[MARMAM] Contract Opportunity Marine Mammal Technical Support Services
Good Morning, Ocean Associates Inc. is soliciting candidates for a contract position with the NMFS Office of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection described below and would appreciate your help in providing the application link to your membership. Marine Mammal Technical Support Services Ocean Associates, Inc. (OAI) is seeking a candidate to support the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Office of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection (IASI) in Silver Spring, MD. OAI conducts research, offers policy advice, and provides personnel support services to government and industry clients for marine fisheries and protected species. Duties: The NMFS/IASI implements the international provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Under the MMPA, NMFS/IASI will review the regulatory programs implemented by foreign nations exporting fish to the United States to evaluate how those programs address injury and mortality of marine mammals in commercial fishing, including bycatch and intentional killing. This review will assist in the development of tools to support the calculation of marine mammal abundance or bycatch limits. As a contractor working up to 800 hours to 08/19/2021, he/she will: * Review the nations’ submissions of scientific articles that support their marine mammal population abundance estimates or bycatch estimates * Undertake a review of the scientific literature to further develop tools to assist nations in the calculation of their population abundance estimates or bycatch limits. * Meet with the NMFS/IASI staff to review the available scientific information and existing source file spreadsheet of marine mammal population abundance estimates and bycatch limits and complete the table for species and stocks for which data is lacking. Location: Subcontractor facility or approved place of business. Meetings will be convened by teleconference or google video meeting and materials/deliverables will be transmitted electronically. Start Date: As soon as possible. 800 hours through Aug 19, 2021. https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=9a93435d-91d4-4a65-8a21-2de9187df1dd&ccId=19000101_01&jobId=396607&source=CC2&lang=en_US Thank you, Bruce Morehead Senior Associate Ocean Associates, Incorporated240-461-9699 (phone/text)bc.moreh...@comcast.net mailto:bc.moreh...@comcast.net On the web at http://www.OceanAssoc.com http://www.oceanassoc.com/ ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] ONLINE COURSE - Model-based multivariate analysis of abundance data using R (MBMV03) This course will be delivered live
ONLINE COURSE Model-based multivariate analysis of abundance data using R (MBMV03) This course will be delivered live We have a repeat of a great course delivered by David Warton on abundance/presence/absence data. This course is great for people working with marine mammal data which may often have large gaps in mammal sightings or consist of only a few data points. For more details visits https://www.prstatistics.com/course/model-based-multivariate-analysis-of-abundance-data-using-r-mbmv03/ Course Overview: This course will provide an introduction to modern multivariate techniques, with a special focus on the analysis of abundance or presence/absence data. Multivariate analysis in ecology has been changing rapidly in recent years, with a focus now on formulating a statistical model to capture key properties of the observed data, rather than transformation of data using a dissimilarity-based framework. In recent years, model-based techniques have been developed for hypothesis testing, identifying indicator species, ordination, clustering, predictive modelling, and use of species traits as predictors to explain interspecific variation in environmental response. These techniques are more interpretable than alternatives, have better statistical properties, and can be used to address new problems, such as the prediction of a species’ spatial distribution from its traits alone. email oliverhoo...@prstatistics.com with any enquiries or to request different payment options Introduction to statistics using R and Rstudio (IRRS02) 28 October 2020 - 29 October 2020 https://www.prstatistics.com/course/introduction-to-statistics-using-r-and-rstudio-irrs02/ Species distribution modelling with Bayesian statistics in R (SDMB01) 9 November 2020 - 13 November 2020 https://www.prstatistics.com/course/species-distribution-modelling-with-bayesian-statistics-in-r-sdmb01/ Introduction to Bayesian modelling with INLA (BMIN01) 9 November 2020 - 13 November 2020 https://www.prstatistics.com/course/introduction-to-bayesian-modelling-with-inla-bmin01/ Introduction to generalised linear models using R and Rstudio (IGLM02) 18 November 2020 - 19 November 2020 https://www.prstatistics.com/course/introduction-to-generalised-linear-models-using-r-and-rstudio-iglm02/ Fundamentals of populations genetics using R (FOPG01) 18 November 2020 - 27 November 2020 https://www.prstatistics.com/course/fundamentals-of-populations-genetics-using-r-fopg01/ Introduction to mixed models using R and Rstudio (IMMR03) 25 November 2020 - 26 November 2020 https://www.prstatistics.com/course/introduction-to-mixed-models-using-r-and-rstudio-immr03/ Introduction to Python (PYIN01) 25 November 2020 - 26 November 2020 https://www.prstatistics.com/course/introduction-to-python-pyin01/ Bayesian hierarchical modelling using R (IBHM05) 27 November 2020 - 11 December 2020 https://www.prstatistics.com/course/bayesian-hierarchical-modelling-using-r-ibhm05/ Meta-analysis in ecology, evolution and environmental sciences (METR01) 30 November 2020 - 4 December 2020 https://www.prstatistics.com/course/meta-analysis-in-ecology-evolution-and-environmental-sciences-metr01/ Introduction to Python for Scientific Computing (PYSC01) 2 December 2020 - 3 December 2020 https://www.prstatistics.com/course/introduction-to-python-for-scientific-computing-pysc01/ Machine Learning and Deep Learning using Python (PYML01) 9 December 2020 - 10 December 2020 https://www.prstatistics.com/course/machine-learning-and-deep-learning-using-python-pyml01/ Structural Equation Modelling for Ecologists and Evolutionary Biologists (SEMR03) This course will be delivered live 18th January 2021 - 22nd January 2021 https://www.prstatistics.com/course/structural-equation-modelling-for-ecologists-and-evolutionary-biologists-semr03/ Species Distribution Modeling using R (SDMR03) 25th January 2021 - 29th January 2021 https://www.prstatistics.com/course/species-distribution-modeling-using-r-sdmr03/ Advanced Ecological Niche Modelling Using R (ANMR01) 25th January 2021 - 29th January 2021 https://www.prstatistics.com/course/advanced-ecological-niche-modelling-using-r-anmr01/ -- Oliver Hooker PhD. PR statistics 2020 publications; Parallelism in eco-morphology and gene expression despite variable evolutionary and genomic backgrounds in a Holarctic fish. PLOS GENETICS (2020). IN PRESS www.PRstatistics.com facebook.com/PRstatistics/ twitter.com/PRstatistics 53 Morrison Street Glasgow G5 8LB +44 (0) 7966500340 +44 (0) 7966500340 ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] New publication: gestation and lactation influence stable isotope composition of epidermis layers
