[MARMAM] Protected Species Observer Training in Galveston, TX - February 26-27

[abostwick]

MPSC will be holding Protected Species Observer training in Galveston, Texas on
February 26-27. This BOEM/BSEE-compliant PSO certification course covers the
regulations for reducing seismic survey impacts to marine mammals and sea
turtles, and how to visually locate and identify the animals.  Course
comprehension is measured with examinations on regulations and animal
identification.

Lunch is provided and included in the $800 course fee (college/recent graduate
and group discounts available), along with various identification guides,
regulatory documents, and advice on applying to PSO positions.  The registration
form may be found here:
http://www.protectedspeciesobservers.com/MPSC_Registration-February2016.pdf

For  more information or to register, please contact Angela at
abostw...@psocertifications.com  , by
phone at 832-523-2402  , or visit the website at
http://www.protectedspeciesobservers.com/.

Thank you,
Angela Bostwick, M.S.
Marine Protected Species Consulting
ProtectedSpeciesObservers.com 
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[MARMAM] LAJAM Pteronura Special Issue_announcement

[Lajam Editors]

Dear Readers:
 We are happy to let you know that the Latin American Journal of Aquatic
Mammals has just published its latest issue 10(2) (Special Issue on Giant
Otter *Pteronura brasiliensis*) at http://lajamjournal.org/index.php/lajam.
 We invite you to review the Table of Contents and visit our web
site to review articles and items of interest.

Thanks for the continuing interest in our work,

Dr. Miriam Marmontel
Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá
lajam.edit...@gmail.com
LAJAM, Editor-in-Chief

Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals
Vol 10, No 2 (2015): Special Issue on Giant River Otter Pteronura
brasiliensis
Table of Contents
http://lajamjournal.org/index.php/lajam/issue/view/27

Editorial


Editorial (70-74)
Miriam Marmontel, Danielle Lima,  Paul Van Damme, Jessica
Groenendijk,Fernando Trujillo

Reviews


Advances in the study of giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis): ecology,
behavior,  and conservation: a review (75-98)
Nicole Duplaix, Emanuela Evangelista, Fernando C. W. Rosas

Articles


Giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) distribution, relative abundance and
conservation in northwestern Bolivia (99-106)
Guido Ayala, Robert Benedict Wallace, Maria Viscarra, Cynthya Jurado

Distribution and status of giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) in the
Pantanal wetland, Brazil (107-114)
Walfrido M. Tomas, André R. Camilo, Carolina Ribas, Caroline
Leuchtenberger, Paulo André Lima Borges, Guilherme Mourão, Luiz A.
Pellegrin

Cub biometry, litter size and reproductive period of giant oters (Pteronura
brasiliensis) at the Balbina Hydroelectric Reservoir, Amazonas, Brazil
(115-121)
Bruno Freitas Bozzetti, Márcia Munick Mendes Cabral, Fernando Weber
Rosas

Negative interactions between giant otters (Pteronura brasiliensis) and
local fisheries in the Amazon and Orinoco basins in Colombia (122-130)
Fernando Trujillo, Andrea Caro, Sindy Martínez, María Victoria
Rodríguez-Maldonado

The use of premaxillary bones of six fish species in giant otter (Pteronura
brasiliensis) diet analysis (131-142)
Maria del Pilar Becerra Cardona, Heiddy Asunción Mallea Cardenas,
  Paul André Van Damme

Notes


First giant otter distribution survey in the southeast of Roraima, Brazil,
with notes on the OSG Guidelines for a Standardization of Survey Methods
(143-146)
Emanuela Evangelista, Chiara Tosi

Rediscovery of Pteronura brasiliensis in the Amanã Sustainable Development
Reserve, Amazonas, Brazil (147-151)
Miriam Marmontel, Jorge Calvimontes, Oldemar Carvalho Jr.

Protection and monitoring of the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) in
Cantão State Park, Tocantins, Brazil (152-155)
George Georgiadis, Silvana Campello, Benaya N. Leles

What do we know about Pteronura brasiliensis in Uruguay? (156-158)
Martin Buschiazzo, Enrique M. González, Alvaro Soutullo

A case study of artificial feeding of an unweaned giant otter (Pteronura
brasiliensis) cub (159-162)
Marcia Munick Mendes Cabral, Carolina Ribas, Fernando Cesar Weber
Rosas

A reliable method for sexing giant otters (Pteronura brasiliensis) in the
wild (163-165)
Jessica Groenendijk, Frank Hajek

-- 
Miriam Marmontel
Editor-in-Chief
Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals
http://www.lajamjournal.org/
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[MARMAM] Last call for applicants for Education & Outreach Assistant & Research Intern opportunity with Sea Watch Foundation in Cardigan Bay, Wales, UK in 2016.

[Kathy James]

Please see two different internship opportunities listed below – Deadline
10th January

 

 

Sea Watch Foundation – Voluntary Education and Outreach Assistant
opportunity based in Cardigan Bay for the 2016 summer season

 

 

The Sea Watch Foundation   is seeking
an Education and Outreach Assistant for the 2016 season. This position will
suit a volunteer who has a strong interest in marine conservation and
recognises the importance of educating and raising awareness by involving
the public.

 

The assistant will be responsible in aiding the Sightings Officer with the
following duties:

 

·Promoting and organising the National Whale and Dolphin Watch event
(23rd – 31st July 2016)

·Participating in presentations and creating activities to take to
local schools

·Researching and writing articles

·Creating educational/promotional materials (posters, displays,
flyers) 

·Assisting in the organisation of training courses

·Social networking (Facebook, Twitter, website)

·Raising Sea Watch Foundation’s profile locally (organising events,
manning the Sea Watch stand on the pier, liaising with local boat operators
to produce educational materials)

·Interacting with the media (radio, TV and newspapers)

·Representing Sea Watch at public events within the UK generally

·Liaising with the Adopt a Dolphin Coordinator for the promotion of
Sea Watch Foundation and the Adopt a Dolphin scheme

 

The Education and Outreach Assistant will also have some opportunity to be
involved in the fieldwork aspects of the “Cardigan Bay Monitoring Project
 ”
(land-based and boat-based surveys). This project, undertaken on behalf of
Natural Resources Wales, manages the conservation of a coastal population of
bottlenose dolphins, the largest in the UK. Monitoring of harbour porpoise
and grey seal populations is also part of the project.

 

The field season will run from April to October 2016 and has been split into
two periods of 6 weeks followed by two periods of 8 weeks. One assistant is
required for each half of the season. However, preference may be given to
those who can stay for the entire seven-month field season. The assistant
will be based in New Quay, West Wales. Accommodation is provided at a rate
of approximately £70/week in a house, sharing with the research interns. The
assistant is responsible for their own travel and living expenses, but it is
generally quite easy to obtain part-time paid work in the area if required.

 

Intern periods for summer 2016: 

 

Period 1: 18/04 – 12/06, Period 2: 13/06 – 07/8, Period 3: 08/08 – 18/9,
Period 4: 19/09 – 30/10 

 

 

Important skills/qualifications

Essential:

*   a strong interest in marine conservation and education
*   outgoing personality with confidence to interact with the public
*   excellent verbal and writing skills
*   must have initiative and bring their own ideas and personality to
the position
*   strong commitment to volunteering work
*   an ability to work in an organised and reliable manner and to manage
a variable workload, including appropriate delegation
*   an ability to get on well with others in a small team and within
shared accommodation

 

Desirable:

*   a background in marine biology/environmental science or similar 
*   a strong interest and some knowledge of British cetaceans 
*   good IT skills (Office package)
*   prior experience in public speaking
*   experience with postings in social media
*   prior experience in boat-based survey work 
*   willingness to work long hours outdoors in often very changeable
Welsh weather

 

 

To apply:

 

Please send your CV and a cover letter reporting any relevant experience you
have and specifying the period(s) you would prefer to volunteer for, as well
as contact details of two referees, to Kathy James
(kathy.ja...@seawatchfoundation.org.uk).

 

Deadline: 10th January 2016. 

 

Please specify EDUCATION ASSISTANT APPLICATION into your subject title.

 

Applicants must be available for interview via Skype between the 20th and
26th January and will be notified of the outcomes by the 29th January 2016.

 

 

 

 

 

Sea Watch Foundation – Research Intern Opportunity in Cardigan Bay for 2016

 

 

Interns are invited to assist the Sea Watch Foundation (
 www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk) with
the running of the “Cardigan Bay Monitoring Project”. The project is based
in New Quay, West Wales, and supports the conservation management of the
bottlenose dolphin, harbour porpoise and grey seal populations of Cardigan
Bay, monitoring their abundance, distribution, reproductive success and
population structure using a combination of vessel-based, land-based and
acoustic surveys. Sea Watch has been monitoring these populations o

[MARMAM] JOB OPPORTUNITY AS AN ON-BOARD NATURALIST FOR ELDING WHALE WATCHING REYKJAVIK, ICELAND SUMMER 2016.

[Megan Whittaker]

JOB OPPORTUNITY AS AN ON-BOARD NATURALIST FOR ELDING WHALE WATCHING
REYKJAVIK, ICELAND SUMMER 2016.



Elding Whale Watching Reykjavik is a family owned company and has been
running since 2000. We are the original operator in Reykjavik, strict in
abiding by IceWhale’s (www.icewhale.is) guidelines in vessel behaviour
around wildlife and work with IFAW to stop Whaling in Iceland. We are also
well known for our environmental policy. Elding also provides a platform
for marine biologists to study the cetaceans we encounter to help build our
knowledge and understanding. Elding also has ties with Whale Safari (
www.whalesafari.is), a RIB whale watching company and developing a new
whale watching company in Akureyri (North Iceland) this up and coming
summer. For further information please visit our website at www.elding.is.



Elding is looking for full-time guides that are fluent in English.
Preference will go to those that are multi-lingual (German, French, Spanish
in particular). However, few positions are available for those that are
not. Applicants MUST have a passport from an EEA country
https://www.gov.uk/eu-eea .



Duration: April/May to August/September, winter work may also be available
for hard workers. Shift work on a 2-2-3 schedule (two days on, two off etc.
and you have every other weekend off Fri-Sun).  Flexibility is essential
and there is usually opportunity of overtime.



Salary will be discussed at a later date but looking around
300,000ISK/month (~€2000/£1600month) Remember taxes are about 35%.
Recommend looking through
http://www.eures.is/english/work-in-iceland/living-conditions/nr/32/ before
applying.  Employees are responsible for their own accommodation, travel,
travel insurance and living expenses.



*Employment Duties*



·  Narrating clearly to passengers the biology, conservation (including
whaling) and ecology of the marine life found in Faxafloi Bay and other
areas around Iceland.

·  Spotting wildlife for passengers.

·  Cleaning – cleaning the boats is done at the end of the day or when
cancelled due to bad weather.

·  Looking after the welfare and security of passengers onboard.

·  Bar work – Each vessel has a bar where light refreshments are sold.

·  Hospitality – this is done both onboard and in the office when
needed.

·  Other work/tasks – i.e. selling tickets, distributing brochures,
answering the phone, translating documents etc…

·  Photo Identification for the research.



*Important skills/qualifications*



·  A strong interest and education in marine science specifically
cetaceans and marine birds.

·  A good knowledge of conservation issues related to marine life.

·  Confidence to narrate and interact with large groups.

·  Must be a quick learner, adaptive, hard working, outgoing and
generally a very positive person (finding beauty in the little things).

