Field Research Courses in Marine Mammals Science (Winter- Spring Season, 2012) The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI (www.thebdri.com) is pleased to announce the 10 days-long, Field Research-oriented Courses (FRC) in Marine Mammals Science (Winter- Spring Season, 2012). These training courses are limited to 6 students to ensure individualized instruction and specifically designed for everyone seriously interested in pursuing a career in marine mammal science. Students may choose one or more of the three exclusive courses, listed bellow, depending on interest. Each academical FRC combines exclusive lectures, hands-on boat-based field work and computer exercises, assignments and tests. These academically intensive training courses are developed with varied curicular designes and varied instructional strategies in order to meat specific learning goals. Courses are participatory in nature and are designed to stimulate inquiry and active learning. The exclusive FRC learning model helps students to connect the conceptual material presented in each course to case studies, learn field research techniques, collect and analyse field data, and develops holistic and critical thinking skills.The variety of subjects approached on these FRC's provides students with the tools and practical experience needed for a greater understanding about cetaceans populations and their conservation, as well as deeper insight into behavioural research concepts and methodology. FRC are divided in three exclusive training courses, (http://www.thebdri.com/education/courses.htm): FRC 1001 (Dates: 12th March – 21st March, 30th April – 9th May) MONITORING COASTAL BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN POPULATIONS: This FRC is general and provides an in-depth, hands-on immersion into the field of marine mammal science and more particularly applied dolphin research. As a result of successful completion of this course, you will be able to select and use appropriate research methods available to characterise the status of a coastal bottlenose dolphin population. FRC 1002 (Dates:9th April – 18th April, 14th May – 23rd May) SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNICATION IN A FISSION-FUSION SOCIETY: This advanced FRC aims to provide specialization in behavioural methods, focusing in particular on bottlenose dolphin social behaviour and communication. By the end of the course, students will be able to design a project to assess the social organization of a bottlenose dolphin population. In addition, course attendants will get experience in using bioacoustical methods via computer practical sessions involving classification and analyses of bottlenose dolphin vocalizations. FRC 1003 (Dates: 16th April – 25th April, 30th April – 9th May) CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF COASTAL POPULATIONS: This advanced FRC surveys an extensive amount of knowledge and ongoing investigations concerning marine mammals conservation. Students will learn how to achieve an integrated approach to address human-dolphin conflicts and about mitigation. As a result of successful completion of this specialization course, attendants will gain a deeper insight into the various factors influencing the incidental capture of bottlenose dolphins, use of ecosystem-level models to predict the impact of human activities and explain the importance of local, national, and international policies that aim to protect bottlenose dolphin populations. BDRI offers a discounted price for students, covering a 25% of the FRC Tuition & Program fee. Accomodation (private and double rooms), with shared cooking and bathroom facilities are included in the courses fee. There is no deadline to apply. However, applications are accepted on a first-come, first serve basis. Positions are open until filled. APPLY NOW! Step 1. Read through this general information carefully: www.thebdri.com/resources/downloads/courses.pdf Step 2. Decide what course/s you want to study, take note of any dates that may be preferred. Step 3. Submit your application by email to info@thebdri.com Find out more information on our new website: www.thebdri.com Email: info@thebdri.com; Telephone: 00 39 346 0815414 Selected scientific publications by BDRI: 1. Díaz López B. Mariño, F., 2011. A trial of acoustic harassment device efficacy on free-ranging bottlenose dolphins in Sardinia, Italy. Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology 2011, pp 1–12. 2. Díaz López B., 2011. Aquaculture systems. In: Handbook of Models used in Ecosystem and Environmental Management, Sven Erik Jørgensen (Ed.), CRC Press, Taylor & Francis, FL.pp 241-256. 3. Díaz López B., 2011. Whistle characteristics in free-ranging bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Mediterranean Sea: influence of behaviour. Mammalian Biology 76: 180-189. 4. Díaz López B. & Shirai, J.A.B., 2010. Mediterranean common bottlenose dolphin's repertoire and communication use. In: Dolphins: Anatomy, Behavior, and Threats, (A.G. Pierce & L. Correa Eds.), Nova Science Publishers, New York. Pp 129 -148. 5. Díaz López B., 2009. The bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus foraging around a fish farm: Effects of prey abundance on dolphins' behaviour. Current Zoology 55(4):243-248. 6. Díaz López 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. 7. Díaz López B. and Shirai, J.A., 2008. Marine aquaculture and bottlenose dolphins social structure.Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology 62 (6): 887-894. 8. Díaz López, B., Shirai, J.A.B., Bilbao Prieto, A. & Méndez Fernández, P., 2008. Diving activity of a solitary wild free ranging bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Journal Marine Biological Association of U.K 88, Special Issue 06: 1153-1157. 9. Díaz López, B & Bernal Shirai, J.A.B., 2007. "Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) presence and incidental capture in a marine fish farm on the north-eastern coast of Sardinia (Italy)" Journal of Marine Biological Association of U.K 87: 113 – 117. 10. Díaz López, B., 2006. "Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Predation on a Marine Fin Fish Farm: Some Underwater Observations". Aquatic Mammals 32 (3): 305 – 310. 11. Díaz López, B., 2006. "Interactions between Mediterranean bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and gillnets off Sardinia". ICES Journal of Marine Science 63: 944-951. 12. 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 21(1):53-58. Bruno Diaz Lopez Chief Researcher / Marine Zoologist Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI V.Armando Diaz Nº4 07020 Golfo Aranci (SS) Italy www.thebdri.com info@thebdri.com tel.+ 39 346 081 5414 tel. + 0789 183 1197