[MARMAM] Checklist of marine mammal parasites in New Zealand and Australian waters

[Lehnert-Sobotta, Kristina]

Dear colleagues,
My co-authors and I are pleased to share the publication of our checklist in 
Journal of Helminthology:

Lehnert, K., Poulin, R., & Presswell, B. (n.d.). Checklist of marine mammal 
parasites in New Zealand and Australian waters. Journal of Helminthology, 1-28. 
doi:10.1017/S0022149X19000361

Abstract: Marine mammals are long-lived top predators with vagile lifestyles, 
which often inhabit remote environments. This is especially relevant in the 
oceanic waters around New Zealand and Australia where cetaceans and pinnipeds 
are considered as vulnerable and often endangered due to anthropogenic impacts 
on their habitat. Parasitism is ubiquitous in wildlife, and prevalence of 
parasitic infections as well as emerging diseases can be valuable bioindicators 
of the ecology and health of marine mammals. Collecting information about 
parasite diversity in marine mammals will provide a crucial baseline for 
assessing their impact on host and ecosystem ecology. New studies on marine 
mammals in New Zealand and Australian waters have recently added to our 
knowledge of parasite prevalence, life cycles and taxonomic relationships in 
the Australasian region, and justify a first host–parasite checklist 
encompassing all available data. The present checklist comprises 36 species of 
marine mammals, and 114 species of parasites (helminths, arthropods and 
protozoans). Mammal species occurring in New Zealand and Australian waters but 
not included in the checklist represent gaps in our knowledge. The checklist 
thus serves both as a guide for what information is lacking, as well as a 
practical resource for scientists working on the ecology and conservation of 
marine mammals.


A PDF copy can be obtained from the authors on request!

Kind regards,

Kristina Lehnert





Dr. Kristina Lehnert
Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research
University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation
Werftstr. 6│25761 Buesum│Germany
Phone +49 (0) 511 856 8171
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[MARMAM] New publication on the long-term negative effects of wildlife tourism and food provisioning on bottlenose dolphins

[Valeria Senigaglia]

Dear All,

My coauthors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our
latest paper in Scientific Reports:

Senigaglia V., Christiansen F., Sprogis K.R., Symons J., Bejder L. 2019.
“Food-provisioning negatively affects calf survival and female reproductive
success in bottlenose dolphins” Scientific Reports 9: 8981

The paper is freely available online at
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-45395-6


Abstract

Food-provisioning of wildlife can facilitate reliable up-close encounters
desirable by tourists and, consequently, tour operators. Food-provisioning
can alter the natural behavior of an animal, encouraging adverse behavior
(e.g. begging for food handouts), and affect the reproductive success and
the viability of a population. Studies linking food-provisioning to
reproductive success are limited due to the lack of long-term datasets
available, especially for long-lived species such as marine mammals. In
Bunbury, Western Australia, a state-licensed food-provisioning program
offers fish handouts to a limited number of free-ranging bottlenose
dolphins (*Tursiops aduncus*). Coupled with long-term historical data, this
small (< 200 individuals), resident dolphin population has been extensively
studied for over ten years, offering an opportunity to examine the effect
of food-provisioning on the reproductive success of females (*n*total= 63;
*n*provisioned females= 8). Female reproductive success was estimated as
the number of weaned calves produced per reproductive years and calf
survival at year one and three years old was investigated. The mean
reproductive success of provisioned and non-provisioned females was
compared using Bayes factor. We also used generalized linear models (GLMs)
to examine female reproductive success in relation to the occurrence of
food-provisioning, begging behavior and location (within the study area).
Furthermore, we examined the influence of these variables, birth order and
climatic fluctuations (e.g. El Niño Southern Oscillation) on calf survival.
Bayes factor analyses (Bayes factor = 6.12) and results from the best
fitting GLMs showed that female reproductive success and calf survival were
negatively influenced by food-provisioning. The negative effects of
food-provisioning, although only affecting a small proportion of the adult
females’ population (13.2%), are of concern, especially given previous work
showing that this population is declining.

