========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 16:16:31 -0400 Reply-To: lrendell(\)is2.dal.ca From: Luke Rendell Subject: Abstract: Vocal clans in sperm whales Colleagues, The following paper has been published online on the FirstCite service of the Royal Society (available through http://www.pubs.royalsoc.ac.uk/); it is scheduled to appear in print in February. Anyone unable to access the website can email me (lrendell(\)dal.ca) for a pdf. Cheers, Luke Title: Vocal clans in sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) Author(s): Rendell and Whitehead Source: Proceedings: Biological Sciences DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2002.2239 Publisher: The Royal Society Abstract: Cultural transmission may be a significant source of variation in the behaviour of whales and dolphins, especially as regards their vocal signals. We studied variation in the vocal output of 'codas' by sperm whale social groups. Codas are patterns of clicks used by female sperm whales in social circumstances. The coda repertoires of all known social units (n = 18, each consisting of about 11 females and immatures with long-term relationships) and 61 out of 64 groups (about two social units moving together for periods of days) that were recorded in the South Pacific and Caribbean between 1985 and 2000 can be reliably allocated into six acoustic 'clans', five in the Pacific and one in the Caribbean. Clans have ranges that span thousands of kilometres, are sympatric, contain many thousands of whales and most probably result from cultural transmission of vocal patterns. Units seem to form groups preferentially with other units of their own clan. We suggest that this is a rare example of sympatric cultural variation on an oceanic scale. Culture may thus be a more important determinant of sperm whale population structure than genes or geography, a finding that has major implications for our understanding of the species' behavioural and population biology. Luke Rendell Dept of Biology Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1 CANADA NOTE NEW E-mail : lrendell(\)dal.ca Tel : (902) 494 3723 WWW : http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 15:13:11 -0500 From: seamamms Subject: SEAMAMMS 2003 call for papers Greetings This is the first call for papers for the 2003 SouthEast and Mid-Atlantic Marine Mammal Symposium (SEAMAMMS) to be held March 28-30, 2003 at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia. Presentations and posters will be accepted. Presentations should be limited to fifteen minutes, as there will be a five minute question period after each. Awards will be given for best student presentations. Abstracts submitted for review should be no more than 250 words in length, and be in MS Word format. Full formatting information may be found at http://users.cnu.edu/~seamamms/abstract.htm . Further information on the conference may be found at http://users.cnu.edu/~seamamms/ Questions may be sent to: Kevin Foss - seamamms(\)cnu.edu. Thank you for your interest! ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 11:19:03 -0800 From: Dawn Goley Subject: Job Announcement - Physiologist Position Humboldt State University is seeking applicants for the following position: Tenure Track Vertebrate Physiologist. Professional Duties: The primary responsibilities will be to teach an upper division course in Animal Physiology and lower division service courses in Human Physiology. Other course assignments (e.g., Principles of Biology and General Zoology) are possible and will be determined on the basis of the candidate's experience and departmental needs. The successful candidate will be encouraged to develop specialty upper division/graduate courses in his or her field of expertise (e.g., ecological physiology, endocrinology, immunology, cardiovascular physiology, bioenergetics, etc.). Additional duties include advising undergraduate and graduate students and otherwise assisting in the functioning of the department. Development of an active research program involving both undergraduate and graduate students is expected. Professional Qualifications: A Ph.D. in Biology/Physiology from an accredited university or college is required at the time of appointment. We seek a broadly-trained vertebrate physiologist who will be able to interact productively with other departmental faculty and their graduate students. Prior teaching experience is also required, at least at the graduate assistant level. Dedication to superior instruction of undergraduates is a long-standing tradition at Humboldt State University and is the primary criterion in promotion and tenure considerations. The Department of Biological Sciences is known for providing students with balanced and well-rounded 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 (majors, general education students, etc.). Candidates whose characteristics and qualifications also suit them to prepare individuals to function in a culturally and ethnically diverse society are especially encouraged to apply. For more information please see the HSU website (http://www.humboldt.edu/~biosci/positions.htm) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dawn Goley Associate 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, 8 Jan 2003 00:47:02 +0100 From: Jan Herrmann Subject: Contents: Marine Mammal Science Vol 19(1) ------ Dear all, Marine Mammal Science Vol 19(1) has the following table of contents. By clicking the following link you are guided to Allen Press, where you can find Abstracts and contact information: http://www.cetacea.de/mms/19_1.html Users of the Papyrus Bibliography System (Mac and DOS/Windows) can download the references with abstracts and contact information from http://www.cetacea.de/mms. Please do not contact MARMAM, the MARMAM editors or me for reprints. Thank you. Kindest Regards, Jan Herrmann ------ Marine Mammal Science Vol. 19(1) ------ Dolar, M.L.L. et al. 2003. Comparative feeding ecology of spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) and Fraser's dolphins (Lagenodelphis hosei) in the Sulu Sea. Marine Mammal Science 19(1): 1-19. Oswald, J.N., J. Barlow, and T.F. Norris. 2003. Acoustic identification of nine delphinid species in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Marine Mammal Science 19(1): 20-37. B=F6rjesson, P., P. Berggren, and B. Ganning. 2003. Diet of harbor porpoises in the Kattegat and Skagerrak seas: Accounting for individual variation and sample size. Marine Mammal Science 19(1): 38-58. Read, A.J. et al. 2003. Abundance of bottlenose dolphins in the bays, sounds, and estuaries of North Carolina. Marine Mammal Science 19(1): 59-73. Hastie, G.D. et al. 2003. Bottlenose dolphins increase breathing synchrony in response to boat traffic. Marine Mammal Science 19(1): 74-84. Chilvers, B.L. and P.J. Corkeron. 2003. Abundance of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops aduncus, off Point Lookout, Queensland, Australia. Marine Mammal Science 19(1): 85-95. Jahoda, M. et al. 2003. Mediterranean fin whale's (Balaenoptera physalus) response to small vessels and biopsy sampling assessed through passive tracking and timing of respiration. Marine Mammal Science 19(1): 96-110. Boveng, P.L. et al. 2003. The abundance of harbor seals in the Gulf of Alaska. Marine Mammal Science 19(1): 111-127. Daniel, R.G. et al. 2003. Molting phenology of harbor seals on Tugidak Island, Alaska. Marine Mammal Science 19(1): 128-140. Stenson, G.B. et al. 2003. Estimating pup production of harp seals, Pagophilus groenlandicus, in the Northwest Atlantic. Marine Mammal Science 19(1): 141-160. Charrier, I., N. Mathevon, and P. Jouventin. 2003. Individuality in the voice of fur seal females: An analysis study of the pup attraction call in Arctocephalus tropicalis. Marine Mammal Science 19(1): 161-172. Dickie, G.S. and S.M. Dawson. 2003. Age, growth, and reproduction in New Zealand fur seals. Marine Mammal Science 19(1): 173-185. Houser, D.S. and D.P. Costa. 2003. Entrance into stage III fasting by starveling northern elephant seal pups. Marine Mammal Science 19(1): 186-197. Estes, J.A. et al. 2003. Causes of mortality in California sea otters during periods of population growth and decline. Marine Mammal Science 19(1): 198-216. NOTES: Markowitz, T.M., A.D. Harlin, and B. W=FCrsig. 2003. Digital photography improves efficiency of individual dolphin identification. Marine Mammal Science 19(1): 217-223. Parsons, K.M., J.W. Durban, and D.E. Claridge. 2003. Comparing two alternative methods for sampling small cetaceans for molecular analysis. Marine Mammal Science 19(1): 224-231. Nawojchik, R., D.J. St. Aubin, and A. Johnson. 2003. Movements and dive behavior of two stranded, rehabilitated long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) in the Northwest Atlantic. Marine Mammal Science 19(1): 232-239. LETTERS: Trippel, E.A. et al. 2003. LETTERS: Nylon barium sulphate gillnet reduces porpoise and seabird mortality. Marine Mammal Science 19(1): 240-243. Anon. 2003. Guide for Authors. Marine Mammal Science 19(1): 244-248. --=20 Jan Herrmann jan.herrmann(\)cetacea.de Brentanostr. 16 30625 Hannover Tel: 0511-855500 Germany Fax: 0721-151-503127 Vorlesungsreihe Wal und Mensch +----> http://www.cetacea.de ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 14:50:42 -0000 From: "Cresswell, Graeme" Subject: New Publication - ORCA No.2 - Annual report of Organisation Cetacea Dear all, Apologies for cross posting New Publication: ORCA No.2, the annual report of Organisation Cetacea, has just been published. The 145 page, A5, full-colour report incorporates a report on the whales, dolphins and porpoises recorded on nine ferry-based transect surveys and one cruise ship transect survey of the Bay of Biscay and English Channel between the beginning of June and the end of October 2000. This report also lists all fish and turtle sightings for the same period. Detailed distribution maps accompany the text, showing distribution and group sizes for 13 species of cetacean, basking shark, ocean sunfish and swordfish recorded on the transect surveys. French and South-west UK stranding and by-catch totals for principal dolphin and porpoise species in 2000 are also listed. In addition, Orca No.2 includes the following articles: The first recorded sighting at sea of True's beaked whale (Mesoplodon mirus) in the eastern North Atlantic, including previously unpublished photographs of this rare species The 2000 Bay of Biscay Bird Report A status review of cetaceans off the French Channel coast Cetacean observations during a seismic survey in the Faeroe-Shetland Channel, August-September 2000 Crossing the Equator in search of whales The Habitats Directive - designating sites for cetaceans Out of the Driftnet into the Trawl - the effects of the European pelagic trawl fishery on cetaceans Sharks in danger - an overview of shark finning The Bailiwick of Guernsey sea mammal report 2000 The comprehensive report is illustrated with over 80 high quality, colour photographs, featuring 14 species of cetacean (includes 3 species of beaked whale taken in North Atlantic waters), 7 species of seabird and 2 species of shark. The report is published by ORCA (Organisation Cetacea) and part-funded by P&O Portsmouth, English Nature and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. ORCA is a non-profit making organisation dedicated to conservation, research and education. Editors: Graeme Cresswell and Dylan Walker ISSN: 1477-1217 The report costs 8.00 (UK Sterling) plus 1.00 postage and packing. Copies can be obtained from: Graeme Cresswell, 35 Melrose Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7PN, U.K. Please make cheques payable to 'Organisation Cetacea' Credit card sales and orders outwith the UK are dealt with by our distributor -NHBS Mailorder Bookstore, 2-3 Wills Road, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 5XN, UK. Tel: + 44 (0) 1803 865913 Email: sales(\)nhbs.co.uk Best wishes, Graeme Cresswell ======================================================================= ===== Graeme Cresswell, Environment Division, Norfolk County Council, County Hall, Norwich, Norfolk, UK Tel + 44 (0) 1603 503895 Email: graeme.cresswell.pt(\)norfolk.gov.uk The information contained in this email is intended only for the person or organization to which it is addressed. If you have received it by mistake, please disregard and notify the sender immediately. Unauthorized disclosure or use of such information may be a breach of legislation or confidentiality and may be legally privileged. Emails sent from and received by Members and employees of Norfolk County Council may be monitored. Unless this email relates to Norfolk County Council business it will be regarded by the Council as personal and will not be authorized by or sent on behalf of the Council. The sender will have sole responsibility for any legal actions or disputes that may arise. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 11:25:54 -0500 From: tmc4(\)duke.edu Subject: Marine Mammals: Duke University Marine Lab summer course Please post on marmam. Contact person is Helen Nearing Duke University Marine Lab summer course: Biology of Marine Mammals 2003 Summer Term II (July 7 - August 8) 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) and John Reynolds (Eckerd College and Mote Marine Laboratory). 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/programs/summer2.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/admissions/forms.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). ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 1 Jan 2003 19:44:24 +0000 From: European Cetacean Society 2003 Subject: ECS 2003 Conference 2nd Announcement Dear Colleagues, This message constitutes the official second announcement for the next European Cetacean Society Conference to be held in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, next March. The Conference Theme is "MARINE MAMMALS AND SOUND". The theme allows presentations on the use of sounds to monitor, localise and identify marine mammals in their environment, the morphological and physiological aspects of sound production and reception, the mechanisms of communication and echolocation as well as the effects of natural and anthropogenic noise on cetacean behaviour, health and conservation. As usual, papers on all aspects of the biology, management and conservation of cetaceans and marine mammals in general will be included in the programme. I would like to remind you that the deadline for early registration is January the 17th. You can find all the necessary information regarding the conference on the ECS website (http://web.inter.nl.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs/)or on the Conference website (http://www.uicmm.ulpgc.es). And don't forget that you are all invited to a Canarian Barbecue Party, in a beautiful natural site of the island, including live music, local beers, wine and "tapas", on the afternoon of Sunday the 9th... On behalf of the Scientific and Organising Committees, I wish you lots of success in your research for 2003! Michel Andre Dr. Michel Andre ECS 2003 Scientific Committee Chair University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria tel. +34-928 45 11 03, fax. +34-928 45 11 03/41 mandre(\)dmor.ulpgc.es ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 18:28:51 -0000 From: Jonathan Gordon Subject: PhD Studentship: Monitoring Cetacean Distributions off Scotland The Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU), University of St Andrews is recruiting a PhD student as part of a substantial inter-disciplinary collaborative project with the Scottish Association for Marine Science, Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory investigating and modelling marine mammal distributions off the west coast of Scotland. This student will have particular responsibility for collecting and analysing data about cetacean distribution and abundance, which will mainly be collected from platforms of opportunity, often using passive acoustic techniques. The resulting PhD will be an investigation of optimum ways of using such data for monitoring cetacean populations and will be supervised by Dr Philip Hammond and Dr Jonathan Gordon. The fieldwork associated with this project will involve spending considerable time working from ships offshore and being responsible for operating a suite of acoustic monitoring equipment. Experience of working at sea for considerable periods, an aptitude for maintaining electronic equipment and for computing is desirable, as is self-reliance and an ability to operate independently while contributing to the work of a large team. Further details are available at the SMRU website. Interview dates have not yet been finalised but fieldwork is planned to start in March. If necessary we intend to start the student working as a research assistant until the full studentship becomes available. Potential candidates are invited to apply by email by sending a letter of application and CV to Dr Jonathan Gordon (jg20(\)st-andrews.ac.uk). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dr Jonathan Gordon Sea Mammal Research Unit Gatty Marine Laboratory University of St Andrews St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, UK Email. jg20(\)st-andrews.ac.uk Tel 01382 540154 Mob 07866 267814 Digital Messaging Service Voice 07020-964-330, Fax 07020-964-334 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2003 06:49:09 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Announcement of Workshop on Active Sonar & Cetaceans (fwd) FORTHCOMING WORKSHOP ON ACTIVE SONAR AND CETACEANS Active sonar, operating with sound source levels of up to 245 dB re 1=B5Pa (\) 1 m at frequencies mainly between 1 and 150 kHz, is frequently used for fish-finding, oceanography, charting and in military activities (for example locating submarines). Over the last six years, concern has been expressed over the potential impact these sounds may have upon cetaceans (particularly odontocetes like beaked whales), and post mortem studies of mass stranded animals in the Bahamas and, most recently, in the Canaries have revealed multifocal haemorrhaging and ear damage. The purpose of this workshop is to bring together whale biologists, pathologists, acousticians, and other representatives of the disciplines involved, to objectively review the existing evidence and, where detrimental effects are implicated, to identify possible mitigation measures. Attention will be given to species involved and any characteristics that may make them especially vulnerable, as well as to the nature of the sound source (sound levels, peak frequencies, usage, oceanographic conditions). If possible, a standardized protocol for dealing with potential future strandings will be developed, and research needs (such as controlled experiments) reviewed. And, finally, a list of recommended actions should be prepared for: a) cetacean scientists; b) government agencies; c) fisheries scientists and oceanographers; and d) the military. These might include guidelines for adoption before and during a sonar experiment, design of a standardized EIA model including investigation of the feasibility for time-area closures, and possible technological modifications of the sonar. The workshop will take place from 09:00-18:00 on Saturday 8th March 2003 at the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Convention Centre (Auditorio Alfredo Kraus) in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, immediately before the start of the 17th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society. =46or those wishing to attend or offer a talk at this workshop, please contact Dr Peter Evans at: , including a short paragraph on how your background experience relates to the topic. There is limited space available. The deadline for applications is 1st February. A programme will be posted to attendees by the middle of February. Please note that to obtain early registration fee reduction for the ECS Conference, the closing date is today - 17th January. Further details about the ECS Conference can be found at either of these web sites: (http://web.inter.nl.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs/) or on the Conference web site (http://www.uicmm.ulpgc.es). The ECS Conference Theme is "MARINE MAMMALS AND SOUND". The theme allows presentations on the use of sounds to monitor, localise and identify marine mammals in their environment, the morphological and physiological aspects of sound production and reception, the mechanisms of communication and echolocation as well as the effects of natural and anthropogenic noise on cetacean behaviour, health and conservation. As usual, papers on all aspects of the biology, management and conservation of cetaceans and marine mammals in general will be included in the programme. -- Dr Peter GH Evans Director Sea Watch Foundation 36 Windmill Road Headington Oxford 0X3 7BX Tel: 44-(0)1865-764794 =46ax: 44 -(0)1865-764757 E-mail: peter.evans(\)zoology.ox.ac.uk Website: http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk Home address: 11 Jersey Road Oxford 0X4 4RT Tel: 01865-717276 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Jan 2003 11:26:38 +0100 From: ursula.verfuss(\)t-online.de Subject: ECS conference: WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENT ------ ECS conference: WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENT=20 Following workshop takes place during the 17th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain between March 9 - 13th 2003: Monitoring porpoise/dolphin echo-location =96 the TPOD and IFAW systems. Ursula Verfu=DF, Annette Kilian, Nick Tregenza, Douglas Gillespie Thursday, 13th of March, 9:00-14:00 The subject of this half-day workshop is acoustic monitoring of cetacean echo-location clicks using the TPOD, a self-contained submersible logger for porpoises and dolphins, or the IFAW towed array, an on-line system for porpoise click detection (and other functions). Participants will be asked to contribute their knowledge and experience to following subjects: calibration, deployment at sea, and analysis of the gathered data. Case studies will be presented as basis for a general discussion on the topics named above. A registration fee will be charged to cover accommodation and coffee break. Please send your applications to , including a few words on your work and the experience with the TPOD / IFAW system. Application deadline will be February, 1st.=20 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2003 09:51:12 -0600 Reply-To: dfertl(\)geo-marine.com From: Dagmar Fertl Subject: Aquatic Mammals, 2002, 28(3) - abstracts (sent as plain text) Dear Marmam and ECS readers, The following is posted as a favor to the European Association for Aquat= ic Mammals, Dr. Jeannette Thomas (editor of Aquatic Mammals), as well as th= e editors and the members of Marmam and European Cetacean Society (ECS) discussion groups. These are abstracts from the most recent issue of Aquatic Mammals (vol. 28, issue 3), which is the journal of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals (EAAM). Please do NOT request reprints from the list editors or myself. I have included the address of the author to whom correspondence should be directed. For information on the EAAM, journal subscriptions, abstracts from most = of the past issues, and manuscript submission, please check the EAAM websit= e at: http://eaam.org or contact Dr. Jeannette Thomas, Laboratory of Senso= ry Biology, Western Illinois University Regional Center, 3561 60th Street, Moline, IL 61265, USA or: aquatic_mammals(\)eaam.org Thank you for your continued interest in the journal, EAAM, and the post= ing of these abstracts. Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season and = a prosperous New Year! Regards, Dagmar Fertl Geo-Marine, Inc. *************************************************************************= *** Holst, M.* and I. Stirling. 2002. A comparison of ringed seal (Phoca hispida) biology on the east and west sides of the North Water Polynya, Baffin Bay. Aquatic Mammals 28(3): 221-230. *Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9, Canada In conjunction with the International North Water Polynya Study (NOW) in northern Baffin Bay, we compared aspects of the biology of ringed seals (Phoca hispida) on the west (Grise Fiord, Nunavut) and east (Qaanaaq, Greenland) sides of the polynya. From May to July 1998, Inuit hunters collected 99 ringed seals near Grise Fiord, and 100 ringed seals were collected near Qaanaaq. Adult ringed seals from Qaanaaq were significant= ly shorter (P=3D0.007) and weighed less (P=3D0.0005) than those from Grise = Fiord, but did not differ in axillary girth. Female ringed seals from Grise Fio= rd had significantly greater blubber thickness than seals from Qaanaaq (P=3D0.04). The ovulation rates for adult female ringed seals were 100% = at Grise Firod and 93% at Qaanaaq. Evidence of pregnancy in the previous ye= ar was found in 80% of females from Qaanaaq. The average age of sexual maturity of females at Qaanaa was earlier than in areas of the Canadian Arctic. Differences in the biology of ringed seals on the west and east sides of the North Water Polynya could reflect variations in biological productivity within the polynya. *************************************************************************= *** Madsen, P.T.*, B. Mohl, B.K. Nielsen, and M. Wahlberg. 2002. Male sperm whale behaviour during exposures to distant seismic survey pulses. Aquat= ic Mammals 28(3):231-240. *Department of Zoophysiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universi= ty of Aarhus, Building 131, C.F. Moellers Alle, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark The behaviour of adult, male sperm whales in polar waters (69=B020'N, 15=B040'E) during exposure to pulses from a remote (20 km) seismic survey vessel an= d artificial codas is described and discussed. Five hours of recordings wi= th a large aperture array contained both air gun pulses and sperm whale click= s. The seismic survey pulses received were smeared-out in time and high-pas= s filtered due to multipath propagation in shallow water. The pulses recei= ved had a - 10 dB spectrum content in the frequency range of 210-260 Hz and = a maximum - 10 dB duration of 1400 ms. Estimated maximum sound pressure received at the whales were 146 dB re 1 =B5Pa (p-p) (124 dB re 1=B5Pa^2s= in energy terms). The exposure to the seismic survey pulses did not elicit observable avoidance the whales stayed in the area for at least 13 days = of exposure. Nor did the whales fall silent or change their normal vocal patterns during feeding dives. It appears that foraging male sperm whale= s in this habitat and at these received levels are not more susceptible to ai= r gun pulses than are cetaceans in general. During emissions of artificial codas, sound levels at the whales being unknown, the sperm whales did not cease clicking as reported from previo= us investigations, but two whales seemed to direct their high power, narrow-beam sonar towards the coda transmitter. *************************************************************************= *** Mass, A.M. and A. Ya. Supin. 2002. Visual field organization and retinal resolution of the beluga, Delphinapterus leucas (Pallas). Aquatic Mammal= s 28(3):241-250. Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, 33 Leninsky Prosp., 119071 Moscow, Russia The distribution and size of ganglion cells in the retina of three retin= al wholemounts of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) were investigated. Cell sizes were from 12 to 48 =B5m with monomodal size distribution. Ganglion cells concentrated at two spots of high density in the nasal and temporal quadrants, 50 to 60=B0 from the optic disk. Both areas appeared as verti= cally elongated spots. The mean peak cell density over all wholemounts in the temporal and nasal areas was 400 and 300 cells/mm^2, respectively. With = a posterior nodal distance of 12 m, these cell density corresponded to 17.= 4 cells/deg^2 and 12.7 cells/deg^2, which provided an underwater retinal resolution of 14.4' (2.2 cycle/deg) and 16.9' (1.8 cycle/deg) in the temporal and nasal high-density areas, respectively, and aerial resoluti= on of 19.2' (1.6 cycle/deg) and 22.5' (1.3 cycle/deg). These data suggest t= hat the beluga whale has slightly poorer visual acuity than other marine odontocetes investigated so far. *************************************************************************= *** Harzen, S.E. 2002. Use of an electronic theodolite in the study of movements of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in the Sado Estuary, Portugal. Aquatic Mammals 28(3):251-260. The Taras Oceanographic Foundation, Jupiter, Florida 33458, USA An electronic theodolite was used to track the movement patterns of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) inhabiting the Sado Estuary, Portugal, during several periods between June 1986 and December 1993. Recordings were obtained from a shore vantage point, 56-59 m above sea level, which allowed the computation of the surface positions and speed = of one, or several dolphins within the study area at a time. In 14 of the 35 observations, dolphins were observed as a single, tight group transiting through the study area. In the remaining 21 incidents, = the animals were observed moving, directionally or erratically, engaging in different behaviours and spreading over an area of 660 to 480,000 m^2. T= he average size of these areas was 34,000 m^2 for groups comprising 6-10 animals, and 64,000 m^2 for groups of 16-20 animals. The area covered, a= nd the speed of these groups, varied significantly with water depth. Overal= l, the dolphins traveled at speeds of up to 3.2 ms^ -1. The dolphins appeared to come into the Sado Estuary most often during th= e morning hours and with flood tide. In the early afternoon, the animals w= ere frequently engaged in foraging, non-directional movement and travel. At = the beginning of ebb tide, and throughout the afternoon hours, the dolphins gradually moved downstream, eventually leaving the study area. *************************************************************************= *** Azevedo, A.F.* and S.M. Simao. 2002. Whistles produced by marine tucuxi dolphins (Sotalia fluviatilis) in Guanabara Bay, southeastern Brazil. Aquatic Mammals 28(3):261-266. *PPGB/IBRAG, Setor de Ecologia, Universidade do Estado do Rio De Janeior= , Rua Sao Francisco Xavier 524, Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, 20550-013, RJ, Brazil Underwater recording of marine tucuxi dolphins (Sotalia fluviatilis) sou= nds were conducted from March 1998 to May 1999 in Guanabara Bay (22=B057'S; 43=B010'W), southeastern Brazil. The frequency response of the system wa= s 60 Hz-18 kHz (+3 dB), limited by the cassette recorder. A total of 5086 whistles were analysed. The following acoustic parameters were measured = for each whistle: start frequency (kHz), end frequency (kHz), minimum freque= ncy (kHz), maximum frequency (kHz), frequency range (kHz), duration (ms), an= d number of inflection points. Whistles that presented 0 and 1 inflection points corresponded to 82.6%. Of all whistles, 1372 (26.9%) were tones w= ith harmonics. The whistles duration varied between 10 and 852 ms (102.5+81.= 0), with the start frequency between 900 Hz and 17.9 kHz (7.9+2.9) and the e= nd frequency from 500 Hz to 18.0 kHz (12.8+4.5). This is the most extensive analysis of tucuxi whistles. Spectrograms and acoustic parameters of the whistles produced by Sotalia are presented. *************************************************************************= *** Magalhaes, S.*, R. Prieto, M.A. Silva, J. Goncalves, M. Afonso-Dias, and R.S. Santos. 2002. Short-term reactions of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) to whale-watching vessels in the Azores. Aquatic Mammals 28(3):267-274. *Departamento de Oceanografica e Pescas, Universidade dos Acores, Horta, PT9901-862, Portugal There is a great lack of information on the effects of boat operations o= n sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), which is the target species of th= e recent whale-watching industry in the Archipelago of the Azores. During = the 1998 Azorean whale-watching season, between 4 June and 23 September, observations were carried-out from land-based lookouts and at sea from whale-watching boats to quantify short-term reactions of sperm whales to the presence of manoeuvres of boats. Results from land-based observations di= d not indicate changes in the behaviour of sperm whales, either due to the presence of boats or when exposed to inappropriate boat manoeuvres (as designated by proposed Azorean legislation). From boat-based observation= s, change in the whale's speed and the presence of aerial displays were significantly more frequent when facing inappropriate boat manoeuvres. T= he presence of swimmers also led to a higher frequency of aerial displays b= y whales. In the presence of boats, mature females and immature individual= s significantly increased their individual mean blow interval when accompanied by calves. Although some indications of disturbance were detected, we fo= und no clear pattern of short-term reactions of sperm whales to whale-watchi= ng boats. It is strongly recommended that the activity is continuously monitored to assess its long-term effects, which generally remain unclea= r. *************************************************************************= *** Teilmann, J.*, L.A. Miller, T. Kirketerp, R.A. Kastelein, P.T. Madsen, B= .K. Nielsen, and W.W.L. Au. 2002. Characteristics of echolocation signals us= ed by a harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in a target detection experime= nt. Aquatic Mammals 28(3):275-284. *present address: National Environmental Research Institute, Department = of Arctic Environment, Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark The characteristics of echolocation signals used by a harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) during a target detection experiment are described. = A water-filled steel sphere (either 5.08 or 7.62 cm in diameter) was place= d at distances of 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 m from a harbour porpoise stationed i= n an underwater hoop. Detection was determined by a go/no-go procedure. Targe= t trials were alternated with no-target trials according to a pseudo-rando= m schedule. The harbour porpoise detected the large sphere at all distance= s, while the small sphere was detected up to 14 m. It used clicks with less energy when detecting the large sphere at all distances. The porpoise us= ed, on average, 13 clicks to make a decision for the large sphere, which was significantly fewer compared to the small sphere (34 clicks) and to no-target trails (37 clicks). The mean interval between clicks was almos= t constant (about 59 ms) and independent of distance to target. The individual pulse trains showed two kinds of small-scale variations in click interva= ls: (1) jittering, which could be a way of avoiding range-ambiguous interference and (2) cyclic modulation. The mean source levels for all targets and al= l distances ranged from 157 to 169 dB re 1 =B5Pa (p-p) . The clicks were o= n average 77 =B5s in duration and had a peak frequency of 131 kHz. A low amplitude pre-click was seen prior to the majority of the clicks recorde= d. The pre-click occurred on average about 270 =B5s before the main click, regardless of target present or not, and was correlated temporally and spectrally to the subsequent main click. A pre-click has not previously been reported or found in the signals of three other harbour porpoises and ma= y be an anomaly in this individual. *************************************************************************= *** Olivera-Gomez, L.D. and E. Mellink. 2002. Spatial and temporal variation= in counts of the Antillean manatee (Trichechus m. manatus) during distribut= ion surveys at Bahia de Chetumal, Mexico. Aquatic Mammals 28(3):285-293. Centro de Investigation Cientifica y de Educacion Superio de Ensenada, B.C., CICESE, Apartado Postal 2732, Ensenada, B.C. Mexico Obtaining a measure of the abundance and distribution of manatees (Trichechus manatus) is essential for the management and conservation of this species. Aerial surveys are the most suitable method for monitoring manatee numbers, and near shore single flights have been used in most of Latin America countries. Based on the results from 17 flights conducted between November 1998 and May 2000 in Bahia de Chetumal, Mexico, designe= d to determine manatee-habitat relationships, we review some weaknesses of pa= st survey strategies as valid indicators of manatee distribution and relati= ve abundance along the coast. Even though visibility conditions were very g= ood in the surveyed area, intra-seasonal variation was large, precluding powerful seasonal comparisons. No significant differences were found amo= ng seasons. There was a significant difference between zones with higher values of density near shore. The overall density dropped to 17-32% over 1 km f= rom the coastline. The results confirm that single surveys are poor indicato= rs of abundance and distribution, and that depth must be included, along wi= th distance from shore, to design surveys of distribution. *************************************************************************= *** Migura, K.A.* and D.W. Meadows. 2002. Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) interact with melon-headed whales (Peponocephala electra) in Hawaii. Aquatic Mammals 28(3):294-297. *Pacific Whale Foundation, 300 Ma'alaea Road, Ma'alaea, HI 96793, USA A group of 15 short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) was seen interacting with a group of 30 melon-headed whales (Peponocephala electra) in Hawaiian waters. The interactions involved behaviours that suggest the encounter was unrelated to feeding symbioses, but may have involved an inquisitive and/or protective response by the pilot whales. *************************************************************************= *** Muller, M.* and M. Bossley. 2002. Solitary bottlenose dolphins in comparative perspective. Aquatic Mammals 28(3):298-307. *Centre d'Etudes Hydrobiologiques (CEH), 108 avenue du Puig del Mas, 666= 50 B anyuls-sur-Mer, France Many mammal populations include solitary individuals. These individuals could be solitary for short or long periods and involve more or less spatial separation from conspecifics. A variety of accepted socio-ecology variab= les such as food availability, predator pressure, and reproductive strategie= s can account for much solitary behaviour. However, other factors, such as human interference, disease and the individual variability evident in ma= ny mammals may also be significant in some cases. The reasons dolphins beco= me solitary are common to many mammalian species, but the response of some dolphins to the solitary state, including a redirection of social respon= ses to humans or other species, could be unique to the Delphinidae. *************************************************************************= *** Perez-Zayas, J.J., A.A. Mignucci-Giannoni, G.M. Toyos-Gonzalez, R.J. Rosario-Delestre, and E.H. Williams, Jr. 2002. Incidental predation by a largetooth cookiecutter on a Cuvier's beaked whale in Puerto Rico. Aquat= ic Mammals 28(3):308-311. Red Caribena de Varamientos - Caribbean Stranding Network, PO Box 361715 San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936 Two species of cigar or cookiecutter sharks (Isistius brasilensis and I. plutodus) are known to predate by causing crater wounds on pelagic fishe= s off Puerto Rico and in marine mammals in other parts of the world. No records exist for wounds caused by the largetooth cookiecutter shark (I. plutodus) in marine mammals, and furthermore, no records exist for the Caribbean of wounds inflicted on whales or dolphins by either of these sharks. We report the first record of cookiecutter shark predation in a stranded Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) from Puerto Rico. W= e attributed this wound to have been caused by a largetooth cookiecutter shark, based on its size and shape, in addition to the characteristic te= eth markings creating pointed-grooves on the borders and the inside of the bite. The finding of a largetooth cookiecutter shark attack on this specimen i= s of particular interest since it is the first time we have observed this typ= e of fresh wound in our study area. Cookiecutter shark wounds attributed to t= he widely-distributed cigar shark, have been reported in ten species of sea= ls, whales, and dolphins. However, this is the first record of a largetooth cookiecutter shark wound on a cetacean. *************************************************************************= *** Aliaga-Rossel, E. 2002. Distribution and abundance of the river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) in the Tijamuchi River, Beni, Bolivia. Aquatic Mammal= s 28(3):312-323. Bolivian Collection of Fauna, Institute of Ecology, Universidad Mayor de San Andres, PO Box 3182, La Paz, Bolivia Very few studies have been conducted in Bolivia regarding the distributi= on, behavior, or ecology of the Amazonian river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis). = The only published studies of bufeo in Bolivia are from Pilleri (1969) and Pilleri & Gihr (1977) and were not quantitative investigations of river dolphin abundance or distribution. The work presented here consists of a= n estimate of abundance and description of the seasonal distribution of th= e bufeo in the Tijamuchi River, Beni, Bolivia. The study was conducted dur= ing January 1998-September 1999 and represents four hydro-climatic seasons (i.e., low, high, rising, and falling waters). Two hundred and twelve h were spent in survey effort. The total study area was approximately 185 km al= ong the river. Strip transects were used to survey for dolphins. Dolphin distributions among three habitats were compared; these habitat were riverine-blackwaters, riverine-mixed waters (black and white), and oxbow lakes of the river system. Group size and age structure were recorded. A= ny dead dolphins were necropsied. On average, 208 bufeos were observed in t= he Tijamuchi River, with an average encounter rate of 1.12 dolphins/linear = km. Dolphins were seen most frequently during low and falling water (56% of total observations) and least often during high waters (22% of total observations). These seasonal differences were statistically significant. Dolphins were seen most often in oxbow lakes, and next often in confluences. Differences in dolphin abundances according to water colour were not statistically significant. There was some evidence of associations betwe= en group size and season, and group size and water colour. Forty-two percen= t of observations were of solitary dolphins, 32% were of pairs, and maximum group size was 19. Calves were seen most often during falling and low waters. Causes of mortality of dolphins in the study area were identified as entanglement in fishing nets, intra-specific aggression, and collisions with outboard motors. *************************************************************************= *** Nachtigall, P.E. 2002. Book Review: Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. Aquat= ic Mammals 28(3):324. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2003 13:30:26 -0700 From: linda brooymans Subject: videos on whaling Hello, My name is Linda Brooymans, I am a graduate student research assistant for Dr. Mike Evans and Dr. Chris Fletcher of the Anthropology department at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I am writing to seek help in identifying videos produced by whaling nations/peoples, and their associations, that describe and/or make the case for the hunts. Evans and Fletcher are conducting research on the cultural logics of traditional practices in the contemporary context. They are hoping to collect a number of videos and do a comparison of the kinds of arguments and imagery used in making the case for whaling. They are particularly interested in material produced by IWC member countries with communities that use whales and whale products. It should be said that they adopt an academic position with respect to whaling, not an activist one, and are using this example to look at broader issues of cultural practices, tradition and modernity. If you know of any videos that fit these criteria I would be grateful if you could forward information on them. If you have questions or concerns you can contact Dr. Evans at mevans(\)ualberta.ca and Dr. Fletcher at christopher.fletcher(\)ualberta.ca Sincerely, Linda Brooymans ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2003 16:41:53 +0000 From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Kumaran=20Sathasivam?= Subject: A Catalogue of Indian Marine Mammal Records Greetings, This is to inform you of the recent publication of my article Sathasivam, Kumaran (2000). "A Catalogue of Indian Marine Mammal Records." Blackbuck 16(2&3):23--74. The Indian marine habitat has several distinct features such as estuaries, mangrove swamps and coral reefs. Considering the hydrological and physiographic features of the seas of India, various questions regarding the distribution of marine mammals arise. Little research has been conducted, however, towards answering these questions. What is known of marine mammals from India derives greatly from stranding and bycatch records. These records are scattered in various publications and span a period of more than a century. This catalogue seeks to provide in one source a list of all Indian marine mammal records to date. Place, date, reference citation and nature of record, along with size of animal/animals where available, for a few hundred records involving 27 species of identified and unidentified marine mammals(cetaceans and Dugong) are provided. Blackbuck is the journal of the Madras Naturalists' Society. Copies are available from K.V. Sudhakar, Honorary Secretary of MNS (sudha(\)eth.net). Kumaran Sathasivam k_sathasivam(\)yahoo.co.in ________________________________________________________________________ Missed your favourite TV serial last night? Try the new, Yahoo! TV. visit http://in.tv.yahoo.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2003 11:01:27 -0500 From: Lori Marino Organization: Emory University Subject: LOOKING FOR BODY LENGTH/WEIGHT DATA Dear MARMAMERS, I am trying to determine if a set of odontocete skulls I've recently measured are from physically mature animals using body length and, when available, body weight data, as criteria for each specimen. I have looked through all the published material I can find and would like to hear from anyone with expertise on these parameters for these species. Here are ranges of body weight and length data I currently have in my dataset: Species Body weight kg Body length range cm Stenella frontalis 129 - 135 220-225 Lagenor albirostris 171-190 228-237 Cephalo eutropia none 150-152 Lissodelph borealis 68-85 205-210 Phocoena spinipinn none 165 Sousa chinensis none 195 Pseudorca crassid none 450 If anyone has any information on whether these body lengths (and/or weights) are within the range for normal mature animals, I'd very much appreciate hearing from you. Thank you in advance. 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 THE LATEST!!! ****************************************************************** GO TO THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE TO SEE OUR ON-LINE DOLPHIN BRAIN ATLAS: http://www.msu.edu/user/brains/turs/ ****************************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2003 08:50:09 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Phocoena phocoena collections? (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Dear MARMAMers, I am finishing up my MS degree studying fluctuating asymmetry of Phocoena phocoena from the Gulf of Maine-Bay of Fundy population and would like to do a comparative study with Pp from the Gulf of St. Lawrence population. I have already been in contact with the Smithsonian Museum and the New Brunswick Museum and have found a limited number of individuals in their collections. I would appreciate any information or advice you may have concerning where specimens from the Gulf of St. Lawrence population are housed. In addition, I am interested in looking at individuals from the Gulf of Maine-Bay of Fundy population from the 1800s and early 1900s. Again, if anyone has knowledge of where older collections are, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thank you for your help - Mandy Mandy Migura Dept. of Biology American University aggie_mandy(\)yahoo.com "I'd rather be a field mouse than a lab rat" - unknown ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2003 11:26:56 +0100 From: Daniel Pike Subject: New publication on belugas boundary="=====================_10220786==.ALT" --=====================_10220786==.ALT The North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission is proud to present Belugas in= =20 the North Atlantic and the Russian Arctic, the fourth volume in the series= =20 NAMMCO Scientific Publications. This volume is edited by Mads Peter=20 Heide-J=F8rgensen, Research Scientist with the Greenland Institute of= Natural=20 Resources, and =D8ystein Wiig, Professor in Mammalogy at the Zoological=20 Museum of the University of Oslo. This volume can be ordered at a price of= =20 NOK 150 (including postage) through the NAMMCO web site at=20 www.nammco.no. All other volumes of NAMMCO=20 Scientific Publications are now available at the same lower price. It is=20 now possible to purchase volumes using VISA. The background for the compilation is the ongoing assessment of belugas in= =20 the North Atlantic, started by the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission= =20 in 1999. Most of the information presented in this volume has been=20 presented at scientific working group meetings within NAMMCO and the=20 Canada/Greenland Joint Commission on Conservation and Management of Narwhal= =20 and Beluga (JCNB). There has been special concern in both NAMMCO and JCNB=20 about the conservation status of beluga that winter off West Greenland, and= =20 this is reflected in the subject matter of the compilation. However the=20 volume is gratifyingly broad in scope, covering beluga populations from the= =20 St. Lawrence River in southern Canada to the Russian eastern Arctic.=20 Information on the two other Arctic cetaceans, the narwhal (Monodon=20 monoceros) and the bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus), often are=20 by-products of studies specifically targeting belugas, so some information= =20 on these species is included in the volume as well. NAMMCO is particularly pleased to have brought to realization a volume=20 dedicated to the memory of our friend and colleague, Stuart Innes, who died= =20 tragically in May 2000 while conducting fieldwork in Arctic Canada. The=20 efforts of his colleagues in bringing his final works to publication are a= =20 tribute to his contributions in this field. Information on the volume, including a table of contents, abstracts, and=20 order form, is available on the NAMMCO web site at=20 www.nammco.no. The Table of Contents is reproduced=20 below: In Memoriam: Stuart Innes, Ph.D. Preface M.P. Heide-J=F8rgensen and =D8. Wiig: Introduction B.G.E. de March, L.D. Maiers and M.K. Friesen: An overview of genetic=20 relationships of Canadian and adjacent populations of belugas=20 (Delphinapterus leucas) with emphasis on Baffin Bay and Canadian eastern=20 Arctic populations P.J. Palsb=F8ll, M.P. Heide-J=F8rgensen, and M. B=E9rub=E9: Analysis of=20 mitochondrial control region nucleotide sequences from Baffin Bay belugas,= =20 Delphinapterus leucas: detecting pods or sub-populations? S. Innes, D.C.G. Muir, R.E.A. Stewart, M.P. Heide-J=F8rgensen and R. Dietz:= =20 Stock identity of beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) in Eastern Canada and West= =20 Greenland based on organochlorine contaminants in their blubber S.E. Belikov and A.N. Boltunov: Distribution of cetaceans in the Russian=20 Arctic according to observations from aerial reconnaissance of sea ice. W.R. Koski, R.A. Davis and K.J. Finley: Distribution and abundance of=20 Canadian High Arctic belugas, 1974-1979 M.P. Heide-J=F8rgensen, and A. Rosing-Asvid: Catch statistics for belugas in= =20 West Greenland 1862 to 1999 M.P. Heide-J=F8rgensen, P. Richard, M. Ramsay and S. Akeeagok: Three recent= =20 ice entrapments of Arctic cetaceans in West Greenland and the eastern=20 Canadian High Arctic A.N. Boltunov and S.E. Belikov: Belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) of the=20 Barents, Kara and Laptev Seas S. Innes, M.P. Heide-J=F8rgensen, J. Laake, K. Laidre, H. Cleator, and P.=20 Richard: Surveys of belugas and narwhals in the Canadian high Arctic in= 1996. M.P. Heide-J=F8rgensen and M. Acquarone: Size and trends of the bowhead=20 whale, beluga and narwhal stocks wintering off West Greenland D.S. Butterworth, =C9.E Plag=E1nyi, and H.F. Geromont: Resource assessment= and=20 projections for the belugas off West Greenland using the population model=20 of HITTER-FITTER. S. Innes and R.E.A. Stewart: Population size and yield of Baffin Bay beluga= =20 (Delphinapterus leucas) stocks. M.C.S. Kingsley: Status of the belugas of the St. Lawrence estuary, Canada M.C.S. Kingsley and I. Gauthier: Visibility of St Lawrence belugas to=20 aerial photography, estimated by direct observation Daniel Pike Scientific Secretary, North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission, Polar Environmental Centre, N-9296 Troms=F8, Norway Tel: +47 77 75 01 77 Fax: +47 77 75 01 81 Dan.Pike(\)nammco.no See us on the Web at www.nammco.no =20 --=====================_10220786==.ALT The North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission is proud to present Belugas in the North Atlantic and the Russian Arctic, the fourth volume in the series NAMMCO Scientific Publications. This volume is edited by Mads Peter Heide-J=F8rgensen, Research Scientist with the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, and =D8ystein Wiig, Professor in Mammalogy at the Zoological Museum of the University of Oslo. This volume can be ordered at a price of NOK 150 (including postage) through the NAMMCO web site at www.nammco.no. All other volumes of NAMMCO Scientific Publications are now available at the same lower price. It is now possible to purchase volumes using VISA.

The background for the compilation is the ongoing assessment of belugas in the North Atlantic, started by the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission in 1999. Most of the information presented in this volume has been presented at scientific working group meetings within NAMMCO and the Canada/Greenland Joint Commission on Conservation and Management of Narwhal and Beluga (JCNB). There has been special concern in both NAMMCO and JCNB about the conservation status of beluga that winter off West Greenland, and this is reflected in the subject matter of the compilation. However the volume is gratifyingly broad in scope, covering beluga populations from the St. Lawrence River in southern Canada to the Russian eastern Arctic. Information on the two other Arctic cetaceans, the narwhal (Monodon monoceros) and the bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus), often are by-products of studies specifically targeting belugas, so some information on these species is included in the volume as well.

NAMMCO is particularly pleased to have brought to realization a volume dedicated to the memory of our friend and colleague, Stuart Innes, who died tragically in May 2000 while conducting fieldwork in Arctic Canada. The efforts of his colleagues in bringing his final works to publication are a tribute to his contributions in this field.

Information on the volume, including a table of contents, abstracts, and order form, is available on the NAMMCO web site at www.nammco.no. The Table of Contents is reproduced below:

In Memoriam: Stuart Innes, Ph.D.

Preface

M.P. Heide-J=F8rgensen and =D8. Wiig: Introduction

B.G.E. de March, L.D. Maiers and M.K. Friesen: An overview of genetic relationships of Canadian and adjacent populations of belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) with emphasis on Baffin Bay and Canadian eastern Arctic populations

P.J. Palsb=F8ll, M.P. Heide-J=F8rgensen, and M. B=E9rub=E9: Analysis of mitochondrial control region nucleotide sequences from Baffin Bay belugas, Delphinapterus leucas: detecting pods or sub-populations?

S. Innes, D.C.G. Muir, R.E.A. Stewart, M.P. Heide-J=F8rgensen and R. Dietz: Stock identity of beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) in Eastern Canada and West Greenland based on organochlorine contaminants in their blubber

S.E. Belikov and A.N. Boltunov: Distribution of cetaceans in the Russian Arctic according to observations from aerial reconnaissance of sea ice.

W.R. Koski, R.A. Davis and K.J. Finley: Distribution and abundance of Canadian High Arctic belugas, 1974-1979

M.P. Heide-J=F8rgensen, and A. Rosing-Asvid: Catch statistics for belugas in West Greenland 1862 to 1999

M.P. Heide-J=F8rgensen, P. Richard, M. Ramsay and S. Akeeagok: Three recent ice entrapments of Arctic cetaceans in West Greenland and the eastern Canadian High Arctic

A.N. Boltunov and S.E. Belikov: Belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) of the Barents, Kara and Laptev Seas

S. Innes, M.P. Heide-J=F8rgensen, J. Laake, K. Laidre, H. Cleator, and P. Richard: Surveys of belugas and narwhals in the Canadian high Arctic in 1996.

M.P. Heide-J=F8rgensen and M. Acquarone: Size and trends of the bowhead whale, beluga and narwhal stocks wintering off West Greenland

D.S. Butterworth, =C9.E Plag=E1nyi, and H.F. Geromont: Resource assessment and projections for the belugas off West Greenland using the population model of HITTER-FITTER.

S. Innes and R.E.A. Stewart: Population size and yield of Baffin Bay beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) stocks.

M.C.S. Kingsley: Status of the belugas of the St. Lawrence estuary, Canada

M.C.S. Kingsley and I. Gauthier: Visibility of St Lawrence belugas to aerial photography, estimated by direct observation

Daniel Pike
Scientific Secretary,
North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission,


Polar Environmental Centre,
N-9296 Troms=F8,
Norway
Tel: +47 77 75 01 77  Fax: +47 77 75 01 81
Dan.Pike(\)nammco.no

See us on the Web at www.nammco.no --=====================_10220786==.ALT-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2003 14:13:20 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MARN Tech. Reports on Venezuelan cetaceans available (fwd) Dear friends: The Venezuelan Ministry of Environment (MARN) has just released two technical reports on cetaceans of Venezuela. The files in PDF format are available on request from me at: sea_vida(\)yahoo.es The reports are: 1. Bolanos, J. and S. Boher. 2002. Sobre un varamiento masivo de delfin manchado del Atlantico (Stenella frontalis) en la Isla la Tortuga, nororiente de Venezuela. PT/Serie Informes Tecnicos MARN-ONDB-DGF-DFA 412, Caracas. (On a mass stranding of more than a hundred Atlantic spotted dolphins in la Tortuga Island, northeastern Venezuela). 2. Bolanos, J. 1998. Registro de avistamientos de delfines de agua dulce de Venezuela. Subproyecto Region Zulia. PT/Serie Informes Tecnicos MARN-ONDB-DGF-DFA 411, Caracas. (sightings of estuarine dolphin, Sotalia fluviatilis, in the Lake of Maracaibo and Gulf of Venezuela). Very best regards Jaime Bolanos ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2003 14:15:33 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: 83rd annual meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists (fwd) ----------------- The 83rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists will be held 21-25 June, 2003 at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX. In addition to contributed oral and poster presentations covering all aspects of mammalian biology, this year's program will feature two symposia. "Stress in Nature: Physiology, Ecology, and Natural History" will be convened by DeeAnn M. Reeder and Kristin M. Kramer. The second symposium will be a special capstone session entitled "The Future of Natural History", featuring presentations by David Schmidly, E.O. Wilson, and Barry Lopez. Special addresses will be offered by the recipients of the Joseph Grinnell and C. Hart Merriam awards as well as by student honorees. Also included are the usual ASM socials, ideal for professional interaction. Non-members who are interested in attending the meetings and/or presenting papers should request materials from the Chairman of the Local Program Committee, Dr. Robert J. Baker, Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409 (rjbaker(\)ttu.edu). For additional information and on-line registration, please visit the meeting website at http://www.dce.ttu.edu/ASM2003/. For more information about the ASM, please visit our website at http://www.mammalsociety.org. The primary purpose of a liberal education is to make one's mind a pleasant place in which to spend one's time. -- T. H. Huxley Kerry S. Kilburn, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer in Biological Sciences Old Dominion University, Norfolk VA 23529 http://www.lions.odu.edu/~kkilburn/home.htm ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 08:57:22 +0100 From: Lorenz Gygax Subject: New publication: Interspecific comparison of group size in the Delphinoidea Dear Marmamers, I am happy to announce that the second part of my PhD thesis has just beenpublished (see also the abstract at the end of the message): Evolution of group size in the superfamily Delphinoidea (Delphinidae, Phocoenidae and Monodontidae): a quantitative comparative analysis. MammalReview 32(4): 295-314. I have also updated the following site with a manuscript on some more details of the statistical analyses. http://www.proximate-biology.ch/lgygax/phd/info.html Thanks for your interest! Cheers, Lorenz -- Lorenz Gygax, Dr. sc. nat. LGygax(\)proximate-biology.ch Abstract In a comparative study, predictors of group size in Delphinoidea were investigated. Possible predictors included phylogenetic variables, variables of the physical environment, the diet, correlates of predation pressure and life-history parameters. The strongest predictors were the variables species and subfamily, which explained most of the observed variation in group size. Group size also increased with openness of the habitat and showed a u-shaped relationship with temperature. In conclusion, phylogeny seems to play the most crucial role in the evolutionof group size in Delphinoidea. The simplest interpretation of this resultis that group size resulted from a historical (random) process and has only been marginally shaped by direct selection. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 08:15:30 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Publication on relatedness in cooperating male bottlenose dolphins (fwd) Dear Colleagues, The following paper has been published online on the FirstCite service of the Royal Society. It is available through http://www.pubs.royalsoc.ac.uk If you are unable to access the website, please send me an email (michael.kruetzen(\)unsw.edu.au) for a *.pdf file. Regards, Michael Title: Contrasting relatedness patterns in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.) with different alliance strategies Author(s): Michael Kr=FCtzen, William B. Sherwin, Richard C. Connor, Lynne M. Barr=E9, Tom Van de Casteele, Janet Mann, Robert Brooks Source: Proceedings of the Royal Society London =AD Series B: Biological Sciences Publisher: The Royal Society Male bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay have one of the most complex male societies outside humans. Two broad male mating strategies have been identified. In the first strategy, there are two types of alliances: stable first-order pairs and trios that herd individual females in reproductive condition, and second-order teams of two first-order alliances (five to six individuals) that join forces against rivals in contests for females. In the alternative strategy, a super-alliance of approximately 14 individuals, males form pairs or trios to herd females, but in contrast to the stable alliances, these trios are highly labile. Here we show that males in stable first-order alliances and the derived second-order alliances are often strongly related, so that they may gain inclusive fitness benefits from alliance membership. By contrast, members of the super-alliance are no more closely related than expected by chance. Further, the strength of the association of alliance partners within the super-alliance, as measured by an index of joint participation in consorting a female, was not correlated with their genetic relatedness. Thus, within one population and one sex, it appears that there may be simultaneous operation of more than one mode of group formation. Dr Michael Kr=FCtzen School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney NSW 2052 Phone: +61 2 9385-2198 Facsimile: +61 2 9385-1558 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 07:21:40 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Job posting University of New England, Maine (fwd) University of New England MARINE AQUATIC VETERINARIAN The University of New England seeks a Marine Aquatic Veterinarian for the Marine Science Center for Education and Research Center. Candidates will have a D.V.M., experience working with a variety of marine animals, including phocid seals, and a record of research achievement. The Veterinarian will be responsible for overseeing medical care and well-being of animals in the rehabilitation facility. The successful candidate will have the skills to develop an extramurally funded research program and may be appointed to a non-tenure track research position. This position is 50% funded by the university with the expectation that the balance of salary will come from extramural funding. Consideration of applications will begin March 1, 2003 and continue until the position is filled. Send curriculum vita, statement of research interests and goals, and three letters of recommendation to: A. Christine Brown, Ph.D., Marine Science Center, University of New England, 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, Maine 04005. Visit our website: http://www.une.edu/ for additional information. UNE is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and strongly encourages the application of candidates of diverse backgrounds. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 07:26:03 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: ECS Canary Island meeting (fwd) Dear colleagues and friends, The organising committee of the next ECS Conference (Las Palmas de Gran=20 Canaria, 9-13 March 2003) would like to give tribute to Cees Kamminga who= , as=20 you all know by now, suddenly left us last November. Cees Kamminga was a=20 remarkable scientist who greatly contributed to the field of cetacean=20 bioacoustics and his research constitutes an uncontournable reference and= a=20 source of inspiration for many of us. But above anything, the scientific=20 community lost an extraordinary human being. On the occasion of the video night, we would like to put together some pi= ctures=20 of him in an informal way and project them shortly to the audience. I kno= w that=20 he worked with many of you along the past years. You may have photos, may= be a=20 quote or a story you would like to share with us. We would be very gratef= ul if=20 you could send them (a good resolution scanning would be ideal) to this a= ddress=20 before mid-February. Thank you. With kind regards, Michel Andr=E9 Dr. Michel Andr=E9 Unidad de Investigaci=F3n para la Conservaci=F3n de los Mam=EDferos Marin= os Departamento de Morfolog=EDa, Facultad de Veterinaria Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Trasmonta=F1a, 35416 Arucas, Gran Canaria, Espa=F1a Tel.+34-928 45 11 03, Fax. +34-928 45 11 03/41 mandre(\)dmor.ulpgc.es ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 07:33:09 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Conference on Environmental Consequences of Underwater Sound (fwd) Symposium on Environmental Consequences of Underwater Sound (ECOUS) Sponsored by the Office of Naval Research 12-16 May 2002 Hilton Palacio del Rio San Antonio Texas Purpose A broad-based overview of recent and ongoing research related to the assessment of the effects of manmade underwater sound on marine life. A wide range of relevant scientific topics will be covered, ranging from natural sound production and its functional role in sensing and communication to the observed effects of manmade sound on marine life. The symposium will also include presentations on new technologies for monitoring underwater sound, modeling auditory processes and acoustic environmental dynamics, and new approaches to monitoring and mitigating potential adverse impacts from manmade sound sources. Check out the website at www.lsro.org/ECOUS Call for Abstracts deadline of 31 January 2003. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 07:35:30 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: local whale-watching guidelines (fwd) Below is a list of countries (and territories) that are listed in Hoyt (2001) as countries in which whale-watching occurs, but not included in Carlson's (2001) compendium of regulations and guidelines. If anyone knows of the existence of local guidelines, whether put together by operators, NGO's or whatever, I would greatly appreciate your help in finding out what they are. Thanks! Chris Malcolm Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama Bermuda, US Virgin Islands, Bonaire, St. Kitts & Nevis, Martinique, St. Vincent & Grenedines, Grenada Peru, Falkland Is Greenland, Faeroe Is, Germany, Gibralter, Portugal, Monaco, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Cyprus, Egypt Mauritania, Gambia, Senegal, Namibia, Mozambique, Mauritius, Kenya, Eritria Russia, Turkey, Oman Maldives, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Taiwan Fiji, New Caladonia, Solomon Is, Guam, Midway Micronesia, French Polynesia, Niue Chris Malcolm, M.Sc. Lecturer Geography Department Brandon University Brandon, Manitoba R7A 6A9 Canada phone: 204-727-9770 fax: 204-728-7346 email: malcolmc(\)brandonu.ca and: PhD candidate Whale Research Lab Geography Department University of Victoria Victoria, British Columbia Canada ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 07:42:01 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Whale strandings, geo-magnetic navigation, and space weather (fwd) Hello. My name is Avery Sen and I am a research assistant at the Space policy Institute at The George Washington University in Washington, DC. My group is trying to ascertain if whales navigate using geo-magnetic indicators, and more specifically, if space weather (i.e. magnetic disturbances due to sunspots) might be affecting whale navigation. To this end we would like to see if there is any correlation between sunspot activity and events of whale stranding. We would be very interested in any kind of index that you might have indicating times, places, frequencies, and numbers of whale strandings, as well as the types of whale stranded. Would you be able to provide us with such data, or otherwise point us in the right direction? We would also be interested to learn about any papers or articles that you may have read concerning this issue. Any help that you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your kind effort. Best regards, Avery Avery Sen Research Assistant Space Policy Institute Elliot School of International Affairs Stuart Hall 201 2013 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20052 averysen(\)gwu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 10:30:24 -0500 From: Iske Larkin Subject: Florida Marine Mammal Health Program call for proposals The Florida Marine Mammal Health Program would like to announce its 2003 Marine Mammal Grant Competition. The web page for the call for proposals is: http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/orgs/MarineCall.htm University of Florida faculty and Florida Marine Research Institute staff are eligible to apply. Applications from other institutions are accepted provided a faculty/staff member at one of the above institutions is a co-principal investigator. Charlie Courtney Charles H. Courtney, DVM, PhD Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies College of Veterinary Medicine Box 100125 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32610-0125 U.S.A. tel: 352-392-4700x5111 fax: 352-392-8351 e-mail: courtneyc(\)mail.vetmed.ufl.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 14:14:46 -0100 From: "MEER e.V." Subject: M.E.E.R. field courses, springtime 2003 ------ Dear Marmamers! The non-profit association M.E.E.R. would like to draw your attention once again to our practical courses in springtime. There is a good chance to combine a visit at the annual ECS conference with the course dated 14-28 March 2003!! "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 participants of these 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 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. Research experience that will be gained includes sighting data recording, behavioural sampling, photo identification and others. The research is supervised by the Universidad de La Laguna (Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain) and the Humboldt-Universit=E4t (Berlin, Germany). For students at the Humboldt Universit=E4t Berlin and the University of Wien (Austria), the course is fully accepted for the study of Biology. A list of publications that resulted from this project is given below. Moreover, 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". For further information please visit www.M-E-E-R.org. Date: 14 -28 March 2003 (directly after the ECS conference on Gran Canaria!) The price is 875.- EURO including 7 whale watching research excursions, accommodation, full training program, scientific supervision, donation to M.E.E.R. e.V., certificate of attendance. (The journey to and from La Gomera is not included in the prize.) Members of the M.E.E.R. association will receive a 7% discount. 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), " and the "Club de Mar" (whale watching operator/La Gomera). _____________________________________________ Publications in conjunction with the work of the project M.E.E.R. La Gomera: Ritter, F. & Ladner, U.A. 1996. Whale Watch Research on La Gomera: A new Interdisciplinary Approach. European Research on Cetaceans 9. Proc. 9th Ann. Conf. ECS, Lisbon 1996, 48ff. Ritter, F. 1996. Abundance, Distribution and Behaviour of Cetaceans off La Gomera (Canary Islands) and Their Interaction with Whale Watching-Boats and Swimmers. Diploma Thesis to the University of Bremen, Faculty of Biology. 114pp. Ritter, F. & Brederlau, B. 1998. First Report of Blue Whales (Balaenoptera musculus) Frequenting the Canary Island Waters. European Research on Cetaceans 12. Proc. 12th Ann. Conf. ECS, Monaco, 20-24th January 1998, 95-98. Ritter, F. & Brederlau, B. 1999. Abundance, Distribution and Behaviour of Dense Beaked Whales (Mesoplodon densirostris) off La Gomera (Canary Islands) and their Interactions with Humans. AQUATIC MAMMALS, 25.2, 55-61. Ritter, F. 2001. Twenty-one Cetacean Species off La Gomera (Canary Islands): Possible Reasons for an extraordinary Species Diversity. Poster presented at the 11th Annual Conference of the ECS, 5-7 May 2001, Rome, Italy. Ritter, F. 2002. Behavioural Observations of Rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) off La Gomera (Canary Islands) with a special Reference to their Interactions with Humans. AQUATIC MAMMALS 28.1, 46-59. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 15:57:24 +0000 From: =?ISO-8859-1?B?TWljaGVsIEFuZHLp?= Subject: ECS 2003 Workshops ------ Dear All, This message is a reminder of the workshops which will be organised durin= g the=20 next European Cetacean Society Conference, in March 2003, in Las Palmas d= e Gran=20 Canaria, Spain. Further and detailed information can be found in the Conf= erence=20 Web Site (http://www.uicmm.ulpgc.es). Please, contact directly and urgent= ly=20 with each convenor for registration since some of the workshops have a li= mited=20 attendees capacity.=20 -The phocine distemper epidemic in 2002 (8 March 2003) -Active Sonars and cetaceans (8 March 2003) -Maximising ships of opportunity (ShOp) for cetacean research (13 March 2= 003) -POD technologies and use (porpoises listening devices) (13 March 2003) -Whale-watching issues (14-15 March 2003) -Student workshop (9 March 2003 - morning) -Bay of Biscay Workshop (9 March 2003 - morning) -EUROPHLUKES Meeting (7 March 2003) For those of you who are presenting either an oral or a poster communicat= ion at=20 the Conference and have not yet confirmed your participation, please send= a=20 short message of confirmation, BEFORE FRIDAY THE 24th to=20 ecs2003(\)eventos.ulpgc.es in order to have your abstract included in the=20 programme. With kind regards, Michel Andr=E9=20 Dr. Michel Andr=E9 Unidad de Investigaci=F3n para la Conservaci=F3n de los Mam=EDferos Marin= os Departamento de Morfolog=EDa, Facultad de Veterinaria Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Trasmonta=F1a, 35416 Arucas, Gran Canaria, Espa=F1a Tel.+34-928 45 11 03, Fax. +34-928 45 11 03/41 mandre(\)dmor.ulpgc.es ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 07:39:28 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications Here are some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Publications recently posted to MARMAM are not included. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. Human disturbance, nursing behaviour, and lactational pup growth in a declining southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) population Canadian Journal of Zoology 80(11): 1876-1886 (2002) Georg H. Engelhard, Antonie N.J. Baarspul, Martijn Broekman, Jeroen C.S. Creuwels, and Peter J.H. Reijnders We studied lactation behaviour in relation to pup growth in southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) at Macquarie Island, and compared harem= s in areas of high and low human presence to determine if there is an effec= t attributable to human activities, including scientific research. Pup wean= ing mass, a known correlate of first=96year survival, was positively influenc= ed by suckle bout durations during early and middle lactation and by maternal aggression during late lactation; no other behavioural variables were associated with weaning mass. In the area of high human presence, we observed from a distance the behaviour of mother=96pup pairs directly bef= ore, during, and after visits to harems by other researchers. Alertness was raised threefold in the presence of people but quickly returned to predisturbance levels after their departure; there were no significant short-term effects on other behavioural variables. In the areas of high a= nd low human presence, we observed the undisturbed behaviour of the seals in the absence of other people. No significant differences in any behavioura= l variables examined were found, indicating no long-term changes in behavio= ur resulting from human presence. Human disturbance therefore appears not to have significantly contributed to the population decline observed at Macquarie Island, but the conclusion requires caution given the fairly lo= w power of our analyses. ***************************************************** Factors influencing local abundance and haulout behaviour of ringed seals (Phoca hispida) on landfast ice of the Alaskan Beaufort Sea Canadian Journal of Zoology 80(11): 1900-1917 (2002) Valerie D. Moulton, W. John Richardson, Trent L. McDonald, Robert E. Elliott, and Michael T. Williams This study investigates how the local abundance of ringed seals (Phoca hispida) on landfast ice of the central Alaskan Beaufort Sea is related t= o habitat factors and how the haulout behaviour of seals is influenced by temporal and weather factors. An understanding of these relationships is required before the potential impacts of industrial activity on ringed se= als can be assessed. Intensive and replicated aerial surveys employing strip transect methodology were conducted during the springs of 1997=961999. Da= ta were examined with c2 tests and Poisson regression. The overall observed densities of ringed seals over water depths >3 m was 0.43, 0.39, and 0.63 seals/km2 in 1997=961999, respectively. Significantly more seals occurred= over intermediate water depths, especially 10=9620 m. In all years, seals were widely distributed on the landfast ice, but during breakup, higher number= s of seals occurred near the ice edge. Densities were significantly lower i= n areas with high ice deformation and extensive melt water. There was no consistent relationship between seal sightings and time of day within the 10:00=9618:00 period with surveys. The peak period of haulout occurred ar= ound 1 and 2 June. Significantly more ringed seals were observed on warm, clou= dy days. There was no indication that limited winter industrial activity, including ice roads and Vibroseis, occurring within the study area in 1997=961999 significantly affected ringed seal density in spring. ***************************************************** The relation of body size of male humpback whales to their social roles o= n the Hawaiian winter grounds Canadian Journal of Zoology 80(11): 1917-1938 (2002) Scott S. Spitz, Louis M. Herman, Adam A. Pack, and Mark H. Deakos We examined the relation of body length of male humpback whales (Megapter= a novaeangliae) to the social roles they adopted on the Hawaiian winter grounds: principal escort in a competitive group, secondary escort, lone escort to a mother=96calf pair, male partner in a dyad, and singer. Using underwater videogrammetry, we measured body lengths of 17 principal escor= ts, 68 secondary escorts, 40 single escorts, 17 male partners, and 8 singers. Results revealed that (i) principal escorts were, on average, significant= ly larger than males in each of the remaining social roles except singer, (i= i) singers were significantly larger than male partners, (iii) there were no significant size differences among secondary escorts, single escorts, or male partners. Further, principal escorts tended to be the largest or second-largest male within their individual competitive group. All princi= pal escorts were of sizes that indicated a 0.81 probability or better of sexu= al maturity, based on whaling data. In comparison, more than half of the mal= e partners, almost one-third of the secondary escorts, and one-fifth of the single escorts were of sizes that indicated a 0.5 probability or less of sexual maturity. Seven of the eight singers had a 0.9 probability or bett= er of sexual maturity and the eighth singer a 0.5 probability. However, the data for singers are too few to allow firm conclusions to be reached abou= t the relation of body size to singing. Overall, our findings suggest that body size confers an advantage in physical competition between male humpb= ack whales, and that a large proportion of males adopting the role of seconda= ry escort, single escort, and partner are likely to be sexually immature. Additionally, the competitive group appears to be a major reproductive un= it in terms of bringing together a receptive female and potential mates. ***************************************************** Rates of increase in age-structured populations: a lesson from the Europe= an harbour seals Canadian Journal of Zoology 80(9): 1498-1510 (2002) Tero H=E4rk=F6nen, Karin C. Harding, and Mads-Peter Heide-J=F8rgensen Behavioural differences among population segments coupled with the transi= ent dynamics of perturbed population structures lead to severely biased estimates of the intrinsic rates of increase in natural populations. This phenomenon is expected to occur in most populations that are structured b= y age, sex, state, or rank. The 1988 epizootic in European harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) perturbed the population composition radically. Detailed documentation of mass mortality, 20 years of population surveys, and data= on age- and sex-specific behaviour were used to quantify biases in the obser= ved rate of increase (lobs.), which in many areas substantially exceeded the "maximum rate of increase". This is serious, since lobs. is a key paramet= er, for example, in estimating potential biological removal or modelling population dynamics. For populations where the underlying age and sex composition is unknown, we suggest that data on fecundity and survival ra= tes be used to find the upper theoretical rate of population increase. We fou= nd that the intrinsic rates of increase (l1) in populations of true seals wi= th even sex ratios and stable age structures cannot exceed 13% per year (l1m= ax. =3D 1.13). Frequently reported larger values are indicative of nonstable population structures or populations affected by migrations. ***************************************************** Vitamin A physiology in the precocious harbour seal (Phoca vitulina): a tissue-based biomarker approach Canadian Journal of Zoology 80(9): 1511-1519 (2002) Lizzy Mos and Peter S. Ross Vitamin A is a nutrient essential to all mammals for growth and developme= nt, as well as for the maintenance of reproductive, endocrine, and immune systems. Environmental contaminant-related disruption of vitamin A has be= en observed in many wildlife species and can therefore be used as a biomarke= r of toxic effects. However, the natural processes regulating vitamin A uptake, storage, and distribution among compartments are poorly understoo= d in marine mammals. In this study, 20 young healthy harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) were captured to establish a compartment-based model providing = a foundation for a mechanistic understanding of vitamin A physiology and disruption. Vitamin A (retinol, retinyl palmitate, and (or) retinoic acid= ) was quantified in blood plasma and in biopsy samples of liver, blubber, a= nd skin. Although the highest concentrations of vitamin A were found in live= r, blubber represents a more important storage depot, with an estimated 66% = of the total retinoid content of the compartments measured. We suggest that vitamin A physiology in the precocious harbour seal has evolved to deal w= ith high vitamin A availability during a short nursing period and to sustain growth during the postweaning fast. Positive correlations in vitamin A concentrations among liver, blubber, and skin support the use of less invasive biopsy sampling of just blubber or skin, which can provide physiologically relevant information in biomarker studies of free-ranging marine mammals. *********************************************************** Dive shapes reveal temporal changes in the foraging behaviour of differen= t age and sex classes of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) Canadian Journal of Zoology 80(9): 1569-1577 (2002) J. Baechler, C.A. Beck, and W.D. Bowen Classifying dives into two-dimensional shapes based on time and depth is = an attempt to extract additional information about the behaviour of aquatic air-breathing predators. In some species, there is considerable circumstantial evidence that different dive shapes represent different behaviours. However, few studies have provided direct evidence of the relationship between dive shape and function. We classified over 283 000 dives of adults (31 males and 45 females) and suckling (13) and recently weaned (15) harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) pups into seven shapes using supervised discriminant function analysis. Changes in the percentage of U-shaped dives over time within adults and weaned pups were associated wi= th changes in food intake derived from water-flux studies on subsets of the same individuals. The changes in the percentage of U-shaped dives were accompanied by roughly reciprocal changes in V-shaped dives, whereas ther= e was little change in other dive shapes, indicating that V-shaped dives ar= e not generally exhibited during foraging. Video of adult males (from an animal-borne video system) also showed that there was a strong but not exclusive association between foraging and U-shaped dives. Our results indicate that changes in the percentage of U-shaped dives may serve as a reasonable index of changes in foraging behaviour. However, behaviours of suckling pups and adult males during the breeding season cannot be easily inferred from dive shape alone. ********************************************************** Identifying critical areas and habitat preferences of bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus Ingram SN, Rogan E, 2002 Marine Ecology Progress Series 244:247-255 We present the findings of a 2-yr study of habitat use by bottlenose dolphins in the outer Shannon estuary on the west coast of Ireland. Data were collected during repeated, standardised, boat-based surveys of dolph= ins in a predefined 150 km2 area of the outer estuary. Areas found to exceed = a uniform-use pattern were termed 'critical areas' and delimited using the = 50% contour derived from harmonic mean transformation of sighting locations. Dolphins exhibited preferential use of areas of the estuary with the greatest benthic slope and depth, highlighting the influence of environmental heterogeneity on habitat use by this species. Additionally, photo-identification was used to catalogue sightings of uniquely marked dolphins which provided distribution data at an individual level. Althoug= h the ranges of frequently sighted dolphins overlapped, a degree of partitioning was found in the use of up-river parts of the study area. Th= e methods presented here could be applied at a range of spatial scales and = we suggest that the identification of critical areas within a population's range is a priority when planning any conservation management strategy fo= r marine mammals. ************************************ Bowen WD, Tully D, Boness DJ, Bulheier BM, Marshall GJ Prey-dependent foraging tactics and prey profitability in a marine mammal Marine Ecology Progress Series 244:235-245 Predators face decisions about which prey to include in their diet in ord= er to maximize fitness. The foraging tactics used to capture prey and the resulting profitability of prey influence these decisions. We present the first evidence of prey-dependent foraging tactics and prey profitability = in a free-ranging pinniped. We studied 39 adult male harbour seals Phoca vitulina at Sable Island, Nova Scotia using an animal-borne video system. Each male wore the camera system for 3 d during which 10 min video sample= s were recorded every 45 min from 06:00 h, resulting in approximately 3 h o= f videotape per male and a total of 1094 capture attempts of identified pre= y. Males foraged mainly on sand lance Ammodytes dubius and flounders (Pleuronectids), but salmonid and gadoid fishes were occasionally pursued. Foraging tactics differed among and within prey types based on difference= s in prey behaviour. Sand lance was both a cryptic prey, when in the bottom substrate, and a conspicuous schooling prey. Seal swimming speed, handlin= g time and capture success differed between cryptic and conspicuous sand lance. The highest capture success and handling time was recorded for flounders. Estimated profitability, i.e. net energy intake per unit time, also differed with prey type and prey size. Our results suggest that diet selection may have important implications on the foraging energetics of pinnipeds. ******************************** Gannier A, Drouot V, Goold JC Distribution and relative abundance of sperm whales in the Mediterranean = Sea Marine Ecology Progress Series 243:281-293. The distribution of sperm whales in the Mediterranean Sea was investigate= d over 4 consecutive years. Field surveys took place in 1997, 1998, 1999 an= d 2000 between June and August from a 12 m survey boat equipped with towed hydrophones. The boat cruised at a mean speed of 6 knots on zig-zag lines. The total transect length was 12709 km, and 3903 acoustic stations were assigned along the transects to monitor the underwater acoustic environme= nt for sperm whale clicks. The Mediterranean Sea was divided into 6 regions = for data analysis: the Ligurian Sea, the Gulf of Lions, the southwestern basi= n, the Alboran Sea, the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Ionian Sea. Relative frequenc= ies and relative abundances of sperm whales were calculated from both visual = and acoustic data. Acoustically, the Gulf of Lions yielded the highest relati= ve abundance, with an average of 2.15 x 10-2 whales heard km-1 effort. High abundance was also seen in the southwestern basin and the Ionian Sea (1.9= 0 x 10-2 and 1.21 x 10-2 whales heard km-1 respectively). Visual results indicated high relative abundance in the southwestern basin, with 4.88 x 10-2 sperm whales sighted km-1 effort. Intermediate values were obtained = in the Ligurian Sea, and there were few sightings in the Alboran and Tyrrhen= ian Seas. Most of the sightings south of the 41=B0 parallel consisted of sper= m whale groups, of 5 to 7 individuals. Analysis of sperm whale distribution with respect to bathymetry did not establish a significant preference for either continental-slope waters or the open sea. High biological productivity in the northwestern basin might explain high sperm whale relative abundance, noticeably in the Gulf of Lions. ****************************** Serum antibody levels against select bacterial pathogens in Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, from Beaufort NC USA and Charles= ton Harbor, Charleston, SC, USA B. M. Beck and C. D. Rice Marine Environmental Research 55(2):161-179, date is 2003 Concern over the emergence of zoonotic diseases in marine organisms is growing. In response to this concern, this study set out to measure antib= ody activities against bacterial pathogens in Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, from the coastal estuaries of NC and SC, USA. Individuals from Charleston SC harbor, a heavily industrialized shipping harbor estuary, and from Beaufort NC, a non-shipping estuary, were examin= ed. Purified IgG was obtained from pooled sera using ammonium sulfate precipitation steps and protein-G procedures, which was then used to generate a panel of IgG-specific monoclonal antibodies. Two of these antibodies, mAbs BB-10-2 (IgG1) and BB-32-2 (IgG2b), were then used to determine total serum IgG concentrations using a sandwich capture ELISA. Circulating IgG levels were variable between individuals and between the = two pods. MAb BB-10-2 was then used in an indirect ELISA to determine serum antibody activities against several common marine bacteria as well as the human pathogens E. coli and E. coli strain 0157:H7, Vibrio parahemolyticu= s, V. vulnificus, V. cholerae, Mycobacteria marinum, M. fortuitum, and M. chelonae. The highest antibody activities were against mycobacteria, two = of which are zoonotic pathogens. Males had the highest antibody activities, thus suggesting low cell-mediated immunity against intracellular pathogen= s in these individuals. T-cell proliferation in response to Con-A, an indicator of cell-mediated immune function, was then measured in the Beaufort population. Males had the lowest proliferation responses, howeve= r a negative correlation between antibody activities and T-cell proliferation= in individuals could not be established for either of the Mycobacteria speci= es. Overall, antibody activities against all bacteria, including innocuous species such as V. anguillarum, V. natrigens, and M. xenopi were highly variable between individual dolphins and the two pods, with some animals exhibiting very high activities. These studies suggests that dolphin populations should be monitored by following the health and seroprevalenc= e of pathogens of interest in select individual animals over time. ********************************* Contaminant exposure and effects in Baltic ringed and grey seals as asses= sed by biomarkers Madeleine Nyman, Magnus Bergknut, Marie Louise Fant, Hannu Raunio, Marika Jestoi, Charlotta Bengs, Albertinka Murk, Jaana Koistinen, Christina B=E4ckman, Olavi Pelkonen et al. Marine Environmental Research 55(1):73-99, date is 2003 The Baltic Sea ecosystem has suffered from a heavy pollutant load for mo= re than three decades. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals have been of most concern due to their persistence and toxic properties. Ringed seals (Phoca hispida baltica) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) living in the Baltic Sea have been suffering from pathological impairment= s, including reproductive disturbances, which have resulted in a depressed reproductive capacity. We investigated several biochemical parameters as potential biomarkers for exposure to and effects of the contaminant load = in the Baltic seals. Seals from less polluted areas were used as reference material in terms of the pollution load. In both Baltic seal populations, the levels of some biochemical parameters diverged from those in the reference seals, and some of these showed a clear correlation with the individual contaminant load. Of the potential bioindicators, we propose cytochrome P4501A activity and vitamin E levels, in blubber or plasma, as exposure biomarkers for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) in both species. The arylhydrocarbo= n receptor-mediated chemical-activated luciferase gene expression (CALUX) response reflects the whole PCB and DDT burden in ringed seals. Retinyl palmitate (vitamin A) levels showed a negative correlation with the individual POP load, and is proposed as potential effect biomarkers for t= he depletion of the vitamin A stores. As the nutritional levels of both vita= min A and E have an impact on the vitamin levels in the seals, more informati= on on the dietary vitamin levels is needed before any conclusions can be dra= wn. As the relationship between biochemical parameters and contaminants varie= d between the two species, species-specific characteristics has to be considered when monitoring the health status and possible toxic effects o= f the contaminant load in ringed and grey seals. ***************************** Diet of the harbour seals Phoca vitulina of Dundrum Bay, north-east Irela= nd Susan C. Wilson, Graham J. Pierce, Catherine M. Higgins, Michael J. Armstrong Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK (2002), 82(6):1009-1118 This study has shown that the main constituents of the diet of the harbou= r seals (Phoca vitulina) of Dundrum Bay, County Down, north-east Ireland, during the past few years (1995=962000) have been small flatfish and gadi= d fish, with the emphasis shifting from the beginning to the end of the stu= dy period from flatfish to gadids, principally whiting and haddock/pollack/saithe. During both 1995 and 1996 the diet of post-weanin= g pups consisted almost entirely of small gadid fish. The implications of t= his relatively poor diet, apparently deficient in oily fish, are considered=97together with information on fish stocks in the north-west I= rish Sea in recent years=97in the context of an apparent decline both in the breeding population of harbour seals along the County Down coast and in t= he play behaviour of juvenile seals. *************************************** Estimation of body volume and body density in California sea lion pups Sebasti=E1n P. Luque, David Aurioles-Gamboa Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK (2002), 82:1019-10= 22 Body volume was measured directly by the water displacement method and us= ing three different geometric models, consisting of a series of cones and truncated cones, in California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) pups fro= m the Gulf of California. Volume is required for the estimation of density,= an indicator of the ratio of fat to lean mass. A model consisting of two con= es and four truncated cones predicted body volume with greatest accuracy (volume=3D1=B711+1=B706&;estimated volume, r2=3D0=B790, P<0=B7001, SEE=3D= 0=B7673, N=3D274). This model, however, was not adequate to estimate absolute pup body densi= ty (mass to volume ratio), as it yielded values poorly correlated with obser= ved body density (r=3D0=B714, P=3D0=B702). However, the regression line of ma= ss on volume indicated that density decreased with volume, so the mass to volum= e ratio is a biased estimate of density and is not appropriate for comparin= g whole body density among sea lion pups. The direct analysis of the relationship between body mass and body volume (observed or estimated) through analysis of covariance provided a better tool to compare the relative density among pups of different sex, populations, or born in different years. The results from such analyses are consistent with previ= ous evidence of sex and age effects on body composition. ************************************* Changes in the cephalopod diet of southern elephant seal females at King George Island, during El Ni=F1o-La Ni=F1a events Uwe Piatkowski, Daniel F. Vergani, Zulma B. Stanganelli Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK (2002), 82:913-916 Possible effects of =91El Ni=F1o=92 Southern Oscillation (ENSO) component= s =91El Ni=F1o=92 and =91La Ni=F1a=92 on populations of southern elephant seals, = Mirounga leonina, were analysed. Changes in the cephalopod diet composition of moulting females at King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula were consider= ed. The diet of female elephant seals sampled in 1991=961992 and 1992=961993 = (El Ni=F1o years) were compared with those taken in 1995=961996 (La Ni=F1a ye= ar) at the same site and employing the same methodology. The squid Psychroteuthi= s glacialis constituted the main cephalopod prey of the seals. A reduction = in the =91Index of Biomass Ingested=92 by female elephant seals (IBIF) of th= is prey species was observed in =91El Ni=F1o=92 years (1992, 1993) compared with = the =91La Ni=F1a=92 year (1996). This reduction in biomass applied to all squid spe= cies in the seals' prey with the exception of Galiteuthis glacialis, which occurr= ed in low numbers, but was more abundant during El Ni=F1o years than in the = La Ni=F1a year. *********************** From: "Dagmar Fertl" The below-listed publication is available to interested parties as a PDF = or Xerox copy (please indicate your preference) from the senior author. Addr= ess of the senior author is listed at the end of the message. Fertl, D., A.M. Landry, and N.B. Barros. 2002. Sharksucker (_Echeneis naucrates_) on a bottlenose dolphin (_Tursiops truncatus_) from Sarasota Bay, Florida, with comments on remora-cetacean associations in the Gulf o= f Mexico. Gulf of Mexico Science 2002(2):151-152. This article does not have an abstract, so we provide a very brief summar= y. It is about a remora removed from a stranded bottlenose dolphin, that was determined to be a sharksucker. This is the second confirmed specimen rec= ord of a sharksucker's association with cetaceans. We speculate that the smaller, slimmer remora seen on nearshore marine mammals, such as the bottlenose dolphin, may represent the sharksucker, while the remora seen attached to offshore cetaceans is larger and more fleshy-bodied, and probably represents the whalesucker. Only the collection of remoras will confirm this speculation. We also review the occurrence of remoras with cetaceans occurring in the Gulf of Mexico (providing a host list of sorts= ). Dagmar Fertl Geo-Marine, Inc. 550 East 15th Street Plano, TX 75074 dfertl(\)geo-marine.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 07:57:50 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: whale cardiovascular physiology (fwd) From: "Duncan Hogg at home" Dear MARMAM,=20 I have a question about the cardiovascular physiology of whales and a = friend of mine suggested I post my question to you. I am a cardiology = registrar in Scotland and have recently finished my research about = thrombosis in patients with an irregular heart rhythm (atrial = fibrillation- AF). With writing up I have become interested in some of = the electrical aspects of AF and this has lead onto some thinking/ local = discussion on the comparative cardiovascular physiology in mammals. = Basically, AF is where the atria of the heart are fibrillating due to = multiple self-perpetuating electrical impulses instead of synchronously = contracting from a single electrical wave impulse as found in sinus = rhythm. For the disorganised electrical impulses to self-perpetuate in = the atria it is generally accepted that you need a critical mass of = confluent atrial tissue. This is often illustrated by the fact that = small animals eg mice, small rodents, don't naturally get AF (this can = be induced in the laboratory with some difficulty); dogs, goats etc can = quite easily be induced into AF in the lab (although it isn't well = described naturally, except in cardiomyopathy); humans get it quite = often (although mainly when older); horses get it quite often (probably = usually associated with exercise) and finally it is said that whales = have AF most of the time. Now having had a good Medline search, a look = around the vet journals and some whale websites there is a paucity of = information about the cardiovascular system of whales to confirm the = final statement. My questions to you are: do whales get AF; what point = in there lifespan does it generally occur; what effect, if any, this may = have on them (eg swimming performance, lifespan etc) and how have people = studied this to date?=20 I suspect the cardiovascular system of whales is generally difficult to = study and probably only really feasible on captive animals. Although = with technological progress some of the monitoring devices we now use to = detect heart rhythm problems in humans are small and increasingly = accurate. More extensive data may now therefore be easier to accrue in = whales than was done previously. Myths often have some foundation in fact and it would be very = interesting to know what data and information is known by expert = opinions in the field. It may also be an interesting avenue for = discussion/collaboration in the future? Thank you very much for your consideration and I look forward to hearing = from you,=20 Dr Duncan Hogg E-mail- duncan.hogg(\)abdn.ac.uk SpR Cardiology.=20 Department of Cardiology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Foresterhill=20 Aberdeen. AB25 2ZN=20 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 6 Jan 2003 13:34:39 -0300 From: Cristiane Albuquerque Martins Subject: Food consumption by humpback whales boundary="----=_NextPart_000_00A9_01C2B588.5CE69430" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_00A9_01C2B588.5CE69430 charset="iso-8859-1" Dear all,=20 Here I present a compilation of articles in response to the question = about estimates of the resources required to support a population of = humpback whales and cases where were observed that individuals of this = species remained the summer at the breeding grounds.=20 =20 =20 Baraff, L. S.; P. J. Clapham; D. K. Mattila and R. S. Bowman. Feeding = behavior of a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) in low-latitude = waters. Marine Mammal Science 7(2):197-202. 1991. (Research note). =20 Danilewicz, D.; Tavares, M.; Bornholdt, R.; Trigo, C.C. & Moreno, I.G. = 2002. Unusual Record of a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) = incidentally caught with evidence of recent feeding in the waters off = Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. 10a Reuni=E3o de Trabalho de = Especialistas em mam=EDferos Aqu=E1ticos da Am=E9rica do Sul e 4o = Congresso da Sociedade Latinoamericana de Especialistas em Mam=EDferos = Aqu=E1ticos SOLAMAC.p.72. =20 Dolphin, W. F. 1987. Dive behavior and estimated energy expenditure of = foraging humpback whales in Southeast Alaska. Canadian Journal of = Zoology. 65: 354-362. =20 Dolphin, W. F. 1987. Prey densities and foraging of humpback whales, = (Megaptera novaeangliae). Experientia. 43: 468-471. =20 Dolphin, W. F. 1987. Ventilation and dive patterns of humpback whales, = (Megaptera novaeangliae), on their Alaskan feeding grounds. Canadian = Journal of Zoology. 65: 83-90. =20 Dolphin, W. F. 1988. Foraging dive patterns of humpback whales, = Megaptera novaeangliae, in southeast Alaska: a cost-benefit analysis. = Canadian Journal of Zoology. 66: 2432-2441. =20 Furtado-Neto, M.A.A.; Monteiro-Neto,C.; Campos, A.A.; Lien, J. & Carr, = S. 1998. Are northern-hemisphere humpback whales stranding in South = Atlantic beaches?: Answers from mitochondrial DNA sequences. 8a = Reuni=E3o de Trabalho de Especialistas em mam=EDferos Aqu=E1ticos da = Am=E9rica do Sul e 2o Congresso da Sociedade Latinoamericana de = Especialistas em Mam=EDferos Aqu=E1ticos SOLAMAC.p.89. =20 Gendron, D. and J. R. Urb=E1n (1993). "Evidence of feeding by humpback = whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the Baja California breeding ground, = Mexico." Marine Mammal Science 9(1): 76-81.=20 =20 Gill, P.C., Evans, K.J. and Wapstra, H. Feeding by humpback whales in = Tasmanian waters Rec-Queen-Vic-Mus 1998 (107): 1-5 =20 Hain, James H. W.; Gary R. Carter; Scott D. Kraus; Charles A. Mayo and = Howard E. Winn. Fishery Bulletin 80(2):259-268. 1982. Feeding behavior = of the humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae, in the western North = Atlantic.=20 =20 Innes,S.; Lavigne,D.M.; Earle,W.M.; Kovaks,K.M. Feeding rates of seals = and whales. J.Anim.Ecol. 1987. vol. 56, no. 1, pp. 115-130. =20 Larem, J., et al. 1997. New prey species for Northwest Atlantic humpback = whales. Marine Mammal Science 13(4):705-711. =20 Lockyer, C. 1981. Growth and energy budgets of large baleen whales from = the southern hemisphere, p. 379-487 In FAO Advisory Committee on Marine = Resources Research, Working Party on Marine Mammals (ed.). Mammals in = the seas: Vol. 3. Large cetaceans. Food and Agricultural Organization of = the United Nations, Rome. 504 pp. =20 Palacios, E.; Mellink, E.; Alfaro, L. Record of the feeding behaviour of = the grey whale in the San Quintin coast, Baja California in May 1990.). = Registro del comportamiento alimenticio de una ballena gris en la costa = de San Quintin, Baja California en mayo de 1990 Rev. Invest. Cient.Univ. = Auton. Baja Calif.Sur.Ser.Cienc. Mar. 1991. vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 82-83. =20 Papastavrou, V. and Van Waerebeek, K.. 1998. A note on the occurrence of = humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae ) in tropical and subtropical = areas: the upwelling link. Rep. Int. Whal. Commn. 47: 945-47. =20 Piatt, J. F. and D. A. Methven. 1992. Threshold foraging behavior of = baleen whales. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 84: 205-210. =20 Piatt, J. F., D. A. Methven, A. E. Burger, R. L. McLagan, V. Mercer and = E. Creelman. 1989. Baleen whales and their prey in a coastal = environment. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 67: 1523-1530.=20 =20 Swingle, W. Mark; Susan G. Barco; Thomas D. Pitchford; William A. = Mclellan and D. Ann Pabst. Appearance of juvenile humpback whales = feeding in the nearshore waters of Virginia. (Megaptera novaeangliae). = Marine Mammal Science 9(3):309-315. 1993. (Research note). =20 Tershy, B.R. & Breese, D.J. Sightings and feeding of gray whales in the = northern Gulf of California. J.Mammal. 1991. vol. 72, no. 4, pp. = 830-831. =20 Vikingsson, G.A.J. 1997. Feeding of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) = off Iceland -- diurnal and seasonal variation and possible rates. = Nothwest - Atl. Fish. Sci. 1997 vol. 22, pp77-89.=20 =20 Some of the work done by Kawamura, and published in the Scientific = Reports of the Japan Whales Research Institute may also be helpful. =20 =20 Oc. Cristiane Cavalcante de Albuquerque Martins Instituto Baleia Jubarte/ Master student UnB e-mail: martinsc(\)unb.br Adress: Rua Sete de Setembro, 178. Caravelas - BA - Brazil. CEP:45900-000. Phone/Fax: 73 2971320 =20 =20 ------=_NextPart_000_00A9_01C2B588.5CE69430 charset="iso-8859-1"

Dear = all,=20

Here = I present a=20 compilation of articles in response to the question about estimates of = the=20 resources required to support a population of humpback whales and cases = where=20 were observed that individuals of this species remained the summer at = the=20 breeding grounds.

 

 

Baraff, L. S.;=20 P. J. Clapham; D. K. Mattila and R. S. Bowman. Feeding behavior of a = humpback=20 whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) in low-latitude waters. Marine Mammal = Science=20 7(2):197-202. 1991. (Research note).

 

Danilewicz, D.; Tavares, M.; Bornholdt, R.; = Trigo,=20 C.C. & Moreno, I.G. 2002. Unusual Record of = a=20 humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) incidentally caught with = evidence of=20 recent feeding in the waters off Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil.=20 10a Reuni=E3o de = Trabalho de=20 Especialistas em mam=EDferos Aqu=E1ticos da Am=E9rica do Sul e = 4o Congresso=20 da Sociedade Latinoamericana de Especialistas em Mam=EDferos Aqu=E1ticos = SOLAMAC.p.72.

 

Dolphin, W. F.=20 1987. Dive behavior and estimated energy expenditure of foraging = humpback whales=20 in Southeast Alaska. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 65:=20 354-362.

 

Dolphin, W. F.=20 1987. Prey densities and foraging of humpback whales, (Megaptera = novaeangliae).=20 Experientia. 43: 468-471.

 

Dolphin, W. F.=20 1987. Ventilation and dive patterns of humpback whales, (Megaptera=20 novaeangliae), on their Alaskan feeding grounds. Canadian Journal of = Zoology.=20 65: 83-90.

 

Dolphin, W. F.=20 1988. Foraging dive patterns of humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, = in=20 southeast Alaska: a cost-benefit analysis. Canadian Journal of Zoology. = 66:=20 2432-2441.

 

Furtado-Neto, M.A.A.; Monteiro-Neto,C.; = Campos, A.A.;=20 Lien, J. & Carr, S. 1998. Are = northern-hemisphere=20 humpback whales stranding in South Atlantic beaches?: Answers from = mitochondrial=20 DNA sequences. 8a = Reuni=E3o de=20 Trabalho de Especialistas em mam=EDferos Aqu=E1ticos da Am=E9rica do Sul = e=20 2o Congresso da Sociedade Latinoamericana de Especialistas em = Mam=EDferos Aqu=E1ticos SOLAMAC.p.89.

 

Gendron, D. and=20 J. R. Urb=E1n (1993). "Evidence of feeding by humpback whales = (Megaptera=20 novaeangliae) in the Baja California breeding ground, Mexico." = Marine Mammal=20 Science 9(1): 76-81.

 

Gill, P.C.,=20 Evans, K.J. and Wapstra, H. Feeding by humpback whales in Tasmanian = waters=20 Rec-Queen-Vic-Mus 1998 (107): 1-5

 

Hain, James H.=20 W.; Gary R. Carter; Scott D. Kraus; Charles A. Mayo and Howard E. Winn. = Fishery=20 Bulletin 80(2):259-268. 1982. Feeding behavior of the humpback whale, = Megaptera=20 novaeangliae, in the western North Atlantic.

 

Innes,S.; = Lavigne,D.M.; = Earle,W.M.; = Kovaks,K.M. = Feeding rates=20 of seals and whales. J.Anim.Ecol. = 1987. vol. 56,=20 no. 1, pp. 115-130.

 

Larem, J., et=20 al. 1997. New prey species for Northwest Atlantic humpback whales. = Marine Mammal=20 Science 13(4):705-711.

 

Lockyer, C.=20 1981. Growth and energy budgets of large baleen whales from the southern = hemisphere, p. 379-487 In FAO Advisory Committee on Marine Resources = Research,=20 Working Party on Marine Mammals (ed.). Mammals in the seas: Vol. 3. = Large=20 cetaceans. Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, = Rome. 504=20 pp.

 

Palacios,=20 E.; Mellink,=20 E.; Alfaro,=20 L. Record of the = feeding=20 behaviour of the grey whale in the San Quintin coast, Baja California in = May=20 1990.). Registro del=20 comportamiento alimenticio de una ballena gris en la costa de San = Quintin, Baja=20 California en mayo de 1990 Rev.=20 Invest. Cient.Univ. Auton. Baja Calif.Sur.Ser.Cienc. = Mar. = 1991. vol.=20 2, no. 1, pp. 82-83.

 

Papastavrou, V.=20 and Van Waerebeek, K.. 1998. A note on the occurrence of humpback whales = (Megaptera novaeangliae ) in tropical and subtropical areas: the = upwelling link.=20 Rep. Int.  Whal. Commn. = 47:=20 945-47.

 

Piatt, J. F. and=20 D. A. Methven. 1992. Threshold foraging behavior of baleen whales. = Marine=20 Ecology Progress Series. 84: 205-210.

 

Piatt, J. F., D.=20 A. Methven, A. E. Burger, R. L. McLagan, V. Mercer and E. Creelman. = 1989. Baleen=20 whales and their prey in a coastal environment. Canadian Journal of = Zoology. 67:=20 1523-1530.

 

Swingle, W.=20 Mark; Susan G. Barco; Thomas D. Pitchford; William A. Mclellan and D. = Ann Pabst.=20 Appearance of juvenile humpback whales feeding in the nearshore waters = of=20 Virginia. (Megaptera novaeangliae). Marine Mammal Science 9(3):309-315. = 1993.=20 (Research note).

 

Tershy, B.R.=20 & Breese, D.J. Sightings and feeding of gray whales in the northern = Gulf of=20 California. J.Mammal. = 1991. vol. 72,=20 no. 4, pp. 830-831.

 

Vikingsson, G.A.J. 1997. Feeding of fin = whales=20 (Balaenoptera physalus) off Iceland -- diurnal and seasonal variation = and=20 possible rates. Nothwest =96 Atl. Fish. Sci. 1997 vol. 22, pp77-89.=20

 

Some of the work done by Kawamura, and = published in=20 the Scientific Reports of the Japan Whales Research Institute may also = be=20 helpful.

 

 

Oc. Cristiane Cavalcante de Albuquerque=20 Martins

Instituto Baleia Jubarte/ Master student=20 UnB

e-mail: martinsc(\)unb.br

=

Adress: Rua Sete de Setembro, 178. = Caravelas - BA -=20 Brazil.

CEP:45900-000.

Phone/Fax: 73 2971320

 

 

------=_NextPart_000_00A9_01C2B588.5CE69430-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2003 13:16:45 EST From: Deb Huckabee Subject: Research Internship Opportunities boundary="part1_179.14b6f2df.2b59a28d_boundary" --part1_179.14b6f2df.2b59a28d_boundary Please post the following to marmam readers: Dolphin Research Center (DRC) is currently accepting applications for Research Interns for the summer term (May - August). This position is a support role to our Research Department and primarily involves assisting with behavioral data collection for ongoing research projects. Other duties may include the preparation, repair, and maintenance of research equipment, summarizing and analyzing research data, maintaining research records, and contributing to the overall support of the facility through tasks such as fish preparation, bird care, and facility maintenance. In addition, all research interns are required to design and complete an independent observational study during their internship. All research at DRC is nonintrusive and is normally behavioral or physiological in nature. Research studies vary widely in nature and availability. There are no publications at this time. For information on past or current research projects at DRC, contact the Research Department at drc-res(\)dolphins.org or see the website. Internships positions are also available in the following departments: Education, Guest Programs, Membership and Development, Visual Communications, Dolphin/Child Therapy, Husbandry, Medical, and Animal Care and Training. All internships require a 3-4 month, 40 hours/week commitment. Interns do not receive pay or a stipend and are responsible for their own housing; however, assistance in locating housing is available. Specific job duties vary per department, but all interns contribute to the overall support of the facility through tasks such as fish preparation, bird care, and facility maintenance. Prior experience is recommended, but not required. The deadline to apply is February 1, 2003. For more information on internship or volunteer opportunities, please visit our website at www.dolphins.org or contact the Volunteer Resources Department via phone at (305) 289-1121 ext. 230 or by email to drc-vr(\)dolphins.org. Deborah Huckabee Deb(\)dolphins.org --part1_179.14b6f2df.2b59a28d_boundary Please post the following to marmam readers:

Dolphin Research Center (DRC) is currently accepting applications for Research Interns for the summer term (May - August). This position is a support role to our Research Department and primarily involves assisting with behavioral data collection for ongoing research projects. Other duties may include the preparation, repair, and maintenance of research equipment, summarizing and analyzing research data, maintaining research records, and contributing to the overall support of the facility through tasks such as fish preparation, bird care, and facility maintenance. In addition, all research interns are required to design and complete an independent observational study during their internship.  All research at DRC is nonintrusive and is normally behavioral or physiological in nature. Research studies vary widely in nature and availability. There are no publications at this time. For information on past or current research projects at DRC, contact the Research Department a! t drc-res(\)dolphins.org or see the website.

Internships positions are also available in the following departments:
Education, Guest Programs, Membership and Development, Visual Communications, Dolphin/Child Therapy, Husbandry, Medical, and Animal Care and Training. 

All internships require a 3-4 month, 40 hours/week commitment. Interns do not receive pay or a stipend and are responsible for their own housing; however, assistance in locating housing is available.  Specific job duties vary per department, but all interns contribute to the overall support of the facility through tasks such as fish preparation, bird care, and facility maintenance. Prior experience is recommended, but not required. The deadline to apply is February 1, 2003. For more information on internship or volunteer opportunities, please visit our website at www.dolphins.org or contact the Volunteer Resources Department via phone at (305) 289-1121 ext. 230 or by email to drc-vr(\)dolphins.org.

Deborah Huckabee
Deb(\)dolphins.org

 --part1_179.14b6f2df.2b59a28d_boundary-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2003 11:02:51 -0500 Reply-To: pclapham(\)whsun1.wh.whoi.edu From: Phil Clapham Subject: Society for Marine Mammalogy memberships Just a reminder: any new membership applications or renewals for the Society for Marine Mammalogy must be received by the end of this week (Friday) to avoid a $7 late fee. Please send NEW membership applications to me at the address or fax below; renewals should go directly to Allen Press. A membership form can be form on the Society's web site at: http://www.marinemammalogy.org/applications.htm Phil Clapham SMM Membership Chair -- 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: Fri, 24 Jan 2003 15:40:50 -0800 From: Christina Fahy Subject: Job Announcement This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------F06573E2547EB7F7E8D36746 NMFS - Southwest Regional Office (Long Beach, CA) posted the following job announcement on January 23, 2003: Position: Fishery Biologist / Wildlife Biologist, ZP-0482-03 Vacancy No.: W.NMF.SWR.030084.BS Duties: Implements the NMFS's tuna/dolphin program in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. This includes: 1) preparation and/or coordination of regulatory packages to implement the International Dolphin Conservation Program act (IDCPA) and the Dolphin Protection Consumer Information Act (DPCIA); 2) coordination of review of data submitted by nations importing yellowfin tuna to the United States to ensure compliance with domestic legislation protecting dolphins; 3) serving as a United States representative to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC ) and participation in working groups; and 4) coordination of implementation of the International Dolphin Conservation Program with the IATTC as it applies to the United States. The job will be posted until February 24, 2003 and the complete vacancy announcement and information on how to apply can be viewed on the COOL website at http://www.jobs.doc.gov. --------------F06573E2547EB7F7E8D36746 name="christina.fahy.vcf" filename="christina.fahy.vcf" begin:vcard n:Fahy;Christina tel;fax:562-980-4027 tel;work:562-980-4023 x-mozilla-html:FALSE org:National Marine Fisheries Service;Protected Resources Division adr:;;501 W. Ocean Blvd. Suite 4200;Long Beach;CA;90802-4213; version:2.1 email;internet:Christina.Fahy(\)noaa.gov title:Fisheries Biologist fn:Christina Fahy end:vcard --------------F06573E2547EB7F7E8D36746-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 08:32:10 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: ECS: Ships of Opportunity workshop (fwd) From: "Andy Williams" ECS Workshop announcement: 13th March 2003, 1000-1700 Title: Maximising Ships Of Opportunity (ShOp) for Cetacean Research Increasingly organisations are using ships of opportunity (ShOp's) to undertake cetacean research. This workshop is aimed at those who are actively engaged in research from ShOp's those who are setting up or intend to set up such programmes in the next 12 months and those interested in utilising data that may be obtained using ShOp's. The workshop will take the form of a two part event. The desired outcome is a report of the workshop to include a best practice guide formulated during a series of discussions. Those wishing to register should do so by sending an email to Andy.Williams(\)biscay-dolphin.org.uk and then visiting http://fp.ecologic.free-online.co.uk/Questionnaire.htm where a questionnaire about existing projects is located. It is extremely important that participants have filled out this questionnaire and returned it in good time so that the information can be evaluated and presented at the workshop. You will receive confirmation by email of your registration. Those people who have expressed an interest are asked to resend emails now to register. The outline programme is as follows. Start time 1000hrs Session 1 Methodology - obtaining good data Talks Chair TBA 1 Introduction - Phil Hammond and Simon Northridge 2 Poster bites - Attendees will be invited to give a 5 minute presentation on thier study using ships of opportunity and to provide the workshop with an A4 synopsis of their work. Coffee 3 Methodolgical review Discussion - towards best practice Provisional Chair, Phil Hammond 1 Setting up a programme - what parameters to measure and how 2 Obtaining sightings data 3 Dealing with the recording and storage of data Afternoon Session 2 Getting the most out of ShOp data. Talks Chair TBA 1 Introduction - Provisional speaker - Sharon Hedley. 2 Habitat Characterisation - TBA 3 Spatio-temporal variation and behavioural information - Andy Williams 4 Achieving joint data sets, the Joint Cetacean Database - Simon Northridge Coffee Dicussion 2 - Provisional Chair, Phil Hammond Formulating Best Practice a plenary session Conclusion There may be a cost associated with this workshop and attendees will be advised of the final figure in due course. We are keen that everyone using ShOp's, not just those people attending ECS or the workshop should complete the questionnaire and return it to the organising committee member responsible for compiling the results, Rob Williams at rmcw(\)st-andrews.ac.uk All contributors to the questionnaire will receive a copy of the proceedings of the workshop. posted on behalf of the organising committee Andy Williams - Biscay Dolphin Research Programme/School of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Southampton Phil Hammond - University of St Andrew's Jonathan Gordon - Ecologic Simon Northridge - Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrew's Colin MacLeod - Aberdeen University Kelly MacLeod - Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrew's Rob Williams - Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrew's 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: Mon, 27 Jan 2003 00:10:20 -0800 From: Dylan Walker Subject: ECS BAY OF BISCAY WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENT ------ ECS BAY OF BISCAY WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENT Apologies for cross posting The following workshop =91CETACEAN RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION IN THE BAY OF BISCAY=92, hosted by Organisation Cetacea (ORCA) will take place during the 17th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain between March 9 - 13th 2003.=20 INTRODUCTION For the past six years, ORCA has been working alongside other NGO=92s from the UK, France and Spain, collating information on the distribution, abundance and ecology of cetaceans in the Bay of Biscay. This research has highlighted the exceptional diversity and abundance of cetaceans in the Bay. Sadly, this same research has also identified a growing list of conservation concerns for cetaceans and their habitats. These include pollution, over-fishing, increased disturbance from shipping, acoustic disturbance and fisheries bycatch. THE WORKSHOP Date: Sunday 9th March. Start time: 09.00 End time: 13.00 Chairman: Dylan Walker=20 Secretary: Kelly Macleod ORCA is hosting a half-day workshop to discuss a collaborative approach to the research and conservation of cetaceans and the marine environment within the region of the Bay of Biscay. The main objective is to: 1) Bring together the key parties undertaking research on Biscay cetaceans in order to initiate a more collaborative approach to future research and conservation priorities.=20 To aid the prior organisation and to initiate discussion at the workshop, attendants will be asked to fill out a questionnaire briefly summarising details of their organisation, current work and their future research priorities in the Bay of Biscay before the workshop. At the beginning of the workshop, there will also be an opportunity for some attendants to give a short presentation detailing the work of their organisation. =20 DRAFT AGENDA 09.00 =96 9.10: Introduction (Chairman) 9.10 =96 10.15: Session 1: A series of short presentations detailing the work of attending organisations. Each organisation will be asked to identify the geographical area of Biscay in which they work, the objectives of their study and key methods.=20 10:15 =96 10.30: Coffee Break 10.30 =96 11.30: Session 2: Attendants will be divided into working groups defined on the basis of their interests and research priorities. Each working group will be asked to identify ways in which they could collaborate to maximise their own outputs, aid those of the other organisations within their group and achieve conservation objectives.=20 11.30 =96 12.30: Session 3: A spokesperson for each working group will briefly present their working group and their topic of discussion. They will present ideas for improved collaboration and identify priorities for future work to the rest of the workshop.=20 12.30 =96 12.45: Session 4: A summary and short discussion about the future of research and conservation needs in the Bay of Biscay. To include the possibility of an annual Biscay meeting and an overview of the collaborative approaches to research and conservation identified in the workshop. 12.45 =96 13.00: Round-up and Close (Chairman)=20 OUTPUTS Following the meeting, each working group will be required to prepare a short summary of their discussion (this will require e-mail liaison between participants). Each summary will be edited by ORCA and published along with the pre-meeting research summaries as a workshop proceeding of the ECS.=20 HOW TO REGISTER Attendance to the workshop is restricted to 40 people and is aimed at those currently undertaking research in the Bay of Biscay and adjacent waters. For further information and registration please contact Dylan Walker at: dylan_walker(\)wildguides.co.uk When your place has been confirmed you will be sent confirmation of the fee and a questionnaire. Please fill in and return your questionnaire to Kelly Macleod at: km53(\)st-andrews.ac.uk We look forward to hearing from you.=20 Dylan Walker Chairman, ORCA __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2003 13:43:30 -0800 From: Robin Brown Subject: Job Posting --=_7B247188.AECFBD3B Please post the following job recruitment announcement: The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (through Pacific States Marine = Fisheries Commission) is recruiting for a full-time marine mammal research = technician to assist with studies of Steller sea lion population biology = in the Pacific Northwest. Responsibilities include: monitoring and = operating remote PC-controlled video cameras on sea lion rookeries, = recording species abundance and presence of marked individuals; prepare, = maintain, review, edit, enter mark/re-sight, count data in project = databases; prepare data summaries, text, and graphics; participate in = capture/marking and animal re-sight efforts on land and at sea; assist = with sea lion food habits studies; maintain and operate project equipment = (boats, tools, cameras, computers). Qualifications: equivalent to = completion of four years of college with a minimum of 20 units in = biological, fisheries, wildlife or related sciences, or two years of = direct experience in studying, surveying, monitoring or evaluating fish or = wildlife population data or closely related fields and activities. = Requires experience and demonstrated skills with PC computer operations, = word processing, spreadsheet and database software applications; and = experience/confidence operating powerboats (12'-24'), working in boats at = sea, and skills with mechanical tools and equipment. Experience with = marine mammal research projects is desirable. For additional job details, = employment period, and compensation see job announcement and position = description posted at www.psmfc.org. If interested and qualified, contact = Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (503-650-5400) for an applicatio= n packet or see the web page at www.psmfc.org. Send completed application = to Personnel, PSMFC, 45 SE 82nd Drive, Suite 100, Gladstone, OR 97027; fax = to 503-650-5425; or e-mail at recruit(\)psmfc.org.=20 Thank you, Robin F. Brown Marine Mammal Program Leader Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife 7118 NE Vandenberg Ave. Corvallis, OR 97330 541-757-4186 ext-242 (FAX) 757-4252 robin.f.brown(\)state.or.us --=_7B247188.AECFBD3B
Please post the following job recruitment=20 announcement:
 
 
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (through = Pacific=20 States Marine Fisheries Commission) is recruiting for a full-time marine = mammal=20 research technician to assist with studies of Steller sea lion population= =20 biology in the Pacific Northwest.  Responsibilities include: = monitoring and=20 operating remote PC-controlled video cameras on sea lion rookeries, = recording=20 species abundance and presence of marked individuals; prepare, maintain, = review,=20 edit, enter mark/re-sight, count data in project databases; prepare = data=20 summaries, text, and graphics; participate in capture/marking and = animal=20 re-sight efforts on land and at sea; assist with sea lion food habits = studies;=20 maintain and operate project equipment (boats, tools, cameras, computers).&= nbsp;=20 Qualifications: equivalent to completion of four years of college with a = minimum=20 of 20 units in biological, fisheries, wildlife or related sciences, or two = years=20 of direct experience in studying, surveying, monitoring or evaluating fish = or=20 wildlife population data or closely related fields and activities. =20= Requires experience and demonstrated skills with PC computer operations, = word=20 processing, spreadsheet and database software applications; and=20 experience/confidence operating powerboats (12'-24'), working in boats at = sea,=20 and skills with mechanical tools and equipment.  Experience with = marine=20 mammal research projects is desirable.  For additional job details,=20= employment period, and compensation see job announcement and position=20 description posted at www.psmfc.org.&n= bsp; If=20 interested and qualified, contact Pacific States Marine Fisheries = Commission=20 (503-650-5400) for an application packet or see the web page at www.psmfc.org.  Send completed = application=20 to Personnel, PSMFC, 45 SE 82nd Drive, Suite 100, Gladstone, OR 97027; fax = to=20 503-650-5425; or e-mail at recruit(\)psmfc.org.
 
 
 
Thank you,
 
Robin F. Brown
Marine Mammal Program Leader
Orego= n=20 Department of Fish & Wildlife
7118 NE Vandenberg Ave.
Corvallis, = OR=20 97330
541-757-4186 ext-242
(FAX) 757-4252
robin.f.brown(\)state.or.us
 
 
--=_7B247188.AECFBD3B-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2003 16:56:55 -0500 From: Cara Pekarcik Subject: Immediate intership position Immediate opening: Whale research internship The Whale Center of New England is a non-profit research organization involved in the study of behavior, ecology and natural history of the whales and dolphins found in the waters off Massachusetts. Primary concentration is on an individually identified population of several hundred humpback whales that spend portions of the spring, summer and fall in these waters. We are currently seeking an intern to join the Whale Center immediately for the internship season running January 18th - May 24th. Interns are responsible for collecting, organizing, transcribing and analyzing data dealing with the behavior and identification of North Atlantic cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises). Additional opportunities may include attendance at necropsies (whale autopsies), stranding response, seal surveys and attendance at conservation-oriented meetings and conferences. A fee of $1000 will be charged for the internship to cover housing (common apartment), utilities, educational materials and a weekly food stipend. College credit may be arranged by the student through their department where applicable. The internship is open to college students who have completed their freshman year and to all recent graduates. If interested, please contact Cara Pekarcik at the following information as soon as possible. Note: This is not a formal posting for the 2003-2004 internship season. Please look for another posting within 7-10 days. Cara Pekarcik, Intern Coordinator The Whale Center of New England P.O. Box 159 Gloucester, MA 01930 978-281-6351 (office) 978-281-5666 (fax) cara(\)whalecenter.org ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2003 08:00:55 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Report on small cetaceans available online (fwd) Dear marine mammal specialists, Apologies for cross posting. The UNEP/CMS Secretariat is pleased to make available in electronic format through its web site a review report on small cetaceans prepared by Boris Culik: http://www.wcmc.org.uk/cms/reports/small_cetaceans/index.htm which summarises the available information on distribution, behaviour, migrations and threats for 71 cetacean species. The report was originally presented to the tenth Meeting of the CMS Scientific Council in 2001 and distributed to selected experts for a first review. Comments received and new information appeared in the literature since then were incorporated in this 2003 version. However, this is not intended to be the final update. A major purpose of making the report available online is to submit it to the review of a wider audience, and to incorporate further comments in view of its publication in print. Visitors of the site are therefore strongly encouraged to submit to the author and the UNEP/CMS Secretariat their suggestions and remarks, which will be duly considered and acknowledged in further revisions of the report. The report covers species of the order Cetacea, suborder Odontoceti with the exception of the Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus. It is organized in individual species accounts, summarizing available information on the distribution, population size (including discrete population units when possible), elements of biology and behaviour of relevance for the conservation of the species, migration, threats, and recommendations on research and conservation needs for the species. The report was conceived with the main objective of providing the CMS Secretariat, other CMS statutory bodies and the Parties with an up to date and comprehensive review of available information on small cetacean migration and related conservation issues on a worldwide scale, but is expected to be of interest to a wider audience Marco Barbieri, Technical Officer UNEP/CMS Secretariat --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marco Barbieri, Technical Officer \UNEP/CMS Secretariat Tel. (+49 228) 815 2424 United Nations Premises in Bonn Fax. (+49 228) 815 2449 Martin-Luther-King-Str. 8 Email: mbarbieri(\)cms.unep.de D-53175 Bonn, Germany web: http://www.wcmc.org.uk/cms ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2003 12:14:21 -0400 From: Robin W Baird Subject: Abstract: gray whale mortality in fishing operations in B.C. New publication: Baird, R.W., P.J. Stacey, D.A. Duffus and K.M. Langelier. 2002. An evaluation of gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) mortality incidental to fishing operations in British Columbia, Canada. J. Cetacean Res. Manage. 4(3):289-296. Abstract Gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) mortality incidental to commercial fishing operations in British Columbia (BC), Canada was evaluated by two methods: a mailed questionnaire survey of all commercial fishing licence holders in the province; and a review of records of incidental catches, strandings and dead floating animals from published and unpublished sources. Of 5,375 surveys sent out, 848 were returned of which 729 could be used (15.8%). Forty-two incidents with gray whales were reported, including three mortalities. From sources other than the questionnaire for the period up to 1989, 41 records of stranded and dead floating gray whales were obtained, of which four were judged to have been killed incidentally in fishing operations. Twenty-six of these animals had not been examined closely, but extrapolation from the 15 detailed records suggests that 27% of the dead gray whales reported in BC die incidentally in fisheries. Collisons with fishing gear are estimated to occur approximately 20 times per year. Mortality occurs in salmon drift gillnet salmon seine, longline and trap fisheries. There is also one record of an individual entangled and drowing in a herring net pen, as well as an individual entangled in a herring set gillnet. Estimates of annual mortality are approximately two individuals using data obtained from the questionnaire and 2.4 individuals using stranding data. Biases are present for both sampling methods, but the estimated mortality levels are small relative to population size. Subsequent records (n=40) for the period 1990-95 were also examined for comparison. PDF reprints can be obtained by writing to rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca ====================================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Post-doctoral Fellow, Biology Department, Dalhousie University and NOAA Fisheries, 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, NC 28516 USA Phone: 252-728-8601 Fax: 252-728-8784 e-mail: robin.baird(\)noaa.gov or rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca http://shrimp.ccfhrb.noaa.gov/ http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/rwb/robin.htm ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 19:59:34 +0100 From: Renaud de Stephanis-CIRCE Subject: Looking for Encounter Rate Data ------ Looking for Encounter Rate Data Reply to Renaud de Stephanis renaud(\)teleline.es Dear All As part of the discusion of a paper regarding the distribution of cetace= ans in the Strait of Gibraltar (Spain), we are compiling information regardi= ng Encounter Rate data of cetaceans in diferents places of the world. We def= ine this Encounter Rate as the number of sightings/observations of cetaceans mile/km/100milles/100km searched in proper effort conditions (Sea less t= han 4 doulgas scale and experimented observers searching). We are particularly interested by information regarding the mediterranea= n and the Atlantic (but also other parts of the world), to compare the data= we have form the Strait of Girbaltar. We found some information in several publications but we are still looking for actualised data for diferent species such as Bottlenose dolphins, Common dolphins, Striped dolphins, Pilot whales, Sperm whales, Killer whales and fin whales. We would apreciate if you could provide us the bibliographic references = of these data or actualised data that are not yet published (they will be referred as personnal communication). We will compile all the information received with the references and contact personns (if you wish to) in marmarm at the end of the compiling. Sincerely yours Renaud de Stephanis __________________________________________ Renaud de Stephanis CIRCE-LAV Conservaci=F3n Informaci=F3n y Estudio sobre Cet=E1ceos Laboratorio de Ac=FAstica y Vibraciones de la Universidad de C=E1diz Cabeza de Manzaneda 3 Algecias-Pelayo 11390, SPAIN +34615480745 renaud(\)teleline.es www.circe-asso.org __________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2003 10:15:49 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Job Opening at The Marine Mammal Center (fwd) From: "Jennings, Al" The Marine Mammal Center has an exciting opportunity for a Veterinary Intern to work in our Veterinary Science Department. This position is scheduled to start around July and will last for one year. Position requires a DVM license and previous marine mammal experience is a plus. If qualified, send your CV, letter of intent and three letters of reference to Director of Human Resources, The Marine Mammal Center, Marin Headlands, 1065 Fort Cronkhite, Sausalito, CA 94965-2609 Equal Opportunity Employer (Deadline for applications is 3/15/03) Al Jennings, PHR Director of Human Resources The Marine Mammal Center 1065 Fort Cronkhite Sausalito, CA 94965-2697 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2003 11:05:20 -0500 From: Cara Pekarcik Subject: 2003/2004 Whale Research Internships Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" ------ 2003/2004 Internship Announcement: The Whale Center of New England is a non-profit research organization, comprised of approximately 10 people involved with the study of behavior, ecology, and natural history of the whales and dolphins found in the wate= rs off Massachusetts. Primary concentration is on an individually identifie= d population of several hundred humpback whales that spend portions of the spring, summer, and fall in these waters. Since 1982, interns have been responsible for collecting, organizing, transcribing, and analyzing data dealing with the behavior and identification of N. Atlantic cetaceans. We are currently looking to fill openings for the summer (May 18 =AD Aug 23) and fall (Aug 17 =AD Dec 20) semesters of 2003 and the spring semester of 2004 (Jan 18 =AD May 22). Th= e internship will involve extensive photo and computer work (training provided), plus field data collection aboard commercial whale watching vessels and our research boat Silver II. Additional opportunities may include attendance at necropsies (whale autopsies), stranding response, s= eal surveys and attendance at conferences and meetings. A fee of $1000 for the period will be charged and in return interns will receive housing and a weekly food stipend. A common apartment is used, where interns live together and share cooking and cleaning duties. Rooms are shared with one other person. A living arrangement such as this is conducive to open discussion and interaction between peers and home life = is often a continuation of the day in the field. Therefore, it is essential that candidates can combine these two areas. College credit may be arranged by the student through their department or= as an independent research program at their college or university. The Whal= e Center of New England encourages this, and will take whatever steps are required to facilitate such efforts. An applicant for an internship should have the following: * A background in biology, zoology, or related field * 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 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 preferr= ed, necessitating travel to Gloucester, MA. Interviews will take place March 15th-16th and March 22nd-23rd. Please note: Internships are open to colle= ge students that have completed their freshman year. The application deadlin= e is March 1st. Application materials should be sent to: Cara Pekarcik, Intern Coordinator The Whale Center of New England P.O. Box 159 Gloucester MA 01930-0159 978-281-6351 (office) 978-281-5666 (fax) cara(\)whalecenter.org Please visit our website www.whalecenter.org for additional details. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2003 10:23:51 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: coyote killed a seal (fwd) From: easterncoyote(\)juno.com Hello, my name is Jonathan Way. I study eastern coyotes in eastern Massachusetts (http://www2.bc.edu/~wayjo). Recently, a colleague of mineobserved a coyote kill a seal. I was wondering if anyone is aware of literature that has documented this before. Also, has literaturedocumented seal-killing of other canids such as wolves? Thanks in advance. Jon Way ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2003 12:17:15 -0800 Reply-To: calambokidis(\)cascadiaresearch.org From: John Calambokidis Organization: Cascadia Research Subject: Re: coyote killed a seal (fwd) In-Reply-To: <200302031823.h13INpvs063526(\)unix6.uvic.ca> Regarding Jon Way's recent inquiry regarding coyote predation on seals, this has been documented in several areas. We studied it in Puget Sound harbor seals and some of the details were included in the publication below. The predation was targeting pups and even among this group, we were able to document that most of the pups successfully attacked were sick or in poor condition. Details are in the publication: Steiger, G.H., J. Calambokidis, J.C. Cubbage, D.E. Skilling, A.W. Smith, and D.H. Gribble. 1989. Mortality of harbor seal pups at different sites in the inland waters of Washington. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 25:319-328. Best, John Calambokidis Research Biologist Cascadia Research 218 1/2 W 4th Ave. Olympia, WA 98501 USA Tel. # 360-943-7325 FAX 360-943-7026 email: calambokidis(\)cascadiaresearch.org web page: www.cascadiaresearch.org ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2003 10:39:15 -0800 Reply-To: orcaholic158(\)yahoo.com From: Katie Barrett Subject: Killer Whale Sightings in the Caribbean Call for sightings of Killer Whales in the Caribbean! Dear All, I am an undergraduate student at the University of California, Santa Cruz and studying marine biology. I am looking into finding information on killer whales in the Caribbean. I have contacted many researchers and tour operators throughout the eastern Caribbean. But this method has netted me small pieces of a larger puzzle. Most of my sighting information of killer whales comes from the eastern Caribbean and the coast of Venezuela. I am interested in learning the date, location, direction of travel, number of animals and behavior. If only some of this information was gathered at the time of the sighting, I welcome any that is given. This data will be inserted into a report I am writing about killer whale distribution and status in the Caribbean. Since little to no information exists now, I am starting a research study to determine the density and distribution of the killer whales of the Caribbean. I would appreciate any direct information or contacts to people who may have pertinent information. If any additional information is known, outside of the items I have requested, I would be more than happy to receive them. Please refer to the following website for the full project description: http://www.jojodolphin.org I can be reached at orcaholic158(\)yahoo.com Thank you, Katie Barrett ===== Katie Barrett Undergraduate, Marine Biology Univ. of California, Santa Cruz Student Research and Internships, The Marine Wildlife Foundation http://www.jojodolphin.org 408-472-4953 __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2003 07:04:30 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Lost applications!! of ECS WORKSHOP: Monitoring porpoise/dolphin (fwd) From: ursula.verfuss(\)t-online.de Dear all, Due to email-software problems I lost some emails, including applications to the workshop: Monitoring porpoise/dolphin echo-location =96 the TPOD and IFAW systems=20 organised by Ursula Verfu=DF, Annette Kilian, Nick Tregenza, Douglas Gillespie =20 taking place on Thursday, 13th of March, during the 17th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain between March 9 - 13th 2003. Please, those people, who I didn=92t reply to their application or to their reply to my first email asking for more information, please send me your email again! Please excuse this trouble! Thanks, Ursula Verfuss =20 =20 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2003 07:06:43 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: new fur seal paper (fwd) From: Susan Crockford The Cape Flattery fur seal: An extinct species of Callorhinus in the eastern north Pacific? Crockford, Susan J., S. Gay Frederick and Rebecca Wigen. Canadian Journal of Archaeology 26(3): 152-174 (2002). reprint requests to: Abstract: Fur seal skeletal remains have been found in many archaeological sites on the central Northwest Coast. Although these sites lie adjacent to the annual spring migration route of Northern fur seals (NFS, Callorhinus ursinus) as they head north to the Bering Sea, evidence is mounting that NWC archaeological remains came from a non-migratory population. Although this is not a novel suggestion, new developments have dictated another look at the issue. Measurements of modern rookery-aged juveniles compared to archaeological fur seal remains from western Vancouver Island verify that un-weaned pups were harvested, while a virtually unknown historical document describes distinct differences in behaviour and pelage between the fur seals of Cape Flattery (CFFS) and C. ursinus. Although we suspect the former might have been a distinct species and deserves a full-scale taxonomic investigation, the evidence provided here nevertheless demonstrates conclusively that a locally-breeding, non-migratory population of fur seal was once well-established on the central Northwest Coast. Susan Crockford Pacific Identifications Inc., 6011 Oldfield Rd., R.R.#3 Victoria, B.C. V9E 2J4 Canada (250) 721-7296 fax (250) 721-6215 email or ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2003 10:00:57 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MARMAM Monthly Editorial Policy and FAQ ==================================================== MARMAM Editorial Policy & 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. What notices from regional groups are posted? 13. Useful websites 14. Other email discussion lists 15. 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, run through the University of Victoria. The list was established in August 1993 specifically for marine mammal researchers and graduate students, as well as those actively involved in marine mammal conservation and management. As of January 2002 there were over 4,100 subscribers from 72 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. Posting of messages to the list is done at the Editors' discretion. ________________________________________________________ >> 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 announcements - internship/volunteer opportunities. To help students discern the pros and cons of different research groups we ask that that postings provide details of the research experience that volunteers will gain from this position. Posts for volunteer opportunities (particularly paying opportunities) that are not university-affiliated, should provide a measure of their research output in terms of publications available. For groups that do not do this, we will add the note: NO PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE ON THIS WORK If you are affiliated with a university research group, please make this clear in your posting. Finally, provide an indication of the level of payment required from the volunteers: whether the position is paid, volunteers are subsidised in terms of accomodation but have to provide their own flights, or whether there is a charge for the position. - 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 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) 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 ensures that: - An appropriate and explicit 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 4000+ list members. - 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. All information should be included as text within the body of the message. - Messages are properly formatted and do not contain excessive numbers of typos. Messages that 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. Please note the following about message formatting. 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. Further, we have noticed that messages composed by cutting and pasting directly from WordPerfect or Word can cause line wrapping problems. Therefore, messages should not be composed using the latter method. Several e-mail programs append encoded information (MIME, Metafile, and V-cards are common ones). Web-based e-mail programs often append HTML tags by default. These "embelishments" cause display and readability problems and are strongly discouraged. Whenever possible users should disable HTML tags (or send the text-only version) and other encoding features when submitting messages to MARMAM. EVERY EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO SUBMIT MESSAGES AS PLAIN TEXT. These practices will greatly reduce the number of messages with strange formatting that appear on MARMAM. ________________________________________________________ 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. What notices from regional groups are posted? Submissions from regional groups (for example, but not restricted to, the regional chapters of the American Cetacean Society or the regional student chapters of professional associations such as the Society for Marine Mammalogy) should carefully consider whether their announcements are relevant to 4,000+ recipients in 72 countries. Announcements about meetings of short duration (less that half a day) and with little or no scientifc content are discouraged. Notices dealing with internal chapter businesses or organizational matters will not be posted. Notices from regional student chapters 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). ________________________________________________________ 13. 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: http://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/ Oceans Blue Whalewatch Listserv: http://www.oceansblue.org/bluetourism/chartacourse/ BajaToBering/index.html ______________________________________________________ 14. 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) ________________________________________________________ 15. 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, 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 July 2002 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2003 12:47:53 -0500 From: Richard Bamberger at MERI Subject: Marine Mammal Research Institute in Maine would like to post internship announcements boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0009_01C2CC4B.A26E0D10" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0009_01C2CC4B.A26E0D10 charset="iso-8859-1" The following internship announcements are for the Marine Environmental = Research Institute (MERI) in Blue Hill, ME. MERI's research has been = written about in the Natural Resources Defense Council's publication "On = Earth" volume 23, number 3 (Fall 2001. We would like the following = internships posted on the MARMAM listserve. Thank you for your = assistance. 1) Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) announces=20 Research Intern Opportunities - Spring/Summer 2003 Field Research Internship The Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI), a nonprofit = organization based in Blue Hill, Maine, is accepting applications for = spring/summer 2002 Research Internships at its Center for Marine = Studies. This is a full-time position for a minimum of 10 weeks from = early May through mid-August. MERI is an international research and = education organization dedicated to understanding the impacts of = environmental pollutants on the health of marine mammals, and to = interpreting this information to a broad public. MERI is currently = conducting a multiyear, multidisciplinary investigation of contaminant = loads and biomarkers of health status in Gulf of Maine pinnipeds. The = Center assists the Northeast Regional Stranding Network in the rescue = and rehabilitation of stranded marine mammals along the mid-Maine coast. = This is a great opportunity to work in a growing marine research = institution that conducts and interprets cutting edge field and = laboratory science on marine mammals. =20 Job Summary: =20 This position will involve working with the Research department to = rescue stranded marine mammals; collect and process blood and tissue = samples; and transport animals to rehabilitation facilities. = Orientation will be provided regarding tissue sampling and marine mammal = handling. Research interns will also assist in providing background = information for the institute's monitoring programs and in other = departments of the Center as assigned. =20 =20 Duties will include but not be limited to: =A7 Assisting with response to stranded marine mammals, = documentation of stranding and sighting reports; providing "on call" = coverage for strandings =A7 Assisting with rescues and recoveries of injured or = abandoned animals =A7 Assisting with blood and tissue collection and handling, = blood cell counts and slide preparation =A7 Assisting with necropsies, maintaining necropsy freezers =A7 Updating medical and laboratory records and logs =A7 Assisting with data collection, entry, and compilation for = fact sheets, reports, and presentations =A7 Assisting with training sessions and presentations =A7 Assisting with water quality sampling and testing =A7 Assisting with research database management, analysis, and = interpretation =A7 Conducting literature searches on marine mammals and = pollutants, maintaining reference management systems =A7 Assisting education staff with the organization and = dissemination of scientific information to the public =A7 Other duties relating to the Center's goals and mission as = required =20 Reports to: Research Director =20 Qualifications:=20 Applicants should possess a BA or BS degree in biology (marine, = wildlife), toxicology, environmental science/natural resources, marine = science, or similar majors. Applicants must have the ability to = understand and follow written and oral instruction, and have effective = communication skills. Applicants must be fit and agile, able to walk on = uneven terrain and lift 50 pounds. Applicants must possess the ability = to adapt to a changing work environment, and be available to work = nights, weekends, and holidays. Applicants with animal handling = experience preferred. Knowledge of computer software including Microsoft Word, Power Point, = Excel, Access, SPSS, GIS helpful; photography, and graphics a plus. = Must possess a valid drivers license, good driving record and be = comfortable driving a small truck in rural setting. Must have knowledge = of First Aid, CPR, and water safety. Experience handling small boats in = marine waters a plus. =20 Compensation:=20 Housing and a $1,200 stipend are available. Interns are responsible for = all travel expenses. =20 =20 To Apply: =20 Applicants should submit by email a letter of interest with CV and 3 = references by March 1, 2003 to: meri(\)downeast.net ATTN: Research = Intern Search =20 Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI)=20 P.O. Box 1652, Blue Hill, ME 04614 =20 207) 374-2135 Fax: (207) 374-2931=20 meri(\)downeast.net www.meriresearch.org =20 =20 2) Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) announces=20 Education Internship Positions for Summer 2003 =20 Internship Duration: June 16 - August 30, 2003 =20 About MERI: MERI, founded in 1990, is a non-profit organization in = Blue Hill, Maine, dedicated to protecting the health and biodiversity of = the marine environment. Current work includes community-based marine = education programs operating out of the MERI Center for Marine Studies, = and field research on the effects of pollution on marine mammals. = Summer education programs focus on marine life along the rocky Maine = coast and promoting environmental awareness and stewardship. =20 Job Summary Interns will be responsible for leading island ecology trips for = children and adults, assisting with the day-to-day operation of the MERI = Center for Marine Studies, developing and implementing educational = science materials for adult/child community programs, managing MERI = library and information clearinghouse files, and acquiring experience in = local research projects and marine education programs, including: =20 Island Explorers (ages 6-16): Boat trips to undeveloped islands = focusing on marine life, ecology, and the impact of human activities on = the coastal environment. =20 Eco-Cruises (all ages): Cruises aboard MERI's 33' research vessel = incorporating educational activities and observations of marine wildlife = in Blue Hill Bay. =20 Island Excursions(all ages): Field trips focusing on island = exploration, intertidal zone studies, and marine wildlife observations. =20 MERI In-house Programs: Ocean Story Hour for pre-schoolers, Ocean Video = Night for Families, and Hands-on Ocean Science for elementary school = students are included in our summer program offerings. =20 Community Events: MERI is involved in the local community and = participates in many summer events. =20 Local Research Programs: These projects include water quality and = phytoplankton studies with the Maine Department of Marine Resources, and = marine debris clean-up programs with the Center for Marine Conservation. = =20 =20 Qualifications BA/BS degree (Seniors may also apply) in marine sciences, biology, = environmental sciences, or similar majors and appropriate experience. = Environmental education experience, strong computer skills, first aid, = and seamanship a plus, but not required. =20 =20 Compensation Housing and a $1,200 stipend. To apply: (Deadline March 21, 2003) = =20 =20 To Apply Email or mail resume, cover letter & 3 references to: MERI = Intern Search Committee = P.O. Box 1652 = Blue Hill, ME 04614 =20 = (207) 374-2135, meriedu(\)downeast.net =20 3) Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) announces=20 Communications Internship - Spring/Summer 2003 =20 =20 Communications Internship =20 The Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI), a nonprofit = organization based in Blue Hill, Maine, is accepting applications for = Spring/Summer 2003 Communications Internship at its Center for Marine = Studies. This is a full-time position for a minimum of 10 weeks in = Spring or Summer. MERI is an international research and education = organization dedicated to understanding the impacts of environmental = pollutants on the health of marine mammals, and to interpreting this = information to a broad public. =20 =20 Job Summary: =20 This position will involve working with all MERI Departments. =20 Duties will include but not be limited to: a.. Creating e-mail lists for various MERI directives b.. Tracking activities of environmental related community = organizations c.. Tracking and cataloguing media pieces relating to MERI or = environmental issues of interest to MERI d.. Reading, photocopying, and distributing relevant journal articles = to staff (summarizing information when appropriate) e.. Covering local meetings relating to environmental issues and = creating summary reports f.. Online researching - environmental issues and implementations of = action plans=20 g.. Reporting on information gathered at bi-weekly staff meetings =20 Reports to: Education Director =20 Qualifications:=20 Applicants should possess, or be working towards a BA or BS degree in = communications, journalism, public relations, environmental science, = policy, marine science or a related major. Applicants must have the = ability to understand and follow written and oral instruction, and have = effective communication skills. Applicants must possess the ability to = adapt to a changing work environment, and be available to work nights, = weekends, and holidays. =20 Knowledge of computer software including Microsoft Word, Power Point, = Excel, Access, Publisher, Adobe Acrobat, Photoshop, Quark helpful; = photography, and graphics a plus. Must possess a valid driver's license = and have a good driving record.=20 Compensation:=20 Housing is available. Interns are responsible for all travel expenses. = =20 To Apply: =20 Applicants should submit by email a letter of interest with CV and 3 = references by March 1, 2003 to: meri(\)downeast.net ATTN: Communications = Intern Search =20 =20 Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI)=20 P.O. Box 1652, Blue Hill, ME 04614 =20 207) 374-2135 Fax: (207) 374-2931=20 meri(\)downeast.net www.meriresearch.org ------=_NextPart_000_0009_01C2CC4B.A26E0D10 charset="iso-8859-1"
The following internship announcements = are for the=20 Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) in Blue Hill, ME.  = MERI's=20 research has been written about in the Natural Resources Defense = Council's=20 publication "On Earth" volume 23, number 3 (Fall 2001.  We would = like the=20 following internships posted on the MARMAM listserve.  Thank you = for your=20 assistance.
 
1) = Marine=20 Environmental Research Institute (MERI) announces

Research Intern Opportunities – Spring/Summer=20 2003

 Field=20 Research Internship

 The Marine Environmental Research = Institute=20 (MERI), a nonprofit organization based in Blue Hill, Maine, is accepting = applications for spring/summer 2002 Research Internships at its Center = for=20 Marine Studies. This is a full-time position for a minimum of 10 weeks = from=20 early May through mid-August.  = MERI=20 is an international research and education organization dedicated to=20 understanding the impacts of environmental pollutants on the health of = marine=20 mammals, and to interpreting this information to a broad public.  MERI is currently conducting a = multiyear, multidisciplinary investigation of contaminant loads and = biomarkers=20 of health status in Gulf of Maine pinnipeds.  The Center assists the = Northeast=20 Regional Stranding Network in the rescue and rehabilitation of stranded = marine=20 mammals along the mid-Maine coast. =20 This is a great opportunity to work in a growing marine research=20 institution that conducts and interprets cutting edge field and = laboratory=20 science on marine mammals.

 

Job=20 Summary: 

This position will involve working with the = Research=20 department to rescue stranded marine mammals; collect and process blood = and=20 tissue samples; and transport animals to rehabilitation facilities.  Orientation will be provided = regarding=20 tissue sampling and marine mammal handling.  Research interns will also = assist in=20 providing background information for the institute’s monitoring = programs and in=20 other departments of the Center as assigned. 

 

Duties will include but not be limited to:

=A7        =20 Assisting with response to stranded marine mammals, = documentation of stranding and sighting reports; providing "on call" = coverage=20 for strandings

=A7        =20 Assisting with rescues and recoveries of injured or = abandoned animals

=A7        =20 Assisting with blood and tissue collection and = handling,=20 blood cell counts and slide preparation

=A7        =20 Assisting with necropsies, maintaining necropsy=20 freezers

=A7        =20 Updating medical and laboratory records and = logs

=A7        =20 Assisting with data collection, entry, and = compilation for=20 fact sheets, reports, and presentations

=A7        =20 Assisting with training sessions and = presentations

=A7        =20 Assisting with water quality sampling and = testing

=A7        =20 Assisting with research database management, = analysis, and=20 interpretation

=A7        =20 Conducting literature searches on marine mammals = and=20 pollutants, maintaining reference management systems

=A7        =20 Assisting education staff with the organization and = dissemination of scientific information to the public

=A7        =20 Other duties relating to the Center’s goals = and mission as=20 required

 

Reports=20 to:  Research Director

 

Qualifications: =

Applicants should possess a BA or BS degree in = biology=20 (marine, wildlife), toxicology, environmental science/natural resources, = marine=20 science, or similar majors. =20 Applicants must have the ability to understand and follow written = and=20 oral instruction, and have effective communication skills.  Applicants must be fit and = agile, able=20 to walk on uneven terrain and lift 50 pounds.  Applicants must possess the = ability to=20 adapt to a changing work environment, and be available to work nights, = weekends,=20 and holidays.  Applicants = with=20 animal handling experience preferred.

Knowledge=20 of computer software including Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel, = Access, SPSS,=20 GIS helpful; photography, and graphics a plus.  Must possess a valid drivers = license,=20 good driving record and be comfortable driving a small truck in rural=20 setting.  Must have = knowledge of=20 First Aid, CPR, and water safety. =20 Experience handling small boats in marine waters a plus. 

Compensation: =

Housing and a $1,200 stipend are available.  Interns are responsible for = all travel=20 expenses. 

 

To = Apply: 

Applicants should submit by email a letter of = interest with=20 CV and 3 references by March 1, 2003 to: meri(\)downeast.net =20 ATTN:  Research = Intern=20 Search

 

Marine=20 Environmental Research Institute (MERI)=20
P.O. Box 1652, Blue = Hill, ME=20 04614  =

207) 374-2135  Fax: (207) 374-2931
meri(\)downeast.net   www.meriresearch.org=

 

 

 

 

 

 

2) Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) announces=20

Education = Internship=20 Positions for Summer 2003     =20

Internship Duration: = June 16 -=20 August  30, = 2003

 

About=20 MERI:   MERI, founded = in 1990,=20 is a non-profit organization in Blue = Hill, = Maine, dedicated to = protecting the=20 health and biodiversity of the marine environment.  Current work includes = community-based=20 marine education programs operating out of the=20 MERI = Center for Marine Studies, = and field=20 research on the effects of pollution on marine mammals.  Summer education programs = focus on=20 marine life along the rocky Maine coast and promoting=20 environmental awareness and stewardship.

 

Job=20 Summary

Interns=20 will be responsible for leading island ecology trips for children and = adults,=20 assisting with the day-to-day operation of the=20 MERI = Center for Marine Studies, = developing=20 and implementing educational science materials for adult/child community = programs, managing MERI library and information clearinghouse files, and = acquiring experience in local research projects and marine education = programs,=20 including:

 

Island=20 Explorers (ages 6-16):  = Boat trips=20 to undeveloped islands focusing on marine life, ecology, and the impact = of human=20 activities on the coastal environment.

 

Eco-Cruises (all = ages):   Cruises aboard = MERI’s 33’ research=20 vessel incorporating educational activities and observations of marine = wildlife=20 in Blue = Hill = Bay.

 

Island=20 Excursions(all ages):  = Field trips=20 focusing on island exploration, intertidal zone studies, and marine = wildlife=20 observations.

 

MERI=20 In-house Programs: Ocean Story Hour for pre-schoolers, Ocean Video Night = for=20 Families, and Hands-on Ocean Science for elementary school students are = included=20 in our summer program offerings.

 

Community Events:   MERI is involved in the = local=20 community and participates in many summer events.

 

Local=20 Research Programs:   = These=20 projects include water quality and phytoplankton studies with the Maine=20 Department of Marine Resources, and marine debris clean-up programs with = the=20 Center for Marine Conservation.           =20

 

Qualifications

BA/BS=20 degree (Seniors may also apply) in marine sciences, biology, = environmental=20 sciences, or similar majors and appropriate experience.  Environmental education = experience,=20 strong computer skills, first aid, and seamanship a plus, but not = required. 

 

Compensation

Housing=20 and a $1,200 stipend.   = To=20 apply: (Deadline March 21,=20 2003)=20        =20

 

To=20 Apply

Email or=20 mail resume, cover letter & 3 references to:         =20 MERI Intern Search Committee

           &nbs= p;            = ;            =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;          =20 P.O. = Box = 1652

           &nbs= p;            = ;            =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;          =20 Blue = Hill, = ME  04614           &nbs= p;     =20    =20

           &nbs= p;            = ;            =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;          =20 (207) 374-2135, meriedu(\)downeast.net

 

 

 

3) Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) announces=20

Communications=20 Internship – Spring/Summer 2003

 

 

Communications=20 Internship

 

The Marine = Environmental=20 Research Institute (MERI), a nonprofit organization based in=20 Blue=20 Hill, = Maine, is accepting applications for Spring/Summer = 2003=20 Communications Internship at its Center for Marine Studies. This is a = full-time=20 position for a minimum of 10 weeks in Spring or Summer.  MERI is an international = research and=20 education organization dedicated to understanding the impacts of = environmental=20 pollutants on the health of marine mammals, and to interpreting this = information=20 to a broad public. =20

 

Job=20 Summary: 

This position will = involve=20 working with all MERI Departments.

 

Duties will include = but not be=20 limited to:

  • Creating e-mail lists for various MERI=20 directives
  • Tracking activities of environmental related = community=20 organizations
  • Tracking and cataloguing media pieces = relating to MERI=20 or environmental issues of interest to MERI
  • Reading, photocopying, and distributing relevant = journal=20 articles to staff (summarizing information when=20 appropriate)
  • Covering local meetings relating to = environmental=20 issues and creating summary reports
  • Online researching – environmental = issues and=20 implementations of action plans
  • Reporting on information gathered at = bi-weekly staff=20 meetings

 

Reports=20 to:  Education Director

 

Qualifications: =

Applicants should = possess, or=20 be working towards a BA or BS degree in communications, journalism, = public=20 relations, environmental science, policy, marine science or a related=20 major.  Applicants must = have the=20 ability to understand and follow written and oral instruction, and have=20 effective communication skills. =20 Applicants must possess the ability to adapt to a changing work=20 environment, and be available to work nights, weekends, and = holidays. 

Knowledge of computer software including = Microsoft Word,=20 Power Point, Excel, Access, Publisher, Adobe Acrobat, Photoshop, Quark = helpful;=20 photography, and graphics a plus. =20 Must possess a valid driver’s license and have a good = driving record.=20

Compensation: =

Housing is = available.  Interns are responsible for = all travel=20 expenses. 

 

To = Apply: 

Applicants should = submit by=20 email a letter of interest with CV and 3 references by March 1,=20 2003 to: meri(\)downeast.net =20 ATTN:  = Communications Intern=20 Search

 

 

Marine=20 Environmental Research Institute (MERI)=20
P.O. Box 1652, Blue Hill, ME 04614  =

207) 374-2135  Fax: (207) 374-2931
meri(\)downeast.net   www.meriresearch.org=

------=_NextPart_000_0009_01C2CC4B.A26E0D10-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2003 18:25:08 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: tragic loss in right whale survey plane crash WILDLIFE TRUST MOURNS LOSS OF NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE SURVEY TEAM Wildlife Trust and its extended family in the international conservation community are sharing their profound grief and paying tribute to members of the Wildlife Trust North Atlantic Right Whale aerial survey team. Three observers and their pilot were lost when their twin-engine plane went down in the Atlantic Ocean off the northern coast of Florida last Sunday, January 26th. The research team, based in St. Simons Island, Georgia and contracted by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to fly surveys off the coasts of Georgia and Florida, was led by Wildlife Trust conservation biologist Emily Argo, 25, of St. Petersburg, Florida, and included veteran marine mammal conservationists Jackie Ciano, 47, of Wellfleet, Massachusetts, and Michael Newcomer, 49, of Los Altos, California. Their pilot, Tom Hinds, 41, of Fernandina Beach, Florida also died. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. We want to express our profound thanks to the rescue workers and agencies that were tireless in their efforts to find our friends and help us get through these days, said Dr. James Buddy Powell, Wildlife Trusts Director for Aquatic Conservation, who supervised the survey project. Our loss is profound, said Dr. Mary Pearl, Wildlife Trust President. Four vibrant, committed people died too soon. Lives can be measured in days, but they can also be measured in significance. Although our friends spent too few days with us, the work they accomplished on behalf of whale survival and their devotion to the cause of marine conservation will always stand as an inspiration. A memorial service is planned for February 16th in Fernandina Beach. Plans are also underway to honor the team with a memorial fund to benefit marine mammal conservation. Donations to this fund can be sent to: Wildlife Trust, 1200 Lincoln Park Ave, Suite 2, Prospect Park, PA 19076. The researchers will also be remembered in the dedication to the World Conservation Unions (IUCN) publication, Dolphins, Whales, and Porpoises: 2002-2010 Conservation Action Plan for the World's Cetaceans. Emily Argo, the project leader and teams youngest member, was a promising star in the field of marine mammal conservation. She earned a bachelors degree in Environmental Studies and Biology from Ohio Northern University, and after graduating, distinguished herself as a researcher and field coordinator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissions manatee photo-identification program in southwest Florida. At the time of her death, Emily was lead observer for Wildlife Trusts northern right whale aerial survey team. Her unique blend of personality, intelligence, experience, and training skills had poised her for leadership in the wildlife conservation community. Jackie Ciano, born in Arlington, Massachusetts, started her marine mammal career as a trainer at the New England Aquarium and then moved on to the right whale research program. Since the mid-1980s she had been studying whales throughout New England and Florida, and off the coast of Norway. With her vibrant personality and boundless personal commitment, Jackie is remembered as a tireless teacher and positive problem-solver. She had recently obtained her captains license. Michael Newcomer, originally from Los Altos, California, was a seasoned and talented marine mammal observer and ornithologist. He studied zoology at San Jose State University and amassed thousands of hours of marine mammal and sea turtle surveys over his career. He worked for a variety of government and private agencies in the US and internationally. Michael was the kind of person who made the people around him feel special and valued. Tom Hinds, originally from Alexandria, Virginia, was a pilot for Environmental Aviation Services for four years. He had more than 1,000 hours of experience assisting various government and nonprofit agencies in marine census work. Tom also served as a flying instructor at two Fernandina Beach flying schools. The family has requested that donations/tributes in Toms name be made to the Jacksonville Humane Society. Mike Newcomers mother, Barbara, recalled her sons favorite quote from Jack London, which he had told her described his own view of his life: I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dryrot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time. For further information regarding the memorial service or donations please contact: Martha Wells Office Manager/Development Officer Wildlife Trust 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway Sarasota, FL 34236 Tel: (941) 388-4441 ext. 215 wells(\)wildlifetrust.org www.wildlifetrust.org ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2003 14:22:36 -0900 From: Dyan Ferren Subject: Job Announcement Alaska SeaLife Center Job Announcement The Alaska SeaLife Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to marine research, rehabilitation and public education is seeking candidates for the following: Harbor Seal Scientist This position is responsible overseeing the Harbor Seal Research Program at the Alaska SeaLife Center. Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to: Defines the Harbor Seal Research Program vision, sets research priorities, develops and manages the program in conjunction with the Science Director and Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), and the Assistant Director for Research Operations. Maintains an active, externally funded research program that focuses on both captive and free-ranging harbor seals. Coordinates and prepares Harbor Seal Program annual operating budgets, programs, and plans for special projects. Prepares grant proposals. Supervises personnel of the Harbor Seal Program and ensures staff is properly trained and equipped to carry out the Program's objectives. Ensures the production of timely reports to granting agencies. Directs the preparation and amendments to required permits. Represents the Harbor Seal Program to private, local, state, or federal agencies in collaboration with the Science Director and Executive Director. Requirements: PhD. degree in zoology, wildlife biology, marine biology or a related animal research field, and 5 years professional experience in lab and field marine mammal research, including project budgeting and management, with 3 years at a supervisory level. This is a regular, full-time position with benefits, salary DOE. Apply by: OPEN Start date: FLEXIBLE Send resume, references, and salary requirements to Human Resources, Alaska SeaLife Center, P O Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664-1329, or fax 907-224-6320, or email to human_resources(\)alaskasealife.org ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2003 12:04:46 +1300 From: Rob Suisted Subject: Maui's (formerly 'North Island Hector's') dolphin protection meas ures announced in New Zealand boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01C2CBD8.A4EBDA90" 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_01C2CBD8.A4EBDA90 Hi All The New Zealand Government has just announced significant protection measures to help protect the critically endangered Maui's dolphin (formerly known as the North Island Hector's dolphin). It is believed that less than 150 remain. Six dead dolphins have been found in the last 20 months - 2 in nets, 2 with net marks and the 2 remaining were very decomposed. The key measure is the complete removal of commercial and recreational gill net fishing from the coastal zone (out to 4 nautical miles)over 300+ km of coastline. Full details can be found on the links below. This has been the outcome of 3 years of hard work by Government agencies, fishing industry, environmental groups and tangata whenua. Recent research has found that Maui's dolphin (Cephalorhychus hectori maui) and the South Island Hector's dolphin are separate subspecies, physically and genetically distinct from each other. You can access more information at: http://www.doc.govt.nz/Conservation/001~Plants-and-Animals/003~Marine-Mammal s/Dolphins/Protection-for-the-Critically-Endangered-Maui-Dolphins/index.asp Or, you can access a fully formatted colour PDF fact sheet with maps and photos on: http://www.doc.govt.nz/Conservation/001~Plants-and-Animals/003~Marine-Mammal s/Dolphins/Protection-for-the-Critically-Endangered-Maui-Dolphins/001~Fully- Formatted-Factsheet.pdf Regards Rob Suisted National marine mammal co-ordinator Department of Conservation New Zealand Email: rsuisted(\)doc.govt.nz ############################################## This e-mail (and attachments) is confidential and may be legally privileged. ############################################## ------_=_NextPart_001_01C2CBD8.A4EBDA90 Maui's (formerly 'North Island Hector's') dolphin protection measu= res announced in New Zealand

Hi All

The New Zealand Government has just announced significa= nt protection measures to help protect the critically endangered Maui's d= olphin (formerly known as the North Island Hector's dolphin).

It is believed that less than 150 remain. Six dead dolp= hins have been found in the last 20 months - 2 in nets, 2 with net marks = and the 2 remaining were very decomposed.

The key measure is the complete removal of commercial a= nd recreational gill net fishing from the coastal zone (out to 4 nautical= =20miles)over 300+ km of coastline. Full details can be found on the link= s below.

This has been the outcome of 3 years of hard work by Go= vernment agencies, fishing industry, environmental groups and tangata whe= nua.

Recent research has found that Maui's dolphin (Cephalor= hychus hectori maui) and the South Island Hector's dolphin are separate s= ubspecies, physically and genetically distinct from each other.

You can access more information at: http://www.doc.govt.nz/Conservation/001~Plants-and-Anima= ls/003~Marine-Mammals/Dolphins/Protection-for-the-Critically-Endangered-M= aui-Dolphins/index.asp

Or, you can access a fully formatted colour PDF fact sh= eet with maps and photos on: http://www.doc.govt.nz/Conservation/001~Plants-and-Animal= s/003~Marine-Mammals/Dolphins/Protection-for-the-Critically-Endangered-Ma= ui-Dolphins/001~Fully-Formatted-Factsheet.pdf

Regards

Rob Suisted
National marine mammal co-ordinator
Department of Conservation
New Zealand
Email: rsuisted(\)doc.govt.nz

Attention:
This e-mail (and attachments)=20 is confidential and may be legally privileged.
= ------_=_NextPart_001_01C2CBD8.A4EBDA90-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 6 Feb 2003 02:59:55 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Abstracts for Journal of Cetacean Research and Management (fwd) From: "Greg Donovan" Dear all this is to inform you that a downloadable pdf file containing the contents, abstracts and keywords for Volumes 1-4 of the Journal of Cetacean Research and Management plus the two Special Issues (Pollution and Cetaceans; Right Whales: worldwide status) is available at the following weblink: http://www.iwcoffice.org/Publications/JCRM.html Details of how to subscribe to the Journal and order individual publications are also available. Best wishes Greg Donovan Editor, Journal of Cetacean Research and Management ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 6 Feb 2003 03:02:10 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: static deployment of acoustic devices (fwd) From: Frank Thomsen Dear colleagues, In order to investigate habitat use of harbour porpoises in the northern = sea, we plan to deploy a number of acoustic devices (in our case click-de= tectors or T-POD's build by Nick Tregenza, U.K) at several locations, mos= tly in depths around 20-30 m. The POD's are able to collect data at least= for one month. One of the problems we face, is the installation of such = devices on the sea bed. We initially planned to install each device on a = rope between two anchors, each connected to a buoy at the surface. Howeve= r, the system seems to be vulnerable to either difficult weather conditio= ns or theft. One alternative we are thinking about, are acoustic releaser= s but we are not too familiar with them. My question adresses two issues:= is there anyone out there with advanced experience in static deployment = of listening systems, who can provide general input about the mooring des= ign. Second, are there good acoustic releasers we can use?. Any informati= on is greatly appreciated! Frank Thomsen Zoologisches Institut=20 Universit=E4t Hamburg Arbeitsbereich Ethologie =20 _________________________________________________________________________= _____ Ihnen fehlen die richtigen Worte f=FCr Ihre SMS? WEB.DE FreeMail hat die besten Sprueche f=FCr Sie. http://freemail.web.de/features/?mc=3D021169 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 6 Feb 2003 16:12:09 -0500 From: CORE Subject: Internship Opportunity Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" ------ Center for Oceanic Research and Education Internship Opportunities The Center for Oceanic Research and Education (CORE), based in Essex, MA,= is a non-profit organization dedicated to the study and conservation of cetaceans. Cetaceans are whales, dolphins and porpoises. CORE's mission i= s to promote stewardship and conservation of cetaceans and their marine environment. CORE's research focuses on the fascinating social interactio= ns among whales, as well as distribution and identification studies of sever= al different cetacean species including humpback whales, fin whales, sperm whales and rare beaked whales. CORE conducts whale watch education progra= ms, school presentations and public outreach activities throughout the year a= s part of our endeavor to educate as many people as possible about endanger= ed whales and their fragile marine environment.=20 CORE collects most of its research data aboard commercial whale watching vessels that operate out of Gloucester, MA as well as Rye, NH. Interns ar= e aboard each trip as research assistants, and are primarily responsible fo= r data collection. The types of data recorded on each trip include physical information =AD such as climate and sea conditions, number and species of= each cetacean, as well as behavioral information and identification photograph= s of focus animals.=20 Other duties aboard the boats include answering passenger questions, assisting with fund raising efforts and helping crew on deck. A paid "education mate" position aboard the whale watching boat in Gloucester is included - interns will rotate day-to-day through the week as research assistants and education mates.=20 CORE is somewhat of a fledgling organization, founded in 1996, we earned = our non-profit status in 1998. Though we have no publications currently in print, we are in the process of collecting data on several on-going resea= rch projects with the goal of developing papers on such varied subjects as hierarchy within humpback whale social and feeding groups, to observation= s of Sowerby=B9s and Cuvier=B9s beaked whales in offshore submarine canyon= s. Interns can expect to participate in and learn a variety of facets of research including:=20 =AE Data collection; data entry; archiving and cataloging photographs and negatives; general office work.=20 =AE Data analysis methods; individual identification of whales through ph= oto analysis; data submission to educational on-line programs with whom we ar= e associated. =AE Public speaking; fund raising; correspondence with other organization= s, researcher and students. =AE Interns are also assigned a specific on-going research project; and w= ill be expected to complete an extensive reading list to learn important background knowledge. =AE Basics of navigation; boat handling; use of marine electronics includ= ing GPS, LORAN, radar and echolocation machines; handling lines; and general knowledge of vessel safety and emergency protocol. Interns are encouraged to receive either undergraduate or graduate credit= s for their internships with CORE. We will help students design and impleme= nt a project through their school or with two local schools with whom we are affiliated (Endicott College, Beverly, MA and Wheelock College, Boston, M= A). CORE offers year-round internship opportunities to qualified college students or graduates. We require a two-month minimum stay. These are strictly unpaid, volunteer positions. However, beginning the summer of 20= 03, interns will be paid for their duties as Education Mates aboard the commercial whale watching vessels out of Gloucester. We do not provide ro= om or board, but will assist interns in any way in finding housing and transportation (if necessary). We also offer flexible hours, so that inte= rns can obtain part-time jobs, if needed.=20 Application deadline for the summer internship session is April 6th with interviews conducted through late April. The deadline for the fall internship session is July 31st, with interviews through mid-August. We a= lso accept applicants for spring or winter, please send the materials listed below. To apply for an internship, please send a resume or CV, a letter of inter= est identifying your reason for applying, and a letter of recommendation to h= e below address. We will send an application and contact applicants to schedule interview as soon as we receive the above materials. Application= s and further information on CORE can be obtained through our website:=20 www.coreresearch.org Lisa Foerster-Fox, Director Center for Oceanic Research and Education 245 Western Ave, Box 8 Essex, MA 01929 978.768.4560 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 7 Feb 2003 21:00:17 -0800 From: "Guy W. Oliver" Subject: Dolphins slaughtered for human consumption in Peru ------ Illegal hunting for human consumption kills 1000 or more dolphins per yea= r in Peru! Lima, Peru; Based on preliminary field reports the Peruvian NGO Mundo Azul (Blue World) estimates that illegal hunting of dolphins for hu= man consumption kills at least 1000 dolphins per year along the Peruvian coas= t. "There are very clear indications for a flourishing black market for dolp= hin meat in Peru", says Stefan Austerm=FChle, biologist and Executive Directo= r of Mundo Azul. He explains: "In order to stop illegal killing we initiated a= n awareness campaign that informs people about the ongoing problem of dolp= hin killing, explains why dolphins have to be protected and gives advice how = to act if being witness of illegal activities." The hunting and killing of dolphins, as well as the sale of dolphin meat = and its consumption was prohibited by Peruvian law in 1995 as a result of dramatic increase of dolphin hunting during the 80s and early 90s in Peru= , that mounted in an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 dolphins being killed each year. The law and a strong awareness campaign of Peruvian NGO=B4s resulte= d in the complete stop of sales of dolphin meat in supermarkets and restaurant= s. "For years the problem was thought to be solved", says Stefan Austerm=FCh= le: "the truth is, it is not." Reports and photographic material collected by Mundo Azul from places all along the 3000 kilometer long desert coast sho= w clearly that illegal dolphin hunting is not an occasional event, but a widespread practice. In one beach in the northern limits of the coastal department of Lambayeque members of Mundo Azul found more than 20 dolphin= s killed for human consumption in one single day. On another beach south of the harbor town Chimbote within one week three dolphins being cut into pieces had been washed on the shore. "The problem is not restricted to isolated beaches, being hard to control. Last September we had the case o= f a dolphin found on the beach of the harbor town of Pucusana, 5 meters away from the fishing dock and 50 meters away from the office of the port authorities. This shows," explains Austerm=FChle, "that the killing of dolphins is still seen as a peccadillo by port authorities, fishermen and clients of this black market." Mundo Azul has also collected reports of dolphin meat being offered in restaurants and on high-society-parties in Lima. In order to fight illegal dolphin killing Mundo Azul has started a nation= al awareness campaign for the conservation of dolphins. Thanks to the financ= ial support of the swiss "Working Group for the Conservation of Cetaceans" (ASMS) and the mayor of Pucusana Mundo Azul was able to distribute information material to every household in Pucusana, using the opportunit= y to engage in direct dialogue with the local fishermen. The NGO will conti= nue now to distribute the material to public institutions and fishermen associations throughout the country. The direct face-to-face-approach of = the campaign is accompanied by a strong media campaign and a set of detailed information in English and Spanish on the laws protecting dolphins in Per= u on the web-site of Mundo Azul (www.peru.com/mundoazul). Visitors of the s= ite will also find clear advice how and where to file official complains if o= ne witnesses illegal action, how to support the campaign and what to do if a dolphin was found alive on the beach. "In a situation where public and private funds are insufficient to efficiently control the Peruvian coast,= we believe it is crucial to enable the average citizen to support the conservation of dolphins and to file official complains if he detects illegal killing, sale or consumption of dolphin meat," explains Austerm=FC= hle and concludes: "So far our campaign was a full success and we are now hop= ing to find additional funding to continue the campaign throughout the year a= nd add further activities like environmental education programs in public schools." For further information, photographs or in order to support Mundo Azuls campaign, please contact: Stefan Austerm=FChle Executive Director of Mundo Azul Email: mundoazul(\)terra.com.pe Web site: www.peru.com/mundoazul --=20 Guy W. Oliver, Ph.D. Research Fellow Long Marine Lab Institute of Marine Studies UC Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA 95064 831-458-4121 oliver(\)ucsc.edu Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can chang= e the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 7 Feb 2003 20:05:57 -0800 From: Amanda Bradford Subject: For Pacific NW Marine Mammal Students Greetings Marine Mammals Students in the Pacific Northwest! We are writing to introduce you to or reacquaint you with the Northwest Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy (NWSSMM). This chapter was created to provide a community forum for the discussion of marine mammal research and issues by students throughout the U.S. and Canadian Pacific Northwest. The majority of current members are from the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle and the University of British Columbia in Vancouver (UBC). However, we welcome and strongly encourage the participation of all marine mammal students from northern California, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, British Columbia, and southeast Alaska - one of the main intentions of this message! With the frequent turnover of students and the large geographical area we represent, we've been concerned that many of you don't know about the NWSSMM. Now that you do, please join us - interest is the only qualification for membership! The primary activity of the NWSSMM is the annual student meeting that occurs each spring. This meeting allows participating students to share their research, thoughts, and ideas through informal presentations and casual social interactions. There is no cost to attend the meeting, and accommodations and activities are decidedly low budget (i.e., students from the hosting university generally house visiting students, transportation is arranged by carpool, and some meals are paid for by fundraising). The location of the meeting alternates between UW and UBC - the 2003 meeting will be held at UBC. In the past, meetings have typically taken place during the last weekend in April. However, after an effort to expand the geographical representation at last year's meeting, we realized that this particular weekend was not a convenient time for many students interested in attending. Therefore, we decided that soliciting feedback from the chapter at large would be the best way to determine a time that would maximize the number of participating students and universities. We have the perfect forum for such an exchange - the NWSSMM list-serv! This list-serv, named TROLL, was established as a means to facilitate communication within our geographically broad student body. Our plan is to post a survey on TROLL of several possible meeting times, and then use the feedback to establish the time for this year's meeting. However, we first need to make sure that all potentially interested students in the Pacific Northwest are signed on to TROLL! In order to join TROLL, just send an email to with the word "subscribe" as the subject. Once you subscribe, you will receive a message confirming your addition. You will then be able to receive postings. These instructions are also available on our website at . In closing, the general time of the NWSSMM annual meeting is rapidly approaching. Please help us determine a specific time that will maximize participation. You can do so by joining TROLL, our list-serv, before Friday, 14 February, when a survey of potential meeting times and more information about chapter activities will be posted. Then, stay tuned to TROLL for further details of the 2003 meeting If you're interested in the NWSSMM, please sign up for TROLL. We hope to see you all this spring! Cheers, Amanda Bradford (UW), Chapter Representative - Kristin Kaschner (UBC), Chapter Representative - Charissa Fung (UBC), 2003 Meeting Coordinator - ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 8 Feb 2003 06:07:31 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: XV Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals (fwd) The XV Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals will be held 14-19 December 2003 at the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center and Sheraton Greensboro Hotel (http://www.sheratongreensboro.com/) in Greensboro, NC, USA. The Sheraton Greensboro is offering discounted rates for Biennial participants. Centrally located in the heart of North Carolina=92s scenic Piedmont region, Greensboro is a thriving metropolitan city offering gracious southern hospitality, an array of historic sites, unique art and pottery galleries, and fine furniture manufacturing. Registration will begin on Sunday, 14 December, and an Icebreaker reception will take place that evening at the Convention Center. The conference program begins on Monday, 15 December, and ends on Friday, 19 December. The banquet and dance will take place on the evening of 19 December. Abstracts for both verbal and poster presentations will be due 21 June 2003. Meeting space has been arranged for workshops and symposia on Saturday, 13 December, and Sunday, 14 December, at no charge. If you would like to organize a workshop or symposium, please contact the Scientific Program Chair. The deadline for proposals is 22 March 2003. Many airlines provide service to the Greensboro airport (airport code GSO), which is located 10 miles (16 km) from the conference center. The next closest major airport is Raleigh-Durham International (RDU), located 69 miles (111 km) southeast of the conference center. Flights into RDU can be less expensive, especially for international travelers, so we recommend that you search for flights to both locations. Grey Line Crown Coach (1-800-596-7545) offers economical transportation from RDU to Greensboro. At its meeting in December 2002 the Board of Directors of SMM established a funding mechanism for overseas participants. Nominations for these awards will be made by the International Relations Committee. The Committee suggests that attendance at the Biennial by those from overseas would be facilitated if some members volunteered to share their hotel room (pro bono) with a foreign colleague. Remember that SMM members get a reduced conference registration rate so make sure you join or renew promptly. Also, most future SMM communication will be via email, so visit the website (http://www.marinemammalogy.org/) and update your contact information if any part of your address or email has changed. Check your journal label for your id number. Soon it will be required to access secure areas of the website. We look forward to seeing you in Greensboro. Scientific Program Chair: Aleta A. Hohn Southeast Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort North Carolina 28516-9722 USA Phone 252-728-8797, Fax 252-728-878 Email: Conference Chair: Edward O. Keith Oceanographic Center Nova Southeastern University 8000 N. Ocean Drive, Dania Beach, Florida 33004 USA Phone 954-262-8322, Fax 954-262-3931 Email: ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 8 Feb 2003 20:23:07 -0500 From: Naomi Rose Subject: IWC Scientific Committee announcement - Environmental Concerns _Call for contributions to the International Whaling Commission's "State of the Cetacean Environment Report"_ The International Whaling Commission (IWC), founded in 1948, is acknowledged worldwide as the organization responsible for issues related to the conservation and management of whales. The IWC's agenda also includes a host of related topics such as whale watching and so-called small cetaceans. The IWC has identified environmental degradation as a key threat to cetaceans, and has therefore also been placing increasing emphasis on environmental concerns. One of the tasks charged to the Environmental Concerns Standing Working Group in the IWC's Scientific Committee is to compile a "State of the Cetacean Environment Report" (SOCER). This report is designed to provide IWC Commissioners and other interested parties with a non-technical, periodic overview of events, developments and conditions in the marine environment - both positive and negative - that are relevant to cetaceans. We are now soliciting information for this year's report (to include information on events from 2001, 2002, and 2003) and hope that you are in a position to provide a brief contribution. Please go to http://www.iwcoffice.org/SCWEB/socer.htm for further information and the SOCER submission form. Our deadline for submissions is March 1, 2003 (we apologize for the short response time). We also request that you pass this call on to colleagues and other potential contributors. If you have any questions, please contact one of us at the emails below. Looking forward to your input, Michael Stachowitsch Naomi Rose Institute of Ecology and Conservation Biology The Humane Society of the United States Dept. of Marine Biology 2100 L Street, N.W. University of Vienna Washington, D.C. 20879 Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 USA Vienna, Austria Email: nrose(\)hsus.org Email: stachom5(\)univie.ac.at ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 14:56:28 -0800 From: "Moser, Doreen" Subject: ACS-San Francisco-request for student proposals American Cetacean Society - San Francisco Chapter Marine Mammal Student Research Grants Spring 2003 Request for Proposals The American Cetacean Society (ACS) is pleased to announce its Marine Mammal Student Research Grants. Each year we will award two $1000 grants (one in the spring, one in the fall) to San Francisco Bay Area college students conducting marine mammal research. To learn more about ACS, visit our website: www.acs-sfbay.org When: Proposals are due by March 14, 2003 Where: Please submit five copies of your proposal to Doreen Moser-ACS; 20 Durham Rd.; San Anselmo, CA 94960 Proposal Criteria: * Students must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at any San Francisco Bay Area college. * Research project must focus on any marine mammal species, however preference will be given to cetacean research. * Proposals on either field or laboratory studies will be considered * ACS Research Committee will review all proposals and make their recommendations to the board. * Students will be notified of our decisions by April, 2003 * Students awarded grants must present their work at a public presentation for ACS members within two years of the award. Proposal Guidelines: Proposals must include the following sections: 1. Cover Sheet should have title, your name/contact information, name of university or college, and major advisor's name/contact information. 2. Abstract should be a brief summary of your project including hypothesis, objectives, and proposed findings (not to exceed one page). 3. Project Details should include an expanded introduction, objectives, hypothesis, proposed findings, methods, and significance, (not to exceed three pages) 4. Financial Sheet should include all expected project costs and other financial sources (proposed or already received). ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 15:31:57 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Volunteers needed by WDCS in Scotland (fwd) The following message is being forwarded from Ellie Dickson (ellie(\)wdsc.org): Volunteers required by WDCS, the Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society WDCS needs 3 full-time volunteers in its Scottish Office for a period of 6 months (April-September 2003). The volunteers will be based at the Moray Firth Wildlife Centre in Spey Bay. Accommodation & electricity are provided and volunteers each receive 50 pounds (50 UK Stirling) per week towards expenses, successful candidates will need to pay for their own transport to Spey Bay. Applicants must be able to commit to the full 6 months. Duties include: - Staffing our exhibition about the wildlife of the Moray Firth. - Helping with events, such as World Oceans Day, Dolphin Fundays. - Helping to organise school visits to the Centre. - Public speaking (to the general public and during school visits). - Land-based research. - Some boat-based research (in collaboration with the University of Aberdeen). - Assisting with our 'out of the blue' wildlife holidays in Scotland. Desirable skills/qualifications: - Experience working with the public and good communication skills are essential. - A background in biology/zoology/environmental science. - Fluency in English is crucial. - Report writing and data analysis skills are important. - Experience of photo-ID would be useful. - Experience working with children would be advantageous. - At least one German speaking volunteer is required in order to help provide updates for WDCS's office in Germany, as well as helping to guide our out of the blue German trips. - Ideally one of the volunteers would have a current driving licence and be 25+ years of age. - Applicants will need to provide a clear police record (as they will be required to help with school visits). - Above all, we are looking for enthusiastic and hard-working volunteers who like working with people. Volunteers will gain skills and experience of photo-ID, environmental interpretation, land-based research and wildlife guiding. Please send a CV and covering letter to Ellie Dickson (WDCS Scottish Officer) on ellie(\)wdcs.org or by post to: Miss E. Dickson Moray Firth Wildlife Centre Spey Bay Moray IV32 7PJ United Kingdom Applications must be received by 26th February 2003. ________________________________________________________________________ This email has been scanned for all viruses by the MessageLabs SkyScan service. For more information on a proactive anti-virus service working around the clock, around the globe, visit http://www.messagelabs.com ________________________________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 7 Feb 2003 13:19:21 -0500 From: Kathryn Ono Subject: Job Announcement Stine Brown Director of the Marine Science Education and Research Center at the University of New England The University of New England seeks a Director for the new Marine Science Education and Research Center. Candidates should have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree, extensive administrative experience, and a nationally recognized record of research achievement in marine science. The Center encompasses teaching, research and marine mammal rehabilitation. UNE is home to Maine's only medical school and is affiliated with the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, a world-class oceanographic research institute. The Director will be responsible for enhancing and achieving the educational, research and rehabilitation goals of the Center through ongoing research, grant acquisition and fundraising in support of research. The Director will oversee staffing, budgeting, program planning and compliance activities for the Center. The position is a twelve-month administrative appointment with rank of research faculty (nontenure-track). Position will be funded 50% by the university with the expectation that the balance of salary will come from extramural funding. Consideration of applications will begin March 1, 2003 and continue until the position is filled. Send curriculum vita, statement of research interests and goals, and three letters of recommendation to: A. Christine Brown, Ph.D., Marine Science Center, University of New England, 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, Maine 04005. (e-mail: SBrown(\)une.edu) Please direct all inquiries to Dr. A. Christine Brown (e-mail: SBrown(\)une.edu) ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 00:29:03 +0100 From: Jaap van der Toorn Subject: 31st Symposium of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals The European Association for Aquatic Mammals (EAAM) will hold its 31st Annual Symposium from March 14 through 17, 2003 on Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. The Symposium is hosted by Loro Parque. Registration and reservations forms and program information are now available at the EAAM web site at http://eaam.org/. It is also possible to register online and make online hotel reservations at the site of the Ultramar travel agency, at http://www.albreunos.com/albreunos/uex/html/ins_EAAM2003_ing.html Greetings, Jaap van der Toorn (EAAM Webmaster) webmaster(\)eaam.org ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 07:55:58 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Proposed Rule to Designate Killer Whale Stock as Depleted Under MMPA (fwd) On January 30, 2003, the National Marine Fisheries Service issued a proposed rule to designate the Eastern North Pacific Southern Resident stock of killer whales as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (see 68 FR 4747). NMFS is accepting comments through March 31, 2003. Comments may be submitted by letter or fax as indicated in the proposed rule; comments are also being accepted via the Internet at the following address: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ibrm A copy of the proposed rule and additional information related to it are posted at the following: http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/mmammals/whales/srkw.htm {Message sent from Simona Perry, simona.perry(\)noaa.gov and Tom Eagle, tom.eagle(\)noaa.gov} ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 07:57:26 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Call for Proposals - Prescott Grant Program (fwd) NOAA Fisheries' Office of Protected Resources Announces the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program (Prescott Grant Program) 2003/2004 Call for Proposals The submission period for proposals officially begins February 11, 2003, when the Federal Register Notice is published. This Notice can be obtained through the Register=92s website at -- http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces140.html Complete proposal packages for 2003/2004 projects must be postmarked 60 days from the Notice's publication (by April 14, 2003) and sent to: NOAA/NMFS/Office of Protected Resources Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program Attn: Michelle Ordono 1315 East-West Highway Room 12604 Silver Spring, MD 20910-3283 Before applying, please consult the Prescott Grant Program website: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/PR2/Health_and_Stranding_Response _Program/Prescott.html. Once on this site, click on the "New Annual Solicitation" link on the left-hand navigation bar. This link contains detailed information on many topics including: eligibility requirements, national and regional funding priorities, proposal requirements (including Federal financial assistance forms that are required of all applicants in downloadable .pdf format), budget guidelines, other important instructions, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). This site will be updated periodically, so check back often. All proposals for the 2003/2004 Prescott Grant Program must fall within one of three proposal categories: (A) The recovery or treatment of live stranded marine mammals; (B) Data collection from living or dead stranded marine mammals for scientific research regarding marine mammal health; or, (C) Facility operations directly related to the recovery or treatment of marine mammals or collection of data from living or dead stranded marine mammals. All proposals must also relate to at least one of the 2003/2004 national and/or regional funding priorities. Complete proposal packages postmarked by the submission deadline will be reviewed for eligibility, budget requirements (maximum $100,000 Federal and minimum 25% non-Federal match per proposal), technical merit, and consistency with the Prescott Grant Program's national and regional funding priorities. Final selections will be based on results of the on-line reviews, peer reviews, merit review, equitable distribution of funds among regions, as well as other policy considerations. For further information-- email: PrescottGrantFR.comments(\)noaa.gov call: Simona Perry 301.713.2322 x106 Michelle Ordono 301.713.2367 x196 {Message sent from Simona Perry, simona.perry(\)noaa.gov} ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 07:15:47 -0800 From: Cristina Beans Subject: student workshop announcement ECS student members , ECS board members ------ Dear All, This is an announcement for this year's European Cetacean Society student workshop during the 17th ECS annual conference. The workshop will centre on human-cetacean interactions with the objective of getting students together to share their experiences and opinions on this subject. The workshop will centre on several presentations given by students on their experience with various aspects of this theme, including: =B7research and education in delphinariums =B7 ecotourism =B7 sociable wild dolphins The talks will be followed by a discussion and exchange of ideas by all the participants. The workshop will take place on Sunday March 9th 2003 from 9:00 to 13:00 at the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Further details (a more complete program) will appear shortly on the main conference web page: http://www.uicmm.ulpgc.es/Workshops.html Due to space restrictions the number of participants is limited to 70 people. To register for the workshop please send your applications to: cristinabeans(\)yahoo.com Hope to see you there! All the best, Cristina Beans ECS student representative sorry for cross-posting for those of you both on marmam and the ECS news lists! =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Cristina Beans PhD student Laboratoire d'Oceanologie Universit=E9 de Li=E8ge, B-6 Sart Tilman B-4000 Li=E8ge, BELGIUM (32)4.366.3740 (32)486.730158 __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Shopping - Send Flowers for Valentine's Day http://shopping.yahoo.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 11:49:25 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: correction to WDCS posting Correction to WDCS posting The incorrect e-mail address was listed for Ellie Dickson in the posting from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS). The correct address should read: ellie(\)wdcs.org. We apologize for any confusion this has caused. Thank you, MARMAM editors -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 08:01:22 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Research Experiences for Undergraduates in ALASKA (fwd) Please forward this message to potentially interested students. A flyer about our NSF, Research Experiences for Undergraduates program that can be printed and posted is also attached. RESEARCH EXPERIENCES FOR UNDERGRADUATES IN MARINE BIOLOGY IN ALASKA, 2003 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 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 $350 per week and housing while in Juneau. Travel and subsistence costs related to fieldwork within Alaska will also be provided. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and enrolled as undergraduates (through at least Fall 2002) at accredited institutions (graduating seniors are not eligible). The program seeks academically strong students interested in marine biological research. Minority applicants are especially encouraged. All applications received by 28 February, 2003 will be considered in a review during the first week in March. Applications received after 28 February will be considered only if all positions are not filled during review of the original pool. (See WEB site address below for application information.) Field research projects include: BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY OF RINGED SEALS IN ARCTIC ALASKA PHOTO-IDENTIFICATION OF INDIVIDUAL STELLER SEA LIONS ECOLOGY OF A DECLINING HARBOR SEAL POPULATION IN GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK REACTIONS OF HARBOR SEALS TO VESSEL TRAFFIC KELP AS RECRUITMENT HABITAT FOR JUVENILE FISH IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA A MODEL SYSTEM TO EXAMINE DELAYED EFFECTS OF OIL EXPOSURE ON FISH TESTING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A HIGH LATITUDE MARINE RESERVE NETWORK: A MULTI-SPECIES MOVEMENT STUDY IN GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK, AK LARVAL DISTRIBUTIONS IN AN ALASKAN MARINE RESERVE BIOLOGY OF SEA CUCUMBERS IN SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA REGULATION OF GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION IN DECAPOD CRUSTACEA INTERACTIONS OF PARASITES WITH DUNGENESS AND KING CRABS METAL ATTENUATION IN NATURAL SYSTEMS For more information on and applications for this program, please visit our web site: WEB SITE: http://www.jun.alaska.edu/uas/biology/REU.html or contact Elizabeth Mathews, M.S. Assistant Professor of Biology beth.mathews(\)uas.alaska.edu -- Elizabeth A. Mathews Assistant Professor of Biology University of Alaska Southeast Anderson Bldg. 11120 Glacier Hwy. Juneau, AK 99801 Tel: 907-465-1827 Fax: 907-465-6447 Beth.Mathews(\)uas.alaska.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 15:32:30 -0000 From: christophe Subject: Sperm whale clicks boundary="----=_NextPart_000_007F_01C2D2AB.F4C83FC0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_007F_01C2D2AB.F4C83FC0 charset="iso-8859-1" Hi all, I would need to compare the Sperm Whale clicks I use for now, recorded = in Central Atlantic Ocean, with others from different locations from all = over the world. I may not try to record them all by myself... or the = master's thesis I'm working on would turn into some 3-year-cruise... :-/ Could anyone send (just a few seconds) of his or her recordings, with = spectral content not cut under 20kHz ? Thank you all, Best, C.Laplanche -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ----- iSNS (Ing=E9nierie des Signaux NeuroSensoriels) Universit=E9 Paris 12 - Val de Marne IUT Cr=E9teil-Vitry - B=E2t L3 - 339 61, av. du G=E9n=E9ral de Gaulle 94010 Cr=E9teil cedex FRANCE Tel : (33) 1 45 17 17 73 - Fax : (33) 1 45 17 17 54 Email : laplanche(\)univ-paris12.fr -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ----- ------=_NextPart_000_007F_01C2D2AB.F4C83FC0 charset="iso-8859-1"
Hi all,
I would need to compare the Sperm Whale = clicks I=20 use for now, recorded in Central Atlantic Ocean, with others from = different=20 locations from all over the world. I may not try to record them all = by=20 myself... or the master's thesis I'm working on would turn into some=20 3-year-cruise... :-/
Could anyone send (just a few = seconds) of his=20 or her recordings, with spectral content not cut under 20kHz = ?
Thank you all,
Best,
 
C.Laplanche
 
 
 
----------------------------------------------------------------= --------------
iSNS=20 (Ing=E9nierie des Signaux NeuroSensoriels)
Universit=E9 Paris 12 - = Val de=20 Marne
IUT Cr=E9teil-Vitry - B=E2t L3 - 339
61, av. du G=E9n=E9ral = de Gaulle 94010=20 Cr=E9teil cedex FRANCE
Tel : (33) 1 45 17 17 73 - Fax : (33) 1 45 17 = 17=20 54
Email : laplanche(\)univ-paris12.fr-----------------------------------------------------------------------= -------
------=_NextPart_000_007F_01C2D2AB.F4C83FC0-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 12:37:10 -0800 From: "David S. Janiger" Subject: New Articles Hi, all! Here's the latest posting of new PDF's that are available. Abstracts also available on request. People have been asking for FTP transfer support, so please let me know if you have FTP transfer software. Some people last month had on and off succuess with their internet browsers. There are free limited edition FTP software at http://www.ftpplanet.com/download.htm I have included the size of files over 1 MB. As always, please don't request them if your mail server can't handle the file size for attachments. Please make all requests to: janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu Cheers David Janiger - Curatorial Assistant (Mammals) Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007 (213) 763-3369 janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu BARGU, S.; C. L. POWELL; S. L. COALE; M. BUSMAN; G. J. DOUCETTE and M. W. SILVER. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 237:209-216. 2002. Krill: a potential vector for domoic acid in marine food webs. BECK, B. M. and C. D. RICE. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 55(2):161-179. 2003. Serum antibody levels against select bacterial pathogens in Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, from Beaufort NC USA and Charleston Harbor, Charleston, SC, USA. BECKMEN, KIMBERLEE B.; LAWRENCE K. DUFFY; XIAOMING ZHANG and KENNETH W. PITCHER. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 44(10):1157-1165. 2002. Mercury concentrations in the fur of Steller sea lions and northern fur seals from Alaska. BERROW, S. D.; B. MCHUGH; D. GLYNN; E. MCGOVERN; K. M. PARSONS; R. W. BAIRD and S. K. HOOKER. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 44(11):1296-1303. 2002. Organochlorine concentrations in resident bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Shannon estuary, Ireland. BURTON, R. K.; D. GIFFORD-GONZALEZ; J. J. SNODGRASS and P. L. KOCH. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY 12(1):4-11. 2002. Isotopic tracking of prehistoric pinniped forging and distribution along the central California coast: Preliminary results. CARRIER, D. R.; S. M. DEBAN and J. OTTERSTROM. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY 205(12):1755-1763. 2002. The face that sank the Essex: Potential function of the spermaceti organ in aggression. CASINI, S.; M. C. FOSSI; K. CAVALLARO; L. MARSILI and J. LORENZANI. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 54(3-5):769-773. 2002. The use of porphyrins as a non-destructive biomarker of exposure to contaminants in two sea lion populations. COLTEN, R. H. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY 12(1):12-22. 2002. Prehistoric marine mammal hunting in context: Two western North American examples. COVACI, A.; K. VAN DE VIJVER; W. DECOEN; K. DAS; J. M. BOUQUEGNEAU; R. BLUST and P. SCHEPENS. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 44(10):1130-1135. 2002. Determination of organohalogenated contaminants in liver of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) stranded on the Belgian North Sea coast. CROXALL, J. P. and A. G. WOOD. AQUATIC CONSERVATION OF MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS 12(1):101-118. 2002. The importance of the Patagonian Shelf for top predator species breeding at South Georgia. DEECKE, VOLKER B.; PETER J. B. SLATER and JOHN K. B. FORD. NATURE (LONDON) 417(6912):171-173. 2002. Selective habituation shapes acoustic predator recognition in harbour seals. DUBROVSKY, N. A. and M. N. SUKHORUCHENKO. ACOUSTICAL PHYSICS 48(4):441-447. 2002. Audibility thresholds for a pure tone in the presence of a pulse jam in the bottlenose dolphin. FOSTER, G.; A. P. MACMILLAN; J. GODFROID; F. HOWIE; H. M. ROSS; A. CLOECKAERT; R. J. REID; S. BREW and I. A. P. PATTERSON. VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY 90(1-4):563-580. 2002. A review of Brucella sp. infection of sea mammals with particular emphasis on isolates from Scotland. JARMAN, S. N.; N. J. GALES; M. TIERNEY; P. C. GILL and N. G. ELLIOTT. MOLECULAR ECOLOGY 11(12):2679-2690. 2002. A DNA-based method for identification of krill species and its application to analysing the diet of marine vertebrate predators. KAJIWARA, NATSUKO; MAFUMI WATANABE; SHINSUKE TANABE; KEN NAKAMATSU; MASAO AMANO and NOBUYUKI MIYAZAKI. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 44(10):1089-1099. 2002. Specific accumulation and temporal trends of organochlorine contaminants in Dall's porpoises (Phocoenoides dalli) from Japanese coastal waters. KANNAN, K.; S. CORSOLINI; J. FALANDYSZ; G. OEHME; S. FOCARDI and J. P. GIESY. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 36(15):3210-3216. 2002. Perfluorooctanesulfonate and related fluorinated hydrocarbons in marine mammals, fishes, and birds from coasts of the Baltic and the Mediterranean Seas. KIM, EUN-YOUNG; MARK E. HAHN; HISATO IWATA; SHINSUKE TANABE and NOBUYUKI MIYAZAKI. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 54(3-5):285-289. 2002. cDNA cloning of an aryl hydrocarbon receptor from Baikal seals (Phoca sibirica). KNUDSEN, SIRI KRISTINE; SVERRE MORK and EGIL OLE OEN. JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE METHODS 120(1):35-44. 2002. A novel method for in situ fixation of whale brains. KUBOTA, R.; T. KUNITO and S. TANABE. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 45(1-12):218-223. 2002. Chemical speciation of arsenic in the livers of higher trophic marine animals. LEA, MARY-ANNE; YVES CHEREL; CHRISTOPHE GUINET and PETER D. NICHOLS. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 245:281-297. 2002. Antarctic fur seals foraging in the Polar Frontal Zone: Inter-annual shifts in diet as shown from fecal and fatty acid analyses LOUGHLIN, THOMAS R.; MICHAEL A. CASTELLINI and GINA YLITALO. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 44(10):1024-1034. 2002. Spatial aspects of organochlorine contamination in northern fur seal tissues. MAJLUF, P.; E. A. BABCOCK; J. C. RIVEROS; M. A. SCHREIBER and W. ALDERETE. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 16(5):1333-1343. 2002. Catch and bycatch of sea birds and marine mammals in the small-scale fishery of Punta San Juan, Peru. NIGRO, M.; A. CAMPANA; E. LANZILLOTTA and R. FERRARA. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 44(10):1071-1075. 2002. Mercury exposure and elimination rates in captive bottlenose dolphins. (Tursiops truncatus) NYMAN, MADELEINE; MAGNUS BERGKNUT; MARIE LOUISE FANT; HANNU RAUNIO; MARIKA JESTOI; CHARLOTTA BENGS; ALBERTINKA MURK; JAANA KOISTINEN; CHRISTINA BACKMAN; OLAVI PELKONEN; MATS TYSKLIND; TIMO HIRVI and EERO HELLE. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 55(1):73-99. 2003. Contaminant exposure and effects in Baltic ringed and grey seals as assessed by biomarkers. RESENDES, A. R.; S. ALMERIA; J. P. DUBEY; E. OBON; C. JUAN-SALLES; E. DEGOLLADA; F. ALEGRE; O. CABEZON; S. PONT and M. DOMINGO. JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 88(5):1029-1032. 2002. Disseminated toxoplasmosis in a Mediterranean pregnant Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) with transplacental fetal infection. SHAUGHNESSY, P. D. and A. MCKEOWN. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 29(4):363-370. 2002. Trends in abundance of New Zealand fur seals, Arctocephalus forsteri, at the Neptune Islands, South Australia. SINCLAIR, E. H. and T. K. ZEPPELIN. JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY 83(4):973-990. 2002. Seasonal and spatial differences in diet in the western stock of steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). TANABE, SHINSUKE. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 45(1-12):69-77. 2002. Contamination and toxic effects of persistent endocrine disrupters in marine mammals and birds. THOMSEN, FRANK; DIERK FRANCK and JOHN K. B. FORD. NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN 89(9):404-407. 2002. On the communicative significance of whistles in wild killer whales (Orcinus orca). TITTLEMIER, S.; A. BORRELL; J. DUFFE; P. J. DUIGNAN; P. FAIR; A. HALL; P. HOEKSTRA; K. M. KOVACS; M. M. KRAHN; M. LEBEUF; C. LYDERSEN; D. MUIR; T. O'HARA; M. OLSSON; J. PRANSCHKE; P. ROSS; U. SIEBERT; G. STERN; S. TANABE and R. NORSTROM. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 43(2):244-255. 2002. Global distribution of halogenated dimethyl bipyrroles in marine mammal blubber. VAN VUUREN, B. J.; P. B. BEST; J. P. ROUX and T. J. ROBINSON. ANIMAL CONSERVATION 5(4):303-307. 2002. Phylogeographic population structure in the Heaviside's dolphin (Cephalorhynchus heavisidii): Conservation implications. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 10:18:51 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: info for memorial service --------------------------------------- A Celebration of the Lives of Emily Argo, Jackie Ciano, Tom Hinds and Michael Newcomer Sunday, February 16, 2003 11:00 a.m. ship departs for wreath laying (for family and close friends, weather permitting =96 please contact Martha Wells at 941-374-04= 62 for information) 2:30 p.m. Memorial Service at the Amelia Island Plantation, Fernandina Beach, Florida (904-261-6161). The service will be held on the beach, weather permittin= g, followed immediately by a celebration of the lives of Emily, Jackie, Tom = and Mike. Refreshments will be served. If you would like to offer a tribute or remembrance to the families, plea= se contact Martha Wells at 941-374-0462 or wells(\)wildlifetrust.org . Accommodations: The Hampton Inn at Fernandina Beach is offering a discoun= t for those attending the memorial (2549 Sadler Road, Fernandina Beach, FL, call 904-321-1111 for reservations). Directions to the Amelia Island Plantation (please check in at the securi= ty booth): >From the South: Take I-95 North to Exit 373 (Old129, Route A1A). Go East 11.2 miles to Amelia Island Parkway, (just over Intracoastal Waterway Bridge). Go right 3.4 miles to stop sign and turn right. Go .7 miles to flashing light, tur= n left. (A1A South). Go 2.7 miles to resort entrance on the left. >From The West: Take I-10 East to I-95 North to Exit 373 (Old129, Route A1A). Go East 11.= 2 miles to Amelia Island Parkway, (just over Intracoastal Waterway Bridge).= Go right 3.4 miles to stop sign and turn right. Go .7 miles to flashing ligh= t, turn left. (A1A South). Go 2.7 miles to resort entrance on the left. >From The North: Take I-95 South to Exit 373 (Old129, Route A1A). Go East 11.2 miles to Amelia Island Parkway, (just over Intracoastal Waterway Bridge). Go right 3.4 miles to stop sign and turn right. Go .7 miles to flashing light, tur= n left. (A1A South). Go 2.7 miles to resort entrance on the left. >From Jacksonville International Airport: Take I-95 North to Exit 373 (Old129, Route A1A). Go East 11.2 miles to Amelia Island Parkway, (just over Intracoastal Waterway Bridge). Go right 3.4 miles to stop sign and turn right. Go .7 miles to flashing light, tur= n left. (A1A South). Go 2.7 miles to resort entrance on the left. Scenic Route: Take I-95 to Exit 358A, go East on Route 105-North Heckscher Drive- and follow the signs to Amelia Island. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2003 17:38:26 +0000 From: Jean-Paul Roux Subject: Marine Mammals in Angola >From : Jean-Paul Roux: wolfbay(\)ldz.namib.com & jproux(\)mfmr.gov.na I am trying to compile a checklist of marine mammals occuring in Angolan Waters (ie from Cabinda 5S to the Namibian Border and from the coast to 200 NM offshore). From a survey cruise and historical data on commercial catches I have so far 14 species of cetaceans, but a drastic lack of records particularly for small odontocetes. Any information (published or unpublished) will be useful (and acknowledged). In particular any contact with museum curators holding specimens from collections and starndings would be invaluable. The completed list will be made available through MARMAM to anyone intersted. Thanking you in advance. Jean-Paul ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 7 Feb 2003 11:52:48 -0800 From: Peter Hamilton Subject: Volunteers and Equipment boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0008_01C2CE9F.6F2AE800" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0008_01C2CE9F.6F2AE800 charset="iso-8859-1" Volunteers Needed and Equipment Available - Lifeforce Foundation The Lifeforce Foundation is a Vancouver-based ecology non-profit = organization that was formed in 1980 to provide a public service to help = people, animals and the environment. The Lifeforce mission is to promote = stewardship and protection of cetaceans and their marine habitats. All = life on earth is dependent on a healthy ecosystem. Some of the main goals of the Lifeforce projects are to assist in = developing Marine Mammal Protection Regulations, implementing an Orca = Recovery Program and the creation of Marine Protected Areas. We are = seeking volunteers to assist in conducting the following Marine Life = Programs in the Vancouver, BC area from April 2003 to November 2003. = Volunteers will receive unforgettable, rare work experiences.=20 The Lifeforce Marine Life Programs are not university-affiliated. To = date, no publications have resulted from this work. However, there is a = potential for data to be published.We are collecting data on-going = research projects with the goal of publishing papers such as the = "Behaviour and Travel Patterns of the Southern Orca Community". Project = Leader, Peter Hamilton, has published papers on methods to enrich the = environments of captive animals.=20 We would also like to announce the availability of research equipment = for projects in the Vancouver area.The boat, trailer and equipment are = available for lease (year round). Volunteers Needed The research experience that volunteers could gain from this position = includes data collection and analysis; marine mammal ID training, = archiving and cataloguing photographs. developing stewardship programs, = public relations ;development of media and public education materials, = and office work. Volunteers may be assigned a specific research project; and would be expected to complete a report as directed.Lifeforce will help = students design and implement a project for undergraduate or graduate = credit. Basics of navigation; boat handling; use of marine electronics = including GPS, LORAN and radar; and general knowledge of vessel safety = and emergency protocol. Volunteers are may be subsidised in terms of accommodation but will = have to provide their own flights/transportation, food and basic needs. = There is no charge for the position.=20 Volunteers should meet most of the following requirements:=20 1. Volunteers must be able to work in the Vancouver, BC and Pt. = Roberts, USA. Current travel documents are required to cross the = US/Canada border. 2. Volunteers must have a motor vehicle and provide own transportation = costs. 3. Volunteers must be able to commit to at least a 1 month consecutive = work period with a preferred 3 - 6 month commitment. 4. Volunteers must be able to work up to 12 hour shifts and/or be able = to work consecutive days (3 to 4 days). Free camping is available and = volunteers are responsible for their own camping equipment and food. 5. Volunteers should be used to working under difficult situations = such as long hours and rough weather. 6. It is preferred that volunteers have marine wildlife and habitat = protection has a career goal or at least a main interest. 7. It is preferred that volunteers have experience with data = collection and field work; be knowledgeable of local marine life and = identification; and be able to assist Project leader with data = interpretation and reporting. 8. Volunteers must be able to work well with the public since = distribution of educational materials to boaters may be required. 9. A basic understanding of boat operations is preferred. 10. Some knowledge of wildlife rescue work is preferred. The volunteers may participate in one or more of the following = programs: 1. Whale and Dolphin Hotline. Lifeforce provides a telephone hotline = for the public to be able to report marine wildlife stranding, = harassment and/or sightings. 2. Orca Research. Under a Department of Fisheries and Oceans Research = permit Lifeforce has conducted studies of the behaviour and travel = patterns of orcas. We obtain data to provide the public with educational = materials to help everyone have a better understanding of the complex = lives of orcas. We also gather photographic/video data for displays. = Some of the images have been used in an educational field guide on orca = behaviour to help people understand how to operate a boat if whales are = in the area. This information would help prevent injury to people and = the whales. We hope that our research and education programs will help = create marine sanctuaries, obtain Endangered Species status, determine = any changes in travel patterns resulting from noise pollution etc. and = monitor any effect of dwindling fish stocks in order to obtain fish = quotas for wildlife. Understanding orca travel patterns will also help = Lifeforce promote land based whale watching through Orca Trails - our = program to alert Park Managers when orcas and other cetaceans will pass = their marine parks. 3. Marine Mammal Census and Boat Interaction Study. In order to = protect the endangered Southern Orca Community students are monitoring = marine wildlife travels and their interactions with boats. This will = also look at the feasibility of promoting ecotourism activity in = communities and how these operations can be conducted under a Code of = Ethical Ecotourism. 4. False killer whale study. This study will help understand why some = dolphins follow boats and appear to interact with people. Information = could lead to the development of methods to keep marine mammals away = from dangers such as oil s pills. 5. Pinniped Predation Research. Lifeforce is developing nonlethal = methods to reduce and/or eliminate seal predation of endangered fish = stocks. This research will help stop the shooting of seals and sea = lions. 6. Lifewatch Boater Awareness Program. Lifeforce distributes whale = watching regulations to boaters on the water and the general public. The = information advises boaters how to safely watch whales and other marine = life. It also stops boaters who inadvertently or intentionally harass = marine mammals. Lifeforce is the only organization providing this = service in Southern BC. As part of the Lifewatch program we will conduct = investigations of cruelty to marine wildlife. 7. Marine Wildlife Rescue. Lifeforce provides a 24 hour service to = respond to marine wildlife injury, sickness, abandonment, stranding and = other emergencies. This service includes responding to pollution = problems such as oil and chemical spills. In addition, we will remove = dolphins, porpoises, pinnipeds and seabirds trapped in fishing nets. 8. Eco Friendly Boating. In order to reduce and eliminate pollution of = the Georgia Basin off Canada's West Coast, it is crucial that we provide = ecology information and demonstrate how people can help to develop = pollution-free lifestyles. This project will develop and demonstrate the = necessary clean alternatives. The Ocean Friends Library will be aboard = our Eco Friendly Boat powered by solar, wind and natural gas/fuel cells. 9. Educational Materials and Displays. Lifeforce publishes educational = materials such as the Whale Watch Guidelines that we distribute to the = public through the Lifewatch Program. We also create public displays = such as the Orca Centre in Point Roberts, WA. This "whale museum" = includes information about human and environmental threats to marine = wildlife. Research Education Boats and Trailer (Pacific Northwest Areas) = Individuals/organizations can lease/contract our new 28' boat and = equipment for non-invasive research, conservation and education projects = in 2003. The boat has been design to adapt to a variety of research = equipment and operations for population studies, behaviour and travel = pattern studies and boat traffic impact observations/monitoring. The = boat includes all necessities for overnight accommodations for a least 4 = persons (head, shower and galley), 2 interior work stations, large open = stern deck, roof observation seat, large swim platform for divers (great = for public orientations for mpa advocacy, etc.) and more. Electronic = equipment includes GPS, Radar, two VHF base stations; hydrophone and PA = set-up. A boat operator, with 10 year experience, is included in the = reasonable lease agreement. The Marine Wildlife trailer is a 12.5' and = with AC/DC power. The trailer is fully equipped for marine wildlife = rescue work and includes cages, stretchers and cetacean float pontoons = (for stranding work). It can be used as a base station for computer = work, communications and small animal necropsy. Lifeforce is also selling a great condition 1988 18' I/O power boat = and trailer with cabin for only $7500 US? This boat is excellent for day = and overnight trips. Lifeforce has used it through a variety of weather = condition in the Southern Georgia Strait area. Further details by contacting Peter Hamilton = lifeforcesociety(\)hotmail.com ------=_NextPart_000_0008_01C2CE9F.6F2AE800 charset="iso-8859-1"

 Volunteers Needed and Equipment Available
- Lifeforce=20 Foundation

The Lifeforce Foundation is a Vancouver-based = ecology=20 non-profit organization that was formed in 1980 to provide a public = service to=20 help people, animals and the environment. The Lifeforce mission is to = promote=20 stewardship and protection of cetaceans and their marine = habitats. All=20 life on earth is dependent on a healthy ecosystem.

