[MARMAM] New publication: killer whale predation in the SW Indian Ocean
Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to share our new publication, a Short Communication in the African Journal of Ecology: Terrapon, M., Venables, S., Lokker, A., Bertrand, N., Hooker, S. and Marshall, A. (2024), Killer Whale Predation on a Giant Manta Ray (*Mobula birostris*), a Sicklefin Devil Ray (*Mobula tarapacana*) and a Tiger Shark (*Galeocerdo cuvier*) in the Southwest Indian Ocean. Afr J Ecol, 62: e13342. https://doi.org/10./aje.13342 Abstract: Knowledge of killer whale (*Orcinus orca*) feeding ecology in tropical waters is scarce. In the southwest Indian Ocean, opportunistic sightings provide a valuable source of information to better understand their behaviour, diet and distribution. Here, we compile existing records of killer whale predation on elasmobranchs in the southwest Indian Ocean, including sightings of three undescribed prey species regionally: a giant manta ray (*Mobula birostris*), a sicklefin devil ray (*Mobula tarapacana*) and a tiger shark (*Galeocerdo cuvier*). Documenting such observations is important to increase knowledge on killer whale ecology in the tropics and the cascading impact they might have on prey populations. You can download this Open Access paper here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10./aje.13342 Do not hesitate to reach out at maeva.terra...@gmail.com if you would like to discuss this work. Many thanks, Maeva Terrapon PhD Candidate SMRU, University of St Andrews St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB Twitter: @MTerrapon The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland: No SC013532 ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] Job Opening: Wildlife Biologist at Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game
The Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game is seeking an individual to assist with monitoring and conservation research of marine mammal species within areas including Southeast Alaska, Gulf of Alaska, and Bering Sea. We are seeking someone to work Full Time, Year Round, though the listing description says Seasonal. The position will design, plan and perform scientific research for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Gulf and Bering Marine Mammal Program. The successful candidate will be an enthusiastic, thoughtful, and self-motivated biologist able to ask insightful questions, creatively solve problems, and work independently and as part of a group. The incumbent must be physically able to work outdoors in harsh weather, have experience leading field research teams, developing and implementing research projects, and as a wildlife biologist performing field work studies on marine mammals. Desired experience in ecology, population monitoring, and/or cetacean biology. The position is based in Juneau, AK. The posting is currently open to Alaska Residents, and closes on Nov 12, 2024. The full posting can be found here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/alaska/jobs/newprint/4707885 Linnea E. Pearson, Ph.D. (she/her) Wildlife Biologist Lead, Gulf and Bering Sea Marine Mammal Program ADF&G- Division of Wildlife Conservation linnea.pear...@alaska.gov Office: 907-465-4313 ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] 2025 Soundwatch Internship Openings
The Whale Museum's Soundwatch Boater Education Program: 2025 Summer Internship Openings The Soundwatch Boater Education Program is seeking interns for the 2025 summer field season (May - September). Soundwatch is a research, education and monitoring program operated by The Whale Museum (TWM), a nonprofit organization located in Friday Harbor, Washington. The Soundwatch program mission is to reduce vessel disturbance to marine wildlife, particularly the endangered Southern Resident killer whales, in the Salish Sea region of Washington state, USA and British Columbia, Canada. Soundwatch is looking for two interns to help conduct vessel patrols, educate boaters on regional/federal Be Whale Wise guidelines and regulations, and record data while monitoring vessel activity around whales. Data from this critical program characterizes vessel activity trends around endangered killer whales and other marine wildlife. This data is used to inform and update marine mammal management strategies including state, federal, and international vessel regulations. To learn more, please visit our website and read Soundwatch’s most recent Contract Report and publications. Internship is located in Friday Harbor, Washington. Interns are responsible for securing their own housing and their own mode of transportation. This position includes a stipend to offset housing costs. Once