date:20180214

[MARMAM] Scientist 7 position open for applicants, working on marine mammal conservation in Anchorage AK

2018-02-14 Thread Tracy Collier

Hello MARMAM,

Ocean Associates is seeking a person knowledgable about marine mammal 
conservation issues to support both formal and informal consultations conducted 
by the Alaska Regional Office of NOAA/NMFS, in Anchorage AK.  To see the 
details of the job listing, and to apply, please go here 
.
  This is a great opportunity to contribute to conservation efforts in Alaska, 
working with an experienced team of federal managers and scientists.

Please feel free to distribute this to others who you think might be interested.

Best,

Tracy

Tracy Collier

Senior Associate and Project Manager, Ocean Associates

(206)780-1931

tracycoll...@oceanassoc.com

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[MARMAM] ECS 2018

2018-02-14 Thread Rebecca Boys

Dear MARMAMERS,

For those of you attending the ECS conference in Italy in April, please be 
aware of some upcoming deadlines!

For those of you still looking at accommodation for the La Spezia conference, 
please be aware that the special prices listed on the ECS website 
http://europeancetaceansociety.eu/con…/travel-accomodation-0
 are only valid until 28th February!
Also, remember that the timing of the conference is close to Easter holidays, 
so accommodation will start being booked up soon.

Don't forget to submit your videos for the ECS video night in La Spezia! Please 
send them to video.ecs.la.spe...@gmail.com The submission date is 23rd 
February. More details are here 
http://europeancetaceansociety.eu/conference/video-night-0

Finally, the early bird registration will also be closing next week 23rd 
February, so register soon!

We look forward to seeing you all in La Spezia!

Rebecca Boys

ECS Student Representative
Marine Biologist at IMAR - Dept. Oceanography and Fisheries, University of the 
Azores


Sent from Mail for Windows 10

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[MARMAM] 3rd Cetacean Reseach Course/ Internship in Baja, Mexico

2018-02-14 Thread Fernanda Urrutia

Hola!

The Cetacean Observation Program PROCETUS, located in Baja California,
Mexico is offering its third course/internship on monitoring cetaceans in
Bahia de los Angeles, Baja California, Mexico. This course is directed to
students or anyone interested in learning more about whales and/or want to
gain valuable research experience on the field.

This one-week course includes 6 days of boat surveys. Each survey
consisting of 6 to 8 boat hours along the Canal de Ballenas in Bahia de los
Angeles. Each day, students/interns will learn photo-id research, sampling
techniques, behavioral observations and GIS mapping. Although students
cannot obtain academic credit with this course, we encourage students to
talk to their teachers in order to take this course as an independent
study. Interns will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the
course, if required.

*Dates*

June 1st - 8th, 2018

* Fee*

870 USD

*The fee includes*

· Transportation to/from Bahia de los Angeles from/to San
Diego/Tijuana (11-12 hour drive).

· Accommodation at local Hotel.

· All meals.

· Field work: boat surveys.

*The fee does not include *

· Travel to San Diego or Tijuana

· Travel insurance

· Expenses incurred before/after the course

· Spending money

For more information visit:
https://www.procetus.org/single-post/2018/02/13/3rd-Cetacean-Reseach-Course-Internship-in-Baja-Mexico

Regards,

PROCETUS
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[MARMAM] New paper on effect of pregnancy on diving behavior of northern elephant seals

2018-02-14 Thread Luis Huckstadt

Dear MARMAM,

My co-authors and I are pleased to announce our recent publication in
Biology Letters:

Huckstadt LA, RR Holser, MS Tift and DP Costa. 2018. The extra burden of
motherhood: reduced dive duration associated with pregnancy status in a
deep-diving mammal, the northern elephant seal. Biology Letters 14:
20170722.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2017.0722

Abstract:
The cost of pregnancy is hard to study in marine mammals, particularly
in species that undergo pregnancy while diving continuously at sea such as
elephant
seals (genus *Mirounga*).We analysed the diving behaviour of confirmed
pregnant and non-pregnant northern elephant seals (*M. angustirostris*, n =
172)
and showed that after an initial continuous increase in dive duration,
dives of
pregnant females become shorter after week 17. The reasons for this
reduction
in dive duration remain unknown, but we hypothesize that increased fetal
demand for oxygen could be the cause. Our findings reveal an opportunity
to explore the use of biologging data to investigate pregnancy status of
free-ranging marine mammals and factors that could affect pregnancy success.

