[MARMAM] New publication: sensory ecology in conservation biology

[Jennifer Tennessen]

Dear All,

My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our paper
entitled "Why conservation biology can benefit from sensory ecology", in
Nature Ecology and Evolution.

Dominoni, D. M., Halfwerk, W., Baird, E., Buxton, R. T., Fernández-Juricic,
E., Fristrup, K. M., McKenna, M. F., Mennitt, D. J., Perkin, E. K.,
Seymoure, B. M., Stoner, D. C., Tennessen, J. B., Toth, C. A., Tyrrell, L.
P., Wilson, A., Francis, C. D., Carter, N. H. & Barber, J. R. (2020). Why
conservation biology can benefit from sensory ecology. *Nature Ecology &
Evolution*, 1-10.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-1135-4

*Abstract*
Global expansion of human activities is associated with the introduction of
novel stimuli, such as anthropogenic noise, artificial lights and chemical
agents. Progress in documenting the ecological effects of sensory
pollutants is weakened by sparse knowledge of the mechanisms underlying
these effects. This severely limits our capacity to devise mitigation
measures. Here, we integrate knowledge of animal sensory ecology,
physiology and life history to articulate three perceptual
mechanisms—masking, distracting and misleading—that clearly explain how and
why anthropogenic sensory pollutants impact organisms. We then link these
three mechanisms to ecological consequences and discuss their implications
for conservation. We argue that this framework can reveal the presence of
‘sensory danger zones’, hotspots of conservation concern where sensory
pollutants overlap in space and time with an organism’s activity, and
foster development of strategic interventions to mitigate the impact of
sensory pollutants. Future research that applies this framework will
provide critical insight to preserve the natural sensory world.

Best wishes,
Jennifer Tennessen


-- 
*Jennifer B. Tennessen, Ph.D.*
Postdoctoral Scientist, contractor with Lynker, LLC
Marine Mammal & Seabird Ecology Team, Conservation Biology Division
NOAA/NMFS Northwest Fisheries Science Center
2725 Montlake Blvd East
Seattle, WA 98112
Phone: (206) 860-3473

and

Research Associate
Department of Biology
Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA, 98225
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[MARMAM] New publication on dolphins personality and social network

[Bruno Diaz Lopez]

Dear Colleagues,

I am delighted to share with all of you the following paper recently published 
in Animal Behaviour. This new study provides additional evidence of the 
existence of social personalities in bottlenose dolphins and contributes to the 
understanding of the role of personality in determining the extent to which 
marine mammals associate with others. 

Diaz Lopez, B., 2020.When personality matters: personality and social structure 
in wild bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus. Animal Behaviour 163,73-84.  
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.03.001

ABSTRACT

There is increasing evidence that animal personality can affect many aspects of 
an individual's behaviour, life history and fitness. However, there have been 
few studies about the link between personality and social organization in the 
context of wild mammals in their own natural environments. This article reports 
on ecologically relevant data, linking experimental data from the wild to 
long-term social association data in a socially and cognitively complex mammal 
species (bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus). Here, I used behavioural data 
to describe personality differences between bottlenose dolphins and social 
network analysis to assess the relationship between personality and social 
structure. First, I measured the reaction of photo-identified individuals over 
time and across contexts as a trade-off between a novelty-seeking behaviour 
(boldness) and a novelty-averse behaviour (shyness). Second, I applied social 
network analysis to understand the link between the observed shy–bold continuum 
and social organization, while controlling for other factors that could 
contribute to affiliation. This study presents for the first time consistent 
individual differences in behavioural response to novelty, as a proxy for the 
shy–bold continuum, in wild bottlenose dolphins. Bold individuals had a central 
role in the social network with stronger associations than shy individuals, 
suggesting that bold individuals may play an important role in group cohesion, 
group stability and the spread of information through the network. Together, 
these findings provide insights into how a social network is structured by 
personality in wild bottlenose dolphins, with potential fitness consequences. 
Furthermore, this study provides additional evidence of the existence of social 
personalities in nonhuman animals and contributes to the understanding of the 
role of personality in determining the extent to which mammals associate with 
others.