Some of the main goals of the Lifeforce projects = are to=20 assist in developing Marine Mammal Protection Regulations, = implementing an=20 Orca Recovery Program and the creation of Marine Protected Areas. We = are=20 seeking volunteers to assist in conducting the following Marine Life = Programs=20 in the Vancouver, BC area from April 2003 to November 2003. Volunteers = will=20 receive unforgettable, rare work experiences.

The Lifeforce Marine Life Programs are not=20 university-affiliated. To date, no publications have resulted = from this=20 work. However, there is a potential for data to be published.We are = collecting=20 data on-going research projects with the goal of publishing papers = such as the=20 "Behaviour and Travel Patterns of the Southern Orca Community". = Project=20 Leader, Peter Hamilton, has published papers on methods to enrich the=20 environments of captive animals. 

We would also like to announce the availability = of=20 research equipment for projects in the Vancouver area.The boat, = trailer and=20 equipment are available for lease (year round).

Volunteers Needed

The research experience that = volunteers could gain=20 from this position includes data collection and analysis;  marine = mammal=20 ID training, archiving and cataloguing photographs. developing = stewardship=20 programs, public relations ;development of media and public = education=20 materials, and office work.

Volunteers may be assigned a specific  = research=20 project; and would
be expected to complete a report as = directed.Lifeforce=20 will help students design and implement a project for undergraduate or = graduate credit.

Basics of navigation; boat handling; use of marine electronics = including=20 GPS, LORAN and radar; and general knowledge of vessel safety and=20 emergency protocol.

Volunteers are may be subsidised in terms of = accommodation=20 but will have to provide their own flights/transportation, food and = basic=20 needs.  There is no charge for the position.

Volunteers should meet most of the = following=20 requirements:
1. Volunteers must be able to work in the=20 Vancouver, BC and Pt. Roberts, USA. Current travel documents are = required to=20 cross the US/Canada border.
2. Volunteers must have a motor vehicle = and=20 provide own transportation costs.
3. Volunteers must be able to = commit to=20 at least a 1 month consecutive work period with a preferred 3 - 6 = month=20 commitment.
4. Volunteers must be able to work up to 12 hour shifts = and/or=20 be able to work consecutive days (3 to 4 days). Free camping is = available and=20 volunteers are responsible for their own camping equipment and = food.
5.=20 Volunteers should be used to working under difficult situations such = as long=20 hours and rough weather.
6. It is preferred that volunteers have = marine=20 wildlife and habitat protection has a career goal or at least a main=20 interest.
7. It is preferred that volunteers have experience with = data=20 collection and field work; be knowledgeable of local marine life and=20 identification; and be able to assist Project leader with data = interpretation=20 and reporting.
8. Volunteers must be able to work well with the = public=20 since distribution of educational materials to boaters may be = required.
9.=20 A basic understanding of boat operations is preferred.
10. Some = knowledge=20 of wildlife rescue work is preferred.

The volunteers may participate in one or more of = the=20 following programs:
1. Whale and Dolphin Hotline. Lifeforce = provides a=20 telephone hotline for the public to be able to report marine wildlife=20 stranding, harassment and/or sightings.
2. Orca Research. Under a=20 Department of Fisheries and Oceans Research permit Lifeforce has = conducted=20 studies of the behaviour and travel patterns of orcas. We obtain data = to=20 provide the public with educational materials to help everyone have a = better=20 understanding of the complex lives of orcas. We also gather = photographic/video=20 data for displays. Some of the images have been used in an educational = field=20 guide on orca behaviour to help people understand how to operate a = boat if=20 whales are in the area. This information would help prevent injury to = people=20 and the whales. We hope that our research and education programs will = help=20 create marine sanctuaries, obtain Endangered Species status, determine = any=20 changes in travel patterns resulting from noise pollution etc. and = monitor any=20 effect of dwindling fish stocks in order to obtain fish quotas for = wildlife.=20 Understanding orca travel patterns will also help Lifeforce promote = land based=20 whale watching through Orca Trails - our program to alert Park = Managers when=20 orcas and other cetaceans will pass their marine parks.
3. Marine = Mammal=20 Census and Boat Interaction Study. In order to protect the endangered = Southern=20 Orca Community students are monitoring marine wildlife travels and = their=20 interactions with boats. This will also look at the feasibility of = promoting=20 ecotourism activity in communities and how these operations can be = conducted=20 under a Code of Ethical Ecotourism.
4. False killer whale study. = This study=20 will help understand why some dolphins follow boats and appear to = interact=20 with people. Information could lead to the development of methods to = keep=20 marine mammals away from dangers such as oil s pills.
5. Pinniped = Predation=20 Research. Lifeforce is developing nonlethal methods to reduce and/or = eliminate=20 seal predation of endangered fish stocks. This research will help stop = the=20 shooting of seals and sea lions.
6. Lifewatch Boater Awareness = Program.=20 Lifeforce distributes whale watching regulations to boaters on the = water and=20 the general public. The information advises boaters how to safely = watch whales=20 and other marine life. It also stops boaters who inadvertently or=20 intentionally harass marine mammals. Lifeforce is the only = organization=20 providing this service in Southern BC. As part of the Lifewatch = program we=20 will conduct investigations of cruelty to marine wildlife.
7. = Marine=20 Wildlife Rescue. Lifeforce provides a 24 hour service to respond to = marine=20 wildlife injury, sickness, abandonment, stranding and other = emergencies. This=20 service includes responding to pollution problems such as oil and = chemical=20 spills. In addition, we will remove dolphins, porpoises, pinnipeds and = seabirds trapped in fishing nets.
8. Eco Friendly Boating. In order = to=20 reduce and eliminate pollution of the Georgia Basin off Canada's West = Coast,=20 it is crucial that we provide ecology information and demonstrate how = people=20 can help to develop pollution-free lifestyles. This project will = develop and=20 demonstrate the necessary clean alternatives. The Ocean Friends = Library will=20 be aboard our Eco Friendly Boat powered by solar, wind and natural = gas/fuel=20 cells.
9. Educational Materials and Displays. Lifeforce publishes=20 educational materials such as the Whale Watch Guidelines that we = distribute to=20 the public through the Lifewatch Program. We also create public = displays such=20 as the Orca Centre in Point Roberts, WA. This "whale museum" includes=20 information about human and environmental threats to marine=20 wildlife.

Research Education Boats and Trailer = (Pacific=20 Northwest Areas) Individuals/organizations can lease/contract = our new=20 28' boat and equipment for non-invasive research, conservation and = education=20 projects in 2003. The boat has been design to adapt to a variety of = research=20 equipment and operations for population studies, behaviour and travel = pattern=20 studies and boat traffic impact observations/monitoring. The boat = includes all=20 necessities for overnight accommodations for a least 4 persons (head, = shower=20 and galley), 2 interior work stations, large open stern deck, roof = observation=20 seat, large swim platform for divers (great for public orientations = for mpa=20 advocacy, etc.) and more. Electronic equipment includes GPS, Radar, = two VHF=20 base stations; hydrophone and PA set-up. A boat operator, with 10 year = experience, is included in the reasonable lease agreement. The Marine = Wildlife=20 trailer is a 12.5' and with AC/DC power. The trailer is fully equipped = for=20 marine wildlife rescue work and includes cages, stretchers and = cetacean float=20 pontoons (for stranding work). It can be used as a base station for = computer=20 work, communications and small animal necropsy.

Lifeforce is also selling a great condition 1988 = 18' I/O=20 power boat and trailer with cabin for only $7500 US? This boat is = excellent=20 for day and overnight trips. Lifeforce has used it through a variety = of=20 weather condition in the Southern Georgia Strait area.

Further details by contacting Peter Hamilton lifeforcesociety(\)hotmail.com=

 

------=_NextPart_000_0008_01C2CE9F.6F2AE800-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 22:46:32 EST From: Jeff Lederman Subject: Harbour Seal Internships ------ Island Wildlife Natural Care Centre is a registered not for profit=20 organization operating under permits from the Department of Fisheries and= =20 Oceans, Environment Canada and the Ministry of Water, Land and Air. Recip= ient=20 of the Islands Trust Environmental Stewardship Award, IWNCC=E2=80=99s foc= us is on the=20 rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned Harbour Seals. For the sixth year, IWNCC will be offering summer internships. In the pas= t,=20 students have earned academic credit toward their degrees through the=20 completion of these internships and the centre is also open to the creati= on=20 and execution of short term, noninvasive research projects by the interns= . To=20 date no publications are available. Besides constantly seeking improved methods for seal rehabilitation, Isla= nd=20 Wildlife actively researches and practices alternative medical treatments= =20 such as homeopathy, herbal treatments and physical therapies. Numerous=20 articles have been published in various homeopathic journals including th= e=20 Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association. There will be twelve staggered internships awarded this summer each lasti= ng=20 eight weeks. The internships are on a voluntary basis, however comfortabl= e=20 housing and a food stipend are provided. Interns are accepted internation= ally=20 and are responsible for their own transportation to and from British Colu= mbia. Interns will work directly under an on site marine mammal veterinarian an= d=20 rehabilitation specialists and can expect to learn the following: Safe rescue and handling of Harbour Seal pups. Proper restraint techniques. Stabilizing critical patients and new arrivals. Food preparation through all stages of the rehabilitation process. Gavage (tube) feeding, force feeding and hand feeding techniques. Proper hygiene and isolation protocols to prevent the spread of disease. Administration of oral medications. Behavioral and medical observation and proper record keeping. Natural history of marine mammal species. Fundamentals of how, why and when to administer alternative remedies such= as=20 homeopathy and Chinese herbs. Response to the rescue hotline and public interface as well as the logist= ics=20 of coordinating rescues from many remote locations. General care of many other indigenous avian and mammalian species. The deadline for applications is March 15, 2003. For more information and to download an application, please visit our web= =20 site at: www.sealrescue.org Island Wildlife Natural Care Centre 322 Langs Road Salt Spring Island, BC V8K1N3 www.sealrescue.org iwncc(\)aol.com =20 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 17 Feb 2003 06:31:51 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Need volunteer instructors to conduct student attitude survey. (fwd) From: Toshihide Hamazaki Apologies in advance for cross posting. Dear Colleague, I am looking for volunteer instructors who can proctor an attitudes survey about wildlife management, especially whaling issue to your students during the class hours. The survey takes about 15 to 20 minutes. I am planning to distribute and collect the survey by mid-April to June (i.e., end of semester). All participants will be acknowledged upon publication of the study. For past four years I have been conducting studies about elements associated with people's attitudes toward wildlife management, especially about whaling. Human dimensions of wildlife management issue has been gaining attentions, and many public polls have been collected on people's attitudes about various wildlife management issues. However, few studies have examined elements that associating with people's attitudes on those issues empirically. In this survey, I am interested in relationship between view of nature and attitudes toward hunting of wildlife and whaling. This is my second survey. Last survey was conducted in 1998, and two publications are made. In both publications, all the participated instructors were acknowledged. Hamazaki, T. and D. Tanno 2002. Totemization of wildlife and NIMBY among U.S. college students Human Dimensions of Wildlife 7 (2): 107-121. Tanno D., and T. Hamazaki 2000. Is American opposition to whaling anti-Japanese? Asian Affairs 27(2): 81-92. While my previous survey targeted mostly the US college students, I am also very interested in obtaining data from other countries Thank you in advance. Note: The study is a continuing study with my colleague. This survey is not funded by any organizations. Further. my current affiliation has no relation with this survey. Toshihide Hamazaki http://www.geocities.com/toshihide_hamazaki/ My CV is accessed at http://www.geocities.com/toshihide_hamazaki/Current_CVn.doc -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 18:29:02 -0800 From: American Cetacean Society Subject: American Cetacean Society Please reply to: American Cetacean Society info(\)acsonline.org (310) 548-6279 THE AMERICAN CETACEAN SOCIETY NEEDS YOU! The American Cetacean Society is currently recruiting board and committee members. There are positions available to suit a wide range of interests, including Publications, Chapter Relations, Education, Media Relations, Development, Conservation and Membership. If you are interested, please contact ACS at (310) 548-6279, or via email at You may also print this email, fill out the bottom, fold it up and drop it in the mail. Someone will be happy to contact you right away! The American Cetacean Society is the oldest whale and dolphin conservation organization in the world. Our mission statement is to: Protect whales, dolphins, porpoises and their habitats and ecosystems through public education, research grants, and conservation actions. This is a GREAT opportunity to really do** something to help protect and save cetaceans all over the world. The National Board is an all-volunteer organization, and is a dedicated (yet fun loving!) group of individuals from all over the United States. You do not have to be a scientist to contribute your enthusiasm and love of whales and dolphins. The Board meets every month at an early evening (West Coast time) conference call for one hour, and has an in-person 2-day meeting every October in Los Angeles. Please join us in working to save cetaceans. They AREN'T SAVED YET! Sincerely, Patty Geary President ** Check the ACS website at www.acsonline.org to see some of the Action Items and issues we've been working on recently. The ACS Conservation Chair attended the International Whaling Commission meeting in Japan in May 2002, supporting the nations (including the United States) who support the ban on commercial whaling and increasing protection for all cetaceans around the world. Count me in! I want to help ACS save the whales! Please contact me right away, and tell me what I can do! Name____________________________________________________ Address__________________________________________________ City______________________ State ________Zip___________ Country__________________________________________________ Phone (_____)________________Email_________________________ Please tell us a little bit about yourself (hobbies/interests/talents) ________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ Please mail to: American Cetacean Society National Headquarters P.O. Box 1391 San Pedro, CA 90733-1391 They're not saved yet!! AMERICAN CETACEAN SOCIETY National Headquarters P.O. Box 1391 San Pedro, CA 90733-1391 (310) 548-6279 Fax (310) 548-6950 Email: acs(\)pobox.com Website: www.acsonline.org --=====================_257672952==_.ALT Please reply to:
American Cetacean Society
info(\)acsonline.org
(310) 548-6279

THE AMERICAN CETACEAN SOCIETY NEEDS YOU!

The American Cetacean Society is currently recruiting board and committee members.  There are positions available to suit a wide range of interests, including Publications, Chapter Relations, Education, Media Relations, Development, Conservation and Membership.  If you are interested, please contact ACS at (310) 548-6279, or via email at <info(\)acsonline.org>  You may also print this email, fill out the bottom, fold it up and drop it in the mail.  Someone will be happy to contact you right away!

The American Cetacean Society is the oldest whale and dolphin conservation organization in the world.  Our mission statement is to:

Protect whales, dolphins, porpoises and their habitats
and ecosystems through public education, research grants,
and conservation actions.

This is a GREAT opportunity to really do** something to help protect and save cetaceans all over the world.  The National Board is an all-volunteer organization, and is a dedicated (yet fun loving!) group of individuals from all over the United States.  You do not have to be a scientist to contribute your enthusiasm and love of whales and dolphins.  The Board meets every month at an early evening (West Coast time) conference call for one hour, and has an in-person 2-day meeting every October in Los Angeles.

Please join us in working to save cetaceans.  They AREN'T SAVED YET!


Sincerely,
Patty Geary
President


** Check the ACS website at www.acsonline.org to see some of the Action Items and issues we've been working on recently.  The ACS Conservation Chair attended the International Whaling Commission meeting in Japan in May 2002, supporting the nations (including the United States) who support the ban on commercial whaling and increasing protection for all cetaceans around the world.

Count me in!  I want to help ACS save the whales!
Please contact me right away, and tell me what I can do!

                    Name____________________________________________________
                    Address__________________________________________________
                    City______________________  State   ________Zip___________
                    Country__________________________________________________
                    Phone (_____)________________Email_________________________


Please tell us a little bit about yourself (hobbies/interests/talents)  ________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________


Please mail to:
American Cetacean Society
National Headquarters
P.O. Box 1391
San Pedro, CA  90733-1391
They're not saved yet!!

AMERICAN CETACEAN SOCIETY
National Headquarters
P.O. Box 1391
San Pedro, CA  90733-1391
(310) 548-6279
Fax (310) 548-6950
Email:  acs(\)pobox.com
Website:  www.acsonline.org
--=====================_257672952==_.ALT-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 16:04:59 -0800 From: Kathy Zagzebski Subject: JOB: Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Center Facility Manager boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01C2D485.E12E3B3C" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------_=_NextPart_001_01C2D485.E12E3B3C charset="iso-8859-1" This is being sent on behalf of Dr. Dennis Wood at Northcoast Marine = Mammal Center. Please do not reply to this e-mail, and send all = inquiries to Dr. Wood directly. -kaz =20 -----Original Message----- From: WOODX8(\)aol.com [mailto:WOODX8(\)aol.com] Subject: Facility Manager Position "The Northcoast Marine Mammal Center in Crescent City, California, is = seeking applications for a full time Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Center = Facility Manager. The position will be the sole paid position, and will = be under the direct supervision of the attending Veterinarian and the = Board of Directors. Applicants must have a good working knowledge of = marine mammal rehabilitation, primarily pinnipeds. They must also have = excellent volunteer management skills and grant writing abilities. = Salary will be $31,200 anually plus benefits. Please send Resume and CV = to Dennis R. Wood DVM, e-mail WOODX8(\)aol.com, = by March 1, 2003."=20 =20 http://www.northcoastmarinemammal.org=20 ------_=_NextPart_001_01C2D485.E12E3B3C charset="iso-8859-1"
This is being sent on behalf of Dr. Dennis = Wood at=20 Northcoast Marine Mammal Center.  Please do not reply to this = e-mail,=20 and send all inquiries to Dr. Wood = directly.
-kaz
 
 -----Original = Message-----
From:=20 WOODX8(\)aol.com [mailto:WOODX8(\)aol.com]
Subject: = Facility=20 Manager Position

"The Northcoast Marine Mammal Center in = Crescent City,=20 California, is seeking applications for a full time Marine Mammal = Rehabilitation=20 Center Facility Manager.  The position will be the sole paid = position,=20 and will be under the direct supervision of the attending Veterinarian=20 and the Board of = Directors. =20 Applicants must have a good working knowledge of marine mammal = rehabilitation,=20 primarily pinnipeds.  They must also have excellent volunteer = management=20 skills and grant writing abilities. Salary will be $31,200 anually plus=20 benefits.  Please send Resume and CV to Dennis R. Wood DVM,  e-mail  WOODX8(\)aol.com,  by March 1, = 2003." 
 
http://www.northcoastmarin= emammal.org 
= ------_=_NextPart_001_01C2D485.E12E3B3C-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2003 23:09:14 +0000 From: "Peter G.H. Evans" Subject: Two Marine Mammal Job opportunities boundary="============_-1166512519==_ma============" --============_-1166512519==_ma============ Two Marine Mammal Job Opportunities in West Wales Applications are invited for the posts of Scientific Officer and Education Officer to work at the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre in New Quay, Ceredigion, in conjunction with Sea Watch Foundation. Descriptions of each post are given below. The two posts will start in April. The first post is for two years, and the second for three years. Both posts may be extended beyond this. The salary scale of each is =A315,000 per annum. Background Under the EU Habitats and Species Directive, a marine Special Area of Conservation (SAC) was established recently in Cardigan Bay to protect its resident population of bottlenose dolphins. Line transect surveys and photo-ID indicate a population of 215 bottlenose dolphins and 203 harbour porpoises within the SAC. Both species also occur in adjacent waters of West Wales, where other species sometimes recorded include minke whale, killer whale, short-beaked common dolphin and Risso's dolphin. The purpose of this current project is to develop further a monitoring programme for bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises with emphasis upon the SAC. Study techniques will include both line transect survey and photo-ID for bottlenose dolphins, and line transects for harbour porpoise. A Scientific Officer is required to oversee these studies, working also with local people and volunteers. He or she will be based in New Quay and vessel studies will be conducted aboard the 'Sulaire' provided by Steve Hartley of West Wales Chartering Company. The marine wildlife of Cardigan Bay is the focus for an educational Centre established on the waterfront of New Quay, Dyfed in autumn 1996 by Steve Hartley working in conjunction with Sea Watch. The Centre offers interpretive displays describing current research on the biology, behaviour, distribution and conservation of cetaceans, seabirds, seals and other marine vertebrates in Cardigan Bay and the surrounding Irish Sea. Since its opening, the number of visitors to the Centre has grown from 700 in summer 1997 to between 8,000 and 14,000 in recent years. In the past, the Centre has been supported very largely by the work of numerous interested volunteers, both in staffing and help with field programmes. With funding from Environment Wales, interpretive displays have been developed reporting the most current knowledge of marine wildlife in Cardigan Bay and the Irish Sea, often based upon ongoing research by scientists working in the region. Six large display panels depict Whales and Dolphins, Seals, Seabirds, and Conservation. There is also a large diorama of the local marine environment with models and press-button animal sounds, a children's area with mural and work-table, and a TV and video loop. However, there is an important need to extend the displays 1) to include more on local human activities such as sea fishing and recreation and their relationships with the environment, with emphasis upon ways to more greatly involve the coastal community in the Centre; and 2) to develop materials with young children and the less knowledgeable public particularly in mind. Interactive programmes link interpretive materials in the Centre with specially designed boat tours by volunteer naturalists and the West Wales Chartering Company, whilst volunteer coast watches are offered in conjunction with Sea Watch's on-going regional cetacean monitoring work. Since 2000, two to three weekend training courses have been undertaken each summer to help people learn how to identify and record cetaceans. Sea Watch Foundation is a national marine environmental charity concerned with monitoring whales and dolphins around the British Isles, and the conservation threats they face. The charity is based in Oxford with a staff of six. Volunteers participate in various tasks on a casual basis. =46unding from the Countryside Council for Wales has enabled the extension of the New Quay Centre to rental of two floors, and for the introduction of the two posts - an Education Officer and a Scientific Officer. Education Officer The Education Officer, who would also serve as Assistant Centre Manager, will be responsible for the following: a) Extending Interpretation =85 Produce three additional interpretation boards: two on local human activities (fishing, recreation, etc) and their relationship to environment, and one relating to the land-based monitoring of bottlenose dolphins from New Quay to publicise the work of local persons =85 Produce materials for younger children (small fish & rock pool tank, models that can be touched and felt by children, etc) =85 Produce a general information leaflet on the marine wildlife of Cardigan Bay and conservation issues, with reference to the marine SAC will be produced =85 Establish a bulletin board reporting recent sightings of cetaceans, etc (summarising recent results from CCW-funded Survey project) =85 Regular showing in the Centre of a training video on cetacean identifica= tion b) Providing Outreach Education =85 Develop list of all schools within 50 mile radius; and categorise by age group =85 Develop and distribute a questionnaire to identify interest and needs in environmental education, with emphasis upon the marine environment =85 Conduct visits to local schools to enhance their awareness and understanding of the marine wildlife and conservation issues in Cardigan Bay c) Disseminating Information =85 Distribute press releases to a press list of around 150, aiming to generate both national and local coverage =85 Write about five articles per annum derived from local research, for publication in popular/semi-popular magazines, regional newspapers, and posted on the Centre's web site =85 Disseminate information from the annual report on surveys, made available in the Centre for all visitors to consult (summarizing long-term results from CCW-funded Survey project) =85 Disseminate annual reports to UK Biodiversity Steering Group, Wales Biodiversity Group Secretariat, Mar LIN node in MNGW, and links to Interpretation, Communications and Education Group (ICE) within CCW. e) Developing Outside Links =85 Produce a list of main marine users in Cardigan Bay and distribute a questionnaire to establish the resources they would like to see in the New Quay Centre, and what input they could provide (historic photographs, artefacts, etc) =85 Conduct visits to Marine Wildlife Centres elsewhere in the UK (e.g. Durlston in Dorset, Goodrington in Devon, and National Aquarium at Plymouth), and other marine awareness centres supported by CCW (Bangor Pier, and proposed Gower Peninsula Centre) so as to identify appropriate interpretational materials for different target audiences =85 Hold at least one meeting per year, with reports sent to co-ordinators of relevant local biodiversity plans f) Centre Management =85 The Education Officer will act as Deputy Manager of the Wildlife Centre (line-managed by Steve Hartley) and in this role be responsible for overseeing the collection of money from a) an entrance fee or donations; b) the taking of bookings on behalf of West Wales Chartering Company (which helps fund the additional days of surveys); and c) the sale of appropriate merchandise. These funds will be used to help finance summer boat surveys and go towards overhead costs of maintenance of the Centre. Where possible, these tasks will be delegated to volunteers, but the Education Officer will be responsible for ensuring that book-keeping is maintained adequately. Scientific Officer The Scientific Officer will be responsible for field research on cetaceans in West Wales (as described below), and the supervision of the scientific studies undertaken by the volunteers based in New Quay at the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre. He/she will have the following duties: a) Fieldwork =85 Undertake cetacean surveys and photo-ID according to protocols developed by Sea Watch Foundation. Eighty full days at sea should be undertaken over a 12-month period, with at least 20 days during the winter period (October - April). Regular surveys and photo-ID will be conducted to systematically sample the Cardigan Bay marine SAC with special emphasis upon the period April - September, although year-round coverage will also be provided. Six days of survey will be conducted in previously neglected areas such as that between New Quay and the Lleyn Peninsula. =85 Ensure that all sightings data collected during surveys are input to computer in a form that is readily incorporated into the National Cetacean Sightings Database administered by Sea Watch, and that photographic images are incorporated in a photo-ID archive, with slide scans retained both by Sea Watch (and included in the EU EUROPHLUKES Project) and at the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre in New Quay. The templates and instructions for both the sightings/effort database and EUROPHLUKES database will be supplied by Sea Watch. b) Data Input and Analyses =85 Undertake preliminary analyses of spatial and temporal variation in the relative abundance of the commoner cetacean species (specially bottlenose dolphin and harbour porpoise) from both land-based watches and boat surveys, and assemble annual survey/monitoring reports. c) Dissemination of Results =85 Produce annual report including results of analyses of surveys and photo-ID, along with population estimates, and communicate these to Sea Watch, UK Biodiversity Steering Group, and Wales Biodiversity Group Secretariat. =85 Produce web based summaries of reports on surveys (one offshore, one land-based) on the web sites of the Centre and Sea Watch =46oundation (occupying 1-3 web pages), to include results from any other related survey work in Wales =85 Publicity leaflets describing the courses and the cetacean work in Wales, to be distributed widely through web sites and newsletters of Sea Watch Foundation and Mammal Society =85 Write articles reporting research results for newsletters and news sheets, and on web sites of Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre and Sea Watch Foundation. d) Scientific Support for Volunteers and others at the Centre (training & supervision) =85 Co-ordinate the selection and organization of volunteers participating in the scientific work (both surveys and analyses), and subsequently provide them with training and supervision on a daily basis. =85 Provide venue and local Centre volunteer support for training courses - three weekends; one four-day course involving an estimated 100 persons e) Liaison with Other Bodies =85 Initiate fund-raising activities to support the Centre in conjunction with Steve Hartley, liaising regularly with Sea Watch. =85 When necessary, represent the Centre at local meetings, such as Cardigan Bay Forum and Cardigan Bay Dolphin Group. Applicants should be university graduates. Those applying for the Scientific Officer post should already have field experience of studying cetaceans (including use of photo-ID), a degree in a biological subject, and experience at analysing and interpreting biological data. Those applying for the Education Officer post should either have training or experience in environmental education, with preference given to those who have worked on marine environmental matters. Both should have IT skills (please detail these), and be able to work well in a small team, with a flair for interacting with people from a range of backgrounds. If you are interested in the above posts, please e-mail your CV, a covering letter outlining suitability, and two references to Dr PGH Evans, Sea Watch Foundation 36 Windmill Road, Oxford 0X3 7BX (e-mail: peter.evans(\)zoology.ox.ac.uk). Closing date for both posts is 15th March with a view to starting in April. -- Dr Peter GH Evans Director Sea Watch Foundation 36 Windmill Road Headington Oxford 0X3 7BX Tel: 44-(0)1865-764794 =46ax: 44 -(0)1865-764757 E-mail: peter.evans(\)zoology.ox.ac.uk Website: http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk Home address: 11 Jersey Road Oxford 0X4 4RT Tel: 01865-717276 --============_-1166512519==_ma============ Two Marine Mammal Job opportunities


Two Marine Mammal Job Opportunities in West Wales

Applications are invited for the posts of Scientific Officer and Education Officer to work at the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre in New Quay, Ceredigion, in conjunction with Sea Watch =46oundation. Descriptions of each post are given below. The two posts will start in April. The first post is for two years, and the second for three years. Both posts may be extended beyond this. The salary scale of each is =A315,000 per annum.

Background

Under the EU Habitats and Species Directive, a marine Special Area of Conservation (SAC) was established recently in Cardigan Bay to protect its resident population of bottlenose dolphins. Line transect surveys and photo-ID indicate a population of 215 bottlenose dolphins and 203 harbour porpoises within the SAC. Both species also occur in adjacent waters of West Wales, where other species sometimes recorded include minke whale, killer whale, short-beaked common dolphin and Risso's dolphin. The purpose of this current project is to develop further a monitoring programme for bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises with emphasis upon the SAC. Study techniques will include both line transect survey and photo-ID for bottlenose dolphins, and line transects for harbour porpoise. A Scientific Officer is required to oversee these studies, working also with local people and volunteers. He or she will be based in New Quay and vessel studies will be conducted aboard the 'Sulaire' provided by Steve Hartley of West Wales Chartering Company.

The marine wildlife of Cardigan Bay is the focus for an educational Centre established on the waterfront of New Quay, Dyfed in autumn 1996 by Steve Hartley working in conjunction with Sea Watch. The Centre offers interpretive displays describing current research on the biology, behaviour, distribution and conservation of cetaceans, seabirds, seals and other marine vertebrates in Cardigan Bay and the surrounding Irish Sea. Since its opening, the number of visitors to the Centre has grown from 700 in summer 1997 to between 8,000 and 14,000 in recent years. In the past, the Centre has been supported very largely by the work of numerous interested volunteers, both in staffing and help with field programmes.
With funding from Environment Wales, interpretive displays have been developed reporting the most current knowledge of marine wildlife in Cardigan Bay and the Irish Sea, often based upon ongoing research by scientists working in the region.  Six large display panels depict Whales and Dolphins, Seals, Seabirds, and Conservation.  There is also a large diorama of the local marine environment with models and press-button animal sounds, a children's area with mural and work-table, and a TV and video loop. However, there is an important need to extend the displays 1) to include more on local human activities such as sea fishing and recreation and their relationships with the environment, with emphasis upon ways to more greatly involve the coastal community in the Centre; and 2) to develop materials with young children and the less knowledgeable public particularly in mind.
Interactive programmes link interpretive materials in the Centre with specially designed boat tours by volunteer naturalists and the West Wales Chartering Company, whilst volunteer coast watches are offered in conjunction with Sea Watch's on-going regional cetacean monitoring work. Since 2000, two to three weekend training courses have been undertaken each summer to help people learn how to identify and record cetaceans.

Sea Watch Foundation is a national marine environmental charity concerned with monitoring whales and dolphins around the British Isles, and the conservation threats they face. The charity is based in Oxford with a staff of six. Volunteers participate in various tasks on a casual basis.
=46unding from the Countryside Council for Wales has enabled the extension of the New Quay Centre to rental of two floors, and for the introduction of the two posts - an Education Officer and a Scientific Officer.

Education Officer
The Education Officer, who would also serve as Assistant Centre Manager, will be responsible for the following:
a) Extending Interpretation
=85 Produce three additional interpretation boards: two on local human activities (fishing, recreation, etc) and their relationship to environment, and one relating to the land-based monitoring of bottlenose dolphins from New Quay to publicise the work of local persons
=85 Produce materials for younger children (small fish & rock pool tank, models that can be touched and felt by children, etc) 
=85 Produce a general information leaflet on the marine wildlife of Cardigan Bay and conservation issues, with reference to the marine SAC will be produced
=85 Establish a bulletin board reporting recent sightings of cetaceans, etc (summarising recent results from CCW-funded Survey project)
=85 Regular showing in the Centre of a training video on cetacean identification
b) Providing Outreach Education
=85 Develop list of all schools within 50 mile radius; and categorise by age group
=85 Develop and distribute a questionnaire to identify interest and needs in environmental education, with emphasis upon the marine environment
=85 Conduct visits to local schools to enhance their awareness and understanding of the marine wildlife and conservation issues in Cardigan Bay
c) Disseminating Information
=85 Distribute press releases to a press list of around 150, aiming to generate both national and local coverage
=85 Write about five articles per annum derived from local research, for publication in popular/semi-popular magazines, regional newspapers, and posted on the Centre's web site
=85 Disseminate information from the annual report on surveys, made available in the Centre for all visitors to consult (summarizing long-term results from CCW-funded Survey project)
=85 Disseminate annual reports to UK Biodiversity Steering Group, Wales Biodiversity Group Secretariat, Mar LIN node in MNGW, and links to Interpretation, Communications and Education Group (ICE) within CCW.
e) Developing Outside Links
=85 Produce a list of main marine users in Cardigan Bay and distribute a questionnaire to establish the resources they would like to see in the New Quay Centre, and what input they could provide (historic photographs, artefacts, etc)
=85 Conduct visits to Marine Wildlife Centres elsewhere in the UK (e.g. Durlston in Dorset, Goodrington in Devon, and National Aquarium at Plymouth), and other marine awareness centres supported by CCW (Bangor Pier, and proposed Gower Peninsula Centre) so as to identify appropriate interpretational materials for different target audiences
=85 Hold at least one meeting per year, with reports sent to co-ordinators of relevant local biodiversity plans

f) Centre Management
=85 The Education Officer will act as Deputy Manager of the Wildlife Centre (line-managed by Steve Hartley) and in this role be responsible for overseeing the collection of money from a) an entrance fee or donations; b) the taking of bookings on behalf of West Wales Chartering Company (which helps fund the additional days of surveys); and c) the sale of appropriate merchandise. These funds will be used to help finance summer boat surveys and go towards overhead costs of maintenance of the Centre. Where possible, these tasks will be delegated to volunteers, but the Education Officer will be responsible for ensuring that book-keeping is maintained adequately. 


Scientific Officer

The Scientific Officer will be responsible for field research on cetaceans in West Wales (as described below), and the supervision of the scientific studies undertaken by the volunteers based in New Quay at the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre. He/she will have the following duties:

a) Fieldwork
=85 Undertake cetacean surveys and photo-ID according to protocols developed by Sea Watch Foundation. Eighty full days at sea should be undertaken over a 12-month period, with at least 20 days during the winter period (October - April). Regular surveys and photo-ID will be conducted to systematically sample the Cardigan Bay marine SAC with special emphasis upon the period April - September, although year-round coverage will also be provided. Six days of survey will be conducted in previously neglected areas such as that between New Quay and the Lleyn Peninsula.
=85 Ensure that all sightings data collected during surveys are input to computer in a form that is readily incorporated into the National Cetacean Sightings Database administered by Sea Watch, and that photographic images are incorporated in a photo-ID archive, with slide scans retained both by Sea Watch (and included in the EU EUROPHLUKES Project) and at the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre in New Quay. The templates and instructions for both the sightings/effort database and EUROPHLUKES database will be supplied by Sea Watch.

b) Data Input and Analyses
=85 Undertake preliminary analyses of spatial and temporal variation in the relative abundance of the commoner cetacean species (specially bottlenose dolphin and harbour porpoise) from both land-based watches and boat surveys, and assemble annual survey/monitoring reports.

c) Dissemination of Results
=85 Produce annual report including results of analyses of surveys and photo-ID, along with population estimates, and communicate these to Sea Watch, UK Biodiversity Steering Group, and Wales Biodiversity Group Secretariat.
=85 Produce web based summaries of reports on surveys (one offshore, one land-based) on the web sites of the Centre and Sea Watch Foundation (occupying 1-3 web pages), to include results from any other related survey work in Wales
=85 Publicity leaflets describing the courses and the cetacean work in Wales, to be distributed widely through web sites and newsletters of Sea Watch Foundation and Mammal Society
=85 Write articles reporting research results for newsletters and news sheets, and on web sites of Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre and Sea Watch Foundation.

d) Scientific Support for Volunteers and others at the Centre (training & supervision)
=85 Co-ordinate the selection and organization of volunteers participating in the scientific work (both surveys and analyses), and subsequently provide them with training and supervision on a daily basis.
=85 Provide venue and local Centre volunteer support for training courses - three weekends; one four-day course involving an estimated 100 persons

e) Liaison with Other Bodies
=85 Initiate fund-raising activities to support the Centre in conjunction with Steve Hartley, liaising regularly with Sea Watch.
=85 When necessary, represent the Centre at local meetings, such as Cardigan Bay Forum and Cardigan Bay Dolphin Group.

Applicants should be university graduates. Those applying for the Scientific Officer post should already have field experience of studying cetaceans (including use of photo-ID), a degree in a biological subject, and experience at analysing and interpreting biological data. Those applying for the Education Officer post should either have training or experience in environmental education, with preference given to those who have worked on marine environmental matters. Both should have IT skills (please detail these), and be able to work well in a small team, with a flair for interacting with people from a range of backgrounds.

If you are interested in the above posts, please e-mail your CV, a covering letter outlining suitability, and two references to Dr PGH Evans, Sea Watch Foundation 36 Windmill Road, Oxford 0X3 7BX (e-mail: peter.evans(\)zoology.ox.ac.uk). Closing date for both posts is 15th March with a view to starting in April.
--
Dr Peter GH Evans

Director
Sea Watch Foundation
36 Windmill Road
Headington
Oxford 0X3 7BX

Tel:  44-(0)1865-764794
=46ax: 44 -(0)1865-764757
E-mail: peter.evans(\)zoology.ox.ac.uk
Website: http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk

Home address:
11 Jersey Road
Oxford 0X4 4RT
Tel: 01865-717276
--============_-1166512519==_ma============-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2003 23:52:03 EST From: Rich Mallon-Day Subject: Bottlenose Dolphin Photo-ID Research Positions boundary="part1_99.33554e35.2b846773_boundary" --part1_99.33554e35.2b846773_boundary Bottlenose Dolphin Photo-ID Research Positions The Nags Head Dolphin Watch is accepting applications for the 2003 research season. We currently have two "Research Assistant/Naturalist/Mate" positions available. 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 (18 hours per week) on the commercial dolphin watching vessel and the balance of the schedule (22 hours per week) working on field or lab 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 expected. 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. For a list of publications utilizing data gathered from this project, please visit the web site at http://www.nagsheaddolphinwatch.com. This is a paid position wherein the hired individuals will receive training in photographing dolphins in the wild, photo identification techniques, and the use of GPS and ArcView GIS to plot movement patterns and distribution. The position also provides opportunities to gain experience in small boat handling and basic seamanship, educational outreach and public speaking. The research season is May 19, 2003 - September 27, 2003, with a possible extension to October 11, 2003. 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_99.33554e35.2b846773_boundary Bottlenose Dolphin Photo-ID Research Positions

The Nags Head Dolphin Watch is accepting applications for the 2003
research season. We currently have two
"Research Assistant/Naturalist/Mate" positions available.

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 (18 hours
per week) on the commercial dolphin watching vessel and the balance
of the schedule (22 hours per week) working on field or lab research.

These responsibilities include:
  Photography of dolphins during encounters
  Collection of environmental data, sightings, observed behavior, etc.<= BR>   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 expected. 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. For a list of publications utilizing
data gathered from this project, please visit the web site at
http://www.nagsheaddolphinwatch.com.

This is a paid position wherein the hired individuals will receive
training in photographing dolphins in the wild, photo identification
techniques, and the use of GPS and ArcView GIS to plot movement patterns and distribution.  The position also provides opportunities to gain experience in small boat handling and basic seamanship, educational
outreach and public speaking.

The research season is May 19, 2003 - September 27, 2003, with a
possible extension to October 11, 2003.  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_99.33554e35.2b846773_boundary-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2003 13:42:00 +1100 From: Roan Plotz Subject: Volunteers for fieldwork on New Zealand fur seal pups on Kangaroo Island. Hi, my name is Roan Plotz, I am currently an honours student with the Sea Mammal Ecology Group at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia. I am doing fieldwork for a project on a large colony of New Zealand fur seals at Cape Gantheaume on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. The site is part of Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park. It is in a very remote corner of Kangaroo Island and requires 4WD access, camping etc. I am looking for any interested volunteers for field assistance during 5 weeks from 1st of March 2003, and a further month later in the year. My project essentially involves trying to determine the growth strategies (energy expenditure)of male and female pups, with respect to age, mass and behaviour. The hands on work will involve the weighing of a cross sectional sample of pups to obtain a growth curve for the colony. Also the weighing of selected pups, that are known to be fasting, in between feeding bouts to obtain fasting mass loss rates. The other hands on aspect of my project will involve determining the resting metabolic rates (RMR) of male and female pups while they are fasting when their mothers are away feeding. This will involve the use of a field respiration chamber (indirect calirometry). The metabolic measurements will occur over a period of about two weeks. The behavioural aspect of the project aims to determine how male and female pups divide their time during fasting, as well as during feeding bouts. This involves twice daily resights of adult females with tagged pups,hence determinining the attendance behaviour of the mothers. The other behavioural aspect of the project will involve watching and monitoring the behaviour of tagged pups to determine how much time they spend resting, active and nursing. This requires sitting up on the slopes and watching with scopes and binoculars, normal eyesight etc. If any volunteers are interested, contact me at Roan Plotz Sea Mammal Ecology Group Zoology Department La Trobe University Bundoora, 3056 Victoria Australia Email:r.plotz(\)zoo.latrobe.edu.au ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 17 Feb 2003 14:50:48 -0600 From: Kristen Fletcher Subject: Research Counsel Position Open boundary="=====================_534036273==_.ALT" --=====================_534036273==_.ALT **Apologies for Cross Posting** Please forward to interested parties. The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Legal Program is now accepting=20 applications for the Research Counsel position. Please contact Kristen=20 Fletcher at kfletch(\)olemiss.edu for information. Information about the=20 position is below. POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI UNIVERSITY, MS 38677 JANUARY, 2003 MISSISSIPPI LAW RESEARCH INSTITUTE Position Title: Research Counsel Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Legal Program Salary: $40,900 Duties: Conduct research on ocean, coastal, natural resource, and=20 related environmental legal issues; prepare reports of research in the form= =20 of briefs and articles for publication; provide assistance to governmental= =20 agencies concerning interpretation of statutes, regulations, and case law;= =20 assist in the preparation and publication of WATER LOG, a quarterly Sea=20 Grant Legal Reporter; travel to conferences to present research papers;=20 supervise law student research associates; pursue funding through the=20 writing of grant proposals for government or private grants; and travel to= =20 the Gulf Coast to provide advisory service to state and local agencies. Qualifications: Bachelor=92s Degree; Law Degree by starting date; strong law= =20 school academic record; relevant course work and/or work experience and=20 interest in one or more of the following: ocean/coastal, natural resources,= =20 environmental law; demonstrated ability to conduct research and writing;=20 familiarity with Westlaw and/or LEXIS; ability to communicate easily and=20 work well with others; and, membership in the Mississippi Bar or commitment= =20 to acquire membership in the Mississippi Bar. Anticipated Starting Date: SUMMER, 2003 Position will be open until filled or until=20 adequate applicant pool is obtained. Contact: Send r=E9sum=E9 of experience and education, copy of= =20 law school transcript, 3-5 page research and writing sample, 3 references=20 and other pertinent information to: University Employment Office Paul B. Johnson Commons University of Mississippi P.O. Box 1848 University, MS 38677-1848 The University of Mississippi is an EEO/Title VI/Title IX/Section=20 504/ADA/ADEA employer. --=====================_534036273==_.ALT **Apologies for Cross Posting**

Please forward to interested parties.

The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Legal Program is now accepting applications for the Research Counsel position.  Please contact Kristen Fletcher at kfletch(\)olemiss.edu for information.  Information about the position is below.


POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
UNIVERSITY, MS 38677

JANUARY, 2003

MISSISSIPPI LAW RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Position Title:        =  Research Counsel
        &= nbsp;         &n= bsp;     Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Legal Program
Salary:       &= nbsp; $40,900

Duties:       &= nbsp; Conduct research on ocean, coastal, natural resource, and related environmental legal issues; prepare reports of research in the form of briefs and articles for publication; provide assistance to governmental agencies concerning interpretation of statutes, regulations, and case law; assist in the preparation and publication of WATER LOG, a quarterly Sea Grant Legal Reporter; travel to conferences to present research papers; supervise law student research associates; pursue funding through the writing of grant proposals for government or private grants; and travel to the Gulf Coast to provide advisory service to state and local agencies.

Qualifications: Bachelor=92s Degree; Law Degree by starting date; strong law school academic record; relevant course work and/or work experience and interest in one or more of the following: ocean/coastal, natural resources, environmental law; demonstrated ability to conduct research and writing; familiarity with Westlaw and/or LEXIS; ability to communicate easily and work well with others; and, membership in the Mississippi Bar or commitment to acquire membership in the Mississippi Bar.

Anticipated
Starting Date:        &= nbsp; SUMMER, 2003
        &= nbsp;         &n= bsp;     Position will be open until filled or until adequate applicant pool is obtained.
Contact:        <= x-tab>        Send r=E9sum=E9 of experience and education, copy of law school transcript, 3-5 page research and writing sample, 3 references and other pertinent information to:

        &= nbsp;         &n= bsp;         &nb= sp;         &nbs= p; University Employment Office
         =           &= nbsp;         &n= bsp;         &nb= sp;Paul B. Johnson Commons
         =           &= nbsp;         &n= bsp;         &nb= sp;University of Mississippi
         =           &= nbsp;         &n= bsp;         &nb= sp;P.O. Box 1848
         =           &= nbsp;         &n= bsp;         &nb= sp;University, MS 38677-1848

The University of Mississippi is an EEO/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA employer.

 --=====================_534036273==_.ALT-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 21:22:43 -0500 From: Stephen McCulloch Subject: Funding Opportunity - Protect Wild Dolphins / Florida Debbie Dutton , "jamesmharvey(\)earthlink.net" boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01C2D950.1D3CA540" 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_01C2D950.1D3CA540 charset="iso-8859-1" From: "Stephen McCulloch" mcculloch(\)hboi.edu 2003-FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR DOLPHIN RESEARCH IN FLORIDA- The Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution (HBOI) and the Division of Dolphin Research and Conservation announces the availability of funds for research and education programs that involve the study and preservation of wild dolphin populations in Florida waters. The Protect Wild Dolphin (PWD)Program was initiated in 1998 and is administered by HARBOR BRANCH Oceanographic Institution, located in Fort Pierce, FL.. The purpose of the PWD funding is to support research projects that collect, analyze and archive scientific data regarding wild dolphin populations in Florida's waters. Additionally, the program sponsors projects that: provide care and assistance to stranded wild dolphins; distribute information to the scientific community, federal, state and local governmental agencies, educational institutions and the public for the purpose of protecting and preserving wild dolphins; identify wild dolphins through a photo-identification program; and advance the research technology associated with tracking and monitoring wild dolphins. Effective February 21, Request for Proposals (RFP) can be obtained from the HBOI website www.hboi.eduBM__Hlt32824509. (Click on DIVISIONS, then on Marine Mammal Research/Conservation, and finally on Dolphin Tag.) A downloadable PDF file of the RFP is also available on the PWD website www.ProtectWildDolphins.org . The limit per award will be $100,000. The deadline for receipt of proposals is 7 April 2003. Please direct any inquiries to the Protect Wild Dolphins administrator at pwdolphin(\)hboi.edu . On behalf of HARBOR BRANCH Oceanographic Institution, Inc., I encourage you to apply for funding for the study and preservation of the wild dolphins in Florida's waters. Submitted By: Stephen D. McCulloch Division Director Dolphin & Whale Research and Conservation Program HARBOR BRANCH OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION 5600 U.S. 1 North Ft. Pierce, FL 34946 Ph: 772.465.2400, x 604 Fx: 772.595.3332 http://www.hboi.edu _____ Upgrade Your Email - Click here! ------_=_NextPart_001_01C2D950.1D3CA540 charset="iso-8859-1"
 From: "Stephen = McCulloch" mcculloch(\)hboi.edu  =20

2003-FUNDING=20 OPPORTUNITY FOR DOLPHIN RESEARCH=20 IN FLORIDA-

The Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution = (HBOI) and=20 the Division of Dolphin Research and Conservation announces the = availability of=20 funds for research = and=20 education programs that involve the study and preservation of wild = dolphin=20 populations in Florida waters. The Protect = Wild Dolphin (PWD)Program was initiated in 1998 and is=20 administered by = HARBOR BRANCH=20 Oceanographic Institution, located in = Fort=20 Pierce, FL..  

The purpose of the PWD funding is to support = research projects=20 that collect, analyze and archive scientific data regarding wild = dolphin=20 populations in Florida’s waters. =20 Additionally, the program sponsors projects that: provide care = and=20 assistance to stranded wild dolphins; distribute information to the = scientific=20 community, federal, state and local governmental agencies, educational=20 institutions and the public for the purpose of protecting and = preserving wild=20 dolphins; identify wild dolphins through a photo-identification = program; and=20 advance the research technology associated with tracking and monitoring = wild=20 dolphins.

Effective=20 February 21, Request for Proposals (RFP) can be = obtained from=20 the HBOI website www.hboi.edu.  (C= lick on=20 DIVISIONS, then on Marine Mammal Research/Conservation, and finally on = Dolphin=20 Tag.) A=20 downloadable PDF file of the = RFP is also=20 available on the PWD website www.ProtectWildDolphins.org<= /A>.  

The limit per award will be=20 $100,000.  =

The=20 deadline for receipt of proposals is 7 April = 2003.

Please = direct any=20 inquiries to the Protect Wild Dolphins administrator = at pwdolphin(\)hboi.edu.=20   

On behalf of HARBOR BRANCH Oceanographic=20 Institution, Inc., I encourage you to apply for funding for the study = and=20 preservation of the wild dolphins in Florida’s waters.

Submitted=20 By:

Stephen D. McCulloch
Division Director =
Dolphin &=20 Whale Research and Conservation Program

HARBOR BRANCH OCEANOGRAPHIC=20 INSTITUTION
5600 U.S. 1 North =
Ft. Pierce, FL 34946
Ph:=20 772.465.2400, x 604
Fx:=20 772.595.3332

http://www.hboi.edu =


------_=_NextPart_001_01C2D950.1D3CA540-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 19:04:33 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Cetacean Conservation Campaigns and Public Opinion Polling Data (fwd) Dear MARMAM, In preparation for a new marine conservation initiative, I am researching methods of assessing and affecting public attitude towards marine conservation issues. I am hoping MARMAMers might contribute their expertise on a) campaign case studies and/or b) public opinion polling data. My research will be used to delineate a network of representative target audiences through which communicating the importance of marine conservation will impact our conservation mission. Marine mammal protection, marine resource management, and coral reef protection are examples of key focus areas. Specifically needed, are case study details on effective awareness campaigns as well as any public opinion polling data that may be available on the aforementioned subjects. Case studies listed below came to mind as good examples of public attitude research and the dissemination of information resulting in heightened public awareness and involvement in marine conservation. Any summaries or reviews on what you consider to be the key contours of a successful campaign would be appreciated. Any published, unpublished, and informal public survey information would be useful in outlining what attitudes various public sectors may have towards the protection of marine resources. Target audiences range from artisanal fishing communities to the average urban consumer to government officials in countries all over the world, especially high consumer markets such as those found in Asia. Thank you in advance for your help. Case study examples: SPECIFIC CAMPAIGNS: studies done in Japan on actual public interest in whale meat vs. governmental claims Anti-LFAS/ATOC Anti-whaling SPECIFIC PUBLIC OPINION SURVEYS: Saving endangered species such as Hector's Dolphin and Vaquita. China's impact on the marine environment or River Dolphin conservation. Non-US coral reefs. Miriam Stein Communications Conservation International 1919 M Street, NW Suite 600 Washington, DC 20036 202-912-1557 mstein(\)conservation.org -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2003 15:31:35 -0900 From: Dyan Ferren Subject: Job Announcement Alaska SeaLife Center Field Coordinator - Steller Sea Lion Research Program This position is responsible for coordinating a broad range of field related activities specific to the Steller Sea Lion (SSL) Research Program at ASLC. Supervise boat operations for the program. Participate and assist in coordinating dive capture and surface handling operations. Support handling of captured animals while in the field and general management of the Captive Transient SSL Program under direction of the Principal Investigator. Provide support for research that may include harbor seal, eider, sea otter and other programs, and may include diving operations and physical plant activities. Education/Skills/Abilities: Degree in Biology or Zoology preferred, or 3 years of project or animal management experience. Two years experience in a management or supervisory role desired. Steller sea lion experience preferred. Experience with equipment procurement and inventory is beneficial. Minimum of 3 years exp. with professional boat procurement, rigging, maintenance or operation required. Wildlife immobilization training and experience preferred. SCUBA certification (NAUI / PADI) to Advanced Open Water level preferred. Position requires extensive field work dealing with large, potentially dangerous animals. Must be self-motivated and have the ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels. Proficiency in computer skills, including the most recent versions of the Windows operating system and MS Office. This is a regular, full-time, position with benefits. Apply by: March 10 Start date: mid-April Salary: DOE Send application OR resume & references to Human Resources, Alaska SeaLife Center, P O Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664-1329, or fax 907-224-6320, or email to human_resources(\)alaskasealife.org. www.alaskasealife.org The ASLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2003 14:46:22 -0000 Reply-To: cathy(\)mcs.st-and.ac.uk From: Catherine Brown Subject: Announcement: Distance Workshops September 2003, Scotland ********************************************************** ANNOUNCEMENT ********************************************************** DISTANCE WORKSHOPS 2003 St Andrews, Fife, Scotland ********************************************************** The Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling (CREEM) is hosting another set of Distance Sampling workshops in September of this year. 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 Distance software. ********************************************************* Workshop 1: Introduction to Distance Sampling, 10-12 September An introductory workshop focusing on standard distance sampling methods. The workshop will be a blend of theory and practice and participants will learn how to use version 4 of 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, 15-17 September 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 g(0)<1, and spatial modelling of density. Participants will learn the more advanced features of version 4 of Distance. ********************************************************** For both workshops, participants are encouraged to bring their own data sets, and can expect to do some preliminary analyses of their data. The number of participants on both workshops is strictly limited, and for this reason we encourage you to register as soon as possible. Information and forms can be downloaded from our web site, www.creem.st-and.ac.uk/conferences.php Please contact the workshop organizers with any queries: Rhona Rodger / Catherine Brown CREEM, The Observatory Buchanan Gardens University of St Andrews St Andrews, Fife Scotland KY16 9LZ Tel: (+44) (0) 1334 461829/1840 Fax: (+44) (0) 1334 461800 rhona(\)mcs.st-and.ac.uk cathy(\)mcs.st-and.ac.uk ******** Catherine Brown, Assistant Administrator Centre for Research for Ecological and Environmental Monitoring (CREEM) School of Mathematics and Statistics University of St Andrews The Observatory Buchanan Gardens St Andrews, Fife KY16 9LZ Scotland Tel: (+44) (0) 1334 461829 Fax: (+44) (0) 1334 461800 email: cathy(\)mcs.st-and.ac.uk http://www.creem.mcs.st-and.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2003 18:55:37 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Albinism in Pinnipeds (fwd) From: Jane McKenzie We are currently putting together a short note on observations of possible albino or "golden" Australian and New Zealand fur seals. Unfortunately we have found few references to albinism or abnormally golden coats in pinnipeds. We're especially interested in any reports of adult animals and comments on their survivalship. If anyone knows of any published or unpublished references other than those listed below we would be very grateful. Cheers, Jane McKenzie Bonner, W.E. 1968. The fur seal of South Georgia. British Antarctic Survey Scientific Reports 56: 1-81. King, J. (1983) Seals of the world. Scheffer, V.B. 1962. Pelage and surface topography of the northern fur seal. North American Fauna 64: 1-206. Rodriguez, D.H & Bastida, R.O. 1993. The southern sea lion, Otaria byronia or Otaria flavescens? Marine Mammal Science 9(4):372-381 Fertl, D. & Rosel, P.E. Albinism. In Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. pg. 16-18. Jane McKenzie Sea Mammal Ecology Group Zoology Department La Trobe University Bundoora, 3056 Victoria Australia Ph: 03 9479 2772 Fax: 03 9479 1551 -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2003 18:13:30 -0000 From: Sue Flood Subject: Wanted - Archive footage or photograph of elephant seal culling > Dear Marmam > > I wonder if you can help please? > > I'm currently trying to locate any historic stills or film showing > northern elephant seals being hunted by people, ideally in the early part > of the last century (this is for a documentary being made by the BBC > Natural History Unit). > > We would of course pay for use of any suitable material. If you can help > I'd love to hear from you! > > Many thanks, > Sue > > Sue Flood > BBC Natural History Unit > Broadcasting House > Whiteladies Road > Bristol > BS8 2LR > UK > > Tel: 44 (117) 9746763 > Fax: 44 (117) 9706130 > Email: sue.flood(\)bbc.co.uk > > > BBCi at http://www.bbc.co.uk/ This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may contain personal views which are not the views of the BBC unless specifically stated. If you have received it in error, please delete it from your system, do not use, copy or disclose the information in any way nor act in reliance on it and notify the sender immediately. Please note that the BBC monitors e-mails sent or received. Further communication will signify your consent to this. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2003 09:18:19 -0500 Reply-To: Constance.Russell(\)lakeheadu.ca From: crussell(\)mail1.lakeheadu.ca Subject: new publication on the educational aspects of whalewatching Hello all: A recent publicatin which may be of interest to some. In the interests of saving paper, I'd rather not send out reprints. Instead, you can download it from: http://flash.lakeheadu.ca/~crussell/pdf/RJA2002Russell&Hodson.pdf Russell, C.L. & Hodson, D.(2002). Whalewatching as critical science education? Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, 2(4), 485-504. Abstract: While the educational value of whalewatching has often been proclaimed, there has been little research on the topic. This article, based on a case study conducted in Tadoussac, Quebec, focuses on whalewatching's ability to act as a form of critical science education. Discussion of learning outcomes and learning desires of 31 whalewatchers forms the core of the article. Key issues that emerge include the need for interpreter training, epistemic responsibility of scientists, and the role of conservation and advocacy in whalewatching interpretation. While the whalewatching experience described in this case study did not live up to its potential as a form of critical science education, we believe that such goals are worth pursuing and may enhance whalewatching interpretation in the future. __________________________________________________________ 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 ____________________________________________________ Constance Russell, PhD Assistant Professor Faculty of Education, Lakehead University 955 Oliver Rd, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7B 5E1, Canada telephone: 807-343-8049; fax: 807-344-6807 email: constance.russell(\)lakeheadu.ca ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2003 08:34:05 -0500 From: Mark Baumgartner Subject: Right whale PSP toxin exposure ------ Colleagues, The following is a recent publication in a new journal that many of you m= ay not monitor for marine mammal papers. I wanted to bring it to your atten= tion. Durbin, E., G. Teegarden, R. Campbell, A. Cembella, M.F. Baumgartner, B.R. Mate. 2002. North Atlantic right whales, Eubalaena glacialis, exposed t= o paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins via a zooplankton vector, Calanus finmarchicus. Harmful Algae 1:243=96251. ABSTRACT: The seriously endangered north Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) is regularly exposed to the neurotoxins responsible for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) through feeding on contaminated zooplankton acting as a vector of these dinoflagellate toxins. This chronic exposure occurs during several months each summer while the whale= s are present on their late summer feeding ground in Grand Manan Basin in t= he lower Bay of Fundy. Based on estimated ingestion rates, we suggest that these toxins could affect respiratory capabilities, feeding behavior, and ultimately the reproductive condition of the whale population. Reprint requests and inquiries can be sent to the lead author, Ted Durbin (edurbin(\)gso.uri.edu, 401-874-6850, Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA). This paper is also currently available from Elsevier's website. Go to http://www.elsevier.com/inca/publications/store/6/2/2/2/7/8/index.htt and choose the "Free Sample Copy". This will direct you to the appropriate Science Direct web page where you can download the PDF. Mark Baumgartner Biology Department Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution MS #33 Woods Hole, MA 02543 mbaumgartner(\)whoi.edu http://www.whoi.edu/science/B/people/mbaumgartner (508)289-2678 phone (508)457-2134 fax ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2003 12:32:08 -0600 Reply-To: rnawojchik(\)geo-marine.com From: Rob Nawojchik Subject: Two new papers on marine mammal strandings The following papers were recently published: Nawojchik, R. 2002. Marine mammals and sea turtles of Block Island, Rhode Island. Pages 169-181 in P.W. Paton, L.L. Gould, P.V. August, and A.O. Frost (eds.). The ecology of Block Island. The Rhode Island Natural History Survey, Kingston. Abstract: The distribution and seasonal phenology of marine mammals and sea turtles in southern New England have been well documented. However, few reports relate specifically to Block Island. Our current knowledge of Block Island species stems primarily from stranding records, anecdotal reports, and occasional sightings from local biologists. Mystic Aquarium has responded to marine mammal and sea turtle strandings in Connecticut and Rhode Island since 1975. Since 1979, 27 pinnipeds, representing four species, have been accessioned into the Aquarium's stranding records from Block Island. Cetacean stranding records on Block Island date from 1983, representing 20 cases and six species. There have been 20 sea turtle strandings on Block Island, dating from 1987, all of which were leatherback turtles. Despite the paucity of systematic survey data, insights into the natural history of marine mammals and sea turtles in the waters around Block Island were still gleaned from the opportunistic data sets presented here. Nawojchik, R., D.J. St. Aubin, and A. Johnson. 2003. Movements and dive behavior of two stranded, rehabilitated long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) in the Northwest Atlantic. Marine Mammal Science 19(1):232-239. [no abstract] Please contact me if you would like a reprint. Thanks. Rob Rob Nawojchik Senior Marine Biologist Geo-Marine, Inc. 550 East 15th Street Plano, Texas 75074 E-mail: rnawojchik(\)geo-marine.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2003 13:05:09 -1000 From: lherman(\)hawaii.edu Subject: abstract boundary="============_-1165735376==_ma============" --============_-1165735376==_ma============ ; format="flowed" The following article has recently been published. The relation of body size of male humpback whales to their social roles on the Hawaiian winter grounds, Canadian Journal of Zoology, 80, 1938-1947 (2002). Scott S. Spitz, Louis M. Herman, Adam A. Pack, and Mark H. Deakos Abstract: We examined the relation of body length of male humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) to the social roles they adopted on the Hawaiian winter grounds: principal escort in a competitive group, secondary escort, lone escort to a mother-calf pair, male partner in a dyad, and singer. Using underwater videogrammetry, we measured body lengths of 17 principal escorts, 68 secondary escorts, 40 single escorts, 17 male partners, and 8 singers. Results revealed that (i) principal escorts were, on average, significantly larger than males in each of the remaining social roles except singer, (ii) singers were significantly larger than male partners, (iii) there were no significant size differences among secondary escorts, single escorts, or male partners. Further, principal escorts tended to be the largest or second- largest male within their individual competitive group. All principal escorts were of sizes that indicated a 0.81 probability or better of sexual maturity, based on whaling data. In comparison, more than half of the male partners, almost one-third of the secondary escorts, and one-fifth of the single escorts were of sizes that indicated a 0.5 probability or less of sexual maturity. Seven of the eight singers had a 0.9 probability or better of sexual maturity and the eighth singer a 0.5 probability. However, the data for singers are too few to allow firm conclusions to be reached about the relation of body size to singing. Overall, our findings suggest that body size confers an advantage in physical competition between male humpback whales, and that a large proportion of males adopting the role of secondary escort, single escort, and partner are likely to be sexually immature. Additionally, the competitive group appears to be a major reproductive unit in terms of bringing together a receptive female and potential mates. A limited number of reprints are available. Please send requests to Louis Herman (lherman(\)hawaii.edu). Louis M. Herman Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory --============_-1165735376==_ma============ abstract

The following article has recently been published.


The relation of body size of male humpback whales to their social roles on the Hawaiian winter grounds, Canadian Journal of Zoology, 80, 1938-1947 (2002).

Scott S. Spitz, Louis M. Herman, Adam A. Pack, and Mark H. Deakos
Abstract:  We examined the relation of body length of male humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) to the social roles they adopted on the Hawaiian winter grounds:  principal escort in a competitive group, secondary escort, lone escort to a mother-calf pair, male partner in a dyad, and singer.  Using underwater videogrammetry, we measured body lengths of 17 principal escorts, 68 secondary escorts, 40 single escorts, 17 male partners, and 8 singers.  Results revealed that (i) principal escorts were, on average, significantly larger than males in each of the remaining social roles except singer, (ii) singers were significantly larger than male partners, (iii) there were no significant size differences among secondary escorts, single escorts, or male partners.  Further, principal escorts tended to be the largest or second- largest male within their individual competitive group.  All principal escorts were of sizes that indicated a 0.81 probability or better of sexual maturity, based on whaling data.  In comparison, more than half of the male partners, almost one-third of the secondary escorts, and one-fifth of the single escorts were of sizes that indicated a 0.5 probability or less of sexual maturity.  Seven of the eight singers had a 0.9 probability or better of sexual maturity and the eighth singer a 0.5 probability.  However, the data for singers are too few to allow firm conclusions to be reached about the relation of body size to singing.  Overall, our findings suggest that body size confers an advantage in physical competition between male humpback whales, and that a large proportion of males adopting the role of secondary escort, single escort, and partner are likely to be sexually immature.  Additionally, the competitive group appears to be a major reproductive unit in terms of bringing together a receptive female and potential mates.
 

A limited number of reprints are available.  Please send requests to Louis Herman (lherman(\)hawaii.edu).


Louis M. Herman
Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory
--============_-1165735376==_ma============-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2003 09:58:30 -0500 From: "Wallace, Richard" Subject: Paper on social influences on marine mammal conservation Dear Colleagues: The following paper has just been published: Wallace, R.L. 2003. Social influences on conservation: Lessons from U.S. recovery programs for marine mammals. Conservation Biology 17(1):104-115. Abstract: Marine mammal recovery programs authorized by the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act and the U.S. Endangered Species Act face many challenges. In addition to biological uncertainty, social, organizational, and other conditions influence the decision-making behavior of program participants. From 1996 to 1999, I analyzed the decision-making behavior of participants in five marine mammal recovery programs. Based on a literature review and interviews with 90 program participants, I identified, described, and analyzed the principal influences on participant behavior. Results indicate that decision-making and participant interactions are influenced strongly, and in some cases predominantly, by social factors such as leadership characteristics, communication, teamwork, the presence or absence of evaluation, organizational culture, and program participants' ideologies. These findings indicate the need to improve marine mammal recovery programs through training, evaluation, and the development of prototype programs that incorporate and explicitly apply social factors to problem solving and then use their experience as a model for future programs. Following Constance Russell's example, in the interests of saving paper I will be happy to e-mail anyone the article in PDF format. For those of you who cannot open PDF files or have trouble with attachments, I'll provide reprints. Cheers, Rich Wallace -- Richard L. Wallace, Ph.D. Director, Environmental Studies Program Ursinus College P.O. Box 1000 Collegeville, PA 19426 (610) 409-3000 x 2645 (610) 409-3660 (fax) rwallace(\)ursinus.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2003 17:28:09 -0500 From: Kathryn Ono Subject: Marine Animal Veterinary Technician Position Please post the following position. All inquiries should be sent to: sbrown(\)une.edu Marine Animal Veterinary Technician The University of New England seeks a full-time Veterinary Technician to work in the Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center (MARC). Responsibilities include: assisting the veterinarian and rehabilitation coordinator in medical/surgical procedures and animal care; maintaining clinical work areas and equipment in diagnostics, radiology, pharmacy, surgery, treatment rooms, necropsy and research areas; testing of water quality; and participating in on-going research and project work as needed. Candidate will assist with necropsy, clinical pathology, treatments, procedures, research, water quality and inventory. Must be able to work well with staff, volunteers and researchers. Qualified candidates must have a degree in Veterinary Technology or equivalent experience and be eligible for licensure in Maine within 12 months of starting the job. Preference will be given to candidates with marine mammal experience. MARC will be operational 365 days per year, therefore the vet tech must be able to handle flexible hours and on-call schedule, including weekends, holidays and evenings. Please send cover letter, CV/resume and three letters of reference to: A. Christine Brown, Director, Marine Science Center for Education and Research, University of New England, 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, ME 04005 (e-mail: sbrown(\)une.edu). Visit our website: http://www.une.edu for additional information. Deadline March 24, 2003. UNE is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and strongly encourages the application of candidates of diverse backgrounds. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2003 00:04:31 -0600 From: Kathy Foley Subject: recent publication ------ The following paper was recently published: Maze-Foley, K. and W=FCrsig, B. 2002. Patterns of social affiliation=20 and group composition for bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in=20 San Luis Pass, Texas. Gulf of Mexico Science, 2002(2):122-134. Abstract: Group sizes, group composition, and association patterns of=20 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) were investigated in the San=20 Luis Pass area (Sep. 1995-Aug. 1996) of the Galveston Bay Estuary to=20 examine differences in community structure of individuals inhabiting=20 different portions of the estuary. Group sizes (n =3D 83) ranged from 1- 29 (mean =3D 10.6), and were seasonally variable with largest groups=20 occurring in spring (mean =3D 16.3) and smallest groups during fall (mean= =20 =3D 6.3). Seventy-one individuals were identified using photo- identification, and the sex of six dolphins (3 male, 3 female) was=20 determined. At least 31 (48.4%) groups were of mixed-sex. Twenty-nine=20 dolphins that were identified five or more times were used to calculate=20 half-weight coefficients of association (COAs), which ranged from 0.00=20 to 0.83 (mean =3D 0.46). Coefficients of association for male pairs were= =20 higher than COAs for female and mixed-sex pairs. Permutation tests=20 were performed to test for nonrandom associations and presence of=20 preferred or avoided companions. The null hypothesis of random=20 association was rejected, indicating that dolphins preferentially=20 associated with some individuals and avoided others. In all=20 replicates, three known-male pairs had significantly large COAs. These=20 preliminary results suggested that, excluding mother/calf pairs which=20 were not examined, male pairs formed the most stable social bonds. Please contact me if you would like a reprint or pdf file. Thank you. Katherine Maze-Foley kathy.foley(\)noaa.gov ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2003 16:40:32 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MARMAM Monthly Editorial Policy and FAQ Posted 3 March 2003 ==================================================== MARMAM Editorial Policy & 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. What notices from regional groups are posted? 13. Useful websites 14. Other email discussion lists 15. 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, run through the University of Victoria. The list was established in August 1993 specifically for marine mammal researchers and graduate students, as well as those actively involved in marine mammal conservation and management. As of January 2002 there were over 4,100 subscribers from 72 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. Posting of messages to the list is done at the Editors' discretion. ________________________________________________________ >> 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 announcements - internship/volunteer opportunities. To help students discern the pros and cons of different research groups we ask that that postings provide details of the research experience that volunteers will gain from this position. Posts for volunteer opportunities (particularly paying opportunities) that are not university-affiliated, should provide a measure of their research output in terms of publications available. For groups that do not do this, we will add the note: NO PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE ON THIS WORK If you are affiliated with a university research group, please make this clear in your posting. Finally, provide an indication of the level of payment required from the volunteers: whether the position is paid, volunteers are subsidised in terms of accomodation but have to provide their own flights, or whether there is a charge for the position. - 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 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) 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 ensures that: - An appropriate and explicit 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 4000+ list members. - 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. All information should be included as text within the body of the message. - Messages are properly formatted and do not contain excessive numbers of typos. Messages that 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. Please note the following about message formatting. 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. Further, we have noticed that messages composed by cutting and pasting directly from WordPerfect or Word can cause line wrapping problems. Therefore, messages should not be composed using the latter method. Several e-mail programs append encoded information (MIME, Metafile, and V-cards are common ones). Web-based e-mail programs often append HTML tags by default. These "embelishments" cause display and readability problems and are strongly discouraged. Whenever possible users should disable HTML tags (or send the text-only version) and other encoding features when submitting messages to MARMAM. EVERY EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO SUBMIT MESSAGES AS PLAIN TEXT. These practices will greatly reduce the number of messages with strange formatting that appear on MARMAM. ________________________________________________________ 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. What notices from regional groups are posted? Submissions from regional groups (for example, but not restricted to, the regional chapters of the American Cetacean Society or the regional student chapters of professional associations such as the Society for Marine Mammalogy) should carefully consider whether their announcements are relevant to 4,000+ recipients in 72 countries. Announcements about meetings of short duration (less that half a day) and with little or no scientifc content are discouraged. Notices dealing with internal chapter businesses or organizational matters will not be posted. Notices from regional student chapters 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). ________________________________________________________ 13. 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: http://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/ Oceans Blue Whalewatch Listserv: http://www.oceansblue.org/bluetourism/chartacourse/ BajaToBering/index.html ______________________________________________________ 14. 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) ________________________________________________________ 15. 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, 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 July 2002 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2003 06:28:25 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: EPBC Referral notifications - please comment (fwd) From: "Susan Scott" Dear Marmamers, I just received an email from Andrew Macintosh of WWF Australia EPBC Unit= ,=20 which provides information to subscribers on proposed developments within= =20 Australia which have triggered the requirement to notify the Commonwealth= =20 government (Environment Australia), due to the proposal's potential to=20 impact upon "matters of national environmental significance" (including=20 several whale and turtle species). One of these Referrals has caught my e= ye=20 as of potential interest to the Marmam group. The information is provided= =20 below. I have forwarded these Referrals to you all, as I believe some o= f=20 you would be better equipped to comment on such proposals and their impac= ts=20 on whales, etc than myself. Comments have to be provided to the proponen= t=20 and then they will be forwarded to Environment Australia. (The proponent= s=20 information can be found at www.ea.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl). The=20 comment period is open until the 11th of March 2003. (A) REFERRAL NOTICES i. INVITATIONS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON REFERRALS (The Minister has invited comments from members of the public on whether = the=20 proposals outlined below are ''controlled actions''. That is, whether th= e=20 proposed actions are likely to have a significant impact on a matter=20 protected under Part 3 of the Act.) COMMONWEALTH MARINE: Ref. No. 2003/971 - BHP Billiton Petroleum (Australi= a)=20 Pty Ltd/Exploration (mineral, oil, gas)/North West Shelf/WA/Exploration=20 drilling well WA-155-P(1) - Invitation for Public Comment on Referral (du= e=20 11 March 2003). Description: BHP Billiton Petroleum (Australia) Pty Ltd is proposing to=20 drill an exploration well from a mobile offshore drilling unit on the Nor= th=20 West Shelf of Western Australia. The subject area is located approximate= ly=20 25km north of North West Cape and 10km north of Ningaloo Marine Park. Potential controlling provisions: (a) ss.18 and 18A (listed threatened species - blue whale, humpback whale= ,=20 great white shark, whale shark, leatherback turtle, hawksbill turtle, gre= en=20 turtle, flatback turtle and loggerhead turtle); (b) ss.20 and 20A (listed migratory species - blue whale, humpback whale,= =20 great white shark, whale shark, leatherback turtle, hawksbill turtle, gre= en=20 turtle, flatback turtle and loggerhead turtle); and (c) ss.23 and 24A (environment in Commonwealth marine area). COMMONWEALTH MARINE: Ref. No. 2003/970 - OMV Australia/Exploration (miner= al,=20 oil, gas)/Carnarvon Basin/Commonwealth Marine/Munmorah 2D seismic survey=20 within permits WA-308/9-P - Invitation for Public Comment on Referral (du= e=20 11 March 2003). Description: OMV Australia is proposing to undertake a seismic survey in=20 Commonwealth waters off the north west coast of Western Australia (near=20 Barrow Island). The survey will be undertaken in April - May 2003 and wi= ll=20 take approximately 10 days. Potential controlling provisions: (a) ss.18 and 18A (listed threatened species - blue whale, humpback whale= ,=20 great white shark, whale shark, leatherback turtle, hawksbill turtle, gre= en=20 turtle, flatback turtle and loggerhead turtle); (b) ss.20 and 20A (listed migratory species - blue whale, humpback whale,= =20 great white shark, whale shark, leatherback turtle, hawksbill turtle, gre= en=20 turtle, flatback turtle and loggerhead turtle); and (c) ss.23 and 24A (environment in Commonwealth marine area). Thanks for your help and input. Cheers Susan Scott -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ _________________________________________________________________ MSN Instant Messenger now available on Australian mobile phones.=A0Go to = =20 http://ninemsn.com.au/mobilecentral/hotmail_messenger.asp ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2003 19:16:31 -0500 From: Owen Nichols Subject: Makah hunt Hello MarMamers, Copied from the FISHFOLK list - apologies for cross-postings: http://tompaine.com/feature.cfm/ID/7274 Conservation v. Animal Rights Tribe at Center of Whaling Controversy Dexter Van Zile is the Northeast Bureau Chief for National Fisherman. Unless mainstream environmentalists are content to see meaningful laws get hijacked for purposes other than environmental protection, they better start filing friend-of-the-court briefs in response to a recent ruling by the Ninth Circuit's Court of Appeals regarding the Makah tribe's right to catch whales in Washington state. According to a three-judge panel, the right to whale conferred to the Makah in a U.S. treaty signed in 1853 can be trumped by environmental legislation enacted more 150 years later. So much for the Constitution declaring that U.S. treaty agreements are to be upheld as the "supreme law of the land." The arrogation of whaling rights in favor of environmental protection may seem like a win for people interested in protecting biodiversity, but the ruling is a net loss for environmentalists. Not only does the ruling undermine the environmental movement's ability to appeal to mainstream voters by allowing laws to be invoked in the pursuit of an animal rights agenda, the ruling undermines native fishing rights in Washington state which have been a powerful force for environmental protection in the Pacific Northwest. The details of the case are this: In response to a complaint from a coalition of animal rights groups including the Fund for Animals, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the West Coast Anti-Whaling Society, the court ruled that the tribe's annual hunt of gray whales must stop until the National Marine Fisheries Service conducts an environmental impact assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act. Under the ruling, NOAA Fisheries must determine whether the hunt poses a substantial risk to the local population of gray whales that reside off the coast of Washington. Additionally, the judges ruled the Makah hunt of gray whales can only be conducted after a review under the Marine Mammal Protection Act determines the hunt "will not threaten the role of gray whales as functioning elements of the marine ecosystem." The ruling echoes the canard of anti-whaling activists -- that any harvest (however small) of whales (no matter how numerous) poses a huge environmental threat. The ruling states that the Makah harvest of whales "could be used as a precedent for other countries to declare the subsistence need of their own aboriginal groups, thereby making it easier for such groups to gain approval for whaling. If such an increase in whaling occurs, there will obviously be a significant impact on the environment." A few facts are in order. The California gray whale, which migrates annually between the west coast of Mexico and the North Pacific, was placed on the endangered species list in 1970 when its population numbered less than 1,500 and was taken off the list in 1995 after a robust recovery. Scientists from the National Marine Fishing Service and the International Whaling Commission now estimate the species' population at 17,000 and have said that the species can support an annual harvest of 300 to 500 whales. In 1998, NOAA fisheries gave the Makah tribe a permit allowing the tribe to harvest five animals a year, but the tribe has so far only harvested one gray whale since the permit was issued. Another tribe, the Chukotkas of Siberia, are allocated an annual quota of 120 animals by the International Whaling Commission. Between the combined harvest of the Makah and the Chukotka, the depletion of gray whales is not a possibility. In fact, a spike in the number of fatal strandings of California gray whales in 1999 and 2000 indicates the species recently exceeded its carrying capacity. From 1995 to 1998, the annual number of gray whale strandings hovered around 50, but in 1999, after the population estimate for California gray whales hit its all-time high of 26,000, strandings jumped to 274 and in 2000 the strandings increased to over 350. The emaciated condition of the stranded whales, combined with the high population count and the extraordinary high number of strandings suggests that after a 30-year recovery, California gray whales overshot their carrying capacity and that the strandings were part of an inevitable die-off that brought their population to sustainable levels. Given the numbers, any suggestion that the harvest of even five whales threatens the role of gray whales as a functioning element in the ecosystem is ludicrous, indicating that the suit isn't about environmental protection, but about preventing the hunt of whales in the name of animal rights. And while there is overlap between the two issues, there is a huge difference between arguing on behalf of ecosystem protection and the rights of individual animals. Most Americans can understand the need to protect animals from extinction, but to ask that they stop hunting or refrain from eating meat is another issue altogether. It is this agenda, not ecosystem protection, that is the ultimate goal of the plaintiffs. But instead of arguing that the Makah hunt must stop on moral grounds -- an argument they know probably won't win -- the plaintiffs have tried to turn the issue into a scientific debate. And in order to win the debate, they have based their arguments on a willful misreading of the scientific literature regarding feeding aggregations of whales that form off the west coast and judges cooperated. The main peg of the ruling is this: The Makah hunt could negatively impact a group of whales that spends its summers off the Washington coast, feeding in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Instead of seeing the aggregation for what it is -- an indeterminate number of whales avoiding a longer trip north by taking advantage of high concentrations of food available to them off the Washington Coast -- the judges accepted the notion that the aggregation forms a distinct subset of animals needing protection. Neither the International Whaling Commission nor NOAA fisheries regard feeding aggregations as distinct populations, but the court, in an astounding display of ecological gerrymandering, ruled otherwise. The judges' ruling doesn't end with a willful misreading of scientific record. The judges also misread the Treaty of Neah Bay, which accords the Makah the right to harvest marine resources of Washington in common with the state's other residents. Previous rulings have made clear that barring an overriding environmental concern, Washington's tribes have an absolute right to harvest the state's marine resources such as shellfish, finfish and yes, even whales. It's a powerful right, but for this promise, the tribes extinguished their claims to millions of acres of land. To protect their access to marine resources, the tribes have been accorded a legal right to insist the marine resources in question be preserved. As a consequence of a 1980 ruling, tribes in Washington state have legal standing to sue when officials fail to protect marine resources. While the tribes have so far chosen not to sue but instead negotiate with state and federal officials over the protection of marine resources, the threat of tribal lawsuits over salmon habitat has been a major force behind efforts to reform forestry practices, land use and water policy in the region. By convincing the judges to arrogate tribal fishing rights, the plaintiffs in this suit might end up weakening a powerful force for environmental protection in the Pacific Northwest. Environmentalists concerned with conservation and the protection of ecosystems would regard this threat of tribal lawsuits as a tool worth protecting. The plaintiffs, however, see it differently. While they are putatively concerned with a healthy environment and the protection of ecosystems, the plaintiffs are ultimately concerned with the alleged right of whales to be free from human predation. To the plaintiffs, the tribes' right to file suit to protect marine resources is suspect because it is rooted in their protected right to harvest whales, which they think is inhumane, and morally wrong -- constitutionally protected or not. Overlooking the Constitutional declaration that upholds U.S. treaties and the rights of the Makah is a function of the philosophy that motivates animal rights groups. When deciding how to behave and organize their communities, animal rights activists assert, humans should abandon anthropocentrism and quit regarding themselves as the center of the universe and take into account the rights of other species. It sounds nice in theory, but in practice somebody has to decide who gets shoved out of the center first. Today, the HSUS and the Fund for Animals have decided it's the Makah. One can only wonder who's next. Click here to subscribe to our free e-mail dispatch and get the latest on what's new at TomPaine.com before everyone else! You can unsubscribe at any time and we will never distribute your information to any other entity. Published: Feb 14 2003 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2003 13:43:10 -0500 From: Michelle Pico Subject: Call for Proposals National Whale Conservation Fund Call for Proposals A special project of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Purpose The National Whale Conservation Fund (NWCF) was established to support research, management, conservation, and education/outreach activities related to the conservation, and recovery of whales (cetaceans). The NWCF 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 Foundation operates the Fund under the direction of the National Whale Conservation Fund Advisory Council, a panel of conservation leaders and representatives of cooperating entities. Priorities for 2003 grant cycle will be given to projects that address anthropogenic threats to endangered whales of United States waters (i.e. fishing gear entanglement, ship/whale collisions, noise, habitat degradation, contaminants, etc.). Guiding Philosophy and Mission The National Whale Conservation Fund seeks to foster the conservation and recovery of whales by supporting innovative, research, management and education projects of high quality and promise. NWCF actively seeks to form new partnerships with corporations, organizations, and individuals to leverage NWCF's resources sufficiently to meet its aggressive conservation goals. Funding Guidelines The National Whale Conservation Fund supports projects to address whale conservation needs in the areas of habitat protection, species recovery and conservation, applied field/laboratory research needs, and education and outreach activities. Issues relating to great whales that are the most endangered (e.g. North Atlantic and North Pacific right whales) are a top priority for funding. Proposals that address tasks or needs identified in endangered whale recovery plans or conservation plans adopted by the National Marine Fisheries Service are encouraged. Applicants are encouraged to show leverage of a 1:1 or greater match to the proposal request. Applications to NWCF for funding should clearly describe: Anticipated benefits to whale conservation; Project goals, objectives and methodology, including provisions for monitoring and evaluation; Qualifications of key project personnel; Detailed budget illustrating use of NWCF grant; Cooperation and coordination with other appropriate federal, state, and private organizations; and Ability to leverage NWCF grant award. NWCF will not fund: Political advocacy, boycotts, or litigation. Indirect or unallocated expenses. Application Process NWCF grants are awarded on a competitive basis. To be considered, applicants must complete a one-page summary in the format provided AND the proposal application and narrative. Both documents can be downloaded at http://www.nfwf.org/programs/WhaleFund.htm or by contacting Michelle Pico for a paper copy. Proposals will be peer reviewed by independent scientists and the NWCF Advisory Council. Proposal Deadline: Post-marked or Emailed by May 12, 2003. For more information, contact: National Whale Conservation Fund National Fish and Wildlife Foundation 1120 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 900 Washington, DC 20036 202-857-0166 (Fax 0162) Email: pico(\)nfwf.org ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2003 16:44:55 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Whale Watching and Scientific Research (fwd) Dear colleagues, At the 2002 meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission, the Whale Watching Subcommittee has agreed that it would be useful to compile a directory of researchers studying whale watching in relation to cetacean behaviour and/or using whale watching boats/structures as platforms of opportunity. Having been charged with the task of compiling such information, I would like to invite all scientists involved with whale watching to help me and the Subcommittee by providing the following information: - Name and address (e-mail and snailmail) of Researcher(s); - Location(s) of study(ies); - Species involved; - Type of study conducted (eg behaviour, photo-ID, boat interaction, management issues); - Type of association with whale watching (use of w/w boats and/or structures, direct study of whale watching activity itself, etc.) - Date of beginning and whether study has ended or is ongoing; - References of results published or presented in symposia, etc. It should be noted that the current understanding of 'whale watching' by the Subcommittee, notwithstanding some government positions, includes all cetaceans and therefore dolphin watching too. After the IWC Scientific Committee meets in Berlin in May 2003, I intend to make this information widely available to any interested party, as I regard it is of great interest to many people working with whale watching issues. Thanks in advance to those of you willing to contribute information and/or spreading this request to other potentially interested colleagues (this would be of particular importance, as not all developing country researchers are hooked into MARMAM!) Regards, Jose Truda Palazzo, Jr. Brazilian Right Whale Project palazzo(\)terra.com.br -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2003 17:37:23 +0000 From: =?ISO-8859-1?B?TWljaGVsIEFuZHLp?= Subject: ECS 2003 Conference updates ------ Dear Colleagues, this will be our last message before welcoming you next week-end in Las P= almas=20 de Gran Canaria. The registration will take place at the Convention Cente= r=20 (Auditorio Alfredo Kraus) on Sunday the 9th, in the morning from 10am to = 1pm. Buses will depart from the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus at 1:30pm to the Barbe= cue=20 Party where all the registered attendees are invited to share a taste of = the=20 Canaries hospitality from the Government of the Island (Cabildo de Gran=20 Canaria). Please, don't forget to wear your badge! You can find the latest updates and all the details of the Conference on = the=20 ECS Web Site (http://web.inter.nl.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs/).=20 Don't miss the social programme! We also have arranged special discounts = in=20 restaurants and we will have a "private" bar open every night to release = some=20 pressure, just across the street, in front of the Auditorio. The first "r= endez- vous" is on Sunday evening where an happy hour and a Flamenco show is sch= eduled=20 to recover from the barbecue open air. All the details can be found on th= e=20 Conference Web Site (http://www.uicmm.ulpgc.es) as well as in the registr= ation=20 material. The temperature in the Canaries is ideal today (25=BAC) and the sky is bl= ue. The=20 organising committee has agreed to order the same weather for the whole=20 duration of the Conference, without any extra fees, so again, don't forge= t your=20 badge!=20 Have a safe and enjoyable trip to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. With kind regards, Michel Andr=E9 Dr. Michel Andr=E9 Conference Chair Unidad de Investigaci=F3n para la Conservaci=F3n de los Mam=EDferos Marin= os Departamento de Morfolog=EDa, Facultad de Veterinaria Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Trasmonta=F1a, 35416 Arucas, Gran Canaria, Espa=F1a Tel.+34-928 45 11 03, Fax. +34-928 45 11 03/41 mandre(\)dmor.ulpgc.es ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2003 09:47:50 -0500 From: Robin Baird Organization: NOAA Fisheries Subject: Abstract: killer whale foraging and the use of a Crittercam system to examine sub-surface behavior Report available: Baird, R.W., M.B. Hanson, E.E. Ashe, M.R. Heithaus and G.J. Marshall. 2003. Studies of foraging in "southern resident" killer whales during July 2002: dive depths, bursts in speed, and the use of a "Crittercam" system for examining sub-surface behavior. Report prepared under Order Number AB133F-02-SE-1744 for the National Marine Fisheries Service, National Marine Mammal Laboratory,7600 Sand Point Way N.E., Building 4, Seattle, WA, 98250 USA Abstract The "southern resident" population of killer whales (Orcinus orca) around southern Vancouver Island and in Washington state is known to feed primarily on fish. While salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) are widely considered to comprise the vast majority of their diet, the proportion of the diet they do comprise is unclear. During July 2002 we attempted to examine three aspects of foraging for "southern resident" killer whales: 1) where animals are foraging in the water column, using suction-cup attached time-depth recorder (TDR)/velocity meters, and examining the depth distribution of bursts in speed, which might reflect fish chases; 2) whether fish-scale sampling as a tool to determine killer whale diet is biased towards fish captured in near-surface waters; and 3) directly determining prey species taken using a suction-cup attached video camera system (the National Geographic Crittercam system). Although close access to the whales was limited by attempts to minimize conflicts with the whale watching fleet, over a 10-day period we tagged eight whales, collecting 79 hours of depth data (59 hours of which included velocity data), and one hour of video data. Tagged whales were followed for 15 hours, though no fish scales were observed at the water's surface during these follows. Maximum dive depth recorded exceeded 228 m (the depth limit of the TDR), and the average of maximum dive depths of the seven whales tagged with TDRs was 141 m. Despite such deep dives, an average of only 2.4% of their time was spent below 30 m in depth. However, 8-9% of velocity spikes were recorded below 30 m, suggesting that deep dives are disproportionately important for foraging. It is currently unclear which prey species are important at these depths (chinook salmon, O. tshawytscha, versus bottom fish). Although no fish chases were documented in the one-hour of video data obtained, the camera deployment does demonstrate the feasibility of using suction-cup attached video camera systems for examining sub-surface behavior of killer whales. Future deployments of such systems (particularly a system incorporating a velocity meter), combined with hydroacoustic monitoring of the prey field, should be useful in determining whether velocity spikes truly represent fish chases, as well as directly determining prey species captured. PDF copies of the report are available from robin.baird(\)noaa.gov or rwbaird(\)dal.ca =================================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. NOAA Fisheries 101 Pivers Island Road Beaufort, NC 28516 USA Phone 1-252-728-8601 Fax 1-252-728-8784 Web http://shrimp.ccfhrb.noaa.gov/ Web http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/rwb/robin.htm ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2003 12:21:08 -0800 From: "David S. Janiger" Subject: New Articles Hi, all! Here's the latest posting of new PDF's that are available. Abstracts also available on request. I have included the size of files over 1 MB. As always, please don't request them if your mail server can't handle the file size for attachments. Please make all requests to: janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu Cheers David Janiger - Curatorial Assistant (Mammals) Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007 (213) 763-3369 janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu BAECHLER, J.; C. A. BECK and W. D. BOWEN. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 80(9):1569-1577. 2002. Dive shapes reveal temporal changes in the foraging behaviour of different age and sex classes of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina). BAZUA-DURAN, CARMEN and WHITLOW W. L. AU. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 112(6):3064-3072. 2002. The whistles of Hawaiian spinner dolphins. BRADSHAW, C. J. A.; M. A. HINDELL; K. J. MICHAEL and M. D. SUMNER. ICES (INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE EXPLORATION OF THE SEAS) JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE 59(4):770-781. 2002. The optimal spatial scale for the analysis of elephant seal foraging as determined by geo-location in relation to sea surface temperatures. CALDWELL, M.; M. GAINES and C. R. HUGHES. MOLECULAR ECOLOGY NOTES 2(4):393-395. 2002. Eight polymorphic microsatellite loci for bottlenose dolphin and, other cetacean species. CARLSTROM, J.; P. BERGGREN; F. DINNETZ and P. BORJESSON. ICES (INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE EXPLORATION OF THE SEAS) JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE 59(4):816-824. 2002. A field experiment using acoustic alarms (pingers) to reduce harbour porpoise by-catch in bottom-set gillnets. CARROLL, J.; H. WOLKERS; M. ANDERSEN and K. RISSANEN. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 44(12):1366-1371. 2002. Bioaccumulation of radiocaesium in Arctic seals. CASTELLINI, M. A.; P. M. RIVERA and J. M. CASTELLINI. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 133(3):892-899. 2002. Biochemical aspects of pressure tolerance in marine mammals. DRABEK, CHARLES M. and JENNIFER M. BURNS. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 80(11):2030-2036. 2002. Heart and aorta morphology of the deep-diving hooded seal (Cystophora cristata). EDWARD, C. G. OWEN; RANDALL S. WELLS and SUE HOFMANN. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 80(12):2072-2089. 2002. Ranging and association patterns of paired and unpaired adult male Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, in Sarasota, Florida, provide no evidence for alternative male strategies. File size: 1.0 MB ELLIOTT, N. M.; R. D. ANDREWS and D. R. JONES. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY 205(23):3757-3765. 2002. Pharmacological blockade of the dive response: effects on heart rate and diving behaviour in the harbour seal (Phoca vitulina). ENDO, T.; K. HARAGUNCHI and M. SAKATA. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 300(1-3):15-22. 2002. Mercury and selenium concentrations in the internal organs of toothed whales and dolphins marketed for human consumption in Japan. ENGELHARD, GEORG H.; ANTONIE N. J. BAARSPUL; MARTIJN BROEKMAN; JEROEN C. S. CREUWELS and PETER J. H. REIJNDERS. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 80(11):1876-1886. 2002. Human disturbance, nursing behaviour, and lactational pup growth in a declining southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) population. GYGAX, LORENZ. MAMMAL REVIEW 32(4):295-314. 2002. Evolution of group size in the superfamily Delphinoidea (Delphinidae, Phocoenidae and Monodontidae): A quantitative comparative analysis. HOBBS, K. E.; D. C. G. MUIR; E. W. BORN; R. DIETZ; T. HAUNG; T. METCALFE; C. METCALFE and N. OIEN. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 121(2):239-252. 2003. Levels and patterns of persistent organochlorines in minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) stocks from the North Atlantic and European Arctic. KANATOUS, S. B.; R. W. DAVIS; R. WATSON; L. POLASEK; T. M. WILLIAMS and O. MATHIEU-COSTELLO. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY 205(23):3601-3608. 2002. Aerobic capacities in the skeletal muscles of Weddell seals: key to longer dive durations? KASTELEIN, R. A.; P. MOSTERD; B. VAN SANTEN; M. HAGEDOORN and D. DE HAAN. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 112(5):2173-2182. 2002. Underwater audiogram of a Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) measured with narrow-band frequency-modulated signals. KUMARAN, P. L. CURRENT SCIENCE 83(10):1210-1220. 2002. Marine mammal research in India - a review and critique of the methods. LYDERSEN, C.; K. M. KOVACS; S. RIES and M. KNAUTH. JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY B BIOCHEMICAL SYSTEMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY 172(8):713-717. 2002. Precocial diving and patent foramen ovale in bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) pups. MEAGHER, E. M.; W. A. MCLELLAN; A. J. WESTGATE; R. S. WELLS; D. FRIERSON and D. A. PABST. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY 205(22):3475-3486. 2002. The relationship between heat flow and vasculature in the dorsal fin of wild bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus. MOULTON, VALERIE D.; W. JOHN RICHARDSON; TRENT L. MCDONALD; ROBERT E. ELLIOTT and MICHAEL T. WILLIAMS. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 80(11):1900-1917. 2002. Factors influencing local abundance and haulout behaviour of ringed seals (Phoca hispida) on landfast ice of the Alaskan Beaufort Sea. NOWACEK, D. P. BEHAVIOUR 139(9):1125-1145. 2002. Sequential foraging behaviour of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, in Sarasota Bay, FL. PHILIPS, JENNIFER D.; PAUL E. NACHTIGALL; WHITLOW W. L. AU; JEFFREY L. PAWLOSKI and HERBERT L. ROITBLAT. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 113(1):605-616. 2003. Echolocation in the Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus. File size: 1.0 MB PILLET, S.; M. FOURNIER; L. N. MEASURES; J. M. BOUQUEGNEAU and D. G. CYR. TOXICOLOGY AND APPLIED PHARMACOLOGY 185(3):207-217. 2002. Presence and regulation of metallothioneins in peripheral blood leukocytes of grey seals. SERRANO, ARTURO and JOHN M. TERHUNE. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 112(6):3083-3090. 2002. Antimasking aspects of harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus) underwater vocalizations. SPITZ, SCOTT S.; LOUIS M. HERMAN; ADAM A. PACK and MARK H. DEAKOS. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 80(11):1938-1947. 2002. The relation of body size of male humpback whales to their social roles on the Hawaiian winter grounds. TERASAWA, F.; M. KITAMURA; A. FUJIMOTO and S. HAYAMA. JOURNAL OF VETERINARY MEDICAL SCIENCE 64(11):1075-1078. 2002. Seasonal changes of blood composition in captive bottlenose dolphins. THEWISSEN, J. G. M. and E. M. WILLIAMS. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY AND SYSTEMATICS 33:73-90. 2002. The early radiations of Cetacea (Mammalia): Evolutionary pattern and developmental correlations. VAN PARIJS, SOFIE M.; CHRISTIAN LYDERSEN and KIT M. KOVACS. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 113(1):57-60. 2003. Sounds produced by individual white whales, Delphinapterus leucas, from Svalbard during capture (L). WHITLOW W. L. AU and DENISE L. HERZING. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 113(1):598-604. 2003. Echolocation signals of wild Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis). WINSHIP, ARLISS J. and ANDREW W. TRITES. FISHERY BULLETIN 101(1):147-167. 2003. Prey consumption of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) off Alaska: How much prey do they require? File size: 1.6 MB WOLSKI, LAWRENCE F.; RINDY C. ANDERSON; ANN E. BOWLES and PAMELA K. YOCHEM. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 113(1):629-637. 2003. Measuring hearing in the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina): Comparison of behavioral and auditory brainstem response techniques. ZEH, J.; D. POOLE; G. MILLER; W. KOSKI; L. BARAFF and D. RUGH. BIOMETRICS 58(4):832-840. 2002. Survival of bowhead whales, Balaena mysticetus, estimated from 1981-1998 photoidentification data. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2003 18:33:02 +1100 From: Lisa Wozniak Subject: Seeking volunteers for fieldwork on humpback whales Seeking volunteers for fieldwork on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) off Jervis Bay, New South Wales, Australia JUNE/JULY 2003 BACKGROUND We are seeking volunteers to assist in a research project based within the Marine Mammal Research Group, at Macquarie University Sydney, Australia. The aim of the project is to estimate the abundance of humpback whales during their northward migration off the southeast coast of New South Wales, Australia. We are searching for enthusiastic, conscientious individuals who possess a strong interest in marine mammals to assist a M.Sc. student during the scheduled field season (June 1st through July 31st). The volunteer position would provide a hands-on experience in relation to observations/fieldwork of marine mammals. FIELD WORK Field work will involve land based surveys of migratory humpback whales from an enclosed structure (lighthouse) situated on a 95 metre bluff. The location of the field site is in a remote area. Volunteers should be prepared to work long hours and be expected to participate in data collection and data entry. Data collection will consist of recording pod size, composition, and distance offshore as the whales pass the lighthouse. A daily log of current weather conditions will also be kept. APPLICANTS SHOULD ..be available for the period June 1st through to July 31st. ..need to have a keen interest in the conservation/preservation of marine mammals ..be responsible, independent, and conscientious ..have some basic knowledge of marine mammals ..maintain good communication skills in the English language ..applicants who have had any prior field experience with marine mammals are encouraged to apply. Accommodation during the field season and transportation to the field site at Jervis Bay will be provided. Volunteers will need to fund their own expenses such as travel to Sydney Australia and food costs during the field season. APPLICATIONS Applications should be made directly to the email address listed below and include.. 1. A current resume 2. Contact details of at least one referee either present/former academic supervisor or employer. 3. A brief description of yourself including your interest in marine mammals and what you may hope to gain from this experience. Additional questions or enquiries can also be made to the email address provided below. Deadline for applications is March 15, 2003. Please send applications directly to following email address: lwozniak(\)gse.mq.edu.au Regards, Lisa =========================================================== Lisa Wozniak, M.Sc. student Marine Mammal Research Group Graduate School of the Environment Macquarie University North Ryde, 2109 New South Wales Australia Tel: ++ 61 2 9850 7982 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2003 12:08:04 -0500 From: Jonathan Howe Subject: Earthwatch Funding Opportunities boundary="----=_NextPart_000_002F_01C2E3D9.0DBB9200" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_002F_01C2E3D9.0DBB9200 charset="Windows-1252" Since 1974, Earthwatch Institute has contributed approximately $7 million and 7,400 volunteers to marine mammal research projects. The Research Department at Earthwatch is currently identifying projects for support for 2004 and beyond. =20 Earthwatch Institute is an international non-profit organization that supports scholarly field research worldwide in the biological, physical, social, and cultural sciences. To date, Earthwatch has supported nearly 3000 research projects in 120 countries and 40 US states, with more than 65,000 volunteer field assistants and over $53 million in research grants. All projects are peer-reviewed by 3 to 5 scientists/professionals in the appropriate field, and scientific guidance is provided by Earthwatch=92s Science Advisory Committee, = chaired by Dr. Dan Rubenstein of Princeton University. Field research grant awards are derived from funds contributed by Earthwatch members, who serve as volunteer participants on research projects, and by corporate grants, which fund the participation of fellows on projects.=20 =20 Earthwatch is currently inviting proposals for field-based projects that address a broad range of questions and issues related to marine mammal research and conservation, e.g.: -Photoidentification studies of marine mammal populations (porpoises, orcas, sea otters, etc.) -Radio-tracking of marine mammals -Research on marine mammal reproduction, behavior, foraging, and movement patterns -Studies that assess the impact of coastal pollution and development on marine mammals -Basic research on marine mammal ecology and biology =20 Visit our website at http://www.earthwatch.org/research to download our Preliminary Proposal form, view our Grants Lists, and learn more about the application process. Preliminary Proposals (3-4 pages in length) for field research should be submitted 1 year in advance of the anticipated field dates. Full proposals, if invited, are peer reviewed. Professionals from any nationality, for work in any regional area, are eligible to apply. Proposals are accepted and reviewed year round.=20 =20 Inquiries and proposals can be sent to Jonathan Howe, Program Assistant for Earth and Marine Sciences (jhowe(\)earthwatch.org), or Dr. Lotus Vermeer, Director of Research and Program Director of Earth and Marine Sciences (lvermeer(\)earthwatch.org).=20 =20 Earthwatch Institute will contribute $3.8 million in research grant support to over 140 projects in 2003. =20 Learn about funding opportunities through Earthwatch at http://www.earthwatch.org/research=20 Download a Preliminary Proposal form at http://www.earthwatch.org/research/prelim_proposal.rtf=20 =20 =20 ------=_NextPart_000_002F_01C2E3D9.0DBB9200 charset="Windows-1252"

Since 1974, Earthwatch Institute has = contributed approximately $7 million and 7,400 volunteers to marine mammal research projects. The = Research = Department at Earthwatch is currently identifying projects for support for 2004 and = beyond.

 

Earthwatch Institute is an international non-profit organization = that supports scholarly field research worldwide in the biological, physical, social, and cultural sciences.  = To date, Earthwatch has supported nearly 3000 research projects in 120 = countries and 40 = US states, with more than 65,000 volunteer field assistants and over $53 = million in research grants. All projects are peer-reviewed by 3 to 5 scientists/professionals in the appropriate field, and scientific = guidance is provided by Earthwatch=92s Science Advisory Committee, chaired by Dr. = Dan Rubenstein of Princeton = University. Field research grant awards are derived from funds contributed by = Earthwatch members, who serve as volunteer participants on research projects, and = by corporate grants, which fund the participation of fellows on projects. =

 

Earthwatch is = currently inviting proposals for field-based projects that address a broad range = of questions and issues related to marine mammal research and conservation, = e.g.:

-Photoidentification studies of marine mammal populations (porpoises, orcas, sea otters, = etc.)

-Radio-tracking of marine = mammals

-Research on marine mammal reproduction, behavior, foraging, and movement = patterns

-Studies that assess the impact of coastal = pollution and development on marine mammals

-Basic = research on marine mammal ecology and biology

 

Visit our website at http://www.earthwatch.org/res= earch to download our Preliminary Proposal form, view our Grants Lists, and = learn more about the application process. Preliminary Proposals (3-4 pages in = length) for field research should be submitted 1 year in advance of the = anticipated field dates.  Full = proposals, if invited, are peer reviewed. Professionals from any nationality, for work = in any regional area, are eligible to apply. Proposals are accepted and = reviewed year round.

 

Inquiries and proposals can be sent to Jonathan Howe, Program = Assistant for Earth and Marine Sciences (jhowe(\)earthwatch.org), or Dr. Lotus Vermeer, Director of = Research and Program Director of Earth and Marine Sciences (lvermeer(\)earthwatch.org). =

 

Earthwatch= Institute will contribute $3.8 million in research grant support to over = 140 projects in 2003.

 

=

Learn about funding opportunities through Earthwatch at http://www.earthwatch.org/res= earch

Download a Preliminary Proposal form at http://ww= w.earthwatch.org/research/prelim_proposal.rtf

 

 

------=_NextPart_000_002F_01C2E3D9.0DBB9200-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2003 23:12:28 -0500 From: Julia Esrom Subject: whalewatching researchers and operators Dear whalewatching researchers and operators: I am looking for a suitable site for my Masters thesis research this summer on whalewatching activities, ideally in Canada or Northern Europe. My approach would be interdisciplinary as I am interested in both: the whalewatchers as well as the whales themselves. If anybody is involved in whalewatching (researcher, operator, etc.) and would be interested in some research support, I would be most grateful if you would contact me at: jesrom(\)yorku.ca. Many thanks, Julia Esrom, MES Candidate York University Canada ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2003 16:12:47 -0800 From: Jason Appler Subject: Employment Opportunity This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------029201A23FCDACCB4B414EFA boundary="------------3DD600826EF02B93956A6EA8" --------------3DD600826EF02B93956A6EA8 Aquatic Farms Ltd. has field positions available aboard NOAA ships conducting a survey of cetaceans and the pelagic ecosystem of the Eastern Tropical Pacific. See website listed below for details. Deadline for applying is 18 April, 2003. Work period is mid-July through early December. Please do not respond directly to this e-mail, or to MARMAM. Please apply as directed by the Stenella Abundance Research website. http://swfsc.nmfs.noaa.gov/prd/star/default.htm --------------3DD600826EF02B93956A6EA8 Aquatic Farms Ltd. has field positions available aboard NOAA ships conducting a survey of cetaceans and the pelagic ecosystem of the Eastern Tropical Pacific.  See website listed below for details.
Deadline for applying is 18 April, 2003.  Work period is mid-July through early December.
Please do not respond directly to this e-mail, or to MARMAM. Please apply as directed by the Stenella Abundance Research website.
http://swfsc.nmfs.noaa.gov/prd/star/default.htm --------------3DD600826EF02B93956A6EA8-- --------------029201A23FCDACCB4B414EFA name="Jason.Appler.vcf" filename="Jason.Appler.vcf" begin:vcard n:Appler;Jason tel;cell:858-472-0418 tel;fax:858-546-5623 tel;work:858-546-5672 x-mozilla-html:TRUE org:NOAA/SWFSC adr:;;8604 La Jolla Shores Dr.;La Jolla;CA;92037; version:2.1 email;internet:Jason.Appler(\)noaa.gov title:Survey Coordinator fn:Jason Appler LTJG/NOAA end:vcard --------------029201A23FCDACCB4B414EFA-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2003 13:12:35 -0500 From: Lei Lani Stelle Subject: UCLA Travel Study course: Marine Mammal Biology boundary="----=_NextPart_000_001E_01C2E3E2.0E144A40" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_001E_01C2E3E2.0E144A40 charset="iso-8859-1" The University of California, Los Angeles is offering a field study = program on the biology of marine mammals in British Columbia, Canada = from June 29 to July 19, 2003. The courses will be taught at the Coastal = Ecosystems Research Foundation's field research station at Duncanby = Landing, BC, in the heart of Canada's Great Bear Rainforest.=20 =20 The program combines a lecture-based course on the ecology and = physiology of marine mammals with a hands-on course on the research = techniques used to study them in the wild. Topics covered in lectures = will include migration, feeding ecology, diving physiology, energetics, = acoustics, biomechanics and toxicology of marine mammals in general, = with a particular focus on gray and humpback whales. The practical = course will cover photo-identification, survey techniques, behavioral = sampling, theodolite tracking, tagging and biopsy darting, and will also = include workshops on planning and leading a research expedition. These = courses will provide 8 quarter units of upper-division biology credit. = The course is open to all but is geared for biology majors; UC = affiliation is NOT necessary. Courses are taught by Dr. Lei Lani Stelle = (Visiting Assistant Professor, Rochester Institute of Technology, NY) = and Dr. William Megill (Lecturer, University of Bath, UK). =20 Accommodations are in double occupancy dorm-style rooms in a waterfront = lodge and all meals are provided. Participants will spend much of their = time aboard boats and will contribute to ongoing research projects as = well as having the opportunity to conduct independent studies. =20 For more details and an application, visit = http://www.summer.ucla.edu/travel/OBEE-Canada/overview.htm.=20 =20 Feel free to contact Dr. Lei Lani Stelle (stelle(\)mail.rit.edu) with any = questions. Lei Lani Stelle, Ph.D. Visiting Assistant Professor Rochester Institute of Technology Department of Biological Sciences 85 Lomb Memorial Drive Rochester, NY 14623-5603 (585) 475-2196 stelle(\)mail.rit.edu ------=_NextPart_000_001E_01C2E3E2.0E144A40 charset="iso-8859-1"

The University = of=20 California,=20 Los=20 Angeles = is=20 offering a field study program on = the biology=20 of marine mammals in British=20 Columbia,=20 Canada = from June=20 29 to July 19,=20 2003. = The=20 courses will be taught at the Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation's = field=20 research station at Duncanby=20 Landing,=20 BC, = in the=20 heart of Canada's = Great=20 Bear Rainforest.

 

The program=20 combines a lecture-based course on the ecology and physiology of marine = mammals=20 with a hands-on course on the research techniques used to study them in = the=20 wild. Topics covered in lectures will include migration, feeding = ecology, diving=20 physiology, energetics, acoustics, biomechanics and toxicology of marine = mammals=20 in general, with a particular focus on gray and humpback whales. The = practical=20 course will cover photo-identification, survey techniques, behavioral = sampling,=20 theodolite tracking, tagging and biopsy darting, and will also include = workshops=20 on planning and leading a research expedition.  These courses will provide 8 = quarter=20 units of upper-division biology credit. =20 The course is open to all but is geared for biology majors; UC=20 affiliation is NOT necessary. =20 Courses are taught by Dr. Lei Lani Stelle (Visiting Assistant = Professor,=20 Rochester Institute of Technology, NY) and Dr. William Megill (Lecturer, = University=20 of Bath,=20 UK).

 

Accommodations are in double occupancy dorm-style rooms in a = waterfront=20 lodge and all meals are provided. =20 Participants will spend much of their time aboard boats and will=20 contribute to ongoing research projects as well as having the = opportunity to=20 conduct independent studies.

 

For more details and an application, visit http://www.summer.ucla.edu/travel/OBEE-Canada/overview.htm.

 

Feel free to contact Dr. Lei Lani Stelle (stelle(\)mail.rit.edu) with any=20 questions.

 
 
Lei Lani Stelle, Ph.D.
Visiting = Assistant=20 Professor
Rochester Institute of Technology
Department of = Biological=20 Sciences
85 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, NY = 14623-5603
 
(585) 475-2196
------=_NextPart_000_001E_01C2E3E2.0E144A40-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 7 Mar 2003 03:17:17 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: paid and volunteer positions, BC, Canada From: "Jackie Hildering" Johnstone Strait Killer Whale Interpretive Centre Society "Bones Project" Position: Interpreters Project Description: The "Bones Project" is an initiative of the Johnstone Strait Killer = Whale Interpretive Centre Society (JSKWICS), a non-profit society. The = project is aimed at delivering marine mammal education to achieve = conservation in a workshop-like setting. =20 The "Bones Project" interpretive center opened last spring as a result = of Habitat Stewardship Project (HSP) funding and has led to the:=20 a.. Renovation of a historical site to provide some 2,500 square feet = for displays=20 b.. Cleaning and articulation of multiple skeletons; flensing of = several specimens=20 c.. Display of fully articulated juvenile killer whale, Pacific = white-sided dolphin, harbour seal, river otter, sea otter, bald eagle=20 d.. Donations of marine mammal artefacts for display=20 e.. Development and presentation of slide shows with multiple themes=20 f.. Articulation in progress of Dall's porpoise, ship-struck fin = whale, Minke whale, grey whale, Steller sea lion, etc.=20 g.. Display of further materials, including - blue whale jaw bones; = sperm whale, Minke and bowhead whale skulls; baleen; invertebrate = diversity display; games; colouring sheets; display illuminating the = life and aims of Dr. Michael Bigg and the Robson Bight Ecological = Reserve=20 h.. Potential of educating some 17,500 visitors + further potential = through considerable media exposure Job Description: Both paid and volunteer positions are available. "Interpreters" work to clean and articulate skeletons, develop further = displays and deliver interpretive information (one-on-one and in = structured presentations to highly diverse groups of 30+ people) Successful candidates: a.. Are practical, resourceful and independent workers=20 b.. Possess knowledge of marine mammal biology and a strong = conservation ethic c.. Are easily approachable and driven to achieve environmental = education=20 d.. "Embrace" menial labour and do not shy away from cleaning bones! Volunteers: Preferred that volunteers are available for a minimum of 2 = weeks Paid positions: Pending funding. Minimum availability from June 1 to = September 1, 2003=20 Location: Telegraph Cove, B.C., is located on northern Vancouver Island, 4 hours' = drive from Nanaimo. The nearest community, Port McNeill with a = population under 3,000, is a 30-minute drive away. Telegraph Cove is a = historic boardwalk community that draws great interest from tourists. = It is now famed for its aesthetics and the fishing, diving and marine = wildlife viewing opportunities of the Broughton and Blackfish = Archipelagos. Over 10,000 whale watchers alone come through Telegraph = Cove annually, some 50% travelling from overseas. This allows for great = educational potential. The marine mammal life of the area is astounding; Resident (fish-eating) = orca, Transient (mammal-eating) orca, Minke whales, humpback whales, = Steller sea lions, harbour seals, Dall's porpoises, harbour porpoises = and Pacific white-sided dolphins. Realities: a.. Remote location and tent accommodation b.. Physical and, at times, dirty work in addition to the academic=20 c.. Workshop-like setting=20 d.. Invaluable "hands-on" learning potential and the opportunity to = achieve marine education Contact Information: Jackie Hildering - Project Manager JSKWICS Bones Project Box 1347, Port McNeill, BC, V0N 2R0, CANADA tel/fax: 250-956-3525 earthent(\)telus.net=20 -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 7 Mar 2003 23:02:22 GMT retained. From: Kathryn Ono Subject: Marine Animal Veterinary Technician Position MIME-Version: unknown Sender: beluga(\)aeiou.pt Subject: Marine Animal Veterinary Technician Position Please post the following position. All inquiries should be sent to: sbrown(\)une.edu Marine Animal Veterinary Technician The University of New England seeks a full-time Veterinary Technician to work in the Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center (MARC). Responsibilities include: assisting the veterinarian and rehabilitation coordinator in medical/surgical procedures and animal care; maintaining clinical work areas and equipment in diagnostics, radiology, pharmacy, surgery, treatment rooms, necropsy and research areas; testing of water quality; and participating in on-going research and project work as needed. Candidate will assist with necropsy, clinical pathology, treatments, procedures, research, water quality and inventory. Must be able to work well with staff, volunteers and researchers. Qualified candidates must have a degree in Veterinary Technology or equivalent experience and be eligible for licensure in Maine within 12 months of starting the job. Preference will be given to candidates with marine mammal experience. MARC will be operational 365 days per year, therefore the vet tech must be able to handle flexible hours and on-call schedule, including weekends, holidays and evenings. Please send cover letter, CV/resume and three letters of reference to: A. Christine Brown, Director, Marine Science Center for Education and Research, University of New England, 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, ME 04005 (e-mail: sbrown(\)une.edu). Visit our website: http://www.une.edu for additional information. Deadline March 24, 2003. UNE is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and strongly encourages the application of candidates of diverse backgrounds. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 7 Mar 2003 14:24:04 -0800 From: Stephanie Olsen Subject: Summer Internship Annoucement Summer Internship Annoucement: SEACR - Society for Ecological and Coastal Research, a non-profit organization currently has spaces available for summer internships starting May 2003. The spots are filling fast, but there are still spaces left. 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 and Photo-ID. 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: Fri, 7 Mar 2003 13:05:53 -0400 From: Chuck Schom Organization: Surge Inc Subject: What am I missing in regard to Right Whales ------ I think I must be missing something. It doesn=92t matter where I look, Refereed Literature, Internet, General Articles the Right Whale Gestation Period is given as 11 months or so. The Grand Manan Basin, i.e. near the mouth of the Bay of Fundy off the coast of New Brunswick and Maine is described as a major feeding and breeding grounds. The Right Whales begin arriving July or August and seem to be Breeding maybe late August but certainly seem most active September into October....correct? Calves are born January, February into March off the Carolinas, Georgia, maybe Northern Florida.....Correct? Some of the Whales that seem to be Breeding in the Fundy are among those recorded as having a Calf early in the New Year........Correct? August to February is 6 months not 11 months. No where have I seen any reference to Right Whale Calves being born in June, July and August which is 11 months after July, August and September. What am I missing here? Regards Chuck Schom, Ph D Surge Inc Email: tcougar5(\)nbnet.nb.ca ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 9 Mar 2003 09:54:38 -0500 From: Phil Clapham Subject: Re: What am I missing in regard to Right Whales In-Reply-To: <3E68D171.C17274D4(\)nbnet.nb.ca> ------ With regard to Chuck Schrom's query on right whale gestation, he's understandably confused by these beasts. Here's the story as we know it... Gestation is known from analysis of illegal Soviet catch data to be aroun= d a year (see Peter Best's paper in J Zool Lond, I think in 1994). Calving is indeed seasonal, in mid-winter (in the North Atlantic this occurs off the southeastern United States). I'm not aware of any record of calving at any other time of year. However, mating is observed year-round, including with great frequency in summer feeding habitats such as the Bay of Fundy. Since as Chuck correctly points out this is only six months from the winter calving season (not twelve), and since the gestation period isn't really in dispute, then there are only two possible explanations for summer mating: 1) Right whale mating occurring at any time other than mid-winter (a year before the next calving season) doesn't result in conception and is "social" in nature, perhaps allowing females to sort out males. 2) Mating in summer does result in conception, but delayed implantation o= r some similar phenomenon is occurring. To my knowledge, there is no evidence for this in any cetacean, and certainly not in baleen whales; furthermore, it doesn't really make sense ecologically, as it does in (say) pinnipeds. I think most large whale biologists would agree that the first explanatio= n is the most likely, but the reason beyhind it isn't clear. See also the paper on the right whale's mating system by Kraus and Hatch (2001, in the IWC publication on right whales, Journal of Cetacean Research and Management special issue 2). Phil Clapham --=20 Phillip J. Clapham, Ph.D. Large Whale Biology Program Northeast Fisheries Science Center 166 Water Street Woods Hole, MA 02543 Tel (508) 495-2316 Fax (508) 495-2066 > ------ > I think I must be missing something. > > It doesn=92t matter where I look, > Refereed Literature, Internet, > General Articles the Right Whale > Gestation Period is given as 11 > months or so. > > The Grand Manan Basin, i.e. near the > mouth of the Bay of Fundy off the > coast of New Brunswick and Maine is > described as a major feeding and > breeding grounds. The Right Whales > begin arriving July or August and > seem to be Breeding maybe late > August but certainly seem most > active September into > October....correct? > > Calves are born January, February > into March off the Carolinas, > Georgia, maybe Northern > Florida.....Correct? > > Some of the Whales that seem to be > Breeding in the Fundy are among > those recorded as having a Calf > early in the New > Year........Correct? > > August to February is 6 months not > 11 months. No where have I seen any > reference to Right Whale Calves > being born in June, July and August > which is 11 months after July, > August and September. > > What am I missing here? > > Regards > Chuck Schom, Ph D > Surge Inc > Email: tcougar5(\)nbnet.nb.ca ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2003 09:08:12 +1300 From: Peter Batson Subject: New Deep-Sea and Open-Ocean Book New Book on Deep-Sea and Open Ocean Ecosystems and Biodiversity Posted by Peter Batson (peterbrianbatson(\)hotmail.com) 'Deep New Zealand: Blue Water, Black Abyss' may appeal to - and be of relevance to - many marine mammal researchers. It is the first book to explore life in the New Zealand region's oceanic and deep-sea habitats, and contains more than 300 illustrations, most of them in full colour. It joins the small number of existing books that deal with regional deep-water and oceanic faunas. The production values are high. Marine mammals are treated in a chapter of their own, and in addition are referred to elsewhere in the book. Also of potential interest, many regionally significant prey animals of oceanic marine mammals are featured and illustrated, including various rarely seen cephalopods that dominate the diet of many Southern Ocean and South Pacific odontocete species. Most chapters are devoted to oceanic ecology and biodiversity, while others focus on the region's seascapes and the human exploitation of the deep sea. As many of the species referred to in the book are cosmopolitan, the book may be of interest to researchers based outside New Zealand, particularly those working in the Pacific. More than 160 marine scientists and photographers from around the world contributed to the project, which was supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries, the NZ Biodiversity Fund, NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research) and the University of Otago. Among the topics covered in the book are hydrothermal vents, methane seep and whale-bone habitats, oceanic food web structure, deep-sea fishes and fisheries, bioluminescence, seabird/marine mammal ecology, giant squid and other cephalopods, and representatives of abyssal and hadal (ultra-abyssal) faunas. For further information please contact the author, Peter Batson at peterbrianbatson(\)hotmail.com 'Deep New Zealand: Blue Water, Black Abyss'; Canterbury University Press; 240 pages; 300+ illustrations; colour throughout; released March 2003; price approx. US$25 + postage/packaging. _________________________________________________________________ Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 9 Mar 2003 11:38:38 EST From: LouSEA(\)aol.com Subject: NYSMEA Conference boundary="part1_44.2eb6c1d7.2b9cc80e_boundary" --part1_44.2eb6c1d7.2b9cc80e_boundary Registration and Speaker forms now available for New York State Marine Education Association Annual Conference May 30, 31,=A0 & June 1 At Southampton College at http://lousea.ho= mestead.com/files/con/fly03.htm Lou Siegel, Chairperson Department of Science and Technology Oceanside High School 3160 Skillman Ave. Oceanside N.Y. 11572 voice 516 594 2359 fax 516 678 8569 lousea(\)aol.com --part1_44.2eb6c1d7.2b9cc80e_boundary Registration and Speaker forms now available for
New York State Marine Education Association
Annual Conference
May 30, 31,=A0 & June 1
At Southampton College
at
http://lousea.ho= mestead.com/files/con/fly03.htm

Lou Siegel, Chairperson
Department of Science and Technology
Oceanside High School
3160 Skillman Ave.
Oceanside N.Y. 11572
voice 516 594 2359  fax  516 678 8569
lousea(\)aol.com --part1_44.2eb6c1d7.2b9cc80e_boundary-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2003 01:05:02 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications (fwd) Here are some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Publications recently posted to MARMAM are not included. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. Derocher, A.E. et al. 2002. Diet composition of polar bears in Svalbard and the western Barents Sea. Polar Biology 25(6):448-452. Shaugnessy, P.D. and A. McKeown. 2002. Trends in abundance of New Zealand fur seals, Arctocephalus forsteri, at the Neptune Islands, South Australia. Wildlife Research 29(4):363-370. Murase, H. et al. 2002. Relationships between the distribution of euphausiids and baleen whales in the Antarctic (35 degrees E - 145 degrees W). Polar Biology 25(6): 135-145. Tamura, T. and Y. Fujise. 2002. Geographical and seasonal changes of the prey species of minke whale in the Northwestern Pacific. ICES Journal of Marine Science 59(3):516-528. Salwicka, K. and S. Rakusa-Suszczewski. 2002. Long-term monitoring of Antarctic pinnipeds in Admiralty Bay (South Shetlands, Antarctica). Acta Theriol. 47(4): 443-457. Odendaal, P.N. et al. 2002. Seasonal changes in the ovarian structure of the Cape fur seal Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus. Australian Journal of Zoology 50(5):491-506. Karlsen, J.D. et al. 2002. Summer vocalisations of adult male white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Svalbard, Norway. Polar Biology 25(11):808-817. Heide-Jorgensen, M.P. et al. 2002. Autumn movements, home ranges, and winter density of narwhals (Monodon monoceros) tagged in Tremblay Sound, Baffin Island. Polar Biology 25(3): 331-341. Krafft, B.A. et al. 2002. Diving behaviour of sub-adult harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) at Prins Karls Forland, Svalbard. Polar Biology 25(3):230-234. Lea, M.-A. et al. 2002. Variability in the diving activity of Antarctic fur seals, Arctocephalus gazella, at Iles Kerguelen. Polar Biology 25(4):269-279. Daneri, G.A. and A.R. Carlini. 2002. Fish prey of southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina, at King George Island. Polar Biology 25(10):739-743. Galimberti, F. et al. 2002. Behavioural and morphometric measurements of parental investment in southern elephant seals at the Falkland Islands. Polar Biology 25(6):399-403. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2003 15:33:20 -0800 From: Ann Zoidis Subject: Stranding Coordinator for the Downeast Maine Marine Mammal Respon se Program boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01C2E75D.6F94E940" 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_01C2E75D.6F94E940 charset="iso-8859-1" Stranding Coordinator for the Downeast Maine Marine Mammal Response Program Allied Whale, the marine mammal group at College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, ME, seeks a Stranding Coordinator for its Marine Mammal Stranding Response Program (MMSRP). This is a one-year full-time position, with full benefits, renewable pending availability of funds. Allied Whale has responded to marine mammal strandings since 1979, providing short-term care and assistance to animals in distress along the downeast coast of Maine. The recent award of a Prescott Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Grant provides an opportunity for us to expand and enhance upon this program. The Stranding Coordinator will work under the direction of Allied Whale to manage stranding response, including coordination of response effort, travelling to sites, interacting with public and media, handling of animals, and management of care. In addition, the Coordinator will provide an educational/public relations interface, and maintain and extend a network of volunteers to aid in marine mammal response. The successful applicant will have a minimum of a Master's degree or equivalent experience in Biology, with specific knowledge in marine mammal science; additional experience in handling marine mammals, husbandry/veterinary care would be advantageous. Knowledge of marine mammal stranding protocols, policy and regulations in the U.S. is important to this position. The Coordinator will be additionally responsible for: supervision of students and volunteers, database management, budget management, grant and report writing, collaboration with other members of the Northeast Region Stranding Network, and public relations (including presentations). The applicant must be self-directed, a team player, possess excellent management and communication skills, and be able to work in the field year-round under a variety of conditions, with flexible hours. Valid driver's license and good driving record is essential. Salary commensurate with experience. Letters of interest and resumes should be sent to: Judy Allen College of the Atlantic 105 Eden Street Bar Harbor, ME 04609. Applications will be accepted through 3/31/2003, with a start date as soon as possible. posted by: Ann Zoidis azoidis(\)ttsfo.com ------_=_NextPart_001_01C2E75D.6F94E940 charset="iso-8859-1" Stranding Coordinator for the Downeast Maine Marine Mammal = Response Program

Stranding Coordinator for the Downeast Maine Marine = Mammal Response Program

Allied Whale, the marine mammal group at College of = the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, ME, seeks a Stranding Coordinator for its = Marine Mammal Stranding Response Program (MMSRP). This is a one-year = full-time position, with full benefits, renewable pending availability = of funds. Allied Whale has responded to marine mammal strandings since = 1979, providing short-term care and assistance to animals in distress = along the downeast coast of Maine. The recent award of a Prescott = Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Grant provides an opportunity for us = to expand and enhance upon this program. The Stranding Coordinator will = work under the direction of Allied Whale to manage stranding response, = including coordination of response effort, travelling to sites, = interacting with public and media, handling of animals, and management = of care.  In addition, the Coordinator will provide an = educational/public relations interface, and maintain and extend a = network of volunteers to aid in marine mammal response.  =

The successful applicant will have a minimum of a = Master's degree or equivalent experience in Biology, with specific = knowledge in marine mammal science; additional experience in handling = marine mammals, husbandry/veterinary care would be advantageous. = Knowledge of marine mammal stranding protocols, policy and regulations = in the U.S. is important to this position. The Coordinator will be = additionally responsible for: supervision of students and volunteers, = database management, budget management, grant and report writing, = collaboration with other members of the Northeast Region Stranding = Network, and public relations (including presentations).

The applicant must be self-directed, a team = player,  possess excellent management and communication skills, = and be able to work in the field year-round under a variety of = conditions, with flexible hours. Valid driver's license and good = driving record is essential.  Salary commensurate with = experience.

Letters of interest and resumes should be sent to: =
Judy Allen
College of the Atlantic
105 Eden Street
Bar Harbor, ME  04609. 

Applications will be accepted through 3/31/2003, with = a start date as soon as possible.



posted by: Ann Zoidis
azoidis(\)ttsfo.com





------_=_NextPart_001_01C2E75D.6F94E940-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 7 Mar 2003 11:15:05 -0800 From: "David C. Powell" Subject: Marine mammal question Dear MARMAM listmoms. I subscribe to the discussion group for professional aquarists:=20 "'Aquatic Information Listserve'" The listmom is Brian Nelson at the New England Aquarium. I have been consulting on exhibit design for a new aquarium facility=20 in Durban, South Africa. Although I worked for many years at Sea=20 World I am not a marine mammal biologist. I have been forwarded questions concerning dolphins that neither=20 myself nor our aquarist group are qualified to answer but could=20 probably be answered by subscribers to MARMAM. The question concerns night lighting of a dolphin exhibit. How to=20 provide for adequate lighting of the pool and the audience area in a=20 way that provides clear illumination both above and below water=20 without negatively impacting the dolphins. Questions about above water lighting, pros and cons of underwater=20 lighting fixtures, their safety and possible impact on the dolphins. Can you recommend someone to contact for answers or could you post it=20 on your listserve? Sincerely, Dave --=20 ******************** David C. Powell Monterey Bay Aquarium (ret.) 651 Sinex Ave Pacific Grove, CA 93950 Tel. 831-657-4146 Fax 831-646-1795 ><((((=BA> ******************* ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 07:07:14 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: New paper: Viewpoint - whaling as science (fwd) The following paper has just been published in the journal Bioscience. The printed version is out now; the online version will be available on or about March 12th. Clapham, P.J., Berggren, P., Childerhouse, S., Friday, N.A., Kasuya, T., Kell, L., Kock, K-H., Manzanilla, S., di Sciara, G., Perrin, W.F., Read, A.J., Reeves, R.R., Rogan, E., Rojas-Bracho, L., Smith, T.D., Stachowitsch, M., Taylor, B.L., Thiele, D., Wade, P.R. and Brownell, R.L. Jr. 2003. Whaling as science. Bioscience 53: 210-212. There is no abstract or summary but the paper begins: In an open letter published last year in the New York Times, 21 distinguished scientists (including three Nobel laureates) criticized Japan's program of scientific research whaling, noting its poor design and unjustified reliance upon lethal sampling. In a recent forum article in BioScience, Aron, Burke, and Freeman (2002) castigate the letter's signers and accuse them of meddling in political issues without sufficient knowledge of the science involved in those issues. As members of the Scientific Committee (SC) of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), we can attest that the signers of the open letter correctly summarized criticisms made by researchers very familiar with Japanese scientific whaling. One such critique (Clapham et al. 2002) was presented and discussed last year at a meeting of the SC. It was authored by SC members representing a broad range of countries, yet mention of this paper and others like it was absent from Aron and his colleagues' commentary, betraying a selectiveness that pervades their article. The authors quote lines from SC reports to support their contention that the IWC regards scientific whaling a valuable, but they fail to acknowledge many other sections that are highly critical of the Japanese program (IWC 1998, 2001, 2003). 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 -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 08:36:19 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Summer Field and Lab Internship Opportunities--Humpback Whale (fwd) From: Howard Rosenbaum Applications are now being accepted for interns to participate as part of the project: Habitat preference, population genetics, and social organization of humpback whales on a southwestern Indian Ocean breeding ground, Antongil Bay, Madagascar- with Dr. Howard Rosenbaum The internship is being offered as part of the American Museum of Natural History's Summer REU internship program in Systematics and Evolution. A more complete description of the project, web links, and the application forms are available on-line at http://research.amnh.org/grants/underprog.html. Applications are currently being received and reviewed, so applicants are encouraged to submit their completed application forms (as per the instructions provided on-line) as soon as possible. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2003 15:29:55 -0300 From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Lida=20Pimper?= Subject: Pelvic Bones ------ My name is Lida Pimper and I=B4m interested in finding information about pelvic bones in cetaceans.I have information about this in commerson`s dolphins (C.commersonii), but I`m looking for any special differences between sexes and species.=20 If anyone could give me some references or papers about this, please contact me at ngoodall(\)tierradelfuego.org.ar subject: To Lida PImper. Thanks Lida Pimper Lic. Cs. Biol=F3gicas Azcuenaga 3097 - (B1878DDI)Quilmes Buenos Aires - Argentina e-mail: liditas(\)advancedsl.com.ar ------------ =A1Internet GRATIS es Yahoo! Conexi=F3n! Usuario "yahoo", contrase=F1a "yahoo".=20 Desde Buenos Aires, 4004-1010. Otras ciudades: http://conexion.yahoo.com.ar/avanzados.html ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2003 10:14:03 EST From: William Rossiter Subject: Seeking recommendation for PoleCam With apologies for cross posting, would any members have recommendations for a PoleCam or similar unit to enable underwater documenting of cetaceans from a small research boat that will begin a Risso's dolphin project in the Azores beginning in April? Thank you, William W. Rossiter President Cetacean Society International P.O.Box 953, Georgetown, CT 06829 USA ph/fx 203-431-1606 rossiter(\)csiwhalesalive.org www.csiwhalesalive.org ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2003 16:17:08 +0000 From: Deborah Benham Subject: Voluntary Positions Available on Sea Otter Research Project ------ Volunteer Opportunities Available on Sea Otter Research Project in Monter= ey=20 Bay, CA I am looking for dedicated volunteer research assistants to assist with t= he=20 second year of data collection for my doctoral study on interactions betw= een=20 wildlife tourism and sea otters in Monterey Bay, California. The field season runs from the beginning of June 2003 to September 2003,=20 volunteers should be able to commit to 6-12 weeks. This is an excellent opportunity to gain field work experience with marin= e=20 mammals and will prove valuable to anyone hoping to pursue a career in=20 marine mammal science, animal behaviour or ecotourism. Field work will involve behavioural observations of sea otter and tourist= =20 interactions at several sites along the Monterey Bay coast. Data will be=20 collected on sea otter behaviour in disturbed and undisturbed conditions = and=20 their responses to different types of vessels and tourist behaviours will= be=20 documented. Surveys of tourists and tour operators will also be carried o= ut=20 during the field season to investigate potential management strategies. T= his=20 project aims to involve all stakeholders to develop a conservation and=20 management plan that is satisfactory to all parties. The Monterey Bay area is a fantastic haven for marine mammals and other=20 wildlife and there will be time to go whale watching, kayaking, diving,=20 surfing, etc should you wish. Applicants should have:  A background in Biology, Environmental Science, Animal Behaviour= or=20 a related field  Previous field experience would be advantageous but is not a=20 prerequisite  Good communication skills  Good English language skills  Basic IT skills  A driving licence  Enthusiasm and interest in the project There is no fee for this project but you will be expected to pay for your= =20 own accommodation and travel expenses. Please expect to pay at least =A32= 50=20 (UK) or $400 (U.S.) per month for accommodation. Shared accommodation may= be=20 available or help can be given in finding alternative accommodation. Applications should include:  Current CV or resume  Details of your availability  Name of 2 referees  Statement of why you would like to be a volunteer The deadline is April 15th 2003 Applications should be made by email to Deborah Benham at plxdmb(\)nottingham.ac.uk Thank you, Deborah _________________________________________________________________ MSN Messenger - fast, easy and FREE! http://messenger.msn.co.uk ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 11:25:35 -0300 From: Sheila Simao Subject: female humpback whale vocalization ------ Dear all, I've recorded a female humpback whale vocalization in Arraial do Cabo (Ri= o de Janeiro - Brazil). After a intense research I couldn't find any arti= cle descibing such sounds to compare with mine. Any one of you has informations about any scientific article dealing with= this issue? Thanks in advance for you help. Sheila M. Sim=E3o, PhD UFRuralRJ/IF/DCA POBox 74544 Serop=E9dica, RJ 23851-970 Brazil Phone: 55-21-2682-1128 smsimao(\)ufrrj.br smsimao(\)centroin.com.br ICQ # 179051518 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 19:59:42 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Seismic and marine mammals - comments due to NMFS on 2 April (fwd) Readers interested in seismic surveys and marine mammals, pay attention. The posting is found in the 3 March 2003 Federal Register, Volume 68, Number 41, Pages 9991-9996. NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS) of the Department of the Interior, for authorization to harass small numbers of marine mammals, principally the sperm whale, incidental to conducting seismic surveys in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). As a result of that request, NMFS is considering whether to propose regulations that would govern the incidental taking of small numbers of marine mammals under Letters of Authorization (LOAs) issued to members of the seismic industry that might have interactions with sperm whales. In order to promulgate regulations and issue LOAs, NMFS must determine that these takings will have a negligible impact on the affected species and stocks of marine mammals. NMFS invites comment on the preliminary application and suggestions on the content of the regulations. Comments and information must be postmarked no later than April 2, 2003. Comments should be addressed to the 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 and a list of references used in this document may be obtained by writing to this address, or by telephoning the contact listed here (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). A copy of the MMS draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (Draft PEA) is available by writing to: Minerals Management Service, Public Information Office, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70123- 2394. Comments will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or the Internet. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth R. Hollingshead, NMFS, 301- 713-2055, ext 128. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2003 21:41:01 +0900 From: masao amano Subject: abstract: Dall's porpoise phylogeography ------ The following article has recently been published. Hayano, A., Amano, M. and Miyazaki, N. 2003. Phylogeography and populatio= n=20 structure of the Dall's porpoise, Phocoenoides dalli, in Japanese waters=20 revealed by mitochondrial DNA. Genes & Genetic Systems Vol. 78(1):81-91. Abstract We investigated genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships among=20 three morphologically distinct populations of Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoid= es=20 dalli) in Japanese waters by analyzing mitochondrial DNA variation. These= =20 populations, the Sea of Japan-Okhotsk dalli-type population, the truei-ty= pe=20 population and the standard dalli-type population in the northwestern Nor= th=20 Pacific, are clearly discriminated from each other by differences in the=20 size of their white flank patch. A total of 479 bp of the mitochondrial=20 control region and flanking tRNA genes was sequenced for 103 individuals.= =20 Haplotypic diversity was high (h =3D 0.968), but these haplotypes differe= d by=20 only a few nucleotides (=C9 =3D 0.0106). Although many haplotypes were sh= ared=20 between populations, analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated=20 genetic subdivision among the three populations (overall F ST =3D 0.023, = P < 0.001; =C9>ST =3D 0.026, P =3D 0.029). Pairwise comparisons indicated a l= ow but=20 significant difference between the Sea of Japan-Okhotsk and the other two= =20 populations, whereas there was no significant difference between the latt= er. These results suggest that there is a close evolutionary relationship=20 among these populations despite their consistent differences in coloratio= n.=20 This may reflect genetic polymorphism in the common ancestral population,= =20 which subsequently underwent a rapid divergence. The low genetic=20 variability and haplotypic differentiation of the Sea of Japan-Okhotsk=20 population suggest that it originated from a small population that=20 colonized the Sea of Japan or that experienced population reduction when=20 this Sea was isolated from the North Pacific in the last glacial period. PDF reprints can be obtained through the Journal's web site; http://ggs.jstage.jst.go.jp/ ******************************************** Masao Amano Otsuchi Marine Research Center Ocean Research Institute The University of Tokyo Otsuchi, Iwate 028-1102, Japan tel:+81-193-42-5611, fax:+81-193-42-3715 mailto:amano(\)wakame.ori.u-tokyo.ac.jp ******************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 14:55:18 -0500 Reply-To: Marine Animal Lifeline From: Marine Animal Lifeline Subject: Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Internship MARINE MAMMAL REHABILITATION INTERNSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT The Marine Animal Lifeline in Portland, Maine, seeks 2 applicants for a summer internship working with stranded harbor seal pups. The internship will begin on May 19th and end August 15th. This is a full time internship position with some flexibility of the start and end date of the internship. This is an unpaid position and interns are responsible for all travel and housing expenses. Job Summary/Program Description: This internship is designed to provide a dynamic educational experience in the marine mammal field while offering valuable career experience. The interns will have a leadership role in the rehabilitation team and interns will be responsible for a number of support tasks with rehabilitating stranded seals throughout the course of the internship. The positions will involve working under the Rehabilitation Team Leader in providing medical care, feeding, cleaning, and completing medical records in the rehabilitation program. The intern will be integrated into the department with assigned duties allowing them to progressively take on more responsibility. Interns may also have the opportunity to assist in marine mammal rescues as they arise. In addition, they will provide support to the animal care staff in animal physicals, and assist in a number of other marine mammal care procedures. Intern Responsibilities & Qualifications: The internship is open for all to apply. The internship can be utilized by undergraduate students as well as non-students. If the intern intends to receive academic credit, the interns will be responsible for making all arrangements with their educational institutions. The internship is 5 days a week, Monday through Friday, 33 hours per week. One intern will fill a morning position (7AM - 12:30PM) and the second intern will fill an afternoon position (12:15PM - 6:00PM). Interns will be required to have fair physical strength and be in good health. Successful applicants will have leadership skills, or posses the ability to learn proper leadership skills quickly. Interns need to have the ability to multitask and work in a fast paced environment. Animal care and/or marine mammal experience is a plus but not required. Duties Include: * Daily animal diet preparations, routine cleaning of work areas. * Assisting with veterinary examinations and treatments. * Assisting with rescues and releases of injured or abandoned marine animals * Assisting with the taking and processing of X-rays. * Assisting with blood handling and collection. * Assisting with necropsies. * Updating medical and laboratory records and logs. * Maintaining veterinary and rehab supplies and equipment. * Assisting in the feeding, cleaning and daily operations of the rehab area. * Other duties relating to the Center's goals and mission as required. Application Process: Interested individuals are encouraged to send the following: - Resume & letter of intent including reasons for wanting to do the internship The application submission deadline is May 5, 2003 Please forward all application materials to the address listed below. If you have any further questions, contact Greg Jakush at (207) 773-7377, or email at gjakush(\)stranding.org If you would like to learn more about the Marine Animal Lifeline, visit our website at www.stranding.org Gregory A. Jakush President Marine Animal Lifeline P.O. Box 621 Portland, ME 04104 (207) 773-7377 gjakush(\)stranding.org www.stranding.org ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2003 19:05:02 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Stenella frontalis group size (fwd) From: Jaime Bolanos Dear friends: My colleagues and I are preparing a manuscript about free ranging Atlantic spotted and bottlenose dolphins in the central coast of Venezuela. We found group size of more than 300 individuals for Atlantic spotted dolphins. Up to now, the only records of more than one hundred individuals of this species that we found are those of Mills and Rademacher (1996) in the Gulf of Mexico (sighting), Nieri et al. (1999) in western Africa (stranding) and Bolanos and Boher (2001)in northeastern Venezuela (stranding). We have reviewed all the relevant literature on extensive surveys in the Caribbean Sea (including Venezuelan waters) mostly by NOAA ships, and found average group size of about 50 animals. We wonder if somebody in the list has information about groups of more than one hundred individuals that we could add to our discussion section. Jaime Bolanos -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2003 23:29:09 +0100 From: Stefan Jacobs Subject: Fw: proceedings Hi, the message below by Christophe Guinet might be of interest to those killer whale researchers, who couldn't attend the Fourth International Orca Symposium and Workshop last September in France. Beware of huge files (pdf-file is about 7.21 mb, zip-file 5.61 mb) but I guess the 206 pages are quite worth the effort :-) Cheers, Stefan Jacobs Stefan.Jacobs(\)orcahome.de Orca Homepage - http://www.orcahome.de ----- Original Message ----- From: "Christophe GUINET" Sent: Friday, March 21, 2003 4:15 PM Subject: proceedings > Dear all, > > The orca-symposium proceedings are now available and you can load > the proceeding files at the following adress : > > http://www.cebc.cnrs.fr/Fr_pages/Fpagsomm.html (colloque orca.zip > rather than the pdf file) > > Thank you very much for your contribution > > If you have any problem loading this file please let us know and we > will try to find another way to send you this file. > > All the best to you all and hopefully see you in a not too far > future. > > > Christophe > -- > _____________________________________________ > > Christophe Guinet > CEBC-CNRS > 79 360 Villiers en Bois > France > e-mail : guinet(\)cebc.cnrs.fr > tel : 33 (0)5 49 09 78 39 > Fax : 33 (0)5 49 09 65 26 > > http://www.cebc.cnrs.fr/Fr_taaf/fr_index.html > _____________________________________________ > > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2003 13:22:48 -0800 From: "David S. Janiger" Subject: New Articles Hi, all! Here's the latest posting of new PDF's that are available. Abstracts also available on request. I have included the size of files over 1 MB. As always, please don't request them if your mail server can't handle the file size for attachments. Please make all requests to: janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu Cheers David Janiger - Curatorial Assistant (Mammals) Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007 (213) 763-3369 janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu ARROYO, NINA L.; PABLO ABAUNZA and IZASKUN PRECIADO. SARSIA 87(5):333-337. 2002. The first naupliar stage of Pennella balaenopterae Koren and Danielssen, 1877 (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida, Pennellidae). AZNAR, F. J.; M. V. HERRERAS; J. A. BALBUENA and J. A. RAGA. COMPARATIVE PARASITOLOGY 70(1):66-71. 2003. Population structure and habitat selection by Anisakis simplex in 4 odontocete species from northern Argentina. BANGUERA-HINESTROZA, E.; H. CARDENAS; M. RUIZ-GARCIA; M. MARMONTEL; E. GAITAN; R. VAZQUEZ and F. GARCIA-VALLEJO. JOURNAL OF HEREDITY 93(5):312-322. 2002. Molecular identification of evolutionarily significant units in the Amazon River dolphin Inia sp (Cetacea: Iniidae). BASKARAN, M.; G. -H. HONG; S. DAYTON; J. L. BODKIN and J. J. KELLEY. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 64(1):1-18. 2002. Temporal variations of natural and anthropogenic radionuclides in sea otter skull tissue in the North Pacific Ocean. CANADAS, A.; R. SAGARMINAGA and S. GARCIA-TISCAR. DEEP SEA RESEARCH PART I: OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH PAPERS 49(11):2053-2073. 2002. Cetacean distribution related with depth and slope in the Mediterranean waters off southern Spain. CASAUX, R.; A. BARONI and A. RAMON. POLAR BIOLOGY 26(1):49-54. 2003. Diet of Antarctic fur seals Arctocephalus gazella at the Danco Coast, Antarctic Peninsula. CORDA, M.; M. TAMBURRINI; M. C. DE ROSA; M. T. SANNA; A. FAIS; A. OLIANAS; M. PELLEGRINI; B. GIARDINA and G. DI PRISCO. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY B BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 134(1):53-62. 2003. Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) haemoglobin: primary structure, functional characterisation and computer modelling studies. COSTA, DANIEL P.; DANIEL E. CROCKER; JASON GEDAMKE; PAUL M. WEBB; DORIAN S. HOUSER; SUSANNA B. BLACKWELL; DANIELLE WAPLES; SEAN A. HAYES and BURNEY J. LE BOEUF. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 113(2):1155-1165. 2003. The effect of a low-frequency sound source (acoustic thermometry of the ocean climate) on the diving behavior of juvenile northern elephant seals, Mirounga angustirostris. DETOCHER, A. E.; H. WOLKERS; T. COLBORN; M. SCHLABACH; T. S. LARSEN and O. WIIG. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 301(1-3):163-174. 2003. Contaminants in Svalbard polar bear samples archived since 1967 and possible population level effects. DONNELLY, C. P.; A. W. TRITES and D. D. KITTS. BRITISH JOURNAL OF NUTRITION 89(1):71-82. 2003. Possible effects of pollock and herring on the growth and reproductive success of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus): insights from feeding experiments using an alternative animal model, Rattus norvegicus. FABIANI, A.; A. R. HOELZEL; F. GALIMBERTI and M. M. C. MUELBERT. SCIENCE (WASHINGTON D. C.) 299(5607):676. 2003. Long-range paternal gene flow in the southern elephant seal. (Mirounga leonina) HELWEG, DAVID A.; PATRICK W. MOORE; LOIS A. DANKIEWICZ; JUSTINE M. ZAFRAN and RANDALL L. BRILL. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 113(2):1138-1144. 2003. Discrimination of complex synthetic echoes by an echolocating bottlenose dolphin. HERMES-LIMA, M. and T. ZENTENO-SAVIN. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY C TOXICOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY 133(4):534-556. 2002. Animal response to drastic changes in oxygen availability and physiological oxidative stress. KASTAK, C. R. and R. J. SCHUSTERMAN. ANIMAL COGNITION 5(4):225-232. 2002. Long-term memory for concepts in a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). KASTELEIN, RONALD A.; MONIQUE HAGEDOORN; WHITLOW W. L. AU and DICK DE HAAN. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 113(2):1130-1137. 2003. Audiogram of a striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba). KOOPMAN, H. N., D. A. PABST; W. A. MCLELLAN; R. M. DILLAMAN and A. J. READ. PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ZOOLOGY 75(5):498-512. 2002. Changes in blubber distribution and morphology associated with starvation in the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena): evidence for regional differences in blubber structure and function. KUMAR, K. S.; M. YAMAMURO; S. PITAKSINTORN and S. MASUNAGA. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 70(2):198-204. 2003. Dioxins/furans and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in dugongs from the Thailand coast. MATTIUCCI, S.; R. CIANCHI; G. NASCETTI; L. PAGGI; N. SARDELLA; J. TIMI; S. C. WEBB; R. BASTIDA; D. RODRIGUEZ and L. BULLINI. SYSTEMATIC PARASITOLOGY 54(1):13-23. 2003. Genetic evidence for two sibling species within Contracaecum ogmorhini Johnston & Mawson, 1941 (Nematoda : Anisakidae) from otariid seals of boreal and austral regions. MAZE-FOLEY, KATHERINE and BERND WURSIG. GULF OF MEXICO SCIENCE 20(2):122-134. 2002. Patterns of social affiliation and group composition for bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in San Luis Pass, Texas. NICKOL, B. B.; E. HELLE and E. T. VALTONEN. JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 88(6):1222-1229. 2002. Corynosoma magdaleni in gray seals from the Gulf of Bothnia, with emended descriptions of Corynosoma strumosum and Corynosoma magdaleni. NOREN, D. P. PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ZOOLOGY 75(5):513-523. 2002. Thermoregulation of weaned northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) pups in air and water. RIDGWAY, S. H. BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION 60(5):265-274. 2002. Asymmetry and symmetry in brain waves from dolphin left and right hemispheres: Some observations after anesthesia, during quiescent hanging behavior, and during visual obstruction. ROBINSON, S. A.; S. G. GOLDSWORTHY; J. VAN DEN HOFF and M. A. HINDELL. MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH 53(7):1071-1082. 2002. The foraging ecology of two sympatric fur seal species, Arctocephalus gazella and Arctocephalus tropicalis, at Macquarie Island during the austral summer. ROGERS, T. L. and D. H. CATO. BEHAVIOUR 139(10):1267-1286. 2002. Individual variation in the acoustic behaviour of the adult male leopard seal, Hydrurga leptonyx. ROMERO, A.; K. T. HAYFORD; A. ROMERO and J. ROMERO. MAMMALIA 66(4):479-494. 2002. The marine mammals of Grenada, W.I., and their conservation status. SMALL, ROBERT J.; GREY W. PENDLETON and KENNETH W. PITCHER. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE 19(2):344-362. 2003. Trends in abundance of Alaska harbor seals, 1983-2001. SORMO, E. G.; J. U. SKAARE; C. LYDERSEN; K. M. KOVACS; M. O. HAMMILL and B. M. JENSSEN. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 302(1-3):145-155. 2003. Partitioning of persistent organic pollutants in grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) mother-pup pairs. STORELLI, M. M. and G. O. MARCOTRIGIANO. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 28(7):559-565. 2003. Levels and congener pattern of polychlorinated biphenyls in the blubber of the Mediterranean bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus. SZTEREN, DIANA and ENRIQUE PAEZ. MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH 53(8):1161-1167. 2002. Predation by southern sea lions (Otaria flavescens) on artisanal fishing catches in Uruguay. VAN DEN HOFF, J.; H. BURTON and R. DAVIES. POLAR BIOLOGY 26(1):27-312. 2003. Diet of male southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina L.) hauled out at Vincennes Bay, East Antarctica. WAHLBERG, M. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY 281(1-2):53-62. 2002. The acoustic behaviour of diving sperm whales observed with a hydrophone array. YANG, H. and N. MIYAZAKI. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 121(3):345-347. 2003. Moisture content in Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) tissues: a reference base for conversion factors between dry and wet weight trace element concentrations in cetaceans. ZENTENO-SAVIN, T.; E. CLAYTON-HERNANDEZ and R. ELSNER. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY C TOXICOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY 133(4):527-536. 2002. Diving seals: are they a model for coping with oxidative stress? ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2003 23:27:21 -0800 From: Stephanie Meinhold Subject: Thesis ------ Hi there, I wanted to let people know that my Master's thesis is in the process of being published. DESIGNING AN EDUCATION PROGRAM TO MANAGE THE UNDESIRABLE EFFECTS OF WHALE WATCHING Abstract There is a potential for whale watchers to behave inappropriately around killer whales, which can have harmful effects on the whales and may dimin= ish the experience of visitors, affecting tourism in the Johnstone Strait are= a. This type of behaviour occurs mainly as a result of the lack of knowledg= e by private vessel operators of the accepted whale watching guidelines. There are a number of possible methods for managing undesirable tourist activity, but education appears to be the best method for Johnstone Strai= t when it is supported by minimal, but effective regulation. This thesis describes the ideal education program for managing tourist behaviour arou= nd killer whales in Johnstone Strait. The precautionary principle states that even in the absence of scientific proof of harm or a cause and effect relationship, preventative action mus= t be taken to prevent the harm from occurring. On this basis, we need to prevent the situation in Johnstone Strait from deteriorating before irreversible impacts occur on killer whales, their habitat, the tourists = and the tourism industry. The best method for attempting to meet this goal i= s to educate the public regarding their behaviour while watching killer wha= les in a way that will create a sense of personal responsibility, use a holis= tic approach, demonstrate practical action strategies, and control visitor expectations. The Johnstone Strait Killer Whale Interpretive Centre Society should mana= ge the proposed education program in Johnstone Strait. An interpretive facility should be built in Telegraph Cove as a base of operations, in addition to adding value to the tourist=92s experience. The education pr= ogram itself should include a water-based component, a land-based component, as well as a research and monitoring component. The water-based component should have a roving warden throughout the killer whale =91core=92 habita= t area and a Robson Bight Michael Bigg Ecological Reserve warden for the killer whale =91critical=92 habitat area. The land-based component should have campground slide shows, a dockside interpreter contacting sport fishermen during morning launch and vessels docking for fuel during the day, and a local community and BC wide outreach program. It is important that the program be as efficient and effective as possible in a time of increasing= ly scarce financial resources. I would be happy to send anyone a CD copy if they are interested. Thank you, Stephanie Meinhold BSc - University of Calgary, Calgary, AB (Zoology) MA (Candidate) - Royal Roads University, Victoria, BC (Environment & Management) huggies(\)xyz.net ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2003 21:44:45 -0800 From: Kenneth Lytwyn Subject: Zinc levels in Harbour Seals boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0039_01C2F3E0.EA836A20" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0039_01C2F3E0.EA836A20 charset="Windows-1252" Hi All I'm looking for any information that may be out there on normal zinc = levels in Pacific Harbour Seals. We have a 27 year old female who we = have recently found out has coins in her stomach. We've just started = treating her, but haven't been able to find acceptable zinc level data. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Kenneth Lytwyn Senior Mammalogist Oregon Coast Aquarium lytwyn(\)pioneer.net ------=_NextPart_000_0039_01C2F3E0.EA836A20 charset="Windows-1252"
Hi All
I'm looking for any information that may be out there on normal = zinc levels=20 in Pacific Harbour Seals. We have a 27 year old female who we have = recently=20 found out has coins in her stomach. We've just started treating her, but = haven't=20 been able to find acceptable zinc level data.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Kenneth Lytwyn
Senior Mammalogist
Oregon Coast Aquarium
lytwyn(\)pioneer.net
------=_NextPart_000_0039_01C2F3E0.EA836A20-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2003 01:50:36 -0500 From: Van Waerebeek Subject: Re: Stenella frontalis group size (fwd) Jaime : Nieri et al. (1999) identified to species 38 dolphins (37 S. frontalis, 1 T. truncatus) of a total of 125 dolphins washed ashore over a 85km stretch of coastline over a 5 week period. In my opinion you cannot deduce anything about group size of S. frontalis off West Africa from this episode. These are almost certainly multiple incidents of by-catch on multiple groups of dolphins. I have not seen the stranding data by Bolanos and Boher (2001) but I would recommend utmost caution in interpretation, for same reason as above. Finally, I do not know of any confirmed sighting of S. frontalis of >100 specimens in the eastern (sub)tropical Atlantic. If anyone does, I too would be interested to hear about. all best, Koen """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Dr K Van Waerebeek Curator MUSEO DE LOS DELFINES Peruvian Centre for Cetacean Research-CEPEC Pucusana, Peru cepec.dir(\)terra.com.pe """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ----- Original Message ----- From: MARMAM Editors To: Sent: 25 March 2003 22:05 Subject: Stenella frontalis group size (fwd) > From: Jaime Bolanos > > Dear friends: > > My colleagues and I are preparing a manuscript about > free ranging Atlantic spotted and bottlenose dolphins > in the central coast of Venezuela. We found group size > of more than 300 individuals for Atlantic spotted > dolphins. Up to now, the only records of more than one > hundred individuals of this species that we found are > those of Mills and Rademacher (1996) in the Gulf of > Mexico (sighting), Nieri et al. (1999) in western > Africa (stranding) and Bolanos and Boher (2001)in > northeastern Venezuela (stranding). We have reviewed > all the relevant literature on extensive surveys in > the Caribbean Sea (including Venezuelan waters) mostly > by NOAA ships, and found average group size of about > 50 animals. We wonder if somebody in the list has > information about groups of more than one hundred > individuals that we could add to our discussion > section. > > Jaime Bolanos > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > -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") > -Do not submit attached files or HTML/MIME messages. > -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, 23 Mar 2003 21:51:52 +0200 From: Aviad Scheinin Subject: rough-toothed dolphins along Israeli coastline boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0055_01C2F186.69EB1180" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0055_01C2F186.69EB1180 charset="windows-1255" Shalom All, With apologies for cross posting, we would like to bring to your = attention that in the past 6 years IMMRAC -Israeli Marine Mammal = Research and Assistance Center, has examined 7 strandings of = rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) along the entire = Mediterranean Israeli coastline. The species is considered rare in the = Mediterranean, and this regional clustering seems rather unusual. It is = interesting to notice that all standings have occurred between the = months February =96 April. It is reasonable to believe that this species = is passing by our coastline during this period of the year. An = interesting option is that the individuals sighted here are Lessepsian = migrants. We would like to further examine this possibility using = molecular analysis. We are therefore looking to contact laboratories = doing molecular analysis on this species, who have access to samples = from the Mediterranean Sea, Eastern North Atlantic and Red Sea/Indian = Ocean. Any cooperation or thoughts would be appreciated. =20 Aviad Scheinin IMMRAC- Israeli Marine Mammal Research and Assistance Center scheini(\)post.tau.ac.il _____________________________________________________________________ Aviad Scheinin Zoology Dept., Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 69978, Israel IMMRAC =96 Israeli Marine Mammals Research and Assistance Center Mobile 053-571193 Home 03-6919519 Uni. 03-6405179 Fax =96972-3-6409403 E-Mail: scheini(\)post.tau.ac.il ------=_NextPart_000_0055_01C2F186.69EB1180 charset="windows-1255"

Shalom All,

With apologies for cross = posting, we would=20 like to bring to your attention that in the past 6 years IMMRAC -Israeli = Marine=20 Mammal Research and Assistance Center, has examined 7 strandings of=20 rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) along the entire = Mediterranean=20 Israeli coastline. The species is considered rare in the Mediterranean, = and this=20 regional clustering seems rather unusual. It is interesting to notice = that all=20 standings have occurred between the months February =96 April. It is = reasonable to=20 believe that this species is passing by our coastline during this period = of the=20 year. An interesting option is that the individuals sighted here are = Lessepsian=20 migrants. We would like to further examine this possibility using = molecular=20 analysis.  We are = therefore looking=20 to contact laboratories doing molecular analysis on this species, who = have=20 access to samples from the Mediterranean Sea, Eastern North Atlantic and = Red=20 Sea/Indian Ocean.

Any cooperation or thoughts = would be=20 appreciated.

 

Aviad = Scheinin

IMMRAC- Israeli Marine Mammal = Research and=20 Assistance Center

scheini(\)post.tau.ac.il<= /FONT>
________________________________________________________________= _____
Aviad=20 Scheinin
Zoology Dept., Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 69978, = Israel
IMMRAC=20 =96 Israeli Marine Mammals Research and Assistance Center
Mobile = 053-571193=20 Home 03-6919519 Uni. 03-6405179 Fax =96972-3-6409403
E-Mail: scheini(\)post.tau.ac.il
------=_NextPart_000_0055_01C2F186.69EB1180-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 11:58:18 -0800 From: Jenifer Hurley Subject: Summer classes I would be grateful if you would announce the following summer courses (Working with Marine Mammals & Techniques and Theories of Animal Training) to the MARMAM mailing list. Thanks very much, Jenifer Hurley, Ph.D. California State University Monterey Bay and Moss Landing Marine Laboratories http://www.mlml.calstate.edu/slewths offer one-week intensive summer classes open to any individuals interested animal training or in pursuing careers in the marine mammal field. In addition, hands-on internships for people of all ages and levels of experience are also available at the lab working with marine mammals. The successful completion of both courses and a five-day internship will earn a Certificate of Completion in Beginning Marine Mammalogy. The classes' instructor, Dr. Jenifer Hurley has over 20 years of terrestrial and aquatic animal training experience, across diverse disciplines including research, public display, and feature film work. Classes: TECHNIQUES AND THEORIES OF ANIMAL TRAINING: ESSP 348 (July 7-13, 2003): This 3 credit interactive course provides students an in-depth understanding of the discipline of animal training across many different types of terrestrial and aquatic animals and techniques. It provides an exceptional background in relevant animal behavior and psychological principles related to the practical goal of modifying animal behavior. These techniques will be demonstrated daily using trained sea lions, horses, and other animals at Moss Landing Marine Labs where the course is taught. Students will intern at least one day at the lab 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. $431.00 WORKING WITH MARINE MAMMALS: ESSP 347 (July 21-27, 2003): This 3 credit course is designed to assist people who are interested in developing a career in marine mammalogy. 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 include many live experiences with the marine mammals at Moss Landing Marine Labs and in the surrounding areas. This class will instruct students in 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 the lab assisting in the care of research-trained California sea lions. They will also gain experience in developing a resume, job interviews, and public presentations. $431.00 Registration: For registration, enrollment and other logistical information please contact Cal State Monterey Bay http://extendeded.csumb.edu/ or call them at 831-582-4500. Using the web site you can download Course Registration forms by clicking on the Forms link. Enrollment for each class limited to 16. Registration begins May 1. The classes are open for enrollment to any high school graduate regardless of age or nationality, however no transportation or housing is included. For housing information see below. Courses will be taught at Moss Landing Marine Labs in Moss Landing, CA. To get onto a mailing list or for content related inquiries you may contact: jhurley(\)mlml.calstate.edu. Lodging: Lodging is now available at the dorms on CSUMB campus. Rates range from $40/day for triple occupancy with no linens provided to $80/day single occupancy with linens. Room rates include 3 meals a day! Make your room CSUMB dorm room reservations with Extended Ed on/before May 15, 2003. Complete the Summer 2003 CSUMB Extended Ed - Dorm Room Request Form on our website http://extendeded.csumb.edu/ Reservations are secured with your full payment. Credit cards accepted. Checks can be mailed to the Office of Extended Ed. The Monterey Visitors Bureau website can offer local lodging options, if you prefer to stay in a hotel/motel.http://info.monterey.wegov2.com --=====================_9004490==_.ALT I would be grateful if you would announce the following summer courses (Working with Marine Mammals & Techniques and Theories of Animal Training) to the MARMAM mailing list.

Thanks very much,
Jenifer Hurley, Ph.D.

California State University Monterey Bay and Moss Landing Marine Laboratories http://www.mlml.calstate.edu/slewths offer one-week intensive summer= classes open to any individuals interested animal training or in= pursuing careers in the marine mammal field. In addition, hands-on internships for people of all ages= and levels of experience are also available at the lab working with marine= mammals. The successful completion of both courses and a five-day= internship will earn a Certificate of Completion in Beginning Marine= Mammalogy. The classes=92 instructor, Dr. Jenifer Hurley has over= 20 years of terrestrial and aquatic animal training experience, across= diverse disciplines including research, public display, and feature film= work.

Classes:
TECHNIQUES AND THEORIES OF ANIMAL TRAINING: ESSP 348 (July 7-13,= 2003): This 3 credit interactive course provides students an= in-depth understanding of the discipline of animal training across many= different types of terrestrial and aquatic animals and techniques. It= provides an exceptional background in relevant animal behavior and= psychological principles related to the practical goal of modifying animal= behavior.  These techniques will be demonstrated daily using trained= sea lions, horses, and other animals at Moss Landing Marine Labs where the= course is taught.   Students will intern at least one day at the= lab 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. $431.00=

WORKING WITH MARINE MAMMALS: ESSP 347 (July 21-27, 2003): This= 3 credit course is designed to assist people who are interested in= developing a career in marine mammalogy.  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 include many live experiences with the marine mammals at Moss Landing= Marine Labs and in the surrounding areas.  This class will instruct= students in 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 the lab= assisting in the care of research-trained California sea lions.  They= will also gain experience in developing a resume, job interviews, and= public presentations. $431.00

Registration:
For registration, enrollment and other logistical information= please contact Cal State Monterey Bay http://extendeded.csumb.edu/ or call= them at 831-582-4500. Using the web site you can download Course= Registration forms by clicking on the Forms link. Enrollment for each class= limited
to 16. Registration begins May 1. The classes are open for enrollment= to any high school graduate regardless of age or nationality,= however no transportation or housing is included. For housing information= see below. Courses will be taught at Moss Landing Marine Labs in Moss= Landing, CA.
 
To get onto a mailing list or for content related inquiries you may= contact:  jhurley(\)mlml.calstate.edu.

Lodging:
Lodging is now available at the dorms on CSUMB campus. = Rates range from  $40/day for triple occupancy with no linens provided= to $80/day single occupancy with linens.  Room rates include 3 meals a= day!

Make your room CSUMB dorm room reservations with Extended Ed on/before=
May 15, 2003.

Complete the Summer 2003 CSUMB Extended Ed - Dorm Room Request Form on= our
website http://extendeded.csumb.edu/
Reservations are secured with your full payment.
Credit cards accepted. Checks can be mailed to the Office of Extended= Ed.

The Monterey Visitors Bureau website can offer local lodging options, if
you prefer to stay in a hotel/motel.http://info.monterey.wegov2.com




 --=====================_9004490==_.ALT-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2003 00:55:42 -0800 From: Lisa Steiner Subject: Re: Stenella frontalis group size (fwd) In-Reply-To: <00b701c2f364$2bc7f8c0$ecf625c8(\)oemcomputer> As I have told Jaime, I have been working in the Azores since 1988 and we regularly see groups of S. frontalis of more than 100. In fact the mean group size we encounter is 112.01 +/- 170.09 (N=750) Median and mode are 50. We do also see large group sizes of Tursiops. Groups of 1 to 300 individuals were sighted. The average number of dolphins in a group was 27.33 (STD = 35.15; n =575) and the median was 15 (IQR 6-30). As the Azores coastline is very rocky, we do not get many strandings of any species, so these are live sightings At the moment this is unpublished data, but I hope to get it out soon. I hope this info is of use to you. Lisa Steiner Whale Watch Azores wwa2(\)yahoo.com --- Van Waerebeek wrote: > Jaime : > Nieri et al. (1999) identified to species 38 > dolphins (37 S. frontalis, 1 T. > truncatus) > of a total of 125 dolphins washed ashore over a 85km > stretch of coastline > over a 5 week > period. In my opinion you cannot deduce anything > about group size of > S. frontalis off West Africa from this episode. > These are almost certainly > multiple incidents > of by-catch on multiple groups of dolphins. > > I have not seen the stranding data by Bolanos and > Boher (2001) but I would > recommend utmost caution in interpretation, for same > reason as above. > > Finally, I do not know of any confirmed sighting of > S. frontalis of >100 > specimens in the > eastern (sub)tropical Atlantic. If anyone does, I > too would be interested to > hear about. > > all best, > > Koen > > """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > Dr K Van Waerebeek > Curator > MUSEO DE LOS DELFINES > Peruvian Centre for Cetacean Research-CEPEC > Pucusana, Peru > cepec.dir(\)terra.com.pe > """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: MARMAM Editors > To: > Sent: 25 March 2003 22:05 > Subject: Stenella frontalis group size (fwd) > > > > From: Jaime Bolanos > > > > Dear friends: > > > > My colleagues and I are preparing a manuscript > about > > free ranging Atlantic spotted and bottlenose > dolphins > > in the central coast of Venezuela. We found group > size > > of more than 300 individuals for Atlantic spotted > > dolphins. Up to now, the only records of more than > one > > hundred individuals of this species that we found > are > > those of Mills and Rademacher (1996) in the Gulf > of > > Mexico (sighting), Nieri et al. (1999) in western > > Africa (stranding) and Bolanos and Boher (2001)in > > northeastern Venezuela (stranding). We have > reviewed > > all the relevant literature on extensive surveys > in > > the Caribbean Sea (including Venezuelan waters) > mostly > > by NOAA ships, and found average group size of > about > > 50 animals. We wonder if somebody in the list has > > information about groups of more than one hundred > > individuals that we could add to our discussion > > section. > > > > Jaime Bolanos > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > > -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") > > -Do not submit attached files or HTML/MIME > messages. > > -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/ > > > > __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, live on your desktop! http://platinum.yahoo.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2003 13:48:52 -0500 From: Rosemary Seton Subject: Deckhand/Research Assistant Position Deckhand/Research Assistant Position Allied Whale, the marine mammal research lab of the College of the Atlantic located in Bar Harbor, Maine, seeks interns for the 2003 summer field season. The intern will work as a deckhand aboard a local whale watch boat, and assist with research on our long term population studies of humpback and finback whales. Deckhand responsibilities include line handling, vessel cleaning and maintenance, and passenger safety. Research responsibilities include photo-identification of whales and data collection, which may include behavioral, acoustic, oceanographic, and video. Training will be provided. The vessel on which the applicant will work and collect data, is newly built and technologically advanced. The applicant should have a background in biology or zoology. Some knowledge of research methods is an advantage. Knowledge of marine mammals and seabirds is an asset. Previous experience in photography (conventional and digital) helpful but not required. Applicants must be energetic, able to communicate well, and comfortable working on boats in rough conditions. Hours will vary depending on schedules and housing will be provided. Salary commensurate with experience. Please send a cover letter detailing your reasons for applying, your curriculum vitae or resume, and one letter of reference to: Rosemary Seton Allied Whale, College of the Atlantic 105 Eden St. Bar Harbor, Maine, 04609 (207) 288-5644 rseton(\)ecology.coa.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2003 07:02:40 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Stenella frontalis group size (fwd) From: peter rudolph Jaime and Koen, there is a new report about cetaceans in the Canary Island where maximum group size of S. frontalis is given by 650 animals (mean 40) out of 321 sightings between 1994-2001. Ritter, F. (2003) Interactions of cetaceans with whale watching boats-implications for the management of whale watching tourism. M.E.E.R. e.V., Berlin, Germany, 91 pp. (www.M-E-E-R.org) Peter Rudolph Nordstr .2 63477 Maintal, Germany "Van Waerebeek" schrieb: > Jaime : > Nieri et al. (1999) identified to species 38 dolphins (37 S. frontalis, 1 T. > truncatus) > of a total of 125 dolphins washed ashore over a 85km stretch of coastline > over a 5 week > period. In my opinion you cannot deduce anything about group size of > S. frontalis off West Africa from this episode. These are almost certainly > multiple incidents > of by-catch on multiple groups of dolphins. > > I have not seen the stranding data by Bolanos and Boher (2001) but I would > recommend utmost caution in interpretation, for same reason as above. > > Finally, I do not know of any confirmed sighting of S. frontalis of >100 > specimens in the > eastern (sub)tropical Atlantic. If anyone does, I too would be interested to > hear about. > > all best, > > Koen > > """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > Dr K Van Waerebeek > Curator > MUSEO DE LOS DELFINES > Peruvian Centre for Cetacean Research-CEPEC > Pucusana, Peru > cepec.dir(\)terra.com.pe > """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: MARMAM Editors > To: > Sent: 25 March 2003 22:05 > Subject: Stenella frontalis group size (fwd) > > > > From: Jaime Bolanos > > > > Dear friends: > > > > My colleagues and I are preparing a manuscript about > > free ranging Atlantic spotted and bottlenose dolphins > > in the central coast of Venezuela. We found group size > > of more than 300 individuals for Atlantic spotted > > dolphins. Up to now, the only records of more than one > > hundred individuals of this species that we found are > > those of Mills and Rademacher (1996) in the Gulf of > > Mexico (sighting), Nieri et al. (1999) in western > > Africa (stranding) and Bolanos and Boher (2001)in > > northeastern Venezuela (stranding). We have reviewed > > all the relevant literature on extensive surveys in > > the Caribbean Sea (including Venezuelan waters) mostly > > by NOAA ships, and found average group size of about > > 50 animals. We wonder if somebody in the list has > > information about groups of more than one hundred > > individuals that we could add to our discussion > > section. > > > > Jaime Bolanos > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > > -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") > > -Do not submit attached files or HTML/MIME messages. > > -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: Fri, 28 Mar 2003 07:06:25 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: harbour porpoise strandings in NE Greece (fwd) From: A. DROUGAS Recent harbour porpoises' strandings in NE Greece, Eastern Mediterranean Basin Dear Colleagues, Recently, on Tuesday 25th March 2003, a new stranded dead harbour porpoise of the species Phocoena phocoena, which was found at Nea Peramos, Kavala, N. Greece by members of the Fisheries Research Institute - FRI was reported to the Cetacean Rescue & Rehabilitation Research Center - ARION. Yesterday, Dr. Komnenou Anastasia, Veterinary Surgeon PhD and Lecturer of the Veterinary Faculty =96 Surgery Clinic of Aristotle=92s University along with veterinary students and members of ARION=92s rescue team, after a cautious preparation for gathering data (Komnenou and Drougas, 2001), have done the necropsy of the mammal at the laboratory of the Institute, took measurements of the body and tissue samples for further detailed examination (histopathological, bacteriological, toxicological and mDNA). The harbour porpoise was a mature female, 146 cm long and about 8-10 years old without any evidence of external wounds. Macroscopically, the examination showed that it was a fat animal (>4cm blubber) although the stomachs had no evidence of food for at least 3-4 days, had trimmed teeth - a lot of them missing-, and already had given birth. The autopsy of the harbour porpoise revealed a large tumor in the second stomach, an enlarged heart and no evidence of parasites in the gastrointestinal tract. There was also severe pulmonary edema which was considered the cause of the animal=92s death. The animal definitely was not drowned. Photographs, slide= s and video have documented the recent stranding. Though some historical records suggest that the species was present in the Mediterranean Sea until the end of the 19th century, and until presently other scientists report no evidence of the species existence at the Northeastern Mediterranean basin, ARION along with the recent stranding in NE Aegean Sea, Greece reports that has documented six (6) Phocoena phocoena sp..The first evidence of a harbour porpoise ever being documented and recorded historically in the Eastern Mediterranean was the stranding of a wounded adult female harbour porpoise, 157 cm in length, which was found in critical condition at Panagia=92s Bay at Halkidiki, N.Aegean Sea, Greece on 26th June 1997 and had been successfully rehabilitated and reintroduced to the wild (Komnenou et al., 2002, 1999, Frantzis et al., 2001). Three years later, on February and March 2000, two adolescent male harbour porpoises of the same species stranded dead at Alexandroupolis Gulf, N. Aegean Sea, Greece (Drougas et al, 2001, Liori et al, 2001). Late September 2002 a decomposed corpse of a harbour porpoise has been found at the coastline of Alexandroupolis and on 17th January 2003 another young male harbour porpoise, 130 cm in length was found semi-decomposed at Nea Peramos, Kavala, again. There are also few undocumented sightings of harbour porpoises in recent years all recorded at Aegean Sea. ARION strongly believes that Harbour Porpoises=92 sightings in Greek waters may either belong to resident species migrating through the Bosporus Straits (Dardanelles) from the Azov-Black Seas=92 isolated population or, that they might be remnants of a previous larger population which is now threatened with disappearance. Transitional zones existing between north Aegean Sea and the Black Sea are considered to establish important communication channels for cetaceans. However, there are no resident population of cetaceans in recent years due to massive sea traffic and various pollution sources in the Straits of Dardanelles and the transitional zone of Bosporus Straits and therefore, migrations of this species are considered very rare. DNA examination of several samples has been analyzed and will be compared with samples of similar harbour porpoises=92 populations, from the Black Sea or the Atlantic, in order to indicate their origin. ARION=92s project on harbour porpoises is an on-going project, which runs since 1997 in NE Greece. Through such efforts, ARION is seeking to complement the scientific work being done and by others in the field, expanding our knowledge of these elusive animals whilst ensuring that the research is of practical benefit to the porpoises themselves. It is hoped that its increased trial operation in survey areas will yield vital information on Harbor Porpoises=92 population distribution and behavior, speeding the acquisition of the detail necessary to formulate meaningful management action. References 1.. Drougas Aimilia, Komnenou A., and Liori R., 2001. Cetaceans=92 diversity in Greece: 1945-2001 Sightings and Strandings Databank. 14th Biennial Conference of SMM on the Biology of Marine Mammals, 28 November =96 3rd December 2001, Vancouver B.C., Canada, p. 61. 2.. Frantzis A., Gordon J., Hassidis G., and Komnenou A., 2001. The enigma of harbour porpoise presence in the Mediterranean Sea. Marine Mammal Science, 17(4): 937-944. 3.. Komnenou A., Drougas A., and Dessiris A., 2002. Successful rehabilitation, in situ, of a seriously wounded harbour porpoise =96The first documented sighting in the Mediterranean Sea. Proceedings, 33rd Annual Conference of IAAAM, 4-8 May 2002, Albufeira, Portugal, p.118. 4.. Komnenou A. and Drougas A., 2001. Cetacean First Aid techniques. CITES Management Authority =96 Hellenic Ministry of Agriculture, RE.AD.CO= , ISBN 960-87156-0-1, Athens, 70 pages. 5.. Komnenou A., and Drougas A., 1999. First documented sighting of a wounded harbour porpoise in Mediterranean Sea. A unique case of successful rehabilitation. 13th Annual Conference, Valencia, 5-8 April 1999. 6.. Liori Rannia, Komnenou Anastasia, Drougas Aimilia and Troisi Gera, 2001. Pollutant levels in harbour porpoise tissues, NE Aegean Sea, Greece. 14th Biennial Conference of SMM on the Biology of Marine Mammals, 28 November =96 3rd December 2001, Vancouver B.C., Canada, p. 127. Sincerely, Aimilia Drougas, Oceanographer, PhD =96 Professor TEI Piraeus, Greece Anastasia Komnenou, Veterinary Surgeon, PhD, Lecturer of the Veterinary Faculty- Surgery Clinic, Aristotle=92s University of Thessaloniki, Greece ---------------------------------------------------------------------------= ----- ARION-Cetacean Rescue & Rehabilitation Research Center Bizaniou 9 Street, 54640 Thessaloniki, Greece Tel: +30-6945-644994, +30-6945-531850 Email: arionrescue(\)yahoo.gr -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2003 14:26:34 -0300 From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Janaina=20Ara=FAjo?= Subject: Behavior of the Sotalia guianensis ------ Dear colleagues, The following is the abstract of a recently published paper. Contact information for the appears at the end. Ara=FAjo, J. P.; Passavante, J. Z. de O. & Souto, A. S. 2001. Behavior of the estuarine dolphin, Sotalia guianensis, at Dolphin Bay =96 Pipa - Rio Grande do Norte =96 Brazil. Tropical Oceanography, 29 (2): 13-23. ABSTRACT There are numerous papers dealing with the behavior of Sotalia guianensis. However, only a few describe quantitatively the strategies used by these animals. Therefore, the main objective of this work was to study some behavioral strategies of the estuarine dolphin (Sotalia guianensis), indicating the most frequent ones and comparing them. Our aim was also to register the presence of young and their behavior. The work was carried out in Dolphin Bay (Pipa, municipality of Tibau do Sul, State of Rio Grande do Norte - Brazil). The animals were observed for 360 hours in 1995, 1996 and 2000. The observed forms of conduct were: feeding (chase and prey manipulation), leaps (total, partial and somersaults), tailslap, spy-hopping and surfing. The number of estuarine dolphin present at any one time varied from one to eight animals. The maximum number of dolphins occurred in the morning, with the largest frequency being at ebb tide. The maximum number of young was three individuals, and the largest frequency was of only one young. The results showed that somersaults, tailslap, prey manipulation, spy-hopping and total leaping presented their largest frequency of occurrence when they included the presence of the young (p<0,001). -------------------------------------- Please submit reprint requests to:=20 Janaina Ara=FAjo=20 janainabio(\)yahoo.com.br _______________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Mail O melhor e-mail gratuito da internet: 6MB de espa=E7o, antiv=EDrus, acess= o POP3, filtro contra spam.=20 http://br.mail.yahoo.com/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2003 04:45:15 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Seismic and marine mammals - comment period extended (fwd) Per Ken Hollingshead this morning, the PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD HAS BEEN EXTENDED 2 weeks on the GOM seismic survey application and Draft Programmatic Environmental Asssessment from April 2 to April 16. There is still plenty of time to request a copy of the application (from NMFS, phone # below) and Draft PEA (from MMS, phone #: 800-200-GULF). Written contact info for both agencies is also below under Addresses in the Notice that appeared on 3 March in the Federal Register, truncated here for bandwidth. Katy Penland American Cetacean Society kwpenland(\)yahoo.com DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 012903A] Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Conducting Oil and Gas Exploration Activities in the Gulf of Mexico AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of receipt of application for a small take authorization; request for comments and information. SUMMARY: NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS) of the Department of the Interior, for authorization to harass small numbers of marine mammals, principally the sperm whale, incidental to conducting seismic surveys in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). As a result of that request, NMFS is considering whether to propose regulations that would govern the incidental taking of small numbers of marine mammals under Letters of Authorization (LOAs) issued to members of the seismic industry that might have interactions with sperm whales. In order to promulgate regulations and issue LOAs, NMFS must determine that these takings will have a negligible impact on the affected species and stocks of marine mammals. NMFS invites comment on the preliminary application and suggestions on the content of the regulations. DATES: Comments and information must be postmarked no later than April 2, 2003. ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to the 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 and a list of references used in this document may be obtained by writing to this address, or by telephoning the contact listed here (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). A copy of the MMS draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (Draft PEA) is available by writing to: Minerals Management Service, Public Information Office, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70123-2394. Comments will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or the Internet. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth R. Hollingshead, NMFS, 301-713-2055, ext 128. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.)(MMPA) directs the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to allow, upon request, the incidental, but not intentional taking of marine mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specified geographical region if certain findings are made and regulations are issued. Permission may be granted for periods of 5 years or less if the Secretary finds that the taking will have a negligible impact on the species or stock(s), will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the species or stock(s) for subsistence uses, and regulations are prescribed setting forth the permissible methods of taking and the requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking. NMFS has defined "negligible impact" in 50 CFR 216.103 as "an impact resulting from the specified activity that cannot be reasonably expected to, and is not reasonably likely to, adversely affect the species or stock through effects on annual rates of recruitment or survival." The MMPA defines "harassment" as: any act of pursuit, torment, or annoyance which (i) has the potential to injure a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild (Level A harassment); or (ii) has the potential to disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild by causing disruption of behavioral patterns, including, but not limited to, migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or sheltering (Level B harassment). Summary of Request On December 20, 2002, MMS petitioned NMFS, as a precautionary measure, for rulemaking under section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA to authorize any potential take of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) incidental to conducting seismic surveys during oil and gas exploration activities in the GOM (MMS, 2002a). MMS has preliminarily determined that the taking will involve only small numbers of sperm whales; have no more than a negligible impact on the species and stocks of affected marine mammals; and not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of marine mammals for subsistence uses. It should be noted that MMS expects to update its petition for regulations to include the incidental take of other species of marine mammals, such as dolphins, beaked whales, and Bryde's whales (Balaenoptera edeni), based upon information currently being assessed under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The NEPA document will be submitted to NMFS prior to its determination on whether or not to proceed with this rulemaking. If NMFS decides to proceed with rulemaking, that document will expand the description of seismic airgun operations and on the analysis of impacts on marine mammals by seismic airgun arrays. Description of the Specified Activity Marine geophysical seismic surveys are conducted to obtain information on surface and near-surface geology and on subsurface geological formations. Typical seismic surveying operations tow an array of airguns (the seismic sound source) and a streamer (signal receiver cable) behind the vessel, 5-10 m (16.4-32.8 ft) below the sea surface. The airgun array produces a burst of underwater sound by releasing compressed air into the water column that creates an acoustic energy pulse. The release of compressed air every several seconds creates a regular series of strong acoustic impulses separated by silent periods lasting 7-16 seconds, depending on survey type and depth to the target formations. Airgun arrays are designed to focus the sound energy downward. Acoustic (sound) signals are reflected off the subsurface sedimentary layers and recorded near the water surface by hydrophones spaced within the streamer cables. These streamer cables are often 3 mi (4.8 km) or greater in length. Vessel speed is typically 4.5-6 knots (about 4-8 mph) with gear deployed. The 3-D (3-Dimensional) seismic surveying enables a more accurate assessment of potential hydrocarbon reservoirs to optimally locate exploration and development wells, and minimize the number of wells required to develop a field. State-of-the-art interactive computer mapping systems can handle much denser data coverage than the older 2-D seismic surveys. Multiple-source and multiple-streamer technologies are used for 3-D seismic surveys. A typical 3-D survey might employ a dual array of 18 guns per array. Each array might emit a 3,000 cubic-inch burst of compressed air at 2,000 kilojoule (kJ) of acoustic energy for each burst. The streamer array might consist of 6-8 parallel cables, each 6-8 km (3.7-5 mi) long, spaced 75 m (246 ft) apart. A series of 3-D surveys collected over time (4-D seismic survey) is used for reservoir monitoring and management (the movement of oil, gas, and water in the reservoirs can be observed over time). For management purposes, MMS has divided the Northern GOM into three planning areas: Eastern, Central and Western. In general, Federal waters offshore Florida and Alabama are in the Eastern Planning Area, Federal waters offshore Mississippi and Louisiana are in the Central Planning Area, and Federal waters offshore Texas are in the Western Planning Area. For seismic exploration, about 1300 blocks in the Western and Central Planning Areas have not yet been surveyed with 3-D seismic techniques (R. Brinkman, MMS GOM Region, pers comm, 2002). It is assumed that a lower level of new seismic survey activity will occur in the Eastern Planning Area relative to the other two areas (i.e. the vast majority of survey activities are expected in the Central and Western Planning Areas). Industry interest in the Eastern GOM has historically been limited to the westernmost portions of the planning area and is usually defined by MMS' 5-Year Leasing Plan (MMS, 2002a). The different types of seismic survey activity in the northern GOM can occur on any day of a given year during the scope of the petition (5 years). Seismic surveys may span one day, weeks, or months. MMS (2002b) provides detailed characteristics of the different types of operations and equipment applicable to seismic surveys employed in the region. That information will be used by NMFS during this rulemaking. Seismic surveys may be conducted in any Federal waters of the GOM. Tables provided in the MMS application (MMS, 2002a) project the anticipated surveys for vertical seismic profiling, deep seismic, and high resolution seismic operations in the GOM over the next 5 years. Description of Marine Mammals Affected by the Activity There are 29 species of marine mammals documented as occurring in Federal waters of the GOM. General information on these species can be found in NMFS Stock Assessment Reports (Waring, 2001, 2002). These documents are available at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot-res/PR2/Stock-Assessment-Program/sars.html/ Stock Assessment Reports. Any of these 29 marine mammal species may be exposed to acoustic energies introduced into Federal waters by seismic survey operations. At this time, the MMS is requesting authorization of take for only GOM sperm whales under this petition; therefore, the remainder of this section addresses this species only. Additional information on sperm whales in the GOM is available in NMFS (2002a), which is available for viewing or downloading at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot-res/overview/publicat.html/ section. Sperm whales are the most abundant large cetacean in the GOM, and are the most important Gulf cetacean in terms of collective biomass. The GOM sperm whales are comprised of mostly female and juvenile animals, although a few large bulls have been sighted in the northern Gulf. Some large males have been observed in the Gulf in recent summer surveys, particularly in the DeSoto Canyon region. Calves are frequently sighted. The GOM sperm whale abundance has recently been estimated by NMFS at 1,213 (CV 0.35) whales with a minimum population estimate of 911 whales. The presence of cow/calf pairs indicates that the northern GOM is a biologically important nursery area for sperm whales. Based on seasonal aerial surveys, sperm whales are present in the northern GOM in all seasons, but sightings in the northern GOM are more common during the summer months. Based on recent survey efforts, areas of concentration appear to be off the Mississippi River Delta, off Southern Florida, and off South Texas. Sperm whales have been observed throughout the GOM from the upper continental slope near the 100-m (328.1-ft) isobath to the seaward extent of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and beyond. It should be noted that both the apparent seasonality and the areas of concentration could be affected by, or the result of, geographic and seasonal patterns of existing surveys and, as such, should be considered tentative findings. <> -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2003 16:29:50 +0200 From: Tethys Subject: Tethys courses and workshops in the Mediterranean Sea Every year, since 1993, some 300 volunteers have the chance to join the "courses" and "workshops" organized by the Tethys Research Institute, to study Mediterranean cetaceans living in the International Cetacean Sanctuary (Italy and France), and in the eastern Ionian Sea (Greece). The "courses" are run by experienced teams of biologists. Volunteers are involved in all activities conducted in the field. You will observe whales and dolphins in their natural environment and participate in collecting data at sea while improving your CV. You will learn about the biology and conservation of cetaceans and get first hand experience in the use of advanced research methodologies. No previous knowledge is needed. Advanced "workshops" are another option offered by Tethys. These are training courses particularly well suited for biology and ecology students and involve participation to all phases of research, seminars on cetacean conservation and management, and practical field activities (including photo-identification, behavioural sampling and remote tracking). During these intensive workshops, participants will gain a comprehensive view on the problems and pleasures of being a cetacean researcher. The workshops are led by Giovanni Bearzi and Simone Panigada, depending on the chosen area. Giovanni, President of Tethys, is a Pew Marine Conservation Fellow and a Contract professor of Cetacean conservation at the University of Venice, Italy. Simone, Vice president of Tethys, is a Marie Curie Post Doctoral Fellow at the Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St. Andrews, Scotland. The courses and workshops last 6-9 days and take place between June and October. Participation fees range between 630 Euro (431 GBP or 524 USD) and 900 Euro (615 GBP or 795 USD) depending on course kind and period. Food & Board are included. In Italy participants are hosted on sailing boats while in Greece the project is land-based (with daily surveys on inflatable boats) and participants live in a comfortable Greek-style house. For detailed information see: http://www.tethys.org ________________________ Tethys Research Institute Viale G.B. Gadio, 2 20121 Milano, Italy ph. +39 0272001947 fax +39 0272001946 tethys(\)tethys.org http://www.tethys.org ________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2003 15:54:48 +0000 From: "MEER e.V." Subject: Stenella frontalis group size Dear All! Responding to Jaime Bolanos' posting referring to Atlantic spotted dolphins' group size I would like to mention the numbers we have collected during the past years off La Gomera (Canary Islands). The Atlantic spotted dolphin is the second most abundant species found off La Gomera, with 17% of all sightings made with this species. We regularly see large groups of 100 and more individuals especially during springtime. So far, we have analysed the data of 321 sightings made from 1995 until 2001. Here is the descriptive statistics of those sightings: Minimum group size: 1 Maximum group size: 650 (conservative estimation) Median: 40 Quartile 1: 20 Quartile 3: 75 Hope this helps, Fabian Ritter MEER e.V. www.M-E-E-R.org ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2003 09:05:51 +0200 From: Salva H-P Subject: raw data for workshop in Colombia ------ Dear listers, In June 2003, I will be lecturing a 3 week course on the use of multivari= ate ordination and classification methods in aquatic mammal research for the Omacha Foundation (Director Dr. Fernando Trujillo) in Bogota, Colombia. I am designing different kind of practical exercises, one of which will = be to analyse a multivariate data table from an already published paper in which no multivariate ordination/classification has been carried out, and ask my students to run multivariate analysis on the data set and assess whether the latter approach adds any valuable descriptive or inferencial information to the paper. All I need is a copy or, preferably, a pdf of the publication, the raw da= ta set of a relatively large table (at least 15 x 15) which was used in the publication, and some pictures from this study. So please if you had any publication of that kind which I could borrow, I would very much apprecia= te your collaboration. The raw data would be used only in the workshop and destroyed afterwards. Many thanks for your support. Salva Salvador Herrando-P=E9rez BSc MPhil in aquatic ecology ADDRESS C/ Padre Jofre 19,piso 3, pta 7 12006 Castell=F3n de la Plana SPAIN Telephones: (34) 964 038845 / (34) 657 787340 E-mail: salherra(\)ono.com / salherra(\)ull.es ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2003 09:01:21 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MARMAM monthly Editorial Policy and FAQ Posted 1 April 2003 ==================================================== MARMAM Editorial Policy & 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. What notices from regional groups are posted? 13. Useful websites 14. Other email discussion lists 15. 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, run through the University of Victoria. The list was established in August 1993 specifically for marine mammal researchers and graduate students, as well as those actively involved in marine mammal conservation and management. As of January 2002 there were over 4,100 subscribers from 72 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. Posting of messages to the list is done at the Editors' discretion. ________________________________________________________ >> 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 announcements - internship/volunteer opportunities. To help students discern the pros and cons of different research groups we ask that that postings provide details of the research experience that volunteers will gain from this position. Posts for volunteer opportunities (particularly paying opportunities) that are not university-affiliated, should provide a measure of their research output in terms of publications available. For groups that do not do this, we will add the note: NO PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE ON THIS WORK If you are affiliated with a university research group, please make this clear in your posting. Finally, provide an indication of the level of payment required from the volunteers: whether the position is paid, volunteers are subsidised in terms of accomodation but have to provide their own flights, or whether there is a charge for the position. - 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 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) 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 ensures that: - An appropriate and explicit 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 4000+ list members. - 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. All information should be included as text within the body of the message. - Messages are properly formatted and do not contain excessive numbers of typos. Messages that 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. Please note the following about message formatting. 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. Further, we have noticed that messages composed by cutting and pasting directly from WordPerfect or Word can cause line wrapping problems. Therefore, messages should not be composed using the latter method. Several e-mail programs append encoded information (MIME, Metafile, and V-cards are common ones). Web-based e-mail programs often append HTML tags by default. These "embelishments" cause display and readability problems and are strongly discouraged. Whenever possible users should disable HTML tags (or send the text-only version) and other encoding features when submitting messages to MARMAM. EVERY EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO SUBMIT MESSAGES AS PLAIN TEXT. These practices will greatly reduce the number of messages with strange formatting that appear on MARMAM. ________________________________________________________ 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. What notices from regional groups are posted? Submissions from regional groups (for example, but not restricted to, the regional chapters of the American Cetacean Society or the regional student chapters of professional associations such as the Society for Marine Mammalogy) should carefully consider whether their announcements are relevant to 4,000+ recipients in 72 countries. Announcements about meetings of short duration (less that half a day) and with little or no scientifc content are discouraged. Notices dealing with internal chapter businesses or organizational matters will not be posted. Notices from regional student chapters 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). ________________________________________________________ 13. 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: http://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/ Oceans Blue Whalewatch Listserv: http://www.oceansblue.org/bluetourism/chartacourse/ BajaToBering/index.html ______________________________________________________ 14. 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) ________________________________________________________ 15. 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, 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 July 2002 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2003 09:50:16 +0900 From: "Anthony A. Flaherty" Subject: Public Comment on Dugong Management Public Comment Invited for Dugong Management Program Northern Territory Australia Plan accessible via the NT National Parks Service website http://www.nt.gov.au/ipe/pwcnt/index.cfm?attributes.fuseaction=open_page&pag e_id=5172 Wildlife Management Programs for Public Comment The Dugong Management Program Australia supports a significant proportion of the world's Dugong stocks, with the Dugong being the most abundant marine mammal in inshore waters of northern Australia. The Dugong is listed as vulnerable to extinction internationally, however, it is not listed as endangered in Australia. It is fully protected from any commercial or recreational utilisation within its range in Australian waters. The Dugong has a significant cultural and dietary role for many indigenous Australian peoples and is subject to indigenous utilisation within these roles. This significance stems from the high community status of Dugong hunting and hunters, the essential role of Dugong in Aboriginal traditional culture and religion and quality of Dugong as a food source. Maintenance of this important part of Aboriginal culture underlies much of this Management program. Additionally, the Dugong is subject to mortality associated with non-indigenous fishing activities and coastal development. The management program seeks to address these issues through the establishment of co-operative processes to develop appropriate management strategies. (These documents are stored as PDF files. You will need a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader to view or print.) **************************************** Tony Flaherty South Australian Coordinator Marine & Coastal Community Network (SA) c/o University of South Australia, Holbrooks Road, Underdale South Australia 5032 Phone 61 8 8302 6568 Fax 61 8 8302 6239 - mobile 0429 678 869 E-dress - web - The MCCN works to increase understanding, appreciation, protection and management of marine and coastal environments. It provides information and opinion from a variety of sources and initiates and supports community involvement to conserve life in the sea. For our free mail list to receive the MCCN newsletters WAVES and Regional Ripples contact available as posted hard copy (in Australia) or electronically as Pdf It is supported by the Federal Government's Natural Heritage Trust. In South Australia the MCCN is hosted by University of South Australia. Views expressed in material forwarded are not necessarily those of the MCCN. ,///, <')<:::>{ `` *********************************** ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2003 12:13:12 +0100 From: "J.C.Goold" Subject: Marine Mammal Masters Degree Dear All, For information, the University of Wales, Bangor, offers a 1 year full time Masters Degree Programme in Marine Mammal Science. The course consists of taught modules and an independent research project. The taught modules are: Biology & Physiology Bioacoustics Behavioural Ecology Oceanography & Remote Sensing Survey Techniques Conservation Biology & Genetics Anthropogenic Impacts Strandings & Pathology Scientific Writing The next entry to the course is September 2003 (some places are still available), and the closing date for applications is 2 June 2003. Hard copy information can be obtained by contacting Miss Tracey Johnson (t.l.johnson(\)bangor.ac.uk), and details can also be found by visiting: http://www.bangor.ac.uk/ies/mms.html Best regards John Goold ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2003 14:03:37 -0800 From: Stephanie Showalter Subject: Conference Announcement Dear Colleagues, The National Sea Grant Law Center, with our co-sponsors the Dean Rusk Center at the University of Georgia and the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami, is pleased to announce the upcoming conference: International Coastal Management: Tools for Successful Regional Partnerships and Initiatives June 13-14, 2003 at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. A complete agenda and the registration form can be accessed via our website at http://www.olemiss.edu/orgs/SGLC/conference.htm . We have assembled an exciting and informative agenda with speakers from several countries. Speakers will present on a variety of international coastal management topics, including climate change, fisheries, and marine protected areas. We hope this conference will provide coastal managers the opportunity to catch up on recent developments in the field and share success stories. To facilitate the sharing of information on individual projects, the second day of the conference is dedicated to the presentation of case studies from Belize, Panama, and Georgia. It is our sincere hope that you will take the time to browse the conference information and decide to join us in June. We look forward to seeing you there. Please feel free to contact me with any questions, either by phone at (662) 915-7775 or by email at sshowalt(\)olemiss.edu . Sincerely, Stephanie Showalter Sea Grant Law Center ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2003 13:36:48 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Memorial Service for Michael Newcomer (fwd) As many of you know, Michael Newcomer passed away earlier this year in the tragic aerial survey accident. Since many of us worked with Michael and knew him well, we are having a memorial in his honor. The memorial will be on 4/26/03, in Los Altos, California. His parents and relatives/family friends will be in attendance, as will many people from the marine mammal community. We are posting this as there are undoubtedly many people who knew Michael in the marine mammal field, and we want to be sure that everyone knows about this event. Everyone is welcome to attend. If you can't make it, but would like to write something and have it read on your behalf, please send it to one of the email addresses below. The memorial will start at 2 PM (2:00-6:00), and there will be some refreshments. In honor of our friend, suggested attire is aloha wear. For more details/questions/directions, contact either: Kelly Newman Allman: kelnewall(\)yahoo.com 510-635-8107 or Ann Zoidis: azoidis(\)ttsfo.com 415-974-1221 (w); 510-658-5906 (h) -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2003 13:42:31 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: observer positions, Texas (fwd) Hello Everyone, We have immediate openings for marine mammal/sea turtle observers along the Texas coast. The pay is $180 dollars per day for dredge observers and $200 per day if aboard a trawler. All data is recorded and submitted to the Army Corps of Engineers and NMFS. Contracts are flexible, but typically we need at least a 4 week commitment. We are also currently accepting resumes for up coming work. If interested contact us at ShorelineConsulting(\)houston.rr.com Contact: Brad Dawe Shoreline Consulting Office: (409) 935-7736 Fax: (409) 935-2649 -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2003 08:16:15 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Abstract: pilot whale movements (fwd) The following paper has just been published in the journal Wildlife Biology. The printed version is out now as well as the the online version. It can be received at doreteb(\)ngs.fo Bloch, D., Heide-J=F8rgensen, M.P., Stefansson, E., Mikkelsen, B., Ofstad, L.H., Dietz, R. and Andersen, L.W. 2003. Short-term movements of pilot whales around the Faroe Islands. Wildlife Biology 9,1: 47-58. Abstract On 15 July 2000, a pod of about 80 long-finned pilot whales=20 Globicephala melas was driven to the coast at Sandav=E1gur, the=20 Faroe Islands (62.055=B0N, 7.157=B0W) for the purpose of tagging=20 selected whales with satellite-linked radio transmitters. A=20 transmitter was attached to the anterior flank of the dorsal fin of four beached whales. After the tagging, all four whales were reunited with their pod and the entire pod was driven to sea. The positions of three of the four whales were tracked (one for a period of 47 days) and the results show that the whales separated after a few days and eventually went in different directions. After 10 days, two of the whales were observed together in a pod, and after 19 days two of the whales were located at positions determined to be within 2.3 km of each other. The whales showed a strong affinity for the deep water off the continental shelf. The sex and relatedness of the four, tagged whales were determined from skin biopsies. The tagged whales comprised one adult female with one juvenile in puberty, possibly her male offspring, and two adult males, one of which could be the offspring or the sibling of the female. The swimming speed of the whales was estimated at 0.2 and 14.5 km/h and they travelled average distances of 70-111 km/24 hrs with a maximum of 200 km in 24 hrs. Considering the mobility of the whales, it seems likely that the catches that occur at the Faroe Islands are recruited from a larger area in the North Atlantic than previously presumed. This suggests that the whales are taken from a larger population than the that estimated from coastal areas around the Faroe Islands, hence increasing the probability that the harvest is sustainable. Regards Dorete Bloch NB: NEW PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS please look at: http://www.ngs.fo/tlf ###################################################### Dorete Bloch PhD, director, professor Museum of Natural History FO-100 T=F3rshavn, Faroe Islands Telephone: +298 35 23 00, direct +298 35 23 20 Fax: +298 35 23 21 E-mail: doreteb(\)ngs.fo ##################################################### visit our webside: www.ngs.fo -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2003 07:43:47 -1000 From: "Marc O. Lammers" Subject: Dolphin whistle directionality Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 For those interested in acoustics, .pdf and paper reprints are presently available of the article: Marc O. Lammers and Whitlow W. L. Au. 2003. "Directionality in the whistles of Hawaiian spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris): A signal feature to cue direction of movement?" Marine Mammal Science: Vol. 19, No. 2, pp. 249-264. Contact Marc Lammers at lammers(\)hawaii.edu ABSTRACT Dolphins produce frequency modulated (FM) whistles that are thought to promote the synchrony and coordination of behavior between members of a group. How whistles are used in this regard remains poorly understood. One possibility is that whistles have directionality and thereby convey the orientation and direction of movement of the signaler to nearby listeners. To explore this possibility, whistles from free-ranging Hawaiian spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) were obtained using a towed, three-hydrophone line array and examined for the presence of directionality. Both the estimated source level and harmonic content of whistles produced by animals traveling with or toward the array were greater than those of animals moving ahead or away from it. In addition, signals produced by animals near the array (within 20 m) were received differently on the three hydrophones spaced 11.5 m apart. These differences were greater than would be expected from transmission loss disparities alone. The results indicate that directivity is present in the transmission pattern of whistles. To infer the form of this directivity, a theoretical whistle beam pattern was established based on the assumption that the dolphin's sound source is approximated by a circular piston transducer (Au 1993). The resulting beam indicates that spinner dolphin whistles become increasingly directional with frequency, especially with respect to harmonics. The orientation-dependent harmonic structure of whistles thus presents a potential cue that listening animals could interpret to infer the direction of movement of signalers. Harmonics are present in the whistles of many dolphin species and may represent an inherent signal design feature that promotes coordination between animals. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2003 18:10:45 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: New article on whaling history (fwd) From: Matthias Bode quite some time ago, I subscribed to MARMAM to gather information on whales on whaling for a project. A short article has been he outcome. It has been printed, and I simply forgot to announce this in the MARMAM-group. It would not have been possible without the help of the group. New article: Matthias Bode, Wale und Walfang in der Antike, Laverna 13 (2002), 1-23 This is an article on whaling in the Greek and Roman world, roughly 400BC-400AD. It was written with ancient history in mind, at first summarizing the ancient knowledge of whales. Possible species identifications are discussed for the Persian Gulf, the Mediterreanean and for the Atlantic coast of Europe. After that, the available evidence on whaling in antiquity is presented. All the evidence suggest that whaling took place possibly even in the Mediterranean itself, but the evidence is scarce. Along the western coasts of Europe several ancient remarks and reports show that whaling was practised in Spanish waters already in the first or second century AD. Species hunted must have included Gray Whales and Right Whales but also Sperm Whales. The article is written in German. With kind regards, Matthias Bode -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2003 13:44:52 -0500 From: Rosemary Seton Subject: Allied Whale: Volunteer Student Research Assistant Positions Student Research Assistant Allied Whale, the marine mammal research lab of the College of the Atlantic located in Bar Harbor, Maine, seeks up to four student research assistants to participate in the 2003 field research season at the Edward McCormick Blair Marine Research Station on Mt. Desert Rock (MDR). Position will extend for a minimum of four weeks during the time period July 1, 2003 and August 31, 2003, and requires full-time residency on MDR (most remote light house station on U.S. eastern seaboard). Duties require involvement in all aspects of the multi-objective, island based field research season including, but not necessarily limited to: the collection of sightings, photographic identification, biopsy, acoustic, and oceanographic data pertaining to the ecology of large baleen whales; boat and facility operations and maintenance. In addition opportunities exist for receiving instruction in small boat handing and seamanship and/or conducting an independent research initiative. This! positi! on is intended to provide a field research experience for individuals who are interested in pursuing studies in marine field biology but who may have limited practical experience. Successful applicants will have an educational background in biology or marine science and will possess a desire to learn through participation. Applicants must be self-motivated, team players, possess excellent social skills and must maintain a positive attitude under a variety of adverse working conditions. Student research assistants will receive no salary but will be provided room and board while in residence at the station. Applications will be accepted through April 18, 2003. Letters of interest and resume should be sent to: Rosemary Seton Allied Whale Marine Mammal Research Lab College of the Atlantic 105 Eden Street Bar Harbor, ME 04609 (207) 288-5644 rseton(\)coa.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2003 18:11:09 +0300 From: Gail Schofield Subject: Photo ID & computer programs to perform pattern recognition and matching Hello Re: Photo ID & computer programs to perform pattern recognition and matching I was pointed in the direction of MARMAM in the hope that a query of mine may be answered. My field or research is actually sea turtles on the island of Zakynthos, in Greece, Mediterranean. I am about to start a study on a loggerhead sea turtle population which at present is estimated to have 300-800 breeding individuals annually and an estimated total breeding population number of 900-2400 individuals (based on an assumption that about 1/3 of the population migrate to Zakynthos to breed and nest annually). In my study I plan to use photo identification methods of the scute pattern on one side of a turtle's head (the patterns and spacing of which vary between individuals), however I also need a program which is capable of performing pattern recognition and matching of photographs. I have been researching computer packages that perform 'pattern recognition and matching' on the Intenet but have not identified any program that I can use without having to remain connected to the Internet, which is rather limiting as well as my remaining uncertain as to what sort of package I am looking for. Such photo ID and matching has not been attempted in the world of sea turtles yet (traditional tagging methods are still used which result in a high degree of tag loss and loss of continuity in following individual life histories), but I am hoping that a program may have been developed for dolphins, whales or seals which I am aware are subject to much photo ID based research. I sincerely hope that someone is using or may have developed a program that may be of use, and I would truly appreciate any advice on how to contact these individuals. Yours sincerely Gail Schofield g.schof(\)freemail.gr Zoologist. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 5 Apr 2003 11:28:17 -0800 From: robsonbight(\)shaw.ca Subject: Opportunity for Killer Whale Research Volunteers Opportunity for Killer Whale Research Volunteers The Robson Bight Ecological Reserve, part of the British Columbia Provincial Park system, is located on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. It was established by BC Parks in 1982 in recognition of the importance of this area to killer whales. An upland buffer zone was subsequently added to provide further protection for the whales, increasing the total park size to 5,460 hectares. The Northern Resident Killer Whale population spends a large amount of time in this area due to the concentration of salmon runs in the surrounding waters, as well as using the rubbing beaches. There is the opportunity for volunteers to provide help collecting research data on the killer whales as well as vessel traffic in the area. Data is collected from both an on-shore site and a small-motorized patrol vessel. The patrol vessel is also used to provide on the water education to other vessels about the no-entry policy of the reserve. Volunteers will be involved in both aspects of the program - collecting data from land observation site and assisting in patrolling and educating on the water. The field camp, located on West Cracroft Island, is only accessible by boat. Life in camp can be very wet at times, so volunteers should come with appropriate gear (visit http://members.shaw.ca/robsonbight for details). It will be required that volunteers are in good physical shape to help carrying field gear and hike to the observation site (approx. 35 mins). There is no running water or electricity in camp but the option of boiling a pot of water for a good scrub down is available. Several wooden tent pads have been built and volunteers must come with their own tent and sleeping bag. We share this island with cougars, black bears, mice, eagles, so wildlife visits are not uncommon. A comfort level in the wilderness is therefore important. Seals, sea lions, killer whales, humpback whales and minkie whales are a few of the other regular visitors to the waters surrounding the island. This is a great opportunity for individuals looking to increase their field skills and gain research experience. There should be at least a 2-4 week commitment during the project dates of June 24 - Sept 11, 2003. Volunteer pick-up is currently scheduled for Mondays. Volunteers should be prepared to fund travel expenses to and from Telegraph Cove, BC as well as camp food costs (approx $5-8 CDN / day in camp). For more information visit members.shaw.ca/robsonbight or email robsonbight(\)shaw.ca ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 5 Apr 2003 11:41:40 +1000 From: Sue Muloin Subject: New Tourism Journal boundary="----=_NextPart_000_00B0_01C2FB68.52EB0620" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_00B0_01C2FB68.52EB0620 charset="iso-8859-1" Hi fellow "MARMAMers", I thought this new journal might be of interest to many subscribers to = this list. See end of message for contact details. Cheers Sue Dr. Sue Muloin Unit 1-26 Rutherford Street Yorkeys Knob, Qld 4878 Australia Ph: 0011+61+7+4081 0059 (H) e-mail: muloin(\)bigpond.com Call for Papers Tourism in Marine Environments is a new interdisciplinary journal = dealing with a variety of management issues in marine settings. It is a = scientific journal that draws upon the expertise of academics and = practitioners from various disciplines related to the marine = environment, including tourism, marine science, geography, social = sciences, psychology, environmental studies, economics, marketing, and = many more.=20 The marine environment has long been one of the most attractive settings = for tourism. Marine tourism, as defined by Orams (Marine Tourism, = Routledge, 1999: 9) are 'those recreational activities that involve = travel away from one's place of residence and which have as their host = or focus the marine environment (where the marine environment is defined = as those waters which are saline and tide-affected)'. Thus, it includes = a wide spectrum of activities, such as scuba diving and snorkeling, wind = surfing, fishing, observing marine mammals and birds, the cruise ship = and ferry industry, all beach activities, sea kayaking, visits to = fishing villages and lighthouses, maritime museums, sailing and motor = yachting, maritime events, Arctic and Antarctic tourism, and many more.=20 Tourism in Marine Environments aims to contribute to the process of = theory building, and to be the leading source for research reports and = analysis related to all forms of marine tourism. It is governed by an = international editorial board consisting of experts in marine tourism, = marine science, and related fields.=20 We would like to invite you to submit full papers and = commentaries/research notes related to the above topics to the = editor-in-chief: Michael L=FCck Department of Recreation & Leisure Studies Brock University=20 500 Glenridge Avenue St. Catharines, Ontario Canada, L2S 3X2 For detailed information about length and format of the papers, please = see the attached guidelines for contributors. We are also inviting papers specifically on various aspects of whale = watching for a Special Issue on this topic. We are looking forward to your contributions, and our first issue! Feel = free to pass this call for papers on to friends and colleagues who might = have an interest in marine tourism. If you have any questions or = concerns regarding Tourism in Marine Environments, please feel free to = send me an e-mail. All the Best! Michal Lueck Tourism in Marine Environments Editorial Board Michael L=FCck, Editor-in-Chief (Brock University, Canada) Marc Miller, Commentary/Research Notes Editor (University of Washington, = USA) David A. Fennell, Book Review Editor (Brock University, Canada) Jan Auyong (Oregon State University, USA) Thomas Bauer (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong) Simon Berrow (Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Foundation, Ireland) Erlet Cater (University of Reading, UK) Philip Dearden (University of Victoria, Canada) Paul Forestell (Southampton College of Long Island University, USA) Brian Garrod (University of Wales Aberystwyth, UK) C. Michael Hall (University of Otago, New Zealand) James Higham (University of Otago, New Zealand) Ross Klein (Memorial University, Canada) Gianna Moscardo (James Cook University, Australia) Sue Muloin (Independent Scholar, Australia) Mark B. Orams (Massey University, New Zealand) *************************************************************************= ************************** Michael Lueck Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies Brock University=20 St. Catharines, Ontario Canada, L2S 3A1 Phone: +1 905 688 5550 ext. 4580 Fax: +1 905 984 4843 e-mail: mlueck(\)brocku.ca ------=_NextPart_000_00B0_01C2FB68.52EB0620 charset="iso-8859-1"
Hi fellow "MARMAMers",
 
I thought this new journal might be of = interest to=20 many subscribers to this list. See end of message for contact=20 details.
 