The full article is available at
http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/14/2/20170722

If interested in a PDF copy, please contact me at lahuc...@gmail.com


Luis A. Huckstadt, Ph.D.
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
University of California Santa Cruz
Coastal Biology Building, Rm 174
130 McAllister Way
Santa Cruz, CA  95060
Ph: (831) 502-8675
http://lahuckst.wixsite.com/welcome
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[MARMAM] New publication: New diagnostic descriptions and distribution information for Shepherd's beaked whale (Tasmacetus shepherdi) off Southern Australia and New Zealand

2018-02-14 Thread David Donnelly

Dear list,
My co-authors and I are very pleased to announce the publication of our recent 
article in Marine Mammal Science, Early View: 
David M. Donnelly, Paul Ensor, Peter Gill, Rohan H. Clarke, Karen Evans, 
Michael C. Double, Trudi Webster, Will Rayment and Natalie T. SchmittNew 
diagnostic descriptions and distribution information for Shepherd's beaked 
whale (Tasmacetus shepherdi) off Southern Australia and New ZealandVersion of 
Record online : 10 FEB 2018, DOI: 10./mms.12478
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10./mms.12478/full

Abstract:Shepherd’s beaked whale (Tasmacetus shepherdi), is amongst the most 
poorly understood of all mammals and is one of the least known cetaceans 
globally. Prior to 2006, there had been no validated vessel-based at-sea 
sightings of this species and subsequently there has been a paucity of detailed 
descriptive data on the external morphology of live specimens. Offshore 
vessel-based surveys between May 2008 and February 2017, in the region of 
southern Australia and New Zealand, presented rare opportunistic sightings of 
free-swimming Shepherd’s beaked whale. Here we present relevant data pertaining 
to the first detailed morphological description of live Shepherd’s beaked whale 
using first-hand accounts gathered from eighteen validated field observations 
of the species. 
Queries regarding this publication may be directed to 
killerwhalesaustra...@gmail.com Regards,David David Donnelly
Marine Wildlife ConsultantManager: Killer Whales Australia
Victoria, Australia.
Mobile +61 401 011 022
Email ddonnel...@yahoo.com.au
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[MARMAM] New papers on cognitive bias, anticipatory behaviour and Human-Animal Interactions in captive dolphins

2018-02-14 Thread Isabella

Dear Colleagues,

My co-authors and I are very pleased to be able to share with you two new
publications: one showing that dolphins positively anticipated non-food
interactions with their caretakers, and the other reporting a link found
between dolphins' cognitive bias and anticipatory behaviour, in a first for any
species. Both have implications for the way that dolphin species are managed in
captivity.

Clegg, I. L., Rödel, H. G., Boivin, X., & Delfour, F. (2018). Looking forward
to interacting with their caretakers: dolphins’ anticipatory behaviour
indicates motivation to participate in specific events. Applied Animal
Behaviour Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2018.01.015

Clegg, I. L., & Delfour, F. (2018). Cognitive judgement bias is associated with
frequency of anticipatory behavior in bottlenose dolphins. Zoo Biology.
DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21400

The details and abstracts of the papers can be found below. Please feel free to
request copies directly by emailing: izzicl...@hotmail.co.uk

Best wishes,

Isabella Clegg

Dr. Isabella Clegg
Animal Welfare Consulting
www.animalwelfareconsulting.com
Twitter: @izziclegg
+44 7971 101 244

