[MARMAM] Dolphin conservation project - training opportunities

[Info DDP]

DELFINI DEL PONENTE ASSOCIATION, IMPERIA, ITALY

Cetaceans and Marine Fauna research project



* Delfini del Ponente is now seeking and accepting applications for weekly
and monthly training opportunities in Imperia (Italy) throughout April and
May.   *

The project

The dolphin research project “Delfini del Ponente”, started in 2018, is the
first project focused on monitoring bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
occurrence and distribution in the Western Ligurian Sea. The project is
structured on an annual basis, to obtain data year-round. The study has
already provided very interesting information about this community inside
the study area - its social organisation, abundance of individuals,
distribution, and movements also outside the region. Our dataset includes
records on several cetaceans species and also on other marine fauna such as
seabirds - Mediterranean shearwaters (Puffinus yelkouan), Scopoli’s
shearwaters (Calonectris diomedea), Northern gannets (Morus bassanus),
Sandwich terns (Thalasseus sandvicensis) and more - sea turtles (Caretta
caretta) and sunfish (Mola mola), among others.

Surveys are carried out in coastal waters onboard a dedicated zodiac (6 m
inflatable boat) around 10 times per month. Training will focus on
recording data on marine fauna, collecting photos for photo-ID purposes,
environmental, marine traffic, geographical (GPS) and dolphins' behavioural
data. Land-based surveys take place in Imperia, in 2 different locations to
collect data on the presence/absence of dolphins, fishing boats in activity
and marine birds. Fieldwork is a great opportunity to get involved and
improve skills in cetaceans and marine biodiversity research. Both
land-based and zodiac surveys are weather-dependent, and their number can
change each month.

Office work (6 hours per day) includes training and lessons for the interns
and supervision of all the activities (photo-id work, data transcription,
data entry, skin lesion analysis, QGIS work, etc...)


Where: Imperia, Italy


When: Weekly programme:  1-7 of April /15-21 of April/ 22-28 of April

Monthly programme (minimum 30 days)- April and May


*Activities: *

   -

boat-based surveys monitoring the presence and distribution of
   bottlenose dolphins
   -

boat maintenance
   -

data collection of other cetaceans, fishes, seabirds, turtles
   -

office work, database updating
   -

photo-id matching and skin-lesion analysis
   -

land-based surveys /opportunistic surveys
   -

lectures and training on cetacean ecology, biology and research
   techniques, and seabirds   and sea turtles id skills

This is a great opportunity to get involved in cetacean research, encounter
marine biodiversity while gaining fieldwork experience, travel and explore
the beautiful Liguria region and support cetacean research and
conservation.

Interns will be involved 5 days a week, 6-8 hours/day (depending on
fieldwork or office work)
During their free time, interns will have the opportunity to experience all
sorts of activities: swimming, diving, hiking, exploring historical sites,
visiting museums, surfing and sailing.

Skills/qualifications:

   -

   Minimum age of 18
   -

   Prior experience in cetaceans or boat-based surveys is not required
   -

   Degree or ongoing studies in biology, natural science, veterinary or
   similar (preferred)
   -

   Strong motivation and interest in cetaceans and research
   -

   Speak, read and write in fluent English
   -

   Be adaptable and highly flexible as fieldwork is weather-dependent
   -

   Be prepared to spend many hours on a small zodiac (5-6 m) and under the
   sun, be able to swim and work in harsh weather conditions both in nearshore
   and offshore waters



   -

   Be prepared to spend many hours in the office (generally 6 hours/day)



   -

   Be sociable and with a positive attitude as interns are expected to live
   and work in an international team


Training programme fee

Delfini del Ponente is a self-funded research project, so participation in
this programme requires a tuition fee. The fee includes the accommodation
in an apartment in Imperia, tuition and all associated field costs during
the internship period (use of research vessel, training, use of equipment,
field trips, insurance). Transportation expenses to and from Imperia
(Italy) and food costs during the stay are not included in the fee.