Cheers
Sue
Dr. Sue Muloin
Unit 1-26 Rutherford=20 Street
Yorkeys Knob, Qld 4878 Australia
Ph: 0011+61+7+4081 0059=20 (H)

e-mail: muloin(\)bigpond.com
 
 
Call for = Papers

Tourism in Marine=20 Environments is a new interdisciplinary journal dealing with a = variety of=20 management issues in marine settings. It is a scientific journal that = draws upon=20 the expertise of academics and practitioners from various disciplines = related to=20 the marine environment, including tourism, marine science, geography, = social=20 sciences, psychology, environmental studies, economics, marketing, and = many=20 more.

The marine environment has long been one of the most = attractive=20 settings for tourism. Marine tourism, as defined by Orams (Marine = Tourism,=20 Routledge, 1999: 9) are ‘those recreational activities that = involve travel away=20 from one’s place of residence and which have as their host or = focus the marine=20 environment (where the marine environment is defined as those waters = which are=20 saline and tide-affected)’. Thus, it includes a wide spectrum of = activities,=20 such as scuba diving and snorkeling, wind surfing, fishing, observing = marine=20 mammals and birds, the cruise ship and ferry industry, all beach = activities, sea=20 kayaking, visits to fishing villages and lighthouses, maritime museums, = sailing=20 and motor yachting, maritime events, Arctic and Antarctic tourism, and = many=20 more.

Tourism in Marine Environments aims to contribute = to the=20 process of theory building, and to be the leading source for research = reports=20 and analysis related to all forms of marine tourism. It is governed by = an=20 international editorial board consisting of experts in marine tourism, = marine=20 science, and related fields.

We would like to invite you to = submit full=20 papers and commentaries/research notes related to the above topics to = the=20 editor-in-chief:

Michael L=FCck
Department of Recreation & = Leisure=20 Studies
Brock University
500 Glenridge Avenue
St. Catharines,=20 Ontario
Canada, L2S 3X2

For detailed information about length = and=20 format of the papers, please see the attached guidelines for=20 contributors.

We are also inviting papers specifically on various = aspects=20 of whale watching for a Special Issue on this topic.

We = are=20 looking forward to your contributions, and our first issue! Feel free to = pass=20 this call for papers on to friends and colleagues who might have an = interest in=20 marine tourism. If you have any questions or concerns regarding = Tourism in=20 Marine Environments, please feel free to send me an = e-mail.

All the=20 Best!
Michal Lueck


Tourism in Marine=20 Environments

Editorial Board

Michael = L=FCck,=20 Editor-in-Chief (Brock University, Canada)
Marc Miller, = Commentary/Research=20 Notes Editor (University of Washington, USA)
David A. Fennell, Book = Review=20 Editor (Brock University, Canada)

Jan Auyong (Oregon State = University,=20 USA)
Thomas Bauer (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong = Kong)
Simon=20 Berrow (Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Foundation, Ireland)
Erlet Cater = (University of Reading, UK)
Philip Dearden (University of Victoria,=20 Canada)
Paul Forestell (Southampton College of Long Island = University,=20 USA)
Brian Garrod (University of Wales Aberystwyth, UK)
C. Michael = Hall=20 (University of Otago, New Zealand)
James Higham (University of Otago, = New=20 Zealand)
Ross Klein (Memorial University, Canada)
Gianna Moscardo = (James=20 Cook University, Australia)
Sue Muloin (Independent Scholar,=20 Australia)
Mark B. Orams (Massey University, New=20 Zealand)





**********************************************************= *****************************************

Michael Lueck
Department of Recreation and Leisure = Studies
Brock=20 University
St. Catharines, Ontario
Canada, L2S 3A1
Phone: +1 = 905 688=20 5550  ext. 4580
Fax: +1 905 984 4843
e-mail:=20 mlueck(\)brocku.ca
 ------=_NextPart_000_00B0_01C2FB68.52EB0620-- ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2003 07:23:31 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Gray Whale With Obstructed Blowhole (fwd) Dear MARMAM, On 28 February I obtained some good photos of a gray whale with a stick protruding from its left blowhole in Laguna San Ignacio, Baja California Sur, Mexico. The whale had been observed by others in the same location since approximately 13 February. Four of the photos and a report are on the American Cetacean Society web site at http://www.acsonline.org/ We would welcome reports of further sightings of this whale, as well as information that might help clear up the cause of such condition. Take care, Bernardo Bernardo Alps ACS/LA President San Pedro, CA Whalephoto(\)earthlink.net (310) 548-0966 -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2003 07:29:41 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Responses to "What am I missing in regard to Right Whales" (fwd) From: Chuck Schom Hi The Editors thought other might be interested in the responses to my =93Wha= t am I missing in regard to Right Whales=94 so requested that I forward the responses. Here they are, but first let me add a little background. As those of you who are familiar with the South West Corner of the Bay of Fundy, which includes the Grand Manan Basin, know it is a unique Marine Habitat which has just recently started to come to the fore. As one of the respondents points out, not only do the =93Right Whale=94 but also Finback, in the area, have been observed doing what looks like mating during August/September/October.....I presented photo evidence of Finback Whale mating like behavior at the 2002 European Cetacean Society Meeting. This mating like behavior is part of the Local Fishery=92s Folk Lore. As there is much less known about =93Finback Whales=94 then =93Right Whales= =94 and there is general support for the =93Right Whales=94 going through mating li= ke activity in the area I put the question forward about =93Right Whales=94 ev= en though my interest is =93Fin Whales=94. I finally figured out a quick and dirty way to Quantify Blow/Dive behavior....I hope to report on it at the Biannual Marine Mammalogy meeting in December and to submit it for publication as part of a larger piece. The long and short of it is that there are highly statistically significant differences between the Finback behavior during what might be mating behavior and other times. My background is Mathematical Genetics/Evolution, Quantitative and Population Genetics. I take a Teleological View to things. If something seem to be a significant part of a Specie=92s behavior it probably develope= d because those that did it left more offspring then those that didn=92t, i.e= =2E it has adaptive value. The Whales are putting out just to much energy over a lot of days for it to be just something to do. It has to have survival value. Further, and one of the elements I have a real problem accepting is that the whole North Western Atlantic Fin, Right, Humpback, Minke or whatever population is one large breeding unit. In fact, as I understand it, the Right Whale DNA evidence argues against the one population open breeding concept. Further, to the best of my knowledge no species has been shown to breed across the entire population. Generally, the rule of thumb seems to be about 3% movement between breeding units. Even man tends to breed within units, not globally. So, the alternate question might be, =93How do Whales maintain distinct Breeding Units?=94 The Responses can be summarized as follows. There was general agreement that the Gestation period was at least 11 months with some arguing that it may be 13 or 14 months thus conception/implantation must not be occurring in the late summer/fall. Three explanations were put forward: a) delayed implantation, i.e. the embryo does not implant for several months, b) conception does not occur, i.e. the egg is not fertilized which given, the Avian model and some Mammal models, could mean the Sperm is stored for fertilization later, or c) it is just a form of Socializing, maybe game playing. As I was reading and thinking about the responses two other explanation came to mind. I believe it has been shown for several Mammal Species, in particular mice but I think also for dogs, that if a pregnant female has sexual intercourse with a different male at a specific time during gestation she will abort. Thus, the mating like behavior could be both the original donor and other males competing to impregnate the pregnant female and if it is another male the net effect could be abortion unless the males are closely related. The original sperm donor would, thus, both act to keep other males away and redo the deed himself.....I don=92t know, haven=92t done the necessary thought experiments to argue the case one way or another with the exception that a 5 or 6 month old whale fetus is fairly big so should come to peoples attention and I don=92t know that they have been found. Yet another explanation might be that the mating like behavior is actually mate selection. That is the pairing is established on the feeding grounds, they travel together, with conception occurring during mating which takes place in February/March. There would be no need to hypothesize large collections of Finback Whales in wintering/breeding grounds. Just need a willing pair anywhere when the female is ripe so all that happened on the summer grounds was establishment of a pair bond relationship that lasts through mating and conception....again I suggest this but have not done the thought experiments to test its validity. Regards Chuck Schom ___________________________ Responses: From: Vincent Smith Hi, I think that delayed implantation maybe the missing factor.They also have mating display rituals where they don't actually mate but just fool around.This gives the impression to some reaearchers that they have mated (the whales that is).The researchers then take the gestation period as being from this time until calving as being the gestation period - and therefore get it wrong. With delayed implantation the time from mating to birth can be between 11 - 16 months, Cheers, Vince. _________________________ From: Canyonren(\)aol.com In the 80s when we found c/c pairs off GA, FLA, etc in Jan, Feb, March, we suspected delayed implantation or a longer gestation of 15-18 months. _________________________ From: Phil Clapham With regard to Chuck Schrom's query on right whale gestation, he's understandably confused by these beasts. Here's the story as we know it... Gestation is known from analysis of illegal Soviet catch data to be around a year (see Peter Best's paper in J Zool Lond, I think in 1994). Calving is indeed seasonal, in mid-winter (in the North Atlantic this occurs off the southeastern United States). I'm not aware of any record of calving at any other time of year. However, mating is observed year-round, including with great frequency in summer feeding habitats such as the Bay of Fundy. Since as Chuck correctly points out this is only six months from the winter calving season (not twelve), and since the gestation period isn't really in dispute, then there are only two possible explanations for summer mating: 1) Right whale mating occurring at any time other than mid-winter (a year before the next calving season) doesn't result in conception and is "social" in nature, perhaps allowing females to sort out males. 2) Mating in summer does result in conception, but delayed implantation or some similar phenomenon is occurring. To my knowledge, there is no evidence for this in any cetacean, and certainly not in baleen whales; furthermore, it doesn't really make sense ecologically, as it does in (say) pinnipeds. I think most large whale biologists would agree that the first explanation is the most likely, but the reason beyhind it isn't clear. See also the paper on the right whale's mating system by Kraus and Hatch (2001, in the IWC publication on right whales, Journal of Cetacean Research and Management special issue 2). Phil Clapham _____________________________ From: "Laurie D. Murison" Chuck, Gestation length is rather mysterious in right whales - or rather our knowledge of it, complicated by sexual/social activity that is seen year round - not just in the summer/fall. This activity is not to be confused with fertilization or breeding seasons in many mammals. Because of their size, right whale males can maintain large testes throughout the year, unlike harbour porpoises and rabbits who also have the same mating strategy - sperm competition - who may have testes 2% of their body weight during breeding but shrink during non-breeding periods. These large testes year round may contribute to year round sexual activity?! Pregnant females have been seen in courtship groups as have females who are probably too young to have a calf and females that have never had a calf although are certainly old enough. These courtship groups probably serve a social function beyond breeding. The calving period is distinct - early Dec. through end of Feb. maybe early March with most born late Dec. and through Jan. and therefore the fertilization period must also be distinct. The majority are born from the border of Georgia and Florida south and probably east of this area. Surveillence has been stretched to the Carolinas to picked up a few mothers outside the small area where most other females congregate. There is also a general southerly movement over the calving period. When right whales were more numerous the calving area was probably more extensive. The general feeling is that fertilization probably occurs in the late fall with the calf born over a year later. The 11 months gestation is not a period that is used with right whales today - harbour porpoises maybe, most use 12-14 months. Hope this helps. No doubt others will also respond to your query. Laurie ____________________________ From: Sonia Barnes Hi, I was just reading your posting about right whale information. The 11 months is about right. Baleen whales tend to be on this same schedule. Where I think you are getting confused is in the mating. You are thinking that they mate during the summer (August). When in actual fact, the mating occurs in the same place as the calving. For instance, the Humpback whales of the pacific mate and give birth to their young in Hawaii. During the summer they travel to British Columbia and Alaska to feed. In the winter the whales mate and give birth and in the summer they eat. The same is for the Grey Whales, and all migratory whales, when there is a distinctive area for birthing. I hope this helps. There should be lots of literature to support this. Sometimes it is difficult locating material, but if you keep at it, you will find what you need. Sincerely, Sonia Barnes, BSc. ________________________________ From: "D D" Dear Chuck Schom, my name is Danielle Dion and I am a whale whatch guide out of St. Andrews NB with Quoddy Link and have clearly seen mating behaviour in both North Atlantic Rights and fin whales but I read in the new guide to Marine Mammals of the world that mating in rights (and I am assuming fins as well) at any times of the year other than winter is purely social.....don't know if this helps, Sincerely, Danielle Dion ________________________________ From: kelly Newman Allman I was under the inpression that breeding behavior is unknown, but possibly occurs in the calving grounds for the next year(?) Or it could happen somemwhere in between feeding and calving grounds. I did aerial surveys on right whales out if Georgia last year and recall seeing s couple "pregnant looking" females that gave birth later in the season (post February). Buddy Powell of Wildlife Trust probably has access to these types of ID's for this year as well. I am interested in what you come up with, so let me know!. Kelly Newman Allman ___________________________ From: Michael Moore What you may missing is that there may be a difference between 'breeding' behavior and conception. We really don't know when or where they actually concieve - surface active groups in the Bay of Fundy certainly include sexual activity, but we don't know that includes actual conception. We don't know much in fact. There could be embryonic diapuse involved, but there is no evidence for it that I am aware of. Michael Moore __________________________ From: Phil Clapham Hi Well there's really not much dispute about gestation so something else has to be going on. I dont pretend to know the answer here, but I think one of the problems is that people tend to assume that these animals should all fit nice and neatly into behavioral boxes; mating systems are rarely as pat as that, and it doesnt surprise me that mating should occur when it doesnt necessarily lead to conception. Sex often has other functions than conception. Now that I'm at work I can give you the citation for Peter's paper: Best, P.B. 1994. Seasonality of reproduction and the length of gestation in southern right whales. J Zool Lond 232: 175-189. No pdf file for this, but Peter might have something he can send you. his email is: Peter Best He gives a range of estimates from 357 to 396 days depending on how you estimate the initial, non-linear phase of foetal growth. Hope this helps. Phil _______________________________ From: Moira Brown Dear Chuck, Your message was forwarded to me, I think I can help you out. The estimated gestation for North Atlantic right whales is 12 - 13 months based on whaling records for southern right whales off South Africa. Most of the calves are born in the waters off of Florida and Georgia in December and January. The period of estrus for right whales is unknown. The social activity including intromission that is seen in the Bay of Fundy in August and September is similar to what is seen in Cape Cod Bay in the spring, the Great South Channel in the spring and early summer and on Roseway Basin in August and September, and most recently in the southeast US. In other words, right whales spend a lot of time socializing all during the year. The groups tend to be larger in Canadian waters in the late summer and autumn than they are in the more southerly habitat areas. Because of the synchrony of the calving in the southeast US we suspect that the actual mating season must occur in November and December, a time when right whale sightings are at a minimum because we really don't know where to go look for them. The location of the mating grounds is unknown. There is an alternative hypothesis of delayed implantation, but there is no evidence of this among any large cetaceans. Check out the following reference, you should be able to get it online from the International Whaling Commission: Kraus, S.D. and Hatch, J.J. 2001. Mating strategies in the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis ). In Right Whales: Worldwide Status. Edited by P.B. Best, J.L. Bannister, R.J. Brownell, Jr., and G.P. Donovan. International Whaling Commission, Cambridge, U.K. pp. 237-244. Cheers, Moira Brown -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2003 12:29:13 +0100 From: =?ISO-8859-1?B?TWljaGVsIEFuZHLp?= Subject: ECS 2003 Conference Abstract Book "ECS-BOARD(\)JISCMAIL.AC.UK" ------ Dear Colleagues, In addition to all the relevant information on the European Cetacean Soci= ety, =20 you will also find the abstract book of the past ECS Conference, held in = Las=20 Palmas de Gran Canaria, published on the ECS Web Site=20 (http://www.broekemaweb.nl/ecs/). I would like to take advantage of this message to acknowledge the partici= pation=20 and input of all our colleagues and friends who made possible the celebra= tion=20 of this very interesting meeting. With kind regards, Michel Andre =20 Dr. Michel Andr=E9 Unidad de Investigaci=F3n para la Conservaci=F3n de los Mam=EDferos Marin= os Departamento de Morfolog=EDa, Facultad de Veterinaria Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Trasmonta=F1a, 35416 Arucas, Gran Canaria, Espa=F1a Tel.+34-928 45 11 03, Fax. +34-928 45 11 03/41 mandre(\)dmor.ulpgc.es ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2003 09:57:06 -0400 From: Robin Baird Organization: NOAA Fisheries Subject: contract positions in North Carolina, July/August Greetings, We have a couple 5-week long contract positions for a bottlenose dolphin photo-ID/biopsy project in North and South Carolina this summer, from July 6 through August 10. We are looking for individuals with one or more of the following skills: 1) extensive photo-identification experience with cetaceans; 2) experience driving vessels around small cetaceans, launching and pulling boats, and basic coastal navigation; 3) data recording. Experience with MS Access would also be useful. Contractors should have their own car insurance (required for driving gov't vehicles). Salary would be comparable to a GS5-GS7 level, depending on experience. No reimbursement for travel to NC is provided, however housing expenses on site will be reimbursed, and a food allowance will be provided. Those interested in these positions should send a resume detailing specific boat handling/photo-ID experience, and provide the names and e-mail address of three references familiar with your field experience. Thanks very much, Robin -- =================================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. NOAA Fisheries 101 Pivers Island Road Beaufort, NC 28516 USA Phone 1-252-728-8601 Fax 1-252-728-8784 Web http://shrimp.ccfhrb.noaa.gov/ Web http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/rwb/robin.htm ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2003 09:24:28 -0400 From: "Shelagh A. Smith" Subject: Job Posting: Audio Marine Archivist Position In-Reply-To: <200304032124.h33LOIPE012194(\)mailhub2.mail.cornell.edu> Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" ------ Hello all, I wanted to inform you of a position available here at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Macaulay Library of Natural Sound. This is a full time mari= ne audio archivist position. See below for a brief description and the onlin= e submission site. Please forward this post on to any qualified applicants = you may know. Best, Shelagh ************************************ Shelagh A. Smith Marine Audio Archivist Macaulay Library Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Road Ithaca, NY 14850 Phone: 607-254-2404 Fax: 607-254-2439 ************************************ =20 Media Assistant V, Band E; Lab of Ornithology/CALS-Statuatory In accordance with established archival protocols, and in collaboration w= ith external and internal researchers, this position is responsible for developing the resources of the Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds (MLNS). Responsibilities include the organization, repair, and ingestion of origi= nal field recordings into an advanced digital asset storage and management system. The archivist is also responsible for evaluating, preparing, and editing field data into a database. Archivists are responsible for creati= ng and updating documents such as reports, operations manuals, and correspondence that requires extensive computer skills. Req: Bachelor=B9= s degree in biological sciences or recording technology preferred. Knowled= ge of marine mammals and fish preferred. Good listening skills required. Proven organizational, interpersonal and communication skills. Necessary computer experience including, but not limited to, word processing, spreadsheet, database, and Internet programs. Must be motivated and able= to work with minimal direct supervision. Submit on-line application at Recruiting Range: $15.35 to $20.00/hr ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2003 08:51:21 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Additional Info/Treatment of "Seal Finger" (fwd) From: "Erin Clark" Hi, I am currently looking into taking an internship in which I would be involved in seal necropsies, and as a result, will be in a position in which I may contract "seal finger". Through some research, I have found that it is an infection which may be the result of mycoplasma which was passed from the seal's mouth to humans through cuts, bites, etc. and which is treated with Tetracycline. As I have an allergy to Tetracycline and it's derivatives, I am curious as to whether anyone has additional information regarding other treatments or the infection itself. Thank you, Erin C. Clark ecc_311(\)hotmail.com -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2003 14:15:37 +0100 From: Lee Subject: postdoc position boundary="----=_NextPart_000_00B8_01C2EE22.039A2E50" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_00B8_01C2EE22.039A2E50 charset="iso-8859-1" Dear Sir: Would you be so kind as to post this position on your bulletin = board. =20 Thank you very much. Yours, Lee A. Miller ________________________________________________________________ Lee A. Miller, Associate Professor Phone: +45 6550 2755 Center for Sound Communication Fax: +45 6593 0457 Institute of Biology, SDU-Odense E-mail: lee(\)biology.sdu.dk=20 DK 5230 Odense M, Denmark =20 http://www.biologi.sdu.dk/hjemmesider/vips/miller_lee/gb/vip.html _______________________________ POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH POSITION AVAILABLE Institute of Biology, University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Odense (19 = March 2003) =20 A post-doctoral research assistant/associate is sought to join a project = concerning investigations of harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) = biosonar, auditory sensitivity and resistance to clutter. = Psychophysical methods employing a computer-controlled target simulator = will be used in these investigations. The research will be carried out = at the Bioacoustics Laboratory, Marine Biological Research Center, = Kerteminde, and in cooperation with personnel at Fjord&B=E6lt, = Kerteminde, who maintain the animals. The successful candidate will = join an active research group at the Center for Sound Communication = (CSC), SDU-Odense. More information about the CSC, which has received = high international evaluations, can be found at this web site: = http://www.biologi.sdu.dk/Center_for_Lydkommunikation/gb/csc-eng.html = Funding is provided through SDU for up to three years at a minimal = monthly salary of 22,000 DKK (including benefits), but commensurate with = experience according to national agreements. Taxation of 25+9% is = available for persons coming from abroad. =20 =20 The position starts on 1 September 2003. Applicants must have a Ph.D. = degree before this time. Please submit a letter of intent, a curriculum = vitae, representative reprints or preprints, and the names and telephone = numbers of three references. Please send three (3) copies of the = application, including all enclosures, marked "Position No.03302" to: = Personnel Office, Syddansk Universitet, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, = Denmark or by e-mail to: pers(\)adm.sdu.dk The application must reach the = University not later than 2 June 2003 at 12:00 noon. =20 Applications will be assessed by an expert committee. Applicants will = be informed of their assessment by the university. The successful = applicant will be employed in accordance with the agreement between the = Ministry of Finance and AC (the Danish Confederation of Professional = Associations). The University encourages all interested persons to = apply, regardless of age, gender, religious affiliation or ethnic = background. =20 For more information contact Lee A. Miller by e-mail = (lee(\)biology.sdu.dk) or by mail to Institute of Biology, SDU-Odense, = Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark. ____________________________________ ------=_NextPart_000_00B8_01C2EE22.039A2E50 charset="iso-8859-1"
Dear Sir:
    Would you be so kind = as to post=20 this position on your bulletin board. 
Thank you very much.
Yours, Lee A. = Miller
________________________________________________________________=
Lee=20 A. Miller, Associate Professor       = Phone: +45=20 6550 2755
Center for Sound=20 Communication          = Fax:=20 +45 6593 0457
Institute of Biology,=20 SDU-Odense         E-mail: lee(\)biology.sdu.dk
DK 5230 = Odense M,=20 Denmark           =            =20
http://www.biologi.sdu.dk/hjemmesider/vips/miller_lee/gb/vip.html_______________________________

POST-DOCTORAL=20 RESEARCH POSITION AVAILABLE

Institute=20 of Biology,=20 University=20 of Southern=20 Denmark=20 (SDU), Odense  (19=20 March 2003)

 

A=20 post-doctoral research assistant/associate is sought to join a project=20 concerning investigations of harbor=20 porpoise (Phocoena = phocoena)=20 biosonar, auditory sensitivity and resistance to = clutter.  Psychophysical methods = employing a=20 computer-controlled target simulator will be used in these = investigations.  The research will be carried = out at the=20 Bioacoustics Laboratory, Marine=20 Biological=20 Research=20 Center,=20 Kerteminde, and in cooperation with personnel at Fjord&B=E6lt, = Kerteminde, who=20 maintain the animals.  The = successful candidate will join an active research group at the Center = for Sound=20 Communication (CSC), SDU-Odense.  = More information about the CSC, which has received high = international=20 evaluations, can be found at this web site: http://www.biologi.sdu.dk/Center_for_Lydkommunikation/gb/csc-eng.h= tml  Funding is provided = through SDU=20 for up to three years at a minimal monthly salary of = 22,000 DKK=20 (including benefits), but commensurate with experience according to = national=20 agreements.  Taxation of = 25+9% is=20 available for persons coming from abroad. =20

 

The=20 position starts on 1=20 September 2003.  Applicants must have a Ph.D. = degree=20 before this time.  Please = submit a=20 letter of intent, a curriculum vitae, representative reprints or = preprints, and=20 the names and telephone numbers of three references.  Please=20 send three (3) copies of the application, including all enclosures, = marked=20 =93Position No.03302"=20 to: Personnel Office, Syddansk Universitet, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense = M,=20 Denmark=20 or by e-mail to: pers(\)adm.sdu.dk  The=20 application must reach the University not later than = 2=20 June 2003=20 at 12:00=20 noon.

 

Applications=20 will be assessed by an expert committee.  Applicants will be informed of = their=20 assessment by the university.  = The=20 successful applicant will be employed in accordance with the agreement = between=20 the Ministry of Finance and AC (the Danish Confederation of Professional = Associations).  The = University=20 encourages all interested persons to apply, regardless of age, gender, = religious=20 affiliation or ethnic background.

 

For=20 more information contact Lee A. Miller by e-mail (lee(\)biology.sdu.dk) or by = mail to=20 Institute=20 of Biology,=20 SDU-Odense, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M,=20 Denmark.

 ____________________________________

------=_NextPart_000_00B8_01C2EE22.039A2E50-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2003 09:10:40 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Age estimation of marine tucuxi dolphins in Brazil (fwd) From: marcosos(\)usp.br Dear Marmamers: The following article was published recently: Santos, M. C. de O., Rosso, S. and Ramos, R. M. A. 2003. Age estimation of marine tucuxi dolphins (Sotalia fluviatilis) in south-eastern Brazil. Journal of the Marine Biological Association, UK, 83:233-236. ABSTRACT: This study reports the age estimation of marine tucuxi dolphins (Sotalia fluviatilis) found dead along the south-east coast of Brazil (24o40 S 25o30 S). The investigated specimens were collected from August 1995 to December 1998. Ages were estimated through the number of Growth Layer Groups (GLGs) from decalcified and stained thin sections of teeth. A total of 36 individuals was investigated. Estimated ages of marine tucuxis varied from 0 to 29 years. The growth curve was attained from a modification of the von Bertalanffy equation applied to body length and age data. It was possible to estimate the total length of 97.8 cm in newborns, the age of seven years old regarded to the physical maturity, and the asymptotic length of 179.8 cm. Few reprints available. Contact Marcos Santos at marcosos(\)usp.br Best regards, Marcos Cisar de Oliveira Santos Ph. D. Student - Departamento de Ecologia Instituto de Biocijncias - Universidade de Sco Paulo BRASIL Projeto Atlantis Educagco & Cijncia Biologist - Coordinator Visit our website: http://www.projetoatlantis.com.br -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2003 04:58:46 -1200 From: "Burkhart, Stephanie" Subject: Job posting: Living Marine Resources Strategic Planner Hello, The United States Coast Guard is currently hiring a Living Marine Resources Strategic Planner. This position serves as a subject matter specialist regarding living marine resources and marine protected species along the east coast. This is a full-time, permanent position located in Portsmouth, Virginia. Applications are being accepted from all U.S. citizens. Please see below for further details. VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT Agency Name: (JOBS) U.S. Coast Guard Vacancy Announcement Number: 03-0526-SEDJ-D1 Apply Online: http://www.avuedigitalservices.com/uscg/applicant.html Opening Date: 03/12/2003 Closing Date: 12/30/2003 Area of Consideration: US citizens Position Title, Series, Grade: Living Marine Resources Strategic Planner, GS-0401-12 Promotion Potential: 12 Salary: $55,958.00 - $72,746.00 Annual Duty Location(s): Portsmouth, VA Work Schedule: Full Time DUTIES: Serves as the subject matter specialist regarding living marine resources (LMR) and marine protected species (MPS). Assigns, schedules, and monitors required work to ensure methods and standards used are met. Gathers and analyzes pertinent data through all phases of the LMR and MPS projects. Assists the Region Program Manager in the management of natural resources programs. Coordinates program activities with internal and external organizations, plans and prepares assessments for the Region, and trains personnel in the use of the methodologies, protocols, and assessments. Provides advice and assistance in developing policies involving assigned program activities such as authorizations, establishing fees, litigation report preparation, appeals documents, FOIAs, and special use permits. Participates at the national level in developing and revising procedures, technical standards, guidelines, and college-level correspondence courses for assigned program activities. To access the complete position description and application submission details, please visit the USAJOBS website at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov Cheers! Stephanie Stephanie M. Burkhart, M.Sc. Marine Protected Species Strategic Planner c/o Commander (Poo) Coast Guard Pacific Area Coast Guard Island, Bldg. 51-5 Alameda, CA 94501-5100 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2003 17:02:12 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: NRC report on Steller sea lions (fwd) The National Research Council's Ocean Studies and Polar Research Boards have just published the report of their study on the Alaska groundfish fishery and Steller sea lions. The study was funded by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council at the request of Congress. The report, "Decline of the Steller Sea Lion in Alaskan Waters: Untangling Food Webs and Fishing Nets" is now available from the National Academy Press http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10576.html. A short description of the report's contents is provided below. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions about the report or the study. -Susan Roberts **************************************************************************** Susan Roberts, Ph.D. Study Director, Alaska Groundfish Fishery and Steller Sea Lions Ocean Studies Board, NA-752 National Research Council The National Academies 500 5th St. NW Washington, DC 20001 (202) 334-2714 phone (202) 334-2885 fax sroberts(\)nas.edu www.nationalacademies.org/osb ****************************************************************************** DECLINE OF THE STELLER SEA LION IN ALASKAN WATERS: UNTANGLING FOOD WEBS AND FISHING NETS (NRC, 2003) There used to be hundreds of thousands of Steller sea lions in Alaskan waters. But over the past three decades, their numbers have dwindled to just 30,000 -- an 80 percent decline. The rapid population loss prompted the federal government to place sea lions, from the Gulf of Alaska to the westernmost Aleutian Islands, on the endangered species list. In 2001, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council commissioned a report from the National Research Council to examine the potential causes of decline and to assess the potential impact of the groundfish fisheries on Steller sea lions. Many hypotheses have been proposed to explain the dramatic decline in sea lion numbers, including reduced food availability or quality due to large-scale fishery removals, a change in the abundance or distribution of prey species following a climate regime shift in the late 1970s, a disease epidemic, pollution, illegal shooting, subsistence harvest, and predation by killer whales or sharks. The committee's report, Decline of the Steller Sea Lion in Alaskan Waters: Untangling Food Webs and Fishing Nets, uses several methods to evaluate these hypotheses based on the limited data available on the sea lion's biology and habitat. First, the report employs population and ecosystem models to identify causes of decline that are consistent with demographic and ecological data. The modeling exercises indicate that reduced food availability alone is insufficient to account for the rapid population decline and suggests that factors reducing the survival of adult female sea lions would most readily explain the demographic trends. The report then uses response variable analysis to examine indicators of sea lion health and behavior relative to the response expected under each proposed hypothesis. This analysis revealed that top down causes such as predation, shooting (either illegal or for subsistence), or incidental take in fishing gear were most consistent with the available research on Steller sea lions over the past decade. Additional factors, including food limitation, may have contributed to the population losses observed in the 1970s and 1980s. There is not enough evidence to conclusively support or rule out any of the hypotheses that have been proposed to explain the decline. Fishing activities may change the distribution of the sea lion's preferred prey, disturb the normal activities of sea lions, or cause the injury or death of sea lions that become entangled in fishing gear. To resolve the potential effects of fisheries on sea lion survival, the committee reviewed five management strategies that could help determine the impact of fisheries. Only one -- establishing open and closed fishing areas around sea lion rookeries -- directly tests whether the fisheries contribute to the decline. This strategy would allow researchers to study sea lions in relatively controlled, contrasting environments. Properly designed, experimental open and closed fishing areas would help fill some of data gaps in five years or less, but long-term monitoring would be required to assess sea lion demographics and account for environmental variability. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2003 20:22:44 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: PhD opportunities in Canada (fwd) Two Ph.D. Opportunities in Life History Evolution Dr. Steven Ferguson, Research Scientist, of Fisheries & Oceans Canada and Dr. Serge Larivi=E8re, Scientific Director of the Delta Waterfowl Foundation are seeking two graduate students to join a research team with the goal of developing conservation approaches based on macroecological patterns. This project is currently funded by Fisheries & Oceans Canada, Delta Waterfowl Foundation, and Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Project: As part of this team, each selected student will concentrate on one of the following areas: * Biogeography and evolution of life history patterns of mammalian carnivores and waterfowl of North America. The multi taxa project will offer a balanced program of theoretical and practical conservation biology, with pertinent field experience on carnivores and ducks in Manitoba. * Life history patterns among marine mammals with an emphasis on Arctic regions. The project involves GIS mapping of historical distribution of Arctic marine mammals and the overlay of key environmental characteristics. Using the comparative method the association between life history/reproductive traits and environment will be explored with the aim to describe macroecological patterns that will help conservation efforts. Location: University of Manitoba (www.umanitoba.ca) Department of Zoology or Faculty of Environment located in Winnipeg, Manitoba (www.winnipeg.ca) Timeline: Review process starts 1 June 2003 and will end once suitable candidates are found. Start date negotiable but September 2003 is the preferred entry date. Requirements: M.S. in biology with publication experience. Both students should be mature and highly motivated. Experience and demonstrated interest in life history evolution, wildlife ecology, and GIS are preferred. If interested: send a cover letter, resume, unofficial transcripts, and names and contact information (including phone numbers and emails) of three references to: Wanda Gorsuch, Scientific Assistant, Delta Waterfowl Foundation R.R. #1, Box 1, Site 1, Portage La Prairie. MB, R1N 3A1, Canada or for further information contact: Dr. Steven Ferguson (marine mammals) Fisheries and Oceans Canada; 204-983-5057; email fergusonsh(\)dfo-mpo.gc.ca Dr. Serge Larivi=E8re (mammalian carnivores and waterfowl) Delta Waterfowl Foundation; 204-239-1900; email slariviere(\)deltawaterfowl.org -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2003 21:20:34 -0800 From: Russ Andrews Subject: Epoxy for attaching transmitters? Dear Pinniped Biologists: Can anyone recommend a good epoxy for attaching instruments to the fur of pinnipeds? The epoxy that I've been happily using to glue instruments (such as VHF transmitters and dataloggers) to the fur of pinnipeds is unfortunately no longer available. This epoxy (Evercoat Company's Ten-Set, a 2 part epoxy that sets in 10 minutes) had a good combination of qualities that I've had trouble finding in other epoxies. For example, I do not like to use Devcon 5-minute epoxy or similar products because it can produce a large amount of heat that can cause tissue necrosis and because it deteriorates after long-term exposure to seawater (in laboratory tests, cured epoxy blocks immersed in seawater for up to a year). I'd love to hear from those of you who have had good results with other epoxies that I might be able to use. Thanks, Russ Andrews ***************************************************************** O ______ Russel D. Andrews, Ph.D. o / o \_/( Institute of Marine Science (_ < _ ( University of Alaska, Fairbanks \______/ \( and The Alaska SeaLife Center P.O. Box 1329 Seward, AK 99664 russ_andrews(\)alaskasealife.org Phone: 907-224-6344 (Fax: -6320) ****************************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2003 12:01:26 -0700 From: Ellen Hines Subject: GIS and Remote Sensing course for coastal and marine scientists in August Comments: To: marinelist(\)conbio.org, CONSGIS(\)PETE.URI.EDU, Shari(\)Snitovsky.com, sirenian(\)listserv.tamu.edu, SEA-GIS(\)LISTSERV.HEANET.IE, seagrass_forum(\)essun1.murdoch.edu.au, coastgis(\)irlearn.ucd.ie, czm(\)biome.bio.dfo.ca, icam-l%irmfao01.bitnet(\)listserv.net, listserver(\)ccgc.tc.gc.ca, marbio(\)mote.org, asianmarinemam(\)sfsu.edu For the second year, the College of Extended Learning at San Francisco State University is offering a course entitled: GIS and Remote Sensing Applications for Coastal and Marine Scientists from August 7-11, at San Francisco State University This course is a 5 day intensive introduction to the use of these geographic technologies in coastal and marine research. The first 2 days are lectures and practical labs on GIS, the second 2 on Remote Sensing, and the 5th day you can work all day on either your own data, or we can supply material that you can work with for some hands-on experience. Instructors are Dr. Ellen Hines, who works with marine mammals and coastal environmental systems, and Dr. Toby Garfield, a physical geographer. Registration materials and other information are now on the web through the SFSU College of Extended Learning (http://csugis.sfsu.edu/cert/), the class page is http://www.cel.sfsu.edu/catpro/home.cfm?selection=classes&ID=257185&catalog_Number=29051&Period=20033&admin_unit=E This course will be in San Francisco, for 5 days. The cost is $995.00. 4 continuing education units can be earned. Please register early to guarantee a space in the class, as class size is limited. A list of local accommodations is available. Please contact Barry Nickel for any questions at SFBaffo(\)aol.com, or Ellen Hines at ehines(\)sfsu.edu thanks, Ellen ps: sorry in advance for repeat postings Ellen Hines, PhD 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: Fri, 11 Apr 2003 05:14:59 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: 51 beached whales killed in the Solomon Islands (fwd) From: "Simon Mustoe" Dear All, This message just arrived via UKCetnet. I thought it may be interesting for anyone concerned with whaling issues and the subject of indigenous slaughter. The information contained in the report does not state what species were beached and has little other information on the circumstances. However, it is an interesting case. If anyone finds out more, it would be interesting to hear. Regards, Simon Mustoe. ----- Original Message ----- To: UKCetnet(\)yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, April 11, 2003 2:52 AM Subject: SOLOMON ISLANDERS SLAUGHTER 51 BEACHED WHALES Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation http://www.sibconline.com.sb SOLOMON ISLANDERS SLAUGHTER 51 BEACHED WHALES HONIARA, Solomon Islands (SIBC, April 8) - Some 51 whales beached early today near Ramah in the Wainoni district of Makira Island, where they were quickly butchered for food. Conservation Officer Victor Kohia, of the Makira-Ulawa provincial capital Kirakira, said a delegation from the provincial government went to the scene but were too late to save the whales. He said people slaughtered the creatures and carcasses were seen lying on the reddened beach. Kohia said the biggest whale measured 14 meters while the smallest was measured at 3 meters long. The whale species is yet to be verified by the Fisheries Division in Honiara. Kohia said that a report is being compiled and samples of the whales will be sent to the whaling commission for verification. The cause of their beaching is not yet known but Kohia said he suspects that the leader of the group may have gone closer to shore and gave a distress signal luring the rest of the whales to follow on for support. He said had the leader turned back, the whales might have gone back to the sea. This is the first time such a huge number of whales have beached ashore in the area. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2003 19:25:19 +0200 Reply-To: kbarthval(\)gmx.de From: Klaus Barthelmess Subject: Historical Whale (& Seal) Strandings ------ A new German book catalogues 145 broadsides and pamphlets about cetaceans stranded on the European coasts between 1531 and 1792: Ingrid Faust, in collaboration with Klaus Barthelmess and Klaus Stopp: Zoologische Einblattdrucke und Flugschriften vor 1800. Vol. 4: Wale, Sirenen, Elefanten. Stuttgart: Hiersemann, 2002. ix, 402 pp., 356 illus., 1 colour folding plate, cloth, folio format, 35 x 26 cm. ISBN 3-7772-0205-3. Price 298.- Euro. Orders via www.hiersemann.de. Illustrated broadsides and pamphlets were media of mass communication from the late 15th to the early 19th century, printed in runs of about 1000 to 2000 copies. In Elisabethan London, some 2000 of these ephemeral prints were published annually. They covered more or less all the topics newsworthy today. Copies were peddled each for a price comparable to about half a day=92s income of a craftsman. Today, these ephemeral prints are immensely rare. About 2% of the topics seem to have been devoted to animal-related subjects. Prominently among these figure whale strandings, accounting for about 14% of the recorded surviving corpus of animal-related broadsides and pamphlets prior to 1800. Therefore, next to local chronicles, printed broadsides and pamphlets constitute the second most important type of source on historical whale strandings! Surviving broadsides document cetacean strandings on the shores of the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, Great Britain and Ireland, the Atlantic coasts of the Iberian peninsula and France, in the Mediterranean, the White Sea, as well as upstream in several rivers.=20 Equally importantly, broadsides and pamphlets about stranded whales were a major source for the early =84cetologists=93, being frequently attached to the learned correspondence between the =84Renaissance MARMAMERS=93. Thus, iconographic and textual information gathered on the spot of a whale stranding by more or less competent observers, and printed on an illustrated broadside, found its way into the compilatory works of 16th and 17th century scientists, among them people of cetacean renown, such as Robert Sibbald. In some cases, the existence of broadsides today can only be conjectured through their description of the old zoological works, a surviving copy not having been located. The 16th to 18th-century broadsides are also a source on the changes of popular perception of whales by their human contemporaries, and the spread of cetological knowledge.=20 Quite a few of these broadsides were commissioned and peddled by commercial exhibitors of whale skeletons or even dried body parts of whale carcasses. These showmen travelled across Europe showing their gargantuan showpiece on fairgrounds, markets and in inn courts. =20 There are relatively few broadsides about close encounters of the whale kind at sea, or about whaler souvenirs from the Arctic. Each broadside and pamphlet is illustrated, fully described, and discussed in detail. The broadside title - diligently transcribed from blackletter - is followed by taxonomic information as precisely as possible, place and date of the event, bibliographical data on printing technique, publisher, printer, and artist, and repositories of all the surviving copies known to the cataloguers, in many cases only one. The very extensive comments make up the largest part of the entries in the whale section. They were written by Klaus Barthelmess, who discusses the cetological and historical value of the pertaining broadside or pamphlet. =20 Pages 1-271 of volume 4 of Faust, Barthelmess and Stopp cover the 145 whale-related broadsides and pamphlets from 1531 to 1792 cetaceans, pages 272-277 feature two broadsides on a Brasilian manatee of 1564, the remainder elephants.=20 Of interest to MARMAMERS may also be volume 2 of the five-volume catalogue by Faust, Barthelmess and Stopp. Zoologische Einblattdrucke und Flugschriften vor 1800, Vol. 2: V=F6gel - Saeugetiere: Affen, Raubtiere, Schuppentiere, Nager, Hasenartige. Stuttgart: Hiersemann, 1999. vii, 372 pp., 294 illustrations, same format, price 198,- Euro. ISBN 3-7772-9901-4. It covers birds and the first part of the mammals, among which the carnivores. Pages 258-327 catalogue 36 broadsides and pamphlets on pinnipeds from 1600 to 1795. All were found erratically on the European coasts or upriver and killed, or caught alive and put on display by travelling showmen. Several show remarkable illustrations of mediterranean monk seals. Volume five is currently in press and will i.a. have a huge section on monsters, among which several aquatic ones, where the marine mammal background is probable.=20 --=20 Klaus Barthelmess P.O. Box 62 02 55 50695 Cologne Germany barthval(\)t-online.de ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2003 18:50:27 -0700 From: Hayden Gabriel Subject: Vancouver Island cetacean conservation From: Hayden Gabriel hayden.gabriel(\)talk21.com For the last three years I have been researching and writing a book which seeks to celebrate the work of marine mammalogists and to increase public awareness of the conservation issues faced by various cetacean populations. The work - nearing its completion now - is due to be published in the UK and Commonwealth by Macmillan in 2004 with publication in the US to follow. The text needs to list - briefly but absolutely accurately - the environmental pressures currently faced by cetaceans in the waters around Vancouver Island and I would be very grateful for information from scientists working in this area. Recognition for assistance will of course be acknowledged at the end of the text. with many thanks hayden gabriel -------------------- talk21 your FREE portable and private address on the net at http://www.talk21.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2003 09:42:35 EDT From: Peter Stevick Subject: recent publication boundary="part1_c3.32b73e15.2bcc14cb_boundary" --part1_c3.32b73e15.2bcc14cb_boundary The following paper has recently been published -=20 Stevick, P.T., Allen, J., B=E9rub=E9, M., Clapham, P.J., Katona, S.K., Larse= n,=20 F., Lien, J., Mattila, D.K., Palsb=F8ll, P.J., Robbins, J., Sigurj=F3nsson,=20= J.,=20 Smith, T.D., =D8ien, N., & Hammond, P.S. (2003) Segregation of migration by=20 feeding ground origin in North Atlantic humpback whales (Megaptera=20 novaeangliae). Journal of Zoology, London, 259, 231-237. Abstract Results from a large-scale, capture-recapture study of humpback whales=20 (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the North Atlantic show that migration timing is= =20 influenced by feeding ground origin. No significant differences were observe= d=20 in the number of individuals from any feeding area that were re-sighted in=20 the common breeding area in the West Indies. However there was a relationshi= p=20 between the proportion (logit transformed) of West Indies sightings and=20 longitude (R2=3D0.97; F1,3=3D98.27; p=3D0.0022) suggesting that individuals=20= feeding=20 farther to the east are less likely to winter in the West Indies. A=20 relationship was also detected between sighting date in the West Indies and=20 feeding area. Mean West Indies sighting dates for individuals identified in=20 the Gulf of Maine and eastern Canada were significantly earlier than those=20 for animals identified in Greenland, Iceland and Norway (9.97 days;=20 t179=3D3.53; p=3D0.00054). There was also evidence for sexual segregation in= =20 migration; males were seen earlier on the breeding ground than were females=20 (6.63 days; t105=3D1.98; p=3D0.050). This pattern was consistently observed=20= for=20 animals from all feeding areas; a combined model showed a significant effect= =20 for both sex (F1=3D5.942; p=3D0.017) and feeding area (F3=3D4.756; p=3D0.003= 8). The=20 temporal difference in West Indies occupancy between individuals from diff erent feeding areas coupled with sexual differences in migratory patterns=20 presents the possibility that there are reduced mating opportunities between= =20 individuals from different high latitude areas.=20 Reprints are available from -=20 Peter Stevick PO Box 93=20 Rockport, ME 04856 PeterStevick(\)aol.com --part1_c3.32b73e15.2bcc14cb_boundary The following paper has recently been published -

Stevick, P.T., Allen, J., B=E9rub=E9, M., Clapham, P.J., Katona, S.K., Larse= n, F., Lien, J., Mattila, D.K., Palsb=F8ll, P.J., Robbins, J., Sigurj=F3nsso= n, J., Smith, T.D., =D8ien, N., & Hammond, P.S. (2003) Segregation of mi= gration by feeding ground origin in North Atlantic humpback whales (Megapter= a novaeangliae). Journal of Zoology, London, 259, 231-237.

Abstract
Results from a large-scale, capture-recapture study of humpback whales (Mega= ptera novaeangliae) in the North Atlantic show that migration timing is infl= uenced by feeding ground origin. No significant differences were observed in= the number of individuals from any feeding area that were re-sighted in the= common breeding area in the West Indies. However there was a relationship b= etween the proportion (logit transformed) of West Indies sightings and longi= tude (R2=3D0.97; F1,3=3D98.27; p=3D0.0022) suggesting that individuals feedi= ng farther to the east are less likely to winter in the West Indies. A relat= ionship was also detected between sighting date in the West Indies and feedi= ng area. Mean West Indies sighting dates for individuals identified in the G= ulf of Maine and eastern Canada were significantly earlier than those for an= imals identified in Greenland, Iceland and Norway (9.97 days; t179=3D3.53; p= =3D0.00054). There was also evidence for sexual segregation in migration; ma= les were seen earlier on the breeding ground than were females (6.63 days; t= 105=3D1.98; p=3D0.050). This pattern was consistently observed for animals f= rom all feeding areas; a combined model showed a significant effect for both= sex (F1=3D5.942; p=3D0.017) and feeding area (F3=3D4.756; p=3D0.0038). The=20= temporal difference in West Indies occupancy between individuals from differ= ent feeding areas coupled with sexual differences in migratory patterns pres= ents the possibility that there are reduced mating opportunities between ind= ividuals from different high latitude areas.

Reprints are available from -
Peter Stevick
PO Box 93
Rockport, ME 04856
PeterStevick(\)aol.com
 --part1_c3.32b73e15.2bcc14cb_boundary-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2003 09:06:57 -0700 From: Robin Brown Subject: Re: Epoxy for attaching transmitters? We've used Devcon 5-minute epoxy on harbor seals, CA sea lions and Stellers in CA, OR and WA for nearly 25 years with excellent results. Most brands of expoxy will get hot if you use too much. We have found a very thin layer is required to produce a strong and long lasting application of light or heavy insturments. We use nylon mesh to force thousands of hairs up into the material (to which the insturment has already been attached with the same epoxy), and then just cover the hair with about 1/8 inch of epoxy. Many times the tips of the hairs still protrude through the thin expoxy layer. We have never had a problem with deterioration of Devcon 5-minute epoxy. It far outlasts the life of any battery pack and always remains in tact until the pack is lost via the molt. Robin F. Brown Marine Mammal Program Leader Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife 7118 NE Vandenberg Ave. Corvallis, OR 97330 541-757-4186 ext-242 (FAX) 757-4252 robin.f.brown(\)state.or.us >>> russ_andrews(\)alaskasealife.org 04/09/03 10:20PM >>> Dear Pinniped Biologists: Can anyone recommend a good epoxy for attaching instruments to the fur of pinnipeds? The epoxy that I've been happily using to glue instruments (such as VHF transmitters and dataloggers) to the fur of pinnipeds is unfortunately no longer available. This epoxy (Evercoat Company's Ten-Set, a 2 part epoxy that sets in 10 minutes) had a good combination of qualities that I've had trouble finding in other epoxies. For example, I do not like to use Devcon 5-minute epoxy or similar products because it can produce a large amount of heat that can cause tissue necrosis and because it deteriorates after long-term exposure to seawater (in laboratory tests, cured epoxy blocks immersed in seawater for up to a year). I'd love to hear from those of you who have had good results with other epoxies that I might be able to use. Thanks, Russ Andrews ***************************************************************** O ______ Russel D. Andrews, Ph.D. o / o \_/( Institute of Marine Science (_ < _ ( University of Alaska, Fairbanks \______/ \( and The Alaska SeaLife Center P.O. Box 1329 Seward, AK 99664 russ_andrews(\)alaskasealife.org Phone: 907-224-6344 (Fax: -6320) ****************************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 09:01:50 -0400 From: Todd McConchie Subject: Internship Opportunity To whom it may concern, Could you please post this message on MARMAM: BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN RESEARCH INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY The Marine Science Consortium (MSC), on Wallops Island, VA is looking for interns for the upcoming field season. Visit the MSC website at http://www.msconsortium.org/ for further details on the MSC. FACTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: -Internships are awarded on an annual basis. -Open to junior, senior, and graduate level students enrolled in degree programs. -Duration of project: WEEKENDS in May, September & October; FULL-TIME in June, July, & August; exceptions are possible. -Research data may not be used to satisfy graduate thesis requirements. -Accumulated data may be utilized by students only with the express permission of the Marine Science Consortium or under the immediate supervision of a project staff member. -Internship recipients must acquire approval by appropriate Department and enroll for at least three (3) internship credits (or equivalent) at a Consortium member university. -Accepted interns must live (for a fee of $1.00/day) in housing provided at the Wallops Island Marine Science Center; two meals/day (breakfast and dinner) are included. -There is currently a small stipend associated with this internship. -All training, research space, vessel supplies, camera, film, and computer equipment are provided by the Marine Science Consortium. -Students are required to participate in a final presentation at the end of the field season and are highly encouraged to give presentations at the annual meetings of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science and the Atlantic Coastal Dolphin Conference. -For details contact Dr. Simon Beeching, Intern coordinator: simon.beeching(\)sru.edu or 724-738-2479 THE MARINE SCIENCE CONSORTIUM, INC. Wallops Island, Va From: Todd McConchie mcconchie.todd(\)nmnh.si.edu _________________________________________________________________ Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 15:13:30 -0700 From: "David S. Janiger" Subject: New Articles Hi, all! Here's the latest posting of new PDF's that are available. Abstracts also available on request. I have included the size of files over 1 MB. As always, please don't request them if your mail server can't handle the file size for attachments. Please make all requests to: janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu Cheers David Janiger - Curatorial Assistant (Mammals) Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007 (213) 763-3369 janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu ACEVEDO-WHITEHOUSE, KARINA; FRANCES GULLAND; DENISE GREIG and WILLIAM AMOS. NATURE (LONDON) 422(6927):35. 2003. Disease susceptibility in California sea lions. ANDERSEN, LISELOTTE W.; ERIK W. BORN; RUNE DIETZ; TORE HAUG; NILS OIEN and CHRISTIAN BENDIXEN. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 247:263-280. 2003. Genetic population structure of minke whales Balaenoptera acutorostrata from Greenland, the North East Atlantic and the North Sea probably reflects different ecological regions. ARIM, MATIAS and DANIEL E. NAYA. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 81(1):67-73. 2003. Pinniped diets inferred from scats: analysis of biases in prey occurrence. BEST, NARELLE J.; COREY J. A. BRADSHAW; MARK A. HINDELL and PETER D. NICHOLS. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY B BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 134(2):253-263. 2003. Vertical stratification of fatty acids in the blubber of southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina): implications for diet analysis BRADSHAW, COREY J. A.; RICHARD J. BARKER; ROBERT G. HARCOURT and LLOYD S. DAVIS. JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY 84(1):65-80. 2003. Estimating survival and capture probability of fur seal pups using multistate mark-recapture models. CARLINI, ALEJANDRO; SEBASTIAN POLJAK; GUSTAVO A. DANERI; MARIA E. I. MARQUEZ and JOACHIM PLOTZ. POLISH POLAR RESEARCH 23(2):153-159. 2002. Dynamics of male dominance of southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) during the breeding season at King George Island. CASTRO-GONZALEZ, MARIA ISABEL; DAVID AURIOLES-GAMBOA and FERNANDO PEREZ-GIL ROMO. CIENCIAS MARINAS 29(1):9-20. 2003. Fatty acids in plasma of California sea lion pups (Zalphus c. californianus) from Los Islotes, Baja California Sur, Mexico. CLAPHAM, P. ; P. BERGGREN; S. CHILDERHOUSE; N. FRIDAY; T. KASUYA; L. KELL; K. KOCK; S. MANZANILLA; G. DI SCIARA; W. PERRIN; A. READ; R. REEVES; E. ROGAN; L. ROJAS-BRACHO; T. SMITH; M. STACHOWITSCH; B. TAYLOR; D. THIELE; P. WADE and R. BROWNELL, JR. BIOSCIENCE 53(3):210-212. 2003. Whaling as science. COSTA, DANIEL P. and NICHOLAS J. GALES. ECOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS 73(1):27-43. 2003. Energetics of a benthic diver: Seasonal foraging ecology of the Australian sea lion, Neophoca cinerea. DECKER, D. J.; B. S. STEWART and N. LEHMAN. TISSUE ANTIGENS 60(6):534-538. 2002. Major histocompatibility complex class II DOA sequences from three Antarctic seal species verify stabilizing selection on the DO locus. DOBSON, F. STEPHEN and PIERRE JOUVENTIN. BEHAVIOURAL PROCESSES 61(1-2):77-85. 2003. How mothers find their pups in a colony of Antarctic fur seals. DOROFF, ANGELA M.; JAMES A. ESTES; M. TIM TINKER; DOUGLAS M. BURN and THOMAS J. EVANS. JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY 84(1):55-64. 2003. Sea otter population declines in the Aleutian archipelago. DUBE, Y.; M. O. HAMMILL and C. BARRETTE. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 81(2):188-194. 2003. Pup development and timing of pupping in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in the St. Lawrence River estuary, Canada. ESTES, J. A.; M. L. RIEDMAN; M. M. STAEDLER; M. T. TINKER and B. E. LYON. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY 72(1):144-155. 2003. Individual variation in prey selection by sea otters: patterns, causes and implications. FISH, FRANK E.; JENIFER HURLEY and DANIEL P. COSTA. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY 206(4):667-674. 2003. Maneuverability by the sea lion Zalophus californianus: turning performance of an unstable body design. HATTORI, KAORU; ALEXANDER M. BURDIN; MANABU ONUMA; MASATSUGU SUZUKI and NORIYUKI OHTAISHI. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 81(1):52-56. 2003. Sex determination in the sea otter (Enhydra lutris) from tissue and dental pulp using PCR amplification. HOBBS, KAREN E.; DEREK C. G. MUIR; ROBERT MICHAUD; PIERRE BELAND; ROBERT J. LETCHER and ROSS J. NORSTROM. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 122(2):291-302. 2003. PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in blubber biopsies from free-ranging St. Lawrence River Estuary beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas), 1994-1998. HUGUENIN, JOHN E.; JOHN L. CHASE and SAMUEL R. CHAPMAN. AQUACULTURAL ENGINEERING 27(3):213-245. 2003. Development of a seal rehabilitation and marine science facility's seawater and life support system. KASTELLE, CRAIG R.; KIM E. W. SHELDEN and DANIEL K. KIMURA. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 81(1):21-32. 2003. Age determination of mysticete whales using Pb-210/Ra-226 disequilibria. KYNGDON, D. J.; E. O. MINOT and K. J. STAFFORD. APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR SCIENCE 71(2):163-170. 2003. Behavioural responses of captive common dolphins Delphinus delphis to a 'Swim-with-Dolphin' programme. MARQUEZ, M. E. I.; A. R. CARLINI; A. V. BARONI; P. A. RONAYNE DE FERRER; N. H. SLOBODIANIK and M. F. GODOY. POLAR BIOLOGY 26(3):151-156. 2003. Shifts in immunoglobulin (IgG, IgM and IgA) levels in the milk of southern elephant seals, at Potter Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica. (Mirounga leonina) MAZZARO, LISA M.; J. LAWRENCE DUNN; HAROLD C. FURR and RICHARD M. CLARK. ZOO BIOLOGY 22(1):83-96. 2003. Serum retinol, alpha-tocopherol, and lipids in four species of adult captive pinnipeds. MCMAHON, CLIVE R.; HARRY R. BURTON and MARTHAN N. BESTER. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY 72(1):61-74. 2003. A demographic comparison of two southern elephant seal populations. File size 1.3 MB MILETTE, LINDA L. and ANDREW W. TRITES. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 81(2):340-348. 2003. Maternal attendance patterns of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) from stable and declining populations in Alaska. OHISHI, KAZUE; RYOKO ZENITANI; TAKEHARU BANDO; YOSHITAKA GOTO; KAZUYUKI UCHIDA; TADASHI MARUYAMA; SABURO YAMAMOTO; NOBUYUKI MIYAZAKI and YOSHIHIRO FUJISE. COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES 26(2):125-136. 2003. Pathological and serological evidence of Brucella-infection in baleen whales (Mysticeti) in the western North Pacific. OLSEN, E. and O. GRAHL-NIELSEN. MARINE BIOLOGY (BERLIN) 142(1):13-24. 2003. Blubber fatty acids of minke whales: stratification, population identification and relation to diet. PAGE, BRAD; ANDREW WELLING; MAGALY CHAMBELLANT; SIMON D. GOLDSWORTHY; TONY DORR and RICK VAN VEEN. POLAR BIOLOGY 26(4):219-224. 2003. Population status and breeding season chronology of Heard Island fur seals. RENDELL, L. E. and H. WHITEHEAD. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON SERIES B BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 270(1512):225-231. 2003. Vocal clans in sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus). ROSENBAUM, H. C.; M. T. WEINRICH; S. A. STOLESON; J. P. GIBBS; C. S. BAKER and R. DESALLE. JOURNAL OF HEREDITY 93(6):389-399. 2002. The effect of differential reproductive success on population genetic structure: Correlations of life history with matrilines in humpback whales of the Gulf of Maine. RUELAS-INZUNZA, JORGE R.; MILENA HORVAT; HECTOR PEREZ-CORTES and FEDERICO PAEZ-OSUNA. CIENCIAS MARINAS 29(1):1-8. 2003. Methylmercury and total mercury distribution in tissues of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) and spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) stranded along the lower Gulf of California, Mexico. VAN PARIJS, S. M.; C. LYDERSEN and K. M. KOVACS. ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR 65(2):273-283. 2003. Vocalizations and movements suggest alternative mating tactics in male bearded seals. File size 1.3 MB WALLACE, RICHARD L. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 17(1):104-115. 2003. Social influences on conservation: Lessons from US recovery programs for marine mammals. ZHANG, X.; D. WANG; R. LIU; Z. WEI; Y. HUA; Y. WANG; Z. CHEN and L. WANG. AQUATIC CONSERVATION OF MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS 13(1):51-64. 2003. The Yangtze River dolphin or baiji (Lipotes vexillifer): population status and conservation issues in the Yangtze River, China. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 16:23:50 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: CRRU Internship Placements, Scotland, UK (fwd) From: Dr Kevin Robinson Applications are now being accepted for interns to participate in the Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit's "Ecocorps 2003 Research Programme". Run by an experienced team of biologists, these popular internships provide full training in the theory and practice of field techniques used in the study of whales and dolphins, including skills such as data recording, behavioural sampling, photo-identification and others. Moreover, participants will gain a personal understanding of the conservation and welfare issues that drive the scientific studies of small, non-profit research organisations. The cost for a 2 week placement in 2003 will be 695 GB Pounds (1035 Euros) or 395 GB Pounds (585 Euros) for 1 week. Each additional week is 300 GB Pounds (approx 435 Euros) i.e. the price for 3 weeks is 995 GB Pounds (approx 1470 Euros), with all profits raised by this programme being used to directly finance the research activities of the group. Full board (accommodation and food costs), full equipment needs and ALL associated costs are included in this pricing, but interns will need to arrange their own flights and travel iterinary to us in Banff in NE Scotland (nearest airport Dyce, Aberdeen, approx.1=BD hours from the field base by coach), plus pocket / personal spending money. A more complete description of the programme and further details of the research organisation hosting the project are available at: http://www.crru.org.uk/research/volunteer.htm and http://www.crru.org.uk/research/ Further information, brochures, booking details etc, should be requested from ecocorps2003(\)crru.org.uk Publications currently under submission/review in 2003 Dick, K. (2003). Habitat selection by minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) in the Southern Moray Firth, NE Scotland. MSc thesis, Strathclyde University. Sandoe, J.A.T, Robinson, K.P. & Barnett, J. (in prep) Infectious diseases associated with marine mammal rescue: clinical, microbiological features and risk reduction. The Lancet. Robinson, K.P. et al. (In submission) Mark recapture abundance estimates and distribution of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) using the southern coastline of the Outer Moray Firth, NE Scotland. _____________________________________ The Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) is a small, non-profit organisation based in NE Scotland dedicated to the conservation and protection of whales, dolphins and porpoises in Scottish waters through scientific investigation, environmental education, and the provision of professional, veterinary assistance to sick, stranded and injured individuals. Since 1997, volunteers and students have assisted the group in the collection of data fundamental to current knowledge of the distribution and status of cetaceans in NE Scottish waters. Primary concentration is of an individually identified population of bottlenose dolphins that spend a large proportion of their year in the rich, coastal waters of the outer southern Moray Firth, and a sub-population of minke whales that inhabit particular coastal areas along the northeast coastline during the summer and autumn months. Co-operation partners for this internship programme are "Ecocorps Scotland Ltd" (UK) and "Ecovolunteer" (Netherlands). -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 10:21:12 -0400 From: "Rosenbaum, Howard" Subject: recent publication The following paper was recently published: Rosenbaum, H.C, Weinrich, M., Stoleson, S., Gibbs, J.P., Baker, C.S., and R. DeSalle. 2002. The effect of differential reproductive success on population genetic structure: Correlations of life history with matrilines in humpback whales of the Gulf of Maine. Journal of Heredity 93: 389-399. ABSTRACT To examine whether demographic and life history traits are correlated with genetic structure, we contrasted mtDNA lineages of individual humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) with sighting and reproductive histories of female humpback whales between 1979 and 1995. Maternal lineage haplotypes were obtained for 323 whales, either from direct sequencing of the mtDNA control region (n=159) or inferred from known relationships along matrilines from the sequenced sample of individuals (n=164). Sequence variation in the 550bp of the control region defined a total of nineteen maternal lineage haplotypes that formed two main clades. Fecundity increased significantly over the study period among females of several lineages among the two clades. Individual maternal lineages and other clades were characterized by significant variation in fecundity. The detected heterogeneity of reproductive success has the potential to substantially affect the frequency and distribution o! f mater! nal lineages found in this population over time. There were significant yearly effects on adult resighting rate and calf survivorship based on examination of sighting histories with varying capture-recapture probability models. These results indicate that population structure can be influenced by interactions or associations between reproductive success, genetic structure, and environmental factors in a natural population of long-lived mammals. Please contact Howard Rosenbaum at hrosenbaum(\)wcs.org for reprint requests. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2003 10:23:57 -0400 From: g_jkaplan Subject: Seeking video camera advice Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Dear All, I'm seeking advice on what kind of video camera I should acquire for my fieldwork this summer. I will be video-taping underwater behavior in spotted dolphins, so I'm trying to figure out what features I need to look for in a video camera used for this purpose. I'm not going to worry about sound (it brings up the cost of the housing too much), so i just need reliable, clear video. Any input would be much appreciated. So far it looks like the answer is a JVC or Sony digital video camera with Ikelite underwater housing. Are these brands generally well-suited to this purpose? Are there certain cameras/ features that are more ideal for use in low light situations? Is there a target resolution I should look for in a digital camera? Any other particular features I should be looking for in a camera? Thanks, J. Daisy Kaplan g_jkaplan(\)umassd.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2003 10:49:25 -0400 From: Naomi Rose Subject: Swim-with-whales - request for information Hello: Mason Weinrich of the Whale Center and I are writing a paper for the IWC Scientific Committee, reviewing swim-with-whale operations. We are not including small cetacean swims - several excellent reviews of these operations have been done recently. We are focused only on those commercial operations that allow customers into the water with baleen, sperm, and beaked whales. We are interested in formal and opportunistic operations, whether legal or illegal under local law. Web sites, anecdotal information (first hand only), published material, and other sources would all be helpful. This paper will include only basic information - it will be more of a survey of operations, not an in-depth review. We are primarily interested in the species involved, the activity in which the targeted animals are engaged in the area (e.g., breeding/calving, feeding), age/sex categories most often targeted, and any information known on vessel types, guidelines followed (if any), whether custo! mers snorkel or scuba dive or both, numbers of people in the water (e.g., per day, per season), and local laws. If research is being conducted in the area, we would also like to know this, although we will not be including details about projects or results. Our preliminary investigations have identified more than a dozen commercial operations (involving both formal and opportunistic swims) in the Silver Banks area off the Dominican Republic, Tonga, Costa Rica, Niue, the Maldives, the Great Barrier Reef, the Galapagos, and off San Diego. We know of illegal swims in Argentina. Please send any information to me at the email address below. Thank you for any assistance you can offer with this project. Naomi Rose ************************** 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: Fri, 18 Apr 2003 12:06:35 -0700 From: "Bridget H. Watts" Subject: gray whale muscle sample request REPLY TO: bwatts(\)mlml.calstate.edu Hello all, With northbound gray whale season upon us, I'd like to ask those with MMPA/NMFS authorization to take samples from stranded cetaceans (ie: holders of a letter of authorization) for your help in obtaining muscle samples from any gray whales that strand. I'd be very happy to get existing samples from previous years as well. I have a few samples, but there is little consistency in sampling area on the animals. If possible, please take swimming muscle from under the dorsal hump. To be more specific, cut deep into the back just anterior to the knuckles, taking the wedge of muscle that lies between the spinous and transverse processes of the vertebrae. I'll be trying to analyze for myoglobin concentration on the muscle closest to the vertebral body...this has the highest concentration according to a few sources, and can thus be compared to other studies. I don't need alot of tissue, five grams should do it. If you find a whale, muscle can be put in a plastic ziploc and frozen for storage. I'll gladly reimburse you for your expenses including cold shipping. This will be a part of my master's work on gray whale development related to diving ability. Thanks for your help! Bridget Watts Dr. Jim Harvey's Lab -- Mammalogy & Ornithology Moss Landing Marine Laboratories 8272 Moss Landing Road Moss Landing, CA 95039 831/ 771-4422 bwatts(\)mlml.calstate.edu __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo http://search.yahoo.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 17:05:48 -0400 From: Kimberly Skrupky Subject: Job Opening with the National Marine Fisheries Service Job Opening: Division Chief, Marine Mammal Conservation, Office of Protected Resources, NOAA Fisheries. The selected individual will oversee national and international programs for the conservation, recovery, and health of marine mammals. Duties include coordinating with other agencies on marine mammal issues, planning and financial management, and managing a staff of over twenty dedicated, high-caliber individuals. This is a permanent, full-time, supervisory position located in Silver Spring, MD. The position is a pay band ZP-0401-05 (equivalent to the GS 15 level). To view the qualifications and apply, please visit: https://www.jobs.doc.gov/cool/doc/APP_VAC_VIEW?F_USERNAME=&F_ANN_NO=97952&F_AG_ID=11&SK=l for vacancy h-nmf-03048.5.tfj. This vacancy closes May 15, 2003. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2003 03:18:55 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: FW: Notice of Preparation of a Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Structure Removal Operations (fwd) From: "Dagmar Fertl" [Federal Register: April 16, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 73)] [Notices] [Page 18670] >From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr16ap03-104] [[Page 18670]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Minerals Management Service Notice of Preparation of a Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Structure Removal Operations in the Gulf of Mexico (2003) AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, Interior. ACTION: Preparation of a programmatic environmental assessment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Minerals Management Service (MMS) will prepare a programmatic environmental assessment (PEA) to assess the potential impacts of explosive and nonexplosive structure removal operations in the Gulf of Mexico. Preparation of the PEA is an important step in the decision process for future permitting for the removal of offshore structures and for further consultation and coordination with other Federal agencies. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394, Mr. T.J. Broussard, telephone (504) 736-3245. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PEA will focus on the decommissioning activities related to the explosive and non-explosive severing of seafloor obstructions and facilities (e.g., wellheads, caissons, conductors, platforms, mooring devices) and the subsequent salvage operations that may be employed. The PEA will examine the potential impacts of structure removal operations on marine and socioeconomic environments. The geographic area of the proposed action includes all water depths of the Central and Western Planning Areas and the 256- block area currently available for leasing in the Eastern Planning Area. The PEA will be used as part of the rulemaking process by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration for incidental take regulations under Subpart I of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and to initiate consultation for explosive, structure removal operations under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. Topics of primary concern to be addressed in the PEA include removal technologies, industry needs related to water depth and location, and the potential impacts of structure removal operations on marine and socioeconomic environments. Public Comments: The MMS requests that affected and/or interested parties submit their comments regarding any information or issues that should be addressed in the PEA to the Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Office of Leasing and Environment, Attention: Regional Supervisor (MS 5410), 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394. Comments should be enclosed in an envelope labeled ``Comments on the Structure Removal Operations PEA.'' You may also comment by e-mail to environment(\)mms.gov. Our practice is to make comments, including names and home addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular business hours. Individual respondents may request that we withhold their home address from the rulemaking record, which we will honor to the extent allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold your name and/or address, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. However, we will not consider anonymous comments. We will make all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety. Comments must be submitted no later than 30 days from the date of publication of this Notice in the Federal Register. Dated: March 25, 2003. Chris C. Oynes, Regional Director, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region. [FR Doc. 03-9330 Filed 4-15-03; 8:45 am] -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2003 12:57:40 -0500 From: Karina Onton Subject: seismic information boundary="----=_NextPart_000_00E2_01C3073C.6D29E440" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_00E2_01C3073C.6D29E440 charset="iso-8859-1" Dear All, This is an acknowledgement to those who provide me with some interesting = literature concerning the effects and conservation measures of seismic = activities on marine mammals and sea turtles.=20 For those who are interested, the following is a list of the recommended = literature I received: 1. http://www.curtin.edu.au/curtin/centre/cmst/publicat/index.html McCauley, R.D., Fewtrell, J., Duncan, A.J., Jenner, C., Jenner, M-N., = Penrose, J., Prince, R.I.T., Adhitya, A., Murdoch, J., McCabe, K., = 2000, 'Marine seismic surveys - A study of environmental implications', = APPEA Journal, pp. 692-708=20 McCauley, R.D., Fewtrell, J., Duncan, A.J., Jenner, C., Jenner, M-N., = Penrose, J.D., Prince, R.I.T., Adhitya, A., Murdoch, J., McCabe, K., = 2000, Marine seismic surveys: analysis and propagation of air-gun = signals; and effects of exposure on humpback whales, sea turtles, fishes = and squid, Prepared for the Australian Petroleum Exploration and = Production Association=20 by the Centre for Marine Science and Technology, Curtin University, CMST = R99-15. 2. http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/overview/publicat.html#section Biological Opinion - Minerals Management Service's Gulf of Mexico Outer = Continental Shelf Multi-Lease Sale (PDF) - November 29, 2002=20 3. LINTON,T.L., HALL,N. & LaBOMASCUS, D.Effects of seismic sounds on = marine organism: An annotated Bibliography and Literature Review. Tamu-SG-86-604. Texas A & M University. = Galveston.1985. 4. GAUSLAND, I. Impact of seismic surveys on marine life. The Leading = Edge, August 2000, pp. 903-905. Best regards, Karina Ont=F3n karinaos(\)ec-red.com ------=_NextPart_000_00E2_01C3073C.6D29E440 charset="iso-8859-1"
Dear All,
This is an acknowledgement to those who = provide me=20 with some interesting literature concerning the effects and conservation = measures of seismic activities on marine mammals and sea=20 turtles. 
For those who are interested, the = following is=20 a list of the recommended literature I received:
 
     1. = http://www.curtin.edu.au/curtin/centre/cmst/publicat/index.html
=

McCauley, R.D., Fewtrell, J., Duncan, A.J., Jenner, C., Jenner, M-N., = Penrose, J., Prince, R.I.T., Adhitya, A., Murdoch, J., McCabe, K.,  = 2000,=20 'Marine seismic surveys - A study of environmental implications', APPEA = Journal,=20 pp. 692-708=20

McCauley, R.D., Fewtrell, J., Duncan, A.J., Jenner, C., Jenner, M-N., = Penrose, J.D., Prince, R.I.T., Adhitya, A., Murdoch, J., McCabe, = K.,  2000,=20 Marine seismic surveys: analysis and propagation of air-gun signals; and = effects=20 of exposure on humpback whales, sea turtles, fishes and squid, Prepared = for the=20 Australian Petroleum Exploration and Production Association
by the = Centre=20 for Marine Science and Technology, Curtin University, CMST R99-15.

2. http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/overview/publicat.html#section

=

Biological Opinion - Minerals Management Service's Gulf of Mexico = Outer=20 Continental Shelf Multi-Lease Sale (PDF) - November 29, = 2002 

3. LINTON,T.L., HALL,N. & LaBOMASCUS, D.Effects of seismic sounds = on=20 marine organism: An annotated Bibliography
and Literature Review.=20 Tamu-SG-86-604. Texas A & M University. Galveston.1985.

4. GAUSLAND, I. Impact of seismic surveys on marine life. The Leading = Edge,=20 August 2000, pp. 903-905.

 
Best regards,
 
 
Karina Ont=F3n
karinaos(\)ec-red.com
<= /FONT>
------=_NextPart_000_00E2_01C3073C.6D29E440-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2003 19:26:52 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: right whale competitive grants program NMFS is operating a competitive grants program for right whale research, and a request for proposals has just been published in the Federal Register. Full details can be found at: http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/psb/grantforms/ A pdf of the Federal Register notice can be downloaded from http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/psb/grantforms/RtWhaleFRNfnl.pdf -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2003 02:25:27 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: WDCS Education Officer post (fwd) From: Ellie.Dickson(\)wdcs.org Please can you post this on MARMAM. Many thanks. All the best, Ellie Dickson WDCS Scottish Officer Vacancy for a full-time Education Officer with WDCS, the Whale and Dolphi= n Conservation Society The post-holder will principally be based at the Moray Firth Wildli= fe Centre in Spey Bay, Morayshire, Scotland. Desirable skills/experience =B7 Experience working with the public (especially children) is essent= ial for this post. =B7 Teaching experience & knowledge of the National Curriculum are desirable. =B7 A background in biology/zoology/environmental science would be an advantage. =B7 Excellent spoken and written English is important. =B7 The successful candidate needs to have a full driving licence and his/her own transport. =B7 Good oral and written communications skills are important. =B7 Experience organising events would be helpful. Duties include: =B7 Organising school visits to the Wildlife Centre. =B7 Planning the annual events programme at the Centre. =B7 Attending events on behalf of WDCS around the UK, this will involv= e working some weekends. =B7 Helping to develop the educational section of the WDCS website. =B7 Developing an Education Pack (liasing with education professionals= ) focusing on the Moray Firth dolphins. =B7 Guiding out of the blue wildlife holidays in Scotland, this involv= es working some evenings and weekends. =B7 Helping to develop the education facilities at the Wildlife Centre. Additional information The salary for this post is in the region of 15,000 pounds stirling pa. This is a 3-year post supported by Scottish Natural Heritage. WDCS is a registered charity (number 1014705). Application Please send a full CV (with contact details for 2 references) and fill in the application form, which can be downloaded on www.wdcs.org Please quote reference POL002 on the application form. Applications should be send by post to: Miss Eleanor Dickson, WDCS Scottish Officer, Moray Firth Wildlife Centre, Spey Bay, Moray, IV32 7PJ. The closing date for applications is 2nd May 2003. WDCS is the global voice for the protection of whales, dolphins and their environment ________________________________________________________________________ This email has been scanned for all viruses by the MessageLabs SkyScan service. For more information on a proactive anti-virus service working around the clock, around the globe, visit http://www.messagelabs.com ________________________________________________________________________ -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2003 09:35:08 -0400 From: "Sloan A. Freeman" Subject: Summer Internship Opportunity The Ocean Biogeographic Information System - Spatial Ecological Analysis of Megavertebrate Populations (OBIS-SEAMAP) project seeks a research intern for the summer of 2003. The OBIS-SEAMAP project (http://obismap.env.duke.edu) is archiving geo-referenced information on the distribution of marine mammals, seabirds, and sea turtles into an online database intended for use by conservation planners, policy-makers, researchers, students, educators and the general public. The intern will assist with compiling datasets into the OBIS-SEAMAP database, and will write species profiles for sea turtles and seabirds for posting to the web. This will involve research on identification, habitat, behavior, and prey of various seabirds and sea turtles. The intern may also assist with data entry and editing. We are looking for a self-motivated, organized person comfortable with the internet and Microsoft Excel who has an interest in marine ecology. Desirable, but not necessary, experience includes field data collection on marine animals, database management (especially Microsoft Access), web page design, and use of geographical information systems. Guidance and training will be provided by staff and faculty on the project. The starting date will be 02 June, 2003 and the intern will be expected to work until the end of August. The internship will be based at the Duke University Marine Laboratory in Beaufort, North Carolina (http://www.env.duke.edu/marinelab/). A stipend will be available. To apply, send a cover letter and resume to Sloan Freeman (ska2(\)duke.edu) before 09 May, 2003. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sloan A. Freeman Research Associate Duke University Marine Lab 135 Duke Marine Lab Rd Beaufort, NC 28516 252-504-7633 (f) 252-504-7638 sloan.freeman(\)duke.edu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2003 11:21:54 -0700 From: Per J =?iso-8859-1?Q?Palsb=F8ll?= Subject: Post doctoral position: Individual-based cetacean conservation genetics ------ Post doctoral researcher: Individual-based conservation genetics of balee= n=20 whales POSTGRADUATE RESEARCHER to conduct conservation genetic studies of baleen= =20 whales. Salary commensurate upon experience. Initial appointment for two= =20 years with the possibility of extension. Minimum Requirements: 2 years post doctoral experience, extensive=20 experience with large-scale genotyping and sequencing of baleen whale=20 samples for purposes of individual identification and parent-offspring=20 identification, Tropical and Arctic field experience including skin biops= y=20 collection and photo-identification of baleen whales, inflatable boat=20 skills, and demonstrated ability to analyze results and publish in=20 competitive scientific journals. Desirable: spoken and written French. Duties: The researcher will participate in the daily management of a=20 conservation genetic laboratory and conduct research on ongoing=20 individual-based genetic studies of baleen whale populations in the South= =20 and North Atlantic and North Pacific. Please send CV, research statement, and the names of 3 potential referees= =20 to (pdf attachments preferred) by May 22nd to: Per J. Palsb=F8ll, University of California, Ecosystem Science Division E= SPM,=20 151 Hilgard Hall, #3110, Berkeley, CA94720-3110, USA, Phone +1 510 643=20 8225, Fax +1 510 643 5098, email=20 palsboll(\)nature.berkeley.edu Univ. of Calif. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.=20 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2003 05:59:31 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Seeking advice about unusual behaviors in a rehabilitating Tursiops (fwd) From: "Celeste Weimer" Hi All, We are currently rehabilitating a young male Tursiops, who, since his=20 stranding, has been displaying very odd behaviors while resting; we call=20 these periods of odd behaviors "episodes." We are seeking advice about= =20 these behaviors, especially from those of you with experience in cetacean= =20 neurology. The following is a run-down of what we have seen. Historically, he lists to his right for a period of time and swims in ran= dom=20 circles around the pool. He is able to clear his blowhole out of the wat= er,=20 but breathing is labored and irregular. Last week the episodes appeared=20 fairly relaxed and almost to the point where he would float around the po= ol=20 with gentle fluttering kicks of his flukes. At times, it appeared as tho= ugh=20 he would startle himself, wake up, and swim upright for a bit. Then, he=20 would go back to the right side listing and the same thing again. Those=20 types of episodes lasted about an hour. Now, this is what we are seeing happening. He will start out with a very= =20 slow swim low in the water. This will last about 45 minutes. Then he wi= ll=20 float to the surface, and begin the listing to the right. In each episod= e,=20 his left eye will be closed or partially closed. Once he is on that righ= t=20 side, the circles become more random, and the fluttering kicks have turne= d=20 into large sideways tail slaps=97startling him awake. Now he will not on= ly=20 stay on his right side, but he will go belly up, and then go to his left=20 side. This is completely new behavior in these episodes that we are seei= ng.=20 The total time on these episodes has been between one and half to 2 hou= rs=20 at any given time. He is having increasingly difficult time clearing his= =20 blowhole during these episodes, whereas before it was more graceful. He = is=20 seemingly more awkward. His white has dropped considerably again so he is back on antibiotics. W= e=20 have been watching hemoglobin and hematocrit, but these values have come=20 back into range. We have also been monitoring his calcium levels because= =20 they were extremely low during his first few days with us. Since then he= =20 has been on supplements, but the last couple of weeks the levels have bee= n=20 on the high end of normal. This week his calcium was cut in half and it = has=20 been since this time that we have seen these episodes for longer periods = of=20 time, with the increased erratic/violent behavior, and today we noticed s= ome=20 twitching during the episode. Our last four Tursiops have all passed away from bacterial meningitis and= =20 did display behaviors of disorientation and heavy listing. However, all = of=20 these cases displayed the behavior at all times, not just resting. We ar= e=20 seeking advice about these behaviors, especially from those of you with=20 experience in cetacean neurology. Please either email myself, Celeste=20 Weimer at lesty7(\)hotmail.com, or Tammy Renaud at tmmsn(\)tamug.tamu.edu. Thank you in advance for your time and effort in helping us solve this=20 mystery. Celeste Weimer Galveston Regional Coordinator Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network 4700 Ave U, Bldg 303 Galveston, TX 77551 1-800-9MAMMAL www.tmmsn.org -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2003 14:21:40 +0100 From: Dylan Walker Subject: New discussion group available on cetaceans in the Bay of Biscay Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" ------ Dear Marmamers, A new e-mail discussion forum has just been created for anybody specifica= lly interested in the Bay of Biscay (Atlantic waters off France and Spain). T= he Biscay Cetacean Network (Biscaycetnet(\)yahoogroups.com) is an e-mail discussion forum for all interest groups involved in marine mammal resear= ch and conservation within the region of the Bay of Biscay. The discussion forum has been launched as a result of a half-day workshop which took place at the recent ECS Conference. The workshop was hosted by ORCA (Organisation Cetacea) and entitled =8CCetacean Research and Conserv= ation in the Bay of Biscay=B9. The main objective of the discussion forum is to bring together the key parties undertaking research on Biscay cetaceans (= and other marine wildlife) in order to initiate a more collaborative approach= to future research and conservation priorities. Past research has highlighted the exceptional diversity and abundance of cetaceans in the Bay of Biscay. Sadly, this same research has also identified a growing list of conservation concerns for cetaceans and thei= r habitats. These include pollution, over-fishing, increased disturbance fr= om shipping, acoustic disturbance and fisheries bycatch. If you would like to join Biscaycetnet you can do so by visiting the home page at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Biscaycetnet Alternatively you can join by e-mailing the moderator at: dylan_walker(\)wildguides.co.uk Regards, Dylan Walker Chairman, ORCA Organisation Cetacea (ORCA) 9 Prospect Row St Neots Cambridge PE19 1JS United Kingdom ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2003 12:05:59 +0200 From: Gabriele =?iso-8859-1?Q?M=FCller?= Subject: Data from unknown satellite tags ------ Dear Marmam=B4ers, I have just received some Argos satellite data for some tags that are not= =20 mine. The ID numbers are 26279, 25123, 24514, and 24843. The data is from= =20 April 23 and some of the locations are from the waters around the UK. If=20 anybody knows these IDs I would be happy to forward the data. Gabriele Gabriele M=FCller Experimental Ecology II, FB3 Institute of Marine Science D=FCsternbrooker Weg 20 24105 Kiel Germany Phone: (+49) 431 600 4509 Fax: (+49) 431 600 1671 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2003 18:21:11 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: North Pacific right whale DFO Canada draft release (fwd) Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has released the details of a draft recovery strategy aimed at restoring the North Pacific right whale to Canadian waters and maintaining the long term viability of the population. The draft Recovery Strategy is posted on a DFO web site for comments from interested individuals or organizations until May 12. Members of the public interested in viewing the draft document and contributing comments can visit the following DFO web site: The multi-agency recovery team created by DFO (listed posted on web site) identified threats and knowledge gaps that should be addressed to ensure recovery of the species. The members of the team agreed that the primary threat to the survival of the North Pacific right whale is likely small population numbers. Additional threats include coastal development and ship strikes; entanglement in fishing gear; habitat degradation; noise; climate change and food supply; pollution; and the inability to find a mate due to small populations numbers. Basic aspects of the biology and ecology of the North Pacific right whale remain unknown. Identified knowledge gaps are population structure and genetics; life history parameters and population dynamics; current presence, abundance, distribution, and habitat use in BC waters; and clarification of threats and human influences. The recovery plan proposes to attempt to restore the right whale population in Canadian waters and maintain its survival by undertaking the following activities: * Gather baseline data on occurrence, abundance and habitat to support recovery efforts. * Obtain better information on potential threats to North Pacific right whales that frequent Canadian waters and the effectiveness of strategies to mitigate these impacts. * Develop and implement tasks or programs to reduce impacts from human activities on the population of right whales that frequent BC waters. * Conduct long-term monitoring of the status of North Pacific right whales and evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation strategies. * Contribute to bilateral and multilateral cooperative efforts to conserve and recover the North Pacific right whale. * Raise awareness and understanding of the status of and threats to North Pacific right whales, and engage Canadians in supporting national and international recovery efforts. Right whales in Canada are protected under the Marine Mammal Regulations of the Fisheries Act as well as under the soon to come into force, Species At Risk Act (SARA). Once it comes into force, SARA will prohibit killing, harming and harassing a threatened or endangered species and will protect their critical habitat. Recovery planning is also a legal requirement under the SARA. For more information please contact: Carole Eros Species at Risk Recovery Plan Coordinator Fisheries and Oceans Canada Phone - 604-666-3610 Fax - 604-666-3341 Email - ErosC(\)pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2003 18:23:50 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Sharks inside the Lake of Maracaibo (fwd) From: Dear colleagues: Though not directly related to cetaceans, there appear to be some unique conditions that could affect the Sotalia fluviatilis populations of the Lake of Maracaibo and Gulf of Venezuela. During the last month, there has been a unusual event in that schools of sharks have been seen and captured inside the Lake of Maracaibo. According to local environmental authorities and the Coastguard, at least 120 sharks have been captured all along the body of the lake (including the southernmost portion) where salinities are of 4-5 ppt. Apparently, this is the first time that it occurs; there is great concern about the way the fauna of the lake (including Sotalia and Trichechus) could be afected, and some ICLAM researchers have contacted my organization to find out what could be going on and where to focus their search. We would appreciate a lot if any of our colleagues can suggest some names of specialists that could help us to learn what could be going on or what can be done. Thanks a lot in advance. Jaime Bolanos -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2003 15:42:02 +0100 From: Rick van Lent Subject: research (references) on the effect of pingers on Odontoceti wanted Rick van Lent r.vanlent(\)savewave.net Dear readers, For my thesis at the Technical University Delft-the Netherlands and Savewave I am doing reseach on the effect of ADD(acoustic deterrent devices) on Odontoceti, and related to this the odontoceti interaction problems(bycatch-icidental mortality). (from the point of view of cetaceans and from the point of view of the fisherman) Now I have a question; I already found a lot of articles on the effect of pingers on Phocoena phocoena (harbour porpoises), but what I was interested in, is if there is research conducted on the effect of ADD on other Odontoceti? And where can I find there results? I hope that anyone can help me further with this problem? All the best and thanks in advance, Rick van Lent References already read: * Harbour porpoise bycatch in the lower bay of fundy Gillnet Fishery (DFO Canada) * Bottlenose dolphin trawlers interaction in the israeli coastline 1993-20001 (IMMRAC) *reaction of harbor porpoise (phocoena phocoena) and herring to acoustic alarms (boris M. Culik, Sven Koschinski, Nick Trengenza, Graeme M. Ellis) * Attraction of Common dolphin to boats setting gill nets (Nick tregenza, S D Berrow, P S Hammond) * Imbert, G., J.-C. Gaertner, et al. (2002). Effet des repulsifsacoustiques sur la capture de dauphins dans les thonailles. Marseille,Universite de la Mediterranee Centre D'Oceanologie de Marseille:36. * Imbert, G., J.-C. Gaertner, et al. (2001). Expertise Scientifique de laThonaille Medterraneenne; Rapport d'etape Suivi Scientifique. Marseille,Centre d'Oceanologie de Marseilles, Universite de laMediterranee: 90. * Reaction of hector's dolphin to acoustic pingers (Departement of conservation New Zealand) I am not able to find more recent papers which deal with Odontoceti and acoustic deterent devices. This is mainly because this is not a hot topic in the Netherlands and my Univerisity is not specialized in Marione mammals, because it is a technical university. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2003 17:55:31 -0400 Reply-To: Marine Animal Lifeline From: Marine Animal Lifeline Subject: Position Announcement Position Announcement Animal Care Technician Closing date: 5/12/03 The Marine Animal Lifeline, a non-profit marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation center, seeks a full-time experienced Animal Care Technician. Job duration: 12 months from time of hire with potential extension. Responsibilities: The Animal Care Technician will assist in: providing day-to-day care of rehabilitating marine mammals; supervising and training animal care crew supervisors and volunteers; maintaining all animal care records including hard copy and computer files; assisting in animal necropsies; monitoring the rescue hotline and coordinating responses; assisting in maintaining the water filtration/life support systems, maintaining the cleanliness of the facility; monitoring inventory of all animal care related items; equipment maintenance; and facilities maintenance. Requirements: This position requires a 3-year minimum of marine mammal care or veterinary technical experience. Applicant must be able to work weekends, holidays, be available for 24-hour on-call status to provide after-hours care if needed. Applicant should possess strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills. Position requires good physical endurance and strength. Working knowledge required in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Experience in marine mammal stranding response and species identification of pinnipeds and cetaceans. Application material: Brief cover letter CV or resume 2 letters of reference and contact info If qualified with the above requirements, send your application material to: Gregory A. Jakush, Marine Animal Lifeline, P.O. Box 621, Portland, ME 04104 or email to gjakush(\)stranding.org. The Marine Animal Lifeline is an Equal Opportunity Employer. www.stranding.org ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2003 10:08:11 EDT From: William Rossiter Subject: ECS: bubbles and sonar = "the bends" in cetaceans ------ This posting is made to urge all responders to cetacean=20 strandings to review the indications for decompression=20 sickness, "the bends," and include them in future examinations,=20 and to all who are concerned with anthropogenic acoustical=20 impacts to consider the implications for several species of=20 cetaceans having been found to have suffered from=20 decompression sickness. The following is a summary from the 17th Annual European=20 Cetacean Society Conference, including formal presentations=20 and informal=20 discussions. All scientific abstracts presented at the Conference,=20 held in March at Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, are available=20 on the ECS Web Site: www.broekemaweb.nl/ecs/.=20 The relationship between stranded cetaceans and military sonars=20 may be far greater than imagined. Evidence presented at the=20 ECS conference indicates that military midrange sonars, under=20 specific conditions, can cause some whales, dolphins, and=20 porpoises to get "the bends." If whales suffer from the bends=20 as human do, modern military sonars may have been leaving=20 crippled cetaceans in their wake for decades! This article was published in slightly modified form in April's=20 "Whales Alive!" newsletter of the Cetacean Society International.=20 As such, it expresses facts in a simplified manner, and includes=20 theories that require a lot of nonexistent data to confirm or deny.=20 It should be noted that recent workshops, for example on resonance,=20 have touched on some of these issues, but without the data from the=20 Canary Islands stranding they were dismissed.=20 The September 2002 standing of Cuvier's beaked whales in the=20 Canary Islands was caused by what human divers call=20 decompression sickness (DCS), or "the bends." Until now the=20 standard belief was that cetaceans couldn't suffer DCS,=20 because they dove deeply with only a small remnant of air in=20 their lungs from their last breath. DCS afflicts human that=20 breathe extra air from tanks while submerged, and then come=20 to the surface without taking enough time to get rid of the=20 nitrogen saturated in their body's tissues. DCS is the result of=20 nitrogen coming out of solution and forming bubbles that expand=20 to disrupt cells, cause loss of function in organs, create embolisms=20 that block circulation, and compress or stretch blood vessels and=20 nerves. DCS in humans has several levels of severity, and by itself=20 is not usually fatal, but it is often crippling. =20 These stranded whales had evidence of fat embolisms, and=20 "severely disseminated microvascular hemorrhages," which=20 means that they had blood around nerves, eyes and brains,=20 and in their ears, lungs, kidney and spleen. Not every whale=20 had all the symptoms. They might have survived, but thoroughly=20 disoriented and suffering from multiple injuries, they blundered=20 ashore, at least giving the superb scientists in the Canary Islands=20 the clues to tell us all what happened. There have been over 20=20 mass strandings of beaked whales since detailed records began=20 about 1963, when modern sonars appeared. But the connection=20 between strandings and sonars wasn't made clear until an event=20 in Greece in 1996. The great majority have been Cuvier's beaked=20 whales, but dense beaked whales and other species have been=20 mixed in. After the 2000 stranding in the Bahamas the focus of=20 investigations was on the whales' heads and ears, with implications=20 for hearing and orientation. Only after the Canaries stranding did the investigations widen to=20 look for evidence of DCS in major organs. Recently, DCS=20 symptoms have been found in stranded Risso's dolphins, common=20 dolphins, and even a harbor porpoise, all in the UK. One dolphin's=20 liver looked more like bubble wrap than tissue, but the dolphin had=20 lived for some time before stranding, perhaps from other causes.=20 How many previous strandings have offered clues that have been=20 missed? For example, blood flowed from the eyes of some stranded=20 beaked whales in the Canaries, Greece, and the Bahamas. Many=20 things could cause this, but even old media reports might make a=20 note of it. Every such historical record should be reviewed for any=20 correlation with military sonars before the stranding. Another concern=20 is that even a single beaked whale that strands might mean sonar=20 impacts on an unknown number of whales over a wide area, only=20 one of which made it to shore. A beaked whale mass stranding=20 can often be of very separated individuals, implying a scattered=20 feeding group where only the closest whales blundered on shore.=20 And could DCS have caused the stranding of the two minke whales=20 involved in the 2000 Bahamas event?=20 Military sonar is the culprit because there is no evidence so far that=20 Cuvier's beaked whales or any other deep diving cetaceans suffers=20 from DCS naturally, after millions of years of evolving to exploit the=20 deep ocean.=20 Look what happened on that fateful September day in 2002:=20 Sometime before dawn off the Canary Islands of Fuerteventura=20 and Lanzaote a veritable storm of military sonars were unleashed=20 as the "Neo Tapon 2002" naval exercises began. At least 58 surface=20 vessels, six submarines, and 30 aircraft participated in a mock=20 assault that included assets from several nations, first identified=20 as a NATO maneuver. The strandings started sometime soon after=20 and were first noted at dawn.=20 The behavior of Cuvier's beaked whales may make them vulnerable=20 to sonar noise. If the whales spent very little time at the surface=20 between dives, dove up and down slowly, stayed very deep as=20 long as possible, and had some air in their lungs during the first=20 70 meters of the dive, the whales' body tissues would likely become=20 supersaturated with nitrogen. That nitrogen would be even more=20 dangerous if the whales rushed to the surface, perhaps if they=20 were startled. Cuvier's beaked whales have been doing such=20 dives for millions of years, so what was different here?=20 Suddenly there were multiple military sonars pinging, each sending=20 half second pulses at about 2-3.3 kHz every 24 seconds or so, with=20 source levels perhaps as high as 235 dB re1=B5Pa. There were deep=20 canyon walls and maybe water "ducts" to reflect and channel the=20 sound energy. Perhaps it was a sudden rhythm or beat, or several=20 waves striking from different directions at once, but something about=20 the way each whale was struck made a terrible difference. The=20 extensive analysis of the sonars and environment that were=20 implicated in the 2000 Bahamas stranding could only conclude that=20 the combined sonars of several ships had been "ducted" by specific=20 water conditions. =20 What follows is theory only, questions to be answered. The disaster=20 may start with the "microbubbles" in the tissues of many deep=20 diving cetaceans. Why don't these nearly microscopic bubbles=20 expand every time a whale surfaces from a deep dive? Or why=20 don't they dissolve? To summarize all the big technical words, that's=20 still a mystery. Perhaps, according to a theory from acoustical physicist= =20 Professor John Potter, a protein based non-permeable barrier forms=20 naturally around the microbubbles. No one has noticed it, but has=20 anyone looked for it? Whatever usually keeps these microbubbles=20 stable may have protected cetaceans from naturally occurring DCS=20 for the millions of years they've exploited very deep habitats.=20 So, if the sounds from multiple midrange military sonars were=20 manipulated by certain water conditions and struck an ascending=20 whale with extremely saturated tissues, the microbubbles might=20 pulse enough so that their gas-impermeable wall cracked. As the=20 wall broke up after the initial expansion, the bubbles' size would=20 multiply rapidly by static diffusion and cause significant damage=20 in a very short time. Another process, called rectified diffusion,=20 could also explain the bubble's expansion, but received levels of=20 sound over 210 dB would be required even for supersaturated=20 tissues.=20 It's very important to recognize that the received level of sound=20 that initiated the bubble's expansion might have been only 140 dB=20 or even less, far below the often-used 180 dB level officially=20 considered to be the threshold of injury. Until the full picture of=20 this complicated event can be documented no one can say what=20 really is a safe level of sound. But there should be no question that=20 relatively low levels of sonar sounds under certain conditions cause=20 DCS in cetaceans. William W. Rossiter President Cetacean Society International P.O.Box 953, Georgetown, CT 06829 USA ph/fx 203-431-1606 rossiter(\)csiwhalesalive.org www.csiwhalesalive.org ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2003 12:59:30 -0700 From: Toni Frohoff Subject: New Book Announcement: "Between Species" boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0074_01C30E4F.2DB7C790" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0074_01C30E4F.2DB7C790 charset="iso-8859-1" New Book: Between Species (Sierra Club Books) published in the U.S. and Canada in May (scheduled for the UK in June). =20 - Toni Frohoff, Ph.D. and Brenda Peterson (eds.) =20 Publisher=92s Description: Dolphins and humans have always been curious about each other, and since ancient times the kinship between our species has been celebrated across cultures and continents in myth, art, literature, and science. Only recently, however, have we gone beyond our own view of this interspecies connection and begun to ask: What might this bond look like from the dolphins' perspective? =20 Now, Between Species brings together for the first time eminent scientists and gifted writers to help shed light on this intriguing question. The book selections range from tales of transforming dolphin encounters to views on how to protect cetaceans and their habitats, and from poems honoring dolphins to provocative critiques of swim-with-the-dolphins programs and acoustic pollution. This groundbreaking anthology not only explores the depths and beauty of the dolphin-human bond but encourages new generations to respect the complexities and responsibilities inherent in such interspecies kinship. =20 Dr. Sylvia Earle of The National Geographic Society has commented: "BETWEEN SPECIES combines the deep wisdom of science, the magic of poetry, and the perspective of history in a rare and moving tribute to the natural affinity people have for dolphins and vice versa. A treasure-trove of information, it is a valuable volume for all who care about the ocean." =20 Contributors: Diane Ackerman, Ph.D.; Giovanni Bearzi, Marc Bekoff, Ph.D., Leigh Calvez, Rochelle Constantine, Ph.D., Jean-Michel Cousteau (interview), Horace Dobbs, Ph.D., Kathleen Dudzinski, Ph.D., Toni Frohoff, Ph.D., Howard Garrett, Oz Goffman, Linda Hogan, Erich Hoyt, Cathy Kinsman, John Lilly, M.D., Christina Lockyer, Ph.D., Ashley Montagu, Ph,D., Sy Montgomery, Monica M=FCller, Ph.D., Jim Nollman, Mark Orams, Ph.D., = Brenda Peterson, Naomi Rose, Ph.D., Bill Rossiter, Marcos Santos, Betsy Smith, Ph.D., Paul Spong, Ph.D, Helena Symonds, Lindy Weilgart, Ph.D., Pat Weyer, Ph.D., Richard Wilbur, Ben White, Bernd W=FCrsig, Ph.D., Melany W=FCrsig, Joana McIntyre Varawa, Suzanne Yin, and Sharon Young. =20 About the Editors: Toni Frohoff has a Ph.D. in behavioral biology and has been studying dolphin behavior and the effects of human activities on dolphins for almost twenty years. Her writing has been published widely and her work has been featured internationally in documentaries and the media. Frohoff=92s research has contributed to the revision and implementation = of legislation protecting dolphins and their environment in several countries. Brenda Peterson is a nature writer and novelist whose acclaimed nonfiction works include Sightings: The Gray Whale's Mysterious Journey, Nature and Other Mothers, Living by Water, and a memoir, Build Me an Ark: A Life with Animals. She is also a coeditor of the anthology Intimate Nature: The Bond Between Women and Animals. Duck and Cover, one of her three novels, was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. =20 For more information, go to UC Press at http://www.ucpress.edu/books/sc/pages/SC50707.html Currently, www.amazon.com is currently offering a 30% discount. =20 ------------------- Toni Frohoff, Ph.D Director, TerraMar Research frohoff(\)ix.netcom =20 ------=_NextPart_000_0074_01C30E4F.2DB7C790 charset="iso-8859-1"

New Book: Between Species (Sierra Club = Books) published in the U.S. and = Canada in May (scheduled for the = UK in = June).

 

- Toni = Frohoff, Ph.D. and Brenda Peterson (eds.)

 

Publisher’s = Description:

Dolphins and = humans have always been curious about each other, and since ancient times the = kinship between our species has been celebrated across cultures and continents = in myth, art, literature, and science. Only recently, however, have we gone = beyond our own view of this interspecies connection and begun to ask: What might = this bond look like from the dolphins' perspective?

 

Now, Between = Species brings together for the first time eminent scientists and gifted writers = to help shed light on this intriguing question. The book selections range = from tales of transforming dolphin encounters to views on how to protect = cetaceans and their habitats, and from poems honoring dolphins to provocative = critiques of swim-with-the-dolphins programs and acoustic pollution. This = groundbreaking anthology not only explores the depths and beauty of the dolphin-human = bond but encourages new generations to respect the complexities and = responsibilities inherent in such interspecies kinship.

 

Dr. Sylvia = Earle of The National Geographic = Society has commented:

"BETWEEN SPECIES combines the deep wisdom of = science,  the magic of poetry, and the perspective of = history in a  rare and moving tribute to the natural affinity people have = for dolphins and vice versa. A treasure-trove of information, it is a = valuable volume for all who care about the = ocean."

 

Contributors:

Diane = Ackerman, Ph.D.; Giovanni = Bearzi, = Marc = Bekoff, Ph.D., = Leigh = Calvez, Rochelle Constantine, Ph.D., Jean-Michel Cousteau (interview), Horace Dobbs, Ph.D., Kathleen = Dudzinski, Ph.D., Toni Frohoff, Ph.D., Howard = Garrett, Oz Goffman, Linda Hogan, = Erich Hoyt, Cathy Kinsman, John Lilly, M.D., Christina Lockyer, Ph.D., Ashley = Montagu, Ph,D., Sy Montgomery, Monica M=FCller, Ph.D., Jim Nollman, Mark Orams, = Ph.D., Brenda = Peterson, = Naomi = Rose, Ph.D., = Bill = Rossiter, Marcos Santos, Betsy Smith, = Ph.D., Paul Spong, Ph.D, Helena Symonds, Lindy Weilgart, Ph.D., Pat Weyer, Ph.D., = Richard Wilbur, Ben White, Bernd W=FCrsig, Ph.D., Melany W=FCrsig, Joana McIntyre Varawa, Suzanne = Yin, and Sharon = Young.

 

About the = Editors:

Toni = Frohoff has a Ph.D. in behavioral = biology and has been studying dolphin behavior and the effects of human activities = on dolphins for almost twenty years. Her writing has been published widely = and her work has been featured internationally in documentaries and the = media.=A0 Frohoff’s research has = contributed to the revision and implementation of legislation protecting dolphins and = their environment in several countries. Brenda = Peterson is a nature writer and = novelist whose acclaimed nonfiction works include Sightings: The Gray Whale's = Mysterious Journey, Nature and Other Mothers, Living by Water, and a memoir, Build = Me an Ark: A Life with Animals. She is also a coeditor of the anthology = Intimate Nature: The Bond Between Women and Animals. = Duck and Cover, one of her three novels, was a New York Times Notable Book of the = Year.

 

For more = information, go to UC Press at=A0 = http://www.uc= press.edu/books/sc/pages/SC50707.html

Currently, www.amazon.com is currently offering = a 30% discount.

 

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

=

Toni = Frohoff, Ph.D

Director, TerraMar = Research

frohoff(\)ix.netcom

 

------=_NextPart_000_0074_01C30E4F.2DB7C790-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 10:53:40 -0400 From: Harish Gadde Subject: Harassment and Marine Mammals - PLEASE RESPOND. Greetings, As you may know, the MMPA is up for re-authorization. You may be surprised to learn that some policy makers are interested in the opinion of the wider population of marine mammal scientists regarding "harassment" and what that might look like to biologists in the field. The following instrument was designed to measure the degree of consensus among scientists and the results of this case study will be used as part of a Ph.D. dissertation on the science/policy interface. Please go to the following link and respond to this instrument. Thank you very much. Results will be made available upon request. Link: http://www.webuse.umd.edu/scripts/marmam/ezs.exe?DATABASE=marmam If you have any questions/concerns please send an email to: harishg(\)glue.umd.edu . Thank You. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 10:15:36 -0400 From: Lori Marino Organization: Emory University Subject: New article on using CT to reconstruct cetacean brain evolution boundary="------------4DDF8B7C4F5EFBB0000F87BF" --------------4DDF8B7C4F5EFBB0000F87BF Dear Colleagues, This is to let you know that our paper, "Reconstructing cetacean brain evolution using computed tomography" is the feature article in this month's issue of The New Anatomist. In our paper we present our methods and preliminary results for an ongoing investigation of cetacean brain evolution using CT to measure and reconstruct endocrania in fossil cetaceans. You may download a pdf of this article by going to the journal website or the following website and clicking on the May 2003 issue: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/jtoc?ID=101521780 If you would like a reprint, please send me a request. Thanks. 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 THE LATEST!!! ****************************************************************** GO TO THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE TO SEE OUR ON-LINE DOLPHIN BRAIN ATLAS: http://www.msu.edu/user/brains/turs/ ****************************************************************** --------------4DDF8B7C4F5EFBB0000F87BF Dear Colleagues,

    This is to let you know that our paper, "Reconstructing cetacean brain evolution using computed tomography" is the feature article in this month's issue of  The New Anatomist. In our paper  we present our methods and preliminary results for an ongoing investigation of cetacean
brain evolution using CT to measure and reconstruct endocrania in fossil cetaceans.

    You may download a pdf of this article by going to the journal website or the following website  and clicking on the May 2003 issue:

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/jtoc?ID=101521780

    If you would like a reprint, please send me a request.

    Thanks.

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
 

      THE LATEST!!!
******************************************************************
GO TO THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE TO SEE OUR ON-LINE DOLPHIN BRAIN ATLAS:
  http://www.msu.edu/user/brains/turs/
******************************************************************
  --------------4DDF8B7C4F5EFBB0000F87BF-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 May 2003 03:09:38 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: new publication: artiodactyla and cetacea (fwd) From: lusda563(\)student.otago.ac.nz Dear Marmamers, The following new publication on the phylogeny of cetaceans is available online from the Journal of Evolutionary Biology: Lusseau D. 2003.The emergence of cetaceans: phylogenetic analysis of male social behaviour supports the Cetartiodactyla clade. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 16(3): 531-535. I am pasting the abstract below. A pdf version is available from the journal's website (http://www.blackwell-synergy.com) and a limited number of paper reprints will be available shortly. Abstract The phylogeny of cetaceans is still unresolved. Two hypotheses prevail for the position of cetaceans among ungulates. The first hypothesis shows that Artiodactyla is monophyletic and is sister taxon to a clade composed of cetaceans and mesonychians. The second one shows that Artiodactyla is paraphyletic and contains Cetacea that is sister taxon of Hippopotamida. These hypotheses are based on fossil records and molecular studies. The behaviour of extant species can provide as much phylogenetic information as other classical parameters. I considered the behaviour observed during male agonistic interactions in placental mammals in order to determine which of these hypotheses was supported by the behaviour of extant species. Headbutting was only observed in ruminants, hippopotamids and cetaceans, supporting the paraphyletic nature of Artiodactyla. Primitive ruminants (tragulids) and two genera of ruminants (Moschus and Oreamnos) were not observed headbutting. These secondary losses were only present in 6.25% of the 48 surveyed ruminant genera. Head-to-head attacks emerged in pigs, which have developed dermal protusions. Yet these confrontations are not based on mutual blow delivery. The behavioural evidence supports the inclusion of cetaceans in Artiodactyla. David Lusseau University of Aberdeen Lighthouse Field Station George St Cromarty IV11 8YJ Scotland -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 May 2003 03:15:34 -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. Fanshawe, S., G.R. VanBlaricom, and A.A. Shelly. 2003. Restored top carnivores as detriments to the performance of marine protected areas intended for fishery sustainability: a case study with red abalones and sea otters. Conservation Biology 17(1):273-283. S. Senkowsky. 2002. Mingling technologies: tracking walruses with telemetry and Inuit harpoons. BioScience 52(9):774-779. Costa, D. et al. 2003. The effect of low-frequency sound source (acoustic thermometry of the ocean climate) on the diving behavior of juvenile northern elephant seals, Mirounga angustirostris. Journal of Acoustical Society of Ameria 113(2):1155-1165. [there are some color pages that might not translate well in black/white Xerox] Pitman, R.L. and C. Stinchcomb. 2002. Rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) as predators of mahimahi (Coryphaena hippurus). Pacific Sceince 56:447-450. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 May 2003 04:30:52 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Marine Mammal Specialist (Western Gray Whale) - based in Sakhalin (fwd) From: "Andrew Osborne" JOB POSTING Title: Marine Mammal Specialist (Western Gray Whale) - based in Sakhalin Island The role: Unmissable role for serious endangered marine species expert. Management of marine mammal issues is a high priority for this enormous complex energy project in Russia, mainly due to the proximity of the offshore development to feeding grounds of the endangered Western Gray Whale (WGW). You will be responsible for technically lead the management plan for addressing the Western Gray Whale issue, lead the whale monitoring and International research programme incl increasing awareness among offshore operators and other bodies. You need: Understanding of offshore oil and gas industry practice, Marine mammal consultancy expertise ideally with Whales Term: 3 year position (7 weeks on - 3 weeks off - all flights paid for) Rates: =A3200-400 per day Start: June/July 2003 Contact: Andrew Osborne Tel: 00 44 117 9244 408 email: a.osborne(\)xist4.com web: www.xist4.com Tel 0870 749 0050 Fax 0870 749 0051 e-mail a.osborne(\)xist4.com DISCLAIMER: This e-mail contains proprietary information some or all of which may be legally privileged. It is for the intended recipient only. If an addressing or transmission error has misdirected this e-mail, please notify the author by replying to this e-mail. If you are not the intended recipient you must not use, disclose, distribute, copy, print, or rely on this e-mail. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 May 2003 15:46:33 -0400 From: Jessica Lomanno Subject: Center Director and Resident Lecturer in Coastal Ecology position s available at the Center for Coastal Studies in Baja California Sur, Mex ico boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01C3101A.5E483350" 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_01C3101A.5E483350 charset="iso-8859-1" The Center for Coastal Studies Position Description Job Title: Center Director The Center for Coastal Studies (CCS), founded in 1997 on the shores of = Bah=EDa Magdalena in the fishing community of Puerto San Carlos, Baja = California Sur, Mexico, seeks an enthusiastic, team-oriented Director. You will = lead a team consisting of two Lecturers, a Student Affairs Manager, two = Interns, two Cooks, a Bookkeeper, an Administrative Coordinator, a Site = Maintenance Assistant and a Night Watchman, to oversee delivery of a high quality, field-based academic/research program to primarily American = undergraduate students. Because Center staff and students live on site, our directors = get to know both their fellow staff members and their students on a level = not often achieved in a conventional university setting. Start Date: July 1, 2003 The Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) is one of seven international = field sites of the US-based School for Field Studies (SFS). Founded in 1980, = SFS is a university-level study abroad program that focuses on teaching and conducting community-based environmental research.=20 Institutional Mission: As an international, non-profit academic = institution, SFS provides environmental education and conducts research through its field-based programs. SFS is committed to providing hands-on, interdisciplinary education and environmental research in partnership = with natural resource dependent communities. Our goals are twofold: to = provide students with a unique and challenging educational and life experience = that assists them in successfully advancing their careers as skilled professionals and globally aware citizens; and to work with local = community stakeholders to develop models for the sustainable management of their natural resources. Academic Approach: Our academic program is delivered within an interdisciplinary case study format and includes three field-lecture courses: coastal ecology, principles of resource management, and = economic & ethical issues in sustainable development. A fourth course introduces students to the planning and conduct of field research. Research Focus: The center's current Five-Year Research Plan focuses on = how to help the government and community of Puerto San Carlos promote = ecosystem conservation and resource sustainability in Bah=EDa Magdalena, as well = as support the resource dependent socio-economic growth and stability of = their community. Partial funding for this work has been provided by The David = and Lucile Packard Foundation. Job Summary: The purpose of this position is to manage an effective and = well respected environmental problem solving organization in the local and regional community through academic research and program design and implementation; Center administration; fundraising and development; financial management; personnel management; risk management; and = community outreach. The Director teaches the course: Economic and Ethical Issues = in Sustainable Development, which examines the broad social and economic contexts that surround the problem of effectively managing the wealth = of natural resources in Bah=EDa Magdalena. The Director's research responsibilities include managing the implementation of the center's Five-Year Research Plan and overseeing and advising individual student directed research projects. Location: Center for Coastal Studies, Puerto San Carlos, Baja = California Sur, Mexico Reports to: SFS Vice President for Operations Salary & Benefits Package: US$42,000. Housing and meals on site; = excellent benefits package=20 Minimum Qualifications: * Ph.D. (strongly preferred) in marine/coastal resource economics; social and environmental policy * 2-3 years senior management experience including supervision and team building, budget & facilities management, risk management * Proven experience with: institution building; fundraising; project management; running academic and/or research programs; negotiating with program partners * Experience managing people in a field based residential system=20 * Proven ability to develop and work with community and research partners * Demonstrated ability to coordinate and be part of an interdisciplinary teaching and field research team=20 * Field research experience in an area related to the focus of the center * University-level teaching experience in environmental/ecological economics; environmental policy and socio-economics * A track record of research publications * Experience living or working in Baja California preferred * Fluent Spanish and English *=09 * Other Expectations: * Willingness to work flexible hours and live on site at the field station with a small team of permanent staff, groups of US and Mexican undergraduate students and visiting researchers or programs * Ability to travel locally and internationally to support Center administration and initiatives Duties and Responsibilities: Fiscal & Facility Management * Ensure strict fiscal management including the use of internal controls, cash management, asset management, sponsored research = reporting and a balanced budget=20 * Work closely with the VP of Operations and Director of Finance and Administration to set and meet budget goals monthly and yearly. * Participate in financial audits as required=20 * Set and enforce facility and asset maintenance, repair, and replacement schedules * Develop and manage annual operating and capital budgets * Oversee monthly and yearly accounting cycles, local payroll, and outsourced accounting Personnel Management * Supervise the Faculty, Student Affairs Manager, Bookkeeper, Interns, Cooks, Administrative Coordinator, Site Maintenance Assistant and Night Watchman * Build and support a strong Center Team * Work with Center and HQ staff and the SFS VP of Operations to establish and maintain an SFS team through regular meetings, open communication and team building * Collaborate with the SFS Director of Recruitment, Training & Retention to recruit and retain qualified staff=20 * Hire and terminate staff within terms set by SFS Headquarters, following SFS policy, reviewed by the VP of Operations. * Coordinate training activities for new center staff and create opportunities for the professional development of staff * Conduct annual staff performance reviews and work with individuals to set and meet priority objectives * Lead regular staff meetings (daily and weekly as appropriate) to set and review schedules, identify goals, and create accountability. * Ensure adherence to and enforcement of all SFS and Center policies and practices, including those regarding appropriate behavior of staff relative to students Community Outreach, Center Development & Marketing * Work with the SFS Development Director to identify and write grants and funding proposals * Work with HQ staff to create and publish center specific marketing materials and campaigns * Oversee outreach with the following at local, regional and national levels: community, networking contacts, universities, research organizations, businesses, agencies and institutions * Work with Center and HQ staff to market, develop and deliver related business opportunities (RBO) including center rentals, research station services, and special programs * Serve as primary spokesperson for the Center=20 * Fundraise locally, regionally and internationally=20 * Attend relevant local and international conferences, seminars and workshops related to Center mission Research & Academic Program Management and Delivery * Lead planning activities prior to the program start and review/analysis following students' departure * Serve as a member of the interdisciplinary faculty team, teaching one third of the academic program. * Work with the SFS Program Dean, the Center Team and Stakeholders to ensure ongoing implementation and development of the Center's 5YRP = including adherence to timelines, publication of results, appropriate data = management and record keeping, retention of partners and achievement of goals. * Conduct research under the Center's 5YRP and supervise/mentor students in Directed Research Projects * Promote the participation in both the teaching and research programs of local and international experts and partners.=20 * Work with the SFS Program Dean to review and continuously improve the teaching and research programs and ensure that they are based on = current scientific knowledge and practice and that accurate and complete = academic record keeping is maintained. * Review faculty performances and student evaluations, and implement actions to achieve and maintain standards.=20 * Implement and enforce all SFS academic policies=20 Risk Management * Work with the SFS Safety Director to ensure that all risk management plans and safety systems are valid and current including Center Risk Assessment and Management Plans, emergency procedures, center = evacuation plan, incident reports, safety audits, waivers and releases, etc. * Responsible for overall safety of all program participants, staff and visitors * Participate in leading safety portions of on-site orientation and conduct safety briefings for students and/or staff as appropriate * Enforce Center vehicle policies and assess the driving and/or boating skills of staff and interns=20 * Ensure that Center operates in a manner which is consistent with local, regional, and national laws, regulations and codes * Comply with, actively model, and enforce all SFS and Center policies and procedures * Ensure that first aid certifications are kept up to date via periodic training courses offered by SFS between program sessions Student Management * Coordinate the orientation and re-entry components of the program presented to students * Conduct / ensure conduct of regular student meetings (daily and weekly as appropriate) to set and review schedules, plan field trips, identify goals, and create accountability. * Support the resolution of student group management issues * Ensure adherence to and enforcement of all SFS and Center policies and practices * Ensure resolution of student discipline problems consulting with VP of Operations as needed (student withdrawals and/or expulsions) Daily Center Life * Live on-site for the duration of each program period and take meals with the students and staff * On a rotating basis, take responsibility for Center-specific "staff of the day" duties=20 * Take part in, and occasionally lead, Center upkeep projects, social and field activities=20 * As needed, serve as caretaker for Center during program breaks and center rentals * Drive standard transmission vehicles and boats as needed=20 * At all times, work to ensure good relations between the Center and local community To apply: Send CV and cover letter detailing qualifications and = experience to: Center for Coastal Studies, c/o SFS Headquarters(Job#1229), 10 = Federal Street, Salem, MA 01970, USA; Fax: 1-978-741-3551; Email: work(\)fieldstudies.org . EOE. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Mexican citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. The Center for Coastal Studies Position Description Job Title: Resident Lecturer in Coastal Ecology The Center for Coastal Studies (CCS), founded in 1997 on the shores of = Bah=EDa Magdalena in the fishing community of Puerto San Carlos, Baja = California Sur, Mexico, seeks an enthusiastic, team-oriented Resident Lecturer in Coastal Ecology. You will work with a team consisting of the Director, another Lecturer, a Student Affairs Manager and two Interns to deliver = a high quality, field-based academic/research program to primarily = American undergraduate students. Because Center staff and students live on site, = our directors get to know both their fellow staff members and their = students on a level not often achieved in a conventional university setting. Start Date: September 1, 2003 The Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) is one of seven international = field sites of the US-based School for Field Studies (SFS). Founded in 1980, = SFS is a university-level study abroad program that focuses on teaching and conducting community-based environmental research.=20 Institutional Mission: As an international, non-profit academic = institution, SFS provides environmental education and conducts research through its field-based programs. SFS is committed to providing hands-on, interdisciplinary education and environmental research in partnership = with natural resource dependent communities. Our goals are twofold: to = provide students with a unique and challenging educational and life experience = that assists them in successfully advancing their careers as skilled professionals and globally aware citizens; and to work with local = community stakeholders to develop models for the sustainable management of their natural resources. Academic Approach: Our academic program is delivered within an interdisciplinary case study format and includes three field-lecture courses: coastal ecology, principles of resource management, and = economic & ethical issues in sustainable development. A fourth course introduces students to the planning and conduct of field research. Research Focus: The center's current Five-Year Research Plan focuses on = how to help the government and community of Puerto San Carlos promote = ecosystem conservation and resource sustainability in Bah=EDa Magdalena, as well = as support the resource dependent socio-economic growth and stability of = their community. Partial funding for this work has been provided by The David = and Lucile Packard Foundation. Position Summary: The purpose of this fulltime, year-round, = residential position is to:=20 * teach critical environmental issues using a team-based, interdisciplinary, problem-solving approach. Teaching responsibility includes the course Coastal Ecology. This course examines the = ecological processes at the interface between land and sea. It focuses on the = coastal environment and how terrestrial and marine systems are intricately connected, and are impacted by human resource use and disturbance. A = special focus on marine mammals and their role in the ecology of the bay is = also provided. =20 * lead designated components of the Center's Five-Year Research Plan which includes Directed Research projects (as part of the fourth = course), and summer projects. Specific research lines/areas this position is responsible include: gray whales (population status and trends, tourism impacts), black sea turtles (population status and trends, habitat requirements and threats), Sea lion colonies (population trends), = indicators of ecosystem health in the bay, biology of selected commercial species, = and water quality of the bay. * oversee & advise individual student Directed Research (DR) projects that arise from this plan, including projects related specifically to = the Packard Foundation grant- water quality in the water column; evidence = of effluent pollution in water, benthic and sediment samples; monitoring = black sea turtle use of the bay, developing a marine park for black sea = turtle and other marine mammal protection, and community education. * ensure the expeditious publication of research results=20 Location: Center for Coastal Studies, Puerto San Carlos, Baja = California Sur, Mexico Reports to: Center Director Salary & Benefits Package: US$26,000 and up to $29,000 depending on experience & qualifications. Housing and meals on site; excellent = benefits package=20 Minimum Qualifications:=20 * Ph.D. in Coastal Ecology; Marine Mammology, or Marine Ecology * Field research experience in marine mammal population trends and habitat requirements, fisheries ecology and management, and water = quality sampling. * University-level, interdisciplinary, team teaching experience in Coastal Ecology, Marine Mammology, or Marine Ecology * Good track record of research publications * Fluency in both Spanish and English *=09 * Preferred Qualifications:=20 * Experience living and working in Baja California * Experience working with other scientists to fulfil research grant requirements * Residential student group management and risk management experience desirable *=09 * Other Expectations: * Demonstrated ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary teaching and research team=20 * Demonstrated commitment to environmental issues * Willingness to work flexible hours and live on site at the field station with a small team of permanent staff, groups of US & Mexican undergraduate students and visiting programs * =20 * Duties and Responsibilities * Program * A. Teaching * As part of an interdisciplinary teaching team, teach one third of the academic program (minimum 50 lecture hours per semester) * Plan, revise, and effectively deliver a challenging, problem-based interdisciplinary curriculum=20 * Organize lectures and prepare course materials in a timely and professional manner * Adhere to the daily academic schedule * Prepare, administer, and grade assignments, quizzes, mid-term and final examinations in a timely manner * Maintain records of: lectures, exams, quizzes, readings, field experiences and homework assignments * Supervise and mentor 10-12 students in their Directed Research projects * Actively support and counsel students on academic issues B. Research * Conduct designated research according to the Center's Five-Year Research Plan=20 * Identify appropriate components of the Center's research suitable for student Directed Research projects * Prepare research results for clients and partners and/or for publication and conference presentations * Assist in the creation and implementation of Center research policies, priorities, budgets as required * Implement appropriate data management and record keeping C. Administration * Participate in planning activities five days prior to the program start and in review/analysis following students' departure * Participate in training activities for new center staff prior to and during the program * Participate in and lead parts of the orientation and re-entry components of the program presented to students at the beginning and = end of each program period * In cooperation with other Center staff, provide day-to-day coordination of Interns as delegated by the Center Director * Participate in resolving group management issues and student discipline problems * Participate in preparation of the Final Reports, Academic Handbook revisions and other required reports * As requested by the Center Director, assist with other logistical, group management and administrative tasks *=09 * Safety & Risk Management * Take responsibility, as an individual and as a member of the Center faculty/staff team, for the safety of all program participants * Participate in the review and revision of Center Risk Assessment and Management plans * Recommend and review policies and procedures needed to manage risks * Know the emergency procedures plan for the Center, including evacuation plan * Participate in the safety portions of the on-site orientation and conduct safety briefings for students and/or staff * Complete Incident Reports when appropriate and contribute to Safety Audits * Comply with, actively model, and enforce all SFS and Center policies and procedures * Ensure that first aid certifications are kept up to date via periodic courses offered by SFS between program sessions Daily Center Life * Live close to or on -site for the duration of each program period and take meals with the students=20 * On a rotating basis, take responsibility for Center-specific "staff of the day" duties=20 * Take part in, and occasionally lead, Center upkeep projects, social and field activities=20 * At the request of the Center Director, serve as caretaker for Center during program breaks and center rentals * Drive standard transmission vehicles and boats as needed=20 * Adhere to, actively model and enforce all SFS and Center policies and procedures * At all times, work to ensure good relations between the Center and local community To apply: Send CV and cover letter detailing qualifications and = experience to: Center for Coastal Studies, c/o SFS Headquarters, Job Reference = 1229, 10 Federal Street, Salem, MA 01970, USA; Fax: 1-978-741-3551; Email: jobs(\)fieldstudies.org. EOE. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Mexican citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. ------_=_NextPart_001_01C3101A.5E483350 charset="iso-8859-1" Center Director and Resident Lecturer in Coastal Ecology = positions available at the Center for Coastal Studies in Baja = California Sur, Mexico

The Center for Coastal = Studies
Position Description
Job Title: Center = Director

The Center for Coastal Studies = (CCS), founded in 1997 on the shores of Bah=EDa Magdalena in the = fishing community of Puerto San Carlos, Baja California Sur, Mexico, = seeks an enthusiastic, team-oriented Director. You will lead a team = consisting of two Lecturers, a Student Affairs Manager, two Interns, = two Cooks, a Bookkeeper, an Administrative Coordinator, a Site = Maintenance Assistant and a Night Watchman, to oversee delivery of a = high quality, field-based academic/research program to primarily = American undergraduate students. Because Center staff and students live = on site, our directors get to know both their fellow staff members and = their students on a level not often achieved in a conventional = university setting.

Start Date: July 1, = 2003

The Center for Coastal = Studies (CCS) is one of = seven international field sites of the US-based School for Field = Studies (SFS).  Founded in 1980, SFS is a university-level study = abroad program that focuses on teaching and conducting community-based = environmental research.

Institutional = Mission: As an = international, non-profit academic institution, SFS provides = environmental education and conducts research through its field-based = programs. SFS is committed to providing hands-on, interdisciplinary = education and environmental research in partnership with natural = resource dependent communities. Our goals are twofold: to provide = students with a unique and challenging educational and life experience = that assists them in successfully advancing their careers as skilled = professionals and globally aware citizens; and to work with local = community stakeholders to develop models for the sustainable management = of their natural resources.

Academic = Approach: Our academic = program is delivered within an interdisciplinary case study format and = includes three field-lecture courses: coastal ecology, principles of = resource management, and economic & ethical issues in sustainable = development. A fourth course introduces students to the planning and = conduct of field research.

Research = Focus: The center's = current Five-Year Research Plan focuses on how to help the government = and community of Puerto San Carlos promote ecosystem conservation and = resource sustainability in Bah=EDa Magdalena, as well as support the = resource dependent socio-economic growth and stability of their = community. Partial funding for this work has been provided by The David = and Lucile Packard Foundation.

Job Summary: = The purpose of this position is to = manage an effective and well respected environmental problem solving = organization in the local and regional community through academic = research and program design and implementation; Center administration; = fundraising and development; financial management; personnel = management; risk management; and community outreach. The Director = teaches the course: Economic and Ethical Issues in Sustainable = Development, = which = examines the broad social and economic contexts that surround the = problem of effectively managing the wealth of natural resources in = Bah=EDa Magdalena. The Director's research responsibilities include = managing the implementation of the center's Five-Year Research Plan = and overseeing and advising = individual student directed research projects.

Location: Center for Coastal Studies, Puerto San = Carlos, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Reports to: SFS Vice President for = Operations

Salary & Benefits = Package: = US$42,000.  Housing and meals on site; excellent benefits package =

Minimum = Qualifications:

  • Ph.D. (strongly preferred) = in marine/coastal resource economics; social and environmental = policy
  • 2-3 years senior management = experience including supervision and team building, budget & = facilities management, risk management
  • Proven experience with: = institution building; fundraising; project management; running academic = and/or research programs; negotiating with program partners
  • Experience managing people in = a field based residential system
  • Proven ability to develop and = work with community and research partners
  • Demonstrated ability to = coordinate and be part of an interdisciplinary teaching and field = research team
  • Field research experience in = an area related to the focus of the center
  • University-level teaching = experience in environmental/ecological economics; environmental policy = and socio-economics
  • A track record of research = publications
  • Experience living or working = in Baja California preferred
  • Fluent Spanish and = English

    • Other = Expectations:

  • Willingness to work flexible = hours and live on site at the field station with a small team of = permanent staff, groups of US and Mexican undergraduate students and = visiting researchers or programs
  • Ability to travel locally and = internationally to support Center administration and = initiatives

Duties and = Responsibilities:

Fiscal & Facility = Management

  • Ensure strict fiscal = management including the use of internal controls, cash management, = asset management, sponsored research reporting and a balanced budget =
  • Work closely with the VP of = Operations and Director of Finance and Administration to set and meet = budget goals monthly and yearly.
  • Participate in financial = audits as required
  • Set and enforce facility and = asset maintenance, repair, and replacement schedules
  • Develop and manage annual = operating and capital budgets
  • Oversee monthly and yearly = accounting cycles, local payroll, and outsourced accounting

Personnel = Management

  • Supervise the Faculty, = Student Affairs Manager, Bookkeeper, Interns, Cooks, Administrative = Coordinator, Site Maintenance Assistant and Night Watchman
  • Build and support a strong = Center Team
  • Work with Center and HQ staff = and the SFS VP of Operations to establish and maintain an SFS team = through regular meetings, open communication and team = building
  • Collaborate with the SFS = Director of Recruitment, Training & Retention to recruit and retain = qualified staff
  • Hire and terminate staff = within terms set by SFS Headquarters, following SFS policy, reviewed by = the VP of Operations.
  • Coordinate training activities = for new center staff and create opportunities for the professional = development of staff
  • Conduct annual staff = performance reviews and work with individuals to set and meet priority = objectives
  • Lead regular staff meetings = (daily and weekly as appropriate) to set and review schedules, identify = goals, and create accountability.
  • Ensure adherence to and = enforcement of all SFS and Center policies and practices, including = those regarding appropriate behavior of staff relative to = students

Community Outreach, = Center Development & Marketing

  • Work with the SFS = Development Director to identify and write grants and funding = proposals
  • Work with HQ staff to create = and publish center specific marketing materials and = campaigns
  • Oversee outreach with the = following at local, regional and national levels: community, networking = contacts, universities, research organizations, businesses, agencies = and institutions
  • Work with Center and HQ staff = to market, develop and deliver related business opportunities (RBO) = including center rentals, research station services, and special = programs
  • Serve as primary spokesperson = for the Center
  • Fundraise locally, regionally = and internationally
  • Attend relevant local and = international conferences, seminars and workshops related to Center = mission

Research & Academic = Program Management and Delivery

  • Lead planning activities = prior to the program start and review/analysis following students' = departure
  • Serve as a member of the = interdisciplinary faculty team, teaching one third of the academic = program.
  • Work with the SFS Program = Dean, the Center Team and Stakeholders to ensure ongoing implementation = and development of the Center's 5YRP including adherence to timelines, = publication of results, appropriate data management and record keeping, = retention of partners and achievement of goals.
  • Conduct research under the = Center's 5YRP and supervise/mentor students in Directed Research = Projects
  • Promote the participation in = both the teaching and research programs of local and international = experts and partners.
  • Work with the SFS Program Dean = to review and continuously improve the teaching and research programs = and ensure that they are based on current scientific knowledge and = practice and that accurate and complete academic record keeping is = maintained.
  • Review faculty performances = and student evaluations, and implement actions to achieve and maintain = standards.
  • Implement and enforce all SFS = academic policies

Risk = Management

  • Work with the SFS Safety = Director to ensure that all risk management plans and safety systems = are valid and current including Center Risk Assessment and Management = Plans, emergency procedures, center evacuation plan, incident reports, = safety audits, waivers and releases, etc.
  • Responsible for overall safety = of all program participants, staff and visitors
  • Participate in leading safety = portions of on-site orientation and conduct safety briefings for = students and/or staff as appropriate
  • Enforce Center vehicle = policies and assess the driving and/or boating skills of staff and = interns
  • Ensure that Center operates in = a manner which is consistent with local, regional, and national laws, = regulations and codes
  • Comply with, actively model, = and enforce all SFS and Center policies and procedures
  • Ensure that first aid = certifications are kept up to date via periodic training courses = offered by SFS between program sessions

Student = Management

  • Coordinate the orientation = and re-entry components of the program presented to = students
  • Conduct / ensure conduct of = regular student meetings (daily and weekly as appropriate) to set and = review schedules, plan field trips, identify goals, and create = accountability.
  • Support the resolution of = student group management issues
  • Ensure adherence to and = enforcement of all SFS and Center policies and practices
  • Ensure resolution of student = discipline problems consulting with VP of Operations as needed (student = withdrawals and/or expulsions)

Daily Center Life

  • Live on-site for the = duration of each program period and take meals with the students and = staff
  • On a rotating basis, take = responsibility for Center-specific "staff of the day" duties =
  • Take part in, and occasionally = lead, Center upkeep projects, social and field activities
  • As needed, serve as caretaker = for Center during program breaks and center rentals
  • Drive standard transmission = vehicles and boats as needed
  • At all times, work to ensure = good relations between the Center and local community

To apply: Send CV and cover letter detailing = qualifications and experience to: Center for Coastal Studies, c/o SFS = Headquarters(Job#1229), 10 Federal Street, Salem, MA 01970, USA; Fax: = 1-978-741-3551; Email: work(\)fieldstudies.org . EOE. All qualified = candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Mexican citizens and = permanent residents will be given priority.



The Center for Coastal = Studies
Position Description
Job Title: Resident = Lecturer in Coastal Ecology

The Center for Coastal Studies = (CCS), founded in 1997 on the shores of Bah=EDa Magdalena in the = fishing community of Puerto San Carlos, Baja California Sur, Mexico, = seeks an enthusiastic, team-oriented Resident Lecturer in Coastal = Ecology. You will work with a team consisting of the Director, another = Lecturer, a Student Affairs Manager and two Interns to deliver a high = quality, field-based academic/research program to primarily American = undergraduate students. Because Center staff and students live on site, = our directors get to know both their fellow staff members and their = students on a level not often achieved in a conventional university = setting.

Start Date: September 1, 2003

The Center for Coastal = Studies (CCS) is one of = seven international field sites of the US-based School for Field = Studies (SFS).  Founded in 1980, SFS is a university-level study = abroad program that focuses on teaching and conducting community-based = environmental research.

Institutional = Mission: As an = international, non-profit academic institution, SFS provides = environmental education and conducts research through its field-based = programs. SFS is committed to providing hands-on, interdisciplinary = education and environmental research in partnership with natural = resource dependent communities. Our goals are twofold: to provide = students with a unique and challenging educational and life experience = that assists them in successfully advancing their careers as skilled = professionals and globally aware citizens; and to work with local = community stakeholders to develop models for the sustainable management = of their natural resources.

Academic = Approach: Our academic = program is delivered within an interdisciplinary case study format and = includes three field-lecture courses: coastal ecology, principles of = resource management, and economic & ethical issues in sustainable = development. A fourth course introduces students to the planning and = conduct of field research.

Research = Focus: The center's = current Five-Year Research Plan focuses on how to help the government and community of Puerto = San Carlos promote ecosystem conservation and resource sustainability = in Bah=EDa Magdalena, as well as support the resource dependent = socio-economic growth and stability of their community. Partial funding = for this work has been provided by The David and Lucile Packard = Foundation.

Position = Summary:  The = purpose of this fulltime, year-round, residential position is to: =

    • teach critical = environmental issues using a team-based, interdisciplinary, = problem-solving approach. Teaching responsibility includes the = course Coastal Ecology. This course examines the = ecological processes at the interface between land and sea. It focuses = on the coastal environment and how terrestrial and marine systems are = intricately connected, and are impacted by human resource use and = disturbance. A special focus on marine mammals and their role in the = ecology of the bay is also provided. 
    • lead designated components of = the Center's Five-Year Research Plan which includes Directed Research projects (as part of the = fourth course), and summer projects. Specific research lines/areas this = position is responsible include: gray whales (population status and = trends, tourism impacts), black sea turtles (population status and = trends, habitat requirements and threats), Sea lion colonies = (population trends), indicators of ecosystem health in the bay, biology = of selected commercial species, and water quality of the = bay.
    • oversee & advise = individual student Directed Research (DR) projects that arise from this = plan, including projects related specifically to the Packard Foundation = grant- water quality in the water column; evidence of effluent = pollution in water, benthic and sediment samples; monitoring black sea = turtle use of the bay, developing a marine park for black sea turtle = and other marine mammal protection, and community = education.
    • ensure the expeditious = publication of research results

Location: Center for Coastal Studies, Puerto San = Carlos, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Reports to: Center Director

Salary & Benefits = Package: US$26,000 and = up to $29,000 depending on experience & qualifications.  = Housing and meals on site; excellent benefits package

Minimum = Qualifications:=20

  • Ph.D. in Coastal Ecology; = Marine Mammology, or Marine Ecology
  • Field research experience in = marine mammal population trends and habitat requirements, fisheries = ecology and management, and water quality sampling.
  • University-level, = interdisciplinary, team teaching experience in Coastal Ecology, Marine = Mammology, or Marine Ecology
  • Good track record of research = publications
  • Fluency in both Spanish and = English

    • Preferred = Qualifications:

  • Experience living and working = in Baja California
  • Experience working with other = scientists to fulfil research grant requirements
  • Residential student group = management and risk management experience desirable

    • Other = Expectations:

  • Demonstrated ability to work = as part of an interdisciplinary teaching and research team
  • Demonstrated commitment to = environmental issues
  • Willingness to work flexible = hours and live on site at the field station with a small team of = permanent staff, groups of US & Mexican undergraduate students and = visiting programs

    •  
    Duties and = Responsibilities
    Program
         = A.   Teaching

  • As part of an = interdisciplinary teaching team, teach one third of the academic = program (minimum 50 lecture hours per semester)
  • Plan, revise, and effectively = deliver a challenging, problem-based interdisciplinary curriculum =
  • Organize lectures and prepare = course materials in a timely and professional manner
  • Adhere to the daily academic = schedule
  • Prepare, administer, and grade = assignments, quizzes, mid-term and final examinations in a timely = manner
  • Maintain records of: lectures, = exams, quizzes, readings, field experiences and homework = assignments
  • Supervise and mentor 10-12 = students in their Directed Research projects
  • Actively support and counsel = students on academic issues

  1. Research
  • Conduct designated = research according to the Center's Five-Year Research Plan
  • Identify appropriate = components of the Center's research suitable for student Directed = Research projects
  • Prepare research results for = clients and partners and/or for publication and conference = presentations
  • Assist in the creation and = implementation of Center research policies, priorities, budgets as = required
  • Implement appropriate data = management and record keeping

        C. Administration

  • Participate in planning = activities five days prior to the program start and in review/analysis = following students' departure
  • Participate in training = activities for new center staff prior to and during the = program
  • Participate in and lead parts = of the orientation and re-entry components of the program presented to = students at the beginning and end of each program period
  • In cooperation with other = Center staff, provide day-to-day coordination of Interns as delegated = by the Center Director
  • Participate in resolving group = management issues and student discipline problems
  • Participate in preparation of = the Final Reports, Academic Handbook revisions and other required = reports
  • As requested by the Center = Director, assist with other logistical, group management and = administrative tasks

    • Safety & Risk = Management

  • Take responsibility, as an = individual and as a member of the Center faculty/staff team, for the = safety of all program participants
  • Participate in the review and = revision of Center Risk Assessment and Management plans
  • Recommend and review policies = and procedures needed to manage risks
  • Know the emergency procedures = plan for the Center, including evacuation plan
  • Participate in the safety = portions of the on-site orientation and conduct safety briefings for = students and/or staff
  • Complete Incident Reports when = appropriate and contribute to Safety Audits
  • Comply with, actively model, = and enforce all SFS and Center policies and procedures
  • Ensure that first aid = certifications are kept up to date via periodic courses offered by SFS = between program sessions

Daily Center Life

    • Live close to or on -site = for the duration of each program period and take meals with the = students
    • On a rotating basis, take = responsibility for Center-specific "staff of the day" duties =
    • Take part in, and occasionally = lead, Center upkeep projects, social and field activities
    • At the request of the Center = Director, serve as caretaker for Center during program breaks and = center rentals
    • Drive standard transmission = vehicles and boats as needed
    • Adhere to, actively model and = enforce all SFS and Center policies and procedures
    • At all times, work to ensure = good relations between the Center and local community

 To apply: Send CV and cover letter detailing qualifications and = experience to: Center for Coastal Studies, c/o SFS Headquarters, Job = Reference 1229, 10 Federal Street, Salem, MA 01970, USA; Fax: = 1-978-741-3551; Email: jobs(\)fieldstudies.org. EOE. All qualified = candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Mexican citizens and = permanent residents will be given priority.


------_=_NextPart_001_01C3101A.5E483350-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 May 2003 12:24:27 -0400 From: g_jkaplan Subject: Video camera advice=?ISO-8859-1?Q?=97replies?= Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 For those of you who may also be interested in underwater video camera advice, MARMAM has requested that I post responses to my inquiry. There is too much information to summarize it all, so I have listed some contacts below, and included the email responses that I have received (thank you for all the advice!). Best, Daisy Kaplan g_jkaplan(\)umassd.edu Some places/people to contact: Gates Housing Berger Brothers 800-262-4160 B&H 800-947-9982 Goeff at Camera Tech in San Francisco, CA. www.cameratech.com Crimson Tech 1-800-868-5150 IAS Products Ltd. 1415 Dominion Street N. Vancouver, BC Canada, V7J 1B3 Phone: (604) 924-1844 Toll Free: 1 (888) 883-8885 Fax: (604) 924-1848 Email responses: *********************************** Camera: Sony dsr- pd150 3ccd dvcam Housing: vhpd 150 Amphibico mpkt0001 Amphibico I use to work with Ikelite underwater Housing. But Amphibico underwater Housing in mach reliable & good quality. If you can go for the Sony Dsr- pd150 3ccd dvcam with the Amphibico underwater Housing it will be great for the kind of work you want to do. Get into Amphibico web at: http://www.amphibico.com ************************************* Just a quick note we play with heaps of this stuff and have found Sony 3ccd digital cameras are probably the best but expensive. Your target resolution will be limited by the fact that digital video is all 720x576 pixels the huge ccds allow for a) better digital zooming b) high resolution stills. you want the 3ccd camera as this is much better quality. and the 75meter rated Sony underwater housing. Media Studio pro is a very intuitive programme for editing video on the windows platform. other options are to buy small ccd cameras mount them on poles in underwater housings and have a lot of them as they would be much cheaper maybe $50us a camera and then build your own housing use a sony dv walkman to record the image you could build three of these at least for the same price as the cool Sony. another maybe cheaper option is to buy one of sony's older 3ccd hi8 cameras and housings they are still very good and here in Australia Sony still have some old housings they where never very popular because of the cost. p.s there are a number of standard low light solutions available for digital video I think the best is the colour 0 lux as with the u/v solutions require an illumination source. Troy A. Saville Assistant Manager, Pet Porpoise Pool Pty Ltd. www.petporpoisepool.com ************************************** your best options are sony tvr-950 or canon GL2 check the features in amphotoworld.com the ikelite housings are good enough I have housing for a minolta 7000 and for a pc-115 buy a wide angle lense, for video of all the family saludos any question do you have send it bye Adalberto Herrera Marine Mammal Laboratory UABCS Mexico duncanby(\)yahoo.com ************************************* We (Alaska Whale Foundation) have been using video for CritterCam and surface data for more than a decade and have used a variety of formats including BetaCam, Hi8, digi8, miniDV, and even HiDefBeta. The recording media best suited for the purpose is miniDV, DVCAM, or Hi8. We settled on Hi8 for underwater CritterCam work because there was no image falloff when the whale dove deeper than 30 meters. (This is shooting in Southeast Alaska which has murky water and overcast skies most of the time.) In miniDV all signal was lost at very low light. Hi8 was able to squeeze out every last bit of image. We also modified the camera to increase its low lux capabilities. Essentially we defeated one of the CCD's color and repurposed it to capture twice as much of another color (I think it was red). This did not diminish the quality of the underwater image while increasing by a third its light gathering capabilities. However, anything shot at the surface (such as a whale surfacing) produced an image with a strong reddish cast. The camera used for CritterCam is a very small JVC Hi8, taken apart, and refitted to a custom CritterCam housing. If your are shooting in the tropics or where there is sun all the time, the miniDV has benefits, not the least of which is the ease of editing on a laptop in the field. It also produces broadcast quality images compared to the softer Hi8 images. As for off-the-shelf cameras, the Sony VX-2000 is a great camera as was the VX-1000 which it replaced. These are widely used and have become workhorses as small digital video cameras in commercial, industrial, and scientific applications. Commercial housings are readily available for this unit. The step up from the VX-2000 is the PD-150 also from Sony. The only practical difference between the VX-2000 and the PD-150 is the higher audio capabilities of the latter. The PD-150 will also copy to the DVCAM format (small cassette) in addition to the miniDV format. The CCDs and video recording capabilities/quality of those machines are exactly the same. You can get PDFs of spec sheets for these and others from the Sony web site. We presently use a couple of VX-1000, VX-2000, and borrow a PD-150. We also have a very small Canon miniDV, but I would not recommend it. Because of a need for greater audio flexibility (split channel manipulation) we are considering selling our VX-2000 and getting a PD-150 of our own. The VX-2000 is in excellent shape and was recently checked out by the Sony Service Center. It has not been used since that service. If you are looking for a solution where you can save some money while getting a higher-end camera, consider our VX-2000. Cheers, Pieter Folkens Alaska Whale Foundation animalbytes(\)earthlink.net 707 746 1049 ****************************************** Try this as a forum - there are lots of good tips about types of cameras with different housing/ light systems/ lenses etc. http://videouniversity.com/wwwboard/water/index.html If you are using the images just for identification/ research purposes then you only need by a standard digital camera CCD (still excellent quality). If you require higher quality to use images for broadcast in the future then the cost goes up a lot but is worth the investment....specially if you are spending a lot of sea hours obtaining the info I have a an old TRV720 (single CCD) which uses digital High8 tape and a 'Top Dawg' housing by Light and Motion (Sold at 'Backscatter') The U/W housing came as a cheap package with lights and case, and the camera has been highly rated for picture quality yet only cost $700 new (its not the lastest greatest small thing)! I also find it very durable and fool proof, requiring minimal maintaincnce. This is a budget package which provides good results. It is solid metal alloy and has magnetic control switches. Perhaps buying a couple of these is better than one really good one! IF you buy a camera with penetrating controls and glands etc then be prepared to do a lot of maintaincnce. In my mind the more glands and O-Rings the greater the chances are of getting a leak!! there are pro and cons between electric controls and penetrating, Im sure u'll find them on the forum Also get something very solid and durable if you are going to use it for work -- perhaps even consider having a back up camera so much can go wrong and destroy a whole days work.... You must make sure that whatever you buy you can fit a wideangle lens to the camera (inside the housing) or as part of the housing itself (there are a few system)...I would say wide angle (x0.6) is essential. Also make sure all this fits inside the housing including a nice big battery on the back of the camera.Ive known people buy housings and they cant fit it all in. Generaly the 'bulkier' your housing, the steadier your pics will be, but the harder it will be to push through the water......some of the new small systems are too light and the shots are very shaky as there is no underwater damping. I would say the technology of the camera is very important - optical image stabaliser (sony) seems to work a little better than digital image stabalising used by other manufacturers. Also make sure that there is a Fire Wire port for easy editing on computer...the other important thing is to buy a system with opportunity to view the fold out camera LCD or one that attaches inside/ on the housing - makes life a lot easier with framing shots and not missing anything - I mostly do point and shoot - pure guess work - which can be annoying if you miss something! You may also want to consider buying/ making a splash bag to keep it in for use on boat above the water - Its well worth keeping them protected. Also don't rule out using a hard wire camera system as well ( a lens and CCD board on the end of a long wire connected to the camera for recording) There is one on the market called 'fish eye'- made in the states which can towed behind the boat, pointed forwards or lowered down on a long boom into the water....obviously a much easier system to use if the boat is moving - and you could possibly identify which group of dolphins you are working with before getting in the water - I think it cost around $700 - I think vert resolution is about 550lines? If you are only shooting in the day light/lux levels shouldn't be too much of a concern/ I think most cameras can handel it ...I know that a really good camera was the Sony TRV900 (now out of production) which apparently was excellent with UW work (you can probably find a second hand one)...its successor is good but doesn't work well in lower lux levels. Anyway good luck in choosing a camera and don't forget to also buy polarizing lens for the camera! (Much less backscatter of light from surface and U/W) Andy Willson The Scientific Center Kuwait. Electronic v's manual. The electronic is less likely to require as much maintenance or go wrong, but as you said when it does go wrong you wont be able to fix it. I think besides budget, your choice may come down to your work ethic; If you are the kind of person who is prepared to be very diligent about constantly inspecting and keeping a manual housing clean then you should never/ rarely have a problem - However I know from my experience that when you have lots of other work to do on a field trip, the last thing you want to do late in the evening is sit down and fiddle with a camera housing pulling apart seals etc- specially if you have data to enter, dinner to cook and diving/ boat gear to maintain! A lot of pro's use manuals and swear by them. Guess I'm the lazy type, but I also like simplicity, in my mind the more points of penetration into the housing the greater chance there is for something to go wrong! These arguments are all posted on the UW Video forum site I sent with the last email - u may find more luck there in answering your qu? The other thing to consider with your housing choice is the accessibility to the camera controls whilst diving - most electronic have all the controls (white balance/ focus/zoom/ still photo etc) under your thumb which means you don't have to stop to look and find your controls when you're in a hurry to set up a shot. Some housings (manual) require you to fiddle to find the control and sometimes needing to take one of your hands off a handle (which can make shot very wobbly). Some electronic models also have more options/ buttons for camera features. The housing I mentioned before (Top Dawg) is not strictly direct electronic control - it uses magnets (the switches) which slide along the body of the housing, operating the electronic switches inside - Ive never had a problem with it in two years, and Ive bounced it and thrown it around quite a lot( not on purpose!),and also been in places where I had no access to washing with fresh water after the dive... Someone also suggested this modification idea to me: If you are getting wobbly images and want to further stabilize the hydrodynamics of your housing whilst U/W, you can attach fins/ skegs to the body in horizontal direction from each side (depending on housing design)- works well when swimming fast and when stationary - I tried it with some old detachable surfboard fins and used cable ties and thick rubber to attach to the body. A few more points for you!... Some people have a habit of flooding cameras - it is generally because they throw all equipment together without inspecting/ checking anything and jump in the water quickly- this generally happens when an amazing video opportunity comes along and everyone gets exited - don't do it!: best to have the camera inspected and ready to go the night before. Inspect every seal for hair grit and dust - don't apply too much silicon as it makes more bits stick to the seal - just one small hair can cause a flood. Most important: when you first get in the water just let the camera housing float and roll it around whilst looking through the port to check for signs of leaking. Do the same thing at about 1m depth also and at regular intervals throughout the dive (some thing I get paranoid about). You can buy moisture/ leak detectors for the camera housing...a little device which fixes in the bottom of the housing with an LED that lights up in the rear port if water gets in. IF you can check it by dunking it in a bucket of water before you jump in, all the better. If you're not using the camera and housing keep it in an indestructible Pelican style water proof box - things fall over and get kicked around on boats very easily Make a camera cleaning/ spares kit. Take along zip-loc bags cable ties electrical tape, a spare o-rings, hand blower, lint free cloth/ paper and lens cleaning solution in a kit to keep everything clean. Cetacean breath + seaspray can be greasy and fog your lens quickly - best removed by cleaning solution. Cleaning a housing directly with compressed air from a cylinder can actually blow dust/ sand into the acrylic port and scratch it, so be careful if you do this. Get a big packet of silica gel. Keep some spare and fix some inside the housing - this is especially useful if working in sea areas/ humid places to keep the electronics of the camera dry and the recording heads clean etc. Also some drowned cameras have been saved by immediately removing all batteries then dunking in fresh water before compressed air drying and then putting the camera in a sealed container with the silica gel. Again in a humid area, try and keep your batteries dry as possible - apparently if ni-cad batteries get a little damp with condensation etc they can start releasing gases...if this happens inside your housing whilst closed it can cause a positive pressure inside which may break your seals and cause a flood. This happened with one of my U/W strobes and destroyed it completely! Tapes etc should also be stored in low temp/ humidity.Ziplock bags are good. Try and find some acrylic polish for the port/ window. Its very easy to put a scratch in the acrylic and then spend the rest of your trip with a big scratch in the footage. Ive had it happen and its annoying. (they come in solution/ bottles, normaly there are three different grades ranging from coarse polish to fine and buffing.Should be available from hard ware store or 3M products). The other thing to check on your camera is all the little screws that hold the thing together - take a jewelers screw driver with you and regualy check they are tight - vibrations from boat, plain or car travel can easily shake them lose (Ive had this happen too). If you fly with your housing (or even U/Wlights) remember to leave the rear port/ back open - positive pressure (when in the air) on the inside of the housing can cause problems and destroy seals/locks etc. Housings are only designed for positive pressure outside. One other precaution I take is this: if you get amazing irreplaceable footage - don't leave the tape in the camera and continue using it the next day (even if there is lots of space). Either transfer it immediately to a backup tape/ disk or put the tape in storage and use a new one - flooding a camera is one thing loosing good footage can be even more distressing! Best regards, Andy Willson. Andy Willson The Scientific Center Kuwait. ************************************* The Sony mini DV cameras are well suited to this for cost. Look for: 3 chip (3 CCD) this means that 3 chips are used to process the image instead of one, lending itself to better color reproduction. Look for image stabilization (to steady the shot even when at zoomed in telephoto range) Look for a decent Optical zoom (of about 10x or 12x) should be enough for almost any work, since you will probably shoot in wide angle anyway under water. Digital zooms of 50x and 100x are bad for the image, they look very bad. Mini DV is the preferred format over microMV since it supports better color technology (bandwidth). The JVC cameras are ok too, so are the panasonics' but look for 3 chip first and formost, that will rule out 90% of all the cameras you look at. Tapes are about $5-7 per 60 min tape. Also, it can easily be loaded into a fire-wire supported computer if the camcorder has firewire digital output (also known as IEEE 1394) The Option to manually focus is very useful, especially if you are using a wide angle housing that needs the focus to be set manually :) the low light situation is something that should be handled by most cameras. You can shoot in 1 or 2 lux usually but the color saturation will be lacking, most things will look desaturated and gray. Hope this helped, feel free to email me back, Peter Frintrup Peter.Frintrup(\)focusfeatures.com ************************************* Sony and JVC both make good products, although the widest range of housings are made for Sony. Keep in mind that you will be setting it to the widest possible focal length and leaving it, as zooming and telephoto are not of use underwater. MiniDV offers the best resolution for the dollar, and a three chip camera such as the Sony VX2000 is best if you can afford it. Per the housing, it's a good idea to use an all-manual system if you are working in a remote location, as the electronic controls cannot be fixed in the field. If you're working with the Bahama Spotted dolphins, you will be far from Fedex if your housing goes down. Ikelite makes a good manual product, although you should check if the lens port on the odel you want is glass or acrylic. I recommend the former. Gates out of San Diego makes extremely rugged housings with glass optics. If you decide you want electronic control, Light & Motion out of Monterey makes excellent, inexpensive housings. Hope this is helpful, and please feel free to get in touch if you have more questions. David O. Brown Producer, Macaulay Library Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology (607) 254-2156 ***************************************** Personally, I believe the Sony cameras are the best choice. My advice is to buy as much technology as you can afford. The latest Sony cameras really are fine and the resolution is superior. I am having good luck with MiviDV format. It allows me to videotape and store digital photos on tape, has a memory stick option, and isn't totally electronic storage, which makes going to lesser technology a little easier in my opinion (i.e. vhs copies for distribution). As far as the housing, I recommend Amphibico housings. They make the best products on the market (half fact, half opinion). The only company that comes close is Light and Motion in Calif. Ikelite makes affordable gear, however, for something important like day to day use for scientific research, I would go with amphibico. They are more rugged and use electronics for the connections to controls, as opposed to little levers. They also are used to dealing with professionals using underwater video, so if you ever run into a problem, my experience they will do whatever they can to get you back in the water as quickly as humanly possible. Of course the last important thing to consider is budget. Amphibico is pricey, and so are Sony cameras. Amphibico housings are around $1500 and a Sony camera can be purchased now for under $1000. So for less than $3000 you can be in business. Don't forget about the used market either, EBay or the photo houses in NY sometimes get very nice used gear that is a bargain. Jason Croop Marine Biologist Dial Cordy and Associates Inc. 490 Osceola Ave, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 jcroop(\)dialcordy.com ^ 904.241.8821 ph ^ 904.241.8885 fx *********************************** Norris, Dorothy" dnorris(\)sfwater.org I've found shooting with my Sony 2000 with a Gates housing excellent for picking out detail in low light situations. It has a very high resolution and has a wide angle adaptor and port for shooting larger animals. It also has a removable filter (the filter is ok for color but it reduces light and resolution). I took it to shoot whites in guadalupe and got some very detailed whole animal footage. I think that some video cameras do emit a sound that repels some sonic animals. Unfortunately this may be the case with some Sony cameras. *********************************** I like the StingRay housings because they have through-hull magnetic switches, so there are no holes in the hull. They also have a nifty auto-focus control that enables you to use the autofocus to quickly refocus on a new subject at a new focal length - and then turn it off and it retains that focus. Finding focus underwater as you change a shot can be tricky business,hard to see through the glass of a mask, the intervening water,and the LCD or whatever viewing port you have, so this is a nice feature, provided you practice with it on land to be sure of it and how it works. Pre-testing everything before every dive is essential every time in all cases. The Sony PD-150 is an excellent DV camera, can suport a lot of battery power, and in a StingRay housing, it's great combination. ********************************* I have used a Sony DCR-TRV900E digital camera underwater for four years and can only give it the very highest recommendation. This model was the top of the Sony range and hence expensive but the film quality pays for itself. In reality the microphone is so good that it records everything straight through the housing - I have never used additional sound equipment and the sound of bubbles, squeaks, tank-snappers, and computer alarms are all faithfully recorded. Definitely use digital (Sony miniDV) because the film quality is very good and you can transfer it onto a computer with no loss in quality. This raises a major cost issue because unless you buy a camera with video-in, you cannot easily put the digital montage back onto a tape unless you have access to digital editing equipment. What ever you do you will have lots of footage, so it actually makes very good sense to edit out the junk on a computer programme, and then save all of the good stuff back onto digital tape, and reuse your working tapes. This can later be reprocessed by a film lab to give film library quality footage if you wished and not too great a cost. My camera has three colour channels, one for each of the primary colours - this means that the light is split into its primary components. Some users don't like this system but you should find a technical description of the pros and cons on the Sony website FAQs. Bottom line is that the images are only as good as the lens quality, i.e. the light entering the camera. Now as for housings - bottom line is that you get what you pay for. You should give a lot of attention to this item of equipment because it is the thing that stops seawater reaching your expensive camera. Some people use housings with all sorts of rods and levers that allow the camera controls to be operated from the outside. Personally I prefer electronic controls and so I use an Inner Space Developments housing (made in South Africa), which is good to depths of 60 metres. The camera fits onto a base plate, attached at the tripod threaded-hole, which plugs into an electronic connector inside the housing. This allows many of the functions to be operated by controls on the housing handles: wide angle to telephoto, on/off, record and standby, screen message display. The housing has integral lights, so you don't need any other kit, and these also can be controlled via switches on the handles. The nice thing with this housing is that different cameras can be fitted to the baseplate and you can fit a very large battery onto the camera too, which means that you don't have to open the housing in the field. I can usually get three one-hour-long dives in a day's fieldwork filming selectively onto a single tape, although sometimes the LCD screen on the housing doesn't last the full three hours - you just point and shoot if this happens. The new lithium batteries don't have a charging memory-effect, so you can top them up any time. You can download digital video via a Firewire connection onto your computer - this is about 400 times faster than USB. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 May 2003 12:12:23 -0800 From: Dyan Ferren Subject: Alaska SeaLife Job Announcement The Alaska SeaLife Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to marine research, rehabilitation and public education is seeking candidates for the following: SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ASSOCIATE - STELLER SEA LION This position is responsible for assisting the Steller Sea Lion scientist in the development and application of innovative tools and techniques for remotely monitoring the behavior and physiology of Steller sea lions and other SSL research activities. Responsibilities: Assist in construction and testing of electronic biotelemetry instruments on captive Steller sea lions. Participate in wild sea lion capture and application of biotelemetry instruments. Perform data analysis on movements, behavior and physiology of sea lions using computer software including Geographical Information Systems. Program custom software for data analysis and visualization. Supervise Research Technician personnel. Other scientific research duties as assigned. Requirements: Master's degree in a natural resources related field; or bachelor's degree in a natural resources related field with two years experience working in a similar position. Familiarity with principles of biotelemetry, electronics and component assembly, Geographical Information Systems applications, ability to be organized, self-motivated, and possess a strong desire to see the completion of projects. Details: This is a regular, full-time, position with benefits. Apply by: open until filled Start date: flexible Salary: Competitive wage & benefits package. Send resume & references to HR - Alaska SeaLife Center, P O Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664-1329, or fax 907-224-6320, or email to human_resources(\)alaskasealife.org. www.alaskasealife.org The ASLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 3 May 2003 15:00:35 +0100 Reply-To: "Colin D. MacLeod" From: "Colin D. MacLeod" Subject: Beaked Whale Diet Dear Marmammers, Here's a new publication reviewing diet in beaked whales. Reprints will be available on request in a couple of days. MacLeod, C.D., Sanots, M.B. and Pierce, G.J. 2003. Review of data on diets of beaked whales: Evidence of niche separation and geographic segregation. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 83: 651 - 665. This study reviewed published data on dietary preferences of beaked whales (Ziphiidae) from stomach contents analysis. Detailed data were only available for three of the six beaked whale genera (Hyperoodon, Mesoplodon and Ziphuis). Stomach smaples of these three beaked whale genera primarily cntained cephalopod and fish remains, although some also contained crustacenas. Mesoplodon spp. were found to contain the most fish, with some species containing nothing but fish remains, with the southern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon planifrons) and Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) rarely, if ever, contained fish. Of cephalopods identified, Histiotheutid, Gonatid, Cranchiid and Onychoteuthid species usually contributed most to prey numbers and biomass. There was a wide range of species and families of cephalopods recorded from stomach contents, with no obvious preference for bioluniescent prey species, vertical migrating orey species or prey species with specific body conditions. Whales of the genus Mesoplodon generally contained smaller prey, such as cephalopods under 500 g in weight, compared with other beaked whales. Hyperoodon and Ziphius frequently contained much larger cephalopods with many important species having a mean weight of over 1000 g. This suggests that Mesoplodon occupies a separate dietary niche from Hyperoodon and Ziphius, which may be an example of niche separation. In contrast, Hyperoodon and Ziphius appear to occupy very similar dietary niches but have geographically segregated distributions, with Hyperoodon occupying cold-temperate to polar waters and Ziphius occupying warm-temperate to tropical waters. ====================================================================== Colin D. MacLeod, B.Sc., M.Sc. Beaked Whale Research Project Lower Right, 59 Jute Street, Aberdeen, AB24 3EX U.K. Tel: 01224 634276 Email: Macleod_c(\)colloquium.co.uk ========================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 May 2003 14:32:36 -0700 From: Krishna Das Subject: abstract ------ Dear All, The following paper is now available: Marine mammals from Northeast Atlantic: relationship between their trophic status as determined by delta13C and delta15N measurements = and their trace metal concentrations Marine Environmental Research vol 56/3 pp 349 - 365 PDF reprints are available upon request (contact email: Krishna.Das(\)ulg.ac.be). Abstract The relationship between trophic position through small delta, d13C and small delta, d15N and trace metal concentrations (Zn, Cd, Cu and Hg) was investigated in the tissues of six marine mammal species from the Northea= st Atlantic: striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba, common dolphin, Delphinu= s delphis, Atlantic white-sided dolphin Lagenorhynchus acutus, harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena, white beaked-dolphin Lagenorhynchus albirostr= is, grey seal Halichoerus grypus stranded on French Channel and Irish coasts. White-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoises, white-sided dolphins, common an= d striped dolphins display the same relative and decreasing trophic positio= n, as measured by small delta, d15N values, along both the Irish and French channel coasts, reflecting conservative trophic habits between these two places. Hepatic and renal Cd concentrations were significantly correlated= to muscle small delta, d13C and small delta, d15N values while Hg, Zn and Cu did not. These results suggest that Cd accumulation is partly linked to t= he diet while other factors such as age or body condition might explain Hg, = Zn or Cu variability in marine mammals. Combined stable isotope and trace me= tal analyses appear to be useful tools for the study of marine mammal ecology. Author Keywords: Marine mammals; Stable isotopes; Heavy metals; Trophic transfer; Northeast Atlantic; Delphinus delphis; Stenella coeruleoalba; Phocoena phocoena; Lagenorhynchus albirostris; Lagenorhynchus acutus; Halichoerus grypus Best regards, Krishna Das Laboratoire d'Oc=E9anologie, B6c Universit=E9 de Li=E8ge Sart-Tilman, B-4000 Li=E8ge Tel: 32 (0)4 3664829 Fax: 32 (0)4 3663325 website: http://www.ulg.ac.be/oceanbio/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 May 2003 13:44:50 -0700 From: Derek Lee Subject: Farallon Island Elephant Seal Internships Elephant Seal Jobs at the Farallon Islands PRBO's Farallon Island Program is now accepting applications for interns to work as volunteer trainee field biologists on a long-term study on the demography of northern elephant seals Mirounga angustirostris from December through March. This study involves extensive observation periods of elephant seal behavior, tag reading, tagging and marking of bulls, cows and pups, as well as keeping accurate data records and computerizing data. Additional work involves resighting branded sea lions, monitoring the number and species of all birds on the island, and daily weather and oceanic observations. The island is a National Wildlife Refuge located about 25 miles west of San Francisco, California. All interns are expected to take part in the daily operations of the island. Interns must have skills to collect accurate, legible field data under adverse conditions and computerize the data using dBASE. Work will involve research duties, as well as helping with routine maintenance of generators, outboard engines, and the facility. Interns must participate in cooking, cleaning and other domestic-type chores. Southeast Farallon Island is a very remote field station with severe weather conditions, but has many luxuries. Housing is comfortable (heat and hot water) but sharing bedrooms is usual and strict water conservation (minimal showers) is practiced. Interns must be able to live communally. Transportation to the island is by boat from San Francisco Bay area (fortnightly). Interns are responsible for their own transportation to the boat. Internships are on a volunteer basis (no pay), but food and housing are provided. The workload on the island is certainly demanding, but the rewards are great. Opportunities to have hands-on encounters with these animals are few and our research program provides exciting experience and valuable training. Minimum 6 week commitment. Additional information at: http://www.prbo.org/marine/msd.htm To apply for a position please send: 1) a cover letter, 2) resume , and 3) phone numbers for 3 references (field work supervisors preferred) to: Derek Lee PRBO Conservation Science 4990 Shoreline Highway Stinson Beach, California 94970 e-mail to: dlee(\)prbo.org Please apply early (at least 6 months before the position begins) as internships are competitive and fill quickly. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 20:38:41 +0000 From: "MEER e.V." Subject: M.E.E.R. field course, autumn 2003 ------ Dear All! The non-profit association M.E.E.R. would like to announce it's next field course in behavioural biology 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 participants of these 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 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. Research experience that will be gained includes sighting data recording, behavioural sampling, photo identification and others. The research is supervised by the Universidad de La Laguna (Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain) and the Humboldt-Universit=E4t (Berlin, Germany). For students at the Humboldt Universit=E4t, the course is fully accepted for the study of Biology. A list of publications that resulted from this project is given below. Moreover, 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". For further information please visit www.M-E-E-R.org. One course is offered during the 2003 autumn field season: 11-25 October 2003. The price is 875.- EURO including 7 whale watching research excursions, accommodation, full training program, scientific supervision, donation to M.E.E.R. e.V., certificate of attendance. (The journey to and from La Gomera is not included in the prize.) Members of the M.E.E.R. association will receive a 7% discount. For further information, booking, etc., please send an e-mail to 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), " and the "Club de Mar" (whale watching operator/La Gomera). _____________________________________________ Publications in conjunction with the work of the project M.E.E.R. La Gomera: Ritter, F. & Ladner, U.A. 1996. Whale Watch Research on La Gomera: A new Interdisciplinary Approach. European Research on Cetaceans 9. Proc. 9th Ann. Conf. ECS, Lisbon 1996, 48ff. Ritter, F. 1996. Abundance, Distribution and Behaviour of Cetaceans off La Gomera (Canary Islands) and Their Interaction with Whale Watching-Boats and Swimmers. Diploma Thesis to the University of Bremen, Faculty of Biology. 114pp. Ritter, F. & Brederlau, B. 1998. First Report of Blue Whales (Balaenoptera musculus) Frequenting the Canary Island Waters. European Research on Cetaceans 12. Proc. 12th Ann. Conf. ECS, Monaco, 20-24th January 1998, 95-98. Ritter, F. & Brederlau, B. 1999. Abundance, Distribution and Behaviour of Dense Beaked Whales (Mesoplodon densirostris) off La Gomera (Canary Islands) and their Interactions with Humans. AQUATIC MAMMALS, 25.2, 55-61. Ritter, F. 2001. Twenty-one Cetacean Species off La Gomera (Canary Islands): Possible Reasons for an extraordinary Species Diversity. Poster presented at the 11th Annual Conference of the ECS, 5-7 May 2001, Rome, Italy. Ritter, F. 2002. Behavioural Observations of Rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) off La Gomera (Canary Islands) with a special Reference to their Interactions with Humans. AQUATIC MAMMALS 28.1, 46-59. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 May 2003 15:15:35 -0600 From: "Paul K. Anderson" Subject: Recent Publication The following publication recently appeared: Anderson, Paul K. 2002. HABITAT, NICHE, AND EVOLUTION OF SIRENIAN MATING SYSTEMS Journal of Mammalian Evolution 9:55-98. ABSTRACT Lek polygyny, monogamy and scramble promiscuity have been reported in the two families and five species of Recent sirenians. Evidence for lek mating in the dugong or "sea pig" (Dugong dugon), monogamy in Steller's sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas), and scramble promiscuity in the three manatees or "river cows" ( Trichechus manatus, Trichechus senegalensis, and Trichechus inunguis), as well as in one dugong population, is reviewed. Sirenians are long-lived "K-strategists" with precocious young, few potential young per female lifetime, high female investment in a few young, little apparent opportunity for post-copulatory male investment. and "paenungulate" reproductive physiologies that appear to increase uncertainty as to female receptivity and assurance as to paternity. Diverse habitats, climates and niches, however, may account for mating system diversity. Scenarios for evollution of diverse mating systems, based on our understanding of mating systems in terrestrial herbivores, are presented. The dugong retains the ancestral low latitude marine, seagrass dependent, bottom-feeding, niche characteristic of diverse, tusked, Oligocene and Miocene sirenian faunas. With a long breeding season and high polygyny potential, retention of tusks by male dugongs in the absence of any foraging function suggests that tusks may have always had social functions and lekking may be of ancient origin. The sea cow lineage, isolated on the shoreline of the northeastern Pacific as seagrasses declined, turned to surface foraging on chemically undefended kelps and lost both tusks and molar teeth. As it followed kelps northwards, adaptation to a cold-temperate climate compressed the breeding season, limited the polygyny potential, and, in conjunction with incentives for paternal investment, favored pair bonding and the monogamous mating system postulated by George Steller. Manatees, evolving in botanically rich fresh waters of the Amazon basin as an aberrant offshoot of the marine dugongid line, remained in the tropics and retained a high polygyny potential, but became generalist foragers in the upper few meters of the water column. Labyrinthine river systems provided little opportunity for male aggregation and display (or rhizome foraging) and tusks were lost as the uncertainty of female inseminability drove the mating system toward scramble promiscuity and sperm competition. An observation of manatee-like behavior in a dense and sedentary dugong population in eastern Australia suggests plasticity in sirenian mating, and the likelihood that a form of scramble promiscuity may exist where no suitable site for lekking is available, large group size makes female defence impossible, or vulnerability of territorial males to hunting has resulted in extirpation of a lekking tradition. Dugong and manatee life history characteristics conform to expectations based on observed differences in mating systems. Paul K. Anderson E-mail: kanders(\)ucalgary.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 May 2003 14:33:02 -0400 From: "Reynolds, Diane" Subject: Position Posting Director of Research & Veterninary Services Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration, one of the nation's premier non-profit science centers, seeks a scientist to oversee a growing program of zoological and veterinary research. Since its inception in 1973, this institution has promoted both planned and opportunistic studies resulting in a diverse and substantial body of work in the scientific press. For the complete list of peer reviewed publications, see our web site at www.mysticaquarium.org/latestdiscoveries/mysticresearch/mysticresearch.asp. The successful candidate will demonstrate a track record of scientific achievement as documented through publication in peer-reviewed professional literature, as well as evidence of proficiency in fund raising and obtaining grant support. Familiarity with Federal funding programs is valuable. A DVM/VMD degree is required. A Ph.D. degree and associated expertise in pathology, physiology, marine ecology, mammalogy or a related filed is highly desirable. Applicants must have a strong personal commitment to conservation, to maximizing the research opportunities presented by the collection, and to advancing public awareness and understanding of issues that affect the health of world populations. Equally important is the ability to work in a collaborative, team environment. The successful applicant should be prepared to seek affiliations with colleagues at area academic institutions. This position represents a unique opportunity for the right individual to take a highly respected research program in aquarium science, marine biology, and aquatic animal medicine to a new level of national prominence. Additional inquiries should be made to: Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration Diane G. Reynolds Director Human Resources 55 Coogan Boulevard Mystic, CT 06355 (860)-572-5955 FAX (860)-572-5969 Dreynolds(\)mysticaquarium.org EEO/AA Diane G. Reynolds Director Human Resources Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration 55 Coogan Boulevard Mystic, CT 06355 860-572-5955, ext 306 FAX 860-572-5969 dreynolds(\)searesearch.org ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 7 May 2003 09:57:57 -0400 From: Lori Marino Organization: Emory University Subject: new paper on harbor porpoise brain Dear Colleagues, This is to let you know that our paper entitled: "Neuroanatomy of the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) from magnetic resonance images" is on-line in pdf format in the Journal of Morphology. 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. Among cetaceans, there exist relatively few studies of the brain of the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a means of observing the internal structure of the brain when traditional histological procedures are not practical. Therefore, MRI has become a critical tool in the study of the brain of cetaceans and other large species. This paper represents the first MRI-based anatomically-labeled three-dimensional description of the harbor porpoise brain. Coronal plane sections of the brain of a young harbor porpoise were originally acquired and used to produce virtual digital scans in the other two orthogonal spatial planes. A sequential set of images in all three planes has been anatomically labeled and displays the proportions and positions of major neuroanatomical features. These images allow for the visualizing of the distinctive features of the harbor porpoise brain from various orientations by preserving the gross morphological structure of the specimen. ******* Downloadable reprints are available at the journal website: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/issuetoc?ID=104530310 Also, you may send pdf reprint requests to 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 THE LATEST!!! ****************************************************************** GO TO THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE TO SEE OUR ON-LINE DOLPHIN BRAIN ATLAS: http://www.msu.edu/user/brains/turs/ ****************************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 7 May 2003 09:29:56 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: new evolutionary theory paper (fwd) From: Susan Crockford At the 2001 MMC in Vancouver, physiologist/editor Peter Hochachka saw my poster on this topic and asked me to write a review paper for the journal Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. He specifically asked that I apply my theory to human evolution because it would "make people sit up and pay attention". The paper is now out in the May issue (see abstract below). I bring it to your attention since this evolutionary theory applies to all vertebrates (hence Hochachka's interest), including marine mammals, and those of you who deal in evolutionary issues may find it of interest. 2003 Crockford, S. J. Thyroid hormone rhythms and hominid evolution: a new paradigm implicates pulsatile thyroid hormone secretion in speciation and adaptation changes. International Journal of Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A 135 (1): 105-129. Reprint requests to scrock(\)tnet.net (pdf is 1,255kb); available on-line thru ScienceDirect.com ABSTRACT. Thyroid hormones (THs, T3/T4) are essential central regulators that link many biological tasks, including embryonic and post-natal growth, reproductive function, and the behavioral and physiological responses to stress. Recently I proposed a novel theory to explain the role of THs in vertebrate evolution. Here I review the concept and discuss its ability to explain changes over time in hominid morphology, behavior, and life history. THs are produced in a distinctly pulsatile manner and appear to generate species-specific TH rhythms with distinct ontogenic shifts. Individual variations in genetically-controlled TH rhythms (TR phenotypes) must generate coordinated individual variation in morphology, reproduction and behavior within populations. Selection for any manifestation of a particular TR phenotype in an ancestral population selects all traits under thyroid control, resulting in rapid and well-coordinated changes in descendants. The concept provides the first really plausible explanation for the convergent evolution of bipedalism in early hominids, species-specific sexual dimorphism, coordinated changes in morphology, brain function and gut length over time in hominids, cold adaptation in H. neanderthalensis, the possible independent evolution of H. sapiens in Asia, and regional adaptation of hominid populations. This new paradigm provides a unique theoretical framework for explaining human origins that has important implications for human health. Susan Crockford Pacific Identifications Inc., 6011 Oldfield Rd., R.R.#3 Victoria, B.C. V9E 2J4 Canada (250) 721-7296 fax (250) 721-6215 email or -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 7 May 2003 17:36:10 -0700 From: "David S. Janiger" Subject: New Articles Hi, all! Here's the latest posting of new PDF's that are available. Abstracts also available on request. Something different this time. I have included all of the file sizes. You can figure out how many attachments your ISP's server can handle, so bounce backs can be held to a minimum. Please make all requests to: janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu Cheers David Janiger - Curatorial Assistant (Mammals) Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007 (213) 763-3369 janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu AARSETH, J. J.; T. J. VAN'T HOF and K. A. STOKKAN. JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY B BIOCHEMICAL SYSTEMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY 173(1):37-42. 2003. Melatonin is rhythmic in newborn seals exposed to continuous light. 0.251 MB ALEXANDER, R. MCNEILL. INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY 42(5):1060-1064. 2002. The merits and implications of travel by swimming, flight and running for animals of different sizes. 0.054 MB BACKLIN, B. M.; L. ERIKSSON and M. OLOVSSON. VETERINARY PATHOLOGY 40(2):175-180. 2003. Histology of Uterine leiomyoma and occurrence in relation to reproductive activity in the Baltic gray seal (Halichoerus grypus). 0.132 MB BERG, INGE; TORE HAUG and KJELL T. NILSSEN. SARSIA 87(6):451-461. 2002. Harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) diet in Vesteralen, north Norway. 0.893 MB DEAROLF, J. L. JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY 256(1):79-88. 2003. Diaphragm muscle development in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). 0.227 MB DEBIER, C.; P. P. POMEROY; C. DUPONT; C. JOIRIS; V. COMBLIN; E. LE BOULENGE; Y. LARONDELLE and J. P. THOME. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 247:237-248. 2003. Quantitative dynamics of PCB transfer from mother to pup during lactation in UK grey seals Halichoerus grypus. 0.294 MB GRIGG, EMMA K.; DEBORAH E. GREEN; SARAH G. ALLEN and HAL MARKOWITZ. CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 88(1):15-27. 2002. Nocturnal and diurnal haul-out patterns of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsi) at Castro Rocks, San Francisco Bay, California. 0.914 MB HATFIELD, J. R.; D. A. SAMUELSON; P. A. LEWIS and M. CHISHOLM. VETERINARY OPHTHALMOLOGY 6(1):35-43. 2003 Structure and presumptive function of the iridocorneal angle of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus), hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), and African elephant (Loxodonta africana). 0.397 MB HAUG, TORE; ULF LINDSTROM and KJELL T. NILSSEN. SARSIA 87(6):409-422. 2002. Variations in minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) diet and body condition in response to ecosystem changes in the Barents Sea. 1.070 MB KRUTZEN, M.; W. B. SHERWIN; R. C. CONNOR; L. M. BARRE; T. VAN DE CASTEELE; J. MANN and R. BROOKS. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON SERIES B BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 270(1514):497-502. 2003. Contrasting relatedness patterns in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.) with different alliance strategies. 0.163 MB LEVENSON, D. H. and A. DIZON. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON SERIES B BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 270(1516):673-679. 2003. Genetic evidence for the ancestral loss of short-wavelength-sensitive cone pigments in mysticete and odontocete cetaceans. 0.193 MB LIEBIG, PENNIE M.; TA-SHANA A. TAYLOR and KARL W. FLESSA. PALAIOS 18(2):168-175. 2003. Bones on the beach: Marine mammal taphonomy of the Colorado Delta, Mexico. 0.181 MB LOPEZ, A.; G. J. PIERCE; M. B. SANTOS; J. GRACIA and A. GUERRA. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION 111(1):25-40. 2003. Fishery by-catches of marine mammals in Galician waters: results from on-board observations and an interview survey of fishermen. 0.686 MB MELLISH, J. E. and T. R. LOUGHLIN. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 134(1):147-156. 2003. Lipoprotein lipase in lactating and neonatal northern fur seals: exploring physiological management of energetic conflicts. 0.178 MB MIKKELSEN, BJARNI; TORE HAUG and KJELL T. NILSSEN. SARSIA 87(6):462-471. 2002. Summer diet of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) in Faroese waters. 0.976 MB MORALES-VELA, BENJAMIN; JANNETH A. PADILLA-SALDIVAR and ANTONIO A. MIGNUCCI-GIANNONI. CARIBBEAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE 39(1):42-49. 2003. Status of the manatee (Trichechus manatus) along the northern and western coasts of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. 0.624 MB OHIZUMI, H.; T. ISODA; T. KISHIRO and H. KATO. FISHERIES SCIENCE (TOKYO) 69(1):11-20. 2003. Feeding habits of Baird's beaked whale Berardius bairdii, in the western North Pacific and Sea of Okhotsk off Japan. 0.381 MB ORTIZ, R. M.; C. E. WADE and C. L. ORTIZ. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 134(2):423-428. 2003. Body water handling in response to hypertonic-saline induced diuresis in fasting northern elephant seal pups (Mirounga angustirostris). 0.093 MB ROSEL, P. E.; A. FRANTZIS; C. LOCKYER and A. KOMNENOU. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 247:257-261. 2003. Source of Aegean Sea harbour porpoises. 0.172 MB SANTOS, M. C. G.; S. ROSSO and R. M. A. RAMOS. JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM 83(1):233-236. 2003. Age estimation of marine tucuxi dolphins (Sotalia fluviatilis) in south-eastern Brazil. 0.106 MB SHIMOKAWA, TETSUYA; DAISHIRO YAMAGIWA; EIICHI HONDO; SHIGETOSHI NISHIWAKI; YASUO KISO and TAKASHI MAKITA. JOURNAL OF VETERINARY MEDICAL SCIENCE 65(3):423-426. 2003. Histological observation of the proper gastric gland in Minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata. 0.161 MB TRITES, A. W. and C. P. DONNELLY. MAMMAL REVIEW 33(1):3-28. 2003. The decline of Steller sea lions Eumetopias jubatus in Alaska: a review of the nutritional stress hypothesis. 0.295 MB VETTER, W.; M. WEICHBRODT and E. STOLL. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 37(5):840-844. 2003. Indication of geographic variations of organochlorine concentrations in the blubber of Antarctic Weddell seals (Leptonychotes Weddelli). 0.080 MB WALTON, M. and P. POMEROY. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 248:257-266. 2003. Use of blubber fatty acid profiles to detect inter-annual variations in the diet of grey seals Halichoerus grypus. 0.423 MB WEIHS, D. INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY 42(5):1071-1078. 2002. Dynamics of dolphin porpoising revisited. 0.171 MB ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 4 May 2003 15:01:45 -0400 From: kristi Subject: teacher's request Content-type: multipart/alternative; boundary="Boundary_(ID_0X4QuxMOE6ZnuutXqFR7/Q)" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --Boundary_(ID_0X4QuxMOE6ZnuutXqFR7/Q) Dear MARMAM, My name is Kristi M. Willis and I am a 7th grade science teacher on Long Island, New York interested in acquiring cetacean specimens for my classroom, as well as some other educational consultation work I do. My preference is for samples of bones, baleen, skin, cyamids and teeth, for use when teaching comparative anatomy & physiology and adaptations to the ocean environment. I assumed that as per the MMPA I would be required to obtain a permit stating my intentions to utilize the specimens for educational purposes, however am not sure from where and whom I must submit this request. I would appreciate any advice that might direct me to the appropriate agency or department that would honor such a request. Sincerely, Kristi M. Willis Great Neck South Middle School Great Neck, NY 11020 kwillis(\)greatneck.k12.ny.us --Boundary_(ID_0X4QuxMOE6ZnuutXqFR7/Q)
Dear MARMAM,
 
    My name is Kristi M. Willis and I am a 7th grade science teacher on Long Island, New York interested in acquiring cetacean specimens for my classroom, as well as some other educational consultation work I do.  My preference is for samples of bones, baleen, skin, cyamids and teeth, for use when teaching comparative anatomy & physiology and adaptations to the ocean environment.  I assumed that as per the MMPA I would be required to obtain a permit stating my intentions to utilize the specimens for educational purposes, however am not sure from where and whom I must submit this request.  I would appreciate any advice that might direct me to the appropriate agency or department that would honor such a request.
 
Sincerely,
 
Kristi M. Willis
Great Neck South Middle School
Great Neck, NY 11020
 
--Boundary_(ID_0X4QuxMOE6ZnuutXqFR7/Q)-- ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 May 2003 19:42:11 -0400 From: g_jkaplan Subject: Seeking research assistant-Bahamas spotted dolphins Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 UMass Dartmouth grad student seeking a research assistant for Bahamas spotted dolphin research project: BACKGROUND: This ongoing project is supported by Oceanic Society Expeditions, and more info. about the project can be found at http://www.oceanic-society.org/pages/alltrips/rschtrip6.html. (A list of publications resulting from Oceanic's research projects are listed at the end of this posting.) Oceanic Society researchers have been studying this population of spotted dolphins since 1984. The current focus will be juvenile tactile behavior. DATES: June 28, 2003 through August 8, 2003. DUTIES: This research project involves studying the underwater behavior of spotted dolphins. Duties include operating an underwater digital still and digital video camera, recording behavioral observations on underwater slates while in the field, photo ID matching, data entry, and working with volunteers. Strong swimming/snorkeling skills and good people skills are a must. Ideal candidate will have experience with and knowledge of photography, video, and computers, as well as experience collecting field data on mammals, especially marine mammals. LIVING CONDITIONS & PROVISIONS: Accommodations are aboard a research motor yacht. Room and board will be provided for the research assistant, as well as air fare from Florida to the Bahamas. Research assistant must provide their own way to Miami. There is, however, no monetary compensation for this position. Interested candidates: please send CV, cover letter, and references to Daisy Kaplan at g_jkaplan(\)umassd.edu. Any questions can be sent to the same. Deadline is May 25th, 2003. Daisy Kaplan Biology Graduate Student (Advisor- Dr. R. C. Connor) Dept. of Biology UMASS Dartmouth 285 Old Westport Road N. Dartmouth, MA 02747 g_jkaplan(\)umassd.edu 508-999-8225 Publication list: Campbell, Greg, R. H. Defran, Barbara Bilgre. 2002. Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) at Turneffe Atoll, Belize, C.A. Aquatic Mammals 28 (2): 170-180. Reeves, R. Randall, Brian Smith and Toshio Kasuya. 2000. Biology and Conservation of Freshwater Cetaceans in Asia. IUCN Species Survival Commission 23: 131-143 Dudzinski, Kathleen M. 1998. Contact behavior and signal exchange in atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis). Aquatic Mammals 24 (3): 129-142 Grigg, Emma and Hal Markowitz. 1997. Habitat use by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) at Turneffe Atoll, Belize. Aquatic Mammals 23 (3): 163-170. Reeves R. Randall and Stephen Leatherwood. 1996. Amazonian Manatees (Trichechus inunguis) in Peru: Distriubtion, Explitation, and Conservation Status. Interciencia 21 (6): 246-254. Dudzinski, Kathleen M., Toni G. Frohoff and Nicole L. Crane. 1995. Behavior of a lone female bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) with humans off the coast of Belize. Aquatic Mammals 21 (2): 149-153. Smith, Brian, Sinha Ravindra. 1994. Status of Ganges River Dolphins (Platanista Gangetica) in the Karnali Mahakali, Naragyani and Sapta Kosi Rivers of Nepal and India in 1993. Marine Mammal Science 10 (3): 368-375. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 May 2003 10:14:34 -0800 From: Dyan Ferren Subject: Alaska SeaLife Center Job Announcement The Alaska SeaLife Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to marine research, rehabilitation and public education is seeking candidates for the following: Research Mammologist - Juvenile Steller Sea Lion Project This position is responsible for animal handling, care and facilitation of scientific research associated with the juvenile Steller sea lion program under the supervision of the Mammal Curator. Duties include: ensure the health and care of juvenile SSLs (food prep, clean up and maintenance of enclosures, sterilization of equipment); maintenance and operation of laboratory and mechanical systems; basic laboratory processing, archiving, and inventory; develop and facilitate research protocols and data collection schedules; maintain records; data entry and analysis; preparation of scientific reports and permits; oral and graphic presentations to the scientific and general community; and other duties as assigned. Requirements: include Bachelor's degree in biology, marine biology, zoology, or related field. Minimum 4 years experience in handling marine mammals required, with emphasis in a captive research setting preferred. This is a year-round, full-time, non-exempt position. Apply by: May 23 Start date: July 1 Wage: Competitive wage and benefits. Send application (downloadable at www.alaskasealife.org) OR resume & references to Human Resources, Alaska SeaLife Center, P O Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664-1329, or fax 907-224-6320, or email to human_resources(\)alaskasealife.org www.alaskasealife.org The ASLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 May 2003 12:49:25 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: images of humpback whale flippers needed (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: "Fish, Frank" Please post the following messages on MARMAM. Images of Humpback Whale Flippers Needed - I am examining the hydrodynamic morphology of humpback whale flippers. Specifically I need photographs of flippers in which the full planar surface (dorsal or ventral sides) is facing the camera and the whole flipper is shown from the insertion of the flipper with the body to the flipper tip. Please send images with your name and contact information to: Dr. Frank Fish, Dept. of Biology, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383; phone- 610-436-2460; email- ffish(\)wcupa.edu. Frank E. Fish, Ph.D. Professor of Biology Department of Biology West Chester University West Chester, PA 19383 USA phone: 610-436-2460 fax: 610-436-2183 email: ffish(\)wcupa.edu homepage: http://www.wcupa.edu/_academics/sch_cas.bio/faculty/fish/fish.htm ><(((((O> ><(((((O> ><(((((O> ><(((((O> ><(((((O> ><(((((O> -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 May 2003 14:17:36 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Int. Network for Whaling Research (fwd) The following message was forwarded by: Milton Freeman >------------------------------------------------------------- > > >MARMAM subscribers may be interested in the recently improved website of >the International Network for Whaling Research (INWR). The site >www.ualberta.ca/~inwr contains past issues of the semi-annual INWR Digest >(newsletter) which lists recent whaling publications, links to other >whaling websites, and reports on meetings and activities related to >whaling. The site also contains an "Issues" section that contains articles >too long for inclusion in INWR Digest. > >The Issues section includes two reports; one presenting differing >perspectives on the scientific merits of Japan's Antarctic and North >Pacific whale research programs, and another summarizing the decisions of >recent court challenges to the Makah right to resume hunting gray whales. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 16 May 2003 13:26:09 -0400 From: Richard Connor Subject: Position with Shark Bay Dolphin Project In-Reply-To: <200305011015.h41AFYra037040(\)unix6.uvic.ca> Shark Bay Dolphin Project Database Manager A renewable 5-year position available beginning August 2003 (start dates flexible) in Washington DC and in Shark Bay, Australia. The position involves managing and updating the long-term (20 year) Shark Bay Dolphin Project Database and associated files in Washingtdon DC (Janet Mann's lab at Georgetown University) for 6-9 months per year. For 2-3 months per year, the manager would have the opportunity to help with field research in Shark Bay, Australia. The Manager would be involved in coordinating a number of logistic, research, and other activities associated with the Shark Bay Dolphin Project. (See www.monkeymiadolphins.org for information about the Project.) Salary commensurate with skill level and time commitment. Mathematical or database skills (Access or other) are highly desirable. Field experience also desirable. If interested, contact Janet Mann at mannj2(\)georgetown.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 May 2003 17:27:31 -0700 From: Sara Maxwell Subject: Study of US fishing gears impacts boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0077_01C31B07.45E7DC50" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0077_01C31B07.45E7DC50 charset="us-ascii" NEWS RELEASE New Report: Fishermen, Scientists, Conservationists Agree That Some Widely-Used Fishing Gears Cause Severe Harm to Marine Environment in U.S. WASHINGTON-There may be more than one way to catch a fish, but not all are environmentally friendly. Some fishing gears widely used in U.S. ocean waters severely damage seafloor habitats and kill far more than the species they target, according to a first-of-its-kind report released today by Marine Conservation Biology Institute (MCBI). The report's findings are based on a survey of fishermen, regulators, scientists and conservationists, who compared and ranked the level of damage 10 major commercial fishing gears cause to the marine environment. Bottom trawls-large, heavy nets that are dragged across the seafloor to catch cod, flounder, rockfish, shrimp and other popular ocean delicacies-topped the list of the most harmful fishing gears. The results of the survey, published in the MCBI report Shifting Gears: Addressing the Collateral Impacts of Fishing Methods in U.S. Waters, show remarkable consensus among groups that seldom share the same point of view on fishing matters. There was consistent agreement about which fishing gears are the most and least harmful to marine resources. Bottom trawls, dredges, bottom gillnets and midwater gillnets were considered to have a relatively "high" ecological impact, while midwater trawls, purse seines and hook-and-line gear were considered to have a "low" impact on the marine environment. Survey respondents rated the impacts of longlines and pots and traps as relatively "moderate." Of primary concern to the survey's respondents was the impact of fishing gears on ocean habitat. The marine professionals polled consistently assigned greater ecological value to seafloor organisms and structures-which serve as nursery areas, refuges and homes for fishes-than other marine ecosystem components. Ninety-eight percent of marine species live in, on or immediately above, the seafloor. Though second to habitat, bycatch-the unintentional capture and discard of non-target marine life, including shellfish and crabs, marine mammals, sea birds, sea turtles, sharks and other fishes-was also a concern. While there has been clear documentation of the environmental impacts caused by some fishing gears, until now no scientific method has addressed which gears are the most harmful. Shifting Gears is the first to synthesize information about the collateral impacts of various fishing gears, gauge the severity of these impacts and, with input from fishermen, regulators, scientists and environmentalists, compare and rank the overall ecological damage these gears cause. For a the full press release and PDF version of Shifting Gears: Addressing the Collateral Impacts of Fishing Methods in U.S. Waters, please visit the MCBI website at http://www.mcbi.org/ShiftingGears/SG_release.htm or for more information contact Sara Maxwell at sara(\)mcbi.org. ------------------------------------------ Sara Maxwell Program Assistant Marine Conservation Biology Institute 15806 NE 47th Court Redmond, WA 98052 (425) 883-8914 Fax: (425) 883-3017 www.mcbi.org ------------------------------------------ Sara Maxwell Program Assistant Marine Conservation Biology Institute 15806 NE 47th Court Redmond, WA 98052 (425) 883-8914 Fax: (425) 883-3017 www.mcbi.org ------=_NextPart_000_0077_01C31B07.45E7DC50 charset="us-ascii" Message

NEWS RELEASE
New Report: = Fishermen,=20 Scientists, Conservationists Agree That Some Widely-Used Fishing Gears = Cause=20 Severe Harm to Marine Environment in U.S.

WASHINGTON—There = may be more=20 than one way to catch a fish, but not all are environmentally = friendly. =20 Some fishing gears widely used in U.S. ocean waters severely damage = seafloor=20 habitats and kill far more than the species they target, according to a=20 first-of-its-kind report released today by Marine Conservation Biology = Institute=20 (MCBI).  The report’s findings are based on a survey of = fishermen,=20 regulators, scientists and conservationists, who compared and ranked the = level=20 of damage 10 major commercial fishing gears cause to the marine=20 environment.  Bottom trawls—large, heavy nets that are = dragged across the=20 seafloor to catch cod, flounder, rockfish, shrimp and other popular = ocean=20 delicacies—topped the list of the most harmful fishing = gears.

The results=20 of the survey, published in the MCBI report Shifting Gears: = Addressing the=20 Collateral Impacts of Fishing Methods in U.S. Waters, show = remarkable=20 consensus among groups that seldom share the same point of view on = fishing=20 matters.  There was consistent agreement about which fishing gears = are the=20 most and least harmful to marine resources.  Bottom trawls, = dredges, bottom=20 gillnets and midwater gillnets were considered to have a relatively = “high”=20 ecological impact, while midwater trawls, purse seines and hook-and-line = gear=20 were considered to have a “low” impact on the marine = environment.  Survey=20 respondents rated the impacts of longlines and pots and traps as = relatively=20 “moderate.”

Of primary concern to the survey’s = respondents was the impact=20 of fishing gears on ocean habitat.  The marine professionals polled = consistently assigned greater ecological value to seafloor organisms and = structures—which serve as nursery areas, refuges and homes for = fishes—than other=20 marine ecosystem components.  Ninety-eight percent of marine = species live=20 in, on or immediately above, the seafloor.  Though second to = habitat,=20 bycatch—the unintentional capture and discard of non-target marine = life,=20 including shellfish and crabs, marine mammals, sea birds, sea turtles, = sharks=20 and other fishes—was also a concern.

While there has been = clear=20 documentation of the environmental impacts caused by some fishing gears, = until=20 now no scientific method has addressed which gears are the most = harmful. =20 Shifting Gears is the first to synthesize information about the = collateral=20 impacts of various fishing gears, gauge the severity of these impacts = and, with=20 input from fishermen, regulators, scientists and environmentalists, = compare and=20 rank the overall ecological damage these gears cause.

For a the = full=20 press release and PDF version of Shifting Gears: Addressing the = Collateral=20 Impacts of Fishing Methods in U.S. Waters, please visit the MCBI = website at=20 http://www.mcbi.org/ShiftingGears/SG_release.htm or for more information contact Sara Maxwell at=20 sara(\)mcbi.org.

------------------------------------------
Sara = Maxwell
Program Assistant
Marine Conservation Biology = Institute
15806=20 NE 47th Court
Redmond, WA 98052
(425) 883-8914
Fax: (425)=20 883-3017
www.mcbi.org



------------------------------------------
Sara=20 Maxwell
Program Assistant
Marine Conservation Biology = Institute
15806=20 NE 47th Court
Redmond, WA 98052
(425) 883-8914
Fax: (425)=20 883-3017
www.mcbi.org

------=_NextPart_000_0077_01C31B07.45E7DC50-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 May 2003 09:20:02 +1000 From: Tami Haase Subject: Fur seal volunteers wanted on Kangaroo Isl, South Australia Looking for volunteers for Kangaroo Island, South Australia remote field site observational work on New Zealand fur seals. Preference to those who have previous wildlife observational skills and/or camping experience. Positions available from August to the end of November 2003, minimum of 5week commitment. Research experience provided: observational skills in wild fur seal behaviour with the possibility of some wild animal handling of pups and entangled animals University affiliation: La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic Australia. No publications yet b/c this is the final field season Costs: Transport to the island (this can vary greatly depending where you are coming from, more information is provided to potential candidates). Food is covered by the project and there are no other expenses b/c we live in tents at a remote camp site. Serious inquiries only please. Deadline: 1 July Email cv and any further questions to: Tami Haase t.haase(\)zoo.latrobe.edu.au PhD candidate Sea Mammal Ecology Group La Trobe University Bundoora, Vic. 3083 Australia (01161) 03 9435-8283 http://zoo.latrobe.edu.au/sdg/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 19 May 2003 16:29:47 -0400 Reply-To: tara(\)dolphins.org From: Tara Morris Subject: Employment Opportunity -- Research Staff for Dolphin Research Center, located on Grassy Key, Florida. Please post the following employment opportunity to MARMAM readers. Sincerely, Tara L. Morris Human Resources Dolphin Research Center tara(\)dolphins.org _________________________________________ Dolphin Research Center (DRC) currently has one full-time opening for Research Staff. DRC is a not-for-profit education and research facility located on Grassy Key, Florida and home to 16 Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and 2 California sea lions. Current investigations involve behavior, cognition, and communications systems of the dolphins and sea lions that reside permanently at DRC. More information about the facility can be found at http://www.dolphins.org. Requirements: (a) Computer skills, including familiarity with Excel/spreadsheet, MS Word. Knowlege of MS Access is a plus. (b) Adept with electronic equipment including video, VCR, and audio recording equipment. (c) Must work well individually, be organized, flexible, and detail oriented. (d) Must be able to lift 50 lbs. (e) Must be able to create and/or modify research equipment using common materials such as PVC pipe. (f) Must take direction easily and be a team player. (g) Previous research or animal background is helpful. (h) College degree preferred. Duties: This is an entry level position and the primary job function is to support the department with on-goin research projects at DRC. Duties include, but are not limited to (a) equipment set-up, operation, and break-down for research sessions, (b) troubleshooting and maintenance of research equipment, (c) data collection, analysis, and preparation of summary reports, and (d) Create and/or locate props needed for research sessions. E-mail resume to drc-hr(\)dolphins.org. Closing date for the position is 6/20/03. E.O.E. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 May 2003 18:04:59 -0500 From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Sin=20Nombre?= Subject: Sotalia fluviatilis ------ Hi! I'm a MSc. student in Wildlife Management in Venezuela and my master thesis its about the marine form of Sotalia fluviatilis in the gulf of Venezuela.=20 Because in my country is very difficult to obtain information of cetaceans and this species hasn't been study here I'm looking for some recent taxonomy information of Sotalia sp. Also information about diet of the marine ecotype it's welcome. By other hand, I only have the following articules: Behavior of the estuarine dolphin, Sotalia guianensis, at dolphin bay =96 Pipa - Rio Grande do norte =96 Brazil. By Janaina Pauline de Ara=FAjo, Jos=E9 Zanon de Oliveira Passavante and Antonio da Silva Souto. Age estimation of marine tucuxi dolphins (Sotalia fluviatilis) in south-eastern Brazil. M.C. de O. Santos*P, S. Rosso* and R.M.A. Ramos. Borobia, M; Siciliano, S.; Lodi, L. & Hoek, W. 1991. Distribuci=F3n of the South American dolphin Sotalia fluviatilis. Can. J. Zool. 69:1025-1039. And reports of sightings and stranded dolphins in the area, like:=20 Casinos, A.; Bisbal, F. y Boher, S. 1981. Sobre tres ejemplares de Sotalia fluviatilis del lago de Maracaibo (Venezuela) (Cetacea, Delphinidae). P. Dept. Zool. Barcelona, 7:93-96. Tosta, B & Bola=F1os, J. 1999. A dolphin sighting program for the tonina del Lago (Sotalia fluviatilis) in an oil production field en the Lake of Maracaibo, Venezuela. En: Abstracts Book, 13=BA Biennial Conference on the biology of Marine Mammals, Maui, Hawaii, Nov. 28 - Dec 3, (abstract). Agudo, I.; Viloria, A.; Coty, J. y Acosta, R. 1994. Cetofauna (Mammalia: Cetacea) del estado Zulia, Venezuela nor-occidental. ANARTIA N=B0 5. Alvarado, M.; Kaffoussias, A.; Rangel, L.; Ostos, A.; Vidal, O. & Villasmil, O. 1995. Stenella frontalis, Tursiops truncatus y Sotalia fluviatilis en el Golfo de Venezuela y el estrecho del Lago de Maracaibo. Resumen. III Congreso Latinoamericano de Ecolog=EDa. P=E1g. 24-3. Romero, A.; Agudo, I.; Green, S. y Notarbartolo, G.=20 2001. Cetaceans of Venezuela: Their distribution and conservation status. NOAA Technical Report NMFS 151.=20 I will appreciate your help. Sincerely, Sonsir=E9e Ram=EDrez e-mail: sonsireech(\)yahoo.com acinonyxve(\)yahoo.com _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Informaci=F3n de Estados Unidos y Am=E9rica Latina, en Yahoo! Noticias. Vis=EDtanos en http://noticias.espanol.yahoo.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 May 2003 16:05:34 -0700 From: Valeria Vergara Subject: ULTRASOUND RECORDINGS OF CAPTIVE BELUGAS ULTRASOUND RECORDINGS OF CAPTIVE BELUGAS: Hi Marmam subscribers. I am a grad student at UBC doing my Ph.D. research on acoustic communication on Beluga Whales. Part of my research is at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Center, which keeps a social group of 6 belugas (http://www.zoology.ubc.ca/~vergara). At the moment, my equipment allows me to obtain recordings on the 0.02Hz -22 KHz frequency range (Offshore Acoustics Hydrophone in combination with Avisoft Sound Recorder). A good number of the beluga vocalizations that I have been recording start at 20 KHz. I can barely hear those at normal speeds, but the whistles show very clearly on the upper end of the spectrograms. With the technology I have to work with, I have no way of knowing what else is up there, above 22 KHz. I have the feeling that I am missing a significant proportion of their vocalizations. I can infer that from my behavioural observations as well. I want to try to record this group with ultrasound equipment for measurements above 22 KHz (i.e. higher sampling frequency hydrophone and soundcard). However, I am afraid I do not have the budget to buy such equipment. I am hoping that I may be able to borrow or rent this equipment, at least for a short time period (enough to give me an idea about how frequently these animals mediate their social interactions with high frequency calls), from a research lab that may be able to lend it out. Any ideas? You can contact me at verval(\)vanaqua.org Thank you! Valeria Vergara Valeria Vergara Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Center P.0. Box 323 Vancouver, B.C. V6B 3X8 verval(\)vanaqua.org tel. (604) 659-3429 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 May 2003 12:34:08 +0100 From: Sarah Dolman Subject: WDCS launches Oceans of Noise report boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0006_01C32127.9B276FC0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0006_01C32127.9B276FC0 charset="us-ascii" Dear list members I would like to bring to your attention the first edition of "Oceans of Noise", a 165 page WDCS report that calls for urgent action to reduce noise pollution in our seas. It highlights the many sources of noise pollution in the marine environment today and it launches the "WDCS Noise Action Plan" (on pages 7 and 8 of the report). Marine noise pollution is a substantive threat to cetaceans but also a highly technical and little understood problem. We hope that the report will be a useful resource to those interested in the subject and help to underpin the need for urgent action at international and national levels. It can be found on the WDCS website at: http://www.wdcs.org/ http://www.wdcs.org.au Sarah Dolman WDCS Science Officer sarah.dolman(\)wdcs.org Sarah Dolman WDCS, Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society PO Box 50, Kippax, Holt ACT 2615 Australia p 61 2 6254 1754 f 61 2 6278 3956 m 0422 388 725 e sarah.dolman(\)wdcs.org www.wdcs.org WDCS - The global voice for the protection of whales and dolphins ------=_NextPart_000_0006_01C32127.9B276FC0 charset="us-ascii"

Dear list members

 

I would like to bring to your attention the = first edition of "Oceans of Noise", a 165 page WDCS report that = calls for urgent action to reduce noise pollution in our seas. It highlights the = many sources of noise pollution in the marine environment today and it = launches the “WDCS Noise Action Plan” (on pages 7 and 8 of the report). Marine noise pollution is a substantive threat to cetaceans but also a highly = technical and little understood problem. We hope that the report will be a useful = resource to those interested in the subject and help to underpin the need for urgent = action at international and national levels.

 

It can be found on the WDCS website at: =

http://www.wdcs.org/<= /font>

http://www.wdcs.org.au

 

Sarah Dolman

WDCS Science Officer

sarah.dolman(\)wdcs.org

 

Sarah = Dolman

WDCS, Whale and = Dolphin Conservation Society

 

PO = Box 50, Kippax, Holt = ACT 2615 = Australia=

p   61 = 2 6254 1754 =

f   = ; 61 2 6278 3956

m  0422 388 = 725     =

e   sarah.dolman(\)wdcs.org

 

www.wdcs.org<= /o:p>

 

WDCS – The = global voice for the protection of whales and dolphins

 

------=_NextPart_000_0006_01C32127.9B276FC0-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 May 2003 17:07:33 CEST From: Immacolata.Febbraro(\)ie-bsg.unil.ch Subject: marine mammal census on a sailing trip across Atlantic ------ Subject: marine mammal census on a sailing trip across Atlantic I=92m writing to anyone interested to acquire marine mammal census data. I=92m a biologist recently graduated at University of Lausanne Switzerlan= d, and passionate for cetology. I=92m also member of the Swiss Cetacean S= ociety thank to which I=92m presently performing a formation of guide of = Mediterranean Sea cetaceans.=20 This interest for marine world conducts me to organise a sailing trip wit= h the Alexandra=92s diving club (http://www.alexandraclub.ch). On this 8 = month trip across Atlantic (Port- St-Louis - Gibraltar Strait =96 Azores = Islands =96 Canary Islands =96 Cape Verde =96 French Caribbean), I will b= e in charge of scientific coordination. Among areas run across, we will f= or sure encounter marine mammals. I propose to pick up GPS coordinates an= d photograph them. To anyone interested in this data, please contact me a= t immacolata.febbraro(\)ie-bsg.unil.ch for detailed explanations. To ensure a= dequate and quality data, scientific material lending (hydrophone, GPS,=85= ) would be appreciated.=20 =20 Immacolata Febbraro --------------------------------------------- Immacolata Febbraro Biologist graduated in ecology University of Lausanne - Switzerland av. Grammont 4, 1007 Lausanne - CH +41(0)21/617 76 86 immacolata.febbraro(\)ie-bsg.unil.ch http://www.unil.ch ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 May 2003 06:58:23 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: FW: new hydrophone site (fwd) From: "Joseph Blue" > [Original Message] > From: Dave Mellinger > To: > Date: 5/19/2003 4:31:00 PM > Subject: new hydrophone site > > The ASA web site describing and characterizing hydrophones has moved to a > new address: > > http://home.earthlink.net/~joeblue/HYDROPHONES > > Thanks to Joe Blue (joeblue(\)earthlink.net) for maintaining this site. > > Dave Mellinger > David.Mellinger(\)oregonstate.edu --- Joseph Blue --- joeblue(\)earthlink.net --- EarthLink: The #1 provider of the Real Internet. TABLE OF CONTENTS About Hydrophones I. Listing of Hydrophones with Data I.A. Standard Hydrophones I.B. Commercial Standard-Grade Hydrophones I.B.1. Engineering Acoustics, Inc. I.B.2. Reson, Inc. I.B.3. Bruel & Kjaer I.B.4. Benthos, Inc. I.B.5. Wilcoxon Research, Inc. I.B.6. Massa Products Corporation I.B.7. Neptune Sonar Limited I.C. Utility-Grade Hydrophones I.C.1. VEMCO, Ltd. I.C.2. Sensor Technology Limited I.C.3. Cetacean Research Technology I.C.4. Thompson Marconi Sonar I.C.5. Bioacoustics, Inc. I.C.6. Offshore Acoustics I.C.7. Gearing-Watson I.C.8. Burns Electronics I.C.9. High Tech, Inc. I.C.10 Arrtec II. Hydrophone Manufacturers Submitting No Data (Addresses Only) II.A. International Transducer Corporation II.B. Specialty Engineering II.C. EDO Acoustic Products II.D. Geospace II.E. GRAS II.F. USRD - Underwater Science, Research & Development, Inc. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 24 May 2003 11:14:02 -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. Salt and water balance of modern baleen whales: rate of urine production = and food intake M. Kjeld Canadian Journal of Zoology 81(4): 606-616 (2003) Whales, as pelagic marine mammals, are thought to have evolved from fresh-water-dependent terrestrial mammals. Baleen whales feed primarily o= n salty euphausiids (krill) and have no access to fresh water. How have the= se mammals adapted to lifelong habitation in a hyperosmotic medium? A new approach is proposed for studying this by using allometry (scaling) of endogenous creatinine clearance in mammals together with determinations o= f creatinine concentration in fresh postmortem blood and urine of fin whale= s (Balaenoptera physalus) and sei whales (Balaenoptera borealis). From the predicted mean creatinine-clearance values and the measured mean creatini= ne concentrations, a urine-production rates of 974 and 627 L/day for the fin and sei whales, respectively, were computed. Average daily krill ingestio= n of about 1300 and 835 L is predicted for the fin and sei whales, respectively. The whales seem to ingest about 30% more than earlier repor= ted of a prey, which has about 50% of the salt concentration of seawater, thu= s maintaining the salt and water balance with a minimum of 1=962% seawater ingestion. The method used to estimate the above volumes could be a valua= ble tool in further studies of the water and salt balance of the large baleen whales, which may not have the same osmoregulatory control mechanisms as = the smaller Odontoceti. *************************************************************************= *** *************** Gray whale distribution relative to forage habitat in the northern Bering Sea: current conditions and retrospective summary Sue E. Moore, Jacqueline M. Grebmeier, and Jeremy R. Davies Canadian Journal of Zoology 81(4): 734-742 (2003) Hundreds of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) stranded dead along beach= es from Mexico to Alaska in 1999 and 2000. The cause of the mortalities rema= ins unknown, but starvation resulting from a reduction in prey, especially in the Chirikov Basin, was suggested as the cause. In the 1980s, the Chiriko= v Basin was considered a prime gray whale feeding area, but there has been = no recent comprehensive assessment of whale or prey distribution and abundan= ce. In 2002, a 5-day survey for gray whales revealed restricted distribution = in the basin and a 3- to 17-fold decline in sighting rates. To put these dat= a in context, a retrospective summary of gray whale and benthic fauna distribution and abundance was undertaken. During the 1980s, gray whale sighting rates in the Chirikov Basin were highly variable. Ampeliscid amphipods dominated the benthos where gray whale sighting rates were highest. Available measures of biomass suggest a downturn in amphipod productivity from 1983 to 2000, when estimates of gray whale population s= ize were increasing, suggesting that the whales simply expanded their foragin= g range. We encourage long-term study of the Chirikov Basin as a location where predator=96prey responses to changing ocean climate can be research= ed, because decadal time series data are available. *************************************************************************= *** *************** Experimental transmission of Pharurus pallasii (Nematoda: Metastrongyloidea), a lungworm of the cranial sinuses of the beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas), to fish Magali Houde, Lena N. Measures, and Jean Huot Canadian Journal of Zoology 81(3): 364-370 (2003) Transmission of lungworms (Metastrongyloidea: Pseudaliidae) in the marine environment has been poorly studied. This experimental study is the first conducted on a pseudaliid, Pharurus pallasii, a lungworm of the cranial sinuses of the beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas). First-stage larvae removed from uteri of gravid female P. pallasii from a freshly dead belug= a were experimentally exposed to various marine organisms (fish, crustacean= s, molluscs). First-stage larvae failed to develop in experimentally exposed invertebrates. The first moult occurred in the intestinal wall of America= n plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides) and Arctic sculpins (Myoxocephalus scorpioides) 45 and 78 days post exposure, respectively. The third larval stage, which is infectious to the final host, was not observed in fish during the 14 months of the experiment. No cellular inflammatory reaction= to or encapsulation of larvae was observed in histological sections of the intestinal wall of American plaice 268 days post exposure. Survival and development of P. pallasii larvae to the second stage in fish suggest tha= t fish are likely suitable intermediate hosts in the life cycle of P. pallasii. Invertebrates may still play a role as transport (paratenic) hosts. The morphology of the first and second larval stages of P. pallasi= i is described for the first time. *************************************************************************= *** ***************** Fine-scale habitat selection by coastal bottlenose dolphins: application = of a new land-based video-montage technique Gordon D. Hastie, Ben Wilson, and Paul M. Thompson Canadian Journal of Zoology 81(3): 469-478 (2003) Cetacean distribution and underwater topography are frequently correlated. These patterns are commonly studied on large spatial scales, over tens of kilometres, but very rarely on a fine scale. Sightings of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, within the Moray Firth, Scotland, were previously found to be concentrated within deep, narrow channels. To understand why such areas were selected, more-detailed information on the distribution of dolphins was required. This study describes the developme= nt of a video technique to study the spatial distribution and relative abundance of bottlenose dolphins. We then used the methodology to investigate whether water depth and seabed gradient influence the dolphin= s' distribution patterns. Furthermore, temporal patterns of use were examine= d with respect to seasonal, tidal, and diurnal cycles. The distribution of dolphins was significantly related to topography: dolphins were sighted m= ost frequently in the deepest regions with the steepest seabed gradients. The= re was a clear temporal pattern in the use of the area, with sightings peaki= ng during July. However, the presence of dolphins was not significantly rela= ted to tidal or diurnal cycles. The topography of the area appears to be a significant influence on its intensive use by dolphins, and patterns of u= se indicate that topography may facilitate foraging during seasonal migratio= ns of fish. *************************************************************************= *** ************** Lungworm (Pharurus pallasii: Metastrongyloidea: Pseudaliidae) infection i= n the endangered St. Lawrence beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) Magali Houde, Lena N. Measures, and Jean Huot Canadian Journal of Zoology 81(3): 543-551 (2003) Eighty-eight percent of adult beluga whales, Delphinapterus leucas (age 7 years; n =3D 32), and 72% of juveniles (1 year age < 7 years; n =3D 11) = were infected with the cranial sinus nematode Pharurus pallasii. No fetuses or young of the year (age 1 year; n =3D 9) were infected. The mean intensity= of infection was 419 (range 2=962042) in adults and 179 (range 1=96500) in juveniles. There was no difference in mean intensity of infection between the sexes or between juvenile and adult beluga. The absence of P. pallasi= i in young of the year suggests that transmission is not transplacental or transmammary and that infections are acquired as young beluga begin to fe= ed on infected prey. Pharurus pallasii were 3 times more numerous in the peribullar sinuses than in the frontal sinuses, but were equally distribu= ted laterally. Male and female P. pallasii in heavily infected sinuses were significantly longer than those in lightly infected sinuses. No intensity-dependent effect on fecundity of gravid females was observed. N= o macroscopic lesions were observed in association with P. pallasii in fres= h or frozen carcasses. Low numbers of adult P. pallasii in the lungs sugges= t that the cranial sinuses are the preferred site of infection. No relationship was found between intensity of infection and body condition = of beluga. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 May 2003 03:12:54 +1000 Reply-To: mnoad(\)zen.uq.edu.au From: Michael Noad Subject: Volunteers needed in Australia VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR HUMPBACK WHALE RESEARCH IN AUSTRALIA. The University of Queensland will be conducting humpback whale research off the coast of south-eastern Queensland from late August to early November this year. The study site lies on the migratory path of the east Australian population of humpback whales, one of the best studied populations of baleen whales in the world. The research will be focused on singing whales, particularly their interactions with other, non-singing, conspecifics. It will include real-time simultaneous acoustic and visual tracking of whales as they migrate through the study area, as well as the collection of fluke photographs and skin biopsies from a small boat. Acoustic tracking will use an array of hydrophone buoys moored off the study site while visual tracking will use a theodolite atop a nearby hill. Volunteers are required to help collect theodolite and behavioural data from the hilltop and assist in the collection of acoustic data. There may also be opportunities for those who are keen and have relevant skills to participate in the collection of fluke photographs and biopsy samples aboard the boat. This fieldwork will provide excellent opportunities for keen young researchers to be involved in an exciting program of acoustic and behavioural field research on humpback whales. The work outlined will be part of a larger project known as HARC - the Humpback Acoustic Research Collaboration - which also includes the Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). The work is funded by the US Office of Naval Research and DSTO. Volunteers need to arrange and pay for their own transport to the study site but most accommodation and food expenses will be covered once there. Those interested should be: 1. hard working 2. easy going and get on well in group situations 3. have a genuine desire to learn about humpback song and behaviour Preference will be given to those who: 1. have previous experience and skills relevant to the program (eg. previous marine mammal field experience particularly with theodolites and/or acoustics) 2. can stay for longer periods If you're interested in volunteering for this program, please send a reply and SHORT CV to Mike Noad AND CC YOUR EMAIL to Josh Smith and Ceri Morris . Although there is no strict cut-off date for applications, it would be helpful if applicants could contact us before June 22. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Noad Postdoctoral Research Fellow School of Life Sciences University of Queensland St Lucia Qld 4072 Australia Ph. +61 (0)7 3365 2500 Fax. +61 (0)7 3365 1655 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 May 2003 12:27:38 +0100 From: Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre Organization: Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre Subject: Volunteers wanted for bottlenose dolphin study in Wales ------ Volunteers wanted to assist in bottlenose dolphin and harbour porpoise study. Since its start in 1996, the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre (CBMWC) = has been the base for several studies on the biology of a resident colony of bottlenose dolphins (see list of works at the end of this mail). Recent funding has enabled the CBMWC to undertake a long-term study of the bottlenose dolphin and harbour porpoise within the Bay=92s candidate Spec= ial Area of Conservation (cSAC), starting from May 2003. The study will concentrate on estimating bottlenose dolphin population size utilising photo-id techniques and estimating harbour porpoise density within the specified area. Volunteers are required to assist in data collection and analysis and to help out on the boat. Volunteers will also be expected to assist in the running of the centre and with ongoing educational work. Volunteers are accepted between now and September to work in the Centre. Preference is given to persons with some biological experience, a strong interest in cetaceans, good interpersonal skills, and a willingness to wo= rk in a conscientious and reliable manner. People with an educational or artistic background would be desirable to assist with the educational wor= k of the centre. Usually up to three volunteers are taken at any one time, = and they are encouraged to stay for a period of at least two weeks. Duties include manning the Centre to record numbers of visitors, collect donations, and show them around the displays, answering general questions about marine wildlife especially cetaceans. To assist with ongoing educational work, preparing materials and helping out with activities run from the centre. On a rotational basis, each volunteer will have the opportunity to go out on the research vessel, the "Sulaire" to do transec= ts near the coast for bottlenose dolphins (and other cetaceans). Standardised recording forms logging the route taken, environmental conditions, and all sightings are completed on a routine basis. Volunteer= s will receive some initial training on how to fill these in, and will maintain routine watches for cetaceans during the research trips. Experience can be gained in photo-identification and survey work, includi= ng transect surveys at sea and land surveys. Knowledge will be acquired abou= t bottlenose dolphins and the importance of Cardigan Bay as a candidate special area of conservation, including how to identify species and correctly photograph the animals, as well as inputting data onto a sighti= ngs database and analysing slides. Environmental education work can also be conducted, whereby volunteers can assist with writing educational materia= ls, undertaking children=92s activities and helping to organise school and pu= blic visits and talks. Experience will be also be gained working within a customer service environment through helping people with their enquiries = in the wildlife centre. There is no fee for people wishing to volunteer, and very basic accommodation can be provided in a room above the centre. Volunteers woul= d need to bring their own sleeping bag and camp bed and provide their own food. For those volunteers wishing to stay in more comfortable conditions the CBMWC will assist in locating a place to stay, although availability = is very limited. If you would like to volunteer then please call the CBMWC on (+44) (0) 15= 45 560032 or forward your CV and covering letter to Helen Bates, specifying = the dates when you are available and the dates when you would prefer to participate. Thank you. Helen Bates Education Officer Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre Patent Slip Buildings, Glanmor Terrace New Quay Ceredigion SA45 9PS Email: cardiganbaymarinewildlife(\)tianet.com Some recent work that has been connected to the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildl= ife Centre Baines, M.E. 2000. Comparative trials of acoustic and visual monitoring methods for the bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, in the Cardigan B= ay cSAC. Countryside Council for Wales Contract Science Report. Evans, P.G.H., Baines, M.E., and Shepherd, B. 2000. Bottlenose Dolphin Pr= ey and Habitat Sampling Trials. Report to Countryside Council for Wales. Sea Watch Foundation, Oxford. Grellier, K., Arnold, H., Thompson, P., Wilson, B., and Curran, S. 1995. Management Recommendations for the Cardigan Bay Bottlenose Dolphin Population. CCW Contract Science Report 134. Gregory, P. R. and Hartley, S.W.H. 2001. Preliminary study into estimatin= g Bottlenose dolphin (tursiops truncatus) population size in Cardigan Bay, west Wales (cSAC). Report to the Countryside Council for Wales Gregory, P.R. and Rowden, A.A. 2001. Behaviour patterns of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) relative to tidal state, time of the day, an= d boat traffic in Cardigan Bay, west Wales. Aquatic mammals, 27, 105-113 Lewis, E.J. 1999. A digital database of photographically identified bottlenose dolphins: Cardigan Bay, West Wales. A report for Countryside Council for Wales.February 1999. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 25 May 2003 04:40:00 -0700 From: Dave Mellinger Subject: Report: Future Directions for Acoustic Marine Mammal Surveys A workshop was help last November on the use of acoustics for marine mammal surveys. The workshop report is now available; an executive summary is below. An on-line copy of the report may be found at http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/vents/acoustics/pdfs/AcousticAssessmentWorkshopReport.pdf If this link is split across two lines, you will need to paste it together to make it work. If you would like a printed copy of the report, please let me know. Dave Mellinger David.Mellinger(\)oregonstate.edu ----------------------------------------------------------------- Future Directions for Acoustic Marine Mammal Surveys: Stock Assessment and Habitat Use Report of a workshop held Nov. 21-23, 2002, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, San Diego, CA. Executive Summary ----------------- Current uses of acoustics: Acoustic survey methods are now used primarily to augment visual sighting methods. During line-transect surveys, acoustic observers who monitor towed hydrophone arrays routinely detect more groups of animals than visual observers. In some cases, acoustic detections are being used to make more accurate estimates of marine mammal populations than would be possible with visual methods alone. Autonomous recorders are cost effective for use in regions that are difficult or expensive to reach, such as Antarctica, the Indian Ocean, and areas far offshore in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and they are effective for seasonal coverage when visual surveys are not feasible. They may also be useful to survey areas infrequently occupied by marine mammals, where routine visual surveys would have a very high cost per sighting. Future uses of acoustics: Acoustics holds eventual promise of gathering information about marine mammals at very low cost. Research is needed in several areas to realize this possibility. Discussion at the workshop centered on these broad categories: 1. Population structure. If acoustic differences between populations of marine mammals are tied to genetic differences, then acoustics would offer a relatively fast and inexpensive method to assess population structure. The foremost research need is to determine the relationship between the population structures as indicated by acoustics and by genetics. 2. Abundance and density. Acoustic observation can complement visual observation to provide more accurate estimates of marine mammal populations. This has been done for some populations, as for example the Bering-Beaufort-Chukchi Sea stock of bowhead whales and the eastern Pacific stock of sperm whales, but it could be done more widely. For effective acoustic censuses, calibration methods must be determined by joint visual-acoustic studies; determining such factors offers the promise of low-cost surveys for many species of marine mammals using acoustic methods. Research is also needed in acoustic species identification, particularly for smaller odontocetes. 3. Impacts of noise. Responses of marine mammal to natural noise have not been well studied. Natural noise can include sounds of other marine mammals, especially conspecifics, as well as physical noise sources such as from geological sound sources and wind. Responses of marine mammals to anthropogenic noise was seen as a topic well covered by other work; discussion here was limited to the contribution that passive acoustics can make. Assisting in the constructing of an "ocean noise map" was strongly supported, as was better public communication of information on ocean noise levels. 4. Relative density, seasonal distribution, and trends. For determining relative density or abundance, and trends in abundance, many of the same calibration factors are needed as for determining absolute abundance. But in the absence of those calibration factors, acoustic methods can offer estimates of minimum population size, and can be used to track large-scale movement patterns. Workshop discussion culminated in a list of recommendations for management, research, and field operations. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 02:58:19 -0700 From: JIWLP Organization: Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy Subject: New book on cetaceans: science, law, and policy boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0152_01C324C5.046C4EB0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0152_01C324C5.046C4EB0 charset="us-ascii" The following book has recently been published by Transnational Publishers, http://www.transnationalpubs.com/showbook.cfm?bookid=10229 The Future of Cetaceans in a Changing World (William C.G. Burns & Alexander Gillespie, editors, 2003). Below is the Table of Contents for the book. Section I: The Future of the International Whaling Commission * Japan's Position in the International Whaling Commission, Yasuo Iino & Dan Goodman * Culture-based Conflict in the International Whaling Commission: The Case of Japanese Small-type Whaling, Milton M.R. Freeman * I Am Here, Where Should I Be?, Ray Gambell * The Framework for Conservation of Whales and Other Cetaceans as Components of Marine Biodiversity, Patricia Birnie Section II: The North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission and the World Council of Whalers * NAMMCO - Regional Co-operation, Sustainable Use, Sustainable Communities, Grete Hovelsrud-Broda * The Competence of Pro-Consumptive International Organizations to Regulate Cetacean Resources, Howard S. Schiffman Section III: The Threat to Small Cetaceans and Institutional Responses Small Cetaceans: Status, Threats, and Management, Kieran Mulvaney & Bruce McKay Small Cetaceans, International Law, and the International Whaling Commission, Alexander Gillespie The Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Seas, Robin Churchill Section IV: Anthropogenic Threats to Cetaceans Evaluating the Threat from Pollution to Whales, Mark P. Simmonds Climate Change and the International Whaling Commission in the 21st Century, William C.G. Burns Section V: The Ecosystem Role of Cetaceans Whales - The New Scapegoat for Overfishing, Michael Donoghue Documents The International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling NAMMCO ASCOBANS ACCOBAMS William C.G. Burns, Editor-in-Chief Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy 1702 Arlington Blvd. El Cerrito, CA 94530 USA Ph: 650.281.9126 Fax: 801.838.4710 jiwlp(\)internationalwildlifelaw.org http://www.jiwlp.com _______________________________________ The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it. William James _______________________________________ ------=_NextPart_000_0152_01C324C5.046C4EB0 charset="us-ascii" New book on cetaceans: science, law, and policy

 The following book has recently been published by = Transnational

 Publishers,

 http://www.transnationalpubs.com/showbook.cfm?bookid=3D102= 29

 

 The Future of Cetaceans in a Changing World = (William C.G. Burns &

 Alexander Gillespie, editors, = 2003).

 

 

 Below is the Table of Contents for the = book.

 

 

 Section I:     The Future of = the International Whaling Commission

 

 

 *      Japan's Position in = the International Whaling Commission, Yasuo

 Iino & Dan Goodman

 *      Culture-based = Conflict in the International Whaling Commission:

 The Case of Japanese Small-type Whaling, Milton = M.R. Freeman

 *      I Am Here, Where = Should I Be?, Ray Gambell

 *      The Framework for = Conservation of Whales and Other Cetaceans as

 Components of Marine Biodiversity, Patricia = Birnie

 

 

 

 Section II:    The North Atlantic = Marine Mammal Commission and the

 World Council of Whalers

 

 *      NAMMCO - Regional = Co-operation, Sustainable Use, Sustainable

 Communities, Grete = Hovelsrud-Broda

 *      The Competence of = Pro-Consumptive International Organizations to

 Regulate Cetacean Resources, Howard S. = Schiffman

 

 

 Section III: The Threat to Small = Cetaceans and Institutional Responses

 

 Small Cetaceans: Status, Threats, and Management, = Kieran Mulvaney &

 Bruce McKay

 

 Small Cetaceans, International Law, and the = International Whaling

 Commission, Alexander Gillespie

 

 The Agreement on the Conservation of Small = Cetaceans of the Baltic and

 North Seas, Robin Churchill

 

 

 Section IV:     Anthropogenic = Threats to Cetaceans

 

 Evaluating the Threat from Pollution to Whales, = Mark P. Simmonds

 

 Climate Change and the International Whaling = Commission in the 21st

 Century, William C.G. Burns

 

 Section V:      The = Ecosystem Role of Cetaceans

 

 Whales - The New Scapegoat for Overfishing, Michael = Donoghue

 

 

 Documents

 

 

 The International Convention for the Regulation of = Whaling NAMMCO

 ASCOBANS

 ACCOBAMS

 

 

 

 William C.G. Burns, = Editor-in-Chief

 Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy =

 1702 Arlington Blvd.

 El = Cerrito, CA 94530 USA

 Ph: 650.281.9126 =

 Fax: 801.838.4710

 jiwlp(\)internationalwildlifelaw.org

=

 http://www.jiwlp.com

  = _______________________________________

 The great use of life is to spend it for = something

 that will outlast it. William = James

 _______________________________________

------=_NextPart_000_0152_01C324C5.046C4EB0-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 May 2003 11:13:19 -0300 Reply-To: Paulo Flores From: Paulo Flores Subject: marine tucuxi and bottlenose interactions boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0058_01C325D3.4F071FE0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0058_01C325D3.4F071FE0 charset="iso-8859-1" Dear Marmamers As part of my thesis I am writing a paper on the ecology of marine = tucuxi and bottlenose dolphins. Although having a sympatric distribution = on a large scale, rarely these species interact. Such interactions were = only recorded in Ba=EDa de Guanabara (22=BA45'S, 43=BA10'W), = southeastern Brazil (Andrade et al. 1987), Ba=EDa de Guaratuba = (25=BA51'S, 48=BA40'W), southern Brazil (Monteiro-Filho et al. 1999), = both considered feeding associations, as well as in Costa Rica = (9=BA37'N, 82=BA37'W), in apparent sexual interactions with potential = mating (Forrestel et al. (1999). Because of publication guidelines/instructions to the publication the = paper is being submitted, I am seeking only papers published in = peer-reviewed journals, technical or contract reports with contact = person and address, academic thesis/dissertations as well as book = chapters - thus avoiding conferences abstracts and so on. >From the above records, the Costa Rican was only presented and to my = best knowledge remains as an abstract. I have been unable to contact Dr. = Paul Forretel at pforestell(\)southampton.liunet.edu and check on the = status of the presentation in Maui - has it been published or written as = a technical or contract report=20 Thus I would like to know if someone could provide Dr. Forrestel contact = and would inform on other such records and describe in detail the = interaction(s) performed providing the references. I am willing to = provide to the list a summary of responses. Thanks in advance, ____________________ Paulo A.C. Flores, B.Sc. Ph.D. candidate, PUCRS - Scientific Director, IWC Brasil P.O. Box 5087, Florian=F3polis, SC 88040-970 BRASIL tel (48) 91041793 / 3350224 ext. 21 fax/tel (48) 3350224 flores.p(\)terra.com.br Andrade, L., Sicialiano, S. and Capistrano, L. 1987. Movimentos e = atividades do boto Sotalia guianensis (Cetacea, Delphinidae) na Ba=EDa = de Guanabara, Rio de Janeiro. pp. 71-74 in Anais da 2a Reuni=E3o de = Trabalho de Especialistas em Mam=EDferos Aqu=E1ticos da Am=E9rica do = Sul, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, Funda=E7=E3o Brasileira para a = Conserva=E7=E3o da Natureza. Forrestel, P., A. Wright, A. DiBernardis, S. Larkin and V. Schott. 1999. = Sex and the single tucuxi: mating between bottlenose and tucuxi dolphins = in Costa Rica. Abstracts of the 13th Biennial Conference on the Bioligy = of Marine Mammals, Wailea, Hawaii, Nov 28-Dec3 1999. p. 59. Monteiro-Filho, E.L.A., C.A. Bonin and M. Rautenberg. 1999. = Intera=E7=F5es interespec=EDficas dos mam=EDferos marinhos na regi=E3o = da Ba=EDa de Guaratuba, litoral sul do estado do Paran=E1. Biotemas 12: = 119-132. ------=_NextPart_000_0058_01C325D3.4F071FE0 charset="iso-8859-1"
Dear Marmamers
 ------=_NextPart_000_0058_01C325D3.4F071FE0-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 14:03:23 -0700 Reply-To: bluesub(\)earthlink.net From: bluesub(\)earthlink.net Subject: Volunteers needed by Friends of the Sea Lion Marine Mammal Center From: Jennifer Saitz bluesub(\)earthlink.net Friends of the Sea Lion has an immediate need for volunteers to help care for its stranded pinnipeds. They are currently experiencing a large influx of animals suffering from domoic acid toxicity. Location is Laguna Beach, California. Volunteers must provide their own transportation and housing. Qualifications: Volunteers must be 18 years old and able to lift 50 pounds. Minimum of 4-8 hours per week, one year commitment. Duties include the direct care of the animals, food preparation, rescue of stranded animals and general maintenance of the facility. Interview required. Contact the on-duty supervisor at 949-494-3050 after 10 am. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 09:42:58 -0400 From: Jennifer Merrill Subject: NRC report "Ocean Noise and Marine Mammals" The Ocean Studies Board of the National Research Council recently completed a study of the sources of ocean noise and potential impacts on marine mammals. The report reviews sources of noise in the ocean environment, what is known of the responses of marine mammals to acoustic disturbance, and what models exist for describing ocean noise and marine mammal responses. Recommendations are made for future data gathering efforts, studies of marine mammal behavior and physiology, and modeling efforts necessary to determine what the long- and short-term impacts of ocean noise on marine mammals. A 20% discount is applied to all internet orders at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10564.html . Report Contents SOURCES OF SOUND IN THE OCEAN AND LONG-TERM TRENDS IN OCEAN NOISE Including: Natural Sources of Ocean Noise; Anthropogenic Contributions to Marine Noise; Long-Term Trends in Ocean Noise EFFECTS OF NOISE ON MARINE MAMMALS Including: Hearing Capabilities of Marine Organisms; Acoustic Trauma in Marine Mammals; Effects of Marine Noise on Mammal Behavior; Masking of Acoustic Cues by Marine Noise; Habituation, Sensitization, and Tolerance of Marine Mammals to Marine Noise; Acoustically Induced Stress; New Research Tools to Understand Marine Behavior; Marine Ecosystem Impacts of Noise MODELING AND DATABASES OF NOISE IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding the study or the report at jmerrill(\)nas.edu . ____________________ Jennifer Merrill, Ph.D. Study Director, Ocean Noise and Marine Mammals Ocean Studies Board National Research Council The National Academies 500 Fifth Street, NW Keck 752 Washington, D.C. 20001 Phone: 202.334.2714 Fax: 202.334.2885 ____________________ Jennifer Merrill, Ph.D. Program Officer Ocean Studies Board National Research Council The National Academies 500 Fifth Street, NW Keck Center Room 752 Washington, D.C. 20001 Phone: 202.334.2714 Fax: 202.334.2885 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 12:27:00 +1000 From: Wally Franklin Subject: Humpback Whale Research, Hervey Bay, Australia - Internship Opportunity (Apple Message framework v552) --Apple-Mail-12-619692482 delsp=yes; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed The Oceania Project is conducting, during August 2003, vessel based fieldwork for a long term study of humpback whales in Hervey Bay which commenced in 1992. The Expedition vessel 'Moon Dancer' is a 12m power catamaran. The Oceania Project is affiliated with Southern Cross University incorporating the Southern Cross University Whale Research Centre (SCUWRC) and the Centre for Animal Conservation Genetics (SCU CACG) and is an affiliate of the South Pacific Whale Research Consortium (SPWRC). [ http://www.scu.edu.au/research/whales/aboutus.html ] The focus of the research being undertaken is a long term study of the social and ecological significance of Hervey Bay for the Area V humpback stock; genetic relatedness amongst humpbacks in Hervey Bay and the implications for social organisation and reproductive success and the extent to which social behaviour is determined by kinship. There is an opportunity for a limited number of Interns to join the research expedition during August 2003. Interns can join and live aboard the expedition vessel for a week or more, up to four weeks, subject to time and budget constraints. The cost per week is $950 Australian (Approx. $617 US per week) which includes accommodation aboard the expedition vessel, food and full involvement in fieldwork. Interns are responsible for all costs associated with travel to and from Hervey Bay. Fieldwork involved is 'sloughed skin' and fecal sample collection, photo identification and behavioural observations, GPS/GIS spatial data collection, environmental data, water quality sampling and general data entry. Interns also assist with vessel operations including galley duties. Sea time can be validated towards a marine qualification. No prior experience is necessary and training will be provided. The Internship is open to students and staff of recognised institutions. Preference will be given to individuals involved in marine mammal science courses or related institutions and/or with prior volunteer marine mammal field experience. Places will be allocated in the order they are received. General information about The Oceania Project and the Research Expedition is online at: [ http://www.oceania.org.au ] If you are interested in participating in the Whale Research Expedition as an Intern email Trish & Wally Franklin and include a brief CV. [ mailto:trish.wally(\)oceania.org.au ] Trish Franklin & Wally Franklin Directors & Principal Investigators, The Oceania Project PhD Candidates, Southern Cross University ........................................................................ .. Trish & Wally Franklin The Oceania Project PO Box 646 Byron Bay NSW Australia ABN 73 052 470 630 ACN 052 470 630 Phone: + 61 02 66858128 Fax: + 61 02 66858998 Mobile: 0418797326 Email: trishwally(\)oceania.org.au Web: http://www.oceania.org.au --Apple-Mail-12-619692482 charset=US-ASCII The Oceania Project is conducting, during August 2003, vessel based fieldwork for a long term study of humpback whales in Hervey Bay which commenced in 1992. The Expedition vessel 'Moon Dancer' is a 12m power catamaran. The Oceania Project is affiliated with Southern Cross University incorporating the Southern Cross University Whale Research Centre (SCUWRC) and the Centre for Animal Conservation Genetics (SCU CACG) and is an affiliate of the South Pacific Whale Research Consortium (SPWRC). [ http://www.scu.edu.au/research/whales/aboutus.html ] The focus of the research being undertaken is a long term study of the social and ecological significance of Hervey Bay for the Area V humpback stock; genetic relatedness amongst humpbacks in Hervey Bay and the implications for social organisation and reproductive success and the extent to which social behaviour is determined by kinship. There is an opportunity for a limited number of Interns to join the research expedition during August 2003. Interns can join and live aboard the expedition vessel for a week or more, up to four weeks, subject to time and budget constraints. The cost per week is $950 Australian (Approx. $617 US per week) which includes accommodation aboard the expedition vessel, food and full involvement in fieldwork. Interns are responsible for all costs associated with travel to and from Hervey Bay. Fieldwork involved is 'sloughed skin' and fecal sample collection, photo identification and behavioural observations, GPS/GIS spatial data collection, environmental data, water quality sampling and general data entry. Interns also assist with vessel operations including galley duties. Sea time can be validated towards a marine qualification. No prior experience is necessary and training will be provided. The Internship is open to students and staff of recognised institutions. Preference will be given to individuals involved in marine mammal science courses or related institutions and/or with prior volunteer marine mammal field experience. Places will be allocated in the order they are received. General information about The Oceania Project and the Research Expedition is online at: [ http://www.oceania.org.au ] If you are interested in participating in the Whale Research Expedition as an Intern email Trish & Wally Franklin and include a brief CV. [ mailto:trish.wally(\)oceania.org.au ] Trish Franklin & Wally Franklin Directors & Principal Investigators, The Oceania Project PhD Candidates, Southern Cross University .......................................................................... Trish & Wally Franklin The Oceania Project PO Box 646 Byron Bay NSW Australia ABN 73 052 470 630 ACN 052 470 630 Phone: + 61 02 66858128 Fax: + 61 02 66858998 Mobile: 0418797326 Email: trishwally(\)oceania.org.au Web: http://www.oceania.org.au --Apple-Mail-12-619692482-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 May 2003 18:00:40 +0100 From: A R Hoelzel Subject: Reprints In-Reply-To: Reprints of the following 16 recent papers from our group are now available as pdf files at: http://www.dur.ac.uk/a.r.hoelzel/megwebpage3.htm Fabiani, A., Hoelzel, A.R., Galimberti, F., Muelbert, M.M.C. 2003. Long-range paternal gene flow in the southern elephant seal. Science 299:676 Pang, J., Wang, Y., Zhong, Y., Hoelzel, A.R., Papenfuss, T.J., Zeng, X., Ananjeva, N.B., Zhang, Y. 2003. A Phylogeny of Chinese species in the genus Phrynocephalus (Agamidae) inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences. Mol. Phylogen. Evol. 27: 398409 Pang , J., Hoelzel, A.R., Song, Y., Zeng Z., Zhang, Y. 2003. Lack of mtDNA Control Region Variation in Hainan Eld's Deer: Consequence of a Recent Population Bottleneck? Cons. Genet. 4:109-112. Hoelzel, A.R., Fleischer, R.C., Campagna, C., Le Beouf, B.J. & Alvord, G. 2002. Direct Evidence for the Impact of a Population Bottleneck on Symmetry and Genetic Diversity in the Northern Elephant Seal. J. Evol. Biol. 15: 567-575 Hoelzel, A.R., Natoli, A., Dahlheim, M., Olavarria, C., Baird, R.W., Black, N. 2002. Low world-wide genetic diversity in the killer whale (Orcinus orca); Implications for demographic history. Proc. Royal Soc. B 269: 1467-1475. Wynen, L.P., Goldsworthy, S.D., Insley, S., Adams, M., Bickham, J., Gallo, J.P., Hoelzel, A.R., Majluf, P., White, R.P.G. and Slade, R. 2001. Phylogenetic relationships within the family Otariidae (Carnivora). Mol. Phylogen. Evol. 21:270-284 Van der Walt, J.M., Nel, L.H. & Hoelzel, A.R. 2001. Characterization of MHC-DRB diversity in the endemic South African antelope Damaliscus pygargus: A comparison of two subspecies with different demographic histories. Mol. Ecol. 10:1679-1688. Hoelzel, A.R. 2001. Shark fishing in fin soup. Cons. Genet. 2:69-72. Hoelzel, A.R., Campagna, C., Arnbom, T. 2001. Genetic and morphometric differentiation between island and mainland southern elephant seal populations. Proc. Royal Soc. B. 268:325-332. Hoelzel, A.R. 1999. Impact of a population bottleneck on genetic variation and the importance of life history; a case study of the northern elephant seal. Biol. J. Linn. Soc.68:23-39. Hoelzel, A.R., LeBoeuf, B.J., Reiter, J. & Campagna, C. 1999. Alpha male paternity in elephant seals. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 46:298-306. Hoelzel, A.R., Stephens, J.C. & OBrien, S.J. 1999. Molecular genetic diversity and evolution at the MHC DQB locus in four species of pinnipeds. Mol. Biol. Evol. 16:611-618. Hoelzel, A.R. 1998. Genetic structure of cetacean populations in sympatry, parapatry and mixed assemblages; implications for conservation policy. J. Hered. 89:451-458. Hoelzel, A.R., Dahlheim. M. and Stern, S.J. 1998. Low genetic variation among killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the eastern North Pacific, and genetic differentiation between foraging specialists. J. Hered. 89:121-128 Hoelzel, A.R., Potter, C.W. & Best, P. 1998. Genetic differentiation between parapatric nearshore and offshore populations of the bottlenose dolphin. Proc. Royal Soc. B.265:1-7 Slade, R.W., Moritz, C., Hoelzel, A.R. & Burton, H.R. 1998. Molecular population genetics of the southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina. Genetic 149:1945-1957. A Rus Hoelzel Molecular Ecology Group School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences University of Durham, UK a.r.hoelzel(\)dur.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 May 2003 13:05:12 -0400 From: Jessica Lomanno Subject: Resident Lecturer in Coastal Ecology and Marine Mammology positio n available at The Center for Coastal Studies in Baja California Sur boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01C32604.7773D370" 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_01C32604.7773D370 charset="iso-8859-1" The Center for Coastal Studies Position Description Job Title: Resident Lecturer in Coastal Ecology The Center for Coastal Studies (CCS), founded in 1997 on the shores of = Bah=EDa Magdalena in the fishing community of Puerto San Carlos, Baja = California Sur, Mexico, seeks an enthusiastic, team-oriented Resident Lecturer in Coastal Ecology. You will work with a team consisting of the Director, another Lecturer, a Student Affairs Manager and two Interns to deliver = a high quality, field-based academic/research program to primarily = American undergraduate students. Because Center staff and students live on site, = our directors get to know both their fellow staff members and their = students on a level not often achieved in a conventional university setting. Start Date: September 1, 2003 The Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) is one of seven international = field sites of the US-based School for Field Studies (SFS). Founded in 1980, = SFS is a university-level study abroad program that focuses on teaching and conducting community-based environmental research.=20 Institutional Mission: As an international, non-profit academic = institution, SFS provides environmental education and conducts research through its field-based programs. SFS is committed to providing hands-on, interdisciplinary education and environmental research in partnership = with natural resource dependent communities. Our goals are twofold: to = provide students with a unique and challenging educational and life experience = that assists them in successfully advancing their careers as skilled professionals and globally aware citizens; and to work with local = community stakeholders to develop models for the sustainable management of their natural resources. Academic Approach: Our academic program is delivered within an interdisciplinary case study format and includes three field-lecture courses: coastal ecology, principles of resource management, and = economic & ethical issues in sustainable development. A fourth course introduces students to the planning and conduct of field research. Research Focus: The center's current Five-Year Research Plan focuses on = how to help the government and community of Puerto San Carlos promote = ecosystem conservation and resource sustainability in Bah=EDa Magdalena, as well = as support the resource dependent socio-economic growth and stability of = their community. Partial funding for this work has been provided by The David = and Lucile Packard Foundation. Position Summary: The purpose of this fulltime, year-round, = residential position is to:=20 * teach critical environmental issues using a team-based, interdisciplinary, problem-solving approach. Teaching responsibility includes the course Coastal Ecology. This course examines the = ecological processes at the interface between land and sea. It focuses on the = coastal environment and how terrestrial and marine systems are intricately connected, and are impacted by human resource use and disturbance. A = special focus on marine mammals and their role in the ecology of the bay is = also provided. =20 * lead designated components of the Center's Five-Year Research Plan which includes Directed Research projects (as part of the fourth = course), and summer projects. Specific research lines/areas this position is responsible include: gray whales (population status and trends, tourism impacts), black sea turtles (population status and trends, habitat requirements and threats), Sea lion colonies (population trends), = indicators of ecosystem health in the bay, biology of selected commercial species, = and water quality of the bay. * oversee & advise individual student Directed Research (DR) projects that arise from this plan, including projects related specifically to = the Packard Foundation grant- water quality in the water column; evidence = of effluent pollution in water, benthic and sediment samples; monitoring = black sea turtle use of the bay, developing a marine park for black sea = turtle and other marine mammal protection, and community education. * ensure the expeditious publication of research results=20 Location: Center for Coastal Studies, Puerto San Carlos, Baja = California Sur, Mexico Reports to: Center Director Salary & Benefits Package: US$26,000 and up to $29,000 depending on experience & qualifications. Housing and meals on site; excellent = benefits package=20 Minimum Qualifications:=20 * Ph.D. in Coastal Ecology; Marine Mammology, or Marine Ecology * Field research experience in marine mammal population trends and habitat requirements, fisheries ecology and management, and water = quality sampling. * University-level, interdisciplinary, team teaching experience in Coastal Ecology, Marine Mammology, or Marine Ecology * Good track record of research publications * Fluency in both Spanish and English *=09 * Preferred Qualifications:=20 * Experience living and working in Baja California * Experience working with other scientists to fulfil research grant requirements * Residential student group management and risk management experience desirable *=09 * Other Expectations: * Demonstrated ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary teaching and research team=20 * Demonstrated commitment to environmental issues * Willingness to work flexible hours and live on site at the field station with a small team of permanent staff, groups of US & Mexican undergraduate students and visiting programs * =20 * Duties and Responsibilities * Program * A. Teaching * As part of an interdisciplinary teaching team, teach one third of the academic program (minimum 50 lecture hours per semester) * Plan, revise, and effectively deliver a challenging, problem-based interdisciplinary curriculum=20 * Organize lectures and prepare course materials in a timely and professional manner * Adhere to the daily academic schedule * Prepare, administer, and grade assignments, quizzes, mid-term and final examinations in a timely manner * Maintain records of: lectures, exams, quizzes, readings, field experiences and homework assignments * Supervise and mentor 10-12 students in their Directed Research projects * Actively support and counsel students on academic issues B. Research * Conduct designated research according to the Center's Five-Year Research Plan=20 * Identify appropriate components of the Center's research suitable for student Directed Research projects * Prepare research results for clients and partners and/or for publication and conference presentations * Assist in the creation and implementation of Center research policies, priorities, budgets as required * Implement appropriate data management and record keeping C. Administration * Participate in planning activities five days prior to the program start and in review/analysis following students' departure * Participate in training activities for new center staff prior to and during the program * Participate in and lead parts of the orientation and re-entry components of the program presented to students at the beginning and = end of each program period * In cooperation with other Center staff, provide day-to-day coordination of Interns as delegated by the Center Director * Participate in resolving group management issues and student discipline problems * Participate in preparation of the Final Reports, Academic Handbook revisions and other required reports * As requested by the Center Director, assist with other logistical, group management and administrative tasks *=09 * Safety & Risk Management * Take responsibility, as an individual and as a member of the Center faculty/staff team, for the safety of all program participants * Participate in the review and revision of Center Risk Assessment and Management plans * Recommend and review policies and procedures needed to manage risks * Know the emergency procedures plan for the Center, including evacuation plan * Participate in the safety portions of the on-site orientation and conduct safety briefings for students and/or staff * Complete Incident Reports when appropriate and contribute to Safety Audits * Comply with, actively model, and enforce all SFS and Center policies and procedures * Ensure that first aid certifications are kept up to date via periodic courses offered by SFS between program sessions Daily Center Life * Live close to or on -site for the duration of each program period and take meals with the students=20 * On a rotating basis, take responsibility for Center-specific "staff of the day" duties=20 * Take part in, and occasionally lead, Center upkeep projects, social and field activities=20 * At the request of the Center Director, serve as caretaker for Center during program breaks and center rentals * Drive standard transmission vehicles and boats as needed=20 * Adhere to, actively model and enforce all SFS and Center policies and procedures * At all times, work to ensure good relations between the Center and local community For more information, please review the Programs section of this web = site. =20 To apply: Send CV and cover letter detailing qualifications and = experience to: Center for Coastal Studies, c/o SFS Headquarters, Job Reference = 1229, 10 Federal Street, Salem, MA 01970, USA; Fax: 1-978-741-3551; Email: jobs(\)fieldstudies.org. EOE.=20 Jessica Lomanno International Staff Recruiter The School for Field Studies 10 Federal Street Salem, MA 01970 P (978) 741-3567 x306 F (978) 741-3551 jlomanno(\)fieldstudies.org www.fieldstudies.org=20 ------_=_NextPart_001_01C32604.7773D370 charset="iso-8859-1" Resident Lecturer in Coastal Ecology and Marine Mammology = position available at The Center for Coastal Studies in Baja California = Sur

The Center for Coastal = Studies
Position Description
Job Title: Resident Lecturer in Coastal Ecology

The Center for Coastal Studies (CCS), = founded in 1997 on the shores of Bah=EDa Magdalena in the fishing = community of Puerto San Carlos, Baja California Sur, Mexico, seeks an = enthusiastic, team-oriented Resident Lecturer in Coastal Ecology. You = will work with a team consisting of the Director, another Lecturer, a = Student Affairs Manager and two Interns to deliver a high quality, = field-based academic/research program to primarily American = undergraduate students. Because Center staff and students live on site, = our directors get to know both their fellow staff members and their = students on a level not often achieved in a conventional university = setting.

Start Date: September 1, 2003

The Center for Coastal = Studies (CCS) is one of seven = international field sites of the US-based School for Field Studies = (SFS).  Founded in 1980, SFS is a university-level study abroad = program that focuses on teaching and conducting community-based = environmental research.

Institutional Mission: As an international, non-profit academic = institution, SFS provides environmental education and conducts research = through its field-based programs. SFS is committed to providing = hands-on, interdisciplinary education and environmental research in = partnership with natural resource dependent communities. Our goals are = twofold: to provide students with a unique and challenging educational = and life experience that assists them in successfully advancing their = careers as skilled professionals and globally aware citizens; and to = work with local community stakeholders to develop models for the = sustainable management of their natural resources.

Academic Approach: Our academic program is delivered within an = interdisciplinary case study format and includes three field-lecture = courses: coastal ecology, principles of resource management, and = economic & ethical issues in sustainable development. A fourth = course introduces students to the planning and conduct of field = research.

Research Focus: The center's current Five-Year Research = Plan focuses on how to help the government and = community of Puerto San Carlos promote ecosystem conservation and = resource sustainability in Bah=EDa Magdalena, as well as support the = resource dependent socio-economic growth and stability of their = community. Partial funding for this work has been provided by The David = and Lucile Packard Foundation.

Position Summary:  = The purpose of this fulltime, year-round, = residential position is to:

    • teach critical environmental issues = using a team-based, interdisciplinary, problem-solving approach. = Teaching responsibility includes the course Coastal Ecology. This course examines the ecological processes at the interface = between land and sea. It focuses on the coastal environment and how = terrestrial and marine systems are intricately connected, and are = impacted by human resource use and disturbance. A special focus on = marine mammals and their role in the ecology of the bay is also = provided. 
    • lead designated components of the = Center's Five-Year Research Plan which = includes Directed Research projects (as part of the fourth course), and = summer projects. Specific research lines/areas this position is = responsible include: gray whales (population status and trends, tourism = impacts), black sea turtles (population status and trends, habitat = requirements and threats), Sea lion colonies (population trends), = indicators of ecosystem health in the bay, biology of selected = commercial species, and water quality of the bay.
    • oversee & advise individual student = Directed Research (DR) projects that arise from this plan, including = projects related specifically to the Packard Foundation grant- water = quality in the water column; evidence of effluent pollution in water, = benthic and sediment samples; monitoring black sea turtle use of the = bay, developing a marine park for black sea turtle and other marine = mammal protection, and community education.
    • ensure the expeditious publication of = research results

Location: Center for Coastal Studies, Puerto San Carlos, = Baja California Sur, Mexico

Reports to: Center Director

Salary & Benefits = Package: US$26,000 and up to = $29,000 depending on experience & qualifications.  Housing and = meals on site; excellent benefits package

Minimum Qualifications:=20

  • Ph.D. in Coastal Ecology; Marine = Mammology, or Marine Ecology
  • Field research experience in marine = mammal population trends and habitat requirements, fisheries ecology = and management, and water quality sampling.
  • University-level, interdisciplinary, = team teaching experience in Coastal Ecology, Marine Mammology, or = Marine Ecology
  • Good track record of research = publications
  • Fluency in both Spanish and = English

    • Preferred = Qualifications:

  • Experience living and working in Baja = California
  • Experience working with other = scientists to fulfil research grant requirements
  • Residential student group management = and risk management experience desirable

    • Other Expectations:

  • Demonstrated ability to work as part of = an interdisciplinary teaching and research team
  • Demonstrated commitment to = environmental issues
  • Willingness to work flexible hours and = live on site at the field station with a small team of permanent staff, = groups of US & Mexican undergraduate students and visiting = programs

    •  
    Duties and = Responsibilities
    Program
         = A.   Teaching

  • As part of an interdisciplinary = teaching team, teach one third of the academic program (minimum 50 = lecture hours per semester)
  • Plan, revise, and effectively deliver a = challenging, problem-based interdisciplinary curriculum
  • Organize lectures and prepare course = materials in a timely and professional manner
  • Adhere to the daily academic = schedule
  • Prepare, administer, and grade = assignments, quizzes, mid-term and final examinations in a timely = manner
  • Maintain records of: lectures, exams, = quizzes, readings, field experiences and homework = assignments
  • Supervise and mentor 10-12 students in = their Directed Research projects
  • Actively support and counsel students = on academic issues

  1. Research
  • Conduct designated research = according to the Center's Five-Year Research Plan
  • Identify appropriate components of the = Center's research suitable for student Directed Research = projects
  • Prepare research results for clients = and partners and/or for publication and conference = presentations
  • Assist in the creation and = implementation of Center research policies, priorities, budgets as = required
  • Implement appropriate data management = and record keeping

        C.      = Administration

  • Participate in planning activities = five days prior to the program start and in review/analysis following = students' departure
  • Participate in training activities for = new center staff prior to and during the program
  • Participate in and lead parts of the = orientation and re-entry components of the program presented to = students at the beginning and end of each program period
  • In cooperation with other Center staff, = provide day-to-day coordination of Interns as delegated by the Center = Director
  • Participate in resolving group = management issues and student discipline problems
  • Participate in preparation of the Final = Reports, Academic Handbook revisions and other required = reports
  • As requested by the Center Director, = assist with other logistical, group management and administrative = tasks

    • Safety & Risk = Management

  • Take responsibility, as an individual = and as a member of the Center faculty/staff team, for the safety of all = program participants
  • Participate in the review and revision = of Center Risk Assessment and Management plans
  • Recommend and review policies and = procedures needed to manage risks
  • Know the emergency procedures plan for = the Center, including evacuation plan
  • Participate in the safety portions of = the on-site orientation and conduct safety briefings for students = and/or staff
  • Complete Incident Reports when = appropriate and contribute to Safety Audits
  • Comply with, actively model, and = enforce all SFS and Center policies and procedures
  • Ensure that first aid certifications = are kept up to date via periodic courses offered by SFS between program = sessions

Daily Center Life

    • Live close to or on -site for the = duration of each program period and take meals with the students =
    • On a rotating basis, take = responsibility for Center-specific "staff of the day" duties =
    • Take part in, and occasionally lead, = Center upkeep projects, social and field activities
    • At the request of the Center Director, = serve as caretaker for Center during program breaks and center = rentals
    • Drive standard transmission vehicles = and boats as needed
    • Adhere to, actively model and enforce = all SFS and Center policies and procedures
    • At all times, work to ensure good = relations between the Center and local community

For more information, please review the = Programs section of this web site.
 
To apply: Send CV and cover letter detailing = qualifications and experience to: Center for Coastal Studies, c/o SFS = Headquarters, Job Reference 1229, 10 Federal Street, Salem, MA 01970, = USA; Fax: 1-978-741-3551; Email: jobs(\)fieldstudies.org. EOE. =

Jessica Lomanno
International Staff = Recruiter
The School for Field Studies
10 Federal = Street
Salem, MA  = 01970
P (978) 741-3567 = x306
F (978) = 741-3551
jlomanno(\)fieldstudies.org
www.fieldstudies.org


------_=_NextPart_001_01C32604.7773D370-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 May 2003 19:52:33 +0200 From: Salva H-P Subject: stock and conservation units references needed ------ Dear listers, I am a Spanish ecologician currently preparing a workshop on the use multivariate methods in aquatic mammal research and conservation which wi= ll be held at the Universidad Javierana in Bogota-Colombia next month, June 2003. At present I am at the last state of the preparation of the workhop= , i.e. the introductory lecture. In this lecture, I would like to integrate the concepts of stock and conservation unit whereby similarities and differences among population members can be assessed statisticallly and u= sed in conservation and management. I am looking for some recent publication addressing the concepts of both stock and conservation unit on aquatic mammals. I have no specific bibliographic resources at hand (the nearest is Barcelona University, 350= km from here) and several trials on the web pages have pointed me to publications which do not provide the kind of detailed information I am after. Although I am aware of the pioneering publication by Donovan (1991= ) I have been unable to obtain the paper from the author. Donovan, G.P., 1991. A review of IWC stock boundaries. Reports of the International Whaling Commission (special issue) 13, 39-68. I would very much appreciate if you could you please suggest some paper f= rom peer-reviewed journals dealing with the latter subject? Many thanks indeed. Salvador Herrando-P=E9rez BSc MPhil in aquatic ecology TROGOLOBIA An association for nature research and conservation ADDRESS C/ Padre Jofre 19, piso 3, pta 7 12006 Castell=F3n de la Plana SPAIN Telephones: (34) 964 038845 / (34) 657 787340 E-mail: salherra(\)ono.com / salherra(\)hotmail.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 May 2003 09:09:12 +0000 From: Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara Subject: Abstract: fin whales in the Mediterranean Sea boundary="------------BAE45854D9B074DB7729A9A8" --------------BAE45854D9B074DB7729A9A8 X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by cascara.uvic.ca id h4U99Gx3719992 Dear friends and colleagues, I want to call your attention to a new paper: Notarbartolo di Sciara G., Zanardelli M., Jahoda M., Panigada S., Airoldi S. 2003. The fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus (L. 1758), in the Mediterranean Sea. Mammal Review 33(2):105-150. Abstract: 1. The ecology and status of fin whales Balaenoptera physalus in the Mediterranean Sea is reviewed. The species' presence, morphology, distribution, movements, population structure, ecology and behaviour in this semi-enclosed marine region are summarized, and the review is complemented with original, previously unpublished data. 2. Although the total size of the fin whale population in the Mediterranean is unknown, an estimate for a portion of the western basin, where most of the whales are known to live, was approximately 3500 individuals. High whale densities, comparable to those found in rich oceanic habitats, were found in well-defined areas of high productivity. Most whales concentrate in the Ligurian-Corsican-Proven=E7a= l Basin, where their presence is particularly noticeable during summer; however, neither their movement patterns throughout the region nor their seasonal cycle are clear. 3. Based on genetic studies, fin whales from the Mediterranean Sea are distinct from North Atlantic conspecifics, and may constitute a resident population, separate from those of the North Atlantic, despite the species' historical presence in the Strait of Gibraltar. Fin whales are known to calve in the Mediterranean, with births peaking in November but occurring at lower rates throughout the year. They feed primarily on krill Meganyctiphanes norvegica which they capture by diving to depths in excess of 470 m. It is suggested that the extensive vertical migratory behaviour of its main prey may have influenced the social ecology of this population. 4. Known causes of mortality and threats, including collisions with vessels, entanglement in fishing gear, deliberate killing, disturbance, pollution and disease, are listed and discussed in view of the implementation of appropriate conservation measures to ensure the species' survival in the region. Please contact me at disciara(\)tin.it with any questions or reprint requests. Regards, Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara Tethys Research Institute viale G.B. Gadio 2, 20124 Milano, ITALY --------------BAE45854D9B074DB7729A9A8 Dear friends and colleagues,

I want to call your attention to a new paper:

Notarbartolo di Sciara G., Zanardelli M., Jahoda M., Panigada S., Airoldi S.  2003.  The fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus (L. 1758), in the Mediterranean Sea.  Mammal Review 33(2):105-150.
 
Abstract:

1. The ecology and status of fin whales Balaenoptera physalus in the Mediterranean Sea is reviewed. The species' presence, morphology, distribution, movements, population structure, ecology and behaviour in this semi-enclosed marine region are summarized, and the review is complemented with original, previously unpublished data.

2. Although the total size of the fin whale population in the Mediterranean is unknown, an estimate for a portion of the western basin, where most of the whales are known to live, was approximately 3500 individuals. High whale densities, comparable to those found in rich oceanic habitats, were found in well-defined areas of high productivity. Most whales concentrate in the Ligurian-Corsican-Provençal Basin, where their presence is particularly noticeable during summer; however, neither their movement patterns throughout the region nor their seasonal cycle are clear.

3. Based on genetic studies, fin whales from the Mediterranean Sea are distinct from North Atlantic conspecifics, and may constitute a resident population, separate from those of the North Atlantic, despite the species' historical presence in the Strait of Gibraltar. Fin whales are known to calve in the Mediterranean, with births peaking in November but occurring at lower rates throughout the year. They feed primarily on krill Meganyctiphanes norvegica which they capture by diving to depths in excess of 470 m. It is suggested that the extensive vertical migratory behaviour of its main prey may have influenced the social ecology of this population.

4. Known causes of mortality and threats, including collisions with vessels, entanglement in fishing gear, deliberate killing, disturbance, pollution and disease, are listed and discussed in view of the implementation of appropriate conservation measures to ensure the species' survival in the region.

Please contact me at disciara(\)tin.it with any questions or reprint requests.

Regards,

Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara
Tethys Research Institute
viale G.B. Gadio 2, 20124 Milano, ITALY
 
  --------------BAE45854D9B074DB7729A9A8-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 14:12:16 -0700 From: "David S. Janiger" Subject: New Articles Hi, all! Here's the latest posting of new PDF's that are available. Abstracts also available on request. All files are under 1 MB. Some people are still replying back to the listserve. Please make all requests to: janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu Cheers David Janiger - Curatorial Assistant (Mammals) Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007 (213) 763-3369 janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu BECK, CARRIE A.; W. DON BOWEN and SARA J. IVERSON. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY 72(2):280-291. 2003. Sex differences in the seasonal patterns of energy storage and expenditure in a phocid seal. BRADSHAW, C. J. A.; R. G. HARCOURT and L. S. DAVIS. BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY 53(5):297-307. 2003. Male-biased sex ratios in New Zealand fur seal pups relative to environmental variation. CHEN, R.; J. D. NEILL and B. V. V. PRASAD. JOURNAL OF STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 141(2):143-148. 2003. Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of San Miguel sea lion virus: An animal calicivirus. CLARKE, M. R. JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM 83(2):241-263. 2003. Production and control of sound by the small sperm whales, Kogia breviceps and K. sima and their implications for other Cetacea. DYKE, A. S. and J. ENGLAND. ARCTIC 56(1):14-20. 2003. Canada's most northerly postglacial bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus): Holocene sea-ice conditions and polynya development. GALIMBERTI, FILIPPO; ANNA FABIANI and LUIGI BOITANI. JOURNAL OF ETHOLOGY 21(2):131-136. 2003. Socio-spatial levels in linearity analysis of dominance hierarchies: a case study on elephant seals. LAWS, R. M.; A. BAIRD and M. M. BRYDEN. JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY (LONDON) 259(1):103-108. 2003. Size and growth of the crabeater seal Lobodon carcinophagus (Mammalia: Carnivora). LIE, E.; A. BERNHOFT; F. RIGET; S. E. BELIKOV; A. N. BOLTUNOV; A. E. DEROCHER; G. W. GARNER; O. WIIG and J. U. SKAARE. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 306(1-3):159-170. 2003. Geographical distribution of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in the Norwegian and Russian Arctic. LUSSEAU, D. JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY 16(3):531-535. 2003. The emergence of cetaceans: phylogenetic analysis of male social behaviour supports the Cetartiodactyla clade. LYONS, E. T.; R. L. DELONG; T. R. SPRAKER; S. R. MELIN and S. C. TOLLIVER. PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH 89(6):503-505. 2003. Observations in 2001 on hookworms (Uncinaria spp.) in otariid pinnipeds. MACKEY, E. A.; R. D. OFLAZ; M. S. EPSTEIN; B. BUEHLER; B. J. PORTER; T. ROWLES; S. A. WISE and P. R. BECKER. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 44(4):523-532. 2003. Elemental composition of liver and kidney tissues of rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis). MACLEOD, C. D.; M. B. SANTOS and G. J. PIERCE. JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM 83(3):651-665. 2003. Review of data on diets of beaked whales: Evidence of niche separation and geographic segregation. MANIRE, C. A.; C. J. WALSH; H. L. RHINEHART; D. E. COLBERT; D. R. NOYES and C. A. LUER. ZOO BIOLOGY 22(2):103-120. 2003. Alterations in blood and urine parameters in two Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) from simulated conditions of release following rehabilitation. MONTEIRO-NETO, C.; R. V. ITAVO and L. E. D. MORAES. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 123(2):319-324. 2003. Concentrations of heavy metals in Sotalia fluviatilis (Cetacea : Delphinidae) off the coast of Ceara, northeast Brazil. MUIR, D.; T. SAVINOVA; V. SAVINOV; L. ALEXEEVA; V. POTELOV and V. SVETOCHEV. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 306(1-3):111-131. 2003. Bioaccumulation of PCBs and chlorinated pesticides in seals, fishes and invertebrates from the White Sea, Russia. ORR, ANTHONY J.; JEFFREY L. LAAKE; MARK I. DHRUV; ADRIA S. BANKS; ROBERT L. DELONG and HARRIET R. HUBER. WILDLIFE SOCIETY BULLETIN 31(1):253-257. 2003. Comparison of processing pinniped scat samples using a washing machine and nested sieves. PALO, J. U.; H. HYVARINEN; E. HELLE; H. S. MAKINEN and R. VAINOLA. CONSERVATION GENETICS 4(2):117-128. 2003. Postglacial loss of microsatellite variation in the landlocked Lake Saimaa ringed seal. PIERCE, G. J. and M. B. SANTOS. JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM 83(3):647-650. 2003. Diet of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in Mull and Skye (Inner Hebrides, western Scotland). ROBERTS, STEPHEN M. JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM 83(3):667-670. 2003. Examination of the stomach contents from a Mediterranean sperm whale found south of Crete, Greece. STICH, K. P.; G. DEHNHARDT and B. MAUCK. BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION 61(2):102-112. 2003. Mental rotation of perspective stimuli in a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). TANABE, S.; S. NIIMI; T. B. MINH; N. MIYAZAKI and E. A. PETROV. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 44(4):533-545. 2003. Temporal trends of persistent organochlorine contamination in Russia: A case study of Baikal and Caspian seal. TWISS, S. D.; C. DUCK and P. P. POMEROY. JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY (LONDON) 259(1):83-91. 2003. Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) pup mortality not explained by local breeding density on North Rona, Scotland. WANG, MING-CHIH; WILLIAM A. WALKER; KWANG-TSAO SHAO and LIEN-SIANG CHOU. ACTA ZOOLOGICA TAIWANICA 13(2):53-62. 2002. Comparative analysis of the diets of pygmy sperm whales and dwarf sperm whales in Taiwanese waters. WOHLSEIN, P.; M. PETERS; F. GEBUREK; F. SEELIGER and M. BOER. JOURNAL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE SERIES A-PHYSIOLOGY PATHOLOGY CLINICAL MEDICINE 50(3):145-150. 2003. Polioencephalomalacia in captive harbour seals (Phoca vitulina). ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 09:54:26 -0400 From: Stine Brown Subject: Marine Mammal Veterinarian Opening (continued search) Search Continued The University of New England (UNE) seeks a Marine Mammal Veterinarian for the Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center located in the new 27,000 sq. ft. Marine Science Education and Research Center. Candidates should have a D.V.M. or equivalent degree, experience working with marine animals, especially phocid seals, and a record of research achievement. The Veterinarian will be responsible for overseeing medical care and well-being of animals in the Marine Science Education and Research Center. The successful candidate will have the research skills to develop an extramurally funded research program and will be appointed to a non-tenure research track within the College of Arts and Sciences. The position is 50% funded, with the expectation that the balance of salary will be from extramural funding. Consideration of applications will begin upon receipt, and continue until the position is filled. Please send curriculum vita, statement of research interests and goals, and three letters of recommendation to: A. Christine Brown, Ph.D., ( sbrown(\)une.edu ) Marine Science Center, University of New England, 11 Hills Beach Rd., Biddeford, ME 04005. Please see our website: http://www.une.edu for additional information. The University of New England is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and strongly encourages the application of candidates of diverse backgrounds. A. Christine Brown, PhD Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Chair, Department of Biological Sciences Director, Marine Science Education and Research Center University of New England 11 Hills Beach Road Biddeford, ME 04005 Phone: (207) 283-0171 x. 2462 Fax: (207) 294-5945 E-mail: sbrown(\)une.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 06:38:39 -0700 From: Jackie Hildering Subject: "Bones Project" Reposting Reposting: Johnstone Strait Killer Whale Interpretive Centre Society "Bones Project" Position: Interpreter Please note that, regretfully, funding sources limit this application to Canadians. See www.killerwhalecentre.org for job description, contact and application details. Application deadline is June 1st, 2003. Jackie Hildering Project Manager bones(\)killerwhalecentre.org ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 May 2003 11:51:32 -0700 From: OBF Research Subject: Whale likely killed by ship FYI. http://www.news-miner.com/Stories/0,1413,113~26794~1422963,00.html# Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Biologist says whale likely killed by ship By Associated Press Thursday, May 29, 2003 - ANCHORAGE A ship probably struck a humpback whale whose carcass was seen floating near the mouth of Yakutat Bay in mid-May, according to a federal biologist who examined the animal. The whale was struck with enough force to sever its skull from its spine, said Michael Payne, head of protected resources with the National Marine Fisheries Service in Juneau. Payne led an examination team after the whale washed ashore near Icy Bay. An exam on Monday by three veterinarians found signs of internal bleeding along the whale's right side, indicating that it had been alive when hit, Payne said. Part of the skull on that side had shattered and the internal organs were disrupted. Humpbacks are an endangered species, protected by federal law. The vets could not directly examine the fatal wound because the rapidly decomposing carcass was lying on its back on the beach. The 47-foot female probably weighed more than 30 tons. The team also was not able to figure out how long the whale had been dead. It was first seen near Point Manby on May 15 or 16 by bush pilot Les Hartley. The carcass drifted northwest on May 17, when it was photographed trailing some debris. It beached on May 18 near the Yahtse River. A pilot landing on the beach by the whale that day reported it was still fresh and didn't smell, Payne told the Anchorage Daily News. It wasn't clear whether the whale could have been hit out in the Gulf of Alaska and drifted ashore or had been hit closer to Yakutat or in the bay. The U.S. Coast Guard doesn't keep track of general vessel traffic in the gulf, a spokeswoman said. "If you hit a whale (in protected waters), you're going to know it," said Dale Collins, president of the Southeast Alaska Pilots' Association, which provides pilots for ships entering certain Alaska waters like Yakutat and Glacier bays. "But it could be a ship hit it offshore and maybe didn't know it hit it because it was in a heavy swell." The only two large vessels known to enter Yakutat Bay during the previous week _ the 866-foot cruise ship Mercury and the Alaska state ferry Kennicott _ did not report hitting any whales. Federal officers probably wouldn't open a formal investigation into the whale's death without more information, Payne said. "From the enforcement perspective, there's not a lot to go on," he said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Anchorage Daily News http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/3199849p-3223770c.html Biologist says whale killed by ship YAKUTAT: Dead humpback had massive trauma to skull, but vessels report no strikes. By DOUG O'HARRA (Published: May 29, 2003) A dead humpback whale seen floating near the mouth of Yakutat Bay in mid-May appears to have been struck by a ship -- with enough force to sever its skull from its spine, according to the federal biologist who led a team to examine the carcass after it washed ashore near Icy Bay. "The skull was not part of the backbone -- it was displaced off to one side," said Michael Payne, head of protected resources with the National Marine Fisheries Service in Juneau. "I'm completely confident that it was a ship strike, and it had to be a tremendous blow." An exam on Monday by three veterinarians found signs of internal bleeding along the whale's right side, indicating that it had been alive when hit, Payne said. Part of the skull on that side had shattered, and the internal organs were disrupted. Humpbacks are an endangered species, protected by federal law. But the vets could not directly examine the fatal wound because the rapidly decomposing carcass was lying on its back on the beach. The 47-foot female probably weighed more than 30 tons. The team also was not able to figure out how long the whale had been dead. It had first been seen near Point Manby on May 15 or 16 by bush pilot Les Hartley. The carcass drifted northwest on May 17, when it was photographed trailing some debris. It beached on May 18 near the Yahtse River. A pilot landing on the beach by the whale that day reported it was still fresh and didn't smell, Payne said. "It probably died within the day or so of when it was first seen." It wasn't clear whether the whale could have been hit out in the Gulf of Alaska and drifted ashore or had been hit closer to Yakutat or in the bay. The U.S. Coast Guard doesn't keep track of general vessel traffic in the gulf, a spokeswoman said. "If you hit a whale (in protected waters), you're going to know it," said Dale Collins, president of the Southeast Alaska Pilots' Association, which provides pilots for ships entering certain Alaska waters like Yakutat and Glacier bays. "But it could be a ship hit it offshore and maybe didn't know it hit it because it was in a heavy swell." The only two large vessels known to enter Yakutat Bay during the previous week -- the 866-foot cruise ship Mercury and the Alaska state ferry Kennicott -- did not report hitting any whales. Celebrity Cruises' 77,700-ton Mercury took a round trip to the Hubbard Glacier on May 14 with an Alaska marine pilot on the bridge, lookouts on duty and hundreds of its 1,870 guests viewing the scene, said Bill Wright, captain of ships and senior vice president for safety and environment, in a phone interview from Miami. The ship's officers would have immediately reported hitting a whale. "I'm confident saying there has been no strike," Wright said. "What theoretically could have happened is that it swam inadvertently into the propeller of the vessel. That's something that could have happened that might not have been noticed on board." The Kennicott docked at Yakutat early May 14 and continued a trip toward Prince William Sound, said Capt. Jack Meyers, Alaska Marine Highway system operations manager. "We have no report that they bumped any whales," he said. "It's possible that a ship could do that and not notice it, depending the seas and so forth. But it would be highly unusual." Bert Adams, the environmental director of the Yakutat Tlingit Tribe, said locals and elders have been more worried about cruise ships disturbing and driving away harbor seals in Disenchantment Bay than about whales getting struck or killed. "If they hit it and didn't know, well, accidents happen," he said. "But I think it's upsetting if in fact a cruise ship hit the whale and didn't report it." Federal officers probably wouldn't open a formal investigation into the whale's death without more information, Payne said. "From the enforcement perspective, there's not a lot to go on." Daily News reporter Doug O'Harra can be reached at do'harra(\)adn.com. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2003 12:35:57 -0400 From: LINDA HAYDEN Subject: Director of Research Faculty Position x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" ------ Director of Research for the Center of Excellence in Remote Sensing Education and Research Elizabeth City State University seeks an outstanding researcher with substantial publications record to serve as Director of Research for the Center of Excellence in Remote Sensing Education and Research. The Director of Research will guide the development of the scientific program of ECSU=92s Center of Excellence in Remote Sensing Education and Research. The Director is expected to conduct his/her own research and to design and implement a strategy that will make the Center a regional hub for the use of satellite imagery in environmental studies. Successful candidate will be expected to develop a vigorous, externally funded research program that encompasses marine, coastal, and environmental sciences. Preference will be given to the candidate who can interact across disciplines and lead the development of research themes which are highly visible among appropriate research funding institutions, and which are designed around the new Center of Excellence in Remote Sensing Education and Research. Themes may include marine science, fisheries, coastal habitats, estuaries, flood plain studies, and marine mammals. INFORMATION ON THE POSITION AND CERSER CAN BE FOUND AT http://cerser.ecsu.edu./ ************************************************ Dr. Linda Bailey Hayden, PI NASA Network Resources and Training Site ONR - Center of Excellence in Remote Sensing Education and Research Elizabeth City State University Box 672 1704 Weeksville Road Elizabeth City, NC 27909 252/335-3696 voice 252/335-3790 fax lhayden(\)umfort.cs.ecsu.edu http://nia.ecsu.edu ************************************************ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 May 2003 09:03:04 -0700 From: Annelise Sorg Subject: Canadian whaling on IWC agenda boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0073_01C3242E.C86A2180" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0073_01C3242E.C86A2180 charset="iso-8859-1" ANNOUNCEMENT 26 May 2003 Canadian whaling on IWC agenda In August 2002, only a few months after the International Whaling = Commission held its annual meeting in Japan, a female bowhead whale was = shot dead in Canada in an area where only females and nursing calves are = found during the summer. When IWC commissioners meet this year in Berlin (June 16-20), the IWC = Scientific Committee will report that another bowhead from a highly = endangered population was killed in Canada without the approval of the = IWC. Although a founding member, Canada renounced its membership to the = IWC in 1982 when the global moratorium on whaling was announced. No doubt that IWC commissioners will consider adopting yet another = resolution urging the Canadian government to stop issuing whaling = permits and to re-join the IWC if Canadians plan to continue killing = bowhead whales. =20 New Report on Canadian Whaling The Canadian Marine Environment Protection Society plans to distribute = copies of the following report at the IWC meetings in Berlin: Canada's Bowhead Hunt: In the Whales Best Interest? =20 www.whaleprotection.org/cmeps/report2002 A report on the federal and territorial governments' case for hunting = bowhead whales; its importance to Canadian Inuit health and culture; and = the argument that a properly managed hunt will lead to better = conservation measures than would a moratorium on the hunt. Prepared for the Canadian Marine Environment Protection Society by James = Hrynyshyn and Annelise Sorg Annelise Sorg, Executive Director Canadian Marine Environment Protection Society Box 461 - 1755 Robson Street Vancouver, BC V6G 3B7 Canada Tel (604) 736-9514 E-mail cmeps(\)whaleprotection.org www.whaleprotection.org/cmeps ------=_NextPart_000_0073_01C3242E.C86A2180 charset="iso-8859-1"

As part of my thesis I am writing a paper on the ecology of marine = tucuxi and=20 bottlenose dolphins. Although having a sympatric distribution on a large = scale,=20 rarely these species interact. Such interactions were only recorded in = Ba=EDa de=20 Guanabara (22=BA45’S, 43=BA10’W), southeastern Brazil = (Andrade et al. 1987),=20 Ba=EDa de Guaratuba (25=BA51’S, 48=BA40’W), southern Brazil = (Monteiro-Filho et=20 al. 1999), both considered feeding associations, as well as in Costa = Rica=20 (9=BA37’N, 82=BA37’W), in apparent sexual interactions with = potential mating=20 (Forrestel et al. (1999).

Because of publication guidelines/instructions to the publication the = paper=20 is being submitted, I am seeking only papers published in peer-reviewed=20 journals, technical or contract reports with contact person and address, = academic thesis/dissertations as well as book chapters – thus = avoiding=20 conferences abstracts and so on.

From the above records, the Costa Rican was only presented and to my = best=20 knowledge remains as an abstract. I have been unable to contact Dr. Paul = Forretel at pforestell(\)southampton.liunet.edu and check on the status of the presentation in Maui – = has it been=20 published or written as a technical or contract report

Thus I would like to know if someone could provide Dr. Forrestel = contact and=20 would inform on other such records and describe in detail the = interaction(s)=20 performed providing the references. I am willing to provide to the list = a=20 summary of responses.

Thanks in advance,

____________________
Paulo A.C. Flores, B.Sc.
Ph.D. candidate, = PUCRS -=20 Scientific Director, IWC Brasil
P.O. Box 5087, Florian=F3polis, SC=20 88040-970
BRASIL

tel (48) 91041793 / 3350224 ext. 21    fax/tel = (48) =20 3350224
flores.p(\)terra.com.br

Andrade, L., Sicialiano, S. and Capistrano, L. 1987. Movimentos e = atividades=20 do boto Sotalia guianensis (Cetacea, Delphinidae) na Ba=EDa de = Guanabara, Rio de=20 Janeiro. pp. 71-74 in Anais da 2a Reuni=E3o de = Trabalho de=20 Especialistas em Mam=EDferos Aqu=E1ticos da Am=E9rica do Sul, Rio de = Janeiro, Brasil,=20 Funda=E7=E3o Brasileira para a Conserva=E7=E3o da Natureza.

Forrestel, P., A. Wright, A. DiBernardis, S. Larkin and V. Schott. = 1999. Sex=20 and the single tucuxi: mating between bottlenose and tucuxi dolphins in = Costa=20 Rica. Abstracts of the 13th Biennial Conference on the = Bioligy of=20 Marine Mammals, Wailea, Hawaii, Nov 28-Dec3 1999. p. 59.

Monteiro-Filho, E.L.A., C.A. Bonin and M. Rautenberg. 1999. = Intera=E7=F5es=20 interespec=EDficas dos mam=EDferos marinhos na regi=E3o da Ba=EDa de = Guaratuba, litoral=20 sul do estado do Paran=E1. Biotemas 12: = 119-132.

ANNOUNCEMENT 26 May 2003
 
Canadian whaling = on IWC=20 agenda
 
In August 2002, only a few months=20 after the International Whaling Commission held its annual=20 meeting in Japan, a female bowhead whale was shot=20 dead in Canada in an area where only = females and=20 nursing calves are found during the summer.
 
When IWC commissioners meet = this=20 year in Berlin (June 16-20), the IWC Scientific Committee will = report that another bowhead from a highly endangered = population was killed in Canada without the approval of the IWC.=20 Although a founding member, Canada renounced its membership to the = IWC in=20 1982 when the global moratorium on whaling was announced.
 
No doubt that IWC = commissioners will consider=20 adopting yet another resolution urging the Canadian government to = stop=20 issuing whaling permits and to re-join the IWC if Canadians plan to = continue killing bowhead whales. 
 
New Report on Canadian Whaling
 
The = Canadian Marine=20 Environment Protection Society plans to distribute copies of the = following=20 report at the IWC meetings in Berlin:
 
Canada's=20 Bowhead Hunt: In the Whales Best Interest? =20
www.whaleprotect= ion.org/cmeps/report2002
A report = on the federal=20 and territorial governments' case for hunting bowhead whales; its = importance to=20 Canadian Inuit health and culture; and the argument that a properly = managed hunt=20 will lead to better conservation measures than would a moratorium on the = hunt.
Prepared = for the=20 Canadian Marine Environment Protection Society by James = Hrynyshyn and Annelise Sorg
 
Annelise Sorg, Executive Director
Canadian Marine Environment Protection = Society
Box 461 - 1755 Robson Street
Vancouver, BC V6G 3B7 Canada
Tel (604) 736-9514
 
------=_NextPart_000_0073_01C3242E.C86A2180-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2003 14:22:36 -0400 From: Simona Sanvito Subject: Elephant seals vocal tract In-Reply-To: <200306021634.h52GYHSv069814(\)unix6.uvic.ca> boundary="============_-1157544338==_ma============" --============_-1157544338==_ma============ ; format="flowed" Dear list members, I'm a PhD student in biology, studying southern elephant seal males vocalizations. I'm trying to gather information on elephant seals (and seals in general) anatomy of the vocal tract (both oral and nasal), but from a literature search it seems not to be many information about that. The only specific paper I'm awared of, is: Clifford, A. B., and L. M. Witmer. 2001. The narial anatomy of hooded seals (Cystophora cristata) with respect to other Carnivora. American Zoologist 40(6):976. If anybody knows of papers or any other resources where I can get this kind of information, I'd really appreciate to receive any hint. In particular I have a reference of a paper that I'm having difficulties to actually get: Dong, J., G. Wang and Z. Xiao (1993). Morphological anatomy and measure of larynx of the southern elephant seal. Mar. Sci./Haiyang Kexue 3(3): 48-51. if anybody has a copy, I'd really appreciate to receive one. Please reply to me at d87ss(\)mun.ca Thanks in advance Simona --============_-1157544338==_ma============ Elephant seals vocal tract
Dear list members,
I'm a PhD student in biology, studying southern elephant seal males vocalizations.
I'm trying to gather information on elephant seals (and seals in general) anatomy of the vocal tract (both oral and nasal), but from a literature search it seems not to be many information about that. The only specific paper I'm awared of, is:

Clifford, A. B., and L. M. Witmer.  2001. The narial anatomy of hooded seals (Cystophora cristata) with respect to other Carnivora.   American Zoologist 40(6):976.

If anybody knows of papers or any other resources where I can get this kind of information, I'd really appreciate to receive any hint.
In particular I have a reference of a paper that I'm having difficulties to actually get:

Dong, J., G. Wang and Z. Xiao (1993). Morphological anatomy and measure of larynx of the southern elephant seal. Mar. Sci./Haiyang Kexue 3(3): 48-51.

if anybody has a copy, I'd really appreciate to receive one.

Please reply to me at d87ss(\)mun.ca

Thanks in advance

Simona
--============_-1157544338==_ma============-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 15:09:27 +0200 From: Erland Lettevall Subject: dissertation boundary="=====================_18066141==_.ALT" --=====================_18066141==_.ALT Dissertation at G=F6teborg University Faculty of Science 2003: ABUNDANCE, ASSOCIATION AND MOVEMENT WITHIN DISCRETE POPULATIONS OF SPERM=20 WHALES, PHYSETER MACROCEPHALUS Erland Lettevall 2003 Department of Marine Ecology, G=F6teborg University, Kristineberg Marine=20 Research Station, SE-450 34 Fiskeb=E4ckskil, Sweden. E-mail:=20 erland.lettevall(\)kmf.gu.se Academic Ph. D. thesis in marine ecology of Faculty of Science, G=F6teborg= =20 University, will be officially defended Friday 6 June 2003, 10.00 a.m. at=20 Kristineberg Marine Research Station, Fiskeb=E4ckskil. Faculty opponent is= =20 Dr. Christina Lockyer, Age Dynamics, Denmark. ABSTRACT The sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus has a complex social system in which= =20 females form closely related social groups, living in a fission-fusion=20 society with temporary associations between permanent social units. Groups= =20 of females and calves are found in lower latitudes, while males leave their= =20 natal group and disperse to higher latitudes. This thesis examines social=20 structure and movement, and how these relate to population distribution=20 over space and in time. Major results are based on length estimations and=20 individual photo-identifications collected in both higher and lower= latitudes. Over a period of 12 years, the social life of adult females and immature=20 groups was investigated in the eastern tropical Pacific, particularly=20 around the Gal=E1pagos Islands. An individual has on average 11 constant=20 companions, although unit membership was not perfectly stable and changes=20 were observed. Social units also formed larger groupings in variable and=20 non-seasonal temporal patterns, such that certain social units were more=20 likely to move together. The reproduction of sperm whales is known to be seasonal with a peak=20 separated by about six months between the northern and southern=20 hemispheres, but seasonality has been considered to be indistinct in=20 equatorial waters. During a one-year study off the Gal=E1pagos Islands,=20 higher proportions of infants were found during June-August and=20 December-February than during periods in between, indicating the validity=20 of seasonal reproduction with two peaks in equatorial waters as well.=20 However, males did not show a clear seasonal pattern. Aggregations and social structures of non-breeding males were investigated= =20 at typical feeding sites off Norway, Nova Scotia, New Zealand and the=20 Gal=E1pagos Islands. The results revealed temporal associations but no=20 indications of long-lasting relationships between males. Nevertheless,=20 close clusters of individuals were seen occasionally, though these rarely=20 rejoined after splitting. In addition a few observations of pairs of whales= =20 swimming in a co-ordinated fashion for a few hours at a time suggest that=20 social relationships might exist between adult males at some level. A more detailed analysis of Bleiksdjupet canyon, Norway, showed a=20 population with a mean body length of 15.0 m. Individuals of similar body=20 length were associated more often with each other, which indicates at least= =20 a weak social relationship between males. At any one time 16-18 individuals= =20 were in the area, where they stayed for a few weeks, and then left. In a=20 month about 2/3 of the population was exchanged at Bleiksdjupet. This=20 illustrates the presence of =91transients=92 who briefly pass through and=20 =91seasonal residents=92 who spend months at a time in the area. The annual= =20 population size varied over the 15 years of the investigation but with no=20 trend observed. In an average year the population in Bleikdjupet canyon=20 consisted of about 100 individuals of which roughly 33% emigrated to the=20 larger surrounding population of about 400 individuals. In the area, the=20 whales moved within a discrete range of about 10 km, i.e., roughly the=20 distance across the canyon. This thesis emphasises the importance of=20 dynamic relationships over different scales of both space and time in the=20 understanding of behaviour and population ecology within discrete sperm=20 whale populations. Key words: Cetacea, displacement, mark-recapture, photo-identification,=20 population size, reproductive season, social structure, spatial scale,=20 temporal scale G=F6teborg University 2003 ISBN 91-628-5736-3 --=====================_18066141==_.ALT Dissertation at G=F6teborg University Faculty of Science 2003:

ABUNDANCE, ASSOCIATION AND MOVEMENT WITHIN DISCRETE POPULATIONS OF SPERM WHALES, PHYSETER MACROCEPHALUS

Erland Lettevall 2003
Department of Marine Ecology, G=F6teborg University, Kristineberg Marine Research Station, SE-450 34 Fiskeb=E4ckskil, Sweden. E-mail: erland.lettevall(\)kmf.gu.se

Academic Ph. D. thesis in marine ecology of Faculty of Science, G=F6teborg University, will be officially defended Friday 6 June 2003, 10.00 a.m. at Kristineberg Marine Research Station, Fiskeb=E4ckskil. Faculty opponent is Dr. Christina Lockyer, Age Dynamics, Denmark.


ABSTRACT
The sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus has a complex social system in which females form closely related social groups, living in a fission-fusion society with temporary associations between permanent social units. Groups of females and calves are found in lower latitudes, while males leave their natal group and disperse to higher latitudes. This thesis examines social structure and movement, and how these relate to population distribution over space and in time. Major results are based on length estimations and individual photo-identifications collected in both higher and lower latitudes.

Over a period of 12 years, the social life of adult females and immature groups was investigated in the eastern tropical Pacific, particularly around the Gal=E1pagos Islands. An individual has on average 11 constant companions, although unit membership was not perfectly stable and changes were observed. Social units also formed larger groupings in variable and non-seasonal temporal patterns, such that certain social units were more likely to move together.

The reproduction of sperm whales is known to be seasonal with a peak separated by about six months between the northern and southern hemispheres, but seasonality has been considered to be indistinct in equatorial waters. During a one-year study off the Gal=E1pagos Islands, higher proportions of infants were found during June-August and December-February than during periods in between, indicating the validity of seasonal reproduction with two peaks in equatorial waters as well. However, males did not show a clear seasonal pattern.

Aggregations and social structures of non-breeding males were investigated at typical feeding sites off Norway, Nova Scotia, New Zealand and the Gal=E1pagos Islands. The results revealed temporal associations but no indications of long-lasting relationships between males. Nevertheless, close clusters of individuals were seen occasionally, though these rarely rejoined after splitting. In addition a few observations of pairs of whales swimming in a co-ordinated fashion for a few hours at a time suggest that social relationships might exist between adult males at some level.

A more detailed analysis of Bleiksdjupet canyon, Norway, showed a population with a mean body length of 15.0 m. Individuals of similar body length were associated more often with each other, which indicates at least a weak social relationship between males. At any one time 16-18 individuals were in the area, where they stayed for a few weeks, and then left. In a month about 2/3 of the population was exchanged at Bleiksdjupet. This illustrates the presence of =91transients=92 who briefly pass through and =91seasonal residents=92 who spend months at a time in the area. The annual population size varied over the 15 years of the investigation but with no trend observed. In an average year the population in Bleikdjupet canyon consisted of about 100 individuals of which roughly 33% emigrated to the larger surrounding population of about 400 individuals. In the area, the whales moved within a discrete range of about 10 km, i.e., roughly the distance across the canyon. This thesis emphasises the importance of dynamic relationships over different scales of both space and time in the understanding of behaviour and population ecology within discrete sperm whale populations.


Key words: Cetacea, displacement, mark-recapture, photo-identification, population size, reproductive season, social structure, spatial scale, temporal scale

G=F6teborg University 2003
ISBN 91-628-5736-3
 --=====================_18066141==_.ALT-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2003 17:19:42 -0000 From: Monica Silva Subject: two recent publications This is a multipart message in MIME format. --=_alternative 0061768681256D3A_= Dear all The following papers have recently been published: Silva, M.A. & Sequeira, M. 2003. Patterns in the mortality of common=20 dolphins (Delphinus delphis) on the Portuguese coast, using stranding recor= ds, 1975-1998. Aquatic=20 Mammals, 29 (1): 77-83. Abstract Spatial and temporal patterns of distribution of common dolphins (Delphinus= delphis) off the Portuguese continental coast were examined using a strand= ing=20 database, for the period 1975 to 1998. Information on sex and size=20 composition of the strandings and by-catch events was analyzed to=20 elucidate the social organization of this species. Studies were based on=20 294 stranded specimens and 124 confirmed by-catches. The annual number of=20 dolphins stranded increased during the study period, probably as a result=20 of a higher observer effort. Stranding records suggested that common=20 dolphins are present off the Portuguese coast in all seasons and months of = the year and occur in all the regions. However, geographic distribution of = mortality was not homogeneous- larger numbers of strandings were recorded=20 in the northern and central areas of the country. Three factors may be=20 responsible for this pattern: differences in the distribution and/or=20 abundance of the species, oceanographic conditions, and/or topographic=20 features of each area. Significant differences were found in the number of = strandings per season, with 37% occurring in the spring and 33% in the=20 winter months, which may be a consequence of the severe weather conditions = at this time of the year. Sex ratio of the stranding and by-catch records=20 was significantly biased towards males in all geographic areas and=20 seasons. Similarly, a significantly higher proportion of immature=20 individuals was found both in the stranding and by-catch datasets. These=20 results could suggest either the existence of differential mortality by=20 sex and maturity, or the occurrence of age and sex segregation in the=20 population. Stranding data also suggest that fishery interactions could be = responsible for up to 44% of mortalities for this population.=20 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - = - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -=20 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Silva, M.A.; Prieto, R.; Magalh=E3es, S.; Cabecinhas, R.; Cruz, A.;=20 Gon=E7alves, J.M. & Santos, R.S. 2003. Occurrence and distribution of=20 cetaceans in the waters around the Azores (Portugal), Summer and Autumn=20 1999-2000. Aquatic Mammals, 29 (1): 88-98. Abstract Boat-based surveys were conducted during the summer and autumn months of=20 1999 and 2000 around the islands of the Archipelago of the Azores to=20 determine occurrence, distribution, and relative abundance of cetaceans. A = total of 222 cetacean schools, corresponding to 11 species, were sighted=20 over the two years. Cetaceans were widely distributed in the area=20 surveyed, but the central group of islands recorded the highest relative=20 abundance of cetaceans and the greater species diversity. Within each=20 group of islands, cetaceans were more abundant in the coastal area (to 9=20 km from shore) than in the offshore area (9 to 28 km). Atlantic spotted=20 dolphins (Stenella frontalis), short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus=20 delphis) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) were the most=20 frequently sighted species and were found in all the islands surveyed.=20 Although there was considerable overlap in spatial distribution between=20 these species, common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins occurred in coastal = areas, while Atlantic spotted dolphins were more common in offshore and=20 deeper waters.=20 A limited number of reprints are available upon request to: monica(\)notes.ho= rta.uac.pt Kind regards, M=F3nica Monica Almeida e Silva =5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F= =5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F Department of Oceanography and Fisheries University of Azores PT 9901-862 Horta - A=E7ores PORTUGAL Phone: +351 292 200400 Fax: +351 292 200411 E-mail: monica(\)notes.horta.uac.pt http://www.horta.uac.pt http://www.horta.uac.pt/projectos/cetamarh/ =5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F= =5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F --=_alternative 0061768681256D3A_=
Dear all

The following papers have recently b= een published:

Silva, M.A. & Sequeira, M. 2003.= Patterns in the mortality of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) on the Portuguese coast, using stranding records, 1975-1998. = Aquatic Mammals, 29 (1): 77-83.

Abstract
Spatial and temporal patterns o= f distribution of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) off the Portug= uese continental coast were examined using a stranding database, for the pe= riod 1975 to 1998. Information on sex and size composition of the stranding= s and by-catch events was analyzed to elucidate the social organization of = this species.  Studies were based on 294 stranded specimens and 124 co= nfirmed by-catches. The annual number of dolphins stranded increased during= the study period, probably as a result of a higher observer effort. Strand= ing records suggested that common dolphins are present off the Portuguese c= oast in all seasons and months of the year and occur in all the regions. Ho= wever, geographic distribution of mortality was not homogeneous- larger num= bers of strandings were recorded in the northern and central areas of the c= ountry. Three factors may be responsible for this pattern: differences in t= he distribution and/or abundance of the species, oceanographic conditions, = and/or topographic features of each area. Significant differences were foun= d in the number of strandings per season, with 37% occurring in the spring = and 33% in the winter months, which may be a consequence of the severe weat= her conditions at this time of the year. Sex ratio of the stranding and by-= catch records was significantly biased towards males in all geographic area= s and seasons. Similarly, a significantly higher proportion of immature ind= ividuals was found both in the stranding and by-catch datasets. These resul= ts could suggest either the existence of differential mortality by sex and = maturity, or the occurrence of age and sex segregation in the population. S= tranding data also suggest that fishery interactions could be responsible f= or up to 44% of mortalities for this population.

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

Silva, M.A.; Prieto, R.; Magalh=E3es= , S.; Cabecinhas, R.; Cruz, A.; Gon=E7alves, J.M. & Santos, R.S. 2003. = Occurrence and distribution of cetaceans in the waters around the Azores (P= ortugal), Summer and Autumn 1999-2000. Aquatic Mammals, 29 (1): 88-98.

Abstract
Boat-based surveys were conduct= ed during the summer and autumn months of 1999 and 2000 around the islands = of the Archipelago of the Azores to determine occurrence, distribution, and= relative abundance of cetaceans. A total of 222 cetacean schools, correspo= nding to 11 species, were sighted over the two years. Cetaceans were widely= distributed in the area surveyed, but the central group of islands recorde= d the highest relative abundance of cetaceans and the greater species diver= sity. Within each group of islands, cetaceans were more abundant in the coa= stal area (to 9 km from shore) than in the offshore area (9 to 28 km). Atla= ntic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis), short-beaked common dolphins (D= elphinus delphis) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) were the mos= t frequently sighted species and were found in all the islands surveyed. Al= though there was considerable overlap in spatial distribution between these= species, common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins occurred in coastal areas= , while Atlantic spotted dolphins were more common in offshore and deeper w= aters.


A limited number of reprints are av= ailable upon request to: monica(\)n= otes.horta.uac.pt

Kind regards,
M=F3nica

Monica Almeida e Silva
=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F= =5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F
Department of Oceanography and Fisheries
University of Azores
PT 9901-862 Horta - A=E7ores
PORTUGAL

Phone: +351 292 200400
Fax: +351 292 200411
E-mail: monica(\)notes.horta.uac.pt
http://www.horta.uac.pt
http://www.horta.uac.pt/projectos/cetamarh/
=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F= =5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F --=_alternative 0061768681256D3A_=-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2003 12:24:10 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Employment, Summer Technician/Intern Great Whales (fwd) From: Chuck Schom Surge Inc, in cooperation with the St. Andrews Fisheries Research Laboratory, is offering a 10 week, paid, Internship for a person who was a student in the spring of 2003 and intends returning to school/college/university in the fall of 2003. This position is available to all students but might most easily be accessed by a Canadian or American resident. It will end August 30th. The student must arrange their own transportation to the site, some assistance with accommodation may be possible. The project is a collaboration headed by Dr. Charles Schom, Surge Inc/St. Andrews Fisheries Research Laboratory, in partnership with Dr. Maryhelen Stevenson, Associate Professor Electrical and Computer Engineering focusing on sound pattern recognition, and Dr. Peter Dare, Associate Professor and Head Department of Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering focusing on positioning and interpreting whale behavior on the surface. Both Professors are members of Faculty at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton New Brunswick, Canada. The University=92s Web URL is =93http://www.unb.ca/=94. The Research Scientists have multiple publications in related areas. To date, one Undergraduate Engineering Research Project on sound pattern recognition has been completed (this student worked as an paid Intern last year and is now pursuing a Masters Degree), an Engineering Masters Thesis on pattern Recognition is nearing completion, and one work has been published/presented at the 2001 European Cetacean Society meeting, two others are in preparation. The Research project, located in the South West Corner of the Bay of Fundy off the coast of the Canadian Province of New Brunswick and the American State of Maine, started in 1999, focuses on the Finback Whale with data collected on Humpback, Minke and Right Whales as the opportunity presents itself. The focus of the Research, itself, is interpreting surface behavior. To do this the following information is being collected in the field for analysis and correlation after the field season ends. Sequential photographs are taken of whales as they move through a blow and dive. The surface sounds, primarily the blow are recorded. The whales physical position is located using a combination of GPS and Laser Range Finder/Bearing Compass. A detailed set of electronic data are collected on what is in the water column. The Intern will be responsible for using, in the field, one or more sets of field equipment and collecting one or maybe two of the sets of data. Which ones will depend somewhat on the individuals natural aptitudes, i.e. whether or not they have a natural ability as a photographer, have experience aiming and shooting with electronic equipment, have computer programing skills which they can apply to improve the efficiency with which the data is collected, etc.. All work will require down loading and manipulating data in the laboratory. Further and in addition as space surplus to the Research is sold to people who wish to accompany us, the Intern will have to tell the patrons/passengers/untrained assistance about the area and what we are attempting to do. The Intern will be instructed as to what is unique and interesting about the local ecosystem, thus learn a great deal about this unique and very significant bread basket of the East Coast. It should be noted that the person needs to be reasonably fit with some agility and definitely not afraid of being in a moderately small boat moving at speed through seas which sometimes range up to or more then 6 feet. For more detail please visit the Web Site "www.whale-watch-east.com". -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2003 21:52:51 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MARMAM Monthly Editorial Policy and FAQ ==================================================== MARMAM Editorial Policy & 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. 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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. Posting of messages to the list is done at the Editors' discretion. ________________________________________________________ >> 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 announcements - internship/volunteer opportunities. 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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. What notices from regional groups are posted? Submissions from regional groups (for example, but not restricted to, the regional chapters of the American Cetacean Society or the regional student chapters of professional associations such as the Society for Marine Mammalogy) should carefully consider whether their announcements are relevant to 4,000+ recipients in 72 countries. Announcements about meetings of short duration (less that half a day) and with little or no scientifc content are discouraged. Notices dealing with internal chapter businesses or organizational matters will not be posted. Notices from regional student chapters 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). ________________________________________________________ 13. 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: http://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/ Oceans Blue Whalewatch Listserv: http://www.oceansblue.org/bluetourism/chartacourse/ BajaToBering/index.html ______________________________________________________ 14. 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) ________________________________________________________ 15. 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, 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 July 2002 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2003 03:37:55 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Apologies for mistake in reference list (fwd) From: "Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre" About two weeks ago, the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre (CBMWC) posted a call for volunteers to assist in work related to bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises in Wales. At the end of the message, we added a list of literature produced in connection with the CBMWC. I extracted those references from a word document and the following report was included by accident: "Grellier, K., Arnold, H., Thompson, P., Wilson, B., and Curran, S. 1995. Management Recommendations for the Cardigan Bay Bottlenose Dolphin Population. CCW Contract Science Report 134" This work was not done in connection with our centre and I apologize if we appeared to be taking credit for studies carried out by other organizations. All best Fernando Ugarte Scientific Officer Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2003 11:25:21 -0700 From: Robt J Wilson Subject: International Polar Bear Husbandry Conference Polar Bears International in association with the American Zoological Association's Bear Taxon Advisory Group will be hosting the International Polar Bear husbandry Conference on February 4-7 in San Diego California. The conference will bring together many of the most experience and knowledgeable bear professionals in the world, including noted scientists, veterinarians, zookeepers, and naturalists representing a broad spectrum of institutions. The conference will focus on the areas of natural history, conservation, habitat, captive population management, diet veterinary care, public and keeper education issues, behavioral problems, training, polar bear exhibit design, ongoing research among wild and captive populations, and life-enrichment opportunities. For further information and online registration log on to: http://www.polarbearsinternational.org Robert J. Wilson Chair, Board of Directors Polar Bears International wilsonrj(\)pacbell.net ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2003 19:22:42 -0400 From: #MBEARZI Subject: Dissertation at University of California, Los Angeles ------ Dissertation at University of California, Los Angeles, 2003: Behavioral Ecology of the Marine Mammals of Santa Monica Bay, California Maddalena Bearzi, Department of Organismic Biology, Ecology and Evolution= , University of California, Los Angeles ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION The Southern California Bight has one of the most diverse and abundant marine mammals populations in the world. Baleen whales, toothed whales an= d different species of pinnipeds inhabit this area either as seasonal visitors, migrants or residents. Within the Bight, Santa Monica Bay represents a region with unique topographic and oceanographic features which affect the ecology of the three resident species of dolphins (commo= n bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis, and long-beaked common dolphins Delphinus capensis). Boat-based surveys were conducted from January 1997 to December 2001. Behavioral data collected ad libitum in 1996 provided a framework of information to design the sampling procedures systematically adopted from January 1997. Data recorded with laptop computers included: species and number of animals, size class, group formation, surfacing mode, direction= al behavior, behavioral states, boat disturbance, and association between species. Dolphin photo-identification was performed during all four seaso= ns in 1997-2001 and videos were recorded to investigate the animal behavior = a posteriori. This dissertation describes 1) occurrence, seasonality, spati= al distribution, sympatry, and habitat partitioning of different cetacean species in relation to the environmental features of the bay; 2) social ecology of the most regularly observed species, 3) changes in the distribution, seasonality, relative abundance and species composition of marine mammals before, during, and after the strong 1997-1998 El Ni=F1o e= vent and following La Ni=F1a, 4) aggregations between dolphins and sea lions a= nd their respective or combined foraging behavior. Additionally, this work offers a final general review on dolphin sympatric ecology.=20 For additional Information: Maddalena Bearzi, Ph.D. e-mail: mbearzi(\)compuserve.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2003 03:32:42 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Job Posting at Monterey Bay Aquarium (fwd) From: "Andrew Johnson" POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT The Monterey Bay Aquarium has an opening for an Aquarist in our Sea Otter Research and Conservation program. This full-time position offers a complete benefits package. Position Summary: The purpose of this position is to provide husbandry care for live-stranded or injured sea otters, to maintain sea otter living areas, to prepare food, to train and supervise Assistant Aquarists and volunteers in proper sea otter husbandry and rehabilitation techniques, and to undertake related sea otter program support activities. Duties also include participating in post-release tracking and monitoring of rehabilitated sea otters, participating in research projects, interpreting program activities to the public, and undertaking data entry and analysis for the Sea Otter Research and Conservation (SORAC) program. The deadline for submission is June 27, 2003. Qualifications/Skills: * A bachelor's degree in the biological sciences. * Minimum of three years work experience with marine mammals in a rehabilitation or zoological setting. * Knowledge of marine mammal natural history, behavior, and conservation issues. * SCUBA certification and strong swimming skills. * Knowledge of personal computers and computer software applications: MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint and MS Access. * Familiarity with small boat handling procedures * Possession of a valid California's driver's license and an insurable driving record. Please submit a cover letter and resume to: Monterey Bay Aquarium Attn: Human Resources 886 Cannery Row Monterey, CA 93940 Jobs(\)mbayaq.org EOE/Committed to Diversity -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2003 12:49:59 -0700 From: Ellen Hines Subject: Call for Abstracts SMM Conference: GIS and Remote Sensing for Marine Mammal Scientists Comments: To: asianmarinemam(\)sfsu.edu, SEA-GIS(\)LISTSERV.HEANET.IE ------ Call for Abstracts: GIS and Remote Sensing for Marine Mammal Scientists Deadline: June 21st Contact for information: Ellen Hines, ehines(\)sfsu.edu During the past 2 Society for Marine Mammology conferences, we have held=20 workshops for those interested in using these specific technologies in=20 marine mammal science. This year, in the interest of general=20 accessibility, we are striving to have a sufficient number of reviewed=20 abstracts accepted to comprise one of the concurrent sessions within the=20 Biennial. Please follow all conference guidelines in formulating your=20 abstract because each abstract will undergo review as part of the regular= =20 abstract review process. Then an effort will be made to group accepted=20 abstracts into this session. Each concurrent session will have eight=20 presentations. Abstracts are due June 21, 2003, and must be submitted=20 online through the Society for Marine Mammalogy=92s website=20 [www.marinemammalogy.org]. Please send me a copy of the abstract as well. There is potential for using geographic technologies in marine mammal=20 research that is increasingly being tapped by marine mammal scientists. F= or=20 a realistic assessment of the populations and trends necessary for marine= =20 mammal conservation, we need to study the relationships between marine=20 mammal behavior and large-scale abiotic/biotic oceanographic parameters. This targeted session is organized to gather together marine mammal=20 scientists interested in the possibilities of using geographic informatio= n=20 systems (GIS), remotely sensed imagery, and global positioning systems=20 (GPS). The ability to interpolate and display spatially explicit data at= =20 various scales has important potential for us as marine mammal scientists= .=20 The accuracy we are gaining in our ability to spatially visualize and=20 analyze the 4-dimensional habitat these animals live in can critically=20 enhance our scientific knowledge. We are accepting abstracts that encompass the following issues: =B7 How do we as scientists incorporate our data sources into these= =20 technologies? =B7 How do we design surveys that efficiently integrate the technol= ogy=20 with field-based data? =B7 What questions can we really answer with these techniques? How = can=20 we analyze our results in a spatial context? =B7 How do we communicate those results for scientific and social=20 significance? =B7 Also included are abstracts that discuss issues of data quality= ,=20 metadata, and scale, data sources, and =B7 Finally, what we can visualize for these techniques in the futu= re. Ellen Hines, PhD Assistant Professor, Department of Geography & Human Environmental Studie= s San Francisco State University 1600 Holloway Ave. San Francisco, CA. 94132 USA ehines(\)sfsu.edu (415) 405-0921 Fax: (415) 338-6243 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2003 02:40:21 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: human-induced mortality in cetaceans (fwd) From: Shirley Pacheco Dear All, We have had a recent case of a Kogia sima beaten to death by local people who were afraid of it due to its similarity to sharks. We've started an educational campaign at the local schools and additionally we intend to begin a revision about human-induced mortality in cetaceans, not including whaling activities, to have an idea of the frequency of these episodes. So we would like to know about any cases related to that cause around the world. If you have information (anedoctal or personal comunication), references, anything about, please, contact us by email. Thanks a lot, Shirley Pacheco de Souza SOS Mam=EDferos Marinhos =96 S=E3o Sebasti=E3o - Brazil www.terraemar.org Shirley Pacheco de Souza Diretora de Parcerias - Instituto Terra & Mar Projeto SOS Mam=EDferos Marinhos Tel.: (12) 3862-1099 / 9144-6100 www.terraemar.org -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2003 07:57:18 -0500 From: Renato Subject: VETERINARY FELLOWSHIP IN MARINE MAMMAL MEDICINE AND PATHOLOGY ------ HARBOR BRANCH OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION, INC. Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Program__________________________________________________________________= ___ _______ 5600 U.S. 1 NORTH FORT PIERCE, FL 34946 (772) 465-2400, Ext. 556 Fax (77= 2) 466-4853 gbossart(\)hboi.edu http://www.hboi.edu VETERINARY FELLOWSHIP IN MARINE MAMMAL MEDICINE AND PATHOLOGY The Division of Marine Mammal Research and Conservation, HARBOR BRANCH Oceanographic Institution, Ft. Pierce, Florida will offer a second 24-mon= th veterinary fellowship commencing October 15, 2003, administered by HARBOR BRANCH Institution, Inc. The Division of Marine Mammal Research and Conservation has multifaceted programs involving clinical medicine and surgery, marine mammal strandings, clinical research of the manatee papillomavirus, health assessment studies of free-ranging bottlenose dolphins, and research investigating the pathologic basis of disease in captive and stranded marine mammals. A collaborative clinical program in marine mammal medicine and surgery exists with Dolphin Discovery, which maintains a large collection of bottlenose dolphins, manatees and pinnipe= ds at four marine mammal facilities located in the Caribbean. A collaborativ= e medical program also exists with Marineland, Florida and conservation outreach programs have been established in Mexico, Belize, Guyana, French Guiana, Colombia and Brazil. The HARBOR BRANCH Marine Mammal Stranding Center provides temporary or long-term care for various marine mammal species and specializes in neonatal medicine. Pathologic studies involve the gross and histopathologic characterization of diseases in marine mamm= als with special emphasis on emerging diseases and the effects of biotoxins i= n these species. Collaborative programs in marine mammal pathology and immunology exist with the University of Miami, Florida International University and Florida Atlantic University. This program will involve approximately 70% clinical work located at Dolp= hin Discovery facilities in the Caribbean. The fellow will be responsible for the daily health monitoring of a collection of Atlantic bottlenose dolphi= ns, manatees and pinnipeds. Monitoring will include regularly scheduled physi= cal examinations, collection of clinicopathologic data, developing husbandry = and medical behaviors with the training staff and development and maintenance= of a detailed preventative medicine program. The fellow will be under the direct supervision of Dolphin Discovery=92s chief veterinarian and the Vi= ce President of Animal Management through regularly scheduled visits and by weekly video conferencing with other Dolphin Discovery and HARBOR BRANCH staff and veterinarians. The conference calls will be patterned in a gran= d rounds format and the fellow will be required to provide detailed presentations of interesting medical cases or preventative medicine issue= s. Approximately 30% of the fellow=92s time will be at HARBOR BRANCH. At HAR= BOR BRANCH the fellow will be responsible for coordinating marine mammal rescues, handling all aspects of clinical care for marine mammal patients= , and completing necropsies with the supervision of the marine mammal pathology staff. Follow-up histopathologic tissue evaluation will be don= e with the resident comparative pathologist. At HARBOR BRANCH the fellow al= so may participate in free-ranging dolphin health assessment studies and clinical manatee research. An original research project, the results of which will be written for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, is required for successful completion of this program. Additionally, the fellow is requi= red to present at least three clinically related abstracts at national or international marine mammal professional meetings and an annual formal presentation on the HARBOR BRANCH campus. Applicants must possess a D.V.M. or equivalent degree. Selection of the successful applicant will be based on a combination of academic, relevant interest and experience, and an assessment of the candidate=92s career go= als and objectives. The stipend is currently $35,000 annually provided thro= ugh an educational grant from Dolphin Discovery, and the fellowship is non-renewable. Interested candidates should forward a single package containing a letter= of intent, C.V., official academic transcripts, three letters of recommendat= ion and a completed application to Gregory D. Bossart, V.M.D, Ph.D., c/o Personnel Services, Harbor Branch Institution, Inc., 5600 US 1 North, Ft. Pierce, FL 34946. Please note that it is the applicant=92s responsibilit= y to submit a single (1) complete package of application documents, as multipl= e submissions will not be processed. Applications are available at www.hbeducation.org. For information about HARBOR BRANCH, please consult our website at www.hboi.edu. The application deadline is August 15, 2003. No applications will be accepted after August 15, 2003. Dr. Renato Lenzi Vice President of Animal Management Dolphin Discovery Visit us at www.dolphindiscovery.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2003 10:28:56 +0000 From: "MEER e.V." Subject: M.E.E.R. report on Whale Watching Research (Please excuse X-postings) Dear All! The NGO M.E.E.R. (Berlin, Germany) would like to draw your attention to a newly published report on whale watching research: Ritter, F. (2003) Interactions of Cetaceans with Whale Watchig boats - Implications for the Management of Whale Watching Tourism. M.E.E.R. e.V., Berlin, Germany. 91pp. Following is a short description of the contents of this report. Summary & table of contents available at: www.m-e-e-r.org Sincerely, Fabian Ritter MEER e.V. Berlin, Germany www.m-e-e-r.org ____________________________________________ This report presents the results of six years of research conducted off La Gomera (Canary Islands), revealing cetacean abundance, distribution and their behavioural interactions with whale watching boats. Through the collaboration between the German NGO M.E.E.R. and a local operator, sighting and behavioural data were collected during regular whale watching trips. The responsiveness of different species was quantified by measuring the occurrence of boat-related behaviours (e.g. bowriding, approaches, etc.). Sightings were classified into four categories reflecting the general reaction of cetaceans to boats. Results (1995-2001) revealed a significant difference in the responsiveness of the six most abundant odontocetes species. In the bottlenose dolphin and the Atlantic spotted dolphin, a significant difference in responsiveness according to behavioural states was found. On this basis, species- and behaviour specific whale watching guidelines are proposed. Furthermore, a model of a marine protected area (MPA) especially designed for the sustainable use of cetaceans is outlined. Specific recommendations are made for the design of the MPA, as for example the implementation of species- and behaviour-specific guidelines, a maximum number of licensed boats, a general speed limit, good-quality public education, user group regulation, a levy for the financiation of research, monitoring and enforcement, and others. This unique approach constitutes an example for the reconciliation of tourism and conservation, bringing together economic development and ecologic sustainability. To receive a copy, please send an e-mail to: meer(\)infocanarias.com The price is 15.- Euros plus postage. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2003 08:27:54 +0300 From: "editor(\)monachus-guardian.org" Subject: The Monachus Guardian 6 (1): 2003 Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" THE MONACHUS GUARDIAN Dear Colleagues and Friends of the Monk Seal This is to let you know that we have now published the June 2003 issue of The Monachus Guardian, the biannual electronic journal focusing on the Mediterranean, Hawaiian and Caribbean monk seals. The site can be accesse= d at http://www.monachus-guardian.org. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CURRENT ISSUE INCLUDE: Guest Editorial: Cilicia on my Mind. Monk seal adventures on Turkey=B9s southern shore =AD by Luigi Guarrera. Obituary: Friend of the Monk Seal, Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, 1933 =AD 20= 03. Cover Story: Northwestern Hawaiian Islands: Creating a Pu=8Cuhonua for Fu= ture Generations =AD by Cha Smith. In Focus: Human disturbance at the Cabo Blanco monk seal colony =AD by Pa= blo Fern=E1ndez de Larrinoa and Miguel =C1ngel Cedenilla. Perspectives: Legal aspects of Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus= ) conservation in Greece =AD by Katerina Moisiadou and Alexandros A. Karamanlidis. MONACHUS SCIENCE Mo, G., H. Bazairi, L. Tunesi, D. Nachite, I. Sadki. Results of a first field mission in the National Park of Al Hoceima, Morocco: monk seal habi= tat suitability and presence. Hamza, A., G. Mo and K. Tayeb. Results of a preliminary mission carried o= ut in Cyrenaica, Libya, to assess monk seal presence and potential coastal habitat. Mo, G., M. Gazo, A. Ibrahim, I. Ammar and W. Ghanem. Monk seal presence a= nd habitat assessment results of a preliminary mission carried out in Syria. G=FC=E7l=FCsoy, H., H. =D6rek, and N.O. Veryeri. Is the rehabilitation of= the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus (Hermann 1779) in Turkey necessary?=20 PLUS... Letters to the Editor, including: Assessing the risks of Toxoplasma gondi= i to Hawaiian monk seals, by Bud Antonelis. International News: Funding crisis strikes Turkish, Greek and internation= al efforts. Mediterranean News: Monk Seal Ecotourism comes to Turkey=B9s Cilician Bas= in. Hawaiian News: Marine Mammal Commission reviews Hawaiian monk seal recove= ry plan. Recent Publications. The current and back issues of The Monachus Guardian are also available f= rom 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 cont= act us at the following email address: editor(\)monachus-guardian.org. Similarly, we look forward to hearing from you if you experience any difficulty in accessing this service. Sincerely, William M. Johnson editor(\)monachus-guardian.org PS. If you appear to be on this email information list in error, please h= it the reply button, placing the word REMOVE in the subject line. _______________________________________ William M Johnson editor(\)monachus-guardian.org http://www.monachus-guardian.org http://www.iridescent-publishing.com _______________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2003 03:13:50 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: B2B 1.1 - North American Pacific coast marine data (fwd) From: "Sara Maxwell" Greetings, Marine Conservation Biology Institute is pleased to announce the release of B2B 1.1 - an updated CD-ROM of physical, biological, and social data relevant to conservation planning within the Baja California to Bering Sea ecoregion. This new version includes: - New animations for temperature and altimetry - Updated deep sea coral records - Time and date stamps for loggerhead sea turtle tracks - New and improved ETOPO2 bathymetry - More Alaska MPAs This CD-ROM product has a uniform extent (12N to 72N, -90E to -180E) that covers the west coast exclusive economic zones of the three NAFTA countries (Mexico, the US and Canada). The data is designed for use with ESRI ArcView 3.x and ArcGIS 8.x products. All data is projected in Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area, as defined by the USGS Hydro 1k project and adopted by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation. B2B 1.1 contains all of the data available on B2B 1.0, including: Physical data: ETOPO2 Bathymetry GTOPO30 Topography 4 years of 9km SST 3 years of altimetry Biological data: 3 years of SEAWIFS chlorophyll Almost 3000 deep sea coral records Blue whale tracks and sea turtle tracks Social Data: EEZs Federal MPAs Ports Local conservation priorities The CD-ROM is available for US$ 25 (includes shipping within Mexico, the US and Canada) in order to recover printing and distribution costs. Please contact Sara Maxwell to order a copy (see ordering info below). Limited numbers are available. Thank you, Peter Etnoyer and Lance Morgan Marine Conservation Biology Institute 15806 NE 47th Court Redmond, WA 98052 (425) 883-8914 Fax: (425) 883-3017 www.mcbi.org ------------------------------------------------ ORDERING INFORMATION: The cost of the CD is US$ 25. This includes shipping to locations within Mexico, the US and Canada (additional shipping costs may apply for other countries). CDs are shipped approximately 2-3 weeks from the time of order and are sent via US Postal Ground Service. Faster shipping is available for an additional cost. METHODS OF PAYMENT: CREDIT CARD: Call Sara at 425-883-8914 with a shipping address and the following information: 1. Card number and expiration date 2. CVV2 number (VISA ONLY: the 3 digit number on the back of the card in the signature box) 3. Billing address as it appears on the credit card statement and the phone number associated with that address 4. Email address where an electronic receipt can be sent CHECK/MONEY ORDER: Please make a check or money order for US$ 25.00 payable to MCBI, along with the shipping address, phone number and email (contact Sara at sara(\)mcbi.org for a PDF order form) and mail it to the MCBI address above. The CD will be sent upon receiving payment. (Please contact Sara if shipping outside Mexico, the US or Canada.) INVOICES: Using one of the above methods is preferred, as they are easier and faster, but if necessary, invoices can be done. BULK ORDERING: Bulk ordering as also available as follows: 10% off 6-10 CD-ROMs 15% off 11-20 CD-ROMs 25% off 21 or more CD-ROMs ------------------------------------------ Sara Maxwell Program Assistant Marine Conservation Biology Institute 15806 NE 47th Court Redmond, WA 98052 (425) 883-8914 Fax: (425) 883-3017 www.mcbi.org -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2003 16:22:37 -0400 Reply-To: "Daniel K. Odell" From: "Daniel K. Odell" Subject: Kogia Workshop at Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals The purpose of this email is to try to get an idea of how many people would be interested in participating in/attending a workshop on the biology of Kogia before a formal workshop proposal is actually submitted to the Society for Marine Mammalogy's Scientific Program Committee. We envision a workshop with both invited and contributed components. The invited sections would be structured to cover the major aspects of Kogia biology. The contributed section would likely be in the poster format but would depend, in part, on the number of participants. Ideally, we would like to see the workshop result in a set of manuscripts that could be published together. If the workshop is approved, it is likely that there would be a participation fee to cover audio visual equipment. If you will be coming to Greensboro and might be interested in attending/participating in a Kogia workshop, please send an email to dodell(\)hswri.org. Daniel K. Odell, Ph.D. Senior Research Biologist Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute 6295 Sea Harbor Drive Orlando, FL 32821-8043 Phone: +407-370-1653 Fax: +407-370-1659 Mobile: +321-689-4865 Email: dodell(\)hswri.org ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2003 23:21:40 +0900 From: Simon Subject: dugongs in Okinawa Hello, MARMAM members, I've just signed up to the list so if my post is inappropriate just ignore it please. I am writing on behalf of "Hokugen", the Japanese association to protect the northernmost dugongs. We are trying to collect information that may help to persuade the Japanese government not to build a military airbase (for the use of the US Marines) on a reef off Camp Schwab (sp?) at Henoko in Okinawa. This is right in the middle of the habitat of the most northerly dugongs in the world, which are estimated to number less than 50. Only recently has the Japanese gov't even recognised their existence. The Environment Ministry is planning an environmental impact assessment but the Defense Installations Office has already started a seismic and sonar survey of the area. It will involve, among other things, drilling 63 holes in the sea bed at depths of up to 25 metres. You can see the documents at They are in Japanese (.pdf) but the diagrams are fairly self- explanatory. If anyone would like a translation I can supply one. As a layman I would very much value comments from you marine mammal experts, and any other support you may feel inclined to give. Simon Varnam simon(\)thn.ne.jp Hokugen's site is at: http://sea-dugong.org/ and you can contact them directly at: info(\)sea-dugong.org The government survey document is at: ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2003 16:49:32 -0400 From: Todd McConchie Subject: Digital Still vs Digital Video Camera Comparison To the List, Does anyone know of a study or studies involving a direct comparison of a digital still camera versus a digital video camera? I recently purchased a digital still camera (Canon 10D) for a photo-id project and would like to compare this camera to a digital video camera to get the time per image per camera. Thank-you. Todd McConchie George Mason University wpolo97(\)hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________ The new MSN 8: advanced junk mail protection and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2003 02:25:49 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Marine mammal physiology workshop (fwd) From: doctoc(\)tiscali.it Dear Marmam readers, In occasion of the 15th biennial meeting of the Society for Marine Mammalogy I would like to submit a proposal for a workshop on the present knowledge and studies on marine mammals' physiology. The workshop could have several sessions considering the different anatomical and regulatory aspects: cardio-circulatory, renal, sensorial, diving-related, exercise-related, etc., as well as monitoring instruments. Because of the presumably limited time available, I suggest invited speakers for each section, a few oral presentations, maybe discussion groups and posters, with a brief oral presentation per poster? If the contributions to this workshop allows, a detailed report could be published. Fees for participation depend on equipment required, coffee break etc. If interested in participating and/or presenting a oral or poster presentation, please write to doctoc(\)tiscali.it with "Diving Physiology" as subject. Thank you for your attention and please contact me if you have any suggestions and/or ideas. All help is very welcome. Best regards, Dr. Marco Tocchetti Experimental Biology Department General Physiology University of Cagliari tel: +39-070-6754188 mobile: +39-347-6761711 __________________________________________________________________ Il Numero di Accesso ad Internet sta cambiando! Modifica subito il tuo numero di accesso con Tiscali: il nuovo numero e' 7023456789 oppure vai alla pagina http://assistenza.tiscali.it/connessione/mail.html e scarica il file di configurazione automatica. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2003 08:51:29 -0500 Reply-To: dfertl(\)geo-marine.com From: Dagmar Fertl Subject: Contents and Abstracts - Aquatic Mammals 29(1) - 2003 Dear Marmam and ECS-Mailbase subscribers, Apologies to those readers who receive cross-postings. The following are abstracts from the most recent issue of _Aquatic Mammals_. _Aquatic Mamma= ls_ is the journal of The European Association for Aquatic Mammals (E.A.A.M.). The annual subscription price is $95 US per year, including shipping and handling. Information on society membership (cost is 45 Euros), subscript= ion requests, article submissions, etc. and mailing inquiries can be located = at the society=92s website: http://www.eaam.org/ or can be requested from th= e Editor: Dr. Jeanette A. Thomas, Laboratory of Sensory Biology, Western Illinois University Regional Center, 3561 60th Street, Moline, Illinois 61265, USA. Phone: +1 309 762 9481, ext. 262; FAX: +1 309 762 6989; Email= : aquatic_mammals(\)eaam.org Thank you to all of you who continue to post abstracts on both discussion groups to disseminate information on marine mammals, as well as your continued interest in _Aquatic Mammals_ and EAAM. Please do NOT direct reprint requests to me or the Marmam editors; I have included the address= es of the authors to whom correspondence should be directed. Regards, Dagmar Fertl Geo-Marine, Inc. dfertl(\)geo-marine.com http://www.geo-marine.com *************************************************************************= *** ********************************** Andre, M.*, A. Supin, E. Delory, C. Kamminga, E. Degollada, and J.M. Alon= so. 2003. Evidence of deafness in a striped dolphin, _Stenella coeruleoalba_. _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(1):3-8. *Department of Morphology, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 3541= 6 Arucas, Canary Islands, Spain The cetacean auditory system is characterized by a series of unique morphological adaptations, one of the most interesting being the capacity= to select frequencies for the fine discrimination of acoustic images through auditory canals, which act like frequency filters. In a healthy organism, this frequency selectivity of the hearing system is directly, and evolutively, related with the habitat use, and thus characterizes every cetacean species. Noninvasive electrophysiological methods allow assessin= g the hearing system functionality of any particular individual and to determine through the analysis of the audiogram its capacities to correct= ly use its habitat. Here, we demonstrate the evidence of deafness in a young stranded female striped dolphin, _Stenella coeruleoalba_, which cancelled her possibility to process correctly any acoustic information. *************************************************************************= *** ************************************** Bossart, G.D.*, R.A. Meisner, S.A. Rommel, S. Ghim, and A.B. Jenson. 2003. Pathological features of the Florida manatee cold stress syndrome. _Aquat= ic Mammals_ 29(1):9-17. *Division of Marine Mammal Research and Conservation, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, 5600 US I North, Ft. Pierce, FL 34946, USA The Florida manatee (T_richechus manatus latirostris_) is an endangered marine mammal species found primarily in south-eastern coastal waters of = the United States. Chronic exposures to cold water produces a cascade of clinical signs and disease processes termed the manatee cold stress syndr= ome (CSS). No definitive pathological studies have been performed to characterize CSS or define its pathophysiological mechanisms. In this stu= dy, pathological features of CSS were characterized in 12 manatees and based = on these findings, pathogenic mechanisms were postulated. All age and sex categories were affected by CSS, except the neonatal age category. Emaciation, fat store depletion, serious fat atrophy, lymphoid depletion, epidermal hyperplasia, pustular dermatitis, enterocolitis, and myocardial degeneration were consistent lesions of CSS. These data indicate that CSS= is a complex multifactoral disease process that involves compromise to metabolic, nutritional, and immunologic homeostasis and culminates in secondary opportunistic and idiopathic diseases. Treatment for CSS in rescued manatees should address these complex clinical issues. Additional= ly, these findings are critical for developing future management strategies f= or this species due to the disappearance or sporadic availability of human-m= ade sources of warm water that manatees habituate to during the winter months. *************************************************************************= *** ************************************* Griebel, U.* and L. Peichl. 2003. Colour vision in aquatic mammals =96 fa= cts and open questions. _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(1):18-30. *Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Adolf-Lorenz-Gasse 2, A-3422 Altenberg, Austria Aquatic mammals had to adapt to visual environments that are very differe= nt from those encountered by terrestrial mammals. Herein, we review the curr= ent knowledge on the colour-vision capabilities of aquatic mammals and discus= s the puzzles that emerge from those studies. The common pattern in terrestrial mammals is dichromatic colour vision based on two spectral ty= pes of cone photoreceptors in the retina (commonly green and blue cones). Behavioural studies in a few pinnipeds and one dolphin species suggest a similar type of dichromatic colour vision in marine mammals. In contrast, recent immunocytochemical, physiological, and molecular genetic studies o= f the cone visual pigments in a larger sample of species show that pigments= in a larger sample of species show that whales and seals generally lack the blue cones and presumably are green cone monochromats. This challenges th= e behavioural findings, because cone monochromacy usually is tanamount to colour blindness. Furthermore, a loss of the blue cones seems a rather inadequate adaptation to the blue-dominated underwater light field in the open ocean. Other aquatic and amphibious mammals (sirenians, otters, hippopotamuses and polar bear) appear to show the more common pattern of cone dichromacy. The present review summarizes available data on the vari= ous aquatic mammalian taxa, assesses the reliability of these data, and discusses the potential adaptive pressures involved in blue cone loss. It= is suggested that blue cones were lost in an early, =91coastal=92 period of cetacean and pinniped evolution; many coastal waters preferentially absor= b blue light and constitute a long-wavelength-dominated environment. Residu= al colour vision in these cone monochromats could be achieved in mesopic lighting conditions by exploiting the signal differences between the remaining green cones and the rods. *************************************************************************= *** ******************************************* Bjerager, P., S. Heegaard, and J. Tougaard*. 2003. Anatomy of the eye of = the sperm whale (_Physeter macrocephalus_ L.). _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(1):31-36. *Institute of Biology, SDU/ODENSE University, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odens= e M, Denmark Eyes of five sperm whales (_Physeter macrocephalus_) were investigated macro- and microscopically. The general anatomy corresponded well with previous reports on other cetacean species, as well as previous reports o= n the sperm whale eye. The sperm whale eye does not differ in any great respect from other odontocete eyes, except for the obvious larger size. T= he most prominent structures were a very thick sclera encapsulating the bulb= us, a large, vascularized rete ophthalmica surrounding the optic nerve, and a massive musculus retractor bulbi. Lack of ciliary muscles was also noted = as well as the presence of a choroids tapetum and giant ganglion cells in th= e retina. It is suggested that the anatomy of the sclera, ophthalmic rete a= nd retractor muscle is linked to the ability of cetaceans to protrude and retract their eyes. The eye is retracted into the orbit by the retractor muscle with the thick sclera providing a firm basis for attachment as wel= l as protection from deformation. Space for the eye in the orbit is provide= d by drainage of the rete for blood. Protrusion could be facilitated by relaxation of the retractor and eyelid muscles and a refilling of the ret= e with blood. *************************************************************************= *** ********************************************* Mercado III, E.*, L.M. Herman, and A.A Pack. 2003. Stereotypical sound patterns in humpback whale songs: usage and function. _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(1):37-52. *Department of Psychology, Park Hall, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffal= o, NY 14260, USA Humpback whales (_Megaptera novaeangliae_) produce cyclical, underwater sound sequences that are composed of a variety of structured sound patter= ns. These sequences have been described as songs and generally are assumed to serve a communicative function. Past studies of the sound patterns and individual sounds within songs often have described them as functionally homogenous elements varied to convey information about the vocalizing wha= le. An alternative possibility is that different sounds and sound patterns within songs are functionally heterogeneous elements, some of which could vary for reasons unrelated to information content. To assess this possibility, we analyzed humpback whale songs recorded in Hawaii from 1992-1995 to determine whether whales consistently used some sound patter= ns more extensively than others, and to measure the stability of the acousti= c features of sound patterns. We found that some =91dominant=92 sound patte= rns were consistently repeated for substantially longer periods and that othe= r patterns were consistently repeated for shorter periods. We also found th= at spectral, temporal, and energetic features of sounds within dominant soun= d patterns were highly stereotyped. Comparisons of the sound patterns analy= zed in this study with those described in past studies suggest that some soun= d patterns within humpback whale songs recur across years and populations. = Our findings indicate that the detectability of different sounds and sound patterns within songs varies substantially. We speculate that differences= in detectability reflect differences in functionality. *************************************************************************= *** ************************************ Kastelein, R.A.*, C. Staal, and P.R. Wiepkema. 2003. Food consumption, fo= od passage time, and body measurements of captive Atlantic bottlenose dolphi= ns. _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(1):53-66. *Julianalaan 46, 3843 CC Harderwijk, The Netherlands The food consumption (recorded as kg of individual fish species), body length, and body mass of 19 (four males and 15 females) Atlantic bottleno= se dolphins (_Tursiops truncatus_) kept at Harderwijk Marine Mammal Park, th= e Netherlands, between 1965 and 1995 are reported. This broad-scale, longitudinal study is based on data originally archived for short-term husbandry purposes. The chemical composition and caloric value of the die= t were not measured. Because caloric content of fish varies seasonally and annually, and depends on the geographical region where it was caught, the food intake variations seen in this study may reflect the caloric content= of the diet. However, because the effects of age, gender, and reproductive state are consistent in various animals, and all animals entered the stud= y at different times, the effects are believed to be independent of variati= on in caloric content of the diet. After weaning, the average food consumpti= on of males and non-pregnant, non-lactating females increased rapidly until = the estimated age of 3-5 years, thereafter it averaged around 1900 kg (estima= ted at 133 x 10^5 kJ) per year. After the age of 20 years, food consumption o= f several dolphins decreased slightly. Two females reproduced and nursed th= eir calves successfully. Twelve months after parturition, consumption by both ceased almost entirely for one week, probably indicating estrus. Food int= ake did not increase during pregnancy. After they gave birth, the food consumption of the two mothers showed a comparable pattern; the food inta= ke remained at a consistent level during the month of birth, but increased rapidly in the following month. Food consumption dropped during the third month of lactation in one case and during the fourth month in the other case. During the lactation period, the mothers consumed 2600 kg (48%) and 3300 kg (72%) more than during similar periods in non-reproductive years. The two calves began to eat fish, in addition to suckling, at the ages of= 6 and 19 months, respectively. Average standard body length at birth was 116+-6 cm for males (n=3D15) and 114+-10 cm for females (n=3D6). It incre= ased rapidly until around the age of 5 years, after which growth rate declined. Body length reached an asymptote (between 260 and 280 cm) between the age= s of 15 and 20 years. Average body mass at birth was 18.0+-3.8 kg for males (n=3D15) and 15.6+-4.9 kg for females (n=3D5). Weight gain was rapid unti= l around the age of 3 years, after which it decreased. The relationship between body mass and standard body length was: Body mass (kg)=3D12.904e^0.017(body length (cm)-100). There was a negative relationship between body mass and average daily foo= d consumption expressed as a percentage of body mass. The average initial passage time of food through the digestive tract of five animals (with an average body mass of 185 kg) was 235 min. *************************************************************************= *** ************************* Garcia-Aguilar, M.C.* and D. Aurioles-Gamboa. 2003. Breeding season of th= e California sea lion (_Zalophus californianus_) in the Gulf of California, Mexico. _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(1):67-76. *Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas, Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Av. IPN sin, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, CP 23096, La Paz, B= aja California Sur, Mexico Several years of census at two colonies in the Gulf of California (Los Cantiles, situated in the northern portion and Los Islotes in the south) were used to define the reproductive period of the California sea lion (_Zalophus californianus californianus_) in this area. The pattern of bir= ths (the length of the breeding period and the mean date of birth) is describ= ed using two models: a direct model, based on cumulative counts, and an indirect model, which related the photoperiod and the implanting of the blastocyte. The results of both models show that births begin earlier at = Los Cantiles and that synchronization among females was less pronounced at Lo= s Islotes. The mean arrival time of females was similar at both colonies, b= ut differences were observed among the males. This suggests the existence of distinct competitive tactics that may be related to geographic position a= nd the size of the colony. When results are compared with those from San Nicolas (California), it is clear that at Los Cantiles, the reproductive period is more prolonged, begins earlier, and that the time between givin= g birth and copulation for Gulf sea lions (intervals >30 days) is greater t= han that estimated for California (21 days). *************************************************************************= *** *********************************** Silva, M.A.*, R. Prieto, S. Magalhaes, R. Cabecinhas, A. Cruz, J.M. Concalves, and R.S. Santos. 2003. Occurrence and distribution of cetacean= s in the waters around the Azores (Portugal), Summer and Autumn 1999-2000. _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(1):77-83. *Departamento de Oceanografia e Pescas, Universidade dos Acores, 9901-862 Horta, Portugal Boat-based surveys were conducted during the summer and autumn months of 1999 and 2000 around the islands of the Archipelago of the Azores to determine occurrence, distribution, and relative abundance of cetaceans. = A total of 222 cetacean schools, corresponding to 11 species, were sighted over the two years. Cetaceans were widely distributed in the area surveye= d, but the central group of islands recorded the highest relative abundance = of cetaceans and the greater species diversity. Within each group of islands= , cetaceans were more abundant in the coastal area (to 9 km from shore) tha= n in the offshore area (9 to 28 km). Atlantic spotted dolphins (_Stenella frontalis_), short-beaked common dolphins (_Delphinus delphis_), and bottlenose dolphins (_Tursiops truncatus_) were the most frequently sight= ed species and were found in all the islands surveyed. Although there was considerable overlap in spatial distribution among these species, common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins occurred in coastal areas, while Atlanti= c spotted dolphins were more common in offshore and deeper waters. *************************************************************************= *** ************************************ Maldini, D.* 2003. Evidence of predation by a tiger shark (_Galeocerdo cuvier_) on a spotted dolphin (_Stenella attenuata_) off O=92ahu, Hawai=92= i. _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(1):84-87. *Alaska SeaLife Center, P.O. Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664, USA Witness accounts of shark predation on cetaceans are rare. On this occasi= on, a 3.5-4.0 m tiger shark (_Galeocerdo cuvier_) successfully attacked a juvenile spotted dolphin (_Stenella attenuata_) near Penguin Bank, O=92ah= u, Hawai=92i on 11 March 2000. The event was witnessed by the author from a Partenavia P-68 Observer aircraft during an aerial survey assessing abundance and distribution of odontocetes. The dolphin was swimming in a school of 30-50 individuals heading in a south-easterly direction. *************************************************************************= *** ********************************** Silva, M.A.*, and M. Sequeira. 2003. Patterns in the mortality of common dolphins (_Delphinus delphis_) on the Portuguese coast, using stranding records, 1975-1998. _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(1):88-98. *Departamento de Oceanografica e Pescas, Universidade dos Acores, 9901-86= 2 Horta, Portugal Spatial and temporal patterns of distribution of common dolphins (_Delphi= nus delphis_) off the Portuguese continental coast were examined using a stranding database, for the period 1975 to 1998. Information on sex and s= ize composition of the strandings and by-catch events was analysed to elucida= te the social organization of this species. Studies were based on 294 strand= ed specimens and 124 confirmed by-catches. The annual numbers of dolphins stranded increased during the study period, probably as a result of a hig= her observer effort. Stranding records suggested that common dolphins are present off the Portuguese coast in all seasons and months of the year an= d occur in all the regions. However, geographic distribution of mortality w= as not homogeneous =96 larger numbers of strandings were recorded in the nor= thern and central areas of the country. Three factors may be responsible for th= is pattern: differences in the distribution and/or topographic features of e= ach area. Significant differences were found in the number of strandings per season, with 37% occurring in the spring and 33% in the winter months, wh= ich may be a consequence of the severe weather conditions at this time of yea= r. Sex ratio of the stranding and by-catch records was significantly biased towards males in all geographic areas and seasons. Similarly, a significantly higher proportion of immature individuals were found both i= n the stranding and by-catch datasets. These results could suggest either t= he existence of differential mortality by sex and maturity, or the occurrenc= e of age and sex segregation in the population. Stranding data also suggest that fishery interactions could be responsible for up to 44% of mortaliti= es for this population. *************************************************************************= *** *********************************** Ohizumi, H.* and T. Kishiro. 2003. Stomach contents of a Cuvier=92s beake= d whale (_Ziphius cavirostris_) stranded on the central Pacific coast of Japan. _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(1):99-103. *National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, Fisheries Research Agency. 5-7-1 Orido, Shimizu, Shizuoka 424-8633, Japan We analyzed the stomach contents of a Cuvier=92s beaked whale (_Ziphius cavirostris_) stranded on Suruga Bay, Pacific coast in the central Japan = in September 1999. A total of 485 squid lower beaks were found in the stomac= h, but no fish remains. Squids included six identified species; _Gonatus_ sp= p. and _Taonius pavo_ were the most important components. The prey species composition was similar to those in the limited published information fro= m the colder waters of the northern North Pacific and northern North Atlant= ic, although the Kuroshio warm current meets the present stranding site. Most= of the estimated dorsal mantle length of _G. onyx_ and _T. pavo_ ranged in 140-360 mm, which corresponds to the adult or sub-adult size of these species. The prey species and their size suggest that Cuvier=92s beaked w= hale dive to deeper than 300 m layer. Crabs in the stomach contents suggest foraging even to the bottom. Present and previous studies suggested that Cuvier=92s beaked whales off Japanese waters dive to 300-1000 m to forage. *************************************************************************= *** ******************************************* Courbis, S.S.*, and G.A.J. Worthy. 2003. Opportunistic carnivory by Flori= da manatees (_Trichechus manatus latirostris_). _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(1):104-107. *San Francisco State University, Biology Department, 520 Hensill Hall, 16= 00 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA The Florida manatee (_Trichechus manatus latirostris_) is one of the most endangered marine mammals in the US. To protect this species, it is important to understand the feeding ecology to define critical habitats. Manatees are generally considered to be strictly herbivious mammals that only incidentally consume animal species. This concept is based on the preponderance of freshwater vegetation, seagrasses, and algae that is fou= nd in most stomach content and fecal analyses. In the present study, manatees were observed feeding in areas of the Indi= an River Lagoon in Vero Beach and Fort Pierce, Florida, USA during June to August 2001. Most manatees were observed to be feeding on seagrasses and algae; however, on two occasions, manatees were observed apparently preferentially consuming invertebrates that were attached to a dock. Although some fibrous algae were present on the dock structure, the major= ity of biomass present was made up of invertebrates. Manatees were heard crunching invertebrate shells and seen pulling animals, such as tunicates= , into their mouths. These observations suggest that manatees actively, rat= her than incidentally, consume invertebrates in some cases. *************************************************************************= *** ************************************ Dudzinski, K.M.*, M. Sakai, K. Masaki, K. Kogi, T. Hishii, and M. Kurimot= o. 2003. Behavioural observations of bottlenose dolphins towards two dead conspecifics. _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(1):108-116. *Dolphin Communication Project, 3600 S. Harbor Blvd, #429, Oxnard, CA 930= 35 USA Two different dead bottlenose dolphins were observed in separate years wi= th attending male bottlenose dolphins. In 2000, an adult female bottlenose dolphin body was identified approximately 150 m from shore in approximate= ly 8 m depth with two attendant adult male bottlenose dolphins. These males were sighted in proximity with the carcass for two days. In 2001, a sub-adult male bottlenose dolphin was observed approximately 75 m from sh= ore in approximately 6 m depth with more than two dozen attendant sub-adult a= nd adult male dolphins and two adult female bottlenose dolphins. Attendant dolphins approached the dead male body and engaged in inquisitive behavio= urs (e.g., echolocation, head-scanning, nudging, Dudzinski, 1998) at the gene= ral region and chest repeatedly. After 17 min of initial observation, attenda= nt males exhibited erections when positioned within 0.5 m of the carcass. Documented behaviours of attendant dolphins in 2000 correspond with mate-guarding activity previously reported for bottlenose dolphins. Sever= al alternative explanations (e.g., dominance, competition) for behaviours recorded during attendance of the sub-adult male carcass are discussed. *************************************************************************= *** ************************************ Hillman, G.R.*, B. Wursig, G.A. Gailey, N. Kehtarnavaz, A. Drobyshevsky, B.N. Araabi, H.D. Tagare, and D.W. Weller. 2003. Computer-assisted photo-identification of individual marine vertebrates: a multi-species system. _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(1):117-123. *Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas 77555-1031, USA A computer program named =91Finscan=92 was developed for identifying indi= vidual marine animals by comparing new photographic images with a collection of previously identified images. The matching process was based on the patte= rn of nicks and notches commonly found along the trailing edge of the dorsal fin of many delphinid species. The program also allowed the inclusion of other user-defined descriptive features, such as leading-edge notches and truncated or irregular shapes. The output of the system was a presentatio= n of images selected from the database, shown in order of similarity to a query image, so that the user could confirm the match. Two algorithms for representing notch patterns were tested and compared and the system was evaluated with dorsal fin images of several marine vertebrates, as well a= s fluke images for one species. Using a database of images that were previously identified by expert observers, the performance of the system = was measured in terms of the number of incorrect matches that were offered before the correct match. Since in most cases the correct match was offer= ed as the first or one of the first suggestions, the program substantially reduced the amount of effort required to perform photo-based matching. *************************************************************************= *** ******************************************* Vergara-Parente, J.E.*, J.J.C. Sidrim, A.G.P.E. Pessoa, C.L. Parente, M.M= .C. Marcondes, M.F.S. Texeria, and M.F.G. Rocha. 2003. Bacterial flora of upp= er respiratory tract of captive Antillean manatees. _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(1):124-130. *Veterinary School, Post Graduation Program in Veterinary Science, State University of Ceara, Fortaleza-CE-Brazil, Avenida Dede Brasil, 1700, Itaperi, Fortaleza, CE, 60740-000, Brazil The Antillean manatee (_Trichechus manatus manatus_) is classified as a =91Vulnerable=92 species by the International Union for the Conservation = Nature and Natural Resources and is critically threatened in Brazil as a result = of accidental and intentional take by humans. Infectious diseases in manatee= s have been reported in the scientific literature, yet little is known abou= t their inhabitants. We characterized the bacterial and fungal flora of the upper respiratory tract of eight captive Antillean manatees from two facilities in Brazil by quantifying and identifying the micro-organisms f= rom nasal swabs. We also identified the bacteria found in the water of the facility. One group of four animals was in closed pools while the other group of two was in an open-water built into an estuary. Gram-negative bacteria, especially _Escherichia coli_, _Enterobacter sakasakii_, _Providencia rettgeri_ and _Stenotrophomonas maltophilia_, predominated i= n manatee nasal cultures. Bacterial counts were higher in closed pools, wit= h members of the Enterobacteriaceae prevailing (e.g., _Escherichia coli_, _Citrobacter amaloniticus_, _Enterobacter sakasakii_, and others). The prominent bacterial group found in open-water was the nonfermentative Gram-negative bacilli (_Acinetobacter faumanni_ and _Moraxella_ sp.). No fungi were isolated, either in the water or the animals. The open-water facility, which possess a system of constant water renewal presented a lo= w number of bacteria in the water samples, showed was better suited for the maintenance of the manatees in terms of water quality. *************************************************************************= *** ******************************************** Vergara-Parente, J.E.*, J.J.C. Sidrim, M.F.S. Teixeria, M.C.C. Marcondes, and M.F.G. Rocha. 2003. Salmonellosis in an Antillean manatee (_Trichechu= s manatus manatus_) calf: a fatal case. _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(1):131-136. *Veterinary School, Post Graduation Program in Veterinary Science, State University of Ceara, Fortaleza-CE-Brazil, Avenida Dede Brasil, 1700, Itaperi, Fortaleza, CE, 60740-000, Brazil A calf Antillean manatee (_Trichechus manatus manatus_) stranded on a bea= ch along the Ceara coast of Brazil, was rescued and transferred to a Rehabilitation Center. This animal died 25 days later without apparent clinical symptoms. The necropsy showed an accumulation of fibrinous exuda= tes deposited in the mesentery, on the intestinal surface and on the walls of the abdominal cavity. The mesentery was hyperemic, with areas of great congestion. Macroscopic alterations of the digestive tract were not observed. It was noted that certain regions of the liver showed altered consistency. The histological analysis showed necrotic alterations in the stomach mucosal and the caecum. The liver exhibited a discreet interstiti= al edema. Furthermore, samples of the liver and caecum were submitted for primary cultures in selective media. Following this procedure, a rapid se= rum agglutination assay was performed together with standard biochemical test= s, which confirmed the presence of _Salmonella panama_. Therefore, it was concluded that the cause of death of the young Trichechus manatus manatus was an acute salmonellosis, _Salmonella panama_. *************************************************************************= *** ********************************************* Neuman, D.R.*, and M.B. Orams. 2003. Feeding behaviours of short-beaked common dolphins, Delphinus delphis, in New Zealand. _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(1):137-149. *Lichtentaler Strasse 9, 76530 Baden-Baden, Germany The feeding behaviour of short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) was observed over a 3-year period, off the east coast of New Zealand=92s = North Island. Six prey species were identified: jack mackerel (_Trachurus novaezelandiae_), khawai (_Arripis trutta_), yellow-eyed mullet (_Aldrichetta forsteri_), flying fish (_Cypselurus lineatus_), parore (_Girella tricuspidata_), and garfish (_Hyporamphus ihi_). When feeding, common dolphins frequently were associated with Australasian gannets (_Mo= rus serrator_) and on rare occasions with minke (_Balaenoptera acutorostrata_= ), sei (_B. borealis_), and Bryde=92s whales (_B. edeni_). Several distinct feeding strategies were identified, and are described in detail. Feeding methods employed by individual dolphins were high-speed pursuits, fish-whacking, and kerplunking. Coordinated feeding strategies included carouseling, line-abreast, and wall-formation. Temporary division of labo= ur was observed during some coordinated feeding bouts. Bubble-blowing was us= ed to startle herded fish. An episode of bubble-blowing by a Bryde=92s whale= was also observed. Many of the feeding strategies employed by common dolphins show a high degree of similarity to those reported for bottlenose dolphin= s (_Tursiops truncatus_), killer whales (_Orcinus orca_), and dusky dolphin= s (_Lagenorhynchus obscurus_). The variety of feeding strategies indicates = a high level of behavioural plasticity in common dolphins. *************************************************************************= *** ************************************* Visser, I.N. and F.J. Bonoccorso. 2003. New observations and a review of killer whale (_Orcinus orca_) sightings in Papua New Guinea waters. _Aqua= tic Mammals_ 29(1):150-172. * Orca Research Trust, P.O. Box 1233, Whangarei, New Zealand Although typically considered a temperate to cold water species, killer whales (or orca) (_Orcinus orca_) have been reported intermittently in tropical waters. While the IUCN (IUCN, 2000) does not list the species as present in Papua New Guinea waters, the records presented here indicate t= hat it is found in the area for at least 10 months of the year. A total of 94 sightings of killer whales in Papua New Guinea waters were compiled. Thirty-seven sightings from April 1987 to July 2002. were recorded with a= n exact date and location, with a further 57 sightings of unknown date or exact location. Twenty-seven of all records had either photographs or videotape to confirm species identification. The earliest reference to killer whales in this region was from 1956, when they were recorded takin= g fish off long-lines. Killer whales from Papua New Guinea waters have been observed feeding on four species of elasmobranchs (scalloped-hammerhead shark, _Sphyrna lewini_; grey reef shark, _Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos_; manata ray, _Manta birostris_; and blue-spotted ray _Dasyatis kuhlii_) an= d four species of fin-fish (yellow-fin tuna, _Thunnus albacares_; big-eye tuna, _Thunnus obesus_; Indo-Pacific sailfish, _Istiophorus platypterus_; and sunfish, _Mola mola_). These are the first records, worldwide, of kil= ler whales feeding on scalloped-hammerhead sharks, grey reef sharks and blue-spotted rays. Killer whales in these waters have been reported in association with two species of cetaceans (sperm whales, _Physeter macrocephalus_ and spinner dolphins, _Stenella longirostris_). Photo-identification images were collected for 14 individuals and a catalogue established. Matches were made for two animals =96 a female sig= hted approximately 30 n mi and two days apart and a sub-adult male sighted in = the same region 16 months apart. Some individual killer whales from these wat= ers have been observed with grey under-flukes, in contrast to white, which is typically described for this species. ********************************************************************** Book Reviews: ******************************************************************** Hartmann, M.G.* 2003. Wolfgang Gewalt 2001. _Der Weisswal. The beluga whale._ _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(1):173. *Duisburg Zoo, Muulheimerstrasse 273, 47058 Duisburg, Germany *************************************************************************= *** ************ Herzing, D.L.* 2003. Cara M. Gubbins 2002. _The dolphins of Hilton Head: their natural history._ _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(1):174. *Wild Dolphin Project, Jupiter, Florida, USA *************************************************************************= *** ************* Visser, I.N. 2003. Robin W. Baird 2002. _Killer whales of the world =96 natural history and conservation._ _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(1):175-176. *Orca Research Trust, Whangarei, New Zealand ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2003 01:41:37 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications (fwd) Here are some recent marine mammal publications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and there are many other recent publications. Publications recently posted to MARMAM are not included. Please do not contact MARMAM or the MARMAM editors about reprints. Thank you. Langtimm, C.A., and C.A. Beck. 2003. Lower survival probabilities for adu= lt Florida manatees in years with intense coastal storms. Ecological Applications 13(1):257-268. ********************************************************* Paul A. Breen, Ray Hilborn, Mark N. Maunder, and Susan W. Kim. 2003. Effe= cts of alternative control rules on the conflict between a fishery and a threatened sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri). Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 60(5)= : 527-541. In New Zealand, a fishery for squid (Nototodarus sloanii) incidentally catches a threatened sea lion, Phocarctos hookeri. Bycatch is managed wit= h an annual limit designed to ensure rebuilding of the sea lion population.= We explore the conservation and cost effects of the current limit and two simple alternative rules, comparing them with no fishing and unrestricted fishing. We fitted an age-structured Bayesian model to sea lion pup estimates to obtain samples of the joint posterior distribution of parameters; from these we made 100-year simulations with five harvest control rules under six different sets of environmental conditions. The base-case fit suggests that the current sea lion population may be near i= ts carrying capacity, although this may be sensitive to modelling choices. T= he fishery bycatch constitutes little risk to the sea lion population in the absence of catastrophes and generates small marginal risks when catastrop= hes are simulated. The current management rule does not minimise the marginal risk of extinction, is much more costly to the fishery than simple alternative rules, and incurs greatest cost when risk is smallest. The mo= del appears to be a good tool for evaluating alternative management strategie= s against predefined objectives. ************************************************* S. Salazar. 2003. Impacts of the Jessica oil spill on sea lion (Zalophus wollebaeki) populations. Marine Pollution Bulletin 47(7-8):313-318 Following the Jessica oil spill, a total of 79 oiled Gal=E1pagos sea lion= s (Zalophus wollebaeki) were recorded around the islands of San Crist=F3bal= , Santa F=E9, Isabela and Floreana. Almost half of these animals required washing and other treatment. One sea lion death and a high incidence of conjunctivitis and burns were detected during the period of the oil spill. Sea lion populations exhibited a tendency for decline in the first months following the spill at all three colonies monitored close to the groundin= g site on San Crist=F3bal. By comparison, declines of similar magnitude occ= urred at only one of six sea lion colonies monitored on islands more distant fr= om the spill. However, no significant decreases in population numbers were detected for any colony in the year following the spill. Gal=E1pagos sea = lion populations were partially recovering from the much more catastrophic imp= act of the 1997/98 El Ni=F1o. ************************************************* Kimberlee B. Beckmen, John E. Blake, Gina M. Ylitalo, Jeffrey L. Stott an= d Todd M. O'Hara. 2003. Organochlorine contaminant exposure and association= s with hematological and humoral immune functional assays with dam age as a factor in free-ranging northern fur seal pups (Callorhinus ursinus). Mari= ne Pollution Bulletin 46(5):594-606 Potential effects of organochlorine contaminant (OC) exposure on humoral immune function and health of free-ranging northern fur seals were investigated. Forty-two "neonates" were captured for blood sample collect= ion and re-sampled as "pups" 29=9651 days later. OCs were extracted from whol= e blood to identify polychlorinated biphenyl congeners and chlorinated pesticides by high performance liquid chromatography. Humoral immune function was assessed by antibody responses to vaccination and immunoglobulin concentrations. Additional health status indicators includ= ed leukocyte counts and haptoglobin concentrations. Mean OC concentrations w= ere higher in neonates than at recapture. Neonates of young dams had higher m= ean OC concentrations than neonates of older dams. A higher proportion of old dam's pups developed a twofold or greater increase in antigen-specific antibodies compared to young dam's pups. Higher OC exposure and poor immu= ne responses in first-born pups may indicate a higher risk of secondary morbidity and mortality than pups of multiparous dams. ******************************************************** Rachel E. Tilley, Graham D. Kemp and Ailsa J. Hall. 2003. Cryostorage of hepatic microsomes from two marine mammal species: effects on cytochrome P450-monooxygenase activities and content. Marine Pollution Bulletin 46(5)Pages 654-658 Rachel E. Tilley, Graham D. Kemp and Ailsa J. Hall -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2003 15:27:18 +0100 From: Rick van Lent Subject: Economic impact on fishermen Rick van Lent r.vanlent(\)savewave.net Dear All, For my research at the Delft University of Technology: Mitigating the Dolphin Interaction Problem: "Influencing Stakeholders to adopt Acoustic Deterrence" I am interested if there is research conducted to address the economic impact on Fishermen of the dolphin interaction problem (= dolphin damage and dolphin bycatch). Also very welcome are comments of involved parties on a personal note where they think this economic impact on Fishermen is large. I am not able to find recent papers which deal with this question. This is mainly because this is not a hot topic in the Netherlands and my Univerisity is not specialized in Marione mammals, because it is a technical university. Allready many thanks in aqdvance, Rick van Lent ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2003 16:35:24 +0100 Reply-To: cathy(\)mcs.st-and.ac.uk From: Catherine Brown Subject: Short Course: Estimating Animal Abundance, 2-6 September 2003, St Andrews Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling University of St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland Announcement: Short Course on Estimating Animal Abundance 2nd - 6th September 2003 Have you ever struggled to make sense of the various methods for estimating animal abundance? Plot sampling, distance sampling, removal methods, catch-effort, change-in-ratio, mark-recapture... Or are you familiar with some of the methods and want to know more about the others? This course will teach the concepts underlying all the main abundance estimation methods in a rigorous but accessible way. We cover methods from quadrant sampling of closed, static populations to state-space modelling methods for open, dynamic populations. The material is designed primarily for life- and environmental scientists, wildlife managers and conservation workers, but it may also be of interest to applied statisticians working in these fields. Participants will need to have some numerical training (an undergraduate-level course in statistics, for example) although the key statistical concepts required will be developed in the early part of the course. A maximum of 30 participants can be accommodated. Funding for the course has come from the UK research councils, enabling us to charge very modest registration fees. In addition, the councils have provided funding to cover reasonable accommodation and subsistence expenses for up to ten attendees who are EPSRC or NERC PhD students. For more information, see http://www.creem.st-and.ac.uk/conferences.php All enquiries should initially be addressed to: Catherine Brown, Rhona Rodger / Workshop Organisers CREEM, University of St Andrews The Observatory, Buchanan Gardens St Andrews, Fife, Scotland KY16 9LZ Tel: (+44) (0) 1334 361842 Email: cathy(\)mcs.st-and.ac.uk or rhona(\)mcs.st-and.ac.uk Fax: (+44) (0) 1334 361800 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2003 17:02:00 +0100 Reply-To: cathy(\)mcs.st-and.ac.uk From: Catherine Brown Subject: Announcement: Distance Workshops 10-19 September 2003, St Andrews ********************************************************** ANNOUNCEMENT ********************************************************** DISTANCE WORKSHOPS 2003 Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling University of St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 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 Distance software. ********************************************************* Workshop 1: Introduction to Distance Sampling, 10-12 September An introductory workshop focusing on standard distance sampling methods. The workshop will be a blend of theory and practice and participants will learn how to use version 4 of 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, 15-17 September 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 g(0)<1, and spatial modelling of density. Participants will learn the more advanced features of version 4 of Distance. ********************************************************** For both workshops, participants are encouraged to bring their own data sets, and can expect to do some preliminary analyses of their data. The number of participants on both workshops is strictly limited, and for this reason we encourage you to register as soon as possible. Information and forms can be downloaded from our web site, www.creem.st-and.ac.uk/conferences.php Please contact the workshop organizers with any queries: Rhona Rodger / Catherine Brown CREEM, The Observatory Buchanan Gardens University of St Andrews St Andrews, Fife Scotland KY16 9LZ Tel: (+44) (0) 1334 461829/1840 Fax: (+44) (0) 1334 461800 rhona(\)mcs.st-and.ac.uk cathy(\)mcs.st-and.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2003 11:58:49 -0700 From: "David S. Janiger" Subject: New Articles Hi, all! Here's the latest posting of new PDF's that are available. Abstracts also available on request. All files are under 1 MB. A special thanks to the authors who forwarded on their PDF's of new articles that became available this month for distribution. This is quite helpful, specially for international journals. Please make all requests to: janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu Cheers David Janiger - Curatorial Assistant (Mammals) Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007 (213) 763-3369 janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu djaniger(\)nhm.org DA SILVA, A. M. F.; V. R. R. LEMES; H. H. C. BARRETTO; E. S. OLIVEIRA; I. B. DE ALLELUIA and F. J. R. PAUMGARTTEN. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 70(6):1151-1157. 2003. Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in edible fish species and dolphins from Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. GERPE, MARCELA S.; DIEGO H. RODRIGUEZ; VICTOR J. MORENO; RICHARDO O. BASTIDA and JULIA A. E. DE MORENO. LATIN AMERICAN JOURNAL OF AQUATIC MAMMALS 1:95-106. 2002. Accumulation of heavy metals in the Franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) from Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. HALL, AILSA J.; GEORG H. ENGLEHARD; SOPHIE M. J. M. BRASSEUR; ANNA VECCHIONE; HARRY R. BURTON and PETER J. H. REIJNDERS. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 27(6-7):629-637. 2003. The immunocompetence handicap hypothesis in two sexually dimorphic pinniped species - is there a sex difference in immunity during early development? HASTIE, GORDON D.; BEN WILSON and PAUL M. THOMPSON. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 81(3):469-478. 2003. Fine-scale habitat selection by coastal bottlenose dolphins: Application of a new land-based video-montage technique. HOUDE, MAGALI; LENA N. MEASURES and JEAN HUOT. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 81(3):364-370. 2003. Experimental transmission of Pharurus pallasii (Nematoda : Metastrongyloidea), a lungworm of the cranial sinuses of the beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas), to fish. HOUDE, MAGALI; LENA N. MEASURES and JEAN HUOT. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 81(3):543-551. 2003. Lungworm (Pharurus pallasii: Metastrongyloidea : Pseudaliidae) infection in the endangered St. Lawrence beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas). KJELD, M. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 81(4):606-616. 2003. Salt and water balance of modern baleen whales: rate of urine production and food intake. MANGER, PAUL R.; SAM H. RIDGWAY and JEROME M. SIEGEL. JOURNAL OF SLEEP RESEARCH 12(2):149-155. 2003. The locus coeruleus complex of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) as revealed by tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry. MARSHALL, CHRISTOPHER D.; HIROSHI MAEDA; MATSUMITSU IWATA; MASAMI FURUTA; SHIRO ASANO; FERNANDO ROSAS and ROGER L. REEP. JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY (LONDON) 259(3):245-260. 2003. Orofacial morphology and feeding behaviour of the dugong, Amazonian, West African and Antillean manatees (Mammalia: Sirenia): functional morphology of the muscular-vibrissal complex. MAUCK, BJORN; KERSTIN BILGMANN; DARYL D. JONES; ULF EYSEL and GUIDO DEHNHARDT. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY 206(10):1727-1738. 2003. Thermal windows on the trunk of hauled-out seals: Hot spots for thermoregulatory evaporation? MOORE, SUE E.; JACQUELINE M. GREBMEIER and JEREMY R. DAVIES. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 81(4):734-742. 2003. Gray whale distribution relative to forage habitat in the northern Bering Sea: Current conditions and retrospective summary. PITMAN, ROBERT L. and CHARLES STINCHCOMB. PACIFIC SCIENCE 56(4):447-450. 2002. Rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) as predators of mahimahi (Coryphaena hippurus). RODITI-ELASAR, MIA.; DAN KEREM; HAVA HORNUNG; NURIT KRESS; EFRAT SHOHAM-FRIDER; OZ GOFFMAN and EHUD SPANIER. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 46(4):503-512. 2003. Heavy metal levels in bottlenose and striped dolphins off the Mediterranean coast of Israel. RODRIGUEZ, DIEGO; RICARDO BASTIDA and PER-ERIK OLSSON. LATIN AMERICAN JOURNAL OF AQUATIC MAMMALS 1:123-128. 2002. DNA extraction from formalin fixed Franciscana tissues. RODRIGUEZ, DIEGO; LAURA RIVERO and RICARDO BASTIDA. LATIN AMERICAN JOURNAL OF AQUATIC MAMMALS 1:77-94. 2002. Feeding ecology of the Franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) in marine and estuarine waters of Argentina. ROMMEL, SENTIEL. A. and HEATHER. CAPLAN. JOURNAL OF ANATOMY 202(4):343-353. 2003. Vascular adaptations for heat conservation in the tail of Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris). ROSS, H. A.; G. M. LENTO; M. L. DALEBOUT; M. GOODE; G. EWING; P. MCLAREN; A. G. RODRIGO; S. LAVERY and C. S. BAKER. JOURNAL OF HEREDITY 94(2):111-114. 2003. DNA Surveillance: Web-based molecular identification of whales, dolphins, and porpoises. SATO, KATSUFUMI; YOKO MITANI; MICHAEL F. CAMERON; DONALD B. SINIFF and YASUHIKO NAITO. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY 206(9):1461-1470. 2003. Factors affecting stroking patterns and body angle in diving Weddell seals under natural conditions. STEVENS, MONICA A. and DARYL J. BONESS. JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY (LONDON) 260(2):145-152. 2003. Influences of habitat features and human disturbance on use of breeding sites by a declining population of southern fur seals (Arctocephalus australis). STEVICK, P. T.; J. ALLEN; M. BERUBE; P. J. CLAPHAM; S. K. KATONA; F. LARSEN; J. LIEN; D. K. MATTILA; P. J. PALSBOLL; J. ROBBINS; J. SIGURJONSSON; T. D. SMITH; O. OIEN and P. S. HAMMOND. JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY (LONDON) 259(3):231-237. 2003. Segregation of migration by feeding ground origin in North Atlantic humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). SUPIN, A. Y.; P. E. NACHTIGALL; J. PAWLOWSKI and W. W. L. AU. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 113(5):2408-2411. 2003. Evoked potential recording during echolocation in a false killer whale Pseudorca crassidens (L). WEBSTER, P. SCIENCE (WASHINGTON D. C.) 300(5624):1365. 2003. Marine biology - Will oil spell trouble for Western Pacific gray whales? The response/reply below to an 2001 article are also available (original article also below) TAYLOR, MARTIN. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 17(3):915-917. 2003. Why the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Seas bowhead whale is endangered: Response to Shelden et al. SHELDEN, KIM E. W.; DAVID J. RUGH; DOUGLAS P. DEMASTER and LEAH R. GERBER. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 17(3):918-920. 2003. Evaluation of bowhead whale status: Reply to Taylor. Original Article SHELDEN, KIM E. W.; DOUGLAS P. DEMASTER; DAVID J. RUGH and ANNETTE M. OLSON. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 15(5):1300-1307. 2001. Developing classification criteria under the U.S. Endangered Species Act: Bowhead whales as a case study. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2003 16:12:33 -0400 From: kronald Subject: Fw: Marine Mammal Management Course FROM> Professor Keith Roanld , Oceanographic Center , Novasoutheastern University. kronald(\)nova.edu WELCOME- all those interested in marine mammals. This is a reminder that registration is now open for the third edition of : THE OCEANOGRAPHIC CENTER OF NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY'S GLOBAL DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSE IN MARINE MAMMAL MANAGEMENT (MMM). THIS COURSE IS OFFERED TO ANYONE, ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD THROUGH DISTANCE LEARNING. There are four versions: a) full three credit graduate level b) a three credit undergraduate version c) a general interest diploma and=20 d) as part of the graduate certificate (contact the coordinator douganj(\)nova.edu). MMM runs from July 7 to September 19, 2003 There are two assignments for those taking the credit versions. First, due on August 8 with a value of 35% . The last on September 19 for the remaining 65% of the final mark Candidates will receive comments on the 1st. assignment for use in the final essay. Those taking the diploma program may submit the assignments, but not for marks, but certainly for comment. Communication and interaction throughout the term will be mainly via Email its is essential that all have some electronic means of communication using "MS Word".For general information on the course contact http://www.nova.edu/ocean/marmam/marmam.html and http://www.nova.edu/ocean.html for general information on the Oceanographic Center's programs. For registration http://www.nova.edu/ocean/distedregform.html Professor Keith Ronald Instructor for marine mammal management distance education course kronald(\)nova.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2003 12:56:58 -0400 From: Jessica Maher Subject: Duke University looking for experienced marine mammal observers The Duke University Marine Laboratory is looking for two experienced marine mammal observers to take part in aerial surveys over the northwestern Gulf of Mexico during August, 2003. The objective of the project is to assess the distribution of marine mammals, sea turtles, shrimp trawlers and pelagic fishes in relation to a re-current, low dissolved oxygen region on the Louisiana shelf. The project will require a commitment of approximately one week in mid-August. A stipend plus travel costs will be provided. Please e-mail responses, including a summary of pertinent experience, to Andy Read (aread(\)duke.edu) before June 30th. 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://moray.ml.duke.edu/faculty/read ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2003 09:54:16 +0000 From: Emma Rolfe Subject: Heart Monitors on Humpbacks Message from Emma Rolfe at the BBC Natural History Unit. I would be very grateful if someone could help with the following requests. I am working on a new BBC wildlife series to follow on from Blue Planet and would like some information on humpack whales. I have heard a rumour that a team of scientists and possibly a film crew are developing a system for 'monitoring' a pregnant humpback's heart rate, to see if it could be predicted when she is about to give birth. If anyone has heard anything about this, I would love to hear from them. Or, my other thought is to contact Dr Jorge Reynolds as he might know something about this. Does anyone have a contact email/phone for Dr Jorge Reynolds? If anyone can help, please can you contact me via email: emmyclaire_75(\)hotmail.com Thank you Sincerely Emma Rolfe _________________________________________________________________ Use MSN Messenger to send music and pics to your friends http://www.msn.co.uk/messenger ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2003 17:52:54 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: New publication on fur seal reunion behaviour (fwd) The following paper was recently published: Phillips, A.V. 2003. Behavioral cues used in reunions between mother and pup South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis). J. Mammal. 84 (2): 524-535. Abstract: In South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) breeding in dense colonies at Punta San Juan, Peru, mothers are regularly separated from pups when they forage at sea throughout lactation and as a result of disturbances among females during on-beach nursing periods. Unattended pups risk injury or death from aggressive females and predatory sea lions, so the ability of mothers and pups to recognize and reunite is an essential component of breeding success. I investigated the relative importance of vocal visual, olfactory, and spatial cues in the reunion process and examined how these behaviors are related to search context and success. Behavior of 10 tagged mother=96pup pairs was recorded during 118 searches, 67% of which resulted in reunion. Mothers and pups appeared to recognize one another by vocal signatures over distance, and mothers used naso-nasal investigation before accepting or rejecting pups. Mothers supplemented their calling behavior with a variety of low-cost strategies such as frequenting a consistent home spot (76%), moving about the colony (49%), and investigating approaching pups (42%), but the best predictor of search success was pup response: after pups called and moved toward mothers, pairs were reunited 95% of the time regardless of mothers' behavior. Pups responded infrequently (18%) to the wrong female, suggesting that pups' acceptance criteria are conservative when risk of injury from unrelated females is high. Reprints are available in paper or PDF format (please specify if making a= request). -- Alana Phillips (alana_phillips(\)yahoo.com) Polar Ecosystems Program National Marine Mammal Laboratory NOAA Fisheries / Alaska Fisheries Science Center 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle, WA 98115 USA -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2003 13:32:53 +0900 From: Hiroshi OHIZUMI Subject: New paper ; format="flowed" The following paper has recently been published. Reprint is available from H. Ohizumi: ohizumi(\)scc.u-tokai.ac.jp Hiroshi OHIZUMI, Toshiaki KURAMOCHI, Tsunemi KUBODERA, Motoi YOSHIOKA and Nobuyuki MIYAZAKI (2003) Feeding habits of Dall's porpoises (Phocoenoides dalli) in the subarctic North Pacific and the Bering Sea basin and the impact of predation on mesopelagic micronekton. Deep Sea Research part I 50: 593-610. Abstract We investigated the stomach contents of Dall's porpoises collected in pelagic waters spanning most of their range in the North Pacific and the Bering Sea. Analysis revealed the porpoises fed mainly on myctophid fishes in the subarctic North Pacific and on gonatid squids as well as myctophid fishes in the Bering Sea. Most of the prey items were mesopelagic micronekton, primarily fishes and squids that migrate vertically to shallower waters at night. Stomach content was greater during twilight hours, suggesting the porpoises foraged actively on myctophids at night in shallower waters. Stomach contents were strongly characterized by local mesopelagic prey fauna, and prey species selectivity was not apparent. The annual consumption by Dall's porpoises was estimated to be 2.0-2.8 million tons, or 4.7-6.5% of the biomass of mesopelagic fishes in the subarctic North Pacific, and may account for approximately 24-33% of the overall mortality of mesopelagic micronekton, especially myctophids. Myctophids are also common, but less important, prey of other subarctic predators. Dall's porpoises are likely the primary consumers of myctophids in the subarctic North Pacific. Since myctophids are the major component of the mesotrophic level, the trophic relationship between myctophids and Dall's porpoises is thought to be an important pathway of mass and energy in the pelagic food web in the subarctic North Pacific. -- +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Hiroshi OHIZUMI, Ph. D. Department of Fisheries School of Marine Science and Technology Tokai University 3-20-1 Shimizu Orido, Shizuoka, 424-8610 JAPAN Tel.: +81-543-34-0411 ext. 2331 Fax.: +81-543-37-0239 e-mail: ohizumi(\)scc.u-tokai.ac.jp +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2003 08:41:32 -1000 From: Charles Littnan Organization: NOAA Subject: Ethics Workshop at the SMM Conference Greetings MARMAM readers- We are trying to gauge interest in a workshop on ethics in marine mammal science. The workshop is being held in conjunction with the SMM's 15th Biennial Conference. The workshop will include presentations by invited speakers covering a range of topics including current views on ethics in marine mammal science, importance of study design, concerns specific to studying captive and free-ranging animals, and the value of sharing information. Presentations will be followed by questions and the afternoon will be devoted to open discussion of issues and potential recommendations to the SMM. A workshop report would be prepared shortly after the conference. Registration fees would be kept to a minimum, dependent on the number of participants and costs for equipment, informational material, etc. We believe this is an important topic that fosters considerable interest among SMM members. If you are interested in attending the workshop or have any ideas, suggestions, or questions please send an email to: charles.littnan(\)noaa.gov Cheers, Charles Littnan and Tim Ragen ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2003 12:04:22 -0000 Reply-To: David Lusseau From: David Lusseau Subject: new article: Fiordland bottlenose dolphins Dear Marmamers, The following article is now available online on the web-site of Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology (Online First section: http://link.springer.de/link/service/journals/00265/contents/tfirst.htm): David Lusseau, Karsten Schneider, Oliver J. Boisseau, Patti Haase, Elisabeth Slooten and Steve M. Dawson: The bottlenose dolphin community of Doubtful Sound features a large proportion of long-lasting associations Can geographic isolation explain this unique trait? Abstract: More than 12 studies of different bottlenose dolphin populations, spanning from tropical to cold temperate waters, have shown that the species typically lives in societies in which relationships among individuals are predominantly fluid. In all cases dolphins lived in small groups characterised by fluid and dynamic interactions and some degree of dispersal from the natal group by both sexes. We describe a small, closed population of bottlenose dolphins living at the southern extreme of the species' range. Individuals live in large, mixed-sex groups in which no permanent emigration/immigration has been observed over the past seven years. All members within the community are relatively closely associated (average half-weight index > 0.4). Both male-male and female-female networks of preferred associates are present, as are long-lasting associations across sexes. The community structure is temporally stable, compared to other bottlenose dolphin populations, and constant companionship seems to be prevalent in the temporal association pattern. Such high degrees of stability are unprecedented in studies of bottlenose dolphins and may be related to the ecological constraints of Doubtful Sound. Fjords are low-productivity systems in which survival may easily require a greater level of co-operation, and hence group stability. These conditions are also present in other cetacean populations forming stable groups. We therefore hypothesise that ecological constraints are important factors shaping social interactions within cetacean societies. Best, David ******************************************* Please reply to lusda563(\)student.otago.ac.nz ******************************************* David Lusseau University of Aberdeen Department of Zoology Lighthouse Field Station George St Cromarty Ross-shire IV11 8YJ Scotland Tel/Fax: 44 (0) 1381 600 548 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2003 09:01:33 -0400 From: MAYOL Pascal Subject: dolphins in Capraya harbour ? Good afternooon, I'm student in cetologie (EPHE) and director of a French environemental NGO of research and sensitization (Souffleurs d'Ecume). I had worked on a group of 7 Striped dolphins in 2000, in Embiez Island. These animals had come and stayed in a harbour for 3weeks and two ethograms were published in ECS and CIESM in 2001 about them. So, very interested by this phenomenons, a person sayed me that a group of 20 dolphins (probably striped dolphins) appeared the June 23 in Capraia harbour. I have not more informations about the phenomenon but if you know it, I will be very grateful to receive your inquirys. Thank you for your help, Pascal Mayol (pascalmayol(\)aol.com) ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 28 Jun 2003 19:48:43 +0200 From: Christina Lockyer Subject: Equipment search! ------ Dear MARMAM subscribers, I am sending out my enquiry in the hopes of tracking down someone who mig= ht have or know of the whereabouts of a tabletop Isomet Buehler circular = diamond saw (or similar) that is no longer required, or that is sitting g= athering dust in a corner of the laboratory. I urgently need such a machi= ne but have a limited budget. The saw should be suitable for cutting mari= ne mammal teeth and hold a circular saw of 3 inches (7.6 cm) to 6 inches = (15.2 cm) diameter. Age of the machine is not so important but it should= be robust and in safe working condition. Voltage supply can be either 22= 0-240 V or 110 V - I can use either, so country origin is not important. = Note that geology departments may also use such machines for sectioning s= mall rocks. Please contact me if you can help - I look forward to hearing from you an= d discussing the matter. My address and contact details are below. Regards, Christina Lockyer Dr Christina Lockyer Age Dynamics Huldbergs All=E9 42 DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby Denmark Tel/Fax: +45 44449081 E-mail: agedynamics(\)mail.dk ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2003 12:10:19 +0200 From: Delphis Subject: Volunteer Positions Delphis is a small, non-profit organisation dedicated to the understanding, welfare, conservation and protection of cetaceans in Italy through scientific investigation, education, and research. Since 1991, volunteers and students have been invaluable in the collection, organisation and analysis of data fundamental to our understanding and current knowledge of the distribution and the ecology of these animals in the waters of Ischia, Gulf of Naples, Italy. Primary concentration is of a relic population unit of endangered short-beaked common dolphins, that spend summer months in the rich waters of the submarine canyon of Cuma, a highly productive marine area characterised by high pelagic biodiversity and multi-species associations. The area represents an important feeding site for other cetacean species, including striped dolphins, Risso's dolphins, and fin whales. The research on the endangered short-beaked common dolphins is in collaboration with: ASMS (Swiss coalition for marine mammals), StudioMare, Tethys Research Institute, University of Naples (Geology Department), Zoological Station (Laboratory of Ischia). Publications resulted from our research are available in StudioMare web site: www.mare.it/studiomare We are currently looking to fill positions for our 2003 field season, commencing June to Oct. As a member of the research team you will learn and apply the principles of field research design as you participate in our ongoing field studies, and will gain a personal understanding of the conservation and welfare issues, which drive our research activities. The positions will involve field data collection aboard our 17.70 m research sailing boat. Without a doubt everyone ends the stage with an improved knowledge regarding: - technique of photography and methods of photo-identification - technique for the study of cetacean behaviour and bioacoustic - use of programs and vehicles designated to the research - general information and contacts to carry on with a naturalistic or cethologist career - use of research instruments like hydrophones, underwater cameras, GPS ( Global Position System), binoculars, timer, VHF radio, echo-sounder, etc. - techniques of sailing - small maintenance jobs onboard - orientation - general knowledge on maps and navigation The most important requirements for any participant are enthusiasm, the ability and willingness to learn and work under often difficult, but rewarding, field conditions, and the open-mindedness and sense of humour to work, live and communicate well with other people of mixed nationality and background. The cost for a week placement for 2003 will be from Euro 670 to 755 (although week long placements can be discounted). This will cover full board, equipment 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 at the address below providing a brief resume with their background, personal details and interests. Please also remember to include your preferred dates for participation. Field Positions Delphis, Mediterranean Dolphin Conservation, NGO and no profit Island of Ischia via Zaro 22, 80075 Forio (NA) ITALY ATTN. Barbara Mussi e-mail: info(\)delphismdc.org ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2003 10:11:15 -0400 From: GREMM Subject: Ziphiids: Why 13 stomach compartments? Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" ------ Hi dear MARMAMers,=20 I am searching for an information. I want to know why Ziphiids have 13 stomach compartments. In the toothed whales (Odontoceti), the compartments within the stomach a= re usually three in number (fore-stomach, main stomach, and pyloric stomach)= , although in some of the beaked whales (Ziphiidae), the stomach may be composed of as many as 13 chambers or pockets. (in Whales of the world, Tinker, Bess Press, 1988, 310 p.) I found also the followind statement in Encyclopedia of marine mammals, Editors Perrin, W=FCrsig and Thewissen, Academic Press, 2002, 1414 p.: "Connecting chambers: The connecting chambers, also called the connecting channel, the intermediate stomach, and the third stomach are present in a= ll Cetacea. ... They are small in most cetaceans but have been developed greatly in ziphiids. Because of their proliferation in ziphiids, where th= ey seem to function as something more than channels between the main and pyloric stomachs, their name was changed from connecting channels to connecting chambers." But what is the function of these chambers? Moreover, here is the theory I think is true: The stomach of whales has m= any compartments like the stomach of ruminants. Whales share a common ancesto= r with ruminants. So this type of stomach would be more a legacy of the pas= t than an adaptation to the environment. (Whales don't ruminate!) So how can we explain the development of so many compartments in an evolutionary approach? If you can give me an answer or if you know publications that could help = me, please write me. answer to info(\)gremm.org Thank you very much for your help. Marie-Eve G=E9linas GREMM=20 Groupe de recherche et d'=E9ducation sur les mammif=E8res marins 108 de la Cale s=E8che Tadoussac (Qu=E9bec) G0T 2A0 t=E9l.: (418) 235-4701 t=E9l=E9c.: (418) 235-4325 courriel: info(\)gremm.org http://www.baleinesendirect.net http://www.whales-online.net ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2003 03:03:33 -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. SKULL MORPHOMETRY OF BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS (TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS) FROM THE GU= LF OF MEXICO. Jason P. Turner and Graham A. J. Worthy, Journal of Mammalogy, 2003, Vol. 84, No. 2, pages 665=96672. Skull morphometry of 206 stranded juvenile and adult bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from Texas and Florida were examined. Juveniles differed significantly from adults in both Texas and Florida populations. Sexual dimorphism was present in skulls from Texas but not from Florida. Regional differences in females from Texas and Florida were apparent, especially in braincase height, whereas male bottlenose dolphins did not differ between regions. Females could be distinguished accurately to regi= on (90% classification success) using skull morphometry. Cranial morphometri= cs of T. truncatus are concrete values that may aid in identification of a t= ype specimen for each population. Furthermore, these results can be used as a standard for Tursiops in the Gulf of Mexico. ******************************************************************* GENETIC STRUCTURE, DIVERSITY, AND HISTORICAL DEMOGRAPHY OF NEW ZEALAND'S DUSKY DOLPHIN (LAGENORHYNCHUS OBSCURUS). April Dawn Harlin, Tim Markowitz= , C. Scott Baker, Bernd W=FCrsig, and Rodney L. Honeycutt, Journal of Mamma= logy, 2003, Vol. 84, No. 2, pages 702=96717. Although generally limited to coastal waters of South America, South Afri= ca, and New Zealand, dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) show high potential for dispersal over large distances. In New Zealand, photographi= c identification data indicate a seasonal shift in residency of dolphins between Kaikoura and the Marlborough Sounds as well as changes in group s= ize and behavior. The effect of this seasonal variation on the genetic struct= ure of New Zealand's dusky dolphins was examined by sequencing a 473=96base p= air fragment of the mitochondrial DNA control region for 169 individuals from= 4 regions along the New Zealand coast. A neighbor-joining phylogeny and an analysis of molecular variance did not support genetic subdivision among regions (sr =3D 0.041, P =3D 0.13). However, nested-clade analysis demons= trated significant evidence for contiguous range expansion and fragmentation alo= ng the New Zealand coast. Seasonal movement patterns from Kaikoura to either Otago or the Marlborough Sounds and West Coast are presented as an alternative explanation of nested clade results. New Zealand=96wide diver= sity indices and rate of substitution among sites were used to estimate effect= ive female population size. Lineages-through-time analysis was used to test hypotheses of population growth. Structure of the neighbor-joining phylogeny, the nested haplotype network, and results of the lineages-through-time analysis suggest that the New Zealand dusky dolphin population underwent at least 1, if not 2, historical population expansio= ns. ********************************************************** Polar bear=96human interactions in Canadian national parks, 1986=962000. = Douglas Clark, Ursus, vol. 14(1), 2003, pages 65=9671 Interactions between polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and humans in 6 nation= al parks in the Canadian Arctic from 1986 to 2000 were examined (n =3D 53). = No human fatalities and only 1 injury occurred. Bears were killed in only 4%= of interactions, a much lower rate than in other studies, possibly because o= f the availability of deterrents. Interactions occurred mainly in summer in parks where bears are forced ashore by melting sea ice. Unlike interactio= ns between humans and grizzly bears (U. arctos), the frequency of interactio= ns appeared unrelated to park visitation and may have been influenced by sea ice availability. Rates of interactions without human injury varied widel= y among parks: 2 parks had no interactions and 2 were comparable to the rat= es for other species of bears in some other parks in North America; Wapusk National Park was much higher than any other. Data were insufficient to t= est predictions that nutritional stress on bears due to early sea ice breakup would increase the rate of bear=96human interactions. ******************************************************************* Parapoxvirus Infection in Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina) from the German North Sea. G. M=FCller, S. Gr=F6ters, U. Siebert, T. Rosenberger, J. Driv= er, M. K=F6nig, P. Becher, U. Hetzel, and W. Baumg=E4rtner, 2003, Veterinary Pat= hology, Volume 40, Number 4, pages 445=96454. In the summer of 2000, proliferative lesions of the skin and oral mucosa were observed in 26 young harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) from a rehabilitation center in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Verrucose, roundish nodules, approximately 1=962 cm in diameter, were presented in the oral cavity, especially on the tongue. Some animals developed similarly sized spherical dermal elevations with ulceration on flippers, chest, neck, and perineum. Necropsy of one animal showed multifocal, verrucose nodules in = the oral cavity and a mild tonsillitis. Histologically, the nodules were characterized by ballooning degeneration of the outer parts of the spiny layer and stratum granulosum, with large eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusi= ons and a perivascular to interstitial lymphohistiocytic infiltration accompanied by fibroblastic proliferation and neovascularization. Negativ= e staining of mucosal tissue homogenates demonstrated parapoxvirus-like particles. The presence of parapoxvirus was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction, using primers specific for parapoxvirus of ungulates. By in sit= u hybridization, using a parapox-specific, digoxigenin-labeled DNA probe, abundant parapoxvirus DNA=96positive epithelial cells were detected in th= e stratum granulosum and the outer parts of the spiny layer. There was no parapoxvirus-positive signal in the adjacent submucosa. Although DNA analysis revealed that the causative agent can clearly be distinct from terrestrial parapoxviruses, lesions resembled parapoxvirus infections in other terrestrial species, and the pattern of virus DNA distribution indicated a direct effect of the virus on keratinocytes. In contrast, changes in the corium may be considered an indirect response mediated by = the virus or the immune system. *************************************************************** Histology of Uterine Leiomyoma and Occurrence in Relation to Reproductive Activity in the Baltic Gray Seal (Halichoerus grypus). B.-M. B=E4cklin, L. Eriksson, and M. Olovsson, 2003, Veterinary Pathology, Volume 40, Number 2,pages 175=96180. A high prevalence of uterine leiomyoma has been reported in Baltic gray seals aged 15 years and above. Studies on Baltic seals during the 1970s revealed high tissue concentrations of the organochlorines bis(chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane (DDT) and polychlorinated bipheny= ls (PCBs), lowered reproduction rate, and pathologic changes. In the second half of the 1970s, decreases of PCB and DDT in Baltic biota occurred, and the prevalence of pregnancies in Baltic seals increased. Between 1975 and 1997, 53 Baltic gray seal females of age 15=9640 years were found dead an= d sent to the Swedish Museum of Natural History. Seals were autopsied and 34/53 (64%) had uterine leiomyomas. Samples from 15 were sufficiently wel= l preserved for histologic examination. Uterine leiomyomas were found most commonly in the uterine corpus but also were observed in the uterine horn= s, cervix, and vagina. Cut surfaces of the leiomyomas appeared as whorled wh= ite fibrous tissue. Histologically, spindle cells were arranged in a whorl-li= ke pattern. The nuclei were rod-like and strikingly uniform in shape and siz= e. Mitotic figures were rare. Immunohistochemical staining of the tumors sho= wed a positive reaction to antibodies recognizing smooth muscle actin. Reproductively active gray seals have an ovarian corpus luteum or albican= s for most of the year. In 22/34 (65%) gray seals with uterine leiomyomas, ovaries did not contain corpora. In gray seals without macroscopically detected uterine leiomyoma, ovaries from 6/19 (32%) seals had no corpora.= It is possible that the development of leiomyoma in the seals is associated with organochlorines and the previous low reproductive activity. ****************************************************** Immunohistochemical Study of Retinol-binding Protein in Livers of Polar Bears (Thalarctos maritimus). A. Heier, A. Gr=F6ne, J. V=F6llm, A. K=FCbb= er-Heiss, and L. N. Bacciarini, 2003, Veterinary Pathology, Volume 40, Number 2,pag= es 196=96202. Liver tumors of unknown cause have frequently been described in polar bea= rs. Concurrent decrease of vitamin A levels and chronic liver disease are associated with hepatic carcinogenesis in humans. More than 90% of the bo= dy=92 s vitamin A is stored in the liver, where it is bound to an intracellular retinol-binding protein (RBP). Therefore, in this retrospective study, RB= P was assessed by immunohistochemistry in liver sections of 11 polar bears. Two of these polar bears had hepatocellular carcinoma, four showed other chronic liver changes, and five had normal livers. In normal livers, the cytoplasm stained diffusely positive with intensely staining cytoplasmic granules. RBP staining was evaluated and the abundance of diffuse cytoplasmic staining and intracytoplasmic large granules was determined. = All cases with pathologic liver changes had markedly decreased staining intensities for RBP compared with normal livers. The findings of this stu= dy suggest that in polar bears, as in humans, vitamin A metabolism may play = a role in hepatic carcinogenesis. ********************************************************* HEALTH STATUS OF HARP SEALS (PHOCA GROENLANDICA) AND HOODED SEALS (CYSTOPHORA CRISTATA) ON SABLE ISLAND, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA, CONCURRENT WI= TH THEIR EXPANDING RANGE. Zoe Lucas, Pierre-Yves Daoust, Gary Conboy, and Michael Brimacombe, 2003, Journal of Wildlife Diseases, Vol. 39, No. 1, pages 16=9628. Beach surveys for harp (Phoca groenlandica) and hooded (Cystophora crista= ta) seals documented a dramatic increase in their numbers on Sable Island in = mid 1990s. In the 1980s, no more than five animals of both species were obser= ved on this island each year, however, during late 1994 to 1998, 1,191 harp a= nd 870 hooded seals, mostly young animals, were recorded. Although some of these seals had been killed by sharks, most (roughly 75%) were found aliv= e or as intact carcasses on the beach, and some of the live seals were late= r found dead. Emaciation/ starvation was considered the primary cause of de= ath in seals that were not obviously killed by sharks. Factors that may have compounded this poor body condition included gastric impaction with abnor= mal ingesta, hemorrhagic diathesis possibly induced by parasitic migration an= d secondary vasculitis, and stomatitis (in hooded seals only). Some harp an= d hooded seals expanding their range in recent years may be unable to feed successfully, although the reasons for this are unclear. *************************************************** CHARACTERIZATION AND CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF ARCANOBACTERIUM PHOCAE INFECTIONS IN MARINE MAMMALS STRANDED ALONG THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA COAST. Shawn P. Johnson, Spencer Jang, Frances M. D. Gulland, Melissa A. Miller, David R. Casper, Judy Lawrence, and Juliet Herrera, 2003, Journal of Wildlife Diseases, Vol. 39, No. 1, pages 136=96144. Between 1994 and 2000, 141 Arcanobacterium phocae isolates were recovered from marine mammals that stranded along the central California coast (USA= ). Arcanobacterium phocae was cultured from tissue sites with abnormal discharge or evidence of inflammation in 66 California sea lions (Zalophu= s californianus), 50 Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii), 19 northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris), five southern sea otte= rs (Enhydra lutris nereis), and one common dolphin (Delphinus delphis). The overall prevalence of A. phocae among cultured stranded marine mammals wa= s 8%. This is the first report of A. phocae in animals from the Pacific Oce= an. Sequence analysis of a portion of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene confirmed recent isolates as A. phocae. Prior to phylogenetic testing and the routi= ne use of the esculin hydrolysis and motility tests, A. phocae isolates may have been misidentified as Listeria ivanovii. Arcanobacterium phocae was commonly isolated from superficial abscesses, was often present in mixed infections, and was susceptible to all antimicrobial agents tested. ********************************************* EVIDENCE OF LEPTOSPIRA INTERROGANS INFECTION IN CALIFORNIA SEA LION PUPS FROM THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA. Karina Acevedo-Whitehouse, Horacio de la Cue= va, Frances M. D. Gulland, David Aurioles-Gamboa, Fausto Arellano-Carbajal, a= nd Francisco Suarez-G=FCemes, 2003, Journal of Wildlife Diseases, Vol. 39, N= o. 1,pages 145=96151. Forty-two urine and 96 blood and serum samples were obtained from Califor= nia sea lion (Zalophus californianus) pups from the Gulf of California during the 2000 reproductive season. Antibody prevalence to 13 serovars of Leptospira interrogans was determined by microagglutination tests (MAT); presence of pathogenic leptospires was detected by polymerase chain react= ion (PCR). Samples with antibody titers 1:25 or 115 bp fragments on ethidium bromide-stained 1.5% agarose gels were considered positive. Antibody prevalence was 54% overall with highest prevalence against serovar cynopt= eri (50% of all positive reactions). Highest antibody titers (1:50) were detected against serovars cynopteri and pomona. Polymerase chain reaction products were observed in two of 42 urine samples, six of 96 blood sample= s, and one of 96 serum samples. Presence of PCR products in blood and serum = was demonstrated in pups that were seronegative. Kruskall-Wallis tests and corresponding post hoc Tukey tests (=3D0.05) showed that prevalence of leptospirosis was significantly different among all rookeries. The high seroprevalence (54%), low antibody titers (maximum 1:50), absence of pups showing clinical signs indicative of the disease, and lack of recent repo= rts of increased mortality of sea lions in the Gulf of California are suggest= ive of the presence of enzootic host-adapted serovars. Crowding in rookeries = as well as the presence of bats and rodents on some of the islands may expla= in infection by L. interrogans (sensu lato) and some of the differences in seroprevalence among reproductive rookeries. ********************************************** Two Distinct Carcinomas of Mammary Gland Origin in a California Sea Lion. Michiko Matsuda, Shinichiro Hashiura, Yumi Une, Hiroshi Sirouzu, and Yasu= o Nomura, 2003, Journal of Wildlife Diseases, Vol. 39, No. 1,pages 241=9624= 3. Two histologic types of mammary cancer were encountered in an aged captiv= e California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). A cancer with myoepithelial cell proliferation, which had metastasized to distant viscera, was locate= d in the left cranial mammary region. Another cancer without myoepithelial cell proliferation was located in the right posterior mammary region, for= med secondary nodules, and had metastasized to a regional lymph node. The presence of two different neoplasms in this sea lion is unusual. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2003 17:33:14 -0800 Reply-To: hamachan_hamazaki(\)fishgame.state.ak.us From: Hamachan Hamazaki Subject: Spatial/temporal Prediction model Workshop at the SMM Conference In-Reply-To: <3EFB3E5C.426ED5B5(\)noaa.gov> Dear MARMAM readers I am organizing a workshop on spatial/temporal prediction model for the SMM's 15th Biennial Conference. The workshop will be held on Saturday. Following is the intentions of the workshop. For the past two conferences, workshops on application of GIS for marine mammal study and management have drawn attentions. Among the topics discussed, development of spatial/temporal models has drawn great interests among marine mammal scientists. Spatial/temporal models are used to predict potential habitats/locations of marine mammals, which would greatly contribute to marine mammal management. Varieties of models were proposed, and several papers have been published in journals. This workshop/symposium explores current development of spatial/temporal models. Simultaneously, it explores models' potentials and deficiencies for practical application to marine mammal management. It explores gaps between research and management. I am exploring people who are interested in presenting topics of 1) recent development of spatial/temporal models 2) case studies in which models are used for management successfully and unsuccessfully. I am also open to any of your suggestions to make the workshop more interesting, informative, and fruitful. Further more, I am looking for people who will help me carry out the workshop. This is my first time to organize a workshop, and your help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!! 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: Wed, 2 Jul 2003 03:12:55 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: BMC ecology (fwd) From: NozeresC(\)dfo-mpo.gc.ca Hello, Just thought you might like to take a peek at this recent& free, online journal which has a few marmam-related articles from time to time. http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcecol/ Cheers, Claude -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2003 11:44:50 +0100 From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Harun=20Guclusoy?= Subject: Status of Med. Monk Seal in Foca, Turkey ------ Dear All, =20 The abstract of our article on monk seals which has recently been published as follows: =20 Guclusoy, H. & Savas Y. 2003. Status of the Mediterranean Monk Seal, Monachus =20 monachus, in the Foca Pilot Monk Seal Conservation=20 Area, Turkey. Zoology in the Middle East 28:5-16. " The Status of the Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus, has been studied over a five-year period between 1994 and 1998 in the Fo=E7a Pilot Monk Seal Conservation Area. The identification of individual seals occuring in the area, their spatial distribution and biology were studied using the results of direct cave surveys, land-based seal observations, and interviews. The population of monk seals was estimated to consisted of 9 individuals, 6 of which were adult females and 3 were juveniles (one female, one male and one of unknown sex). Islands off Fo=E7a town provide suitable habitats and promote the survival of species. Of the 11 caves identified, two were found to be used for reproduction." =20 For those who are interested in to receive reprints can write to me. =20 Sincerely, Harun Guclusoy Underwater Research Society / Monk Seal Research Group Fo=E7a Project Office P.O.Box.12, 35680 Foca, Izmir,Turkey hguclusoy(\)yahoo.com =20 ________________________________________________________________________ Want to chat instantly with your online friends? Get the FREE Yahoo! Messenger http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2003 13:04:11 +0200 Reply-To: kbarthval(\)gmx.de From: Klaus Barthelmess Subject: New Book: 17th-Century Bowhead & Right Whaling ------ Dear Marmamers, this is to announce the publication of a new German source book on 17th-century bowhead and right whaling in the North Atlantic. Its title translates as:=20 THE FIRST PRINTED GERMAN WHALING JOURNAL. CHRISTIAN BULLEN=92S DAILY RECORD OF A HAMBURG WHALING VOYAGE TO SPITSBERGEN AND NORTHERN NORWAY IN THE YEAR 1667. 335 years after its first publication, the earliest printed German whaling journal is again available to the interested public. In his 1948 =84Bibliography of whaling=93, Jenkins had noted that the only extan= t copy known was in the Bremen Municipal Library. Sadly, this copy has been missing since World War Two. Now another copy has been discovered and in addition, a hitherto completely unknown second edition of 1677.=20 Both form the basis of a careful transcription and scholarly edition now in print again. When early in 1667, all hopes to enroll in the Dutch merchant marine had come to nil, the German sailor Christian Bullen out of necessity mustered on board a Hamburg whaleship in the rank of a coxwain. Although published already in the following year, the journal he kept on board during this voyage is one of the rarest sources on 17th century whaling in the North Atlantic and Eastern Arctic. The author describes not only bowhead (Balaena mysticetus) whaling and right whaling (Eubalaena glacialis) off Spitzbergen and Northern Norway, but also offers detailed insights into shipboard life. The toils in chasing and processing the giant prey (4 bowheads taken, of which 2 =84dauhval=93= , 1 right whale taken, 2 struck-and-lost), emergency manoeuvers in sea storms and to avoid collisions with ice, the funeral of a shipmate, the ruthlessness of the shipowners, but also the beauty of Arctic nature and the folklore of the whale hunters, all these aspects are covered in Bullen=92s =84daily register=93.=20 An exhaustive scholarly commentary and over 70 illustrations (half of which in color, a substantial part from contemporary depictions, mostly hithertoe unpublished) introduce to the present-day reader life on a whaleship three centuries ago. The first printed German whaling journal is an important source on whale ecology, sea ice conditions, and practical seamanship of the late 17th century. Bullen=92s scarce, 24-pages imprint has been edited by Cologne whaling historian and collector Klaus Barthelmess, who also wrote the extensive commentary (with additions by glaciologist Boerge Pflueger and maritime art historian Hendrik Busmann). Barthelmess has authored and co-authored several books and numerous articles on cetacean-related topics.=20 Klaus Barthelmess: Das erste gedruckte deutsche Walfangjournal - Christian Bullens =84Tag=3DRegister=93 einer Hamburger Fangreise nach Spitzbergen und Nordnorwegen im Jahre 1667. [the first printed German whaling journal. Christian Bullen=92s daily record of a Hamburg whaling voyage to Spitsbergen and Northern Norway in the year 1667; in German]. Amsterdam: De Bataafsche Leeuw, in cooperation with the German Maritime Museum, Bremerhaven, 2003. 128 pages, 2 tables, 5 maps, 70 illustrations, approx. half of which in color, notes, bibliography, hardcover, dust jacket. ISBN 90 6707 568 X. price 27. 50 Euro. International orders: =20 De Bataafsche Leeuw =20 Rooseveltlaan 191 =20 NL - 1079 AP Amsterdam =20 +31 - 20 - 644 64 58 =20 bataaf(\)euronet.nl =20 orders from Germany: =20 Deutsches Schiffahrtsmuseum =20 Redaktion =20 Hans-Scharoun-Platz 1 =20 27568 Bremerhaven =20 0471 - 48207-28 =20 schnall(\)dsm.de =20 Klaus Barthelmess P.O. Box 62 02 55 50695 Cologne Germany barthval(\)t-online.de ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2003 18:55:29 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: abstract submission update for 4th World Fisheries Conference (fwd) From: Liz Mitchell The abstract submission date for the 4th World Fisheries Congress (to be held in British Columbia, Canada, 2-6 May 2004) has been extended to 5 August 2003. The Congress theme is, "Reconciling Fisheries with Conservation, the Challenge of Managing Aquatic Ecosystems". One of the concurrent sessions that may be of interest to MARMAM members is: Management measures for reconciling fisheries with conservation: Bycatch reduction, improvements in fishing gear and techniques, rectifying wasteful and destructive fisheries. Liz Mitchell -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2003 10:32:38 +0100 From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Harun=20Guclusoy?= Subject: Interaction between monk seals and fishfarms in the Turkish Aegean ------ Dear All, Below you will find the abstract of our recent publication on interaction between monk seals and fish farms. For those who are interested in receiving reprints (PDF is avail) , can write to me. G=FC=E7l=FCsoy, Harun & Savas, Yalcin (2003) Interaction between monk seals Monachus monachus (Hermann, 1779) and marine fish farms in the Turkish Aegean and management of the problem. Aquaculture Research 34 (9), 777-783. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2109.2003.00884.x Abstract=20 Mediterranean monk seals Monachus monachus attacked fish on 11 marine fish farms in the Turkish Aegean between 1992 and 2000. There were 40 attacks on=20 fish farms where gilthead sea bream Sparus auratus and European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax were raised in holding cages. Single seals usually attacked cages at night, regardless of the size of fish in the cages.=20 The seals damaged both holding nets of the cages and fish and, on most occasions, fish escaped as a result of the attacks. With the exception of only one facility, all fish farms attacked by monk seals were concentrated on the large peninsulas including Karaburun and Bodrum Peninsulas, and the number of seal attacks was higher during the winter months. A direct intervention to deter seals such as=20 the use of lights, feeding with pesticide-injected fish, noise generation, warning and direct shots with rifles and physical exclusion of seals from=20 holding cages by installing antipredator nets were applied to prevent or reduce seal attacks. Our study shows that deterrents such as lights and warning shots were not effective in preventing monk seal attacks. However, both curtain- and bag-type antipredator nets were found to be effective. Best wishes, Harun Guclusoy ________________________________________________________________________ Want to chat instantly with your online friends? Get the FREE Yahoo! Messenger http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com/ ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2003 04:46:59 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: INWR - Digest : Number 25 -- June 2003: Part I (fwd) INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FOR WHALING RESEARCH (INWR) INWR DIGEST: Part I Number 25 June 2003 ISSN 1192-3539 Editorial As this editorial is written, the IWC is holding its 55th annual meeting in Berlin. In the past, we would have waited until the meeting ended before distributing INWR Digest, in order to report decisions taken that might affect whaling. However, with easy access to the IWC website we decided that delay was unnecessary. We will, however, post various IWC items on the INWR website as soon as available. In this issue of the Digest, we report on the appearance of a new book (edited by William G.C. Burns and Alexander Gillespie), and an Australian academic dissertation (by Michael Heazle), both of which contain analysis and commentary on IWC performance in the past and today. ICELAND ANNOUNCES WHALING DECISION Reuters reported on March 16 2003 that Iceland will submit its whaling research plans to the International Whaling Commission for discussion at the 55th IWC meeting in Berlin. This move to resume scientific whaling under Article VIII of the international whaling treaty is a key step toward resuming whaling. However, according to the Icelandic government spokesman, Iceland is unlikely to resume commercial whaling before 2006. The majority of Icelanders favour a resumption of whaling, with concerns being expressed that the expanding populations of whales in the North Atlantic represent a threat to the nation's fisheries. Some critics of whaling suggest a return to whaling might impact the country's tourism business. FAROE ISLANDS TO IMPORT WHALE MEAT The Faroes Islands will begin importing minke whale meat from Norway starting this year. Since the early 1980s, when the Faroese suspended the hunting of minke and fin whales, pilot whaling has regularly provided the islanders with meat and blubber. The annual pilot whale hunt currently supplies about 30 percent of locally-produced meat in the Faroe Islands. The Faroe Islands consists of 18 mountainous islands, situated between Scotland and Iceland, first settled in 1100 AD by the Norse ancestors of the present population that today numbers 47,000. The Faroes authorities determined in August 2002 that there were no legal obstacles to importing whale products from Norway. Norway has a reservation on the Appendix I listing by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora) which allows that country to engage in international trade in minke whale products. The CITES restrictions on whale trade are inconsistent with Faroese government authority over marine resources' management and trade so do not apply, thus allowing the legal importation of whale products. NORWEGIAN WHALE CATCHES Norwegian small-type whaling was temporarily halted in 1986 following the IWC-instituted pause in commercial whaling. Quotas began being set in the 1970s, with the quota reduced to zero in 1986. In 1993 the hunt resumed with quotas set by the Norwegian authorities. Small-type whaling catches of minke whale averaged 2580 per year between 1946 - 1985 (range 771 - 4341). The catches (and quotas) from 1993-2002, based upon the IWC Revised Management Procedure (RMP), are as follows: 1993: 226 (295) 1998: 625 (671) 1994: 280 (301) 1999: 589 (763) 1995: 218 (232) 2000: 487 (655) 1996: 388 (425) 2001: 549 (549) 1997: 503 (580) 2002: 634 (671) The 2003 quota is 711; at the time or writing, 400 whales had been taken from the stock numbering 107,000 minke whales. The season extends from May 12-August 31. Norway has resumed exporting whale meat and blubber, to Iceland and the Faroe Islands. On May 27 2003, Japan announced that it would begin importing whale products from Norway after technical details associated with the DNA-based trade control scheme and food safety are in place. Although Norwegian whalers today only catch minke whales, bottlenose whales were also taken in the Norwegian small-type whaling fishery from 1946 - 1973. The bottlenose fishery took an average annual catch of 201 (range: 17 - 695) between the years 1946 to 1971. Small numbers of killer whale (range: 9 - 246) and pilot whale (range: 0 - 339) were also taken from the the 1940s to the 1970s. KOREAN WHALING FESTIVAL The Ulsan Whaling Festival was held in the Korean port city of Ulsan (population ca. 500,000) on May 30-31 2003. The festival celebrates this city's historical connection with whaling, with the festival taking place for the past five years in Namgu Ward, the port area of the city where whales are landed. At the present time, the only whales landed are from fishers' by-catch which includes about 50 minke whales each year. During the festival, whale cooking demonstrations are held and free whale dishes, using various parts of the whale, are available to those attending. Booths and displays provide information about Korean and Japanese whaling, and a number of Korean drum groups and an invited children's drum group from the Goto Islands (Japan) performed whalers' music in 2003. The Korean government will invite the IWC to hold its 57th Annual Meeting (in 2005) in Ulsan. CHUKOTKAN WHALERS' ORGANIZATION The Association of Traditional Marine Mammal Hunters of Chukotka has undertaken a number of activities over the past several years. The Association has an elected Chairman and Board, assisted by a 12-person Scientific Coordinating Council. The association has established commissions on whale harvesting, Pacific walrus, polar bear, and reindeer. Studies have been completed on indigenous knowledge of bowhead and gray whale migration patterns, traditional medical knowledge, boat building, and documenting indigenous cultural and nutritional need for bowhead and gray whales in Chukotka. This last study was tabled at the 2002 IWC meeting. Projects monitoring walrus hunting and documenting migration routes of wild and domestic reindeer (the latter with the Chukchi Reindeer Herders' Union) have also been initiated. Chukotkan and Alaskan natives' cultural relationships to polar bears, and indigenous knowledge of polar bear migrations, denning, and feeding areas have been carried out with the Alaskan Nanuuq Commission. Since 1996, representatives of the Association have attended IWC and NAMMCO meetings as members of the Russian official delegations. The Association holds that aboriginal whalers' have a right to sell their surplus production, with such trade constituting an integral part of their culture. CETACEANS IN A CHANGING WORLD A book titled Cetaceans in a Changing World, edited by William C.G. Burns and Alexander Gillespie (see Publication section below), has recently been published. The book contains the following chapters and documents: ! Japan's position in the International Whaling Commission. Yasuo Iino and Dan Goodman; ! Culture-based conflict in the International Whaling Commission: the case of Japanese small-type whaling. Milton M.R. Freeman; ! I am here, where should I be? Ray Gambell; ! The framework for conservation of whales and other cetaceans as components of marine biodiversity. Patricia Birnie; ! NAMMCO -- Regional cooperation, sustainable use, sustainable communities. Grete Hovelsrud-Broda; ! The competence of pro-consumptive international organizations to regulate cetacean resources. Howard S. Schiffman; ! Small cetaceans: status, threats, and management. Kieran Mulvaney and Bruce McKay; ! Small cetaceans, international law, and the International Whaling Commission. Alexander Gillespie; ! The Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Seas. Robin Churchill; ! Evaluating the threat from pollution to whales. Mark P. Simmonds; ! Climate change and the International Whaling Commission. William C. G. Burns; ! Whales: the new scapegoats for overfishing. Michael Donoghue. JAPAN'S WHALE RESEARCH DISCUSSION The INWR website has posted a discussion surrounding the Japanese North Pacific (JARPN II) and Antarctic (JARPA) whale research programs. This issue of concern is whether this research has scientific merit, a matter that is subject to rigorous and sustained examination in the IWC Scientific Committee. The INWR website has posted the text of an Open Letter sent by a number of scientists in May 2002 to the Government of Japan (and appearing as an advertisement in the New York Times) claiming the research is bogus. These claims were challenged in an article in Bioscience which attracted comments in support of the Open Letter. The editor of Bioscience ended the discussion in the May issue of the journal, but in view of the interest being expressed, we decided to allow the discussion to continue online in the ISSUES section of INWR website. Readers are invited to participate in this forum. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- International Network for Whaling Research www.ualberta.ca/~inwr Editor: Milton Freeman Canadian Circumpolar Institute University of Alberta Edmonton, AB T6G 0H1 Canada Tel: 1-780-492-4682 Fax: 1-780-492-1153 milton.freeman(\)ualberta.ca Associate Editors Klaus Barthelmess Whaling Research Project PO Box 620255 50695 Cologne Germany Tel: 49-221-740-5790 Fax: 49-221-740-5791 barthval(\)gmx.de Louwrens Hacqueboard Arctic Centre, University of Groningen PO Box 716 9700 AS Groningen The Netherlands Tel: 31-50-363-6834 Fax: 31-50-363-4900 l.hacquebord(\)let.rug.nl -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2003 16:32:20 -0000 Reply-To: David Lusseau From: David Lusseau Organization: University of Aberdeen Subject: New article: Fiordland bottlenose dolphins and network topology Dear all, The following article is now available from the Proceedings of the Royal Society series B (Biology Letters): Lusseau, D. The emergent properties of a dolphin social network. Abstract. Many complex networks, including human societies, the Internet, the World Wide Web and power grids, have surprising scale-free properties that allow vertices (individuals, nodes, Web pages, etc.) to be in close contact and information to be transferred quickly between them. Nothing is known of the emerging properties of animal societies, but it would be expected that similar trends would emerge from the topology of animal social networks. Despite its small size (64 individuals), the Doubtful Sound community of bottlenose dolphins has the same characteristics. The connectivity of individuals follows a complex distribution that has a scale-free power-law distribution for large k. In addition, the ability for two individuals to be in contact is unaffected by the random removal of individuals. The removal of individuals with many links to others does affect the length of the "information" path between two individuals, but, unlike other scale-free networks, it does not fragment the cohesion of the social network. These self-organising phenomena allow the network to remain united, even in the case of catastrophic death events. pdf version available on request. All the best, David David Lusseau University of Aberdeen Department of Zoology Lighthouse Field Station George St Cromarty Ross-shire IV11 8YJ Scotland Tel/Fax: 44 (0) 1381 600 548 Lighthouse Field Station (University of Aberdeen): http://www.abdn.ac.uk/~nhi519/lighthse/index.hti New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust: http://nzwhaledolphintrust.tripod.com/home/ Marine Mammal Research Gorup (University of Otago): http://www.otago.ac.nz/marinescience/mammals/home.htm Fiordland Research (University of Otago) http://www.otago.ac.nz/marinescience/fiords/home.htm ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2003 02:09:31 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Young Delphinus capensis in rehabilitation (fwd) From: =3D?iso-8859-1?q?Sociedad=3D20Ecologica=3D20SEA=3D20VIDA?=3D Dear friends and colleagues: A young long-snouted common dolphin stranded alive several weeks ago and is being rehabilitated in Margarita Island, northeastern Venezuela. This is the first time that a rehabilitation attempt lasts so much time and th= e Ministry of Environment and its Biodiversity Agency have asked our opinion. Though release is the first priority, we need to be sure that it will be for the welfare of the dolphin, so we require advise and opinions of experienced colleagues who are familiar with this species in captivity and/or release attempts of dolphins. Thank you very much in advance. Sincerely Jaime =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Jaime Bola=F1os J. Director Ejecutivo SOCIEDAD ECOLOGICA VENEZOLANA VIDA MARINA SEA VIDA A.P. 162, Cagua, Estado Aragua,=20 Venezuela 2122 -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ =09 =09 =09 __________________________________________ Correo Yahoo! - 6MB de espacio =A1Gratis! http://correo.yahoo.es ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2003 15:38:53 -0600 Reply-To: inwr(\)quartz.srv.ualberta.ca From: Elaine Maloney Subject: INWR - Digest : Number 25 -- June 2003: Part II boundary="=====================_27160424==_.ALT" --=====================_27160424==_.ALT INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FOR WHALING RESEARCH (INWR) INWR DIGEST: Part 2 Number 25 June 2003 ISSN 1192-3539 --------------------------------------------------------------------------= =20 cont'd SCIENTIFIC UNCERTAINTY IN THE IWC A recently completed doctoral dissertation has examined the manner in which= =20 scientific uncertainty has been used to influence decision-making in the=20 IWC. The dissertation is titled A History of Scientific Uncertainty in the= =20 International Whaling Commission, by Michael Heazle, and the abstract is=20 reproduced below. For full bibliographic information see Publications=20 section below. Since its founding in 1949, the International Whaling Commission=92= s=20 (IWC) policies have been profoundly influenced by scientific uncertainty=20 issues. In the 1950s, prior to the collapse of the Antarctic stocks,=20 scientific uncertainty issues in the IWC - for the then majority of whaling= =20 members - had meant that there were no compelling arguments for reducing=20 catches, an interpretation that led to unsustainable catches and the=20 eventual collapse of the Antarctic stocks. But by the late 1970s when the= =20 majority of IWC members no longer maintained any whaling interests, this=20 reasoning had been turned on its head and was being employed by a majority= =20 of non-whaling governments to argue that uncertainty gave good reason for=20 stopping, rather than continuing, commercial whaling. This dramatic switch in how the majority of IWC members treated=20 uncertainty issues in policy making and the reasons why their views changed= =20 represents the main focus of this study=92s examination of the IWC. The=20 thesis argues that the common view of science as an entirely rational mode= =20 of inquiry capable of producing objectives =93truths=94 about the world= should=20 be rejected on the basis of the various epistemological problems that have= =20 been raised concerning distinctions between science and other forms of=20 knowledge production. Thus, because science should not be seen as a=20 value-neutral enterprise capable of providing objective proofs, it is the=20 inherently political nature of science and its inability to provide=20 certainty that has allowed scientific uncertainty issues to be used as a=20 tool to argue for or against particular policies depending on the political= =20 priorities of the parties involved. Subsequently, competing scientific=20 theories or advice, in the IWC and elsewhere, have not simply been judged=20 in terms of the extent to which they are believed to be able to describe=20 reality, but rather are most often judged on the basis of how ell they=20 match the priorities and interests of policy makers. Over-hunting in the Antarctic during the post-war period occurred= =20 at a time when considerable uncertainty existed in relation to the ability= =20 of the IWC=92S scientists to estimate whale populations and the levels of=20 hunting those populations could support. The high levels of uncertainty=20 which often characterised the IWC Scientific Committee=92s advice during= this=20 period were often used by the Antarctic whaling countries (to varying=20 degrees) to reject warnings by scientists that some species were being=20 depleted. For the whaling companies and their respective governments, the= =20 likelihood of whaling becoming unprofitable as a result of lower quotas=20 appeared far more certain, and was of much greater concern, than the risk=20 of depleting the Antarctic stocks, due to the inability of scientists to=20 clearly demonstrate that this was indeed happening. Improvements in=20 cetacean science and, in particular, the scientific community=92s=20 understanding of population dynamics n fisheries had occurred by the late=20 1950s and early 1960s. But these improvements were only in time to explain= =20 the self-evident collapse of the Antarctic stocks that had already=20 occurred, and confirm what the Scientific Committee had long suspected but= =20 was unable to demonstrate with acceptable certainty. The ensuing decline of commercial whaling=92s profitability over= the=20 following decade saw the withdrawal of all but two of the antarctic whaling= =20 nations from large-scale whaling - a trend which coincided with scientific= =20 uncertainty being raised far less frequently within the commission to block= =20 lower quotas and the protection of some species. By the early 1970's=20 however, uncertainty again had become an important issue in terms of IWC=20 policy. Former whaling countries, in particular the United States, ere now= =20 calling for a ten year ban on commercial whaling on the basis of how little= =20 was known about whale species and populations. As more and more members=20 ceased whaling during the 1970s and new non-whaling members joined the=20 commission, support for this entirely different perception of what=20 scientific uncertainty should mean in relation to policy making gathered=20 momentum and finally led to the IWC=92S adoption of the 1982 moratorium on= =20 commercial hunting. Indeed, in their interpretation and treatment of scientific advice= =20 and the uncertainty issues it inevitably entails, policy makers in the IWC= =20 generally have accepted or rejected scientific advice on the basis of how=20 well the advice on offer matches or compliments their individual political= =20 goals. It is the contention of this thesis, therefore, that scientific=20 uncertainty issues have played a key role in the policy choices of various= =20 IWC members because of their openness to be either emphasised or=20 downplayed, depending on the nature of the advice at hand and its=20 compatibility with the policies of the relevant policy makers. PUBLICATIONS Barthelmess, K., H. Busmann 2003. Zwei Walfanggem=E4lde des 17 Jahrhunderts= =20 aus der Sammlung Hugu Buhn im Deutschen Schiffahrtsmuseum. Deutsches=20 Schiffahrtsarchiv 25: 19-40. Bremerhavn DSM & Hamburg: Convent. ISSN=20 0343-3625 Bode, Matthias 2002. Wale and Walfang in der Antike. Laverna 13:1-23. Burns, William C.G. and Alexander Gillespie (eds) 2003. The Future of=20 Cetaceans in a Changing World. 484 pp. Ardsley NY: Transnational=20 Publishers. ISBN 1-57105-262-3. US$125 Clapham, P.J. et al. 2003. Whaling as science. Bioscience 53(3):210-212. Colten, R.H. 2002. Prehistoric marine mammal hunting in context: two=20 western North American examples. International Journal of Zooarcheology=20 12(1):12-22. Endo T., K. Haraguchi and M. Sakata 2002. Mercury and selenium=20 concentrations in the internal organs of toothed whales and dolphins=20 marketed for human consumption in Japan. Science of the Total Environment=20 300(1-3):15-22. Enghoff, Inge Brdker 2003. Hunting, fishing and animal husbandry at The=20 Farm Beneath the Sand, West Greenland. Meddelelser om Grrnland Man and=20 Society 28, 104 pp. 50 figs. Frank, S.M. 2003. Kuniyoshi and the Prosperity of Seven Shores. A garland=20 of Japanese woodblock prints of whales and whaling, with a short history of= =20 whaling in Japan. Deutsches Schiffahrtsarchiv 25: 145-165. Bremerhavn DSM &= =20 Hamburg: Convent, 2003 pp. ISSN 0343-3625 Goodman, Dan. 2003. Japan's proper whaling research. Bioscience 53(3):448. Hacquebord, L. 2003. Walvisvangst en Traankokerijen in de Bellsund op=20 Spitsbergen. In L. Akeveld et al. (eds), In het kielzog=20 Maitiem-historische studies aangeboden aan Jaap R. Bruijn bij zijn vertrek= =20 als hoogleraar zeegeschiedenis aan de Universiteit Leiden. Amsterdam: De=20 Bataafsche Leeuw. pp. 270-281. ISBN 90-6707-565-5. Heazle, Michael 2003. A History of Scientific Uncertainty in the=20 International Whaling Commission ix + 248 pp., tables, maps. Ph.D=20 Dissertation, School of International Business and Asian Studies, Griffith= =20 University, Brisbane, Australia. Heide-Jrrgensen, M.P. and A. Rosing-Asvid 2003. Catch statistics for=20 belugas in West Greenland 1862-1999. NAMMCO Sci. Publ. 4:127-142 [An error= =20 occurred when this article was cited in INWR Digest 24]. Holt, S.J. 2003. The tortuous history of "scientific" Japanese whaling.=20 Bioscience 53(3):204-206. Jolles, Carol Zane, with Elinor Mikaghaq Oozeva 2002. Faith, Food and=20 Family in a Yupik Whaling Community. Seattle and London: University of=20 Washington Press. pp. 344. ISBN 0-295-98189-X. US$50. Kato, H. and T. Kasuya 2002. Some analyses on the modern whaling catch=20 history of thr western North Pacific stock of gray whales (Eschrichtius=20 robustus). Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 4(3):277-282. Komatsu, Masayuki and Shigeko Misaki 2002. Whales and the Japanese. 170=20 pp., illus., maps. Tokyo: The Institute of Cetacean Research. ISBN=20 4-9901688-0-1. Kruse, Birgir (editor) 2002. Hunters of the North/Fangskultur in=20 Vestnorden. 176 pp, photos, art, maps, bibliography. Torshavn: Forlagix=20 Sprotin. ISBN 99918-44-69-4. Meinhold, Stephanie 2003. Designing an education program to manage the=20 undesirable effects of whale watching. M.A. thesis, Royal Roads University,= =20 Victoria BC, Canada. Orians, G. et al. 2003. "Scientists versus whaling": whose errors of=20 judgement? Bioscience 53(3):200-203. Reeves, R.R., S.L. Swartz, S.E. Wetmore and P.J. Clapham 2001. Historical=20 occurrence and distribution of humpback whales in the eastern and southern= =20 Caribbean Sea, based on data from American whaling logbooks. Journal of=20 Cetacean Research and Management 3(2):117-129. Reeves, R.R. and T.D. Smith 2002. Historical catch enning, and feeding=20 areas have of humpback whales in the North Atlantic Ocean: an overview of=20 sources. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 4(3):219-234. Richards, Rhys 2002. Southern right whales: a reassessment of their former= =20 distribution and migration routes in New Zealand waters, including the=20 Kermadec grounds. Journal of the Royal society of New Zealand 32(3):355-377. Scarff J.E. 2001. Preliminary estimates of whaling-induced mortality of=20 19th century North Pacific right whales (Eubalaena japonicus) fishery,=20 adjusted for struck-but-lost whales and non-American whaling. Journal of=20 Cetacean Research and Management (special issue): 2:261-268 Schols, A. 2002. Ter walvisaart. Dagboek van een jonge walvisvaarder op de= =20 WILLEM BARENDSZ. Leeuwarden: Friese Pers Boekerij. 193 pp., illus., A4.=20 29.90 Euro. Simmonds, M.P., K. Hamaguchi, T. Endo, F. Cipriano, S.R. Palumbi and G.M.=20 Troisi 2002. Human health significance of organochlorine and mercury=20 contaminants in Japanese whale meat. Journal of Toxicology and=20 Environmental Health Part A 65(17):1211-1235 Starke, J. (ed) 2003. Experiences of George Laing, a Scottish surgeon, in=20 the Arctic whaling fleet 1830 and 1831. Beverley: Hutton Press, 87 pp.,=20 illus., br. =A37.95. ISBN 1-902709-20-9. Weller, D.W., A.M. Burden, B. W=FCrsig, B.L. Taylor and R.L. Brownell 2002.= =20 The western North Pacific gray whale: a review of past exploitation,=20 current status and potential threats. Journal of Cetacean Research and=20 Management 4(1):7-12. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------= ----------------------------------------- International Network for Whaling Research www.ualberta.ca/~inwr Editor: Milton Freeman Canadian Circumpolar Institute University of Alberta Edmonton, AB T6G 0H1 Canada Tel: 1-780-492-4682 Fax: 1-780-492-1153 milton.freeman(\)ualberta.ca Associate Editors Klaus Barthelmess Whaling Research Project PO Box 620255 50695 Cologne Germany Tel: 49-221-740-5790 Fax: 49-221-740-5791 barthval(\)gmx.de Louwrens Hacqueboard Arctic Centre, University of Groningen PO Box 716 9700 AS Groningen The Netherlands Tel: 31-50-363-6834 Fax: 31-50-363-4900 l.hacquebord(\)let.rug.nl =20 --=====================_27160424==_.ALT INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FOR WHALING RESEARCH (INWR)

