[MARMAM] Whalefish CPD course

[Els Vermeulen]

 Dear colleagues,

At Whalefish we are running our annual Career Professional Development
course at FSC Millport (Scotland) from the 10th to the 12th of August 2018.

This course is titled 'Marine Research Techniques & Conservation' <
https://www.whalefish.org/whalefish-course> and aimed at marine
science students,
recent graduates and environmental professionals to provide an introduction
to marine megafauna research techniques, career options and marine
conservation issues.

It is an IMarEST accredited course and will be taught by our team of
experienced
field biologists actively working in research, industry and conservation.

Discount prices are available for students and include 2 nights of
accommodation
full pension.

For more information and bookings, please contact i...@whalefish.org or look
at our website www.whalefish.org

Kind regards,

Els

-
Els Vermeulen, PhD
Research Manager and Post-doctoral research fellow
Mammal Research Institute Whale Unit
Department of Zoology and Entomology
University of Pretoria, South Africa

Co-founding director Whalefish -www.whalefish.org
PI Sea Search - www.seasearch.co.za

Cell: +27 (0)60 9714301
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[MARMAM] Review paper on genetic and genomic monitoring with minimally invasive sampling methods

[Emma Carroll]

Hi All,

We are pleased to announce that our new review paper "Genetic and genomic
monitoring with minimally invasive sampling methods" has recently been
released on the *Evolutionary Applications* Early View website as part of
the Special Issue: Next generation genetic monitoring. An open access
version of the full paper is available at:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10./eva.12600

kind regards
Emma Carroll


Genetic and genomic monitoring with minimally invasive sampling methods

Emma L. Carroll, Mike W. Bruford, J. Andrew DeWoody, Gregoire Leroy, Alan
Strand,  Lisette Waits and Jinliang Wang

The decreasing cost and increasing scope and power of emerging genomic
technologies are reshaping the field of molecular ecology. However, many
modern genomic approaches (e.g., RAD‐seq) require large amounts of
high‐quality template DNA. This poses a problem for an active branch of
conservation biology: genetic monitoring using minimally invasive sampling
(MIS) methods. Without handling or even observing an animal, MIS methods
(e.g., collection of hair, skin, faeces) can provide genetic information on
individuals or populations. Such samples typically yield low‐quality and/or
quantities of DNA, restricting the type of molecular methods that can be
used. Despite this limitation, genetic monitoring using MIS is an effective
tool for estimating population demographic parameters and monitoring
genetic diversity in natural populations. Genetic monitoring is likely to
become more important in the future as many natural populations are
undergoing anthropogenically driven declines, which are unlikely to abate
without intensive adaptive management efforts that often include MIS
approaches. Here, we profile the expanding suite of genomic methods and
platforms compatible with producing genotypes from MIS, considering factors
such as development costs and error rates. We evaluate how powerful new
approaches will enhance our ability to investigate questions typically
answered using genetic monitoring, such as estimating abundance, genetic
structure and relatedness. As the field is in a period of unusually rapid
transition, we also highlight the importance of legacy data sets and
recommend how to address the challenges of moving between traditional and
next‐generation genetic monitoring platforms. Finally, we consider how
genetic monitoring could move beyond genotypes in the future. For example,
assessing microbiomes or epigenetic markers could provide a greater
understanding of the relationship between individuals and their environment.
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[MARMAM] IFAW: Internship Opportunity

[App IFAW]

Dear all,

Please find below the internship description and instructions for
application.
Thank you.

All best,
Leonor Galhardo

*Email: leonor.galha...@gmail.com *

*Skype: leonor.galhardo*

*Phone: +351967640406 <+351%20967%20640%20406>*




-

*Ship speeds in the Strait of Gibraltar*


*This internship is through IFAW’s European Marine Conservation Programme
and based in the IFAW office in Brussels, Belgium.*



*Programme Background*



IFAW’s Marine Conservation Programme focuses on protecting critical
habitat, conserving endangered cetaceans, and addressing threats to
cetaceans such as whaling, entanglement, ship strike and anthropogenic
noise. IFAW works to reduce the risk of ship strikes to whales in known
vessel-whale hotspots, while continuing to identify other high risk areas.
IFAW is also a permanent observer at the International Maritime
Organization (IMO) and the International Whaling Commission (IWC). As part
of IFAW’s efforts to protect marine life from the impacts of ocean noise we
educate the public about this global pollution problem, work within the IMO
to provide expert advice on marine mammals and focus on governmental and
industry change to decrease underwater noise pollution throughout the
world’s oceans.

*Background*



The Strait of Gibraltar is transited by an increasingly large number of
ferries and fast ferries on the North-South axis, and cargos on the
East-West axis. Approximately 110,000 voyages occur in the Strait each year
connecting numerous North African and Middle Eastern ports with those in
North, Central, and South America. This, along with passenger and fast
ferries that transport 4,000,000 passengers per year, private yachts,
whale-watching and fishing vessels, makes the area a major vessel-strike
risk to whales.



Following review by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a
13-knot speed limit recommendation between April and August was endorsed
through the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) to reduce the
risk of ship strike to sperm whales. This recommended speed restriction was
added to International Nautical Charts, and disseminated as a Notice to
Mariners (published on January 2007 by the Spanish Navy Hydrographical
Institute). In so doing, this measure became the first vessel speed
recommendation instituted in a TSS (Traffic Separation Scheme) for the
purposes of cetacean conservation.



*Internship Duties*

Between June and September 2018 the intern, based in the Brussels office,
will:

1. Review recent information on cetacean distribution in the area
engaging with local researchers, and conduct interviews.

2. Assess how the speed limit has been communicated and respected (or
not) in the past years, where feasible, and continue ship monitoring via
www.marinetraffic.com to enable analysis of shipping behaviour to continue.

   1. Investigate how information regarding the voluntary speed limit is
   communicated to ship operators (nautical charts, radio broadcasts via VHS
   Spain, sailing directions etc.), the proportion of ship operators
   informed/aware of the speed limit, when information is received (e.g. in
   time to incorporate in voyage planning or not) etc.
   2. Continue investigation and compile information on speeds of ships
   travelling through speed limit area of 13 knots (24 km/hr).
   3. Identify approximately 20 of biggest container ships, identify
   owner/operator and compile contact details.
   4. Evaluate numbers and types of ships exceeding the speed limit.
   Evaluate responses from ship operators. Outreach to ship operators, Spanish
   and Moroccan governments.



*Requirements:*

   1. Must be at least 18 years old and an EU citizen.
   2. Be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, or to have
   graduated within 3 years.
   3. Able to follow written and oral staff directions and protocols
   effectively and able to work in teams and individually.
   4. Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
   5. Must be able to commit to a minimum 4 days a week during the
   internship session.
   6. Fluent in English and good level of Spanish is preferable.



*Preferable:*

Undergraduate or graduate of biology, zoology, ecology, nautical engineer
or related field.





*Important Information*



· This internship is unpaid and housing and transportation are the
responsibility of the intern. IFAW will provide intern with expenses
reimbursements and cover travel costs to Spain as necessary.

· Interns intending to receive academic credit are responsible for
making all arrangements with their educational institution.

· Please email any questions regarding academic credits and general
questions to: applications.i...@gmail.com.



*Application materials due by:* *13 April, 2018*
*Internship starts 1st June 2018.*

*Only complete applications will be considered.*

Required application materials (you must provide all