·  Be able to work calmly and politely under pressure and sometimes in
stressful situations.

·  Must have experience on boats and not acceptable to seasickness
easily

·  Good spotting skills.

·  Maritime safety and First Aid certified is an advantage but not
necessary.

·  Photography skills are highly desirable.

·  Willingness to work long hours outdoors in sometimes unfavorable
weathers.



Elding prides itself on teamwork, no job is too small or too big for any of
our staff members. We work together to make sure everything is finished for
the following day. So being a team player is also very important.



How to apply:



Please email your C.V. and introduction of yourself in English specifying
any relevant experience and languages and why you think you would be good
for the job. Please also include one reference from a past employer to
Megan (me...@elding.is)



Deadline for applications is the 15th February and those that are
successful for interview will be contacted no later than the 29th of
February 2016.

-- 
Kind Regards

Megan Whittaker
Head Naturalist and Research co-ordinator
Elding Adventures at Sea
Ægisgarður 5, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
Tel. (+354) 519 5090
eld...@elding.is
www.elding.is

Add us on Facebook Elding Whale Watching Reykjavík

Follow us on Twitter: EldingWhale 
Check our Videos on YouTube: Reykjavik Activitie
s

Please think of the environment; please don't print this e-mail unless you
really need to.
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[MARMAM] RESEARCH ASSISTANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ELDING WHALE WATCHING REYKJAVIK, ICELAND SUMMER 2016.

[Megan Whittaker]

RESEARCH ASSISTANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ELDING WHALE WATCHING REYKJAVIK,
ICELAND SUMMER 2016.



Elding Whale Watching Reykjavik is a family owned company and has been
running since 2000. We are the original operator in Reykjavik, strict in
abiding by IceWhale’s (www.icewhale.is) guidelines in vessel behaviour
around wildlife and work with IFAW to stop Whaling in Iceland. We are also
well known for our environmental policy. Elding also provides a platform
for marine biologists to study the cetaceans we encounter to help build our
knowledge and understanding. Elding also has ties with Whale Safari (
www.whalesafari.is), a RIB whale watching company and developing a new
whale watching company in Akureyri (North Iceland) this up and coming
summer. For further information please visit our website at www.elding.is.



Elding Whale Watching Reykjavik is looking for four voluntary research
assistants with a passport from an EEA country (https://www.gov.uk/eu-eea) to
assist for 5 months (1st May to the 31st September 2015). Research is
conducted in co-operation with the University of Iceland’s research center
in Húsavik and it comprises of photo identification and behavioral studies
mainly of minke whales and white-beaked dolphins but occasionally also
humpback whales, orca, fin whales and basking sharks.



Research will be conducted on the whale watching tours (3 hours, 3 times a
day). There will always be two assistants on board taking data and one on
land processing, cropping, ID matching and uploading onto an online
database. Each researcher will have four days at sea and two days on land
processing. Working day averages at about 12-14 hours for those at sea and
6-8 hours those on land.  You will have every Sunday off work as well as
bad weather days when tours are cancelled.



We are looking for assistant that;

·  Have a strong interest and education in marine science specifically
cetaceans and marine birds.

·  Good spotting skills

·  Have experience on boats preferably above 17m and not acceptable to
seasickness easily.

·  Be able to work calmly and politely under pressure and sometimes in
stressful situations.

·  Must be a quick learner, adaptive, have a very good sense of humour,
hard working, outgoing and generally a very positive person.

·  Willingness to work long hours outdoors in sometimes unfavorable
weathers.

·  A Team Player

·  Physically fit - there may be some heavy lifting. i.e. moving cases
of drinks or working with heavy ropes, being on your feet for most the day.

·  Don’t mind cleaning – lots of cleaning needs to be done on a daily
basis, between and after tours and yes it also means cleaning up vomit and
toilets.

·  Bar work – Each vessel has a bar where light refreshments are sold

·  Have their own equipment and good at using them e.g. DSLR camera and
computer.