Abstract
Anticipatory behaviour describes the actions taken to prepare for an upcoming
event. Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in captivity are known to
display anticipatory behaviours before feeding sessions, but it is unknown
whether they would anticipate non-alimentary events. Furthermore, there is no
published information available for any species on whether the level of
anticipatory behaviour is predictive of an animal’s actual participation in the
following event or reward: answering this question would bring us closer to
understanding this behaviour and its related affective states. In this study,
we used sound cues to condition dolphins to the arrival of toys in their pool
or a positive Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) with a familiar trainer, and
measured their anticipatory behaviour before each event. The protocol was
validated since the dolphins performed significantly more anticipatory
behaviour before the toys and HAI contexts than a control situation, by means
of increased frequencies of surface looking and spy hopping. Furthermore, we
found that dolphins showed more anticipatory behaviour before the HAI than the
toys context (Linear Mixed Model with 1000 permutations, all P < 0.001). In the
second part of the investigation, higher anticipatory behaviour before toy
provision, HAIs, and feeding sessions was significantly correlated to higher
levels of participation in the event itself (measured by time spent with
humans/toys, and number of times dolphins left during feeding sessions; LMM
with 1000 permutations, respectively: β = 0.216 ± 0.100 SE, P = 0.039; β =
0.274 ± 0.097 SE, P = 0.008; β = −0.169 ± 0.080 SE, P = 0.045). Our results
suggest that toys and HAIs were perceived as rewarding events, and we propose
that non-food human interactions play an important role in these animals’
lives. We also provide some of the first empirical evidence that anticipatory
behaviour is correlated to the level of participation in the following event,
supporting anticipatory behaviour as a measure of motivation, and hope that
this stimulates further work regarding the use of this behaviour to assess and
improve animal welfare.

Clegg, I. L. K., & Delfour, F. (2018). Cognitive judgement bias is associated
with frequency of anticipatory behavior in bottlenose dolphins. Zoo biology.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/zoo.21400/full

Abstract
Many animals display a suite of increased vigilance and/or activity responses
in relation to upcoming events, termed “anticipatory behavior.” Anticipatory
behavior toward positive events has been suggested as a cross-species measure
of affective state as it likely reflects the balance of the reward-sensitivity
system: various studies suggest that animals in poorer welfare situations show
higher or excessive levels of anticipation for positive events. Another tool
for evaluating animals' affective state is cognitive bias testing, and although
it has been attempted, a link has not yet been made between cognitive bias and
anticipatory behavior levels. Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in
captivity increase the performance of behaviors such as surface-looking and
spy-hopping in anticipation of training sessions during which food is provided.
In this study we measured anticipatory behavior frequency in bottlenose
dolphins prior to positive reinforcement training sessions, and assessed
whether frequency of anticipatory behavior correlated with

[MARMAM] New paper: decrease in sea ice and an increase in harbour seal abundance in the Churchill River

2018-02-14 Thread Katie Florko

Dear MARMAM,



My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our paper in
Polar Biology:



Florko, K.R.N., Bernhardt, W., Breiter, C.C., Ferguson, S.H., Hainstock,
M., Young, B.G., Petersen, S.D. Decreasing sea ice conditions in western
Hudson Bay and an increase in abundance of harbour seals (*Phoca* *vitulina*)
in the Churchill River. Polar Biology, doi: 10.1007/s00300-018-2277-6



http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00300-018-2277-6



Abstract:

Harbour seals (*Phoca vitulina*) occur in the Arctic but little is known of
their population abundance and natural history. In western Hudson Bay, they
occur at lower numbers relative to ringed seals (*Pusa hispida*) and their
distribution is largely unknown. However, a reduction in the duration of
periods of ice cover in Hudson Bay may be shifting the habitat suitability
of the region towards one that favours harbour seals. Harbour seal counts
from a known haul-out site at the upstream extent of the Churchill River
estuary, located in northern Manitoba, were examined in relation to sea ice
conditions in western Hudson Bay. The Churchill River estuary haul-out site
was observed directly or remotely (via GigaPan™ photos) during the
open-water seasons in 1996, 1999, 2000, and 2005, and from 2014 to 2016. We
documented an increase in abundance over the study period; the maximum
number of harbour seals observed hauled out at one time was 142 in 2016,
compared to a maximum of 32 observed during monitoring activities conducted
between 1996 and 2005. In addition, newly born harbour seal pups were
observed at the haul-out site during the latter study years, an occurrence
not observed from 1996 to 2005. We suggest that an increase in the
abundance of harbour seals in Hudson Bay and potentially the entire Arctic
may be observed if climate change related reductions in the duration of ice
cover continue.



