[MARMAM] Marine Mammal Internship at the New England Aquarium (Spring 2019)

[Intern]

Marine Mammal Internship

Apply now for: Spring 2019
Time commitment: 3 to 4 Days Per Week (8:00am-5:00pm)

The Marine Mammal Department maintains two outdoor pinniped exhibits featuring 
Atlantic harbor seals, California sea lions, and northern fur seals.  The 
Marine Mammal Internship Program is designed to be a career learning experience 
and is best suited for individuals serious about careers in marine mammal 
training. The department seeks candidates that work well independently and as a 
team.  Interns assist training staff in all aspects of animal care with a 
strong emphasis on operant conditioning, training techniques and marine mammal 
husbandry. Although this position does not involve feeding or training the 
seals, interns work in close proximity to the animals and are an integral part 
of all daily activities.


Responsibilities:
Interns are incorporated into the daily activities of the Marine Mammal 
Department including:

  *   Assisting trainers during training sessions and presentations
  *   Daily diet preparation
  *   Cleaning exhibits, behind the scenes areas, and all items used in 
training and enrichment sessions
  *   Creating toys and enrichment activities for the animals
  *   Conducting enrichment sessions
  *   Option of speaking in public presentations
  *   Interact informally with Aquarium visitors
  *   Mentorship with training staff
  *   Readings and activities related to training and husbandry topics
  *   Behavioral observations
  *   Individual project

Qualifications:

  *   Candidates must be at least 18 years old and have a serious interest in a 
career in mammal training
  *   Interns must feel comfortable bending and walking on uneven and wet 
terrain and be able to lift 50 lbs
  *   The job involves a substantial amount of cleaning with various cleaning 
agents
  *   Our exhibits are outdoors so interns must be comfortable being exposed to 
all weather conditions

*Note:  This position is not available for the winter internships. 
Additionally, this internship has different Fall and Spring time commitments 
(14 weeks) than our other internships (12 weeks).


To Apply:

For Spring 2019: Please apply at the following link: 
https://neaqinterns.applicantpro.com/jobs/928677.html




Gary M. St. Laurent
Coordinator - Internships
New England Aquarium
tel  617.226.2153
gstlaur...@neaq.org
www.neaq.org


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[MARMAM] Education and Outreach Assistant Opportunity - Sea Watch Foundation

[Chiara Giulia]

*Education and Outreach Assistant Opportunity – Sea Watch Foundation*

The Sea Watch Foundation (_http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/_) is 
seeking an *Education and Outreach Assistant *for the 2019 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. This position can be very busy, so 
applicants will need to demonstrate their ability to deal with varied 
and heavy workloads.


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


·Promoting and organising the National Whale and Dolphin Watch event 
(27^th  July – 4^th  August 2019)


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


·Researching and writing articles

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

·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 and 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’ 
(_http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/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 2019* and has been 
split into four periods of seven weeks for Research Interns. Our 
Education and Outreach Assistant is required to stay for at least half 
of the season (choosing Period 1-2 or 3-4) but can also choose to stay 
the whole season. The assistant will be based in New Quay, West Wales. 
Accommodation is provided at a rate of approximately £73/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.



*Education & Outreach Assistant periods for summer 2019: *

*Period 1 & 2: *08/04 – 14/07
*Periods 3 & 4:* 15/07 – 20/10


*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 Chiara Giulia 
Bertulli (_chiara.giulia.bertu...@seawatchfoundation.org.uk 
_).


*Deadline: 4^th  February 2019. *

*Please specify EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ASSISTANT APPLICATION into your 
subject title.*
Applicants must be available for interview via Skype between the 11^th 
 and 15^th  February and will be notified of the outcomes by the 17^th 
 February 2019.



*The Sea Watch Foundation*

The Sea Watch Foundation is a national marine environmental research 
charity that aims to achieve better conservation of whales and dolphins 
in the seas around Britain and Ireland, by involving the public in 
scientific monitoring of populations and the threats they face. It is 
the longest-running research charity in UK focusing upon cetaceans 
around the British Isles, and maintains a national sightings database, 
the largest in Europe. It works closely with all the UK statutory 
conservation agencies, and has provided advice to the UK government, the 
UNEP Regional intergovernmental Conservation Agreement - ASCOBANS, and 
the European Commission, as well as the major conservation 

[MARMAM] Deadline Approaching - Marine Animal Response Internship in Hawaii

[Jon Gelman]

JOIN OUR FIELD RESPONSE TEAM on the beautiful island of Oahu in the State of 
Hawaii. We are accepting applications for interns for our Spring 2019 
internship period. The deadline is December 15, 2018. Here is more detail about 
this opportunity.
  
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Hawaii Marine Animal Response (HMAR) is the field operations arm of Hawaii 
Marine Mammal Alliance Inc. and is the largest Hawaii-based non-profit marine 
species conservation and response organization. We cover over 200 miles of 
coastline on the islands of Oahu and Molokai with our team of volunteers, 
interns and staff. We are a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization 
dedicated to the preservation, conservation and stewardship of protected marine 
species in Hawaii. We focus our work on marine species whose natural behaviors 
and habitat put animals in close proximity to and are therefore most affected 
by human behavior. These species include the Hawaiian monk seal, the Green sea 
turtle, the Hawksbill sea turtle, the Spinner dolphin and the Humpback whale. 
HMAR is supported by private donations, corporate funding and government grants 
and operates under partnerships with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. More !
 information about HMAR is available at http://h-mar.org.
   
FIELD RESPONSE TEAM (FRT) INTERN DUTIES:

- Responding to sightings of endangered or threatened marine species such as 
Hawaiian monk seals and sea turtles to provide shoreline response to haul-outs 
and strandings.
- Perform or assist in field escalations, interventions or stranding support.
- Report on animal behavior, provide animal assessment information, provide 
photo-documentation and other important data used in protected marine species 
research, health management and species recovery efforts.
- Perform outreach to the public to teach sustainable human interaction and 
fishery behaviors and encourage stewardship of protected marine species.
- Participate in dispatch and reporting activity such as the taking and 
documenting phone call reports of marine species activity, coordinating field 
response activity, data entry and generating reports.

LOCATION: These positions require on-island travel throughout the island of 
Oahu in the State of Hawaii.

FIELD RESPONSE TEAM (FRT) INTERN GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

- This is an un-paid internship that requires the intern to live on the island 
of Oahu in the State of Hawaii for the period beginning 2 weeks prior to the 
start of the internship until the end of the internship. The intern is 
responsible for all lodging, living and transportation costs associated with 
the internship.
- U.S. citizenship or possession of a passport and all applicable visas and 
work permits are needed prior to and during the internship period.
- 18 or more years of age.
- English language fluency.
- Must be a degree-seeking student or a graduate of a college or university 
program associated with one of the following courses of study: marine biology, 
marine ecology, conservation, environmental science or a related field.
- Minimum grade point average (GPA). For college/university graduates, a 2.7 
cumulative GPA prior to the internship. For current students, a 2.7 cumulative 
GPA prior to and during the internship.
- If college credit for this internship is desired it is the responsibility of 
the intern to obtain necessary approvals from the applicable college or 
university.
- Ability to walk in sandy, rocky and sometimes unstable shoreline conditions 
for 2 miles.
- Ability to work outdoors in a sunny, rainy, windy and hot climate.
- Ability to lift and carry a minimum of 75 pounds for 100 feet in shoreline 
beach and rocky conditions.
- Ability to swim required.
- Ability to maintain a calm demeanor in potentially stressful conditions.
- Possess a team-based work ethic and attitude.
- Acceptance of our Intern Policies, Waivers, Releases and Indemnifications.
- Attend mandatory in-field or classroom training sessions as required.
- Possess an interest in and a desire to engage with the public.
- Must have access to a reliable car or truck (truck preferred) during the 
internship period. Motorcycles or scooters will not be sufficient.
- Possession a valid drivers license.
- Proof of automobile insurance carrying Hawaii minimum liability coverage 
levels.
- Access to a cellular phone with 4G data service and camera.
- Access to binoculars with at least a 10X magnification level, OR access to a 
digital camera (not a smartphone) with at least a 35X zoom lens and Wi-Fi 
capability. One of these two items is required.

FIELD RESPONSE TEAM (FRT) INTERNSHIP ACTIVITY EXPECTATIONS:

- Internship term: Minimum of 3 months (may be extended for up to 1 year upon 
mutual agreement).  Start date for 3-month minimum internship is somewhat 
flexible but must be between January 1, 2019 and March 15, 2019.  Interns must

[MARMAM] New publication: Cultural revolutions reduce complexity in humpback whale songs

[Jennifer Allen]

Dear MARMAM,

On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to announce the following publication:

Jenny A. Allen, Ellen C. Garland, Rebecca A. Dunlop, & Michael J. Noad. (2018). 
Cultural revolutions reduce complexity in the songs of humpback whales. 
Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Vol. 285 no. 1891 DOI: 
10.1098/rspb.2018.2088

Abstract: Much evidence for non-human culture comes from vocally learned 
displays, such as the vocal dialects and song displays of birds and cetaceans. 
While many oscine birds use song complexity to assess male fitness, the role of 
complexity in humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) song is uncertain owing 
to population-wide conformity to one song pattern. Although songs change 
gradually each year, the eastern Australian population also completely replaces 
their song every few years in cultural ‘revolutions’. Revolutions involve 
learning large amounts of novel material introduced from the Western Australian 
population. We examined two measures of song structure, complexity and entropy, 
in the eastern Australian population over 13 consecutive years. These measures 
aimed to identify the role of complexity and information content in the vocal 
learning processes of humpback whales. Complexity was quantified at two 
hierarchical levels: the entire sequence of individual sound ‘units’ and the 
stereotyped arrangements of units which comprise a ‘theme’. Complexity 
increased as songs evolved over time but decreased when revolutions occurred. 
No correlation between complexity and entropy estimates suggests that changes 
to complexity may represent embellishment to the song which could allow males 
to stand out amidst population-wide conformity. The consistent reduction in 
complexity during song revolutions suggests a potential limit to the social 
learning capacity of novel material in humpback whales.

The paper is available via the following link:  
http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/285/1891/20182088
[http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/sites/default/files/highwire/royprsb/285/1891.cover-source.jpg]

Cultural revolutions reduce complexity in the songs of humpback 
whales
rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org
Much evidence for non-human culture comes from vocally learned displays, such 
as the vocal dialects and song displays of birds and cetaceans. While many 
oscine birds use song complexity to assess male fitness, the role of complexity 
in humpback whale ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) song is uncertain owing to 
population-wide conformity to one song pattern. Although songs change gradually 
each year, the eastern Australian population also completely replaces their 
song every few years in cultural ‘revolutions’. Revolutions involve learning 
large amounts of novel material introduced from the Western Australian 
population. We examined two measures of song structure, complexity and entropy, 
in the eastern Australian population over 13 consecutive years. These measures 
aimed to identify the role of complexity and information content in the vocal 
learning processes of humpback whales. Complexity was quantified at two 
hierarchical levels: the entire sequence of individual sound ‘units’ and the 
stereotyped arrangeme

Alternatively, please email me on j.all...@uq.edu.au 
or jenny.al...@griffith.edu.au for a pdf 
copy.

Best regards,
Jenny Allen



~
Dr. Jenny Allen
Honorary Research Fellow
Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory
School of Veterinary Science
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
QLD, Australia 4343

mobile (AUS): +61 424 773 994
mobile (US): +1 508 281 1813
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[MARMAM] New publication: Multimodal mother-offspring recognition in sea lions

[Kaja Wierucka]

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to share our recent publication in Animal Behaviour:

Wierucka K., Pitcher B. J., Harcourt R., Charrier I. (2018). Multimodal 
mother-offspring recognition: the relative importance of sensory cues in a 
colonial mammal. Animal Behaviour, 146, 135-142.

Abstract:
Animals often employ multiple sensory modalities for communication and 
recognition; however, the combination of sensory cues used by individuals in 
given contexts will vary. Although mother-offspring recognition has been widely 
investigated and is known to be a multimodal process in gregarious mammal 
species, there is a dearth of information about the interactions between 
various sensory cues. Here we show how acoustic, olfactory and visual cues are 
used in a synergistic way in Australian sea lion, Neophoca cinerea, 
mother-offspring recognition. We interpret the results using a cost-benefit 
perspective to disentangle the evolutionary pressures on each component of this 
communication system. Although olfactory cues can convey individual identity 
information it was their presence, not their congruency, that prompted female 
sniffs. We found that calls needed to be from the female's own pup for the 
identification process to be successful, with the information encoded in 
acoustic cues overriding that of olfactory cues. Despite each sensory cue 
accurately conveying identity information when presented in isolation, in a 
multimodal setting their importance, function or role may change and seems to 
be driven by the costs and benefits of obtaining information resulting from the 
constraints imposed by the active space of cues.