INWR DIGEST: Part 2

Number 25             June 2003 ISSN 1192-3539
------------------------------------------------------------------------= --            &n= bsp;        
cont'd

SCIENTIFIC UNCERTAINTY IN THE IWC

A recently completed doctoral dissertation has examined the manner in which scientific uncertainty has been used to influence decision-making in the IWC.  The dissertation is titled A History of Scientific Uncertainty in the International Whaling Commission, by Michael Heazle, and the abstract is reproduced below.  For full bibliographic information see Publications section below.
        Since its founding in 1949, the International Whaling Commission=92s (IWC) policies have been profoundly influenced by scientific uncertainty issues.  In the 1950s, prior to the collapse of the Antarctic stocks, scientific uncertainty issues in the IWC - for the then majority of whaling members - had meant that there were no compelling arguments for reducing catches, an interpretation that led to unsustainable catches and the eventual collapse of the Antarctic stocks.  But by the late 1970s when the majority of IWC members no longer maintained any whaling interests, this reasoning had been turned on its head and was being employed by a majority of non-whaling governments to argue that uncertainty gave good reason for stopping, rather than continuing, commercial whaling.
        This dramatic switch in how the majority of IWC members treated uncertainty issues in policy making and the reasons why their views changed represents the main focus of this study=92s examination of the IWC.  The thesis argues that the common view of science as an entirely rational mode of inquiry capable of producing objectives =93truths=94 about the world should be rejected on the basis of the various epistemological problems that have been raised concerning distinctions between science and other forms of knowledge production.  Thus, because science should not be seen as a value-neutral enterprise capable of providing objective proofs, it is the inherently political nature of science and its inability to provide certainty that has allowed scientific uncertainty issues to be used as a tool to argue for or against particular policies depending on the political priorities of the parties involved.  Subsequently, competing scientific theories or advice, in the IWC and elsewhere, have not simply been judged in terms of the extent to which they are believed to be able to describe reality, but rather are most often judged on the basis of how ell they match the priorities and interests of policy makers.
        Over-hunting in the Antarctic during the post-war period occurred at a time when considerable uncertainty existed in relation to the ability of the IWC=92S scientists to estimate whale populations and the levels of hunting those populations could support.  The high levels of uncertainty which often characterised the IWC Scientific Committee=92s advice during this period were often used by the Antarctic whaling countries (to varying degrees) to reject warnings by scientists that some species were being depleted.  For the whaling companies and their respective governments, the likelihood of whaling becoming unprofitable as a result of lower quotas appeared far more certain, and was of much greater concern, than the risk of depleting the Antarctic stocks, due to the inability of scientists to clearly demonstrate that this was indeed happening.  Improvements in cetacean science and, in particular, the scientific community=92s understanding of population dynamics n fisheries had occurred by the late 1950s and early 1960s.  But these improvements were only in time to explain the self-evident collapse of the Antarctic stocks that had already occurred, and confirm what the Scientific Committee had long suspected but was unable to demonstrate with acceptable certainty. 
        The ensuing decline of commercial whaling=92s profitability over the following decade saw the withdrawal of all but two of the antarctic whaling nations from large-scale whaling - a trend which coincided with scientific uncertainty being raised far less frequently within the commission to block lower quotas and the protection of some species.  By the early 1970's however, uncertainty again had become an important issue in terms of  IWC policy. Former whaling countries, in particular the United States, ere now calling for a ten year ban on commercial whaling on the basis of how little was known about whale species and populations.  As more and more members ceased whaling during the 1970s and new non-whaling members joined the commission, support for this entirely different perception of what scientific uncertainty should mean in relation to policy making gathered momentum and finally led to the IWC=92S adoption of the 1982 moratorium on commercial hunting.
        Indeed, in their interpretation and treatment of scientific advice and the uncertainty issues it inevitably entails, policy makers in the IWC generally have accepted or rejected scientific advice on the basis of how well the advice on offer matches or compliments their individual political goals. It is the contention of this thesis, therefore, that scientific uncertainty issues have played a key role in the policy choices of various IWC members because of their openness to be either emphasised or downplayed, depending on the nature of the advice at hand and its compatibility with the policies of the relevant policy makers.

PUBLICATIONS

Barthelmess, K., H. Busmann 2003. Zwei Walfanggem=E4lde des 17 Jahrhunderts aus der Sammlung Hugu Buhn im Deutschen Schiffahrtsmuseum. Deutsches Schiffahrtsarchiv 25: 19-40. Bremerhavn DSM & Hamburg: Convent. ISSN 0343-3625 <redaktion(\)dsm.de>

Bode, Matthias 2002. Wale and Walfang in der Antike. Laverna 13:1-23.

Burns, William C.G. and Alexander Gillespie (eds) 2003. The Future of Cetaceans in a Changing World. 484 pp. Ardsley NY: Transnational Publishers. ISBN 1-57105-262-3. US$125

Clapham, P.J. et al. 2003. Whaling as science. Bioscience 53(3):210-212.

Colten, R.H. 2002. Prehistoric marine mammal hunting in context: two western North American examples. International Journal of  Zooarcheology 12(1):12-22.
 
Endo T., K. Haraguchi and M. Sakata 2002. Mercury  and selenium concentrations in the internal organs of toothed whales and dolphins marketed for human consumption in Japan. Science of the Total Environment 300(1-3):15-22.

Enghoff, Inge Brdker 2003. Hunting, fishing and animal husbandry at The Farm Beneath the Sand, West Greenland. Meddelelser om Grrnland Man and Society 28, 104 pp. 50 figs.

Frank, S.M. 2003. Kuniyoshi and the Prosperity of Seven Shores. A garland of Japanese woodblock prints of whales and whaling, with a short history of whaling in Japan. Deutsches Schiffahrtsarchiv 25: 145-165. Bremerhavn DSM & Hamburg: Convent, 2003 pp. ISSN 0343-3625 <redaktion(\)dsm.de>

Goodman, Dan. 2003. Japan's proper whaling research. Bioscience 53(3):448.

Hacquebord, L. 2003. Walvisvangst en Traankokerijen in de Bellsund op Spitsbergen.  In L. Akeveld et al. (eds), In het kielzog Maitiem-historische studies aangeboden aan Jaap R. Bruijn bij zijn vertrek als hoogleraar zeegeschiedenis aan de Universiteit Leiden. Amsterdam: De Bataafsche Leeuw. pp. 270-281. ISBN 90-6707-565-5.

Heazle, Michael 2003. A History of Scientific Uncertainty in the International Whaling Commission ix + 248 pp., tables, maps. Ph.D Dissertation, School of International Business and Asian Studies, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.

Heide-Jrrgensen, M.P. and A. Rosing-Asvid 2003. Catch statistics for belugas in West Greenland 1862-1999. NAMMCO Sci. Publ. 4:127-142 [An error occurred when this article was cited in INWR Digest 24].

Holt, S.J. 2003. The tortuous history of "scientific" Japanese whaling. Bioscience 53(3):204-206.

Jolles, Carol Zane, with Elinor Mikaghaq Oozeva 2002. Faith, Food and Family in a Yupik Whaling Community. Seattle and London: University of Washington Press. pp. 344. ISBN 0-295-98189-X. US$50.

Kato, H. and T. Kasuya 2002. Some analyses on the modern whaling catch history of thr western North Pacific stock of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus). Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 4(3):277-282.

Komatsu, Masayuki and Shigeko Misaki 2002. Whales and the Japanese. 170 pp., illus., maps. Tokyo:  The Institute of Cetacean Research. ISBN 4-9901688-0-1.

Kruse, Birgir (editor) 2002. Hunters of the North/Fangskultur in Vestnorden. 176 pp, photos, art, maps, bibliography. Torshavn: Forlagix Sprotin. ISBN 99918-44-69-4.

Meinhold, Stephanie 2003. Designing an education program to manage the undesirable effects of whale watching. M.A. thesis, Royal Roads University, Victoria BC, Canada.

Orians, G. et al. 2003. "Scientists versus whaling": whose errors of judgement? Bioscience 53(3):200-203.

Reeves, R.R., S.L. Swartz, S.E. Wetmore and P.J. Clapham 2001. Historical occurrence and distribution of humpback whales in the eastern and southern Caribbean Sea, based on data from American whaling logbooks. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 3(2):117-129.

Reeves, R.R. and T.D. Smith 2002. Historical catch enning, and feeding areas have of humpback whales in the North Atlantic Ocean: an overview of sources. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 4(3):219-234.

Richards, Rhys 2002. Southern right whales: a reassessment of their former distribution and migration routes in New Zealand waters, including the Kermadec grounds. Journal of the Royal society of New Zealand 32(3):355-377.

Scarff J.E. 2001. Preliminary estimates of whaling-induced mortality of 19th century North Pacific right whales (Eubalaena japonicus) fishery, adjusted for struck-but-lost whales and non-American whaling. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management (special issue): 2:261-268

Schols, A. 2002. Ter walvisaart. Dagboek van een jonge walvisvaarder op de WILLEM BARENDSZ. Leeuwarden: Friese Pers Boekerij. 193 pp., illus., A4. 29.90 Euro.

Simmonds, M.P., K. Hamaguchi, T. Endo, F. Cipriano, S.R. Palumbi and G.M. Troisi 2002. Human health significance of organochlorine and mercury contaminants in Japanese whale meat.  Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health
Part A 65(17):1211-1235

Starke, J. (ed) 2003. Experiences of George Laing, a Scottish surgeon, in the Arctic whaling fleet 1830 and 1831. Beverley: Hutton Press, 87 pp., illus., br. =A37.95. ISBN 1-902709-20-9.

Weller, D.W., A.M. Burden, B. W=FCrsig, B.L. Taylor and R.L. Brownell 2002. The western North Pacific gray whale: a review of past exploitation, current status and potential threats. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 4(1):7-12.

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

International Network for Whaling Research
www.ualberta.ca/~inwr

Editor:

Milton Freeman
Canadian Circumpolar Institute
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB T6G 0H1
Canada
Tel: 1-780-492-4682
Fax: 1-780-492-1153
milton.freeman(\)ualberta.ca

Associate Editors

Klaus Barthelmess
Whaling Research Project
PO Box 620255
50695 Cologne
Germany
Tel: 49-221-740-5790
Fax: 49-221-740-5791
barthval(\)gmx.de

Louwrens Hacqueboard
Arctic Centre, University of Groningen
PO Box 716
9700 AS Groningen
The Netherlands
Tel: 31-50-363-6834
Fax: 31-50-363-4900
l.hacquebord(\)let.rug.nl

         --=====================_27160424==_.ALT-- ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 6 Jul 2003 12:09:38 -0700 From: JIWLP Organization: Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy Subject: New Announcement List for the American Society of International Law - Wildlife Interest Group boundary="----=_NextPart_000_01B6_01C343B7.7E892860" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_01B6_01C343B7.7E892860 charset="us-ascii" The American Society of International Law's Wildlife Interest Group has established a new announcement list. To subscribe, send a message to: ASILWildlife-subscribe(\)yahoogroups.com This will be a very low volume list (probably 1-2 messages per month maximum) that will announce new site content additions, events sponsored by the group, including our annual International Wildlife Law Conference, and other new programs. If you were a subscriber to the site's former list, you must re-subscribe at this point under this new address. Recent additions to our site include the following: * As part of our ongoing project to post national wildlife law legislation, we have recently added legislation from Zimbabwe and Taiwan; * The resolutions from the most recent meeting of the International Whaling Commission in June 2003; * Over 300 new links have been added to our comprehensive "Wildlife Links on the Internet" page, which now contains more than 2000 links in 300 categories, http://www.jiwlp.com/cgi/links.cgi; * Upcoming: o Additions to our cetacean bibliographies, and the addition of two additional bibliographies; o The launching of the ASIL-WIG speakers bureau. We hope that you will subscribe to our announcement list and visit our site. William C.G. Burns, Co-Chair American Society of International Law - Wildlife Interest Group 1702 Arlington Blvd. El Cerrito, CA 94530 USA Ph: 650.281.9126 Fax: 801.838.4710 ASILWildlife(\)internationalwildlifelaw.org http://www.internationalwildlifelaw.org ------=_NextPart_000_01B6_01C343B7.7E892860 charset="us-ascii" New Announcement List for the American Society of International = Law - Wildlife Interest Group

The American = Society of International Law’s Wildlife Interest Group has established a new = announcement list. To subscribe, send a message to: ASILWildlife-subscribe(\)yahoogroups.com

This = will be a very low volume list (probably 1-2 messages per month = maximum) that will announce new = site content additions, events sponsored by the group, including our = annual International Wildlife Law Conference, and other new programs. If = you were a subscriber to the site’s former list, you must = re-subscribe at this point under this new = address.

Recent additions to our site include the = following:

·       As part = of our ongoing project to post national wildlife law legislation, we = have recently added legislation from Zimbabwe and Taiwan;

·       = The resolutions from the most recent meeting of the International = Whaling Commission in June 2003;
·       Over 300 new links have been added = to our comprehensive “Wildlife Links on the Internet” page, which now contains more than 2000 links in 300 = categories, http://www.jiwlp.com/cgi/links.cgi;

·       = Upcoming:
o       Additions to our cetacean = bibliographies, and the addition of two additional = bibliographies;
o       The launching of the ASIL-WIG speakers bureau.

We hope that = you will subscribe to our announcement list and visit our = site.

William C.G. Burns, = Co-Chair
American Society of International Law - Wildlife Interest Group
1702 Arlington Blvd.
El Cerrito, CA 94530 USA
Ph: 650.281.9126
Fax: 801.838.4710

ASILWildlife(\)internationalwildlifelaw.org

http://www.internationalwildlifelaw.org<= SPAN LANG=3D"en-us">

------=_NextPart_000_01B6_01C343B7.7E892860-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2003 09:36:02 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MARMAM Monthly Editorial Policy and FAQ Posted 7 July 2003 ==================================================== MARMAM Editorial Policy & 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. 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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. Posting of messages to the list is done at the Editors' discretion. ________________________________________________________ >> 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 announcements - internship/volunteer opportunities. 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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. What notices from regional groups are posted? Submissions from regional groups (for example, but not restricted to, the regional chapters of the American Cetacean Society or the regional student chapters of professional associations such as the Society for Marine Mammalogy) should carefully consider whether their announcements are relevant to 4,000+ recipients in 72 countries. Announcements about meetings of short duration (less that half a day) and with little or no scientifc content are discouraged. Notices dealing with internal chapter businesses or organizational matters will not be posted. Notices from regional student chapters 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). ________________________________________________________ 13. 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: http://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/ Oceans Blue Whalewatch Listserv: http://www.oceansblue.org/bluetourism/chartacourse/ BajaToBering/index.html ______________________________________________________ 14. 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) ________________________________________________________ 15. 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, 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 July 2002 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2003 17:02:09 -0500 From: Paul Watts Subject: Ethnoecology Program - whales, polar bears, seals, marine ecology boundary="----=_NextPart_000_002D_01C344A9.80A0F5E0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_002D_01C344A9.80A0F5E0 charset="iso-8859-1" I would like to post the following message: This is an opportunity to study in an unique ecological and cultural = environment at Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. The HUDSON BAY ETHNOECOLOGY = PROGRAM is running from August 16-30, 2003. Instructors include = representatives from the Cree, Dene, Inuit and Metis cultures. The = Biology portion of the program includes the critical ecology of beluga = whales, polar bears and a focus on the Abiotic, biotic and cultural = aspects of Hudson Bay resources. Terrestrial sections include a wide = range of plant identification, cariibou and fox ecology. A great deal of = walking is involved! Churchill costs are $695CAN which covers room/board = and all local transport and instructional expenses. Academic fees are = $545CAN for 4.5 Science Credits at the Unuviersity of Manitoba = (admission requirements are one year of University or College). Travel = from Winnipeg can be as inexpensive as $300CAN if you have time to take = the bus/train. For further details email pwatts(\)churchillmb.net ------=_NextPart_000_002D_01C344A9.80A0F5E0 charset="iso-8859-1"
I would like to post the following=20 message:
 
This is an opportunity to study in = an unique=20 ecological and cultural environment at Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. The = HUDSON=20 BAY ETHNOECOLOGY PROGRAM is running from August 16-30, 2003. Instructors = include=20 representatives from the Cree, Dene, Inuit and Metis cultures. The = Biology=20 portion of the program includes the critical ecology of beluga whales, = polar=20 bears and a focus on the Abiotic, biotic and cultural aspects of Hudson = Bay=20 resources. Terrestrial sections include a wide range of plant=20 identification, cariibou and fox ecology. A great deal of walking is = involved!=20 Churchill costs are $695CAN which covers room/board and all local = transport and=20 instructional expenses. Academic fees are $545CAN for 4.5 Science = Credits=20 at the Unuviersity of Manitoba (admission requirements are one year of=20 University or College). Travel from Winnipeg can be as inexpensive as = $300CAN if=20 you have time to take the bus/train. For further details email pwatts(\)churchillmb.net<= /DIV>
 
------=_NextPart_000_002D_01C344A9.80A0F5E0-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2003 23:38:25 +0200 From: "J.W. Broekema" Subject: ECS statement on marine mammals and sound ------ Final statement by the Council of the European Cetacean Society, based on= the request of the ECS membership at the 2002 Annual Conference at Las P= almas de Gran Canaria. The statement and more info on the ECS can be foun= d at the ECS web site. Marine mammals are acoustically diverse and present wide variations not o= nly in ear anatomy, but also in hearing range and sensitivity. Cetacean m= iddle and inner ears are structurally modified from those of terrestrial = mammals in ways that accommodate rapid pressure changes. The same adaptat= ions may, perhaps, provide protective mechanisms that lessen the risk of = injury from acoustic impact, but no behavioural or psychometric studies a= re available to support or even address this issue. Given the fact that marine mammals depend on sound for all aspects of the= ir life, there is no doubt that they are extremely vulnerable to man-made= , underwater noise. In light of an alarming recent increase in mortality = events, it is becoming clear that man-made noise, at different intensity = levels, negatively affects cetacean populations in important ways (17th E= uropean Cetacean Society Conference, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, March 20= 03: =93Marine Mammals and Sound=94). This includes, for example, the anim= als=92 displacement, avoidance reactions, collision with ships, stranding= and death. Evidence is particularly strong that high intensity active sonar, and pro= bably other loud noise sources, like those from shipping, gas exploration= , seismic surveys, etc., cause lesions in acoustic organs which are sever= e enough to be lethal. The same sources may also produce behaviours that = cause acute lesions which eventually lead the animals to strand and die (= Active Sonar Workshop, 17th ECS Conference, March 2003).=20 The current scientific knowledge on the effects of noise on marine mammal= s and their habitat is insufficient to understand the relationships of fr= equencies, intensities, and duration of exposures that produce injury.=20 In the face of this uncertainty, the European Cetacean Society Council co= nsiders that: 1 Research on the effects of man-made noise on marine mammals is urgently= needed and must be conducted to the highest standards of scientific and = public credibility, avoiding all conflicts of interest; 2 Non-invasive mitigation measures must be developed and implemented;=20 3 In areas of cetacean concentration, the use of underwater powerful nois= e sources should be limited until their short- and long-term effects on m= arine mammals are understood and can be taken into consideration; Objective parameters must be designed to assess the conservation of marin= e biodiversity and to help implement national and European policies on ma= rine noise pollution. Kind regards, European Cetacean Society http://www.broekemaweb.nl/ecs Jan Willem Broekema mailto:ecs-all-request(\)jiscmail.ac.uk Member of Council, web manager ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2003 13:41:07 -0400 From: Lori Marino Organization: Emory University Subject: New article on Kogia brain anatomy boundary="------------52B1B3F64A6DA523C796558F" --------------52B1B3F64A6DA523C796558F Dear MARMAMers, This is to let you know that our new article on the Kogia brain is available. The citation and an abstract follow: Marino, L., Sudheimer, K., Pabst, D. A., McLellan, W. A. and Johnson, J.I.. 2003. Magnetic resonance images of the brain of a dwarf sperm whale (Kogia simus). Journal of Anatomy, 203, 57-76. 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. Among cetaceans, there exist relatively few studies of the brain of the dwarf sperm whale (Kogia simus). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a means of observing the internal structure of the brain when traditional histological procedures are not practical. Therefore, MRI has become a critical tool in the study of the brain of cetaceans and other large species. This paper represents the first MRI-based anatomically-labeled three-dimensional description of the dwarf sperm whale brain. Coronal plane sections of the brain of an adult dwarf sperm whale were originally acquired and used to produce virtual digital scans in the other two orthogonal spatial planes. A sequential set of images in all three planes has been anatomically labeled and displays the proportions and positions of major neuroanatomical features. Electronic pdf reprints are available by sending a request to Lori Marino at lmarino(\)emory.edu. Thanks, Lori Marino --------------52B1B3F64A6DA523C796558F Dear MARMAMers,

    This is to let you know that our new article on the Kogia brain is available.  The citation and an abstract follow:

    Marino, L., Sudheimer, K., Pabst, D. A., McLellan, W. A. and Johnson, J.I.. 2003. Magnetic resonance images of the brain of a dwarf sperm whale (Kogia simus). Journal of Anatomy, 203, 57-76.

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.  Among cetaceans, there exist relatively few studies of the brain of the dwarf sperm whale (Kogia simus). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a means of observing the internal structure of the brain when traditional histological procedures are not practical. Therefore, MRI has become a critical tool in the study of the brain of cetaceans and other large species.  This paper represents the first MRI-based anatomically-labeled three-dimensional description of the dwarf sperm whale brain. Coronal plane sections of the brain of an adult dwarf sperm whale were originally acquired and used to produce virtual digital scans in the other two orthogonal spatial planes.  A sequential set of images in all three planes has been anatomically labeled and displays the proportions and positions of major neuroanatomical features.

    Electronic pdf reprints are available by sending a request to Lori Marino at lmarino(\)emory.edu.

    Thanks,

        Lori Marino --------------52B1B3F64A6DA523C796558F-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2003 16:10:37 +0100 From: "J.C.Goold" Subject: Sperm Whale Stranding Paper Dear List Subscribers, The following paper has just been published - a rather belated 2002 issue. The raw strandings data is included in 4 appendices. I have some reprints if anybody is interested. Best regards John Goold ---------- Goold J.C., Whitehead H. and Reid R.J. (2002). North Atlantic Sperm Whale Strandings on the Coastlines of the British Isles and Eastern Canada. The Canadian Field Naturalist 116(3), 371-388 ABSTRACT Sperm Whale stranding records for the British Isles and Eastern Canada were analysed to investigate short and long term stranding trends on either side of the North Atlantic Ocean. Annual stranding events across a ten year period from 1988 to 1997 showed no significant trend with time in either the British Isles or Eastern Canada, although stranding events were nearly three times as numerous on the Scottish Coast during this period than in any other region. Strandings during this period occurred throughout the year in Scotland, Ireland and Eastern Canada, but peaked in the Autumn and Winter periods. Strandings on the English Coast were the least numerous and occurred only in the Autumn and Winter. Decadal analysis of stranding events for the 20th Century as a whole showed significant exponential increases in Sperm Whale strandings in all regions of the British Isles (except England due to small sample size). Decadal stranding events were fitted to an exponential model which revealed a rate of increase of 14%/yr for the British Isles as a whole, beginning at about 1970. The stranding rate on the Scottish coast, 18%/yr, was twice that for Ireland, 9%/yr, with most of the strandings increase occurring in the offshore Scottish Islands. The time series data for eastern Canada was of insufficient extent to conduct a rigorous decadal analysis. Almost all stranded Sperm Whales on the British and East Canadian coasts have been males. Sperm Whale strandings have been most dense, and have increased fastest, in the offshore Scottish Islands of Hebrides, Orkney & Shetland. The data support no firm conclusions but valid hypotheses include increased reporting and anthropogenic effects, which may be acting synergistically. The increase in the British data is too dramatic to have been caused solely by a simple increase in Sperm Whale population size. Keywords: Sperm Whale, Physeter macrocephalus, Stranding, Canada, British Isles, Noise, Pollution, Seismic, Atlantic ----------------- Dr. John C. Goold Institute of Environmental Science University of Wales, Bangor Robinson Building Deiniol Road Bangor Gwynedd. LL57 2UW. UK. Tel: +44 (0)1248 388165 Fax: +44 (0)1248 383646 Email: j.c.goold(\)bangor.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2003 19:03:05 +0800 From: Ari Bautista Subject: cetacean meat detection in markets Dear MARMAMers, In the Philippines, cetaceans are protected by law from being taken, caught, eaten, slaughtered, sold, transported and exported. This, however, has done little to stop the consumption of cetaceans, whether hunted or by-caught. Common practice in some areas is the chopping and grilling of cetaceans on board a vessel so as not to be detected when brought to land. The meat is then surreptitiously sold in markets together with other dried fish and meat. I would like to inquire if anyone knows of any 'quick' and simple test that we can offer our law enforcers or fisheries staff to detect (or confirm) cetacean meat in markets, other than physical examination. It's a question that has been posed to us more than once during our IEC activities throughout the country. Any suggestions and recommendations would be of great help. Thanks! ------------------------------------------ Andrea Leonor S. Bautista, D.V.M. Project Manager Tanon Strait Initiative WWF-Philippines LBI Building #57 Kalayaan Avenue Quezon City 1101 Philippines email address: abautista(\)wwf.org.ph, aribautista(\)yahoo.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 23:27:46 +1200 From: "edu.secchi" Subject: Fw: Released second issue of the Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals ------ Dear Colleagues, We would like to announce the release of the second volume of The Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals (LAJAM). The contents are listed below: Mignucci-Giannoni, A.A., R.A.Montoya-Ospina and M.Velasco-Escudero (2003) Status of semi-captive manatees in Jamaica. The Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals. 2 (1): 7-12 Le Bas A.E. (2003) Renal handling of water, urea and electrolytes in wild South America Fur Seal (Arctocephalus australis). The Latin American Jour= nal of Aquatic Mammals. 2 (1): 13-20 Morete, M.E., R.M.Pace III, C.C.A.Martins, A.C.Freitas and M.H.Engel (200= 3) Indexing seasonal abundance of humpback whales around Abrolhos Archipelag= o, Bahia, Brazil. The Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals. 2 (1): 21-2= 8 Garc=EDa, C. and S.M.Dawson (2003) Distribution of pantropical spotted dolphins in Pacific coastal waters of Panama. The Latin American Journal = of Aquatic Mammals. 2 (1): 29-38 Moreno, I.B., D.Danilewicz, M.Borges-Martins, P.H.Ott, G.Caon and L.R.Oliveira (2003) Fraser's dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei Fraser, 1956) i= n Southern Brazil. The Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals. 2 (1): 39-46 L.B.Hassel, A.C.Venturotti, F.A.Magalhaes, S.Cuenca, S.Siciliano and F.F.C.Marques (2003) Summer sightings of dwarf minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) off the eastern coast of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. The Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals. 2 (1): 47-50 Rodr=EDguez, D., R.Bastida, S.Mor=F3n, S.R.Heredia and J.Loureiro (2003) Occurrence of leopard seals in Northern Argentina. The Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals. 2 (1): 51-54 F.A.Magalh=E3es, L.B.Hassel, A.C.Venturotti and S.Siciliano (2003) Southe= rn elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) on the coast of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. The Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals. 2 (1): 55-56 Freitas Netto, R. and L.A.Barbosa (2003) Cetaceans and fishery interactio= ns along the Esp=EDrito Santo State, Southeastern Brazil during 1994-2001. T= he Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals. 2 (1): 57-60 If anyone is interested in exchanging Journals with LAJAM, it can be done through the library of "Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense/UENF" (address below): Biblioteca do Centro de Bioci=EAncias e Biotecnologia/CBB Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Laborat=F3rio de Ci=EAncias Ambientais, CBB Av. Alberto Lamego, 2.000 - Campos dos Goytacazes - RJ 28013-600 BRASIL There still are some copies of the volume 1 (Special Issue on the Biology and Conservation of Franciscana) available. Further details on subscription can be obtained from the editors through = the e.mail address: lajam(\)infolink.com.br Best regards, Eduardo Secchi and Salvatore Siciliano Editors-in-chief ******************************************* Eduardo Secchi Marine Mammal Research Team Department of Zoology University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, NEW ZEALAND edu.secchi(\)xtra.co.nz W: +64 3 479-5240 H: +64 3 479-0412 Fax: +64 3 479-8336 Please check out the website of our research group at http://www.otago.ac.nz/marinescience/mammals/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2003 10:25:40 -0400 From: Naomi Rose Subject: FW: New whale-watching article ------ Dear MARMAMers: I am forwarding information on a newly published article on whale-watchin= g in Scotland. Naomi ************************** 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=20 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- A.J. Woods-Ballard ; E.C.M. Parsons ; A.J. Hughes ; K.A. Velander ; R.J. = Ladle & C.A. Warburton. 2003. The Sustainability of Whale-watching in Sco= tland. Journal of Sustainable Tourism 11(1): 40-55. Available from: http://www.ingentaselect.com/rpsv/cw/cv/09669582/v11n1/s5= /p40 Abstract: Scotland's tourism trade grosses =A32.5 billion annually and su= pports 180,000 jobs; whale-watching is an important part of this activity= . Whales and dolphins are the country's number one wildlife attraction an= d with 11,770 km of coastline the potential for the Scottish industry is = huge. In rural areas it can provide as much as 12% of local income. Durin= g the tourist season of 2000, questionnaires and telephone interviews wer= e used to investigate the sustainability of Scottish whale-watching. 48 o= perators cooperated providing economic and environmental information. Mos= t operators were found to be local people (72.4%), supporting five or les= s full-time equivalent jobs (86.4%). Over half of those questioned (63.2%= ) had alternative incomes and no formal training in wildlife tourism or b= usiness management (70.8%); 89.5% of respondents stated that they follow = a code of conduct. The East Coast and Western Isles show the best-perceiv= ed trends in tourist numbers. Whale-watchi! ng in Scotland is shown to have potential for growth but a need to be re= gulated and managed from within the industry to ensure environmental and = economic sustainability into the future. Corresponding author: Chris Parsons chris(\)tighnamara-mull.fsnet.co.uk or = Andrew Woods-Ballard andy_wb(\)email.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2003 12:10:11 -0700 From: "David S. Janiger" Subject: New Articles Hi, all! Just got back from vacation. Sorry if I missed anyone in the last go round. Send your messages again if I did. Here's the latest posting of new PDF's that are available. Abstracts also available on request. All files are under 1 MB. Please make all requests to: janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu Cheers David Janiger - Curatorial Assistant (Mammals) Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007 (213) 763-3369 janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu djaniger(\)nhm.org AU, W. W. L. and K. J. BENOIT-BIRD. NATURE (LONDON) 423(6942):861-863. 2003. Automatic gain control in the echolocation system of dolphins. BEAUPLET, GWENAEL; CHRISTOPHE GUINET and JOHN P. Y. ARNOULD. PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ZOOLOGY 76(2):262-270. 2003. Body composition changes, metabolic fuel use, and energy expenditure during extended fasting in subantarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis) pups at Amsterdam Island. BECKMEN, KIMBERLEE B.; JOHN E. BLAKE; GINA M. YLITALO; JEFFREY L. STOTT and TODD M. O'HARA. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 46(5):594-606. 2003. Organochlorine contaminant exposure and associations with hematological and humoral immune functional assays with dam age as a factor in free-ranging northern fur seal pups (Callorhinus ursinus). BENOIT-BIRD, K. J. and W. W. L. AU. BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY 53(6):364-373. 2003. Prey dynamics affect foraging by a pelagic predator (Stenella longirostris) over a range of spatial and temporal scales. BORN, E. W.; S. RYSGAARD; G. EHLME; M. SEJR; M. ACQUARONE and N. LEVERMANN. POLAR BIOLOGY 26(5):348-357. 2003. Underwater observations of foraging free-living Atlantic walruses (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) and estimates of their food consumption. BREEN, PAUL A.; RAY HILBORN; MARK N. MAUNDER and SUSAN W. KIM. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES 60(5):527-541. 2003. Effects of alternative control rules on the conflict between a fishery and a threatened sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri). CHARRIER, ISABELLE; NICOLAS MATHEVON and PIERRE JOUVENTIN. ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR 65(3):543-550. 2003. Vocal signature recognition of mothers by fur seal pups. CHU, S. G.; A. COVACI; K. VAN DE VIJVER; W. DE COEN; R. BLUST and P. SCHEPENS. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING 5(3):521-526. 2003. Enantiomeric signatures of chiral polychlorinated biphenyl atropisomers in livers of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from the southern North Sea. DAS, K.; C. BEANS; L. HOLSBEEK; G. MAUGER; S. D. BERROW; E. ROGAN and J. M. BOUQUEGNEAU. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 56(3):349-365. 2003. Marine mammals from Northeast Atlantic: relationship between their trophic status as determined by delta C-13 and delta N-15 measurements and their trace metal concentrations. FUNKE, C.; D. P. KING; J. F. MCBAIN; D. ADELUNG and J. L. STOTT. VETERINARY IMMUNOLOGY AND IMMUNOPATHOLOGY 93(1-2):69-79. 2003. Expression and functional characterization of killer whale (Orcinus orca) interleukin-6 (IL-6) and development of a competitive immunoassay. HARLIN, A. D.; T. MARKOWITZ; C. S. BAKER; B. WURSIG and R. L. HONEYCUTT. JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY 84(2):702-717. 2003. Genetic structure, diversity, and historical demography of New Zealand's dusky dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus). HECKEL, G.; I. ESPEJEL and D. W. FISCHER. COASTAL MANAGEMENT 31(3):277-296. 2003. Issue definition and planning for whalewatching management strategies in Ensenada, Mexico. HEIDE-JORGENSEN, M. P.; P. RICHARD; R. DIETZ; K. L. LAIDRE; J. ORR and H. C. SCHMIDT. POLAR BIOLOGY 26(5):318-326. 2003. An estimate of the fraction of belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) in the Canadian high Arctic that winter in West Greenland. HOLT, SIDNEY. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 46(7):924-926. 2003. Is the IWC finished as an instrument for the conservation of whales and the regulation of whaling? LAKE, SAMANTHA; HARRY BURTON and JOHN VAN DEN HOFF. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 254:293-305. 2003. Regional, temporal and fine-scale spatial variation in Weddell seal diet at four coastal locations in east Antarctica. MARTINA, BYRON E. E.; MARCO W. G. VAN DE BILDT; THIJS KUIKEN; GEERT VAN AMERONGEN and ALBERT D. M. E. OSTERHAUS VACCINE 21(19-20):2433-2440. 2003. Immunogenicity and efficacy of recombinant subunit vaccines against phocid herpesvirus type 1. MITANI, Y.; K. SATO; S. ITO; M. F. CAMERON; D. B. SINIFF and Y. NAITO. POLAR BIOLOGY 26(5):311-317. 2003. A method for reconstructing three-dimensional dive profiles of marine mammals using geomagnetic intensity data: results from two lactating Weddell seals. NODA, KATSURA; MIKA AOKI; HIDEO AKIYOSHI; HIROSHI ASAKI; TERUMASA SHIMADA and FUMIHITO OHASHI. JOURNAL OF VETERINARY MEDICAL SCIENCE 65(6):619-623. 2003. Evaluation of the polymorphonuclear cell functions of bottlenose dolphins. NOTARBARTOLO DI SCIARA, G.IUSEPPE.; MARGHERITA ZANARDELLI; MADDALENA JAHODA; SIMONE PANIGADA and SABINA AIROLDI.. MAMMAL REVIEW 33(2):105-150. 2003. The fin whale Balaenoptera physalus (L. 1758) in the Mediterranean Sea. OHIZUMI, HIROSHI; TOSHIAKI KURAMOCHI; TSUNEMI KUBODERA; MOTOI YOSHIOKA and NOBUYUKI MIYAZAKI. DEEP SEA RESEARCH PART I: OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH PAPERS 50(5):593-610. 2003. Feeding habits of Dall's porpoises (Phocoenoides dalli) in the subarctic North Pacific and the Bering Sea basin and the impact of predation on mesopelagic micronekton. PHILLIPS, ALANA V. JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY 84(2):524-535. 2003. Behavioral cues used in reunions between mother and pup South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis). SALAZAR, SANDIE. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 47(7-8):313-318. 2003. Impacts of the Jessica oil spill on sea lion (Zalophus wollebaeki) populations. TILLEY, RACHEL E.; GRAHAM D. KEMP and AILSA J. HALL. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 46(5):654-658. 2003. Cryostorage of hepatic microsomes from two marine mammal species: effects on cytochrome P450-monooxygenase activities and content. TURNER, J. P. and G. A. J. WORTHY. JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY 84(2):665-672. 2003. Skull morphometry of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the Gulf of Mexico. WANG, M. C.; W. A. WALKER; K. T. SHA and L. S. CHOU. ZOOLOGICAL STUDIES 42(2):368-378. 2003. Feeding habits of the pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata, off the Eastern coast of Taiwan. WATANABE, Y.; Y. MITANI; K. SATO; M. F. CAMERON and Y. NAITO. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 252:283-288. 2003. Dive depths of Weddell seals in relation to vertical prey distribution as estimated by image data. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2003 10:04:09 -0300 From: Diego Rodriguez Subject: New Papers boundary="----=_NextPart_000_01AD_01C346CA.9B353740" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_01AD_01C346CA.9B353740 charset="iso-8859-1" Hi all!=20 Please find enclosed a couple of abstracts of recently published papers = on Franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) from the Latin American Journal = of Aquatic Mammals = (http://www.cttmar.univali.br/~abarreto/solamac/LAJAM/lajam.htm), plus = another on sibling nematode species in Otariids. PDF reprints are = available from the authors. Diego Rodr=EDguez dhrodri(\)mdp.edu.ar RODRIGUEZ,D., R.BASTIDA and P-E. OLSSON (2002). DNA extraction from = formalin-fixed Franciscana tissues. Latin American Journal of Aquatic = Mammals (Special issue on Franciscana), 1(1): 123-128. (ask reprints at = dhrodri(\)mdp.edu.ar). Abstract -- The present paper reports the extraction of DNA from = formalin-fixed Pontoporia blainvillei tissues. Following the Vachot and = Monerot (1996) protocol, fragmented DNA (300-700bp) was extracted from = more than 95% of liver and muscle samples. DNA yield in liver samples = was significantly higher than in muscle samples (4.574 =B1 1.169mg = DNA/mg versus 0.808 =B1 0.297mg DNA/mg). Similar results were obtained = from nine other species of cetaceans and five species of pinnipeds. It = is of special interest to have a method that allows the utilisation of = museum specimens not originally preserved for genetic studies, which may = include rarely available, declining or extinct species. RODRIGUEZ,D., L.RIVERO and R.BASTIDA (2002). Feeding Ecology Of The = Franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) In Marine And Estuarine Waters Of = Argentina. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals (Special issue on = Franciscana), 1(1): 77-94. (ask reprint at dhrodri(\)mdp.edu.ar) Abstract -- Stomach contents of 110 franciscanas (Pontoporia = blainvillei), from northern Argentina were analysed in order to improve = our knowledge about the feeding habits of this species and to better = characterise the lactation period. The samples included calves, = juveniles and adults of both sexes. Evidence of predation by = franciscanas is seen at a very young age (2.5-3 months), with a = transition diet composed by both milk and solid food, mainly represented = by crustaceans. Weaning seems to begin by April, when franciscanas are = about 6-7 months old. Franciscanas inhabiting two different habitats = were analysed in this study: a brackish water estuary and an adjacent = marine coastal system. The diet of Pontoporia blainvillei in northern = Argentina was composed by a total of 26 prey species: 20 teleosts, 4 = crustaceans and 2 cephalopods. Based on the Index of Relative Importance = (IRI) the main prey species were Cynoscion guatucupa, Micropogonias = furnieri, Loligo sanpaulensis and Urophycis brasiliensis. Estuarine = franciscanas preyed mainly on Micropogonias furnieri (dominant species), = Cynoscion guatucupa, Odonthestes argentinensis and Macrodon ancylodon, = while dolphins from marine areas preyed mainly on Cynoscion guatucupa = (dominant species), Loligo sanpaulensis and Urophycis brasiliensis. Our = results confirm that franciscanas prey mainly on juvenile fish (< 8cm) = and small loliginid squids, in close agreement with previous results = obtained in southern Brazil and Uruguay. Qualitative and quantitative = differences observed in the diet of dolphins from each habitat emphasise = the need to discriminate between samples from different habitats and = environmental parameters. =20 GERPE,M., D.RODRIGUEZ, V.MORENO R.BASTIDA and J.E.MORENO (2002). = Accumulation of heavy metals in the Franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) = from Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Latin American Journal of Aquatic = Mammals (Special issue on Franciscana), 1(1): 95-106. (ask reprint at = msgerpe(\)mdp.edu.ar). Abstract -- Marine mammals accumulate heavy metals in their tissues at = different concentrations according to trophic levels and environmental = conditions. The franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) is a small coastal = species inhabiting the marine and estuarine areas of the Southwestern = Atlantic Ocean. Its diet includes numerous species of small fish, squid = and crustaceans. The aims of this study were to (i) assess the heavy = metal concentration and burden distribution in different franciscana age = classes and sex, and to (ii) evaluate both the accumulation processes = and the transplacental transference of zinc, cadmium, copper and total = mercury. Heavy metal concentrations (wet weight) were determined in = eighteen dolphins by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS), by the = cold vapour technique (mercury) or with air/acetylene flame (cadmium, = zinc and copper). Liver showed the highest concentrations of mercury = (max. 8.8 mg/g), zinc (max. 29.7 mg/g) and copper (max. 19.0 mg/g), = whereas the highest cadmium concentrations (max. 6.7 mg/g) were found in = kidney. Adults contained the highest concentrations for all heavy = metals, followed by juveniles and calves in decreasing order, suggesting = an age-related accumulation. No differences (p<0.05) were found between = sexes within each age class. Organ burden distribution followed the same = pattern for all metals and age classes: liver tissues contained maximum = burdens. Mercury concentrations were higher than those of cadmium in = both foetuses and newborns; and neither metal could be detected in the = foetus. The analysed data suggested differences in the placental = transference between metals, being significant for mercury and almost = null in the case of cadmium. We can conclude that franciscana = accumulates heavy metals and, due to its coastal distribution, it may be = considered as a biomonitor of its environment. MATTIUCCI,S., R.CIANCHI, G.NASCETTI, L.PIAGGI, N.SARDELLA, J.TIMI, = S.C.WEBB, R.BASTIDA, D.RODRIGUEZ and L.BULLINI. (2003). Genetic evidence = of two sibling species within the Contracoecum ogmorhini Johnson & = Mawson 1941 complex (Nematoda; Anisakidae) from otariid seals in boreal = and austral regions. Systematic Parasitology, 54: 13-23. (ask reprints = at dhrodri(\)mdp.edu.ar). Abstract Genetic variation of Contracaecum ogmorhini (sensu lato) = populations from different otariid seals of the northern and southern = hemisphere was studied on the basis of 18 enzyme loci as well as = preliminary sequence analysis of the mitochondrial cyt b gene (260 bp). = Samples were collected from Zalophus californianus in the boreal region = and from Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus, A. pusillus doriferus and A. = australis from the austral region. Marked genetic heterogeneity was = found between C. ogmorhini (sensu lato) samples from the boreal and = austral region, respectively. Two loci (Mdh-2 and NADHdh) showed fixed = differences and a further three loci (Iddh, Mdh-1 and 6Pgdh) were highly = differentiated between boreal and austral samples. Their average genetic = distance was DNei =3D 0.36 at isozyme level. At mitochondrial DNA level, = an average proportion of nucleotide substitution of 3.7% was observed. = These findings support the existence of two distinct sibling species, = for which the names C. ogmorhini (sensu stricto) and C. margolisi n. = sp., respectively, for the austral and boreal taxon, are proposed. A = description for C. margolisi n. sp. is provided. No diagnostic = morphological characters have so far been detected; on the other hand, = two enzyme loci, Mdh-2 and NADHdh, fully diagnostic between the two = species, can be used for the routine identification of males, females = and larval stages. Mirounga leonina was found to host C. ogmorhini = (s.s.) inmixed infections with C. osculatum (s.l.) (of which C. = ogmorhini (s.l.) was in the past considered to be a synonym)and C. = miroungae; no hybrid genotypes were found, confirming the reproductive = isolation of these three anisakid species. The hosts and geographical = range so far recorded for C. margolisi n. sp. and C. ogmorhini (s.s.) = are given. =20 =20 ------=_NextPart_000_01AD_01C346CA.9B353740 charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi all!
Please = find enclosed a=20 couple of abstracts of recently published papers on Franciscana = (Pontoporia=20 blainvillei) from the Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals = (<= FONT=20 face=3DTahoma=20 size=3D2>http://www.cttmar.univali.br/~abarreto/solamac/LAJAM/lajam.htm), plus another on sibling nematode species = in=20 Otariids.  PDF reprints = are=20 available from the authors.
Diego=20 Rodr=EDguez

RODRIGUEZ,D., R.BASTIDA and P-E. OLSSON = (2002).  DNA extraction from = formalin-fixed=20 Franciscana tissues. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals (Special = issue on=20 Franciscana), 1(1): 123-128. (ask reprints at dhrodri(\)mdp.edu.ar).

Abstract -- The present paper reports the = extraction of=20 DNA from formalin-fixed Pontoporia blainvillei tissues. Following the = Vachot and=20 Monerot (1996) protocol, fragmented DNA (300-700bp) was extracted from = more than=20 95% of liver and muscle samples. DNA yield in liver samples was = significantly=20 higher than in muscle samples (4.574 =B1 1.169mg DNA/mg versus 0.808 =B1 = 0.297mg=20 DNA/mg). Similar results were obtained from nine other species of = cetaceans and=20 five species of pinnipeds. It is of special interest to have a method = that=20 allows the utilisation of museum specimens not originally preserved for = genetic=20 studies, which may include rarely available, declining or extinct=20 species.

 

RODRIGUEZ,D., L.RIVERO and R.BASTIDA (2002). Feeding Ecology Of The = Franciscana=20 (Pontoporia blainvillei) In Marine And Estuarine Waters Of Argentina. = Latin=20 American Journal of Aquatic Mammals (Special issue on Franciscana), = 1(1): 77-94.=20 (ask reprint at dhrodri(\)mdp.edu.ar)

Abstract -- Stomach contents of 110 = franciscanas=20 (Pontoporia blainvillei), from northern=20 Argentina were analysed in order = to improve=20 our knowledge about the feeding habits of this species and to better=20 characterise the lactation period. The samples included calves, = juveniles and=20 adults of both sexes. Evidence of predation by franciscanas is seen at a = very=20 young age (2.5-3 months), with a transition diet composed by both milk = and solid=20 food, mainly represented by crustaceans. Weaning seems to begin by = April, when=20 franciscanas are about 6-7 months old. Franciscanas inhabiting two = different=20 habitats were analysed in this study: a brackish water estuary and an = adjacent=20 marine coastal system. The diet of Pontoporia blainvillei in northern=20 Argentina was composed by a total = of 26 prey=20 species: 20 teleosts, 4 crustaceans and 2 cephalopods. Based on the = Index of=20 Relative Importance (IRI) the main prey species were Cynoscion = guatucupa,=20 Micropogonias furnieri, Loligo sanpaulensis and Urophycis brasiliensis.=20 Estuarine franciscanas preyed mainly on Micropogonias furnieri (dominant = species), Cynoscion guatucupa, Odonthestes argentinensis and Macrodon = ancylodon,=20 while dolphins from marine areas preyed mainly on Cynoscion guatucupa = (dominant=20 species), Loligo sanpaulensis and Urophycis brasiliensis. Our results = confirm=20 that franciscanas prey mainly on juvenile fish (< 8cm) and small = loliginid=20 squids, in close agreement with previous results obtained in southern=20 Brazil and=20 Uruguay. Qualitative and = quantitative=20 differences observed in the diet of dolphins from each habitat emphasise = the=20 need to discriminate between samples from different habitats and = environmental=20 parameters.

 

GERPE,M.,=20 D.RODRIGUEZ, V.MORENO R.BASTIDA and J.E.MORENO (2002).  Accumulation of heavy metals in the = Franciscana=20 (Pontoporia blainvillei) from Buenos Aires = Province, = Argentina. Latin American Journal = of Aquatic=20 Mammals (Special issue on Franciscana), 1(1): 95-106. (ask reprint at msgerpe(\)mdp.edu.ar).=

Abstract -- Marine mammals accumulate heavy = metals in=20 their tissues at different concentrations according to trophic levels = and=20 environmental conditions. The franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) is a = small=20 coastal species inhabiting the marine and estuarine areas of the=20 Southwestern=20 Atlantic Ocean. Its diet includes numerous species = of small=20 fish, squid and crustaceans. The aims of this study were to (i) assess = the heavy=20 metal concentration and burden distribution in different franciscana age = classes=20 and sex, and to (ii) evaluate both the accumulation processes and the=20 transplacental transference of zinc, cadmium, copper and total mercury. = Heavy=20 metal concentrations (wet weight) were determined in eighteen dolphins = by Atomic=20 Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS), by the cold vapour technique = (mercury) or=20 with air/acetylene flame (cadmium, zinc and copper). Liver showed the = highest=20 concentrations of mercury (max. 8.8 mg/g), zinc (max. 29.7 mg/g) and = copper=20 (max. 19.0 mg/g), whereas the highest cadmium concentrations (max. 6.7 = mg/g)=20 were found in kidney. Adults contained the highest concentrations for = all heavy=20 metals, followed by juveniles and calves in decreasing order, suggesting = an=20 age-related accumulation. No differences (p<0.05) were found between = sexes=20 within each age class. Organ burden distribution followed the same = pattern for=20 all metals and age classes: liver tissues contained maximum burdens. = Mercury=20 concentrations were higher than those of cadmium in both foetuses and = newborns;=20 and neither metal could be detected in the foetus. The analysed data = suggested=20 differences in the placental transference between metals, being = significant for=20 mercury and almost null in the case of cadmium. We can conclude that = franciscana=20 accumulates heavy metals and, due to its coastal distribution, it may be = considered as a biomonitor of its=20 environment.

 

MATTIUCCI,S., R.CIANCHI, G.NASCETTI, L.PIAGGI, = N.SARDELLA,=20 J.TIMI, S.C.WEBB, R.BASTIDA, D.RODRIGUEZ and L.BULLINI. (2003). Genetic = evidence=20 of two sibling species within the Contracoecum ogmorhini Johnson & = Mawson=20 1941 complex (Nematoda; Anisakidae) from otariid seals in boreal and = austral=20 regions. Systematic Parasitology, 54: 13-23.  (ask reprints at dhrodri(\)mdp.edu.ar).

Abstract Genetic variation of Contracaecum = ogmorhini=20 (sensu lato) populations from different otariid seals of the northern = and=20 southern hemisphere was studied on the basis of 18 enzyme loci as well = as=20 preliminary sequence analysis of the mitochondrial cyt b gene (260 bp). = Samples=20 were collected from Zalophus californianus in the boreal region and from = Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus, A. pusillus doriferus and A. australis = from the=20 austral region. Marked genetic heterogeneity was found between C. = ogmorhini=20 (sensu lato) samples from the boreal and austral region, respectively. = Two loci=20 (Mdh-2 and NADHdh) showed fixed differences and a further three loci = (Iddh,=20 Mdh-1 and 6Pgdh) were highly differentiated between boreal and austral = samples.=20 Their average genetic distance was DNei =3D 0.36 at isozyme level. At=20 mitochondrial DNA level, an average proportion of nucleotide = substitution of=20 3.7% was observed. These findings support the existence of two distinct = sibling=20 species, for which the names C. ogmorhini (sensu stricto) and C. = margolisi n.=20 sp., respectively, for the austral and boreal taxon, are proposed. A = description=20 for C. margolisi n. sp. is provided. No diagnostic morphological = characters have=20 so far been detected; on the other hand, two enzyme loci, Mdh-2 and = NADHdh,=20 fully diagnostic between the two species, can be used for the routine=20 identification of males, females and larval stages. Mirounga leonina was = found=20 to host C. ogmorhini (s.s.) inmixed infections with C. osculatum (s.l.) = (of=20 which C. ogmorhini (s.l.) was in the past considered to be a synonym)and = C.=20 miroungae; no hybrid genotypes were found, confirming the reproductive = isolation=20 of these three anisakid species. The hosts and geographical range so far = recorded for C. margolisi n. sp. and C. ogmorhini (s.s.) are=20 given.

 

 

------=_NextPart_000_01AD_01C346CA.9B353740-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2003 22:25:23 +0100 From: Vasilis Podiadis Subject: Volunteer research assistants wanted for marine mammal census across the Mediterranean. Volunteer assistants wanted for a marine mammal census across the Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic with final destination the Cape Verde Islands, during 17th October to 15th December 2003. The project is coordinated by the Department of Zoology-Marine Biology of Athens University. Research assistants may participate for a minimum of 2.5 weeks (one leg). The research will take place onboard a 13.25 m research sailing catamaran equipped with all necessary navigation and research instruments (GPSs, plotters, echo-sounders, underwater digital video and still cameras, binoculars etc) as well as a dual frequency hydrophone and high frequency click detector (IFAW). The 2 month trip across the Mediterranean to the Cape Verde islands will be divided into 3 legs, each 2.5 weeks long: Leg 1: Athens to Palma (Mallorca) Leg 2: Palma to Islas Canarias Leg 3: Islas Canarias to Mindelo Port (Cape Verde) The most important requirements for participants are enthusiasm, and the ability and willingness to work under often difficult, but rewarding field conditions. Preference will be given to those who: 1. have previous marine mammal field experience particularly with visual and acoustic surveys 2. have some sailing experience On board accommodation and meals will be provided. However research assistants will be expected to contribute to the running costs of the expedition, and arrange their own travel itinerary / flights to the arrival/departure ports. APPLICATIONS Interested persons should write to or email at the address below providing a brief resume with their background, personal details and interests. Please also remember to include your preferred dates for participation. Point of Conduct : Evanthia Karpouzli School of Geosciences Drummond street EH8 9XP Edinburgh University Edinburgh Tel: +44-131-6508107 Fax: +44-131-6502524 mobile: +44-7951-933740 e-mail: e.karpouzli(\)hw.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2003 02:04:59 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Protected Species Biologist Position (fwd) From: "William Lang" Minerals Management Service **PLEASE READ ALL INFORMATION CAREFULLY** POSITION: Biologist (Protected Species) ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: MMSS-ZG-3-0034 SERIES & GRADE: GS-0401-11/12 SALARY RANGE: 46689 - 72746 PROMOTION POTENTIAL: 12 OPENING DATE: 07/09/2003 CLOSING DATE: 08/01/2003 DUTY LOCATIONS: 1 vacancy New Orleans Metro Area, LA Position: Biologist, GS-401-11/12 Full Performance Level: GS-12 Salary Range: $46,689 to $72,746 Duty Location: Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Leasing and Environment, Environmental Sciences Section, Biological Sciences Unit, Jefferson, LA This is a Career/Career-Conditional appointment. Applications will be accepted from: All Qualified Applicants Number of Positions: One To apply for this position, click on the link provided on the previous screen or go to this address: https://jobs.quickhire.com/scripts/qhwebfed35mms.exe. Supporting documents (SF-50, documentation of veterans status, transcripts, CTAP/ICTAP documentation), if needed, must be faxed to (703) 787-1465, or mailed to the address shown below by the closing date. Documents MUST show the VACANCY NUMBER. If you choose to provide written KSA responses after completing the automated questionnaire they must be submitted online as part of your resume. Faxed or mailed copies cannot be attached to your resume or forwarded to the selecting official if you are referred. KSA responses are not considered supporting documents. The Department of the Interior is the Nation's principal conservation agency with responsibility for most of our nationally-owned public lands and natural and cultural resources. This includes fostering wise use of our land and water resources, protecting our fish and wildlife, preserving the environmental and cultural values of our national parks and historical places, and assessing energy and mineral resources as well as working to assure that their development is in the best interest of all our people. DOI also has a major responsibility for American Indian reservation communities and for people who live in Island Territories under U.S. administration. The Minerals Management Service manages the nation's natural gas, oil, and other mineral resources on the Outer Continental Shelf. We also collect, account for, and disburse revenues from offshore Federal mineral leases and from onshore mineral leases on Federal and Indian lands. Our mission is to be recognized as the best mineral resources manager. For more information about the Minerals Management Service please visit out website at http://www.mms.gov/. IDEAL LOCATION: The Elmwood Towers Building is situated in the suburbs of New Orleans, Louisiana. The New Orleans region-named an All American City and Community for 1996 by the National Civic League-offers a quality of life unparalleled by other metro areas. Among metropolitan areas of one million or more population, New Orleans ranks in the top five in lowest cost-of-living. The region's climate is characterized by mild winters, extended spring and fall seasons, and warm summers. The weather is conducive to the outdoor recreational activities available in Sportsman's Paradise such as fishing, hunting, golf, and water sports. The region thrives with cultural activities, recognized internationally as a center for fine dining, music, theater, literature and the arts as well as for professional sports including NFL football, NBA basketball, and Triple-A baseball. New Orleans also boasts a world-class zoo and aquarium. MAJOR DUTIES: In this position you will serve as a specialist and advisor on matters related to protected species (e.g., marine mammals, marine turtles, coastal and marine birds, beach mice) as protected under the Marine Mammals Protection Act, the Endangered Act, and other legislation, particularly those found in the Gulf of Mexico, serving as a lead person in establishing criteria for impact assessment methodologies and in developing specialized data on these resources. You will plan, organize, and coordinate data collection to assess the impacts created from oil and gas activities interacting with these biological resources. Participating in the regions Environmental Studies Program, you will suggest potential studies, develop statements of work, and technically evaluate study proposals. You will coordinate and assist in the impact analysis and preparation or Environmental Impact Statements including editing, proofreading, production of graphics, visuals, and maps. It will be your responsibility to maintain positive relationships with technical and professional persons in Federal, State, and local governments, academic institutions, and other interested parties, maintaining an awareness of their programs for areas affected by the OCS leasing program. You will also coordinate the Biological Opinion/Section 7 Consultation process under the Endangered Species Act. WHY WORK FOR US: As an employee of the Department of the Interior you will be entitled to a wide array of benefits. The Federal Employees Health Benefits program has many plans to choose from all at very reasonable rates which can be paid from pre-tax income. The Federal Employee Retirement System is one of the premier retirement programs in the nation. The program features three components: a retirement pension; the Thrift Savings Plan (an employee controlled investment program); and social security. Federal Employee Group Life Insurance offers numerous life insurance policy options covering employees and dependents. The leave program offers exceptional time off benefits including annual leave, sick leave, an employee leave share program, Family Friendly Leave, Family Medical Leave, and 10 paid holidays per year. Employee Assistance Programs provide confidential counseling and referral services to employees and their family members at no cost as well as periodic seminars on behavioral health issues. You may also be entitled to career development and enrichment training, including tuition reimbursement. As an employee of the Minerals Management Service, you will enjoy additional benefits such as the MMS Wellness Program providing reduced prices for membership to health clubs and periodic health checks; the Transportation Fringe Benefit Program (vanpool, commuter vehicle) a pre-tax payroll Deduction benefit; Family Friendly Policies such as alternative work schedules and telecommuting. Free parking is available for employees working in the Elmwood Towers Building. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: You must meet the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) prescribed Qualification Standards as of the closing date of this announcement. You must meet both the Basic Requirements and the Additional Requirements for the grade level(s) you are applying for. Also, you must submit a copy of your transcripts showing that you meet the educational requirements by the closing date. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: You must meet either A or B. If you are within 9 months of completing the required education, you will be considered as having met the required education, however you must complete the required education before being appointed. A. Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. B. Appropriate combination of education and experience. Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The quality of the combination of education and experience must be sufficient to demonstrate that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation, and is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate field. In addition to courses in the major and related fields, a typical college degree would have included courses that involved analysis, writing, critical thinking, research, etc. These courses would have provided you with skills and abilities sufficient to perform progressively more responsible work in the occupation. Therefore, creditable experience should have demonstrated similarly appropriate skills or abilities needed to perform the work of the occupation. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: GS-11: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal service OR 3 years of directly related progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph. D. degree, or Ph. D. or equivalent doctoral degree or a combination of education and experience. Specialized experience is defined as experience in carrying out activities relating to marine protected species. At this level your assignments would have involved researching and recommending solutions or mitigation to resolve problems or issues related to marine endangered or marine protected species. GS-12: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as experience in carrying out activities relating to marine protected species. At this level your assignments would have involved defining, researching, and recommending solutions or mitigation to resolve critical problems/issues and would have involved analyses of potential impacts on marine protected species (e.g., marine mammals (sperm whales), marine turtles, coastal and marine birds, beach mice) as protected under the Marine Mammals Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act, and other legislation. Documents needed to verify your qualifications and/or eligibility, i.e. college transcripts, SF-50, DD-214, must be faxed or mailed and received by the closing date. See How to Apply for further instructions. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSA's): If you meet the basic eligibility requirements you will be rated and ranked on the knowledges, skills, and abilities (KSA's) required to perform the duties of the position. The following KSA's have been identified as being important to the performance of this position. KSA RESPONSES ARE NOT NECESSARY. The occupational questions shown on the automated application system have been designed to measure your knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to this position. If you choose to provide written responses after completing the automated questionnaire they must be submitted online as part of your resume. Faxed or mailed copies cannot be attached to your resume or forwarded to the selecting official if you are referred. See How to Apply for further instructions. 1. Knowledge of biological sciences theories and analytical methodologies to evaluate potential impacts on protected species (e.g., marine mammals, marine turtles, coastal and marine birds, beach mice) as protected under the Marine Mammals Act, the Endangered and Threatened Species Act, and other legislation. 2. Knowledge of Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, and statutes, such as the National Environmental Policy Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Endangered and Threatened Species Act, and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. 3. Knowledge of biological research techniques and ability to select significant data from information researched. 4. Ability to work with individuals from other agencies, academia, and the public to ensure requirements are met on work assignments. 5. Ability to express technical ideas both interpersonally and in writing. BASIS FOR RATING: Ratings will be based on responses to the occupational questions listed under How to Apply. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your score. Qualified candidates will be assigned a score between 70 and 100, not including points that may be assigned for veterans' preference. PLEASE NOTE: Your answers will be verified against information provided in your application or by reference checks. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is apparent in your description of experience and/or education OR that your application is incomplete, your responses may be adjusted to reflect a more accurate description of your experience and/or education OR you may be removed from employment consideration. You should make a fair and accurate assessment of your qualifications. In addition, individuals who have special priority selection rights under Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. CTAP or ICTAP eligibles will be considered well-qualified if they meet the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position; are physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate, to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; have the specialized experience, as defined, needed to perform the duties of the position, and receive a score of 85 or higher using the organization's automated ranking system. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may compete for civil service jobs. Agencies are permitted to hire non-citizens only in very limited circumstances where there are no qualified citizens available for the position As a condition of employment, male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify at time of appointment that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under Selective Service law. A background security investigation may be required. When required, appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. Some positions within the Department of the Interior may require drug testing as a condition of employment. Individuals appointed (including status candidates) from competitive certificates may be subject to successful completion of a one year probationary period. You will be required to complete and sign the Declaration of Federal Employment, OF 306. If you make a false statement in any part of your application including the OF 306, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be subject to fine, imprisonment, or other disciplinary action. OTHER INFORMATION: All applicants, including status applicants and veterans will be considered under Competitive Examining procedures. Competitive Examining is the process used to fill civil service positions with candidates applying from outside the Federal workforce. It is also used to enable employees who do not have status to compete for a permanent appointment and to enable employees with status to compete for other positions. HOW TO APPLY: To apply for this position, click on the link. You must submit your resume and responses to the questionnaire through the automated system. Other application materials needed to verify your status or qualifications (i.e., college transcripts or documentation of veterans status) must be either faxed by the closing date or mailed to the address provided and received by the closing date. See "Submitting Supporting Documentation" for complete instructions. You must submit your on-line resume and occupational questionnaire by Midnight Eastern Time, on the closing date of the announcement. https://jobs.quickhire.com/scripts/qhwebfed35mms.exe Be sure you provide all of the information requested below: Job Information: -Announcement Number, title and grade(s) for which you are applying. Personal Information: -Full name, mailing address (with zip code) and day/evening telephone numbers (with area code). -Social Security Number. -Country of Citizenship. -If ever employed by the Federal Government, show the highest Federal civilian grade held, job series, and dates of employment in grade. -Please DO NOT put your race, age, disability, sex, or any other identifying personal information about yourself on your resume. This information can be provided voluntarily in our automated system but will not be linked to your resume, used in the rating process, or provided to the selecting official. Education: -High School name, city, state and zip code, date of diploma or GED. -Colleges and/or Universities attended, city, state and zip code. -Major field(s) of study. -Type and year of degree(s) received. If no degree received, show total credit hours received in semester or quarter hours. -If using education to qualify, submit a copy of college transcripts. Work Experience (for each paid or non-paid position held related to the job for which you are applying (do not provide copies of job descriptions): -Job title. -Duties and accomplishments. -Number of hours per week. -Employer's name and address. -Supervisor's name and phone number. -Starting and ending dates of employment (month, day, and year). -Beginning and ending salary. -Indicate if your current supervisor may be contacted. Other Qualifications: -Job-related training courses (title and year). -Job-related skills (e.g., other languages, computer software/hardware, tools, machinery, typing speed, etc.) -Job-related certificates and licenses. -Job-related honors, awards, and special accomplishments (e.g., publications, memberships in professional or honor societies, leadership activities, public speaking, performance awards, etc.) Do not send copies of documents unless specifically requested. -If you are applying for Veterans' Preference, submit evidence of eligibility such as; DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or Standard Form 15, Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference, and the proof requested on the form. SUBMITTING SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION Supporting documents (SF-50, DD-214, transcripts) must be faxed to (703) 787-1465, or mailed to the address shown below by the closing date. Documents MUST show the VACANCY NUMBER. Failure to provide complete information may result in your not receiving consideration for this position. If documentation is submitted by mail, it must be received by the closing Date of the announcement to receive consideration. Hand-delivered documents must be received by the closing date. Application materials mailed using government postage are in violation of agency and postal regulations and will not be accepted. Materials submitted as a part of your application will not be returned. If you are or have been a Federal employee, please submit a copy of your last Notification of Personnel Action, Form SF-50 (other than an award), and your most recent or last performance appraisal. If claiming 5 point veterans' preference, a DD-214 must be submitted. If claiming 10 point veterans' preference, you must submit a DD-214 and either an SF-15 with a VA letter dated within the last 12 months certifying your disability OR an official document issued by the armed forces documenting the award of a Purple Heart. If you are using education to qualify for this position you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. If selected, you may be required to submit original documentation at time of appointment. Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605 (a) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP or ICTAP eligible. Individuals applying for an appointment under a special hiring authority such as Thirty Percent or More Disabled Veteran Appointment, Veterans' Readjustment Appointment (VRA), Severely Physically Handicapped Schedule A Appointment, Former Peace Corps Appointment, or others, must submit required proof of eligibility. Notice: 5 USC 3303, Hatch Act Amendments of 1993, bars Executive Branch Agencies from accepting or considering prohibited political recommendations for Federal jobs. Any such recommendations received will be returned to the sender. Federal employees who request such a recommendation may be subject to disciplinary action. For additional information about this position please contact: Roxie DeAngelis (703) 787-1446, Department of Interior, Minerals Management Service, 381 Elden Street, MS 2400, Herndon, VA 20170-4817. The Minerals Management Service is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Selection for this position will be made solely on the basis of merit, fitness, and qualifications without regard to race, gender, color, religion, age, marital status, national origin, non-disqualifying handicap conditions, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factors. This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2003 17:12:05 -0400 From: Monika Merriman Subject: Marlborough Sound Bottlenose Dolphin Project request for volunteers. The Marlborough Sounds Bottlenose dolphin project is designed to look at the abundance, distribution and behavior ecology on the resident population of bottlenose dolphins in the Queen Charlotte Sound. The Queen Charlotte Sound is part of the Marlborough Sounds which is located at the top of the South Island in New Zealand. Boat based surveys will be conducted in this area from September 20th through December 12th of 2003. I am looking for volunteers who can commit for the entire study. Though the weather will be warm you will still need a wide range of clothing. From shorts and t-shirts to a winter jacket, hat and gloves. Housing is available and rent is 100.00 US a month. In addition you will need to have enough money for your flight, travel and food expenses. Food costs should be approximately 50.00 US a week. This project will give it's volunteers knowledge of field based studies, data collection, photo-id and maneuvering a 6.0m boat around cetaceans. Please submit a CV and letter of recommendation by August 15th 2003 via email to mgmerriman(\)aol.com or swtmojo13(\)aol.com. Upon receiving your CV I will be contacting applicants for a phone interview. We can discuss specifics on the, area weather and other things in more detail at that time. Cheers, Monika Merriman M.S. Student Massey University ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2003 15:06:21 -0700 From: Al Jennings Subject: The Marine Mammal Center (job opening) boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01C34BE6.7D9E356C" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------_=_NextPart_001_01C34BE6.7D9E356C charset="iso-8859-1" Director of Life Support Systems and Facilities=20 At The Marine Mammal Center, a non-profit organization located on the = beach in the Marin Headlands, we uniquely combine rehabilitation, = science and education to ensure the survival of marine mammals and the = conservation of their habitat. We currently seek an individual with a = minimum of 3 to 5 years of water filtration experience. You will = coordinate and direct the design, planning, construction, maintenance, = and alteration of equipment, machinery, buildings, and other facilities. = For consideration please send resume and salary requirement to:=20 Al Jennings, PHR=20 Director of Human Resources=20 The Marine Mammal Center=20 1065 Fort Cronkhite=20 Sausalito, CA 94965-2697=20 Fax 415.289.7376=20 jenningsa(\)tmmc.org=20 ------_=_NextPart_001_01C34BE6.7D9E356C charset="iso-8859-1" The Marine Mammal Center (job opening)

Director of  Life Support Systems = and Facilities
At The Marine Mammal Center, a = non-profit organization located on the beach in the Marin Headlands, we = uniquely combine rehabilitation, science and education to ensure the = survival of marine mammals and the conservation of their habitat. We = currently seek an individual with a minimum of 3 to 5 years of water = filtration experience. You will coordinate and direct the design, = planning, construction, maintenance, and alteration of equipment, = machinery, buildings, and other facilities. For consideration please = send resume and salary requirement to:

Al Jennings, PHR
Director of Human Resources
The Marine Mammal Center
1065 Fort Cronkhite
Sausalito, CA 94965-2697
Fax 415.289.7376
jenningsa(\)tmmc.org

------_=_NextPart_001_01C34BE6.7D9E356C-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 14:05:02 -0400 From: "Haubold, Elsa" Subject: Artwork needed for redesign of Florida manatee license plate The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is considering re-designing the state's Florida manatee license plate. The state's research and management programs for manatees are funded by revenues from this plate. The following is a press release issued today soliciting artwork. For Immediate Release: July 11, 2003 Contacts: Allison McDonald (727) 896-8626 Jessie Smith (727) 896-8626 Commission Considers Manatee License Plate Redesign Call for Artists Underway St. Petersburg-Make your mark by helping Florida's most beloved marine mammal get a "face-lift." After 13 years, The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is considering a redesign of the manatee license plate. Interested wildlife and commercial artists are invited to submit artwork for possible use in the creation of an updated manatee license plate. Starting today, the Manatee License Plate Redesign Committee will accept artwork for consideration. The artwork must comply with guidelines outlined by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) and 3M, the company that manufactures plates for the state of Florida. The committee will review all submissions and narrow the field to a few finalists. The finalists' designs and the original design will be placed on www.floridamarine.org , the FWC's Florida Marine Research Institute Web site. The public will be asked to decide if the state should keep the original design, or select one of the entries for a new plate. Please send license plate artwork to the Florida Marine Research Institute, care of the Manatee License Plate Redesign Committee, 100 8th Avenue Southeast, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701. Artwork must be received on or before October 17, 2003. Artwork received after October 17, 2003 will not be accepted or considered. All designs submitted become the property of the state of Florida and will not be returned. Artists submitting artwork to the state will not receive monetary compensation. The selected artwork will be displayed on the redesigned plate, and the artist will receive acknowledgement and recognition through various media avenues. For more information on the contest, rules, and current manatee research, please contact Allison McDonald at (727) 896-8626. Funds raised by sale of the license plate are deposited into the Save the Manatee Trust Fund (STMTF). This trust fund, is administered by the state of Florida and is not associated with the Save the Manatee Club. STMTF funds activities such as manatee rescue and rehabilitation, research programs, habitat protection, sign posting, manatee protection plans, and educational materials. The license plate was created by the Legislature in 1990. The manatee is Florida's State Marine Mammal and is protected by both state and federal law. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Florida Marine Research Institute conducts applied research and provides scientific information used to manage Florida's marine resources. Elsa M. Haubold, Ph.D. Research Administrator II Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Florida Marine Research Institute 100 8th Ave. SE St. Petersburg, FL 33701 727/896-8626 x1902 Elsa.Haubold(\)fwc.state.fl.us http://www.floridamarine.org ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2003 14:50:39 +0200 From: Delphis Subject: Illegal driftnetting off the Island of Ischia (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) Dear all, Notwithstanding the EU band on the driftnetting fishery, started on January 1st, 2002, illegal fishing with drftnets is still a problem around the Island of Ischia. Swordfish boats equipped with driftnets were monitored in the area since May 2003, but only during the first period of sea storm it has been possible to count the boats operating in the region. Between the 2nd and the 3rd of July we recorded a total of 22 boats (15-25 m long) equipped with driftnets. 13 of these boats had modified the sides of their vessels to hide the nets carried on board, making it difficult to evaluate the volume of visible coils on the deck. 16 boats were from Calabria, two from Sicily and two from Ischia, whereas other two boats exhibited no registration code. Swordfish were carried on three trucks, two of them showing the EU logo. Our organisation has made available some photographic documentation at http://www.delphismdc.org/ing/progetti/driftnetting.htm BACKGROUND INFORMATION Since 1991, Studiomare has been carrying out a long-term study on the cetacean fauna off the island of Ischia. The geomorphology of the study area, including productive submarine canyons, makes it an attractive area for a number of cetacean species cetaceans. In particular, the waters of Ischia have been classified as a critical habitat for endangered short-beaked common dolphins in the recent IUCN Cetacean Action Plan (Reeves et al. 2003, see http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/news/cetaceansap.htm) and represent an important feeding and breeding ground for cetacean species including the fin whale. Any comments, suggestions or advice will be greatly appreciated. Please send your comments to: studiomare(\)pointel.it _____________________________________________________________ D E L P H I S Mediterranean Dolphin Conservation a NGO and a no profit organization for the welfare of Mediterranean whales and dolphins Island of Ischia via Zaro 22, 80075 Forio (NA), Italy Tel & Fax +39-081-989578 e-mail: info(\)delphismdc.org URL: www.delphismdc.org ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2003 14:22:58 +1200 Reply-To: edu.secchi(\)xtra.co.nz From: Eduardo Secchi Organization: University of Otago Subject: article on franciscana management stocks Marmamers, An article on definition of management stocks of franciscana dolphins has recently been published. The abstract is below. Secchi, E.R., Danilewicz, D. and Ott, P.H. (2003). Applying the phylogeographic concept to identify franciscana dolphin stocks: implications to meet management objectives. J. Cetacean Res. Manage. 5:61-68. ABSTRACT High numbers of franciscanas (Pontoporia blainvillei) have been bycaught in gillnets for at least four decades. The impact is strong but not homogeneous along the species distribution range, and there is evidence that at least one local population is declining. Reliable stock determination is important to evaluate how bycatch affects stocks so that they can be preserved through local management actions. Following the phylogeographic approach of Dizon et al. (1992), which applies a hierarchical classification scheme to stock designations, available information relevant for franciscana stock discreteness was reviewed, including data on distribution, population response, phenotype and genotype. Data on mtDNA, morphometrics and population parameters all together provide evidence for splitting the species into four management stocks: two inhabiting coastal waters of Brazil; the third occurring in Rio Grande do Sul State (southern Brazil) and Uruguay, and the fourth inhabiting coa! stal Argentine waters. The areas where these stocks occur are herein called Franciscana Management Areas or FMA I to IV. Although in some cases the evidence for such sub-division into four stocks is weak due to lack of data, the use of the proposed classification into four FMAs is recommended to warrant effective management on a local scale. The full article can be obtained from any of the authors at the following addresses: edu.secchi(\)xtra.co.nz danilewi(\)terra.com.br ott.voy(\)zaz.com.br *********************************** Eduardo Secchi Marine Mammals Research Team University of Otago, PO Box 56 Dunedin - NEW ZEALAND e.mail: edu.secchi(\)xtra.co.nz phone: ++ 64-3-479-5240 (work) fax: ++ 64-3-479-8336 Home phone: ++ 64-3-479-0412 Please check out the website of our research group at http://www.otago.ac.nz/marinescience/mammals/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2003 13:15:25 -0700 From: Per J =?iso-8859-1?Q?Palsb=F8ll?= Subject: Postdoctoral Position at UC Berkeley in Evolution/Conservation Genetics ------ Postdoctoral Position: Isolation and characterization of SNPs in ringed s= eals A Postdoctoral Researcher position is available at the University of=20 California, Berkeley to participate in NSF funded research aimed at=20 isolating and developing 96 SNP markers to study test the=20 micro-evolutionary effects of annual sea-ice dynamics upon the effective=20 population size, population structure and dispersal in Greenland Ring Sea= l,=20 Phoca hispidae. The salary range is $31,044-$38,652 annually depending on= =20 qualifications; appointments are initially for one year. Experience in= =20 cloning of random nuclear DNA sequences, primer design and subsequent=20 amplification and sequencing PCR products for the identification of=20 SNPs. Once 96 reasonably polymorphic SNPs have been identified a=20 multiplexed SNP genotyping procedure need be developed and tested on a=20 small number of ringed seal sample. Extensive experience in cloning and=20 characterization of nuclear DNA sequences (preferably for SNP detection) = as=20 well as experience with SNP genotyping methods. Please send a CV, resear= ch=20 statement and the names of 3 potential references to (pdf attachments=20 preferred) to: Per J. Palsb=F8ll, University of California, Ecosystem Sciences, 151 Hilg= ard=20 Hall, Berkeley, CA 945720-3110, USA, Phone (510) 643-8225, Fax (510)=20 643-5098, email=20 palsboll(\)nature.berkeley.edu Applications should be received by August 17,2003 The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action=20 Employer ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2003 08:59:02 -0700 From: Toni Frohoff Subject: Workshop on Solitary, Sociable Odontocetes boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0027_01C34D0A.D6C592F0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0027_01C34D0A.D6C592F0 charset="us-ascii" Dear MARMAM Readers, =20 We will be convening a one-day workshop on Sunday, December 14th titled "Research and Management of Solitary, Sociable Odontocetes" to be held = in conjunction with the SMM's 15th Biennial Conference. =20 Although formal registration has not yet begun, we are asking those who = are interested in participating in the workshop to contact us to a) let us = know of your interest in participating, b) tell us specifically what issues = you would find most valuable to be addressed at this workshop, and c) tell = us what topics you'd like to present or discuss yourself. This will enable = us to design the best possible program to address the participants' needs, especially since our goal is to facilitate problem-solving group = discussion. =20 An informal summary of the workshop is as follows: The occurrence of solitary odontocetes that regularly engage in = 'sociable' interactions with boaters and swimmers appears to be increasing in some parts of the world. Typically, these animals are most commonly = bottlenose dolphins. However, there has been a recent and notable increase in the occurrence of other solitary sociable odontocetes; specifically, killer whales and beluga whales. Although these animals provide unique opportunities for research, their behavior typically requires immediate = and innovative methods of intervention to minimize hazards to both humans = and cetaceans. The direct potential for incidental or intentional = interaction between humans and these animals has contributed much debate in = scientific, management, and popular communities worldwide. Since relatively few = studies of these animals have been published and even less information is = available about their management, these situations are often managed with little knowledge of the successes and failures that have occurred in previous scenarios involving the same or similar species. This workshop will = provide a rare, and presumably helpful, opportunity for researchers and managers from around the world and working with various species to share video footage of the situations on which they have worked in the past and = discuss current challenges that are being encountered and possible management solutions. =20 Workshop fees have not yet been determined but will be kept to a = minimum.=20 Please contact Courtney Stark Vail at courtstark(\)erols.com for all communications about this workshop. =20 Cheers, Toni Frohoff, Kathleen Dudzinski, and Courtney Stark Vail =20 =20 ------------------- Toni Frohoff, Ph.D. TerraMar Research =20 ------=_NextPart_000_0027_01C34D0A.D6C592F0 charset="us-ascii"

Dear MARMAM Readers,

 

We will be convening a one-day workshop on Sunday, December 14th = titled "Research and Management of Solitary, Sociable = Odontocetes"  to be held in conjunction with the SMM's 15th Biennial = Conference.

 

Although formal registration has not yet begun, we are asking = those who are interested in participating in the workshop to contact us to a) let = us know of your interest in participating, b) tell us specifically what issues = you would find most valuable to be addressed at this workshop, and c) tell = us what topics you'd like to present or discuss yourself. This will enable us to = design the best possible program to address the participants' needs, especially = since our goal is to facilitate problem-solving group = discussion.

 

An informal summary of the workshop is as = follows:

The occurrence of solitary odontocetes that regularly engage in 'sociable' interactions with boaters and swimmers appears to be = increasing in some parts of the world.  Typically, these animals are most = commonly bottlenose dolphins.  However, there has been a recent and notable increase in the occurrence of other solitary sociable odontocetes; specifically, killer whales and beluga whales. Although these animals = provide unique opportunities for research, their behavior typically requires = immediate and innovative methods of intervention to minimize hazards to both = humans and cetaceans. The direct potential for incidental or intentional = interaction between humans and these animals has contributed much debate in = scientific, management, and popular communities worldwide.  Since relatively = few studies of these animals have been published and even less information = is available about their management, these situations are often managed = with little knowledge of the successes and failures that have occurred in = previous scenarios involving the same or similar species. This workshop will = provide a rare, and presumably helpful, opportunity for researchers and managers = from around the world and working with various species to share video footage = of the situations on which they have worked in the past and discuss current = challenges that are being encountered and possible management = solutions.

 

Workshop fees have not yet been determined but will be kept to a minimum.

Please contact Courtney Stark Vail at courtstark(\)erols.com for all communications about this workshop.

 

Cheers,

Toni Frohoff, Kathleen Dudzinski, and Courtney Stark = Vail

 

 

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

Toni Frohoff, Ph.D.

TerraMar Research

 

------=_NextPart_000_0027_01C34D0A.D6C592F0-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2003 07:40:04 -0500 From: Carolina GarciaImhof Subject: Request for latest ethogram ------ Dear list members, The Fundaci=F3n Yubarta is soon starting a project in the Colombian Pacif= ic=20 ocean with both dolphins and humpback whales. We will be measuring their=20 behaviour and we would like to know if there is any recent ethogram which= =20 would guide us as to which terminology to use. Is there any consensus in=20 vocabulary used by ethologists? As most ethograms remain unpublished, I=20 couldn=92t find anything in the database I consulted. Unfortunately in=20 Colombia, libraries are not very useful and it is difficult to get most=20 publications and impossible to get an interloan. Therefore, I am asking=20 anybody working with cetacean behaviour if it would be possible to send s= uch=20 information to the Fundaci=F3n Yubarta. (We have two ethograms here: one by A. C. Weaver, =93An ethogram of natur= ally=20 occurring behavior of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, in Souther= n=20 California waters,=94 and one by J. S. O. =D6stman and P. A. Folkens, =93= A=20 vocabulary to describe cetacean behavior=94. If you believe that these ar= e=20 appropriate, please also let us know. We are interested in unification of= =20 terms.) Cheers, Carolina Garc=EDa garciaimhof(\)hotmail.com Fundaci=F3n Yubarta Carrera 24F oeste # 3-110 Tejares de San Fernando Cali-Colombia Telefax: 572 5585585 fundacionyubarta(\)hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________ Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* =20 http://join.msn.com/?page=3Dfeatures/junkmail ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2003 09:12:40 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: potential release of pilot whale infant in Florida A press released was issued by the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) on Friday 18 July 2003 announcing the release of five pilot whales which stranded in April 2003. The press release (copy below) notes that these animals are candidates for release back into the wild. NOAA Fisheries has been developing guidelines to determine when rehabilitated animals are good candidates for release and many experts involved in consultations on this issue believed that at least one of the whales fit the current non-release guideline. That is because the best information available suggests that the animal was only about three months at the time of stranding. Of the other animals to be released, two are estimated to be about one year of age (on the basis of length), while the other two are under the expected length of sexually mature animals. Therefore, a very young animal would be released into the care of other immature animals. During a final consultation on Friday that resulted in the decision to release, the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Administrator, the decision-maker for this release, asked what the constituency was that cared whether this animal, or even the other young ones, were released. Those involved in the consultation were able to give partial answers but could not be fully representative of any constituency. There is a vocal constituency for release. Are they in the minority? In the interest of being responsive to Dr. Crabtree's inquiry, it seems prudent to determine whether there is constituency that has other opinions. If you are a constituent, for or in opposition to release, it is important that you make your opinion known to the regional administrator. He has a fisheries rather than protected species background so it would be useful for you to state your expertise. Particular interest would be for those with expertise in rehab or release of cetaceans, particularly with monitoring post-release, pilot whale social structure, general cetacean biology, veterinary work with rehab cetaceans, and others... To respond, please e-mail Dr. Crabtree directly , with copies to Dr. William Hogarth , Director of NOAA Fisheries, and Laurie Allen , Acting Director of the Office of Protected Resources. ----------------------------------------------------------- Big Pine Key - NOAA Fisheries Intent To Release Pilot Whales Statement by Dr. Roy Crabtree, Southeast Regional Administrator July 18, 2003 After reviewing the Florida Keys Marine Mammal Rescue Team's (FKMMRT) pilot whale release strategy, NOAA Fisheries believes the five pilot whales are candidates for releasing back into the wild. Therefore, It is NOAA Fisheries' intention to release the five animals, conditional on their continued progress of good heath that will allow them to safely return to the wild and not be a threat to wild populations of marine mammals. When an animal is released, the experts responsible for those animals' behavior must proceed cautiously and responsibly. In this regard, FKMMRT and Marine Mammal Conservancy have done well. At the request of FKMMRT, NOAA fisheries is providing additional support and expertise to prepare the whales for release. NOAA will be providing resources, personnel on site, and security as necessary. NOAA Fisheries has contracted with Jeff Foster of Marine Research Consultants, an expert in preparing wild marine mammals for release. Jeff has preliminarily assessed the work thus far of local rescue groups and finds the animals have progressed significantly since their mass stranding on April 18, 2003. Jeff Foster will be bringing in a team of marine mammal behavior experts to work with local volunteer rescue groups preparing the animals for release. The preparations are expected to be accomplished within two to three weeks. Jeff and his team will be working closely with the volunteer rescue groups. These five animals must meet criteria that will allow them to safely return to the wild and not be a threat to wild populations of marine mammals. NOAA Fisheries marine mammal experts, Jeff Foster's team, and local rescue groups will be evaluating the progress of the animals health and behavior on a regular basis up through release. A MS Research Assistantship is available beginning this September to work on harbor seal dispersal and movements. I am looking for a student with a strong ecological and quantitative background who is capable in the field. Experience with small boats and radio telemetry are plusses. Please e-mail resume, list of courses taken, GRE Scores, and contact information for three references to james.gilbert(\)umit.maine.edu. Dr. James Gilbert, Prof. of Wildlife Ecology and Coop. Prof. Marine Biology, 210 Nutting Hall, University of Maine, Orono ME 04469-5575. (207) 581-2866 Voice; (207) 581-2858 Fax -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2003 18:00:24 +0000 From: Christine O'Sullivan Subject: Aerial Surveys ------ Dear MARMAM, I am an Environmental Officer at the National Environment and Planning=20 Agency in Jamaica. At the momet NEPA is in receipt of four applications = to=20 capture Bottlenose dolphins from Jamaican waters and before a decision ca= n=20 be made surveys are being done to determine the population size of this=20 species. So far we have finished collecting data on sightings and need to= =20 start conducting aerial or boat surveys. Due to a lack of technical=20 expertise we are looking for someone who is familiar with these methods a= nd=20 who would be willing to help us in collecting this data. If interested you can e-mail me at cosullivan(\)nepa.gov.jm and I can provi= de=20 you with additional information. Thanks Christine O=92Sullivan Christine O'Sullivan Environmental Officer Biodiversity Secretariat National Environment and Planning Agency 10 & 11 Caledonia Avenue Kingston 5, Jamaica W.I. Telephone: (876) 908-4657 _________________________________________________________________ MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*.=20 http://join.msn.com/?page=3Dfeatures/virus ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2003 18:27:53 -0800 From: Dyan Ferren Subject: Alaska SeaLife Center job posting The Alaska SeaLife Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to marine research, rehabilitation and public education is seeking candidates for the following position... MAMMALOGIST This position is responsible for working with the mammalogist team to assist the Mammal Curator with the handling, training, and enrichment of marine mammals; ensuring the daily health and care of the animals; assisting with research procedures and data collections; record keeping; acting as a diver and/or diver's tender; and participating in presentations to the public on topics in marine science and ASLC operations. Requirements include: Bachelor's degree in biology, marine biology, zoology, fisheries science, oceanography or related field; two years experience in handling and training marine mammals; certified open water SCUBA diver preferred or willingness to learn to dive. Successful applicant must pass a pre-dive physical exam. This is a year-round, full-time, non-exempt position. Apply by: August 4th, 2003 Start date: ASAP Wage: Competitive wage and benefits. Send application (downloadable at www.alaskasealife.org) OR resume & references to Human Resources, Alaska SeaLife Center, P O Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664-1329, or fax 907-224-6320, or email to HR(\)alaskasealife.org ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2003 14:41:36 +1000 Reply-To: dolphins(\)tangalooma.com From: Trevor Hassard Subject: Re: Affects of fish farms on Cetaceans In-Reply-To: Dear MARMAM, My name is Patricia Statham and I am a marine biologist working for the Tangalooma Marine Education and Research Centre in Moreton Bay, Queensland Australia. There is a fish cage proposal within the Moreton Bay Marine Park. I have received a fact sheet from the European Cetacean Bycatch Corporation regarding skin disease on cetaceans and pinnepeds that are related to the presence of fish cages and their release of waste. There are approximately 800 Tursiops aduncus, 80 Sousa chinensis, 800 Dugong dugon living in Moreton Bay, many of which are frequently observed in areas where this proposed fish cage is to be constructed. In Queensland there are currently no operational fish cages within Marine Parks and any information would be much appreciated. If anyone has conducted any studies or know of any papers regarding the affect of fish cages on these species in particular, or any other marine mammal species in general could you please email me directly as we are attempting to determine whether we should oppose this fish cage construction. Kind Regards Patricia Statham BSc Tangalooma Marine Education and Research Centre Mailto:dolphins(\)tangalooma.com -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2003 09:49:24 +1200 From: "Stockin, Karen" Subject: Internship - Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand Common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand BACKGROUND Volunteer research volunteers are required to assist with a 3 year PhD study concerning the behavioural ecology of the common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) in New Zealand waters and their interactions with recreational vessels in Auckland, New Zealand. Additional data relating to the behavioural ecology of other species, primarily the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni) is also recorded as part of this ongoing study. I am looking for enthusiastic, dedicated volunteers with a background in marine biology and/or animal behaviour to assist me during part of the upcoming field season (October 2003 to June 2004). This would be a perfect opportunity to get some hands-on experience, should you be thinking of pursuing a postgraduate degree in marine mammal field research. FIELDWORK Field work will primarily consist of offshore vessel-based surveys aboard a 5.5m, 90 hp research rib and a 20m tour vessel. Data will be collected on pod size, location, movement patterns and behavioral states during focal group follows. Variables whose effect on the dolphins behaviour will be assessed include boat traffic and the actions of tourists swimming with the dolphins. Besides assisting with data collection, volunteers may also be expected to help with boat maintenance, data entry, and photo-identification analysis. APPLICANTS MUST ...feel confident in a small open boat several miles from the nearest coastline in moderate sea conditions and not mind getting wet! ...be able to swim ...be a self-starter who can work independently within minimal supervision ...have a strong interest in marine mammal research and conservation ...be enthusiastic and dedicated about their work and be good team players ...be available for a period of 8-10 weeks during the period October 1st 2003 - May 31st 2004. ...be able to finance their own travel to New Zealand and be responsible for their own accommodation during their stay. Unfortunately, this study is operated on an extremely tight budget, and so no financial reimbursements can be made to volunteers for their assistance. APPLICANTS SHOULD ...have some basic boating experience ...have good English language skills ...have a strong academic background in mammalogy, animal behaviour and/or marine biology ...Applicants who hold or are currently enrolled in a biological degree or a related discipline will be preferred. APPLICATIONS Applications should be made BY MAIL to Karen A. Stockin Coastal Marine Research Group Massey University Quad B Building Private Bag 102 904 Albany Campus North Shore MSC Auckland New Zealand Please include.... * A current curriculum vitae * A letter of recommendation from a present/former academic supervisor * A statement of purpose (Why you are interested in the position and what you hope to get out of it) * A period of time during which you would be available for at least for 8 weeks. APPLICATION DEADLINE: AUGUST 15th 2003 Many Thanks Karen Stockin Massey University, Auckland ================================================= Karen A. Stockin Ph.D. Candidate Coastal Marine Research Group Massey University Private Bag 102 904 Albany Campus North Shore MSC Auckland New Zealand Tel: ++ 64 9 424 8461 Mobile: ++ 64 21 146 5511 Email: k.a.stockin(\)massey.ac.nz Internet: http://cmrg.massey.ac.nz ================================================= ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2003 13:01:13 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Temporary right whale aerial survey observers: job announcement (fwd) Wildlife Trust Right Whale Aerial Survey Observers Contract Researcher Announcement Wildlife Trust, a non-profit international research and conservation organization, is seeking at least four temporary aerial marine mammal observers for the period December 1, 2003 through March 31, 2004. The posting of these observer positions is in anticipation of research activities in the southeast United States, specifically coastal Georgia. Anticipated research would require observers to fly up to five days per week, up to eight hours per day in a small, twin engine, high wing aircraft primarily to locate northern right whales in their Southeast US Critical Habitat. Surveys will be flown every day, weather permitting, and observers must be willing to work weekends and holidays during the survey period. Observers will be required to participate in aviation and marine safety and survival training. This is a 40+ hour per week temporary position. Observers are paid for a 40 hour week, at $14.00/hour (approx. $2240/month), but will be expected to work more than 40 hours some weeks, and less than 40 hours other weeks, in order to meet overall research goals. Housing will be provided at no cost to the observers for the duration of the project. These positions are contingent upon funding. Application Process: Applicants must be experienced in database entry and word processing and preferably other computer applications. The ability to live and work well in a team environment and withstand up to 8 hours per day in a small aircraft is required. Previous aerial or marine mammal survey experience, and experience in photo-identification of large cetaceans, is strongly desired. Please send cover letter, resume or curriculum vitae, and three references to the following address by August 8, 2003: Right Whale Observer Positions ATTN: Cyndi Taylor Wildlife Trust 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway Sarasota, FL 34236 Or email to: taylor(\)wildlifetrust.org -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2003 13:02:57 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Hector's dolphin habitat use publication (fwd) The following paper on habitat use in Hector's dolphin is now available: Habitat selection in a coastal dolphin species (Cephalorhynchus hectori) Marine Biology (2003) 143: 233-244 by S. Braeger, J. A. Harraway & B. F. J. Manly Abstract Hector's dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori) is a small New Zealand delphinid with a coastal distribution. Within a strip of 1 km from shore, the present study quantified the habitat used by the dolphins (n=3D461 groups) over a 19-month period (216 field days with 966 survey hours) by recording the abiotic factors sea surface temperature (SST), water depth and water clarity. Resource selection functions were used to distinguish the properties of 461 ''used'' sites (dolphins present) from 425 ''unused'' sites (no dolphins present) in six different study areas. Most dolphins were encountered in waters <39 m depth, with <4 m Secchi disk visibility and >14_C temperature. The preference of Hector's dolphins for warm and turbid waters was tested using eight models. Water depth, water clarity, SST and the study area explained dolphin presence to a very significant degree (p<0.001), and the model allowed the creation of probability plots for a variety of combinations of the variables. Habitat selection by dolphins differed between study areas, particularly between east and west coasts, in summer (December-February) and winter (June-August). Dolphin abundance appeared to change seasonally in some study areas, possibly due to a more offshore distribution of their prey in the winter, with its lower SSTs. This was so especially in summer (the main reproductive season), when dolphins (frequently with calves) occupied shallow and turbid waters, whereas in winter less use was made of this habitat. If you would like a pdf copy please contact: sbraeger(\)ifaw.org The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW -- www.ifaw.org) works to improve the welfare of wild and domestic= animals throughout the world by reducing commercial exploitation of animal= s, protecting wildlife habitats, and assisting animals in distress. IFAW se= eks to motivate the public to prevent cruelty to animals and to promote ani= mal welfare and conservation policies that advance the well-being of both a= nimals and people. This transmission is intended only for use by the addressee(s) named herein= and may contain information that is proprietary, confidential and/or legal= ly privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notifi= ed that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the information co= ntained herein (including any reliance thereon) is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If = you received this transmission in error, please immediately contact the sen= der and destroy the material in its entirety, whether in electronic or hard= copy format. Thank you. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2003 14:41:57 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Right whale aerial survey coordinator: job announcement (fwd) Wildlife Trust Right Whale Aerial Survey Coordinator Job Announcement Wildlife Trust is a non-profit wildlife research and conservation organization founded in 1971. Wildlife Trust works in the U.S. and worldwide to save threatened species from extinction, protect habitat, and improve ecological health through collaborative projects with scientists, educators, health professionals, and policy experts. The Wildlife Trust Team focuses its work on human-modified landscapes and seascapes where biodiversity is at risk because of habitat loss, disrupted ecosystems, and other environmental changes caused by humans. Job Location: Georgia and Florida, USA Job Description: Right Whale Aerial Survey Coordinator This will be a temporary, seasonal position with the potential for continuation contingent upon funding. Responsibilities will include: coordinating, overseeing and participating in right whale aerial survey projects in Georgia from December through March, including hiring and supervising observers, coordinating aircraft support, scheduling staff and flights, managing and tracking budgets, managing data and photographic images, analyzing data and writing final reports, facilitating the transmittal of data to managers and other appropriate agencies, and presenting information to the scientific community. This position is contingent upon funding. Minimum Qualifications: Previous aerial or marine mammal survey experience, and experience in photo-identification of marine mammals is required. Applicants must be experienced in database entry and word processing. Strong administrative and supervisory skills are preferred. Application Process: Please send cover letter, resume, and three references to the following address postmarked by August 8, 2003: Right Whale Program Coordinator Position ATTN: Cyndi Taylor Wildlife Trust 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway Sarasota, FL 34236 Or email to: taylor(\)wildlifetrust.org -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2003 21:10:26 +0100 Reply-To: "Colin D. MacLeod" From: "Colin D. MacLeod" Subject: Questions about fasting in Phocid pups Dear Marmammers, I was discussing seals with an ornithologist and mentioned that many phocid pups fast for a long time after weaning. The ornithologist in question then asked why seal pups would waste energy doing this. Being a whale biologist, I couldn't give an answer to this and it got me wondering about it myself. Having done a quick search on the web and of various archives, I could not come up with any published theories as to why phocid pups would fast after weaning. I was therefore wondering if anyone could help me out with the following: 1. Do all species of phocids fast after weaning ? 2. If so, is the fast the same length in all species or does it vary between species (what is the longest and shortest) ? 3. Why does this fasting occurs (and how did it evolve) ? Appologies in advance if these are rather simple questions (with simple answers) but, as I said before, I am a whale biologist with a distinct lack of knowledge about seals. Answers to any of these questions or details of relevent references would be appreciated. All the best, Colin ====================================================================== Colin D. MacLeod, B.Sc., M.Sc. Beaked Whale Research Project Lower Right, 59 Jute Street, Aberdeen, AB24 3EX U.K. Tel: 01224 634276 Email: Macleod_c(\)colloquium.co.uk ========================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2003 16:04:51 -0400 From: GREMM Subject: Answers about Ziphiids stomach Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" ------ For all the MARMAMers interested, Here are the answers I received about the Ziphiids stomach and the reason= s why they have developped so many chambers. 1- "Hi Just a thought. Horses have more then one stomach and "don't ruminate!" either. In horses, ruminates and other non-marine animals that have more then one stomach, one of the chambers usually seems to serve as a fermentation vat. Regards Chuck Schom" 2- "Votre question sur MARMAMM a attir=E9 mon attention car j'ai fait une recherche dans la litt=E9rature =E0 ce sujet il y a quelque= s ann=E9es, pour un cours d'=E9volution. J'y ai premi=E8rement not=E9 que l= e groupe des baleines =E0 bec ont des estomacs ayant 10 =E0 14 compartiment= s (selon les esp=E8ces, et selon les auteurs). L'id=E9e g=E9n=E9rale que ce= s esp=E8ces partagent un anc=E8tre commun avec les ruminants terrestres sem= ble =EAtre assez accept=E9e dans la communaut=E9 scientifique (pour un bref r=E9sum=E9, voir le site http://ivabs.massey.ac.nz/MUVSA/ass/anat/cetac.htm). Quant =E0 savoir pourquoi exactement cette caract=E9ristique anatomique s'est d=E9velopp=E9= e, voici ce que j'avais trouv=E9 =E0 l'=E9poque: * Whale's stomachs are divided into compartments like those of ruminant animals with which they share a common ancestor. The number of compartments varies according to species. Having this type of stomach is more a legacy than an adaptation to their environment. (Whales online, www.whales-online.net) ______________________________________________________ * The stomach consists of the glandular or main stomach and the pyloric portion which is subdivided into 10 to 12 compartments. The soft squid diet of beaked whales may explain the absence of a forestomach, which in other cetaceans breaks down food by muscular action prior to digestion. (Slijper, E.J. (1979). Whales. Hutchinson : London 2nd edn 511 pp.) ______________________________________________________ * Food passes through the whales mouth into its esophagus, on its way to the whale's multi-chambered stomach. Scientists believe the baleen whales have three major chambers (and perhaps a fourth smaller chamber which may be an extension of the intestine). This similarity to ungulates may not just be chance. Perhaps the whales are descended from the same line of land animals that gave rise to ruminants -- even-toed, hoofed animals, with four-chambered stomachs (usually) like cows, sheep, giraffes, camels, and deer. Food then passes through the intestine, with the remaining waste materials being eliminated into the ocean. The total capacity of the stomach of a large whale is about 760 liters (200 gallons). This is relatively small compared to the cow with a capacity of 209 liters (55 gallons) and the human with a capacity of 17 liters (4.5 pints). The first chamber in all whales is a dilatable, sac-like, extension of the esophagus with no digestive glands. This is the compartment that "chews" the food -- as the gizzard does in birds (remember -- baleen whales have no teeth and toothed whales don't use their teeth to chew). In baleen whales, the first compartment is quite small (little need to "chew" since their prey is so small), while in toothed whales the compartment is relatively large. The second chamber is where digestive juices are released -- pepsin and hydrochloric acid have been found in this part of the stomach of some whales. Most cetaceans have a third large chamber which is the pyloric part of the stomach. The intestine is quite large, usually five to six times the length of the body (human intestines run about two times body length or about 12-13 feet in an adult). Baleen whales also contain a distinctive caecum and colon, and, as with other mammals, have a pancreas and liver which deliver digestive enzymes by way of a duct into the digestive tract (there is no gall bladder in contrast to humans). These large mammals, eating some of the smallest prey, need upwards of a million calories a day to maintain body functions. That amounts to about 2,000 kilograms (4,400 pounds) of plankton daily. In contrast, the average human requires only 3,200 calories for mainenance. But these numbers can be deceiving. A million calories to a 50 ton animal is equivalent to 1,500 calories to a 150 pound person. So the whale actually has a more efficient system than the human. This relationship of lower metabolic rate with greater size is seen throughout nature. For example, mice and birds have extremely high metabolisms compared to humans. (NOAA, Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary) ______________________________________________________ * Another evolutionary breakthrough occurred in the Oligocene, when the hoofed mammals belonging to the group of artiodactyls (even-toed) developed a four-chambered stomach. This enabled them to let the food 'ferment' in their stomachs, which makes is possible for them to digest tough plant material more efficiently, and led to the radiation of these mammals. Non-ruminant hebrivres (so-called hind-gut fermenters) get limited nutrition out of much plant material. The ruminants became the dominant herbivores of the Cenozoic during the Miocene and later, outcompeting the odd-toed hoofed mammals. An important sub-group of the even-toed hoofed mammals were the whales, which successfully migrated back into the oceans. (Cours d'=E9volution et de diversit=E9 biologique, Ellen Thomas, Mesleyan University) Finalement, je me dois de vous sugg=E9rer de communiquer avec Pierre-Henr= y Fontaine, qui a surement son id=E9e sur le sujet. Son livre "Les Balaeine= s de l'Atlantique Nord" en parle bri=E8vement aux pages 78-79 et 164-173. J'esp=E8re que ces informations pourront vous aider un peu, m=EAme si c'e= st loin d'=EAtre une explication compl=E8te! Lyne Morissette Ph.D. Candidate Marine Ecosystem Modelling Fisheries Centre, The University of British Columbia 2204, Main Mall Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4 CANADA e-mail: l.morissette(\)fisheries.ubc.ca e-mail2: lyne.morissette(\)globetrotter.net webpage: http://fisheries.ubc.ca/students/lmorissette" 3- "Hej Marie-Eve=20 I never never dissected a ziphiid=B4s stomach (I am working on their skul= ls) but I can give you some citations: Mead, J. G. (1989). Bottlenose Whale. Handbook of Marine Mammals. S. H. Ridgway and S. R. Harrison. London, Academic Press. Volume 4: River Dolph= ins and the Larger Toothed Whales: 321 - 348. Mead, J. C. (1989). Beaked Whales. Handbook of Marine Mammals. S. H. Ridg= way and S. R. Harrison. London, Ridgway, S. H. Harrison, Sir R. Volume 4: River Dolphins and the Larger Toothed Whales: = 349 - 442. (stomach p. 407) Bouvier, E. L. (1892). Observations anatomiques sur L`Hyperoodon rostratu= s Lilljeborg. Annales des Sciences naturelles / Zoologie et Pal=E9ontologie= , Vol. 13; pp. 259 =96 320 (stomach: p. 279) Turner, W. (1889). An account of the beaked whales of the family Ziphiida= e in the collection of the United States National Museum. US Nat. Mus. Bull= .73 Vrolik, W. (1848). Natur- en onleedkundige beschouwing van den Hyperoodon. Hollandische Maatshappij der Wetenschapen, Naturkundige Vergandelinge, second series 5 (1): 128 pp, 15 pls, De Erven Loosjes, Haarlem Mead (1989) writes: "In Mesoplodon (and again in ziphiids in general) the pyloric stomach has been elaborated into a series of sac-like structures interconnected by what appear to be small valves. Preliminary investigati= ons of the pyloric stomachs in M. carlhubbsi, M. densirostris, M. europaeus, = M. hectori and M. mirus reveals, that each species of Mesoplodon appears to have a distinct arrangement and number of sac-like organs.)" As far as I know, nothing is known about the reasons, why ziphiids have t= his special stomach-construction. And nobody does any researches about the functional-morphology of their stomachs. I only have lots of papers about their diets. But their diet, fish and cephalopods, is absolutely no reaso= n for their stomach construction. Good luck with your search for answers. Best wishes=20 =20 Be very careful, to compare these "sac-like organs" of the pyloric stomac= hs of ziphiids with ruminants stomachs. The splitting in many compartiments = was conducted in both groups in different parts of the stomach. And Cetacea evolved from very old-fashioned condylarthra. These old condylarthra had = a complete different feeding physiology, you can see it in their dentition.= So the stomach is not a plesiomorphy but an apomorphy in both groups. Dipl.-Biol. Bettina Wurche Sauerweinstr. 14 64291 Darmstadt Tel.: +49 6151 59 93 98 bettina_wurche(\)hotmail.com" So it seems the reason is not known. Thanks to everybody Marie-Eve G=E9linas GREMM=20 Groupe de recherche et d'=E9ducation sur les mammif=E8res marins 108 de la Cale s=E8che Tadoussac (Qu=E9bec) G0T 2A0 t=E9l.: (418) 235-4701 t=E9l=E9c.: (418) 235-4325 courriel: info(\)gremm.org http://www.baleinesendirect.net http://www.whales-online.net ------------------------------- Abonnez-vous! C'est gratuit... Chaque semaine, Baleines en direct envoie =E0 des milliers d'abonn=E9s so= n bulletin des primeurs. Observations de baleines dans le Saint-Laurent, actualit=E9s du monde des baleines d'ici et d'ailleurs, portraits de chercheurs, dossiers, et plus encore. =C7a vous int=E9resse? Envoyez un message =E0 notre webmestre, info(\)gremm= .org. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2003 11:34:44 -0400 From: "Brill, Katie" Subject: Manatee Photo-identification Research Intern ------ =20 MANATEE PHOTO-IDENTIFICATION INTERNSHIP =20 The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Manate= e Photo-identification program is looking for one or two detail-oriented = interns/volunteers for the upcoming summer session in St. Petersburg, Flo= rida. =20 =20 Interns' primary responsibilities are photographing manatees, collec= ting behavioral and environmental data at sites around Tampa Bay, and ass= isting with lab-based photo-identification tasks. Other responsibilities = may include but are not limited to data entry, special projects, and outr= each activities. Interns are expected to work four days per week. =20 =20 Qualifications:=20 =B7 Must be a college junior or senior for internship credit; vol= unteers do not need to meet this qualification =20 =B7 Working knowledge of 35mm cameras, filters, and lenses prefer= red =B7 Must have basic computer proficiency; Microsoft Access litera= cy preferred =B7 Must be able to lift approximately 50 pounds of equipment =B7 Some animal research field experience preferred =B7 Preference given to applicants who possess valid Florida driv= er's license and those willing to obtain valid Florida driver's license = before the session begins =20 Application Process:=20 =20 We are currently accepting applications for the fall 2003 session (Se= ptember-November 2003). Starting and ending dates are flexible. Please se= nd a hard copy of your r=E9sum=E9 along with your cover letter, college t= ranscripts, three references, and contact information to the address belo= w. Please indicate in your cover letter the position for which you are ap= plying. =20 Bill Arnold FWC/FMRI 100 8th Avenue SE St. Petersburg, FL 33701-3095 =20 This intern position is open until filled. =20 =20 *All positions are unpaid. Housing and transportation are NOT provided. =20 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2003 13:45:13 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Dolphin internship in Sarasota Bay, Florida (fwd) Hi, I am a graduate student at the University of South Florida. For my dissertation project, I am studying the dynamics of group fission-fusion of the resident bottlenose dolphins of Sarasota Bay, Florida. I am looking for 3-4 full-time field assistants to help me with my dissertation project during the month of September. One of the assistants should be able to start in the middle of August, and the others in the beginning of September. Assistants are expected to work five days a week. The positions are unpaid and selected applicants will become part of the internship program of Mote Marine Laboratory. MML usually helps interns to find housing near the laboratory, and this housing usually costs $75-$90 per week and includes rent, water, and electricity. Therefore, a month of housing expenses is only around $300. The project involves focal animal observations in which both behavioral and acoustic data are collected simultaneously. During focal follows, assistants are responsible for helping keep track of dolphins, recording behavioral data, and driving a 22-foot research vessel. No prior experience is necessary, but applications with fieldwork experience will have a higher chance to be selected. Those interested in the position should send their resume, college transcripts, and three references of professors and/or employers to equintan(\)marine.usf.edu Best regards, Ester Quintana -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2003 11:36:49 -0300 From: Marcos Santos Subject: New publication on tucuxis' contamination ------ Dear Marmamers: The following paper on marine tucuxis' contamination (abstract below) was published. PDF file can be reached with Marcos Santos (marcosos(\)usp.br). Sincerely yours, Marcos C=E9sar de O. Santos Ph. D. Student - Departamento de Ecologia Universidade de S=E3o Paulo Visit our website: http://www.projetoatlantis.com.br Yogui, G.T, Santos, M. C. de O. and Montone, R.C. 2003. Chlorinated pesti= cides and polychlorinated biphenyls in marine tucuxi dolphins (Sotalia fluviati= lis) from the Canan=E9ia estuary, southeastern Brazil. The Science of otal Environment, 312:67-78. ABSTRACT: The Canan=E9ia estuary is an important biological area on the s= outheast coast of Brazil. In the past, it was impacted by both chlorinated pestici= des and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) due to its natural location. The mar= ine tucuxi dolphin (Sotalia fluviatilis) is a top predator in this ecosystem = and can be found year round in Canan=E9ia estuarine waters that represent an important nursing area for the species. This work investigated chlorinate= d compounds in the blubber of 9 individuals from the Canan=E9ia estuary. Re= sidue levels of DDTs (0.541-125 mg g-1 lipid weight) were the highest, followed= by PCBs (0.2-9.22 mg g-1 lipid weight), mirex (0.014-0.312 mg g-1 lipid weig= ht), chlordanes (0.001-0.047 mg g-1 lipid weight), HCHs (<0.003-0.044 mg g-1 l= ipid weight), and HCB (n.d.-0.024 mg g-1 lipid weight). The mean p,p=92-DDE/S = DDT ratio was about 0.8 and is indicative of the former DDT application in th= e study area. PCB contamination is suggested to be associated to the atmosp= heric transport and relative proximity to the Cubat=E3o industrial complex, the= most important along the Brazilian coast. Low levels of HCHs and HCB can be attributed to their high volatility in tropical environments. Concentrati= ons of organochlorines in the blubber of marine tucuxis from the Canan=E9ia estu= ary were lower than levels found in small cetacean species from developed countrie= s, where the input of these compounds was considerably greater than in Brazi= l. At extremes, male dolphins can present DDT burden several orders of magnitud= e higher than females. Despite the high levels of total DDT found in males,= the major detected compound was p,p=92-DDE which is considered of low toxicit= y. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2003 16:25:22 -0700 From: Brad Hanson Subject: radio-tracking position Research Biologist Position: Tracking radio-tagged Harbor porpoises in Washington State SCOPE OF WORK INTRODUCTION: The National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML) is conducting movement studies of harbor porpoise movements in Washington. The contracted individual will assist in field and laboratory studies related to this project. The work to be performed includes daily tracking of harbor porpoises with VHF transmitters in Washington to determine movements and assess animal behavior. This contract biologist will spend most of every week in the field independently radio-tracking from land based monitoring locations or with another biologist/boat captain tracking tagged porpoises by boat, weather permitting. The individual will operate and maintain VHF tracking equipment and small boats. The individual will enter tracking data collected into a database and verify its accuracy. Project duration is 6 months beginning in mid October 2003. KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED: The contracted individual needs to have completed a 4 year degree program in Wildlife Biology, Fisheries, Zoology or Animal Ecology. Preference will be given to biologists with experience with small cetacean radio-tracking experience. Preference will be given to biologists with experience in operating small boats 16-24 foot long in the coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest. The individual needs to be experienced in marine navigation including use and operation of GPS, Loran, Radar, depth sounders, and VHF radio. The applicant must possess a valid drivers license. 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 5-6 months of travel may be required during the contract. 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 10% office and laboratory and 90% field. Must be a U.S. citizen or able to obtain a US work visa. 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 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. 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. Please submit resumes to Dr. Brad Hanson at brad.hanson(\)noaa.gov no later than 15 August 2003. =============================================================== M. Bradley Hanson, Ph.D. NOAA/NMFS/Northwest Fisheries Science Center 2725 Montlake Blvd. E Seattle, WA 98112 Phone: 206-860-3220 Fax: 206-860-32177 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2003 10:26:36 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Proximate analysis of pinniped milk (fwd) From: Leeann Stocks Alaska SeaLife Center - Rescue and Rehabilitation Program I am looking for proximate analysis data (ie. fat, protein, carbohydrates, water)on captive or wild marine mammal milk. Specifically I am interested in the composition of Harbor Seal, Ringed Seal and Walrus milk. This information would be useful to assess the composition of the formulas we are currently using at Alaska Sealife Center for rehabilitation of orphaned marine mammals. LeeAnn Stocks Veterinary Intern Alaska SeaLife Center - Rescue and Rehabilitation Program PO Box 1329 Seward, AK 99664 Tel: (907) 224-6395 -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2003 10:31:07 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: new article: Fiordland bottlenose dolphins and tourism (fwd) Dear all, The following article is published in this month's issue of Marine Ecology Progress Series (vol. 257): Lusseau D. 2003. Male and female bottlenose dolphins Tursiops spp. have different strategies to avoid interactions with tour boats in Doubtful Sound, New Zealand. Marine Ecology Progress Series 257:267-274. Reprints are not yet available but should be in a couple of weeks. Abstract I assessed the short-term reactions of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.) to interactions with tour boats and their long-term implications. Vertical avoidance of boats, showed by an increase in time spent underwater, is a typical response in cetaceans, and has been likened to predator avoidance strategies. This study looked at the variation in diving pattern of bottlenose dolphins in Doubtful Sound, New Zealand in relation to boat interactions. An observing vessel was used to collect the data. A regressive approach showed that the research vessel did not have a significant effect on the diving pattern of the dolphins. The analysis would have allowed the detection of a small difference (6.35sec.) in dive interval (PV= 0.05) with a high certainty (power = 0.86). Dolphins avoided tour boats vertically by increasing their mean diving interval. Dolphins started to react before boats were in visual contact. An information theoretic approach indicated that the behaviour of the boat was the predominant factor affecting the diving interval. Males and females responded differently to interactions with boats. Males started to avoid boats as soon as they were present, while females switched to a vertical avoidance strategy only when interactions became intrusive. This difference in avoidance strategy may be related to the different metabolic regime of the sexes. Males would be more likely to match the cost of vertical avoidance of boats because of their greater energy stores. Females vertically avoid boats, an energetically expensive exercise for them, only when the risk incurred by interacting with boats is high. Best, David David Lusseau Postdoctoral fellow University of Aberdeen Department of Zoology Lighthouse Field Station George St Cromarty Ross-shire IV11 8YJ Scotland Tel/Fax: 44 (0) 1381 600 548 Lighthouse Field Station (University of Aberdeen): http://www.abdn.ac.uk/~nhi519/lighthse/index.hti New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust: http://nzwhaledolphintrust.tripod.com/home/ Marine Mammal Research Group (University of Otago): http://www.otago.ac.nz/marinescience/mammals/home.htm Fiordland Research (University of Otago) http://www.otago.ac.nz/marinescience/fiords/home.htm -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2003 05:35:00 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: pre-whaling population estimates (fwd) Forwarded article http://www.nature.com/nsu/030721/030721-14.html Whale numbers disputed Pre-whaling population estimates upset conservationists.=20 25 July 2003=20 TOM CLARKE=20 A new study estimating the original size of North Atlantic whale populations - before whaling took its toll - is being heavily criticized by researchers. Yet it backs the case for a continued ban on whale hunting.=20 The genetic analysis suggests that about 12 times more humpback and fin whales once cruised the ocean compared with previous estimates1. This was before their wholesale slaughter began in the nineteenth century. Today's relatively small whale populations should be protected for another 50-100 years before they are large enough to allow resumption of commercial whaling, argues Stephen Palumbi of Stanford University in California who did the analysis.=20 The International Whaling Commission (IWC) prohibits hunting until populations return to their pre-whaling size. Populations of some species are now recovering, prompting some countries to call for an end to the moratorium. Although concerned about the resumption of commercial whaling, other whale biologists say that Palumbi's figures are a gross overestimate of historical whale numbers. "It's completely out of the realm of reality," says Phil Clapham of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Researchers are keen to highlight the study's flaws because today's conservation targets are based on pre-whaling numbers. If Palumbi's figures are overestimates these could get set too high. "To suggest that these figures should be used as a target for the management recovery of whale populations today is inappropriate," Clapham argues. Genetic dispute Palumbi's group inferred the historic size of whale populations by measuring the diversity of mutations in their DNA today, and comparing the results to the rate at which such mutations are thought to occur. The analysis concludes, for example, that the North Atlantic once supported 240,000 humpbacks. Existing estimates suggest that the population grew no larger than 40,000. There are about 12,000 humpbacks in the North Atlantic today. Palumbi's critics argue that his genetic technique is fallible. Subtle changes in the method - such as in approximating mutation frequencies - can lead to massive changes in results. "Estimates of genetic diversity are complicated and error-prone," says geneticist Per Palsb=F8ll of the University of California, Berkeley. Even if Palumbi's numbers are correct, Clapham argues, they represent an average abundance over evolutionary time - a period of perhaps two million years - up until the onset of whaling.=20 Whalers' logbooks provide the best reckoning of historical whale numbers, Clapham argues, even though they can contain inaccuracies. Reported whale catches tally well with records of oil harvested from whales, attesting to the logs' overall precision. Although the argument is academic, the implications are not: the IWC updates its management plans according to the latest research.=20 Because the newest estimate is still debated, the IWC will stick to existing numbers for the time being, and the moratorium on whaling will remain in place, says the commission's secretary Nicola Grandy. "If better data were to become available we would revise our models accordingly," she says. References a.. Roman, J. & Palumbi, S. R. Whales before whaling in the North Atlantic. Science, 301, 508 - 510, (2003). -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2003 08:57:37 -0500 From: Nathalie Jaquet Subject: New article: Sperm whales in the Gulf of California ------ Dear all, The following article has been published in the last issue of Marine Mammal Science (Vol. 19, No. 3): Jaquet Nathalie, Diane Gendron and Amanda Coakes (2003). Sperm whales in the Gulf of California: Residency, movements, behavior, and the possible influence of variation in food supply. Marine Mammal Science 19:545-562. Abstract: Sperm whale movements, residency, population structure and behavior were investigated in the Gulf of California in 1998 and 1999. Variations in sperm whales movement patterns and behavior were related to changes in pr= ey abundance (jumbo squid, Dosidicus gigas) determined by fishery statistics. Photo-identification data revealed that seven female sperm whales moved into the Gulf of California from the Gal=E1pagos Islands, traveling up to 3,803 km. These are among the longest documented movements for female spe= rm whales. There were significant differences in speed and distance traveled during a dive cycle between 1998 and 1999 (low and high squid abundance). In 1999, there were also significant differences in small-scale movements and behavior between the northern and the southern part of the study area (high and low prey abundance). These results suggest that when food resources are low sperm whales travel in straighter-lines, dive for longe= r periods, travel larger distances during dive cycles and at higher speed. = In 1999, there were significant differences in time spent socializing in are= as of high prey abundance versus areas of low abundance. All of these change= s in behavior were consistent with increased foraging effort when squid abundance was low. A high proportion of mature males and first-year calve= s were observed in the Gulf of California suggesting that it is an importan= t sperm whale breeding ground. Keywords: sperm whales, Physeter macrocephalus, movements, jumbo squid, Dosidicus gigas, Gulf of California Pdf files and/or hard copies are available from: jaquetn(\)tamug.tamu.edu Cheers Nathalie --------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------- Dr Nathalie Jaquet Post-Doctoral Research Associate Texas A&M University 5007 Ave U Galveston, TX 77551 USA FAX: (409) 740 5002 Phone (office) (409) 741 4329 Phone (home) (409) 740 7794 email: jaquetn(\)tamug.tamu.edu =20 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 5 Aug 2003 11:11:55 -0700 From: Dave Mellinger Subject: article on sounds of Atlantic blue whales In-Reply-To: <01KZ2ZAAIWXU8X1KSM(\)RHO.PMEL.NOAA.GOV> The following PDF is now available: Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) sounds from the North Atlantic David K. Mellinger and Christopher W. Clark Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 114(2):1108-1119 Abstract: Sounds of blue whales were recorded from U.S. Navy hydrophone arrays in the North Atlantic. The most common signals were long, patterned sequences of very low frequency sounds in the 15-20 Hz band. Sounds within a sequence were hierarchically organized into phrases consisting of one or two different sound types. Sequences were typically composed of two-part phrases repeated every 73 s: a constant frequency tonal "A" part lasting approximately 8 s, followed 5 s later by a frequency-modulated "B" part lasting approximately 11 s. A common sequence variant consisted only of repetitions of part A. Sequences were separated by silent periods averaging just over four minutes. Two other sound types are described: a 2-5 s tone at 9 Hz, and a 5-7 s, inflected tone that swept up in frequency to ca. 70 Hz then rapidly down to 25 Hz. The general characteristics of repeated sequences of simple combinations of long duration, very low frequency sound units repeated every 1-2 min are typical of blue whale sounds recorded in other parts of the world. However, the specific frequency, duration, and repetition interval features of these North Atlantic sounds are different than those reported from other regions, lending further support to the notion that geographically separate blue whale populations have distinctive acoustic displays. Dave Mellinger David.Mellinger(\)oregonstate.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 5 Aug 2003 08:04:06 -0700 From: ACS/Puget Sound Organization: Puget Sound Chapter of the American Cetacean Society Subject: ACS Puget Sound Grants for 2003 ACS PUGET SOUND GRANTS for 2003 -- Request for Research 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 newer chapter, we have already awarded one grant in 2000 and 2 grants in 2001 and 1 in 2002. This year we are offering 2 grants. One grant will be limited to river dolphin research in South Asia and the other will be open to research of any cetacean species within waters of the Pacific Northwest. ELIGIBILITY For both grants: The individual conducting the research must submit the proposal, in addition to a CV. Project Managers or Principal Investigators will oversee all fieldwork. Applicants must have obtained any necessary permits or authorizations for conducting the proposed research prior to any awards being disbursed. Researchers of any nationality are eligible to apply. South Asia River Dolphin Research Grant: The individual applying must be affiliated with an academic institution or conservation organization. The research must be conducted in rivers of South Asia. Pacific Northwest Research Grant: This grant is available to undergraduate students currently enrolled in a college or university and graduate students currently enrolled in, or accepted to, a masters or doctorate program who meet the evaluation criteria. The research must be conducted in the waters of the Pacific Northwest. Proposals will be accepted through 31 OCTOBER 2003, and letters of acceptance or denial will be issued no later than 31 DECEMBER 2003. GRANTS Two (2) $500 grants will be awarded. Funds will be available on 15 JANUARY 2004. GUIDLINES Proposal Format: The proposal should be no more than two (2) pages in length. It should indicate why the researcher believes this research will benefit the species of interest. The proposal should also include the budget item, or items, toward which the researcher intends to apply this grant money. A CV must be included with the proposal. The proposal may be sent electronically or via regular mail to the addresses shown below. Expected Deliverables: There is no deadline for the completion of work; however, a brief report describing the progress/status of the research should be presented to ACS/PS no later than one (1) year after receipt of funds. This report will be featured in a future issue of our chapter newsletter, Whulj. In addition, the recipient will be invited to present a talk at a chapter general meeting. CONTACT INFORMATION For submission of proposals or request for information, please contact: American Cetacean Society - Puget Sound Chapter Stephanie Norman, Grants Chair P.O. Box 17136 Seattle, WA 98127 USA E-mail: Please do not respond to this e-mail, but instead write to: grants(\)acspugetsound.org ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 5 Aug 2003 09:12:55 -0400 From: Todd Speakman Subject: Dolphin research volunteer needed in Charleston, South Carolina The Marine Mammal group at NOAA National Ocean Service, Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research lab in Charleson, South Carolina is looking for a volunteer to assist with a bottlenose dolphin radio-tracking project from August 25, 2003 through December 13, 2003. This position is unpaid and the volunteer is required to work 5 days a week for a total of 40 hours. The majority of the week will be spent on a 25-foot vessel assisting with radio tracking of bottlenose dolphins in and around Charleston Harbor. The study will serve as a follow-up to a dolphin health and risk assessment live capture project conducted during mid-August. The radio-tracking portion of the study will focus on short-term movements, home ranges, and patterns of association of tagged dolphins. Specific tasks while on the boat include keeping track of dolphins, filling out data sheets, taking photographs (depending on experience), and driving the boat. During poor weather days, the volunteer will assist with various in-lab duties, such as photo-identification, digital video review, data entry and verification, and journal article review. We are looking for a hard working and enthusiastic volunteer who is willing to spend long hours on the water and in the lab. No prior experience is required, although applicants with marine mammal field and lab experience are preferred. We are unable to provide housing for volunteers, however a $1000 dollar stipend to assist with housing costs during their time in Charleston is available. The selected applicant will be responsible for finding their own housing as well as providing their own transportation to and from the lab or marina where the tracking boat will be docked. Those interested should email a letter of interest, copy of a CV, and a list of three references to Todd.Speakman(\)noaa.gov ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2003 05:24:23 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MARMAM's 10th birthday The MARMAM list was started on August 6, 1993 - other than a few short periods when our computer account has run out of money, the list has been running for 10 years as of today. Operation of the list has been supported by the University of Victoria (with administrative help from Melvin Klassen), and continued running of the list would not be possible without funding assistance from the Humane Society of the United States and the Cetacean Society International, and the time and effort of the MARMAM editors (Siri Hakala, Sascha Hooker and Daniel Palacios). Today MARMAM has over 4,500 subscribers from at least 70 different countries (there may be more countries represented, but it is hard to tell the country origin of the over 1,000 subscribers with (\)hotmail or (\)yahoo accounts). Over 600 messages related to marine mammal research and conservation are sent out to the list subscribers each year. While it may not fulfill all of its original goals, I think the list does serve an important role in communication among researchers and those involved in marine mammal conservation, management or research activities worldwide. Clearly the list could be improved, but it requires the help of the subscribers to do this. I would like to thank all those individuals who have or will post messages to the list - its usefulness is purely a reflection of your efforts. Robin W. Baird MARMAM Senior Editor marmamed(\)uvic.ca -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2003 10:17:45 -0700 From: "David S. Janiger" Subject: New Articles Hi, all! Here's the latest posting of new PDF's that are available. Abstracts also available on request. All files are under 1 MB, except one (noted below). No, no, no, don't hit that reply button. Please make all requests to: janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu Cheers David Janiger - Curatorial Assistant (Mammals) Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007 (213) 763-3369 janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu djaniger(\)nhm.org BAKER, C. SCOTT; MEREL L. DALEBOUT; SHANE LAVERY and HOWARD A. ROSS. TRENDS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION 18(6):271-272. 2003. www.DNA-surveillance: Applied molecular taxonomy for species conservation and discovery. BRADSHAW, COREY J. A.; MARK A. HINDELL; NARELLE J. BEST; KATRINA L. PHILLIPS; GARETH WILSON and PETER D. NICHOLS. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON SERIES B BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 270(1521):1283-1292. 2003. You are what you eat: describing the foraging ecology of southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) using blubber fatty acids. BUSTAMANTE, P.; C. GARRIGUE; L. BREAU; F. CAURANT; W. DABIN; J. GREAVES and R. DODEMONT. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 124(2):263-271. 2003. Trace elements in two odontocete species (Kogia breviceps and Globicephala macrorhynchus) stranded in New Caledonia (South Pacific). CASSENS, I.; K. VAN WAEREBEEK; P. B. BEST; E. A. CRESPO; J. REYES and M. C. MILINKOVITCH. MOLECULAR ECOLOGY 12(7):1781-1792. 2003. The phylogeography of dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus): A critical examination of network methods and rooting procedures. ENDO, T.; Y. HOTTA; K. HARAGUCHI and M. SAKATA. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 37(12):2681-2685. 2003. Mercury contamination in the red meat of whales and dolphins marketed for human consumption in Japan. FRISTRUP, KURT M.; LEILA T. HATCH and CHRISTOPHER W. CLARK. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 113(6):3411-3424. 2003. Variation in humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) song length in relation to low-frequency sound broadcasts. File size: 1.1 MB HOEKSTRA, P. F.; T. M. O'HARA; A. T. FISK; K. BORGA; K. R. SOLOMON and D. C. G. MUIR. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 124(3):509-522. 2003. Trophic transfer of persistent orgranochlorine contaminants (OCs) within an Arctic marine food web from the southern Beaufort-Chukchi Seas. KATSUMATA, E.; T. HORI and T. TSUTSUI. JOURNAL OF VETERINARY MEDICAL SCIENCE 65(5):619-623. 2003. Contraceptive effect of proligestone on spotted seals and crossbreeds of spotted seals and harbor seals. KENDALL, KATRINA A.; HENRY A. RUHL and ROBERT C. WILSON. DEEP SEA RESEARCH PART II: TOPICAL STUDIES IN OCEANOGRAPHY 50(10-11):1873-1888. 2003. Distribution and abundance of marine bird and pinniped populations within Port Foster, Deception Island, Antarctica. KILIAN, ANNETTE; SEVGI YAMAN; LORENZO VON FERSEN and ONUR GUNTURKUN. LEARNING & BEHAVIOR 31(2):133-142. 2003. A bottlenose dolphin discriminates visual stimuli differing in numerosity. KNUDSEN, SIRI K. and EGIL O. OEN. NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH 46(3):377-386. 2003. Blast-induced neurotrauma in whales. KOOPMAN, H. N.; S. J. IVERSON and A. J. READ. JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY B BIOCHEMICAL SYSTEMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY 173(3):247-261. 2003. High concentrations of isovaleric acid in the fats of odontocetes: variation and patterns of accumulation in blubber vs. stability in the melon. LALANCETTE, A.; Y. MORIN; L. MEASURES and M. FOURNIER. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 27(8):735-747. 2003. Contrasting changes of sensitivity by lymphocytes and neutrophils to mercury in developing grey seals. MADSEN, P. T.; D. A. CARDER; W. W. L. AU; P. E. NACHTIGALL; B. MOHL and S. H. RIDGWAY. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 113(6):2988-2991. 2003. Sound production in neonate sperm whales (L). MARTINA, B. E. E.; T. C. HARDER and A. D. M. E. OSTERHAUS. JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY 84(6):1427-1430. 2003. Genetic characterization of the unique short segment of Phocid herpesvirus type 1 reveals close relationships among alphaherpesviruses of hosts of the order Carnivora. MCPHEE, J. M.; D. A. S. ROSEN; R. D. ANDREWS and A. W. TRITES. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY 206(11):1941-1951. 2003. Predicting metabolic rate from heart rate in juvenile Steller sea lions Eumetopias jubatus. MOORE, P. G. FISHERIES RESEARCH (AMSTERDAM) 63(1):51-61. 2003. Seals and fisheries in the Clyde Sea area (Scotland): Traditional knowledge informs science. NACHTIGALL, PAUL E.; JEFFREY L. PAWLOSKI and WHITLOW W. L. AU. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 113(6):3425-3429. 2003. Temporary threshold shifts and recovery following noise exposure in the Atlantic bottlenosed dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). VAN PARIJS, SOFIE M.; PETER J. CORKERON; JAMES HARVEY; SEAN A. HAYES; DAVID K. MELLINGER; PHILIPPE A. ROUGET; PAUL M. THOMPSON; MAGNUS WAHLBERG and KIT M. KOVACS. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 113(6):3403-3410. 2003. Patterns in the vocalizations of male harbor seals. YAMAN, SEVGI; LORENZO VON FERSEN; GUIDO DEHNHARDT and ONUR GUNTURKUN. BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH 142(1-2):109-114. 2003. Visual lateralization in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus): evidence for a population asymmetry? ZABKA, TANJA S. and TRACY A. ROMANO. ANATOMICAL RECORD PART A-DISCOVERIES IN MOLECULAR CELLULAR AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY 273(1):636-647. 2003. Distribution of MHC II (+) cells in skin of the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus): An initial investigation of dolphin dendritic cells. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2003 10:53:37 -0700 From: Andrew Wright Subject: Porpoise Mortality Rates Porpoise Mortality Rates I have been looking for some natural mortality rates for porpoises as they age, but my searches have revealed information only on total mortality or anthropogenic mortality. I am working on a PVA for the vaquita, but as there is little know about that species I have been looking to adapt mortality rates from other porpoises. If anyone knows of a paper or some data that could be of use, please contact me directly. I will post a list of possible sources back on the list after a couple of weeks. Thanks, Andrew Wright marinebrit(\)netscape.net or awanasazi(\)yahoo.com University of Wales, Bangor __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2003 14:25:38 -0400 From: "Brill, Katie" Subject: Photo-Identification Research Staff Position OPS Research Staff Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Florida Marine Research Institute Department - Endangered and Threatened Species Section - Marine Mammals Project - Manatee Photo-identification Location - St. Petersburg, FL Rate of pay - $9.00 per hour, no benefits included Close date - Review of applications will begin September 1, 2003 Contact - Kari A. Higgs kari.higgs(\)fwc.state.fl.us Description - Assist in all aspects of the manatee photo-identification project. Duties include, but are not limited to: entering, editing, and verifying data, development and maintenance of Access databases, matching slides to known animals, scanning slides, and public outreach. Field work involves the collection of manatee-related photographic, spatial, environmental, and behavioral data from shore and watercraft, often in inclement weather. Responsibilities will also include assisting with the implementation of a multi-agency photo-identification database. Travel and working on weekends and holidays will be required periodically. Qualifications - A bachelor's degree with a major in one of the biological sciences. The successful candidate should possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities: knowledge of photo-editing and Microsoft Office software (particularly Microsoft Access), knowledge of 35mm and digital cameras, knowledge of and experience in photo-identification techniques, experience in database management, ability to independently operate and trailer boats up to 24' in length, and the ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing. Attention to detail and the ability to work successfully with a number of different cooperators are essential qualifications for this position. Qualified applicants should submit their cover letter, resume, and a list of three references to: Florida Marine Research Institute Attn: Kari Higgs 100 8th Avenue S. E. St. Petersburg, FL 33701 The Florida Marine Research Institute is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action 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. www.floridamarine.org ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2003 12:58:32 -0300 From: ahubner Subject: Binoculars w/ digital camera ------ Dear Marmamers, My name is Adolfo Hubner and I=B4m working with=20 photoidentification and behaviour of marine tucuxi (Sotalia=20 fluviatilis) in Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil. Our=20 behavioral observations take place on the top of a cliff=20 (40m), and we were considering to use a binoculars with a=20 digital camera to obtain better results for the=20 photoidentification study (actually, they are made from the=20 beach). The low cost of this equipment when compared with a=20 digital camera impressed me. Does anyone have experience with=20 these kind of binoculars? What models are better to photoid=20 studies? I will post a message on the list with the comments=20 that I receive. Sincerely, Adolfo Hubner Marine Mammals Project / Sergipe - Coordinator Small Cetaceans Project / Rio Grande do Norte - Member Contact: ahubner(\)uol.com.br --- Acabe com aquelas janelinhas que pulam na sua tela. AntiPop-up UOL - =C9 gr=E1tis!=20 http://antipopup.uol.com.br ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2003 11:42:47 -0800 Reply-To: hamachan_hamazaki(\)fishgame.state.ak.us From: Hamachan Hamazaki Subject: GIS spatial/temporal model workshop: workshop info / Call for Abstract In-Reply-To: <200308041235.h74CZ1qK055206(\)unix6.uvic.ca> ------ Application of GIS Spatial/Temporal prediction Model for Marine Mammal Scientists and Management Date: December 13 2003. 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Cost: USD $30 (to cover equipment expenses and refreshments) Purpose of the workshop There is a growing interest in the development of spatial/temporal model = of marine mammal distribution. It is hoped that spatial/temporal models wil= l be used to predict potential and critical habitats/locations of marine mammals, which will greatly improve marine mammal management and conservation, such application as: designation of marine reserve, ship collision warning zone, bycatch reduction fishing exclusion zone, populat= ion monitoring. This workshop explores current development of spatial/temporal models. T= he topics covered in this workshop are: 1) Varieties of modeling approaches: Theoretical/methodological foundatio= ns, Modeling capabilities, Advantages and disadvantages of the model 2) Application of current and new technologies 3) Case studies on application of models to marine mammal conservation an= d management: Successful applications, and unsuccessful applications / less= ons to be learned. 4) Discussions on future direction: Interactions and exchanges among participants And this year=92s workshop special: True to the spirit of workshop. 5) Call for experts: Present project/research/management plans and receive experts=92 suggesti= ons. This workshop would provide a great opportunity for those who are interes= ted in GIS spatial/temporal modeling, learning about modeling, and making connections. Call for abstract Presentations are sought in above and other issues. If you would like t= o present at the workshop (Oral: 20-40 min/ Poster), please submit abstract (~300 words) to Toshihide Hamazaki by Oct 10 2003. This will make it possible for me to make a schedule and provide time for you preparing for the presentation. Students are encouraged to submit an abstract for the Call for experts. Workshop Website I crated a personal workshop web site for more info http://www.geocities.com/toshihide_hamazaki/Workshop.html Registration form: http://www.geocities.com/toshihide_hamazaki/Workshop_regist.doc Call for abstract http://www.geocities.com/toshihide_hamazaki/Call_abstract.html Abstract submission form: http://www.geocities.com/toshihide_hamazaki/abstract.doc 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: Thu, 7 Aug 2003 16:27:59 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: San Francisco Bay area call for proposals (fwd) From: "Doreen Moser" The following grant is only for college students in the San Francisco Bay Area. American Cetacean Society - San Francisco Chapter Marine Mammal Student Research Grants Fall 2003 Request for Proposals The American Cetacean Society (ACS) is pleased to announce its Marine Mammal Student Research Grants. Each year we will award two $1000 grants (one in the spring, one in the fall) to San Francisco Bay Area college students conducting marine mammal research. To learn more about ACS, visit our website: www.acs-sfbay.org When: Proposals are due by September 30, 2003 Where: Please submit five copies of your proposal to Doreen Moser-ACS; 20 Durham Rd.; San Anselmo, CA 94960 Proposal Criteria: Students must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at any San Francisco Bay Area college. Research project must focus on any marine mammal species, however preference will be given to cetacean research. Proposals on either field or laboratory studies will be considered ACS Research Committee will review all proposals and make their recommendations to the board. Students will be notified of our decisions by November, 2003 Students awarded grants must present their work at a public presentation for ACS members within two years of the award. Proposal Guidelines: Proposals must include the following sections: 1.Cover Sheet should have title, your name/contact information, name of university or college, and major advisor's name/contact information. 2.Abstract should be a brief summary of your project including hypothesis, objectives, and proposed findings (not to exceed one page). 3.Project Details should include an expanded introduction, objectives, hypothesis, proposed findings, methods, and significance, (not to exceed three pages) 4.Financial Sheet should include all expected project costs and other financial sources (proposed or already received). -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2003 09:37:13 +0200 From: Gianni Pavan Subject: Re: Binoculars w/ digital camera In-Reply-To: ------ Hi, I had the opportunity to see the documentation of a couple of=20 cheap digi/binoculars and they had a low resolution image sensor=20 (1.3MPixel), not suitable for my needs. Two main features must be considered: one is the brute resolution of the=20 sensor, another is the combination of luminosity and sensor sensitivity=20 that both influence the "shutter speed" or exposition speed. On a=20 binocular, as with a tele lens, short exposition times are required to ge= t=20 good shots. Gianni At 12.58 06/08/2003 -0300, you wrote: >------ >Dear Marmamers, > > My name is Adolfo Hubner and I=B4m working with >photoidentification and behaviour of marine tucuxi (Sotalia >fluviatilis) in Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil. Our >behavioral observations take place on the top of a cliff >(40m), and we were considering to use a binoculars with a >digital camera to obtain better results for the >photoidentification study (actually, they are made from the >beach). The low cost of this equipment when compared with a >digital camera impressed me. Does anyone have experience with >these kind of binoculars? What models are better to photoid >studies? I will post a message on the list with the comments >that I receive. > >Sincerely, > >Adolfo Hubner >Marine Mammals Project / Sergipe - Coordinator >Small Cetaceans Project / Rio Grande do Norte - Member >Contact: ahubner(\)uol.com.br -------------------------------------------------------------- Gianni Pavan Email gpavan(\)cibra.unipv.it Centro Interdisciplinare di Bioacustica e Ricerche Ambientali Universita' degli Studi di Pavia Via Taramelli 24, 27100 PAVIA, ITALIA Tel/Fax +39-0382-525234 Web http://www.unipv.it/cibra ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2003 04:55:26 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MARMAM Monthly Editorial Policy and FAQ Posted 8 August 2003 ==================================================== MARMAM Editorial Policy & 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. What notices from regional groups are posted? 13. Useful websites 14. Other email discussion lists 15. 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, run through the University of Victoria. The list was established in August 1993 specifically for marine mammal researchers and graduate students, as well as those actively involved in marine mammal conservation and management. As of January 2002 there were over 4,100 subscribers from 72 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. Posting of messages to the list is done at the Editors' discretion. ________________________________________________________ >> 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 announcements - internship/volunteer opportunities. To help students discern the pros and cons of different research groups we ask that that postings provide details of the research experience that volunteers will gain from this position. Posts for volunteer opportunities (particularly paying opportunities) that are not university-affiliated, should provide a measure of their research output in terms of publications available. For groups that do not do this, we will add the note: NO PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE ON THIS WORK If you are affiliated with a university research group, please make this clear in your posting. Finally, provide an indication of the level of payment required from the volunteers: whether the position is paid, volunteers are subsidised in terms of accomodation but have to provide their own flights, or whether there is a charge for the position. - 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 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) 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 ensures that: - An appropriate and explicit 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 4000+ list members. - 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. All information should be included as text within the body of the message. - Messages are properly formatted and do not contain excessive numbers of typos. Messages that 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. Please note the following about message formatting. 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. Further, we have noticed that messages composed by cutting and pasting directly from WordPerfect or Word can cause line wrapping problems. Therefore, messages should not be composed using the latter method. Several e-mail programs append encoded information (MIME, Metafile, and V-cards are common ones). Web-based e-mail programs often append HTML tags by default. These "embelishments" cause display and readability problems and are strongly discouraged. Whenever possible users should disable HTML tags (or send the text-only version) and other encoding features when submitting messages to MARMAM. EVERY EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO SUBMIT MESSAGES AS PLAIN TEXT. These practices will greatly reduce the number of messages with strange formatting that appear on MARMAM. ________________________________________________________ 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. What notices from regional groups are posted? Submissions from regional groups (for example, but not restricted to, the regional chapters of the American Cetacean Society or the regional student chapters of professional associations such as the Society for Marine Mammalogy) should carefully consider whether their announcements are relevant to 4,000+ recipients in 72 countries. Announcements about meetings of short duration (less that half a day) and with little or no scientifc content are discouraged. Notices dealing with internal chapter businesses or organizational matters will not be posted. Notices from regional student chapters 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). ________________________________________________________ 13. 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: http://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/ Oceans Blue Whalewatch Listserv: http://www.oceansblue.org/bluetourism/chartacourse/ BajaToBering/index.html ______________________________________________________ 14. 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) ________________________________________________________ 15. 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, 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 July 2002 ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2003 18:37:40 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: XV Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals (fwd) INVITATION TO ATTEND: The Society for Marine Mammalogy will be hosting the XV Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, from 14-19 December in Greensboro, NC. Please check the conference website (http://smm2003biennial.marinemammalogy.org/) for the latest information. The deadline for early registration is 19 September 2003. The least expensive way to register is early registration and we encourage everyone to register as early as possible. The deadline for housing registration is 13 November 2003, and there is a form available on the website for this. Everyone is strongly encouraged to make their hotel reservations as soon as possible to avoid last minute problems with availability. Additionally, please remember that the dates are near the holidays, and flights might be filled, so book your flight early. Those coming a long distance and internationally should check for flights into both Greensboro (16 km from the hotel) and Raleigh-Durham (111 km from the hotel), because the prices of fares varies between these two airports, and substantial savings might be had, enough to cover the cost of ground transportation to the hotel and convention center from the more distant airport. SPECIAL NOTICE FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS: The United States has imposed stricter requirements for entry into the country. We encourage all international visitors from countries requiring visas to begin the process of acquiring visas as soon as possible, and no later than 3 months before the meeting. Although the U.S. State Department has instructed its overseas consular offices to schedule students, professors, and researchers first for interviews, the process is now taking several months. After identifying that a visa is needed, foreign travelers should contact the Embassy Consular Section in their country to determine visa processing timeframes. Travelers should contact the Consular Section via internet at http://travel.state.gov/links.html or call the Consular Section to hear recorded information. The National Academy of Science (USA) International Visitors Office has established a web-resource (http://www7.nationalacademies.org/visas/) that includes information and internet links to federal agencies involved in the visa process. The U.S. State Department web page for visa services is http://www.travel.state.gov/visa_services.html A GENTLE REMINDER ABOUT REGISTRATION. An icebreaker ticket is included in the registration fee. Don't order one unless you plan to bring a guest. There are NO REFUNDS! The banquet is a separate ticket. DO order one so you can join the fun. The dance is open to any registered attendee. Students must provide proof of student status. If you are using course listings, etc., that were printed from the internet, make sure your NAME is on it somewhere, or it will be rejected. A photo ID is preferred. Copy it "light" so it will fax legibly. INVITATION TO EXHIBITORS: We invite interested individuals and organizations to exhibit at the conference. The exhibitor fee is $150.00 for nonprofit organizations (i.e. public educational institutions, governmental agencies, and 501 3. c. Corporations) and $300.00 for for-profit concerns. Those registering to exhibit prior to 19 September 2003 will receive a $50.00 discount. This fee will procure one booth (approx. 10 x 10 feet) on the exhibit floor (with one draped table and two chairs), two exhibitor badges, and two tickets to the opening icebreaker reception at the Convention Center. Exhibitor badges will allow access to the exhibit hall and poster area only, and will NOT allow access to conference sessions. Exhibitors wishing to attend scientific sessions may purchase badges for that purpose for an additional $50.00 each. These badges will provide access to a limited number of presentations. Those wishing to attend many sessions are encouraged to register for the full conference. Nonprofit exhibitors wishing to attend scientific sessions will need to register for the conference at the regular rate. WHO SHOULD EXIBIT? Companies and organizations featuring the following products and services are urged to participate: Analytical Software Artists Boats, Motors, and Engines Book and Journal Publishers Conservation Groups Ecological Consultants Field Gear Federal, State, and Local Government Agencies GIS and GPS Outdoor Clothing Photographic Equipment Remote Sensing Time-Depth Recorders Watercraft Scientific Program Chair Aleta A. Hohn, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, North Carolina 28516-9722 USA Phone 252-728-8797, Fax 252-728-8784 Email: sciprog(\)marinemammalogy.org Conference Chair Edward O. Keith, Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University 8000 N. Ocean Drive, Dania Beach, Florida 33004 USA Phone 954-262-8322, Fax 954-262-3931 Email: conference(\)marinemammalogy.org -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 11:17:46 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: 2004 Marine Mammal Meeting in La Paz - Baja - Mexico (fwd) ________________________________________________________________ SOCIEDAD MEXICANA DE MASTOZOOLOG=CDA MARINA, A.C. FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT SOCIEDAD MEXICANA DE MASTOZOOLOG=CDA MARINA XXIX Reuni=F3n Internacional para el Estudio de los Mam=EDferos Marinos _______________________________________________________________ DEAR COLLEAGUES: We are pleased to announce about our next International Meeting, which will be carried out in the City of La Paz, B= aja California Sur, from May 2 - 5 of 2004, with the following characteristic= s: DATE LIMIT FOR DELIVERY OF SUMMARIES: January 30 of 2004. WORKSHOPS or COURSES: We are asking for suggestions for the organization = of workshops or courses that can occur before or after the meeting. Along wi= th the proposals of subjects, you can suggest the exhibitors. Hector Perez-Corte's will be in charge of its organization hpcortes(\)yahoo.com This it is FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT, for to have in mind dates limit of deliver= y of summaries and dates of the meeting. Later a second announcement with m= ore details of the Meeting through the page of internet of the SOMEMMA will b= e sent. For any doubt or suggestions: Diane Gendron - President of the SOMEMMA dgendron(\)ipn.MX Jorge Urban - President of the Organizing Committee jurban(\)uabcs.MX Alejandro Gomez-Gallardo - Secretary of SOMEMMA and Organizing Committee eagg(\)uabcs.MX E. Alejandro Gomez Gallardo U. Programa de Mamiferos Marinos Dpto. de BIOLOGIA MARINA Universidad Aut=F3noma de Baja California Sur Carretera al Sur km. 5.5 . 23080 . La Paz, B. C. S. MEXICO Ap. Post. 19 B 23081 Tel: (en ext. 119) 01 612 128-0440 . 128-0432 . 128-0569 . 128-0342 Fax: 128-0880 -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2003 08:34:45 -0400 From: "Brill, Katie" Subject: Please repost: Fall Manatee Photo-identification Research Intern/ Volunteer ------ MANATEE PHOTO-IDENTIFICATION INTERNSHIP=20 The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Manat= ee Photo-identification program is looking for one or two detail-oriented= interns/volunteers to serve during the upcoming fall session in St. Pete= rsburg, Florida. =20 Interns' will be primarily responsible for photographing manatees a= nd collecting behavioral and environmental data at sites around Tampa Bay= and assisting with lab-based photo-identification tasks. Other responsib= ilities may include, but are not limited to, data entry, special projects= , and outreach activities. Interns are expected to work four days per wee= k. =20 Qualifications:=20 =B7Must be a college junior or senior for internship credit. Volunteers d= o not need to meet this qualification. =20 =B7A working knowledge of 35mm cameras, filters and lenses is preferred. =B7Must have basic computer proficiency. Microsoft Access literacy is pre= ferred. =B7Must be able to lift approximately 50 pounds of equipment. =B7Some animal research field experience is preferred. =B7Preference will be given to applicants who possess a valid Florida dri= ver's license, as well as those willing to obtain one before the session = starts. =20 Application Process:=20 Applications for the fall 2003 session (September - November 2003) a= re currently being accepted. Starting and ending dates are flexible. Plea= se send a hard copy of your resume along with your cover letter, college = transcripts, three references and contact information to the following ad= dress. Please indicate in your cover letter the position for which you ar= e applying. =20 Bill Arnold FWC/FMRI 100 8th Avenue SE St. Petersburg, FL 33701-3095 Bill.Arnold(\)fwc.state.fl.us www.floridamarine.org =20 This intern position is open until filled. =20 *All positions are unpaid. Housing and transportation are NOT provided. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2003 13:08:30 -0400 From: "Arthur H. Kopelman, Ph. D." Subject: Fwd: freeze branded seal This was sent to me, if anyone can help Pauline, please respond to her at jjceaser(\)eircom.net. Thanks, Artie Kopelman >Date: Sun, 03 Aug 2003 16:25:08 +0100 >From: Pauline Beades >Subject: freeze branded seal >To: information(\)cresli.org >User-Agent: Microsoft-Outlook-Express-Macintosh-Edition/5.02.2022 >X-Loop-Detect: 1 >Original-recipient: rfc822;kopelman(\)optonline.net > >Hi, >A grey seal was found dead on the northern pennisula in Ireland, Donegal. It >had a freeze brand 'BES" >Do you have any idea where this mark originated. Unfortunately we were >unable to get a photo of the animal and are going by a witness report. The >body was below the high water mark and did not remain after a high tide. >Any help you could give would be appreciated. >regards, >Pauline Beades >Irish seal sanctuary > Arthur H. Kopelman, Ph. D. kopelman(\)optonline.net "When the last individual of a race of living things breathes no more, another heaven and another earth must pass before such a one be again." William Beebe ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2003 05:08:46 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Request for info_S. bredanensis stranding in Taiwan? (fwd) Dear marmamers We recently recovered a live female Steno bredanensis entangled in a fish trap near the National Fisheries University at Shimonoseki, Western Japan. Judging by weight and general appearance the dolphin was thin and malnourished. Her general behavior toward human handling at the site where she was entangled and subsequently at this Aquarium, lead us to believe that she may have had previous contact with humans. We understand there may have been a group stranding of S. bredanensis involving temporary care of several individuals in Taiwan recently. We would like to hear from anyone who can confirm the incident and may like to compare photographs and data of this dolphin with those released. Thank you ========================== Grant Abel Curator for Marine Mammals Shimonoseki Marine Science Museum Kaikyokan Arca Port 6-1 Shimonoseki City Yamaguchi. JAPAN 750-0036 Tel: +81 832 28-1289 Fax: +81 832 28-1139 Email: GSA_Management(\)bigpond.com abel(\)kaikyokan.com http://www.kaikyokan.com -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2003 05:16:08 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Bryde's whale subspecies (fwd) Hello: My name is Leandra Goncalves and I'm studying Biology in SP/Brazil. I'm doing a research for my monography about Bryde's whales at Laje de Sabtos Marine State Park (Southeast Brazil). This research is a review about many aspects of them, such as identification. I would like to know if there is someone studying the Bryde's whales phylogeny. My main doubt is about possible subspecies or species that may occurr inshore/offshore. I've seen some references about this in Cummings, 1985; Olsen, 1913; Best, 1977; Omura, 1959. Can anybody send some info about? Thanks in advance, Leandra Goncalves leandra(\)dglnet.com.br -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 21:09:46 -0300 From: Ecovoluntarios Subject: meeting announcements ------ =20 2nd Symposium of Conservation=20 and Use Sustainable of the Marine Fauna=20 =20 =20 1-3 October 2003=20 Escuela Naval=20 Montevideo=20 Uruguay=20 =20 ORGANIZE:=20 Protection of Fauna Marina (PROFAUMA) - Naval School=20 =20 The Symposium included the First Meeting on Research and Conservation=20 of Sea Turtles in the Southeastern Atlantic Ocean (ASO)=20 3-4 October 2003 (organize: CID/Proyecto Karumb=E9)=20 =20 CONFERENCES OF THE NAVAL SCHOOL=20 Tom=E1s Berreta S/N esq. Lido - CARRASCO=20 MONTEVIDEO=20 =20 SCHEDULE:=20 Morning module: 09:00 to 13:00 hrs.=20 Module vespertino: 15:00 to 19:00 hrs.=20 =20 General: $ 250 pesos uruguayos (U$S 10)=20 Students: $ 100 pesos uruguayos (U$S 4)=20 Diplomas will extend and they will surrender portfolios with the exposed=20 reports for the lecturers.=20 It is requested to formalize the inscription in advance, through the=20 telephone:=20 =20 00 598 2 600.8181 or for those=20 =20 e-mail:=20 profauma(\)adinet.com.uy=20 esnal(\)armada.gub.uy=20 =20 or for webpage=20 =20 http://www.profauma.org/inicio.htm=20 =20 =20 RESUME:=20 -words 400=20 -title=20 -authors=20 -address=20 -email=20 -oral or poster=20 =20 send via email :=20 =20 Lic. Virginia Little=20 Laboratorio de Evoluci=F3n=20 Facultad de Ciencias=20 Igu=E1 4225, CP. 11400=20 Montevideo=20 profauma(\)adinet.com.uy=20 =20 PROGRAMS:=20 Each conference will have an exhibition of 30 minutes, after the one whic= h=20 you it will have 10 minutes for questions.=20 The interval between topic and topic will be of 5 minutes.=20 In each module will have an intermediate recess of 15 minutes (coffee)=20 Between the morning module and vespertino, the participants will have 2=20 hours to eat lunch in an independent way.=20 The Naval Club of Carrasco will provide for the Days an offer of Menu=20 Executive ($U 70 =3D U$S 2 .5 dollars) with included transfers.=20 He/she will also have a Menu of Students ($U 30 =3D U$S 1 dollar) in the=20 Naval school.=20 =20 Contents of the meeting in the next email=20 =20 More information in: http://www.profauma.org/inicio.htm =20 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2003 05:07:57 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Ph.D. Opportunity in Marine Mammal Evolution (fwd) Dr. Steven Ferguson, Research Scientist, of Fisheries & Oceans Canada and Dr. Serge Larivi=E8re, Scientific Director of the Delta Waterfowl Foundation are seeking a graduate student to join a research team with the goal of developing conservation approaches based on macroecological patterns. This project is currently funded by Fisheries & Oceans Canada, Delta Waterfowl Foundation, and Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Project: As part of this team, the selected student will conduct research into species-level life history patterns among marine mammals with an emphasis on Arctic regions. The project involves GIS mapping of historical distribution of sedentary and migratory Arctic marine mammals and the overlay of key environmental characteristics that may explain life histories. Using the comparative method to control for phylogeny and body size the association between life history and environment will be explored. The aim is to describe macroecological patterns in distribution and abundance that will help conservation efforts. Location: University of Manitoba ( www.umanitoba.ca), Department of Zoology or Faculty of Environment located in Winnipeg, Manitoba (www.winnipeg.ca). Timeline: Start date negotiable but January 2004 is the preferred entry date. Requirements: M.S. in biology with publication experience. The student should be mature and highly motivated. Experience and demonstrated interest in evolutionary theory, life history evolution, and wildlife ecology preferred. If interested: send a cover letter, resume, unofficial transcripts, and names and contact information (including phone numbers and emails) of three references to: Wanda Gorsuch, Scientific Assistant, Delta Waterfowl Foundation R.R. #1, Box 1, Site 1, Portage La Prairie. MB, R1N 3A1, Canada or for further information contact: Dr. Steven Ferguson (marine mammals) Fisheries and Oceans Canada; 204-983-5057; email fergusonsh(\)dfo-mpo.gc.ca Dr. Serge Larivi=E8re (mammalian carnivores and waterfowl) Delta Waterfowl Foundation; 204-239-1900; email slariviere(\)deltawaterfowl.org -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2003 08:57:01 -0500 From: Kristen Fletcher Subject: Job Opportunity **Apologies for Cross Posting** Please forward to interested parties. The University of Mississippi is now accepting applications for the Senior Research Counsel and Director of Sea Grant Law Programs position. Please contact Janea McDonald (contact information below) or go to jobs.olemiss.edu for information. Senior Research Counsel and Director of Sea Grant Law Programs University of Mississippi Law Center Perform legal research and writing on ocean and coastal law issues. Qualifications include law degrees and five years of experience by starting date, Mississippi Bar membership or commitment to acquire membership, relevant course work and/or work experience in ocean/coastal, or natural resources law, and ability and inclination for research and writing and program management. Applicants should be self-starters, comfortable speaking in public forums, and willing to write grant proposals. Salary $80,000. Anticipated starting date is Fall 2003. Position open until filled or until adequate applicant pool is obtained. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply. All inquiries will be held in confidence. For details, go online to jobs.olemiss.edu or write or call Ms. Janea McDonald at: University Employment Office Paul B. Johnson Commons University of Mississippi P.O. Box 1848 University, MS 38677-1848 Phone (662) 915-5690 The University of Mississippi is an EEO/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA employer. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2003 11:08:00 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications (fwd) The following is a list of recent publications. Please do not contact MAR= MAM for reprints. Thank you. ----------------------- Dyke, A.S. and J. England. 2003. Canada's most northerly postglacial bowh= ead whales (Balaena mysticetus): Holocene sea-ice conditions and polynya development. Arctic 56(1):14-20. Rare remains of postglacial bowhead whales occur in the Norwegian Bay-Eur= eka Sound region. These are the northernmost remains known from the Canadian Arctic. The region is beyond the bowhead's current range because of persistent summer sea ice. We argue that the region has been beyond the bowhead's range for most of postglacial time for the same reason. With on= e exception, the 16 known subfossil bowheads from the region date to the la= st 4000 14C years. Within the region, whale bones are most common adjacent t= o polynyas, which connect to more southerly channels extending from Baffin Bay. This distribution suggests that the polynyas, which here occupy area= s of strong currents, developed as a result of shallowing of inter-island channels due to postglacial uplift. The whale remains beyond the polynyas are seen as those of doomed strays that reached the polynyas from Baffin = Bay and foraged farther along coastal leads before being trapped by freeze-up. This interpretation of Holocene sea-ice history agrees with the limited development of Holocene raised beaches in the region. However, it contradicts other interpretations of greatly ameliorated marine condition= s in northernmost Canada at about 6000 14C years B.P. Heide-J=F8rgensen, M.P. Laidre, K.L. Wiig, =D8. Jensen, M.V. Duec= k, L. Maiers, L.D. Schmidt, H.C. Hobbs, R.C. 2003. From Greenland to Canada= in ten days : tracks of bowhead whales, Balaena mysticetus, across Baffin Ba= y. Arctic 56(1): 21-31. Five bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) were instrumented with satellite transmitters in northwestern Disko Bay, West Greenland, in May 2001. Best results were obtained when tags were deployed with a pole rather than a pneumatic gun. At least three of the tagged whales remained in the northwestern part of the bay for one to two weeks after tagging. A male a= nd a female whale moved from Disko Bay to northern Canada. They left Disko B= ay 11 days apart and took different routes across Baffin Bay to the southern part of the North Water polynya, just east of the entrance to Lancaster Sound. The whales crossed the central part of Baffin Bay relatively rapid= ly (travel time of 9-10 days, 3.1 and 4.5 km/h). Dive behaviour of one whale was monitored and showed changes in dive depths, dive rates, and surfacin= g times in different localities, indicating behavioural changes probably related to feeding. The whales were presumably feeding in both Disko Bay = in May and in the southern part of the North Water (southeast of Bylot Islan= d) in June. This study confirms whalers' observations that bowhead whales mo= ve between West Greenland and the east coast of Baffin Island. Durner, G.M. Amstrup, S.C. Fischbach, A.S. 2003. Habitat characterist= ics of polar bear terrestrial maternal den sites in northern Alaska. Arctic 56(1):55-62. Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) give birth to and nurture their young in de= ns of ice and snow. During 1999-2001, we measured the structure of 22 dens o= n the coastal plain of northern Alaska after polar bear families had evacua= ted their dens in the spring. During the summers of 2001 and 2002, we revisit= ed the sites of 42 maternal and autumn exploratory dens and recorded characteristics of the under-snow habitat. The structure of polar bear sn= ow dens was highly variable. Most were simple chambers with a single entrance/egress tunnel. Others had multiple chambers and additional tunne= ls. Thickness of snow above and below dens was highly variable, but most dens were overlain by less than 1 m of snow. Dens were located on, or associat= ed with, pronounced landscape features (primarily coastal and river banks, b= ut also a lake shore and an abandoned oil field gravel pad) that are readily distinguished from the surrounding terrain in summer and catch snow in ea= rly winter. Although easily identified, den landforms in northern Alaska were more subtle than den habitats in many other parts of the Arctic. The structure of polar bear dens in Alaska was strikingly similar to that of dens elsewhere and has remained largely unchanged in northern Alaska for more than 25 years. Knowledge of den structure and site characteristics w= ill allow resource managers to identify habitats with the greatest probabilit= y of holding dens. This information may assist resource managers in prevent= ing negative impacts of mineral exploration and extraction on polar bears. Outridge, P.M. Davis, W.J. Stewart, R.E.A. Born, E.W. 2003. Investigation of the stock structure of Atlantic walrus (Odobenus rosmaru= s rosmarus) in Canada and Greenland using dental Pb isotopes derived from local geochemical environments. Arctic 56(1):82-90. The chemical composition of animal tissues such as teeth appears to refle= ct an individual's exposure to its geochemical environment. In this study, t= he lead (Pb) isotope composition of dental cementum was used to investigate = the stock structure of Atlantic walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) in the Canadian Arctic and Greenland. The 12 communities providing walrus sample= s for this study represent most of the Canadian and Greenlandic villages wh= ere walrus still form an important part of the traditional Inuit diet. Significant differences between locations in mean Pb isotope ratios and t= he limited overlap of the ranges of values indicate that each village harves= ted walrus herds that exploited substantially different geological/geographic= al habitats. This geographic segregation based on isotopic signatures sugges= ts that most walrus stocks (i.e., the groups of walrus that interact with hunters at each community) are more localized in their range than previou= sly thought. 208Pb/207Pb and 208Pb/204Pb were the most important stock discriminators, reflecting the influence of local geological Th/U composition (i.e., 208Pb) on Pb isotope composition in walrus teeth. 204Pb-based isotope ratios in walrus were consistently higher (more radiogenic) and more homogeneous than those in regional terrestrial bedro= ck, a difference probably due to selective leaching of radiogenic Pb from mineral phases into seawater and mixing during weathering and transport. Dental Pb isotope signatures may have widespread application to stock discrimination of other coastal marine mammal species. de March, B.G.E. Postma, L.D. 2003. Molecular genetic stock discriminat= ion of belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) hunted in eastern Hudson Bay, Northern Quebec, Hudson Strait, and Sanikiluaq (Belcher Islands), Canada, and comparisons to adjacent populations. Arctic 56(1):111-124. Belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) harvested from communities on the eastern Hudson Bay (EHB) arc, Sanikiluaq on the Belcher Islands, northwestern Quebec, Hudson Strait, neighboring areas of Hudson Bay, and the St. Lawre= nce were characterized by differences in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) d-loop sequence and in 15 nuclear microsatellite loci. Results supported the hypothesis that communities outside the EHB arc hunt some EHB belugas, wh= ich were strongly differentiated from all neighboring sample populations by mtDNA haplotypes and weakly differentiated by microsatellite data. Beluga= s genetically most similar to those sampled in EHB comprised 19% of the harvest in Hudson Strait and Ungava, 15% in northwestern Quebec, 9% in western and northern Hudson Bay, 8% in Sanikiluaq, and 5% in Kimmirut (though many were possibly not belugas from EHB, but uncommon genotypes i= n other stocks). Within EHB, belugas from the Nastapoka River (1984-95) and elsewhere on the EHB arc (1993-97) were very similar. Using simple probabilistic calculations to assign individuals to their most likely sam= ple population, we estimated that 15% of belugas hunted in EHB could be from northern or western Hudson Bay and 3% from Sanikiluaq. St. Lawrence River belugas were strongly differentiated from all other sample populations by both haplotypes and microsatellites. Stocks in Arctic populations were identified by different proportions of alleles and by genetic consistency over several years. Belugas from Sanikiluaq, Kimmirut, and EHB may repres= ent three separate stocks, while large genetic diversities in northern Quebec= , northern Hudson Bay, and Arviat confirm that mixtures of stocks were harvested in these areas. Van de Velde, F. Stirling, I. Richardson, E. 2003. Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) denning in the area of the Simpson Peninsula, Nunavut / Va= n de Velde, F. Stirling, I. Richardson, E. Arctic, v. 56, no. 2: 185-19= 0. The locations of polar bear snow dens in winter on the Simpson Peninsula, Nunavut, and nearby islands to the northwest, and information on the sex = and age class of a subsample of the occupants of 73 dens, were recorded from interviews with Inuit hunters at Pelly Bay, at intervals from 1937 to 196= 5 and 1968 to 1969. Hunting bears at winter dens, after locating them with = the assistance of dogs, was legal during that period and was widely practiced throughout the Canadian Arctic. For embryos found in utero, mean litter s= ize was 2.0, and two of the eight litters recorded from pregnant females contained three foetuses. Births appeared to occur from about December through early January. For cubs in dens, the mean litter size was 1.88. N= o litters of three cubs were recorded in winter dens or nearby after depart= ure of the family back to the sea ice in spring. Females accompanied by yearl= ing or two-year-old cubs, subadults, and adult males were also recorded in winter dens during periods of cold weather. The locations of a total of 1= 91 snow dens, occupied during winter, were reported by hunters and marked on maps from memory. Of 180 dens for which the sex of the occupant was recorded, 148 contained females (alone or with an unspecified number of cubs) and 32 had lone males. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2003 18:22:54 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: New publication on kinship in bottlenose dolphin male alliances (fwd) Dear Marmamers, The following paper is now in print in the July 2003 issue of Animal Behaviour ( vol.66: 185-194). Requests for pdf versions can be forwarded to me at the address at the bottom of this message, and reprints should be available soon. Kim Parsons, John Durban, Diane Claridge, Ken Balcomb, Les Noble & Paul Thompson. Kinship as a basis for alliance formation between male bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, in the Bahamas. Abstract Alliances between reproductive males have been described in both cetacean and terrestrial mammal societies, and kin selection theory has often been invoked to explain these stable male coalitions. However, recent studies of bottlenose dolphins (T. aduncus) in Australia suggest that mechanisms other than kinship are fundamental in the formation of male alliances. In this study, we supplemented skin biopsy sampling with the collection of faecal samples from individually recognised wild bottlenose dolphins (T. truncatus) to assess the role of kin selection in alliance membership in the NE Bahamas. Stable alliances between pairs of males were identified based on association analyses of individual photo-identification data collected over four years. Molecular genetic analyses of tissue samples revealed highly significant correlations between patterns of association and both mitochondrial DNA haplotype identity and microsatellite relatedness, indicating that males within long-term alliances are more closely related than expected by chance. These data reinforce the high degree of plasticity previously reported within the genus Tursiops, and suggest that social and ecological differences between populations can markedly affect the role of kin selection in determining social alliances among male bottlenose dolphins. ................................................................. Dr. Kim M. Parsons 6016 40 Avenue NE Seattle, WA 98115 USA phone 206 524 6923 email kim.parsons(\)mail.com ................................................................. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2003 10:55:56 -0500 From: "Jeanette A. Thomas" Subject: Special Issue of Aquatic Mammals on Pinniped Vocalizations In-Reply-To: <200308190124.h7J1OJfp063924(\)unix6.uvic.ca> The next issue of Aquatic Mammals will be a special issue on pinniped=20 vocalizations edited by Sofie Van Parijs and Ronald Schusterman. I am offering a prepublication discount on this issue of $35 US (includes= =20 shipping costs). If you would like to order a prepublication copy, pleas= e=20 provide a credit card number & expiration date by 10 September 2003. The= =20 Table of Contents for this issue appears below. Thank you, Jeanette Thomas, Editor (Email: J-Thomas(\)wiu.edu or Fax: 309-762-6989) -------------------------------------------------------------------------= - Aquatic Mammals, Volume 29, Number 2, 2003 ISSN 0167-5427 CONTENTS: FORWARD by Ronald J. Schusterman and S. VAN PARIJS INSELEY, S., PHILLIPS, A. V., AND I. CHARRIER: A review of social recogn= ition=20 in pinnipeds. SOUTHALL, B. L., SCHUSTERMAN, R. J., AND D. KASTAK: Acoustic communicati= on Ranges for northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris). VAN PARIJS, S.: Aquatic mating in pinnipeds=97a review. STIRLING, I., AND J. A. THOMAS: Relationships between underwater=20 vocalizations and social systems in phocids seals. ROGERS, T. L. Factors influencing the acoustic behaviour of male phocids = seals. OETELAAR, M. L., TERHUNE, J. M., AND H. R. BURTON: Can the sex of a Wedd= ell=20 seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) be identified by its surface call? ABGRALL, P., TERHUNE, J. M., AND H. R. BURTON: Variation of Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) underwater vocalizations over mesogeographic ra= nges. MOORS, H. B., AND J. M. TERHUNE: Repetition patterns within harp seal=20 (Pagophilus groenlandicus) underwater calls. FERNANDEZ-JURICIC, E., CAMPAGNA, C., AND D. SAN MAURO: Variations in t= he arrangement of South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens) male vocalizat= ions=20 during the breeding season: patterns and contexts. SJARE, B., STIRLING, I., AND C. SPENCER: Structural variation in the son= gs of=20 Atlantic walruses breeding in the Canadian High Arctic BOOK REVIEW STEWART, B. S.: Steller sea lion decline: Is it food II? Book by D. P.= =20 DeMaster and S.Atkinson. University of Alaska Sea Grant, 78 pp. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2003 16:02:28 -0000 Reply-To: elizabeth-henderson(\)neo.tamu.edu From: "Henderson, Erin Elizabeth" Subject: Internship Available through MMRP Galveston The Marine Mammal Research Lab at Texas A&M University in Galveston, directed by Dr. Bernd Wursig, has internship positions available for this fall session, from September 15 through December 12, as well as for the spring session, from January 12 through April 19. The deadline for this fall session is September 1, so interested applicants should contact the lab as soon as possible. The deadline for the spring session is October 1. Responsibilities include assisting with field work as well as lab and office duties. Field work includes driving the research vessels (no experience necessary, but helpful), recording data, handling sonar and other environmental equipment, and potentially assisting in biopsy sampling work. Interns will also be responsible for data entry, photo-identification matching and cataloging, and other lab-related activities. You will also have the opportunity to explore other facets of research, including weekly discussions on current publications and volunteering with the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network. This is an unpaid, 40 hour a week position, and interns will be responsible for their own living expenses and housing. Interested applicants should submit a current CV, two letters of recommendation, a copy of their transcripts and a letter of intent to: Internship Coordinator Marine Mammal Research Program 4700 Ave. U Bldg 303 Galveston TX 77551. Or email to Elizabeth-henderson(\)tamu.edu. Please contact me if you have any further questions. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 13:47:15 -0000 Reply-To: David Lusseau From: David Lusseau Organization: University of Aberdeen Subject: Cetaceans in Fiordland: Monograph now available online boundary="----=_NextPart_000_02D2_01C367EA.BB22BCD0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_02D2_01C367EA.BB22BCD0 charset="iso-8859-1" Dear all, A recently published peer-reviewed monograph is now available online: Lusseau D. and Slooten E. 2002. Cetacean sightings off the Fiordland = Coastline. Science for Conservation 187, 42pp. http://www.doc.govt.nz/Publications/004~Science-and-Research/Science-for-= Conservation/PDF/sfc187.pdf This study utilises information gathered by tour operators in the area = to describe temporal and spatial patterns in the way cetacean species = utilise Fiordland, New Zealand. It also provides advise on establishing = sighting networks and analysing data collected by tour operators. I am = pasting the abstract below. You may want to take the opportunity to browse other publications = produced by the New Zealand Department of Conservation at = http://www.doc.govt.nz/Publications/004~Science-and-Research/index.asp ABSTRACT >From 1996 to 1999, 1422 sightings of cetaceans were recorded by = observers on tour boats in the fiords and off the coast of Fiordland. = These were compiled by the New Zealand Department of Conservation. Only = 2.9% of the sightings were collected outside of Milford and Doubtful = Sounds since most of the sampling effort was concentrated in these two = fiords. In addition to species identification, group size and location = were also recorded. Nine species were identified: bottlenose dolphin = (Tursiops sp.), dusky dolphin (Lagenorhyncus obscurus), common dolphin = (Delphinus sp.), long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melaena edwardi), = orcas (Orcinus orca), humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), southern = right whale (Eubalaena australis), minke whale (Balenoptera = acutorostrata) and sperm whale (Physeter catodon). These are the first = official records of long-finned pilot whale and minke whale in the = region. Bottlenose dolphins were the most commonly observed species in = all areas (87.8% of all sightings), followed by dusky dolphins (10.3%). = Along the coastline outside the fiords, bottlenose dolphins were also = the predominant species (48.1% of sightings, n=3D27), followed again by = dusky dolphin (33.3%). Observations from this sighting network were = compared with studies, which used standard sampling techniques, = undertaken in the area. Spatial and temporal variations in tour operator = sightings were accurate and reliable. Estimates of dolphin group size = were accurate up to 25 individuals. If the group was larger than 25 = animals, its size was overestimated by tour operators. Species = distribution at a large (Fiordland coastline) and small (within Doubtful = and Milford Sounds) scale is discussed. Temporal variations in = distribution and group size were also assessed; observer bias was taken = into consideration. David Lusseau University of Aberdeen Department of Zoology Lighthouse Field Station George St Cromarty Ross-shire IV11 8YJ Scotland Tel/Fax: 44 (0) 1381 600 548 Lighthouse Field Station (University of Aberdeen): http://www.abdn.ac.uk/~nhi519/lighthse/index.hti New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust: http://nzwhaledolphintrust.tripod.com/home/ Marine Mammal Research Group (University of Otago): http://www.otago.ac.nz/marinescience/mammals/home.htm Fiordland Research (University of Otago) http://www.otago.ac.nz/marinescience/fiords/home.htm ------=_NextPart_000_02D2_01C367EA.BB22BCD0 charset="iso-8859-1"
Dear all,
 
A recently published peer-reviewed = monograph=20 is now available online:
 
Lusseau D. and Slooten E. 2002. = Cetacean sightings=20 off the Fiordland Coastline. Science for Conservation 187,=20 42pp.
 
http://www.doc.govt.nz/Publications/= 004~Science-and-Research/Science-for-Conservation/PDF/sfc187.pdf
 
This study utilises information = gathered by tour=20 operators in the area to describe temporal and spatial patterns in the = way=20 cetacean species utilise Fiordland, New Zealand. It also provides advise = on=20 establishing sighting networks and analysing data collected by tour = operators. I=20 am pasting the abstract below.
 
You may want to take the = opportunity to=20 browse other publications produced by the New Zealand = Department=20 of Conservation at http://www.doc.govt.nz/Publications/004~Science-and-Research/index= .asp
 
 
ABSTRACT
From=20 1996 to 1999, 1422 sightings of cetaceans were recorded by observers on = tour=20 boats in the fiords and off the coast of Fiordland.=20 These were compiled by the New Zealand Department of Conservation. Only = 2.9% of=20 the sightings were collected outside of = Milford=20 and Doubtful Sounds since most of the sampling effort was concentrated = in these=20 two fiords. In addition to species identification, group size and = location were=20 also recorded. Nine species were identified: bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops sp.), dusky dolphin = (Lagenorhyncus obscurus), = common dolphin=20 (Delphinus sp.), = long-finned pilot=20 whale (Globicephala melaena = edwardi),=20 orcas (Orcinus orca), = humpback whale=20 (Megaptera novaeangliae), = southern=20 right whale (Eubalaena = australis),=20 minke whale (Balenoptera=20 acutorostrata) and sperm whale (Physeter catodon). These are = the first=20 official records of long-finned pilot whale and minke whale in the = region.=20 Bottlenose dolphins were the most commonly observed species in all areas = (87.8%=20 of all sightings), followed by dusky dolphins (10.3%). Along the = coastline=20 outside the fiords, bottlenose dolphins were also the predominant = species (48.1%=20 of sightings, n=3D27), followed again by dusky dolphin (33.3%). = Observations from=20 this sighting network were compared with studies, which used standard = sampling=20 techniques, undertaken in the area. Spatial and temporal variations in = tour=20 operator sightings were accurate and reliable. Estimates of dolphin = group size=20 were accurate up to 25 individuals. If the group was larger than 25 = animals, its=20 size was overestimated by tour operators. Species distribution at a = large=20 (Fiordland coastline) and small (within Doubtful and Milford Sounds) = scale is=20 discussed. Temporal variations in distribution and group size were also=20 assessed; observer bias was taken into consideration.
 
 

David Lusseau
University of Aberdeen
Department of Zoology
Lighthouse Field = Station
George St
Cromarty
Ross-shire IV11 = 8YJ
Scotland
 
Tel/Fax: 44 (0) 1381 600 548
 
Lighthouse Field Station (University of Aberdeen):
http://www.abdn= .ac.uk/~nhi519/lighthse/index.hti
 
New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust:
http://nzwhaledolphi= ntrust.tripod.com/home/
 
Marine Mammal Research Group (University of Otago):
http://www= .otago.ac.nz/marinescience/mammals/home.htm
 
Fiordland Research (University of Otago)
http://www.= otago.ac.nz/marinescience/fiords/home.htm
<= /DIV> ------=_NextPart_000_02D2_01C367EA.BB22BCD0-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 14:10:03 +0200 From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Sociedad=20Ecologica=20SEA=20VIDA?= Subject: Re: New publication on cetaceans from Venezuela Comments: To: MARMAM Editors In-Reply-To: <200308210218.h7L2Ir7p060974(\)unix6.uvic.ca> Dear friends and colleagues: The next short note has just been published: Bolanos, J. and A. Villarroel-Marin. 2003. Three new records of cetacean species for Venezuelan waters. Caribbean Journal of Science, 30(2):230-232. The note adds Feresa attenuata, Peponocephala electra and Lagenodelphis hosei to the known cetacean fauna of Venezuela, on the basis of recent strandings. Copies of the publication, in PDF format, are available upon request from the firs author at: megapterax(\)yahoo.com=20 Very best regards Jaime Bolanos ___________________________________________________ Yahoo! Messenger - Nueva versi=F3n GRATIS Super Webcam, voz, caritas animadas, y m=E1s... http://messenger.yahoo.es ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2003 09:24:36 -0400 From: Iske Larkin Subject: Director of Marine Mammal Programs Below is a job posting for Director of Marine Mammal Programs at the University of Florida. I wanted to be sure this reached a broad audience. All the information you should need is below, please do not contact me about the posting. You can find more information about the program at http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/MarineMammal/ Sincerely, Iske Director of Marine Mammal Programs. The Whitney Laboratory and the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, are seeking to hire an individual, preferably a veterinarian, having strong leadership skills and advanced training or interest in the care of marine mammals to direct the University of Florida's Marine Mammal Program. The successful applicant will oversee a broad training and research program in marine mammal health, with emphasis on the care of manatees, for veterinary medical students, clinical residents, and graduate students, in collaboration with the Florida Marine Research Institute, and cooperating oceanaria within the State of Florida. The successful candidate also will be encouraged to develop an extramurally funded research program in marine animal health. This position is a joint, non-tenure accruing faculty appointment in the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Whitney Laboratory and is funded for three years by a special appropriation from the Florida Legislature with the possibility of continued funding. During this time the incumbent will be expected to identify and obtain funding for the long-term continuation and growth of this program through legislative appropriations, philanthropic donations, and extramural grant awards and therefore must be able to work effectively with federal and state legislators, college development officers, and funding agencies. Salary and rank will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The closing date for applications is October 1, 2003. The successful applicant must begin employment no later than July 1, 2004, but employment by an earlier date is preferred. A letter of application, curriculum vitae, and three letters of reference should be sent to Dr. Peter A. V. Anderson, Director, The Whitney Laboratory, University of Florida, 9505 Ocean Shore Boulevard, St. Augustine, FL 32080-8610; email paa(\)whitney.ufl.edu. 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: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 21:50:47 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: FWD: compilation on behavior of stranded_S. bredanensis_ Thankyou all for the many responses to our query about a stranding of S. bredanensis in Taiwan and behavior of the species under these circumstances. We were able to confirm the female Steno recovered from a fish trap in Japan on July 15 is not the same animal that was released in Taiwan in August. Further, many respondants noted that her behavior toward people may not be unusual for the species. For those people who expressed an interest, the following is a selection of responses: ================================================== I work with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources in Brunswick, Georgia, USA. We recently had a mass stranding of 17 rough-tooth dolphins on Jekyll Island which is on the southern part of the Georgia Coast in the N. Atlantic Ocean. To our surprise the animals were very comfortable with us in the water. They never were high and dry but were in shallow water with their dorsal surface exposed in early morning as the tide was coming in. There was a calf there that would never let any one touch it. We immediately did external exams to the remaining 16 to assess the sex and any obvious health problem. We found 9 females 7 males and 1 unknown calf. Only one seemed to be very ill. She would not stay upright when we let her go in the water and her eyes would not open regularly like the other animals. There was ~40 people in the water with these dolphins. We made the decision to try and release all the animals heading back East. At first they started heading East bound when the sick female headed back for the beach then the rest followed. We then pulled her out of the water and euthanized her. We had to get the rest of the pod off the beach 2 more times because the calf and 1 other adult kept heading back for shore. The behavior of the dolphins was amazing. They swam in such close knit groups up and down the beach like they were reorganizing their social structure and waiting on the two animals that liked to head back for shore. E. Leigh Youngner Leigh_Youngner(\)dnr.state.ga.us ================================================== Working with stranded animals here in Scotland, in our experience we have in fact found that , from personal and anecdotal observations, animals trapped in nets seem to show very little resistance or struggle all the time they are entrapped whilst being set free by humans - as if they seem to know they are being helped. In view of this, it may in fact be that this was a wild dolphin with no previous human contact afterall. Dr. Kevin Robinson kev.robinson(\)crru.org.uk ==================================================== Not surprising at all. The only case I know of in 2003: A small young Steno was recently caught by its "rescuers" when it entered (June 1) and stayed in a harbour (Keelung) in northern Taiwan - an animal was seen in this and another nearby harbour for about 3 weeks before people decided to capture it and take it in for rehabilitation. The animal was quite small (as seen on TV) and really did not appear to put up much of a struggle when captured. Captured on June 19th. Rehab'd by Ocean World (Taipei) - Yehliu, Taipei County. The animal was released on July 28 in nearby waters and was found stranded again not far from the release location the very next morning with cuts and scars on its body. It was again taken in and "rehab'd" and again released on August 7th - this time they took it further out (about 20 miles away from Yehliu). John Wang pcrassidens(\)rogers.com ==================================================== Ocean World in Taiwan,on 20th June there was a male rough toothed dolphin stranding on the Keelung Harbor,and transported to our aquarium ,we gave western and Tranditional Chinese Medicine treat the dolphin disease(there was 300g plastic bag on the stomach,aspiration pneumonia...),and he was released on 7 August Richard Chen iruka1234(\)hotmail.com ==================================================== These animals are very interesting, and in most case they behave such as if they had previous experience under human care. Dr. Renato Lenzi rlenzi(\)dolphindiscovery.com.mx ============================================================ Thank you Grant Abel Curator for Marine Mammals Shimonoseki Marine Science Museum Kaikyokan Arca Port 6-1 Shimonoseki City Yamaguchi. JAPAN 750-0036 Tel: +81 832 28-1289 Fax: +81 832 28-1139 Email: GSA_Management(\)bigpond.com abel(\)kaikyokan.com http://www.kaikyokan.com -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 19:27:23 -0400 From: Simona Sanvito Subject: Recent paper on elephant seal vocalizations boundary="============_-1150614052==_ma============" --============_-1150614052==_ma============ ; format="flowed" Dear list members, the following paper appeared in Volume 14 (1) of the Bioacoustics Journal. Reprints are available in PDF formats (ca 600 K); please send request to d87ss(\)mun.ca Best regards Simona Sanvito P.S.: sorry for cross posting ====================== Sanvito,S. & Galimberti,F. 2003. Source level of male vocalizations in the genus Mirounga: repeatability and correlates Bioacoustics. 14(1): 47-59. ABSTRACT Male vocalizations have an important role in mating tactics, breeding strategies and sexual selection. Most studies of vocalizations were concentrated on time and frequency domain, while the intensity of sound, an important acoustic parameter that should be related to body size, was almost completely ignored as a possible honest signal of resource holding potential, and cue for mate choice. In this paper, we analyse the repeatability, the correlations with age and size, and the relationship with breeding status of source level (SL) of male vocalizations in the two species of elephant seals (Mirounga leonina and M. angustirostris). We found an high repeatability of SL, equal or higher than the repeatability of frequency domain parameters estimated in a previous study. Southern elephant seal males were significantly larger and produces significantly more powerful vocalizations than northern males. Moreover, in each species SL was related to age, body size, and breeding status of males, but relationships were weak, and explained just a small proportion of variance of SL. We conclude that, although SL may be an honest signal of gross differences of RHP, it is not, by itself, a good candidate for the transmission of high resolution information on individual phenotype. A combination of SL and frequency components could be, on the contrary, an effective way to communicate RHP. -- \\\|/// \\ - - // ( (\) (\) ) --------oOOo-(_)-oOOo------- Simona Sanvito, PhD candidate Biology Dept. Memorial University of Newfoundland St. John's, NF, A1B 3X9 CANADA "There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness is the true method" Herman Melville, Moby Dick ----------------Oooo--------- oooO ( ) ( ) ) / \ ( (_/ \_) --============_-1150614052==_ma============ Recent paper on elephant seal vocalizations
Dear list members,
the following paper appeared in Volume 14 (1) of the Bioacoustics Journal. Reprints are available in PDF formats (ca 600 K); please send request to d87ss(\)mun.ca

Best regards

Simona Sanvito

P.S.: sorry for cross posting

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

Sanvito,S. & Galimberti,F. 2003. Source level of male vocalizations in the genus  Mirounga: repeatability and correlates
Bioacoustics. 14(1): 47-59.

ABSTRACT

Male vocalizations have an important role in mating tactics, breeding strategies and sexual selection. Most studies of vocalizations were concentrated on time and frequency domain, while the intensity of sound, an important acoustic parameter that should be related to body size, was almost completely ignored as a possible honest signal of resource holding potential, and cue for mate choice. In this paper, we analyse the repeatability, the correlations with age and size, and the relationship with breeding status of source level (SL) of male vocalizations in the two species of elephant seals (Mirounga leonina and M. angustirostris). We found an high repeatability of SL, equal or higher than the repeatability of frequency domain parameters estimated in a previous study. Southern elephant seal males were significantly larger and produces significantly more powerful vocalizations than northern males. Moreover, in each species SL was related to age, body size, and breeding status of males, but relationships were weak, and explained just a small proportion of variance of SL. We conclude that, although SL may be an honest signal of gross differences of RHP, it is not, by itself, a good candidate for the transmission of high resolution information on individual phenotype. A combination of SL and frequency components could be, on the contrary, an effective way to communicate RHP.
--
           \\\|///
         \\  - -  //
          (  (\) (\)  )
--------oOOo-(_)-oOOo-------
Simona Sanvito, PhD candidate
Biology Dept.
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St. John's, NF, A1B 3X9
CANADA

"There are some enterprises in which a
careful disorderliness is the true method"
Herman Melville, Moby Dick
----------------Oooo---------
         oooO   (   )
        (   )    ) /
         \ (    (_/
          \_)
--============_-1150614052==_ma============-- ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2003 14:27:00 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications The following is a list of some recent marine mammal publications. This list is not intended to be comprehensive. Authors are encouraged to submit full citations and abstracts, including information on where copies or reprints may be obtained, of all recent scientific publications on marine mammals. --------------------------------------------------------------------- =D8ystein Wiig, Erik W. Born, Leif Toudal Pedersen. 2003. Movements of fema= le polar bears ( Ursus maritimus) in the East Greenland pack ice. Polar Biolog= y 26(8):509 - 516. The movements of two adult female polar bears ( Ursus maritimus) in East Greenland and the Greenland Sea area were studied by use of satellite telemetry between the fall of 1994 and the summer of 1998. One female was tracked for 621 days, the other for 1,415 days. During this time the females used maternity dens on land. If denning periods on land were excluded, the two females used between 73% and 100% of the tracking time offshore where they were able to navigate in the dynamic pack ice and counteract the fast southward movement of the ice (up to 30 km/h) in the East Greenland Current. Mean monthly movement rates varied between 0.32 and 0.76km/h. Both bears had very large home ranges (242,000 and 468,000 km 2) within the dynamic pack ice of the Greenland Sea. The facts that the bears made extensive use of the offshore sea ice and that there is a marked reduction of the Greenland Sea ice call for a closer monitoring of the effects of this change on the East Greenland polar bear population. ***************************************************************************= * Abstracts were not available for the following publications: A. M. F. da Silva, V. R. R. Lemes, H. H. C. Barretto, E. S. Oliveira, I. B. de Alleluia, F. J. R. Paumgartten. 2003. Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Organochlorine Pesticides in Edible Fish Species and Dolphins from Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 70(6):1151-1157. Swartz, S.L., T. Cole, M.A. McDonald, J.A. Hildebrand, E.M. Oleson, A. Martinez, P.J. Clapham, J. Barlow, and M.L. Jones. 2003. Acoustic and visual survey of humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) distribution in the eastern and southeastern Caribbean Sea. Caribbean Journal of Science 39(2):195-208. (pdf available thru journal website: www.caribjsci.org) Bolanos, J. and A. Villaroel-Marin. 2003. Three new records of cetacean species for Venezuelan waters. Caribbean Journal of Science 39(2):230-232. (pdf available thru journal website: www.caribjsci.org) Sazima, I., C. Sazima, and J. Martins Silva-Jr. 2003. The cetacean offal connection: feces and vomits of spinner dolphin as a food source for reef fishes. Bulletin of Marine Science 72(1):151-160. ------ Hi, all! Here's the latest posting of new PDF's that are available. Abstracts also available on request. All files are under 1 MB, except one (noted below). Please make all requests to: janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu Cheers David Janiger - Curatorial Assistant (Mammals) Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007 (213) 763-3369 janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu djaniger(\)nhm.org AIPANJIGULY, SAMPREETHI; SUSAN K. JACOBSON and RICHARD FLAMM. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 17(4):1098-1105. 2003. Conserving manatees: Knowledge, attitudes, and intentions of boaters in Tampa Bay, Florida. BARRON, MACE G.; RON HEINTZ and MARGARET M. KRAHN. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 311(1-3):111-133. 2003. Contaminant exposure and effects in pinnipeds: Implications for Steller s= ea lion declines in Alaska. BRAGER, S.; J. A. HARRAWAY and B. F. J. MANLY. MARINE BIOLOGY (BERLIN) 143(2):233-244. 2003. Habitat selection in a coastal dolphin species (Cephalorhynchus hectori). CLOECKAERT, AXEL; MAGGY GRAYON; OLIVIER GREPINET and KARIM SIDI BOUMEDINE. MICROBES AND INFECTION 5(7):593-602. 2003. Classification of Brucella strains isolated from marine mammals by infrequent restriction site-PCR and development of specific PCR identification. DE MARCH, B. G. E. and L. D. POSTMA. ARCTIC 56(2):111-124. 2003. Molecular genetic stock discrimination of belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) hunted in eastern Hudson Bay, northern Quebec, Hudson Strait, and Sanikiluaq (Belcher Islands), Canada, and comparisons to adjacent populat= ions. File size: 1.440 MB FINNERAN, JAMES J. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 114(1):529-535. 2003. Whole-lung resonance in a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and whi= te whale (Delphinapterus leucas). FOSSI, M. CRISTINA; LETIZIA MARSILI; GIOVANNI NERI; ADA NATOLI; ELENA POLITI and SIMONE PANIGADA. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 46(8):972-982. 2003. The use of a non-lethal tool for evaluating toxicological hazard of organochlorine contaminants in Mediterranean cetaceans: new data 10 years after the first paper published in MPB . FRANZ VAN DE VELDE, OMI; IAN STIRLING and EVAN RICHARDSON. ARCTIC 56(2):191-197. 2003. Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) denning in the area of the Simpson Peninsula= , Nunavut. HANDELL, MARK A.; COREY J. A. BRADSHAW; MICHAEL D. SUMNER; KELVIN J. MICHAEL and HARRY R. BURTON. JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY 40(4):703-715. 2003. Dispersal of female southern elephant seals and their prey consumption during the austral summer: Relevance to management and oceanographic zone= s. HARLEY, HEIDI E.; ERIKA A. PUTMAN and HERBERT L. ROITBLAT. NATURE (LONDON) 424(6949):667-669. 2003. Bottlenose dolphins perceive object features through echolocation. HARPER, CLAUDIA G.; MARK T. WHARY; YAN FENG; HOWARD L. RHINEHART; RANDALL S. WELLS; SHILU XU; NANCY S. TAYLOR and JAMES G. FOX. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY 41(7):2842-2848. 2003. Comparison of diagnostic techniques for Helicobacter cetorum infection in wild Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). IWATA, TOMOY; SUSUMU SHIMIZU; YASUZUMI FUJIMORI and TEISUKE MIURA. FISHERIES SCIENCE (TOKYO) 69(3):657-659. 2003. Incidental catch of harbor porpoises in set nets in the coastal waters of southern Hokkaido, Japan. LAW, R. J.; R. J. MORRIS; C. R. ALLCHIN; B. R. JONES and M. D. NICHOLSON. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 46(9):1206-1211. 2003. Metals and organochlorines in small cetaceans stranded on the east coast = of Australia. LUBICK, NAOMI. SCIENCE (WASHINGTON D. C.) 301(5632):451. 2003. Ecology: New count of old whales adds up to big debate. MAURITZEN, METTE; ANDREW E. DEROCHER; OLGA PAVLOVA and OYSTEIN WIIG. ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR 66(1):107-113. 2003. Female polar bears, Ursus maritimus, on the Barents Sea drift ice: walkin= g the treadmill. NOWACEK, DOUGLAS P.; BRANDON M. CASPER; RANDALL S. WELLS; STEPHANIE M. NOWACEK and DAVID A. MANN. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 114(1):66-69. 2003. Intraspecific and geographic variation of West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus spp.) vocalizations (L). PARSONS, KIM M.; JOHN W. DURBAN; DIANE E. CLARIDGE; KEN C. BALCOMB; LES R. NOBLE and PAUL M. THOMPSON. ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR 66(1):185-194. 2003. Kinship as a basis for alliance formation between male bottlenose dolphin= s, Tursiops truncatus, in the Bahamas. ROMAN, JOE. and STEPHEN R. PALUMBI. SCIENCE (WASHINGTON D. C.) 301(5632):508-510. 2003. Whales before whaling in the North Atlantic. SATO, TSUNEO; HISASHI SHIBUYA; SHIGEO OHBA; TOSHIO NOJIRI and WATARU SHIR= AI. JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE 34(2):184-188. 2003. Mycobacteriosis in two captive Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris). SHIRAKIHARA, MIKI; HIDEYOSHI YOSHIDA and KUNIO SHIRAKIHARA. FISHERIES SCIENCE (TOKYO) 69(3):654-656. 2003. Indo-pacific bottlenose dolphins Tursiops aduncus in Amakusa, western Kyushu, Japan. SIMON, MALENE J.; THOMAS K. KRISTENSEN; OLE S. TENDAL; CARL C. KINZE and SVEND TOUGAARD. SARSIA 88(3):244-246. 2003. Gonatus fabricii (Mollusca, Theuthida) as an important food source for sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) in the Northeast Atlantic. SUZUKI, MIWA; SENZO UCHIDA; KEIICHI UEDA; TERUO TOBAYAMA; ETSUKO KATSUMAT= A; MOTOI YOSHIOKA and KATSUMI AIDA. GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY 132(3):427-433. 2003. Diurnal and annual changes in serum cortisol concentrations in Indo-Pacif= ic bottlenose dolphins Tursiops aduncus and killer whales Orcinus orca. TRUKHIN, A. M. OCEANOLOGY 43(3):387-394. 2003. Oceanographic and biological conditions affecting the winter distribution of the spotted seal (Phoca largha) in the Sea of Okhotsk. VANDERLAAN, ANGELIA S. M.; ALEX E. HAY and CHRISTOPHER T. TAGGART. IEEE JOURNAL OF OCEANIC ENGINEERING 28(2):164-173. 2003. Characterization of North Atlantic right-whale (Eubalaena glacialis) soun= ds in the Bay of Fundy. YOGUI, GILVAN TAKESHI; MARCOS CESAR DE OLIVEIRA SANTOS and ROSALINDA CARMELA MONTONE. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 312(1-3):67-78. 2003. Chlorinated pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in marine tucuxi dolphins (Sotalia fluviatilis) from the Canan=E9ia estuary, southeastern Brazil. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2003 16:56:14 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Job posting: Assistant Professor at Eckerd College Position: Assistant Professor, Marine Mammalogist Institution: Eckerd College Location: St. Petersburg, Florida Date Posted: 25 August 2003. Closing Date for applications: 25 Oct. 2003 Marine Mammalogist: Eckerd College seeks a marine mammalogist to fill a tenure-track assistant professor position in our marine science and biology programs to begin Fall, 2004. Applicants should have a Ph.D.; teaching experience preferred. The successful candidate should be prepared to: (1) teach courses in marine mammalogy, introductory marine science, and additional courses in the marine science and biology majors; (2) develop a research program conducive to participation by field-oriented undergraduates and complementary to those of current faculty and associated research institutions; (3) participate periodically in a values-oriented general education program. Interested individuals should send curriculum vitae, statement of teaching and research interests, undergraduate and graduate transcripts, teaching evaluations, and three letters of reference by 25 October, 2003 to Dr. Peter Meylan (meylanpa(\)eckerd.edu), Natural Sciences, Eckerd College, 4200 54th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33711. Eckerd College is an outstanding college of the liberal arts and sciences located directly on Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg, Florida. The college, with its direct access to both Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, maintains a small fleet of vessels appropriate for marine mammal research. Other institutions in the Tampa Bay area involved in marine science research include Florida Marine Research Institute, U.S. Geological Survey, Florida Institute of Oceanography, University of South Florida, College of Marine Science, and Mote Marine Laboratory. More information about the Natural Sciences at Eckerd College can be found at http://www.eckerd.edu/academics/nas/. EOE/M/F/V/ADA -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2003 19:38:43 -0400 From: Cynde Bierman Subject: Naturalists workshop '03 biennial ------ Hello MARMAMers, We are organizing a half-day workshop entitled =93The Big Picture: What i= s the=20 role of the naturalist? A workshop for educators affiliated with marine=20 mammal viewing platforms=94. The workshop will be held during the mornin= g of=20 Sunday, December 14th, in conjunction with the SMM=92s 15th Biennial=20 Conference. This announcement provides a summary of the conference and pertinent date= s. =20 More information and a tentative agenda can be found at=20 http://www.blueoceansociety.org/workshop . We are soliciting abstracts fo= r=20 talks in the morning and also looking for submission of samples of outrea= ch=20 materials. WORKSHOP SUMMARY Rationale: The SMM Conference provides a great opportunity for naturalis= ts=20 from around the world to come together to discuss their messages to=20 passengers, as well as the methods of achieving these. Purpose: - To provide a forum for naturalists/educators to share ideas and create = an=20 idea-sharing/discussion network - To identify themes and messages that could be used aboard various marin= e=20 mammal-viewing platforms - To discuss ideas and approaches to educating passengers aboard whale or= =20 dolphin watching boats or land-based facilities - To bring educational theory into our every day practice as educators an= d=20 naturalists Expected Results: - Naturalists/educators will gain ideas that can be practically applied t= o=20 their educational environments - Participants will learn about effective outreach tactics - Beginning naturalists will gain knowledge and heuristics for starting=20 their own education programs aboard their marine mammal viewing platforms The Big Picture Message: What is an effective education/outreach program?= =20 Can it be the same with every audience? How can it be accomplished? CALL FOR PAPERS AND OUTREACH MATERIALS The early part of the workshop will be focused on talks about theories of= =20 change (transformative learning), sample educational programs, and possib= ly,=20 how to start an educational program if you are starting from scratch. We welcome abstracts from those who would like to speak on these or relat= ed=20 topics. Abstracts should include a brief description of your proposed top= ic,=20 your experience in the field and A/V equipment needs. Abstracts should be= =20 e-mailed to Cynde Bierman at cyndebierman(\)hotmail.com on or prior to Mond= ay,=20 September 8, 2003. As part of the workshop, we are hoping to have representative outreach=20 materials available. Those interested in submitting outreach materials f= or=20 inclusion in our handouts or to be distributed at the workshop should=20 contact us for more information. REGISTRATION We are now accepting registration forms. Cost of the workshop is $20. =20 Registration includes handouts at the workshop, a CD-Rom with other works= hop=20 materials and representative outreach materials, and a breakfast and coff= ee=20 break. Registration forms are available at=20 http://www.blueoceansociety.org/workshop. Deadline: Friday, September 19. Visit http://www.blueoceansociety.org/workshop or contact us for more=20 information. Thank you, Cynde Bierman Ocean Alliance, Cape Ann Whale Watch Phone: 617-838-2646 E-mail: cyndebierman(\)hotmail.com Jen Kennedy Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation, Atlantic Fishing & Whale=20 Watching Phone: 603-431-0260 E-mail: jen(\)blueoceansociety.org _________________________________________________________________ MSN 8: Get 6 months for $9.95/month. http://join.msn.com/?page=3Ddept/dia= lup ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 08:09:58 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publications The following is a list of some recent marine mammal publications. This list is not intended to be comprehensive. Authors are encouraged to submit full citations and abstracts, including information on where copies or reprints may be obtained, of all recent scientific publications on marine mammals. ********************************************************** PATHOLOGIC FINDINGS IN STRANDED ATLANTIC BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS (TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS) FROM THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON, FLORIDA. Gregory D. Bossart*, Ren= =E9 Meisner, Ren=E9 Varela, Marilyn Mazzoil, Stephen D. McCulloch, David Kilpatrick, Robin Friday, Elizabeth Murdoch, Blair Mase, and R. H. Defran. 2003. Florida Scientist 66(3): 226^=D6238. This report describes for the first time the pathologic findings associated with mortality in 17 Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) whic= h stranded in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), Florida, between February 2001^=D6July 2002. The cause of death could be determined in most necropsy cases, which demonstrates the importance of performing gross and microscopi= c necropsy examinations on freshly stranded marine mammals. Causes of death i= n decreasing order of frequency were infectious/inflammatory disease, cachexia, asphyxiation, degenerative central nervous system disease and traumatic injury. In cases of inflammatory/infectious disease and cachexia, multisystemic disease was common, which reflects the complex and dynamic processes associated with death. Dermatologic disease was present in nine cases. In many cases, the combined histologic pattern of skin, lymphoid and other lesions suggested a state of altered immunologic homeostasis and subsequent immunologic dysfunction. Understanding the pathologic features associated with mortality of stranded IRL dolphins is important for the future management of this species and provides an insight into the health o= f the IRL ecosystem as a whole. ************************* Costs and benefits of joining South American sea lion breeding groups: testing the assumptions of a model of female breeding dispersion. M.H. Cassini and E. Fern=E1ndez-Juricic. 2003. Canadian Journal of Zoology 81(= 7): 1154-1160. A recent cost-benefit model has been proposed (M.H. Cassini. 1999. Behav. Ecol. 10: 612^=D6616; M.H. Cassini. 2000. Behav. Processes, 51: 93^=D699) t= o predict the dispersion of female mammals when breeding resources are distributed in fixed and predictable patches. The benefit of the model is a reduction in male harassment when females join breeding groups, and the cos= t is an increase in female^=D6female competition for breeding resources. We tested the main assumptions of this model in a breeding colony of South American sea lions (Otaria flavescens), a sexually dimorphic, polygynous pinniped. The rate of female^=D6female agonistic interactions increased wit= h the number of females, which suggests that higher levels of female^=D6femal= e competition in denser breeding groups could reduce pup survival, owing to mother^=D6pup separation effects. The rate of male^=D6female interactions p= er female decreased with the number of females defended by a male, the trend being nonlinear, and males did not modify the frequency of interaction with females according to variations in the size of breeding groups. This evidence supports the advantage of female gregariousness in reducing the reproductive costs of interacting with males. We concluded that avoidance o= f male disturbance through dilution effects may have played an important role in the evolution of this species' mating system. ***************************** Long-term evaluation of pup growth and preweaning survival rates in subantarctic fur seals, Arctocephalus tropicalis, on Amsterdam Island. Magaly Chambellant, Gw=E9na=EBl Beauplet, Christophe Guinet, and Jean-Yves Georges. 2003. Canadian Journal of Zoology 81(7):1222-1232. This study is the first to investigate pup preweaning growth and survival rates over seven consecutive breeding seasons in subantarctic fur seals, Arctocephalus tropicalis, on Amsterdam Island, southern Indian Ocean. Growt= h and survival were studied in relation to year and pup sex, birth date, birt= h mass, and growth rate at 60 days of age. The pup growth rate decreased over the 7-year study period and was the lowest ever found in otariids, which suggests that lactating females experience constant low food availability. Male and female pups grew and survived at similar rates. Pups that were heavier at birth grew faster and exhibited better early survival (i.e., the first 2 months of life) than pups that were lighter at birth. However, no such relationship was detected for late survival (i.e., from 2 months to weaning) in this long-lactating species. No relationship was found between pup growth rate, pup survival rate, and sea-surface temperature (SST) gradient during the study period, especially during the later years of good trophic conditions (i.e., a high SST gradient). Such dissociations suggest that variation in food availability may not be the only factor influencing pup performance until weaning. We therefore propose that the subantarctic fur seal population is reaching its carrying capacity and that a density-dependent effect is occurring on Amsterdam Island. ****************************************************** No abstracts were available for the following publications: Miki SHIRAKIHARA, Hideyoshi YOSHIDA AND Kunio SHIRAKIHARA. 2003. Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins Tursiops aduncus in Amakusa, western Kyushu, Japan. Fisheries Science, Volume 69 Issue 3 Page 654. Tomoya IWATA, Susumu SHIMIZU, Yasuzumi FUJIMORI, Teisuke MIURA. 2003. Incidental catch of harbor porpoises in set nets in the coastal waters of southern Hokkaido, Japan. Fisheries Science, Volume 69 Issue 3 Page 657. Sampreethi Aipanjiguly, Susan K. Jacobson, Richard Flamm. 2003. Conserving Manatees: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Intentions of Boaters in Tampa Bay, Florida. Conservation Biology Volume 17 Issue 4, Page 1098. HEIDI E. HARLEY, ERIKA A. PUTMAN & HERBERT L. ROITBLAT. 2003. Bottlenose dolphins perceive object features through echolocation. Nature, 424, 667 - 669 (07 August 2003). GISELA HECKEL; Ileana Espejel; David W. Fischer. 2003. Issue Definition and Planning for Whalewatching Management Strategies in Ensenada, Mexico. Coastal Management Volume 31 Number 3, page 277-296. Loughlin, T.R., J.T. Sterling, R.L. Merrick, J.L. Sease, and A.E. York. 2003. Diving behavior of immature Steller's sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). Fishery Bulletin 101(3):566-582. Mullin, K.D. and G.L. Fulling. 2003. Abundance of cetaceans in the southern U.S. North Atlantic Ocean during summer 1998. Fishery Bulletin 101(3):603-613. Paul A. Breen, Ray Hilborn, Mark N. Maunder, and Susan W. Kim. 2003. Effect= s of alternative control rules on the conflict between a fishery and a threatened sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Volume 60, Number 5, Pages 527-541 ------ Marmamers: I am posting this on behalf of Chris Parsons. Naomi Rose ************************** 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=20 Parsons, E.C.M., Warburton, C.A., Woods-Ballard, A., Hughes, A. and Johns= ton, P. 2003. The value of conserving whales: the impacts of cetacean-rel= ated tourism on the economy of rural West Scotland. Aquatic Conservation = 13: 397-415. ABSTRACT 1. During the tourist season of 2000, interview surveys were conducted w= ith those involved in whale-watching in West Scotland. The groups include= d in the study were boat operators (32), visitor-centre managers (8), to= urists on whale-watching trips (324), general tourists to West Scotland (= 673) and local residents (189). The latter two groups were interviewed fo= r comparison of responses of those engaged in whale-watching against the = views of the local community and tourism in general. From the data provi= ded by these interviews, estimates for the economic value of this special= ist sector of the Scottish tourism industry were calculated. 2. Extrapola= ting from the surveys, in the year 2000, an estimated total of approximat= ely 242,000 tourists were involved in cetacean-related tourism activities= in West Scotland. 3. In 2000, fifty-nine full-time and one part-time job= s were estimated to be created as the direct result of cetacean-related t= ourism, with 38% of these positions bein! g seasonal. 4. Cetacean-related tourism was estimated to account for 2.5= % of the total income from tourism in the region. In remote coastal areas= , cetacean-related tourism may account for as much as 12% of the area's t= otal tourism income. 5. The direct economic income (i.e. expenditure on e= xcursion tickets) from cetacean tourism activities was estimated to be =A3= 1.77 million per annum. 6. 23% of surveyed whale-watchers visited West Sc= otland specifically to go on whale-watching trips. The associated expendi= ture (accommodation, travel, food etc) from tourists being brought to rur= al West Scotland solely due to the presence of whales represented an addi= tional =A35.1 million in additional tourism income for region. 7. In addi= tion to the above tourists, 16% of surveyed whale-watchers stayed in West= Scotland an extra night as a result of going on a whale-watching trip. E= xtrapolating from these tourists who stayed in the region extra nights as= a result of whale-watching, a further =A30.9! million of additional associated expenditure (extra accommoda! tion, fo od etc) is generated. 8. The total gross income generated (directly and i= ndirectly) by cetacean-related tourism in rural West Scotland was estimat= ed at =A37.8 million. 9. In comparison with established whale-watching in= dustries (in countries such as the USA, Canada and New Zealand) the total= expenditure by tourists on whale-watching in West Scotland is low. Howev= er, cetacean tourism in West Scotland is still a relatively young industr= y and still developing. 10. The value of the non-consumptive utilisation= of cetaceans (i.e. whale-watching) to rural, coastal communities in West Scotland was three = times greater than the value of the consumptive utilisation of cetaceans = (i.e. commercial whaling) for rural, coastal communities in Norway. 11. T= his study demonstrates that live cetaceans in Scotland can provide notabl= e financial benefits and, therefore, their conservation has an economic v= alue. Reprints available from Chris Parsons, Department of Environmental Science & Policy, George Mason= University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, Virginia 22030, USA (e-mail: cparson(\)gmu.edu) ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 09:03:17 -0700 From: Kim Shelden Subject: reprints available This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------01E21106956EC8C12C5DF351 Shelden, K.E.W., D.J. Rugh, B.A. Mahoney, and M.E. Dahlheim. 2003. Killer whales predation on belugas in Cook Inlet, Alaska: implications for a depleted population. Marine Mammal Science 19(3):529-544. PDF and HTML versions are available at the following website http://nmml.afsc.noaa.gov/CetaceanAssessment/belugatagging/killerpredation.htm a few paper copies are available - Kim Shelden Alaska Fisheries Science Center National Marine Mammal Laboratory 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle, WA 98115-6349 Kim.Shelden(\)noaa.gov --------------01E21106956EC8C12C5DF351 name="kim.shelden.vcf" filename="kim.shelden.vcf" begin:vcard n:Shelden;Kim E.W. tel;fax:(206) 526-6615 tel;work:(206) 526-6275 x-mozilla-html:FALSE org:Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA, NMFS;National Marine Mammal Laboratory adr:;;7600 Sand Point Way N.E.;Seattle;WA;98115-6349;U.S.A. version:2.1 email;internet:kim.shelden(\)noaa.gov title:Marine Biologist fn:Kim E.W. Shelden end:vcard --------------01E21106956EC8C12C5DF351-- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2003 16:26:33 +0100 From: Elio Vicente Subject: EoW Conference - for info ------ Boa tarde a todos. Uma mensagem FYI. =C9lio A. Vicente, Bi=F3logo Marinho Director de Ci=EAncia e Educa=E7=E3o ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Zoomarine - Mundo Aqu=E1tico SA Est. Nac. 125, Cortelhas, Km 65, Guia - 8201-864 Albufeira Telef.: 289 560311; Fax 289 560309 E-mail: elio.vicente(\)zoomarine.pt; Webpage: www.zoomarine.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~=20 "N=E3o interessa. Tento de novo. Falho de novo. Falho melhor." - Samuel B= eckett =20 -----Original Message----- From: Hugo Nijkamp [mailto:nijkamp(\)sea-alarmnet.org] Sent: domingo, 3 de Agosto de 2003 00:24 To: info(\)seehundstation-norddeich.de; Peter Lienau; Jose Maria Goya; Jeny Androukaki; infobalie(\)ecomare.nl; HenkB(\)ecomare.nl; Defeart1(\)tiscali.nl; Demikke(\)zeelandnet.nl; Info(\)vogelklas.nl; koosvdonk(\)uwnet.nl; Janine Bahr; office(\)projectbluesea.de; Laurent Brucy; Laurent Brucy; Thanos Belalides; grstps(\)archelon.gr; Antonio Di Natale (Messina); Fugelpits(\)chello.nl; Lenie `t Hart; Jan-Ake.H.Hillarp(\)skanor.vellinge.se; ttomas(\)rspca.org.uk; Matthieu Fortin; Prof. dr. G.H. Neumann; Phillippos Dragoumis; Dino Scaravelli; Audun Aanes Hansen; aurolka(\)hotmail.com; Elio Vicente; sadafag(\)ttnet.net.tr; tudav(\)superonline.com; Tiehuus Insel F=F6hr e. V.; Elio Vicente; baiagolf(\)zoolisboa.pt; smatias(\)zoolisboa.pt; info(\)seabirdtrust.co.uk; Mac; Mac; Emmanuel Risi Subject: EoW Conference: for info Dear all, The organisers have asked Sea Alarm to bring under your attention the 7th Effects of Oil on Wildlife Conference, which will be held in Hamburg (Germany), October 14-16, 2003. This conference, organised by the International Fund for Animal Welfare the International Bird Rescue Resea= rch Centre, is now held for the first time in Europe. Previous conferences in this series have brought together many professionals in the field of oile= d wildlife response, including wildlife responders, veterinarians, oil spil= l responders and representatives from national authorities. More information about the conference can be found at www.eowconference.o= rg. The anticipated programme of the conference, which will include topics of European interest, will be published there shortly. Also Sea Alarm will b= e participating in the conference, by giving a presentation and chairing a session on European oiled wildlife contingency preparedness. Best regards, Hugo Nijkamp Director Sea Alarm ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2003 18:16:48 -0400 From: Nick Garbarino Subject: mercury and manatees boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0001_01C35922.3E500EA0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0001_01C35922.3E500EA0 charset="iso-8859-1" I am looking for information about manatee exposure to mercury and not finding much of anything. I am interested in any studies of mercury uptake rates, mercury levels found in manatee tissues, mercury tolerance thresholds, toxic effects, mercury levels found in plants that manatees graze on, etc. Can anyone help point the way? Please send to garbarin(\)nova.edu. Thanks. Nick Garbarino ------=_NextPart_000_0001_01C35922.3E500EA0 charset="iso-8859-1"

I am looking for information about manatee exposure = to mercury and not finding much of anything.=A0 I am interested in any studies of mercury uptake rates, mercury = levels found in manatee tissues, mercury tolerance thresholds, toxic effects, = mercury levels found in plants that manatees graze on, etc.=A0 Can anyone help point the = way?=A0 Please send to garbarin(\)nova.edu. =A0Thanks.=A0 Nick Garbarino

------=_NextPart_000_0001_01C35922.3E500EA0-- ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2003 16:55:33 -0400 From: Ester Quintana Subject: Manatee recovery plan Cathy_Beck(\)usgs.gov, reynolds(\)mote.org boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0000_01C35916.E3876640" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C35916.E3876640 charset="iso-8859-1" Hi, I am a Guatemalan biologist who is looking for copies of manatee = recovery plans developed by countries around the word. I am also looking = for PDF copies of manatee articles. The Guatemalan government is working = on developing the first draft of their manatee recovery plan. = Unfortunately, they have limited access to references that can improve = the quality of the document. I am assisting with the work and I would = like to collect copies of other recovery plans or any manatee references = to donate to the agency. Such help will be greatly appreciated. = References in PDF format are preferred, but I can pay for any shipping = or photocopy costs if necessary.=20 My mailing address is: University of South Florida 140 7th Avenue South=20 Saint Petersburg, FL 33701 Best regards, Ester Quintana ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C35916.E3876640 charset="iso-8859-1" 
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------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C35916.E3876640-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2003 06:33:58 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: summary of responses - ethogram request (fwd) Dear list members, Here is a summary of references people recommended to me. Cheers, Carolina (garciaimhof(\)hotmail.com) Kieckhefer, T.R. 1992. Feeding ecology of humpback whales in continental shelf waters near Cordell Bank, California. M.S. Thesis, Moss Landing Marin= e Laboratories/San Jose State University, CA, 86pp. Bauer, G. B. 1986. The behavior of humpback whales in Hawaii and modifications of behavior induced by human interventions. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, 306pp. Martinez & Klinghammer 1978. A partial ethogram of the killer whale (Orcinu= s orca). Carnivore 1: 13-27. W=FCrsig, B. & W=FCrsig, M. 1979. Behavior and ecology of the bottlenose dolphin, Turiops truncatus, in the south Atlantic. Fishery Bulletin 77: 399-412. Karczamarski et al. 1997. Description of selected behaviours of humpback dolphins Sousa chinensis. Aquatic Mammals 23: 127-133. Dudzinski, K.M. 1998. Contact behavior and signal exchange in Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis). Aquatic Mammals 24: 129-142. Dudzinski, K.M. 1996. Communication and behavior in the Atlantic spotted dolphin(St. f.): relationship between vocal and behavioral activities. PhD dissertation, Texas A&M University, 215pp. (very detailed!!!). Look at www.dolphincommunicationproject.org (Bahamas research) Herzing, D.L. 1996. Vocalizations and associated underwater behavior of free-ranging Atlantic spotted dolphins, Stenella frontalis and bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus. Aquatic Mammals 22: 61-79. -------------------------------------------------------------- The original request read as follows: Dear list members, The Fundacion Yubarta is soon starting a project in the Colombian Pacific ocean with both dolphins and humpback whales. We will be measuring their behaviour and we would like to know if there is any recent ethogram which would guide us as to which terminology to use. Is there any consensus in vocabulary used by ethologists? As most ethograms remain unpublished, I couldn't find anything in the database I consulted. Unfortunately in Colombia, libraries are not very useful and it is difficult to get most publications and impossible to get an interloan. Therefore, I am asking anybody working with cetacean behaviour if it would be possible to send such information to the Fundacin Yubarta. (We have two ethograms here: one by A. C. Weaver, An ethogram of natur ally occurring behavior of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, in Southern California waters, and one by J. S. Ostman and P. A. Folkens, A vocabulary to describe cetacean behavior. If you believe that these ar e appropriate, please also let us know. We are interested in unification of terms.) Cheers, Carolina Garca garciaimhof(\)hotmail.com Fundacin Yubarta Carrera 24F oeste # 3-110 Tejares de San Fernando Cali-Colombia Telefax: 572 5585585 fundacionyubarta(\)hotmail.com -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2003 14:34:54 -0400 From: Lianne Postma Subject: reminder of application deadline for SMM conference travel bursar y ------ Just a reminder that the deadline is quickly approaching for the Stu Inne= s Memorial Travel Bursary for this year's SMM Conference. See below for details. Stu Innes Memorial Award: One award to a graduate student conducting Arct= ic research. This award was established in honor of Stuart Innes, who was lo= st with his colleague Malcolm Ramsey on May 21,2000 when their helicopter crashed near Resolute Bay, Nunavut, Canada during research on ringed seal= s and polar bears. Stu is remembered with affection and admiration for his boundless energy and devotion to scientific endeavors in the Arctic. Stu believed that the Biennial Marine Mammal Conferences provided a good opportunity for young researchers to learn, network, and develop enthusia= sm form the leaders in the field. As a tribute to Stu, friends and colleague= s have established this award to help support a student's travel to this conference. The award is open to Masters and PhD students conducting mari= ne mammal research in the Arctic and who are presenting their 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, degree sought, year of study, and a letter of no mo= re than 400 words describing the project and how the student would benefit f= rom the award. A copy of the submitted conference abstract and an up-to-date = CV should also be included. The selection committee's decision is final. The award this year is for $1000.00 (CDN). Questions and applications should = be sent to Lianne Postma at PostmaL(\)dfo-mpo.gc.ca no later than September 1, 2003. Lianne Postma 204-984-4628 * facsimile/t=E9l=E9copieur 204-984-2403 PostmaL(\)dfo-mpo.gc.ca Molecular Genetics Biologist * Biologiste de la g=E9n=E9tique mol=E9cul= aire Central and Arctic Region * R=E9gion du Centre et de l'Arctique Fisheries and Oceans Canada * P=EAche et Oc=E9ans Canada 501 University Crescent Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N6 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2003 12:17:52 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Bowhead whale research (fwd) I work for Bowhead Holding Company and we are owned by an Alaska Native Village Corporation out of the North Slope Borough in Barrow, AK. There is a Federal Government Contract out for a study to deflect Bowhead whales in the event of an oil spill. Bowhead whales are an integral part of the Inupiat culture and our shareholders (the Inupiats)want to see the survival of these whales continue for generations. We are interested in partnering with another company or individual who may be qualified and have the resources available to perform this study. This opportunity has a very short window for response. The study is scheduled to have deliverables over the course of a year. For more information, please contact: Jeff Guentzel Bowhead Holding Company E-mail: guentzeljl(\)bowhead.com 206-957-5231 -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2003 08:36:34 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: US court ruling on LFA sonar deployment (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Federal Court Restricts Global Deployment of Navy Sonar Conservation groups say ruling protects whales and other marine life from injury and death SAN FRANCISCO (August 26, 2003) - A federal judge ruled today that the Navy's plan to deploy a new high-intensity sonar system violates numerous federal environmental laws and could endanger whales, porpoises and fish. In a 73-page opinion, U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Laporte barred the Navy's planned around-the-world deployment and ordered the Navy to reduce the system's potential harm to marine mammals and fish by negotiating limits on its use with conservation groups who had sued over its deployment. The sonar system, known as Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active sonar (or LFA), relies on extremely loud, low-frequency sound to detect submarines at great distances. According to the Navy's own studies, LFA generates sounds up to 140 decibels even more than 300 miles away from the sonar source. Many scientists believe that blasting such intense sounds over large expanses of the ocean could harm entire populations of whales, porpoises and fish. During testing off the California coast, noise from a single LFA system was detected across the breadth of the North Pacific Ocean. "Today's ruling is a reprieve not just for whales, porpoises, and fish, but ultimately for all of us who depend for our survival on healthy oceans," said Joel Reynolds, senior attorney and director of the Marine Mammal Protection Project at NRDC, the lead plaintiff and counsel in the case. "The decision recognizes that both national security and environmental protection are essential. It recognizes that during peacetime, even the military must comply with our environmental laws, and it rejects the blank-check permit that would have allowed the Navy to operate LFA sonar virtually anywhere in the world." In her ruling (http://www.cand.uscourts.gov/), Judge Laporte found that a permit issued to the Navy by the National Marine Fisheries Service to deploy LFA sonar violates the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) because it did not adequately assess or take steps to mitigate the risks posed by the system to marine mammals and fish. Judge Laporte found that, "endangered species, including whales, listed salmon and sea turtles will be in LFA sonar's path. There is little margin for error without threatening their survival...Absent an injunction, the marine environment that supports the existence of these species will be irreparably harmed." In October, Judge Laporte granted a request by conservation groups for a temporary injunction to restrict deployment under the permit. Today's ruling orders the Navy to negotiate with NRDC and its co-plaintiffs on terms of a permanent injunction that would limit where, when and how the Navy can use LFA for testing and training. The injunction wouldn't prevent the Navy from using the system during war or "heightened threat conditions," as determined by the military. Scientists have been increasingly alarmed in recent years about undersea noise pollution from high-intensity active sonar systems, which have been shown to harm and even kill whales and other marine life. The mass stranding of multiple whale species in the Bahamas in March 2000 and the simultaneous disappearance of the region's entire population of beaked whales intensified these concerns. A federal investigation identified testing of a U.S. Navy mid-frequency active sonar system as the cause. Last September, mass strandings occurred in the Canary Islands as a result of military sonar, and in the Gulf of California as the likely result of an acoustic geophysical survey using extremely loud air guns. Most recently, more than a dozen harbor porpoises were found dead on the beach near the San Juan Islands soon after the Navy tested active sonar in the Haro Strait in May. Videotape shows a pod of orca whales in the foreground behaving erratically as the Shoup, a U.S. Navy vessel, emits loud sonar blasts. Recent tests on one of the harbor porpoises revealed injuries consistent with acoustic trauma. "The science is clear - intense active sonar can kill whales, porpoises and fish," said Naomi Rose, a marine mammal scientist with the Humane Society of the United States, one of the co-plaintiffs. "The Navy must find ways to test and train with the LFA system that do not needlessly damage marine life." "The public has a strong interesting in minimizing, as much as possible, any disruption or injury to these creatures from exposure to the extremely loud and far-traveling naval sonar system," Judge Laporte wrote in her opinion. "Public concern has been heightened by incidents where exposure to another kind of Navy sonar has led to lethal strandings of whales on the beach, as in the Bahamas in 2000." "The court properly ruled that the permit to deploy the LFA system violates federal law," said Andrew Sabey, a partner with the international firm of Morrison & Foerster, which is representing the plaintiffs NRDC, the Humane Society, the League for Coastal Protection, the Cetacean Society International, and the Ocean Futures Society and its president, Jean-Michel Cousteau. "The marine environment is an invaluable resource that we all must share," said Jean-Michel Cousteau. "I am very pleased that good sense has prevailed. The court has taken an extremely valuable step to protect a part of our life support system from destruction." 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 550,000 members nationwide, served from offices in New York, Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco. More information is available through NRDC's Web site at www.nrdc.org -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 31 Aug 2003 20:53:32 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: New Zealand right whale monograph (fwd) From: "N. Patenaude" I wanted to inform you that a recently published peer reviewed monograph on right whales is now available online: N.J. Patenaude. 2003. Sightings of southern right whales around mainland New Zealand. Science for Conservation 225. 43 p. It includes management recommendations and the (very small) photo-id catalogue for NZ mainland southern right whales. http://www.doc.govt.nz/Publications/004~Science-and-Research/Science-for-Conservation/PDF/SFC225.pdf http://www.doc.govt.nz/Publications/004~Science-and-Research/Science-for-Conservation/PDF/sfc225a.pdf Abstract: The status of southern right whales around mainland New Zealand was assessed by reviewing 110 sightings and 23 individual photo-identifications of southern right whales collected between 1976 and 2002. Sightings were reported in 11 of the 12 Conservancies (Department of Conservation administrative areas) with coastal waters. Southland Conservancy was the primary area visited by non-cow/calf whales and Hawkes Bay Conservancy represented the primary area for cow/calf pairs. Whales were sighted in all seasons with the majority of sightings reported in winter (60%) and spring (22%). Between 1988 and 2001 (when whales were consistently sighted), showed a significant increase in number of sightings and number of whales sighted. The estimated rate of increase is imprecise and likely affected by uneven sighting effort over the years. Despite this apparent increase in overall sightings, there was little evidence of increase in the number of cow/calf pairs sighted around New Zealand s three main islands (the mainland ). No matches were made between 23 photo-identified whales from around the mainland and the extensive catalogue of whales photo-identified in the sub-Antarctic Islands. The former population remains severely depleted, and likely contains between 4 and 11 reproductive females. The lack of evidence of movement between the mainland and the subantarctic islands and the marked difference in recovery the two areas suggests that the two populations represent separate stocks. Nathalie Patenaude Postdoctoral Research Associate Marine Mammal Research Group Graduate School of Environment Macquarie University Sydney, NSW Australia 2109 ph: 61 2 9850 7982 Honorary Research Fellow Population Genetics and Evolution Group School of Biological Sciences University of Auckland Private Bag 92019 Auckland, New Zealand ph: 64 9 373 7599 ext 84588 -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2003 15:08:49 -0400 From: Leslie Boerner Subject: Job Opportunity-National Marine Life Center, Buzzards Bay, MA Positions Available Animal Care Coordinators The National Marine Life Center is requesting applications for Animal Care Coordinators. These positions will total 56 hours each week in order to provide 7-day-a-week coverage at the NMLC=s new facility designed to provide care for marine turtles and seals. Responsibilities: reporting to the NMLC veterinarian, this position is responsible for carrying out medical procedures and animal care as directed by veterinarian, for general animal care husbandry, and for coordinating and training the volunteers who will assist in animal care and in feeding and maintaining a clean environment. Requirements: Demonstrated experience in direct marine animal care; BA or BS in biology or animal science. Vet Tech certification preferred. Position available late October. Applications, with resume, due by September 12. Send applications and resumes to Sally Riggs- sriggs(\)nmlc.org or National Marine Life Center P. O. Box 269 Buzzards Bay, MA 02532-0269 Experience in medical care to include ability to perform independently: Drawing blood, processing samples for analysis, completing appropriate forms and reports. Performing microscopic fecal analyses. Participating in triage: monitoring vital signs, heart rate, respirations, body temperature and mucous membrane color. Administering treatments, including IM, IV, SQ injections, enemas, gastric tube, wound care Keeping accurate medical records on individual animals. Keeping accurate records to meet requirements of drug controls and policies. Setting up equipment, restraining animals, training volunteers in appropriate ways to assist and assisting veterinarian with examinations. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 15:50:41 -0700 From: JIWLP Organization: Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy Subject: FW: Open Position: Marine Biologist, World Wildlife Fund FYI. wil William C.G. Burns, Co-Chair American Society of International Law - Wildlife Interest Group 1702 Arlington Blvd. El Cerrito, CA 94530 USA Ph: 650.281.9126 Fax: 801.838.4710 ASILWildlife(\)internationalwildlifelaw.org http://www.internationalwildlifelaw.org ** Please subscribe to our low-volume announcement list at: ASILWildlife-subscribe(\)yahoogroups.com -----Original Message----- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:ECOLOG-L(\)LISTSERV.UMD.EDU] On Behalf Of Taylor Ricketts Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2003 2:58 PM To: ECOLOG-L(\)LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: Open Position: Marine Biologist, World Wildlife Fund The Conservation Science Program at WWF-US seeks a Marine Biologist to lead efforts to blend rigorous marine science with practical applications in our conservation programs worldwide. This position involves working closely with program, policy, and field staff to ensure WWF's marine conservation efforts are based strongly on science; conducting innovative research projects on topics and in regions of focal interest to WWF (e.g., marine protected areas, fisheries, climate change); and managing a small team of marine scientists within the Conservation Science Program. The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in marine biology or related field and at least three years conservation experience. Strong statistical and data management skills, experience with field-based conservation, a familiarity with GIS techniques, excellent writing, speaking, and interpersonal skills, and management experience are preferred. This position is based in our Washington, DC office. AA/EOE Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Please send cover letter and resume by fax to (202) 293-9211 or by mail to World Wildlife Fund, Human Resources Dept. #24023, 1250 24th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037. For more info: www.worldwildlife.org. NO TELEPHONE INQUIRIES PLEASE. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 16:11:58 -0700 From: Anna Bass Subject: Re: Binoculars w/ digital camera In-Reply-To: <5.2.1.1.0.20030808093101.021a93e0(\)cibra.unipv.it> ------ adolfo - i have a pair of these: http://www.eagleoptics.com/Meade/Digital+Binoculars/pid3549 as you can probably guess from the price, the images they generate are ve= ry=20 low-resolution; i would say they are almost certainly not suitable for=20 scientific data. they are also, as gianni said, very sensitive to low li= ght=20 conditions. perhaps under perfect conditions, with the whale exactly the= right=20 distance away, you could get an ID shot with them, but there is no abilit= y to=20 zoom, to focus (the binoculars can be focused, and are fairly good, but t= he=20 camera, as far as i can tell, is pretty much set at infinity) or to downl= oad or=20 view the pictures without a computer. that said, they are a lot of fun for casual "recreational" photography. =20 i can email some sample images if anyone is interested (sorry, i don't ha= ve any=20 of marine mammals!). ..a. > Hi, > I had the opportunity to see the documentation of a couple of=20 > cheap digi/binoculars and they had a low resolution image sensor=20 > (1.3MPixel), not suitable for my needs. > Two main features must be considered: one is the brute resolution of th= e=20 > sensor, another is the combination of luminosity and sensor sensitivity= =20 > that both influence the "shutter speed" or exposition speed. On a=20 > binocular, as with a tele lens, short exposition times are required to = get=20 > good shots. >=20 > Gianni >=20 > At 12.58 06/08/2003 -0300, you wrote: > >------ > >Dear Marmamers, > > > > My name is Adolfo Hubner and I=B4m working with > >photoidentification and behaviour of marine tucuxi (Sotalia > >fluviatilis) in Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil. Our > >behavioral observations take place on the top of a cliff > >(40m), and we were considering to use a binoculars with a > >digital camera to obtain better results for the > >photoidentification study (actually, they are made from the > >beach). The low cost of this equipment when compared with a > >digital camera impressed me. Does anyone have experience with > >these kind of binoculars? What models are better to photoid > >studies? I will post a message on the list with the comments > >that I receive. > > > >Sincerely, > > > >Adolfo Hubner > >Marine Mammals Project / Sergipe - Coordinator > >Small Cetaceans Project / Rio Grande do Norte - Member > >Contact: ahubner(\)uol.com.br >=20 > -------------------------------------------------------------- > Gianni Pavan > Email gpavan(\)cibra.unipv.it > Centro Interdisciplinare di Bioacustica e Ricerche Ambientali > Universita' degli Studi di Pavia > Via Taramelli 24, 27100 PAVIA, ITALIA > Tel/Fax +39-0382-525234 > Web http://www.unipv.it/cibra >=20 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 17:58:22 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Announcement and call for abstracts - cetacean handling workshop (fwd) Capture and handling techniques for small odontocetes during tagging, health assessment and sample collection A Workshop at the 15th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals Greensboro, North Carolina, USA Date: Sunday, 14 December 2003. 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Cost: USD $25 prepay, $30 at the door (To cover equipment expenses, refreshments, and printing of a summary volume) =96accommodations will be made for individuals (including students) needing funding assistance for registration cost. Introduction The capture-release of odontocetes for tag deployment, as well as, clinical assessment of the animal and tissue collection has become an important component of studies of behavior, range, habitat use, and health and reproductive status of free-ranging animals. There are now numerous programs doing captures around the world on a variety of species. This workshop will provide a forum for exchange of ideas between researchers, veterinarians and other interested parties on handling and attachment practices during tagging and other capture activities of odontocetes. The emphasis will be on techniques and issues related to animal and human safety and that are common across several species. The workshop will open with a series of oral presentations with poster sessions during the breaks, to be followed in the afternoon by group discussion and working groups focused on specific issues. A summary volume will be prepared for publication and distributed to the participants. The talks will include specific examples of capture and handling techniques for a variety of species and circumstances and issues of specific interest to successful handling and the health and well being of the animals and their handlers. Example topics are listed below. Field experience of capture and handling of: Finless species General porpoise species Larger odontocetes River dolphins Delphinid species Issues relating to safe handling of odontocetes: Monitoring of animal during handling Use of ultrasound in tag attachment Tagging of pregnant animals Tag release mechanisms Zoonotic diseases This workshop provides a valuable opportunity for those who are interested in and/or involved with odontocete tagging projects to meet and exchange ideas and experiences. Call for abstracts We are soliciting abstracts for oral or poster presentations, which relate to one of the topics listed above or similar topics. Oral presentations will be limited to 15-20 minutes. There will be a poster session during the mid-morning and afternoon breaks and during lunch. If you would like to give an oral or poster presentation a at the workshop, please submit an abstract no greater than one page in length that includes the title, submitter=92s name, affiliation, mailing and e-mail address and phone number to Rod Hobbs or Stephanie Norman by 1 October 2003. General Registration Please contact one of us to register. Mail prepayment of fee to Rod Hobbs. Payment can be by cash, check or money order, make checks payable to Rod Hobbs. We will be able to accommodate up to 100 registrants. Registration will be open until 30 November. Walk-ins will be accommodated on the day of the workshop, as space is available. Please visit the workshop's website for future updates (http://nmml.afsc.noaa.gov/CetaceanAssessment/cetacean) Roderick Hobbs, Ph.D. Stephanie A. Norman, DVM National Marine Mammal Laboratory Alaska Fisheries Science Center Protected Resources Division National Marine Fisheries Service NOAA 7600 Sand Point Way, NE Seattle, WA 98115-6349 USA Phone: (206) 526-6278 Phone: 206.526.4747 Fax: (206) 526-6615 Fax: 206.526.6736 E-mail: Rod.Hobbs(\)noaa.gov Stephanie.Norman(\)noaa.gov -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 18:00:07 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Book on the battle over Naval sonar testing (fwd) Hello. I'm a long-time subscriber to the MARMAM list, and a journalist with extensive experience working with and writing about cetaceans of all kinds. Currently, I'm researching a book about the battle over Naval sonar testing and the legitimate (NOT the sensationalized) impacts of this testing on dolphins and whales. I'm hoping that you esteemed folks can help me sort out a few issues: 1. Has anyone written nonscientific work on this subject to date? If so, who? 2. Whom do you consider to be the "critical" sources on this issue? 3. Would any of you be interested in participating in the research process, and perhaps allowing me to interview you for background or attribution? Please respond as soon as possible. You can reach me via e-mail at mjv(\)whalehead.com. You also can learn more about me at http://www.whalehead.com. Thanks in advance for your assistance, and I hope to hear from you soon. Sincerely, Matt Villano _______________________________ Matt Villano mjv(\)whalehead.com http://www.whalehead.com -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2003 14:57:52 -0400 From: Jessica Lomanno Subject: Resident Lecturer in Marine Mammalogy and Coastal Ecology availab le in Baja California Sur, Mexico boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01C3724D.46BA0430" 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_01C3724D.46BA0430 charset="iso-8859-1" The Center for Coastal Studies Job Title: Resident Lecturer in Marine Mammalogy and Coastal Ecology The Center for Coastal Studies (CCS), founded in 1997 on the shores of = Bah=EDa Magdalena in the fishing community of Puerto San Carlos, Baja = California Sur, Mexico, seeks an enthusiastic, team-oriented Resident Lecturer in Marine Mammalogy and Coastal Ecology to help further develop the = Center's research on marine mammals. You will work with a team consisting of the Director, another Lecturer, a Student Affairs Manager and two Interns = to deliver a high quality, field-based academic/research program to = primarily American undergraduate students. Because Center staff and students live = on site, our faculty get to know both their fellow staff members and their students on a level not often achieved in a conventional university = setting. Start Date: January 2004 The Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) is one of seven international = field sites of the US-based School for Field Studies (SFS). Founded in 1980, = SFS is a university-level study abroad program that focuses on teaching and conducting community-based environmental research.=20 Institutional Mission: As an international, non-profit academic = institution, SFS provides environmental education and conducts research through its field-based programs. SFS is committed to providing hands-on, interdisciplinary education and environmental research in partnership = with natural resource dependent communities. Our goals are twofold: to = provide students with a unique and challenging educational and life experience = that assists them in successfully advancing their careers as skilled professionals and globally aware citizens; and to work with local = community stakeholders to develop models for the sustainable management of their natural resources. Academic and Research Approach: Our academic program is delivered = within an interdisciplinary case study format and includes three field-lecture courses: coastal ecology, principles of resource management, and = economic & ethical issues in sustainable development. A fourth course introduces students to the planning and conduct of field research. Faculty = implement student Directed Research projects specified in the Five-Year Research = Plan. Primary Directed Research project emphases are listed below in the = Position Summary section. Position Summary: The purpose of this fulltime, year-round, = residential position is to:=20 1 teach critical environmental issues using a team-based, interdisciplinary, problem-solving approach. Teaching responsibility includes the course Coastal Ecology. This course examines the = ecological processes at the interface between land and sea. It focuses on the = coastal environment and how terrestrial and marine systems are intricately connected, and are impacted by human resource use and disturbance. The course includes a special focus on marine mammals (gray whales, sea = lions) and their role in the ecology of the bay. 2 lead designated components of the Center's Five-Year Research Plan which includes previously developed student Directed Research projects = (as part of the fourth course), and summer projects. Specific research lines/areas this position is responsible for include: gray whales (population status and trends, tourism impacts), sea lion colonies (population trends), black sea turtles (population status and trends, habitat requirements and threats), indicators of ecosystem health and = water quality of the bay funded by The David and Lucile Packard Foundation. 3 ensure the expeditious publication of research results=20 Location: Center for Coastal Studies, Puerto San Carlos, Baja = California Sur, Mexico Reports to: Center Director Salary & Benefits Package: US$26,000 to US$29,000 depending on = experience & qualifications. Housing and meals on site; excellent benefits package=20 Minimum Qualifications:=20 * Ph.D. required in Marine Mammalogy, Marine Biology or Marine Ecology * Field research experience in marine mammal population trends and habitat requirements, fisheries ecology and management, and water = quality sampling. * University-level, interdisciplinary, team teaching experience in Marine Mammalogy, Marine Biology or Marine Ecology=20 * Good track record of research publications * Fluency in both Spanish and English *=09 * Preferred Qualifications:=20 * Experience living and working in Baja California * Experience working with other scientists to fulfil research grant requirements * Residential student group management and risk management experience desirable *=09 * Other Expectations: * Demonstrated ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary teaching and research team=20 * Demonstrated commitment to environmental issues * Willingness to work flexible hours and live on site at the field station with a small team of permanent staff, groups of US & Mexican undergraduate students and visiting programs =20 To apply: Send CV and cover letter detailing qualifications and = experience to: Center for Coastal Studies, c/o SFS Headquarters, Job #1229, 10 = Federal Street, Salem, MA 01970, USA; Fax: 1-978-741-3551; Email: jobs(\)fieldstudies.org. EOE.=20 Jessica Lomanno Houghton Worldwide Staff Recruiter The School for Field Studies 10 Federal Street Salem, MA 01970 P (978) 741-3567 x306 F (978) 741-3551 jlomanno(\)fieldstudies.org www.fieldstudies.org =20 ------_=_NextPart_001_01C3724D.46BA0430 charset="iso-8859-1" Resident Lecturer in Marine Mammalogy and Coastal Ecology = available in Baja California Sur, Mexico

The Center for Coastal = Studies
Job Title: Resident Lecturer in Marine Mammalogy and = Coastal Ecology

The Center for Coastal Studies = (CCS), founded in 1997 on the shores of Bah=EDa Magdalena in the = fishing community of Puerto San Carlos, Baja California Sur, Mexico, = seeks an enthusiastic, team-oriented Resident Lecturer in Marine = Mammalogy and Coastal Ecology to help further develop the Center's = research on marine mammals. You will work with a team consisting of the = Director, another Lecturer, a Student Affairs Manager and two Interns = to deliver a high quality, field-based academic/research program to = primarily American undergraduate students. Because Center staff and = students live on site, our faculty get to know both their fellow staff = members and their students on a level not often achieved in a = conventional university setting.

Start Date: January 2004

The Center for Coastal = Studies (CCS) is one of = seven international field sites of the US-based School for Field = Studies (SFS).  Founded in 1980, SFS is a university-level study = abroad program that focuses on teaching and conducting community-based = environmental research.

Institutional = Mission: As an = international, non-profit academic institution, SFS provides = environmental education and conducts research through its field-based = programs. SFS is committed to providing hands-on, interdisciplinary = education and environmental research in partnership with natural = resource dependent communities. Our goals are twofold: to provide = students with a unique and challenging educational and life experience = that assists them in successfully advancing their careers as skilled = professionals and globally aware citizens; and to work with local = community stakeholders to develop models for the sustainable management = of their natural resources.

Academic and Research = Approach: Our academic = program is delivered within an interdisciplinary case study format and = includes three field-lecture courses: coastal ecology, principles of = resource management, and economic & ethical issues in sustainable = development. A fourth course introduces students to the planning and = conduct of field research.  Faculty implement student Directed = Research projects specified in the Five-Year Research Plan.  = Primary Directed Research project emphases are listed below in the = Position Summary section.

Position = Summary:  The purpose = of this fulltime, year-round, residential position is to:

    1. teach critical = environmental issues using a team-based, interdisciplinary, = problem-solving approach. Teaching responsibility includes the = course Coastal = Ecology. This course = examines the ecological processes at the interface between land and = sea. It focuses on the coastal environment and how terrestrial and = marine systems are intricately connected, and are impacted by human = resource use and disturbance. The course includes a special focus on = marine mammals (gray whales, sea lions) and their role in the ecology = of the bay.
    2. lead designated components of the = Center's Five-Year Research Plan which includes = previously developed student Directed Research projects (as part of the = fourth course), and summer projects. Specific research lines/areas this = position is responsible for include: gray whales (population status and = trends, tourism impacts),  sea lion colonies (population trends), = black sea turtles (population status and trends, habitat requirements = and threats), indicators of ecosystem health and water quality of the = bay funded by The David and Lucile Packard Foundation.
    3. ensure the expeditious publication = of research results

Location: Center for Coastal Studies, Puerto San = Carlos, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Reports to: Center Director

Salary & Benefits = Package: US$26,000 to = US$29,000 depending on experience & qualifications.  Housing = and meals on site; excellent benefits package

Minimum = Qualifications:=20

  • Ph.D. required  in Marine = Mammalogy, Marine Biology or Marine Ecology
  • Field research experience in marine = mammal population trends and habitat requirements, fisheries ecology = and management, and water quality sampling.
  • University-level, = interdisciplinary, team teaching experience in Marine Mammalogy, Marine = Biology or Marine Ecology
  • Good track record of research = publications
  • Fluency in both Spanish and = English

    • Preferred = Qualifications:

  • Experience living and working in = Baja California
  • Experience working with other = scientists to fulfil research grant requirements
  • Residential student group = management and risk management experience desirable

    • Other Expectations:

  • Demonstrated ability to work as = part of an interdisciplinary teaching and research team
  • Demonstrated commitment to = environmental issues
  • Willingness to work flexible hours = and live on site at the field station with a small team of permanent = staff, groups of US & Mexican undergraduate students and visiting = programs

 
To apply: Send CV and cover letter detailing = qualifications and experience to: Center for Coastal Studies, c/o SFS = Headquarters, Job #1229, 10 Federal Street, Salem, MA 01970, USA; Fax: = 1-978-741-3551; Email: jobs(\)fieldstudies.org. EOE.


Jessica Lomanno Houghton
Worldwide Staff Recruiter
The School for Field Studies
10 Federal = Street
Salem, MA  = 01970
P (978) 741-3567 = x306
F (978) = 741-3551
jlomanno(\)fieldstudies.org
www.fieldstudies.org


------_=_NextPart_001_01C3724D.46BA0430-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2003 16:45:19 +0100 From: "J.C.Goold" Subject: Energetics & Drag ------ Dear Marmers, I am looking for information, and ideally some ballpark figures, regardin= g compartmentalisation of energy in marine mammals. By this I mean the proportions by which total energy is typically divided into the major bodily functions such as the maintenance of body heat, muscular energy fo= r locomotion, etc=85 Some specific examples (i.e. actual energy values) wo= uld also be very useful if anyone has such information. In addition I am wondering if anyone has any direct measurements of drag forces on marine mammals, or measurements of such forces on correctly scaled and proportioned marine mammal forms. I am interested in this information in order to enhance elements of our postgraduate teaching. Best regards John Goold ----------------- Dr. John C. Goold Institute of Environmental Science University of Wales, Bangor Robinson Building Deiniol Road Bangor Gwynedd. LL57 2UW. UK. Tel: +44 (0)1248 388165 Fax: +44 (0)1248 383646 Email: j.c.goold(\)bangor.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2003 11:54:26 -0800 Reply-To: hamachan_hamazaki(\)fishgame.state.ak.us From: Hamachan Hamazaki Subject: Clarification: GIS spatial/temporal model workshop is held at Biennial Conference, Greensboro NC ------ Dear MARMAM subscribers Since many people asked me about this, I would like to clarify about the = GIS workshop. The workshop is a part of pre-conference workshop at the 15th Biennial Conference held in Greensboro NC. The workshop will be held two days befo= re the conference. So, save your breath and please participate. I deeply apologize this lack of clarification. BTW, the workshop and conference give me an excuse to be momentarily away from dark and freezing Alaskan winter though I am going to miss magical beauty of the northern lights... 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 -----Original Message----- From: Hamachan Hamazaki [mailto:hamachan_hamazaki(\)fishgame.state.ak.us] Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2003 11:43 AM To: 'Marine Mammals Research and Conservation Discussion' Subject: GIS spatial/temporal model workshop: workshop info / Call for Abstract Application of GIS Spatial/Temporal prediction Model for Marine Mammal Scientists and Management Date: December 13 2003. 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Cost: USD $30 (to cover equipment expenses and refreshments) Purpose of the workshop There is a growing interest in the development of spatial/temporal model = of marine mammal distribution. It is hoped that spatial/temporal models wil= l be used to predict potential and critical habitats/locations of marine mammals, which will greatly improve marine mammal management and conservation, such application as: designation of marine reserve, ship collision warning zone, bycatch reduction fishing exclusion zone, populat= ion monitoring. This workshop explores current development of spatial/temporal models. T= he topics covered in this workshop are: 1) Varieties of modeling approaches: Theoretical/methodological foundatio= ns, Modeling capabilities, Advantages and disadvantages of the model 2) Application of current and new technologies 3) Case studies on application of models to marine mammal conservation an= d management: Successful applications, and unsuccessful applications / less= ons to be learned. 4) Discussions on future direction: Interactions and exchanges among participants And this year=92s workshop special: True to the spirit of workshop. 5) Call for experts: Present project/research/management plans and receive experts=92 suggesti= ons. This workshop would provide a great opportunity for those who are interes= ted in GIS spatial/temporal modeling, learning about modeling, and making connections. Call for abstract Presentations are sought in above and other issues. If you would like t= o present at the workshop (Oral: 20-40 min/ Poster), please submit abstract (~300 words) to Toshihide Hamazaki by Oct 10 2003. This will make it possible for me to make a schedule and provide time for you preparing for the presentation. Students are encouraged to submit an abstract for the Call for experts. Workshop Website I crated a personal workshop web site for more info http://www.geocities.com/toshihide_hamazaki/Workshop.html Registration form: http://www.geocities.com/toshihide_hamazaki/Workshop_regist.doc Call for abstract http://www.geocities.com/toshihide_hamazaki/Call_abstract.html Abstract submission form: http://www.geocities.com/toshihide_hamazaki/abstract.doc 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: Fri, 5 Sep 2003 08:12:22 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Turtle Book (fwd) From: Osha Gray Davidson Hi all (with apologies for cross-listings), PublicAffairs has just released the paperback version of "Fire in the Turtle House." (http://www.publicaffairsbooks.com/books/fire-pbk.html) The book contains a short update with new information on FP (a possible plateauing of FP in Hawaii, Shigetomo Hirama's study of regression cases), and touches on areas not examined earlier: the precipitous decline of the Pacific leatherback, a call for a UN-imposed moratorium on long-line and gill-net fishing, and, more happily, increased nestings at the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. While the book centers on turtles, it deals at length with mass die offs of marine mammals as well. A German version of will be published under the title "Sanfte Riesen" by Marebuch in September -- minus the update. (For each book sold, Marebuch is donating one Euro to the Turtle House Foundation.) Once again, a large "thank you" to all who took time out of busy schedules to respond to my far-too-many questions. "Turtle House" has reached a far larger audience than I had dreamed, and it's in large part thanks to your help in translating science for a lay-audience. I owe an even larger "thank you" for your work -- day in and out -- on behalf of these extraordinary creatures. May your children swim in an ocean full of turtles. Cheers, Osha "Fire in the Turtle House is a compelling story about turtles and their future that ought to change our view of the world. Reading this book is an education in illness infecting the ocean but reads like an adventure story. Whether the larger story -- the survival of life on this planet -- has a happy ending or not seems to be in question and certainly may be up to us." Jean-Michel Cousteau, Ocean Futures Society ================================ Osha Gray Davidson Web-site: www.oshadavidson.com 301 E. Maryland Ave Phone: (602) 263-5582 Phoenix, AZ 85012 E-Mail: osha(\)oshadavidson.com USA -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 7 Sep 2003 09:50:21 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MARMAM monthly editorial policy and FAQ Posted 7 September 2003 ==================================================== MARMAM Editorial Policy & 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. What notices from regional groups are posted? 13. Useful websites 14. Other email discussion lists 15. 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, run through the University of Victoria. The list was established in August 1993 specifically for marine mammal researchers and graduate students, as well as those actively involved in marine mammal conservation and management. As of January 2002 there were over 4,100 subscribers from 72 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. Posting of messages to the list is done at the Editors' discretion. ________________________________________________________ >> 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 announcements - internship/volunteer opportunities. To help students discern the pros and cons of different research groups we ask that that postings provide details of the research experience that volunteers will gain from this position. Posts for volunteer opportunities (particularly paying opportunities) that are not university-affiliated, should provide a measure of their research output in terms of publications available. For groups that do not do this, we will add the note: NO PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE ON THIS WORK If you are affiliated with a university research group, please make this clear in your posting. Finally, provide an indication of the level of payment required from the volunteers: whether the position is paid, volunteers are subsidised in terms of accomodation but have to provide their own flights, or whether there is a charge for the position. - 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 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) 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 ensures that: - An appropriate and explicit 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 4000+ list members. - 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. All information should be included as text within the body of the message. - Messages are properly formatted and do not contain excessive numbers of typos. Messages that 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. Please note the following about message formatting. 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. Further, we have noticed that messages composed by cutting and pasting directly from WordPerfect or Word can cause line wrapping problems. Therefore, messages should not be composed using the latter method. Several e-mail programs append encoded information (MIME, Metafile, and V-cards are common ones). Web-based e-mail programs often append HTML tags by default. These "embelishments" cause display and readability problems and are strongly discouraged. Whenever possible users should disable HTML tags (or send the text-only version) and other encoding features when submitting messages to MARMAM. EVERY EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO SUBMIT MESSAGES AS PLAIN TEXT. These practices will greatly reduce the number of messages with strange formatting that appear on MARMAM. ________________________________________________________ 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. What notices from regional groups are posted? Submissions from regional groups (for example, but not restricted to, the regional chapters of the American Cetacean Society or the regional student chapters of professional associations such as the Society for Marine Mammalogy) should carefully consider whether their announcements are relevant to 4,000+ recipients in 72 countries. Announcements about meetings of short duration (less that half a day) and with little or no scientifc content are discouraged. Notices dealing with internal chapter businesses or organizational matters will not be posted. Notices from regional student chapters 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). ________________________________________________________ 13. 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: http://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/ Oceans Blue Whalewatch Listserv: http://www.oceansblue.org/bluetourism/chartacourse/ BajaToBering/index.html ______________________________________________________ 14. 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) ________________________________________________________ 15. 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, 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 July 2002 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2003 11:01:00 +1200 Reply-To: edu.secchi(\)xtra.co.nz From: Eduardo Secchi Organization: University of Otago Subject: subscribing the the Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals - LAJAM ------ Dear Marmamers, On behalf of our Editorial Board, I would like to inform you that subscri= ptions to the Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals (LAJAM) may now b= e made through a bank account opened in Sarasota, Florida to facilitate s= ubscriptions for most. Checks (or money orders) must be in U.S. dollars, = payable to "LAJAM" and sent to: LAJAM/SOLAMAC P.O. Box 3184 Sarasota, FL 34230-3184 USA LAJAM=92s subscription rates are (in US dollars): $20 for students $40 for non-students $50 for libraries (+US$10 for mailing expenses). Mailing LAJAM for students and non-students outside Latin-America will co= st US$10 extra for North America, Europe, Japan and Australia/New Zealand= , and US$5 dollars extra for Africa and Asian and Australasian countries = other than those mentioned above. Both students and non-students from de= veloping countries (outside Latin-America) may be exempted of mailing cos= ts upon a duly supported request, and will be considered on a case-by-cas= e basis.=20 Subscriptions for 2003 include volume 2, Numbers 1 and 2. The special iss= ue on Franciscana dolphins (volume 1, Number 1, 2002) can be purchased fo= r an additional $15 (students) and $25 (non-students and libraries).=20 =20 Any further information can be obtained from the editors (LAJAM(\)infolink.= com.br) or through the web (www.solamac.net) using the link "LAJAM".=20 =20 Best regards, Eduardo Secchi co-editor LAJAM *********************************** Eduardo Secchi Marine Mammals Research Team University of Otago, PO Box 56 Dunedin - NEW ZEALAND e.mail: edu.secchi(\)xtra.co.nz phone: ++ 64-3-479-5476 (work) fax: ++ 64-3-479-8336 Home phone: ++ 64-3-479-0412 Please check out the website of our research group at http://www.otago.ac.nz/marinescience/mammals/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2003 03:01:12 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publication (fwd) From: PeterStevick(\)aol.com The following paper appeared in the August 29 issue of MEPS. Stevick, P. T., J. Allen, P. J. Clapham, N. Friday, S. K. Katona, F. Larsen, J. Lien, D. K. Mattila, P. J. Palsb=F8ll, J. Sigurj=F3nsson, T. D. Smith, N. =D8ien and P. S. Hammond. 2003. North Atlantic humpback whale abundance and rate of increase four decades after protection from whaling. Marine Ecology Progress Series 258:263-273. ABSTRACT: Humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae in the North Atlantic Ocean were severely depleted by exploitation. With legal protection since 1955, substantial recovery is likely to have occurred, but information on abundance and rates of increase has been limited. We present an assessmen= t of humpback whale abundance in the North Atlantic Ocean based upon capture-recapture estimates using naturally marked individuals. These dat= a result from a long-term collaborative effort combining large-scale dedicated projects and incidental data collection, leading to extensive geographical coverage. The application of robust statistical techniques produces estimates of greater accuracy and precision than has previously been possible. Abundance estimates ranging from 5930 to 12 580 individuals, with coefficients of variation (CVs) from 0.07 to 0.39, were calculated for the West Indies breeding population using data from 1979 t= o 1993. The most precise estimate for the West Indies breeding population i= s 10 752 (CV =3D 0.068) for 1992 and 1993. Due to application of new analytical methods, these estimates are larger and more precise than thos= e previously published from similar time periods. The average rate of increase for the West Indies breeding population over a 14 yr period was estimated to be 0.031 (SE =3D 0.005). The best available estimate for th= e entire North Atlantic population of humpback whales is 11 570 (95% CI 10 290 to 13 390) based upon samples from 1992 and 1993. However, this estimate may be biased downwards to an unknown extent due to heterogeneit= y in capture probabilities that do not influence the West Indies estimates. pdf reprints are available now. Paper copies will be available when they arrive from the publisher. Cheers, Peter Stevick -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2003 03:01:48 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Position Announcement: Senior Scientist (fwd) From: jan young CENTER FOR COASTAL STUDIES Senior Scientist Marine Mammal Research and Conservation The Center for Coastal Studies, a private, non-profit research, conservation, and education institution committed to the principles of conservation biology, seeks senior scientist in the field of marine mammal research and conservation. Specific responsibilities will include supervision of winter/spring aerial right whale survey of Cape Cod Bay and adjacent waters and development of new research and conservation programs. Qualifications include five to seven years of professional experience, including grant writing, project management, and scientific publication. Candidates must have a doctoral degree and strong background in biological oceanography, familiarity with principles of ecosystem management, and interest in fisheries issues and public policy beyond his/her own specialty. Experience with aerial survey methodology desirable. Excellent communication and leadership skills essential. Full-time position with generous benefits. Competitive salary commensurate with experience. Submit resume and writing sample to: Senior Scientist Search, Center for Coastal Studies, P.O. Box 1036, Provincetown, MA 02657 or as e-mail attachments to jeyoung(\)coastalstudies.org. Jan Young Administrator Center for Coastal Studies 115 Bradford Street P.O. Box 1036 Provincetown, MA 02657 508-487-3622, ext. 110 (t) 508-487-4495 (f) -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2003 15:27:33 -0400 From: "Brill, Katie" Subject: Manatee Photo-Identification Internship ------ MANATEE PHOTO-IDENTIFICATION INTERNSHIP The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Manate= e Photo-Identification program is looking for two or three detail-oriente= d interns or volunteers to serve during the upcoming winter session in St= . Petersburg, Florida. =20 Interns' will be primarily responsible for photographing manatees an= d collecting behavioral and environmental data at sites around Tampa Bay = and assisting with lab-based photo-identification tasks. Other responsibi= lities may include, but are not limited to, data entry, special projects,= and outreach activities. Interns are expected to work four days per week= for approximately eight hours each day. =20 Qualifications:=20 =B7Must be a college junior or senior for internship credit; volunteers d= o not need to meet this qualification =20 =B7Working knowledge of 35mm cameras, filters, and lenses is preferred =B7Must have basic computer proficiency; Microsoft Access literacy is pre= ferred =B7Must be able to lift approximately 50 pounds of equipment =B7Some animal research field experience is preferred =B7Preference will be given to applicants who possess a valid Florida dri= ver's license, as well as those willing to obtain one before the session = begins Application Process:=20 Applications for the winter 2003/2004 session (December 1, 2003 - Mar= ch 31, 2004) are currently being accepted. Starting and ending dates are= flexible. Please send a hard copy of your resume along with your cover = letter, college transcripts (unofficial are sufficient if not applying fo= r internship credit), a list of three references, and contact information= to the following address. Please indicate in your cover letter the posi= tion for which you are applying. Bill Arnold FWC/FMRI 100 8th Avenue SE St. Petersburg, FL 33701-3095 Bill.Arnold(\)fwc.state.fl.us www.floridamarine.org This intern position is open until filled. =20 *All positions are unpaid. Housing and transportation are NOT provided. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2003 16:58:56 +0200 From: Ruben Huele Subject: Europhlukes Test Meeting, November 13-15, Leiden, Netherlands Dear MARMAM members, As you may remember from an earlier posting to this list, Europhlukes is a EU founded project to develop a European Cetacean Photo-ID system as a facility for research on the sustainable management of the marine environment. Furthermore, it aims to initiate a European Network of providers and end-users of the European Cetacean Photo-ID system and ensure continued addition and use of the material and continued maintenance of the (meta) databases within the system. The project has now reached a stage that some software programmes can be tested. Therefore a Europhlukes Test Meeting will take place from November 13 - 15, 2003 in Leiden, The Netherlands. For more information on the Test Meeting and the application details, please consult the Europhlukes website at www.europhlukes.net We hope to welcome you at the meeting in November. Kind regards Ruben Huele Europhlukes co-ordinator. Institute of Environmental Sciences Leiden University PO BOX 9518 2300 RA Leiden Netherlands [Apologies for cross-posting. This message was sent to both ECS-ALL and MARMAM lists.] ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2003 14:32:46 -0400 From: "Sloan A. Freeman" Subject: Job Announcement - Database/GIS Position with Marine Animal Data in Miami, FL working with Duke University and NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Comments: To: acveit(\)ucscalumni.com, kinzel(\)cox.net, jcm7(\)duke.edu, tb18(\)humboldt.edu, robidora(\)eckerd.edu, lagenodelphis2(\)yahoo.com, cturtle(\)lists.ufl.edu, info(\)rsmas.miami, nmfs.sec.miami(\)noaa.gov, everyone(\)env.duke.edu, scgis(\)pete.uri.edu, sea-gis(\)listserv.heanet.ie Comments: cc: sefsc_hire(\)leatherback.env.duke.edu, obis-dev(\)duke.edu Job Announcement: Associate in Research with Duke University at NOAA SEFSC Miami location The Ocean Biogeographic Information System Spatial Ecological Analysis of megavertebrate Populations (OBIS-SEAMAP, http://obis.env.duke.edu) project seeks an associate in research to work from the Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC, http://www.sefsc.noaa.gov) in Miami, Florida. The OBIS-SEAMAP project is collecting and analyzing marine mammal, seabird and sea turtle data into an online mappable database for use by conservation planners, policy-makers, researchers, primary education and the general public. This person will assist with assessing, compiling, cleaning, entering, and linking various datasets from the SEFSC holdings on sea turtles, marine mammals, and seabirds into the OBIS-SEAMAP database. This position involves data and metadata entry, scripting for automated conversion of data, some scientific analysis and structuring databases for future data entry. The ideal candidate will be a self-motivated, organized person with strong computer skills and an interest in marine ecology. Required expertise includes database management (Microsoft Access and Oracle preferred), and the use of geographical information systems (GIS). Experience in marine animal data collection is desirable. Management and training will be provided by staff at SEFSC and OBIS-SEAMAP. A salary of between $42K and $48K, commensurate with experience, will be available for one year, starting as soon as possible. The research associate will receive full employee benefits from Duke University. Interested applicants should send an electronic resume and cover letter to sefsc_hire(\)obis.env.duke.edu by Thursday, September 25th. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sloan A. Freeman Research Associate Duke University Marine Lab 135 Duke Marine Lab Rd Beaufort, NC 28516 252-504-7633 (f) 252-504-7638 sloan.freeman(\)duke.edu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2003 15:38:01 -0300 From: aottensm Subject: New article on pilot whale social structure ------ The following article has just been published in the Canadian Journal of=20 Zoology: Behavioural evidence for social units in long-finned pilot whales C. Andrea Ottensmeyer and Hal Whitehead=20 Can. J. Zool. 81(8): 1327-1338 (2003) Abstract: In general, mammal species show geographic or social dispersal by one or = both=20 sexes. Long-term behavioural observations and genetic evidence have confi= rmed=20 that fish-eating resident killer whales, Orcinus orca, are a rare excepti= on.=20 Female and male offspring travel with their mothers for their whole lives= :=20 this is natal group philopatry. It is suspected that pilot whales,=20 Globicephala spp., also follow this social pattern, but longitudinal data= on=20 the social structure of live long-finned pilot whales, Globicephala melas= , are=20 rare. We observed G. melas through July and August of 1998=962000 off nor= thern=20 Nova Scotia, Canada. Estimated group sizes ranged from 2 to 135 (mean =3D= 20, SD=20 =3D 17, median =3D 15, n =3D 249). We distinguished 322 individuals on th= e basis of=20 distinctive marks on the dorsal fin, with estimated mark rates of 0.336=20 (proportion) (SE =3D 0.041) and 0.352 (mean of estimates) (SE =3D 0.036).= =20 Permutation testing rejected the null hypothesis of random association be= tween=20 individuals (p < 0.0005). The best fit model of the standardized lagged=20 association rate suggests short-term associations of individuals over hou= rs to=20 days and long-term associations with a subset of those individuals over y= ears.=20 When scaled according to mark rate, sets of long-term associates average=20 approximately 11=9612 individuals, a much lower estimate than that presen= ted=20 previously from drive-fishery data from the Faroe Islands. Genetic sampli= ng of=20 behaviourally studied individuals is recommended. The pdf file can be downloaded for free in Canada from the journal's webs= ite: http://pubs.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/cgi-bin/rp/rp2_tocs_e?cjz_cjz8-03_81 >From other locations, please contact aottensm(\)dal.ca for a pdf file. Har= d=20 copies will be available once they arrive. <>< ><> <>< ><> <>< ><> <>< ><> <>< ><> <>< ><> Andrea Ottensmeyer MSc. Biology, Dalhousie University Co-Director Shad Valley Dalhousie 2003 aottensm(\)dal.ca "All you have to do is decide what to do with the time=20 that is given to you." --Gandalf <>< ><> <>< ><> <>< ><> <>< ><> <>< ><> <>< ><> ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2003 05:34:24 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: '03 Biennial Workshop- Viewing Marine Mammals in the Wild: Emerging (fwd) From: Jill Lewandowski THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION INCLUDES: (1) CALL FOR ABSTRACTS FOR SPOKEN PRESENTATIONS- deadline October 6, 2003= , (2) CALL FOR SUMMARIES FOR WORKSHOP REPORT- deadline November 14, 2003, (3) REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS- advance registration deadline December 1, 2003, AND (4) RESERVATION OF SPACE FOR EDUCATION/OUTREACH MATERIALS- deadline December 1, 2003. Viewing Marine Mammals in the Wild: Emerging Issues, Research and Management Needs 15th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Greensboro, NC Sunday, December 14, 2003: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Joseph S. Koury Convention Center, Sheraton Greensboro Hotel, Audi III room Cost: $20 USD advance registration (by December 1, 2003), $25 USD at door Workshop Overview Prior to the 14th Biennial Conference, NOAA Fisheries hosted a workshop to bring together marine mammal experts from the scientific research community, government wildlife agencies, and commercial eco-tourism industry to present case studies and discuss wildlife viewing practices. Participants were provided with a comprehensive background on the issue and an opportunity for limited open discussion. Over 180 participants from 12 countries joined the workshop, and a report was generated compiling the case studies. As a one-day workshop was not sufficient to adequately address the issue and provide ample time for an open discussion, NOAA Fisheries will host an additional workshop at the 15th Biennial Conference. Specifically, this workshop narrows the scope by focusing on emerging issues in marine mammal viewing since the last Biennial workshop with a particular emphasis on new research findings and management schemes. The goal of the workshop is to: (1) promote information sharing; (2) allow ample time for a productive, open discussion; and (3) where possible, identify gaps in critical research and management needs. As the marine mammal viewing industry continues to grow exponentially, our hope is that this workshop can provide a forum for researchers, wildlife managers and commercial operators to openly discuss these issues and identify areas of further research and management needs. Workshop participants can contribute in several ways. There will be a small number of spoken presentations, a group discussion, space to share education and outreach materials, and a workshop report that will include 1 to 3 page summaries of various research/monitoring or related marine mammal viewing projects. 1) Call for Abstracts for Spoken Presentations- Deadline October 6, 2003 The morning of the workshop will be devoted to spoken presentations. Each spoken presentation will be limited to 10 or 15 minutes followed by a 5 minute question/answer period. We are specifically looking to include presentations that include new information developed since the last Biennial workshop on one of the following categories: =95 case studies that describe research or monitoring efforts on a specific species or situation =95 government guidelines, regulations and management strategies =95 new trends in marine mammal viewing activities We will do our best to accommodate as many people as we can who would like to give a spoken presentation. However, we are limiting the number of presentations so that more of the workshop can be devoted to open discussion. Please know that if you are not selected for a spoken presentation, your summary will still be included in the workshop report. If you would like to be considered for a spoken presentation, please submit a summary of your work (1 to 3 pages) by October 6, 2003. Please submit summaries electronically in MS Word or Word Perfect format to Jill.Lewandowski(\)noaa.gov. 2) Call for Summaries for Workshop Report- Deadline November 14, 2003 We also extend an invitation to all other interested parties to submit a summary (1 to 3 pages) of their work on marine mammal viewing concerns, even if they cannot attend the workshop. Summaries can be focused on the issues covered in the workshop (see above) or can include additional work related to marine mammal viewing. The report will be distributed to participants the morning of the workshop during check-in. We will also make copies of the report available to the public after the conference. (We still receive requests for and continue to reprint the 2001 Biennial workshop report.) The workshop report is an excellent resource on marine mammal viewing issues. All summaries must be received by November 14, 2003 to be included in the workshop report. Please submit your 1 to 3 page summaries electronically in MS Word or Word Perfect format to Jill.Lewandowski(\)noaa.gov. 3) Sharing Education and Outreach Materials- Deadline December 1, 2003 We will also provide space for sharing education and outreach materials. To be sure we have enough space, please let us know by December 1, 2003 if you would like to reserve table space for your materials. Please submit requests to Carrie.W.Hubard(\)noaa.gov. 4) Registration Information and Web Page- Advance Registration Deadline December 1, 2003 Save money and ensure you have a space by registering early! The workshop will cost $20 USD for advance registration (all registrations received by December 1, 2003) and $25 USD at door. This fee covers food/beverage and equipment costs with two refreshment breaks provided during the mid-morning and mid-afternoon. (Refreshment breaks include coffee, tea, drinks and light snacks.) Breakfast and lunch are not included. Registered workshop participants will also receive a workshop report the morning of the workshop. To register, please visit the following web page to download the registration form and access the latest news regarding the workshop. http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/MMWatch/biennial_wkshp03.html If you have any questions about the workshop, please contact Jill Lewandowski(\)noaa.gov or Carrie.W.Hubard(\)noaa.gov or by calling (301) 713-2289. We look forward to seeing you in Greensboro, NC! Carrie Hubard and Jill Lewandowski Biologists Office of Protected Resources NOAA Fisheries 1315 East West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 USA Deadline Reminders October 6, 2003 Deadline for submission of 1 to 3 page summaries if you want to be considered for a spoken presentation at the workshop October 27, 2003 Notification of selections for spoken presentations November 14, 2003 Deadline for submission of 1 to 3 page summaries for inclusion in workshop report. (All summaries submitted for presentations will automatically be included in the workshop report.) December 1, 2003 ADVANCE REGISTRATION DEADLINE Deadline for reservation of table space for sharing education/outreach materials. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2003 09:33:13 -0400 From: Christoph Richter Subject: New report on whale watching (Apple Message framework v552) --Apple-Mail-4--832952610 charset=WINDOWS-1252; format=flowed Dear all, the following report is now available for downloading: Richter, C.F., Dawson, S.M. and Slooten, E. 2003. Sperm whale watching=20= off Kaikoura, New Zealand: effects of current activities on surfacing=20 and vocalisation patterns. Science for Conservation 219. Department of=20= Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand. 78 pp. ABSTRACT Off Kaikoura, South Island, New Zealand, sperm whales (Physeter=20 macrocephalus) are the focus of a whale watching industry which uses boats and=20 aircraft to view the animals year-round. This study employed boat-based and shore-based=20 observations to determine the impacts of current whale watching activities on the=20 whales. Over four years (1998=962001), we recorded 1676 sightings from the research=20= vessel and 435 from shore. Several aspects of whale behaviour were significantly=20 affected by the presence of whale watching vessels. Blow interval (mean and median) decreased in the presence of the research vessel and/or whale watching=20= boats. Whale watching boats and aircraft, individually or together, caused=20 increases in the time whales spent at the surface and in the frequency and amount of=20 heading changes. Boats caused a decrease in the time to the first click. Aerial=20= behaviours were more frequent when only the research vessel was present. Two=20 groups of sperm whales are distinguishable off Kaikoura: resident whales, which=20 typically stay in the study area for weeks or months at a time, often returning=20 in different seasons and/or years; and transients, which are seen on one day only.=20 Transients reacted more frequently and more strongly to boats. However, they are=20 rarely visited by whale watching trips because of their further offshore=20 distribution. Residents reacted less and received most of the whale watching=20 activity. Our study showed that whale reactions to whale watching boats varied=20 significantly among different individuals. Some whales were very tolerant. Whale reactions=20= also varied with season. Our survey indicates that effects of whale watching on=20 resident whales, while statistically detectable, appear to be sustainable, and=20 of no serious biological consequence. However, current whale watching effort on=20 residents is high, and some individual whales may spend approximately half of their=20= surfacings during the busy summer season accompanied by one or more boats. Given management options of reducing, maintaining or increasing the level of=20= permitted whale watching activities, we recommend that the current level be=20 maintained. The website is http://www.doc.govt.nz go to PUBLICATIONS - SCIENCE AND RESEARCH - and then click on the=20 SCIENCE FOR CONSERVATION link in the side bar. Best regards, Christoph Richter Adjunct Lecturer Biology Department, Queen's University Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada Tel.: (613)533-6000 ext. 77266 Fax: (613)533-6617 email: richterc(\)biology.queensu.ca= --Apple-Mail-4--832952610 charset=WINDOWS-1252 Dear all, the following report is now available for downloading: Richter, C.F., Dawson, S.M. and Slooten, E. 2003. Sperm whale watching off Kaikoura, New Zealand: effects of current activities on surfacing and vocalisation patterns. Science for Conservation 219. Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand. 78 pp. ABSTRACT = 2927,2523,2624OffSymbol<= /param> KaikouraSymbol, SouthSymbol IslandSymbol, NewSymbol = ZealandSymbol, spermSymbol whalesSymbol = (PhyseterSymbol macrocephalusSymbol) areSymbol theSymbol = focusSymbol ofSymbol aSymbol = whaleSymbol watchingSymbol industrySymbol whichSymbol usesSymbol = boatsSymbol andSymbol aircraftSymbol = toSymbol viewSymbol = theSymbol animalsSymbol year-roundSymbol. ThisSymbol studySymbol = employedSymbol boat-basedSymbol andSymbol shore-basedSymbol observationsSymbol toSymbol determineSymbol = theSymbol impactsSymbol ofSymbol = currentSymbol whaleSymbol watchingSymbol activitiesSymbol onSymbol theSymbol = whalesSymbol. OverSymbol fourSymbol yearsSymbol = (1998=96Symbol2001), weSymbol recordedSymbol 1676 sightingsSymbol fromSymbol theSymbol = researchSymbol vesselSymbol = andSymbol 435 fromSymbol shoreSymbol. SeveralSymbol aspectsSymbol ofSymbol = whaleSymbol behaviourSymbol wereSymbol significantlySymbol affectedSymbol = bySymbol theSymbol presenceSymbol = ofSymbol whaleSymbol watchingSymbol vesselsSymbol. BlowSymbol intervalSymbol (meanSymbol andSymbol = medianSymbol) decreasedSymbol inSymbol = theSymbol presenceSymbol ofSymbol = theSymbol researchSymbol vesselSymbol = andSymbol/orSymbol whaleSymbol watchingSymbol boatsSymbol. WhaleSymbol watchingSymbol boatsSymbol andSymbol = aircraftSymbol, individuallySymbol orSymbol togetherSymbol, causedSymbol increasesSymbol inSymbol = theSymbol timeSymbol whalesSymbol = spentSymbol atSymbol theSymbol = surfaceSymbol andSymbol inSymbol = theSymbol frequencySymbol andSymbol amountSymbol = ofSymbol headingSymbol changesSymbol. 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HoweverSymbol, theySymbol areSymbol = rarelySymbol visitedSymbol bySymbol = whaleSymbol watchingSymbol tripsSymbol becauseSymbol ofSymbol = theirSymbol furtherSymbol offshoreSymbol distributionSymbol. ResidentsSymbol reactedSymbol lessSymbol = andSymbol receivedSymbol mostSymbol ofSymbol = theSymbol whaleSymbol watchingSymbol activitySymbol. OurSymbol = studySymbol showedSymbol thatSymbol = whaleSymbol reactionsSymbol toSymbol = whaleSymbol watchingSymbol boatsSymbol variedSymbol = significantlySymbol amongSymbol differentSymbol individualsSymbol. SomeSymbol whalesSymbol = wereSymbol verySymbol tolerantSymbol. WhaleSymbol reactionsSymbol alsoSymbol = variedSymbol withSymbol seasonSymbol. 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Best regards, Christoph Richter Adjunct Lecturer Biology Department, Queen's University Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada Tel.: (613)533-6000 ext. 77266 Fax: (613)533-6617 email: = 1998,1998,FFFErichterc(\)biology.queensu.ca= = --Apple-Mail-4--832952610-- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2003 08:56:48 -0400 From: Carol Bloomgarden Subject: Job Posting: Marine Archive Assistant Curator Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" ------ Assistant Curator, Marine Collection =AD 01175 =20 =20 Description Located in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, Cornell University = is committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive campus in which to wor= k, study, teach and serve. Act as Assistant Curator in developing the multimedia resources of the Macaulay Library in accordance with established archival protocols, and i= n collaboration with external and internal researchers. Consult with Curato= r to identify, prioritize, schedule, and define scope of archival projects. Strong listening skills and working knowledge of marine sounds required. Work with Curator in the recruitment of new recordings and collaborations with marine sound recordists. Provide oversight for the Curator on the scheduling of archival staff tasks which include, collection of statistic= s on task progress. Oversee training of new archival staff or retraining of existing staff as new technologies are adopted. Participate in the organization, repair, and ingestion of original field recordings into an advanced digital asset storage and management system, and in the preparation, evaluation, and entering of field data into a relational database. Represents Curator and archive at selected national and international events. Qualifications Masters with 1-2 years experience or equivalent combination. Experience and knowledge of marine sounds is essential. Interpersonal ski= lls needed to encourage new contributors to the archive as well as supervise other relevant staff. Monitor overall unit progress, and represent Curato= r and Macaulay at professional meetings. Proactive style in work environmen= t. Interest and ability to quickly build knowledge in principles of animal communication and taxonomy. Possess discriminating visual and listening skills. Demonstrable ability to learn sound editing techniques. Computer experience including, but not limited to email, web browsers, spreadsheet= s, and word processing are required. Knowledge of both Windows and Macintosh operating systems is required. Must know, or be able to learn quickly, software for media editing, analysis, and database management. Creative thinking, planning, and organizing are fundamental for the archival of original field recordings that have scientific and educational applicatio= ns. Preference given to applicants with an animal behavior background. Degree= in biological sciences or recording technology preferred. No relocation assistance is provided for this position. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Cornell University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action educator a= nd employer. How to Apply:=20 Submit an application online at http://www.ohr.cornell.edu/jobs/index.html ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 06:00:31 -0300 From: Hal.Whitehead(\)Dal.Ca Subject: Sperm Whales: Social Evolution in the Ocean Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 ------ Dear Marmamers: I am very pleased to announce the publication of: Whitehead, Hal. 2003. Sperm Whales: Social Evolution in the=20 Ocean. University of Chicago Press. 456 p., 60 halftones, 84 line=20 drawings, 41 tables. Prices (US$) and codes are: Paper $30.00tx 0-226-89518-1 Cloth $80.00tx 0-226-89517-3 You can find more information, or order the book, from the=20 University of Chicago Press website: http://www.press.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/hfs.cgi/00/15632.ctl Table of Contents Prologue: Observations of Sperm Whale Societies 1 The Sperm Whale: An Animal of Extremes 1.1 Social Complexity in the Ocean 1.2 Evolutionary History of the Sperm Whale 1.3 Morphology: What Does the Sperm Whale Look Like? 1.4 The Peculiar Anatomy of the Sperm Whale: The Spermaceti=20 Organ 1.5 The Lives and Populations of Sperm Whales 1.6 Sperm Whales and Humans Box 1.1 The Sperm Whale in Print 1.7 What Is Social Structure, and How Is It Studied in Sperm=20 Whales? 1.8 What Is Culture, and How Is It Studied in Sperm Whales? 1.9 What Do We Know and What Don't We Know about Sperm=20 Whale Societies? 1.10 Summary 2 The Oceanic Habitat of the Sperm Whale 2.1 Spatio-Temporal Structure of the Ocean 2.2 Oceanographic Habitat of the Sperm Whale 2.3 The Diet of the Sperm Whale: The Walnut, the Pea, and the=20 Half-Pound Steak Box 2.1 An Alternative View of the Sperm Whale Diet: The Picky=20 Eater 2.4 The Sperm Whale and Its Competitors 2.5 The Ecological Role of the Sperm Whale 2.6 Feeding Success of the Sperm Whale 2.7 Intraspecific Competition 2.8 Natural Enemies 2.9 Attack, Defense, and Escape in the Ocean 2.10 Summary 3 The Sperm Whale: On the Move through an Ocean 3.1 Why Movement Is Crucial 3.2 Vertical Movements: The Sperm Whale's Dive 3.3 Costs and Benefits of Vertical Movement 3.4 Horizontal Movements of Females and Immatures 3.5 Movements of Males 3.6 Movements of Other Oceanic and Terrestrial Animals 3.7 Costs and Benefits of Horizontal Movement Box 3.1 How Fast Should a Sperm Whale Swim? 3.8 Summary 4 Sperm Whale Populations 4.1 Geographic Structure 4.2 The Sizes of Sperm Whale Populations Box 4.1 Methods of Assessing Sperm Whale Populations 4.3 Population Parameters 4.4 Population Dynamics Box 4.2 Changes in Sperm Whale Populations off the=20 Gal[5]=E1pagos Islands, 1985-2002 4.5 Summary 5 Sperm Whale Behavior and Vocalizations 5.1 Measuring Behavior 5.2 Vocalizations Box 5.1 Are Sperm Whale Clicks Echolocation? Box 5.2 Measures of Sperm Whale Behavior 5.3 Modes of Behavior 5.4 Foraging 5.5 Socializing 5.6 Aerial Behavior (and Other Peculiar Activities) 5.7 Birthing 5.8 Behavior of the Calf 5.9 Defense against Predators Box 5.3 Interactions between Sperm Whales and Killer Whales 5.10 Stranding 5.11 Summary 6 Sperm Whale Societies 6.1 Social Scales 6.2 Concentrations 6.3 Aggregations 6.4 Groups Box 6.1 The Problems of Estimating Group Size 6.5 Social Units Box 6.2 Delineating Social Units 6.6 Genetic Structure of Groups and Units 6.7 The Functions of Groups and Units Box 6.3 A Week in the Life of a Sperm Whale Group 6.8 The Cluster 6.9 Care of the Calf 6.10 The Social Male? 6.11 Mating Systems Box 6.4 An Observation of Two Male Sperm Whales Fighting 6.12 Summary 7 Sperm Whale Cultures 7.1 The Quest for Sperm Whale Culture 7.2 Coda Dialects of Units and Clans Box 7.1 Describing and Comparing Coda Repertoires Box 7.2 Sperm Whale Clans of the South Pacific 7.3 Nonvocal Cultural Traits of Sperm Whales 7.4 Low Mitochondrial DNA Diversity and Culture: Cultural=20 Hitchhiking 7.5 Summary 8 Social and Cultural Evolution in the Ocean 8.1 Evolution to Extremes 8.2 The Function and Evolution of a Big Nose Box 8.1 The Spermaceti Organ: A Buoyancy Control Device or a=20 Battering Ram? 8.3 The Function and Evolution of a Large Brain 8.4 Sperm Whales and Other Deep Divers 8.5 The Colossal Convergence: Sperm Whales and Elephants 8.6 K-Selection, Sociality, and Ecological Success 8.7 Social Evolution of Female Sperm Whales: Facing the=20 Predators 8.8 The Lives of Males 8.9 Sexual Segregation 8.10 Social Evolution in the Open Ocean 8.11 Cultural Evolution in the Ocean 8.12 Summary 9 Sperm Whales and the Future 9.1 Ghosts of Past Whaling 9.2 The New Threats to Sperm Whales 9.3 Studying Sperm Whales in the Future 9.4 The Nature and Future of the Sperm Whale 9.5 Summary Appendix: How We Study the Sperm Whale A.1 Examining Carcasses A.2 Studying Living Animals A.3 Photoidentification and Photographic Measurement: The Key to=20 Individuals A.4 Quantifying Sounds A.5 Unraveling Genes References Index Thanks to the many of you who helped with this, Hal Whitehead Hal.Whitehead(\)Dal.Ca ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2003 17:58:22 -0300 From: Chuck Schom Organization: Surge Inc Subject: FINBACK WHALE WORKSHOP AT THE 15TH BIENNIAL CONFERENCE ON THE BIOLOGY OF MARINE MAMMALS ------ FINBACK WHALE WORKSHOP AT THE 15TH BIENNIAL CONFERENCE ON THE BIOLOGY OF MARINE MAMMALS When: Sunday December 14th, Afternoon Who should present: Anyone with observations (see below for details) Who should attend: Anyone who is interested in Fin Whales and/or is willing to listen and/or discuss. Why: Compare what Fins do in different parts of the World in different habitats, opportunity to Brainstorm How Long: 3 hours - 1 hour for presentations - 2 hours for discussion Cost: $25 for equipment and refreshment (any surplus to be sent where those attending wish) - Deadline to register November 15 Contact: Chuck Schom with questions or ideas, etc. - Email: tcougar5(\)nbnet.nb.ca - Phone: (506) 529-4233 - FAX: (506) 529-4259 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS (Deadline, November 15th, limited number of presentations) Fin Whales are truly fascinating creatures. The older literature defines them as Deep Water Whales. Yet there is a population, sub-population, group, whatever, that year after year, spring through fall and even into winter can be found in the =93Brown Waters=94 (relatively shallow waters) of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Gulf of Maine, and, in particular the South West Corner of the Bay of Fundy, i.e. essentially parallel to and in shore from Grand Manan Island. These Fin Whales feed, socialize interact in water ranging from 90 ft to 400 ft deep thus, while in =93Brown Water=94 never approach the depths reported for those in the Mediterranean and off the Coast of California. Do Finback Whales in other areas regularly utilize =93Brown Water=94? Are =93Brown Water=94 Finback Whales a sub-population or just a few from the general population that come exploring from time to time? Many have observations and/or seen/heard reports by others that include observations suggesting behavior which may be similar and/or different in =93Brown Water=94 and =93Deep Water=94. These observations, which of themselves may not be publishable, may help all working with Fin Whales to come to a greater understanding of them if presented and discussed. Thus, the invitations to attend and request for Abstracts is not aimed just at seasoned researchers but also at those whose work has brought them in contact with Fin Whales giving them to the opportunity to make observations. I prefer to look on this Workshop as a Brain Storming Session whereby we all put aside our concern about being wrong and share information/observations. Given adequate input, good discussion and the agreement of those present a Proceedings can be prepared and published. I propose dedicating one hour of our 3 hour session to presentations and 2 hours to discussions. This would give us six 10 minute presentations. If demand is higher the approach will be modified accordingly. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 10:08:17 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Video Request of Amazon Marine Mammals (fwd) Hello all, The South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston South Carolina; a non profit, education and conservation facility is seeking video use in its upcoming Amazon exhibit. We are seeking 1-2 minute video segments of the Bouto river dolphin, the Tucuxi oceianic/esturine dolphin, and/or the Amazonian manatee. The exhibit will be opening in the Spring of 2004. We would like to bring these diverse animals to the attention of our visitors. Any help or leads on finding video would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Lucy A. Aplan Guest Services South Carolina Aquarium 100 Aquarium Wharf P.O. Box 130001 Charleston, SC 29413-9001 laplan(\)scaquarium.org (843) 579 8667 -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 14:16:15 -0700 From: Andrew Wright Subject: Re: Porpoise Mortality Rates Dear Marmamers, I recently asked for information regarding porpoise natural mortality rates. The lack of response to my request suggests that there really is little know about this part of porpoise life history. Below is included the only response to my request, as well as details of one other paper which I have found during my own search. Many thanks, Andrew Wright marinebrit(\)netscape.net or awanasazi(\)yahoo.com University of Wales, Bangor Hohn, A. A. et al. (1996) Life history of the vaquita, Phocoena sinus (Phocoenidae, Cetacea). J. Zool., Lond. 239: 235-251 Hi Andrew, I am also working on PVA and trying to use life table from other mammals (including terrestrial)to model survival of franciscana. There are some papers that would be interesting for you: BARLOW, J. & BOVENG, P. 1991. Modeling age-specific mortality for marine mammal populations. Mar. Mamm. Sci. 7:50-65. CASWELL, H., BRAULT, S., READ, A. J. & SMITH, T.D. 1998. Harbour porpoise and fisheries: an uncertainty analysis of incidental mortality. Ecol. Appl. 8(4):1226-1238. Best regards, eduardo *********************************** Eduardo Secchi Marine Mammals Research Team University of Otago, PO Box 56 Dunedin - NEW ZEALAND e.mail: edu.secchi(\)xtra.co.nz phone: ++ 64-3-479-5476 (work) fax: ++ 64-3-479-8336 Home phone: ++ 64-3-479-0412 Porpoise Mortality Rates I have been looking for some natural mortality rates for porpoises as they age, but my searches have revealed information only on total mortality or anthropogenic mortality. I am working on a PVA for the vaquita, but as there is little know about that species I have been looking to adapt mortality rates from other porpoises. If anyone knows of a paper or some data that could be of use, please contact me directly. I will post a list of possible sources back on the list after a couple of weeks. Thanks, Andrew Wright marinebrit(\)netscape.net or awanasazi(\)yahoo.com University of Wales, Bangor __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2003 15:34:55 +0100 From: Tom Stringell Subject: CCW Marine Monitoring Projects - expressions of interest required Dear all I would like to bring your attention to a call for expressions of interest in a number of different marine monitoring work areas that the Countryside Council for Wales will be requiring over the next few years. The work areas are: Across-Wales Diving Work Across-Wales remote video monitoring work Across-Wales infaunal sample analysis and data analysis project Across-Wales Intertidal monitoring project Boat-based infaunal sample collection Grey seal monitoring Cetacean monitoring Details are now on our website: http://www.ccw.gov.uk/generalinfo/index.cfm?Action=ResourceMore&ResourceID=116&Subject=Marine&lang=en or in Welsh http://www.ccw.gov.uk/generalinfo/index.cfm?Action=ResourceMore&ResourceID=116&Subject=Marine&lang=we If you are interested in showing expressions of interest in any one or more of the above projects please email Ann Whelan (a.Whelan(\)ccw.gov.uk) by Tuesday 30th September 2003. Many thanks Thomas Stringell Marine Monitoring Officer Countryside Council for Wales Hafod Elfyn, Ffordd Penrhos Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2LQ Tel: 01248 385780 t.stringell(\)ccw.gov.uk ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Sep 2003 14:35:02 -0700 From: Kristin Kaschner Subject: sinking rate of whale carcasses Hi - I am currently working on a model trying to simulate the drifting, sinking and stranding of whale carcasses. I have tried very hard to find some information about sinking rates and floating times of dead whales, but with very limited success. I am including a list of related references that I did find below, but was wondering if anyone knew of any other study investigating this issue or if there are any references that I might have overlooked? Any suggestions would be much appreciated, Thanks! Kristin Ames J, Staedler M, Hatfield B, Geibel J, Harris M, Espinosa L, Imai R, Muskat J, Wright N, Kum J, 2002. Dead sea otter drift and recovery in central California. California State University, Monterey Bay, CA. Best PB, 1982. Whales: why do they strand? African Wildlife 36:96-101. Brabyn M, MacLean IG, 1992. Oceanography and coastal topography of herd-stranding sites for whales in New Zealand. Journal of Mammalogy 73:469-476. Butman CA, Carlton JT, Palumbi SR, 1995. Whaling effects on deep-sea biodiversity. Conservation Biology 9:462-464. Butman CA, Carlton JT, Palumbi SR, 1996. Whales Don't Fall Like Snow: Reply to Jelmert. Conservation Biology 10:655-656. Duguy R, Wisdorff D, 1988. Les echouages de cetaces et les facteurs meteorologiques sur la cote Centre-Ouest Atlantique (Strandings of Cetacea and meteorological data on the Atlantic coast (from the Loire Estuary to Gironde). Bergen, Norway, ICES; 6. Geraci JR, Lounsbury VJ, 1993. Marine mammals ashore. Seagrant, Galveston, Texas A & M University. Jelmert A, Oppen-Berntsen DO, 1996. Whaling and Deep-Sea Biodiversity. Conservation Biology 10:653-654. Jones EG, Collins MA, Bagley PM, Addison S, Priede IG, 1998. The fate of cetacean carcasses in the deep sea: Observations on consumption rates and scavenging species succession in the abyssal NE Atlantic Ocean. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London (Series B): Biological Sciences 256:1119-1127. Ames J, Staedler M, Hatfield B, Geibel J, Harris M, Espinosa L, Imai R, Muskat J, Wright N, Kum J, 2002. Dead sea otter drift and recovery in central California. California State University, Monterey Bay, CA. Best PB, 1982. Whales: why do they strand? African Wildlife 36:96-101. Brabyn M, MacLean IG, 1992. Oceanography and coastal topography of herd-stranding sites for whales in New Zealand. Journal of Mammalogy 73:469-476. Butman CA, Carlton JT, Palumbi SR, 1995. Whaling effects on deep-sea biodiversity. Conservation Biology 9:462-464. Butman CA, Carlton JT, Palumbi SR, 1996. Whales Don't Fall Like Snow: Reply to Jelmert. Conservation Biology 10:655-656. Duguy R, Wisdorff D, 1988. Les echouages de cetaces et les facteurs meteorologiques sur la cote Centre-Ouest Atlantique (Strandings of Cetacea and meteorological data on the Atlantic coast (from the Loire Estuary to Gironde). Bergen, Norway, ICES; 6. Geraci JR, Lounsbury VJ, 1993. Marine mammals ashore. Seagrant, Galveston, Texas A & M University. Jelmert A, Oppen-Berntsen DO, 1996. Whaling and Deep-Sea Biodiversity. Conservation Biology 10:653-654. Jones EG, Collins MA, Bagley PM, Addison S, Priede IG, 1998. The fate of cetacean carcasses in the deep sea: Observations on consumption rates and scavenging species succession in the abyssal NE Atlantic Ocean. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London (Series B): Biological Sciences 256:1119-1127. Moreno, P. Contribution for the study of decomposition and drifting of carcasses of Phocoena phocoena in the German Bight, Thesis ************************************* Kristin Kaschner Ph.D. candidate Marine Mammal Research Unit University of British Columbia Hut B-3, 6248 Biological Sciences Road Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6T 1Z4 Phone: (604) 822-8181 (work) (604) 760 2067 (mobile) Fax: (604) 822-8180 http://www.zoology.ubc.ca/~kaschner/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Sep 2003 13:12:06 -0700 From: "David S. Janiger" Subject: New Articles Hi, all! A few things first. I wanted to thank the dozen or so people who remind me that the last posting contained a spelling message on one of the author entries. It's Hindell not Handell (sorry, Mark). To keep this project going, I really only have time to cut and paste from the online publishers search engines I use. So any mistakes there, end up in our database. Well, it's been two years now, and I'm still enjoying it. So thanks to Marmam editors for letting these messages on through and for providing an excellent platform for exchanging information. As always, thanks to all of you for the great comments I have gotten over the past year. We seem to have grown a bit since the original 22 people back from the first message (1,010 now), so please bare (or bear) with the automated message the computer sends out in the first email. I wish I had more time to respond to all your messages. So here we go again and remember, please don't hit the reply button too respond to me. Here's the latest posting of new PDF's that are available. Abstracts also available on request. All files are under 1 MB, except one (noted below). Person with hotmail accounts, please send another email address if you want the SEDMERA, D., et. al. article Please make all requests to: janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu Cheers David Janiger - Curatorial Assistant (Mammals) Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007 (213) 763-3369 janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu djaniger(\)nhm.org ALTES, RICHARD A.; LOIS A. DANKIEWICZ; PATRICK W. MOORE and DAVID A. HELWEG. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 114(2):1155-1166. 2003. Multiecho processing by an echolocating dolphin. BOLANOS, JAIME and AURISTELA VILLAROEL-MARIN. CARIBBEAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE 39(2):230-232. 2003. Three new records of cetacean species for Venezuelan waters. BROWNE, C. L. and J. M. TERHUNE. NORTHEASTERN NATURALIST 10(2):131-140. 2003. Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina, Linnaeus) abundance and fish migration in the Saint John Harbour. CASSINI, M. H. and E. FERNANDEZ-JURICIC. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 81(7):1154-1160. 2003. Costs and benefits of joining South American sea lion breeding groups: Testing the assumptions of a model of female breeding dispersion. CHAMBELLANT, MAGALY; GWENAEL BEAUPLET; CHRISTOPHE GUINET and JEAN-YVES GEORGES. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 81(7):1222-1232. 2003. Long-term evaluation of pup growth and preweaning survival rates in subantarctic fur seals, Arctocephalus tropicalis, on Amsterdam Island. DANS, SILVANA L.; M. KOEN ALONSO; S. N. PEDRAZA and E. A. CRESPO. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 13(3):754-762. 2003. Incidental catch of dolphins in trawling fisheries off Patagonia, Argentina: Can populations persist? FRIEDBERG, F.; A. A. SAUNDERS; A. R. RHOADS. MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS 30(3):193-198. 2003. Conservation of the 3 '-untranslated regions of calmodulin mRNAs in cetaceans. GARRETT, P. M. BRITISH JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK 33(4):441-463. 2003. Swimming with dolphins: The assessment framework, new labour and new tools for social work with children and families. GUCLUSOY, H. and Y. SAVAS. AQUACULTURE RESEARCH 34(9):777-783. 2003. Interaction between monk seals Monachus monachus (Hermann, 1779) and marine fish farms in the Turkish Aegean and management of the problem. HALL, A. J.; O. I. KALANTZI and G. O. THOMAS. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 126(1):29-37. 2003. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in grey seals during their first year of life - are they thyroid hormone endocrine disrupters? HARRIS, D. E.; B. LELLI and S. GUPTA. NORTHEASTERN NATURALIST 10(2):141-148. 2003. Long-term observations of a harbor seal haul-out site in a protected cove in Casco Bay, Gulf of Maine. JENSSEN, B. M.; O. HAUGEN; E. G. SORMO and J. U. SKAARE. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 93(1):79-87. 2003. Negative relationship between PCBs and plasma retinol in low-contaminated free-ranging gray seal pups (Halichoerus grypus). LIDGARD, DAMIAN C.; DARYL J. BONESS; W. DON BOWEN and JIM I. MCMILLAN. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 81(6):1025-1033. 2003. Diving behaviour during the breeding season in the terrestrially breeding male grey seal: Implications for alternative mating tactics. MELLINGER, D. K. and C. W. CLARK. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 114(2):1108-1119. 2003. Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) sounds from the North Atlantic. MOHL, BERTEL; MAGNUS WAHLBERG; PETER T. MADSEN; ANDERS HEERFORDT and ANDERS LUND. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 114(2):1143-1154. 2003. The monopulsed nature of sperm whale clicks. NAUD, MARIE-JOSE; BERNARD LONG; JEAN-CLAUDE BRETHES and RICARD SEARS. JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM 83(4):889-896. 2003. Influences of underwater bottom topography and geomorphology on minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) distribution in the Mingan Islands (Canada). NOREN, D. P.; D. E. CROCKER; T. M. WILLIAMS and D. P. COSTA. JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY B BIOCHEMICAL SYSTEMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY 173(5):443-454. 2003. Energy reserve utilization in northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) pups during the postweaning fast: size does matter. SATO, KATSUFUMI; YASUTAKA TSUCHIYA; SAKAE KUDOH and YASUHIKO NAITO. POLAR BIOSCIENCE 16:98-103. 2003. Meteorological factors affecting the number of Weddell seals hauling-out on the ice during the molting season at Syowa Station, East Antarctica. (Leptonychotes weddellii) SEDMERA, D.; I. MISEK; M. KLIMA and R. P. THOMPSON. ANATOMICAL RECORD PART A-DISCOVERIES IN MOLECULAR CELLULAR AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY 273(2):687-699. 2003. Heart development in the spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata). File size: 1.9 MB SICILIANO, SALVATORE and MARCOS CESAR DE OLIVEIRA SANTOS. JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM 83(4):887-888. 2003. On the occurrence of the Arnoux's beaked whale (Berardius arnuxii) in Brazil. SWARTZ, STEVEN L.; TIM COLE; MARK A. MCDONALD; JOHN A. HILDEBRAND; ERIN M. OLESON; ANTHONY MARTINEZ; PHILLIP J. CLAPHAM; JAY BARLOW and MARY LOU JONES. CARIBBEAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE 39(2):195-208. 2003. Acoustic and visual survey of humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) distribution in the eastern and southeastern Caribbean Sea. URASHIMA, T.; T. NAKAMURA; K. YAMAGUCHI; J. MUNAKATA; K. ARAI; T. SAITO; C. LYDERSEN and K. M. KOVACS. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 135(4):549-563. 2003. Chemical characterization of the oligosaccharides in milk of high Arctic harbour seal (Phoca vitulina vitulina). VAN DEN HOFF, JOHN; RUPERT DAVIES and HARRY BURTON. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 30(3):275-280. 2003. Origins, age composition and change in numbers of moulting southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina L.) in the Windmill Islands, Vincennes Bay, east Antarctica, 1988-2001. VENEGAS, CLAUDIO; JORGE GIBBONS; ANELIO AGUAYO; WALTER SIELFELD; JORGE ACEVEDO; NELSON AMADO; JUAN CAPELLA; GUILLERMO GUZMAN and CLAUDIO VALENZUELA. ANALES DEL INSTITUTO DE LA PATAGONIA 30:67-81. 2002. Distribucion y abundancia de lobos marinos (Pinnipedia: Otariidae) en la region de Magallanes, Chile. WIIG, O.; E. W. BORN and L. T. PEDERSEN. POLAR BIOLOGY 26(8):509-516. 2003. Movements of female polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in the East Greenland pack ice. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Sep 2003 13:02:53 +0100 From: POWELL STRONG Subject: Whale watching Code of conduct evaluation. Whale watching Code of conduct evaluation. Does anybody know of studies to evaluate uptake, compliance & effectiveness of (voluntary in this case) codes of conduct designed for eco-tour boat operators in areas sensitive for marine mammals (seals or cetaceans) and birds? We are evaluating a voluntary "Marine Code" being trialed around the Pembrokeshire Coast, comparison with other studies/codes would be useful. Thanks Powell Strong Lecturer Coastal Zone & Marine Environment Studies Pembrokeshire College p.strong(\)pembrokeshire.ac.uk Powell Strong Lecturer BSc Coastal Zone & Marine Environment Studies Pembrokeshire College Haverfordwest, UK. 44 (0)1437 765 247 ALSO: powellstrong(\)hotmail.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2003 16:49:11 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: killer whale hearing range and seal transmitters (fwd) From: "Alejandro Frid" I am considering using underwater sonic tags that ping at 80-100 kHz for studying diving behaviour of harbour seals in Alaska, but are concerned about artificially raising the seal's predation risk from transient killer whales (i.e.--orcas hearing and being attracted to the pingers). The information I am aware comes from Szymanski et al.1999(J Acoust Soc Am 106:1134-1141), and is that killer whale peak hearing sensitivity is at 20 kHz, and tones of up to 120 kHz can be detected. However, sensitivity declines gradually from above or below 20 kHz. Does anyone have information or an expert opinion suggesting whether a sonic tag transmitting at 80-100 kHz might artificially increase risk from orcas to the seals wearing the transmitters? Suggestions for the lowest frequency that would be acceptable? The problem is that the higher the pinger's frequency, the lower the range from which we can detect it. We tried transmitters pinging at 120 to 140 kHz and their range was so small that we could not use them in the seal study. Thank you for your time, Alejandro Frid PhD Candidate Dept. Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2003 21:00:11 -0400 From: "Edward O. Keith" Subject: Mercury and Manatees Message to the list: Nick Garbarino was a student in my graduate marine mammals class, and posted a request to MARMAM for references and resources about mercury and manatees. He has subsequently dropped my course, so I am submitting a digest of the responses he received. Thanks to everyone who responded. "The only published manatee tissue analyses of which I know that examined heavy metal concentrations are O'Shea, et al. 1984. Contaminant Concentrations in Manatees in Florida, J. Wildlife Management 48(3): 741-748" Miyazaki et al. 1979. Metals and organochlorine compounds in the muscle of dugong from Sulawesi Island. Scientific Reports of the Whales Research Institute (Japan) 31: 125-128. O'Shea, T. J. 2003. Toxicology of sirenians. Pp. 270-287 in Vos, J. G. et al. (editors), Toxicology of marine mammals. Taylor & Francis, London. 643 pp. Vetter, W., Scholz, E., Gaus, C., Muller, J.F., Haynes, D. 2001. Anthropogenic and natural organohalogen compounds in blubber of dolphins and dugongs (Dugong dugon) from northeastern Australia. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 41 (2): 221-231 AUG 2001. McLachlan, M.S., Haynes, D., Muller, J.F. 2001. PCDDs in the water/sediment-seagrass-dugong (Dugong dugon) food chain on the Great Barrier Reef (Australia). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 113 (2): 129-134 2001. Haynes, D., Johnson, J.E. 2000. Organochlorine, heavy metal and polyaromatic hydrocarbon pollutant concentrations in the Great Barrier Reef (Australia) environment: a review. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 41 (7-12): 267-278 JUL-DEC 2000. Haynes, D., Muller, J.F., McLachlan, M.S. 1999. Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in great barrier reef (Australia) dugongs (Dugong dugon). CHEMOSPHERE 38 (2): 255-262 JAN 1999. Haynes, David Bruce. 2001. PESTICIDE AND HEAVYMETAL CONCENTRATIONS IN GREAT BARRIER REEF SEDIMENT, SEAGRASS AND DUGONGS (DUGONG DUGON). Ph.D. Thesis. Haynes, David and Donna Kwan. 2001. Trace Metal Concentrations in the Torres Strait Environment and Traditional Seafood Species, 1997- 2000. Report prepared for the Torres Strait Regional Authority. Haynes, David and Donna Kwan. In Press. Trace metals in sediments from Torres Strait and the Gulf of Papua: concentrations, distribution and water circulation patterns. Marine Pollution Bulletin. Trocine, R.P., and J.H. Trefry. 1996. Metal concentrations in sediment, water and clams from the Indian River Lagoon, Florida. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 32(10): 754-759. Dight, I.J., and W. Gladstone. 1994. Torres Strait Baseline Study: pilot study final report, June 1993. Trace metal concentrations in sediments and selected marine biota as indicator organisms and food items in the diet of Torres StraitIslanders and coastal Papuans. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Research Publ. 29: viii + 259. Available Online at http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/info_services/publications/research_publications/rp29/index.html. Au Kemper, C., et al. 1994. A Review of heavy-metal and organochlorine levels in marine mammals in Australia. Science of the Total Environment (Elsevier Science). "Some data were published by Scott Wright in the Journal of Wildlife Biology in the late-1990s that I am trying to track down." "David Haynes had some unpublished data on mercury in Australian dugongs, cited in the review chapter. This may be published now. Check with your library literature search options." "Are you aware of SedWeb, a web community for sediment research and management?" -- Edward O. Keith, Ph.D., Associate Professor Oceanographic Center Nova Southeastern University 8000 N. Ocean Drive Dania Beach, FL 33004 Voice: 954-262-8322 Fax: 954-262-3931 Cellular: 305-720-8935 Email: edwardok(\)nova.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2003 15:23:25 -0800 From: Dyan Ferren Subject: Job Announcement boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01C37E3B.DBBA3650" 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_01C37E3B.DBBA3650 Alaska SeaLife Center Job Announcement The Alaska SeaLife Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to marine research, rehabilitation and public education is seeking candidates for the following: Research Education Coordinator This position is responsible for serving as liaison between the research and education departments and working with staff to develop new programs, courses, and outreach products for the science program at the Alaska SeaLife Center. Responsibilities include working with researchers to gather information and prepare text and graphics for newsletters, interpretive posters, web site, exhibits, and other outreach materials; developing and presenting educational materials based on current research; assisting with organizing symposia and conferences; and coordinating and assisting with interpretive training. Requirements include: Bachelor's degree in a natural science, education, or related field, master's degree preferred; and experience in interpretation of research to a variety of audiences, a background in field and/or laboratory research in biology or marine science, and experience in teaching, curriculum development, or other aspects of marine science education. Skill in written and verbal communication, experience giving public presentations and/or working with various age groups in an educational setting, ability to understand and interpret research in progress and general marine science topics or concepts, and ability to work independently. Experience with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access. This is a regular, full-time, position with benefits. Apply by: October 13, 2003 Start date: asap Salary: DOE Send resume and/or application (available at website) to HR, Alaska SeaLife Center, P O Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664-1329, or fax 907-224-6320, or email to HR(\)alaskasealife.org www.alaskasealife.org The ASLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ------_=_NextPart_001_01C37E3B.DBBA3650 Message

Alaska SeaLife Center Job=20 Announcement

 

The Alaska SeaLife Center = is=20 a non-profit organization dedicated to marine research,=20 rehabilitation and public education is seeking candidates for the=20 following: 

Research Education Coordinator

 

This=20 position is responsible for serving as liaison between the research and = education departments and working with staff to develop new programs, = courses,=20 and outreach products for the science program at the = Alaska=20 SeaLife=20 Center.  Responsibilities include = working with=20 researchers to gather information and prepare text and graphics for = newsletters,=20 interpretive posters, web site, exhibits, and other outreach materials; = developing and presenting educational materials based on current = research;=20 assisting with organizing symposia and conferences; and coordinating = and=20 assisting with interpretive = training.

Requirements=20 include: = Bachelor's degree=20 in a natural science, education, or related field, master's degree = preferred;=20 and experience in interpretation of research to a variety of audiences, = a=20 background in field and/or laboratory research in biology or marine = science, and=20 experience in teaching, curriculum development, or other aspects of = marine=20 science education.   = Skill in=20 written and verbal communication, experience giving public = presentations and/or=20 working with various age groups in an educational setting, ability to = understand=20 and interpret research in progress and general marine science topics or = concepts, and ability to work independently.  Experience with Word, Excel, = PowerPoint,=20 and Access.

This is a regular, = full-time,=20 position with benefits.  =20 Apply by:   October=20 13, 2003=20      Start=20 date:  asap      Salary:  = DOE

Send resume=20 and/or application (available at website) to HR,=20 Alaska=20 SeaLife=20 Center, = P = O Box=20 1329, = Seward, = AK  99664-1329, or fax 907-224-6320, or email to HR(\)alaskasealife.org  =20

 www.alaskasealife.org    The = ASLC is an=20 Equal Opportunity Employer.