The full paper is available via this link:

http://rdcu.be/GzEg



Best wishes,

Katie Florko



--

Katie Florko, MSc Candidate

Department of Biology

York University

Toronto, ON



Twitter: @kflorko

Email: katieflo...@gmail.com
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[MARMAM] Final Reminder - Submissions of candidate IMMA areas of interest for the North East Indian Ocean and South East Asian Seas

2018-02-14 Thread MMPATF IMMA

**Final Reminder - Submissions of candidate IMMA areas of interest for
the North East Indian Ocean and South East Asian Seas**


Dear Subscribers,


This is a final reminder for submissions of Important Marine Mammal
Area (IMMA)areas of interest in the North East Indian Ocean and South
East Asian Seas. The deadline for all submissions is by midnight
**Sunday February 25th 2018**


The IMMA is a global initiative developed by the IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA
Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force (IUCN-MMPATF). The aim of
IMMA classification is to identify discrete areas of habitat
throughout the world's seas and oceans, important for one or more
species of marine mammal, that have the potential to be delineated and
managed for conservation. This will require the application of a
standardized process for the collation and categorization of evidence,
using a consistent protocol and agreed methodology.


The Mediterranean Sea and Pacific Islands regions were assessed in
2016 and 2017. The results of these workshops can now be accessed via
the dedicated IMMA e-Atlas facility
www.marinemammalhabitat.org/imma-eatlas


The next region to be assessed by invited experts will be held in Kota
Kinabalu - Malaysia - during March 2018, at a specially convened
Regional IMMA Workshop for the North East Indian Ocean and South East
Asian Seas. To assist those participating experts to investigated
where IMMAs may be located the IUCN-MMPATF would like to invite
interested parties to submit proposals using the IMMA standard web
platform, which can be accessed through the following link -
https://goo.gl/XydMzo - please be advised that you can only submit one
proposal per survey taken. However, should you wish
to submit more than one proposal, please complete this survey multiple
times using the same link provided.

All submissions will be collated and presented to participating
experts at the North East Indian Ocean and South East Asian Seas
Regional IMMA Workshop in March 2018. The IUCN-MMPATF would like to
thank you for your interest in the IMMA initiative. Further
information about IMMAs can be found at the Task Force homepage
(www.marinemammalhabitat.org/) and on the Task Force IMMA Facebook
page (tinyurl.com/zr9rvf4).

For any further questions or assistance please contact the IUCN-MMPATF
at immacoordinatorgmail.com*
Dr Michael J. Tetley - IMMA Coordinator*

IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force
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[MARMAM] ECS Workshop on Communication

2018-02-14 Thread Luigi Bundone

  

Dear Marmamers,

 we would kindly like to announce the 6th Workshop
on "Communicating marine mammal science to the general public" focused
on
 "Plastic litter and marine mammals: how communication can properly
address the issue" 

Aim: 

* share information on the topic related
to education
* exchange and develop applicable protocols to address
education
* foster general networking with all stakeholders
*
support ECS to address educational questions

Anticipated outcome: 

*
protocol related to objectives and strategies of communication
*
recommendations to prioritise activities for the prevention or
mitigation of plastic pollution in the marine environment
* provide
useful tools and instruments to address the issue

Abstract: 

In this
sixth successive workshop in the area of communication we want to
continue to share educational and outreaching experiences of
communicating marine mammal science to the general public. These
experiences can be educational programs that support school or
university curricula, pedagogical outreach materials such as books,
videos, kits, activities and exhibitions. 

This year's workshop will
address the growing problem of plastic litter (macro and micro plastic)
in the marine environment representing a great threat to marine mammals
and some approaches to communicate the problem and address solutions.


