Please see the announcement below. There are still a few places available, although the courses date is less than a month ahead. Please note: further information can be viewed and printed out from the following website:www.geocities.com/B_D_R_I The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute - BDRI - http://www.geocities.com/B_D_R_I offers one-two weeks intensive classes open to any individuals interested in bottlenose dolphins behaviour and interaction with human activities (oportunistic feeding). The successful completion of the course will earn a Certificate of Attendance. For further information see below and please contact: B_D_R_I@yahoo.com Classes Summary: INTERACTION BETWEEN BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS WITH FISHERIES - AQUACULTURE AND INCIDENTAL CAPTURES: This course offers an excellent opportunity for enthusiastic and motivated individuals to obtain field and laboratory training in methodology and analysis for the study of interactions between Mediterranean bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) with small scale commercial fisheries (gillnets and trawlers & aquaculture) under the mentorship of bottlenose dolphin researchers. It will provide practical information about bottlenose dolphin behaviour, drawing on the rich background of bottlenose dolphin work on the North-eastern coast of Sardinia. Interactions with fisheries are potentially harmful to marine mammals (e.g. depletion of fish stocks, direct kills in fisheries, and incidental captures in fishing gear) and to humans (e.g. gear damage, etc). There is a long history of interactions between common bottlenose dolphins and coastal, small scale commercial fisheries in the Mediterranean Sea; where bottlenose dolphins adversely interact with the fisheries, particularly when gillnets are used. Students will participate in boat-based research surveys investigating behaviour and interactions between bottlenose dolphins on the northeastern coast of Sardinia, Italy. The course will last 6 or 13 days, and - weather permitting - we will be out on the water at least during 4 or 10 of these days. Students will actively participate in data collection and analyses as part of an ongoing research. All classes will be in a form of both (i) lectures that will lead to "informal" discussion, hopefully ending with a constructive brain-storming on specific topics, and (ii) instructions with hand-on practical component, especially when it involves field techniques or analytical lab techniques. Topics covered will include: Behavioural sampling methods, Feeding behaviour, Oportunistic feeding, Fisheries, Aquaculture and Practical Training on the north-eastern coast of Sardinia. The course fee will cover you for full board (all your accommodation and food costs in the base), seminars fee, and ALL associated field costs during your stay with us. You'll simply need to arrange your own travel iterinary to us in Golfo Aranci (Smerald coast, north-eastern coast of Sardinia, Italy), plus any personal spending money. For registration and more information, B_D_R_I@yahoo.com The dates are as follow: Session 1: September 25-30, 2006 (six days course); Courses fee 450 - students arrive on September 25, morning - September 25-30, classes and fieldwork (6 days) - students leave in the afternoon September 30. Session 2: October 02-07, 2006 (six days course); Courses fee 450 - students arrive on October 02, morning - October 02-07, classes and fieldwork (6 days) - students leave in the afternoon October 07. Session 3: September 25 - October 07 (two weeks course); Courses fee 800 - students arrive on September 25, morning - September 25- October 07, classes and fieldwork (13 days) - students leave in the afternoon October 07. Session 4: November 13-18, 2006 (six days course); Courses fee 450 - students arrive on November 13, morning - November 13-18, classes and fieldwork (6 days) - students leave in the afternoon November 18. Location The courses will take place at a unique field location, Golfo Aranci, a small village on the Smerald Coast (north-eastern Sardinia, Italy). Golfo Aranci is approximately 8 miles north of Obia City. This is approximately 20 minutes by bus or train from Olbia. Direct flights to Olbia airport (Sardinia) can be booked from London, Rome, Frankfurt. Airlines services to Olbia include Easyjet, Lufthansa, HLX, Meridiana, Alitalia, Iberia. Lectures and Instructions by: The classes instructor, Mr. Bruno Díaz López has over 11 years of experience, across diverse disciplines including marine mammals research, and particularly in bottlenose dolphin behaviour. Scientific Papers - Díaz López, B. 2006. Interactions between Mediterranean bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and gillnets off Sardinia, Italy. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 63 : 5 pp. - Díaz López, B. 2006. Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) Predation on a Marine Fin Fish Farm: Some Underwater Observations (Predazione del tursiope nellaquacultura: osservazioni sottacqua). Aquatic Mammals 2006, 32(3), 305 310. - 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. - Díaz López, B., Marini, L. and 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(1):53-58. - Díaz López, B., 2005. A survey of anti-bottlenose dolphin control at marine fish farm. 6º Convegno Nazionale sui Cetacei e sulle Tartarughe Marine. Novembre. Comune di Sperlonga, Italia. - Díaz López, B. & Bernal Shiray, J.A., 2005. Analysis of diving behaviour on bottlenose dolphins studied in the inshore waters of Sardinia. 6º Convegno Nazionale sui Cetacei e sulle Tartarughe Marine. Novembre. Comune di Sperlonga, Italia. - Díaz López, B., 2005.Interactions between bottlenose dolphins with trammel nets in the Sardinia Island. International Council for the Exploration of the Sea ICES Document CM 2005 / X: 01. - Díaz López, B., 2005. Interaction between bottlenose dolphins and fish farms: could there be an economic impact? International Council for the Exploration of the Sea ICES Document CM 2005/X:10, 16pp. - Polo, F; Díaz López, B.; Marini, L. & Brovelli, M., 2002. Fast ferries influence on the bottlenose dolphin presence and social structure in waters of North-eastern Sardinia. 16th Annual Conference European Cetacean Society. Liege, Belgio. - Díaz López, B.; Marini, L.; Polo, F. & Brovelli, M., 2002. Photo-identification of bottlenose dolphin in waters of north-eastern Sardinia. 16th Annual Conference European Cetacean Society. Liege, Belgio. - Díaz López, B., Marini, L. & Polo, F., 2004. Evolution of a bottlenose dolphin population in the Noth-Eastern waters of Sardinia (Italy). In: European Research on Cetaceans 15 (Ed- P.G.H. Evans). European Cetacean Society, pp 70-73. Cambrigde, UK. - Díaz López, B., Polo, F. and Marini, L., 2001. Feeding Behaviour of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) along the north-eastern coast of Sardinia. 29th Annual Symposium European Association of Aquatic Mammals. Genova 9-12 Marzo 2001. - Díaz López, B., Marini, L., Polo, F. and Brovelli, M., 2001. Etologia del tursiope, Tursiops truncatus (Montagu, 1821), lungo la costa nord-orientale della Sardegna. 5º Convegno Nazionale sui Cetacei e sulle Tartarughe Marine. 6 9 Dicembre. Comune di Monte Argentario (GR), Italia. - Díaz López, B., Marini, L.., Polo, F. and Brovelli, M., 2001. Influenza dei traghetti veloci sulla presenza e la struttura sociale del tursiope, Tursiops truncatus (Montagu, 1821), nelle acque della Sardegna. 5º Convegno Nazionale sui Cetacei e sulle Tartarughe Marine. 6 9 Dicembre. Comune di Monte Argentario (GR), Italia. - Díaz López, B., Marini, L.., Polo, F. and Brovelli, M., 2001. Fotoidentificazione di tursiope, Tursiops truncatus (Montagu, 1821), presenti nelle acque della costa Nord-orientale della Sardegna. 5º Convegno Nazionale sui Cetacei e sulle Tartarughe Marine. 6 9 Dicembre. Comune di Monte Argentario (GR), Italia. - Arcangelli, A., Caltavuturo, G., Chiota, D., Díaz López, B., Marini, L., Nannarelli, S., and Tringalli., M., 1999. Progetto Tursiope: primi risultati del progetto nazionale di studio sulle popolazioni di Tursiops truncatus nelle acque italiane 4º Convegno Nazionale sui Cetacei e sulle Tartarughe Marine. Museo civico di storia naturale di Milano, Novembre 1999. Centro Studi Cetacei, Italia. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com