Hi everyone,
on behalf of the Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI
(www.thebdri.com), I am
pleased to announce that we are seeking four skilled research assistants for
our
research projects in Sardinia, Italy. Using study techniques that neither
harm nor
seriously disturb the animals, BDRI's researchers are engaged in the
conduction of a
long term study about the ecology and behaviour of a Mediterranean bottlenose
dolphin
population (Tursiops truncatus) along the north-eastern coast of Sardinia, as
well as
collecting detailed information about their environment.
Long-term monitoring of a population is not viewed as exciting science, but
is absolutely
essential in order to estimate population trends and understand their
causative factors.
Pressures of commercialism and larger scale tourism activities are now
increasing along
the north eastern coast of Sardinia (Emerald Coast-Italy).
The feeding opportunities for dolphins that are created by human activities
have become
part of their culture, part of their habitat requirements, although studied
dolphins are
capable of foraging on other food sources. The effects of fisheries
management could
influence in bottlenose dolphins behaviour and social structure, and
dolphins responses
to these closures should be investigated.
Sardinia Island is a marine biologist's paradise and the dolphin behaviour
you will witness
is unsurpassed. You will work in teams on two boats, one concentrating on
dolphin
interaction with aquaculture and the other on behaviour and social structure.
Behavioural
data will be collected during surveys and focal group follows, including
digital video
samples.
Internships are offered on a competitive basis, at cost and provide
invaluable exposure
to boat based field work, the Mediterranean coastal environment, dolphins
research,
intensive training and mentoring in marine ecology, and encouragement to work
and play
hard! Internships can be used for academic or vocational purposes, but
interns are
solely responsible for making all arrangements for receiving relevant
credit(s) as a result
of completing the internship.
We are currently recruiting to fill 2 vacancies as Dolphin Research
Assistants (DRA) for
the 2007 Fall and Winter. There is no cost to participate in the research
project.
However, participants will be required to pay 200 per week to cover
accommodation
and base food costs as both researches and volunteers cook communally.
Moreover, it
is necessary for research assistants to cover their own transportation to and
from the
research camp on Golfo Aranci (Sardinia Island), personal items, or special
dietary
requirements.
We seek hard-working, team oriented people who play well with others. We are
entirely
weather driven and take every opportunity the weather provides, often going
offshore
early in the morning and coming in after dark. You should be comfortable with
standing in
a boat for up to 11 hours non-stop while looking for dolphins through
binoculars and
recording data. We may be stranded onshore for days on end during bad
weather. You
will also be expected to work endless hours identifying dolphins and entering
data into a
computer database. We will also send you a Photo-Id catalogue with over 60
dorsal fins
and expect to learn to distinguish them before the study.
There is no deadline to apply. However, approved applications are accepted on
a
first-come, first serve basis. Apply early!
If you are interested and have the required experience and skills, please
provide a CV
and contact information for references and send your application to [EMAIL
PROTECTED]
Visit http://thebdri.com/resources/downloads/infointernships.pdf to download
more
information on dolphin research internships in Aranci Bay and how to get
there.
Recent selected scientific publications by BDRI:
1. Díaz López B. and Shiray, J.A., 2007. "Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops
truncatus) presence and incidental capture in a marine fish farm on the
noth-eastern coast of Sardinia (Italy)" Journal of Marine Biological
Association U.K, 87, 113-117
2. Díaz López, B. and Shiray, J.A., 2007. "Human activities and bottlenose
dolphin's social structure". Oral communication presented at the 21st Annual
Conference of the European Cetacean Society, San Sebastián, Spain, 2007.
3. Underhill, K., Díaz López, B., and Shiray, J.A., 2007."Boat traffic
effects on the diving behaviour of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in
Sardinia, Italy". Poster presented at the 21st Annual Conference of the
European Cetacean Society, San Sebastián, Spain, 2007.
4. Díaz López, B., 2006. "Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Predation
on a Marine Fin Fish Farm: Some Underwater Observations". Aquatic Mammals
32(3): 305 - 310 pp.
5. Díaz López, B. & Bernal Shiray, J.A., in press. "Estudio multiescalar de
la influencia de la acuicultura en la presencia de delfines mulares Tursiops
truncatus (Montagu 1821)". CIVA, 2006, 282 - 290pp.
6. Díaz López, B., 2006. "Interactions between Mediterranean bottlenose
dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and gillnets off Sardinia". ICES Journal of
Marine Science 63: 944-951 pp.
7. Díaz López, B. & Bernal Shiray, J.A., 2006. Diurnal & Nocturnal behaviour
of bottlenose dolphin groups with emphasis on foraging activity on the
northeastern coast of Sardinia (Italy). 20th Annual Conference of the European
Cetacean Society 2006 Gdynia, Polonia.
8. Bernal Shiray, J. A., Díaz López, B., Méndez Fernández, P., Bilbao Prieto,
A. & Díaz da Silva, J.I., 2006. "Analysis of diving behaviour of a solitary
male bottlenose dolphin in the inshore waters of Galicia (Spain)" 20th Annual
Conference of the European Cetacean Society 2006 Gdynia, Polonia.
9. Díaz López, B., 2005. Interactions between bottlenose dolphins with
trammel nets in the Sardinia Island. ICES Document CM 2005/X 1.
10. Díaz López, B., 2005. Interaction between bottlenose dolphins and fish
farms: could there be an economic impact? ICES Document CM 2005/X 10.
11. Díaz López, B., Marini, L., Polo, F., 2005. The impact of a fish farm on
a bottlenose dolphin population in the Mediterranean Sea. Thalassas An
international Journal of Marine Sciences, 2005, 21 (2): 53-58.
12. Díaz López, B. & Shiray, A., 2005. Analysis of diving behaviour on
bottlenose dolphins studied in the inshore waters of Sardinia. Talk presented
at the 6º Convegno Nazionale sui Cetacei e sulle Tartarughe Marine. November.
Comune di Sperlonga (LT), Italy.
13. Díaz López, B., 2005 & Shiray, A., 2005. A survey of anti-bottlenose
dolphin control at marine fish farm. Talk presented at the 6º Convegno
Nazionale sui Cetacei e sulle Tartarughe Marine. November. Comune di Sperlonga
(LT), Italy.
Bruno Díaz López
Research Biologist / Marine Zoologist
Chief Researcher
The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI
V.Armando Diaz Nº4 07020 Golfo Aranci (SS) Italy
http://www.thebdri.com
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Tel: + (39) 346 0815414
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