The article can be accessed at https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1Y6NnmjLmWZe.

Best wishes,

Kaja
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[MARMAM] RESEARCH ASSISTANT (RA) POSITIONS AVAILABLE

[Michael H Smith]

Gray Whales Count (GWC) is seeking volunteer Research Assistants (RA) to work with Project Coordinator and team of observers to assist in our annual survey of the northbound migration of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) migrating through the nearshore of the Santa Barbara Channel. We work from shore at Counter Point, in the Coal Oil Point Reserve, Goleta, California, USA, adjacent to the campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB).  This position is open to citizens of the United States of America and those authorized to work in the United States with an appropriate visa in hand.The 2019 survey begins Wednesday, February 13 and continues every day through May 29, from 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Sunday.GWC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization for research and education. The primary goal of research is to estimate the number of gray whales and gray whale calves migrating northbound through our corridor and to share our data to complement similar sampling-studies along the California coast. A secondary goal is to document the variety and quantity of other marine mammals in the ocean area around our site, which is now a Marine Protected Area.Applicable skills learned and achieved include:  > Process, concepts, and protocols of the survey, including use of equipment and data-entry.  > Ability to identify a multitude of marine mammal species from a distance, including but not limited to: gray whales, humpback whales, bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins, Pacific white-sided dolphins, harbor seals, California sea lions, sea otters, etc.   > Gather detailed, consistent data, with ability to teach and check others’ work  > Learn about marine mammals in their natural environment and the forces that affect them, both natural and anthropogenic  > Developing responsibility and a working relationship within a teamBecause of the training required, applicants must be willing to commit full-time to the project for the time period involved, approximately 100 days. Priority will be given to those candidates with associative career goals. Previous experience is a plus but not a condition.This is an invaluable opportunity to gain extensive experience in real-time, scientific fieldwork in an environment rich with diverse populations of marine mammals. You will work with equally diverse individuals who are caring, attentive, and curious. Gray whales are a sentinel species traveling from temperate lagoons in Mexico, along the dynamic California Current at the eastern edge of the North Pacific Ocean to the Arctic waters of northern Alaska in one of the longest marine mammal migrations. Requirements:   > Even though we are situated in Southern California, you must be able to withstand harsh weather conditions. Fieldwork can be, at times, physically and mentally demanding.  > Willingness to work long hours.  > Commit for a minimum of 100 days, full time (minimum five days per week).  > Enrolled in or completed a degree in biology, marine science, zoology, environmental science, animal behavior or a related field.  > Previous field experience with marine wildlife and observation is a plus but not required.  > Ability to work in a team environment to produce consistent, high quality results. We cannot stress this enough.  > Be enthusiastic and possess a caring, positive attitude, with a strong desire to learn.  > Be adaptable and patient. The migration is characterized by pulses rather than a steady stream; and weather is the unknown factor: wind, rain, and fog can shut us down. This is a volunteer position. The selected RAs will be responsible for their own transportation to and from Santa Barbara/Goleta, California and daily to the survey site. Recognizing that living costs are high in this area, Gray Whales Count will award a $500 stipend to assist each RA with expenses upon successful completion of the RA position. RAs will be responsible for all for living expenses while volunteering for Gray Whales Count. To apply: Please send cover letter/résumé to Project Coordinator, Michael Smith mich...@graywhalescount.org. We strongly recommend you look over our website: graywhalescount.org to familiarize yourself with our operation. In the cover letter, please address why you wish to participate in Gray Whales Count; how this particular experience will be meaningful to you; and how this might advance your career goals. There is no deadline to apply. The position will remain open until it is filled. Please consider applying early in order to arrange travel plans and to secure room and board.

GWC Logo_selected_ol.pdf
Description: Adobe PDF document
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