Dear all, We are very excited to inform the outcomes of our latest investigation on the effects of gestation and lactation periods on the stable isotope composition of epidermis layers of free ranging gray whales are now presented and available Open Access in PLOS ONE. “*Tracing gestation and lactation in free ranging gray whales using the stable isotopic composition of epidermis layers"* ABSTRACT: "The isotopic composition of baleen whales’ epidermis structural layers can give information about dietary change over time. This study investigated if epidermis layers integrated isotopic values that record physiological changes from gestation to lactation. Epidermis tissues (n = 43) were collected from free ranging lactating female gray whale and calves during the beginning of three breeding seasons. Modelling of δ13C and δ15N values show intra- and inter-individual differences based on epidermal layers, age class and year of sampling. The isotopic composition of mother-calf pairs is correlated, and the estimates of the maximum mother-to-calf isotopic difference was ~1.4‰ for δ13C and between 1 and 1.5‰ for δ15N values. Change in δ15N values among epidermal layers in calves was associated with the transition from fetus to consumption of maternal milk. It is here proposed when lactation influences calf epidermis, δ15N values decrease consistently from the outermost to the innermost layer. However, if a calf was born only few days before collection, epidermis integrates more variable δ15N patterns because gestation still affects the isotopic composition of the layers. The possibility of calculating mother-to-calf nitrogen isotope fractionation, and the regularity of changes between calf layer δ15N values, allowed results of an isotopic clock model to predict the age of each calf when sampled with its mother. This model has the potential to be a straightforward method to estimate the beginning of lactation, therefore calf birth date when direct observations are not feasible. The non-lethal remote collection of epidermis appears to be an effective tool for the study of the physiology of reproduction of baleen whales. The parallel study of the three epidermal structural layers highlighted the importance of considering the unique mother-calf pair physiological status at the time of sampling time when stable isotope results are interpreted." LINK: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0240171 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0240171 All the best, Michelle -- Michelle Gelippi PhD fellow Centro De Investigación Biológicas del Noreste (CIBNOR) La Paz, BCS, Mexico ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] New publication - Dolphin cardiac auscultation and characterization of heart murmurs
Dear colleagues, We are pleased to share our recent publication: Linnehan BK, Hsu A, Gomez FM, Huston SM, Takeshita R, Colegrove KM, Rowles TK, Barratclough A, Musser WB, Harms CA, Cendejas V, Zolman ES, Balmer BC, Townsend FI, Wells RS, Jensen ED, Schwacke LH and Smith CR. (2020) Standardization of Dolphin Cardiac Auscultation and Characterization of Heart Murmurs in Managed and Free-Ranging Bottlenose Dolphins (*Tursiops truncatus*). Front. Vet. Sci. 7:570055. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.570055 Available open access: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.570055/full Abstract Cardiac auscultation is an important, albeit underutilized tool in aquatic animal medicine due to the many challenges associated with in-water examinations. The aims of this prospective study were to (1) establish an efficient and repeatable in-water cardiac auscultation technique in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), (2) describe the presence and characterization of heart murmurs detected in free-ranging and managed dolphins, and (3) characterize heart murmur etiology through echocardiography in free-ranging dolphins. For technique development, 65 dolphins cared for by the Navy Marine Mammal Program (Navy) were auscultated. The techniques were then applied to two free-ranging dolphin populations during capture-release health assessments: Sarasota Bay, Florida (SB), a reference population, and Barataria Bay, LA (BB), a well-studied population of dolphins impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Systolic heart murmurs were detected at a frequent and similar prevalence in all dolphin populations examined (Navy 92%, SB 89%, and BB 88%), and characterized as fixed or dynamic. In all three populations, sternal cranial and left cranial were the most common locations for murmur point of maximal intensity (PMI). An in-water transthoracic echocardiogram technique was refined on a subset of Navy dolphins, and full echocardiographic exams were performed on 17 SB dolphins and 29 BB dolphins, of which, 40 had murmurs. Spectral Doppler was used to measure flow velocities across the outflow tracts, and almost all dolphins with audible murmurs had peak outflow velocities ≥1.6 m/s (95%, 38/40); three dolphins also had medium mitral regurgitation which could be the source of their murmurs. The presence of audible murmurs in most of the free-ranging dolphins (88%) was attributed to high velocity blood flow as seen on echocardiography, similar to a phenomenon described in other athletic species. These innocent murmurs were generally characterized as Grade I-III systolic murmurs with PMI in the left or sternal cranial region. This study is the first to describe an efficient technique for in-water dolphin cardiac auscultation, and to present evidence that heart murmurs are common in bottlenose dolphins. Please feel free to contact me with questions. Cheers, Barb Linnehan -- Barbara Linnehan, DVM Deputy Director of Medicine National Marine Mammal Foundation U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program barb.linne...@nmmf.org *linne...@spawar.navy.mil * ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