Assistants will be responsible for their own travel costs, travel insurance
and personal expenses but accommodation is provided throughout the working
period as well as an afternoon hot meal.



Further information on living and working in Iceland can be found at
http://www.mcc.is/media/frettir/Living_and_working_in_Iceland.pdf and
www.iceland.is





*Accommodation*



You will be living on an old converted capelin fishing boat that now acts
as a permanently stationed gift shop/ waiting area/ small museum for our
passengers in the heart of Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavik. You will get
your own small bedroom but the living area, shower room, kitchen and
toilet, with all essentials, will be communal with the other researchers
and maybe the occasional crewmember. All facilities are provided including
wifi, fridge, cooker, bedding, towels etc.



Elding prides itself on teamwork, no job is too small or too big for any of
our staff members. We work together to make sure everything is finished for
the following day. So being a team player is also very important.



*How to apply: *



Please email your C.V. and introduction of yourself in English specifying
any relevant experience and languages you have, also why you would be good
for the job with the contact details of one reference to Megan (
me...@elding.is).



Deadline for applications is the 15th February and those that are
successful for interview will be contacted no later than the 29th of
February 2016.



-- 
Kind Regards

Megan Whittaker
Head Naturalist and Research co-ordinator
Elding Adventures at Sea
Ægisgarður 5, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
Tel. (+354) 519 5090
eld...@elding.is
www.elding.is

Add us on Facebook Elding Whale Watching Reykjavík

Follow us on Twitter: EldingWhale 
Check our Videos on YouTube: Reykjavik Activitie
s

Please think of the environment; please don't print this e-mail unless you
really need to.
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[MARMAM] Volunteer/Intern Position for Whale Research Station North Coast BC

[CetaceaLab]

Cetacea Lab is a whale research facility located along the remote north
coast of British Columbia, Canada. We are accepting applications for the
2016 field season from May until the end of September. All positions are
for 1 to 2 month duration. There is a weekly fee for food and
accommodation.These are volunteer/intern positions to help with the
collection of data on the habitat use and abundance of northern
resident/transient killer whales, humpback and fin whales. Both the lab and
out camp are located in areas of high abundance of all 3 species. Due to
our remote location applicants need to be in good physical condition, able
to participate with the daily routine of living off the grid and
comfortable sleeping in a tent in the wilderness of BC. There is a lot of
hard physical work that will come with this position, you must be fit with
out any physical injuries. There are no roads, very limited Internet
access, and power is completely off the grid.

-   Daily shifts involve scanning for whales, documenting all sightings
and when possible to take identification pictures of whales

-   Listening and recording all whale vocalizations that are
transmitted to the lab facility from our network of hydrophone stations

-   Data entry from land based and marine vessel based surveys

-   Identification work of all whales from photographs taken in the
field

-   There will also be a lot of heavy lifting and moving over uneven
rocky terrain, chopping wood ( our only source of heat) and assistance with
the physical maintenance of the hydrophone stations.

-   Experience with carpentry, electronics, computers, acoustic
software programs and environmental communications would be a valuable
asset. Interested applicants should send a letter describing why they would
like to join our team, CV and letter of reference to cetacea...@gmail.com.
References will be contacted. More information about our research can be
found at www.forwhales.org

All the Best,

Hermann Meuter & Janie Wray
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[MARMAM] 15 Jan 2016 (23:45 CET) – early registration deadline of the 30th Conference of the European Cetacean Society, Madeira, 14 - 16 March, 2016.

[ECS2016 Madeira Conference]

The EARLY REGISTRATION DEADLINE for the 30th Annual Conference of the
European Cetacean Society is near - *15 Jan 2016 (23:45 CET). Please
register before in order to take advantage of the lower registration fees.*


The theme of the conference is *‘Into the Deep: Research and Conservation
on Oceanic Marine Mammals’.*


For further information on the conference visit:
http://europeancetaceansociety.eu/conference/30th-annual-conference-funchal-madeira


INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS to be held in association with the
Conference on the 12th and 13th March are available at the conference web
page: http://europeancetaceansociety.eu/conference/workshops-0

Please contact the workshop organizers (contacts on the web page) directly
in order to obtain further information and to register.


