[MARMAM] Biological Scientist, Right Whale Aerial Observer, Florida

2021-09-01 Thread Pitchford, Tom 
OPS BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST I - FWC - 77903035

Date: Sep 1, 2021

Location: SAINT AUGUSTINE, FL, US, 32080


Direct link to job posting: https://jobs.myflorida.com/s/3eKWzu


Requisition No: 450401

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: OPS BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST I - FWC - 77903035

Position Number: 77903035

Salary:  $16 per hour

Posting Closing Date: 09/14/2021

North Atlantic Right Whale Aerial Observer (Seasonal)

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI)

Section: Wildlife Research – Marine Mammals

Job Location: St. Augustine, FL (St. Johns County)

Rate of Pay: $16.00/hr; 40 hrs/week including weekends and holidays

The State Personnel System is an E-Verify employer. For more information click 
on our E-Verify 
website.



Observer positions are temporary/seasonal, contingent upon funding, and will 
not be eligible for participation in State Group insurance benefits. 
Anticipated end date for this position is 4/2/2022.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF JOB DUTIES:

FWC’s FWRI conducts research and monitoring activities for right whales in the 
southeastern United States.  Projects focus on vessel-strike mitigation and 
data collection for federal assessment of the status and recovery of the North 
Atlantic right whale population.  Aerial surveys are flown daily, weather 
permitting, from December 1st through March 31st.  Observers collect in-flight 
survey data and right whale photo-documentation and assist with data entry, 
processing, and archival tasks as well as photo-identification.  Observers also 
provide ground support for the aerial survey crew and must communicate 
effectively with partner state and federal agencies and NGO representatives, as 
well as the general public.  Observers may assist with vessel surveys and 
photo-identification, multi-agency genetic sampling effort, field necropsies of 
right whales, large whale disentanglement, and documentation of large whale 
reports from the public.  Prior to the start of surveys on December 1st (dates 
TBA, likely mid-November), applicants will be required to attend and 
satisfactorily complete aircraft and marine safety and survival training as 
well as training to introduce the skills and responsibilities of an observer 
with FWC’s North Atlantic right whale program.  Applicants must be willing to 
regularly work weekends, holidays, and evenings.  Observer positions are 
temporary/seasonal and contingent upon funding.



MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in 
one of the biological sciences.



Preference may be given to candidates with previous aerial and/or marine mammal 
survey experience and practical knowledge of photo-identification techniques.  
Preference may also be given to candidates who demonstrate experience in 
database entry and hands-on experience with digital SLR cameras and lenses. 

 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

Applicant must be able to: thrive in a small team environment and maintain 
successful working relationships; apply basic methods of data collection and 
field research; utilize problem solving techniques and work independently; 
carry-out daily manual labor (able to vertically lift at least 50 lbs.); excel 
under adverse field conditions including a full day seated in a small aircraft 
or aboard a small vessel; swim sufficiently to save oneself; and understand and 
correctly utilize applicable rules, regulations, and procedures. 



TO APPLY:

Applicants are required to apply by completing a State of Florida Employment 
Profile online in People First 
(http://peoplefirst.myflorida.com) by 
midnight on the closing date stated. Additionally, in order to be considered 
for this position, applicants must include a cover letter highlighting their 
relevant qualifications for this position, a resume or CV, and contact 
information for at least three professional references.  If you experience 
technical difficulties during the application process, please call People First 
at 1-877-562-7287. (TTY applicants call 1-866-221-0268). 

 

WHAT IS OPS EMPLOYMENT?  Other Personal Services (OPS) employment is a 
temporary employer/employee relationship used solely for accomplishing short 
term or intermittent tasks. OPS employees do not fill established positions and 
may not be assigned the duties of any vacant authorized position. OPS employees 
are at-will employees and are subject to actions such as pay changes, changes 
to work assignment, and terminations at the pleasure of the agency head or 
designee.

 

WHAT BENEFITS ARE APPLICABLE TO OPS EMPLOYEES?

