Please see the announcement below. There are still places available. Please note: further information can be viewed and printed out from the following website: http://www.thebdri.com The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute - BDRI - is a marine mammal science and education center in Sardinia Island, Italy. BDRI's researchers are engaged in the conduction of a long term study about the life of bottlenose dolphins and the potential effects of human activities in their distribution and behaviour. Sardinia Island is a marine biologist's paradise and the dolphin behaviour you will witness is unsurpassed. BDRI offers comprehensive and intensive bottlenose Dolphin Research Courses during the 2009 Winter Season (February - March) for motivated individuals, who are seeking thorough training in approaches to the study of free ranging wild bottlenose dolphins. BDRI training courses provide invaluable exposure to boat based field work, marine mammals research, intensive training and mentoring in marine ecology, and encouragement to work hard, have fun, and learn from the dolphins and each other. Learning, at its best, should be an active process, one in which the students are challenged on a daily basis with responsibilities that play a large part in the outcome of the research projects. These intensive educational courses provide experience in specialized non-invasive research techniques, consisting of field sessions and lectures. The courses will last 6 or 13 days, and - weather permitting - we will be out on the water during 4 or 8 of these days respectively. Onboard our research vessels you will work together with our team in search of cetaceans. Dolphin research courses can be used for academic or vocational purposes, but students are solely responsible for making all arrangements for receiving relevant credit(s) as a result of completing the course. 16th February 2009 - Bottlenose dolphins: Field methods in the wild - Marine mammals biology - Dolphins ecology: habitat use and bottlenose dolphin presence - Behavioural sampling methods - Interaction between dolphins and human activities - Photo-identification techniques - Diving behaviour - Bioacoustics - Ecological & behavioural transcription - Cleaning of equipment and primary data analyses - Computer orientation. 09th March 2009 - Study of bottlenose dolphin behaviour - Bottlenose dolphins biology - Behavioural sampling methods - Behavioural patterns & events - Analysis of underwater videos - Focal individual and focal group behaviour - Interaction between dolphins and human activities - Opportunistic feeding behaviour - Cleaning of equipment and primary statistical data analyses - Computer orientation 23rd March 2009 - Photo-identification technique & bottlenose dolphins social structure - Bottlenose dolphins biology - Dolphin photo-identification tecniques - General notions about photography with SLR cameras - Use of habitat studies - Software for analysis of digital pictures for photoidentification purposes - Bottlenose dolphin social structure and population estimates - Software for analysis of dolphins social structure - Ecological & behavioural transcription - Cleaning of equipment and primary statistical data analyses - Computer orientation 06th April 2009 - Bioacoustics of wild bottlenose dolphins - Bottlenose dolphin biology - Bottlenose dolphins sound production and reception - Bottlenose dolphin vocalizations - Whistles categorization - Sound analysis - Noise pollution - Acoustic deterrent devices - Software to bio-acoustical studies - Cleaning of equipment and primary statistical data analyses - Computer orientation - Training courses’ fee The training courses costs include your accommodation in an student's apartment in Golfo Aranci, dolphins research training, certificate of attendance, printed material and all associated field and laboratory costs during your stay with us. Successful applicants will be responsible for their transportation to and from the research camp on Golfo Aranci (Sardinia, Italy). There is no deadline to apply. However, approved applications are accepted on a first-come, first serve basis. Apply early! Positions are open until filled. Please download the dolphin research courses general information at: http://www.thebdri.com/resources/downloads/courses.pdf Further information can be found on our website (www.thebdri.com) or by e-mail at education@thebdri.com Recent selected scientific publications by BDRI: 1. Diaz Lopez B. and Shirai, J.A., 2008. Marine aquaculture and bottlenose dolphins social structure. Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology 62(6):887-894. 2. Diaz Lopez B., Bunke, M. and Shirai, J.A., 2008. Marine aquaculture off Sardinia Island (Italy): ecosystem effects evaluated through a trophic mass-balance model. Ecological Modelling 212:292-303. 3. Diaz Lopez B., Shirai, J.A.; Bilbao Prieto, A. & Méndez Fernández, P., 2008. Diving activity of a solitary wild free ranging bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Journal of Marine Biological Association U.K 88(6):1153-1157. 4. Diaz Lopez B. and Shirai, 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. 5. 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. 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. Bruno Diaz Lopez Chief Biologist The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI V.Armando Diaz Nº4 07020 Golfo Aranci (SS) Italy http://www.thebdri.com info@thebdri.com Tel: