated,  and that = increases in=20 the size of whale stocks will permit increases in the
numbers of = whales=20 which may be captured without endangering these natural = resources;"
Article=20 V.2: "Amendments of the schedule .. shall provide  for the = conservation,=20 development and opitimum utilisation of the whale  resources, . = shall be=20 based on scientific findings, ... and shall take into consideration the=20 interests of the consumers of whale products and the whaling =20 industry".

I am here only quoting enough of the convention = text  to=20 provide some understanding for the complaint of Ian Steward, the former=20 New  Zealand commissioner to the IWC: "The whole convention is = geared to=20 promote whaling". (The New York Times, 18 May, 1993.) Steward claimed = that a=20 majority of  the IWC member nations did not any longer agree to the = goal of=20 the whaling  convention. According to the convention text the = members are=20 bound to work actively to promote its goal.

A great number of = them=20 don't.

Let's look at the New Zealand position: "While there = remain a=20 handful of countries committed to revive commercial whaling., it  = is our=20 belief that they seek the return of an age that is past. . We will work = to=20 maintain the moratorium on commercial whaling because it reflects the = current=20 reality of world opinion."
(Opening Statement to the International = Whaling=20 Commission's 46th Annual Meeting, 1994 Puerto Vallarta, = Mexico)

And the=20 Australian position:
"There should be no commercial whaling at all. = We=20 believe the  killing of whales is unjustifiable."
(Robert Hill,=20 Australian Environmental Minister, Media release, 17 June, = 1996)

And the=20 UK position:
"Commercial whaling is opposed by the vast majority of = our=20 citizens and by Parliament ... Accordingly, the UK will oppose any move = to end=20 the current moratorium on commercial whaling".
(Tony Baldry, = Britain's =20 Fisheries Minister, in a statement to Parliament, May 8, = 1996)

And the US=20 position:
"Since...scientific analyses now shows that some = populations of=20 minke whales are likely to be able to sustain a limited harvest, it was = time to=20 review US policy...(T)here is presently no support in the U.S. Congress = or among=20 the American public for commercial whaling. Therefore, the United States = has=20 decided not to support resumption of commercial whaling."
(US Note to = Iceland, May 1993)

As we now have seen these nations do not refer = to the=20 Convention text to justify their position, (as they would have found no = support=20 for it!), but to public opinion, which is something quite different from = law.

The main reason why Canada does not become a party to the = Convention=20 is that the actions by the Whaling Commission could not longer be = deduced and=20 predicted from the Convention  text.

 Finally I would = like to=20 point out that Burns understanding of customary law does not seem to be = on line=20 with what are the ruling notion of this concept amongst leading = scholars, here=20 represented by Patricia Birnie 1992:
"Legal Custom, based on = observation of=20 state practise, crytallizes into law, i.e. becomes  legally = binding, only=20 if accompanied by a subjective belief on the part of the  state = concerned=20 that it is under legal obligation to conform to the custom".  =
(Patricia Birnie 1992: International = Environmental=20 Law: Its adequacy for present  and future needs in Hurrel, A and = Kingsbury,=20 B (eds): The International  Politics of the Environment. Claredon = Press.=20 Oxford).

However you put it, Canada is under no legal obligation = to let=20 the IWC regulate its  whaling operations.

Georg=20 Blichfeldt,
geobli(\)trollnet.no
adr: = B=F8v=E6r, NO-9385=20 Skaland, Norway



------=_NextPart_000_003E_01C07E24.C31AA680-- ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 14 Jan 2001 10:51:57 -0500 From: William Rossiter Subject: draft Makah Whaling Environmental Assessment available Apologies for cross or repeat posting: The draft Makah Whaling Environmental Assessment is now available at: . >From the associated press release: "To facilitate comments on this draft, NOAA Fisheries will hold a public hearing to gather comments on the draft on February 1 at 6:00 p.m., at the Sand Point Magnuson Park Auditorium, 74th Street Entrance, 7400 Sand Point Way, N.E., Seattle, WA. Copies of the draft can be obtained by visiting http://www.nwr.noaa.gov, or by writing Gale Heim, Office of Protected Resources, NOAA Fisheries, 1315 East-West highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Comments on the draft can be sent to the same address by February 16th." 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: Sun, 14 Jan 2001 10:44:18 +0100 From: Boris Culik Subject: beluga and narwhal migration boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0032_01C07E16.F1F94780" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0032_01C07E16.F1F94780 charset="iso-8859-1" Dear colleagues, I am still hoping to reach those of you working on migration of = odontocetes ACROSS INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES. Right now, I think that both the beluga and the narwhal could be = candidates for agreements under CMS. My question is therefore: is there any RECENT data on beluga and narwhal = migration between: Alaska and Russia Canada and the USA Canada and Greenland Russia and Norway Greenland, Iceland and Norway Thanks for your help, best wishes, Boris ___________________________________________________ Boris Culik Prof., Dr. rer. nat. habil., B. Sc. (Hs.) Lenkenauer Weg 24 D- 24226 Heikendorf Tel/Fax.: - 49 - 431 - 24 34 54 email: bculik(\)surfeu.de Homepage: http://www.ifm.uni-kiel.de/zo/penguin/culik.htm ___________________________________________________ ------=_NextPart_000_0032_01C07E16.F1F94780 charset="iso-8859-1"
Dear colleagues,
 
I am still hoping to reach those of you = working on=20 migration of odontocetes ACROSS INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES.
 
Right now, I think that both the beluga = and the=20 narwhal could be candidates for agreements under CMS.
 
My question is therefore: is there any RECENT data on beluga and narwhal migration=20 between:
Alaska and Russia
Canada and the USA
Canada and Greenland
Russia and Norway
Greenland, Iceland and = Norway
 
Thanks for your help,
 
best wishes, Boris
___________________________________________________
Boris=20 Culik
Prof., Dr. rer. nat. habil., B. Sc. (Hs.)
Lenkenauer Weg = 24
D-=20 24226 Heikendorf
Tel/Fax.: - 49 - 431 - 24 34 54
email: bculik(\)surfeu.de
Homepage: http://www.ifm.u= ni-kiel.de/zo/penguin/culik.htm
__________________________________= _________________
------=_NextPart_000_0032_01C07E16.F1F94780-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2001 10:07:57 +1100 From: Elizabeth Eyre Subject: Milk Composition and Hand-rearing of Southern Fur Seals. boundary="----=_NextPart_000_01C07EDB.08E16260" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_01C07EDB.08E16260 Hello Marmamers, I am seeking information on milk composition of Arctocephalus sp. In particular, I am interested in the New Zealand Fur Seal, Arctocephalus forsteri, however any species of fur seal would be of value. I am also seeking information on hand-raising techniques with fur seals, for example formulas, techniques for getting animals to suckle, and so on. I have been involved in hand-raising New Zealand Fur Seals and wish to refine our milk formula and techniques. Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated. Libby Eyre Marine Mammal Department Taronga Zoo libbyeyre(\)bigpond.com ------=_NextPart_000_01C07EDB.08E16260

Hello Marmamers,

I am seeking = information on milk composition of Arctocephalus sp. In = particular, I am interested in the New Zealand Fur Seal, = Arctocephalus forsteri, however any species of fur seal would be = of value.

I am also seeking information on hand-raising = techniques with fur seals, for example formulas, techniques for getting = animals to suckle, and so on.

I have been involved in = hand-raising New Zealand Fur Seals and wish to refine our milk formula = and techniques. Any advice or information would be greatly = appreciated.


Libby Eyre
Marine Mammal = Department
Taronga Zoo
libbyeyre(\)bigpond.com

------=_NextPart_000_01C07EDB.08E16260-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 18:44:59 -0500 From: "Dr. Jason F. Schreer" Subject: Marine Mammals and Seabirds Field course A marine mammals and seabirds field course run through the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and the Huntsman Marine Science Centre, St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada. This is a three-week field course at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre, St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada. Marine mammals and seabirds will be observed under natural conditions through frequent field trips at sea and ashore. Passamaquoddy Bay and the Bay of Fundy are excellent locations for siting harbor and grey seals, harbor porpoises, minke whales, and numerous avian species including Atlantic puffins, razorbills, black guillemots, and northern gannets. Further, a trip to Grand Manan Island will allow us to observe the incredibly rare northern right whale. There is a strong emphasis on field research and each student will complete an independent research project. Lectures and labs will introduce the evolution, zoogeography, morphology, ecology, physiology, and behavior of diving air-breathing vertebrates. For additional information: http://www.unb.ca/web/huntsman/mammals.htm http://sciborg.uwaterloo.ca/~jfschree/ or see contact information below. ==================================================================== 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: Mon, 15 Jan 2001 18:01:25 +0530 From: Simona Sanvito Subject: Southern elephant seals vocalizations papers boundary="============_-1232560610==_ma============" --============_-1232560610==_ma============ Dear All, The following papers appeared in Volume 10 (4) of the Bioacoustics Journal. Reprints are available, plese send request to d87ss(\)morgan.ucs.mun.ca Best regards Simona Sanvito P.S.: sorry for cross posting =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Sanvito,S. & Galimberti,F. 2000. Bioacoustics of southern elephant seals. I. Acoustic structure of male aggressive vocalizations. Bioacoustics. 10(4): 259-285. ABSTRACT Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) males have a complex and stereotyped system of access to breeding females. The single most important component of male behaviour is vocal signalling, which is used to settle agonistic encounters in most cases. Most aspects of the breeding biology of the species have been studied in depth, but detailed information about structure of vocalizations is not readily available. Here, we present data about the acoustic structure of aggressive male vocalizations collected in the Falkland Islands, and we compare these data to published data on the northern elephant seals. Our main goal is to describe the structure of sounds as a preliminary and indispensable step towards analysis of their functional significance. Male vocalizations were low pitch sounds, made up by pulse trains, with scarce frequency modulation: low frequency of emission and high sound pressure level are typical of male vocalizations in Pinnipedia, but they were particularly evident in southern elephant seals, probably due to the unusually large body size. The comparison with published data on northern elephant seals was not very easy, due to differences in acoustic terminology and methodology, but it revealed many similarities between the species. We also carried on a detailed analysis of variability of different acoustic variables, and we discovered that frequency and intensity measures have lower variability than temporal ones, and should hence be the most effective way to convey information about the individual who emits the vocalization. =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Sanvito,S. & Galimberti,F. 2000. Bioacoustics of southern elephant seals. II. Individual and geographical variation in male aggressive vocalizations. Bioacoustics. 10(4): 287-307. ABSTRACT In traditional studies of animal communication individual variability was sometimes considered less relevant than species specific aspects, mostly because the goal was the classifications of sounds in repertories. On the other side, individual variability seems to have a significant role in signal function and evolution. In this paper, we analyze individual variation of structure of aggressive vocalizations of male southern elephant seals, and we compare sounds from our main study population, Sea Lion Island (Falkland Islands), with sounds recorded in the nearby population of the Vald=E9s Peninsula (Patagonia, Argentina). We firstly analyzed repeatability of acoustic parameters at vocalization and male level. Repeatability of bouts of the same vocalization was extremely high, and this confirmed that vocalization is the fundamental level of organization of male acoustic communication in this species. Also repeatability of vocalizations of individual males was very high, and hence sounds may effectively convey information about identity of the individual who emits the sound. Male aggressive vocalizations were classified in a small number of types, and each male emitted always the same type of vocalization. We compared the typology of sounds emitted by Sea Lion Island males with vocalizations by Vald=E9s Peninsula males, and we found striking differences. None of the sound types was shared by the two populations, and, although similar in fundamental acoustics, sounds from the two populations had different macrostructure. We conclude that these two populations present dialects in male acoustic communication , although scarcity of recordings from other populations limit the scope of this conclusion. =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 Simona Sanvito PhD student Biology Dept. Memorial University of Newfoundland St. John's, NF A1B 3X9 d87ss(\)morgan.ucs.mun.ca --============_-1232560610==_ma============ Dear All, The following papers appeared in Volume 10 (4) of the Bioacoustics Journal. Reprints are available, plese send request to d87ss(\)morgan.ucs.mun.ca Best regards Simona Sanvito P.S.: sorry for cross posting =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Sanvito,S. & Galimberti,F. 2000. Bioacoustics of southern elephant seals. I. Acoustic structure of male aggressive vocalizations. Bioacoustics. 10(4): 259-285. ABSTRACT Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) males have a complex and stereotyped system of access to breeding females. The single most important component of male behaviour is vocal signalling, which is used to settle agonistic encounters in most cases. Most aspects of the breeding biology of the species have been studied in depth, but detailed information about structure of vocalizations is not readily available. Here, we present data about the acoustic structure of aggressive male vocalizations collected in the Falkland Islands, and we compare these data to published data on the northern elephant seals. Our main goal is to describe the structure of sounds as a preliminary and indispensable step towards analysis of their functional significance. Male vocalizations were low pitch sounds, made up by pulse trains, with scarce frequency modulation: low frequency of emission and high sound pressure level are typical of male vocalizations in Pinnipedia, but they were particularly evident in southern elephant seals, probably due to the unusually large body size. The comparison with published data on northern elephant seals was not very easy, due to differences in acoustic terminology and methodology, but it revealed many similarities between the species. We also carried on a detailed analysis of variability of different acoustic variables, and we discovered that frequency and intensity measures have lower variability than temporal ones, and should hence be the most effective way to convey information about the individual who emits the vocalization. =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Sanvito,S. & Galimberti,F. 2000. Bioacoustics of southern elephant seals. II. Individual and geographical variation in male aggressive vocalizations. Bioacoustics. 10(4): 287-307. ABSTRACT In traditional studies of animal communication individual variability was sometimes considered less relevant than species specific aspects, mostly because the goal was the classifications of sounds in repertories. On the other side, individual variability seems to have a significant role in signal function and evolution. In this paper, we analyze individual variation of structure of aggressive vocalizations of male southern elephant seals, and we compare sounds from our main study population, Sea Lion Island (Falkland Islands), with sounds recorded in the nearby population of the Vald=E9s Peninsula (Patagonia, Argentina). We firstly analyzed repeatability of acoustic parameters at vocalization and male level. Repeatability of bouts of the same vocalization was extremely high, and this confirmed that vocalization is the fundamental level of organization of male acoustic communication in this species. Also repeatability of vocalizations of individual males was very high, and hence sounds may effectively convey information about identity of the individual who emits the sound. Male aggressive vocalizations were classified in a small number of types, and each male emitted always the same type of vocalization. We compared the typology of sounds emitted by Sea Lion Island males with vocalizations by Vald=E9s Peninsula males, and we found striking differences. None of the sound types was shared by the two populations, and, although similar in fundamental acoustics, sounds from the two populations had different macrostructure. We conclude that these two populations present dialects in male acoustic communication , although scarcity of recordings from other populations limit the scope of this conclusion. =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 Simona Sanvito PhD student Biology Dept. Memorial University of Newfoundland St. John's, NF A1B 3X9 d87ss(\)morgan.ucs.mun.ca --============_-1232560610==_ma============-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2001 10:43:16 -0900 From: Beth Mathews Organization: University of Alaska Southeast Subject: Field Research Opportunities for UNDERGRADUATES in ALASKA This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------C1843E491C24F9303C9DDB7D boundary="------------9CAE09F108E1A02257A57117" --------------9CAE09F108E1A02257A57117 Research Experiences for Undergraduate in Marine Biology in Alaska, 2001 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 and 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 housing while in Juneau. Travel and subsistence costs within Alaska will also be provided. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and enrolled as undergraduates (through at least Fall 2001) at accredited institutions. The program seeks academically strong students interested in marine biological research. Minority applicants are especially encouraged. The deadline for applications is FEBRUARY 15, 2001. (See WEB site address below for application information.) Field research projects include: BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY OF RINGED SEALS POPULATION BIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR OF STELLER SEA LIONS BEHAVIOR OF HARBOR PORPOISES POPULATION BIOLOGY OF HARBOR SEALS IN GLACIER BAY EFFECTS OF VESSEL TRAFFIC ON HARBOR SEALS DISTRIBUTION, DENSITY, AND BEHAVIOR OF HUMPBACK WHALES AT POINT ADOLPHUS, ICY STRAIT EFFECTS OF TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS (TDS) ON SALMONIDS REGULATION OF GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION IN DECAPOD CRUSTACEA LARVAL DEVELOPMENT OF DUNGENESS CRABS REPRODUCTION, LARVAL DEVELOPMENT AND POPULATIONS DYNAMICS OF BENTHIC MARINE INVERTEBRATES INTERACTIONS OF PARASITES WITH DUNGENESS AND KING CRAB BIOCHEMISTRY OF CRUSTACEAN HORMONES NURSERY AREAS FOR DUNGENESS CRABS For more information on and applications for this program, please visit 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 --------------9CAE09F108E1A02257A57117 Research Experiences for Undergraduate in
Marine Biology in Alaska, 2001

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 and 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 housing while in Juneau.  Travel and subsistence costs within Alaska will also be provided.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and enrolled as undergraduates (through at least Fall 2001) at accredited institutions.  The program seeks academically strong students interested in marine biological research.  Minority applicants are especially encouraged.  The deadline for applications is FEBRUARY 15, 2001.  (See WEB site address below for application information.)

Field research projects include:

BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY OF RINGED SEALS

POPULATION BIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR OF STELLER SEA LIONS
 
BEHAVIOR OF HARBOR PORPOISES

POPULATION BIOLOGY OF HARBOR SEALS IN GLACIER BAY

EFFECTS OF VESSEL TRAFFIC ON HARBOR SEALS

DISTRIBUTION, DENSITY, AND BEHAVIOR OF HUMPBACK WHALES AT POINT ADOLPHUS, ICY STRAIT

EFFECTS OF TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS (TDS) ON SALMONIDS

REGULATION OF GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION IN DECAPOD CRUSTACEA

LARVAL DEVELOPMENT OF DUNGENESS CRABS

REPRODUCTION, LARVAL DEVELOPMENT AND POPULATIONS DYNAMICS OF BENTHIC MARINE INVERTEBRATES

INTERACTIONS OF PARASITES WITH DUNGENESS AND KING CRAB

BIOCHEMISTRY OF CRUSTACEAN HORMONES

NURSERY AREAS FOR DUNGENESS CRABS

 
For more information on and applications for this program, please visit 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
  --------------9CAE09F108E1A02257A57117-- --------------C1843E491C24F9303C9DDB7D name="beth.mathews.vcf" filename="beth.mathews.vcf" begin:vcard n:Mathews;Beth x-mozilla-html:FALSE org:UAS adr:;;;;;; version:2.1 email;internet:beth.mathews(\)uas.alaska.edu x-mozilla-cpt:;21360 fn:Beth Mathews end:vcard --------------C1843E491C24F9303C9DDB7D-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2001 11:14:33 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: Seeking volunteers for expert review panel - CRS report on endocrine disruption Comments: To: FISH-SCI(\)segate.sunet.se Colleagues: I'm seeking volunteers for an expert panel to provide review comments on a 6-page short report for Congress that discusses endocrine disruption. I'll have this product ready for review by late next week (probably January 26). Draft Abstract: "This report describes the endocrine disruptor hypothesis, scientific support for and against the hypothesis, legislative mandates in the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 and the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996 for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish an Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program for pesticides and drinking water contaminants, the status of implementation, and relevant legislative proposals. This report will be updated as warranted by events." I'm seeking reviewers who are able to get comments back to me within a month (no later than March 2nd). 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: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 16:29:10 -0500 From: Lori Marino Subject: Information on magnetite in cetaceans boundary="------------60195D2D703F1C725D667377" --------------60195D2D703F1C725D667377 Dear MARMAMERS, I wish to thank everyone that responded to my request for information on magnetite in cetaceans. All of the responses were helpful. Many of you who actually published a lot of the literature on this topic responded. Again, thank you. I'd like to share a summary of what I've learned and a brief literature reference section. >From my reading of the literature, there seems to be good evidence for naturally-occurring magnetite in several cetacean species. In the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, as in a number of other cetaceans, the magnetite is distributed within the dura of the brain particularly over the cerebellum (in the tentorium cerebelli) and in between the two hemispheres of the brain (the falx cerebri). My understanding of the behavioral studies is that we still don't know much about if and how this magnetite plays a role in navigation in cetaceans. But, I was specifically interested in the presence of magnetite and did not delve into the behavioral literature as much as the anatomical studies. Below is a short list of references I found particularly helpful for this purpose: Bauer, G. B. et al. 1985. Magnetoreception and Biomineralization of magnetite in cetaceans. In Magnetite biomineralization and magnetoreception in organisms (J. Kirschvink, D. Jones, & B. MacFadden, eds.).pp. 489-508, NY: Plenum Press. Credle (now Cornish), V. R. 1988. Magnetite and magnetoreception in stranded dwarf and pygmy sperm whales, Kogia simus and Kogia breviceps. Master's Thesis, University of Miami, Fl. Gerrits, N. M. & Kastelein, R. A. 1990. A potential neural substrate for geomagnetic sensibility in cetaceans. In Sensory abilities of cetaceans (J. A. Thomas & R. Kastelein, eds). pp:31-38, NY: Plenum Press. Zoeger, J. et al. 1981. Magnetic material in the head of the common Pacific dolphin. Science, 213, 892 - 894. Thank you again for your responses. Best wishes, 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 --------------60195D2D703F1C725D667377 Dear MARMAMERS,

    I wish to thank everyone that responded to my request for information on magnetite in cetaceans.  All of the responses were helpful.  Many of you who actually published a lot of the literature on this topic responded.  Again, thank you.

    I'd like to share a summary of what I've learned and a brief literature reference section.

From my reading of the literature, there seems to be good evidence for naturally-occurring magnetite in several cetacean species.  In the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, as in a number of other cetaceans, the magnetite is distributed within the dura of the brain particularly over the cerebellum (in the tentorium cerebelli) and in between the two hemispheres of the brain (the falx cerebri).  My understanding of the behavioral studies is that we still don't know much about if and how this magnetite plays a role in navigation in cetaceans. But, I was specifically interested in the presence of magnetite and did not delve into the behavioral literature as much as the anatomical studies.  Below is a short list of references I found particularly helpful for this purpose:

Bauer, G. B. et al. 1985. Magnetoreception and Biomineralization of magnetite in cetaceans. In
Magnetite biomineralization and magnetoreception in organisms (J. Kirschvink, D. Jones, & B. MacFadden, eds.).pp. 489-508, NY: Plenum Press.

Credle (now Cornish), V. R. 1988. Magnetite and magnetoreception in stranded dwarf and pygmy sperm whales, Kogia simus and Kogia breviceps.  Master's Thesis, University of Miami, Fl.

Gerrits, N. M. & Kastelein, R. A. 1990. A potential neural substrate for geomagnetic sensibility in cetaceans. In Sensory abilities of cetaceans (J. A. Thomas & R. Kastelein, eds). pp:31-38, NY: Plenum Press.

Zoeger, J. et al. 1981. Magnetic material in the head of the common Pacific dolphin. Science, 213, 892 - 894.
 

    Thank you again for your responses.

Best wishes,

    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
  --------------60195D2D703F1C725D667377-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2001 16:45:24 0000 From: Alexandros Karamanlidis Subject: Mediterranean monk seal behaviour Content-type: text/plain Dear colleagues The behaviour of the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) is amongst the least understood and least well-studied aspects of this endangered species. Existing behavioural information mainly originates from (limited) behavioural studies and anecdotal accounts. In an effort to collect further relevant information on this elusive animal, we are focusing on the latter source, gathering as many anecdotal accounts as possible on the behavioural aspects of the species. This includes, but is not limited to, monk seal-human interactions, monk seal feeding activity, and apparently anomalous behaviour (such as monk seals sighted in unusual places or habitat). Any guidance or suggestions you may be able to offer in collecting such material would be most gratefully received. Ideally, anecdotal accounts of the type we are looking for should not have been previously published. Firsthand observations are not essential, as long as the submitter can provide some evidence of the reliability of the account. Supporting audio-visual material, such as photographs, video footage or newspaper clippings, would also be most gratefully received. Contributors will, of course, be fully acknowledged in any resulting publication. We hope to hear from you soon. Alexandros Karamanlidis Email: alkar(\)purpleturtle.com Department of Biological Sciences Manchester Metropolitan University Free email addresses helping endangered species every time you write http://www.purpleturtle.com ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 20 Jan 2001 09:18:28 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Tenure track position in marine mammalogy (fwd) From: Jay Rooker TENURE-TRACK FACULTY POSITION MARINE MAMMALOGY The Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University of Galveston, invites applications for a tenure-track position in Marine Mammalogy commencing August 1, 2001. The Department seeks candidates from all areas of marine mammalogy, including physiological ecology, population dynamics and modeling, behavioral ecology, and evolutionary biology. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to undergraduate and graduate education and to develop an externally funded research program. Preference will be given to candidates with a strong research and publication record that demonstrates the application of modern approaches. The position will likely be filled at the Assistant Professor level but applicants at higher ranks will also be considered. Ph.D. degree and evidence of excellence in research and teaching are required. Application review will begin February 20, 2001 and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants should send curriculum vitae, statement of research and teaching interests, and names and addresses of four references to: Dr. Jay R. Rooker, Search Committee Chair, Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University, 5007 Avenue U, Galveston, Texas 77551. TAMUG is a branch campus of Texas A&M University. Graduate appointments are through departments at Texas A&M University. For more information please view the University's web site at: http://www.tamug.tamu.edu. Texas A&M University at Galveston is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minority candidates are encouraged to apply. ************************************** Jay R. Rooker, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Dept. of Marine Biology Texas A&M University (\) Galveston 5007 Avenue U Galveston, Texas 77551 Phone: 409-740-4744 FAX: 409-740-5002 ************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2001 09:15:36 -0800 From: sciprogram Subject: SMM Conference Announcement and Call for Abstracts Announcement and Call for Abstracts 14th Biennial Conference of the Society for Marine Mammalogy Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 28 November to 3 December 2001 The 14th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals will take place in Vancouver, B.C., hosted by the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre. The conference will be held at the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre, from 28 November to 3 December, 2001. The conference will include spoken and poster presentations, special symposia, student and presentation awards, special evening events, and vendor exhibits. There will also be options for specialist workshops prior to and immediately following the conference. The conference will begin with a reception at the Vancouver Aquarium on the evening of 28 November, and end with a gala banquet and dance on the evening of 3 December. The conference website http://www.smmconference.org is the primary resource for all information related to the conference, including registration, abstract submission, workshops and symposia, travel and accommodation, and vendor exhibits. It will be updated frequently as the conference approaches, so please check it often for the latest information. The following lists some important highlights and deadlines. Call for Abstracts The Scientific Program Committee invites submissions from scientists and students in the biological, physical and social sciences pertaining to marine mammals. Topics include, but are not limited to: acoustics and communication, anatomy, behaviour, conservation and management, ecology, physiology, psychophysics and cognition, population and distribution, systematics and evolution, mating strategies and reproduction, and immunology and toxicology. Abstracts for both verbal and poster presentations MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 15 JUNE to allow sufficient time for peer review and notification well in advance of the meeting. An individual may be the first author on only one abstract. Abstracts should be submitted via the conference website. If you are not able to submit electronically, please contact the Scientific Program Committee to make alternative arrangements. There will be triple concurrent sessions to allow as many spoken presentations as possible. There will also be time scheduled exclusively for poster presentations, and sufficient space will be available for posters to remain displayed throughout the conference. Workshops, Symposia and Other Events Meeting space has been arranged for workshops prior to the conference, on 27 and 28 November, or following the conference on 4 and 5 December. If you'd like to submit a proposal for a workshop, please contact the Scientific Program Co-Chairs. The deadline for workshop proposals is 15 March. Workshop organizers will be responsible for the financial arrangements of their workshops. Proposals for special symposia on selected topics to be included within the conference program will be considered until 15 March. There will be a limit of five symposia to allow as many submitted papers and posters as possible. If you are interested in organizing a special symposium, please contact the Scientific Program Co-Chairs directly. A number of rooms in the Convention and Exhibition Centre have been reserved for use by individuals wishing to organize ad hoc meetings during the conference. Please contact conference organizers to arrange use of these rooms. At least one evening video session is planned during the conference. All those wishing to show a video should contact the Scientific Program Co-Chairs, describing their proposed submission. Exhibitors and vendors are invited to participate in the conference. Display booths will be available within the main conference meeting hall. Please see the website for further details. Registration Please register well in advance of the conference to assist organizers in planning and to receive the best registration rate. A pre-registration form is available for downloading on the conference website. It can be mailed or faxed with payment to the Conference Registrar. Early registration ($95 US for students, $195 US for members, $275 US for non-members) MUST BE POSTMARKED BY 14 SEPTEMBER. After this date, registration fees will increase. Advance registration ends on 2 November. Travel and Accommodation Vancouver is served by direct flights from most major cities in North America and many overseas. Rooms at a range of rates have been booked at several hotels within easy walking distance of the Convention and Exhibition Centre. For more information and useful links regarding transportation and hotels, see the conference website. Student Travel Grants The Society for Marine Mammalogy encourages student participation in the 14th Biennial Conference and has committed funds in the form of Student Travel Grants to help defray travel expenses. Students must have an abstract that has been reviewed and accepted (either verbal or poster) for the meeting in order to be considered for a travel grant. Further information on student travel grants will be available on the conference website. Contacts If you can't find the information you need on the conference website ( http://www.smmconference.org ), try the following: General enquiries, e-mail mmconf(\)vanaqua.org Questions regarding the scientific program: sciprogram(\)vanaqua.org Registration info: Ms. Terry Odell, Conference Registrar, todell(\)fbs.net Scientific Program Co-Chairs: John K.B. Ford, Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, P.O. Box 3232, Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6B 3X8. Tel (604) 659-3430, Fax (604) 659-3515 Email: john.ford(\)ubc.ca Andrew W. Trites, Marine Mammal Research Unit, University of British Columbia, Room 18, Hut B-3, 6248 Biological Sciences Road, Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6T 1Z4. Tel (604) 822-8181 Email: trites(\)zoology.ubc.ca Conference Chair: John W. Nightingale, Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, P.O. Box 3232, Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6B 3X8. Tel (604) 659-3443, Fax (604) 659-3515 Email: nightij(\)vanaqua.org ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2001 12:18:21 -0500 From: Dave Johnston Subject: SEAMAMMS 2001 Update: Registration and Abstract Submission SEAMAMMS 2001 Update: Registration and Abstract Submission http://kogia.ml.duke.edu The first Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Marine Mammal Symposium 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 25 oral presentations, a poster session and workshops. The plenary address will be given by Dr. Doug DeMaster, Director of the National Marine Mammal Lab, National Marine Fisheries Service, Seattle . Early registration for the conference is due 16 February 2001. The early registration fee is $45.00 and it covers coffee breaks, abstract book and the Friday night icebreaker. The banquet is not included in the registration fee. To register, download the form from the website (http://kogia.ml.duke.edu/registration.html) and mail it, and your payment (made out to SEAMAMMS) to: SEAMAMMS, Duke University Marine Lab, 135 Duke Marine Lab Rd., Beaufort, NC 28516. Remember, your registration must be postmarked on or before Feb. 16th to qualify for early registration. Late registration costs $60.00. Abstracts for spoken and poster presentations should be submitted electronically via the website (http://kogia.ml.duke.edu/abstract1.html). Abstracts 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). ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 21 Jan 0101 11:28:10 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: FW: Job Announcement (fwd) > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Susan Loeb [SMTP:sloeb(\)CLEMSON.EDU] > Sent: Friday, January 19, 2001 12:40 PM > To: MAMMAL-L(\)SIVM.SI.EDU > Subject: Job Announcement > > Please pass this on to anyone who might be interested. Thanks. > > Assistant Professor/Non-game Wildlife Biology. Tenure-track, 9-month, 50% > teaching, and 50% research in the Department of Aquaculture, Fisheries and > Wildlife, College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, Clemson > University. Minimum qualifications include a Ph. D. in Wildlife Biology or > a related field. For complete description see: > http://virtual.clemson.edu/groups/AFW/index.htm or contact Dr. Tim > Fendley, AFW, G08 Lehotsky Hall, Box 340362, Clemson, SC > 29632-0362. Phone: (864) 656-5329. E-mail: tfndly(\)clemson.Edu. > > > Susan C. Loeb > Southern Research Station > Department of Forest Resources > Clemson University > Clemson, SC 29634-1003 > Phone: (864) 656-4865 Fax: (864) 656-1407 > Email: sloeb(\)clemson.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2001 10:12:12 -0500 From: "Michael A. Rivlin" Subject: Fwd: Stats on whale populations This came to the EJournal this. I thought someone on MARMAN could help. Please send replies directly to Dexter Van Zile at . Michael Rivlin >To: "'ejournal(\)topica.com'" >From: "dzile(\)worldnet.att.net" >Subject: Stats on whale populations >Date: Sun, 14 Jan 2001 15:29:56 -0800 >Reply-To: ejournal(\)topica.com >X-Topica-Loop: 1600011338 >X-Mailer: Microsoft Internet E-mail/MAPI - 8.0.0.4211 > >Does anyone have a site or know who to contact for the most recent >estimates on the whale populations governed by the International Whaling >Commission? > >According to the IWC website, the scientific committee for the commission >has decided not to issue its estimates, but I keep seeing NOAA numbers >regarding the sperm whale population cited every where. When I bounce the >numbers of administrators, researchers and bureaucrats they acknowledge >that's the estimate, but I have yet to see the original > >Does anyone know what citation is being used? > >Dexter Van Zile >Northeast Bureau Chief >National Fisherman >12 Commonwealth Court #3 >Brighton, MA 02135 >Email: dzile(\)worldnet.att.net >Phone: (617) 277-6649 ***************************************************************************** Michael A. Rivlin Senior Correspondent, Amicus Journal 321 Shore Drive, Suite 6 Highlands, NJ 07732 Voice: 732.708.0982 Fax: 732.708.0973 Email: http://www.nrdc.org/amicus Opinions expressed in this message are strictly my own, and do not necessarily represent those of Amicus Journal or its publisher. ***************************************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2001 09:09:45 -0500 From: William Rossiter Subject: Switzer Fellowship Grants; Clarification This is to clarify a message Cetacean Society International posted to MARMAM on 13 January, prompting replies by many students who do not qualify for geographical reasons. We have added specific information in hopes of preventing false hopes, and added a (still uncertain) potential for students in California that may raise more hopes. The Switzer Environmental Fellowship Program provides $13,000 Fellowships per year to ten graduate students matriculating at a college or university in New England (Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island), selected from nominations by certain invited organizations. CSI is one of those invited to submit a nomination, with a deadline of 23 February 2001. There may be a similar opportunity for students matriculating at a college or university in California, under the San Francisco Foundation. We should know shortly. The Switzer Program is administered by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation in partnership with the Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation, with a mission to "identify and nurture those individuals who have the ability and determination to make a significant environmental impact and to support projects which will have direct, early and measurable results in improving the quality of our natural environment". CSI is soliciting requests to be considered as our 2001 nominee. One of the criterion is a direct, personal knowledge of the student, which may be impractical. However, besides the obvious c.v. and _short_ project description, CSI specifically requests names and contacts for established scientists and environmentalists that we might know, as references. Nominees must satisfy Switzer criterion for evidence of leadership, consensus building, and creative solutions, and state why you would benefit from the Fellowship. CSI is obviously interested in nominating someone on a career track involving marine mammals. We have some constraints against captive and invasive research, but some tagging techniques are acceptable depending on the total effort and result. If you or someone you know is interested please submit material to me at the address below, by post, fax or email/attached file as soon as possible, no later than 10 February 2001. I will need time to choose and contact your suggested references. Keep it simple, informal and honest. Make certain all email contacts for references will work; addresses change and people find reasons to do research in warm, remote locations in February. Good luck, 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, 22 Jan 2001 13:25:55 +0000 From: Shannon Gowans Subject: abstract: Sources of heterogeneity from natural marks The following manuscript was recently published in Marine Mammal Science. A limited number of reprints is available from the authors (see address below). Gowans, S and Whitehead, H 2001. Photographic identification of northern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus): Sources of heterogeneity from natural marks. Marine Mammal Science 17(1): 76-93. Abstract The use of natural marks in capture-recapture studies can lead to unequal capture probabilities. This paper examined a catalogue of northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus) photographs from the Gully, Nova Scotia, to identify potential sources of heterogeneity. This information can then be used to select appropriate individuals and photographs to include in analyses. Individual northern bottlenose whales were sufficiently marked to uniquely identify individuals (mean = 14.5 marks/individual; range 1-67) but not all mark types persisted over time. Reliable marks were defined as mark types that were not lost over the 9-year study period (notches, back indentation, and mottled patches). Individuals were considered reliably marked if they possessed at least one back indentation or mottled patch (located within one dorsal fin width, at the base of the dorsal fin) or a notch on the dorsal fin. Sixty-six per cent (SE = 5%) of the population were reliably marked. Long-term analyses (months to years) should use only reliably marked individuals, and the results scaled to account for the rest of the population. Our results also showed that photographic quality affected an observer's ability to identify individuals. For this catalogue, quantitative analysis indicated only photographs of Q < or equal to 4 (on a 6 point scale with 6 representing the highest quality) should be included in mark-recapture analyses sensitive to heterogeneity. Key words: Photo-identification, heterogeneity, mark-recapture, scarring, northern bottlenose whale, Hyperoodon ampullatus. For reprints: sgowans(\)is2.dal.ca Shannon Gowans Biology Department Dalhousie University Halifax, NS 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: Tue, 23 Jan 2001 16:31:34 +0100 From: "M.E.E.R. e.V." Subject: M.E.E.R. ecovolunteer program boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0077_01C08559.F35CC260" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0077_01C08559.F35CC260 boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0078_01C08559.F35CC260" ------=_NextPart_001_0078_01C08559.F35CC260 charset="iso-8859-1" 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". Dates: 16 - 30 March 2001 03 - 17 May 2001 18 May - 01 June 2001 Places available: 9 (per 2-week period) 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. While applying, please tell us, which of the three courses (A, B or C) = you would like to take part in - and also indicate, if one of the others = course also is possible for you. Sincerely, Fabian Ritter M.E.E.R. e.V. 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. ------=_NextPart_001_0078_01C08559.F35CC260 charset="iso-8859-1"

M.E.E.R. Ecovolunteer = Project
Assisting in field=20 research on human-cetacean interactions

Two weeks practical = course on=20 behavioural research in the Canary
Islands. Learn to know ecological = whale=20 watching and participate in all
stages of a study on interactions = between=20 cetaceans and whale watching
vessels of the project "M.E.E.R. La=20 Gomera".

Dates:  16 - 30 March 2001
       =20     03 - 17 May 2001
       =20     18 May - 01 June 2001

Places available:  9 (per = 2-week=20 period)

Qualification: English language, special interest in = field=20 research. No
other skills needed, experience in research and = photography=20 welcome.

Detailed information on the course available on request = (fax or=20 e-mail)
and provided with booking. If you are interested in further=20 information,
please let us know as soon as possible! Note the limited = number=20 of
places.
 
While applying, please tell us, which = of the three=20 courses (A, B or C) you would like to take part in - and also indicate, = if one=20 of the others course also is possible for you.
 
Sincerely,

Fabian Ritter

M.E.E.R. e.V.
TEL/FAX: +49-30-85 07 87=20 55
E-mail: meer(\)infocanarias.com

Th= e=20 non-profit association M.E.E.R. is registred and based in = Berlin,
Germany.=20 The objectives of the association are conservation, research
and = education in=20 order to protect cetaceans and their natural habitats.
Our work aims = at=20 increasing the public awareness for the oceans and to
present ways = how humans=20 can deal with nature in a responsible way. With
the project "M.E.E.R. = La=20 Gomera" we present an example of how whale
watching can be done in an = ecologically sustainable way.

------=_NextPart_001_0078_01C08559.F35CC260-- ------=_NextPart_000_0077_01C08559.F35CC260 name="MEER.vcf" filename="MEER.vcf" BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:2.1 N:;MEER FN:MEER EMAIL;PREF;INTERNET:meer(\)infocanarias.com REV:20010123T132508Z END:VCARD ------=_NextPart_000_0077_01C08559.F35CC260-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Jan 2001 11:45:46 -0500 From: Emily Hanson Organization: NOAA Subject: Proposed 2001 List of Fisheries NMFS published the proposed 2001 List of Fisheries in the Federal Register on January 22, 2001 (66 FR 6545). As required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the List of Fisheries categorizes each U.S. commercial fishery based on the level of interaction each fishery has with marine mammals. The proposed rule is available for public comment until March 8, 2001. Copies of the proposed rule can be found at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/PR2/Fisheries_Interactions/list_of_fisheries.html -- Emily Hanson Fishery Biologist NOAA/NMFS Marine Mammal Division 1315 East-West Highway F/PR2 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Ph: (301) 713-2322 x101 Fx: (301) 713-4060 Emily.Hanson(\)noaa.gov ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Jan 2001 13:00:15 -0500 From: "Samantha D. Eide" Subject: Summer Marine Mammals Course ------ Summer Courses in Marine Mammalogy: Eckerd College and Mote Marine Laboratory, 18 June - 13 July 2001 Two courses, Biology of Marine Mammals (MSN 431) and Conservation of Marine Mammals (MSN 432), 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 course cover a number of topics one would expect in marine mammalogy courses, but they are special due to a combination of several features, including: =20 =B7 involvement of nationally and internationally renowned faculty authorities such as Dr. Gordon B. Bauer, New College; Dr. Douglas P. Nowacek, Mote Marine Laboratory; Mrs. Meghan E. Pitchford, University of California, Santa Cruz; Dr. James A. Powell, Wildlife Trust; Dr. John E. Reynolds, Eckerd College, Mote Marine Laboratory, and U.S. Marine Mammal 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 Mote Marine Laboratory =B7 waterfront location - easy access to free-ranging dolphins and manate= es =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-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 new textbooks edited and written by many of the course instructors. Course Credit/Costs/Information: Students completing the courses receive = 7 semester hours of course credit. Combined tuition for both courses total= s $2950. This fee includes all books, film, lab fees, field trips, admission to Sea World, and other expenses associated with the classes. Dormitory housing and good, for those who need them, cost an additional $800. For more information on course content contact the Professor of Record, Dr. John E. Reynolds, III at reynolje(\)eckerd.edu. For application materials and information on course logistics contact Ms. Cheryl Gold at goldcc(\)eckerd.edu.=20 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2001 09:55:05 +0800 Reply-To: gloria(\)aqwa.com.au From: Gloria Jackson Subject: Dolphin deaths in Western Australia Dear Marmamers, You may have already seen some reference to this event, however I would like to report this first hand. A very disturbing event occurred in December 1999. Three resident dolphins at Underwater World, Western Australia died suddenly over a four day period between Christmas and New year. These were healthy animals, a male of approx. 29yrs of age, a female of approx. 30yrs, and a 11yr old female (all Tursiops) A scientific task force was immediately set up to thoroughly investigate every aspect of the deaths. After piecing together all the information the taskforce concluded that: when the clinical signs, histopathology and absence of evidence of environmental toxins or infectious agents were considered together, plus the uniqueness of healthy dolphins dying in such rapid succession, the most probable cause of death was poisoning by an acute drug or toxin given by person or persons unknown. All the information was then handed to the Police for criminal investigation. After months of investigation an offender/s have yet to be apprehended and the case has been closed. Up until the recent case closure Police had requested that all relevant information remain confidential (which included posting this report) This was a devastating event for those who worked closely with these remarkable animals, and by reporting this to fellow marmamers I hope it may serve as a warning of the potential for malicious human interference. Sincerely, Gloria Jackson Marine Mammal Manager. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 13:43:10 -0500 From: Robert Schick Subject: Recent bowhead whale publication The following paper has been recently published, and reprints are now available from me. Spatial Components of Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus) Distribution in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea R.S. Schick* and D.L. Urban, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708 *Current Address: Edgerton Research Lab, New England Aquarium, Central Wharf, Boston, MA. 02110-3399, USA. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 57: 2193-2200 (2000) Abstract Bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) on their fall migration are exposed to oil exploration activities in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea. While previous research into the effect of industrial noise on whale behavior and distribution has noted significant responses, this research has often proceeded from a parametric statistical framework. To account for the presence of spatially autocorrelated and intercorrelated data, we propose a suite of spatial analysis techniques to assess the distribution of bowhead whales relative to oil exploration activities. Using random resampling techniques and Mantel tests, we analyzed the distribution of bowhead whales around active drilling rigs in 1993. Results from the resampling tests indicated whales were distributed farther from the drilling rig than they would be under a random scenario. Results from the Mantel tests indicated that in 1993, the spatial pattern of bowhead whale distribution was highly correlated with distance from the drilling rig, indicating that the presence of the drilling rig resulted in a significant temporary loss in available habitat. These techniques offer a new perspective on spatial analysis in the marine realm. ******************************************************************** Rob Schick Assistant Scientist/GIS Edgerton Research Lab New England Aquarium Central Wharf Boston, MA 02110-3399 Phone: 617.742.5198 Fax: 617.723.9705 rschick(\)neaq.org http://www.marinegis.org ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 26 Jan 0101 08:31:02 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Abstracts- Aquatic Mammals, vol 26, no. 3 - 2000 (fwd) > > Dear Marmam subscribers, > The following are abstracts for articles appearing in the most recent issue > of Aquatic Mammals. Aquatic Mammals is the journal of the European > Association for Aquatic Mammals (EAAM). These are posted as a courtesy to > the EAAM and the journal editor. For more information on the EAAM, you can > check their webpage: http://eaam.org. Inquiries may also be directed to the > journal's editor - Dr. Jeanette Thomas: Jeanette_Thomas(\)ccmail.wiu.edu > With each abstract, I have provided the address of the author to whom > correspondence should be directed. Please do not request reprints from the > Marmam list editors or me. > Dagmar Fertl > Dfertl(\)geo-marine.com > ************************************************************************ > ************* > Nachtigall, P.E.*, W.W.L. Au, J.L. Pawloski, K. Andrews, and C.W. Oliver. > 2000. Measurements of the low frequency components of active and passive > sounds produced by dolphins. Aquatic Mammals 26(3): 167-174. > *Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, P.O. Box 1106, > Kailua, Hawaii 96734, USA > Low frequency components of whistles, tailslaps, breaches, and jaw claps > were recorded from a trained Pacific bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus > located in open bay pens at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology in > Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Peak to peak pressure levels for breaches ranged > between 168 to 181 dB re 1 micro Pascal, and fluke produced tail slaps > ranged between 166-175 dB re 1 micro Pascal. RMS measurements of whistles > ranged between 143 and 153 dB re 1 micro Pascal, while peak to peak jaw > clap sounds were at least 172 dB re 1 micro Pascal. Most of the energy > occurred below 2 kHz. These measured levels are louder than have typically > been reported are the results are discussed in terms of potential > dolphin-tuna associations. > *************************************************************************** > Kastelein, R.A.*, N.M. Schooneman, and P.R. Wiepkema. 2000. Food > consumption and body weight of captive Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus > divergens). Aquatic Mammals 26(3): 175-190. > *Harderwijk Marine Mammal Park, Strandboulevard Oost 1, 3841 AB Harderwijk, > The Netherlands > Food consumption and body weight were recorded for 6 males and 3 female > captive Pacific walruses. The study is based on historical data that were > recorded for short-term husbandry purposes. Most animals came as calves > from the wild and received formula during their first year at the park, > although one male calf was born at the park, and was suckled. He began to > eat fish at the age of 7 months and was fully weaned at the age of 19 > months. During the calendar year of birth and the following year, all but > one of the walruses were raised on formula. Thereafter the walruses > consumed solid food, and the annual food intakes varied strongly between > individuals of the same sex and age. In one female, a pronounced increase > occurred in the year during which she was pregnant, gave birth, and suckled > the calf for the rest of that year and the following calendar year. During > gestation, her body weight increased from 750 kg to 1100 kg. The calendar > year after delivery her food intake remained above normal. For the entire > lactation period, the mother consumed 91% more food than during similar > periods in non-reproductive years. The year after weaning, food intake of > the mother decreased below the pre-reproductive level. In one male a rapid > increase in food intake occurred after the age of 12 years. This coincided > with a strong secondary growth spurt, following sexual maturity. During the > first 4 years of life, the period of rapid growth, food consumption > generally increased each month. Thereafter, there were seasonal > fluctuations in food intake. These fluctuations appeared to be related to > reproduction (February-April in males, and February in females) and molt > (June-August). The body weight of one female stabilized at around 1200 kg, > that of another at 750 kg. The body weight of the 2 males stabilized around > 1400 kg. Between weaning and attaining a body weight of approximately 800 > kg, individuals showed a negative relationship between body weight and food > intake as a percentage of body weight. Adult walruses consumed between 2 > and 3% of body weight per day in fish. > *************************************************************************** > Feinholz, D.M.* and S. Atkinson. 2000. Possible aetiologies of yellow > coloration in dolphin calves. Aquatic Mammals 26(3): 191-195. > *University of Hawaii at Manoa, Dept of Zoology, Ecology, Evolution and > Conservation Biology Program, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, P.O. Box > 1346, Kaneohe, HI 96744, USA > We report on two incidences of yellowing of the skin and mucus membranes: > one involving three wild bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus gilli) in > Monterey Bay, California and one involving a live stranded rough-toothed > dolphin (Steno bredanensis) in French Polynesia. > The three calves in Monterey Bay were observed between April and July 1994 > and appeared to be in their first month of life. They had a lemon-yellow > coloration, prominent around the rostrum and mucus membranes, but evenly > distributed over the body. This coloration persisted for at least 48 days, > after which the calves returned to a light gray color. None of the adults, > including the mothers showed any signs of yellowing. > A female rough-toothed dolphin calf that stranded in October 1997 and was > estimated less than two months of age had broad yellow lateral streaks, > which lightened during rehabilitation with minimal yellow persisting for 6 > months after the calf was found. > The following paper discusses some of the probable causes of the observed > coloration patterns: (1) physiologic jaundice of the newborn; (2) the > presence of an algal film on the skin, and (3) diet induced yellowing. > *************************************************************************** > Spanier, E.,* O. Goffman, D. Kerem, and K. Lavalli. 2000. Injury of an I > ndian Ocean bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) in the Red Sea by a > stingray spine. . Aquatic Mammals 26(3): 196-201. > *Israel Marine Mammal Research & Assistance Center (IMMRAC), The Leon > Recanati Institute for Maritime Studies, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, > Haifa 31905 Israel > There are only rare reports on injuries inflicted by stingrays to dolphins, > all of which are based on necropsies of dolphin carcasses. The present > report is the first documented case that deals with stingray injury to a > live bottlenose dolphin that recuperated from the sting. The injured animal > is an adult female Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) that > resides in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea off a Bedouin fishing village in the > Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. The spine extracted from the dolphin identified the > injuring species. It was a mature male darkspotted stingray (Himantura > uarnak, family Dasyatidae), with an estimated disk diameter of 106 cm. The > symptoms of the injury are described and the probable circumstances of the > incident are discussed. > *************************************************************************** > Maeda, H.*, T. Koido, and A. Takemura. 2000. Principal component analysis > of song units produced by humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the > Ryukyu region of Japan. Aquatic Mammals 26(3): 202-211. > *Graduate School of Marine Science and Engineering, Nagasaki University, > 1-14, Bunkyo-Machi, Nagasaki, 852-8131, Japan > A total of 4681 units from humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae, songs > were obtained around Ryuku Islands, Japan, from 1991 to 1997. Based on > aural and spectrographic analysis, we recognized 32 unit types and divided > into four categories: harmonic, amplitude modulated, impulsive and complex > sounds. Peak frequency of the majority of units were higher than the range > of peak frequency of ambient noise in Ryuku region, suggesting that > humpback whale songs have been under selective force from environmental > noise conditions. We classified all unit types into nine groups based on > patterns from principal component analysis (PCA). Within a unit group, no > clear boundary among unit types was found. Some unit groups occurred more > often that others: H1, H4 and A2 occurred every year, while sound types C1 > occurred during only 1992. Possible biological significance about sounds > produced by humpback whales was discussed based on the occurrence of each > unit group in each different theme type. > *************************************************************************** > Klishin, V.O.*, V.V. Popov, and A. Ya. Supin. 2000. Hearing capabilities of > a beluga whale, Delphinapterus leucas. Aquatic Mammals 26(3): 212-228. > *Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, 33 > Lenincky Prosp., 117071 Moscow, Russia > Hearing sensitivity, frequency tuning, temporal resolution, and directional > selectivity were measured in a beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) using > evoked-potential methods. The animal had a U-shaped audiogram, similar to > other odontocetes, with high sensitivities (<75 dB re 1 micro Pascal) from > 32 kHz to 108 kHz; with the lowest threshold of 54.6 dB at 54 kHz. > Frequency tuning curves were of equivalent rectangular quality (Qer) values > from 27.2 at 32 kHz to 49.7 at 108 kHz center frequency (Q10dB values from > 14.0 to 25.5 respectively). Amplitude-modulation and rhythmic-click rates > were reproduced by rhythmic evoked potentials with a cut-off frequency of > 1400 Hz. Directional selectivity diagram was characterized by about 20-dB > threshold increase at a 90 degree azimuth. > *************************************************************************** > Visser, I.N.*, J. Berghan, R. van Meurs, and D. Fertl. 2000. Killer whale > (Orcinus orca) predation on a shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) in > New Zealand waters. Aquatic Mammals 26(3): 229-231. > *The Orca Project, P.O. Box 1233, Whangaeri, New Zealand > Observations of killer whale (Orcinus orca) predation on elasmobranchs are > not common. We report on a group of seven killer whales in New Zealand > waters capturing a shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus), a species > previously not reported as prey of killer whales. Elasmobranchs have been > suggested as a main prey item for New Zealand killer whales and the > addition of this species to the prey list helps to support this theory. > ************************************************************************ > ******** > Visser, I.N.* and D. Fertl. 2000. Stranding, resighting, and boat strike of > a killer whale (Orcinus orca) off New Zealand. Aquatic Mammals 26(3): > 232-240. > *The Orca Project, P.O. Box 1233, Whangaeri, New Zealand > In mid-June 1997, a subadult, male killer whale was found stranded on the > coast of New Zealand. It remained on the beach for approximately 21 h and, > with assistance, was successfully refloated. Prior to the stranding the > animal was observed on six occasions (as early as September 1996), and > subsequently was resighted 11 times (as recently as October 1999). On the > fifth post-stranding encounter (October 1998), this killer whale was > observed with substantial damage to the dorsal fin, caused by a boat > strike. This individual whale has survived for over three and a half years > since stranding, and for two years since the boat strike. Information on > wound healing is presented. > ************************************************************************ > ******** > Visser, I.N. 2000. Killer whale (Orcinus orca) interactions with longline > fisheries in New Zealand waters. Aquatic Mammals 26(3): 241-252. > *The Orca Project, P.O. Box 1233, Whangaeri, New Zealand > Killer whales (Orcinus orca) interact with longline fisheries around the > world, however, they have not previously been reported taking fish off > longlines in New Zealand waters. Two new killer whale prey species (school > shark, Galeorhinus galeus and blue nose, Hyperoglyphe antarchia) have been > recorded. A great deal of effort has been applied, world wide, to reduce > killer whale-fishery interactions, but few methods have been successful. > Fishers in New Zealand have used "tuna bombs" and shooting. > ************************************************************************ > ******** > Serrano, A.* and E.H. Miller. 2000. How vocal are harp seals (Pagophilus > groenlandicus)? A captive study of seasonal and diel patterns. Aquatic > Mammals 26(3): 253-259. > *Biology Department and Ocean Sciences Centre, Memorial University of > Newfoundland, St. John's, NF, Canada A1B 3X9 > The purpose of this study was to document the annual cycle of underwater > vocal activity in captive harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus). This > species is vocally active on ice and under water during the breeding > season. Vocal behaviour in the non-breeding is unknown, but the species is > highly gregarious throughout the year so we predicted vocal activity > year-round. Ten harp seals of both sexes and various ages were studied in > large outdoor tanks with flow-through ambient seawater from January 1996 to > May 1997. The study was conducted in Newfoundland, within the species' > natural range, so vocal activity should be representative of that in the > wild. Vocal activity varied seasonally and with time of day. Rates of > underwater vocalization increased in February and peaked in March (the > breeding period) and were higher at night than during the day. This study > showed that captive groups of harp seals are vocally active throughout the > year. Field recordings outside the breeding period are needed to extend > these findings and to determine the social functions of vocalizations in > feeding, migration, and other contexts. > ************************************************************************ > ***** > de O. Santos, M.C.*, S. Rosso, S. Siciliano, A.N. Zerbini, E. Zampirolli, > A. Vicente, and F. Alvarenga. 2000. Behavioral observations of the marine > tucuxi dolphin (Sotalia fluviatilis) in Sao Paulo estuarine waters, > Southeastern Brazil. Aquatic Mammals 26(3): 260-267. > *Projeto Atlantis, Departamento de Ecologia Geral, Insituto de Biociencias, > Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil > The marine tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis) is one of the lesser-known > delphinids. Many aspects on this species' natural history and behavior > remain unknown. Herein, we present some behavioral observations of tucuxis > found in Sao Paulo State estuarine waters, Southeastern Brazil. Three > observations took place at the Cananeia Estuary (25 00'S, 48 55'W), and the > other one at the Santos estuarine and nearby coastal waters (23 58'S, 46 > 21'W). These observations were reported from 1995 until 1999 and lasted > from 2 h to 24 months. Behavioral aspects were reported through the ad > libitum (sesu Altmann, 1974) sampling method. At the Cananeia estuary, the > marine tucuxi epimeletic or care-giving behavior was noticed in 1995. A > dead calf was carried for about 2 h by an adult dolphin, probably its > mother. This notification adds tucuxi to the list of cetacean species in > which carrying dead calves in the wild has been described. In the same > estuarine waters and in 1996, we reported an individual tucuxi that was > hand-fed by local fishermen. Tourists noticed other observations and some > photographs showed that more than one dolphin had been hand-fed in local > estuarine waters. From 1996 to 1998, tucuxis were observed spontaneously > swimming with 2 domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) at a local beach placed at > the same estuarine connection with the sea. These interactions occurred > because local tucuxis approach sand banks close to that beach to prey on > fishes. A case of a lone and sociable tucuxi was reported at the Santos > estuary from 1998 to 1999. A 160 cm long male interacted with boats and > bathers for about 10 months, then it disappeared. This is the first known > case of a lone and sociable marine tucuxi. > > > > ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2001 14:12:27 -0400 Reply-To: Arturo Serrano From: Arturo Serrano Organization: University of New Brunswick, Saint John Subject: Two new articles. Dear MARMAM readers, The following articles might be of interest to you. Please do not request the article from the MARMAM editors. A limited number of reprints are available from the authors (see address below). I apologize for cross postings. Serrano, A. 2001. New underwater and aerial vocalizations of captive harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus). Can. J. Zool. 79: 75-81. Abstract: Pinnipeds are ecologically and socially diverse, attributes that are reflected in their systems of communication. The purpose of this investigation was to document the vocal repertoire and annual cycle of vocal activity in the harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus), a species that communicates mainly under water, but whose social and communicative systems outside the breeding season are poorly known. The repertoire comprised 18 vocal classes, or call types; 7 that had not been described previously are described here. Vocal activity varied seasonally and with time of day. Calls of low frequency and with few pulse repetitions were predominantly used outside the breeding season, and calls of high frequency and with a high number of pulse repetitions predominated in the breeding season. The new vocalizations described here differed in several ways from those described previously. First, calls were relatively brief, with an average duration of 1.75 s (except call types 22 and 23, which averaged >2 s in duration). Second, some calls differed in mean fundamental frequency, the average being 677 Hz. Call types 22 and 23 differed the most, with an average of 838 Hz. The vocal repertoire described previously comprise calls with a fundamental frequency of approximately 400-500 Hz. Third, call types 22 and 25 differed from the rest of the vocalizations. The mean maximum frequency of call types 22 and 25 was 3.4 kHz, while the mean maximum frequency of the other call types is around 7.7 kHz. Serrano, A., and E.H. Miller. 2000. How vocal are harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus)? A captive study of seasonal and diel patterns. Aquatic Mammals 26(3): 253-259. The purpose of this study was to document the annual cycle of underwater vocal activity in captive harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus). This species is vocally active on ice and under water during the breeding season. Vocal behaviour in the non-breeding is unknown, but the species is highly gregarious throughout the year so we predicted vocal activity year-round. Ten harp seals of both sexes and various ages were studied in large outdoor tanks with flow-through ambient seawater from January 1996 to May 1997. The study was conducted in Newfoundland, within the species' natural range, so vocal activity should be representative of that in the wild. Vocal activity varied seasonally and with time of day. Rates of underwater vocalization increased in February and peaked in March (the breeding period) and were higher at night than during the day. This study showed that captive groups of harp seals are vocally active throughout the year. Field recordings outside the breeding period are needed to extend these findings and to determine the social functions of vocalizations in feeding, migration, and other contexts. ----------------------- Arturo Serrano Ph.D. Candidate Seal Acoustics & Ecology Laboratory University of New Brunswick, Saint John P.O. Box 5050 Saint John, NB E2L 4L5 Phone: (506) 642 9560 Fax: (506) 648 5811 E-mail: x57zp(\)unbsj.ca ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2001 22:05:57 -0000 From: Heather Medic Subject: Internship for spring-summer Island Marine Institute (IMI), In Lahaina, Maui, is seeking researchers in marine mamal biology or related field for March-July, May-September, and November-March. IMI is under the direction of Dr. Joe Mobley and Dr. Robin Baird. IMI works with volunteer undergraduates and graduates who are working toward a career in marine mammal research. The minimum requirements for these positions are: 24 volunteer hours (8-hour days) per week with at least a 4 month commitmet, computer experience, familiarity with scientific literature and reference library, and public speaking. A background in photography and/ or photo-identification is preferred. Photo-shop desirable. There are no charges or fees for participation in this program. This is an opportunity for those interested in gaining real practical experience in conducting marine mammal research. All applicants must send a resume with a cover letter detailing interest, experence, and availability with three references ASAP to: Island Marine Institute 658 Front Street Suite 101 Lahaina, HI 96761 Attention: Heather Medic Research Project Manager (808) 249-TAIL Fax: (808) 661-5792 DO NOT SEND VIA EMAIL For more information www.whalewatchmaui.com _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 27 Jan 2001 15:31:14 -0800 From: Kristin Kaschner Subject: beaked whale foraging in deep-scattering layer In-Reply-To: <200101162357.PAA00510(\)sun.zoology.ubc.ca> Hello - I have been asked by a colleague to help him to find a reference for a hypothesis about the evolution of beaked whale foraging in the deep-scattering layer, which Ken Norris apparently proposed/mentioned in a talk here at UBC's Fisheries Centre a number of years ago. He seemed to have suggested that air breathing cetaceans, being independent of the oxygen content of the surrounding waters, are able to exploit an ecological niche - the oxygen deprived deep scattering layer - that other marine predators may not have access to. I haven't been able to find any reference to this hypothesis in any of K. Norris' publications or any other publication about beaked whales that I have been able to find and would therefore appreciate any help that anybody could give me to confirm this statement. Thank you very much, 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: Sun, 28 Jan 2001 09:43:38 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Volunteer Opportunity (fwd) From: Dian Hardy The largest haulout of harbor seals north of Point Reyes in northern California is to be found at Jenner, at the mouth of the Russian River. Since 1984, the seals have been monitored and protected by volunteers. A foraging study as well as a population and an interference study have been done at this site. >From March through Labor Day, on weekends and holidays, Seal Watch volunteers are present on the beach, offering the public information about the pupping season and the life cycle of the harbor seals. There will be a training for new and experienced Seal Watchers on February 24 at 9:00 am at the Bodega Grange Hall in Bodega Bay. The training will last until 4:00 pm and will include information on natural history, marine biology, interpretive techniques and, weather permitting, a visit to the haulout site. Seal Watch is a part of the Volunteers in Parks program for California State Parks and is supported by Stewards of Slavianka, the nonprofit interpretive association that works cooperatively with State Parks in the Russian River/Mendocino District of northern California. To register, call Linda Finch, Programs Manager, at the SOS office at 707-869-9177. Hello from the Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators of BC (NAME BC) We are hosting a conference this July in Victoria - the National Marine Educators Association annual conference. This will be an international conference, and will be of interest to anyone who deals with marine, aquatic, estuarine or other watershed issues - especially those interested in communicating these issues to children and the public. Check out our conference website at http://www.uvcs.uvic.ca/conf/nmea2001/ Shortly, I am planning to send out some written information about the conference, as well as a call for papers to your organization. Who is the best contact to receive this information? Also, I'm keen on getting in touch with as many British Columbia marine and aquatic organizations as possible - I'd greatly appreciate it if you could let me know if you have any list or contact information for organizations with this mandate. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the conference. Thanks very much for your response, Dave Hutchinson NMEA 2001 Conference Co-Chair Dave Hutchinson SEOS Co-op Coordinator University of Victoria (250) 472-4354 FAX (250) 721-6200 http://www.coop.uvic.ca/seoscoop/ seoscoop(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2001 13:09:10 -0800 From: Elaine Allen Subject: General Meeting Announcement In-Reply-To: <200011020344.t02aak.12tm.37kbi5a(\)fb04.eng00.mindspring.net> Content-type: multipart/alternative; boundary="B_3063704950_543885" > 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. --B_3063704950_543885 The Marine Animal Rescue Society would like to invite everyone to our first General Meeting of the year. Who: Marine Animal Rescue Society When: February 8th 2001 8:00 PM Where: Florida International University FIU Arts & Sciences Bldg 3000 NE 145th Street N. Miami, Florida 33181 Room WC155 What: Volunteer Meeting Speaker: Craig Pelton This meeting is free and open to the public. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or member of MARS we invite you to join us on February 8th at the North Bay Campus of FIU at 8 pm. We will be updating on the past year and future goals of MARS. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us via: Office: 305-919-5503 Website: http://www.marineanimalrescue.org Email: mars(\)marineanimalrescue.org Hope to see you there! Elaine Allen Marine Animal Rescue Society --B_3063704950_543885 General Meeting Announcement The Marine Animal Rescue Society would like to invite= everyone to our first General Meeting of the year.


Who:            &nbs= p;  Marine Animal Rescue Society

When:            &nb= sp;February 8th 2001
            &nb= sp;           8:00 PM=

Where:            Fl= orida International University
            &nb= sp;           FIU Art= s & Sciences Bldg
            &nb= sp;           3000 NE= 145th Street
            &nb= sp;           N. Miam= i, Florida  33181

            &nb= sp;           Room &n= bsp;WC155

What:            &nb= sp;  Volunteer Meeting

Speaker:           Craig = Pelton
            &nb= sp;            &= nbsp;  


This meeting is free and open to the public.  If you are interested in= becoming a volunteer or member of MARS we invite you to join us on February= 8th at the North Bay Campus of FIU at 8 pm.  We will be updating on th= e past year and future goals of MARS.  

If you have any questions please feel free to contact us via:

Office:  305-919-5503
Website:  http://www.marineanimalrescue.org
Email:  mars(\)marineanimalrescue.org

Hope to see you there!

Elaine Allen
Marine Animal Rescue Society


            &nb= sp;       
 --B_3063704950_543885-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2001 19:38:04 -0500 From: Sara Ellis Subject: Abstract: Maternal effects in the harbor seal, Phoca vitulina. Dear MARMAM readers, The following article was recently published in the Journal of Mammalogy. A limited number of copies are available from the first author (see address below). Please do not request the article from the MARMAM editors. Ellis, Sara L.*, W. Don Bowen, Daryl J. Boness, and Sara J. Iverson. 2000. Maternal effects on offspring mass and stage of development at birth in the harbor seal, Phoca vitulina. Journal of Mammalogy 81(4): 1143-1156. Abstract: We studied effects of maternal age, body mass, and parturition date on birth mass and stage of development at birth in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) on Sable Island, Nova Scotia, over a 10-year period. As predicted, effects of maternal mass and age on pup traits varied with maternal age. Premature pups, characterized by extensive fetal pelage termed lanugo, weighed 20% less than newborns without lanugo and were born early in the season to low-body-mass females 4-6 years of age. Among intermediate-aged females (7-10 years old), percentage of lanugo on pups was correlated negatively with postpartum body mass, but not with female age. Thus, maternal condition rather than age had stronger effects on stage of development of offspring at birth. Overall, maternal age explained 54% of the variance in birth mass, whereas postpartum mass of females explained only 20% of the variance. These relationships did not differ with sex of the pup, although male pups were 3.7% heavier than female pups. Effects of maternal age were strongest among young females; however, reproductive parity was more important than age itself in determining offspring birth mass. Key words: birth date, birth mass, harbor seal, maternal age, maternal mass, Phoca vitulina *Sara L. Ellis, Ph.D. General Delivery Friendship, Maine, 04547 207-832-0414 sellis(\)lobsters.org ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2001 11:37:46 -0800 From: David Mattila Subject: POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT FOR LARGE WHALE RESCUE ASSISTANT AT THE CENTER FOR COASTAL STUDIES ------ POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT =09 =09 POSITION TITLE Rescue Assistant =09 EMPLOYER DESCRIPTION The Center for Coastal Studies is a private, non-profit organization, specializing in research, education and conservation of the marine mammals of the North Atlantic, with a particul= ar interest in the great whale populations of the Gulf of Maine, and the habitats upon which they depend. As a part of its conservation program, CCS has developed techniques to release whales from lethal entanglements = in fishing gear or other manmade materials. =09 APPLY WITH... E-mail resume and cover letter to employer or Mail resume and cover letter to employer with References =09 SALARY Starting salary is between $25,000 and $30,000 depending on the applicant's previous experience. The position includes medical benefits, retirement plan and opportunities for advancement=20 =09 POSITION INFORMATION =09 JOB TYPE Full Time=20 =09 DESCRIPTION Responsible for: Assisting the whale disentanglement program with hands on involvement in rescues, as well as outreach and training to the USCG and professional mariners. The applicant must be physically fit, levelheaded, possess goo= d communication skills and be experienced operating small boats around free-swimming whales. Experience with potentially dangerous situations (e.g. search and rescue, commercial fishing, fire fighting=85.etc.) and a knowledge of whale biology and fishing technology is helpful. Other usef= ul experience includes: handling lines and equipment under heavy loads, marine equipment design and maintenance, first aid, vessel operators license, computer skills (database and presentation software). =09 CONTACT PERSON AT INSTITUTION =09 NAME David Mattila =09 TITLE Co-Director =09 DEPT Large whale disentanglement program =09 PHONE 508 487-3622 ext114 =09 FAX 508 487-4495 =09 EMAIL ccs(\)coastalstudies.org =09 WEB www.coastalstudies.org =09 =09 ORGANIZATION Center for Coastal Studies =09 ADDRESS PO Box 1036 =09 CITY Provincetown =09 STATE MA =09 ZIP CODE 02657 =09 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2001 08:27:58 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Internship opportunity (fwd) From: CORE 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. Cetaceans are whales, dolphins and porpoises. CORE=B9s mission is to promote stewardship and conservation of cetaceans and their marine environment. In collaboration with other research organizations, CORE=B9s research focuses 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. CORE collects most of its research data aboard commercial whale watching vessels operating out of Gloucester & Nantucket, MA, and Rye, NH. Interns are aboard each trip as research assistants, and are primarily responsible 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. In general, the interns will help assure the whale watch trips run smoothly. Additionally, interns assist with data entry and general office work. They are also taught all aspects of analysis including data analysis and individual identification of whales through photo analysis. Applications for the summer session must be received by March 31st. Interviews for the summer session will be conducted through mid-April. Applications for the fall session must be received by July 31st. Interviews for the fall session will be conducted through mid-August. The internships sessions are not rigidly set, and interns are encouraged to apply any time throughout the year - CORE now offers intern postions year-round. We are happy to accommodate students at "odd" times, provided that a two month commitment to the internship is made. CORE accepts only college-aged students (or older) and requires a minimum commitment of two months. Though we do not charge a fee for participating in the intern program, interns are responsible for providing their own room, board and transportation. Scheduling is generally flexible enough to provide time for interns to have a part-time job, if necessary. If you are interested in participating in CORE=B9s intern program, please visit ou= r website, http://www.coreresearch.org to obtain an application. Applications can be found in the INTERN PROGRAM section of the website, at the bottom of the internship description page. Please send your completed application, resume and a letter of intent to: CORE 245 Western Avenue, Box 8, Essex, MA 01929 to the attention of Lisa Foerster. ====================================================== 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. Users of the web-based e-mail provider HOTMAIL should be aware that the "block sender" feature (used to avoid "junk" mail), if active, will also block listserver messages. Therefore, make sure you have "block sender" feature turned off. This may also apply to other e-mail programs with equivalent features. ______________________________________________________________ 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 January 2001 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2001 14:04:20 -0500 From: Allison Glass Subject: Whale Research Internship Opportunity Whale Center of New England Internship Announcement The Whale Center of New England is a non-profit research organization, comprised of approximately 10 staff scientists and 12-15 interns per year, 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 several hundred humpback whales that spend a great deal of time in the spring, summer, and fall in these waters. If you would like more information about the type of research that we conduct, please go to www.whalecenter.org/research.htm. To see a listing of the papers that we have published, please go to www.whalecenter.org/abstract.htm. Since 1982, interns have been responsible for collecting, organizing, transcribing, and analyzing data dealing with the behavior and identification of N. Atlantic cetaceans, including humpback, fin, minke and right whales as well as Atlantic white-sided dolphins. We are currently looking to fill openings for the summer (May 20 - Sept. 1), fall (Aug. 26 - Dec. 21) semesters of 2001 and the spring semester of 2002 (Jan. 20 - May 25). The internship will involve extensive photo identification and computer work (training provided), plus field data collection aboard commercial whale watching vessels and our research boat Silver II. For more information about our internship, please go to www.whalecenter.org/intern.htm A common apartment is provided, 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. A fee of $1000 will be charged for the internship; the fee covers housing and a weekly food stipend. In the past, applicants for these positions have been primarily undergraduate students or recent college graduates. The internship is uniquely tailored to the needs of this group of applicants; therefore, they are given priority. The Whale Center of New England encourages college students to arrange to obtain credit for the internship through their college or university. 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: Whale Center of New England P.O. Box 159 Gloucester MA 01930-0159 ATTN. Allison Glass/Intern Coordinator Allison(\)whalecenter.org ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2001 15:01:42 -0500 From: Robert Schick Subject: Recent Bowhead paper- Out of reprints Regarding the abstract I posted last week, I have now run out of reprints. If anyone further is interested in the paper, I'll place a pdf copy of it on my website next week. Look for it there (http://www.marinegis.org) Thanks, Rob ******************************************************************** Rob Schick Assistant Scientist/GIS Edgerton Research Lab New England Aquarium Central Wharf Boston, MA 02110-3399 Phone: 617.742.5198 Fax: 617.723.9705 rschick(\)neaq.org http://www.marinegis.org ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 4 Feb 2001 18:00:18 -0800 From: Kristin Kaschner Subject: beaked whale foraging in the deep scattering layer - summary ------ Hello - last week I posted a message on marmam trying to find a reference for hypothesis proposed by Ken Norris about the evolution of beaked whale=20 foraging in the deep-scattering layer. From the responses I got, I gathered that this is something that other=20 people were interested in as well, so I am including a summary of the=20 replies below: Colin MacLeod pointed out that it seems more likely that beaked whales=20 evolved as benthopelagic feeders rather than pelagic feeders in the deep=20 scattering layer, however, other people suggested that Ken probably had n= ot=20 intended to limit his hypothesis to beaked whales. Paul Jobsis, among others, kindly took the time to clarify the difference= =20 between the deep scattering layer and the mimimum oxygen layer; pointing=20 out that although a number of different marine mammal species do appear t= o=20 utilize the deep scattering layer for foraging purpose, the hypothesis=20 proposed by Ken was probably referring to the deeper minimum oxygen zone=20 rather than the deep scattering layer. Thanks to Lance Barrett-Lennard, who kindly offered me the notes he took=20 during Ken's lecture here in 1995 (the one my colleague was originally=20 referring to), I was able to verify that Ken indeed was talking about the= =20 oxygen minimum layer, rather than the deep scattering layer and he propos= ed=20 this hypothesis as an explanation for the evolution of ALL deep diving=20 marine mammals, including sperm whales, elephant seals as well as beaked=20 whales. As Jonathon Gordon pointed out to me, this hypothesis was apparently=20 developed in parallel specifically for sperm whales by Jonathan Gordon an= d=20 Vassili Papastavrou: Gordon, J.C.D. 1987. The behaviour and ecology of sperm whales off Sri Lanka. Dissertation, University of Cambridge. Papastavrou, V.A. 1987. The Feeding Ecology of the Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus in the Galapagos Islands. MSc, University of Bristol, Brist= ol. 1-105 pp. Hal Whitehead also provided the following reference, in which this=20 hypothesis was - again - proposed for spermwhales: Papastavrou V, Smith SC, Whitehead H (1989) Diving behaviour of the sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus, off the Gal=E1pagos Islands. Can J Zool 67:839-846 I'd like to thank everybody who responded to my message - your help was=20 very much appreciated. If any of the people who have expressed an interes= t=20 in this hypothesis would like to get in touch with any of the people who=20 provided the information summarized above, please contact me and I'd be=20 happy to forward your email address to the respective person. Kristin 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: Mon, 5 Feb 2001 10:10:11 -0800 From: Marthajane Caldwell Subject: Home range estimates Greetings I am a graduate student at the University of Miami and am in the process of writing my dissertation. One of my chapters details a GIS approach to calculating home range estimates for coastal bottlenose dolphins. I was hoping that you could help me find published estimates of home range size for cetaceans in general and bottlenose dolphins in particular. Since I have only found a few estimates in "gray literature" your help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Marthajane Caldwell caldwell(\)fig.cox.miami.edu ===== Marthajane Caldwell "a much happier field mouse than lab rat" ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2001 16:21:41 -0800 From: Gunna Weingartner Subject: Dialect change in resident killer whales Dear List Members, A limited number of reprints of the following article are still available. Please request reprints from vd2(\)st-andrews.ac.uk, and limit requests to people without ready access to Animal Behaviour. Deecke, V.B., Ford, J.K.B., and Spong, P. 2000: Dialect Change in Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca): Implications for Vocal Learning and Cultural Transmission. Anim. Behav.60(5):619-638. Variation in vocal signals among populations and social groups of animals provides opportunities for the study of learning and its importance in generating and maintaining variation in behavioural traits. In this study, we analyse 2 call types made by 2 matrilineal social groups of resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) over a period of 14 years. We use a neural network-based index of acoustic similarity to identify mechanisms of call differentiation. A test for structural modification of the calls detected significant changes in one call type in both groups, but not in the other. For the modified call type, the rate of differentiation between the two groups was significantly lower than the rate of modification within either group showing that calls are modified in a similar fashion in the two groups. An analysis of structural parameters detected no strong directionality in the change. The detected pattern of call modification could be caused by maturational changes to the calls, or, if killer whale dialects are learned behavioural traits, cultural drift in the structure of the calls together with horizontal transmission of modifications between the two groups. Such vocal matching between members of different matrilineal groups would suggest that vocal learning is not limited to vertical transmission from mother to offspring, as required for some models of gene-culture coevolution. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2001 23:07:36 -0400 From: "Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni" Subject: Manatee meeting in Puerto Rico Content-type: multipart/alternative; boundary="MS_Mac_OE_3064259256_493999_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_3064259256_493999_MIME_Part Hi everyone: Participants of the US manatee rescue and rehabilitation program meet twice a year to discuss aspects of each agency's or oceanaria's captive manatee program or the status of those under medical care. The next meeting of this working group will be held on 19-20 April 2001 at the Universidad Metropolitana, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. We would like to invite manatee colleagues from the Caribbean, Central and South America, so we may share experiences and establish international cooperation in similar programs. Those interested may contact me (mignucci(\)caribe.net or rcv(\)caribe.net) for additional information. (Spanish version) Hola a todos: Los participantes del programa de rescate y rehabilitaci=F3n de manat=EDes de los Estados Unidos se reunen dos veces al a=F1o para discutir aspectos del programa de manat=EDes en cautiverio de cada agencia o acuario o el estatus d= e animales bajo tratamiento m=E9dico. La pr=F3xima reuni=F3n de este grupo de trabajo se llevar=E1 a cabo del 19 al 20 de abril del 2001 en la Universidad Metropolitana, en San Juan de Puerto Rico. Queremos invitar a participar a los colegas de manat=EDes del Caribe, Centro = y Sur Am=E9rica, para compartir experiencias y establecer cooperaci=F3n internacional de programas similares. Aquellos interesados pueden contactarme (mignucci(\)caribe.net or rcv(\)caribe.net) para informaci=F3n adicional. Dr. Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni Caribbean Marine Mammal Laboratory Universidad Metropolitana PO Box 361715 San Juan PR 00936-1715 TEL 787-766-1717 x6600, FAX 787-751-5840 EMERGENCIES 787-399-VIDA, 787-402-2337 U990-0440 EMAIL mignucci(\)caribe.net WEB http://rcv.caribe.net --MS_Mac_OE_3064259256_493999_MIME_Part Manatee meeting in Puerto Rico Hi everyone:

Participants of the US manatee rescue and rehabilitation program meet twice= a year to discuss aspects of each agency's or oceanaria's captive manatee p= rogram or the status of those under medical care. The next meeting of this w= orking group will be held on 19-20 April 2001 at the Universidad Metropolita= na, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

We would like to invite manatee colleagues from the Caribbean, Central and = South America, so we may share experiences and establish international coope= ration in similar programs. Those interested may contact me (mignucci(\)caribe.net or rcv(\)car= ibe.net) for additional information.



(Spanish version)

Hola a todos:

Los participantes del programa de rescate y rehabilitaci=F3n de manat=EDes de l= os Estados Unidos se reunen dos veces al a=F1o para discutir aspectos del prog= rama de manat=EDes en cautiverio de cada agencia o acuario o el estatus de ani= males bajo tratamiento m=E9dico. La pr=F3xima reuni=F3n de este grupo de trabajo s= e llevar=E1 a cabo del 19 al 20 de abril del 2001 en la Universidad Metropolit= ana, en San Juan de Puerto Rico.

Queremos invitar a participar a los colegas de manat=EDes del Caribe, Centro = y Sur Am=E9rica, para compartir experiencias y establecer cooperaci=F3n internac= ional de programas similares. Aquellos interesados pueden contactarme (mignucci(\)caribe.net or = rcv(\)caribe.net) para informaci=F3n adicional.

Dr. Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni
Caribbean Marine Mammal Laboratory
Universidad Metropolitana
PO Box 361715 San Juan PR 00936-1715
TEL 787-766-1717 x6600, FAX 787-751-5840
EMERGENCIES 787-399-VIDA, 787-402-2337 U990-0440
EMAIL mignucci(\)caribe.net WEB http://rcv.caribe.net




--MS_Mac_OE_3064259256_493999_MIME_Part-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Feb 2001 12:09:07 -0500 From: William Rossiter Subject: UNEP CMS publications Apologies for cross posting: UNEP's Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) Bulletin has announced free availabilty of following publications, by post from UNEP/CMS Secretariat (see ), or by .pdf file from : 1) UNEP/CMS 2000 Report of Third Workshop for Coodinated Research and Conservation of the Fransicana Dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) in the Southwestern Atlantic (112 pages) 2) Review of the Conservation Status of Small Cetaceans in Southern South America, Hucke-Gaete, Rodrigo, ed. (24 pages) 3) A Survey of the Conservation Status of Cetaceans in Senegal, The Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau, van Waerebeek et al. (80 pages) Forward by William Rossiter, Cetacean Society International ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 6 Feb 0101 09:54:12 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Observer Opportunity - east coast US (fwd) Forwarded message: Dear MarMam Subscribers, This may be of interest (reply only to the telephone number below please)..... Coastwise Consulting is looking for sharp-minded, responsible individuals, preferably with a sense of humor, to work on dredge-ships, monitoring impacts to endangered species, especially whales and sea turtles. These vessels are sea-going ships, not barges. Turtle activity is at a minimum right now but whale sightings are coming in from dredges up and down the coast. Work can be had at several ports between Wilmington, NC and West Palm Beach, FL. February and March are the months when help is needed most so please pass this on to anyone you know and trust who has a background in sea turtles or marine mammals and might be interested in working offshore. Many Thanks, Chris Slay Call our research station in Fernandina Beach, FL through March: 904-277-4829 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Feb 2001 16:23:52 +0100 From: "Dirk R. Neumann" Organization: Massey University Subject: Pseudorca and Tursiops - hybridizing in the wild ? ; x-mac-type="54455854"; x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" Hi ! I am a PhD candidate studying the behavioural ecology of common dolphins in New Zealand. During our latest survey we came across a mixed group of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) - made up of ca. 100 individuals of each species. In this group, I saw at least 2 individuals, that at first I assumed to be a third, lesser known cetacean species. However, a closer look revealed that they did not fit the description of any cetacean known to me, instead their physique appeared intermediate between Tursiops and Pseudorca. They were 5-6 m in length, very dark brownish-black in colour (yet not quite as dark as the Pseudorca) with a light grey belly; the shape of the melon was typical for Tursiops, yet the rostrum was much shorter, just barely extending out in front of the melon; dorsal fin shape and position looked also more Tursiops-like. Unfortunately, I was unable to obtain any photographs of these animals. I am wondering if any experts in this field would consider it possible that Tursiops might hybridize with Pseudorca in the wild. I am also interested to hear from anyone who may have observed Pseudorca/Tursiops associations elsewhere, especially in regard to wether or not these could represent permanent associations. The only other time I have observed false killer whales in my study area was two years ago - on that occasion they were also mingling with bottlenose dolphins. Also, I recall that there is a Pseudorca-Tursiops hybrid in captivity somewhere (Hawaii ?). Perhaps someone could guide me to a website with a picture of that animal, so that I can compare it to the "potential hybrids" I saw. Thanks very much for your help and interest ! - Dirk Neumann Please respond to : D.R.Neumann(\)massey.ac.nz ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2001 16:28:26 +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. Field grant awards are derived from funds contributed by Earthwatch members who serve as volunteer participants on research projects. Volunteers are well-educated and highly motivated individuals who are recruited and screened to meet scientists=92 needs. To date, Earthwatch has supported over 1,000 research projects in 118 countries, with over 50,000 volunteer field assistants contributing $40 million in research grants. The Center for Field Research is the affiliate organisation of Earthwatch Institute that develops and recommends programs for Earthwatch support. The Center is 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. Principal Investigators must oversee all field work. 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 $50,000, depending on project length and number of volunteer participants involved. A typical Earthwatch project employs 4 to 8 volunteers, each 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 organisations. Earthwatch grants cover costs of maintaining volunteers and principal research staff in the field. They may also assist with other project expenses, but cannot be used for PI salaries, capital equipment and overhead costs. Preliminary proposals for field research should be submitted 1 year in advance of the anticipated field dates. Full proposals, if invited, are peer reviewed. Proposals are accepted and reviewed year round. All correspondence should be directed to: Dr. Lotus A. Vermeer =95 Earth and Marine Science Program Director =95 Th= e Center for Field Research 3 Clock Tower Place, Suite 100 =95 Box 75 =95 Maynard MA 01754 =95 Ph= one 978-461-0081 x129 =95 Fax 978-461-2332 =95 World Wide Web: http://www.earthwatch.org/cfr/cfr.html =95 e-mail: lvermeer(\)earthwatch.or= g _________________________________________________ Lotus Vermeer, Ph.D. Assistant Director, Center for Field Research and 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: Tue, 8 Feb 0101 02:28:38 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent articles (fwd) > > Vocalizations of eastern Australian Risso's dolphins, Grampus griseus > Peter J. Corkeron and Sofie M. Van Parijs > Can. J. Zool. 79: 160-164 > Pages 160-164 > Abstract: Recordings were made from a group of Risso's dolphins (Grampus > griseus) off the coast of Newcastle, Australia, between 30 Hz and 22 kHz. > Risso's dolphins exhibited seven separate vocalisation types: broadband > clicks, barks, buzzes, grunts, chirps, whistles, and simultaneous whistle + > burst-pulse sounds. Broadband clicks were highly variable in duration, with > a frequency range of 6 to >22 kHz. Bark vocalisations consisted of highly > variable burst pulses, with durations ranging from 0.2 to 7.4 s and a > frequency range of 2-20 kHz. Buzz vocalisations were clearly stereotyped, > consisting of a short burst pulse of around 2 s and a frequency range of > 2.1 to >22 kHz. Low frequency narrowband grunt vocalisations (0.4-0.8 kHz) > were short in duration. Chirp vocalisations were slightly higher in > frequency than the grunt vocalisations, ranging in frequency from 2 to 4 > kHz. There were at least five different whistle types, ranging in frequency > from 4 to 22 kHz. We recorded a combined tonal and burst-pulse > vocalisation. The rising whistles ranged from 6 to 18 kHz, while the > burst-pulse sounds ranged between 3 and 21 kHz. This combined whistle + > burst pulse sound appears to be unique to Risso's dolphins. > ************************************************************************ > ************** > Low-frequency sounds emitted by Sotalia fluviatilis guianensis (Cetacea: > Delphinidae) in an estuarine region in southeastern Brazil > Emygdio L.A. Monteiro-Filho and Karin D.K.A. Monteiro > Can. J. Zool. 79: 59-66 > Recordings of the vocalizations of the dolphin Sotalia fluviatilis > guianensis were made in an estuarine complex at Cananeia in southeastern > Brazil over a period of 10 years (1989-1998). This area is characterized by > mangroves and the constant presence of dolphins. Recordings were obtained > at depths of 2-4 m using digital and analog recorders at a speed of 19 > cm/s. Four classes of sounds were identified. "Whistles," which are used in > social activities, occurred with the greatest frequency (c2 = 58.92, df = > 3, P < 0.001). "Calls," which were very variable in form, were the second > most common class used by family groups (c2 = 10.96, df = 2, 0.005 > P > > 0.001). There were no differences in the rates at which schools emitted > whistles and calls (c2 = 2.12, df = 1, 0.25 > P > 0.10). "Gargles" were > apparently emitted by calves and were similar in structure to a > low-frequency call. The fourth class, "clicks," are used in echolocation. > Clicks varied considerably in their frequency of occurrence and frequency > of emission, and were not always detected. There were significant > differences in emission rates among the four classes (c2 = 18.73, df = 3, P > < 0.001). In addition, which class of sound was emitted depended on the > type of activity exhibited by the dolphins (displacement, fishing, social) > and on the social structure (family or school) adopted. > ************************************************************************ > ********* > Dive behaviour, foraging locations, and maternal-attendance patterns of > Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) > John P.Y. Arnould and Mark A. Hindell > Can. J. Zool. 79: 35-48 > Pages 35-48 > Abstract: The dive behaviour, foraging locations, and colony-attendance > patterns of female Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) > from Kanowna Island (39?10'S, 146?18'E) in Bass Strait, southeastern > Australia, were determined throughout lactation during 1997-1999. > Foraging-trip durations increased as lactation progressed, being shortest > in summer (3.71 ? 0.24 days; mean ? 1 SE) and longest in winter (6.77 ? > 0.57 days, P < 0.05), but maternal-attendance periods did not differ in > duration (1.70 ? 0.10 days, P > 0.5). Individual mean attendance periods > and trip durations were positively correlated (r2 = 0.21, P < 0.005). > Diving commenced shortly after seals left the colony (2.6 ? 0.4 h), was > continuous for long periods (up to 36 h), occurred mostly during daylight > hours, and lacked regular diel variation in depth. The majority of dives > (78%) were typically U-shaped and reached depths corresponding to the > prevailing depths in Bass Strait (65-85 m), indicating that these animals > forage mostly on the benthos of the shallow continental shelf in this > region. Such behaviour is unusual for fur seals but is reminiscent of that > of some sea lion species. Mean dive durations varied between 2.0 and 3.7 > min (maximum 8.9 min) and the theoretical aerobic dive limit (3.91-4.26 > min) was exceeded on 17.3% of dives. Dive frequency (8.3 ? 0.6/h) and the > proportion of time at sea spent diving (40.7 ? 2.1%) were weakly negatively > related to the duration of the foraging trip (r2 = 0.07, P < 0.004, and r2 > = 0.13, P < 0.0001, respectively). Data from at-sea locations showed that > lactating females forage almost exclusively within Bass Strait during all > seasons. > > > > > > > ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2001 17:18:18 -1000 From: Chris Davis Subject: Internship opportunity ------ Internship Introduction Dolphin Quest Oahu is interviewing candidates to fill three internship positions for the summer of 2001. Dolphin Quest Oahu=92s internship prog= ram is designed to assist college students and recent graduates from all over the world in gaining valuable hands on experience that will be beneficial for anyone pursuing a career involving marine mammals. Participants will work directly with the trainers and other staff members, assisting in all aspects of a dolphin interaction facility. The current openings are full time volunteer positions and participants will be expected to work five d= ays a week. All candidates must commit to work full time for three months, ranging from mid May to mid August. There is no charge for the internshi= p, but the interns are responsible for food, lodging and transportation. Job Description Duties of interns will vary according to competence level reached by each individual. The participant will be exposed to all aspects of maintainin= g and training fish, sea turtles, and dolphins. Heavy emphasis will be pla= ced on basic tasks such as food preparation, interaction setup, interacting w= ith guests, children=92s education program, and daily cleanup. Interns will = also have an opportunity to perform various lab tests associated with animal husbandry. Internship Objective Interns will be given the opportunity to gain hands on experience in many different areas. The participant will be exposed to theoretical training methods and their application to actual training scenarios. In addition = to the animal training experience, the intern will have an opportunity to ac= t as an educator for children ages 5-12 in a structured education program. Requirements The candidate must have a positive attitude and a strong willingness to learn. Applicants with Scuba certification and a strong swimming ability will be given priority. Also, while not a requirement, any past experien= ce with animals (example: veterinary assistant) will help in making a decision. Academic Credit Interns may be able to make arrangements with their own university or college to gain academic credit. Students will need to speak to their university counselor or academic advisor for more information. Application Procedures Applicant must submit all of the following: A completed application Three letters of recommendation (professors or professionals related to a= ny animal field) College transcripts Please send all items to the following address: Dolphin Quest, Kahala Attention: Chris Davis 5000 Kahala Ave. Honolulu, HI 96816 For more information, contact Chris Davis cdavis(\)dolphinquest.org (808) 739-8918 Deadline for receiving all materials is March 1, 2001. Notification of final selection will occur prior to March 15, 2001. APPLICATION FOR DOLPHIN QUEST OAHU=92S INTERNSHIP PROGRAM Applicant Name: ______________________________________________________ Birthdate: ________________ Current Address: (Street) (City, State, Zip) Current Phone: _______________ Email address: _______________ The above addresses are good until (give date): ___________ Permanent Address: (Street) (City, State, Zip) Permanent Phone: ____________ Name and phone number of your last two employers: Please answer the following questions: 1. What is your opinion of marine parks and aquariums? 2. Are you Scuba certified? If yes, from which association did you recei= ve certification and when? (PADI, YMCA,=85) *3. Write a summary describing what you expect to gain from the internsh= ip as well as what you expect to contribute to Dolphin Quest. *4. What are your career goals and what kind of time line do you see for these goals to be attained? * For questions 3 and 4, you may provide a short video of you answering these questions instead of a written answer if you wish. Applicants show= ing an energetic personality, creativity and stage presence will stand out. Visit Dolphin Quest Oahu's internship webpage at www.dolphinquestinternship.htmlplanet.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 11 Feb 0101 11:50:23 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Pseudorca-Tursiops hybrid update (fwd) Editor's Note: two messages regarding this subject are below. ---------------------------------------- Forwarded message: From: "Dirk R. Neumann" Hello again ! I wanted to thank everyone for their input regarding my questions about hybridisation in wild Pseudorca and Tursiops. Since the volume of responses was so great, my apologies for not replying to each message individually. For those of you interested in the subject, I will list some of the information I received below. I am still very interested in hearing from anyone who has observed Pseudorca-Tursiops associations elsewhere. Apparently, these are not very common. Captive Pseudorca and Tursiops have produced offspring on at least 3 occasions : Sea World Surfer's Paradise, Australia (mid-1980's) - hybrid stillborn (mother T. x father P.) Sea World Kamogawa, Japan (1981) - hybrid did not survive infancy (mother T. x father P.) - a photo of this animal can be found on page 7 in : Leatherwood, S., Reeves, R.R. 1983. The Sierra Club handbook of whales and dolphins. Sierra Club Books, San Francisco. 302 pp. Sea Life Park, Oahu, HI, USA (1985) - (mother T. x father P.) female hybrid Kekaimalu (the "Wholphin") went on to breed with a Tursiops and have two live calves, one which was born in 1991, died in 1999. After viewing several pictures of this hybrid - for example at http://hotspotshawaii.com/Wolphin.html - I am now convinced that the 2 animals I saw in the wild were indeed Tursiops-Pseudorca hybrids. Unfortunately, I consider it unlikely that I will resight this group anytime soon, because this was only our 2nd Pseudorca sighting in 3 years of fieldwork. Therefore, in the absence of photographic or genetic evidence, this will probably just remain an interesting "anecdote". Other Tursiops hybrids that have occurred in captivity are with Grampus griseus, Lagenorhychus obliquidens, Steno bredanensis, Globicephala macrorhynchus and Delphinus delphis (these TtxDd hybrids are still alive and were born in 1992 and 1993, the female even produced a live calf from a Tt union in 2000, that did not survive). Generally, it appears that most people consider it entirely possible that such hybrids could also occur in the wild. Genetic evidence showed that hybridization did occur in cetaceans outside the captive environment - 3 blue whale x fin whale hybrids have been reported from Iceland (Arnason, et al. 1991; Spilliaert, et al. 1991 - sorry, didn't get the complete references). A few selected references on cetacean hybrids : 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. Breese, M. Case history of a Pseudorca-Tursiops hybrid and its calf. IMATA Proceedings , 54-57. 1990. Dohl, T. P., K. S. Norris and I. Kang. 1974. A porpoise hybrid: Tursiops x Steno. Journal of Mammalogy 55:217-221. False Killer Whale Pseudorca crassidens (Owen, 1846). Ridgway, S. H. and Harrison, R. Handbook of Marine Mammals Vol 6: The second book of dolphins and porpoises. [9], 213-243. 1999. San Diego, Academic Press. Fraser, F. C. 1940. Three anomalous dolphins from Blacksod Bay, Ireland. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 45(B17):413-455 + pls. 32-38. Herzing, D. L., and C. M. Johnson. 1997. Interspecific interactions between Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Bahamas, 1985-1995. Aquatic Mammals 23(2):85-99. Miyazaki et al., 1992. Osteologycal study of a hybrid between Tursiops truncatus and Grampus griseus. Bull.Natl.Sci.Mus.Tokyo, A 18(2): 79-94 Nishiwaki, M., and T. Tobayama. 1982. Morphological study on the hybrid between Tursiops and Pseudorca. Scientific Reports of the Whales Research Institute 34:109-121. Nishiwaki, M. and Tobayama, T. 1984. Hybrids between Pseudorca crassidens and Tursiops truncatus gilli. Rep.int Whal.Commn , 481. --------------------------------------------------------- Hello, all Dr. Newmann's report is very interesting, and I found that other people might be interested in a follow up of the discussion. Here in the Azores the associations between these two species (Pseudorca = and Tursiops) seem to be fairlly commmon. We've never seen any individual tha= t could be an hybrido, though. But, knowing that it have already ocurred in captivity, I've allways thought that it's a possibility. Cheers, Rui Prieto Departamento de Oceanografia e Pescas Un. A=E7ores Cais de Sta Cruz 9901-862 - Horta Portugal Phone: + 351 292292988 Mobile: + 351 966782517 Fax: + 351 292292659 http://www.horta.uac.pt rprieto(\)horta.uac.pt ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 18:36:53 -0300 From: Eduardo Martinez Subject: MARINE MAMMAL PROJECTS IN PENINSULA VALDES boundary="----=_NextPart_000_000F_01C092C7.45B63490" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_000F_01C092C7.45B63490 charset="iso-8859-1" Dear MARMAM, We want to present two new research projects about marine mammals, that = from ZonotriKia Foundation we are going to develop this year in Pen=EDnsula = Vald=E9s (Argentina). Both of them are opened to undergraduated and graduated students in biology, sea science, veterinary and other natural science studies who want to collaborate with the field work and methodology = during a few months. The projects are: 1) EUBALAENA PROJECT: a research and environmental interpretation = program about marine acoustic contamination, underwater man-made noise and the effects on behavior and communication of Southern Right Whale = (Eubalaena australis). 2) MIROUNGA PROJECT: this research is developed in Punta Delgada, the biggest continental colony of Southern Elephant Seals (Mirounga = leonina). The project is orientated to the study of human-elephant interactions = during the touristic visits in the area from September to March. We want to = analyze the effects of tourism on animal behavior and activity budgets for developing a sustainable management plan in the Pta. Delgada Reserve. You can find more information in our websites: =20 www.peninsulavaldes.org www.puntadelgada.com or contact us if you prefer in: info(\)peninsulavaldes.org Sincerely, Eduardo Mart=EDnez Cristina Yudego Scientific area of ZonotriKia Av/Julio A. Roca 536 U9120AIS Puerto Madryn ARGENTINA ------=_NextPart_000_000F_01C092C7.45B63490 charset="iso-8859-1"
Dear MARMAM,

We want to present two new = research=20 projects about marine mammals, that from
ZonotriKia Foundation we are = going=20 to develop this year in Pen=EDnsula Vald=E9s
(Argentina). Both of = them are opened=20 to undergraduated and graduated
students in biology, sea science, = veterinary=20 and other natural science
studies who want to collaborate with the = field work=20 and methodology during a
few months. The projects are:
1)=20 EUBALAENA PROJECT: a research and = environmental=20 interpretation program
about marine acoustic contamination, = underwater=20 man-made noise and the
effects on behavior and communication  of = Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena
australis).
2) = MIROUNGA=20 PROJECT: this research is developed in Punta Delgada, = the
biggest=20 continental colony of Southern Elephant Seals (Mirounga leonina).
The = project=20 is orientated to the study of human-elephant interactions during
the=20 touristic visits in the area from September to March. We want to = analyze
the=20 effects of tourism on animal behavior and activity budgets = for
developing=20 a  sustainable management plan in the Pta. Delgada = Reserve.

You can=20 find more information in our websites: 
www.peninsulavaldes.org
www.puntadelgada.com
or = contact us if=20 you prefer in:   info(\)peninsulavaldes.org=

Sincerely,

Eduardo=20 Mart=EDnez
Cristina Yudego
Scientific area of = ZonotriKia
Av/Julio A. Roca=20 536
U9120AIS Puerto = Madryn
ARGENTINA

------=_NextPart_000_000F_01C092C7.45B63490-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2001 08:39:14 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Volunteer Positions (fwd) To: MARMAM List Subject: Volunteer Positions Volunteer Positions The Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) is a small, non-profit research = organisation dedicated to the understanding, welfare, conservation and prot= ection of cetaceans in Scotland through scientific investigation, education= , and the provision of efficient, professional assistance to sick, stranded= and injured individuals. Since 1997, volunteers and students have been inv= aluable in the collection, organisation and analysis of data fundamental to= our understanding and current knowledge of the distribution, ecology and n= atural history of these animals in the temperate waters of the outer southe= rn Moray Firth in NE Scotland. Primary concentration is of an individually = identified population of bottlenose dolphins, that spend a large proportion= of the year in these rich coastal waters, and minke whales which frequent = particular sites along this coastline during the autumnal months. We are currently looking to fill 2 week positions for our 2001 field season= , commencing May 20 to Oct 7. As a member of the research team you will lea= rn and apply the principles of field research design as you participate in = our ongoing field studies, will undertake training in marine mammal rescue = (in collaboration with the British Divers Marine Life Rescue), and will gai= n a personal understanding of the conservation and welfare issues which dri= ve our research and rescue activities. The positions will involve extensive= photo and computer work (training provided) and field data collection aboa= rd our 6 metre research RIB or on offshore survey ships. In short, a very r= ewarding experience in the introduction to whale and dolphin identification= , data collection and wildlife viewing can be expected. The research unit providing this opportunity is not a professional tourist = organisation but a well-organised team of research scientists. Therefore, a= s part of a working team, you will be expected to participate in all activi= ties of the day, including a share of basic domestic duties such as cooking= and cleaning. One of two common apartments will be used where the team wil= l live together, providing a living arrangement conducive to open discussio= n and interaction. Rooms will usually be shared with one other person. The most important requirements for any participant are enthusiasm, the abi= lity and willingness to learn and work under often difficult, but rewarding= , field conditions, and the open-mindedness and sense of humour to work, li= ve and communicate well with other people of mixed nationality and backgrou= nd. The cost for a 2 week placement for 2001 will be =A3550 (although week long= placements can be arranged at =A3325). This will cover full board, equipme= nt and all associated costs during your stay, but you will need to arrange = your own travel itinerary / flights to the area. Interested persons should write to or email the CRRU at the address below p= roviding a brief resume with their background, personal details and interes= ts. Please also remember to include your preferred dates for participation. Field Assistantship Positions The Cetacean Research (& Rescue) Unit P.O. Box 11307 Banff. AB45 3WB SCOTLAND ATTN. Dr Kevin Robinson e-mail: ecocorps(\)crru.org.uk The CRRU is affiliated with the Greystoke Foundation, Registered Scottish C= harity SC 028400 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2001 12:03:16 -0500 From: "Dr. Jason F. Schreer" Subject: Graduate Student Opportunity Graduate Student Opportunity Analysis of diving behavior and physiology of seals A student is sought for a Master's research program in the Department of Biology at the University of Waterloo focusing on the diving ecology of seals. Applicants should have a strong background in mathematics and/or statistics, strong computer skills with some programming ability, as well as a general understanding of biological processes. The specific project involves developing quantitative procedures for analyzing various types of time-series data. There will be several opportunities to conduct field work on harbor, harp, hooded, and grey seals. However, the thesis itself will focus on the analysis of previously collected depth and heart rate data. The project is supported by the Department of Biology and the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science at University of Waterloo and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. The position will begin September 2001. The student will be co-supervised by Dr. Jason F. Schreer (Department of Biology) and Dr. Jeanette O'Hara Hines (Department of Statistic and Actuarial Science) . Applications including a CV, transcripts, and a cover letter outline qualifications should be sent to Dr. Jason F. Schreer Department of Biology University of Waterloo Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1 Canada jfschree(\)sciborg.uwaterloo.ca http://sciborg.uwaterloo.ca/~jfschree/ For additional info.: http://sciborg.uwaterloo.ca/~jfschree/grad2001.html Posted 13 February 2001 ==================================================================== 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: Mon, 12 Feb 2001 21:37:24 -0500 From: nichols(\)coastalstudies.org Subject: Mysticete Hybrid References Dear Marmam subscribers, Below are the complete references (plus one more) mentioned by Dirk Neumann for those interested in species hybridization in wild cetaceans: Arnason, U., R. Spilliaert, and A. Palsdottir. 1991. Molecular identification of hybrids between the two largest whale species, the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) and the fin whale (B. physalus). Hereditas 115(2): 183-. Berube, M. and A. Aguilar. 1998. A new hybrid between a blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus, and a fin whale, B. physalus: frequency and implications of hybridization. Marine Mammal Science 14(1): 82-98. Spilliaert, R., G. Vikingsson, and U. Arnason. 1991. Species hybridization between a female blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) and a male fin whale (B. physalus): molecular and morphological documentation. Journal of Heredity 82(4): 269-274. Cheers, Owen Nichols nichols(\)coastalstudies.org ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2001 09:22:50 -0200 From: Ana Subject: Brazilian humpback whales boundary="----=_NextPart_000_000C_01C091B0.B57CCAE0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_000C_01C091B0.B57CCAE0 charset="iso-8859-1" Dear subscribers, We would like your help concerning an important problem we=92re facing = in our research area:=20 We belong to a non-profit, non-governmental institution, which aims the = preservation and research of the humpback whales in the coast of Brazil = in partnership with the Brazilian environmental agency. The study area = is mainly the Abrolhos Bank, Southern Coast of Bahia State, Northeastern = of Brazil. About 1,600 humpback whales come to Abrolhos Bank area every year for = reproduction during winter and spring (July to November). Due to an increasing divulgation of the occurrence of the humpbacks in = the area, the number of tourists willing to whale watch has also = increased, developing the whale watching activity in the region. Our = institute has also worked for the sustainable development of this = important tourism industry, in this region of Brazil, which is = characterized by socio-economics difficulties. Recently we were informed about the intention of the largest Cellulose = Company of Brazil ( or the largest in the world as the company entitled = itself) =96 Aracruz Celulose - to implant a port in Caravelas, town = where is located our Institute and also the closest port to the = concentration area for humpbacks. The barges will transport eucalyptus = timber by sea from Caravelas to Aracruz where the Company is located, = 135 nautical miles south. The barges reach 130 meters in length and will = make a coastal route, where has been registered occurrence of mainly = mother/ calf groups of humpback and southern right whales. Our concern is about the potential disturbance of the barges traffic (in = this area there isn=92t traffic of ships or other kind of large vessels) = and the risk of collision. The company responsible for the barges has = suggested the use of a device, which would locate the whales and avoid = the collision. We ignore the existence of such kind of device and so we = would like to know if any of you have heard about this device. If it = exists we would like to know its effectiveness in locate whales and the = potential of causing any other harassment to the animals. It would also be important and of great help to receive suggestions on = how monitor this kind of traffic in areas where whales concentrate.=20 Your information and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.=20 Your reply may be mailed or e-mailed to: PROJETO BALEIA JUBARTE Praia do Kitongo, s/ n=BA - Caravelas - Bahia =96 Brazil CEP: 45.900-000 e-mail: jubarte(\)tdf.com.br or ibj(\)tdf.com.br=20 Many thanks ------=_NextPart_000_000C_01C091B0.B57CCAE0 charset="iso-8859-1"

Dear subscribers,

We would like = your help=20 concerning an important problem we’re facing in our research area: =

We belong to a non-profit, = non-governmental=20 institution, which aims the preservation and research of the humpback = whales in=20 the coast of Brazil in partnership with the Brazilian environmental = agency. The=20 study area is mainly the Abrolhos Bank, Southern Coast of Bahia State,=20 Northeastern of Brazil.

About 1,600 humpback whales come to = Abrolhos Bank=20 area every year for reproduction during winter and spring (July to=20 November).

Due to an increasing divulgation of = the occurrence=20 of the humpbacks in the area, the number of tourists willing to whale = watch has=20 also increased, developing the whale watching activity in the region.=20 Our institute has also worked for the sustainable=20 development of this important tourism industry, in this region of = Brazil, which=20 is characterized by socio-economics difficulties.

Recently we were informed about the = intention of=20 the largest Cellulose Company of Brazil ( or the largest in the world as = the=20 company entitled itself) – Aracruz Celulose - to implant a port in = Caravelas, town where is located our Institute and also the closest port = to the=20 concentration area for humpbacks. The barges will = transport=20 eucalyptus timber by sea from Caravelas to Aracruz = where the=20 Company is located, 135 nautical miles south. The = barges=20 reach 130 meters in length and will make a coastal route, where has been = registered occurrence of mainly mother/ calf groups of humpback and = southern=20 right whales.

Our concern is about the potential = disturbance of=20 the barges traffic (in this area there isn’t traffic of ships or = other=20 kind of large vessels) and the risk of collision. The company = responsible for=20 the barges has suggested the use of a device, which would locate the = whales and=20 avoid the collision. We ignore the existence of = such kind of=20 device and so we would like to know if any of you have heard about this = device.=20 If it exists we would like to know its effectiveness in locate whales = and the=20 potential of causing any other harassment to the animals.

It would also be important and of = great help to=20 receive suggestions on how monitor this kind of traffic in areas where = whales=20 concentrate.

Your information and suggestions would = be greatly=20 appreciated.

Your reply may be = mailed or e-mailed=20 to:
PROJETO BALEIA JUBARTE
Praia do Kitongo, s/ nº - = Caravelas -=20 Bahia – Brazil
CEP:=20 45.900-000
e-mail:=20 jubarte(\)tdf.com.br or ibj(\)tdf.com.br =
Many thanks
------=_NextPart_000_000C_01C091B0.B57CCAE0-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 08:06:49 -0500 From: Phil Clapham Subject: Brazil: whale-finding devices/ship collisions "Clapham, Phil" This is in response to Ana Freitas' question about ship collisions and whale-locating devices. I am posting it to the group since it may have wider interest. We have quite a lot of experience with the issue of whale/ship collisions on the east coast of the U.S., where ship strikes are the largest source of (non-natural) mortality for the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. Consequently, we are probably a bit further ahead on these issues than most (though not necessarily closer to a solution). At this time, the device you mention - one to locate and therefore avoid whales - does not exist in a form that is practical. Experiments to develop such a device have been conducted by Jim Miller of the University of Rhode Island, working with David Potter of the Northeast Fisheries Center, and others. It is a forward-looking sonar which is mounted in the bow of a ship. The primary goal of this project is to develop something that a mariner could use to reliably detect a whale underwater ahead of his ship, at a distance that would allow him to take avoiding action. This distance is critical, and obviously depends on how fast the ship is traveling (since a 35-knot vessel will have little time or ability to change course for a whale that is even a few km away). I don't recall the distance at which Miller's sonar can detect whales at the moment, but a distance around 1-2 km is about right I think (Jim or Dave can provide details). Anyway, if this company is telling you that they have a device that can solve this problem, they're either not telling the truth or they don't understand sonar technology. How big a problem this is also depends on the local situation. How frequent are the ships? How fast do they go (barges are usually slow)? How narrow is the channel? Are there any places where a whale could not get out of the way because it's in a narrow channel or shallow area with no room to dive? In my experience, humpbacks seem to be a lot better at avoiding ships than right whales, although collisions with humpbacks are certainly known. I would worry as much about noise disturbance as about the possibility of collision. But if it's one barge a day, going slowly, it probably isn't a huge problem for the whales. Hope this helps. Phil Clapham Large Whale Biology Program Northeast Fisheries Science Center 166 Water Street Woods Hole, MA 02543 pclapham(\)whsun1.wh.whoi.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 14 Feb 0101 13:36:00 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: 2001-FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR DOLPHIN RESEARCH IN FLORIDA (fwd) Forwarded message: From: PWDolphin 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 administered from 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 DIVISIONS, then on Marine Mammal Research/Conservation, and finally on Dolphin Tag. The limit per award will be $50,000. The deadline for receipt of proposals is 3 April 2001. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 21:37:01 EST From: IWNCC(\)aol.com Subject: Seal rehab. internships Wildlife internships with an emphasis on Harbour Seal rescue and rehabilitation are being offered by Island Wildlife Natural Care Centre. Island Wildlife is a charitable organization located on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia. The Centre cares for all indigenous wild animals including 40+ Harbour Seal pups each summer. Island Wildlife specializes in Alternative Medicine along with conventional veterinary protocols. Besides our small staff which includes a full time veterinarian, Island Wildlife will be utilizing ten interns throughout the summer. Interns will be involved in all aspects of animal care, not merely cleaning and food prep. The internships last from six to eight weeks and are on a voluntary basis. However, comfortable housing and about 75% of meals will be provided. For more information and an application see our web site. Jeff Lederman Island Wildlife Natural Care Centre http:// www.sealrescue.org/ iwncc(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 10:41:22 -0100 Reply-To: rprieto(\)horta.uac.pt From: Rui Subject: Reference of possible Monodontidae hybrid ------ Dear Marmam subscribers, below is one further reference, besides those posted by Owen Nichols and Dirk Neumann: Heide-J=F8rgensen MP, Reeves R. 1993. Description of an anomaloous monodo= ntid skull from West Greenland: a possible hybrid? Marine Mammal Science, 9(3):258-68. Rui Prieto Departamento de Oceanografia e Pescas Un. A=E7ores Cais de Sta Cruz 9901-862 - Horta Portugal Phone: + 351 292292988 Mobile: + 351 966782517 Fax: + 351 292292659 http://www.horta.uac.pt rprieto(\)horta.uac.pt ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 20:40:45 -0800 From: JIWLP Subject: Next issue of the Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy Content-type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" Issue 3:3 of the Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy has now been released. Below you will find the table of contents for the issue. The Journal's website includes the full text of the Young article, as well as all the materials contained in the documents section. Go to "Past Issues," 3:3, to access these materials. The Institute site also contains several regularly updated research bibliographies on wildlife issues and will soon include a "Wildlife Resources on the Internet" page that will ultimately contain more than 5000 links, updated monthly. To receive announcements of updates to the site, sign up on the site's announcement list. Click on the "Join Mailing List" link on the index page. 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/ Journal of International Wildlife Law and Policy, Volume 3:3 Table of contents Main Articles * Complementarities between the Convention on Migratory Species and the Convention on Biological Diversity , Lyle Glowka * Do Large Whales Have an Impact on Commercial Fishing in the South Pacific Ocean?, Jock W. Young Case Notes * New Environmental Assessment Required in Makah Hunt, Kristen M. Fletcher Documents * Decision: Metcalf v. Daley, 214 F.3d 1135 (9th Cir.2000), U.S. States 9th Circuit Court of Appeals * News Release: Amman 2000 World Conservation Congress comes to a conclusion "No loss of species is acceptable," says IUCN * U.S. Department of State: Clinton Letter to Congress on Japan's Whaling Practices * Okinawa Statement: Asia Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Strategy:2001-2005, International Workshop, Okinawa, Japan, 19 October 2000 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 14:27:23 +0000 From: cathyw(\)wdcs.org Subject: Scotland 2001 Volunteer Placements Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 ------ Moray Firth Wildlife Centre & Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society Scotland 2001 Volunteer Placements. The Moray Firth Wildlife Centre (MFWC) & The Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) have teamed up to offer the following volunteer placement opportunities working on cetacean related projects in Scotland. We requi= re 4 volunteers this season. Two volunteers ( VOL/A) are required to undertake boat-based duties, aboa= rd the local cruise boat, carrying out interpretative duties with the public and documenting each 2 hour trip as a survey for cetaceans. This will requir= e the use of GPS equipment, depth sounders and survey sheets as well as the abi= lity to use an SLR camera. The volunteers will also need computer skills as ther= e is considerable work involved in data basing the resulting information. In addition they will assist with the MFWC?s Photo ID records. These volunt= eers may also be required to work in the MFWC shop/centre from time to time. Reporting directly to the WDCS Scottish Officer these volunteers will als= o assist with WDCS related duties as directed. These posts are ideal for graduates who wish to gain some practical experience in cetacean research= ; relevant qualifications and experience are an advantage. Two Volunteers (VOL/B) are required to work within the Wildlife Centre as= sisting with front of house duties which include. Carrying out a range of interpretative duties both in and around the C= entre. This will include assisting with children?s activities in the exhibiti= on (quiz sheets, poster competitions, face painting.) as well as ensuring exhibition visitors enjoy their visit and receive any information they= maybe looking for. Delivering slide talks. Assisting with the implementation of the Centres seasonal events progr= amme. Support duties to the WDCS Out of the Blue eco-tourism holidays. Promoting WDCS and its Adopt a Dolphin programme. Carrying out 5 min Scan surveys and updating sightings records. Assisting with the Centres Roadshow programme. Serving customers in the MFWC shop and dealing with their enquiries. Reporting to the MFWC management & the WDCS Scottish officer these two po= sts are ideal for Graduates seeking to gain experience in visitor centre operatio= ns, environmental education and Eco-tourism. Relevant qualifications or expe= rience are an advantage. As these posts involve working with children two refer= ences will be required to be checked by the Centre as to candidate?s suitabilit= y. Based at the Wildlife Centre, in Spey Bay on the North East Scottish coas= t, all volunteers will receive: Free self catering / shared accommodation A =A325 per week food allowance A =A320 per week living allowance References from MFWC & WDCS relating to their work Successful candidates will need to cover their own travel costs to and fr= om the MFWC. Applications, enclosing a C.V. and stating which position is of preferenc= e to you should be sent to; The Moray Firth Wildlife Centre Spey Bay Fochabers Moray Scotland IV32 7PJ Or emailed to: personnel(\)mfwc.co.uk *********** This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intende= d 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 contain= s an express statement to the contrary. WDCS does not accept responsibility for changes made to this message afte= r 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 noti= fy 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: Wed, 16 Feb 0101 14:01:53 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: IWC report on status and trends in western NA right whales (fwd) Forwarded message from Eubalaena e-mail list. ---------------------------------------------------------- In case anyone would like their very own copy, the report of the IWC workshop on status and trends in western NA right whales is available on the NEFSC's Protected Species Branch's website at: http://www.wh.whoi.edu/psb/ It's in pdf format (isn't everything these days?) Phil -- Phillip J. Clapham, Ph.D. Large Whale Biology Program Protected Species Branch Northeast Fisheries Science Center 166 Water Street Woods Hole, MA 02543, U.S.A. tel. 508 495-2316 fax 508 495-2066 email: phillip.clapham(\)noaa.gov _______________________________________________ Eubalaena maillist - Eubalaena(\)whoi.edu http://www.whoi.edu/mailman/listinfo/eubalaena ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2001 14:36:14 +0200 From: Filippo Galimberti Subject: Harassment papers reprints ------ Dear List Members, I have available a limited number of reprints of three papers on male=20 harassment in southern elephant seals (see abstracts below). Please=20 send your requests to fgalimbe(\)tiscalinet.it Best regards Filippo Galimberti Galimberti,F. & Boitani,L. & Marzetti,I. 2000. Frequency and costs of harassment in southern elephant seals. Ethol. Ecol. Evol. 12(4): 345-365. Abstract Notwithstanding the important role of male harassment of females for theories of the evolution of mating systems, accurate estimates of its frequency and costs are available for only a few species. In this paper, we quantify the frequency of harassment in southern elephant seals, compare occurrences of harassment inside and outside harems, and estimate the costs of harassment in two populations at Sea Lion Island (Falkland Islands) and Punta Delgada (Vald=E9s Peninsula). Southern elephant seal males are much larger than females, have enlarged canines, and are much more agile on land; hence, females have a small probability of escape from approaching males and may suffer intense molestation. Most males had limited access to females due to the despotic mating system, and their libido was high. Females were approached by males at high frequency, mostly when out of oestrus. The harassment level was negatively related to the ratio of breeding females to breeding males, and females breeding at the peak of the season suffered a lower level of harassment. Females of large harems were harassed less, and their likelihood to interact with secondary males was lower. The activity of harem females was less disrupted, and females in large harems had an higher proportion of resting time. Isolated females suffered more herding episodes, and were approached more frequently by secondary males. The main short-term cost of harassment was disruption of the females' activity schedule; harassment level and total active time were positively related. Suckling bouts were rarely interrupted by male harassment. Mother and pup separations caused by males interaction were rare, short-lasting, and rarely permanent. There was little effect of harassment on weanling weight, physical damage of females was rare, and there was only a slight non-significant negative relationship between harassment level during one season and the likelihood of surviving to the next. Galimberti,F. & Boitani,L. & Marzetti,I. 2000. Female strategies of harassment reduction in southern elephant seals. Ethol. Ecol. Evol. 12(4): 367-388. Abstract Female southern elephant seals are expected to adopt behaviours that reduce the costs of male harassment. We studied the strategies and tactics of harassment reduction in two populations, at Punta Delgada (Vald=E9s Peninsula, Argentina) and at Sea Lion Island (Falkland Islands) during five breeding seasons in all. Females synchronized their breeding activities to reduce harassment risk, and rarely bred alone to reduce the likelihood of encounters with subadult males. Females showed a clear preference for larger harems, that guaranteed a reduced harassment risk: movements between arrival on land and parturition were mostly from smaller to larger harems, and the likelihood of abandonment was lower for large harems. Females protested against approaching males in the vast majority of interactions, regardless of the social context and the status of the interacting male, but protest varied with female breeding status and male phenotype. Frequency of protest of individual females decreased linearly from the beginning of oestrus to departure to sea. Interactions with mature males were less protested. The frequency of protest linearly decreased with increase in age class, and mating attempts by males of higher status and dominance rank were less often protested. Most of this variation with male phenotype, however, was due to the higher probability of older and more dominant males to interact with oestrus females that had an intrinsic lower tendency to protest. Protest variation in relation to male phenotype was more parsimoniously explained as a consequence of differential access of males to oestrus females rather than of female selectivity. Protests had a role in disruption of mating attempts, although the phenotype of interactors was more important: adult, large and dominant males disrupted interactions regardless of incitation by female protest. Galimberti,F. & Boitani,L. & Marzetti,I. 2000. Harassment during arrival to land and departure to sea in southern elephant seals. Ethol. Ecol. Evol. 12(4): 389-404. Abstract During the breeding season female elephant seals spent most of their time on land inside harems. When they arrive on land before joining harems, and when they leave harems to return to sea, they are exposed to secondary males and may suffer intense harassment. Hence, arrival and departure present an ideal opportunity to test hypotheses concerning female tactics of harassment reduction. We studied harassment during arrival and departure in two southern elephant seal populations at Punta Delgada (Vald=E9s Peninsula; DEL hereafter) and Sea Lion Island (Falkland Islands; SLI hereafter). Females were less likely to be intercepted by males during arrival than during departure. They also arrived mostly at high tide, thereby reducing the distance from water to the harems. Interception rate and harassment during departure were higher at DEL, where male density and the breeding sex ratio affected the likelihood of interception; on SLI, the socionomy had a small effect. Harassment was higher at low tide at DEL but not at SLI, because tide level variation was larger at DEL and this resulted in a larger variation in the distances of the harems from the water. Females departed more often than expected at high tide at DEL but not at SLI. In both populations females departed directly to sea, rarely stopping before reaching the water, and they never sought contact with males. Social distraction during departure significantly reduced the likelihood of interception. Departures were more frequent during periods of high social activity, and females departing just after other females were less prone to harassment. Accepting copulations with secondary males may reduce the dangerous effects of harassment: interactions occurring during departure were less frequently protested, but we found no indication that departing females were facilitating copulations in a special manner. Quantity and quality of protest during departures was similar to protest during the last days of residence of the females in the harem. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2001 11:16:14 -0800 From: Elaine Allen Subject: Rescue and Rehabilitation Workshop - Reminder We would like to remind everyone that this weekend is going to be the first part of the two part series of the "Rescue and Rehabilitation" workshop. Who: MARINE ANIMAL RESCUE SOCIETY What: MARINE MAMMAL RESCUE AND REHABILITATION WORKSHOP Where: FIU NORTH BISCAYNE BAY CAMPUS WOLFSON UNIVERSITY CENTER ROOM WC 155 When: SATURDAY FEBRUARY 24TH 2001 1 pm to 5 pm Fee: $20 Speakers: Craig Pelton Elaine Allen Anyone interested in working hands in our rehabilitation department must attend the workshop. If you have any questions please contact us at: Office: 305-919-5503 Email: mars(\)marineanimalrescue.org Website: http://www.marineanimalrescue.org Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 21 Feb 0101 17:30:01 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: sperm whale interactions with long-lines (fwd) Forwarded from the Fish-Sci list ------- Forwarded Message Follows ------- Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 14:46:56 GMT From: Stephen Cotterell Subject: Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) interaction with long line Greeting Fish-Sciers, Fish-ecologyers, and Marine Biology Forum subscribers This morning I've had an interseting conversation with a Canadian fisherman regarding a potentially very serious bycatch problem. He's a longliner working out of a British Columbia port, and fishes quite deep, around 300 ftm I seem to remember. His problem is that when he hauls his gear he finds its been striped by sperm whales. He certain it is sperm whales because he's seen them when hauling and indeed he's had one entangled in his back line, which subsequently died. I am certianly no expert on this, but he has heard of some acoustic work going on in this lab and approached me in the first instance. I beleive he's looking for an acoustic device to keep away the sperm whales when hauling. He reported no problem when shooting his gear so it seem likely that its the struggling of the lip caught fish which is attracting the whales, though we didn't discuss which species of fish he's catching, he said after a six hour set they are still very much alive. The depth may mean that this sound is propogated a great distrance. I cannot remember exactly how deep is the sofar layer. Also, the boat's echosounder may play a part in attracting the whales to the area but he said this is running all the time. I'm aware that sperm whales use echolocation to find prey so perhaps a generated signal which interferes with this on a local scale may be useful. I also suggested he turnes off his echosounder when hauling may be useful, though even the noise of the hauler pulling up the line could attract the whales. Does anyone know? I'd imagine that sperm whales use quite low frequency sounds to communicate but perhaps higher frequency sounds to echlocate as they get closer to their prey. I wouldn't imagine that sperm whales are messy eaters and also that they exist soley on a diet of giant squid. Does anyone know what is the frequency range of sperm whales? Which sounds accompany different bahaviours? And has anyone tried blocking sperm whale's echolocation? Maybe there is another apporach intirely. I'm aware of the electrical shark repellent systems used by divers. It might be possible to discharge a current through the fishing gear to deter the whales, but I'd imagine the sensory systems of sharks and whales to be very different and the practicalities of discharginging sufficient current might leave little room on a fishing vessel for the catch and put in jeopardy the lives of the crew! This is a serious request for information. I said I'd pass on any thoughts generated by this message. Please feel free to discuss this but it is probably best if you contact me directly. I'll post a full set of contributions if and when I get something. With thanks Stephen -Stephen Cotterell -Fishery Science Lab -Rm 4 22 Portland Square -Institute of Marine Studies -University of Plymouth -Drake Circus -PLYMOUTH -PL4 8AA -Tel +44 (0)1752 232411 -Fax +44 (0)1752 232406 -e-mail S.Cotterell(\)plymouth.ac.uk ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 14:14:20 -0300 From: "Paul D. Winger" Subject: Re: Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) interaction with long line Stephen, The following research centres have worked on the development of acoustic alarms and fishing gear modifications aimed at reducing cetacean by-catch. Memorial University's Whale Research Group http://play.psych.mun.ca/Psych/whale.html Memorial University's Fishing Technology Unit http://www.mi.mun.ca/~ftu/ftuhome.htm Loughborough University's Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/el/ Cheers, Paul ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Paul D. Winger Aquatic Resources Division | Biopsychology Programme Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans | Departments of Biology and Psychology P.O. Box 5667, | Memorial University of Newfoundland St. Johns, Nfld., A1C 5X1 | St. Johns, Nfld., A1B 3X9 phone: (709) 772-0566 email: wingerp(\)athena.nwafc.nf.ca http://www.mun.ca/biopsych/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 22 Feb 0101 22:50:33 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Sea lion behavior (fwd) Forwarded message: From: lavatera(\)w-link.net Hi everyone, I'm new to the list. I joined because I recently witnessed some sea lion activity that puzzled me. I hope someone can tell me more about it. I was birding on the West Seattle waterfront last week, close to Duwamish Head. About 100-150 feet from shore I saw a sea lion's flipper sticking completely out of the water, totally immobile. I began observing with my 7X binoculars, and saw that there were two living sea lions transporting an immobile one that was dead or injured, I presumed. Every few minutes they would stop and turn the immobile one so its head would stick out of the water for a few moments. Then they would continue on their way, and the flipper would stick up again. The sea lion in front had the immobile one resting on the lower half of its back, pickaback style. The other active sea lion was behind the immobile one. Its head was frequently out of the water. It seemed to be pushing or guiding the immobile one. They were staying on the surface, progressing very slowly out of Elliot Bay, heading for the open waters of Puget Sound. It was sunny and clear, with excellent visibility, about midday, with a brisk wind from the north making the water very choppy out on the sound, with some whitecaps. I watched these sea lions for about 20 minutes. When I proceeded on my walk, I saw another small group of sea lions not far behind the first group. The second group had at least two, probably three, active sea lions and two immobile ones which I presumed were dead, as they appeared to be floating belly up. There were no flippers sticking out of the water, just two sea lions floating like logs, being carried or pushed along by the active animals. This group was travelling the same direction as the first group, heading out into Puget Sound. My question is where and why would living sea lions be taking dead, comatose or injured sea lions. Or is there some other explanation? I am a reasonably good observer, an experienced intermediate birder, with a degree in entomology and a background in horticulture. Unfortunately, the only thing I know about pinnipeds is how to tell a harbor seal from a California sea lion. Can someone help me interpret what I saw? Maxine in West Seattle ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 15:25:39 +0100 From: Junio Fabrizio Borsani Subject: additional info re ECS 2001 accomodation dear list members, here is some ADDITIONAL info on selected accomodation in the vicinity of the ECS 2001 venue location for those of you who might have experienced delays or problems with the official agency. Looking forward to seeing you in Rome! fabrizio **************************************************************************** ******************* EUROPEAN CETACEAN SOCIETY, ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2001 Public transportation: Detailed information on Public transportation in Rome can be found at the official web site: http://www.atac.roma.it/trasroma/indexuk.htm City maps: At this page you can draw your own route from/to any place in Rome: http://www.atac.roma.it/trasroma/oraperco/metauk.htm Here you can find any place (streets, squares, etc.) in Rome http://www.alfanet.it/Mappadiroma/default.html General information about travel, accommodation, events and fun can be obtained from the following web-sites: http://www.alfanet.it/welcomeitaly/roma http://www.romapreview.it Hotels: CROWNE HOTEL MINERVA (*****) http://www.qualitytravel.it/lazio/hotel4.htm http://www.romeguide.it/ALBERGHI/crowne_hotel_minerva/minerva.html HOTEL MASSIMO D'AZEGLIO (****) http://www.uni.net/bettoja/ HOTEL SAN GIORGIO (****) http://www.travel.it/roma/sangiorgio/sangiorgio.html http://www.hotelsitaly.com/rome/san_giorgio/ http://www.allitalianhotels.com/eng_rom5_hotelsinitaly_hotelsinrome_sangiorg io.html PANTHEON (****) http://www.hotelpantheon.com/ http://www.venere.it/it/roma/pantheon/ DIANA (***) http://www.venere.it/it/roma/diana/ HOTEL MADISON (***) http://www.hotelsitaly.com/rome/madison/ HOTEL NORD NUOVA ROMA (***) http://www.hotelsitaly.com/rome/nuova_roma/ http://www.travel.it/roma/nord/nord.html Bed & breakfast, apartments and other hotels: http://www.sleepinitaly.com/files/franchising-italy.html http://www.virtualrome.com/english/index.html http://www.romeguide.it/FrameSeting.html Youth Hostels: http://www.hostels-aig.org/shop-uk/roma.htm http://www.romainn.com ********************************************** Junio Fabrizio Borsani ICRAM Istituto Centrale per la Ricerca Applicata al Mare via di Casalotti 300, 00166 Roma * Italy tel. (+39) 0661570407 * fax (+39) 0661550581 mobile: (+39) (0)3356761844 email: jfaber(\)tin.it http://www.icram.org ********************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 08:57:31 -0500 From: "Tarr, Suzanne" Subject: manatee watch internships Manatee Internships Available The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (St. Petersburg, Florida) are seeking 7 interns to work on a Tampa Bay manatee program. Manatee Watch Research Project Assistants Seven positions are available for each 10-week sampling session. The summer session (SS7) runs June 5- August 30, 2001 and the fall session (SS8) runs October - December, 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 are responsible for data collection, entry, and verification, equipment maintenance, and volunteer support. 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 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 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. Please send internship application including project interest (manatees), transcripts, cover letter, references, and E-mail address to: Mr. Bill Arnold FWC/FMRI 100 8th Ave. SE St. Petersburg, FL 33701-3095 727-896-8626 Additional information about FWC' s manatee programs and internships may be found at www.floridamarine.org. Suzanne Tarr suzanne.tarr(\)fwc.state.fl.us ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2001 10:38:13 +0000 From: BROOKS Subject: Osmoregulation? Greetings, I am a third year marine biology student at Newcastle University. As part of a module I'm doing titled; marine organisms and their environment, I need as much in depth and cutting edge information on Cetacean osmoregulation and ionic balance as possible. As yet all I have been able to find is a brief overview in an issue of Nature from several years ago and a relatively small and non scientific chapter in 'The Biology of Marine Mammals' The article I hope to produce will result in a presentation over a two day conference at Newcastle University comparing the adaptive physiology of Elasmobranchs and Cetacea (or a general Marine Mammals). As an established organisation I was wondering whether you might be able to help me by sending either some relevant references or any relevant contacts, web sites or raw information. It is imperative that the information be as recent as possible with scope to trying to continue research or put forward ideas of my own for future research. I hope you can help me, My email address is: t.j.brooks(\)ncl.ac.uk Many thanks, Tim Brooks ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2001 23:56:39 +1100 From: Peter Gill Subject: Cetaceans and underwater power cables Dear List, There is a major project planned between Tasmania, and Victoria on the Australian mainland. Called Basslink, it will shunt power either north or south across Bass Strait, depending on demand, through a High Voltage DC (HVDC) cable lying on the seafloor. Apparently the unshielded monopole cable chosen by the proponents, which uses seawater for the return current, is the cheapest option. The cable is designed for a continuous rating of 480 MW, with a short-time overload capacity of up to 600 MW. The cable may induce a magnetic field of 23,000 nT at 10m, against a total geomagnetic field of about 60,000 nT across Bass Strait. While the geomagnetic sense in cetaceans is still unproven, there are widespread concerns that the cable may create a 'magnetic fence' across Bass Strait, with unforeseeable effects on their navigation and orientation. Thirty species have been recorded in Bass Strait, including a range of odontocetes, and southern right, humpback and blue whales probably transit regularly. Shark fishermen have expressed similar concerns about possible effects on the movements of commercially fished species. As with similar large-scale projects elsewhere, this one has government approval, and if problems do occur with migratory animals, by the time they are evident it will probably be too late. The best hope for opponents of the cable is now that the proponents will adopt the more expensive, but less environmentally risky bipole cable. Does anyone have any information about effects of similar developments elsewhere, or any thoughts on the likely effects of such a significant electromagnetic feature on cetaceans? I will be happy to collate and circulate any responses. With thanks, Peter Gill Blue Whale Study School of Ecology and Environment Deakin University Warrnambool Victoria, Australia pcgill(\)ozemail.com.au ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2001 16:35:42 -0800 From: Pat Gearin Subject: Reply to Maxine of West Seattle Re: sea lions This reply is in response to a Maxine of West Seattle who described some activity by sea lions near the Duwamish waterway. My name is Pat Gearin and I'm a wildlife biologist with the National Marine mammal Laboratory in Seattle. One of my current research projects is conducting studies on California sea lions in Washington. What Maxine described was what we refer to as "rafting" behavior by California sea lions when they rest in the water often in small groups with their flippers in the air. This is a very common behavior observed for many years in many areas of Washington and although Steller sea lions will occaisionally do it, it is most often California sea lions. When rafting, sea lions will often be sleeping at the surface or just below the surface and they will intermittently rise up to breath. In small groups, sometimes 3-4 sea lions will have their flippers up and the ones sleeping under water are only visible by seeing portions of their backs or bellys. We're not sure why sea lions raft this way but some speculate that it's for group resting, that the flipper extension allows them to align themselves in the water or that the flippers can be used for thermoregulation. At any rate, it's unlikely, in my opinion that any of the sea lions observed were dead. I hope this helps explain what was observed. Feel free to contact me if you have further questions. E-mail- pat.gearin(\)noaa.gov ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 25 Feb 2001 09:21:21 +0100 From: Jan Willem Broekema Subject: RE a "right-handed" sperm whale Dear Gauthier, you wrote in Marmam: "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." I have scientific reason to believe that "right handedness" is not possible in Odontoceti. Mysticeti, if my research so far is correct, can be left or right handed and even non-handed or ambidextrous. I am therefor very interested in any evidence to prove me wrong. Beware that photographs have been printed and published with a left-right swap! I have seen examples. Kind regards, Jan Willem Broekema European Cetacean Society ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2001 19:46:54 -0600 From: Leszek Karczmarski Subject: Sousa chinensis Dear All, This is to announce that Mammalian Species has just published an account on the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin. The reference details are: Jefferson, T.A. and Karczmarski, L. (2001) -- Sousa chinensis. Mammalian Species No. 655, pp 1-9. A limited number of reprints is available from either of the authors, at: Thomas A. Jefferson Southwest Fisheries Science Center NOAA, NMFS, P.O. Box 271 La Jolla, CA 92038, USA E-mail: Sclymene(\)aol.com Leszek Karczmarski Texas A&M University at Galveston Marine Mammal Research Program 4700 Avenue U, Building 303 Galveston, TX 77551, USA E-mail: karczmal(\)tamug.tamu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2001 08:09:41 -0800 From: Marthajane Caldwell Subject: Home range estimates Greetings I would thank all who responded to my request for references of published home range estimates. Below is a summary of the responses I received. I will be presenting my GIS methods for estimating home range in coastal bottlenose dolphins at the SEAMAMMS conference this March. For those of you who can not attend this conference, I will post information concerning my home range paper when it is published. Again thank you for your help. Marthajane Caldwell caldwell(\)fig.cox.miami.edu >From Graham J B Ross: Concerning home ranges in Tursiops, our research group, based at the Port Elizabeth Museum in the 1980-1990s, made some estimates of T. aduncus home ranges along the Natal coast of South Africa, using sighting rates. The paper these appear in is as follows: Cockcroft, V.G., Ross, G.J.B. and Peddemors, V.M. (1990). Bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, distribution in Natal's coastal waters. South African Journal of Marine Science. 9: 1-10. These home ranges were estimated from sighting rates monitored by personnel servicing anti-shark nets at 42 localities along the coast. The six areas "preferred" by the dolphins ranged from 32.7-41.9 km in length. These animals rarely ranged more than two or three km offshore, and were usually close to or behind the surf zone. >From James V. Carretta: Wilson, B., P.M. Thompson, and P.S. Hammond. 1997. Habitat use by bottlenose dolphins: seasonal distribution and stratified movement patterns in the Moray Firth, Scotland. Journal of Applied Ecology 34: 1365-1374. This paper uses some methodology from an earlier paper that is also worth reading: Dixon, K.R. and J.A. Chapman. 1980. Harmonic mean measure of animal activity areas. Ecology 61:1040-1044. >From Kris Herrington: I am not sure if the paper was published, but I know it was a thesis and definitely presented at International Marine Mammal Conferences, so I recommend searching for Sarah Doty(now Sarah Wilkin). She did some bottlenose dolphin home range estimates using GIS in Saint Petersburg, Florida a few years ago. >From Doug Kelt: The papers I refer to have been summaries from other workers, with the objective of looking at patterns across multiple species (so everything from shrews to elephants). To maximize the number of papers we could use we accepted largely papers using Minimum Convex Polygon, although for detailed analysis of a species this clearly is not the best method. One paper is Kelt, D. A., and D. Van Vuren. 1999. On the relationship between body size and home range area: consequences of energetic constraints in mammals. Ecology 80:337-400; Our second major paper on this is in press in Am. Nat. >From Joan Gonzalvo: Ballance, L.T. 1992. Habitat Use Patterns and Ranges of Bottlenose Dolphin in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Marine Mammal Science, 8(3): 262-274. Quantifying Dolphin Occupancy Patterns. Marine Mammal Science, 16(4): 825-828. (October 2000). Defran, R.H., Weller, D.W.1999. Range Characteristics of Pacific Coast Bottlenose Dolphins in the Southern California Bight. Marine Mammal Science, 15 (2): 381-393 (April 1999) Defran, R.H., Weller, D.W.1999.Ocurrence, Distribution, Site Fidelity, and School Size of Bottlenose dolphins off San Diego, California. Marine Mammal Science, 15 (2): 366-380 (April 1999). >From Nancy Yates: The tech reports that I'm thinking of are: U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Marine Mammal Stock Assessments (NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFC-363) July 95 (Blaylock et al) Coastal Socks of Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin: Status Review & Management (NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-OPR-4) Oct 94 (Wang et al) >From Alison: Colin Wood has published home range info for the Cornish bottlenose dolphins in the UK - both in Marine Mammal science and Journal of Zoology. ===== Marthajane Caldwell "a much happier field mouse than lab rat" ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2001 13:41:07 +1300 From: Ingrid N Visser Subject: branded common dolphin? boundary="----=_NextPart_000_006E_01C0A0C2.F020B9B0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_006E_01C0A0C2.F020B9B0 charset="iso-8859-1" Branded common dolphin? On February 17, 2001 at approx 13:15 hours opperators of a whale and=20 dolphin watching company, out of Auckland, New Zealand, were with a = group=20 of approximately 200 common dolphins. They spotted one animal with a=20 series of three numbers and some sort of writing below this, in white, = on=20 the 'saddle' area. The size estimate was about 8 inches square. It was=20 suggested that the mark may be a freeze brand mark. They were unsure if = it=20 was on both sides or only on one. At this stage, it is assumed that one = of=20 the passengers has a photo of it, but this has yet to be confirmed. We would be interested in finding out if anyone might know of any freeze = branding occuring on dolphins in the Pacific. For instance, are any of = the=20 boats that have caught tuna/dolphins branding any of the dolphins they=20 release? Any information regarding possible contacts can be sent to Ingrid Visser (Ph.D.) orca(\)iconz.co.nz thank you ________________________ Ingrid N. Visser (Ph.D.) orca(\)iconz.co.nz PLEASE DO NOT SEND ATTACHMENTS. THANK YOU! POSTAL: The Orca Project, P.O. Box 1233, Whangarei, New Zealand COURIER: "Aorangi", Matapouri Road, RD 3,=20 Whangarei, New Zealand + 64 9 43 43 043 home + 64 25 727 627 mobile ------=_NextPart_000_006E_01C0A0C2.F020B9B0 charset="iso-8859-1"
Branded common dolphin?

On = February 17, 2001=20 at approx 13:15 hours opperators of a whale and
dolphin watching = company,=20 out of Auckland, New Zealand, were with a group
of approximately 200 = common=20 dolphins.  They spotted one animal with a
series of three = numbers and=20 some sort of writing below this, in white, on
the 'saddle' area. The = size=20 estimate was about 8 inches square.  It was
suggested that the = mark may=20 be a freeze brand mark.  They were unsure if it
was on both = sides or=20 only on one.  At this stage, it is assumed that one of
the = passengers=20 has a photo of it, but this has yet to be confirmed.

We would be=20 interested in finding out if anyone might know of any freeze =
branding=20 occuring on dolphins in the Pacific.  For instance, are any of the=20
boats that have caught tuna/dolphins branding any of the dolphins = they=20
release?

Any information regarding possible contacts can be = sent=20 to
Ingrid Visser (Ph.D.)
orca(\)iconz.co.nz
thank=20 you

________________________
 
Ingrid N. Visser (Ph.D.)
orca(\)iconz.co.nz
PLEASE DO NOT = SEND=20 ATTACHMENTS.  THANK YOU!
POSTAL: The Orca Project, P.O. Box=20 1233,
Whangarei, New Zealand
COURIER: "Aorangi", Matapouri Road, = RD 3,=20
Whangarei, New Zealand
+ 64 9 43 43 043 home
+ 64 25 727 627=20 mobile
------=_NextPart_000_006E_01C0A0C2.F020B9B0-- ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 27 Feb 0101 22:49:37 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: milk samples from elephant seals (fwd) Forwarded message: From: "Alessia" Dear List Members, I'm an Italian student of the University of Rome and I'm about to graduate with a thesis on parental investment in southern elephant seals of the Falkland Islands. This year, I'll carry on field work and I'd like to start a pilot study of elephant seal milk composition. I examined the available literature but I found few practical and methodological details. Therefore, I'm looking for suggestions on: - how to take milk samples without using anesthesia or any form of physical restrain of the females - how to preserve and transport milk samples without refrigeration Thank you very much in advance Best regards Alessia Gallastroni ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2001 10:39:45 -0800 From: Whale Research Lab Subject: Summer Internship Announcement Summer Internship Announcement: SEACR - Society for Ecological and Coastal Research, a non-profit organization currently has spaces available for summer internships starting May 2001. SEACR works in conjunction with scientists and researchers from the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada, studying Gray Whale Ecology. The research site is located in Clayoquot Sound, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Interns will have the opportunity to assist on a variety of ecological and coastal marine research projects. Current projects include studies on Gray Whale Habitat Use; Whale Prey Sampling; Interconnections between Forest Ecosystems, Rivers, Watersheds and Whale Prey. For complete details of the research projects, field living conditions, and application form please visit our website: http://www.geog.uvic.ca/dept/whale/wrlmp.html Please send any other inquiries to the UVIC Whale Research Lab at: whalelab(\)office.geog.uvic.ca ***************************************************** 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: Thu, 1 Mar 2001 14:03:06 -0000 From: Jonathan Gordon Subject: Workshop on use of Controlled Exposure Experiments for Investigating Effects of Anthropogenic Noise on Marine Mammals In-Reply-To: <200102280707.HAA11655(\)fritz.st-andrews.ac.uk> ------ The European Cetacean Society will be holding a workshop to consider aspe= cts related to using controlled noise exposure experiments with marine mammal= s to investigate responses to man made noises (see below). The workshop w= ill take place on 10th of May after the ECS meeting in Rome. There will be a small fee, and attendance will be restricted by the size of the venue. T= o register for the meeting contact Jonathan Gordon (jg20(\)st-andrews.ac.uk). For information on registering for the ECS meeting visit the ECS web-page http://web.inter.NL.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs. Two working meeting will be held to prepare documents for the Rome meetin= g. The first will consider methodological and scientific issues and will be held at SMRU/Gatty Lab on Monday 5th of March. The second, focusing on political/ethical concerns, is being organised by Peter Tyack at Woods Ho= le (ptyack(\)whoi.edu). A draft outline of the subjects to be discussed at the St Andrews meeting can be found on the workshop=92s web-site (http://smub.st-and.ac.uk/) and= also on the ECS site. We also intend to post drafts of the document to go fro= m this meeting to the Rome workshop on the same site. Comments on these wi= ll be most welcome and will be acknowledged in the document. The workshop has a provision steering committee of Fabrizio Borsani, Jonathan Gordon, Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara, Dave Thompson, Peter Tyack and Hal Whitehead Workshop on the use of Controlled Exposure Experiments to Investigate Effects of Anthropogenic noise on Marine Mammals The effects of anthropogenic noise on marine mammals has emerged as a significant animal welfare and conservation issue over the last decade. Public concerns grow as the importance of sound in the life of marine mammals is better understood and as new, powerful noise producing technologies are introduced into an already noisy marine environment. Controlling or mitigating noise sources will require a much better understanding of the effects that various sounds have on marine mammals i= n the wild. However, it is difficult to obtain such data and to show causa= l relationships. One approach is to conduct controlled exposure experiment= s (CEE) to undisturbed animals in the field and measure their responses. (Such experiments are also called =93playback experiments=94.) This appr= oach has been widely adopted with terrestrial animals but its use with marine mammals is still relatively new and poses a number of scientific, practic= al and ethical issues. For example: =B7 What sort of questions can be effectively addressed with CE experimen= ts and which are better explored with other approaches. =B7 What measures should be taken to ensure that the experiment itself is= n=92t damaging to the subjects? =B7 What ethical considerations are raised by the introduction of a new n= oise source during CEE? =B7 What sort of equipment and techniques can be used to produce sounds f= or CEE and to measure the responses of subjects? =B7 Which experimental designs and statistical approaches seem most appropriate? =B7 How can statistical power be calculated before experiments? =B7 What permitting issues need to be considered for work in European wat= ers? =B7 Are any species, age classes, sexes, more or less appropriate as subj= ects for CE experiments? =B7 What do CE experiments really tell us, and how should results be pres= ented to managers and the public? =B7 How can researchers address public concerns on this issue? While the focus of the workshop will be on the playback of anthropogenic sounds there will be some overlap with playback experiments involving mar= ine mammal vocalisations. The use of controlled exposures to induce hearing loss is not within the remit of this workshop. The main workshop will take place in Rome on May ?? under the auspices of the European Cetacean Society. Attendance will be limited but is open to members of the ECS with relevant experience and to invited experts. Two preparatory meetings are planned; one, to discuss scientific issues, will= be held at the Sea Mammal Research Unit, St Andrews University, on 5th of March; the other, to consider ethical and political concerns, will be hel= d in Woods Hole. Reports from the preparatory meetings will be presented i= n Rome. Contributions by email from those not able to attend the preparato= ry meetings are welcomed. For further information or to register for the Rome meeting contact Jonat= han Gordon jg20(\)st-andrews.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2001 19:44:00 -0500 From: William Rossiter Subject: Pictures of dolphin skeleton needed ------ my name is Kathleen Wynd and I am a researcher for a publishing company (www.qa-international.com). We are going to publish a third edition of ou= r Visual Dictionary and I hope you can help me. We are looking for pictures of dolphin skeletons. We already looked in books available in libraries but the drawings are not complete or not big enough. We would like something very precise so we can draw something o= f our own from different sources. We would not reproduce the pictures in th= e book. If you do not have such pictures, would you know where I can find some? A quick response would be appreciated. Thank you for the time you will ta= ke to consider my request. Sincerely, Kathleen Wynd Documentaliste / researcher QA International 329, de la Commune Ouest, 3e =E9tage Montr=E9al, Qc H2Y 2E1 Canada < kwynd(\)qa-international.com> T=E9l : 514-499-3000 Fax : 514-499-3010 Forwarded by Cetacean Society International ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 2 Mar 0101 00:18:34 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: sea lion behavior (fwd) Forwarded message: From: lavatera(\)w-link.net Thanks very much to all who responded to my observations of California sea lions in Seattle, and to those of you who wanted to know what explanations I'd received. Two individuals who responded have studied California sea lions in Puget Sound. One said that several dozen such reports are received annually, and those investigated turn out not to be dead or injured. The consensus was that the immobile individuals I observed were probably sleeping. Due to the absence of haul out areas on Puget Sound, the sea lions will "raft" together in small groups for resting, and may be asleep on the surface or just under the surface. Several people mentioned that the flipper in the air was thought to be for thermoregulation. Another possibilty is that "flipper extension allows them to align themselves in the water." One individual said that he has observed California sea lions in the water "rolling over each other in close contact." Another, who worked with this species in captivity, suggested that they may have been "resting and playing and learning how to act strong". One scientist pointed out that there have been "observations of individuals helping others in need in various mammal species." I'm glad they were probably not dead or injured. Thanks again to all for the response. Maxine Centala West Seattle ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 2 Mar 0101 00:22:00 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Cetaceans and sonar - Bahamas strandings (fwd) ------- Forwarded Message Follows ------- From: "Bahamas Marine Mammal Survey" Dear colleagues, Attached is my letter to the US Navy concerning high power=20 military sonars. It is obvious that dead and dying whales are often=20 found coincident with tests and exercises employing the sonars,=20 and I have attempted to explain why. I would appreciate any=20 feedback you may have on this subject. Ken Balcomb --------------------------------------------------- 2/23/2001 Mr. J.S. Johnson Attn: SURTASS LFA Sonar OEIS/EIS Program Manager 901 North Stuart Street, Suite 708 Arlington, VA 22203 Dear Mr. Johnson: Thank you for sending a copy of the Final Overseas Environmental=20 Impact Statement and Environmental Impact Statement for=20 Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active=20 (SURTASS LFA) Sonar. Since my comments to you on the Draft=20 OEIS/EIS (O-26; Balcomb, November 12, 1999), I have had the=20 unique opportunity to witness and study a mass stranding of=20 whales and a dolphin caused by a US Naval Sonar Exercise in the=20 Bahamas (Pirie, ltr. June 15, 2000). That incident unequivocally=20 demonstrated the lethality of high-powered sonars, and it provided=20 the opportunity to understand how sonar=20 has been inadvertently killing whales in vast=20 expanses of ocean around the world. The killing is largely due to resonance=20 phenomena in the whales=92 cranial airspaces that=20 are tearing apart delicate tissues around the=20 brains and ears. This is an entirely separate=20 issue from auditory thresholds and traumas that=20 the Navy has fixated upon. In my earlier=20 comments, I questioned whether there might be a=20 problem with injurious resonance phenomena=20 created by the sonar system described in your=20 OEIS/EIS; but, now I have seen the problem and=20 can attest to the fact that there is massive=20 injury to whales caused by sonar. This is not an=20 exaggerated statement, and I am reasonably sure=20 that the Navy knows that. Please allow me to=20 explain what happens to the whales. Resonance, as engineers well know, can=20 dramatically contribute to shear forces that can=20 be quite damaging =96 wings tear off airplanes,=20 bridges gallop, and buildings collapse, etc. due=20 to unanticipated resonance phenomena which can=20 afterwards be explained by simple physics and=20 mechanics. I wondered about tissue damage caused=20 by resonance, and I specifically asked what the=20 Navy calculations for lung resonance frequencies=20 of a beaked whale were at various depths. [You=20 sidestepped my question by responding=20 generically to my comment with response 4-4.15].=20 Subsequent to my asking you about specific=20 resonant frequencies and depths, I found that in=20 1998 NATO and the US Naval Undersea Warfare=20 Center had already calculated=20 the resonance frequency of airspaces in Cuvier=92s=20 beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) to be about=20 290 Hz at 500 meters depth (page H2, SACLANTCEN=20 M-133), which is almost precisely the middle=20 frequency of LFA (100-500 Hz) described in your=20 OEIS/EIS! That information is quite important,=20 with specific reference to Technical Report 3 of=20 your DOEIS/EIS, wherein there are several=20 citations of Navy sponsored studies that clearly=20 demonstrated vestibular dysfunction (eg.=20 dizziness, vertigo) and lung hemorrhage, etc. in=20 laboratory animals exposed to LFA at their lung=20 resonance frequency. In other words, the Navy=20 has sufficient information available to know=20 there is at least theoretically a very serious=20 problem to whales from LFA for even brief=20 periods of time. The scientific and medical literature contains=20 numerous examples of hemorrhagic injuries and=20 death occurring in humans when they are=20 inadvertently exposed to loud sound,=20 particularly at their lung (airspace) resonance=20 frequency. Undoubtedly such damage could also be=20 demonstrated as occurring to whales if they=20 could be tested and did not sink to the bottom=20 of the ocean when they die.=20 The NATO report I referred to for resonance=20 calculations was concerning the mass stranding=20 of at least twelve Cuvier=92s beaked whales in=20 Greece on 12 May, 1996 coincident with a NATO=20 acoustic trial employing both LFA (450-700 Hz)=20 and mid-frequency sonar (2.8-3.3 kHz).=20 Superficially, in reading that report one might=20 wonder whether either frequency range =93caused=94=20 the whales to strand in Greece, since neither=20 matched the reported resonance frequency in that=20 instance for Cuvier=92s beaked whales=92 airspaces=20 at an arbitrarily chosen 500 meters depth.=20 However, also in that NATO report there were=20 formulae of Minnaert and Andreeva presented that=20 indicated the resonance frequency of airspaces=20 can be calculated, within acceptable limits,=20 from their volumes. Lung (airspace) volumes vary=20 individually, and they also vary with depth,=20 hence their resonance will vary accordingly.=20 Nonetheless, the Navy used the formulae, and so=20 did I. You could, too. In order to perform these airspace resonance=20 calculations correctly, one must know or take=20 into account the following: a. Boyle=92s Law PV=3Dconstant; therefore, lung=20 (airspace) volume will decrease with increasing=20 depth due to increasing pressure.=20 b. Lung (airspace) volume at the surface. c. Functional anatomy of deep-diving beaked=20 whales. It is the volume of air in the individual=20 pterygoid sacs and the laryngeal airspace, not=20 the lungs, for which resonance should be=20 calculated. Below about 100 meters depth=20 virtually all of the air that was in the lungs=20 at the surface is forced into laryngeal and=20 cranial airspaces, wherein its volume continues to=20 decrease with increasing depth until it has a=20 total volume less than that of a football=20 (compressed from, for example, a 100 liter lung=20 full of air). The two largest of these remaining=20 airspaces (pterygoid sacs or sinuses) are=20 bilaterally adjacent to the earbones and the=20 base of the brain (via the large foramen for the=20 oversize VIII cranial nerve); and, their=20 diminishing volume at depth is compensated for=20 by retia mirabilia (a corpus cavernosum-like=20 vascular network extending to the middle ear).=20 [Envision the football-size airspace further=20 squeezed to the size of a ping-pong ball with=20 1500 psi air pressure, now tucked between the=20 ear bulla and the skull on each side of the=20 head, thinly separated from a bag of blood next=20 to it on the =93soft=94 side.]=20 Following the Navy=92s example and the=20 formulae of Minnaert and Andreeva, the=20 frequencies of LFA (and powerful mid- frequency sonars) precisely match=20 these cranial airspace resonance=20 frequencies in these whales at=20 predictable depths where they normally=20 forage (500-1500 meters). [Now=20 envision rapidly compressing and=20 decompressing the ping-pong ball many=20 times per second (sound and sonar travels as=20 compressions and decompressions of the medium=20 through which it is passing) until ultimately the amplitude=20 is exaggerated by resonance.] The result is both=20 astonishing and bloody. Many whales died due to this=20 sonar resonance in Greece and in the Bahamas.=20 Unfortunately, the Greek mass stranding incident=20 passed into relative obscurity because the=20 SACLANTCEN Bioacoustics Panel missed the crucial=20 point of matching resonance in critical airspaces; and,=20 because suitable specimen materials were not collected=20 for discovering the problem. At least seven beaked whales died in the Bahamas stranding that I=20 witnessed; and, I had opportunity to examine four of the carcasses=20 by necropsy. All of these whales that were examined evidenced=20 similar lesions, i.e. hemorrhage in the acoustic regions of the=20 cranium and mandible and in tissues adjacent to airspaces around=20 the earbones (NMFS ltr. June 14, 2000). One fresh specimen that=20 was examined by ultra high-resolution computerized tomography=20 (UHR-CT) evidenced a subarachnoid hemorrhage (brain=20 hemorrhage) with a direct path to the ear hemorrhage. This same=20 specimen evidenced lung hemorrhage and laryngeal hemorrhage=20 upon dissection. These hemorrhages are of the type of damage=20 reported in laboratory animals exposed to LFA at lung resonance=20 frequency, and they strongly corroborate the theoretical=20 explanation of such injuries in these whales.=20 In order to approach this problem empirically, I=20 prepared an endocast of the pterygoid sac of one=20 of the Cuvier=92s beaked whale specimens from the=20 Bahamas incident and determined that its volume=20 closely matched the calculated volume used for=20 the resonance formulae beginning around 170=20 meters depth where it would resonate at 470-590=20 Hz (within LFA range). At greater depths the=20 resonance frequency of this pterygoid sac would=20 increase to around 3.5 kHz at 1400 meters.=20 Because most of the hemorrhage observed was in=20 tissues adjacent to the pterygoid sac at its=20 most posterior end where it is enveloped by=20 retia mirabilia in a unique cul-de-sac of=20 sesamoid bone and dense earbone that keep this=20 space open during the deepest part of a dive, I=20 consider the evidence compelling that resonance=20 of this particular airspace is a real problem. Again with respect to the Bahamas incident, I=20 have read (Pirie ltr.) that the sonars employed=20 were standard hull mounted and operating at 3.5=20 kHz (\) 235 dB re 1uPa SL and 7.5 kHz (\) 235 dB re=20 1uPa SL. What is important, of course, is the=20 received level (RL) of these projected=20 frequencies at the whales=92 receiving location=20 when first impacted by the sound. I have been=20 told that the Bahamas situation may have been=20 complicated by oceanographic conditions and=20 other factors that could have resulted in a=20 =93surface=94 sound duct in which most of the=20 acoustic energy was trapped; but, I also=20 documented that the whales stranded over an area=20 200 kilometers across! In this case, if the Navy=20 report of several surface ships using =93standard,=20 hull-mounted sonar operating within normal mid- range frequencies, power outputs, and duty=20 cycles=94 is true; and, if =93within a range of 1000=20 meters from the ship in this surface duct, the=20 sound level from the sonars dropped in intensity=20 to less than 180 dB=94 is also true; then, it is=20 not possible that all of the whales that=20 stranded over such a huge area experienced=20 received levels (RL) of these sonars above the=20 alleged =93safe limit=94 of 180 dB (not enough=20 ships; too large an area). I conclude that the=20 whales in the Bahamas incident were adversely=20 and lethally impacted by sonar =93pings=94 at=20 received levels well below the 180 dB re 1uPa=20 considered =93safe=94 for whales, and this was due=20 to the aforementioned resonance problem. These=20 =93pings=94 were of much shorter duration (1/10th=20 second) than the proposed LFA =93pings=94, I might=20 add. This sonar impact at received levels well below=20 180 dB is likewise well documented in the Greek=20 incident reported in the NATO report SACLANTCEN=20 M-133 (Annex G). The first whale to strand did=20 so 40 km from the ship one hour after the=20 acoustic trial commenced. If one takes into=20 account how fast a beaked whale can swim (about=20 15 km per hour, maximum), it must have been at=20 least 25 km from the ship when the first of its=20 238 four-second pings was transmitted! At that=20 distance the RL was calculated by the Navy=20 (NATO, Annex G) to be approximately 150 dB! The=20 Bioacoustics Panel overlooked this important bit=20 of evidence of received level for impact. Therefore, based on two significant mass=20 mortality events (Greece and the Bahamas) the=20 body of evidence indicates that not only is=20 resonance with LFA and sonar frequencies a=20 problem for beaked whales, the sound pressure=20 level of 180 dB RL is demonstrably =93not safe=94,=20 and it is probably not safe for other cetaceans=20 (two minke whales and a dolphin also stranded in=20 the Bahamas incident). Aversion and/or=20 physiological damage evidently and repeatedly occurs=20 in beaked whales at levels of somewhere between=20 150 and 180 dB RL (probably nearer the former)=20 of either low frequency or mid-frequency sonar=20 signals in the whales=92 normal habitat. Clearly,=20 the impact of high-powered rapid-rise acoustic=20 energy (such as sonar), particularly at airspace=20 resonance frequency, on these animals is=20 occurring at significant distances well beyond=20 the current mitigation distance (1-2.2 km) used=20 by the Navy. These impact distances can be=20 easily calculated, and they are more like 20 to=20 100 kilometers, and more =96 well over the horizon=20 of shipboard observers. Cuvier=92s beaked whales were reasonably common in=20 our field study area prior to the Bahamas=20 incident; we had photo-identified about thirty- five of them, many repeatedly. We typically=20 sighted small groups of these whales a dozen or=20 more times per year in any month of the year.=20 But since the Bahamas sonar incident we have=20 seen this species only once in an entire year,=20 and that was a sighting of two previously=20 unidentified whales (i.e., new arrivals to our=20 study area) about two months after the sonar=20 exercise. None of the whales that were =93rescued=94=20 have been seen again. In retrospect, it is=20 probable that all Cuvier=92s beaked whales in the=20 region when the naval exercise commenced were=20 killed by the sonar, whether or not they were returned to sea by=20 well-wishers pushing them off the shore. Considering the observed=20 damage to the whales that stranded and died, and the short time=20 period between stranding and death, the NMFS statement that =93the=20 whales died from stranding=94 is patently absurd. The whales that we=20 observed swimming toward shore and stranding were only=20 temporary survivors of an acoustic holocaust that can be likened to=20 fishing with dynamite. In summary, I consider the Navy=92s Final OEIS/EIS fails to justify=20 the deployment of SURTASS/LFA with negligible or mitigable=20 potential to harm marine mammals, therefore I recommend the No=20 Action Alternative. In fact, there really is no Alternative 1- the Navy=20 cannot reasonably mitigate the problem using visual, active=20 acoustic or passive acoustic monitoring, nor can the Navy redesign=20 the whales; at best it can only reconsider and perhaps redesign the=20 SURTASS/LFA system. Considering that the facts of multiple=20 whale deaths and their almost certain cause are now known to me,=20 I cannot legally or morally support any recommendation to deploy=20 SURTASS/LFA as proposed, and I trust that will be your=20 conclusion as well. Sincerely, Kenneth C. Balcomb, III Whale Biologist Cc: Office of Protected Species, NMFS CNO OP95 US Marine Mammal Commission ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 3 Mar 2001 10:42:53 -0500 From: Donald Sutherland Subject: Caribbean Whale Hunts 3/3/2001 I am researching a story on whale hunts in the Eastern Caribbean at islands heavily traveled by US tourists (ie.St.Lucia, St.Vincent, and Dominica). Are there any marine experts and or organizations which can give me commentary on the attached information? Best Wishes, Donald Sutherland Member of the Society of Environmental Journalists donaldsutherland-iso14000(\)worldnet.att.net phone: 508-497-3676 *This is a statement from The St. Lucia Whale & Dolphin Watching Assoc.(SLWDWA), St. Lucia, West Indies. tel.: 758-457-7527 / 452-9350 / 452-9117 fax : 758-452-9806 e-mail : toucan(\)candw.lc URL : http://www.geocities.com/slwdwa/ "St. Vincent is also home to the Barrouillie fishery which specialises in dolphins, pilot whales, other small cetaceans such as dwarf or pygmy (?) sperm whales and killer whales. St. Lucia is the only island in the Caribbean with national whale watching regulations. These include the rule that whale watching boats must stay away from whale hunters and vice versa. If a watcher is there first, the hunter may not intervene. Unfortunately, due to the unenthusiastic approach of the Fisheries Dept. to whale watching until recently, the dissemination of this type of information to the fishermen has been poor. The effect of local whaling (and our stance at the IWC and CITES) on our whale watching industry is twofold. Firstly, if we are perceived to be a pro-whaling country, the prospective tourist might simply decide to go elsewhere. Secondly, and worst case scenario, would be the tourist on a whale watching trip confronted by fishermen trying to harpoon Flipper (to quote Mr. Simms), or as was the case a couple of weeks ago, some rather optimistic fishermen trying to harpoon a sperm whale!!! We have about 6 fishermen who hunt pilot whales. The pilot whale hunt usually takes place about twice per year - in July and January. It has become much more regular in recent years, as has the taking of dolphins. About 10 days ago, off the north of the island, a trawler was seen catching (with difficulty) what was thought to be a large male killer whale, with a net. Since neither St. Lucia, Martinique nor Barbados (the boat was seen departing towards the east) has trawlers, one could infer that there are poachers in our waters. There is no surveillance system in place. It took the Marine Police 2 1/2 hours to mobilise and reach the area, so it is safe to assume that more useful details will never be known." *This is a statement from WDCS (Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society) info(\)wdcs.org claim: "St Vincent and the Grenadines has an aboriginal subsistence whaling quota agreed by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) for islanders in Bequia to kill two humpback whales a year. The hunt has been poorly regulated and the whalers have persistently (and illegally) killed calves. Last year, fishermen killed a Bryde's whale, which is also illegal." See: http://home.istar.ca/~rsimms/whale.htm *This is a statement from Erich Hoyt, consultant for the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, marine ecologist and author of 7 books on whales and dolphins: http://www.caribbeansupersite.com/region/watching.htm "Your support of whale watching may have the biggest impact in countries of the eastern Caribbean: Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Over the past few years, Japan has contributed to the development of these nations, by helping to build airports and adding fish docks and piers. In exchange, Japan has counted on the support of these four governments, all members of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), in its attempt to re-open commercial whaling. At the May 1994 IWC meeting in Mexico, however, these countries refrained from voting on the establishment of a southern ocean sanctuary for the whales, effectively allowing this important conservation measure to pass. The credit was partly given to a tourism boycott of the four countries organized earlier in the year by a US conservation group (since lifted), and partly to local people and conservation groups who are trying to encourage responsible ecotourism, including whale and dolphin watching." References: websites: http://www.grenadines.net/wwwboard/messages/665.html http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/stories/990525/edm990525-7.html http://www.caribbeansupersite.com/region/watching.htm http://home.istar.ca/~rsimms/whale.htm http://www.physics.helsinki.fi/whales/caribbea/westindi.html http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/1106 http://www.vincy.com/fisheries ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2001 12:31:38 +1300 From: David Lusseau Subject: bottlenose dolphin: differences in behavioural events. Dear all, I am currently working on the behaviour of bottlenose dolphins in Fiordland, New Zealand. Part of this work is to try and interprete behavioural events observed in two distinct populations; one in Doubtful Sound and the other in Milford Sound. I am observing differences in the behavioural repertoire of both populations and would like to place these differences in a wider context. Therefore I was wondering if anybody working with bottlenose dolphins around the world would be interested in filling in a small survey related to presence/absence of certain behavioural events in the populations they are working with. I am providing a list of behavioural events below along with their definitions. If you are interested in participating, could you please send me an e-mail (at lusda563(\)student.otago.ac.nz) stating whether you observe these behavioural events or not (it is important that you confirm the absence of these events in your e-mail if you do not see them), the context in which you observe them (i.e. behavioural state) and what is the average group size in your population. I will be posting on MARMAM a summary of the responses I will be receiving. Many, many thanks in advance for your help! Behavioural events: *headbutt: 2 dolphins jump simultaneously and hit heads together in the air. *snaggling: floating stationary on the surace for brief periods of time (approximately 5-10sec). {note: snaggling is followed by the dolphin lifting its head above the surface, or by a roll-over} *upside-down lobtail: forceful slapping of tail flukes on water surface while animal is floating at the surface with ventral side facing upwards *fart blow: noisy exhalation of air above the surface. The blowhole is restricting the exhalation of air, creating a "fart-like" noise. *side flop: individual is jumping, clearing entirely its body out of the water, and landing on the water surface on its side creating a percussive noise. *head flop: individual is jumping and landing on the water surface on its side creating a percussive noise. *back flop: individual is jumping with its ventral side facing upwards and landing on the surface on its back creating a percussive noise. *vertical jump: jump in which dolpin leaps straight up (clearing its entire body out of the water), pivots in mid-air, and re-enter water head-first in a vertical position. *horizontal jump: jump in which dolphin clears the water, keeps its body in an horizontal position and re-enter the water head first. *twisted surface: individual twists around its longitudinal axis as it surfaces *twisted jump: individual twists around its longitudinal axis while jumping. The body can be entirely cleared out of the water. Thank you! David -- ___________________________________________________________ David Lusseau University of Otago phone: (64+3) 479 5240 Department of Zoology fax: (64+3) 479 8336 PO Box 56 home: (64+3) 456 3539 Dunedin lusda563(\)student.otago.ac.nz New Zealand In France: 29 rue du Chaignot phone: (33) 3 80 30 11 49 21000 Dijon France visit our research homepages! Ecology, Conservation and Biodiversity Research Group: http://www.otago.ac.nz/Zoology/trsp/trsp.htm Marine Mammal Research Group: http://telperion.otago.ac.nz:800/Marine/Mammals/HOME.HTM New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust: http://www.nzwhaledolphintrust.tripod.com/home/ ___________________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2001 16:15:32 -0800 From: Dirk Zeller Subject: job Dear Mammal Discussion List, Below are the details of a marine mammal job being advertised by the Canadian government. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENTIST, Canadian Federal Government Nanaimo, BC, Canada Permanent position. The position is located within the following governmental organization: Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada. SALARY: $49,042 - $81,546 per annum (depending on qualifications). LANGUAGE: English WHO CAN APPLY: Persons residing or working in Canada and Canadian citizens living abroad. Preference will be given to Canadian citizens. Funds for relocation may be negotiable. WORK ENVIRONMENT: Pacific Biological Station - Nanaimo, B.C. CHALLENGE: The incumbent will be Program Head for marine mammal research in the Pacific Region. Undertake analyses to assess the viability, and susceptibility to risk, of aquatic resources, with emphasis on North Pacific marine mammal populations. Undertake research into methods of modelling and assessing population viability, related particularly to species at risk . Summarise and interpret scientific information relating to population viability in relation to its utility for development of management policy and decision-making. Participate in technical and peer review of evaluations of the status and viability of marine mammal populations. Take a leadership role in scientific aspects of developing Recovery Plans for species at risk, and participate in Recovery Plan implementation teams as necessary. Interact and consult with stakeholders regionally to identify potential concerns regarding population viability of species perceived to be at risk and with counterparts regionally, nationally and internationally to co-ordinate research and evaluations on relevant species. EDUCATION: Graduation with an acceptable doctoral degree from a recognised university in physical, applied or natural science. EXPERIENCE: Significant experience in the successful initiation and completion of research projects. Significant experience in the assessment and management of renewable natural resources. Significant experience in publishing original research. Experience in using modern statistical and database application software (e.g. SPLUS, ACCESS, SQL etc.). Preference may be given to candidates who possess significant experience in the assessment and management of marine mammal populations. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS / COMMENTS: Conditions of employment: Must be willing and able to participate on field and sea surveys. Health Canada Medical clearance. Possession of a valid driver's license. The eligibility list established may be used to staff similar positions. REFERENCE NUMBER: DFO81603LD73 CLOSING DATE: March 9, 2001 This position is listed at: http://jobs.gc.ca/jobs/p016126e.htm Please note: If you are applying by fax or by regular mail, we would ask that you fill out form PSC 3391, "Application for Employment". If you are unable to obtain a copy of this form, you must clearly indicate your citizenship as well as the title and reference number of the position for which you are applying. Your resume must demonstrate that you meet all of the above mentioned requirements. Candidates with foreign educational credentials are required to provide proof of Canadian equivalency. You may consult The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials at http://www.cicic.ca for further information. Please clearly indicate your citizenship. Preference will be given to Canadian citizens. We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted. As the Public Service of Canada promotes Employment Equity, we also encourage candidates to voluntarily self-identify if they are an Aboriginal person, a member of a visible minority group or a person with a disability. Public Service Commission of Canada 1230 Government Street, 5th Floor Victoria, British Columbia V8W 3M4 FAX: (250) 363-0558 ----------------------------- Dr Dirk Zeller Fisheries Centre University of British Columbia 2204 Main Mall Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 Canada E-mail: d.zeller(\)fisheries.ubc.ca Phone: 1-604-822-1950 Fax: 1-604-822-8934 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2001 11:38:09 -0800 From: dru clark Subject: Animal Care & Training Internship Opportunity ANIMAL CARE & TRAINING INTERNSHIP US NAVY MARINE MAMMAL PROGRAM The US Navy Marine Mammal Program (NMMP), San Diego is currently offering a summer internship opportunity. This internship is designed to give students a dynamic educational experience in the marine mammal field while offering valuable career experience. Students will be responsible for a number of support tasks with dolphins and sea lions, working very closely with the animal care and training staff. The internship is offered on a competitive basis to college students in good academic standing. The internship is also open to recent graduates. Interns participate in a number of tasks in support of the dolphin and seal lion programs. Daily intern tasks usually include diet preparation, deck and boat scrubbing, and equipment and facility maintenance. Interns will also have with opportunity to assist in husbandry training, open ocean training, animal physicals, and numerous research projects. Prior experience is recommended, but not required. The volunteer program demands a 40 hour/week, 15 week, semester based commitment. Interested students are encouraged to contact Dru Clark requesting detailed program and application information. I will begin to review applications for the summer semester in mid March. Dru Clark Coordinator of Volunteer Opportunities US Navy Marine Mammal Program Dru(\)spawar.navy.mil (619) 767-4100 **************************************************************************** ******************************* DruAnn Clark Coordinator of Volunteer Opportunities US Navy Marine Mammal Program dru(\)spawar.navy.mil (619) 767-4100 **************************************************************************** ******************************* ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 3 Mar 2001 18:59:02 EST From: WalkerBill(\)aol.com Subject: Bowhead whale cells I work for UT-Southwestern, Shay-Wright lab. We're looking for some bowhead whale cells, e.g. fibroblasts, tumor cells, etc. Ideally, we'd culture cells and look at telomere shortening, telomerase expression, etc. This is of interest because bowheads have been reported to live over 200 years. (S. Webster, from amino acid changes in bowhead eyes, as reported by the San Jose Mercury... anyone know whether he published these findings yet?) This would make them nearly unique, as except perhaps for a few other cetaceans, no other homeothermic species lives longer than humans. So we might find some unique anti-cancer mechanisms. (And as a side effect we might stir up some interest in bowhead conservation if they were linked in the public mind with cancer research.) Does anyone know of any labs that maintain these cells in culture? Coriel, ATCC, etc. don't have any. Failing that, do you think could we get some live cells from the Inuit? Any suggestions would be most helpful. Please e-mail at WalkerBill(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2001 21:50:36 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Respiratory pattern (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Dear list, I am a graduate student investgating the behavior of the Yangtze finless porpoise, Neophocaena phocaenoides. I have noticed that in one dated popular book the term of "respiratory pattern" was mentioned. For example, one pattern is described as a long respiratory interval following several short ones, and it is suggested that this pattern is usually associated with bottom feeding. I wonder to know whether this "respiratory pattern" is a scientific term, and I'm looking for more published references on studies of respiratory pattern or breath mode. Particularly I am interested to know whether there is any other respiratory pattern in dolphins, and if it is possible or reasonable to associate a respiratory pattern with certain kind of behavioral activity. After searching all available sources, I have got few information on respiratory pattern. I would be greatly grateful if someone could provide me with any references on respiratory pattern in dolphins. Any associated information will be appreciated. BTW, does anybody know whether there is any study on "respiratory pattern" in terrestrial animals? I am sorry that this question would be beyond the range of MARMAM. Thank you very much for your time and patience. ================================== XIAO Jianqiang | Institute of Hydrobiology | Chinese Academy of Sciences | Wuhan, 430072 | China | Email: akhan(\)263.net | ================================== ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2001 15:21:00 -1000 From: Samantha Whitcraft Subject: Hawaii Ocean Resources Job The following position includes some limited marine mammal observation work and opportunities for further partnering with researchers and agencies involved in such work. POSITION OPENING: Marine Resources Monitoring Coordinator (Full time State Exempt Position - Based on Maui) The Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC) is seeking a Marine Resources Monitoring Coordinator to support the KIRC Ocean Program in marine data collection, volunteer coordination, and in integrating native Hawaiian cultural practices with established scientific monitoring methods. Duties include: marine data collection, statistical analysis, and report writing; volunteer supervision; serving as boat crew and other tasks as assigned. Excellent analytical, communication, and computer skills are essential. Applicants must be willing to work at sea and on land in potentially hazardous conditions. Candidates need a science degree plus three (3) years of relevant experience including two (2) years of boat and dive operations experience. Two (2) years of dedicated field experience in marine resources data collection and analysis may be substituted for a degree. A current driver's license and recognized scuba certification are required. Submit resume, cover letter, salary history, and three references before March 16, 2001 to: Sam Whitcraft Ocean Resources Manager Kaho'olawe Island Reserve 811 Kolu Street, #201, Wailuku, HI 96793 For further information, please see the position description on our webpage at www.state.hi.us/kirc ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------- "A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of an ecosystem. It is wrong when it tends otherwise." -- Aldo Leopold's Wilderness Ethic ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2001 19:21:51 -0800 From: Andy Williams Subject: Cuvier's beaked whale research boundary="----=_NextPart_000_00B3_01C0A672.B28950C0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_00B3_01C0A672.B28950C0 charset="iso-8859-1" Apologies for cross postings. I have been working on a PhD on the ecology and social structure of = Cuvier's beaked whales based at Southampton Oceanography Centre. I have created a catalogue of individuals from the Bay of Biscay area = and then comparing them in the usual way. I am seeking photographs to = add to the catalogue and compare to the known individuals from the North = East Atlantic to assist with information on distribution, movements and = associations of individuals. Your photo's will also b used to validate a = new technique being developed for identifying individuals from photo's = taken from any angle. If you would like to contribute to this work photos would remain the = property of the contributor and would not be used except in agreed ways = as is normal. I am also interested in sighting information in the Bay of Biscay in = particular for Cuvier's beaked whales and Northern bottlenose whales. = Again if you have sighting information and would like to contribute to = this programme please contact me and again the data would be provided = subject to agreement.=20 Andy Williams Biscay Dolphin Research Programme 6 Manor Way Lee on Solent Hampshire PO13 9JH UK Andy.Williams(\)Biscay-Dolphin.org.uk Visit us at www.Biscay-Dolphin.org.uk Tel/Fax +44 (0) 23 9255 2631 Southampton Oceanography Centre School of Ocean and Earth Sciences European Way Southampton SO14 3ZH UK ------=_NextPart_000_00B3_01C0A672.B28950C0 charset="iso-8859-1"
Apologies for cross = postings.
 
I have been working on a PhD on the = ecology and=20 social structure of Cuvier's beaked whales based at Southampton = Oceanography=20 Centre.
 
I have created a catalogue of = individuals from the=20 Bay of Biscay area and then comparing them in the usual way. I am = seeking=20 photographs to add to the catalogue and compare to the known individuals = from=20 the North East Atlantic to assist with information on distribution, = movements=20 and associations of individuals. Your photo's will also b used to = validate=20 a new technique being developed for identifying individuals from photo's = taken=20 from any angle.
 
If you would like to contribute to this = work photos=20 would remain the property of the contributor and would not be used = except in=20 agreed ways as is normal.
 
I am also interested in sighting = information in the=20 Bay of Biscay in particular for Cuvier's beaked whales and Northern = bottlenose=20 whales. Again if you have sighting information and would like = to=20 contribute to this programme please contact me and again the data would = be=20 provided subject to agreement.
 
 
Andy Williams
Biscay Dolphin = Research=20 Programme
6 Manor Way
Lee on Solent
Hampshire PO13 = 9JH
UK
Andy.Williams(\)Biscay-= Dolphin.org.uk
Visit=20 us at www.Biscay-Dolphin.org.ukTel/Fax=20 +44 (0) 23 9255 2631
 
Southampton Oceanography = Centre
School of Ocean=20 and Earth Sciences
European Way
Southampton SO14=20 3ZH
UK
------=_NextPart_000_00B3_01C0A672.B28950C0-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2001 06:00:31 +0800 From: cb Subject: the effect(s) of hyersaline environments on baleen whales Dear Marmam I am currently writing a paper for publication on the use of Shark Bay in Western Australia by migrating humpback whales. This area is unique in Australia and has a strikingly different hydrographic regime from the adjacent Indian ocean, with seasonally variable water temperatures and salinity inside of the Bay. I am seeking advice, knowledge, information, web sites and literature etc that will inform me on the above topic. I recently found some discussion on the internet in regard to the proposed salt mining project near the San Ignacio lagoon and the possible impacts on grey whales. Has there been any scientific research in this area, specifically on the importance and effects of hypersaline water for these or other baleen whales? I am most grateful for any help received on this topic. Thankyou kind regards Chris Burton cb(\)cygnus.uwa.edu.au ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2001 16:21:44 -0800 From: sciprogram Subject: 14th Biennial Conference Deadline Reminder 14th BIENNIAL CONFERENCE ON THE BIOLOGY OF MARINE MAMMALS Sponsored by the Society for Marine Mammalogy Hosted by the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre 28 November - 3 December 2001 Vancouver, B.C., Canada www.smmconference.org REMINDER ANNOUNCEMENT The deadline for submitting workshop and special symposia proposals is only a week away: 15 March 2001. Anyone planning to organize a workshop or symposium who hasn't already submitted their proposal to the Scientific Program Co-Chairs should do so now. Further details on these aspects of the conference are available on the Web site. If you haven't looked at the conference Web site, www.smmconference.org, please do so. New details are added regularly, so visit often. Registration forms are up, and the on-line abstract submission forms are waiting for you! You have until 15 June 2001 to submit your abstract. Contacts: If you can't find the information you need on the Web site, try: For general enquiries: mmconf(\)vanaqua.org For scientific program enquiries: sciprogram(\)vanaqua.org Scientific Program Co-Chairs: John K.B. Ford, Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, P.O. Box 3232, Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6B 3X8. Tel (604) 659-3725, Fax (604) 659-3515 Email: john.ford(\)ubc.ca Andrew W. Trites, Marine Mammal Research Unit, University of British Columbia, Room 18, Hut B-3, 6248 Biological Sciences Road, Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6T 1Z4. Tel (604) 822-8181 Email: trites(\)zoology.ubc.ca Conference Chair: John W. Nightingale, Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, P.O. Box 3232, Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6B 3X8. Tel (604) 659-3441, Fax (604) 659-3515 Email: nightij(\)vanaqua.org ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 8 Mar 0101 22:21:29 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Request for information on diving (fwd) Forwarded message: From: lmarino(\)EMORY.EDU Dear Marmamers: I am examining the diving patterns of various odontocete species and how they relate to other aspects of behavior and biology. I would like to know if anyone knows of reliable diving data (average or max depth or duration) for any of the following species for which I cannot find any data: Grampus griseus Kogia simus Kogia breviceps Sotalia fluviatilis Mesoplodon mirus M. europaeus M. densirostris Ziphius cavirostris If anyone knows of any good data on diving patterns in these species, I would very much appreciate it if you would let me know. I'd be happy to share my references for diving patterns in those species for which I do have data. 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: Thu, 8 Mar 2001 14:15:02 -0500 From: Michelle Pico Subject: The National Whale Conservation Fund I would like to announce the establishment of the National Whale Conservation Fund, a special project of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The National Whale Conservation Fund was established in the Omnibus FY99 Appropriations Bill HR 4328, for the protection, conservation and recovery of whale populations in United States waters and other waters that fall within U.S. trust responsibilities under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act and the Convention on International Transport in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The Fund is a special project of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization established by Congress in 1984. The Fund operates under the direction of the National Whale Conservation Fund Advisory Council, a panel of conservation leaders and cooperating entities appointed by the Foundation that provides direction in the management and operation of the Whale Fund. The Whale Fund gives priority to projects that address the conservation of populations of whales that are the most endangered (such as the Northern Atlantic r! ig! ht whale) or that most warrant and will most benefit from the research, management, and educational activities. The Fund will support a variety of projects encompassing habitat and species conservation, research, management, education, and outreach activities. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will administer the fund in consultation with the Marine Mammal Commission, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). We plan to announce the first request for grant proposals in the Summer or Fall of this year, at which time I will post our granting guidlines. If you have any questions about the Fund, our mission or how we operate please do not hesitate to get in touch with me. Michelle Pico Manager, National Whale Conservation Fund National Fish and Wildlife Foundation 1120 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Suite 900 Washington, D.C. 20036 (202) 857-5159 pico(\)nfwf.org ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2001 09:54:24 -0500 From: "McRae, Gil" Subject: JOB OPPORTUNITY - FLORIDA MARINE RESEARCH INSTITUTE Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Florida Marine Research Institute Position Title: RESEARCH ADMINISTRATOR II Job Location: St. Petersburg, FL Annual Salary Range: $50,359.92 to $86,367.06 (Applicants are normally hired at the minimum of the salary range) Contact Person: FWC/FMRI PERSONNEL OFFICE 100 8TH AVENUE S.E. ST. PETERSBURG, FL. 337015095 Phone: (727)896-8626 Suncom: 523-2032 Duties: DIRECT THE RESEARCH ACTIVITIES OF THE STATE-WIDE MARINE MAMMAL & SEA TURTLE RESEARCH PROGRAMS. DESIGN/DEVELOP COOPERATIVE RESE ARCH PRGMS W/OTHER GOVT. AGENCIES & PRIVATE LABS. DEVELOP/MONIT OR PRGM BUDGET & ENSURE TIMELY PRODUCTION OF PUBLICATIONS. Minimum Qualifications: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the physical or natural sciences or mathematics and five years of professional experience in one of the physical or natural sciences or mathematics, two years of which must have been in a supervisory capacity; or A master's degree from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the physical or natural sciences or mathematics and four years of professional experience as described above, two years of which must have been in a supervisory capacity; or A doctorate from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the physical or natural sciences or mathematics and two years of professional supervisory experience as described above. For complete information and Application Instructions see: http://www.myflorida.com/oraweb/owa/www_cv.jobvac.detail?pvac_key=22085&preg ion=SW Gil McRae Research Administrator II FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Florida Marine Research Institute 727-896-8626 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2001 11:06:04 -0800 From: Ilona Traut Subject: fish-farms Hello, I am at present working for a fish farm in Scotland and (being a biologist) was asked what we could do to keep the seals away from the farms. A dummy Orca was tried but had no effect. Until now the individual seals are simply shot. Any ideas or experiences out there that might help? I will post a summary of the responses. Thanks in advance! IlonaTraut(\)yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2001 17:34:50 -0500 From: Aleta Hohn Organization: NOAA Beaufort Lab Subject: two position in Beaufort, NC Two positions are available at the NOAA Lab in Beaufort, NC. Both positions are on contract, with benefits, and are not federal jobs. They will be part of the Cetacean and Sea Turtle Team, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA Beaufort Lab. Position 1. Marine mammal strandings North Carolina has a large number of cetacean strandings each year (154 in 1999 and 132 in 2000). These strandings comprise over 20 species, although the majority are bottlenose dolphins. The State also has a very large amount of coastal gillnet fishing and many of the strandings are due to interactions with these coastal fisheries. It is important for each stranded dolphin to be evaluated as soon as possible to attempt to identify whether that stranding was due to a fishery interaction. This position is to respond to strandings in North Carolina, coordinate volunteers to assist with strandings in the State, maintain the stranding database, and other related tasks. Some data analysis is involved. The position is based at the NOAA Lab in Beaufort but involves frequent trips to the beach. Those trips often require up to a 4 to 5-hr drive, one way. Peak stranding seasons is winter so the job won t necessarily be helpful for working on a tan. Experience with cetacean necropsy is preferred, as is working knowledge of Access and other common computer software. Small-boat experience helpful. The position will be filled at the equivalent of a GS-5 or 7 (approx. $23,000-29,000 per yr) , commensurate with the experience of the candidate. Starts as soon as possible. Position 2. Liaison for marine mammal-fishery interactions This position is responsible for synthesizing data on real-time fishing effort and marine mammal strandings in NC. The data are acquired from state and federal agencies, fishing communities, aerial surveys results, and the stranding network. The results are provide to the NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) and Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) to increase the effectiveness of the Sea Sampling Program with the nearshore component of observer coverage in NC. Responsibilities include analysis of fishing statistics, monitoring of fishing activities, and exchange of information with the NEFSC, The incumbent will be assisting the soon-to-begin Take Reduction Team on bottlenose dolphins. Extensive knowledge of fisheries preferred. Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work with fishermen required. Records are maintained in large databases so computer skills are essential. The position will be filled at the equivalent of a GS-7 or 9 (approx. $29,000 to $35,000 per yr), commensurate with the experience of the candidate. Starts early summer. To apply for the positions, please send a CV to Dr. Aleta A. Hohn (aleta.hohn(\)noaa.gov). Please note in subject to which position you are applying. Cover letter should include your experience as it relates directly to the position to which you are applying. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 14:19:12 +0100 Reply-To: mbourcou(\)worldcom.ch From: Max-Olivier Bourcoud Subject: Call for Proposals on Cetology THE SWISS CETACEAN SOCIETY Announces A call for Proposals on Cetology The Swiss Cetacean Society's (SCS) main aim is to develop partnerships with specialised research bodies for conservation purposes. Our organisation has acquired, throughout the years, a solid background in the logistics of scientific expeditions at sea. The SCS is an independent, non-profit, association that sponsors field research in marine mammal sciences, for the purpose of the conservation of marine mammals. The aim of our organisation is to promote understanding of marine mammals to encourage conservation, thus the SCS supports the logistics of environmental scientific programmes. We offer opportunities for marine mammal enthusiasts to work as volunteers with research scientists. The Swiss Cetacean Society is now accepting proposals for fieldwork on cetacean or sirenian biology, ecology and conservation projects. PROJECTS Field-based projects directly or indirectly related to cetacean and sirenian conservation are encouraged, e.g. : 1) Basic research on cetacean/sirenian ecology and biology; 2) Research on reproduction, behaviour and movement patterns; 3) PhotoID studies of cetacean and sirenian populations; 3) Studies of the impact of human activities on cetaceans and sirenians; 4) Studies that asses the impact of coastal pollution and development on cetaceans and sirenians; 5) Environmental studies in Belize (cetacean, sirenian, coral) and the Azores (cetacean). GRANTS for 2002 and 2003 PROJECTS. Grants range from $10'000 to $150,000 depending on project length and number of volunteer participants involved. Typical projects might employ 4 to 8 volunteers on 2 to 4 sequential teams over several months. Project teams normally spend 6 to 14 days in the field, as most participants are on leave from their professional activities. Special Grants are available for research in the Azores for summer 2001. ELIGIBILITY Scientists, resource managers, those involved in marine mammal research and conservation are eligible to apply. Professionals from any nationality, for work in any regional area, are eligible to apply. Project Managers or Investigators must oversee all fieldwork through the production of project reports and policy recommendations. CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATION All preliminary proposals should be received within the next two months, please give 30 days for reply. The anticipated dates for the projects will be twelve months (1 year) in advance. If accepted full proposals will be required. Please address all correspondence to : Max-Olivier Bourcoud President E-mail : cetacean(\)ip-worldcom.ch The Swiss Cetacean Society PO Box CH-1023 Crissier Switzerland ================================================================== Swiss Cetacean Society (SCS) A concept for the protection of marine mammals SCS is a non-profit NGO providing services to the marine mammal research and authorities ================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 10:54:52 -0500 From: Celine Godard Subject: cytochrome P450 1B-like sequence in striped dolphin Dear MARMAM readers, The following article was recently published in Marine Environmental Research. A limited number of copies are available from the first author (see address below). Please do not request the article from the MARMAM editors. Godard CAJ, Leaver MJ, Said MR, Dickerson RL, George S, and JJ Stegeman. 2000. Identification of cytochrome P450 1B-like sequences in two teleost fish species (scup, Stenotomus chrysops and plaice Pleuronectes platessa) and in a cetacean (striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba). Marine Environmental Research, 50 (2000) 7-10. Abstract: The cytochromes P450 (CYP) constitute a multigene family of enzymes playing a critical role in the oxidation of many endogenous and xenobiotic substrates. The CYP1 family is of particular interest in environmental toxicology beacause its members are dominant in the metabolism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) , polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and aryl amines. Three members of the CYP1 family, CYP1A1, CYP1A2, and CYP1B1, have been identified in mammals. We report here on the identification and cloning of cytochrome P4501B-like sequences from two teleost fish species and a marine mammal. Sequences clustering with CYP1B1 in phylogenetic analysis were obtained from liver cDNA of scup (Stenotomus chrysops), genomic DNA of plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), and liver cDNA of striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba). Key words: cytochrome P450, gene sequence, dolphin, cloning, scup, plaice. -- Celine Godard, Ph. D. Postdoctoral Investigator Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Biology Department Redfield 342, MS#32 45 Water street Woods Hole, MA 02543-1049 Phone: 508 289 3472 Fax: 508 457 2134 cgodard(\)whoi.edu Chief Scientist Ocean Alliance/ Whale Conservation Institute 191 Weston Road Lincoln, MA 01773 Phone: 781 259 0423 Fax: 781 259 0288 www.pbs.org/odyssey ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 18:23:39 +0100 From: Boris Culik Subject: harbour porpoise by-catch Dear colleagues, the following paper is now out and I have a limited number of reprints available: Culik BM, Koschinski S, Tregenza N, Ellis G (2000) Reactions of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and herring (Clupea harengus) to acoustic alarms. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 211: 255-260 Abstract: Small cetaceans are susceptible to incidental mortality in the various forms of gillnet fisheries throughout their range. Research conducted since 1994 has shown that acoustic alarms (pingers) emitting high-frequency pulsed sounds effectively reduce the number of harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) casualties in sink gillnets. However, the mechanisms behind the effects of pingers are still not understood. Until now, advantages and risks associated with their wide-spread use could not be evaluated. Here, we present the results of two field experiments: 1) theodolite-tracking of harbor porpoises exposed to a single PICE-pinger in Clayoquot Sound, Vancouver Island, Canada and 2) herring (Clupea harengus) capture rates in surface gillnets equipped with and without acoustic alarms (Dukane Netmark 1000, Lien, PICE) in the Baltic Sea herring fishery at R|gen Island, Germany. Our results show that harbor porpoises do not seem to react to an experimental net in their foraging area (n = 172 groups, median groups size = 2 porpoises). Porpoise distance from the mid-point of the net was distributed around a median of only 150 m (range 4 - 987 m). A net equipped with an acoustic alarm, however, was avoided (n = 44 groups) within audible range (distance distribution median = 530 m, range 130 - 1140 m). The porpoises were thus effectively excluded from the ensonified area. Herring, one of the main prey species of harbor porpoises, were not affected by the acoustic alarms tested (n= 25,407 fish captured). The advantages and risks of using acoustic alarms to mitigate by-catch are discussed. _______________________________________________________ Boris Culik Prof. Dr. rer. nat. habil. Bs. (Hs.) Lenkenauer Weg 24 D- 24226 Heikendorf Tel.: 0431 24 34 54 email: bculik(\)surfeu.de home: http://www.ifm.uni-kiel.de/zo/penguin/culik.htm ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2001 18:30:30 +0800 From: Miguel Ettema Subject: Barotrauma in whales/seals. Dear Marmam readers, I am currently doing a research project on middle-ear barotrauma, and have found it exceedingly difficult to find references pertaining to the condition in dolphins, whales or seals (ie the diving marine mammals). I would greatly appreciate if anyone could point me to any references they may know of that relate to this condition in marine mammals (not entire texts), and I will post a summary of all references to the marmam list that are sent to me. Thanking you, Miguel Ettema Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Western Australia reply: ettema(\)one.net.au ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2001 17:20:28 +0100 From: Simone Panigada Subject: Workshop on collisions at the ECS meeting ------ Tethys Research Institute Workshop, First Announcement COLLISIONS BETWEEN CETACEANS AND VESSELS: CAN WE FIND SOLUTIONS? 6 of May 2001, Rome, Italy The Tethys Research Institute is organizing a workshop entitled =93Collis= ions=20 between cetaceans and vessels: can we find solutions?=94. This meeting is= =20 intended to make an update of the problem (with particular emphasis on=20 European waters) and to provide contributions for real and concrete solut= ions. The workshop will be hosted by the 15 Annual Conference of the European=20 Cetacean Society with the sponsorship of R&D Action (SNCM-ALSTOM Shipyard= s)=20 and Corsica-Sardinia-Elba Ferries. It will be held on the 6 of May from=20 8:30 to 13:30 at the Frentani Conference Centre, and will include oral=20 presentations and a plenary session. Draft programme 8:30 Registration 9:00 Simone Panigada, Tethys Research Institute Welcome speech Session one: OVERVIEW OF THE PRESENT SITUATION Mediterranean Sea 9:10 Giovanna Pesante, Tethys Research Institute Evidence of collisions in the Mediterranean Sea European waters 9:30 Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society An overview of collisions in UK and European waters North Atlantic Ocean 9:50 Phil Clapham, Northeast Fisheries Science Centre Are ship-strikes mortalities affecting the recovery of the endangered wha= le=20 populations off North America? 10:10 Nick Tregenza A simple two dimensional model of collision risk 10:20 Cpt. Fr=E9d=E9ric Capoulade, Soci=E9t=E9 Nationale Maritime Corse= =20 M=E9diterran=E9e (SNCM) Whales and ferries in the Ligurian Sanctuary: captain=92s experi= ence=20 and owner=92s actions 10:40 Coffee break Session two: POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS 11:00 Joseph E. Bondaryk, SACLANTCEN Benefits and limitations of active sonar for marine mammal risk=20 mitigation 11:20 Michel Andr=E9, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Potential mitigation of fast-ferries acoustic and direct physical impact = on=20 cetaceans: towards a sustainable development of modern shipping 11:40 Darlene Ketten, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Ships strikes and sensory systems: what we know and what we need 12:00-13:30 PLENARY SESSION Registration The workshop will be open to a maximum of 60 participants and there will = be=20 a small fee of 20 =80 (15 for students). Payment will be on site (cash only). Registration deadline is April 30 2001. To register and for any question, send an e-mail to Giovanna Pesante=20 (giovannape(\)libero.it) with the following personal data: name, affiliatio= n,=20 address, e-mail. For information on registering for the ECS meeting, travel and=20 accommodation, visit the ECS web-page:=20 http://web.inter.NL.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs. We are looking forward to seeing you in Rome. Giovanna Pesante, Simone Panigada and Margherita Zanardelli Workshop organizers Tethys Research Institute Viale G.B. Gadio 2, 20121 Milano, Italy Fax: +39 02 72001946 http:// www.tethys.org E-mail: tethys(\)tethys.org ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2001 18:23:10 +1000 From: Louise Chilvers Subject: Bottlenose dolphins adaptibility ------ Dear All, Thank you for your replies to my enquiry regarding the adaptability of bottlenose dolphins to human impacts and influences. Below is a list of references that relate to this enquiry. Areas referenced include swim wi= th dolphin programs, return to the wild attempts, captivity and training, human contact, boat traffic, cooperative hunting, being hand fed and interactions with fisheries. Thank you all for your help. B. Louise Chilvers=20 Bearzi, G., Politi, E., Notarbartolo di Sciara, G. 1999. Diurnal behavior of free-ranging bottlenose dolphins in the Kvarneric (northern Adriatic Sea). Marine Mammal Science 15(4):1065-1097.=20 Noke, W.D. and O=B9Dell, D.K. 1999. Interactions between the Indian River Lagoon blue crab fishery and the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Atlantic Coast Conference in Virginia. Samuals, A. Bejder L. and Heinrich, S. 2000. A review of the literature pertaining to swimming with wild dolphins. Marine Mammal Commission Report. Maryland. Samuals, A. Bejder L. 1998. A pilot study of habitual Interaction betwe= en humans and wild bottlenose dolphins near Panama City beach, Florida. Marine Mammal Commission Report. Maryland. Allen, M.C., and Read, A.J. 2000. Habitat selection of foraging bottlenos= e dolphins in relation to boat density near Clearwater, Florida. Marine Mammal Science 16:815-824. Frohoff, T.G. 2000. Behavioural indicators of stress in Odontocetes durin= g interactions with humans: a preliminary review and discussion. SC/52/WW2 :1-20. Frohoff, T.G. Bibliography of human/dolphin interactions. International Whaling Committee Report SC/52/WW WP4 Frohoff, T.G. 1995. Human interactions with free ranging and captive bottlenose dolphins. Anthrozoos 8:44-53 Samuels, A., and Spradlin, T.R. 1995. Quantitative behavioral study of bottlenose dolphins in swim-with-the-dolphin programs in the United State= s. Marine Mammal Science 11:520-544. Defran, R.H., and Pryor, K. 1988. The behaviour and training of cetacean= s captivity. In 'Cetacean Behaviour, mechanisms and functions', 319-362. Herman, L. (Ed.). Robert Krieger Publishing Company, Florida. Demaster, D.P., and Drevenak, J.K. 1998. Survivorship patterns in three species of captive cetaceans. Marine Mammal Science 4:297-311. Domning, D.P. 1991. A former dolphin-human fishing cooperative in Australia. Marine Mammal Science 7:94-96. Donovan, G. 1999. Human-induced problems in cetacean conservation: can we manage to reduce them? Abstracts of the European Research on Cetacean Thirteenth Annual Conference pg 101. =20 Lockyer, C.H. 1990. Reviews of incidents involving wild sociable dolphin= s, worldwide. In 'The bottlenose dolphin' 337-353. Leatherwood, S., and Revees, R.R. (Eds.). San Diego, Academic Press. Ridgeway, S.H. 1972. Mammals of the sea - biology and medicine. C.C. Thomas, Springfield. Pryor, K., and Lindbergh, J. 1990. A dolphin-human fishing cooperative i= n Brazil. Marine Mammal Science 6:77-82. Wells, R.S., Bassos-Hull, K., and Norris, K.S. 1998. Experimental return to the wild of two bottlenose dolphins. Marine Mammal Science 14:51-71. Gales, N., and Waples, K. 1993. The rehabilitation and release of bottlenose dolphins from Atlantis Marine Park, Western Australia. Aquatic Mammals 19:49-59. Couquiaud-Douaze, L., Douaze, E., and Taylor, E. 1999. World census of cetacean facilities. Abstracts of the 13th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Maui, Hawaii pg 39. Louise Chilvers School of Tropical Environmental Studies and Geography James Cook University Townsville 4811 Wk 07 4781 6943 Fax 07 4781 4020 Barbara.Chilvers(\)jcu.edu.au ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 15 Mar 0101 19:19:27 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: job announcement (fwd) Position available after April 15: Operations Manager The Marine Mammal Care Center at Fort MacArthur is seeking a full-time Operations Manager. This person is responsible for managing the husbandry and rehabilitation of all marine mammals; overseeing volunteers, volunteer supervisors and small part-time staff who help care for the facility's animals and its operation; operating the water filtration system; keeping records associated with all duties; assisting the Director with activities in conjunction with the non-profit organization, MAR3INE; and other assigned duties as required. The position requires a great deal of physical activity associated with the duties listed above, often lifting and carrying 50 pounds. The ideal candidate must have a Bacheolor's degree and a strong background in the sciences, paid experience with marine mammals, supervisory experience with volunteers and part-time staff. The candidate must be willing to work weekends and holidays. Candidate must have great written and verbal communication skills as well as excellent ability to relate to a variety of people and organizations. Please apply in writing by providing a cover letter, resume' with salary history and professional references to Jackie Jaakola, Director; Marine Mammal Care Center at Fort MacArthur; 3601 S. Gaffey St.; San Pedro, CA 90731. No phone calls, please. For general information about the Marine Mammal Care Center at Fort MacArthur, please refer through MAR3INE's web site at www.mar3ine.org. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 15 Mar 0101 19:24:31 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Fellowships (fwd) Fellowships in Global Fisheries and Marine Conservation Duke University Marine Laboratory invites applications from International Students to participate in our summer program in Integrated Marine Conservation, July 9-August 10, 2001. Fellowships for international students will fully cover travel expenses, room and board, and tuition for BIO 109/ENV 209 Conservation Biology and Policy course and a field elective from a list including: Biology and Conservation of Sea Turtles; Marine Mammals; Marine Ecology; Marine Invertebrate Zoology; Barrier Island Ecology; Marine Policy. We encourage students to apply from developing countries who had (by way of their position or contacts) the opportunity to affect the status of marine conservation in their home country in the near term. We also take into account financial need, but only secondarily to scholarship and potential impact of their experience in the course on global marine conservation. Duke will waive the initial application fee so as not to deter applicants with limited resources. We seek students with advanced degrees (M.S. or Ph.D. in progress) who have strong interests and skills in marine conservation and who have the contacts to influence the trajectory of marine conservation. We examine letters of interest, references and transcripts and make admission decisions in early April so appropriate visas and travel plans can be arranged. ELIGIBILITY. This fellowship is available to any international applicant who meets the following precondition for review of a fellowships application: admission to BIO 109/ENV 209 Conservation Biology and Policy. Admission to the course does not automatically imply award of a fellowship; separate reviews are conducted. Awards are based on merit and need. APPLICATION FORM. There is no separate fellowship application form. Intent to apply for a fellowship should be made known on the reverse of the summer course application found at the back of the Marine Lab Bulletin or on the web. REQUIRED CREDENTIALS. In addition to the summer application for courses and current college or professional school transcript, each fellowship applicant is required to submit, (1) a letter of recommendation from academic faculty, (2) a brief statement of purpose, i.e., the reason for taking the particular course, and (3) a brief essay (one page or less) outlining the applicant's background, position, education and what he or she hopes the course opportunity at Duke will prepare them to do when they return home. International students are not required to send deposits. DUE DATE. All international fellowship credentials must be received no later than 1 April 2001 by the admissions office of the Marine Laboratory. All fellowship applicants will be notified by mail concerning their award status shortly after the deadline date. Larry B. Crowder Stephen Toth Professor of Marine Biology Nicholas School of the Environment Duke University Marine Laboratory 135 Duke Marine Lab Road Beaufort, NC 28516-9721 PH 252 504-7637 FAX 252 504-7648 email lcrowder(\)mail.duke.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2001 02:31:35 +0100 From: Gianni Pavan Subject: XVIII IBAC meeting - Deadline change XVIII IBAC meeting, Cogne, Italy, September 3rd - 6th, 2001. The deadline for submitting the abstracts has been delayed to March 31th. Acceptance of contributions and presentation modalities (oral or poster) will be notified to Authors within the first 2 weeks of April. On the web page of the meeting there are now information on accomodation and transportation facilities. The Organizing Committee. Centro Interdisciplinare di Bioacustica e Ricerche Ambientali Universita' degli Studi di Pavia Web http://www.unipv.it/cibra ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IBAC - International Bio Acoustic Council Chairman e-mail ibac(\)cibra.unipv.it IBAC Information Page http://www.unipv.it/cibra/ibac.html Next IBAC meeting http://www.unipv.it/cibra/xviii_ibac.html --=====================_23724975==_.ALT XVIII IBAC meeting, Cogne, Italy, September 3rd - 6th, 2001.

The deadline for submitting the abstracts has been delayed to March 31th.
Acceptance of contributions and presentation modalities (oral or poster) will be notified to Authors within the first 2 weeks of April.

On the web page of the meeting there are now information on accomodation and transportation facilities.

The Organizing Committee.


