[MARMAM] Recent publications

[Giacomo Giorli]

Dear MARMAM Readers,

My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the following recent publications 
in Nature Scientific Reports and the New Zealand Journal of Marine and 
Freshwater Research:

  1.  Giorli, G., & Goetz, K. T. (2019). Foraging activity of sperm whales 
(Physeter macrocephalus) off the east coast of New Zealand. Scientific reports, 
9(1), 1-9.
  2.  Giorli, G., & Goetz, K. T. (2019). Acoustically estimated size 
distribution of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) off the east coast of New 
Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 1-12.

Here are the links to the papers: 
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-48417-5 and 
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00288330.2019.1679843

Some of you might also be interested in a less recent paper we published last 
year:

Giorli, G., Goetz, K. T., Delarue, J., Maxner, E., Kowarski, K. A., Bruce 
Martin, S., & McPherson, C. (2018). Unknown beaked whale echolocation signals 
recorded off eastern New Zealand. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of 
America, 143(4), EL285-EL291.

which can be found at this link: 
https://asa.scitation.org/doi/full/10.1121/1.5032127

If you have any question or to request a pdf copy directly, you can contact me 
at giacomo.gio...@niwa.co.nz

Cheers,
Giacomo

[https://www.niwa.co.nz/static/niwa-2018-horizontal-180.png]
Dr Giacomo Giorli
Marine Mammal Acoustician

+64-4-386-0538 |
National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Ltd (NIWA)
301 Evans Bay Parade Hataitai Wellington New Zealand
Connect with NIWA: niwa.co.nz 
Facebook 
LinkedIn 
Twitter 
Instagram
To ensure compliance with legal requirements and to maintain cyber security 
standards, NIWA's IT systems are subject to ongoing monitoring, activity 
logging and auditing. This monitoring and auditing service may be provided by 
third parties. Such third parties can access information transmitted to, 
processed by and stored on NIWA's IT systems
___
MARMAM mailing list
MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca
https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam

[MARMAM] New paper: A biologging perspective to the drivers that shape gregariousness in dusky dolphins

[Heidi Pearson]

Dear colleagues,

On behalf of my co-authors, I pleased to announce publication of the
following paper on dolphin gregariousness in Behavioral Ecology and
Sociobiology. You may find the abstract below and the full article may be
accessed here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00265-019-2763-z
You may also contact me for reprint requests.

Pearson HC, Jones PW, Brandon TP, Stockin KA, Machovsky-Capuska GE. 2019. A
biologging perspective to the drivers that shape gregariousness in dusky
dolphins. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 73:155.

Knowledge of proximate (causation and development) and ultimate (evolution
and survival function) causes of gregariousness is necessary to advance our
knowledge of animal societies. Delphinids are among the most social taxa;
however, fine-scale understanding of their intra-specific relationships is
hindered by the need for underwater observations on individuals. We
developed a non-invasive animal-borne camera system with the goal of
examining influences on gregariousness in dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus
obscurus). We analyzed video and diving records from 11 individual dusky
dolphins off Kaikoura, New Zealand. We examined the influence of biologger
attachment on dolphin behavior and tested hypotheses regarding the effects
of physiology, predation, and inter-individual variation on conspecific
interactions. Dolphins did not exhibit increased rates of descent or ascent
in the minutes immediately following biologger attachment, indicating a
lack of behavioral response. Respiration rate was positively related to
dive depth and duration, suggesting that diving is energetically expensive
for this species. Gregariousness was negatively related to dive depth
providing evidence that the physiological constraints of diving are likely
to limit social behavior. Calves were not observed more frequently in
infant (vs. echelon) position with increasing depth, highlighting the
likelihood of other anti-predation strategies (e.g., dilution effect) in
mother-calf pairs. We found that gregariousness differed between
individuals within similar social groups, suggesting the importance of
collecting data at the individual level. The evidence presented herein
suggests that the further development of animal-borne camera systems will
yield further insight into the mechanisms underlying delphinid social
behavior.

best regards,
Heidi

Heidi Pearson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Marine Biology
Department of Natural Sciences, University of Alaska Southeast &
College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Address: 11066 Auke Lake Way, AND 1, Juneau, AK 99801
Phone: 907.796.6271
E-mail: hcpear...@alaska.edu
Website: https://online.uas.alaska.edu/online/portfolio/HCPEARSON
___
MARMAM mailing list
MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca
https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam

[MARMAM] New publication: Day-night differences in fin whale ship-strike risk (California Current)

[Eric Keen]

Dear colleagues,

My co-authors and I are pleased to share news of a recent publication in
Frontiers in Marine Science:

Keen EM, Scales KL, Rone BK, Hazen EL, Falcone EA and Schorr GS (2019)
Night and Day: Diel Differences in Ship Strike Risk for Fin Whales
(Balaenoptera physalus) in the California Current System. Front. Mar. Sci.
6:730. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2019.00730

Link to paper (full open-access):
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2019.00730/full

