STILL SOME SPOTS AVAILABLE FOR THE PHOTO-ID COURSE ON MEDITERRANEAN CETACEANS IN LA MADDALENA ARCHIPELAGO NATIONAL PARK, SARDINIA, ITALY. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear MARMAMers, SEA ME Sardinia (http://www.seame.it/en/) SEA ME Sardinia (http://www.seame.it/en/) is currently accepting the last applications for a one week- course (September 15th - September 22nd, 2017), in the beautiful location of La Maddalena Archipelago National Park, Sardinia, Italy.(http://www.parks.it/parco.nazionale.arcip.maddalena/Eindex.php) SEA ME Sardinia is a non-profit organization based in La Maddalena (Italy) with a mission to protect cetaceans in the waters off Sardinia (central Tyrrhenian Sea) through education, research and conservation. The main goals include year-round outreach/school activities and boat-based research. PROGRAMME The programme will include classwork, practical lab sessions and fieldwork, offshore and along North-eastern Sardinian coast. Classwork will introduce all participants to the diversity, behaviour, ecology and conservation of Mediterranean cetaceans. Lectures on Sardinian coastal and offshore ecosystems will also be provided, in order to deepen the knowledge on different cetacean habitats. Lab sessions will be propaedeutic to the fieldwork, and they will focus on how to correctly identify whales and dolphins recorded at sea. Training on photo-ID technique (sorting, grading, and matching) adjusted to the different species will be provided. This will help assisting researchers in maintaining long-term photo-ID catalogues. Special attention will be given to the Cuvier's beaked whale, a rather common species in the study area. A short training in survey design will also be provided, as well as on the main issues of collecting data from opportunistic platforms (e.g. whale watching boats). Fieldwork will be made both in coastal (La Maddalena archipelago) and pelagic waters (Caprera Canyon, central-western Tyrrhenian Sea). Surveys will be conducted onboard whale watching and dedicated vessels (11 m power catamaran and 6 m inflatable boat) and divided in two offshore and two coastal surveys in order to be trained in both different habitats and species-related techniques. Fieldwork training will focus on collecting photo-ID, environmental, geographical (GPS) and behavioural data of each encountered whale and dolphin group. Fieldwork will help participants to gain first-hand experience in collecting data on free-ranging cetaceans and improve your skills on cetacean boat-based survey and in the use of the photo-ID technique. Fieldwork and course schedules are weather dependent and they can change during the course. GOALS: Participants will assist researchers while working onboard whale watching and dedicated research vessels. They will also be directly involved in contributing to our long-term studies on several cetacean species in the wild. This is a great opportunity to get involved in cetacean research, enjoy marine biodiversity while gaining fieldwork experience, travelling and exploring the beautiful Island of Sardinia and the La Maddalena Archipelago National Park, enjoying the outdoors of the beautiful Emerald Coast (Sardinia Island, Italy) and helping supporting cetacean research and conservation. During free time, interns will have the opportunity to experience all sorts of activities: swimming, diving, hiking, exploring historical sites, visit museums and the amazing islands such as Caprera (with Garibaldi's house, tomb and memorial) or Budelli with its famous pink beach. PROJECT BACKGROUNDS: - The _SEA ME Coastal bottlenose dolphin project_ is an ongoing research project on _Tursiops truncatus_ inhabiting the waters of La Maddalena archipelago National Park and Bonifacio Strait, between the islands of Corsica and Sardinia, which has got a strong interest in the interactions between bottlenose dolphins and human activities. - The _Caprera Canyon Cetacean Project_ is the first scientific survey aimed at studying whale and dolphin occurrence, abundance, distribution and habitat preferences in the submarine Canyon of Caprera. Since 2010, SEA ME Sardinia, in collaboration with University of Sassari, is investigating the species occurring in this area: striped dolphin, Risso's dolphin, fin whale, Cuvier's beaked whale (which is the main target species of this project), sperm whale and short-beaked common dolphin. This is an important region of the central Tyrrhenian Sea, thought a hot spot for marine life (e.g. cetaceans, marine birds, mobula rays, sea turtles, red fin tunas, swordfish and basking sharks). LANGUAGE: Course will be held in English/Italian. REQUIREMENTS: Prior experience is not required. Participants are expected to: - Be 18 or older, - Speak English or Italian, - Be adaptable as fieldwork is weather dependent, - Be sociable and willing as they are expected to live and work in an international team. _ This course will have a certificate of completion._ Since SEA ME Sardinia is a non-profit and self-funded organization, we rely on donation from our members, volunteers and participants. Thus, Participation in this course requires a tuition fee. APPLICATION PROCESS AND DEADLINE: To apply or for any further enquiries and details, please send an email to: info@seame.it All applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The application deadline is August 1st, 2017 Dr Luca Bittau Course Coordinator, PhD in Environmental Biology SEA ME Sardinia www.seame.it [1] Via delle Ginestre Nº6 07024 La Maddalena (OT) Italy mail: info@seame.it Skype: luca.bittau -- Mobile: +39 3494712348 E-mail: info@seame.it Web: www.seame.it ------------------------- SEA ME Sardinia Onlus - Scientific Education & Activities in the Marine Environment [C.F. 91052810909 - Legal Head Office: Via delle Ginestre 6 (Vil. Piras), 07024 La Maddalena (OT), Italy] Links: ------ [1] http://www.seame.it