accepted, TWM staff will be able to assist interns in locating suitable housing options. INTERN RESPONSIBILITIES: • Perform a variety of tasks related to data recording and photography in the field aboard small research vessels. • Perform a variety of tasks related to data entry and photo filing in a research office setting. • Participation and staffing of public outreach and education events throughout the field season. APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS: • Commit to at least 12 weeks between May and September. • Ability to work approximately 35-40 hours per week, Mon-Sun. • At least 18 years of age, able to lift 40 lbs., able to swim, and not easily susceptible to seasickness. This position requires extensive boating aboard small vessels and is not suitable for those prone to seasickness. • Ability to spend long hours on the water aboard a small vessel, sometimes in demanding seasonal conditions. Field days occur four to five times a week and may exceed eight hours per day. • Exhibit strong communication skills, professionalism, and diplomacy. • Familiar with Microsoft Office Suite (particularly Excel) and Google Workspace. • US passport, enhanced driver's license (EDL) or enhanced identification card (EID) is required. Documents must be valid through December 2025. • Up-to-date CPR/First Aid certification. • Preference will be given to undergraduates or recent graduates in the marine or wildlife sciences. • Knowledge of the area and Southern Resident killer whales is preferred but not required. • A state boater license or equivalent safe boating card is preferred but not required. • Wildlife photography experience is a plus but not required. HOW TO APPLY FOR INTERNSHIP POSITION: Please provide the following: 1. Letter of interest including your start/end date and passport/ID status 2. Your resume/CV 3. Contact information for three references. Submit application materials via email as one PDF if possible. Please include in your subject line: Soundwatch Internship Application (Last Name). PLEASE SEND APPLICATION MATERIALS TO: Alanna Frayne Soundwatch Boater Education Program Director ala...@whalemuseum.org Active review of applications will begin immediately and continue until 02 Dec 2024, or until positions are filled. Final selections made before 01 Feb 2025. Please feel free to contact with any questions. Alanna Frayne (she/her) Soundwatch Program Director The Whale Museum 62 First St N | Friday Harbor, WA 98250 Please be advised that my response may be delayed during the field season (May-September). ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] `Xcertainty` R package now available! Incorporating uncertainty associated with drone-based photogrammetry of marine mammals
Hey MarMam!
We are excited to announce that the Xcertainty R package is now available on
CRAN!
Xcertainty is an easy-to-use R package that uses a Bayesian approach for
predicting photogrammetric uncertainty in morphometric measurements of marine
mammals derived from drones.
The easiest way to install Xcertainty is via CRAN:
install.packages("Xcertainty")
library(Xcertainty)
Learn more:
GitHub: https://github.com/MMI-CODEX/Xcertainty
CODEX website:
https://mmi.oregonstate.edu/centers-excellence/codex/software-hardware/xcertainty
CRAN: https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/Xcertainty/index.html
All morphological measurements derived using drone-based photogrammetry are
susceptible to uncertainty. This uncertainty often varies by the drone system
used. Thus, it is critical to incorporate photogrammetric uncertainty
associated with measurements collected using different drones so that results
are robust and comparable across studies and over long-term datasets.
The Xcertainty R package makes this simple and easy by producing a predictive
posterior distribution for each measurement. This posterior distribution can be
summarized to describe the measurement (i.e., mean, median) and its associated
uncertainty (i.e., standard deviation, credible intervals). The posterior
distributions are also useful for making probabilistic statements, such as
classifying maturity or diagnosing pregnancy if a proportion of the posterior
distribution for a given measurement is greater than a specified threshold
(e.g., if greater than 50% of posterior distribution for total body length is >
10 m, the individual is classified as mature).
Xcertainty is based off of previously published Bayesian statistical models. In
essence, measurements of known-sized objects (‘calibration objects’) collected
at various altitudes are used as training data to predict morphological
measurements (e.g., body length) and associated uncertainty of unknown-sized
objects (e.g., whales).
