Ocean Stewards MSc Project 2018

Ocean Stewards MSc Project 2018 Project: Conservation status and population dynamics of east coast humpback whales The WILDOCEANS Ocean Stewards Initiative are offering a Masters level bursary for 2018 (two years) for this project. The Ocean Stewards Initiative, launched by the Wildlands Conservation Trust, aims to inspire the pursuit of marine science as a career and to provide a conduit for the best candidates to take real steps towards becoming marine scientists. In doing so, to catalyse the emergence of young ocean stewards that will be at the forefront of future marine conservation research and management. The research component of the WhaleTime project aims to contribute to knowledge about the east coast humpback whale populations, and to investigate the population trends and threats faced. There is a need to re-survey the populations so that the recovery of the whales can be quantified, and to develop methods for this to be done on a regular basis so that trends in population can be tracked and potential threats can be examined. Through a citizen science initiative that allows public (who have viewed whales permitted boat-based whale operator) to upload their photos to a website, a catalogue of whales will be grown. In addition, dedicated surveys to photograph whale close-up during the peaks of the migration will over time contribute an understanding of the fidelity of whales in time and space. The WhaleTime Project will thus contribute to monitoring the east coast “C-stock” populations of humpback whales that migrate along the east coast of South and will provide opportunity for postgraduate students to conduct research on hump-back whales in collaboration with the Ocean and Coasts Mammal Scientist. Data will be collected using four basic methods. These include at-sea photographs taken from the catalogue, Theodolite-based shore surveying from 2 stations on land, time-space video image surveying from high points on land, and boat-based surveying (at sea verifications and line transects).

The overall objectives of the project are to contribute to building a photo-catalogue for east humpback whales, and an understanding of temporal and spatial fidelity of individuals, to conduct a population survey of the whales moving along the east coast of South Africa, and do a population trends analysis using comparison with prior survey data and to trial an automated marine monitoring and surveillance system for long-term monitoring of cetaceans along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline. The projects’ envisaged outputs of the MSc will address the catalogue of east coast hump-back whales, updated with past photos and new images from BBWW operators as well as dedicated photo surveys done by this project. This catalogue will be developed in collaboration with DEA and all images shared. An updated population census for east coast humpback whales, and comparison with previous census so that extend of recovery from whaling can be determined. Finally, the testing of automated landbased video image monitoring system aimed at developing a cost-effective method to conduct annual surveys of humpback whales migrating along the east coast, with calibration between this message and conventional line transect and land based theodolite methods All data and photographs will be shared with Oceans and Coast and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife for management purposes. Requirements • BSc (Hons) in Marine Biology, Zoology or Biological Sciences • Interest in cetacean ecology • Prior experience with cetacean identification advantageous • Good numeracy, writing and identification skills essential • Spatial mapping experience (GIS) advantageous • Prepared to go to sea and conduct field work • Will require proof of writing skills • Enrolled at South African university

How to apply - submit the following to Ms Rachel Kramer: • CV • Full academic record with honours project brief • Article - one-page reasoned article explaining the issues, challenges and potential solutions about a current marine conservation topic. • Letter of motivation • Academic reference letter The bursary amount are as follows: MSc in 2018/2019 – R80 000 per year Only electronic submissions will be accepted. Submit your applications to [email protected] by 26 March 2018. Late submissions will not be considered. A selection committee will decide on the recipients. This opportunity is restricted to South African citizens, preference will be shown to affirmative candidates and students who have completed the Ocean Stewards program. The selection committee reserves the right not to award a bursary, if a suitable candidate cannot be found.