 

Centro Interdisciplinare di Bioacustica e Ricerche Ambientali
Universita' degli Studi di Pavia
Web                     http://www.unipv.it/cibra
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IBAC - International Bio Acoustic Council
Chairman e-mail         ibac(\)cibra.unipv.it
IBAC Information Page http://www.unipv.it/cibra/ibac.html
Next IBAC meeting       http://www.unipv.it/cibra/xviii_ibac.html

 --=====================_23724975==_.ALT-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2001 23:59:46 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Whaling Symposium at the Autry 3/24/01 (fwd) From: JENIFER ROOSEVELT SYMPOSIUM AT THE AUTRY MUSEUM Saturday, March 24, 2001 9:00 a.m. * 5:00 p.m. Whaling and the Nuu-chah-nulth People This one-day symposium examines issues surrounding the whaling traditions of the Nuu-chah-nulth people's tribal rights to hunt for whales. The morning session panelists will discuss how the marine-based culture of the Nuu-chah-nulth have hunted whales for thousands of years. In the afternoon session, the panelists will explore the impact of whaling on the worldwide cetacean population and the marine ecosystem. Panelists will include: Keith Johnson, President of the Makah Whaling Commission; Dr. Bruce Miller, Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia; Tom Mexsis Happynook, Founding Chairman of the World Council of Whalers; Katy Penland, current President of the American Cetacean Society; plus other tribal representatives and environmentalists. This symposium will take place in the Wells Fargo Theatre. Admission is $20.00. Reservations are required. Located in Griffith Park where the Golden State (5) and the Ventura (134) Freeways meet, the Autry Museum is across from the Los Angeles Zoo. All programs are wheelchair accessible. For reservations and additional information, please call 323-667-2000, ext. 243. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 16 Mar 0101 09:04:07 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Isopod on porpoise (fwd) Forwarded message: From: "Gauthier Chapelle" To all ectoparasite people, We've been presented today about 5 specimens of a Flabelliferan Isopod found in the mammal slit of a live (but stranded) common porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). They are not more than 7mm long, with black eyes and spots of the same color on the body. A quick check in the parasite synthesis of "Handbuch der Sdugetiere Europas" revealed now such observations for the porpoise, and even no isopods at all were ever found on cetaceans. Could anybody help ? Gauthier Chapelle Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 17 Mar 0101 09:26:58 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: velocity estimates of whale blows (fwd) From: Joseph Mobley Greetings: Does anyone have any data concerning the velocity estimates of blows for baleen whales (any species)? We're interested in the possibility of using doppler radar to detect whale blows at the surface. Knowing the velocity of whale blows will help us to judge the feasibility of this idea. Thanks in advance, Joe Mobley Professor Psychology University of Hawaii-West Oahu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2001 15:21:47 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: Review panel volunteers needed - CRS report on Endangered Species Act Comments: To: marbio(\)orcinus.mote.org, Fish-sci(\)segate.sunet.se Colleagues: I'm seeking volunteers for an expert panel to provide review comments on a 16-page report for Congress that describes how the Endangered Species Act ihas been implemented and summarizes/discusses recent acitions under this law. I have this product ready for review and will be sending materials to review panelists by the end of next week (March 23rd). Abstract: "The 107th Congress may decide whether to reauthorize and amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). Major issues in recent years have focused on whether to incorporate further protection for property owners and reduce regulatory impacts, or whether to strengthen species protections through a variety of procedural changes. Most observers expect hearings will be held, due to strong constituent interest. Whether the hearings will result in comprehensive, piecemeal, or no legislation remains to be seen. Funding and amendments to appropriations bills seem likely to be issues, as well." I'm seeking reviewers who are able to get comments back to me within a month (no later than April 27th). If interested, please e-mail me a few sentences stating briefly your qualifications for serving on this expert panel. I anticipate selecting about 8-10 individuals for 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: Sat, 17 Mar 2001 17:21:16 -1000 Reply-To: rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca From: "Robin W. Baird" Organization: Dalhousie University Subject: Abstract: Odontocete diving & ranging: a methodological review & critique New publication Hooker, S.K., and R.W. Baird. 2001. Diving and ranging behaviour of odontocetes: a methodological review and critique. Mammal Review 31:81-105. Abstract Movements can be analysed in terms of horizontal or vertical dimensions, but cetacean movement is ultimately three- dimensional, and it is the integration of analyses of both horizontal and vertical movements that will provide the most insight about an animal's behaviour. Current field techniques can provide simultaneous information on both diving (vertical movements) and ranging (horizontal movements). We shall discuss the considerations, techniques and analyses for diving and ranging studies, together with the advantages and disadvantages of each technique. Ranging studies using VHF or satellite-linked radio- transmitters have evolved alongside studies of diving behaviour using time-depth recorders, and problems associated with deployment and attachment techniques apply to both. The diving (and concurrent ranging behaviour) of 13 species of odontocetes has been studied using time-depth recorders or acoustic transponders with VHF- or satellite-transmitters. However, differences in sampling techniques used, and summary statistics presented, have made comparisons difficult. We review these issues and suggest parameters that should be presented in future studies of diving and ranging. In general, studies should be consistent in their presentation of the basic parameters and statistics, and provide enough information for the reader to assess the limitations of the data. Reprints will be available from Sascha Hooker (skh(\)bas.ac.uk) or Robin Baird (rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca). ========================================================== 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 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2001 12:38:16 -0500 From: Paul Sutherland Organization: Other World Images Subject: Whale Barnacle Research ; x-mac-type="54455854"; x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" Greetings, I am a free lance photojournalist specializing in marine and marine natural history subject matter. I am looking for researchers who are doing or have done research on barnacles and the whales they are found on ie. why they are there, how the whales use them, which species of barnacles affix themselves to which species of whales etc... .Although I have been assured that there are those who carried this type of research I have searched the internet and made a considerable number of telephone calls trying to establish who has done this research. Ulitimately I am seeking the names of people with the credentials and desire to write an article, to accompany my photography, on the subject for a well respected popular science journal/magazine. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Regards, Paul Sutherland Other World Images Princeton, NJ pasuther(\)eclipse.net ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2001 07:00:29 -0800 From: JIWLP Subject: New Publication on Climate Change and Cetaceans Content-type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" William C.G. Burns, From the Harpoon to the Heat: Climate Change and the International whaling Commission in the 21st Century, XIII(2) Georgetown International Environmental Law Review 335-359 (2001). Projected climate change over the next two centuries may have profound and adverse ramifications on many stocks of cetaceans. This article examines these potential impacts and the role of the International Whaling Commission in addressing this issue, as well as other regimes that may be germane to protecting cetaceans from environmental change. Reprints are available from the author at the address below. 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, 18 Mar 2001 22:44:53 +0800 From: XIAO Jianqiang Subject: Reviews of respiratory pattern ------ Dear all, I have sent a request for information on respiratory pattern, and got som= e=20 responses from some of you. They are of great help. I'd like to say thank= s=20 to all those have responded, and give a list of all the mentioned=20 references. Maybe someone on the list will be also interested in it. ---------------------------------- The chapter on Respiration and Diving in the book "Marine Mammals -=20 Evolutionary Biology" by A. Berta and JL Sumich (1999, Academic Press) Bordino, P., Thompson, G.A. 1995. Diving pattern of plata dolphin. In:=20 Abstract, Eleventh Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals.=20 14-18 December 1995, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A. 148 pp. Chu, K.C. 1988. Dive times and ventilation patterns of singing humpback=20 whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Can. J. Zool., 66(6):1322-1327. Davis, R.W., Worthy, G.A.J., W=A8=B9rsig, B., Lynn, S.K. 1996. Diving beh= avior=20 and at-sea movements of an Atlantic spotted dolphin in the Gulf of Mexico= .=20 Mar. Mamm. Sci. 12(4):569-581. Dolphin, W.F. 1987a. Dive behavior and energy expenditure of humpback=20 whales, Megaptera novaengliae, on their Alascan feeding grounds. Can. J.=20 Zool., 65:354-362. Dolphin, W.F. 1987b. Ventilation and dive patterns of humpback whales,=20 Megaptera novaengliae, on their Alascan feeding grounds. Can. J. Zool.,=20 65:83-90. Dolphin, W.F. 1988. Foraging dive patterns of humpback whales, Megaptera=20 novaengliae, in southeast Alaska: a cost-benefit analysis. Can. J. Zool.=20 66:2432-2441. Dorsey, E.M., Richardson, W.J., W=A8=B9rsig, B. 1989. Factors affecting=20 surfacing, respiration, and dive behaviour of bowhead whales, Balaena=20 mysticetus, summering in the Beaufort Sea. Can. J. Zool., 67:1801-1815. dos Santos, M.E., Xavier, P., and Laz=A8=A2ro, A. 1990. Measuring surfaci= ng=20 intervals in free-ranging bottle-nose dolphins. European Research on=20 Cetaceans 4:82-85. Evans, W.E. 1971. Orientation behavior of delphinids: radio-telemetric=20 studies. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 188:142-160. Friis, L.W., Pedersen, J.U., Redsdorf, M., Skytte, E. 1993????. Fin whale= =20 (Balenoptera physalus) surfacing rates off west Greenland. Rep. int.=20 Whal.Commn. ????????? Fortuna, C.M., Bearzi, G., Delfino, G. 1996. Surfacing patterns of=20 bottlenose dolphins following bottom trawlers in the Kvarneric (Northern=20 Adriatic Sea). 10th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society,=20 Lisbon (Portugal), 11-13th March 1996. Fortuna, C.M., Bearzi, G., Notarbartolo di Sciara, G. 1999. Analysis of=20 respiration patterns of bottlenose dolphins observed in the Kvarneric=20 (northern Adriatic Sea, Croatia). European Research on Cetaceans 12:151-1= 55. Gordon, J., Steiner, L. 1992. Ventilation and dive patterns in sperm=20 whales, Physeter macrocephalus, in the Azores. Rep. Int. Whal. Commn.=20 42:561-565. Gunnlaugsson, T. 1989. Report on icelandic minke whale surfacing rate=20 experiments in 1987. Rep. Int. Whal. Commn. 39:435-436.=20 Harvey, J.T., Mate, B.R. 1984. Dive characteristics and movements of=20 radio-tagged gray whales in San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur,=20 Mexico. Pages 561-575 in "The Gray Whale" M.L. Jones, S.L. Swartz and S.=20 Leatherwood (eds). Academic Press.=20 Hiby, L., Ward, A. 1986. Analysis of cue-counting and blow rate estimatio= n=20 experiments carried out during 1984/85 IDCR minke whal assessment cruise.= =20 Rep. Int. Whal. Commn. 36:473-475. Hiby, L. 1992. Fin whale surfacing rate as a calibration factor for=20 cue-counting abundance estimates. Rep. Int. Whal. Comm. 42:107-709. Janik, V.M., Thompson, P.M. 199??. Diving responses of bottlenose dolphin= s=20 to boat traffic in the Moray Firth, NE Scotland. Marine Mammal Science. Joyce, G.G. 1982. Blow patterns as sighting cues for censusing minke whal= es=20 in Antartic waters. Rep. Int. Whal. Commn. 32:787-790. Joyce, G.G., ?ien, N., Calambokidis, J., Cubbage, C. 1989. Surfacing rate= s=20 of minke whales in Norwegian waters. Rep. Int. Whal. Commn. 39:431-434. Joyce, G.G., Sigurj=A8=AEnsson, J., Vikingsson, G. 1990. Radio tracking a= minke=20 whale (Balaenoptera acutorostata) in Icelandic waters for the examination= =20 of dive-time patterns. Rep. Int. Whal. Commn. 40:357-361. Kiechefer, T.R. 1992. Feeding ecology of humpback whales in continental=20 shelf waters near Cordell Bank, California. Master Thesis. Moss Landing=20 Marine Laboratories. San Jose State University. 86 p. Kopelman, A.H., Sadove, S.S. 1995. Ventilatory rate differences between=20 surface-feeding and non-surface-feeding fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus= )=20 in the waters off eastern Long Island, New York, U.S.A., 1981-1987. Mar.=20 Mamm. Sci. 11(2):200-207. Kramer, DL (1988) The behavioral ecology of air breathing by aquatic=20 animals - Canadian Journal of Zoology 66:89-94 Leatherwood, S. Ljungblad, D.K. 1979. Nighttime swimming and diving=20 behavior of a radio-tagged spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata. Cetology= =20 34:1-6. Leatherwood, S. Evans, W.E. 19XX. Some recent uses and potentials of=20 radiotelemetry in field studies of cetaceans. Pages 1-31, in: "Behavior o= f=20 Marine Mammals" H.E. Winn & B.L. Olla (eds.). Plenum press, New York. Leatherwood, S., Goodrich, K., Kinter, A.L., Truppo, R.M. 1989. Respirati= on=20 patterns and 'sightability' of whales. Rep. Int. Whal. Comm. 32:601-604. Lockyer, C., Morris, R. 1986. Observations on diving behaviour and swimmi= ng=20 speeds in a wild juvenile Tursiops truncatus. Aquat. Mammals 13(1):31-35. Lockyer, C., Morris, R. 1987. The history and behaviour of a wild sociabl= e=20 bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) off the north coast of Cornwall.=20 Aquat. Mammals 13(1):31-35. Ludwig, S., Culik, B.M. and Urb=E1n R.J. 1999. Diving behavior of gray wh= ales=20 (Eschrichtius robustus) with calves in san ignacio lagoon, baja californi= a,=20 mexico, by using multi-sensor tags. Abstract presented at the marine mamm= al=20 conference in Maui Hawai. *Stefan Ludwig, e-mail: McCormick, J.G. 1969. Relationship of sleep, respiration, and anesthesia = in=20 the porpoise: a preliminary report. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. U.S.A.,=20 62(3):697-703. Mano, S. 1990. Analysis of diving behaviour of sperm whale, Physeter=20 catodon. Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi, 56(2):179-187. Mate, B.R., Rossbach, K.A., Nieukirk, S.L. Wells, R., Irvine, A.B.,=20 Scott,M.D.,Read, A.J. 1995. Satellite-monitored movements and dive behavi= or=20 of a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in Tampa Bay, Florida. Marin= e=20 Mammal Science 11(4): 452-463. Mate, B.R., Stafford, K.M., Nawojchik, R., Dunn, J.L. 1994. Movement and=20 dive behavior of a satellite-monitored Atlantic white- sided dolphin=20 (Lagenorhynchus acutus) in the Gulf of Maine. Marine Mammal Science=20 10(1):116-121. Morris, R.J., Lockyer, C. 1988. Twenty-two month in the life of a juvenil= e=20 wild bottlenose dolphins. Aquatic Mammals 14(2):49-62. Noren, S.R., Williams, T.M., Ramirez, K. Boehm, J., Glenn, M. Cornell, L.= ,=20 Harvey, N. 1999. The effect of body size on odontocete breath-hold=20 capacity: pacific white-sided dolphins to killer whales. Abstract present= ed=20 at the marine mammal conference in Maui Hawai. *Shawn Noren, e-mail:=20 snoren(\)darwin.ucsc.edu ?ien, N., Folkow, L., Lydersen, C. 1990. Dive time experiments on minke=20 whales in Norwegian waters during the 1988 season. Rep. Int. Whal. Commn.= =20 40:337-341. Otani, S., Y. Naito, A. Kawamura, M. Kawasaki, S. Nishiwaki y A. Kato.=20 1998. Diving behavior and performance of harbor porpoise, Phocoena=20 phocoena, in Funka Bay, Hokkaido, Japan. Marine Mammal Science 2:209-220 Peddemors, V.M. 1990. Respiratory development in a captive-born bottlenos= e=20 dolphin Tursiops truncatus calf. S.-Afr. Tydskr. Dierk. 25(3):178-184. Praetsch, F. 1991. Differential site use and diving behaviour of=20 bottle-nosed dolphins in the Moray Fifth, Scotland. European Research on=20 Cetaceans 5:39-44. Randall, W.,Graham A.J. Worthy, Bernd W=A8=B9rsig and Spencer K. Lynn 199= 6.=20 Diving behavior and at-sea movements of an atlantic spotted dolphin in th= e=20 Gulf of Mexico. Marine Mammal Science 12(4):569-581. Ray, R.D., Carlson, M.L., Carlson, M.A., Carlson, T.M., Upson, J.D. 1986.= =20 Behavioral and respiratory syncronization quantified in a pair of captive= =20 killer whales. Pp. 187-209, in: Behaviral biology of killer whales, B.C.,= =20 Kirkevold, and J.S., Lockard, eds., Zoobiology monographs, vol. 1. Alan R= .=20 Liss, Inc., New York. Rowntree, V. J. 2000. =BFPuede la altura del rollo de grasa sobre elcuell= o de=20 las hembras de ballena franca austral (Eubalaena australis) indicar la=20 condici=F3n f=EDsica de sus cr=EDas? (Res=FAmenes) P=E1gina 111. lX Reuni= =F3n de=20 trabajo de especialistas en mam=EDferos acu=E1ticos de am=E9rica del sur,= Buenos=20 Aires, Argentina. Schreer,JF and Kovacs,KM (1997) Allometry of diving capacity in=20 air-breathing vertebrates - Canadian Journal of Zoology 75:339-358 Silber, G.K. 1988. Observations on the behavior and ventilation cycles of= =20 the vaquita, Phocoena sinus. Mar; Mamm. Sci., 4(1):62-67. Spencer, K.L. 1995. Movements, site fidelity, and surfacing patterns of=20 bottlenose dolphins on the Central Texas Coast. Tesi di Master discussa=20 alla Texas A&M University, USA. Spencer, M.P., Gornall III, T.A., Poulter, T.C. 1967. Respiratory and=20 cardiac activity of killer whales. J. Appl. Physiol. 22(5):974-981. Stern, S.J. 1992. Surfacing rates and surfacing patterns of minke whales=20 (Balaenoptera acutorostata) off Central California, and the probability o= f=20 a whale surfacing within visual range. Rep. Int. Whal. Commn. 42:379-385. Stone, G.S., Katona, S.K., Mainwaring, A., Allen, J.M., Corbett, H.D. 199= 2=20 Respiration and surfacing rates of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus)=20 observed from a lighthouse tower. Rep. Int. Whal. Commn. 42:739-745. Stone, G., Goodyear, J., Hutt, A., Yoshinaga, A. 1995????. A new=20 non-invasive taggin method for studying wild dolphins. MTS Journal=20 28(1):11-16. Sumich, J.L. 1983. Swimming velocities, breathing patterns, and estimated= =20 costs of locomotion in migrating gray whales, Eschirichtius robustus. Can= .=20 J. Zool. 61:647-652. Tershy, B.R., Breese, D. 1991. Sightings and feeding of gray whales in th= e=20 Northern Gulf of California. J. Mamm. 72(4):830-831. Ward, A.J. 1988. Accounting for the effect of pod size in estimation of=20 blow rates: analysis of data from the 1984/85, 85/86 and 86/87 IDCR minke= =20 whale assessment cruises. Rep. Int. Whal. Commn. 38:265-268. Ward, A.J., Hiby, A.R. 1987. Analysis of cue-counting and blow rate=20 estimation experiments carried out during the 1985/86 IWC/IDCR minke whal= e=20 assessment cruise. Rep. Int. Whal. Commn. 37:259-262. Watson, A.P., Gaskin, D.E. 1983. Observation on ventilation cycle of=20 harbour porpoise, Phocoena phocoena (L.), in coastal waters of the Bay of= =20 Fundy. Can. J. Zool. 61:126-132. W=A8=B9rsig, B., Dorsey, E.M., Fraker, M.A., Payne, R.S., Richardson, W.J= .,=20 Wells, R.S. 1984. Behaviour of bowhead whales, Balaena mysticetus,=20 summering in the Beaufort Sea: surfacing, respiration, and dive=20 characteristics. Can. J. Zool. 62:1910-1921. W=A8=B9rsig, B., Dorsey, E.M., Fraker, M.A., Payne, R.S., Richardson, W.J= .=20 1985. Behaviour of bowhead whales, Balaena mysticetus, summering in the=20 Beaufort Sea: a description. Fish. Bull. 83(3):357-377. W=A8=B9rsig, B., Welles, R.S., Croll, D.A. 1986. Behavior of gray whales=20 summering near St. Lawrence Island, Bering Sea. Can. J. Zool., 64:611-621. ------------------------------------- And any more information on this topic are welcome. Thank you very much for your time and patience. Sincerely yours, XIAO Jianqiang =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 XIAO Jianqiang | Institute of Hydrobiology | Chinese Academy of Sciences | Wuhan, 430072 | China | Email: akhan(\)263.net | =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: Sun, 18 Mar 2001 13:50:52 -0800 Reply-To: icods From: icods Subject: CONFERENCE: ICODS, 2nd announcement ------------------------------------------------- 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/ ------------------------------------------------- SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT ------------------------------------------------- PLEASE NOTE: THE DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACTS IS **MARCH 30th**. IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON GIVING A TALK OR POSTER PLEASE CONTACT THE CONFERENCE ORGANIZER BEFORE THAT DATE. 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 outline information about the conference and linked workshops. Please visit our web site for more details. 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 and after the conference We hope that the conference will prove to be a major milestone in the application of wildlife survey techniques, leading to increased 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 papers. (The preliminary topic of their paper is given in brackets.) - 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 (Distance sampling of Antarctic pack ice seals.) - 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.) We encourage delegates to consider contributing oral or poster papers. We welcome contributions on any aspect of distance sampling, from practical, taxon-specific issues to new methodological developments. The deadline for abstracts is 30th March 2001. More details are given on the conference web site under Call for Papers. In addition to the scientific program, we are planning field trips and a full social program. Linked Workshops ---------------- The conference will be bracketed by two linked workshops. 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. - Workshop 1: Introduction to Distance Sampling, July 25-27 An introductory workshop, focusing on "conventional" distance sampling methods, including line and point transects where detection on the trackline or point is certain. The workshop will be a blend of theory and practice and participants will learn how to use the program Distance. Participants will gain a solid grounding in both survey design and methods of analysis for distance sampling surveys. - Workshop 2: Advanced Techniques and Recent Developments in Distance Sampling, August 6-8 A workshop designed for those who are already familiar with the basics, where we will teach advanced material such as automated survey design, adaptive sampling, incorporating covariates into the detection function, methods for where g0<1, and spatial modeling of density. Participants will learn some of the more advanced features of Distance. This workshop will take place after the conference to give us a chance to discuss new work presented there. For both workshops, participants are encouraged to bring their own data sets, and can expect to do some preliminary analyses with their data. The number of participants on both workshops is strictly limited and, based on preliminary registrations, we expect both workshops to be oversubscribed. To avoid disappointment, we encourage you to register for these as soon as possible. Sponsors -------- ICODS is supported by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Biometrics Working Group of the Wildlife Society. Further information ------------------- More information about the conference, including the registration form, 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 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 463813 Fax: +44 1334 463748 Email: icods(\)mcs.st-and.ac.uk -- Len Thomas, Co-ordinator Distance Development Project Research Unit for Wildlife Population Assessment Mathematical Institute, University of St Andrews Scotland KY16 9SS email: distance(\)mcs.st-and.ac.uk RUWPA home page: http://www.ruwpa.st-and.ac.uk Distance home page: http://www.ruwpa.st-and.ac.uk/distance/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2001 16:54:55 EST From: Holly Fearnbach Subject: intern position Long-term intern, Pacific Whale Foundation Pacific Whale Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to marine research, conservation and education, seeks a long-term intern to assist with their cetacean research internship program. The research program depends on both the financial aid and logistical support of the interns, and a significant portion of the work involves training, supervising and teaching interns, working with them both on the water and in the research house, as well as sharing accommodations and a living environment with them. Assisting with the training and supervising of other volunteers will also be required. Land-based work will involve logistics for field work and the group living environment, assisting with 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. Assisting the project leaders in all aspects of the project will be required. Field work will be undertaken approximately one quarter of the time and will involve operation of a research vessel, including operation of a GPS, 35-mm cameras, video cameras, as well as trailering and launching boats, and keeping detailed records. Assisting the project leaders with public relations activities will also be required, including promoting 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 work closely with the two project leaders. The position requires living in tight quarters with up to six interns and one project leader at any given time. Depending on the number and gender of the interns, some (or all) of the time will be spent sharing a room with an intern or staff member. The position 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 until 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 when interns are not present). In general, interns will be present for approximately 9 every 10 days, and the research house may be used for other research/educational activities during non-intern periods. The Wild Dolphin Project intern session will run from June 1, 2001 until September 1, 2001. The position is unpaid but room and board will be provided. Qualifications: B.Sc. in Marine Biology, Biology, Animal Behavior or a related field Strong interpersonal and organizational skills Excellent communication skills Experience working with volunteers 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 To apply: please submit a resume, cover letter and the names/contact information of at least three references. Please send two copies: one via email and one hardcopy via snail mail. Pacific Whale Foundation Research Department 101 North Kihei Rd. Kihei, Maui. HI 96753 hollyfearnbach(\)aol.com Visit our web site: http://www.pacificwhale.org ****No phone calls please. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 10:00:20 -0500 From: Nicole Le Boeuf Organization: NOAA Subject: 4th Quarter 2000 MMPA Bulletin available This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------62294980815C7757B10C07B9 The NMFS Office of Protected Resources has published the 4th Quarter 2000 edition of the MMPA Bulletin. The articles in this issue include: Scientific Review Groups Meet NOAA Fisheries Certifies Japan NOAA Fisheries Publishes the Proposed 2001 List of Fisheries President Clinton Signs Stranding Bills Into Law U.S. Navy Requests LFA Permit Gear Modifications to the ALWTRP Update on Beluga Whale Conservation NOAA Fisheries To Publish Public Display Regulations Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Teams Update Marine Protected Areas Executive Order NOAA Fisheries Hears from Stakeholders: Large Whale Fund NOAA Fisheries Embargoes ETP Nations Frequently Asked Questions about SURTASS LFA NOAA Fisheries Develops Marine Aquaculture Guidelines Report on Aquaculture Available >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. --------------62294980815C7757B10C07B9 name="Nicole.Leboeuf.vcf" filename="Nicole.Leboeuf.vcf" begin:vcard n:Le Boeuf;Nicole tel;fax:(301) 713-0376 tel;work:(301) 713-2322, ext. 156 x-mozilla-html:FALSE adr:;;;;;; version:2.1 email;internet:nicole.leboeuf(\)noaa.gov fn:Nicole Le Boeuf end:vcard --------------62294980815C7757B10C07B9-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 08:25:44 -0800 From: Michael Jasny Subject: NMFS' Proposed Rule on LFA boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0053_01C0B04E.31865A00" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0053_01C0B04E.31865A00 charset="iso-8859-1" This morning (March 19), a Proposed Rule from the National Marine = Fisheries Service governing use of the U.S. Navy's Low Frequency Active = (LFA) sonar program appeared in the *Federal Register*. I have appended = the full text to this message. With the publication of this Proposed Rule, there begins a 45-day period = for public comment. Your comments are crucial to NMFS' review of the = Navy's program, and we hope that everyone interested in this important = issue will submit comments to the agency. =20 Comments are due on May 3, 2001 and 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.=20 Please feel free to contact us at NRDC if you have any questions. Best, Michael Jasny --------------------------------------- Michael Jasny, Associate Natural Resources Defense Council 6310 San Vicente Blvd., Ste. 250 Los Angeles, CA 90048 tel/fax 323-934-2138 mjasny(\)ucla.edu --------------------------------------- [TEXT OF PROPOSED RULE AND REQUEST FOR COMMENTS] FEDERAL REGISTER=20 Vol. 66, No. 53=20 Proposed Rules=20 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC)=20 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)=20 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)=20 50 CFR Part 216=20 [Docket No. 990927266-0240-02; I.D. 072699A]=20 RIN 0648-AM62=20 Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to = Navy Operations of Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency = Active Sonar=20 66 FR 15375=20 DATE: Monday, March 19, 2001=20 ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comment.=20 [*15375] =20 SUMMARY: NMFS has received an application from the U.S. Navy requesting = a Letter of Authorization (LOA) for the take of small numbers of marine = mammals by harassment incidental to Navy operations of the Surveillance = Towed Array Sensor System (SURTASS) Low Frequency Active (LFA) Sonar. By = this document, NMFS is proposing regulations to govern that take. In = order to issue the LOA and issue final regulations governing the take, = NMFS must determine that the taking will have a negligible impact on the = affected species and stocks of marine mammals, will (if appropriate = through implementation of appropriate mitigation measures) be at the = lowest level practicable, and will not have an unmitigable adverse = impact on the availability of the species or stock(s) for subsistence = uses. NMFS invites comment on the application, and the regulations.=20 DATES: Comments must be postmarked no later than May 3, 2001. A petition = requesting NMFS to hold a public hearing must be submitted no later than = April 3, 2001. Comments will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or = the Internet.=20 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.=20 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, a list of references used in this = document and a list of principal commenters on this action, are = available and may be obtained by writing to this address or by = telephoning the contact listed here (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION = CONTACT).=20 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth R. Hollingshead (301) 713-2322, = ext. 128.=20 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:=20 =20 Background=20 Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) (16 = U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) 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.=20 Permission may be granted for periods of 5 years or less if the = Secretary finds that the taking will be small, have a negligible impact = on the species or stock(s) of affected marine mammals, and will not have = an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the species or = stock(s) for 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. [*15376] =20 =20 Summary of Request=20 On August 12, 1999, NMFS received an application from the U.S. Navy = requesting a small take exemption under section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA = for the taking of marine mammals incidental to operation of the SURTASS = LFA sonar for a period of time not to exceed 5 years, beginning in FY = 2000. SURTASS LFA sonar will operate a maximum of 4 ship systems in the = 10 geographic operating regions in which SURTASS LFA sonar could = potentially operate. There would be a maximum of four SURTASS LFA sonar = systems with a nominal maximum of two systems at sea at any one time.=20 =20 Description of the Activity=20 The SURTASS LFA sonar system is a long-range, low frequency (between 100 = and 500 Hertz) sonar that has both active and passive components. It = does not rely on detection of noise generated by the target. The active = component of the system is a set of low frequency (LF) acoustic = transmitting source elements (called projectors) suspended from a cable = from underneath a ship. The projectors are devices that produce the = active sound or pulse.=20 The purpose of SURTASS LFA sonar is to provide the Navy with a reliable = and dependable system for long-range detection of quieter, = harder-to-find submarines. LF sound travels in seawater more effectively = and for greater distances than higher frequency sound used by most other = active sonars. The SURTASS LFA sonar system would meet the Navy's need = for improved detection and tracking of new-generation submarines at a = longer range. This would maximize the opportunity for U.S. armed forces = to safely react to, and defend against, potential submarine threats = while remaining a safe distance beyond a submarine's effective weapons = range.=20 The typical SURTASS LFA sonar signal is not a constant tone, but rather = a transmission of various waveforms that vary in frequency and duration. = A complete sequence of sound transmissions is referred to as a "ping" = and can last for as short as 6 seconds (sec) to as long as 100 sec. The = time between pings is typically from 6 to 15 minutes. Average duty cycle = (ratio of sound "on" time to total time) can be controlled but is less = than 20 percent; typical duty cycle is between 10 and 20 percent.=20 The passive or listening component of the system is SURTASS, which = detects returning echoes from submerged objects, such as submarines, = through the use of hydrophones. The hydrophones are mounted on a = horizontal array that is towed behind the ship. The SURTASS LFA sonar = ship maintains a minimum speed of 3.0 knots (5.6 km/hr; 3.4 mi/hr).=20 The Navy anticipates that a nominal SURTASS LFA sonar deployment = schedule for a single vessel would involve about 270 days/year at sea = (underway). A nominal at-sea mission would occur over a 30-day period, = made up of two 9-day exercise segments. Active sonar operations could be = conducted up to 20 hrs during an exercise day, although the system would = actually be transmitting for only a maximum of 4 hrs/day (resulting in = 432 hrs of active transmission time per year for each SURTASS LFA sonar = system in operation based on a maximum duty cycle of 20 percent). The = remaining 12 days of the at-sea mission would be spent in transit or = repositioning the vessel. In a nominal year there could be a maximum of = 9 missions, six of which would involve the employment of SURTASS LFA = sonar in the active mode and three of which would employ the SURTASS LFA = sonar in the passive mode. Between missions, an estimated 95 days would = be spent in port for upkeep and repair. With two vessels in the = Pacific-Indian Ocean area and two vessels in the Atlantic = Ocean-Mediterranean Sea area, there could be up to 12 operations in each = of these oceanic areas per year.=20 At present, only one SURTASS LFA sonar system is available for = deployment. A second SURTASS LFA sonar system is expected to be = available in FY 2001. The third and fourth systems are tentatively = planned for FY 2003 and FY 2004, but their delivery may be postponed = until after FY 2005. With 4 systems, a nominal maximum of two vessels = would be at sea at any one time. As a result, under 5-year regulations = NMFS proposes to authorize marine mammal harassment takings for 2 = SURTASS LFA sonar vessels for FY 2000 through FY 2002, 3 vessels for FY = 2003, and 4 vessels for FY 2004, recognizing, however, that there may = not be more than 2 vessels operating within the 5-year window of these = proposed regulations.=20 =20 Comments and Responses=20 On October 22, 1999 (64 FR 57026), NMFS published an Advance Notice of = Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) on the U.S. Navy application and invited = interested persons to submit comments, information, and suggestions = concerning the application and the structure and content of regulations, = if the application is accepted. During the 30-day comment period on that = notice, significant comments were received from several organizations = and individuals. A list of organizations and individuals whose comments = are analyzed in this document is available upon request. Additionally, a = large number of letters, form letters, and petitions were received. = Comments regarding NMFS' responsibilities under the MMPA, the Endangered = Species Act (ESA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) are = addressed in this document. Comments to the Navy regarding the Navy's = draft Overseas Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact = Statement (OEIS/EIS) that were attached to the comments on the ANPR, and = those comments regarding the scope, content, and adequacy of the Navy = draft OEIS/EIS, and the Navy's marine mammal scientific research program = have been addressed in the Navy's Final OEIS/EIS.=20 =20 Activity Concerns=20 Comment 1: Numerous commenters were concerned that the Navy's SURTASS = LFA sonar was not viable, or was not practicable and that the Navy's = small take application for an LOA should be denied, for those reasons.=20 Response: Whether a project is viable or practical is not a criterion = under the MMPA for determining whether to authorize marine mammal = takings incidental to an activity. The authority for authorizing = operations and deployment of the Navy SURTASS LFA resides with the = Secretary of the Navy, not NMFS.=20 Comment 2: Many commenters were concerned regarding a conflict between = the ANPR and the draft OEIS/EIS. The ANPR states that the 180 dB (i.e., = 180 dB re 1 microPa(rms) RL (180 dB)) sound field is 2 km (1.1 nm) from = the sound source. The draft OEIS/EIS states that the sound field is 1 km = (0.54 nm) from the sound source. The commenters felt that if the ANPR = was in error, it should be withdrawn and republished and the public = comment period extended.=20 Response: The draft OEIS/EIS is correct; the ANPR was in error. A = correction notice was published as quickly as possible once that error = was detected. That notice was published on November 22, 1999 (64 FR = 63783). Because the error did not affect the scope of the ANPR, and led = only to speculation on the sound pressure level (SPL) of the SURTASS LFA = sonar, and because NMFS is publishing in this document for public = comment and review the same action as noticed in the ANPR, NMFS = determined that no benefit would have been achieved by [*15377] = reopening the public comment period on the ANPR.=20 Comment 3: One commenter notes that the Navy application is for all = SURTASS LFA sonar operations, whereas the draft OEIS/EIS addressed only = SURTASS LFA sonar operations for training and testing, not for actual = military operation. If "hostile" operations are not included in the = schedule of operations, then the actual take projections must be = recalculated to account for such missions.=20 Response: The LOA application clearly states that the request is for the = taking of marine mammals incidental to the employment of SURTASS LFA = sonar during training, testing, and routine military operations. The = authorization will not cover use of the system in armed conflict or = direct combat support operations, nor during periods of heightened = national threat conditions, as determined by the National Command = Authorities. NMFS does not have a role in making these determinations. = Therefore, takings during these situations would not be covered by the = regulations or the LOAs. The recalculation of takings outside of the LOA = in advance is neither necessary nor possible without knowing where the = "hostile" activity will take place and how long that situation would = last.=20 =20 MMPA Concerns=20 Comment 4: Several commenters recommended that NMFS should extend the = comment period to allow more time for review of the application.=20 Response: The ANPR is only the first of two public comment periods on = NMFS' action. ANPRs are not required by the MMPA, but are utilized by = NMFS to provide the public with early notification and to assist NMFS in = the drafting of proposed regulations. The ANPR stated that, if NMFS = proposes rulemaking (as we are doing here), as required by section = 101(a)(5)(A)(ii) of the MMPA, NMFS will offer the public a second = comment period. For this rulemaking, NMFS is providing a comment period = of 45 days.=20 Comment 5: A commenter questioned why NMFS did not publish the ANPR = until October 27, 1999, when the application was received from the Navy = on August 12, 1999.=20 Response: NMFS published the ANPR as expeditiously as possible.=20 Comment 6: Several commenters wanted more time for review of the = application and ANPR because of the detail of the draft OEIS/EIS.=20 Response: Because the application submitted by the U.S. Navy closely = follows the information and data provided by the Navy in its draft = OEIS/EIS for SURTASS LFA sonar (which had a 90-day public comment = period), and comments on that document were due 3 weeks prior to the = close of the ANPR comment period, NMFS believes that little additional = effort should be required by those members of the public interested in = reviewing both documents in order to respond adequately to the U.S. Navy = application for the small take authorization within the 30-day comment = period.=20 Comment 7: NMFS should hold public hearings because the Navy application = is unprecedented. Among other things, the application contemplates a = world-wide scale for its activities, far exceeding the limits of what = the small take exemption was meant to cover. It subjects marine mammals = * * * to levels of exposure well above anything NMFS has heretofore = allowed for non-impulsive noise.=20 Response: The Navy held public outreach meetings on the draft OEIS/EIS = in Washington, DC, Boston, MA, Miami, FL, Los Angeles, CA, Honolulu, HI, = and Seattle, WA. In addition, public hearings on the draft OEIS/EIS were = held by the U.S. Navy on September 29, 1999, in Norfolk, VA; on October = 12, 1999, in San Diego, CA; and on October 14, 1999, in Honolulu, HI. = NMFS attended these meetings. NMFS believes the opportunity to respond = to this notice of proposed rulemaking provides the public with an = adequate degree of participation in this process. However, if a petition = is submitted to NMFS within 15 days of the date of publication of this = document that it hold a public hearing, and that petition demonstrates = that relevant information exists which can only be presented at a = hearing (and cannot be presented in writing in response to this = document), NMFS will hold a public hearing during the 45-day comment = period on this document.=20 Comment 8: Under the MMPA, NMFS has an obligation to reject a proposal = prior to rulemaking if the agency cannot make an affirmative finding = that the project's impacts are "negligible."=20 Response: NMFS does not interpret the MMPA to require NMFS to reject an = application submitted, under section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA, prior to = publishing proposed rulemaking, unless the applicant has not provided, = as part of its application on the activity, sufficient documentation on = those marine mammals affected, and the anticipated impact of the = activity on marine mammals. Using the information provided by the Navy = in its application and draft OEIS/EIS, NMFS believes that it has = sufficient information to move forward and propose rulemaking. This = decision, however, does not preclude NMFS from requesting additional = information from the Navy during the rulemaking process. However, a = final rule will not be promulgated by NMFS unless the Agency makes a = finding of negligible impact based on all relevant information acquired = during the rulemaking process.=20 Comment 9: Commenters were of the opinion that SURTASS LFA sonar = activities proposed by the Navy are not eligible for a "small take" = exemption.=20 Response: For maritime activities conducted by U.S. citizens (other than = commercial fishing, activities permitted under section 104 of the MMPA = or activities otherwise exempted from the MMPA), there are two means to = obtain an exemption to the MMPA's moratorium on taking marine mammals. = The first is the small take exemption under section 101(a)(5) of the = MMPA, and the second is a waiver of the moratorium under section = 101(a)(3)(A) of the MMPA. If the Navy does not qualify for a small take = authorization under section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA, then the Navy = would need to obtain a waiver under section 101(a)(3)(A) of the MMPA.=20 Comment 10: The scope of the activity contemplated by the Navy exceeds = any reasonable interpretation of the statutory language for authorizing = a small take exemption for a "specified geographic region."=20 Response: When Congress enacted the 1981 Amendments to the MMPA, which = first authorized the Secretary to exempt specific activities from the = MMPA's moratorium on takings without waiving the moratorium under = section 101(a)(3), certain restrictions were placed on the circumstances = under which the Secretary may issue an exemption. One of these = requirements is that the activity must take place within "a specified = geographic region." The Legislative history for this provision states: = "It is the intention of the Committee that both the specified activity = and the specified region referred to in section 101(a)(5) be narrowly = identified so that the anticipated effects will be substantially = similar." " * * [T]he specified geographical region should not be larger = than is necessary to accomplish the specified activity, and should be = drawn in such a way that the effects on marine mammals in the region are = substantially the same. Thus, for example, it would be inappropriate to = identify the entire Pacific coast of the North American Continent as a = specified geographic region, but it may be appropriate to identify = particular segments of that coast having similar characteristics, both = biological and otherwise, as [*15378] specified geographic regions" = (H. Rept 97-228, September 16, 1981, p 19).=20 NMFS believes that the regions described in this proposed rule are in = keeping with Congress' legislative intent in enacting this provision. = Although SURTASS LFA sonar requires fairly large geographic regions = because of the Navy's need to deploy the system on a world-wide basis, = these areas have been selected so as to retain similar biological = characteristics within each region. As a result, NMFS believes that = these areas are large enough to accomplish the specified activity = without being so large that the effects on marine mammals will not be = substantially the same.=20 It should be noted that the regions described in this proposed rule = differ from those contained in the Navy's original application and = described in the ANPR. Based on a suggestion made by NMFS in the ANPR, = the U.S. Navy revised its original proposal for 10 regions to one that = proposes to adopt, with modification, the United Nation Food and = Agriculture Organization's (FAO) division of the world's oceans into 16 = distinct areas as shown in this document as Figure 1. (See FAO, 1971. = The Fish Resources of the Ocean. Fishing News Books (Ltd). Surry = England). These regions are described later in this document. = Additionally, coastal areas and Arctic and Antarctic waters would be = excluded from SURTASS LFA sonar operations. NMFS proposes to issue an = LOA for each individual SURTASS LFA sonar system which will list the = area(s) in which the deployment vessel plans to operate. As a result, = NMFS believes the designated areas closely approximate the distribution = of affected marine mammal species and will allow NMFS to implement = appropriate mitigation and monitoring measures. One aspect of marine = mammal distribution not taken into account by these areas is the shift = in marine mammal distribution due to changes in oceanographic = physiography. However, NMFS believes that it would be impractical to = attempt to structure regulations specifying migratory corridors. While = NMFS believes that little would be accomplished by further subdivision = of the world's oceans, it welcomes additional comments on this = preliminary determination.=20 NMFS also disagrees with the commenters' suggestion that the application = should not be accepted because it is world-wide in scope and thus is = more extensive than any activity previously authorized. Although no = world-wide authorizations have previously been granted, NMFS does accept = applications, and issue authorizations, for similar activities in more = than a single geographic region. For example, seismic surveys for oil = and gas exploration may be conducted concurrently in the U.S. Beaufort = Sea, southern California waters, and, in the Gulf of Mexico. Similar to = SURTASS LFA sonar operations, each seismic survey employs a large vessel = slowly towing a high-intensity, LF sound source. If warranted, small = take authorizations should be available to these activities.=20 NMFS does not believe that Congress intended NMFS to issue separate = regulations governing taking for each "specific geographic region," as = would be one alternative. While it would be possible for NMFS to do so, = NMFS believes that these regulations would be redundant and unnecessary. = As a result, the proposed incidental, small take regulations for SURTASS = LFA sonar have been designed to be generic; LOAs issued under these = regulations, would be tailored to the vessel's specific geographic = operating area and would include any appropriate prohibitions and = mitigation or monitoring requirements.=20 Comment 11: One commenter wanted NMFS to acknowledge that the draft = OEIS/EIS definitions for "non-serious injury" and "non-serious = harassment" are unique and unsupported in the statutory context of the = MMPA, or in definitions from NMFS.=20 Response: NMFS understands that the Navy's draft OEIS/EIS definition = caused confusion to reviewers. The Navy has modified these terms in the = final OEIS/EIS. NMFS will continue to define takings by harassment as = they are defined in section 3 of the MMPA (i.e., Level A and Level B = harassment).=20 =20 Small Take Concerns=20 Comment 12: Because the abundance of marine mammals within identified = species and stocks that may be taken by SURTASS LFA sonar exceeds any = reasonable interpretation of the MMPA's "small numbers" provision, NMFS = should reject the Navy's application.=20 Response: The definition of the term "small numbers" at 50 CFR 216.103 = differs from the commenters' interpretation of "small numbers." NMFS = believes it was unfortunate that Congress was unable to provide more = specific guidance on what it meant by the term "small." The Legislative = history for this provision (H. Rept 97-228, September 16, 1981) stated = that the Committee recognized "the imprecision of the term..., but was = unable to offer a more precise formulation because the concept is not = capable of being expressed in absolute numerical limits" NMFS agrees = with that Congressional statement. NMFS believes that by defining "small = numbers" to mean a portion of a marine mammal species or stock whose = taking would have a negligible impact as in the definition of "small" = found in =A7 216.103, an upper limit is placed on the term, and the = phrase effectively implements the Congressional intent underlying the = rule.=20 =20 Negligible Take Concerns=20 Comment 13: The Navy's draft OEIS/EIS ignored and/or did not adequately = address the negative effects of LFA testing, including stranding of = beaked whales in the Mediterranean, 3 abandoned cetacean calves in the = Hawaii sonar test area, 80 percent of humpback whales stopping singing = during tests, blue and fin whales decreasing vocalizations, and gray = whales changing their migration route.=20 Response: The Navy has addressed these events in the Navy's final = OEIS/EIS. However, while NMFS recognizes that there is some potential = for marine mammals to be affected by SURTASS LFA sonar signals = (otherwise an incidental, small take authorization would not be needed), = NMFS notes that: (1) detailed analyses of data from Phase I research = indicated that there were no significant differences in vocal activity = by blue and fin whales between those periods when SURTASS LFA sonar was = not transmitting and when it was; (2) gray whale research was = specifically designed to elicit an avoidance response, but was not = conducted similar to SURTASS LFA sonar operations (in fact the research = indicated that when SURTASS LFA sonar operated offshore, there was = little or no avoidance response); and (3) the Navy acknowledges that = while some singing humpback whales showed some apparent avoidance = responses and cessation of song, an equal number showed no cessation of = song. Also, there is no evidence linking SURTASS LFA sonar transmissions = to any stranding event, and further the Navy's proposed long-term = monitoring (LTM) program will have a component to investigate any = correlation between SURTASS LFA sonar transmissions and stranding = events.=20 Comment 14: The Navy underestimates the extent and cumulative impacts of = its deployment because it fails to consider operations undertaken for = purposes of surveillance, deployments in direct support of combat, and = deployments during periods of heightened threat conditions, as = determined by the National Command Authorities. [*15379] =20 Response: NMFS must make a determination that the total taking = incidental to an applicant's specified activity, during the proposed = 5-year period of authorization of the regulations, will have no more = than a negligible impact on affected marine mammal populations. The = application for the authorization specifically requests an authorization = for employment of the SURTASS LFA sonar during training, testing, and = routine military operations. It will not cover use of the system in = other conflict situations mentioned by the commenter. Recognizing that = certain mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements could not be = met by the Navy in wartime situations, NMFS believes the approach taken = by the Navy to be appropriate.=20 Comment 15: One commenter stated that, given that cetaceans are accepted = as "people," it follows that NMFS, which treats them as stocks subject = to sustainable "harvest" is promulgating the fiction that the cetaceans = are to be treated in the same category as fish, when in fact, they are = the oldest and most intelligent sentient creatures on Earth and fully = worthy of our protection and respect.=20 Response: The MMPA prohibits the taking of marine mammals unless = exempted or permitted. NMFS disagrees with the commenter that marine = mammals are treated similar to fish. Fish are considered, among other = things, a resource that may be harvested in a sustainable manner for = consumption while the United States has affirmed that marine mammals = should be protected and encouraged to develop to the greatest extent = feasible commensurate with sound policies of resource management.=20 Comment 16: Several commenters criticized the Navy statement in the = application that "research conducted to date is sufficient to assess = impacts on marine mammals." Some recommended that on this basis, NMFS = deny the Navy a small take permit. Another questioned how NMFS could = make a negligible impact determination without having all relevant facts = at its disposal.=20 Response: When the U.S. Navy first discussed whether an incidental, = small take authorization was required for its SURTASS LFA sonar, NMFS = determined that insufficient information existed to make a negligible = impact determination. NMFS suggested the U.S. Navy conduct a scientific = research program on marine mammals to determine potential effects of = SURTASS LFA sonar on marine mammals. In making a finding as to whether = an action will have a negligible impact on marine mammals, NMFS is = required to use the best scientific information available. This = information should be available to applicants either publically or = through NMFS. However, Congress clarified in the Legislative history on = this provision (H. Rept 97-228, September 16, 1981) that for situations = where a negligible impact finding cannot be made (either because the = proposed project or activity is hypothetical or the impact on the marine = environment from the activity has not been investigated), the applicant = would need to conduct research on the potential impacts of the proposed = project or activity on marine mammals. For SURTASS LFA sonar, = independent scientists focused their research efforts on 3 of the 4 = species of marine mammals identified in a public workshop as most likely = to be impacted by LF sound. Research conducted under an MMPA section 104 = scientific research permit has been completed and the findings have been = made available to the public. A preliminary determination on whether = information is sufficient to make a determination that SURTASS LFA sonar = is having no more than a negligible impact is a part of this rulemaking = process.=20 =20 Marine Mammal Impact Concerns=20 Comment 17: The LOA request excludes several species of marine mammals = because their ranges purportedly do not overlap with the potential = geographic operating regions of SURTASS LFA sonar.=20 Response: Preliminarily, the Navy and/or NMFS have determined that the = following species should be added to the list of species that may = potentially be affected. These species are the beluga whale = (Delphinapterus leucas), the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), and = the hooded seal (Cystophora cristata). Additional species may be added = in the future based upon information obtained during the LTM Program or = by other means. Adding species to the list, however, will require = rulemaking to correct the list proposed in =A7 216.180(b). Until an = amendment is made effective, the taking of marine mammal species not = listed in =A7 216.180(b) remain prohibited. However, some species of = marine mammals listed by one commenter, specifically bowhead whales, = narwhals, and Arctic and Antarctic seals, while occupying the same = geographic region as the SURTASS LFA sonar proposes to operate, are = pagophilic (ice loving), and, therefore, would be unlikely to occupy the = same region at the same time as SURTASS LFA sonar would be capable of = operating in that region. Another species mentioned by the same = commenter, Balaenoptera bonarensis, is a small minke whale. Without more = information on the species, for management purposes in this document, = NMFS considers it a minke whale. Noting the typographical error in the = Navy application, mixing the scientific and common names for sei whales = and Bryde's whales, NMFS considers B. edeni and B. brydei as synonomous, = as noted in Rice (1998).=20 Dugongs are not under the jurisdiction of NMFS. If the Navy believes = that SURTASS LFA sonar may incidentally take dugongs by harassment, they = should apply to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for a small take = authorization for this species. However, NMFS notes that the text = referenced by the commenter (Jefferson et al., 1993) states that this = species is found in the Indo-Pacific in coastal and inshore waters, = areas where SURTASS LFA sonar will not operate.=20 Comment 18: Unless the 180 dB criteria is dramatically reduced (given = proven impacts of sounds at far lower amplitudes), all species of = excluded coastal cetaceans (the remaining species of porpoises as well = as coastal "river" dolphins) will have to be included.=20 Response: The 180 dB criterion delineates an area around the source = wherein scientists have determined that, at an SPL somewhere above that = level, some marine mammal species may incur a permanent shift, or = elevation, in hearing sensitivity (referred to as permanent threshold = shift (PTS)). For that reason, NMFS encourages small take applicants, if = possible, to design, establish and monitor an appropriate area around a = loud noise source. Terminating sound transmissions whenever marine = mammals enter a zone where their hearing may be affected, will prevent, = to the greatest extent practicable, marine mammals from potentially = incurring an impairment to hearing. For this proposed action, scientists = have determined that a single-ping received level of 180 dB can be = considered a scientifically precautionary level to prevent the potential = onset of injury to a marine mammal. As a result, the Navy has proposed = to establish a 180 dB safety zone for SURTASS LFA sonar operations, that = would protect marine mammals that enter this area because the SURTASS = LFA source transmissions would be terminated upon detection of the = animal. The Navy calculates that this safety zone will encompass an area = with a radius of approximately 1 km (0.54 nm). The Navy has stated that, = as a mitigation measure, the 180 dB isopleth would remain at least 22 km = [*15380] (12 nm) from all coastlines. Because sound normally = attenuates more quickly on a shoaling bottom (that would be expected in = coastal areas), than it does in the open ocean, the Navy does not expect = marine mammals in coastal or riverine areas to be taken (by harassment) = by SURTASS LFA sonar while the animals are in these areas.=20 Comment 19: Marine mammals may be killed incidental to SURTASS LFA sonar = operations due to stranding, and due to increased risk to predation and = starvation through masking.=20 Response: The potential for masking and increased predation have been = discussed in the Navy application and the draft OEIS/EIS. Please refer = to those documents for additional information. While masking could = possibly occur for those species of marine mammals that use the same = frequency as SURTASS LFA sonar, masking would be minor and temporary = (i.e., 80-90 percent of the time a whale would be able to perceive = predator or prey through LF sounds), because the SURTASS LFA sonar = bandwidth is very limited (approx. 30 Hz), signals do not remain at a = single frequency for more than 10 seconds, and the system is off at = least 80 percent of the time.=20 Because of the offshore nature of SURTASS LFA sonar operations, the Navy = does not believe that there is a potential for SURTASS LFA sonar to = result in marine mammal stranding incidents. Under the Navy's LTM = program however, the Navy plans to coordinate with principal world-wide = marine mammal stranding networks and report any correlations between = SURTASS LFA sonar operations and stranding events to NMFS. However, = because the Navy has not requested an incidental take by mortality (as = in a stranding event), an LOA, if issued, would not authorize this form = of taking. Under regulations found at =A7 216.106(e), an LOA may be = modified, suspended or revoked if a marine mammal is taken by a method = that is not authorized.=20 Comment 20: Commenters noted that the Navy has deflated its assessment = of serious injury (to marine mammals) to near zero with an untested = monitoring program. Another commenter believes that the draft OEIS/EIS = assumes 100-percent detection within the safety zone. This commenter = believes it is unacceptable (for marine mammals to incur an SPL greater = than 180 dB) and could even be fatal.=20 Response: The Navy has assessed the efficiency of its tripartite = monitoring system (discussed later in this document) at approximately 80 = percent (70-percent high-frequency marine mammal monitoring (HFM3) sonar = and 5 percent each for visual and passive acoustic monitoring). Based = upon that level of efficiency, the Navy has indicated that incidental = harassment takes would be as indicated in Tables 4-12 and 4-13 of its = application. NMFS recognizes that the Navy should provide supporting = evidence of the efficiency of the HFM3 sonar based on documentation of = its effectiveness or field testing results. As a result, until such time = as the Navy provides verifiable test results on the HFM3 sonar, NMFS = will need to base its determination of negligible impact solely on the = effectiveness of geographic mitigation.=20 However, NMFS does not agree that the proposed incidental takings would = result in more than minimal levels of serious injury. Because serious = injury is unlikely to occur unless a marine mammal is well within the = 180 dB SURTASS LFA sonar safety zone and close to the source, and = because the closer the mammal is to the vessel, the more likely it will = be detected, and the SURTASS LFA sonar operation suspended, the = potential for serious injury to occur is minimal.=20 For mitigation effectiveness for harassment and non-serious injury, NMFS = recommends reviewers study the last column of Table 4-10 of the = application (Table 4.2-10 of the OEIS/EIS). The last column lists the = reduction of potential for effects on marine mammals.=20 =20 Long-Term and Cumulative Effects Concerns=20 Comment 21: We know almost nothing about the long term effects of LFA = sonars on marine life, and the Navy fails to consider the full range of = cumulative effects that SURTASS LFA sonar would have together with other = noise sources. The Navy has also neglected to measure the foreseeable = effects of proliferation once this technology is deployed. All this must = be considered by NMFS. Another commenter believes the scenario of more = than two vessels being at sea in the same sea simultaneously conducting = exercises has not been given full consideration.=20 Response: NMFS believes that the issue of cumulative impact of = increasing use of LFA sonar technologies by non-U.S. nations and other = LF sources is a subject for the Navy to address under NEPA. However, = under section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA, NMFS is required only to make a = determination that the total of the incidental taking of marine mammals = by the specified activity being authorized during the 5-year period = concerned will have no more than a negligible impact on such species or = stock of marine mammal. In this case, NMFS must assess the potential = impacts on marine mammals from no more than four SURTASS LFA vessels = transmitting 432 hrs/vessel/yr.=20 In its application, the Navy states that there is a remote possibility = that two sources may be operating in the same geographic area at the = same time. NMFS intends to base its negligible impact assessment on that = scenario. If LOAs are issued, the use of more than two SURTASS LFA sonar = sources operating at the same time within the same specific geographic = area would be considered a violation of the LOA.=20 =20 Mitigation Concerns=20 Comment 22: If NMFS moves forward with rulemaking, it is obligated under = the MMPA to prescribe methods and means of effecting the least = practicable adverse impact.=20 Response: NMFS agrees that measures to mitigate the impact to the lowest = level practicable is a requirement of the MMPA. However, NMFS cannot = require compliance with impractical methods and means. Specific = mitigation measures are discussed in the following 9 comments and = responses.=20 Comment 23: Several commenters questioned the use of a 180 dB criterion = for suspension of transmissions, since far lower SPLs have been = demonstrated to cause clear short-term behavioral impacts on cetaceans. = If an LOA is issued, a much lower level of exposure for protected = species should be required.=20 Response: As mentioned previously, based on information provided at two = public workshops (HESS Workshop, June 12-13, 1997, NMFS Acoustic = Criteria Workshop, September, 1998), in general, 180 dB is the level = above which scientists caution a PTS injury has the potential to occur = in marine mammals. The distance from the SURTASS LFA sonar source to the = 180 dB isopleth is approximately 1 km (0.54 nm). Thus, the 180 dB = SURTASS LFA sonar mitigation zone is the proposed safety zone that will = prevent, to the greatest extent practicable, both PTS and temporary = hearing impairment (termed temporary threshold shift (TTS)) to marine = mammals.=20 While the commenter is correct that behavioral modifications can be = expected at lower SPLs, the proposed monitoring (visual, passive = acoustic and active acoustic), is not likely to be as effective at the = greater distances where these impacts are likely to occur. As a result, = NMFS prefers to require the Navy to concentrate monitoring in an area = wherein marine mammals are more [*15381] likely to incur an injury, = than at distances wherein the incidental taking will be limited to = short-term behavioral modifications. Since monitoring is less likely to = be effective at distances much greater than the 180-dB isopleth, and = because the Navy has requested a small take authorization for the = incidental harassment of marine mammals, NMFS has preliminarily = determined that the establishment of a safety zone at the 180 dB = isopleth is the distance that is most practicable for reducing potential = impacts on marine mammals to the lowest level.=20 Comment 24: One commenter recommended that, if an LOA is issued, no = transmissions at night or in sea conditions greater than Beaufort 4 be = allowed, to maximize the probability of detecting protected species.=20 Response: NMFS concurs with the U.S. Navy that in order for training to = be effective it must simulate, to the greatest extent practicable, = conditions that would be expected during periods of heightened = readiness. Hostile situations do not diminish with sunset or high sea = states. As a result of poor nighttime and high sea state visibility for = detecting marine mammals, the Navy will use the HFM3 sonar and passive = sonar to improve marine mammal detection.=20 Comment 25: Commenters recommended additional mitigation measures, such = as geographical restrictions above and beyond those proposed by the = Navy, including an extension of the coastal exclusion zone beyond the = limits of the U.S. territorial sea and the territorial seas of other = countries, expansion of the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary, the addition = of the Indian Ocean whale sanctuary, and the addition of biologically = significant offshore areas; and a timely, transparent, and publicly = accountable procedure for supplementing the initial list of = restrictions.=20 Response: In this proposed rule, NMFS is proposing to establish a system = for government agencies, non-government organizations, and the public to = be able to propose areas for NMFS to consider adding to the list of = offshore biologically important areas (OBIAs) for marine mammals. NMFS = emphasizes that, in order for designation, an area must be of particular = importance for marine mammals as an area for primary feeding, breeding, = or migration, and not simply an area occupied by marine mammals. The = proposed area should not be within a previously designated exclusion = area nor rationalized simply because of previous designations for = geopolitical reasons.=20 In order for NMFS to begin the rulemaking process for designating areas = of biological importance for marine mammals, proponents must petition = NMFS and submit the information described in =A7 216.191(a). If NMFS = makes a preliminary determination that the petitioners have provided = sufficient information that the area is of significant biological = importance for marine mammals, NMFS will propose rulemaking to add the = recommended area to the list of previously designated areas. Through = notice in the Federal Register, NMFS will invite information, = suggestions, and comments on the proposal for a period of time not less = than 45 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register. After = review of the comments, and relevant data and information, NMFS will = make a final decision on whether to add the recommended area to the list = found in =A7 216.183(d). NMFS will either issue a final rulemaking on = the proposal or provide notice in the Federal Register on its = determination. It should be understood, however, that proposals for = designation of areas would not affect the status of LOAs while the = rulemaking is in process. NMFS anticipates that the time between = nominating an area and publication of a final determination is likely to = take 8-12 months. However, in order to provide proper notice and comment = to interested parties, NMFS will not accept recommendations for = additional OBIAs until after the present rulemaking has been completed.=20 To extend the list of restrictions (referred to in this document as = mitigation measures), found in =A7 216.184, an individual or = organization would need to petition NMFS under the Administrative = Procedure Act (APA) to add additional mitigation measures. Petitions = would need to provide sufficient information for NMFS to determine that = new rulemaking is warranted and practical.=20 Comment 26: One commenter noted that only 2 examples of offshore OBIAs = are presented in the draft OEIS/EIS. Have other OBIAs been designated? = If not, it seems that such designations would be required before the = public and government agencies would be able to appropriately review the = potential impacts of this action on offshore species. Another commenter = was of the opinion that we do not have sufficient knowledge about OBIAs = to state where these might be in the ocean.=20 Response: In a recent letter to NMFS, the Navy added the Costa Rica Dome = in the eastern Pacific Ocean to the list of OBIAs and expanded the = Antarctic Convergence Zone OBIA. Also, NMFS, at the request of NOAA's = National Ocean Service, has proposed to add Penguin Bank, off the Island = of Kauai, Hawaii, inside the NOAA's Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale = National Marine Sanctuary (HIHWNMS). These additions are reflected in = the rulemaking at the conclusion of this document. However, NMFS does = not agree that more designations are necessary before it can review the = Navy small take application. As mentioned in response to the previous = comment, a system has been proposed by NMFS to afford the public an = opportunity to propose new OBIAs. As knowledge about offshore areas = increases over the next few years, new areas can be nominated if they = are determined to provide a critical need for marine mammals. It should = be noted that determinations regarding the impact of the proposed = activities will be based on operation of SURTASS LFA sonar without any = OBIAs that might be proposed in the future.=20 Comment 27: NMFS should ensure that the coastal exclusion zone applies = to islands as well as continents, regardless of size, as these waters = contain some of the rarest and bio-rich marine habitat in the world.=20 Response: The Navy proposes to restrict the 180 dB isopleth from the = SURTASS LFA sonar to outside 12 nm (22 km) of any coastline in the = world. This would include coastlines of offshore islands, such as = Hawaii.=20 Comment 28: One commenter recommended NMFS impose a condition, if the = authorization is granted, limiting received sound levels to 150 dB or = less in Hawaii State waters and in additional areas in the HIHWNMS lying = outside of state waters.=20 Response: The Navy believes that, by imposing a mitigation measure of an = SPL no greater than 180 dB for SURTASS LFA sonar at 12 nm (22 km) of any = coastline in the world, SPLs greater than 150 dB (from the SURTASS LFA = sonar) should not occur within Hawaiian State waters. If a state or = other organizations can provide documentation that state waters need = additional protection, they can provide the documentation and petition = NMFS proposing such restrictions as a mitigation measure, as described = in response to previous comments. NMFS notes, however, that there are = numerous other sources of anthropogenic noise within coastal waters that = far exceed 150 dB for which states have not required similar = restrictions.=20 Similarly, if more protection is needed for the marine mammals = inhabiting the HIHWNMS than would be provided by making Penguin Bank an = OBIA, interested parties can petition [*15382] NMFS to either impose = additional mitigation measures to protect a National Marine Sanctuary's = marine mammal resources, or to establish that portion of the HIHWNMS (or = any other National Marine Sanctuary) that extends beyond 12 nm (22 km) = of the coast as an OBIA.=20 Comment 29: One commenter recommended mitigation measures include = reductions in source level, duty cycle, and annual transmission hours, = none of which, the commenter believes, has as yet been operationally = justified as having the least practicable adverse impact on marine = mammals.=20 Response: As stated previously, NMFS does not authorize the activity and = does not have the expertise to determine what source levels, = transmission hours or duty cycles would be appropriate for SURTASS LFA = sonar mitigation without affecting the efficiency of the system. Similar = concerns have been provided to the Navy as comments to the draft = OEIS/EIS and have been addressed in the final OEIS/EIS. NMFS will review = the final OEIS/EIS for the Navy's response to these suggestions prior to = making a final determination on whether the incidental harassment = takings by SURTASS LFA sonar is at the lowest level practicable.=20 Comment 30: One commenter recommended the use of ramp-up procedures to = protect marine mammals.=20 Response: The Navy proposed in its application to employ a 5-minute = ramp-up during the HFM3 sonar transmissions. Since the HFM3 sonar will = be operating for a minimum of 30 minutes prior to initiation of SURTASS = LFA sonar, ramp-up of the SURTASS LFA sonar is not necessary.=20 Comment 31: One commenter recommended that mitigation measures include = replacement of LFA to the extent practicable with new passive acoustic = technologies, such as the Advanced Deployable System (ADS) which is = currently being tested off the California coast.=20 Response: The ADS is not a mitigation measure for SURTASS LFA but is an = entirely different system that is not under consideration for takings = under this proposed rulemaking. The Navy has addressed other acoustic = technologies in greater detail in the final OEIS/EIS. NMFS must state = again that it does not authorize the activity, only the taking of marine = mammals incidental to the activity. For SURTASS LFA sonar, that activity = is authorized by the Secretary of the Navy. It is for the Navy to = decide, through its decision-making process, one step of which is the = NEPA process, whether to deploy the SURTASS LFA sonar system.=20 =20 Monitoring and Reporting Concerns=20 Comment 32: Passive acoustic monitoring to detect marine mammals is = questionable. Will only audible frequencies be monitored, and if so, how = will species which vocalize above our hearing range be detected? To = evaluate the validity of acoustic monitoring for cetaceans, the = proportion of the time each species vocalizes... will need to be = determined. There are some species of cetaceans (particularly beaked = whales) for which nothing is known about the frequency range produced by = vocalizing animals.=20 Response: NMFS believes these comments developed because there was = insufficient information on passive acoustic monitoring in the draft = OEIS/EIS. Passive acoustic monitoring will be accomplished using the = SURTASS LFA sonar horizontal towed array whose detection capabilities = are in the same general frequency range as that of the transmit array = (i.e., below 500 Hz). As a result, it will not detect vocalizations from = all marine mammal species, and is the reason why the Navy only considers = this monitoring method at 5 percent efficiency. The Navy anticipates = that the passive acoustic monitoring program will be used simply to cue = the HFM3 sonar to the presence of vocalizing mammals. It should be = understood that an operator need not be able to distinguish species by = vocalizations here, only that they be capable of distinguishing between = these sounds and those of other underwater sounds. Highly trained Navy = sonar technicians are very proficient at distinguishing between the two = sounds. NMFS believes, moreover, that the LTM program will provide = needed data on the adequacy of the monitoring methodology over the first = few years of operation.=20 Comment 33: Research and development of passive acoustic and other = technologies for monitoring marine mammals within a wide radius of the = source; and verification of Navy's as-yet unproven and potentially = harmful HFM3 system, should be accomplished before operations begin. One = commenter questioned whether the HFM3 sonar should have an OEIS/EIS of = its own (i.e., be subject to NEPA).=20 Response: First, NMFS questions the commenter's statement that the HFM3 = sonar is potentially harmful. Table 4-11 of the application compares the = HFM3 sonar with other standard "fish finding" sonars. Due solely to a = 10-20 kHz lower frequency and lower reverberation, the HFM3 has an = increased range for detecting marine mammals and other sea life. At this = time, NMFS has no evidence that "fish-finding" sonars are harmful to = marine mammals. Because the HFM3 sonar is fully discussed in the draft = OEIS/EIS, NMFS does not believe that the Navy's use of fish-finding-type = sonars, like the HFM3, are subject to NEPA, separate from the draft (and = final) OEIS/EIS.=20 Second, NMFS has stated previously in this document that, until the Navy = provides documentation supporting its claim that the HFM3 is 70 percent = effective, NMFS plans to calculate incidental take levels using just the = geographic mitigation. The Navy has the option to provide additional = information on the effectiveness of the HFM3 sonar during this = rulemaking that NMFS may use during its final determination on this = action.=20 NMFS does not believe the MMPA requires a delay in the issuance of an = authorization until mitigation or alternative technology proves = effective (as long as a negligible impact determination can be made), = only that the taking be reduced to the lowest level practicable. = However, NMFS encourages the Navy and others to undertake research into = more effective passive acoustics.=20 Comment 34: Given the long dive times of many species of marine mammals, = 30 minutes of monitoring prior to start up is inappropriate. The = commenter recommends 1-2 hours prior to starting up the SURTASS LFA.=20 Response: NMFS does not believe that a time period greater than 30 = minutes should be required for visual, passive and active acoustic = monitoring considering the relatively small area of the SURTASS LFA = sonar safety zone, and because, unlike many other activities which (in = order to mitigate marine mammal takings) employ only visual monitoring, = SURTASS LFA sonar operations will also employ acoustic systems to locate = marine mammals within this safety zone. Therefore, NMFS proposes here to = make a condition of the LOA that visual monitoring must start no less = than 30 minutes prior to starting SURTASS LFA sonar transmissions, = whenever visibility allows such monitoring.=20 Comment 35: Monitoring should include post-transmission monitoring. This = would allow for the detection of changes in behavior subsequent to = transmission.=20 Response: NMFS agrees and is proposing that the LOA contain a condition = requiring the Navy to conduct visual and passive acoustic monitoring for = a period of time no less than 15 minutes after the last SURTASS LFA = sonar transmission of the sequence [*15383] (monitoring will also = continue between "pings").=20 Comment 36: Will NMFS demand that the LTM program data be readily = available to scientists not associated with the LFA or the Office of = Naval Research?=20 Response: Reports will be provided by the Navy annually to NMFS under = =A7 216.186. These documents will contain LTM data and will be available = to the public for review.=20 Comment 37: One commenter recommended establishment of an extramural, = independent board of scientists, policymakers, environmental advocates, = and citizen representatives to review monitoring data and relevant = research and to make recommendations to NMFS, as well as the Navy, for = reducing the system's impacts.=20 Response: NMFS does not believe that a formal board is necessary for = reviewing monitoring and research reports, and applications for annual = LOAs. Because such a board would probably come under the Federal = Advisory Council Act (FACA) and the requirements under FACA, NMFS = recommends that interested individuals meet as a non-governmental = organization and remain independent from the Federal Government. Members = of this board could independently or jointly comment to NMFS, based on = annual reports, or petition NMFS under the APA to amend regulations = based on their interpretation of the reports.=20 =20 Research Concerns=20 Comment 38: One commenter recommended the establishment of a clear = timetable for additional research, especially of SURTASS LFA's long term = impacts; and a secure budget for research over the expected life of the = program.=20 Response: NMFS cannot require the Navy to undertake a particular level = and type of research, outside the purview of this proposed = Authorization. NMFS can however, and does, strongly encourages the Navy = to undertake research to determine impacts on species of marine mammals = that may potentially be affected by LF sounds. NMFS notes that its = preliminary negligible impact determination is based on research = conducted by independent scientists, funded by the U.S. Navy, on 3 = species of balaenopterid whales, that were determined most likely to be = affected by SURTASS LFA sonar noise. The Navy has provided information = in the final OEIS/EIS on the potential effects of SURTASS LFA sonar on = additional species, including, to the extent practicable, sperm whales, = beaked whales, other odontocetes and pinnipeds. NMFS expects the Navy = will provide NMFS with a detailed plan for research.=20 =20 LOA Concerns=20 Comment 39: One commenter questioned whether NMFS' proposal to issue an = LOA to each vessel as it becomes operational would mean that each LOA = for each ship will consist of a 5-year permit for the taking of marine = mammals, making the effective permit for LFA operations a total of 10 = years if the last vessel becomes operational in FY 2004. This is not = acceptable and the ANPR should be withdrawn as it was not analyzed as = such in the draft OEIS/EIS. Another commenter considers it inappropriate = for the Navy to request a 5-year authorization for up to 4 vessels, in = part because procurement and development schedules are not sufficiently = guaranteed. This commenter recommended issuing LOAs for each vessel just = prior to operational status.=20 Response: These regulations are proposed to be effective for a period of = 5 years, from the date of issuance. An LOA cannot be issued until the = regulations are effective and cannot exist beyond the expiration date of = the regulations. Under the proposed regulations, LOAs would be issued = for 1 year and would be renewed annually. An LOA would be issued for = each SURTASS LFA sonar system, once that system becomes operational and = is deployed on a vessel.=20 Comment 40: One commenter recommended use of an annual system of = reporting and reauthorization that requires the Navy to specify, = pursuant to the MMPA, each geographical region to be affected by its = intended operations.=20 Response: NMFS concurs and has established a system for an annual = submission of a list of geographic areas for operations and for = reporting annually on their activity.=20 Comment 41: One commenter recommended that each LOA must specify a = maximum number of takes by species, population and region for each = vessel, establish a monitoring system to warn of impending maximums, and = include restrictions on the further use of LFA for any purpose if the = maximum take is reached.=20 Response: Establishing and enforcing quotas under an LOA is practical = only when timely reporting of incidental takings can be accomplished, = when NMFS can conduct an analysis of the data within the period of = validity of an LOA, and when the affected marine mammal stocks would be = disadvantaged by exceeding a certain level. In the case of SURTASS LFA = sonar, the Navy has stated that the data from the LTM program cannot be = available in real-time because of post-mission analysis requirements = including declassification of sensitive national security information. = In its application, the Navy has proposed that this information be = provided to NMFS annually. NMFS intends to review this information (in = addition to other information) to ensure that the determinations made = during this rulemaking (i.e., that the taking is small and having no = more than a negligible impact on affected species and stocks of marine = mammals) are appropriate.=20 In addition, as noted in the application, incidental take levels are = estimated as a percentage of the population, and not as individual = numbers of animals, and the monitoring proposed by the Navy is to ensure = that Level A harassment is reduced to the lowest level practicable. As a = result, as presently designed, NMFS does not consider it practical to = establish, and enforce, a quota system.=20 =20 ESA Concerns=20 Comment 42: Commenters were concerned that the Navy did not also request = that threatened and endangered marine turtle species, and endangered = fish species be included under the MMPA authorization.=20 Response: Other than marine mammals, threatened and endangered species = of marine life are not protected under the MMPA; however, they are = provided protection under the ESA. Under section 7 of the ESA, the U.S. = Navy requested initiation of formal consultation with NMFS on October 4, = 1999. This consultation will be concluded prior to a determination on = issuance of a final rule and any MMPA authorization. If appropriate, = NMFS will authorize takings of marine species listed as threatened or = endangered under the ESA incidental to SURTASS LFA sonar to the Navy = through an Incidental Take Statement issued under section 7 of the ESA.=20 =20 NEPA Concerns=20 Comment 43: The U.S. Navy has submitted an application for an incidental = take of marine mammals, and NMFS has accepted that application, prior to = close of the comment period of the draft OEIS/EIS under NEPA. Processing = the Navy application should be delayed until after the Navy has = completed its NEPA responsibilities.=20 Response: NMFS does not believe that delaying the incidental small take = authorization process until completion of NEPA documentation would be = appropriate. Both the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) [*15384] = regulations (40 CFR 1502.5(d)) and NOAA's NEPA guidelines provide for = proposed regulations to accompany a draft NEPA document. As a = cooperating agency in the preparation of the OEIS/EIS, which NMFS may = adopt as its own NEPA document, the Navy draft OEIS/EIS is the key NEPA = document for the NMFS action. Not beginning the small take = authorization/ regulatory process until completion of NEPA requirements = would lead to unnecessary and potentially extensive delays in processing = applications, a key problem previously recognized by Congress in 1994, = when it amended the MMPA to expedite authorizations under the small take = program. Under NEPA, NMFS may not make final regulations governing the = taking of marine mammals effective for at least 30 days after an action = agency releases a Final EIS on the action. However, because publication = of this rulemaking document was delayed for several months, the Navy's = final OEIS/EIS was released prior to release of this rulemaking.=20 Comment 44: What exactly constitutes NMFS being a cooperating agency on = a project where NMFS is legally mandated to play a regulatory role?=20 Response: CEQ regulations (40 CFR 1501.6) stipulate that any Federal = agency having either jurisdiction by law, or expertise on subject matter = that should be addressed in the draft EIS, may be a cooperating agency = whenever requested. For the Navy's draft OEIS/EIS for SURTASS LFA sonar, = NMFS, as a Federal agency, meets both those criteria. For this action = NMFS' role under NEPA is explained in the letter to the Navy on April 1, = 1998 (see Appendix A, draft OEIS/EIS) and was limited to review and = comment on the draft OEIS/EIS during its preparation. In addition, = because the regulations contained in this notice also constitute a = federal action, NMFS also has a NEPA responsibility. NMFS anticipates = that this responsibility will be satisfied by adopting the Navy's final = OEIS/EIS, in whole or in part, as its own NEPA document when making the = final decision on the issuance of the small take authorization, in = accordance with 40 CFR 1506.3.=20 Comment 45: There appears to be a conflict of interest when the same = person listed in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT is also listed as a = preparer of the draft OEIS/EIS.=20 Response: NMFS disagrees, noting that as a Federal agency, NMFS has NEPA = responsibilities for the proposed issuance of a small take authorization = to the U.S. Navy. Knowing that the Navy's SURTASS LFA sonar had the = potential to take marine mammals incidental to it operation, and, that = there was consideration being given at the time that an incidental, = small take application would be submitted by the U.S. Navy, NMFS, on = April 1, 1998, agreed to be a cooperating agency, as defined by the CEQ = regulations (40 CFR 1501.6), on the preparation of the U.S. Navy draft = OEIS/EIS on SURTASS LFA sonar. NMFS provided guidance to the U.S. Navy = on the OEIS/EIS preparation so that the document could satisfy both = agency's NEPA responsibilities. Whether it has done so will be = determined upon NMFS' review of the final OEIS/EIS.=20 Comment 46: Several commenters concluded that it would be irresponsible = for NMFS to issue regulations and authorizations based on the = insufficiency, and unsubstantiated claims in the draft OEIS/EIS.=20 Response: NMFS must make its determinations under section 101(a)(5)(A) = of the MMPA based on the best scientific information available. At this = time, most, if not all, of that information is contained in the draft = (and final) OEIS/EIS. NMFS expects that necessary corrections that were = brought to the Navy's attention during the comment period on the draft = OEIS/EIS will be addressed and, if necessary, updated in the final = OEIS/EIS. NMFS will not promulgate final regulations nor make any = determinations under section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA until the Navy and = NMFS have both met their NEPA responsibilities.=20 =20 Other Concerns=20 Comment 47: On what basis does NMFS state that this proposed action is = not significant for purposes of Executive Order (E.O.) 12866? The draft = OEIS/EIS does not refer to any costs whatsoever, yet the Navy has been = reported as having spent from $ 350 million to $ 1.45 billion on SURTASS = LFA sonar to date. Until the true costs of the entire program are = stated, and a cost-benefit analysis conducted per E.O. 12866, the ANPR = should be withdrawn.=20 Response: E.O. 12866, "Regulatory Planning and Review," among other = things, requires a Federal agency to determine whether a regulation it = is proposing is significant. This regulation has been determined to be = significant. For a regulation to require a cost-benefit analysis, the = regulation (not the activity itself) must have an annual effect on the = economy of $ 100 million or more or adversely affect in a material way = the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, = the environment, public health or safety, or state, local, or tribal = governments or communities. Since NMFS is promulgating regulations = regarding the incidental taking of marine mammals, and these regulations = materially affect only the U.S. Navy, NMFS has determined that these = regulations do not have an annual effect on the economy of $ 100 million = or more or adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of = the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public = health or safety, or state, local, or tribal governments or communities. = NMFS has determined that these regulations do not require a full = cost-benefit analysis (see Classification).=20 =20 Affected Marine Mammal Species=20 In the Navy draft OEIS/EIS analysis and small take application, the Navy = excluded from take consideration those marine mammal species that either = do not inhabit the areas wherein SURTASS LFA sonar would operate or do = not possess sensory mechanisms that allow the mammal to perceive LF = sounds. Where data were not available or were insufficient for one = species, comparable data for a related species were used, if available. = Because all species of baleen whales produce LF sounds, and anatomical = evidence strongly suggests that their inner ears are well adapted for LF = hearing, all balaenopterid species are considered sensitive to LF sound = and at risk from exposure to LF sounds. The ten species of baleen whales = that may be affected by SURTASS LFA sonar are blue (Balaenoptera = musculus), fin (Balaenoptera physalus), minke (Balaenoptera = acutorostrata), Bryde's (Balaenoptera edeni), sei (Balaenoptera = borealis), humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae), northern right (Eubalaena = glacialis), southern right (Eubalaena australis), pygmy right (Capera = marginata), and gray (Eschrichtius robustus) whales.=20 The odontocetes (toothed whales) that may be affected because they = inhabit the deeper, offshore waters where SURTASS LFA sonar might = operate include both the pelagic (oceanic) whales and dolphins and those = coastal species that also occur in deep water including harbor porpoise, = beluga, Stenella spp., Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), rough-toothed = dolphin (Steno bredanensis), Fraser's dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei), = right-whale dolphin (Lissodelphis spp.), Lagenorhynchus spp., = Cephalorhynchus spp., bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), common = dolphin (Delphinus delphis), Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli), = melon-headed whale (Peponocephala spp.), beaked whales (Berardius spp., = Hyperoodon spp., Mesoplodon spp., Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius = cavirostris), Shepard's [*15385] beaked whale (Tasmacetus shepherdi), = Longman's beaked whale (Indopacetus pacificus), killer whale (Orcinus = orca), false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens), pygmy killer whale = (Feresa attenuata), sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), dwarf and = pygmy sperm whales (Kogia simus and K. breviceps), and short-finned and = long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus and G. melas).=20 Potentially affected pinnipeds include hooded seals, harbor seals (Phoca = vitulina), spotted seal (P. largha), ribbon seal (P. fasciata), gray = seal (Halichoerus grypus), elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris and = M. leonina), Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi), Mediterranean = monk seals (Monachus monachus), northern fur seals (Callorhinus = ursinus); southern fur seals (Arctocephalus spp.), Steller sea lion = (Eumetopias jubatus), California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), = Australian sea lions (Neophoca cinerea), New Zealand sea lions = (Phocarctos hookeri), and South American sea lions (Otaria flavescens).=20 A description of affected marine mammal species, their biology, and the = criteria used to determine those species that have the potential for = taking by harassment are provided and explained in detail in the Navy = application and draft OEIS/EIS and, although not be repeated here, are = considered part of the record of decision on this matter.=20 =20 Impacts to Marine Mammals=20 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 human-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, echolocation sounds of = odontocetes, and environmental sounds such as surf noise; and (6) very = strong sounds have the potential to cause temporary or permanent = reduction in hearing sensitivity.=20 The analysis of potential impacts on marine mammals from SURTASS LFA = sonar was developed by the Navy based on the results of a literature = review, the Navy's LF Sound Scientific Research Program (LFS SRP), and a = complex, comprehensive program of underwater acoustical modeling. To = assess the potential impact on marine mammals by the SURTASS LFA sonar = source operating at a given site, it was necessary for the Navy 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 total acoustic exposure for each animal in the modeled = population, (4) converting the resultant cumulative exposures for a = modeled population into an estimate of the risk from a significant = disturbance of a biologically important behavior, and (5) converting = these estimates of behavioral risk into an assessment of risk in terms = of the level of potential biological removal.=20 Next, as discussed later in this document, 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 received level (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.=20 Taken together, the LFS SRP results, the acoustical modeling, and the = risk assessment, provide an estimate of potential environmental impacts = to marine mammals.=20 The acoustical modeling process was accomplished using the 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 = to estimate marine mammal sound exposures and essentially integrates = simulated movements (including dive patterns) of marine mammals, a = schedule of SURTASS LFA sonar transmissions, and the predicted sound = field for each transmission to estimate acoustic exposure during a = hypothetical SURTASS LFA sonar operation. Description of the PE and AIM = models, including AIM input parameters for animal movement, diving = behavior, and marine mammal distribution, abundance, and density are = described in detail in the Navy application and the draft OEIS/EIS and = are not discussed further in this document. NMFS recommends reviewers = read these documents if additional information is desired.=20 Using the AIM model, the Navy developed 31 acoustic modeling scenarios = for the major ocean regions (which are described in the application and = draft OEIS/EIS). Locations were carefully selected by the Navy to = represent the highest potential effects for each of the three major = ocean acoustic regimes where SURTASS LFA sonar would be employed. These = acoustic regimes were: (1) Deep-water convergence propagation zone, (2) = near surface duct propagation zone, and (3) shallow water bottom = interaction propagation zone. These scenarios represent the condition = under which, on average, the greatest number of animals could be exposed = to the greatest number of pings at the highest RLs and were considered = the most severe conditions that could be expected from operation of the = SURTASS LFA sonar system. Thus, if SURTASS LFA sonar operations were = conducted in an area that was not acoustically modeled, the Navy = believes the potential effects would most likely be less than those = obtained from the most similar scenario in the analysis. The modeled = scenarios were then used by the Navy to estimate the percentages of = marine mammal stocks potentially affected.=20 =20 Risk Analysis=20 In order to determine the potential impacts that exposure to LF sound = from SURTASS LFA sonar operations could have on marine mammals, = biological risk standards were defined by the Navy with associated = measurement parameters. Based on the MMPA, the potential for biological = risk was defined as the probability for injury or behavioral harassment = of marine mammals. In this analysis, behavioral harassment is defined as = a significant disturbance of a biologically important behavior. The = potential for biological risk is a function of an animal's exposure to a = sound that would potentially cause hearing, behavioral, psychological or = physiological effects. The measurement parameters for [*15386] = determining exposure were RLs in dB, the length of the signal (ping), = and the number of pings received.=20 The Navy interprets the results of the LFS SRP to justify use of = unlimited exposure during a mission to 120 dB as the lowest value for = risk. Below this level, the risk of a biologically significant response = from marine mammals approaches zero. It is important to note that risk = varies with both level and number of exposures.=20 In the draft OEIS/EIS and small take application, the Navy calculated = the risks for take by non-serious injury based on criteria of 180 dB, = which, based on Ridgway et al. (1997), is a conservative value for the = onset of a minor TTS in hearing. Ridgway et al. 's (1997) measurement at = one-second duration implies that the TTS threshold for a 100-second = signal would be between 182 and 172 dB, depending upon the formula used = (Navy, 1999). The Navy believes that the 180-dB single ping equivalent = (SPE) criterion can be considered conservative. However, as mentioned = previously in this document, in order for marine mammals to incur = serious injury, the RL would need to be significantly higher, and = therefore, the marine mammal would have to be much closer to the SURTASS = LFA sonar array than the 1 km (0.54 nm) radius around the vertical array = which delineates the 180 dB sound field. With three levels of mitigation = monitoring for detecting marine mammals (described later in this = document (see Mitigation)), it is unlikely that any marine mammal would = get that close before either turning away from the annoyance, or being = detected and the SURTASS LFA sonar shut down. However, because the = probability is not zero, the Navy has included this scenario in its = authorization request.=20 Because the LFS SRP failed to document any extended biologically = significant response at maximum RLs up to 150 dB, the Navy determined = that there was a 2.5-percent value of a risk of an animal incurring a = disruption of biologically important behavior at an SPL of 150 dB, a = 50-percent risk at 165 dB, and a 95-percent risk at 180 dB.=20 This analysis of risk is used by the Navy as an alternative to an = all-or-nothing use of standard thresholds for the onset of either = behavioral change or injury. The subsequent discussion of risk function = emphasizes the advantages of using a smoothly varying model of = biological risk in relation to sound exposure. However, for the purposes = of estimating the number of individuals that could potentially be = injured from SURTASS LFA sonar operations, this document uses a simpler = calculation. Given the low numbers of individual marine mammals that = could potentially experience high received levels, the added complexity = of an "injury continuum" was not deemed necessary by the Navy.=20 When SURTASS LFA sonar transmits, there is a boundary which will enclose = a volume in which received levels exceed 180 dB, and a volume outside = this boundary which experiences received levels below 180 dB. In this = analysis, the 180-dB boundary is emphasized because it represents a = single-ping RL that can be considered to be a scientifically reasonable = estimate for the potential onset of harm or injury. Therefore, the level = of risk for marine mammals depends on their location in relation to = SURTASS LFA sonar. As mentioned previously, the Navy scientific team = established the threshold for risk of harm as a single ping at 180 dB = (Navy, 1999b). Harm was defined in this context as onset TTS. Under the = Navy proposal, a marine mammal would have to receive one ping greater = than, or equal to 180 dB or many pings at a slightly lower RL to = potentially incur non-serious injury. For serious injury, the animal = would have to be well within the 180-dB sound field at the onset of a = transmission.=20 However, 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 addition, 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. Therefore, in = this document, NMFS makes clear that, although TTS is not an injury = (i.e., Level A harassment), because 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.=20 While, the Navy believes that the probability of a marine mammal = occurring within the 180-dB sound field at the onset of a transmission = is nearly zero because of the proposed monitoring program (described = later in this document), because the monitoring is not 100 percent = effective, some Level A harassment takings still need to be considered = possible.=20 Before the biological risk standards could be applied to realistic = SURTASS LFA sonar operational scenarios, two factors had to be = considered by the Navy which resulted in the development of the risk = continuum approach: (1) How does risk vary with repeated sound exposure? = and (2) how does risk vary with RL? These questions have been addressed = by the Navy by developing a function that translates the history of = repeated exposures (as calculated in the AIM) into an equivalent RL for = a single exposure with a comparable risk. This approach is similar to = those adopted by previous studies of risk to human hearing (Richardson = et al., 1995; Crocker, 1997).=20 =20 Effects of Repeated Exposure=20 It is intuitive to assume that effects would be greater for repeated = exposures than for a single ping. However, because no published data on = repeated exposures of LF sound on marine mammals exist, the Navy turned = to the most applicable human data. Based on the analysis of Richardson = et al. (1995) and Kryter (1985), the potential for effects of repeated = exposure on marine mammals was modeled on the extensive data available = for human subjects. Based on discussion in Richardson et al. (1995) and = consistent with Crocker (1997), the Navy determined that the best = scientific information available is based on human model and, therefore, = the formula L + 5log[10](N) (where L =3D ping level in dB and N is the = number of pings) defines the single ping equivalent (SPE). This formula = then is considered appropriate for assessing the risk to a marine mammal = from a significant disturbance of a biologically important behavior from = LF sound like SURTASS LFA sonar transmissions.=20 =20 Estimation of Potential Effect to Marine Mammal Stocks=20 The potential effects on marine mammals from operation of SURTASS LFA = sonar will not cause the direct removal of animals, but may result in a = small reduction of an affected individual animal's overall reproductive = [*15387] success. Based on AIM modeling results, the primary effects = are from the potential for a significant disturbance of a biologically = important behavior.=20 To estimate the percentage of marine mammal stocks affected on a yearly = basis, the typical annual operating schedule for SURTASS LFA sonar was = correlated by the Navy to the modeled site scenarios. Even though the = Navy may not have the maximum number of systems operating during the = next 5 years, its analysis incorporated four systems with six operations = each annually. With two vessels in the Pacific/Indian Ocean area and two = vessels in the Atlantic/Mediterranean area, the Navy estimates there = could be up to 12 operations in each of these oceanic basin areas. Using = a total of 12 operations in each large geographic area (e.g., Eastern = North Pacific, Western North Atlantic), the Navy calculated take = estimates based on a 20-day exercise (actually under the nominal = schedule mentioned previously in this document the Navy proposes two = 9-day exercises or a total of 18 days, not 20 days of exercise). NMFS = concurs with this approach but notes that because only 2 SURTASS LFA = sonar vessels will be available through 2002, possibly 3 vessels during = 2003, and possibly 4 vessels during 2004 and 2005, the Navy's projected = incidental harassment levels found in the draft OEIS/EIS and application = are overestimates of potential harassment levels during the early period = of these regulations. NMFS estimates, therefore, that there would be a = total of 12 active missions annually during the first two years of these = regulations (6 in each ocean basin), 18 during the third year (6 in one = ocean basin, 12 in the other), and the maximum of 24 active missions = during the last 2 years of these regulations (12 in each of the two = ocean basins).=20 AIM Modeling in Table 4-10 in the application (Table 4.2-10 in the draft = OEIS/EIS) provides estimates of the percentage of stocks potentially = affected for single SURTASS LFA sonar operations. Tables 4-12 and 4-13 = in the application (Tables 4.2-12 and 4.2-13 in the draft OEIS/EIS) = provide an example of annual total estimates of percentages of marine = mammal stocks potentially affected by a total of 24 operations (12 in = each of the two ocean basins). As mentioned previously however, this = number of operations are unlikely until the latter part of the = effectiveness period of these regulations. Also, because each oceanic = area is assumed to contain one or more discrete stocks of each affected = species, these estimates are not additive when determining effects on = marine mammal stocks. It should also be recognized that the scenarios = chosen by the Navy are not the only possible combinations of where the = SURTASS LFA sonar will operate. The potential effects from other = scenarios can be estimated by those so wishing to do so by presupposing = the areas in which the Navy would conduct SURTASS LFA sonar operations = annually in each oceanic basin area, determining from Table 4-10 the = percentage of each stock that may potentially be affected, and adding = those percentages together for each affected stock. This is what NMFS = proposes to do annually for each LOA issued. Also, as pertinent new = information becomes available that would improve the Navy model, NMFS = anticipates that the Navy could rerun the AIM models and recalculate = take estimates. For this document however, NMFS is preliminarily = adopting the Navy estimates shown in Tables 4-12 and 4-13 as the best = information available in that they are based on the most likely scenario = with two systems operating in each of the two oceanic areas. As = indicated either by using these two tables, or by choosing a different = combination of potential geographic areas for SURTASS LFA sonar = operations derived from Table 4-10, NMFS believes that the potential = effect by SURTASS LFA sonar operations will be limited to only small = percentages of the affected stocks of marine mammals and that potential = effect will be limited to incidental harassment that will not adversely = affecting the stock through annual rates of recruitment or survival.=20 =20 Mitigation for Marine Mammals=20 This document preliminarily adopts the Navy proposal to use visual, = passive acoustic, and active acoustic monitoring of the area surrounding = the SURTASS LFA sonar array to prevent the incidental injury of marine = mammals that might enter the 1 km (0.54 nm) safety zone. The three = monitoring systems are described in the following section of this = document. If a marine mammal (or sea turtle) was detected within the 1 = km (0.54 nm) safety zone SURTASS LFA sonar transmissions would be = immediately delayed or suspended. Transmissions could commence/resume 15 = minutes after the marine mammal/sea turtle had left the area of the 180 = dB sound field or there was no further detection of the animal within = the 180 dB sound field. The protocol established by the Navy for = implementing this temporary shut-down is described in the application = (pages 10-11). SURTASS LFA sonar operators would be required to estimate = SPLs prior to and during each operation to provide the information = necessary to modify the operation, including delay or suspension of = transmissions, in order not to exceed the mitigation sound field = criteria.=20 The Navy has proposed that the SURTASS LFA sonar operations would be = conducted to ensure that the sound field does not exceed 180 dB (i.e., = the zone of potential for injury to marine mammals) within 12 nm (22 km) = of any coastline, including islands, nor in OBIAs that are outside the = 12 nm (22 km) zone during the biologically important season(s) for that = particular area. It should be noted that the 12 nm (22 km) safety zone = restriction includes almost all marine-related critical habitats and = National Marine Sanctuaries. Areas critical for marine mammals that are = outside this safety zone can be nominated as an OBIA. This process was = described earlier in this document.=20 In addition, to establishing a safety zone at 180 dB to protect marine = mammals and other noise sensitive marine animals, the Navy has proposed = to establish a safety zone for human divers at 145 dB re 1 microPa(rms) = around all known human commercial and recreational diving sites. = Although this geographic restriction is intended to protect human = divers, its imposition will also reduce the LF sound levels received by = marine mammals that are located in the vicinity of known dive sites.=20 The Navy has proposed establishing OBIAs for marine mammal protection. = These areas are defined as those areas of the world's oceans where = marine mammals congregate in high densities to carry out biologically = important activities such as feeding, migration, breeding, and calving. = To date, the U.S. Navy has proposed three sites as OBIAs for SURTASS LFA = sonar under these regulations. These areas are: (1) the North American = East Coast between 30 [degrees] N and 50 [degrees] N from west of 40 = [degrees] W to the 200-m (656 ft) isobath; (2) the Antarctic Convergence = Zone, from 20 [degrees] E to 120 [degrees] E, south of 55 [degrees] S, = from October through March; and (3) the Costa Rica Dome, centered at 9 = [degrees] N and 88 [degrees] W, year-round. Also, an area included in = this document, at the request of NOAA's National Ocean Service, is = Penguin Bank off the Island of Kauai, Hawaii, inside the HIHWNMS. In = addition, the Navy in its application, and NMFS in this document, is = proposing a system for expanding the list of OBIAs. This process is = described in more detail in NMFS' response to comment 25 earlier in this = document.=20 It should be recognized however, that the establishment of OBIAs is not = [*15388] intended to apply to other Navy activities and sonar = operations, but is proposed here as a mitigation measure to reduce = incidental takings by SURTASS LFA sonar because it is practical = considering SURTASS LFA sonar's offshore operation.=20 =20 Monitoring=20 In order to minimize risks to potentially affected marine mammals that = may be present in waters surrounding SURTASS LFA sonar, the Navy has = proposed to: (1) Conduct visual monitoring from the ship's bridge during = daylight hours, (2) use passive SURTASS LFA sonar to listen for = vocalizing marine mammals; and (3) use high frequency active sonar = (i.e., similar to a commercial fish finder) to monitor/locate/track = marine mammals in relation to the SURTASS LFA sonar vessel and the sound = field produced by the SURTASS LFA sonar source array.=20 Through observation, acoustic tracking and establishment of shut-down = criteria, the Navy will ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, that = no marine mammals approach the SURTASS LFA sonar source closely enough = to be subjected to potentially harmful sound levels (inside the 180 dB = sound field; approximately 1 km (0.54 nm) from the source). The Navy = estimates that the probability of detecting a marine mammal within the = 180 dB sound field of the source array by at least one of these = monitoring methods is between 70 and 99 percent. However, nominally, an = effectiveness of 80 percent is used in the take calculations. The Navy's = assumption incorporates the 70-percent effectiveness of the HFM3 sonar, = and an additional conservative 5-percent contribution each for visual = and passive monitoring. In general, the Navy believes that small, = solitary marine mammals would be the most difficult to detect, while = large whales and dolphin schools would be much easier to detect. = However, as stated previously in this document, NMFS will not consider = the effectiveness of the HFM3 sonar in reducing the incidental take of = marine mammals by the SURTASS LFA sonar until such time as the Navy has = demonstrated its effectiveness. In the meantime, NMFS will adopt only = the geographic mitigation as being effective in reducing takes.=20 NMFS has reviewed this Navy proposal and believes that the proposal can = be modified to provide additional protection for marine mammals. Because = the HFM3 has the capability to detect marine mammals, and track them, to = a distance of 2 km (1.1 nm) from the source, NMFS is proposing to = require the Navy to terminate transmissions whenever a marine mammal can = receive a calculated SPE of 180 dB within the zone of detectability. = This will require, however, both that the marine mammal remains within = the zone of detectability between "pings" while the vessel is underway, = and for the Navy to continue to monitor the 2 km (1.1 nm) zone between = pings. Because the time between "pings" is 6-15 minutes, and the Navy = has already committed to visual and acoustic monitoring for no less than = 30 minutes prior to a "ping," monitoring will continue during the = interim period and marine mammals will continue to be tracked.=20 =20 Reporting=20 During routine operations of SURTASS LFA sonar, technical and = environmental data would be collected and recorded. These would include = data from visual and acoustic monitoring, ocean environmental = measurements, and technical operational inputs. This information would = become part of the data required from the LTM Program.=20 =20 Research=20 The Navy proposes to provide a LTM program to conduct annual assessments = of the potential cumulative impact of SURTASS LFA sonar operations on = the marine environment, provide the necessary reporting to increase = knowledge of the species, and to coordinate research opportunities and = activities. This would include cumulative impact analyses of the = annually tabulated injuries (if any) and harassments over the next 5 = years. The purpose of the LTM program would be to continue scientific = data collection once SURTASS LFA sonar is deployed.=20 While NMFS believes that research conducted to date is sufficient to = assess impacts on those species of marine mammals that were identified = in public meetings as most susceptible to LF noise, it believes that it = would be prudent to continue research over the course of the period of = effectiveness of these regulations.=20 =20 Proposed LOA Conditions=20 The proposed regulations have been designed to allow many of the = mitigation, monitoring and reporting requirements to be detailed in the = LOA, rather than in these regulations. This has been done to provide = NMFS the ability to change these protective measures in a prompt manner = to changing conditions. While public comment will be provided for = substantial modifications to LOA requirements before being made = effective, modifications can be implemented in a shorter period of time = if contained in LOAs than would be possible if rulemaking were required = for each modification. It should be understood that the public would be = provided a comparable length of time for commenting on LOA modifications = (except when NMFS determines that an emergency exists which impacts on = the health and welfare of the marine mammal), whether or not those = requirements were contained in regulations. However, for security = reasons, locations and times for certain operations may need to be = classified and not provided to the public.=20 In the past, NMFS has promulgated rulemakings for small take = authorizations that did not clearly describe LOA conditions. For this = activity NMFS plans the following conditions (in addition to, or in = clarification of, those found in these regulations).=20 (1) Prior to each exercise, the marine mammal safety zone will be = measured to determine the distance from the source to the 180-dB = isobleth. That distance will be the established safety zone for that = exercise; and=20 (2) The Navy must test the effectiveness of HFM3 at detecting marine = mammals within 0.5 km (0.3 nm), 1 km (0.54 nm) and 2 km (1.1 nm) of the = source. A report must be provided to NMFS not later than 120 days prior = to the expiration of the first LOA.=20 =20 Designation of Biologically Important Marine Mammal Areas=20 NMFS is proposing to establish a system under this proposed rule for the = public to be able to propose areas for NMFS to consider adding to the = list of biologically important areas for marine mammals. NMFS emphasizes = that, in order for designation, an area must be of particular importance = for marine mammals as an area for primary feeding, breeding, or = migration, and not simply an area occupied by marine mammals. The = proposed area should also not be within a previously designated area. In = order for NMFS to begin the rulemaking process for designating areas of = biological importance for marine mammals, proponents must petition NMFS = and submit the information described in =A7 216.191(a). If NMFS makes a = preliminary determination that the area is biologically important for = marine mammals, NMFS will propose rulemaking to add the recommended area = to the list of previously designated areas. Through notice in the = Federal Register, NMFS will invite information, suggestions, and = comments on the proposal for a period of time not less [*15389] than = 45 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register. After = review of the comments and information, NMFS will make a final decision = on whether to add the recommended area to the list found in =A7 = 216.183(d). NMFS will either issue a final rulemaking on the proposal or = provide notice in the Federal Register on its determination. It should = be understood however, that proposals for designation of areas will not = affect the status of LOAs while the rulemaking is in process. NMFS = anticipates that the time between nominating an area and publication of = a final determination is likely to take 8-12 months.=20 =20 Preliminary Conclusions=20 Based on the scientific analyses detailed in the Navy application and = further supported by information and data contained in the Navy's draft = OEIS/EIS for SURTASS LFA sonar operations, NMFS concurs with the Navy = that the incidental taking of marine mammals resulting from SURTASS LFA = sonar operations would result in only small numbers (as the term is = defined in =A7 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. These conclusions are particularly supported by the = proposed mitigation measures that would be implemented for all SURTASS = LFA sonar operations and the proposed LTM program. This includes = geographic operation restrictions, mitigation measures to prevent injury = to any marine mammals, monitoring and reporting and supplemental = research that will result in increased knowledge of marine mammal = species, and the potential impacts of LF sound on these species. The = latter measures offer the means of learning of, encouraging, and = coordinating research opportunities, plans, and activities relating to = reducing the incidental taking of marine mammals from anthropogenic = underwater sound, and evaluating the possible long-term effects from = exposing marine mammals to anthropogenic underwater sound.=20 In addition to the mitigation measures described previously, the = following factors need to be considered when determining whether a = taking would be negligible: (1) The small number of SURTASS LFA sonar = systems that will be operating world-wide; (2) the vessel must be = underway while transmitting (in order to keep the receiver array = deployed); (3) the low duty cycle and short mission periods; and (4) the = possibility of a marine mammal being within the 180-dB sound field = during sonar transmissions is unlikely.=20 =20 Information Solicited=20 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. Comments on issues = not relevant to either the potential impact of SURTASS LFA sonar on = marine mammals or NMFS' responsibilities under the MMPA will not be = considered.=20 =20 NEPA=20 On July 30, 1999 (64 FR 41420), the Environmental Protection Agency = (EPA) announced receipt of a draft OEIS/EIS from the U.S. Navy on the = deployment of SURTASS LFA sonar. The public comment period on the Draft = EIS ended on October 28, 1999. On February 2, 2001 (65 FR 8788), EPA = announced receipt of a final OEIS/EIS from the U.S. Navy on the = deployment of SURTASS LFA sonar. NMFS is a cooperating agency, as = defined by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR 1501.6), in the = preparation of these documents.=20 =20 ESA=20 NMFS will be consulting with the U.S. Navy under section 7 of the ESA on = this action. In that regard, on October 19, 1999, the Navy 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.=20 =20 Classification=20 This action has been determined to be significant for purposes of E.O. = 12866. NMFS has preliminarily determined that this rule, if implemented, = will provide NMFS and the public, through the Navy's monitoring and = research program, with information on the SURTASS LFA sonar system's = effect on the marine environment, especially on marine mammals. Without = an authorization under the MMPA, NMFS and the public are unlikely to = receive this information. NMFS believes that obtaining this information = is extremely important because SURTASS LFA sonar is not the only LF = noise source in the world's oceans, and the scientific findings = resulting from monitoring and research is likely to be directly = applicable to other activities. In addition, this rule, if implemented, = and any LOAs issued thereunder, would impose appropriate mitigation = measures for protecting marine mammals, sea turtles and other marine = life. Without these regulations and LOAs, mitigation measures could not = be required to be undertaken by the U.S. Navy.=20 While a determination to eventually deploy the SURTASS LFA sonar system = will be made by the Navy, NMFS notes that additional benefits for = implementing this proposed rule is an increased level of national = defense, and improved survivability of U.S. armed forces at sea, and the = Navy's associated multi-billion dollar naval assets. The cost to the = Navy cannot be fully determined at this time but these costs would be = incurred through implementation of the LTM and LTR programs that will be = required under this proposed rule. Preliminarily, NMFS believes that = this cost would be approximately $ 1 million annually.=20 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, will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial = number of small entities within the meaning of the Regulatory = Flexibility Act. If implemented, this proposed rule would affect only = the U.S. Navy which, by definition, is not a small business. It will = also affect a small number of contractors providing services related to = reporting the impact of SURTASS LFA sonar on marine mammals. Some of the = affected contractors may be small businesses, but the number involved = would not be substantial. Further, since the research 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.=20 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. These requirements have been approved by OMB = under control number 0648-0151, and include applications for LOAs, and = an annual report. 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. = [*15390] =20 The reporting burden for the approved collections-of-information are = preliminarily estimated to be approximately 80 hours for each annual = application for a LOA (total of 2 in FY2001-FY2002, 3 in FY 2003, and 4 = in FY 2004), and 80 hours each for interim and final reports. These = estimates include the time for reviewing instructions, searching = existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and = completing and reviewing the collection-of-information. Send comments = regarding these burden estimates, or any other aspect of this data = collection, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to NMFS and = OMB (see ADDRESSES).=20 =20 List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 216=20 Exports, Fish, Imports, Indians, Labeling, Marine mammals, Penalties, = Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Seafood, Transportation.=20 Dated: March 12, 2001.=20 =20 Rolland A. Schmitten,=20 =20 Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries = Service.=20 For reasons set forth in the preamble, 50 CFR part 216 is proposed to be = amended as follows:=20 =20 PART 216--REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE TAKING AND IMPORTING OF MARINE = MAMMALS=20 1. The authority citation for part 216 continues to read as follows:=20 Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq., unless otherwise noted.=20 2. A definition for "single ping equivalent" is added in alphabetic = order to =A7 216.103 to read as follows:=20 =20 =A7 216.103 -- Definitions.=20 * * * * *=20 Single ping equivalent means the summation of the intensities for all = received brief acoustic sound into an equivalent exposure from one ping, = which is always at a higher level than the highest individual ping = received. It is a methodology used during acoustic modeling of potential = impacts to marine mammals exposed to sonar signals. This method = estimates the total exposure of each individually modeled mammal, which = was exposed to multiple pings over an extended period of time.=20 3. Subpart Q is added to part 216 to read as follows:=20 =20 Subpart Q--Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Navy Operations of = Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active Sonar=20 =20 Sec.=20 =20 216.180 Specified activity and specified geographical region.=20 =20 216.181 Effective dates.=20 =20 216.182 Permissible methods of taking.=20 =20 216.183 Prohibitions.=20 =20 216.184 Mitigation.=20 =20 216.185 Requirements for monitoring.=20 =20 216.186 Requirements for reporting.=20 =20 216.187 Applications for Letters of Authorization.=20 =20 216.188 Letters of Authorization.=20 =20 216.189 Renewal of Letters of Authorization.=20 =20 216.190 Modifications to Letters of Authorization.=20 =20 216.191 Designation of Biologically Important Marine Mammal Areas.=20 =20 Subpart Q--Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Navy Operations of = Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active Sonar=20 =20 =A7 216.180 -- Specified activity and specified geographical region.=20 Regulations in this subpart apply only to the incidental taking of those = marine mammal species specified in paragraph (b) of this section by the = U.S. Navy, Department of Defense, engaged in the operation of SURTASS = LFA sonar operations, in areas specified in paragraph (a) of this = section. The authorized activities, as specified in a Letter of = Authorization issued under =A7=A7 216.106 and 216.188, include the = transmission of low frequency sounds from the SURTASS LFA sonar, and the = transmission of high frequency sounds from the mitigation sonar, = described in =A7 216.185 during training, testing, and routine military = operations of SURTASS LFA sonar.=20 (a) With the exception of those areas specified in =A7 216.183(d), the = incidental taking by harassment may be authorized in the following areas = as specified in a Letter of Authorization:=20 (1) North Atlantic Ocean,=20 (i) Western North Atlantic, from 35 [degrees] N. lat. north to a line = between Cape Chidley, Labrador northeast to Nuuk, Greenland, and from = the North American continent east to 41 [degrees] W. long. (Area A),=20 (ii) Eastern North Atlantic, from 35 [degrees] N. lat. north to 72 = [degrees] N. lat. and 41 [degrees] W. long. east to the European = continent (Area B),=20 (2) Mediterranean Sea (Area C),=20 (3) North Pacific Ocean,=20 (i) Western North Pacific, from 20 [degrees] N. lat. north to the = Aleutian Island chain and the Sea of Okhotsk, and from the Asian = continent east to 175 [degrees] W. long. (Area D),=20 (ii) Eastern North Pacific, from 42 [degrees] N. lat. north to Alaska = and the south side of the Aleutian Islands and from the North American = continent west to 175 [degrees] W. long. (Area E),=20 (4) Central Atlantic Ocean,=20 (i) Eastern Central Atlantic, from 7 [degrees] S. lat. north to 35 = [degrees] N. lat. and from the African continent west to 40 [degrees] W. = long. between 5 [degrees] N. lat. and 35 [degrees] N. lat., to 30 = [degrees] W. long. between 0 [degrees] lat. and 5 [degrees] N. lat., and = to 20 [degrees] W. long. between 7 [degrees] S. lat. and 0 [degrees] = lat. (Area F),=20 (ii) Western Central Atlantic, from 5 [degrees] N. lat. north to 35 = [degrees] N. lat., and from the American continent, east to 40 [degrees] = W. long. (Area G),=20 (5) Indian Ocean,=20 (i) Eastern Indian Ocean, from 60 [degrees] S. lat. north to the Bay of = Bengal, and Asian continent, and from 80 [degrees] E. long. east to the = Asian continent, the Sunda Islands and Australia and to 150 [degrees] E. = long. (Area H1),=20 (ii) Western Indian Ocean, from 60 [degrees] S. lat. north to the = Arabian Sea, and from 30 [degrees] E. long. east to 80 [degrees] E. = long. (Area H2),=20 (6) Central Pacific Ocean,=20 (i) Western Central Pacific, from 175 [degrees] W. long., east to the = Asian continent and Indonesia, and from 10 [degrees] S. lat., north to = 20 [degrees] N. lat. (Area I),=20 (ii) Central Pacific, from 10 [degrees] S. lat., north to 42 [degrees] = N. lat. between 175 [degrees] W. long. and 130 [degrees] W. long. (Area = J1),=20 (iii) Eastern Central Pacific, from 5 [degrees] S. lat. north along the = American coastline to 42 [degrees] N. lat., from 130 [degrees] W. long. = along 10 [degrees] S. lat. to 105 [degrees] W. long., from 10 [degrees] = S. lat. along 105 [degrees] W. long. to 5 [degrees] S. lat., from 105 = [degrees] W. long. along 5 [degrees] S. lat. to the South American = coastline, from 130 [degrees] W. long. along 42 [degrees] N. lat. to the = North American coastline and from 42 [degrees] N. lat. to 10 [degrees] = S. lat. along the 130 [degrees] W. long. line (Area J2),=20 (7) South Pacific Ocean,=20 (i) Western South Pacific from 60 [degrees] S. lat. north to 10 = [degrees] S. lat. and from the east coast of Australia in the north and = 150 [degrees] E. long. south of Australia east to 105 [degrees] W. long. = (Area K),=20 (ii) Eastern South Pacific from 60 [degrees] S. lat. north to 5 = [degrees] S. lat. and from the 105 [degrees] W. long. east to the South = American coastline in the north and 70 [degrees] W. long. in the south = (Area L),=20 (8) South Atlantic Ocean,=20 (i) Western South Atlantic, from 60 [degrees] S. lat. north to 5 = [degrees] N. lat. in the area west of 30 [degrees] W. long., and from 60 = [degrees] S. lat. north to 0 [degrees] lat. in the area east of 30 = [degrees] W. long. and from the South American continent east to 30 = [degrees] W. long. between 0 [degrees] and 5 [degrees] N. lat. and east = to 20 [degrees] W. long. between 0 [degrees] and 60 [degrees] S. lat. = (Area M), and=20 (ii) East South Atlantic from 50 [degrees] S. lat. north to 7 [degrees] = S. lat. and from 20 [degrees] W. long. east to the African coastline in = the north and 30 [degrees] E. long. south of the continent (Area N).=20 (b) The incidental take by harassment and non-serious injury of marine = [*15391] mammals under the activity identified in this section is = limited to the following species and species groups:=20 (i) Mysticete whales, including, blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), fin = whale (Balaenoptera physalus), minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), = Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni), sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis), = humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), northern right whale (Eubalaena = glacialis), southern right whale (Eubalaena australis), pygmy right = whale (Capera marginata), and gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus).=20 (ii) Odontocete whales, including Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), = rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis), Fraser's dolphin = (Lagenodelphis hosei), right-whale dolphin (Lissodelphis spp.), = bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), common dolphin (Delphinus = delphis), Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli), harbor porpoise = (Phocoena phocoena), beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas), Stenella = spp., Lagenorhynchus spp., Cephalorhynchus spp. melon-headed whale = (Peponocephala spp.), beaked whales (Berardius spp., Hyperoodon spp., = Mesoplodon spp.), Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), Shepard's = beaked whale (Tasmacetus shepherdi), Longman's beaked whale (Indopacetus = pacificus), killer whale (Orcinus orca), false killer whale (Pseudorca = crassidens), pygmy killer whale (Feresa attenuata), sperm whale = (Physeter macrocephalus), dwarf and pygmy sperm whales (Kogia simus and = K. breviceps), and short-finned and long-finned pilot whales = (Globicephala macrorhynchus and G. melas).=20 (iii) Pinnipeds, including harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), spotted seals = (P. largha), ribbon seals (P. fasciata), gray seals (Halichoerus = grypus), hooded seal (Cystophora cristata), elephant seals (Mirounga = angustirostris and M. leonina). Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus = schauinslandi), Mediterranean monk seals (Monachus monachus), northern = fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus); southern fur seals (Arctocephalus = spp.), Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), California sea lions = (Zalophus californianus), Australian sea lions (Neophoca cinerea), New = Zealand sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri), and South American sea lions = (Otaria flavescens).=20 =20 =A7 216.181 -- Effective dates.=20 Regulations in this subpart are effective from May 1, 2001, through = April 30, 2006.=20 =20 =A7 216.182 -- Permissible methods of taking.=20 (a) Under Letters of Authorization issued pursuant to =A7=A7 216.106 and = 216.188, the Holder of the Letter of Authorization may incidentally, but = not intentionally, take marine mammals by harassment and non-serious = injury within the area described in =A7 216.180(a), provided the = activity is in compliance with all terms, conditions, and requirements = of these regulations and the appropriate Letter of Authorization.=20 (b) The activities identified in =A7 216.180 must be conducted in a = manner that minimizes, to the greatest extent practicable, any adverse = impacts on marine mammals, their habitat, and on the availability of = marine mammals for subsistence uses.=20 =20 =A7 216.183 -- Prohibitions.=20 Notwithstanding takings authorized by =A7 216.180 and by a Letter of = Authorization issued under =A7=A7 216.106 and 216.188, no person in = connection with the activities described in =A7 216.180 shall:=20 (a) Take any marine mammal not specified in =A7 216.180(b);=20 (b) Take any marine mammal specified in =A7 216.180(b) other than by = incidental, unintentional harassment or non-serious injury;=20 (c) Take any marine mammal while operating under a Letter of = Authorization in either a non-operating area, indicated in Figure 1, or = in a geographic operating area for which an authorization for taking has = not been issued under a Letter of Authorization;=20 (d) Operate the SURTASS LFA sonar while under a Letter of Authorization, = such that the SURTASS LFA sonar sound field exceeds 180 dB (re 1 micro = Pa(rms)) within 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers) of any coastline, = including offshore islands, or any designated offshore area that is = biologically important for marine mammals that exist outside the 12 = nautical miles (22 kilometers) zone during the biologically important = season for that particular area.=20 (e) The following areas have been designated by NMFS as offshore areas = of critical biological importance for marine mammals (by season if = appropriate):=20 =20 Name of Area Location of Area Months of Importance=20 (1) 200-m isobath From 30 [degrees] N Year-Round=20 North American East to 50 [degrees] N=20 Coast west of 40 [degrees]=20 W=20 (2) Antarctic 30 [degrees] E to 80 October through March=20 Convergence Zone [degrees] E:45=20 [degrees] S=20 80 [degrees] E to=20 1500 E:55 [degrees] S=20 150 [degrees] E to 50=20 [degrees] W:60=20 [degrees] S=20 50 [degrees] W 30=20 [degrees] E:50=20 [degrees] S=20 (3) Costa Rican Dome Centered at 9 Year-round; no=20 [degrees] N and at 88 resident population=20 [degrees] W=20 (4) Penguin Bank Centered at 22 November 1 through=20 [degrees] N and at May 1=20 159 [degrees]=20 (f) Take a marine mammal specified in =A7 216.180(b) if such taking = results in more than a negligible impact on the species or stocks of = such marine mammal; or=20 (g) Violate, or fail to comply with, the terms, conditions, and = requirements of these regulations or a Letter of Authorization issued = under =A7=A7 216.106 and 216.188.=20 =20 =A7 216.184 -- Mitigation.=20 The activity identified in =A7 216.180(a) must be conducted in a manner = that minimizes, to the greatest extent practicable, adverse impacts on = marine mammals and their habitats. When conducting operations identified = in =A7 216.180, the mitigation measures described in this paragraph and = in the Letter of Authorization issued under =A7=A7 216.106 and 216.188 = must be implemented.=20 (a) Through monitoring described under =A7 216.185, the Holder of a = Letter of Authorization will ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, = that no marine mammal is subjected to a single ping equivalent of 180-dB = within the 180-dB re 1 micro Pa(rms) sound field.=20 (b) If a marine mammal is detected within the 180-dB safety zone, = SURTASS LFA sonar transmissions will be immediately suspended. = Transmissions will not resume earlier than 15 minutes after:=20 (1) All marine mammals have left the area of the 180-dB re 1 micro = Pa(rms) sound field; and=20 (2) There is no further detection of the animal within the 180-dB re 1 = micro Pa(rms) sound field as determined by the visual and/or passive or = active acoustic monitoring described in =A7 216.185. [*15392] =20 (c) The HFM3 source, described in =A7 216.185 will be ramped-up slowly = to operating levels over a period of no less than 5 minutes:=20 (1) No later than 30 minutes before the first SURTASS LFA sonar = transmission;=20 (2) Prior to any SURTASS LFA sonar calibrations or testings that are not = part of regular SURTASS LFA sonar transmissions described in paragraph = (c)(1) of this section; and=20 (3) Anytime after the HFM3 source has been powered down for a period of = time greater than 2 minutes.=20 =20 =A7 216.185 -- Requirements for monitoring.=20 (a) In order to mitigate the taking of marine mammals by SURTASS LFA = sonar to the greatest extent practicable, the Holder of a Letter of = Authorization must:=20 (1) Conduct visual monitoring from the ship's bridge during daylight = hours;=20 (2) Use low frequency passive SURTASS LFA sonar to listen for vocalizing = marine mammals; and=20 (3) Use high frequency active sonar to locate and track marine mammals = in relation to the SURTASS LFA sonar vessel and the sound field produced = by the SURTASS LFA sonar source array.=20 (b) Pursuant to (a)(1)-(3) of this section monitoring must:=20 (1) Commence no later than 30 minutes before the first SURTASS LFA sonar = transmission;=20 (2) Continue between transmission pings; and=20 (3) Continue for at least 15 minutes after completion of the SURTASS LFA = sonar transmission exercise;=20 (c) Holders of Letters of Authorization issued pursuant to =A7=A7 = 216.106 and 216.188 for activities described in =A7 216.180 are 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.=20 (d) Holders of Letters of Authorization must designate qualified on-site = individuals to conduct the mitigation, monitoring and reporting = activities specified in the Letter of Authorization issued pursuant to = =A7 216.106 and =A7 216.188.=20 (e) Holders of Letters of Authorization must conduct all monitoring = and/or research required under the Letter of Authorization.=20 =20 =A7 216.186 -- Requirements for reporting.=20 (a) The Holder of a Letter of Authorization must submit an interim = report to the Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine = Fisheries Service, no later than 90 days prior to expiration of the = Letter of Authorization. This report must contain all the information = required by the Letter of Authorization.=20 (b) A final comprehensive report must be submitted to the Director, = Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service at = least 240 days prior to expiration of these regulations. This report = must contain all the information required by any final year Letter of = Authorization.=20 =20 =A7 216.187 -- Applications for Letters of Authorization.=20 (a) To incidentally take marine mammals pursuant to these regulations, = the U.S. Navy authority that is conducting the activity identified in = =A7 216.180, must apply for and obtain a Letter of Authorization in = accordance with =A7=A7 216.106 and 216.188.=20 (b) The application for an initial, or a renewal of, a Letter of = Authorization must be submitted to the Director, Office of Protected = Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, at least 90 days before = the date that either the vessel is scheduled to begin conducting SURTASS = LFA sonar operations or the previous Letter of Authorization is = scheduled to expire.=20 (c) All applications for a Letter of Authorization must include the = following information:=20 (1) The date(s), duration, and the specified geographical region where = the vessel's activity described in =A7 216.180 will occur;=20 (2) The species and/or stock(s) of marine mammals likely to be found = within each specified geographical region;=20 (3) The type of incidental taking authorization that is being requested = (i.e., take by Level A and/or Level B harassment);=20 (4) The estimated percentage of marine mammal species/stocks potentially = affected in each specified geographic region and for the 12-month period = of effectiveness of the Letter of Authorization; and=20 (5) The means of accomplishing the necessary monitoring and reporting = that will result in increased knowledge of the species, the level of = taking or impacts on populations of marine mammals.=20 (d) NMFS will review an application for a Letter of Authorization in = accordance with =A7 216.104(b) and, if adequate and complete, issue a = Letter of Authorization for a period of time not to exceed 1 year.=20 =20 =A7 216.188 -- Letters of Authorization.=20 (a) A Letter of Authorization, unless suspended or revoked will be valid = for a period of time not to exceed one year, but may be renewed annually = subject to annual renewal conditions in =A7 216.189.=20 (b) Each Letter of Authorization will set forth:=20 (1) Permissible methods of incidental taking;=20 (2) Authorized geographic areas for taking;=20 (3) Means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on the = species of marine mammals authorized for taking, its habitat, and on the = availability of the species for subsistence uses; and=20 (4) Requirements for monitoring and reporting incidental takes.=20 (c) Issuance of each Letter of Authorization will be based on a = determination that the number of marine mammals taken by the activity = will be small, that the total number of marine mammals taken by the = activity, specified in =A7 216.180, as a whole will have no more than a = negligible impact on the species or stock of affected marine mammal(s), = and that the total taking will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on = the availability of species or stocks of marine mammals for taking for = subsistence uses.=20 (d) Notice of issuance or denial of a Letter of Authorization will be = published in the Federal Register within 30 days of a determination.=20 =20 =A7 216.189 -- Renewal of Letters of Authorization.=20 (a) A Letter of Authorization issued under =A7 216.106 and =A7 216.188 = for the activity identified in =A7 216.180 will be renewed annually = upon:=20 (1) Notification to the National Marine Fisheries Service that the = activity described in the application submitted under =A7 216.187 will = be undertaken and that there will not be a substantial modification to = the described work, mitigation or monitoring undertaken during the = upcoming season;=20 (2) Notification to the National Marine Fisheries Service of the = information items identified in =A7 216.187(c), including the planned = geographic area(s), and anticipated duration of each SURTASS LFA sonar = operation;=20 (3) Timely receipt of the monitoring reports required under =A7 216.185, = which have been reviewed by the National Marine Fisheries Service and = determined to be acceptable;=20 (4) A determination by the National Marine Fisheries Service that the = mitigation, monitoring and reporting measures required under =A7=A7 = 216.184 and 216.185 and the Letter of Authorization were undertaken and = will be undertaken during the upcoming annual period of validity of a = renewed Letter of Authorization; and [*15393] =20 (5) 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, that the total number of marine mammals taken by = the activity, specified in =A7 216.180, as a whole will have no more = than a negligible impact on the species or stock of affected marine = mammal(s), and that the total taking will not have an unmitigable = adverse impact on the availability of species or stocks of marine = mammals for taking for subsistence uses.=20 (b) If a request for a renewal of a Letter of Authorization issued under = =A7=A7 216.106 and 216.188 indicates that a substantial modification to = the described work, mitigation or monitoring will occur during the = upcoming season, or if the National Marine Fisheries Service proposes a = substantial modification to the Letter of Authorization, the National = Marine Fisheries Service will provide the public a period of 30 days for = review and comment on the requested modification. Amending the list of = areas for upcoming SURTASS LFA sonar operations is not considered a = substantial modification to the Letter of Authorization.=20 (c) 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.=20 =20 =A7 216.190 -- Modifications to Letters of Authorization.=20 (a) In addition to complying with the provisions of =A7=A7 216.106 and = 216.188, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no = substantive modification (including withdrawal or suspension) to the = Letter of Authorization issued pursuant to =A7=A7 216.106 and 216.188 = 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 =A7 216.189, = without modification, except for the period of validity and a listing of = planned operating areas, or for moving the authorized SURTASS LFA sonar = system from one ship to another, are not considered substantive = modifications.=20 (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 =A7 216.180(b), a Letter of Authorization = issued pursuant to =A7=A7 216.106 and 216.188 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.=20 =20 =A7 216.191 -- Designation of Biologically Important Marine Mammal = Areas.=20 In order for the National Marine Fisheries Service to designate areas = that are considered of biological importance for marine mammals under = this rule, proponents must petition the Agency by requesting an area be = added to the list of biologically important areas in =A7 216.183(d) and = submitting the following information:=20 (a) Geographic region proposed for consideration (including geographic = boundaries) as an area of importance,=20 (b) A list of marine mammals, within the proposed geographic region,=20 (c) Whether the proposal is for year-round designation or seasonal, and = if seasonal, months of years for proposed designation, and=20 (d) Detailed information on the biology of marine mammals within the = area including estimated population size, distribution, density, status; = and principal biological activity during the proposed period of = designation of the area sufficient for the National Marine Fisheries = Service to make a preliminary determination that the area is = biologically important for marine mammals.=20 (e) In order for the National Marine Fisheries Service to designate an = area as an offshore area of biological importance for marine mammals = under this subpart, the petitioner will need to provide detailed = information on the area in regards to its importance for marine mammals = for either primary feeding, breeding, or migration for those species of = marine mammals that have the potential to be affected by low frequency = sounds;=20 (f) Proposed areas that are within 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers) of = any coastline including offshore islands, or within non-operating areas = for SURTASS LFA sonar shown in Figure 1 will not be eligible for = consideration under this section;=20 (g) If the National Marine Fisheries Service makes a preliminary = determination that the area is biologically important for marine mammals = and, that area is not located within a previously designated area, the = National Marine Fisheries Service will propose rulemaking to add the = recommended area to =A7 216.183(d).=20 (h) Through notice in the Federal Register, the National Marine = Fisheries Service will invite information, suggestions, and comments on = the proposal for a period of time not less than 45 days from the date of = publication in the Federal Register.=20 (i) After review of the comments and information, the National Marine = Fisheries Service will make a final decision on whether or not to add = the recommended area to the list found in =A7 216.183(d). The National = Marine Fisheries Service will either issue a final rulemaking on the = proposal or provide notice in the Federal Register on its determination. = =20 See Figure 1-1 on Page 15394 of Original Document.=20 =20 [FR Doc. 01-6751 Filed 3-16-01; 8:45 am]=20 ------=_NextPart_000_0053_01C0B04E.31865A00 charset="iso-8859-1"
This morning (March 19), a Proposed Rule from the = National=20 Marine Fisheries Service governing use of the U.S. Navy's Low Frequency = Active=20 (LFA) sonar program appeared in the *Federal Register*.  I=20 have appended the full text to this message.
 
With the publication of this Proposed Rule, there = begins a=20 45-day period for public comment.  Your=20 comments are crucial to NMFS' review of the Navy's=20 program, and we hope that everyone interested in this important = issue will=20 submit comments to the agency. 
 
Comments are due on May 3, 2001 and should be = addressed to Donna=20 Wieting, Chief, Marine Mammal Conservation Division, Office of Protected = Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, = Silver=20 Spring, MD 20910-3226.
 
Please feel free to contact us at NRDC if you have any = questions.
 
Best,
Michael Jasny
 
---------------------------------------
Michael = Jasny,=20 Associate
Natural Resources Defense Council
6310 San Vicente = Blvd., Ste.=20 250
Los Angeles, CA 90048
tel/fax 323-934-2138
mjasny(\)ucla.edu
 
---------------------------------------
[TEXT OF PROPOSED RULE AND REQUEST FOR COMMENTS]
 
 
FEDERAL REGISTER

Vol. 66, No. 53

Proposed Rules

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC)

 National = Oceanic=20 and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

 National Marine = Fisheries=20 Service (NMFS)

50 CFR Part 216

[Docket No. 990927266-0240-02; I.D. = 072699A]=20

RIN 0648-AM62

Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking = Marine=20 Mammals Incidental to Navy=20 Operations of Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency = Active=20 Sonar

66 FR 15375

DATE: Monday, March 19, 2001=20



ACTION: Proposed rule; request for=20 comment. 

 [*15375] =20

SUMMARY: NMFS has received an application from = the U.S.=20 Navy=20 requesting a Letter of Authorization (LOA) for the take of small numbers = of=20 marine mammals by harassment incidental to Navy operations of the = Surveillance=20 Towed Array Sensor System (SURTASS) Low Frequency Active (LFA) Sonar. By = this=20 document, NMFS is proposing regulations to govern that take. In order to = issue=20 the LOA and issue final regulations governing the take, NMFS must = determine that=20 the taking will have a negligible impact on the affected species and = stocks of=20 marine mammals, will (if appropriate through implementation of = appropriate=20 mitigation measures) be at the lowest level practicable, and will not = have an=20 unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the species or = stock(s) for=20 subsistence uses. NMFS invites comment on the application, and the = regulations.=20



DATES: Comments must be postmarked no = later=20 than May 3, 2001. A petition requesting NMFS to hold a public hearing = must be=20 submitted no later than April 3, 2001. Comments will not be accepted if=20 submitted via e-mail or the Internet.

Comments regarding the = burden-hour=20 estimate or any other aspect of the collection of information = requirement=20 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),=20 Attention: NOAA Desk Officer, Washington, DC 20503.=20



ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed = to=20 Donna Wieting, Chief, Marine Mammal Conservation Division, Office of = Protected=20 Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, = Silver=20 Spring, MD 20910-3226. A copy of the application, a list of references = used in=20 this document and a list of principal commenters on this action, are = available=20 and may be obtained by writing to this address or by telephoning the = contact=20 listed here (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).=20



FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: = Kenneth R.=20 Hollingshead (301) 713-2322, ext. 128. =



SUPPLEMENTARY=20 INFORMATION:
 
Background =

Section=20 101(a)(5)(A) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) (16 U.S.C. 1361 = et seq.)=20 directs the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to allow, upon request, = the=20 incidental, but not intentional taking of small numbers of marine = mammals by=20 U.S. citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial = fishing)=20 within a specified geographical region if certain findings are made and=20 regulations are issued.

Permission may be granted for periods of = 5 years=20 or less if the Secretary finds that the taking will be small, have a = negligible=20 impact on the species or stock(s) of affected marine mammals, and will = not have=20 an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the species or = stock(s) for=20 subsistence uses, and if regulations are prescribed setting forth the=20 permissible methods of taking and the requirements pertaining to the = monitoring=20 and reporting of such taking.  [*15376] =20
 
Summary of Request

On August 12, = 1999,=20 NMFS received an application from the U.S. Navy requesting a small take = exemption=20 under section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA for the taking of marine mammals=20 incidental to operation of the SURTASS LFA sonar for a period of time = not to=20 exceed 5 years, beginning in FY 2000. SURTASS LFA sonar will operate a = maximum=20 of 4 ship systems in the 10 geographic operating regions in which = SURTASS LFA=20 sonar could potentially operate. There would be a maximum of four = SURTASS LFA=20 sonar systems with a nominal maximum of two systems at sea at any one = time.=20
 
Description of the Activity

The SURTASS = LFA=20 sonar system is a long-range, low frequency (between 100 and 500 Hertz) = sonar=20 that has both active and passive components. It does not rely on = detection of=20 noise generated by the target. The active component of the system is a = set of=20 low frequency (LF) acoustic transmitting source elements (called = projectors)=20 suspended from a cable from underneath a ship. The projectors are = devices that=20 produce the active sound or pulse.

The purpose of SURTASS LFA = sonar is=20 to provide the Navy=20 with a reliable and dependable system for long-range detection of = quieter,=20 harder-to-find submarines. LF sound travels in seawater more effectively = and for=20 greater distances than higher frequency sound used by most other active = sonars.=20 The SURTASS LFA sonar system would meet the Navy's need for improved = detection and=20 tracking of new-generation submarines at a longer range. This would = maximize the=20 opportunity for U.S. armed forces to safely react to, and defend = against,=20 potential submarine threats while remaining a safe distance beyond a = submarine's=20 effective weapons range.

The typical SURTASS LFA sonar signal is = not a=20 constant tone, but rather a transmission of various waveforms that vary = in=20 frequency and duration. A complete sequence of sound transmissions is = referred=20 to as a "ping" and can last for as short as 6 seconds (sec) to as long = as 100=20 sec. The time between pings is typically from 6 to 15 minutes. Average = duty=20 cycle (ratio of sound "on" time to total time) can be controlled but is = less=20 than 20 percent; typical duty cycle is between 10 and 20 percent. =

The=20 passive or listening component of the system is SURTASS, which detects = returning=20 echoes from submerged objects, such as submarines, through the use of=20 hydrophones. The hydrophones are mounted on a horizontal array that is = towed=20 behind the ship. The SURTASS LFA sonar ship maintains a minimum speed of = 3.0=20 knots (5.6 km/hr; 3.4 mi/hr).

The Navy anticipates that a = nominal SURTASS=20 LFA sonar deployment schedule for a single vessel would involve about = 270=20 days/year at sea (underway). A nominal at-sea mission would occur over a = 30-day=20 period, made up of two 9-day exercise segments. Active sonar operations = could be=20 conducted up to 20 hrs during an exercise day, although the system would = actually be transmitting for only a maximum of 4 hrs/day (resulting in = 432 hrs=20 of active transmission time per year for each SURTASS LFA sonar system = in=20 operation based on a maximum duty cycle of 20 percent). The remaining 12 = days of=20 the at-sea mission would be spent in transit or repositioning the = vessel. In a=20 nominal year there could be a maximum of 9 missions, six of which would = involve=20 the employment of SURTASS LFA sonar in the active mode and three of = which would=20 employ the SURTASS LFA sonar in the passive mode. Between missions, an = estimated=20 95 days would be spent in port for upkeep and repair. With two vessels = in the=20 Pacific-Indian Ocean area and two vessels in the Atlantic = Ocean-Mediterranean=20 Sea area, there could be up to 12 operations in each of these oceanic = areas per=20 year.

At present, only one SURTASS LFA sonar system is available = for=20 deployment. A second SURTASS LFA sonar system is expected to be = available in FY=20 2001. The third and fourth systems are tentatively planned for FY 2003 = and FY=20 2004, but their delivery may be postponed until after FY 2005. With 4 = systems, a=20 nominal maximum of two vessels would be at sea at any one time. As a = result,=20 under 5-year regulations NMFS proposes to authorize marine mammal = harassment=20 takings for 2 SURTASS LFA sonar vessels for FY 2000 through FY 2002, 3 = vessels=20 for FY 2003, and 4 vessels for FY 2004, recognizing, however, that there = may not=20 be more than 2 vessels operating within the 5-year window of these = proposed=20 regulations.
 
Comments and Responses =

On=20 October 22, 1999 (64 FR 57026), NMFS published an Advance Notice of = Proposed=20 Rulemaking (ANPR) on the U.S. Navy application and invited = interested=20 persons to submit comments, information, and suggestions concerning the=20 application and the structure and content of regulations, if the = application is=20 accepted. During the 30-day comment period on that notice, significant = comments=20 were received from several organizations and individuals. A list of=20 organizations and individuals whose comments are analyzed in this = document is=20 available upon request. Additionally, a large number of letters, form = letters,=20 and petitions were received. Comments regarding NMFS' responsibilities = under the=20 MMPA, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the National Environmental = Policy Act=20 (NEPA) are addressed in this document. Comments to the Navy regarding the Navy's draft Overseas = Environmental=20 Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Statement (OEIS/EIS) that were = attached to=20 the comments on the ANPR, and those comments regarding the scope, = content, and=20 adequacy of the Navy=20 draft OEIS/EIS, and the Navy's marine mammal = scientific=20 research program have been addressed in the Navy's Final OEIS/EIS. =
 =20
Activity Concerns

Comment 1: Numerous = commenters=20 were concerned that the Navy's SURTASS LFA sonar was = not=20 viable, or was not practicable and that the Navy's small take application = for an=20 LOA should be denied, for those reasons.

Response: = Whether a=20 project is viable or practical is not a criterion under the MMPA for = determining=20 whether to authorize marine mammal takings incidental to an activity. = The=20 authority for authorizing operations and deployment of the Navy SURTASS LFA resides with = the=20 Secretary of the Navy,=20 not NMFS.

Comment 2: Many commenters were concerned = regarding a=20 conflict between the ANPR and the draft OEIS/EIS. The ANPR states that = the 180=20 dB (i.e., 180 dB re 1 microPa(rms) RL (180 dB)) sound field is 2 km (1.1 = nm)=20 from the sound source. The draft OEIS/EIS states that the sound field is = 1 km=20 (0.54 nm) from the sound source. The commenters felt that if the ANPR = was in=20 error, it should be withdrawn and republished and the public comment = period=20 extended.

Response: The draft OEIS/EIS is correct; the = ANPR was=20 in error. A correction notice was published as quickly as possible once = that=20 error was detected. That notice was published on November 22, 1999 (64 = FR=20 63783). Because the error did not affect the scope of the ANPR, and led = only to=20 speculation on the sound pressure level (SPL) of the SURTASS LFA sonar, = and=20 because NMFS is publishing in this document for public comment and = review the=20 same action as noticed in the ANPR, NMFS determined that no benefit = would have=20 been achieved by  [*15377] =20 reopening the public comment period on the ANPR.

Comment = 3: One=20 commenter notes that the Navy application is for all = SURTASS LFA=20 sonar operations, whereas the draft OEIS/EIS addressed only SURTASS LFA = sonar=20 operations for training and testing, not for actual military operation. = If=20 "hostile" operations are not included in the schedule of operations, = then the=20 actual take projections must be recalculated to account for such = missions.=20

Response: The LOA application clearly states that the = request=20 is for the taking of marine mammals incidental to the employment of = SURTASS LFA=20 sonar during training, testing, and routine military operations. The=20 authorization will not cover use of the system in armed conflict or = direct=20 combat support operations, nor during periods of heightened national = threat=20 conditions, as determined by the National Command Authorities. NMFS does = not=20 have a role in making these determinations. Therefore, takings during = these=20 situations would not be covered by the regulations or the LOAs. The=20 recalculation of takings outside of the LOA in advance is neither = necessary nor=20 possible without knowing where the "hostile" activity will take place = and how=20 long that situation would last.
 
MMPA Concerns=20

Comment 4: Several commenters recommended that NMFS = should=20 extend the comment period to allow more time for review of the = application.=20

Response: The ANPR is only the first of two public = comment=20 periods on NMFS' action. ANPRs are not required by the MMPA, but are = utilized by=20 NMFS to provide the public with early notification and to assist NMFS in = the=20 drafting of proposed regulations. The ANPR stated that, if NMFS proposes = rulemaking (as we are doing here), as required by section = 101(a)(5)(A)(ii) of=20 the MMPA, NMFS will offer the public a second comment period. For this=20 rulemaking, NMFS is providing a comment period of 45 days. =

Comment=20 5: A commenter questioned why NMFS did not publish the ANPR until = October=20 27, 1999, when the application was received from the Navy on August 12, 1999.=20

Response: NMFS published the ANPR as expeditiously as = possible.=20

Comment 6: Several commenters wanted more time for = review of=20 the application and ANPR because of the detail of the draft OEIS/EIS.=20

Response: Because the application submitted by the U.S. = Navy=20 closely follows the information and data provided by the Navy in its draft OEIS/EIS = for SURTASS=20 LFA sonar (which had a 90-day public comment period), and comments on = that=20 document were due 3 weeks prior to the close of the ANPR comment period, = NMFS=20 believes that little additional effort should be required by those = members of=20 the public interested in reviewing both documents in order to respond = adequately=20 to the U.S. Navy=20 application for the small take authorization within the 30-day comment = period.=20

Comment 7: NMFS should hold public hearings because the = Navy=20 application is unprecedented. Among other things, the application = contemplates a=20 world-wide scale for its activities, far exceeding the limits of what = the small=20 take exemption was meant to cover. It subjects marine mammals * * * to = levels of=20 exposure well above anything NMFS has heretofore allowed for = non-impulsive=20 noise.

Response: The Navy held public outreach = meetings on=20 the draft OEIS/EIS in Washington, DC, Boston, MA, Miami, FL, Los = Angeles, CA,=20 Honolulu, HI, and Seattle, WA. In addition, public hearings on the draft = OEIS/EIS were held by the U.S. Navy on September 29, 1999, = in Norfolk,=20 VA; on October 12, 1999, in San Diego, CA; and on October 14, 1999, in = Honolulu,=20 HI. NMFS attended these meetings. NMFS believes the opportunity to = respond to=20 this notice of proposed rulemaking provides the public with an adequate = degree=20 of participation in this process. However, if a petition is submitted to = NMFS=20 within 15 days of the date of publication of this document that it hold = a public=20 hearing, and that petition demonstrates that relevant information exists = which=20 can only be presented at a hearing (and cannot be presented in writing = in=20 response to this document), NMFS will hold a public hearing during the = 45-day=20 comment period on this document.

Comment 8: Under the = MMPA,=20 NMFS has an obligation to reject a proposal prior to rulemaking if the = agency=20 cannot make an affirmative finding that the project's impacts are = "negligible."=20

Response: NMFS does not interpret the MMPA to require = NMFS to=20 reject an application submitted, under section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA, = prior=20 to publishing proposed rulemaking, unless the applicant has not = provided, as=20 part of its application on the activity, sufficient documentation on = those=20 marine mammals affected, and the anticipated impact of the activity on = marine=20 mammals. Using the information provided by the Navy in its application and = draft=20 OEIS/EIS, NMFS believes that it has sufficient information to move = forward and=20 propose rulemaking. This decision, however, does not preclude NMFS from=20 requesting additional information from the Navy during the rulemaking = process.=20 However, a final rule will not be promulgated by NMFS unless the Agency = makes a=20 finding of negligible impact based on all relevant information acquired = during=20 the rulemaking process.

Comment 9: Commenters were of = the=20 opinion that SURTASS LFA sonar activities proposed by the Navy are not eligible for a = "small=20 take" exemption.

Response: For maritime activities = conducted by=20 U.S. citizens (other than commercial fishing, activities permitted under = section=20 104 of the MMPA or activities otherwise exempted from the MMPA), there = are two=20 means to obtain an exemption to the MMPA's moratorium on taking marine = mammals.=20 The first is the small take exemption under section 101(a)(5) of the = MMPA, and=20 the second is a waiver of the moratorium under section 101(a)(3)(A) of = the MMPA.=20 If the Navy=20 does not qualify for a small take authorization under section = 101(a)(5)(A) of=20 the MMPA, then the Navy=20 would need to obtain a waiver under section 101(a)(3)(A) of the MMPA.=20

Comment 10: The scope of the activity contemplated by = the Navy=20 exceeds any reasonable interpretation of the statutory language for = authorizing=20 a small take exemption for a "specified geographic region."=20

Response: When Congress enacted the 1981 Amendments to = the=20 MMPA, which first authorized the Secretary to exempt specific activities = from=20 the MMPA's moratorium on takings without waiving the moratorium under = section=20 101(a)(3), certain restrictions were placed on the circumstances under = which the=20 Secretary may issue an exemption. One of these requirements is that the = activity=20 must take place within "a specified geographic region." The Legislative = history=20 for this provision states: "It is the intention of the Committee that = both the=20 specified activity and the specified region referred to in section = 101(a)(5) be=20 narrowly identified so that the anticipated effects will be = substantially=20 similar." " * * [T]he specified geographical region should not be larger = than is=20 necessary to accomplish the specified activity, and should be drawn in = such a=20 way that the effects on marine mammals in the region are substantially = the same.=20 Thus, for example, it would be inappropriate to identify the entire = Pacific=20 coast of the North American Continent as a specified geographic region, = but it=20 may be appropriate to identify particular segments of that coast having = similar=20 characteristics, both biological and otherwise, as  [*15378]  specified geographic = regions" (H.=20 Rept 97-228, September 16, 1981, p 19).

NMFS believes that the = regions=20 described in this proposed rule are in keeping with Congress' = legislative intent=20 in enacting this provision. Although SURTASS LFA sonar requires fairly = large=20 geographic regions because of the Navy's need to deploy the = system on a=20 world-wide basis, these areas have been selected so as to retain similar = biological characteristics within each region. As a result, NMFS = believes that=20 these areas are large enough to accomplish the specified activity = without being=20 so large that the effects on marine mammals will not be substantially = the same.=20

It should be noted that the regions described in this proposed = rule=20 differ from those contained in the Navy's original application = and=20 described in the ANPR. Based on a suggestion made by NMFS in the ANPR, = the U.S.=20 Navy=20 revised its original proposal for 10 regions to one that proposes to = adopt, with=20 modification, the United Nation Food and Agriculture Organization's = (FAO)=20 division of the world's oceans into 16 distinct areas as shown in this = document=20 as Figure 1. (See FAO, 1971. The Fish Resources of the Ocean. Fishing = News Books=20 (Ltd). Surry England). These regions are described later in this = document.=20 Additionally, coastal areas and Arctic and Antarctic waters would be = excluded=20 from SURTASS LFA sonar operations. NMFS proposes to issue an LOA for = each=20 individual SURTASS LFA sonar system which will list the area(s) in which = the=20 deployment vessel plans to operate. As a result, NMFS believes the = designated=20 areas closely approximate the distribution of affected marine mammal = species and=20 will allow NMFS to implement appropriate mitigation and monitoring = measures. One=20 aspect of marine mammal distribution not taken into account by these = areas is=20 the shift in marine mammal distribution due to changes in oceanographic=20 physiography. However, NMFS believes that it would be impractical to = attempt to=20 structure regulations specifying migratory corridors. While NMFS = believes that=20 little would be accomplished by further subdivision of the world's = oceans, it=20 welcomes additional comments on this preliminary determination. =

NMFS=20 also disagrees with the commenters' suggestion that the application = should not=20 be accepted because it is world-wide in scope and thus is more extensive = than=20 any activity previously authorized. Although no world-wide = authorizations have=20 previously been granted, NMFS does accept applications, and issue=20 authorizations, for similar activities in more than a single geographic = region.=20 For example, seismic surveys for oil and gas exploration may be = conducted=20 concurrently in the U.S. Beaufort Sea, southern California waters, and, = in the=20 Gulf of Mexico. Similar to SURTASS LFA sonar operations, each seismic = survey=20 employs a large vessel slowly towing a high-intensity, LF sound source. = If=20 warranted, small take authorizations should be available to these = activities.=20

NMFS does not believe that Congress intended NMFS to issue = separate=20 regulations governing taking for each "specific geographic region," as = would be=20 one alternative. While it would be possible for NMFS to do so, NMFS = believes=20 that these regulations would be redundant and unnecessary. As a result, = the=20 proposed incidental, small take regulations for SURTASS LFA sonar have = been=20 designed to be generic; LOAs issued under these regulations, would be = tailored=20 to the vessel's specific geographic operating area and would include any = appropriate prohibitions and mitigation or monitoring requirements.=20

Comment 11: One commenter wanted NMFS to acknowledge = that the=20 draft OEIS/EIS definitions for "non-serious injury" and "non-serious = harassment"=20 are unique and unsupported in the statutory context of the MMPA, or in=20 definitions from NMFS.

Response: NMFS understands that = the=20 Navy's draft OEIS/EIS = definition caused=20 confusion to reviewers. The Navy has modified these terms = in the=20 final OEIS/EIS. NMFS will continue to define takings by harassment as = they are=20 defined in section 3 of the MMPA (i.e., Level A and Level B harassment). =
 
Small Take Concerns

Comment 12: = Because=20 the abundance of marine mammals within identified species and stocks = that may be=20 taken by SURTASS LFA sonar exceeds any reasonable interpretation of the = MMPA's=20 "small numbers" provision, NMFS should reject the Navy's application.=20

Response: The definition of the term "small numbers" at = 50 CFR=20 216.103 differs from the commenters' interpretation of "small numbers." = NMFS=20 believes it was unfortunate that Congress was unable to provide more = specific=20 guidance on what it meant by the term "small." The Legislative history = for this=20 provision (H. Rept 97-228, September 16, 1981) stated that the Committee = recognized "the imprecision of the term..., but was unable to offer a = more=20 precise formulation because the concept is not capable of being = expressed in=20 absolute numerical limits" NMFS agrees with that Congressional = statement. NMFS=20 believes that by defining "small numbers" to mean a portion of a marine = mammal=20 species or stock whose taking would have a negligible impact as in the=20 definition of "small" found in =A7 216.103, an upper limit is placed on = the term,=20 and the phrase effectively implements the Congressional intent = underlying the=20 rule.
 
Negligible Take Concerns =

Comment=20 13: The Navy's draft OEIS/EIS ignored = and/or=20 did not adequately address the negative effects of LFA testing, = including=20 stranding of beaked whales in the Mediterranean, 3 abandoned cetacean = calves in=20 the Hawaii sonar test area, 80 percent of humpback whales stopping = singing=20 during tests, blue and fin whales decreasing vocalizations, and gray = whales=20 changing their migration route.

Response: The Navy has addressed these = events in the=20 Navy's final OEIS/EIS. = However, while=20 NMFS recognizes that there is some potential for marine mammals to be = affected=20 by SURTASS LFA sonar signals (otherwise an incidental, small take = authorization=20 would not be needed), NMFS notes that: (1) detailed analyses of data = from Phase=20 I research indicated that there were no significant differences in vocal = activity by blue and fin whales between those periods when SURTASS LFA = sonar was=20 not transmitting and when it was; (2) gray whale research was = specifically=20 designed to elicit an avoidance response, but was not conducted similar = to=20 SURTASS LFA sonar operations (in fact the research indicated that when = SURTASS=20 LFA sonar operated offshore, there was little or no avoidance response); = and (3)=20 the Navy=20 acknowledges that while some singing humpback whales showed some = apparent=20 avoidance responses and cessation of song, an equal number showed no = cessation=20 of song. Also, there is no evidence linking SURTASS LFA sonar = transmissions to=20 any stranding event, and further the Navy's proposed long-term = monitoring=20 (LTM) program will have a component to investigate any correlation = between=20 SURTASS LFA sonar transmissions and stranding events. =

Comment=20 14: The Navy=20 underestimates the extent and cumulative impacts of its deployment = because it=20 fails to consider operations undertaken for purposes of surveillance,=20 deployments in direct support of combat, and deployments during periods = of=20 heightened threat conditions, as determined by the National Command = Authorities.=20  [*15379] =20

Response: NMFS must make a determination that the total = taking=20 incidental to an applicant's specified activity, during the proposed = 5-year=20 period of authorization of the regulations, will have no more than a = negligible=20 impact on affected marine mammal populations. The application for the=20 authorization specifically requests an authorization for employment of = the=20 SURTASS LFA sonar during training, testing, and routine military = operations. It=20 will not cover use of the system in other conflict situations mentioned = by the=20 commenter. Recognizing that certain mitigation, monitoring, and = reporting=20 requirements could not be met by the Navy in wartime situations, = NMFS=20 believes the approach taken by the Navy to be appropriate.=20

Comment 15: One commenter stated that, given that = cetaceans are=20 accepted as "people," it follows that NMFS, which treats them as stocks = subject=20 to sustainable "harvest" is promulgating the fiction that the cetaceans = are to=20 be treated in the same category as fish, when in fact, they are the = oldest and=20 most intelligent sentient creatures on Earth and fully worthy of our = protection=20 and respect.

Response: The MMPA prohibits the taking of = marine=20 mammals unless exempted or permitted. NMFS disagrees with the commenter = that=20 marine mammals are treated similar to fish. Fish are considered, among = other=20 things, a resource that may be harvested in a sustainable manner for = consumption=20 while the United States has affirmed that marine mammals should be = protected and=20 encouraged to develop to the greatest extent feasible commensurate with = sound=20 policies of resource management.

Comment 16: Several = commenters=20 criticized the Navy=20 statement in the application that "research conducted to date is = sufficient to=20 assess impacts on marine mammals." Some recommended that on this basis, = NMFS=20 deny the Navy=20 a small take permit. Another questioned how NMFS could make a negligible = impact=20 determination without having all relevant facts at its disposal.=20

Response: When the U.S. Navy first discussed whether = an=20 incidental, small take authorization was required for its SURTASS LFA = sonar,=20 NMFS determined that insufficient information existed to make a = negligible=20 impact determination. NMFS suggested the U.S. Navy conduct a scientific = research=20 program on marine mammals to determine potential effects of SURTASS LFA = sonar on=20 marine mammals. In making a finding as to whether an action will have a=20 negligible impact on marine mammals, NMFS is required to use the best = scientific=20 information available. This information should be available to = applicants either=20 publically or through NMFS. However, Congress clarified in the = Legislative=20 history on this provision (H. Rept 97-228, September 16, 1981) that for=20 situations where a negligible impact finding cannot be made (either = because the=20 proposed project or activity is hypothetical or the impact on the marine = environment from the activity has not been investigated), the applicant = would=20 need to conduct research on the potential impacts of the proposed = project or=20 activity on marine mammals. For SURTASS LFA sonar, independent = scientists=20 focused their research efforts on 3 of the 4 species of marine mammals=20 identified in a public workshop as most likely to be impacted by LF = sound.=20 Research conducted under an MMPA section 104 scientific research permit = has been=20 completed and the findings have been made available to the public. A = preliminary=20 determination on whether information is sufficient to make a = determination that=20 SURTASS LFA sonar is having no more than a negligible impact is a part = of this=20 rulemaking process.
 
Marine Mammal Impact = Concerns=20

Comment 17: The LOA request excludes several species of = marine=20 mammals because their ranges purportedly do not overlap with the = potential=20 geographic operating regions of SURTASS LFA sonar. =

Response:=20 Preliminarily, the Navy=20 and/or NMFS have determined that the following species should be added = to the=20 list of species that may potentially be affected. These species are the = beluga=20 whale (Delphinapterus leucas), the harbor porpoise = (Phocoena=20 phocoena), and the hooded seal (Cystophora cristata). = Additional=20 species may be added in the future based upon information obtained = during the=20 LTM Program or by other means. Adding species to the list, however, will = require=20 rulemaking to correct the list proposed in =A7 216.180(b). Until an = amendment is=20 made effective, the taking of marine mammal species not listed in =A7 = 216.180(b)=20 remain prohibited. However, some species of marine mammals listed by one = commenter, specifically bowhead whales, narwhals, and Arctic and = Antarctic=20 seals, while occupying the same geographic region as the SURTASS LFA = sonar=20 proposes to operate, are pagophilic (ice loving), and, therefore, would = be=20 unlikely to occupy the same region at the same time as SURTASS LFA sonar = would=20 be capable of operating in that region. Another species mentioned by the = same=20 commenter, Balaenoptera bonarensis, is a small minke whale. = Without=20 more information on the species, for management purposes in this = document, NMFS=20 considers it a minke whale. Noting the typographical error in the Navy=20 application, mixing the scientific and common names for sei whales and = Bryde's=20 whales, NMFS considers B. edeni and B. brydei as = synonomous,=20 as noted in Rice (1998).

Dugongs are not under the jurisdiction = of NMFS.=20 If the Navy=20 believes that SURTASS LFA sonar may incidentally take dugongs by = harassment,=20 they should apply to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for a small take = authorization for this species. However, NMFS notes that the text = referenced by=20 the commenter (Jefferson et al., 1993) states that this species is found = in the=20 Indo-Pacific in coastal and inshore waters, areas where SURTASS LFA = sonar will=20 not operate.

Comment 18: Unless the 180 dB criteria is=20 dramatically reduced (given proven impacts of sounds at far lower = amplitudes),=20 all species of excluded coastal cetaceans (the remaining species of = porpoises as=20 well as coastal "river" dolphins) will have to be included.=20

Response: The 180 dB criterion delineates an area = around the=20 source wherein scientists have determined that, at an SPL somewhere = above that=20 level, some marine mammal species may incur a permanent shift, or = elevation, in=20 hearing sensitivity (referred to as permanent threshold shift (PTS)). = For that=20 reason, NMFS encourages small take applicants, if possible, to design, = establish=20 and monitor an appropriate area around a loud noise source. Terminating = sound=20 transmissions whenever marine mammals enter a zone where their hearing = may be=20 affected, will prevent, to the greatest extent practicable, marine = mammals from=20 potentially incurring an impairment to hearing. For this proposed = action,=20 scientists have determined that a single-ping received level of 180 dB = can be=20 considered a scientifically precautionary level to prevent the potential = onset=20 of injury to a marine mammal. As a result, the Navy has proposed to = establish a 180 dB=20 safety zone for SURTASS LFA sonar operations, that would protect marine = mammals=20 that enter this area because the SURTASS LFA source transmissions would = be=20 terminated upon detection of the animal. The Navy calculates that this = safety zone=20 will encompass an area with a radius of approximately 1 km (0.54 nm). = The Navy=20 has stated that, as a mitigation measure, the 180 dB isopleth would = remain at=20 least 22 km  [*15380]  (12=20 nm) from all coastlines. Because sound normally attenuates more quickly = on a=20 shoaling bottom (that would be expected in coastal areas), than it does = in the=20 open ocean, the Navy=20 does not expect marine mammals in coastal or riverine areas to be taken = (by=20 harassment) by SURTASS LFA sonar while the animals are in these areas.=20

Comment 19: Marine mammals may be killed incidental to = SURTASS=20 LFA sonar operations due to stranding, and due to increased risk to = predation=20 and starvation through masking.

Response: The potential = for=20 masking and increased predation have been discussed in the Navy application and the = draft=20 OEIS/EIS. Please refer to those documents for additional information. = While=20 masking could possibly occur for those species of marine mammals that = use the=20 same frequency as SURTASS LFA sonar, masking would be minor and = temporary (i.e.,=20 80-90 percent of the time a whale would be able to perceive predator or = prey=20 through LF sounds), because the SURTASS LFA sonar bandwidth is very = limited=20 (approx. 30 Hz), signals do not remain at a single frequency for more = than 10=20 seconds, and the system is off at least 80 percent of the time. =

Because=20 of the offshore nature of SURTASS LFA sonar operations, the Navy does not believe that = there is a=20 potential for SURTASS LFA sonar to result in marine mammal stranding = incidents.=20 Under the Navy's LTM program however, = the Navy=20 plans to coordinate with principal world-wide marine mammal stranding = networks=20 and report any correlations between SURTASS LFA sonar operations and = stranding=20 events to NMFS. However, because the Navy has not requested an = incidental=20 take by mortality (as in a stranding event), an LOA, if issued, would = not=20 authorize this form of taking. Under regulations found at =A7 = 216.106(e), an LOA=20 may be modified, suspended or revoked if a marine mammal is taken by a = method=20 that is not authorized.

Comment 20: Commenters noted = that the=20 Navy=20 has deflated its assessment of serious injury (to marine mammals) to = near zero=20 with an untested monitoring program. Another commenter believes that the = draft=20 OEIS/EIS assumes 100-percent detection within the safety zone. This = commenter=20 believes it is unacceptable (for marine mammals to incur an SPL greater = than 180=20 dB) and could even be fatal.

Response: The Navy has assessed the = efficiency of its=20 tripartite monitoring system (discussed later in this document) at = approximately=20 80 percent (70-percent high-frequency marine mammal monitoring (HFM3) = sonar and=20 5 percent each for visual and passive acoustic monitoring). Based upon = that=20 level of efficiency, the Navy has indicated that = incidental=20 harassment takes would be as indicated in Tables 4-12 and 4-13 of its=20 application. NMFS recognizes that the Navy should provide = supporting evidence=20 of the efficiency of the HFM3 sonar based on documentation of its = effectiveness=20 or field testing results. As a result, until such time as the Navy provides verifiable test = results=20 on the HFM3 sonar, NMFS will need to base its determination of = negligible impact=20 solely on the effectiveness of geographic mitigation.

However, = NMFS does=20 not agree that the proposed incidental takings would result in more than = minimal=20 levels of serious injury. Because serious injury is unlikely to occur = unless a=20 marine mammal is well within the 180 dB SURTASS LFA sonar safety zone = and close=20 to the source, and because the closer the mammal is to the vessel, the = more=20 likely it will be detected, and the SURTASS LFA sonar operation = suspended, the=20 potential for serious injury to occur is minimal.

For mitigation = effectiveness for harassment and non-serious injury, NMFS recommends = reviewers=20 study the last column of Table 4-10 of the application (Table 4.2-10 of = the=20 OEIS/EIS). The last column lists the reduction of potential for effects = on=20 marine mammals.
 
Long-Term and Cumulative Effects=20 Concerns

Comment 21: We know almost nothing about = the long=20 term effects of LFA sonars on marine life, and the Navy fails to consider the = full range=20 of cumulative effects that SURTASS LFA sonar would have together with = other=20 noise sources. The Navy=20 has also neglected to measure the foreseeable effects of proliferation = once this=20 technology is deployed. All this must be considered by NMFS. Another = commenter=20 believes the scenario of more than two vessels being at sea in the same = sea=20 simultaneously conducting exercises has not been given full = consideration.=20

Response: NMFS believes that the issue of cumulative = impact of=20 increasing use of LFA sonar technologies by non-U.S. nations and other = LF=20 sources is a subject for the Navy to address under NEPA. = However,=20 under section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA, NMFS is required only to make a=20 determination that the total of the incidental taking of marine mammals = by the=20 specified activity being authorized during the 5-year period concerned = will have=20 no more than a negligible impact on such species or stock of marine = mammal. In=20 this case, NMFS must assess the potential impacts on marine mammals from = no more=20 than four SURTASS LFA vessels transmitting 432 hrs/vessel/yr.

In = its=20 application, the Navy=20 states that there is a remote possibility that two sources may be = operating in=20 the same geographic area at the same time. NMFS intends to base its = negligible=20 impact assessment on that scenario. If LOAs are issued, the use of more = than two=20 SURTASS LFA sonar sources operating at the same time within the same = specific=20 geographic area would be considered a violation of the LOA.
 =20
Mitigation Concerns

Comment 22: If NMFS = moves=20 forward with rulemaking, it is obligated under the MMPA to prescribe = methods and=20 means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact.=20

Response: NMFS agrees that measures to mitigate the = impact to=20 the lowest level practicable is a requirement of the MMPA. However, NMFS = cannot=20 require compliance with impractical methods and means. Specific = mitigation=20 measures are discussed in the following 9 comments and responses.=20

Comment 23: Several commenters questioned the use of a 180 dB = criterion=20 for suspension of transmissions, since far lower SPLs have been = demonstrated to=20 cause clear short-term behavioral impacts on cetaceans. If an LOA is = issued, a=20 much lower level of exposure for protected species should be required.=20

Response: As mentioned previously, based on information = provided at two public workshops (HESS Workshop, June 12-13, 1997, NMFS = Acoustic=20 Criteria Workshop, September, 1998), in general, 180 dB is the level = above which=20 scientists caution a PTS injury has the potential to occur in marine = mammals.=20 The distance from the SURTASS LFA sonar source to the 180 dB isopleth is = approximately 1 km (0.54 nm). Thus, the 180 dB SURTASS LFA sonar = mitigation zone=20 is the proposed safety zone that will prevent, to the greatest extent=20 practicable, both PTS and temporary hearing impairment (termed temporary = threshold shift (TTS)) to marine mammals.

While the commenter is = correct=20 that behavioral modifications can be expected at lower SPLs, the = proposed=20 monitoring (visual, passive acoustic and active acoustic), is not likely = to be=20 as effective at the greater distances where these impacts are likely to = occur.=20 As a result, NMFS prefers to require the Navy to concentrate = monitoring in an=20 area wherein marine mammals are more  [*15381] =20 likely to incur an injury, than at distances wherein the incidental = taking will=20 be limited to short-term behavioral modifications. Since monitoring is = less=20 likely to be effective at distances much greater than the 180-dB = isopleth, and=20 because the Navy=20 has requested a small take authorization for the incidental harassment = of marine=20 mammals, NMFS has preliminarily determined that the establishment of a = safety=20 zone at the 180 dB isopleth is the distance that is most practicable for = reducing potential impacts on marine mammals to the lowest level.=20

Comment 24: One commenter recommended that, if an LOA = is=20 issued, no transmissions at night or in sea conditions greater than = Beaufort 4=20 be allowed, to maximize the probability of detecting protected species.=20

Response: NMFS concurs with the U.S. Navy that in order for = training to be=20 effective it must simulate, to the greatest extent practicable, = conditions that=20 would be expected during periods of heightened readiness. Hostile = situations do=20 not diminish with sunset or high sea states. As a result of poor = nighttime and=20 high sea state visibility for detecting marine mammals, the Navy will use the HFM3 sonar = and=20 passive sonar to improve marine mammal detection.

Comment = 25:=20 Commenters recommended additional mitigation measures, such as = geographical=20 restrictions above and beyond those proposed by the Navy, including an extension = of the=20 coastal exclusion zone beyond the limits of the U.S. territorial sea and = the=20 territorial seas of other countries, expansion of the Southern Ocean = whale=20 sanctuary, the addition of the Indian Ocean whale sanctuary, and the = addition of=20 biologically significant offshore areas; and a timely, transparent, and = publicly=20 accountable procedure for supplementing the initial list of = restrictions.=20

Response: In this proposed rule, NMFS is proposing to = establish=20 a system for government agencies, non-government organizations, and the = public=20 to be able to propose areas for NMFS to consider adding to the list of = offshore=20 biologically important areas (OBIAs) for marine mammals. NMFS emphasizes = that,=20 in order for designation, an area must be of particular importance for = marine=20 mammals as an area for primary feeding, breeding, or migration, and not = simply=20 an area occupied by marine mammals. The proposed area should not be = within a=20 previously designated exclusion area nor rationalized simply because of = previous=20 designations for geopolitical reasons.

In order for NMFS to = begin the=20 rulemaking process for designating areas of biological importance for = marine=20 mammals, proponents must petition NMFS and submit the information = described in =A7=20 216.191(a). If NMFS makes a preliminary determination that the = petitioners have=20 provided sufficient information that the area is of significant = biological=20 importance for marine mammals, NMFS will propose rulemaking to add the=20 recommended area to the list of previously designated areas. Through = notice in=20 the Federal Register, NMFS will invite information,=20 suggestions, and comments on the proposal for a period of time not less = than 45=20 days from the date of publication in the Federal = Register.=20 After review of the comments, and relevant data and information, NMFS = will make=20 a final decision on whether to add the recommended area to the list = found in =A7=20 216.183(d). NMFS will either issue a final rulemaking on the proposal or = provide=20 notice in the Federal Register on its determination. It = should=20 be understood, however, that proposals for designation of areas would = not affect=20 the status of LOAs while the rulemaking is in process. NMFS anticipates = that the=20 time between nominating an area and publication of a final determination = is=20 likely to take 8-12 months. However, in order to provide proper notice = and=20 comment to interested parties, NMFS will not accept recommendations for=20 additional OBIAs until after the present rulemaking has been completed.=20

To extend the list of restrictions (referred to in this document = as=20 mitigation measures), found in =A7 216.184, an individual or = organization would=20 need to petition NMFS under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) to = add=20 additional mitigation measures. Petitions would need to provide = sufficient=20 information for NMFS to determine that new rulemaking is warranted and=20 practical.

Comment 26: One commenter noted that only 2 = examples=20 of offshore OBIAs are presented in the draft OEIS/EIS. Have other OBIAs = been=20 designated? If not, it seems that such designations would be required = before the=20 public and government agencies would be able to appropriately review the = potential impacts of this action on offshore species. Another commenter = was of=20 the opinion that we do not have sufficient knowledge about OBIAs to = state where=20 these might be in the ocean.

Response: In a recent = letter to=20 NMFS, the Navy=20 added the Costa Rica Dome in the eastern Pacific Ocean to the list of = OBIAs and=20 expanded the Antarctic Convergence Zone OBIA. Also, NMFS, at the request = of=20 NOAA's National Ocean Service, has proposed to add Penguin Bank, off the = Island=20 of Kauai, Hawaii, inside the NOAA's Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale = National=20 Marine Sanctuary (HIHWNMS). These additions are reflected in the = rulemaking at=20 the conclusion of this document. However, NMFS does not agree that more=20 designations are necessary before it can review the Navy small take application. = As=20 mentioned in response to the previous comment, a system has been = proposed by=20 NMFS to afford the public an opportunity to propose new OBIAs. As = knowledge=20 about offshore areas increases over the next few years, new areas can be = nominated if they are determined to provide a critical need for marine = mammals.=20 It should be noted that determinations regarding the impact of the = proposed=20 activities will be based on operation of SURTASS LFA sonar without any = OBIAs=20 that might be proposed in the future.

Comment 27: NMFS = should=20 ensure that the coastal exclusion zone applies to islands as well as = continents,=20 regardless of size, as these waters contain some of the rarest and = bio-rich=20 marine habitat in the world.

Response: The Navy proposes to restrict the = 180 dB=20 isopleth from the SURTASS LFA sonar to outside 12 nm (22 km) of any = coastline in=20 the world. This would include coastlines of offshore islands, such as = Hawaii.=20

Comment 28: One commenter recommended NMFS impose a = condition,=20 if the authorization is granted, limiting received sound levels to 150 = dB or=20 less in Hawaii State waters and in additional areas in the HIHWNMS lying = outside=20 of state waters.

Response: The Navy believes that, by = imposing a=20 mitigation measure of an SPL no greater than 180 dB for SURTASS LFA = sonar at 12=20 nm (22 km) of any coastline in the world, SPLs greater than 150 dB (from = the=20 SURTASS LFA sonar) should not occur within Hawaiian State waters. If a = state or=20 other organizations can provide documentation that state waters need = additional=20 protection, they can provide the documentation and petition NMFS = proposing such=20 restrictions as a mitigation measure, as described in response to = previous=20 comments. NMFS notes, however, that there are numerous other sources of=20 anthropogenic noise within coastal waters that far exceed 150 dB for = which=20 states have not required similar restrictions.

Similarly, if = more=20 protection is needed for the marine mammals inhabiting the HIHWNMS than = would be=20 provided by making Penguin Bank an OBIA, interested parties can petition =  [*15382]  NMFS=20 to either impose additional mitigation measures to protect a National = Marine=20 Sanctuary's marine mammal resources, or to establish that portion of the = HIHWNMS=20 (or any other National Marine Sanctuary) that extends beyond 12 nm (22 = km) of=20 the coast as an OBIA.

Comment 29: One commenter = recommended=20 mitigation measures include reductions in source level, duty cycle, and = annual=20 transmission hours, none of which, the commenter believes, has as yet = been=20 operationally justified as having the least practicable adverse impact = on marine=20 mammals.

Response: As stated previously, NMFS does not=20 authorize the activity and does not have the expertise to determine what = source=20 levels, transmission hours or duty cycles would be appropriate for = SURTASS LFA=20 sonar mitigation without affecting the efficiency of the system. Similar = concerns have been provided to the Navy as comments to the draft = OEIS/EIS=20 and have been addressed in the final OEIS/EIS. NMFS will review the = final=20 OEIS/EIS for the Navy's response to these = suggestions=20 prior to making a final determination on whether the incidental = harassment=20 takings by SURTASS LFA sonar is at the lowest level practicable.=20

Comment 30: One commenter recommended the use of = ramp-up=20 procedures to protect marine mammals.

Response: The = Navy=20 proposed in its application to employ a 5-minute ramp-up during the HFM3 = sonar=20 transmissions. Since the HFM3 sonar will be operating for a minimum of = 30=20 minutes prior to initiation of SURTASS LFA sonar, ramp-up of the SURTASS = LFA=20 sonar is not necessary.

Comment 31: One commenter = recommended=20 that mitigation measures include replacement of LFA to the extent = practicable=20 with new passive acoustic technologies, such as the Advanced Deployable = System=20 (ADS) which is currently being tested off the California coast.=20

Response: The ADS is not a mitigation measure for = SURTASS LFA=20 but is an entirely different system that is not under consideration for = takings=20 under this proposed rulemaking. The Navy has addressed other = acoustic=20 technologies in greater detail in the final OEIS/EIS. NMFS must state = again that=20 it does not authorize the activity, only the taking of marine mammals = incidental=20 to the activity. For SURTASS LFA sonar, that activity is authorized by = the=20 Secretary of the Navy.=20 It is for the Navy=20 to decide, through its decision-making process, one step of which is the = NEPA=20 process, whether to deploy the SURTASS LFA sonar system.
 =20
Monitoring and Reporting Concerns

Comment = 32:=20 Passive acoustic monitoring to detect marine mammals is questionable. = Will only=20 audible frequencies be monitored, and if so, how will species which = vocalize=20 above our hearing range be detected? To evaluate the validity of = acoustic=20 monitoring for cetaceans, the proportion of the time each species = vocalizes...=20 will need to be determined. There are some species of cetaceans = (particularly=20 beaked whales) for which nothing is known about the frequency range = produced by=20 vocalizing animals.

Response: NMFS believes these = comments=20 developed because there was insufficient information on passive acoustic = monitoring in the draft OEIS/EIS. Passive acoustic monitoring will be=20 accomplished using the SURTASS LFA sonar horizontal towed array whose = detection=20 capabilities are in the same general frequency range as that of the = transmit=20 array (i.e., below 500 Hz). As a result, it will not detect = vocalizations from=20 all marine mammal species, and is the reason why the Navy only considers this = monitoring=20 method at 5 percent efficiency. The Navy anticipates that the = passive=20 acoustic monitoring program will be used simply to cue the HFM3 sonar to = the=20 presence of vocalizing mammals. It should be understood that an operator = need=20 not be able to distinguish species by vocalizations here, only that they = be=20 capable of distinguishing between these sounds and those of other = underwater=20 sounds. Highly trained Navy sonar technicians are = very=20 proficient at distinguishing between the two sounds. NMFS believes, = moreover,=20 that the LTM program will provide needed data on the adequacy of the = monitoring=20 methodology over the first few years of operation.

Comment = 33:=20 Research and development of passive acoustic and other technologies for=20 monitoring marine mammals within a wide radius of the source; and = verification=20 of Navy's as-yet unproven and = potentially=20 harmful HFM3 system, should be accomplished before operations begin. One = commenter questioned whether the HFM3 sonar should have an OEIS/EIS of = its own=20 (i.e., be subject to NEPA).

Response: First, NMFS = questions the=20 commenter's statement that the HFM3 sonar is potentially harmful. Table = 4-11 of=20 the application compares the HFM3 sonar with other standard "fish = finding"=20 sonars. Due solely to a 10-20 kHz lower frequency and lower = reverberation, the=20 HFM3 has an increased range for detecting marine mammals and other sea = life. At=20 this time, NMFS has no evidence that "fish-finding" sonars are harmful = to marine=20 mammals. Because the HFM3 sonar is fully discussed in the draft = OEIS/EIS, NMFS=20 does not believe that the Navy's use of = fish-finding-type sonars,=20 like the HFM3, are subject to NEPA, separate from the draft (and final)=20 OEIS/EIS.

Second, NMFS has stated previously in this document = that,=20 until the Navy=20 provides documentation supporting its claim that the HFM3 is 70 percent=20 effective, NMFS plans to calculate incidental take levels using just the = geographic mitigation. The Navy has the option to = provide=20 additional information on the effectiveness of the HFM3 sonar during = this=20 rulemaking that NMFS may use during its final determination on this = action.=20

NMFS does not believe the MMPA requires a delay in the issuance = of an=20 authorization until mitigation or alternative technology proves = effective (as=20 long as a negligible impact determination can be made), only that the = taking be=20 reduced to the lowest level practicable. However, NMFS encourages the = Navy=20 and others to undertake research into more effective passive acoustics.=20

Comment 34: Given the long dive times of many species = of marine=20 mammals, 30 minutes of monitoring prior to start up is inappropriate. = The=20 commenter recommends 1-2 hours prior to starting up the SURTASS LFA.=20

Response: NMFS does not believe that a time period = greater than=20 30 minutes should be required for visual, passive and active acoustic = monitoring=20 considering the relatively small area of the SURTASS LFA sonar safety = zone, and=20 because, unlike many other activities which (in order to mitigate marine = mammal=20 takings) employ only visual monitoring, SURTASS LFA sonar operations = will also=20 employ acoustic systems to locate marine mammals within this safety = zone.=20 Therefore, NMFS proposes here to make a condition of the LOA that visual = monitoring must start no less than 30 minutes prior to starting SURTASS = LFA=20 sonar transmissions, whenever visibility allows such monitoring.=20

Comment 35: Monitoring should include post-transmission = monitoring. This would allow for the detection of changes in behavior = subsequent=20 to transmission.

Response: NMFS agrees and is proposing = that=20 the LOA contain a condition requiring the Navy to conduct visual and = passive=20 acoustic monitoring for a period of time no less than 15 minutes after = the last=20 SURTASS LFA sonar transmission of the sequence  [*15383] =20 (monitoring will also continue between "pings").

Comment = 36:=20 Will NMFS demand that the LTM program data be readily available to = scientists=20 not associated with the LFA or the Office of Naval Research?=20

Response: Reports will be provided by the Navy annually to NMFS under = =A7 216.186.=20 These documents will contain LTM data and will be available to the = public for=20 review.

Comment 37: One commenter recommended = establishment of=20 an extramural, independent board of scientists, policymakers, = environmental=20 advocates, and citizen representatives to review monitoring data and = relevant=20 research and to make recommendations to NMFS, as well as the Navy, for reducing the = system's=20 impacts.

Response: NMFS does not believe that a formal = board is=20 necessary for reviewing monitoring and research reports, and = applications for=20 annual LOAs. Because such a board would probably come under the Federal = Advisory=20 Council Act (FACA) and the requirements under FACA, NMFS recommends that = interested individuals meet as a non-governmental organization and = remain=20 independent from the Federal Government. Members of this board could=20 independently or jointly comment to NMFS, based on annual reports, or = petition=20 NMFS under the APA to amend regulations based on their interpretation of = the=20 reports.
 
Research Concerns

Comment = 38:=20 One commenter recommended the establishment of a clear timetable for = additional=20 research, especially of SURTASS LFA's long term impacts; and a secure = budget for=20 research over the expected life of the program. =

Response: NMFS=20 cannot require the Navy=20 to undertake a particular level and type of research, outside the = purview of=20 this proposed Authorization. NMFS can however, and does, strongly = encourages the=20 Navy=20 to undertake research to determine impacts on species of marine mammals = that may=20 potentially be affected by LF sounds. NMFS notes that its preliminary = negligible=20 impact determination is based on research conducted by independent = scientists,=20 funded by the U.S. Navy,=20 on 3 species of balaenopterid whales, that were determined most likely = to be=20 affected by SURTASS LFA sonar noise. The Navy has provided information = in the=20 final OEIS/EIS on the potential effects of SURTASS LFA sonar on = additional=20 species, including, to the extent practicable, sperm whales, beaked = whales,=20 other odontocetes and pinnipeds. NMFS expects the Navy will provide NMFS with a = detailed=20 plan for research.
 
LOA Concerns =

Comment=20 39: One commenter questioned whether NMFS' proposal to issue an LOA = to each=20 vessel as it becomes operational would mean that each LOA for each ship = will=20 consist of a 5-year permit for the taking of marine mammals, making the=20 effective permit for LFA operations a total of 10 years if the last = vessel=20 becomes operational in FY 2004. This is not acceptable and the ANPR = should be=20 withdrawn as it was not analyzed as such in the draft OEIS/EIS. Another=20 commenter considers it inappropriate for the Navy to request a 5-year = authorization=20 for up to 4 vessels, in part because procurement and development = schedules are=20 not sufficiently guaranteed. This commenter recommended issuing LOAs for = each=20 vessel just prior to operational status.

Response: = These=20 regulations are proposed to be effective for a period of 5 years, from = the date=20 of issuance. An LOA cannot be issued until the regulations are effective = and=20 cannot exist beyond the expiration date of the regulations. Under the = proposed=20 regulations, LOAs would be issued for 1 year and would be renewed = annually. An=20 LOA would be issued for each SURTASS LFA sonar system, once that system = becomes=20 operational and is deployed on a vessel.

Comment 40: = One=20 commenter recommended use of an annual system of reporting and = reauthorization=20 that requires the Navy=20 to specify, pursuant to the MMPA, each geographical region to be = affected by its=20 intended operations.

Response: NMFS concurs and has = established=20 a system for an annual submission of a list of geographic areas for = operations=20 and for reporting annually on their activity.

Comment = 41: One=20 commenter recommended that each LOA must specify a maximum number of = takes by=20 species, population and region for each vessel, establish a monitoring = system to=20 warn of impending maximums, and include restrictions on the further use = of LFA=20 for any purpose if the maximum take is reached. =

Response:=20 Establishing and enforcing quotas under an LOA is practical only when = timely=20 reporting of incidental takings can be accomplished, when NMFS can = conduct an=20 analysis of the data within the period of validity of an LOA, and when = the=20 affected marine mammal stocks would be disadvantaged by exceeding a = certain=20 level. In the case of SURTASS LFA sonar, the Navy has stated that the data = from the=20 LTM program cannot be available in real-time because of post-mission = analysis=20 requirements including declassification of sensitive national security=20 information. In its application, the Navy has proposed that this = information=20 be provided to NMFS annually. NMFS intends to review this information = (in=20 addition to other information) to ensure that the determinations made = during=20 this rulemaking (i.e., that the taking is small and having no more than = a=20 negligible impact on affected species and stocks of marine mammals) are=20 appropriate.

In addition, as noted in the application, = incidental take=20 levels are estimated as a percentage of the population, and not as = individual=20 numbers of animals, and the monitoring proposed by the Navy is to ensure that Level = A=20 harassment is reduced to the lowest level practicable. As a result, as = presently=20 designed, NMFS does not consider it practical to establish, and enforce, = a quota=20 system.
 
ESA Concerns

Comment = 42:=20 Commenters were concerned that the Navy did not also request = that=20 threatened and endangered marine turtle species, and endangered fish = species be=20 included under the MMPA authorization.

Response: Other = than=20 marine mammals, threatened and endangered species of marine life are not = protected under the MMPA; however, they are provided protection under = the ESA.=20 Under section 7 of the ESA, the U.S. Navy requested initiation of = formal=20 consultation with NMFS on October 4, 1999. This consultation will be = concluded=20 prior to a determination on issuance of a final rule and any MMPA = authorization.=20 If appropriate, NMFS will authorize takings of marine species listed as=20 threatened or endangered under the ESA incidental to SURTASS LFA sonar = to the=20 Navy=20 through an Incidental Take Statement issued under section 7 of the ESA.=20
 
NEPA Concerns

Comment 43: The = U.S.=20 Navy=20 has submitted an application for an incidental take of marine mammals, = and NMFS=20 has accepted that application, prior to close of the comment period of = the draft=20 OEIS/EIS under NEPA. Processing the Navy application should be = delayed=20 until after the Navy=20 has completed its NEPA responsibilities.

Response: NMFS = does=20 not believe that delaying the incidental small take authorization = process until=20 completion of NEPA documentation would be appropriate. Both the Council = on=20 Environmental Quality (CEQ)  [*15384] =20 regulations (40 CFR 1502.5(d)) and NOAA's NEPA guidelines provide for = proposed=20 regulations to accompany a draft NEPA document. As a cooperating agency = in the=20 preparation of the OEIS/EIS, which NMFS may adopt as its own NEPA = document, the=20 Navy=20 draft OEIS/EIS is the key NEPA document for the NMFS action. Not = beginning the=20 small take authorization/ regulatory process until completion of NEPA=20 requirements would lead to unnecessary and potentially extensive delays = in=20 processing applications, a key problem previously recognized by Congress = in=20 1994, when it amended the MMPA to expedite authorizations under the = small take=20 program. Under NEPA, NMFS may not make final regulations governing the = taking of=20 marine mammals effective for at least 30 days after an action agency = releases a=20 Final EIS on the action. However, because publication of this rulemaking = document was delayed for several months, the Navy's final OEIS/EIS was = released=20 prior to release of this rulemaking.

Comment 44: What = exactly=20 constitutes NMFS being a cooperating agency on a project where NMFS is = legally=20 mandated to play a regulatory role?

Response: CEQ = regulations=20 (40 CFR 1501.6) stipulate that any Federal agency having either = jurisdiction by=20 law, or expertise on subject matter that should be addressed in the = draft EIS,=20 may be a cooperating agency whenever requested. For the Navy's draft OEIS/EIS for = SURTASS LFA=20 sonar, NMFS, as a Federal agency, meets both those criteria. For this = action=20 NMFS' role under NEPA is explained in the letter to the Navy on April 1, 1998 (see = Appendix A,=20 draft OEIS/EIS) and was limited to review and comment on the draft = OEIS/EIS=20 during its preparation. In addition, because the regulations contained = in this=20 notice also constitute a federal action, NMFS also has a NEPA = responsibility.=20 NMFS anticipates that this responsibility will be satisfied by adopting = the=20 Navy's final OEIS/EIS, in = whole or in=20 part, as its own NEPA document when making the final decision on the = issuance of=20 the small take authorization, in accordance with 40 CFR 1506.3.=20

Comment 45: There appears to be a conflict of interest = when the=20 same person listed in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT = is also=20 listed as a preparer of the draft OEIS/EIS.

Response: = NMFS=20 disagrees, noting that as a Federal agency, NMFS has NEPA = responsibilities for=20 the proposed issuance of a small take authorization to the U.S. Navy. Knowing that the Navy's SURTASS LFA sonar had = the=20 potential to take marine mammals incidental to it operation, and, that = there was=20 consideration being given at the time that an incidental, small take = application=20 would be submitted by the U.S. Navy, NMFS, on April 1, 1998, = agreed to=20 be a cooperating agency, as defined by the CEQ regulations (40 CFR = 1501.6), on=20 the preparation of the U.S. Navy draft OEIS/EIS on = SURTASS LFA=20 sonar. NMFS provided guidance to the U.S. Navy on the OEIS/EIS = preparation so=20 that the document could satisfy both agency's NEPA responsibilities. = Whether it=20 has done so will be determined upon NMFS' review of the final OEIS/EIS.=20

Comment 46: Several commenters concluded that it would = be=20 irresponsible for NMFS to issue regulations and authorizations based on = the=20 insufficiency, and unsubstantiated claims in the draft OEIS/EIS.=20

Response: NMFS must make its determinations under = section=20 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA based on the best scientific information = available. At=20 this time, most, if not all, of that information is contained in the = draft (and=20 final) OEIS/EIS. NMFS expects that necessary corrections that were = brought to=20 the Navy's attention during the = comment=20 period on the draft OEIS/EIS will be addressed and, if necessary, = updated in the=20 final OEIS/EIS. NMFS will not promulgate final regulations nor make any=20 determinations under section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA until the Navy and NMFS have both met = their NEPA=20 responsibilities.
 
Other Concerns =

Comment=20 47: On what basis does NMFS state that this proposed action is not=20 significant for purposes of Executive Order (E.O.) 12866? The draft = OEIS/EIS=20 does not refer to any costs whatsoever, yet the Navy has been reported as = having spent=20 from $ 350 million to $ 1.45 billion on SURTASS LFA sonar to date. Until = the=20 true costs of the entire program are stated, and a cost-benefit analysis = conducted per E.O. 12866, the ANPR should be withdrawn.=20

Response: E.O. 12866, "Regulatory Planning and Review," = among=20 other things, requires a Federal agency to determine whether a = regulation it is=20 proposing is significant. This regulation has been determined to be = significant.=20 For a regulation to require a cost-benefit analysis, the regulation (not = the=20 activity itself) must have an annual effect on the economy of $ 100 = million or=20 more or adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of the = economy,=20 productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or = safety, or=20 state, local, or tribal governments or communities. Since NMFS is = promulgating=20 regulations regarding the incidental taking of marine mammals, and these = regulations materially affect only the U.S. Navy, NMFS has determined = that these=20 regulations do not have an annual effect on the economy of $ 100 million = or more=20 or adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of the = economy,=20 productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or = safety, or=20 state, local, or tribal governments or communities. NMFS has determined = that=20 these regulations do not require a full cost-benefit analysis (see=20 Classification).
 
Affected Marine Mammal = Species=20

In the Navy=20 draft OEIS/EIS analysis and small take application, the Navy excluded from take = consideration=20 those marine mammal species that either do not inhabit the areas wherein = SURTASS=20 LFA sonar would operate or do not possess sensory mechanisms that allow = the=20 mammal to perceive LF sounds. Where data were not available or were = insufficient=20 for one species, comparable data for a related species were used, if = available.=20 Because all species of baleen whales produce LF sounds, and anatomical = evidence=20 strongly suggests that their inner ears are well adapted for LF hearing, = all=20 balaenopterid species are considered sensitive to LF sound and at risk = from=20 exposure to LF sounds. The ten species of baleen whales that may be = affected by=20 SURTASS LFA sonar are blue (Balaenoptera musculus), fin=20 (Balaenoptera physalus), minke (Balaenoptera = acutorostrata),=20 Bryde's (Balaenoptera edeni), sei (Balaenoptera = borealis),=20 humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae), northern right = (Eubalaena=20 glacialis), southern right (Eubalaena australis), pygmy = right=20 (Capera marginata), and gray (Eschrichtius robustus) = whales.=20

The odontocetes (toothed whales) that may be affected because = they=20 inhabit the deeper, offshore waters where SURTASS LFA sonar might = operate=20 include both the pelagic (oceanic) whales and dolphins and those coastal = species=20 that also occur in deep water including harbor porpoise, beluga, = Stenella=20 spp., Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), rough-toothed = dolphin=20 (Steno bredanensis), Fraser's dolphin (Lagenodelphis = hosei),=20 right-whale dolphin (Lissodelphis spp.), Lagenorhynchus = spp.,=20 Cephalorhynchus spp., bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops = truncatus),=20 common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), Dall's porpoise = (Phocoenoides=20 dalli), melon-headed whale (Peponocephala spp.), beaked = whales=20 (Berardius spp., Hyperoodon spp., Mesoplodon = spp.,=20 Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), Shepard's  [*15385]  beaked whale = (Tasmacetus=20 shepherdi), Longman's beaked whale (Indopacetus = pacificus), killer=20 whale (Orcinus orca), false killer whale (Pseudorca=20 crassidens), pygmy killer whale (Feresa attenuata), sperm = whale=20 (Physeter macrocephalus), dwarf and pygmy sperm whales = (Kogia=20 simus and K. breviceps), and short-finned and long-finned = pilot=20 whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus and G. melas).=20

Potentially affected pinnipeds include hooded seals, harbor = seals=20 (Phoca vitulina), spotted seal (P. largha), ribbon = seal=20 (P. fasciata), gray seal (Halichoerus grypus), = elephant seals=20 (Mirounga angustirostris and M. leonina), Hawaiian = monk seals=20 (Monachus schauinslandi), Mediterranean monk seals = (Monachus=20 monachus), northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus); = southern fur=20 seals (Arctocephalus spp.), Steller sea lion (Eumetopias=20 jubatus), California sea lions (Zalophus californianus),=20 Australian sea lions (Neophoca cinerea), New Zealand sea lions=20 (Phocarctos hookeri), and South American sea lions (Otaria=20 flavescens).

A description of affected marine mammal = species, their=20 biology, and the criteria used to determine those species that have the=20 potential for taking by harassment are provided and explained in detail = in the=20 Navy=20 application and draft OEIS/EIS and, although not be repeated here, are=20 considered part of the record of decision on this = matter.=20
 
Impacts to Marine Mammals

The = effects of=20 underwater noise on marine mammals are highly variable, and can be = categorized=20 as follows (based on Richardson et al., 1995): (1) The noise = may be too=20 weak to be heard at the location of the animal (i.e. lower than the = prevailing=20 ambient noise level, the hearing threshold of the animal at relevant=20 frequencies, or both); (2) the noise may be audible but not strong = enough to=20 elicit any overt behavioral response; (3) the noise may elicit = behavioral=20 reactions of variable conspicuousness and variable relevance to the well = being=20 of the animal; these can range from subtle effects on respiration or = other=20 behaviors (detectable only by statistical analysis) to active avoidance=20 reactions; (4) upon repeated exposure, animals may exhibit diminishing=20 responsiveness (habituation), or disturbance effects may persist (the = latter is=20 most likely with sounds that are highly variable in characteristics,=20 unpredictable in occurrence, and associated with situations that the = animal=20 perceives as a threat); (5) any human-made noise that is strong enough = to be=20 heard has the potential to reduce (mask) the ability of marine mammals = to hear=20 natural sounds at similar frequencies, including calls from = conspecifics,=20 echolocation sounds of odontocetes, and environmental sounds such as = surf noise;=20 and (6) very strong sounds have the potential to cause temporary or = permanent=20 reduction in hearing sensitivity.

The analysis of potential = impacts on=20 marine mammals from SURTASS LFA sonar was developed by the Navy based on the results of = a=20 literature review, the Navy's LF Sound Scientific = Research=20 Program (LFS SRP), and a complex, comprehensive program of underwater = acoustical=20 modeling. To assess the potential impact on marine mammals by the = SURTASS LFA=20 sonar source operating at a given site, it was necessary for the Navy=20 to predict the sound field that a given marine mammal species could be = exposed=20 to over time. This is a multi-part process involving (1) the ability to = measure=20 or estimate an animal's location in space and time, (2) the ability to = measure=20 or estimate the three-dimensional sound field at these times and = locations, (3)=20 the integration of these two data sets to estimate the total acoustic = exposure=20 for each animal in the modeled population, (4) converting the resultant=20 cumulative exposures for a modeled population into an estimate of the = risk from=20 a significant disturbance of a biologically important behavior, and (5)=20 converting these estimates of behavioral risk into an assessment of risk = in=20 terms of the level of potential biological removal.

Next, as = discussed=20 later in this document, a relationship for converting the resultant = cumulative=20 exposures for a modeled population into an estimate of the risk to the = entire=20 population of a significant disruption of a biologically important = behavior and=20 of injury was developed. This process assessed risk in relation to = received=20 level (RL) and repeated exposure. The resultant "risk continuum" is = based on the=20 assumption that the threshold of risk is variable and occurs over a = range of=20 conditions rather than at a single threshold.

Taken together, = the LFS=20 SRP results, the acoustical modeling, and the risk assessment, provide = an=20 estimate of potential environmental impacts to marine mammals. =

The=20 acoustical modeling process was accomplished using the Navy's standard acoustical = performance=20 prediction transmission loss model-Parabolic Equation (PE) version 3.4. = The=20 results of this model are the primary input to the Acoustic Integration = Model=20 (AIM). AIM was used to estimate marine mammal sound exposures and = essentially=20 integrates simulated movements (including dive patterns) of marine = mammals, a=20 schedule of SURTASS LFA sonar transmissions, and the predicted sound = field for=20 each transmission to estimate acoustic exposure during a hypothetical = SURTASS=20 LFA sonar operation. Description of the PE and AIM models, including AIM = input=20 parameters for animal movement, diving behavior, and marine mammal = distribution,=20 abundance, and density are described in detail in the Navy application and the = draft OEIS/EIS=20 and are not discussed further in this document. NMFS recommends = reviewers read=20 these documents if additional information is desired.

Using the = AIM=20 model, the Navy=20 developed 31 acoustic modeling scenarios for the major ocean regions = (which are=20 described in the application and draft OEIS/EIS). Locations were = carefully=20 selected by the Navy=20 to represent the highest potential effects for each of the three major = ocean=20 acoustic regimes where SURTASS LFA sonar would be employed. These = acoustic=20 regimes were: (1) Deep-water convergence propagation zone, (2) near = surface duct=20 propagation zone, and (3) shallow water bottom interaction propagation = zone.=20 These scenarios represent the condition under which, on average, the = greatest=20 number of animals could be exposed to the greatest number of pings at = the=20 highest RLs and were considered the most severe conditions that could be = expected from operation of the SURTASS LFA sonar system. Thus, if = SURTASS LFA=20 sonar operations were conducted in an area that was not acoustically = modeled,=20 the Navy=20 believes the potential effects would most likely be less than those = obtained=20 from the most similar scenario in the analysis. The modeled scenarios = were then=20 used by the Navy=20 to estimate the percentages of marine mammal stocks potentially = affected.=20
 
Risk Analysis

In order to determine the=20 potential impacts that exposure to LF sound from SURTASS LFA sonar = operations=20 could have on marine mammals, biological risk standards were defined by = the=20 Navy=20 with associated measurement parameters. Based on the MMPA, the potential = for=20 biological risk was defined as the probability for injury or behavioral=20 harassment of marine mammals. In this analysis, behavioral harassment is = defined=20 as a significant disturbance of a biologically important behavior. The = potential=20 for biological risk is a function of an animal's exposure to a sound = that would=20 potentially cause hearing, behavioral, psychological or physiological = effects.=20 The measurement parameters for  [*15386] =20 determining exposure were RLs in dB, the length of the signal (ping), = and the=20 number of pings received.

The Navy interprets the results = of the LFS=20 SRP to justify use of unlimited exposure during a mission to 120 dB as = the=20 lowest value for risk. Below this level, the risk of a biologically = significant=20 response from marine mammals approaches zero. It is important to note = that risk=20 varies with both level and number of exposures.

In the draft = OEIS/EIS=20 and small take application, the Navy calculated the risks for = take by=20 non-serious injury based on criteria of 180 dB, which, based on Ridgway = et=20 al. (1997), is a conservative value for the onset of a minor TTS in = hearing. Ridgway et al. 's (1997) measurement at one-second = duration=20 implies that the TTS threshold for a 100-second signal would be between = 182 and=20 172 dB, depending upon the formula used (Navy, 1999). The Navy believes that the 180-dB = single=20 ping equivalent (SPE) criterion can be considered conservative. However, = as=20 mentioned previously in this document, in order for marine mammals to = incur=20 serious injury, the RL would need to be significantly higher, and = therefore, the=20 marine mammal would have to be much closer to the SURTASS LFA sonar = array than=20 the 1 km (0.54 nm) radius around the vertical array which delineates the = 180 dB=20 sound field. With three levels of mitigation monitoring for detecting = marine=20 mammals (described later in this document (see Mitigation)), it is = unlikely that=20 any marine mammal would get that close before either turning away from = the=20 annoyance, or being detected and the SURTASS LFA sonar shut down. = However,=20 because the probability is not zero, the Navy has included this = scenario in its=20 authorization request.

Because the LFS SRP failed to document = any=20 extended biologically significant response at maximum RLs up to 150 dB, = the=20 Navy=20 determined that there was a 2.5-percent value of a risk of an animal = incurring a=20 disruption of biologically important behavior at an SPL of 150 dB, a = 50-percent=20 risk at 165 dB, and a 95-percent risk at 180 dB.

This analysis = of risk=20 is used by the Navy=20 as an alternative to an all-or-nothing use of standard thresholds for = the onset=20 of either behavioral change or injury. The subsequent discussion of risk = function emphasizes the advantages of using a smoothly varying model of=20 biological risk in relation to sound exposure. However, for the purposes = of=20 estimating the number of individuals that could potentially be injured = from=20 SURTASS LFA sonar operations, this document uses a simpler calculation. = Given=20 the low numbers of individual marine mammals that could potentially = experience=20 high received levels, the added complexity of an "injury continuum" was = not=20 deemed necessary by the Navy.

When SURTASS = LFA sonar=20 transmits, there is a boundary which will enclose a volume in which = received=20 levels exceed 180 dB, and a volume outside this boundary which = experiences=20 received levels below 180 dB. In this analysis, the 180-dB boundary is=20 emphasized because it represents a single-ping RL that can be considered = to be a=20 scientifically reasonable estimate for the potential onset of harm or = injury.=20 Therefore, the level of risk for marine mammals depends on their = location in=20 relation to SURTASS LFA sonar. As mentioned previously, the Navy scientific team = established the=20 threshold for risk of harm as a single ping at 180 dB (Navy, 1999b). Harm was = defined in this=20 context as onset TTS. Under the Navy proposal, a marine = mammal would=20 have to receive one ping greater than, or equal to 180 dB or many pings = at a=20 slightly lower RL to potentially incur non-serious injury. For serious = injury,=20 the animal would have to be well within the 180-dB sound field at the = onset of a=20 transmission.

However, NMFS scientists and other scientists are = in=20 general agreement that TTS is not an injury (i.e., does not result in = tissue=20 damage) but is an impairment to hearing (resulting in an increased = elevation in=20 hearing sensitivity) that may last for a few minutes to a few days, = depending=20 upon the level and duration of exposure. In addition, there is no = evidence that=20 TTS would occur in marine mammals at an SPL of 180 dB, and, in fact, = Schlundt=20 et al. (2000) indicates that onset TTS, for at least some = species,=20 occurs at significantly higher SPLs. Therefore, in this document, NMFS = makes=20 clear that, although TTS is not an injury (i.e., Level A harassment), = because=20 PTS is considered an injury (Level A harassment), and because scientists = have=20 noted that a range of only 15-20 dB may exist between the onset of TTS = and the=20 onset of PTS, TTS is considered by NMFS to be in the upper portion of = the Level=20 B harassment zone (near the lower end of the Level A harassment zone).=20 Therefore, onset PTS, not onset TTS, is considered by NMFS to be the = lower end=20 of Level A harassment. NMFS believes that establishing TTS at the upper = end of=20 the Level B harassment zone is both precautionary and warranted by the = science.=20 However, mitigation measures, such as establishing safety zones, should = be=20 applied whenever a marine mammal has the potential to incur a TTS in = hearing in=20 order to prevent an animal incurring a PTS injury.

While, the = Navy=20 believes that the probability of a marine mammal occurring within the = 180-dB=20 sound field at the onset of a transmission is nearly zero because of the = proposed monitoring program (described later in this document), because = the=20 monitoring is not 100 percent effective, some Level A harassment takings = still=20 need to be considered possible.

Before the biological risk = standards=20 could be applied to realistic SURTASS LFA sonar operational scenarios, = two=20 factors had to be considered by the Navy which resulted in the = development=20 of the risk continuum approach: (1) How does risk vary with repeated = sound=20 exposure? and (2) how does risk vary with RL? These questions have been=20 addressed by the Navy=20 by developing a function that translates the history of repeated = exposures (as=20 calculated in the AIM) into an equivalent RL for a single exposure with = a=20 comparable risk. This approach is similar to those adopted by previous = studies=20 of risk to human hearing (Richardson et al., 1995; Crocker, = 1997).=20
 
Effects of Repeated Exposure

It is = intuitive to=20 assume that effects would be greater for repeated exposures than for a = single=20 ping. However, because no published data on repeated exposures of LF = sound on=20 marine mammals exist, the Navy turned to the most = applicable=20 human data. Based on the analysis of Richardson et al. (1995) = and=20 Kryter (1985), the potential for effects of repeated exposure on marine = mammals=20 was modeled on the extensive data available for human subjects. Based on = discussion in Richardson et al. (1995) and consistent with Crocker = (1997), the=20 Navy=20 determined that the best scientific information available is based on = human=20 model and, therefore, the formula L + 5log[10](N) (where L =3D ping = level in dB=20 and N is the number of pings) defines the single ping equivalent (SPE). = This=20 formula then is considered appropriate for assessing the risk to a = marine mammal=20 from a significant disturbance of a biologically important behavior from = LF=20 sound like SURTASS LFA sonar transmissions.
  =
Estimation of=20 Potential Effect to Marine Mammal Stocks

The potential = effects on=20 marine mammals from operation of SURTASS LFA sonar will not cause the = direct=20 removal of animals, but may result in a small reduction of an affected=20 individual animal's overall reproductive  [*15387] =20 success. Based on AIM modeling results, the primary effects are from the = potential for a significant disturbance of a biologically important = behavior.=20

To estimate the percentage of marine mammal stocks affected on a = yearly=20 basis, the typical annual operating schedule for SURTASS LFA sonar was=20 correlated by the Navy=20 to the modeled site scenarios. Even though the Navy may not have the maximum = number of=20 systems operating during the next 5 years, its analysis incorporated = four=20 systems with six operations each annually. With two vessels in the=20 Pacific/Indian Ocean area and two vessels in the Atlantic/Mediterranean = area,=20 the Navy=20 estimates there could be up to 12 operations in each of these oceanic = basin=20 areas. Using a total of 12 operations in each large geographic area = (e.g.,=20 Eastern North Pacific, Western North Atlantic), the Navy calculated take = estimates based on=20 a 20-day exercise (actually under the nominal schedule mentioned = previously in=20 this document the Navy=20 proposes two 9-day exercises or a total of 18 days, not 20 days of = exercise).=20 NMFS concurs with this approach but notes that because only 2 SURTASS = LFA sonar=20 vessels will be available through 2002, possibly 3 vessels during 2003, = and=20 possibly 4 vessels during 2004 and 2005, the Navy's projected incidental = harassment=20 levels found in the draft OEIS/EIS and application are overestimates of=20 potential harassment levels during the early period of these = regulations. NMFS=20 estimates, therefore, that there would be a total of 12 active missions = annually=20 during the first two years of these regulations (6 in each ocean basin), = 18=20 during the third year (6 in one ocean basin, 12 in the other), and the = maximum=20 of 24 active missions during the last 2 years of these regulations (12 = in each=20 of the two ocean basins).

AIM Modeling in Table 4-10 in the = application=20 (Table 4.2-10 in the draft OEIS/EIS) provides estimates of the = percentage of=20 stocks potentially affected for single SURTASS LFA sonar operations. = Tables 4-12=20 and 4-13 in the application (Tables 4.2-12 and 4.2-13 in the draft = OEIS/EIS)=20 provide an example of annual total estimates of percentages of marine = mammal=20 stocks potentially affected by a total of 24 operations (12 in each of = the two=20 ocean basins). As mentioned previously however, this number of = operations are=20 unlikely until the latter part of the effectiveness period of these = regulations.=20 Also, because each oceanic area is assumed to contain one or more = discrete=20 stocks of each affected species, these estimates are not additive when=20 determining effects on marine mammal stocks. It should also be = recognized that=20 the scenarios chosen by the Navy are not the only = possible=20 combinations of where the SURTASS LFA sonar will operate. The potential = effects=20 from other scenarios can be estimated by those so wishing to do so by=20 presupposing the areas in which the Navy would conduct SURTASS = LFA sonar=20 operations annually in each oceanic basin area, determining from Table = 4-10 the=20 percentage of each stock that may potentially be affected, and adding = those=20 percentages together for each affected stock. This is what NMFS proposes = to do=20 annually for each LOA issued. Also, as pertinent new information becomes = available that would improve the Navy model, NMFS anticipates = that the=20 Navy=20 could rerun the AIM models and recalculate take estimates. For this = document=20 however, NMFS is preliminarily adopting the Navy estimates shown in = Tables 4-12 and=20 4-13 as the best information available in that they are based on the = most likely=20 scenario with two systems operating in each of the two oceanic areas. As = indicated either by using these two tables, or by choosing a different=20 combination of potential geographic areas for SURTASS LFA sonar = operations=20 derived from Table 4-10, NMFS believes that the potential effect by = SURTASS LFA=20 sonar operations will be limited to only small percentages of the = affected=20 stocks of marine mammals and that potential effect will be limited to = incidental=20 harassment that will not adversely affecting the stock through annual = rates of=20 recruitment or survival.
 
Mitigation for Marine=20 Mammals

This document preliminarily adopts the Navy proposal to use visual, = passive=20 acoustic, and active acoustic monitoring of the area surrounding the = SURTASS LFA=20 sonar array to prevent the incidental injury of marine mammals that = might enter=20 the 1 km (0.54 nm) safety zone. The three monitoring systems are = described in=20 the following section of this document. If a marine mammal (or sea = turtle) was=20 detected within the 1 km (0.54 nm) safety zone SURTASS LFA sonar = transmissions=20 would be immediately delayed or suspended. Transmissions could = commence/resume=20 15 minutes after the marine mammal/sea turtle had left the area of the = 180 dB=20 sound field or there was no further detection of the animal within the = 180 dB=20 sound field. The protocol established by the Navy for implementing this = temporary=20 shut-down is described in the application (pages 10-11). SURTASS LFA = sonar=20 operators would be required to estimate SPLs prior to and during each = operation=20 to provide the information necessary to modify the operation, including = delay or=20 suspension of transmissions, in order not to exceed the mitigation sound = field=20 criteria.

The Navy has proposed that the = SURTASS LFA=20 sonar operations would be conducted to ensure that the sound field does = not=20 exceed 180 dB (i.e., the zone of potential for injury to marine mammals) = within=20 12 nm (22 km) of any coastline, including islands, nor in OBIAs that are = outside=20 the 12 nm (22 km) zone during the biologically important season(s) for = that=20 particular area. It should be noted that the 12 nm (22 km) safety zone=20 restriction includes almost all marine-related critical habitats and = National=20 Marine Sanctuaries. Areas critical for marine mammals that are outside = this=20 safety zone can be nominated as an OBIA. This process was described = earlier in=20 this document.