 

------_=_NextPart_001_01C37E3B.DBBA3650-- ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 21 Sep 2003 10:01:32 +0200 From: Giovanni Bearzi Subject: Common bottlenose dolphin with mutilated dorsal fin observed in the Mediterranean In September 2003 we repeatedly observed a common bottlenose dolphin (_Tursiops truncatus_) with its dorsal fin freshly cut off. Observations were made in the eastern Ionian Sea, in the context of a longitudinal study started in 1993. The individual was swimming in groups that included up to 8 other individuals. The finless dolphin showed no abnormal behaviour as compared with other group members. Photos of the dolphin can be seen at: http://www.tethys.org/finless/finless.htm We are wondering what may have caused such a mutilation. We are aware of an event that was extensively documented in a conference poster by Green et al. (see * quote below), where a dolphin had its dorsal fin completely cut off by a fishing line entangled around its dorsal fin and flukes. * Green, H.C., Ostman, J., Driscoll, A.D. 1991. A case of dolphin entanglement leading a portion of the fin being cut off - How "Round nick" became "Butch". Abstract. Ninth Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, December 5-9, 1991. Chicago, ILL. However, the dolphin in our observation had a large portion of skin apparently stripped off from its right side, suggesting a different dynamics. Can anyone provide insight on the causes of similar mutilations? We would be willing to summarize the feedback received. Furthermore, we would be interested in receiving sighting reports for this individual from colleagues working in the region. Best regards, Giovanni Bearzi and Stefano Agazzi Tethys Research Institute _____________________________________________________ Giovanni Bearzi, Ph.D. bearzi(\)inwind.it President, Tethys Research Institute and Contract professor of Cetacean conservation, University of Venice c/o Venice Natural History Museum Santa Croce 1730, 30135 Venezia, Italy voice: +39 0412750206; fax: +39 041721000 http://www.tethys.org _____________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Sep 2003 09:01:02 -1100 From: Marc Lammers Subject: Abstract on spinner and spotted dolphin acoustics Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 For those members of the list interested in acoustics, pdf reprints of the following article in this month's issue of JASA are available through lammers(\)hawaii.edu or on the web at: http://www.oceanwidescience.org/docs/research.html: Lammers, M.O., Au, W.W.L and Herzing, D.L. (2003). "The broadband social acoustic signaling behavior of spinner and spotted dolphins." J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 114(3):1629-1639. ABSTRACT: Efforts to study the social acoustic signaling behavior of delphinids have traditionally been restricted to audio-range (< 20 kHz) analyses. To explore the occurrence of communication signals at ultrasonic frequencies, broadband recordings of whistles and burst pulses were obtained from two commonly studied species of delphinids, the Hawaiian spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) and the Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis). Signals were quantitatively analyzed to establish their full bandwidth, to identify distinguishing characteristics between each species, and to determine how often they occur beyond the range of human hearing. Fundamental whistle contours were found to extend beyond 20 kHz only rarely among spotted dolphins, but with some regularity in spinner dolphins. Harmonics were present in the majority of whistles and varied considerably in their number, occurrence and amplitude. Many whistles had harmonics that extended past 50 kHz and some reached as high as 100 kHz. The relative amplitude of harmonics and the high hearing sensitivity of dolphins to equivalent frequencies suggest that harmonics are biologically relevant spectral features. The burst pulses of both species were found to be predominantly ultrasonic, often with little or no energy below 20 kHz. The findings presented reveal that the social signals produced by spinner and spotted dolphins span the full range of their hearing sensitivity, are spectrally quite varied, and in the case of burst pulses are probably produced more frequently than reported by audio-range analyses. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2003 12:00:32 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: 2004 Internships in Belize (fwd) Volunteer Internship -- Please see this webpage to apply: = http://www.sirenian.org/LogisticsInternBelize.html Title: Logistics and Research Internship Project: Behavioral and Habitat Ecology of Manatees in Belize, Central = America Primary Funding Agency: The Earthwatch Institute Additional support from: Lerner-Gray Fund for Marine Science Research = at the American Museum of Natural History, the NSF Graduate Fellowship = Program, the Conservation Action Fund at the New England Aquarium, Texas = A&M University, University of Massachusetts - Boston, Spanish Bay Resort = - Belize, Manta Ray Charters - Belize. Principle Investigators: Caryn Self Sullivan, Texas A&M University and = Katherine S. LaCommare, University of Massachusetts - Boston Location: Drowned Cayes, Belize, Central America Research Permits issued by: Conservation Division-Forestry Department, = Belize; Fisheries Department, Belize Project Details: Available Online at Earthwatch = (http://www.earthwatch.org/expeditions/lacommare.html) 2004 Winter/Spring Internship Term (approx. dates): 30 January - 10 = April 2004 2004 Summer Internship Term (approx. dates): 1 June - 20 August 2004 Qualifications: Science oriented upper level undergraduate, graduate, = or post-doc. The successful applicant must speak English, 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. A positive "can do" attitude, = love of interacting with an eclectic group of people, patience in = dealing with both the public (volunteers) and the scientists, and high = self-esteem and fun-loving nature will be extremely important to a = successful field season. 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): November 15, 2003 CLOSING DATE (for Summer Term): January 15, 2004 Introduction: 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) oversee = collection and reduction of field data (including, GPS data, acoustic = recordings, and seagrass samples). The intern will also help lead = snorkeling trips on the reef. Our study site is located in Belize, a = former British colony surrounded by Latin American countries - the = culture is truly unique. Our living conditions are rustic; we have = limited solar power and collect rainwater in vats for washing and = drinking. We spend considerable time in and on the water beneath a = tropical sun. About 8 hours a day are spent on a small boat and another = 6 hours are devoted to the "logistics of living" on a mangrove island. = We have zero tolerance for illegal drugs, alcohol abuse, and intimate = relationships between intern(s) and EW Volunteer(s) during the EW = Expedition; This is not an easy internship... however, if you believe = you are up to the challenge, it should be one of the most rewarding = experiences of your young career! 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 east 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. 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. Please see this webpage to apply: = http://www.sirenian.org/LogisticsInternBelize.html -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2003 13:59:47 -0400 Reply-To: lhuckst(\)udec.cl From: =?utf-8?Q?Luis_H=C3=BCckst=C3=A4dt?= Subject: New Paper on Otaria ------ Dear all, The following paper has just been published in ICES Journal of Marine Sci= ence: H=C3=BCckst=C3=A4dt, L. A. and T. Antezana. 2003. Behaviour of the southe= rn sea lion (Otaria flavescens) and consumption of the catch during purse= -seining for jack mackerel (Trachurus symmetricus) off central Chile. ICE= S J. Mar. Sci., 60(5): 1003-1011. ABSTRACT: The fishery for jack mackerel (Trachurus symmetricus) off central Chile c= ompetes for the resource with southern sea lions (Otaria flavescens), and= during purse-seining makes the fish more accessible to the pinnipeds. In= teractions with sea lions were recorded during 31 purse-seine sets off ce= ntral Chile during October 1999. The sea lion behaviour associated with t= he fishing operations was distinctive. Feeding, movement, predator avoida= nce, and resting displays were identified. The sea lions approached the p= urse-seiner as soon as net-setting began. The number of sea lions per set= (0=E2=80=9350) was seemingly unaffected by school size of jack mackerel,= number of purse-seiners on the fishing ground, whether fishing was by ni= ght or by day, the presence of killer whales, or the species being target= ed. However, the number of sea lions at a purse-seine differed significan= tly between fishing grounds. Other effects of fishing operations on O. fl= avescens included incidental mortality and cap! ture. The amount of fish consumed by the sea lions at a set was as much = as 0.4% of the catch. The results of the interaction are documented and d= iscussed in the light of likely interaction with the whole sea lion popul= ation, as well as the impact of the interaction on the fishery. The pdf file is available through lhuckst(\)udec.cl Hard copies will be available once they arrive. Luis A. H=C3=BCckst=C3=A4dt MSc. Oceanography Student Department of Oceanography University of Concepcion =20 PO Box 160-C, Concepcion Chile Phone: +56 41 204345 Mobile: +56 0 96976441 Fax: +56 41 256571 Email: lhuckst(\)udec.cl ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2003 09:23:35 -0400 From: Michael Moore Subject: 3 right whalke talks on line In July/August 2003 three seminars were given in Woods Hole on North Atlantic right whale conservation issues: they are available on the web at www.whoi.edu/whalelectures/. Michael Moore, mmoore(\)whoi.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2003 09:01:37 +0200 From: =?ISO-8859-1?Q?Sara=20K=F6nigson?= Subject: seal crackers ------ I am working at the National Board of Fisheries with the seal and fisheries conflict. I am wondering if someone knows where to buy so called seal crackers. I have read that they might have a certaine effect depending on the situation and that they cost about 2,50 us dollar. If anyone have information I would be thankful. Best regards, Sara Konigson Projekt S=E4lar&Fiske Adress/Address: Fiskeriverket / National Board of Fisheries Box 423=20 SE - 401 26 G=D6TEBORG SWEDEN =20 sara.konigson(\)fiskeriverket.se=20 Phone +46 (0)31 743 04 22 Mobile +46 (0)702 21 59 15 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2003 18:38:36 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: ANNOUNCEMENT: Aerial Survey Safety Workshop (fwd) Marine Mammal Aerial Survey Safety A Workshop at the 15th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals Date: Saturday 13 December 2003, 8:00am-12:00pm Cost: FREE Registration: E-mail Nicole Cabana (nicole.cabana(\)noaa.gov) to register or with any questions. It is requested that attendees preregister by November 1st so that adequate handout materials can be prepared. However, late registrants and walk-ins are welcome. Summary: Safety in conducting marine mammal aerial surveys is critical due to high-risk, low-altitude, over water operations. Earlier this year a survey plane was lost off the Florida coast, killing all four people aboard. The aircraft was conducting a right whale survey, and resulted in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) taking action to improve aerial safety. The process NOAA went through to develop safety standards began with internal discussions and evolved to a nationwide workshop in May 2003 and the drafting of new NOAA-wide policy on aircraft safety. The goals of the workshop are to increase interest and awareness of aerial safety issues, educate and assist people in improving the safety of their operations, and offer information on NOAA=92s draft policy. The workshop schedule is posted below. Schedule: 8:00-8:15 Welcome 8:15-9:00 Review of Events =96 crash, aerial survey risks, need for safety standards and equipment 9:00-9:45 Review of Draft NOAA Policy - New NOAA policy/requirements - FAA Part 135 vs. 91 standards (and public use aircraft) - International standards - Resources available - Training - Discussion (9:30-9:45) 9:45-10:30 Safety Equipment - NOAA safety equipment - Other available equipment - Discussion (10:15-10:30) 10:30-10:45 Break 10:45-11:15 Real-World Implementation 11:00-11:30 Summary of simple steps to improve safety 11:30-11:50 Discussion 11:50-12:00 Wrap-up -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Sep 2003 04:21:22 -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. =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D C. J. Bonar, and R.A. Wagner. 2003. A THIRD REPORT OF =93GOLF BALL DISEAS= E=94 IN AN AMAZON RIVER DOLPHIN (INIA GEOFFRENSIS) ASSOCIATED WITH STREPTOCOCCUS INIAE. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 34(3):296=96301. An Amazon Ri= ver dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) developed a dermatologic syndrome characterize= d by the occurrence of slow-growing, nodular, s.c. abscesses. Initial biopsies, cultures, and cytologic analysis of needle aspirates from the abscesses indicated steatitis with probable secondary, gram-negative bacterial infection. Treatment with dietary vitamin E supplement and broad-spectrum antibiotics yielded minimal improvement. Subsequent cultur= es revealed Streptococcus iniae in addition to several gram-negative bacteri= a. Vigorous surgical management of the abscesses, including lancing, debridement, and irrigation, combined with antimicrobial therapy specific for Streptococcus and gram-negative organisms, and improvement of the animal's diet and environmental water quality led to gradual recovery. Wh= en the animal was ill, it demonstrated an inflammatory leukogram and transie= nt uremia. Streptococcus iniae is a serious pathogen of aquacultured fishes = and humans and should be included in the differential diagnosis of chronic dermatopathy in river dolphins. Specific antimicrobial therapy, excellent water quality, surgical management of abscesses, and adherence to sanitar= y protocols should be observed in cases of suspected S. iniae infection in dolphins. *************************************************************************= *** J. Maratea, D.R. Ewalt, S. Frasca Jr., J. L. Dunn, S. De Guise, L. Szkudlarek, D. J. St. Aubin, and R. A. French. 2003. EVIDENCE OF BRUCELLA SP. INFECTION IN MARINE MAMMALS STRANDED ALONG THE COAST OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 34(3):256=96261. After recent isolations of Brucella sp. from pinnipeds and cetaceans, a survey was initiated to investigate the prevalence of Brucella sp. infections and serologic evidence of exposure in marine mammals stranded along the coasts of Connecticut and Rhode Island. One hundred and ninetee= n serum samples from four species of cetaceans and four species of pinniped= s were collected from 1985 to 2000 and tested for antibodies to Brucella sp. using the brucellosis card test, buffered acidified plate antigen test, a= nd rivanol test. In addition, 20 of these were necropsied between 1998 and 2000, with lymphoid and visceral tissues cultured for Brucella sp. Three = of 21 (14%) harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and four of 53 (8%) harp seals (Ph= oca groenlandica) were seropositive. Brucella sp. was isolated from two of fo= ur (50%) harbor seals and three of nine (33%) harp seals. Of the five animal= s with positive cultures, two were seropositive and three seronegative. Brucella sp. was most frequently cultured from the lung and axillary, inguinal, and prescapular lymph nodes. Tissues from which Brucella sp. wa= s isolated showed no gross or histopathologic changes. These results indica= te that marine mammals stranded along the coast of southern New England can = be exposed to and infected with Brucella sp. ************************************************************ T. Goldstein, F. M. D. Gulland, B. M. Aldridge, J.T. Harvey, T. Rowles, D= .M. Lambourn,S. J. Jeffries, L. Measures, P. K. Yochem, B.S. Stewart, R. J. Small, D.P. King, J.L. Stott, and J. A. K. Mazet. 2003. ANTIBODIES TO PHOCINE HERPESVIRUS-1 ARE COMMON IN NORTH AMERICAN HARBOR SEALS (PHOCA VITULINA). Journal of Wildlife Diseases: Vol. 39, No. 3, pp. 487=96494. Phocine herpesvirus-1 (PhHV-1) has been associated with morbidity and hig= h mortality in neonatal harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) along the Pacific coa= st of California (USA) and in northern Europe. Seals dying with PhHV-1 associated disease in California primarily have histopathologic evidence = of adrenal necrosis or adrenalitis with herpesviral inclusion bodies. Little= is known about prevalence of exposure to PhHV-1, modes of disease transmissi= on, and viral pathogenesis in free-ranging harbor seal populations. To evalua= te the prevalence in North America, 866 serum samples collected between 1994 and 2002 from harbor seals captured or stranded on the Pacific and Atlant= ic coasts of North America were assayed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for evidence of PhHV-1 exposure. Samples from three harbor seal a= ge classes (pre-weaned, weaned, and subadults/adults) were obtained from eac= h of four regions to compare exposure among sex, age class, and region. We found increasing prevalence with age as 37.5% of pre-weaned pups, 87.6% o= f weaned pups, and 99.0% of subadults and adults were seropositive. When accounting for age, no associations between seropositivity and sex or location of harbor seals were detected. These data indicate that PhHV-1 i= s endemic in the harbor seal populations of North America. ******************************************************** C. Kreuder, M. A. Miller, D. A. Jessup, L. J. Lowenstine, M. D. Harris, J. A. Ames, T. E. Carpenter, P. A. Conrad, and J. A. K. Mazet. 2003. PATTERN= S OF MORTALITY IN SOUTHERN SEA OTTERS (ENHYDRA LUTRIS NEREIS) FROM 1998=962= 001. Journal of Wildlife Diseases: Vol. 39, No. 3, pp. 495=96509. Detailed postmortem examination of southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) found along the California (USA) coast has provided an exceptiona= l opportunity to understand factors influencing survival in this threatened marine mammal species. In order to evaluate recent trends in causes of mortality, the demographic and geographic distribution of causes of death= in freshly deceased beachcast sea otters necropsied from 1998=962001 were evaluated. Protozoal encephalitis, acanthocephalan-related disease, shark attack, and cardiac disease were identified as common causes of death in = sea otters examined. While infection with acanthocephalan parasites was more likely to cause death in juvenile otters, Toxoplasma gondii encephalitis, shark attack, and cardiac disease were more common in prime-aged adult otters. Cardiac disease is a newly recognized cause of mortality in sea otters and T. gondii encephalitis was significantly associated with this condition. Otters with fatal shark bites were over three times more likel= y to have pre-existing T. gondii encephalitis suggesting that shark attack, which is a long-recognized source of mortality in otters, may be coupled with a recently recognized disease in otters. Spatial clusters of cause-specific mortality were detected for T. gondii encephalitis (in Est= ero Bay), acanthocephalan peritonitis (in southern Monterey Bay), and shark attack (from Santa Cruz to Point A=F1o Nuevo). Diseases caused by parasit= es, bacteria, or fungi and diseases without a specified etiology were the primary cause of death in 63.8% of otters examined. Parasitic disease alo= ne caused death in 38.1% of otters examined. This pattern of mortality, observed predominantly in juvenile and prime-aged adult southern sea otte= rs, has negative implications for the overall health and recovery of this population. ***************************************************** D. Fauquier, F. Gulland, M. Haulena, and T. Spraker. 2003. Biliary Adenocarcinoma in a Stranded Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris). Journal of Wildlife Diseases: Vol. 39, No. 3, pp. 723=96= 726. A stranded adult female northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) = was admitted to a rehabilitation hospital grossly underweight and lethargic i= n April 2001. The animal was icteric, had severe bilirubinemia, and elevate= d serum gamma glutamyl transferase concentrations. Laparoscopy under anesthesia revealed multiple masses up to 3 cm diameter throughout the li= ver and spleen and the animal was euthanized. Abnormal gross postmortem findi= ngs included green serous fluid in the abdominal cavity and 0.5 to 3 cm diame= ter yellow nodules scattered throughout the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes. Histopathology revealed a biliary adenocarcinoma with metastases to the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, adrenal gland, and pancreas. This is believed= to be the first reported case of neoplasia in a northern elephant seal ************************************************ P. B=F6rjesson and A.J. Read, 2003. VARIATION IN TIMING OF CONCEPTION BET= WEEN POPULATIONS OF THE HARBOR PORPOISE. Journal of Mammalogy: Vol. 84, No. 3, pp. 948=96955. We examined reproductive seasonality in 2 populations of the harbor porpo= ise (Phocoena phocoena) in the eastern and western North Atlantic Ocean and compared our observations with historical data from the Baltic and North seas. Dates of conception for individuals were back-calculated from fetal size and an estimated fetal growth rate of 83 mm/month. Mean conception d= ate was 6 July =B1 9.5 days (SD) in the Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Maine and 25= July =B1 20.3 days in the Kattegat and Skagerrak seas. Timing of conception di= d not differ between the Kattegat and Skagerrak and the North seas but was significantly earlier there than in the Baltic Sea (18 August =B1 11.8 da= ys). Based on mean body size at birth (a mass of 6,025 =B1 440 g and a length = of 762 =B1 54 mm), gestation was estimated to last for approximately 10.4 mo= nths. We hypothesize that differences in mating seasons reflect seasonal patter= ns in distribution and behavior of prey, so calves are born when maternal pr= ey is abundant and is of high quality. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Sep 2003 15:43:33 -0800 Reply-To: hamachan_hamazaki(\)fishgame.state.ak.us From: Hamachan Hamazaki Subject: Biennial Conference GIS spatial/temporal modeling workshop reminder In-Reply-To: This is a reminder: the abstract submission deadline for the GIS Spatial/temporal modeling workshop is in 2 weeks, Oct. 10. Please submit your abstract to me via e-mail by the deadline, so that I can start scheduling. This is a very exiting emerging field with many potentials. I am very pleased and excited to receive quite a few interests in learning more about the GIS modeling. Now, I would like to hear more from people who can and want to share their experience in the GIS modeling with other participants. I strongly encourage everyone to submit an abstract. The information about workshop is located at http://www.geocities.com/toshihide_hamazaki/Workshop.html Please obtain the registration and abstract submission form from this site. Summary/Purpose: There is a growing interest in the development of spatial/temporal model of marine mammal distribution. It is hoped that spatial/temporal models will be used to predict potential and critical habitats/locations of marine mammals, which will greatly improve marine mammal management and conservation, such application as: designation of marine reserve, ship collision warning zone, bycatch reduction fishing exclusion zone, population monitoring. This workshop explores current development of spatial/temporal models. The topics covered in this workshop are: 1) Varieties of modeling approaches: Theoretical/methodological foundations, Modeling capabilities, Advantages and disadvantages of the model. 2) Application of current and new technologies. 3) Case studies on application of models to marine mammal conservation and management: Successful applications, and unsuccessful applications / lessons to be learned. 4) Discussions on future direction: Interactions and exchanges among participants. And this year's workshop special: True to the spirit of workshop, 5) Call for experts: Present project/research/management plans and receive experts' suggestions. This workshop would provide a great opportunity for those who are interested in GIS spatial/temporal modeling, learning about modeling, and making connections. Workshop Website, for more info http://www.geocities.com/toshihide_hamazaki/Workshop.html Registration form: http://www.geocities.com/toshihide_hamazaki/Workshop_regist.doc Call for abstracts: http://www.geocities.com/toshihide_hamazaki/Call_abstract.html Abstract submission form: http://www.geocities.com/toshihide_hamazaki/abstract.doc 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: Sun, 28 Sep 2003 22:57:03 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Publication on bottlenose dolphin feeding (fwd) The following is from the July issue of Gulf of Mexico Science. Lewis, J. S. and W. W. Schroeder. 2003. Mud plume feeding, a unique foraging behavior of the bottlenose dolphin in the Florida Keys. Gulf of Mexico Science 21(1):92-97. Summary: A previously undocumented feeding behavior, mud plume feeding, is described for bottlenose dolphins in the lower Florida Keys. This behavior is characterized by the creation of a mud plume over shallow water, followed by a lunge through the plume as a method of prey capture. Results of behavioral observations indicated mud plume feeding is highly stereotypical, is related to certain tidal cycles and occurs only over specific habitat types. For reprints (PDF available) please contact Jennifer Lewis at: jennifer.lewis1(\)fiu.edu -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 29 Sep 2003 09:28:50 -0500 Reply-To: dfertl(\)geo-marine.com From: Dagmar Fertl Subject: Abstracts - Aquatic Mammals, vol. 29(2), 2003 Dear Marmam and ECS-Mailbase subscribers, Apologies to those of you who receive cross-postings. The following is a list of the articles (and abstracts) for the most recent issue of _Aquatic Mammals_. This posting is a courtesy to both the journal editor of _Aquatic Mammals_ (Dr. Jeanette Thomas) and the Marmam list editors. _Aquatic Mammals_ is the scientific, peer-reviewed journal of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals (EAAM). In this journal, papers dealing with all aspects of the care, conservation, medicine and science of aquatic mammals are published. The journal appears 3 times per year. Information regarding society membership, journal subscriptions, manuscript submissions, etc. can be found at the EAAM website (http://www.eaam.org). Questions regarding manuscript submissions also may be directed to the Editor: Jeanette A. Thomas, Laboratory of Sensory Biology, Western Illinois University-Quad Cities, 3561 60th Street, Moline, IL 61265, USA; email: aquatic_mammals(\)eaam.org. This issue focuses on pinniped vocal communication and is guest edited by R.J. Schusterman and S.M. Van Parijs. The contributed articles are either reviews of specific subtopics in the field or empirical studies of vocal communication in individual pinniped species. Sexual selection is also a major theme in several of the papers. Please DO NOT direct reprint requests to either the list editors or to me. With each article, an address is listed for the author to whom correspondence should be directed. When an email address was provided with the contact information in the journal issue, I have also listed it here -- remember, it is possible that someone may have a changed email address in the interim. Thank you to everyone for your continued interest in these postings, the EAAM, as well as other postings of recently published literature. Regards, Dagmar Fertl Geo-Marine, Inc. dfertl(\)geo-marine.com **************************************************************************** ********** Schusterman, R.J.* and S.M. Van Parijs. 2003. Pinniped vocal communication: an introduction. _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(2):177-180. *Long Marine Laboratory, University of California at Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, 95060, USA This is an introduction to the volume and a review of the history of studies of pinniped vocal communication. **************************************************************************** ********* Insley, S.J.*, A.V. Phillips, and I. Charrier. 2003. A review of social recognition in pinnipeds. _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(2):181-201. *Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, 2595 Ingraham Street, San Diego, California, 92109, USA (email: sinsley(\)hswri.org) A substantial amount of research has been carried out on recognition behaviour in natural populations of pinnipeds. This work includes detailed anecdotal and quantitative descriptions in additional to _in situ_ experimental tests of recognition. The goals of this review are to summarize this research, and by doing so, to point out apparent patterns of social recognition among the pinnipeds, as well as important gaps in our knowledge. Following an introduction of the topic, the review is divided into three sections: (1) descriptive evidence, (2) experimental evidence, and (3) patterns of recognition in pinnipeds resulting from phylogenetic, ecological, and life history constraints. The descriptive evidence mostly pertains to recognition between mother and offspring and includes vocal stereotypy, the use of other sensory modalities, and cases of adoption and allo-suckling. Further descriptive data includes recognition among territorial males and between species. The experimental evidence is also weighted heavily towards tests of mother-offspring recognition. Recognition between pinniped mothers and pups, in at least one direction (i.e., mother recognizes pup or pup recognizes mother), has been experimentally demonstrated in seven pinniped species (4 otariids and 3 phocids), but is not the rule. Recent experiments have also been completed on recognition ontogeny and salient cues, as well as demonstrating long-term recognition. Such results provide the basis for complex social interactions among individuals. As with descriptive evidence, methodologies are an important aspect of these data. Finally, all the pinniped recognition data are synthesized with respect to the variability of intra- and interspecific pressures affecting the evolution of recognition behaviour. **************************************************************************** ********** Southall, B.L.*, R.J. Schusterman, and D. Kastak. 2003. Acoustic communication ranges for northern elephant seals (_Mirounga angustirostris_). _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(2): 202-213. *present address: NOAA Fisheries Acoustic Program, Office of Protected Resources, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910, USA Acoustic communication range estimates for four northern elephant seal (_Mirounga angustirostris_) vocalization types are presented for this species. Maximum signal detection ranges are determined using an integrated approach involving: field measurements of vocalization source levels and spectral characteristics, signal directivity patterns, natural ambient noise measurements, and previously collected laboratory audiometric data. Signals and masking noise were analyzed using two filter bandwidths believed to approximate the upper and lower limit of auditory filter widths for the northern elephant seal auditory system. Signal detection ranges are estimated for representative pup 'female attraction calls' (FAC), adult female 'pup attraction calls' (PAC), adult female 'threat calls' (AFT), and adult male 'clap threat calls' (AMCT) in each of three intensity categories for biotic noise, wave noise, and wind noise. Signal detection ranges in these nine natural masking noise conditions vary from 5-70 m for FAC, 10-105 m for PAC, 41-479 m for AFT, and 59-507 m for AMCT. The results demonstrate the extent to which communication ranges in the field can vary depending on call type, signal directivity, ambient noise conditions, and receiver capabilities. These data are also useful in considering natural constraints on acoustic communication in northern elephant seals, selective pressures on signal production and reception systems, and potential negative effects of anthropogenic noise. **************************************************************************** ********* Van Parijs, S.M.* 2003. Aquatic mating in pinnipeds: a review. _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(2): 214-226. *Institute for Aquatic Biology, Norwegian College of Fisheries Science, University of Tromso, Norway The goals of this review are to summarize existing information available on aquatic mating strategies in pinnipeds. Considerable advances in knowledge concerning the reproductive strategies of aquatic mating pinnipeds have been made over recent years. Studies have showed that aquatic mating pinnipeds exhibit a range of evolutionary adaptations in their reproductive strategies that differ considerably from those of land-breeding species. However, clear gaps still exist, particularly amongst ice-breeding species. This review introduces the topic and then is divided into (1) techniques for studying aquatic mating pinnipeds, of which acoustic, telemetry, and genetic technologies are discussed, (2) evolutionary consequences of lactation and whelping habitat, (3) male reproductive strategies and, (4) conclusions and future research directions. Based on current evidence, aquatic-mating species are thought to maintain aquatic display areas using vocal and dive displays for the purpose of male-male competition and likely for the attraction of females. Between species, mating behaviour appear to be linked to the influences of local habitat type and changes in female behaviour. Therefore, it is appropriate to reassess our knowledge concerning aquatic breeders and reflect how this alters the development of theories on the evolution of pinniped reproductive strategies. **************************************************************************** ********* Stirling, I.* and J.A. Thomas. 2003. Relationships between underwater vocalizations and mating systems in phocid seals. Aquatic Mammals 29(2):227-246. *Canadian Wildlife Service, 5320 122 St. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6H 3S5 In this paper, we considered the number and diversity of underwater vocalizations given by aquatic-breeding phocids, and two species that copulate both in the water and on ice, in relation to what is known or hypothesized about their mating systems. Underwater recordings made throughout the year by both bearded (_Erignathus barbatus_) and Weddell seal (_Leptonychotes weddellii_) seals indicated that most of the vocalizations could be attributed to males and were given almost exclusively during the breeding season. Less extensive studies of other species indicated the same pattern. Thus, for this study, we considered only underwater vocalizations known, or suspected, to be given by adult males during intra-specific agonistic behaviour, defence of territories or access to females, or attraction of females. A one-way ANOVA and linear regression indicated a significant relationship between the numbers of underwater vocalizations given by individual species and their mating systems. A Pearson's correlation analysis discerned the following: the mating system and the number of vocalizations were positively correlated; female gregariousness was positively correlated with the number of underwater vocalizations and geographic variation in vocalizations, but there was no correlation with the duration of lactation. The degree of predation was negatively correlated with the number of vocalizations, geographic variation in vocalizations, and the number of days of lactation. A principal component analysis showed that 66.1% of the variation in this data set was explained by Factor 1, a suite of variables that included mating system, number of underwater vocalizations, intensity of predation, female gregariousness, and geographic variation in vocalizations. The number of days of lactation explained an additional 19.5% of the variability. These results suggest that additional selection pressures, more specific to the ecological circumstances of individual species, also influence the size of the underwater repertoire. The development of diverse underwater repertoire with geographic variations was consistently associated with the development of population genetic structure and geographic fidelity. Within each category of social system, the species with the greatest number of underwater vocalizations consistently occurred at higher densities during the breeding season than did the species with the lowest vocal diversity. The role of predators on the evolution of social systems is not well known, but could be significant for some species. Characteristics of the underwater vocalizations of walruses during the breeding season were found to share similar characteristics to phocids occurring at similar densities in similar habitats, suggesting that the most important selection factors influenced both phocids and odobenids similarly. On the basis of the available information form better-studied species, some testable hypotheses are proposed for further investigations of spotted (_Phoca largha_), Ross (_Ommatophoca rossii_), Hawaiian monk (_Monachus schauinslandi_), and ribbon (_Phoca fasciata_) seals. **************************************************************************** ********* Rogers, T.L.* 2003. Factors influencing the acoustic behaviour of male phocid seals. _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(2):247-260. *Australian Marine Mammal Research Centre, Zoological Parks Board of NSW and Veterinary Faculty, University of Sydney, Mosman, NSW 2088, Australia A series of natural history factors were examined to identify which are likely to influence acoustic behaviour in male phocid seals. Contrary to traditional thought, the degree of polygyny did not appear to influence vocal repertoire size or the other acoustic features examined. However, degree of sexual dimorphism, stability of the pupping substrate and density, guard-ability and predictability of oestrus females, and function of the signals, all appear to be important. Species pupping in stable habitats tend to have vocalizations which are low in minimum frequency, whereas pack-ice breeders have vocalizations with high minimum frequencies. In species where oestrus females are predictably distributed and guardable (the southern elephant, _Mirounga leonina_, northern elephant, _Mirounga angustirostris_, grey, _Halichoerus grypus_, hooded, _Cystophora cristata_, and crabeater, _Lobodon carcinophagus_, seals) the acoustic displays of the males tend to be associated with male-male agonistic interactions and are likely to be intrasexual in function. Male vocal repertoires tend to be simple in form composed of a reduced number of primarily broadband pulsed sounds following Morton's (1982) Motivational Structural Hypothesis. However, in species where females do not remain hauled-out with their pups until weaning it is more difficult for males to physically guard them until oestrus. If oestrus females are inaccessible to males, either because they are moving to and from the sea or because they are widely distributed, males could use vocal displays to attract a mate. When oestrus females are widely and unpredictably dispersed long-range underwater advertisement displays are necessary (Scattergun advertising). The acoustic displays of males of these species (leopard, _Hydrurga leptonyx_; Ross, _Ommatophoca rossii_; bearded, _Erignathus barbatus_; and ribbon, _Histriophoca fasciata_, seals) must travel long distances. Sounds that are required to travel over long distances could change slightly in character due to the differing propagation characteristics of the varying frequency components within the vocalization. The signal also could be masked by background noise. Perhaps it is easier for a listening seal to recognise a smaller number of stereotyped vocalizations. Therefore, these seals tend to have fewer, narrowband, highly stereotyped sounds used in stylized repetitive displays which helps ensure that the signal is recognized by a receiving seal at a distance. In species where oestrus females are predictably distributed, but unguarded (Weddell, _Leptonychotes weddellii_; harp, _Pagophilus groenlandicus_; harbour, _Phoca vitulina_; and ringed, _Phoca hispida_ seals) males perform shorter-range underwater advertisement displays. The signals of species advertising to a local audience are not constrained by propagation difficulties. These species therefore adopt a large array of sound types, and include subtle variations of the same sound type, greatly increasing their overall repertoire size (Local advertising). **************************************************************************** ********* Oetelaar, M.L.*, J.M. Terhune, and H.R. Burton. 2003. Can the sex of a Weddell seal (_Leptonychotes weddellii_) be identified by its surface call? _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(2):261-267. *Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, P.O. Box 5050, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada E2L 4L5 Pinnipeds predominantly use underwater vocalizations for social interactions during the breeding season. Knowing the sex of the vocalizing individual can be of significant value for interpreting aquatic behavior. However, it is usually difficult to identify the sex of the caller because the individual cannot be seen underwater. Weddell seals (_Leptonychotes weddellii_) produce a wide variety of underwater vocalizations, as well as a number of closed-mouth call types in air, which sound very similar to the underwater versions. This study used surface calls to determine whether Weddell seals produce sex-specific calls or whether there are differences in the attributes of calls made by both sexes. In-air recordings were made of adult male and female Weddell seals in breeding colonies near Davis Station, Antarctica. Trill call types were produced only by males in air, presumably underwater these are used for the purpose of territorial defence, advertisement, dominance and/or warning calls. Assuming males and females are equally likely to use the trill call type, the probability of a trill being part of the female repertoire, but not being recorded because of sample size problems, was less than 0.0001. The DL234 (roar) and DM (mew) call types also appeared to be male-specific calls, while, DWA242 (a whistle that increases in frequency in discrete steps) is a female-specific call. The DWAG call type (alternating ascending whistles and grunts) was used by both males and females; however, there were differences between the sexes in the start and end frequency measures. Assuming that what is heard in air is reflective of underwater calling, specific underwater call types could identify the sex of the caller in Weddell seals. **************************************************************************** ********* Abgrall, P.*, J.M. Terhune, and H.R. Burton. 2003. Variation of Weddell seal (_Leptonychotes weddellii_) underwater vocalizations over mesogeographic ranges. _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(2): 268-277. *present address: Whale Research Group, Biology Annex, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Mt. Scio Road, St. John's, NF, A1B 3V6 Canada The goal of this study was to determine if Weddell seal (_Leptonychotes weddellii_) underwater vocalizations exhibit regional differences over mesogeographic ranges (600-2000 km). Recordings were made along the Eastern Atlantic coastline at Mawson, Davis and Casey research stations. Differences in vocalizations were examined on three levels: (1) presence of unique call types/categories, (2) rate of occurrence of call types/categories, and (3) call features (number of call elements, start frequency, frequency shift, and duration). A total of 33 different call types within 13 categories were identified. Two call types were unique to Davis and one to each of Mawson and Casey. One category was unique to Davis. Significant differences in the proportion of call usage among the three stations were found for 23 of the 26 shared call types and all 11 of the shared call categories. All call features varied among stations when compared simultaneously or individually. While differences in vocalizations were observed over the mesogeographic range, some temporal variations also were observed at two of the levels; call usage and call features. Weddell seal groups separated by >600 km exhibited different vocal patterns. **************************************************************************** ********* Moors, H.B.*, and J.M. Terhune. 2003. Repetition patterns within harp seal (_Pagophilus groendlandicus_) underwater calls. _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(2): 278-288. *Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, P.O. Box 5050, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada E2L 4L5 Rhythmically repeated calls used during vocal communication have important implications for the extent to which pinnipeds successfully transmit information over long distances and during times of high levels of background noise. Harp seals (_Pagophilus groendlandicus_) have a large vocal repertoire and many of their underwater vocalizations consist of multiple elements. Between-call and within-call variability of element and interval durations for the thirteen multiple-element call types were very consistent. These elements are repeated regularly in predictable patterns. Three distinct patterns were identified with respect to the timing of call intervals: all intervals <1 s (short-short pattern), all intervals >1 s (long-long pattern) and intervals alternating between <1 s and > 1 s (short-long pattern). Harp seal multiple-element calls are rhythmically repeated and elements of the calls occur at highly predictable intervals. Rhythmically repetition would likely enhance the probability of a call being detected and could serve to identify the species of the caller. **************************************************************************** ********** Fernandez-Juricic, E.*, C. Campagna, and D. San Mauro. 2003. Variations in the arrangement of South American sea lion (_Otaria flavescens_) male vocalizations during the breeding season: patterns and contexts. _Aquatic Mammals_ 29(2): 289-296. *Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, 100 Ecology Building, 1987 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108-6097, USA We analyzed whether South American sea lions (_Otaria flavescens_) varied the syntax or arrangement of vocalizations (the order in which calls were produced) according to different social contexts. Three male calls that formed a progression of increasingly aggressive displays (growl Subject: whale stomach microbes I was wondering whether anyone knew where I could get a hold of whale stomach microbes. I recently came across an article where they tested anaerobic microbes found in whale forestomach fluid to see if the microbes could degrade environmental pollutants (Hovermale, JT, Lotarario, JB, et al. A Unique Source of anaerobic microorganisms with bioremediation potential. 95th General Meeting, American Society of Microbiologists, Washington, DC, May 1995. Abstract and poster.). In the study they used forestomach 'rumen' samples, and incubated them with PAH's and aromatic hydrocarbons. I would like see if the whale microbes would degrade pollutants found in collected samples of contaminated soil. Thank you for you help and time. Catherine Spahr spahrc(\)dickinson.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 29 Sep 2003 11:26:29 -0500 From: Mary Vogas Subject: portion of a drift net (Apple Message framework v551) Hello, I give programs in schools to about 3,000 students each year in the Houston, Texas area on endangered animals and the tropical rainforest. I would like a small section of a drfitnet to show in my programs. I would like to do something similar like I do now for the sea turtles. I bring in a TED and a small section of the shrimp net into the programs to show the students how it works. I would like to do the same with a section of a drift net. I will pay for the postage as long as it is within reason. Thanks, Mary Vogas Environmental Educator http://home1.gte.net/vogas/index.html > > ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 29 Sep 2003 11:05:31 -0800 From: Lance Clark Subject: publication on Fraser's dolphin ------ This article was published in June 2002 issue of Gulf of Mexico Science Clark, L.S., D.F. Cowan, G.A.J. Worthy, and E.M. Haubold. 2002. An=20 Anatomical and Pathological Examination of the First Recorded Stranding o= f a=20 Fraser's Dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei) in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Abstract: Reports of Fraser=92s dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei) strandings in the Gul= f of=20 Mexico are uncommon. The only recorded strandings from the Gulf of Mexic= o,=20 both of which occurred in Florida, consists of one mass stranding and a=20 single stranding. This report represents the first record of a Fraser=92= s=20 dolphin stranding, dead or alive, for the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. =20 Results presented here provide the first available data on blood hematolo= gy=20 and chemistry values, detailed anatomy of internal organs and structures,= =20 thoracic and abdominal organ weights, blubber thickness, external=20 morphometrics, and pathological findings for this species in the western=20 Gulf of Mexico. Reprints can be obtained by contacting Lance Clark at: anlsc1(\)uaa.alaska.= edu Please provide name and mailing address. _________________________________________________________________ Instant message during games with MSN Messenger 6.0. Download it now FREE= ! =20 http://msnmessenger-download.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2003 06:55:34 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: veterinarian job posting (fwd) From: Jackjaak(\)aol.com JOB POSTING - VETERINARY FELLOW The Marine Mammal Care Center at Fort MacArthur (MMCC/FM) is currently accepting applications for a Veterinary Fellow. The MMCC/FM is a non-profit rehabilitation center located in Los Angeles, California, treating primarily seals and sea lions (50-400 animals per year) for release back into the wild. This position is a two-year, grant-funded exempt position with non-negotiable salary at $49,000/yr. plus excellent benefits. Description of duties: The Veterinary Fellow will work directly with the MMCC/FM staff and under the supervision of consulting veterinarians to oversee animal intake assessment, perform diagnostic and pre-release evaluations and ensure the increased quality of care and health of each animal. He/she will be expected to utilize on-site facilities to perform baseline diagnostics, routine treatments and surgical treatments. The Veterinary Fellow will perform comprehensive necropsies or supervise veterinary technicians and/or volunteers in the sampling process and be ultimately responsible for documentation of gross post-mortem findings. He/she will oversee the appropriate handling and shipping of these samples to an outside laboratory. The Veterinary Fellow will be expected to help produce professional quality publications and presentations for dissemination at conferences, meetings, and appropriate public forums. He/she will assist staff with volunteer and veterinary student training, help to update written procedural guidelines, and initiate collaborative opportunities with other facilities. In the absence of the Operations Manager, the Veterinary Fellow may be asked to perform other duties. Qualifications: An ideal candidate must possess a valid California Veterinary License; have been in practice for one-two years, have marine mammal experience in a rehabilitation, research or captive setting, demonstrate a proven ability to work independently yet effectively with volunteers, and be adept at performing medical procedures in a rehabilitation setting such as (but not limited to): venipuncture, radiology, ultrasound, surgery and the administration of anesthesia. This person will have the ability to work with animals ranging in size from 20-600 pounds. He/she will also be able to perform necropsies and/or instruct veterinary technicians or volunteer staff in appropriate sampling techniques. Please mail a letter of application, resume (including references) and letters of recommendation to: Jackie Jaakola, Director Marine Mammal Care Center at Fort MacArthur 3601 S. Gaffey St. San Pedro, CA 90731 No phone calls, please You may email questions to jackjaak(\)aol.com The candidate search will close when the appropriate candidate is found. This position is scheduled to receive funding in late 2003/early 2004. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2003 20:34:01 -1000 From: Charles Littnan Subject: Registration call for Ethics in Marine Mammal Research Workshop at 15th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals Please mail responses to Charles.Littnan(\)noaa.gov Hello everyone- This is the final announcement for the "Ethics in Marine Mammal Research" workshop at this years SMM conference in North Carolina. The workshop will take place on Sunday, December 14th, the day before the start of the conference. We were hoping to have a complete outline of speakers and topics to send with this email to further encourage your participation but there have been some last minute changes in program which we are still sorting out. Regardless, it looks like this is going to be an interesting workshop. The workshop will include a morning full of invited speakers discussing various topics related to ethics in marine mammal science. Topics will include: Plenary Speaker: Marc Bekoff MINDING ANIMALS: ETHICS AND HUMAN INTRUSIONS Marc Bekoff is Professor of Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and is a Fellow of the Animal Behavior Society and a former Guggenheim Fellow. In 2000 he was awarded the Exemplar Award from the Animal Behavior Society for major long-term contributions to the field of animal behavior. Marc is also regional coordinator for Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots program, in which he works with students of all ages, senior citizens and prisoners, and also is a member of the Ethics Committee of the Jane Goodall Institute. He and Jane co-founded the organization Ethologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals: Citizens for Responsible Animal Behavior Studies in 2000. Marc also is on the Board of Directors for The Fauna Sanctuary, on the Board of Directors of The Cougar Fund, on the advisory board for the Laboratory Primate Advocacy Group, and the Advisory Board for the conservation organization, SINAPU, and is part of the international program, Science and the Spiritual Quest II and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) program on Science, Ethics, and Religion. Other Topics: Current Viewpoints Ethics and environmental impacts of research involving marine mammals Ethics and Permits Study Design Effects of Instrument attachment Handling wild marine mammals Captive Animal Research Professional Ethics and one or two more. The afternoon will consist of a 2-4 hour group discussion. The fee to cover food and equipment expenses for the workshop will be $15 US for early registration up to November 14. After November 14, the cost will be $20 US. Payment can be made using personal/cashier check or money order. If you are interested in attending, please e- mail and I will send a registration form in excel format that has all the important payment information. If you are unable to view the attachment please e-mail me and I will send it in another format. We hope that you will attend and contribute your thoughts, opinions and experiences to this discussion. Cheers, Charles Littnan and Tim Ragen charles.littnan(\)noaa.gov Charles Littnan Research Ecologist Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program National Marine Fisheries Service PIFSC 2570 Dole St. Honolulu, HI 96822 TEL: (808) 983-5392 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2003 01:53:44 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: live cetacean strandings protocols[Scanned] (fwd) From: "James E Barnett" I am a veterinarian in the UK involved in marine mammal strandings response and have recently been commissioned by the International Fund for Animal Welfare to put together a proposal for the development and dissemination of global live cetacean stranding protocols. I am keen to ensure that all countries with a high incidence of live cetacean strandings frequencies and well developed and evaluated protocols are adequately represented in this appraisal and, to this end, I would welcome contact from governmental and non governmental organisations involved in strandings response in such countries. Secondly, I am keen to determine and make contact with organisations in countries with a high incidence of live cetacean strandings where response is perhaps less well coordinated and where the implementation of appropriate protocols coupled with training would be considered of benefit. Thank you in anticipation. James Barnett Director and veterinary surgeon British Divers Marine Life Rescue Tel. + 44 7703 855399 james(\)bdmlr.org.uk This email and any attachments to it are confidential and intended solely for the individual or organisation to whom they are addressed. You must not copy or retransmit this e-mail or its attachments in whole or in part to anyone else without our permission. The views expressed in them are those of the individual author and do not necessarily represent the views of this Charity. This email has been swept for viruses using GFI MailEssentials v8 and Sophos Mail monitor but you should still take all sensible precautions against viruses. If you have received this e.mail in error, please inform the sender of the misdirection by return of e.mail and delete it immediately. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2003 08:57:28 -0500 Reply-To: dfertl(\)geo-marine.com From: Dagmar Fertl Subject: article available - Distribution of the Clymene dolphin Dear Marmam and ECS subscribers, The following recently published article is available as either a PDF or paper copy (please indicate your preference with your request). I'd like = to thank my coauthors (Tom Jefferson, Iggy Moreno, Alex Zerbini, and Keith Mullin) for all of their hard work. Sincerely, Dagmar Fertl Geo-Marine, Inc. 550 East 15th Street Plano, TX 75074 USA dfertl(\)geo-marine.com ***************************************************************** Fertl, D., T.A. Jefferson, I.B. Moreno, A.N. Zerbini, and K.D. Mullin. 20= 03. Distribution of the Clymene dolphin _Stenella clymene_. _Mammal Review_33(3):253-271. Abstract: 1. The Clymene dolphin Stenella clymene is found in tropical and warm temperate waters of both the North and South Atlantic Oceans. Confusion surrounding the identifying characteristics of this species has contribut= ed to a general lack of knowledge of this species. 2. We collected and verified a total of 195 records (109 sightings, 67 strandings, and 19 captures) of Clymene dolphins. Twenty-five per cent (n= =3D 49) of these records were previously unpublished. Rejected records are discussed in order to clarify the literature. 3. The northernmost locations for the Clymene dolphin are 39=B017'N, 74=B0= 35'W (NJ, USA) and 19=B01.9'N, 16=B013.5'W (113 km north of Nouakchott, Maurit= ania). The southernmost locations are 29=B058'S, 50=B007'W (Tramanda=ED, Rio Gra= nde do Sul, Brazil) and 3=B040'S, 18=B05'W (off Ascension Island). 4. Clymene dolphins were found in waters with bottom depths ranging from= 44 to 4500 m (mean =3D 1870 m; SE =3D 110 m; median =3D 1675 m; n =3D 94). A= single sighting reported at a location with a bottom depth of 44 m is considered= to be atypical, as this species has an otherwise exclusively oceanic distribution. 5. Group sizes ranged from at least one individual in a mixed-species school of spinner dolphins Stenella longirostris to a group of an estimat= ed 1000 animals (mean =3D 76.1; SE =3D 11; median =3D 47; n =3D 105). Strand= ing group size ranged from 1 to 46 individuals (n =3D 67), with single individuals = being most common (n =3D 60). There is information available for seven mass strandings, all of which occurred in the south-eastern USA. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2003 11:21:48 +0200 From: Giovanni Bearzi Subject: Review article on Mediterranean short-beaked common dolphins Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" ------ Dear marmam and ecs-all subscribers the following article has just been published on Mammal Review and can be downloaded as PDF at the link below: http://www.accobams.org/Delphinus_delphis/index.htm This represents the first step towards a comprehensive Conservation Plan = for Mediterranean short-beaked common dolphins, endorsed by ACCOBAMS (the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranea= n Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area) and co-sponsored by WDCS (The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society) and ASMS (Marine Mammal Protection). Best regards, Giovanni Bearzi --------------------- Ecology, status and conservation of short-beaked common dolphins _Delphin= us delphis_ in the Mediterranean Sea. GIOVANNI BEARZI, RANDALL R. REEVES, GIUSEPPE NOTARBARTOLO-DI-SCIARA, ELEN= A POLITI, ANA CANADAS, ALEXANDROS FRANTZIS and BARBARA MUSSI Mammal Rev. 2003, Volume 33, No. 3, 224=AD252. _ABSTRACT 1. The recent decline in the Mediterranean population of short-beaked com= mon dolphins _Delphinus delphis_ has been the subject of scientific controver= sy and political indifference. Research on these animals has been very limit= ed and there has been no large-scale, systematic effort to assess and monito= r their abundance and distribution. The consequent lack of data has prevent= ed a good understanding of historical and ongoing trends. 2. Nonetheless, literature and osteological collections confirm that comm= on dolphins were widespread and abundant in much of the Mediterranean Sea un= til the late 1960s and that their decline occurred relatively quickly. Today, common dolphins remain relatively abundant only in the westernmost portio= n of the basin (Albor=E0n Sea), with sparse records off Algeria and Tunisia= , concentrations around the Maltese islands and in parts of the Aegean Sea, and relict groups in the south-eastern Tyrrhenian and eastern Ionian Seas. Otherwise, these dolphins are rare in, or completely absent from, Mediterranean areas where information is available. 3. Circumstantial evidence and qualitative judgements by the authors sugg= est that the following factors may have contributed to the decline of common dolphins: reduced availability of prey caused by overfishing and habitat degradation; contamination by xenobiotic chemicals resulting in immunosuppression and reproductive impairment; environmental changes such= as increased water temperatures affecting ecosystem dynamics; and incidental mortality in fishing gear, especially gillnets. The cumulative importance= of these factors is poorly understood, and as a result, few conservation measures have been implemented. 4. This paper reviews current knowledge and suggests priorities for actio= n aimed at identifying and mitigating the main threats to common dolphins i= n the Mediterranean, with the ultimate goal of restoring the species=B9 favourable conservation status in the region. ______________________________________________________________ Giovanni Bearzi, Ph.D. bearzi(\)inwind.it President, Tethys Research Institute and Contract professor of Cetacean conservation, University of Venice c/o Venice Natural History Museum Santa Croce 1730, 30135 Venezia, Italy voice: +39 0412750206; fax: +39 041721000 http://www.tethys.org ______________________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2003 20:32:38 -0300 From: Robin W Baird Subject: Summary: Hawaii odontocete population structure report available Report available: Baird, R.W., D.J. McSweeney, D.L. Webster, A.M. Gorgone and A.D. Ligon. 2003. Studies of odontocete population structure in Hawaiian waters: results of a survey through the main Hawaiian Islands in May and June 2003. Report prepared under Contract No. AB133F-02-CN-0106 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Western Administrative Support Center, 7600 Sand Point Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98115 USA. Summary We undertook a survey of the main (windward) Hawaiian Islands during May and June 2003 to examine odontocete population structure. Our goals were: 1) to collect genetic samples to be used for examination of inter- and intra-Hawaiian population structure; 2) to collect photo-identification data to examine movements of individuals between islands and as a basis for population assessment; and 3) to examine habitat use in relation to potential deep-water barriers to movement. A total of 521 hours were spent on-effort using two vessels, and 8,461 km of trackline were covered from Kaua'i and Ni'ihau east to Hawai'i in water depths to over 4,000 m. There were 140 sightings of 14 species of odontocetes. Species most commonly seen were bottlenose dolphins (41 groups), pantropical spotted dolphins (25 groups), spinner dolphins (19 groups), short-finned pilot whales (17 groups), rough-toothed dolphins (13 groups), and dwarf sperm whales (8 groups). A total of 116 bottlenose dolphins were photo-identified, and photographic identifications were compared to a catalog of bottlenose dolphins from 2000-2002 obtained from the islands of Hawai'i, Maui/Lana'i, and O'ahu. There were 13 between-year re-sightings, all to the area in which the individuals were first documented. The between-year re-sighting rate for bottlenose dolphins off Maui and Lana'i was approximately 70%. Using this rate of re-sightings, if movements between island areas were freely occurring, 70 of the 101 individuals documented off Kaua'i/Ni'ihau, O'ahu, and Hawai'i, should have been previously sighted off Maui/Lana'i. With no inter-island movements documented, it is clear that movements between island areas are rare, if not completely absent. While rough-toothed dolphins were the fifth-most common species overall, off Kaua'i/Ni'ihau they were the second-most encountered species (11 groups). Photo-identification efforts resulted in documentation of 94 distinctive individuals, with only eight individuals being re-sighted, suggesting a total population size much greater than 94. Other species sighted during this survey included dense-beaked whales (5 groups), melon-headed whales (3 groups), false killer whales (1 group), killer whales (1 group), pygmy sperm whales (1 group), pygmy killer whales (1 group), striped dolphins (1 group), and a single sperm whale. Genetic sampling resulted in a total of 346 samples from nine species. Combined with previously available samples this should allow for intra-Hawai'i assessment of genetic differentiation of four species, and assessment between Hawai'i and elsewhere of at least seven species. PDF copies may be obtained from rwbaird(\)dal.ca For more information on this research visit: http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/rwb/Hawaii.htm Please note new contact information, below. ====================================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Post-doctoral Fellow, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS Research Biologist, Cascadia Research Collective, Olympia, WA e-mail: rwbaird(\)dal.ca http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/rwb/robin.htm http://www.cascadiaresearch.org *PLEASE NOTE new mailing address* Cascadia Research Collective 218 1/2 W. 4th Avenue Olympia, WA 98501 USA 1-425-879-0360 (mobile) 1-360-943-7325 (office) 1-360-943-7026 (fax) ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 5 Oct 2003 09:31:26 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: photos needed for Uruguay mammal guide (fwd) Alejandro Olmos Facultad de Ciencias biophoto(\)fcien.edu.uy Dear friends and colleagues. We are preparing a new complete Field Guide of Mammals for Uruguay (as our sucesfully Field Guide of Amphibians and Reptils). The aim is to put all the mammals species in land and water in our country (each species will be presented in photographs, distribution, a brief description and status of endangered for UICN). So, because is a personal effort, we dont=B4t have grants or funds (only a declarative support of the University of the Republic) and photographs of some marine mammals are hard to get and we haven't budget to buy them. So we need urgent collaboration of afficionates or profesionals to share with us their photographs. All the collaborators will be mentioned in the book. We enclose down the list of the species that we need. We have documented to the totality of the amphibians and reptiles and 50 % of the birds of Uruguay added to 70% of the mammals in slides of high resolution and we offer our bank of images to exchange for research or diffusion. If you can help us please be free to contact us: Alejandro Olmos and Federico Achaval in biophoto(\)fcien.edu.uy snake(\)internet.com.uy, the last one is better to send big files . Thanks in advance for your contributions. We will send to all the contributors who publish their photos free a book. Alejandro Olmos Vertebrate Zoology Faculty of Sciences. Montevideo-Uruguay 59. Pontoporia blainvillei (Gervais & Orbigny, 1844) Gray, 1846 - Franciscana 60 . Tursiops truncatus (Montagu, 1821) True, 1903 - Tonina - 61 . Stenella coeruleoalba (Meyen, 1833) Ellerman & Morrison-Scott, 1951 - Delfin Listado 62. Stenella attenuata (Gray, 1846) - Delfin Moteado 63. Delphinus delphis delphis Linnaeus, 1758- Delfin Comun - 64. Lagenodelphis hosei Fraser, 1956 - Delf=EDn de Fraser 65. Grampus griseus (G. Cuvier, 1812) - Delfin de Risso - 66. Pseudorca crassidens (Owen, 1846) Reinhardt, 1862 - Falsa Orca - 67. Globicephala melas edwardii (Smith, 1834) - Calderon - 68. Orcinus orca (Linnaeus, 1758) True, 1904 - Orca 69. Phocoena spinipinnis Burmeister, 1865 - Marsopa Espinosa - 70. Australophocoena dioptrica (Lahille, 1912) - Marsopa de Anteojos 71. Ziphius cavirostris G. Cuvier, 1823 - Ballena Picuda de Cuvier - 72. Hyperoodon planifrons Flower, 1882 - Ballena Nariz de Botella del Sur 73. Mesoplodon layardii (Gray, 1865) Turner, 1880 - Ballena de Layard - 74. Kogia breviceps (de Blainville, 1838) Gray, 1846 - Cachalote Pigmeo - 75. Physeter catodon Linnaeus, 1758 - Cachalote - 76. Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacepede, 1804 - Ballena Minke - 77. Balaenoptera borealis schlegelii (Flower, 1865) - Ballena Sei - 78. Balaenoptera physalus guoyi (Fischer, 1829) Rice & Scheffer, 1968 - Ballena Fin 79. Balaenoptera musculus intermedia Burmeister, 1872 - Ballena Azul 80. Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) Kellogg, 1932 - Ballena Jorobada 81. Eubalaena australis Desmoulins, 1822 - Ballena Franca Austral - 100. Lobodon carcinophagus (Hombron & Jacquinot , 1842) - Foca Cangrejera 101. Hydrurga leptonyx (de Blainville, 1820) Pocock, 1962 - Foca Leopardo 102. Leptonychotes weddellii (Lesson, 1826) J. A. Allen - Foca de Weddell -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 5 Oct 2003 17:41:57 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MARMAM Monthly Editorial Policy and FAQ Posted 5 October 2003 ==================================================== MARMAM Editorial Policy & 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. What notices from regional groups are posted? 13. Useful websites 14. Other email discussion lists 15. 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, run through the University of Victoria. The list was established in August 1993 specifically for marine mammal researchers and graduate students, as well as those actively involved in marine mammal conservation and management. As of January 2002 there were over 4,100 subscribers from 72 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. Posting of messages to the list is done at the Editors' discretion. ________________________________________________________ >> 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 announcements - internship/volunteer opportunities. To help students discern the pros and cons of different research groups we ask that that postings provide details of the research experience that volunteers will gain from this position. Posts for volunteer opportunities (particularly paying opportunities) that are not university-affiliated, should provide a measure of their research output in terms of publications available. For groups that do not do this, we will add the note: NO PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE ON THIS WORK If you are affiliated with a university research group, please make this clear in your posting. Finally, provide an indication of the level of payment required from the volunteers: whether the position is paid, volunteers are subsidised in terms of accomodation but have to provide their own flights, or whether there is a charge for the position. - 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 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) 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 ensures that: - An appropriate and explicit 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 4000+ list members. - 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. All information should be included as text within the body of the message. - Messages are properly formatted and do not contain excessive numbers of typos. Messages that 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. Please note the following about message formatting. 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. Further, we have noticed that messages composed by cutting and pasting directly from WordPerfect or Word can cause line wrapping problems. Therefore, messages should not be composed using the latter method. Several e-mail programs append encoded information (MIME, Metafile, and V-cards are common ones). Web-based e-mail programs often append HTML tags by default. These "embelishments" cause display and readability problems and are strongly discouraged. Whenever possible users should disable HTML tags (or send the text-only version) and other encoding features when submitting messages to MARMAM. EVERY EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO SUBMIT MESSAGES AS PLAIN TEXT. These practices will greatly reduce the number of messages with strange formatting that appear on MARMAM. ________________________________________________________ 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. What notices from regional groups are posted? Submissions from regional groups (for example, but not restricted to, the regional chapters of the American Cetacean Society or the regional student chapters of professional associations such as the Society for Marine Mammalogy) should carefully consider whether their announcements are relevant to 4,000+ recipients in 72 countries. Announcements about meetings of short duration (less that half a day) and with little or no scientifc content are discouraged. Notices dealing with internal chapter businesses or organizational matters will not be posted. Notices from regional student chapters 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). ________________________________________________________ 13. 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: http://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/ Oceans Blue Whalewatch Listserv: http://www.oceansblue.org/bluetourism/chartacourse/ BajaToBering/index.html ______________________________________________________ 14. 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) ________________________________________________________ 15. 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, 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 July 2002 ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 5 Oct 2003 19:02:09 +0200 From: Giovanni Bearzi Subject: Summary - Common bottlenose dolphin with mutilated dorsal fin observed in the Mediterranean A number of list members offered useful information and some proposed theories about the possible events that could have caused the dorsal fin mutilation shown at http://www.tethys.org/finless/finless.htm The hypotheses included: 1) a cut inferred with a sharp knife, either following bycatch or while the dolphin was swimming near a boat ("knife"); 2) a shark bite ("shark"); 3) a mutilation caused by either a fishing line or a cable ("fishing line"); and 4) a propeller cut ("propeller"). Hypotheses in the e-mails were scored as follows: 1 for single cause hypothesis (e.g. "shark") 0.5 for multiple hypotheses (e.g. "either propeller or knife") E-mails containing more than two hypotheses were not received. The result was: propeller__10.5 knife__4 fishing line__2 shark__1 Many list members acknowledged that if the cut resulted from a propeller strike, it was of an unusual kind as propeller cuts normally do not cause the ripping off of the skin that was observed in our case. However, one researcher (Dr. Kevin Robinson) compared our case with one observed in his study area, where a dolphin had a dorsal fin that was incompletely cut off -- see: http://www.crru.org.uk/others/floppy.htm Dr. Robinson pointed out that "the drag resulting from a propeller strike injury may be associated with the tear on the right hand side of the fin seen in your own example, likely caused by the hanging dorsal, the end result being the entire section of the connective tissue being pulled away". Some list members also noted that the dolphin was emaciated. It is unknown if this condition preceded or followed the mutilation. Indeed, several individuals (with dorsal fin) in our study area show signs of emaciation. The finless dolphin was not sighted again during daily surveys conducted by us until the end of September. I would like to thank all those who provided ideas and information. Best regards, Giovanni Bearzi ____________________________________________________ Giovanni Bearzi, Ph.D. bearzi(\)inwind.it President, Tethys Research Institute and Contract professor of Cetacean conservation, University of Venice c/o Venice Natural History Museum Santa Croce 1730, 30135 Venezia, Italy voice: +39 0412750206; fax: +39 041721000 http://www.tethys.org ____________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2003 05:15:44 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Forum Announcement - Wildlife conservation: In Pursuit of Ecologi (fwd) From: "Fink, Sheryl" Forum Announcement - Wildlife conservation: In Pursuit of Ecological Sustainability June 17-20, 2004, Limerick, Ireland. FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR CONTRIBUTED PAPERS DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACTS: 1 FEBRUARY 2004 Updates to be posted at http://www.ifaw.org/forum The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), in association with the University of Limerick, will be holding an international forum in Limerick, Ireland, from 17-20 June 2004. The theme of the forum is: Wildlife Conservation: In Pursuit of Ecological Sustainability. The objective of the forum is to focus attention on, and to advance the understanding of, issues surrounding the pursuit of ecologically sustainable use and the conservation of wildlife (including marine mammals, and fisheries). PROGRAMME The programme consists of approximately 24 invited lectures, and a limited number of contributed papers, which will be presented as posters. Opportunities for discussion and debate will be provided following each lecture, and during dedicated poster sessions scheduled throughout the forum. The programme is divided into five sessions. Session 1 will provide The Global Context and discuss some past and current realities: the loss of biodiversity, past failures to achieve ecological sustainability of exploited populations, and the changing face of conservation toward the commodification of nature and natural resources, free trade and globalisation. Session 2 will discuss a number of Modern Examples where attempts to achieve ecological sustainability have largely failed, including: commercial fisheries, the elephant ivory trade, whales and whaling, and the on-going bushmeat crisis in Africa. Session 3 will examine some of the Factors at Play, including: human attitudes, values and objectives (arguably the basis for conservation initiatives and policies) and other ethical considerations, the scientific method (what science can and cannot contribute to conservation in an uncertain world), the limitations of purely economic approaches for achieving ecological sustainability, and our human roots as Darwinian animals. Session 4, The Way Forward, will examine a number of initiatives that, if widely implemented, could move us towards achieving the goal of ecological sustainability. Topics to be covered include: the need to divorce conservation from economic development, a review of the North American wildlife management scheme, and the development of precautionary, risk averse approaches designed to achieve ecologically sustainable results in an uncertain and changing world. Session 5 will present some ideas on how to best put Theory into Practice. It will provide insights into how societal attitudes change, and why, offer suggestions on how to change public opinion, and how, ultimately, to facilitate political change in both the developed and developing world. CONTRIBUTED PAPERS: CALL FOR ABSTRACTS The programme committee invites submission of abstracts to be considered for inclusion in the programme as contributed poster papers. Abstracts will be received until 1 February 2004. Abstracts should follow the guidelines described in the "Abstract Guidelines" section at www.ifaw.org/forum. For more information on the Forum including a list of confirmed speakers, please visit http://www.ifaw.org/forum, or contact: Sheryl Fink International Fund for Animal Welfare sfink(\)ifaw.org The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW -- www.ifaw.org) works to improve the welfare of wild and domestic animals throughout the world by reducing commercial exploitation of animals, protecting wildlife habitats, and assisting animals in distress. IFAW seeks to motivate the public to prevent cruelty to animals and to promote animal welfare and conservation policies that advance the well-being of both animals and people. This transmission is intended only for use by the addressee(s) named herein and may contain information that is proprietary, confidential and/or legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the information contained herein (including any reliance thereon) is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you received this transmission in error, please immediately contact the sender and destroy the material in its entirety, whether in electronic or hard copy format. Thank you. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2003 09:39:38 -0700 From: Stephanie Norman Subject: availability of cable report For those interested, copies of the following may be requested from Stephanie.Norman(\)noaa.gov Norman, S.A. and A.L. Lopez. 2002. Update on marine mammal interactions with undersea cables. U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA, Nat. Mar. Fish. Serv., Alaska Fish. Sci. Cent. Unpubl. document, 19p. This paper presents findings regarding current knowledge of fault data attributable to marine mammal entanglements since 1955, provides a brief discussion of current trends and applications in submarine cable technology (construction, laying, and repair), with relevant comparisons to older technology, and how these improvements may minimize interactions with marine mammals. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2003 14:52:59 +0100 From: "J.C.Goold" Subject: New Sperm Whale PhD Thesis ------ Dear List Subscribers, You may be interested in a new Sperm Whale PhD thesis by Dr. Violaine Drouot, resulting from a collaborative project between the University of Wales, Bangor, and the Centre de Recherche sur les C=E9tac=E9s. The cita= tion is as follows: Drouot V. (2003). Ecology of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) in the Mediterranean Sea. PhD Thesis, University of Wales, Bangor This thesis is available for download from the following site: http://www.bangor.ac.uk/ies/med.html Best regards John Goold ----------------- Dr. John C. Goold Institute of Environmental Science University of Wales, Bangor Robinson Building Deiniol Road Bangor Gwynedd. LL57 2UW. UK. Tel: +44 (0)1248 388165 Fax: +44 (0)1248 383646 Email: j.c.goold(\)bangor.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2003 21:22:14 +0000 From: Christine O'Sullivan Subject: Aerial survey data sheet The National Environment and Planning Agency in Jamaica is planning on conducting an aerial survey for marine mammals and sea turtles along the coastline of the island. The survey is to be conducted between the month of October or the first week in November. We are currently compiling a survey data sheet and would like to look at template in order to assist us in preparing our data sheet. We are therefore requesting your assistance in sourcing copies of data sheets that have been used in past aerial surveys. We would appreciate it if they could be sent to cosullivan(\)nepa.gov.jm. Thank you, Christine O'Sullivan Environmental Officer Biodiversity Secretariat National Environment and Planning Agency 10 & 11 Caledonia Avenue Kingston 5, Jamaica W.I. Telephone: (876) 908-4657 _________________________________________________________________ MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2003 01:33:58 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: The Research and Management of Solitary Sociable Odontocetes (fwd) From: "Courtney Stark" Greetings, We are writing to inform you that "The Research and Management of = Solitary Sociable Odontocetes" workshop originally to be held at the = forthcoming Society for Marine Mammalogy Biennial on December 14th is = canceled. Although this decision was reached with some regret, we = believe that under the circumstances it is the best decision for the = long term progress on this topic.=20 The decision to reschedule this workshop for an alternative future date = was made for various reasons, including the timing of the conference and = the inability of many of the key experts workng with solitary = odontocetes to travel to the workshop, as well as conflicts with other = workshops to be held on the same day. =20 We sincerely apologize for this turn of events. Please let us know if it = presents any difficulties for those planning to attend. Sincerely, Toni Frohoff (frohoff(\)earthlink.net) and Courtney Stark Vail = (courtney(\)wdcs.org)=20 (on behalf of ourselves and Kathleen Dudzinski, who is currently working = abroad) -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2003 08:12:37 -0700 From: "R.H. Defran" Subject: SMM Workshop on Digital Photography First MarMam Notice: A workshop on "Advances in Digital Photography and Applications for the Study of Marine Mammals" will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2003 at the Society of Marine Mammalogy Conference in Greensboro, NC., from 8 am to 12 noon. The workshop is sponsored by HARBOR BRANCH Oceanographic Institution's Division of Dolphin Research and Conservation and there will be no fee charged to participants. A description of the workshop's theme and presentation topics can be found at the "Workshops" link of the SMM Conference website. Registering for the workshop is easy. Just send me an email expressing your interest in attending the workshop and I will reply confirming that you are registered. In order to facilitate interactions among participants and presenters, we have set a cutoff of 70 participants for this workshop. Currently, we have about 42 individuals registered and 28 open slots. Also, we have set a registration deadline of October 27, 2003 so that we may anticipate the number of handouts needed and place our order for refreshments (coffee and tea) to be served at the break. A final note, we are still seeking presentations on applications of digital photography to work with pinnipeds and marine mammal health assessment. If you feel you have a contribution to make in either of these areas as a presenter, please correspond with me directly by email. All Best, R.H. Defran, Ph.D. Email: rdefran(\)sunstroke.sdsu.edu HARBOR BRANCH Oceanographic Institution Division of Dolphin Research and Conservation, and Cetacean Behavior Laboratory, San Diego State University ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2003 11:52:13 -0700 From: Jaime Bolanos Subject: Transaminasa ranges in Delphinus spp. Dear friends and colleagues: As you may know, a young female long-snouted common dolphin (Delphinus capensis) is being rehabilitated in Margarita Island, norheastern Venezuela since last May. The Biodiversity Branch of the Ministry of Environment (ONDB-MARN) has created a Technical Committee in order to evaluate the situation and to count on technical data and opinions to best decide the fate of the dolphin. National and international researchers and experts have been called to assist the ONDB-MARN in this issue, including my organization. Priority has been stated by the ONDB-MARN for efforts to release the dolphin. Nevertheless, according to lab exams and veterinarian opinion, there is a very high level of transaminases, that could be due to liver damage or malfunction. As long as this species has rarely been kept in captivity, we are interested in any data regarding standard (or "normal") levels of transaminasas in any species of the Genus Delphinus. We would be very grateful if any colleague makes available to us any information or references, published or unpublished, regarding levels of transaminasas in this species. If so, please contact me at: Jaime Bolanos sea_vida(\)yahoo.es Very best regards Jaime __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search http://shopping.yahoo.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2003 11:27:40 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: _Marine_Mammal_trainer_position_available_at_the_Fjord (fwd) Fjord&Baelt - Go Under Water KERTEMINDE , DENMARK Marine Mammal Trainer Applications are invited to a position as marine mammal trainer at the Fjord&B=E6lt - Go Under Water in Kerteminde, Funen, Denmark, from the beginning of 2004. Deadline: November 15, 2003 Working environment 1. The Fjord&Baelt - Go Under Water is a marine activity centre that opened in 1997, created to combine research, public exhibition, aquariums and education on marine issues. The centre is visited by 80,000 guests each year and has a personnel of 12 full-time staff, not including the many interns and part-time staff. 2. The Kerteminde Fjord, the Danish Belts and their marine life = are the common denominators for all the activities. As such, the harbour porpoise is the main topic of research and one of the main attractions. T= he purpose is to enhance research into behaviour and ways of reducing by-cat= ch as well as informing the public and creating more awareness. For that, th= e centre has permission to hold four harbour porpoises in captivity. Beside= s the harbour porpoises, the centre holds also four harbour seals mainly fo= r display purposes, but also some research. 3. The marine mammal department consists of 1,1 harbour porpoise= s, 1,3 harbour seals, and a team composed of a French supervisor, a French senior trainer, and a part-time German veterinarian. Danish and foreign interns assist in the daily care. International research co-operation is currently carried out with Danish, Swedish, German and English institutio= ns. 4. The Fjord&Baelt is located in Kerteminde, Denmark. Kerteminde= is located 20 km from Odense, the third largest city in Denmark (200.000 inhabitants), on the island of Funen, and has a population of approx. 8,0= 00. It is at two hours public transportation from Copenhagen, the Danish capital. Historically, Kerteminde is one of the last functioning fishing villages in Denmark and one of the larger tourist sites with its old Dani= sh architecture and attractive beaches. Type of employment Duties will be mainly to participate in the training and daily care/maintenance of the harbour porpoises and harbour seals held in outdo= or, netted pools with open water access. Duties consist furthermore in participating in the supervision and teaching of interns, in research projects, public presentations and other centre activities. Expectations from the applicant =B7 The successful applicant is expected to show a good deal of per= sonal involvement, consistency, responsibility, independence, initiative, creativity, flexibility, opening to new tasks and new challenges, and the last but not the least humour. =B7 Ability to communicate and work harmoniously in a team of an international context is essential. =B7 There is an obligation of residence in the town of Kerteminde. =B7 Applicants have to be able to speak and write English fluently.= If working knowledge of Danish is not present at the time of appointment, sufficient knowledge of Danish for participation in meetings and extensio= n to the public must be acquired within a year. =B7 Applicants should have a driving and a diving license. Experience Applicant should have 3 years experience with husbandry and training of whales and a solid background in theoretical training. Will be considered as important additional qualifications: =B7 Training experience with pinnipeds =B7 Experience in supervising interns =B7 A university education in biology and/or animal behavior =B7 Experience in training for experimental research =B7 Active participation in research projects =B7 Previous participation in conferences and workshops/courses. =B7 Knowledge of Danish and German We offer =B7 Pleasant working atmosphere, among a young, dynamic and open- minded team, dialogue and humour. =B7 Nice working place and environment in a modern facility. =B7 Possibility in participating to conferences and workshops. =B7 Possibility in participating in outdoor research projects. =B7 Possibilities of further personal development. =B7 Help in the administrative procedures and research of housing= , as well as integration process. Salary/Working hours/Vacation =B7 Salary and other conditions of appointment will be based on Dan= ish regulations. The salary is subject to Danish incomes taxes and social expenses and is based on the Danish system of working flexible hours. The salary will be negotiated at around DKR 17500 (c. EUR 2350) per month. =B7 Working hours are 37 hours per week, variable hours including weekends and holidays. Overtime will be compensated for in extra time off= on a 1/1 ratio. =B7 Accrual per month of work accomplished is 2,5 days, equivalent = to 5 weeks' vacation per year. Application The application should include: =B7 a resume, =B7 a statement of interest, =B7 a description of research involvement and reprints of publicati= ons, if any, =B7 three reference letters from previous aquarium curators and hea= d trainers. These letters of reference should be emailed/sent directly to t= he Fjord-B=E6lt (genevieve(\)fjord-baelt.dk) by their authors. They should be marked as 'Marine mammal trainer position - November 2003' followed by th= e name of the applicant. The author should clearly indicate in which qualification he is making the recommendation. Three copies of the application must be mailed to Dr. Genevi=E8ve Desport= es (Fjord&B=E6lt - Go Under Water, Margrethes Plads 1, DK-5300 Kerteminde, Denmark), or one copy emailed to genevieve(\)fjord-baelt.dk. The complete application must be received not later than November 15, 200= 3 in order to be considered. Further Information Information on the Fjord&B=E6lt - Go Under Water can be found on www.gounderwater.com . Further information about the position may be obtained from the leader of the Marine Mammal Department, Dr. Genevi=E8ve Desportes (genevieve(\)fjord-baelt.dk / +45 65 32 57 83 # 25) and the senior trainer Marie Anne Blanchet (marie(\)fjord-baelt.dk / +45 65 32 57 83 # 19), Fax: +45 65 32 42 64. > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > -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") > -Do not submit attached files or HTML/MIME messages. > -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: Tue, 7 Oct 2003 14:44:11 -0700 From: "R.H. Defran" Subject: Digital Photography Workshop Second MarMam Notice: Dear All, I didn't expect the second Digital Photography notice to come so soon, but a typo in the First Notice was pointed out to me. The first notice advertised the workshop date as Saturday, December 14, 2003. December 14, 2003 was correct but the Saturday day was not, as December 14, 2003 is a Sunday. Summarizing and Correcting: The Digital Photography workshop will be held on Sunday, December 14, 2003. Sorry for the goof. All Best, R.H. Defran, Ph.D. Email: rdefran(\)sunstroke.sdsu.edu HARBOR BRANCH Oceanographic Institution Division of Dolphin Research and Conservation, and Cetacean Behavior Laboratory, San Diego State University ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2003 11:22:40 -0700 From: "David S. Janiger" Subject: New Articles Hi, all! Here's the latest posting of new PDF's that are available. Abstracts also available on request. All files are under 1 MB, except two (noted below). Persons with hotmail accounts, please send another email address if you want the LEWIS, et al or THOMPSON, et al articles. Please make all requests to: janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu Cheers David Janiger - Curatorial Assistant (Mammals) Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007 (213) 763-3369 janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu djaniger(\)nhm.org AMANO, MASAO and MOTOI YOSHIOKA. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 258:291-295. 2003. Sperm whale diving behavior monitored using a suction-cup-attached TDR tag. ANDRE, JESSICA and IVAN R. LAWLER. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 257:259-266. 2003. Near infrared spectroscopy as a rapid and inexpensive means of dietary analysis for the marine herbivore, dugong Dugong dugon. BACKLIN, B. M.; C. BREDHULT and M. OLOVSSON. TOXICOLOGICAL SCIENCES 75(1):154-160. 2003. Proliferative effects of estradiol, progesterone, and two CB congeners and their metabolites on gray seal (Halichoerus grypus) uterine myocytes in vitro. BACO, AMY R. and CRAIG R. SMITH. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 260:109-114. 2003. High species richness in deep-sea chemoautotrophic whale skeleton communities. BONAR, CHRISTOPHER J. and ROBERT A. WAGNER. JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE 34(3):296-301. 2003. A third report of "Golf Ball Disease" in an Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) associated with Streptococcus iniae. BORJESSON, PATRIK and ANDREW J. READ. JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY 84(3):948-955. 2003. Variation in timing of conception between populations of the harbor porpoise. (Phocoena phocoena) DA-SILVA, CIBELE Q.; JOSEMAR RODRIGUES; JOSE G. LEITE and LUIS A. MILAN. COMMUNICATIONS IN STATISTICS-SIMULATION AND COMPUTATION 32(3):677-696. 2003. Bayesian estimation of the size of a closed population using photo-ID data with part of the population uncatchable. DALTON, REX. NATURE (LONDON) 424(6950):715. 2003. Biologists call for tracking as mammal numbers dive. ERSTS, PETER J. and HOWARD C. ROSENBAUM. JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY (LONDON) 260(4):337-345. 2003. Habitat preference reflects social organization of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) on a wintering ground. FRIE, ANNE KIRSTINE; VLADIMIR A. POTELOV; MICHAEL C. S. KINGSLEY and TORE HAUG. ICES (INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE EXPLORATION OF THE SEAS) JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE 60(5):1018-1032. 2003. Trends in age-at-maturity and growth parameters of female Northeast Atlantic harp seals, Pagophilus groenlandicus (Erxleben, 1777). GRIFFIN, ROBERT B. and NANCY J. GRIFFIN. GULF OF MEXICO SCIENCE 21(1):23-34. 2003. Distribution, habitat partitioning, and abundance of Atlantic spotted dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, and loggerhead sea turtles on the eastern Gulf of Mexico continental shelf. HUCKSTADT, L. A. and T. ANTEZANA. ICES (INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE EXPLORATION OF THE SEAS) JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE 60(5):1003-1011. 2003. Behaviour of the southern sea lion (Otaria flavescens) and consumption of the catch during purse-seining for jack mackerel (Trachurus symmetricus) Off central Chile. JABER, J. R.; J. PEREZ; M. ARBELO; P. HERRAEZ; A. E. DE LOS MONTEROS; F. RODNIGUEZ; T. FERNANDEZ and A. FERNANDEZ. JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PATHOLOGY 129(2-3):226-230. 2003. Immunophenotypic characterization of hepatic inflammatory cell infiltrates in common dolphins (Delphinus delphis). LEA, MARY-ANNE and LAURENT DUBROCA. ICES (INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE EXPLORATION OF THE SEAS) JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE 60(5):990-1002. 2003. Fine-scale linkages between the diving behaviour of Antarctic fur seals and oceanographic features in the southern Indian Ocean. LEUNG NG, SAI and SZE LEUNG. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 56(5):555-567. 2003. Behavioral response of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) to vessel traffic. LEWIS, JENNIFER S. and WILLIAM W. SCHROEDER. GULF OF MEXICO SCIENCE 21(1):92-97. 2003. Mud plume feeding, a unique foraging behavior of the bottlenose dolphin in the Florida Keys. File size: 1.559 MB LUSSEAU, DAVID. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 257:267-274. 2003. Male and female bottlenose dolphins Tursiops spp. have different strategies to avoid interactions with tour boats in Doubtful Sound, New Zealand. LUSSEAU, DAVID; KARSTEN SCHNEIDER; OLIVER J. BOISSEAU; PATTI HAASE; ELISABETH SLOOTEN and STEVE M. DAWSON. BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY 54(4):396-405. 2003. The bottlenose dolphin community of Doubtful Sound features a large proportion of long-lasting associations - Can geographic isolation explain this unique trait? MARATEA, JENNIFER; DARLA R. EWALT; SALVATORE FRASCA, JR.; J. LAWRENCE DUNN; SYLVAIN DE GUISE; LECH SZKUDLAREK; DAVID J. ST. AUBIN and RICHARD A. FRENCH. JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE 34(3):256-261. 2003. Evidence of Brucella sp. Infection in marine mammals stranded along the coast of southern New England. MIZUNO, AYAKO W.; MANABU ONUMA; MANAMI TAKAHASHI and NORIYUKI OHTAISHI. ZOOLOGICAL SCIENCE 20(6):783-788. 2003. Population genetic structure of the spotted seal Phoca largha along the Coast of Hokkaido, based on mitochondrial DNA sequences. MUELBERT, M. M. C.; W. D. BOWEN and S. J. IVERSON. PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ZOOLOGY 76(3):418-427. 2003. Weaning mass affects changes in body composition and food intake in harbour seal pups during the first month of independence. POTELOV, V. A.; A. P. GOLIKOV and V. A. BONDAREV. ICES (INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE EXPLORATION OF THE SEAS) JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE 60(5):1012-1017. 2003. Estimated pup production of harp seals Pagophilus groenlandicus in the White Sea, Russia, in 2000. SIMPKINS, MICHAEL A.; LISA M. HIRUKI-RARING; GAY SHEFFIELD; JACQUELINE M. GREBMEIER and JOHN L. BENGTSON. POLAR BIOLOGY 26(9):577-586. 2003. Habitat selection by ice-associated pinnipeds near St. Lawrence Island, Alaska in March 2001. STEVICK, PETER T.; JUDITH ALLEN; PHILLIP J. CLAPHAM; NANCY FRIDAY; STEVEN K. KATONA; FINN LARSEN; JON LIEN; DAVID K. MATTILA; PER J. PALSBOLL; JOHANN SIGURJONSSON; TIM D. SMITH; NILS OIEN and PHILIP S. HAMMOND. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 258:263-273. 2003. North Atlantic humpback whale abundance and rate of increase four decades after protection from whaling. THOMPSON, DAVID; SIMON E. W. MOSS and PHIL LOVELL. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 260:285-296. 2003. Foraging behaviour of South American fur seals Arctocephalus australis: extracting fine scale foraging behaviour from satellite tracks. File size: 1.182 MB ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2003 10:39:49 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: FW: Dissertation Available (fwd) The following dissertation is now available at the University of Hawaii a= t Manoa, Zoology Department: Maldini, D. 2003. ABUNDANCE AND DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS OF HAWAIIAN ODONTOCETES: FOCUS ON OAHU. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Zoology Department. 125pp. ABSTRACT This dissertation is an assessment of the status of odontocetes in Hawaii= an waters focussing on O=B4ahu. The work builds on available literature, and= on data collected by the author and by others in Hawaiian waters.=20 Abundance and distribution patterns of odontocetes were derived from stranding and aerial survey data. A stranding network operated by the National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Islands Regional Office collec= ted 187 stranding reports throughout the main Hawaiian Islands between 1937 a= nd 2002. These reports included 16 odontocete species. Number of stranding reports increased over time and was highest on Oahu. Strandings occurred throughout the year. The difference in number of strandings per month was not significant. Fifteen of the 16 species reported in the stranding reco= rd for the main Hawaiian Islands were also reported by aerial survey studies= of the area between 1993 and 1998. Only 7 of the species reported were detec= ted during aerial transects around Oahu between 1998 and 2000. Based on the stranding record, Kogia sp., melon-headed whales, striped dolphins and dw= arf killer whale appear to be more common than suggested by aerial surveys. Conversely, pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins were more common, accord= ing to aerial surveys, than predicted by the stranding data. Aerial surveys o= f waters between 0 and 500m around the Island of Oahu showed that the most abundant species by frequency of occurrence was the pilot whale (30% of sightings), followed by the spinner (16%) and bottlenose dolphin (14%). Because of small sample size, abundance estimates for odontocetes have a high level of uncertainty. The unavailability of a correction factor for g(0)<1, and the reduced visibility below the aircraft further reduced accuracy and increased the inherent underestimation in the data. The most abundant species according to distance sampling estimates were spotted dolphins, pilot whales, false killer whales and spinner dolphins.A natura= l factor shaping the ecology of odontocete populations is predation pressur= e both by other odontocetes and, more frequently, by sharks. An account of predation by a tiger shark on a spotted dolphin near Penguin Banks is use= d as an example of the potential mechanisms of predation by sharks on odontocetes. Please contact author for copies of this manuscript. Dr. Daniela Maldini Research Associate Alaska SeaLife Center PO Box 1329 Seward, AK 99664 907.224.6375 daniela_maldini(\)alaskasealife.org -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2003 10:47:09 -0700 From: "R.H. Defran" Subject: Digital Photography Workshop at SMM Conference boundary="----=_NextPart_000_00B2_01C38E52.B04D1510" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_00B2_01C38E52.B04D1510 charset="iso-8859-1" Third MarMam Notice: Dear All, All available registration slots for the Digital Photography workshop at the SMM conference have been filled and I will not be able to honor additional registration requests. All requests I received by this morning, Thursday, October 9, 2003 should have received an email confirmation from me that they have been registered for this workshop. I will correspond off-list by email, within the next two weeks, to all the individuals who are registered for the workshop giving additional details about workshop arrangements, including a final list of presenters and their topics, as well as a schedule of presentation times, etc. Thanks to all of you who expressed an interest in this workshop. To others who may have been considering registration but had not yet corresponded, I regret that we have filled our available slots so quickly. All Best, R.H. Defran, Ph.D. Email: rdefran(\)sunstroke.sdsu.edu HARBOR BRANCH Oceanographic Institution Division of Dolphin Research and Conservation, and Cetacean Behavior Laboratory, San Diego State University ------=_NextPart_000_00B2_01C38E52.B04D1510 charset="iso-8859-1"

Third MarMam=20 Notice:

Dear All,

All available = registration=20 slots for the Digital Photography workshop at the SMM conference have been = filled and I=20 will not be able to honor additional registration requests. All = requests I=20 received by this morning, Thursday, October 9, 2003 should have = received an=20 email confirmation from me that they have been registered for this = workshop. I=20 will correspond off-list by email, within the next two weeks, to all the = individuals who are registered for the workshop giving additional = details about=20 workshop arrangements, including a final list of presenters and their = topics, as=20 well as a schedule of presentation times, etc.

Thanks to all = of you who=20 expressed an interest in this workshop. To others who may have been = considering=20 registration but had not yet corresponded, I regret that we have filled = our=20 available slots so quickly.
 
All Best,
R.H. Defran, Ph.D.
Email: rdefran(\)sunstroke.sdsu.edu
HARBOR BRANCH Oceanographic = Institution
Division of Dolphin Research and Conservation, = and=20
Cetacean Behavior Laboratory, San Diego State=20 University
------=_NextPart_000_00B2_01C38E52.B04D1510-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2003 23:11:35 -0400 From: "Howard C. Rosenbaum" Subject: Position Announcement: Post-Doctoral Fellowship Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" ------ =20 Postdoctoral Position: Genetic Diversity and Population Structure among North Atlantic right whales using historical specimens =20 A one-year Postdoctoral Fellowship position is available at the Wildlife Conservation Society=B9s Conservation Genetics Program to participate in = a project that focuses on examining historical genetic diversity among Nort= h Atlantic right whales using a variety of historical and archaeological specimens. =20 The person who joins this project will be expected to build upon previous work done in our lab that will provide a better understanding of the gene= tic variability of North Atlantic right whales through time. =20 Requirements: PhD with extensive experience in ancient DNA methodologies= is essential, including DNA extraction, PCR amplification, DNA sequencing, cloning of DNA fragments, and microsatellite genotyping. The applicant should be independently motivated but have experience working in a large, multi-person, collaborative program. =20 Timeline: Position to start by January 1st, and preferably sooner. =20 Please send a CV, research statement detailing relevant experiences, and = the names of 3 references to Dr. Howard Rosenbaum at hrosenbaum(\)wcs.org prior= to October 29th. Electronic submission of pdf files preferred.=20 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2003 23:22:48 -0400 From: "Howard C. Rosenbaum" Subject: Position Announcement: Research Assistant or Post-Doctoral Fellow Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" ------ =20 =20 Research Assistant or Post-Doctoral Fellow =20 Dr. Howard Rosenbaum of the Wildlife Conservation Society is offering a 1-year position to assist him in the development of conservation programs off the coast of Gabon. The program focuses on the use of a variety of methodologies and approaches for research and conservation of humpback whales and other marine mammals off Gabon=B9s coast. The successful appl= icant would work with Dr. Rosenbaum and members of his team to help review the status of marine mammals species off Gabon and to develop a series of management plans on issues including oil and seismic impacts, regulation = and monitoring of ecotourism activities, and a national action plan for these species and their coastal habitats. Opportunities to undertake field wo= rk on cetaceans as part of this position are possible. =20 Timeline: Position to start as soon as possible, no later than January 1s= t. =20 Requirements: M.S. or PhD with publication experience and field experienc= e working on topics and species described above are required. The applican= t should be mature and highly motivated. Experience and demonstrated intere= st wildlife ecology, conservation biology, and practical field experience in developing countries are essential. The position will require a considera= ble amount of literature review and writing, and a proficiency in speaking an= d writing in French is preferred. An expertise and background that include= s strong computer skills, database management, basic statistics, and the us= e of geographical information systems (GIS) are also strongly suggested. =20 If interested: please send a cover letter, resume, and names and contact information (including phone numbers and emails) of three references to hrosenbaum(\)wcs.org prior to October 29th.=20 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 19:34:28 -0700 From: Kristin Kaschner Subject: Summary of information about sinking/drifting of whale carcasses boundary="=====================_23235601==.ALT" --=====================_23235601==.ALT Hi - A couple of weeks ago I posted a message on MARMAM asking for information=20 about sinking rates and/or drifting behaviour of whale carcasses. This is=20 apparently a topic that is very much of interest to a lot of people and I=20 am therefore providing a - fairly lengthy - summary of all the responses to= =20 my inquiry, including a more extensive list of relevant publications at the= =20 very bottom. In general, there appears to be little published information or data about= =20 the sinking rate or drifting behaviour of whales carcasses and only very=20 few studies have actually investigated this directly. Estimates drift times= =20 for dead sea otters in the California Current were about 6 weeks (Ames et=20 al, 2002) and Sch=E4fer, 1962, when describing the drifting of a cetacean=20 carcass (probably refering to a smaller odontocete species, although he=20 doesnt specify this), claims that these will drift for 'several weeks'=20 before sinking again. Paula Moreno studied the drifting behaviour of=20 harbour porpoises in the North Sea, however, I have been unable to obtain=20 copies of her thesis or related references. Giertsen & Morit, 1989 report=20 human bodies that have drifted for more than 500 km. Based on the observations of Mary Sternfeld, working with the NMFS Alaska=20 region stranding record set which contains several documented re-sightings= =20 of 'floaters', and Milton Cesar C. Marcondes from Brazil, baleen whales may= =20 float between 3-4 days (covering a distance of about 35 nm) to more than=20 four weeks. The Alaska data set also contains records of a dead sperm whale= =20 and a beluga, both of which were re-sighted after more than 3 weeks. Rod=20 Palm hazarded a guess that a stranded Baird's beaked whale found on the=20 west coast of Vancouver Island in 1997 may have been drifting for up to six= =20 months based on the body condition of the carcass, however, Pieter Folkens= =20 and Tim Cole speculated that particularly ziphiids and other deep diving=20 whales might float for very short time periods only, if at all. Greg Early suggested in this context that there may be re-sightings of=20 carcasses of larger cetacean species that, having been bycaught in US=20 offshore fisheries get subsequently tagged and re-released by the on-board= =20 observers, and that may show up on shore at some stage. He also suggested=20 that other potential sources of information may be game fishermen fishing=20 around whale carcasses or ornithologists studying petrels, that may have=20 tracked these birds as they're following floating carcasses. As can be seen from the information summarized above a number of factors=20 such as environmental temperature, salinity, geographic location, body size= =20 & shape as well as body composition of a given marine mammal species will=20 effect the actual drifting behaviour as well as the time that a carcass=20 will stay afloat. Michael Moore, Bettina Wurche, Pieter Folkens, Greg Early= =20 and others therefore suggested that these factors should be incorporated or= =20 addressed as much as possible when attempting to model drifting behaviour=20 of carcasses. In addition, there are apparently reports that whales don't=20 'follow the wind', and might be driven at an angle, which should also be=20 taken into consideration. There are a few other examples of attempts to model drifting of dead=20 whales. Greg Early and some of his colleagues conducted an exercise where=20 they tried to match the reports of re-sightings of floating humpback whale= =20 carcasses on George's Bank with an oceanographic circulation model to=20 eliminate duplicate counting of the same carcass. Owens Nichols pointed out= =20 a web site to me, that others may find of interest as well=20 http://peop= le.deas.harvard.edu/~robinson/Staccato/staccato.html=20 (Predictions of possible strike locations of a dead right whale using an=20 oceanographic model). Potentially useful may also be the extensive body of= =20 literature about turtle strandings, hydrodynamic models simulating drifting= =20 of zooplankton and a paper about a modeling exercise for drifting human=20 bodies in Pudget Sound (Ebbesmeyer & Haglund, 1994). Below is a list of references that I have compiled that contain information= =20 about drifting or sinking whales or closely related topics. I am indebted=20 to Bettina Wurche, Hoyt, Ta-Shana Taylor, Mark Deakos, Joe Gaydos, Jim=20 Bird, Jim Mead, Jan Ostman-Lind, Chuck Schom and Carmen Bazua for pointing= =20 out relevant publications. Other suggested sources included digging into=20 the old Norwegian whaling literature (from the 1940s based on data from=20 1930s), but I have not been able to find a specific reference so far. I am very grateful to everybody who took the time to respond to my inquiry= =20 and will be happy to try and answer any questions regarding this summary. Cheers, Kristin REFERENCES Alpers, Anthony (1960) A book of dolphins. J. Murray, London, 147 p (-> may= =20 contain some information about the time it takes for roquals to re-surface= =20 after they sink initially) Anderson, R. C., A. Shaan, and Z. Waheed. 1999. Records of cetacean=20 'strandings' from the Maldives. Journal of South Asian Natural History=20 4:187-202. Ames, J., M. Staedler, B. Hatfield, J. Geibel, M. Harris, L. Espinosa, R.=20 Imai, J. Muskat, N. Wright, and J. Kum. 2002. Dead sea otter drift and=20 recovery in central California. in MBNMS Symposium Sanctuary Currents 2002= =20 New Technologies: Revealing the Secrets of the Sea, California State=20 University, Monterey Bay, CA. Baird, R. W, Stacey, P J, Duffus, D A, Langelier, K M. 2002. An evaluation= =20 of gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) mortality incidental to fishing=20 operations in British Columbia, Canada. Journal of Cetacean Research and=20 Management. 4(3): 289-296 Best, P. B. 1982. Whales: why do they strand? African Wildlife 36:96-101. Bianucci, G., M. Bisconti, W. Landini, T. Storai, M. Zuffa, S. Giuliani,=20 and A. Mojetfa. 2002. Trophic interaction between white shark, Carcharodon= =20 carcharias, and cetaceans: a comparison between Pliocene and recent data=20 from central Mediterranean sea. Pages 33-48 in V. M., L. M. G., S. F., and= =20 B. Seret, editors. Proceedings of the 4th European Elasmobranch Association= =20 Meeting. ICRAM, ARPAT & SFI, Livorno (Italy). Brabyn, M., and R. V. C. Frew. 1994. New Zealand herd stranding sites do=20 not relate to geomagnetic topography. Marine Mammal Science 10:195-207. Brabyn, M., and I. G. MacLean. 1992. Oceanography and coastal topography of= =20 herd-stranding sites for whales in New Zealand. Journal of Mammalogy=20 73:469-476. Butman, C. A., J. T. Carlton, and S. R. Palumbi. 1995. Whaling effects on=20 deep-sea biodiversity. Conservation Biology 9:462-464. Butman, C. A., J. T. Carlton, and S. R. Palumbi. 1996. Whales Don't Fall=20 Like Snow: Reply to Jelmert. Conservation Biology 10:655-656. Coghlan, A. 1998. From a watery grave. New Scientist. 14 march 1998 Caillouet C.W., Shaver, D.J., Teas, W.G., Nance, J.M., Revera, D.B.,=20 Cannon, A.C. 1996. Relationship between sea turtle stranding rates and=20 shrimp fishing intensities in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico: 1986-1989=20 versus 1990-1993. Fishery Bulletin 94(2): 237-249 Christensen, I. 1990. A note on recent strandings of sperm whales (Physeter= =20 macrocephalus ) and other cetaceans in Norwegian waters (SC/41/O 5).=20 Reports of the International Whaling Commission 40: 513-515 Duguy, R. and Toussaint, P. 1977 Recherches sur les facteurs de mortalite=20 des cetaces sur les cotes de France. Conseil International pour=20 l'Exploration de la Mer, Comite des Mammiferes Marins, C.M. 1977/N:12, 5 pp. Duguy, R., and D. Wisdorff. 1988a. Les echouages de cetaces et les facteurs= =20 meteorologiques sur la cote Centre-Ouest Atlantique (Strandings of Cetacea= =20 and meteorological data on the Atlantic coast (from the Loire Estuary to=20 Gironde) (CM1988/N:3). Pages 6 in Comite des Mammiferes Marins - Council=20 Meeting of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. ICES,= =20 Bergen, Norway. Duguy, R., and D. Wisdorff. 1988b. Les echouages de Cetaces et les facteurs= =20 meteorologiques sur le cote centre-ouest atlantique. Oceanologica Acta=20 11:227-233. Ebbesmeyer, C. C., and W. D. Haglund. 1994. Drift trajectories of a=20 floating human body simulated in a hydraulic model of Puget Sound. Journal= =20 of Forensic Sciences 39:231-240. Eguchi, T. 2002. A method for calculating the effect of a die-off from=20 stranding data. Marine Mammal Science 18:698-709. Epperly, Braun, Chester, Cross, Merriner, Tester, and Churchill. 1996.=20 Beach strandings as an indicator of at-sea mortality of sea turtles.=20 Bulletin of Marine Science 59:289-297. Geraci, J. R. 1978. The enigma of marine mammal strandings. Oceanus= 21:38-71. Geraci, J. R., and V. J. Lounsbury. 1993. Marine mammals ashore. Seagrant,= =20 Texas A & M University, Galveston. Giertsen, J., and I. Morild. 1989. Seafaring bodies. American Journal of=20 Forensic Medicine & Pathology 10:25-27. Hinrichsen, H.-H., U. Boettcher, F. W. Koester, A. Lehmann, and J. M. A.=20 St. 2003. Modelling the influences of atmospheric forcing conditions on=20 Baltic cod early life stages: Distribution and drift. Journal of Sea=20 Research 49:187-201. Jelmert, A., and D. O. Oppen-Berntsen. 1996. Whaling and Deep-Sea=20 Biodiversity. Conservation Biology 10:653-654. Jones, E. G., M. A. Collins, P. M. Bagley, S. Addison, and I. G. Priede.=20 1998. The fate of cetacean carcasses in the deep sea: Observations on=20 consumption rates and scavenging species succession in the abyssal NE=20 Atlantic Ocean. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London (Series B):=20 Biological Sciences 256:1119-1127. Katona, S. K., and H. Whitehead. 1988. Are cetacea ecologically important.= =20 Oceanography and Marine Biology - A Review 26:553-568. Klinowska, M. 1986. The cetacean magnetic sense - evidence from strandings.= =20 Pages 401-432 in M. M. Bryden, editor. Research on Dolphins. Oxford=20 University Press, Oxford. Lewison, R. L., Crowder, L. B., and Shaver, D. J. (2003). The impact of=20 turtle excluder devices and fisheries closures on loggerhead and Kemp's=20 ridley strandings in the western Gulf of Mexico. Conservation Biology=20 17(4): 1089-1097 Lopez, A., M. B. Santos, G. J. Pierce, A. P. Gonzalez, A. Guerra, X.=20 Valeiras, J. Wang, and H. D. 1999. Trends in strandings of marine mammals=20 on the Galician coast during the 1990s. Pages 17 in ICES - Evaluation of=20 Complete Fisheries Systems Theme Session. (unpublished), Stockholm, Sweden. Maigret, J. 1979. Les echouges massifs de cetaces dans la region du=20 Cap-Vert (Senegal). Universit=E9 de Dakar - Institute Fondamental d'Afrique= =20 Noire. Moreno, P. 1993. Contribution for the study of decomposition and drifting=20 of carcasses of Phocoena phocoena in the German Bight. M.S. University of=20 Lisbon, Lisbon, Portual. Moreno, P., H. Benke, et al. (1993). Behaviour of Harbour Porpoise=20 (Phocoena phocoena) carcasses in the German Bight: surfacing rate,=20 decomposition and drift routes, BMU Report. Moreno, P., H. Benke, et al. (1993). Behaviour of Harbour Porpoise=20 (Phocoena phocoena) carcasses in the German Bight: Surfacing rate and drift= =20 routes. Conference Name, Inverness Moreno, P., H. Benke, et al. (1993). Aspects of Decomposition of Harbour=20 Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) carcasses: a study in the marine environment.= =20 Conference Name, Inverness Murphy, E. J., I. E. Everson, and P. N. Trathan. 1997. Horizontal flux of=20 secondary production in the Southern Ocean Food Web: current velocity data= =20 and the transport of krill in the South Georgia ecosystem (WG-EMM-97).=20 Pages 16 in CMMRL. (unpublished). Murphy, E. J., J. L. Watkins, K. Reid, P. N. Trathan, I. Everson, J. P.=20 Croxall, J. Priddle, and M. A. Brandon. 1998. Interannual variability of=20 the South Georgia marine ecosystem: biological and physical sources of=20 variation the in abundance of krill. Fisheries Oceanography 7:381-390. Ocean Scientists find life, warmth in the seas. Science. 279:1302 Pack, A. A., Salden, D. R., Ferrari, M. J., Glockner, F. D. A., Herman, L.= =20 M., Stubbs, H. A., & Straley, J. M. (1998). Male humpback whale dies in competitive group. Marine Mammal Science, 14(4), 861-873. Polacheck, T., F. W. Wenzel, and G. Early. 1995. What do stranding data say= =20 about harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena)? Pages 169-179 in A. Bj=F8rge and= =20 G. P. Donovan, editors. Biology of the phocoenids - Reports of the=20 International Whaling Commission (Special issue 16). IWC, Cambridge, UK. Power, J. H. 1986. A model of the drift of northern anchovy=20 engraulis-mordax larvae in the california current pacific ocean. Fishery=20 Bulletin 84:585-604. Sch=E4fer, W. 1962. Tod, Zerlegung und Einbettung der Meerestiere in=20 Abh=E4ngigkeit von ihrem Bau und ihrem Leben. Pages 17-48 in=20 Aktuo-Pal=E4ontologie nach Studien in der Nordsee. Verlag Waldemar Kramer,= =20 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Smith, C. R. 1992. Whale falls - chemosynthesis on the deep seafloor.=20 Oceanus:74-78. Smith, CR and AR Baco. 1998. Phylogenetic and functional affinities between= =20 whale-fall, seep and vent chemoautotrophic communities. Cahiers de Biologie. Voss, R., H.-H. Hinrichsen, and M. St John. 1999. Variation in the drift of= =20 larval cod (Gadus morhua L.) in the Baltic Sea: combining field=20 observations and modelling. Fisheries Oceanography 8. ************************************* Kristin Kaschner Ph.D. candidate Marine Mammal Research Unit University of British Columbia Hut B-3, 6248 Biological Sciences Road Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6T 1Z4 Phone: (604) 822-8181 (work) (604) 760 2067 (mobile) Fax: (604) 822-8180 http://www.zoology.ubc.ca/~kaschner/ --=====================_23235601==.ALT
Hi -

A couple of weeks ago I posted a message on MARMAM asking for information about sinking rates and/or drifting behaviour of whale carcasses. This is apparently a topic that is very much of interest to a lot of people and I am therefore providing a - fairly lengthy - summary of all the responses to my inquiry, including a more extensive list of relevant publications at the very bottom.

In general, there appears to be little published information or data about the sinking rate or drifting behaviour of whales carcasses and only very few studies have actually investigated this directly. Estimates drift times for dead sea otters in the California Current were about 6 weeks (Ames et al, 2002) and Sch=E4fer, 1962, when describing the drifting of a cetacean carcass (probably refering to a smaller odontocete species, although he doesnt specify this), claims that these will drift for 'several weeks' before sinking again. Paula Moreno studied the drifting behaviour of harbour porpoises in the North Sea, however, I have been unable to obtain copies of her thesis or related references. Giertsen & Morit, 1989 report human bodies that have drifted for more than 500 km.

Based on the observations of Mary Sternfeld, working with the NMFS Alaska region stranding record set which contains several documented re-sightings of 'floaters', and Milton Cesar C. Marcondes from Brazil, baleen whales may float between 3-4 days (covering a distance of about 35 nm) to more than four weeks. The Alaska data set also contains records of a dead sperm whale and a beluga, both of which were re-sighted after more than 3 weeks. Rod Palm hazarded a guess that a stranded Baird's beaked whale found on the west coast of Vancouver Island in 1997 may have been drifting for up to six months based on the body condition of the carcass, however, Pieter Folkens and Tim Cole speculated that particularly ziphiids and other deep diving whales might float for very short time periods only, if at all.

Greg Early suggested in this context that there may be re-sightings of carcasses of larger cetacean species that, having been bycaught in US offshore fisheries get subsequently tagged and re-released by the on-board observers, and that may show up on shore at some stage. He also suggested that other potential sources of information may be game fishermen fishing around whale carcasses or ornithologists studying petrels, that may have tracked these birds as they're following floating carcasses.

As can be seen from the information summarized above a number of factors such as environmental temperature, salinity, geographic location, body size & shape as well as body composition of a given marine mammal species will effect the actual drifting behaviour as well as the time that a carcass will stay afloat. Michael Moore, Bettina Wurche, Pieter Folkens, Greg Early and others therefore suggested that these factors should be incorporated or addressed as much as possible when attempting to model drifting behaviour of carcasses. In addition, there are apparently reports that whales don't 'follow the wind', and might be driven at an angle, which should also be taken into consideration.

There are a few other examples of attempts to model drifting of dead whales. Greg Early and some of his colleagues conducted an exercise where they tried to match the reports of re-sightings of floating humpback whale carcasses on George's Bank with an oceanographic circulation model to eliminate duplicate counting of the same carcass. Owens Nichols pointed out a web site to me, that others may find of interest as well = http://people.deas.harvard.edu/~robinson/Staccato/staccato.html (Predictions of possible strike locations of a dead right whale using an= oceanographic model). Potentially useful may also be the extensive body of= literature about turtle strandings, hydrodynamic models simulating drifting= of zooplankton and a paper about a modeling exercise for drifting human= bodies in Pudget Sound (Ebbesmeyer & Haglund, 1994).

Below is a list of references that I have compiled that contain information= about drifting or sinking whales or closely related topics. I am indebted= to Bettina Wurche, Hoyt, Ta-Shana Taylor, Mark Deakos, Joe Gaydos, Jim= Bird, Jim Mead, Jan Ostman-Lind, Chuck Schom and Carmen Bazua for pointing= out relevant publications. Other suggested sources included digging into= the old Norwegian whaling literature (from the 1940s based on data from= 1930s), but I have not been able to find a specific reference so far.=

I am very grateful to everybody who took the time to respond to my inquiry= and will be happy to try and answer any questions regarding this= summary.

Cheers,

Kristin


REFERENCES

Alpers, Anthony (1960) A book of dolphins. J.= Murray, London, 147 p (-> may contain some information about the time it= takes for roquals to re-surface after they sink initially)

Anderson, R. C., A. Shaan, and Z. Waheed. 1999. Records of cetacean= 'strandings' from the Maldives. Journal of South Asian Natural History= 4:187-202.

Ames, J., M. Staedler, B. Hatfield, J. Geibel, M. Harris, L. Espinosa, R.= Imai, J. Muskat, N. Wright, and J. Kum. 2002. Dead sea otter drift and= recovery in central California. in MBNMS Symposium Sanctuary= Currents 2002 New Technologies: Revealing the Secrets of the Sea,= California State University, Monterey Bay, CA.

Baird, R. W, Stacey, P J, Duffus, D A, Langelier, K M. 2002. An evaluation= of gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) mortality incidental to fishing= operations in British Columbia, Canada. Journal of Cetacean Research and= Management. 4(3): 289-296

Best, P. B. 1982. Whales: why do they strand? African Wildlife= 36:96-101.

Bianucci, G., M. Bisconti, W. Landini, T. Storai, M. Zuffa, S. Giuliani, and= A. Mojetfa. 2002. Trophic interaction between white shark, Carcharodon= carcharias, and cetaceans: a comparison between Pliocene and recent data= from central Mediterranean sea. Pages 33-48 in V. M., L. M. G., S.= F., and B. Seret, editors. Proceedings of the 4th European Elasmobranch= Association Meeting. ICRAM, ARPAT & SFI, Livorno (Italy).

Brabyn, M., and R. V. C. Frew. 1994. New Zealand herd stranding sites do not= relate to geomagnetic topography. Marine Mammal Science= 10:195-207.

Brabyn, M., and I. G. MacLean. 1992. Oceanography and coastal topography of= herd-stranding sites for whales in New Zealand. Journal of Mammalogy= 73:469-476.

Butman, C. A., J. T. Carlton, and S. R. Palumbi. 1995. Whaling effects on= deep-sea biodiversity. Conservation Biology 9:462-464.

Butman, C. A., J. T. Carlton, and S. R. Palumbi. 1996. Whales Don't Fall= Like Snow: Reply to Jelmert. Conservation Biology= 10:655-656.

Coghlan, A. 1998. From a watery grave. New Scientist. 14 march 1998

Caillouet C.W., Shaver, D.J., Teas, W.G., Nance, J.M., Revera, D.B., Cannon,= A.C. 1996. Relationship between sea turtle stranding rates and shrimp= fishing intensities in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico: 1986-1989 versus= 1990-1993. Fishery Bulletin 94(2): 237-249

Christensen, I. 1990. A note on recent strandings of sperm whales (Physeter= macrocephalus ) and other cetaceans in Norwegian waters (SC/41/O 5).= Reports of the International Whaling Commission 40: 513-515

Duguy, R. and Toussaint, P. 1977 Recherches sur les facteurs de mortalite= des cetaces sur les cotes de France. Conseil International pour= l'Exploration de la Mer, Comite des Mammiferes Marins, C.M. 1977/N:12, 5= pp.

Duguy, R., and D. Wisdorff. 1988a. Les echouages de cetaces et les facteurs= meteorologiques sur la cote Centre-Ouest Atlantique (Strandings of Cetacea= and meteorological data on the Atlantic coast (from the Loire Estuary to= Gironde) (CM1988/N:3). Pages 6 in Comite des Mammiferes Marins -= Council Meeting of the International Council for the Exploration of the= Sea. ICES, Bergen, Norway.

Duguy, R., and D. Wisdorff. 1988b. Les echouages de Cetaces et les facteurs= meteorologiques sur le cote centre-ouest atlantique. Oceanologica Acta= 11:227-233.

Ebbesmeyer, C. C., and W. D. Haglund. 1994. Drift trajectories of a floating= human body simulated in a hydraulic model of Puget Sound. Journal of= Forensic Sciences 39:231-240.

Eguchi, T. 2002. A method for calculating the effect of a die-off from= stranding data. Marine Mammal Science 18:698-709.

Epperly, Braun, Chester, Cross, Merriner, Tester, and Churchill. 1996. Beach= strandings as an indicator of at-sea mortality of sea turtles. Bulletin of= Marine Science 59:289-297.

Geraci, J. R. 1978. The enigma of marine mammal strandings. Oceanus= 21:38-71.

Geraci, J. R., and V. J. Lounsbury. 1993. Marine mammals ashore. Seagrant,= Texas A & M University, Galveston.

Giertsen, J., and I. Morild. 1989. Seafaring bodies. American Journal of= Forensic Medicine & Pathology 10:25-27.

Hinrichsen, H.-H., U. Boettcher, F. W. Koester, A. Lehmann, and J. M. A. St.= 2003. Modelling the influences of atmospheric forcing conditions on Baltic= cod early life stages: Distribution and drift. Journal of Sea Research= 49:187-201.

Jelmert, A., and D. O. Oppen-Berntsen. 1996. Whaling and Deep-Sea= Biodiversity. Conservation Biology 10:653-654.

Jones, E. G., M. A. Collins, P. M. Bagley, S. Addison, and I. G. Priede.= 1998. The fate of cetacean carcasses in the deep sea: Observations on= consumption rates and scavenging species succession in the abyssal NE= Atlantic Ocean. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London (Series B):= Biological Sciences 256:1119-1127.

Katona, S. K., and H. Whitehead. 1988. Are cetacea ecologically important.= Oceanography and Marine Biology - A Review 26:553-568.

Klinowska, M. 1986. The cetacean magnetic sense - evidence from strandings.= Pages 401-432 in M. M. Bryden, editor. Research on Dolphins. Oxford= University Press, Oxford.

Lewison, R. L., Crowder, L. B., and Shaver, D. J. (2003). The impact of= turtle excluder devices and fisheries closures on loggerhead and Kemp's= ridley strandings in the western Gulf of Mexico. Conservation Biology= 17(4): 1089-1097

Lopez, A., M. B. Santos, G. J. Pierce, A. P. Gonzalez, A. Guerra, X.= Valeiras, J. Wang, and H. D. 1999. Trends in strandings of marine mammals= on the Galician coast during the 1990s. Pages 17 in ICES -= Evaluation of Complete Fisheries Systems Theme Session. (unpublished),= Stockholm, Sweden.

Maigret, J. 1979. Les echouges massifs de cetaces dans la region du Cap-Vert= (Senegal). Universit=E9 de Dakar - Institute Fondamental d'Afrique= Noire.

Moreno, P. 1993. Contribution for the study of decomposition and drifting of= carcasses of Phocoena phocoena in the German Bight. M.S. University of= Lisbon, Lisbon, Portual.

Moreno, P., H. Benke, et al. (1993). Behaviour of Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena= phocoena) carcasses in the German Bight: surfacing rate, decomposition and= drift routes, BMU Report.

Moreno, P., H. Benke, et al. (1993). Behaviour of Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena= phocoena) carcasses in the German Bight: Surfacing rate and drift routes.= Conference Name, Inverness

Moreno, P., H. Benke, et al. (1993). Aspects of Decomposition of Harbour= Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) carcasses: a study in the marine environment.= Conference Name, Inverness

Murphy, E. J., I. E. Everson, and P. N. Trathan. 1997. Horizontal flux of= secondary production in the Southern Ocean Food Web: current velocity data= and the transport of krill in the South Georgia ecosystem (WG-EMM-97).= Pages 16 in CMMRL. (unpublished).

Murphy, E. J., J. L. Watkins, K. Reid, P. N. Trathan, I. Everson, J. P.= Croxall, J. Priddle, and M. A. Brandon. 1998. Interannual variability of= the South Georgia marine ecosystem: biological and physical sources of= variation the in abundance of krill. Fisheries Oceanography= 7:381-390.

Ocean Scientists find life, warmth in the seas. Science. 279:1302

Pack, A. A., Salden, D. R., Ferrari, M. J., Glockner, F. D. A., Herman, L.= M., Stubbs, H.
A., & Straley, J. M. (1998). Male humpback whale dies in competitive= group.
Marine Mammal Science, 14(4), 861-873.

Polacheck, T., F. W. Wenzel, and G. Early. 1995. What do stranding data say= about harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena)? Pages 169-179 in= A. Bj=F8rge and G. P. Donovan, editors. Biology of the phocoenids - Reports= of the International Whaling Commission (Special issue 16). IWC,= Cambridge, UK.

Power, J. H. 1986. A model of the drift of northern anchovy engraulis-mordax= larvae in the california current pacific ocean. Fishery Bulletin= 84:585-604.

Sch=E4fer, W. 1962. Tod, Zerlegung und Einbettung der Meerestiere in= Abh=E4ngigkeit von ihrem Bau und ihrem Leben. Pages 17-48 in= Aktuo-Pal=E4ontologie nach Studien in der Nordsee. Verlag Waldemar Kramer,= Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Smith, C. R. 1992. Whale falls - chemosynthesis on the deep seafloor.= Oceanus:74-78.

Smith, CR and AR Baco. 1998. Phylogenetic and functional affinities between= whale-fall, seep and vent chemoautotrophic communities. Cahiers de= Biologie.

Voss, R., H.-H. Hinrichsen, and M. St John. 1999. Variation in the drift of= larval cod (Gadus morhua L.) in the Baltic Sea: combining field= observations and modelling. Fisheries Oceanography 8.

 





*************************************
Kristin Kaschner
Ph.D. candidate
Marine Mammal Research Unit
University of British Columbia
Hut B-3, 6248 Biological Sciences Road
Vancouver, B.C.  Canada  V6T 1Z4

Phone:  (604) 822-8181 (work)
          = (604) 760 2067 (mobile)
Fax:       (604) 822-8180

http://www.zoology.ubc.ca/~kaschner/
 --=====================_23235601==.ALT-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2003 04:31:52 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: request for information on killer whale deaths and strandings (fwd) From: "Joe Gaydos" Request for historical information about killer whale deaths and strandings world-wide We are collecting historical data on killer whale (Orcinus orca) deaths and strandings throughout the world as part of the development of the United States NOAA Fisheries recovery plan for the depleted stock of southern resident killer whales. The information will be used to: 1. compile previous stranding and mortality information on killer whales 2. assess diagnoses and ancillary laboratory results from necropsies performed on killer whales 3. and ultimately, develop a standardized necropsy and disease testing protocol for killer whales If you have participated in, or have information on killer whale mortality please contact Joe Gaydos (jkgaydos(\)ucdavis.edu or (360) 376-3910) or Stephen Raverty (Stephen.Raverty(\)gems3.gov.bc.ca or (604) 556-3003). Information will only be used with the consent of the lead investigator or pathologist involved. We request the following information: 1. stranding date (mortality date for captive killer whales) 2. stranding (mortality) location, country, and body of water 3. individual animal identification including ate (or age class), gender, and if available, the designated identification number 4. was a necropsy performed? 5. if so: a. Who was the lead investigator/clinician/pathologist (please include contact information)? b. What diagnostic tests were performed (histopathology, serology, microbiology, or molecular studies)? c. What were the significant morphologic diagnoses and laboratory findings? d. What was the principle cause of death? e. Do you have archived tissue samples? Thank you for helping us to collate this information and learn more about diseases of killer whales. Ultimately, results will be posted on the NOAA website and we anticipate dissemination of results via other web based sites. *************************************** Joe Gaydos UC Davis Wildlife Health Center - Orcas Island Office (360) 376-3910 jkgaydos(\)ucdavis.edu -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2003 12:48:57 +0100 Reply-To: David Lusseau From: David Lusseau Organization: University of Aberdeen Subject: Fiordland bottlenose dolphins: Managing dolphin-watching tourism- new article Dear all, The following article will be available shortly online at the Tourism Management website (www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/02615177): Lusseau, D. & Higham, J.E.S. (2004). Managing the impacts of dolphin-based tourism through the definition of critical habitats: the case of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.) in Doubtful Sound, New Zealand. Tourism Management I am pasting the abstract below: Abstract Marine ecotourism in New Zealand presents a challenging tourism-environment management context. This is demonstrated in the case of Doubtful Sound (New Zealand) where the recent proliferation of tour operators has brought pressures to bear upon a population of bottlenose dolphins resident in the sound. Strict methodologies are necessary to objectively interpret responses to tourism-induced anthropogenic impacts upon cetaceans. Previous research in this field has established that boat interactions with dolphins in Doubtful Sound affect the behavioural budget of the dolphin population, and that dolphins are more sensitive to interactions with boats when they are resting and to a lesser extent when they are socialising. This article reports on a programme of research that employed observational data to explore the applicability of tourism management techniques grounded in spatial ecology. The data provided scientific evidence that determining critical habitat through spatio-ecological analysis is a powerful tool to protect marine mammals in New Zealand, and elsewhere, from biologically significant tourism-induced impacts. The delineation of multi-levelled marine sanctuaries may, therefore, be an effective approach to managing the impacts of tourism upon marine mammals. Best, David David Lusseau University of Aberdeen Department of Zoology Lighthouse Field Station George St Cromarty Ross-shire IV11 8YJ Scotland Tel/Fax: 44 (0) 1381 600 548 Lighthouse Field Station (University of Aberdeen): http://www.abdn.ac.uk/~nhi519/lighthse/index.hti New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust: http://nzwhaledolphintrust.tripod.com/home/ Marine Mammal Research Group (University of Otago): http://www.otago.ac.nz/marinescience/mammals/home.htm Fiordland Research (University of Otago) http://www.otago.ac.nz/marinescience/fiords/home.htm ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2003 16:12:39 -0400 From: Kathryn Ono Subject: Job opportunity - Biological Technician Biological Technician A one-year position is available for a Biological Technician. The duties include tagging of pinnepeds/ceteceans, acquiring the satellite tag data stream and processing the data, aiding the GIS/Remote Sensing group in the development of maps, statistical analyses, and other duties as appropriate. Person must have experience with tagging of marine mammals. Advanced degree preferred in marine science, biology or related field. Salary range $23-32K/yr, dependent on experience, with full benefits. Consideration of applications will begin immediately and close no later than November 1, 2003. Send resume to Dr. Stephan I. Zeeman, Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of New England, 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, ME 04005. szeeman(\)une.edu The University of New England is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and welcomes female and minority candidates. more information at: http://www.une.edu/hr/ads/bio.html Kathryn A. Ono Associate Professor Department of Biological Sciences University of New England 11 Hills Beach Road Biddeford, ME 04005 (207) 283-0170 ext 2814 kono(\)une.edu FAX: 207 294 5945 ____________________________________________________________________ This message may contain privileged and/or confidential information. This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is intended even if addressed incorrectly. If you have received this email in error or are not the intended recipient, you may not use, copy, disseminate or distribute it. Do not open attachments. Delete them immediately from your system and notify the sender promptly by email that you have done so. Thank you. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 05:55:53 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Job Posting: Media Assistant V (Marine Audio Archivist) (fwd) From: "Shelagh A. Smith" Hello all, Below is a description of a new position within the Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Please forward on to an= y possible qualified applicants you may know. To apply, please visit http://www.ohr.cornell.edu/jobs/index.html and fol= low the 'Staff (non-academic) and Librarian Positions' link. Thank you, Shelagh ************************************ Shelagh A. Smith Assistant Curator Marine Collection Macaulay Library Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Road Ithaca, NY 14850 Phone: 607-254-2492 Fax: 607-254-2439 ************************************ Media Asst V=A0=AD=A001446 Description=20 Located in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, Cornell University = is committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive campus in which to wor= k, study, teach and serve. In accordance with established archival protocols, and in collaboration w= ith external and internal researchers, this position is responsible for developing the resources of the Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds (MLNS). Responsibilities include the organization, repair, and ingestion of origi= nal field recordings into an advanced digital asset storage and management system. The archivist is also responsible for evaluating, preparing, and entering field data into database. Qualifications=20 Bachelor's degree in biological sciences. Must be interested and able to quickly build knowledge in principles of animal communication and taxonom= y. Must possess discriminating visual and listening skills. Must have demonstrable ability to learn sound editing techniques. Computer experie= nce including, but not limited to email, web browsers, spreadsheets, and word processing are required. Additional knowledge is required in both the Windows and Macintosh operating systems. Must know, or be able to learn quickly, software for media editing, analysis, and database management. No relocation assistance is provided for this position. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Cornell University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action educator a= nd employer.=20 -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 06:01:52 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Marine Mammal Science 19(4) abstracts (for full papers only) Victoria G. Thayer, Andrew J. Read, Ari S. Friedlaender, David R. Colby, Aleta A. Hohn, William A. McLellan, D. Ann Pabst, Jennifer L. Dearolf, Na= n I. Bowles, John R. Russell, and Keith A. Rittmaster. 2003. REPRODUCTIVE SEASONALITY OF WESTERN ATLANTIC BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS OFF NORTH CAROLINA, U.S.A. Marine Mammal Science 19(4):617=96629. We describe reproductive seasonality of bottlenose dolphins in North Carolina (NC), U.S.A., using strandings data from the entire coast of NC = and sighting data from Beaufort, NC and by estimating dates of birth of known females. We found a strong peak of neonate strandings in the spring (April=96May), and low levels of neonate strandings in the fall and winte= r. The distribution of neonate strandings was significantly different from a uniform distribution (P < 0.001, K =3D 3.8). We found a unimodal distribu= tion of 282 sightings of neonates with a diffuse peak in the summer. The tempo= ral distribution of sightings of neonates departed significantly from a unifo= rm distribution (P < 0.001, K =3D 5.1). Estimated birth dates of neonates fr= om known females occurred in May (n =3D 6) and June (n =3D 4), with a single= fall birth. These methods shed light on bottlenose reproductive patterns and underscore the value of using information from multiple types of data. Clarification of bottlenose dolphin reproductive patterns, such as the seasonality of birth, may enhance our understanding of the population structure of this species in the mid-Atlantic region. ************************************ Megan K. Stolen and Jay Barlow. 2003. A MODEL LIFE TABLE FOR BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS (TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS) FROM THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON SYSTEM, FLORID= A, U.S.A. Marine Mammal Science 19(4):630=96649. Data gathered from 220 stranded bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) = in the Indian River Lagoon system, Florida, were used to derive a life table. Survivorship curves were fit to the data using Siler's competing-risk mod= el and a maximum likelihood approach. Population growth was estimated to be between r =3D 0.0 and 0.046 based on the observed numbers of stranded dolphins. Variance in survival rates was estimated using an individual-based, age-structured population projection model. We estimate that the overall annual mortality rate for this population was 9.8% per year. Sex-specific differences in survivorship were apparent with females outliving males. The overall mortality curve resembles that of other larg= e mammals, with high calf mortality and an exponentially increasing risk of senescent mortality. The inclusion of live-capture removals of individual= s from this population did not significantly affect the estimation of survi= val parameters for most age classes. ********************************** Lawrence M. Dill, Elizabeth S. Dill, and David Charles. 2003. FEEDING PREFERENCES OF THE MONKEY MIA DOLPHINS: RESULTS FROM A SIMULTANEOUS CHOIC= E PROTOCOL. Marine Mammal Science 19(4):650=96660. The semiwild beach-feeding bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) of Monk= ey Mia, Western Australia, provide an unparalleled opportunity to examine pr= ey preference of this species. In a series of binary-choice feeding experiments, we took advantage of the animals' willingness to be fed by hand, to explore their preferences for fish species, size, and state (freshly caught or previously frozen). At the end of each beach visit, ea= ch dolphin was provided with a pair of fish but allowed to eat only the firs= t one chosen. The dolphins appeared indifferent among the three species of fish offered to them (yellowtail trumpeter, Amniataba caudovittatus; stri= ped trumpeter, Pelates sexlineatus; and western butterfish, Pentapodus vitta)= , which were of similar body form and matched for mass. Overall, the dolphi= ns showed a slight preference for the larger of two yellowtail trumpeter offered, suggesting the capability for rational choice when there was a basis for it (most likely energy in this case), although there was considerable individual variation. The dolphins did not distinguish betwe= en freshly caught and previously frozen yellowtail. The methodology we descr= ibe can be used to generate data of potential value for understanding food an= d habitat selection of wild dolphins, and for modifying management practice= s for semiwild dolphins at Monkey Mia and elsewhere. ********************************* Steven Mackinson, Julia L. Blanchard, John K. Pinnegar, and Robert Scott. 2003. CONSEQUENCES OF ALTERNATIVE FUNCTIONAL RESPONSE FORMULATIONS IN MOD= ELS EXPLORING WHALE=96FISHERY INTERACTIONS. Marine Mammal Science 19(4):661=96= 681. We evaluated the utility of Ecosim for exploring interactions between cetacean predators, their prey, and fisheries. We formulated six Ecosim parameterizations, representing alternative hypotheses of feeding interactions (functional response) between cetaceans and their main fish prey, and examined differences in the predicted responses to simulated harvesting regimes for minke whales and their prey. Regardless of the typ= e of function response formulated, intense fishing on the main fish prey of minke whales had a longer-lasting negative impact on minke whales than wh= en minke whale biomass was removed directly by harvesting. Consumption rate, biomass, feeding time and mortality of minke whales were all sensitive to the type of functional response specified. Inclusion of =93handling time=94 limited minke whales consumption at high prey densities and predicted hig= her consumption at low prey densities; features characteristic of a type II functional response. Predicted decline and recovery rates of minke whales were slower than when consumption rates were not limited. Addition of =93foraging time=94 adjustments resulted in more conservative estimates o= f decline and recovery. However, when =93other mortality=94 was linked to t= ime spent foraging, exposure to higher mortality at low prey densities, and reduced mortality at high prey densities resulted in dramatic differences= in predicted biomass trajectory. Sensitivity to the =93other mortality=94 assumption is important for cetaceans whose predation mortality is only a small proportion of total mortality. Differences in the feeding and bioma= ss dynamics were also observed when prey availability to predators was represented by changes in prey vulnerability, confirming earlier reports that Ecosim predictions are sensitive to this parameter. ********************************* Kathleen M. Stafford. 2003. TWO TYPES OF BLUE WHALE CALLS RECORDED IN THE GULF OF ALASKA. Marine Mammal Science 19(4):682=96693. At one time blue whales were found throughout the Gulf of Alaska, however= , none have been sighted there in post-whaling era surveys. To determine if blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) might now occur in the Gulf of Alaska= , an array of hydrophones was deployed there in October 1999. Data were retrieved in May 2000 and in June 2001. Spectrograms from a random subsam= ple comprising 15% of the 63,000 h of data were visually examined for blue wh= ale calls. Call types attributed to both northeastern and northwestern Pacifi= c blue whales were recorded. Both of these call types were recorded seasona= lly from the initial deployment date in October 1999 through the third week o= f December 1999 and then from July 2000 through mid-December 2000. Both cal= l types were regularly recorded on the same hydrophone at the same time indicating clear temporal and spatial overlap of the animals producing th= ese calls. Two blue whale call types were recorded in the Gulf of Alaska suggesting that perhaps two stocks use this area. The northeastern call t= ype has now been documented from the equator up to at least 55=B0N in the eas= tern North Pacific. ************************************** Maria E. Morete, Ana Freitas, Marcia H. Engel, Richard M. Pace III, and Phillip J. Clapham. 2003. A NOVEL BEHAVIOR OBSERVED IN HUMPBACK WHALES ON WINTERING GROUNDS AT ABROLHOS BANK (BRAZIL). Marine Mammal Science 19(4):694=96707. We describe a novel behavior, termed =93tail-up,=94 observed in humpback = whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) on wintering grounds on Abrolhos Bank, Brazil. T= he behavior involves the whale positioned vertically in the water column wit= h its tail in the air. With the exception of calves, tail-up was observed i= n all social classes, and its frequency increased through the end of the season. Tail-ups were recorded in 144 (5.8%) of 2,465 groups of whales observed from a shore station, and in 297 (14.9%) of 1,996 groups observe= d from vessel surveys; biases in each method suggest that the true frequenc= y lies between these sources. One hundred and fifty-two hours of continuous sampling showed that the duration of tail-up events lasted from a few seconds to 12 min and was longest in groups comprised of a single adult. = The maximum duration of a recorded period that consistently included tail-up = was 10 h; however, some individuals were observed to engage in the behavior a= t night and for four consecutive days. Tail-up movement speed did not vary = by social class; however, it varied according to wind direction and speed. T= he characteristics of tail-up that we observed showed that it differed from = the descriptions of similar behaviors in other cetacean species. The function= of tail-up is unknown, but we suggest that it may be a multifunctional behavior. *************************************** Marjo H. Laurinolli, Alex E. Hay, Francine Desharnais, and Christopher T. Taggart. 2003. LOCALIZATION OF NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE SOUNDS IN THE B= AY OF FUNDY USING A SONOBUOY ARRAY. Marine Mammal Science 19(4):708=96723. A free-drifting 14-sonobuoy array was used to localize North Atlantic rig= ht whales (Eubalaena glacialis) in the Grand Manan Basin area of the Bay of Fundy. This area is a primary summer/autumn right whale habitat and overl= aps an international shipping lane. The three-hour deployment on a single day provided two-dimensional localization of 94 right whale sounds based on arrival time differences determined from spectrogram cross-correlation analysis. The sounds were of two distinct types: tonal and gunshot. Maxim= um detection distances were about 30 km for both types of sound. The mean RM= S location error was 1.8 km for tonal-type sounds and 2.5 km for gunshot-ty= pe sounds. The average RMS error was 20% of the average distance from the receiving hydrophones, the primary source of error being uncertainty in t= he sonobuoy positions. **************************** Dominic J. Tollit, Mandy Wong, Arliss J. Winship, David A. S. Rosen, and Andrew W. Trites. 2003. QUANTIFYING ERRORS ASSOCIATED WITH USING PREY SKELETAL STRUCTURES FROM FECAL SAMPLES TO DETERMINE THE DIET OF STELLER'S SEA LION (EUMETOPIAS JUBATUS). Marine Mammal Science 19(4):724=96744. We examined the digestion and passage times of bones and other hard parts from pollock, herring, salmon, and sandlance recovered from two juvenile captive Steller's sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) subjected to varying activity levels. Key bones that could be identified to species were distributed over an average of 3.2 scats (range 1=966) following a single meal, with pollock remains occurring in significantly more scats than oth= er species. Relying on otoliths alone to determine the presence of prey resulted in significantly fewer prey being identified than if other structures were also used (such as vertebrae, jaw bones, and teeth), particularly for salmon. Using either technique, there were significant differences in the likelihood that bones would be recovered from the seri= es of scats produced following a meal, with pollock recovery exceeding herri= ng (by three-fold) and sandlance (by eight-fold). Differences between specie= s were reduced when recovery was calculated on a per scat basis rather than over multiple scats. Active animals passed greater numbers of bones, but = the overall effect on prey recovery estimates was not significant. Defecation times of prey structures from a meal were variable and ranged from an initial 2=9656 h to a final 28=96148 h. The time interval to pass 95% of recovered structures varied by a factor of two among prey species, and wa= s highest for pollock due to retention beyond 65 h. ************************** John L. Sease and Anne E. York. 2003. SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION OF STELLER'S = SEA LIONS AT ROOKERIES AND HAUL-OUT SITES IN ALASKA. Marine Mammal Science 19(4): 745=96763. The Steller's sea lion population has declined by 60%=9670% over much of Alaska since the late 1970s. Overlap in species composition and sizes of fishes consumed by sea lions and harvested by commercial fisheries, particularly during winter, has led to examination of potential interacti= on between commercial fisheries and Steller's sea lions. Abundance and distribution data for Steller's sea lions in Alaska were derived from aer= ial surveys conducted during the breeding season, mid-June to early July 1992= , 1994, and 1996. To study winter distribution of sea lions, we conducted aerial surveys during March 1993, November=96December 1994, and March 199= 9. We counted about one-half as many sea lions during winter surveys compared t= o the breeding-season surveys. Numbers of sea lions at rookery sites droppe= d off considerably during winter, whereas numbers at haul-out sites did not. We found little evidence of large-scale, seasonal movement, at least for = the western stock of sea lions. Rather, differences between summer and winter distribution were primarily a function of sea lions dispersing to local haul-out sites during the winter. Terrestrial sites, both rookeries and haul-outs, clearly are important to Steller's sea lions during the entire year. Individual sites may be occupied year-round or only during particul= ar times of year. ************************* Milo D. Adkison, Terrance J. Quinn II, and Robert J. Small. 2003. EVALUAT= ION OF THE ALASKA HARBOR SEAL (PHOCA VITULINA) POPULATION SURVEY: A SIMULATIO= N STUDY. Marine Mammal Science 19(4):764=96790. We used simulation to investigate robust designs and analyses for detecti= ng trends from population surveys of Alaska harbor seals. We employed an operating model approach, creating simulated harbor seal population dynam= ics and haul-out behavior that incorporated factors thought to potentially affect the performance of aerial surveys. The factors included the number= of years, the number of haul-out sites in an area, the number and timing of surveys within a year, known and unknown covariates affecting haul-out behavior, substrate effects, movement among substrates, and variability i= n survey and population parameters. We found estimates of population trend were robust to the majority of potentially confounding factors, and that adjusting counts for the effects of covariates was both possible and beneficial. The use of mean or maximum counts by site without covariate correction can lead to substantial bias and low power in trend determination. For covariate-corrected trend estimates, there was minimal bias and loss of accuracy was negligible when surveys were conducted 20 d before or after peak haul-out attendance, survey date became progressivel= y earlier across years, and peak attendance fluctuated across years. Trend estimates were severely biased when the effect of an unknown covariate resulted in a long-term trend in the fraction of the population hauled ou= t. A key factor governing the robustness and power of harbor seal population surveys is intersite variability in trend. This factor is well understood for sites within the Prince William Sound and Kodiak trend routes for whi= ch at least 10 consecutive annual surveys have been conducted, but additiona= l annual counts are needed for other areas. The operating model approach proved to be an effective means of evaluating these surveys and should be used to evaluate other marine mammal survey designs. ******************************* Michael A. Simpkins, David E. Withrow, Jack C. Cesarone, and Peter L. Boveng. 2003. STABILITY IN THE PROPORTION OF HARBOR SEALS HAULED OUT UNDE= R LOCALLY IDEAL CONDITIONS. Marine Mammal Science 19(4):791=96805 We monitored the haul-out behavior of 68 radio-tagged harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) during the molt season at two Alaskan haul-out sites (Grand Island, August=96September 1994; Nanvak Bay, August=96September 2000). Fo= r each site, we created a statistical model of the proportion of seals hauled ou= t as a function of date, time of day, tide, and weather covariates. Using these models, we identified the conditions that would result in the great= est proportion of seals hauled out. Although those =93ideal conditions=94 dif= fered between sites, the proportion of seals predicted to be hauled out under those conditions was very similar (81.3% for Grand Island and 85.7% for Nanvak Bay). The similar estimates for both sites suggest that haul-out proportions under locally ideal conditions may be constant between years = and geographic regions, at least during the molt season. ******************************** Robert E. A. Stewart, P. M. Outridge, and Richard A. Stern. 2003. WALRUS LIFE-HISTORY MOVEMENTS RECONSTRUCTED FROM LEAD ISOTOPES IN ANNUAL LAYERS = OF TEETH. Marine Mammal Science 19(4):806=96818. Putative life history movements of male Atlantic walrus (Odobenus rosmaru= s rosmarus) harvested at Sanirajak in northern Foxe Basin, Canada, were reconstructed by comparing Pb isotopes in tooth cementum growth layer gro= ups (GLGs) to those in whole-cementum samples from other walrus of Foxe Basin and nearby areas. The analyses yielded three life history patterns includ= ing one, =93prodigal sons,=94 not previously recognized in large mammals. Iso= tope ratios in GLGs of =93local=94 Sanirajak walrus were relatively constant o= ver time and similar to the whole-cementum data for most walrus caught in northern Foxe Basin. An =93immigrant=94 walrus acquired the local signal = only in young adulthood. In two =93prodigal sons,=94 GLG Pb isotope ratios change= d significantly from the local signature after weaning but returned to it i= n late maturity, shortly before being harvested. Possible recruitment and dispersal areas for the two types of outliers included regions in norther= n and eastern Hudson Bay, some 300=96600 km distant. The return of mature m= ales to their natal group after associating with other groups for several year= s, as seen in some of the walrus, may be more common among mammals than previously thought. However, without a reconstructive technique such as employed here, it could only be detected through long-term studies of kno= wn individuals and all the relevant social groups. ******************************** E. W. Born. 2003. REPRODUCTION IN MALE ATLANTIC WALRUSES (ODOBENUS ROSMAR= US ROSMARUS) FROM THE NORTH WATER (N BAFFIN BAY). Marine Mammal Science 19(4):819=96831. Age at sexual maturity and timing of the mating season were determined in male Atlantic walruses (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus, L.) from the =93North Water=94 subpopulation in northern Baffin Bay. Testes and epididymides of= 174 male walruses (between 0 and 30 yr old) from NW Greenland (1987=961990) w= ere studied macroscopically and a subset of 57 specimens was analyzed microscopically. In physically mature bulls (i.e., 12 yr old), sperm or apparently ripe spermatids were found between 9 November and 12 July. In younger walruses these signs of fertility were found in a few specimens (7=9611 yr old) collected between 9 January and 28 May. The mating season seems to peak in January=96April. The youngest sexually mature individual= was 7 yr old and the oldest apparently immature individual was 13 yr old. Average age of sexual maturity was 10.9 yr (95% C.I.: 9.6=9612.2 yr) and = all were sexually mature by the time they were 14 yr old. The non-spermiogene= tic testes and epididymides showed accelerated growth between about the 5=966= th and about the 12=9615th year of life, indicating that sexual maturation o= ccurs during these years. The length of the baculum increased gradually until about 12=9615 yr of age, when physical maturity was reached. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 06:06:35 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Canadian Journal of Zoology - recent abstracts B.E. Ballachey, J.L. Bodkin, S. Howlin, A.M. Doroff, and A.H. Rebar. 2003. Correlates to survival of juvenile sea otters in Prince William Sound, Alaska, 1992=961993. Canadian Journal of Zoology 81(9): 1494-1510. We estimated survival of sea otters (Enhydra lutris) for 1 year post wean= ing during 1992=961993 in Prince William Sound (PWS), location of the 1989 Ex= xon Valdez oil spill. We sampled 38 pups in eastern PWS (EPWS), an unoiled ar= ea occupied by sea otters for <15 years, and 33 pups from oiled western PWS (WPWS), occupied for >25 years. We compared survival between areas, sexes= , and condition groups. We also examined the relation of blood parameters t= o survival. Survival was estimated at 0.74 in EPWS and 0.52 in WPWS. Female survival was 0.86 in EPWS and 0.64 in WPWS, whereas male survival was low= er, 0.61 in EPWS and 0.44 in WPWS. Sea otters from EPWS were in better condit= ion (mass/length) than WPWS sea otters. Pups in better condition had higher survival in EPWS but not in WPWS. Foraging success was greater in EPWS th= an in WPWS, consistent with either an effect of length of occupation or the effects of oil on the prey base or a combination of these effects. Area differences in blood parameters suggested liver damage in WPWS sea otters= , perhaps resulting from continued exposure to oil. Thus, both length of occupation and oiling history likely influenced juvenile survival in PWS. *********************************************** Mads Peter Heide-J=F8rgensen, Rune Dietz, Kristin L. Laidre, Pierre Richa= rd, Jack Orr, and Hans Christian Schmidt. 2003. The migratory behaviour of narwhals (Monodon monoceros). Canadian Journal of Zoology 81(9): 1298-130= 5. Sixteen female narwhals (Monodon monoceros) were tracked by satellite in 2000 and 2001 from their summering ground near Somerset Island in the Canadian High Arctic to their wintering ground in central Baffin Bay. The wintering ground location was spatially discrete from another narwhal wintering ground in southern Baffin Bay. Area extent of the summering gro= und was approximately 9464 km2 and area extent of the wintering ground was 25 846 km2. Two of the narwhals were tracked for more than 12 consecutive months. These whales used three focal areas between their spring and autu= mn migration: a coastal area in the open-water season in August in the Canad= ian High Arctic, a wintering area from November through April in the consolidated pack ice of Baffin Bay, and an early summer area in front of the receding fast ice edge in Lancaster Sound. The whales showed remarkab= le site fidelity to summering grounds and had specific migratory routes that followed sea ice formation and recession. ************************ Kate Grellier, Philip S. Hammond, Ben Wilson, Carol A. Sanders-Reed, and Paul M. Thompson. 2003. Use of photo-identification data to quantify mother=96calf association patterns in bottlenose dolphins. Canadian Journ= al of Zoology 81(9):1421-1427. For social mammals living in fission=96fusion societies, the mother=96inf= ant bond is long and extends beyond the nursing period. We successfully developed a technique, using photo-identification data, to quantify mother=96calf association patterns in a small population of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, off eastern Scotland. By statistically comparing association indices between young calves and their associates w= e assigned 17 individual adults as mothers to 20 young calves with a 5% lev= el of probability. The mean index of association between calves and mothers remained high until at least year 8 of life. While calves were still foun= d in the same schools as their mother, they surfaced beside her less often = as their age increased. This is the first time that the mother=96calf bond h= as been quantitatively assessed for any bottlenose dolphin population inhabiting temperate waters. Results are compared with those from subtropical populations and are discussed with respect to the viability o= f this population. ************************************ J.P.Y. Arnould, I.L. Boyd, and R.M. Warneke. 2003. Historical dynamics of the Australian fur seal population: evidence of regulation by man? Canadi= an Journal of Zoology 81(9):1428-1436. The Australian fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) was severely over-exploited in the 18th and 19th centuries and until relatively recent= ly its population had remained steady at well below estimated presealing levels. However, the population is now increasing rapidly (6%=9620% per a= nnum) throughout its range and there is a need to understand its dynamics in or= der to assess the potential extent and impact of interactions with fisheries. Age distribution (n =3D 156) and pregnancy rate (n =3D 110) were determin= ed for adult females collected at a breeding colony on Seal Rocks, southeast Australia, in 1971=961972. Mean =B1 SE and maximum observed ages were 9.3= 7 =B1 0.41 and 20 years (n =3D 1), respectively. A stochastic modelling approac= h was used to fit an age distribution to the observed age-structure data and calculate rates of recruitment and adult survival. Annual adult female survival and recruitment rates between 1954 and 1971 were 0.478 =B1 0.029 (mean =B1 SE) and 0.121 =B1 0.007, respectively, suggesting that the popu= lation was experiencing a decline during the 1960s. The pregnancy rate increased from 78% at 3 years of age to an average of 85% between 4=9613 years of a= ge before significantly decreasing in older females (the oldest was 19 years= of age). There was no significant effect of body mass or condition on the probability of a female being pregnant (P > 0.5 in both cases) and the nutritional burden of lactation did not appear to affect pregnancy rates = or gestational performance. These findings suggest that the low survivorship was due to density-independent effects such as mortality resulting from interactions with fishers, which are known to have been common at the tim= e. The recent increase in the population is consistent with anecdotal eviden= ce that such interactions have decreased as fishing practices have changed. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2003 13:20:36 -0400 From: Jill Lewandowski Organization: NOAA Subject: Marine Wildlife Viewing Workshop- November 2003 boundary="------------CCCD5601BFBEE03CD4AD4476" --------------CCCD5601BFBEE03CD4AD4476 X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by cascara.uvic.ca id h9EHKpGS350370 Marine Wildlife Viewing Workshop South Padre Island, Texas Sunday, November 9 =96 Monday, November 10, 2003 The 2003 Marine Wildlife Viewing Workshop will provide a forum and venue for the development of generally applicable (=93universal=94) guidelines = for major types of commercial and recreational marine wildlife viewing activities. This year=92s program will particularly emphasize wildlife viewing issues in the Gulf Coast and Greater Caribbean regions (including Florida and The Bahamas). Marine wildlife viewing in these regions offer some of the best examples of the challenges and opportunities that face coastal communities, states and countries working to establish sustainable marine wildlife tourism. Experts in the fields of sea turtle, marine mammal, sea bird, and fish and invertebrate conservation will present an overview of the current trends and impacts of wildlife viewing and aquatic recreation on various coastal and marine species, and offer examples of how tourism business owners, governmental agencies and conservation organizations can work together to address the needs of both wildlife and viewers. Local commercial operators will provide case studies and insights of successful, sustainable marine wildlife viewing ventures. Workshop participants will then propose, discuss, and put forth a set of =93universal=94 marine wildlife viewing guidelines, applicable to all mar= ine animals. Strategies for disseminating these guidelines for maximal impact around the world will also be discussed. Who Should Attend: This hands-on, interactive workshop is designed for ecotour operators, coastal community businesses, biologists, wildlife managers, and environmental activists who wish to work cooperatively to protect marine resources AND build sustainable marine tourism programs. Registration Cost: $45 Includes: Lunch, breaks and program workbook. To register: https://secure.watchablewildlife.org/conference/registration.asp Register for =93Optional Workshop=94. Sponsors: NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service and National Marine Sanctuaries * Workshop will take place directly in advance of the Watchable Wildlife, Inc. annual meeting. Keynote speaker, Dr. Livingston Marshall, Consultant and Science Advisor to the Office of the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, will present "The Challenges and Opportunities for Marine Conservation in Tourism-based Economies". Mr. G.P. Schmahl, Manager of NOAA=92s Flower Gardens National Marine Sanctuary, will present a Gulf Coast perspective on marine wildlife viewing issues. Workshop Speakers: Fish and Invertebrates: Dr. William Alevizon, Senior Marine Ecologist, International Marine Program, Wildlife Conservation Society (New York) and a specialist in the ecology of Caribbean reef fish and coral reefs Sea Birds: Gene Blacklock, Project Manager, Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program Marine Mammals: Jill Lewandowski, Marine Mammal Biologist, NOAA=92s National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources and representative of Fish and Wildlife Service (TBD). Sea Turtles: Dr. Donna Shaver, Chief of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery, National Park Service, Padre Island National Seashore Facilitator: Bob Garrison, President, Nature Tourism Planning To reserve hotel rooms: Bahia Mar Resort =96 Conference Rate $77.00 + tax (including breakfast). Please contact Bahia Mar Resort for reservations, (800) 997-2373 or (956) 761-1343. Refer to Group Code 3181. Room block is held until September 26, 2003. After September 26 room rate is subject to availability. For complete program details visit: http://www.watchablewildlife.org/conference/marine_workshop.htm or contact Carrie Hubard or Jill Lewandowski of NOAA Fisheries at (301) 713-2289, Carrie.W.Hubard(\)noaa.gov or Jill.Lewandowski(\)noaa.gov. --------------CCCD5601BFBEE03CD4AD4476 X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by cascara.uvic.ca id h9EHKpGS350370 Marine Wildlife Viewing Workshop
South Padre Island, Texas
Sunday, November 9 =96 Monday, November 10, 2003

The 2003 Marine Wildlife Viewing Workshop will provide a forum and ven= ue for the development of generally applicable (=93universal=94) guidelines = for major types of commercial and recreational marine wildlife viewing activi= ties.  This year=92s program will particularly emphasize wildlife viewing issues in the Gulf Coast and Greater Caribbean regions (including Florida and The  Bahamas).  Marine wildlife viewing in these regions offer some of the best examples of the challenges and opportunities that face coastal communities, states and countries working to establish sustainabl= e marine wildlife tourism.  Experts in the fields of sea turtle, marin= e mammal, sea bird, and fish and invertebrate conservation will present an overview of the current trends and impacts of wildlife viewing and aquati= c recreation on various coastal and marine species, and offer examples of how tourism business owners, governmental agencies and conservation organ= izations can work together to address the needs of both wildlife and viewers. Loca= l commercial operators will provide case studies and insights of successful= , sustainable marine wildlife viewing ventures.  Workshop participants will then propose, discuss, and put forth a set of =93universal=94 marine= wildlife viewing guidelines, applicable to all marine animals.  Strategies for disseminating these guidelines for maximal impact around the world will also be discussed.

Who Should Attend:  This hands-on, interactive workshop is design= ed for ecotour operators, coastal community businesses, biologists, wildlife managers, and environmental activists who wish to work cooperatively to protect marine resources AND build sustainable marine tourism programs.

Registration Cost:  $45  Includes: Lunch, breaks and program workbook.  To register: https://secure.watchablewildlife.org/con= ference/registration.asp   Register for =93Optional Workshop=94.

Sponsors:        NOAA, National Mar= ine Fisheries Service and National Marine Sanctuaries
* Workshop will take place directly in advance of the Watchable Wildl= ife, Inc. annual meeting.

Keynote speaker, Dr. Livingston Marshall, Consultant and Science Advis= or to the Office of the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, will present "The Cha= llenges and Opportunities for Marine Conservation in Tourism-based Economies".

Mr. G.P. Schmahl, Manager of NOAA=92s Flower Gardens National Marine S= anctuary, will present a Gulf Coast perspective on marine wildlife viewing issues.

Workshop Speakers:
Fish and Invertebrates:  Dr. William Alevizon, Senior Marine Eco= logist, International Marine Program, Wildlife Conservation Society (New York) and a specialist in the ecology of Caribbean reef fish and coral reefs

Sea Birds: Gene Blacklock, Project Manager, Coastal Bend Bays and Estu= aries Program

Marine Mammals:  Jill Lewandowski, Marine Mammal Biologist, NOAA=92= s National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources and repr= esentative of Fish and Wildlife Service (TBD).

Sea Turtles: Dr. Donna Shaver, Chief of Sea Turtle Science and Recover= y, National Park Service, Padre Island National Seashore

Facilitator:  Bob Garrison, President, Nature Tourism Planning
 
To reserve hotel rooms: Bahia Mar Resort =96 Conference Rate $77.00 + tax (including breakfast).  Please contact Bahia Mar Resort for rese= rvations, (800) 997-2373 or (956) 761-1343. Refer to Group Code 3181.   Room block is held until September 26, 2003. After September 26 room rate is subject to availability.

For complete program details visit:  http://www.watchablewildl= ife.org/conference/marine_workshop.htm or contact Carrie Hubard or Jill Lewandowski of NOAA Fisheries at (301) 713-2289, Carrie.W.Hubard(\)noaa.gov or Jill.Lewandowski(\)noaa.gov.

 

 
  --------------CCCD5601BFBEE03CD4AD4476-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 00:28:39 EDT From: Jeff Lederman Subject: Seal Rehabilitator Wanted Harbour seal rehabilitation facility urgently needs a highly experienced seal person to head up the last few months of our seal season. Island Wildlife on Salt Spring Island, BC, has rescued 85 seal pups this summer. As a result, we are deeply into seal care much later into the year then was anticipated. We are looking for a skilled seal rehabilitator or tech who is experienced in all aspects of the rehab process from tube feeding to blood draws. Accommodation, transportation and modest wage are offered for 2 to 3 month services with a possibility of long term employment. Please e-mail with interest or questions. Jeff Lederman, director Island Wildlife Natural Care Centre 322 Langs Road, Salt Spring Island BC V8K1N3 Canada 250-537-0777 iwncc(\)aol.com www.sealrescue.org ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 11:47:12 -0400 From: "Howard C. Rosenbaum" Subject: Recent Publication Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" ------ The following article was recently published: Ersts, P.J. and Rosenbaum, H.C. Habitat preference reflects social organization of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) on a wintering ground. J. Zool., Lond. (2003) 260, 337=AD345. Abstract Habitat preference is driven by a complex interaction among behavioural patterns, biological requirements, and environmental conditions. These variables are difficult to determine for any species but are further complicated for migratory marine mammals, such as humpback whales (Megapt= era novaeangliae). Patterns of habitat use in relation to social organization potentially exist for this species on their wintering grounds. Using an integrated GIS approach, we examined the degree to which spatial patterns= of habitat stratification are correlated within different humpback whale gro= up types from 6 years of sighting data (1996=AD2001) collected on the Antong= il Bay, Madagascar, wintering ground. Stratification of humpback whale sightings by behavioural classification showed significant variation in depth and distance from shore. Distribution by depth could not be describ= ed as a function of group size but could be described as a function of socia= l organization, with mother=ADcalf pairs showing a strong preference for shallower water compared to all other group types. Group size and social organization seem to be factors in distribution by distance from shore. Significant diurnal patterns in distribution by depth and distance from shore also exist, where mother=ADcalf groups maintain a relatively stable distribution and pairs and competitive groups are the most variable. Patterns of habitat preference on this wintering ground appear to be guid= ed by social organization, where distribution by depth and distance from sho= re highlight areas critical to conservation. =20 Please contact ersts(\)amnh.org or hrosenbaum(\)wcs.org for reprint requests after October 21, 2003. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 10:01:37 -0400 From: Eduardo Mercado III Subject: Opportunities for comparative bioacoustics and cognition research OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE TRAINING University at Buffalo, SUNY Openings are available in the University at Buffalo Neural and Cognitive Plasticity Laboratory for highly motivated undergraduate and graduate students interested in comparative cognition and behavior, auditory perception and neuroethology, and animal biacoustics. (Lab website: www.buffalo.edu/~emiii) Graduate student positions are part of an NIMH- and NSF-supported research program employing operant, neurophysiological, and computational techniques to investigate the mechanism of learning and auditory perception in rodents, whales, dolphins, and humans. Applicants should have a strong interest in animal cognition, behavioral neuroscience, or bioacoustics. Prior experience with use of operant techniques and computer programming would be beneficial. Subject to the availability of funds, positions can begin as early as May 1, 2003. Contact: Eduardo Mercado, III Department of Psychology Park Hall University at Buffalo, SUNY Buffalo, NY 14260 PH: 716-645-3650 x350 FAX: 716-645-3801 E-mail: emiii(\)buffalo.edu URL: www.buffalo.edu/~emiii ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 20:00:55 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Position in Aquatic Biology (fwd) The following position is available: Aquatic Biologist Assistant/Associate Professor Position Arkansas State University - Jonesboro Arkansas State University invites applications for a tenure-track position in aquatic biology which will begin in August 2004. The successful candidate will be appointed in the Department of Biological Sciences and be affiliated with the Ph.D. program in Environmental Science in the College of Science and Mathematics. Qualifications Arkansas State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer with a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff. In pursuit of this commitment the department seeks applicants with an earned Ph.D. with a demonstrated record of research, publication and teaching in the area of aquatic biology. Individuals completing degree requirements (ABD) are welcome to apply but all Ph.D. requirements must be met before starting employment in the position. The specific area of research is open but should support teaching responsibilities listed below. Responsibilities Research Develop a competitive, rigorous, extramurally funded research program while mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in both environmental science and wildlife ecology programs and advise Master's students in biology and Ph.D. students in environmental science. Candidates successful in this position will obtain funding sufficient to support graduate research leading to peer-reviewed publication. Opportunity will exist to collaborate with researchers in the newly formed Arkansas Biosciences Institute (http://abi.astate.edu/). Teaching The candidate will be expected to teach an introductory non-majors course in biology and some combination of upper division courses in aquatic ecology, limnology, ichthyology, or aquatic entomology. Development of a new course or redevelopment of an existing course in the candidate's specific area of expertise will be encouraged. The Department The Department of Biological Sciences (http://biology.astate.edu/) is comprised of 18 faculty members. A strong commitment to organismal biology, applied ecology and field research continues to expand with cellular/molecular biology that has received recent enhancement funding by the NIH and NSF for both teaching and research. Supporting these areas are extensive museum collections for ichthyology, entomology, herpetology, malacology, mammalogy, ornithology and plants. Regional research is supported by a variety of properties and facilities in the Delta, Ozark and Ouachita mountain ecoregions regions and an Ecotoxicology Research Facility (http://www.clt.astate.edu/jlfarris/facility/). The College The College of Sciences and Mathematics (CSM) is composed of the Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Physics, Computer Science, and Mathematics and Statistics. The College offers bachelor and master degree programs and coordinates programs of research and study leading to the Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Science. The new Arkansas Biosciences Institute building is evidence of an enhanced commitment to the research mission at ASU and provides expanding interdisciplinary opportunities in cellular and molecular biology. The University and Community The ASU-Jonesboro campus, with more than 10,000 students and covering 800 acres, is a comprehensive institution of higher education. The University has a long tradition of student-centered education and enjoys the strong support of the regional community. Visit http://www.astate.edu/ for more information about the University and College of Science and Mathematics. Jonesboro is a city of about 60,000, located on Crowley's Ridge in northeast Arkansas approximately 70 miles from Memphis. Please visit http://www.jonesborochamber.org/ for more information. Closing date Review of applications will begin December 1, 2003 and will continue until the position is filled. Contact Send statement of teaching and research interests, curriculum vitae, unofficial copies of undergraduate and graduate transcripts, and contact information for three references to: Dr. Richard Grippo, Chair Aquatic Biologist Search Committee Department of Biological Sciences Arkansas State University State University, AR 72467-0599 Aldemaro Romero, Ph.D. Chair and Professor Department of Biological Sciences Arkansas State University P.O. Box 599 State University, AR 72467, USA aromero(\)astate.edu Ph.: (870) 972-3083 Fax: (870) 972-2638 http://www.clt.astate.edu/aromero/ -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2003 13:02:07 -0400 From: Stephan Zeeman Subject: Job Posting GIS/Remote Sensing Specialist One year GIS/Remote Sensing Specialist position with possibility of renewal depending on funding, to perform GIS analysis of animal tracks in relation to satellite remote sensing data. The GIS/Remote Sensing Specialist will provide technical expertise in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, database design and management, and processing and analysis of both spatial and non-spatial data. The Specialist will assist in extracting data layers from a variety of sources, including satellite imagery, satellite derived data products, real-time tracking data, printed materials, distributed databases, and others. The Specialist will be responsible for system configuration and administration, application design and programming, modeling, and support of computer-based GIS mapping and related statistical analysis as well as for developing a web-based interface for the GIS. Required proficiency in either GIS applications or Remote Sensing with some experience in the other. Desired experience in marine applications, ArcGIS, ArcIMS, ArcSDE, ERDAS Imagine, SeaWiFS, MODIS, AVHRR. database applications such as PostgreSQL, Java, JavaScript, xml, html, and php. Background in spatial statistics a plus. Minimum Education/Experience: BS (MS or PhD preferred) in appropriate field (Marine Science, Wildlife Management, Geomatics, Remote Sensing, Computer Science or closely related field), 3-5 years experience in conducting GIS/Remote Sensing analysis. Salary Range $30-60K/yr depending on experience, plus benefits. Consideration of applications will begin immediately and close no later than November 15, 2003. Send resume to Dr. Stephan I. Zeeman, Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of New England, 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, ME 04005. szeeman(\)une.edu The University of New England is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and strongly encourages the application of candidates of diverse backgrounds. Please see our website (http://www.une.edu) for additional information. Stephan I. Zeeman, Ph.D. Professor University of New England 11 Hills Beach Road Biddeford, ME 04005 Voice (207) 283-0170 x2410 FAX (207) 282-6379 ____________________________________________________________________ This message may contain privileged and/or confidential information. This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is intended even if addressed incorrectly. If you have received this email in error or are not the intended recipient, you may not use, copy, disseminate or distribute it. Do not open attachments. Delete them immediately from your system and notify the sender promptly by email that you have done so. Thank you. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2003 08:03:56 -0700 From: Jaime Bolanos Subject: Responses to request on transaminase levels in Delphinus Dear colleagues: Please find below a summary of the responses to our request on information regarding levels of transaminases in the Genus Delphinus. We are very grateful to all the colleagues who took part of their precious time to provide us wiht this feedback. Sincerely Jaime Bolanos 1. Hola!! Hice una b=FAsqueda rapida y encontr=E9 estas referencias, desgraciadamente de ninguna pude encontrar el archivo en pdf completo. Seguir=E9 buscando y te los envio. Saludos, Valentina Islas (Mexico) J Zoo Wildl Med. 1999 Jun;30(2):228-34. =20 Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme patterns in cetaceans. Reidarson TH, McBain J, Dalton LM. Sea World of California, San Diego 92109, USA. Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzyme activity was analyzed in cetaceans. Animals that were treated by i.m. injection and others that received azole therapy had distinctly different LDH isoenzyme profiles. A third distinctive pattern was occasionally observed in clinically normal animals with elevations in total transaminase and LDH activity levels. DH isoenzyme activity patterns were not affected by mild or moderate hemolysis, refrigeration after 24 hr, or freezing for 24 hr with subsequent thawing. However, severe hemolysis produced artifactual changes similar to those observed in individuals that received injections but of a lesser magnitude. DH isoenzyme activity patterns may provide useful corroboration of other clinical findings when diagnostic modalities are limited, especially to differentiate nonspecific enzyme elevation from nonpathologic elevations in serum enzyme concentrations due to i.m. injections or azole therapy.=20 =20 Ital J Biochem. 1976 May-Jun;25(3):219-28. =09 Urea cycle enzymes in the liver of a dolphin Platanista indi. Grillo MA, Sisini A. Urea cycle enzymes are all shown to be active in dolphin liver. Acetylglutamate-independent cytoplasmic carbamylphosphate synthase is also present. Arginase is a basic protein, although less markedly basic than the dog enzyme. It is 118 per cent activated by heating at 50 degrees. Optimum pH is 10.5. Co++ and Ni++ inhibit the enzyme. AMP deaminase, glutamicoxaloacetic transaminase, glutamate dehydrogenase and ornithine transaminase are also active in dolphin liver.=20 =20 J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1990 Jan 1;196(1):127-30. =09 Hepatitis B-like infection in a Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens). Bossart GD, Brawner TA, Cabal C, Kuhns M, Eimstad EA, Caron J, Trimm M, Bradley P. Miami Seaquarium, FL 33149. A Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) developed clinical signs, serum biochemical values, and serologic viral markers consistent with chronic persistent hepatitis caused by a hepatitis B-like virus. The hepatitis had a sporadic cyclical pattern of lethargy, inappetance, and icterus, with leukocytosis and increased serum activities of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase. The serum from this dolphin contained hepatitis B virus core antibodies, hepatitis B surface antibodies, and hepatitis B viral DNA. Supportive treatment consisted of administration of antibiotics, cimetidine, menadiol sodium diphosphate, and vitamin/dextrose supplementation. A clinically normal killer whale (Orcinus orca) housed in the same pool had serum hepatitis B surface antibodies, suggesting immunologic responsiveness and that this disease was not species-specific.=20 =20 Biochem J. 1974 Dec;143(3):541-53. =09 Purification and properties of dolphin muscle aspartate and alanine transaminases and thier possible roles in the energy metabolism of diving mammals. Owen TG, Hochachka PW. J Wildl Dis. 1974 Oct;10(4):410-9. =09 Simulated field blood studies in the bottle-nosed dolphin Tursiops truncatus. 3. Changes in hematology and chemistry during blood and plasma storage. Geraci JR, Medway W. 2. Hi Jaime, The values that you have forwarded , while elevated don't strike me as unusual in a stranded dolphin. The trends are generally in the right direction (decreasing) and the elevation in the Oxalacetic transaminase may relate to muscle damage from an injection or bruising during capture and restraint for blood collection. I would be concerned if that enzyme continues to increase but it is among the more volatile serum chemistry values. What history is there re injections or restraint issues??=20 Larry J. Lawrence Dunn VMD Department of Research and Veterinary services Mystic Aquarium ldunn(\)mysticaquarium.org dunnl(\)aol.com Dear Larry: Thanks a lot for your answer. The dolphin live-stranded at the end of May, 2003. The Ministry of Environment asked Waterland Mundo Marino to cooperate to rehabilitate the dolphin. It is a young female. Veterinary treatment included some medications for liver, antibiotics, enzymes and vitamins.=20 Values of transaminases are: Piruvic transaminase: 01 june 90 25 june 88 26 june 86 14 July 72 02 Aug. 66 21 sept. 54 normal average 38 Oxalacetic transaminase: 01 june 320 25 june 150 26 june 220 14 July 290 02 Aug. 220 21 sept. 370 normal average 40 3. From: "Schmitt, Todd" Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2003 14:35:42 -0500 To: , Subject: re: Transaminase levels in dolphins There are reference ranges for rehabilitated Delphinus sp. from SeaWorld San Diego in the 2001 CRC Marine Mammal Medicine 2nd edit. textbook, page 391. We on occasion see elevated transaminase levels in Tursiops sp. with pregnancy or estrous, the cause for this has not been determined. Although we have not seen any detrimental effects to the fetus or clinical signs affecting appetite or behavior. I have also not seen any notable architectural/parenchymal changes to the liver with ultrasound examination of individuals having high transaminase levels. Does the animal in question have elevation of bilirubin, bile acids or lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzymes in addition to the transaminase levels?=20 In a pregnant Tursiops, transaminases were found: ALP 418,ALT 352,AST 974,GGT 242, LDH 1362 U/L WENT AS HIGH AS ALP 502,ALT 402,AST 1326, GGT 451, LDH 1516 U/L =20 levels returned to normal in 30 days. Animal was prophylactically placed on antibiotics. 4. Jaime, We see elevated transaminase levels in many species of dolphins during rehabilitation due to high fat content in the diet. We have to decrease the fat in the diet to allow the transaminase levels to go down. We consider <300 normal for AST/SGOT and <60 normal for ALT/SGPT. Try switching to a lower fat prey species and see if that will solve the problem. Good luck. Charles Manire --=20 Charles A. Manire, DVM =20 Manager, Animal Care Program =20 Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium =20 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway =20 Web www.mote.org Sarasota, FL 34236 USA 5. El articulo mencionado abajo puede ser de interes. A mi entender casi todos los valores de sangre de Delphinus publicados son de animales varados enfermos. Solo existe la posibilidad de contactar con los delfinarios que mantuvieron Delphinus (Australia, Africa del Sur, Italia) para ver si tienen viejos resultados de analisis de sangre. La terapia mas adequada -en mi opinion y experiencia con cinco especies de odontocetos, pero no Delphinus- es con silimarina. Saludos, Manuel. J Comp Pathol. 2003 Aug-Oct;129(2-3):226-30. Immunophenotypic characterization of hepatic inflammatory cell infiltrates in common dolphins (Delphinus delphis). Jaber JR, Perez J, Arbelo M, Herraez P, Espinosa de los Monteros A, Rodnguez F, Fernandez T, Fernandez A. Departamento de Morfologia, Facultad de Veterinaria de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. Of 14 common dolphins, 12 showed non-specific reactive hepatitis and three > chronic parasitic cholangitis with lymphoid proliferation. Non-specific reactive > hepatitis was shown immunohistochemically to be associated with small clusters > of CD3(+) cells in portal areas and hepatic sinusoids. Polyclonal antibody > against S100 protein reacted with a variable number of lymphocytes from portal > areas and hepatic sinusoids, as well as with Kupffer cells and epithelial cells > of the bile ducts. The majority of plasma cells observed in portal areas and > hepatic sinusoids were IgG(+). In lymphonodular lesions of chronic parasitic > cholangitis, the distribution of immunoreactive cells was similar to that found > in the cortex of lymph nodes. The presence of stellate cells similar to > follicular dendritic and interdigitating cells expressing S-100 protein and MHC > class II antigen in lymphonodular lesions suggested that these were highly > organized structures developed to enhance antigen presentation to B and T cells. PMID: 12921729 [PubMed - in process] Manuel Garc=EDa Hartmann Hartmann(\)zoo-duisburg.de 6. Jamie: I would check out the Russian literature, since they have kept Dephinus from the Black Sea for several years and have done a great deal of veternary work with them.=20 William E. Evans, Ph. D. WEEBIO(\)aol.com=20 =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Jaime Bola=F1os __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search http://shopping.yahoo.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2003 11:10:54 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Request from BBC (fwd) Dear Marmam discussion group members, I am researching a television programme for the BBC's Natural History Unit that aims to be the definitive documentary on dolphins. We intend to produce a visually-stunning primer on dolphin biology packed with new revelations from around the world on dolphin behaviour, culture and communication. I am keen to discover dolphin science that illustrates the cutting edge of investigations into the characteristics and capacities of dolphins. It could be drawn from experimentation in captivity or wild observations. It could be the synthesis of years of long-term study, or the expectations of new studies that are just beginning. Of particular interest would be work studying sociobiology and communication, tool-use, relationships with humans, hunting behaviours, and complex and co-operative behaviour. But any new information about dolphin distributions, migrations, reproductive biology and physiology would be much appreciated. We're trying to paint an accurate picture of these species for an hour-long film to be broadcast worlwide. I would be very grateful for any input that you could offer, Many regards, Jon Jonathan Hughes | Researcher | Jungle BBC Natural History Unit | Bristol | BS8 2LR | UK Jonathan.hughes(\)bbc.co.uk T: +44 (0)117 9747692 F: +44 (0)117 9733583 M: +44 (0)7968 257233 -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2003 11:14:25 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Baleen whale digestion (fwd) Dear all, I would like to know if anyone can approximate the time it takes for a = large baleen whale to digest a mouthful of krill. I have often seen blue whales defaecating in a southern Australian = feeding ground, where the whales mainly prey on a small (<20mm) = euphausiid. I have been assuming, based on various unconfirmed opinions, = that a defaecating whale has fed in the previous 3-6 hours. Does anyone = have any information which could confirm, reject or refine this figure? Regards, Peter Gill Blue Whale Study Whale Ecology Group - Southern Ocean School of Ecology & Environment Deakin University PO Box 423, Warrnambool VIC 3280 Ph [61+3](03) 55295227 pcgill(\)ozemail.com.au -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 19 Oct 2003 11:28:42 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Recent publication Recent publication: Branstetter, B. K., Mevissen, S, J., Herman, L, M., Pack, A. A., Roberts, S. P. (2003). Horizontal angular discrimination by an echolocating bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncates). Bioacoustics, 14, 15-34. A bottlenose dolphin was tested on its ability to echoically discriminate horizontal angular differences between two arrays of vertically oriented air-filled, PVC rods. The blindfolded dolphin was required to station in a submerged, vertically oriented hoop, 2 radial metres from the stimuli, and indicate whether an array with four rods (S+) was to the left or the right of an array with two rods (S-) by pressing a corresponding paddle. The angular separation between the rods within each array (qw) was maintained at 2 degrees but the angular separation between the two arrays (qb) was varied to produce angular differences (Dq= qb-qw) ranging from 0.25 degrees to 4 degrees. A modified method of constant stimuli was used to test for angular discrimination ability, and yielded a psychometric function having a 75% correct threshold of 1.6 degrees. This threshold fell between the passive listening minimum audible angle thresholds of 0.9 degrees for click signals and 2.1 degrees for a pure tone signal (Renaud & Popper 1975). Analysis of response times, number of clicks and inter-click intervals failed to detect any significant adaptive behaviour occurring as the task became more difficult. These results help to define angular resolution capabilities of dolphin sonar that may play an important role in representing spatial information in the dolphin's environment. Please contact branstet(\)hawaii.edu for reprint requests -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2003 11:58:02 +0100 From: Phil Coles Subject: porpoises boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01C3949D.88D14BE0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------_=_NextPart_001_01C3949D.88D14BE0 charset="US-ASCII" Dear All, I'm producing the first ever one hour documentary about the harbour porpoise. It will be the first film to reveal its biology and, very importantly, the human activities that threaten it, to a world wide general audience, hopefully contributing to public awareness about these very special animals. One part of their biology which I am missing is natural predation and I was wondering whether anybody has or knows of footage, amateur or otherwise of predation events on porpoises, either by killer whales or any other species. Equally if you have other stories that you think might be useful to the production please let me know. If you can help or offer advice please response directly to me at phil(\)parthenonentertainment.com=20 Thank you very much. Kindest regards Phil Coles ------_=_NextPart_001_01C3949D.88D14BE0 charset="US-ASCII"

Dear All,

I’m producing the = first ever one hour documentary about the harbour porpoise. It will be the first = film to reveal its biology and, very importantly, the human activities that = threaten it, to a world wide general audience, hopefully contributing to public = awareness about these very special animals.

         =    One part of their biology which I am missing is natural predation and I was wondering whether anybody has or knows of footage, amateur or otherwise = of predation events on porpoises, either by killer whales or any other species. = Equally if you have other stories that you think might be useful to the production = please let me know.

         =    If you can help or offer advice please response directly to me at phil(\)parthenonentertainme= nt.com

Thank you very much.

Kindest regards

Phil Coles

=00 ------_=_NextPart_001_01C3949D.88D14BE0-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 03:26:34 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Restore America's Estuaries Identifies 80 Federal Programs to Fund (fwd) From: "Nicole Maylett" Restore America's Estuaries announced today that 80 federal programs = are authorized to fund habitat restoration in FY2003. According to Restore America's Estuaries' latest study, Funding for Habitat Restoration Projects: A Citizen's Guide, programs have varying funding levels that could be used for restoration. Programs range from the Estuary Habitat Restoration Act, which provides $1 million to restore degraded estuary habitats, to the Surface Transportation Program, a $5.9 billion program which may be used for habitat restoration in conjunction with transportation enhancements projects within the National Highway System. According to Mark Wolf-Armstrong, President of Restore America's Estuaries, This research clearly shows the breadth and depth of opportunity for funding habitat restoration. Unfortunately, the potential is far greater than the reality. Many of these programs have the authority to spend for restoration, but do not. As our coastal natural resources continue to decline, we need to push for more resources directly applied to restoration. The 80 programs fall under seven federal agencies: the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Departments of Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Transportation, and Health and Human Services. The funding guide provides a quick, comprehensive and accessible review of the often hidden federal funds that may be used to implement on-the-ground habitat restoration projects. Its design and layout provides users with easy access to critical information about funding sources, eligibility and contact. The guide is available online as a printable PDF document and as an interactive database at http://www.estuaries.org/policyandfunding.php.=20 Funding for Habitat Restoration Projects was originally created in 1996 in an effort to bring organization and order to the information available regarding federal programs that fund (or could fund) restoration activities. Today, it reaches farther to play a key role in Restore America=92s Estuaries=92 National Strategy to Restore Coastal = and Estuarine Habitat. For more information, see: http://www.estuaries.org . ********************************** Nicole M. Maylett Conference Coordinator Restore America's Estuaries 3801 North Fairfax Drive Suite 53 Arlington, VA 22203 =20 (703) 524-0248 (voice) (703) 524-0287 (fax) nmaylett(\)estuaries.org www.estuaries.org ***Save the date for the 2nd National Conference on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration ** September 12-15, 2004 in Seattle, Washington ** More details available soon at www.estuaries.org -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2003 13:23:09 -0400 From: qag(\)georgetown.edu Subject: Field Research Assistants Needed... Graduate student needs assistants for field work on bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, Western Australia The Shark Bay Dolphin Research Project was initiated in 1984 and is the second longest running bottlenose dolphin field site in the world. Research is currently being conducted by an international team of scientists focusing on various aspects of dolphin behavior, social structure, development, communication, ecology, and genetics. For more information, see www.monkeymiadolphins.org. My research focuses on the social and behavioral development of wild bottlenose dolphin calves, with a particular emphasis on individual variability in calf social relationships. We will conduct surveys and focal follows of mother-calf pairs, which require intensive behavioral sampling and long days on the water. Other important methods will include photo identification and gathering ecological data. Field work can be demanding, but we will have a unique opportunity to observe dolphins engaging in a variety of exciting behaviors in a pristine environment. We live in a caravan park on the grounds of the Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort (about 25 km from Denham in the shire of Shark Bay). The location is fairly remote, and local medical care is limited (in an emergency one would need to be transported to Perth). Our living situation is simple but comfortable. This project requires a lot of time on the water, and time off is limited and determined by the weather. I am looking for two field assistants to help me gather data for my Ph.D. thesis. They need to be reliable and hard working, and must be able to work well with others and help contribute to a fun atmosphere. We will be working by boat, so being comfortable on the water is essential. Typical responsibilities include assisting in data collection on the boat, data entry, and general logistical support. When: February-June 2004 Where: Monkey Mia, Shark Bay, Western Australia Expected Cost: Approximately $2,500 for airfare and personal items; Housing & food will be provided without cost To apply, send (by email or regular mail) a paragraph describing your interest in this position, a CV, an unofficial transcript, and the names and contact information for 2 references by the deadline to: Quincy Anne Gibson qag(\)georgetown.edu; Georgetown University, Biology Department, Reiss Science Bldg., 37th and O Streets NW, Washington, DC 20057; tel: 202-687-5798 Deadline: Wednesday, December 3, 2003 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2003 11:45:21 -0400 Reply-To: jen(\)blueoceansociety.org From: Jen Kennedy Organization: Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation Subject: Registration Reminder & Presentation Topics: Naturalist Workshop on December 14, 2003 Hello MARMAMers, This is a reminder that we are accepting registrations for the half-day workshop entitled "The Big Picture: What is the role of the naturalist? A workshop for educators affiliated with marine mammal viewing platforms." The workshop will be held during the morning of Sunday, December 14th, in conjunction with the SMM's 15th Biennial Conference. The workshop will be comprised of presentations by speakers and small group discussions which will allow naturalists/educators to learn about effective outreach tactics and gain ideas that they can apply to their viewing platform. Presentation topics include: -"When Education Has a Porpoise: Who Should Naturalists Be Addressing?" -"Everything's Better with Sugar: Increasing Awareness Through Education Not Enforcement" -"Seals, Students and the Sound: A Science Education Program" -"Promoting Ecological Literacy Through Creative Arts" -"Paradigm Shifts: an Educational Tool to Protect Marine Mammals" -"How to Turn a Tragedy into a Teaching Moment" -"Marine Mammals as a Bridge to Science Learning" More information can be found at http://www.blueoceansociety.org/workshop. CALL FOR OUTREACH MATERIALS As part of the workshop, we are hoping to have representative outreach materials available for both display and for inclusion in a CD-Rom available to workshop participants. Please contact us if you would like to submit outreach materials. REGISTRATION Cost of the workshop is $20. Registration includes handouts at the workshop, a CD-Rom with workshop materials and sample outreach materials, and breakfast and a coffee break. Registration forms are available at http://www.blueoceansociety.org/workshop. We have extended our registration deadline to Friday, October 31. Visit http://www.blueoceansociety.org/workshop or contact us for more information. Thank you, Cynde Bierman Ocean Alliance, Cape Ann Whale Watch Phone: 617-838-2646 E-mail: cyndebierman(\)hotmail.com Jen Kennedy Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation, Atlantic Fishing & Whale=20 Watching Phone: 603-431-0260 E-mail: jen(\)blueoceansociety.org ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 23:48:08 -0400 From: Kelly Melillo Subject: Interspecies Interactions and Mating boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0173_01C39764.9D3C62D0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0173_01C39764.9D3C62D0 charset="iso-8859-1" I am an undergrad currently working on an independent study at = Connecticut College. I am looking for anyone who can offer known = published references or personal anecdotal information about = interspecies interactions (specifically mating) in marine mammals. I am = especially interested in interactions between spotted and bottlenose = dolphins in the Bahamas. I am also interested in references or = observations specific to successful hybrids (especially reports of a = hybrid between Dall's and Harbor porpoise off Vancouver), and the = potential evolutionary forces behind the behavior as well as its = consequences. I have conducted research into known hybrids and have = included the following reference list. Please respond directly to me at kemel(\)conncoll.edu. Thanks for all your = help! -Kelly -------------------------------------------------------------------------= -------------- Berube, Martine and Alex Aguilar. "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, 1998. Brunner, Sylvia. "A Probable Hybrid Sea Lion-Zalophus californianus X = Otaria byronia." Journal of Mammalogy, 83 (1): 135-144, 2002. Ferrero, Richard C., and William A. Walker. "Age, growth and = reproductive patterns of Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) in the = central North Pacific Ocean." Marine Mammal Science, 15 (2): 273-313, = 1999. Kovacs, Kit M., Christian Lydersen, Mike O. Hammill, Bradley N. White, = Paul J. Wilson, and Sobia Malik. "A Harp Seal X Hooded Seal Hybrid." = Marine Mammal Science, 13 (3): 460-468, 1997. Spilliaert, R., G. Vikingsson, U. Arnason, A. Palsdottir, J. = Sigurjonsson, and A. Arnason. "Species Hybridization between a Female = Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) and a Male Fin Whale (B. physalus): = Molecular and Morphological Documentation." Journal of Heredity, = 82:269-274, 1991. -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ---------------------- Kelly Melillo Connecticut College 270 Mohegan Avenue New London, CT 06320 860-439-3897 Kemel(\)conncoll.edu ------=_NextPart_000_0173_01C39764.9D3C62D0 charset="iso-8859-1"

I am an undergrad currently working on an independent study at = Connecticut=20 College. I am looking for anyone who can offer known published = references or=20 personal anecdotal information about interspecies interactions = (specifically=20 mating) in marine mammals. I am especially interested in interactions = between=20 spotted and bottlenose dolphins in the Bahamas. I am also interested in=20 references or observations specific to successful hybrids (especially = reports of=20 a hybrid between Dall=91s and Harbor porpoise off Vancouver), and the = potential=20 evolutionary forces behind the behavior as well as its consequences. I = have=20 conducted research into known hybrids and have included the following = reference=20 list.
Please respond directly to me at kemel(\)conncoll.edu. Thanks for = all=20 your help!

-Kelly

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

Berube, Martine and Alex Aguilar. =93A new hybrid between a blue = whale,=20 Balaenoptera musculus, and a fin whale, B. physalus: = Frequency and=20 implications of             =     hybridization.=94 Marine Mammal Science, 14 = (1): 82-98,=20 1998.

Brunner, Sylvia. =93A Probable Hybrid Sea Lion-Zalophus = californianus X=20 Otaria byronia.=94 Journal of Mammalogy, 83 (1): 135-144, = 2002.

Ferrero, Richard C., and William A. Walker. =93Age, growth and = reproductive=20 patterns of Dall=92s porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) in the central = North=20 Pacific Ocean.=94 Marine Mammal Science, 15 (2): 273-313, = 1999.

Kovacs, Kit M., Christian Lydersen, Mike O. Hammill, Bradley N. = White, Paul=20 J. Wilson, and Sobia Malik. =93A Harp Seal X Hooded Seal Hybrid.=94 = Marine Mammal=20 Science, 13 (3): 460-468, 1997.

Spilliaert, R., G. Vikingsson, U. Arnason, A. Palsdottir, J. = Sigurjonsson,=20 and A. Arnason. =93Species Hybridization between a Female Blue Whale=20 (Balaenoptera musculus) and a Male Fin Whale (B. = physalus):=20 Molecular and Morphological Documentation.=94 Journal of = Heredity,=20 82:269-274, 1991.

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

Kelly Melillo

Connecticut College

270 Mohegan Avenue

New London, CT 06320

860-439-3897

Kemel(\)conncoll.edu

 

 