The article can be found at: http://dlvr.it/RSq1Z9

Please contact me for a pdf copy if needed.

With all best wishes in these uncertain days,

Bruno Diaz Lopez Ph.D
Chief biologist and Director
The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI
Avenida Beiramar 192, O Grove 36980, Pontevedra, Spain
www.thebdri.com
0034 684248552

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[MARMAM] Job Opening - Marine Mammal Ecologist at the South Australian Research and Development Institute

[Goldsworthy, Simon (PIRSA-SARDI)]

Dear All,
I am pleased to advise that a position for a Marine Mammal Ecologist with the 
South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) has been advertised.

The Opportunity
We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Research Scientist (Marine Mammal 
Ecologist) to be part of our South Australian Research and Development 
Institute Division, South Australian Government  Department of Primary 
Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA). The role reports to the 
Principal Scientist (Ecosystem Effects of Fishing and Aquaculture SubProgram).

The Senior Research Scientist (Marine Mammal Ecologist) will conduct high 
quality research, and ensure the timely delivery of research outcomes to 
Government and industry clients and the community, which are of major 
importance to natural resources management.

The incumbent provides support to the Sub-Program Leader in undertaking and 
managing research projects, including project budgets, permitting and 
supervising technical staff and students. The Senior Research Scientist is 
responsible for coordinating fieldwork and undertaking data collection and 
analyses and report and manuscript preparation for projects principally funded 
by PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture, the Fisheries Research and Development 
Corporation (FRDC); and the SA Department of Environment and Water (DEW) and 
the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC).

These projects have some overlap but broadly they aim to 1) assess, monitor and 
mitigate seafood industry interactions with protected species; 2) population 
and ecological studies of marine protected species to inform conservation and 
management; and 3) ecological modelling as a decision support tool for 
fisheries and aquaculture and ecosystem-based management. The incumbent 
utilises exceptional scientific skills and experience to help explore funding 
opportunities and develop new projects, particularly related to protected 
marine protected species population and foraging ecology and managing their 
interactions with the seafood industry and ecological modelling.

Application Instructions

All applications must be submitted online.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit a Covering Letter (no 
more than 3 pages) outlining your skills and experience in relation to the 
Professional and Technical Knowledge, Innovation and Initiative capabilities of 
the role description and a current CV (no more than 5 pages). Applicants must 
include the contact information of at least 2 referees with 1 being your 
immediate supervisor/manager and a completed "Pre-Employment Declaration in the 
SA Public Sector" form.

Applications close: 13/04/2020 11:45 PM

Attachments:
- Application 
Guideline#2.pdf
- 
Pre-Employment-Declaration#5.pdf
- Role Description - Senior Research Scientist Marine Mammal Ecologist 
PO3.pdf

Further information about the role including the application process can be 
found here:

https://iworkfor.sa.gov.au/page.php?pageID=160=0=505494#brs_jbcontent
https://www.pir.sa.gov.au/top_menu/pirsa_careers/careers/senior_research_scientist_marine_mammal_ecologist

Cheers,

Simon


Working days: Monday toThursday

Prof Simon Goldsworthy | Principal Scientist
Ecosystem Effects of Fishing & Aquaculture
South Australian Research and Development Institute - SARDI | Primary 
Industries and Regions SA - PIRSA
Government of South Australia
Affiliate Professor | The University of Adelaide
2 Hamra Avenue West Beach SA 5024
PO Box 120 Henley Beach SA 5022 | DX 66760
P: (08) 8429 0268 | M: 0428 102 831 | W: 
www.pir.sa.gov.au
   
  



Service l Professionalism l Trust l Respect l Collaboration & Engagement l 
Honesty & Integrity l Courage & Tenacity l Sustainability

Disclaimer: The information in this e-mail may be confidential and/or legally 
privileged. Use or disclosure of the information by anyone other than the 
intended recipient is prohibited and may be unlawful.

