PHOTO-ID LAB/FIELD COURSE ON MEDITERRANEAN CETACEANS IN LA MADDALENA NATIONAL PARK, ITALY

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Dear MARMAMers,

SEA ME Sardinia (http://www.seame.it/en/) is currently accepting application for 1 week-long course from 28th May to the 3rd of June 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. We achieve our goals primarily through our core programmes, which include year-round outreach/school activities and boat-based research.

PROGRAMME 
The programme will include classwork, practical sessions and fieldwork, offshore and along North-eastern Sardinian coast.

Classwork will introduce you to the theoretical knowledge of diversity, behaviour, ecology and conservation of small to large Mediterranean cetaceans, and how they are adapted to different habitats. Lectures on the diversity, ecology and conservation of Sardinian coastal ecosystems will also be provided, in order to deepen the knowledge on different cetacean habitat uses.

The laboratory sessions will focus on how to competently identify and record whales and dolphins at sea, provide training on photo-ID techniques (photo sorting, grading and matching) related to the different species and assist researchers in maintenance of long-term photo-ID catalogues. Special focus will be given to the Cuvier's beaked whale, a species rather common in the study area. A short training in survey design will also be provided.

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 (11m power catamaran and 6m rubber 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 environmental, location (GPS) and behavioural data for dolphin and whale groups. Course schedules may change due to weather constraints.

Fieldwork will be an opportunity to gain experience and improve your skills in relation to visual cetacean boat-based survey and photo-ID techniques.

GOALS: 
Participants will be directly involved in contributing to our long-term studies on several cetacean species in the wild. You will assist researchers while working aboard whale watching and dedicated research vessels.

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 in the waters of the La Maddalena archipelago National Park and Bonifacio Strait, between the islands of Corsica and Sardinia, with a strong interest in the interactions between bottlenose dolphins and human activities in the area.
 
      - The Caprera Canyon Cetacean Project is the first scientific survey aimed at studying dolphin and whale presence, abundance, distribution and habitat preferences in the Caprera Canyon. Since 2010 we have been investigating the species occurring in this area: striped dolphin, Risso's dolphin, fin whale, Cuvier's beaked whale, sperm whale and short-beaked common dolphin. This is an important region of the central Tyrrhenian Sea, thought to be a hot spot for marine life (e.g. cetaceans, marine birds, mobula rays, sea turtles, red fin tunas, swordfish and basking sharks). Our interest is particularly focused on Cuvier's beaked whale.

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 internship experience 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. Participation in this course thus requires a tuition fee.

APPLICATION PROCESS AND DEADLINE:
To apply or for any further enquiries and details, please email to: info@seame.it
The applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Early application is recommended due to limited spaces.
The application deadline is 10/04/2017

Dr Luca Bittau
Course Coordinator, PhD in Environmental Biology
SEA ME Sardinia
www.seame.it
Via delle Ginestre Nº6 07024 La Maddalena (OT) Italy
mail: info@seame.it
Skype: luca.bittau
 

Luca Bittau Ph.D 
President SEA ME Sardinia Onlus 
Mobile: +39 349 4712348 
e-mail: lucabittau@seame.it - lukebit@inwind.it 
web: www.seame.it 
skype: luca.bittau

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:
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[1] http://www.seame.it/