State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan - mandatory

Workers’ Compensation - mandatory

Reemployment Assistance (Unemployment Compensation) - mandatory

Participation in state

[MARMAM] Fall Internship - Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program

2021-09-01 Thread Sarah R. Mccormack 
The Virginia Aquarium’s Research & Conservation Division is now accepting 
Stranding Response Intern applications for Fall 2021. The application deadline 
is September 12, 2021. Internships will be approximately four months long, 
starting in October. Internships will be fulfilled in accordance with COVID-19 
safety guidelines and positions are subject to change based on the most current 
recommendations. Please note that all positions are non-compensatory and 
housing is not provided by the Virginia Aquarium. Interns are fully responsible 
for fulfilling all requirements of their home institutions to receive academic 
credit.

Position Overview
Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program (VAQS) interns promote the 
conservation of marine animal species through research, rescue, rehabilitation, 
and education. Stranding work is unpredictable, therefore experiences will vary 
by internship session. VAQS staff will provide as many learning opportunities 
as possible during each session.

Duties

  *   Respond to live and dead marine mammals and sea turtles in the field.
  *   Participate in all aspects of post-mortem examinations: cutting and 
sampling, data collection, photographing, carcass removal, and cleaning.
  *   Perform daily husbandry tasks, including food preparation, feeding, and 
cleaning.
  *   Assist staff with new admits and daily treatments of patients. Restrain 
animals for exams, collect vitals (heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature) 
and morphometrics, take photographs, administer medications, and perform wound 
care.
  *   Ensure response preparedness by stocking response bags, fueling vehicles, 
and cleaning gear.
  *   Assist staff with daily administrative tasks, including answering hotline 
calls and completing response paperwork.
  *   Assist with freezer inventory and sample dissemination.
  *   Assist with water quality sampling.
  *   Complete other tasks as assigned by VAQS staff.

Qualifications

  *   Must be at least 18 years old.
  *   Must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, or have 
recently graduated (within last two years).
  *   Must be physically fit with the ability to lift 50lbs and walk long 
distances on the beach in adverse conditions such as extreme heat and cold, 
humidity, rain, and wind.
  *   Must be self-motivated, articulate, mature, reliable, and responsible. 
Should work well independently as well as with a team.
  *   Should be comfortable around dead and decomposing animals.
  *   Should be comfortable driving large pick-up trucks and vans (preferred). 
Willing to learn how to drive response vehicles, if accepted (required).
  *   Background in biology and familiarity with stranding response (preferred).
  *   Experience with DSLR cameras and Microsoft Access (preferred).

Position Requirements

  *   Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
  *   Must comply with all organizational COVID-19 preventative measures such 
as mask-wearing.
  *   Attend VAQS orientation and City of Virginia Beach Defensive Driving.
  *   Possess a valid driver’s license.
  *   Pass a City of Virginia Beach background check.

Internship Learning Objectives
Develop fundamental hands-on stranding response and rehabilitation skills:

  *   Attend and assist with post-mortem examinations on sea turtle and marine 
mammals.
  *   Perform basic health assessments of rehabilitation patients, including 
vitals collection, wound treatment, administering medications, and blood 
processing.
  *   Complete Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network (STSSN) and Level A 
forms.

Intern Schedule
Intern is expected to be available 3-4 days per week, 8am-4:30pm. Weekend and 
holiday coverage is expected.

Minimum Commitment Required
24-32 hours per week for the duration of the internship.


Intern Supervisor/Mentor
Stranding & Research Scientist: Field Response & Volunteer Manager

Work Location
Virginia Aquarium’s Darden Marine Animal Conservation Center

Application Requirements
If applying via email, please send application to 
inte...@virginiaaquarium.com and copy 
vaqstrand...@gmail.com. A complete Stranding 
Response Intern packet must include the following components. Incomplete 
applications will not be considered.