   





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[MARMAM] New publications on whale detection using thermal (IR) imaging

[Daniel P. Zitterbart]

Dear marmam community,

We'd like to bring your attention to two recently published articles on 
marine mammal detection using infrared (IR) imaging:


A) evaluates the influence of environmental factors on thermal imaging 
systems for marine mammal detection, provides various detection 
functions, and compares automatic detection algorithm performance 
against visual observers.



B) describes a vessel based field experiment where IR imaging, passive 
acoustic monitoring (PAM), and visual observers were compared for their 
real-time marine mammal detection performance in the North Atlantic.

Both articles are Open Access.


A)
Scaling the laws of thermal imaging-based whale detection.
DP Zitterbart, H Smith, M Flau, S Richter, E Burkhardt, J Beland, L 
Bennett, A Cammareri, A Davis, M Holst, C Lanfredi, H Michel, M Noad, K 
Owen, A Pacini, and Olaf Boebel

Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology
https://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/abs/10.1175/JTECH-D-19-0054.1

Abstract:
Marine mammals are under growing pressure as anthropogenic use of the 
ocean increases. Ship-strikes of large whales and loud underwater sound 
sources including airguns for marine geophysical prospecting and naval 
mid-frequency sonar are criticized for their possible negative effects 
on marine mammals. Competent authorities regularly require the 
implementation of mitigation measures, including vessel speed reductions 
or shut-down of acoustic sources if marine mammals are sighted in 
sensitive areas or in predefined exclusion zones around a vessel. To 
ensure successful mitigation, reliable at-sea detection of animals is 
crucial. To date, ship-based marine mammal observers are the most 
commonly implemented detection method, however thermal (IR) imaging 
based automatic detection systems have been used in recent years. This 
study evaluates thermal imaging-based automatic whale detection 
technology for its use across different oceans. The performance of this 
technology is characterized with respect to environmental conditions, 
and an automatic detection algorithm for whale blows is presented. The 
technology can detect whales in polar, temperate and subtropical ocean 
regimes over distances of up to several kilometers and outperforms 
marine mammal observers in the number of whales detected. These results 
show that thermal imaging technology can be used to assist in providing 
protection for marine mammals against ship-strike and acoustic impact 
across the world’s oceans.



and


B)
A field comparison of marine mammal detections via visual, acoustic, and 
infrared (IR) imaging methods offshore Atlantic Canada.
HR Smith, DP Zitterbart, TF Norris, M Flau, E Ferguson, C Jones, O 
Boebel, V Moulton

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 154, May 2020, 111026
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111026

Abstract:
Impulsive sounds generated during seismic surveys have elicited 
behavioral responses in marine mammals and could cause hearing 
impairment or injury. Mitigating exposure to seismic sound often relies 
on real-time marine mammal detection. Detection performance is 
influenced by detection method, environmental conditions, and observer 
experience. We conducted a field comparison of real-time detections made 
by marine mammal observers (MMOs), a rotating infrared (IR) camera, and 
via passive acoustic monitoring (PAM). Data were collected from a 38 m 
research vessel offshore Atlantic Canada. Our results indicate that 
overall detection rates increase when complementary methods are used. 
MMOs and PAM are likely the most effective combination during high seas 
and precipitation. PAM and IR can be used in darkness. In good 
visibility, MMOs with IR or PAM should increase detections. Our results 
illustrate the importance of addressing false positive IR detections, 
matching system capabilities to sea conditions/species of interest, and 
employing experienced observers.



Please contact Daniel Zitterbart (d...@whoi.edu) or Heather Smith 
(hsm...@lgl.com) with any questions.

All the best,
Daniel & Heather

--
+++
Daniel P. Zitterbart
Applied Ocean Physics & Engineering
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

213 Bigelow Lab., MS#11
Woods Hole, MA 02543
USA

mail: d...@whoi.edu
group site: https://www2.whoi.edu/staff/dzitterbart/
+++

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Re: [MARMAM] MARMAM Digest, Vol 176, Issue 25

[Antonio Jesús Fernández Rodríguez]

Dear sir/madam
Could you send it again as the EMAIL ADDRESS INCLUDES AN ERROR regarding email 
to be sent appliatons. SORRY.
Antonio Fernandez

Applications should be sent to:

Email: direccion_i...@ulpgc.es

International Veterinary Internship in Cetacean Pathology Programme at 
IUSA_ULPGC_OIEccMMH

The starting date of this Intership will be negociated  with the selected 
candidate, after COVID-19 world wide crisis.  Now it is time to apply by email 
(read the call)

www.iusa.eu

Applications should be sent to:

Email: direccion_i...@ulpgc.es


Programme Background

The Atlantic Centre of Cetacean Research (ACCR) is part of the University 
Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (www.iusa.eu) 
at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 
(www.ulpgc.es). IUSA-ULPGC is a Collaborating Centre for 
Marine Mammals Health of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIEccMMH). 
The facilities are located within the Veterinary School Campus in Arucas, (Gran 
Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain).

The Canary Islands Cetacean Stranding Network is officially coordinated and 
co-funded by the Canary Islands Government, being the Veterinary Pathology 
Division at ACCR_ IUSA_ULPGC responsible for pathological studies and cause/s 
of death of every stranded cetacean. Our main objective is to provide 
morphological, etiological, and, when possible, final diagnoses of dead 
stranded cetaceans. In a multidisciplinary approach, we also try to define, 
whenever possible, cause/s of strandings. Our centre also collaborates closely 
with Veterinary Clinicians to attend live stranded cetaceans.

Our centre is very much committed with Animal Health, Welfare and Conservation, 
therefore we are also concerned and involved in public awareness through 
Education.

The Canary Islands are a cetacean biodiversity ?hot spot,? with 30 species 
reported with around 60-100 cetacean strandings each year. We also received a 
variable number of samples from cetaceans stranded in other national and 
international geographical areas.

In addition, we are carrying out several research projects on cetacean Health, 
Welfare and Conservation using Veterinary Pathology as a tool.



Internship Duties

To be fully integrated into a multidisciplinary TEAM, who will have the 
following learning and working duties: (Learning and working duties will be 
guided and supervised by Veterinary Pathologists in a team working system)

  *   Stranding coverage: answer calls, document reports, complete associated 
paperwork and enter data.
  *   Cetacean Stranding response and necropsy: all aspects of cetacean 
stranding response, including mainly post-mortem examinations and sampling in 
both field and laboratory settings, but also, occasionally, live animal health 
assessment, and supportive care and biological data collection.
  *   Stranding / necropsy readiness: cleaning, organizing, and maintaining 
stranding response and necropsy gear, equipment and facilities, restocking kits 
and supplies.
  *   Data entry / sample processing: entry of stranding data, organizing, 
cataloguing, disseminating and archiving of photos, datasheets, samples and 
tissue bank maintaining.
  *   Histopathology and lab techniques: microscopical diagnosis of own and 
received samples, perform diagnostic techniques when necessary (histochemistry, 
immunohistochemistry and molecular techniques).
  *   Reports: write and/or reviewing pathological reports of the cases.
  *   Outreach: assist staff with training and outreach material preparation 
and organization, participate in opportunistic outreach at stranding sites, and 
participate in community and scientific events.



Requirements

  *   DVM degree is mandatory.
  *   Valid driver?s license and secure reliable transportation (international 
license is also valid).
  *   Good physical fitness, able to lift/carry 40lbs, walk long distances in 
difficult terrain, be comfortable on small boats in near shore waters, able to 
swim, and work in harsh weather conditions.
  *   Able to follow written and oral staff directions and protocols 
effectively and able to work in teams and individually (spanish and/or english).
  *   Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
  *   Must be able to commit to a minimum 5 working days per week, including 
weekends.



Preferred candidates (not having any of the following conditions does not 
preclude to be candidate)

  *   Basic marine mammal stranding response/research experience.
  *   Necropsy experience in marine mammal or other taxa.
  *   Basic histopathology diagnostic experience.
  *   Experience caring for or handling animals.
  *   Flexible daily schedules (stranding events are unpredictable, our days 
may start earlier or end later than scheduled).

Important Information

  *   This internship is paid (15.000 - 18.000 euros for a total period of 12 
months), based on candidate experience.
  *   Housing