------=_NextPart_000_0173_01C39764.9D3C62D0-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2003 11:26:43 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Research Vessel Available in 2004 (fwd) The Interactive Passenger/ Research vessel Wanderbird has bunks = available in 2004 for researchers during our trips along the coasts of = Maine, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador. There is no charge for = researchers to join us. We encourage you to see our website at = www.wanderbirdcruises.com or to contact us by email. Capts. Rick and = Karen Miles info(\)wanderbirdcruises.com Peace & Kind Regards, Capt. Rick & Karen Miles Please check out the 2004 schedule for our vessel WANDERBIRD for = expedition and wildlife cruises to Maine, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and = Labrador at www.wanderbirdcruises.com -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 20:29:26 +0200 From: Lenie 't Hart Subject: Position available SRRC The Netherlands Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 ------ Position Available SEAL REHABILITATOR The Dutch Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre Pieterburen is a non-profit animal protection, conservation and education organization in the North of The Netherlands. We rescue around 200 seals annually which, after intensive rehabilitation and care, are released back into to their natural habitat. Our international team of twenty plus dedicated employees and interns is looking for a motivated colleague who will work with us to give the seals the best possible care and medical attention. The person in this position will work according to strict protocols including quarantine procedures and will be responsible for carrying out procedures in animal care as directed by the veterinarian. We are looking for a flexible team-worker who is experienced in the coordination of work, both for others and for yourself, preferably in marine animal care. The general animal care husbandry involves coordinating and training the volunteers who will assist in animal care and in feeding and maintaining a clean environment. Candidates should have positive attitude and have well-rounded social skills both towards people and animals and have respect for different cultures. Requirements: The job involves working in shifts to cover a schedule of 7-days 07:00-23:00 The contract is for one year, with possible extension to a fixed contract. Temporary stationing abroad for a period up to 6 weeks is might occur. The working language is English. A driving license and familiarity with the computer programs like Word and Excel is important. Seals are sometimes very strong, so you have to be in good health and in great physical condition. We offer a interesting and dynamic job in a pleasant atmosphere in an international setting. Salary commensurate with experience. On-site housing is available. Submit letter and resume before 31 December 2003 to: Human Resources Department Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre Pieterburen Hoofdstraat 94A 9968 AC Pieterburen E-mail: lenie(\)zeehondencreche.nl http://www.zeehondencreche.nl/english/general/ -- Lenie 't Hart Stichting Zeehondencr=E8che Pieterburen Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre SRRC Hoofdstraat 94a, 9968 AG Pieterburen, The Netherlands Phone SRRC: (31) 0595 - 526 526 Fax SRRC: (31) 0595 - 528 389 Mobile phone: (31) 06 - 51 - 587774 _________________________________________________________________ The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 20:12:39 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: New book on struggle to stop whaling (fwd) From: "Susan Shoup Soldavin" Island Press announces the publication of THE WHALING SEASON An Inside Account of the Struggle to Stop Commercial Whaling By Kieran Mulvaney "Despite common misconceptions, commercial whaling is still alive and well under the guise of 'scientific research.' Kieran Mulvaney lends a personal touch to the struggle by Greenpeace and others against the ruse. THE WHALING SEASON provides dramatic and engaging accounts of Mulvaney's four expeditions chasing whaling ships in the Antarctic and the twists of his life that delivered him there." -E/The Environmental Magazine "If Shackleton were around today, he'd undoubtedly be out on those same Antarctic waters with Greenpeace and Kieran Mulvaney, persevering against all odds to combat the Japanese whalers. This high-seas adventure story, interwoven with the compelling history of the global effort to regulate whaling, is a heartfelt and timely tribute to our great cetaceans that remain threatened by commercial forces." -Dick Russell, author of EYE OF THE WHALES "Highly readable. The prologue, which describes the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise stalking the whaler Nisshin Maru through Antarctic ice, reads like something out of a Tom Clancy novel." -The Daily Yomiuri (Japan) To learn more about Mulvaney's voyages in all their drama, disappointments, strain and elation, go to: http://www.islandpress.org/whalingseason $26.00 cloth | 368 pages | ISBN 1-55963-978-4 ------------ Island Press The Environmental Publisher info(\)islandpress.org ------------ -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 06:21:50 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: PR and Research Coordinator position (fwd) From: Joseph Mobley PUBLIC RELATIONS AND RESEARCH COORDINATOR=20 for the Island Marine Institute in Lahaina, Maui. AVAILABILITY: Immediate; full-time=97December 1, 2003 through May 30,=20 2004, renewable pending availability of funds The Island Marine Institute (IMI) is the research arm of Island Marine Activities, a conservation-oriented, commercial for profit whale watch=20 company operating vessels out of Lahaina, Maui. For the past several=20 years, IMI has helped to train naturalists and volunteer researchers=20 concerning the natural history and research activities associated with=20 humpback whales during their winter breeding season (Jan-Apr). All=20 research is performed outside of the minimum 100-yard approach limit,=20 thereby not requiring a research permit under the Endangered Species=20 Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act (see our website at=20 www.whalewatchmaui.com). DUTIES of the PR and Research Coordinator include: a) working in coordination with the Research Director in administering research=20 programs of IMI; b) assisting with public relations activities for=20 Island Marine Activities (including public lectures and sales=20 resentations); c) acting as curator of all fluke identification=20 photographs. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: a) bachelor's degree in field related to=20 duties; b) organizational administrative experience (min: 1 yr); c)=20 background in marine mammal natural history and/or research; d) must be=20 a positive, =93take-charge=94 individual able to work with minimum=20 supervision. DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS: a) Masters Degree in related field; b) proficiency with computer graphics programs. SALARY: $2,500 per month DEADLINE: Nov. 15, 2003 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=20 Director, at jmobley(\)hawaii.edu. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 26 Oct 2003 10:01:05 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: marine mammals of sri lanka and the indian ocean (fwd) Hi! At present I am writing a paper on the sightings made of marine mammals = in and around Sri Lanka during the spring of 2003. The work was = conducted on board the R/V Odyssey of which I was a member of the crew = for the period. I am however having difficulty finding papers. Below are = listed some of the names of papers i am aware of so if anyone has any = pdf versions of them etc could you please send them over. Also if you = have any idea of any other relevan papers please feel free to suggest or = send. Thanks hugely! Asha de Vos asha.devos(\)lincoln.ox.ac.uk Lincoln College, Turl Street Oxford OX1 3DR UK Abigail 1986 records of Odontocetes in the Northern Indian Ocean. (1981-1982) = and off the coast of Sri Lanka (1982-1984) J.Bombay Nat.Hist.Society, = India Vol.83(2) Abigail Alling : A Preliminary Report of the Incidental Entrapment of Odontocetes by Sri = Lanka's Coastal Drift Net Fishery J.Bombay Nat.His.Society Vol.85 M.N.de Boer et al: Cetaceans in the Indian Ocean Sanctuary: A Review (SC/54/05) Elizabeth J.Eyre: Observaitons of Cetaceans in the Indian Ocean Whale Santcuary, May-July = 1993. (SC/46/)27 Rep.Int.Whal.Commn 45.1995 Jonathan C.D.Gordon: Sperm Whale Groups and Social Behaviour Observed = off Sri Lanka. (SC/38/Sp7) Rep.Int.Whal.Commn 37.1987 R.Charles Anderson, Abdullah Shaan and Zaha Waheed. Records of Cetacean 'strandings' from the Maldives. J.South Asian Nat. = Hist. ISBN 1022-0828 October, 1999 Vol 4 No. 2 pp. 187-202 Jonathan C.D.Gordon: The World Wildlife Fund's Ocean Sperm Whale Project:AN Example of = Cetacean Research Within the Indian Ocean Sanctuary. = Mar.Mammal.Tech.Rep.3 Stephen Leatherwood, Donna McDonald, W.P.Prematunga, Phillip Girton, = Anouk Ilangakoon and Dennis McBrearty Records of the 'Blackfish'(Killer,False Killer,Ppilot, Pygmy Killer and = Melon-headed Whales) in the Indian Ocean 1772-1986. Mar.Mammal Tech. = Report 3. Edited by Leatherwood and Donovan, UNEnv. Programme (UNEP) = Nairobi Kenya. Stephen Leatherwood and R.R.Reeves (editors)1989. Mar.Mammal Research = and conservation in Sri Lanka 1985-86. Mar.Mammal Tech. Report 1. UNEnv. = Programme (UNEP) Nairobi Kenya. Ilangakoon A. 1994 M Marine Mammals of the Indian Ocean, IOMAC II/SC-10/Inf.3, = Proceedings.Record of the 10th Meeting of the sTanding Comm.of the = Indian Ocean Marine Affairs Co-operation, IOMAC Secretariat, Cmb. SL. Ilangakoon A.,Subasinghe, H.a.K> and Mahendra, W.P., 1992 On Lrare = Cetacean Species off Sri Lanka Including the Killer Whale Orcinus Orca = (Linn) Delphinidae:Cetacacea).J.Bombay Nat.Hist. Society, India. Vol.89 = (3) -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 14:28:26 -0400 From: "Yates, Nathan" Subject: List of stranding response organizations I am updating a list of agencies/organizations that respond to marine mammal strandings that was included in the 1998 CD-ROM version of Marine Mammals Ashore by Geraci and Lounsbury, for use in the second edition of the book. If you represent a stranding response organization, please respond with the following information - Name of organization: Address: Country: Phone: Fax: Email and/or website: Contact name: Area covered: Activities or other information: (e.g., live strandings, carcass recovery, pinnipeds only, related research programs, etc.) Please send this information to nyates(\)aqua.org Thanks in advance for your assistance, Nathan Yates _________________________________________ Special Projects Assistant Biological Programs National Aquarium in Baltimore 501 East Pratt Street/Pier 3 Baltimore, MD 21202 410-576-3805 (ph) 410-576-1080 (fax) nyates(\)aqua.org ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2003 02:36:20 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: SMM Biennail Conference (fwd) From: "edward o. keith" The XV Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals is rapidly approaching. The scientific program is taking shape and there are exciting sessions of interest to all subscribers to MARMAM. As at previous conferences, there will be a student affairs workshop, a members meeting, a video night, and a banquet and dance. There are over thirty exhibitors, and a local artist will be demonstrating on the potter's wheel and exhibiting his work. In addition, an evening program on the effects of noise on marine mammals will be open to both those attending the conference and the general public, marking a new educational venture for SMM. If you have not done so, both the Conference and the Scientific Program Committees encourage you to register for the conference as soon as possible. This will save you money, and help you avoid standing in long lines. As you are well aware, the conference is a self-supporting enterprise, and depends upon registration fees to pay the bills. Likewise, the Sheraton-Greensboro and the Joseph S. Koury Center are providing space for the conference at no cost, contingent on our filling a sizable block of rooms. Registration fees are actually lower than in Vancouver, which reflects the fact that we're not paying for meeting space. As you are undoubtedly aware, the Society requires a lot of space to house its triple concurrent sessions as well as having posters up for the entire conference, and the only way we can maintain this space is to fill our room block. The Sheraton-Greensboro is offering SMM a generous discount from their usual room rates and has waived their room sharing fees. We encourage everyone to support both the hotel and the conference by booking your rooms at the conference hotel. Be aware that the last date to receive the hotel's special SMM room rate is 13 November 2003. The spacious and well-equipped conference rooms are close enough to allow quick transition between rooms during concurrent sessions. We have access to additional space for small meetings during the week and a room dedicated for use by the student chapters. The complex includes several restaurants and a multi-level nightclub with live music and dancing. Within the hotel, you will have access to a complete cardiovascular health club, indoor/outdoor pool, whirlpool, sauna, and racquetball court. Each room has high-speed Internet access (we suggest bringing your own cable). Parking is free. The Management of the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center/Sheraton Greensboro Hotel have worked closely with us to accommodate special requests. For example, they have offered to convert one of their restaurants into a vegetarian restaurant during the biennial conference, while offering some of these items at their other restaurants and ensuring that the banquet includes vegetarian fare. There is a seafood raw bar that has offers a wide selection of beers from around the World. The nightclub, usually closed on Sunday night, will be open for dancing after the icebreaker with a DJ, and will provide free admission with a conference badge through Thursday of the conference with a live band. Please note that North Carolina law limits purchase of alcoholic beverages to those over 21 years of age. We are fortunate that our conference also coincides with the centennial celebration of Orville and Wilbur Wright's historic achievement at Kitty Hawk on December 17, 1903. We hope you will take advantage of being in North Carolina to tour the area, either before or after the conference. The Greensboro area is rich in history, and in addition to being famous for its hardwood furniture, is also known for its regional pottery. The region is rich in history, with museums in the area honoring the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. And if you're looking to find that saucer, wineglass, or silver teaspoon that somehow disappeared from your set, Replacements, Ltd., offers a wide selection of discontinued china, crystal, silver, and collectible patterns. And if all you need is that last minute gift, the Sheraton-Greensboro is adjacent to the Four Seasons Mall. Scientific Program Chair Aleta A. Hohn, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, North Carolina 28516-9722 USA Phone 252-728-8797, Fax 252-728-8784 Email: sciprog(\)marinemammalogy.org Conference Chair Edward O. Keith, Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University 8000 N. Ocean Drive, Dania Beach, Florida 33004 USA Phone 954-262-8322, Fax 954-262-3931 Email: conference(\)marinemammalogy.org -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2003 21:19:01 +0100 From: "J.W. Broekema" Subject: European cetacean Society: 18th Annual Conference 2004 ------ Any replies please mailto:ecsconference(\)kolmarden.com For more information, consult the ECS web site at www.broekemaweb.nl/ecs Kind regards, European Cetacean Society Jan Willem Broekema Member of Council, e-communications EUROPEAN CETACEAN SOCIETY 18TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE Kolm=E5rden, Sweden, March 28-31, 2004=20 FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR PAPERS The 18th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society will take pla= ce in Kolm=E5rden, Sweden, between March 28-31, 2004, and is hosted by th= e Kolm=E5rdens Djurpark (Wild Animal Park), in co-operation with the Fjor= d&Baelt, Kerteminde, DK and Age Dynamics, Kongens Lyngby, DK. The theme o= f the conference is:=20 Experimental approaches to marine mammal research This conference aims at presenting and discussing the potential power in = using experimental approaches to test scientific hypotheses in marine mam= mal research. Such approaches are common practice in laboratory studies, = and has also been applied successfully on the study of marine mammals in = the field. Papers discussing the pros and cons of such approaches and the= possible combination of lab and field studies, as well as results obtain= ed using such methods are invited. As usual, papers on all aspects of the= biology, management and conservation of cetaceans and marine mammals in = general are also welcome, and will be included in the programme.=20 Conference site The entire conference, including lodging and most meals, will be held at = the Vildmarkshotellet (the Wilderness Hotel), situated on the rocky coast= of a narrow bay of the Baltic Sea, with a breath-taking panorama view ov= er the bay and several islands. =20 Registration will take place on Sunday morning, March 28, and on Monday m= orning, March 29, at the Vildmarkshotellet. Conference sessions will be h= eld on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, March 29-31.=20 The traditional ECS conference format will be used, with an invited speak= er opening each daily morning session, followed by oral presentations. Po= sters will be on display throughout the conference and they will be annou= nced in connection with the relevant oral sessions. Call For Papers Communications, in English, are invited as oral or poster presentations. = For both types of presentations, authors should submit an abstract BY E-M= AIL following the ECS guidelines (see separate sheet). They should be sen= t to the Scientic Committee (). Submission sho= uld arrive NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 1, 2003. Failure to follow the guidelin= es may result in the rejection of the abstract. Faxed or posted submissio= ns will not be accepted. Each oral presentation will be 15 minutes, follo= wed by five minutes for questions and discussion. Each accepted poster pr= esentation will be assigned to one of the oral sessions, and the authors = are requested to provide the session chair with one Power Point slide by = which the poster can be introduced to the participants. This page should = include title, authors, a photo of the first author and - very short, the= message of the poster (a sample will be sent to all poster presenters on= acceptance). It should be sent, togethe! r with an updated abstract, to the Scientific Committee not later than F= ebruary 27, in order to give the session chairs a chance to prepare. We a= lso urge all poster authors to include at least a photo of the 1st author= on the poster, to facilitate contact with interested participants. Also,= a single page printout of the poster is highly recommended as hand-outs = for the Conference participants. A Scientific Committee, chaired by Genevi=E8ve Desportes, will arrange fo= r all abstracts to be peer reviewed (see the Abstract guidelines) and aut= hors will be informed by e-mail by mid-January, 2004, whether their prese= ntations have been accepted.=20 In addition to the abstract, authors of both oral and poster presentation= s should provide an Extended Summary (maximum three pages of text plus tw= o pages of graphics), to be included in the Proceedings of the Conference= . Guidelines for the preparation of this Extended Summary will be on the = Conference website. To ensure rapid publication of the Proceedings, summa= ries must be forwarded to the Editor, Peter Evans (, by May 31, 2004. Summaries arriving late may not be included in= the Proceedings.=20 Student Awards=20 As at previous conferences, there will be awards for the best graduate an= d undergraduate student oral and poster presentations. Students are encou= raged to submit presentations for the award. To be eligible, students mus= t be the first author of their paper. Further details are given with the = Abstract submission documentation.=20 Workshops=20 Workshops are scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 27, all day, Sun= day morning, March 28, and Thursday, April 1, all day. All workshops will= be held at the Vildmarkshotellet.=20 Colleagues interested in submitting a proposal for a workshop should addr= ess it to the Scientific Committee, ecsabstract(\)kolmarden.com, before Nov= ember 17, 2003, taking into account that the full organisation and nomina= l charges (i.e. for the meeting room, coffe etc) will be the sole respons= ibility of that person (or a named colleague who has agreed to take on th= is role). The Conference Organising Committee (contact Mats Amundin, ) will help in booking the room and providing th= e necessary equipment to hold the meeting. So far, there have been four w= orkshop proposals under the following general headings - but there is roo= m for more!: EUROPHLUKES =96 the future of the photo ID catalogue Student Workshop: Careers in Marine Mammal Science Estimation of g(0) in line transect surveys of cetaceans=20 Marine Mammals in the Baltic and adjacent waters - level of knowledge, co= nservation and management problems Ethical discussion Since this conference is held in conjunction with a wild animal park and = a dolphinarium, the ECS Council would like to give the participants the o= pportunity to discuss the =93Ethical, scientific and educational aspects = of keeping marine mammals in human care=94, at an open session on Tuesday= evening, March 30.=20 Video Evening=20 The traditional video session will be arranged at the Vildmarkshotellet o= n Monday evening, March 28. All those wishing to show a video should comp= lete the relevant sections of the Abstract submission form and send it to= In=EAs Mello (). Authors of accepted vide= os should send a copy to In=EAs for preview no later than February 27. We= recommend that each video is not longer than 20-30 minutes, but longer o= nes may be accepted. NB! The European PAL video format should be used. Ot= her formats may not be possible to play (in such cases, please specify th= e format). Student volunteers Throughout the conference, help will be needed with organisation and logi= stics. Students who are willing to spend approximately 1/3 of the confere= nce helping out at registration, looking after stands, sales, lecture the= atre microphones, etc., should send their applications via email to Crist= ina Beans (student member of the Council; cristinabeans(\)yahoo.com). Selec= ted students will have free registration to the conference, including the= banquet and the dance.=20 Grants=20 The Society offers limited financial support to students that are either = the first or a nominated author of an accepted talk or poster. The preci= se amount granted will depend upon the number of students subsidized and = the amount of money available, but the minimum will be 150 Euro per grant= . Further details are given with the Abstract submission documentation. A= dditionally, a limited number of grants will be available to facilitate t= he attendance of members who are from eastern Europe and other countries = where there are financial constraints to travel. Members who wish to seek= such assistance should attach a travel grant application (including lodg= ing and sustenance during the conference) to the abstract submission. Ass= istance is generally conditional on a presentation which should be submit= ted in the usual way (see Call for Papers), but support is not limited to= students. Conference Booking and Fees Conference booking and fees are outlined in the accompanying registration= form. Early registration for the conference is strongly recommended; the= closing date for early registration is January 30, 2004, and for late re= gistration February 27, 2004.=20 N.B.! Registration and membership payment rules have changed since the la= st conference. Payment can be made by VISA Card (only VISA will be accept= ed, no other credit cards!) or by bank transfer. Using the (new) IBAN acc= ount number of the ECS (written on the registration form) should eliminat= e all bank transfer costs from countries within the European Union. If yo= u make a bank transfer from outside of the EU, please make sure that bank= charges will be covered by your account. Cheques cannot be accepted beca= use of the too high bank charges. =09 Travel and Accommodation=20 Kolmarden is a forested area on the north side of the narrow Braviken Bay= cutting far into the mainland and leading in to the town of Norrkoping. = This the 8th largest town in Sweden is situated ca. 150 km south of Stock= holm, the capital of Sweden. Norrkoping has ca. 123 000 inhabitants, and = used to be a fabrik and paper factory town. Still the harbour is big and = busy, and Campus Norrkoping, a branch of the University of Linkoping, has= established itself to become an important, growing activity.=20 All the information about travel and accommodation, and the lodging booki= ng form will be found on the Conference web pages, which are linked to t= he Kolmarden web site . The Conference web pages will = be operational within the near future.=20 Travelling to Kolmarden can be comparatively cheap. We recommend Ryan Air= (www.ryanair.com) that flies to the nearby Stockholm/Skavsta airport, on= ly ca. 55 km from Kolmarden (there will be a bus/van service arranged bet= ween Skavsta and Kolmarden). Return air fares ranging from ca. 50-100 Eur= os can be obtained from Ryanair for direct flights to Skavsta from London= , Glasgow, Brussels, Paris, Frankfurt, Oslo, Aarhus, and Tampere. Cheapes= t flights tend to be from Brussels Charleroi or London Stansted. Please n= ote that the price may increase considerably if you book late=A0! Since the whole conference, including all meals, will be at the Vildmarks= hotellet, we have tried to make the price as low as possible. Keeping all= within the hotel saves a lot of foraging time, which can facilitate the = important social aspect of this conference. Being in Kolmarden The weather in Kolmarden in late March may be cold (below zero) at night,= but with luck the day temperature may climb to 10-12=BAC. There may be s= ome snow still, at least in shadowed areas. The meteorological spring (av= erage temperature day+night is 0=BAC) arrives at ca. March 15. The dawn s= tarts at 3:36 and the sun rise is at 05:33. The sun sets at 18:29 and the= dusk ends at 20:26. During the conference you will gain a total of ca. = 18 min of day light. You should bring a warm sweater and a jacket, some p= roper outdoor shoes and maybe even a hat and gloves. However, if you do n= ot want to expose yourself to the outdoor climate, you do not have to lea= ve the comfort of the Vildmarkshotellet for the entire conference (except= for the voluntary guided tour in the wild animal park on Sunday afternoo= n). Further information on the Kolmardens Djurpark can be found on: www.k= olmarden.com and on Norrkoping and the Ostergotland county (activities, m= useum, access maps etc.) on: www.destination! .norrkoping.se. Society Business There will be vacancies in the Council, including the student member. The= Society therefore needs courageous volunteers to stand up and be candid= ates. The Council is also proposing changes to the constitution, which sh= ould be voted upon at the next AGM. So please check the ECS and the confe= rence websites within the next few weeks to be informed of the procedures. On behalf of the Conference Organising and Scientific Committees as well = as of the European Cetacean Society Council, we welcome you to Kolmarden = next year and are looking forward to seeing you!=20 Mats Amundin ECS 2004 Conference Chair Research&Education Kolmardens Djurpark S-618 92 Kolmarden Sweden Phone: +46-11 24 90 18;=20 Cellphone: +46-705 47 04 27=20 Fax: +46-11 24 90 65 Email: ecsconference(\)kolmarden.com Email: ecsabstract(\)kolmarden.com Email: ecshotelbooking(\)kolmarden.com=20 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2003 13:19:42 -0700 From: Susan Gardner Subject: Graduate Student Positions in Mexico In-Reply-To: <200310271036.h9RAaKlQ060206(\)unix6.uvic.ca> The Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas del Noroeste, S.C. (www.cibnor.mx) in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico has graduate student positions available at the Masters and Ph.D. level. Projects include physiological and toxicological studies of cetaceans and pinnipeds as part of a larger research program assessing the health of marine mammals in the Gulf of California and the Pacific Coast of the Baja California peninsula. Application to these positions is open to anyone, however Spanish language fluency is required and preference will be given to Mexican citizens. For more information, please contact: Dr. Susan C. Gardner (sgardner(\)cibnor.mx) Dr. Tania Zenteno Savin (tzenteno(\)cibnor.mx) ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2003 04:41:49 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Society for Marine Mammalogy membership changes (fwd) From: Phil Clapham Apologies for cross-postings; we wanted to be sure that any "lapsed"=20 Society members (those for whom we may not have email addresses, or=20 correct address) see this. Important Changes to your Marine Mammal Science Subscription and Society=20 for Marine Mammalogy Membership Dear SMM Member: The Society for Marine Mammalogy is in the process of taking over=20 management of its membership, which was previously managed by Allen=20 Press. This change will streamline membership administration and will=20 result in much more efficient communication with members; it will also=20 greatly reduce problems with delivery of Marine Mammal Science. As part of this process, you will see some changes =96 both major and=20 minor - to the way we do things. The significant changes are outlined=20 below. Beginning in 2004, your membership will no longer run on a calendar-year=20 basis from 1 January to 31 December. Instead, all subscriptions will=20 take effect on the date received and run for one year from that date. For new members, the first journal issue received will be the one=20 published after the date the membership is processed. All members will=20 of course receive four issues in total. Renewing 2003 Members: Please note that if you do not renew by 31=20 December 2003, you will miss issue number 1 of Volume 20 for 2004. Your=20 first issue will be No. 2 (April), and your last will be the January=20 2005 journal. As long as renewals arrive on time, you won't miss any=20 issues, so please renew early! Members will be able to purchase back issues of Marine Mammal Science on=20 a per-copy basis (while supplies last). We are pleased to note that this new policy eliminates the late fee=20 which we have previously charged for memberships processed later in the=20 year. The Society hopes that this will encourage all members to renew on time,=20 thus saving a lot of bureaucratic time and expense. Membership and=20 renewal forms can be found on the SMM website, at:=20 http://www.marinemammalogy.org/applications.htm Additionally, as we convert from Allen Press to our in-house membership=20 management, please note that you will receive a new membership ID number=20 when your membership or renewal is confirmed. Please make note of it,=20 as it will assist us in solving any problems you may have. The=20 membership number will also give you access to "members-only" areas of=20 the SMM website, which are planned for the near future. Thank you for your continued support of our Society. We appreciate your=20 patience during this important transition, which we hope will allow us=20 to better serve all our members in the future. Best wishes, Phil Clapham Chair, Membership Committee --=20 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 -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2003 11:50:54 -0800 From: "David S. Janiger" Subject: New Articles ------ Hi, all! One piece of business before anything. The solution (Thanks, Greg), for those that had trouble opening the THOMPSON, DAVID; SIMON E. W. MOSS and PHIL LOVELL file (05019.pdf), you will have to update your Adobe Aerobat Reader. This is free on the Adobe website at: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html Here's the latest posting of new PDF's that are available. Abstracts also available on request. All files are under 1 MB, except three (noted below= ). Persons with hotmail accounts, please send another email address if you want any of these three files. The usual reminder, please don't hit the reply button. Please make all requests to: janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu Cheers David Janiger - Curatorial Assistant (Mammals) Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007 (213) 763-3369 janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu djaniger(\)nhm.org AARSETH, JO JOREM and KARL-ARNE STOKKAN. JOURNAL OF PINEAL RESEARCH 35(3):188-195. 2003. Quantitative differences in the pineal ultrastructure of perinatal and adult harp (Phoca groenlandica) and hooded seals (Cystophora cristata). AURIOLES-GAMBOA, DAVID; FRANCISCO GARCIA-RODRIGUEZ; MAURICIO RAMIREZ-RODRIGUEZ and CLAUDIA HERNANDEZ-CAMACHO. CIENCIAS MARINAS 29(3):357-370. 2003. Interaccion entre el lobo marino de California y la pesqueria artesanal e= n la Bahia de La Paz, Golfo de California, Mexico. (Interaction between the California sea lion and the artisanal fishery in La Paz Bay, Gulf of California, Mexico) File size: 1.376 MB BEARZI, GIOVANNI; RANDALL R. REEVES; GIUSEPPE NOTARBARTOLO-DI-SCIARA; ELE= NA POLITI; ANA CA=D1ADAS; ALEXANDROS FRANTZIS and BARBARA MUSSI. MAMMAL REVIEW 33(3-4):224-252. 2003. Ecology, status and conservation of short-beaked common dolphins Delphinu= s delphis in the Mediterranean Sea. COX, TARA M.; ANDREW J. READ; DAVE SWANNER; KIM URIAN and DANIELLE WAPLES. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION 115(2):203-212. 2003. Behavioral responses of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, to gillnets and acoustic alarms. DALTON, REX. NATURE (LONDON) 425:549. 2003. (News) Scientists split over regulations on sonar use. DAVID, J. H. M.; P. CURY; R. J. M. CRAWFORD; R. M. RANDALL; L. G. UNDERHI= LL and M. A. MEYER. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION 114(2):289-292. 2003. Assessing conservation priorities in the Benguela ecosystem, South Africa= : Analysing predation by seals on threatened seabirds. FARINA, J. M.; S. SALAZAR; K. P. WALLEM; J. D. WITMAN and J. C. ELLIS. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY 72(5):873-887. 2003. Nutrient exchanges between marine and terrestrial ecosystems: The case of the Galapagos sea lion Zalophus wollebaecki. FERTL, DAGMAR; THOMAS A. JEFFERSON; IGNACIO B. MORENO; ALEXANDRE N. ZERBI= NI and KEITH D. MULLIN. MAMMAL REVIEW 33(3-4):253-271. 2003. Distribution of the Clymene dolphin Stenella clymene. FINNERAN, J. J.; R. DEAR; D. A. CARDER and S. H. RIDGWAY. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 114(3):1667-1677. 2003. Auditory and behavioral responses of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) to single underwater impulses from an arc-gap transducer. HOFFMAN, JOSEPH I.; IAN L. BOYD and WILLIAM AMOS. EVOLUTION 57(8):1917-1930. 2003. Male reproductive strategy and the importance of maternal status in the antarctic fur seal Arctocephalus gazella. JEPSON, P. D.; M. ARBELO; R. DEAVILLE; I. A. P. PATTERSON; P. CASTRO; J. = R. BAKER; E. DEGOLLADA; H. M. ROSS; P. HERRAEZ; A. M. POCKNELL; F. RODRIGUEZ= ; F. E. HOWIE; A. EXPINOSA; R. J. REID; J. R. JABER; V. MARTIN; A. A. CUNNINGHAM and A. FERNANDEZ. NATURE (LONDON) 425(6958):575-576. 2003. Gas-bubble lesions in stranded cetaceans: Was sonar responsible for a spa= te of whale deaths after an Atlantic military exercise? LALAS, CHRIS and COREY J. A. BRADSHAW. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION 114(1):67-78. 2003. Expectations for population growth at new breeding locations for the vulnerable New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) using a simulation m= odel. LAMMERS, M. O.; W. W. L. AU and D. L. HERZING. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 114(3):1629-1639. 2003. The broadband social acoustic signaling behavior of spinner and spotted dolphins. File size: 1.229 MB LANYON, JANET M. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 30(4):397-409. 2003. Distribution and abundance of dugongs in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. (Dugong dugon) File size: 1.123 MB LENTO, G. M.; C. S. BAKER; V. DAVID; N. YUHKI; N. J. GALES and S. J. O'BR= IEN. MOLECULAR ECOLOGY NOTES 3(3):346-349. 2003. Automated single-strand conformation polymorphism reveals low diversity o= f a major histocompatibility complex class II gene in the threatened New Zealand sea lion. LONERGAN, MIKE and JOHN HARWOOD. ECOLOGY LETTERS 6(10):889-893. 2003. The potential effects of repeated outbreaks of phocine distemper among harbour seals: A response to Harding et al.(2002). NIEZRECKI, CHRISTOPHER; RICHARD PHILLIPS; MICHAEL MEYER and DIEDRICH O. BEUSSE. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 114(3):1640-1647. 2003. Acoustic detection of manatee vocalizations. OKAMURA, HIROSHI; TOSHIHIDE KITAKADO; KAZUHIKO HIRAMATSU and MITSUYO MORI. BIOMETRICS 59(3):512-520. 2003. Abundance estimation of diving animals by the double-platform line transe= ct method. PARSONS, E. C. M.; C. A. WARBURTON; A. WOODS-BALLARD; A. HUGHES and P. JOHNSTON. AQUATIC CONSERVATION OF MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS 13(5):397-415. 2= 003. The value of conserving whales: The impacts of cetacean-related tourism o= n the economy of rural West Scotland. PENNISI, ELIZABETH. SCIENCE (WASHINGTON D. C.) 301(5639):1467. 2003. Worms open route to whale bones. ROSEL, PATRICIA E. CONSERVATION GENETICS 4(5):647-649. 2003. PCR-based sex determination in Odontocete cetaceans. SEKIGUCHI, YUSKE and SHIRO KOHSHIMA. PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR 79(4-5):643-653. 2003. Resting behaviors of captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). SINISALO, TUULA; MERVI KUNNASRANTA and E. TELLERVO VALTONEN. PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH 91(1):40-45. 2003. Intestinal helminths of a landlocked ringed seal (Phoca hispida saimensis= ) population in eastern Finland. SOUTHALL, B. L.; R. J. SCHUSTERMAN and D. KASTAK. JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 114(3):1660-1666. 2003. Auditory masking in three pinnipeds: Aerial critical ratios and direct critical bandwidth measurements. TOLLIT, DOMINIC J.; MANDY WONG; ARLISS J. WINSHIP; DAVID A. S. ROSEN and ANDREW W. TRITES. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE 19(4):724-744. 2003. Quantifying errors associated with using prey skeletal structures from fecal samples to determine the diet of Steller's sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus). TRUMBLE, S. J.; P. S. BARBOZA and M. A. CASTELLINI. JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY B BIOCHEMICAL SYSTEMIC AND ENVIRONMENTA= L PHYSIOLOGY 173(6):501-509. 2003. Digestive constraints on an aquatic carnivore: Effects of feeding frequen= cy and prey composition on harbor seals. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2003 19:34:15 +0100 From: "J.W. Broekema" Subject: European Cetacean Society: changes in mailing lists By Jan Willem Broekema, ECS Council ecs-talk-request(\)jiscmail.ac.uk Dear Marmam list members, As of now, the message boards (mailing lists) of the European Cetacean Society (ECS) are operational under their new names. Please make adjustments in your address books, where necessary. The relevant web pages on the ECS site www.broekemaweb.nl/ecs will be changed accordingly within a few days. The general mailing list is ECS-TALK (ecs-talk(\)jiscmail.ac.uk). All other lists have been closed (all, braer, pathology, sperm-whale). You can make any changes to your subscription by visiting the website www.jiscmail.ac.uk and get a password. Please feel free to use the list to your advantage. The other operational list is the ECS mailing list for students ecs-students(\)jiscmail.ac.uk. Students can exchange views on specific student matters, on courses and institutes, on participation in conferences, travel costs and opportunities. You can make any changes to your subscription by visiting the website www.jiscmail.ac.uk and get a password. Please feel free to use the list to your advantage. Messages sent to ECS-TALK are NOT sent to members of ECS-STUDENTS! You may want to subscribe to both lists. You do not need to be an ECS member to use the ECS mailing list. Check! Jiscmail works only under your email address as known in the list(s). Take care to use only that address if you want to post a message or make changes on Jiscmail to your subscription. Otherwise your posting or command will be rejected. If any questions remain, please do contact me: Jan Willem Broekema, ECS Council ecs-talk-request(\)jiscmail.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2003 11:33:17 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Resident Lecturer in Marine Ecology and Mammalogy available at the (fwd) Forwarded message from: The Center for Coastal Studies Reply to: jobs(\)fieldstudies.org The Center for Coastal Studies Job Title: Resident Lecturer in Marine Ecology and Mammalogy=20 The Center for Coastal Studies (CCS), founded in 1997 on the shores of = Bah=EDa Magdalena in the fishing community of Puerto San Carlos, Baja = California Sur, Mexico, seeks an enthusiastic, team-oriented Resident = Lecturer in Marine Ecology and Mammalogy to help further develop the = Center's research on marine mammals. You will work with a team = consisting of the Director, another Lecturer, a Student Affairs Manager = and two Interns to deliver a high quality, field-based academic/research = program to primarily American undergraduate students. Because Center = staff and students live on site, our faculty get to know both their = fellow staff members and their students on a level not often achieved in = a conventional university setting. Start Date: January 2004 The Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) is one of seven international field = sites of the US-based School for Field Studies (SFS). Founded in 1980, = SFS is a university-level study abroad program that focuses on teaching = and conducting community-based environmental research.=20 Institutional Mission: As an international, non-profit academic = institution, SFS provides environmental education and conducts research = through its field-based programs. SFS is committed to providing = hands-on, interdisciplinary education and environmental research in = partnership with natural resource dependent communities. Our goals are = twofold: to provide students with a unique and challenging educational = and life experience that assists them in successfully advancing their = careers as skilled professionals and globally aware citizens; and to = work with local community stakeholders to develop models for the = sustainable management of their natural resources. Academic and Research Approach: Our academic program is delivered within = an interdisciplinary case study format and includes three field-lecture = courses: coastal ecology, principles of resource management, and = economic & ethical issues in sustainable development. A fourth course = introduces students to the planning and conduct of field research. = Faculty implement student Directed Research projects specified in the = Five-Year Research Plan. Primary Directed Research project emphases are = listed below in the Position Summary section. Position Summary: The purpose of this fulltime, year-round, residential = position is to: 1 teach critical environmental issues using a team-based, = interdisciplinary, problem-solving approach. Teaching responsibility = includes the course Coastal Ecology. This course examines the ecological = processes at the interface between land and sea. It focuses on the = coastal environment and how terrestrial and marine systems are = intricately connected, and are impacted by human resource use and = disturbance. The course includes a special focus on marine mammals (gray = whales, sea lions) and their role in the ecology of the bay. 2 lead designated components of the Center's Five-Year Research Plan = which includes previously developed student Directed Research projects = (as part of the fourth course), and summer projects. Specific research = lines/areas this position is responsible for include: gray whales = (population status and trends, tourism impacts), sea lion colonies = (population trends), black sea turtles (population status and trends, = habitat requirements and threats), indicators of ecosystem health and = water quality of the bay funded by The David and Lucile Packard = Foundation. 3 ensure the expeditious publication of research results Location: Center for Coastal Studies, Puerto San Carlos, Baja California = Sur, Mexico Reports to: Center Director Salary & Benefits Package: US$27,500 to US$29,000 depending on = experience & qualifications. Housing and meals on site; excellent = benefits package Minimum Qualifications: -Ph.D. required in Marine Mammalogy, Marine Biology or Marine Ecology -Field research experience in marine mammal population trends and = habitat requirements, fisheries ecology and management, and water = quality sampling. -University-level, interdisciplinary, team teaching experience in = Marine Mammalogy, Marine Biology or Marine Ecology -Good track record of research publications -Fluency in both Spanish and English * Preferred Qualifications: * -Experience living and working in Baja California * -Experience working with other scientists to fulfill research grant requirements * -Residential student group management and risk management experience = desirable * Other Expectations: * -Demonstrated ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary = teaching and research team=20 * -Demonstrated commitment to environmental issues * -Willingness to work flexible hours and live on site at the field = station with a small team of permanent staff, groups of US & Mexican = undergraduate students and visiting programs Please see the "Jobs" section of our website, http://www.fieldstudies.org, for further details. To apply: Send CV and cover letter detailing qualifications and = experience to: Center for Coastal Studies, c/o SFS Headquarters, Job = #1229, 10 Federal Street, Salem, MA 01970, USA; Fax: 1-978-741-3551; = Email: jobs(\)fieldstudies.org. EOE. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2003 06:46:29 -0500 From: "Haubold, Elsa" Subject: FWC announces RFP for Manatee Avoidance Technology The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is seeking sealed proposals for manatee avoidance technology to reduce collisions between manatees and watercraft. Proposals must be received by December 2, 2003 at 10:00am. The bid specs are located at http://fcn.state.fl.us/owa_vbs/owa/vbs_www.ad.view_ad?advertisement_key_num=37285 Elsa M. Haubold, Ph.D. Research Administrator II Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Florida Marine Research Institute 100 8th Ave. SE St. Petersburg, FL 33701 727/896-8626 x1902 Elsa.Haubold(\)fwc.state.fl.us http://www.floridamarine.org ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2003 16:21:58 +0100 Reply-To: isabelle.charrier(\)wanadoo.fr From: Isabelle Charrier Subject: Vocal communication in fur seals Dear All, A new paper has been recently published in the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society: Charrier, I., Mathevon, N. & Jouventin, P. 2003. Fur seal mother memorizes subsequent versions of developing pups' calls: Adaptation to the long-term recognition or evolutionary by-product? Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 80, 305-312 The pdf file is available and can be requested to I. Charrier (charrier(\)ualberta.ca or isabelle.charrier(\)wanadoo.fr) I. Charrier, Ph.D http://clubweb.interbaun.com/gorfou/ Department of Psychology P450 Biological Sciences Building University of Alberta Edmonton, T6G 2E9 CANADA Abstract In pinnipeds and especially in otariids, mothers and pups develop the capacity to mutually recognize their voice. Pups become able to discriminate their mother's voice a few days after birth. For females, this discrimination seems to occur earlier, probably during the few hours after parturition. However, during lactation, mothers are confronted to a major problem: the change of the characteristics of their pup's calls. To investigate this problem, we first performed an acoustic analysis of pups' calls from birth to weaning to identity the successive different versions of these calls. Second, we performed playback experiments just before weaning to test if females retain these different versions over a long time period. The acoustic analysis of pup's calls reveals that several characteristics of pup's vocalisations change with age. Playback experiments demonstrate that females still recognize all the successive immature and mature versions of their pup's calls. To our mind, this long-term memorization seems to be a by-product of the permanent pup's voice learning from birth to weaning since no apparent adaptive benefit seem to arise from this capacity. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2003 11:52:25 -0700 From: dayer Subject: Human-Wildlife Conflict Session ------ Call for Abstracts for a Human-Wildlife Conflict Session at the ISSRM 200= 4 We would like to invite presentation abstracts for a Human-Wildlife Confl= ict=20 (HWC) Session at the International Symposium on Society and Resource=20 Management (ISSRM) in Keystone, Colorado, USA on June 2-6, 2004. HWC=92s= are=20 increasing world-wide, resulting in a pressing need for collaboration and= =20 coordination on an international level to address these conflicts effecti= vely.=20 The HWC Session at the ISSRM aims to respond to this need by providing su= ch a=20 forum for sharing knowledge. This ISSRM-HWC session follows a critical decision made at the World Park= s=20 Congress 2003 to support an international focus on HWC mitigation and=20 prevention in the coming decade. The World Parks Congress recognized the= =20 importance of addressing HWC across taxonomic groups, disciplines and=20 geographic regions. Additionally, The World Conservation Union (IUCN) pa= ssed=20 Recommendation 20: Preventing and Mitigating Human-Wildlife Conflicts, ca= lling=20 for local, national, international, and IUCN support to foster and ensure= the=20 opportunity for international HWC prevention and mitigation efforts. The recommendation recognized that human-wildlife conflicts occur when th= e=20 needs and behaviors of wildlife impact negatively on the goals of humans = or=20 when the goals of humans negatively impact the needs of wildlife. These=20 conflicts may result in damage to crops, loss of domestic animals, or thr= eats=20 to human lives; or, the conflicts may lead to reduced availability of pre= y,=20 habituation of wildlife to humans, or fragmentation and reduction of wild= life=20 populations. As human populations continue to grow and expand, opportunities for=20 human-wildlife contact will increase, and, thus, the frequency and severi= ty of=20 conflicts will continue to escalate. Even conservation success may lead t= o=20 conflict, for example, when controversial species return to areas where t= hey=20 were previously extirpated. Moreover, since more ecosystem-based approach= es=20 are necessary to conserve otherwise fragmented species, managers will=20 continually face the challenge of how best to mitigate escalating=20 human-wildlife conflict and maximize local tolerance. Without properly=20 addressing such conflict in the effort to conserve species and their habi= tat,=20 conservation efforts will lose stability, progress, and the support of lo= cal=20 communities. While numerous factors=97including biological, economic, political, cultu= ral and=20 historical features=97make each conflict or coexistence situation unique,= most=20 human-wildlife conflict situations have similar causes and effects, as we= ll as=20 trends and challenges. Instead of expending limited local resources to=20 reinvent solutions that others have already identified or risking unneces= sary=20 setbacks by implementing strategies that have failed elsewhere, pooling=20 resources and sharing knowledge would prove more efficient. Clearly,=20 international collaboration and communication is crucial. Furthermore, whereas efforts to develop and share technical and economic = tools=20 in order to prevent and compensate for conflict are essential, there is=20 perhaps an even greater need to improve our understanding of the social a= nd=20 cultural aspects of these conflicts, since such aspects appear to be seri= ously=20 underestimated in management, policymaking and in the public debate. What= we=20 term =93human-wildlife conflicts=94 are often as much conflicts between p= eople,=20 involving groups with strongly diverging interests. Understanding the so= cial=20 and cultural aspects from a variety of views and disciplines would play a= n=20 integral role in preventing and mitigating conflict. The ISSRM-HWC Session invites experts, practitioners, and researchers, wh= o are=20 researching, managing, and attempting to deal with the humans or the wild= life=20 experiencing negative impacts of HWC. This opportunity to share research= ,=20 perspectives, tools, and strategies regarding HWC will develop the scient= ific=20 understanding of the social and cultural aspects of human-wildlife confli= cts,=20 and explore examples of practical conflict mitigation efforts that take s= ocial=20 and cultural dimensions into account. This session will be a means to con= tinue=20 the dialogue begun at the World Parks Congress and forge forward with the= =20 focus on addressing HWC internationally in this decade. Session Coordinators: Ketil Skogen, Ph.D. =09 Senior Research Fellow, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research Senior Research Fellow, NOVA =96 Norwegian Social Research =09 and Ashley Dayer Ph.D. Student and Research Assistant Human Dimensions in Natural Resources Unit Colorado State University Abstract Submission to the ISSRM-HWC Session: Abstracts are invited from all disciplines addressing the social and cult= ural=20 aspects of human-wildlife conflicts. Those invited to present will have = 20=20 minutes with 10 additional minutes for questions and answers. Send a=20 summary/abstract, not to exceed 300 words, describing the objectives and = theme=20 of the presentation. Please follow the format described on the ISSRM 200= 4=20 website: http://www.cnr.colostate.edu/2004issrm/papers.html. Submission deadline is January 15th. E-mail your proposal as an attachment=97text-only, Microsoft Word. Do not= write=20 the proposal within the body of your email message. Include all relevant=20 information requested (i.e., names, affiliation, title, format, etc.) and= send=20 to dayer(\)lamar.colostate.edu Or, Mail or Fax: Send three, single-spaced hard copies of your summary, along= with=20 the information requested (i.e., name, affiliation, title, format, etc.),= and=20 an electronic version on a 3.5" disk, carefully labeled with your name an= d=20 title of your presentation. Save as a Microsoft Word file ONLY. Send dire= ctly=20 to:=20 Ashley Dayer Department of Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO 80523-1480 FAX: 970-491-2255 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2003 10:02:44 -0500 From: GREMM Subject: baleen plates and teeth in newborn? Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" ------ Dear all, Despite many attempts, we were not able to find conclusive information ab= out the presence of baleen plates and teeth in newborn whales. We were able to find information about the pre-natal development of teeth and baleen in whales in the Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals (Perrin, Wursi= ng and Thewissen): "Late in the fetal period, both odontocetes and mysticete= s form tooth buds.[...] The mysticete tooth buds [...] are usually resorbed before birth. The formation of rudimentary baleen plates, which occur concurrently with tooth bud degradation, may be induced by the process of tooth bud resorption (Ishikawa and Amasaki, 1995). As the mysticete fetus grows, longitudinal baleen ridges form in the gum and the upper jaw. Thes= e longitudinal ridges develop transverse divisions and rows of papillae composed of epidermal folds that become cornified. The cornified papillae are tubular in shape and elongate and coalesce with their neighbor to for= m baleen plates (Slijper, 1979)." So the questions that remain for us are: - Are toothed whales born with teeth or just tooth buds? - Are baleen whales born with rudimentary baleen plates or functional bal= een plates? Does anybody have an answer or can suggest references? You can send your answer to info(\)gremm.org Thank you very much Marie-Eve G=E9linas GREMM=20 Groupe de recherche et d'=E9ducation sur les mammif=E8res marins 108 de la Cale s=E8che Tadoussac (Qu=E9bec) G0T 2A0 t=E9l.: (418) 235-4701 t=E9l=E9c.: (418) 235-4325 courriel: info(\)gremm.org http://www.baleinesendirect.net http://www.whales-online.net ------------------------------- Abonnez-vous! C'est gratuit... Chaque semaine, Baleines en direct envoie =E0 des milliers d'abonn=E9s so= n bulletin des primeurs. Observations de baleines dans le Saint-Laurent, actualit=E9s du monde des baleines d'ici et d'ailleurs, portraits de chercheurs, dossiers, et plus encore. =C7a vous int=E9resse? Envoyez un message =E0 notre webmestre, info(\)gremm= .org. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2003 11:34:08 -0100 From: "MEER e.V." Subject: MEER Springtime Research (MARMAM) Dear All! M.E.E.R. e.V., an NGO based in Berlin, proudly announces the SPRINGTIME RESEARCH program - a new way to learn to know the cetaceans of the Canary Islands! MEER has been conducting research on board of small whale watching boats operating off La Gomera for many years. Moreover, we are organising practical courses in ethology since 2000. This kind of research has always had the drawback that regular excursions are limited to five nautical miles from shore. What is going out there, far offshore? This question has puzzled us a lot ever since. With the new SPRINGTIME RESEARCH program we now want to fill this gap and have a close look at the "realm of the sperm whale", thus to extend our range to find out more about the high seas cetacean populations in the Canary Islands. MEER is inviting applications for participation in the first SPRINGTIME RESEARCH program dated 26 March -02 April 2004 (description see below). Participants will be accomodated on a 40m Sailor. Scientific supervision, a basic trainig on data recording, behavioural observations and Photo-ID will be provided. The price of 799.- Euros also includes food and a donation to MEER e.V. and a certificate of attendance. Starting point of this special trip is Tenerife (Canary Islands). More Information can be found on our website www.m-e-e-r.org or in our information brochure, which can be ordered via e-mail. A list of publications produced by MEER can be found at the end of this message. Sincerely, Fabian Ritter MEER e.V. Bundesallee 123, D-12161 Berlin, Germany www.m-e-e-r.org e-mail: meer(\)infocanarias.com __________________________________________________________ MEER SPRINGTIME RESEARCH - VOL. I (26 March - 02 April 2004) The waters off La Gomera provide almost perfect conditions for cetacean field studies. Only a few miles off the shoreline the Atlantic Ocean reaches depths of 2000 m and more. It is predominantly a pelagic habitat, which is underlined by the presence of some purely pelagic species such as sperm and beaked whales. Bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales are resident within the area. Thus we find optimum conditions for observations, which otherwise can be realised only with much higher effort. Comparable conditions we can find only in very few places around the world. The platform for the collection of data is a 40 m sailing boat and its small dingy (outboard rubber boat). In springtime, cetaceans can be sighted very often off La Gomera, as during March through May highest sighting rates have been recorded in the past. There is a high probability to encounter several different species, mostly dolphins, but also large whales. During Springtime Research, we will try to encounter as many cetaceans as possible. Every sighting will be recorded systematically, i.e. sighting data will be noted and the sighting will be plotted on a sea chart to find out the water depth, etc. We will photograph individual animals and try to identify them. There will be space for opportunistic behavioural observations with the option to discuss individual and /or group behaviour in comparison to what we have experiences in the past. On occasion, we will also use a hydrophone to listen to the vocalisations of the cetaceans. One of the objectives of the study is to determine the significance of the Canary waters for cetaceans. Moreover the results will raise the knowledge on some of the less known species, such as the rough-toothed dolphin (seen regularly off La Gomera and Tenerife). The over-all aim of this research project is the establishment of a marine protected area (MPA) off La Gomera. A protected area substantially contributes to the public awareness of the outstanding qualities of the area as well as to sustain the attractiveness of the people's and the cetaceans' home. These are necessary steps to develop whale watching as a sustainable use of cetaceans in the sense of a responsible ecotourism. If you want to receive our detailed brochure on the program, please send an e-mail to MEER. _____________________________________________________ Publications in conjunction with the work of the project M.E.E.R. La Gomera: Ritter, F. & Ladner, U.A. 1996. Whale Watch Research on La Gomera: A new Interdisciplinary Approach. European Research on Cetaceans 9. Proc. 9th Ann. Conf. ECS, Lisbon 1996, 48ff. Ritter, F. 1996. Abundance, Distribution and Behaviour of Cetaceans off La Gomera (Canary Islands) and Their Interaction with Whale Watching-Boats and Swimmers. Diploma Thesis to the University of Bremen, Faculty of Biology. 114pp. Ritter, F. & Brederlau, B. 1998. First Report of Blue Whales (Balaenoptera musculus) Frequenting the Canary Island Waters. European Research on Cetaceans 12. Proc. 12th Ann. Conf. ECS, Monaco, 20-24th January 1998, 95-98. Ritter, F. & Brederlau, B. 1999. Abundance, Distribution and Behaviour of Dense Beaked Whales (Mesoplodon densirostris) off La Gomera (Canary Islands) and their Interactions with Humans. AQUATIC MAMMALS, 25.2, 55-61. Ritter, F. 2001. Twenty-one Cetacean Species off La Gomera (Canary Islands): Possible Reasons for an extraordinary Species Diversity. Poster presented at the 11th Annual Conference of the ECS, 5-7 May 2001, Rome, Italy. Ritter, F. 2002. Behavioural Observations of Rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) off La Gomera (Canary Islands) with a special Reference to their Interactions with Humans. AQUATIC MAMMALS 28.1, 46-59. Smit, V., Ritter, F. & Neumann, K. 2003. Feasibility study: Land-based observations of cetaceans off La Gomera. Abstr. 14 Ann. Conf. ECS, Gran Canaria, Spain. Ritter, F. 2003 Boat-Related behaviours as a tool for the development of species-specific whale watching guidelines. Abstr. 14 Ann. Conf. ECS, Gran Canaria, Spain. Ritter, F. (2003). Interactions of Cetaceans with Whale Watching Boats Implications for the Management of Whale Watching Tourism. M.E.E.R. e.V., Berlin, Germany, 91 pp. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003 02:41:44 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Judges and Data Entry Volunteers Needed for Biennial (fwd) From: "Carol Fairfield" VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO JUDGE STUDENT PRESENTATIONS Dates and Loication: December 15-19, 2003 during the 15th Biennial COnference on Marine Mammals in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA Judging duties include: Attendance at short meetings at the beginning and end of the conference to discuss methodology for scoring and results; judging 6-8 oral presentations and 10-12 posters in your area of expertise during the conference; and completing the evaluation form (numeric scores in several areas). Judges are still needed in the following areas: Acoustics/Communication - seals, dolphins, large whales, sirenians - 1 judge needed for each Anatomy/Morphology - dolphins, sirenians - 1 judge needed for each Behavior - sea otters - 1 judge Habitat/Distribution - sea otters - 1 judge Management/Law - sea otters - 1 judge Mating/Reproduction - dolphins - 1 judge Medicine/Disease/Husbandry - sirenians - 1 judge Physiology - large whales, sirenians, sea otters, dolphins - 1 each Toxicology/Microbiology - dolphins - 1 judge Additional judges from non-US affiliations are strongly encouraged to include representation from all countries. Data entry volunteers are urgently needed - duties include: Entering numeric scores for each student at the end of the concurrent sessions each day for 1-2 hours. You can volunteer for 1 to 5 days. We will need extra volunteers for 2-4 hours on Thursday evening. Please email the following information to carol.fairfield(\)noaa.gov as soon as possible: Your name, affiliation, email address, telephone number, highest degree earned, country, area of expertise, and animals you have worked with. Also include any scheduling conflicts or student who are presenting that you should not judge. Thanks in advance - we look forward to working with you at the Biennial to ensure our student members are recognized for their hard work and significant contributions. Carol Fairfield NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC 49 Eastman Shores Drive S. Laconia, NH 03246 (603)731-1333 (603)527-0912 (Fax) carol.fairfield(\)noaa.gov -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003 12:25:52 -0500 From: "Edward O. Keith" Subject: Arriving at Raleigh-Durham Airport for SMM Biennial? It has come to our attention that public transportation between the Raleigh-Durham airport (RDU) and the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro may be problematic, especially on the weekend prior to the conference. Making this trip under normal circumstances requires two transfers, one at Research Triangle Park, and the other in Durham. We are exploring the possibility of providing transportation to those arriving at RDU to attend the Biennial, but we need to know how many of you might need or take advantage of such transportation. We estimate that the cost will be in the neighborhood of $20. Therefore, if you are arriving at RDU, please email Ed Keith at conference(\)marinemammalogy.org, and let him know the dates and times of your arrival and departure. This will allow us to make the necessary arrangements should there be sufficient need. Thank you. -- Edward O. Keith, Ph.D., Associate Professor Oceanographic Center Nova Southeastern University 8000 N. Ocean Drive Dania Beach, FL 33004 Voice: 954-262-8322 Fax: 954-262-3931 Cellular: 305-720-8935 Email: edwardok(\)nova.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003 20:25:58 -0500 From: Owen Nichols Subject: Voice recorders for aerial surveys Hello All, I am looking for advice on the use of a voice recorder to log sighting data during aerial surveys. The ideal unit would be a digital recorder with a time stamp accurate to the second, continuous recording time of up to six hours, external microphone jack, and a voice-activation option. The recordings would be played back and transcribed upon completion of the survey for manual entry to match marks taken using a data logger program (Logger 2000 by IFAW or similar). I would greatly appreciate any feedback in the way of product recommendations and/or experiences list members have had with this type of equipment. Thanks! Cheers, Owen Nichols ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Owen Nichols Center for Coastal Studies 59 Commercial Street PO Box 1036 Provincetown, MA 02657 USA Telephone: (508) 487-3623 x113 Fax: (508) 487-4695 E-mail: nichols(\)coastalstudies.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Nov 2003 09:51:27 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Job posting (fwd) This position announcement is forwarded from the Center for Coastal Studies. Please respond to: jeyoung(\)coastalstudies.org Center for Coastal Studies Rescue Operations Manager The Center for Coastal Studies, a non-profit marine research and education organization based in Provincetown, Massachusetts, has an immediate opening for a permanent, full-time member of its large whale disentanglement team. Primary responsibilities include responding with other team members to large whale disentanglement events along the US eastern seaboard and the Bay of Fundy, Canada, along with maintaining operational preparedness. Other duties may include outreach and training, administration, accounting, and R&D. Position requires good physical health, experience with small boat and engine operation, large whale behavioral knowledge, and experience with lines under stress. Previous experience in marine search and rescue, marine mammal field research and/or commercial fishing is a plus. Please send cover letter and resume to: Rescue Operations Manager Search, Center for Coastal Studies. P.O. Box 1036, Provincetown, MA 02657 or e-mail as attachments to jeyoung(\)coastalstudies.org. ******************************* Janet E. Young Administrator Center for Coastal Studies 115 Bradford Street P.O. Box 1036 Provincetown, MA 02657 508-487-3622, ext. 110 (t) 508-487-4495 (f) -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Nov 2003 20:29:25 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: thesis on marine tucuxi dolphin (fwd) Dear All I would like t bring to your attention the recent thesis entitled (abstract in English and Portuguese below, full thesis in English) Flores, P.A.C. 2003. Ecology of the marine tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis) in southern Brazil. Ph.D. thesis, Pontif=EDcia Universidade Cat=F3lica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil. 141pp. which will be shortly available in PDF format. Please direct requests to the address below using in the subject PFlores thesis on marine tucuxi dolphin Sorry for cross-postings with MAMAQ. Sincerely, ______________________ Paulo A.C. Flores, Ph.D. Coaliz=E3o Internacional da Vida Silvestre - IWC Brasil C.P. 5087, Florian=F3polis, SC 88040-970 BRASIL tel (48) 91041793 / 3350224 ramal 21 fax/tel (48) 3350224 flores.p(\)terra.com.br http://www.earthwatch.org/expeditions/flores.html Flores, P.A.C. 2003. Ecology of the marine tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis) in southern Brazil. Ph.D. thesis, Pontif=EDcia Universidade Cat=F3lica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil. 141pp. Resumo O golfinho Sotalia fluviatilis, um pequeno cet=E1ceo ainda pouco conhecido, foi estudado entre 1993 e 2002 no sul do Brasil atrav=E9s de sa=EDdas sistem=E1ticas de embarca=E7=E3o, observa=E7=F5es comportamentais e t=E9cni= cas de foto-identifica=E7=E3o. A =E1rea de estudo localiza-se na Ba=EDa Norte (27= =B023' - 27=B035'S, 48=B033' - 48=B030'W), incluindo a =C1rea de Prote=E7=E3o Ambien= tal do Anahtomirim (APAA), unidade de conserva=E7=E3o de uso m=FAltiplo e direto c= riada em 1992 para assegurar a prote=E7=E3o destes golfinhos. S=E3o apresentados = dados de residencia e fidelidade de uso de locais, =E1rea de vida, padr=F5es de movimento, distribui=E7=E3o, ocorr=EAncia, vari=E1veis ambientias relaciona= da assim como tamanho e composi=E7=E3o de grupo. Quando dispon=EDvel, as mesma= s informa=E7=F5es s=E3o dadas para o golfinho nariz de garrafa Tursiops trunc= atus e comparadas a S. fluviatilis. Resid=EAncia do golfinho atingiu at=E9 10 an= os, com indiv=EDduos presentes entre 25,8 a 76,2% do per=EDodo de estudo (m=E9d= ia =3D 56,96%). 'Prov=E1veis machos' n=E3o atingiram a resid=EAncia t=E3o longa qu= anto f=EAmeas, embora apresentem frequ=FC=EAncias de resid=EAncia similares. Ape= sar disto, todas identifica=E7=F5es e reavistagens ocorreram em uma =E1rea muit= o pequena, majoritariamente dentro da APAA. O golfinho S. fluviatilis pare ser residente pelo menos em ba=EDas e outros estu=E1rios. Indiv=EDduos apresentaram =E1reas de vida extremamente pequenas e padr=E3o de movimentos di=E1rios consistente em profundidades pr=F3ximas de 3m. As m=E9dias de tam= anho de =E1rea de vida (13,38 km=B2 =B1 1,92 atrav=E9s do m=E9todo do M=EDnimo P= ol=EDgono Convexo e 15,22 km=B2 =B1 0,66 pelo estimador kernel) n=E3o diferiram entre= os m=E9todos aplicados. As m=E9dias de tamanho das =E1reas de concentra=E7=E3o= foram extremamente pequenas (m=E9dia =3D 1,49 km=B2 com 50% UD (distribui=E7=E3o = de utiliza=E7=E3o) e 0,87 km=B2 com 25% UD). Houve extensiva sobreposi=E7=E3o = de =E1reas de vida e de =E1reas de concentra=E7=E3o. As dist=E2ncias percorridas pelos golfinhos variaram de 0,16 a 28,97km/dia (m=E9dia =3D 5,65 =B1 0,56km/dia, Desvio Padr=E3o =3D 5,36), com taxa de movimento m=EDnima de 2,6 =B1 0,2 km= /h (DP =3D 2,02). Os padr=F5es de movimento variaram sazonalmente com maiores valo= res de dist=E2ncia percorrida e taxa de movimento no inverno e no inverno e ver=E3o, respectivamente. Estas diferen=E7as devem estar relacionadas a disponibilidade e movimentos de presa e ao maior tr=E1fego de embarca=E7=F5= es no ver=E3o. Os valores obtidos para =E1reas de vida e dist=E2ncia percorrida s= =E3o menores do que os da maioria de outros pequenos cet=E1ceos. Pode-se considerar a porcentagem das =E1reas de vida dentro dos limites da APAA com= o moderadamente alta a alta dependendo do m=E9todo aplicado (54,06% ou 5,9km= =B2 pelo M=EDnimo Pol=EDgono Convexo e 74,71% ou 11,35km=B2 usando kernel). De qualquer forma, as =E1reas de concentra=E7=E3o em ambos os n=EDveis de 50 e= 25% UD ficaram dentro da APAA. As esp=E9cies S. fluviatilis e T. truncatus diferiram quanto a ocorr=EAncia sazonal, =EDndices de avistagem, avistagem = por unidade de esfor=E7o, assim como em rela=E7=E3o a tamanho e composi=E7=E3o = de grupo. Estes par=E2metros foram distintos para S. fluviatilis mas similares para T= =2E truncatus em outras =E1reas de ocorr=EAncia destas esp=E9cies. Al=E9m disso= , S. fluviatilis foi encontrada apenas na parte centro-oeste da Ba=EDa Norte, enquanto T. truncatus ocorreu principalmente no setor leste. A dist=E2ncia m=E9dia entre avistagens das esp=E9cies obtidas em um mesmo dia (n =3D 19 d= ias) variou de 0,18 a ~15km (m=E9dia =3D 6,9km). Foram observadas ambas esp=E9ci= es predando sobre as mesmas esp=E9cies de peixes, S. fluviatilis abandonando =E1rea previamente ocupada devido a chegada de T. truncatus assim como um S= =2E fluviatilis adulto com fortes marcas de dentes provavelmente causadas por T. truncatus. A segrega=E7=E3o espacial verificada entre estas esp=E9cies d= e golfinho na =E1rea de estudo n=E3o foi explicada claramente por diferenc=E1= s entre as vari=E1veis ambientais analisadas, sugerindo que fatores ecol=F3gi= cos com competi=E7=E3o e agress=E3o inter-espec=EDfica poderia estar envolvida, influenciando tamb=E9m a estrutura social de S. fluviatilis na =E1rea de estudo. Os resultados obtidos apresentam implica=E7=F5es para a conserva=E7= =E3o de S. fluviatilis na Ba=EDa Norte e, sobretudo, na APAA. Entre estas detaca-se= : a cria=E7=E3o de uma zona tamp=E3o a sul dos atuais limites da APAA, inclui= ndo a =E1rea de vida total; o estabelecimento de constante e adequada fiscaliza= =E7=E3o do tr=E1fego de embarca=E7=F5es e da pesca ao menos nas =E1reas de concentr= a=E7=E3o, e a regulamenta=E7=E3o do tr=E1fego de embarca=E7=F5es e da maricultura em = =E1reas importantes nas quais ainda n=E3o exista legisla=E7=E3o pertinente. Abstract The marine tucuxi dolphin (Sotalia fluviatilis), still a poorly known small cetacean, was studied during 1993 to 2002 in southern Brazil through a combination of techniques including systematic boat surveys, behavioral observations and photo-identification. The study was conducted in Ba=EDa Norte (27=B023' - 27=B035'S, 48=B033' - 48=B030'W), including the Environme= ntal Protection Area of Anhatomirim (EPAA), a multiple-use conservation unit created in 1992 to ensure protection to the marine tucuxis. Data are presented on residency, site fidelity, group size and composition, home ranges and movement patterns as well as distribution and occurrence, and environmental correlates. Whenever available, the same information is given for the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and then compared to the subject species. Marine tucuxi residency ranged from five to at least 10 years with individuals present from 25.8 to 76.2% of the study period (mean =3D 56.96%). "Probable males" were not resident as long as females bu= t presented similar residency frequency. Although individuals demonstrate different temporal patterns of residency, all identifications and resightings occurred within a fairly small range, mostly in the area created to ensure protection to this dolphin species and its habitats. Marine tucuxi appear to be resident to small areas in some bays. Individuals occupied very small overall home ranges with daylight movement patterns in consistent water depths around 3m. Mean overall home range area (13,38 km=B2 =B1 1,92 using the Minimum Convex Polygon method and 15,2= 2 km=B2 =B1 0,66 through the kernel estimator) did not differ between the two methods applied. Mean core areas calculated by kernel were extremely small (mean =3D 1,49 km=B2 at 50% UD (utilization distribution) and 0,87 km=B2 at= 25% UD levels). Home ranges and core areas at both levels overlapped extensively. Daylight movements ranged greatly from 0,16 to 28,97 km/day (mean =3D 5,65 =B1 0,56km/day, SD =3D 5,36) with mean minimum rate of movem= ent of 2,6 =B1 0,2 km/h (SD =3D 2,02). Daylight movement patterns varied seasonally with higher values of distance moved and rate of movement in winter and winter and autumn, respectively. The marine tucuxi home ranges and daylight movement patterns presented here are smaller than much of what is known for other coastal small cetaceans. The percentage of overall home range within the limits of the protected area designed specifically for the tucuxis could be considered moderate to high depending on the estimator used (54,06% or 5,9km=B2 by MCP and 74,71% or 11,35km=B2 using th= e kernel). Nevertheless, core areas are completely within the protected area. Marine tucuxis occur in coastal waters of western Central and South America sympatric to bottlenose dolphins throughout its range. Both species were found year round although seasonal occurrence, sighting indices, sighting per unit of effort as well as group size and composition were strongly different. These features were different for tucuxis but similar to bottlenoses when compared to other areas. Tucuxis were only found in the western part of the bay while bottlenose dolphins occurred mostly in the eastern section. Distances between species' sightings on the same days ranged from 0,18 to ~15km (mean =3D 6,9km). Observations were mad= e of both dolphin species feeding on the same fish species, of tucuxis being displaced by bottlenose dolphins and of an adult tucuxi bearing tooth rakes likely to have been caused by bottlenose dolphin(s) attack. The spatial segregation was not clearly explained by the environmental variables analyzed, suggesting that biological features such as interspecific competition and aggression may be influencing marine tucuxi and bottlenose dolphins' distribution and social structure in Ba=EDa Norte. Conservation implications of these findings include the following: (i) creating a buffer zone to the south of the existing protected area which will encompass the overall home range of the tucuxis; (ii) establishing constant, adequate enforcement of fishery and boat traffic regulations in the core areas; and (iii) regulating boat traffic and aquaculture farming in important areas which are not yet subject to specific regulations. Sincerely, ____________________ Paulo A.C. Flores, Ph.D. International Wildlife Coalition Brazil P.O. Box 5087, Florian=F3polis, SC 88040-970 BRASIL tel (48) 91041793 / 2330895 fax/tel (48) 2330895 flores.p(\)terra.com.br http://www.earthwatch.org/expeditions/flores.html -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Nov 2003 20:32:16 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MARMAM Monthly Editorial Policy and FAQ Posted 4 November 2003 ==================================================== MARMAM Editorial Policy & 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. What notices from regional groups are posted? 13. Useful websites 14. Other email discussion lists 15. 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, run through the University of Victoria. The list was established in August 1993 specifically for marine mammal researchers and graduate students, as well as those actively involved in marine mammal conservation and management. As of January 2002 there were over 4,100 subscribers from 72 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. Posting of messages to the list is done at the Editors' discretion. ________________________________________________________ >> 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 announcements - internship/volunteer opportunities. To help students discern the pros and cons of different research groups we ask that that postings provide details of the research experience that volunteers will gain from this position. Posts for volunteer opportunities (particularly paying opportunities) that are not university-affiliated, should provide a measure of their research output in terms of publications available. For groups that do not do this, we will add the note: NO PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE ON THIS WORK If you are affiliated with a university research group, please make this clear in your posting. Finally, provide an indication of the level of payment required from the volunteers: whether the position is paid, volunteers are subsidised in terms of accomodation but have to provide their own flights, or whether there is a charge for the position. - 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 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) 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 ensures that: - An appropriate and explicit 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 4000+ list members. - 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. All information should be included as text within the body of the message. - Messages are properly formatted and do not contain excessive numbers of typos. Messages that 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. Please note the following about message formatting. 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. Further, we have noticed that messages composed by cutting and pasting directly from WordPerfect or Word can cause line wrapping problems. Therefore, messages should not be composed using the latter method. Several e-mail programs append encoded information (MIME, Metafile, and V-cards are common ones). Web-based e-mail programs often append HTML tags by default. These "embelishments" cause display and readability problems and are strongly discouraged. Whenever possible users should disable HTML tags (or send the text-only version) and other encoding features when submitting messages to MARMAM. EVERY EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO SUBMIT MESSAGES AS PLAIN TEXT. These practices will greatly reduce the number of messages with strange formatting that appear on MARMAM. ________________________________________________________ 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. What notices from regional groups are posted? Submissions from regional groups (for example, but not restricted to, the regional chapters of the American Cetacean Society or the regional student chapters of professional associations such as the Society for Marine Mammalogy) should carefully consider whether their announcements are relevant to 4,000+ recipients in 72 countries. Announcements about meetings of short duration (less that half a day) and with little or no scientifc content are discouraged. Notices dealing with internal chapter businesses or organizational matters will not be posted. Notices from regional student chapters 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). ________________________________________________________ 13. 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: http://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/ Oceans Blue Whalewatch Listserv: http://www.oceansblue.org/bluetourism/chartacourse/ BajaToBering/index.html ______________________________________________________ 14. 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) ________________________________________________________ 15. 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, 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 July 2002 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 7 Nov 2003 11:08:49 +1100 From: Melinda.Chandler(\)csiro.au Subject: New publication Marine Mammals: Fisheries, Tourism & Management Marine Mammals: Fisheries, Tourism and Management Issues Edited by Nick Gales, Mark Hindell & Roger Kirkwood Marine Mammals: Fisheries, Tourism and Management Issues arose from the Southern Hemisphere Marine Mammal Conference, held in Victoria, Australia in May 2001 and brings together contributions from 68 leading scientists from 12 countries to provide a comprehensive, up-to-date review on the way we manage our interactions with whales, dolphins, seals and dugongs. The book examines how we have fared conserving the world's marine mammal populations, with a focus on the key issues of fisheries and tourism. The authors consider how science informs the culling debate, how wild fisheries and aquaculture interact with marine mammal populations and how we might manage the effects of whale, dolphin and seal watching industries. The authors also address other issues such as the way in which ethics, genetics, acoustics, ecosystem models and pollution influence the management and conservation of marine mammals. Marine Mammals: Fisheries, Tourism and Management Issues is an invaluable and accessible resource for all those involved with marine mammals, including scientists, managers, policy makers, industry representatives and students. Contents:Strategies for conserving marine mammals; Marine mammals & fisheries: Role of science in the culling debate; Ecological consequences of Southern Ocean harvesting; Trophic interactions between marine mammals & Australian fisheries: An ecosystem approach; Interactions between marine mammals & High Seas fisheries in Patagonia: An integrated approach; Management of Cape fur seals & fisheries in South Africa; Pinnipeds, cetaceans & fisheries in Australia: A review of operational interactions; Hector's dolphins & fisheries in New Zealand: A species at risk; Effects of fishing bycatch & the conservation status of the franciscana dolphin, Pontoporia blainvillei; New Zealand sea lions & squid: Managing fisheries impacts on a threatened marine mammal; Aquaculture & marine mammals: Co-existence or conflict?; Evaluating the effects of nature-based tourism on cetaceans; Pinniped-focused tourism in the Southern Hemisphere: A review of the industry; Swimming with wild cetaceans, with a special focus on the Southern Hemisphere; Effects of provisioning on maternal care in wild bottlenose dolphins, Shark Bay, Australia; Ethics & marine mammal research; Ecosystem monitoring: Are seals a potential tool for monitoring change in marine systems?; Acoustics & marine mammals: Introduction, importance, threats & potential as a research tool; DNA surveys & surveillance of marine mammals: Species identification, discovery & management; A future for the dugong?; Pollution & marine mammals in the Southern Hemisphere: Potential or present threat? Published by CSIRO Publishing October 2003 458 pp hardback illustrated ISBN: 0643069534 $145.00 to www.publish.csiro.au email: publishing.sales(\)csiro.au Available in Australia from CSIRO Publishing www.publish.csiro.au Available in USA & Canada through Antipodes Books & Beyond Ltd www.antipodesbooks.com Available in UK, Europe, Middle East & North Africa through Eurospan www.eurospan.co.uk Available in New Zealand through Manaaki Whenua Press www.mwpress.co.nz Available in Singapore, Malaysia & Brunei through Publishers Marketing Service Pte Ltd www.pms.com.sg Posted by Melinda Chandler: melinda.chandler(\)csiro.au ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2003 11:44:06 -0800 From: "David S. Janiger" Subject: New Article Hi, all! Don't worry; I'm not cutting back on my listings of literature available in PDF format. Just posting this one separately because of file size. Sorry, but this one is only available for people with institutional email accounts with servers that can handle attachments of 15MB or more capacity or for persons with FTP transfer software, free on the web (eg. WSFTP). GEISLER, JONATHAN H. and ALBERT E. SANDERS. JOURNAL OF MAMMALIAN EVOLUTION 10(1/2):23-129. 2003 Morphological evidence for the phylogeny of Cetacea. A cladistic analysis of 54 extant and extinct cetacean taxa scored for 304 morphological characters supports a monophyletic Odontoceti, Mysticeti, Autoceta, and Cetacea. Forcing a sister-group relationship between Mysticeti and Physeteridae, as suggested by some, but not all, molecular studies, requires an additional 72 steps. In agreement with recent molecular studies, morphological data divide extant mysticetes into two clades: Balaenopteroidea (Eschrichtiidae + Balaenopteridae) and Balaenoidea (Balaenidae + Neobalaenidae). Cetotheriopsinae is removed from Cetotheriidae, elevated to Family Cetotheriopsidae, and placed within the Superfamily Eomysticetoidea. All extant mysticetes and all cetotheriids are placed in a new Parvorder Balaenomorpha, which is diagnosed by many morphological characters, including fusion of the anterior and posterior processes of petrosal to ectotympanic bulla, pronounced median keel on palate, and absence of ventral margin of sigmoid process of bulla. Many of the clades within Odontoceti in the most parsimonious trees of this study are at odds with recent phylogenetic analyses. For example, Platanistidae is not closely related to the extinct odontocete families Squalodontidae and Squalodelphinidae. Instead, it is more closely related to extant river-dwelling odontocetes (i.e., Lipotes, Inia), suggesting a single dispersal of odontocetes into freshwater habitats. We found several characters to support Physeteroidea (Physeteridae + Ziphiidae), a taxon considered paraphyletic by several molecular and some morphological analyses. Lack of agreement on the phylogeny within Odontoceti indicates that additional analyses, which include molecular and anatomical data as well as extant and extinct taxa, are needed. Please make your request to: janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu Cheers David Janiger - Curatorial Assistant (Mammals) Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007 (213) 763-3369 janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu djaniger(\)nhm.org ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2003 21:48:52 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MERI Announces Education Internships (fwd) MERI Announces Marine Education Internships - Spring 2004 The Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI), a nonprofit organization based in Blue Hill, Maine, is recruiting to fill two Marine Education Internships at the MERI Center for Marine Studies. These are full-time positions requiring a commitment of at least 10 weeks between January and June. MERI, founded in 1990, is an organization in Blue Hill, Maine, dedicated to protecting the health and biodiversity of the marine environment. Current work includes community-based marine education programs operating out of the MERI Center for Marine Studies, and field research on the effects of pollution on marine mammals. MERI's education programs focus on marine life along the rocky Maine coast and promoting environmental awareness and stewardship. This internship is an excellent opportunity for an individual working toward a career in marine science education or environmental education to gain practical experience in the field. The ideal candidate will possess a personal interest in the marine environment and a commitment to the mission of the organization. Primary Job Responsibility: This position will involve working closely with the Education Program Coordinator and the Education Director in key components of the MERI education program, including programming, curriculum development, community outreach, and more. Interns are also required to complete an individual project related to MERI education and community outreach programs over the term, producing a Summary Report on their selected topic (see below). Job Description: =A7 Compile background information, assist with production of Fact Sheets, Teaching Kits and informational materials on an individual project subject area or as assigned =A7 Complete a Summary Report on the selected individual project topic =A7 Assist with the implementation of educational programming, including Ocean Story Hour and Ocean Video Night, school vacation programming, and school and laboratory programs =A7 Assist with day-to-day operation of the MERI Center for Marine Studies and with some weekend and evening programs and special events =A7 Help maintain Ocean Room aquaria and touch tank, including collection o= f species for exhibit in the tanks =A7 Work with Education Department staff and volunteers to reorganize and catalogue the Sea Lending Library =A7 Articulate and promote the MERI mission to the public =A7 Perform other duties relating to the organization's goals and mission a= s required Individual Project: Interns are expected to complete within the 10 week term an individual project related to MERI education and community outreach and to produce, at minimum, a Summary Report on their selected topic. Examples include: 1) development of a Blue Hill Bay watershed inventory project, mapping the watershed and pollution sources, and producing an inventory of critical habitat and species; 2) assessment of contaminant levels and status of Gulf of Maine fish stocks, fish consumption advisories and human health standards; 3) development of laboratory- and field-based marine science programs for local schools, including curriculum planning; and 4) compilation and synthesis of the Teacher Resource section of MERI's Sea Lending Library. Project topics must be selected and approved by the end of the second week of the internship and will be overseen by the Education Department managers or other senior MERI staff. Reports to: Education Program Coordinator and Education Director Qualifications: Applicants should possess a BA or BS degree (Juniors and Seniors may also apply) in environmental education, marine sciences, biology, environmental sciences or a similar major. Applicants should also have teaching experience both in the classroom and in the field with multiple age levels, and should be able to work well independently and as part of a team. Good public speaking and writing skills are required. Applicants must be flexible, able to adapt to a changing work environment, and at times, be available to work nights, weekends, and holidays. Knowledge of computer software including Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel, Adobe Photoshop required. Photography, graphics, and GIS skills a definite plus. Must possess a valid drivers license and a good driving record. Knowledge of First Aid, CPR, and water safety is a plus. Time Requirements: Full-time (min. 40 hours/week); additional hours to be agreed upon by employee and Director; minimum of 10 weeks during Spring 2004, January through June. Compensation: Housing in Blue Hill and a stipend are available. Interns are responsible for all travel expenses and food. Deadline: November 24, 2003 To Apply: If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit by email a letter of interest with your updated r=E9sum=E9 and 3 references to= : MERI Search Committee/ Spring 2004 Education Internship meri(\)downeast.net Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) PO Box 1652, 55 Main Street Blue Hill, ME 04614 Tel: (207) 374-2135 Fax: (207) 374-2931 Website: www.meriresearch.org MERI is an Equal Opportunity Employer -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 7 Nov 2003 22:31:45 -0500 From: Nicole Adimey Subject: International Sirenian Workshop The Second International Sirenian Workshop, Exploring Issues Related to Sirenian Management, Research and Conservation, will be held in conjunction with the 15th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals. The workshop will be on December 14, 2003 from 12:30-6:00 PM in Auditorium IV. The purpose is to foster communication between researchers, managers, and policy makers. To register for this workshop, please send your name, affiliation, full address, including country of residence, phone number, and email address. No registration fee is required. Please register by November 30, 2003 as available space is limited. Email registration information to Nicole_Adimey(\)fws.gov ______________________________________________ Nicole Adimey, Fish and Wildlife Manatee 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 Nov 2003 16:32:30 -0500 From: Carrie W Hubard Organization: NOAA Subject: Viewing Marine Mammals in the Wild: workshop deadlines This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------95CB0EE964C18821AD778C05 Greetings, The agenda is being finalized for the "Viewing Marine Mammals in the Wild: Emerging Issues, Research and Management Needs" workshop to be held Sunday, December 14, 2003 in Greensboro, NC and will include talks from New Zealand, Canada, Scotland, and other locations. We would like to encourage all interested parties to participate by attending the workshop and/or submitting a summary to be included in the workshop report. You are welcome to submit a summary even if you will not be attending the workshop or the Biennial. We have extended the deadline for summaries for the workshop report until December 1, 2003. Summaries can be focused on the issues covered in the workshop (see below) or can include additional work related to marine mammal viewing. The report will be distributed to participants the morning of the workshop during check-in. We will also make copies of the report available to the public after the conference. (We still receive requests for and continue to reprint the 2001 Biennial workshop report.) The workshop report is an excellent resource on marine mammal viewing issues. Please submit your 1 to 3 page summaries electronically in MS Word or Word Perfect format to: Jill.Lewandowski(\)noaa.gov. Also, a reminder that the advanced registration deadline is December 1st. Save money and help us in our planning by registering early! The workshop will cost $20 USD for advance registration and $25 USD at door. This fee covers food/beverage and equipment costs with two refreshment breaks provided during the mid-morning and mid-afternoon. (Refreshment breaks include coffee, tea, drinks and light snacks.) Breakfast and lunch are not included. Registered workshop participants will also receive a workshop report the morning of the workshop. To register, please visit the following web page to download the registration form and access the latest news regarding the workshop. http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/MMWatch/biennial_wkshp03.html Workshop Overview Prior to the 14th Biennial Conference, NOAA Fisheries hosted a workshop to bring together marine mammal experts from the scientific research community, government wildlife agencies, and commercial eco-tourism industry to present case studies and discuss wildlife viewing practices. Participants were provided with a comprehensive background on the issue and an opportunity for limited open discussion. Over 180 participants from 12 countries joined the workshop, and a report was generated compiling the case studies. As a one-day workshop was not sufficient to adequately address the issue and provide ample time for an open discussion, NOAA Fisheries will host an additional workshop at the 15th Biennial Conference. Specifically, this workshop narrows the scope by focusing on emerging issues in marine mammal viewing since the last Biennial workshop with a particular emphasis on new research findings and management schemes. The goal of the workshop is to: (1) promote information sharing; (2) allow ample time for a productive, open discussion; and (3) where possible, identify gaps in critical research and management needs. As the marine mammal viewing industry continues to grow exponentially, our hope is that this workshop can provide a forum for researchers, wildlife managers and commercial operators to openly discuss these issues and identify areas of further research and management needs. If you have any questions about the workshop, please contact Jill Lewandowski(\)noaa.gov or Carrie.W.Hubard(\)noaa.gov or by calling (301) 713-2289. We look forward to seeing you in Greensboro, NC! Carrie Hubard and Jill Lewandowski Biologists Office of Protected Resources NOAA Fisheries 1315 East West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 USA --------------95CB0EE964C18821AD778C05 name="Carrie.W.Hubard.vcf" filename="Carrie.W.Hubard.vcf" begin:vcard n:Hubard;Carrie W. x-mozilla-html:FALSE org:Office of Protected Resources ;National Marine Fisheries Service adr:;;;;;; version:2.1 email;internet:Carrie.W.Hubard(\)noaa.gov title:Permits, Conservation, and Education Division fn:Carrie W. Hubard end:vcard --------------95CB0EE964C18821AD778C05-- ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 8 Nov 2003 03:46:01 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: ShOp workshop SMM Cancellation (fwd) From: "Andy Williams" Subject: ShOp workshop SMM Cancellation I am afraid that due to unforseen circumstances this workshop has had to be cancelled. Thanks you to all of those of you who expressed an interest in this work. I hope that we will produce the ECS publication as originally planned. Andy Williams Room066/07 School of Ocean and Earth Sciences Southampton Oceanography Centre European Way Southampton SO14 3ZH United Kingdom Tel 023 8059 4786 (no voicemail) adw623(\)soc.soton.ac.uk Biscay Dolphin Research Programme 6 Manor Way Lee on the Solent Hampshire PO13 9JH United Kingdom Tel/Fax +44 (0) 23 9255 2631 (voicemail) mobile +44 (0)7771 960218 Andy.Williams(\)Biscay-Dolphin.org.uk -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2003 00:02:10 +0100 From: Jan Herrmann Subject: Dolphin installation looking for new home ; format="flowed" Dear Colleagues, I have been asked by artist Joerg Mazur to assist him in finding a new home for his installation "Delphinidae Delphinoidae", a compilation of sculptures of all dolphin species in scale 1:2. This work of art was touring in the last years through germany. It has been shown in major natural history museums (e.g. Senckenberg in Frankfurt, Luwig in Bonn). The current exhibition spot in Germany will change its exhibitions soon, so Joerg Mazur is looking for another home for this installation. The complete installation has a size of 45,9 ft (length) x 9,8 ft (width) x 9,8 ft (height) (14.5 meter x 3 meter x 3 meter). You can have a look at the installation here: http://www.cetacea.de/joergmazur Please contact Joerg Mazur (joerg.mazur(\)gmx.de) directly if you have further questions or information about museums or other suitable exhibition sites. Thank you very much, Jan Herrmann -- Jan Herrmann jan.herrmann (at) cetacea.de Vorlesungsreihe Wal und Mensch +----> http://www.cetacea.de ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 19 Oct 2003 13:39:03 -0300 From: Chuck Schom Organization: Surge Inc Subject: Final Notice: FINBACK WHALE WORKSHOP AT THE 15TH BIENNIAL CONFERENCE ON THE BIOLOGY OF MARINE ------ Hi My Field season is winding down, yes we still have Whales. I=92ve made time to put up an online registration form: =93http://www.whale-watch-east.com/workshop_form.html=94. Here are a number of thoughts, speculations, assumptions, =93Brain Teasers=94 that I put forward as a starting point. I hope others will do likewise. They are given to get people thinking and maybe help answering the question: =93Is attending the Finback Whale Workshop the best use of my time given the other Workshops available?=94 I see at least four that I would like to attend. Once a critical mass of registrants is reached, and I put that number at 10, I will circulate Email Addresses and hope we can exchange Email raising points leading to presentations and discussions at the Workshop. I see potential outcomes of the Workshop ranging from an exchange of ideas, maybe a summary and presentation of a document, through to the possibility of establishing a collaboration and questions that each might pursue in their own way. ___________________________________________________ The Brain Teasers: - Finback Whale intelligence is at least as great as one would expect from Horses and is probably higher. This means that they can learn, do correlate a number of inputs and develop response patterns based on inputs. They are not just reaction machines. - They do move in groups that I prefer to think of as Tribes. Gunther (1949) describes approaching then chasing up to 50 whales which split into smaller and smaller groups ending up with three, four or five whales in the final grouping or what I would call Tribe. Others report larger groups based on Whaling data, i.e. number of whales killed in an area. - I suspect that Tribes come to and spend time in the South West corner of the Bay of Fundy. That is groups of Whales traveling together come to the area. I have some evidence that suggests some Tribes have one Big Old, probably, Female, usually, initially, very hard to get a look at, and a number of smaller individuals, ranging from 50 ft to 60 plus ft. - Breeding may occurs in September in the area. I have photographs of, on a couple of occasions, Finback whales ending up ventral surface to ventral surface for a time. Further, this year, a Cow arrived in September with a young, month or two old I would guess, calf. The calf was of about a size of those that have on previous occasions arrived in June, early July or so. The Cow was in good condition. Antarctic Whaling data records show a low but constant, over time, percentage of recently and; therefore, likely locally conceived, fetuses (Brinkmann, 1948). - The Whales behavior is tidal correlated in this area. They normally disperse not to long after change of tide. Some tribes seem to set up to feed in specific areas and can be found in one location on the ebb tide and another on the flood tide for weeks on end. - Other Tribes may be disperse. That is individuals within the Tribe have different Feeding Preferences. One individual was observed to feed only in areas with strong currents and up-wellings, i.e. strong rip tides only. Occasionally, it joined others when they were in areas that had moderate rip tide. - There is some form of communication. The whales know where each other is over more then a few miles. Cows and Calves separate for periods, initially of less then a hour, later for periods nearing the length of a full tidal cycle. Yet, come together and spend extended periods together. The same is true for individuals near the same size. - The whales have =93roads=94 they follow when traveling from on area to another. Using some seem to depend on which tide it is, others, one in particular, was used irrespective of what tide it was. - Individual Whales may recognize boats and come by to blow near them. They may even try and communicate with vessels. - One means of communication may be a short under water blow which may or may not be followed by surfacing. On one occasion a whale gave a short under water blow just off our bow. There was a second whale in the area an 1/8th to 1/4 mile ahead. The boat was traveling about 3 knots. Then a tail print appeared ahead of the boat. The next time the whales blew they surfaced in tandem. Slack water had passed, the other whales in the Tribe had left, the fish seemed to be dispersing...they worked together for 20 minutes or so before going their own separate ways. _______________________________________________ Regards Chuck Schom Email: tcougar5(\)nbnet.nb.ca ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 10:25:37 +1000 Reply-To: dolphins(\)tangalooma.com From: Dolphin Ed Subject: Applications Open for Research Grants - Tangalooma Marine Research and Education Foundation Applications Open for Research Grants - Tangalooma Marine Research and Education Foundation The Tangalooma Marine Research and Education Foundation has released applications for grants for 2004 Research Projects as of the 31st October 2003. The foundation supports marine mammal research in south-east Queensland, Australia as a priority. The grants range from $1 000 - 20 000 AUD with the majority of awarded grants falling between $1 000 - 5 000 AUD. Higher amounts will be considered upon reccommendation by our independent scientific review board. For an application form please email dolphins(\)tangalooma.com. Applications close for consideration on the 15th December 2003 and successful applicants will be notified before the 15th February 2004. All completed application forms must be sent via email to Trevor Hassard at trevorh(\)tangalooma.com before the 15th of December 2003. For further information about the Tangalooma Marine Research and Education Foundation and previous funded projects go to www.tangalooma.com.au and follow the link to the wild dolphin program page. Last year the foundation sponsored seven projects varying in award amounts. The project titles included "The influence of dugong (Dugon dugong)grazing on sexual reproduction and growth of the seagrass, Halophila ovalis, a favoured food source of dugongs in Moreton Bay, Australia"; "Behavioural interactions of migrating humpback whale singers and conspecifics off the east coast of Australia"; "Historical biogeography of the sand barrier islands of Moreton Bay as revealed by molecular phylogeography of obligate freshwater species"; "Population ecology of dugongs in Moreton Bay, south-east Queensland"; and "Behavioural and Behavioural interactions of Bottlenose Dolphins off Cape Moreton, Moreton Island, Australia". Please email dolphins(\)tangalooma.com for an application form and send completed application forms directly to trevorh(\)tangalooma.com We look foreward to receiving your applications. Regards, Trevor Hassard trevorh(\)tangalooma.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 22:44:02 +0100 From: "J.W. Broekema" Subject: updates & deadlines on the 2004 European Cetacean Society Conference from Jan Willem Broekema mailto:ecs-talk-request(\)jiscmail.ac.uk The European Cetacean Society website has been updated with some information on the 2004 Conference. Most important is the hotel booking form and the new materials order form. We would like to point out that the deadline for submission of abstracts for oral or poster presentations is December 1! Please visit the site for more news. Kind regards, European Cetacean Society http://www.broekemaweb.nl/ecs Jan Willem Broekema mailto:ecs-talk-request(\)jiscmail.ac.uk Member of Council, e-communications ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2003 11:56:45 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Leopard Seals in Argentina (fwd) This is a forwarded message. Please reply to the author, Diego Rodriguez at: dhrodri(\)mdp.edu.ar ------------------------ Hi all! For those interested in Leopard Seals, PDF reprints of the following = note published in the Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals are = available from the authors. As it is a brief report, no abstract is = available, but it summarises the records of leopard seal vagrants in = northern Argentina and discusses the temporal patterns of occurence. Diego Rodriguez dhrodri(\)mdp.edu.ar RODRIGUEZ,D., R.BASTIDA, S.MORON, S.RODRIGUEZ HEREDIA & J.LOUREIRO. = Occurence of Leopard seals in northern Argentina. (2003) Latin American = Journal of Aquatic Mammals, 2 (1): 51-54 -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 07:28:16 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Post Doctoral Fellows Program at Columbia University (fwd) From: "David Downie" Post Doctoral Fellows Program at Columbia University Earth Institute Fellows Program in Sustainable Development (granted for 24 months). Columbia University seeks post-doctoral candidates interested in enhancing their disciplinary research (in one of the core disciplines represented within the Earth Institute, i.e., any of the earth sciences, biological sciences, engineering sciences, social sciences, or health sciences), while at the same time acquiring the cross-disciplinary expertise and breadth needed to addresses critical issues related to sustainable development and reducing environmental degradation, poverty, hunger, and disease. Applications are being accepted now for fellowships starting in the Summer of 2004. The deadline for receipt of on-line applications is December 1, 2003. Information on the program and an application can be found at http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/postdoc/index.html. Information on the Earth Institute can be found at: http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/ David Leonard Downie Director, Earth Institute Fellows Program -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 07:31:50 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Lifeforce Volunteer Program and Equipment Available (fwd) From: "Peter Hamilton" Lifeforce Foundation: Volunteers Needed and Equipment Available=20 The Lifeforce Foundation is a Vancouver-based ecology non-profit = organization that was formed in 1981 to provide a public service to help people, animals and the environment. The Lifeforce mission is to promote stewardship and protection of cetaceans and their marine habitats. All life on earth is dependent on a healthy ecosystem. Some of the main goals of the Lifeforce projects are to assist in = developing Marine Mammal Protection Regulations, implementing an Orca = Recovery Program and the creation of Marine Protected Areas. We are = seeking volunteers to assist in conducting the following Marine Life = Programs in the Vancouver, BC area from April 2003 to November 2004. = Volunteers will receive unforgettable, rare work experiences with the = endangered Southern Orca Community. The Lifeforce Marine Life Programs are not university-affiliated. To = date, no publications have resulted from this work. However, there is a = potential for data to be published.We are collecting data on-going = research projects with the goal of publishing papers such as the = "Behaviour and Travel Patterns of the Southern Orca Community". Project = Leader, Peter Hamilton, has published papers on methods to enrich the = environments of captive animals. We would also like to announce the availability of research equipment = for projects in the Vancouver area.A 28' boat, 12.5' Wildlife Rescue = Trailer and equipment are available for lease (year round). Volunteers Needed The research experience that volunteers could gain from this position = includes data collection and analysis; marine mammal ID training, = archiving and cataloguing photographs. developing stewardship programs, = public relations ;development of media and public education materials, = and office work. Volunteers may be assigned a specific research project; and would be expected to complete a report as directed.Lifeforce will help = students design and implement a project for undergraduate or graduate = credit. Volunteers are required to pay a $250 (US) charge per week. This = includes basic training, materials and accommodation. Volunteers will = have to provide their own flights/transportation, camp gear, food and = basic needs. Volunteers should meet most of the following requirements:=20 1. Volunteers must be able to work in the Vancouver, BC and Pt. = Roberts, USA. Current travel documents are required to cross the = US/Canada border. 2. Volunteers must have a motor vehicle and/or provide own = transportation. 3. Volunteers must be able to commit to at least a 2 week consecutive = work period. 4. Volunteers must be able to work up to 12 hour shifts and/or be able = to work consecutive days (3 to 4 days). Free camping is available and = volunteers are responsible for their own camping equipment and food. 5. Volunteers should be used to working under difficult situations = such as long hours and rough weather. 6. It is preferred that volunteers have marine wildlife and habitat = protection has a career goal or at least a main interest. 7. It is preferred that volunteers have experience with data = collection and field work; be knowledgeable of local marine life and = identification; and be able to assist Project leader with data = interpretation and reporting. 8. Volunteers must be able to work well with the public since = distribution of educational materials to boaters may be required. 9. Volunteers must speak English. 10. Some knowledge of wildlife rescue work is preferred. Lifeforce will decide what project(s) a volunteer will be assigned to. = In general, volunteers work on shore to record marine wildlife activity. = The volunteers may participate in one or more of the following programs: 1. Whale and Dolphin Hotline. Lifeforce provides a telephone hotline = for the public to be able to report marine wildlife stranding, = harassment and/or sightings. 2. Orca Research. Under a Department of Fisheries and Oceans Research = permit Lifeforce has conducted studies of the behaviour and travel = patterns of orcas. We obtain data to provide the public with educational = materials to help everyone have a better understanding of the complex = lives of orcas. We also gather photographic/video data for displays. = Some of the images have been used in an educational field guide on orca = behaviour to help people understand how to operate a boat if whales are = in the area. This information would help prevent injury to people and = the whales. We hope that our research and education programs will help = create marine sanctuaries, obtain Endangered Species status, determine = any changes in travel patterns resulting from noise pollution etc. and = monitor any effect of dwindling fish stocks in order to obtain fish = quotas for wildlife. Understanding orca travel patterns will also help = Lifeforce promote land based whale watching through Orca Trails - our = program to alert Park Managers when orcas and other cetaceans will pass = their marine parks. 3. Marine Mammal Census and Boat Interaction Study. In order to = protect the endangered Southern Orca Community students are monitoring = marine wildlife travels and their interactions with boats. This will = also look at the feasibility of promoting ecotourism activity in = communities and how these operations can be conducted under a Code of = Ethical Ecotourism. 4. False killer whale study. This study will help understand why some = dolphins follow boats and appear to interact with people. Information = could lead to the development of methods to keep marine mammals away = from dangers such as oil s pills. 5. Pinniped Predation Research. Lifeforce is developing nonlethal = methods to reduce and/or eliminate seal predation of endangered fish = stocks. This research will help stop the shooting of seals and sea = lions. 6. Lifewatch Boater Awareness Program. Lifeforce distributes whale = watching regulations to boaters on the water and the general public. The = information advises boaters how to safely watch whales and other marine = life. It also stops boaters who inadvertently or intentionally harass = marine mammals. Lifeforce is the only organization providing this = service in Southern BC. As part of the Lifewatch program we will conduct = investigations of cruelty to marine wildlife. 7. Marine Wildlife Rescue. Lifeforce provides a 24 hour service to = respond to marine wildlife injury, sickness, abandonment, stranding and = other emergencies. This service includes responding to pollution = problems such as oil and chemical spills. In addition, we will remove = dolphins, porpoises, pinnipeds and seabirds trapped in fishing nets. 8. Eco Friendly Boating. In order to reduce and eliminate pollution of = the Georgia Basin off Canada's West Coast, it is crucial that we provide = ecology information and demonstrate how people can help to develop = pollution-free lifestyles. This project will develop and demonstrate the = necessary clean alternatives. The Ocean Friends Library will be aboard = our Eco Friendly Boat powered by solar, wind and natural gas/fuel cells. 9. Educational Materials and Displays. Lifeforce publishes educational = materials such as the Whale Watch Guidelines that we distribute to the = public through the Lifewatch Program. We also create public displays = such as the Orca Centre in Point Roberts, WA. This "whale museum" = includes information about human and environmental threats to marine = wildlife. Research Education Boats and Trailer (Pacific Northwest Areas) = Individuals/organizations can lease/contract our new 28' boat and = equipment for non-invasive research, conservation and education projects = in 2004. The boat has been design to adapt to a variety of research = equipment and operations for population studies, behaviour and travel = pattern studies and boat traffic impact observations/monitoring. The = boat includes all necessities for overnight accommodations for a least 4 = persons (head, shower and galley), 2 interior work stations, large open = stern deck, large swim platform for divers (great for public = orientations for MPA advocacy, etc.) and more. Electronic equipment = includes GPS, two VHF base stations; hydrophone and PA set-up. A boat = operator, with 10 year experience, is included in the reasonable lease = agreement. The Marine Wildlife trailer is a 12.5' . The trailer is fully equipped = for marine wildlife rescue work and includes cages, stretchers and = cetacean float pontoons (for stranding work). It can be used as a base = station for computer work, communications and small animal necropsy. Further details by contacting Peter Hamilton = lifeforcesociety(\)hotmail.com -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 07:35:27 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Need theodolite (fwd) From: Rossitercsi(\)aol.com Dear MARMERs, This is a request for a working theodolite to be used in a tucuxi (Sotalia) research project in Brazil, specifically to study the potential for vessel-dolphin impact in the the Canan=E9ia estuary. The data would enable (or push) government agencies to create monitoring and regulatory constraints for the fast-growing dolphin-watching tourism in the area. The theodolite would be used by many, including an Earthwatch project from July 2004. It should be added that no one associated with the project can afford one; check out Brazil's inflation rate. The theodolite could be donated through Cetacean Society International, which would permit a US tax deduction for its fair market value. CSI is also donating a used laptop to this project, which will be used by other Brazilli an researchers as well. The PI for the project is Marcos C=E9sar Santos, Projeto Atlantis, S=E3o Paulo, Brazil, a PhD candidate at the Laborat=F3rio de Ecologia Marinha, Departamento de Ecologia Geral, Instituto de Bioci=EAncias - Universidade de S=E3o Paulo. Please contact Marcos Santos (marcosos(\)usp.br) and/or Bill Rossiter (rossiter(\)csiwhalesalive.org) if you have any possibility of assisting this effort. If you are willing and able to consider this request, please consider that the best option would be to give the gadget to Marcos Santos during the SMMC in December, as Brazil's customs authorities are very proficient at finding and delaying things they could sell on the black market. CSI immediately would provide a letter verifying the donation. Thanks, Bill William W. Rossiter President Cetacean Society International P.O.Box 953, Georgetown, CT 06829 USA ph/fx 203-431-1606 rossiter(\)csiwhalesalive.org www.csiwhalesalive.org -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 07:38:50 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowships, 2004:05 (fwd) From: "Cori Goodyear" Help shape public policy in Washington, DC. Scientists and engineers are invited to apply for one-year science and technology policy fellowships in Washington, DC, beginning September 2004. These 10 programs, administered by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), are designed to provide each Fellow with a unique public policy learning experience and to bring technical backgrounds and external perspectives to decision-making in the U.S. government. Fellows serve in the Congress, the Department of Homeland Security, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of State, the Department of Defense, the Agency for International Development, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and other federal offices. Applicants must have a PhD or an equivalent doctoral degree by the application deadline (January 10, 2004) from any physical, biological or social science, any field of engineering or any relevant interdisciplinary field. Individuals with a master's degree in engineering and at least three years of post-degree professional experience also may apply. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and federal employees are ineligible. Stipends begin at $60,000. For application instructions and further information about the AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship Programs, contact: 1200 New York Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20005 Phone: 202/326-6700 E-mail: fellowships(\)aaas.org Web: www.fellowships.aaas.org. Underrepresented minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2003 11:34:49 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Possible exemption of US Navy activities from MMPA/ESA Wider use of Navy sonar approved http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/147453_sonar08.html Saturday, November 8, 2003 Wider use of Navy sonar approved by House Vote upsets activists, who say marine life is more at risk now By ROBERT McCLURE SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER Weeks after a groundbreaking scientific study said naval sonar appears to be killing marine mammals, the Bush administration yesterday won House approval to use sonar wherever Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld sees fit. Passage next week by the Senate is virtually assured. Like their colleagues elsewhere, environmentalists in the Pacific Northwest were angry. They pointed to an incident earlier this year in which Navy sonar near the San Juan Islands panicked orcas and other marine mammals and may have killed harbor porpoises later found dead in the area. The legislation, part of a $401 billion defense bill, gives the secretary of defense the right to exempt from the provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act "any action or category of actions" undertaken by the armed forces. Currently, that requires the approval of the National Marine Fisheries Service or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The new law requires only that the defense secretary notify environmental regulators of his intentions. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said the bill embodied "common-sense environmental reforms allowing our troops to properly train." Supporters said current provisions about "harassment" of orcas, porpoises, seals, sea lions and similar creatures are sufficiently vague that they could be interpreted to make it illegal for a passing Navy ship to startle a sea lion enough that it jumps into the water. "The Marine Mammal Protection Act was adopted under the Nixon administration and ... the initial intent was to protect marine mammals from hunters and fishermen," said Navy spokesman Cappy Surette. "It was later applied to the military. The Navy finds the language extremely constrictive." Opponents said the sweeping changes in the law -- unusual in a bill that authorizes spending -- are not necessary. Concern about vagueness of the current law could be easily fixed without giving the military the right to unilaterally approve its own harassment of marine mammals, critics said. "Does anybody trust Donald Rumsfeld to save the whales?" asked Gerald Leape, vice president of the National Environmental Trust. "This means ... more freedom for the Department of Defense to do whatever it wants and not be burdened by working through our nation's most important law to protect marine mammals." The move appears to undo an important recent court victory by environmentalists to limit where a new and powerful form of naval sonar can be used, members of Congress said. The suit spearheaded by the Natural Resources Defense Council was settled in mid-October when the Navy agreed to limit deployment of the new, low-frequency sonar, which can reach hundreds of miles underwater. That settlement limits the use of the souped-up sonar to waters off Japan, China and the Philippines, although it contains exemptions for times of war or "heightened threat conditions." At the time of the settlement, Seattle orca activist Fred Felleman predicted, "If the Navy is able to successfully exempt themselves from the (Marine Mammal Protection Act), this is going to be a very short-term success." His analysis of the situation after yesterday's vote: "It's dismal." The vote to approve the change came as House members, headed home for a busy round of Veterans Day weekend appearances, voted on a broad blueprint for Defense Department operations that also sets spending guidelines for congressional budget-writers. Negotiators from the House and Senate finished the bill at 2:15 a.m. yesterday. It runs to 712 pages of extremely complicated text, such as this bit from the part about marine mammals: "The term 'Level A harassment' means harassment described in subparagraph(A)(i) or, in the case of military readiness activity or scientific research activity described in subparagraph (B), harassment described in subparagraph (B)(i)." Members had about three hours to read the bill. To finish it, they would have had to take in about four pages per minute between the time it was released about dawn and debate began at midmorning. Among those who objected to the rush and refused to vote for or against the measure was Rep. Brian Baird, D-Wash. "Rubber-stamping laws without reading them is not what this nation was meant to be about, and not what this Congress should be about," he said. "How ironic that the legislation authorizing the defense of this great republic does such a disservice to the very principles of republican government." Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, charged: "Using defense as cover, they are proposing changes to environmental laws that have nothing to do with defense readiness." Efforts by opponents to limit the application of the law to wartime, or to activities directly related to military readiness, were rejected. The bill's provisions were drafted by the Armed Services Committees of the House and Senate. In reaction, this week members of the House Resources Committee, the panel with official jurisdiction over the Marine Mammal Protection Act, passed an overhaul of the law. Democrats and Republicans on the committee said they worked together to work out language that -- while still angering environmentalists -- kept the National Marine Fisheries Service in charge of decisions about whether to allow use of sonar and other technologies that harm marine mammals. "It is considerably better than the Defense Department bill and although it's not the one I would have written if I was the only one involved ... it was necessary to head off something worse," said Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash., a Resources Committee member. That strategy did not work, though. It's possible those provisions re-restricting the military could be approved next year if the Senate passes similar legislation. Fifty-one House members, including Inslee, Baird and Blumenauer, unsuccessfully appealed Oct. 21 to the Armed Services Committee chairmen to leave the issue alone for now, citing a study by Spanish and British scientists that came out Oct. 9. The study said whales near naval exercises where sonar was used appeared to get a sometimes-fatal version of the bends, the nitrogen sickness suffered by human scuba divers. The study followed a string of whale deaths in the vicinity of naval exercises in several places around the globe. All involved common midfrequency sonar, not the newer, more-powerful low-frequency version. "Marine mammal scientists have said that this study may be the so-called 'smoking-gun' linking sonar use with marine mammal strandings," the House members wrote. "It provides a plausible and credible scientific explanation for an abundance of circumstantial evidence that has linked sonar use to marine mammal stranding." IN THE DEFENSE BILL The Bush administration sought a number of exemptions to environmental laws, winning some and losing some: Congress gave the military the right to police itself as far as protecting "critical habitat" for endangered and threatened species. The Defense Department's request for exemptions to the Clean Air Act did not succeed. Military efforts to win a reprieve from laws governing handling of hazardous chemicals and cleanup of toxic waste sites were denied. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2003 11:37:47 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Employment Opportunity -- Education Instructor at Dolphin Research (fwd) The following message is being forwarded from Tara Morris. You can contac= t her at: tara(\)dolphins.org. Please do not respond directly back the MARMAM editors. Thank you. _________________________________________________________________________= ___ _____ Dolphin Reseach Center (DRC) currently has one full-time opening for an Education Instructor. DRC is a not-for-profit education and research facility located on Grassy Key, Florida and home to 16 Atlantic bottlenos= e dolphins and 2 California sea lions. More information about our facility = can be found at http://ww.dolphins.org. Requirements: The successful applicant will be a responsible, organized, motivated, self-directed individual who demonstrates excellent =93team pl= ayer=94 skills and possesses good presentation/public speaking ability. Capabili= ty and desire to work with a variety of people on a regular basis is a must.= A strong interest in environmental conservation is necessary. Applicants m= ust be available to work flexible hours and should have a clean driving recor= d. Computer experience is needed. A BS/BA in a related field is required an= d teaching experience is preferred. Experience in budgeting, as well as peo= ple and/or program management skills a plus. If selected for an interview, t= he candidate must demonstrate speaking skills by delivering a short presentation to managerial staff of DRC. Duties: Duties include, but are not limited to the following: (a) Teachin= g seminars and program workshops (b)Coordinating student activities (c) Conducting field trips (c) Conducting outreach programs (d) Monitoring do= ck time, swims, and dolphin feeding sessions (e) Assisting with program development and evaluation (f) Assisting in preparation of pre-class and post-class activities and paperwork (g) Assisting with classroom curricul= um development (h) Assisting with program management (i) Receiving and handl= ing or routing numerous telephone inquiries (j) Assisting with the processing= of information requests (k) Assisting with resource and equipment maintenanc= e (l) Directing the activities of volunteers assigned to the Education Department (m) Assisting with program schedules and monthly department schedules (n) Assisting with program budgeting (o) Participate on DRC conservation committee E-mail resume to: drc-hr(\)dolphins.org. Closing date for the position is 12/5/03. E.O.E. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2003 03:11:28 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: USA partner for dolphin research (fwd) From: martina.duras(\)vz.tel.hr We are addressing to the researchers of bottlenose dolphins in USA for possible joint research project under the U.S.-Croatia Science and Technology Cooperation. Our research group (Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Department of Animal Physiology of Faculty of Sciencies, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia) is currently involved in two projects on marine mammals: “Health and other biological characteristics of mammals in the Adriatic Sea” (Croatian project) and “Save the Last Adriatic Dolphins” (Croatian-German project, collaboration with Gesellschaft zur Rettung der Delphine, Munich, Germany). The idea of a joint project is comparison of the populations of bottlenose dolphins in Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea and on the US coast, and exchange of scientific expertise. We are also open to any other ideas for collaboration. Currently, we are doing research on morphology (external and sceletal measurements and meristics), stomach content examination, heavy metal accumulation, pathology and causes of deaths on carcasses, as well as population structure based on age and sex and geographic distribution. In addition, we are performing photoidentification on living animals to examine their home range and distribution. We also started population genetic research on our samples (we are using microsatellites) and we would be specially interested in collaboration in that field. We would appreciate if colleagues from USA interested in collaboration would contact us as soon as possible on e-mail address: martina.duras(\)vz.tel.hr (Contact person: Martina Duras Gomercic, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia) You can find more information on our projects on www.vef.hr/dolphins. Sincerely, Martina Duras Gomercic Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb Heinzelova 55 10000 Zagreb Croatia martina.duras(\)vz.tel.hr ---------------------- H T n e t - - W e b M a i l ---------------------- Ova poruka poslana je upotrebom HTnet WebMail usluge. http://www.htnet.hr/webmail -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2003 03:14:06 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: chlorine and sea otters (fwd) From: Judy Tuttle Dear MARMAMMERS, I'm hoping some of you can help me out on the issue of chlorine in sea otter exhibit pools. My sea otter exhibit uses natural sea water. The sea water goes through high pressure sand filters and an ozone chamber for disinfections prior to being put into the exhibit pool. The system is semi-closed. It is an outside exhibit and naturally grows a lot of algae in the sunlight. We empty the pool periodically and bleach it to kill the algae. Some chlorine remains in the lines and comes back into the pool when it is refilled. I've always had concerns about the chlorine damaging the natural oils in the sea otters' fur. Can any one give me insight into the chemistry of natural sea water and chlorine supporting a lack of damage to the natural oils in the sea otters' fur? Thanks, Judy Tuttle Curator of Mammals Oregon Coast Aquarium 2820 SE Ferry Slip Road Newport, Or 97365 541-867-3474 ext 5322 541-867-6846 fax jmt(\)aquarium.org < mailto:jmt(\)aquarium.org > www.aquarium.org -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2003 18:46:17 -1000 From: Charles Littnan Subject: Final Call for Workshop Registration: Ethics in Marine Mammal Research Please mail responses to Charles.Littnan(\)noaa.gov or if you don't receive a response in 1-2 days try slydisco(\)aol.com Hello everyone- This is the the FINAL announcement for the "Ethics in Marine Mammal Research" workshop at this years SMM conference in North Carolina. SPACE IS LIMITED! If you have already made arrangements with me regarding late registration, don't worry, your space is saved. The workshop will take place on Sunday, December 14th, the day before the start of the conference. We have set up a very simple webpage that has the abstracts to a few of the workshop presentations and other useful information. The site can be accessed at: http://hometown.aol.com/slydisco/myhomepage/index.html The workshop will include a morning full of invited speakers discussing various topics related to ethics in marine mammal science. Topics will include: Current Viewpoints Ethics and environmental impacts of research involving marine mammals Ethics and Permits Study Design Effects of Instrument attachment Handling wild marine mammals Captive Animal Research Professional Ethics and others. The afternoon will consist of a 2-4 hour group discussion. The fee to cover food and equipment expenses for the workshop will be $15 US for early registration up to November 21. After November 21, the cost will be $20 US. We hope that you will attend and contribute your thoughts, opinions and experiences to this discussion. Cheers, Charles Littnan and Tim Ragen charles.littnan(\)noaa.gov slydisco(\)aol.com Charles Littnan Research Ecologist Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program National Marine Fisheries Service PIFSC 2570 Dole St. Honolulu, HI 96822 TEL: (808) 983-5392 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2003 01:51:57 -0300 From: Adolfo Hubner de Jesus Subject: Binoculars w/ digital camera ------ Dear Marmammers, A few months ago I posted a message on the use of binoculars w/ a digita= l camera on it. I want to apologize for not posted the answers I receveid. = I have been very busy with the field work on these months. Unfornutely, these equipment are not suitable for photo-id work, there a= re a few restrictions, but basically cause the low resolution pictures that they generate. Another thing is that the lens of the binoculars is apart = of the digital camera, or what you see is not what you shot. Well, I want to thanks Anna bass, Candice Mottet, Gianni Pavan, John Gool= d, John Cunningham, Jos=E9 Lailson Brito, Ludo Holsbeek and Todd McConchie f= or the answers posted. Sincerely, Adolfo Hubner de Jesus Marine Mammals Project / Sergipe state - Coordinator Small Cetaceans Project / Rio Grande do Norte state - Member Brazil Contact: ahubner(\)uol.com.br ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2003 10:00:45 -0900 From: Dyan Ferren Subject: Job Announcement The Alaska SeaLife Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to marine research, rehabilitation and public education is seeking candidates for the following: Associate Veterinarian / Rehabilitation Manager. This position is responsible for managing the rescue and rehabilitation program for marine mammals and birds; and assisting in maintaining the health and welfare of all animals housed at the Alaska SeaLife Center. Responsibilities: Serves as Rehabilitation Manager by providing leadership and organization for all rescue and rehabilitation endeavors. Organizes the care of animals admitted for rehabilitation including scheduling of staff and volunteers. Serves as the Center's Associate Veterinarian to assist the Senior Veterinarian on animal health and welfare matters. Ensures excellent care and well being of all animals. Provides routine and emergency veterinary medical, surgical and dental care of animals at the Center. Trains and supervises staff and interns within the rehabilitation program. Ensures animal health and welfare policies and procedures support the Center's research, education, and rehabilitation mission. Procures and manages the rehabilitation inventory of supplies, equipment, medications, and spare parts needed for rehabilitation functions. Requirements: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and five years experience treating marine mammals and birds with a minimum of two years at a supervisory level. This is a year round, full-time, position. Apply by: December 10, 2003 Start date: January 2004 Salary: Competitive wage & benefits package. Send resume & references to HR - Alaska SeaLife Center, P O Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664-1329, or fax 907-224-6320, or email to HR(\)alaskasealife.org. The ASLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. www.alaskasealife.org ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2003 02:21:41 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Proposed rule changes and implementation of US Endangered Species Act (fwd) From: Guy Oliver Dear Colleagues, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has extended the comment deadline for it's proposed rule changes with respect to the importation of foreign endangered species to 10 Dec. 2003. (One small victory) Below we have pasted one letter and attached another from Defenders of Wildlife specifically asking scientists to sign on. If you did not have time to respond before, or even if you have responded previously, we hope you will consider signing on to this letter. Comments from non-U.S. scientists are welcome. Please distribute this to your colleagues as well. Sincerely, Patricia Morris and Guy Oliver P.S. If you do not know much about this issue please check the following websites for more information: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10660-2003Oct10.html http://policy.fws.gov/library/03-20941.pdf http://policy.fws.gov/library/03-22777.html ************************************************************************ Dear Fellow Scientists, As you are no doubt aware, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service recently proposed a dramatic reinterpretation of the Endangered Species Act that would allow the Service to authorize the importation of foreign endangered species for a variety of commercial and personal purposes that have long been prohibited under the Act. As conservation professionals, we are deeply concerned about this proposal and its potential impact on the more than 550 foreign endangered species that would be covered by the new policy. We have developed the letter to provide a means for scientists to speak with a common voice on this important policy. I would appreciate it if you would review this letter and consider joining Jane Goodall, George Schaller and others in asking the Fish and Wildlife Service to reconsider its proposal. Because time is short, we ask that you review the letter now and notify us if you would like to sign. Please send your sign-on information, including name, title and institutional affiliation, to: kmalsch(\)defenders.org You can also call Kelly Malsch at (202) 772-3225. We will be submitting the letter to the Service as part of the formal comment process for the proposed rule and would like to have a critical mass of scientific support. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Martin Smith Senior Scientist Defenders of Wildlife November 10, 2003 Chris Nolin, Chief Division of Conservation and Classification U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 420 As XXX professional scientists, we are writing to express our shared concern about recent proposals by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) that would allow the importation into the United States of endangered and threatened species killed or collected in the wild for 'conservation' purposes. These proposals are set forth in a draft policy on enhancement-of-survival permits published on August 18, 2003 and a proposed rule revising the permit regulations under the Endangered Species Act on September 10, 2003. For reasons explained below, we respectfully urge the FWS to withdraw these proposals and reiterate its commitment to strictly control international trade in globally endangered species. As set forth in the draft policy and the proposed rule, the FWS is proposing to alter its longstanding interpretation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to expand the circumstances under which the importation of endangered species might be allowed. Specifically, the FWS is proposing to significantly expand the 'enhancement of survival' exemption under Section 10(a) of the ESA to authorize imports of foreign endangered species for virtually any purpose (including sport hunted trophies, skins and hides for commercial sale, and live specimens for the pet and entertainment industries) if Secretary of the Interior decides the import is 'reasonably likely' to have a net conservation benefit for the species. This rule would apply, without limitation, to any of the more than 550 foreign species currently protected by the ESA. As scientists and wildlife professionals, we recognize the intuitive appeal of sustainable use as a source of much-needed conservation funding, particularly in less-developed countries. However, experience has taught us that the circumstances in which such programs can actually benefit any species are extremely narrow. The history of negative outcomes from such programs counsels strongly against extractive use as a conservation tool for species already in danger of extinction. Even in programs involving superficially modest harvest levels, the risk of unanticipated and sometimes catastrophic population impacts is well-documented (Freese 1993). For example, trophy hunting programs that preferentially target large males result in sex-biased mortality that bears little resemblance to natural mortality patterns (Ginsberg and Milner-Gulland 1994). If such programs are not properly designed, adequately monitored and strictly controlled, they can have unintended and very negative effects on the population being harvested, including reduced fecundity (Ginsberg and Milner-Gulland), increased infant mortality (Swenson et al. 1997), and harmful disruption of normal behavior patterns in social animals (Slotow et al. 2000). These disruptions can lead to substantial population declines and, in some circumstances, to total population collapse. When hunting or collection is permitted near protected areas, the 'conservation' program can actually become a population sink for legally protected populations. Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit recently reported such an outcome in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park, where sport-hunting of lions on the periphery of the park created a vacuum effect that drew lions away from the protected interior of the park itself (MacDonald 2003). In addition to such unanticipated impacts, there are more predictable impacts associated with mismanagement and under-enforcement. As Snyder et al. observed, =93without truly effective controls over harvesting programmes, attempts at sustainable harvesting run a significant risk of exacerbating conservation problems, rather than solving them (Snyder et al. 2000). When the program involves legalization of an otherwise prohibited activity, the impacts of poor program design or implementation may be compounded by corresponding increases in poaching and illegal trade. A growing body of evidence, accumulated across many countries and taxa, indicates that legal harvest and trade can lead to increased poaching and illegal trade (Brazaitis et al. 1998; Wright et al. 2001). Not surprisingly, many researchers have cautioned strongly against the use of such programs for species with small local or global populations because =93[o]nce species are viewed primarily as items of legal trade, the primary concerns in free capitalistic economies commonly become maximizing short-term profits, rather than ensuring long-term sustainability=94 (Snyder et al. 2000). Because past resource exploitation has seldom been sustainable, programs based on claims of sustainability must reliably demonstrate =93how the difficulties that have been encountered in past resource exploitation are to be overcome (Ludwig et al. 1993). We are deeply concerned that neither the draft policy nor the proposed rule reflects this critical inquiry. Indeed, the FWS has proposed to allow imports of endangered species killed or collected from the wild in the name of conservation without defining any standards by which proposed conservation programs will be evaluated. Nor has FWS identified the mechanisms through which it would monitor the implementation and outcomes of such programs on an ongoing basis. Without clear and detailed criteria relating to all aspects of data collection, program design and implementation, and oversight, neither FWS nor the scientific community can reliably assess the impacts of proposed conservation programs. It is our shared view that opening the door to commercial imports of endangered species without fully defining these parameters will put the hundreds of species potentially affected by this rule at serious risk. We do not believe such risks are acceptable for species already on the brink of extinction. As currently crafted, the proposal poses a significant threat to the very species it is designed to benefit. For too many of these species, this new threat could mean the difference between survival and extinction. Accordingly, we respectfully urge the FWS to immediately withdraw its draft policy on enhancement-of-survival permits and remove any reference to in-situ conservation of foreign listed species from the proposed rule of September 10th. Sincerely, Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE Jane Goodall Institute Dr. George Schaller The Wildlife Conservation Society Dr. Reed Noss Davis-Shine Prof. of Conservation Biology University of Central Florida Prof. Alexander Harcourt Dept. of Anthropology University of California at Davis And the undersigned members of the scientific community: Prof. Tim Caro Dept. of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology University of California at Davis James Gilardi, Ph.D. Executive Director World Parrot Trust Dr. Ronald Orenstein International Wildlife Coalition Mark Shaffer, Ph.D. Senior Vice President for Program Defenders of Wildlife Claudio Sillero, Ph.D. Deputy Chair IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group Bill Travers Fellow for Wildlife Conservation University of Oxford, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit Martin Smith Senior Scientist Defenders of Wildlife Catherine A. Toft, Ph.D. Professor, Section of Evolution and Ecology Div. of Biological Sciences Assoc. Dir., John Muir Institute of the Environment University of California at Davis Nils Warnock, Ph.D. Co-director Wetlands Ecology Division Conservation Science Point Reyes Bird Observatory Guy W. Oliver, Ph.D. Research Associate Institute of Marine Sciences University of California, Santa Cruz References Brazaitis, P. et al. 1998. The caiman trade. Scientific American =20 70-76 (March 1998). Freese C.H. 1998. Wild species as commodities. Island Press, =20 Washington DC. Ginsberg, J.R. and E.J. Milner-Gulland. 1994. Sex-biased harvesting and population dynamics in ungulates: implications for conservation and sustainable use. Conservation Biology 8: 157-166. Ludwig, Donald et al. 1993. Uncertainty, resource exploitation and conservation: lessons from history. Science 260: 17, 35. MacDonald, D.W. 2003. The lion king: Is his throne secure? Lecture delivered at Zool. Soc. of London, Oct. 7, 2003. Redford, K. and Brian Richter. 1999. Conservation of biodiversity in a world of use. Conservation Biology 13: 1246-1255. Snyder, N. et al. 2000. Parrots. Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan 2000-2004. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. Swenson, J. et al. 1997. Infanticide caused by hunting of male bears. Nature 386: 450-451. Wright et al. 2001. Nest poaching in neotropical parrots. Cons. Bio. 15: 710-720. Guy W. Oliver, Ph.D. Research Associate =09 Long Marine Lab =09 Institute of Marine Sciences UC Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA 95064 831-458-4121 oliver(\)ucsc.edu Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2003 09:16:26 +0100 From: ursula.verfuss(\)t-online.de Subject: ECS ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 1st Dec. Dear MARMAM-subscribers, I'd like to remind you that the ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE for the 18th ECS Annual Conference in Kolmarden - Sweden is Dec. 1st, 2003 - which is in two weeks from now! Details of the conference can be found under: http://www.broekemaweb.nl/ecs/ Email for abstract submission: ecsabstract(\)kolmarden.com Looking forward to seeing you in Sweden! Ursula Verfuss ECS-membership secretary ursula.verfuss(\)meeresmuseum.de ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2003 10:28:23 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recently published paper (fwd) This message is being forwarded from Damian C. Lidgard. Please direct requests to dcl2(\)st-andrews.ac.uk. Please do not reply to the marmam editors. Thank you. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Reprints are available for the following paper: Lidgard, D. C., Boness, D. J., Bowen, W. D. & McMillan, J. I. 2003. = Diving behaviour during the breeding season in the terrestrial breeding = male grey seal implications for alternative mating tactics. Canadian = Journal of Zoology, 81 1025-1033. Abstract: We examined the diving behaviour of breeding male grey seals = (Halichoerus grypus) at Sable Island, Nova Scotia from 1997 to 2001. The = proportion of time spent at sea varied between 0% and 78% (N =3D 30). = Males engaged in deep (43.4 =B1 3.3 m (mean =B1 SE), N =3D 27) diving = and these dives were clustered into bouts, which mostly occurred during = long trips (62.2 =B1 14.7 h). We suggest males spent time foraging = during deep dives. Shallow diving (5.9 =B1 0.1 m, N =3D 27) accounted = for 40.8% of dives, which were also clustered into bouts that mostly = occurred during short trips (2.1 =B1 0.37 h). We suggest shallow diving = comprised a suite of behaviours, but included little foraging behaviour. = Phenotypic traits had little influence on diving behaviour. Further work = is required to understand the extent to which foraging behaviour = enhances reproductive success, and whether shallow diving is a component = of the mating tactics of male grey seals at Sable Island. =20 R=E9sum=E9: Nous avons =E9tudi=E9 le comportement de plong=E9e de = m=E2les du phoques gris (Halichoerus grypus) en p=E9riode de = reproduction =E0 l'=EEle de Sable, Nouvelle-=C9cosse,de 1997 =E0 2001. = La fraction du temps pass=E9 en mer varie de 0 =E0 78 % (N =3D 30). Les = m=E2les entreprennent des plong=E9es profondes (43,4 =B1 3,3 m (moyenne = =B1 erreur type), N =3D 27) qui sont regroup=E9es en =E9pisodes, surtout = durant les voyages prolong=E9s (62,2 =B1 14,7 h). Nous croyons que les = m=E2les passent une partie du temps de ces plong=E9es profondes =E0 la = recherche de nourriture. Les plong=E9es moins profondes (5,9 =B1 0,1 m, = N =3D 27) repr=E9sentent 40,8 % des plong=E9s et elles se font aussi par = =E9pisodes, principalement durant les voyages courts (2,1 =B1 0,37 h). = Nous pensons que les plong=E9es peu profondes consistent en une suite de = comportements, mais avec peu de recherche de nourriture. Les = caract=E9ristiques ph=E9notypiques influencent peu le comportement de = plong=E9e. Seules des =E9tudes additionnelles permettront de comprendre = comment le comportement de recherche de nourriture contribue =E0 = am=E9liorer le succ=E8s de la reproduction et de savoir si les = plong=E9es de faible profondeur font partie des tactiques d'accouplement = chez les phoques gris de l'=EEle de Sable. Damian C. Lidgard, Ph.D Sea Mammal Research Unit Gatty Marine Laboratory University of St Andrews St Andrews Fife Scotland, UK KY16 8LB Tel: (0)1334 462630 Fax: (0)1334 462632 dcl2(\)st-andrews.ac.uk -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2003 05:58:46 -0800 From: "R.H. Defran" Subject: Bottlenose Dolphin Photo-identification Internships - Spring 2004 boundary="----=_NextPart_000_001E_01C3AD99.07C701B0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_001E_01C3AD99.07C701B0 charset="iso-8859-1" X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by cascara.uvic.ca id hAIE19es249310 From: "R.H. Defran" The Marine Mammal and Protected Resources (MMPR) Program in Charlesto= n, South Carolina is recruiting to fill two Dolphin Photo-identification Internships for the Spring of 2004. The MMPR is organized within NOAA=92s National Ocean Service and is located at the Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research (CCEHBR) laboratory in Charleston, SC. The int= ern position involves a commitment of 20 hours per week extending over a 15 w= eek period from Jan 19, 2004 to April 30, 2004. Interns will participate in t= he field and laboratory activities of the Charleston Dolphin Abundance and Distribution Project (CDAD) (see Zolman, E. 2002. Residence patterns of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Stono River estuary, Charleston County, South Carolina. Marine Mammal Science 18:93-106.). Th= e CDAD project carries out boat-based photo-identification surveys in the coastal and inland waterways of the Charleston area. This research is designed to provide an understanding of the population characteristics of Charleston dolphins as part of a comprehensive health assessment of Charleston area Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. The internship offers an excellent opportunity for qualified and motivated individuals to obtain field and laboratory training in photo-identification methodology and analysis under the mentorship of experienced dolphin researchers. There is no compensation for this internship position and successful applicants will be responsible for their living and transportation expens= es during the time of the internship. Interns and must have a personal vehi= cle to allow them to travel to and from the laboratory and to some of the loc= al field sites in the Charleston area. Ideal internship applicants will be advanced undergraduates or a rece= nt graduate of a scientifically oriented university program in behavioral or biological sciences. A typical applicant should have a strong interest i= n the scientific study of cetacean behavioral ecology, have potential interests in future graduate study in marine mammal science, and is an individual who seeks extensive and intensive exposure to the field work, data analysis techniques, and the research literature in this field. Preference will be given to the selection of interns who have well develo= ped computer skills and boat-based field experience. The intern application w= ill consist of a letter of interest, transcripts of university coursework and two letters of recommendation from professors or research supervisors who are familiar with your scholarship, research skills and work habits. Interested applicants should correspond with Dr. Defran by email before submitting application materials. We anticipate filling these internship positions by the middle of December 2003. Interested applicants should correspond by email to: Dr. R.H. Defran rdefran(\)sunstroke.sdsu.edu Defran Home Page Marine Mammal and Protected Resources Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research NOAA=92s National Ocean Service ------=_NextPart_000_001E_01C3AD99.07C701B0 charset="iso-8859-1"

From: "R.H. Defran" <rdefran(\)sunstroke.sdsu.edu= >

 

   =20 The Marine Mammal and Protected Resources (MMPR) Program in = Charleston,=20 South Carolina is recruiting to fill two Dolphin Photo-identification=20 Internships for the Spring of 2004. The MMPR is organized within = NOAA=92s National=20 Ocean Service and is located at the Coastal Environmental Health and=20 Biomolecular Research (CCEHBR) laboratory in Charleston, SC.  The = intern=20 position involves a commitment of 20 hours per week extending over a 15 = week=20 period from Jan 19, 2004 to April 30, 2004. Interns will participate in = the=20 field and laboratory activities of the Charleston Dolphin Abundance and=20 Distribution Project (CDAD) (see Zolman, E. 2002.  Residence = patterns of=20 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Stono River estuary, = Charleston=20 County, South Carolina.  Marine Mammal Science 18:93-106.). The = CDAD=20 project carries out boat-based photo-identification surveys in the = coastal and=20 inland waterways of the Charleston area. This research is designed to = provide an=20 understanding of the population characteristics of Charleston dolphins = as part=20 of a comprehensive health assessment of Charleston area Atlantic = bottlenose=20 dolphins. The internship offers an excellent opportunity for qualified = and=20 motivated individuals to obtain field and laboratory training in=20 photo-identification methodology and analysis under the mentorship of=20 experienced dolphin researchers.

 

   =20 There is no compensation for this internship position and = successful=20 applicants will be responsible for their living and transportation = expenses=20 during the time of the internship.  Interns and must have a = personal=20 vehicle to allow them to travel to and from the laboratory and to some = of the=20 local field sites in the Charleston area.

 

   =20 Ideal internship applicants will be advanced undergraduates or a = recent=20 graduate of a scientifically oriented university program in behavioral = or=20 biological sciences.  A typical applicant should have a strong = interest in=20 the scientific study of cetacean behavioral ecology, have potential = interests in=20 future graduate study in marine mammal science, and is an individual who = seeks=20 extensive and intensive exposure to the field work, data analysis = techniques,=20 and the research literature in this field. Preference will be given to = the=20 selection of interns who have well developed computer skills and = boat-based=20 field experience. The intern application will consist of a letter of = interest,=20 transcripts of university coursework and two letters of recommendation = from=20 professors or research supervisors who are familiar with your = scholarship,=20 research skills and work habits.  Interested applicants should = correspond=20 with Dr. Defran by email before submitting application materials. We = anticipate=20 filling these internship positions by the middle of December = 2003.

 

Interested applicants should correspond by = email to:=20

Dr. = R.H.=20 Defran  rdefran(\)sunstroke.sdsu.edu=

 

Defran=20 Home Page

Marine = Mammal and=20 Protected Resources

Coastal Environmental Health = and=20 Biomolecular Research

NOAA=92s National Ocean=20 Service

 

------=_NextPart_000_001E_01C3AD99.07C701B0-- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2003 07:36:24 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Abstract: Education on marine mammal tours (fwd) From: mlueck(\)brocku.ca Reprints are available for the following paper: L=FCck, M. (2003) Education on marine mammal tours as agent for conservat= ion - but do tourists want to be educated? Ocean & Coastal Management, 46 (9/10): 9= 43-=20 956. Abstract Environmental education and interpretation became common components on wi= ldlife viewing tours. Whale and dolphin watching tours are no exception and rese= arch suggests the implementation of educational interpretation as an agent for conservation. However, there is little knowledge on how the tourists on t= hose tours feel about interpretation, i.e. do tourists want to be educated dur= ing their holidays? This study addressed this question on swim-with-dolphin t= ours at three locations in New Zealand. The distributed questionnaires include= d specific questions, but also gathered open-ended data. Results support th= e demand for structured interpretation programmes on marine mammal tours. D= espite interpretation in place (mostly about the dolphins), respondents clearly indicated that they would have liked to receive more information, in part= icular about the wider marine environment. Keywords: interpretation, environmental education, marine mammal tours, dolphins, New Zealand ************************************** Michael L=FCck Department of Recreation & Leisure Studies Brock University 500 Glenridge Ave. St. Catharines, ON Canada, L2S 3A1 Phone: +1 905 688 5550 ext. 4580 Fax: +1 905 984 4843 e-mail: mlueck(\)brocku.ca http://www.brocku.ca/tourism ************************************** Editor-in Chief: Tourism in Marine Environments http://www.cognizantcommunication.com ************************************** -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2003 07:38:43 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Post-Doctoral Position in Ecology in North Carolina (fwd) From: "Caroline Good" Position Announcement - Post Doctoral Position in Ecology A Postdoctoral Research Associate position in Ecology is available in the laboratories of Drs. Andrew Read ( http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/faculty/bios/read.html) and Pat Halpin (http://www.env.duke.edu/faculty/bios/halpin.html) at Duke University. The successful candidate will lead a team working on the predictive modeling of cetacean distribution with respect to dynamic oceanographic variables. Applicants must have relevant Ph.D. level expertise in one or more of the following fields: geo-spatial statistics, terrestrial or marine habitat modeling, oceanography and time series analysis. In addition, familiarity with relevant Bayesian statistical methods would be helpful. The successful candidate will work as part of a multi-disciplinary research team that will evaluate a variety of statistical approaches to predict marine mammal distribution from environmental variables. This position will be based either at the Duke Marine Laboratory in Beaufort, NC or at the Landscape Ecology Laboratory in Durham, NC. Candidates should have a Ph.D. in ecology, oceanography, or a related field, and good oral and written communication skills. The position is for one year with the potential of renewal for two additional years. Applicants should send a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, statement of research experience and goals, reprints of relevant publications, and contact information of three references to Sloan Freeman, Duke University Marine Laboratory, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA (ska2(\)duke.edu) by January16, 2004. Duke University is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer with a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2003 07:43:14 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Mitigation and management of marine seismic surveys in the UK (fwd) Hello Everyone For those interested please find a link to the UK Department of Trade and Industry's (DTI) 'Position Paper on the Mitigation and Management of Oil and Gas Marine Seismic Surveys' (in UK waters). Summary: The aim of this paper is to seek the views of a wide audience on the future direction of the DTI's (marine mammal) mitigation and management policy for seismic surveys in UK waters. The paper outlines our current strategy to mitigate near-field effects from seismic surveys and proposes a possible way forward to build on our current system. The proposal would involve the further development and subsequent wider implementation of passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) and maybe other techniques. A desired specification for PAM is presented and we would be interested to hear comments on how realistic this specification is in view of the technology available. We also seek peoples views on the role of other mitigation techniques such as active acoustic monitoring and ask if and how they should be developed and deployed. Finally, we present how we intend to try to manage seismic surveys to minimise possible far-field additive and cumulative effects. Constructive comments from any list members on any aspect of this paper would be warmly welcomed and we will endeavour to respond individually to all comments received. Please send comments to David Simmons (david.j.simmons(\)dti.gsi.gov.uk). The deadline for comments is the 30th January 2004. Following the deadline and in the light of comments received we will publish our agreed policy as well as a summary of comments. The full paper is available on the DTI oil and gas website (www.og.dti.gov.uk) Please cite as: Department of Trade and Industry. 2003. Position Paper on the Mitigation and Management of Oil and Gas Marine Seismic Surveys Thanks and regards David Simmons David Simmons MSc Environmental Manager LCU-ED Department Of Trade and Industry Oil and Gas Directorate Atholl House 86-88 Guild Street Aberdeen AB11 6AR Email: david.j.simmons(\)dti.gsi.gov.uk -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2003 17:27:02 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: NMFS Sued for Failure to Protect Hawai`i's False Killer Whales (fwd) From: "Tori" The lawsuit was filed by Earthjustice on behalf of Hawai'i community group Hui Malama i Kohola, the Center for Biological Diversity and Turtle Island Restoration Network. The suit's goal is to force NMFS to increase protection for the whale, as mandated by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, by reclassifying the fishery from its current Category III status to Category I. This change would trigger the creation and implementation of plans to reduce killing and wounding by the Hawai'i longline fleet of false killer whales and other marine mammals, including the Hawaiian monk seal, humpback whale, sperm whale, blue whale and fin whale. http://www.earthjustice.org/news/display.html?ID=730 Contact Info: David Henkin, Earthjustice (808) 599-2436 William Aila, Hui Malama i Kohola (808) 851-1839 Brendan Cummings, CBD (909) 659-6053 Todd Steiner, TIRN (415) 488-0370 Forwarded by Tori Cullins, Wild Dolphin Foundation -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2003 17:38:43 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: new WWF study demonstrates massive cetacean by-catch by Moroccan (fwd) From: "Sergi Tudela" Dear colleagues: WWF is launching today a scientific study on the by-catch achieved by the Moroccan large-scale driftnet fleet operating in the Mediterranean and Straits of Gibraltar area. It can be downloaded from WWF web page (see press release below). Here I'm including the Executive summary of the study and the press release issued this morning. Sergi Tudela. ---------------------------------------------------------- Dr Sergi Tudela Fisheries Coordinator WWF Mediterranean Programme Office Canuda, 37, pl. 3 08002 Barcelona (Spain) Tel. 34 933056252 Fax. 34 932788030 ---------------------------------------------------------- Biodiversity impact of the Moroccan driftnet fleet operating in the Alboran Sea (SW Mediterranean) Executive summary A total 369 fishing operations (worth 4140 km of driftnets set) by a subset of 4-5 boats from the driftnet fleet targeting swordfish based in Al Hoceima (Mediterranean coast of Morocco) were monitored between December 2002 and September 2003, focusing on the captures of the target species and the major by-catch groups. Parallel surveys were made in the ports of Al Hoceima and Nador, on the Alboran Sea Southern coast, and Tangiers, in the Gibraltar Straits area, to ascertain the magnitude of the fishing effort deployed and the main features defining the driftnet fishing pattern in the area. Results showed a total active driftnet fleet conservatively estimated at -at least- 177 units, less than half the size reported by official sources. Estimated average net length ranges from 6.5-7.1 km, depending on the port, though actual figures are suspected to be much higher (perhaps 12-14 km) according to field evidences. These figures point to a lack of compliance with the maximum legal length of 2.5 km according to national and international legislation, which makes this fleet to qualify for IUU (Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing) according to FAO definition. Most boats of this fleet are able to use driftnets all year round, what results in very high annual effort levels that translate into high by-catch figures. It arose from our monitoring work that dolphins (both species: short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis, and striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba), together with pelagic sharks (blue shark, Prionace glauca, shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus, and thresher shark, Alopias vulpinus) are the most impacted groups, at least in absolute numbers. Other cetaceans such as the pilot whale (Globicephala melas), the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) or the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) are also known to be commonly caught. Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), in turn, was caught moderately from December to April, being much less frequent in the captures during summer. These observations on loggerhead by-catch provide evidence in support of the migratory hypothesis for the population inhabiting the Alboran Sea. As much as 237 dolphins, 498 blue sharks, 542 shortfin makos and 464 thresher sharks were killed by the boats monitored during the sampling period, that encompassed the peak of the swordfish fishery, along with 2990 swordfish. By-catch estimates for a 12-month period by the whole driftnet fleet yielded a figure of approx. 1500-2000 striped dolphins and 1500-2000 short-beaked common dolphins in the Alboran Sea alone; according to our estimates a further 13000 individuals (50% corresponding to each species) would be killed annually by the fleet based in Tangiers around the Straits of Gibraltar and neighboring areas, mostly outside the Mediterranean Basin. As for sharks, about 23000 individuals are captured annually by the fleet from Al Hoceima and Nador and a further 77500 would be caught by the fleet of Tangiers, distributed in roughly equal proportions for P. glauca, I. oxyrinchus and A. vulpinus. These results point to an unsustainable impact, especially for dolphins, which could be suffering from annual take rates higher than 10% of their respective population sizes in the Alboran Sea. This is specially worrying in the case of D. delphis, that has in the Alboran Sea its last remnant healthy population in the whole of the Mediterranean. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Illegal driftnets continue to kill thousands of dolphins in the Mediterranean - WWF Gland, Switzerland - WWF, the conservation organization today warned that illegal driftnets are still killing thousands of dolphins - and other vulnerable species - every year in the Mediterranean, despite the European Union's ban on driftnet fishing from 1 January 2002, and UN moratorium on large scale driftnets from 1992. A new WWF report - Biodiversity impact of the Moroccan drifnet fleet in the Alboran Sea - reveals that, with 177 boats, the Moroccan driftnet fleet is the most lethal for Mediterranean marine biodiversity. Dolphins are its prime by-catch victims. Between 3,000 and 4,000 striped and short-beaked common dolphins - a species that was recently included on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - are estimated to be caught every year in the Alboran Sea, in the Southwestern Mediterranean, alone. This is more than 10 percent of the area's dolphin population. According to WWF, a further 13,000 individuals are estimated to be caught around the Straits of Gibraltar and in neighbouring zones. The conservation organization stresses that Italian, French, Turkish and most probably other fishing fleets are using driftnets in breach of existing legislation. The Italian driftnet fleet - with about 700 boats in the early 1990's - received subsidies from the EU for restructuring the fleet, but there are still up to 100 non-compliant boats. France (75 non-compliant boats), and Turkey (100) also have a sizeable driftnet fleet. "The evidence we have gathered on the Moroccan fleet brings us to think that illegal driftnet fishing currently happening in the whole Mediterranean results in a massive slaughter of vulnerable species," said Paolo Guglielmi, Head of Marine Unit at the WWF Mediterranean Programme. "More than 4,000 kilometres of illegal nets from the Moroccan, French, Turkish and Italian drifnet fleets are ensnaring all that gets in their way." Driftnets run for kilometres. Each net could be anywhere between 7 and 14 kilometres long. According to the WWF report, about 23,000 sharks are also captured annually by the Moroccan driftnet fleet in the Alboran Sea, and another 77,500 are caught in the neighbouring areas. It has been calculated that one shark is caught for two swordfish, the main catch of the Moroccan fleet. Loggerhead turtles are also affected by the country's driftnet fisheries. WWF urges the EU to monitor and prosecute all the fleets of its member states using driftnets. WWF also calls on the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, and non-EU countries, particularly those in North Africa, to introduce urgent legislation banning these nets. This call comes ahead of the Diplomatic Conference on Mediterranean Fisheries, to be held in Venice on 25 November. "The only valid way to prevent the massacre of dolphins, sharks and other marine species caused by these drifnet fleets in the Mediterranean is to make it a driftnet-free sea by enforcing a total ban on all the drifnet fisheries in the region," said Dr. Simon Cripps, Director of the Endangered Seas Programme. "The EU must urgently help all Mediterranean countries put in place plans to convert their driftnet fleets." For further information: Chantal M=E9nard, Communications Department, WWF Mediterranean Programme, + 39 06 844 97 417 Olivier van Bogaert, Press Office, WWF International, +41 22 364 9554 NOTE TO EDITORS: The report Biodiversity impact of the Moroccan drifnet fleet in the Alboran Sea can be found on: http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/europe/news/news.cfm?uNewsID= =3D9844 Pictures are available from the WWF International Photolibrary. Please mail your requests to photodb(\)wwfint.org -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2003 02:20:35 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: NOAA Fisheries Biennial exhibit (fwd) From: "Aleria Jensen" MARMAM subscribers, NOAA Fisheries=92 Office of Protected Resources, charged with national stewardship of marine mammal populations, will be hosting an exhibit booth at the 15th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals from December 14-19, 2003. The Office would like extend an invitation to conference participants to visit the booth to learn more about our programs, to obtain copies of educational materials and publications, and to talk with staff about issues of concern. In an effort to coordinate inquiries and make information most accessible to conference attendees, the Protected Resources exhibit booth will have staff on hand to answer questions for the following specific program areas at the following corresponding times (in addition to general staffing throughout the week): Monday December 15 Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Program =3D all day Tuesday December 16 Large Whale Conservation and Recovery =3D 8:00-10:00 Acoustics =3D 1:30-3:30 Incidental Harrassment Authorizations =3D 3:30-5:30 Wednesday December 17 Permits =3D all day Thursday December 18 International Whaling Commission/CITES =3D 8:00-10:00 Fisheries Interactions/Bycatch =3D 3:30-5:30 Friday December 19 Large Whale Conservation and Recovery =3D 1:30-3:30 We look forward to seeing you at the conference! Questions? Contact Aleria Jensen (aleria.jensen(\)noaa.gov) at 301-713-2322 x169 or Jennifer Jefferies (jennifer.jefferies(\)noaa.gov) at 301-713-2289 x144. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2003 07:20:06 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: New species of Balaenoptera Whale (fwd) -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [mammal] New species od Balaenoptera Whale. Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2003 20:19:29 +0000 From: "bertram bree" To: mammal(\)smartgroups.com Nature 426, 278 - 281 (20 November 2003); doi:10.1038/nature02103 Hi there, This was in 'Nature' magazine just out. A newly discovered species of living baleen whale SHIRO WADA1, MASAYUKI OISHI2 & TADASU K. YAMADA3 1 National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, Fisheries Research Agency, 2-12-4 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, 236-8648, Japan 2 Iwate Prefectural Museum, 34 Ueda-Matsuyashiki, Morioka, 020-0102, Japa= n 3 National Science Museum, 3-23-1 Hyakunin-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-0073, Japan Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to S.W. (wadash(\)affrc.go.jp) or T.K.Y. (yamada(\)kahaku.go.jp). The DNA sequences reported in this study have been deposited in GenBank under accession numbers AB116095=96AB116099. In the late 1970s eight Balaenoptera specimens of unknown identity were caught in the lower latitudinal Indo-Pacific waters by Japanese research whaling vessels. The combination of the allozyme patterns and physical maturity of the eight specimens separated them from all acknowledged Balaenoptera species. In September 1998 we collected a medium-sized balee= n whale carcass on a coastal island in the Sea of Japan. This specimen and = the previously collected eight specimens resembled Balaenoptera physalus (fin whale) in external appearance but were much smaller. Comparison of extern= al morphology, osteology and mitochondrial DNA data grouped the nine specime= ns as a single species but separated them from all known baleen whale specie= s. Therefore, here we describe a new species of Balaenoptera, which is characterized by its unique cranial morphology, its small number of balee= n plates, and by its distant molecular relationships with all of its congeners. Our analyses also separated Balaenoptera brydei (Bryde's whale= ) and Balaenoptera edeni (Eden's whale) into two distinct species, raising = the number of known living Balaenoptera species to eight. -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ------- =A9 2003 Nature Publishing Group Privacy Policy -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2003 15:38:18 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: American Society of Mammalogists 2004 meeting (fwd) From: "Kerry Kilburn" ------------------------- The 84th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists will be held 11-16 June, 2004 at Humboldt State University, Arcata, California. In addition to contributed oral and poster presentations covering all aspects of mammalian biology, this year's program will feature two symposia. Dr. Penny S. Reynolds will convene "Problems of Sampling and Statistical Assessment in Mammalogy Research"; "Habitat Loss and Fragmentation: Impacts of Urban Sprawl on Mammals" will be convened by Dr. John A. Yunger. Special addresses will be offered by the recipients of the Joseph Grinnell (Dr. David Schmidley)and C. Hart Merriam (Dr. Terry Bowyer) awards, as well as by student honorees. Dr. James Estes, best known for his work on the behavioral ecology of marine mammals (especially sea otters) and on the community ecology of kelp forests, will present the capstone presentation. Also included are the usual ASM socials, ideal for professional interaction. Non-members who are interested in attending the meetings and/or presenting papers should request materials from the Chairman of the Local Program Committee, Dr. Brian Arbogast, Department of Biological Sciences, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA 95521 (voice 707_826_4180; FAX _ 3201; bsa2.humboldt.edu). For additional information, please visit the meeting website at http://www.humboldt.edu/~asm/. For more information about the ASM, please visit our website at http://www.mammalsociety.org. The primary purpose of a liberal education is to make one's mind a pleasant place in which to spend one's time. -- T. H. Huxley Kerry S. Kilburn, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer in Biological Sciences Old Dominion University, Norfolk VA 23529 http://www.lions.odu.edu/~kkilburn/home.htm -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2003 12:20:15 -0500 From: "Caputo, Nancy" Subject: NRC report now available Dear Colleagues: We are pleased to announce the National Research Council's report Enabling Ocean Research in the 21st Century: Implementation of a Network of Ocean Observatories is now available for purchase. This report is the result of a study sponsored by the National Science Foundation. The report evaluates the scientific and technical readiness to move ahead with the establishment of a research-driven ocean observatory network, and to highlight the outstanding issues. These issues include the status of planning and development, factors that affect the timing of construction and installation, the cost and requirements for maintenance and operations, needs for sensor development and data management, the impact on availability of ships and deep submergence facilities, and the role of research-based observatories within national and international operational ocean observing systems being developed and implemented. To order your copy now, go to the website of the National Academies Press (http://books.nap.edu/catalog/10775.html). The price is $49.00, but if you order via the internet, you receive a 20% discount for the bargain price of $39.20. Or you can order by calling the National Academies Press' toll-free number 800-624-6242. You can read the report online at: http://books.nap.edu/catalog/10775.html To learn more information about the study, go to the to the National Academies current project system or click this link: http://www4.nas.edu/webcr.nsf/5c50571a75df494485256a95007a091e/b6ac6e11de96a6 c685256c1c006021dd?OpenDocument If you have any questions about this report or other activities of the Ocean Studies Board, please don't hesitate to contact me. Nancy Caputo for Joanne C. Bintz, Ph.D. Program Officer National Research Council Ocean Studies Board Keck - Room 752 500 Fifth St, N.W. Washington DC 20001 202-334-2714 jbintz(\)nas.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 23 Nov 2003 12:09:29 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent publication on Gulf of Mexico cetaceans Fulling, G.L., K.D. Mullin, and C.W. Hubard. 2003. Abundance and distribution of cetaceans in outer continental shelf waters of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Fishery Bulletin 101:923-932. PDF available at the Fishery Bulletin website, and directly thru this link: http://fishbull.noaa.gov/1014/20fullin.pdf Editor's note: this is a "Note" and does not have an abstract. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 23 Nov 2003 12:12:04 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Announcement for Marine Mammal Management Course (fwd) WELCOME- all those interested in marine mammals. This is a reminder that registration is now open for the most recent edition of : THE OCEANOGRAPHIC CENTER OF NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY'S GLOBAL DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSE IN MARINE MAMMAL MANAGEMENT (MMM). THIS COURSE IS OFFERED TO ANYONE, ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD THROUGH DISTANCE LEARNING. There are four versions: a) full three credit graduate level b) a three credit undergraduate version c) a general interest diploma, which will be awarded all successful candidates d) as part of the graduate certificate (contact the coordinator douganj(\)nova.edu). MMM runs from JANUARY 5 TO MARCH 18, 2004. There are two assignments for those taking the credit versions. First, due on FEBRUARY 6 with a value of 35% The last on MARCH 18 for the remaining 65% of the final mark Candidates will receive comments on the 1st. assignment for use in the final essay. Those taking the diploma program may submit the assignments, but not for marks, but certainly for comment. As communication and interaction throughout the term will be mainly via Email its is essential that all have some electronic means of communication using "MS Word". For general information on the course contact http://www.nova.edu/ocean/marmam/marmam.html and http://www.nova.edu/ocean.html for general information on the Oceanographic Center's programs. For registration http://www.nova.edu/ocean/distedregform.html Professor Keith Ronald Instructor for marine mammal management distance education course kronald(\)nova.edu and kronald(\)uoguelph.ca MARMAMAnnoucement2004 -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 23 Nov 2003 13:11:07 -0800 From: Jim Moore Subject: NRC report -- noisy?? ; format="flowed" RE National Research Council's report, "Enabling Ocean Research in the 21st Century: Implementation of a Network of Ocean Observatories" (http://books.nap.edu/catalog/10775.html) Page 90: "Acoustic modems can be used to telemeter data from sensors on the mooring or on the seafloor to the buoy, although data rates are relatively low. Second-generation acoustic modems are available commercially and third-generation systems are under development. These modems can provide sustained data rates of 5 Kb/s (with error correction) at ranges of up to several kilometers." I am _guessing_ (haven't read the report) that a 'network' of observatories could imply overlapping modem ranges (to link up observatories as well as uplink data) over large regions. Has anyone addressed the biological implications of such an array of acoustic sources?? cheers Jim -------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Moore Dopeler effect: the tendency of stupid ideas Anthro 0532 to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly. 9500 Gilman Drive UCSD La Jolla CA 92093 858 534-5572 ERROR HAIKU: fax 858 534-5946 Yesterday it worked jjmoore(\)ucsd.edu Today it is not working http://weber.ucsd.edu/~jmoore/ Windows is like that California's new motto: "Why not? It worked in Minnesota! ... huh?" ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2003 13:05:48 -0800 From: "David S. Janiger" Subject: New Articles Hi, all! Let's try and get one more in before the holidays start and people race off to the biennial conference. Thanks to all for the offers of drinks and song, but it will have to wait for San Diego 2005. Sounds like a excellent conference, have a great time. Here's the latest posting of new PDF's that are available. Abstracts also available on request. All files are 1 MB or under. Once again, thanks to the authors for sending me PDF's of their articles, it really helps alot. Please make all requests to: janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu Cheers David Janiger - Curatorial Assistant (Mammals) Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007 (213) 763-3369 janiger(\)bcf.usc.edu djaniger(\)nhm.org ARNOULD, J. P. Y.; I. L. BOYD and R. M. WARNEKE. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 81(8):1428-1436. 2003. Historical dynamics of the Australian fur seal population: Evidence of regulation by man? BALLACHEY, B. E.; J. L. BODKIN; S. HOWLIN; A. M. DOROFF and A. H. REBAR. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 81(9):1494-1510. 2003. Correlates to survival of juvenile sea otters in Prince William Sound, Alaska, 1992-1993. BECK, CARRIE A.; W. DON BOWEN; JIM I. MCMILLAN and SARA J. IVERSON. ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR 66(4):777-789. 2003. Sex differences in the diving behaviour of a size-dimorphic capital breeder: The grey seal. BESTER, M. N.; P. G. RYAN and B. M. DYER. AFRICAN JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE 25:549-554. 2003. Population numbers of fur seals at Prince Edward Island, Southern Ocean. BRENSING, KARSTEN; KATRIN LINKE and DIETMAR TODT. JOURNAL OF THEORETICAL BIOLOGY 225(1):99-105. 2003. Can dolphins heal by ultrasound? BUREK, K. A.; F. M. D. GULLAND; G. SHEFFIELD; E. KEYES; T. R. SPRAKER; A. W. SMITH; D. E. SKILLING; J. EVERMANN; J. L. STOTT and A. W. TRITES. FISHERIES CENTRE RESEARCH REPORTS 11(4):1-26. 2003. Disease agents in Steller sea lions in Alaska: A review and analysis of serology data from 1975-2000. BURKHART, S. M. and E. SLOOTEN. NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH 37(3):553-566. 2003. Population viability analysis for Hector's dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori): a stochastic population model for local populations. File size: 1.041MB CHARRIER, ISABELLE; NICOLAS MATHEVON and PIERRE JOUVENTIN. BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY 80(2):305-312. 2003. Fur seal mothers memorize subsequent versions of developing pups' calls: adaptation to long-term recognition or evolutionary by-product? CHU, SHAOGANG; ADRIAN COVACI; KOICHI HARAGUCHI; STEFAN VOORSPOELS; KRISTIN VAN DE VIJVER; KRISHNA DAS; JEAN-MARIE BOUQUEGNEAU; WIM DE COEN; RONNY BLUST and PAUL SCHEPENS. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 37(20):4573-4578. 2003. Levels and enantiomeric signatures of methyl sulfonyl PCB and DDE metabolites in livers of harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from the southern North Sea. COUSINS, D. V.; R. BASTIDA; A. CATALDI; V. QUSE; S. REDROBE; S. DOW; P. DUIGNAN; A. MURRAY; C. DUPONT; N. AHMED; D. M. COLLINS; W. R. BUTLER; D. DAWSON; D. RODRIGUEZ; J. LOUREIRO; M. I. ROMANO; A. ALITO; M. ZUMARRAGA and A. BERNARDELLI. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY 53(5):1305-1314. 2003. Tuberculosis in seals caused by a novel member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex: Mycobacterium pinnipedii sp nov. DAWSON, SUSAN D. JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY 258(2):200-206. 2003. Patterns of ossification in the manus of the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena): Hyperphalangy and delta-shaped bones. DE BRUYN, P. J. N.; M. N. BESTER; S. MECENERO; S. P. KIRKMAN; J. -P. ROUX and N. T. W. KLAGES. SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH 33(2):85-96. 2003. Temporal variation of cephalopods in the diet of Cape fur seals in Namibia. ERIKSSON, C. and H. BURTON. AMBIO 32(6):380-384. 2003. Origins and biological accumulation of small plastic particles in fur seals from Macquarie Island. GEMMELL, NEIL J. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON SERIES B BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 270(1528):2033-2037. 2003. Kin selection may influence fostering behaviour in Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella). GRELLIER, KATE; PHILIP S. HAMMOND; BEN WILSON; CAROL A. SANDERS-REED and PAUL M. THOMPSON. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 81(8):1421-1427. 2003. Use of photo-identification data to quantify mother-calf association patterns in bottlenose dolphins. HEIDE-JORGENSEN, MADS PETER; RUNE DIETZ; KRISTIN L. LAIDRE; PIERRE RICHARD; JACK ORR and HANS CHRISTIAN SCHMIDT. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 81(8):1298-1305. 2003. The migratory behaviour of narwhals (Monodon monoceros). KIRKMAN, S. P.; M. N. BESTER; A. B. MAKHADO and P. A. PISTORIUS. AFRICAN ZOOLOGY 38(2):402-405. 2003. Female attendance patterns of Antarctic fur seals at Marion Island. KIRKMAN, S. P.; M. N. BESTER; P. A. PISTORIUS; G. J. G. HOFMEYR; F. C. JONKER; R. OWEN and N. STRYDOM. SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH 33(2):79-84. 2003. Variation in the timing of moult in southern elephant seals at Marion Island. LARSON, SHAWN; C. J. CASSON and SAM WASSER. GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY 134(1):18-25. 2003. Noninvasive reproductive steroid hormone estimates from fecal samples of captive female sea otters (Enhydra lutris). LIND, P. M.; A. BERGMAN; M. OLSSON and J. ORBERG. AMBIO 32(6):385-388. 2003. Bone mineral density in male Baltic grey seal (Halichoerus grypus). OTTENSMEYER, C. ANDREA and HAL WHITEHEAD. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 81(8):1327-1338. 2003. Behavioural evidence for social units in long-finned pilot whales. RODRIGUEZ, DIEGO; RICARDO BASTIDA; SERGIO MORON; SERGIO RODRIGUEZ HEREDIA and JULIO LOUREIRO. LATIN AMERICAN JOURNAL OF AQUATIC MAMMALS 2(1):51-54. 2003. Occurrence of leopard seals in northern Argentina. SINHA, R. K. and GOPAL SHARMA. JOURNAL OF THE BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY 100(1):27-37. 2003. Current status of the Ganges River dolphin, Platanista gangetica in the rivers Kosi and Son, Bihar, India. SOUTHWELL, COLIN; KNOWLES KERRY; PAUL ENSOR; ERIC J. WOEHLER and TRACEY ROGERS. POLAR BIOLOGY 26(10):648-652. 2003. The timing of pupping by pack-ice seals in East Antarctica. SPRINGER, A. M.; J. A. ESTES; G. B. VAN VLIET; T. M. WILLIAMS; D. F. DOAK; E. M. DANNER; K. A. FORNEY and B. PFISTER. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 100(21):12223-12228. 2003. Sequential megafaunal collapse in the North Pacific Ocean: An ongoing legacy of industrial whaling? VAN BRESSEM, MARIE-FRANCOISE; RAQUEL GASPAR and F. JAVIER AZNAR. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 56(2):171-179. 2003. Epidemiology of tattoo skin disease in bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus from the Sado Estuary, Portugal. VAN WAEREBEEK, KOEN; LUIS SANTILLAN and JULIO C. REYES. MUSEO NACIONAL DE HISTORIA NATURAL NOTICIARIO MENSUAL 350:12-17. 2002. An ususually large aggregation of Burmeister's porpoise Phocoena spinipinnis of Peru, with a review of sightings from the eastern South Pacific. YOSHITOME, RYUJI; TAKASHI KUNITO; TOKUTAKA IKEMOTO; SHINSUKE TANABE; HISATAKA ZENKE; MASANOBU YAMAUCHI and NOBUYUKI MIYAZAKI. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 37(20):4597-4602. 2003. Global distribution of radionuclides concentrations (Cs-137 and K-40) in marine mammals. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2003 10:34:15 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MYSTICETE BRAIN (fwd) This information request has been forwarded from Nina Eriksen. Please reply directly to nina.eriksen(\)kabelnettet.dk and not to the marmam editors. Thank You. ------------------------------------------------- Dear MARMAM'ers. I am working with collagues on a comparative study on the anatomy of = different mammalian brains and will be responsible for the study of = minke whale brains. Does anybody have any information on neuron number = in the neocortex of minke whale or other species of mysticete whales? = Information on volume and different areas of the brain such as the = occipital, parietal/frontal or especially the temporal are also of = interest. Even information of any of the above in odotocetes will be = helpfull. Please contact me on: nina.eriksen(\)kabelnettet.dk Thank you very much. Kindest regards, Nina Eriksen ----------------------------------------------------------------- Nina Eriksen, MSc. Humleb=E6kgade 33, 2.th 2200 K=F8benhavn N Denmark e-mail: nina.eriksen(\)kabelnettet.dk phone: +45 61713141 -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2003 17:31:51 -0900 Reply-To: hamachan_hamazaki(\)fishgame.state.ak.us From: Hamachan Hamazaki Subject: Biennial Conference GIS spatial/temporal modeling workshop This is a reminder that the Biennial Conference GIS spatial/temporal modeling workshop is about to reach the maximum capacity (~ 154). I have ~ 20 space left for this workshop. If you are planning to participate, please contact me and send me an electric registration form as soon as possible. The information about workshop is located at http://www.geocities.com/toshihide_hamazaki/Workshop.html The web site also lists workshop schedule, participants list, oral/poster abstracts. Please let me know if you are registered but not on the participant list. I also can accommodate more poster presentations. If you want to put your poster at the workshop, please let me know. Finally, if you have a suggestion for discussion topic, please let me know. Thanks. 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: Wed, 26 Nov 2003 09:28:42 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Biennial conference marine mammal auction *SECOND BIENNIAL Marine Mammal Miscellany Auction (2BMaMaMiA).* You remember on your anniversary when, instead of the BMW, your in-laws mustered the financial courage to offer you an extra-large self-inflating odontocete inner tube? Or that time when your well-meaning colleagues from the department replaced the subtle and carefully chosen Renoirs decorating your office with psychedelic-retro pinniped posters (you know the kind -- phocids in tie-dye, otariids in bell bottoms)? And how many sea otter pot holders can your mother possibly crochet for you? Now's the time to empty your closets, sheds, and spare garages of your marine mammal memorabilia, knickknacks and tchotchkes to be auctioned off to the highest bidder (or, perhaps, the wryest kidder). Find our table at the conference, part with your dolphin mobiles, and bid on the elephant seal doorbells. All proceeds will be used to help fund the travel of overseas conference participants. Please volunteer to help staff the table. Contact Ari Shapiro (ashapiro(\)whoi.edu) if you are interested in assisting or with any questions. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2003 13:15:18 +0100 From: Verfuss Ursula Subject: Message re. ECS abstract submissions Thismessagewasoriginallysubmittedbyursula/verfuss/MEERESMUSEUM/DEtotheOF 6uFqd3Ki552K22F5yie2uJu62KiezKi6t5x6K96Ke2hp2KB6y//Ki7CKWWFq962it6ai962G KylqtqCtqmGZqe5qWXL8WKdqWXL/Ki6yGi6V1t5puV62hyie1py22F5q62Giuh+2GKyZ6yxq B5vK6yKeC2F6eiuZqf+t6mXL9+6dy2Kieh/Ki6uZqKWmuiCtqf/////////////////8x6yx qB6t6q6KuKeDKi6tqmmui9qX/XuWKd6z//////////////////8NCkRlYXIgYWxsIQ0KVGhl IEVDUyBjb25mZXJlbmNlIHNjaWVudGlmaWMgY29tbWl0dGVlIGFyZSB2ZXJ5IGhhcHB5IHRv IGxldCB5b3Uga25vdyB0aGF0IHRoZSBzeXN0ZW0gZm9yIHN1Ym1pdHRpbmcgYWJzdHJhY3Rz IGlzIG5vdyB3b3JraW5nIGZpbmUgYW5kIHRoYXQgdGhlIGRlYWRsaW5lIHdpbGwgYmUgbWlk bmlnaHQgTW9uZGF5IDFzdCBEZWMuIFdlIHJlYWxpc2UgdGhhdCBtYW55IG9mIHlvdSBmZWVs IGZydXN0cmF0ZWQgYnkgdGhlIHN5c3RlbSBmYWlsdXJlIGFuZCB0aGF0IG1hbnkgb2YgeW91 IGhhdmUgdHJpZWQgdG8gc2VuZCBhYnN0cmFjdHMgdGhhdCB5b3UgdGhvdWdodCB3ZXJlIGJv dW5jZWQgYmFjay4gSW4gZmFjdCwgYXMgZmFyIGFzIHdlIGtub3csIGFsbCBhYnN0cmFjdHMg Y2FtZSB0aHJvdWdoIHRvIE1hdHMgQW11bmRpbiBpbiBLb2xtw6VyZGVuIGJ1dCBub3QgdG8g dGhlIHJlc3Qgb2YgdGhlIGNvbW1pdHRlZSAtIGhlbmNlIHRoZSAiYm91bmNlIiBtZXNzYWdl LiBJZiBhbnlvbmUgaGFzIHN1Ym1pdHRlZCBhbiBhYnN0cmFjdCBidXQgaGFzIG5vdCByZWNl aXZlZCBhbiBhY2tub3dsZWRnZW1lbnQgZm9yIGEgc3VibWlzc2lvbiBieSBUdWVzZGF5IGV2 ZW5pbmcgKDJuZCBEZWMuKSBwbGVhc2UgcmVzZW5kIGEucy5hLnAuIFdlIHdpbGwgd2FpdCBm b3IgeW91IQ0KVGhhbmsgeW91IHZlcnkgbXVjaCBmb3IgeW91ciBwYXRpZW5jZSENCkJlc3Qg cmVnYXJkcywNCk1hdHMsIENocmlzdGluYSBhbmQgR2VuZXZpw6h2ZQ0KRUNTIENvbmZlcmVu Y2UgMjAwNA0KDQpEciBDaHJpc3RpbmEgTG9ja3llcg0KQWdlIER5bmFtaWNzDQpIdWxkYmVy Z3MgQWxsw6kgNDINCkRLLTI4MDAgS29uZ2VucyBMeW5nYnkNCkRlbm1hcmsNCg0KVGVsL0Zh eDogKzQ1IDQ0NDQ5MDgxDQpFLW1haWw6IGFnZWR5bmFtaWNzQG1haWwuZGsNCg0KDQoNCg== ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2003 10:29:14 -0800 From: Krishna Das Subject: new paper ------ Dear Marmammers, The following paper is now available: Marine mammals from the southern North Sea: feeding ecology data from del= ta 13C and delta 15N measurements (authors: K. Das, G. Lepoint, Y. Leroy and= JM Bouquegneau). in: Marine Ecology Progress Series 263: 287-298 ABSTRACT: The harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena, grey seal Halichoerus grypus, harbour seal Phoca vitulina and white-beaked dolphin Lagenorhynchus albirostris are regularly found stranded along southern North Sea coasts. Occasionally, offshore species such as t= he fin whale Balaenoptera physalus, the white-sided dolphin L. acutus and the sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus are also found stranded. In order to trace their diet, we measured d13C and d15N i= n their muscles as well as in 49 invertebrate and fish species collected from the southern North Sea. T= he d15N data indicate that the harbour seal, grey seal and white-beaked dolphin occupy the highest trophic position, along with ichtyophageous fishes such as the cod Gadus morhua (mean muscle values of 18.7, 17.9, 18.8 and 19.2=89 respectively). The harbour porpoise occupies a slightly lower tro= phic position (mean d15N value of 16.2=89), reflecting a higher amount of zooplanktivorous fishes = in its diet (mean d15N of 14.7=89); 2 suckling harbour porpoises displayed a significant d15N enric= hment of 2.2=89 compared to adult females. Adult females are d15N-enriched compared to adult male harbour porpoises. Fin whales, sperm whales and white-sided dolphins are 13C-depleted compared t= o southern North Sea particulate organic matter and species, suggesting that despite regular sightings, they do not feed within the southern North Sea area. KEY WORDS: North Sea =B7 Marine mammals =B7 Stable isotopes =B7 Food web PDF reprints are available upon request. Best regards, Krishna Das Laboratoire d'Oc=E9anologie, B6c Universit=E9 de Li=E8ge Sart-Tilman, B-4000 Li=E8ge Tel: 32 (0)4 3664829 Fax: 32 (0)4 3663325 website: http://www.ulg.ac.be/oceanbio/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2003 07:28:18 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Message re. ECS abstract submissions (fwd) From: "Verfuss Ursula" I heard, that the message I sent to you yesterday came out in a strange format - therefore I send it again as test format. Please could you send this ASAP, as deadline for abstracts is today?!? THANKS A LOT, Ursula Verfuss (ECS-membership secretary) MESSAGE: ____________________________________________________ Dear all! The ECS conference scientific committee are very happy to let you know that the system for submitting abstracts is now working fine and that the deadline will be midnight Monday 1st Dec. We realise that many of you feel frustrated by the system failure and that many of you have tried to send abstracts that you thought were bounced back. In fact, as far as we know, all abstracts came through to Mats Amundin in Kolm=C3=A5rden but not to the rest of the committee - hence the "bounce" message. If anyone has submitted an abstract but has not received an acknowledgement for a submission by Tuesday evening (2nd Dec.) please resend a.s.a.p. We will wait for you! Thank you very much for your patience! Best regards, Mats, Christina and Genevi=C3=A8ve ECS Conference 2004 Dr Christina Lockyer Age Dynamics Huldbergs All=C3=A9 42 DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby Denmark Tel/Fax: +45 44449081 E-mail: agedynamics(\)mail.dk -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2003 17:33:00 -0000 Reply-To: David Lusseau From: David Lusseau Organization: University of Aberdeen Subject: Fiordland bottlenose dolphins: tourism effects Dear all, the following article is now available from the Conservation Biology website (http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/ select the journal from the scrolling bar (quicklink)). Lusseau D. 2003. The effects of tour boats on the behavior of bottlenose dolphins: Using Markov chains to model anthropogenic impacts. Conservation Biology 17(6): 1785-1793. I am pasting the abstract below. Abstract Nature-based tourism activities have been developing over the last decade, yet we still have difficulties managing these activities sustainably. This sector is increasingly focusing on whales and dolphins in coastal communities. The exact effects of these activities are still unclear. Markov chain modeling may help researchers to assess the effects of tourism activities on the behavioral budget of small cetaceans. Matrix models have been widely used in population ecology to provide successful management guidelines. From June 2000 to August 2001 I collected information on the behavioral state of bottlenose dolphin schools from a population residing in Doubtful Sound, Fiordland, New Zealand. In addition, I recorded the occurrence of boat-dolphin interactions. I then calculated transition probabilities of passing from one behavior to another by using a first-order time-discrete Markov chain model. Behavioral transitions during which a boat-dolphin interaction occurred were compiled in an "impact" chain. All other transitions were tallied in a control chain. The effect of boat-dolphin interactions during behavioral transitions was then quantified by comparing the behavioral transition probabilities of both chains. Socializing and resting behaviors were disrupted by interactions with boats to a level that raises concern. Both the duration of bouts and the total amount of time spent in both these behavioral states were substantially decreased. Dolphins were significantly more likely to be travelling after an interaction with a boat. However the overall behavioral budget of the population was not significantly affected. Therefore the bottlenose dolphin population seems to be able to sustain the present level of interactions because of the low intensity of boat interactions. More effort is needed to develop prognosis analyses in order to understand how the effect of boat interactions changes with variations in intensity. best, David David Lusseau Postdoctoral fellow University of Aberdeen Department of Zoology Lighthouse Field Station George St Cromarty Ross-shire IV11 8YJ Scotland Tel/Fax: 44 (0) 1381 600 548 Lighthouse Field Station (University of Aberdeen): http://www.abdn.ac.uk/~nhi519/lighthse/index.hti New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust: http://nzwhaledolphintrust.tripod.com/home/ Marine Mammal Research Group (University of Otago): http://www.otago.ac.nz/marinescience/mammals/home.htm Fiordland Research (University of Otago) http://www.otago.ac.nz/marinescience/fiords/home.htm ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2003 17:42:50 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: 2 vacancies at US Fish and Wildlife Alaska region (fwd) JOB NUMBER ONE Vacancy Announcement Number: FWS7-03-64DEGS Opening Date: 12/01/2003 - Closing Date: 12/22/2003 Position: Biological Science Technician(Wildlife), GS-404-6/7 Salary: $26,130 per year - $37,749 per year Duty Location: Anchorage, AK. For complete job and application information please see: Announcement number: FWS7-03-64DEGS DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: At the full performance level, the incumbent will independently assist one or more professional biologists in the Marine Mammal Management (MMM) Office with completing the planning of the course of projects. At the lower GS-6 grade level, the incumbent will receive a higher level of supervision than at the full performance level. The MMM Office is responsible for management of Northern sea otter, polar bear, and Pacific walrus. The incumbent will contribute to identification and solution of problems in project planning, logistical arrangements, field work, correlation and analysis of work, completion of reports or other documents related to the projects in draft and final format. Researches methods of costs and needs related to personnel and equipment; assembles equipment; and establishes practical procedures for accomplishing the work. Participates in marine mammal field work involving long periods of time out of the office. The field work includes independent gathering and documentation of a variety of data, and may also include training, oversight, and direction of lower grade technicians, approximately 125 contract taggers, occasional volunteer(s), and occasional student hire(s), in approximately 105 villages statewide. Work may also include capturing, censusing, marking, tagging, collaring of animals, data collection and recording, and related work. Establishes, maintains, dismantles field camps. Organizes and performs preliminary analysis of field data. Work may involve automated wildlife data bases and/or geographic information systems. Uses computers to input data or perform word processing tasks, create graphs, spread sheets, and data bases. Operates a variety of field equipment including boats, ATV's, snowmachines, generators, radios, portable computers, radio tracking equipment, firearms, cars and trucks, canoes, and cameras. Often travels independently to remote Alaska Native villages to conduct village meetings, to hire and train local residents to be U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)representatives, and to conduct other work related to the Marking, Tagging and Reporting Program (MTRP). ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The incumbent must be in good physical condition and anticipate the demands of each field trip. Seasonal field studies involve considerable physical demands, such as frequent, extensive travel on foot; exertion from lifting and carrying equipment; energy drain from very cold, wet,windy weather; and large numbers of biting insects during part of the year. Field activities are normally conducted in remote locations under primitive living conditions. Small aircraft may be used for travel as a survey platform. Writing and tabulation of data is performed in an office setting. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Wells Stephensen; email: wells_stephensen(\)fws.gov JOB NUMBER TWO Supervisory Wildlife Biologist(Marine Mammals) GS-486-13 Salary: $61,251 TO $79,629 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Anchorage, Alaska Application Deadline: December 26, 2003 For further information please see: http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/ Announcement number: FWS7-03-62-DEGS DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The incumbent serves as a supervisory wildlife biologist in the Marine Mammals Management (MMM) Office, reporting to the Supervisor, MMM. He/she serves as the program expert for the Service management of Pacific walrus and overseeing the harvest reporting program for polar bears, sea otter, and walrus. He/she is also responsible for all aspects of the regional and field walrus activities related to walrus management in Alaska, including: evaluating population status and trends, harvest monitoring; co-management with Alaska Natives; scoping and conducting studies; and, implementing regulations and policies. The incumbent also is responsible for coordination of harvest reporting, walrus program, and related activities within the Alaska Region as well as with other Federal and State agencies, Alaska Native organizations, foreign governments and private organizations. QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED: The successful applicant will have a degree in biological sciences or other relevant natural science (e.g., wildlife biology, ecology) and will have held one or more jobs in resource management or wildlife research. Applicants should have demonstrated communication skills with technical and general audiences; cross cultural experience, particularly with Alaska natives is beneficial. Applicants should also be knowledgeable on habitat, taxonomy, status, ecology and conservation of fauna including understanding of the theory, principles and methods of wildlife biology and management including biology and statistical theory necessary to oversee biological studies and surveys. GENERAL INFORMATION: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a resource conservation agency whose mission is to work with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish and wildlife and plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. APPLICATION: Specific information on the application process can be found at: http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/ Announcement number: FWS7-03-62-DEGS ************************************************************************* Verena A. Gill Wildlife Biologist U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Marine Mammals Management 1011 East Tudor Road, MS 341 Anchorage, Alaska 99503-6199 Phone: 907-786-3584 Cell: 907-250-3721 Fax: 907-786-3816 e-mail: verena_gill(\)fws.gov http://alaska.fws.gov/mmm/index.html ************************************************************************* -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2003 17:46:30 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Looking for information on "possible impact of seismic activities on (fwd) Dear friends and colleagues, One of our colleagues in Norway is trying to get some information on "possible impact of seismic activities on whales and fish". As he mentioned, some Norwegian media that he is in touch with are eager to make a story on possible impact of seismic activities on whales and fish. This is very important and urgent as the Norwegian ministry of Oil is to decide whether or not to allow oil drilling in Northern Norway and Barents Sea. The decision is to be made within two weeks, and nothing has been discussed in public about the noise impacts of the extensive seismic surveys that are planned, in the middle of the Norwegian core habitats for killer whales, harbour porpoises and a number of other whales, as well as in the spawning migration route of the cod. To our understanding, it seems that the problems now connected to sonar use are also valid for seismics and other noise sources. Therefore, we are looking for some good information regarding "possible impact of seismic activities on whales and fish" to provide it to interested journalists in Norway. Also, it would be interesting to have name and contacts details for cetacean researchers that have some experience in this field and would be willing to be used as references (and contacted perhaps by the journalists) Thanks very much in advance! Best regards, Rodolfo Rodolfo Werner Kinkelin Ph.D. European Coordinator - Fisheries and Marine Ecosystems Southern Ocean Fisheries Campaign The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition Calle del Oriana 25, 5to. D 28045 MADRID (Spain) Tel./fax: 00 34 91 539 26 33 E-mail: rodolfo.werner(\)wanadoo.es www.asoc.org -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2003 23:37:47 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MARMAM Monthly Editorial Policy and FAQ Posted 2 December 2003 ==================================================== MARMAM Editorial Policy & 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. What notices from regional groups are posted? 13. Useful websites 14. Other email discussion lists 15. 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, run through the University of Victoria. The list was established in August 1993 specifically for marine mammal researchers and graduate students, as well as those actively involved in marine mammal conservation and management. As of January 2002 there were over 4,100 subscribers from 72 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. Posting of messages to the list is done at the Editors' discretion. ________________________________________________________ >> 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 announcements - internship/volunteer opportunities. To help students discern the pros and cons of different research groups we ask that that postings provide details of the research experience that volunteers will gain from this position. Posts for volunteer opportunities (particularly paying opportunities) that are not university-affiliated, should provide a measure of their research output in terms of publications available. For groups that do not do this, we will add the note: NO PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE ON THIS WORK If you are affiliated with a university research group, please make this clear in your posting. Finally, provide an indication of the level of payment required from the volunteers: whether the position is paid, volunteers are subsidised in terms of accomodation but have to provide their own flights, or whether there is a charge for the position. - 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 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) 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 ensures that: - An appropriate and explicit 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 4000+ list members. - 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. All information should be included as text within the body of the message. - Messages are properly formatted and do not contain excessive numbers of typos. Messages that 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. Please note the following about message formatting. 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. Further, we have noticed that messages composed by cutting and pasting directly from WordPerfect or Word can cause line wrapping problems. Therefore, messages should not be composed using the latter method. Several e-mail programs append encoded information (MIME, Metafile, and V-cards are common ones). Web-based e-mail programs often append HTML tags by default. These "embelishments" cause display and readability problems and are strongly discouraged. Whenever possible users should disable HTML tags (or send the text-only version) and other encoding features when submitting messages to MARMAM. EVERY EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO SUBMIT MESSAGES AS PLAIN TEXT. These practices will greatly reduce the number of messages with strange formatting that appear on MARMAM. ________________________________________________________ 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. What notices from regional groups are posted? Submissions from regional groups (for example, but not restricted to, the regional chapters of the American Cetacean Society or the regional student chapters of professional associations such as the Society for Marine Mammalogy) should carefully consider whether their announcements are relevant to 4,000+ recipients in 72 countries. Announcements about meetings of short duration (less that half a day) and with little or no scientifc content are discouraged. Notices dealing with internal chapter businesses or organizational matters will not be posted. Notices from regional student chapters 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). ________________________________________________________ 13. 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: http://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/ Oceans Blue Whalewatch Listserv: http://www.oceansblue.org/bluetourism/chartacourse/ BajaToBering/index.html ______________________________________________________ 14. 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) ________________________________________________________ 15. 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, 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 July 2002 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2003 09:52:11 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: REMINDER Aerial Survey Workshop (fwd) The following was forwarded from Nicole Cabana. Please address all questions to her at: nicole.cabana(\)noaa.gov. Thank you, the marmam editors. ------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a reminder of the Aerial Survey Safety Workshop being held at the Biennial Conference in Greensboro, NC, on Saturday December 13 from 8:00-12:00. This is a free workshop. If you are interested in attending please email Nicole Cabana (nicole.cabana(\)noaa.gov). Walk-ins are welcome. Workshop Description and Schedule: Safety in conducting marine mammal aerial surveys is critical due to high-risk, low-altitude, over water operations. Earlier this year a right whale survey plane was lost off the Florida coast, killing all four people aboard. The aircraft was working on a right whale survey and resulted in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) taking action to improve aerial safety. The goal of this workshop is to increase interest and awareness of the issue of aerial safety and provide information on how to improve the safety of marine mammal aerial surveys. 8:00-8:30 Welcome 8:30-9:00 Review of Events - Crash - Aerial survey risks - Need for safety standards and equipment - Steps NOAA has taken to improve safety 9:00-9:30 Review of Draft NOAA Policy - New NOAA policy/requirements - Training requirements - FAA Part 135 vs. 91 standards/comparison - Overview of other standards (NASA, DOE, etc.) - International standards 9:30-9:45 Discussion 9:45-10:15 Safety Equipment - NOAA safety equipment - Other available equipment 10:15-10:30 Discussion 10:30-10:45 Break 10:45-11:00 Implementation from a federal perspective 11:00-11:15 Implementation from a non-federal perspective 11:00-11:30 Summary of simple steps to improve safety - Websites - Safety equipment available - Risk assessment model(s) - Training available - Emergency preparedness 11:30-11:50 Discussion 11:50-12:00 Wrap-up -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2003 15:17:58 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Erysipelas meeting at SMM meeting (fwd) Attention SMM Attendees: This was posted in November on the Society website, but we wanted to bring it to your attention again. Timing was poor to coordinate this, so we're going to be flexible about how we approach the meeting. Depending on the level of interest, we will either hold the meeting on the 13th, or we'll coordinate a meeting later during the conference. We'll be using message boards to communicate as best we can. In the meantime, please contact me or Rhonda with questions. Thanks, Jeff Boehm Meeting on Erysipelas in Cetaceans Coordination of research to advance the understanding and control of this infectious disease in in-situ and ex-situ populations of cetaceans Saturday, December 13, 2003 - 1:00 to 5:00 Sheraton Greensboro Hotel Room to be announced Dear SMM Conference attendees: Erysipelas has been the cause of significant morbidity and mortality in captive cetaceans for decades. The acute, septicemic form of the disease can lead to fatalities within hours, following a disease course that manifests with few clinical signs. Presumably, the same disease course occurs in the wild as in controlled and monitored populations, however, the significance of this disease in wild populations of cetaceans is currently unknown. Although the causative organism of the disease, Erysipelothrix sp., is well-characterized in domestic animals, the pathogenesis of erysipelas is poorly understood in marine mammals. Domestic animal research has led to effective preventive measures in the swine and poultry industries, but research into the epidemiology of erysipelas and the associated immunology in cetaceans is limited. At present, little is understood of the disease process or its control in cetaceans. What is known, has primarily been learned from animals in public display and other managed collections. In 2000, a workshop at Shedd Aquarium brought together clinicians and research scientists to share information and develop strategies for advancing the study of erysipelas and its control in cetaceans. The objectives of this workshop were: (1) to share knowledge about erysipelas as it affects cetaceans, (2) to develop and prioritize an agenda of research to advance knowledge of the disease, and provide clinicians and collection managers with greater resources to control and prevent it, and (3) to identify funding and support strategies for this research. A NOAA funded research program will further the agenda of the 2000 Erysipelas workshop. The program will advance the state of knowledge relative to this disease, and afford the knowledge necessary to make important management decisions for managed populations of whales and dolphins and their wild counterparts. Please join us for an interactive half-day discussion. Respond to either Rhonda Patterson or Jeff Boehm by November 14 to let us know if you will participate. Thank you, Jeff Boehm, DVM Rhonda Patterson, PhD Senior Vice President Research Scientist Conservation and Veterinary Services University of Southern Mississippi John G. Shedd Aquarium (601) 266-5710 (312) 692-3234 rhonda.patterson(\)usm.edu jboehm(\)sheddaquarium.org -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2003 09:57:02 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Sick Dolphins at Monkey Mia, Australia (fwd) This message has been forwarded from Sue Reif. Please contact her directly at slreif(\)hollinet.net. thank you, MARMAM editors. ---------------------------------------------------------------- The following information has been brought to my attention: "The dolphins at Monkey Mia, especially "Nicky", have mucus coming out = from their blowhole, it can be white, creamy, green, brown colour and = the smell is bad more when it's brown at the same time they are = chuffing." Can anyone give some feedback on this situation; and if something is = being done (by the Rangers, or Researchers there) to help Nicky and the = other dolphins at Monkey Mia? Thank you, Sue L. Reif Research/Education Associate- Pacific Cetacean Group Marina, California Zookeeper-Happy Hollow Zoo San Jose, California email: slreif(\)hollinet.net -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2003 22:29:09 +0100 From: Jaap van der Toorn Subject: 32nd Annual Symposium of the EAAM Posted on behalf of Pedro Lavia, President-Elect of the EAAM. Cheers, Jaap -- Jaap van der Toorn mail: jaap(\)rosmarus.com web: http://rosmarus.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- 32nd Annual Symposium of the EAAM - European Association for Aquatic Mammals The European Association for Aquatic Mammals (E.A.A.M.) was founded in 1972, at the Dolphinarium of Harderwijk, (Netherlands). Since its foundation, EAAM has aimed to congregate persons who devote a significant amount of their time to the welfare of marine mammals through research, medical care, husbandry, training, education, conservation, management and related activities. As such, and among many others, EAAM's objectives are to reinforce joint efforts of such professionals and individuals interested in the care and research of marine mammals, both in zoological environments and in the wild. Following such objectives, we hereby invite all interested parties to participate in EAAM's 2004 Annual Meeting, which will be generously hosted by a very new and very exciting facility: L'Oceanografic (Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, SA), in Valencia, from 5 to 8 March, 2004. At L'Oceanografic a very motivated team is working hard in many organizational aspects of this meeting. More information on the Conference, including maps, transports, climate, tours, etc., and how to submit an abstract for a communication (oral or poster) can be accessed and downloaded from Zoomarine's (http://www.zoomarine.com/EAAM/downloads.asp) and L'Oceanografic websites. More specific information can be obtained by contacting the following: - ZOOMARINE (Scientific Coordinator): www.zoomarine.pt Pedro Lavia; e-mail: eaam.2004(\)zoomarine.com; phone: + 351 289 560307 - L'OCEANOGRAFIC (Conference Host): http://www.eaam2004valencia.com/ Yolanda Piris; E-mail: ypiris(\)grpr.com; phone: Tel.: +34 91 463 29 00 - EAAM (Secretary /Treasurer ): www.eaam.org Kai Mattsson; E-mail: info(\)eaam.org In the meantime, we should remind all authors that the deadline for submitting abstracts is January 9th. And be aware that several events will take place in Valencia in the first week of March - thus, make early hotel reservation! We sincerely hope you can join us for yet another memorable and very productive Symposium of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals. Yours truly, Pedro Lavia, President-Elect of the EAAM CEO of Zoomarine ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 6 Dec 2003 12:08:41 -0500 Reply-To: ecm-parsons(\)earthlink.net From: Chris Parsons Subject: Recent paper on whalewatching management boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0001_01C3BBF1.B451FB90" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0001_01C3BBF1.B451FB90 charset="us-ascii" This is a recent publication on whalewatching management. Please contact the author directly for reprints: ecm-parsons(\)earthlink.net Parsons, E. C. M. & Woods-Ballard, A. (2003) Acceptance of Voluntary Whalewatching Codes of Conduct in West Scotland: The Effectiveness of Governmental Versus Industry-led Guidelines. Current issues in Tourism 6: 172-182. Abstract: During the tourist season of 2000, thirty whalewatching tour-operators were interviewed as to whether they referred to a whalewatching code of conduct or guidelines during their activities. Eighty-six percent stated they referred to a code of conduct. The most frequently used code was one produced by a tour operators' association (43%). Three codes of conduct produced by environmental non-governmental organisations were also used frequently to occasionally. Only 27% of the operators surveyed were aware of whalewatching guidelines produced by the UK government and none of the operators referred to these guidelines when watching whales. This study indicates that the majority of whalewatching tour operators had accepted codes of conduct but preferences were for locally, or operator-produced, codes. It is suggested that in West Scotland whalewatching tour operators should be actively involved, alongside statutory bodies, in the monitoring and managing of whalewatching. Article webpage: http://giorgio.ingentaselect.com/vl=2309739/cl=23/nw=1/rpsv/cw/cv/136835 00/v6n2/s4/p172 Sent by: E.C.M. Parsons, Department of Environmental Science & Policy, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, Virginia, USA. ------=_NextPart_000_0001_01C3BBF1.B451FB90 charset="us-ascii"

This is a recent publication on = whalewatching management. Please contact the = author directly for reprints: = ecm-parsons(\)earthlink.net

 <= /p>

 <= /p>

Parsons, E. C. M. & = Woods-Ballard, A. (2003) Acceptance of Voluntary Whalewatching Codes of Conduct in West = Scotland: The Effectiveness of Governmental Versus Industry-led Guidelines. Current = issues in Tourism 6: 172-182.

 

Abstract: During the tourist season of 2000, thirty whalewatching tour-operators were interviewed as to whether they referred to a whalewatching code of conduct or guidelines during = their activities. Eighty-six percent stated they referred to a code of = conduct. The most frequently used code was one produced by a tour operators' = association (43%). Three codes of conduct produced by environmental non-governmental = organisations were also used frequently to occasionally. Only 27% of the operators surveyed were aware of whalewatching guidelines produced by the = UK government and none of the operators referred to these guidelines when watching = whales. This study indicates that the majority of whalewatching tour operators had accepted codes of conduct but preferences were for = locally, or operator-produced, codes. It is suggested that in = West Scotland whalewatching tour operators should be actively involved, alongside statutory bodies, = in the monitoring and managing of whalewatching.

 <= /p>

Article webpage: http://giorgio.ingentaselect.com/vl=3D23097= 39/cl=3D23/nw=3D1/rpsv/cw/cv/13683500/v6n2/s4/p172<= /font>

 

Sent by: E.C.M. Parsons, Department of Environmental Science & Policy, = George = Mason = University, 4400 = University Drive, Fairfax, = Virginia, = USA.

 

 

 

------=_NextPart_000_0001_01C3BBF1.B451FB90-- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 10:31:31 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Reminder: NOAA Fisheries Biennial events (fwd) From: "Aleria Jensen" Biennial Conference Participants, This is a final reminder and update for the events that NOAA Fisheries will be hosting at the 15th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals. Please find below the list of NOAA Fisheries workshops to be held during the week, as well as the list of programs that will represented at our educational exhibit booth throughout the conference. We look forward to seeing you next week. WORKSHOPS Saturday morning - "Marine Mammal Aerial Survey Safety" - NOAA Corps Saturday afternoon - "National Stranding Database Training" - NMFS/OPR Sunday all day - "Ethics in Marine Mammal Research" - NMFS and MMC Sunday all day - "Capture and Handling Techniques for Small Odonticetes During Tagging, Health, Assessment and Sample Collections" - NMFS/NWC and AKC Sunday all day - "Viewing Marine Mammals in the Wild" - NMFS/OPR Tuesday evening - "The Scientific Research Permit Process: Seperating Fact from Fiction" - NMFS/OPR OUTREACH BOOTH (exhibiting Mon-Thurs) Monday December 15 Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Program = all day Tuesday December 16 Large Whale Conservation and Recovery = 8:30-10:30 Acoustics =1:30-3:30 Incidental Harrassment Authorizations = 3:30-5:30 Wednesday December 17 Permits = all day Thursday December 18 International Whaling Commission/CITES = 8:30-10:30 Marine Mammal Research (NOAA Fisheries Science Centers) = 1:30-3:30 Fisheries Interactions/Bycatch = 3:30-5:30 For more information, contact Aleria Jensen (aleria.jensen(\)noaa.gov) at 301-713-2322 x169 or Jennifer Jefferies (jennifer.jefferies(\)noaa.gov) at 301-713-2289 x144. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 13:38:35 -0500 From: "Edward O. Keith" Subject: Shuttle from Greensboro Airport to Sheraton-Greensboro Hello, Those of you who will be attending the upcoming biennial conference on the biology of marine mammals in Greensboro, NC, and who have made reservations to stay at the conference hotel, the Sheraton-Greensboro, may have noticed a clause on the bottom of your reservation confirmation that indicates that the shuttle will cost $15.00. Please be advised that for our group this clause DOES NOT apply. The hotel will be providing the shuttle FREE OF CHARGE to our registrants. The slip that you will sign when using the shuttle will also indicate this charge, but it will not be added to your room bill by the hotel. Thank you. Ed Keith, Conference Chair -- Edward O. Keith, Ph.D., Associate Professor Oceanographic Center Nova Southeastern University 8000 N. Ocean Drive Dania Beach, FL 33004 Voice: 954-262-8322 Fax: 954-262-3931 Cellular: 305-720-8935 Email: edwardok(\)nsu.nova.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 04:05:01 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Permits Workshop at 15th Biennial (fwd) From: "Tammy Adams" Attention Biennal Conference Attendees: NOAA Fisheries Permits, Conservation and Education Division will be giving a Special Information Session entitled "The Scientific Research Permit Process: Seperating Fact from Fiction" on Tuesday, November 17 at the 15th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals. The session will begin at 7:30 pm in Auditorium III and will provide an overview of the main statutes and regulations governing marine mammal research and other activities as well as a brief overview of the permit process. Afterward, Permits Division staff will be present to answer questions about permits and provide helpful hints on submitting successful applications. Abstract: Scientists recognize that some research procedures can result in a certain amount of stress on the part of the research subjects. Lately, if you ask anyone who has applied for a permit to conduct research on marine mammals, especially endangered ones, theyre likely to tell you it isnt just the animals who are stressed. You may have heard that some of your colleagues waited a year or more for their Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) permit. You may have even heard that the MMPA itself is fundamentally flawed where the research permit process is concerned. What you probably havent heard, or may not know, is that the MMPA is just one of many statutes governing issuance of permits for research on marine mammals. Among these other laws are the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act, both of which require substantial analyses that often lengthen the permit process. Since the enactment of these laws, scientific research conducted under National Marine Fisheries Service permits has contributed significantly to the protection and conservation of marine mammals. It is the mission of the Permits, Conservation and Education Division to recover, protect, and conserve marine mammals by continuing to facilitate sound scientific research. If you would like to learn how to make the permit process as stress-free and painless as possible, join biologists from the Permits, Conservation and Education Division for an overview of the statutes and regulations governing research on marine mammals and valuable guidance on submitting successful marine mammal research and enhancement permit applications. For those who can't make the special session or have more questions afterward, staff from the Permits Division will also be available all day Wednesday, December 18 at the NOAA Fisheries booth. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 18:18:19 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Kogia workshop in Greensboro (fwd) The Workshop on the Biology of Kogia is scheduled to begin at 12 noon on Saturday, 13 December, in Auditorium III at the Koury Convention Center and run throughout the afternoon. The draft agenda can be found on www.kogia.org/workshop/ Topics to be covered include Taxonomy & Genetics, Species Identification, Distribution, Feeding Ecology, Reproductive Biology, Age Estimation, Pathology, Physiology/Sound Production, Anatomy, Behavior, Tracking, Husbandry and Human Interactions. There is no formal registration process. The registration fee - payable onsite - will be less than US$5.00 per person to cover projection screen rental. Auditorium III seats about 150 people and as of 9 December seats are still available. Dan Odell dodell(\)hswri.org & Nelio Barros nbarros(\)mote.org -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 18:19:33 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Request of information of feeding captive cetacean (fwd) Dear list members: Sorry for the cross-posting. While carrying out a research on the behaviour of a group of captive finless porpoises, I collected some articles on captive cetacean behaviour. After a rough review, I noticed that the feeding regimes varied among different dolphinariums and species, and the animals were fed mainly during the day. I wondered whether the animals in other dolphinariums were also fed in the day, how much and how often were they fed, and for what reason were such feeding regimes taken. I have made a search on the internet and also some scientific database, but failed to find any useful information, except for some information of food requirement of marine mammals cited from Geraci 1981 in CCAC, Guide Vol. 2 (1984) Chapter XVII - Marine Mammals. I'm writing to ask you for the following information of the feeding of the captive cetaceans: How often and at what time are the animals fed? How much (relative to their body mass) are they fed each time? Why is such feeding regime applied? If anyone knows of any related resources or people that might have such imformation, please also contact me at akhan(\)263.net or xiaojq(\)ihb.ac.cn. Many thanks for your time and help in advance! Sincerely yours, XIAO Jianqiang ================================= XIAO Jianqiang Institute of Hydrobiology The Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan, Hubei, 430072 China xiaojq(\)ihb.ac.cn ================================= -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 18:28:51 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: book review "Whales and the Japanese" (fwd) From: Janice S. Henke WHALES AND THE JAPANESE Masayuki Komatsu and Shigeko Misaki A Review by Janice S. Henke This 170 page, illustrated work is a uniquely Japanese declaration of cultural values, beliefs and perspectives on their use of certain whales for food and handicrafts since prehistoric times. The book is a valuable resource for anyone with an interest in cross-cultural perspectives on matters of global conservation issues. It convincingly dispels the western, protectionist-drawn stereotypes of Japanese people as "rogue whalers" in this era of political correctness, and in contrast, illustrates both their cultural needs and their scientifically based concern for whales, their prey, and their habitats. Whales and the Japanese illustrates the dichotomy of cultural preferences about whaling; Japanese and their allies present whale use as not only scientifically supported but ecologically and culturally necessary, while the protectionist view is that the issue is a moral one, and that science alone is insufficient to justify resumption of commercial whaling. The book is thus a nice illustration of modernism vs. post-modern values, in all the arguments for and against whaling. Japan is proud of its scientific approach to whale management. The "others" are adamant that the anti-whaling arguments shall prevail, and the power struggle for votes in IWC is given from the Japanese perspective. Six chapters thoroughly cover whale ecology, migration, diet, early Japanese social structure, early organized whale hunting, and the final development of modern whaling technology. "The History of Rampant Whaling" is a Japanese perspective on "the others'" international quest for whale oil well into the 20th century, with all the most active nations' exploits in excess listed for the Arctic, the Atlantic, the Pacific and the Antarctic. A recurrent theme contrasts Japanese "total utilization" of every part of each whale carcass, in contrast to behavior of those who killed whales only for the oil, and dumped meat, bones and organs overboard into the sea. The point is made that those responsible for whale species depletion are now those who wish to prevent whaling even if it should be scientifically justified. Japanese perspectives on the history of the IWC moratorium on commercial whaling are highlighted, along with IWC-riven disputes over the scientific value of Japanese whale research and its potential for contributions to future whale and fishery management regimes. The scope and nature of Japanese scientific research whaling in the north pacific and in the southern ocean include an ecosystem perspective on data derived from prey species found in the stomachs of minke, brydes, sei and sperm whales. The authors note that the IWC Scientific Committee has endorsed the value of this research, in contrast to those who claim it has no value for the science of whale management. The book has been included in the library collection of the IWC. Whales and the Japanese shall be immediately available through whaling historian Klaus Barthelmess, for those attending the New Bedford Kendal Whaling Museum's Whaling History Symposium October 16 and 17. Subsequently, it shall be offered on Amazon.com US, and through selected university libraries and bookstores. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2003 09:47:04 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Interespecific Interaction and Play behavior (fwd) Dear friends, I have been finish a paper whose talk about specific case of interespecific interaction with estuarine dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) and pet dog in Ilha do Cardoso State Park, south cost of Sao Paulo, Brazil I would like request a help with references and papers about interactions with cetacean and another animals (wild or in captive) and about aquatic mammals plays behavior. Please, send help's answers to my particular e-mail: feoliveira(\)ipecpesquisas.org.br Thank's for all. Cheers, Fernando Oliveira INSTITUTO DE PESQUISAS CANAN=C9IA - IPeC Sub-sede e Base de Apoio Cananeia Rua Tristao Lobo, 199 Cananeia - Sao Paulo - Brasil CEP: 11990-000 Tel.: + 55 21 13 3851-3959 www.ipecpesquisas.org.br coordenacao(\)ipecpesquisas.org.br -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2003 10:53:19 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: book review 'Whales and the Japanese' The MARMAM list has tried to remain relatively unbiased in terms of what gets posted to the list, and has stated that it is "not anti-whaling or anti-hunting, per se" (see our Editorial Policy). The line between clear propaganda (often press releases or people expressing views that are already clear to everyone) and messages which deserve to be sent to the list is often unclear, however. It is obvious that we send out "politically-motivated" messages on a regular basis, and usually these are strongly anti-captivity or anti-whaling. The "Whaling and the Japanese" book review sent out yesterday was submitted to the list a number of weeks ago and we had been thinking about whether to reject it. However, there was no clear reason to reject it and so, despite our reluctancy, we sent it to the list yesterday. It is not surprising that we have already received several rebukes for doing so. We are open to suggestions and comments from subscribers regarding our editorial criteria. We would be interested in hearing from others whether this message should have been sent to the list, and if not, how our existing editorial policy would have to be modified to justify such rejections. If the message had not been a book review but was instead simply a discussion of the "Japanese" perspective on whaling, it probably would not have been sent to the list (the "been there, done that" exclusion). But information on a new book, however biased it may be in one direction or the other, should be sent to the list. We currently ask for a table of contents, but also post reviews. If we had a choice between an unbiased review and a biased one we would probably pick the unbiased one every time, but we rarely have that choice (since submissions to the list are usually not solicited). Certainly if someone else wants to review the same book and presents a substantively different review, we would consider posting that to the list. Perhaps reviewers of such books should disclose their biases or affiliations upfront, although anyone can do an internet search on the author of a book review (or any other posting) and usually find a number of web pages that clarify their perspective. We've enclosed one of the responses that we received to the posting below. MARMAM Editors. ------------------------------------------------------ This was a curious choice for the MARMAM editors to pass along to the list. Since Mr Komatsu is known to be at the extreme of any debate on whaling policy, one would have expected any review of his book to be balanced. Whaling is an extremely complex issue, and for any reviewer to claim that a book "convincingly dispels" one entire side of the argument inevitably makes one suspicious about the reviewer. Ms Henke sounds far more like a publicist here than an objective, independent reader. Since Ms Henke's "review" is completely uncritical and indeed laudatory, I would request that she identify herself and her affiliation, since I'm willing to bet a sizeable chunk of change that she is somehow tied to the Japanese Whaling Association or some similar pro-industry organization. Finally, since the editors of MARMAM have usually (and appropriately) rejected openly political messages on this and other topics in recent years, I am curious as to why they let this one through. I would suggest that MARMAM readers are not served by polemic disguised as objective review. Phil Clapham -- Phillip J. Clapham, Ph.D. Large Whale Biology Program Northeast Fisheries Science Center 166 Water Street Woods Hole, MA 02543 Tel (508) 495-2316 Fax (508) 495-2066 > From: Janice S. Henke > > WHALES AND THE JAPANESE > Masayuki Komatsu and Shigeko Misaki > > A Review by Janice S. Henke > > This 170 page, illustrated work is a uniquely Japanese declaration of > cultural values, beliefs and perspectives on their use of certain whales > for food and handicrafts since prehistoric times. The book is a > valuable resource for anyone with an interest in cross-cultural > perspectives on matters of global conservation issues. It convincingly > dispels the western, protectionist-drawn stereotypes of Japanese people > as "rogue whalers" in this era of political correctness, and in > contrast, illustrates both their cultural needs and their scientifically > based concern for whales, their prey, and their habitats. Whales and > the Japanese > illustrates the dichotomy of cultural preferences about whaling; > Japanese and their allies present whale use as not only scientifically > supported but ecologically and culturally necessary, while the > protectionist view is that the issue is a moral one, and that science > alone is insufficient to justify resumption of commercial whaling. The > book is thus a nice illustration of modernism vs. post-modern values, in > all the arguments for and against whaling. Japan is proud of its > scientific approach to whale management. The "others" are adamant that > the anti-whaling arguments shall prevail, and the power struggle for > votes in IWC is given from the Japanese perspective. > > > Six chapters thoroughly cover whale ecology, migration, diet, early > Japanese social structure, early organized whale hunting, and the final > development of modern whaling technology. "The History of Rampant > Whaling" is a Japanese perspective on "the others'" international quest > for whale oil well into the 20th century, with all the most active > nations' exploits in excess listed for the Arctic, the Atlantic, the > Pacific and the Antarctic. A recurrent theme contrasts Japanese "total > utilization" of every part of each whale carcass, in contrast to > behavior of those who killed whales only for the oil, and dumped meat, > bones and organs overboard into the sea. The point is made that those > responsible for whale species depletion are now those who wish to > prevent whaling even if it should be scientifically justified. > > Japanese perspectives on the history of the IWC moratorium on commercial > whaling are highlighted, along with IWC-riven disputes over the > scientific value of Japanese whale research and its potential for > contributions to future whale and fishery management regimes. The scope > and nature of Japanese scientific research whaling in the north pacific > and in the southern ocean include an ecosystem perspective on data > derived from prey species found in the stomachs of minke, brydes, sei > and sperm whales. The authors note that the IWC Scientific Committee > has endorsed the value of this research, in contrast to those who claim > it has no value for the science of whale management. The book has been > included in the library collection of the IWC. Whales and the Japanese > shall be immediately available through whaling historian Klaus > Barthelmess, for those attending the New Bedford Kendal Whaling Museum's > Whaling History Symposium October 16 and 17. Subsequently, it shall be > offered on Amazon.com US, and through selected university libraries and > bookstores. > -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2003 14:31:46 -0500 From: Richard Connor Subject: Research assistants for Shark Bay In-Reply-To: <200312101853.hBAIrJlo053024(\)unix6.uvic.ca> We are seeking four highly skilled research assistants for a 4-5 month study on the Male Dolphin Alliance Project in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Because training time will be limited and we (Connor and Krutzen) will not be onsite for the entire study, we need people who are already skilled at handling small motor boats and dolphin photo-identification. We will train one person to collect biopsy samples with an airgun; prior experience a huge plus but not required. You will work in teams on two boats, one concentrating on behavior and the other on darting and behavior. Behavioral data will be collected during surveys and focal alliance follows, including 20 minute digital video samples. We seek hard-working, team oriented people who play well with others. You must be available from June-November 2004, but exact dates within that period are still uncertain. We will also send you a CD with approximately 100 male fins and expect to learn to distinguish them before the study. You have to get to Shark Bay on your own, but food and living space is provided onsite. There may be a small stipend. If you are interested and have the required experience and skills, please provide a CV and references and try to talk to Richard and Michael at the Marine Mammal Conference. If you are interested but will not be at the conference, you may send an application to both Richard at rconnor(\)umassd.edu and Michael at michael.kruetzen(\)unsw.edu.au, but please be aware that we will not be able to respond to your email until after the holidays. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2003 14:25:21 -0800 Reply-To: calambokidis(\)cascadiaresearch.org From: John Calambokidis Organization: Cascadia Research Subject: Volunteer opportunity - Cascadia Research Opportunity for volunteer interns: Cascadia Research is seeking two volunteer interns to assist in our long-term photographic identification research of humpback, blue and gray whales along the west coast beginning as early as January 2004. Intern duties will include working with film and digital identification photographs including some darkroom work, matching photographs to established catalogs, and coding and entering data. Field opportunities will exist beginning in early spring once interns are trained in photographic identification procedures. Internship will be based at Cascadia in Olympia, Washington but could involve some field work in California, Oregon, or Washington. Interns will be responsible for arranging their own lodging in Olympia. Transportation for distant field trips will be covered but having a car for more local transportation is desirable. Additional information on Cascadia and internships available at www.cascadiaresearch.org Please apply by sending an email stating interest and background (resume if available) to John Calambokidis (calambokidis(\)cascadiaresearch.org). If you are attending the upcoming Marine Mammal Conference in Greensboro next week and are interested in learning more or applying and arranging an interview please meet John on Monday at 1730 in the poster room near poster #292 (Steiger et al.) in the Prefunction area. Best, John Calambokidis Research Biologist Cascadia Research 218 1/2 W 4th Ave. Olympia, WA 98501 USA Tel. # 360-943-7325 FAX 360-943-7026 email: calambokidis(\)cascadiaresearch.org web page: www.cascadiaresearch.org ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2003 08:54:18 -0300 From: Rodrigo Hucke-Gaete Subject: Recent paper on blue whales off Chile ------ Dear Marmamers, The following article was recently published: Hucke-Gaete, R., L.P. Osman, C.A. Moreno, K.P. Findlay & D.K. Ljungblad (2003). Discovery of a blue whale feeding and nursing ground in southern Chile. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B (Suppl.), Biology Letters. Published online = 10 December 2003 (DOI 10.1098/rsbl.2003.0132). Abstract After the extensive exploitation that reduced the Southern Hemisphere blu= e whale (Balaenoptera musculus) populations to less than 3% of its original numbers, studies on its recovery have been compounded by the inaccessibil= ity of most populations and the extensive migrations between low and high latitudes, thus ensuring that knowledge about blue whale ecology and stat= us remains limited. We report the recent discovery of, arguably, the most important blue whale feeding and nursing ground known to date in the Southern Hemisphere, which is located near the fjords off southern Chile. Through aerial and marine surveys (n =3D 7 ) 47 groups, comprising 153 bl= ue whales including at least 11 mother=96calf pairs, were sighted during the austral summer and early autumn of 2003. The implications of this discove= ry on the biological understanding and conservation of this endangered speci= es are discussed. Please contact rhuckeg(\)telsur.cl for PDF reprint requests after December = 31, 2003.=20 This article has also recently been highlighted by BBC News online:=20 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3305069.stm Regards, Rodrigo Hucke-Gaete (Mar. Biol., Dr.Sc. cand.), Instituto de Ecolog=EDa y Evoluci=F3n, Universidad Austral de Chile, Casilla 567, Valdivia, Chile. Tels.: (56) 63 221486 / (56)63 200461 Fax: (56) 63 221344 Emails:=20 rhuckeg(\)telsur.cl=20 rhuckeg(\)ballenazul.org Web: http://www.ballenazul.org ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2003 10:06:38 -0000 From: "Craig, Alison" Subject: New humpback publication Dear colleagues, The following article on humpback whale migration was published recently and reprints should be available within the next couple of weeks. Please direct reprint requests to al.craig(\)napier.ac.uk Craig, A.S., Herman, L.M., Gabriele, C.M. and Pack, A.A. 2003. Migratory timing of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the central North Pacific varies with age, sex and reproductive status. Behaviour, 140(8): 981-1001. Humpback whales migrate seasonally between high-latitude summer feeding grounds and low-latitude winter breeding grounds. Identification photographs of humpback whales were collected in the Hawaiian Islands between 1977 and 1995, and sighting histories were compiled for individuals. Analyses revealed that (a) mean dates of first identification were significantly earlier for juveniles and females with no calf than for males and females with a calf off the Big Island, and significantly earlier for juveniles than for females with no calf, males and females with a calf off Maui; and (b) mean dates of last identification were significantly earlier for juveniles and females with no calf than for males and females with a calf off the Big Island, and significantly earlier for females with no calf than for males and females with a calf off Maui. A within-subjects comparison showed that the date of first identification tended to be later for individual females in the years when they had a calf than in the years during which they had no calf. It was concluded that (a) migratory timing varies as a function of age, sex and reproductive status, (b) migratory timing is intimately connected with reproductive success and (c) migratory timing has important consequences for our understanding of humpback whale behaviour on the winter grounds. Best wishes, Alison Craig. ============================================ Dr Alison S. Craig School of Life Sciences Napier University 10 Colinton Road Edinburgh EH10 5DT Scotland UK Email: al.craig(\)napier.ac.uk Tel: +44 (0)131 455 2245 Fax: +44 (0)131 455 2291 http://www.lifesciences.napier.ac.uk/wildlife.htm ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2003 19:01:42 +1300 Reply-To: edu.secchi(\)xtra.co.nz From: Eduardo Secchi Organization: University of Otago Subject: Subscribing to LAJAM at the Biennial ------ Dear Marmamers, On behalf of our Editorial Board, I would like to inform you that the Dec= ember 2003 issue of the Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals (LAJAM)= is in its final phase of editing. Volume 2(2) thus far includes the foll= owing contributions: Siquier, G.F., and Le Bas, A.E. (2003) Morphometrical categorization of P= hyllobothrium delphini (Cestoidea, Tetraphyllidea) cysts from Fraser's do= lphin, Lagenodelphis hosei (Cetacea, Delphinidae). Danilewicz, D. (2003) Reproduction of female franciscana (Pontoporia blai= nvillei) in Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil Di Beneditto, A.P.M. (2003) Interactions between gillnet fisheries and sm= all cetaceans in northern Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: 2001-2002. I=F1=EDguez, M.A, Hevia, M., Gasparrou, M., Tomsin, A.L., and Secchi, E.R= . (2003) Preliminary estimate of incidental mortality of Commerson=92s = dolphins (Cephalorhynchus commersonii) in an artisanal setnet fishery in = La Angelina beach and R=EDa Gallegos, Santa Cruz, Argentina. Crespi-Abril, A.C., Garc=EDa, N.A., Crespo, E.A. and Coscarella, M.A. (20= 03) Consumption of marine mammals by broadnose sevengill shark Notorynchu= s cepedianus in the northern and central Patagonian shelf. Gurj=E3o, L.M., Furtado Neto, M.A.A., Santos, R.A. and Cascon, P. (2003) = Feeding habits of marine tucuxi, Sotalia fluviatilis, and its relation to= the artisanal fishery off Cear=E1 state =96 Northeastern Brazil Drehmer, C.J. and Oliveira, L.R. (2003) Occurrence of gastroliths in Sou= th American sea lions (Otaria byronia) from Southern Brazil. Secchi, E.R., Barcellos, L., Zerbini, A. N. and Dalla Rosa, L. (2003) B= iological observations on a dwarf minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata= , caught in southern Brazilian waters, with a new record of prey for the = species. Rosas, F. C. W. and Mattos, G. E. (2003) Notes on giant otter (Pteronura = brasiliensis) behavior in the lake of Balbina hydroelectric power station= , Amazonas, Brazil Moreno, I. B., Martins, C. C. A., Andriolo, A. and Engel, M. H. (2003) Si= ghtings of franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei) off Esp=EDrito S= anto, Brazil Subscriptions to LAJAM can be made by checks (or money orders), in U.S. d= ollars only, payable to "LAJAM" and sent to: LAJAM/SOLAMAC P.O. Box 3184 Sarasota, FL 34230-3184 USA Those attending the upcoming Biennial Conference in Greensboro might take= advantage of the special conference prices for the subscription of curre= nt and past LAJAM issues (see below). LAJAM=92s subscription rates are (in US dollars): REGULAR PRICE* CONFERENCE PRICE* Students $20.00 $20.00 Non-students $40.00 $30.00 Libraries or=20 other institutions $50.00 $40.00 * Add US $10.00 for subscriptions from North America, Europe, Japan and = Australia/New Zealand Add US $5.00 for subscriptions from Africa, Asia and other Australasia= n countries Both students and non-students from developing countries (outside Latin-A= merica) may be exempted of mailing costs upon a duly supported request, a= nd will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The special issue on Franciscana dolphins (volume 1, Number 1, 2002) can = be purchased for an additional $15 (students) and $25 (non-students and l= ibraries). Any further information can be obtained from the editors (LAJAM(\)infolink.= com.br). Best regards, Eduardo Secchi co-editor LAJAM *********************************** Eduardo Secchi Marine Mammals Research Team University of Otago, PO Box 56 Dunedin - NEW ZEALAND e.mail: edu.secchi(\)xtra.co.nz phone: ++ 64-3-479-5476 (work) fax: ++ 64-3-479-8336 Home phone: ++ 64-3-479-0412 Please check out the website of our research group at http://www.otago.ac.nz/marinescience/mammals/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2003 07:45:36 -0900 Reply-To: hamachan_hamazaki(\)fishgame.state.ak.us From: Hamachan Hamazaki Subject: GIS workshop location In-Reply-To: <200312081831.hB8IVV34065040(\)unix6.uvic.ca> The biennial conference GIS workshop will be held at Auditorium II, 9:00 am. Registration will start at 8:30 am. 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: Fri, 12 Dec 2003 03:13:20 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: "Physiology of Marine Mammals" Workshop (fwd) From: "Marco Tocchetti" Dear Marmamers, Let me remind You that the "Physiology of Marine Mammals" Workshop is = going to be held on the 14th of December at the Sheraton Convention = Center in Greensboro at 9:00 am at Cedar room. See you there, have a nice fly Marco Tocchetti via Fiuggi, 49 04100 Latina, Italy Ph: +39-347-6761711 email: doctoc(\)tiscali.it -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2003 14:49:02 -0500 From: Kathryn Ono Subject: Biological Technician position Biological Technician A nine-month position is available for a full-time Biological Technician with benefits. Duties include assisting the veterinarian and staff with feeding and health evaluations for harbor seal pups in the University of New England Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center, aiding the PI in preparing supplies and equipment for fieldwork, aiding in the capture of harbor seal pups and the attachment of satellite tags, downloading the satellite tag data and assisting in data processing, and other duties as appropriate. Person must have experience with handling pinnipeds and be available nights and weekends when circumstances warrant. Minimum education: bachelor's degree in marine science, biology or related field. Experience with satellite tag placement and data analysis as well as own transportation a plus. Consideration of applications will begin immediately and close no later than December 30, 2003. Send resume to: Dr. Kathryn Ono, University of New England, 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, Maine 04005. Kono(\)une.edu UNE is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity employer and welcomes application of candidates from diverse backgrounds. See our website (http://www.une.edu) for additional information. ____________________________________________________________________ This message may contain privileged and/or confidential information. This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is intended even if addressed incorrectly. If you have received this email in error or are not the intended recipient, you may not use, copy, disseminate or distribute it. Do not open attachments. Delete them immediately from your system and notify the sender promptly by email that you have done so. Thank you. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2003 18:08:33 -0500 From: Nancy Griffin Subject: Volunteer Interns needed The Offshore Cetacean Ecology Program, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida is looking for volunteer interns during Jan 15 to Apr 15, 2004. Applicants with previous marine mammal experience are preferred. Duties will include data entry and verification, photo-identification work, survey preparation, and fieldwork. Interns will participate in spotted and bottlenose dolphin surveys on the west Florida continental shelf and will participate in radio tracking of Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis). While interns are responsible for their own lodging, Mote Marine Laboratory will assist in locating affordable housing. Apply by sending an e-mail expressing interest and background to Nancy Griffin (ngriffin(\)mote.org), or if you are at the Marine Mammal Conference in Greensboro, NC, please leave a message (cell phone 941.928.1045; Greensboro local phone 854-0090), or stop by at Population Monitoring/Abundance Poster #269 during Tuesday's presentation to schedule an interview. Nancy J.Griffin Offshore Cetacean Ecology Project Dolphin Research Program Center for Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Research Mote Marine Laboratory 941-388-4441 Ext 231 ngriffin(\)mote.org ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2003 03:18:32 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Hawaiian Monk Seal Field Research Positions for 2004 (fwd) From: "Jason Baker" Aquatic Farms (, Ltd. of Honolulu, Hawaii) provides Scientific Support Services to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center and is soliciting cover letters and resumes for the upcoming 2004 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 conservation 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/mammals.html There are two primary periods of employment available: mid/late March until late-August, and mid/late April to late August, though some positions will last until September. IMPORTANT: Please specify in your cover letter the period you are available. The first 3-4 weeks of employment are spent in Honolulu training and packing, and the final 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. *NO LATER THAN JANUARY 31 BUT SOONER IS BETTER*, Please submit a cover letter and resume with employment history, education history, the names and phone numebrs 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 $2,643 + 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 $2,061 + 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. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2003 14:23:06 +1100 From: Kerstin Bilgmann Subject: information on sampling bow-riding dolphins Dear all, I recently started a project on genetic population structure of bottlenose and common dolphins in South Australia. As part of the study I will use remote biopsy sampling to obtain small skin samples. Has anyone had any experience in sampling bow-riding bottlenose and common dolphins with a punch method to obtain skin samples for genetic analysis? Any information on using a pole to punch-sample bow-riding dolphins would be helpful. I am particularly interested in setups and success rates. Please send any replies to kbilgman(\)gse.mq.edu.au I will also provide a summary of the received replies for anyone who is interested, Thanks, Kerstin Kerstin Bilgmann Marine Mammal Research Group Graduate School of the Environment Macqurie University - Sydney NSW 2109, Australia ph: +61 2 9850 7982 fax: +61 2 9850 7972 email: kbilgman(\)gse.mq.edu.au ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2003 07:48:09 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: International Whaling Commission Scientific Committee's State of the (fwd) --Call for contributions to the International Whaling Commission's "State of the Cetacean Environment Report"-- The International Whaling Commission (IWC), founded in 1948, is acknowledged worldwide as the organization responsible for issues related to the conservation and management of whales. The IWC's agenda also includes a host of related topics such as whale watching and so-called small cetaceans. The IWC has identified environmental degradation as a key threat to cetaceans, and has therefore also been placing increasing emphasis on environmental concerns. This was recently reflected in the IWC's passage of the "Berlin Initiative" during its annual meeting in 2003, thus creating a Conservation Committee that will focus on environmental issues. One of the tasks charged to the Environmental Concerns Standing Working Group in the IWC's Scientific Committee is to compile a "State of the Cetacean Environment Report" (SOCER). This report is designed to provide IWC Commissioners and other interested parties with a non-technical, periodic overview of events, developments and conditions in the marine environment - both positive and negative - that are relevant to cetaceans. We are now soliciting information for the 2004 SOCER (to include information on events from 2002, 2003 and 2004 through the months prior to the annual meeting in June/July in Sorrento, Italy) and hope that you are in a position to provide a brief contribution. Please go to http://www.iwcoffice.org/SCWEB/socer.htm for further information and the SOCER submission form. Our deadline for submissions is March 15, 2004. We also request that you pass this call on to colleagues and other potential contributors. If you have any questions, please contact one of us at the emails below. Looking forward to your input - Sincerely, Michael Stachowitsch Institute of Ecology and Conservation Biology Dept. of Marine Biology University of Vienna Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria Email: stachom5(\)univie.ac.at Naomi Rose The Humane Society of the United States 2100 L Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037 USA Email: nrose(\)hsus.org Chris Parsons Department of Environmental Science and Policy George Mason University Fairfax, VA 22030 USA Email: ecm-parsons(\)earthlink.net -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2003 17:14:34 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Paper on Manatee Harassment (fwd) Below refers to a paper recently published on harassment and human-manatee interactions. Please contact me directly for reprints at michael.sorice(\)fwc.state.fl.us. Sorice, M., C. S. Shafer, and D. Scott. 2003. Managing Endangered Species within the Use/Preservation Paradox: Understanding and Defining Harassment of the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus). Coastal Management 31:319-338. Abstract: As the popularity of interacting with marine mammals in the wild increases, managers face the challenge of providing use while simultaneously protecting the target species. Because the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) is protected from harassment by formal legislation, there is some concern regarding manatee encounters in Crystal River, Florida, USA, where tourists swim with the endangered animals. This study examined how the construct of harassment is defined and specifically applied to manatee encounters. Three major themes emerged: stakeholders impose their own values when interpreting formal definitions of harassment; a definition of harassment is difficult to apply in the field; and enforcement efforts are confounded by these and other variables in the setting. Thus, the issue of harassment is not a technical one but largely an issue of social value. Management implications are discussed and a management framework is recommended to find common ground and establish best practices. Keywords: harassment, human-wildlife interactions, limits of acceptable change, Trichechus manatus, West Indian manatee Regards, Mike Michael Sorice Research Staff Florida Marine Research Institute Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 100 8th Ave SE St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Phone: (727) 896-8626 Fax: (727) 893-9176 http://www.floridamarine.org -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2003 20:41:40 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Paper on Sirenian-sharksucker association and diet (fwd) We are happy to share with you the publication of a paper on Sirenian-sharksucker association and diet. Please contact me directly for PDF reprints at mignucci(\)caribe.net. Williams EH, Mignucci-Giannoni AA, Bunkley-Williams L, Bonde RK, Self-Sullivan C, Preen A, Cockcroft VG. 2003. Echeneid-sirenian associations, with information on sharksucker diet. Journal of Fish Biology 63, 1176-1183. Abstract Association of the sharksucker Echeneis naucrates and whitefin sharksucker E. neucratoides with the West Indian manatee Trichechus manatus and the dugong Dugong dugon is presented and discussed. Alimentary tract-content analysis and field observations suggest that coprophagy (feeding on host faecal material) may be the primary food source for echeneids associated with sirenian hosts. Key words Commensalism; coprophagy; Dugong dugon; Echeneis; Trichechus manatus. Happy holidays, Tony Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni, PhD Director Caribbean Marine Mammal Laboratory, Universidad Metropolitana PO Box 361715 San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-1715 TEL 787-766-1717 x6600 =80 FAX 787-751-5840 =80 EMERG 787-399-8432 EMAIL mignucci(\)caribe.net =80 WEB http://rcv.caribe.net -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2003 19:18:38 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Paper on pulmonary carcinoma on a bottlenose dolphin (fwd) We are happy to share with you the publication of a paper on pulmonary carcinoma on a bottlenose dolphin from the Caribbean. Please contact me directly for PDF reprints at mignucci(\)caribe.net. Ewing RY, Mignucci-Giannoni AA. 2003. A poorly differenciated pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma in a free-ranging Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation 15:162-165. Abstract A free-ranging, adult, female offshore bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) was found freshly dead in 1999 on Ocean Park Beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The left-lung and right lung pleura had multiple white, firm-to-hard nodules with coagulative necrosis. Histologically, the neoplasms were characterized by multiple well-circumscribed, nonecapsulated expansile masses consisting mostly of polygonal cells with fewer circumferential flattened basaloid cells that compressed alveoli, bronchioles, and bronchi. Neoplastic cells stained positive for cytokeratin, with sporadic vimentin staining, and were negative for epithelial membrane differentiated pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma with lymph node and renal metastases was made on th ebasis of histomorphology and immunohistochemical staining. This is the first documentation of pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma in a dolphin. Happy holidays, Tony Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni, PhD Director Caribbean Marine Mammal Laboratory, Universidad Metropolitana PO Box 361715 San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-1715 TEL 787-766-1717 x6600 =80 FAX 787-751-5840 =80 EMERG 787-399-8432 EMAIL mignucci(\)caribe.net =80 WEB http://rcv.caribe.net -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2003 01:42:31 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Assistant Researcher Positions (fwd) From: Delphis mdc We are currently looking for assistant researchers for the 2004 field season, from June to October. Because training time will be limited we need people who are already skilled in sailing and field experience. Aboard our 17.70 m research sailing boat you will involve in field data collection and in the daily conduction of the boat. As a member of the research tem you will learn and apply the principles of field research plan as you participate in our ongoing field studies, and you will gain a personal understanding of the conservation and welfare issues, which drive our research activities. The cost for food and accommodation (onboard) will be covered by the project, but you will need to arrange you own journey to Ischia. Minimum stay: 30 days Maximum stay: 50 days Applicants should have previous field research experience and knowledge of sailing. Enthusiasm, ability and willingness to learn and work under often-difficult field conditions are welcome. Background information: Delphis is a small, non-profit organisation dedicated to the welfare and the conservation of cetaceans in Italy through scientific investigation, education and research. Since 1991, volunteers and students have been invaluable in the collection, organisation and analysis of data fundamental to our understanding and current knowledge of the distribution and the ecology of these animals in the waters of Ischia, Gulf of Naples, Italy. Great attention is given to the relic population unit of endangered short-beaked common dolphins, spending summer months in the rich waters of the submarine canyon of Cuma, a highly productive marine area characterised by high pelagic diversity and multi-species associations. The area represents an important feeding site for other cetacean species, including striped, bottlenose and Risso's dolphins and fin whales. The research on the endangered short-beaked common dolphins is conducted in collaboration with: ASMS (Swiss coalition for marine mammals), StudioMare, Tethys Research Institute, University of Naples (Geology Department), A. Dohrn Zoological Station (Benthos Laboratory). Publications from research are available in StudioMare web site: www.mare.it/studiomare Interested persons should write a letter or e-mail at the address below, providing a brief resume with their background, personal details and interests by the 30th January 2004. Assistant Research Positions Delphis, Mediterranean Dolphin Conservation NGO and non-profit Island of Ischia Via Zaro 22, 80075 Forio (NA) Italy ATTN. Barbara Mussi e-mail: info(\)delphismdc.org -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2003 01:45:30 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Announcement - Tegner Memorial Research Grants in Marine Historical (fwd) From: "Sara Maxwell" Apologies for Cross-Posting - Please foward Mia J. Tegner Memorial Research Grants in Marine Environmental History and Historical Ecology Marine Environmental History and Historical Ecology Many marine ecosystems experienced drastic alteration long before we acquired scientific understanding of the pre-impact state. Environmental history and historical ecology are studies that reveal the baseline conditions crucial for identifying appropriate conservation targets. They link the past to the present and provide a blueprint for potential guidance in restoring ecosystems. Dr. Mia J. Tegner The late Dr. Mia J. Tegner, marine biologist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, studied the ecology of kelp forest communities, sea urchins and abalone populations, and was particularly interested in understanding how marine populations and ecosystems have changed as a result of human activities. Her dedication to marine biology and contribution to a seminal paper on historical ecology inspired MCBI to create this program to honor her legacy. Research Grants Goal- To fund studies examining past ecosystem conditions (i.e., historical baselines). This work should be relevant to policy makers and conservationists in their efforts to restore and conserve marine biodiversity. Scope- The program will focus on projects from both natural and social scientists that seek to uncover interactions between natural and human history in the marine and estuarine environments anywhere in the world. MCBI is particularly interested in studies that seek to describe systems prior to large-scale human impacts and industrialization. Research may draw on sources ranging from culturally and geographically derived data to biological and physical data. Examples of possible information resources include fishery data, letters, journals, interviews, oral histories, historical documents, maps, photos, field surveys, etc. Eligibility- MCBI invites individuals and collaborative teams from academic institutions, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations to apply. Preference to graduate students and post-graduate researchers. Application Guidelines- The deadline for submission is January 15, 2004. MCBI will notify awardees by April, 2004. Grants will range up to $6,000 for a period of one year. We encourage electronic submissions. To minimize MCBI processing time, applicants must limit proposals to 2 pages, plus supporting documents. Include: 1) A concise project description, summary of methodology, justification for the proposed project, expected impacts, and the project's relevance to marine conservation (max 2 pgs). 2) Supporting documentation should include: . a budget (with detail on additional sources of funding, if they exist) . complete list of project collaborators and their affiliations . curriculum vitae for the principle investigator . letter of support from primary academic advisor (if applicant is a student or postdoctoral fellow) . contact information for at least one referee. Applicants are responsible for submitting all proposal materials by the deadline by email (Word and Excel documents preferred), to: Angela Morgan, Historical Ecologist, angela(\)mcbi.org. Details at www.mcbi.org. Winners of the 2001 grants: * Brian Wysor and Suzanne Fredericq of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette will use their Tegner grant to apply DNA sequencing techniques to determine whether seaweed species off Panama are natives or recent invaders. "I am absolutely delighted and honored to be one of the recipients of a Mia Tegner grant," Mr. Wysor said. "This award will... contribute to an improved understanding of the threat of algal bioinvasions in the vicinity of the Panama Canal," he continued. * Susanna Fuller and Susan Gass of Dalhousie University in Halifax NS will study of the status and distribution of deepsea corals and sponges off Newfoundland, Canada. They will be interviewing fishermen about the abundance of these crucial deepsea structure-forming species before they were largely eliminated by bottom trawling, a fishing technology that drags heavy nets across the seabed. * Peter Auster and Ivar Babb of University of Connecticut-Avery Point and Les Watling of the University of Maine will study of historic distributions of deepsea corals off New England. They will examine historic records for evidence of reefs or thickets of corals before fishing using destructive bottom trawling gear became widespread. * Joseph Roman of Harvard University in Cambridge MA will use DNA sequencing to estimate populations of great whales before they were killed off by commercial whaling. These methods can provide estimates that are very different from numbers estimated from whalers' logbooks, and can therefore provide independent estimates of whale populations and their role in marine ecosystems. * Catherine R. Samson and Graham J. Edgar of the University of Tasmania in Hobart will study of changes in marine habitats in 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 in this part of Australia since Europeans settled Tasmania in the 1800s. * Angela M. Arnold of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore MD will study the history of Chesapeake Bay food webs before overfishing for oysters and overnourishment pollution in the Chesapeake Bay watershed caused drastic ecosystem changes. From sediment cores, Ms. Arnold will analyze microorganisms that indicate past conditions and use carbon 14 analysis to date sediment layers. Lance Morgan, Ph.D. Chief Scientist Marine Conservation Biology Institute -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2003 01:48:13 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Application Deadline Nears for AAAS Fellowship Programs (fwd) From: "Cori Goodyear" Help shape public policy in Washington, DC. Scientists and engineers are invited to apply for one-year science and technology policy fellowships in Washington, DC, beginning September 2004. These 10 programs, administered by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), are designed to provide each Fellow with a unique public policy learning experience and to bring technical backgrounds and external perspectives to decision-making in the U.S. government. Fellows serve in the Congress, the Department of Homeland Security, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of State, the Department of Defense, the Agency for International Development, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and other federal offices. Applicants must have a PhD or an equivalent doctoral degree by the application deadline (January 10, 2004) from any physical, biological or social science, any field of engineering or any relevant interdisciplinary field. Individuals with a master's degree in engineering and at least three years of post-degree professional experience also may apply. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and federal employees are ineligible. Stipends begin at $60,000. For application instructions and further information about the AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship Programs, contact: 1200 New York Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20005 Phone: 202/326-6700 E-mail: fellowships(\)aaas.org Web: www.fellowships.aaas.org. Underrepresented minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. -MARMAM archives: http://www.escribe.com/science/marmam/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2003 01:49:45 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Fwd: Subject: Marine Mammals: Duke University Marine Lab summer course (fwd) Contact person is Helen Nearing Duke University Marine Lab summer course: Biology of Marine Mammals 2004 Summer Term II (July 5 - August 6) 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) and John Reynolds (Eckerd College and Mote Marine Laboratory). 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.nicholas.duke.edu/marinelab/programs/summer2.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.nicholas.duke.edu/marinelab/admissions/forms.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 February 15. For more information, please contact mL_admissions(\)env.duke.edu (252/504-7502).