[MARMAM] DOLPHIN RESEARCH INTERNSHIP IN PORTUGAL

[AIMM Internships]

*BACKGROUND:*

The AIMM – Associação para a Investigação do Meio Marinho (Marine
Environment Research Association) is a non-for profit, non-governmental
organization focussed on the research and conservation of marine species,
running an ongoing study of cetaceans in the South of Portugal (Algarve).
This project aims to obtain baseline information on species occurrence,
behaviour and social structure of the local cetacean populations in order
to obtain scientific data to support conservation measures and adequate
policies to marine management.

The main species observed are short beaked common dolphin (*Delphinus
delphis*), common bottlenose dolphin (*Tursiops truncatus)* and harbour
porpoise (*Phocoena phocoena*), although other species such as minke
whale (*Balaenoptera
acutorostrata*) and fin whale (*Balaenoptera physalus*) can also be sighted.

The participants in our internships are young hard working individuals, who
are willing to contribute to the association and support on-going
activities, while experiencing fieldwork at sea, learn data collection and
processing methodologies and be part of AIMM team of researchers and marine
biologists for a period of time. All team members and participants share
accommodation, house tasks, knowledge and experience in an environmental
friendly and multicultural environment.

To turn your experience with AIMM even more fulfilling, it is possible to
start or improve your scuba diving skills (PADI).



*WHERE:* Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal



*WHEN:* 1st May and ends in 31st October 2016, the minimum internship
attendance is 7 days starting preferably on Mondays.



*FIELDWORK: *The field trips are conducted in AIMM’s research vessel,
Ketos, or in opportunistic platforms (commercial dolphin watching boats).
It is dependent on weather conditions and seat availability in the dolphin
watching boats. Field days can be intense, especially in the peak of Summer
but are fulfilling and good fun. The interns will be train to:

   -

   On-board surveys of marine species occurrence;
   -

   Record track on GPS;
   -

   Collect data on behaviour, group size, species, etc.;
   -

   Photo-identification;
   -

   Acoustic records;
   -

   Underwater videos.



*DATA ANALYSIS: *will be in a daily basis and related to:

   -

   Entry data on databases and spread cheats.
   -

   Photo-identification processing.
   -

   Preliminary data interpretation.



*INTERNSHIP FEES:* AIMM is a non-profit organization that relies on
donations from our volunteers, partners and people like you so that we may
continue our important research and education programs in the Algarve! This
internship and requires a contribution fee, to know about the fees for 2016
please contact: inte...@aimm-portugal.org



*Included* in the fee is:

   -

   Accommodation in the research house;
   -

   Transportation to/from the marina;
   -

   Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner);
   -

   Field work in the research vessel or commercial dolphin watching vessels.



*Not included* in the fee is:

   -

   Transportation to/from Albufeira;
   -

   Meals in restaurants and snacks;
   -

   Free time activities;
   -

   Personal insurance (all participants should have health and/or travel
   insurance);
   -

   Personal expenses.





*INTERNS ARE EXPECTED TO:*

   -

   Be above the age of 16;


   -

   Have a mature attitude towards marine mammal research and environment;
   -

   Be autonomous and quickly operational;
   -

   Be able to live and work in an international team and mainly outdoors at
   sea;
   -

   Speak English;
   -

   Participate for minimum 7 days.



*Preference in internship dates availability will be given* to those who
have:

   -

   Relevant marine mammal field experience
   -

   Working experience on research vessels
   -

   Experience working from dolphin/whale watching platforms
   -

   Experience in photo-identification
   -

   Professional cameras that can be used for photo-ID
   -

   Availability to stay for longer periods of time





*INTERNSHIP APPLICATION: *Applicants should fill up the online application
at: http://www.aimmportugal.org/#!internship-aimm/cw7b



After the confirmation e-mail, send your CV with updated photo and personal
statement on which are your expectations and why do you want to work with
AIMM to: inte...@aimm-portugal.org with the subject “Internship 2016”.



Applicants will be contacted to arrange internship dates and details.



Applications will be accepted during all season, however, early application
is recommended due to limited vacancies.





*Contacts*: inte...@aimm-portugal.org | www.aimmportugal.org |


-- 

AIMM - Associação para Investigação do Meio Marinho / *Marine Environment
Research Association*

w ww.aimmportugal.org
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[MARMAM] New Publication: Behavioral responses affect distribution analyses of bowhead whales in the vicinity of seismic operations.

[Frances Robertson]

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of my co-authors I am pleased to bring your attention to our recently 
published paper,

Behavioral responses affect distribution analyses of bowhead whales in the 
vicinity of seismic operations.
Robertson FC, Koski WR, Trites AW (2016). Mar Ecol Prog Ser 549:243-262

Abstract
Aerial surveys are sometimes used to assess the densities of wide-ranging 
whales, as well as changes in their distributions in response to human 
activity. Such surveys also provide data used to estimate numbers of animals 
exposed to different received levels of seismic sound, as required by 
regulators. However, estimates of abundance are often biased because they fail 
to account for the effects of seismic operations on the surfacing and diving 
behavior of whales. Our objective was to determine the extent to which analyses 
of the distribution of bowhead whales Balaena mysticetus are affected by 
changes in visual 'availability' caused by seismic operations. We used aerial 
survey data collected during seismic operations in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea 
from late August to early October 2008 and fit spatial density surface models 
to bowhead sighting data to predict whale density in an ensonified area. We 
also incorporated availability correction factors to determine the sensitivity 
of density estimates to changes in surfacing and diving behavior caused by 
seismic operations. The influence of altered whale behavior was then evaluated 
by comparing a series of realistic simulated scenarios in which models 
incorporated undisturbed or seismic disturbance-related correction factors. 
Results suggest that the numbers of bowhead whales present in the vicinity of 
seismic operations during the bowhead autumn migration are underestimated if 
the behavioral effects of seismic operations on whales are ignored. Our study 
highlights the importance of accounting for changes in whale behavior that can 
affect sightability when estimating numbers and distribution of whales in the 
vicinity of industrial activity.

This paper is available to download at: 
http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v549/p243-262/

If you are unable to download a copy I am happy to send it, please email me at: 
f...@smruconsulting.com

Best wishes,
Frances


Frances Robertson
Research Scientist

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