  *   Cover letter. There is some flexibility with internship start/end dates; 
please include any known schedule conflicts in your cover letter.
  *   Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center internship application form.
  *   Two references; must be academic and/or professional references.
  *   Resume
  *   College transcript(s)

For more information about the application process, please visit: 
https://www.virginiaaquarium.com/about-us/Pages/internship-application.aspx


Sarah McCormack

Stranding & Research Scientist: Field Response & Volunteer Manager

P: (757) 385-6485

C: (917) 880-2160

smccorm...@virginiaaquarium.com

Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science

[MARMAM] National Aquarium Seeking Rehabilitation Biologist & Rehabilitation Manager

2021-09-01 Thread Shaffer, Kate 
The National Aquarium is currently seeking qualified applicants to fill both a 
Rehabilitation Biologist and a Rehabilitation Manager position within the 
Animal Rescue Department. Interested and engaged applicants should apply 
through our website http://aqua.org/jobs. Requests for reasonable accommodation 
can be made by e-mailing h...@aqua.org.

Rehabilitation Biologist


Provides excellent day-to-day husbandry and medical care of marine turtles and 
marine mammals undergoing rehabilitation for the purpose of release back to the 
natural environment. Keep rehabilitation pools, equipment, and works​paces well 
maintained to National Aquarium and NOAA Fisheries Service and US Fish and 
Wildlife Service

standards. Fully accountable for the patients and systems under their care. 
Participates in planning and implementation of special projects (renovations, 
enrichment, animal transports & releases) as assigned. Train and mentor 
volunteers and interns.

Essential Functions:

  *   Organizes the day to day husbandry and feeding of sea turtles and marine 
mammals in
 *   Completes inspection rounds of patients, life support systems, and 
enclosures daily to check status and identify and report any potential Resolves 
problems independently where possible.
 *   Prepares daily diets and feeds patients according to their medical 
plan and dietary Cleans and provides daily maintenance to food preparation 
areas, equipment and utensils.
 *   Prepares diets, supplements, and medications according to established 
protocols to ensure nutrition and vitamin content are maintained to improve 
animal
 *   Follows established feeding schedules and feeds appropriate amounts to 
reach and maintain a healthy Develop strategies to get inappetent patients to 
eat. Monitor patient weights.
 *   Administers oral supplements and
 *   Utilizes various feeding techniques and develop new strategies to 
overcome the challenges of getting the correct diet and medications to the 
appropriate patients when animals are housed
 *   Monitors health of patients, and works with manager and Animal Health 
staff to implement treatment plans as
 *   Observes and recognizes changes in patient behavior, medical 
condition, and appetite and reports Discusses best course with the senior 
Animal Rescue staff and Animal Health & Welfare staff as appropriate.
 *   Administers medications and maintains quarantine protocols when 
working in and between animal rescue
 *   Provide safe restraint and handling of animals during husbandry and 
clinical
 *   Maintains detailed, daily animal and medical records in accordance 
with federal and aquarium standards using computerized medical system and 
hardcopy Reviews records regularly to identify important trends and reports 
them to the Rehabilitation Manager.
 *   Develops basic understanding of behavioral models to accomplish 
conditioning, enrichment, and husbandry goals for animals in rehabilitation, 
with an emphasis on ensuring releasable animals maintain natural
 *   Plans and conducts enrichment sessions and opportunities as
 *   Participates in the admission, rehabilitation, transport, and release 
of
 *   Monitors patient food supply and ensures proper food Orders food, 
hardware, husbandry supplies, medical treatment supplies, and supplements as 
needed.
 *   Observes animal behavior such as intra- species aggression, feeding, 
habitat use, , and gathers data to advise on management decisions.
 *   Responds to animal emergencies, at times after

  *   Provide daily cleaning and maintenance of rehabilitation facilities, life 
support, animal enclosures, &
 *   Services and cleans rehab enclosures and pools
 *   Monitors and records temperature and water chemistry data,
 *   Monitors, operates, and maintains life support Performs water changes, 
backwashing and other procedures necessary to care for pumps, filters, and 
maintains water quality standards.
 *   Maintains current knowledge of all pumps, valves, filters, and 
chillers dealing with the life support of rehabilitation areas
 *   Maintains cleanliness and organization of workspaces, rehab 
facilities, food prep, and support
 *   Assists with enclosure improvements and implementing new
 *   Maintains safety, animal, and response equipment as
 *   Gives input to rehabilitation protocols and procedures to help improve 
the
 *   Assists in pest

