[MARMAM] new paper on 2nd population of Steller's sea cows

[Chris Parsons]

Dear Marmammers,

 

Announcing a new paper just published in Biology Letters:
 


  Rewriting
the history of an extinction―was a population of Steller's sea cows
(Hydrodamalis gigas) at St Lawrence Island also driven to extinction?


Lorelei D. Crerar, Andrew P. Crerar, Daryl P. Domning, E.C.M. Parsons

 

Abstract

The Kommandorskiye Islands population of Steller's sea cow (Hydrodamalis
gigas) was extirpated ca 1768 CE. Until now, Steller's sea cow was thought
to be restricted in historic times to Bering and Copper Islands, Russia,
with other records in the last millennium from the western Aleutian Islands.
However, Steller's sea cow bone has been obtained by the authors from St
Lawrence Island, Alaska, which is significantly further north. Bone identity
was verified using analysis of mitochondrial DNA. The nitrogen-15 (δ
15N)/carbon-13 (δ13C) values for bone samples from St Lawrence Island were
significantly (p ≤ 0.05) different from Bering Island samples, indicating a
second population. Bone samples were dated to between 1030 and 1150 BP
(approx. 800�C920 CE). The samples date from close to the beginning of the
mediaeval warm period, which could indicate that the population at St
Lawrence Island was driven to extinction by climate change. A warming of the
climate in the area may have changed the availability of kelp; alternatively
or in addition, the animals may have been driven to extinction by the
expansion of the Inuit from the Bering Strait region, possibly due to
opening waterways, maybe following bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus), or
searching for iron and copper. This study provides evidence for a previously
unknown population of sea cows in the North Pacific within the past 1000
years and a second Steller's sea cow extirpation event in recent history

 

Link: http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/10/11/20140878

 

 



ECM Parsons MA(Oxon) PhD FSB FMBA FRGS

Associate Professor

Department of Environmental Science & Policy, MSN 5F2, George Mason
University, Fairfax 22030, USA

 

Conference Chair and Governor, Society for Conservation Biology

 

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[MARMAM] New Book: Creatures of the Deep / Erich Hoyt

[Erich Hoyt]

Just published:

CREATURES OF THE DEEP by Erich Hoyt
Firefly Books
288 pages | 135 color photographs, 2 colour illustrations, bibliog., index | 
Nov. 2014

2nd edition, completely revised, 2x original length & all new photos. Popular 
book with latest on Census of Marine Life, giant squid expeditions, whales, 
sharks, dragonfish, hydrothermal vents, jellyfish invasions and marine reserves.

For contents, blurb, reviews, or to order: 
http://bit.ly/1wS61S5

Hardcover: US$31.98 (Amazon price varies in Canada, Germany, UK, Japan, China, 
etc.)
ebook: US$13.37

Erich Hoyt, Research Fellow, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, UK  
Co-chair, IUCN SSC-WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force
Co-director, Far East Russia Orca Project (FEROP)
erich.h...@mac.com

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[MARMAM] INTERNS: Internship available at the Puerto Rico Manatee Conservation Center

[Dr. Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni]

The Puerto Rico Manatee Conservation Center (PRMCC) and the Caribbean Stranding 
Network at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico announces the 
availability of four 2-month volunteer (unpaid) internship positions in three 
periods per year (1 February-31 March, 15 May-15 July, 1 September-31 October). 
The PRMMC conducts conservation efforts on behalf of endangered Antillean 
manatees in four modalities: (1) Rescue and Stranding Response, (2) 
Rehabilitation and Veterinary Care, (3) Population Research, and (4) Community 
Outreach and Education.

Requirements: Applicants must be students enrolled in a natural sciences 
bachelor’s, graduate or professional degree (biology, zoology, oceanography, 
marine biology, environmental sciences, animal sciences, veterinary medicine or 
similar), or recent graduates of these disciplines seeking experience on 
endangered marine species conservation. Work at the PRMCC is conducted in 
Spanish and English, thus, interns must at least be able to converse and write 
in one of these languages. Interns must be self-motivated and responsible, able 
to work independently, have computer experience, good organizational and 
communication skills, and perform as a team. Candidates must be in good 
physical fitness, swim well, lift and carry 25 kg, walk long distances in 
difficult terrain, and follow written and oral staff directions and protocols 
effectively. In addition, interns should be prepared to perform in a variety of 
settings on any given day including; beach, in-water, and laboratory. Work 
hours are 40-60 hours per week.

The 2-month internship may be extended an extra month at the discretion of the 
PRMCC and a positive 2-month evaluation. Interns are responsible for their own 
travel expenses, visa requirements, and living expenses. A US$1,400 tuition fee 
is required from all interns. A 25% discount on tuition is provided for local 
(Puerto Rico) interns. For those needing housing accommodations, the PRMCC 
provides housing at the intern’s expense (US$450/month). USA citizen interns do 
not need a visa to attend the internship; International applicants need to 
apply for a USA visa to attend. If interns intend to receive academic credit, 
they are responsible for making all arrangements with their educational 
institutions. 

The PRMCC internship is a once in a lifetime opportunity for students and 
recent graduates to join dedicated scientists who are conducting manatee 
conservation in the beautiful environmental setting of the Caribbean Island of 
Puerto Rico. As part of this program, interns are extremely important members 
of a focused and dedicated team and will be immersed in pioneering hands-on 
work with manatees. This is an excellent chance to contribute meaningfully to 
an exciting marine conservation effort to save an endangered species from 
extinction. Interns who successfully complete the program will receive a 
certificate acknowledging training in manatee conservation initiatives of 
stranding response and necropsies, rescue, rehabilitation and veterinary care, 
population research, and community outreach and education.

Applications for the February 2015 internship must be received by 31 December 
2014; May 2015 internship by 1 February 2015; and September 2015 internship by 
1 June 2015. To apply, submit a complete application at our website  
http://manatipr.org/voluntarios/internship/. For more information, please 
contact vol...@manatipr.org.


Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni, PhD
Professor & Director
Puerto Rico Manatee Conservation Center
Inter American University of Puerto Rico
787-279-1912 x2070   •   787-399-1900 
mignu...@manatipr.org   •   amignu...@bayamon.inter.edu
www.manatipr.org   •   www.bayamon.inter.edu
facebook.com/manatipr.org   •   twitter.com/manatipr

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