In addition, to establishing a safety zone at 180 = dB to=20 protect marine mammals and other noise sensitive marine animals, the = Navy=20 has proposed to establish a safety zone for human divers at 145 dB re 1=20 microPa(rms) around all known human commercial and recreational diving = sites.=20 Although this geographic restriction is intended to protect human = divers, its=20 imposition will also reduce the LF sound levels received by marine = mammals that=20 are located in the vicinity of known dive sites.

The Navy has proposed = establishing OBIAs=20 for marine mammal protection. These areas are defined as those areas of = the=20 world's oceans where marine mammals congregate in high densities to = carry out=20 biologically important activities such as feeding, migration, breeding, = and=20 calving. To date, the U.S. Navy has proposed three sites = as OBIAs=20 for SURTASS LFA sonar under these regulations. These areas are: (1) the = North=20 American East Coast between 30 [degrees] N and 50 [degrees] N from west = of 40=20 [degrees] W to the 200-m (656 ft) isobath; (2) the Antarctic Convergence = Zone,=20 from 20 [degrees] E to 120 [degrees] E, south of 55 [degrees] S, from = October=20 through March; and (3) the Costa Rica Dome, centered at 9 [degrees] N = and 88=20 [degrees] W, year-round. Also, an area included in this document, at the = request=20 of NOAA's National Ocean Service, is Penguin Bank off the Island of = Kauai,=20 Hawaii, inside the HIHWNMS. In addition, the Navy in its application, and = NMFS in=20 this document, is proposing a system for expanding the list of OBIAs. = This=20 process is described in more detail in NMFS' response to comment 25 = earlier in=20 this document.

It should be recognized however, that the = establishment=20 of OBIAs is not  [*15388] =20 intended to apply to other Navy activities and sonar = operations,=20 but is proposed here as a mitigation measure to reduce incidental = takings by=20 SURTASS LFA sonar because it is practical considering SURTASS LFA = sonar's=20 offshore operation.
 
Monitoring =

In order=20 to minimize risks to potentially affected marine mammals that may be = present in=20 waters surrounding SURTASS LFA sonar, the Navy has proposed to: (1) = Conduct=20 visual monitoring from the ship's bridge during daylight hours, (2) use = passive=20 SURTASS LFA sonar to listen for vocalizing marine mammals; and (3) use = high=20 frequency active sonar (i.e., similar to a commercial fish finder) to=20 monitor/locate/track marine mammals in relation to the SURTASS LFA sonar = vessel=20 and the sound field produced by the SURTASS LFA sonar source array.=20

Through observation, acoustic tracking and establishment of = shut-down=20 criteria, the Navy=20 will ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, that no marine mammals = approach=20 the SURTASS LFA sonar source closely enough to be subjected to = potentially=20 harmful sound levels (inside the 180 dB sound field; approximately 1 km = (0.54=20 nm) from the source). The Navy estimates that the = probability of=20 detecting a marine mammal within the 180 dB sound field of the source = array by=20 at least one of these monitoring methods is between 70 and 99 percent. = However,=20 nominally, an effectiveness of 80 percent is used in the take = calculations. The=20 Navy's assumption = incorporates the=20 70-percent effectiveness of the HFM3 sonar, and an additional = conservative=20 5-percent contribution each for visual and passive monitoring. In = general, the=20 Navy=20 believes that small, solitary marine mammals would be the most difficult = to=20 detect, while large whales and dolphin schools would be much easier to = detect.=20 However, as stated previously in this document, NMFS will not consider = the=20 effectiveness of the HFM3 sonar in reducing the incidental take of = marine=20 mammals by the SURTASS LFA sonar until such time as the Navy has demonstrated its=20 effectiveness. In the meantime, NMFS will adopt only the geographic = mitigation=20 as being effective in reducing takes.

NMFS has reviewed this = Navy=20 proposal and believes that the proposal can be modified to provide = additional=20 protection for marine mammals. Because the HFM3 has the capability to = detect=20 marine mammals, and track them, to a distance of 2 km (1.1 nm) from the = source,=20 NMFS is proposing to require the Navy to terminate = transmissions=20 whenever a marine mammal can receive a calculated SPE of 180 dB within = the zone=20 of detectability. This will require, however, both that the marine = mammal=20 remains within the zone of detectability between "pings" while the = vessel is=20 underway, and for the Navy to continue to monitor = the 2 km=20 (1.1 nm) zone between pings. Because the time between "pings" is 6-15 = minutes,=20 and the Navy=20 has already committed to visual and acoustic monitoring for no less than = 30=20 minutes prior to a "ping," monitoring will continue during the interim = period=20 and marine mammals will continue to be tracked.
 =20
Reporting

During routine operations of = SURTASS LFA=20 sonar, technical and environmental data would be collected and recorded. = These=20 would include data from visual and acoustic monitoring, ocean = environmental=20 measurements, and technical operational inputs. This information would = become=20 part of the data required from the LTM Program.
 =20
Research

The Navy proposes to provide a = LTM program=20 to conduct annual assessments of the potential cumulative impact of = SURTASS LFA=20 sonar operations on the marine environment, provide the necessary = reporting to=20 increase knowledge of the species, and to coordinate research = opportunities and=20 activities. This would include cumulative impact analyses of the = annually=20 tabulated injuries (if any) and harassments over the next 5 years. The = purpose=20 of the LTM program would be to continue scientific data collection once = SURTASS=20 LFA sonar is deployed.

While NMFS believes that research = conducted to=20 date is sufficient to assess impacts on those species of marine mammals = that=20 were identified in public meetings as most susceptible to LF noise, it = believes=20 that it would be prudent to continue research over the course of the = period of=20 effectiveness of these regulations.
 
Proposed LOA=20 Conditions

The proposed regulations have been designed = to allow=20 many of the mitigation, monitoring and reporting requirements to be = detailed in=20 the LOA, rather than in these regulations. This has been done to provide = NMFS=20 the ability to change these protective measures in a prompt manner to = changing=20 conditions. While public comment will be provided for substantial = modifications=20 to LOA requirements before being made effective, modifications can be=20 implemented in a shorter period of time if contained in LOAs than would = be=20 possible if rulemaking were required for each modification. It should be = understood that the public would be provided a comparable length of time = for=20 commenting on LOA modifications (except when NMFS determines that an = emergency=20 exists which impacts on the health and welfare of the marine mammal), = whether or=20 not those requirements were contained in regulations. However, for = security=20 reasons, locations and times for certain operations may need to be = classified=20 and not provided to the public.

In the past, NMFS has = promulgated=20 rulemakings for small take authorizations that did not clearly describe = LOA=20 conditions. For this activity NMFS plans the following conditions (in = addition=20 to, or in clarification of, those found in these regulations). =

(1) Prior=20 to each exercise, the marine mammal safety zone will be measured to = determine=20 the distance from the source to the 180-dB isobleth. That distance will = be the=20 established safety zone for that exercise; and

(2) The Navy must test the = effectiveness of=20 HFM3 at detecting marine mammals within 0.5 km (0.3 nm), 1 km (0.54 nm) = and 2 km=20 (1.1 nm) of the source. A report must be provided to NMFS not later than = 120=20 days prior to the expiration of the first LOA.
 =20
Designation of Biologically Important Marine Mammal = Areas=20

NMFS is proposing to establish a system under this proposed rule = for the=20 public to be able to propose areas for NMFS to consider adding to the = list of=20 biologically important areas for marine mammals. NMFS emphasizes that, = in order=20 for designation, an area must be of particular importance for marine = mammals as=20 an area for primary feeding, breeding, or migration, and not simply an = area=20 occupied by marine mammals. The proposed area should also not be within = a=20 previously designated area. In order for NMFS to begin the rulemaking = process=20 for designating areas of biological importance for marine mammals, = proponents=20 must petition NMFS and submit the information described in =A7 = 216.191(a). If NMFS=20 makes a preliminary determination that the area is biologically = important for=20 marine mammals, NMFS will propose rulemaking to add the recommended area = to the=20 list of previously designated areas. Through notice in the = Federal=20 Register, NMFS will invite information, suggestions, and = comments on=20 the proposal for a period of time not less  [*15389]  than=20 45 days from the date of publication in the Federal = Register.=20 After review of the comments and information, NMFS will make a final = decision on=20 whether to add the recommended area to the list found in =A7 216.183(d). = NMFS will=20 either issue a final rulemaking on the proposal or provide notice in the = Federal Register on its determination. It should be = understood=20 however, that proposals for designation of areas will not affect the = status of=20 LOAs while the rulemaking is in process. NMFS anticipates that the time = between=20 nominating an area and publication of a final determination is likely to = take=20 8-12 months.
 
Preliminary Conclusions=20

Based on the scientific analyses detailed in the Navy application and further = supported=20 by information and data contained in the Navy's draft OEIS/EIS for = SURTASS LFA=20 sonar operations, NMFS concurs with the Navy that the incidental = taking of=20 marine mammals resulting from SURTASS LFA sonar operations would result = in only=20 small numbers (as the term is defined in =A7 216.103) of marine mammals = being=20 taken, have no more than a negligible impact on the affected marine = mammal=20 stocks or habitats and not have an unmitigable adverse impact on Arctic=20 subsistence uses of marine mammals. These conclusions are particularly = supported=20 by the proposed mitigation measures that would be implemented for all = SURTASS=20 LFA sonar operations and the proposed LTM program. This includes = geographic=20 operation restrictions, mitigation measures to prevent injury to any = marine=20 mammals, monitoring and reporting and supplemental research that will = result in=20 increased knowledge of marine mammal species, and the potential impacts = of LF=20 sound on these species. The latter measures offer the means of learning = of,=20 encouraging, and coordinating research opportunities, plans, and = activities=20 relating to reducing the incidental taking of marine mammals from = anthropogenic=20 underwater sound, and evaluating the possible long-term effects from = exposing=20 marine mammals to anthropogenic underwater sound.

In addition to = the=20 mitigation measures described previously, the following factors need to = be=20 considered when determining whether a taking would be negligible: (1) = The small=20 number of SURTASS LFA sonar systems that will be operating world-wide; = (2) the=20 vessel must be underway while transmitting (in order to keep the = receiver array=20 deployed); (3) the low duty cycle and short mission periods; and (4) the = possibility of a marine mammal being within the 180-dB sound field = during sonar=20 transmissions is unlikely.
 
Information = Solicited=20

NMFS requests interested persons and organizations to submit = comments,=20 information, and suggestions concerning the content of the proposed = regulations=20 to authorize the taking. All commenters are requested to review the = application=20 prior to submitting comments and not submit comments solely on this=20 Federal Register document. Comments on issues not = relevant to=20 either the potential impact of SURTASS LFA sonar on marine mammals or = NMFS'=20 responsibilities under the MMPA will not be considered.
 =20
NEPA

On July 30, 1999 (64 FR 41420), the=20 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced receipt of a draft = OEIS/EIS from=20 the U.S. Navy=20 on the deployment of SURTASS LFA sonar. The public comment period on the = Draft=20 EIS ended on October 28, 1999. On February 2, 2001 (65 FR 8788), EPA = announced=20 receipt of a final OEIS/EIS from the U.S. Navy on the deployment of = SURTASS LFA=20 sonar. NMFS is a cooperating agency, as defined by the Council on = Environmental=20 Quality (40 CFR 1501.6), in the preparation of these documents. =
 =20
ESA

NMFS will be consulting with the U.S. = Navy=20 under section 7 of the ESA on this action. In that regard, on October = 19, 1999,=20 the Navy=20 has submitted to NMFS a Biological Assessment under the ESA. This = consultation=20 will be concluded prior to a determination on issuance of a final rule = and=20 exemption.
 
Classification

This = action=20 has been determined to be significant for purposes of E.O. 12866. NMFS = has=20 preliminarily determined that this rule, if implemented, will provide = NMFS and=20 the public, through the Navy's monitoring and = research program,=20 with information on the SURTASS LFA sonar system's effect on the marine=20 environment, especially on marine mammals. Without an authorization = under the=20 MMPA, NMFS and the public are unlikely to receive this information. NMFS = believes that obtaining this information is extremely important because = SURTASS=20 LFA sonar is not the only LF noise source in the world's oceans, and the = scientific findings resulting from monitoring and research is likely to = be=20 directly applicable to other activities. In addition, this rule, if = implemented,=20 and any LOAs issued thereunder, would impose appropriate mitigation = measures for=20 protecting marine mammals, sea turtles and other marine life. Without = these=20 regulations and LOAs, mitigation measures could not be required to be = undertaken=20 by the U.S. Navy.=20

While a determination to eventually deploy the SURTASS LFA sonar = system=20 will be made by the Navy,=20 NMFS notes that additional benefits for implementing this proposed rule = is an=20 increased level of national defense, and improved survivability of U.S. = armed=20 forces at sea, and the Navy's associated = multi-billion dollar=20 naval assets. The cost to the Navy cannot be fully = determined at this=20 time but these costs would be incurred through implementation of the LTM = and LTR=20 programs that will be required under this proposed rule. Preliminarily, = NMFS=20 believes that this cost would be approximately $ 1 million annually. =

The=20 Assistant General Counsel for Legislation and Regulation of the = Department of=20 Commerce has certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small = Business=20 Administration that this proposed rule, if adopted, will not have a = significant=20 economic impact on a substantial number of small entities within the = meaning of=20 the Regulatory Flexibility Act. If implemented, this proposed rule would = affect=20 only the U.S. Navy=20 which, by definition, is not a small business. It will also affect a = small=20 number of contractors providing services related to reporting the impact = of=20 SURTASS LFA sonar on marine mammals. Some of the affected contractors = may be=20 small businesses, but the number involved would not be substantial. = Further,=20 since the research and reporting requirements are what would lead to the = need=20 for their services, the economic impact on them would be beneficial. = Because of=20 this certification, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required.=20

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is = required to=20 respond to nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to = comply with=20 a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork = Reduction Act (PRA) unless that collection of information displays a = currently=20 valid OMB control number. This proposed rule contains = collection-of-information=20 requirements subject to the provisions of the PRA. These requirements = have been=20 approved by OMB under control number 0648-0151, and include applications = for=20 LOAs, and an annual report. Other information requirements in the rule = are not=20 subject to the PRA since they apply only to a single entity and = therefore are=20 not contained in a rule of general applicability.  [*15390] =20

The reporting burden for the approved collections-of-information = are=20 preliminarily estimated to be approximately 80 hours for each annual = application=20 for a LOA (total of 2 in FY2001-FY2002, 3 in FY 2003, and 4 in FY 2004), = and 80=20 hours each for interim and final reports. These estimates include the = time for=20 reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and=20 maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the=20 collection-of-information. Send comments regarding these burden = estimates, or=20 any other aspect of this data collection, including suggestions for = reducing the=20 burden, to NMFS and OMB (see ADDRESSES).
 =20
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 216 =

Exports, Fish,=20 Imports, Indians, Labeling, Marine mammals, Penalties, Reporting and=20 recordkeeping requirements, Seafood, Transportation.

Dated: = March 12,=20 2001.
 
Rolland A. Schmitten,
 =20
Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine = Fisheries=20 Service.

For reasons set forth in the preamble, 50 CFR part = 216 is=20 proposed to be amended as follows:
 
PART = 216--REGULATIONS=20 GOVERNING THE TAKING AND IMPORTING OF MARINE MAMMALS

1. = The=20 authority citation for part 216 continues to read as follows:=20

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq., = unless=20 otherwise noted.

2. A definition for "single ping equivalent" is = added=20 in alphabetic order to =A7 216.103 to read as follows:
  =
=A7=20 216.103 -- Definitions.

* * * * *

Single = ping=20 equivalent means the summation of the intensities for all received = brief=20 acoustic sound into an equivalent exposure from one ping, which is = always at a=20 higher level than the highest individual ping received. It is a = methodology used=20 during acoustic modeling of potential impacts to marine mammals exposed = to sonar=20 signals. This method estimates the total exposure of each individually = modeled=20 mammal, which was exposed to multiple pings over an extended period of = time.=20

3. Subpart Q is added to part 216 to read as follows:
  =
Subpart Q--Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Navy Operations of = Surveillance Towed=20 Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active Sonar
  =
Sec.=20
 
216.180 Specified activity and specified geographical = region.=20
 
216.181 Effective dates.
 
216.182 = Permissible=20 methods of taking.
 
216.183 Prohibitions.
  =
216.184=20 Mitigation.
 
216.185 Requirements for monitoring. =
 =20
216.186 Requirements for reporting.
 
216.187 = Applications for=20 Letters of Authorization.
 
216.188 Letters of = Authorization.=20
 
216.189 Renewal of Letters of Authorization.
 =20
216.190 Modifications to Letters of Authorization.
  =
216.191=20 Designation of Biologically Important Marine Mammal Areas.
 =20
Subpart Q--Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Navy Operations of = Surveillance Towed=20 Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active Sonar
  =
=A7=20 216.180 -- Specified activity and specified geographical = region.=20

Regulations in this subpart apply only to the incidental taking = of those=20 marine mammal species specified in paragraph (b) of this section by the = U.S.=20 Navy,=20 Department of Defense, engaged in the operation of SURTASS LFA sonar = operations,=20 in areas specified in paragraph (a) of this section. The authorized = activities,=20 as specified in a Letter of Authorization issued under =A7=A7 216.106 = and 216.188,=20 include the transmission of low frequency sounds from the SURTASS LFA = sonar, and=20 the transmission of high frequency sounds from the mitigation sonar, = described=20 in =A7 216.185 during training, testing, and routine military operations = of=20 SURTASS LFA sonar.

(a) With the exception of those areas = specified in =A7=20 216.183(d), the incidental taking by harassment may be authorized in the = following areas as specified in a Letter of Authorization:

(1) = North=20 Atlantic Ocean,

(i) Western North Atlantic, from 35 [degrees] N. = lat.=20 north to a line between Cape Chidley, Labrador northeast to Nuuk, = Greenland, and=20 from the North American continent east to 41 [degrees] W. long. (Area = A),=20

(ii) Eastern North Atlantic, from 35 [degrees] N. lat. north to = 72=20 [degrees] N. lat. and 41 [degrees] W. long. east to the European = continent (Area=20 B),

(2) Mediterranean Sea (Area C),

(3) North Pacific = Ocean,=20

(i) Western North Pacific, from 20 [degrees] N. lat. north to = the=20 Aleutian Island chain and the Sea of Okhotsk, and from the Asian = continent east=20 to 175 [degrees] W. long. (Area D),

(ii) Eastern North Pacific, = from 42=20 [degrees] N. lat. north to Alaska and the south side of the Aleutian = Islands and=20 from the North American continent west to 175 [degrees] W. long. (Area = E),=20

(4) Central Atlantic Ocean,

(i) Eastern Central = Atlantic, from 7=20 [degrees] S. lat. north to 35 [degrees] N. lat. and from the African = continent=20 west to 40 [degrees] W. long. between 5 [degrees] N. lat. and 35 = [degrees] N.=20 lat., to 30 [degrees] W. long. between 0 [degrees] lat. and 5 [degrees] = N. lat.,=20 and to 20 [degrees] W. long. between 7 [degrees] S. lat. and 0 [degrees] = lat.=20 (Area F),

(ii) Western Central Atlantic, from 5 [degrees] N. = lat. north=20 to 35 [degrees] N. lat., and from the American continent, east to 40 = [degrees]=20 W. long. (Area G),

(5) Indian Ocean,

(i) Eastern Indian = Ocean,=20 from 60 [degrees] S. lat. north to the Bay of Bengal, and Asian = continent, and=20 from 80 [degrees] E. long. east to the Asian continent, the Sunda = Islands and=20 Australia and to 150 [degrees] E. long. (Area H1),

(ii) Western = Indian=20 Ocean, from 60 [degrees] S. lat. north to the Arabian Sea, and from 30 = [degrees]=20 E. long. east to 80 [degrees] E. long. (Area H2),

(6) Central = Pacific=20 Ocean,

(i) Western Central Pacific, from 175 [degrees] W. long., = east to=20 the Asian continent and Indonesia, and from 10 [degrees] S. lat., north = to 20=20 [degrees] N. lat. (Area I),

(ii) Central Pacific, from 10 = [degrees] S.=20 lat., north to 42 [degrees] N. lat. between 175 [degrees] W. long. and = 130=20 [degrees] W. long. (Area J1),

(iii) Eastern Central Pacific, = from 5=20 [degrees] S. lat. north along the American coastline to 42 [degrees] N. = lat.,=20 from 130 [degrees] W. long. along 10 [degrees] S. lat. to 105 [degrees] = W.=20 long., from 10 [degrees] S. lat. along 105 [degrees] W. long. to 5 = [degrees] S.=20 lat., from 105 [degrees] W. long. along 5 [degrees] S. lat. to the South = American coastline, from 130 [degrees] W. long. along 42 [degrees] N. = lat. to=20 the North American coastline and from 42 [degrees] N. lat. to 10 = [degrees] S.=20 lat. along the 130 [degrees] W. long. line (Area J2),

(7) South = Pacific=20 Ocean,

(i) Western South Pacific from 60 [degrees] S. lat. north = to 10=20 [degrees] S. lat. and from the east coast of Australia in the north and = 150=20 [degrees] E. long. south of Australia east to 105 [degrees] W. long. = (Area K),=20

(ii) Eastern South Pacific from 60 [degrees] S. lat. north to 5=20 [degrees] S. lat. and from the 105 [degrees] W. long. east to the South = American=20 coastline in the north and 70 [degrees] W. long. in the south (Area L),=20

(8) South Atlantic Ocean,

(i) Western South Atlantic, = from 60=20 [degrees] S. lat. north to 5 [degrees] N. lat. in the area west of 30 = [degrees]=20 W. long., and from 60 [degrees] S. lat. north to 0 [degrees] lat. in the = area=20 east of 30 [degrees] W. long. and from the South American continent east = to 30=20 [degrees] W. long. between 0 [degrees] and 5 [degrees] N. lat. and east = to 20=20 [degrees] W. long. between 0 [degrees] and 60 [degrees] S. lat. (Area = M), and=20

(ii) East South Atlantic from 50 [degrees] S. lat. north to 7 = [degrees]=20 S. lat. and from 20 [degrees] W. long. east to the African coastline in = the=20 north and 30 [degrees] E. long. south of the continent (Area N). =

(b) The=20 incidental take by harassment and non-serious injury of marine  [*15391]  mammals under the = activity=20 identified in this section is limited to the following species and = species=20 groups:

(i) Mysticete whales, including, blue whale = (Balaenoptera=20 musculus), fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), minke whale=20 (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera=20 edeni), sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis), humpback whale=20 (Megaptera novaeangliae), northern right whale (Eubalaena=20 glacialis), southern right whale (Eubalaena australis), = pygmy=20 right whale (Capera marginata), and gray whales = (Eschrichtius=20 robustus).

(ii) Odontocete whales, including Risso's = dolphin=20 (Grampus griseus), rough-toothed dolphin (Steno = bredanensis),=20 Fraser's dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei), right-whale dolphin=20 (Lissodelphis spp.), bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops = truncatus),=20 common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), Dall's porpoise = (Phocoenoides=20 dalli), harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), beluga whale=20 (Delphinapterus leucas), Stenella spp., = Lagenorhynchus=20 spp., Cephalorhynchus spp. melon-headed whale = (Peponocephala=20 spp.), beaked whales (Berardius spp., Hyperoodon = spp.,=20 Mesoplodon spp.), Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius = cavirostris),=20 Shepard's beaked whale (Tasmacetus shepherdi), Longman's beaked = whale=20 (Indopacetus pacificus), killer whale (Orcinus orca), = false=20 killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens), pygmy killer whale = (Feresa=20 attenuata), sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), dwarf = and pygmy=20 sperm whales (Kogia simus and K. breviceps), and = short-finned=20 and long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus and = G.=20 melas).

(iii) Pinnipeds, including harbor seals (Phoca=20 vitulina), spotted seals (P. largha), ribbon seals (P. = fasciata), gray seals (Halichoerus grypus), hooded seal=20 (Cystophora cristata), elephant seals (Mirounga = angustirostris=20 and M. leonina). Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus = schauinslandi),=20 Mediterranean monk seals (Monachus monachus), northern fur = seals=20 (Callorhinus ursinus); southern fur seals (Arctocephalus=20 spp.), Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), California = sea=20 lions (Zalophus californianus), Australian sea lions = (Neophoca=20 cinerea), New Zealand sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri), and = South=20 American sea lions (Otaria flavescens).
  =
=A7=20 216.181 -- Effective dates.

Regulations in this subpart = are=20 effective from May 1, 2001, through April 30, 2006.
  =
=A7=20 216.182 -- Permissible methods of taking.

(a) Under = Letters of=20 Authorization issued pursuant to =A7=A7 216.106 and 216.188, the Holder = of the=20 Letter of Authorization may incidentally, but not intentionally, take = marine=20 mammals by harassment and non-serious injury within the area described = in =A7=20 216.180(a), provided the activity is in compliance with all terms, = conditions,=20 and requirements of these regulations and the appropriate Letter of=20 Authorization.

(b) The activities identified in =A7 216.180 must = be=20 conducted in a manner that minimizes, to the greatest extent = practicable, any=20 adverse impacts on marine mammals, their habitat, and on the = availability of=20 marine mammals for subsistence uses.
 
=A7 216.183 = --=20 Prohibitions.

Notwithstanding takings authorized by =A7 = 216.180=20 and by a Letter of Authorization issued under =A7=A7 216.106 and = 216.188, no person=20 in connection with the activities described in =A7 216.180 shall: =

(a) Take=20 any marine mammal not specified in =A7 216.180(b);

(b) Take any = marine=20 mammal specified in =A7 216.180(b) other than by incidental, = unintentional=20 harassment or non-serious injury;

(c) Take any marine mammal = while=20 operating under a Letter of Authorization in either a non-operating = area,=20 indicated in Figure 1, or in a geographic operating area for which an=20 authorization for taking has not been issued under a Letter of = Authorization;=20

(d) Operate the SURTASS LFA sonar while under a Letter of = Authorization,=20 such that the SURTASS LFA sonar sound field exceeds 180 dB (re 1 micro = Pa(rms))=20 within 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers) of any coastline, including = offshore=20 islands, or any designated offshore area that is biologically important = for=20 marine mammals that exist outside the 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers) = zone=20 during the biologically important season for that particular area. =

(e)=20 The following areas have been designated by NMFS as offshore areas of = critical=20 biological importance for marine mammals (by season if appropriate): =
 =20
Name of Area Location of Area Months of = Importance
(1) 200-m isobath From 30 [degrees] N Year-Round
North American East to 50 [degrees] N
Coast west of 40 [degrees]
W
(2) Antarctic 30 [degrees] E to 80 October through March
Convergence Zone [degrees] E:45
[degrees] S
80 [degrees] E to
1500 E:55 [degrees] S
150 [degrees] E to 50
[degrees] W:60
[degrees] S
50 [degrees] W 30
[degrees] E:50
[degrees] S
(3) Costa Rican Dome Centered at 9 Year-round; no
[degrees] N and at 88 resident = population
[degrees] W
(4) Penguin Bank Centered at 22 November 1 through
[degrees] N and at May 1
159 = [degrees]


(f) Take a=20 marine mammal specified in =A7 216.180(b) if such taking results in more = than a=20 negligible impact on the species or stocks of such marine mammal; or =

(g)=20 Violate, or fail to comply with, the terms, conditions, and requirements = of=20 these regulations or a Letter of Authorization issued under =A7=A7 = 216.106 and=20 216.188.
 
=A7 216.184 -- Mitigation. =

The=20 activity identified in =A7 216.180(a) must be conducted in a manner that = minimizes, to the greatest extent practicable, adverse impacts on marine = mammals=20 and their habitats. When conducting operations identified in =A7 = 216.180, the=20 mitigation measures described in this paragraph and in the Letter of=20 Authorization issued under =A7=A7 216.106 and 216.188 must be = implemented.=20

(a) Through monitoring described under =A7 216.185, the Holder = of a Letter=20 of Authorization will ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, that = no marine=20 mammal is subjected to a single ping equivalent of 180-dB within the = 180-dB re 1=20 micro Pa(rms) sound field.

(b) If a marine mammal is detected = within the=20 180-dB safety zone, SURTASS LFA sonar transmissions will be immediately=20 suspended. Transmissions will not resume earlier than 15 minutes after:=20

(1) All marine mammals have left the area of the 180-dB re 1 = micro=20 Pa(rms) sound field; and

(2) There is no further detection of = the animal=20 within the 180-dB re 1 micro Pa(rms) sound field as determined by the = visual=20 and/or passive or active acoustic monitoring described in =A7 216.185. =  [*15392] 

(c) The HFM3 = source,=20 described in =A7 216.185 will be ramped-up slowly to operating levels = over a=20 period of no less than 5 minutes:

(1) No later than 30 minutes = before=20 the first SURTASS LFA sonar transmission;

(2) Prior to any = SURTASS LFA=20 sonar calibrations or testings that are not part of regular SURTASS LFA = sonar=20 transmissions described in paragraph (c)(1) of this section; and =

(3)=20 Anytime after the HFM3 source has been powered down for a period of time = greater=20 than 2 minutes.
 
=A7 216.185 -- Requirements for=20 monitoring.

(a) In order to mitigate the taking of = marine=20 mammals by SURTASS LFA sonar to the greatest extent practicable, the = Holder of a=20 Letter of Authorization must:

(1) Conduct visual monitoring from = the=20 ship's bridge during daylight hours;

(2) Use low frequency = passive=20 SURTASS LFA sonar to listen for vocalizing marine mammals; and =

(3) Use=20 high frequency active sonar to locate and track marine mammals in = relation to=20 the SURTASS LFA sonar vessel and the sound field produced by the SURTASS = LFA=20 sonar source array.

(b) Pursuant to (a)(1)-(3) of this section=20 monitoring must:

(1) Commence no later than 30 minutes before = the first=20 SURTASS LFA sonar transmission;

(2) Continue between = transmission pings;=20 and

(3) Continue for at least 15 minutes after completion of the = SURTASS=20 LFA sonar transmission exercise;

(c) Holders of Letters of = Authorization=20 issued pursuant to =A7=A7 216.106 and 216.188 for activities described = in =A7 216.180=20 are required to cooperate with the National Marine Fisheries Service, = and any=20 other Federal, state or local agency monitoring the impacts of the = activity on=20 marine mammals.

(d) Holders of Letters of Authorization must = designate=20 qualified on-site individuals to conduct the mitigation, monitoring and=20 reporting activities specified in the Letter of Authorization issued = pursuant to=20 =A7 216.106 and =A7 216.188.

(e) Holders of Letters of = Authorization must=20 conduct all monitoring and/or research required under the Letter of=20 Authorization.
 
=A7 216.186 -- Requirements for=20 reporting.

(a) The Holder of a Letter of Authorization = must=20 submit an interim report to the Director, Office of Protected Resources, = National Marine Fisheries Service, no later than 90 days prior to = expiration of=20 the Letter of Authorization. This report must contain all the = information=20 required by the Letter of Authorization.

(b) A final = comprehensive=20 report must be submitted to the Director, Office of Protected Resources, = National Marine Fisheries Service at least 240 days prior to expiration = of these=20 regulations. This report must contain all the information required by = any final=20 year Letter of Authorization.
 
=A7 216.187 -- = Applications=20 for Letters of Authorization.

(a) To incidentally take = marine=20 mammals pursuant to these regulations, the U.S. Navy authority that is = conducting the=20 activity identified in =A7 216.180, must apply for and obtain a Letter = of=20 Authorization in accordance with =A7=A7 216.106 and 216.188.

(b) = The=20 application for an initial, or a renewal of, a Letter of Authorization = must be=20 submitted to the Director, Office of Protected Resources, National = Marine=20 Fisheries Service, at least 90 days before the date that either the = vessel is=20 scheduled to begin conducting SURTASS LFA sonar operations or the = previous=20 Letter of Authorization is scheduled to expire.

(c) All = applications for=20 a Letter of Authorization must include the following information: =

(1)=20 The date(s), duration, and the specified geographical region where the = vessel's=20 activity described in =A7 216.180 will occur;

(2) The species = and/or=20 stock(s) of marine mammals likely to be found within each specified = geographical=20 region;

(3) The type of incidental taking authorization that is = being=20 requested (i.e., take by Level A and/or Level B harassment);

(4) = The=20 estimated percentage of marine mammal species/stocks potentially = affected in=20 each specified geographic region and for the 12-month period of = effectiveness of=20 the Letter of Authorization; and

(5) The means of accomplishing = the=20 necessary monitoring and reporting that will result in increased = knowledge of=20 the species, the level of taking or impacts on populations of marine = mammals.=20

(d) NMFS will review an application for a Letter of = Authorization in=20 accordance with =A7 216.104(b) and, if adequate and complete, issue a = Letter of=20 Authorization for a period of time not to exceed 1 year.
 =20
=A7 216.188 -- Letters of Authorization. =

(a) A Letter=20 of Authorization, unless suspended or revoked will be valid for a period = of time=20 not to exceed one year, but may be renewed annually subject to annual = renewal=20 conditions in =A7 216.189.

(b) Each Letter of Authorization will = set=20 forth:

(1) Permissible methods of incidental taking;

(2) = Authorized geographic areas for taking;

(3) Means of effecting = the least=20 practicable adverse impact on the species of marine mammals authorized = for=20 taking, its habitat, and on the availability of the species for = subsistence=20 uses; and

(4) Requirements for monitoring and reporting = incidental=20 takes.

(c) Issuance of each Letter of Authorization will be = based on a=20 determination that the number of marine mammals taken by the activity = will be=20 small, that the total number of marine mammals taken by the activity, = specified=20 in =A7 216.180, as a whole will have no more than a negligible impact on = the=20 species or stock of affected marine mammal(s), and that the total taking = will=20 not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of species or = stocks=20 of marine mammals for taking for subsistence uses.

(d) Notice of = issuance or denial of a Letter of Authorization will be published in the = Federal Register within 30 days of a determination. =
 =20
=A7 216.189 -- Renewal of Letters of Authorization. =

(a) A Letter of Authorization issued under =A7 216.106 and =A7 = 216.188 for=20 the activity identified in =A7 216.180 will be renewed annually upon: =

(1)=20 Notification to the National Marine Fisheries Service that the activity=20 described in the application submitted under =A7 216.187 will be = undertaken and=20 that there will not be a substantial modification to the described work, = mitigation or monitoring undertaken during the upcoming season; =

(2)=20 Notification to the National Marine Fisheries Service of the information = items=20 identified in =A7 216.187(c), including the planned geographic area(s), = and=20 anticipated duration of each SURTASS LFA sonar operation;

(3) = Timely=20 receipt of the monitoring reports required under =A7 216.185, which have = been=20 reviewed by the National Marine Fisheries Service and determined to be=20 acceptable;

(4) A determination by the National Marine Fisheries = Service=20 that the mitigation, monitoring and reporting measures required under = =A7=A7 216.184=20 and 216.185 and the Letter of Authorization were undertaken and will be=20 undertaken during the upcoming annual period of validity of a renewed = Letter of=20 Authorization; and  [*15393] =20

(5) Renewal of a Letter of Authorization will be based on a=20 determination that the number of marine mammals taken by the activity = continues=20 to be small, that the total number of marine mammals taken by the = activity,=20 specified in =A7 216.180, as a whole will have no more than a negligible = impact on=20 the species or stock of affected marine mammal(s), and that the total = taking=20 will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of = species or=20 stocks of marine mammals for taking for subsistence uses.

(b) If = a=20 request for a renewal of a Letter of Authorization issued under =A7=A7 = 216.106 and=20 216.188 indicates that a substantial modification to the described work, = mitigation or monitoring will occur during the upcoming season, or if = the=20 National Marine Fisheries Service proposes a substantial modification to = the=20 Letter of Authorization, the National Marine Fisheries Service will = provide the=20 public a period of 30 days for review and comment on the requested = modification.=20 Amending the list of areas for upcoming SURTASS LFA sonar operations is = not=20 considered a substantial modification to the Letter of Authorization.=20

(c) A notice of issuance or denial of a renewal of a Letter of=20 Authorization will be published in the Federal Register = within=20 30 days of a determination.
 
=A7 216.190 -- = Modifications to=20 Letters of Authorization.

(a) In addition to complying = with the=20 provisions of =A7=A7 216.106 and 216.188, except as provided in = paragraph (b) of=20 this section, no substantive modification (including withdrawal or = suspension)=20 to the Letter of Authorization issued pursuant to =A7=A7 216.106 and = 216.188 and=20 subject to the provisions of this subpart shall be made by the National = Marine=20 Fisheries Service until after notification and an opportunity for public = comment=20 has been provided. For purposes of this paragraph, a renewal of a Letter = of=20 Authorization under =A7 216.189, without modification, except for the = period of=20 validity and a listing of planned operating areas, or for moving the = authorized=20 SURTASS LFA sonar system from one ship to another, are not considered=20 substantive modifications.

(b) If the Assistant Administrator = determines=20 that an emergency exists that poses a significant risk to the well-being = of the=20 species or stocks of marine mammals specified in =A7 216.180(b), a = Letter of=20 Authorization issued pursuant to =A7=A7 216.106 and 216.188 may be = substantively=20 modified without prior notification and an opportunity for public = comment.=20 Notification will be published in the Federal Register = within=20 30 days subsequent to the action.
 
=A7 216.191 --=20 Designation of Biologically Important Marine Mammal Areas. =

In=20 order for the National Marine Fisheries Service to designate areas that = are=20 considered of biological importance for marine mammals under this rule,=20 proponents must petition the Agency by requesting an area be added to = the list=20 of biologically important areas in =A7 216.183(d) and submitting the = following=20 information:

(a) Geographic region proposed for consideration = (including=20 geographic boundaries) as an area of importance,

(b) A list of = marine=20 mammals, within the proposed geographic region,

(c) Whether the = proposal=20 is for year-round designation or seasonal, and if seasonal, months of = years for=20 proposed designation, and

(d) Detailed information on the = biology of=20 marine mammals within the area including estimated population size,=20 distribution, density, status; and principal biological activity during = the=20 proposed period of designation of the area sufficient for the National = Marine=20 Fisheries Service to make a preliminary determination that the area is=20 biologically important for marine mammals.

(e) In order for the = National=20 Marine Fisheries Service to designate an area as an offshore area of = biological=20 importance for marine mammals under this subpart, the petitioner will = need to=20 provide detailed information on the area in regards to its importance = for marine=20 mammals for either primary feeding, breeding, or migration for those = species of=20 marine mammals that have the potential to be affected by low frequency = sounds;=20

(f) Proposed areas that are within 12 nautical miles (22 = kilometers) of=20 any coastline including offshore islands, or within non-operating areas = for=20 SURTASS LFA sonar shown in Figure 1 will not be eligible for = consideration under=20 this section;

(g) If the National Marine Fisheries Service makes = a=20 preliminary determination that the area is biologically important for = marine=20 mammals and, that area is not located within a previously designated = area, the=20 National Marine Fisheries Service will propose rulemaking to add the = recommended=20 area to =A7 216.183(d).

(h) Through notice in the = Federal=20 Register, the National Marine Fisheries Service will invite=20 information, suggestions, and comments on the proposal for a period of = time not=20 less than 45 days from the date of publication in the Federal=20 Register.

(i) After review of the comments and = information, the=20 National Marine Fisheries Service will make a final decision on whether = or not=20 to add the recommended area to the list found in =A7 216.183(d). The = National=20 Marine Fisheries Service will either issue a final rulemaking on the = proposal or=20 provide notice in the Federal Register on its = determination.=20
 
See Figure 1-1 on Page 15394 of Original Document. =
 =20
[FR Doc. 01-6751 Filed 3-16-01; 8:45 am] =

------=_NextPart_000_0053_01C0B04E.31865A00-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 14:48:48 -0500 From: Nicole Le Boeuf Organization: NOAA Subject: Correction to MMPA Bulletin announcement boundary="------------7CC25B83527E3C0D7C89C9E3" --------------7CC25B83527E3C0D7C89C9E3 My apologies to all. The previous message regarding the MMPA Bulletin contained the wrong address. The correct web site location is: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/PR2/MMPA_Bulletin/mmpabulletin.html --------------7CC25B83527E3C0D7C89C9E3  
My apologies to all. The previous message regarding the MMPA Bulletin contained the wrong address. The correct web site location is:

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/PR2/MMPA_Bulletin/mmpabulletin.html --------------7CC25B83527E3C0D7C89C9E3-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2001 10:19:05 -0300 From: Diego Rodriguez Subject: Growth fit curves Hi all! A couple of weeks ago I've posted an email asking for advice regarding so= me packages that allow fitting growth curves. Nearly inmediately I've receiv= ed very helpful emails that allowed me to solve my problems. I briefly summarise the anwsers for the co-listers and I would like to thank them a= ll for their attention!! Cheers Diego Sebastian Luque suggested me to work with the program Cur= ve Perfect, that can be downloaded at http://www.lrnit.com/SOFTWARE.HTM. I'v= e tried it and is really friendly and easy!!! Guiming Wang suggested me to use the non-linea= r module of the Statistica package, which is very very friendly (I've tried it). Another option suggested was to use the Solver added in the Excel of Microsoft Office. It is much easier to manipulate your data on a spreadsheet like Excel. Hamish McCallum has a brief description with illustration about how to use the solver for nonlinear regressions (H. McCallum. 2000. Population Parameters: estimation for ecological models. Blackwell Science, London.). Eric L. Peters told me that prior to choose a particular model, use the Richards sigmoidal model. This model has a "sha= pe parameter" that relates to the trajectory of the curve, as well as=20 parameters for the asymptotic size and the time to reach a fixed=20 fraction of that size. Confidence intervals can be calculated for all=20 parameters, and these can be tested against hypothesized values. For=20 example, if the shape parameter is not significantly different than=20 0, then the curve is a negative exponential, if it is 0.67 it is a=20 Gompertz, 1.0 a von Bertalanffy, and 2.0 a logistic. Ellen K. Pedersen suggested Table Curve, but wil= l not take into account properly the correlation in repeated measures. NLINMIX a SAS proc will do that and allow you to fit appropriate error structures. If that does not work, e-mail wpittroff(\)ucdavis.edu; with colleagues from Texas A&M we have developed a program which will fite correlated growth curve data with unequal spacing of measurements, and ha= s the functional forms you are looking at. Roger Dungan used SigmaPlot to fit modified Gompertz growth equations with no troubles.=20 Tim Smith < timsmith(\)ucdavis.edu> suggested me to use PROC NLIN. Andre Barreto used the package STATISTICAv5.1., being able to fit von Bertalanffy, Gompertz and the Schnute model, without having to transform it. _________________________________________ 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 www.mdp.edu.ar/exactas/csmarinas " Un argentino puede conseguir cualquier cosa que se proponga, salvo el aplauso de otros argentinos" "La Educaci=F3n es un progresivo descubrimiento de nuestra ignorancia" ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2001 23:30:08 EST From: Rich Mallon-Day Subject: Bottlenose Dolphin Photo-ID Research Positions boundary="part1_67.113d35a7.27e6e550_boundary" --part1_67.113d35a7.27e6e550_boundary Bottlenose Dolphin Photo-ID Research Positions The Nags Head Dolphin Watch is accepting applications for the 2001 research season. The following positions are currently open: 1) Researcher/Naturalist/Mate 2) Research Assistant/Naturalist/Mate The Nags Head Dolphin Watch was founded to provide funding and a base of operations for an on-going bottlenose dolphin photo-ID project. Since all research at the NHDW is funded by the public dolphin tours all employees share responsibilities of working part-time on the commercial dolphin watching vessel and the balance of the schedule working on field research. These responsibilities include: Photography of dolphins during encounters Collection of environmental data, sightings, observed behavior, etc. Mate duties during dolphin watch trips Assisting in Photo-ID catalog maintenance and analysis Longer range surveys in smaller, dedicated, research boat Previous experience in some, or all of these areas is required. Small boat operation experience is especially desirable. Applicants should have college experience in the Marine Sciences or Biology, or the equivalent. The current focus of the research efforts is to expand our existing 300+ dolphin catalog and to begin to investigate daily ranging patterns, habitat utilization, patterns of association and seasonality. Equipment, supplies and support are available for additional individual projects. The research season is May 20, 2001 - September 29, 2001. The research area includes the Roanoke, Croatan and northern Pamlico Sounds of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. For more information please visit the web site at http://www.dolphinwatch.com. NOTE: The United States Coast Guard requires all passenger vessels to be drug free work environments. All employees are required by law to pass a pre-employment drug test and to participate in random drug testing during the period of employment. Please send cover letter, resume and references to: Richard Mallon-Day 40 Orchard Lane Berwyn, PA 19312 rmallonday(\)aol.com (610) 695-9309 --part1_67.113d35a7.27e6e550_boundary Bottlenose Dolphin Photo-ID Research Positions

The Nags Head Dolphin Watch is accepting applications for the 2001
research season. The following positions are currently open:

 1) Researcher/Naturalist/Mate
 2) Research Assistant/Naturalist/Mate

The Nags Head Dolphin Watch was founded to provide funding and a base
of operations for an on-going bottlenose dolphin photo-ID project.
Since all research at the NHDW is funded by the public dolphin tours
all employees share responsibilities of working part-time on the
commercial dolphin watching vessel and the balance of the schedule
working on field research.

These responsibilities include:
 Photography of dolphins during encounters
 Collection of environmental data, sightings, observed behavior, etc.
 Mate duties during dolphin watch trips
 Assisting in Photo-ID catalog maintenance and analysis
 Longer range surveys in smaller, dedicated, research boat

Previous experience in some, or all of these areas is required. Small
boat operation experience is especially desirable. Applicants should
have college experience in the Marine Sciences or Biology, or the
equivalent.

The current focus of the research efforts is to expand our existing
300+ dolphin catalog and to begin to investigate daily ranging
patterns, habitat utilization, patterns of association and
seasonality. Equipment, supplies and support are available for
additional individual projects.

The research season is May 20, 2001 - September 29, 2001.  The
research area includes the Roanoke, Croatan and northern Pamlico
Sounds of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. For more information
please visit the web site at http://www.dolphinwatch.com.

NOTE: The United States Coast Guard requires all passenger vessels to
be drug free work environments. All employees are required by law to
pass a pre-employment drug test and to participate in random drug
testing during the period of employment.

Please send cover letter, resume and references to:
Richard Mallon-Day
40 Orchard Lane
Berwyn, PA 19312
rmallonday(\)aol.com
(610) 695-9309
--part1_67.113d35a7.27e6e550_boundary-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2001 15:35:47 -0500 From: "Dr. Jason F. Schreer" Subject: Graduate Student Opportunity Two Graduate Student Opportunities Behavior and physiology of adult male and female grey seals A student is sought for a Master's research program in the Department of Biology at the University of Waterloo focusing on the diving ecology of seals. The specific project involves studying the behavior and physiology of adult grey seals during the pupping and breeding season in Eastern Canada. Behavior will be monitored through standard observational techniques (e.g. scan, focal sampling) and with time-depth-velocity recorders. Physiological status will be monitored in real-time with archival heart-rate recorders and ECG monitors and longitudinally with standard blood and muscle sampling techniques. The position will begin September 2001 with field work starting in January 2002. The project is supported by the University of Waterloo, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The student will be supervised by Dr. Jason F. Schreer. Applications including a CV, transcripts, and a cover letter outlining qualifications should be sent to Dr. Jason F. Schreer Department of Biology University of Waterloo Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1 Canada jfschree(\)sciborg.uwaterloo.ca http://sciborg.uwaterloo.ca/~jfschree/ For additional info.: http://sciborg.uwaterloo.ca/~jfschree/grd2001b.html Posted 20 March 2001 Also see... Analysis of diving behavior and physiology of seals A student is sought for a Master's research program in the Department of Biology at the University of Waterloo focusing on the diving ecology of seals. Applicants should have a strong background in mathematics and/or statistics, strong computer skills with some programming ability, as well as a general understanding of biological processes. The specific project involves developing quantitative procedures for analyzing various types of time-series data. There will be several opportunities to conduct field work on harbor, harp, hooded, and grey seals. However, the thesis itself will focus on the analysis of previously collected depth and heart rate data. The project is supported by the Department of Biology and the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science at University of Waterloo and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. The position will begin September 2001. The student will be co-supervised by Dr. Jason F. Schreer (Department of Biology) and Dr. Jeanette O'Hara Hines (Department of Statistic and Actuarial Science). Applications including a CV, transcripts, and a cover letter outlining qualifications should be sent to Dr. Jason F. Schreer Department of Biology University of Waterloo Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1 Canada jfschree(\)sciborg.uwaterloo.ca http://sciborg.uwaterloo.ca/~jfschree/ For additional info.: http://sciborg.uwaterloo.ca/~jfschree/grad2001.html Posted 13 February 2001 ==================================================================== 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: Tue, 20 Mar 2001 19:28:15 -0600 From: Mariano Sironi Subject: cetacean JUVENILE BEHAVIOR // baleen whale-killer whale interactions Dear MarMam subscribers, I am currently studying the behavior of the juvenile southern right whales off Patagonia, Argentina. In general, literature on juvenile behavior in mammals is scarce, and cetaceans are no exception to this. Very useful contributions to the study of juvenile behavior include "Juvenile Primates" (1993, Pereira / Fairbanks) and "Animal Play" (1998, Bekoff / Byers). Are you aware of books or papers that address this particular subject of JUVENILE BEHAVIOR in CETACEANS? Also, I am summarizing the available data on interspecific INTERACTIONS between KILLER WHALES and RIGHT WHALES in Patagonia. A very valuable source of information for this is the article by Jefferson, Stacey and Baird (1991) A review of killer whale interactions with other marine mammals: predation to co-existence. Mammal Review 21:151-180. A decade has passed since that review. Are there any important papers providing relevant information on KILLER WHALE - BALEEN WHALE INTERACTIONS over the last decade?=20 Your help on this will be greatly appreciated! I will provide an organized summary of future replies to this request to the list. Sincerely, Mariano Sironi --------------------------------------------- E-mail replies to: msironi(\)students.wisc.edu --------------------------------------------- ArialInstituto de Conservaci=F3n de Ballenas Garcia Merou 833 - Martinez - 1640 Buenos Aires- Argentina 0000,0000,fefehttp://www.icb.org.ar ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 16:43:55 -0800 From: Merel Dalebout Subject: New publication New publication Genetic diversity and population structure among northern bottlenose whales, Hyperoodon ampullatus, in the western North Atlantic Ocean Canadian Journal of Zoology 79: 478-484 M.L. Dalebout, S.K. Hooker, and I. Christensen Abstract: To assess population structure and genetic diversity among northern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus), we compared mitochondrial DNA control region sequences from three populations in the western North Atlantic Ocean. Skin-biopsy samples were collected from animals in the Gully off Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1996 and 1997 (n = 20), and teeth were obtained from whales taken in Davis Strait off northern Labrador (n = 20) and off northern Iceland (n = 5) between 1967 and 1971 by the historical Norwegian fishery. Only low levels of genetic diversity were found among the 45 animals sampled (three polymorphic sites over 434 base pairs defining four haplotypes; haplotype diversity (h) = 0.57, nucleotide diversity (p) = 0.0015). The cause of this low variability is unclear but may be due to a possible bottleneck event associated with the last glaciation. The distribution of mitochondrial DNA haplotypes between the Gully and Davis Strait populations was suggestive of regional differentiation (FST = 0.118, P = 0.024; FST = 0.145, P = 0.007). Animals taken off northern Iceland were not included in statistical analyses of population structure, owing to the small sample size. These data, in conjunction with other information collected to date, indicate that the Gully and Davis Strait populations should be considered separate stocks for management purposes. Risumi : Pour ivaluer la structure des populations et la diversiti ginitique chez la Baleine ` bec commune (Hyperoodon ampullatus), nous avons compari les siquences de la rigion de contrtle de l'ADN mitochondrial de trois populations de l'ouest de l'Atlantique-Nord. Des biopsies de la peau ont iti pratiquies sur des baleines du Gully, au large de la Nouvelle-Icosse, Canada, en 1996 et 1997 (n = 20), et des dents ont iti prilevies chez des baleines du ditroit de Davis capturies au large de la ctte nord du Labrador (n = 20) et au large de l'Islande (n = 5) entre 1967 et 1971 au cours des pjches commerciales de Norvhge de l'ipoque. La diversiti ginitique s'est avirie faible chez les 45 animaux itudiis (trois sites polymorphes sur 434 paires de bases difinissant quatre haplotypes; la diversiti d'haplotype (h) = 0,57, la diversiti de nucliotide (p) = 0,0015). La cause de cette faible variabiliti reste obscure, mais il est possible qu'il se soit produit un ivinement aboutissant ` un itranglement ginitique au cours de la dernihre glaciation. La ripartition des haplotypes d'ADNmt entre le Gully et le ditroit de Davis laisse croire ` l 'existence d'une diffirenciation rigionale (FST = 0,118, P = 0,024; FST = 0,145, P = 0,007). Les ichantillons du nord de l'Islande n'ont pas iti retenus pour les analyses statistiques de la structure des populations car ils sont trop restreints. Ces donnies, combinies ` d'autres informations recueillies ` ce jour, indiquent que les populations du Gully et du ditroit de Davis doivent jtre considiries comme des stocks diffirents pour fins d'aminagement. A small number of reprints will be available from Merel Dalebout (m.dalebout(\)auckland.ac.nz) _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 08:50:46 -0500 From: MERI Subject: MERI Position Available: Asso. Dir. of Research ------ MERI Announces Position Available June 2001 Associate Director for Research The Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) is recruiting for the position of Associate Director for Research to play a major role in developing and implementing MERI=92s research program. MERI is a non-profit organization that conducts scientific research and provides education on the impacts of pollution on marine life. Current projects include a large-scale marine mammal/contaminants research project along the northeast Atlantic coast and an ecosystem monitoring program in greater Blue Hill Bay, Maine. These projects involve collaboration with other research groups in the U.S. and Europe. This is a challenging opportunity for a self-starting and motivated individual with a strong field research background and analytical, communication, and project management skills. Duties include: (1) supervising field technicians, graduate students, and support staff; (2) managing project budgets; (3) managing sample collection, chain of custody, processing, distribution and analysis of samples; (4) database management and data quality assurance; (5) statistical analysis; (6) submitting progress reports on a regular basis; (7) assisting in writing research grants; (8) writing scientific publications; (9) presenting at research meetings and conferences; and (10) performing other duties as assigned by the Director. Fieldwork for current projects will require extensive experience collecting tissues from marine mammals, handling boats in marine waters, recording medical and observational data, and coordinating and supervising logistics and data collection concurrently at several locations. The successful candidate will have a broad-based experience in research implementation, data analysis and interpretation, and project administration. The candidate will be able to manage and conduct current research as well as contribute to research program development. The candidate will possess an ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels, and a willingness to adapt to research project needs, especially seasonal requirements. The Associate Director for Research will be expected to stay current with progress in the field, and will be encouraged to attend meetings and to collaborate and cooperate with other researchers in the U.S. and internationally. Minimum requirements to be successful in this position are: An interest in the marine environment that is consistent with the MERI mission; a background in field research and associated technologies, preferably with marine mammals; and demonstrated computer, analytical, writing, and presentation skills. A doctoral degree in Environmental Toxicology, Wildlife Toxicology, Ecotoxicology, Marine Mammalogy, Marine Biology, Zoology, or Veterinary Medicine with a minimum of two year=92s supervisor= y experience, or a master=92s degree with 5+ years supervisory experience i= s preferred. The Associate Director for Research will report to the Director of MERI. The Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) is a private, nonprofit 501(C)3 organization based in Blue Hill, Maine, incorporated in 1990. MERI is dedicated to scientific research and education on the impacts of pollution on marine life, and to protecting the health and biodiversity of the marine environment for future generations. MERI accomplishes its goals through marine mammal research, research dissemination, and education. For more information about our activities and programs, please visit our web site at www.meriresearch.org. Time Requirements: Full-time (40 hours/week) with possible extra hours during spring and summer and flexible hours in winter. Salary: Competitive, DOE. Benefits: This is a full-time professional position with a full Benefits Package To apply for this position, please submit by email your CV with a cover letter, reprint or other writing sample, and names and contact information of three references to: meri(\)downeast.net - Attn: MERI Search Committee /Associate Director for Research Application deadline: May 1, 2001 The recruitment notice for this position and information on how to apply is also posted on the Internet at the MERI website: www.meriresearch.org Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) PO Box 1652, Main Street on Mill Stream Blue Hill, ME 04614 Tel: (207) 359-8078 Fax: (207) 359-8079 meri(\)downeast.net MERI is an EEO Employer. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 11:22:48 -0800 From: Ilona Traut Subject: seals and fish-farms Thank you all for your help and comments! I will discuss it with the company and see where it goes from there. For those interested I give a brief summary of the replies: Seals might take salmon by taking it or biting it through the cage netting. They might wound salmon by attacking the sides of the net and devour the salmon when it drops to the bottom of the net. Or they might climb into the nets. I) What did not work or was not recommended ---------------------------------------- * Seal/tuna bombs (M.Donoghue=NZKS) Relies on human vigilance; short term effect; might cause seal deafness. * Disposal of dead salmon off-site (NZKS) Seals don't eat dead salmon and heck, what a mess.. * Feeding lithium laced salmon to seals (to induce vomiting and therefore discourage from eating salmon,)(NZKS) Seals do not eat dead salmon * Predator models (NZKS, A. Morton) Only short term effect, if at all * Shooting seals (NZKS, A. Morton) While killing one seal, others will come and take its place * Seal scrammers (NZKS, J. Temte) earlier versions were relatively low powered. Seals got used to it (acted as "dinner gongs" actually). II) Might work ---------- * Increasing net strength and tension (makes it more difficult for the seals to get to the prey) (NZKS, A. Morton) * Placing netting over cages (to prevent the seals to climb in (NZKS) * Acoustic seal scarers/scrammers (high frequency sound to scare them away) (NZKS, B.Mullaly, Lofitech, D. Jungblad) Improved technology now but rather painful to seals. However Seal scrammers are estimated under ideal conditions to attune at a rate of 20dB for every ten-fold increase in distance from the source. Approaching seals should, therefore, become annoyed by the signal well before injury could occur (NZKS). However, in order to be successful it should not be the only means. * A well designed and acoustically tested system(via mapping; seals are able to find acoustically silent tunnels) (J. Temte) * Translocation of problem seals (NZKS) It is estimated by NZKS that more than 50 % of the transported seals return to the salmon farms. III) Recommended * Common sense management. In particular the cage should be made secure against seals clambering up and into it(NZKS) * Predator netting. Most effective and most direct method. Seals might still get through tears or holes but it offers the most direct method of preventing seals gaining access to farms (NZKS, P. Shaughnessy, (NZKS is currently testing "giga nets" that envelop groups of 4 salmon cages (16 nets)) * Cages or tight netting AND anti-predator netting (J. Terhune) P.S.additional reading: Pemberton, D. and Shaughnessy, P.D. (1993): Interaction between seals and marine fish-farms in Tasmania, and management of the problem. Aquatic Conservation 3: 149-158. P.P.S. (NZKS=New Zealand King Salmon Company) Hope this was informative as well as short... Have a good day! ilonatraut(\)yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 20:06:32 +0000 From: Colin MacLeod Subject: Request of information on stomach contents of beaked whales Dear Marmammers, As part of my ongoing reseach on beaked whales, I am reviewing the feeding ecology of this family. I have been searching for first hand accounts of stomach contents of all species of beaked whales, but particularly for the genus Mesoplodon. While I have had some success in published literature, I am still lacking information on several species (especially most Mesoplodon species). I would therefore be interested in hearing from anyone who has unpublished stomach contents information on beaked whales (even if the stomach has been examined and found to be empty or containing non-food items like plastic) or who has copies of papers mentioning stomach contents of beaked whales which have been published in 'grey' literature which may not show up in searches of publication databases. Thanks in advance for any help you can give me with this. All the best, Colin MacLeod =========================================================================== Colin D. MacLeod, B.Sc. M.Sc. F2/2, 13 Kennoway Drive, "See what everyone has seen Thornwood, and think what no one has thought" Glasgow, - Albert Szent-Gyorgyi G11 7UA. U.K. Tel: 0141 337 2209 International: +44 141 337 2209 Email: macleod_c(\)colloquium.co.uk =========================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 20:06:27 +0000 From: Colin MacLeod Subject: Function of tusks in beaked whales Dear Marmammers, I would like to bring the following recently published paper to your attention: MacLeod, C.D. 2000. Species recognition as a possible function for variation in position and shpe of the sexually dimorphic tusks of Mesoplodon whales. Evolution, 54(6): 2171 - 2173. Abstract:- Beaked whales of the genus Mesoplodon are characterized by the presence of a single pair of sexually dimorphic tusks. Variation in the position and shape of these tusks was examined in four sympatric species and was found to be consistent with the hypothesis that these differences may have evolved to aid species recognition between sympatric and otherwise morphologically similar species. I have a limited number of reprints available if anyone is interested. Regards, Colin. =========================================================================== Colin D. MacLeod, B.Sc. M.Sc. F2/2, 13 Kennoway Drive, "See what everyone has seen Thornwood, and think what no one has thought" Glasgow, - Albert Szent-Gyorgyi G11 7UA. U.K. Tel: 0141 337 2209 International: +44 141 337 2209 Email: macleod_c(\)colloquium.co.uk =========================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 15:43:12 -0500 From: Dave Johnston Organization: Duke Marine Lab Subject: Final Announcement: Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Marine Mammal Symposium 2001 > Final Announcement: 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 attend this meeting. The early registration period is over, but you can still register on site at the Duke Marine Lab. Conference details can be found online at: http://kogia.ml.duke.edu/ > Scientific Program: The theme of the meeting is the Diversity and Conservation of Marine Mammals. The scientific program consists of a plenary address by Dr. Doug Demaster, Director of the National Marine Mammal Lab, National Marine Fisheries Service, Seattle, followed by 24 oral presentations, a poster session and workshops. The conference schedule is available online at: http://kogia.ml.duke.edu/sciprog.html > Workshop: Navigating the Scientific Research Permit Process ---------------------------------------------------- NMFS biologists will provide a helpful overview of the federal process for applying for permits and General Authorizations for scientific research. This overview will include a review of the applicable laws, requirements to apply for a permit, and an explanation on how the application is processed and decisions are reached. This workshop is highly recommended for any researchers planning field work with marine mammals. > NMFS have also prepared a display on viewing marine mammals: Responsible Marine Mammal Viewing ---------------------------------- Don't miss the NMFS table on responsible marine mammal viewing! NMFS biologists will be on hand to share information on marine mammal harassment concerns, NMFS' guidelines for viewing marine mammals in the wild, and other ongoing outreach efforts to better educate the public on responsible wildlife viewing. > Social Activities There will is a mixer on Friday night and a banquet on Saturday night, followed by a guided pub crawl through the historic town of Beaufort! Field trips will be held on Sunday afternoon. As well, we've prepared a limited edition poster celebrating the inaugural SEAMAMMS meeting, available for purchase only during the conference! 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: Mon, 21 Mar 0101 17:03:57 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Florida Student Chapter Meeting ----------------- The next meeting of the Florida Marine Mammal Student Association will be held on Saturday, April 14, 2001 from 8:00am to 5:00pm at FIT in Melbourne, FL. The organizers are looking for presenters and would appreciate any suggestions or volunteers. :) ***Questions or suggestions can be directed to Gabrielle A. Griffin (gagriff(\)earthlink.net). *** Directions, hotel information, and other details are posted on FMMSA's website (http://ompl.marine.usf.edu/mmsg/) More information will be posted as it becomes available. Thank You! Lizz Singh University of South Florida lizz(\)marine.usf.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 21 Mar 0101 17:35:38 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Tegner grants - environmental history and historical ecology (fwd) From: Lance Morgan Applications are now open for Mia J. Tegner Memorial Research Grants in Marine Environmental History and Historical Ecology Application Deadline: May 25, 2001 Marine Conservation Biology Institute (MCBI) has launched a program to provide small grants for several research projects in the areas of marine environmental history and historical ecology. The program is dedicated to the memory and scientific legacy of Mia J. Tegner, a marine biologist from Scripps Institution of Oceanography who lost her life in January while observing the marine environment in the waters off Southern California. Dr. Tegner's research focused on the ecology of kelp forest communities and made significant contributions to the field historical ecology. The program aims to provide policy makers and conservationists with crucial information for devising projects that hold high potential for both successful restoration and conservation of marine biodiversity. We will consider proposals related to estuarine and marine environments anywhere in the world, from natural and social scientists interested in uncovering interactions between environmental and human history in the marine realm. We are particularly interested in studies that seek to describe natural systems and their component species prior to large-scale human impacts since European colonization in the Americas. Proposal evaluation criteria include the potential for the project to influence the field of marine conservation biology and demonstration by the applicant(s) of a given project's significance to an important marine conservation issue. Background information and details on the grant application process are available at www.mcbi.org. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2001 19:32:25 -0800 From: Michael Jasny Subject: NMFS' Proposed Rule on LFA (Comments) IMPORTANT NOTICE TO: Interested Parties FROM: Joel Reynolds and Michael Jasny, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) DATE: March 22, 2001 RE: Opportunity for Public Comment on the Navy's Low Frequency Active Sonar System (LFA) Last Monday, the National Marine Fisheries Service proposed a rule allowing the U.S. Navy to deploy a controversial new sonar system. Known as "Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active Sonar" (or LFA, for short), this new system involves the use of very intense, low-frequency sound, and many in the environmental and scientific communities have expressed concern about the impacts it could have on marine mammals and the marine environment. For the next several weeks, the National Marine Fisheries Service is accepting public comments on this proposed rule. Because this will be, for most intents and purposes, the last opportunity for researchers, conservationists, and other members of the public to weigh in, it is vital, if you have taken an interest in this issue, to present whatever information and analysis you can during this period. What follows is a brief guide to help facilitate your comments: --What is the proposed rule, and what exactly is at issue? The proposed rule was born out of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the United States' premier law in this field. When it was passed back in 1972, this law set a moratorium on the harassing, hunting, capturing, and killing of marine mammals. It is agreed that the Navy cannot deploy this new technology without obtaining some sort of exemption. Two years ago, the Navy applied for an exemption known as a "small take permit," which is available under the law for activities that harass, hunt, capture, or kill--or, in other words, "take"--a small number of marine mammals, provided that they do so unintentionally. Not all activities qualify. To grant a "small take permit," NMFS has to find that the activity won't "take" more than a small number of marine mammals within a specified area and won't have more than a negligible impact on any particular species or stock. Even if NMFS decides that the activity meets these standards, the agency must still ensure, using all available means and methods, that it has "the least practicable impact" on marine mammals. It is the Navy's responsibility in this process to ensure that the NMFS has information sufficient to make these judgments. The proposed rule that has just been issued would, if adopted, grant the Navy a "small take permit" for LFA. NMFS' ability to issue such a permit under these terms-does it have sufficient information? can it say that the impact will be negligible? has it ensured that LFA will have the least practicable impact?-is what is at issue. --What is the deadline for comments? As it stands, the deadline for comments is 3 May. It's a firm deadline, and comments must be postmarked by that date to be counted in the agency's deliberations. We are going to petition for an extension of 30 days, given the extraordinary public concern over this issue, and will notify you in case an extension is granted-but you should assume for now that the deadline is firm. --Are emails accepted? Unfortunately, the agency will NOT accept comments submitted by email or the Internet. Comments should be mailed 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. Alternatively, you can send your comments to Ms. Wieting by fax. Her fax number is 301-713-0376. --Will there be a public hearing? NMFS has not granted the public a hearing on this issue, but it at least holds out the possibility. To get one, it is essential that you write or fax Ms. Wieting at NMFS by 3 April. In your letter, you should mention the considerable controversy, concern, and public interest that exists for this issue (providing examples, if you can, of articles you've read, discussions you've had, meetings you've attended); and, since the agency says it will grant a hearing only if information exists that "can only be presented at a hearing" and "cannot be presented in writing," you should make reference to any relevant materials that might satisfy this standard (e.g., videos, audio, unpublished research, questions, etc.). --What should comments include? LFA, like any complex issue, raises more than a few questions for discussion and debate-but don't feel that you have to comment on every aspect of the program. The fact is that NMFS, in making its decision, will probably put greater weight on comments that are thoughtful and detailed about a specific topic than on comments that are comprehensive but sketchy. All comments are extremely valuable in demonstrating a strong public interest. In general, comments should relate to the legal standards described above. But here, for example, are a few points to consider: whether there are any species or numbers of species in the areas of operations that NMFS has failed to consider (see the list of species under sec. 216.180 of the proposed rule); whether there are any regions (undersea canyons, seamounts, etc.) within the operations areas that have relatively high densities of marine mammals or of endangered and threatened species; whether there is any information about the impacts of noise-and not just on marine mammals, but on humans and other terrestrial mammals as well-that NMFS and the Navy haven't considered; whether calculations of "take" are accurate; whether the small take permit is even applicable to a global system. --Is there any additional information available on LFA? Beyond the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (see below), the main resource to use is the Navy's Final Environmental Impact Statement for the LFA program, which sets forth the Navy's position and which NMFS is planning to adopt as its own. Any comments you write, on just about any topic, would certainly benefit from reading the appropriate section of this impact statement. To obtain a copy, in either hard copy or CD-ROM, please contact Joe Johnson, the Navy's Environmental Program Manager for LFA. He may be reached by email at eisteam(\)mindspring.com, or by phone at 703-604-7882. Alternatively, you can contact Marine Acoustics, Inc., the private contractor that helped prepare the document. The main number there is 703-465-8404. Please be sure to put in your request as soon as possible, since the document could take more than one week to arrive. The Proposed Rule itself is available through a slow-loading government website at frwebgate4.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=7329324838+0+ 0+0&WAISaction=retrieve. Additional information and updates (including the text of this message) will be posted on NRDC's website at www.nrdc.org. If you have any questions about the comment process, or if you have special expertise in an area you would like to discuss, please feel free to contact Joel Reynolds (at jreynolds(\)nrdc.org or (323) 934-1210 (fax)) or Michael Jasny (at mjasny(\)ucla.edu or 323-934-1210 (fax)). And, if you can, please copy us on any comments that you send. ### About NRDC The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, non-profit organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC has more than 400,000 members nationwide, served from offices in New York, Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco. More information is available through NRDC's Website at www.nrdc.org. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2001 15:45:54 -0800 From: ACS/Puget Sound Organization: Puget Sound Chapter of the American Cetacean Society Subject: ACS/Puget Sound Chapter Request for Grant Proposals REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS The American Cetacean Society (ACS), the oldest whale and dolphin conservation organization (est. 1967) protects whales, dolphins, porpoises, and their habitats and ecosystems through public education, research grants, and conservation actions. ACS has supported worthwhile research projects in past years and continues to do so today. The Puget Sound Chapter of ACS (ACS/PS) was re-established in the summer of 1999 and has more than 70 members. Despite being a new chapter, we already awarded one grant in 2000. The grant is being applied toward the study of population dynamics of harbor porpoise in the inshore waterways of southern British Columbia. Our chapter's current research emphasis is on the southern resident community of killer whales who inhabit the waters of Washington state and southern British Columbia (J, K, and L pods). This population has shown an alarming decline over the past 5 years, and a petition will soon be filed to list the whales under the Endangered Species Act. ACS recently passed a policy to support such a listing. One possible factor leading to the population decline is food availability. Therefore, ACS/PS is now accepting proposals for research on prey species of the southern resident community of killer whales. ELIGIBILITY Scientists, students, resource managers, and others involved or interested in killer whale research and conservation are eligible to apply as individuals or as teams. Project Managers or Principal Investigators will oversee all fieldwork. Researchers from any nationality are eligible to apply. Proposals will be accepted through 27 April 2001, and letters of acceptance or denial will be issued no later than 14 May 2001. GRANT Two (2) $500 grants will be awarded. Funds will be available on 14 May 2001. For details on our proposal format, expected deliverables, and other granting guidelines, please visit our website at www.cetaceanresearch.com/acs/grants.html. Stephanie Norman - Research Fund Chair (206) 903-6278 whaledoc(\)flash.net Joe Olson - Chapter President (206) 297-1310 acs(\)cetaceanresearch.com ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 24 Mar 2001 22:57:30 -0400 From: "Dr. Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni" Subject: Manatee meeting in Puerto Rico Content-type: multipart/alternative; boundary="B_3068319450_107627" > 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. --B_3068319450_107627 Interagency/Oceanaria Manatee Meeting 19-20 April 2001 San Juan, Puerto Rico Participants of the US Interagency/Oceanaria Manatee Working Group meet twice a year to discuss manatee rescue, rehabilitation, and release activities in the U.S., including Puerto Rico. Participants include oceanaria which provide critical care treatment to distressed manatees, facilities that house long term care animals, rescuers, transporters, verifiers, researchers, and many others who are in some way involved in this effort. At these meetings we try to better coordinate efforts through a review of activities, a discussion of upcoming events, etc. Our primary focus is to treat and successfully release manatees brought in from the wild because of natural and human-caused problems. The next meeting of this working group will be held on 19-20 April 2001 at the Universidad Metropolitana, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The preliminary agenda drafted for the meeting includes the following topics: * Pre-release conditioning * Post-release monitoring * Caribbean and South American manatee rehabilitation programs * Critical and long term care facilities updates * Rescue network update * Summary of recent activities We invite manatee colleagues from the U.S., Central and South America that work on manatee rehabilitation, so we may share experiences and establish international cooperation. Additional topics may be added and a final agenda will be sent to participants a week before the meeting. A detail email with information about the meeting, including airplane, hotel and car rental information, can be obtained by writing to mignucci(\)caribe.net. Dr. Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni Laboratorio de Mamiferos Marinos del Caribe Departamento de Ciencias y Tecnologia, Universidad Metropolitana PO Box 361715 San Juan PR 00936-1715 TEL (787)766-1717 x6600, FAX (787)751-5840 EMERG (787)399-8432, (787)399-1900 EMAIL mignucci(\)caribe.net, WEB http://rcv.caribe.net --B_3068319450_107627 Manatee meeting in Puerto Rico Interagency/Oceanaria Manatee Meeting<= BR> 19-20 April 2001
San Juan, Puerto Rico

Participants of the US Interagency/Oceanaria Manatee Working Group meet twi= ce a year to discuss manatee rescue, rehabilitation, and release activities = in the U.S., including Puerto Rico.  Participants include oceanaria whi= ch provide critical care treatment to distressed manatees, facilities that h= ouse long term care animals, rescuers, transporters, verifiers, researchers,= and many others who are in some way involved in this effort.  At these= meetings we try to better coordinate efforts through a review of activities= , a discussion of upcoming events, etc.  Our primary focus is to treat = and successfully release manatees brought in from the wild because of natura= l and human-caused problems.

The next meeting of this working group will be held on 19-20 April 2001 at = the Universidad Metropolitana, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The prelimin= ary agenda drafted for the meeting includes the following topics:

  • Pre-release conditioning=20
  • Post-release monitoring=20
  • Caribbean and South American manatee rehabili= tation programs=20
  • Critical and long term care facilities update= s=20
  • Rescue network update
  • Summary of recent activities

We invite manatee colleagues from the U.S., Central and South America that = work on manatee rehabilitation, so we may share experiences and establish in= ternational cooperation. Additional topics may be added and a final agenda w= ill be sent to participants a week before the meeting. A detail email with i= nformation about the meeting, including airplane, hotel and car rental infor= mation, can be obtained by writing to mignucci(\)cari= be.net.


Dr. An= tonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni
Laboratorio de Mamiferos Marinos del Caribe
Departamento de Ciencias y Tecnologia,  Universidad Metropolitana
PO Box 361715 San Juan PR 00936-1715
TEL (787)766-1717 x6600, FAX (787)751-5840
EMERG (787)399-8432, (787)399-1900
EMAIL mignucci(\)caribe.net, WEB http://rcv.caribe.net
--B_3068319450_107627-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2001 11:45:00 +0100 From: Jan Herrmann Subject: Contents: Marine Mammal Science Vol 17(2) ------ Dear all, Marine Mammal Science Vol 17(2) 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=3D02. 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. Kindest Regards, Jan Herrmann -----------------------------Marine Mammal Science Vol=20 17(2)------------------------- Weinrich, M.T., C.R. Belt, and D. Morin. 2001. Behavior and ecology=20 of the Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus) in=20 coastal New England waters. Marine Mammal Science 17:231-248. M=F6ller, L.M., and L.B. Beheregaray. 2001. Coastal bottlenose dolphins=20 from southeastern Australia are Tursiops aduncus according to=20 sequences of the mitochondrial dna control region. Marine Mammal=20 Science 17:249-263. Walker, W.A. 2001. Geographical variation of the parasite,=20 Phyllobothrium delphini (Cestoda), in Dall's porpoise, Phocoenoides=20 dalli, in the northern North Pacific, Bering sea, and Sea of Okhotsk.=20 Marine Mammal Science 17:264-275. Huber, H.R., S.J. Jeffries, R.F. Brown, R.L. DeLong, and G.R.=20 VanBlaricom. 2001. Correcting aerial survey counts of harbor seals=20 (Phoca vitulina richardsi) in Washington and Oregon. Marine Mammal=20 Science 17:276-293. Laidre, K.L., R.J. Jameson, and D.P. DeMaster. 2001. An estimation of=20 carrying capacity for sea otters along the California coast. Marine=20 Mammal Science 17:294-309. Sheffield, G., F.H. Fay, H. Feder, and B.P. Kelly. 2001. Laboratory=20 digestion of prey and interpretation of walrus stomach contents.=20 Marine Mammal Science 17:310-330. Koelsch, J.K. 2001. Reproduction in female manatees observed in=20 Sarasota Bay, Florida. Marine Mammal Science 17:331-342. N=F8ttestad, L., and T. Simil=E4. 2001. Killer whales attacking schooling= =20 fish: why force herring from deep water to the surface? Marine Mammal=20 Science 17:343- 352. Kinzey, D., and T. Gerrodette. 2001. Conversion factors for binocular=20 reticles. Marine Mammal Science 17:353-361. H=FCckst=E4dt, L., and T. Antezana. 2001. An observation of parturition=20 in a stranded Kogia breviceps. Marine Mammal Science 17:362-365. Dawson, S., F. Pichler, E. Slooten, K. Russell, and C.S. Baker. 2001.=20 The North Island Hector's dolphin is vulnerable to extinction. Marine=20 Mammal Science 17:366-371. B=E9rub=E9, M., C. Berchok, and R. Sears. 2001. Observation of a=20 male-biased sex ratio in the Gulf of St. Lawrence fin whales=20 (Balaenoptera physalus): Temporal, geographical, or group structure=20 segregation? Marine Mammal Science 17:371-381. Roberts, S.P., and D.P. DeMaster. 2001. Pinniped survival in=20 captivity: Annual survival rates of six species. Marine Mammal=20 Science 17:381-387. Fern=E1ndez-Juricic, E., C. Campagna, V. Enriquez, and C.L. Ortiz.=20 2001. Vocal rates and social context in male South American sea=20 lions. Marine Mammal Science 17:387-396. Pyle, P., D.J. Long, J. Schonewald, R.E. Jones, and J. Roletto. 2001.=20 Historical and recent colonization of the South Farallon Islands,=20 California, by northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus). Marine=20 Mammal Science 17:397-402. Campagna, C., J. Dignani, S.B. Blackwell, and M.R. Marin. 2001.=20 Detecting bioluminescence with an irradiance time-depth recorder=20 deployed on southern elephant seals. Marine Mammal Science 17:402-414. Jones, B.A., and D.P. DeMaster. 2001. Survivorship of captive=20 southern sea otters. Marine Mammal Science 17:414-418. Silva, M.A., and A. Ara=FAjo. 2001. Distribution and current status of=20 the West African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis) in Guinea-Bissau.=20 Marine Mammal Science 17:418-424. Heyning, J.E. 2001. BOOKS: Reviews: Development of the Cetacean Nasal=20 Skull. M. Klima. ISBN 3-540-64996-4. Advances In Anatomy, Embryology=20 and Cell Biology, No. 149. Springer Berlin, viii + 143 pp. 1999. DM=20 186 (Approx. US$85). Marine Mammal Science 17:425-426. Clarke, R., and O. Paliza. 2001. LETTERS: The Food of Sperm Whales in=20 the Southeast Pacific. Marine Mammal Science 17:427-429. Smith, S.C., and H. Whitehead. 2001. LETTERS: Reply to R. Clarke and=20 Paliza's Comment: "The Food of Sperm Whales in the Southeast=20 Pacific". Marine Mammal Science 17:430-431. Clapham, P.J. 2001. LETTERS: Why do Baleen Whales Migrate? A response=20 to Corkeron and Connor. Marine Mammal Science 17:432-436. Connor, R.C., and P.J. Corkeron. 2001. LETTERS: Predation Past and=20 Present: Killer Whales and Baleen Whale Migration. Marine Mammal=20 Science 17:436-439. Clark, S.T., D.K. Odell, and C.T. Lacinak. 2001. ERRATUM: "Aspects of=20 Growth in Captive Killer Whales (Orcinus orca)" by CLARK et al.=20 (2000), Mar. Mammal Sci. 16(1): pp. 110-123. Marine Mammal Science=20 17:440-444. -----------------------------Marine Mammal Science Vol=20 17(2)------------------------- --=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, 22 Mar 2001 10:45:25 -0500 From: Joey Outten Subject: CONSERVATION GENETICS SYMPOSIUM April 4-6 I would like to post the following announcement on your listserv concerning the American Museum of Natural History's upcoming symposium, Conservation Genetics in the Age of Genomics? Here are the details: Conservation Genetics in the Age of Genomics American Museum of Natural History in New York City April 4-6, 2001 This international gathering of biologists, ecologists, geneticists, conservation resource managers, and students will convene to discuss the expanding role of molecular technology as current and proposed conservation management strategies are evaluated. Presenters will explore the increasing importance of genetics research to the conservation of biodiversity. Conservation Genetics In the Age of Genomics is being jointly sponsored by the American Museum of Natural History's Center for Biodiversity and Conservation and the Bronx Zoo-based Wildlife Conservation Society. Can Biotechnology Save the World's Species? Lecture and Panel Discussion (7 - 9 p.m.) Wednesday, April 4 Conservation Genetics in the Age of Genomics (Two Days of Scientific Presentations) Thursday, April 5 (9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Poster Session/Reception 6 - 8 p.m.) Friday, April 6, 2001 (9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) Registration Fees Go Up After Monday, March 27! To register: By Phone: Call AMNH Central Reservations at 212-769-5200 (Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, EST, Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm, EST) or WCS at 718-220-5090 (8 am to 6 pm, Monday through Friday, or leave a message at any hour). Please have your credit card ready when you call. By Fax: Dial 212-769-5698. Via Email: Contact tickets(\)amnh.org Or visit the CBC's symposium website at http://research.amnh.org/biodiversity/symposia/conservation-genetics/ -- Joey Outten Assistant to the Director Center for Biodiversity and Conservation American Museum of Natural History Central Park West at 79th St. New York, NY 10024 (212) 769-5742 (212) 496-3471 Fax: (212) 769-5292 --============_-1226846512==_ma============ CONSERVATION GENETICS SYMPOSIUM April 4-6
I would like to post the following announcement on your listserv concerning the American Museum of Natural History's upcoming symposium, Conservation Genetics in the Age of Genomics?

Here are the details:

Conservation Genetics in the Age of Genomics
American Museum of Natural History in New York City
April 4-6, 2001

This international gathering of biologists, ecologists, geneticists, conservation resource managers, and students will convene to discuss the expanding role of molecular technology as current and proposed conservation management strategies are evaluated. Presenters will explore the increasing importance of genetics research to the conservation of biodiversity. Conservation Genetics In the Age of Genomics is being jointly sponsored by the American Museum of Natural History's Center for Biodiversity and Conservation and the Bronx Zoo-based Wildlife Conservation Society.

Can Biotechnology Save the World's Species?    
Lecture and Panel Discussion (7 - 9 p.m.)
Wednesday, April 4

Conservation Genetics in the Age of Genomics
(Two Days of Scientific Presentations)
Thursday, April 5 (9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Poster Session/Reception 6 - 8 p.m.)
Friday, April 6, 2001 (9 a.m. - 4 p.m.)

Registration Fees Go Up After Monday, March 27!
To register:
By Phone: Call AMNH Central Reservations at 212-769-5200 (Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, EST, Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm, EST) or WCS at 718-220-5090 (8 am to 6 pm, Monday through Friday, or leave a message at any hour). Please have your credit card ready when you call.

By Fax: Dial 212-769-5698.

Via Email: Contact tickets(\)amnh.org

Or visit the CBC's symposium website at http://research.amnh.org/biodiversity/symposia/conservation-genetics/

--
Joey Outten
Assistant to the Director
Center for Biodiversity and Conservation
American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West at 79th St.
New York, NY 10024
(212) 769-5742
(212) 496-3471
Fax: (212) 769-5292
--============_-1226846512==_ma============-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2001 17:10:57 -0600 From: Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network Subject: Job Announcement JOB POSTING: Education Coordinator, for the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network (TMMSN). The TMMSN is a non-profit, volunteer organization, founded in 1980, which has evolved to an organization consisting of biologists, professionals, students, and animal lovers alike. Our missions consist of: recovery of live and dead stranded dolphins or whales along the Texas coast, extensive research, and public awareness through education. Job Responsibilities: The Education Coordinator will continue to lay the foundation of the TMMSN's Education Program by presenting educational lectures to kindergarten - adults, coordinating special event educational booths, maintaining educational booth and museum exhibit, training and working closely with volunteers, developing new educational materials, keeping the website updated, and creating a new teacher's curriculum. Candidate will be the Chief editor of the Texas Stranding Newsletter which includes acquiring, writing, and editing articles along with assembly and mailing. Must be willing to approach schools and other educational facilities to help promote the TMMSN. Participate in educational grant writing with TMMSN's Development Committee for educational support. Willing to assist with daily operations of State Office including merchandise sales, marine mammal stranding calls, and public relations. Must be able to work some nights and weekends. Flexible hours. Position requires some travel, must have a valid Texas driver's license. Qualifications: Preferably a Bachelors in Biology (emphasis on marine mammals) with extensive teaching experience, or a Bachelors in Education with marine mammal experience. Candidate should have previous public presentation skills. Previous experience with marine mammal strandings is a plus along with basic knowledge of marine mammal biology. Candidate must be self-motivated, work well independently while being able to work closely with volunteers when needed. This position requires computer literacy (Word Perfect, Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and Power Point, Photo Plus, Photo Deluxe, and Paradox), excellent writing, editorial, and speaking skills. Salary and Benefits: Salary and benefits will be paid through Texas A&M University at Galveston. Texas A&M University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Please send resume, cover letter, and a list of 3 references to address below. Applications can be found at: http://www.tamug.tamu.edu/hrd/employ.html Application info: Texas A&M University at Galveston Human Resources P.O. Box 1675 Galveston, TX 77553 409-740-4519 Job information: For more information about the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network, please see our website at http://www.tmmsn.org or contact the TMMSN directly at TMMSN(\)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: Sun, 25 Mar 2001 13:25:13 +0200 From: European Student Chapter Subject: European Student Chapter boundary="----=_NextPart_000_000F_01C0B52F.05E5A3C0" Message en plusieurs parties et au format MIME. ------=_NextPart_000_000F_01C0B52F.05E5A3C0 charset="iso-8859-1" Bonjour =E0 tous, =20 A new Student Regional Chapter of the SMM is open for Europe. www.marine-mammal-cognition.de/RegionalChapter =20 It mainly consist in a mailing list and a student research engine. It's open to any student involved in marine mammalogy in Europe. =20 I hope this chapter will help us to exchange ideas and work together. The European Student Chapter webpage is a first step, feel free to make = comments and send ideas to ESC(\)marine-mammal-cognition.de =20 Martin,=20 -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ------- B=D6YE Martin (Ph.D. student) O =B0 =20 Saldorfer Str. 2 o 90 429 N=FCrnberg o DEUTSCHLAND =B0 =B0 t=E9l: 00 49 (0)911 26 45 890 =B0 Mail : m.boye(\)marine-mammal-cognition.de Web: www.marine-mammal-cognition.de ------=_NextPart_000_000F_01C0B52F.05E5A3C0 charset="iso-8859-1"
Bonjour à tous,
 
A new Student Regional Chapter of the = SMM is open=20 for Europe.
www.marine= -mammal-cognition.de/RegionalChapter
 
It mainly consist=20 in a mailing list and a  student = research=20 engine.
It's open to any student involved  = in marine=20 mammalogy  in Europe.
 
I hope this chapter will help us to = exchange ideas=20 and work together.
The European Student Chapter webpage is = a first=20 step, feel free to make comments and send = ideas to ESC(\)marine-mammal-cognitio= n.de
  
Martin,
 
----------------------------------------------------------------= ----------------
BÖYE Martin (Ph.D.=20 student)   =20 O       °  
Saldorfer = Str.=20 2            =            =20 o
90 429=20 Nürnberg          =        =20 o
DEUTSCHLAND         &nb= sp;         =20 °
          &nbs= p;            = ;            =          =20 °
tél: 00 49 (0)911 26 45 890    =20 °
Mail : m.boye(\)marine-mammal-co= gnition.de
Web:=20 www.marine-mammal-cognitio= n.de
------=_NextPart_000_000F_01C0B52F.05E5A3C0-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 16:28:03 -0500 From: "Andrew M. Mountcastle" Subject: cetacean stranding study Dear MARMAM subscribers: I have recently been awarded a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship to study "The Cultural Response to Stranded Whales and Dolphins" in several locations, including the Azores, Scotland, the Faroe Islands, Norway and New Zealand. This is a 12-month project of independent study and travel abroad, beginning in August of this year. A major goal of this project is to examine how marine mammal strandings affect local communities (both scientific and public) and how each community responds. To this end, one aim is to collect regional data on both single and mass cetacean strandings, including frequency of occurrence, species involved and the possible causes. I also hope to gather information on current and past research on strandings in each study location. Furthermore, I intend to document and compare the rescue and rehabilitation procedures of various conservation organizations around the world. In addition to the study locations listed above, I have the opportunity to add one or more countries to my itinerary if appropriate. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions, advice or information readers may have about any aspect of this research project. Many thanks in advance! Cheers, Andrew M. Mountcastle Bowdoin College 792 SU Brunswick, ME 04011 207-721-5198 amountca(\)bowdoin.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2001 14:37:27 -0500 From: Tara Carey Subject: employment opportunity: Conservation Director at Earthwatch Insti tute To Whom It May Concern: Please post the following position: Conservation Director Earthwatch Institute Conservation Department - Available 3/1/01 The Earthwatch Institute (EWI) Director of Conservation will be responsible for developing and managing the Conservation Program at EWI. This includes strategic planning for the Program and management of a $5M, 5-year grant from the Ford Motor Company for the EWI Conservation Initiative. The deliverables of the grant include: strategic development of 4 Conservation Research Centers (CRCs) in Latin America, North America, Africa and Asia/Pacific. Development of an Education, Capacity Building and Corporate Training Fellowship Program, and recruiting approximately 2,500 EWI volunteers to participate on projects at CRCs over a five-year time period. The Director will provide strategic direction for Program and project development at the CRCs, and management of 5 Field Directors and a Program Manager, based at EWI International Headquarters in Maynard, Massachusetts. The Conservation Director will also be required to represent EWI at selected conferences and/or meetings, go on specific site-visits and facilitate new project and Program development and fundraising activities in support of the Conservation Initiative. The Conservation Director will report to the President of EWI and work closely with all departments including the Education Department, The Center for Field Research, Marketing and Communications, Development and Finance. The Director will have outstanding qualifications and field experience in international conservation science or sustainable development and administrative and facilitative skills to effectively coordinate the diverse interests and abilities of the CRC partners and stakeholders associated with the Conservation Initiative. A Ph.D. or equivalent degree or experience is required, as are demonstrated abilities to obtain funding, to manage interdisciplinary projects, and to effectively communicate and study complex conservation issues. Also required are leadership abilities and entrepreneurial spirit necessary to establish and maintain the Conservation Initiative as an internationally well-respected Program. Send resumes to: Tara Carey, Earthwatch Institute, PO Box 75, Maynard, MA 01754 or preferably, email to: tcarey(\)earthwatch.org, or fax 978-461-0730. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2001 15:06:42 +1200 Reply-To: Sam DuFresne From: Sam DuFresne Subject: New papers on Hector's dolphin abundance boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0087_01C0B861.DCFED2C0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0087_01C0B861.DCFED2C0 charset="iso-8859-1" Dear Marmammers Two new papers on Hector's dolphin abundance are now available on the = web. Full titles and abstracts are included below. Both have been = externally reviewed. They describe boat-based line-transect surveys = carried out on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island. The papers are complimentary, and should be read together. The second of = the papers (CSL3074) also describes a set of callibration trials using a = helicopter as a second, independent observer platform. These trials were = designed to quantify the effect of vessel attraction, and to estimate = the proportion of trackline sightings that were missed by observers. = This correction factor was applied to all abundance estimates from the = first paper (CSL3072). Using the links below should take you directly to the papers, provided = you have Acrobat Reader installed: http://www.doc.govt.nz/cons/scires/csl/CSL3072.PDF http://www.doc.govt.nz/cons/scires/csl/CSL3074.PDF Cheers Sam DuFresne Dawson, S.; DuFresne, S.; Slooten, E.; Wade, P. 2000. Line-transect = survey of Hector's dolphin abundance between Motunau and Timaru. = Published client report on contract 3072, funded by Conservation = Services Levy. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 18p. = http://csl.doc.govt.nz/CSL3072.pdf Methods and results of the first boat-based line-transect survey in New = Zealand waters are reported. The survey was designed to quantify = Hector's dolphin abundance between Motunau and Timaru, out to four = nautical miles from shore. Greatest dolphin densities were found in = Akaroa Harbour, along Birdlings Flat (between Banks Peninsula and the = Rakaia River) and off the eastern side of Banks Peninsula. Analyses = suggest that overall abundance in the survey area is around 2400 animals = (CV =3D 22%). A preponderance of dolphin sightings in which orientation = was towards the vessel indicates attraction to the vessel, at least = within a radial distance of 400m. This would lead to an overestimate of = abundance. a comparison of the Akaroa Harbour abundance estimate (124, = 95% c.i. 69-222) with previous survey work indicated that estimates may = have been biased high. The results from just 3 of 115 small boat surveys = of Akaroa Harbour fall within the uncorrected 95% confidence limits, and = the average summer abundance seen on these surveys was 43 (95% c.i. = 34-52).Quantifying the effect of attraction on abundance estimates = should be an important objective of further survey work on this species. Note:=20 Simultaneous helicopter/boat surveys were carried out in summer 1998/99 = to quantify the effect of attraction of dolphins to the survey vessel. = These surveys showed that uncorrected abundance estimates, such as those = given here, should be halved. See DuFresne et al. (2001) for details of = survey methodology and results. DuFresne, S.; Dawson, S.; Slooten, E. 2001. Line-transect survey of = Hector's dolphin abundance between Timaru and Long Point, and effect of = attraction to survey vessel. Published client report on contract 3074, = funded by Conservation Services Levy. Department of Conservation, = Wellington. 19p. http://csl.doc.govt.nz/CSL3074.pdf This report summarises results of line-transect surveys to quantify the = abundance of Hector's dolphins (Cephalorynchus hectori) in the coastal = area between Timaru and Long Point (12 n.m. west of Te Waewae Bay). A = total of 27 sightings were made in 437 km of trackline. Greatest dolphin = densities were found in Te Waewae Bay, and between Timaru and Oamaru. No = sightings were made off the SE coast between Karitane (north of Dunedin) = and Colac Bay (west of Bluff), and no sightings were made on any of the = offshore transects extending from 4 to 10 n.m. offshore. Simultaneous = boat/helicopter surveys were conducted off the south side of Banks = Peninsula to measure the combined effect of dolphins being attracted to = the survey vessel and observers missing sightings. Analysis of these = data show that uncorrected estimates are inflated by a factor of two. = That is, correcting for attraction and missed sightings results in a = downward revision of abundance estimates by 50%. The corrected estimate = for Motunau-Timaru (to 4 n.m. offshore) is 1198 (95%ci =3D 848-1693) and = for Timaru to Long Point is 399 (95%ci =3D 279-570). The total estimate = for the Motunau to Long Point coastal area is 1597 (95%ci =3D = 1175-2171). *********************************************************** PhD Candidate- Dept. of Marine Science University of Otago Marine Mammal Lab (rm 204) Department of Marine Science 304 Castle St/PO Box 56 Dunedin New Zealand ph: 64-3-479 5476 mob: (025) 272-7657 fax: 64-3-479 8336 e-mail: dolphin(\)universalmail.com for more about our research, see: www.otago.ac.nz/marinescience/mammals *********************************************************** ------=_NextPart_000_0087_01C0B861.DCFED2C0 charset="iso-8859-1"
Dear Marmammers
 
Two new papers on Hector's dolphin abundance are now available on = the=20 web. Full titles and abstracts are included below. Both have been=20 externally reviewed. They describe boat-based line-transect surveys = carried out=20 on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island.
 
The papers are complimentary, and should be read together. The = second of=20 the papers (CSL3074) also describes a set of callibration trials using a = helicopter as a second, independent observer platform. These trials were = designed to quantify the effect of vessel attraction, and to estimate = the=20 proportion of trackline sightings that were missed by observers. This = correction=20 factor was applied to all abundance estimates from the first paper=20 (CSL3072).
 
Using the links below should take you directly to the papers, = provided=20 you have Acrobat Reader installed:

http://www.do= c.govt.nz/cons/scires/csl/CSL3072.PDF
http://www.do= c.govt.nz/cons/scires/csl/CSL3074.PDF
 
Cheers
Sam DuFresne
 
 
Dawson, S.; DuFresne, S.; Slooten, E.; Wade, P. 2000. Line-transect = survey=20 of Hector's dolphin abundance between Motunau and Timaru. Published = client=20 report on contract 3072, funded by Conservation Services Levy. = Department of=20 Conservation, Wellington. 18p. http://csl.doc.govt.nz/CSL307= 2.pdf

Methods and results of the first boat-based = line-transect=20 survey in New Zealand waters are reported. The survey was designed to = quantify=20 Hector’s dolphin abundance between Motunau and Timaru, out to four = nautical=20 miles from shore. Greatest dolphin densities were found in Akaroa = Harbour, along=20 Birdlings Flat (between Banks Peninsula and the Rakaia River) and off = the=20 eastern side of Banks Peninsula. Analyses suggest that overall abundance = in the=20 survey area is around 2400 animals (CV =3D 22%). A preponderance of = dolphin=20 sightings in which orientation was towards the vessel indicates = attraction to=20 the vessel, at least within a radial distance of 400m. This would lead = to an=20 overestimate of abundance. a comparison of the Akaroa Harbour abundance = estimate=20 (124, 95% c.i. 69-222) with previous survey work indicated that = estimates may=20 have been biased high. The results from just 3 of 115 small boat surveys = of=20 Akaroa Harbour fall within the uncorrected 95% confidence limits, and = the=20 average summer abundance seen on these surveys was 43 (95% c.i.=20 34-52).Quantifying the effect of attraction on abundance estimates = should be an=20 important objective of further survey work on this species.

Note:

Simultaneous helicopter/boat surveys were carried out in summer = 1998/99 to=20 quantify the effect of attraction of dolphins to the survey vessel. = These=20 surveys showed that uncorrected abundance estimates, such as those given = here,=20 should be halved. See DuFresne et al. (2001) for details of survey = methodology=20 and results.

DuFresne, S.; Dawson, S.; Slooten, E. 2001. Line-transect survey of = Hector's dolphin abundance between Timaru and Long Point, and effect of=20 attraction to survey vessel. Published client report on contract 3074, = funded by=20 Conservation Services Levy. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 19p. = http://csl.doc.govt.nz/CSL307= 4.pdf

This report summarises results of line-transect = surveys to=20 quantify the abundance of Hector’s dolphins (Cephalorynchus = hectori) in=20 the coastal area between Timaru and Long Point (12 n.m. west of Te = Waewae Bay).=20 A total of 27 sightings were made in 437 km of trackline. Greatest = dolphin=20 densities were found in Te Waewae Bay, and between Timaru and Oamaru. No = sightings were made off the SE coast between Karitane (north of Dunedin) = and=20 Colac Bay (west of Bluff), and no sightings were made on any of the = offshore=20 transects extending from 4 to 10 n.m. offshore. Simultaneous = boat/helicopter=20 surveys were conducted off the south side of Banks Peninsula to measure = the=20 combined effect of dolphins being attracted to the survey vessel and = observers=20 missing sightings. Analysis of these data show that uncorrected = estimates are=20 inflated by a factor of two. That is, correcting for attraction and = missed=20 sightings results in a downward revision of abundance estimates by 50%. = The=20 corrected estimate for Motunau-Timaru (to 4 n.m. offshore) is 1198 = (95%ci =3D=20 848-1693) and for Timaru to Long Point is 399 (95%ci =3D 279-570). The = total=20 estimate for the Motunau to Long Point coastal area is 1597 (95%ci =3D=20 1175-2171).

 
 
***********************************************************
PhD=20 Candidate- Dept. of Marine Science
University of Otago
 
Marine Mammal Lab (rm 204)
Department of Marine Science
304 = Castle=20 St/PO Box 56
Dunedin
New Zealand
ph: 64-3-479 5476
mob: = (025)=20 272-7657
fax: 64-3-479 8336
 
e-mail: dolphin(\)universalmail.comfor=20 more about our research, see:
www.otago.ac.nz/mar= inescience/mammals
***********************************************= ************
------=_NextPart_000_0087_01C0B861.DCFED2C0-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2001 03:32:01 -0800 From: Dylan Walker Subject: Request for marine mammal photographs REQUEST FOR MARINE MAMMAL PHOTOGRAPHS WildGuides Ltd, a publishing organisation established to support wildlife conservation, is currently gathering material for a new publication on the whales and dolphins of the Pacific Ocean as part of its OceanGuides series. The project is in its early stages and two of the authors, Dylan Walker and Graeme Cresswell, would welcome submissions of photographs for possible inclusion in the book. Several photographs are likely to be needed for each species. OceanGuides will pay photographers thirty American Dollars (twenty UK Pounds Sterling) per photograph used in the final publication. In addition, each photographer will receive a complimentary copy of the guide. If you have photographs of any of the species listed below and would like to offer them for use in this publication please send them to: Dylan Walker, OceanGuides, Brooklands Farm, Forston, Dorchester, Dorset, United Kingdom, DT2 7AA. Photographs required: SURFACING AND UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE FOLLOWING: Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis, Long-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus capensis.. SURFACING PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE FOLLOWING: False Killer Whale Pseudorca crassidens, Killer Whale Orcinus orca, Short-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala macrorhynchus, Cuvier s Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris, Baird s Beaked Whale Berardius bairdii, Blainville s Beaked Whale Mesoplodon densirostris, Northern Right Whale Eubalaena japonica / glacialis, Gray Whale Eschrichtus robustus, Blue Whale Balaenoptera musculus, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus, Sei Whale Balaenoptera borealis, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata, Bryde's Whale Balaenoptera edeni, Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae, Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus, Pygmy Sperm Whale Kogia breviceps, Dwarf Sperm Whale Kogia simus, Pacific Bottlenose Whale? Hyperoodon ?, Vaquita. Phoecoena sinus. SURFACING AND BOW-RIDING PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE FOLLOWING: Harbour Porpoise Phoecena phoecena, Dall's Porpoise Phocoenoides dalli, Pygmy Killer Whale Feresa attenuata, Melon Headed Whale Peponocephala electra, Northern Right Whale Dolphin Lissodelphis peronii, Pacific White-sided Dolphin Lagenorhynchus obliquidens,, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba, Long Snouted Spinner Dolphin Stenella longirostris, Pantropical Spotted Dolphin Stenella attenuata, Rough-toothed Dolphin Steno bredanensis, Bottle-nosed Dolphin Tursiops truncatus, Risso's Dolphin Grampus griseus and Fraser s Dolphin Lagenodelphis hosei. SURFACING AND / OR STRANDED PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE FOLLOWING: Hubbs Beaked Whale Mesoplodon carlhubbsi, Gingko-toothed Beaked Whale Mesoplodon ginkgodens, Hector s Beaked Whale Mesoplodon hectori, Stejneger s Beaked Whale Mesoplodon stejnegeri. SURFACING AND HAULED OUT PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE FOLLOWING: Californian Sea Lion Zalophus californianus, Steller's Sea Lion Eumetopias jubata, , Northern Fur Seal Callorhinus ursinus, Guadalupe Fur Seal Arctocephalus philippi townsendii, Northern Elephant Seal Mirounga angustirostris, Harbour Seal Phoca vitulini richardi, Sea Otter Enhydra lutris. Thanks in advance. Dylan Walker Author, OceanGuides Email: dylan(\)companyofwhales.co.uk __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/?.refer=text ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2001 13:32:29 +0200 Reply-To: ursula.verfuss(\)uni-tuebingen.de From: Ursula Verfuss Subject: Student workshop, ECS conference, Rome 2001: first announcement Dies ist eine mehrteilige Nachricht im MIME-Format. --------------EEE5C1310B9980E5C2C90ED9 Student workshop of the European Cetacean Society, first announcement "Get into contact: discussing topic specific questions" The European Cetacean Society is organizing a workshop for students attending the ECS conference in Rome, May 2001. The workshop will take place on Sunday, 6th May 2001, 14:00 to 19:00 pm. In this workshop, 3 to 5 working groups will present the opportunity to deal with different topics. Each working group will consist of senior scientists and students. The senior scientists will chair the working group and they'll be open for questions. The students should introduce themselves and their project (if existing), and open discussions on problems and questions dealing with the topic of the working group. The intention of the workshop is to provide the opportunity to get to know students in the same field of interest, to discuss questions and problems students may have regarding the topic of the working group, and to briefly introduce the participating students as well as their projects. Students attending the workshop are requested to prepare a short personal introduction and - if existing a summary about their projects in marine mammal science. They should additionally think about topic specific problems and questions they would like to discuss. For registering, please send an email to Ursula Verfuss , naming three out of the topics given below with a ranking (starting with the highest interest). Additionally, please note if you are working on a project (give title) or not. Please register AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, so the working groups can be arranged. If you have any special senior scientist you'd think would be good to have in the workshop, please tell me his/her name. Registration deadline will be the 14th April, 2001. There will be no registration fee. Following topics can be chosen: acoustics, anatomy, behaviour, conservation, distribution, ecology, fisheries, population biology, strandings, toxicology --------------EEE5C1310B9980E5C2C90ED9 name="ursula.verfuss.vcf" filename="ursula.verfuss.vcf" begin:vcard n:Verfu_;Ursula tel;home:+49 (0)3831 299755 x-mozilla-html:FALSE org:University of Tuebingen;Animal Physiology version:2.1 email;internet:ursula.verfuss(\)uni-tuebingen.de title:Dipl.-Biol. adr;quoted-printable:;;private:=0D=0AOssenreyerstr. 24;Stralsund;;18439;Germany fn:Ursula Verfu_ end:vcard --------------EEE5C1310B9980E5C2C90ED9-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2001 13:59:06 +0000 From: Simon Berrow Subject: Protocols for Monitoring Whalewatching RE: Protocols for Monitoring Whalewatching Dear All, As part of an EU contract called META (Marine Ecotourism in Atlantic Areas) I am looking at the sustainability of whalewatching as a tourism industry: Although there are plenty of whalewatching guidelines available both generic and specific I am struggling to locate information on monitoring programmes. The aim if the META project is to: i) identify impact indices which could be used to assess the sustainability of whalewatching (e.g. photo-ID may not be sensitive enough to detect changes in time to modify management procedures (Wilson et al. 1999, Ecological Applications 9(1), 288-300). ii) to explore potentially useful frameworks for sustainable management such as in Europe the EU Habitats Directive iii) assess the impact of proposed tighter regulations on visitor attitudes, as sustainable tourism is as much as managing people as cetaceans ! I am looking for examples of monitoring programmes that collect data on the whalewatching industry in order to assess its impact. I'm sure there are many examples around but few seem to be published and sourcing them difficult. Any assistance or direction would be gratefully received. Many thanks. Dr Simon Berrow, Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Foundation, Merchants Quay, Kilrush, Co. Clare, Ireland. Tel: +65 9052326 Fax: +65 9051692 Mobile: 086 8545450 Visit http://www.oceanfree.net to get your free e-mail account and use our unique Irish Internet directory ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 08:00:16 +0200 From: Hal Whitehead Subject: Whale and dolphin culture From: Hal Whitehead (hwhitehe(\)is.dal.ca) There is a nice article on cetacean culture in this weeks' (24 March) New Scientist: Pain, S. 2001. Culture shock. New Scientist 169(2283): 26-31. (See http://www.newscientist.com/features/) Hal Whitehead Department of Biology Dalhousie University 1355 Oxford St Halifax Nova Scotia CANADA B3H 4J1 Temporary Address of Hal Whitehead: Max Planck Institut fur Verhaltensphysiologie Seewiesen Postfach 1564 D-82305 Starnberg Germany ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 01:32:20 -0700 From: Dylan Walker Subject: March Cetacean Survey in the Bay of Biscay A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE ORCA (ORGANISATION CETACEA) CETACEAN SURVEY OF THE BAY OF BISCAY AND ENGLISH CHANNEL 25-27 MARCH 2001 Between 25-27 March 2001 ORCA (Organisation Cetacea) surveyors carried out the second of two marine surveys of the English Channel and Bay of Biscay scheduled for winter 2001 and sponsored by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. The aim of these surveys is to ascertain the winter distribution of seabirds and cetaceans in the region. This information is currently of high conservation importance following the disasters of the previous winter 1999/2000 which included the mass stranding of several hundred small cetaceans along the English Channel coasts as a result of fisheries bycatch. Seabird populations also took a battering as a result of the Erika oil spill off the Brittany Coast of France which killed an estimated 300,000 seabirds. ORCA observers Kate Arnold, James Diamond, Martin Elcoate, Brian Garrett and Dylan Walker conducted a three day cetacean and seabird survey of the English Channel and Bay of Biscay between Plymouth (England) and Santander (Spain) onboard Brittany Ferries cruise-ferry Val De Loire . A total of 660 cetaceans involving 7 species were recorded during the survey. Of particular importance was the presence of Harbour Porpoise and significant numbers of Common Dolphins in the English Channel. During the survey, Common Dolphins were regularly recorded in close proximity to fishing vessels, some of which were actively trawling. Various fishing activities were recorded including pair-trawling. Pelagic trawling has been identified as one of the fisheries which are particularly problematic for cetaceans (Simmonds, 2001). Based on recent strandings, Common Dolphins appear to be the main species affected by these fisheries. Research on stranded dolphins along the French Atlantic coast has also revealed evidence of damage to some dolphins, which are consistent with pair-trawling, a relatively recent large-scale fishing method. Pelagic trawling south of the British Isles in the region of the Bay of Biscay has been identified as a key threat to small cetacean species of UK and adjacent waters. However, there is currently very little data on the importance of this region to small cetaceans during the winter, a time when Common Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise populations may face significant threats. ORCA is working with WDCS and other conservation organisations to provide the base-line data required to gain a greater understanding of cetacean distribution in the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay in relation to current threats to their conservation. THE FOLLOWING CETACEAN SPECIES WERE RECORDED DURING EFFORT BASED SURVEYING: Dead Common / Striped Dolphin: 1 individual Harbour Porpoise: 2 lone individuals Common Dolphin: 25 pods totalling 447 dolphins Striped Dolphin: 2 pods totalling 28 dolphins Bottle-nosed Dolphin: 3 pods totalling 39 dolphins Pilot Whale: 1 pod of 25 whales Cuvier s Beaked Whale: 3 pods totalling 7 whales Sei Whale: 2 individuals Fin/Sei Whale: 1 individual Probable Sei Whale: 1 individual Common/Striped Dolphin: 6 pods totalling 106 individuals Probable Cuvier s Beaked Whale: 1 individual A full report on the winter distribution of cetaceans and seabirds will be available to ORCA members later this spring. If you would like to join ORCA in order to receive this and other reports, please send a cheque for #11.99 and details of your name and address to: Hugh Harrop, ORCA Membership Secretary, Longhill, Maywick, Bigton, Shetland, UK, ZE2 9JF ORCA would like to thank the Captain and crew of the Val De Loire for their kind assistance in enabling us to conduct this survey. Best wishes, Dylan Walker ORCA Chairman e-mail: dylan(\)companyofwhales.co.uk REFERENCES Simmonds, M. (2001). What price fish? ORCA No. 1. Incorporating a Report on the Whales, Dolphins and Seabirds of the Bay of Biscay and English Channel. Due for publication Spring 2001. Organisation Cetacea __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/?.refer=text ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 10:48:42 +0200 From: Giovanni Bearzi Subject: Workshop on dolphin research and conservation in the Mediterranean Sea __July 2001 __Workshop on dolphin research and conservation in the Mediterranean Sea __Island of Kalamos, Ionian Greece __Ionian Dolphin Project field station ------------------------------------------------------------------------ __Programme presentation The Tethys Research Institute organizes a ten-day workshop with seminars on dolphin behavioral ecology, status and conservation efforts. The workshop, held at the Ionian Dolphin Project field station, will include dolphin surveys from inflatable craft and direct involvement of participants in all phases of dolphin research. Daily seminars will focus on issues ranging from cetacean conservation "in action" to practical tips (e.g., writing a CV, preparing a proposal, raising funds, designing a research project, collecting the data, setting up and managing a field station, etc.) Research methods including photo-identification and behavioral sampling will be explained into detail and practical work will be done by each participant both in the field and at the base. During the workshop, up to 6 participants will gain a comprehensive view on the problems and pleasures of cetacean research. Workshop dates are 1-10 July and 11-20 July. The Euro 878 fee includes all services, workshop fee, room & board, surveys at sea and use of research materials. More at http://www.tethys.org ("Opportunities") ____________________________________________ Tethys Research Institute c/o Venice Natural History Museum Santa Croce 1730, 30135 Venezia, Italy tethysve(\)inwind.it http://www.tethys.org ____________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001 10:11:36 +1200 From: Steve Dawson Subject: Please comment on Hector's dolphin management URGENT: PLEASE COMMENT ON MANAGEMENT OPTIONS FOR HECTOR'S DOLPHIN The New Zealand Minister of Fisheries has asked for public comment on the management of the North Island Hector's dolphin. The Minister has outlined four management options and invites you to either choose one of those, or to propose your own. BACKGROUND: Hector's dolphin is an endangered species, only found in New Zealand. The North Island population is very small (most likely fewer than 100 individuals, Russell, 1999) and has recently been listed as critically endangered on the international Red List of threatened species (IUCN, 2000). North Island and South Island Hector's dolphins are genetically different (Pichler et al., 1998). Recent research results indicate that the North Island population is declining (Martien et al., 1999; Pichler and Baker, 2000). The most likely cause of the decline is bycatch in gillnets (Martien et al., 1999; Dawson et al., 2001). Using the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service approach for setting limits on bycatch would result in a maximum allowable level of human impact of about one dolphin every 5 years for this population. A meeting of fishers, conservation groups, scientists and government officials (in Wellington in May 2000) agreed that bycatch should be reduced to zero to allow the population to recover. The only effective way to achieve this would be to avoid overlap between dolphins and gillnets. North Island Hector's dolphins are found off a stretch of coastline about 220 nautical miles long, between Maunganui Bluff (north of Dargaville) and New Plymouth. THE MINISTER'S PAPER INCLUDES 4 OPTIONS. In summary, these are: 1. Protected area, without gillnetting, for the central 60 or so nautical miles (1 n. mi = 1.853 km) from Manukau Harbour to Aotea Harbour and offshore to 4 n. mi. Acoustic "pingers" would be used north of this area in the hope of warning the dolphins of the nets' presence. An additional, seasonal closure is proposed for another 50 n. mi. stretch of coastline to the south to Mokau, for January, February and March each year, to 2 n. mi. offshore. The total protected area in option 1 (seasonal and year-round protected areas combined) is about half of the habitat of the North Island Hector's dolphin. 2. Protected area from Manukau Harbour to Aotea Harbour (60 of the 220 n. mi. of Hector's dolphin habitat). This option would require commercial gillnetters fishing north and south of the protected area to use pingers and carry observers, video cameras or other means of detecting dolphin captures. Commercial fishers using trawling and Danish seining would also be required to carry observers, video cameras or other means of detecting dolphin captures. 3. Protected area, without gillnetting, from Maunganui Bluff to Pariokariwa Point, about 20 n. mi. north of New Plymouth. This protected area would cover about 200 of the 220 n. mi. of Hector's dolphin habitat off the West Coast of the North Island. It provides the strongest protection of the four options in the Minister's paper. Commercial fishers using trawling and Danish seining would be required to carry observers, video cameras or other means of detecting dolphin captures. 4. Protected area slightly smaller than option 2 (similar north-south boundaries, but not as far offshore in all areas), with a maximum limit of one dolphin to be caught every five years. Commercial fishers using gillnets, trawling and Danish seining would also be required to carry observers, video cameras or other means of detecting dolphin captures. In addition to a protected area restricting commercial fishing, recreational gillnetting would be banned for the 200 n. mi. of coastline from Maunganui Bluff to Pariokariwa Point. Few commercial gillnetters fish along this coast. According to the Ministry of Fisheries, the most restrictive option (Option 3) would make one fishing operation uneconomic (one fisher who fishes exclusively in this area for about 70 days each year). It would increase costs for a further two local gillnet fishers who currently fish partly within the area concerned, and curtail the fishing areas available to visiting setnetters from New Plymouth. The other management tools proposed in options 1, 2 and 4 (pingers, limit on bycatch) are much less effective than a protected area (Dawson et al. 1998). In addition, it would take many years to establish whether they are capable of reducing bycatch to a sustainable level. The decision basically comes down to the size of the protected area. Options 1, 2 and 4 protect the North Island Hector's dolphins in roughly a third to half of their habitat. Option 3 protects them throughout most of their range (about 90%). Two important categories of fishing are ignored in the Minister's paper, gillnetting inside harbours, and trawling. Better data gathering is proposed for these fisheries, but none of the options restrict the amount of trawling, nor the amount of gillnetting inside harbours. Hector's dolphins have been sighted in the Hokianga, Kaipara, Manukau and Kawhia Harbours. Clearly the new regulations need to include the inner harbour waters as well as the coastline. Because it has the smallest overlap between gillnetting and Hector's dolphins, option three has the best chance of reducing bycatch to zero, or nearly so. To further reduce that overlap, the following extensions should be considered: * Extend the protected area further south, to include the area from Maunganui Bluff to New Plymouth, to 4 nautical miles out to sea * Include the harbours as well as the open coastline * Restrict trawling as well as gillnetting in the protected area +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ WHAT TO DO: BEFORE 17 APRIL 2001, please write to the Ministry of Fisheries, providing your comments on the management options. You can send your letter by post to: Ministry of Fisheries, Box 3437, Auckland, New Zealand Or by email to: hectorsdolphin(\)fish.govt.nz +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ REFERENCES: Dawson, S.M., Read, A. and Slooten, E. 1998. Pingers, porpoises and power: Uncertainties with using pingers to reduce bycatch of small cetaceans. Biological Conservation 84(2): 141-146. Dawson, S.M., Slooten, E. Pichler. F., Russell, K. & Baker, C.S. 2001. North Island population of Hector's dolphin threatened with extinction. Marine Mammal Science, In press. IUCN Red Data List 2000. IUCN, World Conservation Union, Gland, Switzerland, www.redlist.org. Martien, K.K., Taylor, B.L., Slooten, E. Dawson, S.M. 1999. A sensitivity analysis to guide research and management for Hector's dolphin. Biological Conservation 90: 183-191. Pichler, F. and Baker, C.S. 2000. Loss of genetic diversity in the endemic Hector's dolphin due to fisheries-related mortality. Proc R. Soc. Lond. B. 267:97-102. Pichler, F., Baker, C.S., Dawson, S.M. & Slooten, E. 1998. Mitochondrial differences between east and west coast populations of Hector's dolphin. Conservation Biology. 12(3): 1-8. Russell, K. 1999. The North Island Hector's dolphin: a species in need of conservation. Unpub. MSc thesis, University of Auckland. ________________ Dr Steve Dawson, Senior Lecturer Trustee, New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust Marine Science Department, Otago University P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand. cellphone (a/h) ++64(25)474-418 Street address: Marine Science Department 304 Castle Street, Dunedin, New Zealand OFFICE phone: ++64(3)479-7468 fax: ++64(3)479-8336 Website: http://telperion.otago.ac.nz:800/Marine/mammals/home.htm ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 23:08:37 +0200 From: Tiu Simila Subject: Marked bottlenose dolphins observed off Namibian coast boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0009_01C0BBC9.D97AD3E0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0009_01C0BBC9.D97AD3E0 charset="iso-8859-1" Dear all A friend has asked me to forward the following query to the MARMAM list = readers. While kayaking off the coast of Namibia (Pelican Point area) in = October-January she has frequently observed bottlenose dolphins. Two of = the dolphins were marked with a number-letter code on their left side, = right under the dorsal fin.=20 Anyone who knows who has marked these dolphins and those wanting more = details about the sightings should contact: Inga Fanney Egilsdottir at the following email address: = ingaf(\)iafrica.com.na Best regards Tiu Simila iolaire(\)online.no ------=_NextPart_000_0009_01C0BBC9.D97AD3E0 charset="iso-8859-1"
Dear all
 
A friend has asked me to forward the = following=20 query to the MARMAM list readers.
 
While kayaking off the coast of Namibia = (Pelican=20 Point area) in October-January she has frequently observed bottlenose = dolphins.=20 Two of the dolphins were marked with a number-letter code on their left = side,=20 right under the dorsal fin.
 
Anyone who knows who has marked these = dolphins and=20 those wanting more details about the sightings should = contact:
 
Inga Fanney Egilsdottir at the = following email=20 address: ingaf(\)iafrica.com.na
 
 
Best regards
 
Tiu Simila
 
iolaire(\)online.no
------=_NextPart_000_0009_01C0BBC9.D97AD3E0-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001 22:50:37 +0200 From: Giovanni Bearzi Subject: Venice Marine Mammal Library Content-type: multipart/alternative; boundary="MS_Mac_OE_3069183042_309483_MIME_Part" > Questo messaggio in formato MIME. Poich il sistema di messaggistica non riconosce questo formato, il messaggio o parte di esso pu non essere leggibile. --MS_Mac_OE_3069183042_309483_MIME_Part ___ V e n i c e M a r i n e M a m m a l L i b r a r y Over 7,300 marine mammal titles are currently searchable on-line at http://www.tethys.org ("Digital library") The library, that is being constantly updated, can be consulted upon request at the Venice Natural History Museum (Italy) by contacting the Tethys Research Institute at -----------background The Tethys' marine mammal library housed in Venice represents one of the most complete collections of cetacean literature currently available in Italy. Besides a wide literature on aquatic mammals, it includes a number of papers relating to the conservation of the marine environment and to sustainable resource management. All the bibliographic material has been catalogued in a database currently including >8,500 titles. Since January 2001, the Venice Marine Mammal Library has been included in the comprehensive nature library by the Venice Natural History Museum. The library is housed at the "Fontego dei Turchi", historical palace on the Venice Canal Grande. The Venice Marine Mammal Library is entirely based upon voluntary work by Tethys collaborators, with the aim of facilitating marine mammal science and conservation. Donations of marine mammal books and reprints would be greatly appreciated. _____________________________________________ Tethys Research Institute c/o Venice Natural History Museum Santa Croce 1730, 30135 Venezia, Italy tethysve(\)inwind.it http://www.tethys.org _____________________________________________ --MS_Mac_OE_3069183042_309483_MIME_Part Venice Marine Mammal Library
___ V e n i c e   M a r i n e   M a m m a l   = ;L i b r a r y


Over 7,300 marine mammal titles are currently searchable on-line at

http://www.tethys.org  ("Digi= tal library")

The library, that is being constantly updated, can be consulted upon reques= t at the Venice Natural History Museum (Italy) by contacting the Tethys Rese= arch Institute at <tethysve(\)inwind.it= >

-----------background

The Tethys' marine mammal library housed in Venice represents one of the mo= st complete collections of cetacean literature currently available in Italy.= Besides a wide literature on aquatic mammals, it includes a number of paper= s relating to the conservation of the marine environment and to sustainable = resource management.

All the bibliographic material has been catalogued in a database currently = including >8,500 titles.

Since January 2001, the Venice Marine Mammal Library has been included in t= he comprehensive nature library by the Venice Natural History Museum. The li= brary is housed at the "Fontego dei Turchi", historical palace on = the Venice Canal Grande.

The Venice Marine Mammal Library is entirely based upon voluntary work by T= ethys collaborators, with the aim of facilitating marine mammal science and = conservation. Donations of marine mammal books and reprints would be greatly= appreciated.

_____________________________________________
Tethys Research Institute
c/o Venice Natural History Museum
Santa Croce 1730, 30135 Venezia, Italy

tethysve(\)inwind.it

http://www.tethys.org
_____________________________________________
--MS_Mac_OE_3069183042_309483_MIME_Part-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 08:08:57 -0700 From: Rob Slade Subject: Abstract - First recorded arbovirus in a marine mammal Linn ML, Gardner J, Warrilow D, Darnell GA, McMahon CR, Field I, Hyatt AD, Slade RW, Suhrbier A (2001) Arbovirus of Marine Mammals: a New Alphavirus Isolated from the Elephant Seal Louse, Lepidophthirus macrorhini. Journal of Virology, 75, 4103-4109. A novel alphavirus was isolated from the louse Lepidophthirus macrorhini, collected from southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina, on Macquarie Island, Australia. The virus displayed classic alphavirus ultrastructure and appeared to be serologically different from known Australasian alphaviruses. Nearly all Macquarie Island elephant seals tested had neutralizing antibodies against the virus, but no virus-associated pathology has been identified. Antarctic Division personnel who have worked extensively with elephant seals showed no serological evidence of exposure to the virus. Sequence analysis illustrated that the southern elephant seal (SES) virus segregates with the Semliki Forest group of Australasian alphaviruses. Phylogenetic analysis of known alpha-viruses suggests that alphaviruses might be grouped according to their enzootic vertebrate host class. The SES virus represents the first arbovirus of marine mammals and illustrates that alphaviruses can inhabit Antarctica and that alphaviruses can be transmitted by lice. Reprints available from: Rob Slade Australian Genome Research Facility University of Queensland Australia Email: rob(\)agrf.org.au ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 22:02:16 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent articles (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. ---------------------------------- Resighting and association patterns of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Cedar Keys, Florida: insights into social organization Ester Quintana-Rizzo and Randall S. Wells Pages 447-456 Canadian Journal of Zoology Volume 79, Number 3, March 2001 Little is known about the social organization of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) inhabiting open estuarine systems. Our purpose was to identify and quantify the resightings of bottlenose dolphins and associations formed among them to provide insights into the social organization of the species in the open estuarine system of the Cedar Keys, Florida. We conducted monthly photographic-identification surveys from June 1996 through May 1997. We identified a total of 233 dolphins of which 217 (93%) were classified into one of four categories based on the number of months in which they were sighted. "Rare" dolphins (sighted during 1-2 months) constituted more than half of these individuals (61%), followed by "occasional" (3-5 months; 20%), "common" (>8 months; 12%), and "frequent" (5-6 months; 7%) dolphins. We quantified the associations for dolphins sighted 10 times (26 common, 12 frequent, and 8 occasional) and found that individuals with different resighting patterns associate with each other but the association is mostly at a low level. The level of association among common dolphins, however, was higher within than between the sexes. Association patterns of common dolphins in the Cedar Keys resemble the associations of resident bottlenose dolphins inhabiting closed estuarine bays, suggesting that the selective pressures which induce such associations are the same in these aquatic systems. ************************************** Vocal repertoire of South American fur seals, Arctocephalus australis: structure, function, and context Alana V. Phillips and Ian Stirling Pages 420-437 Canadian Journal of Zoology Volume 79, Number 3, March 2001 We describe the vocal repertoire of male and female South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) breeding at Punta San Juan, Peru, the first such description for any member of the genus. We distinguished 11 call types, which we grouped into four functional classes: investigative, threat, submissive, and affiliative calls. Barking is used during non-agonistic investigation of other individuals. Threat calls of South American fur seals show gradation of structure, form, and apparent meaning, and are grouped into two series: nontonal or respiratory sounds, and pulsed or guttural sounds that sometimes include a terminal tonal component. This might be adaptive in enabling display behavior to be flexible in agonistic situations, allowing participants to interpret situations on the basis of contextual cues and their own physical ability and experience. In contrast, vocal displays such as submissive, full-threat, and affiliative calls tend to have a discrete acoustic structure. Of these, full-threat, female-attraction, and pup-attraction calls share acoustic characteristics: all are long, loud calls composed of both pulsed and tonal components, and show sufficient variation to allow individual recognition. We attempt to establish a base line for standardizing nomenclature and acoustic analysis, to facilitate further comparative research on the vocal repertoire of Arctocephalus species. **************************** Concentrations of electrolytes, hormones, and other constituents in fresh postmortem blood and urine of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) M. Kjeld Pages 438-446 Canadian Journal of Zoology Volume 79, Number 3, March 2001 Concentrations of various blood and urine constituents were measured on postmortem samples from 286 fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) caught off Iceland during the summers of 1981-1989. Measurements were carried out on both serum and urine from 21 whales so that results could be compared. The mean serum urea concentration in fin whales was similar to that in odontocetes but 5 times higher than in domesticated terrestrial mammals. Serum triglyceride concentrations were twice as high as in fasting man and showed no diurnal peaks. Serum cortisol concentrations were about 2 times lower than in domestic mammals and showed neither diurnal variation nor a significant correlation with chase time (time from sighting until killing). Serum aldosterone concentrations were similar to those in bottlenose dolphins and, as expected, showed a negative correlation with urinary Na+ concentration. Blood thyroxine levels correlated significantly (p < 0.003) with chase time. Mean urinary potassium concentrations were 6 times higher than average seawater levels, while sodium and chloride levels were about 2-3 times higher than in humans but never as high as those in seawater. Urinary magnesium levels were 4-5 times higher than in domestic animals but less than half those in seawater. Average urine osmolality was higher than in seawater. **************************** Use of stable-carbon and -nitrogen isotopes to assess weaning and fasting in female polar bears and their cubs S.C. Polischuk, K.A. Hobson, and M.A. Ramsay Pages 499-511 Canadian Journal of Zoology Volume 79, Number 3, March 2001 In some species, stable-isotope techniques can provide insights into dietary regimens where there are temporal shifts in trophic level or feeding frequency. We determined stable carbon (d13C) and nitrogen (d15N) isotope values for plasma and milk proteins and d13C values for milk lipids from female polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and cubs to (i) ascertain whether cubs are at a higher trophic level than their mothers as a result of nursing and whether we can determine when weaning occurs, and (ii) determine the impact of seasonal fasting on d13C and d15N values. The plasma d13C values for mothers and cubs were similar to milk-protein d13C values and were significantly enriched in 13C compared with those for milk lipid. Plasma from cubs of the year (COYs) in spring, when milk was their only diet, was isotopically enriched in 15N by 1.0? over that of their mothers (d15N = 21.5 ? 0.8? (mean ? SD) for cubs and 20.5 ? 0.5? for mothers) and depleted in 13C by 0.8 ? (d13C = -19.6 ? 0.5? for cubs and -18.8 ? 0.8? for mothers). For bears who fasted between summer and fall (3-4 months), plasma became depleted in 13C by 0.5? and in 15N by 1?. Plasma from females, who had fasted from summer to spring (7-8 months) and given birth to cubs, became enriched in 13C by 0.7? and in 15N by 2?. By using stable-isotope analyses we were able to show that (i) young cubs were at a higher trophic level than their mother when milk was their only food source, and (ii) seasonal fasting influenced d13C and d15N values. However, we were not able to use stable-isotope analyses to determine the exact time of weaning. ******************************** Estimating the mortality rate of humpback whale calves in the central North Pacific Ocean Christine M. Gabriele, Janice M. Straley, Sally A. Mizroch, C. Scott Baker, Alison S. Craig, Louis M. Herman, Debbie Glockner-Ferrari, Mark J. Ferrari, Salvatore Cerchio, Olga von Ziegesar, Jim Darling, Dan McSweeney, Terrance J. Quinn II, and Jeff K. Jacobsen Pages 589-600 Canadian Journal of Zoology Volume 79, Number 4, April 2001 Sighting histories of individually identified female humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in their winter and summer ranges were used to investigate mortality of North Pacific humpback whale calves. We compiled records collected between 1979 and 1995 by eight independent research groups, which yielded 29 cases where 25 different mothers sighted in Hawai'i were identified later the same year in Alaska. In 7 of 29 cases, a calf sighted with its mother in Hawai'i was missing from its mother's Alaska sighting(s). After investigating many factors, we determined that the largest potential bias would occur in late-autumn observations, when calf absences might indicate weaning or temporary mother-calf separation rather than calf mortality. Our minimal and most robust estimate excluded all mortalities and survivals based on sightings of the mother after October 31; 3 of 20 cases or 0.150 (95% confidence intervals (CI) = 0.032, 0.378). The maximal calf mortality rate, derived from all the available data, was 7 of 29 cases or 0.241 (95% CI = 0.103, 0.434). An intermediate estimate that excluded all cases based on single Alaska sightings and omitted late-season sightings (2 of 11 cases or 0.182; 95% CI = 0.023, 0.518) is perhaps closest to the actual first-year mortality rate for humpback whale calves, although it is compromised by its small sample size. Our results demonstrate both the value and the limitations of using longitudinal data to determine the life-history parameters that are essential for documenting the recovery of endangered populations. ************************* Prenatal investment in the subantarctic fur seal, Arctocephalus tropicalis Jean-Yves Georges and Christophe Guinet Pages 601-609 Canadian Journal of Zoology Volume 79, Number 4, April 2001 We investigated prenatal investment in a large sexually dimorphic mammal, the subantarctic fur seal, Arctocephalus tropicalis, on Amsterdam Island in the Indian Ocean. Pups' sex ratio and body mass, body length, and body condition at birth were studied in relation to timing of birth and maternal characteristics (body length and body condition) during three consecutive breeding seasons. Pups' sex ratio did not differ from unity throughout the pupping period. The sex of the pup was related to neither maternal body length (i.e., maternal age) nor maternal body condition when mating occurred or at parturition (1 year later), which suggests that the sex ratio was not biased toward one sex during gestation. Newborn male pups were heavier and longer than female pups in all years. Longer mothers tended to arrive later in the season regardless of their body condition, and gave birth to heavier pups whatever the sex of the pup. Mothers in good condition gave birth to heavier male pups than mothers in poor condition, but no significant differences were found for female pups, suggesting that the costs of carrying male foetuses is higher than that of carrying female foetuses. Differences in allocation of maternal resources between male and female pups may be due to sex-related differences in body composition, since male pups were heavier than female pups for a given body length at birth. Thus, male and female foetuses may use maternal resources differently, with males growing in length whereas females appear to grow in body mass. The mothers we monitored over 2 consecutive years gave birth to pups that were similar in quality (in terms of birth mass) over years regardless of the sex of the previous pup and the mother's body length, suggesting that individual reproductive value is independent of maternal age. Furthermore, maternal body condition was not affected by the sex of the foetus, suggesting that there is no differential reproductive cost in carrying a male or a female foetus. Interannual differences in pup body size at birth suggest that environmental conditions such as prey availability during the last stages of gestation, and consequent maternal body condition, are important components of maternal investment in fur seals. 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. --------------------------------------- Boily, P. et al. 2000. Cutaneous heat flux models do not reliably predict metabolic rates of marine mammals. Journal of Theoretical Biology 207(3): 317-323. Simms, W. and P.S. Ross. 2000. Developmental changes in circulatory vitamin A (retinol) and its transport proteins in free-ranging harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) pups. Canadian Journal of Zoology 78(10): 1862-1868. Lowry, L.F. et al. 2000. Habitat use and habitat selection by spotted seals (Phoca largha) in the Bering Sea. Canadian Journal of Zoology 78(11): 1959-1971. Takahashi, S. et qal. 2000. Accumulation of butyltin compounds and total tin in marine mammals. Water Science Technology 42(7-8): 97-108. Chiu, A. et al. 2000. Effects and mechanisms of PCB ecotoxicity in food chains: algae - fish - seal - polar bear. J. Environ. Sci. Health Part C Environ. Carcinog. Ecotoxicol. Rev. 18(2): 127-152. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Apr 0101 01:12:10 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: searching for a paper on beluga reactions to vessel traffic (fwd) Hello all, My name is Roxanne Candelaria-Ley and I am a graduate student investigating the effect of anthropogenic noise on dolphin whistles. I am searching for a paper written by Hazard (no first name) in 1988 on the subject of beluga reactions to vessel traffic. I found the reference in the thesis of a Univeristy of Toronto student. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Please reply directly to me at roxcan(\)hotmail.com. Thanks! cheers, Roxanne Candelaria-Ley Marine Acoustics Laboratory Texas A&M University Galveston _________________________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 18:39:56 +0200 From: Ursula Tscherter Subject: Field Courses in Whale Research WORK AMONG FORAGING BALEEN WHALES IN A DYNAMIC ESTUARINE ENVIRONMENT FIELD COURSES IN WHALE RESEARCH METHODS (EASTERN CANADA) ORES Centre for Coastal Field Studies is offering 2 week General Interest Courses for lay-persons and academic students. Species include: Habitual and indigenous: beluga, minke and finback whales Regular: humpback and blue whales and harbour porpoises Infrequent: sperm whales and Atlantic white-sided dolphins For more information visit www.ores.org or contact: ORES Centre for Coastal Field Studies Ursula Tscherter Postfach 756 Tel/Fax +41 32 623 63 54 4502 Solothurn, Switzerland e_mail: utscherter(\)gmx.org ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Apr 0101 09:43:16 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Updated 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, website address and website contents). - 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), *provided the meeting will span more than one day*. - Notices of SMM student chapter meetings or other gatherings that are less than a day long will not ne posted on MARMAM. 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. >> Users of the web-based e-mail provider HOTMAIL should be aware that the "block sender" feature (used to avoid "junk" mail), if active, will also block listserver messages. Therefore, make sure you have "block sender" feature turned off. This may also apply to other e-mail programs with equivalent features. ______________________________________________________________ 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, Daniel Palacios and Siri Hakala) 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 April 2001 ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 8 Apr 2001 12:05:59 -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. ------------------------------------------------ HAUSER, NAN; HOYT PECKHAM and PHIL CLAPHAM. JOURNAL OF CETACEAN RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT 2(3):159-164. 2000. Humpback whales in the Southern Cook Islands, South Pacific. (Megaptera novaeangliae). * Cook Islands Whale Research, Center for Cetacean Research and Conservation, 800 Mere Point, Brunswick, ME 04011. Abstract: The presence of humpback whales in the Southern Cook Islands (South Pacific) was investigated during a three-week exploratory survey conducted at Palmerston Atoll in September and October of 1998 and during a three-month survey conducted at Rarotonga, Aitutaki and Palmerston Atoll from July to October in 1999. During a total of 48 survey days in both years and all areas, 50 sightings of 83 humpback whales were made. All classes except mother/calf/escort trios were observed, including singers, mothers and calves, and one competitive group. To date, 31 humpbacks have been individually identified from natural markings, 29 sloughed skin samples were collected for genetic analysis and 15.6 hours of song recordings were made. Reports of whales in other areas of the Cook Islands were also noted, and included records of mother/calf pairs. The Cook Islands region appears to represent a breeding ground for humpback whales, presumably from the little-studied Area VI population. The relationship of humpbacks in this region to those in adjacent tropical areas remains largely unknown, although recent matches between the Cook Islands and both Tonga and French Polynesia indicate some movement through Oceania. Keywords: Humpback whale, South Pacific, Cook Islands, stock identity, survey-vessel, photo-identification, breeding grounds. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SCHEIDAT, MEIKE; CRISTINA CASTRO; JUDITH DENKINGER; JANIRA GONZALEZ and DIETER ADELUNG. JOURNAL OF CETACEAN RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT 2(3):165-171. 2000. A breeding area for humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) off Ecuador. * FB: Marine Zoologie, Institut fur Meereskunde, Dusternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany. Abstract: A photo-identification study of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) was conducted between 1996 and 1999 in the Machalilla National Park off mainland Ecuador. This paper compares the results obtained with those from known breeding grounds for humpback whales to determine whether the area represents a breeding area for this species. Factors considered included: seasonality in abundance; population structure (including cow-calf pairs and escort whales) in the breeding area; presence of singers; and occupancy and residence times. It is concluded that the area does represent a breeding ground but the relationship of the animals using this area with those using other areas of the eastern tropical Pacific (and the Antarctic feeding grounds) requires further work. The paper also presents a preliminary estimate of abundance (405, 95%CI 221-531) for the years 1998/1999 using the Chapman-modified Peterson method. Keywords: Humpback whale, South America, Pacific Ocean, breeding grounds, photo-id, mark-recapture, site fidelity. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ HUELE, R.; H. A. UDO DE HAES; J. N. CIANO and J. GORDON. JOURNAL OF CETACEAN RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT 2(3):173-176. 2000. Finding similar trailing edges in large collections of photographs of sperm whales. * Centre of Environmental Science (CML), Leiden University, PO Box 9518, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands. Abstact: The North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sperm Whale Catalogue (NAMSC 1.0) contains images collected via the cooperative effort of several individuals studying sperm whales in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean. The collection offers an important opportunity to test matching algorithms as an aid to photo-identification of individual sperm whales. Of the 2,081 photographs in the catalogue, 1,929 were of sufficient quality for photo-identification. The trailing edge of the fluke, an identifying feature, was extracted by an interactive method. Subsequently, the trailing edge was represented in a normalised form by an affine transformation. Left and right halves were processed separately. Using different methods, 489 matching pairs of photographs were found. Based on these confirmed matches, the power of several measures of similarity was compared. The measure of similarity calculated by cross-correlating the continuous wavelet transforms of the extracted contours was found to perform best in practice. No conclusive matches between photographs from different geographic locations were found. Keywords: Photo-identification, sperm whale, Europe, Atlantic Ocean, techniques. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MALCOLM, C. D. and D. A. DUFFUS. JOURNAL OF CETACEAN RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT 2(3):177-182. 2000. Comparison of subjective and statistical methods of dive classification using data from a time-depth recorder attached to a gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus). * Whale Research Lab., Dept. of Geography, University of Victoria, PO Box 3050, Victoria, BC, Canada, V8W 3P5. Abstract: This paper presents dive data obtained from the deployment of a suction-cup attached time-depth recorder (TDR) on a gray whale off the west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada. Data are presented in the form of dive profiles. This represents the first time that dive data have been collected from a gray whale. The data were used to compare subjective classification of dive types to statistical methods of classification, and to test the ability of the statistical methods to classify dives. Each dive was analysed using maximum depth, dive duration and bottom time variables for both subjective and statistical methods to make direct comparison of results. Subjective classification suggests that the tagged animal performed five distinct dive types. Two of these dive types, termed Interventilation and Feeding, were assigned a purpose. Two statistical techniques were then used to classify dives: k-means cluster analysis and discriminant function analysis. Cluster analysis and subjective classification showed poor agreement due to the statistical technique's inability to account for dive geometry. Discriminant function analysis proved more successful, although this technique also demonstrated some weakness in testing for dive geometry. It was concluded that while statistical analysis of dive data is useful to classify dive types in a general manner, subtle differences, which may be indicative of behavioural differences, still depend on subjective analysis for identification. Detailed analyses of the third, or depth, dimension of the marine mammal environment will be important for the development of effective management strategies, especially as whalewatching grows in popularity. Keywords: Gray whale, diving, North America, northern hemisphere, Pacific Ocean, radio-tagging. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SCARPACI, CAROL; STEPHEN WILLIAM BIGGER; PETER JAMES CORKERON and D. NUGEGODA. JOURNAL OF CETACEAN RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT 2(3):183-185. 2000. Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) increase whistling in the presence of 'swim-with-dolphin' tour operations. * RMIT University, Department of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, GPO Box 2476V, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8001. Abstract: The impact of cetacean eco-tourism on subject animals is not clearly understood. Studies that monitor this impact have traditionally concentrated on observable surface behaviour despite the fact that sound is the primary communication channel for cetaceans. This study monitored whistle production in free ranging bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) to evaluate if dolphins vocalise at different rates in response to commercial dolphin-swim boats. Thirty-two hours of sound were recorded in the austral spring and summer of 1995/96. Results indicate that whistle production is significantly greater in the presence of commercial dolphin swim boats, regardless of dolphins' behavioural state prior to the arrival of the vessels. The increase in whistle production suggests that group cohesion may be affected during approaches made by commercial dolphin swim tour-operators or may serve some other social function. Monitoring vocal behaviour offers another insight into short-term human impacts on cetaceans. Keywords: Bottlenose dolphin, acoustics, vocalisation, behaviour, whalewatching. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LEAPER, RUSSELL; DOUGLAS GILLESPIE and VASSILI PAPASTAVROU. JOURNAL OF CETACEAN RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT 2(3):187-196. 2000. Results of passive acoustic surveys for odontocetes in the Southern Ocean. * 30 Ivy Terrace, Edinburgh, EH11 1PJ, Scotland. Abstract: Passive acoustic surveys for cetaceans were carried out from the British Antarctic Survey research vessel James Clark Ross in the region of South Georgia in the austral summer of 1998/99 and also during the IWC/CCAMLR collaborative survey in January/February 2000. The acoustic surveys were conducted concurrently with visual observations. A simple two element hydrophone array, sensitive to frequencies of between 300Hz and 24kHz, was towed on a 400m cable astern of the vessel. The total combined acoustic effort for the two surveys was 569 hours along 11,491km (6,205 n.miles) of trackline. On both surveys, stereo recordings were made for 30 seconds every two minutes. Acoustic detections were made of sperm, killer, pilot and southern bottlenose whales and hourglass dolphins. Reliable density estimates were only possible for sperm whales but the data on other species provide useful indications of relative distribution. A total of 42 individual sperm whales were detected and of these 33 were located by crossing bearings derived acoustically from several points along the trackline. Analysis of perpendicular distances pooled across both surveys gave an estimated strip half width of 8.0km (95% CI 6.4-9.9km) giving an overall density estimate for sperm whales of 0.13 and 0.19 whales per 1,000km~ from the 1998/99 and 2000 surveys, respectively. The methods supported estimates of sperm whale density using standard line-transect analyses based on perpendicular distances. The need to filter sounds below 300Hz to reduce ship noise largely precluded monitoring for mysticete vocalisations. Keywords: Sperm whale, acoustics, survey-combined, SOWER 2000; Southern Ocean Sanctuary. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DE BOER, M. N. JOURNAL OF CETACEAN RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT 2(3):197-200. 2000. A note on cetacean observations in the Indian Ocean Sanctuary and the South China Sea, Mauritius to the Philippines, April 1999. * Greenpeace Netherlands, Keizersgracht 174, 1016 DW Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Abstract: Information on cetaceans in the Indian Ocean Sanctuary and the South China Sea is summarised from a cruise carried out from 29 March to 17 April 1999. Ten species were positively identified: finless porpoise, pantropical spotted dolphin, spinner dolphin, sperm whale, melon-headed whale, pygmy killer whale, false killer whale, Cuvier's beaked whale, Bryde's whale and fin whale. Spotted dolphins, melon-headed and pygmy killer whales were sighted around the Island of Borneo and sightings of fin whales and a sperm whale west of the Balabac Strait suggest a possible migration route of these species between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. This is the first record of fin whales in the South China Sea. Keywords: Indian Ocean, Asia, incidental sightings, survey-vessel, finless porpoise, Pantropical spotted dolphin, melon-headed whale, pygmy killer whale, fin whale, distribution, migration. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ GOWANS, SHANNON; HAL WHITEHEAD; JAKOBINA K. ARCH and SASCHA K. HOOKER. JOURNAL OF CETACEAN RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT 2(3):201-210. 2000. Population size and residency patterns of northern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus) using the Gully, Nova Scotia. * Dalhousie University, Department of Biology, Halifax NS, Canada, B3H 4J1. Abstract: A population of northern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus) uses the Gully, a submarine canyon off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. Eleven years of photo-identification records has permitted estimation of population size using mark-recapture techniques. The population estimate was small (133 individuals, 95% CI=111-166 from left side identifications; 127 individuals, 95% CI=106-160 from right side identifications). The population was not closed, with the combined mortality, mark change and emigration rate estimated at 13% per year for left side identifications (95% CI=9-17) and 14% for right side identifications (95% CI=10-18). There was no significant increase or decrease in the population size between 1988-1999 (change in population size: left side: 0.13% per year, 95% CI=-3.4 to 3.9; right side: 0.43% per year, 95% CI=-4.5 to 3.1). The sex ratio was roughly 1:1, with equal numbers of sub-adult and mature males. Over the summer field season, individuals emigrated from, and re-immigrated into the Gully, spending an average of 20 days within the Gully before leaving (left side identifications 19 days, SE=17; right side identifications 23 days, SE=10). Approximately 34% of the population was present in the Gully at any time. Individuals of all age and sex classes displayed similar residency pattems although there were annual differences as individuals spent less time in the Gully in 1996 than in 1990 and 1997. Sighting rates were similar in all years with extensive fieldwork, indicating little variability in the number of whales in the Gully each summer. Accurate estimates of population size and residency patterns will be useful in determining the regulations and required coverage for a marine protected area in the Gully. Keywords: Mark-recapture, photo-id, trends, population assessment, northern bottlenose whale. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PERRIN, WILLIAM F.; R. NATALIE P. GOODALL and MARIO A. COZZUOL. JOURNAL OF CETACEAN RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT 2(3):211-215. 2000. Osteological variation in the spectacled porpoise (Phocoena dioptrica). * Southwest Fisheries Science Center, P.O. Box 271, La Jolla, CA 92038. Abstract: Cranial and post-cranial variation is described for a large series of specimens of spectacled porpoise from Argentina and compared with that for specimens from other areas of the Southern Hemisphere. Condylobasal length in 54 adult skulls was 276-424. Tooth counts were 16-26 and 17-23 in the upper and lower jaws, respectively. Total number of vertebrae (n = 20) was 66-70. The rostrum may be relatively smaller in the Auckland Islands than in other regions. Keywords: Spectacled porpoise, Southern Hemisphere, morphometrics, stock identity. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ BEARZI, GIOVANNI. JOURNAL OF CETACEAN RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT 2(3):217-221. 2000. First report of a common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) death following penetration of a biopsy dart. * Tethys Research Institute, Viale G.B. Gadio 2, 20121 Milan, Italy. Abstract: The remote collection of skin and blubber biopsy samples from free-ranging cetaceans is a powerful technique which has been increasingly used by scientists in recent years in a wide range of applications, particularly with respect to genetic and contaminant studies. Biopsy sampling, if carried out responsibly, is known to cause low-level reactions, and is unlikely to produce long-term deleterious effects. However, this technique is not completely devoid of risk for the sampled animals, particularly for smaller odontocetes. This paper reports the death of a common dolphin in the central Mediterranean Sea, following penetration of a biopsy dart and subsequent handling. The dolphin was hit in the dorsal muscle mass below the dorsal fin by a lightweight pneumatic dart fired from a distance of 6m by a variable-power CO2 dart projector. The methods and equipment had been previously successfully used with minimal effect on common dolphins and other species under similar conditions; it was therefore considered to be relatively uninvasive and more likely to reduce disturbance while increasing sample retrieval. However, in the reported event, a dart stuck in the dorsal muscle mass instead of recoiling as expected. Less than 2min after the hit, the dolphin began catatonic head-up sinking, and was recovered by a team member at depth. Basic medical care was given to ensure haemostasis, but the animal died 16min later. Minimal overall bleeding and a small wound in the thick muscle mass were not among the suspected causes of death. This may have been the consequence of either indirect vertebral trauma or stress. Furthermore, the dolphin had a relatively thin (7mm) blubber layer, that may have contributed to the unwanted outcome of the biopsy attempt. The author stresses that scientists should only adopt even mildly intrusive research methods after careful review and risk assessment in the light of the precautionary principle, and that their decisions must be reviewed on a regular basis according to the best available evidence. Keywords: Biopsy sampling, techniques, common dolphin, mortality, stress, Mediterranean. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ROMERO, ALDEMARO and KYLA HAYFORD. JOURNAL OF CETACEAN RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT 2(3):223-226. 2000. Past and present utilisation of marine mammals in Grenada, West Indies. * Department of Biology and Environmental Studies Program, Macalester College, 1600 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105-1899. Abstract: The exploitation of marine mammals in Grenada dates back to pre-Columbian times. Whaling ships visited Grenadian waters in the 19th century and during the 1920s there was a short-lived attempt to develop a local, modern whaling industry. Since then no exploitative interactions between Grenadians and marine mammals had taken place, until the 1990s when two whalewatching operations were established. Keywords: Exploitation, whaling-historical, whalewatching, humpback whale, Atlantic Ocean, northern hemisphere. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MOORE, SUE E.; JANICE M. WAITE; LORI L. MAZZUCA and RODERICK C. HOBBS. JOURNAL OF CETACEAN RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT 2(3):227-234. 2000. Mysticete whale abundance and observations of prey associations on the central Bering Sea shelf. * NMFS, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Mammal Laboratory, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Bldg. 4, Seattle, WA 98115. Abstract: Visual surveys for cetaceans were conducted along transect lines in the central Bering Sea in association with a groundfish stock assessment survey from 5 July to 5 August 1999. There were 125 sightings of single or groups of mysticete whales during 6,043km of survey effort. Fin whales were most common (60% of all sightings), with distribution clustered along the outer continental shelf break near the 200m isobath. In addition, there were 27 sightings of minke whales and 17 sightings of humpback whales. Minke whales were primarily found along the upper slope in water 100-200m deep, while humpbacks clustered along the eastern Aleutian Islands and near the USA/Russian Convention Line southwest of St. Lawrence Island. Abundance estimates for fin, humpback and minke whales were: 4,951 (95% CI=2,833-8,653); 1,175 (95% CI=197-7,009) and 936 (95% CI=473-1,852), respectively. These three species were the only ones for which sufficient on-effort sightings were available to estimate abundance. Sei whales, a gray whale and a pair of northern right whales were also seen. Although right whales have been seen in this area before, some behavioural details are provided here because observations of these whales remain rare. Keywords: Mysticete whale, fin whale, minke whale, humpback whale, North Pacific right whale, distribution, abundance, Bering Sea. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 05:58:39 +0100 From: Karen Stockin Subject: Effects of diel and seasonal cycles on the dive duration of the minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0055_01C0BB39.F6E051C0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0055_01C0BB39.F6E051C0 charset="iso-8859-1" Stockin, K.A., Fairbairns, R.S., Parsons, E.C.M. & Sims, D.W. (2001) Effects of diel and seasonal cycles on the dive duration of the minke = whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). Journal of the marine biological association of the United Kingdom : 81 = (1) 189-190 =20 Dear All =20 Just to let you know that the aforementioned paper is now accessible and = that a limited number of reprints are available upon request from Karen = Stockin at karen.stockin(\)biscay-dolphin.org.uk =20 With Thanks =20 Karen Stockin Biscay Dolphin Research Programme Mucmara View 76 Cove Gardens Cove Bay, Aberdeen AB12 3QR Scotland (UK) ABSTRACT Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) surfacing intervals were = recorded over a period of three years in the coastal waters of Mull, = Coll and the Small Isles, in the northwest of Scotland. Significant = differences in surfacing intervals were noted both throughout the day = and throughout the year. Surfacing intervals were shortest at noon and = in the months of June and July. Surfacing intervals were longest both = mid-morning and mid-afternoon and during May and August. The differences = in surfacing intervals were interpreted to be the result of ecological = changes such as different foraging strategies. Consequently, the results = of this study have an impact on the methodologies and designs of minke = whale sightings surveys.=20 ------=_NextPart_000_0055_01C0BB39.F6E051C0 charset="iso-8859-1"
Stockin, K.A., Fairbairns, R.S., Parsons, = E.C.M. &=20 Sims, D.W. (2001)
Effects of diel and = seasonal=20 cycles on the dive duration of the minke whale (Balaenoptera=20 acutorostrata).
Journal of the marine biological association of the United = Kingdom : 81=20 (1) 189-190
 
 
Dear=20 All
 
Just to let you know that = the=20 aforementioned paper is now accessible and that a limited number of = reprints are=20 available upon request from Karen Stockin at karen.stockin(\)biscay-= dolphin.org.uk
 
 
With Thanks
 
 
Karen Stockin
Biscay Dolphin Research=20 Programme
Mucmara View
76 Cove = Gardens
Cove Bay, = Aberdeen
AB12 3QR
Scotland = (UK)
 

ABSTRACT

Minke whale=20 (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) surfacing intervals were recorded = over a=20 period of three years in the coastal waters of Mull, Coll and the Small = Isles,=20 in the northwest of Scotland. Significant differences in surfacing = intervals=20 were noted both throughout the day and throughout the year. Surfacing = intervals=20 were shortest at noon and in the months of June and July. Surfacing = intervals=20 were longest both mid-morning and mid-afternoon and during May and = August. The=20 differences in surfacing intervals were interpreted to be the result of=20 ecological changes such as different foraging strategies. Consequently, = the=20 results of this study have an impact on the methodologies and designs of = minke=20 whale sightings surveys.

 

 ------=_NextPart_000_0055_01C0BB39.F6E051C0-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2001 15:39:51 EDT From: Holly Fearnbach Subject: research associate position Pacific Whale Foundation Research Associate- Wild Dolphin Project Pacific Whale Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to marine research, conservation and education, seeks a research associate to help lead the Wild Dolphin Project. The research program depends on both the financial aid and logistical support of the interns, and a significant portion of the work involves training, supervising and teaching interns, working with them both on the water and in the research house, as well as sharing accommodations and a living environment with them. Training and supervising other volunteers will also be required. Land-based work involves labeling and cataloging photo-id slides, preparing and presenting research-related evening slide shows, database entry and maintenance and other logistical tasks. Field-based work involves trailering, launching and operating a research vessel, collecting both environmental and sighting data for all cetaceans encountered and operating a 35 mm camera, GPS, hydrophone and video camera. Activities assisting the public relations department may also be required such as promoting the research department to other eco-tour companies and researchers. Some attendance of local dolphin-oriented environmental meetings may also be required. Pacific Whale Foundation will be offering a marine naturalist class to its naturalists and the general public in July and your assistance/participation will be required for these classes. The candidate will work closely with another research associate and a long-term intern. The position requires living in tight quarters with up to seven session interns, a research associate and a long-term intern at any given time. Depending on the number and gender of the interns, some (or all) of the time will be spent sharing a room with another staff member. The position is six days per week, and the days off are dependent on the research schedule. Working in the evenings will also be required several times per week. This often involves long hours (e.g., from 5 am until 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 when interns are not present). In general, interns will be present for approximately 9 of every 10 days. The Wild Dolphin Project intern session will run from June 4, 2001 until September 5, 2001. The position includes room & board, salary and benefits. Qualifications: B.Sc. in Marine Biology, Biology, Animal Behavior or a related field Strong interpersonal and organizational skills Excellent communication skills Experience working with volunteers Proficiency in Word and Excel Familiar with photo-identification (sorting and matching slides) Small boat handling around cetaceans in the wild Helpful: Experience operating hydrophones, DATs, GPS To apply: please submit a resume, cover letter and the names/contact information of at least three references. Please send two copies: one via email and a hardcopy via the postal service. Pacific Whale Foundation Research Department 101 North Kihei Rd. Kihei, Maui. HI 96753 research(\)pacificwhale.org Visit our web site: http://www.pacificwhale.org ****No phone calls please. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 08:45:05 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: new 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- Schmelzer, L. 2000. Seals and seascapes: covariation in Hawaiian monk seal subpopulations and the oceanic landscape of the Hawaiian Archipelago. Journal of Biogeography 27(4): 901-914. Kirkman, S.P. et al. 2001. Counts of southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina, at Bouvet Island. Polar Biology 24(1): 62-65. Terhune, J.M. et al. 2001. Underwater calling rates of harp and Weddell seals as a function of hydrophone location. Polar Biology 24(2): 144-146. Hindell, M.A. et al. 2000. Metabolic limits on dive duration and swimming speed in southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina. Physiol. Biochem. Zool. 73(6): 790-798. Bekkby, T. and A. Bjorge. 2000. Diving behaviour of harbour seal Phoca vitulina pups from nursing to independent feeding. Journal for Sea Research 44(3-4): 267-275. Schreer, J.F. et al. 2001. Comparative diving patterns of pinnipeds and seabirds. Ecological Monographs 71(1): 137-162. Costa, D.P. and N.J. Gales. 2000. Foraging energetics and diving behavior of lactating New Zealand sea lions, Phocarctos hookeri. Journal of Experimental Biology 203(23): 3655-3665. Rosenbaum, H.C. et al. 2000. Utility of North Atlantic right whale museum specimens for assessing changes in genetic diversity. Conservation Biology 14(6): 1837-1842. Fish, F.E. 2000. Biomechanics and energetics in aquatic and semiaquatic mammals: platypus to whale. Physiol. Biochem. Zool. 73(6): 683-698. Domning, D.P. 2001. Sirenians, seagrasses, and Cenozoic ecological change in the Caribbean. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 166(1-2): 27-50. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 13:34:34 -0500 From: Denise L Herzing Subject: Message to post please To all colleagues and readers of MARMAM It should be noted that the Pacific Whale Foundation's recent posting for a Research Associate for "The Wild Dolphin Project" dated 4/9/01 is not connected to the long-standing research project with free-ranging Atlantic spotted dolphins in the Bahamas. The Wild Dolphin Project, a research organization incorporated and based in Florida since 1985, has been conducting scientific studies of wild spotted dolphins, Stenella frontalis, (life history, behavior, and communication signals) for the past 17 years, and producing and publishing findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals. There is absolutely NO connection with the Pacific Whale Foundation of Hawaii and their spinner dolphin project labeled " Wild Dolphin Project". Unfortunately, Pacific Whale Foundation's continued use of our legal, non-profit name continues to cause problems, the least of which is confusion in the research community as to any kind of association of Pacific Whale Foundation with our work. I thought clarification of this issue might be appropriate at this time, especially given the debate about the research integrity and legal issues surrounding Pacific Whale Foundation. I hope this message clears up any confusion in this matter. Sincerely, Dr. Denise Herzing Denise L Herzing, Ph.D. Wild Dolphin Project PO BOX 8436 JUPITER FL 33468 wilddolphin(\)igc. org PH: 561-575-5660 FAX 561-575-5681 www.wilddolphinproject.com OR Dr. D.L.Herzing Research Faculty, Biological Sciences Florida Atlantic University 777 Glades Road Boca Raton, FL 33431 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 14:12:41 +0200 From: Filippo Galimberti Subject: Elephant seals viability paper Dear List Members, I have available a small number of reprints of a paper on population viability of southern elephant seals of the Falklands (see abstracts below). Please send your requests to fgalimbe(\)tiscalinet.it Best regards Filippo Galimberti Galimberti,F. & Sanvito,S. & Boitani,L. & Fabiani & A. 2001. Viability of the southern elephant seal population of the Falkland Islands. Animal Conservation 4: 81-88. Abstract Accurate long-term series of demographic data are available for most populations of southern elephant seals. However, research on elephant seals of the Falkland Islands began only recently, and information for an accurate forecasting of the future of this population is lacking. In this paper, we present data on the current status and of the population and its trend in size during the last 11 years. We built an age-structured model of the population and analyzed the effect of variation in demographic parameters on population growth. Elasticity analysis demonstrated that variation in mortality has a more pronounced effect on instantaneous growth rate than equivalent variation in fecundity. We examined the effects of environmental variability, inbreeding, and catastrophes on population viability by computer simulation using the VORTEX PVA program. In the stochastic model, the most important factor affecting extinction risk was variability in mortality rates, in particular of the adult classes. We concluded that, although the population does not appear to be at immediate risk of extinction, its small size and isolation make compelling an accurate monitoring of population trend and the acquisition of additional information on life history and feeding strategies. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 13:36:53 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: need help locating a reference (fwd) Dear Marmam readers, We are attempting to locate a copy of a report that is quite elusive. We have tried various avenues of approach, including contacting the authors, NMFS-NEFSC, etc. If you have a copy and are (1) willing to loan it to me to Xerox; or (2) willing to make me a copy, I'd really appreciate it. The company is willing to pay any Xeroxing and shipping costs. The reference is: Payne, P.M., L.A. Selzer and A.R. Knowlton. 1984. Distribution and Density of Cetaceans, Marine Turtles, and Sea Birds in the Shelf Waters of the Northeastern United States, June 1980-December 1983, Based on Shipboard Observations, Final Report. Contract No. NA-81-FAC-00023. National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Fisheries Center, Woods Hole, MA. I already have a copy of the later report (see below), but I'd like to have the first report in hand. Payne, M. and D.W. Heinemann. 1990. A Distributional Assessment of Cetaceans in the Shelf and Shelf Edge Waters of the Northeastern United States Based on Aerial and Shipboard Surveys, 1978-1988. Contract report. National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Woods Hole, MA. Thanks in advance, Dagmar Fertl P.S. Please respond directly at the address below. Dagmar Fertl Marine Mammal Biologist Geo-Marine, Inc. 550 East 15th Street Plano, TX 75074 Ph: 972-423-5480 FAX: 972-422-2736 dfertl(\)geo-marine.com http://www.geomarine.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 13:38:50 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Student workshop, ECS conference, Rome 2001: registration reminder (fwd) Dear students, Students who want to attend the student workshop at the ECS conference in Rome, May 2001, and didn't register yet, please do so now! Please notice: there is NO need to be involved in any marine mammal project to attend the workshop or to have any experience. Please don't forget to note your topics. These and further details are given on the student web pages of the ECS-home page: http://web.inter.nl.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs/ecs-student.htm Thanks for your interest and see you in Rome! Ursula Verfuss (ECS student representative) ursula.verfuss(\)uni-tuebingen.de ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 13:43:01 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CMC Job Posting (fwd) Marine Conservation Specialist The Center for Marine Conservation (CMC), a national non-profit marine conservation organization, is seeking a Marine Conservation Specialist to work in our Washington, DC headquarters' office. The Marine Conservation Specialist coordinates and executes projects designed to conserve and restore marine wildlife and fish populations. The specialist promotes, through science-based advocacy, policies and practices to prevent overexploitation of living marine resources and restore the abundance, productivity, and ecological roles of marine wildlife and fish. The specialist works closely with the Director of Marine Wildlife Program and the Director of Fish Conservation to support their work. Please visit our web site at www.cmc-ocean.org for a complete position description. Qualified candidates will have an Undergraduate degree in marine science or policy with particular relevance to fish, marine mammal, or marine turtle conservation and minimum one-year of relevant experience. Advanced degree preferred. Familiarity with fisheries ecology, marine mammal science, sea turtle biology and/or population dynamics. Ability to communicate complex scientific concepts in plain English, through both oral and written communications, is essential. Understanding of U.S. and international policy processes in relation to marine fisheries and protected species highly desirable. Send resume, cover letter and salary expectations to the Center for Marine Conservation, Attn: Recruiter, 1725 DeSales Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036. E-mail: jobs(\)dccmc.org. Fax: (202) 872-0619. Please visit us on the web at www.cmc-ocean.org. EOE. > Julie Burritt > Human Resources Coordinator > Center for Marine Conservation > 1725 DeSales St. NW > Washington, DC 20036 > (202) 857-1680 > jburritt(\)dccmc.org > www.cmc-ocean.org ------ Hello all, this is an update on the upcoming ECS Conference in Rome. REGISTRATION - For those who haven't registered yet, and want to attend t= he conference, ON-SITE registration will be available at the Frentani Conference Center (FCC). Please note that on-site registration will be in cash in Italian Lira only while credit card use will not be available. Conference bookings and fees are outlined in the registration form, available from the website: http://web.inter.nl.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs/index.htm=20 PROGRAMME (in summary) =B7 Sunday May 6th (Workshops) 1. 8:30 - 13:30 "Collisions"=20 2. 14:00 - 19:00 "Fin Whales" 3. 14:00 - 19:00 "Student"=20 4. 18:00 - 19:00 Registration=20 5. 19:00 - 20:00 Ice-breaker (hosted by Legapesca, an Italian Fishing Consortium) =B7 Monday May 7th 1. 08:30 - 16:30 Registration=20 2. 10:00 Welcome address and official opening of the Conference 3. start at 11:00 - end at 17:10 4. 17:10 - 19:00 poster session =B7 Tuesday 8th May 1. start at 09:00 - end at 16:40 2. 16:40 - 18:30 poster session=20 3. 19:00 - 20:30 video evening =B7 Wednesday 9th May 1. start at 09:20 - end at 15:40 2. 16:30 AGM 3. 20:00 Buses depart to the Banquet 4. 20:30 Banquet=20 5. 22:30 Dance (same place as banquet) =B7 Thursday 10th May (Workshops) 1. 8:30 - 13:30 and 14:00 - 19:00 "Controlled Exposure Experiments" 2. 8:30 - 13:30 "Tursiops" Verbal presentation: 15' talks + 5' for discussion are available, please = be responsible and try to keep to your schedule! Both power points and slide= s projector are allowed. Posters: posters will be on display from Monday May 7th 17:10 until Wednesday May 9th. You can use both drawing pins and biadhesive tape bot= h available from the staff at the FCC. Poster should be taken off no later than wednesday 9th at 17:00. The allowed maximum size for posters is: w = 90 / h 100 cm. To date there are 36 verbal presentations and 200 poster presentations. Poster presentations should be set up in the poster area b= y Monday.=20 INFORMATION BOARDS will be in placed in the FCC. These are for ECS membe= rs 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. A BANQUET is scheduled at the "Pallotta" restaurant, a real ancient "Trattoria" (operating since 1820), located at "Ponte Milvio" (Milvian Bridge). Buses will depart from the FCC at 20.00. The banquet is already booked out. Happy Easter and see you in Rome! _____________________________________________ 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: Wed, 13 Apr 0101 12:26:51 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Function of gray whale "knuckles"? Forwarded message: For an exhibit on California Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus), we are trying to make sense of the hump and "knuckles" that gray whales possess. We are particularly interested in what, if any, hydrodynamic function they may serve, as well as what, if any, affect the absence of a dorsal fin may have on their swimming (e.g., are they subject to rolling?). Thus far, the only statements on the subject I have turned up are from Berta and Sumich's _Marine Mammals: Evolutionary Biology_, that the small dorsal fins of some whale species would be ineffectual in preventing rolling; and an observation from Leatherwood and Reeves's _Sierra Club Handbook of Whales and Dolphins_ that the absence of a dorsal fin doesn't seem significantly to impair the swimming of whales that lack them. Can anyone point me toward published studies that shed light on the importance or unimportance of a dorsal fin to swimming cetaceans, and on the functional significance (if any) of the "knuckles" of the gray whale? Thank you, Terry Morse Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area Bureau of Land Management P.O. Box 936 Newport, Oregon 97365 USA e-mail: Terry_Morse(\)blm.gov Phone: 541-574-3100 FAX: 541-574-3140 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 14 Apr 2001 20:45:44 -0700 From: Nathalie Ward Subject: Cetaceans in Guyana, Suriname, French Guyana We are writing a UNEP document, "Distribution of Marine Mammals of the Wider Caribbean" (Authors: Nathalie Ward, Anna Moscrop, Carole Carlson). If you have information concerning cetacean species (sighted or stranded) in Suriname, Guyana and French Guyana, please contact me by May 1. Thank you for your assistance. Nathalie Ward (EMAIL: nward(\)mbl.edu) NATHALIE WARD P.O. Box 573 Woods Hole, MA 02543 USA Boston University Marine Program Faculty, Biology Department TEL: 508-548-3313 US FAX: 508-548-3317 US MBL: 508-289-7580 US TEL: 809-458-3223 BEQUIA, St. Vincent Abrazos y besos ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 11:39:46 +0200 From: DELFINI Subject: A new Research in the Gulf of Genoa boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0084_01C0B5E9.757E6900" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0084_01C0B5E9.757E6900 charset="iso-8859-1" Dear Marmamers, we=92re sending this mail to inform you that The Acquario di Genova (in collaboration with Universit=E0 di Genova, CIBRA and Centro Studi = Cetacei) is starting a new research in the Gulf of Genoa (Italy). The project, named "Delfini Metropolitani", is about a first evaluation of the presence of Cetaceans (with special reference to the specie Tursiops truncatus) in front of the port of Genoa. We=92ll also try to draw a first acoustic map of the study area, seen the big impact of human activities in the area.=20 If you require any information about the research, please, contact us : delfini(\)acquario.ge.it=20 We=92ll let you know news about the research, anyway we=92ll be at ECS conference in Rome! Best regards Guido Gnone, Paola Ferrando & Giovanni Caltavuturo "Delfini Metropolitani" research project Acquario di Genova Tel.: ++39 010 2345285 Fax: ++39 010 256160 ------=_NextPart_000_0084_01C0B5E9.757E6900 charset="iso-8859-1"

Dear = Marmamers,

we’re sending this = mail to inform you=20 that The Acquario di Genova (in collaboration with Universit=E0 di = Genova,=20 CIBRA and Centro Studi Cetacei) is starting a new research in the = Gulf of=20 Genoa (Italy).

The project, named = "Delfini=20 Metropolitani", is about a first evaluation of the presence of = Cetaceans (with=20 special reference to the specie Tursiops truncatus) in front of = the port=20 of Genoa. We’ll also try to draw a first acoustic map of the = study area, seen=20 the big impact of human activities in the area.

If you require any = information about=20 the research, please, contact us : delfini(\)acquario.ge.it =

We’ll let you know = news about the=20 research, anyway we’ll be at ECS conference in Rome!

Best = regards

Guido Gnone, Paola Ferrando & = Giovanni=20 Caltavuturo
"Delfini Metropolitani" research project
Acquario di=20 Genova
Tel.: ++39 010 2345285
Fax: ++39 010=20 256160
------=_NextPart_000_0084_01C0B5E9.757E6900-- ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 17:18:28 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Latest on the European Cetacean Society conference (fwd) From: Jan Willem Broekema New information on the May conference of the European Cetacean Society has been added to the ECS web site. Some may need speedy action from your side, so please do take note if you want to attend. Kind regards, Jan Willem Broekema < http:/web.inter.nl.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs > ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2001 03:40:14 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: The Oceania Project's 12th Whale & Dolphin Expedition 2001 (fwd) From: "Trish and Wally Franklin, The Oceania Project" Summer Internship Opportunity, Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia: The Oceania Project's 12th Whale & Dolphin Expedition in Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia takes place during August to October 2001 when the Humpback Whales visit Hervey Bay on their southward journey to Antarctica. The Expedition is in 10 weekly segments of 5 nights/6 days duration. The cost for joining a weekly segment as an Eco-volunteer is: $1150 Australian (Approx $675 US); Intership Program $950 australia ( approx $475 US) and; Youth Program $650 (Approx $325 US ). US Prices are subject to currency flucuations. The Youth Program is available for high school student and/or young people 14 to 18 years. The Internship Program is availble to under-graduate and graduate students, teaching/academic/admin staff of Universities or related Institutes and/or members of Cetacean and/or Marine Mammal Organisations. The Oceania Project is undertaking a long term Photo ID/DNA study of the East Coast of Australia Humpbacks passing through Hervey Bay in conjunction with the Queensland Environment Protection Agency and the Centre for Animal Conservation Genetics at Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW Australia. Expedition participants support and become fully involved in the research program. Expedition Participants are invited to become fully involved in the on-board research program and the daily operation of the Expedition vessel. Information about the Annual Whale and Dolphin Expedition is online at: detailed joining information is at: If you wish to join the 2001 Expedition as an Eco-volunteer, an Intern or as a Youth Program Participant just submit a registration form together with your deposit: Online registration Form at: . There are only 8 places available on each weekly segment. Internship Information, the Expedition Brochure and the Registration form are available in PDF file format. If you would like copies emailed and/or any further information please email us at: mailto:trish.wally(\)oceania.org.au Bye for now, 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 ABN & GST: 73 052 470 630 ACN: 052 470 630 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: Mon, 16 Apr 2001 08:57:12 -0400 Reply-To: shooker(\)is2.dal.ca From: Sascha Hooker Organization: Dalhousie University Subject: free speech: the threat of legal action In light of recent events within the marine mammal community, involving a lawsuit against Dr Robin W. Baird for statements published in the Maui News (local Hawaiian newspaper) regarding the research conducted by the Pacific Whale Foundation (PWF), I thought the research community might be interested in a relevent published article about lawsuits against scientists for expressing their opinions (copied below). Robin is being sued by Greg Kaufman/PWF for statements quoted in an article and a follow-up letter to the editor regarding Pacific Whale Foundation's research (www.mauinews.com - under news, then news archives - 18 March 2001). The lawsuit is based on four statements, which PWF says are "false and malicious". The published statements (Robin was PWF research director for one year in 1998/1999) were that the Foundation "didn't want to invest into paying people for analyzing data and publishing", "I think [Kaufman] just doesn't understand what research is all about", that most of the research budget was spent on advertising intern programs for the Foundation, and that "Virtually no money went into direct research" As detailed below, these matters often become cause for the scientific community to rally together (it is after all a question of whether we believe that scientists should be free to voice opinion about each other's research). As such, anyone wishing to support Robin's case can make donations to the legal defense fund that has been set up: cheques should be made out to "R.J. Kehoe Accounting Services -Baird Legal Trust", R.J. Kehoe Accounting Services, Attn: Baird Legal Trust, 2439 S. Kihei Rd, #207B, Kihei, HI, 96753, USA. Credit card payments need a signature, so can be faxed (808-875-4616) or mailed in. Non-US cheques are fine, but incur a bank fee and some delay. If donations to this trust exceed the legal costs, any remaining funds will be donated to the Hawaii National Marine Sanctuary or the State of Hawaii to support whale research in Hawaii. Sascha Hooker shooker(\)is2.dal.ca ==================================== The Scientist 10[6]:15, Mar. 18, 1996 www.the-scientist.com Profession - Landmark Case Speak Out In Public Author: Robert Finn (The Scientist, Vol:10, #6, p. 15, March 18, 1996) In today's increasingly litigious society, anyone can become the target of a lawsuit. A potential libel action, for example, should not only be the concern of publishers and journalists. The threat of a libel suit is now a reality for anyone, including scientists who choose to speak out publicly-or even write letters to the editor-on controversial issues. A libel suit can come without warning when an ordinary scientist is engaged in ordinary scientific activities. For example, Arnold S. Relman, editor emeritus of the New England Journal of Medicine, was quoted in a newspaper article criticizing the advertising practices of a for-profit hospital. Victor J. Stenger, a professor of physics at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, incorrectly described Israeli psychic Uri Geller's legal history in a book debunking paranormal phenomena. And Jan Moor-Jankowski, as editor of the Journal of Medical Primatology, merely printed a letter from an animal activist opposing a pharmaceutical company's experiments. Each of these scientists soon found himself faced with the dreaded prospect of defending himself in a libel suit. All three eventually prevailed in court, or the charges ended up being dropped. But defending themselves was a painful, distracting, and often expensive process. The lessons they learned are instructive to all scientists who write or make public statements. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution provides powerful-but not impregnable-protection to anyone who speaks on controversial topics. "Libel is a civil action, a tort action that you can bring against somebody claiming that a statement, either written or oral, is false and defamatory and caused you injury," explains Charles S. Sims, a noted libel attorney and partner at Proskauer Rose Goetz and Mendelsohn, a New York firm. (This firm handles libel matters for The Scientist). Sims notes that legal bills for a libel defense can quickly mount up. Even if the case is dismissed quickly, one can easily run up $20,000 to $60,000 in costs, and if a case drags on, it can go into the millions. Libel insurance can cost publishers thousands of dollars per year, and is an additional factor in today's high cost of publishing. "If you are sued, you need to check with your employer or your institution or your professional group-anybody who might consider themselves morally bound to come to your aid," advises Sims. "And you also need to look at your home insurance policy. An astonishing number of home insurance policies have clauses which turn out to be usable to force an insurance company to pay for a defense." The legal axiom goes, "Truth is an absolute defense against libel," and indeed no true statement of fact can ever be libelous, and neither can statements of judgment or opinion, which are neither true nor false. Both these principles were put to the test in the landmark case that Immuno AG (a pharmaceutical company based in Austria) brought against Moor-Jankowski. The former editor of the Journal of Medical Primatology was then director of New York University's Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Surgery in Primates. He has recently founded the Center for Academic Freedom, based in New York City. As chronicled in the book The Monkey Wars by Deborah Blum (Oxford University Press, 1994) and in interviews with Moor-Jankowski and his attorney Philip Byler (now at the New York firm Layton, Brooks and Hecht), it all started in January 1983, when Shirley McGreal wrote a letter to the Journal of Medical Primatology objecting to some experiments proposed by Immuno AG. McGreal is an animal activist and founder of the Charleston, S.C.-based International Primate Protection League. She learned that Immuno planned a study of non-A/non-B hepatitis in African chimpanzees, at a research station in Sierra Leone. Based on what she learned about the experiments, and the conclusions she drew from these facts, she had several objections. Among them were that the experimenters would be using wild-caught chimpanzees, whose numbers are dwindling; that they would release them after experimentally infecting them with hepatitis; and that the released chimps might transmit the disease to other animals. With McGreal's letter to the editor in hand, Moor-Jankowski tried to elicit a rebuttal from Immuno's research director. Instead, he soon received a letter from Immuno's lawyers asserting that McGreal's statements were inaccurate and reckless. It read, in part: "We would also like to advise you that our review of Dr. McGreal's letter indicated that it is not a fair comment regarding our client's activities, and should you proceed with publication, without giving us the opportunity for a meaningful response, we shall be compelled to take whatever actions we deem necessary to redress our client's rights." But though Moor-Jankowski waited until December 1983 before publishing McGreal's letter (S. McGreal, J. Med. Primatol., 12:280, 1983), Immuno never offered a substantive response to her charges. During that time Moor-Jankowski himself came to be critical of Immuno's planned experiments, and he was quoted to that effect in New Scientist (N. Heneson, 100:165, 1983). Immuno then brought suit against a number of institutions and individuals, including McGreal, Moor-Jankowski, the Journal of Medical Primatology, New Scientist, the distributors of both publications, and NYU. Although Immuno ultimately dropped plans for the experiments, it continued pursuing its libel cases. In response, almost all the defendants or their insurance companies chose to settle rather than fight. The exception was Moor-Jankowski. Born in Poland, he explains his decision to persist by saying, "As a very young boy I fought the Germans for freedom. I didn't want to stand up for muzzling." It cost him seven years and about $2 million in legal fees ($200,000 of which Moor-Jankowski paid himself), and it generated an eight-volume legal record as the case cycled among the New York County Supreme Court, the New York State Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. In the end, Moor-Jankowski was vindicated. The Court of Appeals ruled that the letter was a combination of truthful factual statements and opinion, both of which are protected by the First Amendment. "When you're talking about a letter to the editor, you're talking about what the Court of Appeals in New York correctly viewed as a forum to air grievances and views on the part of the public," says Philip Byler, Moor-Jankowski's attorney. "It's a precedent because it's a . . . decision which adhered to a broad constitutional protection of opinion." Byler maintains that the decision makes clear that "you do have a right to express views that are not orthodox. You do have a right to express viewpoints which over the course of time will be shown to be wrong-minded. A letter to the editor is a forum for opinion, and quite frankly people should feel the leeway to express themselves without the fear that sometime in the future, in the libel courtroom, where money damages are at stake, they will be shown to be wrong. That doesn't say that you have a right to make false, defamatory statements that are really hurtful to somebody." Byler's advice to authors of letters to the editor: Clearly separate factual statements from statements of opinion. "To the extent you are making a statement that's based on inference or speculation or conjecture, use words that indicate that." Byler believes that as editor of the journal, Moor-Jankowski more than fulfilled his obligations by deliberating a considerable time before publication, all the while soliciting a substantive response from the criticized party. For a statement to be libelous, the offended party must suffer actual damage, notes Sims. "It's got to be really harmful, not just something that offends somebody's sensibilities, but something that harms their reputation." This principle came into play in Cornell University astronomer Carl Sagan's suit against Apple Computer Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. Apple had been using "Carl Sagan" as its internal name for a new computer. Sagan got wind of this, and his lawyers sent Apple a letter instructing the company to cease and desist. In response, a project manager changed the computer's name to BHA, an acronym for Butt-Head Astronomer. Sagan sued Apple in the Central District of California for, among other things, libel, infliction of emotional distress, and improperly using his name. Judge Lourdes G. Baird dismissed the libel portion of the suit, holding that "one does not seriously attack the expertise of a scientist using the undefined phrase 'butt-head,' and that a reader aware of the context would understand the project manager was retaliating in a humorous and satirical way." Sagan, who declined to be interviewed for this article, later reached a settlement with Apple on the other aspects of the suit. But even when a statement is both false and harmful it still may not be libel, says Sims. "If it criticizes one particular event, in many states it's immune from prosecution under the single-instance rule. If you say that a doctor screwed up an operation, that's not libelous. If you say that he's a terrible surgeon, it might be. Similarly, if you're writing a review of a scientific article and say that scientist miscalculated the numbers... that's not going to be actionable. If you said, on the other hand, that somebody's research was fraudulent, it certainly would be." For individuals judged to be public figures, a statement must not only be false but also must be made with malice or with "reckless disregard for the truth." Explains Sims: "All 'reckless disregard' means is that you actually,subjectively entertained doubts and went ahead and published anyway. If you believe what you are saying, as a matter of law you cannot-if the jury or the judge believes you-lose a libel case." This would likely have been a factor had Uri Geller's suit against Victor Stenger not been dismissed before it ever got to trial. In his book Physics and Psychics: The Search for a World Beyond the Sensesm (Buffalo, N.Y., Prometheus Books, 1990), Stenger stated of Geller that "... he was once arrested for claiming his feats were performed with psychic power." In fact, Stenger had drawn an incorrect conclusion from some of his research material. The accounts Stenger relied upon mentioned that Geller had been "brought to court," but it had been in a civil case, and he had never been arrested. Once Stenger realized his error, he and his publisher voluntarily inserted an erratum sheet and changed the wording in later printings of the book. Nevertheless, Geller sued Stenger for libel in Florida, London, and Hawaii. Stenger is convinced that despite his error he would have prevailed had the case come to trial. "You can say something that is incorrect if at the time it was to the best of your knowledge correct," he explains. "That never came up, because as often happens in legal cases, you get out on technicalities before the merits are really discussed." Geller's Florida and Hawaii cases were dismissed because he brought them after those states' statutes of limitations had expired. And his case against Stenger in London was dropped as part of a global settlement of several related cases between Geller and the Amherst, N.Y.-based Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal. Typically, libel law says that only a corporation or a living person can be disparaged. But in 12 states (Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Texas) it has recently become possible to libel a fruit or vegetable. Farmers in those states can now sue those who make false claims about agricultural products. These "agricultural disparagement" laws were apparently inspired by a 1989 report from the New York City-based Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) linking the apple additive Alar to cancer. Growers turned to state legislators in an effort to fend off criticism by NRDC and other watchdog organizations. Lawrie Mott, senior scientist at NRDC's San Francisco office, calls them "veggie hate-crimes laws," and says of the states that have passed them, "They're attempting to silence those people who have raised questions about the food supply. "It's not clear that these laws are constitutional," Mott continues. "If it's based on 'reliable scientific fact,' it's not considered disparagement under the law. That's a very vague term, and one that's primed for litigation. But the ultimate advice I would have [for scientists] is: If what you say is accurate, stick to your guns. If you have scientific concerns about the safety of the food supply, don't be silenced by people with obvious interests in keeping it quiet." Additionally, new modes of scientific communication-E-mail, Usenet newsgroups, and the World Wide Web-have become further sources of libel-related worries. As Dan L. Burk, an assistant professor at Seton Hall University's School of Law, writes: "For the first time in history, global computer networks have in essence made everyone a publisher-with a few keystrokes, ordinary citizens can make their opinions known to thousands of others... This is an exciting development for individual freedom of expression, but there is a dark side to this unprecedented opportunity: Such computer-mediated communication may also expose ordinary citizens to liability on an unprecedented scale" (D.L. Burk, The Scientist, April 3, 1995, page 12). One thing is certain: Legal liability issues in electronic communication are in a highly unsettled state. For example, there is no agreement on the critical issue of whether service providers such as CompuServe and America Online should be thought of as publishers, and hence at least partially responsible for the content of their service, or "common carriers" and thus no more responsible than is the phone company for conversations over its wires. Another recently developed legal scheme for silencing criticism of corporate practices has come to be called the "SLAPP suit." SLAPP stands for Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation. The law has long allowed just about anyone to sue anyone for anything, and a SLAPP suit often takes the form of an unwinnable libel suit that is intended to harass and deplete the resources of critics. Arnold Relman, a longtime critic of what he calls the "medical-industrial complex," found himself the target of a what he considered a harassing libel suit after a reporter for the Dallas Morning News asked for his comment on some newspaper and radio ads placed by a for-profit cancer-treatment center, the Zion, Ill.-based Cancer Treatment Centers of America. (This is not technically a SLAPP suit because Relman's statement was quoted in a newspaper account and not made in the course of a public proceeding.) According to Relman, the ads implied that the center was able to help people with advanced cancer who had failed to respond to conventional medical treatments. "I said [to the reporter] I didn't know anything about the company, hadn't heard of it before, but on the face of what he read me those ads were misleading and they were unethical. . . . I said that . . . it was unfortunate that they would hold out this kind of hope to people with advanced metastatic cancer," recalls Relman. The center sued Relman and several other physicians quoted in the article (J. Weiss, Dallas Morning News, June 21, 1992, page 1A). A Texas court issued a subpoena to Relman requiring that he give a deposition at a lawyer's offices in Boston. But Relman's lawyers successfully argued that the Texas court had no jurisdiction in Massachusetts, and the case was ultimately dropped. "I think they knew they had no case," comments Relman. "I was expressing an opinion, and what I said as an opinion was true. I didn't say it with malicious intention. I didn't even know the company. I had nothing personal against them. I was just talking on a matter of public policy and medical ethics. "It seems to me that honest and well-intentioned scientific disputes ought to be off limits to litigation," continues Relman. "Many scientific advances are made by the resolution of disputes, the correction of well-intentioned or honest error by better data, new information... It ought to be possible for scientists to express honest disagreements, to make honest mistakes... without involving them in litigation.... I think it would be a terrible damage to the scientific process if lawyers began to get involved in scientific debates." Robert Finn, a freelance science writer based in Long Beach, Calif., is online at finn(\)nasw.org. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2001 13:50:54 -0400 From: William Rossiter Subject: dorsal fin hydrodynamics As a followup to the 13 April MARMAM request, by Terry Morse of the Bureau of Land Management, for an explanation of the cost or benefit of the gray whale's hump and knuckles, may I ask a related question? Has anyone investigated recently the drag shedding properties of dorsal fins? I am aware of some early experiments. However, technology has improved so much I am hoping that the question has been revisited. Forty years as a pilot have shown me many drag bleed / reduction techniques, long perfected by the wing tip feathers in birds and finally copied by "winglets" on aircraft (the small vertical structures on some aircraft's wingtips). The water in the boundry layer next to the body causes drag. Assume that the dorsal drag component forward of the fin is shed along and off the tip of the dorsal fin, away from the aft body, aiding the flukes' propulsion efficiency. During the swimming body's vertical flex how much of the lateral boundry layer drag is also bled off the body by the dorsal fin? Assuming some evolutionary pressure to design the "best" shape for a species, how does the variety of size and shape correlate to a species' speed and maneuverability? How does a drag shedding dorsal fin perform within the regime below the surface where drag rises significantly, which I think is a function of body length and thickness? The blue whale probably represents the body aspect ratio (length / breadth) at which a dorsal fin is no longer of much value. The right whale dolphin's peduncle has such a small aspect ratio that drag is probably shed effectively without a fin at all. The right, bowhead and gray are simply too slow to generate much drag. If the logic is right, the male orca needs to display more than swim easily, much as other species that drag around inefficient structures to get a more important message across. Anyone who has seen moose display and then try to move through underbrush understands this. 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, 16 Apr 2001 16:09:29 -1000 From: Joseph Mobley Subject: Hawaii odontocete report available MARMAM subscribers: The following Southwest Fisheries Science Center report is currently available in limited supply: Mobley, Jr., J.R., Spitz, S.S., Forney, K.A., Grotefendt, R. and Forestell, P.H. (2000). Distribution and abundance of odontocete species in Hawaiian waters: Preliminary results of 1993-98 aerial surveys. Southwest Fisheries Science Center Administrative Report LJ-00-14C. 26 pp. This report contains the first survey-based description of the incidence, distribution and abundance of 12 odontocete species sighted in Hawaiian waters during the 1993-98 ATOC MMRP aerial surveys. Species include sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus), false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens), Blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris), Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), melon-headed whale (Peponocephala electra), spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris), spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata), striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), and rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis). Please submit reprint requests to the postal or e-mail address below: ************************************************ Joseph R. Mobley, Jr., PhD, Professor Psychology University of Hawaii-West Oahu 96-129 Ala Ike, Pearl City, Hawaii 96782 E-mail: jmobley(\)hawaii.edu ************************************************ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2001 18:14:21 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: employment opportunity with Dall's porpoises (fwd) Employment Opportunity A marine biologist is required to head a Dall's porpoise photo-identification study in Haro Strait and associated waterways. The study is scheduled to commence this summer and continue into the fall. The study is expected to be based out of Victoria, BC and is expected to continue into 2002. A recent graduate with a B.Sc in biology and an interest in marine mammals is desired. However, a formal degree is not necessary and applicants with equivalent experience are encouraged to apply. Salary is subject to funding and experience. Please contact Mr. Bob Palmer at 250-885-6476 for more information. Resumes may be dropped off at the Loyal II, United ShipYard in Victoria (please phone ahead) or emailed to ahall(\)inetex.com marked attention Bob Palmer. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2001 18:17:58 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Registration Second Symposium on Marine Conservation Biology (fwd) From: Lance Morgan Apologies for Cross postings - Please Distribute to Colleagues Second Symposium on Marine Conservation Biology June 21-26, 2001, San Francisco State University (California) Hosted by Marine Conservation Biology Institute (MCBI), the Second Symposium on Marine Conservation Biology will feature invited and contributed papers and posters, a participatory forum on marine policy issues, a science media workshop, area field trips, a program of research videos, and more. Keynote and plenary speakers will include , Michael Soule, Leon Panetta, Margaret Leinen, Assistant Director of the National Science Foundation, and Congressman Sam Farr (invited). Invited papers will focus on oceanography, climate change, and marine biodiversity; classification and mapping of marine ecosystems; extinction risk in marine species; marine reserves; marine environmental history; jellyfish explosions; effects of fishing on ecosystems; social and ethical perspectives on marine protected areas; recovery of marine populations; and zoning as a marine management tool. Attendance limited to 700. Early registration with discounted fees until May 1. For online registration and additional details, visit the MCBI website at: www.mcbi.org Marine Conservation Biology Institute: 15806 NE 47th Court, Redmond WA 98052 425 883-8914/425 883-3017 (fax) Invited Papers Marine environmental history: Shifting baselines and conservation targets Chair: James T. Carlton, Williams College, USA Presenters: James T. Carlton Robert Francis, University of Washington, USA, "HMAP: History of Marine Animal Populations" Daniel Pauly, University of British Columbia, Canada Richard C Hoffmann, York University, Canada, "Deep history in some marine coastal environments" Oceanography, climate change, and marine biodiversity Chair: Vera Alexander, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, USA Presenters: Elbert Friday, National Academy of Sciences, USA, "Global Climate Change; the Science and the Concerns." Robert Francis, University of Washington, USA, "The atmosphere, the ocean, and the northern California Current." Janice Lough, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Australia, "Climate Change and coral bleaching: Past, present and future." Vera Alexander, "Climate change, regime shifts, and biodiversity in high-latitude marine ecosystems." Effects of fishing on marine ecosystems Chair: Larry Crowder, Duke University, USA Social and ethical perspectives on marine protected areas Chairs: Carrie Pomeroy, University of California, Santa Cruz, USA and Dorinda Dallmeyer, University of Georgia, USA Presenters: Dorinda Dallmeyer, "MPAs: What's ethics got to do with it?" Carrie Pomeroy: "Social and economic considerations for MPAs: Why bother?" John Smiley, Manager of Big Creek Reserve, Big Sur, California USA, "Creating and managing a marine reserve: An on-site perspective." Dr. Daniel Suman, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, USA: "Public participation and the designation of marine reserves." Why depleted marine populations don't always recover Chair: Stuart Pimm, Columbia University, USA Presenters: Jeffrey Hutchings John Steele, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, USA Callum M. Roberts, Harvard University, USA, "Gone but not forgotten: Why some coral reef species fail to recover from depletion." Stuart Pimm Ocean zoning: Designated use areas in the EEZ Chairs: Dr. John Ogden, Florida Institute of Oceanography, and Jon Day, Great Barrier Reef Marine Authority, Australia Presenters: John Ogden, "Ocean zoning: Scientific considerations and conservation implications." Robert Repetto, Yale University and University of Colorado, USA, "The Policy Basis for Designated Use Areas in the Oceans." Jon Day, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Australia, "Zoning: Lessons from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park." Ghislaine Llewellyn, World Wildlife Fund, USA, "Setting priorities and building a conservation action plan: Lessons from East Africa, the meso-American Reef, and the Sulu-Sulawesi Sea." Peter Shelley, Conservation Law Foundation, USA, "Sunset on the Wild Wet: Bringing EEZ Management Into the 21st Century." Interlocutors, Tundi Agardy, Dr. Robert Warner Classification and mapping of marine ecosystems Chair: James Maragos, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Hawaii, USA Presenters: Mark Monaco, NOAA, Rebecca Allee, NOAA, Don Potts, University of California, Santa Cruz. Mike Field, USGS Extinction risks in marine fishes and invertebrates: Evidence and modeling Chair: Ransom Myers, Dalhousie University, Canada Marine reserves as source areas Chairs: Rom Lipcius, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, USA, and Callum Roberts, University of York, UK Presenters: James A. Bohnsack, NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center, USA, "Benefits of no-take reserves in Florida for recreational fishing" Fiona R. Gell, " Fishery effects of a network of marine reserves in St Lucia, West Indies" Steven A. Murawski and Michael J. Fogarty, National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Fisheries Science Center, USA, "Closing large areas of ocean habitat to fishing: Effects of the Georges Bank closures and considerations for future marine protected areas." Jellyfish explosions: Dominance shifts and fisheries effects Chairs: Harriet Perry, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, USA, and Claudia Mills, University of Washington, USA Presenters: Claudia Mills - overview of global jellyfish blooms Tamara Shiganova, Russia- "Mnemiopsis in the Black and Caspian seas" TBA - Jellyfish in the Bering Sea Monty Graham - "Year 2000: Jellyfish in the Gulf of Mexico" Ron Leucens - "Fisheries consequences in the Gulf of Mexico" Dear Marmamers, I recently posted a survey asking researchers working with bottlenose dolphins whether they observed certain behavioural events or not. Several individuals replied providing information on 19 populations worlwide. Here I post the result of the survey (in how many populations was each event observed): Head-butt: 5 Snaggle: 9 Upside-down lobtail: 14 Fart blow: 14 Side flop: 16 Head flop: 14 Back flop: 13 Vertical jump: 13 Horizontal jump: 13 Twisted surface: 9 Twisted jump: 7 Please see my previous posting for a detail definition of each event (I can also provide these definitions to anybody interested). As you can see most behavioural events were commonly seen and certain others (twisted jump and head-butting) were rarely observed. No behaviour was seen in all populations. Trying and understanding the observed discrepancy in the repertoire of these populations (this early survey was, by no mean, a comprehensive comparison of behavioural repertoire) leads us to the question of culture in bottlenose dolphins. Then next step of the survey will be to compare behavioural repertoire among populations using similar techniques as the one described in Whiten et al. 1999 article in Nature (entitled culture in chimpanzees) to try and understand the weight of ecological variations in observed variations in behavioural repertoire. If anybody is interested in participating to this survey (I will automatically forward a copy of the survey to each person that replied to my early questionaire) please send an e-mail to: David Lusseau lusda563(\)student.otago.ac.nz Thank you! David -- ___________________________________________________________ David Lusseau University of Otago phone: (64+3) 479 5240 Department of Zoology fax: (64+3) 479 8336 PO Box 56 home: (64+3) 456 3539 Dunedin lusda563(\)student.otago.ac.nz New Zealand In France: 29 rue du Chaignot phone: (33) 3 80 30 11 49 21000 Dijon France visit our research homepages! Ecology, Conservation and Biodiversity Research Group: http://www.otago.ac.nz/Zoology/trsp/trsp.htm Marine Mammal Research Group: http://www.otago.ac.nz/marinescience/mammals New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust: http://www.nzwhaledolphintrust.tripod.com/home/ ___________________________________________________________ --============_-1224561827==_ma============ Culture in bottlenose dolphin?
Dear Marmamers,
I recently posted a survey asking researchers working with bottlenose dolphins whether they observed certain behavioural events or not. Several individuals replied providing information on 19 populations worlwide. Here I post the result of the survey (in how many populations was each event observed):

Head-butt: 5
Snaggle: 9
Upside-down lobtail: 14
Fart blow: 14
Side flop: 16
Head flop: 14
Back flop: 13
Vertical jump: 13
Horizontal jump: 13
Twisted surface: 9
Twisted jump: 7
Please see my previous posting for a detail definition of each event (I can  also provide these definitions to anybody interested).

As you can see most behavioural events were commonly seen and certain others (twisted jump and head-butting) were rarely observed. No behaviour was seen in all populations.
Trying and understanding the observed discrepancy in the repertoire of these populations (this early survey was, by no mean, a comprehensive comparison of behavioural repertoire) leads us to the question of culture in bottlenose dolphins.

Then next step of the survey will be to compare behavioural repertoire among populations using similar techniques as the one described in Whiten et al. 1999 article in Nature (entitled culture in chimpanzees) to try and understand the weight of ecological variations in observed variations in behavioural repertoire.
If anybody is interested in participating to this survey (I will automatically forward a copy of the survey to each person that replied to my early questionaire) please send an e-mail to:
David Lusseau
lusda563(\)student.otago.ac.nz

Thank you!

David
--
___________________________________________________________
David Lusseau    
                               
University of Otago                             phone: (64+3) 479 5240
Department of Zoology                            fax:    (64+3) 479 8336
PO Box 56                                        home:   (64+3) 456 3539
Dunedin                                  lusda563(\)student.otago.ac.nz
New Zealand                                

In France:
29 rue du Chaignot                            phone: (33) 3 80 30 11 49
21000 Dijon
France

visit our research homepages!

Ecology, Conservation and Biodiversity Research Group:
http://www.otago.ac.nz/Zoology/trsp/trsp.htm

Marine Mammal Research Group:
http://www.otago.ac.nz/marinescience/mammals

New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust:
http://www.nzwhaledolphintrust.tripod.com/home/
___________________________________________________________
--============_-1224561827==_ma============-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 09:50:52 -0700 From: Daniel Palacios Subject: Re: dorsal fin hydrodynamics In-Reply-To: <200104162128.OAA19245(\)dnsman.oce.orst.edu> There is a brief research highlight on the work of Michael Latz on bioluminescence in the on-line version of 'Explorations', the magazine of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (a few months old now). There are three links to short videos (Quicktime or RealPlayer) describing flow in the boundary layer around a dolphin. The last one is an outstanding color-enhanced video of a dolphin swimming through a bioluminescent field. http://www.sio.ucsd.edu/explorations/biolum/ The following related quote is from Latz's website: "Luminescent flow visualization Bioluminescent dinoflagellates can be used as flow markers which turn on only when suitable levels of fluid shear are present. This approach is useful for visualizing complex or undefined flow fields not amenable to conventional flow visualization techniques, such as those around a swimming dolphin, or in commercial bioreactors." http://siobiolum.ucsd.edu/ Regards, -Daniel Palacios +=================================================================+ | DANIEL M. PALACIOS | | College of Oceanic & Voice: (541) 737-2492 | | Atmospheric Sciences Fax: (541) 737-2064 | | Oregon State University E-Mail:dpalacio(\)oce.orst.edu | | 104 Oceanography Admin. Bdlg. http://osu.orst.edu/~palaciod | | Corvallis, OR 97331-5503 | | U.S.A. | +=================================================================+ On Mon, 16 Apr 2001, William Rossiter wrote: > > As a followup to the 13 April MARMAM request, by Terry Morse of the Bureau > of Land Management, for an explanation of the cost or benefit of the gray > whale's hump and knuckles, may I ask a related question? > > Has anyone investigated recently the drag shedding properties of dorsal > fins? I am aware of some early experiments. However, technology has > improved so much I am hoping that the question has been revisited. Forty > years as a pilot have shown me many drag bleed / reduction techniques, long > perfected by the wing tip feathers in birds and finally copied by > "winglets" on aircraft (the small vertical structures on some aircraft's > wingtips). > > The water in the boundry layer next to the body causes drag. Assume that > the dorsal drag component forward of the fin is shed along and off the tip > of the dorsal fin, away from the aft body, aiding the flukes' propulsion > efficiency. During the swimming body's vertical flex how much of the > lateral boundry layer drag is also bled off the body by the dorsal fin? > Assuming some evolutionary pressure to design the "best" shape for a > species, how does the variety of size and shape correlate to a species' > speed and maneuverability? How does a drag shedding dorsal fin perform > within the regime below the surface where drag rises significantly, which I > think is a function of body length and thickness? > > The blue whale probably represents the body aspect ratio (length / breadth) > at which a dorsal fin is no longer of much value. The right whale dolphin's > peduncle has such a small aspect ratio that drag is probably shed > effectively without a fin at all. The right, bowhead and gray are simply > too slow to generate much drag. If the logic is right, the male orca needs > to display more than swim easily, much as other species that drag around > inefficient structures to get a more important message across. Anyone who > has seen moose display and then try to move through underbrush understands > this. > > 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, 18 Apr 0101 15:09:40 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Live Humpback whale sounds on the internet (fwd) Dear whale and dolphin lovers, researchers, environmentalists and educators, We have been webcasting live whale sounds from Maui for the past three or four weeks at www.whalesong.net. We hope to work with other interested parties to expand this program. We believe sonic monitoring of the oceans can provide a wide range of benefits wich range from education to ocean protection. The beauty of the whale and dolphin vocalizations is also relaxing and entertaining.....and it will detect active sonar and allow the world to listen. Our boat hit the beach during recent high seas and winds, but we hope to be back on the air this morning. Please let me know what you think. Aloha from Hawai'i, Dan Sythe dan(\)whalesong.net ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 09:01:52 -0400 From: "Carlson, Carole" Subject: Whale watch guidelines, codes of conduct and regulations boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01C0C807.BCCAAFA0" 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_001_01C0C807.BCCAAFA0 charset="iso-8859-1" I am in the process of updating a compendium of whale watch guidelines, codes of conduct and regulations around the world. If you have information on changes in guidelines or legislation over the past year and/or new guidelines or regulations, please contact me by May 20. Thank you for your assistance. Carole Carlson ccarlson(\)ifaw.org ------_=_NextPart_001_01C0C807.BCCAAFA0 charset="iso-8859-1" Whale watch guidelines, codes of conduct and regulations

I am in the process of updating a = compendium of  whale watch guidelines, codes of conduct and = regulations around the world. If you have information on changes in = guidelines or legislation over the past year and/or new guidelines or = regulations, please contact me by May 20. Thank you for your = assistance.

Carole Carlson ccarlson(\)ifaw.org =

------_=_NextPart_001_01C0C807.BCCAAFA0-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 21:57:49 +0200 From: "A. Frantzis" Subject: Sighting of Megaptera in Greece, eastern Mediterranean! x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" Dear all, We would like to report an exceptional sighting of a humpback whale in the Aegean Sea, Greece, eastern Mediterranean. To our knowledge, this is the first sighting of Megaptera novaengliae in the eastern Mediterranean and one of the very few documented sightings in the entire Mediterranean Sea. According to the Guide of Notrabartolo di Sciara and Demma (1997), there are only three confirmed reports in the entire Mediterranean (1885 in Toulon, 1986 off Minorca, 1993 in France). The news arrived to us today, by a Greek TV channel (MEGA Channel), who asked an interview and information regarding this species. Reporters of the channel succeeded to have a good video that we are willing to present in the next ECS Conference in Rome, in two weeks. The whale has been seen in the sea area of Argolikos Gulf, infront of the city of Nafplion. According to local fishermen the whale has been in the area during the last 10 days, at a distance of 0.5-3 nautique miles from the coasts. Its total length is about 12 meters, according to the estimation of the fishermen and reporters. From the video that we have, nothing seems unusual in the behaviour of the whale and no wounds are visible. The flukes of the whale and their coloration patterns appear clearly in the video, twice, as well as marks and scars around the dorsal fin area, so this individual is photoidentified. It would be very interesting to compare its flukes with existing photo-id catalogue(s) from the Atlantic Ocean. People holding these catalogues can contact us in order to have a copy of the photo for comparisons. We would be interested to know if it can be still a feeding period for an Atlantic humpback whale who entered the Med during its migration. Any kind of comments from humpback whale specialists regarding this sighting are welcomed. 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 or Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute Terpsichoris 21 16671 VOULIAGMENI GREECE tel/fax : ++301 / 8960108 e-mail : afrantzis(\)otenet.gr web: www.pelagosinstitute.gr ________________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 19:44:24 EDT From: Stefanie Gazda Subject: Research Assistant Needed A Research Assistant is needed to work with a Master's Degree candidate from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth on a Bottlenose Dolphin research project from June through August of 2001. The study may continue through October if funds become available. However, only a time commitment of June through August is required. The study site is based in Cedar Key, Florida, approximately 50 miles south of Gainesville. The research assistant may be responsible for arranging his or her own travel to the site if they cannot coordinate to travel with the graduate student. Room and board will be provided. However, this is a volunteer position, and a stipend will not be possible. Must be willing to work long hours on a small boat photographing and videotaping bottlenose dolphins. A valid driver's license is required. Some experience in any of the above aspects is preferable but not mandatory. Must be enthusiastic, dedicated, and able to work under the direction of leader, but also competent enough to work on one's own if the need arises. Computer skills are also helpful. Willingness to live and work under potentially spare conditions a must. If interested, contact Stefanie Gazda at g_sgazda(\)umassd.edu with resume and cover letter attached. Please be clear as to why you are the correct candidate for the position, and how you can be an asset to the study. Also please include an email address where you can be reached. Eligible candidates will be contacted to be interviewed. Thank you, Stefanie Gazda ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2001 17:18:27 -0400 From: "Higginson, Deanna R. (EFDLANT)" Subject: Position Announcement (Marine Mammal Biologist) Marine Mammal Biologist (Civilian): U.S. Navy, Norfolk, Virginia. Professional Development Center (PDC) position for a GS-7/9/11. Must hire under the "Outstanding Scholar" program that requires and undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.45 or higher. Seeking qualified candidates with B.S., M.S. or PhD with educational emphasis in marine mammal biology and with skills in research, written and oral communication, and GIS mapping skills utilizing ESRI products. This is a training position leading to a permanent working level position with the Navy to provide expertise to natural resources managers and policy makers. Duties would include research and reporting for NEPA documents, consultations with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service, and project management for research documents and management plans. This is not a field biologist position, but there are numerous opportunities for travel (area of responsibility includes Eastern Seaboard from Maine to North Carolina, Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Iceland). Contact David Noble tel. (757) 322-4888 noblewd(\)efdlant.navfac.navy.mil or Deanna Higginson tel. (757) 322-4940 higginsondr(\)efdlant.navfac.navy.mil for more information. Resumes and cover letter can be emailed to above addresses or faxed to (757) 322-4894. 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: Fri, 20 Apr 2001 16:08:46 +1200 From: Alan Fleming Subject: Orca, bottlenose dolphins and vessels in close proximity - Bay of Islands New Zealand boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01C0C94F.989A1CD0" 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_001_01C0C94F.989A1CD0 charset="iso-8859-1" Hi On Monday 16/4/01 and Wednesday 18/4/01; four Orca, a large pod of bottlenose dolphins (Monday - approx 25) and several vessels were observed in close proximity within the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. On both occasions: * it was the same four Orca * it occurred in the same location within the Bay, ie Albert Channel * commercial marine mammal viewing vessels were viewing the dolphins when the Orca arrived, (3 on Monday, 4 on the Wednesday). On the Monday there was also 4 recreational boats present. On Monday the dolphins fled at speed once boat engines were turned off. The Orca did not show interest in pursuing the dolphins and moved away from the area. The dolphins travelled to an adjacent embayed coastline approx 2.5 kms away. For the next 4 hours they moved slowly back and forth along the coast staying very close to shore. On Wednesday only some of the dolphins fled when the boats cut their engines. Others within the pod stayed in the vicinity apparently unfazed. Some of the dolphins that stayed were observed leaping. The Orca did not show interest in the dolphins on this occasion as well. It could be that the Orca were using boat engine noise to mask their approach while stalking the dolphins. Observations of Orca hunting dusky dolphin in the presence of boats has been observed in Kaikoura, New Zealand. Please note these are the only recorded observations of this type in the Bay of Islands. Has anyone observed similar events? If so what management responses were made by governing authorities (if any). Is there documented references to similar type events?. I shall summarise any responses and post them on MARMAM. Thank you for your time and effort. Alan Fleming Department of Conservation P.O. Box 134 RUSSELL NEW ZEALAND ph +64 09 403 9008 fax +64 09 403 9009 e-mail - afleming(\)doc.govt.nz ############################################## This e-mail (and attachments) is confidential and may be legally privileged. ############################################## ------_=_NextPart_001_01C0C94F.989A1CD0 charset="iso-8859-1" Orca, bottlenose dolphins and vessels in close proximity - Bay of = Islands New Zealand

Hi
On Monday 16/4/01 and Wednesday 18/4/01= ; four Orca, a large pod of bottlenose dolphins (Monday - approx 25) and = several vessels were observed in close proximity within the Bay of Island= s, New Zealand.  On both occasions:

    • it was the same four Orca
    • it occurred in the same location within= =20the Bay, ie Albert Channel
    • commercial marine mammal viewing vessel= s were viewing the dolphins when the Orca arrived, (3 on Monday, 4 on the= =20Wednesday).  On the Monday there was also 4 recreational boats pr= esent.

On Monday the dolphins fled at speed onc= e boat engines were turned off.  The Orca did not show interest in p= ursuing the dolphins and moved away from the area.  The dolphins tra= velled to an adjacent embayed coastline approx 2.5 kms away.  For th= e next 4 hours they moved slowly back and forth along the coast staying v= ery close to shore.  On Wednesday only some of the dolphins fled whe= n the boats cut their engines.  Others within the pod stayed in the = vicinity apparently unfazed.  Some of the dolphins that stayed were = observed leaping.  The Orca did not show interest in the dolphins on= =20this occasion as well.

It could be that the Orca were using boa= t engine noise to mask their approach while stalking the dolphins.  = Observations of Orca hunting dusky dolphin in the presence of boats has b= een observed in Kaikoura, New Zealand.  Please note these are the on= ly recorded observations of this type in the Bay of Islands.

Has anyone observed similar events? = ; If so what management responses were made by governing authorities (if = any).  Is there documented references to similar type events?. = =20I shall summarise any responses and post them on MARMAM.  Thank y= ou for your time and effort.

Alan Fleming
Department of Conservation
P.O. Box 134
RUSSELL
NEW ZEALAND
ph       +64 0= 9 403 9008
fax      +64 09 403= =209009
e-mail - afleming(\)doc.govt.nz



Attention:
This e-mail (and attachments)=20 is confidential and may be legally privileged.
= ------_=_NextPart_001_01C0C94F.989A1CD0-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2001 01:02:23 -0700 From: david briggs Subject: Robson Bight Volunteers Needed Volunteers are needed to assist on a field research project in British Columbia, Canada this summer studying the usage of the Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve by orcas (killer whales) and people. When: The project runs from approximately June 20-September 10. Volunteers need to make at least a 30 day commitment and those who can stay all summer are preferred. Where: The project is located on a small island (W. Cracroft Is.) directly across from Robson Bight along the north eastern side of Vancouver Island in the Inside Passage of British Columbia. Living and Working: We will be camping on a remote island with no facilities other than what we bring in. The crew will camp in tents and work outside with rain and sun shelters available. The work will consist of recording whale and boat usage in the reserve and adjacent waters from 8am-8pm. Long work hours in the field are to be expected, although time off is scheduled in as well. Experience and qualifications: No experience is needed, although the ability to work well with others and being comfortable outdoors is essential. Volunteers should be in good shape. The project is physically demanding and may involve hiking, carrying supplies and getting in and out of small boats in rough conditions. Affiliations: The project is contracted out by the British Columbia Ministry of Parks Ecological Reserve Program and is currently being run by Beaveridge Contracting in BC. Respond to: David Briggs at dbriggsa12(\)hotmail.com. Project Field Supervisor Thank you for your interest! _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 20 Apr 0101 10:44:51 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: FW: Oil Spill in Belize (fwd) Forwarded message from: Stacy Kubis (sak41492(\)pegasus.cc.ucf.edu) This message comes from a resident in Belize: We had a major disaster recently An oil tanker carrying 10,000 gallons of oil crashed into a river off a bridge near Gales Point spilling all it's cargo. It is slowly leaking into the lagoon where the Manatees live and the government here is doing a lousy job with the clean up I haven't been in the area the last 2 days but it was pretty bad. We are putting out URGENT all points bulletins to any group internationally that could help us. Maybe you guys know some organizations. Communication is tough in the jungle. We hope it doesn't reach the nesting grounds. Any assistance would be appreciated. ASAP/call 011-501-21-2040 Manatee Lodge if anything arises. Thanks for your moral support in our conservation effort. Please do not reply to this address. If you can help or know of an organization/agency that can help please call 011-501-21-2040. Thank you. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2001 13:56:36 +0200 From: "Tryland, Morten" Subject: New minke whale publication ------ Dear MARMAM editors I would like to submit a new publication to MARMAM as an information to t= he marine mammal scientific community. Thanks and best regards, Morten Tryland, DVM, PhD, Associate professor Norwegian School of Veterinary Science Department of Arctic Veterinary Medicine N-9292 Troms=F8, Norway. Phone: (+47) 77 66 54 00 Fax: (+47) 7769 49 11 E-mail: morten.tryland(\)veths.no Tryland, M. and Brun, E. 2001. Serum chemistry of the minke whale from th= e northeastern Atlantic. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 37(2): 332-341. Abstract: ABSTRACT: Serum samples were collected from 42 harpooned minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) during commercial whaling off the coast of northern Norway (1997 and 1998) and analyzed for serum chemistry paramete= rs in order to find clinical reference values for the northeastern Atlantic stock of this species. Mean and median values, as well as standard deviat= ion and 90% central range, are presented for 28 different serum chemistry parameters. Lipemia is a common finding in marine mammals such as the min= ke whale, and chemical analysis of lipemic serum samples may produce artifac= ts. We found statistically significant elevated values of total protein, globulin, aspartate aminotranferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT)= , sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl) in strongly-lipemic compared to non-lipemic samples, all which may be artifacts due to interference of lipids with th= e methods used for analysis. In addition, we found significantly elevated levels of creatin kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), uric acid and triglycerides, as well as a decrease in creatinine in the strongly lipemi= c samples. Reanalyzing serum samples after twelve mo storage at -20 C (n=3D= 13) revealed reduction in the serum concentration of the enzymes ALT (42%), alkaline phosphatase (ALP; 10%), LDH (19%), gamma glutamyl transferase (G= GT; 17%) and amylase (11%), as well as for triglycerides (9%) and non-esterif= ied fatty acids (16%). It is crucial that serum chemistry analysis is perform= ed without delay after sampling. Possible changes in the values of some parameters due to the presence of high amounts of lipids or long term storage of samples must be considered when interpreting results from seru= m chemistry analysis in these animals. _________________________________________________________________________= _____________________________________ This message has been scanned for viruses and harmful content, = and found secure. Norwegian School of Veterinary = Science _________________________________________________________________________= _____________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 10:01:46 -0700 From: Jim Curland Subject: Defenders of Wildlife Marine and Terrestrial Carnivore Conference boundary="------------1DD2AC0057D75C2735D4B423" --------------1DD2AC0057D75C2735D4B423 ; x-mac-type="54455854"; x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" Defenders of Wildlife announces its fourth national conference, Carnivores 2002: From The Mountains To The Sea, which will be held in Monterey, California November 17-20, 2002 at the Monterey Conference Center, Doubletree Hotel. The conference will focus on the biology and conservation of a full range of marine and terrestrial predators. Proposals for 1 and 2 hour sessions, individual papers and posters are being accepted until March 29, 2002. For more information or to receive a conference brochure, please contact Yvonne Borresen at Defenders of Wildlife, 1101 14th St., NW, Suite 1400, Washington, DC 20005 or call (202)789-2844 ext. 315. You can also email carnivores2002(\)defenders.org or visit www.defenders.org/carnivores2002. Jim Curland, Marine Program Associate Defenders of Wildlife P.O. Box 959 Moss Landing, CA. 95039 831-726-9010-phone 831-726-9020-fax jcurland(\)defenders.org --------------1DD2AC0057D75C2735D4B423 Defenders of Wildlife announces its fourth national conference,
Carnivores 2002: From The Mountains To The Sea, which will
be held in Monterey, California November 17-20, 2002 at the
Monterey Conference Center, Doubletree Hotel.  The conference
will focus on the biology and conservation of a full range of marine
and terrestrial predators.  Proposals for 1 and 2 hour sessions, individual
papers and posters are being accepted until March 29, 2002.  For more
information or to receive a conference brochure, please contact
Yvonne Borresen at Defenders of Wildlife, 1101 14th St., NW,
Suite 1400, Washington, DC 20005 or call (202)789-2844 ext. 315.
You can also email carnivores2002(\)defenders.org or
visit www.defenders.org/carnivores2002.
 
 

Jim Curland, Marine Program Associate
Defenders of Wildlife
P.O. Box 959
Moss Landing, CA. 95039
831-726-9010-phone
831-726-9020-fax
jcurland(\)defenders.org --------------1DD2AC0057D75C2735D4B423-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2001 11:49:36 -0700 From: Lei Lani Stelle Subject: California student chapter of SMM boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0036_01C0C98F.F94C3000" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0036_01C0C98F.F94C3000 charset="iso-8859-1" Announcing the formation of the California Student Chapter of the = Society for Marine Mammology. First meeting: Saturday, May 19, 1-6 pm at Scripps Institution of Oceanography- IGPP Munk Lab. Please refer to http://www.sio.ucsd.edu/about_scripps/directions.html = for directions to SIO and to the conference room. Tentative Agenda: 1:00 Welcome 1:10 Key Note Speaker: Gerald Kooyman, University of California San Diego-Scripps Institution of Oceanography "A birdman's view of marine mammal cardiovascular and pulmonary = physiology" 2:00 Student Spoken Presentations 3:15 Speaker: Jay Barlow, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center "Conservation and Management of California's Marine Mammals" 4:00 Round Table Discussion: What do you want from this student group? 5:00 Student Poster Presentations/ Pizza Social We welcome the attendance of all students, potential students, and researchers interested in the field of marine mammology. Students: = Please email the organizers below if you are interested in presenting previous/ current/ or future work at the meeting in the form of a spoken or poster = presentation, this may include posters or talks from previous scientific meetings or = work in progress. Please contact Lei Lani Stelle or Erin Oleson if you plan on attending, = or if you cannot attend=20 the meeting, but would like to be added to an email list of the = California Student Chapter of the Society of Marine Mammology for future meetings. Contacts: Lei Lani Stelle- stelle(\)ucla.edu Erin Oleson- eoleson(\)ucsd.edu Thank you to the Graduate Department at UCSD-SIO for hosting and = sponsoring this student group. ------=_NextPart_000_0036_01C0C98F.F94C3000 charset="iso-8859-1"

Announcing the=20 formation of the California Student Chapter of the Society
for Marine = Mammology.

First meeting:  Saturday, May 19, 1-6 pm at = Scripps=20 Institution of
Oceanography- IGPP
Munk=20 Lab.
Please refer to http://www.sio.ucsd.edu/about_scripps/directions.html= for
directions to SIO and to the = conference=20 room.

Tentative Agenda:
1:00  Welcome
1:10  Key = Note=20 Speaker: Gerald Kooyman, University of California San
Diego-Scripps=20 Institution of Oceanography
"A birdman's view of marine mammal = cardiovascular=20 and pulmonary physiology"
2:00  Student Spoken=20 Presentations
3:15  Speaker: Jay Barlow, National Marine = Fisheries=20 Service, Southwest
Fisheries Science Center
  "Conservation = and=20 Management of California's Marine Mammals"
4:00  Round Table=20 Discussion:  What do you want from this student = group?
5:00 =20 Student Poster Presentations/ Pizza Social


We welcome the = attendance=20 of all students, potential students, and
researchers interested in = the field=20 of marine mammology.  Students: Please
email the organizers = below if you=20 are interested in presenting previous/
current/ or future work at the = meeting=20 in the form of a spoken or poster presentation,
this may=20 include posters or talks from previous scientific meetings or work in=20 progress.
Please contact Lei Lani Stelle or Erin Oleson if you plan = on=20 attending, or if you cannot attend
the meeting,=20 but would like to be added to an email list of the California
Student = Chapter=20 of the Society of Marine Mammology for future = meetings.

Contacts:
Lei=20 Lani Stelle- stelle(\)ucla.edu
Erin Oleson- eoleson(\)ucsd.edu

Thank you to the Graduate Department at UCSD-SIO for hosting = and=20 sponsoring
this student group.
------=_NextPart_000_0036_01C0C98F.F94C3000-- ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2001 06:57:46 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: 03-04 May: 1st Meeting of the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy (fwd) From: Dee Allen 1st Meeting of the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy 03-04 May, 2001 The first meeting of the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Student Chapter (MASC) of the Society for Marine Mammalogy will be held on Thursday, 03 May - Friday, 04 May 2001 at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 10th St. & Constitution Ave., Washington, DC. This Chapter is open to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as prospective graduate students in marine mammal-related studies. The Mid-Atlantic chapter draws members primarily from Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. However, members are also welcome from Ohio, West Virginia and other areas convenient to the Mid-Atlantic region. Thanks to the generous support of the Department of Vertebrate Zoology, NMNH, our featured speaker will be Ann Pabst of the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. Ann's talk will serve jointly as a VZ/ Chapter seminar at NMNH on the afternoon of Thursday, 03 May, followed by a welcoming social. Both students and non-students in the region are invited to attend these events; however, an RSVP to Dee Allen (allen.dee(\)nmnh.si.edu) or Brian Beatty (blbeatty(\)yahoo.com) is needed if you are planning to attend. Activities on Friday, 04 May will consist of presentations by invited local speakers as well as students, concluding with Chapter organization. We are requesting that students RSVP if they are planning to attend either or both days. For more information about the Chapter, please refer to http://www.geocities.com/smmmasc/. A draft agenda for meeting events is pasted below. Thanks, Dee Allen (allen.dee(\)nmnh.si.edu) Brian Beatty (blbeatty(\)yahoo.com) Vicki Portway (vportway(\)nasm.si.edu) AGENDA: Thursday, 03 May morning: * welcome and introduction of students * history of the Society for Marine Mammalogy and the history of Smithsonian involvement in marine mammal research (James G. Mead, Smithsonian Institution) * tour of National Museum of Natural History marine mammal collections: extant cetacean osteological collection (Jim Mead and Charley Potter, Vertebrate Zoology, Smithsonian Institution); fossil marine mammals (Dave Bohaska, Vertebrate Paleontology, Smithsonian Institution) LUNCH (on your own) afternoon: * seminar by Ann Pabst, featured speaker at 2 p.m. * social until 5 p.m. Friday, 04 May morning: * presentations by invited speakers (local professionals within Mid-Atlantic region): -Trevor Spradlin, Office of Protected Resources, NOAA Fisheries, Silver Spring, MD (harassment concerns and/or permit issues) -Cathy Schaeff, American University, Washington, DC -Daryl Domning, Howard University, Washington, DC (Caribbean sirenian community structure and paleoecology) -Frank Fish, West Chester University, West Chester, PA, "Centripetal Circumspection on Cetacean Circles" LUNCH with speakers (opportunity for students to meet and talk with morning speakers) afternoon: * presentations by invited speakers: -Janet Mann, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, "Surviving at Sea: Maternal and Calf Strategies in Wild Bottlenose Dolphins" -David Schofield, National Aquarium in Baltimore, Baltimore, MD (responding to and rehabilitation of live stranded animals) * student presentations -Beth Manning, National Aquarium in Baltimore (ocular conditions in pinnipeds) -Brian Beatty, Howard University (genus Cornwallius and its existence in the Late Oligocene of the North pacific coast) -Candice Dorsey, American University (fluctuating asymmetry in manatees) -Bonnie Coy, American University (fluctuating asymmetry in California sea lions) -Dee Allen, The George Washington University (principal components analysis of beaked whale mandibular measurements) * business meeting -Chapter organization -election of officers -planning of next meeting Dee Allen NMNH, Smithsonian Institution Marine Mammal Program MRC 108 Washington, DC 20560 tel: 202-357-4139 fax: 202-786-2979 allen.dee(\)nmnh.si.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2001 09:28:07 -0700 From: Bernardo Alps Subject: ACS/LA Meeting on LFAS ------ The First of three NMFS hearings on SURTASS LFA sonar is this Thursday, April 26, 18:00 to 21:00, at the Renaissance Hotel, 9620 Airport Blvd., Los Angeles, California. To help prepare for the hearing, ACS/LA has invited Michael Jasny from NRDC to address the issue at our April General Meeting. The announcement is below. Bernardo Alps President American Cetacean Society Los Angeles Chapter Whalephoto(\)earthlink.net THE AMERICAN CETACEAN SOCIETY / LOS ANGELES CHAPTER INVITES ALL MEMBERS AND WELCOMES THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO THIS MONTH'S MEETING ON TUESDAY, APRIL 24, AT 7:30 P.M. AT THE CABRILLO MARINE AQUARIUM. =93Military Active Sonar: Why You Should Care and What You Can Do=94 By Michael Jasny During the arms buildup of the early 1980s, the U.S. Navy decided to replace the global network of hydrophones that it had used to monitor Soviet subs throughout the Cold War with new, long-range "active" sonar. The old system worked by listening passively for ship signatures in the ocean; the new system would work much as a floodlight, producing intense, low-frequency sound waves that could illuminate subs at enormous distances. At close range, the noise it produced would be millions of times more intense than the Navy considers safe for human divers and billions of times more intense than the level known to disturb large whales. Now, more than a decade after the Cold War, the system--known, for short, as LFA ("Low Frequency Active" sonar)--is ready for development. But many researchers fear that, even at distance, LFA could cause hearing loss, strandings, and serious injury or death in cetaceans and other marine life. Over the last month, concern within the scientific and environmental communities, and in Congress, has grown exponentially. We=92ll discuss LF= A and other active sonars, and what we know (and don't know) about their impacts on marine mammals; we'll review the latest findings about their role in multispecies mass strandings of cetaceans; and we'll talk about current events, leading up to a series of crucial public hearings that will begin in Los Angeles on April 26th. Michael Jasny works as a consultant attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), specializing in the protection of marine mammals and of endangered species and habitat. He is the author of several NRDC reports including Sounding the Depths: Supertankers, Sonar, and the Rise of Ocean Noise (1999), which was the first comprehensive study by an NGO of undersea noise pollution, and, more recently, Drawdown (2000), a report on groundwater depletion on the Hopi and Navajo reservations in northeast Arizona. Michael is also a doctoral candidate in the humanities at UCLA; he likes to pretend he's working on his dissertation, but most of his energies these days are consumed by marine issues and the Navy's expanding active sonar program. The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is located at 3720 Stephen M. White Drive in San Pedro. ACS/LA general meetings are free and are held on the last Tuesday of the month. For an update on the speaker or information about ACS/LA call (310) 548-8500, or visit our website at http://www.acs-la.org Come and meet our speaker in the relaxed surroundings of the Baja Cabana restaurant at our no-host dinner before the meeting. Dinner is at 6 p.m., at 1622 S. Gaffey St. (at 17th St.) in San Pedro. (310) 833-9765. UPCOMING EVENTS: Tuesday, May 29th, ACS/LA General Meeting: Deidre Goodfriend, LA Oiled Bird Rescue and Research Center Saturday, July 21st, Annual Blue Whale Watch, Santa Barbara For info: (310) 519-8963 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2001 08:35:25 -0400 From: Phil Clapham Subject: Sighting of Megaptera in Greece, eastern Mediterranean! I assume Alex is aware of this, but the other Alex (Aguilar) published a note in 1989 reporting a sighting of two humpbacks in the western Med and summarizing what was known about the species in the basin. The citation is: Aguilar, A. 1989. A record of two humpback whales. Megaptera novaeangliae, in the western Mediterranean Sea. Mar. Mammal Sci. 5: 306-309. Phil Clapham "A. Frantzis" wrote: > > Dear all, > > We would like to report an exceptional sighting of a humpback whale in > the Aegean Sea, Greece, eastern Mediterranean. To our knowledge, this is > the first sighting of Megaptera novaengliae in the eastern Mediterranean > and one of the very few documented sightings in the entire Mediterranean > Sea. According to the Guide of Notrabartolo di Sciara and Demma (1997), > there are only three confirmed reports in the entire Mediterranean (1885 > in Toulon, 1986 off Minorca, 1993 in France). > > The news arrived to us today, by a Greek TV channel (MEGA Channel), who > asked an interview and information regarding this species. Reporters of > the channel succeeded to have a good video that we are willing to > present in the next ECS Conference in Rome, in two weeks. The whale has > been seen in the sea area of Argolikos Gulf, infront of the city of > Nafplion. According to local fishermen the whale has been in the area > during the last 10 days, at a distance of 0.5-3 nautique miles from the > coasts. Its total length is about 12 meters, according to the estimation > of the fishermen and reporters. From the video that we have, nothing > seems unusual in the behaviour of the whale and no wounds are visible. > > The flukes of the whale and their coloration patterns appear clearly in > the video, twice, as well as marks and scars around the dorsal fin area, > so this individual is photoidentified. It would be very interesting to > compare its flukes with existing photo-id catalogue(s) from the Atlantic > Ocean. People holding these catalogues can contact us in order to have a > copy of the photo for comparisons. > > We would be interested to know if it can be still a feeding period for > an Atlantic humpback whale who entered the Med during its migration. Any > kind of comments from humpback whale specialists regarding this sighting > are welcomed. > > 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 > > or > > Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute > Terpsichoris 21 > 16671 VOULIAGMENI > GREECE > tel/fax : ++301 / 8960108 > e-mail : afrantzis(\)otenet.gr > web: www.pelagosinstitute.gr > ________________________________________________________ -- The Society for Marine Mammalogy will be holding its 14th Biennial Conference from 28 November to 3 December 2001, in Vancouver, BC. Visit the conference Web site at www.smmconference.org for full details of this important meeting. Phillip J. Clapham, Ph.D. Large Whale Biology Program Protected Species Branch Northeast Fisheries Science Center 166 Water Street Woods Hole, MA 02543, U.S.A. tel. 508 495-2316 fax 508 495-2066 email: phillip.clapham(\)noaa.gov ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2001 15:40:36 -0500 Reply-To: "dfertl(\)geo-marine.com" From: Dagmar Fertl Organization: geomarine Subject: aircraft acoustic frequencies Dear Marmam readers, I am looking for information on the acoustic frequencies produced by a Cessna 337G "Skymaster". My colleagues and I have attempted contacting various sources for this information with no success. The information is needed for a mansucript that is currently in preparation on sperm whale reactions to overflights by a Cessna 337G "Skymaster". Thank you in advance for any assistance that anyone is able to provide. Dagmar Fertl Marine Mammal Biologist Geo-Marine, Inc. 550 East 15th Street Plano, TX 75074 Ph: 972-423-5480 FAX: 972-422-2736 dfertl(\)geo-marine.com http://www.geomarine.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 16:09:25 -0700 From: sciprogram Subject: 14th Biennial Conference Reminder 14TH BIENNIAL CONFERENCE ON THE BIOLOGY OF MARINE MAMMALS Sponsored by the Society for Marine Mammalogy Hosted by the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre 28 November - 3 December 2001 Vancouver, B.C., Canada www.smmconference.org REMINDER ANNOUNCEMENT ***Abstract Deadline 15 June 2001*** You have less than two months to submit your abstract for consideration. For instructions on how to use the on-line abstract submission form, as well as alternative methods of submission, please visit the conference Web site at www.smmconference.org Workshops: There will be several workshops held at this year's conference. They are listed below, along with the primary organizer's name and e-mail address. A description of each workshop will be posted on the Web site shortly. Please contact the workshop organizers directly for further information. Space is limited, so act soon! Viewing Marine Mammals in the Wild: A workshop to discuss responsible guidelines and regulations for minimizing disturbance. Trevor Spradlin, Trevor.Spradlin(\)noaa.gov Marine Mammal Major Histocompatibility Complex Workshop. Brian Aldridge, bmaldridge(\)ucdavis.edu The Biology and Conservation of Beaked Whales. Colin MacLeod, macleod_c(\)colloquium.co.uk The Use of Geomatic Technologies for Marine Mammal Scientists. Ellen Hines, ehines(\)office.geog.uvic.ca Culture in Marine Mammals. Harald Yurk, yurk(\)zoology.ubc.ca; Luke Rendell, lrendell(\)is2.dal.ca Pinniped Prey Remnant Quantitative Analysis. Dom Tollit, tollit(\)zoology.ubc.ca Using Pingers to Reduce Marine Mammal Bycatch in Commercial Fisheries. Emily Hanson, Emily.Hanson(\)noaa.gov Obtaining a Marine Mammal Scientific Research or Enhancement Permit: Navigating the Process. Tammy C. Adams, Tammy.Adams(\)noaa.gov Students: Be sure to visit the student Web page (http://www.tamug.tamu.edu/marinemam/index.html) often; new information is added regularly. If you have any questions, contact Leslie Cornick, Student-Member-at-Large, cornickl(\)tamug.tamu.edu Exhibitors' Trade Show If you are interested in participating in this portion of the conference, please visit www.smmconference.org, or contact Sabrina Pinkerton, pinkerts(\)vanaqua.org. Registration and Travel Try to register early for the conference; pre-registration will give you the best rate. You will find registration forms, as well as a link to the SMM membership form, on the conference Web site. Information on travel and accommodation (including official airline and hotels) is up on the site as well. Check back often, as the site is regularly updated. Contacts: If you can't find the information you need on the Web site, try: For general enquiries: mmconf(\)vanaqua.org For scientific program enquiries: sciprogram(\)vanaqua.org For registration enquiries: Ms. Terry Odell, Conference Registrar: todell(\)fbs.net Scientific Program Co-Chairs: John K.B. Ford, Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, P.O. Box 3232, Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6B 3X8. Tel (604) 659-3725, Fax (604) 659-3515 Andrew W. Trites, Marine Mammal Research Unit, University of British Columbia, Room 18, Hut B-3, 6248 Biological Sciences Road, Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6T 1Z4. Tel (604) 822-8181 Conference Chair: John W. Nightingale, Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, P.O. Box 3232, Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6B 3X8. Tel (604) 659-3725, Fax (604) 659-3515 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 17:55:04 -0400 From: Douglas Gillespie Subject: Right Whale Acoustics Workshop Report Dear List Members The report of the workshop "Right Whale Acoustics: Practical Applications in Conservation" Convened by the International Fund for Animal Welfare and held at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on 8/9 March 2001 is now available in pdf format on the Internet and can be downloaded from either http://www.rightwhales.org/acoustics/report.htm or alternately http://www.dghome.demon.co.uk/acousticworkshop/report/ The report is 23 pages long and 568 kBytes in size. Executive Summary The problems facing the North Atlantic right whale are well documented. Collisions with ships and entanglement in fishing gear have been identified as major sources of mortality. Passive acoustic monitoring is a tool that could provide information required for effective management action. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) organized a workshop which was held at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on 8th-9th March 2001. The aim of the Workshop was to evaluate the technical feasibility of passive acoustic monitoring to provide information on North Atlantic right whale distribution, at appropriate spatial and temporal scales, that could be used to develop measures to reduce anthropogenic mortality. The Workshop participants noted that passive acoustic monitoring systems can be divided into two categories: long-term, autonomous systems that collect data over periods ranging from weeks to years where the system may need to be recovered for the data to be retrieved, and real-time, or near real-time, systems which include a link providing a regular stream of data. There are a number of well established technologies for acoustic sensors and signal processing. However, some of the proposed mitigation measures may require considerable development, in order to detect right whales at locations far from shore, process the acoustic data automatically in real-time, and transmit information ashore so that management decisions can be made in a timely manner. Right whales make a variety of vocalizations. Recent studies indicate that the vocal behavior of North Atlantic, North Pacific and southern right whales are similar. Results of studies, in which passive acoustic and visual data have been collected simultaneously, indicate that passive acoustic systems can reliably detect the presence of right whales. Vocalization rates of North Atlantic right whales are highly variable and individuals have been known to remain silent for several hours. Oceanographic conditions in some North Atlantic right whale habitats are generally not optimal for acoustic propagation. Nevertheless, North Atlantic right whale vocalizations have been consistently detected at ranges of several miles and ranges of up to 13 nautical miles have been reported. The Workshop agreed that further studies on right whale vocal behavior would be valuable. In particular, attention should be given to studies where migration routes intersect with relatively high levels of shipping activity. It was also agreed that understanding transmission loss was critical to assessing the range at which right whales might be detected in a particular area. Assessments of background noise and variability in source levels are also important factors. A number of algorithms have been developed for automatic or semi-automatic detection of right whale vocalizations. The Workshop agreed that data processing algorithms are sufficiently developed such that reliable information on right whale vocalizations could be transmitted ashore in summary form via a satellite link. The Workshop also agreed that it would be valuable to have a standard 'training set' of sound samples that could be used to refine and test such algorithms. A number of situations were identified where existing passive acoustic systems could be applied to provide information needed for management. These were: (i) Detecting the presence of right whales in areas where there is little or no dedicated surveillance or other data, including poorly surveyed areas known to be used at least occasionally. (ii) Assessing the predictability and variability of right whale distribution patterns in known high use areas, including use of these areas in non-peak seasons. (iii) Verifying and supplementing right whale occurrence and distribution data from aerial survey programs. (iv) Detecting a threshold number of whales in an identified high risk area that might indicate the temporary presence of an aggregation of whales requiring some management action to reduce risk (v) Monitoring levels of ship traffic. The necessary technologies are available for each of the individual components required to develop real-time detection systems for dynamic management, such as routing shipping around temporary concentrations of whales or imposing short-term speed restrictions. However, no such complete system is currently available and implementation would require considerable research and development. A number of research priorities were identified that would enhance the ability of both long-term recording and real-time monitoring acoustic systems to contribute to management actions to reduce right whale mortality. A key need is for a better understanding of the probability of detecting a whale acoustically and the relationship between the acoustic detections and the number of whales present. This will require research on source levels, transmission loss, sources of ambient noise, performance of detectors and vocalization rates. It will also be necessary to model entire detection and management systems. Such modeling would be required to assess the likely risk reductions in relation to costs for specific systems in specific areas. Yours, Douglas Gillespie Temporary US phone number 1-508-385-8491 (April/May 2001) Douglas Gillespie Song of the Whale Research Team International Fund for Animal Welfare UK Tel/Fax: +44 (0)117 9049737 Mobile : +44 (0)797 7506627 Email : mailto:doug(\)dghome.demon.co.uk Web : http://www.ifaw.org ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2001 09:34:15 +0200 From: Giovanni Bearzi Subject: Emily B. Shane Award In-Reply-To: <3.0.6.32.20010325160344.0094ebd0(\)pop.puretec.de> Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" ------ ** T h e E m i l y B. S h a n e A w a r d ** The Emily B. Shane Award supports conservation-oriented, non-harmful research on free-ranging Odontocetes and Sirenians. The award honors Em= ily 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 one or two winner= s. Although awards will be made for no more than one year at a time, applica= nts may apply more than once for the same project. Applications are due by Monday, 11 June 2001. Proposals should be submit= ted via e-mail in .rtf format and should not exceed 200 kb. Do not include figures or photographs in the proposal. Applications should be sent to: jambo(\)cruzio.com. Applicants unable to submit their applications by e-m= ail may request permission to send four printed copies of the proposal; reque= sts must be submitted to the e-mail address above. Award recipient(s) will b= e announced by 1 September 2001. __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=B9s professor should send a cover let= ter of support, if his/her involvement in the project is essential to the completion of the project. __Evaluation Criteria Applicants should send the proposal to the e-mail 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, i= ts objectives, methods, the role of the proposed work in conservation, the t= ime period for research, the persons conducting field research and their role= s, and literature cited. =20 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 w= ill 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=B9s ability to convey scientific information to both general an= d professional audiences via writing and speaking; an applicant=B9s 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 hea= lth and life of an individual animal and to other species within the ecosyste= m. 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. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 18:19:58 -0400 From: William Rossiter Subject: Humpback Photo Requested for Childrens' Book ------ A number of MARMAM members "grew up" with whale watching off the U.S. Eas= t coast, and may have or know of superb color transparencies of humpback whales. Cetacean Society International is assisting Dorling Kindersley Children's Books, a UK publisher, to find specific images to illustrate a new book. Please note that more than humpbacks are wanted, as below. The DK series is very popular in the USA, and a very high quality product. This book is Level 2, for children approximately ages 6-8. Fees for phot= o use are expected to range from =A350 ($71) to =A3100 ($142), depending on= size and use. The publisher will need electronic image files or duplicate slid= es as soon as possible for consideration. Images chosen for the book will probably require the original transparency for publication.=20 This story of a North Atlantic humpback whale will (probably) follow "Triton", a whale first seen near Cape Cod, MA, in 1981. Now at least 21, Triton was "friendly" and active enough to have been photographed thousan= ds of times by whale watchers, and perhaps you. The book will follow Triton from his wintering area in the Caribbean to his probable current summerin= g area off Canada. Any images specific to the life history of humpbacks is sought after.=20 The book also will identify scientific and advocacy whale conservation organizations on the final page of the book.The book will be most widely read in the US and Canada; Europe; Australia & NZ. If you know of an organization deserving of exposure in this book please let them know. The folowing specific images are being sought: *pp4/5 - color photoID of "Triton" and "Salt's" ventral flukes.=20 *pp12/13 - humpback swimming under water, preferably with tail swishing in up and down motion, also showing flippers and barnacles (as much as possible). Note that NA humpbacks are requested; color patterns of non-NA humpbacks may be considerably different=20 *pp18/19 - under water, humpback mother and calf=20 *pp20/21 - under water, humpback in or near fishing net *pp20/21 info box - dolphin in fishing net or picture of drift net *pp22/23 - stranded humpback (that later survives) *pp26/27 - close up;humpback's throat grooves *p32: cut-out photos of blue whale, humpback whale and dolphin to compare sizes *picture of kids cleaning litter from a beach *picture of oil spill polluting the ocean and harming sealife *picture of modern whaling ship with some products made from whales=20 Please contact: Jo Haddon 10 - 13 King Street Covent Garden London WC2E 8HN Telephone 020 7969 8732 Fax 020 7753 4510 http://www.dk.com Time to look in your closets for the box of old slides? Good luck, 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: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 08:16:56 +1000 From: Roger Kirkwood Subject: PINNIPED TOURISM IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE PINNIPED TOURISM IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE Dear All, I am compiling information for a chapter on 'Pinniped Tourism in the Southern Hemisphere' that will come out in a book on 'Human marine mammal interactions in the Southern Hemisphere', a companion volume to the Southern Hemisphere marine mammal conference to be held on Phillip Island at the end of May. I have contacted tourist venues/ researchers/ government representatives in many states/ countries but know my list is incomplete so hope some marmam subscribers can help. I will post a summary of input back on MARMAM. Background. 1. While some information is published on cetacean tourism, nothing is available on pinniped tourism in the Southern Hemisphere. Different species require different guidelines. For example, Australian fur seals flee from anybody within 50 m of them, Australian sea lions may attack; swim with Australian fur seals can be fun, people can get bitten if they swim with Australian sea lions. Guidelines vary from well regulated to open slather. 2. Tourists generally are unaware of how and where they can view seals, the variety of species etc. 3. Fisheries that interact with seals often discount the economic value of seals to tourism. I view the chapter as providing a baseline of information, current trends, locations, the range of guidelines required. I'm hopefull of collating all the information, all the sites, but realise the difficulties of this in the short time I have. The important information is the following. Please fill in details in this list and send to rkirkwood(\)penguins.org.au. 1. Locations (town, seal site name) 2. Species of seal 3. Breeding or resting site 4. Mode of approach (walk/ boat) 5. Guidelines for approach (Can these be attached and emailed?) 6. Date of commencement 7. Number of operators 8. Trends in seal numbers 9. Trends in tourist numbers (yearly eg 4000 in 1998, 6000 in 1999 etc) If more data on the following can be provided it would be greatly appreciated. 10. Current tourist numbers - visits per day/week/year, passangers per visit 11. Tourism infrastructure - staff levels, boat sizes, number, board walks etc. 12. Are the seals the only, main, co-attraction with (for example) penguins/ dolphins 13. Do the tourists impact on the seals 13. JPeg images/ brouchures of the tourism Thank-you very much for any information you can supply, Roger Kirkwood Mammal biologist Phillip Island Nature Park Cowes, Victoria 3922 Australia Phone +61 3 59512844 Fax +61 3 59568394 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 09:21:29 -0500 From: Mariano Sironi Subject: CETACEAN JUVENILE BEHAVIOR ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- Dear MarMam readers, I study juvenile behavior of the Southern Right Whale in Patagonia, Argentina. Last March 21 I posted a message asking for information and recent publications on cetacean juvenile behavior and interactions between orcas and baleen whales. Thanks to all of you who replied to my request. Here is a summary of the information I received, plus some more citations that I added. Any other suggestions and / or new citations to be added to the following list will be very welcome! Thanks again for your help, Mariano Sironi Reply to: msironi(\)students.wisc.edu For more information on the Southern Right Whale Program of the Instituto de Conservacion de Ballenas in Argentina please visit our website at: http://www.icb.org.ar --------------------- JUVENILE BEHAVIOR: "CALF DEVELOPMENT AND MOTHER CALF SPATIAL RELANTIONSHIPS IN SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALES" SARA TABER AND PETER THOMAS, ANIMAL BEHAVIOR, 1982, 30, 1072-1083 Thomas, P.O. and S.M. Taber. 1984. Mother-infant interaction and behavioral development in southern right whales, Eubalaena australis. Behaviour 88:42-60. Segregation by humpback whale, cows with a calf in coastal habitat near the island of Hawaii Smultea (1994) Can. J. Zool. 72:805-811. Weinrich et al. (1993). Return and survival of humpback whale (..) calves born to a single female in three consecutive years. Mar. Mamm. Sci. 9 (3): 325-328. Baraff & Weinrich (1993) Separation of humpback whale mothers and calves on a feeding ground on early autumn. Mar. Mamm. Sci., 9(4): 431-434 McCowan B et al. 2000 Bubble ring play of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus): implications for cognition. Journal of Comparative Psychology Vol. 114(1)p98-106 Marten K, Shariff K, Psarakos S, White DJ 1996. Ring bubbles of dolphins. Scientific American Aug. 1996. Tayler C K, Saayman G S 1973. Imitative behavior of Indian bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in captivity. Behaviour 44 p286-298. Norris, K 1991. Jody in Dolphin Days: The life and times of the spinner dolphin. (p259-260) W.W. Norton & Company, New York, London Mann J et al. 2000. Cetacean Societies: Field Studies of Dolphins and Whales. The University of Chicaco Press. Chicago. [Check the index under "play", but there are only 5 or 10 sentences about it distributed on about 3 pages.] Delfour F, Aulagnier S 1997. Bubbleblow in beluga whales: a play activity? Beh. Process 40 (2) p183-186 July 1997 Pace, D S 2000. Fluke-made bubble rings as toys in bottlenose dolphin calves (Tursiops truncatus). Aquatic Mammals 26(1):57-64. ORCA INTERACTIONS: Baldridge, A. 1972. Killer whales attack and eat a gray whale. J. Mammalogy 53:898-900. Corkeron, P.J. and R.C. Connor. 1999. Why do baleen whales migrate? Mar. Mam. Sci. 15(4):1228-1245. Cummings, W.C., Fish, J.F. and P.O. Thompson. 1972. Sound production and other behavior of southern right whales, Eubalaena glacialis. San Diego Soc. of Nat. Hist., Transactions, 17: 1-14. Hancock, D. 1965. Killer whales kill and eat a minke whale. J. Mammalogy 46:341-342. Heide-Jorgensen, M. (1988). Occurrence and hunting of killer whales in Greenland. Rit Fiskideildar, 11:115-135. Hoelzel, A.R. 1991. Killer whale predation on marine mammals at Punta Norte, Argentina: food sharing, provisioning and foraging strategy. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 29:197-204. Jefferson, T.A., Stacey, P.J and R.W. Baird. 1991. A review of Killer Whale interactions with other marine mammals: predation to coexistence. Mamm. Rev. 21(4):151-180. Lima, S.L. and L.M. Dill. 1990. Behavioral decissions made under the risk of predation: a review and prospectus. Can. J. Zool. 68:619-640. Lopez, J.C. and D. Lopez. 1985. Killer whales of Patagonia and their behavior of intentional stranding while hunting nearshore. J. Mammal. 66(1):181-183. Mead, T. 1986. Killers of Eden: The Killer Whales of Twofold Bay. Vantage Press, Sydney. Mitchel, E.D. and R.R. Reeves. 1982. Factors affecting abundance of bowhead whales, Balaena msyticetus in the eastern Arctic of North America, 1915-1980. Biol. Cons. 22:59-78. Payne, R. 1995. Among Whales. Scribner Ed., New York. 431pp. Silber, G.K., Newcomer, M.W. and M.H. Perez-Cortes. 1990. Killer whales (Orcinus orca) attack and kill a Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni). Can. J. Zool. 68:1603-1606. Visser, I.N. 1999. A summary of interactions between orca (Orcinus orca) and other cetaceans in New Zealand waters. New Zealand Nat. Sci. 24:101-112. Whitehead, H. and C. Glass. 1985. Orcas (killer whales) attack humbpack whales. J. Mammalogy 66:183-185. -------------- Mariano Sironi Reply to: msironi(\)students.wisc.edu For more information on the southern right whale program in Argentina please visit our website at: http://www.icb.org.ar ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2001 14:26:03 -0500 From: Aldemaro Romero Subject: Reprints available The following reprint is available upon request to Aldemaro Romero at romero(\)macalester.edu Romero, A. & K. Hayford. 2000. Past and present utilization of marine mammals in Grenada. W.I. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 2(3):223-226. A.,Romero: Department of Biology and Environmental Studies Program, Macalester College, 1600 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105-1899, USA. Contact e-mail: romero(\)macalester.edu ABSTRACT The exploitation of marine mammals in Grenada dates back to pre-Columbian times. Whaling ships visited Grenadian waters in the 19th century and during the 1920s there was a short-lived attempt to develop a local, industrial whaling industry. Since then no exploitative interactions between Grenadians and marine mammals have taken place until the 1990s when two whale watching operations were established. Recent developments in Grenada and neighboring islands raise concerns about the resumption of whaling in those waters without proper ecological assessment of the feasibility for such operations. Whale watching operations, including land-based alternatives, are proposed. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2001 16:09:16 -0400 From: Polly or Mel =?iso-8859-1?Q?Cot=E9?= Subject: Re: Center for Coastal Studies Courses In-Reply-To: <200104231812.f3NIC5673378(\)unix5.uvic.ca> The Center for Coastal Studies in cooperation with the University of Massachusets at Dartmouth is offering two intensive courses: Coastal Ecosystems of Cape Cod, and the Biology of Marine Mammals.Coastal Ecosystems is taught by Greg Moore, Associate Scientist at the Center for Coastal Studies, runs from June 3 through June 8. Biology of Marine Mammals is taught by a team of Coastal Study Scientists led by Stormy Mayo and assisted by Moira Brown, Ed Lyman and David Matilla. Registration is through the University Enrollment Center,285 Old Westport Road,University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth,MA 02747-2300 .Phone 508-999-9129. Tuition per 3 credit course will be $445, plus a registration fee of $40 and a lab fee of $22. Room and Board (required)for the Coastal Ecosystems course will be approximately $64 per day. Room only for the Marine Mammals course will be $79 per room per night at the Provincetown Inn. Room registration will be directly through the Inn. For more course information please see www.coastalstudies.org/education/instind.htm For more general education please email cpearl(\)coastalstudies.org or call 508-487-1764. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 11:41:59 -0400 From: Phil Clapham Subject: Killer whale and whale interactions ------ Here are four other references on killer whale/whale interactions: Clapham, P.J. 2001. Why do baleen whales migrate? A response to Corkeron and Connor. Marine Mammal Science 17: 432-436. Dolphin, W.F. 1987. Observations of humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae - killer whale, Orcinus orca, interactions in Alaska: comparison with terrestrial predator-prey relationships. Can. Field Nat. 101: 70-75. Fl=F3rez-Gonz=E1lez, L., Capella, J.J. and Rosenbaum, H.C. 1994. Attack= of killer whales (Orcinus orca) on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) on a South American Pacific breeding ground. Mar. Mammal Sci. 10: 218-222. Whitehead. H.P and Glass, C. 1985. Orcas (killer whales) attack humpback whales. J. Mammal. 66: 183-185. Phil Clapham Mariano Sironi wrote: >=20 > -----------------------------------------------------------------------= ----- > --- > Dear MarMam readers, >=20 > I study juvenile behavior of the Southern Right Whale in Patagonia, > Argentina. Last March 21 I posted a message asking for information and > recent publications on cetacean juvenile behavior and interactions betw= een > orcas and baleen whales. Thanks to all of you who replied to my request. > Here is a summary of the information I received, plus some more citatio= ns > that I added. Any other suggestions and / or new citations to be added = to > the following list will be very welcome! >=20 > Thanks again for your help, >=20 > Mariano Sironi > Reply to: msironi(\)students.wisc.edu >=20 > For more information on the Southern Right Whale Program of the Institu= to > de Conservacion de Ballenas in Argentina please visit our website at: > http://www.icb.org.ar >=20 > --------------------- >=20 > JUVENILE BEHAVIOR: >=20 > "CALF DEVELOPMENT AND MOTHER CALF SPATIAL RELANTIONSHIPS IN SOUTHERN RI= GHT > WHALES" > SARA TABER AND PETER THOMAS, ANIMAL BEHAVIOR, 1982, 30, 1072-1083 >=20 > Thomas, P.O. and S.M. Taber. 1984. Mother-infant interaction and behavi= oral > development in southern right whales, Eubalaena australis. Behaviou= r > 88:42-60. >=20 > Segregation by humpback whale, cows with a calf in coastal habitat near= the > island of Hawaii Smultea (1994) Can. J. Zool. 72:805-811. >=20 > Weinrich et al. (1993). Return and survival of humpback whale (..) cal= ves > born to a single female in three consecutive years. Mar. Mamm. Sci. 9 (= 3): > 325-328. >=20 > Baraff & Weinrich (1993) Separation of humpback whale mothers and calv= es > on a feeding ground on early autumn. Mar. Mamm. Sci., 9(4): 431-434 >=20 > McCowan B et al. 2000 Bubble ring play of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops > truncatus): implications for cognition. Journal of Comparative Psycholo= gy > Vol. 114(1)p98-106 >=20 > Marten K, Shariff K, Psarakos S, White DJ 1996. Ring bubbles of dolphin= s. > Scientific American Aug. 1996. >=20 > Tayler C K, Saayman G S 1973. Imitative behavior of Indian bottlenose > dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in captivity. Behaviour 44 p286-298. >=20 > Norris, K 1991. Jody in Dolphin Days: The life and times of the spinner > dolphin. (p259-260) W.W. Norton & Company, New York, London >=20 > Mann J et al. 2000. Cetacean Societies: Field Studies of Dolphins and > Whales. The University of Chicaco Press. Chicago. [Check the index und= er > "play", but there are only 5 or 10 sentences about it distributed on ab= out > 3 pages.] >=20 > Delfour F, Aulagnier S 1997. Bubbleblow in beluga whales: a play activi= ty? > Beh. Process 40 (2) p183-186 July 1997 >=20 > Pace, D S 2000. Fluke-made bubble rings as toys in bottlenose dolphin > calves (Tursiops truncatus). Aquatic Mammals 26(1):57-64. >=20 > ORCA INTERACTIONS: >=20 > Baldridge, A. 1972. Killer whales attack and eat a gray whale. J. Mamma= logy > 53:898-900. >=20 > Corkeron, P.J. and R.C. Connor. 1999. Why do baleen whales migrate? Mar. > Mam. Sci. 15(4):1228-1245. >=20 > Cummings, W.C., Fish, J.F. and P.O. Thompson. 1972. Sound production an= d > other behavior of southern right whales, Eubalaena glacialis. San Diego > Soc. of Nat. Hist., Transactions, 17: 1-14. >=20 > Hancock, D. 1965. Killer whales kill and eat a minke whale. J. Mammalog= y > 46:341-342. > Heide-Jorgensen, M. (1988). Occurrence and hunting of killer whales in > Greenland. Rit Fiskideildar, 11:115-135. >=20 > Hoelzel, A.R. 1991. Killer whale predation on marine mammals at Punta > Norte, Argentina: food sharing, provisioning and foraging strategy. Beh= av. > Ecol. Sociobiol. 29:197-204. >=20 > Jefferson, T.A., Stacey, P.J and R.W. Baird. 1991. A review of Killer W= hale > interactions with other marine mammals: predation to coexistence. Mamm. > Rev. 21(4):151-180. >=20 > Lima, S.L. and L.M. Dill. 1990. Behavioral decissions made under the ri= sk > of predation: a review and prospectus. Can. J. Zool. 68:619-640. >=20 > Lopez, J.C. and D. Lopez. 1985. Killer whales of Patagonia and their > behavior of intentional stranding while hunting nearshore. J. Mammal. > 66(1):181-183. >=20 > Mead, T. 1986. Killers of Eden: The Killer Whales of Twofold Bay. Vanta= ge > Press, Sydney. >=20 > Mitchel, E.D. and R.R. Reeves. 1982. Factors affecting abundance of bow= head > whales, Balaena msyticetus in the eastern Arctic of North America, > 1915-1980. Biol. Cons. 22:59-78. >=20 > Payne, R. 1995. Among Whales. Scribner Ed., New York. 431pp. >=20 > Silber, G.K., Newcomer, M.W. and M.H. Perez-Cortes. 1990. Killer whales > (Orcinus orca) attack and kill a Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni). Ca= n. > J. Zool. 68:1603-1606. >=20 > Visser, I.N. 1999. A summary of interactions between orca (Orcinus orca= ) > and other cetaceans in New Zealand waters. New Zealand Nat. Sci. 24:101= -112. >=20 > Whitehead, H. and C. Glass. 1985. Orcas (killer whales) attack humbpack > whales. J. Mammalogy 66:183-185. >=20 > -------------- >=20 > Mariano Sironi > Reply to: msironi(\)students.wisc.edu >=20 > For more information on the southern right whale program in Argentina > please visit our website at: > http://www.icb.org.ar >=20 > -----------------------------------------------------------------------= ----- > --- --=20 The Society for Marine Mammalogy will be holding its 14th Biennial Conference from 28 November to 3 December 2001, in Vancouver, BC. Visit the conference Web site at www.smmconference.org for full details of this important meeting. Phillip J. Clapham, Ph.D. Large Whale Biology Program Protected Species Branch Northeast Fisheries Science Center 166 Water Street Woods Hole, MA 02543, U.S.A. tel. 508 495-2316 fax 508 495-2066 email: phillip.clapham(\)noaa.gov ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 10:35:47 -0700 From: Jenifer Hurley Subject: Summer classes:Working with marine mammals and Animal Training To whom it may concern; If you feel it is appropriate, I would appreciate it if you could post the following class listings. Sincerely, Jenifer Hurley, Ph.D. California State University Monterey Bay is offering the following 3 credit one-week intensive, summer courses for individuals interested in pursuing careers in the marine mammal field. Classes will be taught at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories. Successful completion of either course results in the opportunity to pursue a separate 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 (ESSP 395 sec 02, CRN 35004): July 2-8, 2001 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, 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. TECHNIQUES AND THEORIES OF ANIMAL TRAINING (ESSP 395 sec 01, CRN 35003): July 16-22, 2001. This 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. The classes cost $431 each, and they are open for enrollment of any interested person, however no transportation or housing is provided. Enrollment for each class limited to 40. 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. --=====================_5344834==_.ALT To whom it may concern;

If you feel it is appropriate, I would appreciate it if you could post the following class listings.

Sincerely,
Jenifer Hurley, Ph.D.

California State University Monterey Bay is offering the following 3 credit one-week intensive, summer courses for individuals interested in pursuing careers in the marine mammal field. Classes will be taught at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories. Successful completion of either course results in the opportunity to pursue a separate 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 (ESSP 395 sec 02, CRN 35004): July 2-8, 2001 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, 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.

TECHNIQUES AND THEORIES OF ANIMAL TRAINING (ESSP 395 sec 01, CRN 35003): July 16-22, 2001. This 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.

The classes cost $431 each, and they are open for enrollment of any interested person, however no
transportation or housing is provided. Enrollment for each class limited to 40.

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.

--=====================_5344834==_.ALT-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 21:17:44 +0900 From: hiroko wada Subject: Gray whale strandings In-Reply-To: <200104231902.EAA24153(\)mgate14.so-net.ne.jp> Re: Gray whale strandings Recently I read an article related to increased Gray whale strandings on East Pacific in Asahi newspaper, a major newspaper in Japan. In the article, Gray whales were stranded because of starvation and the starvation was a result of increased population of Gray whales that have been protected. Has the cause of the deaths been determined? I thought it hasn't. Hiroko Wada humpback(\)gc4.so-net ne.jp ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2001 17:49:36 -0400 From: Gustafson.John(\)epamail.epa.gov Subject: Re: Oil Spill in Belize Regarding Oil Spill- I phoned the number in the message from Belize and was told that no person is injured or endangered. It was not clear from the response on the phone whether or not the problem has passed To get assistance from outside Belize it is necessary to get an official request sent from the government. Direct assistance from the U.S. usually isn't granted unless there is danger to human health or unless the environmental impact is very great. John Gustafson U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Gustafson.John(\)epa.gov ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2001 22:30:08 +0100 From: Lynda Williams Subject: Acoustics & Marine Wildlife Course: Imperial College boundary="----=_NextPart_000_000C_01C0CDD7.48AC7BA0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_000C_01C0CDD7.48AC7BA0 charset="iso-8859-1" Subscribers might be interested to know that a course in Underwater = Acoustics, Bioacoustics and Marine Wildlife monitoring will take place = at Imperial College London, 2-6 July, 2001. Details can be found at: http://www.seiche.com/ The syllabus includes the following: Introduction=20 Sonar Engineering=20 "Back to Basics": The Physics of Sound Propagation Propagation Modelling=20 Key Quantities, Units and Dimensions=20 Maths-Free Spectral Analysis Signal Conditioning=20 Ambient Noise System Noise=20 Reverberation The "Sonar Equations ElectroAcoustic Transducers Hydrophones Transducer Arrays Seismic Sources Evolution of Hearing Hearing in Crustacea, Chelonians, Fish Crustacea: Sound Generation Fish: Sound Generation Marine Mammals Basic Biology & Physiology Marine Mammal Life Histories Sound Production and Hearing in Marine Mammals -=20 Species Identification by Acoustic and Visual Monitoring: Baleen whales=20 Species Identification by Acoustic and Visual Monitoring: Odontocetes=20 Species Identification by Acoustic and Visual Monitoring: Pinnipeds=20 Interactions with Man-Made Noise=20 Impact of Sound on Marine Biota=20 Relative Acoustic Strength Marine Mammal Strandings=20 Miscellaneous Aspects of BioAcoustics Best regards Lynda ------=_NextPart_000_000C_01C0CDD7.48AC7BA0 charset="iso-8859-1"

Subscribers might be interested to know that a course in Underwater=20 Acoustics, Bioacoustics and Marine Wildlife monitoring will take place = at=20 Imperial College London, 2-6 July, 2001. Details can be found at:

http://www.seiche.com/

 

The syllabus includes the following:

Introduction

Sonar Engineering

"Back to Basics": The Physics of Sound Propagation

Propagation Modelling

Key Quantities, Units and Dimensions

Maths-Free Spectral Analysis

Signal Conditioning

Ambient Noise

System Noise

Reverberation

The "Sonar Equations

ElectroAcoustic Transducers

Hydrophones

Transducer Arrays

Seismic Sources

Evolution of Hearing

Hearing in Crustacea, Chelonians, Fish

Crustacea: Sound Generation

Fish: Sound Generation

Marine Mammals Basic Biology & Physiology

Marine Mammal Life Histories

Sound Production and Hearing in Marine Mammals -

Species Identification by Acoustic and Visual Monitoring: Baleen = whales

Species Identification by Acoustic and Visual Monitoring: Odontocetes =

Species Identification by Acoustic and Visual Monitoring: Pinnipeds =

Interactions with Man-Made Noise

Impact of Sound on Marine Biota

Relative Acoustic Strength

Marine Mammal Strandings

Miscellaneous Aspects of BioAcoustics

 

Best regards

Lynda

------=_NextPart_000_000C_01C0CDD7.48AC7BA0-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 16:24:55 EDT From: Jan Ostman-Lind Subject: Midway and Hawaii Marine Mammal Summer Courses MARINE MAMMAL COURSES IN HAWAII AND ON MIDWAY ATOLL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Announcing three courses on the Biology of Marine Mammals, offered this=20 summer at the University of Hawaii Hilo. Two of the courses, Biology of=20 Marine Mammals (3 credits) and Marine Mammal Field Methods (1 credit), will= =20 be taught during the regular summer session, June 12 - July 20, while the=20 third course, Marine Mammals of Midway Atoll (3 credits) will be taught at=20 Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. Tuition/registration fees are $130/=20 credit for non-residents and $126 for Hawaii residents, with additional cost= s=20 for the Midway course. Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and=20 Wildlife Service. Midway Atoll is one of the most isolated landmasses in th= e=20 world, surrounded by the world=92s northern-most coral reef. There are three= =20 low coral and sand islands in the atoll, with a total landmass of 1,600=20 acres. At least fifteen species of sea birds nest on Midway with estimates o= f=20 up to 1.1 million birds. The atoll is the home of the largest nesting colony= =20 of Laysan Albatross and the second largest colony of Black-Footed Albatross=20 in the world.=20 The marine mammal course will focus on two important species found on=20 Midway. There is a breeding population of endangered monk seals and a=20 population of spinner dolphins that come into the shallow waters of Midway=20 lagoon to rest on a daily basis. Both species are the subject of long term=20 studies. =20 The first two courses are highly recommended as a background for the=20 Midway course. All three courses will be co-taught by Dr. Jan =D6stman-Lind= =20 and Ms. Ania Driscoll-Lind. The full descriptions for all three courses are= =20 provided below. For more information on these and other courses during the UH Hilo Summe= r=20 Session, and to register, contact the Program Director, Corinne L. Tamashiro, Program Coordinator University of Hawaii at Hilo, Continuing Education & Summer Session 200 W. Kawili Street, SSB 117 Hilo, HI 96720-4091 Phone: (808) 974-7664 email: corinne(\)hawaii.edu Fax: (808) 974-7691 or go to the UH Hilo website: URL (summer catalog): http://www.uhh.hawaii.edu/catalog/ URL (summer schedule): http:www.uhh.hawaii.edu/forms/summer.html URL (marine): http://www.kmec.uhh.hawaii.edu MARINE MAMMAL COURSES OFFERED FOR THE 2001 SUMMER SESSION AT UNIVERSITY OF=20 HAWAII HILO=20 MARE 394G, MARINE MAMMALS OF MIDWAY ATOLL, 3 CREDITS A two-week intensive course, taught on Midway, focusing on the marine mammal= s=20 of the Hawaiian Islands. Initially the course will focus on pinnipeds (seals= =20 and sea lions) with a special emphasis on Hawaiian monk seals. Next the=20 course focuses on cetaceans with a special emphasis on Hawaiian spinner=20 dolphins. This upper division course is designed for students with a=20 background in college level biology. The course will cover topics such as=20 evolution, anatomy, physiology, ecology, behavior, acoustics, research=20 methods and human impacts on marine m mammals. Students will also be=20 responsible for leading a discussion on some of the reading materials, for=20 keeping a field journal and for a short final presentation on a topic of=20 interest. Prerequisites: College level biology course. Cost: $534.80 airfare= =20 (roundtrip Honolulu-Midway) plus $920 for meals, shared room, snorkel trips=20 and refuge fee, plus tuition for 3 credits. *Sec 1, Ania Driscoll-Lind & Jan Ostman-Lind, July 21-August 4, all day,=20 Midway Atoll MARE 394M, BIOLOGY OF MARINE MAMMALS, 3 CREDITS This course will cover a wide range of topics relating to both pinnipeds=20 (seals, sea lions and walruses) and cetaceans (whales, dolphins and=20 porpoises), including taxonomy, distribution, genetics, physiology, social=20 organization, social behavior, acoustics, and oceanographic topics pertainin= g=20 to marine mammals. Students will learn to identify all species of cetaceans=20 and pinnipeds with particular emphasis on the marine mammals found in=20 Hawaiian waters. Prerequisites: College level biology course. *Sec 1, Jan Ostman-Lind, MTRF, 8-9:50 am, June 12-July 20, LS 22 MARE 394N, MARINE MAMMALS FIELD METHODS, 1 CREDIT This course will cover a variety of field methods used to study marine=20 mammals. Students will practice several different data collection methods on= =20 both wild and captive marine mammals. Students are required to choose a=20 research topic and write a research proposal specifying the questions to be=20 answered, the hypotheses to be tested, data collection methods and how data=20 will be analyzed. Field trips will observe a variety of marine mammals in th= e=20 field and captivity. Prerequisites: College level biology course and=20 concurrent registration in Mare 394M. $150 lab fee payable upon registration= . *Sec 1, Jan Ostman-Lind, Tues, 1-5 pm, June 12-July 17, LS 1 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 02:39:33 -0700 From: dennis kelly Subject: USC/Santa Catalina Marine Lab Beginning Level Marine Mammal Class Offered, June 24 to June 30, 2001 --0-2076670531-988277973=:24837 Posted by Professor Dennis Kelly, Marine Science Department, Orange Coast College, 2701 Fairview Rd., Costa Mesa, CA. 92628, email- dkelly(\)occ.cccd.edu, phone- 714-432-5564. An exciting and highly informative Beginning-level class on Marine Mammals and the study of these fascinating creatures will be offered this summer at the U.S.C. Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies at Santa Catalina Island. This non-credit class will be taught by Professor Dennis Kelly of the Orange Coast College Marine Science Department and the Director of the Coastal Dolphin Survey Project. The class will start June 24 and last until June 30, 2001. The class will include lectures, lab studies, reading assignments, field trips (ocean cruises and visits to other marine mammal sites on the island), individual student projects, and much more. The class is for college students and adults 18 years and older. The cost of the class is $600 and does not include lodging, food, or transportation to and from Los Angeles and the Southern California Marine Institute in San Pedro Harbor (where the students and professor will leave from June 24 (and return to June 30)by research vessel for the short cruise to the marine lab). The cost does include lodging at the marine lab (shared dorm rooms), all food, lectures, handouts, transportation on Santa Catalina Island, lab activities, and research cruise). Opportunities for snorkling, kayaking, and hiking are also possible during the one week class. To view a power point presentation on last summers class visit Professor Kelly's website at: http://www.occ.cccd.edu/departments/dolphin/CDSP.html and scroll down to Wrigley728.00ppt and double click, it will take a minute or two to download based on your computers memory! To sign up for the class contact: Ann Close, Program Manager, USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies, AHF 232, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0371, email - close(\)wrigley.usc.edu, tel-213-740-6705 For additional information about the contents of the class contact: Professor Dennis Kelly at the email address or phone number or college address at the top of this message. --------------------------------- Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices --0-2076670531-988277973=:24837

Posted by Professor Dennis Kelly, Marine Science Department, Orange Coast College, 2701 Fairview Rd., Costa Mesa, CA. 92628, email- dkelly(\)occ.cccd.edu, phone- 714-432-5564.

An exciting and highly informative Beginning-level class on Marine Mammals and the study of these fascinating creatures will be offered this summer at the U.S.C. Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies at Santa Catalina Island.

This non-credit class will be taught by Professor Dennis Kelly of the Orange Coast College Marine Science Department and the Director of the Coastal Dolphin Survey Project.

The class will start June 24 and last until June 30, 2001. The class will include lectures, lab studies, reading assignments, field trips (ocean cruises and visits to other marine mammal sites on the island), individual student projects, and much more. The class is for college students and adults 18 years and older.

The cost of the class is $600 and does not include lodging, food, or transportation to and from Los Angeles and the Southern California Marine Institute in San Pedro Harbor (where the students and professor will leave from June 24 (and return to June 30)by research vessel for the short cruise to the marine lab). The cost does include lodging at the marine lab (shared dorm rooms), all food, lectures, handouts, transportation on Santa Catalina Island, lab activities, and research cruise). Opportunities for snorkling, kayaking, and hiking are also possible during the one week class.

To view a power point presentation on last summers class visit Professor Kelly's website at: http://www.occ.cccd.edu/departments/dolphin/CDSP.html and scroll down to Wrigley728.00ppt and double click, it will take a minute or two to download based on your computers memory!

To sign up for the class contact: Ann Close, Program Manager, USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies, AHF 232, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0371, email - close(\)wrigley.usc.edu, tel-213-740-6705

For additional information about the contents of the class contact: Professor Dennis Kelly at the email address or phone number or college address at the top of this message.


Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices --0-2076670531-988277973=:24837-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 27 Apr 0101 05:57:09 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Carrying capacity of marine areas (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Richard Hall Dear Marmam. We are having problems gathering information on a marine management issue and I hope you may able to assist A quick background. I manage the Shark Bay Marine Park here in West Australia. This is a multiple use MPA that covers about 881 000 hectares. The entire area is managed by the Dept of Conservation and Land Management and is listed as a World Heritage Site. We also manage Marine Mammal populations across State waters. All commercial operations within the park are required to be licensed by ourselves. If an operator wishes to interact with marine mammals they require a further marine mammal interaction licence. To date these licences have been issued as people have come forward to request one. Provided they meet the fairly straight forward requirements (surveyed vessels, insurance requirements, skippers tickets etc) This has led to an increasing number of both commercial and interaction permits being issued. We have become concerned about the number of licences and potential number of operators this means can operate in the bay. Our concerns cover not only marine mammal interactions but additionally impacts on seagrass beds, coral and water quality. We are looking at evaluating and then placing a limit on the number of operators in the Marine Park. We have looked at the Limits of Acceptable Change model but have not been able to find any examples of this or other systems being implemented to manage operators and interactions. Most controls in the past seem to have been along the lines of capping at existing levels. There is some valuable research being undertaken in the Shark Bay area by Lars Bejder, whom some of you may know, on the effects of vessel interaction. This will be ideal to feed into such a model but we require a model to begin with. Coming to my questions, How do other agencies manage licensing? How do they manage marine mammal interaction operators? What systems are used to place limits on numbers of operators, if any, and how these were derived. What sort of commercial operator controls do you have in your marine areas? I wil post a summary of replies and our intentions once we get that stage. Thank you for your asistance. Regards, Richard Hall Marine Reserves Officer Shark Bay District Dept. Conservation & Land Management Western Australia Phone 99481 208 Fax 99481 024 ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001 04:17:05 -0000 From: Marielle Bonnet Subject: Release of virtually impaired pinnipeds Our rehabilitation center is considering bilateral cataract surgery on a ten month old Harbour Seal pup, with the goal of release to the wild. As an orphaned neonate, the severely dehydrated pup was probably admitted with normal vision, but soon developed cataract. She now appears to be totally blind but has good pupil response to light and dark. After surgery and an adequate recovery period, the plan is to test her in the pool with live fish, followed by radio tagging and release. We are interested in any input or opinions regarding the release of visually impaired pinnipeds. Thank you. Sincerely, Marielle Bonnet, DVM mariellebonnet98(\)hotmail.com Island Wildlife Natural Care Centre, B.C. www.sealrescue.org _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 09:51:44 -0700 Reply-To: megillw(\)cerf.bc.ca From: William Megill Subject: grey whale jobs Hi ! Three marine mammal jobs. Closing date 15 May 2001. Sorry for the short notice. Funding restricted to British Columbia residents only. Information on the company, its research, training and other employment possibilities is available on the web at http://cerf.bc.ca/index2.asp. Cheers, William _________________________________ Field Crew Supervisor The Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation has an opening for a Field Crew Supervisor to work with its grey whale research team on the Central Coast of British Columbia, Canada. Reporting directly to the Director of Research, the individual will be responsible for coordinating the activities of 5 undergraduate staff and up to 10 volunteers on a study of grey whale abundance, habitat use and optimal foraging. Research platforms include several boats and three shore stations. An Operations Manager and Boat Safety Officer, both with experience in the company, will report to the Supervisor. Accomodation is in a wilderness camp, some three hours by boat north of Port Hardy, BC. Applicants should have completed a BSc in Marine Biology or Ecology, and have some experience in the field, preferably with marine mammals. Boat and/or diving experience is an asset. Applicants with management and/or ecotourism experience will be considered first. Pay is $600 CAD per week, less $60 / week in food & camp costs. Applicants will have to be available June 4th to September 9th, 2001. Funding for this position is being provided by the British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks through their Environment Youth Team programme, and is hence limited to residents of British Columbia. Closing date: 15 May 2001. Application procedure outlined below. Research Assistant(s) The Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation has two openings for Research Assistants to work on grey whale abundance, habitat use and optimal foraging this summer. The individuals will use photo-identification, suction-cup tagging, and theodolite tracking to study the animals' movements throughout our study area. Work will be conducted from boats and from shore stations. Accomodation is in a wilderness camp, some three hours by boat north of Port Hardy, BC. Applicants should have completed, or be entering their last year of, a BSc in Marine Biology or Ecology, and have some experience in the field, preferably with marine mammals. Boat and/or diving experience is an asset. Applicants with ecotourism experience will be considered first. Pay is $320 CAD per week, less $60 / week in food & camp costs. Applicants will have to be available June 4th to September 9th, 2001. Funding for this position is being provided by the British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks through their Environment Youth Team programme, and is hence limited to residents of British Columbia, aged 16-24. Closing date: 15 May 2001. Application procedure outlined below. Application procedure Send a resume and cover letter, along with 2 letters of reference to the address below. Emailed documents should be in MS Word or Adobe Acrobat format. Human Resources Dept. Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation 2648 Tennis Cr. Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 2E1 Fax: (815) 327-0183 Email: research(\)cerf.bc.ca _________________ William Megill Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation megillw(\)cerf.bc.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 1 May 2001 12:08:31 +1000 From: Milena Rafic Subject: Guidelines for interactions bw seismic operations and whales Environment Australia, the Australian Federal Department of the Environment, has released for comment draft guidelines for interactions between offshore seismic operations and whales. The guidelines can be found at: http://www.environment.gov.au/marine/species/cetaceans/index.htm The purpose of these Guidelines is to assist proponents of offshore seismic operations address certain of their obligations under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 relevant to interactions with whales or large cetaceans. Public comments are requested by 30 June and should be addressed to Tony Bigwood, Director, Marine Species Section, Environment Australia. Written comments should be sent to Mr Bigwood c/o the address listed below and email comments to tony.bigwood(\)ea.gov.au Regards Milena Rafic Marine Species Section Marine and Water Division Environment Australia GPO Box 787 CANBERRA ACT 2601 Ph: +61 2 6274 2790 Fax: +61 2 6274 1006 Email: milena.rafic(\)ea.gov.au ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001 17:41:32 -0400 From: "Michael A. Rivlin" Subject: Nonylphenols, phthalates redux In-Reply-To: <200104292103.f3TL3di29121(\)mx10-rwc.mail.home.com> Listers, I'm in the final stages of writing a feature story on endocrine disruptors in the marine environment. For the purposes of this story, that does not include estuarine waters. Once again, I would ask anyone who has been studying the levels of phthalates or nonylphenols in marine species, including cetaceans, pinnipeds, polar bears, or avifauna, to please get in touch offlist. And if you by chance have work in progress or about to be published that clearly demonstrates a population-wide effect of EDs on seals or whales, I'd greatly appreciate hearing from you. Thank you. Michael Rivlin ***************************************************************************** Michael A. Rivlin Independent Journalist Senior Correspondent, Amicus Journal 321 Shore Drive, Suite 6 Highlands, NJ 07732 Voice: 732.708.0982 Fax: 732.708.0973 Email: mailto:mrivlin(\)home.com Amicus online: http://www.nrdc.org/amicus EJournal: http://www.topica.com/lists/ejournal Opinions expressed in this message are strictly my own, and do not necessarily represent those of Amicus Journal or its publisher. ***************************************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 12:57:10 -0700 From: Ellen Hines Subject: registration form for Geomatics workshop The registration form for the workshop: The Use of Geomatic Technologies for Marine Mammal Scientists is linked to: http://office.geog.uvic.ca/dept/whale/wrlmp.html Further information will be posted through that web site and announced on marmam. Thanks, 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: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 11:08:09 -0300 From: jubarte Subject: Brazilian humpback whales and barges traffic Dear All, We recently posted a request on MARMAM asking for information on devices, which would locate whales therefore avoiding vessels collision. Also we asked for suggestions on how monitor barges traffic in areas where whales concentrate. We received many messages and they were of great help. We would like to thank all those who had answered. Accordingly with the replies we received, there isn't an effective and safe device for this purpose. However the barges navigation speed is an important subject to be consider. We're discussing with the Cellulose transportation company a project to monitor the traffic in the area before it starts and during the operations. We are planning to have observers on board the barges and to receive support to do boat and aerial surveys, in order to determine the preferential area of cetaceans in their route (distance of the coast, bathymetry, geographic position, etc) aiming to establish the less impactant route. Some acoustic surveys are also being planned. Projeto Baleia Jubarte / Brazil jubarte(\)tdf.com.br ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 2 May 2001 21:36:21 -0400 From: Lori Marino Subject: New paper on bottlenose dolphin mirror self recognition Dear colleagues, I would like to let you know about a new paper Diana Reiss and I have recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences entitled Mirror self-recognition in the bottlenose dolphin: A case of cognitive convergence. Our paper was published on-line on May 1 and will be appearing in printed version of PNAS on May 8. The abstract is below: Mirror self-recognition (MSR) is an exceedingly rare capacity in the animal kingdom. To date, only humans and great apes have shown convincing evidence of MSR. In this study we present the first conclusive evidence for self-recognition outside of the primate domain in a species phylogenetically distant and neuroanatomically different from primates, the bottlenose dolphin. Two dolphins was exposed to reflective surfaces under conditions of control, sham-mark and marking of the body. Analysis included measures of frequency, duration, and latencies of behaviors under different experimental conditions. Behaviors were categorized as either mark-directed or not. Results demonstrate that both subjects are capable of using a mirror to investigate parts of their own body. These results indicate that bottlenose dolphins possess the capacity for self-recognition. These findings provide a striking example of evolutionary convergence in cognitive capacity. We do not yet have reprints but you may download a pdf version of the entire paper from the PNAS Early Edition Web Site: http://www.pnas.org/papbyrecent.shtml You will also be able to access three video clips of the dolphins in this study from this site. Thanks. Lori Marino lmarino(\)emory.edu -- Lori Marino, Ph.D. Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology Program Psychology Building Emory University Atlanta, Georgia 30322 (404) 727-7582 Fax: (404) 727-0372 WEB SITES: http://www.emory.edu/LIVING_LINKS/i/people/marino.html http://www.emory.edu/COLLEGE/NBB/FACULTY/research.html#Marino ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 3 May 2001 15:42:41 +0100 From: Eduard Degollada Subject: Kogia stranded alive Dear List, We are urgently looking for help. Two days ago a 1.9m female Kogia breviceps stranded alive in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands. The animal was transported to the University of Las Palmas de Gan Canaria recovery facilities where she has been kept since then in a relatively small pool (diameter 5m and depth 1,5m). Rehidratation was performed and antibiotics were given. The hematological analysis (hemogram and biochemistry) are not giving clues for a diagnostic. Cultures and cytologies are on their way but yet without any results. Force feeding was started aprox. 24h after stranding with a melted mixture of squids and serum/vitamin enriched water. The animal accepts the force-feeding (tube) and seems to get better and stronger. Her breath is regular and she is swimming fairly well regarding the pool size. We need any information available on the recovery and the rehabilitation of this species. Besides hematological parameters and constants, we are looking for information on general procedures for the rehab. Feeding quantities and frequencies, diet, space, introduction to live prey, minimum time for rehab., considerations for release, etc. We are more than willing to explain full and detailed protocols already carried out to anybody interested. Eduard Degollada, DVM, PhD Michel Andre, PhD Manolo Arbelo, DVM Marine Mammal Conservation Research Unit Department of Morphology, School of Veterinary Medicine University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Trasmontana, 35416 Arucas Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain Tl. 34630038829-34616091558-34928451103. email: uicmm(\)sinf.ulpgc.es ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 11:37:21 -0700 Reply-To: czmbze(\)btl.net From: CZMA & I Organization: CZMA & I Subject: Oil Spill in Belize Report on the Oil Spill in Quamina Creek, Belize April 26, 2001 We have been receiving many enquiries and comments regarding the oil spil= l near one of the most critical=20 manatee habitats in Belize, the Southern Lagoon. Here are the facts known= to the Coastal Zone=20 Management Authority and Institute, with information gathered from the Go= vernment Department with=20 the legislative responsibility for environmental protection, the Departme= nt of the Environment (DOE),=20 Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment.=20 =D8 The oil spill occurred late in the night of Friday, 30th March 2001 a= nd was not reported until 12 hours=20 later. The DOE Personnel was on the scene within two hours of the report. o A truck with two tanks containing Bunker-C oil (approximately 7,500 gal= lon each), on the=20 Coastal Highway en route to the Citrus Company of Belize ran off the brid= ge near Mile 26=20 Coastal Highway. During the accident, one of the tanks was ruptured and s= pilled=20 approximately 6,000 gallons of oil into Quamina Creek, at approximately 2= km south of its=20 mouth that leads into the Southern Lagoon. =20 =D8 Containment and clean-up activities commenced on Saturday, 31st March= 2001, spearheaded by=20 DOE.=20 o Special synthetic absorbent materials were used to create two containme= nt booms along the=20 furthest point that oil had been observed in the creek, to prevent furthe= r movement down=20 stream. =D8 No oil has been detected beyond the containment booms nor has any oil= reached the Southern=20 Lagoon. =D8 Wildlife in the area was not noticeably harmed by the spill (one fish= and one shrimp were found=20 dead). A few crabs were seen covered in oil and some of them were cleane= d (those that could be=20 caught). =D8 The water supply for the Gales Point Village was turned off upon know= ledge of the spill, and turned=20 back on within four days of the spill. During the period that the water = system was turned off water=20 was trucked in from another source (Belize City). =D8 The Department of the Environment will issue the =93all clear=94 when= the final traces of oil (slick) are=20 removed from the accident site. It is anticipated that the entire creek w= ill be devoid of oil traces by=20 the April 30. =20 =D8 Contaminated debris was disposed of by burning in dug out pits create= d at the cleanup site. The oil=20 collected was stored in drums and transported away from the site for fina= l disposal. =D8 Areas cleared for access during the clean up stage, will be revegetat= ed to prevent erosion of the=20 banks of the creek. The DOE will monitor the site after the =93all clear=94 is issued. The t= wo containment booms will be left in=20 place for approximately six weeks and monitored on a weekly basis to ensu= re that no traces of oil remain=20 in the creek. ********************************************* Coastal Zone Management Institute 8 St. Mark Street=20 P.O. Box 1884 Belize City, Belize Central America czmbze(\)btl.net tel 501-2-30719 501-2-35739 502-3-32616 fax: 501-2-35738 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 3 May 2001 20:58:32 +0200 From: Michael Scheer Subject: single vessel-based hydrophone recording installation Dear MARMAMers, we want to record groups of free-ranging large delphinids from a small 8-10m engine-powered vessel. We want to record in a depth of about 30m using a simple, high-quality hydrophone combined with a DAT as the recording equipment. Due to our experience during earlier recording sessions with cetaceans we faced several problems and want to ask the scientific community for any helpfull advice. First, we have to solve the problem of sound impacts resulting from cable noise (cable is having contact with the vessel railing, and sound impact is increasing with increasing Beaufort state). All of those dealing with acoustic recording offshore will know this problem. Is there any installation technique (we are aware of floaters but find them quite impractical; maybe there is a more elegant method) enabling a fast equipment installation (keeping in mind that the recording reality for certain behavioral contexts is like: lower the hydrophone for some minutes, get it back on the boat, follow and re-approach the group, lower again.......), plus eliminating cable noise? Is there any system which can be installed on top of the railing keeping the distance between the vessel and the point where the cable enters the water? Something like a fishing rod? We would be glad about any helpfull advice, especially on simple and cheap systems. Please reply to mscheer(\)uni-bremen.de. Thanks in advance. Behr, Hofmann und Scheer GbR; Project e.a.s.i. Cetacean Field Studies Am Wall 69/70; 28195 Bremen, Germany Phone: +49/421/731 87; Fax: +49/421/764 82 email: mscheer(\)uni-bremen.de ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 7 May 2001 07:17:42 -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. Buchholtz, E.A. 2001. Vertebral osteology and swimming style in living and fossil whales (Order: Cetacea). Journal of Zoology 253(2): 175-190. Skaare, J.U. et al. 2001. Relationships between plasma levels of organochlorines, retinol and thryroid hormones from polar bears (Ursus maritimus) at Svalbard. J. Eoxicol. Environ. Health Part A 62(4): 227-241. Elson-Riggins, J.G. et al. 2001. Characterization of Otostrongylus circumlitus from Pacific harbor and northern elephant seals. Journal of Parasitology 87(1): 73-78. Carretta, J.V. et al. 2001. Abundance and depth distribution of harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in northern California determined from a 1995 ship survey. Fishery Bulletin 99(1): 29-39. Mignucci-Giannoni, A.A. and D.K. Odell. 2001. Tropical and subtropical records of hooded seals (Cytophora cristata) dispel the myth of extant Caribbean monk seals (Monachus tropicalis). Bulletin of Marine Science 68(1): 47-58. Yurk, H. and A.W. Trites. 2000. Experimental attempts to reduce predation by harbor seals on out-migrating juvenile salmonids. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 129(6): 1360-1366. Yoshida, H. et al. 2001. Population structure of finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) in coastal waters of Japan based on mitochondrial DNA sequences. Journal of Mammalogy 82(1): 123-130. Gjertz, I. et al. 2001. Distribution and diving of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in Svalbard. Polar Biology 24(3): 209-214. Noren, S.R. 2001. The development of diving in mairne endotherms: preparing the skeletal muscles of dolphins, penguins, and seals for activity during submergence. J. Comp. Physiol. B. Biochem. Syst. Environ. Physiol. 171(2): 127-134. Smith, T.G. 2001. Observations of neonate ringed seals, (Phoca hispida) after early break-up of the sea ice in Prince Albert Sound, Northwest Territories, Canada, Spring 1998. Polar Biology 24(3): 215-219. Clua, E. and F. Grosvalet. 2001. Mixed-species feeding aggreagtion of do lphins, large tunas and seabirds in the Azores. Aquatic Living Resources 14(1): 11-18. Kunnasranta, M. et al. 2001. Breeding habitat and lair structure of the ringed seal (Phoca hispida ladogensis) in northern Lake Ladoga in Russia. Polar Biology 24(3): 171-174. Connor, R.C. et al. 2001. Complex social structure, alliance stability and mating access in a bottlenose dolphin "super-alliance". Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Biological Sciences 268(1464): 263-267. Insley, S.J. 2001. Mother-offspring vocal recognition in northern fur seals is mutual but asymmetrical. Animal Behavior 61(1): 129-137. Hoelzel, A.R. et al. 2001. Genetic and morphometric differentiation between island and mainland southern elephant seal populations. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Biological Sciences 268(1464): 325-332. Storeheier, P.V. and E.S. Norday. 2001. Physiological effects of seawater intake in adult harp seals during phase I of fasting. Comp. Biochem. Phy siol. A Mol. Integr. Physiol. 128(20); 307-315. Palacios, D.M., K.A. Forney, and G.C. Feldman. 2001. Featured contribution in "The Ocean Color Spectrum". Backscatter (Alliance for Marine Remote Sensing), 12(1):31-33.PDF preprint downloadable at: http://osu.orst.edu/~palaciod/ocs01.pdf Klimey, Ap. et al. 2001. Radio-acoustic positioning as a tool for studying site-specific behavior of the white shark and other large marine species. Marine Biology 138(2): 429-446. Lesage, V. et al. 2001. Marine mammals and the community structure of the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada: Evidence from stable isotope analysis. Marine Ecology Progress Series 210: 203-221. Nyman, M. et al. 2001. Characterization of xenobiotic-metabolizing cytochrome P450 (CYP) forms in ringed and grey seals from the Baltic Sea and reference sites. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. C. Pharmacol. Toxicol. Endrocrinol. 128(1): 99-112. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 7 May 2001 14:04:47 -0600 From: Canadian Circumpolar Institute Subject: New Publication NEW BOOK Toward a Sustainable Whaling Regime, edited by Robert L. Friedheim (University of Washington Press and CCI Press, 2001) examines the international management of whales and whaling, centering upon conflict within the current international whaling regime. A preface by former US Commissioner to the IWC, John A. Knauss, is followed by eleven essays: "The IWC as a contested regime" (R.L. Friedheim); "A New Whaling Agreement and International Law" (W.T. Burke); "Whales, the IWC, and the Rule of Law" (J.L. Jacobson); "Science and the IWC" (W. Aron); "Is Money the Root of the Problem? Cultural Conflict in the IWC" (M.M.R. Freeman); "Food Security, Food Hegemony, and Charismatic Animals" (R.L. Barsh); "Distorting Global Governance: Membership, Voting, and the IWC" (E. DeSombre); "Negotiating in the IWC Environment" (R.L. Friedheim); "The Whaling Regime: "Good" Institutions but "Bad" Politics?" (S. Andresen); "Summing Up: Whaling and its Critics" (C.D. Stone); "Whaling Sausage: Why the Whaling Regime does not Need to be Fixed" (D.G. Victor); "Fixing the Whaling Regime: A Proposal" (R.L. Friedheim). ISBN 1-896445-18-7 for Canadian and INWR Digest subscribers, Can$40 (hardcover). CCI PRESS RTF BLDG. ROOM 3073 University OF ALBERTA EDMONTON ALBERTA T6G 2V2 CANADA PH. (780) 492-4512 FAX (780) 492-1153 EMAIL:ccinst(\)gpu.srv.ualberta.ca ISBN 0-295-98088 for US and international customers, US$35; University of Washington Press PO Box 50096 Seattle WA 98145-5096 USA Ph.1-800-441 4115 EMAIL:uwprod(\)u.washington.edu Information provided by CCI Press. CCI PRESS RTF Building Room 3073 University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2V2 CANADA Email: ccinst(\)gpu.srv.ualberta.ca Cindy Mason CCI PRESS Book Distribution RTF Building 8308 114 Street University of Alberta Edmonton ALberta T6G 2E1 Phone (780) 492-4512 FAX (780) 492-1153 email cindy.mason(\)ualberta.ca ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 7 May 2001 12:50:18 -0700 Reply-To: info(\)cerf.bc.ca From: Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation Subject: volunteer research assistants required Hi ! Not as well paid as the previous two jobs we posted, but these at least are open to everybody, and not limited to BC residents. Cheers, William Volunteer Research Assistants The Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation has two openings for Volunteer Research Assistants to work on grey and humpback whale abundance, habitat use and optimal foraging this summer. The individuals will use photo-identification, suction-cup tagging, and theodolite tracking to study the animals' movements throughout our study area. They will be working with eco-tourists, ensuring that data is collected consistently and well. Work will be conducted from boats and from shore stations. Accomodation is in a wilderness camp, some three hours by boat north of Port Hardy, BC. Applicants should have completed at least the second year of a BSc in Marine Biology or Ecology, and have some experience in the field, preferably with marine mammals. Boat and/or diving experience is an asset. Applicants with ecotourism experience will be considered first. Food and camp costs will be provided - successful applicants will have to bring their own tents and make their own way to Port Hardy. Applicants will have to be available June 4th to September 9th, 2001. Tuition credits for BC universities may be available to qualified BC residents, aged 16-24. This position is open to citizens and residents of any country, but Canadian Immigration rules do require us to consider Canadian residents first. Closing date: 22 May 2001. To apply, send a resume and cover letter to the address below (email is easiest), along with the names & emails of three references. We will only be contacting the applicants we decide to interview. Human Resources Department Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation 2648 Tennis Cr. Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 2E1 email: info(\)cerf.bc.ca fax: (815) 327-0183 ______________________ William Megill Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation info(\)cerf.bc.ca ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 7 May 2001 18:53:17 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Pinnipeds in harbours (fwd) Hi all! Just a short message to ask for some information about pinnipeds established in harbours. Since several years ago I have been monitoring Southern Sea Lion colonies in northern Argentina, where quite big and stable colonies (100-600 animals) are located inside fishery harbours. It seems to be quite common to find seals inside ports, and I would like to know about reports/papers from other species and areas. I"ll also appreciate if there is anyone working with similar colonies to share experiences and information. Thank you in advance for your attention! Diego Rodriguez (dhrodri(\)mdp.edu.ar) ____________________________________________ 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 www.mdp.edu.ar/exactas/csmarinas ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 8 May 2001 07:40:21 -0500 From: Aldemaro Romero Subject: Reprints available Content-type: multipart/alternative; A limited number of reprints of the following paper are available: Romero, A.; A.I. Agudo, S.M. Green & G. Notarbartolo di Sciara. 2001. Cetaceans of Venezuela: Their Distribution and Conservation Status. NOAA Technical Reports NMFS 151:1-60. Sighting, stranding, and capture records of whales and dolphins for Venezuela were assembled and analyzed to document the Venezuelan cetacean fauna and its distribution in the eastern Caribbean. An attempt was made to confirm species identification for each of the records, yielding 443 that encompass 21 species of cetaceans now confirmed to occur in Venezuelan marine, estuarine, and freshwater habitats. For each species, we report its global and local distribution, conservation status and threats, and the common names used along with our proposal for a Spanish common name. Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni) is the most commonly reported mysticete. The long-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus capensis) is the most frequent of the odontocetes in marine waters. The boto or tonina (Inia geoffrensis) was found to be ubiquitous in the Orinoco watershed. The distribution of marine records is consistent with the pattern of productivity of Venezuelan marine waters, i.e., a concentration at 63o 07' W through 65o 26' W with records declining to the east and to the west. An examination of the records for all cetaceans in the Caribbean leads us to conclude that seven additional species may be present in Venezuelan waters. Request should be made to: Aldemaro Romero Environmental Studies Program and Department of Biology Macalester College 1600 Grand Ave., St. Paul MN 55105-1899, USA romero(\)macalester.edu http://www.macalester.edu/~envirost/romeropursuits.htm --=====================_1005106==_.ALT A limited number of reprints of the following paper are available:

Romero, A.; A.I. Agudo, S.M. Green & G. Notarbartolo di Sciara. 2001. Cetaceans of Venezuela: Their Distribution and Conservation Status.  NOAA Technical Reports NMFS 151:1-60.

Sighting, stranding, and capture records of whales and dolphins for Venezuela were assembled and analyzed to document the Venezuelan cetacean fauna and its distribution in the eastern Caribbean.  An attempt was made to confirm species identification for each of the records, yielding 443 that encompass 21 species of cetaceans now confirmed to occur in Venezuelan marine, estuarine, and freshwater habitats.  For each species, we report its global and local distribution, conservation status and threats, and the common names used along with our proposal for a Spanish common name.  Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni) is the most commonly reported mysticete.  The long-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus capensis) is the most frequent of the odontocetes in marine waters.  The boto or tonina (Inia geoffrensis) was found to be ubiquitous in the Orinoco watershed.  The distribution of marine records is consistent with the pattern of productivity of Venezuelan marine waters, i.e., a concentration at 63o  07' W through 65o 26' W with records declining to the east and to the west.  An examination of the records for all cetaceans in the Caribbean leads us to conclude that seven additional species may be present in Venezuelan waters.

Request should be made to:

Aldemaro Romero
Environmental Studies Program and Department of Biology
Macalester College
1600 Grand Ave.,
St. Paul MN 55105-1899, USA
romero(\)macalester.edu
http://www.macalester.edu/~envirost/romeropursuits.<= a href=3D"http://www.macalester.edu/~envirost/romeropursuits.htm"= eudora=3D"autourl">htm
=00 --=====================_1005106==_.ALT-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 8 May 2001 14:24:51 -0300 From: Karina Groch Subject: New paper on gull harassment on right whales in Brazil boundary="----=_NextPart_000_013F_01C0D7CA.A48948C0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_013F_01C0D7CA.A48948C0 charset="iso-8859-1" Dear all, I would like to let you know about a new paper: Groch 2001. Cases of harassment by kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus) on = right whales (Eubalaena australis) of Southern Brazil. Biotemas, 14(1): = 147-156.=20 Kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus), a very common and widespread species of = seabird in the Southern Hemisphere, were observed picking pieces of = sloughed skin from a southern right whale's (Eubalaena australis) back. = When attacked by these birds, whales reacted violently by arching the = back, raising the head and tail, and submerged quickly, swimming away = under water. Two episodes of kelp gull harassment on right whales were = observed during part of an ongoing study of the distribution and = behavior of the Brazilian right whale population on its nursery ground = along the southern coast of Santa Catarina State. The first episode of = harassment occurred on August 31 1998 at Rosa Beach. The behavior of a = mother-calf pair was recorded during 4 hours of observation on the day = when the gull harassment took place, and on five subsequent days. During = all subsequent observations, the behavior of the pair followed the same = pattern recorded in the first period of observation during the day of = the attack, and no other gull attack was observed. On September 03 2000 = a second episode of mother-calf harassment by kelp gulls was observed at = Garopaba Beach. This pair displayed the same response to the gull attack = as the first one observed in 1998. Any potential source of harassment, = even a rare event such as the gull attack reported here, may impact on = the recovery of this population. The continuing study of this population = is necessary to monitor the long-term effect and potential increase in = the frequency of these attacks. Thanks, Karina R. Groch Biologist, Brazilian Right Whale Project,=20 Projeto Baleia Franca - IWC/ Brasil www.via-rs.com.br/iwcbr krgroch(\)terra.com.br =20 =20 ------=_NextPart_000_013F_01C0D7CA.A48948C0 charset="iso-8859-1"
Dear all,
I would like to let you know about a new=20 paper:
 
Groch 2001.=20 Cases of=20 harassment by kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus) on right whales=20 (Eubalaena australis) of Southern Brazil. Biotemas, 14(1): = 147-156. 

Kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus), a very = common and=20 widespread species of seabird in the Southern Hemisphere, were observed = picking=20 pieces of sloughed skin from a southern right whale’s  (Eubalaena australis) back. = When attacked=20 by these birds, whales reacted violently by arching the back, raising = the head=20 and tail, and submerged quickly, swimming away under water. Two episodes = of kelp=20 gull harassment on right whales were observed during part of an ongoing = study of=20 the distribution and behavior of the Brazilian right whale population on = its=20 nursery ground along the southern coast of Santa Catarina State. The = first=20 episode of harassment occurred on August 31 1998 at Rosa Beach. The = behavior of=20 a mother-calf pair was recorded during 4 hours of observation on the day = when=20 the gull harassment took place, and on five subsequent days. During all=20 subsequent observations, the behavior of the pair followed the same = pattern=20 recorded in the first period of observation during the day of the = attack, and no=20 other gull attack was observed. On September 03 2000 a second episode of = mother-calf harassment by kelp gulls was observed at Garopaba Beach. = This pair=20 displayed the same response to the gull attack as the first one observed = in=20 1998. Any potential source of harassment, even a rare event such as the = gull=20 attack reported here, may impact on the recovery of this population. The = continuing study of this population is necessary to monitor the = long-term effect=20 and potential increase in the frequency of these = attacks.

Thanks,
 
Karina R. Groch
Biologist, Brazilian Right Whale Project, =
Projeto Baleia Franca - IWC/ Brasil
www.via-rs.com.br/iwcbr
krgroch(\)terra.com.br
 
 
 ------=_NextPart_000_013F_01C0D7CA.A48948C0-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 8 May 2001 12:37:17 -0700 From: Alana Phillips Subject: Abstract: Vocal repertoire of South American fur seals ** Apologies for cross-postings ** The following paper was recently published in Canadian Journal of Zoology. Reprints are now available; please send requests to: alana_phillips(\)yahoo.com. The paper is also available on the CJZ website (membership or pay-per-view required): http://www.nrc.ca/cgi-bin/cisti/journals/rp/rp2_tocs_e?cjz_cjz3-01_79 ======================================================================= Phillips, A.V. and Stirling, I. 2001. Vocal repertoire of South American fur seals, _Arctocephalus australis_: structure, function and context. Can. J. Zool. 79: 420-437 ABSTRACT We describe the vocal repertoire of male and female South American fur seals (_Arctocephalus australis_) breeding at Punta San Juan, Peru, the first such description for any member of the genus. We distinguished 11 call types which we grouped into four functional classes: investigation, threat, submissive and affiliative calls. Barking is used during non-agonistic investigation of other individuals. Threat calls of South American fur seals show gradation of structure, form and apparent meaning, and were grouped into two series: non-tonal or respiratory sounds and pulsed or guttural sounds that sometimes include a terminal tonal component. This might be adaptive for enabling flexible display behavior in agonistic situations, allowing participants to interpret situations based on contextual cues and their own physical ability and experience. In contrast, vocal displays such as submissive, full threat and affiliative calls tend to have a discrete acoustic structure. Of these, full threat calls, female-attraction calls and pup-attraction calls share acoustic characteristics; all are loud, long calls composed of both pulsed and tonal components, and show sufficient variation for individual recognition. We attempt to establish a baseline for standardization of nomenclature and acoustic analysis, to facilitate further comparative research on the vocal repertoire of _Arctocephalus_ species. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices http://auctions.yahoo.com/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 8 May 2001 16:20:39 -0600 From: "Childs, Jeff" Subject: Request for sightings made of California sea lions in the Gulf of Mexico Comments: cc: "Dagmar Fertl (E-mail)" Hello, I'm updating some documents for future needs and am interested in recent sightings of the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) in the Gulf of Mexico (if there are any). The California sea lion is an exotic species in the Gulf of Mexico Large Marine Ecosystem, and was probably introduced (accidentally) as captive animals escaped from marine parks located along the Gulf coast or southeast coast of the U.S. It is known that sea lions periodically escaped during the last century, however, numerous marine mammal and sea turtle surveys conducted in the northern Gulf since the 1970's have not documented any verifiable sightings since 1972. I'm seeking any recent sightings in the region since 1972, particularly those that can be confirmed. Please send your correspondence to me at the address provided below. Many thanks, Jeff Childs Marine Vertebrate Zoologist Protected Species Specialist U.S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service Environmental Sciences Section (MS 5432) 1201 Elmwood Park Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70123-2394 (504) 736-2766 (ofc) (504) 736-2901 (fax) jeff.childs(\)mms.gov ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 3 May 2001 10:34:18 -0700 Reply-To: inwr(\)quartz.srv.ualberta.ca From: Int'l Network for Whaling Research Subject: INWR-Digest No. 21 (May 2001) ------ INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FOR WHALING RESEARCH I N W R D i g e s t Number 21 MAY 2001 ISSN 1192-3539 Number 21 MAY 2001 ISSN 1192-3539 =20 Editorial The past two issues of INWR Digest have reported on the continuing proble= ms the pro- and anti-whaling factions at IWC have in resolving their differences. Whatever credibility the IWC retains at this time, could be further eroded unless a negotiated resolution of these differences can be achieved. The recently published book, Toward a Sustainable Whaling Regim= e (see below), details the problems faced by the IWC. As several contributo= rs warn, as a dysfunctional international regime, IWC contributes to an irresponsible weakening of the rule of international law. Fortunately, other international bodies (including IUCN and CITES) aware of what is taking place, are urging IWC to face up to its international responsibilities as a formally-constituted whaling regime. These admonitions from organizations that support wildlife conservation and attract far larger government membership than does IWC, are having some effect. Witness the conflicting perspectives reported in this issue of IN= WR Digest, on the recent IWC meeting held in Monaco to craft the text of the Revised Management Scheme. To the whaling nations, the meeting was a complete failure, due, they claim, to anti-whaling nations' unwillingness to negotiate in good faith. However, according to some anti-whaling campaigners attending the meeting, it seems there was much progress made, so much so they believe, that the whaling moratorium may be lifted in Jul= y 2001. To these observers, the only problems remain the uncompromising demands of whaling nations. However, the closeness of the possible resumption of whale-killing elicits no outrage, nor even a statement of regret, from the anti-whaling side. It seems that some on the anti-whalin= g side understand that as criticism of the IWC grows, and conservationists elsewhere becoming increasingly concerned about the IWC impasse, it becom= es necessary to appear reasonable. Those whose actions may determine whether IWC remains or implodes might note the words of the distinguished America= n legal scholar (and whale protectionist) Professor Jon L. Jacobson who war= ns (in Towards a Sustainable Whaling Regime): "saving the whales might indee= d be a noble objective, but those who reject or contort law in the attempt = to achieve the goal are, in my view, aligned with all others who, for their own special causes are also willing to burn the (global) village to save it. Of course the village will not be saved; it will be ruined." =20 SOUTHERN OCEAN MINKE RESEARCH The Japanese Antarctic research program, conducted between December 2000 through March 2001 involved sampling 440 minke whales and carrying out sighting surveys of all cetacean species along a sighting track of 19,878 miles between 1300 East and 1450 West. Biopsy samples were also taken fro= m blue, fin, and humpback whales. Greater than 100 data records were taken from each minke whale, to determine the estimated age, reproductive rates and natural mortality in the population. Other data collected were on morphology, growth, feeding, migration, ecology, and physiology. This research program is in its 14th year and is in response to scientific uncertainty about Antarctic minkes. The program has four main objectives: (1) estimating the biological parameters to improve stock management, (2) understanding the role of whales in the antarctic marine ecosystem, (3) investigating the effects of environmental change on cetaceans, (4) examining stock structure of southern hemisphere minkes to improve stock management. The edible by-products (almost all soft and cartilaginous tissues) of thi= s research will be made available to consumers as required under Article VIII.2 of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. Thi= s international regulation requires that "whales taken under these special permits shall so far as practicable be processed and the proceeds shall b= e dealt with in accordance with directions issued by the Government by whic= h the permit was issued". BEQUIAN HUMPBACK WHALING On March 19 2001, a Bequian whaling crew successfully landed two humpback whales. These two whales comprise the entire annual quota of humpbacks allotted to St. Vincent and the Grenadines under the aboriginal/subsisten= ce exemption to the IWC commercial whaling moratorium. THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN CETACEAN=20 COMMISSION (ECCO) During the year 2000, the activities of ECCO focused on the consolidation of the organization and familiarizing prospective regional member states with the purpose of the Commission. Early in the year, research and training cruises were undertaken in Dominica, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This programme of work laid the foundation for future cetacean research and sighting surveys. Training in sighting survey methodology was provided by the Institute of Cetacean Research, Tokyo.=20 Later in the year, ECCO was represented at the NAMMCO 10th Council Meetin= g in Norway. NAMMCO offered support to ECCO, and other support was offered = by the governments of Iceland and Norway. Subsequent meetings were held at t= he UN-Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) and with officials of the Government of Japan in Rome, concerning the expansion of the cetacean research and sighting surveys to other Caribbean islands. It is planned to expand the research and training to Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Grenada in 2001. The major focus of the sighting surveys will be primarily on humpback whales, and then on other cetacean species. Whalers and local fishers will assist in this work, in order to take advantage of local/indigenous knowledge. The relationship existing between pelagic fish and whale stocks will be examined in this research. In December 2000, the heads of fisheries departments and chief scientists from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent a= nd the Grenadines met in St. Lucia to discuss issues related to cetacean research and management in the Eastern Caribbean region. The meeting was addressed by Hon. Cassius Elias, the St. Lucia Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and his country's IWC Commissioner.=20 Minister Elias welcomed the formation of ECCO, and noted the congruence o= f its goals with those of the Rio Declaration, that supports sustainable us= e of the region's resources. The meeting finalized the text of the Agreemen= t establishing the Eastern Caribbean Cetacean Commission, whose objective "shall be to contribute through regional consultation and cooperation to the conservation, rational management and research of cetaceans in the Eastern Caribbean." =20 =20 IWC HOLD INTERCESSIONAL MEETING The IWC held a three-day meeting in Monaco, in early February 2001, to tr= y and negotiate wording for a Revised Management Scheme (RMS). Adoption of the RMS is a requirement before a decision can be taken by IWC on ending the pause in commercial whaling that was adopted in 1982. The Monaco meeting was attended by 29 of the 40 IWC member nations, together with tw= o non-member government observers, three inter-governmental, and 39 non-government, organizations. Below are two press releases regarding the Monaco meeting. "Whaling Ban May Soon Be Lifted"=20 The ANANOVA webpage on February 9, 2001 reported "the international ban on commercial whaling may soon be lifted. Environmental campaigners say an international meeting has begun clearing the way for hunting to resume. Members of the IWC could lift the 15-year ban this Jul= y. The meeting took place in Monaco and set out to draw up conditions which would allow commercial hunting. Under the RMS, inspection teams would ensure catch limits are not exceeded. The IWC said "progress was made in several areas, but some fundamental differences remain." However, Sandra Altherr of the environmental group Pro Wildlife, says Japan and Norway opposed several key issues.... she added 'the majority is for the RMS, so it will probably be passed'." High North Alliance Press Release on Monaco Meeting According to the High North Web News (February 9 2001) an Extraordinary meeting of IWC ended in total failure. The objective of the [meeting] was to negotiate the rules for the resumption of commercial whaling under the IWC-approved Revised Management Scheme (RMS). This set of rules, which IW= has debated for ten years, is to replace the current whaling ban adopted = by the IWC in 1982.=20 The official statement issued by the IWC after the meeting says in diplomatic language that "there was a valuable exchange of views and idea= s" and that "progress was made in several areas, but some fundamental issues remain". In direct language, this means that positions were fixed and no progress was made.=20 Frustrated by the lack of substantial progress, the Japanese and Norwegia= n Commissioners to IWC, Minoru Morimoto and Odd Gunnar Skagestad, in a join= t statement at the conclusion of the meeting, said: "We are extremely disappointed that we failed to make substantial progress toward the adoption of the RMS, but with the previously recorded positions of the anti-whaling governments we cannot be surprised. These nations have publically stated that they are opposed to the sustainable use of whale resources, yet they persist in taking part in the negotiating process designed to allow the resumption of whaling on abundant species. Their continued tactic of insisting on the inclusion of excessive demands that will make the system impractical and unworkable does not represent good faith negotiation." Ambassador Skagestad described the longstanding impas= se at the IWC as "more than ridiculous" and "a disgrace to our commission". ROBERT L. FRIEDHEIM: AN APPRECIATION BOB FRIEDHEIM (born 1934) died of cancer at his home in California on 31 January 2001. He will be sorely missed by those of us who knew him well a= nd worked with him on numerous projects over a period of several decades.=20 Bob's scholarly work is marked by the combination of a longstanding and wide-ranging interest in marine affairs and a dedication to the developme= nt of rigorous methods for improving our understanding of bargaining and negotiation at the international level. His 1993 book on the development = of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, titled Negotiating the New Ocean Regime, stands as a landmark in its field.=20 Over the years, his interests extended in a number of directions to cover such matters as the role of culture in international negotiations, the evolution of the international regime for whales and whaling, and the emergence of a new international order for the Arctic. At the time of his death, he was looking forward to the publication of the edited volume on the future of the international whaling regime, titled Toward a Sustainab= le Whaling Regime (see below). This book, a carefully-constructed collection of essays designed to bring the insights of research to bear on a complex and deeply-contested public issue, became a major project over a period o= f several years. Bob was able to see the page proofs for the book and to ha= ve the satisfaction of knowing that this project would reach a successful conclusion before he died. Bob liked nothing better than a vigorous but friendly debate, especially when it touched on the links between theory and practice. He also loved a good meal accompanied by a fine wine. And he was an excellent skiing companion. Those of us who had the privilege of knowing him and working with him from one decade to the next will cherish the memory of this outstanding colleague and friend. Oran R. Young Dartmouth College, U.S.A =20 NEW BOOK ON THE WHALING DEBATE Toward a Sustainable Whaling Regime, edited by Robert L. Friedheim, examines the international management of whales and whaling, centering up= on conflict within the International Whaling Regime. A preface by a former U= S Commissioner to the IWC, John A. Knauss, is followed by eleven essays: "T= he IWC as a contested regime" (R.L. Friedheim), "A New Whaling Agreement and International Law" (W.T. Burke), "Whales, the IWC, and the Rule of Law" (J.L. Jacobson), "Science and the IWC" (W. Aron), "Is Money the Root of t= he Problem? Cultural Conflict in the IWC" (M.M.R. Freeman), "Food Security, Food Hegemony, and Charismatic Animals" (R.L. Barsh), "Distorting Global Governance: Membership, Voting, and the IWC" (E. DeSombre), "Negotiating = in the IWC Environment" (R.L. Friedheim), "The Whaling Regime: "Good" Institutions but "Bad" Politics?" (S. Andresen), "Summing Up: Whaling and its Critics" (C.D. Stone), "Whaling Sausage: Why the Whaling Regime does not Need to be Fixed" (D.G. Victor), "Fixing the Whaling Regime: A Proposal" (R.L. Friedheim). This book is jointly published by the University of Washington Press, Seattle, and CCI [Canadian Circumpolar Institute] Press (Studies in Whaling, No. 5), Edmonton. See: Publications (below) for ordering information. ELECTRONIC PUBLICATION FEATURES WHALING ARTICLES The IWMC-World Conservation Trust has recently published the second volum= e of the Journal of Sustainable Use in electronic form. This issue includes the results of the 2nd IWMC-WCT Symposium on Sustainable Use of Wildlife Resources, held in Chengdu, PRC, in 1999. The address for accessing the publication is Includ= ed in this issue of the journal are the following whaling-related papers:=20 "Marine mammals: a class case of the triumph of emotion over science" (J. Aquilino, USA); "Traditional humpback whale hunting in St. Vincent & the Grenadines" (K. Morris, St. Vincent & the Grenadines); "The government of Japan's whale downlisting proposals for CITES" (J. Morishita & D. Goodman= , Japan); "CITES and IWC" (M. Ito, Japan); "Aspects of regional management: science, sustainable use and conservation of marine mammals in the North Atlantic" (G. Hovelsrud-Broda, Norway); "Utilization or preservation? The battle over management of whales" (S. Andresen, Norway); "CITES, IUCN and the precautionary principle, as they relate to classifying marine species as "endangered"" (D.S. Butterworth, South Africa); "Sustainable use and t= he law" (S.S. Boynton, USA); "Challenges to Inuit sustainable resource use i= n Canada" (S. Nickels, Canada); "Inuit cultural dependency on hunting -- an= d protectionists and global ethics" (I. Egede, Greenland). 26th ANNUAL WHALING HISTORY SYMPOSIUM This symposium, sponsored by the Kendall Whaling Museum, will be held 13-= 14 October 2001 at the Museum, in Sharon, Massachusetts. Topics to be discussed include: "From saga to shoreline: whale use in Pictish and Nors= e Orkney, Scotland" (V.E. Szabo, USA); "In the heart of the sea: rumination= s about the Essex disaster" (N. Philbrick, USA); "A whaling voyage 'round t= he world: Melville's inspiration revisited" (M. Jehle, USA); "Pride and prejudice: Dr. A. Melchior and the first postwar Dutch modern whaling expedition, 1946-1947" (J. Schokkenbroek, The Netherlands); "Three postwa= r expeditions of pelagic whaling aboard the Balaena of London" (P. Crean, Canada); "Shore whaling experiences in South Africa and British Columbia" (P. Crean, Canada); "Two 18th-century glass panels with whaling scenes engraved by Jan Stam of Zaandam" (J. Schokkenbroek, The Netherlands); "Kubotsu: History and current status of the distribution of whale meat in= a Japanese fishing community" (H. Kakurai, Japan). Contact the Kendal Whali= ng Museum, (1-781-784-5642) or DISSERTATION Szabo, Vicki Ellen 2000. Montrous fishes and "bones of no small bigness": history and archaeology of Late Iron Age, Pictish, and Viking Orkney, Scotland. Ph.D Dissertation, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. =20 PUBLICATIONS Barthelmess, Klaus & Thomas Ludewig 2001. Walf=E4nger aus Neuss am Rhein = in der Antarktis. Begleitheft zur Auststellung. Clemens-Sels-Museum Neuss, 01.03-29-04. Neuss: Clemens-Sels-Museum. 13pp. DM 5. Burns, William C.G. 2001. From the harpoon to the heat: climate change an= d the International Whaling Commission in the 21st century. Georgetown International Environmental Law Review 13(2):335-359. Chadwick, Douglas H (photos by Flip Nicklin) 2001. Pursuing the minke. National Geographic 199(4):58-71, April 2001. Faust, Ingrid, in collaboration with Klaus Barthelmess and Klaus Stopp: Zoologische Einblattdrucke und Flugschriften vor 1800, Vol. 2: V=F6gel - S=E4ugetiere: Affen, Raubtiere, Schuppentiere, Nager, Hasenartige. Stugga= rt: Hiersemann, 1999. vii + 372 pp., illus., cloth, 34.5 x 25 cm. Nr. 286 - 3= 17 (pp. 258-327) catalogues broadsides and pamphlets on erratic or captive a= nd exhibited pinnipeds, 1600-1795. ISBN 3-7772-9901-4. DM 560. Friedheim, Robert L. (ed) 2001. Towards a Sustainable Whaling Regime. x + 382 pp. ISBN 1-896445-18-7 Can$40 plus postage, Edmonton: CCI Press. Email: ccinst(\)gpu.srv.ualberta.ca (Orders from INWR subscribers will be billed in Can. Dollars through CCI Press, see order form). Iwasaki-Goodman, Masami 2000. The Ayukawa-hama community of Japan. In: Leslie E. Sponsel (ed), Endangered Peoples of Southeast and East Asia, pp. 69-89. Westport CT and London: Greenwood Press. Iwasaki-Goodman, Masami, Masahiro Nomoto and Norihito Fujishima 2000. Ain= u Minzoku no Kujira Riyou Bunka [Whale Culture of the Ainu]. Geiken Tsushin 46:10-18. H=F8gh, Helle 200O. Bowhead whaling in Nunavut: a symbol of self governme= nt. In: Jens Dahl, Jack Hicks & Peter Jull (eds), Nunavut: Inuit Regain Control of the Lands and their Lives, pp. 196-204. Copenhagen: IWGIA Document 102. Jonaitis, Aldona (with Richard Inlis) 1999. The Yuquot Whalers' Shrine. xiv + 233 pp. illus. US$35. Seattle & London: University of Washington Pr= ess. Kasuya, T. 1999. Examination of the reliability of catch statistics in th= e Japanese coastal sperm whale fishery. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 1(1):109-122. Kinze, Carl Christian 1999. Delfiner i Alssund. Oplevelser med delfiner i og omkring S=F8nderborg Havn i =E5ret 1939. In: S=F8nderjyske Museer 1999= (=3D Nordslesvigske Museer, ny r=E6kke, 1). T=F8nder: Museumsr=E5det for S=F8nderjyllands Amt 1999:75-80. 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 A.D. to 1792. 53 pp. illus. Centre for Environmental History and Policy, Occasional Paper 1. St. Andrews: Universities of St. Andrews and Stirling. =20 Mains'l Haul. A Journal of Pacific Maritime History 37(1), Winter 2001. Special issue, "Whale Hunters on Western Shores", 47 pp. illus. US$4. Articles on the history and archeology of Californian whaling, on Azorean and Japanese whalers in 19th century California, and modern whaling from California to British Columbia. Order from Marth, Regine (ed) 1999. Das Gandersheimer Runenk=E4stchen. International= es Kolloquium, Braunschweig, 24-26 M=E4rz 1999. 155 pp. illus. DM 29 [Proceedings of an international symposium on a whalebone casket, dated c= a. 800 A.D] International Network for Whaling Research www.ualberta.ca/~inwr/inwr.html Editor: Associate Editors Milton Freeman Klaus Barthelmess Louwrens Hacqueboard Canadian Circumpolar Institute Whaling Research Project Arctic Centre, University of Groningen University of Alberta PO Box 620255 PO Box 716 Edmonton, AB T6G 0H1 50695 Cologne 9700 AS Groningen Canada Germany The Netherlands Tel: 1-780-492-4682 Tel: 49-221-740-5790 Tel: 31-50-363-6834 Fax: 1-780-492-1153 Fax: 49-221-740-5791 Fax: 31-50-363-4900 milton.freeman(\)ualberta.ca barthval(\)gmx.de hacquebr(\)let.rug.nl =09 Pasquier, Thierr du 2000. Les baleiniers basques. Collection Kronos 31. 452 pp. illus. FF 295. Paris: S.P.M. [A list of 1100 document= ed Basque whaling voyages between 1603 - 1784 to Brazil, N. America, and the Arctic]=20 Ridley, Donald E. & Stuart M. Frank (et al.) 2000. Frederick Myrick of Nantucket: Scrimshaw Catalogue Raisonn=E9. viii + 43, illus. Kendall Whal= ing Museum Monograph Series 13. Sharon MA: Kendall Whaling Museum. US$18. Ridley, Donald E. & Janet West (et al.) 2000. Frederick Myrick of Nantucket: Physical Characteristics of the Scrimshaw. vi + 23, illus. Kendall Whaling Museum Monograph Series 14. Sharon MA: Kendall Whaling Museum. US$18. Romero, A. and K. Hayford 2000. Past and present utilization of marine mammals in Grenada, West Indies. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 2(3):223-226. R=FCppel, Uwe 2001. Kapitan Wilhelm Bades Touristikfahrten nach Norwegen, Stitzbergen und ins europ=E4ische Nordmeer in polarphilatelistischer Hinsicht. 212 pp. illus. Bielefeld: Polarpost-Sammlerverein Bielefeld. Schweder, Tore 2000. Distortion of uncertainty in science: antarctic fin whales in the 1950s. Journal of International Wildlife Law and Policy 3(1):73-92. Schweder, Tore and G. Hagen 1999. A note on the cost of instability in whale management. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 1(2):137-14= 0. Serai Super Premium Magazine 2001. Special Sea Food Issue: pp. 13-30 on Japanese whale meat restaurants. Vol. 15, No. 3, March 2001.=20 Vakbondsmuseum - Henri Polakinstituut de Burcht (Hrg.): Lesbrief: Bloed, Zweet en Traan. Eerste reis van walvisvaarder WILLEM BARENDSZ (1946-47). = 4 pp. illus. Amsterdam. Vikingsson, Gisli A. and Finn O. Kapel 2000. Minke Whales, Harp and Hoode= d Seals: Major Predators in the North Atlantic Ecosystem. NAMMCO Scientific Publications, Volume 2, 132 pp. North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission, Troms=F8. ISBN 82-91578-06-0. ******************************************************************** International Network for Whaling Research www.ualberta.ca/~inwr/inwr.html --------------------------------------------------------------------- Editor: Associate Editors Milton Freeman Klaus Barthelmess Louwrens Hacqueboard Canadian Circumpolar Institute Whaling Research Project Arctic Centre, U.= of Groningen University of Alberta PO Box 620255 PO Box 716 Edmonton, AB T6G 0H1 50695 Cologne 9700 AS Groningen Canada Germany The Netherlands Tel: 1-780-492-4682 Tel: 49-221-740-5790 Tel: 31-50-363-6834 Fax: 1-780-492-1153 Fax: 49-221-740-5791 Fax: 31-50-363-4900 milton.freeman(\)ualberta.ca barthval(\)gmx.de hacquebr(\)let.rug.nl ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 9 May 2001 15:17:42 +0000 Reply-To: peichl(\)mpih-frankfurt.mpg.de From: Leo Peichl Organization: mpih-frankfurt.mpg.de Subject: Paper: Visual deficit in Marine Mammals Dear all, The paper below was recently published in European Journal of Neuroscience. It describes a loss of blue cone photoreceptors and presumed colour-blindness in a range of toothed whales and seals. PDF-files or hardcopies of the paper can be requested from peichl(\)mpih-frankfurt.mpg.de (for postal address see end of mail). A summary of our findings for the non-specialists in vision topics is given in a press release on the web site of the Max Planck Society, German: http://www.mpg.de/pri01/pri0122.htm - English: http://www.mpg.de/news01/news0105.htm I would like to take this opportunity to ask for eye tissue. We want to extend our study to further species of whales and seals in order to establish whether the blue cone loss is a general feature across marine mammals. For this, adequately fixed eyes are needed. If anyone involved in post-mortems of stranded animals or of animals in captivity sees a chance to provide material, please contact me for details of obtaining and fixing the tissue. This is also the place to thank various researchers around the world for having made eyes available for the present study: A.D.G. Dral, C. Smeenk, K.C. Kinze, J.C. Gould, D. Greenstreet, U. Siebert, D. Kruska, H. Oelschlaeger, A. Mass, A. Supin, H. Ansorge; Taronga Zoo, Mosman, Australia; Institute for Veterinary Pathology, Leipzig University, Germany (full acknowledgements in the paper). -------------------------------------------- L. Peichl, G. Behrmann, R.H.H. Kroeger (2001) For whales and seals the ocean is not blue: a visual pigment loss in marine mammals. European Journal of Neuroscience 13: 1520-1528. ABSTRACT - Most terrestrial mammals have colour vision based on two spectrally different visual pigments located in two types of cone photoreceptors, i. e. they are cone dichromats with long-to-middle-wave-sensitive (commonly green) L-cones and short-wave-sensitive (commonly blue) S-cones. With visual pigment-specific antibodies, we here demonstrate an absence of S-cones in the retinae of all whales and seals studied. The sample includes seven species of toothed whales (Odontoceti) and five species of marine carnivores (eared and earless seals). These marine mammals have only L-cones (cone monochromacy) and hence are essentially colour-blind. For comparison, the study also includes the wolf, ferret and European river otter (Carnivora) as well as the mouflon and pygmy hippopotamus (Artiodactyla), close terrestrial relatives of the seals and whales, respectively. These have a normal complement of S-cones and L-cones. The S-cone loss in marine species from two distant mammalian orders strongly argues for convergent evolution and an adaptive advantage of that trait in the marine visual environment. To us this suggests that the S-cones may have been lost in all whales and seals. However, as the spectral composition of light in clear ocean waters is increasingly blue-shifted with depth, an S-cone loss would seem particularly disadvantageous. We discuss some hypotheses to explain this paradox. --------------------------------------------------- Further hypotheses, comments and criticism to our paper are welcome. With best regards, Leo Peichl -------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Leo Peichl Max-Planck-Institut fuer Hirnforschung Deutschordenstr. 46 D-60528 Frankfurt a. M. Tel: +49 69 96769-348 Fax: +49 69 96769-206 e-mail: peichl(\)mpih-frankfurt.mpg.de MPIH homepage: http://www.mpih-frankfurt.mpg.de -------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 9 May 2001 16:59:00 +0200 From: Frank Thomsen Organization: Uni Hamburg Subject: new paper on killer whale whistles Dear colleagues, I would like to draw your attention on a paper published in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Vol 109, No 3, March 2001 by Frank Thomsen, Dierk Franck and John Ford. A limited number of reprints are available. Please send requests and comments to thomsen(\)zoologie.uni-hamburg.de Reference: Thomsen, F. Franck, D. and Ford, J.K.B. (2001). Characteristics of whistles from the acoustic repertoire of resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) off Vancouver Island, British Columbia. J. Acoust. Soc. Am., Vol. 109:3, pp. 1240-1246 Abstract The acoustic repertoire of killer whales (Orcinus orca) consists of pulsed calls and tonal sounds, called whistles. Although previous studies gave information on whistle parameters, no study has presented a detailed quantitative characterization of whistles from wild killer whales. Thus an interpretation of possible functions of whistles in killer whale underwater communication has been impossible so far. In this study acoustic parameters of whistles from groups of individually known killer whales were measured. Observations in the field indicate that whistles are close-range signals. The majority of whistles (90%) were tones with several harmonics with the main energy concentrated in the fundamental. The remainder were tones with enhanced second or higher harmonics and tones without harmonics. Whistles had an average bandwidth of 4.5 kHz, an average dominant frequency of 8.3 kHz, and an average duration of 1.8 s. The number of frequency modulations per whistle ranged between 0 and 71. The study indicates that whistles in wild killer whales serve a different function than whistles of other delphinids. Their structure makes whistles of killer whales suitable to function as close-range motivational sounds. With regards, Frank Thomsen ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 8 May 2001 09:55:58 -0300 From: mrosantos Subject: Killer whale teeth ------ Greetings to all subscribers, I would apreciate to receive informations about works=20 and papers mencioning teeth measurements of Killer whale=20 Orcinus orca and False killer whale Pseudorca crassidens=20 for comparisons with a tooth the we found in a=20 archeological site in Southern Brazil. Any information=20 can be helpful.. Thanks in advance, Marcos Rossi- Santos Biologist CP 10220, Florian=F3polis SC- Brasil- 88 062- 970 email: _________________________________________________________________________= _ Acesso f=E1cil, r=E1pido e ilimitado? Suporte 24hs? R$19,90?=20 S=F3 no AcessoBOL - http://www.bol.com.br/acessobol/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 7 May 2001 22:33:45 -0700 From: Vicki Kirkland Subject: Harbor seal bite marks Would you consider posting my question? I am a naturalist for a whale watch company based in the San Juan Islands. We noticed an adult (probably male) harbor seal with long slash marks on both sides of his neck. The skin was sliced through the upper layer. These cuts were just under the side of his head. The cuts were approximately 10 inches in length. He did not appear to be in major distress, he was hauled out on some rocks with about twenty other animals. His location was near Iceberg Point off of Lopez Island. I am not aware that the males are that aggressive with each other. If a transient Orca had caused the wounds, I would find it hard to believe he got away. Unless an adult had mauled him for calf training. My best guess was a Steller or California Sea Lion. We have both out here now. To add fuel to the fire we are fairly certain we have female Stellers here this season, maybe making the males even more ornery. Is there anyone out there who could take a guess? Has anyone witnessed aggression between species of Otariids and Phocids? Thanks for the help. Victoria L. Kirkland Island Adventures Anacortes, WA. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 9 May 2001 13:18:07 -0700 From: Steven Birch Subject: Points of Concern about SURTASS LFA FEIS. NMFS hearings. Dear All, FYI here is a copy of the points of concern which I raised at the recent NMFS public hearings about the SURTASS LFA Final Environmental Impact Statement. The emotional presentations of our crystal-waving whale hugging counterparts focussed primarily on the mid-frequency active sonar systems and their possible link to the Cuvier's beaked whale strandings. Unfortunately, such information is not directly related to the LFA system or the NMFS hearings into the proposed deployment of LFA. In reading the FEIS, I approached it as I would correcting a students work, and listed those issues which seemed inadequately covered. Given the requirements of the FEIS to conform to standard scientific process, my concerns relate to the ability for our decision makers to adequately attain conclusions from this document. The deadline for submissions to the NMFS is May 18, for those wishing to express their opinions on the proposed deployment of LFA, dependent on the granting of a LOA for incidental taking of marine mammals by NMFS. Details of addresses, etc can be found at: http://www.pacificwhale.org/news/LFA.html Dr. Steven Birch Director of Research Hawaii Biodiversity Research & Interspecies Dynamics =================================== ITEMIZED CONCERNS ABOUT SURTASS LFA FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT 1. NON AUDITORY INJURY. RESONANCE PHENOMENA 1.1 ARPA reference not applicable In the main body of the FEIS (ref. 4.1.1.1), this topic is given a total of 12 lines of attention. These begin with a couple of references which suggest that the resonant frequency of fish swim bladders are above the frequency of best hearing, leading to the quoted conclusion that: "Therefore, it is not expected that resonance of the swim bladder would play a significant role in response to LF sound (ARPA 1995)".This particular reference is from the Advanced Research Projects Agency evaluation of the ATOC system, and thus dealing with a 75Hz signal which does not correspond to the frequencies to be used (100-500Hz) by SURTASS LFA. This conclusion is therefore not applicable in the context of the FEIS. (ARPA 1995: FEIS, p.13.1) 1.2 Generalization based on only two species of fish In the FEIS comments section (Comments 3.2.5), it is recognized that resonance frequencies of fish swim bladders exist and the values for two species are given, namely: Northern Anchovies 5inches in length fres = 1.3 kHz Cod 14inches in length fres = 400-560 Hz The FEIS states that " fish are not expected to be significantly affected because SURTASS LFA is lower in frequency than the resonance for even the larger fish". This is not immediately evident given that: (a)the resonant frequency range for a 14 inch cod includes the 400-500Hz band which falls within the range given for SURTASS LFA (100-500Hz).(b) resonant frequency varies as a function of gas volume and depth, as outlined in 1.6. Furthermore, extrapolating from two species to the entire range of species found in the oceans seems a tenuous link at the very least. 1.3 Inaccurate generalization about pelagic fish species In section 4.1.1.1 it further states that only larger pelagic fish (for example tuna) could have swim bladders whose resonant frequencies would fall within the range of the SURTASS LFA, but that these fish are unlikely to be affected as they spend most of their time near the surface. This comment is not consistent with data pertaining to dolphin-tuna interactions, in which schools of tuna are commonly found swimming at depth beneath dolphin pods. This comment is also not consistent with information gleaned from deep sea fishermen. These inconsistencies are grounds for suspicion as such data should not only be easily obtainable by EIS authors, but included and discussed within the FEIS. 1.4 Omission of relevant theoretical models Nowhere within the FEIS is there mention of the theoretical models for calculations of the resonant frequencies of gas bubbles. This omision is of concern as it suggests that either an incomplete literature review was conducted in the preparation of the FEIS, or that such information was deliberately omitted. These two models are: .Minnaert's theory fres = [660 * SQRT(pressure)] / lung diameter .Andreeva / Barham fres = (1/2piR)*SQRT[(3gP+4u)/q] It should be noted that these two models were included in the NATO SACLANTCEN Bioacoustics Panel, June 15-16 1998 report: Acoustic Analysis of SWAC4 Phase II, authored by McMullen & McCarthy of United States Naval Undersea Warfare Center. It should also be noted that Barham of the former NUC (Naval Undersea Center), now NRaD, expanded the work of Andreeva in 1973. This suggests that at least within NRaD and NUWC there is some awareness of these issues which should have been addressed within the FEIS. Even in the case of such mathematical models being inaccurate, acknowledging their existence and explaining their omission seems a necessary part of the FEIS, especially to comply with the requirements of scientific accuracy of this document. 1.5 Awareness of resonance phenomena Within the FEIS is included a letter From: Commanding Officer To: Chief of Naval Operations, Attn: Director Submarine Warfare Division Via: Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Commander, Naval Sea Systems Subject: Interim Guidance for Operation of Low Frequency Underwater sound sources in the presence of recreational divers subnote (d) reads: "Evidence did suggest that lung resonance did increase as a function of diver depth and at deeper depth (>200ft) lung resonance could be possible within the guidance frequency band but would not cross 150Hz until between 600 and 700 foot depths. Equipment used by divers during testing included neoprene wetsuits" Irrespective of the human diver perspective, this document further indicates awareness of resonance effects on gaseous bubbles (aka. lungs, swim bladders, etc), an awareness which highlights the complete absence of modeling of fish, turtle and marine mammal resonance frequencies, which would be expected within the confines of scientific accuracy required of the FEIS. Furthermore, two enclosures are referred to by this letter, and it should be noted that Enclosure 2: "Draft NSMRL Technical Report: Summary Report on the Bioeffects of low frequency water borne sound" is missing from the FEIS, when, from the title alone, it appears to hold information pertinent to this topic. 1.6 Omission of relevant scientific literature Aburto of NOSC (SPAWAR: Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command), in an email submission to the Bioacoustics List at Cornell University dated 03 Jun 1997, dealt further with the Andreeva/Barham model for resonant frequency determination and provided sample calculations for mammalian lung volumes of 2 and 2000 litres. His concise examples allow for the easy calculation of resonant frequencies for any gas body volume at depth. Such calculations are presented in Tables 1.1 and 1.2 for a range of representative volumes. The validity of the Andreeva/Barham equation appears to have been vindicated by holographic interferometry studies of fish swim bladders (Vaitulevich 1974, Altmann 1984). Altmann further concludes that the swimbladder wall vibrates with the greatest amplitude at stimulation frequencies close to the base resonance frequency and at frequencies corresponding to the 2nd and 3rd harmonics. With such information being readily available, it is a matter of concern that the FEIS makes no attempt to calculate and/or discuss these data. 1.7 Calculated resonance frequencies fall within SURTASS LFA range Resonant frequencies calculated using Aburto/Barham formula are presented in tables 1.1 and 1.2. As a point of size comparison, 10 year old human male children have a lung volume of approx. 1.6 litres, 20-30 year olds have a 6.0 litre volume. Females are usually 25% smaller than males. (Schmidt & Thews 1983) Finback whales are reported as having a lung volume of 2000 litres, Cuvier's Beaked whales 136 litres and Bottlenose dolphins 3.5 litres. (NATO SACLANTCEN 1998) Assuming that some pelagic fishes, turtles, small seals, etc may have gaseous spaces whose volumes are in the range 0.1 -1.0 litres (ie smaller than a human 10 year old), table 1.2 reveals that a substantial range of frequencies for these gas volumes falls within the SURTASS LFA active range (100-500Hz) for depths up to and exceeding 100 metres. (tables 1.1 & 1.2 at end of document) It should be noted that resonance phenomena can occur with lesser energy requirements than for non resonance. The fundamental frequency of a gas volume is that frequency at which it is most susceptible to excitation. This raises the issue that the 180dB mitigation area for the SURTASS LFA may not be an adequate measure, as resonance phenomena may be possible at much lower RLs. Such issues, calculations and mathematical modeling of potential target species are completely absent from the FEIS. Given the stringent requirements for the FEIS to make due regard to scientific process, these omissions raise grave concern about the overall accuracy and validity of the EIS. 2. OFFSHORE BIOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT AREAS (OBIAs) 2.1 Omission of whale migration routes In the FEIS (FEIS 2.11), OBIAs are defined as including: * Migration corridors * Breeding and Calving Grounds * Feeding Grounds With this information in mind, it is of concern that within the FEIS whale migration corridors are not shown or acknowledged, despite the fact that such migration paths are known to exist and have been determined through satellite tracking. 2.2 Omission of generally accepted OBIA Opening a freshman biology text (Cox, 1993) provides the following pertinent information. "For purposes of productivity analysis, oceans are divided into 4 zones: open ocean, upwelling zones, continental shelf and reef-estuary systems. Upwelling zones are the most productive offshore areas, followed by continental shelf regions." The FEIS acknowledges that in general the continental shelf is bounded by the 12nm exclusion zone for SURTASS LFA, but in some locations it extends far beyond this range. It is therefore of concern that the FEIS does not take into account such areas in the discussion of OBIAs, and furthermore, that the upwelling areas found along the western coasts of the United States, South America, Africa, India and the Gulf of Oman are not even considered. 2.3 No modeling of localized Non Auditory Injury in excluded OBIAs Taking into account the unknown resonance effects of the SURTASS LFA signal on local fish and marine mammal populations, the limited number of OBIAs is a matter of concern. Although the modeling in the FEIS suggests a negligible impact on the global populations of species, the possibility of negatively impacting localized populations on which island economies may be dependent cannot be discounted. 3. HF/M3 MARINE MAMMAL DETECTION 3.1 Cases of limited efficacy of system Within the FEIS section on the HF/M3 marine mammal detection system, it is stated that during testing, small cetaceans traversing the HF/M3 detection zone were only detected in 55% of cases (11 out of 20). This raises the concern that in 45% of cases, small animals may not be detected and be exposed to injurious levels within the mitigation zone. 3.2 Inability of other systems to detect marine mammals The NATO SACLANTCEN report on Acoustic Analysis of SWAC 4 Phase II states as its objective: "to acoustically detect the presence of marine mammals in Runs 9 and 10 of the SWAC-4 sea test" and concludes that: "marine mammals have not been detected passively or actively in the acoustic data analyzed". This inability to detect marine mammals, conveniently attributed to an error in the third significant bit of the acoustic data from the towed array hydrophone, is concerning as on that date (12 may 1996), a mass stranding of Cuvier Beaked whales occurred on the coast within 20km of the testing area. Albeit a different system than the SURTASS LFA, this inability to obtain uncorrupted data and further inability to detect marine mammals raises concerns about the reliability of the HF/M3 system incorporated into the SURTASS LFA References: 7Aburto A, (1997): Whale resonant lung volume calculations, Bioacoustics-L(\)cornell.edu, 03. jun. 1997. 7Altmann, Butosov, Vaitulevich & Sokolov (1984): Responses of the swimbladder of the carp to sound stimulation, Hearing Research 14: 145-153. 7Andreeva (1964): Scattering of sound of bladders of fish in deep sound scattering ocean layers, Soviet. Phys. Acoust. 10: 20-24. 7Barham (1973): Whale respiratory volume as a possible receiver for 20Hz signals, Nature 245: 220-221. 7Cox (1997): Conservation Biology:concepts and applications, Wm.C.Brown, pp 168-169. 7Vaitulevich & Ushakov (1974): Holographic study of swimbladder vibrations in Cyprinus carpo, Biofizika 19(3): 528-533 7Schmidt & Thews (1983): Human physiology, Springer Verlag, Berlin. 7Department of the Navy (2001): Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active Sonar (SURTASS LFA): Final Environmental Impact Statement 7NATO UNCLASSIFIED DOCUMENT McMullen & McCarthy (1998): Acoustic analysis of SWAC 4 Phase II, SACLANTCEN Bioacoustics Panel. (NUWC: Naval Undersea Warfare Center | ONR: Office of Naval Research | NSSC: Naval Sea Systems Command) Table 1.1: Resonant Frequencies calculated for different gas bubble volumes, per Aburto (1997). Frequencies falling within the 100-500Hz SURTASS LFA range are shaded ========================================================= Lung Volume in Litres 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000 0 601.0412 278.9786 129.4904 60.10412 27.89786 12.94904 6.010412 2.789786 5 770.6095 357.6853 166.0228 77.06095 35.76853 16.60228 7.706095 3.576853 10 930.327 431.8195 200.4329 93.0327 43.18195 20.04329 9.30327 4.318195 15 1083.505 502.9183 233.434 108.3505 50.29183 23.3434 10.83505 5.029183 20 1231.802 571.7517 265.3836 123.1802 57.17517 26.53836 12.31802 5.717517 30 1517.393 704.3115 326.9125 151.7393 70.43115 32.69125 15.17393 7.043115 40 1791.845 831.7006 386.0412 179.1845 83.17006 38.60412 17.91845 8.317006 50 2057.735 955.1159 443.3255 205.7735 95.51159 44.33255 20.57735 9.551159 100 3301.705 1532.516 711.3308 330.1705 153.2516 71.13308 33.01705 15.32516 200 5550.444 2576.288 1195.807 555.0444 257.6288 119.5807 55.50444 25.76288 300 7624.436 3538.95 1642.635 762.4436 353.895 164.2635 76.24436 35.3895 400 9589.645 4451.119 2066.026 958.9645 445.1119 206.6026 95.89645 44.51119 500 11476.75 5327.034 2472.59 1147.675 532.7034 247.259 114.7675 53.27034 Depth(m) ========================================================= Lung Volume in Litres 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 0 129.4904 102.7766 89.78362 81.57384 75.72644 71.26131 67.69213 64.7452 62.25249 5 166.0228 131.7724 115.1138 104.5878 97.09072 91.36586 86.78974 83.0114 79.81543 10 200.4329 159.0837 138.9724 126.2648 117.2139 110.3025 104.7779 100.2164 96.35807 15 233.434 185.2767 161.8541 147.0542 136.513 128.4637 122.0295 116.717 112.2233 20 265.3836 210.6351 184.0067 167.1812 155.1973 146.0462 138.7314 132.6918 127.5831 30 326.9125 259.4706 226.6684 205.9419 191.1796 179.9069 170.8961 163.4562 157.1631 40 386.0412 306.4011 267.666 243.1907 225.7583 212.4467 201.8061 193.0206 185.5893 50 443.3255 351.8677 307.3847 279.2776 259.2583 243.9714 231.7519 221.6628 213.1287 100 711.3308 564.5837 493.2093 448.1103 415.9888 391.4604 371.8539 355.6654 341.9722 200 1195.807 949.1126 829.1262 753.3112 699.3121 658.0779 625.1176 597.9035 574.884 300 1642.635 1303.76 1138.939 1034.795 960.6187 903.9768 858.7005 821.3175 789.6965 400 2066.026 1639.806 1432.503 1301.515 1208.22 1136.978 1080.032 1033.013 993.2419 500 2472.59 1962.496 1714.398 1557.634 1445.979 1360.719 1292.566 1236.295 1188.697 Depth(m) Table 1.2: Calculated resonant frequencies for gas bubble volumes in the range 0.1 - 0.9 litres Frequencies falling within the 100-500Hz SURTASS LFA range are shaded ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 04:58:44 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Comments on LFA FEIS (fwd) From: whitehea(\)erl.ornithol.mpg.de The following are Hal Whitehead's comments on the Navy's Low Frequency Active Sonar system. We urge concerned invididuals to submit comments as well--deadline is May 18 (post marked). Lindy Weilgart's comments will follow shortly. Donna Wieting Chief, Marine Mammal Conservation Division Office of Protected Resources National Marine Fisheries Service Silver Spring MD 20910 USA Dear Ms Wieting: Thank you for your letter of 6 March 2001 and the opportunity to comment on the proposed rulemaking for the US Navy SURTASS LFA sonar system. I am concerned that the system constitutes a substantial risk to marine life, a risk that is acknowledged neither in the proposed rule nor in the US Navy s FEIS. Both documents use the scientific method incorrectly to conclude that the system will have a negligible impact on marine mammals. There are many problems with the documents. Most of the substantive criticisms of the DEIS (for instance many of those by commentators O-054, O-043, O-039, O-020, O-021, O-042, O-028, I-425, I- 501, O-047 in the FEIS) have not been addressed logically or satisfactorily in the FEIS. My concerns include: 180dB criterion The 180dB (re 15Pa) criterion for harm to marine mammals used in the FEIS is not accepted by the vast majority of scientists. The adoption of the 180dB criterion has no valid scientific basis (see my comments on LFA FEIS, O-021, also O-020, O-047). Instead a considerable,and growing, body of knowledge shows that underwater sound may severely affect marine life at much lower levels. This includes the experiments on migrating grey whales (both with LFA and other playbacks), observations of beluga whales and sperm whales reacting strongly to distant noise sources (see Richardson et al., 1995), as well as the strandings of beaked whales in Greece and the Bahamas. In neither of these stranding events is it reasonable that all, or even many, of the animals involved received levels of greater than 180dB, yet they died. In the second case there is some evidence that this was a population-level phenomenon (see comments by K.C. Balcomb to J. Johnson of U.S. Navy). In deriving their 180dB criterion, the Navy argues that Permanent Threshold Shift is the most serious consequence of underwater noise to marine mammals. The LFA FEIS does not specifically consider the possibility of non-auditory effects of the noise on marine mammals. Other mechanisms may be highly dangerous to whales, or other marine life. These include the resonance and rupture of internal organs and psychological effects causing stranding or other adverse behavior (such as too rapid ascents from depth). These could occur at lower levels than 180dB, and the evidence from the Greece and Bahamas strandings strongly indicates that they do. Therefore, scientific evidence suggests that, despite uncertainty, a level of about 120dB is reasonable in considering when underwater noise may have a serious impact on marine mammals. This would extend several hundred kilometers from the LFA source (see my comments on LFA FEIS, O-021), and include areas of hundreds of thousands, or maybe millions, of square kilometers. This is not relatively small . LFA Scientific Research Program The LFA scientific research program (SRP) has little to tell us about the potential effects of the system. The system was not used at the appropriate level and two of the projects were poorly conceived (see O- 021) and carried out (see O-054). The projects lasted only a few weeks, did not examine what I and others consider to be the most likely species to be affected by LFA: the sperm and beaked whales. (Contrary to a statement in the proposed rulemaking, I, together with other scientists made this point at the pre LFA-SRP meeting in Boston.) Therefore the LFA- SRP has very little to tell us about the potential effects of the LFA system on marine life. Mass strandings There is a much better source of information on the potential impact of the system: mass strandings of beaked whales. Mass strandings in Greece and the Bahamas have been linked to military activities in about as close a way as is possible in the marine environment, and there are also indications for other areas from an earlier report of Simmonds and Lopez-Jurado (1991). The Navy s attempts to remove this linkage are very weak. The FEIS notes that the papers by Frantzis (1998) and Simmonds and Lopez- Jurado (1991) were post-hoc and correlative. This is correct, but they then go on to state that correlative studies cannot provide evidence for causation . This is wrong, correlation does not prove causation, but it can provide evidence for it. Correlation is better evidence for causation than experimental studies with poor controls and in which neither the treatments, nor the measured responses, are those of interest (such as those of the LFA-SRP). The Navy quote SACLANTEN (1998) looking for strandings around 11 other naval excercises in the Mediterranean, and finding none. However, as naval activities are undoubtedly more common than mass strandings, this is not a very good analytical strategy. Instead, it is better to examine cases of the rarer events, the strandings. Such an approach is pursued for strandings of beaked whales in data reported in Anon (2000). To provide a firmer basis for the connection between mass strandings of beaked whales and military activities, I have made the following analysis of these data. The International Whaling Commission s Standing Working Group on Environmental Concerns reported that 8/49 beaked whale strandings, and 6/6 multiple species beaked whale strandings, occurring with military activities (Anon 2000). We do not know the rate of occurrence of military activities , but, by assuming rates, it is possible to calculate the probability of these numbers of coincidences (or more) between strandings and military activities, under the null hypothesis that they are unrelated. The results are summarized in Table 1 (below). The numbers in Table 1 show that it is very unlikely that the strandings of beaked whales were unrelated to military activities, unless military activity is very common. In fact, for the probability that 8/49 (or more) beaked whale strandings occurred with military activities to be greater than P=0.05 (the usually accepted level for rejection of a null hypothesis), military activity would have had to occur more than 8.4% of the time, and for the probability that 6/6 multiple species beaked whale strandings occurred with military activities to be greater than P=0.05, military activity would have had to occur more than 60.7% of the time. The actual rate of military activities in any area is probably nearer 0.1%. Thus the numbers of strandings of beaked whales with military activities is extremely unlikely to be a coincidence. Military activities are strongly implicated in these events. The Navy (FEIS 3.2-46-47) dismisses such concerns by stating that the LFA uses different frequencies from those present during the Greek and Bahamas strandings. Although noise is almost certainly implicated, we do not know the manner in which the military activities caused the strandings. Thus there is no basis for the Navy s view that a change in frequency makes the LFA system safe when the others are not. It is also important to note that in the case of the Greek stranding, the frequencies used by the vessels did overlap those used by LFA (FEIS 3.2-45). How LFA might cause important population-level effects I will end my comments by presenting a scenario, a realistic scenario, by which LFA could cause serious population- level effects for beaked whales. We know little about the population biology of beaked whales, but one population has been studied, the northern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus) off Nova Scotia, and we can use this as a model. This population seems genetically distinct from animals in the nearest known other center of population of the species (Dalebout et al. 2001). About 34% of the population can be found, at any time, within an ocean area about 25km across (Gowans et al. 2000; Hooker et al. in press). The low frequency sonar used off Greece seems to have caused strandings in beaked whales within a radius of at least 25km from the source (see letter from K.C. Balcomb to J. Johnson published on MARMAM), and so it is possible, and perhaps probable, that approximately 1/3 of the population of northern bottlenose whales could be killed by one brief usage of such a sonar in the vicinity of the beaked whales concentration. The Nova Scotian bottlenose whales are not protected by the US Navy s Offshore Biologically Important Area #1", although it is listed as intending to protect them (Table 2-3 of FEIS), as it only extends to the 200m isobath, and the whales are found almost exclusively in deeper waters (Hooker et al. 1999). We know almost nothing about the population biology of the other beaked whale populations, but it is a reasonable hypothesis that they are small, quite discreet geographically and sometimes concentrated, like those of the northern bottlenose whales. If so, they would be extremely vulnerable to the LFA system. This is strongly indicated by the Bahamas stranding ( it is probable that all Cuvier s beaked whales in the region when the naval exercise commenced were killed by the sonar letter from K.C. Balcomb to J. Johnson published on MARMAM). In conclusion, given what we know, LFA poses a substantial threat to marine mammals, perhaps especially the sperm and beaked whales, over wide geographic areas, and its operation should not be permitted. Yours sincerely, Hal Whitehead, (PhD, Diploma in Mathematical Statistics) Killam Professor of Biology Table 1. Probability of 8/49 beaked whale strandings, or 6/6 multiple species beaked whale strandings, occurring with military activities , for different rates of military activities assuming military activities and strandings are independent (calculated using binomial distribution). Rate of military activities : 10% 1% 0.1% Phenomenon: Probability of occurrence (or worse): 8/49 beaked whale strandings with military activities 0.1119 0.0000 0.0000 6/6 multiple species beaked whale strandings with military activities 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 References Anon(2000). Report of the Standing Committee on Environmental Concerns. Report of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission. DaleboutML, Hooker SK, Christensen I (2001) Genetic diversity and population structure among northern bottlenose whales, Hyperoodon ampullatus, in the western North Atlantic. Canadian Journal of Zoology 79:478 484 Frantzis A (1998) Does acoustic testing strand whales? Nature, Lond 392:29 GowansS, Whitehead H, Arch JK, Hooker SK (2000) Population size and residency patterns of northern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus) using the Gully, Nova Scotia. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 2:201 210 HookerSK, Whitehead H, Gowans S (1999) Marine protected area design and the spatial and temporal distribution of cetaceans in a submarine canyon. Conserv Biol 13:592 602 HookerSK, Whitehead H, Gowans S, Baird RW (In Press) Fluctuations in distribution and patterns of individual range use of northern bottlenose whales. Marine Ecology Progress Series RichardsonWJ, Greene CR, Malme CI, Thomson DH (1995) Marine mammals and noise. Academic Press, San Diego Simmonds MP, Lopez Jurado LF (1991) Whales and the military. Nature, Lond 351:448 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 07:46:10 -0700 From: Michael Jasny Subject: Change in comment deadline UPDATE: Deadline for comments on Navy sonar system to be extended to May 31 On March 19, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposed a rule allowing the U.S. Navy to deploy a controversial new sonar system, known as "Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active Sonar" (or LFA, for short). This opened a period of public comment that, due to extraordinary interest, was extended to May 18. **We have just been told that NMFS is further extending its deadline for comments to May 31.** An official notice to this effect should appear in the Federal Register within the next several days. These next few weeks represent the last, best opportunity for researchers, conservationists, and other members of the public to weigh in. We believe it is vital, if you have taken an interest in this issue, to present whatever information and analysis you can before the May 31 deadline. A brief guide to help facilitate your comments (excerpted from our earlier posting) appears below. Michael Jasny Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) ______________ --What is the proposed rule, and what exactly is at issue? The proposed rule was born out of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the United States' premier law in this field. When it was passed back in 1972, this law set a moratorium on the harassing, hunting, capturing, and killing of marine mammals. It is agreed that the Navy cannot deploy this new technology without obtaining some sort of exemption. Two years ago, the Navy applied for an exemption known as a "small take permit," which is available under the law for activities that harass, hunt, capture, or kill--or, in other words, "take"--a small number of marine mammals, provided that they do so unintentionally. Not all activities qualify. To grant a "small take permit," NMFS has to find that the activity won't "take" more than a small number of marine mammals within a specified area and won't have more than a negligible impact on any particular species or stock. Even if NMFS decides that the activity meets these standards, the agency must still ensure, using all available means and methods, that it has "the least practicable impact" on marine mammals. It is the Navy's responsibility in this process to ensure that the NMFS has information sufficient to make these judgments. The proposed rule that has just been issued would, if adopted, grant the Navy a "small take permit" for LFA. NMFS' ability to issue such a permit under these terms-does it have sufficient information? can it say that the impact will be negligible? has it ensured that LFA will have the least practicable impact?-is what is at issue. --Are emails accepted? Unfortunately, the agency will NOT accept comments submitted by email or the Internet. Comments should be mailed 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. Alternatively, you can send your comments to Ms. Wieting by fax. Her fax number is 301-713-0376. Please be aware that this fax number may be busy during work hours. --What should comments include? LFA, like any complex issue, raises more than a few questions for discussion and debate-but don't feel that you have to comment on every aspect of the program. The fact is that NMFS, in making its decision, will probably put greater weight on comments that are thoughtful and detailed about a specific topic than on comments that are comprehensive but sketchy. All comments are extremely valuable in demonstrating a strong public interest. In general, comments should relate to the legal standards described above. But here, for example, are a few points to consider: whether there are any species or numbers of species in the areas of operations that NMFS has failed to consider (see the list of species under sec. 216.180 of the proposed rule); whether there are any regions (undersea canyons, seamounts, etc.) within the operations areas that have relatively high densities of marine mammals or of endangered and threatened species; whether there is any information about the impacts of noise--and not just on marine mammals, but on humans and other terrestrial mammals as well--that NMFS and the Navy haven't considered; whether calculations of "take" are accurate; whether the small take permit is even applicable to a global system. --Is there any additional information available on LFA? Beyond the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (see below), the main resource to use is the Navy's Final Environmental Impact Statement for the LFA program, which sets forth the Navy's position and which NMFS is planning to adopt as its own. Any comments you write, on just about any topic, would certainly benefit from reading the appropriate section of this impact statement. To obtain a copy, in either hard copy or CD-ROM, please contact Joe Johnson, the Navy's Environmental Program Manager for LFA. He may be reached by email at eisteam(\)mindspring.com, or by phone at 703-604-7882. Alternatively, you can contact Marine Acoustics, Inc., the private contractor that helped prepare the document. The main number there is 703-465-8404. Please be sure to put in your request as soon as possible, since the document could take more than one week to arrive. The Proposed Rule itself is available in .pdf format at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/PR2/Acoustics_Program/LFAfr.pdf. Additional information and updates will be posted on NRDC's website at www.nrdc.org. If you have any questions about the comment process, or if you have special expertise in an area you would like to discuss, please feel free to contact Joel Reynolds (at jreynolds(\)nrdc.org or (323) 934-1210 (fax)) or Michael Jasny (at mjasny(\)ucla.edu or 323-934-1210 (fax)). And, if you can, please copy us on any comments that you send. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 9 May 2001 14:22:47 -0400 From: Anna Chambers Subject: S. Innes Memorial Student Travel Bursary Call for Applications First Biennial Award of the S. Innes Memorial Student Travel Bursary On May 21, 2000, the world of marine mammal research lost two talented scientists and cherished colleagues, Stuart Innes and Malcolm Ramsey. Drs. Innes and Ramsey were conducting field research near Resolute Bay, Nunavut, Canada when their helicopter crashed. Both Stuart and Malcolm are remembered with affection and admiration for their boundless energy and devotion to their scientific endeavours in the Arctic. Stuart was a vocal advocate for supporting students in their efforts to develop a career in Arctic marine mammal research. He believed that the Biennial Marine Mammal Conferences hosted by the Society for Marine Mammalogy were the a good opportunity for young researchers to learn, network, and develop enthusiasm from the leaders in the field. As a tribute to Stuart, friends and colleagues have established the "S. Innes Memorial Student Travel Bursary" to help support a student's travel to this conference each time it is held. The award is open to post-secondary students conducting marine mammal research in the Arctic. Applications should consist of the following: the student's name, affiliated institution, name and address of supervisor plus one additional reference, level (MSc or PhD) and year of study, and a letter of no more than 400 words describing the project and how the student would benefit from the award. A selection committee of Stuart's colleagues will review the applications and select one winner. The committee's decision is final. In its inaugural year, preference for the award may be given to Canadian students. After the conference, a brief report should be submitted summarizing how the student benefited from the conference experience. In honor of the first award of this bursary, the student will be presented with a commemorative plaque at the conference banquet. A banquet ticket will be provided to the student. Questions and applications should be sent by email to Lianne Maiers at MaiersL(\)dfo-mpo.gc.ca or mailed to the address below no later than July 31, 2001. Donations in memory of Stuart may be made to the "S. Innes Memorial Student Travel Bursary" and sent c/o Lianne Maiers, Freshwater Institute, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Cr., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N6. ----------------------------- Anna Chambers Biologist, Marine Mammal Research Department of Fisheries and Oceans 501 University Cres., Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6 Tel: (204) 983-5338 Fax:(204) 984-2403 e-mail: ChambersA(\)DFO-MPO.gc.ca ----------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 20:59:48 +0000 ignored. From: "editor(\)monachus.org" Subject: The Monachus Guardian 4(1): May 2001 boundary="=====================_1530891==_.ALT" --=====================_1530891==_.ALT THE MONACHUS GUARDIAN This is to let you know that IMMA Inc. has now published the May 2001 issue= =20 of The Monachus Guardian, a biannual electronic periodical focusing on the= =20 Mediterranean, Hawaiian and Caribbean monk seals. The site can be accessed= =20 at http://www.monachus.org. Highlights of the current=20 issue include: > Guest Editorial: Thoughts from Las Cuevecillas. Where the Sahara=20 meets the Atlantic, a personal view from the legendary monk seal colony at= =20 Cap Blanc, by Luis Mariano Gonz=E1lez... > Cover Story: Snared and drowned. Are fishing nets killing off a new=20 generation of monk seals in Turkey's protected areas? by Ozan Veryeri,=20 Harun G=FC=E7l=FCsoy & Yal=E7in Savas... > In Focus: Are monk seals recolonising Madeira island? by Rosa Pires... > Perspectives: Sayings of 3000 Years. Book II: 1601 A.D. to 2000 A.D. The= =20 most humorous, insightful and slack-witted comments on monk seals=20 throughout the ages. Compiled by William M. Johnson from the nominations of= =20 numerous contributors... MONACHUS SCIENCE: > Bayed, A. Further observations of Mediterranean monk seals on the North= =20 Atlantic coasts of Morocco. Plus... > Letters to the Editor: including Off Course in the Aegean? by Dr. Thomas= =20 Schultze-Westrum... and Right of Reply: On Course in the Aegean by Dr.=20 Spyros Kotomatas... > International, Mediterranean and Hawaiian News... Recent Publications= etc. Current and back issues of The Monachus Guardian are also available from=20 the Monachus Library, and may either=20 be viewed on-line, or downloaded as single files in cross-platform Adobe=20 Acrobat format. Should you have any comments on the web site or its contents, please=20 contact us at the following email address:=20 editor(\)monachus.org Similarly, we look forward to hearing from you if you experience any=20 difficulty in accessing this service. Sincerely, William M. Johnson editor(\)monachus.org PS. If you appear to be on this email information list in error, please=20 hit the reply button, placing the word REMOVE in the subject line. _________________________________ editor(\)monachus.org www.monachus.org _________________________________ --=====================_1530891==_.ALT THE MONACHUS GUARDIAN


This is to let you know that IMMA Inc. has now published the May 2001 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: Thoughts  from  Las = Cuevecillas. Where the Sahara meets the Atlantic, a personal view from the= legendary monk seal colony at Cap Blanc, by Luis Mariano Gonz=E1lez...

> Cover Story: Snared and drowned. Are fishing nets killing off a= new generation of monk seals in Turkey's protected areas? by Ozan Veryeri,= Harun G=FC=E7l=FCsoy & Yal=E7in= Savas...

> In Focus: Are monk seals recolonising Madeira island? by= Rosa Pires...

> Perspectives: Sayings of 3000 Years. Book II: 1601 A.D. to 2000= A.D. The most humorous, insightful and slack-witted comments on monk seals= throughout the ages. Compiled by William M. Johnson from the nominations of= numerous contributors...


MONACHUS SCIENCE:

> Bayed, A. Further observations of Mediterranean monk seals= on the North Atlantic coasts of Morocco.


Plus...

> Letters to the Editor: including Off Course in the= Aegean? by Dr. Thomas Schultze-Westrum... and Right of Reply: On= Course in the Aegean by Dr. Spyros Kotomatas...

> 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


PS. If you appear to be on this email information list in error,= please hit  the reply button, placing the word REMOVE in the subject= line.


_________________________________

editor(\)monachus.org

www.monachus.org

_________________________________

 --=====================_1530891==_.ALT-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 11:40:19 -1000 From: "Adam A. Pack" Subject: Available internships at Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" ------ Internships at Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory Full-time unpaid internships are currently available at the Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory (KBMML), located in Honolulu, Hawaii. KBMML, which is affiliated with the University of Hawaii, conducts studies of sensory, cognitive, and communicative processes and skills of its residen= t bottlenosed dolphins. It also carries out studies each winter of the assembly of humpback whales into Hawaiian waters including investigations= of their distribution, migration, life histories, and behavior. The results = of these studies have appeared in over 150 scientific publications, theses, dissertation, and agency reports. Dolphin interns participate in all aspects of the ongoing research and laboratory activities, including assistance in the daily studies with the dolphins, training of dolphins, data processing and analysis, husbandry, = and also assist with laboratory administrative and maintenance requirements. Interns receive intensive hands-on experience, receive lectures on variou= s aspects of cetacean behavior and biology, and help to train short-time participants in the laboratory=B9s programs. Whale interns participate with KBMML senior staff daily in the laboratory= =B9s field studies of humpback whales, including observations and photography from small boats, scans and focal observations of whales from shore, and data processing and analysis. There are three internship periods for the dolphin project each year: Spr= ing (early January through May), Summer (mid-May through August, and Fall (mi= d August to mid-January). The whale internship runs from mid-December to t= he end of May.=20 There is no charge for the internship. Dolphin interns are responsible f= or their own room and board. Whale interns are located at the field station = in Maui and receive room and board. Interns must have at least two years of college experience. Individuals from all types of academic disciplines are welcome to apply. Selection is competitive and is based on the applicant=B9s statement of interest, prio= r experience, academic record, and letters of reference. Additional information about the laboratory=B9s research and education programs, as well as application materials, are available on our website www-dolphin-institute.org. You may also address inquiries to the Interns= hip coordinator, Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory, 1129 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu HI 96814. Telephone inquiries to the Intern Coordinator can be made at 808-591-2121 or though email at kbmml(\)hawaii.edu. Other question= s about KBMML may be directed to Adam A. Pack, Ph.D., Assistant Director, pack(\)hawaii.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 8 May 2001 15:11:53 -0400 From: FairleyL(\)PAC.DFO-MPO.GC.CA Subject: Two marine mammal related job postings in Victoria, BC, Canada Greetings, I am seeking expressions of interest from summer job seekers with respect to 2 marine mammal-related positions in British Columbia, Canada. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, in cooperation with numerous partner organizations, is developing a project aimed at offering educational support to vessels engaged in viewing marine mammals, and monitoring the whalewatching activities on Trans-Boundary waters of southern Vancouver Island, BC, Canada and northwestern Washington State, USA. Primarily, the Marine Mammal Monitoring (M3) Pilot Project will focus on the development and distribution of a comprehensive outreach program designed to augment public awareness and to modify human behaviour by encouraging a conservation ethic that respects marine ecosystems. Secondly the M3 project aims to characterize the issues surrounding local marine mammal viewing and address monitoring and reporting limitations. Crewed by two British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks Environment Youth Team personnel and a project coordinator, the M3 education vessel aims to maintain an on-the-water educational and monitoring presence within the Trans-Boundary area throughout the summer of 2001. Operating between June and September, the M3 project will be based out of Victoria, BC. In anticipation of funding certainty, we are looking for potential applicants for the crew positions. Funding restrictions will require that applicants be between 16 and 24 years of age and have been residents of British Columbia for the last 6 months. Each position involves a 35-hour workweek, and pays $315 CAD per week. The majority of the job will be performed on-board a rigid hull inflatable boat in various weather conditions. We are especially looking for applicants who possess experience in boating, ecotourism, public relations, or education. Some post-secondary education relating to biology, ecology, biogeography, or resource management would be a particular asset. The deadline for applications is May 22nd, 2001. Please contact the Project Coordinator with any inquiries and applications: Lisa Fairley Fisheries and Oceans Canada 25 Huron Street Victoria, BC V8V 4V9 Office: (250) 480-2656 Fax: (250) 413-2832 Email: fairleyl(\)pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 00:21:00 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Comments on LFA FEIS (fwd) Editor's note: The comment period referred to below as May 18 has been extended until May 31. --------------- From: lweilgar(\)is.dal.ca The following are Lindy Weilgart's comments on the Final Environmental Impact Statement of the Navy's Low Frequency Active sonar. Comments sent to the National Marine Fisheries Service should be postmarked no later than May 18. You can also send comments by fax: (301) 713-0376. 8 May 2001 Ms. Donna Wieting Chief, Marine Mammal Conservation Division Office of Protected Resources National Marine Fisheries Service Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226 USA Dear Ms. Wieting: Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the FEIS for the proposed US Navy SURTASS LFA sonar system. I strongly oppose granting permission to this system on the grounds that it poses too great a risk over too large an area, to already endangered marine mammals. I am a bioacoustician, having worked on whale acoustical communication since 1982 (my M.Sc., Ph.D., and post-doctoral work were all in this area). I consider the "No Action Alternative" the only scientifically valid, responsible, prudent, and ethical choice. The Navy has clearly expended considerable effort and expense in the SRP and the preparation of the FEIS, but sadly, to little use, as the large, essential questions remain completely unanswered. The Navy's claims do not bear up under the slightest bit of scientific scrutiny. It is regrettable that the Navy chose to largely dismiss the many thoughtful questions and comments on the DEIS provided by scientists and other citizens. The answers to comments are often glib and perfunctory. An example is Comment 4- 4.13: "What are the effects on a pregnant marine mammal?" Response: "...Because a marine mammal's fetus is composed of the same tissue type as its mother, it is not considered to be at any greater risk than the mother." Yes, but the question pertained to the mother in the first place. Is she at greater risk? Is there any understanding of a pregnant whale's need for better nutrition, her likely different behavior and different sensitivities? The only honest answer would have been "We don't have a clue." Nor is a fetus identical to the mother simply because they have roughly the same "tissue type". This is a throw-away answer with no citation of related research in humans or other species, for instance. Similarly for Comment 4-4.14: "Are effects from SURTASS LFA sonar more serious for the young of a species?" The response side-steps this by saying "[t]he primary factors increasing risk to a marine species would be a more pelagic and deeper distribution of animals in the water column." Then why didn't the Navy wait until more pelagic, deep divers could be studied like beaked and sperm whales? And why is there no reference to Jones et al. (1994), where gray whale cow-calf pairs showed the greatest reaction (84% reduction in numbers) to noise playbacks in a calving and breeding lagoon? The FEIS can, therefore, hardly be called an improvement on the DEIS. The same comments (15 pages) I made on the DEIS (p. E-246 to E-253) can as such be re-applied to the FEIS. None of my questions were answered to any degree of satisfaction. The only changes I see in the FEIS are mainly window-dressing (thankfully, the Navy now no longer targets all "Third World" countries as submarine threats but restricts itself to merely China, Iran, and North Korea, etc.). True, the Navy finally addressed the Greek and Bahamanian whale strandings, but in such a dismissive manner that little was achieved by this token treatment of a fatally serious problem. Mass strandings A top priority for the Navy must be to seriously investigate the world-wide stranding data from 1838-1999, reported in the International Whaling Commission's Standing Working Group on Environmental Concerns (Anon 2000) where 6/6 multiple species strandings (of which at least one was a beaked whale species) were associated with military activities (the Bahamanian stranding brings the total to 7/7). It is utterly invalid for the Navy to claim that the Greek and Bahamian strandings have nothing to do with LFA sonar: 1) There is no way of knowing which characteristics of the naval sonars caused these whales to strand. The harmful characteristics may be related to the higher frequencies used by the NATO LFAS or standard mid-frequency sonars or they may not be. 2) The NATO LFAS is broadband, with waveforms centered at both 600 Hz and 3 kHz, and thus, lower frequency energy is also clearly prominent. 3) Even if the higher frequencies are the fatal component, these strandings are still crucially relevant. Buried under comment 4-6.42, we discover that the LFA sonar signal has a second harmonic that is about 150 dB at 1 km at frequencies of up to 1 kHz. Bear in mind that received levels of around 150 dB or less may have caused either stranding (see comments by K.C. Balcomb on the proposed rulemaking). 4) A whale's susceptibility to non-auditory effects is unrelated to its frequency-sensitive hearing. Vestibular effects or resonance effects can be damaging even at frequencies to which the whale is not acoustically sensitive. It is astonishing that the FEIS does not even have a section on "non-auditory injury" for marine mammals, as it does for fish and sharks, and sea turtles, for instance. This sort of denial is very telling indeed. 5) It is not enough to blithely state that "analyses of potential correlations between known marine mammal stranding events and SURTASS LFA sonar operations by Dr. Peter Tyack have revealed no evidence of any relationship between the two" (Comment 4-4.21). Strandings are rare, not necessarily because they don't often happen, but because we don't often discover them. Moreover, whales may die at sea if there is no beach nearby for them to strand on, and deaths at sea are almost impossible to detect. In other words, that the sonar used in the Bahamas stranding was "..of the type commonly found...in most of the world's navies" (p. 3.2-47) is hollow "reassurance" indeed. We could have easily decimated populations of beaked whales the world over and never known about it. 6) Finally, the most important point the Navy is missing is that both of these strandings caught everyone, even the experts, by surprise. Most of us didn't dare think that immediate death could be a plausible risk of these sonars. Does this lead the Navy to any sense of humility? On the contrary, the FEIS states (Comment 4-10.15): "Because there is no scientific or engineering basis for immediate mortality upon exposure to SURTASS LFA...and all prior research results support this conclusion, the discussion of potential biological removal (PBR) is not in the FOEIS/EIS." This is like a cigarette company arguing that its particular mixture of tobacco is not deadly, though another brand might be. How many more times can we afford to be caught off-guard? Who would have predicted, years ago, that car exhaust would cause the climate to change? That a pesticide would cause fragile egg shells? Will we ever learn this most vital lesson? And will we learn it in time? Thus, to claim, as the FEIS does (p. 3.2-47), that "...even if the investigation ultimately concludes that the mid-frequency sonars in use during the [Bahamas] transit caused or contributed to the strandings, such a conclusion would not appear to present any significant new information relevant to the proposed deployment of SURTASS LFA sonar" is nothing short of outrageous. The Navy needs to wait for the final NMFS report on the necropsies of the beaked whale heads, investigate any and all possible non-auditory effects thoroughly, and present the detailed results openly and honestly. Preliminary results should have certainly been included in this FEIS. To say (response to Comment 4-4.15) that because the LFAS signal only remains at one frequency for 10 s and that therefore the potential resonance effect would not occur, is, as is so often the case in this document, an unproven assumption. Ten seconds could be enough to induce resonance, for all we know. 180 dB criterion The Navy is selective in the research it chooses to cite and how to interpret that research. This is very poor science. There is no convincing scientific evidence to support this criterion as the level at which physical harm begins to occur. There is at least as much evidence to support lower, more conservative criteria (Richardson et al. 1995, Myrberg 1990). It is alarming that the Navy felt confident enough to use what amount to little more than wild guesses (pieced together from selected research) upon which to place the safety of our marine life. The criterion of safe exposure level is absolutely critical to determining the scale of impact. If the Navy happens, by chance, to be correct in that its transmissions are harmless under received levels of 180 dB (for all individuals, species, habitats, behaviors, conditions, etc.), it only needs to be concerned about mitigating the 1 km radius of impact. If, however, the Navy is just 10-20 decibels off (i.e. if a 160-170 dB criterion is more appropriate) in selecting the "safe" level, the house of cards so carefully constructed around the 180 dB criterion collapses entirely. If 120 dB is used as the safety level (which is borne out by at least as much research as is the 180 level, especially when behavioral effects are given due consideration--Richardson et al. 1995), then suddenly the radius of impact is not 1 km, but 500 km (J. Potter, BIOACOUSTICS-L Internet list, 26 Sept. 1996), and the area of impact increases radically from 3 sq. km to 800,000 sq. km, an over * 250,000* fold increase in area impacted. It is interesting why the FEIS never offers us these figures (the distance of the 120 dB contour)--even ATOC's EIS did this much. It should be apparent why it is so critical to base the safety criterion on more than "assumptions upon assumptions". Naturally, even those that believe the Navy is capable of "leaping tall buildings", would question whether they could effectively mitigate over 800,000 sq. km of ocean (which is larger than Texas). Scientific Research Program Unless one appreciates how little one can actually see and study of whales at sea, one cannot truly recognize the utter folly of attempting to use three short-term field studies to extrapolate to the long-term health of whale populations worldwide. Let's look at the possible effects (those that we can imagine) which are detectable for cetaceans at sea and which are not. I am not implying that these effects will happen--only that should they be happening, we would never know. This list is clearly incomplete. Detectable Effects: (All these are only over the short-term, usually minutes to hours, and only on a few individuals usually): Respiration rate Swim speed Vocalizations Dive times Dive depth Residence time Distribution Movement relative to sound source Non-Detectable Effects:--unless catastrophically dramatic Birth rate Miscarriage rate Pregnancy rate Birth defects Mating rate Rate of finding mates Lactation rate Changes in mating dynamics Death rate Injury, disease, morbidity Vulnerability to hazards (shipping, fishing nets) Vulnerability to predation Growth rate Feeding rate Change in echolocation ability (ability to process echoes) Change in group bonds and coordination (both within and between groups) Change in mother-calf bonds Change in navigational ability Annoyance, pain, panic, confusion, anxiety, etc. Change in memory, learning ability, cognitive functions, etc. Change in aggressiveness Change in maternal behavior Stress Resistance to immunity Change in appetite Changes in metabolic rate Non-auditory resonance effects Effects on vibro-tactile system Effects on contractile forces of muscles Irregular heartbeat Lung-gas interface Rectified diffusion Vestibular/CNS effects Cavitation Hyperthermia Tissue shearing due to radiation pressure Deafness and hearing impairment (TTS, PTS) Change in susceptibility to the "bends" Change in stranding rates Change in population (long-term) *Any long-term effects whatsoever* Above, I have used the "Possible Effects of Exposure to Low Frequency Acoustics" in "Exposure Guidelines for Navy Divers" (Comment 4-9.15) under "Non-Detectable Effects". As humans are much more easily studied, in terms of reaction to noise, than whales, it would make some sense to base exposure criteria on what humans underwater have actually been exposed to and found annoying or worse (145 dB). Humans are afforded a margin of safety of < 2% (p. 4.3- 5) chance of injury, yet, as L. Rendell's comments on the DEIS note (p. E-126), the Navy has to be 95% sure it will cause harm to marine mammals before shutting the system down. "A 95% probability of causing harm," Rendell writes, "would be a good statistic for a weapon *designed* to cause injury" to marine mammals. The FEIS (p. 4.2-29) notes that "short-term behavioral responses do not necessarily constitute significant changes in biologically important behaviors." They ignore the converse: that significant changes in biologically important behaviors do not necessarily manifest themselves in short-term, visible behavioral responses, i.e. these significant changes can go undetected. The FEIS argues (p. 4.2-26, 4.2-28) that the dramatic avoidance responses of inshore migrating gray whales cannot be applied to sources that are offshore, since migrating whales did not avoid these. This conclusion is not scientifically valid unless one can prove that the inshore and offshore populations of migrating gray whales are not significantly different in terms of sensitivity to noise, composition (there are indications that mothers and calves migrate inshore), etc. In other words, it remains to be proven whether it is something about the inshore environment that causes whales to show a greater reaction to noise, or something about the composition of whales that migrate inshore. J. Calambokidis, himself involved in the SRP, cautions that "[s]ome of the research projects conducted, especially the phase on blue and fin whales that I was involved with, were not able to fully achieve their objectives...It is important that the limited sample size from this experiment not be construed as indicating a lack of impact." (p. E-348). Models Once again, I must emphasize that the accuracy and reliability of the input data are missing from these sophisticated models, rendering them all but meaningless: the "emperor has no clothes". On p. 4.2-58, the Navy attempts to use the AIM estimations to help quantify how the risk of exposure would affect an animal's life history. It claims that it is "using a very conservative assumption" when it supposes "that half of the animals [lose] one quarter of their breeding season". What the Navy fails to recognize is that the effects of sound on the reproductive success of an animal can potentially last well beyond the duration of the 20 days of transmissions. As Kastak et al. (1999) noted, their pinniped subjects avoided locations they associated with noise experiments even though these were areas where they also received food. They postulate that marine mammals could avoid critical breeding or feeding grounds if they associate these with exposure to loud sounds, resulting in a dramatically decreased reproductive output. So, no, saying half the animals could lose one quarter of their breeding season is not conservative. If an animal stays away from critical areas it associates with loud noise, it has lost ALL its breeding season for that year. Moreover, it may never return in subsequent years. That the effects of noise can extend well beyond the actual period of transmission has been suggested for gray whales on the breeding and calving grounds (Jones et al. 1994). The authors observed dramatically fewer cow-calf pairs and their premature leaving of the breeding/calving lagoon after one month of noise broadcasts. Even the following year, cow-calf counts remained low, possibly, the authors postulate, as a result of the previous year's decreased breeding success. The Navy's calculation therefore strongly underestimates the potential impacts of its noise on an animal's lifetime reproductive potential. Bottlenose whales Very disappointing is the Navy's unwillingness to protect one of the few populations of beaked whales worldwide which are well-studied (off Nova Scotia). Given that the Greek and Bahamas strandings point to possibly greater sensitivities to noise in the beaked whales, given that these whales can be very elusive and difficult to detect acoustically, given that they are especially vulnerable because they are curious and approach ships, and given that theirs is a year- round resident population concentrated over a very small area (Whitehead et al. 1997), it seems incomprehensible that their unique habitat not be considered an exclusion zone for LFA sonar. Particularly galling is the claim that they are being protected by listing them under Area Number 1 of OBIAs (p. 2-12), when in fact, protection only extends to the 200 m isobath, where they almost never occur. This is like saying that the Navy is committed to protecting all marine mammals that inhabit the skies! It is also astounding that the Navy does not feel the need to keep the 180-dB SPL out of all National Marine Sanctuaries (Comment 5-1.7). It is doubtful, and certainly unproven, that operation of LFA sonar will "...not destroy, cause the los[e] [sic] of, or injury [sic] any sanctuary resources...". I could not find the letter mentioned in Appendix A. Mitigation Mitigation is grossly inadequate, partially because the area over which potential serious effects could occur is likely greater than a radius of only 1 km (see above under "180 criterion"). Furthermore, the HF/M3 sonar could use frequencies above 200 kHz to impact odontocetes less. It makes little sense to have the mitigation be a potential threat as well. Selected specific comments p. 4.2-59: If we assume that there is no noise other than LFA sonar, it still would not be adequate for a whale to experience no masking 80% of the time, if during the other 20% of the time a predator is masked, resulting in the whale's death. p. 4.4-4: "...four SURTASS LFA sonar systems...would introduce far fewer signals and far less total energy into the ocean than seismic survey airguns in the Gulf of Mexico alone." Clearly, some sort of consistency in regulations is desirable, but is the Navy proposing that LFA sonar would be a substitute for the airgun noise? If not, then wouldn't the noise be cumulative? I'm sure that every single point source of air or water pollution can make the same argument-- that it is all a "drop in the bucket" compared to the rest, but we couldn't possibly protect our environment if this sort of logic prevailed. It is simply not good enough and juvenile besides (my kids try this argument on me all the time!) to point the finger at worse offenders in an attempt to "get off the hook". Comment 2-2.1: "How effective is SURTASS LFA sonar going to be because of restricted areas?" The FEIS states that "[t]he restricted areas will not affect SURTASS LFA sonar routine training and testing, as well as the use of the system during military operations." However, p. 2- 23, contradicts this by noting that "...Alternative 2 [unrestricted operation] would provide Fleet operators with ...maximum submarine detection capability..." Comment 2-4.7: I am glad the Navy admits that "...the conservative assumptions about the risk continuum cannot be verified by the Long Term Monitoring Program." Comment 2-3.5: I was amused to read that one reason why LFA deployment cannot be deferred until long-term effects have been determined is that the Long Term Monitoring Program could then not be implemented! Better to study the whales than actually protect them from threat, I guess. Comment 4-4.10: The FEIS writes: "[h]earing impacts are...analyzed at greater length because they are believed to occur at lower sound levels, and shorter durations, than non-hearing impacts." The best available data from the Greek and Bahamas strandings so far appear to contradict this "belief". Comment 4-5.14: The Navy writes: "[m]ethods to investigate physiological reactions (e.g. TTS, PTS, stress) to underwater LF sound are not yet [my emphasis] available for free-ranging large whales." "Yet" implies these methods are just around the corner, when in fact, most physiological reactions of large whales at sea will remain unknowable, for all intents and purposes. Comment 4-5.16: The FEIS states: "...the SRP selected the most plausible and likely impacts to address, in particular, significant change in a biologically important behavior. They observed none...Other less plausible and unlikely effects were not addressed." Is migration a "biologically important behavior? Are mating calls? Both of these DID show change, according to the SRP. It is very open to interpretation whether these changes were "significant" or not. As far as "plausible and unlikely effects" are concerned, was it plausible and likely that beaked whales over distances of several tens of kilometers die as a result of NATO LFAS or the Navy's standard operating sonar? If it was considered so plausible and likely, why didn't the Navy/NATO take steps to prevent it or at least study the phenomenon ahead of time? Comment 4-5.21: I am glad that the Navy admits that "...injury cannot be studied in the wild." Comment 4-5.38: As I understand the Hastings et al. (1996) study from conversations with Dr. A. Popper, a co-author of the paper, there was indeed delayed sensory damage that was not an artifact of the sacrificing schedule. Comment 4-9.18: What about surface ducts? Comment 4-10.2: "It is assumed that marine animals have evolved to adapt to current oceanic ambient noise levels." Evolution in whales takes a long time--this assumption is, in all probability, false. Comment 8-1.3: "The page IX comment concerns the possible effects to cetaceans of increased anthropogenic noise in the oceans as compared between pre-shipping conditions and present shipping conditions...". No, as I read it, the page IX comment specifically refers to LFA: "...the most serious potential impacts of LFA [my emphasis] are likely its potential contribution to a long-term decrease in foraging efficiency or communication of marine animals..." In conclusion, I ask NMFS to act responsibly to safeguard our (meaning: the world's) marine natural heritage. Sincerely, Linda Weilgart, Ph.D., Research Associate Max-Planck Institute for Behavioral Physiology Seewiesen, Germany and Dept. of Biology Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada References Anon (2000) Report of the Standing Committee on Environmental Concerns. Report of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission. SC52. Hastings M C, Popper A N, Finneran J J, Lanford P J (1996) Effects of low-frequency underwater sound on hair cells of the inner ear and lateral line of the teleost fish Astronotus ocellatus. J Acoust Soc Am 99 (3): 1759-1766. Jones M L, Swartz S L, Dahlheim M E (1994) Census of gray whale abundance in San Ignacio Lagoon: A follow-up study in response to low whale counts recorded during an acoustic playback study of noise-effects on gray whales. Final Report to Marine Mammal Commission. Kastak D, Schusterman R J, Southall B L, Reichmuith C J (1999) Underwater temporary threshold shift induced by octave-band noise in three species of pinniped. J Acoust Soc Am 106 (2): 1142-1148. Myrberg A A Jr (1990) The effects of man-made noise on the behavior of marine animals. Environment International 16: 575-586. Richardson W J, Greene C R, Malme C I, Thomson D H (1995) Marine mammals and noise. Academic Press, Inc., San Diego, CA. Whitehead H, Faucher A, Gowans S, McCarrey S (1997) Status of the northern bottlenose whale,Hyperoodon ampullatus, in the Gully, Nova Scotia. Can Field Nat 111:287-292 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 12 May 2001 01:36:52 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MMC vacancy announcement (fwd) From: Tim Ragen The U.S. Marine Mammal Commission has announced an opening for an assistant scientific program director. The announcement can be found at www.usajobs.opm.gov. ASSISTANT SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM DIRECTOR OPEN PERIOD 04/30/2001 - 05/25/2001 SERIES/GRADE: GS-0401-13/13 SALARY: $ 63,211 TO $ 82,180, ANNUAL PROMOTION POTENTIAL: GS-14 ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: MM-01-02 HIRING AGENCY: MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION DUTY LOCATIONS: 0001 vacancies Bethesda, MD REMARKS: No further information provided. CONTACT: Nancy Shaw PHONE: (301) 504-0087 MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION 4340 EAST-WEST HIGHWAY ROOM 905 BETHESDA, MD 20814- Duties: The incumbent serves as the Marine Mammal Commission's Assistant Scientific Program Director under the immediate supervision of the Scientific Program Director and the overall direction of the Executive Director. As directed by the Scientific Program Director, the incumbent manages operation of the Commission's research and studies program; compiles background information and prepares scientific input for Commission position papers, reports, letters of recommendation, Congressional testimony, and budget hearings; maintains day-to-day liaison with the scientific staffs of other federal agencies responsible for marine mammal research and management; routinely advises the Scientific Program Director and the Executive Director as to the research/management programs being conducted or planned by the agencies; develops recommended approaches to improving the Marine Mammal Commission's and other agencies' marine mammal research programs; compiles and evaluates statistical and other data bearing on the status of key marine mammal populations; compiles and evaluates data and information on natural events and human activities affecting marine mammals and their habitats; evaluates and prepares comments on environmental impact assessments of proposed federal activities that could affect marine mammals and the ecosystems of which they are a part; and, as directed, attends and participates in congressional hearings, public hearings, interagency meetings, and other such forums where issues relevant to the Commission's duties are addressed. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 13:31:58 -0300 From: Andre Barreto Subject: Article: parasites and prey items from Pseudorca ------ The following article has recently been published REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE BIOLOGIA Feb 2001; 61(1):55-61 Gastrointestinal parasites and prey items from a mass stranding of false killer whales, Pseudorca crassidens, in Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil.=20 A.L. Andrade*1, M.C. Pinedo2, A.S. Barreto3 1-Departamento de Morfologia, IB, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, 96200-000, Brazil. 2-Laborat=F3rio de Mam=EDferos Marinhos e Tartarugas Marinhas, Depto. Oceanografia, FURG, Rio Grande, RS, 96201-900, Brazil. 3-Laborat=F3rio de Oceanografia Biol=F3gica, CTTMar, UNIVALI, Itaja=ED, S= C, 88302-202, Brazil. Abstract The gastrointestinal tract of 14 false killer whales, 6 males and 8 females, stranded in June 1995 in southern Brazil, with total standard lengths from 338 to 507 cm, were analysed for endoparasites and food items. A pregnant female had a male foetus of 77.5 cm. Parasites were found in all 14 false killer whales. The nematode Anisakis simplex (Rudolphi, 1809) was found in the stomach of 57% of the animals and the acanthocephalan Bolbosoma capitatum (Linstow, 1889) Porta, 1908 was present in the intestine of all specimens and showed densities up to 600 m-1. An unidentified cestode (Tethrabothridae) was found also in the intestines of 14% of the individuals. The high infections of B. capitatum and A. simplex were not directly related with the cause of death. In the stomachs of four females, beaks of at least eight specimens of the oceanic and epipelagic species Ommastrephes bartramii (Lesueur, 1821) were found, with mantle lengths ranging from 189.8 to 360.9 mm. The distribution of O. bartramii in the coast of Rio Grande do Sul is consistent with false killer whales feeding in continental shelf waters. Reprints, in PDF format can be obtained at http://www.cttmar.univali.br/~abarreto/reprints/reprints.htm Regards Andre' Barreto --=20 Andre S. Barreto Marine Biologist, BSc. MSc. PhD. CTTMar - UNIVALI Av. Uruguai, 458 - CP 360 CEP 88.302-202 Itaja=ED - SC Brazil Fone: +55 47 341-7714 abarreto(\)cttmar.univali.br http://www.andrebarreto.org ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 13 May 2001 11:36:53 -0700 From: Ellie Dickson Subject: Please post on MARMAM Please could you send out the following message to MARMAMER's! Thanks, Ellie Dickson An immediate vacancy has arisen for a volunteer at the Moray Firth Wildlife Centre in Spey Bay, Scotland. Duties will include working in the Wildlife Centre exhibition, helping with events (such as World Ocean Day) and doing shore-based dolphin surveys. Knowledge of Scottish wildlife & experience working with the public would be an advantage. The post-holder will get their accommodation paid for and they will receive an allowance from the Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society & the Moray Firth Wildlife Centre (of 45 pounds stirling). The post holder should be available until September 2001. Please send a CV and covering letter to Ellie Dickson (WDCS Scottish Officer) on ellie_dickson(\)hotmail.com or fax 01343-829109 as soon as possible and before 25th May 2001. _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 15 May 2001 09:01:05 -0400 From: Iske Larkin Subject: Florida Marine Mammal Health Conference We at the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine are excited to announce the following conference. ******* PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT ******* Florida Marine Mammal Health Conference April 4-7, 2002 University of Florida Hotel and Conference Center Gainesville, Florida The purpose of this conference is to promote the health and well being of the four principal species of marine mammals found in Florida waters - manatees, bottlenose dolphins, pygmy sperm whales and Northern right whales. This four-day conference will bring together approximately 300 people working on these and other marine mammals in order to address the current health status of these animals and future directions of investigation and action that are likely to produce benefits to their health and survival. The conference format will include: Opening reception the evening of April 4, Oral and poster sessions April 5&6, a banquet the evening of April 6, and wrap-up discussions the morning of April 7. Student attendance will be encouraged by a lower registration fee. We hope to make some subsidies available for participants that may require travel or lodging assistance in order to attend. We are creating a web site to be used for posting more detailed information related to the conference and for on-line registration, and will send another message shortly via Marmam to inform you of the url. The conference proceedings will be published electronically via the web site, and will provide for dissemination of papers from all the speakers as well as abstracts of all poster presentations. We also intend for the web site to become an ongoing clearinghouse for information and discussions regarding Florida marine mammal health. Iske L. Vandevelde Larkin, Ph.D. Assistant In Physiological Sciences University of Florida 1600 SW Archer Rd. HSC Box 100144 Gainesville, Fl 32610 USA Phone (352) 392-4700 ext 3866 Fax (352) 392-5145 e-mail: Larkini(\)mail.vetmed.ufl.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 16 May 2001 00:39:54 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: ERRATA+ADDENDA: LFA Points of Concern (fwd) From: Dr Steven Birch Dear All, I have a couple of corrections to my previous posting re: LFA points of Concern # I would like to thank Al Aburto for help locating a bug in my resonant frequency calculations. We are now both in accord over the new values presented here. Although the values for individual frequencies have changed slightly, the overall distribution of these frequencies falling within the range of LFA has not changed greatly. Concerns expressed about non auditory injury resonant effects on small marine mammals, fish and turtles still are in effect. These updated data can be found in Tables 1.1 and 1.2 at the end of these comments. # I would also like to thank Luke Rendell for entering into a discussion with me which led to me questioning the validity of one of my data sources. The information previously at hand about mid frequency sonar systems being centered at 3.5kHz, although correct, appears not to be complete. In the light of newly obtained data, my previous concerns about the possible deniability of links between mid frequency and low frequency active sonar in the context of the mass strandings in Greece and the Bahamas are rescinded. Examination of NAVY sonar system technical specifications and operating capabilities gives more credence to the inclusion of these stranding events in hearings about SURTASS LFA. Supporting evidence is provided by the potential frequency and SL overlap between these systems, as identified by the Federation of American Scientists: Military Analysis Network. The Federation of American Scientists (www.fas.org) conducts analysis and advocacy on science, technology and public policy, including national security, nuclear weapons, arms sales, biological hazards, secrecy, and space policy. If anyone has any unclassified specifications for these systems or SOPs, such would be a welcome addition. I have not yet finished integrating these data into my new submission to the NMFS, but feel that others may benefit from having access to this information before then. 1. USN VESSEL TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS The 60 minutesII segment dealing with LFA suggests that 7 frigates and 3 submarines were transitting/on exercise in the area at the time of the Bahamas strandings. Assuming that an Anti-Submarine exercise was being conducted, let us examine the technical specifications for all commissioned (in service) NAVY surface combatant vessels which have direct ASW (Anti Submarine Warfare) capability as well as submarines. TYPE n CLASS SONAR SYSTEMS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FRIGATE 37 FFG-7 OLIVER HAZARD PERRY -AN/SQS-56 Sonar -AN/SQR-19 Towed Array Sonar System -AN/SQQ-89 ASW Integration System MISSILE 27 CG-47 TICONDEROGA -AN/SQS-53A,C Sonar CRUISER -AN/SQR-19B TACTAS DESTROYER 24 DD-963 SPRUANCE -AN/SQS-53B Sonar -AN/SQR-19B AEGIS 30 DDG-5 ARLEIGH-BURKE -AN/SQS-53C(v) DESTROYER -AN/SQR-19 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUBMARINE 2 SSN-637 STURGEON -AN/BQQ-5 active -AN/BQS-13 active 51 SSN-688 LOS ANGELES -AN/BQD-5D wide aperture flank array -AN/BQQ-5D/E low frequency spherical -AN/BQS-15 close range active -SADS-TG active detection sonar 18 SSBN-726 OHIO -AN/BQS-13 -AN/BQR-19 active, navigation --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ( ref: http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/index.html ) This shows that a large number of vessels of different classes have active sonar capabilities. How these systems are used in the process of ASW exercises can only be guessed at this stage, but moderation is probably not one descriptor. 2. USN SONAR TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS (ref: http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/weaps/index.html cf SENSORS) # AN/SQR-19 Tactical Towed Array SONAR (TACTAS) The AN/SQR-19B Tactical Array SONAR (TACTAS) is a passive towed array system which provides the ability to detect, classify, and track a large number of submarine contacts at increased ranges. # AN/SQS-56 Sonar The AN/SQS-56 is a modern hull-mounted sonar which features digital implementation, system control by a built-in mini computer, and an advanced display system. The sonar is an active/passive, preformed beam, digital sonar providing panoramic echo ranging and panoramic (DIMUS) passive surveillance. A single operator can search, track, classify and designate multiple targets from the active system while simultaneously maintaining anti-torpedo surveillance on the passive display. # AN/SQS-53 The AN/SQS-53 is the most advanced surface ship ASW sonar in the US Navy inventory. It is a high-power, long-range system evolved from the AN/SQS-26CX, used actively and passively to detect and localize submarine contacts. The SQS-53B, located in a large dome at the bow of the ship, will detect, identify, and track multiple underwater targets. Functions of the system are the detection, tracking, and classification of underwater targets. It can also be used for underwater communications, countermeasures against acoustic underwater weapons, and certain oceanographic recording uses. This system is the basic sonar watchstanders tool to keep an eye on all traffic; often picking up surface ships at greater range than most radar systems. It has three active modes of operation; Surface duet, Bottom bounce and Convergence zone. #AN/BQQ-5 Sonar AN/BQQ-5 bow-mounted spherical array sonar acoustic system is deployed on SSN 637 and SSN 688 attack submarine classes. This low frequency passive and active search and attack sonar is supplied by IBM. #AN/BQS-15 The AN/BQS-15 is an underwater mine detection and avoidance sonar for SSN-668 Los Angeles class attack submarines. This close range active sonar, supplied by Ametek, is a high frequency sonar which can also be used for ice detection. The Ohio-class submarines are also equipped with the BQS 15 active and passive high frequency sonar. Although not listed as part of the sensor systems for the above vessel classes, the Variable Depth Sonar should be mentioned as part of the ASW complement: #AN/SQS-35 IVDS Sonar Variable Depth Sonar (VDS) Variable depth sonars use large transducers that are towed at depth. VDS is used for two main reasons. At increased depth, the source level (SL) can be increased greatly, since the quenching limit is higher. Secondly, the VDS can be operated below the layer. The combination of positive over negative sound velocity profiles creates a layer at the interface. The layer makes it difficult to propagate sound across it. Therefore, ships using hull-mounted sonar systems will be unable to detect submarines operating below the layer, except possibly at short range. By placing VDS below the layer, the ship can take advantage of the deep sound channel while being in the shadow zone of the submarine's sonar. 3. USN SONAR EFFICACY AND OPERATING PARAMETERS (from: http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/weaps/sonar.htm ) Figure 01 shows the performance of various ASW platforms against quiet submarines. It can be seen that for both medium and short tactical ranges, only active sonars provide good performance. It can also be seen that cruisers (CG), destroyers (DD),frigates (FF) and attack subs (SSN) use active sonar for medium range tactical operations. This figure also suggests that only mines, torpedoes, ASW aircraft and Helicopters use active sonar at short tactical range. Figure 02 shows the required source level as a function of frequency. Discounting the high noise region under 10Hz and the absorption region, it can be seen that optimum frequencies for detection decrease as range increases. It can also be seen that the window of effective frequencies is rather narrow at these higher detection ranges (>100nm). Figure 03 shows the relationship between operational mission and active sonar design frequency. Optimum (center) frequencies are given, along with the spread of frequencies which are within 3dB of optimum. No data for the ranges between 10 and 30nm are provided. Operational Mission Range Center Freq. 3dB Freq. spread --------------------------------------------------------------------- Short Range Tactical 1nm 10kHz 4-25 kHz 3nm 5kHz 2.5-10 kHz Med Range Tactical 10nm 3kHz 300Hz - 4kHz 30nm 200 Hz 100Hz - 1kHz Long Range Surveillance 100nm 200 Hz 100-400 Hz --------------------------------------------------------------------- CASE 1: BAHAMAS STRANDING 2 ASW exercise Scenarios are possible: + surface vessels seeking target subs + surface vessels and sub(s) seeking target sub(s) Irrespective of whether the vessel composition reported is correct, it is not unreasonable to assume that any surface combatant vessels combination (ie CG, DD, FF) would possess ASW capabilities. Such would allow for all vessels present to use active sonar in the process of hunting submarine target(s) Given the information provided in section 3, figure 01, it is also not unreasonable to assume that medium range sonar would be employed. Depending on detection protocols used, figures 02 and 03 suggest that frequencies anywhere between 300Hz and 4kHz in the case of 10nm detection range, and anywhere between 100Hz and 1kHz for ranges of 30nm could be employed, at required Source Levels of at least 180-200dB. Data for SURTASS LFA suggests its operating frequency range to fall within 100-500Hz, with a source level of 215dB and a mitigation zone upto and including the 180dB range. Figure 02 may also explain the reverse-selection criteria for the 180dB safe level, 180db being the minimum source level for detection at 10nm within the LFA band. CASE 2: GREEK STRANDING NATO-SACLANTCEN unclassified documentation provides verification of the frequency bands used falling within the SURTASS LFA range, as can be seen in figure H5. Of interest in this document is the map showing the location and direction taken by the trials, the surface contours and the location of the strandings. (map H2). I am told that underwater noise is sometimes used to direct disoriented animals out of rivers. I welcome further information on this, as map H2 suggests a direct avoidance reaction. TABLES: CORRECTED RESONANT FREQUENCIES ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Lung Volume in Litres 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 0 728.06 337.94 156.86 72.81 33.79 15.69 7.28 3.38 5 933.46 433.27 201.11 93.35 43.33 20.11 9.33 4.33 10 1126.92 523.07 242.79 112.69 52.31 24.28 11.27 5.23 15 1312.45 609.19 282.76 131.25 60.92 28.28 13.12 6.09 20 1492.08 692.56 321.46 149.21 69.26 32.15 14.92 6.93 30 1838.01 853.13 395.99 183.80 85.31 39.60 18.38 8.53 40 2170.44 1007.43 467.61 217.04 100.74 46.76 21.70 10.07 50 2492.50 1156.92 536.99 249.25 115.69 53.70 24.93 11.57 100 3999.28 1856.30 861.62 399.93 185.63 86.16 39.99 18.56 200 6723.09 3120.58 1448.45 672.31 312.06 144.84 67.23 31.21 300 9235.24 4286.62 1989.67 923.52 428.66 198.97 92.35 42.87 400 11615.6 5391.50 2502.51 1161.56 539.15 250.25 116.16 53.91 500 13901.4 6452.46 2994.97 1390.14 645.25 299.50 139.01 64.52 Depth(m) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Table 1.1 Resonant Frequencies for volumes [0.001-1000 litres] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lung Volume in Litres 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0 156.86 124.50 108.76 98.81 91.73 86.32 82.00 78.43 75.41 72.81 5 201.11 159.62 139.44 126.69 117.61 110.67 105.13 100.55 96.68 93.35 10 242.79 192.70 168.34 152.95 141.98 133.61 126.92 121.39 116.72 112.69 15 282.76 224.43 196.05 178.13 165.36 155.61 147.81 141.38 135.94 131.25 20 321.46 255.14 222.89 202.51 187.99 176.91 168.05 160.73 154.54 149.21 30 395.99 314.29 274.56 249.46 231.57 217.92 207.01 197.99 190.37 183.80 40 467.61 371.14 324.22 294.57 273.46 257.33 244.45 233.80 224.80 217.04 50 536.99 426.21 372.33 338.28 314.04 295.52 280.72 268.50 258.16 249.25 100 861.62 683.87 597.41 542.79 503.88 474.17 450.42 430.81 414.22 399.93 200 1448.45 1149.63 1004.30 912.46 847.06 797.11 757.19 724.22 696.34 672.31 300 1989.67 1579.20 1379.56 1253.41 1163.57 1094.96 1040.12 994.84 956.53 923.52 400 2502.51 1986.24 1735.14 1576.48 1463.48 1377.18 1308.21 1251.26 1203.08 1161.56 500 2994.97 2377.11 2076.59 1886.71 1751.47 1648.19 1565.64 1497.48 1439.83 1390.14 Depth(m) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table 1.2 Resonant Frequencies for volumes [0.1 - 1.0 litres] Dr Steven Birch Director of Research Hawaii Biodiversity Research & Interspecies Dynamics ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 16 May 2001 00:41:44 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: SMM Abstract Deadline June 15, 2001!! (fwd) From: sciprogram Apologies for cross-postings! Society for Marine Mammalogy 14th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals 28 November - 3 December 2001 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada www.smmconference.org YOU HAVE ONLY ONE MONTH LEFT TO SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT! Avoid the rush! Abstracts must be received by 0:00 PDT on the fifteenth of June. Save yourself the stress of typing frantically on the evening of the fourteenth and submit early! You should also be aware that there might be congestion on the server if everyone attempts to use the on-line form simultaneously. The best way to submit your abstract is via the on-line submission form at www.smmconference.org. Look under Call for Abstracts, and then click your way to the On-line Abstract Submission Form. The second best way would be to provide the information requested on the Postal Mail Submission Form, also on the web site, and submit it on a floppy disk in text format (.txt) or by e-mail to sciprogram(\)vanaqua.org. If neither of these methods is available to you, then you may submit a paper form by postal mail. See the web site for details. The 14th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals will begin on Wednesday, November 28 with workshops and registration. The icebreaker will be held that evening at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, and presentations will begin Thursday. The closing banquet and dance will take place on Monday, December 3. For regularly updated conference information, visit www.smmconference.org. If you have questions that are not answered by the site, try: For general enquiries: mmconf(\)vanaqua.org For scientific program enquiries: sciprogram(\)vanaqua.org For registration enquiries: Ms. Terry Odell, Conference Registrar: todell(\)fbs.net Scientific Program Co-Chairs: John K.B. Ford, Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, P.O. Box 3232, Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6B 3X8. Tel (604) 659-3725, Fax (604) 659-3515 Andrew W. Trites, Marine Mammal Research Unit, University of British Columbia, Room 18, Hut B?3, 6248 Biological Sciences Road, Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6T 1Z4. Tel (604) 822-8181 Conference Chair: John W. Nightingale, Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, P.O. Box 3232, Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6B 3X8. Tel (604) 659-3725, Fax (604) 659-3515 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 16 May 2001 19:55:20 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Message for MARMAM (fwd) >=20 > Measures, L. 2001. Lungworms of marine mammals. pp. 279 - 300. In Paras= itic > diseases of wild mammals. Edited by W.M. Samuel, M.J. Pybus, A.A. Kocan. > Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa. p. 559.=20 >=20 > Kennedy, S. 2001. Morbillivirus infections in aquatic mammals. pp. 64 -= 76. > In Infectious diseases of wild mammals. Edited by E.S. Williams and I. > Barker. Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa. p. 558. >=20 > Both books include chapters on other diseases infecting wild mammals > including some marine mammals, i.e. trichinellosis, toxoplasmosis, othe= r > enteric or tissue protozoan infections, ectoparasitic infections, > Herpesvirus, Calicivirus, brucellosis, mycoplasmosis, erysipelas, > leptospirosis, etc.=20 >=20 >=20 > Dr. Lena Measures > P=EAches et Oc=E9ans Canada/Fisheries and Oceans Canada > Mammif=E9res marins-sant=E9/Marine mammals-health > Institut Maurice Lamontagne Institute > C.P.1000/P.O. Box 1000 > 850 Route de la Mer > Mont-Joli, Qc, Canada > G5H 3Z4 > Tel: 418-775-0571 > Fax: 418-775-0740 > Cell: 418-750-5727 > courriel/e-mail: MeasuresL(\)dfo-mpo.gc.ca > http:www.qc.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/iml =20 >=20 >=20 >=20 SUBSCRIBING / UNSUBSCRIBING FROM MARMAM ------------------------------------------- To subscribe, send a message to=20 listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca=20 which says: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastnamename Note: The "(\)uvvm.uvic.ca" address is "u v v m", not "u w m" To unsubscribe, send the message: 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 owner-marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca or marmam-request(\)uvvm.uvic.ca providing the email address that you no longer have access to, and you will be deleted from the list. You can then subscribe from your new address. Subject: IWC53 Draft Agenda DRAFT AGENDA 53rd Annual Meeting of the International Whaling Commission 23-27 July 2001, London, UK NOTE: Provisions adopted under agenda items 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 may require amendment of the Schedule. Commission decisions under any agenda item may involve amendments to the Rules of Procedure. 1. INTRODUCTORY ITEMS 1.1 Welcome Address 1.2 Opening Statements 1.3 Arrangements for the Meeting 1.4 Review of Documents 2. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA 3. WHALEWATCHING 3.1 Report of the Scientific Committee 3.2 Commission discussions and action arising 4. WHALE KILLING METHODS AND ASSOCIATED WELFARE ISSUES 4.1 Report of the Whale Killing Methods and Associated Welfare Issues Working Group 4.1.1 Activities related to the action plan on whale killing methods 4.1.2 Proposal to include welfare issues in Chapter VI of the Schedule 4.1.3 Other 4.2 Commission discussions and action arising 5. WHALE STOCKS 5.1 Southern Hemisphere minke whales 5.1.1 Report of the Scientific Committee 5.1.2 Commission discussions and action arising 5.2 Southern Hemisphere blue whales 5.2.1 Report of the Scientific Committee 5.2.2 Commission discussions and action arising 5.3 Southern Hemisphere humpback whales 5.3.1 Report of the Scientific Committee 5.3.2 Commission discussion and action arising 5.4 Southern Hemisphere fin whales 5.4.1 Report of the Scientific Committee 5.4.2 Commission discussion and action arising 5.5 North Atlantic humpback whales 5.5.1 Report of the Scientific Committee 5.5.2 Commission discussion and action arising 5.6 Other small stocks - bowhead, right and gray whales 5.6.1 Report of the Scientific Committee 5.6.2 Commission discussion and action arising 5.7 Other 6. SANCTUARIES 6.1 Reviews of sanctuaries [This agenda item is proposed for two reasons: 1 Last year, following its review of the South Pacific Sanctuary proposal, the Scientific Committee requested advice from the Commission on how to review sanctuary proposals in future. 2 According to the Schedule, the provision for the Indian Ocean Sanctuary is subject to review at the Annual Meeting in 2002, followed by a review of the provision for the Southern Ocean Sanctuary in 2004. The Commission therefore needs to consider how it intends to go about this review.] 6.1.1 Report of the Scientific Committee 6.1.2 Commission discussions and action arising 6.2 Research activities within sanctuaries 6.2.1 Report of the Scientific Committee * Southern Ocean Sanctuary (i.e. as follow-up to Resolution 1998-3) * other 6.2.2 Commission discussions and action arising 6.3 Other * South Pacific Sanctuary proposal 7. ABORIGINAL SUBSISTENCE WHALING 7.1 Aboriginal subsistence whaling scheme 7.1.1 Report of the Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling Sub-committee 7.1.2 Commission discussions and action arising 7.2 Review of aboriginal subsistence whaling catch limits 7.2.1 Report of the Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling Sub-committee 7.2.2 Commission discussions and action arising 7.3 Catches by non-member nations 7.3.1 Report of the Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling Sub-committee 7.3.2 Commission discussions and action arising 7.4 Contaminated gray whales from the North Pacific eastern stock [At last year's meeting, the Commission requested the Scientific Committee to investigate the problem of contaminated gray whales from this stock reported by the Russian Federation.] 7.4.1 Report of the Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling Sub-committee 7.4.2 Commission discussions and action arising 7.5 Other 8. REVISED MANAGEMENT SCHEME (RMS) 8.1 Revised Management Procedure (RMP) [In the past, work on the RMP has been discussed under an agenda item titled 'Comprehensive Assessment'. However, since the RMP is part of the RMS, it is more logical for it to be addressed here.] 8.1.1 Report of the Scientific Committee * general issues * implementation trials 8.1.2 Commission discussions and action arising 8.2 Revised Management Scheme 8.2.1 Report of the Revised Management Scheme Working Group * Inspection and observation scheme * Incorporation of the RMS into the Schedule * other 8.2.2 Commission discussions and action arising 8.3 Other 9. SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS AND SMALL-TYPE WHALING 9.1 Commission discussions and action arising 10. SCIENTIFIC PERMITS 10.1 Report of the Scientific Committee 10.1.1 Assessing impacts on stocks 10.1.2 Review of proposals 10.2 Commission discussions and action arising 11. ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH ISSUES 11.1 Pollution 2000+ 11.1.1 Report of the Scientific Committee 11.1.2 Commission discussions and action arising 11.2 SOWER 2000 11.2.1 Report of the Scientific Committee 11.2.2 Commission discussions and action arising 11.3 Reports from Contracting Governments on national and regional efforts to monitor and address the impacts of environmental change on cetaceans and other marine mammals. [Contracting Governments will be invited to submit short written reports well in advance of the Annual Meeting. These reports will be collated into a single document and circulated before the meeting.] 11.4 Health issues 11.4.1 Report of the Scientific Committee 11.4.2 Commission discussions and action arising 11.5 Other 12. CO-OPERATION WITH OTHER ORGANISATIONS 12.1 Organisations with whom IWC is currently working: CITES, CMS (ASCOBANS & ACCOBAMS), CCAMLR, FAO, GLOBEC, ICES, IATTC, ICCAT, NAMMCO, other 12.1.1 Report of the Scientific Committee 12.1.2 Commission discussions and action arising 12.2 Co-operative agreement with IMO [As there is no formal agreement of co-operation between IWC and IMO, IMO was unable to respond to the IWC Secretary's request that Resolution 2000-8 on Western North Atlantic Right Whales be distributed at IMO's Maritime Safety Committee and Marine Environmental Protection Committee. Instead, the Resolution had to be submitted by a country that is a member of both organisations, causing delays. Assuming that there may well be a need for co-operation between IWC and IMO in future, the Secretary is pursuing establishment of a co-operative agreement. Progress with this agreement will be reported to the Commission under this agenda item.] 13. OTHER SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES, ITS FUTURE WORK PLAN AND ADOPTION OF THE SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE REPORT 13.1 Small cetaceans 13.1.1 Report of the Scientific Committee 13.1.2 Commission discussions and action arising 13.2 Other activities [Scientific Committee activities of particular importance to the Commission that have not been addressed previously will be reported under this item.] 13.2.1 Report of the Scientific Committee 13.2.2 Commission discussions and action arising 13.3 Scientific Committee Future Work Plan 13.3.1 Report of the Scientific Committee 13.3.2 Commission discussions and action arising 13.4 Adoption of the Report 14. INFRACTIONS, 2000 SEASON 14.1 Report of the Infractions Sub-committee 14.1.1 Infractions reports from Contracting Governments 14.1.2 Reporting of accidental takes [At last year's meeting, the Secretariat undertook to review how accidental takes have been reported in the past and to provide examples of precedents for this year's meeting.] 14.1.3 Submission of national laws and regulations concerning whaling. [At last year's meeting, the Commission agreed that the Infractions Sub-committee should be asked to determine the extent to which a failure to provide information about laws or procedures, or a failure to enact them after giving an undertaking to do so, might be considered an infraction.] 14.1.4 Reports from Contracting Governments on availability, sources and trade in whale products 14.1.5 Other 14.2 Commission discussions and action arising 15. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS 15.1 Annual Meeting arrangements [This agenda item will give Commissioners the opportunity to review the changes recently implemented by the Secretariat, particularly regarding better advance planning of the venues for Annual Meetings and the distribution of meeting documents.] 15.1.1 Report of the Finance and Administration Committee * Venues * Document preparation and distribution * Verbatim Record * other 15.1.2 Commission discussions and action arising 15.2 Formalising arrangements for intersessional meetings [The intention of this agenda item would be to agree procedures and responsibilities for organising any future intersessional meetings. A paper will be developed by the Secretariat for review by the F&A Committee.] 15.2.1 Report of the Finance and Administration Committee 15.2.2 Commission discussions and action arising 15.3 Enhancing the participation of developing country scientists [At last year's meeting of the F&A Committee, Brazil proposed that the Advisory Committee, the Chair of the Scientific Committee and the Secretary, assisted by any interested parties should consult on ways to increase scientific participation of developing countries in the work of the Scientific Committee. The outcome of these consultations will be reported to the Commission via the F&A Committee.] 15.3.1 Report of the Finance and Administration Committee 15.3.2 Commission discussions and action arising 15.4 Other 16. FORMULA FOR CALCULATING CONTRIBUTIONS 16.1 Report of the Finance and Administration Committee [A meeting of the Contributions Task Force will take place on 21-22 May. The outcome of this meeting will be reported to the F&A Committee via the Contributions Sub-committee.] 16.2 Commission discussions and action arising 17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, BUDGETS AND OTHER ISSUES 17.1 Review of the provisional financial statement, 2000/2001 17.1.1 Report of the Finance and Administration Committee 17.1.2 Commission discussions and action arising 17.2 Consideration of estimated budgets, 2001/2002 and 2002/2003 17.2.1 Report of the Finance and Administration Committee 17.2.2 Commission discussions and action arising 17.3 Governments with financial contributions outstanding for a number of years [The Secretariat, in consultation with the Advisory Committee, will develop a paper for consideration first by the F&A Committee]. 17.3.1 Report of the Finance and Administration Committee 17.3.2 Commission discussions and action arising 17.4 Other 18. AMENDMENT TO THE RULES OF PROCEDURE 18.1 Recommendations from the Finance and Administration Committee 18.1.1 Report of the Finance and Administration Committee 18.1.2 Commission discussions and action arising 18.2 Other 19. ADOPTION OF THE REPORT OF THE FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE 20. DATE AND PLACE OF ANNUAL AND INTERSESSIONAL MEETINGS 20.1 54th Annual Meeting 20.2 55th Annual Meeting 20.3 Other 21. ADVISORY COMMITTEE [The Netherlands has now completed its two-year term on the Advisory Committee and a new member must be appointed.] 22. ANNUAL REPORT [The Secretariat and Advisory Committee believe that the current format and content of the Annual Report is not particularly useful or informative, particularly as it only deals with events leading up to the Annual Meeting and thus cannot take account of decisions made that year. It is proposed that instead a 'Secretary's Report' or 'end of year report' be prepared after the Annual Meeting which would provide a more complete summary of events and therefore be much more useful. A proposed outline will be made available for review.] 23. SUMMARY OF DECISIONS AND REQUIRED ACTIONS [The Chairman or Secretary will summarise the decisions taken during the 53rd Annual Meeting, and the follow-up actions required. This will take the form of the summary provided at the beginning of the Chairman's Report of the 52nd Annual Meeting. It will include any financial consequences arising from decisions in Plenary and not already provided for in the budget] 24. 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: Thu, 17 May 2001 15:56:55 +0100 From: Sascha Hooker Subject: Abstract: bottlenose whale reactions to biopsy darting and tag attachment The following article has recently been published: Hooker, SK, RW Baird, S Al-Omari, S Gowans, and Hal Whitehead. 2001. Behavioral reactions of northern bottlenose whales to biopsy darting and tag attachment procedures. Fishery Bulletin 99: 303-308. Abstract - The effects of invasive or intrusive research techniques need to be thoroughly documented in order to satisfy appropriate standards of animal care. How cetaceans react to either biopsy darting or tag attachment procedures has been studied for several species, and considerable interspecific variability in responses has been demonstrated; however, few studies have compared reactions to both techniques. In the family Ziphiidae (the beaked whales) nothing has previously been reported on responses to either technique. We examined and compared the reactions of northern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus) to biopsy darting and tagging. Reactions to both these procedures were generally low-level and short-lived; stronger responses were given to hits than to misses. There was no statistical difference in observed response to tag versus biopsy hits. The prior behavioral state of the whales appeared to influence the magnitude of reaction to both hits and misses and thus may be an important factor to consider in impact assessment. Whales lying still at the surface showed stronger reactions than traveling or milling animals. Sea state appeared to affect whether there was a reaction to misses. Whales were more likely to respond to a miss in calm sea conditions. No avoidance of the research vessel was observed following a tag or biopsy attempt, and in most cases whales re-approached the research vessel again within several minutes. A pdf copy of the following manuscript is available from the the Fishery Bulletin web page: http://fishbull.noaa.gov/fcontent.htm (click on the appropriate article in the table of contents) or from the Whitehead Lab website: http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/sh/sascha.htm Hard copies can be obtained from: Sascha Hooker or Robin Baird ------------------- Sascha K. Hooker, PhD British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET Phone: 44-1223-221611 Fax: 44-1223-221259 Email: skh(\)bas.ac.uk http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/Science/Programmes/independent/mibmmo/ http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/sh/sascha.htm ------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 17 May 2001 11:30:22 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Scientific Research Associate position announcement (fwd) Scientific Research Associate (4 positions) These positions are responsible for assisting lead scientists in conducting research projects at the Alaska SeaLife Center. Duties include: taking primary responsibility for all phases of assigned research projects; arranging logistics and leading field crews in the absence of the lead scientist; reporting to the lead scientist regularly on the status of the project; assisting in drafting reports and scientific publications and taking a lead role on reports and publications as assigned; assisting in sampling captive animals; assisting or leading in the processing of samples and tracking the disposition of samples; conducting experiments and observations both at the ASLC and in the field; assisting in designing observations and data collection systems and carrying out scientific data collection and statistical analysis of data collected. Requirements include Master's degree in a natural resources related field; or bachelor's degree in a natural resources related field with two years experience working on scientific investigations of marine mammals. Experience in conducting counts of marine mammals, remote monitoring of marine mammals, estimating body composition of marine mammals, and an ability to conduct statistical analysis of scientific data is desirable. Experience participating on investigations of Steller sea lions (for three positions) or killer whales (for one position) may be rated higher than other species. These are full-time positions with benefits. Salaries are depending on experience. Applications must be received by Thursday, May 31, 2001. Review of applications will begin May 24. Send Alaska SeaLife Center application and resume with references to Yvette Welsh, Human Resources Officer, Alaska SeaLife Center, PO Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664-1329, fax 907.224.6320, or email yvette_welsh(\)alaskasealife.org. The ASLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. * Posted 05/17/01 Seward Phoenix Log publish May 24, 2001 Yvette Welsh, PHR Human Resources Officer Alaska SeaLife Center PO Box 1329 Seward, AK 99664-1329 907.224.6313 907.224.6320 fax yvette_welsh(\)alaskasealife.org www.alaskasealife.org ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 17 May 2001 11:29:30 -0400 From: Kathryn Ono Subject: Laboratory/Vet Technician position Tammy Louko Please post this position announcement on Marmam: Laboratory Technician/Veterinary Technician (Full Time) Organization - Marine Science Center, University of New England The University of New England has an opening in its new Marine Science Center in Biddeford, Maine for a full time Laboratory Technician/Veterinary Technician. Responsibilities include assisting the Veterinarian and Rehabilitation Coordinator in medical/surgical procedures, maintaining clinical work areas and equipment in radiology, pharmacy, surgical suite, treatment room, laboratory, necropsy rooms and research areas. Candidate will assist with necropsy, clinical pathology treatments, procedures, research, projects, water quality and inventory as needed. Oversees the technical and supportive care of a variety of cases with stranded marine mammals, sea turtles, small cetacean, and fish and invertebrates. Must be flexible, independent and be able to work well with staff, volunteers and researchers. Must also be willing to teach. Qualified candidates will have a degree in Veterinary Technology or equal experience, minimum of two years work experience working with marine mammals in the stranding capacity. Scuba certification, computer skills and ability to lift 50 lbs. a plus. Please note that the Marine Science Center will be operational 365 days per year, therefore, must be able to work a flexible schedule, which can include some weekends, holidays and some evenings. Please send cover letter/resume and the names of three (3) references by May 31, 2001 to: A. Christine Brown, Director, Marine Science Education and Research Center, University of New England, 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, Maine 04005. email: sbrown(\)mailbox.une.edu The University of New England is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and welcomes female and minority candidacies. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 17 May 2001 23:12:54 +0200 From: Chris Hedley Subject: Internet Guide to International Fisheries (and Marine Mammal) Law In-Reply-To: Dear MARMAMers This is just to give you an update on a website that many of you may be familiar with. Called the Internet Guide to International Fisheries Law it deals comprehensively with all aspects of marine living resource conservation and management. It contains information and documents on marine mammal organizations and agreements and contains a large collection of links. Recent additions to the site also include a discussion list for law and policy aspects of marine living resource conservation and management and a monthly news bulletin. (The latter requires a subscription fee, I'm afraid, although this is half price in May). The website address is: www.oceanlaw.net The main sections are: Compendium of Legal Texts: a collection of more than 140 international agreements and instruments Compendium of Fisheries Cases: a collection of the main international fisheries cases, and links International Organizations: information and contacts for the main fisheries and marine mammal organizations Int-Fish Bulletin: news e-zine containing articles and news summaries on fisheries, whaling, sealing and related subjects Internet Pathfinder: a collection of around 4,000 links to relevant information (new version still under construction) Review: a review database of around 200 relevant books Glossary: a glossary of relevant terms Lists: a discussion list and an update/announcement list I would like to take this opportunity to thanks those MARMAMers which use this site for their support and feedback in the past, and would welcome any new comments on the revised version of the site. Best wishes Chris Hedley chris(\)oceanlaw.net ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 18 May 2001 05:40:06 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Indigenous use of Bow Head Whales (fwd) From: timothy.hill(\)npws.nsw.gov.au New South Wales (Australia) National Parks and Wildlife Service Cultural Heritage Division will soon be holding an internal workshop to discuss (among other things) Cultural Heritage Management in North America. An outcome of this workshop will be to identify issues associated to the management of the use of wild resources by Australian Aboriginal communities. If anybody has a copy (or summary) of previous correspondence/debate regarding controlled hunting of Bowhead Whales from approximately November/December 2000, this would be greatly appreciated. Tim Hill A/Archaeologist Southern Aboriginal Heritage Unit Cultural Heritage Division Phone: 02 62989707 Mobile:0438 54 8066 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 18 May 2001 09:17:25 -0400 From: Mark Baumgartner Subject: Abstract: Cetacean habitats in the northern Gulf of Mexico ------ The following article has been recently published: Baumgartner, M.F., K.D. Mullin, L.N. May and T.D. Leming. 2001. Cetacean habitats in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Fishery Bulletin 99:219-239. Abstract: Surveys were conducted in the northern Gulf of Mexico during the spring seasons of 1992, 1993 and 1994 to determine the distribution, abundance a= nd habitat preferences of oceanic cetaceans. The distributions of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), Risso=92s dolphins (Grampus griseus), Kogi= a spp. [pygmy (Kogia breviceps) and dwarf sperm whales (Kogia sima)], pantropical spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata) and sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) were examined with respect to depth, depth gradient, surface temperature, surface temperature variability, the depth of the 15 degree Celcius isotherm, surface chlorophyll concentration and epipelagic zooplankton biomass. Bottlenose dolphins were encountered in t= wo distinct regions: the shallow continental shelf (0 - 150 m) and just seaward of the shelf break (200 - 750 m). Within both of these depth strata, bottlenose dolphins were sighted more frequently than expected in regions of high surface temperature variability which suggests an association with ocean fronts. Risso=92s dolphins were encountered over t= he steeper sections of the upper continental slope (200 - 1000 m) while the Kogia spp. were sighted more frequently in waters of the upper continenta= l slope that had high zooplankton biomass. The pantropical spotted dolphin and sperm whale were similarly distributed over the lower continental slo= pe and deep Gulf (> 1000 m), but sperm whales were generally absent from anticyclonic oceanographic features (e.g., the Loop Current, warm-core eddies) characterized by deep occurrences of the 15 degree Celcius isotherm. Habitat partitioning, high-use areas, species accounts, environmental sampling limitations and directions for future habitat work in the Gulf of Mexico are discussed. A PDF version of this article (838 Kb) is available from Fishery Bulletin= : http://fishbull.noaa.gov/fcontent.htm (Vol. 99, No. 2) or from the lead author's website: http://ucs.orst.edu/~baumgarm/ Reprints are available from Mark Baumgartner (mbaumgar(\)oce.orst.edu). Mark Baumgartner College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences Oregon State University 20 Summer St. #207N Malden, MA 02148 mbaumgar(\)oce.orst.edu http://ucs.orst.edu/~baumgarm (781)397-6902 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 18 May 2001 09:48:29 -0700 From: Ellen Hines Subject: GIS/Remote Sensing workshop in Vancouver, abstract submission boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0014_01C0DF7F.B161EF40" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0014_01C0DF7F.B161EF40 charset="iso-8859-1" Greetings: Abstracts are now being accepted for the 2nd Workshop on the Use of = Geomatic Technologies for Marine Mammal Scientists. November 28, 2001, = Vancouver SMM conference. We are looking for abstracts for posters, presentations, and people who = would like to lead a discussion on a specific topic--some aspect of how = we as marine mammal scientists can use GIS and/or remote sensing as = tools in our work. In this workshop we will explore the potential for = using geomatic technologies in marine mammal research. Through = presentations, posters, panel discussions, and specialty discussion = groups, we will investigate the use of remotely sensed images and GIS = mapping procedures as tools to simulate and visualize relationships = between marine mammals and abiotic/biotic ecosystem parameters.=20 August 1 is the deadline for abstracts. Please mail, email, or fax your = abstracts to: 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 The report for the 1st workshop and registration form for this year are = available as links from the following URL: http://office.geog.uvic.ca/dept/whale/wrlmp.html ------=_NextPart_000_0014_01C0DF7F.B161EF40 charset="iso-8859-1"
Greetings:
 
Abstracts are now being accepted = for the 2nd=20 Workshop on the Use of Geomatic Technologies for Marine Mammal = Scientists. =20 November 28, 2001, Vancouver SMM conference.
 
We are looking for abstracts for = posters,=20 presentations, and people who would like to lead a discussion on a = specific=20 topic--some aspect of how we as marine mammal scientists can use GIS = and/or=20 remote sensing as tools in our work. In this workshop we will explore = the=20 potential for using geomatic technologies in marine mammal research. = Through=20 presentations, posters, panel discussions, and specialty discussion = groups, we=20 will investigate the use of remotely sensed images and GIS mapping = procedures as=20 tools to simulate and visualize relationships between marine mammals and = abiotic/biotic ecosystem parameters.
August 1 is the deadline for = abstracts. =20 Please mail, email, or fax your abstracts to:
Ellen Hines
Whale and Dugong = Research=20 Lab
Department of Geography
University of Victoria
Box = 3025
Victoria=20 BC, Canada V8W 3P5
(250) 472 4746
Fax (250) 721 6216
ehines(\)office.geog.uvic.ca
The=20 report for the 1st workshop and registration form for this year are = available as=20 links from the following URL:
http://office.g= eog.uvic.ca/dept/whale/wrlmp.html
------=_NextPart_000_0014_01C0DF7F.B161EF40-- ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 19 May 2001 12:47:18 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: California set net closure, hearings, comment request (fwd) ------- Forwarded Message Follows ------- >From the SEABIRD list Date: Fri, 04 May 2001 12:33:54 -0700 To: birdbycatch(\)pond.net From: Liz Mitchell Hello, The hearings below are for a proposed state closure of the California halibut set net fishery in Monterey and Morro Bays in central California. The two hearings are open to the public and written comments can be sent in at a later date. At issue are high bycatch of common murres and also bycatch of threatened California sea otter. Common murre estimates for 1999 for Central California are 2,359 and preliminary estimates for 2000 are over 3,100. The regulations below do not apply to the smaller meshed sea bass net fishery, which is suspected to have similar bycatch numbers. The original emergency closure of 13 September 2000 came about in part by a 60-day notice of intent to sue the California Department of Fish and Game and California Fish and Game Commission. This was filed by the Center for Biological Diversity and the Turtle Island Restoration Network on 25 April 2000 and can be seen at: The Southwest Region of the National Marine Fisheries Service had 2 federal observers collecting data in this fishery in Monterey Bay. >From 1 April 1999 to 30 September 2000, the following data was collected on this fishery in Monterey Bay and adjacent near-shore waters (NMFS, 1999, 2000): Observer Coverage: 238 of 963 trips (24.7%) Mortality (raw data from 2 observers on 238 trips): Harbor Porpoise: 34 Unid. small Cetacean: 1 California Sea Lion: 41 Harbor Seal: 81 Northern Elephant Seal: 14 Unid. Pinniped: 4 Sea Otters: 1 Common Murre: 1209 Unidentified Cormorant: 1 Brandt's Cormorant: 1 Source: NMFS. 1999, 2000. Monterey Bay Set Gillnet Observer Program status reports (quarterly and annual). Fisheries Observer Management, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Southwest Region, National Marine Fisheries Service. ______________________________________ Other sources of bycatch estimates for this fishery: Cameron, G.A. and K.A. Forney. 2000. Preliminary estimates of cetacean mortality in California/Oregon gillnet fisheries for 1999. Available at: http://swfsc.nmfs.noaa.gov/sars/OtherReports/iwc99.pdf (File attached) Forney, K.A. 1998. Set gillnets in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary: A review of fishery effort, distribution, and bycatch of marine birds and mammals, 1990-1997. Source? Forney, K. A., S. R. Benson and G. A. Cameron. 2001. Central California gillnet effort and bycatch of sensitive species, 1990-98. In: E. F. Melvin and J. K. Parrish (eds), "Seabird Bycatch: Trends, Roadblocks and Solutions". University of Alaska Sea Grant, Fairbanks, Alaska (in press). Julian F. and Beeson, M. 1998. Estimates of marine mammal, turtle and seabird mortality for two California gillnet fisheries: 1990- 95. Fishery Bulletin 96:271-284. _______________________ The Department of Fish and Game has scheduled two public hearings on making the current emergency gill net closure permanent and extending the closed area out to 60 fathoms all the way from Point Reyes to Point Arguello. NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING On September 13, 2000 the Director of the Department of Fish and Game adopted as an emergency regulation section 104.1 of Title 14, California Code of Regulations. The emergency regulation was readopted on January 10, 2001. The Department is now proposing to permanently adopt regulations governing the use of gill and trammel nets in the area from Point Arguello in Monterey County to Point Reyes in Marin County and offshore to a depth of 60 fathoms. The text of the regulation now being proposed for permanent adoption is different from the emergency regulation in that it specifies a closure period of January 1 to December 31 of each year and adds an additional closure area between Yankee Point and Point Sal. On Tuesday, May 8 and Wednesday May 9, 2001, the Department of Fish and Game will conduct hearings on the above-referenced subject at the following time and places to take testimony as to the effect of this Order and determine whether any modification of this Order is necessary: Tuesday May 8, 2001, 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. Seaside City Hall 440 Harcourt Avenue Seaside, California Wednesday May 9, 2001, 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District Office, 3433 Robert Court San Luis Obispo, California The Director has determined that as a direct result of the use of gill nets, there is the danger of irreparable injury to, or mortality in, the common murre population which is occurring at a rate that threatens the viability of the population. The Director also determined that, as a direct result of the use of gill nets, the recovery of the southern sea otter as a protected species is also impaired. This action is undertaken pursuant to Fish and Game Code Section 8664.5. Written testimony may be submitted at any time, but must be received before 5:00 P.M. May 28, 2001 at the Marine Region office, 20 Lower Ragsdale Drive #100, Monterey, CA 93940, attention Robson Collins, by facsimile at (831) 649-2894 or by e- mail (RACollin(\)dfg.ca.gov). ___________________________________ Elizabeth Mitchell Seabird Bycatch Project P.O. Box 933 Eugene, Oregon 97440 Tel: 541/607-8838 E-mail: or ___________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 21 May 2001 14:02:36 +0100 Reply-To: icods From: icods Subject: CONFERENCE: ICODS, Registration Announcement ------ ------------------------------------------------- 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/ ------------------------------------------------- Registration Announcement =20 ------------------------------------------------- NOTE: The deadline for early registration is the 31st May, 2001. Any=20 registrations received after this date will be liable to a =9C50 late fee. 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 outline information about the conference and linked workshops. Please visit our web site for more details. Objectives ---------- The aim of this conference is to bring together for the first time all=20 those interested in the estimation of wildlife abundance using distance=20 sampling methods. Determining the density or abundance of wildlife=20 populations is a key component of population ecology, wildlife management= =20 and biological conservation. For many taxa, distance sampling methods suc= h=20 as line transects, point transects (variable circular plots) and trapping= =20 webs are the most efficient approach. These methods are now in very=20 widespread use by biologists, and there have been many recent development= s=20 in the underlying theory that increase the scope of the methods. The tim= e=20 is right for a major international gathering. Our major objectives are to: -Bring together practitioners from a wide range of disciplines and system= s, as well as statisticians involved in methodological development -Present examples of new research and best practice through invited plena= ry talks -Provide a forum for the exchange of ideas, techniques and methods throug= h contributed talks, posters and informal discussion sessions -Provide world-class training for those new to the subject, through linke= d workshops to be held before and after the conference We hope that the conference will prove to be a major milestone in the application of wildlife survey techniques, leading to increased=20 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 papers. (The preliminary topic of their paper is given in brackets.) - 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 (Distance sampling of Antarctic pack ice seals.) - Bryan F.J. Manly Western EcoSystems Technology Inc., Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA (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.) - Tore Schweder Department of Economics, University of Oslo, Norway In addition to the scientific program, we are planning field trips and a full social program. Linked Workshops ---------------- The conference will be bracketed by two linked workshops. The aim of thes= e 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. - Workshop 1: Introduction to Distance Sampling, July 25-27 An introductory workshop, focusing on "conventional" distance sampling methods, including line and point transects where detection on the=20 trackline or point is certain. The workshop will be a blend of theory an= d=20 practice and participants will learn how to use the program Distance. =20 Participants will gain a solid grounding in both survey design and method= s=20 of analysis for distance sampling surveys. - Workshop 2: Advanced Techniques and Recent Developments in Distance Sampling, August 6-8 A workshop designed for those who are already familiar with the basics,=20 where we will teach advanced material such as automated survey design,=20 adaptive sampling, incorporating covariates into the detection function, methods for where g0<1, and spatial modeling of density. Participants wi= ll=20 learn some of the more advanced features of Distance. This workshop will= =20 take place after the conference to give us a chance to discuss new work=20 presented there. For both workshops, participants are encouraged to bring their own data=20 sets, and can expect to do some preliminary analyses with their data. The number of participants on both workshops is strictly limited and, bas= ed on preliminary registrations, we expect both workshops to be=20 oversubscribed. To avoid disappointment, we encourage you to register for= =20 these as soon as possible. Sponsors -------- ICODS is supported by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Biometrics Working Group of the Wildlife Society. Further information ------------------- More information about the conference, including the registration form, 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 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 463813 Fax: +44 1334 463748 Email: icods(\)mcs.st-and.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 17:57:36 -0300 Reply-To: lrendell(\)is2.dal.ca From: Luke Rendell Subject: Culture in Marine Mammals Workshop in Vancouver Dear all, Registrations and poster abstracts are now being accepted for the workshop on Culture in Marine Mammals to be held on November 28th at the Vancouver SMM conference, at the following URL : http://www.dal.ca/~whitelab/wrkshp.htm This workshop will examine the evidence for culture in marine mammals, and discuss how cultural processes and their evolutionary and conservation consequences can best be identified and studied. We do not expect the workshop to answer the question "do cetaceans have culture?" once and for all. The workshop will consist of talks by invited speakers (see below), submitted posters and a discussion period at the end of the day involving all the presenters. We encourage the submission of abstracts for posters to be presented at this workshop. If accepted, poster presenters will have the opportunity to give a 2 minute summary of their work to the workshop. If you wish to present a poster at this workshop please e-mail an abstract of no more than 250 words to Luke Rendell () by June 30th. Registration will cost US$35 (CDN$54) before 15 August, and US$45 (CDN$69) thereafter. Confirmed speakers : W.C. McGrew - Culture on land and at sea : Lessons from cultural primatology Phillip J. Clapham - Are humpback whales creatures of culture? Stan Kuczaj - What studies of captive animals can and cannot tell us about marine mammal culture Mike Noad - Cultural displacement and replacement in the songs of Australian humpback whales Denise Herzing - Transmission mechanisms of social learning: Underwater observations of free- ranging dolphins in the Bahamas. Richard Connor - Culture and ecology in bottlenose dolphin behaviour Patrick Abgrall / Jack Terhune - Phocids, Title TBA Jim Estes / Tim Tinker - Sea otters, Title TBA Lance Barrett-Lennard - Killer whales, title TBA Harald Yurk - Killer whale vocal culture, title TBA Hal Whitehead - Culture and evolution Luke Rendell - Candidate cultural behaviours in sperm whales Cheers, Luke ------- End of forwarded message ------- Luke Rendell Dept of Biology Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1 CANADA E-mail : lrendell(\)is2.dal.ca Tel : (902) 494 3723 WWW : http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/lr/luke.htm ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 23 May 2001 15:39:11 -0400 From: Howard Rhinehart Subject: Position Announcement POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT FOR VETERINARY TECHNICIAN Certified Veterinary Technician with experience in either cetaceans or sea turtles is wanted for a full time position at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in the Dolphin and Whale Hospital and Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital. Duties will include both laboratory and animal care responsibilities relating to the rehabilitation of dolphins, whales, and sea turtles as well as routine health monitoring of captive sea turtles, manatees, and fishes. The successful candidate will work closely with a full time veterinarian and a full time certified veterinary technician. Involvement in research projects is possible. This is an immediate opening. Minimum Job Requirements Candidate must: 1) Be at least 18 years of age 2) Have direct experience with cetaceans and/or sea turtles 3) Possess a valid Florida certified veterinary technician license or possess a license from another state and be able to pass the Florida state exam within 1 year 4) Be willing to work a flexible schedule including some weekends, nights, and holidays 5) Be familiar with computer programs including word processing and Excel 6) Be a good swimmer and comfortable in water up to 10 deep Applicants should have an interest in research. An undergraduate degree in the biological sciences or related field is highly desirable. Additional requirements include good health, the ability to go up and down a 10 ladder, and the ability to interact with a diverse group of scientists, animal care specialists and public volunteers. Salary will be commensurate with experience and will include health insurance and retirement benefits. Contact Charles Manire, DVM or Howard Rhinehart, CVT by email at: cmanire(\)mote.org or rhine(\)mote.org Include a resume and 3 references. Closing date is 1 June 2001. Mote Marine Laboratory is located in Sarasota, FL, approximately 60 miles south of Tampa. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 23 May 2001 17:58:34 -0400 From: Lori Marino Subject: New paper on MRI of fetal common dolphin brain Dear colleagues, I want to call your attention to a paper my collaborators and I recently published in Anatomy and Embryology entitled" Magnetic resonance imaging and three-dimensional reconstructions of the brain of a fetal common dolphin, Delphinus delphis". The abstract is below: To demonstrate the kinds of data that can be obtained non-destructively and non-invasively from preserved museum specimens using modern imaging technology the head region of a whole body fetal specimen of the common dolphin, Delphinus delphis, age 8-9 months post-conception, was scanned using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Series of scans were obtained in coronal, sagittal and horizontal planes. A digital three-dimensional reconstruction of the whole brain was prepared from the coronal series of scans. Sectional areas and three-dimensional volumes were obtained of the cerebral hemispheres and of the brainstem-plus-cerebellum. Neuroanatomical features identified in the scans include the major sulci of the cerebral hemispheres, well-differentiated regions of gray and white matter; the mesencephalic, pontine, and cervical flexures; the "foreshortened" appearance of the forebrain; and the large auditory inferior colliculi. These findings show that numerous features of the fetal common dolphin brain can be visualized and analyzed from MRI scans. You can download a pdf version of the entire article from the following website: http://link.springer-ny.com/link/service/journals/00429/tocs/t1203005.htm *Please note that there is a typographical error on page 2 above Fig 2. The words "orbital lobe" should be ommitted. Thank you, 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 WEB SITES: http://www.emory.edu/LIVING_LINKS/i/people/marino.html http://www.emory.edu/COLLEGE/NBB/FACULTY/research.html#Marino ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 10:44:18 -0400 From: Aleta Hohn Organization: NOAA Beaufort Lab Subject: Research assistant position at NOAA Beaufort Lab This is a contract position, with benefits, and is not a federal job. It will be part of the Cetacean and Sea Turtle Team, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA Beaufort Lab. The Cetacean and Sea Turtle Team conducts research on stock structure, life history, fishery interactions, and habitat of cetaceans and sea turtles. Much of the marine mammal work focuses on bottlenose dolphins along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. Position title and description: Research and administrative assistant The laboratory conducts research on age and life history for bottlenose dolphins as well as other species. Samples are collected from stranded and live-captured animals. The types of questions being addressed include: are age structure of animals that die from natural mortality relative to those entangled in fishing gear; age structure of animals that mass strand; ages of animals involved in health assessment studies; and ages estimated to support life history studies. Gonads are also obtained from stranded or entangled animals to estimate reproductive parameters. This position focuses primarily on lab work pertaining to the life history studies mentioned above and includes sectioning teeth and bones for aging and working up gonads for life history. Some (but limited) fieldwork is involved, including: photo-id, radio tracking, aerial surveys, and assistance with strandings. The incumbent also assists the Team Leader with administrative tasks such as budget, supply purchases, chemical inventory, record keeping, and other lab-related paperwork. Other duties will include data entry, literature review, editing, faxing, photocopying, and assisting in various lab projects. Some data analysis is involved. Candidates will be evaluated on the basis of previous lab experience as well as experience relevant to other aspects of the position, such as computer skills, photo-id, and stranding response. Small-boat experience helpful. The position will be filled at the equivalent of a GS-5 or 7 (approx. $23,000-29,000 per yr), commensurate with the experience of the candidate. Position to begin in July or August. To apply for the position, please send a CV to Dr. Aleta Hohn (aleta.hohn(\)noaa.gov). Cover letter should include your experience as it relates directly to the position. Candidates determined to be competitive for the position will be contacted by mid-June. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 25 May 2001 08:48:33 +0200 From: Giovanni Bearzi Subject: Tethys work presented at the last ECS Conference (Rome) For those who could not attend the last European Cetacean Society conference in Rome, and for those who did attend it but could not find the time to read the posters, we have posted downloadable .pdf versions of the papers presented by the Tethys Research Institute on the internet. These can be found at http://www.tethys.org Look under "Papers presented at the 15th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society (Rome, Italy, 6-10 May 2001)" __.pdf versions (averaging 200K) are available for the following papers: COMMON DOLPHIN PREY SPECIES IN THE EASTERN IONIAN SEA: INSIGHT FROM FISH SCALES SAMPLED DURING SURFACE FORAGING Agazzi, S., Bearzi, G. and Politi, E. PHYSICAL HABITAT OF CETACEANS ALONG THE CONTINENTAL SLOPE OF THE WESTERN LIGURIAN SEA Azzellino, A., Airoldi, S., Gaspari, S., Patti, P. and Sturlese, A. -- spoken (PowerPoint) presentation in .pdf format BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS FORAGING ALONGSIDE FISH FARM CAGES IN EASTERN IONIAN SEA COASTAL WATERS Bearzi, G., Quondam, F. and Politi, E. SOCIAL ORGANISATION OF A COMMON DOLPHIN COMMUNITY IN THE EASTERN IONIAN SEA: EVIDENCE OF A FLUID FISSION-FUSION SOCIETY Bruno, S., Politi, E. and Bearzi, G. PASSIVE TRACKING AND TIMING OF RESPIRATION AS A METHODOLOGY TO DETERMINE REACTIONS OF MEDITERRANEAN FIN WHALES IN RESPONSE TO DIFFERENT SOURCES OF POSSIBLE DISTURBANCE Jahoda, M., Azzellino, A., Lafortuna, C.L., Notarbartolo Di Sciara, G., Almirante, C., Borsani, J.F., Panigada, S., Zanardelli, M. and Bearzi, G. DISTRIBUTION AND OCCURRENCE OF FIN WHALES IN THE LIGURIAN SEA BETWEEN 1990-99 Panigada, S., Notarbartolo di Sciara, G., Zanardelli, M., Airoldi, S., Borsani, J.F., Jahoda, M., Pesante, G. and Revelli, E. EVIDENCE OF RAREFACTION FOR A COASTAL COMMON DOLPHIN COMMUNITY IN THE EASTERN IONIAN SEA Politi, E. and Bearzi, G. A number of other abstracts presented in Rome and co-authored by Tethys personnel are also available. Please note that the edited / printed version of the papers above will be included as usual in the ECS proceedings (to be issued next year). To know more about the European Cetacean Society see: http://web.inter.nl.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs/index.htm _______________________________________ Giovanni Bearzi President, Tethys Research Institute Tethys Research Institute c/o Venice Natural History Museum* Santa Croce 1730, 30135 Venezia, Italy voice: +39 0412750206; fax: +39 041721000 *office hrs: Mon-Wed-Fri 9-13, Tue-Thu 9-17 http://www.tethys.org _______________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 26 May 2001 13:53:52 +0100 From: "M.E.E.R. e.V." Subject: Epimeletic behaviour of cetacean groups Dear Marmamers, We would like to inform you about a rare and interesting event we observed during our study on the cetacean fauna off La Gomera (Canary Islands) and also would like to ask for your help in spotting literature and/or similar observations related to this event: Our observations were made as part of an ongoing research project conducted off La Gomera (Canary Islands). Observation platform was a whale watching boat, operating off the south and Southwest coast of the island, and being used for the systematic collection of behavioural data since several years. Rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) are present in the study area year-round. On 25 April at 1030 h we spotted a group of 15-20 rough-toothed dolphins. In the group was an adult dolphin carrying a dead new-born calf. The animal was continuously pushing the carcass towards the surface with its beak, melon and front part of the body, or taking it into its mouth. It often performed arched or lateral surfacings, and showed other erratic movements close to the surface. From time to time the animal apparently left the new-born, only to retrieve it after periods of several minutes. Close to this animal presumably the mother of the dead calf and therefore called "the female" two more adult dolphins were swimming in a highly synchronous way, mostly slightly in front of it and constantly escorting the female. The group changed its behaviour from surface feeding to slow travel after a while, and at 1130 h began to swim in loose formation. Subgroups of 3 and 7 animals were observed close to the female and the calf, which were still escorted by 2 animals. Later, the group formation became dispersed again, with single animals seen more frequently. The group was left at 1230 h, when the animals were widely dispersed again. On the following six days, the group was re-sighted six times, always containing the female and the dead calf. The group composition appeared to be always the same, judged from individuals in the group that were readily identifiable by natural markings of the fin and other features, although this has to be confirmed by photo-ID shots that were taken. Also, the estimated group size during all of these sightings was in the range of the first sighting. The "escort" was seen on four of the re-sightings and there was one juvenile animal staying close to the female, too during several sightings. The behaviour of the female was always the same. She was constantly with the dead calf, leaving it only for short periods and then taking, pushing and/or carrying it again. From the third sighting on, the dead calf floated at the surface when it was not carried by the female. These periods lasted only seconds first, and up to minutes during the last sightings. The calf changed its appearance during the sighting, showing obvious signs of decomposition (yellow patches, sloughing pieces of skin, bad smell) on the last day we saw it, when it was floating on its back constantly when left alone by the female. During the last to sightings on 28 and 30 April we observed other animals than the female in close contact with the dead calf. At least two of the adults in the group we assumed them to be the "escort" animals were treating the calf like the female did by having direct body contact with it. This latter observation of several animals supporting the female in supporting the calf made us speculate, if the behaviour of the whole group was adjusted to these extraordinary circumstances. The groups we observed were traveling with a very slow speed, possibly accommodating to the female's situation. The fact that we re-sighted the group for several times in the same area (roughly between 0.7 and 1.5 nautical miles from and within a certain east-west stretch of the coast), indicating that the group did not move much at all, may also have been a consequence of the predicaments described here. We are aware of another case of epimeletic behaviour of rough-toothed dolphins towards a dead calf described in the literature and similar observations in other cetacean species (i.e. the bottlenose dolphin and short-finned pilot whale), but not of such behaviours performed by groups of cetaceans. Also, we are not sure if there are indications about how long such behaviours may last. (In our case we can be sure that the behaviour was performed for at least five days). Therefore we would be very interested, if you know about such cases or have made own similar observations. Any assistance and direction would be gratefully received and any comments to our observations are highly welcome. Please direct your e-mail to the address indicated below. Sincerely, Dipl.-Biol. Fabian Ritter, M.E.E.R. e.V. Berlin, Germany e-mail: meer(\)infocanarias.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 16 May 2001 09:22:20 -0700 From: Dylan Walker Subject: New beaked whale identification paper available * Apologies for cross-posting A new paper Identifying beaked whales at sea in North Atlantic waters has just been published by Organisation Cetacea (ORCA), a non-profit cetacean research group based in the UK. The paper (written in English but with summaries in French and Spanish), reviews our current knowledge of the identification of the six species of beaked whale (Ziphiidae) known to occur regularly in North Atlantic waters. These are Cuvier s Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris, Northern Bottlenose Whale Hyperoodon ampullatus, Sowerby s Beaked Whale Mesoplodon bidens, True s Beaked Whale Mesoplodon mirus, Gervais Beaked Whale Mesoplodon europaeus and Blainville s Beaked Whale Mesoplodon densirostris. The paper, written by beaked whale expert and cetacean artist Phil Coles, includes details of some useful identification features, which have not appeared in popular literature so far. The paper is supported by groundbreaking photographs, which show, for the first time, all six species of North Atlantic beaked whale at sea. There is also an excellent black and white illustrated plate comparing the four Mesoplodon beaked whales. The paper is available as part of a new 106 page report ORCA No. 1. Incorporating a report on the whales, dolphins and seabirds of the Bay of Biscay and English Channel . The cost of the report, including postage and packing, is 15 US Dollars to those outside Europe and 10 UK Pounds Sterling within Europe. For those within the UK, the cost is 8 UK Pounds Sterling. In order to purchase a copy, please send your credit card details as requested below to: dylan(\)companyofwhales.co.uk ---------------------------------------------------------------- Card type (only VISA and Mastercard accepted): Card No: Name of cardholder (as it appears on the card): Address of cardholder: Address you would like report sent to (if different): Expiry date (mm/yy): ------------------------------------------------------------------- Best wishes, Dylan Walker Chairman, Organisation Cetacea (ORCA) Brooklands Farm Forston Dorchester Dorset DT2 7AA United Kingdom E-mail: dylan(\)companyofwhales.co. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices http://auctions.yahoo.com/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 28 May 2001 10:49:09 -0700 From: Dylan Walker Subject: Voluntary positions available for Organisation Cetacea Apologies for cross posting Organisation Cetacea (ORCA) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to cetacean conservation, research and education with a special focus on the European Atlantic. Our mission is to provide a forum for raising interest and participation in conservation research on whales and dolphins by developing a network that is accessible to all interest groups and provides a focus for enjoying and learning about cetaceans. Organisation Cetacea is working closely with other NGO s and charities including the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society to gain a greater understanding of the threats that cetaceans face through ongoing research. A large part of this work involves co-ordinating and collating information and survey data from 20-30 cetacean surveys undertaken in the English Channel and Bay of Biscay annually. This data is incorporated into an annual report (the latest of which has just been published and is receiving excellent reviews). Although the group is currently based in the UK, we welcome applications from elsewhere. The following three voluntary positions have become available for people prepared to spare some of their free time to work for the benefit of cetaceans. The successful applicants will join a small team of dedicated and energetic people working as volunteers for Organisation Cetacea. We are seeking people with a considerable amount of energy and free time to fill these positions. A desire to work hard for the aims of the group will be considered far more important than previous experience of cetaceans when reviewing applications: 1. Fundraising Officer Required to search for funding for the group through contacts with businesses and relevant conservation charities. There is scope for a wide variety of work within this role including the designing of information leaflets and promotion of membership as well as writing fundraising proposals. Previous fundraising skills are considered an advantage but are not essential. 2. Publicity Officer Required to promote the work of the group through all media types. Organisation Cetacea already enjoys a high media profile. Anybody who gains this post will have the opportunity to write for a number of magazines and work with other media outlets to give details of our work and cover a range of issues which relate to whales and dolphins and their conservation. 3. Editorial Committee Member A vacancy has become available to join the editorial committee for the production of ORCA No. 2. The annual report of Organisation Cetacea. Previous research experience (preferably involving cetaceans) is considered necessary for this post which offers excellent opportunities to utilise an extensive database for research and conservation purposes as well as assisting in the production of a recognised cetacean report. If you would like to apply for any of the above positions please write or send an e-mail including your C.V. and a covering letter to the address below. Best wishes, Dylan Walker Chairman Organisation Cetacea (ORCA) Brooklands Farm Forston Dorchester DT2 7AA Tel: 0044 (0)1305 264644 E-mail: dylan(\)companyofwhales.co.uk __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices http://auctions.yahoo.com/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 28 May 2001 13:38:29 GMT From: karinaos Subject: Dynamite fishing threats dolphins Dear MARMAMers: I'm attending a master course in Brussels. And now I'm looking for information on illegal fishing techniques as dynamite and cyanide. I've found very few references on the web that in some countries dynamite fishing is threating populations of dolphins such as in Peru and Phillipines. I would appreciate very much any information that any of you could provide me to complete my research on this subject. Karina Ontsn Silva VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL Email: karina_onton(\)yahoo.es ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 29 May 2001 23:21:54 +0200 From: Gianni Pavan Subject: XVIII IBAC Meeting XVIII IBAC Meeting, Cogne (Aosta, Italy), September 3rd - 6th, 2001 The web page about the next IBAC (International Bio Acoustic Council) meeting has been updated with the list of accepted contributions and other new information. To date, more than 50 abstracts of talks and posters have been received. Few contributions, either posters or talks, can be still accepted. Authors wishing to contribute are kindly requested to notify their intention as soon as possible and to submit their abstract no later than June 30th. As informal video sessions will be organized within the meeting, researchers wishing to present a short video (max 20 minutes) should contact the Organizing Committee to inform about the title, contents and format of their video. The Organizing Committee Centro Interdisciplinare di Bioacustica e Ricerche Ambientali Universita' degli Studi di Pavia Web http://www.unipv.it/cibra ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IBAC - International Bio Acoustic Council Chairman e-mail gpavan(\)cibra.unipv.it IBAC Information Page http://www.unipv.it/cibra/ibac.html XVIII IBAC meeting http://www.unipv.it/cibra/xviii_ibac.html Organizing Committee ibac(\)cibra.unipv.it --=====================_13494973==_.ALT XVIII IBAC Meeting, Cogne (Aosta, Italy), September 3rd - 6th, 2001

The web page about the next IBAC (International Bio Acoustic Council) meeting has been updated with the list of accepted contributions and other new information.

To date, more than 50 abstracts of talks and posters have been received.
Few contributions, either posters or talks, can be still accepted. Authors wishing to contribute are kindly requested to notify their intention as soon as possible and to submit their abstract no later than June 30th.

As informal video sessions will be organized within the meeting, researchers wishing to present a short video (max 20 minutes) should contact the Organizing Committee to inform about the title, contents and format of their video.

The Organizing Committee



Centro Interdisciplinare di Bioacustica e Ricerche Ambientali
Universita' degli Studi di Pavia
Web                             http://www.unipv.it/cibra
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IBAC - International Bio Acoustic Council
Chairman e-mail                 gpavan(\)cibra.unipv.it
IBAC Information Page   http://www.unipv.it/cibra/ibac.html
XVIII IBAC meeting              http://www.unipv.it/cibra/xviii_ibac.html
Organizing Committee    ibac(\)cibra.unipv.it
 --=====================_13494973==_.ALT-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 30 May 2001 00:27:16 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MMPA applicable to US citizens abroad? From: "Brian D. Smith" Can anyone out there provide information on the applicability of the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act to the actions of U.S. citizens abroad? The question pertains mainly to conducting live captures for oceanaria. I will post a summary of responses. Thanks. Brian D. Smith orcaella(\)northcoast.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 30 May 2001 11:22:59 -0700 From: Andrea Hunter Subject: Marine Mammal Energy Requirements MARMAM Re: Marine Mammal Energy Requirements Dear Marine Mammal Researchers, Scientists, Professors, and Trainers, I am currently a Master of Science student working in the Marine Mammal Research Unit at the University of British Columbia under the supervision of Dr. Andrew Trites. I am studying the energy requirements of ALL species of marine mammals. I am currently compiling a referenced database of marine mammal metabolic rates (basal, field, resting, etc.) and consumption rates for my thesis. I have already completed an extensive library search of both published (eg. journal articles) and unpublished (eg. theses, government reports) literature. I am writing to ask for your help in identifying potential sources of published and unpublished energetic studies that I may have overlooked. Similarly, I would like to find out about any energetic studies that are in press or will soon be submitted for publication. My goal is to compile point estimates from as many marine mammals as possible to derive generalized equations of energy requirements for species of marine mammals that have not been studied before. The source of all data that I will use will be fully referenced in my thesis. My request is two fold: 1. Unpublished data and recent manuscripts: Could anyone who knows of such material send me an e-mail message with citations or other details? 2. Older publications and reports: Could you let me know if you can think of something that I might have overlooked? I would be pleased to send you my bibliography to look over. Thank you for considering my request. Please feel free to distribute my request to other agencies or people who might be able to help, but may not otherwise receive this e-mail. If you have any questions or hesitations please feel free to contact me and I will be glad to provide you with information. Thank you for your help. Sincerely, Andrea Hunter Marine Mammal Research Unit Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia Hut B-3, Room 18, 6248 Biological Sciences Rd. Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 phone: (604) 822-8181 fax: (604) 822-8180 e-mail: hunter(\)zoology.ubc.ca Marine Mammal Research Unit Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia Hut B-3, Room 18, 6248 Biological Sciences Rd. Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 phone: (604) 822-8181 fax: (604) 822-8180 e-mail: hunter(\)zoology.ubc.ca ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 31 May 2001 10:31:43 +1200 From: Nathalie Jaquet Subject: Recent Publication-Sperm whale vocal behavior Hi, The following article was recently published in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America: Jaquet, N., Dawson, S., Douglas, L. (2001). Vocal behavior of male sperm whales: why do they click? J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 109 (5): 2254-2259. Abstract: Off Kaikoura, New Zealand, we recorded individually identified male sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) for entire dive cycles in order to investigate vocal behavior of individual whales and to examine possible functions of sperm whale clicks. In our study, sperm whales were almost always silent at the surface. They consistently started clicking within 25 seconds after fluking-up and diving. During the first 10 seconds of clicking, interclick intervals were significantly correlated with water depths at the location of fluke-up. The first "creak" was produced on average 7.5 minutes into a dive. Interclick intervals usually decreased substantially before clicks turned into "creaks". The highest click rate recorded in this study was 90.9 click/s, and clicks-within-creaks were much shorter than "usual clicks" (mean of 3.6 milliseconds versus 17 to 30 ms). The number of creaks per minute of dive and the length of a dive were significantly correlated. On average, sperm whales were silent for the last 3.6 min before surfacing. Short sequences of "surface clicks" (3 to 8 metallic clicks with mean interclick interval of 5.5 sec) were often produced at the end of a dive (in 57% of the dives), but their function remains puzzling. The results of this study suggest that usual clicks and creaks are both used for echolocation purposes, the former to gather information about acoustically reflective features and the latter to detect prey. A pdf version of this article is available from the Acoustical Society of America web page: http://ojps.aip.org/journal_cgi/dbt?KEY=JASMAN&Volume=109&Issue=5 Hard copies (sorry no reprints available) can be obtained from Nathalie Jaquet (nathalie.jaquet(\)stonebow.otago.ac.nz) --------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------- 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 Home phone: ++ 64 (3) 454 33 00 Dunedin New Zealand Cell Phone: 025/ 598 690 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 31 May 2001 01:24:20 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Comments on LFA FEIS and NMFS rule (fwd) From: Luke Rendell The following are my comments submitted for consideration on the Final Environmental Impact Statement of the Navy's Low Frequency Active sonar. Ms. Donna Wieting Chief, Marine Mammal Conservation Division Office of Protected Resources National Marine Fisheries Service Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226 USA Comments on the LFAS FEIS and NMFS Proposed Rule I am a graduate student researching acoustic communication in cetaceans, with particular reference to sperm whales. I have 5 years relevant experience, including work on the effects of anthropogenic sound on cetaceans and cetacean vocal behaviour. I include below comments both on the LFAS FEIS and also the NMFS Proposed Rule, both of which I consider wholly inadequate and indicative of an intention to undermine regulatory process by the application of double standards, poor science and the glossing over of inconvenient evidence. Comments on the FEIS I submitted comments to the DEIS, in which I highlighted some areas of inconsistency, lack of knowledge and deliberate glossing of facts in the Navy approach to the EIS. With publication of the FEIS, these comments were supposed to be addressed; I find however that my points, often shared with many other commentators, have been inadequately addressed. Comment 1-3.6 The Navy has developed some truly extraordinary powers during this EIS process; according to their response to the overwhelming opinion in commentaries that lack of information undermines the EIS, they assert that they have been able to overcome this by =933) quantifying uncertainties=94. Surely this ability makes LFAS entirely unnecessary! Contrary to the Navy=92s assertions, the EIS has patently not =93withstood careful evaluation from leading marine acousticians and biologists=94 =96 numerous commentaries remarked on how the EIS would be thrown out of any scientific review process; normally, during scientific review, results are not reviewed by those who obtained them, as is the case here. Comment 4-4.18 The FEIS authors clearly have not taken on board the comments received about double standards with regards to external evidence =96 here we are cautioned that =93gray whales inhabit a unique environment and =85their behaviour does not generalize to other species=94; this in discussing the results of the SRP, which in other parts of the EIS is generalized extremely broadly to cover all cetacea. Which way does the Navy want it? Either accept the uniqueness of every species and thus accept the knowledge chasms which make assessing the impact of LFAS impossible, or accept broad generalizations and include relevant evidence from all research on sound impacts, which means accepting the large body of evidence for harmful impacts at levels much lower than 180dB. What is particularly disturbing in relation to this point is that it is one already made in my and others original commentary =96 the Navy applies double standards to evidence =96 and has not been addressed in the FEIS. I believe this is because applying internal consistency in the EIS would force an unpalatable conclusion upon the Navy. All faith in the EIS is undermined when one realises the double standards are all applied specifically to reach a desired conclusion =96 180dB, thus a 1km and (somewhat) feasible visual monitoring mitigation. What is particularly saddening is that the NMFS accepts such flip-flopping. I and many others had expected better. Comment 4-5.2 Experiments were not carried out with sperm whales because =93no animals were encountered=94! This hardly seems like the basis for a reasoned and objective analysis, particularly since they have been identified as a species of concern. This admission alone should be reason to halt the LFAS program until a comprehensive sperm whale research program with enough time to ensure that animals are encountered. Exclusion of beaked whales given the extreme concern raised by the Greece and Bahamas stranding is unacceptable. The FEIS is disingenuous regarding the conservation status of these species; it is worth pointing out that that all ziphid species listed by the IUCN are classified as =93Insufficiently Known=9411 { ADDIN ENBbu }Jefferson TA, Leatherwood S, Webber MA, 1993. FAO Species Identification Guide : Marine Mammals of the World. Rome: FAO., which is quite different from =93Not threatened=94 as is clearly implied by the FEIS= =2E Such facts only further highlight both the insufficient information available for this EIS and the disturbing willingness of the EIS authors to gloss over or downright obscure knowledge that doesn=92t fit the conclusions. Comment 4-6.5 Accepting a 95% risk level at 180dB carried with it disturbing implications regarding the risk levels at lower RLs. For example, the risk function on page 4.2-24 of the FEIS suggests 50% risk at 165dB =96 meaning that 50% of animals in an area that could cover hundreds of square nautical miles will be =91biologically affected=92. Can this really be call= ed a =93small take=94? Comments regarding the NMFS proposed rule NMFS is rolling over like a puppy for the Navy and consequently undermining it=92s ability to be taken seriously as a regulatory agency; th= e proposed mitigation measures are but a token gesture, as anyone who has tried to monitor cetacean behaviour at sea will know; this knowledge should be well within the NMFS field of expertise and hence it is inexcusable that they have recommended such woolly and loosely defined measures. Before discussing these issues however, I wish to discuss the propriety of a NMFS permit for a system with a planned global employment. While the NMFS may have jurisdiction to issue LOA=92s covering the U.S. EEZ= , this area is a very small fraction of the proposed operating range. Why has (to my knowledge) no application been made to other nations to operate in their EEZs, nor any kind of approach been made through the UN to gain permission to operate this system which may impact animals thousands of miles away from US waters, in waters considered to be the common heritage of humankind? While such applications may not be required by the letter of the law, they are most certainly required under any sense of international morality, and by the spirit of the UNCLOS treaty. The lack of such efforts by the Navy and by the NMFS, and the assumption inherent in this whole process, that the NMFS is the only agency in the world that the Navy need approach for permission to deploy the LFAS, is arrogantly insulting to non-U.S. world citizens, and lacks the international morality we have a right to expect from world powers such as the U.S.A. Lack of objectivity An option that has never been considered seriously by the Navy, and sadly, the NMFS, is that even with the best available scientific evidence, our knowledge may be simply insufficient at this time to credibly assess the possible impacts of the LFAS system, and so deployment of the system should be postponed indefinitely, until an independent review committee ascertains that our knowledge has grown sufficiently to be able to accurately assess the impacts. Currently, I believe our knowledge is too limited to allow a credible assessment of the risks of LFAS. We simply know too little about the behaviour and movement, acoustic sensibilities, and significance of many behavioural changes in cetaceans to be able to predict impacts with any kind of credibility. Our abilities to follow animals in the long-term are extremely limited, and so we have absolutely no way of knowing what the longer term and subtler but no less significant impacts might be. It is simply insufficient in this case to say =91well, th= e whales didn=92t appear to die during the SRP=92 and let that be the guiding knowledge for impact assessment, the level at which most of this impact assessment process has been carried out. Our knowledge, despite the best available evidence, does not support the (psuedo)-=91scientific=92 assertio= ns made by the Navy and implicitly accepted by the NMFS, and in fact as the numerous commentaries by leading scientists around the world in response to the DEIS show, in many cases appear to directly contradict those assertions. Unacceptable use of the term =91small take=92 As questioned above, accepting a 95% risk level at 180dB carried with it disturbing implications regarding the risk levels at lower RLs. For example, the risk function on page 4.2-24 of the FEIS suggests 50% risk at 165dB =96 meaning that 50% of animals in an area that could cover hundreds of square nautical miles will be =91biologically affected=92. Can this real= ly be called a =93small take=94? Unreasonable reliance on untried, apparently flawed and vague mitigations measures for take calculation The mitigation measures are entirely insufficient; thirty minutes is an inadequate pre- transmission observation time since sperm whales can, and regularly do, dive for periods in excess of 45 minutes. Observing for just this period makes transmission while sperm whales are within the 180dB zone both likely and undetectable. The NMFS faith in Naval visual monitoring is highly misplaced =96 the recent failure of a U.S. submarine to visually detect an ocean-going Japanese fishing vessel near Hawaii, and the resulting tragedy, raises serious questions about how effective this can really be for small, hard to spot, cetaceans. As anyone who has looked for whales at sea can confirm, spotting whales visually becomes increasingly difficult at Sea State 4 and above, becoming virtually impossible except at very close ranges in Sea State 6 and above; this of course provided it is daytime and there is no fog. Yet nothing is said about mitigation measures in these, very likely, situations. Details are left out, to be =91interpreted=92 by the Navy. Unspecified details include = : a) Who will be doing the searching? b) How many people aboard each vessel? c) What training will they receive? d) Will they be civilian or Navy personnel (since the Navy wants to show that the system is harmless, surely any Navy personnel assigned to the task will be confronting a significant conflict of interest)? e) If Navy personel are to be used, what rank will they be (is it reasonable to expect a rating to risk their commanders displeasure by reporting cetaceans if the commander has previously expressed a strong desire to carry out LFAS transmissions, or if reporting such a sighting would lead to an increased risk of attack for that rating and his colleagues)? f) Will individual spotters performances be tested in any kind of trials? g) Will only the better spotters be assigned? h) How will the range to any animals seen be accurately determined in a seaway? i) How does the NMFS plan to ensure and monitor the effectiveness of these visual pre-transmission surveys? Spotting cetaceans requires training and experience, and must be done right given that the consequences of not spotting them are exposure to injurious sound levels. If NMFS does not plan to test the effectiveness of the visual monitoring, then the LOA will be little more than a carte-blanche to the Navy to transmit as and when it pleases. Inadequacy of long term research program Further to the above, assigning just fifteen minutes as a post-transmission monitoring period is a joke; it will barely allow time for one thorough visual sweep of the horizon. Again details are absent : a) Just what kind of useful data on post-transmission behaviour can be collected in this time? b) Exactly what data will be recorded? c) Who will be doing the observing =96 the rating who drew the short straw or a trained cetacean observer? d) Where will this data go, and who will review it? e) How will it be analysed, and where will it be published? All these questions are left unanswered by the NMFS and give the Navy huge =91discretion=92 to interpret the guidelines as they will. The public must = be told more about this whole monitoring process, and answers to the questions posed here must be made publicly and unambiguously so that the Navy knows what is expected, and so the public knows that their concerns are being taken seriously. The fig-leaf of national security Finally, given all the elaborate attempts to cover up lack of knowledge and vague proposals for mitigation measures, I am astonished and disgusted that the Navy=92s desire for the cover-all exemption of =91combat condition= s=92 (does this equate with =93heightened threat=94 in the FEIS?) to give them t= he ability to disregard any and all mitigation and reporting procedures has been allowed through the NMFS permitting process. In fact, in the FEIS p10.41, we learn that =91heightened threat=92 has an extremely broad definition for the Navy =96 =93military forces must be prepared to protect themselves at all times=94 and includes operations =93where the use or thre= at of forces is not [my emphasis] planned=94; it wouldn=92t be much of a stret= ch for any Admiral to equate this definition with =91going to sea=92 for naval forces. The mysterious, unaccountable, National Command Authority can give the Navy freedom to operate how and when they please at the mere sweep of a uniformed arm. Once this blanket has descended, then the public=92s knowledge stops. The fig leaf of national security will allow retroactive covering up of cetacean mortality, and any observations which contradict the Navy, and sadly, the NMFS, line that LFAS is not a threat to cetaceans, will simply be buried. There is nothing in the NMFS proposal to convince anyone that this will not happen. The NCA get-out clause makes the whole permitting and impact process something of a farce. What good will the mitigation measures be if significant proportions of beaked whale populations (see comments by H. Whitehead) start beaching dead in the waters of a zone of tension between the US and another nation? =93Heightened threat=94 cries the NCA, and the LFAS system sails on. In conclusion I call upon the NMFS to withhold permission for the U.S. Navy to continue with the LFAS program until the processes behind the strandings in the Mediterranean and the Bahamas are fully understood, and until independent review panels consider our knowledge to have improved sufficiently that LFAS impacts can be reasonably assessed drawing on all available evidence, until permission has been sought and obtained from all signatories to the UNCLOS treaty and until the massive public concern evidenced by the number of comments, almost entirely negative, submitted during the EIS and rulemaking process, has been adequately addressed. For the NMFS to grant a letter of authorization in the face of such concerns and opposition would undermine the very democratic principles held dear by the U.S.A. and that the LFAS system is supposed to defend. Luke Rendell Dept of Biology Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1 CANADA E-mail : lrendell(\)is2.dal.ca Tel : (902) 494 3723 WWW : http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/lr/luke.htm ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 30 May 2001 16:56:56 -0700 From: ACS/Puget Sound Organization: Puget Sound Chapter of the American Cetacean Society Subject: ACS-Puget Sound Grant Deadline Extended Until 8 June 2001 On Friday, 23 March 2001, we posted a grant RFP on MARMAM for research relating to prey species of the southern resident community of killer whales that inhabit the waters of Washington State and British Columbia. Two $500 grants were available, but we received only one proposal that fit our requirements. Since only one grant was awarded, our board has decided to extend the deadline for proposals until 8 June 2001, with the hope of awarding a second grant. If you wish to submit a proposal, please note that your research must relate to the prey utilized by the southern resident killer whales. If no suitable proposals are received by the deadline, the remaining grant money will remain in our research fund for use in future grants. For details on our proposal format, expected deliverables, and other granting guidelines, please visit our website at www.cetaceanresearch.com/acs/grants.html. Stephanie Norman - Research Fund Chair (206) 903-6278 whaledoc(\)flash.net Joe Olson - Chapter President (206) 297-1310 acs(\)cetaceanresearch.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 31 May 2001 09:35:03 +0100 From: Sascha Hooker Subject: Tagged Weddell/Crabeater seal at Verdanski, Antarctic Peninsula Hi, Through a somewhat circuitous route (observed at the Ukranian base, Verdanski/Faraday, but reported via the nearby British base, Rothera, to us at the British Antarctic Survey), we have had a report of a tagged Weddell/Crabeater seal (originally identified as a Crabeater but subsequently revised to Weddell). Tag details: ST9 Observed at Verdanski, Antarctic Peninsula, 19 May 2001. If anyone has contact addresses for organisations tagging Weddell or Crabeater seals in this area, please let me know and I will get in contact directly. Many thanks, Sascha Hooker ------------------- Sascha K. Hooker, PhD British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET Phone: 44-1223-221611 Fax: 44-1223-221259 Email: skh(\)bas.ac.uk http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/Science/Programmes/independent/mibmmo/ http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/sh/sascha.htm ------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 31 May 2001 14:58:41 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recently published literature (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. Hall, A.J. et al. 2001. Factors affecting first-year survival in grey seals and their implications for life history strategy. Animal Ecology 70/1: 138-149. Vergani, D.F. et al. 2001. Weaning mass variation of southern elephant seals at King George Island and its possible relationship with "El Nino" and "La Nina" events. Antarctic Science 13/1: 37-40. Engelhard, G.H. et al. 2001. Mass of weaned elephant seal pups in areas of low and high human presence. Polar Biology 24/4: 244-251. Klimey, A.P. et al. 2001. The hunting strategy of white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) near a seal colony. Marine Biology 138/3: 617-636. Cassini, M.H. 2001. Behavioural responses of South American fur seal to approach by tourists - a brief report. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 71/4: 341-346. Gemmell, N.J. et al. 2001. Low reproductive success in territorial male Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) suggests the existence of alternative mating strategies. Molecular Ecology 451-460. Hamilton, H. et al. 2001. Evolution of river dolphins. Proceed. R. Soc. London Biol. Sci. 268/1466: 549-556. Addison, R.F. and W.T. Stobo. 2001. Trends in organochlorine residue concentrations and burdens in grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) from Sable Island, NS, Canada between 1974 and 1994. Environ. Pollut. 112/3: 505-513. Andersen, M. et al. 2001. Geographic variation of PCB congeners in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from Svalbard east to the Chukchi Sea. Polar Biology 24/4: 231-238. Savelle, J.M. et al. 2001. Holocene bowhead (Balaena mysticetus) mortality patterns in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Arctic 53/4: 414-421. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2001 05:56:24 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publication: PCBs in harbour porpoise and common dolphins (fwd) From: SDWF(\)oceanfree.net Please find abstract attached of a recent publication from Ireland Smyth, M., Berrow, S.D., Nixon, E. & Rogan, E. (2000) Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorines in by-caught harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena and common dolphins Delphinus delphis from Irish coastal watersBiology and Environment. Proceedings of the Royal Irish academy, Vol 100B, No 2., 85-96. Reprints may be obtaind from me at : Dr Simon Berrow, Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Foundation, Merchants Quay, Kilrush, Co. Clare, Ireland E-mail: SDWF(\)oceanfree.net POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS AND ORGANOCHLORINES IN BY-CAUGHT HARBOUR PORPOISES PHOCOENA PHOCOENA AND COMMON DOLPHINS DELPHINUS DELPHIS FROM IRISH COASTAL WATERS Maria Smyth 1, Simon Berrow 2,3, Eugene Nixon 1 and Emer Rogan 2 1 Fisheries Research Centre, Marine Institute, Abbotstown, Castleknock, Dublin 15, Ireland 2 Aquaculture Development Centre, Department of Zoology, University College, Cork, Ireland 3 corresponding authors present address: Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Foundation, Merchants Quay, Kilrush, Co. Clare, Ireland E-mail: SDWF(\)oceanfree.net ABSTRACT Concentrations of 11 organochlorine (OC) pesticides and 10 individual polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in blubber and liver from 12 harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena and eight common dolphins Delphinus delphis incidentally caught in fishing nets in Irish waters are presented. Female harbour porpoises had highest concentrations of OC in blubber and male common dolphins in liver. Harbour porpoises had higher mean concentrations of lindane (121-154 ng/g extractable lipid), dieldrin (116-121 ng/g) and a-BHC (54-128 ng/g) but common dolphins had greater overall concentrations of DDT (9444-3998 ng/g). The predominant DDT metabolite was pp-DDE and for the chlordanes was t-nonachlor. Concentrations of ICES 7 PCB (liver-blubber) were similar in both species (4075-7999 ng/g in harbour porpoise and 4076-8945 in common dolphins). The sum of ICES 7 PCB in porpoises ranged from 3041-12270 ng/g extractable lipid in the blubber of females and from 2911-10429 ng/g in males and 798-11074 ng/g in the blubber of female comm on dolphins and 1555-15883 ng/g in males. Contaminant levels were generally similar to those reported from Scotland but lower than reported from Scandinavia. Ratios of DDT to DDE suggests that there are limited new sources of DDT into the Irish marine environment. These results provide a baseline for monitoring of persistent pollutants in the Irish marine environment. Visit http://www.oceanfree.net to get your free e-mail account and use our unique Irish Internet directory ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 31 May 2001 12:11:09 -0700 From: dru clark Subject: Internship posting Please post the following message. Thank you! ANIMAL CARE & TRAINING INTERNSHIP US NAVY MARINE MAMMAL PROGRAM The US Navy Marine Mammal Program (NMMP), San Diego is currently offering fall internship opportunities. The Animal Care & Training Internship is designed to give students a dynamic educational experience in the marine mammal field while offering valuable career experience. Students will be responsible for a number of support tasks with dolphins and sea lions, working very closely with the animal care and training staff. The internship is offered on a competitive basis to college students in good academic standing. The internship is also open to recent graduates. Interns participate in a number of tasks in support of the dolphin and seal lion programs. Daily intern tasks usually include diet preparation, deck and boat scrubbing, and equipment and facility maintenance. Interns will also have with opportunity to assist in husbandry training, open ocean training, animal physicals, and numerous research projects. Prior experience is recommended, but not required. The volunteer program demands a 40 hour/week, 15-week, semester based commitment. Students are responsible for their own housing and transportation. The internship is offered in the spring, summer, and fall semesters. Interested students are encouraged to contact DruAnn Clark requesting detailed program and application information. I will begin to review applications for the fall semester in early June. DruAnn Clark Coordinator of Volunteer Opportunities US Navy Marine Mammal Program Dru(\)spawar.navy.mil (619) 767-4100 Fax (619) 553-2678 **************************************************************************** ******************************* DruAnn Clark Coordinator of Volunteer Opportunities US Navy Marine Mammal Program dru(\)spawar.navy.mil (619) 767-4100 **************************************************************************** ******************************* ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 29 May 2001 10:33:20 -0400 From: kronald Subject: Marine Mammal Management - Distance Education boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0017_01C0E82A.C7EDE120" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0017_01C0E82A.C7EDE120 charset="iso-8859-1" =20 ANNOUNCING THE SUMMER VERSION OF THE SECOND EDITION OF THE DISTANCE = EDUCATION GLOBAL OFFERING OF MARINE MAMMAL MANAGEMENT.COURSE MAY BE = TAKEN BY ANYBODY, ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. =20 THERE ARE THREE LEVELS GRADUATE CREDIT (3) UNDERGRADUATE CREDIT (3) CERTIFICATE FOR THOSE WITH GENERAL INTEREST. =20 THE ATTACHED MATERIAL IS SHORT SUMMARY OF THE COURSE ETC. PROFESSOR KEITH RONALD, COORDINATOR. OCEANOGRAPHIC CENTER, NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY, FT. LAUDERDALE, = FLORIDA, USA.=20 http://www.nova.edu/ocean/marmam/marmam.html Email kronald(\)nova.edu =20 Oceanographic Center Nova Southeastern University MARINE MAMMAL MANAGEMENT Marine Mammal Management is an interdisciplinary course, open = to senior students or those with general interest Marine Mammals. This = means that other students taking the course are likely to represent a = wide variety in age, life experience and knowledge of environmental = issues. In previous environmental course offerings, for example, = students came from 58 different study disciplines. For this reason, the = material in the course manual is set up from a variety of perspectives = -- such as social, philosophical, and scientific -- so that there will = be some area of the course with which each student can feel some = familiarity. The Marine Mammal Management course is essentially a demanding = interdisciplinary approach to examining the present state of the = relationship between marine mammals, people and the environment: as this = has evolved over time, as it stands today and as it is likely to be for = the future, whether by default or by design. The marine = mammal-environment relationship is extremely complex and fluid. It = changes depending upon place and time, and the rate of this change is = accelerating along with related developments such as human population = and economic growth, technological capacity, and our expanding use of = the world's oceans and waterways. Although the course in many ways = resists categorization, for the sake of simplicity it might be said that = apart from providing you with a wide background on the anatomy, = physiology, ecology, and behavior of the various examples it will also = give you some feeling for social and philosophical considerations of = marine mammals in an ever-changing milieu. The position and influence = of marine mammals within the environment, as well as the development of = physical conditions, values and economic activities that have led to = their present management will be considered.The course manual (a CD) is = designed to serve as a base source of information and ideas. While some = students may already be familiar with many of the topics, other students = may be considering these issues for the first time. A primary objective = of the course is to provide each student with an introductory awareness = of a diversity of environmental marine mammal issues. A secondary = objective is that the student begins to understand how these issues are = interconnected, and how marine mammal species are interconnected to the = rest of the natural environment. A third objective is to help the = student to begin to consider the linkages between the ways in which we = regard marine mammals, and our actions towards them. A fourth objective = of the course (and perhaps the most challenging objective) is to help = the student to begin to move beyond learning to action SCHEDULE SUMMER 2001=20 Chapter Topic 1. Introduction to Marine Mammals 2. Marine Mammal Management 3. Introduction to Cetaceans 4. Beluga Whale, and "toxic soups" 5. Dolphins, non-consumptive use 6. Bowheads, the subsidence balance 7. Orcas, of killers and Keikos=20 8. Pilots, stranding and commercial = utilization ESSAY 1 Due August 3rd (35% of final grade) 9. Introduction to Pinnipeds 10 Monk Seals =20 - Caribbean, sustainability lost - Hawaiian, unilateral hope - Mediterranean, Strabo to terrorism=20 11. Californian Sea Lion, Big Sur and survival 12. Harp Seal, 65,000 penile sales? 13. Introduction to Sirenia 14. Manatee, the harassed herbivore 15. Polar Bear, the Inuit, success and hope 16. Acoustic Stimuli of Marine Mammals 17. Marine Mammal Conservation & Future Management, as = affected by the three sciences: biological, sociological, and political ESSAY 2 Due September 7th, 2001 ( 65% of final mark ) Web site http://www.nova.edu/ocean/marmam/marmam.html Professor Keith Ronald kronald(\)nova.edu ------=_NextPart_000_0017_01C0E82A.C7EDE120 charset="iso-8859-1"
 
ANNOUNCING THE = SUMMER VERSION=20 OF THE SECOND EDITION OF THE DISTANCE EDUCATION GLOBAL OFFERING OF = MARINE MAMMAL=20 MANAGEMENT.COURSE MAY BE TAKEN BY ANYBODY, ANYWHERE IN THE=20 WORLD.
 
THERE ARE THREE=20 LEVELS
GRADUATE CREDIT=20 (3)
UNDERGRADUATE = CREDIT=20 (3)
CERTIFICATE FOR = THOSE WITH=20 GENERAL INTEREST.
 
THE ATTACHED = MATERIAL IS=20 SHORT SUMMARY OF THE COURSE ETC.
PROFESSOR KEITH = RONALD,=20 COORDINATOR.
OCEANOGRAPHIC = CENTER, NOVA=20 SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY, FT. LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, USA. =
http://www.nova.edu= /ocean/marmam/marmam.html
 
Email   kronald(\)nova.edu
 

 

        =20

Oceanographic=20 Center

 Nova Southeastern=20 University

         &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;       =20 MARINE=20 MAMMAL MANAGEMENT

          =20 Marine Mammal Management is an interdisciplinary course, = open to=20 senior students or those with general interest Marine Mammals.  This means that other students = taking=20 the course are likely to represent a wide variety in age, life = experience and=20 knowledge of environmental issues. =20 In previous environmental course offerings, for example, students = came=20 from 58 different study disciplines. For this reason, the material in = the course=20 manual is set up from a variety of perspectives -- such as social,=20 philosophical, and scientific -- so that there will be some area of the = course=20 with which each student can feel some familiarity.

         =20 The Marine Mammal Management course is essentially a = demanding=20 interdisciplinary approach to examining the present state of the = relationship=20 between marine mammals, people and the environment: as this has evolved = over=20 time, as it stands today and as it is likely to be for the future, = whether by=20 default or by design. The marine mammal-environment relationship is = extremely=20 complex and fluid.  It = changes=20 depending upon place and time, and the rate of this change is = accelerating along=20 with related developments such as human population and economic growth,=20 technological capacity, and our expanding use of the world’s = oceans and=20 waterways. Although the course in many ways resists categorization, for = the sake=20 of simplicity it might be said that apart from providing you with a wide = background on the anatomy, physiology, ecology, and behavior of the = various=20 examples it will also give you some feeling for social and philosophical = considerations of marine mammals in an ever-changing milieu.  The position and influence of = marine=20 mammals within the environment, as well as the development of physical=20 conditions, values and economic activities that have led to their = present=20 management will be considered.The=20 course manual (a CD) is designed to serve as a base source of = information and=20 ideas.  While some = students may=20 already be familiar with many of the topics, other students may be = considering=20 these issues for the first time.  = A=20 primary objective of the course is to provide each student with an = introductory=20 awareness of a diversity of environmental marine mammal issues.  A secondary objective is that = the=20 student begins to understand how these issues are interconnected, and = how marine=20 mammal species are interconnected to the rest of the natural = environment.  A third objective is to help = the student=20 to begin to consider the linkages between the ways in which we regard = marine=20 mammals, and our actions towards them. =20 A fourth objective of the course (and perhaps the most = challenging=20 objective) is to help the student to begin to move beyond learning to=20 action

SCHEDULE SUMMER=20 2001 

Chapter        =            &nbs= p;       =20          =20 Topic

 1.        Introduction to Marine=20 Mammals

 2.        Marine Mammal=20 Management

 3.        Introduction to=20 Cetaceans

 4.               =20          =20 Beluga Whale, and “toxic = soups”

 5.               =20          =20 Dolphins, non-consumptive use

 6.               =20          =20 Bowheads, the subsidence balance

 7.               =20          =20 Orcas, of killers and Keikos

 8.               =20          =20 Pilots, stranding and commercial = utilization

ESSAY = 1 Due August 3rd  = (35% of=20 final grade)

 9.        Introduction to=20 Pinnipeds

10               =20          =20 Monk Seals =20

-=20 Caribbean, sustainability lost

-=20 Hawaiian, unilateral hope

-=20 Mediterranean, Strabo to terrorism

11.              =20          =20 Californian Sea Lion, Big Sur and = survival

12.              =20          =20 Harp Seal, 65,000 penile sales?

13.       Introduction to=20 Sirenia

14.               &nb= sp;         Manatee,=20 the harassed herbivore

15.          =20 Polar Bear, the Inuit, success and=20 hope

16.          =20 Acoustic Stimuli of Marine=20 Mammals

17.          =20 Marine Mammal Conservation & Future = Management,=20 as affected by the three sciences: biological, sociological, and=20 political

 ESSAY 2 = Due September=20 7th, 2001 ( 65% of final mark )

 Web=20 site     http://www.nova.edu= /ocean/marmam/marmam.html

Professor Keith Ronald     kronald(\)nova.edu

------=_NextPart_000_0017_01C0E82A.C7EDE120-- ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2001 12:04:44 EDT From: Joe Blue Subject: LFA Comments boundary="part1_d8.73ab3cf.284bba1c_boundary" --part1_d8.73ab3cf.284bba1c_boundary I am forwarding my LFA comments. Joe Blue Ms. Donna Wieting Chief, Marine Mammal Conservation Division Office of Protected Resources National Marine Fisheries Service Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226 USA Dear Ms. Wieting: Let me introduce myself. My name is Joseph E. Blue. I have my BS degree in physics with majors also in biology, chemistry and mathematics, my MS in engineering science with my thesis being on Acoustic Cavitation and Bubble Instabilities and my Ph.D. in mechanical engineering with an engineering acoustics option. I am a former member of the Navy Civil Service Senior Executive Service (SES). In that position I was in charge of the Underwater Sound Reference Detachment (USRD) of the Naval Research Laboratory which became the Underwater Sound Reference Division of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport? The USRD was the lead laboratory for SPAWAR in contracting for the first 18 LFA projectors. During that procurement process, an LFA projector was tested at high levels (~207 dB re 1 mPa at 1 m) in USRD's Lake Gem Mary Facility in Orlando. This test was conducted while I was on travel as I would have not allowed it had I been informed in advance that it was going to be done. When I returned, I received several telephone calls from neighbors complaining about rattling dishes, items dancing on shelves and fear of structural damage to their home foundations. I banned any further high power tests in the USRD facilities. I am generally in favor of sonar systems as I have seen where better sonar could have prevented many combat deaths. However, from my 40 years of experience in underwater acoustics, I have learned that sonar can be dangerous to humans and sea animals in ways that most people associated with the development of these systems cannot imagine. I also learned that the focus is on systems that work with little thought to negative environmental consequences by engineers and scientists who are not familiar with the biological aspects of sound in the sea. The reward system is for positive results, not for pointing out the negative. Such, I fear based on my experience, has been the case for LFA. LFA might be an important system if alternatives to it cannot be found. However, in my scientific opinion, LFA should not be allowed to proceed under the currently proposed FEIS. LFA has the potential of doing great harm, not only to marine mammals, but also to the many people who derive their livelihood and food from the sea. A potentially fatal flaw in the analysis of LFA effects by biologists hired by SPAWAR as bioacousticians is their lack of understanding of acoustics as a branch of physics. That leads them to the use of anecdotal observations that, in the case of LFA, is not supported by a large enough database to arrive at statistically significant conclusions necessary for the SPAWAR nor the opposing sides of this issue to feel confident enough to proceed. A case in point is the insistence by the SPAWAR LFA office that enough testing has been done to ascertain the safety of the system to marine life. Even that small amount would not have been done if it were not for the insistence by environmentalists that sonar was killing marine mammals. Until the stranding of many marine mammals during Navy exercises in the Caribbean, the Navy attempted to blame every stranding as due to causes other than sonar. Not until the Navy was presented with proof that the stranding was due to sonar did it get serious about sonar stranding evidence. Even now, the Navy tries to isolate the damaging effects to frequency regimes. Examination of Minnaert's equation for relating bubble size to resonance frequencies shows that there are air cavity volumes of all sizes that may resonate in marine mammals and other sea life. When acoustic displacements get large enough in a sea life form, tissue tearing will occur. One cannot define an absolute displacement size for this to occur because the significance of the displacement depends on the size of the organism and the level of the excitation source. Thus, it is not sufficient to say that LFA is safe because it is a different frequency regime that the sonars that caused the Caribbean stranding phenomena. That represents a gross misunderstanding of the resonance process. Further, not all marine life damage can be attributed to air cavity resonance alone. Damage to hearing apparatus of marine mammals such as uncovered by Dr. Darlene Ketten from Woods Hole illustrates my point. The entry to the brain and on to the hearing apparatus was through a nerve foramen from a sinus cavity. The air cavity of the sinus will not vibrate as a bubble because the bony sinus cavity presents a different acoustical impedance to the sonar. The whole of the lung/bronchial tubes/trachea/sinus/air-volume complex must be considered. Modeling of this complex air volume may be possible by considering the lung to vibrate like a bubble and the remaining part act as a Helmholtz resonator. A coupled resonant system such as this can explain the punch through at the nerve foramen site which is soft compared to the bony sinus cavity thus concentrating the displacement on the soft foramen site into the brain where Ketten observed the bloody mass and hearing apparatus trauma. SPAWAR's contention that no damage has been done during LFA tests because of lack of evidence of marine mammal deaths is not convincing. The endangered right whale apparently escaped harm as they float when killed as opposed to most other whales that sink when killed. Many unrecorded deaths would go unnoticed if they sank rather than strand themselves. The LFA system idea was hatched during the Cold War. The threat from quiet diesel submarines from rogue nations may be better addressed by the military intelligence community and lower power shorter range systems. The end of the Cold War should have caused a more thorough examination of LFA rather than following the lead of the military/industrial complex that Eisenhower warned us about. Apparently, the threat was redefined from the original cold war to rogue nation threats to allow the LFA program to continue. My belief is that there are more pressing security problems that are not being pursued where the money being spent on LFA should be channeled. Sincerely, Joseph E. Blue, Ph.D. 3313 Northglen Drive Orlando, FL 32806 Telephone: (407) 851-4105 FAX: (407) 850-2075 Email: jblue46498(\)aol.com --part1_d8.73ab3cf.284bba1c_boundary I am forwarding my LFA comments.

Joe Blue

Ms. Donna Wieting
Chief, Marine Mammal Conservation Division
Office of Protected Resources
National Marine Fisheries Service
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226 USA

Dear Ms. Wieting:
Let me introduce myself. My name is Joseph E. Blue. I have my BS degree
in physics with majors also in biology, chemistry and mathematics, my MS in
engineering science with my thesis being on Acoustic Cavitation and Bubble
Instabilities and my Ph.D. in mechanical engineering with an engineering
acoustics option.
I am a former member of the Navy Civil Service Senior Executive Service
(SES). In that position I was in charge of the Underwater Sound Reference
Detachment (USRD) of the Naval Research Laboratory which became the
Underwater Sound Reference Division of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center
Division Newport? The USRD was the lead laboratory for SPAWAR in contracting
for the first 18 LFA projectors. During that procurement process, an LFA
projector was tested at high levels (~207 dB re 1 mPa at 1 m) in USRD's Lake
Gem Mary Facility in Orlando. This test was conducted while I was on travel
as I would have not allowed it had I been informed in advance that it was
going to be done. When I returned, I received several telephone calls from
neighbors complaining about rattling dishes, items dancing on shelves and
fear of structural damage to their home foundations. I banned any further
high power tests in the USRD facilities.
I am generally in favor of sonar systems as I have seen where better sonar
could have prevented many combat deaths. However, from my 40 years of
experience in underwater acoustics, I have learned that sonar can be
dangerous to humans and sea animals in ways that most people associated with
the development of these systems cannot imagine. I also learned that the
focus is on systems that work with little thought to negative environmental
consequences by engineers and scientists who are not familiar with the
biological aspects of sound in the sea. The reward system is for positive
results, not for pointing out the negative. Such, I fear based on my
experience, has been the case for LFA. LFA might be an important system if
alternatives to it cannot be found. However, in my scientific opinion, LFA
should not be allowed to proceed under the currently proposed FEIS. LFA has
the potential of doing great harm, not only to marine mammals, but also to
the many people who derive their livelihood and food from the sea.
A potentially fatal flaw in the analysis of LFA effects by biologists hired
by SPAWAR as bioacousticians is their lack of understanding of acoustics as a
branch of physics. That leads them to the use of anecdotal observations that,
in the case of LFA, is not supported by a large enough database to arrive at
statistically significant conclusions necessary for the SPAWAR nor the
opposing sides of this issue to feel confident enough to proceed. A case in
point is the insistence by the SPAWAR LFA office that enough testing has been
done to ascertain the safety of the system to marine life. Even that small
amount would not have been done if it were not for the insistence by
environmentalists that sonar was killing marine mammals. Until the stranding
of many marine mammals during Navy exercises in the Caribbean, the Navy
attempted to blame every stranding as due to causes other than sonar. Not
until the Navy was presented with proof that the stranding was due to sonar
did it get serious about sonar stranding evidence. Even now, the Navy tries
to isolate the damaging effects to frequency regimes. Examination of
Minnaert's equation for relating bubble size to resonance frequencies shows
that there are air cavity volumes of all sizes that may resonate in marine
mammals and other sea life. When acoustic displacements get large enough in a
sea life form, tissue tearing will occur. One cannot define an absolute
displacement size for this to occur because the significance of the
displacement depends on the size of the organism and the level of the
excitation source. Thus, it is not sufficient to say that LFA is safe because
it is a different frequency regime that the sonars that caused the Caribbean
stranding phenomena. That represents a gross misunderstanding of the
resonance process.
Further, not all marine life damage can be attributed to air cavity resonance
alone. Damage to hearing apparatus of marine mammals such as uncovered by Dr.
Darlene Ketten from Woods Hole illustrates my point. The entry to the brain
and on to the hearing apparatus was through a nerve foramen from a sinus
cavity. The air cavity of the sinus will not vibrate as a bubble because the
bony sinus cavity presents a different acoustical impedance to the sonar. The
whole of the lung/bronchial tubes/trachea/sinus/air-volume complex must be
considered. Modeling of this complex air volume may be possible by
considering the lung to vibrate like a bubble and the remaining part act as a
Helmholtz resonator. A coupled resonant system such as this can explain the
punch through at the nerve foramen site which is soft compared to the bony
sinus cavity thus concentrating the displacement on the soft foramen site
into the brain where Ketten observed the bloody mass and hearing apparatus
trauma.
SPAWAR's contention that no damage has been done during LFA tests because of
lack of evidence of marine mammal deaths is not convincing. The endangered
right whale apparently escaped harm as they float when killed as opposed to
most other whales that sink when killed. Many unrecorded deaths would go
unnoticed if they  sank rather than strand themselves.
The LFA system idea was hatched during the Cold War. The threat from
quiet diesel submarines from rogue nations may be better addressed by the
military intelligence community and lower power shorter range systems. The
end of the Cold War should have caused a more thorough examination of LFA
rather than following the lead of the military/industrial complex that
Eisenhower warned us about. Apparently, the threat was redefined from the
original cold war to rogue nation threats to allow the LFA program to
continue. My belief is that there are more pressing security problems that
are not being pursued where the money being spent on LFA should be channeled.

Sincerely,
Joseph E. Blue, Ph.D.
3313 Northglen Drive
Orlando, FL 32806
Telephone: (407) 851-4105
FAX: (407) 850-2075
Email: jblue46498(\)aol.com
--part1_d8.73ab3cf.284bba1c_boundary-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2001 10:42:24 +0300 From: aviad scheinin Subject: Tursiops truncatus tissue and microsatellites request boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0047_01C0ECE3.0A5248F0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0047_01C0ECE3.0A5248F0 charset="windows-1255" =20 Dear MARMAMers =20 Sorry for cross-posting I study for my Master=92s degree in Tel-Aviv University in Israel. My = research on bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus in the eastern = Mediterranean Sea ,will concentrate on the genetic polymorphism of the = population along the Israeli coastline and compare it to the populations = in other parts of the Mediterranean Sea. In order to do so, I request = your help in two fields: 1.. I am looking for tissues from Tursiops truncatus, which were = biopsied or collected from beached animals anywhere in the Mediterranean = Sea.=20 Please contact me, if you have an access to a stock of such tissues, or = if you know of anyone who might be able to help me. 1.. In my genetic work, I am using microsatellite as molecular markers = and I am looking for more polymorphic microsatellites.=20 If you have information about these two issues, I will be glad if you = would share it with me. =20 Thank you very much. =20 Aviad Scheinin scheini(\)post.tau.ac.il =20 =20 This research is done with the help of IMMRAC (Israeli Marine Mammal = Research & Assistance Center) http://immrac.haifa.ac.il/immrac.htm ------=_NextPart_000_0047_01C0ECE3.0A5248F0 charset="windows-1255"
 

Dear MARMAMers

 

Sorry for = cross-posting

I study for my Master=92s degree = in Tel-Aviv=20 University in Israel. My research on bottlenose dolphin Tursiops=20 truncatus in the eastern Mediterranean Sea ,will concentrate on the = genetic=20 polymorphism of the population along the Israeli coastline and compare = it to the=20 populations in other parts of the Mediterranean Sea. In order to do so, = I=20 request your help in two fields:

  1. I am looking for tissues from Tursiops = truncatus, which were biopsied or collected from beached animals = anywhere=20 in the Mediterranean Sea.

Please contact me, if you have an access to = a stock=20 of such tissues, or if you know of anyone who might be able to help=20 me.

  1. In my genetic work, I am using = microsatellite as=20 molecular markers and I am looking for more polymorphic = microsatellites.=20

If you have information about these two = issues, I=20 will be glad if you would share it with me.

 

Thank you very much.

 

Aviad Scheinin

scheini(\)post.tau.ac.il

 

 

This research is done with the help of = IMMRAC=20 (Israeli Marine Mammal Research & Assistance = Center)

http://immrac.haifa.ac.il/i= mmrac.htm

------=_NextPart_000_0047_01C0ECE3.0A5248F0-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2001 17:25:48 -0400 From: Janet Whaley Organization: NOAA Subject: Marine Mammal Stranding Grant Program - Public review of draft plan This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------7A2CED2E72BB2FD5ED5D148F To all Marine Mammal Stranding Network Participants; We would like your input to our Draft Implementation Plan for the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program (also known as the Prescott Stranding Grant Program). This call for review is intended to give Marine Mammal Stranding Network participants an opportunity to review the draft plan and provide comment directly to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) prior to publication of the Request for Proposals in the Federal Register. Specifically, NMFS is seeking comment on several areas of the Draft Plan to include: eligibility criteria for grant applicants, the grant review and selection process, and priorities for funding. The Draft Plan can be dowloaded from the following web address: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/PR2/Health_and_Stranding_Response_Program/Prescott.html The comment period closes on July 2, 2001. All comments can be submitted via email to the following address: prescott.nmfs(\)noaa.gov. Written comments can also be sent to the following postal address: Attn. Dr. Teri Rowles, National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources (F/PR2), 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 (postal mail must be received by July 2, 2001). --------------7A2CED2E72BB2FD5ED5D148F name="Janet.Whaley.vcf" filename="Janet.Whaley.vcf" begin:vcard n:Whaley;Janet tel;pager:(800) 494-2989 tel;fax:(301) 713-4060 tel;work:(301) 713-2322, ext. 170 x-mozilla-html:FALSE org:National Marine Fisheries Service;Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program version:2.1 email;internet:janet.whaley(\)noaa.gov title:National Marine Mammal Stranding Coordinator adr;quoted-printable:;;Office of Protected Resources (F/PR2)=0D=0A1315 East-West Highway;Silver Spring;Maryland;20910;U.S.A. fn:Janet Whaley, D.V.M. end:vcard --------------7A2CED2E72BB2FD5ED5D148F-- ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2001 12:14:19 +0200 From: Matthias Bode Subject: Gray whales in European waters? Dear MARMAMers, My name is Matthias Bode, I am a historian, working here in Germany in a small group on ancient economy. I am currently working on the exploitation of marine resources in antiquity. One aspect has to be whaling. I took as a starting point: J.G.D. Clark: "Whales as an economic factor in prehistoric Europe", in: Antiquity (1947), pp. 84-104 and tried to catch up with material published since 1947. During my research I noticed hints about gray whales in European waters. I have looked into R. Asselberg: "Een subfossiele schedel van een grijze walvis uit de noordzee" Lutra 24 (1981), 30-31. and Wolff, Wim J.: The south-eastern North Sea: losses of vertebrate fauna during the past 2000 years (Biological Conservation, Volume: 95, Issue: 2, September, 2000, pp. 209-217 ) I have not been able to locate: Bryant, P.J., 1995. Dating remains of gray whales from the eastern North Atlantic. Journal of Mammalogy 76, 8571861. and Van Deinse, A.B., Junge, G.C.A., 1937. Recent and older finds of the California gray whale in the Atlantic. Temminckia 2, 1611188. so far. Wolff suggests that gray whales were hunted to extinction. I have two questions: 1. Given the publications above, can I assume that gray whales indeed lived in European waters 2000 years ago (thus being a possible target for 'primitive' open-boat hunting)? 2. Has any further study been done concerning their disappearance? Or can I assume with Wolff that they must have been hunted to extinction? Thanks in advance for any help. Matthias Bode MatthiasBode(\)addcom.de ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2001 07:37:49 -0400 From: "Tarr, Suzanne" Subject: manatee-related internships Manatee Internships Available The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (St. Petersburg, Florida) and Tampa BayWatch, Inc. seek 7 interns to work on a Tampa Bay manatee program from October-December 2001. Manatee Watch Research Project Assistants (FWC) Five positions are available for the fall 10-week sampling session (SS8) October - December, 2001. Junior and senior college students and recent graduates are eligible. Interns work approximately 35-40 hours per week (Tuesday -Saturday) and are required to commit to the full sampling period, plus training. Interns serve as "site captains" at one of five locations and are responsible for data collection, entry, and verification, equipment maintenance, and volunteer support. Although the manatee/boater interaction study is the primary focus, interns will participate in manatee photo-identification and other manatee-related programs. Manatee Watch Coordinator Assistants (Tampa BayWatch, Inc.) Two positions are available for the 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 should have some research field experience, be computer literate and proficient in the use of Microsoft Access97 or Access2000, 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/wind/water), 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 and/or Tampa BayWatch, Inc. While these internships are not paid positions, they are excellent resume builders. In addition, interns will participate in scientific research and other manatee-related projects, meet other marine scientists, and polish public speaking and writing skills while participating in an innovative environmental education program that may change manatee protection strategies state-wide. Please send internship application including project interest (Manatee Watch), transcripts, cover letter, references, and E-mail address to: Mr. Bill Arnold FWC/FMRI 100 8th Ave. SE St. Petersburg, FL 33701-3095 727-896-8626 Additional information about FWC' s manatee programs and internships may be found at www.floridamarine.org. Please reply ONLY to the contact listed above. suzanne.tarr(\)fwc.state.fl.us Suzanne P. Tarr Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Florida Marine Research Institute 100 8th Avenue S.E. St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Phone: 727-896-8626, ext. 1908 Suncom: 523-1908 Fax: 727-893-9176 www.floridamarine.org ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2001 08:32:10 -0400 From: Phil Clapham Subject: Re: Gray whales in European waters? I suggest you get hold of the following reference: Lindquist, O. 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. Occasional papers 1. Centre for Environmental History and Policy, Universities of St Andrews and Strling, Scotland. March 2000, ISSN 14790-0263. 53 pp. This review looks at documentary sources - mediaeval and otherwise - describing animals which may (or may not) be gray whales in the North Atlantic. I find some of Dr Lindquist's interpretations to be a bit optimistic (i.e. some of the references he cites as sounding clearly like gray whales are much more equivocal to me), but some of them - notably Dudley's famous reference - are quite convincing. Jim Mead at Smithsonian can tell you the subfossil history of this animal; if I recall correctly from his Mead and Mitchell paper on this topic (in the 1986 Jones et al. gray whale volume), there's good evidence from subfossil remains that gray whales were still extant in the N Atlantic 200-300 years ago. There is no doubt that gray whales were around 2000 years ago. What became of them is much debated. It seems inconceivable that mediaeval whalers such as the Basques - who operated coastally and wreaked havoc on the right whale population in Europe - would not have taken advantage of gray whales if they had the same coastal habits seen in the N Pacific population today. Yet it's clear from whaling and other records - those reviewed by Lindquist notwithstanding - that grays were not taken by whalers, at least not in significant numbers. In other words - to answer your second question - there is in my view no credible evidence that gray whales were numerous in the North Atlantic in historic times and hunted to extinction by whalers during the same period. This leaves a couple of possibilities: 1) Gray whales were on the way out naturally, and small sporadic whaling catches finished off an already very small remnant population. 2) Grays were hunted prehistorically and no records have been preserved of these catches. We'll never know if the first alternative was the case, but the second is particularly intriguing. If any prehistoric middens remain in Europe as sources for bones, someone should check them for evidence in support of the second option above. Howard Rosenbaum at the American Museum of Natural History is attempting to obtain DNA from N Atlantic gray whale bones, and will likely succeed; if other whale bones could be found, testing them probably wouldn't be difficult. Hope this helps. Phil Clapham Matthias Bode wrote: > > Dear MARMAMers, > > My name is Matthias Bode, I am a historian, working here in Germany in a > small group on ancient economy. I am currently working on the > exploitation of marine resources in antiquity. > One aspect has to be whaling. I took as a starting point: J.G.D. Clark: > "Whales as an economic factor in prehistoric Europe", in: Antiquity > (1947), pp. 84-104 and tried to catch up with material published since > 1947. > During my research I noticed hints about gray whales in European waters. > > I have looked into > R. Asselberg: "Een subfossiele schedel van een grijze walvis uit de > noordzee" Lutra 24 (1981), 30-31. > and > Wolff, Wim J.: The south-eastern North Sea: losses of vertebrate fauna > during the past 2000 years (Biological Conservation, Volume: 95, Issue: > 2, September, 2000, pp. 209-217 ) > > I have not been able to locate: > Bryant, P.J., 1995. Dating remains of gray whales from the eastern North > Atlantic. Journal of Mammalogy 76, 8571861. > and > Van Deinse, A.B., Junge, G.C.A., 1937. Recent and older finds of the > California gray whale in the Atlantic. Temminckia 2, 1611188. > so far. > > Wolff suggests that gray whales were hunted to extinction. > > I have two questions: > 1. Given the publications above, can I assume that gray whales indeed > lived in European waters 2000 years ago (thus being a possible target > for 'primitive' open-boat hunting)? > > 2. Has any further study been done concerning their disappearance? Or > can I assume with Wolff that they must have been hunted to extinction? > > Thanks in advance for any help. > Matthias Bode > MatthiasBode(\)addcom.de -- The Society for Marine Mammalogy will be holding its 14th Biennial Conference from 28 November to 3 December 2001, in Vancouver, BC. Visit the conference Web site at www.smmconference.org for full details of this important meeting. Phillip J. Clapham, Ph.D. Large Whale Biology Program Protected Species Branch Northeast Fisheries Science Center 166 Water Street Woods Hole, MA 02543, U.S.A. tel. 508 495-2316 fax 508 495-2066 email: phillip.clapham(\)noaa.gov ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2001 11:33:39 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Position announcements (fwd) Geo-Marine has the following positions currently open. We also welcome unsolicited resumes at all levels particularly with experience in biology= , chemistry, NEPA compliance, environmental science, environmental engineering, and hazardous waste management. GMI offers competitive compensation and a full benefits package including paid medical, 401k participation, profit sharing and an employee stock option program. E-Mail Martha Hamilton at MHamilton(\)geo-marine.com to submit your resume and sal= ary history electronically, or mail or fax resumes direct to: Geo-Marine, Inc., 550 E. 15th. St., Plano, TX 75074 or Fax 972-422-2736. ************************ SENIOR/PRINCIPAL MARINE BIOLOGIST Geo-Marine, Inc. Dallas, Texas Responsibilities: The successful candidate will: Provide project development, project management, technical support, marketing, and staff development; conduct literature reviews and field studies to assess basel= ine conditions of marine habitats; assess potential project impacts of marine ecosystems and its components; Write and edit technical documents for NEP= A, ESA, BA=92s marine resource assessments, scientific papers, and proposals. Strong interpersonal skills are required to coordinate existing clients a= nd market new clients and to manage new work in coastal, estuarine, and mari= ne programs. Qualifications: M.S. or Ph.D. in fisheries/ marine science (biology)/ mar= ine mammalogy, 10?15 years project/program management experience. Experimenta= l design, statistical analysis, and supervisory experience with demonstrate= d writing ability required. Must have understanding of NEPA and the ESA. Experience working in coastal and open ocean marine ecosystems and with government agencies (DOD-Navy, Air Force; DOI-USFWS,MMS, NOAA/NMFS) also required. Consulting experience and/or proposal and project budgeting experience preferred but not required. Closing date: Open until filled. Salary: $65,000-85,000 depending on experience. MARINE/FISHERIES OR MAMMAL BIOLOGIST Geo-Marine, Inc. Dallas, Texas Responsibilities: Provide marine fisheries, mammal, and aquatic habitat expertise as part of a team preparing NEPA, ESA, marine resource assessments, and other documents. Conduct intensive literature reviews, field reviews and studies of aquatic systems, including habitat inventori= es, presence/ absence, and population studies. Supervise and train field staf= f in proper methods of studies. Manage small to medium-sized projects, prov= ide marketing support. Qualifications: B.S. or M.S. in fisheries/ aquatic science/ marine ecolog= y/ marine mammalogy, 3-10 years professional experience, demonstrated writin= g ability required. Experience working in coastal and open ocean marine ecosystems and with government agencies (DOD-Navy, Air Force; DOI-USFWS, MMS, NOAA/NMFS) a plus. Experience working in Atlantic, Caribbean or Gulf= of Mexico marine ecosystems and with government agencies a plus. Consulting experience preferred but not required. Closing date: Open until filled. Salary: $40,000-$65,000 depending on experience. JUNIOR MARINE BIOLOGIST Geo-Marine, Inc. Dallas, Texas Responsibilities: Provide strong field/technical experience (ESA, marine habitat and population assessment experience with marine mammals, birds, turtles and/or marine policy and management); and excellent written and o= ral skills. Compile literature used to determine distribution and abundance = of fish and mammals for use in marine resource management programs Qualifications: B.S. marine biology/fisheries/ aquatic science/ ecology, minimum 3 years (or M.S. and 1 year) professional experience, demonstrate= d writing ability required. Experience working in marine ecosystems and wit= h government agencies a plus. Consulting experience preferred but not required. Closing date: Open until filled. Salary: $32,000-$40,000 depending on experience. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2001 13:31:47 -0300 From: Liliane Lodi Subject: Fw: Sotalia in captivity boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0026_01C0EDC3.DECC23E0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0026_01C0EDC3.DECC23E0 charset="iso-8859-1" ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Liliane Lodi=20 To: Marine Mammals Research and Conservation Discussion=20 Sent: Monday, June 04, 2001 12:19 PM Subject: Sotalia in captivity Dear colleagues, I'm studying the behavior and ecology of marine tucuxi, Sotalia = fluviatilis, in the South of the Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Can anybody inform me if, nowadays, is there any institution keeping = marine tucuxi in captivity ? I would like to discuss and campare some = aspects about this species' biology and behavior in nature and in = captivity. Thank you for your attention. Best regards, Liliane Lodi =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 Liliane Lodi Dolphins Project CP 24075 Rio de Janeiro - RJ Brazil 205222-970 E-mail : lodi(\)domain.com.br htttp://www.paraty.com.br/golfinho.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=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D ------=_NextPart_000_0026_01C0EDC3.DECC23E0 charset="iso-8859-1"
 
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Liliane = Lodi=20
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2001 12:19 PM
Subject: Sotalia in captivity

Dear colleagues,
 
I'm studying the behavior and ecology = of marine=20 tucuxi, Sotalia fluviatilis, in the South of the Rio de Janeiro = State,=20 Brazil.
Can anybody inform me if, nowadays, is = there any=20 institution keeping marine tucuxi in captivity ? I would like to discuss = and=20 campare some aspects about this species' biology and behavior in nature = and in=20 captivity.
Thank you for your = attention.
Best regards,
Liliane Lodi
 
=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
Liliane Lodi
Dolphins Project
CP 24075
Rio de Janeiro  -  = RJ
Brazil
205222-970
E-mail : lodi(\)domain.com.br
htttp://www.paraty.com.br/golfinho.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=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D ------=_NextPart_000_0026_01C0EDC3.DECC23E0-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2001 02:26:26 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Abstracts -- Aquatic Mammals, 2001, vol. 21,1 (fwd) Dear Marmam subscribers, The following are abstracts which appear in the most recently published issue of _Aquatic Mammals_. I have provided the address of the corresponding author, to whom reprint requests should be addressed. Please do not contact me or the Marmam editors for reprints. I have posted the following as a courtesy to the editor of Aquatic Mammals. _Aquatic Mammals_ is the journal of the Association for _Aquatic Mammals_. Subscription and manuscript submission may be obtained from the society's website (http://eaam.org) or the editor: Dr. Jeanette A. Thomas, Laboratory of Sensory Biology, Western Illinois University Regional Center, 3561 60th St., Moline, Illinois 61265, USA; email: Jeanette_Thomas(\)ccmail.wiu.edu. Thank you for your continued interest in these postings and thank you so much to those of you who have written to me regarding your appreciation for the effort. Sincerely, Dagmar Fertl Geo-Marine,Inc. dfertl(\)geo-marine.com **************************************************************************** *********************************************** Bristow, T.* and E.I.S. Rees. 2001. Site fidelity and behaviour of bottlenose dolphins (_Tursiops truncatus_) in Cardigan Bay, Wales. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(1): 1-10. *Glanllethi, Gilfachrheda, New Quay, Ceredigion SA45 9SW Bottlenose dolphins (_Tursiops truncatus_) often come close to land at New Quay Bay, Wales. Systematic shore-based observations from January 1989 to January 1997 recorded their presence on 47% of the 2223 days when watches were possible. They came to this cold-temperate water bay in all month, but less often during winter. Average sightings of groups were 0.02 per hour in March and 0.18 per hour in July. The high proportion of dolphins with calves indicated that the area was favoured as a nursery area, with groups of females and calves joined intermittently by large males and other dolphins. Extrapolating from the ratio of individually recognised dolphins, the population using these inshore waters was estimated at about 50, which appeared to be stable over the years. Some individually recognised females appeared to be absent for long periods during years when they probably had no accompanying calf. Cross-reference with an earlier study showed that some individuals came to the bay over an 11-year period. Observations showed a general level of tolerance to increasing boat traffic over the period, with reactions varying by boat type. **************************************************************************** ********************************************* Chivers, B.L.*, P.J. Corkeron, W.H. Blanshard, T.R. Long, and A.R. Martin. 2001. A new VHF tag and attachment technique for small cetaceans. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(1): 11-15. *School of Tropical Environmental Studies and Geography, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia The use of telemetry in cetacean research has steadily increased in recent years. The type of tag used, the attachment technique, and the lengths of deployment vary greatly, affecting the behaviour and information collected from tagged animals. A new VHF tag was trailed on the inshore bottlenose dolphins (_Tursiops aduncus_) of Moreton Bay, Australia, using a new attachment technique. Tags were attached to three female bottlenose dolphins in November 1997. The observed short and long term reactions, and minimal dorsal fin damage from the tagging techniques are discussed. **************************************************************************** ************************************************ Colbert, D.E.*, W. Fellner, G.B. Bauer, C.A. Manire, and H.L. Rhinehart. 2001. Husbandry and research training of two Florida manatees (_Trichechus manatus latirostris_). _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(1): 16-23. *Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, Florida 34236, USA Basic husbandry procedures and physiological assessment of manatees typically have been limited by the difficulty of restraining these large animals and the risk of injury to subjects and personnel. To address this problem, two male Florida manatees (_Trichechus manatus latirostris_) were trained for seven tasks: swimming onto a stretcher; stationing for body measurements; voluntary presentation of flippers for venipunctures (medical and lateral); providing urine samples; submitting to rectal measurement of core temperatures; positioning for ultrasound assessment of blubber thickness; and measuring respiration volume and flow rate. Subjects were trained to perform these tasks using standard conditioning procedures, which eliminated the need to drop water levels or to restrain subjects. The ability to meet these training objectives increased health assessment opportunities, improved the level of health care, furthered collection of baseline biological data, and facilitated physiological research. **************************************************************************** ******************************************* Madeira di Beneditto, A.P.*, R.M. Arruda Ramos, S. Siciliano, R. Aguair dos Sanots, G. Bastos, and E. Fagundes-Netto. 2001. Stomach contents of delphinids from Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(1): 24-28. *Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Laboratorio de Ciencias Ambientais, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2.000, Camposl RJ, 28015-620, Brasil This study presents an analysis of the stomach contents of six species of Delphinidae: 6 _Tursiops truncatus_, 6 _Stenella frontalis_, 3 _Steno bredanensis_, 1 _Lagenodelphis hosei_, 1 _Delphinus capensis_ and 1 _Pseudorca crassidens_, from the open coastal areas of Rio de Janeiro State (21 35'S - 23 10'S), southeastern Brazil. The carcasses of four stranded and 14 accidentally captured dolphins were collected from 1991 to 1999 and their stomachs were separated to be analysed. Otoliths, mandibles and spines of bony fishes and squid beaks were used to identify the prey species and to calculate the original length and weight. At least 12 fish species and two squid species, with coastal distribution and which are abundant all year round, were distinguished from examination of the stomachs. _S. frontalis_ can be considered primarily a teuthophagous species, while _T. truncatus_ appears to be preferentially ichthyophagous. The differences in the diet of these two sympatric species could reflect distinctive energy demands, foraging efficiency, and/or movement patterns. The data indicate that the delphinids examined during this study may move onto the continental shelf of southeastern Brazil to capture prey and can be considered opportunistic predators, feeding on those most abundant species. **************************************************************************** ******************************************** Gnone, G.*, C. Benoldi, B. Bonsignori, and P. Fognani. 2001. Observations of rest behaviours in captive bottlenose dolphins (_Tursiops truncatus_). _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(1): 29-33. *Acquario di Genova, Area Porto Antico, Ponte Spinola, 16128 Genova, Italy Sleep in marine mammals has been investigated mainly by Russian scientists. Mukhametov (1985) first described unihemispheric slow-wave sleep in the bottlenose dolphin (_Tursiops truncatus_). From his work, we know that dolphins never sleep with both hemispheres simultaneously and never show paradoxical (REM) sleep. During his experiments, Mukhametov determined whether the animals were in a 'unihemispheric sleep state' through EEG. During our research, we identified at least two behavioural patterns which should not be considered resting behaviour. We did not look for electrical brain activity in dolphins, and our considerations are based only on visual and acoustic recordings. Nevertheless, some elements commonly associated with resting behaviour, such as partial or total reduction of movement, absence of sound production, poor attention toward the environment, are easily recognisable. However, resting behaviour should not be confused with sleep, even if resting includes sleeping episodes. We called the first resting category 'rest swimming' and the second 'rest at the surface'. It is notable that during 'rest swimming' animals tend to pair-off, slowly swimming in strong synchrony. In such a state, they typically close one eye and co-ordinate with the partner which eye is open. If they invert their position they also which eye is open. On the contrary, during 'rest at the surface', dolphins stop swimming and float at the surface with the blowhole emerged. According to our experience, dolphins choose water movement and availability of a co-operative partner. "Rest at the surface" was never observed in young dolphins, whereas 'rest swimming', in association with the mother, was the only resting behaviour observed. **************************************************************************** ******************************************** Killebrew, D.A.*, Mercado III, E., L.M. Herman, and A.A. Pack. 2001. Sound production of a neonatal bottlenose dolphin. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(1): 34-44. *Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory, 1129 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu, Hawaii 96814, USA The development of sound production abilities in bottlenose dolphins (_Tursiops truncatus_) is poorly understood. In this paper. we describe acoustic features of early sounds produced a newborn. Initial underwater sounds (produced 24-48 h after birth) consisted exclusively of burst-pulses. By day five, whistle-like elements were evident as components of burst-pulse sounds. These data suggest that dolphins can produce burst-pulse sounds form a very young age and that the mechanisms dolphins use to produce both whistles and burst-pulse sounds are closely related. **************************************************************************** ******************************************** Parra, G.J.* and P.J. Corkeron. 2001. Feasibility of using photo-identification techniques to study the Irrawaddy dolphin, _Orcaella brevirostris_ (Owen in Gray 1866). _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(1): 45-49. *School of Tropical Environment Studies and Geography, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia Irrawady dolphins, _Orcaella brevirostris_, present a particular challenge to study. They live in shallow, turbid waters, are inconspicuous, have unpredictable surfacing patterns, low surfacing profiles, and able surfacing patterns, low surfacing profiles, and are generally elusive animals. Photographs of the dorsal region of Irrawady dolphins were taken between December 1998 and November 1999 in Cleveland and Bowling Green Bays. North Queensland Australia in order to assess the feasibility of using photo-identification techniques in studies of this species. Thirty-five individual Irrawady dolphins, all adults, were identified in Cleveland Bay and three in Bowling Green Bay. Distinctive features were notches on the dorsal fin, including deep scars and cuts along the dorsal region, white marks on dorsal fin, and distinct dorsal fin shapes. The use of photo-identification to study Irrawady dolphins is feasible. Photo-identification can contribute significantly to the identity of Irrawaddy dolphins' ecology and conservation biology. **************************************************************************** ******************************************** Serrano, A. 2001. Plasma testosterone concentrations in captive harp seals (_Pagophilus groenlandicus_). _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(1): 50-55. *Biology Department and Ocean Sciences Centre, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, SF, Canada A1B 3X9 The main objective of this study was to describe plasma testosterone in male harp seals (_Pagophilus groenlandicus_) before, during, and after the breeding season. In addition, the relationship between testosterone concentration and vocal activity was examined. Levels of plasma testosterone were investigated in four captive harp seals of different ages. Concentrations varied from a minimum of ca. 0.01 ng/ml in April and May to a maximum of 9.4 ng/ml in March. Peaks in concentration occurred at the times when testes were largest in mature wild males, which is several weeks before wild females enter oestrus. Also, peaks in concentration were correlated with high rates of vocalisations. Peak levels of testosterone were lowest in the young and socially subordinate seals. **************************************************************************** ******************************************** Marten, K.*, D. Herzing, M. Poole, and K.N. Allman. 2001. The acoustic predation hypothesis: linking underwater observations and recordings during odontocete predation and observing the effects of loud impulse sounds on fish. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(1):56-66. *Earthtrust, 133-B, N. Kainalu Dr., Kailua, HI 967344 USA Marten et al. (1988) analyzed killer whale (_Orcinus orca_) and bottlenose dolphin (_Tursiops truncatus_) high amplitude sounds ('bangs') in feeding situations in the wild. Animals were observed from boats and only could be seen at the surface, so no underwater visual data were linked to the bangs. The purpose of this paper was to provide synchronous underwater visual and hydrophone data of individual cetaceans chasing fish, both in the wild and in captivity. We also stimulated odontocete bangs with underwater air and water guns (used for underwater seismic oil exploration) and assessed the effects of their loud impulse emissions on northern anchovies (_Engraulis mordax_). Effects of multiple-impulse treatments ranged from flight to disorientation and death. The results are consistent with the Norris and Mohl (1983) acoustic predation hypothesis. We hope this information can serve as a useful background for other scientists who might encounter predation situations in the wild, or who might wish to do laboratory experiments on this interesting, but difficult to study hypothesis. **************************************************************************** ******************************************** dos Santos, M.E. 2001. Book review: The Bottlenose Dolphin -- Biology and Conservation. J.E. Reynolds III, R.S. Wells, and S.D. Eide. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(1): 67-69. *Unidade de Investigacao em Eco-Etologia, Instituto Superio de Psicologia Aplicada, Rua Jardim do Tabaco, 34, 1149-041, Lisboa, Portugal **************************************************************************** ******************************************** Vieregg, M. 2001. Book review: Biology of Marine Mammals. J.E. Reynolds III and S.A. Rommel, eds. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(1): 70-71. *Laboratory of Sensory Biology, Western Illinois University, Moline, Illinois, USA ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2001 09:01:29 -0700 From: Barbara Lagerquist Subject: back issues of Aquatic Mammals The Guin Library at Oregon State University is looking for back issues of Aquatic Mammals (volumes 1-21). Does anyone have copies they would be willing to donate to this library (or sell at a reasonable price)? Thanks, Barbara Lagerquist Hatfield Marine Science Center Oregon State University Newport OR 97365 lagerqub(\)ucs.orst.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2001 13:35:07 EDT From: Bonnie Coy Subject: California Sea lion skulls Hello- I am a graduate student at American University in Washington D.C. and I am studying fluctuating asymmetry in California sea lions. I am writing to ask if anyone knows of collections that contain Zalophus skulls from before 1960. I have been to the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco and the Los Angeles Natural History Museum, but ideally would like to measure more skulls for my control group. I would appreciate any information. Thank you, Bonnie Coy bb12695(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2001 11:50:04 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MARMAM Monthly 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, with preference to meetings that span more than one day. We are trying to avoid posting notices of gatherings that are less than a day long. - 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, website address and website contents). - 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. >> A NOTE ABOUT COMPATIBILITY BETWEEN TEXT EDITORS: >> Different mail programs, text editors and operating systems >> handle line wrapping differently. This may cause display problems, >> given that subscribers read their mail from a variety of platforms. >> We also have noticed that messages composed by cutting and pasting >> directly from WordPerfect can cause line wrapping problems. >> Therefore we aks that you avoid composing your messages using the >> latter method. >> We also ask that users whose mail programs include "Metafile", >> "M-tags" or "v-card" information disable these features when >> submitting messages to MARMAM, so that v-cards are not attached >> to postings. >> These practices will greatly reduce the number of messages >> with strange formatting that appear on MARMAM. 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. Users of the web-based e-mail provider HOTMAIL should be aware that the "block sender" feature (used to avoid "junk" mail), if active, will also block listserver messages. Therefore, make sure you have "block sender" feature turned off. This may also apply to other e-mail programs with equivalent features. ______________________________________________________________ 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, Daniel Palacios and Siri Hakala) 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 June 2001 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2001 18:49:02 -0700 From: sciprogram Subject: One week to submit an abstract for SMM meeting 14TH BIENNIAL CONFERENCE ON THE BIOLOGY OF MARINE MAMMALS Vancouver, Canada November 28 - December 3, 2001 IMPORTANT! YOU HAVE ONLY ONE WEEK TO SUBMIT AN ABSTRACT. The deadline for abstract submission is FRIDAY JUNE 15, 2001, after which the on-line submission form will be removed from the web site. All information pertaining to abstract submission can be found at www.smmconference.org PLEASE submit early, as the server will be very busy and may become overloaded as the deadline approaches. For all questions regarding abstract submission and other conference related issues, please go to the web site www.smmconference.org If you are unable to find an answer to your question there, please contact: For general inquiries: mmconf(\)vanaqua.org For scientific program inquiries: sciprogram(\)vanaqua.org For registration inquiries Ms. Terry Odell: todell(\)fbs.net Please keep in mind that the abstract should be no longer than three hundred words and an individual may be first author on only one abstract submission. ************************* Scientific Program Committee 14th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals sciprogram(\)vanaqua.org ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2001 14:34:16 -0400 From: Manuel Castellote Subject: Mid/North-Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin research Dear colleagues, We are conducting a research project comparing whistle repertoires of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins from the mid/north-Atlantic coast population (New Jersey area). We would greatly appreciate any contact with other research teams working with the mid/north Atlantic population. Please e-mail to mcastellote(\)hotmail.com Thank you very much in advance. Sincerely, Manolo Castellote Research assistant Diana Reiss Director of Marine Mammal Research Marine Mammal Research Program Osborn Laboratories of Marine Sciences. New York Aquarium _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2001 14:18:35 -0700 Reply-To: wperrin(\)ucsd.edu From: William Perrin Subject: Conference in the Philippines This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------DBFCF4EF3754775AE27FD3A5 The Second International Conference on Marine Mammals of Southeast Asia (SEAMAMII) sponsored by the Convention on Migratory Species is planned for July 2002 in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines. It will consist of a two-day open symposium (all topics relating to SEA marine mammals) and a three-day invitational workshop on cetacean bycatch in fisheries. Anyone wishing to be placed on a mailing list to receive further information as planning proceeds should contact Bill Perrin at wperrin(\)ucsd.edu with name, mailing address, telephone and fax numbers and email address. --------------DBFCF4EF3754775AE27FD3A5 name="William.Perrin.vcf" filename="William.Perrin.vcf" begin:vcard n:Perrin;William F. tel;fax:1-858-546-7003 tel;home:1-858-535-0840 tel;work:1-858-546-7096 x-mozilla-html:FALSE org:National Marine Fisheries Service;NOAA, Department of Commerce version:2.1 email;internet:wperrin(\)ucsd.edu, william.perrin(\)noaa.gov, dolarperri(\)aol.com title:Senior Scientist adr;quoted-printable:;;Southwest Fisheries Science Center=0D=0AP.O. Box 271=0D=0A8604 La Jolla Shores Drive;La Jolla;CA;92o38;USA note;quoted-printable:Adjunct Professor=0D=0AScripps Institution of Oceanography=0D=0AUniversity of California, San Diego fn:William F. Perrin end:vcard --------------DBFCF4EF3754775AE27FD3A5-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Jun 2001 12:42:22 +0100 Reply-To: "Colin D. MacLeod" From: "Colin D. MacLeod" Subject: Beaked Whale Workshop at in Vancouver Announcement of a Workshop on the Biology and Conservation of Beaked Whales to be Held at the 13th Biennial Conference of the Society of Marine Mammalogy in Vancouver. 28th November 2001 The objectives of this workshop are to bring together those actively studying beaked whales, those who may wish to start such research and people involved in conservation of beaked whales. The workshop aims to provide case studies to assess the current status of beaked whale research, and to discuss new and existing methodologies and techniques which may be of particular use in solving problems related to beaked whale research. An outcome of the workshop would be to outline the conservation issues currently affecting beaked whales and the areas of beaked whale biology that need to be studied to assess and mitigate these issues. The workshop will be a mix of invited speakers and speakers who have suggested suitable topics to the organising committee, ending in a round table discussion on conservation issues relating to beaked whales and what research is needed to address these issues. There will be four longer invited talks, each 20 to 25 minutes long with five minutes for questions at the end. Other talks will be 15 minutes long with five minutes for questions and will be a mix of invited speakers and speakers who have submitted suitable outlines for talks on relevant subjects to the organisers. Starting at 9am and ending at 5pm, there will be a total 14 speakers and three breaks (mid-morning, lunch and mid-afternoon). The cost for attending this workshop will be $10 Canadian, payable on the day. Speakers will be required to submit an extended abstract of their talks in advance of the workshop. A folder containing each of these abstracts will be given to each attendee at the beginning of the workshop. 0900 Introduction 0905 Invited talk 0930 Talk 0950 Talk 1010 Talk 1030 break 1045 Invited Talk 1115 talk 1135 Talk 1155 Talk 12:15 Break for Lunch 1330 Invited Talk 1400 Talk 1420 Talk 1440 Talk 1500 Break 15:30 Invited Talk 16:00 Talk 16:20 Discussion: Beaked whale conservation issues and ways to address them. 16:55 Closing remarks 1700 end. There will be a maximum of 50 attendees, which will be allotted on a first come-first served basis, although anyone presenting a talk will automatically be allowed to attend. Based on current enquires, space for attendees may be fully allotted within a short spaces of time so book your place early. For those wishing to present a talk, please send an abstract of no more than 300 words to Colin MacLeod (macleod_c(\)colloquium.co.uk) no later than 1st of July 2001. Decisions on acceptance of talks will take place by 31th of July 2001. All speaker who have their talks accepted will be required to submit an extended abstract of up to four pages outlining their talk by the 1st of November to allow time for the production of a booklet of extended abstracts of all talks to be made available to all attendees on the day. Presenting a talk at this workshop will not conflict with presenting talks or posters at the main conference. This workshop is being organised by Colin MacLeod and Andy Williams, Co-Chairs, European Cetacean Society Beaked Whale Working Group and Dr Peter Tyack Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Jun 2001 10:51:33 +1200 Reply-To: David Lusseau From: David Lusseau Subject: propeller marks Dear Marmamers, I am studying the impacts of tourism activities on 2 populations of bottlenose dolphins in New Zealand. I have discovered 2 animals bearing obvious propeller marks (scars). I was able to get estimates on the depth of the wounds on one of the animals as I observed it the day after he had been hit. We also have another animal that bears scars similar to a propeller hit (3 parallel scars on the side of the body), but the scars are so long and thick (~60cm long and 7-10cm wide, spaced by ~40-50cm) that I have difficulties to judge whether it is really a boat strike. We do have large vessel operating in the area (up to 500 passenger-vessel). Has anybody come across such wounds? If so were they always caused by boat strikes? Would anybody know of another explanations for such scars? I was also wondering if anybody knew of a way to estimate the size of the propeller that hit the marked dolphins. I was thinking that there may be a relationship between the distance between marks (scars) and the diameter of the propeller (backcalculated from the distance between blades of the propeller). Would there be a relationship between the depth of the wound and the weight of the propeller and the engine's rpm (since F=m*a)? Would anybody have any ideas or know of any references (from studies in other species, or from forensic studies)? Thank you for your time! Sincerely, David David Lusseau, PhD candidate Marine Ecologist University of Otago home phone: 64 3 456 3539 Dpt. of Zoology office phone: 64 3 479 5240 PO Box 56 fax: 64 3 479 8336 Dunedin e-mail: lusda563(\)student.otago.ac.nz New Zealand In France: 29 rue du Chaignot home phone: 33 3 80 30 11 49 21000 Dijon France ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Jun 2001 09:55:41 -0400 From: Tim Ragen Subject: MMC's annual report to Congress for 2000 boundary="----=_NextPart_000_001C_01C0F001.2D9BE980" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_001C_01C0F001.2D9BE980 charset="iso-8859-1" The Marine Mammal Commission's Annual Report to Congress for 2000 is = currently available from the Commission. Single-copy requests may be = sent by e-mail to mmc(\)mmc.gov (subject line: 2000 Annual Report). = Requests also may be sent to the Marine Mammal Commission, 4340 = East-West Highway, Room 905, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. The report is = available in hard-copy only while supplies last. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Timothy J. Ragen, Ph.D. =20 Scientific Program Director Marine Mammal Commission 4340 East-West Highway, Room 905 Bethesda, MD 20814 301/504-0087 301/504-0099 (fax) tragen(\)mmc.gov ------=_NextPart_000_001C_01C0F001.2D9BE980 charset="iso-8859-1"
The Marine Mammal Commission’s = Annual Report to=20 Congress for 2000 is currently available from the Commission. = Single-copy=20 requests may be sent by e-mail to mmc(\)mmc.gov (subject line: 2000 Annual = Report).=20 Requests also may be sent to the Marine Mammal Commission, 4340 = East-West=20 Highway, Room 905, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. The report is available in=20 hard-copy only while supplies last.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------=
Timothy=20 J. Ragen, Ph.D. 
Scientific Program Director
Marine Mammal=20 Commission
4340 East-West Highway, Room 905
Bethesda, MD=20 20814
301/504-0087
301/504-0099 (fax)
tragen(\)mmc.gov

------=_NextPart_000_001C_01C0F001.2D9BE980-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Jun 2001 12:17:12 -0800 From: Mary Sternfeld Organization: NOAA Fisheries Subject: New regulation protects humpback whales NEW REGULATION PROTECTS HUMPBACK WHALES (in Alaskan waters) EFFECTIVE JULY 2, 2001 New regulation requires* that you: Not approach within 100 yards of a humpback whale. Not place your vessel in the path of oncoming humpback whales causing them to surface within 100 yards of your vessel. Operate your vessel at a slow, safe speed when near a humpback whale. *Some exceptions apply. See entire regulation and the Guidelines for Marine Mammal Viewing in Alaska at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov or call NOAA Fisheries at (907) 586-7235 Mary Sternfeld mary.sternfeld(\)noaa.gov ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2001 15:49:06 -0400 From: "CMA Marine Mammal Dept." Subject: 2001, An Ocean Odyssey: Ocean Conference and Stranding Symposium The Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) will be hosting the 2001 Ocean Odyssey and Stranding Symposium to be held at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort on Clearwater Beach, August 10-12, 2001. The goal of this symposium is to bring together the general public and diverse elements of the marine animal stranding response community, with leaders in the field of ocean science, to learn about the status of our ocean environment. This union will provide an opportunity to obtain current information on ocean conditions, water and environmental quality trends, disturbed marine animal populations, and tracking released animals. The many areas of expertise coming to the symposium include species in decline, such as sharks and manatees; seabird/human interactions; dolphin and whale physiology; current laws and the Marine Mammal Protection Act; water quality and pollution; acoustics, plus GIS and satellite tracking. Guest speakers are experts with the credentials and reputations as leaders within their respective fields. The speakers will address the conference atttendees both singularly and in panels, followed by time for questions and open discussion from the audience. We will also include space for exhibitors, allowing the various institutions, universities, and organizations, an area to distribute educational and informational literature. Cost for the three-day symposium is $150.00 per person registering before July 10, 2001($200.00 after July 11, 2001), and includes conference entrance, a welcome reception, meals, a dinner cruise on the Starlite Majesty, and a Clearwater Marine Aquarium after-hours tour. Exhibitor fee is $35 additional and limited to 20 exhibitors on a first-come basis. To register or for more information, contact Geof Lane at (727) 441-1790 x240 or via e-mail at MLAtrips(\)CMAquarium.org. You can also visit CMA's web page at www.CMAquarium.org for highlighted symposium information. Participants requiring overnight accommodations can contact the Sheraton Sand Key Resort at (727) 595-1611 for special conference room rates. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2001 13:46:32 -0400 From: Henry Kacprzyk Subject: Request for Information boundary="----=_NextPart_000_000B_01C0EF58.42ABF4E0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_000B_01C0EF58.42ABF4E0 charset="iso-8859-1" Hi, The Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium is in the early stages of development of = a traveling exhibit addressing public misconceptions of marine mammals. = While we have been able to find some published studies on the general = public's attitude and perception of marine mammals, we have been unable = to find much on the public's factual knowledge (or lack thereof). Does anyone know of any published studies on the topic? Please contact me at henry(\)zoo.pgh.pa.us =20 Thanks, Henry Kacprzyk Curator of Reptiles and Kids Kingdom Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium ------=_NextPart_000_000B_01C0EF58.42ABF4E0 charset="iso-8859-1"
Hi,
 
The Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium is in the early = stages of=20 development of a traveling exhibit addressing public misconceptions of = marine=20 mammals. While we have been able to find some published studies on the = general=20 public's attitude and perception of marine mammals, we have been unable = to find=20 much on the public's factual knowledge (or lack thereof).
 
Does anyone know of any published studies on the=20 topic?
 
Please contact me at henry(\)zoo.pgh.pa.us  =20
 
Thanks,
 
Henry Kacprzyk
Curator of Reptiles and Kids=20 Kingdom
Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium
 
------=_NextPart_000_000B_01C0EF58.42ABF4E0-- ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 9 Jun 2001 13:05:26 -0700 From: peter hamilton Organization: http://www.3web.net - Absolutely Free Internet Access Subject: Students Needed for Marine Mammal Cencus(Vancouver) boundary="------------3C43549DA1A0E83DA6E820A7" --------------3C43549DA1A0E83DA6E820A7 Marine Mammal Cencus and Boat Interaction Study The Vancouver based ecology organization, Lifeforce, is seeking five students to participate in a Marine Mammal Cencus near the Vancouver, BC area. This study will also collect data on boat and marine wildlife interactions. All data will be collected from a land based station. Students must be returning to school within 5 years. Students should be able to work in various weather conditions for periods up to seven hours, have an automobile and have binoculars. Students must live in the Vancouver area in order to be eligible for the program. The tentative start date is June 15 or July 1, 2001. Selected students will receive tuition credits at $8.00 per hour up to $2400.00. Interested students can response to email: lifeforcefoundation(\)3web.net --------------3C43549DA1A0E83DA6E820A7 Marine Mammal Cencus and Boat Interaction Study
The Vancouver based ecology organization, Lifeforce, is seeking five students to participate in a Marine Mammal Cencus near the Vancouver, BC area. This study will also collect data on boat and marine wildlife interactions. All data will be collected from a land based station. Students must be returning to school within 5 years. Students should be able to work in various weather conditions for periods up to seven hours, have an automobile and have binoculars. Students must live in the Vancouver area in order to be eligible for the program. The tentative start date is June 15 or July 1, 2001. Selected students will receive tuition credits at $8.00 per hour up to $2400.00.
Interested students can response to email: lifeforcefoundation(\)3web.net --------------3C43549DA1A0E83DA6E820A7-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2001 12:54:22 -0400 From: Emily Hanson Organization: NOAA Subject: 2001 draft Stock Assessment Reports The National Marine Fisheries Service published a notice of availability and request for comments for the Draft 2001 Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports (SARs) in the Federal Register on June 7, 2001 (66 FR 30706). The SARs are available for a 90-day public comment period, which closes on September 5, 2001. Comments will be accepted by fax (301-713-0376) or mail, addressed to: Chief, Marine Mammal Division Office of Protected Resources National Marine Fisheries Service 1315 East-West Highway SIlver Spring, MD 20910 The Draft SARs are available at the following web site: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/PR2/Stock_Assessment_Program/sars.html -- Emily Hanson Fishery Biologist NOAA/NMFS Marine Mammal Division 1315 East-West Highway F/PR2 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Ph: (301) 713-2322 x101 Fx: (301) 713-4060 Emily.Hanson(\)noaa.gov ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2001 03:57:08 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: FW: visiting asst professor (fwd) Forwarded from: MAMMAL-L(\)SIVM.SI.EDU Subject: visiting asst professor Visiting Assistant Professor one year position (possible one year renewal) Starting 21 Aug 2001 The Department of Biology at The University of Memphis invites applications for a one-year Visiting Assistant Professor (with a possible one year renewal). The area of research expertise is open, but should complement current faculty interests in population, behavioral, and evolutionary biology (see our webpage at http://www.people.memphis.edu/~biology/ ). The position may include some teaching, but is primarily for research collaboration with one or more faculty members. Prospective candidates should contact a faculty member to propose a mutually beneficial research collaboration before applying. Applications should include a letter proposing a research collaboration, curriculum vitae, and names, phone numbers and email addresses of at least three references. Submit applications as email attachments to jwolff(\)memphis.edu. For further information contact Dr. Jerry O. Wolff, Department of Biology, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152. Phone (901) 678-2758, FAX (901) 678-4746. Review of applications will begin July 9 and may continue until the position is filled. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Jun 2001 10:41:32 -0400 Reply-To: info(\)nisc.com From: Valerie Johnson Subject: Posting Request: Wildlife Worldwide Database - Free Access Dear Listowner, Please consider posting the following information for review by your listserv subscribers if appropriate. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, NISC ************************************************************************ ** WILDLIFE WORLDWIDE DATABASE** World's largest index to literature on wild mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. FREE ACCESS OVER THE INTERNET UNTIL JUNE 30, 2001 Click on the: "Click here to register for FREE Database of the Month" link near the top of the Wildlife Worldwide factsheet. http://www.nisc.com/factsheets/ww.htm Without a doubt, Wildlife Worldwide is an essential resource for academic institutions, wildlife organizations and societies, natural resources departments, zoos and other institutions with responsibilities for the management of wildlife. Wildlife Worldwide offers: ***Access to over 500,000 bibliographic records, many with abstracts. ***Access to an exclusive collection of 6 database files featuring Wildlife Review Abstracts, formerly Wildlife Review. ***Coverage of wildlife literature from 1935 & earlier to present. ***A global perspective on all aspects of wildlife and wildlife management. ***Coverage of grey literature and other valuable sources of information not included in other mainstream online databases available. ***Extensive keyword indexing that permits flexible subject searching, and taxonomic & geographic identifiers that are especially helpful. The geographic identifiers include global and broad regional levels as well as specific localities. You can search by species in a province, state, county, or even a community, park, lake or stream. ***A Thesaurus providing access to a glossary of indexing terminology. ***Composite record technology ensuring access to all citations without duplication. For additional information, see the Wildlife Worldwide Product Page at http://www.nisc.com/factsheets/ww.htm Please contact Debbie Durr by phone (410-243-0797) or Email at sales(\)nisc.com with any questions. Thank you for your time and consideration. NISC ========================================================== National Information Services Corporation NISC USA 3100 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218 USA Tel: +1 410 2430797 Fax: +1 410 2430982 sales(\)nisc.com www.nisc.com A Company in the Public Interest ========================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2001 23:26:58 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Recent publication on Hector's dolphins (fwd) Recent publication: BEJDER, L and DAWSON, S. (2001). Abundance, residency, and habitat utilisation of Hector's dolphins (Cephalorhynchus hectori) in Porpoise Bay, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 35(2): 277-287. Abstract: Theodolite tracking and boat-based photo-identification surveys were carried out in the austral summers of 1995-96 and 1996-97 to assess abundance, residency, and habitat utilisation of Hector's dolphins (Cephalorhynchus hectori) in Porpoise Bay, on the south-east corner of the South Island of New Zealand. Data are consistent with the model of a small resident population that is visited occasionally by members of neighbouring populations. Mark-recapture analysis of photographically identified individuals, along with data on the proportion of animals bearing identifying marks, indicates a local population of 48 dolphins (95% ci = 44-55) in 1996/97. Dolphins spent a large proportion of their time in a small area inside the bay. Dolphin sightings were more congregated in successive time periods from early morning to late afternoon. No pattern of diurnal movement into and out of the bay was observed. Cheers Lars Bejder Currently in the field (1 March - 1 September 2001) PLEASE DO NOT SEND LARGE ATTACHMENTS Field address: Lars Bejder Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort 6537 DENHAM Shark Bay Western Australia Phone : ++ 61 8 99483 222 Fax : ++ 61 8 99481 512 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: Mon, 11 Jun 2001 19:36:21 +0800 Reply-To: "Stuart J. Green" From: "Stuart J. Green" Organization: CRMP-Bohol Subject: Re: Irrawaddy Dolphin sighting in Sarawak, Malaysia Greetings to all Marmam members; Recently I paid a visit to Sarawak, Malaysia and while on a boat trip out in the estuary close to the city we found two schools of Irrawaddy dolphin who joined us for a while and had a great interaction with us; (From initial talks with the local Forestry department no-one seems to know much about them at all). I was therefore wondering if anyone had any information about the Irrawaddy, especially in and around the Malaysia / Borneo area; Also I have found one reference also and wondered if anyone could help me trace this; Conservation Biology of Inshore Dolphins and Porpoises in Northern Borneo. The researcher was Isabel Beasley. Looking forward to some replies and further information; Many thanks. Stuart J. Green Stuart J. Green USAID-Coastal Resource Management Project Barangay San Roque Baclayon Bohol Philippines Tel / Fax: 0385409222 Cell: 09189036008: Bohol Environment Management Office: Tel/ Fax: 0385019912 Email: bosicadd(\)mozcom.com Website: www.oneocean.org ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2001 23:32:12 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Whale Watch Guidelines and Orca Field Guides (fwd) Re: Updated Guidelines and Orca Field Guide Available The following two education cards are available. Each card is a laminated 8.5" x 11', full colour on front and two colour on the back. 1. Whale Watch Guidelines for Southern BC and Washington This updated version outlines regulations and guidelines pertaining to marine wildlife such as cetaceans, pinnipeds and sea birds. The seven cetacean and three pinniped species comminly seen are illustrated in colour with the natural history of each species. 2. Orca Field Guide The Field Guide to Killer Whale Watching in Southern BC and Washington helps everyone understand behaviours and individual identification of the Southern Orca Community.Ten colour photographs depict common behaviours. Life Facts, Identification by behaviour, Identification by markings and a Home Territory map is also provided. The cards are distributed to boaters on the water and through marinas/boat organizations through Lifeforce's Lifewatch Boater Awareness Program. A $5.00 donation to cover costs and mailing is requested. To receive the cards or for further information contact Lifeforce at (604) 669-4673, Box 3317, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 3X6. Email: lifeforcefoundation(\)3web.net ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2001 10:42:37 -0700 From: sciprogram Subject: Two days for abstracts 14th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals Vancouver, BC 28 November - 3 December 2001 You have 48 hours to submit an abstract for the SMM meeting in Vancouver. The on-line submission form will be removed at midnight pacific daylight time on Friday June 15th. No abstracts will be considered after this time. Please submit on the web site at www.smmconference.org If you have any questions please contact: For general inquiries: mmconf(\)vanaqua.org For scientific program inquiries: sciprogram(\)vanaqua.org For registration inquiries Ms. Terry Odell: todell(\)fbs.net Please keep in mind that the abstract should be no longer than three hundred words and an individual may be first author on only one abstract submission. ************************* Scientific Program Committee 14th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals sciprogram(\)vanaqua.org ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2001 15:30:04 +0200 From: Hal Whitehead Subject: Abstract: Social Affiliations within Sperm Whale Groups From: Hal Whitehead (hwhitehe(\)is.dal.ca) Christal, J. and H. Whitehead. 2001. Social affiliations within sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) groups. Ethology 107 (4), 323-340 Abstract: We examined patterns of affiliation within groups of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), particularly concentrating on how short-term spatio temporal associations reflect long-term relationships. Female and immature sperm whales live in stable, and partially matrilineal, social units. Two or more social units may move together for periods of several days, forming a cohesive group of about 20 animals. We observed that sperm whales in the eastern tropical Pacific quite consistently associated with members of their own social unit more than they did with other animals in their group with whom they did not share a long-term relationship. There was little evidence for preferred, or avoided, affiliations within social units, except in two large and relatively unstable units. In two well-studied groups, individuals did not show consistently favoured positions in the foraging rank relative to other members of their social unit. These results indicate the importance of long-term relationships to female and immature sperm whales, but suggest that relationships are quite homogeneous within social units. This paper is available on teh web (after registering) at: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/Journals/toc.asp?IssueID=5400 We have some reprints available if you email: "amanda coakes" Hal Whitehead Department of Biology Dalhousie University Halifax Nova Scotia CANADA B3H 4J1 email: hwhitehe(\)is.dal.ca ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2001 13:04:43 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: publications on morbillivirus diseases (fwd) From: Thierry Jauniaux Pathological findings in two fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) with evidence of morbillivirus infection. T. Jauniaux, G. Charlier, M. Desmecht, J. Haelters, T. Jacques, B. Losson, J. Van Gompel, J. Tavernier, F. Coignoul, J. Comp. Pathol., 2000, 123, 198-201. Two stranded immature female fin whales stranded on Belgian and French coastlines, were examined post mortem. The main gross findings were massive parasitic infestation associated with a large thrombus in one whale and severe emaciation. Microscopical investigations revealed multinucleated syncytia with large intranuclear inclusion bodies in various tissues, and positive immunolabelling for morbillivirus antigens. Other evidence of morbillivirus infection was provided by the demonstration of specific viral structures in syncytia and in cell cultures, and the detection of anti-canine distemper virus neutralizing antibodies. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first firm report of morbillivirus infection in baleen whales. Morbillivirus in common seals stranded on the coasts of Belgium and northern France during summer 1998. T. Jauniaux, G. Boseret, M. Desmecht, J. Haelters, C. Manteca, J. Tavernier, J. Van Gompel & F. Coignoul Veterinary Records, 2001, 587-591. Unexpected strandings of 16 common seal (dead or moribund) pups (Phoca vitulina) occurred on the Belgian and northern French coasts during the summer of 1998. Eleven animals (10 pups and 1 adult) were necropsied and sampled for histopathological, immunohistochemical, serological, bacteriological, parasitological, virological and RT-PCR investigations. The main necropsy findings were severe emaciation, acute haemorrhagic enteritis, acute pneumonia, interstitial pulmonary emphysema and oedema, and chronic ulcerative stomatitis. Microscopic lung findings were acute to subacute pneumonia with interstitial oedema and emphysema. Severe lymphocytic depletion was observed in lymph nodes. Severe acute to subacute meningoencephalitis was observed in 1 animal. By immunohistochemistry, there was specific staining with 2 monoclonal antibodies directed against canine distemper virus and phocine distemper virus in occasional lymphocytes in spleen and lymph nodes of 3 seals. Anti-CDV neutralising antibodies were detected in sera from 6 animals. Some seals were positive by RT-PCR for the morbillivirus phosphoprotein gene. The lesions observed were consistent with those found in animals infected by a morbillivirus, and demonstrated that distemper has recently occurred in North Sea seals. T. Jauniaux Dept. of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Univ. of Liege, Bat. B43, Sart Tilman, B-4000 Liege, Belgium Phone: 0032-4-366-4075; Fax: 0032-4-366-4565; cell phone : 0032 477 252302 E-mail : t.jauniaux(\)ulg.ac.be Visit our websites http://www.ulg.ac.be/fmv/patho/marine.htm http://cemu10.fmv.ulg.ac.be/cas-jour/cas.htm SUBSCRIBING / UNSUBSCRIBING FROM MARMAM ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2001 17:24:10 -0700 From: sciprogram Subject: one day left to submit an abstract for SMM meeting Greetings, Abstracts for the 14th Biennial SMM Vancouver meeting are due June 15. Submit via the web site at www.smmconference.org Please, DO NOT try to send an abstract to the conference email address. Keep in mind that the server is already very busy. Please direct all program questions to sciprogram(\)vanaqua.org Many thanks for your cooperation. The Scientific Program Committee 14th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals ----------------------------- Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre Phone: (604) 659-3725 Fax: (604) 659-3515 E-mail: sciprogram(\)vanaqua.org The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre is proudly hosting the Society for Marine Mammalogy's 14th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals. For information, please visit www.smmconference.org. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2001 08:59:05 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Pinniped Internship (fwd) From: Sally Stanley The Aquarium of Niagara (Niagara Falls, NY) is offering an internship opportunity in the Marine Mammal Care Department. This internship is designed to give college level students an educational, hands-on experience working alongside our pinniped trainers. Students will be responsible for a number of support tasks with both California sea lions and harbor seals. ONLY ONE STUDENT PER SEMESTER will be accepted as the Marine Mammal Care intern. The Marine Mammal Care position is offered on a competitive basis for college students in good academic standing. It is open to college students completing their sophomore year on up to recent graduates. THIS WILL BE A NON-PAID, 40-HOUR PER WEEK POSITION. We are a not-for-profit organization so you must be able to provide your own housing and transportation. The city of Niagara Falls has a public transportation system and we can provide a list of available housing in the area. REQUIREMENTS - Pursuing a college degree (at least sophomore level) or a recent graduate in a related field - Strong interest in working with pinnipeds - Ability to lift 50 lb. - Able to work 40 hours per week including weekends for a 15-week semester - Good public speaking skills - Ability to provide your own housing and transportation - SCUBA certification and strong swimming skills are recommended but not required THERE IS A POSTMARK DEADLINE OF JULY 9, 2001. Applications received with a postmark after July 9, 2001 will not be considered. If interested please send a cover letter, resume, official school transcripts, and a list of three references to: The Aquarium of Niagara Attn: Marine Mammal Care Department 701 Whirlpool Street Niagara Falls, NY 14301 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 16 Jun 2001 12:41:34 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MMPA (fwd) From: Brian D. Smith Thanks to all the people who responded to my question about the applicability of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to the actions of U.S. citizens abroad. The bottom line, as communicated to me from the Division of Marine Mammal Permits, Conservation and Education Office of Protected Resources, NOAA/NMFS, is that, in the territorial waters of foreign nations, U.S. citizens are subject only to the laws of those nations. In international waters, U.S. citizens are indeed subject to the provisions of the MMPA. Cheers, Brian D. Smith ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 16 Jun 2001 12:42:47 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CORRECTION: Whale Watch Guidelines and Orca Field Guides (fwd) From: peter hamilton We deeply regret that the wrong PO BOX 3317 was sent from lifeforcefoundation(\)3web.net . The correct address for the Whale Watch Guidelines and Orca Field Guide is Box 3117, Vancouver, BC V6B 3X6. Really sorry for any inconvenience. Peter Hamilton > Re: Updated Guidelines and Orca Field Guide Available > The following two education cards are available. Each card is a > laminated 8.5" x 11', full colour on front and two colour on the back. > 1. Whale Watch Guidelines for Southern BC and Washington > This updated version outlines regulations and guidelines pertaining to > marine wildlife such as cetaceans, pinnipeds and sea birds. The seven > cetacean and three pinniped species comminly seen are illustrated in > colour with the natural history of each species. > 2. Orca Field Guide > The Field Guide to Killer Whale Watching in Southern BC and Washington > helps everyone understand behaviours and individual identification of > the Southern Orca Community.Ten colour photographs depict common > behaviours. Life Facts, Identification by behaviour, Identification by > markings and a Home Territory map is also provided. > > The cards are distributed to boaters on the water and through > marinas/boat organizations through Lifeforce's Lifewatch Boater > Awareness Program. A $5.00 donation to cover costs and mailing is > requested. > To receive the cards or for further information contact Lifeforce at > (604) 669-4673, Box 3317, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 3X6. Email: > lifeforcefoundation(\)3web.net > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > -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: Sun, 17 Jun 2001 07:00:06 EDT From: AGHoppin(\)aol.com Subject: RIVER DOLPHINS I am a natural history documentary film producer and I'm currently developing a film on river dolphins. I have made contact with researchers in India and China but I'm very eager to contact Vera da Silva. I have sent several emails but so far to no avail. Any suggestions or help would be appreciated. I have sent emails to: tucuxi(\)inpa.gov.br (which I believe is her direct email) tucux(\)inpa.gov.br jirporto(\)inpa.gov.br (email care of this person) I have called 011-55-92-643-3300 which I understand is INPA's main number but I cannot seem to get through. I am aware that she may have been, or may still be, in the field and that she'll get to the emails when she can. Ideally, I would like to fax her and be able to follow up on the phone. Otherwise, I'd be happy to forward an email through a third party. Thanks again and best regards, Ashley Hoppin AGHoppin(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 16 Jun 2001 18:53:28 -0700 From: Howard Garrett Subject: Seven So. Community orcas presumed dead ------ Below is a news release from the Center for Whale Research, with the=20 details of the whales confirmed missing in K-pod and L-pod this season.=20 Especially sad is the loss of two young calves (three, counting the=20 previously reported missing K pod calf), and the loss of three adult male= s. You can also find this press releas on the Orca Coservancy website at:=20 www.orcaconservancy.org/news/cwrjun16.asp The Center for Whale Research website is at: http://www.whaleresearch.com= / ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Center for Whale Research June 16, 2001 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Astrid van Ginneken, Co-Principal Investigator, Center for Whale Research= =20 360-378-5835 Kelley Balcomb-Bartok, media liaison =96 e-mail: orcatrust(\)rockisland.com= =20 360-378-3557 The Center for Whale Research reports seven killer whales missing from=20 Southern Community Orca population as whales return to the San Juan Islan= ds=20 for the summer. After several weeks of careful observation of the southern resident kille= r=20 whale pods in and around the San Juan Islands, the Center for Whale=20 Research has confirmed seven whales are missing from the population. For the twenty-sixth year, the Center for Whale Research is documenting t= he=20 pods of killer whales that frequent the inland waters of Washington State= =20 and southern British Columbia. Maintaining both a photographic catalog of= =20 every individual as well as social structure of the entire population,=20 staff at the Center noticed the missing animals as the pods returned to t= he=20 San Juan Islands last month. L-pod, the largest of the three resident pods, first arrived in the San=20 Juan Islands May 20 whereupon staff members with the Center began a=20 detailed inventory of the returning animals. Upon closer inspection,=20 several individuals were notably absent, and after several encounters in=20 the following weeks six whales have now been regarded as missing. K-pod=20 also returned to the region May 20th, and while one new calf (K-33) has=20 been observed, a calf born in November did not survive the winter, bringi= ng=20 the total number of animals missing to seven. The missing animals include: L-1 (adult male / born ~1959 / one surviving sister L-54) L-11 (adult female / born 1957 / mother of five offspring - 3 surviving) L-39 (adult male / born 1975 / mother L-2 and 3 younger siblings survive) L-62 (adult male / born 1980 / mother L-27 survives, 3 younger siblings=20 deceased) L-98* (calf born 1999 / mother L-67 survives) L-99* (calf born 2000 / mother L-47 and 2 older siblings survive) K-32 (calf born 2000 / mother K-16 survives) *(At present, with the loss of L-98 and L-99, no calves in L-pod born sin= ce=20 L-95, in 1996, have survived) New calves born this year include: J-37 (calf born to J-14, her third) K-33 (calf born to K-22, her first) With the absence of seven individuals and the addition of two calves, the= =20 total population numbers for the southern community is 78, with L-pod now= =20 at 41, K-pod at 17, and J-pod at 20. When research began on these pods in= =20 1976, there were 71 whales total; the population peaked at 99 whales in=20 1995 while there has been a precipitous decline since that time. The numbers for all years of the study are as follows: 1976 =96 71 whales 1977 =96 79 whales 1978 =96 79 whales 1979 =96 81 whales 1980 =96 83 whales 1981 =96 81 whales 1982 =96 78 whales 1983 =96 76 whales 1984 =96 74 whales 1985 =96 77 whales 1986 =96 81 whales 1987 =96 84 whales 1988 =96 85 whales 1989 =96 85 whales 1990 =96 89 whales 1991 =96 92 whales 1993 =96 97 whales 1994 =96 96 whales 1995 =96 99 whales 1996 =96 97 whales 1997 =96 92 whales 1998 =96 89 whales 1999 =96 85 whales 2000 =96 82 whales presently in 2001 - 78 whales. Factors that may play a role in the population decline include: =B7 The southern community killer whale pods were captured on 13=20 separate occasions in the Puget Sound area between 1965 and 1976 with 36=20 reported whales taken for aquariums throughout the world. =B7 In recent years many salmon stocks have been dramatically reduc= ed=20 to dangerously low levels, with several species recently listed as=20 endangered under the Endangered Species Act. =B7 High levels of Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxins (PBTs) includi= ng=20 Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) have been found in samples taken from=20 recovered bodies of several members of the J and L-pods. =B7 In the past ten years there has been a dramatic increase in the= =20 number of whale watching vessels following the whales, which may add stre= ss=20 on already weakened individuals in times of duress. The data collected by the Center for Whale Research is to be cited=20 specifically to the Center and no other organization, and any/all uses=20 should clearly state the information came from the Center for Whale Resea= rch. Howard Garrett Orca Conservancy 2403 So. North Bluff Rd. Greenbank WA 98253 (360) 678-3451 tokitae(\)pugetsound.net www.rockisland.com/~tokitae www.orcaconservancy.org ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2001 09:52:32 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Iceland rejoins International Whaling Commission (fwd) Iceland rejoins International Whaling Commission Sapa AP June 11 2001 at 03:37PM Reykjavik, Iceland - Iceland has rejoined the International Whaling Commission, nine years after quitting the organisation in protest, the Foreign Ministry said Monday. Even as it came back into the fold of the IWC, the government reiterated its opposition to the group's 1986 global ban on commercial whaling. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the government feels it can best influence the whaling debate from within the IWC, which is hosting an international convention on whaling regulations in London next month. "There are signs within the IWC that support is increasing for sustainable whaling in some form," it said. The island nation of 250,000 people grudgingly stopped its hunts in 1989, three years after the IWC moratorium was enacted to protect the giant sea mammals. However, in 1992, the same year Norway announced plans to resume its own commercial whale hunts, Iceland quit the whaling commission, claiming the organis! ation set up to manage whaling had become one devoted only to preventing all hunts. That view was re-expressed by the Foreign Ministry. It called the IWC "a non-whaling commission rather than a whaling commission. Regrettably, this development has not been undone yet." Iceland's parliament passed a resolution in 1999 to resume hunting, saying the country had the right to use all marine resources within its territorial waters. But Iceland has yet to restart the hunts, mostly due to fears that it could adversely affect the country's fish exports. Several supermarket chains in Europe and North America refused to sell Icelandic fish when it was a whaling nation. Norway is the only country that hunts whales for profit. It is not bound by the ban because commission rules allow its members to reject its rulings. - Sapa-AP ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2001 13:24:18 -0400 From: Jennifer Lewis Subject: Internship Posting Interns needed for help with project on the behavior of bottlenose dolphins in the Florida Keys between: First week September through first week October 2001 Position is volunteer. Work involved will include the following: Piloting small 18 foot vessel, collecting data using video and still cameras, vessel and equipment maintenance, as well as data entry and analysis. 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 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 01:05:31 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Marine Mammal Science 17(3) - Abstracts From: "David S. Janiger" The abstracts are scanned and OCRed, so I apologize to the authors for an= y=20 spelling mistakes. =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 EDWARDS, HOLLY H. and GARY D. SCHNELL. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE 17(3):445-472. 2001. Status and ecology of Sotalia fluviatilis in the Cayos Miskito Reserve,=20 Nicaragua. In March through May of 19961998, we conducted research in the Cayos=20 Miskito Reserve, Nicaragua, to assess the status, ecology, and distributi= on=20 of Sotalia fluviatilis, a dolphin known from southern Brazil to Honduras.= =20 Aerial and boat surveys of lagoons, inlets, and coastal areas were=20 conducted and observational information collected on Sotulia activity,=20 behavior, and other factors relating to its ecology. During boat surveys=20 183 groups (536 individuals) were sighted (for areas with Sotalia, mean=20 overall density =3D 0.604 individuals/km^2, coastal areas =3D 0.647/km^2,= =20 inlets =3D 0.578/km^2, and lagoons =3D 0.486/km^2). Overall, based on all= =20 sightings, mean group size was 3.01 (SD =3D 1.79, range 115) and varied a= mong=20 years (x =3D 4.20 in 1996, 2.58 in 1997, and 3.39 in 1998), but not for=20 different months. We estimate that 49 Sotalia inhabited the portions of t= he=20 Reserve we studied. Sightings of Sotalia groups were non-random=20 (nearest-neighbor analysis); clumping of sightings indicates that some=20 areas were preferred. In both Pahara inlet and Wauhta lagoon, sightings=20 were more frequent after 1200 than in the morning. In coastal areas Sotal= ia=20 were sighted most often within 100 m of shore (54.0%), less often from 10= 1=20 to 200 m (39.1%), and infrequently from 201 to 300 m (6.8%). Seldom were=20 animals observed in more than 5 m of water, and usually it was considerab= ly=20 shallower (i,e., <2 m). Feeding was the predominant of five recorded=20 activities (i.e., traveling, feeding, socializing, resting, and other),=20 based on time of group sighting (70.3%) and during instantaneous sampling= =20 (56.3%). Resource distribution appears to be an important factor=20 influencing Sotalia distribution in the Reserve. Keywords: Sotalia puviatilis, Cayos Miskito Reserve, Nicaragua, tucuxi,=20 South American dolphin, habitat use. * Department of Zoology and Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History = ,=20 University of Oklahoma, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., Norman, Oklahoma 73072. BAKER, ALAN N. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE 17(3):473-493. 2001. Status, relationships, and distribution of Mesoplodon bowdoini Andrews,=20 1908 (Cetacea: Ziphiidae). The specific status of Mesoplodon bowdoini Andrews is reviewed and new=20 information on its morphology, reproduction, and distribution is presente= d.=20 This species of beaked whale, known only from 35 specimens, has a souther= n,=20 circumpolar distribution north of the Antarctic convergence, between 32=B0= =20 and 54=B030=92S. It shares with M. bahamondi Reyes, Van Waerebeek, Carden= as and=20 Yanez from the south Pacific Ocean including New Zealand (this paper) and= =20 M. carlhubbsi Moore from the north Pacific, a number of morphological=20 features such as prominential notches in the maxillary bones in the skull= .=20 It is less similar to M. stejnegeri True from the north Pacific and M.=20 ginkgodens Nishiwaki and Kamiya from the tropical Indo-Pacific. Mesoplodo= n=20 bowdoini can be distinguished from all other species of Mesoplodon by the= =20 shape of its teeth (male and female), and differences in the morphology o= f=20 its skull, especially the proportions of the rostrum, separation of the=20 nasals, the shape of the prominential notches, and the nature of the=20 antorbital processes. The species=92 distinguishing external characterist= ics=20 are: a robust body up to about 4.50 m long; a low melon and short, thick=20 beak; an elevated jawline posteriorly; and a low, blunt-tipped, triangula= r=20 dorsal fin. The occurrence of fetuses of M. bowdoini in May and September= ,=20 and perinatal juveniles in May and June, indicates a summerautumn breedin= g=20 season in the New Zealand region; the length at birth is estimated at abo= ut=20 2.20 m. Keywords: Mesoplodon bowdoini, Mesoplodon carlhubbsi, Mesoplodon bahamond= i,=20 morphology, osteology, reproduction, distribution, new records, southern=20 oceans. * Science & Research Unit, Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 10-420,=20 Wellington, New Zealand. PITMAN, ROBERT L.; LISA T. BALANCE; SARAH I. MESNICK and SUSAN J. CHIVERS. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE 17(3):494-507. 2001. Killer whale predation on sperm whales: Observations and implications.=20 (Orcinus orca) In October 1997 we observed a herd of approximately 35 killer whales=20 (Orcinus orca) attack a pod of nine sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus)= =20 130 km off the coast of central California. During the four hours we=20 watched, adult female killer whales, including some with calves, attacked= =20 in waves of four to five animals in what was apparently a =94wound and=20 withdraw=94 strategy. Adult male killer whales stood by until the very en= d=20 when one charged in and quickly killed a seriously wounded sperm whale th= at=20 had been separated from the group. The sperm whales appeared largely=20 helpless: their main defensive behavior was the formation of a rosette=20 ("marguerite" heads together, tails out). When the killer whales were=20 successful in pulling an individual out of the rosette, one or two sperm=20 whales exposed themselves to increased attack by leaving the rosette,=20 Ranking the isolated individual, and leading it back into the formation.=20 Despite these efforts, one sperm whale was killed and eaten and the rest=20 were seriously, perhaps mortally, wounded. We also present details of two= =20 other encounters between sperm whales and killer whales that we observed.= =20 Although sperm whales, because of various behavioral and morphological=20 adaptations, were previously thought to be immune to predation, our=20 observations clearly establish their vulnerability to killer whales. We=20 suggest that killer whale predation has potentially been an important, an= d=20 underrated, selective factor in the evolution of sperm whale ecology,=20 influencing perhaps the development of their complex social behavior and=20 at-sea distribution patterns. Keywords: sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus, killer whale, Orcinus orca= ,=20 predation. * National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center,=20 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037. LITWILER, TRICIA and THOMAS W. CRONIN. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE 17(3):508-525. 2001. No evidence of accommodation in the eyes of the bottlenose dolphin,=20 Tursiops truncatus. Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are aquatic mammals that must co= me=20 to the surface to breathe. As a result, it might be expected that their=20 eyes are adapted for both aerial and underwater vision. Earlier studies=20 suggest that dolphins are emmetropic (i.e., focused at infinity) in water= ,=20 and in some cases, emmetropic in air, although the mechanisms that permit= =20 these animals to see well in both media are not well understood. Nor is i= t=20 known whether they can accommodate to focus sharply on objects at differe= nt=20 distances. We employed video photoretinoscopy to investigate the=20 possibility of an active accommodative mechanism in the eyes of the=20 bottlenose dolphin in water. Measurements of the refractive state in wate= r=20 indicated near emmetropia for two individuals and slight myopia=20 (nearsightedness) for the third individual. No clear cases of accommodati= on=20 were observed underwater in any of the subjects examined. Vision underwat= er=20 may be used to supplement echolocation. If so, such a role might not=20 require an accommodative mechanism. Keywords: bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, visual optics, divergin= g=20 cornea, accommodation, myopia, hyperopia, emmetropia, video photoretinos-= copy. * Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore=20 County, Baltimore, Maryland 21250. HEITHAUS, MICHAEL R. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE 17(3):526-539. 2001. Shark attacks on bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in Shark Bay,=20 Western Australia: Attack rate, bite scar frequencies, and attack seasona= lity. Shark predation may have been a central factor influencing the evolution = of=20 sociality in dolphins, as well as a determinant of dolphin habitat use an= d=20 behavior. To understand the role of predation in driving interpopulation=20 differences in behavior and sociality, it is important to quantify=20 differences in predation risk among populations. This study describes the= =20 frequency of shark-inflicted scars and estimates the shark attack rate on= =20 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in Shark Bay, Western Australia.=20 Shark bite scars were found on 74.2Fo (95 of 128) of non-calves, and most= =20 of these scars were inflicted by tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier). Althou= gh=20 there were no differences among age/sex classes in the frequency of=20 scarring, significantly more adult males than adult females bore multiple= =20 scars. The rate of unsuccessful shark attack was estimated to be between=20 11% and 13% of dolphins attacked each year. Large sharks (>3 m) were=20 responsible for a disproportionate number of attacks. However, bites from= =20 small carcharhinid sharks on 6.2% of dolphins suggest that some of these=20 small sharks may be dolphin ectoparasites. Both the scar frequencies and=20 attack rate suggest that Shark Bay dolphins face a greater risk of=20 predation than bottlenose dolphins in other locations. Keywords: predation risk, shark attack, wounds, tiger shark, bottlenose=20 dolphin, Tursiops truncatus. * Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences,=20 Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada. ARCHER, FREDERICK; TIM GERRODETTE; ANDREW DIZON; KAREN ABELLA and SARKA=20 SOUTHERN. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE 17(3):540-554. 2001. Unobserved kill of nursing dolphin calves in a tuna purse-seine fishery. The kill of dolphins (Stenella attenuata and S. longirostris) in the=20 eastern tropical Pacific tuna purse-seine 6shery has been underestimated=20 because of unobserved deaths of nursing calves due to separation from the= ir=20 mothers during fishing. Based on an analysis of dolphins killed from 1973= =20 to 1990, and depending on the length at which calves are assumed to becom= e=20 independent, there was a deficit of calves relative to the number of=20 lactating females killed in 24%32% of 1,847 spotted-dolphin sets and in=20 13%19% of 563 spinner-dolphin sets. We found a deficit of 0.310.45 spotte= d=20 dolphin and 0.150.26 spinner dolphin calves per set. If these missing=20 calves were added to the observed kill, it would represent an increase in= =20 the kill of 10%15% for spotted dolphins and 6%10% for spinner dolphins in= =20 the sets we examined. We did not attempt to estimate the actual number of= =20 unobserved calf deaths due to purse-seine fishing on dolphins, either in=20 the sets we examined or in all dolphin sets. The actual number of=20 unobserved calf deaths is likely to be higher than the calf deficit we=20 found. Separation of dolphin mothers from calves could occur at any of=20 several points in the fishing process, but most of these would be invisib= le=20 to us and not produce a calf deficit. Estimation of the actual number of=20 unobserved calf deaths would require further information on how frequentl= y=20 permanent mother-calf separations occur, the fraction of calves that=20 survive after separation, the fraction of lactating females set upon that= =20 are carrying calves, and the fraction of calves killed that are actually=20 related to lactating females killed in the same set. In any case, the=20 observation of a calf deficit indicates that the reported dolphin kill=20 fails to measure the full impact of purse-seine fishing on spotted and=20 spinner dolphin populations. Keywords: Stenella attenuata, Stenella longirostris, eastern tropical=20 Pacific, purse-seine fishing, incidental kill, juvenile mortality. * Southwest Fisheries Science Center, P.O. Box 271, La Jolla, CA 92038-02= 71. SCHEEL, D.; CRAIG O. MATKIN and EVA SAULITIS. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE 17(3):555-569. 2001. Distribution of killer whale pods in Prince William Sound, Alaska=20 1984-1996. (Orcinus orca) Thirteen years of encounter data (19841996) were used to examine killer=20 whale distribution within Prince William Sound, Alaska. Four patterns of=20 area use were found, which comprised differences between resident pods an= d=20 transient groups and differences among resident groups. Resident pods=20 frequented large open passages, while transient groups used the narrow=20 passages and bays in the southwest. This dichotomy likely reflects reside= nt=20 use of salmon and transient use of pinniped prey resources, as well as th= e=20 different foraging strategies required for these prey types. Four residen= t=20 pods (AB, AI, AJ, and AN) used Knight Island Passage more than other area= s=20 of the Sound; two (AE and AK) used all areas of the Sound more evenly. Us= e=20 of the Sound by the AT1 transient whales declined in the latter part of t= he=20 study. Nearshore foraging for pinniped prey by the AT1 transient whales w= as=20 more common in areas where these whales spend a disproportionate amount o= f=20 time, suggesting that these areas were critical foraging habitat for them= .=20 No similar pattern emerged for Open-water Foraging for cetaceans by AT1=20 whales, nor for foraging by the resident whales. Keywords: killer whale, Orcinus orca, habitat use, distribution, Alaska,=20 Prince William Sound, foraging behavior. * Prince William Sound Science Center, Box 705, Cordova, Alaska 99574. DARLING, JAMES D. and MARTINE BERUBE. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE 17(3):570-584. 2001. Interactions of singing humpback whales with other males. (Megaptera=20 novaeangliae) Two non-mutually exclusive hypotheses on the function of the humpback wha= le=20 song are: (1) it attracts females to the male singer; (2) it is a male-=20 male display, that may order status. To evaluate these, from 24 January13= =20 April 1997 off Maui, Hawaii, 42 singers were located, audio-recorded,=20 photo-identified and monitored for interactions with other whales. Whales= =20 that joined singers were biopsy sampled for molecular determination of se= x.=20 In 76% (32 of 42) of the interactions, a lone non-singing adult joined th= e=20 singer. In the remainder, singers stopped singing and joined a nearby gro= up=20 or accompanied other whales. In 81% (26 of 32) instances where a lone adu= lt=20 joined a singer, the pair split again within minutes; otherwise a group=20 formed. In one such group the pair became a trio and eventually joined a=20 competitive group. Behavior in joining/splitting interactions ranged from= a=20 single pass- by, to surface activity such as tail lobs and breaches. The=20 sex of 22 joiners was determined: 14 genetically and eight behaviorally.=20 All were males. Humpback whale song preceded, and at times followed,=20 male-male interactions of variable duration and agonistic level in and=20 around the breeding season. If considered within the context of a propose= d=20 dominance polygyny mating system, these observations appear to support=20 speculation that the song may function in male social ordering. Keywords: humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae, song, communication,=20 mating behavior, secondary sexual display, dominance polygyny. * West Coast Whale Research Foundation, 1200-925 West Georgia Street,=20 Vancouver, British Columbia V6R 2L3, Canada. JEMISON, LAURI A. and BRENDAN P. KELLY. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE 17(3):585-600. 2001. Pupping phenology and demography of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richards= i)=20 on Tugidak Island, Alaska. The number of seals on shore at Tugidak Island (Gulf of Alaska) declined=20 72%85% between 1976 and 1988 and increased during the 1990s. We compared=20 pupping phenology and the ratio of pupping-period counts to molting-perio= d=20 counts between declining (1976-1979) and increasing (19941998) years, and= =20 examined the sex/age structure of seals ashore during the 1990s. In the=20 1970s the onset and peak of pupping occurred 618 d later than in the 1990s. Rate of pup abandonment was higher in 1978= =20 than in the 1990s. Between 1994 and 1995, the maximum and mean number of=20 seals ashore increased ) 50%, largely due to an increase in non-pups. Fro= m=20 1995 to 1998, the sex/age structure of seals ashore was similar among=20 years. We observed three to four times as many seals during the molting=20 period than during the pupping period in the 1970s, whereas similar numbe= rs=20 were ashore during these periods in the 1990s, perhaps reflecting changes= =20 in demography and/or haul-out behavior. Changes in pupping phenology and=20 demography may reflect environmental changes, such as food availability,=20 and when monitored in conjunction with population counts, may help us=20 better interpret changes in the number of seals ashore. Keywords: pupping phenology, demography, molting period, harbor seals,=20 Phoca vitulina richardsi, population decline, Gulf of Alaska, food=20 abundance and availability. * Graduate Program in Marine Science and Limnology, University of Alaska=20 Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775. UDEVITZ, MARK S.; JAMES R. GILBERT and GENNADII A. FEDOSEEV. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE 17(3):601-616. 2001. Comparison of methods used to estimate numbers of walruses on sea ice.=20 (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) The US and former USSR conducted joint surveys of Pacific walruses on sea= =20 ice and at land haul-outs in 1975, 1980, 1985, and 1990. One of the=20 difficulties in interpreting results of these surveys has been that, exce= pt=20 for the 1990 survey, the Americans and Soviets used different methods for= =20 estimating population size from their respective portions of the sea ice=20 data. We used data exchanged between Soviet and American scientists to=20 compare and evaluate the two estimation procedures and to derive a set of= =20 alternative estimates from the 1975, 1980, and 1985 surveys based on a=20 single consistent procedure. Estimation method had only a small effect on= =20 total population estimates because most walruses were found at land=20 haul-outs. However, the Soviet method is subject to bias that depends on=20 the distribution of the population on the sea ice and this has important=20 implications for interpreting the ice portions of previously reported=20 surveys for walruses and other pinniped species. We recommend that the=20 American method be used in future surveys. Future research on survey=20 methods for walruses should focus on other potential sources of bias and=20 variation. Keywords: aerial survey, Chukchi Sea, Odobenus rosmarus, pinniped,=20 population estimation, seal, walrus. * U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Biological Science Center, 1011 East Tud= or=20 Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99503. JAY, CHADWICK V.; SEAN D. FARLEY and GERALD W. GARNER. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE 17(3):617-631. 2001. Summer diving behavior of male walruses in Bristol Bay, Alaska. (Odobenus= =20 rosmarus) Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) make trips from ice or lan= d=20 haul-out sites to forage for benthic prey. We describe dive and trip=20 characteristics from time-depth-recorder data collected over a one-month=20 period during summer from four male Pacific walruses in Bristol Bay,=20 Alaska. Dives were classified into four types. Shallow (4 m), short (2.7=20 min), square-shaped dives accounted for 11% of trip time, and many were=20 probably associated with traveling. Shallow (2 m) and very short (0.5 min= )=20 dives composed only 1% of trip time. Deep (41 m), long (7.2 min),=20 square-shaped dives accounted for 46Fo of trip time and were undoubtedly=20 associated with benthic foraging. V-shaped dives ranged widely in depth,=20 were of moderate duration (4.7 min), and composed 3% of trip time. These=20 dives may have been associated with navigation or exploration of the=20 seafloor for potential prey habitat. Surface intervals between dives were= =20 similar among dive types, and generally lasted 12 min. Total foraging tim= e=20 was strongly correlated with trip duration and there was no apparent diel= =20 pattern of diving in any dive type among animals. We found no correlation= =20 between dive duration and postdive surface interval within dive types,=20 suggesting that diving occurred within aerobic dive limits. Trip duration= =20 varied considerably within and among walruses (0.39.4 d), and there was=20 evidence that some of the very short trips were unrelated to foraging.=20 Overall, walruses were in the water for 76.6% of the time, of which 60.3%= =20 was spent diving. Keywords: time-depth-recorder, TDR, walrus, Odobenus rosmarus, diving,=20 foraging, Bristol Bay. * U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Biological Science Center, 1011 East Tud= or=20 Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99503. GORBICS, C. S. and J. L. BODKIN. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE 17(3):632-647. 2001. Stock structure of sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in Alaska. Sea otters in Alaska are recognized as a single subspecies (Enhydra lutri= s=20 kenyoni) and currently managed as a single, interbreeding population.=20 However, geographic and behavioral mechanisms undoubtably constrain sea=20 otter movements on much smaller scales. This paper applies the=20 phylogeographic method (Dizon et al. 1992) and considers distribution,=20 population response, phenotype and genotype data to identify stocks of se= a=20 otters within Alaska. The evidence for separate stock identity is genotyp= ic=20 (all stocks), phenotypic (Southcentral and Southwest stocks), and=20 geographic distribution (Southeast stock), whereas population response da= ta=20 are equivocal (all stocks). Differences in genotype frequencies and the=20 presence of unique genotypes among areas indicate restricted gene flow.=20 Genetic exchange may be limited by little or no movement across proposed=20 stock boundaries and discontinuities in distribution at proposed stock=20 boundaries. Skull size differences (phenotypic) between Southwest and=20 Southcentral Alaska populations further support stock separation.=20 Population response information was equivocal in either supporting or=20 refuting stock identity. On the basis of this review, we suggest the=20 following: (1) a Southeast stock extending from Dixon Entrance to Cape=20 Yakataga; (2) a Southcentral stock extending from Cape Yakataga to Cape=20 Douglas including Prince William Sound and Kenai peninsula coast; and (3)= a=20 South- west stock including Alaska Peninsula coast, the Aleutians to Attu= =20 Island, Barren, Kodiak, Pribilof Islands, and Bristol Bay. Keywords: distribution, genetics, management unit, phenotype,=20 phylogeographic, population response, stock, sea otter, Enhydra lutris, A= laska. * U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2730 Loker Avenue West, Carlsbad, CA 92= 008. Research Notes and Book Reviews: ABE, HIDEAKI; MUTSUO GOTO; LUIS A. PASTENE; KOJI DEWA and EMIKO NAITO. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE 17(3):648-657. 2001. (Research note) Practical use of multiplex fluorescent PCR for cetacean sex identificatio= n. * The Institute of Cetacean Research, 4-18 Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo,=20 104-0055, Japan. PITMAN, ROBERT L. and MORGAN S. LYNN. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE 17(3):648-657. 2001. (Research note) Biological observations of an unidentified mesoplodont whale in the easte= rn=20 tropical Pacific and probable identity: Mesoplodon peruvianus. * National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center,=20 P.O. Box 271, La Jolla, CA 92038. LOCKYER, CHRISTINA. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE 17(3):665-670. 2001. (Book review) Book Review - Ridgway, S. H. and Sir R. Harrison (eds.). 1999. Handbook o= f=20 Marine Mammals. Volume 6. Academic Press. xix + 486pp. ISBN 0-12-588506-7= .=20 $105.00. * Danish Institute for Fisheries Research, Charlottenlund Castle, DK2920=20 Charlottenlund, Denmark. BEARZI, GIOVANNI. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE 17(3):670-671. 2001. (Book review) Book Review - Reynolds, J. E., R. S. Wells and S. D. Eide (eds.). 2000. T= he=20 Bottlenose Dolphin: Biology and Conservation. University of Florida Press= .=20 Gainesville, FL. 288pp. $34.95. * Tethys Research Institute, c/o Venice Natural History Museum, Santa Cro= ce=20 1730, 30135 Venezia, Italy. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2001 06:17:09 -0700 From: Rob Williams Subject: Antarctic Killer Whale ID Catalogue Hello, We are unaware of a collaborative effort to archive and match Antarctic killer whale ID photographs, along the lines of Allied Whale's Antarctic Humpback Whale Catalog. Therefore we are offering to host one, and invite collaboration from any colleagues who have still photographs or video of killer whales from any Antarctic sector (or any sub-Antarctic region where you think a match may be possible). Our initial preference is for sharp images that clearly show dorsal fin, saddle patch and/or eye patch, however sightings records alone will be accepted gratefully as well. Photographers will retain copyright of their work, and your contact addresses will not be supplied to third parties. The Antarctic Killer Whale ID Catalogue will not sell images, but will forward requests for use on to the respective photographers. Once a reasonable number of photos have been submitted, we will post the images and sightings database on a web page to allow contributors access. The data collection form can be downloaded at http://smub.st-and.ac.uk/rob_williams/form2.pdf. Images and sightings information can be mailed or e-mailed to us at either address below. Thank you in advance for your assistance. Ingrid N. Visser The Orca Project, P.O. Box 1233, Whangarei, New Zealand COURIER: "Aorangi", Matapouri Road, RD 3, Whangarei, New Zealand Rob Williams Sea Mammal Research Unit Gatty Marine Lab University of St Andrews St Andrews KY16 8LB Scotland rmcw(\)smru.st-and.ac.uk Rob Williams Sea Mammal Research Unit Gatty Marine Lab St Andrews KY16 8LB Scotland Tel. 011.44.1334.462.630 Facs. 011.44.1334.462.632 Home 011.44.7764.259.108 --=====================_9041693==_.ALT Hello,
We are unaware of a collaborative effort to archive and match Antarctic killer whale ID photographs, along the lines of Allied Whale's Antarctic Humpback Whale Catalog.  Therefore we are offering to host one, and invite collaboration from any colleagues who have still photographs or video of killer whales from any Antarctic sector (or any sub-Antarctic region where you think a match may be possible).  Our initial preference is for sharp images that clearly show dorsal fin, saddle patch and/or eye patch, however sightings records alone will be accepted gratefully as well. 

Photographers will retain copyright of their work, and your contact addresses will not be supplied to third parties. The Antarctic Killer Whale ID Catalogue will not sell images, but will forward requests for use on to the respective photographers. Once a reasonable number of photos have been submitted, we will post the images and sightings database on a web page to allow contributors access.  The data collection form can be downloaded at http://smub.st-and.ac.uk/rob_williams/form2.pdf.  Images and sightings information can be mailed or e-mailed to us at either address below.

Thank you in advance for your assistance. 

Ingrid N. Visser
The Orca Project, P.O. Box 1233,
Whangarei, New Zealand
COURIER: "Aorangi", Matapouri Road, RD 3,
Whangarei, New Zealand

Rob Williams
Sea Mammal Research Unit
Gatty Marine Lab
University of St Andrews
St Andrews KY16 8LB Scotland
rmcw(\)smru.st-and.ac.uk

Rob Williams
Sea Mammal Research Unit
Gatty Marine Lab
St Andrews KY16 8LB Scotland
Tel.  011.44.1334.462.630
Facs. 011.44.1334.462.632
Home  011.44.7764.259.108
--=====================_9041693==_.ALT-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2001 01:42:33 -0700 From: fernando ugarte Subject: Fourth International Orca Symposium and Workshop, first announcement Comments: To: ecs-all(\)mailbase.ac.uk We apologize for double (or triple) posting. We are very pleased to announce the Fourth International Orca Symposium and Workshop, to be held in Chizi, France in September 2002. The event will provide an opportunity for killer whale researchers to exchange information, to discuss issues affecting the species and their studies of it, and to form collaborations. The symposium will take place from Monday 23 September to Wednesday 25 September, followed by workshop sessions on Friday 27 and Saturday 28. Due to the size of the facilities at Chizi and our desire to keep the meeting small enough to facilitate direct interaction between all of the participants, we are limiting the attendance to 130. This requires that we give preference to scientists, naturalists, and graduate students who are actively studying killer whales. If space allows, we will also welcome participants studying related or similar taxa or with expertise of relevance to the study of killer whales. We will make the abstracts and workshop reports available to the public on the web after the meeting. More information can be found at the conference s web page: http://www.cebc.cnrs.fr (and clik on the english flag). e-mail : orca(\)cebc.cnrs.fr _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 10:56:15 +0800 From: Richard Hall Subject: Polar Bear Human usage Dear Marmam, Is there anyone who can assist an associate of mine. Please respond directly to Mr Reside. I am interested in receiving information about research that anyone may be aware of in relation to human use or acceptable activities research regarding polar bears. I am also interested in any information on the illegal trade of polar bears and their parts. The information will be used for management planning, ecosystem management and the development of regulation. Please contact me at my office e-mail address: Bob_Reside(\)pch.gc.ca Thank you for your time and assistance in this matter. Take care, Bob Reside Warden Services Manager Wapusk National Park of Canada Churchill, Manitoba, Canada Regards, Richard Hall Marine Reserves Officer Shark Bay District Dept. Conservation & Land Management Western Australia Phone 99481 208 Fax 99481 024 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2001 01:50:08 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Museum Director position (fwd) ----Forwarded from MAMMAL-L----- From: Mammalian Biology [mailto:MAMMAL-L(\)SIVM.SI.EDU]On Behalf Of Patricia W. Freeman DIRECTOR UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA STATE MUSEUM The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) invites nominations and applications for Director of the University of Nebraska State Museum, a large comprehensive museum of natural history with a faculty and staff of 50, a budget exceeding two million dollars, and a research collection of more than 15 million specimens. The Director will provide administrative leadership and is responsible for securing increased external funding, enhancing and expanding physical facilities, and developing and implementing a strategic plan to facilitate the growth of the Museum's research, education, and outreach programs. The successful applicant will have an earned doctorate in a natural science or related museum field, proven leadership skills in large museum with research and public programs, and excellent external relations skills. Applications will be reviewed beginning September 15, 2001. Interested candidates should forward a letter of interest, an up-to-date vita and names/addresses of five references. E-mail nominations and applications to: UNLresearch(\)unl.edu or mail to: Search Committee Director, University of Nebraska State Museum 302 Canfield Administration Lincoln, NE 6588-0433 The University of Nebraska is committed to a pluralistic campus community through affirmative action and equal opportunity and is responsive to the needs of dual career couples. We assure reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act; contact Ms. Sharon Walin at (402) 472-3123 for assistance. _____________ Dear Mammalogists and friends of mammalogists who are in different areas of natural history such as: anthropology, botany (vascular and non-vascular), entomology, parasitology, vertebrate paleontology, invertebrate paleontology, and zoology (birds, mammals, herps, fish, and shells). These match our collections in Nebraska Hall, but when in doubt, APPLY. Our mission, should you care to assume it is: The University of Nebraska State Museum enhances and disseminates knowledge and delight in natural science. The State Museum collects, preserves, and interprets objects and associated data in research about the natural world. The collections, with special interest in Nebraska and the northern Great Plains, are the basis of the University's archive of global biological, cultural, and geological diversity. The State Museum promotes formal and informal learning for people of all ages through research, exhibitions, educational outreach, and publications. The Museum faculty fosters intellectual growth in graduate and undergraduate students and mentors future scientists and educators. The above is the official advertisement, however, between the lines: The 15 September date is a "START of review" of candidates. That is, we keep the doors open for as many well-qualified applicants as possible. The director reports to the Vice Chancellor for Research an not to a chair or dean. That is, it is considered a University and State treasure and not hidden in some odiferous department or college. UNSM is a university museum in with all its interesting aspects but especially interesting because of the energy and enthusiasm of students. The current faculty of 11 PhDs hold either Associate or Full Professor (most) tenured status, have varying degrees of official and unoffical ties with affiliated departments from 0 to 27%, and are mostly 12-month appointments. Affiliated departments vary from School of Biological Sciences, Geosciences, Museum Studies (becoming the best in the country) and Anthropology on the liberal arts campus and the School of Natural Resource Sciences on the applied campus. The latter is a 25 minute walk or 5 minute drive away. We have good connections with these and the Conservation and Survey Division especially the GIS and GAP section (which is in the same building as the research collections). In the last 5 years we have brought in close to 6 million, an one of the highest on campus. I hope to have a 5-year publications/grants report up on our webpage (www-museum.unl.edu) very soon, but there is a lot of good stuff up there now. Perhaps it is a little out of date because our truly excellent artist/graphics/webpage designer is on maternity leave and will return by summer's end. We have great exhibits and an active public programs division and exhibits staff in our exhibits building Morrill Hall, two very cool branch museums including Ashfall Fossil beds (a herd of fossil rhinos buried all at once by a cloud of volcanic dust only to be uncovered 17 million years later by our VP faculty and staff. Many have now been uncovered, and no matter what it is a great site to visit. By the way we have great fossil mammals in Nebraska.) Feel free to pass this on to colleagues. It will be in Science on 22 June. Go Tuskers, STOMP 'EM! - - Trish web page for UNL: http://www.unl.edu web page for UNSM: http://www-museum.edu please note dash, the dot thing is not working right now web page for my division: http://www.museum.unl.edu/research/zoology/zoology.html its searchable Patricia W. Freeman Professor/ Curator of Zoology University of Nebraska State Museum Lincoln NE 68588-0514 402-472-6606 402-472-8949 (fax) Natural history museums archive biological diversity. http://www.museum.unl.edu/research/zoology/zoology.html ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2001 01:53:45 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Beaked Whale Stranding - Vero Beach, FL / Under Investigation (fwd) From: Stephen McCulloch Two Whales Beach Themselves Off Fla. .c The Associated Press VERO BEACH, Fla. (AP) - The U.S. Navy is investigating whether its training activities off the Florida Coast may have led to the deaths of two rare whales, Navy officials said Monday. Both beaked whales - an adult female and a younger male - beached themselves and died Sunday. The adult female, which was 14 feet long and about 2,000 pounds, was already dead when marine rescue officials arrived. The male - 10 feet long and 1,500 pounds - was found alive but was euthanized because it was so ill. The cause of their deaths was not immediately determined. U.S. Navy officials said they are investigating to see if recent training activities off the Florida coast may have led to the deaths. ``We are aware of the beachings and taking a good hard look at what, if any, training exercises we may have had in the area, and whether these may have caused these beachings,'' said Lt. Commander John Kirby, a spokesman with the Navy's second fleet. Both whales were malnourished, said Gregory Bossart, director of marine mammal research and conservation at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution in Fort Pierce. He said the younger whale showed signs of kidney and liver trauma. Bossart said the deaths may be linked to Navy tests of sonar equipment conducted off the Florida coast last week. The National Marine Fisheries Service has asked officials to be on the lookout for an increase in strandings. Last year, dozens of beaked whales were stranded in the Bahamas after similar tests were conducted by the Navy near there. Sonar would not have immediately killed the whales, but would have rendered them incapable of eating, Bossart said. Kirby did not disclose what kind of exercises the Navy had been conducting. A National Marine Fisheries Service biologist said Monday his agency issued the Navy a permit to carry out tests with high explosives off the coast near Jacksonville this summer. ``The Navy requested permission to do something known as 'ship shock testing' of a new guided missile destroyer, the U.S.S.. Winston Churchill,'' biologist Eric Hawk said. Under the permit, the Navy is required to move its tests elsewhere if endangered sealife is spotted nearby. Hawk said the Navy was forced to move several times during its recent tests. The heads of the whales were sent to Harvard University for further testing. Results should be available in two to three weeks, Bossart said. AP-NY-06-18-01 2337EDT Copyright 2001 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL. Submitted By: 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: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 08:39:18 -0400 Reply-To: Ben.Haskell(\)noaa.gov From: Ben Haskell Organization: NOAA Subject: Binocular/rangefinder/GPS unit ; x-mac-type="54455854"; x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" We will be conducting a survey of marine mammals and vessels in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary this year. Is anyone aware of binoculars that digitally record the lat/long coordinates of the object they're focused on? If this technology exists please let me know where to buy it? Thank you. -- __________________________________________ Ben Cowie-Haskell Operations and Program Coordinator Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary 175 Edward Foster Rd. Scituate, MA 02066 Phone 781-545-8026 x207 fax 545-8036 ben.haskell(\)noaa.gov http://www.stellwagen.nos.noaa.gov __________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2001 22:22:03 -0000 From: Heather Medic Subject: Humpback whale internship in Maui(winter 2001-02) Dear Marmam, I would like to send the following for Island Marine Institute: Island Marine Institute, in Lahaina, Maui, is seeking four researchers in marine mammal biology or a related field for winter/spring internships (December-April and January-May). Internships are with the Research and Education department for the annual North Pacific humpback whale migration to Hawaii and consist of data entry,photo analysis, and fieldwork. The Institute works with volunteer undergraduates and graduates who are working toward a career in marine mammal research. 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 field and lab work. All volunteers are responsible for their own room and board. IMI is located across from the Lahaina harbor, in close proximately to potential housing and job options. Please see our web site for more information (Islandmarineinstitute.org) The minimum requirements for these positions are: 24-30 volunteer hours per week with at least a four month commitment, computer experience, familiarity with scientific literature and reference library, and public speaking. A background in Adobe Photo-Shop, photography and/or photo-identification is strongly preferred.Acceptance is based upon prior field experience. All applicants must send a resume with a cover letter detailing interest, experience, and availability with three professional references(reference letters preferred) by August 1, 2001 Island Marine Institute Attention: Heather Medic Research Project Manager 658 Front Street Suite 101 Lahaina, HI 96761 FAX: (808)661-5792 research(\)whalewatchmaui.com Do not send information via email and no phone calls. Accepted interns for December-April should plan on being at the Island Marine Institute by December 7, 2001. Interns accepted for January-May should plan on being at IMI by January 7, 2001 and no interns after January 15. > > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 21:05:14 -0000 From: Sense of Porpoise Research Society Subject: Sense of Porpoise Research Society Sense of Porpoise Research Society Marine Mammal Volunteer Program Sense of Porpoise Research Society is a new non-profit organization that funds research and education of Dall s porpoise in Haro Straits in the southern coast of B.C. Canada. The research being conducted is primarily photo identification of individuals, done through the documentation of shape and colour of the dorsal fin, markings such as rake marks, and overall pigmentation. A census study of the population, including group size and composition will be conducted, as well as a behavioural study, including swimming behaviours and activities. The tidal currents and depth in this area will also be studied, as they may also be an influencing factor in the location of the porpoise. The society is funded completely by paying volunteers who join the research team and become a biologist for a day. The volunteers gain practical fieldwork experience by participating directly in the collection of data. The work consists of assisting with photography, vessel handling, making observations, population counts, monitoring behaviour and note taking. The volunteers can participate in a one day excursion or enjoy a multiple day excursion, which allows familiarization with the porpoise and the area and includes camping style accommodations. Interested individuals can visit our website at www.senseofporpoise.net Sarah Begg Bob Palmer Kim Valentine Sense of Porpoise Research Society senseofporpoise(\)hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2001 09:12:45 +0100 From: Andy Williams Subject: FW: Field Biologist/Educator Sobsgrad , Norman Baldock , soc-postgrads(\)socnet.soc.soton.ac.uk Apoligies for cross posting The Biscay Dolphin Research Programme (BDRP) is a voluntary marine research, education and conservation organisation sponsored by P&O Portsmouth and affiliated to Sea Watch Foundation. Since 1995, BDRP has been undertaking systematic, monthly, year-round seabird and cetacean surveys in the English Channel and Bay of Biscay. The work of BDRP has expanded recently, and now includes work on fisheries, beaked whale ecology and social structure, seal ecology and the dynamics of marine mammal groups in marginal areas. As part of this expansion, a ship-based summer post has become available to assist with educational and biological monitoring work on the P&O Cruise-ferry, the Pride of Bilbao. This post will be for thee months full-time in the first instance, but may be extended subject to resources. Duties will include giving lectures, assisted watches with the public, educational activities with children, cetacean and seabird recording. There will also be scope to develop your own projects, and contribute to the production of reports and scientific papers on cetaceans. Ideally, you will have a degree in a biological discipline, be enthusiastic and outgoing, possess good communication and presentational skills, and a sound knowledge of cetaceans and seabirds gained from field experience. This is an English speaking post, although the ability to speak Spanish would also be advantageous. A valid passport is required. In addition to a salary, food and accommodation will be provided. The post would suit an enthusiastic recent graduate, but all suitably qualified candidates are invited to apply, by email with a CV (including the names of 2 referees) to Andy.Williams(\)Biscay-Dolphin.org.uk. Interviews will be held in early July, and the post will be available immediately after that. Andy Williams Biscay Dolphin Research Programme 6 Manor Way Lee on Solent Hampshire PO13 9JH UK Andy.Williams(\)Biscay-Dolphin.org.uk Visit us at www.Biscay-Dolphin.org.uk Tel/Fax +44 (0) 23 9255 2631 Southampton Oceanography Centre School of Ocean and Earth Sciences European Way Southampton SO14 3ZH UK adw623(\)soc.soton.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2001 09:12:24 -0300 From: Robin W Baird Subject: Abstract: spotted dolphin diving New publication: Baird, R.W., A.D. Ligon, S.K. Hooker and A.M. Gorgone. 2001. Subsurface and nighttime behaviour of pantropical spotted dolphins in Hawai'i. Canadian Journal of Zoology 79:988-996. Abstract: Pantropical spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata) are found in both pelagic waters and around oceanic islands. A variety of differences exist between populations in these types of areas, including average group sizes, extent of movements, and frequency of multi-species associations. Diving and nighttime behaviour of pantropical spotted dolphins were studied near the islands of Maui and Lana'i, Hawai'i, in 1999. Suction-cup-attached time-depth recover/VHF-radio tags were deployed on six dolphins for a total of 29 h. Rates of movements of tagged dolphins were substantially lower than reported in pelagic waters. Average diving depths and durations were shallower and shorter than reported for other similar-sized odontocetes but were similar to those reported in a study of pantropical spotted dolphins in the pelagic waters of the eastern tropical Pacific. Dives (defined as > 5 m deep) at night were deeper (mean = 57.0 m, SD = 23.5 m, n = 2 individuals, maximum depth 213 m) than during the day (mean = 12.8 m, SD = 2.1 m, n = 4 individuals, maximum depth 122 m), and swim velocity also increased after dark. These results, together with the series of deep dives recorded immediately after sunset, suggest that pantropical spotted dolphins around Hawai'i feed primarily at night on organisms associated with the deep-scattering layer as it rises up to the surface after dark. PDF copies of this paper can be obtained by writing to rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca ====================================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Post-doctoral Fellow, Biology Department, Dalhousie University and Cetacean and Sea Turtle Team, NMFS, NOAA Beaufort Lab 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, NC 28516 USA Phone: 252-728-8762 Fax: 252-728-8784 e-mail: robin.baird(\)noaa.gov or rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca http://shrimp.bea.nmfs.gov/ http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/rwb/robin.htm ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2001 11:15:38 +0200 From: Matthias Bode Subject: Summay of Gray whales in European waters Dear MarMamers, I have recieved a tremendous response to my question concerning Gray Whales in European waters. To summarize the main points: There were indeed Gray Whales in European waters well into the 17th century. Several literary documents as well as bone finds clearly show that. The question why these animals have disappeared remains yet to be solved. Overhunting my play a part, but as the size of the "original" stock remains unclear, nothing in this matter can be certain. References mentioned in replies to my posting are (in no paricular order): Icelandic Whales - past and present by Sigurdur Aegisson et al. Forlagid, Reykavijk, 1997. Lindquist, Ole. 2000. 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. Universities of St. Andrews and Stirling, Scotland Mead, James G. and Edward D. Mitchell. 1984. Atlantic Gray Whales. IN The Gray Whale. Jones, M. L., S. L. Swartz & S. Leatherwood. Academic Press, Inc. Harcourt, Brace Jovanovich, Pub. Dick Russell: "Eye of the Whale: Epic Passage from Baja to Siberia." forthcoming Robert McNally, So Remorseless a Havoc, Little, Brown & Co, Boston, 1981. Nigel Bonner, Whales of the World, Blandford, London, 1993. Many thanks, and kind regards, Matthias Bode ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 00:43:58 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Opportunity to participate in Cetacean Research Cruise in Bay of Biscay (fwd) From: Andy Williams Apologies for cross posting The Biscay Dolphin Research Programme (BDRP) has been carrying out cetacean and seabird studies in the Bay of Biscay and English Channel since 1995. During the summer of 2001, a research cruise onboard an 80ft survey vessel will be conducted through deep-water canyons in the southern Bay of Biscay. The aim being to collect data on the social structure and ecology of Cuvier's beaked whales, as part of a BDRP PhD project based atSouthampton Oceanography Centre. The research will be carried out by a team of dedicated scientists and volunteers and will include observational, acoustic, photo-ID and genetic work. Due to a larger vessel being acquired, a limited number of places have become available to assist with this important research work. Costs, inclusive of everything on board are #500 per week. It is intended to change crews every 2 weeks but consideration will be given to weekly changes if there is a need. Places are available on the surveys from 1st September 2001 to 15th, September and 15th September to 29th September 2001. Participants will need to arrange their own travel to and from the port of departure. This is a unique opportunity to gain valuable experience in field cetacean research on a poorly known species in an inaccessible area, and at the same time experience a wide variety of other cetacean species at close quarters. In the survey area, 14 species of cetacean including 3 species of beaked whale and blue whale have been recorded on BDRP surveys in recent years. Bird species likely to be encountered include Wilson's Storm-Petrel, Sabines Gull, Grey Phalarope, Long-tailed Skua, Little and perhaps thousands of Cory's, and Great Shearwaters. Anyone interested in gaining a place on this research cruise should send an email to Andy.Williams(\)Biscay-Dolphin.org.uk with a CV listing details of your interest and experience. Closing date for applications is 10th July 2001 succesful applicants will be notified by 15th July. Payment will need to be received by 1st August 2001. Andy Williams Southampton Oceanography Centre School of Ocean and Earth Sciences European Way Southampton SO14 3ZH UK Andy.Williams(\)Biscay-Dolphin.org.uk Visit us at www.Biscay-Dolphin.org.uk Tel/Fax +44 (0) 23 9255 2631 Biscay Dolphin Research Programme 6 Manor Way Lee on Solent Hampshire PO13 9JH UK adw623(\)soc.soton.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 04:23:34 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: JOBS: British Antarctic Survey, Ecosystem Modeller, Population Ecologist BRITISH ANTARCTIC SURVEY The British Antarctic Survey (BAS), part of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), is a government-funded body responsible for organising and implementing a research programme in Antarctica of global significance in the Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences. We currently have two key roles available in the Dynamics and Management of Ocean Ecosystems (DYNAMOE) programme within our Biological Sciences Division.=20 The DYNAMOE programme is concerned with the importance of variability and spatial structure in the operation of Southern Ocean marine ecosystems. I= t involves ship and land-based studies of Southern Ocean ecosystems. The main geographical focus of this research is the Scotia Sea, with much of the emphasis around South Georgia. This is a core science funded programm= e and the postholders will be encouraged to develop their science within th= e programme and through external funding opportunities.=20 ----------------------------------------------------------- Ecosystem Modeller - Ref: BAS 49/01 This post will contribute towards the development of new approaches for the sustainable management of marine ecosystems. You will carry out research that will contribute towards ecological theory and engage in science that will help underpin the emerging field of sustainable resourc= e management in marine ecosystems. You will generate analyses and models that investigate how management methods should be structured in an ecosystem context. This will involve modelling the impact of harvesting i= n interactive ecosystems using general ecosystem models. These models will involve ideas about sustainable yield, dynamics of predator populations and natural variability. A key target will be to understand the spatial and temporal consequences of harvesting. An important aspect of this stud= y will be to distinguish harvesting effects from natural variability, thereby enabling an assessment of the limits of prediction and an evaluation of the most appropriate methods for monitoring change. A first degree in biology, marine science, mathematics, statistics or other numerically-based discipline will be necessary. A second qualification in computational biology or a PhD in some aspect of ecological or marine systems modelling would be an advantage. The startin= g salary for this position will be in the range of =A323,500 to =A335,000, depending on qualifications and experience. The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 19 July 2001. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Population Ecologist - Ref: BAS 50/01 Using time-series of predator reproductive performance and prey abundance data you will develop novel analyses of the impact of ecosystem variability on upper-trophic level predators. The main focus of the work will be to understand how levels of variability impact the reproductive output and survival of species of penguins, fur seals and albatrosses and how this affects the population dynamics of these groups given their distinctive life-history strategies. You will model the effects of variation and spatial structure on interactions within the Scotia Sea ecosystem, including analyses of the biological and physical interactions and predator-prey, environment-population interactions. This work will make a fundamental contribution to the development of predictive models o= f large-scale marine ecosystems as well as making a significant contributio= n to fundamental ecological theory. A good degree in biology or marine science is essential. A second qualification in computational biology or a PhD in some aspect of ecological or marine systems modelling would be advantageous. The startin= g salary for this 5 year position will be in the range of =A318,500 to =A327,500, dependent on qualifications and experience. The closing date f= or receipt of applications is 26 July 2001.=20 ------------------------------------------- Both posts, based primarily at our Cambridge headquarters, may involve fieldwork in the Antarctic of 2 to 3 months duration. Therefore, we require you to be physically capable and medically fit to work in Antarctic conditions.=20 We offer a generous benefits package including a pension scheme, 25 days annual leave allowance plus 10 =BD days public and privilege holidays. Candidates who are eligible to work within the European Union are preferred. Please contact the Personnel Section (address below) to discuss work permit concerns for other nationalities.=20 For further details and an application form, please contact:=20 The Personnel Section=20 British Antarctic Survey High Cross Madingley Road Cambridge CB3 0ET=20 Tel: 01223 221508/7=20 E-mail: employment(\)bas.ac.uk=20 When contacting us, please quote the appropriate reference number.=20 Further information on the Survey's work can be found at www.antarctica.ac.uk NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 13:23:02 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: south atlantic literature review (fwd) Dear Marmam subscribers: I am a M.S. student and, as part of a directed study, am working on a comparative review of large whale research in the North Atlantic versus the South Atlantic. Although I have found many cites for research conducted in the Antarctic (south of 60 degrees), I have only found 50 references specific to the South Atlantic (north of 60 degrees). I would greatly appreciate any help locating references specific to the South Atlantic. Please email directly at < s.rocca9249(\)aol.com > Thanking you kindly, Sue Rocca ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2001 09:39:26 -0400 From: William Rossiter Subject: Brydes whale photo needed Apologies for cross posting. Data to be presented to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting in London next month by HSUS requires a good photo of a Brydes whale. If you can help please contact Elizabeth McNulty, The Humane Society of the United States, at 301-258-3022 or . 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: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 12:57:20 +0200 From: Hal Whitehead Subject: Abstract: Analysis of animal movement: application to sperm whales From: Hal Whitehead (hwhitehe(\)is.dal.ca) I hope the following paper will be of interest to some in the marine mammal studying community: Whitehead, H. 2001. Analysis of animal movement using opportunistic individual-identifications: application to sperm whales. Ecology 82:1417-1432. Abstract: Data sets in which animals are identified individually in different places and times may contain considerable information on movements. However, if the probability that an animal is reidentified depends on its movement pattern, then standard methods of analyzing movement are not applicable. I show that modifications of maximum likelihood methods, in which the identifications themselves establish the spatial and temporal distribution of effort, can be used to derive movement parameters in three situations: (1) Identifications in one location allow calculation of the lagged identification rate (the probability of reidentification after various time lags) as well as estimation of residence times inside, and outside, the study area. (2) When more than one study area is sampled, it is possible to derive lagged identification rates between them and to estimate movement rates between areas and other population parameters. (3) Movements through continuous space can be described by diffusion rates (rates of population spread), and plots of squared displacement against time lag. To simplify computation, and to permit the analysis of large data sets, summed nonindependent log-likelihoods can be maximized in place of the true log-likelihood to obtain approximately unbiased parameter estimates, and binomial, multinomial, or hypergeometric models can be approximated by the Poisson distribution. The first and third of the techniques were verified using simulated data, and all were applied to a 13-yr data set of identifications of sperm whales in the South Pacific Ocean. Residence times in waters close to the Galapagos Islands were of the order of 8 d, but during the study period there was a substantial net movement out of the Galapagos region and into waters of the coastal eastern tropical Pacific. Diffusion rates of sperm whales were 700 km2/d over time scales from 1 to 100 d but decreased considerably over time scales of years, indicating displacements of 50 km/d within home ranges spanning 1000 km. Although giving relatively imprecise estimates of movement parameters compared to more standard methods, the techniques considered here should be particularly useful when examining animal movements over long time scales. This paper is available on the web (after subscribing) at: http://esa.sdsc.edu/esapubs/Ecology_main.htm We have some reprints available if you email: "amanda coakes" Hal Whitehead Department of Biology Dalhousie University Halifax Nova Scotia CANADA B3H 4J1 email: hwhitehe(\)is.dal.ca ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 18:29:01 -0500 From: Marie Van Bressem Subject: new publication on Brucella sp. infection in cetaceans Dear colleagues, I would like to let you know about a new paper we have recently published in the Veterinary Record: Van Bressem, M.-F., Van Waerebeek, K., Raga, J.A., Godfroid, J., Brew, S.D. and MacMillan, A.P. (2001) Serological evidence of Brucella species infection in odontocetes from the south Pacific and the Mediterranean. Veterinary Record, 148: 657-661. Abstract Sera from 58 odontocetes taken in fisheries off Peru in 1993 to 1995 and from 24 cetaceans stranded along the Spanish coast of the Mediterranean in 1997 to 1999 were tested for the presence of Brucella species antibodies in competitive and indirect ELISAs (cELISA and iELISA). Among the animaIs from Peru, 21 of 27 (77.8 per cent) Lagenorhynchus obscurus, three of six Delphinus capensis, one of two inshore and two of three offshore Tursiops truncatus and five of 20 (25 per cent) Phocoena spinipinnis were positive in the cELISA. Brucella species antibodies were also observed in two of 16 (12.5 per cent) Stenella coeruleoalba and in one of two T. truncatus from the Mediterranean. These data provide the first evidence for the presence of cetacean brucellae in the south Pacific Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Reprints are available upon request to M-F Van Bressem (address in Peru). Best wishes, Marie-Francoise Van Bressem, DVM, PhD Pasaje Palmira 196, Esq. Los Cedros 343 San Isidro, Lima 27, Peru e-mail: mariefvb(\)terra.com.pe and Department of Vaccinology-Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lihge, Sart Tilman, 4000 Lihge, Belgium ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 09:57:39 -0800 From: Bob Small Subject: Recruitment for Alaska Research Position This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------94EE9833E56C6CBA3EE4F514 Dear Marmam: I would appreciate you posting the following message: _________________________________________________________ The marine mammals program of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is recruiting a Wildlife Biologist III to conduct research primarily in western and northern Alaska. Research in this region of Alaska is conducted in remote rural areas and requires interacting and communicating effectively with local people from several different cultures that rely on marine mammals as an integral part of their livelihood, diet, and culture. The selected candidate will be expected to develop and lead research programs directed primarily towards the further understanding of marine mammal biology and ecology at the population level, including habitat use, diet, distribution and abundance, and movement patterns. An essential requirement of this position will be the ability to secure competitive grants through proposals submitted to available funding agencies to develop research programs and provide the majority of base salary costs. Species and topics for research will be determined based on an evaluation of (1) the needs and concerns of the State of Alaska relative to habitat protection, interactions with other marine resources, and the interests of State residents; (2) timely conservation issues; (3) existing scientific information; (4) marine mammal research needs and concerns; (5) practicality and cost-effectiveness; and (6) availability of funding. 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 6/29/2001. The recruitment bulletin for this position (ID #11-2115) 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. Additional information can be obtained by contacting Bob Small at bob_small(\)fishgame.state.ak.us --------------94EE9833E56C6CBA3EE4F514 name="bob_small.vcf" filename="bob_small.vcf" begin:vcard n:Small;Bob tel;fax:(907) 465-6142 tel;work:(907) 465-6167 x-mozilla-html:FALSE org:Division of Wildlife Conservation;Alaska Department of Fish & Game adr:;;P.O. Box 25526;Juneau;Alaska;9980125526;USA version:2.1 email;internet:bob_small(\)fishgame.state.ak.us title:Marine Mammals Coordinator fn:Bob Small end:vcard --------------94EE9833E56C6CBA3EE4F514-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 00:26:56 -0700 From: Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy Subject: New issue of Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy Human Dimensions of Wildlife , GreenMag The Table of Contents for Volume 4:1 of the Journal of International Wildlife Law is now available on our website, under "Past Issues." www.jiwlp.com. The page includes the full text of the issue's Main Article, and all documents under the Documents Section. You can also order a sample issue on the site. The site also includes many other resources, including research bibliographies on cetacean issues and links to the full text of national legislation and international wildlife treaty regimes. Sign up on the site's announcement list to receive 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/ JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL WILDLIFE LAW AND POLICY Volume 4 ( Issue 1 ( 2001 Table of Contents MAIN ARTICLES International Environmental Law Attempts to be "Mutually Supportive" with International Trade Law: A Compatibility Analysis of the Cartagena Protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity with the World Trade Organisation Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures: Cameron Hutchison CASE NOTES Confusing Controversy with Failure: the Ft. Lauderdale Listing Criteria and CITES Appendix I and II Species Proposals: Arthur G. Blundell & Bruce D. Rodan Problems and Prospects for the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources Twenty Years On: Beth C. Clark & Alan D. Hemmings DOCUMENTS Press Release: Streamlining Biological Conventions Could Save Millions of Dollars for Conserving World's Wildlife (UNEP) Press Release: Green Paper on the Future of the Common Fisheries Policy in the European Union: Re-thinking the Common Fisheries Policy Selected Resolutions of the World Conservation Congress IUCN - World Conservation Union, Amman, Jordan, October 4-11, 2000 Scientific Consensus Statement on Marine Reserves and Marine Protected Areas, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, University of California - Santa Barbara General Calls on Airlines to Reconsider Boycotts of Wildlife Shipments, CITES Secretariat ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2001 20:16:44 +0200 From: "M.E.E.R. e.V." Organization: M.E.E.R. Subject: M.E.E.R. field courses in autumn 2001 Dear Marmamers! The association M.E.E.R. announces it's next field courses in the Canary Islands: "Assisting in field research of the project M.E.E.R. La Gomera". The project M.E.E.R. La Gomera is conducting a study on the interactions between cetaceans and whale watching boats since several years. The paricipants of this 2-weeks practical courses will get an insight into the behavioural research conducted from whale watching boats operating off the island of La Gomera. In this area, 21 cetaceans species could be identified during the last few years. The course includes a full training program: the theory and practice of behavioural research will be learned and profound background information on whale watching will be given. The research is embedded in conservation efforts aiming at the preservation and promotion of whale watching as a sustainable use of cetaceans and the establishment of a marine sanctuary in the waters off La Gomera. Please see also our homepage www.1travel.de/meer Two courses are offered during the 2001 autum field season: 18 September - 02 October and 18 October - 01 November. The price is 765.- EURO including 7 whale watching research excursions, accommodation, full training program, scientific supervision, donation to M.E.E.R. e.V., certificate of attendance. For further information, booking, etc., please send an e-mail to Fabian Ritter: meer(\)infocanarias.com _____________________________________ The non-profit association M.E.E.R. is registred and based in Berlin. The objectives of the association are conservation, research and education in order to protect cetaceans in their natural habitats. Our work aims at increasing the public awareness for the oceans and to present ways how humans can deal with nature in a responsible way. Our co-operation partners are the "Deutsche Umwelthilfe" (Radolfzell/Germany) "Gesellschaft zur Rettung der Delphine" (Munich/Germany), "Vier Pfoten e.V. (Hamburg/Germany) " and the "Club de Mar" (Organizer of whale watching excursions/Gomera). ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 1 Jul 2001 10:28:43 EDT From: Sue Rocca Subject: south atlantic literature review Dear Subscribers: It seems I have made an error a pervious posting on MARMAM, asking for information on studies conducted in the South Atlantic Oceans. I listed an incorrect email address. The correct address is < SRocca9249(\)aol.com > The request again was for citations of large whale research in the South Atlantic north of 60 degrees. I have found approximately 100 citations specific to this region and would be willing to share this information with anyone interested. Thank you and sorry for the inconvenience of the wrong address Sue Rocca SRocca9249(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 2 Jul 2001 19:23:25 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MARMAM monthly 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, with preference to meetings that span more than one day. We are trying to avoid posting notices of gatherings that are less than a day long. - 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, website address and website contents). - 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. >> A NOTE ABOUT COMPATIBILITY BETWEEN TEXT EDITORS: >> Different mail programs, text editors and operating systems >> handle line wrapping differently. This may cause display problems, >> given that subscribers read their mail from a variety of platforms. >> We also have noticed that messages composed by cutting and pasting >> directly from WordPerfect can cause line wrapping problems. >> Therefore we aks that you avoid composing your messages using the >> latter method. >> We also ask that users whose mail programs include "Metafile", >> "M-tags" or "v-card" information disable these features when >> submitting messages to MARMAM, so that v-cards are not attached >> to postings. >> These practices will greatly reduce the number of messages >> with strange formatting that appear on MARMAM. 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. Users of the web-based e-mail provider HOTMAIL should be aware that the "block sender" feature (used to avoid "junk" mail), if active, will also block listserver messages. Therefore, make sure you have "block sender" feature turned off. This may also apply to other e-mail programs with equivalent features. ______________________________________________________________ 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, Daniel Palacios and Siri Hakala) 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 June 2001 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 08:59:58 -0400 From: Kathy Wang Organization: NOAA Subject: Job Vacancy at NMFS Southeast Region The National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office in St. Petersburg, FL, is seeking applicants for a biologist vacancy. This position is for a biologist (GS 9; salary range $35,808 - $46,546) to analyze and write biological opinions on the effects of federal projects on marine mammals listed under the Endangered Species Act. In addition to knowledge of marine mammals, knowledge and understanding of marine acoustics and the potential for acoustic impacts on marine mammals is desired. This is currently a term position (temporary but with benefits), not to exceed 13 months. However, if funds are extended or made permanent, the position would be also. To obtain additional information and application instructions, please go to Office of Personnel Management's website at: http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ or, call Brenda Carr at: 816/426-5016 X320; 816/426-7085/7177 FAX; or 816/426-7471 TDD. Kathy Wang, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Team Leader Southeast Regional Office National Marine Fisheries Service 9721 Executive Center Dr. N. St. Petersburg, FL 33702 727/570-5312; 727/570-5517 FAX ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 10:24:30 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: New photographic field guide to the whales and dolphins of the (fwd) Apologies for cross-posting The following title has recently been published: 'Whales and Dolphins of the European Atlantic' by Graeme Cresswell and Dylan Walker, with illustrations by Phil Coles and Rob Still. Published by WildGuides Ltd. ISBN 1-903657-00-8 This is the first comprehensive photographic field guide to the cetaceans of the European Atlantic. There are over 80 colour photographs / 14 plates that depict typical views of cetaceans at sea. The colour plates have been produced using the latest digital image technology. The text covers the key identification features of each species, emphasising the differences between similar species and includes information on status, behaviour and distribution. Colour distribution maps accompany the text for each species. The book costs 8 pounds (sterling). A contribution will be made by the publishers (WildGuides Ltd) to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) and Organisation Cetacea for each copy sold. Copies of the book can be obtained from: NHBS Mailorder Bookstore 2-3 Wills Road Totnes Devon TQ9 5XN U.K. Email: sales(\)nhbs.co.uk Tel: + 44 (0)1803 865913 / Fax + 44 (0)1803 865280 If you would like further information on the guide please contact me on any of the address below. Cheers Graeme Cresswell ======================================================================= ========= Graeme Cresswell Environment Division Norfolk County Council County Hall Norwich Norfolk NR1 2SG U.K. Tel + 44 (0)1603 222765 Fax + 44 (0)1603 223219 EMAIL: graeme.cresswell.pt(\)norfolk.gov.uk ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 2 Jul 2001 14:14:50 -0400 From: Iske Larkin Subject: Florida Marine Mammal Health Conference To all those interested, The web site for the Florida Marine Mammal Health Conference is up and has information regarding what, when, where and how for the meeting at http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/flmmhc/. If you have any further comments or questions you may contact Dr. Roger Reep at reep(\)ufbi.ufl.edu. Cheers, Iske Iske L. Vandevelde Larkin, Ph.D. Visiting Assistant In Physiological Sciences University of Florida 1600 SW Archer Rd. HSC Box 100144 Gainesville, Fl 32610 USA Phone (352) 392-4700 ext 3866 Fax (352) 392-5145 e-mail: Larkini(\)mail.vetmed.ufl.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 17:09:38 -0400 From: Ben Haskell Organization: NOAA/NOS/ONMS/SBNMS Subject: Summary of comments on rangefinder/GPS-linked binoculars ; x-mac-type="54455854"; x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" The following is a summary of the comments I received on my request for information regarding binoculars that provide a digital readout of the coordinates of the object they're focused on. Synopsis: the integrated technology does not exist yet according to my limited search; however, some folks have custom built systems that integrate rangefinders, GPS, and database software. - Laser Technology offers a tool that provides a digital range and bearing of the object its pointed at. See http://www.lasertech.com/ - Tethys Research Institute http://www.tethys.org/index_e.htm has developed a custom integrated system. - You can get coordinates of targets off the radar screen. - There is also a software program that can be used to combine a PocketPC, GPS receiver, and laser rangefinder, that (theoretically) could be used if you point the laser rangefinder at the animal in question and have an accurate lat/long and offset. Information on this unit is available here: http://www.pocket.co.uk/WindowsCE/Laser.html - Leica makes a rangefinder integrated with a compass with digital output. Happy marmamm viewing, Ben Cowie-Haskell ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2001 13:42:54 -0300 Reply-To: Arturo Serrano From: Arturo Serrano Organization: University of New Brunswick Subject: Abstract boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0010_01C10621.8ED07C80" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0010_01C10621.8ED07C80 charset="iso-8859-1" The following article was recently published in Aquatic Mammals. A = limited number of copies are available from the author (see address = below). Please do not request the article from the MARMAM editors. I = apologize for cross postings.=20 =20 Serrano, A. (2001). Plasma testosterone concentrations in captive male = harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus). Aquatic Mammals 27(1): 50-55. Abstract=20 The main objective of this study was to describe plasma testosterone in = male harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus) before, during, and after the = breeding season. In addition, the relationship between testosterone = concentration and vocal activity was examined. Levels of plasma = testosterone were investigated in four captive harp seals of different = ages. Concentrations varied from a minimum of ca. 0.01 ng/ml in April = and May to a maximum of 9.4 ng/ml in March. Peaks in concentration = occurred at the times when testes were largest in mature wild males, = which is several weeks before wild females enter oestrus. Also, peaks in = concentration were correlated with high rates of vocalisations. Peak = levels of testosterone were lowest in the young and socially subordinate = seals.=20 Key words: harp seals, Pagophilus groenlandicus, testosterone, hormone = concentration, seals, underwater vocalizations ---------- Arturo Serrano PhD candidate Dep. of Biology, UNBSJ PO BOX 5050 Saint John, NB E2L 4L5 Canada Phone: (506) 642 9560 Fax: (506) 648 5811 Email: x57zp(\)unbsj.ca or arturo.serrano(\)unb.ca ------=_NextPart_000_0010_01C10621.8ED07C80 charset="iso-8859-1"     The=20 following article was recently published in Aquatic Mammals. A limited = number of=20 copies are available from the author (see address below). Please do not = request=20 the article from the MARMAM editors. I apologize for cross postings.=20
 