  *   Participates in outreach and continuing
 *   Supports collection of digital content (photos, videos, etc) as
 *   Provides back-up tours, presentations, and guest engagement as directed
 *   Participates in and presents at workshops, lectures, seminars, 
trainings, and other continuing education opportunities.
 *   Participates in formal and informal public presentations
 *   Represents NA in partnerships with outside organization working on 
common projects or
 *

[MARMAM] RARE MARINE MAMMAL BOOKS AVAILABLE

2021-09-01 Thread Thomas Jefferson 
RARE MARINE MAMMAL BOOKS AVAILABLE    ¡VIVAVaquita! is a non-profit 
organizationdedicated to working to help save the vaquita from extinction.  
100% of funds raised are actively used forresearch and conservation work on the 
vaquita (Phocoena sinus), the world’smost endangered marine mammal species.  
The globalpopulation of this species now numbers less than 15 individuals and 
is nearingextinction. Visit our website at www.vivavaquita.org for more 
details.     ¡VIVAVaquita! has hundreds of marine mammal books, reprints, 
monographs, and journalsthat are available for a donation to the organization.  
Below is a sample of some of the rarer items we have (pricelisted is suggested 
donation, shipping is extra), but there are many, many moreand suggested 
donation amounts range from US$1-150.  To order or for a list of additional 
books available (andphotos), please contact Tom Jefferson at sclym...@aol.com. 
Garner, G. W., S. C.Amstrup, J. L. Laake, B. J. F. Manley, L. L. Mcdonald and 
D. G. Robertson (eds).1999. Marine Mammal Survey and Assessment Methods. 287 
pp. A. A. Balkema.  $85 Gaskin, D. E.1972. Whales, Dolphins, and Seals, With 
Special Reference to the New ZealandRegion. Heineman Educational Books.  
Dustjacket damaged, but book in good condition. $10 Kellogg,R. 1940. Whales, 
giants of the seas. National Geographic 77:35-90.  $8 Mazin, J. M. and V. 
D.Buffrenil (eds). 2001. Secondary Adaptation of Tetrapods to Life in 
Water:proceedings of the international meeting, Poitiers, 1996. Pages 367 pp. 
VerlagDr. Friedrich Pfeil.  $54 Mchedlidze,G. A. 1986. General Features of the 
Paleobiological Evolution of Cetacea. A.A.Balkema.  NEW.  $15 Mitchell,E. (ed). 
1975. Review of biology and fisheries for smaller cetaceans. Journalof the 
Fisheries Research Board of Canada 32(7): 879-1242.   Special issue of journal 
on dolphins,porpoises, and small whales.  $11 Montagu, A. and J. C.Lilly. 1963. 
The Dolphin in History. Williams Andrews Clark Memorial Library.  $15 
MorzerBruyns, W. F. J. 1971. Field Guide of Whales and Dolphins. Uitgeverij 
Tor.  $12 Ridgway,S. H. 1972. Mammals of the Sea: Biology and Medicine. Pages 
812 pp. Charles C.Thomas.  $160 Ridgway,S. H. and R. Harrison (eds). 1981. 
Handbook of Marine Mammals, Vol. 2: Seals.359 pp. Academic Press.  $38 Risting, 
S.1928. Whales and whale foetuses: Statistics of catch and measurements 
collectedfrom the Norwegian whalers’ Association 1922-25. Rapports et 
Proces-Verbaux desReunions 50:122 pp.  $16 Scheffer,V. B. and J. W. Slipp. 
1948. The whales and dolphins of Washington State, witha key to the cetaceans 
of the west coast of North America. American MidlandNaturalist 39:257-337.  $10 
ScientificReports of the Whales Research Institute. Vols. 26, 29, 30, 32, and 
33.  $12/ issue. Wilson, L. E. 1935.Miocene marine mammals from the Bakersfield 
region, California. Peabody Museumof Natural History Bulletin 4.  $14  
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[MARMAM] CIMAS Postdoctoral Associate Position Right Whales

2021-09-01 Thread Jesse Wicker - NOAA Affiliate 
The Department of Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies
(CIMAS) has an exciting opportunity for a full-time Postdoctoral Associate
to work in Miami, FL.