Looking forward to meeting in Madeira in March 2016,


The Conference Organising Committee
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[MARMAM] Beluga whales shift hearing

[Paul Nachtigall]

Work on beluga whale hearing in which either a 32 or 45 kHz tone was
presented prior to a loud 32 kHz tone showed that either warning tone
caused the whale to dampen its hearing in anticipation of the loud sound.
This response was quickly learned within a single day but took three days
to extinguish when the loud sound was removed.  This work, presented at the
recent SMM meeting in San Francisco, is now available as a publication in
the Journal of Comparative Physiology A.  DOI.

Nachtigall, P.E*., * Supin, A.Ya. Estaban, J.A., and Pacini, A.F. (2016)
Learning and extinction of conditioned hearing sensation change in the
beluga whale (*Delphinapterus leucas*) * Journal of Comparative Physiology
A*  DOI 10.1007/s00359-015-1056-x

A limited number of preprints are available on request.

ALOHA
Paul Nachtigall - nacht...@hawaii.edu​
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[MARMAM] Research Intern opportunity at The Marine Mammal Center

[Christine Fontaine]

SCIENCE DEPARTMENT INTERNSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT
Research Department

The Marine Mammal Center (TMMC) is a non-profit hospital dedicated to the 
rescue, rehabilitation, and release of sick, injured or orphaned marine 
mammals. Also integral to the Center’s mission are the research and education 
programs that expand our knowledge of marine mammals, and their ocean 
environment, and inspire global conservation. Since 1975, TMMC volunteers and 
staff have responded to more than 18,000 stranded pinnipeds, cetaceans, and sea 
otters along California’s central coast. For more information about TMMC, 
please visit: www.marinemammalcenter.org.

The Science Department at TMMC is seeking applicants for a volunteer internship 
position in our research division. There are two intern opportunities, spring 
and summer.

Responsibilities
The successful candidate will participate in the following projects:
1) Assist with necropsies: Necropsies are performed on all animals that die 
during treatment at the center. Depending on the case, some necropsies require 
a significant amount of sampling. Primary responsibilities will include: 
assisting with necropsy sample collection, data collection, archiving samples, 
stocking necropsy lab, and clean up.
2) Data entry and cleaning: The goal of this project is to improve data 
integrity, standardization, and volume in the Veterinary Science Department’s 
databases (FileMaker Pro). These data include animal care and medical records, 
diagnostic results, specimen tracking information, and stranding and 
disposition details. Intern tasks may include entry of respective data from 
hard-copy records and data checking and cleaning.
3) Specimen archive project: This project will focus on tracking and 
optimizing the storage of archived specimens collected from live and dead 
marine mammals. Intern duties will primarily include: freezer inventory.
4) Library project: This project involves cataloging scientific 
publications into TMMC’s hardcopy and electronic libraries. Intern duties will 
primarily include: reference entry using EndNote X, restocking hardcopy 
reprints, and scanning hardcopy publications.
5) Animal crew: The selected intern will spend one day on an animal crew. 
Animal crew’s duties include feeding the patients, cleaning the pens, 
restraining animals for feeds and/or procedures. Training is provided.

In addition, the intern will assist with other duties within the Science 
Department as needed, such as filing paperwork, rescues and releases.

Qualifications
Applicants would ideally have the following qualifications:

  *   Minimum of 21 years of age and engaged in or recently completed 
undergraduate studies;
  *   A background or degree in Biology, Marine Biology, Ecology, Zoology or a 
related field;
  *   Basic computer proficiency, especially with Microsoft Office Suite;
  *   Comfortable hiking 5 miles and lifting 50 lbs; and
  *   A willingness to spend a minimum of 12 weeks working full time (40 hours 
per week) as a volunteer with our program.
  *   As there is no compensation for this internship position, and the 
successful applicant will be responsible for their own living and 
transportation expenses during the time of the internship.