How to apply:

Send your CV with a letter of interest to i...@delfinidelponente.it

For any further enquiries and details, please send an email to
i...@delfinidelponente.it

-- 
*Delfini Del Ponente APS*
Via Regione Bussi, 18100 Imperia (Italy)
C.F. 91048910086
pec: delfinidelpone...@pec.it
https://delfinidelponente.it/
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[MARMAM] DOLPHIN RESEARCH INTERNSHIP (2 spots available) - SARDINIA ISLAND (ITALY)

[Fabio Ronchetti]

MareTerra Onlus is offering internships (
https://www.mareterra-erc.org/en/internship) to join research projects on
the conservation of the bottlenose dolphins and marine environment between
May and October 2024 in Sardinia Island (Italy), a hotspot of biodiversity
of the Mediterranean Sea. MareTerra has been a self-financed organization,
since its foundation in 2012.

On board our boats, interns will learn research methods to monitor
bottlenose dolphins' habitat use, abundance and distribution (photo-ID, GIS
and Species Distribution Modelling). Interns will collect georeferenced
data on dolphins, fishing activities and boat traffic that impact their
behaviour. They also participate in bioacoustic data collection. Our
research projects aim to implement measures for marine ecosystem
conservation and promote a sustainable and responsible management of
fishing and tourism activities.
Papers available here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TegikzmahuAUeWMGS3AS-SlCS_s3I_hd?usp=sharing


Working in an international and multicultural team, our interns will play
an active role in environmental education to develop awareness and respect
for the marine environment among tourists and locals on board our boats.

Required skills:
- Ability to communicate fluently in English (English level > B2).
- Self-confidence.
- Flexibility, adaptability to an international work environment and
punctuality.
- Good public relations skills.
- Confidence on board a motorboat and ability to swim properly.
- Minimum age 20, maximum age 30.
We look for people who are highly motivated, responsible and willing to
work long hours in the field.

For any questions and to receive the program and information for applying,
please send an email to:
i...@mareterra-erc.org

Gabriella La Manna, Ph.D.
---

Dr Fabio Ronchetti
www.mareterragroup.net

www.progettonaturasardegna.com
www.instagram.com/progetto_natura_ecoturismo
www.facebook.com/progettonaturasardegna
progettonat...@mareterragroup.net.com
Via P. Enrico 42
07041 Alghero (SS)
Tel: +393921404069

Research associate *MareTerra ERC*

www.mareterra-erc.org
ronchettifa...@gmail.com
Via P. Enrico 42
07041 Alghero (SS)
Tel: +393921404069
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[MARMAM] Fwd: New publication. Anthropogenic debris in Antarctic seals

[Julieta Cebuhar]

Dear MARMAN community,
My co-authors and I are pleased to announce that our publication entitled
"Anthropogenic debris in three sympatric seal species of the Western
Antarctic Peninsula" in the journal Science of the Total Environment.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/378471812_Anthropogenic_debris_in_three_sympatric_seal_species_of_the_Western_Antarctic_Peninsula

Abstract
Litter pollution is a growing concern, including for Antarctica and the
species that inhabit this ecosystem. In this study, we investigated the
microplastic contamination in three seal species that inhabit the Western
Antarctic Peninsula: crabeater (*Lobodon carcinophaga*), leopard (*Hydrurga
leptonyx*) and Weddell (*Leptonychotes weddellii*) seals. Given the
worldwide ubiquity of this type of contaminant, including the Southern
Ocean, we hypothesized that the three seal species would present
anthropogenic debris in their feces. We examined 29 scat samples of
crabeater (*n* = 5), leopard (*n* = 13) and Weddell (*n* = 11) seals. The
chemical composition of the items found were identified using micro-Raman
and micro-FTIR spectroscopies. All the samples of the three species
presented anthropic particles (frequency of occurrence - %FO – 100 %).
Fibers were the predominant debris, but fragments and filaments were also
present. Particles smaller than 5 mm (micro debris) were predominant in all
the samples. Leopard seals ingested significantly larger micro-debris in
comparison with the other seal species. The dominant color was black
followed by blue and white. Micro-Raman and micro-FTIR Spectroscopies
revealed the presence of different anthropogenic pigments such as reactive
blue 238, Indigo 3600 and copper phthalocyanine (blue and green). Carbon
black was also detected in the samples, as well as plastic polymers such as
polystyrene, polyester and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide,
polypropylene and polyurethane These results confirm the presence of
anthropogenic contamination in Antarctic seals and highlight the need for
actions to mitigate the effects and reduce the contribution of debris in
the Antarctic ecosystem.