Abstract:
Collisions with ships (ship strikes) are a pressing conservation concern
for fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) along western North America. Fin
whales exhibit strong diel patterns in dive behavior, remaining near the
surface for most of the night, but how this behavior affects ship-strike
risk is unknown. We combined diel patterns of surface use, habitat
suitability predictions, and ship traffic data to evaluate spatial and
temporal trends in ship-strike risk to fin whales of the California Current
System (CCS). We tested a range of surface-use scenarios and found that
both increased use of the upper water column and increased ship traffic
contribute to elevated ship-strike risk at night. Lengthening nights
elevate risk during winter throughout the CCS, though the Southern
California Bight experienced consistently high risk both day and night
year-round. Within designated shipping lanes, total annual nighttime strike
risk was twice daytime risk. Avoidance probability models based on ship
speed were used to compare the potential efficacy of speed restrictions at
various scales. Speed reductions within lanes may be an efficient
remediation, but they would address only a small fraction (13%) of overall
ship-strike risk. Additional speed restrictions in the approaches to lanes
would more effectively reduce overall risk.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Best wishes,
Eric Keen
ericmk...@gmail.com

-- 
Eric M Keen 

Biologist, Marine Ecology & Telemetry Research
Department of Earth & Environmental Systems, Sewanee: The University of the
South
Science Director, North Coast Cetacean Society
Editor, Aquatic Mammals Journal
Co-Founder, International Manatee Day
___
MARMAM mailing list
MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca
https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam

[MARMAM] new position on ocean noise at NRDC

[Jasny, Michael]

Dear MARMAMers,

The Marine Mammal project at NRDC is recruiting for a new, permanently endowed 
position on ocean noise.

The position will engage on a broad range of ocean noise issues, with an 
initial focus on reducing noise from large commercial ships. The work includes 
national and international advocacy, corporate campaigning, advancing 
science-based policy, and building cross-sector coalitions.

We're willing to consider candidates based anywhere in the United States.

A full job description is below. If you're interested, please visit 
https://careers-nrdc.icims.com/jobs/4342/senior-advocate-for-quiet-seas/job and 
upload your resume and cover letter from there. And please let me know if you 
have questions.

Thanks,
Michael


Senior Advocate for Quiet Seas
Natural Resources Defense Council
Overview
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is the nation's most effective 
environmental action organization. We use law, science, and the support of more 
than 3 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife 
and wild places and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living 
things. NRDC was founded in 1970 and our staff helped write some of America's 
bedrock environmental laws; our marine mammal cases and campaigns have played a 
major role in shaping current policy on whale and dolphin conservation in the 
United States and internationally. Today, our staff of more than 500 lawyers, 
scientists, economists, policy and communications experts, and others, work out 
of offices in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, 
Bozeman, Montana, and Beijing.

Position Summary

NRDC is seeking an experienced advocate for a newly endowed position in our 
Marine Mammal Protection Project. This position, the Ken Balcomb Senior 
Advocate for Quiet Seas, will help lead our work to protect marine wildlife 
from ocean noise pollution, which has become a major issue for marine 
conservation in the United States and internationally. The work includes 
corporate campaigning, international advocacy, lobbying at various levels of 
government, advancing science-based policy, and building cross-sector 
coalitions, with an initial focus on reducing noise from large commercial 
ships. Success is about developing strong strategic goals, identifying 
opportunity, and achieving progress over time through smart, persistent 
advocacy.

The successful applicant will join NRDC's Marine Mammal Protection Project, a 
team of lawyers and scientists that fights to save marine mammals and their 
habitat from ocean noise, bycatch, harmful development, and other threats.
Responsibilities

  *   Develops and executes high-impact campaigns to prevent and reduce 
underwater noise pollution, including a corporate responsibility campaign aimed 
at controlling noise from commercial shipping;
  *   Represents NRDC on legislative issues related to ocean noise and marine 
wildlife at the federal, state and local level, including communication with 
elected officials and their staffs and drafting of legislative and regulatory 
proposals;
  *   Advances ocean noise code and guidelines at intergovernmental 
organizations, including the International Maritime Organization and the 
Convention on Migratory Species;
  *   Builds alliances and maintains relationships across the shipping sector, 
including with shipowners, ports, technical experts, and regulators;
  *   Helps lead coalitions of environmental organizations to lobby for 
national and international ocean noise control;
  *   Speaks publicly on ocean noise pollution in a wide range of public 
contexts, including in traditional and social media and at public events;
  *   Develops science-based policy on quieting commercial ships, including by 
directing naval architects, economists, acousticians, and other experts in the 
preparation of technical papers on ocean noise solutions;
  *   Participates in related legal cases brought by NRDC; and
  *   Contributes to marine mammal project fundraising by assisting in 
proposals and engaging in regular, consistent outreach to foundations and major 
donors.
Qualifications

  *   At least 8 years of experience in environmental advocacy, with 
demonstrated leadership, creativity, and accomplishment.
  *   An advanced degree in a field relevant to the position, such as law, 
engineering, ocean science, or public policy;
  *   Experience working with government agencies, with Congress, and with 
intergovernmental organizations;
  *   Ability to lead complex coalitions with diverse national and 
international membership;
  *   Ability to manage and prioritize an independent workload while also 
working as a member of a team;
  *   Exceptional research, writing, communication (in both traditional and 
social media), listening, and analytical skills;
  *   Ability to understand and explain scientific material to non-specialists;
  *   Courtesy and diplomacy in dealing with colleagues, government