The workshop will be divided in two parts. In the morning session
several invited speakers will shed light on the following aspects of the
topic: 

* general introduction of the subject including related
aspects (chemical pollution in conjunction with micro and macro
plastics), sources of information, educational tools and communication
activities
* case study examples based on actual research in the field
(sensitization campaign, citizen science)
* case studies of addressing
the issue effectively, involving marine and coastal stakeholders (in
particular fishermen)

The afternoon session will focus on a general
discussion in the plenum and/ or working groups that will be formed at
the end of the morning session. The second session will depend very much
on the input of the participants in sharing their experiences as well as
addressing challenges they are currently facing. A draft of a protocol
related to objectives and strategies of communication will be presented
and discussed. A more detailed programme e.g. with abstracts will soon
be published and send to you on request. 

If you have any questions or
would like to register for the workshop please write to: 

Volker Smit
(s...@m-e-e-r.de [1]) or 

Dr. Luigi Bundone (luigibund...@tiscali.it
[2]) 

Kind regards 
-- 

Dr. Luigi Elio Alessandro
Bundone
PhD
Archipelagos-ambiente e sviluppo, Italia
Calle Asiago 4
(Sant'Elena)
30132 Venezia
   


Con Mobile Open 7 GB a 9 euro/4 sett navighi veloce con 7 GB di Internet e hai 
200 minuti ed SMS a 12 cent. Passa a Tiscali Mobile! 
http://tisca.li/OPEN7GBFirma

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[MARMAM] PhD opportunity: Humpback whale song ontogeny

2018-02-14 Thread Ellen Garland

We are seeking to recruit a PhD student for the following project:

Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) song ontogeny, evolution and vocal
learning

Male humpback whales sing a long and elaborate vocal display. Thousands of
males can rapidly and synchronously change their population-specific song to a
new version in as little as two months, a feat which is unparalleled in any
other animal except humans. Despite our advances in understanding the cultural
aspects of song, we have little understanding of song development at an
individual level and how factors such as age may affect the cultural
transmission of the song. Recent advances have enabled the age of humpback
whales to be determined from skin samples that have been collected for genetic
analyses (the Humpback Epigenetic Age Assay). Using acoustic and epigenetic
data, this PhD project seeks to study how the age of males may govern changes
in the song.

The student will be based at the University of St Andrews under the supervision
of Dr Ellen Garland, and co-supervised by Dr Luke Rendell (St Andrews), in
collaboration with Dr Claire Garrigue (IRD UMR ENTROPIE), Dr Emma Carroll (St
Andrews & University of Auckland) and Dr Simon Jarmon (Curtin
University/CSIRO). Candidates should have a strong background in behavioural
ecology or evolutionary biology. Knowledge or experience in bioacoustics or
laboratory genetic analysis is essential, and experience of both desirable.
Candidates with a genetic background are encouraged to apply but should note
the strong focus on acoustics, which will require substantial acoustic analysis
to be undertaken. However, training in molecular or acoustic techniques will be
tailored to the candidate’s experience. The student will be expected to
participate in annual fieldwork lasting two to three months in semi-remote
locations, along with visits to the epigenetic ageing facility. Previous field
experience involving small boats, marine mammals, and remote locations would be
advantageous. The candidate should have strong communication (oral and written)
and interpersonal skills given the collaborative nature of the project and
extended fieldwork. The ability to speak French would also be desirable (but
not essential).

General requirements include a background in evolutionary and behavioural
biology, and a BSc (Hons) or MSc degree (first class) in a relevant discipline.
Students must attain a 2:1 or higher in order to be eligible for the
studentship as this project is funded by the Royal Society. The funding
includes a four-year studentship (fees and stipend) funded at Home (UK/EU) fee
level. International students may apply but will be responsible for the
difference in fees; a fee waiver scholarship may be available for outstanding
candidates

For more information see:
https://synergy.st-andrews.ac.uk/research/phd-study/phd-study-projects/phd-study-cbd-projects/
Applications close on 18 March 2018 and will need to be submitted online
through the St Andrews system. Please include a cover letter, CV, 1-page
project proposal, academic transcripts, writing sample and English language
test (if required).