Best,
Valeria Senigaglia

-- 

*Valeria Senigaglia*

*PhD Candidate*

Aquatic Megafauna Research Unit 

School of Veterinary and Life Sciences

Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia

Mobile: +61474837914

E-mail: v.senigag...@murdoch.edu.au


[image: Murdoch logo bw]
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[MARMAM] Summer job posting-Research and Community Outreach Assistant

[Jessica Torode]

Research and Community Outreach Assistant (Contract)

Ocean Wise Conservation Association

The B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network (BCCSN) is a program of Ocean Wise's 
Coastal Ocean Research Institute, a citizen science initiative that collects 
sightings of cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) and sea turtles from 
mariners and coastal residents for conservation-based research.

Based on Saturna Island and in collaboration with the Saturna Island Marine 
Research and Education Society (SIMRES), the BCCSN Research and Community 
Outreach Assistant will, through a variety of outreach efforts, help promote 
the BCCSN and encourage local mariners, residents and visitors to report their 
sightings and follow the "Be Whale Wise" guidelines when out on the water.  
This individual will be responsible for collaborating with SIMRES to plan 
appropriate outreach events, to recruit volunteers, to conduct marina visits to 
educate boaters, and to deliver youth and public programming on cetaceans. They 
will also conduct a shore-based study of harbour porpoise habitat use and 
behaviour in relation to vessel presence, and represent the BC Cetacean 
Sightings Network and Ocean Wise at public events and during media interviews.
Please note the following important information:

  *   This position is located on Saturna Island, BC. The successful applicant 
will be responsible for securing their own accommodation and transportation.
  *   This is a two-month summer position with an expected start date of July 
8th, 2019.
 KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
Assists with the shore-based harbour porpoise habitat usage study by:

  *   Recruiting and managing a team of community volunteers (5-10) to conduct 
porpoise research;
  *   Assisting with and supervising data collection;
  *   Deploying and retrieving hydrophones and using them to make recordings;
  *   Managing and analyzing data and summarizing findings.
 Helps build public awareness of cetaceans around the Southern Gulf Islands by:

  *   Conducting mariner outreach and education by coordinating and undertaking 
Dock Talks at marinas;
  *   Planning, preparing and attending outreach events such as festivals and 
other special events around the Gulf Islands to promote the B.C. Cetacean 
Sightings Network and to build public awareness of cetaceans;
  *   Conducting outreach to youth on marine mammals and marine conservation by 
working with local science camps and other organizations targeting young people;
  *   Developing and maintaining professional links and collaborations with 
conservation groups, government agencies, ecotourism companies, and commercial 
and sport fishermen;

  *   Responding to enquiries from staff, members of the public, and the media.
 Consciously desires to improve the Ocean Wise and its processes by:

  *   Promptly aiding in Emergency Protocols;
  *   Maintaining and supporting organizational safety standards;
  *   Continually improving our impact on the environment and greening of 
operations through support of EMS protocols;
  *   Actively demonstrating Ocean Wise's values and code of conduct;
  *   Performing additional duties as required.
 QUALIFICATIONS
This job is funded by the Canada Summer Jobs program. Mandatory requirements 
are:

  *   Between 15-30 years of age
  *   Eligible to work in Canada
Education & Experience

  *   Minimum of two years of post-secondary education in biology, natural 
sciences, environmental studies, marine science, or related field;
  *   Experience delivering educational programs or talks;
  *   Experience with data collection and management;
  *   Valid BC driver's license;
  *   Project management experience an asset;
  *   Supervisory experience an asset;
  *   First Aid certification is an asset;
  *   Volunteer recruitment and management an asset.
 Skills

  *   Strong organizational skills;
  *   Knowledge of marine mammal biology and ecology;
  *   Outgoing, energetic, and comfortable with public speaking and engaging 
the public;
  *   Self-motivated and able to work well under minimal supervision;
  *   Intermediate skills in word processing, database, and spreadsheet 
software;
  *   Excellent project management and time management skills;
  *   Ability to learn and adapt in a constantly changing environment;
  *   Resourceful, a problem-solver, skilled in meeting priorities and able to 
adapt to unexpected situations;
  *   Excellent writing skills;
  *   Ability and maturity to deal with a wide variety of ages and 
personalities.
 Working Conditions and requirements

  *   The incumbent will work in a shared office environment with the usual 
ergonomic risks;
  *   During outreach events, candidate will be exposed to sun, season weather, 
noise and large crowds;
  *   During shore-based research, incumbent will be exposed to sun, season 
weather, and rough terrain;
  *   Will be required to lift up to 25kg;
  *   Candidate must own or have access to a vehicle for work-related travel 
(mileage