There is flexibility on the start date of this position for both the spring and 
summer Internships. Please specify which time slot you’re applying for- spring 
or summer.

Internship Period

Application Deadline

Interviews

Notification of acceptance

Approximate Internship Time

Spring


Feb 5th, 2016

February 11-12, 2016

February 17, 2016

March – May 2016

Summer


April 15th, 2016

April 25-26, 2016

May 2nd, 2016

June – August 2016


Application
The following application material is required and should be submitted 
electronically (PDF or Word document attachments) to 
int...@tmmc.org. Please put “Research Intern” in the 
subject line of the email.


  1.  Statement of Interest (no more than two pages, double spaced) that 
describes: a) your professional interests and career goals, b) your reasons for 
applying for this internship, c) why you should be selected for this 
internship, and d) your availability and plan for housing.
  2.  College transcript(s) (official or unofficial copy) with all 
college-level courses you have taken to-date and the grades you have received. 
Please include an explanation of grading scales not on a 4.0 scale.
  3.  One letter of recommendation from an individual capable of commenting on 
your academic qualifications and, if possible, research skills. College or 
university faculty or research advisors preferred. Letters of recommendation 
MUST be sent directly from the person writing the letter, preferably via email 
(as an attachment or in the body of the email).
  4.  Resume or curriculum vitae (no more than two pages) describing any 
relevant jobs, internships, volunteer work, scholarships and/or other 
activ

[MARMAM] Summer Animal Care Internships at Clearwater Marine Aquarium

[Cassie Seebart]

*CALL FOR INTERNSHIP APPLICATIONS* (Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater,
FL)



Clearwater Marine Aquarium conducts rescue, rehabilitation, and release
efforts for sick or injured marine life. If rescued animals are deemed
un-releasable due to their physical limitations or need for continuous
care, Clearwater Marine Aquarium can provide permanent care for these
animals. Clearwater Marine Aquarium offers intensive, hands on internships
for individuals interested in particular aspects of the marine animal care
field.

The *Stranding Team Internship *provides interns with a unique opportunity
to gain hands on experience in the response of live and dead dolphins,
whales, sea turtles, and North American river otters. Intern
responsibilities include, but are not limited to, assisting with the
monitoring, rescue, transport, data collection, rehabilitation, release,
and necropsy of stranded aquatic animals. Interns will also be given ample
opportunities to further their skill sets relating to writing and public
speaking. This will be achieved through duties such as writing weekly
newsletters and presenting daily guest narrations. The Stranding Team seeks
enthusiastic, dedicated, and hardworking individuals who are interested in
promoting wildlife conservation through stranding efforts.

The *Marine Mammal Training Internship* is designed to give individuals an
inside look into what it takes to care for marine animals, with emphasis on
common bottlenose dolphins, North American river otters and African great
white pelican. During your internship, you will learn how to prepare diets,
clean to USDA standards, maintain exhibits, provide enrichment/mental
stimulation and give public presentations to educate our visitors as well
as promote environmental conservation. Through a classroom lecture series,
you will also learn how trainers use principles such as positive
reinforcement, operant conditioning and shaping to train.  Candidates
should be able to perform physically demanding duties and ideally be
enrolled in a four-year college program in psychology, biology, marine
biology or another related field.   Hands-on animal experience, such as
volunteering at an animal shelter or completing other marine mammal
internships at another facility is required. SCUBA, First Aid and CPR
certification is also a plus.