Please send any enquiries to Dr Ellen Garland at
e...@st-andrews.ac.uk with the subject line: PhD
studentship - ageing.

Kind regards,
Ellen
-
Ellen C. Garland, Ph.D.
Royal Society University Research Fellow

Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU)
Centre for Social Learning & Cognitive Evolution (SLaCE)
Centre for Biological Diversity (CBD)

Postal Address:
Sir Harold Mitchell Building
School of Biology
University of St. Andrews
St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 9TH, UK

Ph: +44 (0)7478-649964
Email: e...@st-andrews.ac.uk
Website: http://biology.st-andrews.ac.uk/contact/staffProfile.aspx?sunid=ecg5
SLaCE: https://synergy.st-andrews.ac.uk/solace/
Twitter: @_SMRU_
-
The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland: No SC013532

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[MARMAM] REMINDER: Alaska Whale Foundation is accepting volunteer applications for the 2018 field season (DEADLINE: This Friday @ 5pm PST)

2018-02-14 Thread Andy Szabo

Alaska Whale Foundation (AWF) is seeking volunteers to participate in a series 
of research, monitoring and data analysis projects at its remote field station 
on Baranof Island, Southeast Alaska (latitude 57.0877 N, longitude 134.8342 W). 
Volunteers will assist primarily in collecting and/or analyzing data for:

• Research on humpback whale social structure, abundance patterns and health 
trends

• Long-term landbird acoustic monitoring

• Terrestrial habitat mapping

The CCC is a cooperative living environment so, in addition to assisting in 
field sampling and data analyses, volunteers will be responsible for cooking, 
cleaning and basic equipment maintenance. Volunteers are expected to cover 
their own costs of getting to/from Petersburg AK and to supply their own 
foul-weather gear (rain gear, boots, etc.) appropriate for work in the 
Southeast Alaskan temperate rainforest.  In return for participation, AWF will 
provide:

• Transportation between the field station and Petersburg

• Room and board

• Mustang-style survival suits and additional safety gear

Volunteers are expected to arrive in Petersburg by noon on June 23 and will be 
returned on the morning of August 17. Because of travel logistics within 
Southeast Alaska these dates are not flexible.  All applicants will be 
considered; however, preference will be given to individuals that are/have:

• Pursuing or recently awarded a BA/BS degree in biology, environmental science 
or similar field

• Boating experience

• Experience working in remote field settings

• Experience with terrestrial and/or marine sampling

• An ability to work well with colleagues in both research and cooperative 
living situations

Interested individuals should apply online at 
http://www.alaskawhalefoundation.org/volunteer.  Applications must be submitted 
no later than February 16 @ 5:00pm Pacific Standard Time.  For more information 
on Alaska Whale Foundation and the Center for Coastal Conservation, please 
visit:  www.alaskawhalefoundation.org
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[MARMAM] RESEARCH ASSISTANT - INTERN COORDINATOR - Dolphins Behaviour Project

2018-02-14 Thread Bruno Diaz Lopez

Dear all,

On behalf of the Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute (BDRI) 
, a marine science centre dedicated to promote the 
conservation of marine mammal species and their habitat through research and 
education, I am pleased to announce that we are currently accepting 
applications for the following: 

RESEARCH ASSISTANT - INTERN COORDINATOR 

This position is responsible for assisting the BDRI biologists in the running 
of the research project focused on the study of the impact of marine vessels on 
bottlenose dolphin behaviour and coordinating the interns participating in the 
project. The intern coordinator is responsible for the daily activities of the 
interns and volunteers, and contributing to the daily functioning of the 
institute, participating both to field and lab work. In return the intern 
coordinator receive accommodation, equipment and logistics support as well as 
constant supervision from Mr. Bruno Díaz López, director, chief biologist; Ms. 
Séverine Methion, MSc, PhD candidate, principal investigator, marine ecologist; 
and Mr. Oriol Giralt, MSc, PhD candidate, research staff, marine biologist.