*Transforming Lives*



The University of Miami is among the top research universities and academic
medical centers in the nation, and one of the largest private employers in
South Florida.

With more than 16,000 faculty and staff, the University strives for
excellence, and is driven by a powerful mission to transform and impact the
lives of its students, patients, members of the community, and people
across the globe.



The University is committed to fostering a culture of belonging, where
everyone feels valued and has the opportunity to add value. Through values
of Diversity, Integrity, Responsibility, Excellence, Compassion,
Creativity, and Teamwork (DIRECCT) the U community works together to create
an environment driven by purpose, excellence, community, and service.



The Department of Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies
(CIMAS) has an exciting opportunity for a full-time Postdoctoral Associate
to work in Miami, FL.



We seek a postdoctoral associate to join our group and work as a biologist
in the Marine Mammal Program of the NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science
Center.  The incumbent’s primary activities will be developing and
implementing a framework to assess the risk of interactions between vessels
and North Atlantic right whales using information on whale distribution and
abundance, vessel traffic, and models of encounter and mortality rates.



Candidates for this position should have:



(1) Ph.D. in oceanography, marine biology, statistics, or related discipline

(2) demonstrated experience in programming languages such as R or Matlab

(3) previous experience working with large, spatially explicit data sets

(4) the ability and desire to work as part of a collaborative team

(5) demonstrated technical writing ability

(6) demonstrated ability to work independently to complete complex tasks.



The position will be located at the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fisheries
Science Center, Marine Mammal and Turtle Division located in Miami, FL.
Remote work may be required due to considerations related to COVID-19.
Curriculum Vitae and the contact information for 3 people who can provide
letters of recommendation are required.



The University of Miami is an Equal Opportunity Employer
- Females/Minorities/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities are
encouraged to apply. Applicants and employees are protected from
discrimination based on certain categories protected by Federal law. Click
here  for additional
information.



To apply please click on the link below:

*https://umiami.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/UMCareerStaff/job/Miami-FL/RSMAS---Postdoctoral-Associate---CIMAS_R100047993-1
*



-- 
Jesse Wicker
NOAA Affiliate
UM/CIMAS Research Associate
(305) 361-4461

75 Virginia Beach Dr.

Miami, FL 33149

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[MARMAM] new paper on a spatial analysis of beaked whale foraging during two ocean mapping surveys

2021-09-01 Thread Hilary Kates Varghese 
Dear MARMAM community,

 

On behalf of my coauthors, I am pleased to announce the publication of our 
work, “Spatial Analysis of Beaked Whale Foraging During Two 12 kHz Multibeam 
Echosounder Surveys,” in Frontiers in Marine Science.  This article is freely 
available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2021.654184. 
The abstract and full citation are included below for your convenience. 

 

ABSTRACT:

To add to the growing information about the effect of multibeam echosounder 
(MBES) operation on marine mammals, a study was conducted to assess the spatial 
foraging effort of Cuvier’s beaked whales during two MBES surveys conducted in 
January of 2017 and 2019 off of San Clemente Island, California. The MBES 
surveys took place on the Southern California Antisubmarine Warfare Range 
(SOAR), which contains an array of 89 hydrophones covering an area of 
approximately 1800 km2 over which foraging beaked whales were detected. A 
spatial autocorrelation analysis of foraging effort was conducted using the 
Moran’s I (global) and the Getis-Ord Gi∗ (local) statistics, to understand the 
animals’ spatial use of the entire SOAR, as well as smaller areas, 
respectively, within the SOAR Before, During, and After the two MBES surveys. 
In both years, the global Moran’s I statistic suggested significant spatial 
clustering of foraging events on the SOAR during all analysis periods (Before, 
During, and After). In addition, a Kruskal-Wallis (comparison) test of both 
years revealed that the number of foraging events across analysis periods were 
similar within a given year. In 2017, the local Getis-Ord Gi∗ analysis 
identified hot spots of foraging activity in the same general area of the SOAR 
during all analysis periods. This local result, in combination with the global 
and comparison results of 2017, suggest there was no obvious period-related 
change detected in foraging effort associated with the 2017 MBES survey at the 
resolution measurable with the hydrophone array. In 2019, the foraging hot spot 
area shifted from the southernmost corner of the SOAR Before, to the center 
During, and was split between the two locations After the MBES survey. Due to 
the pattern of period-related spatial change identified in 2019, and the lack 
of change detected in 2017, it was unclear whether the change detected in 2019 
was a result of MBES activity or some other environmental factor. Nonetheless, 
the results strongly suggest that the level of detected foraging during either 
MBES survey did not change, and most of the foraging effort remained in the 
historically well-utilized foraging locations of Cuvier’s beaked whales on the 
SOAR.