The *Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Internship* offers a hands-on learning
experience caring for rehabilitating sea turtles as well as permanent
residents at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Interns will be exposed to all
aspects of the field including stranding, triage, food prep, exhibit
maintenance, operating under USDA and FWC standards, animal restraint,
basic target training, enrichment, daily husbandry and, occasionally, more
extensive surgical procedures. Interns are able to practice many duties
necessary for future animal care careers. After completing this internship,
previous interns have used their experiences to gain employment in vet
clinics or animal rehabilitation jobs, gained admission to veterinary
school, or pursued educational and conservational outreach. The Sea Turtle
department has an additional *Sea Turtle Nesting Internship*, in the summer
only, designed to give interns an opportunity to perform field research
that is reported to government agencies. Nesting interns will assist in
patrol of about 25 miles of beach. Interns will conduct all aspects of sea
turtle nesting including nest marking, night patrol, hatchling release,
inventory, caging, data input, and much more.

 Clearwater Marine Aquarium offers 3 internship time frames annually. The
Summer Internship runs from May through August. The application deadline
for this internship is February 1st. To learn more about Clearwater Marine
Aquarium’s animal care internships and how to apply, please visit the
“About Us” page on www.seewinter.com and select the link for “Internships.”
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[MARMAM] Missing fin whale skeleton

[Eric Archer - NOAA Federal]

I am trying to track down the skeleton of a fin whale (*Balaenoptera
physalus*) that was once hanging at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia,
PA USA.

The skeleton was collected by Edward Cope from San Clemente, California in
1895 and donated to the Wistar a few years later. It was described in True
1904. "The Whalebone Whales of the Western North Atlantic" as measuring 62
feet, 10 inches long. The name applied by Cope for this specimen was
*Balaenoptera
velifera*, originally described in 1869, currently synonymized with *B.
physalus*. As there doesn't appear to be any surviving material for the
holotype of*Balenoptera velifera*, the specimen from the Wistar Institute
would be the next candidate to designate as a lectotype for a new
subspecies of fin whales in the eastern north Pacific: *Balaenoptera
physalus velifera*.

The skeleton is no longer at the Wistar Institute. I have been in touch
with directors at the Wistar and scoured the internet and the evidence is
that sometime soon after a new director, Hilary Koprowski, arrived in 1957,
the skeleton was shipped to the Field Museum in Chicago. However, the
current curator of the mammal collection at the Field Museum says that the
skeleton is not in their collection nor does anyone there have any
recollection or knowledge of it. It is also not in the Smithsonian or at
the American Natural History Museum.

If anyone has any knowledge of this specimen or knows of someone who might,
I would greatly appreciate their contact information. I am currently
working on writing up the description for this subspecies and would like to
identify the lectotype as well as potentially obtain some bone sample for
mitochondrial DNA sequencing. Thank you in advance.

Regards,
Eric Archer



*Eric Archer, Ph.D.*
Southwest Fisheries Science Center
NMFS, NOAA
8901 La Jolla Shores Drive
La Jolla, CA 92037 USA
858-546-7121 (work)
858-546-7003 (FAX)

Marine Mammal Genetics Group: swfsc.noaa.gov/mmtd-mmgenetics
ETP Cetacean Assessment Program: swfsc.noaa.gov/mmtd-etp

"


*The universe doesn't care what you believe. The wonderful thing about
science is that it   doesn't ask for your faith, it just asks   for your
eyes.*"  - Randall Munroe

"*Lighthouses are more helpful than churches.*"
   - Benjamin Franklin

   "*...but I'll take a GPS over either one.*"
   - John C. "Craig" George
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[MARMAM] archived samples

[Frances Gulland]

Dear MarMammers,

As we start the New Year, at The Marine Mammal Center, we are consolidating our 
tissue archive of liver and kidney samples from marine mammals that stranded 
along the central California coast over the last decade. If you are interested 
in requesting samples of liver or kidney that have been stored at -20 C for 
many years, for research purposes, please contact Frances Gulland for further 
information. Thank you
Frances Gulland, email: gulla...@tmmc.org, The Marine 
Mammal Center, Sausalito, CA 94965
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