Serrano, A. (2001). Plasma testosterone concentrations in = captive=20 male harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus). Aquatic Mammals 27(1):=20 50-55.
Abstract
The main objective of this study was to describe = plasma=20 testosterone in male harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus) before, = during, and=20 after the breeding season. In addition, the relationship between = testosterone=20 concentration and vocal activity was examined. Levels of plasma = testosterone=20 were investigated in four captive harp seals of different ages. = Concentrations=20 varied from a minimum of ca. 0.01 ng/ml in April and May to a maximum of = 9.4=20 ng/ml in March. Peaks in concentration occurred at the times when testes = were=20 largest in mature wild males, which is several weeks before wild females = enter=20 oestrus. Also, peaks in concentration were correlated with high rates of = vocalisations. Peak levels of testosterone were lowest in the young and = socially=20 subordinate seals.
Key words: harp seals, Pagophilus groenlandicus,=20 testosterone, hormone concentration, seals, underwater=20 vocalizations
----------
Arturo Serrano
PhD candidate
Dep. = of=20 Biology, UNBSJ
PO BOX 5050
Saint John, NB E2L = 4L5
Canada
Phone:=20 (506) 642 9560
Fax: (506) 648 5811
Email: x57zp(\)unbsj.ca or=20 arturo.serrano(\)unb.ca ------=_NextPart_000_0010_01C10621.8ED07C80-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2001 08:50:22 -0700 From: Dylan Walker Subject: New publication on European Cetaceans The following title has recently been published: 'ORCA No. 1. A Report on the Whales, Dolphins and Seabirds of the Bay of Biscay and English Channel'. * Apologies for cross-posting This 105 page report reveals the exceptional diversity of whales and dolphins that can be seen relatively close to the shores of western Europe, detailing the distribution, current knowledge, and behaviour of an incredible 20 species of cetacean recorded in the English Channel and Bay of Biscay during 1999. The systematic list contains a distribution map of each species and there are colour photographs of Blue Whale, Fin Whale, Common Dolphin, Long-finned Pilot Whale, White-sided Dolphin, Harbour Porpoise and all of the North Atlantic Beaked Whales taken at sea. Other articles include: The 1999 Bay of Biscay Bird Report A dedicated cetacean survey of the Torrelavega and Santander Canyons, southern Bay of Biscay Identifying beaked whales in North Atlantic waters The Devon Cetacean Report 1999 What Price Fish? An analysis of fisheries bycatch The Erika Oil Spill effects on marine life Guidelines for completing ORCA cetacean survey forms The report is produced by Organisation Cetacea (ORCA) and part-funded by P&O Portsmouth and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. ORCA is a non-profit making organisation dedicated to conservation, research and education. The proceeds will enable ORCA to continue this important work. Copies of the report are priced #7.00 UK sterling plus postage and packing and can be obtained from: NHBS Mailorder Bookstore 2-3 Wills Road Totnes Devon TQ9 5XN U.K. Email: sales(\)nhbs.co.uk Tel: + 44 (0)1803 865913 / Fax + 44 (0)1803 865280 If you would like further information on the report please contact me at the address below: Best wishes, Dylan Walker Chairman Organisation Cetacea (ORCA) Brooklands Farm Forston Dorchester Dorset DT2 7AA U.K. e-mail: dylan(\)companyofwhales.co.uk __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 9 Jul 2001 10:43:29 -0400 From: Kathy Wang Organization: NOAA Subject: Job Vacancy The National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office in St. Petersburg, FL, recently posted an announcement regarding a biologist vacancy. This position was posted as a GS 9 (salary range $35,808 - $46,546). This same position is now being advertised at the GS 11 level (salary range $43,326 - $56,322) in addition to the GS 9 level. If you are unsure which level you would qualify for and wish to apply at both levels, you must submit a separate application package for each (see instructions below). The position is for a biologist to analyze and write biological opinions on the effects of federal projects on marine mammals listed under the Endangered Species Act. In addition to knowledge of marine mammals, knowledge and understanding of marine acoustics and the potential for acoustic impacts on marine mammals is desired. This is currently a term position (temporary but with benefits), not to exceed 13 months. However, if funds are extended or made permanent, the position would be also. The GS9 vacancy closes July 10, 2001; the GS11 vacancy closes July 18, 2001. To obtain additional information and application instructions, please go to Office of Personnel Management's website at: http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ To use the OPM website, please click on Current Job Openings. Then click on Choose a Specific Series (enter 0482), or Agency Job Search (Commerce, Nat. Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin), or Alphabetical Job Search (B for Biological or F for Fishery). Then follow the remaining directions, or, call Brenda Carr at: 816/426-5016 X320; 816/426-7085/7177 FAX; or 816/426-7471 TDD. Kathy Wang, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Team Leader Southeast Regional Office National Marine Fisheries Service 9721 Executive Center Dr. N. St. Petersburg, FL 33702 727/570-5312; 727/570-5517 FAX ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 8 Jul 2001 18:29:36 -0400 From: William Rossiter Subject: dolphin entanglements in Sicily Apologies for cross post: this was posted to ECS-all, but is being submitted to MARMAM in hopes that someone with helpful information will contact the sender directly. Thank you, Bill Rossiter Cetacean Society International Please reply directly to the sender Carmelo La [mailto:divesicily(\)yahoo.com] -----Original Message----- From: carmelo la [mailto:divesicily(\)yahoo.com] Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2001 4:53 PM To: ECS-ALL-request(\)JISCMAIL.AC.UK Subject: Help from Sicily,Italy Dear organization,I need your advice very quickly. In Sicily,Italy,lately our big fishermen fleet is facing a big problem caused by the dolphins. Lately this smart animals have found an easy way to catch their pray;directly from the fishermen nets. Tearing them in pieces. This obviously is causing a big financial burden to the fishermen that have too often in some cases a new net and that is very expensive. I fear that they will loose their patience and start fishing dolphins instead of their normal catch. So before this happen i ask your experts if there is any device or any technic that is known to keep the dolphin away. Pls advice me asap. Carmelo La Rocca diver and liaison for the union of the Catania fishermen. reply to divesicily(\)yahoo.com phone 349/2936727 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 9 Jul 2001 14:19:25 -0700 From: "David S. Janiger" Subject: New Fisheries Research Articles ------ PIATKOWSKI, U.; G. J. PIERCE and M. MORAIS DA CUNHA. FISHERIES RESEARCH (AMSTERDAM) 52(1-2):5-10. 2001. Impact of cephalopods in the food chain and their interaction with the environment and fisheries: an overview. *Department of Zoology, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, Scotland AB24 2TZ, UK. No abstract -------------------------------------------------------------------------= --------------- MORI, JUNTA; TSUNEMI KUBODERA and NORIHISA BABA. FISHERIES RESEARCH (AMSTERDAM) 52(1-2):91-97. 2001. Squid in the diet of northern fur seals, Callorhinus ursinus, caught in the western and central North Pacific Ocean. *National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, Orido 5-7-1, Shimizu-shi, Tokyo 424, Japan. The stomach contents of 89 northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) caught in the western and central North Pacific from December to August during the period 1981-1994 were examined. In total 2567 items including 2401 beaks and 166 digested bodies of squid were obtained. Fifteen species from eight families and four species from three families, respectively, were identified from squid beaks and bodies in the stomachs of seals from the western North Pacific and the central North Pacific. Watasenia scintillans was numerically the dominant prey for northern fur seals in the western North Pacific, while Onychoteuthis borealijaponica and Ommastrephes bartramii tended to be important prey in the central North Pacific. Most of the squid prey were estimated to be smaller than 150 mm dorsal mantle length (DML) except two individuals of Moroteuthis loennbergi and 10 individuals of O. bartramii. Mean size of W. scintillans was almost constant from January to April at 42-44 mm DML. This suggests that northern fur seals feed actively on mature females of W. scintillans when they migrate to shallow waters for spawning during winter and early spring in the western North Pacific, off Honshu, Japan. Keywords: Beak; northern fur seal; squid; stomach contents. -------------------------------------------------------------------------= --------------- DOS SANTOS, R. A. and M. HAIMOVICI. FISHERIES RESEARCH (AMSTERDAM) 52(1-2):99-112. 2001. Cephalopods in the diet of marine mammals stranded or incidentally caught along southeastern and southern Brazil (21-34=B0S). *Fundacao Univ Rio Grande Rio Grande, RS Brazil BR-96201900. Cephalopod remains found in 286 stomach contents of 13 species of odontocetes (Pontoporia blainvillei, Lagenodelphis hosei, Sotalia fluviatilis, Stenella frontalis, Steno bredanensis, Tursiops truncatus, Delphinus sp., Globicephala melas, Orcinus orca, Pseudorca crassidens, Kogia breviceps, K. sima and Physeter macrocephalus) four species of pinnipeds (Arctocephalus australis, A. gazella, A. tropicalis and Mirounga leonina) were identified and measured. The stomachs were collected from stranded or incidentally caught marine mammals from Rio de Janeiro to Paran=E1 states (21-26=B0S) and Rio Grande do Sul (29-34=B0S), between 1985 and 1998. Twenty-five species of 16 families of cephalopods were identified. Cephalopod prey were small to medium sized. The diversity of cephalopods as prey was lower for coastal marine mammals and increased in offshore species that fed on diverse oegopsin squids including both the fast moving muscular squids and the less mobile neutrally buoyant cephalopods. In common dolphins, ommastrephid and loliginid squids and the sepiolid Semirossia tenera, were all important in the diet. Loliginid squids were the most frequent cephalopod in the diet of six other species of dolphins and three species of fur seals. Loligo sanpaulensis was recorded in specimens from throughout the study area, whilst Loligo plei and Lolliguncula brevis were frequent in the northern area. Benthic octopuses were found only in the diet of bottlenose dolphin and franciscana. Pelagic octopuses, particularly Argonauta nodosa, were only relatively frequent in the stomach contents of franciscana. In the stomach contents of larger odontocetes, as well as in Southern elephant seals and SubAntarctic fur seals, squids of the families Ancistrocheiridae, Chiroteuthidae, Cranchiidae, Enoploteuthidae, Histioteuthidae, Lycoteuthidae, Octopoteuthidae, Onychoteuthidae and especially Ommastrephidae were found. Keywords: Feeding habits; marine mammals; southwestern Atlantic Ocean; Brazil; food webs; cephalopods. -------------------------------------------------------------------------= --------------- SANTOS, M. B.; M. R. CLARKE and G. J. PIERCE. FISHERIES RESEARCH (AMSTERDAM) 52(1-2):121-139. 2001. Assessing the importance of cephalopods in the diets of marine mammals and other top predators: problems and solutions. *Univ Aberdeen Aberdeen Scotland AB24 2TZ. The methodology typically used in the analysis of predator diets is subject to a range of errors and biases and these are reviewed in relation to estimating the consumption of cephalopods by top predators. Further uncertainties, relating to population size estimation, predator energy requirements and sojourn time in the study area are encountered when estimating population consumption. We review the use of such data to predict consumption of cephalopods by certain top predators globally, in the Antarctic, the Azores and in the North Atlantic. The traditional approach is based on the derivation of "minimum" and "maximum" estimates. We illustrate an alternative approach for calculating confidence limits for estimates, based on bootstrap simulations, for sperm whales in the northern Northeast Atlantic. While the resulting confidence limits may appear discouragingly wide, computations such as those used here are useful for showing where data are most imperfect and for setting future research priorities. Even at present, within distinctly prescribed geographic areas, where populations are well known, such modelling of species interactions may be productive. Keywords: Cephalopods; top predators; marine mammals; diet; food consumption; fisheries. -------------------------------------------------------------------------= --------------- SCHWEDER, TORE. FISHERIES RESEARCH (AMSTERDAM) 52(3):217-225. 2001. Protecting whales by distorting uncertainty: Non-precautionary mismanagement? *Department of Economics, University of Oslo, Box 1095, Blindern 0317, Oslo 3, Norway. Precautionary management is based on science, and is incompatible with large fluctuations in the management regime. Whaling is managed by the International Whaling Commission, and has seen large fluctuations. It is argued that both the period of intense Antarctic whal= ing and the current period of protectionism have been unduly prolonged by scientists expanding out of proportion the uncertainty surrounding management issues. In the 1950s, uncertainty concerning fin whale stock status and trend was consistently distorted from one quarter, and in the 1990s a minority in the Scientific Committee blocked consensus over the revised management procedure that had been successfully developed by the Committee. In both cases, the political consequence of expanded uncertainty in the science was lack of action resulting in a continuation of business as usual. Extending a period of heavy exploitation longer than the resource can sustain is mismanagement. Extending a period of extreme protectionism when the resource is known to scientists to sustain valuable exploitation is also mismanagement even from a conservationist point of view. This might, in fact, erode the role of science in management and thus prepare the ground for subsequent overexploitation. Distorting uncertainty by injecting controversy or otherwise expanding uncertainty has contributed to excessive fluctuations in management regimes and consequently in stock abundance. Detrimental fluctuations might continue, since science is side tracked and management now is based on sentiments that might fade. Keywords: International Whaling Commission; Revised management procedure; Instability in management. -------------------------------------------------------------------------= --------------- HOLT, SIDNEY. FISHERIES RESEARCH (AMSTERDAM) 52(3):227-230. 2001. A comment on Tore Schweder's "Protecting whales by distorting uncertainty: Non-precautionary mismanagement" *Podore II Falco, I-06060 Ponticelli-PG, Italy. No abstract -------------------------------------------------------------------------= --------------- Some PDF's available from janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu David S. Janiger - Curatorial Assistant (Mammals) Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90731 USA (213) 763-3369 janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 09:45:58 -0700 From: Ellen Hines Subject: abstracts for GIS& Remote Sensing Workshop at SMM conference Greetings, I would like to remind those of you wishing to submit abstracts to the workshop on the use of Geomatic Technologies for marine mammal scientists that the deadline is August 1st. We are accepting abstracts for posters and presentations, as well as suggestions for leaders of panel discussions and specialty discussion groups. Following is a short description of the workshop, which is to be held on November 28th: "In this workshop we will explore the potential for using geomatic technologies in marine mammal research. Through presentations, posters, panel discussions, and specialty discussion groups, we will investigate the use of remotely sensed images and GIS mapping procedures as tools to simulate and visualize relationships between marine mammals and abiotic/biotic ecosystem parameters. " Registration forms, as well as a report of the last workshop (at the Maui conference), are available as links to the webpage below. Please submit abstracts to Ellen Hines at the email, fax, and regular addresses below: 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: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 20:02:23 -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. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. ------------------------------------------------- Mori, J. et al. 2001. Squid in the diet of northern fur seals, Callorhinus ursinus, caught in the western and central North Pacific Ocean. Fish. Res. 52/1-2: 91-97. Santos, M.B. et al. 2001. Assessing the importance of cephalopods in the diets of marine mammals and other top predators: problems and solutions. Fish. Res. 52/1-2: 121-139. Pomeroy, P.P. et al. 2001. Reproductive performance links to fine-scale spatial patterns of female grey seal relatedness. Proceed. R. Soc. London Biol. Sci. 268/1468: 711-717. Welsch, U. et al. 2001. Microscopic anatomy of the eye of the deep-diving antarctic Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii). J. Morphol. 248/2: 165-174. Chong, A.K. and K. Schneider. 2001. Two-medium photogrammetry for bottlenose dolphin studies. Photogramm. Eng. Remot Sens. 67/5: 621-628. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 20:07:07 -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. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. --------------------------------------------------- Predictions of critical habitat for five whale species in the waters of coastal British Columbia Edward J. Gregr and Andrew W. Trites Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 58: 1265-1285 (2001) Pages 1265-1285 Abstract: Whaling records from British Columbia coastal whaling stations reliably report the positions of 9592 whales killed between 1948 and 1967. We used this positional information and oceanographic data (bathymetry, temperature, and salinity) to predict critical habitat off the coast of British Columbia for sperm (Physeter macrocephalus), sei (Balaenoptera borealis), fin (Balaenoptera physalus), humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae)= , and blue (Balaenoptera musculus) whales. We used generalized linear model= s at annual and monthly time scales to relate whale occurrence to six predictor variables (month, depth, slope, depth class, and sea surface temperature and salinity). The models showed critical habitat for sei, fi= n, and male sperm whales along the continental slope and over a large area o= ff the northwest coast of Vancouver Island. Habitat models for blue, humpbac= k, and female sperm whales were relatively insensitive to the predictor variables, owing partially to the smaller sample sizes for these groups. = The habitat predictions lend support to recent hypotheses about sperm whale breeding off British Columbia and identify humpback whale habitat in sheltered bays and straits throughout the coast. The habitat models also provide insights about the nature of the linkages between the environment and the distribution of whales in the North Pacific Ocean. *************************************************************************= *** ********* Growth rates of vibrissae of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and Steller se= a lions (Eumetopias jubatus) Amy C. Hirons, Donald M. Schell, and David J. St. Aubin Canadian Journal of Zoology, vol. 79 (2001) Pages 1053-1061 Abstract: Growth rates of vibrissae (whiskers), which act as a temporal record of feeding in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), were estimated using 13C- and 15N-labeled glycine followed by stable-isotope analysis. The labeled glycine was incorporated into keratin and served as a temporal marker for growth-rate calculation. One captive harbor seal received two doses 147 days apart, while a second seal received one dose; vibrissae were analyzed after 86 and 154 days. Th= e peak positions indicated that growth began in the fall, continued into spring, but ceased in June, with active growth rates of 0.33 mm/day. Two adult captive Steller sea lions each received two labeled doses during a 308-day period. After 427 days vibrissae in both sea lions showed two pea= ks corresponding to the markers; growth rates were calculated as 0.05=960.07 mm/day. Growth rates in captive juvenile and wild adult Steller sea lions= , 0.10=960.17 mm/day, supported the assumption that major isotopic oscillat= ions in vibrissae of wild sea lions were annual. The multiyear records imply t= hat Steller sea lions retain their vibrissae; harbor seal vibrissae, in contrast, have periods of rapid growth and appear to be shed, at least in part, annually. *************************************************************************= *** *********** Grey seal maternal attendance patterns are affected by water availability= on North Rona, Scotland Paula Redman, Paddy P. Pomeroy, and Sean D. Twiss Canadian Journal of Zoology, vol. 79 (2001) Pages 1073-1079 Abstract: Previous studies on grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) have shown that pools of water influence female distribution within inland breeding colonies. This study reveals that the availability of pools also affects maternal attendance patterns and may have implications for breeding succe= ss. An atypical dry period at the start of the 1998 breeding season on North Rona, Scotland, followed by a normal wet period, provided a natural experiment that allowed us to examine female behaviour in relation to the availability of pools. During the dry period, lactating grey seals (i) travelled long distances to gain access to water; (ii) had significantly greater rates of locomotion towards water and resulting from interactions between conspecifics; and (iii) spent significantly less time close to th= eir pups. Long-distance locomotion and a reduction in time spent with the pup often lead to permanent mother-pup separation, resulting in starvation of the pup. However, the immediate need to gain access to water for thermoregulation or maintenance of a positive water balance outweighed th= e potential costs of reproductive failure, emphasising the importance of wa= ter for lactating grey seals even during the relatively cold and damp breedin= g season in the U.K. *************************************************************************= *** ********** Quantifying errors associated with using fecal samples to determine the d= iet of the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) Anthony J. Orr and James T. Harvey Canadian Journal of Zoology, vol. 79 (2001) Pages 1080-1087 Abstract: The purpose of this study was to quantify the errors associated with using fecal samples to determine the diet of the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). Fishes and squids of known size and number were fed to five sea lions held in enclosures with seawater-filled pools. Enclosures were washed and pools were drained periodically so that sea li= on feces could be collected using a 0.5 mm mesh bag. Fish otoliths and squid beaks were collected from feces and used to estimate number and size of p= rey eaten. An average of 50.7% (SE =3D 6.4%) of 430 fishes and 73.5% (SE =3D = 12.0%) of 49 cephalopods fed to sea lions were represented by otoliths and beaks= in feces, respectively. Estimated lengths of fish from feces were less than lengths of fish fed to sea lions by an average of 30.1% (SE =3D 2.8%). Be= aks were not digested significantly; estimated lengths of squid were underestimated by an average of only 3.3% (SE =3D 1.5%) relative to actua= l lengths. Passage rates of otoliths varied, but more than 70% were recover= ed within 48 h after the fish was consumed. Passage rates of beaks were generally less than those of otoliths; six beaks (11%) were collected in feces 4 days after the squid were eaten. Correction factors were created = to more reliably estimate the number and size of fishes and cephalopods eate= n by California sea lions. *************************************************************************= *** * Maternal effects on offspring growth rate and weaning mass in harbour sea= ls W. Don Bowen, Sara L. Ellis, Sara J. Iverson, and Daryl J. Boness Canadian Journal of Zoology, vol. 79 (2001) Pages 1088-1101 Abstract: We studied maternal effects on offspring traits during lactatio= n in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) on Sable Island, Nova Scotia, from 1988= to 1996. Duration of lactation was correlated with rate of pup mass gain (r = =3D %#150;0.34, n =3D 116) and weaning mass (r =3D 0.29, n =3D 154). Pups tha= t grew faster had shorter nursing periods, whereas those that attained higher weaning masses nursed for a greater number of days. Pup sex did not affec= t patterns of maternal effects. The pups of young females (4%#150;6 years o= ld) gained mass at a constant but lower rate (0.56 kg/d) than the pups of old= er females through midlactation (0.74%#150;0.78 kg/d; n =3D 75). In older females, rates of pup mass gain decelerated between mid and late lactatio= n. Although maternal age did not directly affect weaning mass of pups, path analysis showed that maternal age acted on weaning mass through intermedi= ary traits. Lighter females gave birth to smaller and slower growing pups, bu= t invested relatively more than heavier females (n =3D 153). Effects of mat= ernal postpartum mass on weaning mass (n =3D 100) were weaker in harbour seals = than in phocids that fast during lactation, but apparently stronger than in otariids that forage during lactation, suggesting that the strength of maternal effects is influenced by lactation strategy. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2001 11:09:11 -0400 From: GREMM Subject: Unusual preys of minke whales? Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" ------ Greetings,=20 Every week we gather news of whale sightings from a network of observers along the St. Lawrence Estuary and Gulf (Quebec, Canada). One of our observers reported that he has seen a minke whale feeding on several occasions in groups of eider ducklings accompanied by females. It would surge halfway out of the water among the birds. These ducks swim at the surface and dive to feed on small molluscs and other benthic organism= s. Could it be that one minke specialized on an unusual prey type, or is it purely incidental? Is anybody aware of reports of minke whales feeding on unusual prey types= ? Thank you for answering at info(\)gremm.org. V=E9ronik de la Cheneli=E8re Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals GREMM 108 de la Cale s=E8che Tadoussac, Qc, Canada G0T 2A0 tel.: 418-235-4701 fax.: 418-235-4325 email: info(\)gremm.org http://www.whales-online.net ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2001 09:12:59 +1200 From: "Trusewich, Bill" Subject: Threats to marine mammal biodiversity information request Hello all Kia ora from New Zealand I'm Bill Trusewich, currently working on an information project for the New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries. We are compiling a set of information (both web based and in print) on human originating threats to coastal and marine biodiversity all all levels of hierarchy, including genetic, species, habitat and functional. So if anyone has comment or can provide a list of useful references regarding these aspects of marine mammal conservation which we can include in our overall list, please send direct to bill.trusewich(\)fish.govt.nz I'm looking for good general background references as well as those specific to aspects of mitigation and risk management to be used by marine resource managers and analysts. Thanks. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2001 10:31:39 -0400 From: "Michael A. Rivlin" Subject: Photos of 1988 harbor seal die-off Greetings, Amicus Journal, a magazine published in New York that covers national and international environmental affairs for a general audience, is looking for photos of the 1988 Baltic/North Sea harbor seal die off. We'd be interested in shots (preferably color) of stranded seals (sick or carcasses) still on the beach, recovery efforts, and animals being brought to, cared for, or autopsied at the seal rehabilitation center in Pieterburen. We're especially interested in shots that communicate the magnitude of the episode. Michael Rivlin ***************************************************************************** Michael A. Rivlin Senior Correspondent, Amicus Journal 321 Shore Drive, Suite 6 Highlands, NJ 07732 Voice: 732.708.0982 Fax: 732.708.0973 Email: mailto:mrivlin(\)home.com Amicus online: http://www.nrdc.org/amicus EJournal: http://www.topica.com/lists/ejournal Opinions expressed in this message are strictly my own, and do not necessarily represent those of Amicus Journal or its publisher. ***************************************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2001 15:54:21 -0400 From: Julie Carter Subject: Re: Harp Seal Oil This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------71C63CB6C5E98D5A2C9C8A5C My name is Julie Carter. I work with National Ocean Service Marine Forensic Branch in Charleston, SC. We receive evidence from law enforcement agents and make species identification using DNA, isoelectric focusing and lipid analyses. I am searching for samples of harp seal oil to be used as standards to compare to evidence. Does anyone have any harp seal oil that they could send to us? If not, names of people or organizations that you think could help me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Julie Carter -- Julie Carter NOS Marine Forensic Branch 219 Fort Johnson Road Charleston, SC 29412 Phone: 843-762-8547 FAX: 843-762-8700 E-mail: julie.carter(\)noaa.gov --------------71C63CB6C5E98D5A2C9C8A5C name="julie.carter.vcf" filename="julie.carter.vcf" begin:vcard n:Carter;Julie tel;fax:843-762-8700 tel;work:843-762-8547 x-mozilla-html:FALSE org:219 Fort Johnson Road;Charleston, SC 29412 adr:;;;;;; version:2.1 email;internet:julie.carter(\)noaa.gov title:NOS Marine Forensic Branch note;quoted-printable:Julie Carter=0D=0ANOS Marine Forensic Branch=0D=0A219 Fort Johnson Road=0D=0ACharleston, SC 29412=0D=0APhone 843-762-8547=0D=0AFAX 843-762-8700 fn:Julie Carter end:vcard --------------71C63CB6C5E98D5A2C9C8A5C-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 18 Jul 2001 10:13:35 -0700 Reply-To: yurk(\)zoology.ubc.ca From: Harald Yurk Subject: Culture Workshop Reminder boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0000_01C10F72.4E201BA0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C10F72.4E201BA0 charset="iso-8859-1" Greetings, As many of you already know, we will organize a workshop on Culture in Marine Mammals to be held on November 28th at the Vancouver SMM conference. This workshop will examine the evidence for culture in marine mammals, and discuss how cultural processes and their evolutionary and conservation consequences can best be identified and studied. The workshop will consist of talks by invited speakers (see below), submitted posters (see below), and a discussion period at the end of the day involving all the presenters. The deadline for poster submission has passed, and we have received 11 abstracts for posters, all of them highly interesting. We would like to remind everyone that the DEADLINE FOR EARLY REGISTRATION IS AUGUST 15, 2001! Space is limited for this workshop, and therefore registration for the workshop after August 15 will be accepted on a first come basis until all spaces are filled !!!!!! Registration will cost US$35 (CDN$54) before August 15, and US$45 (CDN$69) thereafter. To register, follow the instructions listed on the workshop web site: http://www.dal.ca/~whitelab/wrkshp.htm Confirmed speakers : W.C. McGrew - Culture on land and at sea : Lessons from cultural primatology Phillip J. Clapham - Are humpback whales creatures of culture? Stan Kuczaj - What studies of captive animals can and cannot tell us about marine mammal culture Mike Noad - Cultural displacement and replacement in the songs of Australian humpback whales Denise Herzing - Transmission mechanisms of social learning: Underwater observations of free- ranging dolphins in the Bahamas. Richard Connor - Culture and ecology in bottlenose dolphin behaviour Patrick Abgrall / Jack Terhune - Phocids, Title TBA Jim Estes / Tim Tinker - Sea otters, Title TBA Lance Barrett-Lennard - A propensity for isolationism: Culture and population segregation in killer whales Harald Yurk - Group-specific dialects Killer whales: culturally selected traits? Hal Whitehead - Cetacean culture: evolution and coevolution Luke Rendell - Candidate cultural behaviours in sperm whales Accepted Poster Presentations: Peter Corkeron - Junk food culture: dolphins, trawlers and the choices we all make. Wendi Fellner and Gordon B. Bauer - Synchronous movement as a potential medium for cultural transmission David Lusseau - Culture in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.): an insight through surface behavioural pattern. Richard W. Osborne - Population-specific ecological history as a resource for reconstructing cultural context in Southern Resident killer whales. Anna Bisther and Dag Vongraven - Killer whales feeding on both mammals and fish: a Transient, Resident or opportunistic type? Ingrid N. Visser - High risk foraging behaviour of Orca (Orcinus orca) in New Zealand waters - could skills be passed on through culture? Wanda Jones - Behaviour of wild bottlenose dolphins in Panama City, Fl, USA. Satoru Yamamoto - Before seeking the culture in marine mammals Volker Deecke, - A Sound Approach to the Study of Culture Renata S. Sousa-Lima - Ontogeny of individually distinct vocal patterns in manatees. Peter Beamish - "RBC research" and recent apparent confirmation of culture in marine and terrestrial mammals and eagles (RBC is "Rhythm Based Communication," a substantial paradigm shift). Thanks, and see you in Vancouver in November. Cheers, Harald Yurk, Luke Rendell, Hal Whitehead, and Lance Barrett-Lennard *************************************************************** Harald Yurk Marine Mammal Research Unit & Marine Mammal Research Department of Zoology Vancouver Aquarium University of British Columbia PO Box 3232 6248 Biological Sc. Road Vancouver, BC, V6B 3X8 Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4 phone: 604.822.8181 604.659.3429/28/30 fax: 604.822.8180 web: www.zoology.ubc/ www.killerwhale.org ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C10F72.4E201BA0 charset="iso-8859-1"

Greetings,

As many of you already know, we will = organize=20 a workshop on Culture in
Marine Mammals to be held = on=20 November 28th at the Vancouver SMM conference.

This workshop will = examine=20 the evidence for culture in marine mammals, and
discuss how  = cultural=20 processes and their evolutionary and conservation
consequences can = best be=20 identified  and studied.

The workshop will consist of talks = by=20 invited speakers (see below),
submitted posters (see below), and = a =20 discussion period at the end of the day involving
all the=20 presenters.

The deadline for poster submission has=20 passed, and we have received 11 abstracts for posters, all of = them=20 highly interesting.

We would like to remind everyone that the=20 DEADLINE FOR EARLY REGISTRATION IS AUGUST 15,=20 2001!
Space is limited for this workshop, and therefore = registration=20 for the workshop after August 15 will be accepted
on a first come basis until all spaces are filled=20 !!!!!!

Registration will cost US$35 (CDN$54) before August = 15, and=20 US$45 (CDN$69) thereafter.
To register, follow the instructions = listed on=20 the workshop web site:

http://www.dal.ca/~whitel= ab/wrkshp.htm

Confirmed=20 speakers :

W.C. McGrew - Culture on land and at sea : Lessons = from=20 cultural primatology
Phillip J. Clapham - Are humpback whales = creatures of=20 culture?
Stan Kuczaj - What studies of captive animals can and cannot = tell us=20 about marine mammal culture
Mike Noad - Cultural displacement and = replacement=20 in the songs of Australian humpback whales
Denise Herzing - = Transmission=20 mechanisms of social learning: Underwater observations of free- ranging = dolphins=20 in the Bahamas.
Richard Connor - Culture and ecology in bottlenose = dolphin=20 behaviour
Patrick Abgrall / Jack Terhune - Phocids, Title TBA
Jim = Estes /=20 Tim Tinker - Sea otters, Title TBA
Lance Barrett-Lennard - A=20 propensity for isolationism: Culture and population segregation in = killer=20 whales
Harald Yurk - Group-specific = dialects=20 Killer whales: culturally selected traits?
Hal Whitehead - Cetacean culture: evolution and coevolution
Luke = Rendell -=20 Candidate cultural behaviours in sperm = whales

Accepted Poster=20 Presentations:

Peter Corkeron - Junk food culture: dolphins, trawlers and the = choices we all=20 make.
Wendi Fellner and Gordon B. Bauer - Synchronous movement as a = potential=20 medium for cultural transmission
David Lusseau - Culture in = bottlenose=20 dolphins (Tursiops sp.): an insight through surface behavioural=20 pattern.
Richard W. Osborne - Population-specific ecological history = as a=20 resource for reconstructing cultural context in Southern Resident killer = whales.
Anna  Bisther and Dag Vongraven - Killer whales = feeding on=20 both mammals and fish: a Transient, Resident or opportunistic=20 type?
Ingrid N. Visser - High risk foraging behaviour of Orca = (Orcinus orca)=20 in New Zealand waters - could skills be passed on through culture? =
Wanda=20 Jones - Behaviour of wild bottlenose dolphins in Panama City, Fl, = USA.
Satoru=20 Yamamoto - Before seeking the culture in marine mammals
Volker = Deecke, - A=20 Sound Approach to the Study of Culture
Renata S. Sousa-Lima - = Ontogeny of=20 individually distinct vocal patterns in manatees.
Peter Beamish - = "RBC=20 research" and recent apparent confirmation of culture in marine and = terrestrial=20 mammals and eagles (RBC is "Rhythm Based Communication," a substantial = paradigm=20 shift).

Thanks, and see you in Vancouver in=20 November.

Cheers,

Harald Yurk, Luke Rendell, Hal = Whitehead, and=20 Lance=20 Barrett-Lennard

**************************************************= *************
Harald Yurk
Marine Mammal Research Unit  =20 &            = Marine=20 Mammal Research
Department of=20 Zoology           =             &= nbsp;      =20 Vancouver Aquarium
University of British=20 Columbia           = ;       =20 PO Box 3232
6248 Biological Sc.=20 Road           &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;    =20 Vancouver, BC, V6B 3X8
Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4

phone:=20 604.822.8181          &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp; =20 604.659.3429/28/30
fax:     =20 604.822.8180

web:=20 www.zoology.ubc/         &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;      =20 www.killerwhale.org=20

------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C10F72.4E201BA0-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2001 01:56:38 EDT From: SAHawks(\)aol.com Subject: Fishfinder for cetacean research Dear all, I am a Phd student at the University of Washington, currently studying the population decline of the Southern Resident orca in Washington State (USA). We are in the process of using a fishfinder to collect subsurface data (primarily to assess what type of prey they are foraging on). I was curious if other cetacean or pinneped researchers have used a fishfinder and any successes (or failures) associated with it? Best and thanks in advance, Stefanie Hawks-Johnson sahawks(\)u.washington.edu Marine Mammal Connection 15514 468th AVE S.E. North Bend, WA 98045 USA #(206)459-1398 Fax #(425)888-3174 e-mail sahawks(\)u.washington.edu "Until mankind can extend the circle of his compassion to include all living things, he wil never, himself, know peace" Albert Schweitzer, Nobel Peace Prize 1950 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2001 08:44:44 -0500 From: "Marie T. Cox" Subject: "Rainbow" software In-Reply-To: <12c.19d6548.2887d096(\)aol.com> Dear all, I am a graduate student at the University of Southern Mississippi and I am interested in finding some information about a computer program called "Rainbow". From what I understand, this program functions in the identification of cetacean sounds from underwater recordings. Does anyone have information about the existence of such a program and how one goes about obtaining a copy of it? Thanks a bunch. Marie Trone mtcox(\)ocean.otr.usm.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2001 15:18:15 EDT From: Joe Blue Subject: ASA Special Session on acoustics and marine mammals boundary="part1_14.17391288.28888c77_boundary" --part1_14.17391288.28888c77_boundary From: Dr. Joseph E. Blue 3313 Northglen Drive Orlando, FL 32806 email: jblue46498(\)aol.com Phone: (407) 851-4105 There will be a special session at the Ft. Lauderdale meeting of the Acoustical Society of America to be held 3-7 December 2001. Arrangements will be made so those attending the Society of Marine Mammalogy meeting in Vancouver will have time to travel to Ft. Lauderdale to attend this special session that will be held 5 and 6 December. Joe Blue AGENDA Agenda for Special Session on Acoustics and Marine Mammals Name in parentheses means contacted but not confirmed. ASA'S ROLE IN MARINE MAMMAL BIOACOUSTICS A panel discussion on ASA's Role in Marine Mammal Bioacoustics is being planned to follow the special sessions sponsored by Acoustical Oceanography, Animal Bioacoustics and Underwater Acoustics on 1) Ocean research and marine mammal regulatory issues and 2) Acoustics and marine mammals. The intent of this panel discussion will be to consider the best role for ASA on such complex issues as the increase in ambient noise levels and sonar signals and their effects on marine mammals. Please contact ASA's Executive Director, Charles Schmid charles(\)aip.org for more details. ACOUSTICS AND MARINE MAMMAL SESSIONS AND WORKSHOPS Acoustics and marine mammals (Joint with Underwater Acoustics, Acoustical Oceanography and Noise) Interaction between marine mammals and the acoustics in their environment [Related Special Session: Ocean research and marine mammal regulatory issues (Joint with Acoustical Oceanography and Animal Bioacoustics) A session of invited talks intended to inform scientific investigators about federal, state and local regulations that may apply to ocean research using underwater sound, with emphasis on information about permitting and approval processes ] PURPOSE: 1) to explore and document the types and levels of sound that cause physical, physiological, and psychological effects of sound on marine mammals. 2) to explore the importance of vessel noise and habitat acoustics on marine mammal behavior and understanding ship collisions with marine mammal. 3) to provide ASA Executive Council scientifically correct information on noise propagation and the effects of noise on marine mammals so that they can develop policy on advising the public and legislative bodies on laws and rules and on further research needs. Session I: Hearing Abilities of Marine Mammal Darlene R. Ketten, Acoustic trauma in marine mammals. Whitlow Au, Auditory masking critical ratios in odontocetes. Paul Nachtigall, Temporary threshold shifts. Edmund Gerstein and Joseph Blue, Critical ratios, directional hearing and masking in manatees. Contributed Papers Workshop I. Summary of hearing and discussion of critically needed hearing research. Session II. Effect of Noise on Marine Mammals. Peter H. Rogers, Shallow water propagation. William A. Kuperman, Ocean propagation. William C. Burgess, Acoustic tags Charles R. Green, Jr. - Air guns and their effects on marine mammals. Arthur Popper - The Impacts of Anthropogenic Sounds on Fishes Joseph E, Blue and Edmund R. Gerstein, Vessel noise and its effect on collisions with marine mammals. (Tyack) Chris Clark, Effects of low frequency sound on marine mammals. (Schusterman) Contributed Papers. Workshop II. Summary of the effects of noise on marine mammals and discussion of critically needed research. Session III. Perspectives on Noise and Marine Mammals. Contributed Papers. Bob Gisiner Perspectives on acoustics and marine mammals from an ONR program manager Roger Gentry - NOAA perspective Joel Reynolds, - Natural Resources Defense Council perspective on noise and marine mammals Dick Russell -A science-journalistic perspective on noise and marine mammals. (Naomi Rose), Perspectives of the Humane Society of the United States Contributed papers. Workshop. Discussion of current rules and laws and the need for changing them in light of new findings. PANEL SUMMARY: Where do we go from here? Each invited speaker will be asked to serve on the PANEL and to give a summary on their perspective on future directions in research, standards and legislative directions. Also answer the question: How should ASA be involved in addressing public and legislative concerns on noise and marine mammals. --part1_14.17391288.28888c77_boundary From: Dr. Joseph E. Blue
            3313 Northglen Drive
            Orlando, FL 32806
            email: jblue46498(\)aol.com
            Phone: (407) 851-4105

There will be a special session at the Ft. Lauderdale meeting of the
Acoustical Society of America to be held 3-7 December 2001. Arrangements will
be made so those attending the Society of Marine Mammalogy meeting in
Vancouver will have time to travel to Ft. Lauderdale to attend this special
session that will be held 5 and 6 December.                                   
                                           Joe Blue

AGENDA


Agenda for Special Session on Acoustics and Marine Mammals

Name in parentheses means contacted but not confirmed.

ASA'S ROLE IN MARINE MAMMAL BIOACOUSTICS

A panel discussion on ASA's Role in Marine Mammal Bioacoustics is being
planned to follow the special sessions sponsored by Acoustical Oceanography,
Animal Bioacoustics and Underwater Acoustics on 1) Ocean research and marine
mammal regulatory issues and 2) Acoustics and marine mammals. The intent of
this panel discussion will be to consider the best role for ASA on such
complex issues as the increase in ambient noise levels and sonar signals and
their effects on marine mammals.

Please contact ASA's Executive Director, Charles Schmid charles(\)aip.org  for
more details.

ACOUSTICS AND MARINE MAMMAL SESSIONS AND WORKSHOPS

Acoustics and marine mammals (Joint with Underwater Acoustics, Acoustical
Oceanography and Noise)
Interaction between marine mammals and the acoustics in their environment

[Related Special Session: Ocean research and marine mammal regulatory issues
(Joint with Acoustical Oceanography and Animal Bioacoustics)
A session of invited talks intended to inform scientific investigators about
federal, state and local regulations that may apply to ocean research using
underwater sound, with emphasis on information about permitting and approval
processes ]


PURPOSE: 1) to explore and document the types and levels of sound that
cause physical, physiological, and psychological effects of sound on marine
mammals.

2) to explore the importance of vessel noise and habitat acoustics on
marine mammal behavior and understanding ship collisions with marine mammal.

3) to provide ASA Executive Council scientifically correct information on
noise propagation and the effects of noise on marine mammals so that they can
develop policy on advising the public and legislative bodies on laws and
rules and on further research needs.

Session I: Hearing Abilities of Marine Mammal

Darlene R. Ketten, Acoustic trauma in marine mammals.

Whitlow Au, Auditory masking critical ratios in odontocetes.

Paul Nachtigall, Temporary threshold shifts.

Edmund Gerstein and Joseph Blue, Critical ratios, directional hearing and
masking in manatees.  

Contributed Papers

Workshop I. Summary of hearing and discussion of critically needed hearing
research.

Session II. Effect of Noise on Marine Mammals.

Peter H. Rogers, Shallow water propagation.

William A. Kuperman, Ocean propagation.

William C. Burgess, Acoustic  tags

Charles R. Green, Jr. - Air guns and their effects on marine mammals.

Arthur Popper - The Impacts of Anthropogenic Sounds on Fishes

Joseph E, Blue and Edmund R. Gerstein, Vessel noise and its effect on
collisions with
marine mammals.

(Tyack)

Chris Clark,  Effects of low frequency sound on marine mammals.

(Schusterman)

Contributed Papers.

Workshop II. Summary of the effects of noise on marine mammals and discussion
of critically
needed research.

Session III. Perspectives on Noise and Marine Mammals.
Contributed Papers.

Bob Gisiner Perspectives on acoustics and marine mammals from an ONR program
manager

Roger Gentry - NOAA perspective

Joel Reynolds, - Natural Resources Defense Council perspective on noise and
marine mammals

Dick Russell -A science-journalistic perspective on noise and marine mammals.

(Naomi Rose), Perspectives of the Humane Society of the United States

Contributed papers.

Workshop. Discussion of current rules and laws and the need for changing them
in light of new findings.

PANEL SUMMARY: Where do we go from here?
Each invited speaker will be asked to serve on the PANEL and to give a
summary on their perspective on future directions in research, standards and
legislative directions. Also answer the question: How should ASA be involved
in addressing public and legislative concerns on noise and marine mammals.


--part1_14.17391288.28888c77_boundary-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2001 11:02:11 -0700 From: Dylan Walker Subject: First confirmed live sighting of True s Beaked Whale in European waters First confirmedlive sighting of True s Beaked Whale in European waters * Apologies for cross posting ORCA (Organisation Cetacea) have been conducting cetacean research in the English Channel and Bay of Biscay for five years. During this time, ORCA researchers have encountered beaked whales on 59 occasions involving four different species. The region of the southern Bay of Biscay, which includes several deepwater canyons, appears to be of particular importance to members of the beaked whale family. Until now, only three species have been identified with certainty: Cuvier s Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris, Northern Bottlenose Whale Hyperoodon ampullatus and Sowerby s Beaked Whale Mesoplodon bidens. A second species of Mesoplodon, believed to be probably True s Beaked Whale Mesoplodon mirus has been sighted on three occasions, two of which involved animals breaching. On 9th July 2001, 30 miles north of the Spanish city of Bilbao in the southern Bay of Biscay, ORCA surveyors Dylan Walker and James Diamond witnessed an incredible display by an adult male True s Beaked Whale which breached vertically 24 times in a single show of strength and agility. Although the whale jumped alongside the ship giving excellent views, photographs were required to clinch its identification. Fortunately, several photographs were obtained of the whale as it jumped clear of the water. We believe these are the first photographs of a True s Beaked Whale breaching at sea. The sighting was made in approximately 2,000m depth of water. No other Mesoplodon type whales were seen in the area during the survey. The whale first appeared in front of the bow, raising its head out of the water. As the animal gathered momentum, first part, and then all of its body was raised clear of the water. The full breaches continued all of the way along the side of the ship before finally stopping. Following the final breach the whale disappeared. Photographic evidence clearly reveals the shape of the head. The small, rounded melon slopes down quite steeply to a short stubby beak, at the tip of which, are two small protruding teeth. The teeth, and some tooth rake marks on the back, indicate that this is an adult male. The V shaped throat grooves are well defined. The eyes are surrounded by characteristic dark eye patches, above which (on the right side of the head) lies a pale supercilium. The body is spindle shaped and rotund at the mid-rib. The dorsal fin is small and falcate, situated two-thirds of the way down the back. Body coloration is uniform grey, reminiscent of Bottlenose Dolphin. The flanks also show subtle grey pigmentation on the skin. Towards the anus, there is a pinkish white patch. The pectoral flippers were angled outwards as the whale ascended before being pushed firmly to the side of the body on descent. Details of the encounter and a photograph will be available in the next ORCA member s newsletter. If you would like to join ORCA please visit our website at: www.orcaweb.org If you would like more information on this encounter please contact me at the following address. Best wishes, Dylan Walker Dylan Walker Chairman Organisation Cetacea (ORCA) Brooklands Farm Forston. Dorchester Dorset DT2 7AA United Kingdom Tel: 01305 264644 E-mail: dylan(\)companyofwhales.co.uk __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2001 15:05:35 -0700 From: Daniel Palacios Subject: Mutilated sea lions in the Galapagos (fwd) ------ The following is a press release from the Charles Darwin Research Station in Puerto Ayora, Galapagos Islands, that circulated a couple of days ago. The URL with complete information and photographs is: http://www.darwinfoundation.org/news/news07170101.html Contact information appears below. Regards, -Daniel Palacios ---------- Forwarded message ---------- >Charles Darwin Research Station > >For Immediate Publication > >Press Contact >Paola D=EDaz >Information Officer >Charles Darwin Research Station >Galapagos-Ecuador >Email: infocdrs(\)fcdarwin.org.ec >Telephone: 593-5-526-147/146 >www.darwinfoundation.org > >MUTILATED SEA LIONS > >July 17, 2001 > >According to reports from various sources on San Cristobal Island in >Gal=E1pagos, on the morning of Saturday July 14, several dead sea lions = were >found in the tourist site La Loberia . > >Edwin Naula, the Head of the Galapagos National Park Service (GNPS) >Technical Office in San Cristobal, stated that "after taking the right=20 >path from the entrance for three hundred meters, the first dead male sea >lion was found. It had a circular incision, some 30cm in diameter, whic= h >had been made to remove its reproductive organs, and its skull was >fractured." > >In total, 15 dead sea lions have been found so far. According to >information sent today by the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS) >Representation on San Cristobal Island, there were 4 females and 11 male= s. >Most of the individuals were sub-adults and adults. > >CDRS biologist Sandie Salazar, who is an expert in sea lions, traveled t= o >San Cristobal this morning. She is working with the CDRS Marine Biology >team of San Cristobal, the GNPS Marine Resources personnel, and the >veterinarian of the Fundaci=F3n Araucaria. They examined the area and >afterwards analyzed the skulls of the mutilated sea lions. In the next = few >days, a technical report will be produced using the data taken in the fi= eld. > >The team studied 9 cadavers in the area, and measured each sea lion. Th= e >veterinarian from the Fundaci=F3n Aruacaria had already conducted an aut= opsy >the previous day on one of the individuals. He determined that a multip= le >fractured skull caused its death. Today, the skulls of 9 individuals we= re >examined, and it was determined that each sea lion died from a fractured >skull. After the analysis, GNPS personnel buried the bodies of all of t= he >sea lions to avoid any diseases being transmitted to humans, through the >advanced state of decomposition of the corpses. > >According to CDRS biologist Sandie Salazar, "The probable cause for this >outrage is the trade in reproductive organs of male sea lions, which are >supposedly an aphrodisiac that is highly prized in the Asian markets". > >The islands' communities have been shocked and most have condemned this >act that occurred on the weekend. The local population's opposition to >these events has been broadcast on various radio programs all over the >archipelago. In response to this appalling act the Environmental Police= and >the GNPS authorities are investigating the circumstances, to find and >penalize the guilty parties. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2001 11:49:55 -0700 From: Annelise Sorg Organization: Canadian Marine Environment Protection Society Subject: NEW CANADIAN WHALING REPORT boundary="------------AAABFB14922D5B80CA402859" --------------AAABFB14922D5B80CA402859 CANADIAN MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION SOCIETY Box 461 - 1755 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC Canada V6G 3B7 E-mail: cmeps(\)whaleprotection.org Web: www.whaleprotection.org Tel: (604) 736-9514 Fax: (604) 736-9514 MEDIA RELEASE - July 20, 2001 NEW REPORT ON CANADIAN WHALING The Canadian Marine Environment Protection Society (CMEPS) published this week a 24-page report prepared by Kim Goldberg, titled "CANADA'S WAR ON WHALES: Will the Bowhead Survive? A report on the Canadian government's mismanagement of whales, suppression of science, and hunting quotas on a highly endangered species." CMEPS Executive Director Annelise Sorg will distribute the report at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meetings held in London, England on July 23-27, 2001. CMEPS is the only accredited Canadian non-government anti-whaling organization participating at the annual general meetings of the IWC. Fifty-five years ago Canada was a founding member of the International Whaling Commission. Today the IWC is still the recognized world authority on whale management. Canada, meanwhile, has quit the organization it helped create and is now the only developed nation on earth killing great whales without belonging to the IWC. Canada's Eastern Arctic bowheads are classified as "highly endangered" by the IWC Scientific Committee. And in the opinion of the world's foremost bowhead scientist, Kerry Finley of Victoria B.C., Canada's quota on Eastern Arctic bowheads is "scientifically indefensible." Who turned this once law-abiding nation into a pirate whaler using bogus science to kill an endangered species? Acording to the report, the answer is Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Canada's DFO has become a bureaucratic fortress with a catastrophic and much publicized history of mismanaging Atlantic cod and Pacific salmon, and of subverting scientific inquiry to serve political objectives. In the case of the bowhead whale, DFO bureaucrats have dogmatically ignored or disputed the research of all independent scientists, relying instead on their own dubious population estimates to justify a hunt. ----------------------------------------------- For more information, please contact: Author of the report: Kim Goldberg Telephone: (250) 741-8577 in Nanaimo, BC CMEPS Representative at IWC meetings in London: Annelise Sorg Novotel Hotel London West - Telephone: 011-020-8741 1555 TO RECEIVE COPIES OF THE REPORT CALL: Doug Imbeau (604) 313-1597 in Vancouver, BC The full report will be available soon on our website: www.whaleprotection.org/cmeps -30- --------------AAABFB14922D5B80CA402859 CANADIAN MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION SOCIETY
Box 461 - 1755 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC  Canada V6G 3B7
E-mail: cmeps(\)whaleprotection.org    Web: www.whaleprotection.org
Tel: (604) 736-9514   Fax: (604) 736-9514

MEDIA RELEASE  - July 20, 2001

NEW REPORT ON CANADIAN WHALING

The Canadian Marine Environment Protection Society (CMEPS) published this week a 24-page report prepared by Kim Goldberg, titled "CANADA'S WAR ON WHALES: Will the Bowhead Survive? A report on the Canadian government's mismanagement of whales, suppression of science, and hunting quotas on a highly endangered species."

CMEPS Executive Director Annelise Sorg will distribute the report at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meetings held in London, England on July 23-27, 2001. CMEPS is the only accredited Canadian non-government anti-whaling organization participating at the annual general meetings of the IWC.

Fifty-five years ago Canada was a founding member of the International Whaling Commission.  Today the IWC is still the recognized world authority on whale management.  Canada, meanwhile, has quit the organization it helped create and is now the only developed nation on earth killing great whales without belonging to the IWC. Canada's Eastern Arctic bowheads are classified as "highly endangered" by the IWC Scientific Committee.  And in the opinion of the world's foremost bowhead scientist, Kerry Finley of Victoria B.C., Canada's quota on Eastern Arctic bowheads is "scientifically indefensible."

Who turned this once law-abiding nation into a pirate whaler using bogus science to kill an endangered species?  Acording to the report, the answer is Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans.  Canada's DFO has become a bureaucratic fortress with a catastrophic and much publicized history of mismanaging Atlantic cod and Pacific salmon, and of subverting scientific inquiry to serve political objectives.  In the case of the bowhead whale, DFO bureaucrats have dogmatically ignored or disputed the research of all independent scientists, relying instead on their own dubious population estimates to justify a hunt.
-----------------------------------------------
For more information, please contact:

Author of the report:
Kim Goldberg <goldberg(\)freenet.carleton.ca>
Telephone: (250) 741-8577 in Nanaimo, BC

CMEPS Representative at IWC meetings in London:
Annelise Sorg <cmeps(\)whaleprotection.org>
Novotel Hotel London West - Telephone: 011-020-8741 1555

TO RECEIVE COPIES OF THE REPORT CALL:
Doug Imbeau (604) 313-1597 in Vancouver, BC

The full report will be available soon on our website: www.whaleprotection.org/cmeps

-30-
 

  --------------AAABFB14922D5B80CA402859-- ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2001 03:45:30 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: New Study: Puget Sound orcas likely extinct in 33-121 years (fwd) From: Kieran Suckling FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 18, 2001 CONTACT: Dr. Martin Taylor 520-623-5252 ext 307 UPDATED COMPUTER ANALYSIS SHOWS PUGET SOUND KILLER WHALES LIKELY TO BECOM= E EXTINCT IN 33-121 YEARS HABITAT PROTECTION WOULD PROVIDE GOOD CHANCE OF SURVIVAL OVER NEXT 300 YEARS In the light of the recent deaths of seven killer whales, Dr Martin Taylor, population biologist with the Center for Biological Diversity, ha= s updated a previous computerized population viability model of the "Southern Resident" killer whales in the Puget Sound. In addition to the escalated death rate, the updated model incorporates the impacts of reduced food supply and potential disease outbreaks and oil spills. It is based on data gathered by the Center for Whale Research over the past 26 years. The most realistic of the many scenarios modeled shows a 95% chance of extinction in 33 to 121 years, with a median of 74 years. This model predicts certain extinction within 150 years. Dr. Taylor=92s analysis als= o demonstrates, however, that if the environment is sufficiently protected, the killer whales have a good chance of surviving for at least another 30= 0 years. "If governments take immediate action to reverse the growing threats from pollutants, oil spills, salmon loss and unregulated boat traffic, then th= e whales can be saved. If the threats are allowed to go on, the whales are sure to go extinct. Our grandkids may never be able to see a wild, living whale and will ask themselves, why didn't they do something back then?" said Dr Taylor. Dr. Taylor has recently returned from participating in a scientific workgroup of the International Whaling Commission to help conduct a globa= l assessment of habitat threats to whales and dolphins. His population viability analysis is the first computer model to quantitatively incorporate habitat threats into a whale population trend projection. A similar analysis done for the northern spotted owl resulted in its being listed as an endangered species in the Pacific Northwest. Adult whale survival rates have shown a significant downward trend in the past 26 years. A steep population decline since 1996 has reduced the population from 97 to 78 whales. Ongoing degradation of the whales' habitat is the presumed cause of the population decline. There has been a sharp reduction in salmon stocks, the preferred food of the whales, which may be forcing the whales to hunt further from home where they may face greater risk of death from fishing nets and gear. The whales also suffer high body burdens of organo-chlorine pollutants from industrial dumps throughout the area. These pollutants depress immune function and leave the whales open to microbial disease outbreaks. The expansion of oil facilities in Puget Sound will expose whales to greater risks of death from oil spills. In recent years there has also been a sharp increase in unregulated whale watching and other shipping traffic. The National Marine Fisheries Service is currently reviewing a petition t= o list the killer whales as endangered, which was filed by the Center for Biological Diversity with co-petitioners Center for Whale Research, the Whale Museum, the American Cetacean Society, Ocean Advocates, Orca Conservancy, People for Puget Sound, Friends of the San Juans, the Cascad= e Chapter of the Sierra Club, the Washington Toxics Coalition, Project Seawolf, and former Washington Secretary of State Ralph Munro. The updated Population Viability Analysis is posted online at: www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/species/orca/pva.pdf Kier=E1n Suckling ksuckling(\)biologicaldiversity.org Executive Director 520.623.5252 phone Center for Biological Diversity 520.623.9797 fax POB 710, Tucson, AZ 85702-0710 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2001 07:20:00 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: N. Atlantic right whale draft recovery plan (fwd) [Federal Register: July 11, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 133)] [Notices] [Page 36260] >From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr11jy01-53] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Endangered Fish and Wildlife; Draft Recovery Plan for the Western North Atlantic Right Whale AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The draft Recovery Plan (Plan) for the western North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) is available for review and comment by interested parties prior to preparing the final plan for approval and adoption by NMFS. DATES: Comments on the draft Plan must be received on or before September 10, 2001. ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Coordinator of Large Whale Recovery Activities, Marine Mammal Division, Office of Protected Resources (F/PR), 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. A copy of the draft plan for the North Atlantic right whale is available upon request from F/PR, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory K. Silber, Ph.D., NMFS, F/PR, 301/713-2322. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Electronic Access The draft plans are also available through the internet at: http:// www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot--res/PR3/recovery.html. Background The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) requires that NMFS develop and implement recovery plans for the conservation and survival of threatened and endangered species under its jurisdiction unless it is determined that such plans will not promote the conservation of the species. In 1991, NMFS issued the first recovery plan for northern right whales. NMFS, in consultation with key constituent groups and organizations, has prepared an updated draft plan for right whales in the North Atlantic ocean. The plan discusses the natural history, current status, and the known and potential human impacts to right whales. Actions needed to promote the recovery of this species are identified and discussed. A Final Recovery Plan will be used to direct U.S. activities, and to encourage international cooperation to promote the recovery of these endangered species. Dated: July 6, 2001. Wanda L. Cain, Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2001 09:42:27 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: US gray whale hunt EA available (fwd) [Federal Register: July 19, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 139)] [Notices] [Page 37641-37642] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr19jy01-42] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Mammals: Environmental Assessment on Allocating Gray Whales to the Makah Tribe for the years 2001 and 2002 AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of an Environmental Assessment (EA) that examines the environmental consequences of issuing the International Whaling Commission (IWC) quota for gray whales to the Makah Tribe for the years 2001 and 2002. NMFS has identified a preferred alternative in the EA that will grant the Makah Tribe the IWC quota of five whales per year with restrictions that would allow a limited hunt on the gray whale summer feeding aggregation. ADDRESSES: Copies of the EA may be obtained over the Internet at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot--res/prot--res.html under ``New Arrivals.'' Copies of the EA may also be requested by writing to Gale Heim, NOAA/NMFS, Office of Protected Resources, 13th Floor, 1315 East-West Hwy, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Mark the outside of the envelope with ``Request for Makah EA.'' Copies of the EA may also be obtained by contacting Gale Heim at 301/713-2322. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cathy Campbell or Chris Yates, 301-713-2322. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Prior to the 1997 Annual International Whaling Commission (IWC) Meeting, NMFS formally analyzed the environmental impacts of a decision to support or not support whaling, and to determine whether an annual subsistence quota of up to five Eastern Pacific gray whales would significantly affect the quality of the human environment. A draft EA was distributed for public comment on August 22, 1997. After reviewing and addressing the comments received, NMFS issued a final EA and Finding of No Significant Impact on October 17, 1997. At its 1997 annual meeting, the IWC approved a quota of 620 gray whales for an original subsistence harvest during the years 1998 through 2002. The basis for the quota was a joint request by the Russian Federation (for a total of 600 whales) and the United States (for a total of 20 whales). In 1998 and 1999, NOAA granted an allocation of up to five whales a year to the Makah Indian Tribe, whose subsistence and ceremonial needs had been the foundation of the U.S. request to the IWC. U.S. Congressman Jack Metcalf, Breach Marine Protection, and several other plaintiffs brought a lawsuit, Metcalf v. Daley, in October 1997, alleging that the U.S. Government had violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Whaling Convention Act, and other statutes. In September 1998, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington ruled in favor of the U.S. Government on all issues. On June 9, 2000, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned one aspect of that decision, ruling that the 1997 EA should have been completed before the U.S. and the Makah Tribe entered into a cooperative agreement. That agreement had provided that, if the Tribe prepared an adequate needs statement documenting a cultural and subsistence need to harvest gray whales, NOAA would request a quota of gray whales from the IWC. Two judges on a three-judge panel held that the timing of the EA, which was completed after the 1996 agreement was signed and before the 1997 annual meeting of the IWC, may have predisposed the preparers to find that the whaling proposal would not significantly affect the environment. The Court ordered NOAA to set aside that finding and comply with NEPA under circumstances that would ensure an objective evaluation of the environmental consequences of the gray whale harvest. Following the Court action, NOAA rescinded its cooperative agreement with the Makah Tribe on August 11, 2000. NOAA subsequently set the gray whale quota for 2000 (65 FR 75186, December 1, 2000) and 2001 (65 FR 14862, March 14, 2001) at zero, pending completion of its NEPA analysis. NEPA requires that Federal agencies conduct an environmental analysis of their actions to determine if the actions may affect the environment. Accordingly, NMFS prepared a draft EA, published on January 12, 2001, conducted a public hearing in Seattle, WA on February 1, 2001, and held a 30-day public comment period to allow for public input on the Draft EA. This final EA explores the environmental consequences of four alternatives: (1) grant Makah Tribe the IWC quota with restrictions that allow a limited hunt on the pacific coast feeding aggregation; (2) grant Makah Tribe the IWC quota with restrictions to target hunt on migrating whales (similar to the 1999 regime); (3) grant Makah Tribe the IWC quota without time-area restrictions; and (4) (no action) - do not grant Makah Tribe the IWC quota. NMFS has identified the preferred alternative as alternative 1, which will grant the Makah Tribe the IWC quota of five whales per year with restrictions that would allow a limited hunt on the gray whale summer feeding aggregation. This EA was prepared in accordance with NEPA and implementing regulations at 40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508 and NOAA guidelines concerning implementation of NEPA found in NOAA Administrative Order 216-6. Dated: July 13, 2001. Don Knowles, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2001 09:03:38 -0700 From: Daniel Palacios Subject: Update on sea lion mutilation in the Galapagos (fwd) A report of findings was produced on 18 July regarding the recent mutilation of Galapagos sea lions. The URL with complete information, photographs and contacts is: http://www.darwinfoundation.org/news/news07180101.html Regards, -Daniel Palacios dpalacio(\)oce.orst.edu -------------------------------------------------------------------- TECHNICAL REPORT ON SEA LION MUTILATION Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands Puerto Ayora, Tuesday, July 18, 2001 Puerto Ayora - After receiving the news via telephone that mutilated sea lions had been discovered at the tourist site La Loberia in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, a team from the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS) traveled to the site to collect technical and scientific information about the sea lions affected. In total 15 sea lions (11 males and 4 females) were reported dead in the area. Only 9 of these could be analyzed because the others had already reached an advanced stage of decomposition. The CDRS scientists together with the Galapagos National Park Service park rangers and the veterinarian of the Araucaria Foundation proceeded to evaluate the situation. Their conclusions, according to the technical report produced today by the CDRS biologist Sandie Salazar, were the following: Analysis of nine bodies of Galapagos sea lions (Zalophus wollebaeki): - The reproductive zone of each male had been removed. - The cause of death for all individuals was a cranial-cephalic contusion. - The deaths were possibly caused using metallic objects. - A knife was used to remove the external reproductive organs of the male sea lions. - It was a nocturnal attack, perpetrated by more than one person. - The females were possibly accidental victims because of the poor light at the time of the attack. We do not know the reason why this atrocity was committed, but we are aware that a market exists for trading products such as the reproductive organs of sea lions to serve as aphrodisiacs. In the technical report of Biologist Salazar she indicated that according to the studies of Malik, in his article about the Trade of organs of Pinnipeds (Malik, et al 1997. Pinniped Penises in Trade: A Molecular Genetic Investigation. Conservation Biology No. 6, 11:1365-1374), 21 reproductive members traded in different cities of the world were genetically tracked. 14 of these belonged to different species of Pinnipeds. These members were traded in various forms: powder, dried, capsules, mixed with other herbal substances, in alcoholic drinks, etc. According to Malik's analysis the members are used for fetishes, treatments for sexual impotence, aphrodisiacs and amulets. The prices vary according to the product. This is the first proven record of this type of outrageous bloody act affecting a population of sea lions in the Galapagos Islands. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 10:06:13 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: A hooded seal in Puerto Rico (fwd) A hooded seal found in Puerto Rico Friday night, 20 July 2001, a young female hooded seal (Cystophora cristata= ) stranded at Playa Puerto Nuevo, Vega Baja, in the tropical island of Puerto Rico. The seal measured 110 cm in length and weighted 29 lbs. The seal was rescued by the Caribbean Stranding Network and veterinarian Luis Figueroa examined the animal and prescribed electrolyte fluids for dehydration, and antibiotics as preventive treatment. The seal is alert and resting in a fiberglass pool at the Caribbean Stranding Network at Universidad Metropolitana in San Juan. Caretakers around the clock watch the seal for any changes of behavior and treatment. The animal was stomach-tubbed for hidration. Abdominal X-rays taken on Saturday did not show signs of sand impaction in the GI tract and blood analysis showed the animal to be in relatively good state, other than dehydration. On Saturday night the seal was offered local sardines, which it accepted. Treatments from now on will be administered through the fish fed to the seal, which will include lactated ringers, vitamins, cod liver oil and some grams of salt. The seal, named by Network volunteers as =B3Iran=FA=B2 (Taino indian word for =B3woma= n=B2), spends most of its time resting in a shallow haul-out area, but at times swims in a deeper area. This is the third hooded seal rescued by the Network in the past 9 years. The first, a young male was found off Camuy, Puerto Rico in 1993. It was transported to Sea World for treatment but died 4 months later. The second seal, a molting male, was found in St. Johns, US Virgin Islands in 1996, bu= t died two weeks later due to sand impaction. The history of hooded seal strandings in the southeastern US and the Caribbean was recently published in the Bulletin of Marine Sciences, summarizing the cases from 1916 to 1996 (Mignucci-Giannoni AA, Odell DK. 2001. Tropical and subtropical Western Atlantic records of hooded seals (Cystophora cristata) dispel the myth of extant Caribbean monk seals (Monachus tropicalis). Bulletin of Marine Science 68(1):47-58). Dr. Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni Director Caribbean Stranding Network Laboratorio de Mamiferos Marinos del Caribe Departamento de Ciencias y Tecnologia, Universidad Metropolitana PO Box 361715 San Juan PR 00936-1715 TEL (787)766-1717 x6600, FAX (787)751-5840 EMERG (787)399-8432, (787)399-1900 EMAIL mignucci(\)caribe.net, WEB http://rcv.caribe.net ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 16:13:28 -0800 From: JENNIFER BURNS Subject: Assistant professor in Physiological ecology POSITION: Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences in the area of Physiological Ecology, PCN: 301439A Full-time, Tenure-track, Regular appointment w/benefits, 9 months/yr. LOCATION: Department of Biology, University of Alaska Anchorage SALARY: Commensurate with academic preparation and experience. Excellent benefits to include health and life insurance, retirement, and tuition waiver benefits. Represented by bargaining unit. The Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alaska Anchorage seeks an assistant professor with strengths in physiological ecology and molecular techniques. We are particularly interested in candidates who use molecular approaches to investigate physiological adaptations of animals to extreme and highly seasonal environments, such as those at high latitudes. We will also consider applicants who use laboratory and field techniques to investigate the complex processes that shape animal evolutionary and ecological physiology. Candidates whose research areas complement those of existing programs are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants should have postdoctoral experience, a strong publication record and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively. The ability to obtain extramural research funding in the area of animal physiology, and a strong interest in mentoring graduate and undergraduate students is required. Opportunities for collaboration with other research groups exist at the University of Alaska campuses, and with the statewide research community. QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must have the following: Ph.D. in biology or relevant scientific field; evidence of teaching experience in a relevant area; post-doctoral research experience; at least one publication as first author in a refereed journal; ability to obtain extramural research funding; ability to establish an independent research program. RESPONSIBILITIES: Primary teaching responsibilities include human anatomy and physiology, and one upper division and/or graduate classes in area of expertise per year. Further information about the department can be found at http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/biohome/biology.html. Interested candidates should can contact Dr. Jennifer Burns, Department of Biology, University of Alaska Anchorage, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, ph: 907-786-1527, email: afjmb4(\)uaa.alaska.edu for additional details. REVIEW DATE: Search will remain open until filled; however, review of applications will begin September 15th. APPLICATION PROCEDURE: submit a letter of interest mentioning the position number (PCN) above, statements of teaching and research goals and philosophy, a copy of your vita, and the names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses, of three references qualified to comment upon your teaching and research potential 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 Human Resource Services. UAA is an AA/EO Employer and Educational Institution. --=====================_27497939==_.ALT POSITION: Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences in the area of Physiological Ecology,
PCN: 301439A  Full-time, Tenure-track, Regular appointment w/benefits, 9 months/yr.

LOCATION: Department of Biology, University of Alaska Anchorage

SALARY: Commensurate with academic preparation and experience. Excellent benefits to include health and life insurance, retirement, and tuition waiver benefits. Represented by bargaining unit.

The Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alaska Anchorage seeks an assistant professor with strengths in physiological ecology and molecular techniques. We are particularly interested in candidates who use molecular approaches to investigate physiological adaptations of animals to extreme and highly seasonal environments, such as those at high latitudes. We will also consider applicants who use laboratory and field techniques to investigate the complex processes that shape animal evolutionary and ecological physiology. Candidates whose research areas complement those of existing programs are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants should have postdoctoral experience, a strong publication record and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively. The ability to obtain extramural research funding in the area of animal physiology, and a strong interest in mentoring graduate and undergraduate students is required. Opportunities for collaboration with other research groups exist at the University of Alaska campuses, and with the statewide research community.

QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must have the following: Ph.D. in biology or relevant scientific field; evidence of teaching experience in a relevant area; post-doctoral research experience; at least one publication as first author in a refereed journal; ability to obtain extramural research funding; ability to establish an independent research program.

RESPONSIBILITIES: Primary teaching responsibilities include human anatomy and physiology, and one upper division and/or graduate classes in area of expertise per year.=20

Further information about the department can be found at http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/biohome/biology.html= . Interested candidates should can contact Dr. Jennifer Burns, Department of Biology, University of Alaska Anchorage, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, ph: 907-786-1527, email: afjmb4(\)uaa.alaska.edu for additional details.

REVIEW DATE: Search will remain open until filled; however, review of applications will begin September 15th.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: submit a letter of interest mentioning the position number (PCN) above, statements of teaching and research goals and philosophy, a copy of your vita, and the names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses, of three references qualified to comment upon your teaching and research potential 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 Human Resource Services. UAA is an AA/EO Employer and Educational Institution. --=====================_27497939==_.ALT-- ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 29 Jul 2001 10:59:15 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: IWC news The following is an update of the UWC meeting in London. ------- Forwarded Message Follows ------- From: UKCetnet(\)yahoogroups.com ICELAND'S ATTEMPT TO RESUME COMMERCIAL WHALING FAILS London, Monday 23rd July, 2001: Iceland's attempt to resume commercial whaling immediately was rejected by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting in London today. Iceland, which quit the IWC in 1992, wanted to rejoin the Commission with a reservation to the current international moratorium on commercial whaling and announced that it wanted the moratorium overturned as quickly as possible so whaling could resume. Today, after a series of votes, the IWC concluded that Iceland will only have observer status during this week's meeting and will not be allowed to vote on key issues, such as the possible resumption of commercial whaling or whether to establish a new whale sanctuary in the South Pacific. Before the votes, the world's other two pro-whaling countries, Norway and Japan, tried to support Iceland's through a series of legal manoeuvres. The whaling nations were backed up by at least nine countries that Japan has bought with foreign aid packages to vote with it at the IWC (1). This resulted in the votes being very close. Greenpeace Whale Campaigner Richard Page said: "Greenpeace is relieved that Iceland's brazen attempt to undermine the IWC has been defeated. But the fact that the votes were so close is the direct result of Japan's vote rigging of the commission and is of grave concern." (1) Six East Caribbean nations, plus Guinea, the Solomons and Panama. Contacts: Matilda Bradshaw, Greenpeace International on + 31 6 535 04701 Louise Edge, Greenpeace UK on + 44 7801 212 993 For further information see http://whales.greenpeace.org ________________________________________________________ Subject: JAPANESE VOTE BUYING SINKS SOUTH PACIFIC WHALE SANCTUARY >JAPANESE VOTE BUYING SINKS SOUTH PACIFIC WHALE SANCTUARY > >London 24th July 2001: Measures to further protect the world's whales >were today undermined when South Pacific nations were denied their right >to a South Pacific Whale Sanctuary (SPWS). Opposition from Japan, Norway >and the block of countries that vote with Japan in return for Overseas >Development Aid (1), prevented the sanctuary proposal from achieving the >three quarters majority it needed to be adopted. > >"Yet again Japan's vote buying means that South Pacific Nations have been > denied their right to a whale sanctuary," said Pio Manoa, Greenpeace >whale campaigner from Fiji, who is attending the IWC meeting in London. >"The fact that Japan has bought the votes of many developing countries, >some of which are island states, is a slap in the face to the South >Pacific and has grave consequences for the future protection of whales" >he added. > >South Pacific Nations have repeatedly requested that the sanctuary be >established, most recently in a statement issued in Apia, Samoa in April >2001 (2). The proposal had the backing of South Pacific island states >whose waters it would have covered and the majority support of countries >at the IWC meeting.(3) > >Today's vote followed last week's startling admission from a senior >Japanese official that Japan has been using development aid to buy votes >at the IWC (4). Japan is openly corrupting the IWC in order to prevent >further conservation of whales and to advance its pro-whaling >initiatives. Norway, Japan's closest ally at the IWC and the only other >country that actively whales commercially, at present refuses to denounce >Japanese vote buying and is actively benefiting from it. > >Unless challenged, Japan's vote buying is set to continue. Namibia and >Gabon, who recently signed lucrative fisheries deals with Japan, have now > become observers of the IWC. It is expected that by next year's IWC >meeting in Shimonoseki, Japan, May 2002, Namibia and Gabon will have >become fully fledged members and will vote in support of Japan and >Norway's pro- whaling initiatives. > >"It is scandalous that Japan can simply buy its own way at the IWC and >undermine the will of a vast majority of people worldwide who want to see > whales protected. Unless the international community publicly condemns >this blatant corruption, it may only a matter of months before we see a >return to full scale commercial whaling and international trade in whale >products," concluded Manoa. > >Notes to Editors: >Twenty countries voted in favour of the South Pacific Whale Sanctuary, >thirteen against it. Ireland, Oman, Morocco and the Solomon Islands >abstained on the vote. > Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Rep of Guinea, St Kitts and > Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and The Grenadines and Panama.Others that > voted against the proposal were: China, Denmark, Japan, Korea and > Norway. > >(2) The Apia Statement was signed by: Ministers of Australia, Fiji, >Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tokelau; >Ministerial Representatives from Cook Islands, Tuvalu and Tonga; >Representatives of American Samoa, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, >Wallis and Futuna. > >(3) Countries that voted in favour of the proposal were: Argentina, >Australia, Chile, Finland, Germany, India, Mexico, Monaco, South Africa, >Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, New Zealand, Austria, Brazil, France, Italy, >the Netherlands, the U.K. and the U.S. > >(4) In interview broadcast on ABC TV last week, a senior Japanese >official, Mr Komatsu, described minke whales as 'cockroaches of the sea' >and admitted that Japan saw development aid as 'a major tool' in ensuring > that key developing countries voted in favour of whaling at the IWC. > >For further information contact >http://whales.greenpeace.org or call: >Matilda Bradshaw, Greenpeace International + 31 6 535 04701 >Louise Edge, Greenpeace UK on + 44 7801 212 993 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 10:55:19 +0100 Reply-To: "Colin D. MacLeod" From: "Colin D. MacLeod" Subject: The rostrum and odontocete acoustics Dear Marmammers, I have been looking at the morphology of the head of various beaked whales, especially at the high levels of mesorostral ossification. One paper (Zioupos et al. 1997, Journal of Zoology, 241: 725-737) found that this very dense bone has good qualities for transmitting sound and suggested that it may serve some function in the whale's acoustics. To look into this I am trying to find out if there is any evidence that the rostrum is involved in sound production or reception in any other odontocetes. Can any one provide me with any references/experiences/opinions as to whether the rostrum is or is not involved in sound production/reception in odontocetes ? Thanks in advance for any information you can give me. Regards, Colin ====================================================================== Colin D. MacLeod, B.Sc., M.Sc. Beaked Whale Research Project F2/2, 13 Kennoway Drive, Thornwood, Glasgow, G11 7UA, U.K. Tel: 0141 587 6856 Fax: 0141587 6856 Email: Macleod_c(\)colloquium.co.uk ========================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 29 Jul 2001 14:41:44 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: abstract - blue whale acoustics (fwd) The following is the abstract of a recently published paper. Contact information for the authors appears at the end. ----------------------------------------------------- Kathleen M. Stafford, Sharon L. Nieukirk and Christopher G. Fox. Geographic variation in blue whale calls in the North Pacific. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 3(1):65-76. 2001. The call characteristics and distribution of blue whales in the North Pacific were examined by use of acoustic surveys. Two distinct vocalization types have been previously attributed to blue whales from limited regions in the North Pacific (cf Thompson and Friedl, 1982; Rivers, 1997). Hydrophone data from sixteen sites in the North Pacific were examined for these blue whale vocalizations. There were distinct geographic and seasonal differences between the occurrences of the two vocalization types. The hydrophones that were more westerly recorded the "northwestern" Pacific vocalization, those in the eastern Pacific recorded the "northeastern" Pacific vocalization and those in the central Pacific recorded both types. Northeastern vocalizations were recorded from July-December in the northeast Pacific and February-May in the eastern tropical Pacific. Northwestern vocalizations were recorded most often from July-December, and were essentially absent from March-May in the northwestern Pacific. These results suggest that the different vocalization types may represent at least two distinct groups of blue whales in the North Pacific. For a paper reprint contact: Chris Fox 2115 SE OSU Drive Newport OR 97365 or email for a PDF copy. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2001 10:07:10 +1200 From: Alan Fleming Subject: Orca, bottlenose dolphins and vessels in close proximity - Bay of Islands New Zealand. boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01C1187A.D05606A0" 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_001_01C1187A.D05606A0 charset="iso-8859-1" Dear MARMAMers The following is a summary of the 3 responses I received to my posting on MARMAM 20th April 2001 regarding Orca, bottlenose dolphins and vessels in close proximity - Bay of Islands New Zealand. * Dr Ingrid Visser (New Zealand Orca researcher) provided me with a copy of: Visser. I 1999. A summary of interactions between orca (Orcinus orca) and other cetaceans in New Zealand waters. New Zealand Natural Sciences (1999) 24: 101-112 This paper identifies both predatory and non-predatory interactions between Orca and other cetaceans in both the Bay of Islands and elsewhere within New Zealand. To clarify my earlier posting there have in fact been 5 known observed interactions between Orca and dolphins (bottlenose and common) in the Bay of Islands prior to the 2 observed during April 2001. * Richard Hall, a Marine Reserves Officer employed by the Dept. Conservation & Land Management in Western Australia, gave an account of 4 Orca attempting to herd several hundred bottlenose ashore in Tasmania during May 1998. No vessels were interacting with the dolphins or Orca at the time. Upon the arrival of Tasmanian wildlife officers there was already 20 stranded. A decision was made at the time, due to public concern, to intercede and through the use of vessels and Flashbangs (a small explosive device) the Orca were driven off. A decision was made subsequently that in future events the agency would not intercede and would allow such events to occur. * Graham Butler of Tauranga, New Zealand gave an account of common dolphins "bow riding" with Orca alongside both his vessel and together away from the yacht. As a result of these and discussions with marine mammal operators, (management, skippers and crew), and marine mammal researchers, the following guidelines were formulated and distributed to permitted marine mammal operators. If Orca are seen heading towards dolphins who are in close proximity to vessels, then vessels should (safety issues considered) take their boats out of gear to reduce engine noise. If appropriate, it is recommended that vessels turn their engines off completely (and advise any other charter or recreational boats in the area to do the same -channel 16, 63 or by yelling across the water). Contact between permitted boats and the dolphins should not resume if dolphins are disturbed or alarmed [pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Regulations - Reg 18(b)]. Skippers should then contact Orca hotline (0800 SEE ORCA) and the Department of Conservation to discuss. Thanks to the respondents for their comments Alan Fleming Department of Conservation P.O. Box 134 RUSSELL NEW ZEALAND ph +64 09 403 9008 fax +64 09 403 9009 e-mail - afleming(\)doc.govt.nz ############################################## This e-mail (and attachments) is confidential and may be legally privileged. ############################################## ------_=_NextPart_001_01C1187A.D05606A0 charset="iso-8859-1" Orca, bottlenose dolphins and vessels in close proximity - Bay of = Islands New Zealand.

Dear MARMAMers

The following is a summary of the 3 resp= onses I received to my posting on MARMAM 20th April 2001 regarding Orca, = bottlenose dolphins and vessels in close proximity - Bay of Islands New Z= ealand.

  • Dr Ingrid Visser (New Zealand Orca = researcher) provided me with a copy of:

    • Visser. I 1999. A summary of interactions between orca (Orcinus orca= ) and other cetaceans in New Zealand waters. New Zealand Natural Sciences (1999) 24: 101-112

    This paper identifies both predatory and= =20non-predatory interactions between Orca and other cetaceans in both th= e Bay of Islands and elsewhere within New Zealand.  To clarify my ea= rlier posting there have in fact been 5 known observed interactions betwe= en Orca and dolphins (bottlenose and common) in the Bay of Islands prior = to the 2 observed during April 2001.

  • Richard Hall, a Marine Reserves Officer= =20employed by the Dept. Conservation & Land Management in Western Au= stralia, gave an account of 4 Orca attempting to herd several hundred bot= tlenose ashore in Tasmania during May 1998.  No vessels were interac= ting with the dolphins or Orca at the time.  Upon the arrival of Tas= manian wildlife officers there was already 20 stranded. A decision was ma= de at the time, due to public concern, to intercede and through the use o= f vessels and Flashbangs (a small explosive device) the Orca were driven = off. A decision was made subsequently that in future events the agency wo= uld not intercede and would allow such events to occur.

  • Graham Butler of Tauranga, New Zealand = gave an account of common dolphins "bow riding" with Orca along= side both his vessel and together away from the yacht.

As a result of these and discussions wit= h marine mammal operators, (management, skippers and crew), and marine ma= mmal researchers, the following guidelines were formulated and distribute= d to permitted marine mammal operators.

    If Orca are seen heading towards dolphin= s who are in close proximity to vessels, then vessels should (safety issu= es considered) take their boats out of gear to reduce engine noise. If ap= propriate, it is recommended that vessels turn their engines off complete= ly (and advise any other charter or recreational boats in the area to do = the same -channel 16, 63 or by yelling across the water). Contact between= =20permitted boats and the dolphins should not resume if dolphins are dis= turbed or alarmed [pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Regulations -= =20Reg 18(b)]. Skippers should then contact Orca hotline (0800 SEE ORCA) = and the Department of Conservation to discuss.

Thanks to the respondents for their comm= ents

Alan Fleming
Department of Conserv= ation
P.O. Box 134
RUSSELL
NEW ZEALAND
ph    =    +64 09 403 9008
fax    = ;  +64 09 403 9009
e-mail - afleming(\)doc= .govt.nz





Attention:
This e-mail (and attachments)=20 is confidential and may be legally privileged.
= ------_=_NextPart_001_01C1187A.D05606A0-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2001 13:24:58 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: job announcements S. Atlantic Fishery Mgt Council (fwd) DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL Below are two job announcements with the South Atlantic Fishery Mgt Council. Both positions deal with protected resource issues (e.g. sea turtles, marine mammals) related to fisheries management. Information for submitting a resume is provided below SOUTH ATLANTIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL ONE SOUTHPARK CIRCLE, SUITE 306 CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA 29407-4699 TEL 843/571-4366 FAX 843/769-4520 email: safmc(\)noaa.gov Fulton Love, Chairman Robert K. Mahood, Executive Director David Cupka, Vice-Chairman Gregg T. Waugh, Deputy Executive Director ANNOUNCEMENT: TWO POSITIONS AVAILABLE TITLE: Environmental Impact Scientist TITLE: Protected Resources Scientist CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: August 15, 2001 POSITION LOCATION: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Office Charleston, South Carolina. SALARY RANGE: $43,326 - $56,322 (Starting salary negotiable based on successful applicants qualifications.) DUTIES: See attached position description. QUALIFICATIONS: See attached position description. SPECIAL CONDITIONS: Two year + appointments. Funding for these positions has been secured through December 31, 2003. However, it is the Councils intent to pursue funding to make these permanent staff positions. APPLICATIONS: By August 15, 2001, interested persons must submit a complete resume, list of references and examples of technical documents, studies and/or publications authored to: Robert K. Mahood, Executive Director, SAFMC, 1 Southpark Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, S.C. 29407-4699. SOUTH ATLANTIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT SCIENTIST Federal Schedule Grade Equivalent GS-11/12 Classification Date 06/22/2001 MAJOR DUTIES: Responsible for coordination of all National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) sections of Supplemental Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) for the Snapper Grouper FMP, Shrimp FMP, and Marine Protected Area Amendments under the Snapper Grouper FMP. Serves as Environmental Impact Scientist for the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council: Formulates and develops Environmental Assessments (EAs) and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) for all fishery management plans/amendments and other related documents in coordination with other technical staff and the Executive Director at the direction of the Council. Writes draft and final Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements. Compiles and analyzes environmental, biological, socioeconomic, or other technical data. Actively participates with the AP and SSC in the presentation and defense of the EA/EIS to ensure thorough discussion and review of all aspects as appropriate for each group. Addresses AP and SSC comments and provides staff recommendation to Steering Committee and Council. Responsible for the technical/scientific staff revision to any EA/EIS before they are forwarded to the Secretary of Commerce. Functions as EA/EIS contact with government agencies, universities and others alerting them to Council activities and requesting consideration for conduct of research and data collection in areas that would benefit Council EA/EIS preparation. Works with assigned SAFMC committees to coordinate the South Atlantic Councils input into EAs/EISs being developed by other Councils. Review plans/amendments and discussion material from other Councils as requested by the Deputy Executive Director. Responds to written and oral inquiries from fishing participants, government agencies and the general public on EAs/EISs. Performs other duties as assigned by the Deputy Executive Director. FACTORS: Knowledge, Ability, and Skills Required: A Masters Degree or higher, from an accredited college or university, with major study in sciences related to natural resources. A Bachelors Degree and two years of work experience in a similar position may be considered in place of a Masters Degree. Ability to research and analyze pertinent technical data and an understanding of various technical information sources. Demonstrated quantitative analysis and technical writing skills are required. Incumbent must have the ability to communicate with fishermen, scientific personnel, and Council members concerning all aspects of EA/EIS development, review, and implementation. Preferred Qualifications: Preference will be given to applicants with (a) experience related to Environmental Impact Assessments (NEPA-related), particularly in the marine environment in the southeast United States; (b) experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint; and (c) experience with Apple computers. Supervisory Controls: a. Supervision Received Works under the supervision of the Deputy Executive Director. b. Supervision Exercised None. Guidelines: Incumbent uses initiative and resourcefulness in adopting and developing new methods or modifying existing procedures. Complexity: Assists and advises the Council on technical matters relating to EA/EIS development and monitoring. Scope and Effect: The work affects a wide range of Council activities and impacts upon industry and the public. Personal Contacts: Personal contacts are with the Council, federal and state agencies, contractors, universities, scientists, and the public. Purpose of Contacts: The purpose is to plan, coordinate, or advise on work efforts. Physical Demands: Duties require travel of varied frequency, duration and destinations. Work Environment: Work is performed in an office setting. SOUTH ATLANTIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL PROTECTED RESOURCES SCIENTIST Federal Schedule Grade Equivalent GS-11/12 Classification Date 06/22/2001 MAJOR DUTIES: Responsible for coordination of all Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) sections of Supplemental Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) for the Snapper Grouper FMP, Shrimp FMP, and Marine Protected Area Amendments under the Snapper Grouper FMP. Serves as Protected Resources Scientist for the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council: Formulates and develops Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) portions of all fishery management plans/amendments and other related documents in coordination with other technical staff and the Executive Director at the direction of the Council. Writes draft and final ESA/MMPA sections of all fishery management plans/amendments and other related documents. Compiles and analyzes endangered species, biological, socioeconomic, or other technical data. Actively participates with the AP and SSC in the presentation and defense of the ESA/MMPA portions of plans, amendments, and other related documents to ensure thorough discussion and review of all aspects as appropriate for each group. Addresses AP and SSC comments and provides staff recommendation to Steering Committee and Council. Responsible for the technical/scientific staff revision to ESA/MMPA portions of plans, amendments to plans, or adjustments to plans or regulations before they are forwarded to the Secretary of Commerce. Functions as ESA/MMPA contact with government agencies, universities and others alerting them to Council activities and requesting consideration for conduct of research and data collection in areas that would benefit Council ESA document preparation and/or monitoring. Represents the Council on Take Reduction Team(s). Works with assigned SAFMC committees to coordinate the South Atlantic Councils input into ESA/MMPA portions of fishery management plans/amendments/regulations being developed by other Councils. Review plans/amendments and discussion material from other Councils as requested by the Deputy Executive Director. Responds to written and oral inquiries from fishing participants, government agencies and the general public on ESA portions of documents. Performs other duties as assigned by the Deputy Executive Director. FACTORS: Knowledge, Ability, and Skills Required: A Masters Degree or higher, from an accredited college or university, with major study in sciences related to natural resources. A Bachelors Degree and two years of work experience in a similar position may be considered in place of a Masters Degree. Ability to research and analyze pertinent technical data, and an understanding of various technical information sources. Demonstrated quantitative analysis and technical writing skills are required. Incumbent must have the ability to communicate with fishermen, scientific personnel and Council members concerning all aspects of ESA document development, review, and implementation. Preferred Qualifications: Preference will be given to applicants with (a) experience related to MMPA/ESA issues, particularly in the southeast United States; (b) experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint; and (c) experience with Apple computers. Supervisory Controls: a.. Supervision Received Works under the supervision of the Deputy Executive Director. b. Supervision Exercised None. Guidelines: Incumbent uses initiative and resourcefulness in adopting and developing new methods or modifying existing procedures. Complexity: Assists and advises the Council on technical matters relating to ESA document development and monitoring. Scope and Effect: The work affects a wide range of Council activities and impacts upon industry and the public. Personal Contacts: Personal contacts are with the Council, federal and state agencies, contractors, universities, scientists and the public. Purpose of Contacts: The purpose is to plan, coordinate or advise on work efforts. Physical Demands: Duties require travel of varied frequency, duration and destinations. Work Environment: Work is performed in an office setting. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2001 12:07:42 +1200 Reply-To: David Lusseau From: David Lusseau Subject: propeller scars identification- a summary of responses Dear MARMAMers, I would like first of all to thank everybody that provide some input on my query regarding the identification of vessels from propeller scars on cetaceans. A manuscript was brought to my attention by Joe Blue which I think can be of interest to anyone wanting to identify the type of vessel responsible for boat strikes in an area: Wood, James L., 2001. A Simple and Effective Method for Analyzing Propeller Marks on Manatee in Brevard County, Florida, USA. unpublished report, 10pp. helpsavemanatee(\)speeddrillsoftware.com The technique described allows to discriminate among 3 boat categories (small outboard, medium inboard (i.e. tugs), and large inboard vessels) using the distance between propeller scars. Thank you for your help! Sincerely, David David Lusseau, PhD candidate Marine Ecologist University of Otago home phone: 64 3 456 3539 Dpt. of Zoology office phone: 64 3 479 5240 PO Box 56 fax: 64 3 479 8336 Dunedin e-mail: lusda563(\)student.otago.ac.nz New Zealand In France: 29 rue du Chaignot home phone: 33 3 80 30 11 49 21000 Dijon Francee ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2001 19:34:01 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Historical overfishing and collapse of ecosystems (fwd) This publication contains a number of references to the role of marine mammals in various ecosystems. Jackson, J.B.C. et al. 2001. Historical overfishing and the recent collapse of coastal ecosystems. Science 293:629-638. Abstract Ecological extinction caused by overfishing precedes all other pervasive human disturbance to coastal ecosystems, including pollution, degredation of water quality, and anthropogenic climate change. Historical abundances of large consumer species were fantastically large in comparison with recent observations. Paleoecological, archaeological, and historical data show that time lags of decades to centuries occurred between the onset of overfishing and consequent changes in ecological communities, because unfished species of similar trophic level assumed the ecological roles of overfished species until they too were overfished or died of epidemic diseases related to overcrowding. Retrospective data not only help to clarify underlying causes and rates of ecological change, but they also demonstrate achievable goals for restoration and management of coastal ecosystems that could not even be contemplated based on the limited perspective of recent observations alone. The senior author can be reached at jbcj(\)ucsd.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2001 20:03:37 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent pulications Here are some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. -------------------------------------------------------- Goulet, A-M. et al. 2001. Movements and diving of grey seal females (Halichoerus grypus) in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada. Polar Biology 24/6: 432-439. Kurle, C.M. and G.A.J. Worthy. 2001. Stable isotope assessment of temporal and geographic differences in the feeding ecology of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) and their prey. Oecologia 126/2: 254-265. Crocker, D.E. et al. 2001. Swimming speed and foraging strategies of New Zealand sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri). Journal of Zoology 254/2: 267-277. Lockyer, C. et al. 2001. Age, length, and reproductive parameters of harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena (L.) from West Greenland. ICES Journal of Marine Science 58/1: 154-162. Best, P.B. 2000. Coastal distribution, movements, and site fidelity of right whales Eubalaena australis off South Africa, 1969-1998. South African Journal of Marine Science -/22: 43-55. Page, B. et al. 2001. Vocal traits of hybrid fur seals: intermediate to their parental species. Animal Behavior 61/5: 959-967. Gelatt, T.S. et al. 2001. Molecular evidence for twinning in Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii). Journal of Mammalogy 82/2: 491-499. Bininda-Emonds, O.R.P. et al. 2001. Flippers versus feet: comparative trends in aquatic and non-aquatic carnivores. Journal of Animal Ecology 70/3: 386-399. Zhou, J.L. et al. 2001. Heavy metals in the tissues of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) stranded on the Portuguese coast. Science of the Total Environment 273/1-3: 61-76. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 19:20:46 EDT From: "Dick Russell - thank you." Subject: "Eye of the Whale" boundary="part1_a9.1923ae73.289b3a4e_boundary" --part1_a9.1923ae73.289b3a4e_boundary This is a "birth announcement" for my book "Eye of the Whale," just published by Simon & Schuster. It's a 688-page saga of following the gray whale migration from Baja to Siberia, including my interviews with numerous marine scientists along the way and retracing the steps of 19th-century whaler-turned-naturalist Charles Melville Scammon. I want to sincerely thank those of you who helped bring this book to fruition. Hopefully it has arrived in bookstores nationwide by now, and the book is also available at a substantial discount from Amazon.com. I am pasting my publisher's press release into this email, for those who want to read more about it here. Or if interested you can read some sample chapters on my website, at www.dickrussell.org. Thanks again, and I will hope to get some "feedback" about the book from many of you down-the-line. Sincerely, Dick Russell (dickrusl(\)aol.com) E Y E O F T H E Whale E P I C P A S S A G E F R O M B A J A T O S I B E R I A "Anyone who's been held rapt in a whale's presence will find EYE OF THE WHALE a delight --and those who haven't will find it an inspiration." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "An environmental story with at least the glimmer of a happy ending! Dick Russell's marvelous accounts of the human attempts to decimate and then to protect the great gray whale make for a wonderful tale - a tale we need to tell over and over and over, so we don't slip back into the bad old habits, so that we extend our compassion and activism toward other less charismatic corners of creation." - Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature "Dick Russell has done for the gray whale what he did for the striped bass - taught us to love both the fish and the fishermen. In a riveting tale that celebrates the history and culture of the whale fishery, Russell guides us gently to a consciousness of the critical importance of the gray whales' struggle and survival to modern civilization." - Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., President, Water Keeper Alliance Nearly two decades ago, acclaimed environmental journalist and author Dick Russell led the pioneering campaign to save the Atlantic striped bass. Today, its comeback is considered the world's premier example of the resilience of ocean habitats. In the 1990s, Russell's life was transformed by his experiences with another marvelous sea creature - the California gray whale, the species that inspired the global whale-watching industry. Gray whales make the longest migration of any mammal, from the lagoons of Baja, California, to the feeding grounds of the Bering Strait between Alaska and Siberia. The gray is also the first whale to make direct friendly contact with humans, a phenomenon first observed in the 1970s, as mother gray whales began to introduce their newborn calves to small boatloads of visitors to the Baja breeding grounds. Russell writes: "Meeting the gray whale, I met the ineffable." EYE OF THE WHALE: Epic Passage From Baja to Siberia (Simon & Schuster; August 9, 2001; $35.00), is a paean to the ways in which this majestic creature graces our world, a vibrant tapestry of natural history, outdoor adventure, biography, cultural history, and environmental concerns that vividly illuminates humanity's complex relationship with nature. A sense of awe and companionship The twice-annual, five-thousand-mile migration of the California gray whale must be regarded as one of the most spectacular achievements on the planet. Unlike other whales, who meander between coastal and deep-ocean waters, only the California gray follows a continuous path, generally within a few miles of shore. They swim in small groups, sometimes alone, in waters often less than thirty feet deep. For an astonishing eight months between their sojourns in the Arctic, most gray whales eat little or fast altogether. Arriving in the chilly waters of the Bering Sea, they forage continuously along the shallow bottom near the continental shelf. Their diet consists primarily of tiny, shrimp-like amphipods, of which they ingest as much as a ton per day. Gray whales have no teeth; they capture and strain their food through a fringed curtain of baleen, which hangs from the roof of the mouth. Left alone by humans, gray whales are estimated to have a lifespan as long as seventy-five years. As a shore wanderer, the gray whale is seen by more people, in more places, than any other type of leviathan. For many its passage engenders a feeling of both awe and companionship. Brought twice to the brink of extinction, the California gray in 1937 became the first whale designated for protection under an international agreement. A decade later the grays were still thought to be all but extinct. Their recovery over the second half of the twentieth century, to a population estimated at over 26,000, is considered the most dramatic achieved by any species of whale. In 1995, the California gray became the first whale to be removed from the U.S. Endangered Species List. A metaphor for contemporary issues The gray whale has figured prominently in myriad ecological, political, and social issues concerning our relationship to nature and especially to the oceans. Russell reports, lucidly and compellingly, on each one, most notably an effort by the Japanese industrial giant Mitsubishi and the Mexican government to build a massive new salt factory within the gray's last pristine nursery area. In 2000, it was defeated by a broad coalition of Mexican, U.S., and international environmental groups led by Mexico's most famous poet and ecologist, Homero Aridjis. Russell also looks at the renewed hunting of the gray whale by the Makah tribe of Washington State after a hiatus of seventy years. Highly publicized by the national media, the controversial hunt has been halted at least temporarily by court order. Russell examines how the Japanese are using indigenous groups such as the Makah, as well as the pretext of conducting scientific research, to resurrect commercial whaling. In addition, Russell discusses the disastrous effects of global warming - such as changes in climate and water temperature, as well as the melting of the Arctic ice pack - on the gray whale in recent years. A whale hunter turned naturalist In many ways, the life and times of whaling captain Charles Melville Scammon echo similar themes and issues. If Scammon had been merely a shrewd and daring whaler, we would remember him as an exploiter, perhaps even a villain. Abandoning the whaling industry in 1863, Scammon went on to captain the lead ship in the historic Western Union Telegraph Expedition, which helped bring about the purchase of Alaska from Russia. He then became an explorer, writer, and the foremost expert of his era on cetaceans of all kinds. "He was really our first marine mammologist," Russell writes. "I believe his personal metamorphosis marked the start of a shift in consciousness about the wondrous creatures who inhabit our oceans: that they are there not simply to exploit but to appreciate and to learn about." What the whales are telling us Russell writes movingly of his personal encounters with the gray whales of San Ignacio Lagoon, where pairs of mothers and calves linger alongside small vessels, watching humans for long periods and inviting physical contact. They permit visitors to place a hand in their mouths - or even plant a kiss on their massive foreheads. What makes this phenomenon all the more astonishing is that, in this same lagoon, hundreds of gray whales were killed during the second half of the nineteenth century. They fell prey to an American whaling fleet led by Scammon, the first Western man to have found a safe way into the lagoon from the Pacific. To the whalers, the California gray was the most dangerous quarry of all - especially when protecting its young. In those years, the American whalers called the gray whale the devil-fish. Today, as the descendants of that beleaguered whale population make an entirely different type of contact with human beings, some people go so far as to say that the whalers' devil-fish has become an angel. "If they are being forgiving toward us," Russell writes, "the implications are enormous. This is surely, in part, why they touch us so deeply. Like gray whales in their lagoons, human beings too must seek solace, a centering focal point, a place to go that remains relatively untouched and pure. A place to remind ourselves of our basic nature, not surrounded by all we have built. So do we commune with the whales at San Ignacio." In Russell's view, the fight to protect the "sacred nursery" at San Ignacio, a fight that captured the attention of so many - whether they'd had direct contact with these whales or not - represents something beyond environmental awareness or fervor. What is hurting them is hurting us, he argues. As the oceans go, so go we. He asks: Can we survive global warming? Noise pollution? The wanton carelessness about our habitats? Can we pretend to endure anything that the whales cannot? Can we come to grips with the suicidal tendency to destroy what sustains us? Is this what the gray whales are reaching out to communicate? Russell writes: "The answers to these questions are as yet unseen, hidden, perhaps entwined in our unconscious, in the great mystery of our relationship with these most majestic of nature's creatures. It may be only a mystery because we don't yet have the senses to perceive it, though we bump into it occasionally in the dark. And we glimpse it, at the rippling edge of life, bursting startlingly above the surface - in the eye of a whale." From the touch of a whale to the thrust of a harpoon, EYE OF THE WHALE is the record of Russell's extraordinary journey to places, both physical and metaphysical, that he never imagined going. Ultimately, the book reveals what the gray whale has taught him - and has the potential to teach all of us - about mystery and trust, about the spirit of place, about the animal kingdom, about our fellow human beings, and about ourselves. PRAISE FOR DICK RUSSELL'S PREVIOUS BOOKS The Man Who Knew Too Much "No praise can be too high. . . . A model of historical reconstruction." - Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Immense research and documentation. . . . May bear on any final understanding about the apparent plot to kill Kennedy." - Kirkus Reviews "Russell's book is The Magus of JFK literature." - The Washington Post "For sheer originality, few assassination books can compare." - Cleveland Plain Dealer Black Genius: And the American Experience "Just browsing this book is an eye-opener." - Denver Post "Charts a course of triumph and inspiration." - Seattle Times/Post-Intelligencer "Russell's book is creative, thought-provoking and intriguing." - Austin [TX] American-Statesman "An essential compendium of African-American achievement. . . . Inspirational." - Publishers Weekly ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dick Russell is the author of The Man Who Knew Too Much and Black Genius: And the American Experience. He is also a longtime environmental journalist, whose work has appeared in Boston Magazine, Harper's Weekly, The Nation, Sports Illustrated, and The Los Angeles Times, among other publications. He divides his time between Boston and Los Angeles. *** Please visit our website at www.simonsays.com and Dick Russell's website at www.dickrussell.org If you wish to reproduce a photograph of the author (and/or jacket/cover), you can retrieve a high resolution digital file at http://www.simonsaysphotos.com:8080/ ABOUT THE BOOK EYE OF THE WHALE: Epic Passage from Baja to Siberia By Dick Russell Published by Simon & Schuster Publication Date: August 9, 2001 Price: $35.00 ISBN: 0-684-86608-0 SCHEDULED APPEARANCES Saturday, July 28, Monterey Bay, California - A 2-to-5 pm cruise sponsored by the whale-watching ship Sanctuary, followed by a reception and signing. Sunday, July 29 - 6 pm, Santa Cruz, Ca., Museum of Natural History. Thursday, August 9 - 7 pm, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, San Pedro, Calif., sponsored by the American Cetacean Society. Friday, August 24 - Noon, Woods Hole (Mass.) Oceanographic Institution Friday, August 24 - 7:30, Bunch of Grapes Bookstore, Martha's Vineyard, Mass., talk and reading. Wednesday, September 12 - Noon, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., "Research in Progress" series (members only). Thursday, September 13 - Afternoon, World Wildlife Fund auditorium, Washington, D.C. Monday, September 17 - Evening, Explorer's Club, New York City. Wednesday, September 19 - Noon, New England Aquarium, Boston, Mass. Thursday, September 20 - Evening, New Bedford (Mass.) Whaling Museum Sunday, September 23 - 2 pm, Kendall Whaling Museum, Sharon, Mass. Monday, September 24 - 7 pm, National Arts Club, New York City Wednesday, September 26 - 7 pm, annual Bernice Barbour Lecture, Nantucket (Mass.) Atheneum library, sponsored by MSPCA. Tuesday, October 2 - 7 pm, North Cove Outfitters, Old Saybrook, Connecticut Thursday, October 4 - evening, National Zoo, Washington, D.C. Friday, October 5- Philadelphia Association of Zoo Keepers, noon and evening lectures. Sunday, October 14 - 2 pm, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History Wed. Oct. 17 - Sunday Oct. 21 - Portland, Oregon, Society of Environmental Journalists annual conference (2 panels) Tuesday, October 23 - evening, American Cetacean Society chapter, Seattle, Washington Thursday, October 25 - evening, Whaling Museum, Friday Harbor, Washington Friday, October 26 - 7 pm, Port Angeles, Washington -more- Friday, November 2- Noon, Conservation Roundtable, San Francisco Saturday, November 3 - Featured speaker at 150th anniversary of "Moby Dick" celebration, sponsored by San Francisco Maritime Parks Association (all day event) Wednesday, November 28 - 7 pm, Long Beach (Cal.) Aquarium Sunday, December 2 - Arts-and-book festival, Long Marine Laboratory, Santa Cruz, Ca. December 5-6 - panel on noise and marine mammals, American Acoustical Society conference, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Wednesday, January 16, 2002 - 7 pm, San Diego Natural History Museum. Sunday, January 20, 2002 - evening, Monterey Bay Aquarium member's night. Early 2002: Dates not yet set for appearances at Scripps Birch Aquarium, California Academy of Sciences, Mote Marine Laboratory (Sarasota, Florida). --part1_a9.1923ae73.289b3a4e_boundary This is a "birth announcement" for my book "Eye of the Whale," just published
by Simon & Schuster.  It's a 688-page saga of following the gray whale
migration from Baja to Siberia, including my interviews with numerous marine
scientists along the way and retracing the steps of 19th-century
whaler-turned-naturalist Charles Melville Scammon.  
I want to sincerely thank those of you who helped bring this book to
fruition.  Hopefully it has arrived in bookstores nationwide by now, and the
book is also available at a substantial discount from Amazon.com.  I am
pasting my publisher's press release into this email, for those who want to
read more about it here.  Or if interested you can read some sample chapters
on my website, at www.dickrussell.org.  
Thanks again, and I will hope to get some "feedback" about the book from many
of you down-the-line.
Sincerely,
Dick Russell  (dickrusl(\)aol.com)

E   Y   E

O  F     T  H  E

Whale


E P I C   P A S S A G E   F R O M
B A J A   T O   S I B E R I A



"Anyone who's been held rapt in a whale's presence will find EYE OF THE WHALE
a delight --and those who haven't will find it an inspiration."

- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"An environmental story with at least the glimmer of a happy ending! Dick
Russell's marvelous accounts of the human attempts to decimate and then to
protect the great gray whale make for a wonderful tale - a tale we need to
tell over and over and over, so we don't slip back into the bad old habits,
so that we extend our compassion and activism toward other less charismatic
corners of creation."

- Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature

"Dick Russell has done for the gray whale what he did for the striped bass -
taught us to love both the fish and the fishermen. In a riveting tale that
celebrates the history and culture of the whale fishery, Russell guides us
gently to a consciousness of the critical importance of the gray whales'
struggle and survival to modern civilization."

- Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., President, Water Keeper Alliance



Nearly two decades ago, acclaimed environmental journalist and author Dick
Russell led the pioneering campaign to save the Atlantic striped bass. Today,
its comeback is considered the world's premier example of the resilience of
ocean habitats. In the 1990s, Russell's life was transformed by his
experiences with another marvelous sea creature - the California gray whale,
the species that inspired the global whale-watching industry. Gray whales
make the longest migration of any mammal, from the lagoons of Baja,
California, to the feeding grounds of the Bering Strait between Alaska and
Siberia. The gray is also the first whale to make direct friendly contact
with humans, a phenomenon first observed in the 1970s, as mother gray whales
began to introduce their newborn calves to small boatloads of visitors to the
Baja breeding grounds.
Russell writes: "Meeting the gray whale, I met the ineffable." EYE OF THE
WHALE: Epic Passage From Baja to Siberia (Simon & Schuster; August 9, 2001;
$35.00), is a paean to the ways in which this majestic creature graces our
world, a vibrant tapestry of natural history, outdoor adventure, biography,
cultural history, and environmental concerns that vividly illuminates
humanity's complex relationship with nature.

A sense of awe and companionship
The twice-annual, five-thousand-mile migration of the California gray
whale must be regarded as one of the most spectacular achievements on the
planet. Unlike other whales, who meander between coastal and deep-ocean
waters, only the California gray follows a continuous path, generally within
a few miles of shore. They swim in small groups, sometimes alone, in waters
often less than thirty feet deep. For an astonishing eight months between
their sojourns in the Arctic, most gray whales eat little or fast altogether.
Arriving in the chilly waters of the Bering Sea, they forage continuously
along the shallow bottom near the continental shelf. Their diet consists
primarily of tiny, shrimp-like amphipods, of which they ingest as much as a
ton per day. Gray whales have no teeth; they capture and strain their food
through a fringed curtain of baleen, which hangs from the roof of the mouth.
Left alone by humans, gray whales are estimated to have a lifespan as long as
seventy-five years.
As a shore wanderer, the gray whale is seen by more people, in more
places, than any other type of leviathan. For many its passage engenders a
feeling of both awe and companionship. Brought twice to the brink of
extinction, the California gray in 1937 became the first whale designated for
protection under an international agreement. A decade later the grays were
still thought to be all but extinct. Their recovery over the second half of
the twentieth century, to a population estimated at over 26,000, is
considered the most dramatic achieved by any species of whale. In 1995, the
California gray became the first whale to be removed from the U.S. Endangered
Species List.

A metaphor for contemporary issues
The gray whale has figured prominently in myriad ecological, political,
and social issues concerning our relationship to nature and especially to the
oceans. Russell reports, lucidly and compellingly, on each one, most notably
an effort by the Japanese industrial giant Mitsubishi and the Mexican
government to build a massive new salt factory within the gray's last
pristine nursery area. In 2000, it was defeated by a broad coalition of
Mexican, U.S., and international environmental groups led by Mexico's most
famous poet and ecologist, Homero Aridjis. Russell also looks at the renewed
hunting of the gray whale by the Makah tribe of Washington State after a
hiatus of seventy years. Highly publicized by the national media, the
controversial hunt has been halted at least temporarily by court order.
Russell examines how the Japanese are using indigenous groups such as the
Makah, as well as the pretext of conducting scientific research, to resurrect
commercial whaling. In addition, Russell discusses the disastrous effects of
global warming - such as changes in climate and water temperature, as well as
the melting of the Arctic ice pack - on the gray whale in recent years.

A whale hunter turned naturalist
In many ways, the life and times of whaling captain Charles Melville
Scammon echo similar themes and issues. If Scammon had been merely a shrewd
and daring whaler, we would remember him as an exploiter, perhaps even a
villain. Abandoning the whaling industry in 1863, Scammon went on to captain
the lead ship in the historic Western Union Telegraph Expedition, which
helped bring about the purchase of Alaska from Russia. He then became an
explorer, writer, and the foremost expert of his era on cetaceans of all
kinds. "He was really our first marine mammologist," Russell writes. "I
believe his personal metamorphosis marked the start of a shift in
consciousness about the wondrous creatures who inhabit our oceans: that they
are there not simply to exploit but to appreciate and to learn about."

What the whales are telling us
Russell writes movingly of his personal encounters with the gray whales
of San Ignacio Lagoon, where pairs of mothers and calves linger alongside
small vessels, watching humans for long periods and inviting physical
contact. They permit visitors to place a hand in their mouths - or even plant
a kiss on their massive foreheads. What makes this phenomenon all the more
astonishing is that, in this same lagoon, hundreds of gray whales were killed
during the second half of the nineteenth century. They fell prey to an
American whaling fleet led by Scammon, the first Western man to have found a
safe way into the lagoon from the Pacific. To the whalers, the California
gray was the most dangerous quarry of all - especially when protecting its
young. In those years, the American whalers called the gray whale the
devil-fish.
Today, as the descendants of that beleaguered whale population make an
entirely different type of contact with human beings, some people go so far
as to say that the whalers' devil-fish has become an angel. "If they are
being forgiving toward us," Russell writes, "the implications are enormous.
This is surely, in part, why they touch us so deeply. Like gray whales in
their lagoons, human beings too must seek solace, a centering focal point, a
place to go that remains relatively untouched and pure. A place to remind
ourselves of our basic nature, not surrounded by all we have built. So do we
commune with the whales at San Ignacio."
In Russell's view, the fight to protect the "sacred nursery" at San
Ignacio, a fight that captured the attention of so many - whether they'd had
direct contact with these whales or not - represents something beyond
environmental awareness or fervor. What is hurting them is hurting us, he
argues. As the oceans go, so go we. He asks: Can we survive global warming?
Noise pollution? The wanton carelessness about our habitats? Can we pretend
to endure anything that the whales cannot? Can we come to grips with the
suicidal tendency to destroy what sustains us? Is this what the gray whales
are reaching out to communicate?
        Russell writes: "The answers to these questions are as yet unseen,
hidden, perhaps entwined in our unconscious, in the great mystery of our
relationship with these most majestic of nature's creatures. It may be only a
mystery because we don't yet have the senses to perceive it, though we bump
into it occasionally in the dark. And we glimpse it, at the rippling edge of
life, bursting startlingly above the surface - in the eye of a whale."
From the touch of a whale to the thrust of a harpoon, EYE OF THE WHALE is
the record of Russell's extraordinary journey to places, both physical and
metaphysical, that he  never imagined going. Ultimately, the book reveals
what the gray whale has taught him - and has the potential to teach all of us
- about mystery and trust, about the spirit of place, about the animal
kingdom, about our fellow human beings, and about ourselves.


PRAISE FOR DICK RUSSELL'S PREVIOUS BOOKS


The Man Who Knew Too Much

"No praise can be too high. . . . A model of historical reconstruction."
- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Immense research and documentation. . . . May bear on any final
understanding about the apparent plot to kill Kennedy."
- Kirkus Reviews

"Russell's book is The Magus of JFK literature."
- The Washington Post

"For sheer originality, few assassination books can compare."
- Cleveland Plain Dealer


Black Genius: And the American Experience

"Just browsing this book is an eye-opener."
- Denver Post


"Charts a course of triumph and inspiration."
- Seattle Times/Post-Intelligencer

"Russell's book is creative, thought-provoking and intriguing."
- Austin [TX] American-Statesman

"An essential compendium of African-American achievement. . . .
Inspirational."
- Publishers Weekly


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dick Russell is the author of The Man Who Knew Too Much and Black Genius: And
the American Experience. He is also a longtime environmental journalist,
whose work has appeared in Boston Magazine, Harper's Weekly, The Nation,
Sports Illustrated, and The Los Angeles Times, among other publications. He
divides his time between Boston and Los Angeles.

***
Please visit our website at www.simonsays.com
and
Dick Russell's website at www.dickrussell.org
If you wish to reproduce a photograph of the author (and/or jacket/cover),
you can retrieve a high resolution digital file at
http://www.simonsaysphotos.com:8080/

ABOUT THE BOOK
EYE OF THE WHALE:
Epic Passage from Baja to Siberia
By Dick Russell
Published by Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: August 9, 2001
Price: $35.00
ISBN: 0-684-86608-0


SCHEDULED APPEARANCES


Saturday, July 28, Monterey Bay, California - A 2-to-5 pm cruise sponsored by
the whale-watching ship Sanctuary, followed by a reception and signing.
Sunday, July 29 - 6 pm, Santa Cruz, Ca., Museum of Natural History.
Thursday, August 9 - 7 pm, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, San Pedro, Calif.,
sponsored by the American Cetacean Society.
Friday, August 24 - Noon, Woods Hole (Mass.) Oceanographic Institution
Friday, August 24 - 7:30, Bunch of Grapes Bookstore, Martha's Vineyard,
Mass., talk and reading.
Wednesday, September 12 - Noon, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.,
"Research in Progress" series (members only).
Thursday, September 13 - Afternoon, World Wildlife Fund auditorium,
Washington, D.C.
Monday, September 17 - Evening, Explorer's Club, New York City.
Wednesday, September 19 - Noon, New England Aquarium, Boston, Mass.
Thursday, September 20 - Evening, New Bedford (Mass.) Whaling Museum
Sunday, September 23 - 2 pm, Kendall Whaling Museum, Sharon, Mass.
Monday, September 24 - 7 pm, National Arts Club, New York City
Wednesday, September 26 - 7 pm, annual Bernice Barbour Lecture, Nantucket
(Mass.) Atheneum library, sponsored by MSPCA.
Tuesday, October 2 - 7 pm, North Cove Outfitters, Old Saybrook, Connecticut
Thursday, October 4 - evening, National Zoo, Washington, D.C.
Friday, October 5- Philadelphia Association of Zoo Keepers, noon and evening
lectures.  
Sunday, October 14 - 2 pm, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History
Wed. Oct. 17 - Sunday Oct. 21 - Portland, Oregon, Society of Environmental
Journalists annual conference (2 panels)
Tuesday, October 23 - evening, American Cetacean Society chapter, Seattle,
Washington
Thursday, October 25 - evening, Whaling Museum, Friday Harbor, Washington
Friday, October 26 - 7 pm, Port Angeles, Washington
-more-
Friday, November 2- Noon, Conservation Roundtable, San Francisco
Saturday, November 3 - Featured speaker at 150th anniversary of "Moby Dick"
celebration, sponsored by San Francisco Maritime Parks Association (all day
event)
Wednesday, November 28 - 7 pm, Long Beach (Cal.) Aquarium
Sunday, December 2 - Arts-and-book festival, Long Marine Laboratory, Santa
Cruz, Ca.
December 5-6 - panel on noise and marine mammals, American Acoustical Society
conference, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Wednesday, January 16, 2002 - 7 pm, San Diego Natural History Museum.
Sunday, January 20, 2002 - evening, Monterey Bay Aquarium member's night.
Early 2002: Dates not yet set for appearances at Scripps Birch Aquarium,
California Academy of Sciences, Mote Marine Laboratory (Sarasota, Florida).
--part1_a9.1923ae73.289b3a4e_boundary-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2001 08:23:47 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MARMAM monthly 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 July 2001 there were about 4,000 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. 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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. >> A NOTE ABOUT COMPATIBILITY BETWEEN TEXT EDITORS: >> Different mail programs, text editors and operating systems >> handle line wrapping differently. 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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. 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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. Users of the web-based e-mail provider HOTMAIL should be aware that the "block sender" feature (used to avoid "junk" mail), if active, will also block listserver messages. Therefore, make sure you have "block sender" feature turned off. This may also apply to other e-mail programs with equivalent features. ______________________________________________________________ 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, Daniel Palacios and Siri Hakala) 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 June 2001 ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2001 09:28:10 -0400 From: "Dr. Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni" Subject: More hooded seals in the Caribbean Content-type: multipart/alternative; boundary="B_3079848491_166884" > 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. --B_3079848491_166884 More hooded seals in the Caribbean As a follow up to the previous message about a hooded seal stranding in Puerto Rico, we detail additional information about other recent strandings of hooded seals in the Caribbean and subtropics. 1. A hooded seal was rescued in Puerto Rico on 20 July 2001. To date, the animal is alive and recuperating at the Caribbean Stranding Network at Universidad Metropolitana in San Juan. 2. A second hooded seal was rescued in Bermuda last week, but died during transport. 3. A third hooded seal was rescued in Anguilla on 3 August 2001, but the seal died during its first night. A necropsy will be conducted this week. 4. A fourth hooded seal was observed alive on 3 August 2001 off Riding Rock Marina in San Salvador Island in the Bahamas. The animal was found dead on the afternoon of 4 August 2001. We would like to alert all colleagues and government agency officials in the southeastern US and Caribbean countries to this situation and to request that any sigthings and strandings be documented thoroughly and reported to help assess this unusual events. The Caribbean Stranding Network is also available 24-hours around the clock to assist anybody that finds a hooded seal in the Caribbean. You may reach the Network by calling 787-399-1900, 787-399-8432 or 787-766-1717 x6600, email rcv(\)caribe.net or MSN Messanger at mignucci(\)hotmail.com. Additional information and a copy of a publication on pdf format on hooded seal strandings in the southeastern US and Caribbean (Mignucci-Giannoni AA, Odell DK. 2001. Tropical and subtropical Western Atlantic records of hooded seals (Cystophora cristata) dispel the myth of extant Caribbean monk seals (Monachus tropicalis). Bulletin of Marine Science 68(1):47-58), may be obtained by writing us to mignucci(\)caribe.net. Dr. Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni Laboratorio de Mamiferos Marinos del Caribe Departamento de Ciencias y Tecnologia, Universidad Metropolitana PO Box 361715 San Juan PR 00936-1715 TEL (787)766-1717 x6600, FAX (787)751-5840 EMERG (787)399-8432, (787)399-1900 EMAIL mignucci(\)caribe.net, WEB http://rcv.caribe.net --B_3079848491_166884 More hooded seals in the Caribbean More hooded seals in the Caribbean

As a follow up to the previous message about a hooded seal stranding in= Puerto Rico, we detail additional information about other recent strandings= of hooded seals in the Caribbean and subtropics.

  1. A hooded seal was rescued in Puerto Ric= o on 20 July 2001. To date, the animal is alive and recuperating at the Cari= bbean Stranding Network at Universidad Metropolitana in San Juan.=20
  2. A second hooded seal was rescued in Bermuda= last week, but died during transport.=20
  3. A third hooded seal was rescued in Anguilla= on 3 August 2001, but the seal died during its first night. A necropsy will= be conducted this week.=20
  4. A fourth hooded seal was observed alive on = 3 August 2001 off Riding Rock Marina in San Salvador Island in the Bahamas. = The animal was found dead on the afternoon of 4 August 2001.

We would like to alert all colleagues and government agency officials in th= e southeastern US and Caribbean countries to this situation and to request t= hat any sigthings and strandings be documented thoroughly and reported to he= lp assess this unusual events. The Caribbean Stranding Network is also avail= able 24-hours around the clock to assist anybody that finds a hooded seal in= the Caribbean. You may reach the Network by calling 787-399-1900, 787-399-8= 432 or 787-766-1717 x6600, email rcv(\)caribe.net or MSN Messanger at mignucci= (\)hotmail.com.

Additional information and a copy of a publication on pdf format on hooded = seal strandings in the southeastern US and Caribbean (Mignucci-Giannoni AA, = Odell DK. 2001. Tropical and subtropical Western Atlantic records of hooded = seals (Cystophora cristata) dispel the myth of extant Caribbean monk = seals (Monachus tropicalis). Bulletin of Marine Science 68(1):47-58),= may be obtained by writing us to mignucci(\)caribe.net.

Dr. Antonio A. Mignu= cci-Giannoni

Laboratorio de Mamiferos Marinos del Caribe
Departamento de Ciencias y Tecnologia,  Universidad Metropolitana
PO Box 361715 San Juan PR 00936-1715
TEL (787)766-1717 x6600, FAX (787)751-5840
EMERG (787)399-8432, (787)399-1900
EMAIL mignucci(\)caribe.net, WEB http://rcv.caribe.net
--B_3079848491_166884-- ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2001 20:59:44 +0200 From: Jaap van der Toorn Subject: EAAM Symposium 2002 - Call for papers Dear all, The European Association for Aquatic Mammals (EAAM) is pleased to announce that its 30th Annual Symposium will be held in Elborg, Denmark, from 8 through 11 March, 2002. The Symposium will be hosted by the Elborg Zoo. At this time we would like to invite anyone, interested in presenting a paper or poster at this symposium, to submit an abstract to the President-Elect of the EAAM, Manuel Garcma Hartmann, at Hartmann(\)zoo-duisburg.de. Instructions for authors and abstract submission forms can be downloaded from the EAAM web site at http://eaam.org/. All topics related to marine mammal science and husbandry are acceptable. For the 30th Symposium, 2 workshops are planned, one on marine mammal training and one on marine mammal facility design. Submission of papers on those topics is especially encouraged. The deadline for submission of abstracts is December 1st, 2001. Registration information will be published later. Greetings, Jaap van der Toorn (EAAM Webmaster) webmaster(\)eaam.org ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2001 10:54:22 +1200 From: Carlos Olavarria Subject: papers on Chilean cetacean species ------ Two new papers have been recently published on Chilean cetacean species than could be of your interest: Pichler F & C Olavarria. 2001. Resolving Chilean dolphin=20 (Cephalorhynchus eutropia, Gray 1846) synonymy by sequencing DNA=20 extracted from teeth of museum specimens. Revista de Biologia Marina y=20 Oceanografia 36 (1): 117-121. =20 Abstract.- Mitochondrial DNA was amplified and sequenced from single=20 teeth of six museum specimens described by Phillipi (1893) as three=20 novel species, Phocoena albiventris, Tursio platyrhinus and T. panope.=20 Subsequently, these specimens were reviewed and, with the exception of=20 T. panope, were suggested as probable specimens of Chilean dolphin,=20 Cephalorhynchus eutropia. DNA sequence from five of the six samples=20 were compared to an existing database of odontocete type-sequences. =20 These confirm that the specimens were Chilean dolphins. We conclude=20 that T. panope is a Chilean dolphin, albeit of unusual size. These=20 results demonstrate the utility of genetic testing of museum specimens=20 to help resolve uncertainty in species identification. This paper is available on request as PDF format from the author Franz Pichler (f.pichler(\)auckland.ac.nz) =20 =20 =20 Olavarria C, Aguayo-Lobo A & R Bernal. 2001. Distribution of Risso's=20 dolphin (Grampus griseus, Cuvier 1812) in Chilean waters. Revista de=20 Biologia Marina y Oceanografia 36 (1): 111-116. =20 Abstract.-Here we review the knowledge of Risso's dolphin Grampus=20 griseus in Chilean waters. Based on analysis of 44 records, this=20 species appears to have a continuous distribution along the Chilean=20 coast between 20=BA13'S and 40=BAS and we suggest that the reported=20 southernmost record from Chile (~52=B0S) could be Atlantic Risso's=20 dolphins. The Chilean records show a peak during the austral summer and indicate a preference for waters over 1000 m in depth. Mass stranding,=20 interaction with fisheries, and associations with other cetaceans=20 species are also reviewed =20 This paper is available on request as PDF format from the author Carlos Olavarria (c.olavarria(\)auckland.ac.nz) =20 Some reprints of both articles will be available soon. ----------------------------- Carlos Olavarria Molecular Ecology & Evolution School of Biological Sciences University of Auckland Private Bag 92019 Auckland, New Zealand ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2001 16:18:31 +0200 From: ramp Subject: references about survivor ship of baleen whales boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0012_01C11DCA.4465B500" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0012_01C11DCA.4465B500 charset="iso-8859-1" Dear MARMARM subscribers, I would like to ask you for help on the following subject.I am currently = working on my master thesis using mark recapture models. I am looking = for some results/ references of previous similar analyses concerning = survivor ship of baleen whales. Does anybody have any ideas where I can find values for the survival = rate of baleen (especially rorqual) whales, either from capture = recapture analyses or from other sources. I do know some references for = humpbacks (North Atlantic) and southern right whales, although they are = from the early 90ies. Therefore I am looking for further and more recent = references.=20 Please respond directly to ramp(\)uni-bremen.de Many thanks in advance. Christian Ramp Admiralstra=DFe 23 28215 Bremen Germany Phone: +49-421-3780082 ramp(\)uni-bremen.de Visit: http://www.rorqual.com ------=_NextPart_000_0012_01C11DCA.4465B500 charset="iso-8859-1"

Dear=20 MARMARM subscribers,

I would=20 like to ask you for help on the following subject.I am currently working on my master = thesis=20 using  mark recapture models. I am looking for some results/ = references of=20 previous similar analyses concerning survivor ship of baleen=20 whales.

Does=20 anybody have any ideas where I can find values for the survival rate of=20 baleen = (especially=20 rorqual) whales, either from capture recapture analyses or from other sources. I do know some = references for humpbacks (North Atlantic) and southern right whales, = although=20 they are from the early 90ies. Therefore I am looking for further and = more=20 recent references.

Please=20 respond directly to ramp(\)uni-bremen.de

Many thanks=20 in advance.

Christian Ramp
Admiralstra=DFe 23
28215=20 Bremen
Germany
Phone: +49-421-3780082
ramp(\)uni-bremen.de
Visit: http://www.rorqual.com
------=_NextPart_000_0012_01C11DCA.4465B500-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2001 07:34:06 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Starting MARMAM's 9th year >From marmamed(\)UVic.CA Mon Aug 6 07:33:21 2001 Received: from unix5.uvic.ca (unix5.uvic.ca [142.104.5.117]) by cascara.uvic.ca (8.11.3/8.11.3) with ESMTP id f76EXJ1128676 for ; Mon, 6 Aug 2001 07:33:19 -0700 Received: from localhost (marmamed(\)localhost) by unix5.uvic.ca (8.11.3/8.11.3) with ESMTP id f76EWtf117274 for ; Mon, 6 Aug 2001 07:32:55 -0700 X-Authentication-Warning: unix5.uvic.ca: marmamed owned process doing -bs Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2001 07:32:55 -0700 (PDT) From: MARMAM Editors To: Subject: Starting MARMAM's 9th year Message-ID: X-Status: Starting MARMAM's 9th year As of today the MARMAM list will begin it's 9th year of operation, and it now has over 4,100 subscribers from at least 69 countries world-wide, and over 600 messages related to marine mammal research and conservation sent over the list each year. The list was set up on August 6th, 1993. After discussing the idea for a number of months, Dave Duffus and I started up the MARMAM e-mail list through the University of Victoria. At that time relatively few individuals involved in marine mammal research and conservation activities were using e-mail on a regular basis, but the presence of similar lists on other topics suggested that a list focusing on marine mammals might be of some value. As long-term subscribers will know, the quality and quantity of messages distributed over the list have varied widely over the years. The editors try to maintain consistent high standards regarding the content of messages. While many have criticized us for censorship, the purpose of the list originally was, and always has been, to disseminate information to marine mammal researchers and to those actively involved with marine mammal conservation activities. We feel that keeping it a relatively low- volume list, with only a few messages each day, rather than 10s of messages each day as is the case for many other lists, makes a huge difference for subscribers (the whole "quality versus quantity" issue). We therefore try to keep the messages sent to the list focused on the original goals and relevent to the research community audience. Clearly MARMAM can be improved, but it requires the help of the subscribers to do this. I think it needs more submissions from scientists, more postings of abstracts of published papers and books, more discussions of current research issues, and more submissions (and subscriptions) from individuals outside of North America (over 70% of all subscribers live in North America). I would like to thank all of those who have contributed and continue to contribute to the list over these years - its success is largely due to your input. I would also like to personally thank the other co- editors (Sascha Hooker, Daniel Palacios and Siri Hakala), as well as Melvin Klassen of the University of Victoria computing services, for their assistance with running the list. Robin W. Baird, MARMAM Senior Editor marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2001 10:52:19 -0400 From: Phil Clapham Subject: Re: Starting MARMAM's 9th year As someone ancient enough to have been on the MARMAM list from the very beginning, I'd like to express my appreciation for this consistently useful and informative bulletin board. In addition to being a very useful list for keeping us all up to date on recent publications and issues, MARMAM has been an unfailing source of information on even the most arcane topics. I have submitted many queries over the years, and I have to yet to find a question which has gone unanswered. It hasn't mattered how obscure the issue is - there's always someone out there with the right knowledge and experience to help. Examples abound. I once asked whether the optic chiasma of dolphins was crossed (I can't remember why I needed to know this!) and was quickly given an answer and appropriate references. In 1995 I asked - with little hope of success, I thought - whether anyone could translate Korean, since Bob Brownell and I had a Korean text on right whales we needed help with. Within three hours I was so deluged with offers that I had to post another message telling people that we were all set. This sort of networking and assistance is of tremendous value to us all. So many thanks to Robin, Dave and everyone else who have labored to keep this list going over the years. Long may it continue. Phil Clapham -- The Society for Marine Mammalogy will be holding its 14th Biennial Conference from 28 November to 3 December 2001, in Vancouver, BC. Visit the conference Web site at www.smmconference.org for full details of this important meeting. Phillip J. Clapham, Ph.D. Large Whale Biology Program Protected Species Branch Northeast Fisheries Science Center 166 Water Street Woods Hole, MA 02543, U.S.A. tel. 508 495-2316 fax 508 495-2066 email: phillip.clapham(\)noaa.gov ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2001 23:59:13 -0700 From: Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy Subject: IWC Resolutions Available Content-type: text/plain; charset=Windows-1252 The resolutions from the 53rd Meeting of the International Whaling Commission are now available on our site. Click on the first bullet in the "What's New" Section. Join our mailing list on the site to receive notice of future additions to 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: Tue, 7 Aug 2001 11:18:01 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: North Pacific Research Board Executive Director Position Anno (fwd) >From yvette_welsh(\)alaskasealife.org Tue Aug 7 10:23:02 2001 Received: from otter.alaskasealife.org ([208.162.149.11]) by cascara.uvic.ca (8.11.3/8.11.3) with ESMTP id f77HN11171774 for ; Tue, 7 Aug 2001 10:23:01 -0700 Received: by otter.alaskasealife.org with Internet Mail Service (5.5.2653.19) id ; Tue, 7 Aug 2001 09:22:23 -0800 Message-ID: <2FB9E0CF54BDD111B1F500A0C99DB65B9227A2(\)otter.alaskasealife.org> From: Yvette Welsh To: "'MARMAM Editors'" Subject: RE: North Pacific Research Board Executive Director Position Anno unce Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2001 09:22:22 -0800 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2653.19) boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01C11F65.84F80810" 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_001_01C11F65.84F80810 charset="iso-8859-1" POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NORTH PACIFIC RESEARCH BOARD The North Pacific Research Board is seeking an Executive Director. The = Executive Director is based in Anchorage and works directly for the = Board and provides the management of the Board's office and leadership = in implementing the Board's research program. =20 History The Board is a twenty member advisory panel as defined under 16 U.S.C. = =A71852(g) and formed pursuant to 43 U.S.C. =A71474d, e, to be an = administrative arm and recommending body to the Secretary of Commerce = to implement a competitive grant program using a portion of the = interest earned and covered from the Environmental Improvement and = Restoration Fund. The Secretary is authorized to provide grants to = federal, state, private, and foreign organizations and individuals to = conduct research activities on or relating to the fisheries or marine = ecosystems in the North Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea, and Arctic Ocean = based on recommendations by the Board. Congress expanded the Board's = functions to include the administration of the North Pacific Research = Institute under 33 U.S.C. =A72738. The mission of the Board is to = promote cooperative research efforts in the North Pacific Ocean, Bering = Sea, and Arctic Ocean (including any lesser related bodies of water) = designed to address pressing fishery management or marine ecosystem = information needs.=20 Position The Executive Director will provide vision and leadership; plan, = organize, direct, and coordinate a broad research program; establish = criteria for the submission and award of grant requests through a = competitive process; provide management of the scientific review = process; direct the development, implementation, and management of a = general overall business plan and budget; represent the Board to = outside agencies; develop and maintain an administrative record; plan, = direct, manage, and oversee work of staff; and provide administrative = support for the Board as needed to assist the Board in meeting its = mission. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in business, public administration, life sciences, or = similar field. Minimum of five years executive level professional = experience. Application Submittal Applicants should provide a resume, written references, and if = available, samples of written material geared for a non-scientific = audience explaining scientific programs or findings and their public = policy implications. Application materials must be postmarked no later = than September 28, 2001 and addressed to: William Hines, National = Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Region, PO Box 21668, Juneau, AK = 99802-1668. (907) 586-7221. Fax (907) 586-7249. E-mail: = William.Hines(\)noaa.gov Posted 7/31/01; ygw Yvette Welsh, PHR Human Resources Officer Alaska SeaLife Center PO Box 1329 Seward, AK 99664-1329 907.224.6313 907.224.6320 fax yvette_welsh(\)alaskasealife.org www.alaskasealife.org -----Original Message----- From: MARMAM Editors [mailto:marmamed(\)uvic.ca]=20 Sent: Saturday, August 04, 2001 5:01 AM To: yvette_welsh(\)alaskasealife.org Subject: Re: North Pacific Research Board Executive Director Position = Announce Can you resubmit your message to MARMAM but send it so it is not in = MIME format? ------_=_NextPart_001_01C11F65.84F80810 charset="iso-8859-1" RE: North Pacific Research Board Executive Director Position = Announce

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
NORTH PACIFIC RESEARCH BOARD


The North Pacific Research Board is seeking an = Executive Director.  The Executive Director is based in Anchorage = and works directly for the Board and provides the management of the = Board's office and leadership in implementing the Board's research = program. 

History
The Board is a twenty member advisory panel as = defined under 16 U.S.C. =A71852(g) and formed pursuant to 43 U.S.C. = =A71474d, e, to be an administrative arm and recommending body to the = Secretary of Commerce to implement a competitive grant program using a = portion of the interest earned and covered from the Environmental = Improvement and Restoration Fund.  The Secretary is authorized to = provide grants to federal, state, private, and foreign organizations = and individuals to conduct research activities on or relating to the = fisheries or marine ecosystems in the North Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea, = and Arctic Ocean based on recommendations by the Board.  Congress = expanded the Board's functions to include the administration of the = North Pacific Research Institute under 33 U.S.C. =A72738.  The = mission of the Board is to promote cooperative research efforts in the = North Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea, and Arctic Ocean (including any lesser = related bodies of water) designed to address pressing fishery = management or marine ecosystem information needs.

Position
The Executive Director will provide vision and = leadership; plan, organize, direct, and coordinate a broad research = program; establish criteria for the submission and award of grant = requests through a competitive process; provide management of the = scientific review process; direct the development, implementation, and = management of a general overall business plan and budget; represent the = Board to outside agencies; develop and maintain an administrative = record; plan, direct, manage, and oversee work of staff; and provide = administrative support for the Board as needed to assist the Board in = meeting its mission.

Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in business, public = administration, life sciences, or similar field.  Minimum of five = years executive level professional experience.

Application Submittal
Applicants should provide a resume, written = references, and if available, samples of written material geared for a = non-scientific audience explaining scientific programs or findings and = their public policy implications.  Application materials must be = postmarked no later than September 28, 2001 and addressed to: William = Hines, National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Region, PO Box 21668, = Juneau, AK 99802-1668.  (907) 586-7221.  Fax (907) = 586-7249.  E-mail: William.Hines(\)noaa.gov

Posted 7/31/01; ygw



Yvette Welsh, PHR
Human Resources Officer
Alaska SeaLife Center
PO Box 1329
Seward, AK 99664-1329
907.224.6313
907.224.6320 fax
yvette_welsh(\)alaskasealife.org
www.alaskasealife.org


-----Original Message-----
From: MARMAM Editors [mailto:marmamed(\)uvic.ca]
Sent: Saturday, August 04, 2001 5:01 AM
To: yvette_welsh(\)alaskasealife.org
Subject: Re: North Pacific Research Board Executive = Director Position Announce


Can you resubmit your message to MARMAM but send it = so it is not in MIME format?



---------------------------------------------------------------= ----
-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/

------_=_NextPart_001_01C11F65.84F80810-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2001 14:39:12 +0200 From: Segreteria ICRAM Subject: Doct. fellowship position - University of PADUA, Italy This message is being posted by the ICRAM Secretary's office. Please do not send enquiries to sender but consult the webpage address included in the body of the text: DOCTORATE FELLOWSHIP POSITION IN MARINE MAMMAL BIOLOGY, DIAGNOSTICS, PATHOLOGY AND THERAPY - University of Padua (Italy) The present announcement regards the opening of a Doctorate Fellowship position at the University of Padua ( Italy) in the department of Animal Science. The subject of the Doctorate is titled "Marine mammal biology, diagnostic, pathology and therapy" and is sponsored by ICRAM (Central Institute for Applied Marine Research) in support of one of the activities identified within the Italian National Action Plan for Cetaceans. Candidates interested in applying should consult the University of Padua website (www.unipd.it/ammi/dottorati.html ) for details on candidate eligibility, application forms and exam admission. The deadline for applying is August 12th 2001 (necessary postmarked date of the application). _________________________________________________________________ Scarica GRATUITAMENTE MSN Explorer all'indirizzo http://explorer.msn.it/intl.asp ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2001 16:22:10 +1000 From: Karen Evans Subject: Effects of monopolar electricty cable emissions on marine mammals Dear Marmamers, The Victorian and Tasmanian governments in Australia are currently planning a monopolar link between the Tasmnanian electricity network and the southeast Australian network in Victoria. As part of Commonwealth, Victorian and Tasmanian governmental requirements, the company involved has produced a draft "integrated impact assessment statement" (IIAS) detailing the impacts of this project on both the terrestrial and marine environment (this HVDC cable will run approximately 150 kms along the sea floor across Bass Strait, which divides Tasmania from mainland Australia). Amongst many of the concerns over the impacts of this project, one of particular importance is the impact of emmissions from this cable on the marine environment. Once operational, this cable will: - release electrolysis products: mainly chlorine, chlorine hydrolysis products (hypochlorous acid and hypobromous acid) and secondary reaction products (halogenated amines and other halogentaed organic compounds); - produce an electrical field around the cable, including stray current "extending 100-150 kilometres from each HVDC electrode"; - produce a magnetic field anywhere between "zero and 4500 nanotesla"; - dissipate heat into the surrounding water. This is of concern as Bass Strait is home to a number of Australian fur seal colonies, albatross and other seabird colonies, is frequented by New Zealand fur seals, sperm whales, minke whales, pygmy right whales, a number of beaked whales, long-finned pilot whales, orcas and a number of small odontocete species. It is also part of the migration route for southern right whales, humpback whales and possibly blue whales. This draft IIAS is currently out for public comment until the end of August. If anyone could provide me with any information or sources of information on the effect of the compounds hypochlorous acid, hypobromous acid, halogenated amines (eg mono and dichloroamine, monobromoamine), trihalomethanes, halophenols, mono-, di- and trohaloacetic acids and halogenated small alka(e)nes on marine animals and any studies that have been conducted on the reaction of marine mammals to electrical fields, I would be very grateful. I can be contacted at: evansk(\)utas.edu.au Thankyou for your time. Karen Evans. Karen Evans Antarctic Wildlife Research Unit School of Zoology University of Tasmania GPO Box 252-05 Hobart, Tasmania Australia, 7001 Ph: 61 3 6226 2594 For strandings: 0429 870167 Fax: 61 3 6226 2745 Email: evansk(\)postoffice.utas.edu.au ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 Aug 2001 12:46:18 -0500 From: Marie Van Bressem Subject: new publication on dolphin morbillivirus Dear colleagues, I would like to let you know about a new paper that will appear this month in Veterinary Microbiology (20 August 2001): Van Bressem, M.-F., Van Waerebeek, K., Jepson, P.D., Raga, J.A., Duignan, P.J., Nielsen, O., Di Beneditto, A.P., Siciliano, S., Ramos, R., Kant, W., Peddemors, V., Kinoshita, R., Ross, P.S., Lopez-Fernandez, A., Evans, K., Crespo, E. and Barrett, T. (2001). An insight into the epidemiology of dolphin morbillivirus worldwide. Vet.Microbiol. 81: 287-304. Abstract Serum samples from 288 cetaceans representing 25 species and originating from 11 different countries were collected between 1995 and 1999 and examined for the presence of dolphin morbillivirus (DMV)-specific antibodies by an indirect ELISA (iELISA) (N=267) or a plaque reduction assay (N=21). A total of 35 odontocetes were seropositive: three harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and a common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) from the Northeastern (NE) Atlantic, a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) from Kent (England), three striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), two Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus) and a bottlenose dolphin from the Mediterranean Sea, one common dolphin from the Southwest (SW) Indian Ocean, three Fraser's dolphins (Lagenodelphis hosei) from the SW Atlantic, 18 long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) and a bottlenose dolphin from the SW Pacific as well as a captive bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) originally from Taiwan. The presence of morbillivirus antibodies in 17 of these animals was further examined in other iELISAs and virus neutralization tests. Our results indicate that DMV infects cetaceans worldwide. This is the first report of DMV-seropositive animals from the SW Indian, SW Atlantic and West Pacific Oceans. Prevalence of DMV-seropositives was 85.7% in 21 pilot whales from the SW Pacific and both sexually mature and immature individuals were infected. This indicates that DMV is endemic in these animals. The same situation may occur among Fraser's dolphins from the SW Atlantic. The prevalence of DMV-seropositives was 5.26% and 5.36% in 19 common dolphins and 56 harbour porpoise from the NE Atlantic, respectively, and 18.75% in 16 striped dolphins from the Mediterranean. Prevalence varied significantly with sexual maturity in harbour porpoises and striped dolphins; all DMV-seropositives being mature animals. The prevalence of seropositive harbour porpoise and striped dolphins appeared to have decreased since previous studies. These data suggest that DMV is not endemic within these populations, that they are losing their immunity against the virus and that they may be vulnerable to new epidemics. A pdf version of this paper is available upon request to M-F Van Bressem (address in Peru). Best wishes, Marie-Francoise Van Bressem, DVM, PhD Pasaje Palmira 196, Esq. Los Cedros 343 San Isidro, Lima 27, Peru e-mail: mariefvb(\)terra.com.pe and Department of Vaccinology-Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Sart Tilman, 4000 Liege, Belgium ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ******************************************************** Marie-Francoise Van Bressem, DVM, PhD Pasaje Palmira 196, Esq. Los Cedros 343 San Isidro, Lima 27, Peru e-mail: mariefvb(\)terra.com.pe Tel: 51-1-222.49.48 Fax: 51-1-221.90.08 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 Aug 2001 12:33:03 -0700 From: Harald Yurk Subject: Culture Workshop 2nd Reminder In-Reply-To: Content-type: multipart/alternative; boundary="MS_Mac_OE_3080205183_536901_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_3080205183_536901_MIME_Part Greetings, As many of you already know, we will organize a workshop on Culture in Marine Mammals to be held on November 28th at the Vancouver SMM conference. We would like to remind everyone including all POSTER PRESENTERS that the DEADLINE FOR EARLY REGISTRATION IS ONLY 5 or 6 days away = AUGUST 15, 2001! Space is limited for this workshop, and therefore registration after August 15 will be accepted on a first come basis until all spaces are filled !!!!!! Registration will cost US$35 (CDN$54) before August 15, and US$45 (CDN$69) thereafter. To register, follow the instructions listed on the workshop web site: http://www.dal.ca/~whitelab/wrkshp.htm Confirmed speakers : W.C. McGrew - Culture on land and at sea : Lessons from cultural primatology Phillip J. Clapham - Are humpback whales creatures of culture? Stan Kuczaj - What studies of captive animals can and cannot tell us about marine mammal culture Mike Noad - Cultural displacement and replacement in the songs of Australian humpback whales Denise Herzing - Transmission mechanisms of social learning: Underwater observations of free- ranging dolphins in the Bahamas. Richard Connor - Culture and ecology in bottlenose dolphin behaviour Patrick Abgrall / Jack Terhune - Phocids, Title TBA Jim Estes / Tim Tinker - Sea otters, Title TBA Lance Barrett-Lennard - A propensity for isolationism: Culture and population segregation in killer whales Harald Yurk - Group-specific dialects Killer whales: culturally selected traits? Hal Whitehead - Cetacean culture: evolution and coevolution Luke Rendell - Candidate cultural behaviours in sperm whales Accepted Poster Presentations: Peter Corkeron - Junk food culture: dolphins, trawlers and the choices we all make. Wendi Fellner and Gordon B. Bauer - Synchronous movement as a potential medium for cultural transmission David Lusseau - Culture in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.): an insight through surface behavioural pattern. Richard W. Osborne - Population-specific ecological history as a resource for reconstructing cultural context in Southern Resident killer whales. Anna Bisther and Dag Vongraven - Killer whales feeding on both mammals and fish: a Transient, Resident or opportunistic type? Ingrid N. Visser - High risk foraging behaviour of Orca (Orcinus orca) in New Zealand waters - could skills be passed on through culture? Wanda Jones - Behaviour of wild bottlenose dolphins in Panama City, Fl, USA. Satoru Yamamoto - Before seeking the culture in marine mammals Volker Deecke, - A Sound Approach to the Study of Culture Renata S. Sousa-Lima - Ontogeny of individually distinct vocal patterns in manatees. Peter Beamish - "RBC research" and recent apparent confirmation of culture in marine and terrestrial mammals and eagles (RBC is "Rhythm Based Communication," a substantial paradigm shift). Thanks, and see you in Vancouver in November. Cheers, Harald Yurk, Luke Rendell, Hal Whitehead, and Lance Barrett-Lennard *************************************************************** Harald Yurk Marine Mammal Research Unit & Marine Mammal Research Department of Zoology Vancouver Aquarium University of British Columbia PO Box 3232 6248 Biological Sc. Road Vancouver, BC, V6B 3X8 Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4 phone: 604.822.8181 604.659.3429/28/30 fax: 604.822.8180 web: www.zoology.ubc/ www.killerwhale.org --MS_Mac_OE_3080205183_536901_MIME_Part Culture Workshop 2nd Reminder

Greetings,

As many of you already know, we will organize a workshop on Culture in Marine Mammals to be held on November 28th at the Vancouver SMM confere= nce.

We would like to remind everyone including all POSTER PRESENTERS that= the DEADLINE FOR EARLY REGISTRATION IS ONLY 5 or 6 days away = =3D AUGUST 15, 2001!

Space is limited for this workshop, and therefore registration after Au= gust 15 will be accepted on a first come basis until all spaces are filled != !!!!!

Registration will cost US$35 (CDN$54) before August 15, and US$45 (CDN$69) = thereafter.
To register, follow the instructions listed on the workshop web site:

http://www.dal.ca/~whitelab/wrkshp.htm

Confirmed speakers :

W.C. McGrew - Culture on land and at sea : Lessons from cultural primatolog= y
Phillip J. Clapham - Are humpback whales creatures of culture?
Stan Kuczaj - What studies of captive animals can and cannot tell us about = marine mammal culture
Mike Noad - Cultural displacement and replacement in the songs of Australia= n humpback whales
Denise Herzing - Transmission mechanisms of social learning: Underwater obs= ervations of free- ranging dolphins in the Bahamas.
Richard Connor - Culture and ecology in bottlenose dolphin behaviour
Patrick Abgrall / Jack Terhune - Phocids, Title TBA
Jim Estes / Tim Tinker - Sea otters, Title TBA
Lance Barrett-Lennard - A propensity for isolationism: Culture and populati= on segregation in killer whales
Harald Yurk - Group-specific dialects Killer whales: culturally selected tr= aits?
Hal Whitehead - Cetacean culture: evolution and coevolution
Luke Rendell - Candidate cultural behaviours in sperm whales

Accepted Poster Presentations:

Peter Corkeron - Junk food culture: dolphins, trawlers and the choices we a= ll make.
Wendi Fellner and Gordon B. Bauer - Synchronous movement as a potential med= ium for cultural transmission
David Lusseau - Culture in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.): an insight t= hrough surface behavioural pattern.
Richard W. Osborne - Population-specific ecological history as a resource f= or reconstructing cultural context in Southern Resident killer whales.
Anna  Bisther and Dag Vongraven - Killer whales feeding on both mammal= s and fish: a Transient, Resident or opportunistic type?
Ingrid N. Visser - High risk foraging behaviour of Orca (Orcinus orca) in N= ew Zealand waters - could skills be passed on through culture?
Wanda Jones - Behaviour of wild bottlenose dolphins in Panama City, Fl, USA= .
Satoru Yamamoto - Before seeking the culture in marine mammals
Volker Deecke, - A Sound Approach to the Study of Culture
Renata S. Sousa-Lima - Ontogeny of individually distinct vocal patterns in = manatees.
Peter Beamish - "RBC research" and recent apparent confirmation o= f culture in marine and terrestrial mammals and eagles (RBC is "Rhythm = Based Communication," a substantial paradigm shift).

Thanks, and see you in Vancouver in November.

Cheers,

Harald Yurk, Luke Rendell, Hal Whitehead, and Lance Barrett-Lennard

***************************************************************
Harald Yurk
Marine Mammal Research Unit   &      = ;      Marine Mammal Research
Department of Zoology          = ;            &nb= sp;        Vancouver Aquarium
University of British Columbia        &n= bsp;          PO Box 3232<= BR> 6248 Biological Sc. Road         &n= bsp;            =        Vancouver, BC, V6B 3X8
Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4

phone: 604.822.8181          &= nbsp;            = ;            &nb= sp; 604.659.3429/28/30
fax:      604.822.8180

web: www.zoology.ubc/          = ;            &nb= sp;      www.killerwhale.org <http://www.ki= llerwhale.org>

--MS_Mac_OE_3080205183_536901_MIME_Part-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 Aug 2001 18:37:16 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Pinniped/endangered salmonid, porpoise, sea lion contract position (fwd) Biologist 4: Pinniped/endangered salmonid, porpoise and sea lion cancer studies SCOPE OF WORK INTRODUCTION: The National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NNML) will conduct studies on the impacts of pinnipeds on threatened or endangered stocks of salmonids, and other fish stocks in the Pacific northwest from September 2001 through the summer of 2002, studies of gray whales in Washington, studies of survival rates of Steller sea lions in Oregon, population biology of pinnipeds at San Miguel Island, California and the ecology of herpes virus and cancer in California sea lions. The contracted individual will assist in field and laboratory studies related to these projects. The work to be performed includes surveys and censussing of pinnipeds and other marine mammals in coastal and river systems of Oregon and Washington as required. An assessment of pinniped diet and food habits and possible impacts on fish stocks will be completed by collecting samples of pinniped stomachs from stranded animals and from scat samples collected on hauling sites. Also, estimates of predation may be made from actual observations of predation in specific areas. The NMML will also conduct studies requiring the capture and handling of California sea lions and harbor seals in Puget Sound and in other areas. These studies may involve instrumenting animals with VHF radio tags, time depth recorders or satellite tags and subsequent tracking of individuals. The contracted individual will be responsible for maintaining field equipment including vessels, will be required to operate various kinds of boats including a 30 foot barge, small 16-17 foot skiffs, 17, 20 and 22 foot Boston Whalers and 24 foot Almars. The individual needs to be experienced in marine navigation including use and operation of GPS, Loran, Radar, depth sounders, and VHF radio. The individual also needs to be experienced in VHF radio tracking and data parameters of other instruments. The NMML will also conduct studies of porpoises in Washington and Oregon. Porpoise will be captured, instrumented with satellite and vhf radio tags, and tracked to assess seasonal distribution as it relates to stock structure. The contracted person will be required to participate in these studies as needed. NMML is also involved in research of population biology of pinnipeds at San Miquel Island, California. The individual may be required to travel to San Miguel Island to assist in field studies involving pup tagging and branding of California sea lions, capture and tagging of northern fur seals and capture and instrumentation of elephant seals, California sea lions and northern fur seals with VHF radio tags and satellite-linked radio tags to study foraging behavior of various pinniped species. NMML is involved in a collaboration with scientists from University of California, Davis, The Marine Mammal Center and Northwest Fisheries Science Center to study the ecology of herpes virus and cancer in California sea lions. In this study juvenile and adult California sea lions are captured at San Miguel Island, California and in Puget Sound, Washington and sampled to evaluate their relative exposure to infection by pathogenic bacteria and virus, environmental pollutants and cancer. In addition to the studies listed above, laboratory studies will include the processing and analysis of food habits samples to assess marine mammal diet and cutting and reading marine mammal teeth for age analysis. KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED: The contracted individual needs to have completed a 4 year degree program in Wildlife Biology, Fisheries, Zoology, Biology or Animal Ecology. Preference will be given to biologists with experience with pinnipeds. Preference will be given to biologists with experience in operating small boats 16-24 foot long in the coastal and river systems of the Pacific northwest. Knowledge and experience in marine navigation is an essential component of this experience. The applicant should have experience in the capture and handling of pinnipeds or other large mammals. The applicant needs experience in laboratory analysis of marine mammal stomach and scat contents, marine mammal necropsy protocol and tissue sampling. The applicant must be in good physical condition as required by the physical nature of the job, and willing to work alone or independently in the field in isolated locations for long periods of time. Considerable time may be spent away from the Seattle base location for this contract, up to 3-4 months of travel may be required during the year. The applicant must also have experience in taxonomy and identification of fish specimens and in collecting and preserving fish specimens. Some of the field studies may require long hours of arduous labor in severe and inclement weather. The individual will also need to enter field data and be familiar with data entry systems such as Excel and Access. The approximate distribution of time will be 60% office and laboratory and 40% field. DELIVERABLES: The contracted person will be required to provide written field reports of specific field investigations. They will also be required to enter field data into computer files in spread sheets and data base management programs. They will be required to assist in data base management and submit reports summarizing data in various data bases. INSURANCE: Contractor must provide proof of insurance as follows: State L&I (workman's compensation) to cover injury on the job and personnel liability insurance for facilities, vehicle, and small boat (up to 24 foot long) operation in the amount of $500,000. NMML will provide the contractor with access to vehicles and boats, access to laboratory space for analyzing specimens and a workstation with a computer for maintaining data bases and preparing reports. Request for quotation packages can be obtained from Melvin Fondue (206) 526-6043, Melvin.N.Fondue(\)noaa.gov Completed quotation packages should include a CV and proposed budget and must be returned no later than Friday 17 August 2001. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2001 01:51:21 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: paper on franciscana abundance (fwd) From: edu.secchi Dear Colleagues, A recent paper on franciscana abundance have been recently published in the Journal of Cetacean Research and Management. SECCHI, E.R., P.H. OTT, E.A. CRESPO, P.G. KINAS, S.N. PEDRAZA and P. BORDINO. 2001. A first estimate of franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) abundance off southern Brazil. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 3 (1): 95-100. ABSTRACT: The franciscana, Pontoporia blainvillei, is endemic to the western South Atlantic Ocean and is perhaps one of the most threatened small cetacean species in this region. This paper presents a first abundance estimate for the coastal waters of Rio Grande do Sul State (southern Brazil) and Uruguay. In March 1996, an aerial survey was conducted along the Rio Grande do Sul State coast. Thirty-four franciscanas (29 groups) were recorded leading to a mean density estimate of 0.657 individuals/km2 (95% CI: 0.516 to 0.836) for the study area (435km2) after applying a correction factor for submerged dolphins. This corresponds to an estimated abundance of 286 franciscanas (95% CI: 225 to 364). The study area represents only 0.7% of the suggested distribution of the stock. The paper discusses possible management implications of this study in the light of reported incidental mortality estimates for this region. Further surveys covering a larger area are recommended in order to obtain more reliable abundance estimates for the stock. This paper is available on request as PDF format from the author. Eduardo Secchi (edu.secchi(\)xtra.co.nz) Best regards, Eduardo Secchi Marine Mammal Research Team University of Otago, PO Box 56 Dunedin - New Zealand ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 Aug 2001 18:10:58 EDT From: Ladona Wyatt Subject: Sperm Whale Milk Formula I am trying to locate a formula for replacement milk for a sperm whale calf. We used a formula in 1989 for a calf that we rescued and over the years, that formula has been lost. If anyone has a formula or can suggest a contact, please e mail me at the address below. Thank you. Ladona Wyatt Galveston Regional Coordinator Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network E Mail: TMMSN(\)tamug.tamu.edu Phone: 1-800-9MAMMAL ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 11 Aug 2001 14:11:43 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Final press release from IWC meeting Final Press Release IWC 53rd Annual Meeting The Annual Meeting took place from 23-27 July 2001 at the Novotel London West, Hammersmith International Centre, London, under the Chairmanship of Prof. Bo Fernholm (Sweden). The associated meetings of the Scientific Committee and Commission Committees and Working Groups were held at the same venue in the period 2-25 July. Icelandic membership The major item discussed on the first morning concerned the adherence of Iceland to the Convention with a reservation to Paragraph 10(e). That paragraph refers to what is popularly termed the moratorium on commercial whaling. There was a difference of views as to whether the Commission should accept Icelands reservation, and indeed whether the Commission has the competence to decide. On the latter point, the Commission voted by 19 votes to 18 votes (1 country was absent for the vote) that it had the competence to determine the legal status of Icelands reservation. After that vote, the Commission voted on a motion that: The Commission does not accept Icelands reservation regarding paragraph 10(e) of the Schedule (i.e. that Iceland is not bound by paragraph 10(e) of the Schedule, as reflected in its instrument of adherence dated 8 June 2001.)' Sixteen member nations refused to participate in the vote, believing it to be illegal. The motion was then carried with 19 votes in favour, 0 votes against and 3 abstentions. After consultation with Commissioners, the Chairman then ruled that Iceland should `assist in the meeting as an observer.` This ruling was challenged. In the subsequent vote, the Chairmans ruling was upheld by 18 votes to 16 votes with 3 abstentions (1 country was absent for the vote). Catch limits for commercial whaling In 1982, the Commission took a decision, which came into force from the 1986 and 1985/86 seasons, that catch limits for all commercial whaling would be set to zero. Norway has lodged objections to the ban and has exercised its right to set national catch limits for its coastal whaling operations for minke whales. The Commission passed a Resolution urging Norway to reconsider exercising this right and to reconsider granting export permits for whale products. As in previous years, the Commission did not adopt a proposal by Japan for an interim relief allocation of 50 minke whales to be taken by coastal community-based whaling. However, the Commission did pass by majority a Resolution reaffirming the Commissions commitment to work expeditiously to alleviate the distress caused by the cessation of minke whaling to the communities of Abashiri, Ayukawa, Wadaura and Taiji. Revised Management Scheme Although the Commission has accepted and endorsed the Revised Management Procedure (RMP) for commercial whaling, it has noted that work on a number of issues, including specification of an inspection and observer system must be completed before the Commission will consider establishing catch limits other than zero. This work is ongoing. The Commission had held an intersessional Working Group meeting in February 2001 which made some progress. At this year's meeting it was agreed to establish an intersessional 'Expert Drafting Group' that will try to develop final text for the inspection and observation scheme. Catch limits for aboriginal subsistence whaling The Commission has agreed to the following catch limits for several stocks subject to aboriginal subsistence whaling. Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Seas stock of bowhead whales (taken by Alaskan Eskimos and native peoples of Chukotka) - The total number of landed whales for the years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 shall not exceed 280 whales, with no more than 67 whales struck in any year (up to 15 unused strikes may be carried over each year). Eastern North Pacific gray whales (taken by those whose "traditional, aboriginal and subsistence needs have been recognised") - A total catch of 620 whales is allowed for the years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 with a maximum of 140 in any one year. West Greenland fin whales (taken by Greenlanders) - An annual catch of 19 whales is allowed for the years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002. West Greenland minke whales (taken by Greenlanders) - The annual number of whales struck for the years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002, shall not exceed 175 (up to 15 unused strikes may be carried over each year). East Greenland minke whales (taken by Greenlanders) - An annual catch of 12 whales is allowed for the years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 (up to 3 unused strikes may be carried over each year). Humpback whales (taken by St Vincent and The Grenadines) - for the seasons 2000 to 2002, the annual catch shall not exceed two whales. The taking of calves or females accompanied by calves is forbidden. The Scientific Committee has continued to make progress towards developing new management regimes for aboriginal subsistence whaling; this work has been given high priority by the Commission. The catch limits for aboriginal subsistence whaling will need to be renewed next year and the Scientific Committee will be recommending a new method of establishing catch limits for bowhead whales at that time. Status of whales Despite a long period of protection, several populations of great whales remain highly endangered and number 500 or less. These include all bowhead whale stocks apart from the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Seas stock that numbers over 7,000; gray whales in the western Pacific (those in the eastern Pacific, by contrast, number over 20,000); all stocks of northern right whales; and various stocks of blue whales. Some of these small Arctic bowhead populations are subjected to direct catches outside IWC regulations (a bowhead was taken in 2000 by Canadian Eskimos), or are killed by ship strikes or are bycaught in fishing gear. The Commission has attached great importance to trying to improve the survivorship of these stocks. This year it passed two Resolutions, one on western Pacific gray whales and the other on incidental catches. Scientific Permits Two proposed permits by Japan were considered. One is an extension of its continuing programme in the Southern Hemisphere (now 40010% minke whales from the Antarctic). The second is for the final year of a two-year feasibility study primarily aimed at feeding ecology in the context of contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of marine living resources in the western North Pacific, especially within Japans EEZ. The programme proposes the taking of 100 minke whales, 50 Brydes whales and 10 sperm whales in the western North Pacific. The issuance of such permits is a sovereign right under the Convention. The Commission adopted Resolutions by majority calling on the Government of Japan to refrain from issuing these permits and reiterated that in reviewing scientific permits, the Scientific Committee should examine whether the research is required for management or could be carried out using non-lethal means. Whale killing methods and associated welfare issues In 1998, the Commission had passed a Resolution that encouraged nations to supply relevant data on killing times and related issues in future years and also to provide technical assistance to reduce time to unconsciousness and death in aboriginal subsistence fisheries. This year, the Commission reviewed progress in the context of the revised Action Plan developed by the Commission in 1998 and passed a Resolution detailing plans to hold an expert workshop on this issue in 2003 and encouraging member countries to submit relevant data and expertise to help reduce times to unconsciousness and death in all whaling operations. Environmental Research In recent years, the Commission has strengthened its commitment to research on environmental changes and the effects on cetaceans. In particular, last year, it has provided some seed funding for two major collaborative research initiatives made by its Scientific Committee with respect to (1) chemical pollutants (POLLUTION 2000+) and (2)ibaleen whale habitat and prey studies in co-operation with CCAMLR and Southern Ocean GLOBEC (SOWER 2000). However, these programmes require considerably more funding if they are to succeed. Although the Commission has provided more money for the coming year, Governments and others are requested to provide additional funding. The Commission has also passed a Resolution endorsing the Scientific Committee's plans to hold a workshop to begin to look at interactions between fisheries and cetaceans. The Commission passed a Resolution by consensus with some reservations encouraging governments to sign, ratify and adhere to the 2001 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. It also passed a Resolution on the importance of habitat protection and integrated coastal zone management. Small Cetaceans Notwithstanding the different views of member countries over the legal competence of the IWC to manage small cetaceans, Contracting Governments continue to co-operate in consideration of small cetaceans, particularly with respect to the work of the Scientific Committee. This year the Commission passed two Resolutions on small cetaceans Financial contributions At last year's meeting, the Commission established a Task Force charged with working intersessionally to identify a set of principles with a view to developing a more equitable scheme for financial contributions. Specifically, a new scheme should reduce the financial burden of membership of small developing countries. At the Meeting, the Commission (1) endorsed the 'guiding principles' recommended by the Task Force - Openness, stability, fairness and 'user pays' (2) noted that it had made considerable progress and (3) instructed the Task Force to undertake further work at another intersessional meeting before the 2002 Annual Meeting to try to reach consensus. Future Annual Meetings The 2002 Annual Meeting will take place in Shimonoseki, Japan in May. The 2003 meeting will take place in Germany. FA and SI analyses of biopsy samples. New publication. Hooker, S.K., S.J. Iverson, P. Ostrom, and S.C. Smith. 2001. Diet of northern bottlenose whales inferred from fatty-acid and stable-isotope analyses of biopsy samples. Canadian Journal of Zoology 79: 1442-1454. Abstract: The Gully submarine canyon off eastern Canada has been designated a pilot marine protected area largely because of the northern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus) found there. Studies of this species' diet elsewhere in the north Atlantic Ocean have suggested specialization on the deep-sea squid Gonatus fabricii. We found a high proportion of the congener Gonatus steenstrupi in the stomachs of two bottlenose whales stranded in eastern Canada. In 1997, we collected remote biopsy samples from free-ranging bottlenose whales off Nova Scotia: fatty acids were determined from blubber samples and stable isotopes (carbon and nitrogen) from skin samples. Although fatty-acid stratification throughout the depth of the blubber layer was present (determined from blubber samples of stranded animals), the magnitude of stratification was less pronounced than in many other cetaceans, allowing some qualitative inferences to be made from shallow biopsy samples. Fatty-acid patterns and stable-isotope values from whales were compared with samples of G. fabricii from the Norwegian Sea. Blubber fatty acid composition was similar in characteristics to that of adult G. fabricii but was markedly distinct from that of juvenile G. fabricii and other recorded prey species. Nitrogen-isotope values implied that bottlenose whales (mean 15.3 ppt) and adult G. fabricii (mean 13.7 ppt) occupy high trophic levels. Overall, the results of these techniques concurred in suggesting that squid of the genus Gonatus may form a major part of the diet of bottlenose whales in the Gully. This paper is available on request as a PDF file from Sascha Hooker (s.hooker(\)st-andrews.ac.uk). Please note change of mailing address as follows: Sascha K. Hooker, PhD Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB, UK Phone: 44-1334-467201 Fax: 44-1334-462632 Email: s.hooker(\)st-andrews.ac.uk, shooker(\)is2.dal.ca http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/sh/sascha.htm ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2001 10:21:56 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: FW: Sandpiper Equipment Grants Program -----Original Message----- To: MAMMAL-L(\)SIVM.SI.EDU SANDPIPER EQUIPMENT GRANTS PROGRAM Sandpiper Technologies, Inc. is now accepting Equipment Grant applications for the 2002 field season. The company specializes in electronics for wildlife research and offers free use of its video equipment rental equipment to undergraduate and post graduate students. Implemented in 1997, this program has been used throughout the U.S. and Canada. During the 2001 field season, over 10 students received free use of equipment for a complete field season, and 12 students received $200 cash grants. Equipment discounts to universities are also available. AVAILABLE EQUIPMENT * TreeTop Peeper Video System - Monitor and b/w camera on a 16, 35 or 50-foot pole * Basic Sentinel Video System - Time-lapse VCR, b/w or color camera, 25m cable and camera set-up kit * Burrow Video Probe with head mounted video display and one of two video camera probe options: - 2.3-inch dia., 3-meter gooseneck (Peeper Video Probe) - 1.0-inch dia., 3-meter gooseneck (Peep-A-Roo) Equipment specifications can be found at: http://www.Sandpipertech.com HOW TO APPLY Applications are accepted year-round, but students needing equipment for the spring/summer season should apply by December 1, 2001. Applicants must 1) Describe their project and how they plan to use the equipment. 2) Describe the size of the critter to be studied and the habitat. 3) Specify the length of the field season, and the preferred equipment schedule. DEADLINE: December 1, 2001 for the 2002 field season. Decisions are based on the proposal, field survey schedules and equipment availability. Contact Ann Christensen Sandpiper Technologies, Inc. 535 W. Yosemite Ave. Manteca, CA 95337 e-mail: Ann(\)Sandpipertech.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2001 18:52:22 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: New publication - polar bears (fwd) Dear Colleagues, A paper on Brucella sp. antibodies in polar bears from Svalbard and the Barents Sea have recently been published in Journal of Wildlife Diseases: Tryland, M., Derocher, A. E., Wiig, X. and Godfroid, J. 2001. Brucella sp. antibodies in polar bears from Svalbard and the Barents Sea. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 37(3): 523-531. ABSTRACT: A prevalence of 5.4% of anti-Brucella sp. antibodies was found in plasma samples from 297 polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from Svalbard and the Barents Sea. Plasma was tested by the classical brucellosis tests Slow Agglutination of Wright (SAW), EDTA modified SAW and Rose Bengal test, as well as by an indirect Protein A ELISA. Only samples classified as positive in all tests were regarded as containing anti-Brucella sp. antibodies. A significant west to east increase in the proportion of bears with anti-Brucella sp. antibodies was found, with 3.6% (n=253) at Svalbard (Spitsbergen, Nordaustlandet, Edgexya, Barentsxya and Hopen), and 15.9% (n=44) in the central Barents Sea. Anti-Brucella sp. antibodies were previously found in ringed seals (Phoca hispida) and harp seals (Phoca groenlandica) from the same geographical areas. The ringed seal is an important prey species for the Svalbard polar bear population, and may thus be a source of Brucella sp. infection among the bears. There are no indication of reproductive disorders caused by Brucella sp. or other infectious agents in our study polar bear population. Potential impacts of Brucella sp. exposure on individuals or the population are unknown. Reprints of this paper are available on request. Best regards, Morten Tryland, DVM, PhD, The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science Department of Arctic Veterinary Medicine N-9292 Tromsx, Norway. E-mail: morten.tryland(\)veths.no ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2001 11:40:57 +0100 From: Jonathan Gordon Subject: New Publication - Range Measuring In-Reply-To: <200108140152.f7E1qMX149840(\)unix5.uvic.ca> Dear Colleagues, Some subscribers to Marmam may be interested in this paper which describes a method for measuring range to animals at sea and accurately tracking their movements. It should find applications in survey, behavioural studies and mitigation work. Jonathan Gordon (jg20(\)st-andrews.ac.uk) =========================================================================== ========================== Jonathan Gordon Measuring the range to animals at sea from boats using photographic and video images Journal of Applied Ecology 38 (4), 879-887 Summary 1. Estimating range to objects at sea by eye is notoriously difficult yet there are many occasions in management and research when accurate measures of range are required. 2. A new method is described in which range is calculated from the angle subtended between the horizon and the waterline of the object measured from single video or photographic images taken at a known elevation. Possible errors are explored and practical analysis methods outlined. Images can be collected and analysis performed using relatively inexpensive standard equipment. 3. In offshore waters, uncertainty in the height of the camera and target object due to the effects of waves and swell are likely to be the most significant sources of error. The effects of errors in camera height on ranges calculated using this method are approximately proportional to the ratio of the height error to camera height. Simulations indicate that wave- and swell-induced errors in the height of both object and camera will lead to range estimates with a standard deviation (SD) of 0.5 ? (error due to wave height)/(camera height). 4. Three trials were conducted in which ranges (out to 2000 m) measured using this method were compared with those determined using alternative methods (laser range-finding binoculars or non-differential global positioning system). Mean percentage discrepancies in range measurements between the two methods varied from 6.4% to 2.6%, while the SD of discrepancies in trials varied between 6.5% and 4.3%. The independent range measuring methods used here were not without error, however, and it is suggested that a mean absolute error of > 2% is an appropriate figure for the video method. 5. Field tests indicated that the necessary photos or video sequences could be collected from most types of cetaceans in the field. A variety of applications for the method during activities such as line transect surveys, mitigation monitoring and behavioural studies are suggested and discussed. Key-words : cetacean, line transect, mitigation, photogrammetry, range-finding. Present address and correspondence: Jonathan Gordon, Sea Mammal Research Unit, Gatty Marine Laboratory, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, UK (fax 01334 462632; e-mailjg20(\)st-andrews.ac.uk). Received 4 August 2000; revision received 2 January 2000 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2001 00:36:16 -0400 From: "Dr. Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni" Subject: Even more hooded seals in the Caribbean In-Reply-To: Content-type: multipart/alternative; boundary="B_3080594176_104069" > 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. --B_3080594176_104069 Even more hooded seals in the Caribbean In our last message, we detailed 4 hooded seals which had stranded in the Caribbean. To date this number has increased to 7 hooded seals. This is the tally thus far: 1. Puerto Rico 20 July 2001. Female. In rehab. Alive as of 14 August 2001. 2. Bermuda 20 July 2001. Female. Rescued but died. 3. St. Barth=E9lemy, 25 July 2001. Rescued but died. 4. Provinciales Islands, Turks and Caicos, 26 July 2001. The animal was sighted on 26 July and resighted last week, but to date has not stranded or shown up dead.=20 5. Anguilla 3 August 2001. Rescued but died. 6. San Salvador Island, Bahamas 3 August 2001. Sighted but found dead on shore.=20 7. Antigua, 12 August 2001. Male. The seal was rescued on 13 August and transported to Puerto Rico for rehab. Alive as of 14 August 2001. Again, we would like to alert all colleagues and government agency official= s in the southeastern US and Caribbean countries to this situation and to request that any sigthings and strandings be documented thoroughly and reported to help assess this unusual events. The Caribbean Stranding Networ= k is available 24-hours around the clock to assist anybody that finds a hoode= d seal in the Caribbean. You may reach the Network by calling 787-399-1900, 787-399-8432 or 787-766-1717 x6600, email rcv(\)caribe.net or MSN Messanger a= t mignucci(\)hotmail.com. Dr. Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni Laboratorio de Mamiferos Marinos del Caribe Departamento de Ciencias y Tecnologia, Universidad Metropolitana PO Box 361715 San Juan PR 00936-1715 TEL (787)766-1717 x6600, FAX (787)751-5840 EMERG (787)399-8432, (787)399-1900 EMAIL mignucci(\)caribe.net, WEB http://rcv.caribe.net --B_3080594176_104069 Even more hooded seals in the Caribbean Even more hooded seals in the Caribbean

In our last message, we detailed 4 hooded seals which had stranded in t= he Caribbean. To date this number has increased to 7 hooded seals. This is t= he tally thus far:

  1. Puerto Rico 20 July 2001. Female. In re= hab. Alive as of 14 August 2001.
  2. Bermuda 20 July 2001. Female. Rescued but d= ied.
  3. St. Barthélemy, 25 July 2001. Rescue= d but died.
  4. Provinciales Islands, Turks and Caicos, 26 = July 2001. The animal was sighted on 26 July and resighted last week, but to= date has not stranded or shown up dead.
  5. Anguilla 3 August 2001. Rescued but died.
  6. San Salvador Island, Bahamas 3 August 2001.= Sighted but found dead on shore.
  7. Antigua, 12 August 2001. Male. The seal was= rescued on 13 August and transported to Puerto Rico for rehab. Alive as of = 14 August 2001.

Again, we would like to alert all colleagues and government agency official= s in the southeastern US and Caribbean countries to this situation and to re= quest that any sigthings and strandings be documented thoroughly and reporte= d to help assess this unusual events. The Caribbean Stranding Network is ava= ilable 24-hours around the clock to assist anybody that finds a hooded seal = in the Caribbean. You may reach the Network by calling 787-399-1900, 787-399= -8432 or 787-766-1717 x6600, email rcv(\)caribe.net or MSN Messanger at mignuc= ci(\)hotmail.com.

Dr. Antonio A. Mignu= cci-Giannoni

Laboratorio de Mamiferos Marinos del Caribe
Departamento de Ciencias y Tecnologia,  Universidad Metropolitana
PO Box 361715 San Juan PR 00936-1715
TEL (787)766-1717 x6600, FAX (787)751-5840
EMERG (787)399-8432, (787)399-1900
EMAIL mignucci(\)caribe.net, WEB http://rcv.caribe.net --B_3080594176_104069-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 11:49:48 +1000 From: Milena Rafic Subject: Request for images for Gould League publication My name is Sheree Marris and I am an environmental educator with Australia's leading non-profit environmental education organisation - the Gould League. I am currently writing a childrens book on whales and dolphins. I am desperately seeking some photos of the following species in the wild (not dead/stranded please) from the southern hemisphere for inclusion in the book: Strap-toothed Beaked Whale Fin Whale Pygmy Right Whale Pygmy Sperm Whale Irrawaddy Dolphin Striped Dolphin Risso's Dolphin Southern Right Whale Dolphin Hopefully someone can help or direct me to somewhere we can source these images. I can be contacted at the Gould League on +61 3 9532 0909, my mobile 0417 346 963 and my email address is cjellies(\)yahoo.com. The photos will be used solely for the book, which is the next in an award-winning series of environmental education books (Environment Award for Childrens Literature - Wilderness Society). Thanks and Regards Sheree Marris ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2001 19:36:59 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Hector's dolphin conservation measures (fwd) From: "mike donoghue" NEW MEASURES TO PROTECT HECTOR'S DOLPHIN The New Zealand Minister of Fisheries, Hon Pete Hodgson, has announced new management measures aimed at ensuring the survival of the critically endangered North Island population of Hector's dolphin, the country's only endemic cetacean. All amateur and commercial gill net fishing is to be prohibited within four nautical miles of the west coast of the North Island, from Maunganui Bluff (north of Dargaville) to Pariokariwa Point (north of New Plymouth), encompassing some 400 km of coastline. A comprehensive observer programme will be implemented on all trawlers and Danish seine vessels fishing in the area closed to set netting. "Available scientific information suggests there may be as few as 100 Hector 's dolphin left," Mr Hodgson said. "Modelling indicates that the population may eventually decline to extinction if the bycatch rate is more than one dolphin in a five year period. If we are going to save this species from extinction I see no realistic alternative to a ban on gill netting in its habitat waters." The management measures were announced following a one-year public consultation process. Mr Hodgson also consulted Conservation Minister Sandra Lee on the proposed area closure, as required by the Fisheries Act, and received her support. "Hector's dolphin is an endemic New Zealand species that is one of the world's rarest dolphins," Ms Lee said. "In December 1999 I declared it to be a threatened species under the provisions of the New Zealand Marine Mammals Protection Act. The North Island population is genetically distinct from the South Island populations and is not known to interbreed with them. The North Island Hector's dolphin is a taonga, (treasure), and it would be a national tragedy if this animal vanished from the coastal waters it has inhabited for tens of thousands of years. Protecting it from the threat posed by fishing activity is essential if it is to survive." Recent advances in genetic profiling have shown that the North Island population of Hector's dolphin is genetically distinct from the far more abundant population of Hector's dolphin (probably in excess of 5,000 animals) in the South Island, and has has been genetically distinct for many thousands of years. Comparison of DNA from museum specimens of Hector's dolphin skeletons in the North Island show a reduction in haplotype diversity over the past 100 years consistent with a significant decline in population. Records of beachcast dolphins suggest that the animal's range has contracted over the past three decades. The North Island population of Hector's dolphin was classified as "critically endangered" by IUCN in November 2000. Three North Island Hector's dolphin have been found dead on beaches this year. The Ministry of Fisheries considers that at least two of these deaths are likely to have been due to gill netting. Mr Hodgson said he realised the ban on set netting would affect the livelihoods of some commercial fishers. The Ministry of Fisheries has estimated that up to 23 commercial fishers use set nets in the affected area, to varying degrees. "With the North Island Hector's dolphin population at a critically endangered level, I have to adopt a precautionary approach. But I hope the affected fishers are able to restructure their operations so that they can continue fishing, either with other methods or in other areas." Mr Hodgson said that although there was relatively little recreational set netting on the open North Island West Coast outside the harbours, amateur set nets clearly had the potential to catch Hector's dolphin and could not be exempted from the ban. Trawling and Danish seining are likely to present a lower risk to Hector's dolphin, but more information is needed about the impact of these methods. Mr Hodgson said a comprehensive monitoring programme on trawlers and Danish seiners would be implemented by industry. The programme would include an independent observer on all trawl and Danish seine vessels operating within the 4 nautical mile restricted area. The 100 percent observer coverage would continue for five years. The Ministry of Fisheries will conduct an annual review with stakeholders to assess the effectiveness of the observer programme. North Island Hector's dolphin is a shallow water species, and animals are generally found within four nautical miles of the open exposed coastline. Mr Hodgson said at this stage he did not consider it necessary to close the area inside harbour entrances on the west coast to gill netting, as Hector's dolphin have rarely been sighted in harbour waters. More and better information is expected to become available in future on the extent to which the dolphins enter harbours. The protection measures will be reviewed if necessary in light of this information. Mr Hodgson said he greatly appreciated the efforts made by many people to find a solution to the Hector's dolphin issue, including researchers, environmental organisations, and particularly the Northern Inshore Fishing Company, which ran its own consultation process. "I hope the management measures we are now putting in place will ensure that the North Island Hector's dolphin population is at a much reduced risk from the effects of fishing," he said. The closed area will take effect in September. For further information contact: Graeme Speden, Press Secretary, Minister of Fisheries (64) 4 471 9707 or (64) 25 270 9055 ; graeme.speden(\)parliament.govt.nz Mike Donoghue, Department of Conservation, (64) 7 866 8262 or (64) 21 870310 donoghue(\)ihug.co.nz Fraser Folster, Minister of Conservation's Office, (64) 4 471 9821 or (64) 25 947 795 : fraser.folster(\)parliament.govt.nz ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 10:13:05 +0200 From: MTN Centre for Dolphin Studies Subject: Interns/Volunteers boundary="----=_NextPart_000_00F1_01C12705.34F86BA0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_00F1_01C12705.34F86BA0 charset="iso-8859-1" The Centre for Dolphin Studies (CDS) is an independent research and education organisation, operating in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa. = Though the CDS is completely independent, it has associations with two South African Universities. Although we receive both governmental and public funds, we are = predominantly self-funded, through our whale and dolphin watching operation. The CDS = is the only such institute in South Africa. We are the only institute recognised and endorsed by the MTN Whale Route, the award winning NGO, = which promotes whale watching in South Africa. We have accommodated volunteers and interns in the past, but on an ad = hoc basis. Now we announce our new volunteer and intern programme. = Volunteers and interns are invited to participate in our numerous research = programmes; dolphin (humpback and bottlenose) photo ID; migrating humpback whale counts; the influence of boat based whale watching on southern right whales; Our educational programmes; teaching school children about the marine environment; building a whale culture for the community (business opportunities for indigent communities - helping them 'buy in' to tourism and whale = watching). Some of the above may seem strange, but marine conservation in Africa = relies on community involvement. Unfortunately, we can't do this for free, so we charge a small fee, = which includes accommodation and food. If you're interested, please contact us: cdswhale(\)worldonline.co.za For more information on who we are and what we do and have done, connect = to our web-site: www.dolphinstudies.co.za Drs Vic Cockcroft & Debbie Young=20 cdswhale(\)worldonline.co.za ------=_NextPart_000_00F1_01C12705.34F86BA0 charset="iso-8859-1"
The Centre for Dolphin Studies (CDS) is = an=20 independent research and
education organisation, operating in = Plettenberg=20 Bay, South Africa. Though
the CDS is completely independent, it has=20 associations with two South
African Universities.

Although we = receive=20 both governmental and public funds, we are predominantly
self-funded, = through=20 our whale and dolphin watching operation. The CDS is
the only such = institute=20 in South Africa. We are the only institute
recognised and endorsed by = the MTN=20 Whale Route, the award winning NGO, which
promotes whale watching in = South=20 Africa.

We have accommodated volunteers and interns in the past, = but on=20 an ad hoc
basis. Now we announce our new volunteer and intern = programme.=20 Volunteers
and interns are invited to participate in our numerous = research=20 programmes;
dolphin (humpback and bottlenose) photo ID;
migrating = humpback=20 whale counts;
the influence of boat based whale watching on southern = right=20 whales;

Our educational programmes;
teaching school children = about the=20 marine environment;
building a whale culture for the community = (business=20 opportunities for
indigent communities - helping them 'buy in' to = tourism and=20 whale watching).

Some of the above may seem strange, but marine=20 conservation in Africa relies
on community = involvement.

Unfortunately,=20 we can't do this for free, so we charge a small fee, which
includes=20 accommodation and food.

 If you're interested, please = contact=20 us:
cdswhale(\)worldonline.co.za=

For=20 more information on who we are and what we do and have done, connect = to
our=20 web-site: www.dolphinstudies.co.za
=
 

Drs Vic=20 Cockcroft & Debbie Young
cdswhale(\)worldonline.co.za=
------=_NextPart_000_00F1_01C12705.34F86BA0-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 13:02:19 -0400 From: Lianne Maiers Subject: student bursary for travel to SMM Conference in Vancouver Renewed Call for Applications First Biennial Award of the S. Innes Memorial Student Travel Bursary On May 21, 2000, the world of marine mammal research lost two talented scientists and cherished colleagues, Stuart Innes and Malcolm Ramsey. Drs. Innes and Ramsey were conducting field research near Resolute Bay, Nunavut, Canada when their helicopter crashed. Both Stuart and Malcolm are remembered with affection and admiration for their boundless energy and devotion to their scientific endeavours in the Arctic. Stuart was a vocal advocate for supporting students in their efforts to develop a career in Arctic marine mammal research. He believed that the Biennial Marine Mammal Conferences hosted by the Society for Marine Mammalogy were a good opportunity for young researchers to learn, network, and develop enthusiasm from the leaders in the field. As a tribute to Stuart, friends and colleagues have established the "S. Innes Memorial Student Travel Bursary" to help support a student's travel to this conference each time it is held. The award is open to post-secondary students conducting marine mammal research. Preference will be given to students who are performing studies in the Arctic and who are presenting work at the conference. Applications should consist of the following: the student's name, affiliated institution, name and address of supervisor plus one additional reference, level (MSc or PhD) and year of study, and a letter of no more than 400 words describing the project and how the student would benefit from the award. A copy of the submitted conference abstract and an up-to-date cv should also be included. A selection committee of Stuart's colleagues will review the applications and select one winner. The committee's decision is final. This award is open to applicants of any nationality, however, in its inaugural year, preference for the award may be given to Canadian students. After the conference, a brief report should be submitted summarizing how the student benefited from the conference experience. The award this year is for $500.00 (CDN). In honor of the first award of this bursary, the student will be presented with a commemorative plaque at the awards ceremony. A conference banquet ticket will also be provided to the student. Questions and applications should be sent by email to Lianne Maiers at MaiersL(\)dfo-mpo.gc.ca no later than September 15th, 2001. Donations in memory of Stuart may be made to the "S. Innes Memorial Student Travel Bursary" and sent c/o Lianne Maiers, Freshwater Institute, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Cr., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N6. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2001 14:28:22 +1000 Reply-To: Benjamin Kahn From: Benjamin Kahn Organization: APEX Environmental Subject: Rare whale species identified in Komodo National Park, Indonesia boundary="----=_NextPart_000_00F4_01C127F2.09025040" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_00F4_01C127F2.09025040 charset="iso-8859-1" Rare whale species identified in Komodo National Park, Indonesia A rare and regionally distinct whale species has just been identified in = the waters of Komodo National Park and World Heritage Site, Indonesia - = the pygmy Bryde's whale, Balaenoptera edeni. Whale researchers from Apex = Environmental and The Nature Conservancy's Coastal and Marine = Conservation Center first observed the mysterious marine mammal in 1999 = and 2000 while conducting routine whale and dolphin surveys in the Park. Interestingly, these whales could not be positively identified in the = field despite the ample photographic and video material available. = Further examination of this material confirmed the Komodo whales looked = very different from all likely whale candidates known to occur in SE = Asian waters. There simply was no reference material available for = comparison so we obtained approval to take a small biopsy sample from = one of the whales for DNA analysis during the October 2000 surveys. =20 The whale's DNA was recently analysed by the Molecular Ecology Lab, = National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center = in La Jolla, USA and this resulted in a complete match with a pygmy = Bryde's whale sample from the Philippines. This is a rare Balaenoptera species (IUCN 2000 Redlist Status is data = deficient) and it may have variable morphologies. There are only a few = reports of 'normal' Bryde's whales in Southeast Asian waters published, = let alone the pygmy form. The huge regional gap in scientific knowledge = on Indonesia's cetacean diversity, distribution and abundance - crucial = information to identify critical habitats - can only be filled by = cetacean programs such as those conducted by APEX Environmental and The = Nature Conservancy. =20 This is the first positive identification of a living pygmy Bryde's = whale with matching photographic data in Indonesia, and possibly SE Asia = (Philippine samples come from stranded or harpooned individuals; this = species has also been hunted by Japanese whaling vessels in the Solomon = Islands). Thus the photos and video footage taken of this species in = Komodo could provide an important benchmark for benign whale research in = Indonesian waters. Ecological data obtained during the surveys to date = suggests the KNP pygmy Bryde's whales inhabit inshore waters for = extended periods. This habitat preference makes them highly sensitive = to coastal fisheries interactions and destructive fishing practices like = reef bombing. The pygmy Bryde's whales observed in Komodo National Park waters have = the following characteristics: a.. Relatively pointed rostrum=20 b.. Prominent single ridge on rostrum=20 c.. Inconspicuous blow=20 d.. Relatively small for a baleen whale (most individuals are = estimated between 7-10m)=20 e.. Prominent light grey/whitish pectoral fins (not present in the = Philippine whales examined thus far)=20 f.. Extremely falcate dorsal fin=20 g.. Complex colour pattern including light grey chevron, nape streak = and thorax patch (similar to a finback whale).=20 h.. Active feeding, defecating, mating and other behaviours. The identification is of importance as the Balaenoptera whale = morphologies in the Indo-Pacific - and especially in SE Asia - are not = well known and several species are not described in detail from this = region. Others species in Australasia have been, or may be, separated = into several (sub)species as more information comes to light (e.g. pygmy = blue whale, dwarf minke whale, bottlenosed and common dolphins). The visual and acoustic cetacean surveys in Komodo National Park are = conducted twice yearly since 1999 in order to assess the Park's = importance for whale and dolphin species. The surveys focus on several = Park management priorities:=20 a.. Identify which species of whales and dolphins are abundant, = common, uncommon, or rare in Komodo National Park and adjacent waters.=20 b.. Identify resident or transient populations, and if the latter, = record any seasonal sighting patterns in the Park.=20 c.. Identify critical habitats for cetaceans of regional importance, = such as preferred feeding and breeding habitats, as well as migration = corridors.=20 d.. Provide site and species-specific information on Komodo's = cetaceans for:=20 1.. Marine resource and Park management purposes.=20 2.. Environmental awareness and educational programs.=20 3.. Support to the Park's marine tourism and dive industry. a.. Examine the major local and regional environmental impacts that = threaten eastern Indonesia's whales and dolphins.=20 b.. Evaluate which protective measures can be implemented by Park = management authorities to minimize the environmental impacts on cetacean = habitats, including coral reefs, mangroves and the open ocean.=20 c.. Involve local communities, dive operators, and tour guides to help = monitor whale and dolphin activity in and around the Park.=20 d.. Share the survey results with the Indonesian National Park = Authorities, environmental organisations and local communities. These research activities aim to increase the protective management for = the many rare and endangered whale and dolphin species in Indonesian = waters. For example, as a direct result of the whale surveys in Komodo, = extensions to the Park's boundaries and additional buffer zones have = been adopted by the management authorities. These measures are also = incorporated in the 25-year management plan in order to protect = sensitive marine areas for Indonesia's whales and dolphins such as = feeding and breeding grounds as well as migration corridors of regional = significance. Thank you for your interest in this sighting and our cetacean research = program in Indonesia. Of course, any reports of large migratory = cetacean sightings in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea waters would be = very welcome. For more information please contact: Benjamin Kahn Principal Investigator TNC Komodo National Park Cetacean Program Director=20 APEX Environmental=20 Indonesia Oceanic Cetacean Program Tel:+61-7-4059 0270 Fax:+61-7-4059 0849 E-mail:bkahn(\)attglobal.net An info sheet as well as scientific publications on the Komodo National = Park Cetacean Surveys can be downloaded from = http://wwwkomodonationalpark.org ('Reports' section). =20 ------=_NextPart_000_00F4_01C127F2.09025040 charset="iso-8859-1"

Rare whale species identified in Komodo National Park, = Indonesia

A rare and regionally distinct whale = species has=20 just been identified in the waters of Komodo National Park and World = Heritage=20 Site, Indonesia - the pygmy Bryde's whale, Balaenoptera edeni. = Whale=20 researchers from Apex Environmental and The Nature Conservancy's Coastal = and=20 Marine Conservation Center first observed the mysterious marine mammal = in 1999=20 and 2000 while conducting routine whale and dolphin surveys in the=20 Park.
 
Interestingly, these whales=20 could not be positively identified in the field despite the ample=20 photographic and video material available. Further examination of = this=20 material confirmed the Komodo whales looked very different from all = likely=20 whale candidates known to occur in SE Asian waters. There simply was no=20 reference material available for comparison so we obtained = approval to=20 take a small biopsy sample from one of the whales for DNA = analysis=20 during the October 2000 surveys.  
 
The whale's DNA was recently = analysed by the=20 Molecular Ecology Lab, National Marine Fisheries Service, =  Southwest=20 Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla, USA and this resulted in a = complete match=20 with a pygmy Bryde's whale sample from the = Philippines.
This is a rare Balaenoptera species (IUCN 2000 Redlist = Status=20 is data deficient) and it may have variable = morphologies.  There=20 are only a few reports of 'normal' Bryde's whales in Southeast Asian = waters=20 published, let alone the pygmy form.  The huge regional gap in scientific knowledge on Indonesia's = cetacean=20 diversity, distribution and abundance - crucial information to = identify critical habitats -  can only be filled by cetacean = programs such=20 as those conducted by APEX Environmental and The Nature=20 Conservancy.   
 
This is the first = positive=20 identification of a living pygmy Bryde's whale with matching = photographic=20 data in Indonesia, and possibly SE Asia (Philippine samples come = from=20 stranded or harpooned individuals; this species has also been = hunted=20 by Japanese whaling vessels in the Solomon Islands).  Thus the = photos=20 and video footage taken of this species in Komodo could provide an=20 important benchmark for benign whale research in Indonesian = waters. =20 Ecological data obtained during the surveys to date suggests the KNP = pygmy=20 Bryde's whales inhabit inshore waters for extended periods.  = This=20 habitat preference makes them highly sensitive to coastal fisheries = interactions=20 and destructive fishing practices like reef bombing.
 
The pygmy Bryde's whales = observed in Komodo=20 National Park waters have the following characteristics:
  • Relatively pointed rostrum
  • Prominent single ridge on rostrum
  • Inconspicuous blow
  • Relatively small for a baleen whale (most = individuals are=20 estimated between 7-10m)
  • Prominent light grey/whitish pectoral fins = (not present=20 in the Philippine whales examined thus far)
  • Extremely falcate dorsal fin
  • Complex colour pattern including light grey = chevron, nape=20 streak and thorax patch (similar to a finback whale).
  • Active feeding, defecating, mating and other=20 behaviours.
The identification is of importance = as the=20 Balaenoptera whale morphologies in the Indo-Pacific - and especially in = SE Asia=20 - are not well known and several species are not described in detail = from this=20 region.  Others species in Australasia have been, or may be, = separated into=20 several (sub)species as more information comes to light (e.g. pygmy blue = whale,=20 dwarf minke whale, bottlenosed and common=20 dolphins).
 
The visual and acoustic cetacean surveys in Komodo = National=20 Park are conducted twice yearly since 1999 in order to assess the = Park's=20 importance for whale and dolphin species. The surveys focus on = several=20 Park management priorities:
  • Identify which species of whales and dolphins are abundant, = common,=20 uncommon, or rare in Komodo National Park and adjacent waters.=20
  • Identify resident or transient populations, and if the latter, = record any=20 seasonal sighting patterns in the Park.=20
  • Identify critical habitats for cetaceans of regional importance, = such as=20 preferred feeding and breeding habitats, as well as migration = corridors.=20
  • Provide site and species-specific information on Komodo's = cetaceans for:=20
    1. Marine resource and Park management purposes.=20
    2. Environmental awareness and educational programs.=20
    3. Support to the Park's marine tourism and dive=20 industry.
  • Examine the major local and regional environmental impacts that = threaten=20 eastern Indonesia's whales and dolphins.=20
  • Evaluate which protective measures can be implemented by Park = management=20 authorities to minimize the environmental impacts on cetacean = habitats,=20 including coral reefs, mangroves and the open ocean.=20
  • Involve local communities, dive operators, and tour guides to help = monitor=20 whale and dolphin activity in and around the Park.=20
  • Share the survey results with the Indonesian National Park = Authorities,=20 environmental organisations and local communities.

These research activities aim to increase the protective management = for the=20 many rare and endangered whale and dolphin species in Indonesian waters. = For=20 example, as a direct result of the whale surveys in Komodo, extensions = to the=20 Park's boundaries and additional buffer zones have been adopted by the=20 management authorities. These measures are also incorporated in the = 25-year=20 management plan in order to protect sensitive marine areas for = Indonesia's=20 whales and dolphins such as feeding and breeding grounds as well as = migration=20 corridors of regional significance.

Thank you for your interest in this sighting and our cetacean = research=20 program in Indonesia.  Of course, any reports of large migratory=20 cetacean sightings in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea waters would = be very=20 welcome.
 