 

Kates Varghese, H., Lowell, K., Miksis-Olds, J., DiMarzio, N., Moretti, D., and 
Mayer, L. (2021). Spatial Analysis of Beaked Whale Foraging During Two 12 kHz 
Multibeam Echosounder Surveys. Frontiers in Marine Science 8, 1139. Doi: 
10.3389/fmars.2021.654184

 

Thank you!

 

Hilary Kates Varghese

(she/her/hers)

PhD Candidate-Earth Sciences, Oceanography

University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA

hkatesvargh...@ccom.unh.edu

 

 

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[MARMAM] NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES ON THE FARALLON ISLANDS

2021-09-01 Thread Garrett Duncan - SEA 
Northern Elephant Seal Volunteer Opportunities On The Farallon Islands


Point Blue Conservation Science is looking for Volunteer Elephant Seal Research 
Assistants (3-4) for winter 2021/2022 on the Southeast Farallon Island. 
Research Assistant (RA) responsibilities include, but are not limited to, 
censusing and monitoring breeding elephant seals, flipper tagging animals, 
resighting tagged California and Steller’s Sea Lions, Harbor Seals and Northern 
Fur Seals, and surveying for salamanders, crickets, songbirds, seabirds, gulls, 
burrowing owls, and whales. (Sorry, white sharks are unlikely during the winter 
months).  RAs also contribute to the upkeep and maintenance of the research 
station and help with food preparation.  RAs generally participate in field 
research 7 days a week, with a variable schedule that includes long days and 
some night work. Some field work requires rigorous physical activity including 
strenuous hiking and climbing. Applicants should enjoy working independently 
with a high level of responsibility in field work and data entry as well as 
working frequently with a partner or team.  Preference will be given to 
applicants with a degree in biology or related field and prior remote 
ecological research experience.  Enthusiasm for field work in windy, rainy, and 
moderately cold conditions is essential.  The ability to coexist on a small, 
isolated island with the same crew for several months is essential. Positions 
are available December 4th, 2021 through March 26th, 2022. Strong preference 
will be given to applicants who are available for the entire period. This is a 
volunteer position with no financial compensation, but we provide 
transportation from the mainland to the island, as well as great food and 
housing during the assistantship. Transportation to Point Blue headquarters is 
not provided. Vaccinations against Covid-19 are strongly encouraged. More 
information can be found at pointblue.org. To apply, please email a single pdf 
file in the following format: lastname_firstname_2022winterassistant.pdf to 
Garrett Duncan (gduncan AT pointblue.org). This 
document should contain your cover letter explaining your interests, your 
resume, dates of availability, and the names, email addresses, and phone 
numbers of 3 professional references. Applications are accepted until September 
30th, 2021 but will be evaluated as they are received so some positions may be 
filled before the deadline.

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[MARMAM] New Paper: Entanglement of Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) at colonies in central Namibia.

2021-09-01 Thread Tess Gridley - Namibian Dolphin Project 
Dear Marmam Subscribers,

On behalf of my fellow authors, we are pleased to announce the publication
of the following research from Sea Search -Namibian Dolphin Project
conducted in collaboration with Ocean Conservation Namibia:

*Entanglement of Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) at
colonies in central Namibia.  *Steph Curtis, Simon Elwen, Naude Dreyer,
Tess Gridley,

Marine Pollution Bulletin 171(11):112759,  DOI:
10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112759

Paper Link:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X21007931

Video Abstract:  A video abstract summarising the paper can be found on our
dedicated YouTube Channel  : https://youtu.be/8v7KgOTtrq4

*Abstract*

Marine pollution is increasing, and pinnipeds are commonly affected by
entanglement in waste. We investigated entanglement rates, common
materials, and the demographic profile of Cape fur seals (*Arctocephalus
pusillus pusillus*) affected at two Namibian colonies. Overall, we
identified 366 cases of entanglement, and present a global rate of
entanglement of 0.17%. Entanglement rates were 0.17% and 0.15% for the
Pelican Point and Cape Cross colonies, respectively. We identified 17% more
entanglements through photographs than binocular scans. Of the 347
entanglements analysed in detail, juveniles were most commonly affected and
fishing materials were the primary cause of entanglements (53%), with 8% of
entangled seals exhibiting 'very severe' injuries. Overall, 191 individuals
were successfully disentangled, and citizen scientists contributed 51% of
total entanglement data. We highlight the negative impact of plastic marine
waste among seals and the importance of disentanglement for individual
animal welfare.

For further information on this publication or to request a pdf please
contact:  nam.dolphin.proj...@gmail.com or tessgrid...@yahoo.co.uk

Many thanks!
Tess,  Steph and Simon
-- 
NB:  South Africa is currently in lock down and children are home schooled
for the foreseeable future. Therefore, I am working unusual and limited hrs
whilst caring for two young children.  Please be patient.


---

Tess Gridley PhD

Co-Director of Namibian Dolphin Project & Sea Search

*Contact: T*el: 021 788 1206 / Cell: 0794292702
*Works within the following academic institutes: *
University of Cape Town, Dept of Statistical Sciences
University of Stellenbosch, Dept of Botany and Zoology

*Links*
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tess_Gridley
www.seasearch.co.za
www.namibiandolphinproject.org/
https://africanbioacoustic.wixsite.com

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[MARMAM] Job advert: Database Analyst (Maternity Cover) - CLOSING SOON

2021-09-01 Thread HWDT Science 
Hello again everyone,



The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust is recruiting for a Database Analyst 
(Maternity Cover) to join our small team and revolutionise how our data are 
managed and stored.



Deadline for applications is this coming Friday 3rd September at 9am (UTC+1). 
Please forward the advert to anyone you know who might be interested and 
encourage them to get in touch to discuss the role.



Database Analyst Job Advert:



Database Analyst (Maternity Cover): Full-time, fixed term contract starting 
October 2021 to 31st May 2022.



Salary: £24,000-26,400 pro-rata per annum depending on skills and experience.



Location: Flexible, office space available in Tobermory, Isle of Mull, or 
option to work remotely from home.



You will be responsible for designing and implementing a secure data management 
and backup system that will allow HWDT to efficiently manage, securely store 
and easily access, visualise, and share our valuable research data. You will 
have demonstrable experience of developing databases and backup systems, a 
strong attention to detail, and the ability to problem solve to make our data 
management systems the very best they can be. The ability to work with a 
variety of stakeholders to deliver project outcomes is central to all tasks.



Read the full job advert and role description here: 
https://hwdt.org/vacancies/database-analyst.



To request supporting project information or for general enquires about the 
role, contact Dr Lauren Hartny-Mills at 
scie...@hwdt.org.  



Further information about the work of the Trust can be found at 
www.hwdt.org.



