Dear Marmammers On behalf of Oceans Research ( <http://www.m/> <http://www.oceans-research.com/> www.oceans-research.com) , I am pleased to announce that we are currently accepting internship applications for our dolphin and whale project for 2010 on the Skeleton Coast of Namibia. Background Skeleton Coast Marine Lab was established to formalise the ongoing marine mammal research of Dr. Simon Elwen of the University of Pretoria and Dr Ruth Leeney of Provincetown Centre for Coastal Studies. The laboratory is situated along the desert coast of Namibia at Walvis Bay, a world wide mecca of dolphin watching and desert tourism. The cool Benguela current is the driving force behind one of the world's most abundant marine environments and attracts dense populations of marine mammals such as the Heaviside's dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, Cape fur seal and humpback whale. The Namibian coast line is considered one of the most undeveloped and beautiful places in the world. The Namib is the oldest desert in the world and is characterised by the conjunction of large fields of sand dunes meeting one of the world's richest marine environments, the cold currents of the Benguela ecosystem. The opportunity to conduct marine research here is a rare privilege that is made possible only through this project's dedicated association and work in Namibia. Research Projects - Use of photographic identification to estimate the abundance of bottlenose and Heaviside's dolphins in the bay. - Use of visual surveys and moored hydrophones to investigate distribution and behaviour of bottlenose dolphins relative to environmental variables and human impacts including aquaculture and harbour traffic. - Use of moored acoustic recorders (C-PODs) to investigate the acoustic behaviour, distribution and attendance patterns of Heaviside's dolphins and bottlenose dolphins at key sites. - Collection of skin and blubber samples from dolphin species to investigate population structure and dietary variation across sites and seasons using stable isotope and fatty acid analysis. Intern activities Assisting in running research vessels and research station Above water photo identification of dolphin species Above water focal behavioural follows of bottlenose dolphins Above water photo-identification of humpback whales. Above water genetic sampling of dolphin and whale species Acoustic monitoring of cetacean vocalisations Shore based tracking of dolphin species around hydrophones and tour boats For more information contact Lezanne Brits on <mailto:internship@oceans-research.com> internship@oceans-research.com