For more information please contact:
 
Benjamin Kahn
Principal Investigator
TNC Komodo National Park Cetacean=20 Program
Director
APEX Environmental
Indonesia Oceanic Cetacean = Program
Tel:+61-7-4059 0270 Fax:+61-7-4059=20 0849
E-mail:bkahn(\)attglobal.net
 
An info sheet as well as scientific publications on = the Komodo=20 National Park Cetacean Surveys can be downloaded from http://wwwkomodonationalpark.or= g=20 ('Reports' section).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
------=_NextPart_000_00F4_01C127F2.09025040-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 12:05:59 -0400 From: "CMA Marine Mammal Dept." Subject: sperm whale information At the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, FL we are currently rehabilitating a male sperm whale calf that stranded on August 08, 2001. He is weighing in at 1128 lbs. and is 12-ft (365 cm) in length. As this is a unique species to care for in a rehabilitative setting, we were hoping to gather specific information from those facilities that might have cared for a sperm whale calf in the past. Information on formulas used with sperm whales, as well as girth and length measurements on live sperm whale calves and their respected scale weights, were our primary focus at this time. However, any additional information from facilities in a rehabilitative position with this particular species would be useful and appreciated. I can be reached at mmd(\)CMAquarium.org. Thank you in advance for any information provided. Chris Koberna Director of Animal Care & Stranding Response Team Clearwater Marine Aquarium ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001 11:04:00 +0200 From: Manuel Garcia Hartmann Subject: Haemophilus sp. in Tursiops? ------ We are currently completing a Ph.D. study on the aerobe bacterial=20 flora of the respiratory tract of bottlenose dolphins. Despite special=20 efforts we were unable to isolate any Haemophilus sp.. Our=20 literature search on this subject has been unrewarding too. We would be interested to know: have bacteria from this family ever=20 been isolated from any odontocete? Please mail to me directly. Regards, Manuel Garc=EDa Hartmann, DVM Hartmann(\)zoo-duisburg.de Manuel Garc=EDa Hartmann Hartmann(\)zoo-duisburg.de ____________________________ Manuel Garcia Hartmann Zootierarzt / Zoo veterinarian Zoo Duisburg AG Muelheimer Str. 273 D - 47058 Duisburg Tel. +49-203-305 59 42 Fax. +49-203-305 59 22 www.zoo-duisburg.de ____________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2001 13:42:40 +0100 From: "J.C.Goold" Subject: Lectureship in Fish Biology ------ University of Wales, Bangor. SCHOOL OF OCEAN SCIENCES=20 Lectureship in Fish Biology=20 Lecturer Grade A: =A320,066 - =A323,954 p.a. Applications are invited for a Lectureship in the School of Ocean Science= s. The School has substantial interests in applied marine biology, benthic ecology, dynamical oceanography, geological oceanography and marine biogeochemistry and hence places particular emphasis on interdisciplinary research. It is one of the largest academic centres for marine science in the UK with a total of 33 academic staff and has recently taken delivery of a new 35 m shelf sea research vessel. The vessel will be equipped for fishery research and the successful applicant will be encouraged to develop research interests which make use of this facility. In the last Research Assessment Exercise, the School was graded 4 and rated 'excellent' in the Teaching Quality Assessment by HEFCW.=20 Candidates of proven research ability in any aspect of fish biology (e.g. finfish aquaculture, marine fisheries, fish physiology, biochemistry, ethology, genetics etc.) will be considered. The candidate will be expected to contribute to both undergraduate and M.Sc. teaching in fish biology, fisheries and aquaculture as well as to supervise research projects on fish. The marine biology staff contribute courses to two sing= le honours B.Sc. degrees (Applied Marine Biology and Marine Biology), joint honours degrees with marine biology and three M.Sc. degrees (Shellfish Biology, Fisheries and Culture: Marine Environmental Protection and Marine Biology). Research facilities available include tropical and coole= d aquaria, quarantine aquaria facilities, larval rearing facilities, a phytoplankton culture unit, a nutrition laboratory, microbiological and genetics laboratories and standard analytical, sampling and observational facilities including a R.O.V..=20 Application forms and further particulars should be obtained by contactin= g Personnel Services, University of Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DG; tel: +44 (0)1248 382926/388132; e-mail: pos020(\)bangor.ac.uk=20 Please quote reference number 01-1/19 when applying.=20 Closing date for applications: Friday 28 September, 2001.=20 Informal enquiries can be made by contacting Professor R. Seed, tel: +44 (0)1248 382886.=20 Committed To Equal Opportunities=20 Nature, Jobs.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 12:20:25 -0400 From: Marine Mammal Stranding Center Subject: MMSC Hiring Field Stranding Tech. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine New Jersey has an immediate opening for a Field Stranding Technician. Responsibilities: To collect and administer first aid to injured marine mammals and sea turtles, to assist in animal restraint, administration of medication, feeding, hygiene of all live animals brought in. Necropsies will be performed to determine the cause of death on each animal. Collect data for various federal and state agencies on all marine mammals and sea turtles collected from the coast of New Jersey. The individual will be responsible for maintaining our seawater system, along with stranding equipment including vehicles and boats. Qualifications: Prefer a background in animal husbandry, terrestrial or marine mammal. Large animal restraint requires a suitable physical condition. SCUBA qualification or experience with boat handling and maintenance also preferred. Familiarity with programs such as MS Access, PCFile, MS Word, Photodeluxe or Adobe, Digital Camera, Scanner, email. A valid drivers license is required; Salary commensurate with experience. Requirements: 1. Must be a U.S. Citizen 2. Must agree to relocate to Brigantine, NJ email or hardcopy of resume and references may be sent to Marine Mammal Stranding Center, P.O. Box 773, Brigantine, NJ 08203 or mmsc(\)bellatlantic.net For further questions, call 609-266-0538. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2001 19:31:24 +0200 From: Lorenzo von Fersen Subject: Inquiry on by-catch Content-type: multipart/alternative; boundary="MS_Mac_OE_3081267084_1509460_MIME_Part" > DIESE NACHRICHT IST IN MIME-FORMAT. Da Ihr Mailreader dieses Format nicht unterst tzt, k nnte diese Nachricht ganz oder teilweise unlesbar sein. --MS_Mac_OE_3081267084_1509460_MIME_Part Inquiry on by-catch Dear whale and dolphin friends, researchers and environmentalists, YAQU PACHA an Organization for the Conservation of Southamerican Aquatic Mammals based in Germany (www.yaqupacha.de) is organizing a special dolphin-day on the 16th of September. During this day we will target on the dolphin-fisheries problem and in order to transmit real and objective numbers we need the following information: 1- Number of odontocetes that are being caught in nets / year. 2- Name of the most frequent caught species. 3- Areas where the highest number of animals are being killed. 4- By-catch numbers and names of other marine animals (for example pinnipeds, sea- birds and -turtles). Thank you very much in advance! Best regards Dr. Lorenzo von Fersen lvfersen(\)odn.de --MS_Mac_OE_3081267084_1509460_MIME_Part Inquiry on by-catch Inquiry on by-catch

Dear whale and dolphin friends, researchers and environmentalists,
YAQU PACHA an Organization for the Conservation of Southamerican Aquatic Ma= mmals based in Germany (www.yaqupacha.de= ) is organizing a special dolphin-day on the 16th of September. During this = day we will target on the dolphin-fisheries problem and in order to transmit= real and objective numbers we need the following information:
1- Number of odontocetes that are being caught in nets / year.
2- Name of the most frequent caught species.
3- Areas where the highest number of animals are being killed.
4- By-catch numbers and names of other marine animals (for example pinniped= s, sea- birds and -turtles).

Thank you very much in advance!
Best regards

Dr. Lorenzo von Fersen
lvfersen(\)odn.de
 --MS_Mac_OE_3081267084_1509460_MIME_Part-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 21:23:43 +0100 From: "C.A. Hadfield" Subject: Gastric ulcers in odontocetes Hi I am doing a study on gastric ulcers in odontocetes, particularly focusing on bacterial populations identified in the chambers of the stomach and the lesions. I would be very interested to hear from anyone who has gathered similar information from captive, stranded or wild animals. My email is cah38(\)cam.ac.uk Thank you Best wishes Cat Hadfield Vet extern John G Shedd Aquarium 1200 S Lake Shore Drive Chicago IL ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2001 22:49:48 -0500 From: Henke Subject: Review - Whaling Dispute Book Janice S. Henke, of Henke and Associates, Ltd., (rahenke(\)capital.net) submits this review of The Truth Behind the Whaling Dispute, by Masayuki Komatsu, alternate Japanese Commissioner to the IWC. Komatsu is also actively involved in policy development at FAO, and has been representing Japan there and in other fora in whaling, tuna fisheries, and trawling. Shigeko Misaki, a longtime veteran of IWC, has translated the work into English. The Truth Behind the Whaling Dispute is an English language account of the Japanese perspective on the content and process of the polarized whaling debate at IWC, CITES, and FAO. Komatsu is well known to those government representatives and NGOs who have been longtimers at IWC and CITES. His passion for the pro-use side of this issue is eloquently expressed in this work, as is his perspective of the history of the process that has resulted in extreme polarity. The book outlines the history of industrial through modern whaling, the problems with the development of stock assessments, and changes in IWC membership since the early 1980s. Topics covered include: Arguments for and against resumption of commercial whaling, whale/fishery interactions, whale stock status, allegations of vote buying, ballot procedures at IWC and CITES, NGO activities, ICRW excerpts, whale sanctuaries, small cetaceans, scientific whaling, aboriginal/subsistence whaling, trade sanctions, venues of public information, including media decisions, and politics of protest specific to the IWC and CITES. Japanese philosophy on and history of sustainable use, as well as Japanese determination to pursue a science-based commercial resumption, are outlined in detail. The book is also a complex statement of opinion on the political bases for public policy development on environmental issues. This is what raises this work above mere bitter complaint about perceived injustices and adverse biological and social impacts. Komatsu's perspective of the politics of protest is unique in that he gives a well documented and convincing explanation for the positions of those parties to ICRW and CITES who are adamantly opposed to whaling and other high profile resource uses. Other writers have merely given their opinion of the legal status of IWC plenary decisions, schedule amendments and non-binding resolutions. Komatsu has taken this further and proposed very down-to-earth explanations for the behaviors of both anti-whaling IWC members and NGOs. The IWC voting behavior is seen by Komatsu to have a direct adverse impact on respect for science, for cultural diversity, community health, legal treaty mandates, and marine ecosystem diversity and stability. Polarization, rather than trends towards consensus, is well recognized as increasing in international debate on high profile resource use. Komatsu sees this as an important factor in attempts to solve global resource management problems in the future. His perspective of the IWC as dysfunctional is shared by many IWC and non-IWC observers. The precedents set in IWC by this dysfunctionality are seen by him to be of the gravest concern in matters of future world food security and correction of ecosystem imbalance caused by single-species non-management regimes. Those interested in the IWC dilemma will want to acquire this book. The price is right; complementary copies in either book form or compact disk may be requested from the Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) at telephone 020 7394 5029, or on line at www.whalesci.org or at www.jp-whaling-assn.com. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 26 Aug 2001 10:30:47 -0700 Reply-To: research(\)oceansblue.org From: OBF Research Subject: sewage impacts on marine mammals ------ The Oceans Blue Foundation is currently undertaking research activities aimed to increase the protective management for marine mammals potentiall= y threatened by exposure to such microbiological contamination from human waste discharges (i.e. enterococci and fecal coliforms) and sewage-induce= d algae bloom related paralytic shellfish poisoning toxin (PSP - saxitoxins= ) and amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP - domoic acid) and neurotoxic shellf= ish poison (NSP - brevetoxin). References elucidating enumeration, monitoring and sampling of marine mam= mal species for such pathogenic contaminants due to poor water quality in wil= d or laboratory environs would be most helpful. It is understood that littl= e work has been done on marine sources, so citations to effects of land-bas= ed point sources on marine mammals would be most welcome. Species with heavy consumption of bivalve molluscan shellfish, crustacean= s and finfish known to be deleteriously affected by microbiological and nutrient enrichment is of particular interest. Studies with findings which have determined species critical limits would also be appreciated in assisting in correlating with known tolerances for human seafood consumption and subsequent fishery advisories(& beach closures). Such information will be useful in our making recommendations for regulat= ory action which might prohibit discharge of sewage by recreational boaters, non-pleasure craft = and commercial passenger vessels when on waters designated as no-discharge areas, especially those significant to safeguarding marine mammals and critical habitat. Documents currently reviewed: Bach=E8re, E., E. Mialhe, D. No=EBl, V. Boulo, A.Morvan and J. Rodriguez.= 1995. Knowledge and research prospects in marine mollusc and crustacean immunology. Aquaculture 132: 17-32. Bower, S.M., McGladdery, S.E. (1997): Synopsis of Infectious Diseases and Parasites of Commercially Exploited Shellfish: Introduction. Jamieson, G.S. 1986. Paralytic shellfish poisoning, p. 44-46. In G.S. Jamieson and K. Francis [ed.] Invertebrate and marine plant resources of British Columbia. Can. Spec. Publ. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 91. Kinne, O. [ed.]. 1983. Diseases of Marine Animals. Volume II: Introductio= n, Bivalvia to Scaphopoda. Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Hamburg. 571 p. Kinne, O. [ed.]. 1990. Diseases of Marine Animals. Volume III: Introducti= on, Cephalopoda, Annelida, Crustacea, Chaetognatha, Echinodermata, Urochordat= a. Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Hamburg. 696 p. Nishimura, D.J.H., G.E. Piercey, C.D. Levings, K. Yin, and E.R. McGreer. 1996. Changes in fish communities and water chemistry after cessation of municipal sewage discharge near the Iona Island foreshore, Fraser River estuary, British Columbia. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2096: 17 p. Reddington, J. 1995. Advanced diagnosis: you can't wage war if you don't know your enemy. Bulletin of the Aquaculture Association of Canada 95-2(2= ): 17-19. Ross, P.S. and G.M. Troisi. 2001. Pinnipeds. In Ecotoxicology of wild mammals. Edited by R.F.Shore and B.A.Rattner. John Wiley & Sons, New York= 8: 371-426. Ross, P.S. 2000. Marine mammals as sentinels in ecological risk assessmen= t. HERA 6: 29-46. Ross, P.S., G.E.M. Ellis, M.G. Ikonomou, L.G. Barrett-Lennard, and R.F. Addison. 2000. High PCB Levels in Free-Ranging Pacific Killer Whales, Orcinus Orca: Effects of Age, Sex, and Dietary Preference. Marine Polluti= on Bulletin 40 (6): 504-515. Ross, P.S., J.G. Vos, L.S. Birnbaum, and A.D.M.E. Osterhaus. 2000. PCBs a= re a health risk for humans and wildlife. Science 289: 1878-1879. U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutriti= on FISH AND FISHERY PRODUCTS HAZARDS AND CONTROLS GUIDE January 1998 Thank you in advance MarMammers for suggested citations. By the way you may wish to view: http://www.oceansblue.org/bluetourism/chartacourse/cruiseship/wavesnews.h= tml for the latest news regarding the pregnant humpback which died due to a collision with a cruise ship in Glacier Bay National Park. For environmentally responsible tourism, Howard Breen Researcher research(\)oceansblue.org Oceans Blue Foundation http://www.oceansblue.org ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 15:10:10 +0200 From: "Parijs, Sofie Van" Subject: New publication - Sousa acoustics ------ For those who are interested, we have a new publication out on Sousa acoustics in Ethology.=20 Van Parijs S.M. and Corkeron, P.J. 2001. The vocal repertoire and related behaviors of Pacific humpback dolphins, Sousa chinensis. Ethology, 107, 701-716. Limited reprints will be available soon. Reprint requests should go to sofie(\)npolar.no > Dr. Sofie Van Parijs > Norwegian Polar Institute, > Troms=F8 N-9296, Norway. >=20 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 23:07:21 -0300 From: Robin W Baird Subject: Abstract: Mark-recapture estimate of Tursiops in Hawaii Baird, R.W., A.M. Gorgone, A.D. Ligon and S.K. Hooker. 2001. Mark-recapture abundance estimate of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) around Maui and Lana'i, Hawai'i, during the winter of 2000/2001. Report prepared under Contract # 40JGNF0-00262 to the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, La Jolla, CA. Abstract Bottlenose dolphins were photo-identified in the area between the islands of Maui, Lana'i, Moloka'i and Kaho'olawe, Hawai'i (an area of approximately 3,000 km2) between November 2000 and March 2001. A total of 328 hours were spent on the water during 49 days, and bottlenose dolphins were encountered on 32 occasions on 22 days. Fifty-nine individual dolphins had long-term recognizable markings (dorsal fin or back notches), and an additional 12 individuals (including 4 calves) were also documented based on body scars, dorsal fin shape or pigmentation patterns; thus, approximately 82% of individuals are thought to be recognizable in the long-term. Identification data were combined with a catalog of 63 individuals that had been documented in the same study area in 1999 and during the spring of 2000. During this entire period each "marked" individual was documented an average of 3.6 times (range 1-16), though individuals were not re-sighted randomly; some were seen more often and some less often than expected by chance. A mark-recapture analysis of the population using identifications from 1999 and from November 2000-March 2001, taking into account the proportion of marked individuals, produced an estimate of 134 dolphins (95% CI = 107-179). Using modeled rates of discovery the population was estimated at 122 individuals. Given the size of the study area and the presumed transitory nature of bottlenose dolphins around oceanic islands, the population in this area is surprisingly small. PDF copies can be obtained by writing to Robin Baird at rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca ====================================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Post-doctoral Fellow, Biology Department, Dalhousie University and Cetacean and Sea Turtle Team, NMFS, NOAA Beaufort Lab 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, NC 28516 USA Phone: 252-728-8762 Fax: 252-728-8784 e-mail: robin.baird(\)noaa.gov or rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca http://shrimp.bea.nmfs.gov/ http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/rwb/robin.htm ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2001 11:52:18 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: PhD studentship at University of St Andrews, UK (fwd) PhD studentship at the School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Scotland, UK The diet of grey seals in the North Sea A PhD studentship to investigate how grey seal diet has changed in relation to changes in the abundance of fish stocks in the North Sea is being supported by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The work will involve the laboratory analysis of hard prey remains recovered from faeces collected from haul out sites, conducting feeding experiments, and the application of statistical modelling in data analysis. The successful candidate will join the Sea Mammal Research Unit at the Gatty Marine Laboratory. Starting date is 1 October 2001 or as soon as possible thereafter. Application forms can be obtained from Mrs Jane Williamson . The closing date for applications is 14 September. Further details can be found at http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~seeb/pg/ProjIndex.htm and at http://www.smru.st-and.ac.uk/ Dr Philip S. Hammond Sea Mammal Research Unit, Gatty Marine Laboratory University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, Scotland, U.K. Dear MARMAM subscribers: I need information on the skeletal structure of a pygmy sperm whale for (kogia breviceps) for a friend here in Charleston, S.C., who is putting together the skeleton of a pygmy that stranded on Dewees Island, S.C. The project is SCDNR approved and the skeleton will be a display in the island's Nature Center. But he can find no osteology book or skeletal diagrams on the whale. Can you help? Thanks, Harriet McLeod hmcleod(\)postandcourier.com On behalf of Kendrick Mayes 8961 Bennett's Point Road Airy Hall Plantation Green Pond, SC 29446 843-844-8900 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 outside 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 30 September 2001. ************************************ Patti Thompson, Staff Biologist Save the Manatee Club 500 N. Maitland Avenue, Suite 210 Maitland, FL 32751 phone: 407.539.0990 fax: 407.539.0871 email: pthompson(\)savethemanatee.org ************************************ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 15:41:19 -0500 From: "Dr. David Scarfe" Subject: ASAC e-news: AVMA 2002 Convention - call for presentations The American Veterinary Medical Association Annual Convention has an aquatic animal/aquaculture medicine program, usually 2 - 3 days long. The 139th AVMA Convention in July 13 - 17, 2002, will be in Nashville, TN. Dr. Skip Jack, the Aqua Program Coordinator is now finalizing speakers for this Program. If you are interesting in participating as a speaker, please contact him directly. Travel and some other expenses are frequently covered for speakers. THE DEADLINE FOR POTENTIAL SPEAKERS for this Convention IS SEPTEMBER 10, 2001. Dr. Skip Jack Mississippi State University CVM PO Box 9825 Starkville, MS 39762-9825 (662) 325-3432 jack(\)cvm.msstate.edu Dave. ************************************************* ASAC e-news is information that is of aquatic and veterinary interest, obtained from a variety of sources, and provided by AVMA's Aquaculture and Seafood Advisory Committee. It is intended for public distribution. Messages may contain attachments which will have been scanned for known viruses. If any interested veterinarians would like to be placed on a recipient list to receive this, or who have pertinent information to contribute, please send a request, or information, to: Dr. A. David Scarfe PhD, DVM, MRSSA DScarfe(\)avma.org Assist. Director, Scientific Activities American Veterinary Medical Association Visit our website: www.avma.org *************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 1 Sep 2001 05:02:59 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Abstract: inter-annual variation in harbour seal diet (fwd) Interannual variation in the summer diets of harbour seals Phoca vitulina at Mousa, Shetland (UK) Brown, E.G., Pierce, G.J., Hislop, J.R.G. & Santos, M.B. (2001) Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK, 81, 325-337. ABSTRACT The main prey species in the summer (July-September) diets of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) on the Island of Mousa (Shetland, UK), 1994-1997, were whiting (Merlangius merlangus), herring (Clupea harengus), sandeel (Ammodytidae) and garfish (Belone belone). Norway pout (Trisopterus esmarkii) was numerically important but comprised no more than 11% of prey weight in any one year. There were marked between-year fluctuations in the relative importance of these prey, with whiting comprising 16-34% (by weight) of the diet, herring 12-28%, sandeels 7-18% and garfish 7-22%. Additional data on spring (April-June) diet were available for 1995-1997: sandeels were the most important prey (% weight) in all three years (51-60% of the diet), while herring (8-48%) and gadids (2-22%) varied in importance. The average size of fish eaten was larger than that reported in comparable studies from other areas. Harbour seals appear to have selected larger sandeels, whiting, and Norway pout than the average size available in the area, as indicated by survey trawls, although between-year changes in the size of Norway pout in the diet did to some extent reflect availability. Interannual variation in the importance of Norway Pout in the diet appeared to track trends in abundance, although the short time series precluded detection of a statistically significant correlation. Thus, some of our results are consistent with harbour seals feeding opportunistically while others point to selectivity, particularly for prey size. Estimated consumption of fish by the 500 harbour seals on Mousa during summer ranged from 152-195 tonnes. Reprint requests to: Edward G. Brown 9 Twageos Rd Lerwick Shetland ZE1 0BB Scotland, U.K. Email: e.brown(\)ssmg.shetland.co.uk ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2001 17:30:44 -0400 From: Sheri Barton Subject: Florida manatee intern positions The Manatee Research Program at Mote Marine Laboratory has 5 intern positions available from late November/December 2001 through March 2002. Interns will assist with fieldwork at manatee winter aggregation sites in southwestern Florida. The primary study is an assessment of manatee use of a non-industrial winter refuge site. Interns will assist with all aspects of fieldwork including data collection, equipment operation, and volunteer supervision. Lab work will include data entry, equipment maintenance, volunteer scheduling, and miscellaneous office tasks. Fieldwork involves 24-hour behavioral observations, photo-ID, radio tracking, site use assessment, and habitat characterization. Interns are expected to be an integral part of all aspects of fieldwork and can count on long, tiring days and nights spent on a small boat and/or residential dock. Fieldwork can be intense at times, and requires patience and dedication. Qualifications: Interns should have a background in the biological sciences or a related field. Computer experience (especially Microsoft Access and Excel), prior fieldwork (especially photo-ID and radio tracking), ability to use a 35-mm SLR camera, and experience with small watercraft operation are highly preferred, but not necessary. Junior and senior college students and recent graduates are eligible. Only hardworking, dedicated, and serious individuals with positive attitudes need to apply. It is very important that interns be self-motivated, meticulous, and able to work both independently and as part of a team. THESE POSITIONS ARE UNPAID. Internship dates: late November/early December through late March Dates may be flexible, however internships of 10 or more weeks are preferred. For an application, please contact Andrea Davis, Mote Marine Lab's Intern Coordinator. email: adavis(\)mote.org phone: (941)388-4441 Ms. Davis can also provide assistance with housing, if needed. Sheri Webb Barton Mote Marine Laboratory sheri(\)marinelab.sarasota.fl.us 1600 Thompson Parkway Voice: 941-388-4441 ext. 471 Sarasota FL 34236 Fax: 941-388-4312 We are an independent, nonprofit, marine and estuarine research and education facility. Opinions expressed here are not MML policy unless so indicated. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2001 19:16:32 +0100 From: Tony Martin Subject: Job opportunity Short-term job opportunity I am looking to hire a research assistant for approximately 10 weeks to help with analysis of beluga dive data and boto movement data. Payment is approx 200 GBPounds per week. Employer is the British Antarctic Survey, based in Cambridge UK. The successful applicant will have the following attributes: Graduate degree Fluency in the English Language High skills level in data manipulation using spreadsheets, preferably EXCEL Attention to detail Availability from around 24 Sept 2001 for 10 weeks for work in Cambridge Please send CVs to Dr A.R.Martin Biological Sciences Division British Antarctic Survey Madingley Road Cambridge CB3 OET UK arm(\)nerc.ac.uk by September 12, 2001 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2001 17:22:00 -0700 From: Scientific Program Committee Subject: 14th Biennial Meeting Update The Scientific Program Committee for the 14th Biennial Meeting of the Society for Marine Mammalogy would like to thank everyone who was a part of the overwhelming response for abstracts. This year marks an all time high for number of abstracts submitted for consideration by the Scientific Program Committee (we received 1132 abstracts -- a 30% increase over the 13th Biennial Conference in Maui). Even with three concurrent oral sessions and a reduction in the number of plenary talks, there will only be time for 324 fifteen-minute oral presentations in the five-day meeting. All poster presentations will remain on display for the duration of the meeting to ensure maximum exposure to the delegates. Decisions regarding all submitted abstracts were sent by e-mail on August 17. Please e-mail sciprogram(\)vanaqua.org only if you submitted an abstract and have NOT received your notification. During the notification process, we discovered that some e-mail addresses were incorrect or no longer valid. Members of the Society for Marine Mammalogy should ensure that they update their contact information with D. Ann Pabst at pabsta(\)uncwil.edu if it has changed. Please note that all presenters must register to attend the meeting. The deadline for early registration is SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2001. Visit the conference web site at www.smmconference.org for more details. Best Regards, Andrew Trites and John Ford Scientific Program Co-Chairs 14th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals sciprogram(\)vanaqua.org www.smmconference.org ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 5 Sep 2001 15:06:07 -0400 From: Lori Marino Subject: Request for information on occipital condyles Dear Marmamers: I would like to know if anyone knows of any data showing a correlation between occipital condyle width and body weight (or length) in odontocetes - but we'd be interested in data for any cetaceans. We are trying to determine if we can possibly use occ condyle width as a proxy for body weight in our investigations of brain-body weight proportions in both modern and fossil cetaceans. I'd appreciate if anyone with information on this would contact me at lmarino(\)emory.edu. Thank you. 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 WEB SITES: http://www.emory.edu/LIVING_LINKS/i/people/marino.html http://www.emory.edu/COLLEGE/NBB/FACULTY/research.html#Marino ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 6 Sep 2001 09:30:14 -0400 From: Lianne Maiers Subject: student travel bursary for SMM conference in Vancouver Renewed Call for Applications First Biennial Award of the S. Innes Memorial Student Travel Bursary On May 21, 2000, the world of marine mammal research lost two talented scientists and cherished colleagues, Stuart Innes and Malcolm Ramsey. Drs. Innes and Ramsey were conducting field research near Resolute Bay, Nunavut, Canada when their helicopter crashed. Both Stuart and Malcolm are remembered with affection and admiration for their boundless energy and devotion to their scientific endeavours in the Arctic. Stuart was a vocal advocate for supporting students in their efforts to develop a career in Arctic marine mammal research. He believed that the Biennial Marine Mammal Conferences hosted by the Society for Marine Mammalogy were a good opportunity for young researchers to learn, network, and develop enthusiasm from the leaders in the field. As a tribute to Stuart, friends and colleagues have established the "S. Innes Memorial Student Travel Bursary" to help support a student's travel to this conference each time it is held. The award is open to post-secondary students conducting marine mammal research. Preference will be given to students who are performing studies in the Arctic and who are presenting work at the conference. Applications should consist of the following: the student's name, affiliated institution, name and address of supervisor plus one additional reference, level (MSc or PhD) and year of study, and a letter of no more than 400 words describing the project and how the student would benefit from the award. A copy of the submitted conference abstract and an up-to-date cv should also be included. A selection committee of Stuart's colleagues will review the applications and select one winner. The committee's decision is final. This award is open to applicants of any nationality, however, in its inaugural year, preference for the award may be given to Canadian students. After the conference, a brief report should be submitted summarizing how the student benefited from the conference experience. The award this year is for $500.00 (CDN). In honor of the first award of this bursary, the student will be presented with a commemorative plaque at the awards ceremony. A conference banquet ticket will also be provided to the student. Questions and applications should be sent by email to Lianne Maiers at MaiersL(\)dfo-mpo.gc.ca no later than September 15th, 2001. Donations in memory of Stuart may be made to the "S. Innes Memorial Student Travel Bursary" and sent c/o Lianne Maiers, Freshwater Institute, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Cr., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N6. Lianne Maiers Molecular Genetics Biologist Central and Arctic Region Fisheries and Oceans Canada 501 University Crescent Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6 phone: 204-984-4628 FAX: 204-984-2403 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2001 08:44:38 -0400 From: Nicole Adimey Subject: International Sirenian Conservation Workshop A workshop entitled "International Sirenian Conservation" will be held in conjunction with the Society for Marine Mammalogy's 14th Annual Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals. The workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, November 28, 2001, from 1:30 to 4:30 PM at the Simon Fraser University downtown campus, room 2270. The workshop will be on a first come first serve basis, with no registration fees. The workshop will address current management and research issues, with specific emphasis on international efforts. Topics may include human threats, conservation, program descriptions, status, and rescue/rehab. We are now accepting speakers/presenters for the workshop. Those interested in attending or presenting should contact Nicole Adimey by October 15, 2001. ______________________________________________ Nicole Adimey, Fish and Wildlife Biologist U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 6620 Southpoint Drive, South #310 Jacksonville, Florida 32216-0958 Telephone: (904) 232-2580, ext. 123 Facsimile: (904) 232-2404 e-mail: nicole_adimey(\)fws.gov ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2001 16:52:34 -0000 From: Ben Delbaere Organization: European Centre Nature Conservation Subject: Monitoring of pinnipeds in Europe Dear MARMANners, our organization, the European Centre for Nature Conservation, is currently carrying out an inventory of ongoing long-term biodiversity monitoring networks in Europe (site-based or nation-wide) under contract to the European Topic Centre on Nature Protection and Biodiversity. I would be happy to learn about current pinniped monitoring activities in Europe (Europe-wide or multinational within Europe). Our specific interest is in knowing which sites are monitored, how often, what data are gathered, which countries and species are covered, how is data reported, whether specific biodiversity indicators are used, etc. I look forward to your reply. Kind regards, Ben Delbaere ...................................................................... Ben Delbaere - Senior Programme Coordinator Biodiversity and Landscapes ECNC - European Centre for Nature Conservation PO Box 1352, 5004 BJ Tilburg, The Netherlands Tel.: +31-13-4663240 - Fax: +31-13-4663250 E-mail: delbaere(\)ecnc.nl, WWW: http://www.ecnc.nl ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 10:00:20 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Abstract: Alliances and kinship in bottlenose dolphins The following article has recently been published: Moller, L.M., Beheregaray, L.B., Harcourt, R.G., and Krtzen, M. 2001. Alliance membership and kinship in wild male bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) of southeastern Australia. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, 268: 1941-1947. Abstract: Bottlenose dolphins are one of only a few mammalian taxa where the males are known to cooperate within their social group in order to maintain mating access to single females against other males. Male bonds in bottlenose dolphins have been hypothesized as evolving through kinship and associated inclusive fitness effects. In this study we tested whether individually identified male bottlenose dolphins preferentially associate and form alliances with kin in a small coastal resident population of southeastern Australia using a combination of behavioural data, genetic sexing, sequences of the mitochondrial DNA control region and nuclear microsatellite markers. Males generally associated significantly more often than expected with one to three other males, with whom they jointly herded females for mating. Associations and alliance membership were not associated with either maternal kinship or genetic relatedness. The majority of male pairs within alliances were randomly related, although high relatedness values were found between males of different alliances in the resident population. These findings indicate that mechanisms other than kin selection may be foremost in the development and maintenance of cooperation between male bottlenose dolphins. A pdf copy of this manuscript can be obtained from the Royal Society (Biological Sciences) web page: http://www.pubs.royalsoc.ac.uk/ (Go to table of contents, page 1941) Limited reprints will be available shortly from: Luciana Moller ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Dear Members, I would like to let you know about a new paper we have recently published in Nature on the mother's voice recognition onset in the subantarctic fur seal pups (Arctocephalus tropicalis). Charrier, I., Mathevon, N. and Jouventin, P. 2001. When do fur seal know their mother's voice ? Nature, volume 412, n=B06850. We do not yet have reprints but we will have soon !! Thanks, Isabelle Charrier, Ph.D student. Laboratoire de Biologie Animale Universit=E9 Jean Monnet 23 rue Michelon 42023 Saint-Etienne cedex 2 FRANCE isabelle.charrier(\)wanadoo.fr Abstract: In a number of gregarious mammals, individual vocal recognition between mother and offspring supports mother-pup meeting among numerous other individuals. The pup's ability to recognize its mother is crucial for its survival: in the great majority of mammals species, except phocids, females feed only their infant and allo-suckling is rare. Despite this importance, the set up of mother's voice recognition by the young has only been studied in mammals species where mother and young use to stay bond together during the breeding period: up to now there is none published study investigating the ontogeny of mother's voice recognition by pup within a mammal species where mother and pup are separated for a long time just a few days after birth. In the subantarctic fur seal Arctocephalus tropicalis, mothers abandon their pup on the birth place a few days after parturition for a minimum of a two weeks feeding sea-trip. Using playback experiments, we show that that pups need to be 2 to 5 days old before being able to perform mother-specific response. Investigating the relationship between the female departure date and the duration of the young learning process, we show that the mother delays the departure for her first feeding sea-trip until her pup is able to recognize her. Moreover, the mother's voice learning is a robust imprinting process: when a mother comes back to the colony from her first feeding sea-trip, her pup need less than 11 minutes to find her out. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 17:50:10 -0500 From: Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network Subject: Job posting JOB POSTING: The Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network (TMMSN), a non-profit [501 (c) 3] organization, seeks to fill the full-time position of State Operations Coordinator. The TMMSN was founded in 1980 and has evolved to an organization consisting of biologists, professionals, students, and animal lovers alike. Our missions consist of: recovery of live and dead stranded dolphins or whales along the Texas coast, extensive research, and public awareness through education. Job Responsibilities: Coordinate salvage operations of all dead marine mammals which wash ashore in the State of Texas and coordinate the return of carcasses to the necropsy facility at Texas A&M University at Galveston. Coordinate basic data collection from all dead marine mammals that wash ashore in the State of Texas. Maintain all required federal reports (as dictated by Department of Commerce) of dead and live marine mammal stranding events in the State of Texas. Coordinate and oversee all rescue and rehabilitation of live marine mammals that wash ashore in the State of Texas. Supervise volunteers associated marine mammal rehabilitations. Complete quarterly tax forms for a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Prepare quarterly stranding reports and annual financial summaries for Board of Directors. Perform radio, TV, and newspaper interviews. Participate in grant writing with TMMSN's Development Committee for additional support. Must be able to work some nights and weekends. Flexible hours. Position requires some travel, must have a valid Texas driver's license. Qualifications: Applicant must have a Masters degree or Bachelors degree with 3 years of related experience. Previous experience with marine mammal strandings is a plus along with basic knowledge of marine mammal biology. Candidate must be self-motivated, work well independently while being able to work closely with volunteers when needed. Must have knowledge of basic accounting and merchandising. This position requires computer literacy (Word Perfect, Microsoft Word, Photo Plus, Photo Deluxe, Power Point, Microsoft Access, and Paradox), excellent leadership, writing, editorial, and speaking skills. Salary and Benefits: Base salary is $27,000 with a potential maximum of $47,000 depending upon the success of grant writing. This position will be paid through Texas A&M University at Galveston. Texas A&M University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Send resume, cover letter, and a list of 3 references to address below. Applications can be found at: http://www.tamug.tamu.edu/hrd/employ.html All applications must be received by September 26, 2001. Application info: Texas A&M University at Galveston Human Resources P.O. Box 1675 Galveston, TX 77553 409-740-4519 Job information: For more information about the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network, please see our website at http://www.tmmsn.org or contact the TMMSN directly at TMMSN(\)tamug.tamu.edu or 409-740-4455. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 13:36:44 -0400 From: "Frisch, Katherine" Subject: FL Manatee Avoidance Technology Request for Proposals FLORIDA MANATEE AVOIDANCE TECHNOLOGY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS INTRODUCTION The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Florida Marine Research Institute, is seeking sealed proposals for manatee avoidance technology to reduce collisions between manatees and watercraft. BACKGROUND In 2001, the Florida Legislature appropriated funds ($200,000) in the Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund (MRCTF) for research projects that directly address the problem of reducing manatee/boat collisions by means of technological solutions. Because manatees are a protected species, these solutions must be consistent with Florida Statutes, the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and may not cause an unauthorized take of Florida manatees. It is the intent of the legislature to provide these funds in order to quickly evaluate any possible existing technological solutions , and if appropriate, provide a funding mechanism to assist in bringing new technologies to a level that will eventually make these solutions available to the managers and public at acceptable costs and risks. It is incumbent on the applicant to understand that funds are insufficient to fully fund the research, prototype development, and field testing of all the technologies possibly available. Applicants should consider partnering to maximize the effectiveness of proposals. TOPICS ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING Topics that shall be considered eligible for funding through the Florida Manatee Avoidance Technology Grant program include but are not limited to: 1. Technology designed to provide manatees with information about the presence of oncoming boats in order to enable the animals to modify their behavior to avoid the boats. 2. Technology designed to inform boaters of the presence of manatees in order to enable boaters to avoid manatees without changing the behavior of the animals. 3.Hull or propulsion system design or technology which may reduce the risk of manatee/watercraft collisions or minimize injuries in the event of a collision. 4. An in-depth assessment of technologies currently under development, or which already exist, that have been or could be applied to reducing the risk of manatee injury or death resulting from collisions with vessels. (funding limit $25,000). FURTHER DETAILS The RFP may be viewed in its entirety on the web at: http://fcn.state.fl.us/owa_vbs/owa/vbs_www.ad.view_ad?advertisement_key_num= 24069 Please direct all questions to: Elsa Haubold Phone: (727) 896-8626 FAX: (727) 893-9176 Email: elsa.haubold(\)fwc.state.fl.us Any person with a qualified disability requiring special accommodations at the pre-bid conference and/or bid/proposal opening shall contact purchasing at the phone number above at least five (5) working days prior to the event. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact this office by using the Florida Relay Services which can be reached at 1 (800) 955-8771 (TDD). The Department reserves the right to reject any and all bids or accept minor irregularities in the best interest of the State of Florida. Minority Business Enterprises are encouraged to participate in the bidding process. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2001 09:39:58 EDT From: Tom Kieckhefer Subject: Re: Executive Director Friends of the Sea Otter (FSO) Executive Director Position Summary: The Executive Director is responsible for overall management of the organization including administrative oversight and running all internal functions. The incumbent reports to the President of the Board of Trustees. Responsibilities: Administrative * Develop and ensure adherence to the organization's budget, and oversee preparation of monthly financial statements. Approves all expenditures. * Insures that the organization adheres to appropriate state and federal financial and legal reporting requirements, and does not violate laws regulating non-profit status. * Makes arrangements for proper insurance coverage for the organization, the Board and the staff. * Implements policy fulfilling the organization's mission as directed by the Board of Trustees and administers Board-approved strategic plan. * Supervisor to staff; primarily responsible for hiring, firing and development of employees. Responsible for running regular staff meetings u sing team approach to problem solving / working with staff. * Implements established personnel policy and By-laws. Liaison to Board of Trustees * Act as chief liaison to Board to Trustees and establish a working relationship with the Board President to determine goals and priorities and ensure their timeliness and implementation. * Attend all Board meetings and all committee meetings; prepare Board meeting agendas in consultation with the Board President and committee meeting agendas in consultation with the committee chairs. * In consultation with Board President, plan and implement Board and Staff retreats as directed by Board. * In a timely fashion, advise Board on all matters affecting the status and viability of the organization. Development/marketing * Primarily responisible for all development activities. Work with Board, Development consultant and staff on all development activities with guidance from the Board of Trustees. Responsible for implementation of Board approved marketing development plan. Program/Policy * Develop and administer all organizational program activities in consultation with the Board of Trustees and appropriate staff. * Remain current on issues affecting sea otters, become familiar with current FSO positions on issues and communicate them effectively. * Represent FSO at meetings, hearings and workshops and appear before state and federal agencies dealing with sea otter issues, and serve as principle liaison to groups with purposes and objectives similar to FSO. Appear with Science Director as appropriate. * Serve as spokesperson for FSO with the media, members and the general public. * Take responsibility for making major contributions to the annual report and organizing and running the annual meeting. * Assume ultimate responsibility for production of all publications. * Other duties as required. Typical Physical Demands: * Working on desktop computer (with keyboard, monitor) for extended periods of time * Frequent use of telephone, copier, FAX and other office equipment * Must be able to travel to a variety of locations to represent the organization, involves walking long distances, climbing stairs, carrying a variety of times, and materials * Must be able to hear and communicate clearly both on the telephone and in person. Qualifications/Skills: * Experience managing or directing a business, or conservation or public service non-profit organization, working closely with Board of Directors and committees. * A proven successful record of major fund-raising and membership development. * Excellent oral and written communication skills * Ability to interact positively and effectively with a wide variety of people, organizations and community groups * Ability to use a desktop computer for communication, record-keeping, budget management and other administrative functions. Hours: Full time, with occasional evenings and weekends Compensation and Benefits: Paid medical, dental, life insurance policy, 10 days sick leave; 10 days vacations; 8 holidays; 2 personal holidays. Please send resumes to: Law Office of Kim Beals 177 17th Street Pacific Grove, CA 93950 Fax (831) 646-9363 Phone (831) 646-9303 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2001 06:07:39 -0300 Reply-To: lrendell(\)is2.dal.ca From: Luke Rendell Subject: Abstract : Culture in whales and dolphins The following article recently appeared in Behavioral and Brain Sciences, along with commentaries (39) and author response : Rendell, Luke & Whitehead, Hal (2001) Culture in whales and dolphins. Behav. Brain. Sci. v24(2): 309-382 Abstract Studies of animal culture have not normally included a consideration of cetaceans. However, with several long-term field studies now maturing, this situation should change. Animal culture is generally studied by either investigating transmission mechanisms experimentally, or observing patterns of behavioural variation in wild populations which cannot be explained by either genetic or environmental factors. Taking this second, ethnographic, approach, there is good evidence for cultural transmission in several cetacean species. However, only the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops spp.) has been shown experimentally to possess sophisticated social learning abilities, including vocal and motor imitation; other species have not been studied. There is observational evidence for imitation and teaching in killer whales. For cetaceans, and other large wide-ranging animals, excessive reliance on experimental data for evidence of culture is not productive, we favour the ethnographic approach. The complex and stable vocal and behavioural cultures of sympatric groups of killer whales (Orcinus orca) appear to have no parallel outside humans and represent an independent evolution of cultural faculties. The wide movements of cetaceans, the greater variability of the marine environment over large temporal scales relative to that on land, and the stable matrilineal social groups of some species are potentially important factors in the evolution of cetacean culture. There have been suggestions of gene-culture coevolution in cetaceans, and culture may be implicated in some unusual behavioural and life-history traits of the whales and dolphins. We hope to stimulate both discussion and research on culture in these animals. The target article, but not commentaries or response is on the WWW at : http://www.bbsonline.org/Preprints/Rendell/ I hope to have some pdf files available soon Cheers, Luke Luke Rendell Dept of Biology Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1 CANADA E-mail : lrendell(\)is2.dal.ca Tel : (902) 494 3723 WWW : http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/lr/luke.htm ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2001 05:47:44 -0700 From: Nan Hauser Subject: Cook Islands Whale Sanctuary Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" ------ From: Nan Hauser nan(\)whaleresearch.org =20 Ecstatic to share a bit of happy news with everyone at this very sad and difficult time on the planet. Hopefully other countries across Oceania an= d around the world will follow in their footsteps. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * Nan Hauser * * Cook Islands Whale Research * * P.O. Box 3069 * * Takuvaine * * Avarua, Rarotonga * * Cook Islands, South Pacific * * * * Home #011-682-26-242 * * Cell phone #011-682-55-666 * * nan(\)whaleresearch.org * ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ COOK ISLANDS WHALE SANCTUARY / DRAFT PRESS RELEASE The Cook Islands Government today announced that it has established a wha= le sanctuary throughout its Exclusive Economic Zone. The sanctuary covers s= ome two million square kilometres of the central South Pacific Ocean, and is believed to be the largest whale sanctuary yet declared by an individual government in waters under its jurisdiction. Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Robert Woonton, said that the declaration of the sanctuary was a reflection of the high esteem in which whales are held by many Polynesian peoples. =B3We have lived peacefully alongside whales for many centuries,=B2 Mr Wo= onton said. =B3But the devastation wrought by the commercial whaling fleets of = the last century has left us with only a few animals now returning to their traditional South Pacific breeding grounds each winter. For the past two years, Pacific Island nations have appealed to the International Whaling Commission to establish a whale sanctuary for our region, to secure the future for these leviathans, but we have been thwarted by the opposition = of the whaling countries and their supporters. If the nations of the South Pacific wish to protect the breeding grounds which are so critical to the recovery of our depleted whale populations, then clearly we shall have to take matters into our own hands. We owe it to the Earth to support their survival.=B2 =B3In establishing the Cook Islands Whale Sanctuary, we hope to encourage= our friends and neighbours in the South Pacific to take similar actions. Together we can send a message to the whalers that their exploitation of = our whales is now a thing of the past, and that the future lies in conservati= on. The Cook Islands may be a small country, but on this issue we believe tha= t we are sowing a seed that many others will appreciate. We look forward t= o welcoming visitors from around the world who share our great conviction i= n assisting in the recovery of one of the wonders of the natural world.=B2 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2001 11:56:21 -0700 From: Kristin Kaschner Subject: SMM Conference 2001 - Important Student Info We, the Northwest Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy (NWSSMM) in collaboration with Leslie Cornick, the Student Member-At-Large, are in the process of planning and organizing the student program for the 14th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals here in Vancouver, BC. As the success of this program is largely dependent on the input and contributions of the entire student body, we would like to provide you with an outline of planned events, asking for your feedback and participation in order to make the student program a rewarding and satisfying experience for all of us. We will try our best to incorporate all comments and contributions that we receive from you. Regular updates and information about the student program, registration for events and other items will be available on a website set up specifically for the student workshop: http://www.fish.washington.edu/smm_student/. If you have any suggestions, questions, concerns or would like to contribute in any way etc, please contact us at: smm_student_workshop(\)hotmail.com. Outline of student program The format and content of the student program as presented here, was largely developed based on the results of last year's SMM Student Survey addressing these issues. During past biennial meetings the student workshop has been a single meeting that tried to meet the needs of both graduate and undergraduate students. Based on the input provided by students through last year's survey, we concluded that the needs of all students could be better met by organizing two separate events. Although, of course, open to all interested students the main student workshop at this year's meeting will be tailored to address issues that primarily concern graduate students. In addition, we have planned to introduce an undergraduate program specifically catering to students in the early stages of their postgraduate career. The format and content of both events are described in more detail below. Registration forms for student events are available online on our website. Student Workshop The graduate-level workshop will be in the evening of the second full conference day (30/11/01). The overall format of this event will be similar to previous workshops, i.e. there will be an informal dinner, three invited keynote speakers and small group discussion with leading international professionals in various fields. However, as indicated above, we will try to get speakers and discussion leaders to specifically address topics that are of interest and concern for advanced students. Undergraduate luncheon and mentor program The focus of the undergraduate program will be the implementation of a conference-long, graduate-student led 'mentor program' that we hope will provide helpful insight for the large number of undergraduates that attend the conference. The mentorship program will be introduced and launched during an undergraduate luncheon, which will take place during the lunch hour of the first full conference day (29/11/01). The idea of this program is to set up a networking system in which willing graduate students may act as mentors for interested undergrads, providing advice, guidance and support, answering questions, possibly facilitating meetings with useful contacts, etc.; - in short introducing them to the "ways of the marine mammal science world" throughout the course of the conference. Recruitment of mentors We are currently looking for mentors, i.e. students who feel that they are in a position to provide useful advice to others and would like to participate in the program. If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please refer to our web page for more information and to fill out the registration form posted there. If you have already contacted Leslie or the Northwest Student Chapter at an earlier stage, indicating your interest in becoming a mentor, but have not yet filled out the on-line mentor registration form, we would ask you to please register again on the webpage in order to provide us with all the necessary information requested in the form. Student chapter participation The marine mammal student community is constantly growing and quite a large number of SMM student chapters have been set up by now. Since we think that all of us would benefit from getting to know each other a bit better, we would like to help to improve communications, networking and the informal exchange of ideas amongst chapters. We would therefore like to invite all chapters to put together a poster which could provide an introduction to their student chapter activities and organization. These posters will be displayed at both student events and throughout the conference. Chapters will be receiving more detailed information about the format and content of these posters shortly. So, to summarize we would like to ask you to please: - check the website regularly for updates (http://www.fish.washington.edu/smm_student/) - register on-line for the student events (http://www.fish.washington.edu/smm_student/) - participate in the mentorship program (http://www.fish.washington.edu/smm_student/) - let us know what you think about all of this (smm_student_workshop(\)hotmail.com) Please help us to make this a great conference for students! Amanda Bradford, Carlos Alvarez, Kristin Kaschner, Alison Keple, Josh London, Alexander Zerbini (Northwest student chapter SMM 2001 student workshop organization committee) & Leslie Cornick (your Student Member-at-Large () --=====================_8316239==_.ALT X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by cascara.uvic.ca id f8KIkMx112684
We, the Northwest Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy (NWSSMM) in collaboration with Leslie Cornick, the Student Member-At-Large, are in the process of planning and organizing the student program for the 14th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals here in Vancouver, BC. As the success of this program is largely dependent on the input and contributions of the entire student body, we would like to provide you with an outline of planned events, asking for your feedback and participation in order to make the student program a rewarding and satisfying experience for all of us. We will try our best to incorporate all comments and contributions that we receive from you.

Regular updates and information about the student program, registration for events and other items will be available on a website set up specifically for the student workshop: ht= tp://www.fish.washington.edu/smm_student/. If you have any suggestions, questions, concerns or would like to contribute in any way etc, please contact us at: smm_student_workshop(\)hotmail.com.

Outline of student program
The format and content of the student program as presented here, was largely developed based on the results of last year=92s SMM Student Survey addressing these issues. During past biennial meetings the student workshop has been a single meeting that tried to meet the needs of both graduate and undergraduate students. Based on the input provided by students through last year=92s survey, we concluded that the needs of all students could be better met by organizing two separate events. Although, of course, open to all interested students the main student workshop at this year=92s meeting will be tailored to address issues that primarily concern graduate students. In addition, we have planned to introduce an undergraduate program specifically catering to students in the early stages of their postgraduate career. The format and content of both events are described in more detail below. Registration forms for student events are available online on our website.

Student Workshop
The graduate-level workshop will be in the evening of the second full conference day (30/11/01). The overall format of this event will be similar to previous workshops, i.e. there will be an informal dinner, three invited keynote speakers and small group discussion with leading international professionals in various fields. However, as indicated above, we will try to get speakers and discussion leaders to specifically address topics that are of interest and concern for advanced students.

Undergraduate luncheon and mentor program
The focus of the undergraduate program will be the implementation of a conference-long, graduate-student led =91mentor program=92 th= at we hope will provide helpful insight for the large number of undergraduates that attend the conference. The mentorship program will be introduced and launched during an undergraduate luncheon, which will take place during the lunch hour of the first full conference day (29/11/01).
The idea of this program is to set up a networking system in which willing graduate students may act as mentors for interested undergrads, providing advice, guidance and support, answering questions, possibly facilitating meetings with useful contacts, etc.; - in short introducing them to the =93ways of the marine mammal science world=94 throughout the course of the conference.

Recruitment of mentors
We are currently looking for mentors, i.e. students who feel that they are in a position to provide useful advice to others and would like to participate in the program. If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please refer to our web page for more information and to fill out the registration form posted there. If you have already contacted Leslie or the Northwest Student Chapter at an earlier stage, indicating your interest in becoming a mentor, but have not yet filled out the on-line mentor registration form, we would ask you to please register again on the webpage in order to provide us with all the necessary information requested in the form.

Student chapter participation
The marine mammal student community is constantly growing and quite a large number of SMM student chapters have been set up by now. Since we think that all of us would benefit from getting to know each other a bit better, we would like to help to improve communications, networking and the informal exchange of ideas amongst chapters. We would therefore like to invite all chapters to put together a poster which could provide an introduction to their student chapter activities and organization. These posters will be displayed at both student events and throughout the conference. Chapters will be receiving more detailed information about the format and content of these posters shortly.

So, to summarize we would like to ask you to please:
-       check the website regularly for updates (h= ttp://www.fish.washington.edu/smm_student/)
-       register on-line for the student events (h= ttp://www.fish.washington.edu/smm_student/)
-       participate in the mentorship program (h= ttp://www.fish.washington.edu/smm_student/)
-       let us know what you think about all of this (smm_student_workshop(\)hotmail.com)



Please help us to make this a great conference for students!

Amanda Bradford, Carlos Alvarez, Kristin Kaschner, Alison Keple, Josh London, Alexander Zerbini (Northwest student chapter SMM 2001 student workshop organization committee)
& Leslie Cornick (your Student Member-at-Large (<cornickl(\)tamug.tamu.edu>)
--=====================_8316239==_.ALT-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 18:45:20 +0100 From: Tony Martin Subject: Amazon fieldworkers wanted ------ Amazon fieldworkers wanted With Dr Vera da Silva, INPA, Brazil, I run a long-term study of the Amazo= n river dolphin, or boto (Inia geoffrensis), in a Reserve called Mamirau=E1= , near the town of Tef=E9 in Brazil. The study has been operational for 7= years, and is based on a floating platform in the jungle, with laborator= y and living accommodation. The project has its own boats, and operates e= very day of the year. Much of the daily fieldwork, which involves studying around 200 individua= lly-marked dolphins, is carried out by people who join the project for 6-= 8 months. They live on the raft in a team of 3-5 people, spending roughly= half the day on the water and half working on laptop computers, entering= and analysing data. All living expenses are provided, as is transport to= and from Manaus, and a monthly payment of around 75-100 USD. We are now seeking suitably-qualified people to join the team, starting i= n December 2001 and at intervals during 2002 and 2003. The requirements a= re: Age: 20+ Language skills: moderate Portuguese or fluent Spanish, plus moderate Eng= lish Computer skills: experience with EXCEL and WORD Availability: minimum 6 months, possibly with a short break in the middle Please send C.V. and indication of availability by e-mail to: Dr A.R.Martin British Antarctic Survey High Cross Madingley Road Cambridge CB3 OET, UK e-mail: arm(\)nerc.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 18:21:32 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Unique vet position, Woods Hole, MA (fwd) NOAA Fisheries, a federal agency, is recruiting for a full-time, permanent, entry level vet to serve in our public aquarium. The position is located in Woods Hole, Massachusetts at the nation's oldest fishery science laboratory. Approximately 200,000 persons visit the aquarium each year. The position is new, and includes day-to-day responsibility for health monitoring and care of resident marine animals, including two North Atlantic harbor seals. There are also opportunities for assisting in field work and marine mammal stranding and disentanglement events. The recruiting period is open until 10.09.01. Full position description, qualification requirements, and online application can be accessed here: https://www.jobs.doc.gov/cool/doc/app_search Choose "National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration", then search for "vet" in the listing. It's the only one. People interested in more on the job, the Center, and the community can also contact Teri Frady at teri.frady(\)noaa.gov; or at 508.495.2239, M-F 8:30A-5:00P EST. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2001 14:39:15 -0400 From: Eduardo Mercado III Subject: Recent papers on cetacean bioacoustics and cognition Mercado, E., III, & Frazer, L. N. (2001) Humpback whale song or humpback whale sonar? A reply to Au et al. IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering, 26, 406-415. Abstract: Au and colleagues' arguments against the hypothesis that humpback whale songs function as long-range sonar are based on questionable assumptions rather than on empirical data. Like other echolocating mammals (e.g., bats), singing humpback whales: 1) localize targets in the absence of visual information; 2) possess a highly innervated peripheral auditory system; and 3) modulate the temporal and spectral features of their sounds based on environmental conditions. The sonar equation is inadequate for determining whether humpback whale songs generate detectable echoes from other whales because it does not account for temporal variables that can strongly affect the detectability of echoes. In particular, the sonar equation ignores the fact that much of the noise encountered by singing humpback whales is spectrally and temporally predictable, and that audition in mammals is a dynamic and plastic process. Experiments are needed to test the hypothesis that singing humpback whales listen for and respond to echoes generated by their songs. (Available at http://www.cmbn.rutgers.edu/~mercado/pubs.html) [Note: This is a reply to Au, W.W.L., Frankel, A., Helweg, D.A., and Cato, D.H. (2001). Against the humpback whale sonar hypothesis. IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering, 26, 295-300.] Killebrew, D. A., Mercado, E., III, Herman, L. M., & Pack, A. A. (2001). Sound production of a neonate bottlenose dolphin. Aquatic Mammals, 27, 34-44. Abstract: The development of sound production abilities in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) is poorly understood. In this paper, we describe acoustic features of early sounds produced by a newborn. Initial underwater sounds (produced 24-48 h after birth) consisted exclusively of burst-pulses. By day five, whistle-like elements were evident as components of burst-pulse sounds. These data suggest that dolphins can produce burts-pulse sounds from a very young age and that the mechanisms dolphins use to produce both whistles and burst-pulse sounds are closely related. (Reprints available upon request) Mercado, E., III, & DeLong, C. M. (2001) Experiments are the key to understanding socially acquired knowledge in cetaceans. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 24, 345. Abstract: We agree with Rendell and Whitehead that cetaceans acquire knowledge from caretakers and peers, and that a clear understanding of this process can provide insight into the evolution of mammalian cognition. The passive observational methods they advocate, however, are inadequate for determining what cetaceans know. Only by experimentally investigating the cognition of cetaceans can we hope to understand what they learn through social interactions. (Available at http://www.cmbn.rutgers.edu/~mercado/pubs.html) [Note: This is a commentary on Rendell & Whiteheads' (2001) "Culture in whales and dolphins," which was described in an earlier posting] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: Mon, 24 Sep 2001 17:34:01 -0700 From: "David S. Janiger" Subject: New fossil cetacean articles ------ DE MUIZON, CHRISTIAN. NATURE (LONDON) 413(6853):259-260. 2001. Walking with whales. * Unit=E9 Mixte de Recherche 8569, Centre National de la Recherche=20 Scientifique, Laboratoire de Pal=E9ontologie, Mus=E9um National d'Histoir= e=20 Naturelle, Paris 75005, France. Abstract: Whales must have evolved from land-based mammals, but fossil evidence of=20 some of the steps in between has been patchy. Newly discovered skeletons=20 with legs fill in the gaps. THEWISSEN, J. G. M.; E. M. WILLIAMS; L. J. ROE and S. T. HUSSAIN. NATURE (LONDON) 413(6853):277-281. 2001. Skeletons of terrestrial cetaceans and the relationship of whales to=20 artiodactyls. * Department of Anatomy, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of=20 Medicine, Rootstown, Ohio 44272. Abstract: Modern members of the mammalian order Cetacea (whales, dolphins and=20 porpoises) are obligate aquatic swimmers that are highly distinctive in=20 morphology, lacking hair and hind limbs, and having flippers, flukes, and= a=20 streamlined body. Eocene fossils document much of cetaceans' land-to-wate= r=20 transition, but, until now, the most primitive representative for which a= =20 skeleton was known was clearly amphibious and lived in coastal=20 environments. Here we report on the skeletons of two early Eocene pakicet= id=20 cetaceans, the fox-sized Ichthyolestes pinfoldi, and the wolf-sized=20 Pakicetus attocki. Their skeletons also elucidate the relationships of=20 cetaceans to other mammals. Morphological cladistic analyses have shown=20 cetaceans to be most closely related to one or more mesonychians, a group= =20 of extinct, archaic ungulates, but molecular analyses have indicated that= =20 they are the sister group to hippopotamids. Our cladistic analysis=20 indicates that cetaceans are more closely related to artiodactyls than to= =20 any mesonychian. Cetaceans are not the sister group to (any) mesonychians= ,=20 nor to hippopotamids. Our analysis stops short of identifying any=20 particular artiodactyl family as the cetacean sister group and supports=20 monophyly of artiodactyls. GINGERICH, PHILIP D.; MUNIR UL HAQ; IYAD S. ZALMOUT; INTIZAR HUSSAIN KHAN= =20 and M. SADIQ MALKANI. SCIENCE (WASHINGTON D. C.) 293(5538):2239-2242. 2001. Origin of whales from early Artiodactyls: Hands and feet of Eocene=20 Protocetidae from Pakistan. * Department of Geological Sciences and Museum of Paleontology, The=20 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1079. Abstract: Partial skeletons of two new fossil whales, Artiocetus clavis and=20 Rodhocetus balochistanensis, are among the oldest known protocetid=20 archaeocetes. These came from early Lutetian age (47 million years ago)=20 strata in eastern Balochistan Province, Pakistan. Both have an astragalus= =20 and cuboid in the ankle with characteristics diagnostic of artiodactyls; = R.=20 balochistanensis has virtually complete fore- and hind limbs. The new=20 skeletons are important in augmenting the diversity of early Protocetidae= ,=20 clarifying that Cetacea evolved from early Artiodactyla rather than=20 Mesonychia and showing how early protocetids swam. ROSE, KENNETH D. SCIENCE (WASHINGTON D. C.) 293(5538):2216-2217. 2001. The ancestry of whales. * Functional Anatomy and Evolution, Johns Hopkins University School of=20 Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205. No abstract Some PDF's available; request to janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu David S. Janiger (Curatorial Assistant - Mammals) Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007 (213) 763-3369 janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu=20 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2001 11:58:21 -0400 From: Belinda Williford Subject: position announcement - Duke The Rachel Carson Professorship in Marine Affairs and Policy in the Nicholas School of Environment and Earth Sciences The Nicholas School of Environment and Earth Sciences at Duke University, a multi-disciplinary School with undergraduate, professional masters and Ph.D. programs, invites applications for the Rachel Carson Chair in Marine Affairs and Policy, a tenure-track position. This position, to be based at the Duke University Marine Laboratory in Beaufort, NC, is open to candidates with a Ph.D. in one of the environmental social sciences, with a preference for assistant or associate level candidates. Applicants should have an extramurally funded research program; strong background in the application of both quantitative and qualitative social science research methods; teaching ability at both the undergraduate and graduate levels; and a strong field research orientation. Research themes could include, but are not limited to, resource management, the policy-making process, socio-cultural aspects of coastal constituencies, or comparative international policy regimes. In addition, candidates should have a demonstrated interest in applications of social science to contemporary coastal and marine issues. It is our intention to fill this position for the fall of 2002, and we will begin reviewing applications on November 1, 2001. A letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and the names of three references should be sent to: Dr. Michael K. Orbach Chair, Rachel Carson Chair Search Committee Duke University Marine Laboratory 135 Duke Marine Lab Road Beaufort, NC 28516-9721 Belinda Williford Staff Assistant to the Director, Marine Laboratory, and the Chair, Coastal Systems Science and Policy Division Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment & Earth Sciences Marine Laboratory 135 Duke Marine Lab Road Beaufort, NC 28516-9721 Phone: (252) 504-7508 Fax: (252) 504-7648 http://www.env.duke.edu/marinelab/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2001 09:33:56 +1200 From: Franz Pichler Subject: abstract: origins of Cephalorhynchus ------ Pichler FB, Robineau D, Goodall RNP, Me=FFer MA, Olavarr=EDa B, and Baker CS (2001) Origin and radiation of Southern Hemisphere coastal=20 dolphins(genus Cephalorhynchus). Molecular Ecology. 10 (9) 2215-2223. Abstract: The genus Cephalorhynchus (Gray 1846) consists of four species of small coastal dolphins distributed in cool temperate waters around the=20 Southern Hemisphere. Each species is sympatric with other members of=20 the subfamily Lissodelphininae but widely separated from other=20 congeners. To describe the origin and radiation of these species, we=20 examined 442 bp of mitochondrial DNA control region sequences of 307=20 individuals from the genus Cephalorhynchus and compared these to=20 sequences from other members of the subfamily Lissodelphininae. We=20 investigate the hypotheses that Cephalorhynchus is a monophyletic genus or, alternatively, that the four species have arisen separately from=20 pelagic Lissodelphine species and have converged morphologically. Our=20 results support the monophyly of Cephalorhynchus within the=20 Lissodelphininae and a pattern of radiation by colonization. We confirm a pattern of shallow but diagnosable species clades with Heaviside's=20 dolphin as the basal branch. We further examine the monophyly of=20 maternal haplotypes represented by our large population sample for each species. Based on this phylogeographic pattern, we propose that=20 Cephalorhynchus originated in the waters of South Africa and, following the West Wind Drift, colonized New Zealand and then South America. The=20 Chilean and Commerson's dolphins then speciated along the two coasts of South America, during the glaciation of Tierra del Fuego. Secondary=20 radiations resulted in genetically isolated populations for both the=20 Kerguelen Island Commerson's dolphin and the North Island Hector's=20 dolphin. Our results suggest that coastal, depth-limited odontocetes=20 are prone to population fragmentation, isolation and occasionally=20 long-distance movements, perhaps following periods of climatic change. This paper is available on the web at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.0962-1083.2001.01360.x Some reprints are available from: Franz Pichler (f.pichler(\)auckland.ac.nz) ********************************* Franz Pichler School of Biological Sciences University of Auckland Private Bag 92019 Auckland NEW ZEALAND PH: 64 9 373 7599 extn 7785 FAX: 64 9 373 7417 email: f.pichler(\)auckland.ac.nz ********************************* ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2001 13:04:28 -0400 From: "Argo, Emily" Subject: Tampa Bay Manatee Watch Internship Opportunities Submitted by Emily Argo e-mail: emily.argo(\)fwc.state.fl.us Manatee Internships Available In cooperation with the Manatee Awareness Coalition (MAC) and the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (St. Petersburg, Florida) and Tampa BayWatch, Inc. seek 7 interns to work on a Tampa Bay manatee program from January - March 2002 and 7 to work June - August 2002. Tampa Bay Manatee Watch is 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 The research project is a 3-year manatee/boater interaction study. There are three 10-week sampling sessions each year (summer, fall, and winter). Observers use spotting scopes and binoculars to collect information describing boater activity at two study areas in St. Petersburg, Florida. Boater education is targeted at actual Bay users. Interns and volunteers provide users with free educational boater kits and easy techniques to protect manatees and seagrass habitat. They also talk with the community at boat ramps, marinas, festivals, and on Tampa Bay aboard a specially designed pontoon boats. We are currently accepting applications for the January - March 2002 and the June - August 2002 sampling sessions. Manatee Watch Research Project Assistants (FWC) Five internship positions are available for each 10-week sampling session. Junior and senior college students and recent graduates are eligible. Interns work approximately 35-40 hours per week (Tuesday -Saturday) and are required to commit to the full sampling period, plus training. Interns serve as "site captains" at one of five locations and are responsible for data collection, entry, and verification, equipment maintenance, and volunteer support. Although the manatee/boater interaction study is the primary focus, interns will participate in manatee photo-identification and other manatee-related programs. Manatee Watch Coordinator Assistants (Tampa BayWatch, Inc.) Two internship positions are available for each 10-week sampling session (longer internships may be available). 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 should have some research field experience, be computer literate and proficient in the use of Microsoft Access97 or Access2000, 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/wind/water), 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 and/or Tampa BayWatch, Inc. While these internships are not paid positions, they are excellent resume builders. In addition, interns will participate in scientific research and other manatee-related projects, meet other marine scientists, and polish public speaking and writing skills while participating in an innovative environmental education program that may change manatee protection strategies state-wide. Please send internship application including project interest (Manatee Watch), transcripts, resume, cover letter, references, and E-mail address to: Mr. Bill Arnold FWC/FMRI 100 8th Ave. SE St. Petersburg, FL 33701-3095 727-896-8626 Additional information about FWC' s manatee programs and internships may be found at www.floridamarine.org. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2001 17:39:42 +0100 From: "Corey J. A. Bradshaw" Subject: Elephant seal conservation research halted in Australia Dear MARMAMers, To avoid unnecessary gossip regarding recent events in Australia's marine mammal research community, I feel I must inform potentially interested people as to the truth behind the events that occurred this past week. The Antarctic Wildlife Research Unit (AWRU) at the University of Tasmania in Hobart has been investigating the effects of environmental variation in food supply on the foraging success of the southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) on subantarctic Macquarie Island since 1999. Since M. leonina is classified as an endangered species under Tasmanian legislation, and the population at Macquarie Island (~20,000 breeding females in 2000) has been declining since the 1950s, this study aimed to address the potential effects of increased pressure on food supply from commercial fishing and climate change. The study was to conclude in late 2002 or 2003, and the third breeding season's work was to commence in a few days. On Monday, 25 September, Tasmania's Environment Minister, Hon. David Llwellyn vetoed the permit to continue the research on the grounds of a political technicality. The Minister had agreed to conduct a review into elephant seal research protocol earlier this year given that the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment (DPIWE) felt at arms-length from the research approval process. The review had not yet occurred when the permits were meant to be signed by Mr. Llwellyn last week, so the Tasmanian Conservation Trust (TCT), a local NGO, demanded the veto. It must be noted however that all appropriate animal ethics clearance had been given, and a detailed appraisal of the program's objectives and animal handling procedures had already been completed by DPIWE. Although all interested parties including AWRU support the idea of the review, the timing did not allow for progress to be made prior to this season's breeding season. Unfortunately, this means that the program is now doomed [to] lose precious data that would have allowed for the conservation objectives to be met. Ironically, a so-called 'conservation' group has managed to destroy a necessary conservation program based on a political technicality. It is in our opinion that the main issue has been lost in the debate - the animal's conservation status, and the factors affecting that status. We trust that our colleagues and counterparts will support the debate in this issue, and take steps to prevent their research projects suffering similar devastation. In case people believe this project has something to do with last year's concern over a controversial branding program, it must be noted that AWRU has never been involved in branding, nor had ever intended on branding elephant seals. Neither was the review to assess branding, for this procedure was stopped permanently in early 2000. Unfortunately, the local media still attempts to associate any decent research on elephant seals with that issue. If you are interested in more information, see the URLs below. A synopsis of the week's media coverage can be found at the following URL: http://www.zoo.utas.edu.au/awru/media.htm A detailed description of AWRU's research program can be found at http://www.zoo.utas.edu.au/awru/research.htm A detailed southern elephant seal handling protocol can be viewed at: http://www.zoo.utas.edu.au/awru/resources.htm Thank you, Corey J. A. Bradshaw Postdoctoral Research Fellow Antarctic Wildlife Research Unit, School of Zoology University of Tasmania, G.P.O. Box 252-05 Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia Tel: (03) 6226 2644; Fax: (03) 6226 2745 http://www.zoo.utas.edu.au/awru/ --=====================_275516186==_.ALT Dear MARMAMers,

To avoid unnecessary gossip regarding recent events in Australia's marine mammal research community, I feel I must inform potentially interested people as to the truth behind the events that occurred this past week.

The Antarctic Wildlife Research Unit (AWRU) at the University of Tasmania in Hobart has been investigating the effects of environmental variation in food supply on the foraging success of the southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) on subantarctic Macquarie Island since 1999. Since M. leonina is classified as an endangered species under Tasmanian legislation, and the population at Macquarie Island (~20,000 breeding females in 2000) has been declining since the 1950s, this study aimed to address the potential effects of increased pressure on food supply from commercial fishing and climate change. The study was to conclude in late 2002 or 2003, and the third breeding season's work was to commence in a few days.

On Monday, 25 September, Tasmania's Environment Minister, Hon. David Llwellyn vetoed the permit to continue the research on the grounds of a political technicality. The Minister had agreed to conduct a review into elephant seal research protocol earlier this year given that the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment (DPIWE) felt at arms-length from the research approval process. The review had not yet occurred when the permits were meant to be signed by Mr. Llwellyn last week, so the Tasmanian Conservation Trust (TCT), a local NGO, demanded the veto. It must be noted however that all appropriate animal ethics clearance had been given, and a detailed appraisal of the program's objectives and animal handling procedures had already been completed by DPIWE.

Although all interested parties including AWRU support the idea of the review, the timing did not allow for progress to be made prior to this season's breeding season. Unfortunately, this means that the program is now doomed lose precious data that would have allowed for the conservation objectives to be met. Ironically, a so-called 'conservation' group has managed to destroy a necessary conservation program based on a political technicality.

It is in our opinion that the main issue has been lost in the debate - the animal's conservation status, and the factors affecting that status. We trust that our colleagues and counterparts will support the debate in this issue, and take steps to prevent their research projects suffering similar devastation.

In case people believe this project has something to do with last year's concern over a controversial branding program, it must be noted that AWRU has never been involved in branding, nor had ever intended on branding elephant seals. Neither was the review to assess branding, for this procedure was stopped permanently in early 2000. Unfortunately, the local media still attempts to associate any decent research on elephant seals with that issue.

If you are interested in more information, see the URLs below.

A synopsis of the week's media coverage can be found at the following URL: http://www.zoo.utas.edu.au/awru/media.htm
A detailed description of AWRU's research program can be found at http://www.zoo.utas.edu.au/awru/research.htm
A detailed southern elephant seal handling protocol can be viewed at: http://www.zoo.utas.edu.au/awru/resources.htm

Thank you,

Corey J. A. Bradshaw
Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Antarctic Wildlife Research Unit, School of Zoology
University of Tasmania, G.P.O. Box 252-05
Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia

Tel: (03) 6226 2644; Fax: (03) 6226 2745
<corey.bradshaw(\)utas.edu.au>

http://www.zoo.utas.edu.au/awru/
 --=====================_275516186==_.ALT-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2001 08:28:43 -0500 Reply-To: dfertl(\)geo-marine.com From: Dagmar Fertl Subject: Abstracts - Aquatic Mammals - 2001 - vol. 27(2) Dear Marmam and ECS-Mailbase subscribers, Apologies to those of you receiving any cross-postings. The following are abstracts as they appear in the most recent issue of _Aquatic Mammals_. _Aquatic Mammals_ is the journal of the European Association for Aquatic Animals; these abstracts are posted as a courtesy to the EAAM and journal editor. The current editor of the journal is Dr. Jeanette A. Thomas, Laboratory of Sensory Biology, Western Illinois University Regional Center, 3561 60th Street, Moline, IL 61265, USA Phone +1 309 762 9481, ext. 262; Fax +1 309 762 6989; E-mail Jeanette_Thomas(\)ccmail.wiu.edu. For information regarding subscriptions and manuscript submissions, more information may be found at: http://eaam.org Thanks to those of you who have mentioned your appreciation for these postings. Please do not contact me or the Marmam editors for copies of articles. The addresses of the authors to whom correspondence should be directed are listed below. Dagmar Fertl Geo-Marine, Inc. Dallas, TX dfertl(\)geo-marine.com **************************************************************************** *************************************** Knieriem, A.* and M.G. Hartmann. 2001. Comparative histopathology of lungs from by-caught Atlantic white-sided dolphins (_Leucopleurus acutus_). _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(2): 73-81. *Zoo Hannover GmbH, Adenaurallee 3, 30175 Hannover, Germany During 1993 and 1994, carcasses of by-caught dolphins and porpoises were brought ashore by the Dutch fishing fleet for scientific studies. The lungs of 44 Atlantic white-sided dolphins (_Leucopleurus acutus_), 2 common dolphins (_Delphinus delphis_) and 4 harbour porpoises (_Phocoena phocoena_) were examined histologically and results were compared with findings from drowning and asphyxia of other mammals and humans. The lungs of all dolphins and porpoises showed severe oedema within the alveolar spaces, rupture of alveolar walls and myosphincters of the bronchioli, combined with intraalveolar haemorrhages. Our investigations were suppplemented with Gomori silver stain to demonstrate the fibre structure of the lungs. In all cases, the alveolar walls showed slight to maximal distension, with stretching of the capillaries and distinct fibre ruptures. Using the criteria of Reh (1969), who classified four stages of distension of the reticulum fibres in humun lungs of drowned, we found the histological changes of the reticulum fibre structure in the dolphin lungs to be equivalent to stages two and three. Hence, our findings for known by-caught dolphins and porpoises coincided with the description of 'atypical drowning lung' in humans and other terrestrial mammals. **************************************************************************** ****************************************** Houser, D.S., D.A. Helweg*, and P.W.B. Moore. 2001. A Bandpass filter-bank model of auditory sensitivity in the humpback whale. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(2): 82-91. *Code 3501E, SPAWARSYSCEN-San Diego, San Diego, CA 92152, USA Concerns that water-borne, anthropogenic sound could negatively impact whale species continue to escalate. Unfortunately, the auditory sensitivity of mysticete whales is unknown, impeding assessment of underwater sound exposure on these animals. In light of this problem, a mathematical function describing frequency sensitivity by position along the relative length of the basilar membrane of a humpback whale (_Megaptera novaeangliae_) was integrated with known data on the cat and human to predict the audiogram for the humpback whale. The predicted audiogram was the typical mammalian U-shape and indicated sensitivity to frequencies from 700 Hz-10kHz, with maximum relative sensitivity (values approaching 0) between 2-6kHz. A model of humpback hearing subsequently was created as a series of pseudo-Gaussian bandpass filters. Sensitivity of the model was optimized to the predicted audiogram via meta-evolutionary programming (EP). The number, frequency distribution, and shape of the filters in the model was evolved with the EP and the sensitivity of the model evaluated through a simulated hearing test. Maximum deviations between model sensitivity and predicted humpack whale sensitivity never exceeded ten percent. Through an integrated approach, the first predicted humpback audiogram was made and used to develop the first bandpass model of the humpback ear. **************************************************************************** ******************************************* Galimberti, F.* and S. Sanvito. 2001. Modeling female haul-out in southern elephant seals (_Mirounga leonina_). _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(2): 92-104. *Elephant Seals Research Group, Via Buonarroti 35, 20145 Milano (MI), Italy It is difficult to achieve good estimates of population size for pinnipeds by direct counts, because a part of the population is at sea at any time. In southern elephant seals (_Mirounga leonina_), the estimation of population size is carried-out by applying a correction factor, calculated from life tables, to the number of females hauled-out during the breeding season. Different models have been proposed in the literature to estimate the total number of females. In this paper, we consider the model proposed by Rothery & McCann (1987) for the South Georgia population. We applied their model to a five year data set for Sea Lion Island (Falkland Islands) southern elephant seals. We tested the assumptions of the model, and found them to be reasonable. We fitted the model to this data set, and obtained an excellent fit in all cases, better than or equal to other models proposed in the literature. The precision of the estimation depended mostly on the duration of females presence on land, which is a constant of the model. A one day variation in stay-length produced a 4% variation in the estimate of the total number of females. When a good model of the haulout process is already available for the population, even a single count close to the peak of the season is enough to estimate the total number of females (+-2%). When such a model is to be estimated directly from data, at least 8 counts distributed along the season are needed to have good results. The model was not only a good description of the haulout process as the population level, but its application to a set of dailty counts of single harems demonstrated that it was also useful at sub-population level. **************************************************************************** ****************************************** Gregory, P.R. and A.A. Rowden. 2001. Behaviour patterns of bottlenose dolphins (_Tursiops truncatus_) relative to tidal state, time-of-day, and boat traffic in Cardigan Bay, West Wales. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(2): 105-113. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK Diurnal behaviour patterns of the bottlenose dolphin (_Tursiops truncatus_) were investigated at two sites in relation to tidal state, time-of-day, and boat traffic in Cardigan Bay, west Wales. The two sites chosen were New Quay and Ynys Lochtyn. Between-site variability existed in the occurrence of dolphins. However, no relationship was found between the numbers of dolphins observed in relation to the tidal cycle or time-of-day at either of the two sites. Dolphin movement patterns were correlated with tidal state at both sites, with the dolphins moving with the tidal flow or during slack water. No relationship was found between movement patterns and time-of-day. Foraging behaviour was dolphins foraging mainly between the flood and ebb tides of high water. Foraging in relation to group size was not significant at either site. No relationship was found between foraging behaviour and time-of-day. Statistically significant behavioural responses were noted towards boat traffic. Dolphins generally displayed a neutral response toward boats, i.e., the dolphins showed no apparent change in directional movement, prior to and after the arrival of the vessel. However, dolphins displayed a negative response toward kayaks, and a positive response toward tourist boats. Dolphin's reactions toward boats in relation to group size were not statistically significant. The study supported the findings of previous studies on bottlenose dolphin in other localities; however the effect of kayaks requires further investigation. Recommendations are made for future avenues of research regarding this species. **************************************************************************** ***************************************** Bristow, T., N. Glanville, and J. Hopkins. 2001. Shore-based monitoring of bottlenose dolphins (_Tursiops truncatus_) by trained volunteers in Cardigan Bay, Wales. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(2):115-120. *New Quay Dolphin Monitoring Group, 4 Rock Street, New Quay, Ceredigion SA45 9PL Daily, year-round records were made between January 1998 and December 2000, of the occurrence of bottlenose dolphins (_Tursiops truncatus_) in New Quay Bay, Cardigan Bay, Wales, by ten trained volunteers. This site previously was identified as a nursery area for the species, with a high proportion of mother and calf pairs. The frequency of dolphin sightings were recorded by the volunteers, in days per month, and the total annual sightings for 1998, 1999, and 2000, were comparable with a previous 1989-1996 study by a single observer. Changes were detected in the use of preferred foraging areas within the bay, and in the group size and structure. Recognised individuals showed long-term site fidelity, and 14 of 16 previously recognized individuals were noted by the observers. In the year 2000, a significant decline in group size and in the incidence of groups containing small calves was detected. **************************************************************************** ****************************************** Neumann, D.R. 2001. The activity budget of free-ranging common dolphins (_Delphinus delphis_) in the northwestern Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(2): 121-136. *Centre for Tourism Research, Massey University, Private Bag 102 904, North Shore MSC, Auckland, New Zealand This study presents findings on seasonal and diurnal behavioural patterns of short-beaked common dolphins (_Delphinus delphis_) off the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. Data on the activity state of focal groups were collected by instantaneous scan-sampling at 3 min intervals from a 5.5 m rigid-hull inflatable boat. Predominant group activity was classified as one of 5 categories. The overall proportion of time spent in these activities was 54.8% traveling, 20.5% milling 17% feeding, 7.3% socializing, and 0.4% resting. Comparisons with activity budgets of bottlenose dolphins indicated a roughly similar pattern. Time-of-day and time of low tide appeared to influence diurnal common dolphin behaviour. Seasonal fluctuations in activity budget did not show a consistent trend. The role of sea surface temperature and prey availability in affecting common dolphin movements is discussed. Mean group size peaked in late summer at 140 individuals. Overall, the average number of individuals in a group was 55.1. Group composition appeared to be rather fluid, because fission and fusion of groups were observed frequently. Low photo-identification resighting rates suggested a large, possibly transient population. The present activity budget provides valuable information on the behaviour of free-ranging common dolphins, which could be useful in the conservation and management of this species. **************************************************************************** ****************************************** Verriopoulou, A., E. Tounta, and P. Dendrinos. 2001. First report of a minke whale (_Balaenoptera acutorostrata_ Lacepede, 1804) in Hellenic waters. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(2): 137-139. *MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, Solomou 18, 10682 Athens, Greece No abstract was provided. On 23 May 2000 a minke whale was found floating off the northeastern coast of Skiathos Island (NW Aegean Sea, approximately 23 31'E, 39 11'N), Northern Sporades, Greece. Morphometrics are provided as well as a discussion of minke whales in the Mediterranean. **************************************************************************** ****************************************** Henry, E. and M.O. Hammill.* 2001. Impact of small boats on the haulout activity of harbour seals (_Phoca vitulina_) in Metis Bay, Saint Lawrence Estuary, Quebec, Canada. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(2):140-148. *Maurice Lamontagne Institute, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, BOX 1000, Mont-Joli, QC G5H 3Z4, Canada The impact of small boats on harbour seal haulout behaviour was studied from May to August 1997 in Metis Beach, Canada. The number of seals hauled-out increased throughout the summer and was affected by air temperature, tide, and wind direction. Disturbances most often were caused by kayaks and canoes (33.3%), motor boats (27.8%), and sailboats (18%). Numbers of seals hauled-out decreased after a disturbance, except during the molting period when seals seemed more reluctant to enter the water. The most severe reaction was seen with the approach of kayaks-canoes with a flushing response of 86% compared to 74% by motor boats and 0% by sailboats. While animals were hauled-out, they spent over 70% of their time resting and comfort behaviour and 11-34% of their time in alert behaviour. Increases in alert behaviour by seals occurred during a disturbance, but changes were quite subtle. **************************************************************************** ****************************************** Zerbini, A.N.* and E.R. Secchi. 2001. Occurrence of Hector's beaked whale, _Mesoplodon hectori_, in Southern Brazil. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(2):149-153. *Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Box 355020, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-5020, USA In February 1994, a Hector's beaked whale, _Mesoplodon hectori_, was found ashore 80 km north of Rio Grande (32 07'S, 52 05'W), southern Brazil. The skull (CBL=497 mm) and post-cranial skeleton (C 7, T 11, L 10, Ca 17=45) were collected and placed at the Museu Oceanografico 'Prof. Eliezer de Carvalho Rios' collection (MORG 0104). The whale was identified based on skull morphology and measurements, as well as shape and position of the mandibular teeth. The small size (skeletal length-236 cm), unfilled mesorostral channel, wide open tooth pulp cavity, and unfused vertebral epyphisis indicated that the animal was young. This whales is the first record of the species in Brazil. In addition, it extends northwards the known range of Hector's beaked whale in the west South Atlantic Ocean by about 800 km and represents the northernmost record of the species. **************************************************************************** ****************************************** Iniguez, M.A. 2001. Seasonal distribution of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in Northern Patagonia, Argentina. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(2):154-161. *Fundacion Cethus, Saavedra 468, (Z9310CAD), San Julian, Prov. Santa Cruz, Argentina Killer whales, _Orcinus orca_, have been studied since 1975 in Northern Patagonia, Argentina. In the present study from 1985 to 1997, individual animals were identified using photo-identification techniques. Boat and shore observations were conducted during both the austral summer-autumn season 1985-1997 and the austral winter season 1992-1993. Thirty killer whales have been identified in the study area since 1975 and some individuals use a 1000-km stretach of the Northern Patagonia coastline. A core group of 17 return to the area each year and were assigned to three groups based on association with other individuals. Prey has included South American sea lions (_Otaria flavescens_) and southern elephant seal (_Mirounga leonina_). The seasonal distribution of killer whales is correlated to the distribution of the South American sea lions and southern elephant seal in Northern Patagonia. Most encounters with the whales occurred in December and March-May (64.2% in 1995 adn 69% in 1996) at Punta Norte, during the sea lions breeding cycle. Whales depart the area in May when pinnipeds migrate to winter rookeries. One pod, Patagonia Norte B (PNB) was photographed in Golfo San Jose on 9 January 1986 and in Punta Norte 1 day later, some 60 km apart. Larger pods (>three whales/pod) spent no more than five days in the same area, and smaller pods (<-two whales/pods) stayed longer in the same area. Seasonal distribution of Patagonia Norte A and PNB pods was largely associated with the movement of South American sea lions, while Patagonia Norte C pod was more associated closer with the southern elephant seal movements. **************************************************************************** ****************************************** Wiley, D.N.*, G. Early, C.A.Mayo, and M.J. Moore. 2001. Rescue and release of mass stranded cetaceans from beaches on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA; 1990-1999: a review of some response actions. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(2): 162-171. *Present address: Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, 175 Edward Foster Road, Scituate, MA 02066, USA Responses to aid mass stranded cetaceans are hampered by a lack of scientific guidance and shared experience. In this paper, we provide a qualititative and quantitative review of 17 selected mass stranding events that occurred on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA, and the responses taken to aid the animals. Three hundred and seventy-six animals were involved in the strandings. Most (n=299) were euthanized or otherwise died withou rescue being attempted. We made concerted rescue efforts for 77 animal; 53 pilot whales (_Globicephala melas_), 16 white-sided dolphins (_Lagenorhynchus acutus_), and 8 common dolphins (_Delphinus delphis_). Rescue efforts did not include captive rehabilitation. Results from these attempts indicated that: 1) species involved could survive being transported to release sites up to 40 km away from the original site of stranding (90% survival, n=41), 2) previously stranded animals did not habitually restrand after release (82% not observed to restrand, n=73), and 3) rapidly obtained qualitative data could identify animals that did not restrand (91% not observed to restrand, n=24). Sixty of 77 animals, 78% survived transport and were released withou restranding, or were released from the stranding site without restranding. We did not carry-out long-term studies to determine the ultimate survival or death of animals that were not observed to restrand. However, documentation of short-term survival is needed prior to undertaking expensive, long-term investigations. We also used the entire database to investigate the effect of season on stranding events. The number of stranding events did not vary by season, but group size was larger in the winter (G^2=54.6, df=2, P<0.01). There were also significant differences in the seasonal mortality rates of stranded animals. Mortality rates were: winter (0.96+-0.01, n=233), spring (0.79+-0.05, n=68), and fall (0.52+-0.06, n=71). Summer was excluded due to small sample size. Data suggest that rapid intervention by well-trained and equipped response personnel can increase the chance that animals will survive the stranding event, and that long-term studies of survivorship are advisable. **************************************************************************** ****************************************** Tsutsui, S.*, M. Tanaka, N. Miyazaki, and T. Furuya. 2001. Pacific white-sided dolphins (_Lagenorhynchus obliquidens_) with anomalous colour patterns in Volcano Bay, Hokkaido, Japan. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(2): 172-182. *Otsuchi Marine Research Center, Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Akahama, Otsuchi, Iwate 028-1102, Japan Fourteen individuals of Pacific white-sided dolphins (_Lagenorhynchus obliquidens_) having anomalous colour patterns were identified from 154 photographs taken in Volcano Bay, Hokkaido, Japan. This is believed to be the only study that made individual identifications with anomalous white animals in this species, as well as the first record of them in the West Pacific Ocean. They were not true albinos, but anomalous white individuals, and showed various degrees of lack of pigmentation. Five dolphins repeatedly occurred in the area for two years or more, and two individuals were sighted twice a year in summer and in late autumn. From their sighting records, the following three possibilities were suggested: (1) the same population of this species migrates into Volcano Bay every year, (2) the population that occurs in late autumn in the area is the same as that found in the summer, or (3) they stay around the area for six months or more from spring to late autumn. These fourteen dolphins are considered to be important individuals because they are naturally marked to study the population structure and migration of the species. **************************************************************************** ******************************************* Ranneft, D.M.*, H. Eaker, H. and R.W. Davis. 2001. A guide to the pronunciation and meaning of cetacean taxonomic names. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(2): 183-195. *Episcopal High School, 4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, TX 77401, USA Taxonomic names, frequently made-up of Greek and/or Latin elements, are mysterious and difficult to pronounce for those who never studied ancient languages. This simple guide is designed to help English speakers understand and pronounce the scientific names used to classify cetaceans. Teachers of Latin and Greek recognize certain rules of pronunciation. These rules may not be appropriate in hybrid compounds that have English, as well as Greek and/or Latin elements, but they are acceptable for the pronunciation of taxonomic names that are purely Greek or Latin. There are also traditional rules for anglicizing Latin and latinizing Greek. For English speakers who have no interest in Greek or Latin pronunciations, knowledge of the anglicized pronunciations, and pronunciations found in Webster's Third International Dictionary, as well as knowledge of the meaning of Greek and/or Latin elements, should be helpful. The Appendix shows how orders, suborders, superfamilies, families, and subfamilies may be distinguished by their endings. **************************************************************************** ******************************************* Vieregg, M. 2001. Book review: Au, Whitlow W.L., Arthur N. Popper, and Richard R. Fay, eds. 2000. Hearing by whales and dolphins. Springer-Verlag, NY. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(2): 196-198. *Laboratory of Sensory Biology, Western Illinois University Regional Center, 3561 60th Street, Moline, IL 61265, USA ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Oct 2001 12:46:00 +0300 From: Vadim Pavlov Subject: dolphin flow Content-type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Dear MARMAMers, I am a research scientist from Crimean State Medical University, Ukraine. The field of my interest is the morphological adaptation of the fast swimmers related to their hydrodynamics performance. I have found that dolphin skin structure on the appendages depends on the Reynolds number. Currently, I going to compare the dolphin skin morphology with the characteristics of the flow of dolphin. I would be very grateful for the any info of the dolphin flow, particularly, this one about dolphin appendages. It could be not only documented reports, but photos too. (I am already familiar with papers of J.J. Rohr on the issue). Thank you in advance, Vadim Pavlov Crimean State Medical University Lenin blvd 5/7, 95006 Simferopol,Crimea, Ukraine phone: (380-652) 299-238 e-mail: labor2(\)csmu.strace.net ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2001 16:44:24 +0100 From: "Corey J. A. Bradshaw" Subject: addendum: elephant seal conservation research halted in Australia Dear MARMAMers, In reference to my message of 30 September 2001 regarding the stoppage of the University of Tasmania's southern elephant seal research on Macquarie Island, I must clarify a statement I made. It has come to my attention that it may appear that I insinuated that the Australian Antarctic Division's (AAD) research projects on southern elephant seals were somehow lacking scientific integrity. I must stress, however, that this was not my intention whatsoever. The branding techniques used by the AAD were used as an effective marking technique for the population. The decisions to halt the process were based on political and ethical considerations. The science projects themselves were, in my opinion, of an impeccable quality. My apologies for any confusion. Corey J. A. Bradshaw Postdoctoral Research Fellow Antarctic Wildlife Research Unit, School of Zoology University of Tasmania, G.P.O. Box 252-05 Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia Tel: (03) 6226 2644; Fax: (03) 6226 2745 http://www.zoo.utas.edu.au/awru/ --=====================_24742531==_.ALT Dear MARMAMers,

In reference to my message of 30 September 2001 regarding the stoppage of the University of Tasmania's southern elephant seal research on Macquarie Island, I must clarify a statement I made.

It has come to my attention that it may appear that I insinuated that the Australian Antarctic Division's (AAD) research projects on southern elephant seals were somehow lacking scientific integrity. I must stress, however, that this was not my intention whatsoever. The branding techniques used by the AAD were used as an effective marking technique for the population. The decisions to halt the process were based on political and ethical considerations. The science projects themselves were, in my opinion, of an impeccable quality.

My apologies for any confusion.

Corey J. A. Bradshaw
Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Antarctic Wildlife Research Unit, School of Zoology
University of Tasmania, G.P.O. Box 252-05
Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia

Tel: (03) 6226 2644; Fax: (03) 6226 2745
<corey.bradshaw(\)utas.edu.au>

http://www.zoo.utas.edu.au/awru/
 --=====================_24742531==_.ALT-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2001 09:01:16 -0500 Reply-To: dfertl(\)geo-marine.com From: Dagmar Fertl Subject: FW: The Cetacean Behavior and Conservation (CBC) Award ************************* ANIMAL BEHAVIOR SOCIETY CENTRAL OFFICE Indiana University 2611 East 10th St No 170 Bloomington IN 47408-2603 USA http://www.animalbehavior.org aboffice(\)indiana.edu 812-856-5541 812-856-5542 (fax) ************************* CALL FOR APPLICATIONS The Cetacean Behavior and Conservation (CBC) Award The Animal Behavior Society announces the first annual Cetacean Behavior = and Conservation (CBC) Award program. A maximum of two grants of up to $1000.= 00 US each will be awarded. Applicants must be enrolled in a Masters or Doctoral Program in a University accredited by a regional college association. Applicants must also be members in good standing of one of t= he following professional societies: Animal Behavior Society or Association = of the Study of Animal Behaviour. U.S. citizenship is not required. The awar= ded funds may be used for travel, supplies, and/or equipment necessary to support the proposed research. Awarded funds may not be used for stipends= or salary for graduate students, research assistants, or any other personnel= , nor may it be used for conference expenses. The award must be used for fi= eld research; it cannot be used for laboratory research. The award shall be given only if there is a (are) proposal(s) deemed worthy by the judges in any given year. Thus, there may be years in which no award is made, in wh= ich case funds will accrue towards the next years=92 award(s). Applicants must submit a 1500 word (maximum) proposal providing the following information: a.) Outline of the proposed research, including references; b) Detailed methodology; c) Detailed budget with justificatio= n; d) Additional sources of support. The package must also include the applicant=92s CV and two letters of reference mailed directly to the Ceta= cean Behavior and Conservation Award, c/o the Animal Behavior Society, Indiana University, 2611 East 10th Street #170, Bloomington IN 47408-2603, USA. The DEADLINE for receipt of completed applications is 1 December 2001. Al= l applications must be submitted in English. Funded projects will be announ= ced by 1 March 2002. For additional information please see: http://www.animalbehavior.org/ABS/Grants/CBC/CBCAward.htm ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2001 10:59:27 +0300 Reply-To: Pavel Gol'din From: Pavel Gol'din Subject: abstracts of recent publications from Ukraine Dear colleagues, the following are some abstracts from papers recently published in Ukrainian journals. For reprints see address below. Gol'din, P. E. Registering structures of bulla tympani of harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena relicta Abel, 1905 (Cetacea, Phocoenidae). - Uchenye Zapiski NTU. - 2001. - v. 14(53), i.3. - P. 36-40. Based on research of bullae tympani in harbour porpoises, it was shown that the periosteal zone of medial part of bulla tympani in odontocetes is a registering structure containing annual layers. The period of layering is limited by the age of 10 years, and the laws of bone lamination during two first years of life remain unclear. This makes difficult the practical use of bulla tympani in life history studies. Stryukov A. A. Corynosoma erignathi, sp. n. (Acanthocephala, Polymorphidae) - a parasite of the seal Erignathus barbatus nauticus. - Vestnik zoologii. - Supplement # 14. - 2000. - P. 9-18. A new species of Acanthocephala in the intestin of Erignathus barbathus nauticus Pallas is described. The species Corynosoma validum Van Cleave, 1953 is most alike to this new species. The comparison between these two species is given in detail and the differencies are mentioned. Pavel Gol'din V. I. Vernadsky Taurida National University Simferopol, Ukraine mailto:oblako(\)home.cris.net ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2001 14:35:20 -0400 From: Jan Young Subject: POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT: DIRECTOR OF WHALE RESCUE PROGRAM Please take note of the following position announcement:

DIRECTOR OF WHALE RESCUE PROGRAM CENTER FOR COASTAL STUDIES Provincetown, Massachusetts
Unique opportunity to direct Atlantic Large Whale Disentanglement Network based in Provincetown, MA. Director responsible for overall planning and implementation of at-sea rescue operations authorized by National Marine Fisheries Service. Ideal candidate will have 5-7 years of experience working in close proximity to large whales and will be expected to participate in rescue operations and to train others. Position requires physical endurance and involves some degree of risk. Field operations are frequently conducted in cooperation with U.S. Coast Guard and state marine patrols and require a firm commitment to operational protocols and marine safety. Candidates also must have substantial administrative, leadership, and fundraising skills as demonstrated by previous experience in directing projects or programs. Salary commensurate with experience. Immediate opening. Submit letter of inquiry and resume by November 9, 2001 to: Whale Rescue Search, Center for Coastal Studies, P.O. Box 1036, Provincetown, MA 02657. E-mail: jeyoung(\)coastalstudies.org. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2001 15:09:51 -0700 From: Marine Mammal Conference Subject: 14th Biennial Conference Reminder October 3, 2001 A few reminders for the quickly approaching 14th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals: Please check the Web site often, www.smmconference.org, as the program will soon be available there. The deadline for advance registration is November 2, 2001. For registration questions that are NOT answered on the meeting Web site, please contact the Conference Registrar, Ms. Terry Odell, todell(\)fbs.net. Confirmations for presenters were sent out a month ago. If you have NOT received your confirmation, please contact the Scientific Program Committee at sciprogram(\)vanaqua.org. All oral and poster presenters are reminded that they were to have sent an e-mail to the Scientific Program Committee at sciprogram(\)vanaqua.org confirming or declining their spot. If you have not done this, please do so immediately so that the program may be finalized. All oral presenters are reminded of the October 15 deadline for e-mailing audio-visual needs. Please note that the Scientific Program Committee can no longer accept changes to abstracts. October 31 is the deadline for sending in video presentation submissions. Questions pertaining to video night should be directed to mmconf(\)vanaqua.org. We look forward to welcoming you all to Vancouver in two months' time! The Conference Committee 14th Biennial Meeting of the Society for Marine Mammalogy Vancouver BC November 28 - December 3, 2001 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2001 19:52:27 -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. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. --------------- Stockin, K.A. et al. 2001. Effects of diel and seasonal cycles on the dive duration of the minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK 81(1): 189-190. Brown, E.G. et al. 2001. Interannual variation in the summer diets of harbour seals Phoca vitulina at Mousa, Shetland (UK). J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK 81(1): 325-337. Santos, M.B. et al. 2001. Stomach contents of northern bottlenose whales Hyperoodon ampullatus stranded in the North Sea. J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK 81(1): 143-150. Carlini, A.R. et al. 2001. Postweaning duration and body composition changes in southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) pups at King George Island. Physiol. Biochem. Zool. 74(4): 531-540. Heide-Jorgensen, M.P. and C. Lockyer. 2001. Age and sex distributions in the catches of belugas, Delphinapterus leucas, in West Greenland and in western Russia. Mamm. Biol. 66(4): 215-227. Bowen, W.D. et al. 2001. Foraging effort, food intake and lactation performance depend on maternal mass in a small phocid seal. Funct. Ecol. 15(3): 325-334. Durner, G.M. et al. 2001. Remote identification of polar bear maternal den habitat in northern Alaska. Arctic 54(2): 115-121. Georges, J-Y et al. 2001. Milking strategy in subantarctic fur seals Arctocephalus tropicalis breeding on Amsterdam Island: evidence from changes in milk composition. Physiol. Biochem. Zool. 74(4): 548-559. Amos, W. et al. 2001. Do female grey seals select genetically diverse mates? Anim. Behav. 62(1): 157-164. Thompson, P.M. et al. 2001. Local declines in the abundance of harbour seals: implications for the designation and monitoring of protected areas. J. Appl. Ecol. 38(1): 117-125. Kretzmann, M.B. et al. 2001. Microsatellite analysis of population structure in the endangered Hawaiian monk seal. Conserv. Biol. 15(2): 457-466. Arnett, R.T.P. and J. Whelan. 2001. Comparing the diet of cod (Gadus morhua) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus): an investigation of secondary ingestion. J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK 81(1): 365-366. Lunneryd, S.G. 2001. Fish preference by the harbour seal (Phoca vitulina), with implications for the contral of damage to fishing gear. ICES J. Mar. Sci. 58(4): 824-829. Vetter, W. et al. 2001. Anthropogenic and natural organohalogen compounds in blubber of dolphins and dugongs (Dugong dugon) from northeastern Australia. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 41(2): 221-231. Augier, H. et al. 2001. Evolution of the metallic contamination of the striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) on the French Mediterranean coasts between 1990 and 1997. Toxicol. Environ. Chem. 80(3-4): 189-201. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2001 18:58:52 -0800 Reply-To: toshihide_hamazaki(\)fishgame.state.ak.us From: Toshihide Hamazaki Subject: New publication about whaling issue ------ Hamazaki, T. & Tanno, D. (2001). Approval of whaling and whaling-relate= d beliefs: Public opinion in whaling and non-whaling countries. Human Dimension of Wildlife, 6, 131-144. Abstract We examined a widely-held argument that the disagreement over resumption = of commercial whaling between whaling countries (approve) and non-whaling countries (disapprove) is due to dissimilar views of whales and whaling (i.e. whether whales are consumptive resources). By analyzing public sur= vey data about whaling in whaling countries (Japan, Norway) and in non-whalin= g countries (Australia, UK, Germany, US), we found that the public=92s appr= oval of whaling was positively correlated with approval of the consumption of whale meat; however, it was not correlated with knowledge about populatio= ns of whales, in either the whaling nor non-whaling counties. We also found that the public in the non-whaling countries disapproved of whaling and strongly disapproved of the consumption of whale meat, whereas the public= in the whaling countries approved of whaling and slightly disapproved of the consumption of whale meat. Our findings confirm the so-called =93cultura= l gulf=94 between whaling and non-whaling countries. Toshihide Hamazaki / Hamachan Alaska Department of Fish & Game Commercial Fisheries Division 333 Raspberry Rd. Anchorage Alaska 99518 Ph: 907-267-2158 Fax: 907-267-2442 e-mail: toshihide_hamazaki(\)fishgame.state.ak.us ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Oct 2001 06:44:39 -0700 From: Waves Consulting Subject: sealions.info We have had the succesful registration of sealions.info . We are currently seeking proposals for interested parties to assist or development of the design of this informative website regarding sea lions. The content will be varied from research, physiology, conservation, interactions, etc. Please send your interest or any revelant contributions you would like to make to sealions(\)wavesconsulting.com . Sincerly, Christopher Porter Founder, Waves Consulting E-mail: cporter(\)wavesconsulting.com U.S. Voice-mail/Fax: +1 520 223 2516 U.K. Voice-mail/Fax: +44 870 135 8331 Mobile: +39 333 346 4648 Website: www.wavesconsulting.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2001 13:13:34 +0300 Reply-To: Pavel Gol'din From: Pavel Gol'din Subject: abstracts of recent publications from Ukraine II Dear colleagues, there are some more publications. For reprints see address below: Stryukov A. A. Corynosoma pseudohamanni Zdzitowiecki, 1984 (Acanthocephala, Polymorphidae) - a parasite of the seal Lobodon carcinophagus Hombron and Jacquinot, 1842 from Pacific part of the Antarctic. - Uchenye zapiski NTU. - 2000. - v 13. - i. 2. - P. 24-28. (In Russian). Studied acanthocephals Corynosoma pseudohamanni specimens of seal Lobodon carcinophagus from Pacific region of Antarctic differ from described specimens from Atlantic region of Antarctics by body shape, body and some organs dimensions, and also by proboscis armature (Zdzitowiecki, 1984). That is why we provide description of the studied specimens in order to clear out their systematical status. Stryukov A. A. Corynosoma pseudohamanni Zdzitowiecki, 1984 (Acanthocephala, Polymorphidae) - a parasite of the Leptonychothes weddelli Lesson, 1826 from Pacific part of the Antarctic. - Uchenye zapiski TNU. Series: Biology, 2001. - Vol. 14. - No. 1. - P. 161-165. (In Russian). Specimens examined of Corynosoma pseudohamanni from Leptonychothes weddelli from Pacific sector of Antarctic are distinct from the described specimens from the Atlantic sector of Antarctic in their body shape, body size, the size and shape of some organs, and armature of proboscis. So we describe the studied material to clarify their taxonomical status. Pavel Gol'din Dept. of Zoology V. I. Vernadsky Taurida National University Simferopol, Ukraine mailto:oblako(\)home.cris.net ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2001 10:37:36 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MArine Mammal Positions Available with NMFS (fwd) The following message was sent by Caroline Good at caroline.good(\)noaa.gov. Please do not contact MARMAM or MARMAM editors regarding the job positions. Thank you. If you interested in working with the National Marine Fisheries (NMFS) Office of Protected Resources, there are currently two vacancies in its Marine Mammal Conservation Division. Both are Fishery Biologist (Management) positions. One requires the incumbent to implement the conservation and recovery program for marine mammals under NMFS jurisdiction, including coordination with regions and science centers on establishing recovery and implementation teams; developing, implementing and updating recovery and conservation plans; and drafting policies, regulations, and procedures to carry out the program. The other supports the NMFS marine mammal-fisheries interaction program by participating with other NMFS offices in developing and coordinating Take Reduction Teams; developing and implementing policies, regulations and procedures to carry out Take Reduction Plans; and carrying out other aspects of the Marine Mammal Protection Act associated with fishery and marine mammal interactions, including fishery permits, vessel registration and authorization, fishery monitoring, and publication of Stock Assessment Reports and plans. Applications for these positions will be accepted through October 18. To access the vacancy announcements, go to http://www.usa.jobs.opm.gov/a9noaa.htm and click on Fishery Biologist (Management) H/NMF/01048.DAR and Fishery Biologist (Management) ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2001 10:46:07 -0400 From: Phil Clapham Subject: 14th Biennial Conference As a postscript to the Conference Committee's timely message about the upcoming Vancouver meeting, and as Membership Chair for the Society for Marine Mammalogy, I'd like to make a couple of quick requests to those who have not already registered. 1) PLEASE read the instructions for the registration (and, if necessary, membership forms) and make sure you fill out the forms correctly. The percentage of forms coming in to Terry Odell that have errors has not been small. Any errors will make life more difficult for Terry and will just delay your registration, so please take the time to fill 'em out correctly. 2) In particular, please note that: (i) all payments are in US dollars; (ii) all student registrations must be accompanied by proof of CURRENT student status; and (iii) registration at the membership rate means that you have to be a member in good standing for either 2001 or 2002 (so please make sure you are before sending in your form). These are the three most common problems we've found in registrations so far. 3) Note that we are no longer accepting 2001 memberships in the Society. Any new member applications should be for 2002, using the form provided. Finally, it would be a huge help if registrants didn't wait until just before the 2 November deadline to register. Terry Odell processed several hundred applications in the space of two weeks around the previous deadline in September, which just made dealing with queries and problems all the more difficult! Many thanks for your cooperation. We look forward to seeing you in Vancouver. Phil Clapham SMM Membership Chair -- The Society for Marine Mammalogy will be holding its 14th Biennial Conference from 28 November to 3 December 2001, in Vancouver, BC. Visit the conference Web site at www.smmconference.org for full details of this important meeting. Phillip J. Clapham, Ph.D. Large Whale Biology Program Protected Species Branch Northeast Fisheries Science Center 166 Water Street Woods Hole, MA 02543, U.S.A. tel. 508 495-2316 fax 508 495-2066 email: phillip.clapham(\)noaa.gov ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2001 08:40:40 -0700 From: Ellen Hines Subject: Schedule for GIS & Remote Sensing Workshop at SMM conference boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0030_01C14CB0.3F5D03A0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0030_01C14CB0.3F5D03A0 charset="iso-8859-1" Greetings, the schedule for the workshop on GIS and Remote Sensing for = Marine Mammal Scientists is ready. The workshop will be held on = November 28 in Vancouver before the SMM conference. Please register as = soon as possible as we are limiting attendence to 80. Schedule: http://office.geog.uvic.ca/dept/whale/2001GISSched.htm Registration: http://office.geog.uvic.ca/dept/whale/regform2001.html Report from Maui 1999 workshop: = http://office.geog.uvic.ca/dept/whale/schedule.html Ellen Hines, Assistant Professor Department of Geography & Human Environmental Studies San Francisco State University 1600 Holloway Ave San Francisco, Calif. 94132, USA 415-405-0921 Fax: 415-338-6243 ehines(\)sfsu.edu ------=_NextPart_000_0030_01C14CB0.3F5D03A0 charset="iso-8859-1"
Greetings, the schedule for the = workshop on GIS and=20 Remote Sensing for Marine Mammal Scientists is ready.  The workshop = will be=20 held on November 28 in Vancouver before the SMM conference.  Please = register as soon as possible as we are limiting attendence to = 80.
Schedule: http://of= fice.geog.uvic.ca/dept/whale/2001GISSched.htm
Registration:  http://of= fice.geog.uvic.ca/dept/whale/regform2001.html
Report from Maui 1999 workshop:  = http://offic= e.geog.uvic.ca/dept/whale/schedule.html
 
Ellen Hines, Assistant = Professor
Department of=20 Geography & Human Environmental Studies
San Francisco State=20 University
1600 Holloway Ave
San Francisco, Calif.  94132,=20 USA
415-405-0921
Fax: 415-338-6243
ehines(\)sfsu.edu
------=_NextPart_000_0030_01C14CB0.3F5D03A0-- ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 6 Oct 2001 10:41:39 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: NMFS workshops at the 14th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine (fwd) ******************************* The National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Protected Resources will be hosting the following workshops at the 14th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals. On Wednesday, November 28, Viewing Marine Mammals in the Wild: A Workshop to Discuss Responsible Guidelines and Regulations for Minimizing Disturbance will take place in the Saturna Island Room of the Fairmont Hotel. For details and registration information, go to http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/MMWatch/Biennial_wkshp01.html, or contact the workshop organizer at Trevor.Spradlin(\)noaa.gov. Workshop Report Summaries are due by October 22. Pre-registration ends October 25. A special information session on Obtaining a Marine Mammal Scientific Research or Enhancement Permit will be held on the evening of Saturday, December 1 in the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre. For details and registration information, please go to http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/PR1/Permits/Biennial_permits.html, or contact the workshop organizer at Tammy.Adams(\)noaa.gov. Participation is limited to 50 so please register by November 16. Also on Wednesday, November 28, there will be a workshop on Using Pingers to Reduce Marine Mammal Bycatch in Commercial Fisheries. For additional information on this workshop, please contact the workshop organizer at Emily.Hanson(\)noaa.gov. ______________________ Tammy C. Adams, Ph.D. Biologist, Office of Protected Resources National Marine Fisheries Service 1315 East-West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910, U.S.A. Phone: 301/713-2289 FAX: 301/713-0376 Tammy.Adams(\)noaa ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 6 Oct 2001 10:45:51 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Abstract (fwd) The following message has been forwarded from Louis Herman at: lherman(\)hawaii.edu. Herman, L. M., Matus, D. S., Herman, E. Y. K., Ivancic, M., and Pack, A. A. (2001) The Bottlenosed Dolphin's (Tursiops truncatus) Understanding of Gestures as Symbolic Representations of its Body Parts. Animal Learning & Behavior, 29, 250-264. We assigned gestural symbols to nine different body parts of a bottlenosed dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) (rostrum, mouth, melon, pectoral fin, dorsal fin, side, belly, genitals, tail). The dolphin was first trained to touch any floating object it chose with the body part indicated by a gestural symbol. In Experiment 1, we tested the dolphin's ability to now touch specific gesturally referenced objects using specific gesturally referenced body parts. In Experiment 2, we tested its ability to either touch or toss gesturally referenced objects with gesturally referenced body parts, or to simply display those body parts, or shake them back and forth. The acts of touching, tossing, displaying, and shaking were each associated with specific gestures and appeared in random sequences within test sessions. The results demonstrated highly significant levels of performance throughout these tasks, including many successes on the first occasions of new body-part uses. These findings provided strong evidence that the gestural symbols we used for body parts were semantically processed and understood by the dolphin as representing those body parts. In addition, the dolphin's ability to use its different body parts in the same way (e.g., touching objects with each of the nine referenced body parts), and to use the same body part in different ways (e.g., displaying or shaking its dorsal fin, or touching or tossing objects with its dorsal fin), suggested a body-image representational system for conscious awareness and conscious control of body parts similar to that postulated for humans and revealed through human brain lesion studies. Reprints are available from Louis M. Herman Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory 1129 Ala Moana Blvd. Honolulu HI 96814 lherman(\)hawaii.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2001 14:27:27 -0700 From: Chris Malcolm Subject: writing book about cetaceans in human psyche Hello all - I am presently putting together some material to write a book concerning the evolution of cetaceans in the human psyche. I have a good bit of information from whale-watchers among other information, however, I would like to talk to some researchers as well, particularly some of you who have been in the game for numerous years and those just beginning. Before I start bugging those of you I know and sort of know I thought I would give people the opportunity to volunteer (don't all jump up at once!!). I would like to arrange to meet people for a few minutes during the conference. If you would like to volunteer a few minutes of your time between beers - oops, I mean paper sessions - please email me at my address below. Hope to see a bunch of you in Vancouver! Chris. -- Chris Malcolm, MSc PhD Candidate Whale Research Lab Dept. of Geography University of Victoria P.O. Box 3050 STN CSC Victoria, BC, Canada, V8W 3P5 cmalcolm(\)office.geog.uvic.ca 250-472-4746 (lab phone) 250-721-6216 (fax) http://office.geog.uvic.ca/dept/whale/wrlmp.html ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 07:09:24 +0100 From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Harun=20Guclusoy?= Subject: New findings on diet of Med.Monk seals --0-1654918236-1002521364=:80569 X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by cascara.uvic.ca id f9869OL176344 =20 Dear MARMAM members, =20 Reprints of the following article are available. Salman,A., Bilecenoglu, M. & Guclusoy, H. 2001. Stomach contents of two M= editerranean monk seals (Monachus monachus) from the Aegean Sea, Turkey. = Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 81 (4= ): 719 - 720. "This study provides a description of the Mediterranean monk seal (Monach= us monachus) diet from the Aegean Sea coast of Turkey. A total of 23 prey= items belonging to five species were identified from the two stomachs ex= amined. Cephalapods constitute the dominant prey group by weigth (94,01 %= ). Sacrotragus sp. (Porifera) and Posidonia oceanica (Magnoliophyta) are = assumed to be incidental prey. Of the cephalapods identified, Elenoe mosc= hata and Bathypolypus sponsalis were encountered for the first time in a = monk seal stomach." =20 Sincerely, =20 Harun Guclusoy =20 Reprints are available from either, Corresponding author, e-mail :"Murat Bilecenoglu" mbilecen(\)sufak.ege.edu.= tr=20 or Harun Guclusoy Underwater Research Society / Monk Seal Research Group Fo=E7a Project Office P.O.Box.12, 35680 Foca, Izmir,Turkey harun(\)afag.org =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 --------------------------------- Do You Yahoo!? Get your free Yahoo! address at Yahoo! Mail: UK or IE. --0-1654918236-1002521364=:80569 X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by cascara.uvic.ca id f9869OL176344  

Dear MARMAM members,

 

Reprints of the following article are available.

Salman,A., Bilecenoglu, M. & Guclusoy, H. 2001. Stomach contents o= f two Mediterranean monk seals (Monachus monachus) from the Aegean= Sea, Turkey. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United = Kingdom, 81 (4): 719 - 720.

"This study provides a description of the Mediterranean monk seal (= Monachus monachus) diet from the Aegean Sea coast of Turkey. A total = of 23 prey items belonging to five species were identified from the two s= tomachs examined. Cephalapods constitute the dominant prey group by weigt= h (94,01 %). Sacrotragus sp. (Porifera) and Posidonia oceanica<= /I> (Magnoliophyta) are assumed to be incidental prey. Of the cephalapods= identified, Elenoe moschata and Bathypolypus sponsalis wer= e encountered for the first time in a monk seal stomach."

 

Sincerely,

 

Harun Guclusoy

 

Reprints are available from either,

Corresponding author, e-mail :"Murat Bilecenoglu" mbilecen(\)sufak.ege.edu.tr

or

Harun Guclusoy

Underwater Research Society / Monk Seal Research Gr= oup

Fo=E7a Project Office

P.O.Box.12, 35680

Foca, Izmir,Turkey

harun(\)afag.org &n= bsp;

 

 

 

 


Do You Y= ahoo!?
Get your free Yahoo! address at Yahoo! Mail: UK or IE= .
--0-1654918236-1002521364=:80569-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 08:41:20 -0400 From: Geoffrey Patton Subject: Re: MArine Mammal Positions Available with NMFS (fwd) In-Reply-To: <200110051737.f95Hba933392(\)unix5.uvic.ca> The recent NMFS position announcement contains a typographical error in the link. It should be: http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/a9noaa.htm and click on Fishery Biologist (Management) H/NMF/01048.DAR and Fishery Biologist (Management) (no period between "usa" and "jobs") Sincerely, (signed) Geoffrey W. Patton, Ph.D. USF Dept. of Medical Microbiology 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (MDC 10) Tampa, FL 33612 (813) 974-2101 (813) 974-4151 FAX gpatton(\)hsc.usf.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 16:29:51 -0400 From: "Dr. A.O. Debrot" Subject: Re: strandings Bryde's whales off Venezuela ------ Dear Marmamers, I draw your attention to a possible recent increase in stranding rates of= =20 the Venezuelan Bryde's whale population. On Oct. 4 I towed in a 10 m carcass of a balaenopterine whale (prob.=20 Bryde's whale). This is the fourth mortality of large balaenopterine whal= es=20 (prob. also B. edeni) in the last 2 years in the Leeward Dutch Antilles,=20 here off the coast of Venezuela, whereas we only had one recorded case in= =20 the preceding 4 decades. It is unlikely that strandings were simply missed in preceding decades as= =20 these carcasses are large and "newsworthy". I assume most mortalities=20 "miss" our small islands and float on into the Caribbean to other=20 "ultimate" destinations. The questions are obvious: is this a local/regional phenomenon, and what=20 may be the cause(s) (diseases, fishing and/or military practices, etc). If there is anyone capable of using or interested in more detailed info=20 they are welcome to contact me at adebrot (\)cura.net. Al Debrot Dr. A. O. Debrot Carmabi Foundation Piscaderabaai z/n P.O. Box 2090 Cura=E7ao, Netherlands Antilles Tel: 599-9-4624242 Fax: 599-9-4627680 E-mail: adebrot(\)cura.net Homepage: http://curacao.com/carmabi ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 22:40:38 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Spring Internship Position (fwd) Spring Internship Announcement The Whale Center of New England is a non-profit research organization,=20 comprised of approximately 10 people involved with the study of behavior,= =20 ecology, and natural history of the whales and dolphins found in the wate= rs off=20 Cape Ann, MA. Primary concentration is on an individually identified=20 population of some several hundred humpback whales that spend portions of= the=20 spring, summer, and fall in these waters.=20 Since 1982, interns have been responsible for collecting, organizing,=20 transcribing, and analyzing data dealing with the behavior and identifica= tion=20 of N. Atlantic cetaceans. We are currently looking to fill an opening for= the=20 spring semester of 2002 (Jan 20 =96 May 25). The internship will involve=20 extensive photo and computer work (training provided), plus field data=20 collection aboard commercial whale watching vessels and our research boat= =20 Silver II. A common apartment is used, where interns live together and share cooking= and=20 cleaning duties. Rooms are shared with one other person. A living arran= gement=20 such as this is conducive to open discussion and interaction between peer= s and=20 home life is often a continuation of the day in the field. Therefore, it= is=20 essential that candidates can combine these two areas. A fee of $1000 for= the=20 period will be charged and in return interns will receive housing and a w= eekly=20 food stipend. In the past, applicants for these positions have been primarily undergrad= uate=20 college students. Although we do not limit these positions to that group= , the=20 internship is tailored to their needs, and they are given priority. Coll= ege=20 credit may be arranged by the student through their department or as an=20 independent research program at their college or university. The Whale C= enter=20 of New England encourages this, and will take whatever steps are required= to=20 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 (someti= mes 12=20 hours or more) In order to formally apply for an internship, please send us a curriculum= vitae=20 or resume, a cover letter detailing your reason for applying, one letter = of=20 reference, and a transcript. Interviews will be arranged once we=92ve rec= eived=20 the completed application. Internships are open to college students that = have=20 completed their freshman year. Positions will be filled on a first come, = first=20 serve basis from a pool of qualified applicants. Application materials s= hould=20 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 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001 11:03:03 +1000 From: Kirstin Dobbs Subject: Dugong information & publications ------ Just wanted to make list subscribers aware of the following information and publications about dugongs. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority website provides considerable information about GBR dugongs through its website at . In particular, the following Research Reports are available at the website locations given below. Research Publication No.68 : "Dugongs, Boats, Dolphins and Turtles in Townsville-Cardwell region and recommendations for a boat traffic management plan for the Hinchinbrook Dugong Protection Area" by Tony Preen. Research Publication 70 (2 reports): a) "Shark control records hindcast serious decline in dugong numbers off rhe urban coast of Queensland" by Helene Marsh et. al b) "Dugong Distribution and Abundance in the Southern Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Hervey Bay: Results of an Aerial Survey in October=96December 1999" by Helene Marsh and Ivan Lawler Final Report (not printed, only available at following website): "Analysis of stomach contents of dugongs stranded in the Central Region of the GBR Marine Park: May-August 2000" by Ivan Lawler and Jessica Andre. Final Report (not printed, only available at following website): "Seasonal distribution of dugong in the southern GBR Marine Park" by Helene Marsh and Helen Penrose Research Publication No. 64: "Procedures for the salvage and necropsy of the dugong (Dugong dugong)" by C. Eros et. al. Research Publication No.58: "A Dugong Research Strategy for the GBR World Heritage Area and Hervey Bay" by Jamie Oliver and Ray Berkelmans. A limited number of printed copies of the research publications are available on request. Regards, Kirstin -- _______________________________ Kirstin Dobbs, PhD Senior Projects Officer, Species Conservation Conservation, Biodiversity and World Heritage Group Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority PO Box 1379 Townsville, Qld 4810 Australia Telephone: +61-7-4750-0865 Facsimile: +61-7-4772-6093 e-mail: k.dobbs(\)gbrmpa.gov.au Visit us at: http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001 19:50:58 EDT From: Peter Stevick Subject: Abstract: Natural Markings boundary="part1_ae.1c197635.28f78a62_boundary" --part1_ae.1c197635.28f78a62_boundary The following paper has recently been published which may be of interest to=20 MARMAM subscribers.=20 Peter T. Stevick, Per J. Palsb=F8ll, Tim D. Smith, Mark V. Bravington and=20 Philip S. Hammond. 2001 Errors in identification using natural markings:=20 rates, sources and effects on capture-recapture estimates of abundance.=20 Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 58:1861-1870.=20 Abstract The results of a double-marking experiment using natural markings and=20 microsatellite genetic markers to identify humpback whales (Megaptera=20 novaeangliae) confirm that natural markings are a reliable means of=20 identifying individuals on a large scale. Of 1410 instances of double taggin= g=20 there were 414 re-sightings. No false positive and 14 false negative errors=20 were identified.The rate of error increased with decreasing photographic=20 quality; no errors were observed among photographs of the highest quality=20 rating while an error rate of 0.125 was identified in sightings for which=20 only part of the area used for identification was visible. There was also a=20 weaker relationship between error rate and the distinctiveness of markings,=20 which may result from non-independence in coding for image quality and=20 distinctiveness. A correction is developed for the Petersen two-sample=20 abundance estimator to account for false negative errors in identification=20 and a parametric bootstrap procedure for estimation of variance is also=20 developed. In application to abundance estimates from the North Atlantic, th= e=20 correction reduces the bias in estimates made using poorer quality=20 photographs to a negligible level while maintaining comparable precision. A limited number of reprints are available. Please contact Peter Stevick, PO= =20 Box 93, Rockport, ME 04856, USA .=20 Cheers, Peter Stevick --part1_ae.1c197635.28f78a62_boundary The following paper has r= ecently been published which may be of interest to MARMAM subscribers.=20


Peter T. Stevick, Per J. Palsb=F8ll, Tim D. Smith, Mark V. Bravington an= d Philip S. Hammond. 2001 Errors in identification using natural markings: r= ates, sources and effects on capture-recapture estimates of abundance. Canad= ian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 58:1861-1870.=20

Abstract

The results of a double-marking experiment using natural markings and mi= crosatellite genetic markers to identify humpback whales (Megaptera novaeang= liae) confirm that natural markings are a reliable means of identifying indi= viduals on a large scale. Of 1410 instances of double tagging there were 414= re-sightings. No false positive and 14 false negative errors were identifie= d.The rate of error increased with decreasing photographic quality; no error= s were observed among photographs of the highest quality rating while an err= or rate of 0.125 was identified in sightings for which only part of the area= used for identification was visible. There was also a weaker relationship b= etween error rate and the distinctiveness of markings, which may result from= non-independence in coding for image quality and distinctiveness. A correct= ion is developed for the Petersen two-sample abundance estimator to account=20= for false negative errors in identification and a parametric bootstrap proce= dure for estimation of variance is also developed. In application to abundan= ce estimates from the North Atlantic, the correction reduces the bias in est= imates made using poorer quality photographs to a negligible level while mai= ntaining comparable precision.


A limited number of reprints are available. Please contact Peter Stevick= , PO Box 93, Rockport, ME 04856, USA  <PeterStevick(\)aol.com>.=20

Cheers,
Peter Stevick --part1_ae.1c197635.28f78a62_boundary-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2001 08:27:55 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Faculty position Rowan University, NJ (fwd) To: MAMMAL-L(\)SIVM.SI.EDU Subject: Faculty Position-- Rowan University The Department of Biological Sciences at Rowan University invites applications for a tenure-track position in Environmental Biology. The department seeks a candidate with a broad-based background and an active research program that will involve undergraduates. Teaching responsibilities include courses offered by the university's Liberal Studies program (Math/Science track), as well as introductory and upper-level Biology courses relevant to the candidate's area of expertise. Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in some field of environmental biology and should demonstrate interest and aptitude in undergraduate education. To apply, submit a curriculum vitae, a summary of past research and future plans for research, a statement on teaching experience/interests/philosophy, names of three references, and copies of unofficial graduate transcripts to: Dr. Andrew Prieto, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Rowan University, 201 Mullica Hill Rd., Glassboro, NJ 08028-1701. Review of applications will begin on November 16 and continue until the position is filled. For more information, contact Dr. Prieto at prieto(\)rowan.edu. The Department of Biological Sciences serves approximately 300 Biology majors and also offers a minor in Biology and a concentration in Environmental Studies. The department currently consists of twelve full-time faculty members and will be moving into a new $41 million science building, currently under construction, in January of 2003. This building will include ample research laboratory space and state of the art multimedia teaching facilities, as well as a greenhouse, animal facility, and tissue culture facility. For more information on the department, please refer to the department's website at http://www.rowan.edu/biology. Rowan University is a selective, state university enrolling over 9,500 students in degree programs ranging from bachelor's through doctorate. The University is divided into six colleges (Business, Communication, Education, Engineering, Fine and Performing Arts, and Liberal Arts and Sciences) and The Graduate School. The University is in the midst of a multi-million dollar capital plan to expand the campus, enhance technology, and build more academic buildings. Rowan is located in southern New Jersey between Atlantic City and Philadelphia and provides venues for rich cultural experiences on the campus and throughout the region. In 1992, Rowan University received a $100 million gift from Henry and Betty Rowan, one of the largest gifts ever bestowed on a public university. Rowan University's endowment is the largest of any similar public university in the country. More information can be found at http://www.rowan.edu Luke Holbrook Department of Biological Sciences Rowan University 201 Mullica Hill Rd. Glassboro, NJ 08028-1701 Phone: 856 256 4500 x3585 FAX: 856 256 4921 E-mail: holbrook(\)rowan.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2001 13:50:22 -0700 From: dru clark Subject: Biosonar Internship Opportunity ------ BIOSONAR INTERNSHIP The US Navy Marine Mammal Program is seeking a graduate student for the=20 Biosonar Iternship Program for the Spring semester and beyond. Program Description: On going biosonar research is exploring how the dolphin uses it's biosona= r=20 to search for and detect targets and how new hardware systems can be made= =20 to perform as well as the dolphin. Existing and new computational model= s=20 of dolphin biosonar are being tested in new developmental hardware sonar=20 designed to replicate the dolphin biosonar system. The biosonar program=20 has two major thrusts: 1) To develop and build a dolphin based biosonar=20 (DBS) and 2) The further development of a dolphin-wearable computer to=20 collect and analyze the free-swimming acoustic behavior of animals as the= y=20 search for targets (the Biosonar Measurement Tool BMT). The Program=20 office is also involved with basic research of dolphin psychophysical=20 thresholds and is currently investigating the animal's ability to detect=20 range jitter using electronic targets, and the animal's ability to detect= =20 differences in various target material composition. Student assistance within the Biosonar program office may involve work on= =20 all major aspects of the program and can consist of: =B7 Support of BMT data collection and analysis. =B7 Analysis of large data bases of acoustic signals from the DBS =B7 Support of program development for signal acquisition and data = storage =B7 Detailed study of animal behavior during target detection tasks =B7 Support of dolphin experimental trials in range=20 jitter detection Interested students are encouraged to contact Dru Clark at (619) 767-4100= ,=20 or email at dru(\)spawar.navy.mil for application information *************************************************************************= ***=20 ****** DruAnn Clark Coordinator of Volunteer Opportunities US Navy Marine Mammal Program dru(\)spawar.navy.mil (619) 767-4100 *************************************************************************= ***=20 ****** ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2001 13:41:27 -0700 From: dru clark Subject: Animal Care & Training Internship Opportunity ANIMAL CARE & TRAINING INTERNSHIP The US Navy Marine Mammal Program is seeking students for the Animal Care & Training Internship Program for the Spring semester and beyond. Program Description: This internship is designed to give undergraduate students a dynamic educational experience in the marine mammal field while offering valuable career experience. Students will be responsible for a number of support tasks with dolphins and sea lions throughout the course of the internship. These responsibilities will include diet preparation, sanitation, and equipment and facility maintenance. Interns will also have the opportunity to assist the marine mammal training staff in husbandry and open ocean training. In addition, they will provide support to the animal care staff in animal physicals, and assist in a number of different marine mammal research projects. Lectures and field trips will also be conducted throughout the term to enhance the learning experience. Qualifications: The internship is offered on a competitive basis to college students in the Marine Science, Biology, Zoology, Psychology, and Veterinary fields. Though the internship is designed for undergraduate students, recent graduates are also eligible to apply. All interns must arrange to receive college credit to be considered for the internship. The internship is a 40 hours per week, 15-week commitment. Please contact Dru Clark at (619) 767-4100, or email at dru(\)spawar.navy.mil for application information. **************************************************************************** ****** DruAnn Clark Coordinator of Volunteer Opportunities US Navy Marine Mammal Program dru(\)spawar.navy.mil (619) 767-4100 **************************************************************************** ****** ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2001 13:01:12 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MCBI Announces Tegner Award Recipients (fwd) Editor's note: one of the projects receiving the award involves marine mammal research. --------------------------------------------- From: Lance Morgan Congratulations to the following recipients of the Mia J Tegner Memorial Research Grants in Marine Environmental History and Historical Marine Ecology: =09Brian Wysor and Dr. Suzanne Fredericq of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, "Establishing the historical presence of macroalgal species in the vicinity of the Panama Canal". They will use their Tegner grant to appl= y DNA sequencing techniques to determine whether seaweed species off Panama are natives or recent invaders. =09Susanna Fuller and Susan Gass of Dalhousie University in Halifax NS, Canada, "The status and distribution of deepsea corals and sponges in the Northwest Atlantic". They will be interviewing fishermen about the abundanc= e of these crucial deepsea species before they were largely eliminated by bottom trawling, a fishing technology that drags heavy nets across the seabed. =09Joseph Roman of Harvard University in Cambridge, MA, "Whales before whaling: estimating population size of cetaceans in the North Atlantic before commercial exploitation". Using molecular genetic techniques Mr. Roman will estimate population size of the great whales before they were reduced by commercial whaling. These methods can provide estimates that are very different from the numbers derived from whalers' logbooks and can help reveal the historical role of whales in marine ecosystems. =09Drs. Catherine R. Samson and Graham J. Edgar of the University of Tasman= ia, Hobart, Australia, "The effects of human activity: documenting changes in marine habitats for inshore SE Tasmania since European settlement". By taking cores of the sediments, Drs. Samson and Edgar aim to document the disappearance of species and changes in marine ecosystems since Europeans settled Tasmania in the early 1800s. =09Angela M. Arnold of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore MD, "The histo= ry of Holocene Chesapeake Bay food webs". Using sediment cores, Ms. Arnold will analyze microorganisms that indicate past conditions and use carbon 14 analysis and the pollen record to date sediment layers. =09Dr. Peter Auster and Ivar Babb of University of Connecticut-Avery Point = and Dr. Les Watling of the University of Maine, "Assessing historic distributions of deep water corals on the outer continental shelf and slope off the Northeast United States". They will examine historic records for evidence of reefs or thickets of corals before fishing with destructive bottom trawling gear became widespread in the last few decades. Dr. Mia J. Tegner, a marine biologist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, lost her life in January 2001 while carrying out research off Southern California. She studied the ecology of kelp forest communities an= d abalone populations, and was particularly interested in understanding how marine populations and ecosystems have changed as a result of human activities. This pioneering research earned her appointments as a Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation and as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She was an author of the cover paper in the July 27, 2001 issue of the prestigious journal Science on =93Historical overfishing and the recent collapse of coastal ecosystems=94 which showed t= hat life in the sea was vastly more numerous until spreading human populations and improved fishing technologies devastated marine species and ecosystems. Mia J. Tegner Memorial Research Grants were started to honor her memory by Marine Conservation Biology Institute (MCBI) with funding from the Oak Foundation. MCBI is a nonprofit scientific and conservation advocacy organization headquartered in Redmond WA whose mission is to advance the science of marine conservation biology and to promote cooperation essential to protecting and restoring the Earth=92s biological integrity. The Oak Foundation is a philanthropic organization headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland whose mission is to address issues of global social and environmental concern, particularly those that have a major impact on the lives of the disadvantaged. Full press release available on line at www.mcbi.org ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2001 08:29:26 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: The 16th annual conference of ECS (fwd) From: Thierry Jauniaux ---------------------------------------------- Dear All, The 16th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society will take place in Liege (Luik), Belgium from April 7 to 11, 2002. The theme of the conference is : Marine mammal health: from individuals to populations. Presentations will include: The impacts of global changes on mariine mammals; Multidisciplinary approaches of emerging diseases; Effects of chemical pollution. As usual, papers on all aspects of the biology of cetaceans and other marine mammals are included in the programme. More information can be obtained on ECS web site: http://web.inter.NL.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs/index.htm Very best regards and see you soon in Liege For the organisers: T.Jauniaux Visit our websites http://www.ulg.ac.be/fmv/patho/marine.htm http://cemu10.fmv.ulg.ac.be/cas-jour/cas.htm Dept. of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Univ. of Liege, Bat. B43, Sart Tilman, B-4000 Liege, Belgium Phone: 0032-4-366-4075; Fax: 0032-4-366-4565; cell phone : 0032 477 252302 E-mail : t.jauniaux(\)ulg.ac.be ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2001 18:04:47 -0500 From: Barb Zoodsma Subject: Aerial Survey Coordinator The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is accepting resumes for Right Whale Aerial Survey Coordinator. This is a 40-hour/week, temporary position for the period Dec. 15, 2001 to March 15, 2002 and is based out of St. Simons Island, Georgia. Aerial surveys will be flown in a NOAA DeHavilland Twin Otter and are flown 20-40 miles offshore of SE Georgia and NE Florida. Responsibilities include: coordinating aerial surveys with pilots and observers; scheduling and supervising observers; reporting right whale sightings to the US Navy; survey observer and datarecorder; coordinating and implementing the completion of photo ID work (photography and photo analysis), data entry, and photo and electronic database maintenance. Preferences will be given to those candidates with administrative and supervisory skills, and marine mammal or related aerial survey experience. Salary is $17.98/hr. If interested, please submit a resume and references by (postmarked no later than) November 3 to: Right Whale Aerial Survey Coordinator Position Nongame-Endangered Wildlife Program Georgia Department of Natural Resources One Conservation Way Brunswick, Georgia 31520 or email to: Barb_Zoodsma(\)mail.dnr.state.ga.us Thank you. ******************************************************************** Barb Zoodsma, Sr. Wildlife Biologist Nongame-Endangered Wildlife Program Georgia Department of Natural Resources One Conservation Way Brunswick, Georgia 31520-8687 Electronic address: Barb_Zoodsma(\)mail.dnr.state.ga.us Telephone: 912/264-7218 FAX: 912/262-3143 ******************************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2001 17:56:59 -0500 From: Barb Zoodsma Subject: Aerial Survey Positions 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. --=_712B8B55.CEAFDA95 The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is accepting resumes for right = whale aerial survey observer positions. These are 40-hour/week, temporary = positions for the period Dec. 15, 2001 to March 15, 2002 and are based out = of St. Simons Island, Georgia. Aerial surveys will be flown in a NOAA = DeHavilland Twin Otter and are flown 20-40 miles offshore of SE Georgia = and NE Florida. Responsibilities include: aerial survey observer and data = recorder, reporting right whale sightings to the US Navy, photo ID work = (photography and photo analysis), data entry, and photo and electronic = database maintenance. Preferences will be given to those candidates with = marine mammal or related aerial survey experience. Salary is $15.60/hr. If interested, please submit resume and references by (postmarked no later = than) November 3 to: Right Whale Observer Position Nongame-Endangered Wildlife Program Georgia Department of Natural Resources One Conservation Way Brunswick, Georgia 31520 or email to: Barb_Zoodsma(\)mail.dnr.state.ga.us Thank you. ******************************************************************** Barb Zoodsma, Sr. Wildlife Biologist Nongame-Endangered Wildlife Program Georgia Department of Natural Resources One Conservation Way Brunswick, Georgia 31520-8687 Electronic address: Barb_Zoodsma(\)mail.dnr.state.ga.us Telephone: 912/264-7218 FAX: 912/262-3143 ******************************************************************** --=_712B8B55.CEAFDA95
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is accepting=20 resumes for right whale aerial survey observer positions.  = These=20 are 40-hour/week, temporary positions for the period Dec. 15, 2001 to = March 15,=20 2002 and are based out of St. Simons Island, Georgia.  Aerial=20 surveys will be flown in a NOAA DeHavilland Twin Otter and=20 are flown 20-40 miles offshore of SE Georgia and NE=20 Florida.  Responsibilities include: aerial survey = observer=20 and data recorder, reporting right whale sightings to the US Navy, photo = ID work=20 (photography and photo analysis), data entry, and photo and electronic = database=20 maintenance.  Preferences will be given to those candidates = with=20 marine mammal or related aerial survey experience.  Salary is=20 $15.60/hr.
 
If interested, please submit resume and references by (postmarked no = later=20 than) November 3 to:
 
Right Whale Observer Position
Nongame-Endangered Wildlife Program
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
One Conservation Way
Brunswick, Georgia  31520
 
or email to:  Barb_Zoodsma(\)mail.dnr.sta= te.ga.us
 
Thank you.
 
********************************************************************Barb=20 Zoodsma, Sr. Wildlife Biologist
Nongame-Endangered Wildlife=20 Program
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
One Conservation=20 Way
Brunswick, Georgia  31520-8687
Electronic address:  = Barb_Zoodsma(\)mail.dnr.sta= te.ga.us
Telephone: =20 912/264-7218  FAX:  912/262-3143
 
******************************************************************** --=_712B8B55.CEAFDA95-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2001 17:43:57 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: 2000 ECS Proceedings EUROPEAN RESEARCH ON CETACEANS - 14 Proceedings of the Fourteenth Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society, Cork, Ireland. 2-5 April 2000 Editors: P. G. H. Evans, R. Pitt-Aiken and E. Rogan Date of Publication: December 2000 Place of Publication: Rome, Italy INTRODUCTION The Fourteenth Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society was held at University College Cork in Ireland between 2nd and 5th April 2000. It was attended by just under 400 people from 31 countries. The theme this year was "Cetaceans in the Ecosystem: Defining Critical Habitat", and speakers invited to give keynote addresses to this theme included: Phil Hammond on "The Foraging Distribution & Behaviour of Grey Seals and Humpback Whales: Practical lessons for determining critical habitat", Bob Kenney on "Defining Critical Habitat in a critically endangered baleen whale species: the right whale to study?", and Mike Fedak on "Using GIS to explore environmental relationships with the tracks of recently weaned southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) pups from Macquarie Island". In addition to these, there were 36 other talks and 118 posters. Both preceding and subsequent to the Conference, there were workshops on the following themes: methods for investigating stock structure in cetaceans; studies on beaked whales; the application of new techniques of radio telemetry; the Irish Whale & Dolphin Sanctuary; and a student workshop on planning, presenting and publishing scientific research. The Society is very grateful to the Conference Organiser, Emer Rogan of the University of Cork's Zoology Department, and her trusty team of local helpers, Fidelina Butler, Debbie Chapman, Richard Fitzgerald, Simon Ingram, Mick Mackey and Sinead Murphy, as well as Greg Donovan who with Emer organised the Scientific Programme, and Roland Lick who played an important role in the organising of registration and membership fees. We also gratefully acknowledge the following bodies for their generous sponsorship of the conference (in alphabetical order): Aquaculture Development Centre (UCC), Bord Filte (Irish Tourist Board), Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Dchas (the Heritage Service), Environmental Protection Agency, Fyffes plc, International Whaling Commisson, Irish Water Resources Ltd, Marine Institute, Statoil Exploration (Ireland) Ltd, The Heritage Council, University College, Cork, and Vantage Wholesale. A Conference Scientific Committee was chaired by Greg Donovan and also comprised Peter Evans, Jaume Forcada, Phil Hammmond, Christina Lockyer, and Nick Tregenza. The following persons have reviewed abstracts: Alex Aguilar, John Baker, John Bannister, Peter Best, Arne Bjrge, David Borchers, Doug Butterworth, Phil Clapham, Chris Clark, Greg Donovan, Peter Evans, Jaume Forcada, Jonathan Gordon, Phil Hammond, Lex Hiby, Rus Hoelzel, Paul Jepson, Toshio Kasuya, Finn Larsen, Robin Law, Christina Lockyer, Tony Martin, Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara, Todd O'Hara, Adrian Raftery, Toni Raga, Randall Reeves, Peter Reijnders, Emer Rogan, Usula Siebert, Paul Thompson, and Nick Tregenza. Contributions have been arranged broadly by subjects, and within subjects, they are arranged alphabetically. All abstracts were subject to a review process and represent all those submissions which were accepted for the conference. Extended summaries have been edited to improve clarity and to maintain a uniformity of presentation. For the benefit of contributors to future Proceedings, instructions are given at the back of this volume. Please follow the guidelines carefully; most contributors have not followed them closely and this creates much extra work for the editors. A very great deal of effort has gone into the editing and production of these Proceedings. In this connection, I should like to thank my co-editors Rebecca Pitt-Aiken and Emer Rogan for their invaluable help at all stages of its production. Rebecca efficiently re-formatted contributions and helped with the editing; Emer prepared the short abstracts, editing those for clarity. Finally, I should like to thank Giancarlo Lauriano of ICRAM in Rome for overseeing the printing of the Proceedings. EDITOR COPIES OF THE PROCEEDINGS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TREASURER OF THE EUROPEAN CETACEAN SOCIETY: Roland Lick, Kaiserstrasse 27 B, D-24143 Kiel, Germany (Tel. +49 431 738942; e-mail: rlick2059(\)aol.com) CONTENTS Introduction - 9 CRITICAL HABITAT - 11 Baines, M.E. and Earl, S.J. Do harbour porpoises use favoured habitats around the coast of Wales, UK, for calving and nursing young calves? 13 Berrow, S.D. and Holmes, B. Developing sustainable whale-watching: defining critical habitats for dolphins and dolphin tour boats - 13 Brereton, T.M., Williams, A.D. and Williams, R. A low-cost method to determine bathypelagic and seasonal occupancy of fin whale Balaenoptera physalus in the Bay of Biscay - 14 Casacci, C. and Gannier, A. Habitat variability and site fidelity of the Risso's dolphin in the northwestern Mediterranean: defining a home range for a nomad - 19 Clement, D.M. and Morris, J.G. Bottlenose dolphin feeding habitat utilisation in the Indian River lagoon, Florida - 23 De Stephanis, R., Prez Gimeno, N., Rousel, E., Laiz Carrin, R., Martnez Serrano, M., Rodrguez Gutirrez, J., Brcenas Gascn, P., Puente Gonzlez, E., Maya Vlchez, A., Beaubrun, P. and Fernndez-Casado, M. Issues concerning cetaceans in the Strait of Gibraltar? - 24 Drouot, V., Gannier, A. and Goold, J.C. Underwater vocalisations for assessing sperm whale habitat - 29 Fedak, M. and McConnell, B. Using GIS to explore environmental relationships with the tracks of recently weaned southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonia) pups from Macquarie Island - 33 Gannon, D.P., Eby, L.A. and Read, A.J. Effects of hypoxia on habitat quality for bottlenose dolphins in the Neuse River, North Carolina - 34 Gordon, J., Steiner, L. and Lewis, T. Is critical habitat a useful concept for management of sperm whales and other pelagic offshore cetaceans? - 34 Hammond, P.S., McConnell, B.J., Stevick, P.T., Matthiopoulos, J., Lovell, P. and Fedak, M.A. The foraging distribution and behaviour of grey seals and humpback whales: practical lessons for determining critical habitat - 35 Ingram, S.N. and Rogan, E. Defining critical habitat areas for bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) resident in the Shannon estuary, Ireland and conservation management implications - 36 Kenney, R.D. Defining critical habitat in a critically endangered baleen whale species: the right whale to study? - 37 Lailson-Brito, J.Jr, Azeredo, M.A.A. and Saldanha, M.F.C. Trace metal concentrations in marine tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis, Gervais, 1853) in Guanabara Bay, Brazil: preliminary results - 41 Martin, A.R. and da Silva, V.M.F. River dolphins don't always prefer rivers - 41 Mate, B. R. Critical habitats of blue whales in the eastern north Pacific - 42 Meynier, L., Vincent, C. and Ridoux, V. Haul-out behaviour in grey seals: site selection by photo-identified individuals in summer - 42 Nadarajah, C. Breaking the surface: a study of whales, dolphins and dugongs in West Malaysia - 43 Poncelet, E., Van Canneyt, O. and Boubert, J.-J. Considerable amount of plastic debris in the stomach of a Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) washed ashore on the French Atlantic coast - 44 Quero, M.E., Chiofalo, G, Datta, S., Di Natale, A., Dremire, P.Y. and Goodson, A.D. Interaction between dolphins and artisanal gillnet fishery: methods of fishery and damages sampling - 48 Tscherter, U. and Lynas, E.M.N. Long-term use, differential residence time and site exploitation by minke whales - 55 Thompson, P.M., Grellier, K., Hastie, G.D., Wilson, B. and Hammond, P.S. Comparative distribution and habitat use by seals and dolphins in a coastal ecosystem - 60 Vincent, C., MacConnell, B. J., Fedak, M.A. and Ridoux, V. Preliminary insights into the ontogeny of habitat use in young grey seals, Halichoerus grypus - 60 Weir, C.R. and O'Brien, S. Association of the harbour porpoise with the western Irish Sea front - 61 Westgate, A.J., Read, A.J., and Cox, T.C. Watching puffing pigs from space: defining critical habitat using satellite telemetry - 66 ACOUSTICS - 67 Azevedo, A.F. and Simo, S.M. Vocalizations of the marine tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis, Gervais, 1853) and its relationship to behaviour - 69 Boisseau, O., Gordon, J., Chappell, O. and Gillespie, D. Interspecific comparison of dolphin whistles using multivariate discriminant analysis - 69 Bojanowski, E., Todt, D. and Veit, F. The development of a bivocal signature whistle in a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) calf - 70 Borsani. J.F., Clark, C.W. and Notarbartolo Di Sciara, G. Sound production by fin whales in the Corsican-Ligurian basin, Mediterranean sea - 75 Buchet, E. and Warembourg, C. First acoustic recordings of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) whistles in Normandy waters - 75 Chiofalo, G., Datta, S., Goodson, A.D, Quero, M.E., Di Natale, A. and Dremiere, P.Y. Applying acoustic telemetry techniques to the investigation of opportunistic feeding behaviour of dolphins around fishing nets - 76 Ciaramitaro S., Azzali, M., Catacchio, S., Jones, M., Simoni, R. and Ruggeri, A. The evolution of the acosutic and social behaviour in artificial community of dolphins - 81 Karlsen, J., Bisther, A., Lydersen, C., Kovacs, K. and Haug, T. Vocalisations of white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) summering around Svalbard, Norway - 86 Manoukian, S., Azzali, M. and Tizzi, R. Informational and mechanical interactions between echolocating dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and objects and human beings as targets - 87 Teloni, V., Zimmer, W.M.X., Fossati, C., Manghi, M., Pavan, G. and Priano, M. Variability of temporal and spectral click characteristics of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) - 91 Tougaard, J. Using echoes in orientation -- how to know an echolocator when you see one - 96 Verfuss, U.V., Miller, L.A. and Schnitzler, H.-U. Fish catch and echolocation behaviour of the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena - 101 BEHAVIOUR - 103 Alonso, J.M., Lpez, A., Gonzlez, A.F. and Santos, M.B. Evidence of violent interactions between bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and other cetacean species in NW Spain - 105 Barbieri, G. and Bearzi, G. Behaviour of a solitary, "sociable" bottlenose dolphin in southern Italy - 107 Bearzi, G. and Ferretti, S. Rare report of a bottlenose dolphin foraging in the Venice Lagoon, Italy - 110 Bourreau S., Gannier, A. and Laran, S. Summer activity patterns of cetaceans in the Ligurian Sea sanctuary and their diurnal variations - 115 Brunnick, B.J. and Herzing, D.L. Growing up spotted: patterns in association related to age and gender in spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) living in the Bahamas - 115 Casale, M. Sardinian wild bottlenose dolphins: an interpretation of surfacing intervals 116 Coscarella, M.A., Dans, S.L., Pedraza, S.N. and Crespo, E.A. Behaviour of Commersons dolphins and preliminary information of the effect of boats in watching activities 121 Delfour, F. Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus, T. gilli) using an underwater touchscreen in a cognitive task: role of social constraints on the learning process - 122 Daz Lpez, B, Mussi, B., Miragliuolo, A. Chiota, D. and Valerio, L. Respiration patterns of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) off Ischia Island (southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) - 125 Fayos, J.A., Caadas, A. and Sagarminaga, R. A comparative approach of the movement patterns and orientation of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the north-eastern Alboran Sea - 130 Fernndez, A.I., Gutirrez, J.M., Mengual, R., Verdes, D., Mndez, A., Marcos, C. and Prez-Ruzafa, A. Using dual scaling in cetacean behaviour studies: a multivariate approach - 134 Garca, S., Knouse, D., Sagarminaga, R. and Caadas, A. An insight on the biological significance of mixed groups of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) in the Alboran Sea - 135 Gaspari, S., Azzellino, A., Airoldi, S. and Hoelzel, A.R. Association patterns of Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus) in the north-west Mediterranean - 138 Georges, J-Y., Filippi, D. and Guinet, C. Effects of the lunar cycle on the foraging ecology of subantarctic fur seals - 138 Hastie, G.D., Wilson, B., Tufft, L.H. and Thompson, P.M. Dolphin diving behaviour: implications for habitat selection in a three-dimensional environment - 139 Liret, C., Cam, E. and Monnat, J.Y. Can we predict bottlenose dolphin behaviour? - 139 Lucke, K., Wilson, R. Teilmann, J., Desportes, G., Larsen, F., Adelung, D. and Siebert, U. Aquisition of temporally finely-resolved data on the behaviour of free-ranging harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the Baltic: a first attempt - 140 Mussi, B., Miragliuolo, A. and Daz Lpez, B. Social structure and male parental care in a long finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) pod off Ventotene Island (southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) - 141 Oremus, M., Cottier, A. and Poole, M.M. Associations of spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) in Moorea, French Polynesia - 146 Roussel E. and Beaubrun, P.C. How do striped and common dolphins share the eastern part of the Strait of Gibraltar for a season? - 147 Tizzi, R., Castellano, A. and Pace, D.S. The development of play behaviour in a bottlenose dolphin calf (Tursiops truncatus) - 152 Tschudin, A., Call, J., and Dunbar, R. Dolphins spontaneously comprehend signs. - 158 Ugarte F., Simila, T., Wilson, B. and Van der Gullik, P. A quantitative study of the behaviour of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in northern Norway - 159 CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT- 161 Adamantopoulou, S., Anagnostopoulou, K, Dendrinos, P., Kotomatas, S., Labadariou, N., Pipinis, V., Stroufliotis, G., Tounta, E. and Zavras, V. Conserving critical habitats for the Mediterranean monk seal in Greece through the creation of a network of protected areas - 163 Aguilar, N., Carrillo, M., Delgado, I., Daz, F. and Brito, A. Fast ferries impact on cetaceans in the Canary Islands: collisions and displacement - 164 Andr, M., Degollada, E. & Fernndez, A. Fast ferries and cetacean collisions: evidence and solution(s) - 164 Azzali, M., Rivas, G., Modica, A., Luna, M., Farchi, C., Giovagnoli, L. and Manoukian, S. Pre-impact baseline studies on cetaceans and their most important prey items in the Adriatic Sea - 165 Ben Naceur Lofti. New data about dolphins in Tunisia: interaction between dolphins and fishery craft - 171 Berggren, P. Dolphin tourism: a tool to conserve threatened marine mammals and critical habitats in east Africa? - 171 Bou, V. Legal protection of cetaceans in waters of European states: an overview - 172 Evans, P.G.H. Prioritising cetacean species for protective measures in the eastern North Atlantic - 172 Gill, A., Reid, R.J. and Fairbairns, B.R. Photographic and strandings data highlighting the problem of marine debris and creel rope entanglement to minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and other marine life in Scottish waters - 173 Holsbeek, L., Das, K. Joiris, C., Gascard, C. and Bouquegneau, J.-M. Spatial and interspecies variability of mercury accumulation in small cetaceans - 179 Lpez, A., Santos, M.B., Gonzlez, A.F., Guerra, A. and Pierce, G.J. Ecology and interactions with fisheries of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in NW Spain - 180 McLachlan, H. Is the agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Seas (ASCOBANS) meeting its conservation objectives? - 184 Northridge, S. and Hammond, P.S. Harbour porpoise bycatch in UK gill and tangle net fisheries - 184 Parsons, E.C.M., Birks, I., Evans, P.G.H., Gordon, J. G. and Shrimpton, J.H. The possible impacts of military activity on cetaceans in west Scotland - 185 Prez, A., Caadas, A.M., Sagarminaga, R and San Martn, G. The effects of acoustic pollution on the cetaceans of the Alboran Sea (Spain). - 191 Pesante, G., Zanardelli, M. & Panigada, S. Evidence of man-made injuries on Mediterranean fin whales - 192 Rojas-Bracho, L., Daz de Len, A., Ramrez, O., Jaramillo-Legorreta, A. and Prz-Corts, H. First steps for a recovery plan for the vaquita: the report of the International Committee for the Recovery of Vaquita (CIRVA) - 194 Tolley, K.A. and Heppell, S.S. The vaquita: conservation actions or extinction? - 194 Tregenza, N.J.C., Aguilar, N., Vidal, M., Delgado, I., Daz, F., and Brito, A. Potential impact of fast ferries on whale populations - a simple model with examples from the Canary Islands - 195 Urquiola, E. and De Stephanie, R. Growth of whale watching in Spain. The success of the platforms in south mainland, new rules - 198 Van Canneyt, O., Caurant, F., Poncelet, E., Collet, A. and Ridoux, V. A compilation of 20 years (1980-1999) of occasional cetacean sightings in the Bay of Biscay - 205 Visser, I.N. and Fertl, D. Stranding of a New Zealand killer whale (Orcinus orca) and information on post-stranding sightings, including a probable boat strike of the individual - 208 Williams, A.D., Brereton, T.M. and Williams, R. Using fixed route platforms of opportunity to monitor marine protected areas - 210 ECOLOGY - 211 Airoldi, S., Azzellino A., Fadda, V., Gaspari, S., Nani, B., Zanardelli, M., Notarbartolo Di Sciara, G. and Mariani, M. Social ecology of Risso's dolphin in Ligurian Sea: preliminary results - 213 Crespo, E.A., Arias, A., Dans, S.L., Coscarella Carribero, A. and Pedraza, S.N. Seasonal changes in abundance of southern right whales Eubalaena australis around Peninsula Valdes - 218 Das, K., Debacker, V., Lepoint, G., Gobert, S., Holsbeek, L., Joiris, J.C. and Bouquegneau, J.M. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes and heavy metals in marine mammals stranded on Belgian and Dutch coasts: a ten year study - 219 Dubroca, L., Guinet, C., Lea M.-A., Cherel, Y., Goldsworthy, S., Duhamel, G., and Donnay, J.-P. Distribution of the foraging activity of female antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) in relation to oceanographic factors and prey distribution at Kerguelen Island: a two-year comparison - 223 Gol'din, E.B. and Artov, A.M. Cetaceans in south-eastern Crimean coastal waters: an experience of two-year observations - 224 Koen Alonso, M., Pedraza, S.N., Crespo, E.A., Garca, N.A. and Dans, S.L. A multispecies approach to the dynamics of some high trophic predators of the northern and central Patagonia marine community - 229 Krivokhizhin, S.V., Birkun, A.A. Jr and Nessonova, J.V. Prey species of Black Sea cetaceans - 229 Lidgard, D.C., Kiely, O., Rogan, E. and Connolly, N. Movement and site fidelity of individual grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the Irish and Celtic Seas - 230 Marsili, L., Fossi, M.C., Neri, G., Airoldi, S., Bearzi, G. and Panigada, S. Skin biopsies for cell cultures from Mediterranean free-ranging cetaceans - 231 Politi, E., Bearzi, G. and Airoldi, S. Evidence for malnutrition in bottlenose dolphins photo-identified in the eastern Ionian Sea - 234 Read, A.J. Inter-decadal variation in maternal investment of harbour porpoises in the Gulf of Maine - 237 Simila, T., Holst, J.C. and Rttingen, I. Recent changes in the distribution pattern of killer whales and herring in the coastal waters of northern Norway - 237 Walton, M.J. and Pomeroy, P.P. Inter-annual variations in the feeding patterns of grey seals Halichoerus grypus from two breeding colonies as determined by blubber fatty acid profile analysis - 238 Weir, C.R. Sightings of beaked whale species in the waters to the north and west of Scotland - 239 LIFE HISTORY- 245 Gol'din, P.E. Age & growth of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena relicta) from the Black & Azov Seas - 247 Grellier, K., Wilson, B., Hammond, P.S. and Thompson, P.M. Quantitative assessment of the reproductive biology of a small and geographically isolated bottlenose dolphin population - 253 Murphy, S. and Rogan, E. Growth and sexual dimorphism in the common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) - 253 Orsi Relini, L., Cima, C., Palandri, G., Garibaldi, F., Relini, M. and Torchia, G. Population parameters of the Mediterranean striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) derived by stranding data - 254 MEDICINE AND DISEASES -259 Agust, C., Aznar, F.J. and Raga, J.A. Structure of intestinal helminth communities of striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba from the western Mediterranean - 261 Beineke, A., Siebert, U., Wnschmann, A., Stott, J.L. and Baumgrtner, W. Investigation on the cross-reactivity of selected leukocyte markers from various species for the characterization of lymphoid cells in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) - 261 Birkun, A. Jr., Krivokhizhin, S., Komakhidze, A., Mazmanidi, N., Stanev, T., Mikhailov, K., Baumgrtner, W. and Joiris, C.R. Causes of mortality in Black Sea harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from Bulgarian, Georgian and Ukrainian waters (1997-1999) - 262 Cabezn, O., Obn, E., Alegre, F., Pont, S. and Domingo, M. Interpretation of skin lesions in stranded cetaceans - 263 Degollada, E., Andr, M., Arbelo, M., and Fernndez, A. Incidence, pathology and involvement of Nasitrema sp. in odontocete strandings - 265 Domingo, M., Obn, E., Alegre, F., Pont, S., Cabezn, O. and Degollada, E. Encephalitis by a toxoplasma-like protozoan parasite in a Grampus - a host-parasite relationship without known life cycle - 266 Fernndez, A., Gonzlez, J., Castro, P., Arbelo, M., Andr, M. and Degollada, E. Intracytoplasmic hyaline globules in hepatocytes of stranded cetacean: what does that mean? - 268 Fernndez, E. Clostridium perfringens as a cause of death during the recovery of stranded dolphins - 268 Gallien, I., Caurant, F., Bordes, M., Bustamante, P. and Miramand, P. Mineral concretions in kidney tissue of the Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhyncus acutus) of the Faeroe Islands: a way of cadmium detoxication? - 269 Godfroid, J., Clavareau, C., Tryland, M., Wellemans, V., Walravens, K., Cloeckaert, A., Verger, J-M. and Letesson, J-J. Isolation and characterisation of Brucella spp. in a minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) - 269 Gonzlez, A.F., Lpez, A., Valeiras, X., Alonso, J.M. Foreign bodies found in the marine mammal digestive tracts in NW Spain - 270 Hue, C., Abadie, J., Alonso, J.M., Chekchak T., Menard, M.F. and Pineau, S. Clinical and pathological findings in a striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) during a three week rehabilitation attempt - 272 Jauniaux, T., Brosens, L., Petitjean D. and Coignoul, F. Postmortem examination of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) stranded along the coasts of Belgium and northern France from 1989 to 1999 - 273 Jepson, P.D., Baker, J.R., Kuiken, T., Simpson, V.R., Deaville, R.C. and Bennett, P.M.Infectious disease mortality in harbour porpoises stranded in England and Wales, 1990-1999 - 273 Laria, L., Lpez, A., Garca-Castrillo, G., Alonso, J.M., and AMBAR Winter observations and strandings of juvenile grey seals - 274 Mller, G., Wnschmann, A., Baumgrtner, W., Birkun, A., Komakhidze, A., Stanev, T. and Joiris, C.R. Immunohistological and serological investigation of morbillivirus infection in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from the Black Sea - 276 Pereira, R.A. and Carvalho, M.L. Heavy metals in Tursiops truncatus and Delphinus delphis by x-ray spectroscopy - 277 Siebert, U., Wnschmannm, A., Frese, K., Heide-Jrgensen, M.P., Lockyer, C., Mller, G., Baumgrtner, W. and Wei, R. Pathological findings in hunted harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) originating from waters of Greenland - 278 Sols, A., Laria, L. Salazar, C., Surez, L.C., Lpez, A., and Alonso, J.M. Clinical and pathological findings in two juvenile grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) stranded in Asturias (N. coast of Spain) - 279 Tilley, R.E., Kemp, G.D. and Hall, A.J. Biomarking the impact of environmental pollution in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the North Sea - 281 Vossen, A., Abdulmawjood, A., Lmmler, Ch., Wei, R., and Siebert, U. Identification and molecular characterization of b-haemolytic streptococci isolated from harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Haliochoerus grypus) of the North and Baltic Seas - 286 Yaman, S. , Gntrkn, O., Von Fersen, L., and Dehnhardt, G. Preliminary results of visual lateralisation in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) - 291 PHYSIOLOGY- 297 Bacon, J.P. and Talbot, P. The effectiveness of using reproductive hormone concentrations in saliva to monitor estrous cycles in captive female harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in Bermuda - 299 Huggenberger, S., Rauschmann, M.A., Siebert, U. and Oelschlger, H.H.A. Functional morphology of the facial musculature of the harbour porpoise - 300 Koopman, H. N., Iverson, S. J. and Read, A. J. Morphological and biochemical evidence for selective lipid utilisation during starvation in a small odontocete, the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) - 304 Rouan, M.R., Vincent, C. & Ridoux, V. A new application field for a body volume assessment software - 305 STOCK IDENTITY AND DISTRIBUTION - 311 Beaubrun, P.C. and Roussel E. Ecological indications of cetacean distribution in the eastern part of the Strait of Gibraltar in spring - 313 Bellido, J.M., Pierce, G.J., Santos, M.B., Lopez, A., Guerra, A. and Gonzalez, A. Spatial analysis of marine mammal strandings along the Galician coast (NW Spain) as revealed by a geographic information system - 319 Caadas, A., Fernndez-Casado, M, De Stephanis, R. and Sagarminaga, R. Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) at the gates of the Mediterranean Sea - 320 Daz, F., Aguilar, N. and Delgado, I. Sighting record of humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the Canary Islands - 323 Duke, S., Rogan, E. and Vikingsson, G. A preliminary analysis of the microsatellite-DNA of harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) populations in Iceland - 323 Fadda, V. and Airoldi, S. A note on the persistence of dorsal fin scars on Risso's dolphins photo-identified in the Ligurian Sea - 323 Fernndez-Casado, M., De Stephanis, R. and Prez Gimeno, N. Cetacean populations in the Strait of Gibraltar: a first approach - 324 Friday, N., Smith, T.D. and Hammond, P.S. Modelling the effects of behaviour and population dynamics on capture-recapture estimates of abundance of humpback whales - 329 Gannier, A., Van Canneyt, O. and Soulier, L. First reports on a specimen of Blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris) and a specimen of Gervais' beaked whale (Mesoplodon europaeus) stranded on the Atlantic coast of France - 330 Hohn, A.A., Hansen, L.J., Townsend, F. and Scott, M.D. The use of telemetry to study bottlenose dolphin stock structure along the U.S. Atlantic coast - 334 Lahaye, V. and Mauger, G. Site fidelity, movement patterns and group mixing of Normandy bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) - 335 Lockyer, C.H. Application of a new method of investigating population structure of harbour porpoise, Phocoena phocoena, using tooth ultra-structure - 339 Marcos, P., Garca, S., Saldaa, E., Benito, M., Sagarminaga, R and Caadas, A. Preliminary results in the use of satellite imagery to study the distribution of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) with respect to sea surface temperature in the Alboran Sea. - 340 Natoli, A. and Hoelzel, A.R. Genetic diversity in a Mediterranean population of the bottlenose dolphin in the context of world-wide phylogeography - 343 Parsons, K.M., Noble, L.R. and Thompson, P.M. Defining the population structure and dispersal patterns of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in British and Irish waters - 343 Pineau, S., Pyman, K., Mison-Jooste, V. and Mauger, G. First results of Normandy bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) home range: use of sighting network - 344 Skov, H., Bloch, D. and Durinck, J. Meso scale variability in the distribution of the harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena - comparisons between estuarine and oceanic environments - 345 Strindberg, S. and Buckland, S.T. Optimised survey design: the zigzag sampler in line transect surveys - 345 Urian, K., Hohn, A., Hansen, L., Baker, S., Barco, S., Bowles, N., Caldwell, M., Gubbins, C., Lapolla, F., Mallon-Day, R., Mazzarella, K., Murphy, T., Petricig, R., Read, A., Rittmaster, K., Rountree, G., Ryan, W., Sayigh, L., Scholfield, D., Tapia, J., Thayer, V., Young, R., and Zolman, E. The mid-Atlantic bottlenose dolphin photo-ID catalogue: a co-operative approach to examine stock structure - 346 Villalba, N., Segura, A. and Caadas, A. Preliminary results of the first survey of cetaceans in the north-central Alboran Sea - 347 Williams, R., Williams, A.D. and Brereton, T. Occurrence of pygmy killer whale (Feresa attenuata) in the Bay of Biscay - 352 SURVEYS AND ABUNDANCE - 353 Barry, S., Parsons, E.C.M., McNee, J., McClellan, R., Evans, P.G.H. and McClellan, L. Cetacean sighting distribution in west Scotland in 1999 - 355 Bearzi, G., Politi, E., Fortuna, C.M., Mel, L. and Notarbartolo Di Sciara, G. An overview of cetacean sighting data from the northern Adriatic Sea: 1987-1999 - 356 Bonsignori, B. and Trucchi, R. A survey on cetaceans in the north Ligurian Sea - summer 1999 - 362 D'Amico, A., Podesta', M., and Teloni, V. Cetacean visual sightings in Sirena 99 - a sound, oceanography and living marine resources project research cruises - 364 Durban, J.W. and Thompson, P.M. Bayesian trend analysis for marine mammal populations - 369 Fortuna, C.M., Wilson, B., Wiemann, A., Matesic, M., Oehen, S., Pribanic, S., Riva, L. How many dolphins are we studying and is our study area big enough? - 370 Huele, R., Udo De Haes, H.A. and Gordon, J. Image retrieval from sperm whale photo catalogue - 374 Mardikis, I., Podiadis, V., and Veriopoulos, G. High sighting frequency of the pelagic striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba in a closed sea area - 375 Pires, R.M. and Neves, H.C. Monk seal sightings on open beaches in Desertas Islands - Madeira archipelago - 380 Rosen, M.J., Evans, P.G.H., Boran, J.R., Bell, G. and Thomas, C. Cetacean studies in the Celtic Sea, English Channel and SW North Sea: using training surveys for data collection - 383 Whooley, P. The Old Head of Kinsale, County Cork: the best land-based whale-watching site in Europe? - 387 Thirteenth Annual Report of the European Cetacean Society: 1999 - 388 Financial Report for 1999 (up to April 2000) - 389 European Cetacean Society - 2000 - 390 Officers and Members of the Council: 1999-2000 - 391 National Contact Persons - 393 Guidelines for Contributors to Proceedings - 395 Index - 396 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ----66e6558e5f1972cd The 14th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, will be held in Vancouver from November 29-December 3, 2001. Our Society is fortunate to have numerous students give oral presentations or posters, all of which are evaluated for consideration for several student awards. To accomplish this, WE ARE IN NEED OF JUDGES FROM ALL DISCIPLINES AND GEOGRAPHIC AREAS TO EVALUATE THESE PRESENTATIONS. It is a superb opportunity for you to make a great contribuione to this conference, as well as to provide valuable feedback to students on ways to improve their science and presentations. ARE YOU INTERESTED??? If so, please drop a quick email to: Carol.Fairfield(\)noaa.gov with the following information: *Name *Affiliation *Email address, phone number *Country of Residence (we are hoping for global representation) *Highest degree obtained (to ensure qualified judges) *Area of expertise (Program topics include: Conservation/Management, Acoustics, Behavior, Medicine, Population Dynamics/Distribution, Ecology, Immunology/Toxicology, Mating/Reproduction, Physiology, Strandings, Anatomy, New Technology) *Species/Orders most familiar with *Any conflicts (i.e. any of your own students which you could not judge, meetings/presentations which you have that may constict your availability) TIME COMMITMENTS ON YOUR PART would be to attend two meetings (one at beginning of conference, one at the end of the fourth day of presentations - we'll try to coax you with food!), judge 3-5 oral presentations and roughly 10 posters, and submit an evaluation form for each presentation you judged. The exact numbers you will be responsible for are dependent on the numbers of judges we have, and we will have 3 judges review each presentation. SO THE MORE JUDGES THE MERRIER WE WILL ALL BE AT THE END!! Thanks so much for your consideration - I sincerely look forward to hearing from those of you with the expertise and enthuiasm to help support our student colleagues. Carol Fairfield Chair, Awards/Scholarship Committee Soceity for Marine Mammalogy Phone: (410)703-7730 carol.fairfield(\)noaa.gov The Society for Marine Mammalogy will hold its 14th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals from 28 November to 3 December 2001 at vancouver, BC. Full details available at www.smmconference.org. ----66e6558e5f1972cd begin:vcard fn:Carol Fairfield tel;cell:(410)703-7730 org:National Marine Fisheries Service/sSEFSC; adr:;;1002 Forest Drive;Arnold;MD;21012;USA version:2.1 email;internet:carol.fairfield(\)noaa.gov end:vcard ----66e6558e5f1972cd-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 10:28:36 +0200 From: Martina Djuras Subject: Article on bottlenose dolphin pathology boundary="----=_NextPart_000_000C_01C157BF.A587E040" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_000C_01C157BF.A587E040 charset="iso-8859-1" The following article has recently been published: GOMERCIC, H., D. HUBER, V. GOMERCIC, S. VUKOVIC, D. SKRTIC T. GOMERCIC, = V. DOBRANIC, H. LUCIC, M. DURAS, S. CURKOVIC, A. GOMERCIC, LJ. KARDOS: = Fatty liver and subcutaneous edema in a free-living bottlenose dolphin = (Tursiops truncatus, Montagu 1821) from the Adriatic Sea; light- and = electron-microscopical study. Vet. arhiv 70, 259-277, 2000. ABSTRACT Research was carried out on a 21-year-old, 288 cm-long free-living grand = multigravida female bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus, Montagu = 1821) with mass of 214 kg. The animal died on 8 October 1997 in the = Adriatic Sea, near Sibenik, Croatia. Prior to death she showed some = neurological symptoms. For control and comparison we used the carcasses = and tissues of two presumably clinically healthy dolphins. Autopsy = showed massive edema in the subcutaneous tissues (between blubber and = musculature) on the dorsal side of the body of the diseased subject. The = fluid in intercellular tissue spaces was clear and light-yellowish. = Larger amounts of the same fluid were found in serous sacs of the = animal, as well as slight brain edema. The most prominent structural = change was found in the liver, which was normal in size but extremely = yellow and fragile. Its structure was totally destroyed, without any = traces of blood, and there was pronounced fatty degeneration of liver = parenchyma. All hepatocytes were also destroyed and swollen mitochondria = and dilated endoplasmic reticulum were evident. This massive hepatic = degeneration and necrosis was probably due to some unknown acute = biological or chemical agent that provoked hepatargic crisis and the = ultimate death of this free-living female dolphin. Key words: dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, fatty liver, = subcutaneous edema, light-microscopy, electron-microscopy, = histochemistry, Adriatic Sea=20 A pdf copy of this manuscript can be obtained from the Faculty of = Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia web page: = http://mavef.vef.hr/vetarhiv/70-5/gomer.pdf Reprints are available from: Prof. Dr. Hrvoje Gomercic, Department of Anatomy, Histology and = Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 = Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, Croatia, Phone: 385 1 23 90 250, Fax: 385 1 244 = 13 90; E-mail: gomercic(\)rudjer.irb.hr ------=_NextPart_000_000C_01C157BF.A587E040 charset="iso-8859-1"

The following article has recently been published:

GOMERCIC, = H., D.=20 HUBER, V. GOMERCIC, S. VUKOVIC, D. SKRTIC T. GOMERCIC, V. DOBRANIC, H. = LUCIC, M.=20 DURAS, S. CURKOVIC, A. GOMERCIC, LJ. KARDOS: Fatty liver and = subcutaneous edema=20 in a free-living bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus, Montagu 1821) = from the=20 Adriatic Sea; light- and electron-microscopical study. Vet. arhiv 70, = 259-277,=20 2000.
ABSTRACT
Research was carried out on a 21-year-old, 288 = cm-long=20 free-living grand multigravida female bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops = truncatus,=20 Montagu 1821) with mass of 214 kg. The animal died on 8 October 1997 in = the=20 Adriatic Sea, near Sibenik, Croatia. Prior to death she showed some = neurological=20 symptoms. For control and comparison we used the carcasses and tissues = of two=20 presumably clinically healthy dolphins. Autopsy showed massive edema in = the=20 subcutaneous tissues (between blubber and musculature) on the dorsal = side of the=20 body of the diseased subject. The fluid in intercellular tissue spaces = was clear=20 and light-yellowish. Larger amounts of the same fluid were found in = serous sacs=20 of the animal, as well as slight brain edema. The most prominent = structural=20 change was found in the liver, which was normal in size but extremely = yellow and=20 fragile. Its structure was totally destroyed, without any traces of = blood, and=20 there was pronounced fatty degeneration of liver parenchyma. All = hepatocytes=20 were also destroyed and swollen mitochondria and dilated endoplasmic = reticulum=20 were evident. This massive hepatic degeneration and necrosis was = probably due to=20 some unknown acute biological or chemical agent that provoked hepatargic = crisis=20 and the ultimate death of this free-living female dolphin.
Key words: = dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, fatty liver, = subcutaneous=20 edema, light-microscopy, electron-microscopy, histochemistry, Adriatic=20 Sea


A pdf copy of this manuscript = can be=20 obtained from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, = Croatia=20 web page: http://mavef.vef.hr/vetarhiv/70-5/gomer.pdf
Reprints are = available=20 from:
Prof. Dr. Hrvoje Gomercic, Department of Anatomy, Histology and = Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 = Zagreb,=20 Heinzelova 55, Croatia, Phone: 385 1 23 90 250, Fax: 385 1 244 13 90; = E-mail: gomercic(\)rudjer.irb.hr

------=_NextPart_000_000C_01C157BF.A587E040-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 04:31:32 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: 4th Orca symposium call for abstracts (fwd) From: Christophe GUINET Subject: The Fourth Orca Symposium and Workshop The Fourth International Orca Symposium and Workshop is aim to bring killer whale researchers together as well as researcher studying other social mammal species together from around the world to discuss their findings and to search for common elements. Talks at the Symposium will focus on patterns, comparisons, and the synthesis of findings rather than on specific observations and data. The talks will be somewhat longer than at conventional conferences to allow the speakers to treat their subjects in depth. Poster presentations may deal with any aspect of research on the species, including methodologies and recent findings. "Updated information, call for abstracts and registration forms for the 4th International Orca Symposium and Workshop which will take place 23-28 September 2002, CEBC-CNRS, Villiers en Bois France are available at: http://www.cebc.cnrs.fr/Uk_collo/Ucolsomm.html The information can also be sent upon request by contacting the following address: orca(\)cebc.cnrs.fr The organising comitee ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2001 08:15:19 EDT From: Peter Stevick Subject: paper on natural markings boundary="part1_9f.1ccfec07.28fed057_boundary" --part1_9f.1ccfec07.28fed057_boundary Because of the overwhelming interest in the abstract I posted last week - Stevick, Palsb=F8ll, Smith, Bravington and Hammond. 2001 Errors in=20 identification using natural markings: rates, sources and effects on=20 capture-recapture estimates of abundance. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and=20 Aquatic Sciences 58:1861-1870.=20 I have made the paper available on the web as a pdf file at=20 www.kosowsky.net/stevick.html Just double click on the paper title to access the pdf. Cheers, Peter Stevick=20 PO Box 93=20 Rockport, ME=20 04856, USA=20 .=20 --part1_9f.1ccfec07.28fed057_boundary Because of the overwhelmi= ng interest in the abstract I posted last week -

Stevick, Palsb=F8ll, Smith, Bravington and Hammond. 2001 Errors in ident= ification using natural markings: rates, sources and effects on capture-reca= pture estimates of abundance. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Scie= nces 58:1861-1870.=20

I have made the paper available on the web as a pdf file at=20

www.kosowsky.net/stevick.html

Just double click on the paper title to access the pdf.

Cheers,
Peter Stevick=20
PO Box 93=20
Rockport, ME=20
04856, USA=20
<PeterStevick(\)aol.com>.=20

--part1_9f.1ccfec07.28fed057_boundary-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 13:56:53 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: whale skeletons (fwd) From: Pierre-Henry Fontaine Hi, I am presently wrtiting a paper on the way whales skeletons are mounted in different museums around the world. I'll submit this paper to various museological journals and zoological journals. All the mysticetes skeletons I know presents flaws in the way they are mounted. I am looking for pictures from museums other than Paris, France, Brussels and Liege, Belgium and Boston museums to complete my samplping. I would appreciate every picture of mysticete skeletons, showing particularly the position of the Jaws, the ribs region and the hyoid bones. You can email the pictures to pfontain(\)mediom.qc.ca or send them to Pierre-Henry Fontaine, 115 Lavigueur, Qu=E9bec,Qc, G1R 1A9 CANADA Many thanks in advance ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2001 11:13:19 -0700 From: Ellen Hines Subject: GIS/RS workshop is full The workshop on GIS & Remote Sensing for Marine Mammal Scientists on November 28th at the SMM conference is full, and we are not accepting any more applications. Thank you for your interest. Ellen Hines, Assistant Professor Department of Geography & Human Environmental Studies San Francisco State University 1600 Holloway Ave. San Francisco, CA. 94132 USA ehines(\)sfsu.edu (415) 405-0921 Fax: (415) 338-6243 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 07:24:52 +0200 From: Jan Herrmann Subject: Contents: Marine Mammal Science Vol 17(4) ------ Dear all, Marine Mammal Science Vol 17(4) 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=3D04. Users of the Papyrus Bibliography System (Mac and DOS/Windows) can=20 download the references with abstracts and contact information as=20 usual from http://www.cetacea.de/mms. Please do not contact MARMAM, the MARMAM editors or me for reprints. Than= k you. Best Wishes, Jan Herrmann -----------------------------Marine Mammal Science Vol=20 17(4)------------------------- Nowacek, S.M., R.S. Wells, and A.R. Solow. 2001. Short-term effects=20 of boat traffic on bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, in=20 Sarasota Bay, Florida. Marine Mammal Science 17:673-688. Constantine, R. 2001. Increased avoidance of swimmers by wild=20 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) due to long-term exposure to=20 swim-with-dolphin tourism. Marine Mammal Science 17:689-702. Waring, G.T., T. Hamazaki, D. Sheehan, G. Wood, and S. Baker. 2001.=20 Characterization of beaked whale (Ziphiidae) and sperm whale=20 (Physeter macrocephalus) summer habitat in shelf-edge and deeper=20 waters off the northeast. Marine Mammal Science 17:703-717. Whitehead, H. 2001. Direct estimation of within-group heterogeneity=20 in photo-identification of sperm whales. Marine Mammal Science=20 17:718-728. Zhu, Q., D.J. Hillmann, and W.G. Henk. 2001. Morphology of the eye=20 and surrounding structures of the bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus.=20 Marine Mammal Science 17:729-750. Charif, R.A., P.J. Clapham, and C.W. Clark. 2001. Acoustic detections=20 of singing humpback whales in deep waters off the British Isles.=20 Marine Mammal Science 17:751-768. Calambokidis, J., G.H. Steiger, J.M. Straley, L.M. Herman,=20 S. Cerchio, D.R. Salden, J. Urb=E1n-Ramirez, J.K. Jacobsen,=20 O.von Ziegesar, K.C. Balcomb, C.M. Gabriele, M.E. Dahlheim,=20 S. Uchida, G. Ellis, Y. Miyamura, P.L. de Guevara P., M. Yamaguchi,=20 F. Sato, S.A. Mizroch, L. Schlender, K. Rasmussen, J. Barlow, and=20 T.J. Quinn II. 2001. Movements and population structure of humpback=20 whales in the North Pacific. Marine Mammal Science 17:769-794. Harris, R.E., G.W. Miller, and J.W. Richardson. 2001. Seal responses=20 to airgun sounds during summer seismic surveys in the Alaskan=20 Beaufort Sea. Marine Mammal Science 17:795-812. Frost, K.J., M.A. Simpkins, and L.F. Lowry. 2001. Diving behavior of=20 subadult and adult harbor seals in Prince William Sound, Alaska.=20 Marine Mammal Science 17:813-834. Lowry, L.F., K.J. Frost, J.M. VerHoef, and R.A. DeLong. 2001.=20 Movements of satellite-tagged subadult and adult harbor seals in=20 Prince William Sound, Alaska. Marine Mammal Science 17:835-861. Lewis, M., C. Campagna, M. Uhart, and C.L. Ortiz. 2001. Ontogenetic=20 and seasonal variation in blood parameters in southern elephant=20 seals. Marine Mammal Science 17:862-872. Wilkinson, I.S., and R.J. Van Aarde. 2001. Investment in sons and=20 daughters by southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina, at Marion=20 Island. Marine Mammal Science 17:873-887. Holst, M., I. Stirling, and K.A. Hobson. 2001. Diet of Ringed Seals=20 (Phoca hispida) on the east and west sides of the north water=20 polynya, northern baffin bay. Marine Mammal Science 17:888-908. Simpkins, M.A., B.P. Kelly, and D. Wartzok. 2001. Three-dimensional=20 diving behaviors of ringed seals (Phoca hispida). Marine Mammal=20 Science 17:909-925. Nilssen, K.T., T. Haug, and C. Lindblom. 2001. Diet of weaned pups=20 and seasonal variations in body condition of juvenile Barents Sea=20 harp seals Phoca groenlandica. Marine Mammal Science 17:926-936. Frantzis, A., J. Gordon, G. Hassidis, and A. Komnenou. 2001. The=20 enigma of harbor porpoise presence in the Mediterranean Sea. Marine=20 Mammal Science 17:937-944. Van Parijs, S.M., and P.J. Corkeron. 2001. Evidence for signature=20 whistle production by a Pacific humpback dolphin, Sousa chinensis.=20 Marine Mammal Science 17:944-949. Heide-J=F8rgensen, M.-P., L. Kleivane, N. =D8ien, K.L. Laidre, and=20 M.V. Jensen. 2001. A new technique for deploying satellite=20 transmitters on baleen whales: Tracking a blue whale (Balaenoptera=20 musculus) in the North Atlantic. Marine Mammal Science 17:949-954. Moore, S.E., J. Urb=E1n-Ramirez, W.L. Perryman, F. Gulland,=20 H. Perez-Cortes M., P.R. Wade, L. Rochas-Bracho, and T. Rowles. 2001.=20 Are gray whales hitting "K" hard? Marine Mammal Science 17:954-958. Lowry, L.F. 2001. BOOKS: Reviews: Ringed Seals in the North Atlantic.=20 Mads Peter Heide-J=F8rgensen and Christian Lydersen,eds. ISBN=20 82-91578-04-4. 1998. North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission, Troms=F8,=20 Norway. 273 pp. NOK 350 (approximately US$40)(available through web=20 site at http://www.nammco.no/). Marine Mammal Science 17:959-962. Boness, D.J. 2001. BOOKS: Reviews: Cetacean Societies. J. Mann, R. C.=20 Connor, P. L. Tyack and H. Whitehead, eds. 1999. ISBN 0-226-50341-0.=20 University of Chicago Press, Chicago and London. 433 pp. 2000. (Cloth=20 $85.00, Paper $35). Marine Mammal Science 17:962-964. Stewart, R.E.A., and D.M. Lavigne. 2001. MEMORIES: Stuart Innes, 5=20 May 1953 - 21 May 2000. Marine Mammal Science 17:965-973. Baker, A.N. 2001. ERRATA: "Status, relationships, and distribution of=20 Mesoplodon bowdoini ANDREWS, 1908 (Cetacea: Ziphiidae)." by Alan N.=20 Baker, published in Marine Mammal Science 17(3); 473-493. Marine=20 Mammal Science 17:974. --=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: Wed, 24 Oct 2001 12:31:24 -0400 From: Jane Tipson Subject: Tagged dolphins At the beginning of September this year, whale watchers off St. Lucia saw 2 bottlenose dolphins with blue and white, metal (?) tags on their dorsal fins. They were with a group of about 150 dolphins and exhibited extremely friendly behaviour, coming right alongside the boat - so close that people were able to touch their backs. Would anyone know who would have tagged them or why? It is very uncommon to see tags around here. -- Jane Tipson, P.O. Box 1114, Castries, St. Lucia, West Indies. Tel.: 758-452-0456 Fax : 758-452-9117 e-mail : toucan(\)candw.lc ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2001 09:22:18 +0100 From: "Peter G.H. Evans" Subject: ECS Proceedings - Ordering Information Owing to the large response to our announcement concerning "European Research on Cetaceans - 14" - the latest Proceedings of the European Cetacean Society, we are requesting that those interested in purchasing this (and any other proceedings and newsletters (special issues of the European Cetacean Society), order it through the ECS web site where an order form has been placed for printing off. The web site is: http://web.inter.NL.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs Payment can be made by credit card in Euro (Master card or VISA, but please not American Express!). European Research on Cetaceans - 14 (Proceedings of the Annual Conference in Cork, Ireland, April 2000. 400 pages) costs Euro 21 (equivalent to c. US$19). For countries outside of Europe, there is an extra charge of Euro 15 to cover the higher postage. If you fill out the order form, please type or write clearly, and make sure that your mailing address is legible. Any ordering queries, please address to the ECS Treasurer, Roland Lick, at . Peter Evans Editor European Cetacean Society --============_-1208199727==_ma============ ECS Proceedings - Ordering Information

Owing to the large response to our announcement concerning "European Research on Cetaceans - 14" - the latest Proceedings of the European Cetacean Society, we are requesting that those interested in purchasing this (and any other proceedings and newsletters (special issues of the European Cetacean Society), order it through the ECS web site where an order form has been placed for printing off. The web site is:

http://web.inter.NL.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs

Payment can be made by credit card in Euro (Master card or VISA, but please not American Express!).
European Research on Cetaceans - 14 (Proceedings of the Annual Conference in Cork, Ireland, April 2000. 400 pages) costs Euro 21 (equivalent to c. US$19). For countries outside of Europe, there is an extra charge of Euro 15 to cover  the higher postage.

If you fill out the order form, please type or write clearly, and make sure that your mailing address is legible.

Any ordering queries, please address to the ECS Treasurer, Roland Lick, at <RLick2059(\)aol.com>.

Peter Evans
Editor
European Cetacean Society
--============_-1208199727==_ma============-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2001 08:48:11 -0400 From: "Shapiro, Sara" Subject: Research Staff Opportunity - Manatees > TITLE: OPS Research Staff - Manatee Boater Compliance Research > RATE OF PAY: $13.50 per hour, 40 hours week, no benefits > LOCATION: St. Petersburg, FL (Pinellas County) > SECTION: Endangered and Threatened Species - Manatees > CLOSING DATE: Open Until Filled > > DUTIES: Design and coordinate field-based research to assess boating > behavior in manatee speed zones. Create and maintain databases according > to section and Institute protocols. Analyze data using statistical, > graphic, and database software. Coordinate research with both internal and > external scientists and represent FMRI at professional meetings and > workshops. Prepare and publish manuscripts and technical reports. > Coordinate the purchase and maintenance of field and laboratory equipment. > Train interns and volunteers. Assist in developing and monitoring annual > working project budgets and contracts. Promote and participate in public > outreach efforts. > > MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A bachelor's degree in biology, zoology, wildlife > management, sociology, or other science and two years of experience > working in the field; or a master's degree and one year of experience > working in the field. > > DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Knowledge of and experience with computer word > processing, spreadsheet, database, and graphics software such as MS Word, > MS Access, MS Excel, and Ms. PowerPoint. Ability to design scientific > research methodologies, protocols, and methods of data collection; work > independently; clearly communicate scientific information to both the > scientific community and the public. Skill in using statistics and > analyzing data; excellent verbal and written communication skills; > knowledge of federal and state legislation pertaining to marine mammals > and endangered species, including the Florida Manatee Recovery Plan. Must > maintain a valid State of Florida driver's license. > > TO APPLY: Apply on-line at www.floridamarine.org or submit a completed > State of Florida Employment Application to: > (an application can be downloaded from www.myflorida.com ) > Personnel > Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission > Florida Marine Research Institute > 100 Eight Avenue SE > St. Petersburg, FL 33701 No phone calls please. > An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Federal Law requires > that we hire only U.S. Citizens and lawfully authorized aliens who can > provide proof of their identity and employment eligibility. > > > ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2001 15:58:05 -0500 From: Aldemaro Romero Subject: Human disturbance of harbor seals behavior A new article titled: "Human Disturbances Affect Harbor Seal Haul-Out Behavior: Can the Law Protect These Seals From Boaters?" by Barbara Lelli and David E. Harris, has been published in Macalester Environmental Review. This article is published in electronic form only. You can find the article at: http://www.macalester.edu/environmentalstudies/MacEnvReview/articles.htm ABSTRACT Over 30,000 harbor seals inhabit the near shore waters of the Gulf of Maine. They leave the water (haul-out) primarily onto rock ledges to rest, sleep, give birth and nurse their young. Federal legislation, the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (MMPA), protects harbor seals from human disturbance, including non-lethal disturbances that disrupt normal behavior. We observed the harbor seal population that hauls-out at low tide on two rock ledges in Gun Point Cove, Casco Bay, in the southern Gulf of Maine. Throughout four consecutive Augusts (1997 - 2000) we counted the number of harbor seals hauled out at each low tide between 7 AM and 7 PM. We also determined the level and type of boat traffic passing the ledge, the off shore weather conditions (temperature, wave height and % possible sunshine - from the nearest weather buoy), as well as the current status and enforcement of the MMPA (from statutory law, case law and the agency responsible for enforcing this law). Using multivariate analysis, we found that the number of seals hauled out correlated positively with off shore wave height but negatively with % possible sunshine. We also found that the level of boat traffic in the cove was, by far, the single strongest predictor of harbor seal haul-out number, accounting for 27% of its variability. In 122 days of observation, we observed 85 incidents in which the harbor seals were flushed off their haul-out ledges. Of these, 93% were caused by boats. Because most (526/565=93%) of the boats passing the ledge were motor boats, this boat type caused the majority of flushing events. However, 55% of paddled boats caused flushing events whereas only 11% of motor boats did so. We also observed no enforcement of the MMPA in Gun Point Cove. Our legal research determined that the MMPA has been used to prosecute lethal harassment of seals, but we could find no indication that the MMPA has ever been used to deter disturbances of the type we observed. We have found that human disturbance by boat traffic has a large impact on harbor seal haul-out behavior on near-shore ledges in the Gulf of Maine. However, while the MMPA has been used successfully to deter human activity that directly and immediately harms seals, penalties have not been imposed to prevent harassment by boaters. This suggests that education of boaters and clear regulations may be a reasonable first step in reducing the impact of boaters on harbor seals in the Gulf of Maine. Aldemaro Romero, Ph.D. Editor-in-Chief Macalester Environmental Review, The Electronic Journal on Environmental Studies Environmental Studies Program, Macalester College, 1600 Grand Ave., St. Paul, MN 55105-1899, USA (651) 696-8157 (651) 696-6443 (fax) romero(\)macalester.edu http://www.macalester.edu/environmentalstudies ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2001 09:04:07 -0700 From: Susan Crockford Subject: conference notice Dear Colleagues: Have scats or stomach contents of ANY marine mammal? Pacific Identifications Inc. (www.pacificid.com) will have a booth at this year's Marine Mammal Conference in Vancouver (#308), as at past conferences, to discuss the prey identification componenet - using all recovered structures, especially bone - of marine mammal diet analysis. However, with the venue so close to home, I will be able to bring a dissecting microscope & comparative specimens of various fishes with me this year to do a bit of on-the-spot sample assessment. I'd like to extend an invitation to those of you that have scat or stomach contents of ANY marine mammal to bring a few representative samples (1-6) with you for a quick, free assessment. This might be especially useful if you've never considered identifying the bone component of such samples before and would like to know if there is anything in the samples worth worrying about. I may not be able to tell you precisely what kind of fish is represented (depending on where the sample is from) but I can tell you if it's in identifiable condition and how you might proceed with some kind of analysis. Let me know ASAP if you have any specific questions or concerns, so I'll know to bring particular reference material with me. Just email a quick note and I'll see what I can do. Otherwise, just show up with your samples. There are no international restrictions on transporting fish bones, so bringing them with you shouldn't be a problem no matter where you are coming from - just make sure they're clean (plastic petri dishes, taped shut, are best for small samples; a box for larger amounts, like stomach contents). Hope to see you there. Best regards, Susan Crockford, Pacific ID, Victoria, B.C. Canada scrock(\)tnet.net **Note our new postal code** ----------------------------- website: ----------------------------- My computer with this email address is at home Send ONLY urgent messages (without attachments) that must reach me during working hours (8:30-4:00 PST weekdays)to: C/O anthuvic(\)uvvm.uvic.ca> ---------------------------- Susan Crockford Pacific IDentifications Inc. 6011 Oldfield Rd., RR 3 Victoria, B.C. Canada V9E 2J4 phone (250) 721-7296 FAX (250) 721-6215 home phone (250) 727-3214 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2001 18:42:15 +0200 From: =?iso-8859-1?q?SEA=20VIDA?= Subject: II COURSE ON BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF MARINE MAMMALS OF VENEZUELA ------ II COURSE ON THE BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF MARINE MAMMALS OF VENEZUELA Next January 14-19 the Sociedad Ecologica Venezolana Vida Marina (SEA VIDA) and The Universidad del Zulia (LUZ) will be celebrating the =93Second Course on the Biology and Conservation of marine mammals of Venezuela=94. It will be held at the city of Maracaibo, State of Zulia. The first one was celebrated in Margarita Island, northeastern Venezuela, a year ago. Spanish will be our official Language.=20 We will count on Dr. Antonio Mignucci, from the Laboratorio de Mamiferos Marinos del Caribe, Universidad Metropolitana de Puerto Rico, as invited instructor. Other senior Venezuelan colleagues will be participating.=20 Besides biological and ecological aspects, it will include topics as: The tuna-dolphin fisheries. Morphometrics. Stranding and Necropsy protocols. Strategies for getting funds for research in Venezuela. Venezuelan and International regulations. Species identification at field. A sighting cruise to the Lago de Maracaibo and Golfo de Venezuela. Additional information: Jaime Bola=F1os: sea_vida(\)yahoo.es =20 Prof. Jim Hernandez: jlenrry(\)hotmail.com =20 _______________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Messenger Comunicaci=F3n instant=E1nea gratis con tu gente. http://messenger.yahoo.es ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2001 15:54:45 -0400 Reply-To: Caryn Self Sullivan From: Caryn Self Sullivan Subject: Internship Opportunity-Belize MarinePOLICY-LT(\)LISTSERV.TAMU.EDU, Caryn Self Sullivan , Bill Evans , Jane Packard , Janice Crenshaw , Phyllis Evans , Robert Randall , Wyndylyn von Zharen , Anne Geoghegan , Blue Magruder , Caroline Han , Carolyn Hottle , Dee Robbins , Elizabeth Barrett , Ellen Gray , Kate Wissel , Katie LaCommare , Liz Johnstone , Lotus Arrieta Vermeer , Marie Studer , Merove Heifetz , Misty-Anne Ralston Marold , Nini Bloch , Pam Quayle , Regen Jamieson , Sarah Staunton , "Sean F. Britt" , Ulrika Malone , Sarah Reim , Sarah Mills , Roxanne Paul , Matthew Swarbrick , Leonardo Wedeking , Lauren Walsh , Katina Chiaravalle North , Karen van den Berghe , Julien Marchal , James Greig , Danielle Savarese , Brien Foley , Morgan Barnebee , Philip Batty , Steven Marc Friedman , Emily Clark , Julie Batty , Carol Stevenson , Bonnie Carroll , Gina Onorato , Chris Humble , Julie Strong , Laura Abell , Liz Anderson , Scott Weber , Keith Smith , Sam Bate , Todd Robosan , Susie Vlcek , Dalen Copeland , Debbie Morgan , Louise McCann , Sam Gallagher , Katie Lee , Jack Burtt , Blair Lipscomb , Casey Rae Johnsonbaugh , Conrad Roelli , Debra Curtis , Fabio Badolato , Federico Mora , Jack Lipscomb , Jack Peppiatt , Jeff Rees , Joan Mierkowski , Julia Bernheim , Kazukuni Hosoi , Kirk McGuire , Kit Stephenson , Linda Hurcombe , Liz Miller , Mai Nygaard , Marilyn Alexander , Rhian Evans , Rick Soucy , Sandra Breil , Suzannah Olivier Volunteer Internship Announcement (http://www.sirenian.org/LogisticsInternBelize.html) ================================== Title: Logistics and Research Intern Project: Behavioral and Habitat Ecology of Manatees in Belize, Central America Funding Agency: The Earthwatch Institute Principle Investigators: Caryn Self Sullivan and Katherine S. LaCommare Location: Drowned Cayes, Belize, Central America Project Details: Available Online at Earthwatch (http://www.earthwatch.org/expeditions/lacommare.html) Approximate Dates: Winter/Spring Term: 10 January - 10 April 2002 Summer Term: 1 June - 28 August 2002 Qualifications: Science oriented upper level undergraduate, graduate, or post-doc. The successful applicant must be a strong swimmer, must be well organized and comfortable with coordinating logistics (with an emphasis on meals) for groups of 12 people, must have cooking experience, and must be comfortable working with volunteers and living under rustic/primitive conditions. First aid, CPR, and snorkeling 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 (for Winter/Spring Term): December 15, 2001 Be prepared to work very hard in exchange for this opportunity to participate in a unique manatee field research project in Belize. Our Logistics Interns have three principle responsibilities: (1) coordinate and train volunteers; (2) coordinate camp logistics (with an emphasis on weekly shopping and meal preparation); and (3) collect and reduce field data (including, GPS data, acoustic recordings, and seagrass samples). Depending on the intern's interests, there may be opportunities for conducting an independent project. The intern will also help lead snorkeling trips on the reef. USE OF ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES, ALCOHOL ABUSE, AND/OR FRATERNIZATION WITH EARTHWATCH VOLUNTEERS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. RESEARCHERS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO TERMINATE THE INTERNSHIP AND RETURN THE INTERN TO THE RENDEZVOUS SITE FOR MISCONDUCT. Camp Conditions: Spanish Bay Marine Research Station is situated on the northwest side of a 143-acre mangrove island in the Drowned Cayes, which are located about 10 miles east of Belize City and 2 miles west of the Belize barrier reef. If you are familiar with the Drowned Cayes area, you might know our island as Spanish Lookout Caye or Spanish Bay Caye and our research station as "Pink House", although only the trim is pink today. Aside from the staff and guests at Spanish Bay Resort (located on the west side of the island) and + 3 island dogs, we are the only inhabitants. We live in a wood frame bunkhouse and have screens, showers, and toilet facilities. A separate building serves as our kitchen, research and social room. Our limited water (rainwater catchment vat) and electricity (solar + generator) must be conserved at all times. There is no nightlife on the island, other than that we make ourselves! We bring all our food and supplies by small boat from Belize City once a week. Fishing and snorkeling can be done right from our front yard; sunrises, sunsets, and moonsets are brilliant with the lights of Belize City in the background. See Earthwatcher Jeff Rees' Photo Gallery (http://webpages.charter.net/jrees/manatees_in_belize_001.htm) for images. 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 provided. The intern will have time to travel around Belize (at his/her own expense) between Earthwatch Teams, if he or she desires. To Apply: Submit a cover letter expressing your interest in our project, a CV (or resume) and three references (names, telephone numbers, and email addresses) by email (PREFERRED), mail or fax to be received by December 15, 2001 to: Caryn Self Sullivan caryn(\)sirenian.org MAIL: 200 Stonewall Drive Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401 FAX: 540-373-6035 Acknowledgments: Spanish Bay Resort and the Earthwatch Institute provide financial support for our Logistics Internships. We are extremely grateful for their help in providing internship opportunities. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (c) 2000-2001 Sirenian International, Inc., http://www.sirenian.org SNAIL MAIL TO: Sirenian International, Inc., 200 Stonewall Drive, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 USA Sirenian International, Inc. is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation. All contributions are tax deductible within the limits of the law. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 08:54:00 -0500 From: "Haubold, Elsa" Subject: Job announcement FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION's Florida Marine Research Institute is currently seeking a manatee behaviorist or ecologist: JOB OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT NO. 232-1 POSTED: 10/26/01 OPEN COMPETITIVE http://www.myflorida.com/owa_jobs/owa/www_cv.jobvac.detail?pvac_key=12021&pr egion=SW POSITION TITLE: ASSISTANT RESEARCH SCIENTIST-FMRI CLASS CODE: 5063 POSITION #: 71804 SALARY RANGE: $1,500.86 to $2,536.11 biweekly; $39,022.36 to $65,938.86 annually. Initial Employment is normally at minimum. DUTIES: Conduct and design research on manatee behavior and ecology. Assist in laboratory and field activities involving telemetry, direct observation, photo-id, GIS, aerial survey and other tools related to behavioral and ecology research goals. Stay current on the latest telemetry techniques and equipment improvements, as well as other tools used to analyze manatee behavior and ecology. Coordinates with section GIS analysts to help develop and test GIS models and interpretations of telemetry data. Responsible for the supervision of assigned OPS and FTE personnel as well as budget preparation and tracking. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE SKILL & ABILITIES: Knowledge of: marine mammal biology and management and the terminology, principles and techniques used in marine mammal research. Ability to: swim with sufficient skill to save oneself in an emergency; collect, record and analyze scientific data relating to marine mammal research; communicate effectively verbally and in writing; to supervise people and establish and maintain effective working relationships; work independently; utilize problem solving techniques; understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures relating to the research sciences and access budgetary needs and track a budget. Skill in: the use of computers, the use of computer software for word processing and database management; and the safe operation of of vehicles and trailering of boats up to 22' in length. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the physical or natural sciences or mathematics and three years of professional experience in one of the physical or natural sciences or mathematics; or a master's degree with major course of study in one of the physical or natural sciences or mathematics two years of professional experience as described above; or a doctorate with major course of study in one of the physical or natural sciences or mathematics. JOB LOCATION: St. Petersburg, Florida (Pinellas County) JOB BENEFITS: Paid annual & sick leave, 10 paid holidays, low cost health & life insurance and an excellent deferred compensation and retirement program. DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 9, 2001. Applications must be RECEIVED by this date-download an application at www.myflorida.com (Employment/on-line forms.) HOW TO APPLY: Submit a completed State of Florida Employment Application Form to: FWC/Florida Marine Research Institute Personnel Office 100 8th Avenue S.E. St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5020 PHONE: (727) 896-8626 or SunCom 523-2032. SPECIAL NOTE: Valid driver's license and certification of completion of boater safety course within probation. Elsa M. Haubold, Ph.D. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Florida Marine Research Institute 100 8th Ave. SE St. Petersburg, FL 33701 727/896-8626 x1902 fax 727/893-9176 Elsa.Haubold(\)fwc.state.fl.us www.floridamarine.org ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 11:21:04 -0500 Reply-To: drc-res2(\)dolphins.org From: Wendi Fellner Subject: Job opening - Research Assistant at Dolphin Research Center ------ Research Assistant Dolphin Research Center (DRC) currently has a full-time opening for a Research Assistant. The Research Assistant=92s primary job function is th= e maintenance of on going research projects. Current investigations involve behavior, cognition, and communication systems of DRC=92s resident popula= tion of dolphins. More information about specific projects can be found at http://www.dolphins.org/learn/drc-crsch.htm. Duties include, but are not limited to: =A7 Equipment set up, operation and break down for research sessions =A7 Data collection =A7 Recording data and training progress and communicating to appropriate parties =A7 Assisting wherever needed to keep research on track and progressing smoothly =A7 Creating and/or locating props needed for research sessions Computer skills, including knowledge of MS Word and Excel, are required; knowledge of MS Access a plus. Applicants must be adept with electronic equipment including video camera, VCR and recording equipment, and be abl= e to trouble shoot electronic malfunctions. Applicants must be able to lif= t 50 lbs and have excellent eyesight to be able to identify dolphins individually at a distance. Applicants must have the ability to create and/or modify research equipment using common building materials, such as PVC pipe. The successful candidate must be organized, flexible, and deta= il oriented, and must work well individually. Dolphin Research Center is a not-for-profit education and research facili= ty, home to 16 Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and 2 California sea lions. More information on the facility can be found at http://www.dolphins.org. Send resume to Dolphin Research Center, Attn: Human Resources, 58901 Overseas Hwy. Grassy Key, FL 33050, fax at (305)743-7627 or e-mail at drc-hr(\)dolphins.org. E.O.E -- Wendi Fellner Research Coordinator drc-res2(\)dolphins.org (305) 289-1121 ext. 249 _________________________________ | Dolphin Research Center | _../|_ | PO Box 522875 | =3D'__ _~-. | Marathon Shores, FL 33052 | \' ~-`\._ | | |/~` | http://www.dolphins.org | .. .. .. .. |_________________________________| (._.`(._.`(._.`(. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 08:55:07 -0500 From: Phil Clapham Subject: New paper The following is not exactly a "new" paper, but I've only just seen it (long story, don't ask!) There are no reprints as such, but photocopies are available from me at the address below. Phil Clapham Clapham, P.J. and Brownell, R.L. Jr. 1999. Vulnerability of migratory baleen whales to ecosystem degradation. Convention on Migratory Species, Technical Publication No. 2: 97-106. SUMMARY Although most baleen whales are highly migratory, lack of human colonization of aquatic habitats generally makes them less vulnerable to ecosystem degradation than terrestrial taxa. However, some species of whales would be more vulnerable to such degradation than others. Reasons include: low abundance and associated problems (all northern right whales, western gray whales, eastern bowheads, and probably many blue whale populations); narrow prey specialization (right whales, blue whales); and either highly restricted habitat (gray whales) or habitats in coastal waters with high human activity (humpback whales, northern right whales). Several whale populations are critically endangered; however, ecosystem degradation in various forms is most likely to represent a threat to the recovery of northern right whales (notably in the North Atlantic) and western gray whales. -- The Society for Marine Mammalogy will be holding its 14th Biennial Conference from 28 November to 3 December 2001, in Vancouver, BC. Visit the conference Web site at www.smmconference.org for full details of this important meeting. Phillip J. Clapham, Ph.D. Large Whale Biology Program Protected Species Branch Northeast Fisheries Science Center 166 Water Street Woods Hole, MA 02543, U.S.A. tel. 508 495-2316 fax 508 495-2066 email: phillip.clapham(\)noaa.gov ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2001 12:11:42 +0100 From: Sarah Muscat Subject: Solitary Common Dolphin in Malta - Advice needed This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------InterScan_NT_MIME_Boundary boundary="----=_NextPart_000_02EC_01C16205.33EA0DA0" ------=_NextPart_000_02EC_01C16205.33EA0DA0 charset="iso-8859-1" Dear friends and colleagues, I would like to bring to your attention (please excuse the repetition = for some of you) a particular unique case that we had here in Malta. I = am sending this email because we need some advise. On the 8th of October, a juvenile female Common dolphin, measuring = 1.3metres and calculated to be not more than 1.5 years old, was seen in = Marsaxlokk bay. Two days later this dolphin moved to an adjacent bay = called Birzebbugia, where it remained until it was washed up dead on the = 28th October. Unfortunatley, the place it chose to land in is very = problematic and very busy. =20 >From continual monitoring it was noted that the dolphin was at first = quite energetic and was breathing at an average rate of 4 to 5 times a = minute. We also managed to notice that it had specific behaviour = patterns, ie., it used to disappear for hours during the very early = mornings and late evenings to return in between. Eventually, a few days = later its behaviour developed into specific swimming patterns where it = was seen swimming in continual circles and on its side. At one time, = during the night it even stranded itself and got wedged between rocks, = when a person who happened to be passing by managed to release it back = immediately. Moreover, in the last week out of the two-week period, we = also noticed that the dorsal fin started to bend. One other thing I = must mention is that we have eye witnesses where they saw the dolphin = capture live fish on several occasions. As for when its carcass was found, it looked as though it had been dead = for about 2 -3 days. I can confirm that there were no exernal injuries = or signs of nets, with the exception of what looked like a bite towards = the bottom of the tail stock. However, we have no confirmation from the = autopsy that it was inflicted before or after it was dead. The autopsy = carried out concluded that it drowned but could not establish why. = Moreover, there were no detailed examinations on the carcass such as = parasites in the skull area. Now, considering the situation we could only see two options, which are, = to either capture the dolphin (which was very fast) with a net and = release it back to a pod of dolphins that were sighted in the area or to = leave it there and wait for an expert veterinarian to come over and = examine the dolphin, which in the meantime, if it were sick, would have = stranded itself and probably would have led to euthanisation. When considering how stressful it is to capture a dolphin with a net and = not having any guarantee as to whether this dolphin was a healthy = specimen and whether the pod would have accepted it, we opted for the = second one. Obviously, we were making arrangements with the government = to bring in an expert veterinarian to assess the animal's health and = when we were in the final stages of this, the animal disappeared. We = also made our utmost to offer protection to the animal and were = continually calling in the police for assistance. In view of all the above, I would appreciate if those interested could = provide me with their comments and advise on what we should have done = and on what we should have avoided. This would help us in taking better = decisions and in managing such situations better in the future. Please = send your replies on mlcg(\)waldonet.net.mt I thank you for your time and attention. Best regards, Sarah=20 _______________________________ Sarah Muscat Rescue Team Coordinator Nature Trust (Malta) P.O. Box 9 Valletta CMR 01 MALTA _______________________________ ------=_NextPart_000_02EC_01C16205.33EA0DA0 charset="iso-8859-1"
Dear friends = and colleagues,
 
I would like to bring to your attention = (please=20 excuse the repetition for some of you) a particular unique case that we = had here=20 in Malta.  I am sending this email because we need some=20 advise.
 