Best wishes,



Lauren



Dr Lauren Hartny-Mills

Science and Conservation Manager

Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust

01688 302620 | www.hwdt.org
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[MARMAM] New publication: Application of endocrine biomarkers to update information on reproductive physiology in gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus)

2021-09-01 Thread Valentina Melica 
My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of a new
manuscript in PLoS ONE:

Melica V, Atkinson S, Calambokidis J, Lang A, Scordino J, Mueter F (2021)
Application of endocrine biomarkers to update information on reproductive
physiology in gray whale (*Eschrichtius robustus*). PLoS ONE 16(8):
e0255368. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0255368

Abstract:
Most of our knowledge on reproductive biology of gray whales dates back to
scientific research conducted during commercial whaling in the late 1950s
and 1960s. The goal of the present study was to provide updated insights on
reproductive physiology of gray whales, using progesterone and testosterone
as biomarkers. We measured hormone concentrations using enzyme immunoassay
(EIA) techniques in blubber biopsies collected from 106 individual whales
from March to November over a span of 12 years (2004–2016) between
California and Alaska. We found testosterone concentrations in males to
increase significantly with age (*P* = 0.03). Adult males showed
significantly elevated testosterone concentrations when sampled in the fall
compared to the summer (*P* = 0.01), likely indicating physiological
preparation for mating. We measured testosterone concentrations in females
of different age classes, but no statistical differences were found. We
found significantly higher progesterone concentrations in pregnant females
compared to non-pregnant females and adult males (*P*< 0.001), indicating
progesterone is a valid biomarker for pregnancy in gray whales. Both female
and male calves had elevated progesterone concentrations, suggesting
maternal transfer via lactation. We fit a mixture of two normal
distributions to progesterone data from all non-calf females to identify
clusters of high and low progesterone and estimated the probability of
being pregnant for whales of unknown reproductive status. With this
approach we identified likely pregnant and non-pregnant animals. This study
represents an important milestone on reproductive profiles in this
population, that can be used to estimate more accurate and precise
reproductive parameters to be used for better understanding population
dynamics of gray whales.

This publication is open-access and can be found at this link:
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0255368
For any questions, please contact me at valentinamelic...@gmail.com

-- 
Valentina Melica, PhD
Italy-US Fulbright Alumna
www.linkedin.com/in/valentina-melica-7315453b/
www.researchgate.net/profile/Valentina-Melica


*Caminante, son tus huellas*
*el camino, y nada más;*
*caminante, no hay camino:*
*se hace camino al andar.*

Antonio Machado
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[MARMAM] New article:

2021-09-01 Thread Ada Natoli 
Dear MARMAN Subscribers,

On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to announce the publication of our
new research article published in Marine Mammal Science:

Ada Natoli, André E. Moura, Neftalí Sillero, 2021. *Citizen science data of
cetaceans in the Arabian/Persian Gulf: Occurrence and habitat preferences
of the three most reported species.* Mar Mam Sci. 2021;1–21.

*Abstract:*
Citizen science data are becoming increasingly relevant in wildlife
studies, especially when obtaining data requires costly logistics. In the
Arabian/Persian Gulf, baseline information about cetaceans is scarce
despite their regular presence. From 2012 to 2019, a citizen science
campaign conducted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) obtained information
on 1,292 cetacean sightings. These were methodically validated by experts,
resulting in 1,103 records where species was confidently assigned. From the
12 species reported, we analyzed the spatial patterns of occurrence and
drivers of habitat preference for the three most reported species: Tursiops
aduncus (Ta 53%), Sousa plumbea (Sp 45%), and Neophocaena phocaenoides (Np
2%). Ecological niche modelling, considering seven environmental variables
(physicochemical: temperature, silicate, calcite, pH; physiographic:
distance from coast, bathymetry; biological: chlorophyll) showed subtle
niche partitioning among the three species. Our results suggest different
diets and energy requirements for Np, with Ta and Sp, segregating mostly by
different patterns of space use. Specifically, Sp prefers close proximity
to shore, particularly areas with complex networks of inland canals. This
information provides an estimate of habitat preferences, that can be used
in formulating effective conservation measures. Sp shows the narrowest area
of suitable habitat and is at particular risk from habitat degradation.

Link to the article: http://doi.org/10./mms.12865

Best regards

Ada

-- 



Ada Natoli (PhD)
UAE Dolphin Project
www.uaedolphinproject.org

Email: ada.nat...@uaedolphinproject.org
Email: ada.nat...@gmail.com
Phone: +971 (0) 44321211
Mobile: +971 (0) 509551742
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