Best regards,
Julieta Cebuhar
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[MARMAM] Fwd: New Faculty position in Marine Mammal Biology+

[Paula Martin]

The Kachemak Bay Campus in Homer, Alaska (the campus which is part of Kenai
Peninsula College, of the University of Alaska Anchorage) is searching for
a new term Assistant Professor

to
support our Semester-by-the-Bay  program,
and our lower-division general biology offerings. This will be a two-year
term position, with the possibility of renewal. The ideal candidate will
have a doctorate in marine mammal biology by the time they are hired, and
have a strong commitment to teaching undergraduate biology.

Please share the opportunity as we will start a rolling review of
candidates beginning March 18.

https://careers.alaska.edu/jobs/term-assistant-professor-of-biology-homer-alaska-united-states

Best,
Paula J.S. Martin
-- 
*Paula J.S. Martin, Ph.D.*
*Interim Director Kachemak Bay Campus*
*Kenai Peninsula College/University of Alaska Anchorage*
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[MARMAM] New paper on vulnerability of Hector's dolphins to bycatch

[Hannah williams]

Dear MARMAM colleagues,

On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to share our new article
discussing new research on Hector's dolphins:

Williams, H., Dawson, S., Bennington, S., & Rayment, W. (2024).
Multi-disciplinary surveys reveal a small subpopulation of Hector’s
dolphins is frequently exposed to the risk of bycatch. *Aquatic
Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 34*(2), e4109.

Abstract:

   1. Hector's dolphin (*Cephalorhynchus hectori*) is an endangered species
   endemic to the coastal waters of Aotearoa New Zealand. To address the
   unsustainable bycatch of Hector's dolphins, restrictions on commercial
   gillnetting within 4 nautical miles of the coast were implemented in 2008,
   covering most of the South Island's east and south coasts.
   2. A small subpopulation of Hector's dolphins, estimated at 42 (95% CI:
   19–92) in 2012, is located off Dunedin, on the south-east coast of the
   South Island. It is known from other locations that Hector's dolphins are
   distributed well beyond 4 nautical miles from the coast and hence are
   vulnerable to ongoing gillnetting.
   3. In this study, a combination of boat-based surveys, passive acoustic
   monitoring (PAM) and analysis of fishing effort were used to generate an
   up-to-date abundance estimate for Hector's dolphins off Dunedin and assess
   their vulnerability to commercial fishing. In the summer of 2021, abundance
   was estimated at 41 individuals (95% CI = 31–54), providing no evidence for
   population change since 2012.
   4. Analysis of visual sighting data indicated ongoing overlap between
   Hector's dolphins and commercial fishing effort. Using PAM, Hector's
   dolphins were detected on 94% of days at a location approximately 0.3
   nautical miles from the coast, suggesting that shallow waters provide
   critical habitat for these dolphins year-round. At an offshore mooring,
   approximately 4.5 nautical miles from the coast and therefore outside the
   area in which gillnetting is prohibited, detections were made on 35% of
   days, indicating potential for direct overlap with commercial fisheries.
   5. The inherent vulnerability of small populations to extinction
   highlights the need to take a precautionary approach to the management of
   Dunedin's Hector's dolphins if population recovery is to be facilitated.

The paper is open access and you can download the full article here:

*https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.4109* 
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