On the 8th of October, a juvenile = female Common=20 dolphin, measuring 1.3metres and calculated to be not more than 1.5 = years old,=20 was seen in Marsaxlokk bay.  Two days later this dolphin moved to = an=20 adjacent bay called Birzebbugia, where it remained until it was = washed up=20 dead on the 28th October.  Unfortunatley, the place it chose to = land in is=20 very problematic and very busy. 
 
From continual monitoring it was noted = that the=20 dolphin was at first quite energetic and was breathing at an average = rate of 4=20 to 5 times a minute.  We also managed to notice that it had = specific=20 behaviour patterns, ie., it used to disappear for hours during the very = early=20 mornings and late evenings to return in between.  Eventually, = a few=20 days later its behaviour developed into specific swimming patterns = where it=20 was seen swimming in continual circles and on its side.  At = one time,=20 during the night it even stranded itself and got wedged between = rocks, when=20 a person who happened to be passing by managed to release = it back=20 immediately.   Moreover, in the last week out of the two-week = period,=20 we also noticed that the dorsal fin started to bend.  One other = thing I=20 must mention is that we have eye witnesses where they saw the dolphin = capture=20 live fish on several occasions.
 
As for when its carcass was found, it = looked as=20 though it had been dead for about 2 -3 days.  I can confirm = that there=20 were no exernal injuries or signs of nets, with the exception of what = looked=20 like a bite towards the bottom of the tail stock.  However,=20 we have no confirmation from the autopsy that it was inflicted = before or=20 after it was dead.  The autopsy carried out concluded that it = drowned but=20 could not establish why.  Moreover, there were no detailed = examinations on=20 the carcass such as parasites in the skull area.
 
Now, considering the situation we could = only see=20 two options, which are, to either capture the dolphin (which was very = fast) with=20 a net and release it back to a pod of dolphins that were sighted in the = area or=20 to leave it there and wait for an expert veterinarian to come over and = examine=20 the dolphin, which in the meantime, if it were sick, would have stranded = itself=20 and probably would have led to euthanisation.
 
When considering how stressful it is to = capture a=20 dolphin with a net and not having any guarantee as to whether this = dolphin=20 was a healthy specimen and whether the pod would have accepted = it, we=20 opted for the second one.  Obviously, we were making arrangements = with the=20 government to bring in an expert veterinarian to assess the animal's = health and=20 when we were in the final stages of this, the animal disappeared.  = We also=20 made our utmost to offer protection to the animal and were continually = calling=20 in the police for assistance.
 
In view of all the above, I would = appreciate if=20 those interested could provide me with their comments and advise on what = we=20 should have done and on what we should have avoided.  This would = help us in=20 taking better decisions and in managing such situations better in the=20 future.  Please send your replies on mlcg(\)waldonet.net.mt
 
I thank you for your time and=20 attention.
 
Best regards,
Sarah
 
_______________________________
Sarah Muscat
Rescue Team Coordinator
Nature Trust (Malta)
P.O. Box 9
Valletta CMR 01
MALTA
_______________________________
------=_NextPart_000_02EC_01C16205.33EA0DA0-- --------------InterScan_NT_MIME_Boundary-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2001 08:36:16 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: travel to Canada from the US for MM Conference (fwd) *To the attention of all travellers to Canada from the US for the marine mammal conference* From: "Kate Stafford" Dear All, For those of you who may be used to heading blithely to Canada from the U.S. (and back) with only a student ID or drivers license, please be aware that post- 9/11 a driver's license is no longer sufficient to enter Canada and return to the U.S. Proof of citizenship (passport, birth certificate or _certified_ copy, certificate of citizenship, etc.) is required at both border crossings. This is based on a recent experience driving to Canada - I assume flying to Canada is the same. cheers Kate Stafford kate.stafford(\)noaa.gov ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2001 09:15:30 -0800 From: Marine Mammal Conference Subject: Advanced registration deadline 14th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals 28 November - 3 December, 2001 www.smmconference.org ONLY ONE DAY LEFT UNTIL THE ADVANCED REGISTRATION DEADLINE! Are you planning to come to Vancouver for the 14th Biennial Meeting of the Society for Marine Mammalogy? Have you submitted your completed registration form? If not, you only have one day left to take advantage of advanced registration. Act now! See the Conference Web site, www.smmconference.org for more information. You may also register on-site at the meeting, both for the whole Conference and for single days. If you haven't made your travel plans yet, please check out the special Conference rates offered by Air Canada, the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, and the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel. More information is available on www.smmconference.org. Are you presenting at the Conference? Both speakers and poster presenters should check out the presentation hints on the Conference web site. Poster presenters: think about creating 'mini-poster' flyers that your colleagues can take away with them. Speakers: remember that you MUST drop off a copy of your presentation to the Speakers' Ready Room at least 24 hours before your scheduled talk. This meeting is shaping up to be the best Biennial Conference yet! Don't miss out! We understand that some folks may have concerns about travelling at this time, but hope that we will see you all there in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia! The Conference Committee 14th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals mmconf(\)vanaqua.org ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2001 17:41:27 -0500 Reply-To: Caryn Self Sullivan From: Caryn Self Sullivan Subject: Sirenews No. 36 October 2001 The latest issue of Sirenews has just been posted online at: http://www.sirenian.org/sirenews/36OCT2001.html Archives are also available at: http://www.sirenian.org/sirenews.html Sirenews is the newsletter of the IUCN/SSC Sirenia Specialist Group. It appears twice a year in April and October and is edited by Daryl P. Domning, Department of Anatomy, Howard University, Washington, D.C. 20059 USA. Fax: +202-265-7055; email: ddomning(\)fac.howard.edu. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Nov 2001 08:56:10 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MARMAM monthly 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 August 2001 there were about 4,100 subscribers from 69 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, with preference to meetings that span more than one day. We are trying to avoid posting notices of gatherings that are less than a day long. - 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, website address and website contents). - 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. A NOTE ABOUT COMPATIBILITY BETWEEN TEXT EDITORS: Different mail programs, text editors and operating systems handle line wrapping differently. This may cause display problems, given that subscribers read their mail from a variety of platforms. We also have noticed that messages composed by cutting and pasting directly from WordPerfect can cause line wrapping problems. Therefore we ask that you avoid composing your messages using the latter method. We also ask that users whose mail programs include "Metafile", "M-tags" or "v-card" information disable these features when submitting messages to MARMAM, so that v-cards are not attached to postings. These practices will greatly reduce the number of messages with strange formatting that appear on MARMAM. 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. Users of the web-based e-mail provider HOTMAIL should be aware that the "block sender" feature (used to avoid "junk" mail), if active, will also block listserver messages. Therefore, make sure you have "block sender" feature turned off. This may also apply to other e-mail programs with equivalent features. ______________________________________________________________ 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 European Association for Aquatic Mammals: "www.eaam.org" 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, Daniel Palacios and Siri Hakala) 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 August 2001 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2001 11:39:29 -0800 From: Harald Yurk Subject: Culture Workshop -Last Reminder Content-type: multipart/alternative; boundary="MS_Mac_OE_3087459569_478891_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_3087459569_478891_MIME_Part Dear Interested MARMAMERS, There are only 10 SPACES LEFT for the workshop on culture in marine mammals to be held on the 28th of November at the 14th Biennial Marine Mammal Conference in Vancouver. YOU ONLY HAVE 4 DAYS LEFT TO CLAIM ONE OF THOSE SPACES. In order for us to finalize location arrangements, we will CLOSE REGISTRATION ON NOVEMBER 4TH, 2001. If you are interested in claiming one of the few remaining spaces, PLEASE SEND FIRST AN E_MAIL TO Harald Yurk . SPACES WILL BE GIVEN TO THE FIRST 10 PEOPLE WHO EXPRESS INTEREST. The workshop is shaping up to be a lively event that will give researchers from a wide variety of disciplines the opportunity to discuss and debate culture and cultural processes in marine mammals. Approximately 160 participants have registered thus far. If you have already registered, but did not receive a confirmation via e-mail, please inform us immediately. We can not guarantee that you will be able to attend but we will try to provide you with one of the remaining spaces. Thank you all, and see you in Vancouver Best, Harald **************************************************************************** Harald Yurk Department of Zoology & Marine Mammal Research Marine Mammal Research Unit Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre University of British Columbia PO Box 3232 6248 Biological Sciences Road Vancouver, BC, Canada V6B 3X8 Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4 PhONE: UBC: 604.822.8181 Aquarium: 604.659.3429/3428/3430 FAX: UBC: 604.822.2416 Aquarium: 604.659.3515 WEB: www.zoology.ubc www.killerwhale.org www.fisheries.ubc.ca www.vanaqua.org --MS_Mac_OE_3087459569_478891_MIME_Part Culture Workshop -Last Reminder Dear Interested MARMAMERS,

There are only 10 SPACES LEFT for the workshop on culture in marine = mammals to be held on the 28th of November at the 14th Biennial Marine Mamma= l Conference in Vancouver. YOU ONLY HAVE 4 DAYS LEFT TO CLAIM ONE OF THOS= E SPACES. In order for us to finalize location arrangements, we will = CLOSE REGISTRATION ON NOVEMBER 4TH, 2001.

If you are interested in claiming one of the few remaining spaces, PLEASE S= END FIRST AN E_MAIL TO Harald Yurk <yurk(\)zoology.ubc.ca>. SPACE= S WILL BE GIVEN TO THE FIRST 10 PEOPLE WHO EXPRESS INTEREST.

The workshop is shaping up to be a lively event that will give researchers = from a wide variety of disciplines the opportunity to discuss and debate cul= ture and cultural processes in marine
mammals.  Approximately 160 participants have registered thus far. &nb= sp;

If you have already registered, but did not receive a confirmation via e-ma= il, please inform us immediately. We can not guarantee that you will be able= to attend but we will try to provide you with one of the remaining spaces. = Thank you all, and see you in Vancouver

Best,
Harald
***************************************************************************= *
Harald Yurk

Department of Zoology &         = ;    Marine Mammal Research
Marine Mammal Research Unit         = ;Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre
University of British Columbia      PO Box 3232 6248 Biological Sciences Road       Vancouver= , BC, Canada V6B 3X8
Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4

PhONE: UBC: 604.822.8181         &n= bsp;  Aquarium: 604.659.3429/3428/3430
FAX:   UBC: 604.822.2416       &nbs= p;    Aquarium: 604.659.3515

WEB: www.zoology.ubc          =       www.killerwhale.org
    www.fisheries.ubc.ca      = ;     www.vanaqua.org

--MS_Mac_OE_3087459569_478891_MIME_Part-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2001 16:53:17 +0800 From: Miguel Ettema Subject: Detailed musculoskeletal anatomy of cetaceans and pinnipeds. Dear MARMAM readers, I have been trying unsuccessfully here in Australia to find any texts that deal with detailed musculoskeletal anatomy of cetaceans or pinnipeds, so I have decided to turn to fellow MARMAM subscribers for help. If anyone knows of any texts that are available that cover details of musculoskeletal anatomy of cetaceans and pinnipeds, including any texts on anatomy of the internal organ systems, I would be grateful if the details of any such texts (Author, Title, Publisher) could be forwarded to me. Texts dealing with specific species would be great, too. I would mail back to the MARMAM list a list of all text details forwarded to me to be made available to all those interested. Sincerely, Miguel Ettema, Veterinary Biology, Murdoch University, Western Australia. ettema(\)netunltd.com.au ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 3 Nov 2001 09:08:21 -0800 From: Alexandra Morton Subject: Abstract - acoustic harassment boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0006_01C16447.15B00F80" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0006_01C16447.15B00F80 charset="iso-8859-1" Morton, A.B., and Symonds, H.K. 2002. Displacement of Orcinus orca (L.) = by high amplitude sound in British Columbia, Canada. ICES Journal of = Marine Science 59: 000-000 Whale displacement by acoustic "pollution" has been difficult to = document, even in cases where it is strongly suspected, because noise = effects can rarely be separated from other stimuli. Two independent = studies on the natural history of killer whales (Orcinus orca) monitored = frequency of whale occurrence from January 1985 through December 2000 in = two adjacent areas: Johnstone Strait and the Broughton Archipelago. Four = high-amplitude, acoustic harassment devices (AHDs) were installed = throughout 1993 on already existing salmon farms in the Broughton = Archipelago, in attempts to deter predation on fish pens by harbour = seals (phoca vitulina Linnaeus). While whale occurrence was relatively = stable in both areas until 1993, it then increased slightly in the = Johnstone Strait area and declined significantly in the Broughton = Archipelago while AHDs were in use. Both mammal-eating and fish-eating = killer whales were similarly impacted. Acoustic harassment ended in the = Broughton Archipelago in May 1999 and whale occurrence re-established to = baseline levels. This study concludes that whale displacement resulted = from the deliberate introduction of noise into their environment. This paper is available at: http://www.idealibrary.com/loms/toc/jmsc/0/0 reprints will be available when I received them Alexandra Morton Simoom Sound, B.C. V0P 1S0, Canada (this is the entire address) 240-949-1664 wildorca(\)island.com =20 ------=_NextPart_000_0006_01C16447.15B00F80 charset="iso-8859-1"
Morton, A.B., and Symonds, = H.K.  2002.=20 Displacement of Orcinus orca (L.) by high amplitude sound in = British=20 Columbia, Canada. ICES Journal of Marine Science 59: = 000-000
 
Whale displacement by acoustic=20 "pollution" has been difficult to document, even in cases = where it is=20 strongly suspected, because noise effects can rarely be separated from = other=20 stimuli.  Two independent studies on the natural history of killer = whales=20 (Orcinus orca) monitored frequency of whale occurrence from = January=20 1985 through December 2000 in two adjacent areas: Johnstone Strait and = the=20 Broughton Archipelago. Four high-amplitude, acoustic harassment devices = (AHDs)=20 were installed throughout 1993 on already existing salmon farms in the = Broughton=20 Archipelago, in attempts to deter predation on fish pens by harbour = seals=20 (phoca vitulina Linnaeus). While whale occurrence was = relatively stable=20 in both areas until 1993, it then increased slightly in the Johnstone = Strait=20 area and declined significantly in the Broughton Archipelago while AHDs = were in=20 use. Both mammal-eating and fish-eating killer whales were similarly=20 impacted.  Acoustic harassment ended in the Broughton Archipelago = in May=20 1999 and whale occurrence re-established to baseline levels.  This = study=20 concludes that whale displacement resulted from the deliberate = introduction of=20 noise into their environment.
 
This paper is available = at:
http://www.idealibr= ary.com/loms/toc/jmsc/0/0
 
reprints will be available when I = received=20 them
 
Alexandra Morton
Simoom=20 Sound, B.C. V0P 1S0, Canada (this is the entire = address)
240-949-1664
wildorca(\)island.com =20
------=_NextPart_000_0006_01C16447.15B00F80-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2001 15:47:54 +0000 ignored. From: "editor(\)monachus.org" Subject: The Monachus Guardian 4(2): November 2001 boundary="=====================_9384574==_.ALT" --=====================_9384574==_.ALT THE MONACHUS GUARDIAN This is to let you know that IMMA Inc. has now published the November 2001= =20 issue of The Monachus Guardian, a biannual electronic periodical focusing=20 on the Mediterranean, Hawaiian and Caribbean monk seals. The site can be=20 accessed at http://www.monachus.org. Highlights of the current=20 issue include: > Guest Editorial: Witnessing the monk seal=92s extinction in the Black= Sea.=20 Cem O. Kira=E7 reflects on the bitter ecological legacy of the monk seal=92s= =20 final eradication from the Black Sea... > Caribbean News: Caribbean monk seals or hooded seals? by Antonio A.=20 Mignucci-Giannoni & Peter Haddow. Why a spate of recent mystery sightings=20 in the Caribbean is unlikely to have given Monachus tropicalis a new lease= =20 on life... > Cover Story: The islands at the end of the line, by William M. Johnson.= =20 Exploring the Greek Aegean's Northern Sporades Marine Park... > Perspectives: All at sea ~ Adrift in the Northern Sporades Marine Park,= =20 by William M. Johnson. Why there is growing discontent in Greece=92s= flagship=20 monk seal protected area... > In Focus: Hanging by a thread, by David M. Lavigne & William M. Johnson.= =20 Does the Mediterranean monk seal face the same fate as its Caribbean cousin? Plus... > Letters to the Editor: including Back to the Future, by Keith Ronald... > International, Mediterranean and Hawaiian News... Recent Publications= etc. The current and back issues of The Monachus Guardian are also available=20 from the Monachus Library, and may=20 either be viewed on-line, or downloaded as single files in cross-platform=20 Adobe Acrobat format. Should you have any comments on the web site or its contents, please=20 contact us at the following email address:=20 editor(\)monachus.org Similarly, we look forward to hearing from you if you experience any=20 difficulty in accessing this service. Sincerely, William M. Johnson editor(\)monachus.org PS. If you appear to be on this email information list in error, please=20 hit the reply button, placing the word REMOVE in the subject line. _________________________________ editor(\)monachus.org www.monachus.org _________________________________ --=====================_9384574==_.ALT
THE MONACHUS GUARDIAN


This is to let you know that IMMA Inc. has now published the November 2001 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: Witnessing the monk seal=92s extinction in= the Black Sea. Cem O. Kira=E7 reflects on the bitter ecological legacy of= the monk seal=92s final eradication from the Black Sea...

> Caribbean News: Caribbean monk seals or hooded seals? by Antonio= A. Mignucci-Giannoni & Peter Haddow. Why a spate of recent mystery= sightings in the Caribbean is unlikely to have given Monachus tropicalis= a new lease on life...

> Cover Story: The islands at the end of the line, by William M.= Johnson. Exploring the Greek Aegean's= Northern Sporades Marine Park...

> Perspectives: All at sea ~ Adrift in the Northern= Sporades Marine Park, by William M. Johnson. Why there is growing= discontent in Greece=92s flagship monk seal protected area...

> In Focus: Hanging by a thread, by David M. Lavigne & William= M. Johnson. Does the Mediterranean monk seal face the same fate as its= Caribbean cousin?


Plus...

> Letters to the Editor: including Back to the Future,= by Keith Ronald...

> International, Mediterranean and Hawaiian News...= Recent Publications etc.


The 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


PS. If you appear to be on this email information list in error,= please hit  the reply button, placing the word REMOVE in the subject= line.


_________________________________

editor(\)monachus.org

www.monachus.org

_________________________________

 --=====================_9384574==_.ALT-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2001 17:56:40 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: New publication (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Peter Corkeron For those interested, a limited number of reprints of the following paper are available. Please - if your institution has web access to Proceedings: B, go to the journal's website http://www.pubs.royalsoc.ac.uk/proc_bio/proc_bio.html and download the pdf of the paper from the September 22 issue. If not, write to me for reprints at: peter.corkeron(\)fiskforsk.norut.no Peter Corkeron Chilvers, BL & Corkeron, PJ 2001. Trawling and bottlenose dolphins' social structure Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B: Biological Sciences 268:1901-1905 Abstract Human activities can affect the behaviour of mammals through the modification of habitats, changes in predation pressure or alterations in food distribution and availability. We analysed the association and ranging patterns of 242 individually identified bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in eastern Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia, and distinguished two separate communities of dolphins. Unlike bottlenose dolphins elsewhere, the communities' core areas overlapped substantially. There was a correlation between the dolphins' responses to fishing activities and community membership-members of one community feed in association,vith trawlers and members of the other do not. Apart from feeding mode, the communities differed in habitat preference and group sizes. Inadvertent anthropogenic impacts on animals' societies are likely to be far more widespread than just this study and can increase conservation challenges. In this instance, managers need to consider the two communities' differing habitat requirements and their behavioural traditions in conservation planning. Dr Peter Corkeron Norwegian Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture N-9291 Troms=F8, Norway Phone: +47 77 62 9229 Fax: +47 77 62 9100 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2001 11:20:24 +0100 From: jojorem Subject: New publication Dear Marmam For those interested, a new publication on the special Pinniped pineal gland is now available on the net. If some do not have a access a limited number of reprints is available from the address below. http://link.springer.de/link/service/journals/00360/index.htm Authors: Aarseth, J. J., Nord=F8y, E. S., Stokkan, K-A. Abstract The isometric tension was recorded by force displacement transducers in ring segments of the inferior branch of the renal artery from newborn hooded seals (Cystophora cristata, n=3D6), harp seals (Phoca groenlandica= , n=3D3) and domestic pigs (Sus scrofa f.domestica, n=3D5). Arterial segmen= ts were mounted in heated organ baths and exposed to graded concentrations o= f noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (A), alone or together with melatonin. The melatonin concentration in the bath was similar to the plasma concentration normally found in each experimental animal. Melatonin alone did not affect the tension in any of the species, but melatonin potentiat= ed the contraction induced by NA in hooded and harp seal arteries to a maxim= um of about 25 % above the resting, pre-stretch level, respectively. The selective melatonin receptor antagonist luzindole reduced this potentiati= on by 80 %. Species-specific concentrations of melatonin did not potentiate the NA-effect in the domestic pig or the A-induced contraction in any of the species. The results indicate that melatonin specifically increases t= he NA-sensitivity of smooth muscles in renal arteries from newborn seals. It is presumed that similar effects may operate in foetal and maternal seals and may influence their circulation during maternal diving. Cand.scient. Jo Jorem Aarseth Department of Arctic Biology=20 University of Troms=F8 Telephone : +47 776 44871 Fax : +47 776 45770 E- mail : jojorem(\)fagmed.uit.no ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2001 06:48:39 -0800 From: Alexandra Morton Subject: correct link for harassment paper boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0023_01C1668F.10F47FE0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0023_01C1668F.10F47FE0 charset="iso-8859-1" Dear Marmamers: My apologies and thank you for bringing this to my attention. The = correct link for the paper: Displacement of Orcinus orca (L.) by high amplitude sound in British = Columbia, Canada - Morton and Symonds is: http://www.idealibrary.com/links/toc/jmsc/0/0 alexandra morton Simoom Sound, B.C. V0P 1S0 1-250-949-1664 wildorca(\)island.net ------=_NextPart_000_0023_01C1668F.10F47FE0 charset="iso-8859-1"
Dear Marmamers:
 
My apologies and thank you for = bringing this to=20 my attention.  The correct link for the paper:
 
Displacement of Orcinus orca = (L.) by=20 high amplitude sound in British Columbia, Canada - Morton and=20 Symonds
 
is: http://www.idealib= rary.com/links/toc/jmsc/0/0
 
alexandra morton
Simoom Sound, B.C. V0P = 1S0
1-250-949-1664
wildorca(\)island.net
------=_NextPart_000_0023_01C1668F.10F47FE0-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2001 09:40:43 +1000 From: Stephanie Lemm Organization: Environmental Protection Agency Subject: UNDERWATER SCOOTERS AND CETACEANS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION Our agency (Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service) is responsible for managing Moreton Bay Marine Park in Queensland, Australia. Recently we have had enquiries regarding the use of "underwater scooters" in commercial tourist programs. Has anyone had any experience with managing interactions between underwater scooters and cetaceans (and dugongs)? Do you think we should be concerned about such interactions? Looking forward to your comments. Stephanie Lemm -- Stephanie Lemm Senior Conservation Officer Moreton Bay Marine Park Phone: (07) 3821 9020 Fax: (07) 3821 9001 email: stephanie.lemm(\)env.qld.gov.au Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service PO Box 402 Cleveland 4163 Queensland Australia ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2001 22:09:26 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications (fwd) The following is a list of some recent marine mammal publications. DeMaster, D.P. et al. 2001. Predation and competition: the impact of fisheries on marine-mammal populations over the next one hundred years. J. Mammal. 82/3:641-651. Palo,J.U. et al. 2001. Microsatellite variation in ringed seals (Phoca hispida): genetic structure and history of the Baltic Sea population. J. Heredity 86/5:609-617. Taylor, M.K. et al. 2001. Delineating Canadian and Greenland polar bear (Ursus maritimus) populations by cluster analysis of movements. Can. J. Zool. 79/4:690-709. Childerhouse, S. et al. 2001. Diet of New Zealand sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri) at the Auckland Islands. Wild. Res. 28/3:291-298. Boutilier, R.G. et al. 2001. Unsteady-state gas exchange and storage in diving marine mammals: the harbor porpoise and gray seal. Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol. 281/2 50-2: R490-494. van Parijs, S.M. and P.J. Corkeron. 2001. Boat traffic affects the acoustic behavior of Pacific humpback dolphins, Sousa chinensis. J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK 81/3: 533-538. Gowans, S. et al. 2001. Social organization in northern bottlenose whales, Hyperoodon ampullatus: not driven by deep-water foraging? Anim. Behav. 62/2: 369-377. van Parijs, S.M. and P.J. Corkeron. 2001. Vocalizations and behavior of Pacific humpback dolphins, Sousa chinensis. Ethology 107/8:737-752. Gatesy, J. and M. O'Leary. 2001. Deciphering whale origins with molecules and fossils. Trends Ecol. Evol. 16/10:562-570. Campbell, R.R. 2001. Rare and endangered fishes and marine mammals of Canada: COSEWIC Fish and Marine Mammal Subcommittee status reports: XIII. Can. Field-Nat. 115/1:115-117. Lien, J. et al. 2001. Status of the white-beaked dolphin, Lagenorhynchus albirostris, in Canada. Can. Field-Nat. 115/1:118-126. Seagars, D.J. and J. Garlich-Miller. 2001. Organochlorine compounds and aliphatic hydrocarbons in Pacific walrus blubber. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 43/1-6: 122-131. Bejder, L. and S. Dawson. 2001. Abundance, residency, and habitat utilisation of Hector's dolphins (Cephalorynchus hectori) in Porpoise Bay, New Zealand. New Zealand J. Mar. Freshw. Res 35/2:277-287. Neumann, D.R. 2001. Seasonal movements of short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in the north-western Bay of Plenty, New Zealand: influence of sea surface temperature and El Nino/La Nina. New Zealand J. Mar. Freshw. Res 35/2:371-374. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2001 17:06:48 -0800 From: Marine Mammal Conference Subject: Registration for SMM Conference SMM Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals Notes from the Registrar As of 9 November all confirmations of registration have been sent. If you have not yet received a confirmation, please notify the registrar, Ms. Terry Odell, at todell(\)fbs.net. However, BEFORE YOU DO SO, please check the following list of reasons why you might not have heard anything yet. FIRST, FIND THE COPY OF YOUR REGISTRATION FORM THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE KEPT FOR YOUR RECORDS. YOU DID KEEP A COPY, DIDN'T YOU? Confirmations were by EMAIL ONLY. Look at the line that says "email." Did you fill it out? If not, that will answer your question. Is it your current email address? Do you check your email? Is it legible? This means legible to someone unfamiliar with your handwriting, which is why the form was set up so you could type in the fields on your computer instead of resorting to impossible to decipher printing. Every effort was made to reach you at the email provided, but given that email is totally non-forgiving, if your writing lacked legibility, or the quality of the fax you sent was poor, it's possible this is why you didn't receive confirmation. A lot of you need to clean the drums on your fax machines. If you put your forms in the fax machine, hit 'send' and left for the field immediately thereafter, it's possible that transmissions weren't received, or were of such poor quality that they were useless. Those of you who registered via fax close to the early registration deadline - those 800 of you - might have noticed that there was some difficulty in getting through. SMM is not responsible for unreceived faxes. Be prepared to register on site. HOW CAN YOU PROVE YOU REALLY REGISTERED, AND I JUST LOST YOUR PAPERWORK? Very simple. Bring a copy of your cancelled check or credit card statement showing that you paid. REGISTRATION COMPLICATIONS MEMBERSHIP ISSUES If your name did not appear on the membership roster, and you tried to register as a member, you would have been notified and given a reasonable amount of time to rectify the situation. The best way to prove you are a member is to bring a copy of your address label from your journal to the meeting. This will have your membership number and expiration date on it. No journals? Good indication that your membership lapsed or you moved and didn't notify Allen Press. They don't forward journals. All memberships expire 31 December. You can line up at the membership desk on site and renew before proceeding to the on-site registration area. You can also join as a new member. Just do it BEFORE you register. PROBLEM REGISTRATIONS I have a bright yellow folder chock-full of people who think they have registered. Everyone has been emailed (see above for reasons why they might not have been) and notified that they are sitting aside until I receive the necessary documentation. Various reasons for hang-ups: Students - forget to enclose that id? Not on the roster as a member? Are you on the roster under the same name that you used for registration? Forget to sign your form? Forget to sign your check? Didn't send enough money? Wrong credit card number? (My magic machine is quite clever - it seems to know that you've given an invalid number and you don't get to have someone else pay for your registration.) If you're sure you've registered, we suggest that you bring your confirmation email just in case the bits and bytes somehow fell out of the database. Cancelled checks, credit card statements also will show you've paid. As a last resort, the registrar responds positively to chocolate, preferably dark and European, but if your problem's not too serious, even M&M's might help. There will be a SPECIAL ASSISTANCE area in the Registration Office (some sort of ticket booth or box office closet they've set aside for me), and I'll be happy to try to solve your problem at that time. I'd be happier to solve it now, so after you've done all the research at your end, you can email me at todell(\)fbs.net and we can figure out what happened. REFUNDS It's too late. Deadline was 2 November. This includes refunds on icebreaker tickets for those of you who missed the bright red notice on the website that said ONE ticket comes with your registration, or didn't read the form where it says what your fees include, didn't question why it said 'Icebreaker for guests' on the payment grid, or didn't catch on when your confirmation said 'additional icebreaker tickets.' If you paid for an extra ticket and didn't mean to - go find a friend! ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2001 11:30:12 -0500 Reply-To: pmoreno(\)tamu.edu From: PAULA MORENO Subject: MMRP internship/spring 2002 VOLUNTEER POSITIONS The Marine Mammal Research Program at Texas A&M University, Galveston, still has a few vacancies for the Internship/Spring term, and the previous deadline has been extended. The new deadline to submit applications is November 30, 2001. The Spring term will begin on January 14, 2002 and lasts 3 months. The project focuses on the foraging behavior of bottlenose dolphins in the Galveston Bay. Intensive boat surveys will be conducted to estimate dolphin and prey abundance. The latter will use bioacoustic and prey sampling tools. Data entering, verification and analysis are also important tasks for intern involvement. More 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: Fri, 9 Nov 2001 09:48:40 +0100 From: "Parijs, Sofie Van" Subject: Recent publications ------ > The following are recent publications on bearded seals and Pacific humpback > dolphins.=20 >=20 Sofie M. Van Parijs, Kit M. Kovacs & Christian Lydersen 2001. Spatial and= > temporal distribution of vocalising male bearded seals - implications for male mating strategies. Behaviour, 138, 905 - 922. Abstract The bearded seal, Erignathus barbatus, is an ice breeding phocid that mat= es in the water. The most detailed studies of male behaviour among aquatic-mating phocids have concentrated primarily on temperate breeding harbour seals, Phoca vitulina, where females are dependent on stable substrates, rock or sand, for parturition. In contrast, female bearded se= als give birth on ice floes or the edge of fast ice, a highly unstable substrate. In this study, spatial and temporal patterns of male bearded s= eal vocalisations were studied in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard from April 1999 to t= he end of May 2000. Males vocalised during a discrete 90-day period from ear= ly April to mid July, no calls were heard at any other time of the year duri= ng this study. Vocalisations increased in duration towards the middle of the mating season in late May, although no change was seen in inter vocal intervals of individuals. The frequency of occurrence of vocalisations varied significantly with the diel cycle. Vocalisations increased in numb= er from 16:00 hrs onward into the 'night', peaking around 04:00 hrs. This pe= ak coincides with the period when most females are in the water. Female bear= ded seals were found throughout Kongsfjorden. Their distribution at any particular point in time depends on the availability of suitable haul-out sites (i.e. ice conditions), which are highly variable over time spans as short as a few hours. Males vocalised in higher densities around the fjor= d entrances and may use these 'geographical bottlenecks' to intercept pass= ing females. We suggest that male distribution may reflect the unpredictable nature of female distribution. Aquatic mating phocids appear to exhibit variations in reproductive strategies, including spatial arrangements of displaying males, which reflect the varying constraints imposed on female movement patterns by their local habitats and ecological requirements. >=20 Van Parijs S.M. and Corkeron, P.J. 2001 Boat traffic affects the acoustic= > behaviour of Pacific humpback dolphins, Sousa chinensis.=20 Journal of the > Marine Biological Association, 81, 533-538. Abstract In this study, the indirect (i.e. boats not involved in dolphin viewing activities) impacts of boat traffic on the acoustic behaviour of Pacific humpback dolphins, Sousa chinensis, were assessed in Moreton Bay, Austral= ia. Humpback dolphin acoustic behaviour is affected by transiting boat traffi= c. Boats' passage did not affect the rates at which dolphins produced click trains and burst pulse vocalisations. However, dolphins significantly increased their rate of whistling immediately after a boat moved through = the area. This increase occurred only when boats were less than 1.5 km from t= he groups. Groups including mother-calf pairs showed an increase in whistles= in response to boats' passage. Groups with no calves produced significantly fewer whistles. This evidence suggests that the noise from transiting vessels affects dolphins' group cohesion. Mother-calf pairs appear to be most disturbed by transiting vessels, and exhibit an increased need to re-establish vocal contact. Van Parijs S.M. and Corkeron. P.J. 2001 Evidence for signature whistle > production by a Pacific humpback dolphin, Sousa chinensis. - NOTE=20 Marine Mammal > Science, 17, 944 - 949. > Dr. Sofie Van Parijs > Norwegian Polar Institute, > Polarmilj=F8sentret, > Troms=F8 N-9296, Norway. > T: - 47 77 750551 > F: - 47 77 750501 > Email: sofie(\)npolar.no =20 >=20 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2001 10:01:09 -0500 Reply-To: kim parsons From: kim parsons Subject: Abstract: Dolphin faecal genotyping boundary="----=_NextPart_000_005B_01C16905.74AAFB40" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_005B_01C16905.74AAFB40 charset="iso-8859-1" Dear Marmamers, The following paper is now available online through Synergy = (http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/Journals/ ), alternatively reprints or = copies will be available when I receive them. Kim Parsons. 2001. Reliable microsatellite genotyping of dolphin DNA = from faeces. Molecular Ecology Notes 100: 000-000. Abstract Non-invasive samples have proved useful in genotyping studies of = free-ranging mammals. However, potential genotyping errors associated = with such samples dictate the need for validation studies. This pilot = study demonstrates the use of dolphin faeces in multilocus = microsatellite genotyping studies. An empirical approach to calculating = the rate of genotyping error was applied to data from matched pairs of = blood or tissue and faecal samples from both captive and wild bottlenose = dolphins. Microsatellite genotypes were assigned to dolphin faecal = extracts with greater than 95 percent confidence by using a multiple = tube approach, and at least two independent replicate genotypings. This paper follows on from our previous publication; K.M. Parsons et = al. 1999. Amplifying dolphin mitochondrial DNA from faecal plumes. = Molecular Ecology 8: 1766 - 1768. With regards,=20 Kim Parsons k.m.parsons(\)abdn.ac.uk ................................................................. Kim M. Parsons Ph.D. student University of Aberdeen Zoology Department Lighthouse Field Station George St. Cromarty Ross-shire IV11 8YJ phone/fax 01381 600548 email k.m.parsons(\)abdn.ac.uk ................................................................. ------=_NextPart_000_005B_01C16905.74AAFB40 charset="iso-8859-1"
Dear Marmamers,
 
The following paper is now available online through=20 Synergy (http://www.blackwell-= synergy.com/Journals/ ),=20 alternatively reprints or copies will be available when I receive=20 them.
 
Kim Parsons. 2001. Reliable microsatellite = genotyping of=20 dolphin DNA from faeces. Molecular Ecology Notes 100:=20 000-000.
 
Abstract

Non-invasive samples have proved useful in genotyping studies of = free-ranging=20 mammals. However, potential genotyping errors associated with such = samples=20 dictate the need for validation studies. This pilot study demonstrates = the use=20 of dolphin faeces in multilocus microsatellite genotyping studies. An = empirical=20 approach to calculating the rate of genotyping error was applied to data = from=20 matched pairs of blood or tissue and faecal samples from both captive = and wild=20 bottlenose dolphins. Microsatellite genotypes were assigned to dolphin = faecal=20 extracts with greater than 95 percent confidence by using a multiple = tube=20 approach, and at least two independent replicate = genotypings.

This paper follows on from our previous=20 publication;  K.M. Parsons et al. 1999. Amplifying = dolphin=20 mitochondrial DNA from faecal plumes. Molecular Ecology 8: 1766 = -=20 1768.
 
 
With regards,
 
Kim Parsons
k.m.parsons(\)abdn.ac.uk<= /DIV>
 
................................................................= .
Kim=20 M. Parsons
 
Ph.D. student
University of Aberdeen
Zoology=20 Department
Lighthouse Field Station
George=20 St.
Cromarty
Ross-shire
IV11 = 8YJ
phone/fax    =20 01381=20 600548
email         &nbs= p;  =20 k.m.parsons(\)abdn.ac.uk
....= .............................................................
<= /DIV> ------=_NextPart_000_005B_01C16905.74AAFB40-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2001 07:49:57 -0600 From: Aldemaro Romero Subject: Call for Paper Proposals CALL FOR PAPER PROPOSALS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN LATIN AMERICA We are proposing a book on Environmental Issues in Latin America to a major academic publisher who has already expressed strong interest in publishing such as book. The book will consist of a collection of original papers by scholars in this area interested in contributing one or more papers, either as solo authors or in collaboration with others. We seek scholarly papers that deal with environmental issues at local, country, or international level, always within the Latin American context and with emphasis on an interdisciplinary approach. Papers will deal with a great variety of issues including, but not limited to, environmental economics, conservation biology, environmental policy, environmental ethics, environmental history, environmental justice, and environmental science. We are interested in receiving submissions in issues such as exploitation of marine mammals. All papers will be peer-reviewed. If you are interested in contributing a paper, please send an email to Aldemaro Romero (romero(\)macalester.edu) or Sarah West (wests(\)macalester.edu) indicating your name, professional affiliation, and a proposed title with a brief description of the paper(s) you are proposing. Your communication will be understood as a "letter of intent" meaning that you are interested in contributing without any obligation from your part to do so nor from ours to publish your paper(s). Final decision on the publication will rest in the hands of the publisher. We look forward hearing from you. Aldemaro Romero, Ph.D. Director and Associate Professor Environmental Studies Program Macalester College 1600 Grand Ave. St.Paul, MN 55105-1899, USA (651) 696-8157 (651) 696-6443 (fax) romero(\)macalester.edu Sarah West, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Department of Economics Macalester College 1600 Grand Ave. St.Paul, MN 55105-1899, USA (651) 696-6482 (651) 696-6746 wests(\)macalester.edu --Boundary_(ID_DckqeG/Egvgf4aoc0xSQCQ) CALL FOR PAPER PROPOSALS
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN LATIN AMERICA

We are proposing a book on Environmental Issues in Latin America to a major academic publisher who has already expressed strong interest in publishing such as book. The book will consist of a collection of original papers by scholars in this area interested in contributing one or more papers, either as solo authors or in collaboration with others. We seek scholarly papers that deal with environmental issues at local, country, or international level, always within the Latin American context and with emphasis on an interdisciplinary approach. Papers will deal with a great variety of issues including, but not limited to, environmental economics, conservation biology, environmental policy, environmental ethics, environmental history, environmental justice, and environmental science. We are interested in receiving submissions in issues such as exploitation of marine mammals. All papers will be peer-reviewed.

If you are interested in contributing a paper, please send an email to Aldemaro Romero (romero(\)macalester.edu) or Sarah West (wests(\)macalester.edu) indicating your name, professional affiliation, and a proposed title with a brief description of the paper(s) you are proposing. Your communication will be understood as a "letter of intent" meaning that you are interested in contributing without any obligation from your part to do so nor from ours to publish your paper(s). Final decision on the publication will rest in the hands of the publisher.

We look forward hearing from you.

Aldemaro Romero, Ph.D.
Director and Associate Professor
Environmental Studies Program
Macalester College
1600 Grand Ave.
St.Paul, MN 55105-1899, USA
(651) 696-8157
(651) 696-6443 (fax)
romero(\)macalester.edu

Sarah West, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Economics
Macalester College
1600 Grand Ave.
St.Paul, MN 55105-1899, USA
(651) 696-6482
(651) 696-6746
wests(\)macalester.edu --Boundary_(ID_DckqeG/Egvgf4aoc0xSQCQ)-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2001 12:55:50 -0800 From: Joseph Mobley Subject: Position announcement--PR and Research Coordinator PUBLIC RELATIONS AND RESEARCH COORDINATOR for the Island Marine Institute in Lahaina, Maui. AVAILABILITY: Immediate; full-time The Island Marine Institute (IMI) is the research arm of Island Marine Activities, a conservation-oriented, commercial whale watch venture operating vessels out of Lahaina, Maui. For the past several years, IMI has helped to train naturalists and volunteer researchers concerning the natural history and research activities associated with humpback whales during their winter breeding season (Jan-Apr). All research is performed outside of the minimum 100-yard approach limit, thereby not requiring a research permit under the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act (see our website at www.whalewatchmaui.com). DUTIES of the PR and Research Coordinator include: a) working in coordination with the Research Director in administering the naturalist training and research programs of IMI; b) assisting with public relations activities for Island Marine Activities; c) acting as curator of all fluke identification photographs. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: a) bachelor's degree in field related to duties; b) organizational administrative experience (min: 1 yr); c) background in marine mammal natural history and/or research. DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS: a) Masters Degree in related field; b) proficiency with computer graphics programs. SALARY: $2,500 per month DEADLINE: Nov. 30, 2001 Submit resume and three references documenting past experience to: Dave Jung Island Marine Activities 658 Front St. Suite 101 Lahaina, Maui, HI 96761 FAX: 808-661-5792 Inquiries may be sent via e-mail to Dr. Joseph Mobley, Research Director, at jmobley(\)hawaii.edu. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 12:59:48 +0100 From: Giovanni Bearzi Subject: Collisions between cetaceans and vessels in the Mediterranean Sea Dear colleagues, a workshop on the problem of cetacean collisions in the Mediterranean Sea has been organized by the Tethys Research Institute during the 15th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society (Rome, Italy, 6-10 May 2001). The proceedings of the workshop "COLLISIONS BETWEEN CETACEANS AND VESSELS: CAN WE FIND SOLUTIONS?" can be found online at The site includes photographic evidence of certain and uncertain fin whale collisions recorded in the Ligurian Sea Cetacean Sanctuary between 1990-2000. Please note that recent additions to the site also include an updated list of CETACEAN COMMON NAMES IN ITALIAN, that have been tentatively proposed based on taxonomic revisions and new discoveries within the Order Cetacea. Best regards, Giovanni Bearzi ______________________________________________ Giovanni Bearzi Professor of Cetacean conservation Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Venice President, Tethys Research Institute c/o Venice Natural History Museum Santa Croce 1730, 30135 Venezia, Italy voice: +39 0412750206; fax: +39 041721000 http://www.tethys.org ______________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2001 09:10:27 -0800 From: Greg Sanders Subject: Re: UNDERWATER SCOOTERS AND CETACEANS Hello, My name is Greg Sanders and I work for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. I do not have experience with managing commercial tourist programs but I thought I could contribute one experience to the discussion. Many years back I was called to evaluate a potential entanglement of a Gray Whale (Eschrichtius glaucus). We found a whale that had a short piece line wrapped around its fluke but was otherwise behaving normally. We brought underwater scooters with us, although we could approach the whale closely with free diving gear when we activated the scooters the whale apparently reacted to the noise and quickly swam away from us. We tried several approaches each with the same results causing us to abandon use of the scooters. Without scooters we could again approach the whale and finish our evaluation. We were using TEKNA scooters which produce an audible (to humans) whirring sound not unlike the sound of a high speed boat heard from a distance. Anyway, that's what I have for what it is worth. Gregory S. Sanders U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office 2493 Portola Rd., Suite B Ventura, California 93004 Phone (805) 644-1766 X315 Fax (805) 644-3958 e:mail greg_sanders(\)r1.fws.gov Stephanie Lemm cc: Sent by: Marine Subject: UNDERWATER SCOOTERS AND CETACEANS Mammals Research and Conservation Discussion 11/08/01 03:40 PM Please respond to Marine Mammals Research and Conservation Discussion REQUEST FOR INFORMATION Our agency (Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service) is responsible for managing Moreton Bay Marine Park in Queensland, Australia. Recently we have had enquiries regarding the use of "underwater scooters" in commercial tourist programs. Has anyone had any experience with managing interactions between underwater scooters and cetaceans (and dugongs)? Do you think we should be concerned about such interactions? Looking forward to your comments. Stephanie Lemm -- Stephanie Lemm Senior Conservation Officer Moreton Bay Marine Park Phone: (07) 3821 9020 Fax: (07) 3821 9001 email: stephanie.lemm(\)env.qld.gov.au Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service PO Box 402 Cleveland 4163 Queensland Australia ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2001 14:26:39 -0600 From: Stan Kuczaj Subject: alloparental behavior Dear colleagues, We have noticed several incidences of allomaternal care in our recent observations of dolphin mothers and calves, and would like to know of other unpublished observations of cetacean allopaternal behavior. Although we are particularly interested in allomaternal behaviors (especially allomaternal nursing), all information on cetacean allopaternal behaviors would be appreciated. We have the wonderful summary that Paula Joao Faria produced approximately two years ago on the existing literature on alloparental care. We are not trying to reinvent the wheel, and so are not asking for another listing of publications dealing with alloparental care (although information about any recent publications would be appreciated). Please respond to: s.kuczaj(\)usm.edu Thanks in advance for your help. We will send a summary of responses to MARMAM. Cheers Stan ============================================================= Stan Kuczaj, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Psychology University of Southern Mississippi, Box 5025, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5025 Phone 601-266-4179 Fax 601-266-5580 email: s.kuczaj(\)usm.edu ============================================================= --=====================_24731181==_.ALT Dear colleagues,

We have noticed several incidences of allomaternal care in our recent observations of dolphin mothers and calves, and would like to know of other unpublished observations of cetacean allopaternal behavior. Although we are particularly interested in allomaternal behaviors (especially allomaternal nursing), all information on cetacean allopaternal behaviors would be appreciated.

We have the wonderful summary that Paula Joao Faria produced approximately two years ago on the existing literature on alloparental care. We are not trying to reinvent the wheel, and so are not asking for another listing of publications dealing with alloparental care (although information about any recent publications would be appreciated).



Please respond to:  s.kuczaj(\)usm.edu


Thanks in advance for your help. We will send a summary of responses to MARMAM.


Cheers


Stan



=============================================================

Stan Kuczaj, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Psychology
University of Southern Mississippi, Box 5025, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5025
Phone 601-266-4179   Fax 601-266-5580 email: s.kuczaj(\)usm.edu

=============================================================
--=====================_24731181==_.ALT-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 09:56:50 -0500 Reply-To: Arturo Serrano From: Arturo Serrano Organization: LGL Limited Subject: Abstract: harp seal vocalizations Dear subscribers: The following is a recent publication on harp seal vocalizations that might be of interest to some of you. Some reprints available. Serrano, A., and Terhune, J. M. 2001. Within-call repetition may be an anti-masking strategy in underwater calls of harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus). Canadian Journal of Zoology. 79: 1410-1413. Abstract Underwater vocalizations of harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus) were recorded in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada, during the breeding season in March of 1999 and 2000. At high calling rates (>95 calls/min) the background noise levels increase and individual calls may be masked. The purpose of the study was to determine if seals increase the number of elements per call in response to higher calling rates by conspecifics. Eight multi-element call types were analyzed. Six narrowband and one of the two broadband multi-element call types showed a significant increase in the number of elements per call at higher calling rates. Our findings suggest that harp seals increase the number of elements per call in many call types to avoid having their calls masked by an increasing number of conspecific vocalizations. ___________________________ Arturo Serrano, PhD LGL Limited environmental research associates 22 Fisher Street, P.O. Box 280 King City, Ontario, L7B 1A7 CANADA Phone (905) 833 6897, Fax (905) 833 1255 Email: aserrano(\)lgl.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 08:06:31 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Sirenian International Meeting in Vancouver (fwd) Reply-To: "Caryn Self Sullivan" Sirenian International, Inc., will have an informal lunch-time meeting during the SMM 14th Biennial Conference in Vancouver. All persons interested in sirenian research, conservation, and/or education at the international level are invited to attend. This meeting is in addition to the International Sirenian Conservation Workshop to be held on Wednesday. The Wednesday workshop is being sponsored by the USFWS. We will be making a short presentation at the workshop, but wanted to have additional time set aside for more in depth discussion regarding SI's role in International Sirenian Research, Education, and Conservation. Seating is limited, so please reserve your space. Sirenian researchers, conservationists, and educators are invited to register as Participating Members of Sirenian International http://www..sirenian.org/membership.html. You may register for the meeting at the same time by checking the appropriate box on the membership form. DATE: Saturday, 1 December 2001 TIME: 12:30 - 14:00 PLACE: Meeting Room 12 (this room is on the upper level of the Conference Centre) Lunch may be purchased at the Food Kiosks in the Conference Centre and brought to the meeting. Sirenian International is a grassroots organization of people from around the world who share a dedication to manatee & dugong research, education, and conservation. Our Participating Members are actively involved in sirenian projects; our Supporting Members provide financial support to projects that are funded by Sirenian International. We are governed by an International Board of Directors and our Scientific Advisory Council consists of veteran scientists from diverse disciplines. SI has tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charity status from the IRS (USA). For more information, please visit our website at http://www.sirenian.org/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 16:28:31 -0500 From: Robert Young Organization: Coastal Carolina University Subject: SEAMAMMS Conference Announcement SEAMAMMS: Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Marine Mammal Symposium Coastal Carolina University, Conway, South Carolina April 12-14, 2002 The Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Marine Mammal Symposium will be held at Coastal Carolina University from Friday, 12 April to Sunday, 14 April, 2002. 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 New Jersey to Texas. This year's conference marks the tenth year for this productive annual meeting. Abstracts on any aspect of the biology or management of marine mammals in this region are welcomed. We particularly encourage students to present the results of their work at this meeting. The scientific program will consist of a plenary address, approximately 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 orning. Optional workshops will be held on Sunday afternoon. Individuals wishing to hold a workshop on Sunday should contact Rob Young (ryoung(\)coastal.edu). A banquet will be held on Saturday night. The deadline for abstracts and early registration is 10 February, 2002. Information regarding registration and abstract submission will be available at the SEAMAMMS website: http://kingfish.coastal.edu/marine/seamamms. 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 on the Coastal Carolina University campus, located 10 miles west of Myrtle Beach, SC. The Myrtle Beach airport is 15 minutes away by car. Further information on travel and accommodation is available at the SEAMAMMS website at: http://kingfish.coastal.edu/marine/seamamms. For more information, visit the conference website, e-mail us at bwyatt(\)coastal.edu, or contact Rob Young at (843) 349-2277. **************************** Rob Young Associate Professor Marine Science Department Coastal Carolina University P.O. Box 261954 Conway, SC 29528-6054 (843) 349-2277 ryoung(\)coastal.edu **************************** ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2001 05:33:40 -0800 From: Dan Kerem Subject: Regurgitation in wild dolphins Dear list members, Diving and swimming around the daily (very restricted) home-range of the solitary sociable Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphin (T. aduncus) in Sinai, we regularly find regurgitated fish bones (mainly whole skulls and skull elements) in a very good state on the sandy bottom. On few occasions, we have obsereved her in the act of regurgitation, in which very clean bones (devoid of soft tissues) are ejected amongst a powdery-clouded (ground bones?) water jet. We would like to know if this is the normal pattern in dolphins, vomiting out large bony elements which are not mechanically disintegrated in the fore stomach, or is this a specific/individual behavior? We found several references discribing or alluding to regurgitation of food debris and foreign objects by captive bottlenose dolphins, ie: Caldwell and Caldwell (1987): Foregion objects ingestion by Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins; Accident or Design. Abstrac: Seventh bien. conf. Biology of Marine Mammals. Dec. 1987, Miami. Harrison, RJ et al. (1970): The oesophagus and stomach of dolphins (Tursiops, Delphinus and Stenella). J. Zool. 160:377-390. But nothing in wild animals. We wonder if any of you had occasion to observe similar behavior in the wild, or can direct us to published information that we have missed. A summary of your responses will be posted to the list. Many thanks, Dan Kerem, Ph.D. President, IMMRAC (Israeli Marine Mammal Research and Assistance Center) The Recanati Institute 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: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 19:10:02 +0100 From: Matthias Bode Subject: question on durability of baleen I have a question to the list. So far, I have been unable to find any clear answer in the matter concerned: Baleen has been widely used in the last century. Brushes and corsets with baleen still survive (I have seen a 19th cent. specimen in the New Bedford Whaling Museum). But I was wondering if anybody out there could tell me how durable baleen is under archaeological conditions. If baleen is put in the ground (e.g., in a burial mound), how long would the material survive in a European climate? In its physical properties, is it comparable to hair? To leather? To horn? To antler? Packed in soil, would baleen survive a few years? A hundred years? A thousand years? Has anybody tried this out? The question occured to me because I haven't found any reference to baleen in archaeological papers. In Arthur MacGregor, Bone, Antler, Ivory and Horn, London, Croom Helm 1985, baleen is mentioned, but he does not adress the problem mentioned above. Any help would be appreciated, thanks in advance, Matthias Bode (MatthiasBode(\)addcom.de) x ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2001 08:58:51 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Corrected Link (fwd) Reply-To: Caryn Self Sullivan The correct link to sign up for the Sirenian International meeting in Vancouver (and for registering as a Participating Member of SI is): http://www.sirenian.org/membership.html ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 16 Nov 2001 10:28:17 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: question on durability of baleen (fwd) From: Rita Carroll Baleen is very common in Arctic archaeological sites, in part due to the great preservation conditions. Some sites are very old. Do a search of Arctic Anthropology literature. Alan McCartney (University of Arkansas) has conducted research on bowhead remains (bone and baleen) for over 20 years. Rita Fisher Carroll Environmental Dynamics, University of Arkansas ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 16 Nov 2001 15:00:44 EST From: Tom Kieckhefer Subject: Position Announcement--Executive Director FRIENDS OF THE SEA OTTER is Seeking a New Executive Director MISSION Friends of the Sea Otter (FSO) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of the threatened sea otter and its habitat throughout their Pacific range. HISTORY Sea otters were nearly driven to extinction by the pressure of a voracious fur trade in the late 19th and early 20th century. Yet from a small raft of animals that took refuge near the Bixby Bridge along California's rugged Big Sur coast, the sea otter has managed to survive. In 1968, when Margaret Owings, a well-respected conservationist, and Dr. Jim Mattison, an avid naturalist and photographer, founded FSO, the southern sea otter population numbered about 650 along the Central Coast of California. Since that time, the population has grown in number and range; it now numbers about 2,100 otters along the California coastline. Sea otters remain a threatened species, facing the continuing environmental stresses that challenge us all. For the last 33 years, FSO has worked hard as an environmental advocacy organization to protect the sea otter and its habitat from a wide range of threats. FSO maintains a strong and focused stance, fighting for environmental policies to benefit the sea otter and its nearshore home. Today FSO continues to rally scientists, conservationists, educators and friends into a unified group to support FSO's mission and ensure the survival of these magnificent creatures for generations to come. POSITION SUMMARY The Executive Director (ED) of FSO serves as the organization's visible leadership. The ED is responsible for overall management of the organization, including administrative supervision. The ED reports to the Board of Directors. RESPONSIBILITES Leadership: * Administer and track FSO's Strategic Plan. Work with the Board of Trustees to make appropriate, timely adjustments to it on an ongoing basis. * Implement policies and projects that fulfill the organization's mission, both independently and at the direction of the Board of Trustees. * Create an atmosphere of collaboration, enthusiasm and trust among FSO's staff, board and membership, with the objective of growing the organization through increasing awareness of our mission and enlisting support of our cause. Administrative: * Develop and ensure adherence to the organization's budget, insurance coverage, and legal-reporting requirements. Oversee preparation of monthly financial statements. Approve all expenditures. * Supervise staff. Responsible for hiring, firing and development of employees. Conduct regular staff meetings using a team approach to problem-solving. * Implement established personnel policy and organization Bylaws. Liaison to Board of Trustees: * Act as chief liaison to Board to Trustees. Establish an effective working relationship with the Board President to determine goals and priorities and to implement them. * Attend all Board meetings. Prepare Board meeting agendas in consultation with the Board President and committee meeting agendas in consultation with the committee chairs. * Offer assistance and guidance to all Board committees at their request. Maintain familiarity with committee activities to ensure their appropriate direction and support of FSO's mission. Development/Marketing: * Work with the Board, committees, consultants, and staff on all development activities. * Responsible for implementation of Board-approved marketing development plan. Program/Policy: * Appear before state and federal agencies dealing with sea otter issues, and serve as principal liaison to groups with purposes and objectives similar to FSO's. Appear alone, or with Science Director as appropriate, to represent FSO at relevant meetings, hearings and workshops locally and nationally. * Serve as FSO's spokesperson with the media, members and the general public. * Develop FSO's Annual Report to Members. Organize and preside over the annual meeting. Skills and Physical Demands: * Proven management and team-building capabilities. * Excellent written and verbal skills. * Familiarity with general office electronics and applications: - PC and Mac computers, software (e.g., FileMaker, Excel, Word), telephone, copier and fax. * Must be able to travel to a variety of locations to give talks and presentations on behalf of FSO. Hours: Full time, with occasional evenings and weekends. Compensation and Benefits: Salary plus paid medical, dental and life insurance. Vacation, sick leave and major holidays. Please Send Resume/CV to: Kim Beals, FSO President c/o Law Offices 177 17th Street Pacific Grove, CA 93950 Phone (831)646-9303 Fax (831)646-9363 Email: otterjobs(\)yahoo.com ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 18 Nov 2001 18:58:35 -0500 From: Lori Marino Organization: Emory University Subject: New paper on bottlenose dolphin brain Dear friends and collegues, I want to call your attention to a new paper by my colleagues and I in which we use Magnetic Resonance Imaging to create anatomically-labelled images of the brain of an adult bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Marino, L., K. Sudheimer, T. L. Murphy, K. K. Davis, D. A. Pabst, W. McClellan, J. K. Rilling, and J. I. Johnson (2001). Anatomy and three-dimensional reconstructions of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) brain from Magnetic Resonance Images. The Anatomical Record, 264, 397-414. The abstract is below: Cetacean (dolphin, whale, and porpoise) brains are among the least studied mammalian brains because of the formidability of collecting and histologically preparing such relatively rare and large specimens. Magnetic resonance imaging offers a means of observing the internal structure of the brain when traditional histological procedures are not practical. Furthermore, internal structures can be analyzed in their precise anatomic positions, which is difficult to accomplish after the spatial distortions often accompanying histological processing. In this study, images of the brain of an adult bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, were scanned in the coronal plane at 148 antero-posterior levels. From these scans a computer-generated three-dimensional model was constructed using the programs VoxelView and VoxelMath (Vital Images, Inc.). This model, wherein details of internal and external morphology are represented in three-dimensional space, was then resectioned in orthogonal planes to produce corresponding series of virtual sections in the horizontal and sagittal planes. Sections in all three planes display the sizes and positions of major neuroanatomical features such as the arrangement of cortical lobes and subcortical structures such as the inferior and superior colliculi, and demonstrate the utility of MRI for neuroanatomical investigations of dolphin brains. This paper will be coming out in the December issue of The Anatomical Record but is available on-line as a pdf version through EarlyView at the following address: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/issuetoc?ID=86011169 Regards, 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 WEB SITES: http://www.emory.edu/LIVING_LINKS/i/people/marino.html http://www.emory.edu/COLLEGE/NBB/FACULTY/research.html#Marino ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 19 Nov 2001 10:01:20 -0500 From: Naomi Rose Subject: October 11 House Subcommittee hearing testimony on LFA and MMPA For those MARMAMers who are interested in the SURTASS LFA sonar debate, the link below has the text of several witnesses' testimony from the October 11 House Subcommittee hearing on the subject. The hearing was a Marine Mammal Protection Act oversight hearing - scroll down to Panel V for the LFA witnesses. Unfortunately Kurt Fristrup's and Darlene Ketten's testimonies are not posted - you will have to read the Congressional Record when the hearing transcript is published there for their comments. The rest of the page also has the testimony from the other Panels, more specific to the MMPA - some may find interesting reading there as well. http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/107cong/fisheries/2001oct11/agenda.htm ----------------------- 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 ph 301/258-3048 fax 301/258-3080 eml nrose(\)hsus.org http://www.hsus.org ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 19 Nov 2001 08:27:43 -0800 From: Pamela Rosenbaum Subject: PostDoc Position at UBC Marine Mammal Research Unit The North Pacific Universities Marine Mammal Research Consortium is seeking to fill a Postdoctoral Fellow position at the University of British Columbia. The successful candidate would be responsible for developing and conducting innovative research on the bioenergetics and diving physiology of captive, free-ranging Steller sea lions. Details of the Consortium and its research program can be found at www.marinemammal.org. Candidates with appropriate experience are encouraged to send a brief Statement of Interest and Curriculum Vitae as soon as possible to consortium(\)zoology.ubc.ca or (FAX) 604-822-8180. Although a candidate with a Ph.D. is sought, those with equivalent academic and practical experience may also be considered. Pamela Rosenbaum North Pacific Universities Marine Mammal Research Consortium UBC Marine Mammal Research Unit Room 18, Hut B-3, 6248 Biological Sciences Road Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6T 1Z4 Telephone: (604) 822-8181 Facsimile: (604) 822-8180 --=====================_2021027==_.ALT The North Pacific Universities Marine Mammal Research Consortium is seeking to fill a Postdoctoral Fellow position at the University of British Columbia. The successful candidate would be responsible for developing and conducting innovative research on the bioenergetics and diving physiology of captive, free-ranging Steller sea lions.

Details of the Consortium and its research program can be found at www.marinemammal.org. Candidates with appropriate experience are encouraged to send a brief Statement of Interest and Curriculum Vitae as soon as possible to consortium(\)zoology.ubc.ca or (FAX) 604-822-8180. Although a candidate with a Ph.D. is sought, those with equivalent academic and practical experience may also be considered.

Pamela Rosenbaum
North Pacific Universities Marine
Mammal Research Consortium
UBC Marine Mammal Research Unit
Room 18, Hut B-3, 6248 Biological Sciences Road
Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6T 1Z4
Telephone: (604) 822-8181
Facsimile: (604) 822-8180
 --=====================_2021027==_.ALT-- --=====================_2021013==_

The North Pacific Universities Marine Mammal Research Consortium is seeking to fill a Postdoctoral Fellow position at the University of British Columbia. The successful candidate would be responsible for developing and conducting innovative research on the bioenergetics and diving physiology of captive, free-ranging Steller sea lions.

Details of the Consortium and its research program can be found at www.marinemammal.org. Candidates with appropriate experience are encouraged to send a brief Statement of Interest and Curriculum Vitae as soon as possible to consortium(\)zoology.ubc.ca or (FAX) 604-822-8180. Although a candidate with a Ph.D. is sought, those with equivalent academic and practical experience may also be considered. --=====================_2021013==_-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 19 Nov 2001 11:55:31 -0500 From: Iske Larkin Subject: Florida Marine Mammal Health Conference To all those interested in attending the Florida Marine Mammal Health Conference to be held in Gainesville, Florida April 4-7, 2002. The date for abstract submission has been extended until January 1, 2002 due to numerous requests. This will also probably coincide with the availability of on-line hotel and meeting registration as well, and is still well ahead of the meeting date of April 4-7. The web site for the meeting can be accessed at: http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/flmmhc/ If you have any further questions about the conference, please contact Dr. Roger Reep at reep(\)ufbi.ufl.edu Cheers, Iske Iske L. Vandevelde Larkin, Ph.D. Visiting Assistant In Physiological Sciences & Zoology University of Florida 1600 SW Archer Rd. HSC Box 100144 Gainesville, Fl 32610 USA Phone (352) 392-4700 ext 3866 Fax (352) 392-5145 e-mail: Larkini(\)mail.vetmed.ufl.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2001 17:46:01 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Mystic Aquarium stranding assistant job announcement (fwd) From: dstaubin(\)mysticaquarium.org Position Available Stranding Assistant Mystic Aquarium Mystic CT Mystic Aquarium is seeking to hire a full-time temporary assistant for its marine mammal and sea turtle stranding program. As a founding member of the northeast region stranding network, Mystic Aquarium responds to strandings along the shores of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Fishers Island (NY). It operates rehabilitation facilities for pinnipeds, cetaceans, and occasionally, sea turtles. Responsibilities of the Stranding Assistant will include managing rescue and salvage responses, collecting data and specimens, interfacing with public and media, aspects of caring for pinnipeds during rehabilitation, and coordinating the release of healthy animals. Candidates must have a background in marine mammal biology, experience in marine animal rescue and rehabilitation, strong interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to perform under sometimes demanding field conditions. The unpredictable nature of stranding events requires that the successful applicant can be flexible with respect to work schedules. Nominal period of employment is January - June, 2002. Please submit resumes to David J. St. Aubin, Ph.D. Director of Research and Veterinary Services Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration 55 Coogan Blvd. Mystic CT 06355 or deliver them in person at the upcoming Biennial Conference. A notice will be posted with details of how this will be arranged. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2001 20:40:12 -0900 From: wallyrus Subject: Abstract: organochlorines in Pacific walrus boundary="------------14069A553F7327EAF8446CFB" --------------14069A553F7327EAF8446CFB The following paper may be of interest to some MARMAM list subscribers: Seagars, Dana J. and Garlich-Miller, Joel. 2001. Organochlorine Compounds and Aliphatic Hydrocarbons in Pacific Walrus Blubber. Marine Pollution Bulletin 46(1-6):122-131. Abstract: Blubber samples were collected from 8 male and 19 female Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) taken during a 1991 joint USA/USSR cruise traveling widely through the Bering Sea. Dieldrin was found at a level similar to that reported 10 years earlier; oxychlordane was found at a slightly higher concentration than reported previously (Taylor et al., 1989). Heptachlor epoxide was detected for the first time and found at a low concentration. An initial testing for alpha, beta and gamma-HCH detected concentrations similar to those in other Bering Sea pinnipeds. Mean total PCB was 0.45ug/g wet weight in males and 0.16 ug/g in females; only one sample was > 1ug/g. Traces of aliphatic hydrocarbons were detected in all sampled animals, only pristane (mean=0.48 ug/g) was found in concentrations > 1 ug/g. Small sample sizes, a lack of samples from immature animals, and uniformly low concentrations of contaminants precluded meaningful analysis of age-related effects and regional differences. Keywords: Pacific walrus; Bering Sea; PCB; organochlorines; aliphatic hydrocarbons; chlordanes. The abstract and paper can be obtained through: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/marpolbul. Alternatively, a limited number of reprints are available from the authors: Dana J. Seagars U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Ecological Services, WAES, 605 West Fourth Avenue, G-62, Anchorage, AK 99501 USA (907) 271-2871 E-mail: Dana_Seagars(\)fws.gov --------------14069A553F7327EAF8446CFB The following paper may be of interest to some MARMAM list subscribers:
 
Seagars, Dana J. and Garlich-Miller, Joel.  2001. Organochlorine
Compounds and Aliphatic Hydrocarbons in Pacific Walrus
Blubber.  Marine Pollution  Bulletin 46(1-6):122-131.

Abstract:  Blubber samples were collected from 8 male and 19 female Pacific
walrus  (Odobenus  rosmarus divergens) taken during a 1991 joint USA/USSR
cruise  traveling  widely  through the Bering Sea. Dieldrin was found at a
level similar to that reported 10 years earlier; oxychlordane was found at a
slightly  higher  concentration  than  reported  previously (Taylor et al.,
1989).  Heptachlor epoxide was detected for the first time and found at a
low concentration. An initial testing for alpha, beta and gamma-HCH detected
concentrations  similar  to those in other Bering Sea pinnipeds. Mean total
PCB  was  0.45ug/g  wet weight in males and 0.16 ug/g  in females; only one
sample  was > 1ug/g.  Traces of aliphatic hydrocarbons were detected in all
sampled animals, only pristane (mean=0.48 ug/g)  was found in concentrations
 >  1 ug/g.  Small sample sizes, a lack of samples from immature animals, and
uniformly  low  concentrations  of  contaminants  precluded meaningful
analysis of age-related effects and regional differences.

Keywords: Pacific walrus; Bering Sea; PCB; organochlorines; aliphatic
hydrocarbons; chlordanes.
 

The abstract and paper can be obtained through:
http://www.elsevier.com/locate/marpolbul.
Alternatively, a limited number of reprints are available from the authors:

Dana J. Seagars
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service,
Ecological Services, WAES,
605 West Fourth Avenue, G-62,
Anchorage, AK 99501  USA
(907) 271-2871
E-mail:  Dana_Seagars(\)fws.gov
 
 
  --------------14069A553F7327EAF8446CFB-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2001 15:57:01 -0500 From: Caroline Good Subject: Prescott Stranding Grants Workshop This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------F2537A0FC0BD2483D16231CE Please post the following announcement: Prescott Stranding Grants Program; Application Workshop at the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, December 2, 2001 At the Society for Marine Mammalogy's upcoming 14th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, NMFS will be conducting a workshop for eligible marine mammal stranding network participants that are considering applying for funds under the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program. The Workshop will be held on December 2, from 7 pm to 10 pm in room # 12 at the Convention Centre. An overview of eligibility requirements, grant priorities, and application instructions will be given. We anticipate publication of the solicitation for applications for these funds in early December, with a 60-day application period and therefore a deadline for applications in early February. Keep an eye on our web page (see below) for the solicitation, as well as the complete application package, application instructions, and helpful Q &As on common errors found in applications for Federal funds. http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/PR2/Health_and_Stranding_Response_Program/Prescott.html If you have any questions please contact Juilanna Weir at Julianna.Weir(\)noaa.gov. --------------F2537A0FC0BD2483D16231CE name="caroline.good.vcf" filename="caroline.good.vcf" begin:vcard n:Good;Caroline tel;fax:(301) 713- 0376 tel;work:(301) 713-2322, x117 x-mozilla-html:FALSE org:National Marine Fisheries Service ;Office of Protected Resources - Marine Mammal Division version:2.1 email;internet:caroline.good(\)noaa.gov adr;quoted-printable:;;1315 East-West Highway=0D=0A;Silver Spring ;MD;20910-3226; fn:Caroline Good end:vcard --------------F2537A0FC0BD2483D16231CE-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2001 19:12:52 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: request for aerial photos of animal groups (fwd) From: "Peter Willis" I am looking for scanned aerial photo data of marine and/or terrestrial mammals in herds. Aerial photos of bird areas would also be nice. I am specifically interested in aerial photos used for perfoming ecosystem accounting of population for species that rest or feed together in groups. I have written a computer program that finds objects within an image then counts and classifies them. My first test was a small image containing seals laying on ice flows. The program worked quite well with that data although more work needs to be done to improve identification of objects that are closely juxtaposed. This should not be a serious problem to overcome. In the current program physical orientation of the animals in the image is *not* a factor. I have also developed a technique whereby a library of different objects (animals) can be developed or assigned to the job. The program should then be able to be 'trained' to classify objects in images. This addresses the problem of animals in various poses and of different sizes. Problems of variations in overall image scale have not been addressed at this time, corrections this are planned however. Examples of classification of seals would be 'Adult' vs. 'Juvenile' , possibly 'Adult Male' vs. 'Adult Female' (based on shape/size), or 'Species A' vs. 'Species B' The program itself is quite processing intensive but robust and scalable. It currently uses panchromatic images but can be adjusted to add multispectral channels to improve classification and eliminate errors. The same program could be used to automatically classify and count anything from blood cells to bison. The idea is to be able to batch off counting of objects in images on a computer thus allowing scientists to do other more intellectually stimulating (useful) things with their time. By the use of computer clustering and automated scanning large ecosystem counts should take less time to implement. Considering the demand for such counts in a timely manner from various groups (ie: fisheries) the program has obvious usefulness. I must also add that this program is still in the testing phase which is why I am looking for good quality scans of aerial photo images. I wish to test for various types of animal in a multitude of terrain types using existing data formats. Thanks for your time. Peter Willis ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2001 13:27:54 -0800 From: Marine Mammal Conference Subject: Conference Fundraiser Dear colleagues, Pssst. We won't tell. It's happened to all of us. Remember the sea otter wind chime that Aunt Wilma gave you for your last birthday? That ghastly vase shaped like a mutated blue whale you got for your graduation? Manatee bathtub toys. Pinniped paper clips. A killer whale lava lamp. Polar bear snow globes. We've seen 'em all. Unless you've been hiding some really good stuff. Now's your chance to GET RID OF IT. And what's best is that it's guilt-free since it's for a good cause! At the Vancouver Conference, we're hosting the First Biennial Marine Mammal Garage Sale. Due to CITES regulations, we can't sell any marine mammals, but please drop off your tackiest cetacean kitsch, phocid filth, and sirenian souvenirs at the Garage Sale booth in Hall B when you arrive. All proceeds will help colleagues who otherwise couldn't afford it to attend future SMM conferences. Outstanding items will be sold in a silent auction. Re-gift, reuse, recycle! Rob Williams and Volker Deecke (rmcw(\)st-andrews.ac.uk) (vd2(\)st-andrews.ac.uk) P.S.: Best item so far is a poster of 4 humpbacks arching high with the caption D*O*L*P*H*I*N*S in big blue letters below. We know YOU can do better! P.P.S.: Apologies for cross-postings. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2001 11:25:51 -0600 Reply-To: dfertl(\)geo-marine.com From: Dagmar Fertl Subject: Abstracts: Aquatic Mammals, vol. 27(3), 2001 The following are abstracts/summaries from the most recent issue of Aquat= ic Mammals, the journal of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals (EAA= M). This issue is a collection of articles on the rescue, rehabilitation, and scientific studies of a California gray whale calf. The guest editor is Brent Stewart.This posting is made as a courtesy to the editor of _Aquati= c Mammals_, as well as the readers of Marmam and ECS-mailbase. Apologies fo= r cross-posting to those of you who are on both discussion groups. In regar= ds to any inquiries about the journal or membership to the society, you can check out the EAAM website: http://www.eaam.org or contact the editor directly: Dr. Jeanette A. Thomas, Laboratory of Sensory Biology, Western Illinois University Regional Center, 3561 60th Street, Moline, IL 61265, USA. Phone: +1 309 762 9481, ext. 262; FAX: +1 309 762 6989; email: Jeanette_Thomas(\)ccmail.wiu.edu. Please do NOT request reprints from me; I have provided the addresses of the authors to whom correspondence should = be directed. Dagmar Fertl Marine Mammal Biologist Geo-Marine, Inc. 550 East 15th Street Plano, TX 75074 dfertl(\)geo-marine.com http://www.geo-marine.com >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>= >>> >>>>> Stewart, B.S. 2001. Introduction and background on the rescue, rehabilitation, and scientific studies of JJ, an orphaned California gray whale calf. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(3): 203-208. No summary was provided and the title clearly explains the article=92s co= ntent *************************************************************************= * Andrews, B.*, W. Davis, and D. Parham. 2001. Corporate response and facilitation of the rehabilitation of a California gray whale calf. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(3): 209-211. * Sea World of Florida. 7007 Sea World Drive, Orlando FL 32821-8097 USA No summary was provided. The article discusses SeaWorld=92s animal rescue= and rehabilitation program; previous experience with baleen whales; the initi= al response to the J.J. rescue, her long-term care and rehabilitation, resea= rch and public education efforts, and J.J.=92s contribution to our better understanding of her species and rehabilitation efforts. *************************************************************************= *** ***************** Heyning, J.E.* and C.A. Heyning. 2001. Rescue of an orphaned gray whale calf. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(3): 212-214. *Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA This report documents the events of the stranding and recovery of a live gray whale calf at Venice Beach, California. The success of this recovery was due to the following factors: the calf was healthy, the initial pushi= ng of the calf back into the water provided time for logistics to be established, the cooperation of numerous organizations, and the fortuitou= s stranding near institutions with unique equipment, facilities, and expert= ise to handle such a stranding. *************************************************************************= *** ********************** Reidarson, T.H.*, J.F. McBain, and P.K. Yochem. 2001. Medical and nutritional aspects of a rehabilitating California gray whale calf. _Aqua= tic Mammals_ 27(3): 215-221. *SeaWorld of California, 500 SeaWorld Drive, San Diego, California, USA A week-old, 760 kg, 4.2 m neonatal gray whale calf (_Eschrichtius robustu= s_) was transported on 11 January 1997 to SeaWorld of California in San Diego for rehabilitation. Initial emergency therapy consisted of intramuscular corticosteroids and warm water and dextrose administered via stomach tube. Within 2 hrs the whale was alert, at which time an artificial milk formul= a was fed via gastric intubation. Within 8 days, the whale was nursing from= an artificial nurser, finally weaning by 7-8 mo of age onto solid food consisting of a mix of krill, herring, squid, and smelt. During the 436 d= ays of rehabilitation, the whale gained 7968 kg and grew 4.87 m. Overall dail= y weight gains averaged 18 kg/day, average lengthening was 1.2 cm/day, and = cal oric intake required to maintain these gains averaged 30 kcal/kg. These numbers currently stand alone as there is no similar gray whale data for comparison. *************************************************************************= *** ************************** Bruehler, G.L.*, S. DiRocco, T. Ryan, and K. Robinson. 2001. Husbandry an= d hand-rearing of a rehabilitating California gray whale calf. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(3):222-227. *Integrated Concepts & Research Corporation, 11901 Business Boulevard, Su= ite 202, Eagle River, AK 99577, USA Successful attempts to hand-rear or rehabilitate large cetaceans have bee= n limited due to the unique housing and nutritional requirements of a balee= n whale. When a female California gray whale calf (JJ) arrived at SeaWorld = of San Diego, a coordinated effort was made to rehabilitate and hand-rear th= e orphaned calf. Our goals initially were to stabilize her health, then to provide the reserves and skills necessary for her return to northern feed= ing grounds. We describe the methods and approaches used to develop appropria= te diet, feeding techniques, and encourage natural feeding behavior prior to her eventual release. The ability to rehabilitate the calf provided an exceptional opportunity to learn more about hand-rearing large cetaceans. *************************************************************************= *** ******************** Antrim, J.* 2001. Logistics of maintenance, rehabilitation and return to = the Pacific Ocean of a California gray whale calf. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(3):228-230. *Sea World of California, 500 Sea World Drive, San Diego, CA, 92109, USA This report details the logistics of the handling and return to the ocean= of the first orphaned neonate baleen whale rehabilitated to independent stat= us. The success of this project was attributed to detailed advanced planning, the acquisition and application of necessary resources, the development o= f contingency plans, and advance simulations of critical activities. The release was executed without problems and JJ became the largest animal ev= er returned to the wild. *************************************************************************= *** ******************** Sumich, J.L.*, T. Goff , and W.L. Perryman. 2001. Growth of two captive g= ray whale calves. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(3): 231-233. *Department of Biological Sciences, Grossmont College, El Cajon, CA 92020= , USA We describe the growth of a female gray whale calf (JJ) during her rehabilitation at SeaWorld of San Diego and compare its growth with that = of another gray whale calf (Gigi II) previously maintained at SeaWorld of Sa= n Diego in 1971-1972. We repeatedly measured JJ's length, girth, and body m= ass between 11 January 1997 (when she was judged be 3-7 days old) and 31 Marc= h 1998 when she was released. On 11 January 1997, JJ was 4.2m long, slightl= y shorter than the average length of free-ranging newborn gray whales and weighed 758 kg. However, JJ grew 33% faster during the next 30 weeks than predicted, and was about 1 m longer than Gigi II from six months of age t= o release. The patterns of growth of both gray whale calves indicated that = the rate of increase in body length declined just after weaning. By one year = of age, JJ weighed nearly twice as much as Gigi II at the same age. From the best-fit equation, M=3D(21.4)(G)(L^2), we estimated that JJ weighed 9280 = kg when released at 14 months of age. *************************************************************************= *** ******************** Sumich, J.L.* 2001. Growth of baleen of a rehabilitating gray whale calf. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(3): 234-238. *Department of Biological Sciences, Grossmont College, El Cajon, CA 92020= , USA The pattern and rate of growth of baleen plates in a rehabilitating gray whale calf (_Eschrichtius robustus_) was monitored by making 35-mm film a= nd Hi-8 mm video images of each side of =91JJs=92 head when she surfaced and exposed her mouth. From selected film and video images of baleen and rost= ral surface features, I measured the lengths of baleen plate images at three locations along the lip-line. Direct measurements of JJs rostrum tip-to-e= ye distance were made routinely during periodic physical exams and used to scale baleen plate image measurements to estimate baleen plate lengths. There was no difference in the rate of growth on the left and right sides= of the mouth, but the posterior baleen plates grew faster than the anterior ones (through at least the first 33 weeks) from 1.6 mm/week in the anteri= or section to 6.0 mm/week in the posterior section. JJ=92s baleen remained s= hort during the first several months, presumably to allow suckling before acti= ve foraging began. Her baleen plates then grew rapidly to adult lengths by t= he time she was 6-7 mo old, the normal time of weaning in free-ranging gray whales. *************************************************************************= *** ******************* Wisdom, S.*, A.E. Bowles, and K.E. Anderson. 2001. Development of behavio= r and sound repertoire of a rehabilitating gray whale calf. _Aquatic Mammal= s_ 27(3): 239-255. *Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute, 2595 Ingraham Street, San Diego, CA 92109, USA The rehabilitation of a gray whale calf, JJ, at SeaWorld of California in San Diego from 11 February 1997 to 31 March 1998 provided an opportunity = to study the development of the sound repertoire in gray whales. Acoustic recordings were collected with an array of ITC hydrophones (one 6050H, ei= ght 8212) from 1.5 mo after arrival until release. A total of 248 hr of simultaneous behavioral observations and sound recordings were collected. One previously-identified gray whale call type (type I) proved to be divisible into two distinct types, termed la and 1 b. JJ produced 3 of th= e 4 common wild gray whale call types (la, 3, 4) by 1.5 mo of age and all fou= r (la, 1 b, 3, 4) by 7 mo. Playback trials using calls of free-ranging gray whales (data from M. Dahlheim and N. Crane) were conducted from July thro= ugh October 1997. JJ was exposed immediately prior to feeding during seven of= 45 feedings per week. Initially, the play-back stimulus presented type 1 cal= ls at roughly the natural duty cycle (10/min). JJ did not respond for the fi= rst 13 trials. The rate and level of type 1 calls was then increased. She beg= an to respond within the next five trials and responded to 10 of the followi= ng 11 trials (91%). During the sequence of playbacks that elicited responses= , peak levels between 400 and 800 Hz, the frequencies with the best signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), were at or in excess of 79 dB re 1 uPa2/Hz (= 95 dB re 1 uPa), just above the ambient noise in the pool. However, when ani= mal care staff began to wean JJ to solid food thereafter, the reliability of = the playback as a cue for feeding was reduced, and she ceased to respond to play-back. Spontaneous development of all 4 elements of the gray whale ca= ll repertoire before the start of playback trials suggested that gray whales develop most of their repertoire with little need for exposure to calling adults. However, the delayed emergence of call type 1b as a common call a= nd the disappearance of call type 3 after weaning suggested that social cont= ext and/or reinforcement might play a role. *************************************************************************= *** ******************** Lyamin, O.I.*, L.M. Mukhametov, J. M. Siegel, P.R. Manger, and O.V. Shpak. 2001. Resting behavior in a rehabilitating gray whale calf. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(3): 256-266. *Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Science= s, 33 Leninsky prospect, Moscow, 117071, Russia We studied the behavior of a one-year old gray whale calf (_Eschrichtius robustus_) during its rehabilitation at SeaWorld of San Diego. Several behaviors in this whale were grouped into 3 stages: (1) active wakefulnes= s (mean 37.9 +- 1.7% of 24 hr during 6 consecutive days) included episodes = of swimming in the main pool and in the shallow channel; (2) transitional st= age (mean 17.4 +- 1.4%) was composed of quiescent at the surface or near the bottom and episodes of submerging and emerging to the surface; (3) rest o= n the bottom of the pool (mean 13.2 +- 1.7%) or at the surface (mean 28.0 + 1.7%) during which the whale was almost completely immobile. Most apneas = in this calf were <3 min. The mean respiratory pauses were 29.1 +- 0.5 s (n=3D 1615) .In active wakefulness; 21.8 +- 0.5 s (n=3D407) during series of submergings and emergings; 26.9 +- 1.4 s (n=3D 136) during quiescence at = the surface, 92.5 +- 2.5 s (n=3D236) near the bottom, 63.2 +- 0.9 s (n=3D 103= 0) during rest at the surface, and 147.4 +- 5.0 s (n=3D377) on the bottom. I= n the rest stage, one eye could be open, tightly closed, or partially open. Characteristic muscle jerks and eyelid movements were documented in this whale during the rest stage. Most jerks single, but in several cases jerk= s and eyelid movements followed each other resembling twitches characterist= ic of paradoxical sleep in terrestrial mammals. Our data suggested that larg= e whales might have unihemispheric, slow-wave sleep and a low amount of paradoxical sleep, which occurs without muscle hypotonia, intensive jerks= , and twitches. *************************************************************************= *** ******************** Ridgway, S.H. and D.A. Carder. 2001. Assessing hearing and sound producti= on in cetaceans not available for behavioral audiograms: Experiences with sperm, pygmy sperm, and gray whal= es. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(3): 267-276. *U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program, D35 PLBS, San Diego, CA, 92152-6266, US= A We developed and tested field-portable systems to make recordings of physiological and acoustic measurements on three stranded cetaceans durin= g medical treatment and rehabilitation. Two whales (a pygmy sperm, _Kogia breviceps_, and a gray whale, _Eschrichtius robustus_) were later release= d after long-term care. The sperm whale neonate (_Physeter macrocephalus_) died after eight days of rehabilitation efforts. We divid= ed sounds produced by the sperm whale neonate into two categories. Clicks ha= d peak frequencies of 500 Hz to 12 kHz (classes, low and high) and grunts h= ad most energy below 3 kHz. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) assessment of hearing abilities indicated that the neonate was most sensitive to sounds between 5 kHz and 20 kHz. The pygmy sperm (_Kogia breviceps_) produced echolocation pulses with peak frequencies at 125 kHz to 130 kHz. We found that it was most sensitive to sounds between 90 kHz to 150 kHz, measured = by ABR and mid-brain response methods. Our preliminary measurements from the gray whale (_Eschrichtius robustus_) were equivocal and emphasize the nee= d for improvements in portable instrumentation for assessing hearing abilit= ies in baleen whales. *************************************************************************= *** ************************** Castellini, M.A.*, P.K. Yochem, and J. M. Castellini. 2001. Differential concentration of glucose in red blood cells and plasma of a rehabilitatin= g gray whale calf. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(3): 277-278. * Institute of Marine Science, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska, US= A The control of blood glucose is critical for the central nervous system i= n mammals and it appears that primates and odontocetes have a unique system for glucose regulation in blood cells; perhaps because of their large brain/body mass ratio. In this project, we tested whether red blood cell glucose-control mechanisms were similar in mysticetes, despite their relatively smaller brain/body mass. 'JJ' showed more of a biochemical similarity to odontocetes than to most other mammals, suggesting these bl= ood glucose patterns could be characteristic of cetaceans in general. *************************************************************************= *** ***************** Sumich, J.L. 2001. Direct and indirect measures of oxygen extraction, tid= al lung volumes and respiratory rates in a rehabilitating gray whale calf. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(3): 279-283. * Department of Biological Sciences, Grossmont College, El Cajon, Califor= nia 92020, USA A gray whale neonate, JJ, stranded on January 10, 1997 and held for rehabilitation at SeaWorld San Diego, was studied to: (1) characterize respiratory patterns for the purpose of remotely monitoring changes in ventilation and oxygen extraction rates over short time-frames and (2) estimate the metabolic rate compared to unrestrained calves in winter nursery lagoons. Between February and November, fractions of assimilated = O2 values ([I O2]-[E o2]) ranged from 4.8% to 18.3%, increasing as a functio= n of total duration of the ventilatory cycle immediately prior to each samp= led expiration (TT). Although mean TT increased two-fold, no change in the relationship between [I O2]-[E O2] and TT with age was apparent. The relationship between [I O2]- [E O2] and TT reported here is similar to, but extended by almost 4 times= , that determined by Sumich (1994) for approximately 2-month old, free-swimming gray whale calf, Beginning at approximately three months of age, expiratory flow rates and tidal lung volumes (VT) were measured periodically with a differential pressure laminar flow element pneumotachograph while the whale was partially stranded, Monitored expiratory flow rates were integrated over the duration of the (TE) to obtain expiratory VT, which varied from 2.9 to 3.4% of body mass. A deriv= ed relationship between VT and TE estimated VT by acoustically monitoring JJ= 's expiration sounds and determining TE and TT during unrestrained swimming. *************************************************************************= *** ******************** Heyning, J.E. 2001. Thermoregulation in feeding baleen whales: Morphologi= cal and physiological evidence. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(3):284-288. *Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA. 90007, USA Gray whales (_Eschrichtius robutus_) expose their immense oral cavities repeatedly to frigid waters when feeding. Morphological structures for he= at conservation in the tongues of gray whales are described here in detail. Numerous Individual countercurrent heat exchangers converge at the base o= f the tongue to form a. bilateral pair of vascular bundles called the lingu= al rete. Temperature measurements taken from a live captive gray whale calf indicated that more heat could be lost through the blubber layer over the body than through the tongue, despite the fact that the tongue is far mor= e vascularized and has much less insulation. Hence, these heat exchangers substantially reduce heat loss when these whales feed in cold waters. The evolution of these structures was a physiological flukes prerequisite for baleen whale breeding. *************************************************************************= *** *************** Harvey, J., J. Hurley, and S. Skrovan. 2001. Training California sea lion= s to record whale behavior using a 45, rehabilitating California gray whale calf. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(3): 289-293. *Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, 8272 Moss Landing Road, Moss Landing, = CA 95039-0450 USA The goals of the SLEWTH (Sea Lions Exploring Whales and Their Habitats) project were to train California sea lions to carry a harness with attach= ed video camera and swim alongside whales, thus recording their underwater behaviors. The sea lions had been trained to wear a harness with attached video camera housing, enter and exit the ocean from vessels or shore, swi= m alongside a moving vessel, and recognize verbal commands from an underwat= er speaker. These sea lions also were trained to swim alongside a replicate = of a whale being pulled by a vessel, and would swim alongside captive dolphi= ns as the first approximation of swimming abeam of whales in the wild. The presence of JJ at SeaWorld provided a unique opportunity and the next logical step for desensitizing the trained sea lions to the presence of a large cetacean in a controlled setting. The two sea lions were transporte= d to SeaWorld of San Diego, and during a 3-week period slowly introduced in= to JJ=92s tank, moved stepwise closer to JJ, and eventually trained to swim = in close proximity (within 0.5 m) to JJ. We never observed any significant changes in JJ=92s (either interest or disturbance) when the sea lions wer= e in visual contact with JJ. The brief study program demonstrated that the California sea lions could be transported a long distance, while maintain= ing their trained behaviors, desensitized to the presence of a captive large cetacean, and perhaps familiarized JJ with a species she would encounter = in the wild after release. We believe this experience at SeaWorld displayed = the potential of training sea lions to carry instruments for monitoring the underwater behaviors and movements of free-ranging whales. *************************************************************************= *** ****** Stewart, B.S.*, J. Harvey, and P. K. Yochem. 2001. Post-release monitori= ng and tracking of a rehabilitated California gray whale. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(3): 294-300. *Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, 2595 Ingraham Street, San Diego, CA 92109, USA We developed surface-mounted: buoyant housings for VHF and UHF (satellite-linked) radio-transmitters for attachment to a rehabilitated g= ray whale calf (JJ). We then used those devices to track her for several days after her return to the Pacific Ocean on 31 March 1998. The instruments c= ame off within three days, evidently owing to shallow and incomplete seating = of the barb and toggle anchors placed in the blubber layer and from JJ rubbi= ng against the sea bottom when attempting to feed. Nonetheless, these instruments performed exceptionally well during the brief tracking period and the buoyant design allowed us to recover them using radio signals detected by boat-based observers, and shore-based crews, and by earth-orbiting satellites. Secure, reliable attachment methods that will = not compromise the health and vitality of cetaceans remain the key substantiv= e issue for advancing studies of long-term movements and behavior baleen whales. *************************************************************************= *** ******************* Stewart, B.S. 2001. Facilitation of post-release, long-term recognition o= f a rehabilitated gray whale calf: Pigmentation and scar patterns of JJ. _Aquatic Mammals_ 27(3): 301-305. *Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, 2595 Ingraham Street, San Diego, CA, 92109, USA I made and archived a series of photographs of the pigmentation patterns = and body scars on a rehabilitated gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus, (JJ) jus= t before her return to the Pacific Ocean in March 1998. These features shou= ld allow her to be distinguished from other whales that strand and from free-ranging whales that are being monitored with photo-identification techniques along the coastlines of the north Pacific Ocean. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2001 12:41:01 -0500 Reply-To: mhahn(\)whoi.edu From: "Mark E. Hahn" Organization: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Subject: Cetacean and pinniped toxicology: 2 recent papers boundary="------------109BA18A99EE20633187585E" --------------109BA18A99EE20633187585E X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by cascara.uvic.ca id fANHZA2191812 Jensen, B.A. and Hahn, M.E. (2001) cDNA cloning and characterization of a high affinity aryl hydrocarbon (dioxin) receptor in a cetacean, the beluga, Delphinapterus leucas. Toxicological Sciences 64: 41-56. Abstract: Some cetaceans bioaccumulate substantial concentrations of planar halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (PHAHs) in their tissues, but little is known about the effects of such burdens on cetacean health. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and related PHAHs cause toxicity via activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a member of the bHLH-PAS family of transcription factors. Differences in AHR structure and function are known to contribute to species-specific differences in susceptibility to PHAH toxicity. To ascertain the potential for PHAH effects in a cetacean, we characterized an AHR from the beluga whale, Delphinapterus leucas. The 3.2 kb cDNA encodes an 845 amino acid protein with a predicted size of 95.5 kDa. Overall, the beluga AHR shares 85% amino acid sequence identity with the human AHR and 75% identity with the mouse AHR Ahb-1 allele. Beluga AHR protein synthesized in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate system demonstrated specific, high affinity [3H]TCDD binding. Saturation binding analysis was used to compare the [3H]TCDD-binding affinity of the in vitro-expressed beluga AHR with affinities of in vitro-expressed AHRs from a dioxin-sensitive mouse strain (Ahb-1 allele) and humans. The beluga AHR bound [3H]TCDD with an affinity (Kd=3D0.43 =B1 0.16 nM) that w= as at least as high as that of the mouse AHR (Kd=3D0.68=B10.23 nM), and significantly greater than that of the human AHR (Kd=3D1.63 =B1 0.64 nM).= In electrophoretic mobility shift assays, the beluga AHR exhibited sequence-specific, ARNT-dependent binding to a dioxin responsive enhancer (DRE). Upon transient transfection into mammalian cells, the beluga AHR activated transcription of a luciferase reporter under control of a DRE-containing fragment of the mouse Cyp1a1 promoter. These results show that in an in vitro system, the beluga AHR possesses characteristics similar to those of AHRs from other mammals that are considered sensitive to toxic effects of PHAHs. Together, these results demonstrate that the use of in vitro-expressed proteins is a promising approach for addressing molecular and biochemical questions concerning PHAH toxicity in endangered or protected species. pdf file or reprints available from: mhahn(\)whoi.edu or at http://toxsci.oupjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/64/1/41 Kim, E.-Y. and Hahn, M.E. (2002) cDNA cloning and characterization of an aryl hydrocarbon receptor from the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina): A biomarker of dioxin susceptibility? Aquatic Toxicology in press. Abstract: 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and related planar halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (PHAHs) are found at high concentrations in some marine mammals. Species differences in sensitivity to TCDD and PHAHs are a major limitation in assessing the ecological risk to these animals. Harbor seals accumulate high levels of PHAHs and are thought to be highly sensitive to the toxic effects of these compounds. To investigate the mechanistic basis for PHAH toxicity in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), we sought to characterize the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), an intracellular protein that is responsible for PHAH effects. Here we report the cDNA cloning and characterization of a harbor seal AHR. The harbor seal AHR cDNA has an open reading frame of 2529 nucleotides that encodes a protein of 843 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 94.6 kDa. The harbor seal AHR protein possesses basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) and Per-ARNT-Sim (PAS) domains. It is most closely related to the beluga AHR (82%) and human AHR (79%) in overall amino acid identity, indicating a high degree of conservation of AHR structure between terrestrial and some marine mammals. The ligand binding properties of the harbor seal AHR were determined using protein synthesized by in vitro transcription and translation from the cloned cDNA. Velocity sedimentation analysis on sucrose gradients showed that the harbor seal AHR exhibits specific binding of [3H]TCDD. The [3H]TCDD-binding affinity of the harbor seal AHR was compared with that of the AHR from a dioxin-sensitive mouse strain (C57BL/6) using a hydroxylapatite assay. The equilibrium dissociation constants of seal and mouse AHRs were 0.93=B10.19 nM and 1.70=B10.26 nM, respectively. Thu= s, the harbor seal AHR bound TCDD with an affinity that was at least as high as that of the mouse AHR, suggesting that this seal species may be sensitive to PHAH effects. The characteristics of the AHR potentially can be used as a biomarker of susceptibility to dioxin-like compounds, contributing to the assessment of the risk of these compounds to marine mammals and other protected animals. pdf file of page proofs available from: mhahn(\)whoi.edu Mark E. Hahn Associate Scientist, Biology Department Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Redfield 338; MS-32 45 Water Street Woods Hole, MA 02543 508-289-3242 fax 508-457-2134 mhahn(\)whoi.edu http://www.whoi.edu/science/B/people/mhahn/hahnm.html --------------109BA18A99EE20633187585E Jensen, B.A. and Hahn, M.E. (2001) cDNA cloning and characterization of a high affinity aryl hydrocarbon (dioxin) receptor in a cetacean, the beluga, Delphinapterus leucas. Toxicological Sciences  64: 41-56.

Abstract:
Some cetaceans bioaccumulate substantial concentrations of planar halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (PHAHs) in their tissues, but little is known about the effects of such burdens on cetacean health. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and related PHAHs cause toxicity via activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a member of the bHLH-PAS family of transcription factors.  Differences in AHR structure and function are known to contribute to species-specific differences in susceptibility to PHAH toxicity.  To ascertain the potential for PHAH effects in a cetacean, we characterized an AHR from the beluga whale, Delphinapterus leucas.  The 3.2 kb cDNA encodes an 845 amino acid protein with a predicted size of 95.5 kDa.  Overall, the beluga AHR shares 85% amino acid sequence identity with the human AHR and 75% identity with the mouse AHR Ahb-1 allele.  Beluga AHR protein synthesized in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate system demonstrated specific, high affinity [3H]TCDD binding.  Saturation binding analysis was used to compare the [3H]TCDD-binding affinity of the in vitro-expressed beluga AHR with affinities of in vitro-expressed AHRs from a dioxin-sensitive mouse strain (Ahb-1 allele) and humans.  The beluga AHR bound [3H]TCDD with an affinity (Kd=0.43 ± 0.16 nM) that was at least as high as that of the mouse AHR (Kd=0.68±0.23 nM), and significantly greater than that of the human AHR (Kd=1.63 ± 0.64 nM). In electrophoretic mobility shift assays, the beluga AHR exhibited sequence-specific, ARNT-dependent binding to a dioxin responsive enhancer (DRE).  Upon transient transfection into mammalian cells, the beluga AHR activated transcription of a luciferase reporter under control of a DRE-containing fragment of the mouse Cyp1a1 promoter.  These results show that in an in vitro system, the beluga AHR possesses characteristics similar to those of AHRs from other mammals that are considered sensitive to toxic effects of PHAHs. Together, these results demonstrate that the use of in vitro-expressed proteins is a promising approach for addressing molecular and biochemical questions concerning PHAH toxicity in endangered or protected species.

pdf file or reprints available from:  mhahn(\)whoi.edu or at http://toxsci.oupjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/64/1/41
 
 

Kim, E.-Y. and Hahn, M.E. (2002) cDNA cloning and characterization of an aryl hydrocarbon receptor from the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina):  A biomarker of dioxin susceptibility? Aquatic Toxicology  in press.

Abstract:
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and related planar halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (PHAHs) are found at high concentrations in some marine mammals. Species differences in sensitivity to TCDD and PHAHs are a major limitation in assessing the ecological risk to these animals. Harbor seals accumulate high levels of PHAHs and are thought to be highly sensitive to the toxic effects of these compounds. To investigate the mechanistic basis for PHAH toxicity in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), we sought to characterize the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), an intracellular protein that is responsible for PHAH effects. Here we report the cDNA cloning and characterization of a harbor seal AHR.  The harbor seal AHR cDNA has an open reading frame of 2529 nucleotides that encodes a protein of 843 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 94.6 kDa. The harbor seal AHR protein possesses basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) and Per-ARNT-Sim (PAS) domains. It is most closely related to the beluga AHR (82%) and human AHR (79%) in overall amino acid identity, indicating a high degree of conservation of AHR structure between terrestrial and some marine mammals. The ligand binding properties of the harbor seal AHR were determined using protein synthesized by in vitro transcription and translation from the cloned cDNA.  Velocity sedimentation analysis on sucrose gradients showed that the harbor seal AHR exhibits specific binding of [3H]TCDD. The [3H]TCDD-binding affinity of the harbor seal AHR was compared with that of the AHR from a dioxin-sensitive mouse strain (C57BL/6) using a hydroxylapatite assay. The equilibrium dissociation constants of seal and mouse AHRs were 0.93±0.19 nM and 1.70±0.26 nM, respectively.  Thus, the harbor seal AHR bound TCDD with an affinity that was at least as high as that of the mouse AHR, suggesting that this seal species may be sensitive to PHAH effects. The characteristics of the AHR potentially can be used as a biomarker of susceptibility to dioxin-like compounds, contributing to the assessment of the risk of these compounds to marine mammals and other protected animals.

pdf file of page proofs available from:  mhahn(\)whoi.edu
 
 

Mark E. Hahn
Associate Scientist, Biology Department
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Redfield 338;  MS-32
45 Water Street
Woods Hole, MA  02543

508-289-3242
fax 508-457-2134
mhahn(\)whoi.edu
http://www.whoi.edu/science/B/people/mhahn/hahnm.html
  --------------109BA18A99EE20633187585E-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2001 09:48:14 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: baleen durability - summary (fwd) From: Matthias Bode Dear MarMam-list, I was positively surprised by the response I got to my question a week ago. I would like to send out a summary of the information I received, put together from the various eMails (quotes are in "..."). Please make sure that everyone you might have asked receives my sincerest thanks. Baleen is a keratinous substance, comparable to hair, hooves, feathers and fingernails. One person wrote that "little has been done on the mechanical or material properties of baleen." There were several people who wrote that "Baleen is very common in Arctic archaeological sites, in part due to the great preservation conditions." Some of them have dug up baleen themselves, dating from "12th - 19th century". Alaska was mentioned, Svalbard, also Baffin Island. Another mail said that "Baleen from the 16th century Basque whaling site at red bay labrador has been used recently for DNA analysis." Nobody referred to baleen found in non-Artic, i.e. temperate, European-style climate. One archaeologist wrote that she had "been identifying marine mammal remains from west coast (NA) archaeological sites for more than 25 years and [has] never encountered baleen" She writes that on one water-logged site ("Neah Bay on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State in the US") "300-400" year old baleen in unspecified amounts was found. This was the southernmost site mentioned to me. Concerning the preservation, I received a few statements explaining possible ways of survival for baleen. The colder the area, the more likely preservation is, permafrost being of course the best environment. Somebody wrote "A bit MIGHT survive for a few hundred years under extraordinary conditions (a water-logged site, for example, or a dry cave site) but that would be very rare." For other situations, especially when buried in soil in a temperate climate, a short answer would simply be, according the responses: Baleen will not last more than a few years. It should behave like a hoof or a feather or fur - it will rot sooner rather than later. This explains the silence of European archaeologists in this matter. Baleen simply doesn't survive in European soil. This answers my question, again I thank everybody involved in this matter. With kind regards, Matthias Bode ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2001 22:14:46 +0100 From: ruben huele Subject: photo database Europhlukes Dear all, As some of you are aware, this November the project Europhlukes started. This project will initiate a database of photographic material of cetaceans in European waters. The project is funded in the European Commission Fifth Framework Programme, as support for marine research infrastructure. In the first stage, we are collecting specifications of such a database. Under what conditions would such a database help your research? What are your wishes? What are your needs? What information is needed, which retrieval mechanisms are needed? Early December, we will have a workshop on setting up specifications of the photographic database. The workshop is very limited in facilities and as a consequence, possibly not all involved in cetacean photo-id have been contacted. I sincerely regret any offense this might have caused. Your opinion is very much valued and indeed necessary. In this early stage, we still can incorporate your preferences into the database, so as to make your work easier. Under what circumstances would you find it advantageous to contribute material? Or, more bluntly, when would you consider it just a waste of money and effort? I would very much appreciate to have your ideas on this. Please see www.europhlukes.net for more information. [Apologies for cross-posting. This message was sent to both ECS-all and MARMAM.] Ruben Huele coordinator Europhlukes Centre of Environmental Science Leiden University po box 9518 2300 RA Leiden The Netherlands info(\)europhlukes.net ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2001 05:08:58 -0800 From: Dan Kerem Subject: Regirgitation in wild dolphins - summary of responses ------ Dear Marmamers: This is a summary of responses I got on a query about regurgitation in wi= ld dolphins, recently posted by me to the list (quotes are marked): The gist of the feedback would imply that this is not an uncommon behavio= r, in several species, and that if the opportunity arose for a close and extended underwater individual inspection, it may even prove universal. Dean Bernal (thanks to Katie Barrett for suggesting to contact him) claim= s that this is a normal behavior in JOJO, the solitary wild bottlenose dolphin in the Turks and Caicos islands. "He will actually force this behavior just seconds before he will vomit by swallowing large amounts of water in order to "clean out" his stomach. I observed this behavior since 1985 and at first thought JOJO to be sick. Since then I have contacted ma= ny researchers in the field and requested that they look for this behavior. After a few years it has come to our attention and observation that this may be a completely normal behavior in wild dolphins and it is observed often if you look for it". Dean adds that: "I have seen dolphins do this all over the world =85Atlantic and the Pacific".=20 Another observation on a solitary Tursiops came from Christina Lockyer, w= ho also supplied a publication where this is mentioned, i.e.: "Morris, R.J. and C. Lockyer. 1988. Twenty-two months in the life of a juvenile wild bottlenose dolphin. Aquatic Mammals 14(2): 49-62. Both Kathleen Dudzinsky and Kazunobu Kogi have observed wild bottlenose dolphins near Mikura Island, Japan regurgitate fish and squid remains as well as a "yellow clouded stuff". Kathleen, on a few occasions, has also seen this performed by Atlantic spotted dolphins in the Bahamas, where Ki= m Parsons and colleagues have observed wild bottlenose dolphins regurgitate on a couple of occasions. Finally, Hugo P.Castello reports that: "A retir= ed cetologist, Dr.Ximenez from Universidad de Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brasil , has observed regurgitation in wild specimens of Inia geoffrensis, the Amazone river dolphin, in the Mamor=E9-Guapor=E9 re= gion, Bolivia. He never published that information".=20 As to the composition of the vomited items, responders claim that they could either be clean bones and beaks or soft tissue in various stages of digestion (usually all items on one occasion in the same stage of digestion), even almost fresh. In connection to the latter, there is the interesting observation by Kathleen Dudzinski that this act seems at time= s to be executed at will in front of the human swimmer. A combined thanks to all who replied, Dan Dan Kerem, Ph.D. President, IMMRAC (Israeli Marine Mammal Research and Assistance Center) The Recanati Institute 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: Thu, 6 Dec 2001 12:24:40 -0500 From: Phil Clapham Subject: Right whale reproduction workshop report Apologies for cross-postings. The report of the workshop on Causes of Reproductive Failure in North Atlantic right whales is now available on-line at: http://www.nefsc.nmfs.gov/nefsc/publications/crd/crd0116/0116.htm The citation is: Reeves, R.R., Rolland, R. and Clapham, P.J. (eds.) 2001. Causes of reproductive failure in North Atlantic right whales: new avenues of research. Northeast Fisheries Science Center Reference Document 01-16. 46 pp. Please do not ask for printed copies! Phil Clapham -- Phillip J. Clapham, Ph.D. Large Whale Biology Program Northeast Fisheries Science Center 166 Water Street Woods Hole, MA 02543, U.S.A. tel. 508 495-2316 fax 508 495-2066 email: pclapham(\)whsun1.wh.whoi.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2001 11:41:42 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Internships available--Island Marine Institute of Lahaina, Maui (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Joseph Mobley INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE--ISLAND MARINE INSTITUTE OF LAHAINA, MAUI Island Marine Institute (IMI) in Lahaina, Maui is seeking four volunteer researchers in marine biology or a related field for winter/spring internships (December-April and January-May). These internships are with the Island Marine Institute's Research and Education Department with primary focus on the annual North Pacific humpback whale migration to Hawaii. Duties consist of fieldwork, photo analysis (updating our fluke catalogue), data entry and other assignments. This is an excellent opportunity for those persons working towards a career in marine mammal research to gain practical experience in the field (Note: IMI's whale photos and video are obtained opportunistically and do not involve vessel approaches within the 100 yd minimum approach distance mandated by NMFS). The minimum requirements for these positions are: 24 volunteer hours per week with a minimum 4 month commitment, computer experience, familiarity with scientific literature and reference library, and public speaking. A background in Adobe Photo-Shop, photography and/or photo-identification is strongly preferred. Acceptance is based upon level of prior field experience. There are no charges of fees for participation in this program. All volunteers are responsible for their own room and board. IMI is located across from Lahaina harbor, in close proximity to housing and employment options. Please see our website for more information (www.islandmarineinstitute.org). All applicants must send a resume with cover letter detailing interest, experience, and availability with three professional references (direct letters are preferred) to the following address: Attn: Michele Morris, Research Coordinator Island Marine Institute 658 Front Street Suite 101 Lahaina, HI 96761 FAX: (808) 661-5792 *Do NOT send information via email and no phone calls please. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2001 11:04:31 -1000 From: "Samantha . Whitcraft" Subject: Proposed Expansion of MPA (Kaho'olawe Island Reserve) Hawai'i , "cturtle(\)lists.ufl.edu" Proposed Expansion of MPA (Kaho'olawe Island Reserve) Hawai'i Aloha! The public comment period for the proposed Administrative Rules addressing this expansion along with other conservation and cultural management measures has been extended to Monday, December 17. This extended comment period provides an opportunity for the public to testify for the record about the rules and the Kaho'olawe Island Reserve. We are hoping to hear from anyone interested in marine conservation and MPAs! So please share you mana'o with us and/or forward this message to those who might like to. A copy of the proposed new Administrative Rules (HAR 13-261) can be viewed at the KIRC website www.state.hi.us/kirc. The rules provide for two significant changes that are beneficial to marine conservation for all of Maui Nui. These changes are... 1) the most protected near-shore areas in Zone A are proposed to be extended from the 20 fathom isobath out to the 30 fathom isobath thereby: -- providing a buffer boundary for the core protected area -- providing increased habitat protection for resident monk seals and other protected marine mammals -- providing a larger overall MPA (marine protected area) by increasing the amount of ecosystem protected -- protecting a predator dominated LMA (large marine ecosystem) that extends from the shoreline out beyond the reef shallows and links with a semi-protected pelagic system -- providing a larger core marine reserve set aside specifically for traditional Hawaiian practices, subsistence fishing, and resources management 2) a provision to re-establish a traditional management system by legally establishing native Hawaiian kapu to provide flexible natural resources management in the near-shore area including selected areas and subsistence fishery temporary closures when necessary based on a combination of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and western monitoring. The proposed new rules also provide for continued complete protection of vital bottomfish stocks (considered to have the highest biomass and diversity in the main Hawaiian Islands and comparable to the NWHI stocks). It is important that those folks who might wish to support these conservation measures by submitting written testimony (by email, snail-mail, or fax -- attn: Ocean Resources Management Program) know that such testimony is valuable and welcomed just as the voices of those who oppose them are welcome to voice their concerns. If you have any questions or would like further information about the proposed Administrative Rules or the Kaho'olawe Island Reserve's Ocean Resources Management Program please feel free to contact us directly at 808-243-5889 or at swhitcraft(\)kirc.state.hi.us. Mahalo nui loa for your time, consideration and support, Sam Whitcraft Ocean Resources Manager Kaho'olawe Island Reserve 811 Kolu St., #201 Wailuku HI 96793 ph. 808-243-5889 fx. 808-243-5885 swhitcraft(\)kirc.state.hi.us ____________________________________________ E lawe i ke a'o a malama, a e 'oi mau ka na'auao. (He who takes his teachings and applies them increases his knowledge.) ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 7 Dec 2001 10:38:32 -0500 From: "Lucas, Marcy" Subject: Field Technician My apologies for the short notice. JOB POSTING: FIELD TECHNICIAN needed for a project studying the interactions between harbor seals and finfish aquaculture in Blue Hill Bay, Maine. Duties: Duties include winter work on the water, capture and handling of unsedated harbor seals, and radio-telemetry (remote data logging, aerial, and by boat). Physically restraining harbor seals is strenuous work, so applicants must be in STRONG physical condition. Qualifications: Experience handling and restraining medium to large mammals, especially pinnipeds. Applicants should have experience conducting winter field work and be comfortable on the water. A B.S. degree in Biology or a related field is preferred. Salary: Monthly stipend. Benefits: Housing will be provided. Starting Date: ~January 6, 2002 Ending Date: March 31, 2002 Last Date to Apply: Open until position is filled. Documentation Needed: Please send a letter of interest, resume, and three references with phone numbers. Due to the short notice, resumes, cover letters, and references may be e-mailed. Contact: Marcy Lucas University of Maine/MDMR PO Box 8 West Boothbay Harbor, Maine 04575 e-mail: marcy.lucas(\)state.me.us Phone: (207) 633-9502 Fax: (207) 633-9579 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 7 Dec 2001 08:40:23 -0500 From: Jooke Robbins Subject: job posting--research assistant ------ RESEARCH ASSISTANT I: temporary, year-round The Center for Coastal Studies has an immediate opening for a Research Assistant to assist its Humpback Whale Research Program. This program studies Gulf of Maine humpback whales through directed, region-wide research and a whalewatching-based data collection program. Research Assistant responsibilities would include: photographic and digital image handling, photographic matching, assisting in the maintenance of the Gulf of Maine humpback whale catalog and life history database, coordination a= nd preliminary analysis of field data, data entry, routine research equipmen= t maintenance and administrative tasks. This individual would also participate in directed field research on an as-needed basis. =20 Prerequisites: Bachelor=92s degree in marine biology, zoology or another biological field, excellent computer and communication skills, strong attention to detail and the ability to work at sea over extended periods and in a wide range of weather conditions. Previous whale-related field = or laboratory experience is desirable, but not required. This 12-month position may be extended. Please submit letter, resume and two references, by December 31, 2001 to:= =20 =20 Humpback Whale Studies Program Center for Coastal Studies P.O. Box 1036 Provincetown, MA 02657 Attn: Jan Young. =20 Or by email: jeyoung(\)coastalstudies.org ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 7 Dec 2001 16:28:53 -0500 From: Constance Russell Subject: new publication on educational aspects of whalewatching Hello all: I've recently had the following published which may be of interest to some: Russell, C.L. (2001). Why study whalewatching? Environmental education, nature experience and the social construction of nature. In D. Hodson (Ed.), OISE Papers in STSE (Science-Technology-Society-Environment)Education. Toronto: Imperial Oil Centre for Studies in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, pp.49-74. In this chapter (excerpted from my dissertation "Tales of Whales: Whalewatching as Environmental Education?"), I offer a rationale for my study of the educational aspects of whalewatching. I provide an overview of environmental education, focusing on the pedagogical potential and pitfalls of nature experience. I also discuss the ways in which the evolving literature on the social construction of nature influenced my study. I do NOT report results in this chapter; I will post notices of future publications as they appear in print. If you would like to receive a copy of this chapter, please email me at the address below and I will send you a copy by post in January. __________________________________________________________ Constance Russell, PhD Assistant Professor Faculty of Education, Lakehead University 955 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7B 5E1, Canada telephone: 807-343-8049; fax: 807-344-6807 email: constance.russell(\)lakeheadu.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2001 15:33:26 -0500 From: fiona brady Subject: Marine Conservation Symposium Announcement PRELIMINARY SYMPOSIUM ANNOUNCEMENT Sustaining Seascapes: The Science and Policy of Marine Resource Management The Center for Biodiversity and Conservation's Seventh Annual Biodiversity Symposium Thursday and Friday, March 7 and 8, 2002 American Museum of Natural History New York City In March 2002 the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation (CBC) and sponsoring partners will host the CBC's seventh annual Spring Symposium, exploring the conservation of marine biodiversity and fisheries through the integrated design of marine protected areas (MPAs), MPA networks, and other complementary coastal management frameworks. Sustaining Seascapes: The Science and Policy of Marine Resource Management will examine the large-scale conservation of marine ecosystems - considering novel approaches to the sustainable management of biodiversity and fisheries. Through theory, reviews, and case studies, participants will explore efforts to integrate natural, socioeconomic, and cultural factors at local and regional scales in response to ongoing threats to both fisheries and biodiversity. Invited speakers, representing a diverse range of disciplines, will include leading marine scientists, scholars, and conservationists from a range of disciplines, such as oceanography, biology, anthropology, political science, and economics. Contributed posters will further round out the program and help facilitate discussions. TOPICS TO BE ADDRESSED INCLUDE: > An overview of the crisis in marine fisheries and biodiversity > Roles of different types of MPAs in conservation policy and practice > Physical and biological connectivity among MPAs: where oceanography >meets behavior > The economics of coastal zones: fisheries, tourism, and other sectors > Anthropological and sociological dimensions of marine conservation >planning and implementation > Integrating ethical perspectives into marine conservation > Analytical and practical approaches to linking social and ecological systems > Uncertainties in ecological and sociopolitical systems CASE STUDIES are being selected from both the U.S. and the international arenas. Likely subjects include (but will not be limited to): > Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Dry Tortugas National Park > Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary > Gulf of Maine > Gulf of California > Great Barrier Reef Marine Park > Philippines A list of invited and confirmed speakers will be available in the near future. To receive symposium updates as they become available, please check back at this site periodically or email biodiversity(\)amnh.org to be placed on an update list. CALL FOR POSTERS: A limited number of posters will be accepted for presentation. Poster subjects must relate to the symposium's themes and may include theory, empirical studies, or case studies. Please limit abstracts to 300 words, and include title, author(s), and contact information for the lead author. Abstracts may be submitted to the CBC's Outreach Program Coordinator, Fiona Brady, at brady(\)amnh.org. The deadline for submissions is 26 January 2002. Please address questions or comments about the symposium's content to the CBC's Marine Program Manager, Dan Brumbaugh, at brumba(\)amnh.org. Early Registration Fees (by Friday, 26 January): $100 Non-members $80 Members*/Seniors* $50 Students* Late Registration Fees (after Friday, 26 January): $125 Non-members $100 Members*/Seniors* $60 Students* * "Members" includes members and staff of the American Museum of Natural History and the symposium's sponsoring organizations. All members, seniors, and students should be prepared to show ID at registration. TO REGISTER, please contact: Central Reservations, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024 (USA) 212-769-5200 (phone), 212-769-5272 (fax), or tickets(\)amnh.org. To learn more about the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, please visit our website at http://research.amnh.org/biodiversity/ ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 8 Dec 2001 10:09:18 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications (fwd) The following is a list of recent marine mammal publications. It is by no means complete, but serves as an update. Please do not contact the marmam editors for reprints. Thank you. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Sanots, M.B. et al. 2001. Feeding ecology of Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris): a review with new information on the diet of this species. J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. U.K. 81(4): 687-694. Rooney, A.P. et al. 2001. Historical population size change of bowhead whales inferred from DNA sequence polymorphism data. Evolution 55(8): 1678-1685. Pichler, F.B. et al. 2001. Origin and radiation of the Southern Hemisphere coastal dolphins (genus Cephalorhynchus). Mol. Ecol. 10(9): 2215-2223. Montoya-Ospina, R.A. et al. 2001. Status and distribution of the West Indian manatee, Trichechus manatus manatus, in Colombia. Biol. Conserv. 102(1): 117-129. Kubota, R. et al. 2001. Arsenic accumulation in the liver tissue of marine mammals. Environ. Pollut. 115(2): 303-312. Joiris, C.R. 2001. Total and organic mercury in the Black Sea harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena relicta. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 42(10): 887-894. Salman, A. et al. 2001. Stomach contents of two Mediterranean monk seals (Monachus monachus) from the Aegean Sea, Turkey. J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. U.K. 81(4): 719-720. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 8 Dec 2001 10:16:37 -0800 From: Carolina Garcia Subject: volunteer

 

I need a volunteer for next semester (from January to the end of June) to work with pantropical spotted dolphins in Panama. Food and accommodation will be covered, as well as a little money for personal expenses. Transportation out of Panama will not be covered. Interested people, please send me a CV in the body of the message (not as an attachment).

Carolina Garcia
Carrera 4 No. 71-61 apt. 1001
Bogota, Colombia
Tel: (571) 3458377
Fax: (571) 5447490 c/o Fernando Garcia, ARK
e-mail: caro_gar(\)hotmail.com

Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2001 00:49:37 -0800 From: MTN CENTRE FOR DOLPHIN STUDIES boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0007_01C173B8.BA3E3420" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0007_01C173B8.BA3E3420 charset="iso-8859-1" Dear All I have friends in Zimbabwe wanting to undertake infra-sound research on = semi-wild (semi-domesticated) elephants. They recently sent me the following message: "Dear Vic, As per our telecon yesterday, with reference to the canary program for = sound analysis, I would be extremely grateful if you could put us in = touch with someone who is using this program or, preferably, an = alternative. Canary is just too expensive to buy in Zimbabwean $, so a = cheaper or shareware alternative sound analysis package would be better. We would also require some sound recording and playback equipment. The = equipment should be able to measure frequencies of between 10Hz = (fundamental frequencies in the range of 15-25Hz) up to no less than 200 = Hz. The elephants can produce calls with a sound pressure level up to = 117dB. What I need to know is whether the equipment will accurately = measure down to the frequency of the fundamentals without distorting the = signal. Would this type of equipment be available commercially, and = would you know who to approach.=20 I'm also interested in finding out about playback equipment that would = fit the requirements noted above. If possible, could we get a list of = prices for speakers that almost reach the 117 (but no less than 110Hz)? = Do you have recommendations for equalizers and amps? Thanks again, Corey and Dean" =20 I know MARMAM is a marine mammal discussion server, but given the = expertise out there, I thought that someone may be able to help. You can reply through me at: Vic Cockcroft cdswhale(\)worldonline.co.za=20 or directly to Corey and Dean at: kev(\)shearwater.co.zw =20 Thanks cdswhale(\)worldonline.co.za=20 =20 ------=_NextPart_000_0007_01C173B8.BA3E3420 charset="iso-8859-1"
Dear All
 
I have friends in Zimbabwe wanting to = undertake=20 infra-sound research on semi-wild (semi-domesticated) = elephants.
 
They recently sent me the following=20 message:
"Dear Vic,
 
As per our telecon yesterday, with = reference to the=20 canary program for sound analysis, I would be extremely grateful if you = could=20 put us in touch with someone who is using this program or, preferably, = an=20 alternative. Canary is just too expensive to buy in Zimbabwean $, so a = cheaper=20 or shareware alternative sound analysis package would be = better.
 
We would also require some sound = recording and=20 playback equipment.  The equipment should be able to measure = frequencies of=20 between 10Hz (fundamental frequencies in the range of 15-25Hz) up to no = less=20 than 200 Hz.  The elephants can produce calls with a sound pressure = level=20 up to 117dB.  What I need to know is whether the equipment will = accurately=20 measure down to the frequency of the fundamentals without distorting the = signal.=20 Would this type of equipment be available commercially, and would you = know who=20 to approach.
 
I'm also interested in finding out = about playback=20 equipment that would fit the requirements noted above.  If = possible, could=20 we get a list of prices for speakers that almost reach the 117 (but no = less than=20 110Hz)?  Do you have recommendations for equalizers and = amps?
 
Thanks again,
Corey and = Dean"
 
I know MARMAM is a marine mammal = discussion server,=20 but given the expertise out there, I thought that someone may be able to = help.
 
You can reply through me = at:
Vic Cockcroft
cdswhale(\)worldonline.co.za= =20
or directly to = Corey and Dean=20 at:
kev(\)shearwater.co.zw
 
Thanks
cdswhale(\)worldonline.co.za= =20
 
<= /HTML> ------=_NextPart_000_0007_01C173B8.BA3E3420-- ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 8 Dec 2001 15:14:55 -0500 From: Constance Russell Subject: further information on new publication on educational aspects of whalewatching Hello again all: I'm pleasantly surprised by the number of Marmam members who have requested a copy of my chapter, "Why study whalewatching?" and will send out copies in January when I return to my university. Since quite a number of you expressed interest in the dissertation itself, it seems to make sense to let members of Marmam know that copies of most dissertations written in North America may be purchased through the University of Michigan's Dissertation Abstracts service. You can check out their website at: wwwlib.umi.com/dissertations. For those interested in obtaining a copy of my dissertation and/or reading the abstract and preface online, you can go directly to: wwwlib.umi.com/dissertations/fullcit/NQ58952. The full citation of my dissertation is: Russell, Constance Lorraine (2001). Tales of whales: Whalewatching as environmental education? Unpublished PhD dissertation, University of Toronto, Canada. __________________________________________________________ Constance Russell, PhD Assistant Professor Faculty of Education, Lakehead University 955 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7B 5E1, Canada telephone: 807-343-8049; fax: 807-344-6807 email: constance.russell(\)lakeheadu.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2001 17:00:03 +0100 From: Thierry Jauniaux Subject: ECS 2002 deadline: 6 days Dear all, Sorry for delay due to technical problem but now, the "abstract submission form" is available directly on the website of the Liege ECS conference. Due to the delay, deadline is December 17, 2001 (after deadline, the address will be closed!) As I received many abstracts with errors, could you check precisely if your submission fits with the instruction, also for people having previously submitted the abstract. In addition, submission should ONLY be submitted: - by Email - on following Email: pathologie.fmv(\)ulg.ac.be (and not on T.Jauniaux(\)ulg.ac.be) - using rtf.file available on Liege ECS conference website Best regards Thiery and Krishna Visit the ECS 2002 conference website at: http://www.ulg.ac.be/fmv/ecs Visit our websites http://www.ulg.ac.be/fmv/patho/marine.htm http://cemu10.fmv.ulg.ac.be/cas-jour/cas.htm MARIN Marine Animals Research & Intervention Network Dept. of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Univ. of Liege, Bat. B43, Sart Tilman, B-4000 Liege, Belgium Phone: 0032-4-366-4075; Fax: 0032-4-366-4565; cell phone : 0032 477 252302 E-mail : t.jauniaux(\)ulg.ac.be ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2001 10:39:31 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Abstract: Delphinus hearing modeling (fwd) ----- Original Message ----- From: James Aroyan To: Sent: Friday, December 07, 2001 9:38 PM Dear All, You may be interested in an article appearing in the December issue of JASA. This article describes how 3D bioacoustic simulations were used to investigate pathways of hearing and sound reception in the common dolphin. Similar approaches could be used to investigate hearing mechanisms in other marine mammals. The article notes in conclusion a number of potential refinements and/or extensions of the techniques that may be useful in future applications. A limited number of reprints will be available shortly. Please feel free to contact me for additional information regarding application of these techniques. Best regards, James Aroyan ------------ Aroyan JL (2001) Three-dimensional modeling of hearing in Delphinus delphis. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 110(6), 3305-3318. Abstract Physical modeling is a fertile approach to investigating sound emission and reception (hearing) in marine mammals. A method for simulation of hearing was developed combining three-dimensional acoustic propagation and extrapolation techniques with a novel approach to modeling the acoustic parameters of mammalian tissues. Models of the forehead and lower jaw tissues of the common dolphin, Delphinus delphis, were created in order to simulate the biosonar emission and hearing processes. This paper outlines the methods used in the hearing simulations and offers observations concerning the mechanisms of acoustic reception in this dolphin based on model results. These results include: 1) The left and right mandibular fat bodies were found to channel sound incident from forward directions to the left and right tympanic bulla and to create sharp maxima against the lateral surfaces of each respective bulla; 2) The soft tissues of the lower jaw improved the forward directivity of the simulated receptivity patterns; 3) A focal property of the lower jaw pan bones appeared to contribute to the creation of distinct forward receptivity peaks for each ear; 4) The reception patterns contained features that may correspond to lateral hearing pathways. A "fast" lens mechanism is proposed to explain the focal contribution of the pan bones in this dolphin. Similar techniques may be used to study hearing in other marine mammals. <><><><><><><><><><> Dr. James L. Aroyan JRJ Simulation & Design 338 Wilkes Circle Santa Cruz, CA 95060-5936 831-469-0839 (ph) email: jaroyan(\)cruzio.com <><><><><><><><><><> ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2001 17:53:38 +0000 From: Damian Lidgard Subject: recent references ------ Here are two recent references. D.C. Lidgard, O. Kiely, E. Rogan & N. Connolly. 2001 The status of breedi= ng=20 grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) on the east and south-east coasts of=20 Ireland. Mammalia, 65(3), 283-294 Abstract: A two year survey was conducted to estimate the population stat= us=20 of grey seals on the east and south-east coasts of Ireland and to documen= t=20 the types of habitat used. Surveys were concentrated around the known=20 breeding sites of Lambay Island on the east coast and the Great Saltee on= =20 the south-east coast, during the breeding seasons of 1997 and 1998. The=20 standard technique of through-counting was used to estimate pup productio= n=20 and mortality. Population estimates were calculated from the total pup=20 production using the multipliers given in the grey seal life-history tabl= e.=20 The total grey seal pup production was estimated at 41 and 49 for the eas= t=20 coast group, and 100 and 128 for the south-east group in 1997 and 1998,=20 respectively. The population estimate for the east coast group was betwee= n=20 172 and 221 and between 448 and 576 for the south-east group. Estimated p= up=20 mortality for the east coast group was 7.3% and 2.0%, and 3.0% and 8.6% f= or=20 the south-east group in 1997 and 1998, respectively. Most pups were found= on=20 beaches, however data from the Great Saltee suggests that beach-cave site= s=20 were the preferred habitat early in the breeding season. This study has=20 provided up-to-date information on an otherwise little studied marginal=20 colony. reprints are available from the first author. D.C. Lidgard, D.J. Boness & W.D. Bowen. 2001 A novel mobile approach to=20 investigating mating tactics in male grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) Jour= nal=20 of Zoology., London. 255, 313-320. Abstract: Studies of the grey seal Halichoerus grypus mating system, usin= g=20 focal animal sampling constrained by study site location and size, limit = the=20 measurement of variation in male mating tactics and success. Using this=20 method, the mating tactics of grey seal males have been classified as eit= her=20 ‘tenured’ or ‘transient’. Preliminary evidence is= =20 presented of wider variation in male mating tactics and success using mob= ile=20 focal-animal techniques that are not constrained by site, and of the effe= cts=20 of age on behaviour when accounting for body mass. The study was conducte= d=20 during the breeding seasons of 1997 and 1998 at Sable Island, Nova Scotia= .=20 Six young (11--12 years) and five old (20--25 years) males were captured = at=20 the beginning of the breeding season, weighed and fitted with a VHF=20 transmitter and time-depth recorder. Each male was located daily, and a=20 count of late-lactating females within a 10 m radius recorded as a measur= e=20 of mating potential. Female guarding and observed copulatory attempts wer= e=20 used as a measure of mating success. Mean initial body mass of young male= s=20 and old males was similar, 291 =B1 13 kg and 298 =B1 14 kg, respectively.= All=20 males changed location during the study period. Young males changed sites= =20 more often and moved shorter distances between sites than old males.=20 Estimated mating success varied from probably no matings to a minimum of=20 seven; there were no differences between young and old males. Maximum=20 duration of stay at a site and the number of late-lactating females at a=20 site significantly influenced mating success. All the males except for tw= o=20 young males departed on diving excursions during the breeding season and=20 engaged in deep diving behaviour. Diving behaviour did not differ between= =20 the age classes. Our results indicate that the current classification of=20 mating tactics in grey seal males is an oversimplification. Preliminary d= ata=20 show that male age may account for some of the variation in male behaviou= r=20 on land and mating success, but not for behaviour at sea. reprints will be available soon from the first author. Damian C. Lidgard Department of Conservation Biology Conservation & Research Centre Smithsonian Institution Washington, D.C. 20008-2598 USA work: 202 673 4825 email: lidgardd(\)nzp.si.edu _________________________________________________________________ T=E9l=E9chargez MSN Explorer gratuitement =E0 l'adresse=20 http://explorer.msn.fr/intl.asp ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2001 17:22:55 -0500 From: Naomi Rose Subject: ASA presentation on regulating ocean noise impacts ------ TO MARMAMERs: In keeping with my recent posting of the URL for testimony from the Octob= er 11 House hearing on the MMPA and LFA sonar, I am posting the written v= ersion of a presentation I gave at the Acoustical Society of America (ASA= ) annual conference in Fort Lauderdale this past Wednesday. The ASA host= ed a series of presentations and a discussion panel on noise and marine m= ammals. I was invited to present a talk specifically focused on my persp= ective regarding anthropogenic noise issues - I focused on my concerns re= garding recent regulatory actions on ship shock trials, acoustic thermome= try activities, and LFA. You will note that there are several highlighted passages (ALL CAPS and b= racketed by triple asterisks [***]). I wish to apologize for these passa= ges, which use imprecise or inaccurate wording, as Chris Clark quite righ= tly pointed out to me after my presentation. I thank him for his constru= ctive criticism, as I strive always to present factually correct informat= ion (I don't always succeed, but it's not for lack of trying). =20 My statements implied that the LFA transmissions used in the LFA Scientif= ic Research Program (SRP) were never at operational levels, when in fact = the LFA unit did occasionally transmit at operational levels (~215 dB, to= my understanding). What I meant to say (and did say using more precise = language elsewhere in my presentation) was that whales sampled in the SRP= never experienced *received levels* (RL) greater than 155 dB re 1 microP= a, yet NMFS proposes to authorize RLs of up to 180 dB during operational = deployment of LFA (such exposures would be considered only Level B harass= ment and would be legally permitted under the proposed small take authori= zation). In other words, all SRP whales were exposed to reduced RLs comp= ared to the RL proposed as the standard for Level B harassment during LFA= operational deployment. Perhaps, after reading that convoluted sentence, one might imagine why I = used more concise (and less precise) language in my presentation, but nev= ertheless, the implication that the LFA source never transmitted at opera= tional levels during the SRP was incorrect and I apologize. As a professional courtesy, I am asking MARMAMers to email me if they per= ceive that I also implied or explicitly stated anywhere in my presentatio= n that the various research results I discuss are "bad science." During = the discussion panel held on Thursday, Dr. Bob Gisiner indirectly but for= cefully characterized my presentation as making or implying such a statem= ent. My intention was to describe the science completed to date as reaso= nable first steps, but insufficient upon which to base regulatory decisio= ns - to criticize how results were being *applied*, not the results thems= elves. Dr. Gisiner also suggested that I had impugned the integrity of r= esearchers funded by the Office of Naval Research and stated he was embar= rassed by such "attacks." Again, if anyone perceives such an accusation = in the attached presentation, I would be grateful to have the language po= inted out to me, as this was certainly not my intention. I look forward to any constructive feedback from you regarding my request= (as for flames, I have my fire-proof suit on!). Thank you (and I apolog= ize also for the length of this post, but I know some email programs can'= t read Word attachments). ----------------------- 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 ph 301/258-3048 fax 301/258-3080 eml nrose(\)hsus.org http://www.hsus.org INTERPRETING RESEARCH RESULTS: GOVERNMENT REGULATION OF ANTHROPOGENIC NOI= SE SOURCES By Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Scientist The Humane Society of the United States INTRODUCTION The Precautionary Principle advocates taking anticipatory, protective man= agement action in the absence of complete proof of harm. It also argues = against using the absence of scientific knowledge to justify management d= ecisions favoring resource use. Conversely, it does not support broadly = applying limited scientific research results to justify permissive policy= . The Precautionary Principle is embedded in several US environmental la= ws, including the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). However, in pract= ice, it is often ignored. To illustrate this, this presentation will bri= efly examine three recent MMPA management actions, made or proposed by th= e National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), regarding the impact of acous= tic activities to be conducted by the military and academic institutions. Regulating acoustic activities is difficult, given that little is known a= bout the impact of anthropogenic noise on marine mammals. Despite this d= earth of knowledge, such noise impacts are widely acknowledged to be an i= ssue of serious concern (Richardson et al. 1995; NRC 2000). In an effort= to increase knowledge and build toward certainty regarding the impacts o= f anthropogenic noise on the marine environment, recent research on noise= impacts has focused on behavioral responses of free-ranging baleen whale= s (mysticetes) and the auditory responses of captive toothed whales (odon= tocetes) and pinnipeds. These studies addressed limited hypotheses and u= sed limited methodologies, but NMFS has broadly interpreted their results= to justify sweeping regulatory decisions. These decisions, therefore, r= un counter to the Precautionary Principle and are arguably illegal under = the MMPA, as well as other statutes. BACKGROUND Three recent requests to authorize incidental take of marine mammals unde= r the MMPA due to proposed acoustic activities illustrate how NMFS has ov= er-interpreted limited research results to justify regulatory decisions. = =20 The US Navy applied for a Letter of Authorization (LOA) to take a small n= umber of marine mammals by incidental harassment, injury, or mortality in= January 2000 in conjunction with ship shock trials for the USS Winston S= . Churchill, a new class of destroyer. (Ship shock trials involve the at= -sea detonation of explosives of various sizes likely to be encountered u= nder combat conditions to test the battle-worthiness of a new vessel desi= gn.) The North Pacific Acoustic Laboratory (NPAL) applied for a LOA in M= ay 2000, to take a small number of marine mammals by incidental harassmen= t during the operation of a low frequency sound source utilized in oceano= graphic research off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii. Both the Churchill and = NPAL requests were approved through final rules published in May 2001 and= August 2001 respectively. The Navy also applied for a LOA in August 199= 9, to take a small number of marine mammals by incidental harassment duri= ng the use of Surveillance Towed Array S! ensor System (SURTASS) Low Frequency Active (LFA) sonar. The proposed ru= le for LFA sonar, published in March 2001, has yet to be finalized. All = three of these activities involve low frequency noise impacts on marine m= ammals - the first through explosive sound and the second and third throu= gh the use of intermittent/continuous sound. Recent research, largely inspired by the public controversy over LFA sona= r (which first arose in the mid-1990s) and largely funded by the Office o= f Naval Research (ONR), has attempted to address the impact of anthropoge= nic noise of various frequencies on a small number of marine mammal speci= es, both in field and captive settings (e.g., Croll et al. 2001; Kastak e= t al. 1999; Miller et al. 2000; Nachtigall et al. 2001; Ridgway et al. 19= 97; Schlundt et al. 2000; Tyack and Clark 1998). In all cases, these stu= dies have focused on narrowly defined hypotheses, examining either behavi= oral responses or temporary threshold shift (TTS) after exposure to contr= olled sound sources. Results from these studies can be seen as preliminary steps toward reachi= ng an understanding of the impacts of anthropogenic noise on marine mamma= ls. However, given the narrowly-defined attributes of the sounds used (e= .g., ***INTERMITTENT LOW FREQUENCY SONAR TRANSMISSIONS AT RELATIVELY LOW = SOUND PRESSURE LEVELS [SPLS]**, 1-second pure tones), the small number of= species examined (e.g., two species of odontocete, four species of mysti= cete, three species of pinniped) and the fact that many tested animals we= re captive rather than free-ranging, the small sample sizes within specie= s (often only one or two individuals), and the short time spans over whic= h individual reactions and impacts were observed and assessed (on the ord= er of minutes or hours as opposed to days, weeks, or months), these preli= minary results are of limited utility when attempting to assess the long-= term impact of specific types of sounds at relatively high SPLs on all ma= rine mammals, let alone all marine prote! cted species. Clearly a great deal more work will be required, observing= reactions from a larger sample of animals over long periods of time, bef= ore a more complete picture of impacts will begin to emerge. Nevertheless, the results of these studies have been broadly (and inconsi= stently) interpreted to justify recent regulatory decisions regarding noi= se impacts on marine animals. For the rest of this presentation, I will = discuss specific examples of this. USS WINSTON S. CHURCHILL For the Churchill LOA request, the Navy proposed using a 182 dB ?Pa2=B7se= c energy flux criterion (due to the explosive sound source involved) rath= er than a received sound pressure level criterion when determining exposu= re standards. Despite the fact that there is no scientific evidence that= an energy flux criterion, which was derived from research using four cap= tive bottlenose dolphins and 1-second pure tones (Ridgway et al. 1997), i= s applicable to mysticetes, pinnipeds, sea turtles, or other odontocetes = for a broadband explosive source, NMFS nevertheless concurred with the Na= vy's proposal. NMFS acknowledged the speculative nature of the analysis = leading to the energy flux criterion for explosive sources: "NMFS agrees = that the SPL that would cause TTS in cetaceans by explosives has not been= tested empirically on live cetaceans." =20 While Ridgway et al. (1997) may have represented the best science on hear= ing thresholds and TTS for cetaceans at the time of the Churchill LOA req= uest, "best" is not the same as "good." The best available scientific in= formation on TTS in cetaceans (as well as pinnipeds) is still both clearl= y preliminary and extremely limited in scope. Agencies should therefore = limit its application and should not use it to establish broad regulatory= standards for all marine protected species. NORTH PACIFIC ACOUSTIC LABORATORY In March 2000, a number of beaked whales and at least two minke whales li= ve stranded in the Bahamas. These strandings, which resulted in several = deaths, occurred during and after the transit of US and allied naval vess= els, some of which had mid-frequency active sonars engaged (NMFS 2000; Ba= lcomb and Claridge 2001). Public comment submitted during the advance no= tice of publication of a proposed rule for NPAL's LOA request pointed out= that preliminary results from the investigation into the Bahamas inciden= t should be considered when processing LOA requests for activities that i= nvolve loud, low or mid-frequency noises. In its proposed rule, NMFS rej= ected these comments by saying "Since these sonars [used by the Navy in t= he Bahamas] do not have signal and operational characteristics similar to= the NPAL source, [the Office of Naval Research] does not believe it is a= ppropriate for either the DEIS or the small take application to analyze t= hose strandings. NMFS concurs." =20 In a contradiction of this stance, however, NMFS felt it was appropriate = to base acoustic standards for the Churchill's broad-band, low frequency,= explosive sounds and NPAL's broad-band, low frequency, intermittent soun= ds on work using single, 1-second pure tones at various frequencies (i.e.= , Schlundt et al. 2000). (In addition, the agency felt it was appropriat= e to apply standards based on the hearing responses of two odontocete spe= cies, which are high-frequency specialists, to all mysticete species, whi= ch are likely to be low frequency specialists.) If it would be inappropr= iate to consider the actual negative impacts of sound that differs in cha= racter from the NPAL sound source, then it should be even more inappropri= ate to consider the mere positive implications of work using sound that d= iffers in character from the NPAL sound source. SURTASS LFA SONAR For the LFA sonar environmental impact statement (EIS), the Navy conducte= d a low frequency sound scientific research program (LFS SRP), in respons= e to public criticism that there was not enough information on anthropoge= nic noise impacts on marine mammals. While The HSUS agreed with the need= for such research at the time the LFS SRP was proposed, we have consiste= ntly pointed out the limitations of any research carried out under this p= rogram. While this research was a reasonable beginning, it was never des= igned to adequately inform the regulatory process - the results from the = LFS SRP were clearly incapable of providing adequate information to make = careful management decisions or to conclude that the use of LFA sonar wou= ld have negligible impacts on marine life. A study of far greater scope,= both in terms of species examined and years pursued, would be necessary = before any solid conclusions regarding significant impacts could possibly= be made. Nevertheless, the Navy and NM! FS have in fact concluded that LFA sonar, operated under the mitigations = found in NMFS' March proposed rule, is to all intents and purposes risk-f= ree. =20 ***THE LFS SRP EXAMINED CERTAIN SHORT-TERM BEHAVIORAL RESPONSES OF FOUR S= PECIES OF BALEEN WHALES TO PLAYBACKS OF LFA TRANSMISSIONS AT SPLS GREATLY= REDUCED FROM OPERATIONAL LEVELS.*** In all three phases of the program,= focusing on feeding, migrating, and breeding baleen whales, behavioral r= esponses were observed, ranging from short-distance displacement to reduc= ed vocalization rates (e.g., Croll et al. 2001; Miller et al. 2000; Tyack= and Clark 1998). While most whales resumed previously observed behavior= s soon after transmissions were discontinued, no long-term observations w= ere made of individuals exposed to the playbacks. No whales were exposed= to SPLs greater than approximately 155 dB re 1microPa.=20 The SRP scientists concluded that exposure to low frequency sound below 1= 55 dB did not appear to have any short-term biologically significant impa= cts on whales. Appropriately for this limited work, this is a limited co= nclusion. The team cautioned that these results were preliminary and of = limited application. In subsequent publications, certain team members in= dicated some concern about LFA sonar, concluding that behavioral changes = observed during playbacks of LFA transmissions "might affect demographic = parameters or [they] could represent a strategy to compensate for interfe= rence from the sonar" (Miller et al. 2000). ***IN NONE OF THEIR PUBLICAT= IONS DID SRP TEAM MEMBERS CONCLUDE THAT EXPOSURE TO OPERATIONAL LEVELS OF= LFA SONAR WOULD HAVE NO SIGNIFICANT BIOLOGICAL IMPACT ON CETACEANS (LET = ALONE ALL OTHER MARINE ANIMALS).*** This sweeping conclusion was found s= olely in the Navy's EIS (and then copied in NMFS' proposed rule), althoug= h the EIS points to the SRP results for ! support. None of the LFS SRP playback experiments could disprove an alternate hypo= thesis - that feeding, migrating, and breeding are so important to blue, = fin, gray, and humpback whales that exposure to reduced levels of LFA son= ar noise is an insufficient stimulus to cause them to abandon these activ= ities. In short, perhaps all the whales in these experiments were negati= vely impacted - perhaps they were partially deafened - but they neverthel= ess chose to continue their vital life processes. No one can say if this= conclusion is any more or less the truth than the Navy's conclusion that= there was no negative impact. If adequate prey are few and far between,= predator-free migratory corridors narrow, or safe breeding sites limited= , then the introduction of a source of noise pollution, however damaging,= may be a minor consideration for these animals. =20 Ultimately, the Phases of the LFS SRP were designed to test a single and = simple hypothesis: "It is doubtful that many marine mammals would remain = for long in areas where received levels of continuous underwater noise ar= e 140+ dB at frequencies to which the animals are most sensitive" (Richar= dson et al. 1995). The results of the LFS SRP disproved this hypothesis = up to 155 dB for most species examined, although in the case of breeding = humpback whales, there was displacement to neighboring areas. Very littl= e else was accomplished and certainly the hypothesis that LFA transmissio= ns will have a negligible impact at a received level of 180 dB re 1 micro= Pa was not proved (nor was any evidence provided to support it). Science= of course does not prove hypotheses - it disproves them, through an incr= emental, step-by-step approach. NMFS and the Navy have shown impatience = with the scientific process that belies their claim of making regulatory = decisions based on sound science. >From the LFS SRP, we know that baleen whales exposed to low frequency so= unds up to 155 dB changed their vocalization rates, deviated from their m= igratory paths, displaced themselves from one coastal area to another whi= le engaged in breeding behavior, and lengthened their mating songs. Thes= e were all observable, short-term behavioral changes. There is no way fr= om these results that anyone can conclude that exposure to sounds almost = 1000 times more intense will have no greater effect, particularly if thes= e effects are difficult or even impossible to detect without closer exami= nation (for example, hearing damage) or only become apparent in the longe= r term. In fact, there is no way to conclude from these results what eff= ect such exposure would have on these whale species - to conclude that th= e effect will be negligible is simply arbitrary. CONCLUSION The HSUS believes it is premature to conclude that acoustic activities su= ch as ship shock, NPAL, and LFA sonar will have (and have had) only negli= gible impacts on marine life. We believe that the results, preliminary a= nd limited in nature, of acoustic research have been over-interpreted and= inappropriately applied to all marine species. We believe that there is= compelling evidence that certain acoustic activities, particularly activ= e sonar, will in fact have significant negative impacts on the marine env= ironment, most of which may not become apparent for years and even decade= s. We also believe that NMFS' recent regulatory decisions clearly violat= e the Precautionary Principle and are likely in violation of the MMPA and= other statutes. The pursuit of carefully designed research on the impacts of noise on the= marine environment is important, but the interpretation of results, part= icularly for management purposes, is not done in a societal vacuum. It i= s subject to political and economic pressures, often coming from the mili= tary and industries such as oil and gas corporations. These pressures ca= st doubt on the conservation value of a great deal of on-going acoustic r= esearch and seem to frequently encourage non-precautionary regulatory dec= isions. Facts are facts and are presented as such in scientific fora suc= h as this conference, but when translated into the policy arena, these fa= cts are often inappropriately applied and interpreted. This is not neces= sarily meant as a condemnation of the research or its scientific conclusi= ons, but of the consideration of its results by regulators, legislators, = and invested parties.=20 Thank you for inviting me to speak at the ASA conference on these vital i= ssues. REFERENCES Balcomb, K.C. and D.E. Claridge. 2001. A mass stranding of cetaceans caus= ed by naval sonar in the Bahamas. Bahamas J. Science 8:2-12. Croll, D.A., C.W. Clark, J. Calambokidis, W.T. Ellison, and B.R. Tershy. = 2001. Effect of anthropogenic low-frequency noise on the ecology of Balae= noptera whales. Anim. Cons. 4:13-27. Kastak, D., R.J. Schusterman, B.L. Southall, and C.J. Reichmuth. 1999. Un= derwater temporary threshold shift induced by octave-band noise in three = species of pinniped. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 106:1142-1148. Miller, P.J.O., N. Biassoni, A. Samuels, and P.L. Tyack. 2000. Whale song= s lengthen in response to sonar. Nature 405:903. Nachtigall, P.E., A. Supin, J.L. Pawloski, and W.W.L. Au. 2001. Evoked au= ditory potentials measuring recovery from temporary threshold shifts in t= he bottlenosed dolphin Tursiops truncatus. In Abstracts: 14th Biennial Co= nference on the Biology of Marine Mammals. November 28 - December 3, p. 1= 53. National Marine Fisheries Service. 2000. Update on the mass stranding in = the Bahamas. MMPA Bulletin 19/20:3. National Research Council. 2000. Marine Mammals and Low Frequency Sound= : Progress Since 1994. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C. pp. 146. Richardson, W.J., C.R. Greene, jr., C.I. Malme, and D.H. Thomson. 1995. M= arine Mammals and Noise. Academic Press, San Diego. 576 pp. Ridgway, S.H., Carder, D.A., Kamolnick, T., Smith, R.R., Schlundt, C.E. a= nd Elsberry, W.R. 1997. Behavioral responses and temporary shift in mas= ked hearing threshold of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, to 1-se= cond pure tones of 141 to 201 dB re 1 microPa. Technical Report 1751, Ju= ly 1997. Naval Command, Control and Ocean Surveillance Center, RDT&E Div= ision, San Diego, CA. 16 pp. + app. Schlundt, C.E., J.J. Finneran, D.A. Carder, and S.H. Ridgway. 2000. Tempo= rary threshold shift in masked hearing thresholds of bottlenose dolphins,= Tursiops truncatus, and white whales, Delphinapterus leucas, after expos= ure to intense tones. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 107:3496-3508. Tyack, P.L. and C.W. Clark. 1998. Quicklook: Playback of low frequency so= und to gray whales migrating past the central California coast in January= 1998. 55 pp. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 8 Dec 2001 12:06:02 -0500 From: kronald Subject: Marine mammal distance education courses boundary="----=_NextPart_000_000C_01C17FE0.B4D14520" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_000C_01C17FE0.B4D14520 charset="iso-8859-1" MARINE MAMMAL MANAGEMENT DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSE , 2002. IMMEDIATE =20 The second edition of the global distance education tri-level offering = of a full credit or certificate marine mammalprogram is accepting = enquiries for registration now. Registration will open on December = 12th, 2001.=20 =20 The course dates are January 2nd to March 15th 2002. =20 As the course is a world wide offering it may be taken by anyone, = anywhere who wishes to further their knowledge about these curiously = unknown animals, and their interactions with humans. =20 The course is set at three levels: three credit GRADUATE; =20 three credit UNDERGRADUATE , and for those seeking further = information or for professional advancement - the = CERTIFICATE.=20 All are programs of the Nova Southeastern University's Oceanographic = Center, and the first two levels are part of the transcript record of = the degree curriculum. =20 To obtain further information please check the web site : http://www..nova.edu/ocean/marmam/marmam.html =20 If you wish to register go to : http://www.nova.edu/ocean/marmam/m3regform.html =20 =20 or missy(\)nova.edu =20 =20 We welcome your enquiries so please contact the instructor, Professor = Keith Ronald. kronald(\)nova.edu ------=_NextPart_000_000C_01C17FE0.B4D14520 charset="iso-8859-1"
MARINE MAMMAL MANAGEMENT DISTANCE EDUCATION = COURSE ,=20 2002.
 
IMMEDIATE
 
The second edition of the global distance = education=20 tri-level offering of a full credit or certificate marine = mammalprogram is accepting enquiries for registration now. = Registration=20 will  open on December 12th, 2001.
 
The course dates are January 2nd to March 15th=20 2002.
 
As the course is a world wide offering it may be = taken by=20 anyone, anywhere who wishes to further their knowledge about these = curiously=20 unknown animals, and their interactions with humans.
 
The course is set at three levels:
    three credit GRADUATE; =20
    three credit UNDERGRADUATE , = and for=20 those seeking further information or for = professional    =20             = advancement =20 - the CERTIFICATE.
All are programs of the Nova Southeastern = University's=20 Oceanographic Center, and the first two levels are part of the = transcript=20 record of the degree curriculum.
 
To obtain further information please check the = web site=20 :
http://www..nova.e= du/ocean/marmam/marmam.html
 
If you wish to register go to=20 :
http://www.nova.edu/ocean/marmam/m3regform.h= tml   
 
or  missy(\)nova.edu
 
 
  We welcome your enquiries so please = contact=20 the instructor, Professor Keith Ronald.
 
          =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;     =20 kronald(\)nova.edu
 
 
------=_NextPart_000_000C_01C17FE0.B4D14520-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2001 12:27:42 -0500 From: Helen Nearing Subject: Duke Marine Lab summer course: Biology of Marine Mammals Duke University Marine Lab summer course: Biology of Marine Mammals 2002 Summer Term II (July 8 - August 9) The Duke University Marine Laboratory invites applications to its summer field course on the biology of marine mammals. Topics covered include the ecology, behavior, management and conservation of marine mammals, with emphasis on field study of the local population of bottlenose dolphins. This is a field and laboratory-intensive course designed to provide first-hand experience with research techniques such as photo-identification and mark-recapture analysis, sampling prey distribution and abundance, behavioral sampling techniques, acoustic recording and analysis, and dissection techniques. The course is taught by a distinguished faculty that includes Andy Read (Duke University), John Reynolds (Eckerd College and Mote Marine Laboratory) and Dan Rubenstein (Princeton University). 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. Please submit an application and a current transcript. For application visit the Marine Lab's web site on line (http://www.env.duke.edu/marinelab/mlforms.html) or send complete mailing address to mL_admissions(\)env.duke.edu. The course is limited to 15 students. Tuition scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis; the scholarship application deadline is April 1. If funds are available, full support for several international students (including travel and subsistence) will be awarded on a competitive basis for BIO 109/ENV 209 and one complementary elective, which could be Marine Mammals. Applications for these awards must be received by April 1. For more information, please contact mL_admissions(\)env.duke.edu (252/504-7502). Andrew J. Read, Ph.D. Assistant Professor and Rachel Carson Chair of Marine Conservation Biology Duke University Marine Laboratory 135 Duke Marine Lab Road Beaufort, NC 28516 Phone 252-504-7590 Fax 252-504-7648 http://delphinus.ml.duke.edu/readlab/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2001 18:03:14 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Volunteer needed for dolphin fieldwork in Australia (fwd) From: Luciana Moller Volunteer needed for dolphin fieldwork in Australia I'm looking for an enthusiastic and independent person with boat handling experience to help in a project studying cooperation in the reproductive strategies of male and female bottlenose dolphins. The fieldwork involves daily surveys (weather dependent) in Port Stephens, NSW, during February and March 2002 for behavioral observations, photo-identification and biopsy sampling. The main duty of the volunteer will be to drive the research boat (5.5m with 90hp), but it will also include taking notes and preparing the equipment prior to the surveys. Unfortunately I cannot provide with a salary or help with travel expenses to/from Sydney/Australia, but accommodation in a nice house and food will be provided while in the field. Please contact me via e-mail if you are interested (please attach a cv) and/or want to know some more about this project. Preference will be given to people with prior boat experience and good references. Luciana Moller Yale University luciana_moller(\)hotmail.com Luciana Moller Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Yale University New Haven, CT 06520-8106 USA Ph.: 1(203)432 3886 Fax: 1(203)432 6066 E.mail: luciana_moller(\)hotmail.com Web: http://pantheon.yale.edu/~sv54/LucianA.html Australian Affiliation: Marine Mammal Research Group Graduate School of the Environment Macquarie University Sydney, NSW 2109 Australia Web: http://www.gse.mq.edu.au/Research/mmrg ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 12:18:33 +1100 From: "Corey J. A. Bradshaw" Subject: comments on elephant seal research invited Dear MARMAMers, You may recall two submissions I made to MARMAM on 27 & 28 September 2001 regarding permits for elephant seal research at Macquarie Island, Australia. In brief, research permits were suspended by the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment (DPIWE) until such time as a review of permit application procedures and research protocols was completed. The Antarctic Wildlife Research Unit (AWRU) at the University of Tasmania has been investigating the effects of environmental variation in food supply on the foraging success of the southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) on subantarctic Macquarie Island since 1999. Since M. leonina is classified as an endangered species under Tasmanian legislation, and the population at Macquarie Island (~20,000 breeding females in 2000) has been declining since the 1950s, this study aimed to address the potential effects of increased pressure on food supply from commercial fishing and climate change. The study was to conclude in late 2002 or 2003, and the third breeding season's work was to commence in a few days. DPIWE has now completed its assessment of the application process and the southern elephant seal research by AWRU and is offering interested parties an opportunity to comment directly on the importance, relevance and details of the research. We invite interested people to submit their comments to DPIWE directly. For those that attended the recent marine mammal conference in Vancouver, you may be aware of this important research in progress (e.g, Dr. M. Hindell, Prof. M. Fedak, M. Biuw, K. Wheatley, etc.). Since the continuation of the programme may very well depend on the comments from interested parties, we encourage you to support this important research. The description of the project and permit application details can be found at: http://www.dpiwe.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/Attachments/SJON-55E24X/$FILE/seal.pdf To provide your comments, visit the DPIWE feedback page at: http://www.dpiwe.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/FeedbackForm?OpenForm For more Information on the Antarctic Wildlife Research Unit's programmes, visit: http://www.zoo.utas.edu.au/awru/ Thank you very much for your support. Corey J. A. Bradshaw Postdoctoral Research Fellow Antarctic Wildlife Research Unit, School of Zoology University of Tasmania, G.P.O. Box 252-05 Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia Tel: (03) 6226 2644; Fax: (03) 6226 2745 http://www.zoo.utas.edu.au/awru/ Currently stationed on Macquarie Island until March 2002 Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition 2001/02 Tel: +672 13 933 (lab); 672 13 973 (donga); Fax: 672 13 957 http://www.aad.gov.au/stations/macca/ --=====================_159003960==_.ALT Dear MARMAMers,

You may recall two submissions I made to MARMAM on 27 & 28 September 2001 regarding permits for elephant seal research at Macquarie Island, Australia. In brief, research permits were suspended by the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment (DPIWE) until such time as a review of permit application procedures and research protocols was completed.

The Antarctic Wildlife Research Unit (AWRU) at the University of Tasmania has been investigating the effects of environmental variation in food supply on the foraging success of the southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) on subantarctic Macquarie Island since 1999. Since M. leonina is classified as an endangered species under Tasmanian legislation, and the population at Macquarie Island (~20,000 breeding females in 2000) has been declining since the 1950s, this study aimed to address the potential effects of increased pressure on food supply from commercial fishing and climate change. The study was to conclude in late 2002 or 2003, and the third breeding season's work was to commence in a few days.

DPIWE has now completed its assessment of the application process and the southern elephant seal research by AWRU and is offering interested parties an opportunity to comment directly on the importance, relevance and details of the research. We invite interested people to submit their comments to DPIWE directly. For those that attended the recent marine mammal conference in Vancouver, you may be aware of this important research in progress (e.g, Dr. M. Hindell, Prof. M. Fedak, M. Biuw, K. Wheatley, etc.). Since the continuation of the programme may very well depend on the comments from interested parties, we encourage you to support this important research.

The description of the project and permit application details can be found at:
http://www.dpiwe.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/Attachments/SJON-55E24X/$FILE/seal.pdf

To provide your comments, visit the DPIWE feedback page at:
http://www.dpiwe.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/FeedbackForm?OpenForm

For more Information on the Antarctic Wildlife Research Unit's programmes, visit:
http://www.zoo.utas.edu.au/awru/

Thank you very much for your support.

Corey J. A. Bradshaw
Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Antarctic Wildlife Research Unit, School of Zoology
University of Tasmania, G.P.O. Box 252-05
Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia

Tel: (03) 6226 2644; Fax: (03) 6226 2745
<corey.bradshaw(\)utas.edu.au>

http://www.zoo.utas.edu.au/awru/

Currently stationed on Macquarie Island until March 2002
Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition 2001/02
Tel: +672 13 933 (lab); 672 13 973 (donga); Fax: 672 13 957

http://www.aad.gov.au/stations/macca/

 --=====================_159003960==_.ALT-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2001 16:40:31 +0100 From: Ruben Huele Subject: request for information on photo-id in eastern Europe Dear Marmam, Is anyone aware of researchers working on cetacean photo-id in one of the following countries: Bulgaria Republic of Cyprus Czech Republic Estonia Hungary Latvia Lithuania Malta Poland Romania Slovakia Slovenia Europhlukes, the project to set up a European database for cetacean photo-id, is considering to submit a proposal to enlarge the consortium with members from these countries. Any suggestion will be greatly apreciated. Ruben Huele co-ordinator Europhlukes Leiden University the Netherlands huele(\)cml.leidenuniv.nl ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 18:01:18 -0000 From: Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust Subject: Job Announcements boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0007_01C18724.D3A71740" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0007_01C18724.D3A71740 charset="iso-8859-1" =20 JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (www.hwdt.org) is a registered = charity dedicated to the conservation of whales, dolphins and the marine = environment through research and education. As part of a wider project, = Nature and Sustainable Development in the Argyll Islands, and the = acquisition of a research and education vessel, several positions have = become available: -------------------------------------------------------------------- MARINE RANGER =20 KEY DUTIES INCLUDE: =20 - Designing and implementing monitoring programmes for a variety of = species important in marine conservation (primarily cetaceans). - Supervising volunteers and students, and assisting with education = projects on board the HWDT "Floating Classroom" (a 65' motor sailing = vessel). - Liaising with community groups and marine users in the Argyll Islands = with respect to marine conservation and environmental issues. =20 DESIRABLE SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS:=20 - Degree in a biological science. =20 - Experience of marinelife monitoring and surveying.=20 - Excellent marinelife identification skills and knowledge. - Experience of interpreting environmental subjects. - Excellent knowledge of marine conservation issues and the Argyll = Islands (their people, heritage and culture).=20 - Experience of working on boats. =20 salary: =A315,240 per annum (pounds sterling) -------------------------------------------------------------------- =20 =20 SIGHTINGS OFFICER (Part-Time) =20 key duties include: =20 - Developing a community-based network for reporting marine life = sightings in South-west Scotland. - Maintaining and analysing a sightings database and generating reports = of the project results. - Preparing displays and articles about the results of the project and = organising marine life identification workshops. =20 =20 DESIRABLE SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS:=20 - Degree in a biological science or related subject. - Experience of database and GIS construction and analysis . - Good written and oral communication skills - Knowledge of cetaceans and the marine environment. =20 salary: The starting salary for this part time post is =A36,600 pa = (based on 20 hours per week) (pounds sterling) -------------------------------------------------------------------- =20 =20 MARINE EDUCATION OFFICER=20 key duties include: =20 - Co-ordinating and conducting educational events and presentations = throughout the Argyll and the Islands region, Southwest Scotland with = marine ranger and small team. - Liaising with school teachers, community and other groups and ensuring = that the education programme reflects the needs of the area and the = school curriculum=20 =20 DESIRABLE SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS: - Degree in a biological or environmental subject. - 2 years + experience in teaching/interpreting environmental subjects. - A working knowledge of the Scottish school curriculum and the Scottish = marine environment. - Experience of managing environmental education projects and staff. - Experience of working on boats. =20 salary: The appointee will be in contracted employment for nine months = per year at a starting salary of =A311,430 p.a. (equivalent to =A315, = 240 pounds sterling per annum). -------------------------------------------------------------------- =20 =20 SKIPPER =20 KEY DUTIES INCLUDE:=20 - Running and maintaining a 65ft motor-sailing vessel as an education = and research vessel for the Trust. - Ensuring safe passage of vessel primarily in West Scottish waters. - Helping team leaders to develop and conduct education and research = projects with the vessel. =20 DESIRABLE SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS: - Appropriate maritime experience and qualifications. - Practical experience of running and maintaining vessels of this type. - Mechanically competent, experience in electronics and computers. - Interest/knowledge of marine conservation, education, survey work, = cetaceans useful. =20 salary: =A318,000 per annum (pounds sterling) =20 -------------------------------------------------------------------- =20 For further information about the positions please see Website at http://www.hwdt.org =20 The Research and Education Department,=20 Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, Main Street, Tobermory, Isle of Mull PA75 6NU. E-mail: hwdt(\)sol.co.uk =20 Final application deadline: 18th January 2002 =20 NB: Non-European applicants must be able to demonstrate that they hold = appropriate visas to work within the UK. =20 These posts are funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Scottish Natural = Heritage and Argyll and the Islands Enterprise. =20 ------=_NextPart_000_0007_01C18724.D3A71740 charset="iso-8859-1"

 

JOB = ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (www.hwdt.org) is=20 a registered charity dedicated to the conservation of whales, dolphins = and the=20 marine environment through research and education. As part of a wider = project,=20 Nature and Sustainable Development in the Argyll=20 Islands, and = the=20 acquisition of a research and education vessel, several positions have = become=20 available:

 -----------------------------------------------= ---------------------

MARINE=20 RANGER

 

KEY DUTIES=20 INCLUDE:           = ;     =20

- Designing and implementing monitoring programmes for a = variety of=20 species important in marine conservation (primarily =20 cetaceans).

-=20 Supervising volunteers and students, and assisting with education = projects on=20 board the HWDT “Floating Classroom” (a 65’ motor = sailing vessel).

- = Liaising with=20 community groups and marine users in the = Argyll Islands with respect to marine conservation and = environmental=20 issues.

 

DESIRABLE = SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS:=20
- Degree = in a=20 biological science.       =20

-=20 Experience of marinelife monitoring and surveying.

-=20 Excellent marinelife identification skills and knowledge.

-=20 Experience of interpreting environmental subjects.

-=20 Excellent knowledge of marine conservation issues and the=20 Argyll=20 Islands (their people, = heritage and=20 culture).

-=20 Experience of working on boats.

 

salary: =A315,240 per annum = (pounds=20 sterling)

----------------------------------------------------------------= ----

 

 

SIGHTINGS=20 OFFICER =20 (Part-Time)

 

key = duties=20 include:

 

-=20 Developing a community-based network for reporting marine life sightings = in=20 South-west=20 Scotland.=

- Maintaining = and analysing=20 a sightings database and generating reports of the project=20 results.

-=20 Preparing displays and articles about the results of the project and = organising=20 marine life identification workshops.

 
 
DESIRABLE = SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS:=20

-  Degree in a biological = science or=20 related subject.

-  Experience of database and GIS = construction and analysis .

- Good=20 written and oral communication skills

-  Knowledge of cetaceans and the = marine=20 environment.

  

salary: The starting salary = for this=20 part time post is =A36,600 pa (based on 20 hours per week) (pounds=20 sterling)

----------------------------------------------------------------= ----  

 

MARINE = EDUCATION=20 OFFICER 

key = duties=20 include:

 
-=20 Co-ordinating and conducting educational events and presentations = throughout the=20 Argyll and the Islands=20 region, Southwest=20 Scotland=20 with marine ranger and small team.

- = Liaising=20 with school teachers, community and other groups and ensuring that the = education=20 programme reflects the needs of the area and the school curriculum=20

 

DESIRABLE=20 SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS:

- Degree=20 in a biological or environmental subject.

- 2 years=20 + experience in teaching/interpreting environmental = subjects.

- A=20 working knowledge of the Scottish school curriculum and the Scottish = marine=20 environment.

-=20 Experience of managing environmental education projects and=20 staff.

-=20 Experience of working on boats.

 

salary: The appointee will be = in=20 contracted employment for nine months per year at a starting salary of = =A311,430=20 p.a. (equivalent to =A315, 240 pounds sterling per = annum).

----------------------------------------------------------------= ----

 

 

SKIPPER

 

KEY DUTIES INCLUDE: =

- Running and = maintaining a=20 65ft motor-sailing vessel as an education and research vessel for the=20 Trust.

- Ensuring safe = passage of=20 vessel primarily in West Scottish waters.

- Helping team = leaders to=20 develop and conduct education and research projects with the=20 vessel.

 

DESIRABLE=20 SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS:

- Appropriate = maritime=20 experience and qualifications.

- Practical = experience of=20 running and maintaining vessels of this type.

- Mechanically = competent,=20 experience in electronics and computers.

- = Interest/knowledge of marine=20 conservation, education, survey work, cetaceans useful.

 

salary: =A318,000 per annum = (pounds=20 sterling)

 

----------------------------------------------------------------= ----

 

For further = information about=20 the positions please see

Website at http://www.hwdt.org

 

The Research and Education Department, =

Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust,

Main=20 Street, Tobermory, Isle of=20 Mull PA75 6NU.

E-mail: hwdt(\)sol.co.uk

 

Final application = deadline:=20 18th January=20 2002

 

NB: Non-European = applicants=20 must be able to demonstrate that they hold appropriate visas to work = within the=20 UK.<= /o:p>

 

These posts are = funded by the=20 Heritage Lottery Fund, Scottish Natural Heritage and Argyll and the = Islands=20 Enterprise.

 

------=_NextPart_000_0007_01C18724.D3A71740-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2001 19:25:46 +0000 From: "Stacey V. Jones" Subject: Sea Otter Information Dear Marmamers: I am a undergraduate student in Alaska USA searching for information on Stellar Sea Lion (Eumatopia jubatas)and Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) populations in the EASTERN Stock. All of the information I can seem to find is on WESTERN Stock research. I am doing a Senior project paper next semester and would like to reference some current data in my project. Please contact me if you have any information on where I may obtain copies of current or past research papers (or websites) pertaining to this field. Thank You! Stacey V. Jones 2309 Halibut Point Road #13 Sitka, Alaska USA 99835 907-747-2771 humpback(\)att.net ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2001 00:22:44 EST From: Jeff Lederman Subject: Harbour Seal Internships in BC Wildlife internships with an emphasis on Harbour Seal rescue and rehabilitation are being offered by Island Wildlife Natural Care Centre. Island Wildlife is a charitable organization located on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia. The Centre cares for all indigenous wild animals including 40+ Harbour Seal pups each summer. Island Wildlife specializes in Alternative Medicine (Homeopathy and herbal remedies) along with conventional veterinary protocols. Besides our small staff which includes a full time veterinarian, Dr. Marielle Bonnet, Island Wildlife will be utilizing twelve interns throughout the summer. Interns will be involved in all aspects of animal care, not merely cleaning and food prep. The internships last eight weeks and are on a voluntary basis. However, comfortable accomodations and about 75% of meals will be provided. For more information and an application see our web site. Island Wildlife Natural Care Centre http:// www.sealrescue.org/ iwncc(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2001 10:18:31 -0500 From: Larry Dunn Subject: VETERINARY 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. Entry level familiarity with ultrasound, radiology and endoscopy systems is expected. The initial stipend is $23,500 per annum. The successful applicant will assist in the diagnosis and treatment of medical cases from the Aquarium's extensive collection of invertebrates, fresh and saltwater fishes, penguins, seals, sea lions and beluga whales. In addition the intern will participate in our rescue, rehabilitation, and release program for stranded marine mammals. Collateral opportunities at cooperating area academic, government, and private industry laboratories are encouraged. The intern will have an opportunity to develop teaching skills by his/her involvement in the Aquarium's veterinary externship program and at informal seminars. The intern will pursue one or more clinical or research interests and prepare the results of this study for presentation at an appropriate 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 post baccalaureate programs which he/she has attended, three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant's academic performance and his/her 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 at . The internship period extends from ~1 June 2002 through ~15 June 2003. The application deadline is March 15, 2002. 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: Wed, 19 Dec 2001 18:15:14 +0100 From: Cecile Vincent Subject: Publication ECS Seal Workshop, Valencia 1999 ------ Dear Marmamers, (Sorry for cross-posting) During the 13th ECS Annual conference held in Valencia, April 1999, a Seal Workshop was organized. It was proposed to the speakers to write articles from their presentations, to be published in a special issue of the journal 'Mammalia'. We are happy to inform you that this issue is now available : Mammalia 65 (3), 2001. The papers presented are the following : Ridoux, V. Studies on fragmented and marginal seal populations in Europe : an introduction. 277-282. Lidgard, D.C., O. Kiely, E. Rogan & N. Connoly. The status of breeding grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) on the east and south-east coasts of Ireland. 283-294. Mishin, V.L., S.V. Zyryanov & Y.I. Goryaev. Preliminary insight into the harbour seal population of the east Murman coast of the Barents Sea. 295-300. Pires, R. & H.C. Neves. Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus conservation : a case study in the Desertas Islands. 301-308. Wilson, S.C. Population growth, reproduction rate and neo-natal morbidity in a re-establishing harbour seal colony. 319-334. Wilson, S.C., G. Mo & T. Sipila. Legal protection for seals in small populations in European Community and Mediterranean Coastal Waters. 335-348. Barnett, J & S. Westcott. Distribution, demographics and survivorship of grey seal pups (Halichoerus grypus) rehabilitated in southwest England. 349-361. Vincent, C., L. Meynier & V. Ridoux. Photo-identification in grey seals : legibility and stability of natural markings. 363-372. Caudron, A.K., C.R. Joiris & J.-C. Ruwet. Comparative activity budget among grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) breeding colonies - the importance of marginal populations. 373-382. Mo, G., H. G=FC=E7l=FCsoy, Y. Savas & C. Sigismondi. Pilot study on the u= se of infrared-sensitive video cameras for the continuous monitoring of caves used by Mediterranean monk seals, Monachus monachus. 383-386. Reprints should soon be available FROM THE AUHTORS DIRECTLY. Please do not contact the ECS list or V. Ridoux about reprints. If you wish to order the whole issue you may visit the website of 'Mammalia' : http://www.mnhn.fr/mnhn/meo/mammalia/mammalia.htm Regards Cecile Vincent & Vincent Ridoux -- xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Cecile Vincent & Vincent Ridoux Laboratoire de Biologie et Environnement Marins (LBEM) - EA 3168 Unit=E9 Pr=E9dateurs Sup=E9rieurs Marins Universit=E9 de La Rochelle Avenue Michel crepeau 17000 La Rochelle, France cvincent(\)univ-lr.fr vridoux(\)univ-lr.fr xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2001 07:26:59 +0000 From: Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara Subject: Dolphin - fisheries interactions in the Mediterranean: workshop report available Dear Colleagues This is to inform you that the report of the "Workshop on interactions between dolphins and fisheries in the Mediterranean: evaluation of mitigation alternatives (Roma, 4-5 May 2001)", edited by Randall R. Reeves, Andy Read and myself, is available as a downloadable pdf file on the following location within ICRAM's website: http://www.icram.org/english/nuovo/index.htm Please note that the file size is 424 kb and not 124 kb as indicated. May I take this opportunity to send you my best wishes for the imminent festivities. Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara Presidente, Istituto Centrale per la Ricerca Applicata al Mare (ICRAM) Via di Casalotti 300, 00166 Roma, Italy tel. +39 06 61570412, -405, +39 335 6376035 fax +39 06 61550581 - email: disciara(\)tin.it - www.icram.org ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 24 Dec 2001 05:59:55 -0800 From: Ellie Dickson Subject: Volunteer opportunities in Scotland ------ VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WITH WDCS IN SCOTLAND WDCS, the Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society needs to recruit 4 volunte= ers=20 to be based at the Moray Firth Wildlife Centre (Scotland) from April to=20 September 2002. There are two different posts available - boat-based and Wildlife-Centre= =20 based. In general, applicants will need to have experience working with the publ= ic,=20 good general knowledge of wildlife (knowledge of British wildlife would b= e=20 an advantage), public speaking skills and experience of report writing an= d=20 computing. Accommodation is provided and each volunteer will receive =A345 stirling = per=20 week for expenses. Volunteers will need to pay for their own transport to= =20 and from Scotland. BOAT BASED VOLUNTEERS Two volunteers are required to work on the local dolphin-watching boat,=20 where they will carry out photo-identification of bottlenose dolphins as=20 well as providing interpretation for the public. Good sea legs are a must= ! Duties include: - Photo identification - Environmental interpretation for the public - Public speaking - Helping with events at the Wildlife Centre - Helping with land-based monitoring of dolphins - Helping with WDCS=92s =91Out of the Blue=92 holidays in Scotland WILDLIFE CENTRE VOLUNTEERS The Centre-based volunteers will ideally have experience working with=20 children and organising events. Duties include: - Staffing the Wildlife Centre exhibition - Helping with land-based monitoring of dolphins - Public speaking - giving talks in schools and to the general public - Organising events at the Wildlife Centre, such as World Ocean Day - Helping with WDCS=92s =91Out of the Blue=92 holidays in Scotland Application: Please send a CV and covering letter to Miss Ellie Dickson (WDCS Scottish= =20 Officer), please specify which post/s you re interested in. E-mail: ellie(\)wdcs.org Postal address: Moray Firth Wildlife Centre, Spey Bay, Morayshire, IV32 7PJ, UK. Closing date: 31st January 2002. _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 24 Dec 2001 20:10:06 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Abstract: gray whale foraging (fwd) From: Dave Duffus This article was recently published in Marine Ecology Progrss Series Marine Ecology Progress Series 223:299-310 (2001) Abstract Foraging patterns of gray whales in central Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia, Canada Jason S. Dunham*, David A. Duffus Whale Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Victoria, PO Box 3050, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 3P5, Canada E-mail: jdunham(\)horizon.bc.ca ABSTRACT: Gray whales Eschrichtius robustus forage in parts of Clayoquot Sound on several prey species in different habitats. Between June and September in 1996 and 1997 we carried out analyses of the density, biomass, and other measures of their primary prey species, and of whales' movement patterns in response to prey characteristics. The prey base consists of hyper-benthic mysids (family Mysidae), pelagic porcelain crab larvae (4 spp. of family Porcellanidae), benthic amphipods (family Ampeliscidae) and benthic ghost shrimp Callianassa californiensis. Whales foraged primarily for mysids, switching to porcelain crab larvae in August, and then to amphipods even later in the season when these organisms increased in body size. In 1997, whales rapidly switched from feeding on planktonic to benthic prey during mid-August. Sampling indicated low numbers of mysids and crab larvae at that time. Selection of amphipod prey was based on high biomass and a high proportion of individuals [greater equal]6 mm in length. In parts of the study area gray whales did not return to forage on benthic amphipods when this size criteria was not met. A single whale departed from a ghost shrimp feeding ground because its search time for food was long, it achieved only a low biomass removal rate, and it was not able to find sufficient food each day. We show that gray whales are dynamic and selective foragers that switch prey and foraging tactics rapidly to take advantage of short-term availability of energy. KEY WORDS: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus, Prey selection, Prey-switching Plankton, Benthos,Clayoquot Sound ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2001 11:33:50 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Bahamas beaked whale stranding report available (fwd) Interim Findings on the Stranding of Beaked Whales in the Bahamas - December 20, 2001 NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Navy today released the interim report on the March 2000 stranding of 17 marine mammals in the Bahamas. A copy of the report can be obtained as a PDF file from: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/overview/New.html The report states that this stranding event was caused by the unusual combination of several contributory factors acting together: specific oceanographic features, unusual bathymetry, presence of beaked whales and a specific sound source. Review of passive acoustic data ruled out volcanic eruptions, landslides, other seismic events, and explosive blasts. The unusual extended use of Navy midrange tactical sonars operating in the area is the most plausible acoustic source. On March 15 and 16, 2000, a stranding of seventeen marine mammals of several species was discovered along the Northeast and Northwest Providence Channels on Bahamian Islands. The strandings took place within 24 hours of U.S. Navy ships using active midrange sonar for an unusually extended period, as they passed through the Northeast and Northwest Providence Channels. Six of the whales died after stranding on beaches. One dolphin stranded and died of unrelated causes. Ten whales were returned to the sea alive. Specimen samples were collected from four dead whales. Three whales showed signs of bleeding in the inner ears and one whale showed signs of bleeding around the brain. An unusual combination of specific physical oceanographic features, bathymetry, presence of beaked whales, and specific sound sources were present. While the precise causal mechanisms of tissue damage are unknown, available evidence points to acoustic or impulse trauma. Review of passive acoustic data ruled out volcanic eruptions, landslides, other seismic events, and explosive blasts. The unusual extended use of Navy midrange tactical sonars operating in the area is the most plausible acoustic source. The investigation team concludes that the cause of this stranding event was the confluence of these contributory factors acting together. Research should focus on identifying such highly unusual but problematic combinations so they can be avoided. The actual mechanisms by which these sonar sounds could have caused animals to strand, or their tissues to be damaged, have not yet been determined, but research is under way. This research, along with other research on the impacts of sonar sounds on marine mammals, increased knowledge of marine mammal densities, increased knowledge of causes of beaked whale strandings, increased knowledge of beaked whale anatomy, physiology and medicine, and further research on sonar propagation, will provide valuable information for determining which combinations of factors are most likely to cause another mass stranding event. Low Frequency Active sonar had no involvement in this event. To the maximum extent practical, the Navy will adopt measures in its future peacetime operations and training, including the use of tactical mid-range sonars, to avoid injuring or harassing marine mammals. The report recommends the Navy and NOAA research the mechanisms by which sonar sounds affect marine mammal tissue or behavior (the report lists 15 different projects). The report also recommends the Navy put into place mitigation measures that will protect animals but not jeopardize national security. The Navy will include, when possible, Bahamian scientists and qualified individuals as participants in future surveys involving marine mammal research in Bahamian territorial waters. Navy and NOAA will also invite Bahamian participation in future marine mammal workshops and conferences. This is an interim report; Conclusions and recommendations appearing therein could change somewhat as final results become available. For further information regarding the biological studies contact: Gordon Helm or Connie Barclay - NOAA Fisheries (301)713-2370 For further information regarding the Navy=92s use of sonar and the recommended mitigation measures contact: Lt. Pauline Storum or Lt. Patrick McNally - U.S. Navy (703)692-6705/6706/6707 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2001 16:25:57 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Hawaiian Monk Seal Field Research Positions (fwd) Aquatic Farms provides Scientific Support Services to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Honolulu Laboratory and is soliciting cover letters and resumes for the upcoming 2002 field research season to study the endangered Hawaiian monk seal in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. 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 & spew samples for food habitat analysis; collecting tissue samples for DNA analysis; collecting & 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.nmfs.hawaii.edu/psi/psi_mammals.htm There are two primary periods of employment available: mid-February to mid-August, and mid-April to mid-August, though some positions may last until September. IMPORTANT: Please specify in your cover letter the dates you are available. The first 3 weeks of employment are spent in Honolulu training and packing, and the last 2 weeks are also spent in Honolulu to clean up gear and summarize data. Food and lodging in Honolulu are not provided; a listing of potential housing options is available. Transportation from Honolulu to and from the field site, food, 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. Please submit a cover letter and resume with employment history, education history, the names and phone numbers of three work related references to: Aquatic Farms Kathy Ciulla, Coordinator Email: officeafl(\)aol.com Phone (808) 239 2929 Fax (808) 239 8436 The National Marine Fisheries Service Project Leader is: Jason Baker, Leader Hawaiian Monk Seal Assessment Program Email: Jason.Baker(\)noaa.gov Phone (808) 983-5711 Fax: (808) 983-2902 Resumes sent to the NMFS will be forwarded to Aquatic Farms. Applicants will be considered for either Biological Technician I or II positions. Biological Technician II (monthly salary $2567 + overtime) One Biological Technician II serves as the senior person in a field camp. Leads field personnel in camp preparation, collection, entry and editing of data. Responsible for quality and timeliness of the field team's work. Responsible for maintaining a safe working environment for field personnel. Responsible for ensuring all necessary equipment and supplies for remote research camp are prepared. 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 return of 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. Produces annual report at end of field season. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's or Associates degree with 2 years field experience (5 yrs experience may be substituted for the education requirements). Good communication, leadership and decision-making skills. Working knowledge of personal computers including use of word processing, spreadsheets, and databases. 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. Desirable qualities include prior field experience in a Hawaiian monk seal field camp. Previous experience in field or laboratory studies of marine mammals, previous experience handling marine mammals, working knowledge of computers, prefer applicants interested in pursuing career in marine mammalogy or related field. Ability to perform basic data analysis. Ability to operate small boat and conduct routine maintenance. Biological Technician I (monthly salary $2000 + overtime) One or two Biological Technician I's participate in each field camp. Under guidance of Biological Technician II and/or NMFS personnel, assists in camp preparation, collection, entry and editing of data. Maintains a safe working environment for field personnel. Participates in daily maintenance and operation of field camp. Collects census and life history data on Hawaiian monk seals. Conducts boating operations at multiple-island atolls. Assists with return, repair and clean-up of field equipment and supplies at the end of camp. Minimum Qualifications: High school graduate or equivalent with 3 years field experience. Good communication and team skills. Working knowledge of personal computers including use of word processing, spreadsheets, and databases. 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. Desirable qualities include prior field experience in a Hawaiian monk seal field camp. Previous experience in field or laboratory studies of marine mammals, previous experience handling marine mammals, working knowledge of computers, previous data entry experience, prefer applicants interested in pursuing career in marine mammalogy or related field. Ability to operate small boat and conduct routine maintenance. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2001 10:43:36 -0800 From: "David S. Janiger" Subject: Contents to the Journal Mammalia boundary="=====================_3443663==_.ALT" --=====================_3443663==_.ALT Full contents to the Journal "Mammalia" Seal Workshop - 13th European Cetacean Society Annual Conference 5 Apr=20 1999, Valencia, Spain. RIDOUX, V. MAMMALIA 65(3):277-282. 2001. Studies on fragmented and marginal seal populations in Europe: An= introduction. * Laboratoire de Biologie et Environnement Marins, E.A. 3168, Universite de= La Rochelle, 23, avenue Albert-Einstein, F-17071 La Rochelle cedex 9. No abstract LIDGARD, D. C.; O. KIELY; E. ROGAN and N. CONNOLLY. MAMMALIA 65(3):283-294. 2001. The status of breeding grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) on the east and=20 south-east coasts of Ireland. *Coastal Resources Centre, National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland. A two year survey was conducted to estimate the population status of grey seals on the east and south-east coasts of Ireland and to document the types of habitat used. Surveys were concentrated around the known breeding sites of Lambay Island on the east coast and the Great Saltee on the south-east coast, during the breeding seasons of 1997 and 1998. The standard technique of through-counting was used to estimate pup production and mortality. Population estimates were calculated from the total pup production using the multipliers given in the grey seal life-history table. The total grey seal pup production was estimated at 41 and 49 for the east coast group, and 100 and 128 for the south-east group in 1997 and 1998, respectively. The population estimate for the east coast group was between 172 and 221 and between 448 and 576 for the south-east group. Estimated pup mortality for the east coast group was 7.3% and 2.0% and 3.0% and 8.6% for the south-east group in 1997 and 1998, respectively. Most pups were found on beaches, however data from the Great Saltee suggests that beach-cave sites were the preferred habitat early in the breeding season. This study has provided up-to-date information on an otherwise little studied marginal colony. Keywords: pinnipeds, population ecology, pup production, pup mortality, habitat use, Irish Sea, Celtic Sea, grey seals, Ireland. MISHIN, V. L.; S. V. ZYRYANOV and YU. I. GORYAEV. MAMMALIA 65(3):295-300. 2001. Preliminary insight into the harbour seal population of the east Murman coast of the Barents Sea. *Murmansk Marine Biology Institute, Vladimirskaya Ul. 18, Murmansk 183010 Russia. No abstract PIRES, R. and H. C. NEVES. MAMMALIA 65(3):301-308. 2001. Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus conservation: A case study in the Desertas Islands. *Parque Natural da Madeira - Quinta do Bom Sucesso, Caminho do Meio - 9050 Funchal, Portugal. The population of monk seals Monachus monachus on the Desertas Islands started to decline dramatically after the 1970s, hence the introduction of a project for the conservation of the species in 1988. Since then measures have been taken to achieve effective protection of those islands, and environmental education, monitoring and research programmes have been carried out. Methodologies used have been as non-intrusive as possible. Ten years later, the results have proved to be very positive. The monk seal, as well as its habitat, are adequately protected and the population, estimated at 20 individuals, is now on the increase with the growing number of births. With regard to the finding of biological and ecological data on the species, although somehow limited, it has been sufficient to help establish the most suitable strategies for the protection and conservation of the monk seal on the Desertas Islands. Keywords: Monk seals, Desertas, protection, conservation. GLAIN, D.; S. KOTOMATAS and S. ADAMANTOPOULOU. MAMMALIA 65(3):309-317. 2001. Fishermen and seal conservation: Survey of attitudes towards monk seals in Greece and grey seals in Cornwall. *MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal 18 Solomou Str., 10682 Atherns, Greece. Two studies, carried out independently, investigated the seal-fisheries interactions for the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus in Greece and the grey seal Halichoerus grypus in Cornwall, England. In both countries the attitude of fishermen towards seals, the problems of the fishery sector and proposed solutions were recorded. Fishermen and fishery-related officials were interviewed. The results provide evidence that seals do have an impact on fishermen activities leading to a loss of profit. Even though, 61.5% of fishermen in Greece and 83% in Cornwall complained that seals have an adverse effection their activities, they do not consider seals as their most important problem. The results, concerning suggested solutions to the seal issue, show that fishermen are open to initiatives which may not only address their problems, but also the seal conservation issues. Keywords: Seal conservation, fishermen, Greece, Cornwall, Mediterranean monk seal, grey seal. WILSON, S. C. MAMMALIA 65(3):319-334. 2001. Population growth, reproductive rate and neo-natal morbidity in a re-establishing harbour seal colony. *School of Biology and Biochemistry, Queens University of Belfast. Harbour Seals, Phoca vitulina vitulina, were exterminated from the Tees estuary in north-east England during the industrial revolution in the middle of the 19th century. Industrial chemical plants now occupy reclaimed land on much of the former estuarine sand flats. Since the 1980s a breeding colony of harbour seals has been re-establishing together with a small, non-breeding group of grey seals, Halichoerus grypus. Between 1989 and 1997 the harbour seals increased from about 24 to 50 individuals, although the birth rate has been < 10% of the population. Of 12 pups born live between 1989 and 1997, seven have stranded in a moribund condition, while five have appeared healthy at approximately one month of age. Observations of the seven non-viable pups revealed a common pattern of apparently normal maternal care, but gradual weakening of the pup with progresse inability to follows its mother preceding the final stranding. Analyses for chemical contaminants of the tissues of the first three pups revealed elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyl compounds (PCBs) in the blubber. Analyses of local fish and invertebrates revealed elevated levels of PCBs. A possible causal link between the elevated PCB levels and the poor reproductive performance is suggested. Keywords: Phoca vitulina, N-E England, breeding colony, PCBs contaminants. WILSON, S. C.; G. MO and T. SIPILA. MAMMALIA 65(3):335-348. 2001. Legal protection for seals in small populations in European community and Mediterranean coastal waters. *School of Biology and Biochemistry, Queens University of Belfast. The paper considers the present legal protection within the EU for seals living in small nuclei. The species concerned fall into two main groups in respect of their current conservation status as determined by the IUCN Animal Red List Criteria. First we discuss small nuclei of seals of species or subspecies which have relatively large total populations and which are considered to have an overall favourable conservation status and be =ABlow risk=BB. These are the grey seal Halichoerus grypus and the harbour seal Phoca vitulina vitulina. Along with these species we also consider the Baltic ringed seal, Phoca hispida botnica, which is classed as =ABvulnerable=BB. Secondly we discuss nuclei of =ABendangered=BB seal species. These are the Saimaa ringed seal Phoca hispida saimensis and the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus. We conclude that although there are provisions for the protection of small nuclei of seals in the principal international legal instruments (the 1979 Berne Convention and the 1992 Habitats Directive), these provisions are not always being fully implemented in domestic law. Keywords: Legal protection, seals living in small nuclei. BARNETT, J. and S. WESTCOTT MAMMALIA 65(3):349-361. 2001. Distribution, demographics and survivorship of grey seal pups (Halichoerus grypus) rehabilitated in southwest England. *National Seal Sanctuary, Gweek, Helston, Cornwall TR 12 6 UG, England. One hundred and eighty eight live grey seal pups from the coasts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and the Isles of Scilly were presented for rehabilitation to the National Seal Sanctuary, Gweek, Cornwall, between August 1992 and February 1998. Significantly more male than female pups were seen (p < 0.05). Approximately one quarter of the pups presented were definitely pre-weaned, and the time of year these were presented paralleled the protracted breeding season of the grey seal in southwest England. Sixty nine percent of pups were presented between October and December, and rough seas during these months were a probable contributory factor. Over half the pre-weaned pups were found within 2 miles of known breeding sites, but the distribution pattern of weaned pups was likely to have been complicated by dispersal of locally born pups and influx of pups from other populations. One hundred and fifty two grey seal pups were returned to the wild during the 6-year study period, with trauma being the most common cause of mortality in those that did not survive. It is difficult to draw any specific conclusions about the impact of the rehabilitation programme on the fragmented grey seal populations of the region without improved post release monitoring. Suggestions for such improvements are outlined. Keywords: grey seal, pups, pre-weaned, trauma, rehabilitation. VINCENT, C.; L. MEYNIER and V. RIDOUX. MAMMALIA 65(3):363-372. 2001. Photo-identification in grey seals: Legibility and stability of natural markings. *Laboratoire d'Etudes des Mammiferes Marins, Oceanopolis, BP 411, 29275 Brest Cedex, France. The stability of natural markings is critical to all photo-identification studies. In this study we assessed the stability of naturel pelage markings in grey seals, comparing visually a series of photos taken from a small population over several years. We observed that the pattern tends to darken with age, and that this process seems to occur more quickly in the first years of life. Consequently the pattern legibility is reinforced in females, showing dark spots on a white background. In contrast, patterns in males (being originally darker) tend to become completely black and difficult to distinguish. The proportion of seals identifiable from their pelage markings, information needed for estimating population size, was also assessed. Sixty-three percent of all the seals around the haulout sites could be photo-identified (100% of the females and 44% of the males). Keywords: grey seal, Halichoerus grypus, natural marking, pelage pattern, photo-identification, visual matching. CAUDRON, A. K.; C. R.JOIRIS and J. -C. RUWET. MAMMALIA 65(3):373-382. 2001. Comparative activity budget among grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) breeding colonies - the importance of marginal populations. *Service d'Ethologie, Universite de Liege, Institut de Zoologie, 22 quai Van Beneden, B-4020 Liege, Belgium. Grey seals breed in a wide range of littoral environments and are thus suitable for investigating the mechanisms of behavioural adaptation under environmental influences. However, most studies of grey seal behaviour, energetics and mating strategies only focus on the typical breeding colony of this species: a large (more than 1,000 seals) and dense land-based group. In this study, we measured the activity budget of reproductive individuals in such a typical colony and in three poorly known colonies, considered marginal by their geographic location, their small size (less then 500 individuals) or their environmental characteristics. The variation of activity among the studied colonies appears to be significant and could be shaped by the major environmental differences observed between these colonies (mainly topographical), supporting a previously raised hypothesis (Anderson and Harwood 1985). In one of the marginal colonies studied here, grey seals spend more than 40% of their breeding time in the water while in others, they stay on land for several weeks of reproduction. This type of difference might influence individuals energy balance and mating strategy. We suggest that the understanding of the grey seal behavioural plasticity is unlikely to be complete without integrating data on marginal populations. Keywords: grey seal, time budget, topography, behavioural plasticity. MO, G.; H. GUCLUSOY; Y. SAVAS and C. SIGISMONDI. MAMMALIA 65(3):383-386. 2001. Pilot study on the use of infrared-sensitive video cameras for the continuous monitoring of caves used by Mediterranean monk seals, Monachus monachus. *Gruppo Foca Monaca, c/o WWF Italy (World Wildlife Fund - Italy), Via Po 25 C, 00198 Rome, Italy. No abstract Most PDF's available; request to janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu David S. Janiger - Curatorial Assistant (Mammals) Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007 (213) 763-3369 janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu --=====================_3443663==_.ALT Full contents to the Journal "Mammalia"

Seal Workshop - 13th European Cetacean Society Annual Conference 5 Apr 1999, Valencia, Spain.

RIDOUX, V.
MAMMALIA 65(3):277-282. 2001.
Studies on fragmented and marginal seal populations in Europe: An introduction.

* Laboratoire de Biologie et Environnement Marins, E.A. 3168, Universite de La
 Rochelle, 23, avenue Albert-Einstein, F-17071 La Rochelle cedex 9.

No abstract


LIDGARD, D. C.; O. KIELY; E. ROGAN and N. CONNOLLY.
MAMMALIA 65(3):283-294. 2001.
The status of breeding grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) on the east and south-east coasts of Ireland.

*Coastal Resources Centre, National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland.

A two year survey was conducted to estimate the population status
of grey seals on the east and south-east coasts of Ireland and to
document the types of habitat used. Surveys were concentrated
around the known breeding sites of Lambay Island on the east coast
and the Great Saltee on the south-east coast, during the breeding
seasons of 1997 and 1998. The standard technique of=20 through-counting
was used to estimate pup production and mortality. Population
estimates were calculated from the total pup production using the
multipliers given in the grey seal life-history table. The total
grey seal pup production was estimated at 41 and 49 for the east
coast group, and 100 and 128 for the south-east group in 1997 and
1998, respectively. The population estimate for the east coast
group was between 172 and 221 and between 448 and 576 for the
south-east group. Estimated pup mortality for the east coast group
was 7.3% and 2.0% and 3.0% and 8.6% for the south-east group in
1997 and 1998, respectively. Most pups were found on beaches,
however data from the Great Saltee suggests that beach-cave sites
were the preferred habitat early in the breeding season. This study
has provided up-to-date information on an otherwise little studied
marginal colony.

Keywords: pinnipeds, population ecology, pup production, pup
mortality, habitat use, Irish Sea, Celtic Sea, grey seals, Ireland.


MISHIN, V. L.; S. V. ZYRYANOV and YU. I. GORYAEV.
MAMMALIA 65(3):295-300. 2001.
Preliminary insight into the harbour seal population of the east
Murman coast of the Barents Sea.

*Murmansk Marine Biology Institute, Vladimirskaya Ul. 18, Murmansk
183010 Russia.

No abstract


PIRES, R. and H. C. NEVES.
MAMMALIA 65(3):301-308. 2001.
Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus conservation: A case=20 study
in the Desertas Islands.

*Parque Natural da Madeira - Quinta do Bom Sucesso, Caminho do Meio
 - 9050 Funchal, Portugal.

The population of monk seals Monachus monachus on the Desertas Islands
started to decline dramatically after the 1970s, hence the introduction
of a project for the conservation of the species in 1988. Since=20 then
measures have been taken to achieve effective protection of those
islands, and environmental education, monitoring and research programmes
have been carried out. Methodologies used have been as non-intrusive as
possible. Ten years later, the results have proved to be very positive.
The monk seal, as well as its habitat, are adequately protected and the
population, estimated at 20 individuals, is now on the increase with the
growing number of births. With regard to the finding of biological and
ecological data on the species, although somehow limited, it has been
sufficient to help establish the most suitable strategies for the
protection and conservation of the monk seal on the Desertas Islands.

Keywords: Monk seals, Desertas, protection, conservation.


GLAIN, D.; S. KOTOMATAS and S. ADAMANTOPOULOU.
MAMMALIA 65(3):309-317. 2001.
Fishermen and seal conservation: Survey of attitudes towards monk seals
in Greece and grey seals in Cornwall.

*MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal 18
Solomou Str., 10682 Atherns, Greece.

Two studies, carried out independently, investigated the seal-fisheries
interactions for the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus in
Greece and the grey seal Halichoerus grypus in Cornwall, England.=20 In
both countries the attitude of fishermen towards seals, the=20 problems
of the fishery sector and proposed solutions were recorded. Fishermen
and fishery-related officials were interviewed. The results provide
evidence that seals do have an impact on fishermen activities leading
to a loss of profit. Even though, 61.5% of fishermen in Greece and 83%
in Cornwall complained that seals have an adverse effection their
activities, they do not consider seals as their most important problem.
The results, concerning suggested solutions to the seal issue, show
that fishermen are open to initiatives which may not only address their
problems, but also the seal conservation issues.

Keywords: Seal conservation, fishermen, Greece, Cornwall, Mediterranean
monk seal, grey seal.


WILSON, S. C.
MAMMALIA 65(3):319-334. 2001.
Population growth, reproductive rate and neo-natal morbidity in a
re-establishing harbour seal colony.

*School of Biology and Biochemistry, Queens University of Belfast.

Harbour Seals, Phoca vitulina vitulina, were exterminated from the
Tees estuary in north-east England during the industrial revolution
in the middle of the 19th century. Industrial chemical plants now
occupy reclaimed land on much of the former estuarine sand flats.
Since the 1980s a breeding colony of harbour seals has been
re-establishing together with a small, non-breeding group of grey
seals, Halichoerus grypus. Between 1989 and 1997 the harbour seals
increased from about 24 to 50 individuals, although the birth rate
has been < 10% of the population.
Of 12 pups born live between 1989 and 1997, seven have stranded in
a moribund condition, while five have appeared healthy at
approximately one month of age. Observations of the seven=20 non-viable
pups revealed a common pattern of apparently normal maternal care,
but gradual weakening of the pup with progresse inability to=20 follows
its mother preceding the final stranding. Analyses for chemical
contaminants of the tissues of the first three pups revealed
elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyl compounds (PCBs) in the
blubber. Analyses of local fish and invertebrates revealed elevated
levels of PCBs. A possible causal link between the elevated PCB
levels and the poor reproductive performance is suggested.
 
Keywords: Phoca vitulina, N-E England, breeding colony, PCBs
contaminants.


WILSON, S. C.; G. MO and T. SIPILA.
MAMMALIA 65(3):335-348. 2001.
Legal protection for seals in small populations in European community
and Mediterranean coastal waters.

*School of Biology and Biochemistry, Queens University of Belfast.

The paper considers the present legal protection within the EU for
seals living in small nuclei. The species concerned fall into two
main groups in respect of their current conservation status as
determined by the IUCN Animal Red List Criteria. First we discuss
small nuclei of seals of species or subspecies which have=20 relatively
large total populations and which are considered to have an overall
favourable conservation status and be =ABlow risk=BB. These are the=20 grey
seal Halichoerus grypus and the harbour seal Phoca vitulina vitulina.
Along with these species we also consider the Baltic ringed seal,
Phoca hispida botnica, which is classed as =ABvulnerable=BB. Secondly=20 we
discuss nuclei of =ABendangered=BB seal species. These are the Saimaa
ringed seal Phoca hispida saimensis and the Mediterranean monk seal
Monachus monachus. We conclude that although there are provisions
for the protection of small nuclei of seals in the principal
international legal instruments (the 1979 Berne Convention and the
1992 Habitats Directive), these provisions are not always being fully
implemented in domestic law.

Keywords: Legal protection, seals living in small nuclei.


BARNETT, J. and S. WESTCOTT
MAMMALIA 65(3):349-361. 2001.
Distribution, demographics and survivorship of grey seal pups
(Halichoerus grypus) rehabilitated in southwest England.

*National Seal Sanctuary, Gweek, Helston, Cornwall TR 12 6 UG, England.

One hundred and eighty eight live grey seal pups from the coasts of
Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and the Isles of Scilly were presented for
rehabilitation to the National Seal Sanctuary, Gweek, Cornwall,
between August 1992 and February 1998. Significantly more male than
female pups were seen (p < 0.05). Approximately one quarter of the
pups presented were definitely pre-weaned, and the time of year
these were presented paralleled the protracted breeding season of
the grey seal in southwest England. Sixty nine percent of pups were
presented between October and December, and rough seas during these
months were a probable contributory factor. Over half the=20 pre-weaned
pups were found within 2 miles of known breeding sites, but the
distribution pattern of weaned pups was likely to have been
complicated by dispersal of locally born pups and influx of pups
from other populations. One hundred and fifty two grey seal pups
were returned to the wild during the 6-year study period, with
trauma being the most common cause of mortality in those that did
not survive. It is difficult to draw any specific conclusions about
the impact of the rehabilitation programme on the fragmented grey
seal populations of the region without improved post release
monitoring. Suggestions for such improvements are outlined.

Keywords: grey seal, pups, pre-weaned, trauma, rehabilitation.


VINCENT, C.; L. MEYNIER and V. RIDOUX.
MAMMALIA 65(3):363-372. 2001.
Photo-identification in grey seals: Legibility and stability of
natural markings.

*Laboratoire d'Etudes des Mammiferes Marins, Oceanopolis, BP 411,
29275 Brest Cedex, France.

The stability of natural markings is critical to all photo-identification
studies. In this study we assessed the stability of naturel pelage
markings in grey seals, comparing visually a series of photos taken
from a small population over several years. We observed that the
pattern tends to darken with age, and that this process seems to
occur more quickly in the first years of life. Consequently the
pattern legibility is reinforced in females, showing dark spots on
a white background. In contrast, patterns in males (being=20 originally
darker) tend to become completely black and difficult to distinguish.
The proportion of seals identifiable from their pelage markings,
information needed for estimating population size, was also assessed.
Sixty-three percent of all the seals around the haulout sites could
be photo-identified (100% of the females and 44% of the males).

Keywords: grey seal, Halichoerus grypus, natural marking, pelage
pattern, photo-identification, visual matching.


CAUDRON, A. K.; C. R.JOIRIS and J. -C. RUWET.
MAMMALIA 65(3):373-382. 2001.
Comparative activity budget among grey seal (Halichoerus grypus)
breeding colonies - the importance of marginal populations.

*Service d'Ethologie, Universite de Liege, Institut de Zoologie,
22 quai Van Beneden, B-4020 Liege, Belgium.

Grey seals breed in a wide range of littoral environments and are
thus suitable for investigating the mechanisms of behavioural
adaptation under environmental influences. However, most studies
of grey seal behaviour, energetics and mating strategies only
focus on the typical breeding colony of this species: a large
(more than 1,000 seals) and dense land-based group. In this study,
we measured the activity budget of reproductive individuals in
such a typical colony and in three poorly known colonies,
considered marginal by their geographic location, their small size
(less then 500 individuals) or their environmental characteristics.
The variation of activity among the studied colonies appears to be
significant and could be shaped by the major environmental
differences observed between these colonies (mainly topographical),
supporting a previously raised hypothesis (Anderson and Harwood
1985). In one of the marginal colonies studied here, grey seals
spend more than 40% of their breeding time in the water while in
others, they stay on land for several weeks of reproduction. This
type of difference might influence individuals energy balance and
mating strategy. We suggest that the understanding of the grey seal
behavioural plasticity is unlikely to be complete without integrating
data on marginal populations.

Keywords: grey seal, time budget, topography, behavioural plasticity.


MO, G.; H. GUCLUSOY; Y. SAVAS and C. SIGISMONDI.
MAMMALIA 65(3):383-386. 2001.
Pilot study on the use of infrared-sensitive video cameras for
the continuous monitoring of caves used by Mediterranean monk
seals, Monachus monachus.

*Gruppo Foca Monaca, c/o WWF Italy (World Wildlife Fund - Italy),
Via Po 25 C, 00198 Rome, Italy.

No abstract


Most PDF's available; request to janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu

David S. Janiger - Curatorial Assistant (Mammals)
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 Exposition Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90007
(213) 763-3369
janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu --=====================_3443663==_.ALT-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2001 16:14:10 -0600 From: Chad Lefferson Organization: NOAA Subject: Marine Mammal Aerial Survey Observer Aerial Observer Johnson Controls World Services 3209 Frederic Street Pascagoula, MS 39567 Responsibilities: Johnson Controls has an excellent opportunity for a Marine Mammal Observer. The successful candidate will participate in marine mammal abundance studies on aerial surveys from January 15, 2002 to March 1, 2002 for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The aerial surveys will be conducted from several locations along the Atlantic seaboard. Aerial observer experience is preferred. Individuals will be personable with excellent communication skills. Qualifications: Qualified individuals must have at least a BS degree and aerial survey experience. Requires ability to operate Government-owned vehicles. Candidates must be a natural U.S. Citizen or a non-U.S. Citizen with at least 5 years of continuous residency in the U.S. Ideal candidates meet these minimum requirements and are flexible and easy to get along with. Salary: Competitive salary with other observer opportunities. Closing Date: January 5, 2002 Contact: Chad Lefferson Project Manager Email: chad.Lefferson(\)noaa.gov Phone (228) 762-4591, x273 Fax (228) 769-92000 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2001 11:42:40 +0000 From: "M.E.E.R. e.V." Subject: M.E.E.R. field courses, springtime 2002 Dear Marmamers! The association M.E.E.R. announces it's next field courses in the Canary Islands: "Assisting in field research of the project M.E.E.R. La Gomera". The project M.E.E.R. La Gomera is conducting a study on the interactions between cetaceans and whale watching boats since several years. The paricipants of this 2-weeks practical courses will get an insight into the behavioural research conducted from whale watching boats operating off the island of La Gomera. In this area, 21 cetaceans species could be identified during the last few years. The course includes a full training program: the theory and practice of behavioural research will be learned and profound background information on whale watching will be given. The research is embedded in conservation efforts aiming at the preservation and promotion of whale watching as a sustainable use of cetaceans and the establishment of a marine sanctuary in the waters off La Gomera. M.E.E.R. La Gomera was honoured in 2001 with the international environmental award "Tourismus und Umwelt", which is granted since 1987 by the German Association of Travel Agencies and Travel Operators (DRV). As was said during the bestowal, the project "realises new ways of co-operation of research and tourism in an exemplary and innovative way". Please have a look at our homepage www.1travel.de/meer Two courses are offered during the 2002 springtime field season: 24 April - 08 May and 10 May - 24 May. The price is 765.- EURO including 7 whale watching research excursions, accommodation, full training program, scientific supervision, donation to M.E.E.R. e.V., certificate of attendance. For further information, booking, etc., please send an e-mail to Fabian Ritter: meer(\)infocanarias.com Please have a look at our homepage www.m-e-e-r.de _____________________________________ The non-profit association M.E.E.R. is registred and based in Berlin. The objectives of the association are conservation, research and education in order to protect cetaceans in their natural habitats. Our work aims at increasing the public awareness for the oceans and to present ways how humans can deal with nature in a responsible way. Our co-operation partners are the "Deutsche Umwelthilfe" (Radolfzell/Germany) "Gesellschaft zur Rettung der Delphine" (Munich/Germany), "Vier Pfoten (Hamburg/Germany) " and the "Club de Mar" (whale watching operator/La Gomera).