The project is based in O Grove, North-western coast of Spain and offers the 
participants the chance to work during many steps of the field research and 
data analysis. The main purpose of this program is to contribute towards a more 
detailed understanding of the ecology and behaviour of bottlenose dolphins with 
a focus on the behavioural changes induced by the presence of vessels. 

Start Date: 1st April 2018  

End Date: August 31st 2018 (start and end dates could be flexible)

Responsibilities will include (but are not limited to):

*Assisting the BDRI's biologists in all phases of the research and 
organization.
*Coordinate between the BDRI's biologists and the interns - in charge of 
the intern shared house.
*Assisting the BDRI's biologists in intern basic training of land-based 
surveys and lab work (photo ID studies, Database entry, GIS, and more).
*Assisting the BDRI's biologists with all aspects of marine mammal 
stranding response, including live animal health assessment and triage, 
opportunistic public outreach, biological data collection, and sampling from 
dead stranded marine mammals.

REQUIREMENTS:

- An academic background in biology, veterinary or natural science, coupled 
with motivation, willingness to work hard and interest in marine mammals 
research make the most qualified individuals. The successful applicant is 
expected to have a BSc degree (or higher) and able to demonstrate previous 
experience in marine mammal research. 

- The preferred candidate should have a proven track record as a team player as 
the project will involve working closely with other participants but also must 
be able to supervise small groups of people as they will be coordinating up to 
9 interns. They must also be self-motivated with the drive and determination to 
work independently and responsibly. 

- Must be of good physical fitness, be able to lift/carry 35lbs (16 kg), walk 
long distances in difficult terrain, be comfortable on boats in 
nearshore/offshore waters, able to swim, and work in harsh weather conditions 
at times.

- The intern coordinator must be able to follow written and oral staff 
directions and protocols effectively. 

- The intern coordinator must be able to spend many hours on shore, and working 
in the lab. Laboratory work days typically last 6 hours and field days 
typically exceed four hours and occur approximately two-three times per week. 
There will be two days off per week. Please keep in mind that field work is 
weather dependent, unpredictable, and changes seasonally. 

- Fluent in English.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This post brings the opportunity to be trained and to undertake a personal 
research project supervised by the BDRI' Chief Biologist (Mr. Bruno Díaz López) 
and BDRI' Marine Biologist (Severine Methion) as part of the land-based study 
carried out during this period about the impact of vessels on dolphins 
behaviour. If the candidate intends to receive academic credit, he/she will be 
responsible for making all arrangements with his/her educational institution.

This position is unpaid but accommodation in the intern shared house will be 
covered. Successful applicants will be responsible and their own expenses, 
including food and travelling to and from the research centre in O Grove, 
Galicia, Spain.

TO APPLY:

Applicants must be authorized to legally remain in Europe for more than 3 
months if they are not European citizens or authorized to work in Europe. 
International applicants will be considered, but it is the responsibility of 
the applicant to acquire necessary visas and documentation. 

Interested candidates should submit an application with the following:

  - A cover letter including your availability, i.e. preferred time period (1 
page only);
  - A resume describing training, experienc

[MARMAM] Does underwater footage of Shepherd’s beaked whale (Tasmacetus shepherdi) exist?

2018-02-14 Thread Christopher Thompson

Hi all,

I am trying to determine whether any underwater footage/photographs of
Shepherd's beaked whale *(**Tasmacetus shepherdi**) *exist? I have searched
the relevant scientific literature (see reference list below), news and
other websites documenting strandings and sightings (e.g.
http://www.antarctica.gov.au/science/cool-science/2012/
whale-trackers-make-rare-sighting) and the Cetal Fauna facebook page. All
of which returned imagery limited to stranded animals and photos and videos
shot topside from vessels/the air.

Any information on sub-surface imagery would be much appreciated.