Xcertainty also includes functions that incorporate multiple measurements (body
length and width) to estimate different body condition metrics (i.e., single
widths, surface area, body volume, body area index) with associated
uncertainty, as well as combine body length with age information to construct
growth curves
Cheers,
KC Bierlich & Josh Hewitt
KC (Kevin) Bierlich, PhD, MEM
Assistant Professor Senior Research
Center of Drone Excellence
(CODEX)
Marine Mammal Institute,
Dept. of Fisheries, Wildlife, & Conservation Sciences,
Oregon State University
Pronouns: he, him, his
kevin.bierl...@oregonstate.edu
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[MARMAM] New publication about Polyomavirus in dolphins
Dear colleagues, On behalf of all co-authors, I am pleased to announce the publication of our article about polyomavirus in dolphins of Brazil. Duarte-Benvenuto A, Diaz-Delgado J, Ewbank AC, Groch KR, dal Bianco V, Costa-Silva S, Zamana-Ramblas R, Favero C, Castaldo Colosio A, da Cunha Gomes Ramos H, Santos-Neto E, Lailson-Brito J, Carvalho V, Ribeiro VL, Bertozzi CP, Freitas Pessi C, Sacristan I, Catao-Dias JL, Sacristan C. 2024. Identification of a potential novel polyomavirus in Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis), Brazil. Veterinary Quarterly. 44(1):1-7 https://doi.org/10.1080/01652176.2024.2413185 You can discover more at the link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01652176.2024.2413185?src= Best regards, Carlos Sacristan ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] Year- Round Internships in the Aegean Sea: Few Positions Still Available for Winter 2024/2025 - Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation
The Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation is accepting applications for Marine Mammal Research internships in the Aegean Sea in Greece for Winter 2024/2025. Few positions remaining - apply now! Archipelagos’ marine mammal research internships provide an opportunity to join year-round field work on dedicated research vessels, offering experience with collecting data on the bioacoustics, behaviour, and photo-identification of several marine mammal species. The Aegean Sea is one of the most important remaining marine biodiversity hotspots in the Mediterranean with important populations of 4 dolphin and 2 whale species, as well as the endangered Mediterranean monk seal. Archipelagos’ research is dedicated to addressing biodiversity abundance and distribution in this area and aims to enable efficient conservation action. By joining our team, you will be contributing to research devoted to the protection of marine life in the Mediterranean Sea. Few positions are still available for winter placements on Samos Island in the eastern Aegean Sea, Greece, while you can also apply for the spring, summer and autumn 2025 seasons. This internship program is open to students, graduates, and researchers in marine, ecological, environmental sciences, or veterinary medicine. As part of our team, you can expect to gain skills and hands-on experience in conducting boat surveys, training on monitoring protocol and cetacean identification, data analysis, scientific writing, photo-ID, acoustic monitoring, behavioural study of cetaceans, seabirds identification, sea turtle identification, monitoring of the Mediterranean monk seal, as well as basic marine mammal first aid and necropsy. Successful applicants must be able to work both independently and as part of a dynamic, multicultural, multidisciplinary team. During multi-day expeditions, the research team lives on the boat, so applicants must be able to live in tight quarters for several days at a time. Fluency in English is required, as well as motivation to live in a small island community with simple facilities. For more information, please go to: https://archipelago.gr/get-involved/placements-and-internships/marine-mammal-team/ Internship Details: Duration: Internships run all year round. Normal minimum duration is 3 months, but shorter duration applications will be considered on a case by case basis. Cost: As a non-profit organization, Archipelagos cannot cover interns’ living costs. Therefore, all interns are required to cover the fee of 245 euros per week for internships lasting three months or more. This fee covers accommodation, full board, use of equipment, research boats, and transport for work purposes. Please note that travel costs are not included and must be covered by the participant. Students and recent graduates are encouraged to seek possible funding through their universities by contacting the Finance, International Relations, Placement, or Erasmus+ Offices, or other relevant grant-providing organizations in their region. Location: Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation, Ag. Konstantinos 831 00, Samos, Greece To apply: Please send your CV, motivation letter and one reference letter or reference contact to admissi...@archipelago.gr We hope that you join us in protecting the unique marine biodiversity of the Aegean sea! *Beatriz Tintoré* *Project Manager of the Marine Mammal and Terrestrial Research Department* *Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation* *Doctoral Researcher - Brunel University London* ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