Kind Regards,
Chris Thompson

PhD Candidate
Centre for Marine Futures
University of Western Australia
20493...@student.uwa.edu.au

*References*

Aguilar de Soto, N. *et al.* (2017) ‘True’s beaked whale ( *Mesoplodon
mirus* ) in Macaronesia’, *PeerJ*, 5(iii), p. e3059. doi:
10.7717/peerj.3059.

Best, P. B. *et al.* (2014) ‘Identification of stomach contents from a
Shepherd’s beaked whale Tasmacetus shepherdi stranded on Tristan da Cunha,
South Atlantic’, *Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the
United Kingdom*, 94(6), pp. 1093–1097. doi: 10.1017/S0025315412001658.

Dalebout, M. L. *et al.* (2004) ‘A comprehensive and validated molecular
taxonomy of beaked whales, family Ziphiidae’, *Journal of Heredity*, 95(6),
pp. 459–473. doi: 10.1093/jhered/esh054.

Grandi, M. F. *et al.* (2005) ‘Record of a specimen of Shepherd’s beaked
whale (Tasmacetus shepherdi) from the coast of Santa
Cruz, Argentina, with notes on age determination’, *Latin American Journal
of Aquatic Mammals*, 4(2), pp. 97–100. doi: 10.5597/lajam00081.

Hevia, M. *et al.* (2011) ‘Strandings of six beaked whales in Santa Cruz
province, southern Argentina (1998-2011)’, *Journal of Cetacean Research
and Management*, (March 2015), pp. 1–8.

Holyoake, C. *et al.* (2013) ‘Northernmost record of Shepherd’s beaked
whale (*Tasmacetus shepherdi*) - a morphological and genetic description
from a stranding from Shark Bay, Western Australia’, *Pacific Conservation
Biology*, 19, pp. 169–174. doi: 10.1071/PC130169.

Laughlin, C. (1996) ‘Scientific correspondence probable sighting of
Tasmacetus shepherdi in the South Atlantic’, *Marine Mammal Science*,
12(3), pp. 496–497. doi: 10./j.1748-7692.1996.tb00605.x.

Lichter, A. A. (1986) ‘Records of beaked whales (Ziphiidae) from the
Western South Atlantic’, *The Scientific Reports of The Whales Research
Institute*, 37, pp. 109–127.

MacLeod, C. *et al.* (2006) ‘Known and inferred distributions of beaked
whale species ( Cetacea : Ziphiidae )’, *Journal of Cetacean Research and
Management*, 7(3), pp. 271–286. Available at:
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/health/noise/docs/macleod_distribution.pdf.

Mead, J. G. and Payne, R. S. (1975) ‘American Society of Mammalogists A
Specimen of the Tasman Beaked Whale , Tasmacetus shepherdi , from Argentina
Published by : American Society of Mammalogists Stable URL :
http://www.jstor.org/stable/1379619’, 56(1), pp. 213–218.

Miller, B. S. *et al.* (2012) ‘Cruise report on SORP 2012 blue whale
voyages: Development of acoustic methods’, *Report submitted to the
Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission*, 64/SH11, p.
16. Available at:
https://publications.csiro.au/rpr/pub?list=BRO&pid=csiro:EP125659&sb=RECENT&n=2&rpp=10&page=241&tr=4391&dr=all&dc4.browseYear=2012
.

Moller, A. P., Press, A. and Lions, S. (2007) ‘Shepherd’s Beaked Whale
1011’, pp. 1011–1014.

Oliver, W. R. B. (1937) ‘Tasmacetus shepherdi: a new Genus and Species of
Beaked Whale from New Zealand.’, *Proceedings of the Zoological Society of
London*, 107 B(3), pp. 371–382. doi: 10./j.1469-7998.1937.tb00015.x.
Pitman, R. L. *et al.* (2006) ‘Shepherd’s beaked whale (Tasmacetus
shepherdi): Information on appearance and biology based on strandings and
at-sea observations’, *Marine Mammal Science*, 22(3), pp. 744–755. doi:
10./j.1748-7692.2006.00066.x. >�&� � �=o�= t� �8�n
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