Dear all, During 2013, EBD-CSIC (Estación Biológica de Doñana-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas) and CIRCE (Conservation, Information and Research on Cetaceans) will offer 3 Master projects based on trophic ecology study of cetaceans of the Gulf of Cádiz and photo-identification techniques and mark-recapture models to study bottlenose dolphins of the Strait of Gibraltar and Gulf of Cádiz. If you are not doing a master, case by case will be examined. All of these projects will take place between February and June 2013 in EBD-CSIC in Seville (Spain). The titles of the projects are: 1. - Diet of small cetaceans of Andalucía 2. - Abundance of bottlenose dolphins of the Gulf of Cádiz 3. - Abundance, survival rate and population growth rate of bottlenose dolphins of the Strait of Gibraltar In order to apply for these projects, you should send an email to joan.gimenez(at)csic.es, with your CV and a cover letter showing only relevant experience related to the project you are interested in. You can apply for these projects until the 20th of January 2013. Chosen candidates will be advised on the 27th of January. Thank you for reading carefully the description of each project before contacting us. *- Master thesis project 1: Diet of small cetaceans in Andalucía* * * *Host:* EBD-CSIC (Estación biológica de Doñana – Consejo superior de investigaciones científicas), www.ebd.csic.es * * *Background:* Although studies on different ecological aspects of cetacean species have taken place in Andalucía (southern Spain), the knowledge on their trophic behaviour is limited. The relevance of this information, unquestionable from an ecological point of view, will have important implications for their successful management and conservation, due to the potential high interaction of these species with human activities, such as fisheries. This project is included in the project “EcoCet: Trophic ecology of cetacean in Andalucia”, which is coordinated by EBD-CSIC, with the collaboration of CIRCE, and is part of the Phd of Joan Giménez in the EBD-CSIC. *Aim of the thesis:* The study will look at diet of small cetaceans, mainly common and striped dolphins in Andalucía, through the study of stomach contents.** * * *Content of the thesis:* - - Cleaning and sorting all the stomach contents of small cetaceans of our stranding collection (10% of the time). - - Identification of all the otoliths present in the stomachs through identification guides (80% of the time). - - Statistical analysis of the data obtained through the study (10% of the time). - - Sample collection if some strandings occur during the study period. - - Training on other techniques to study cetaceans at sea (One week). * * *Conditions to apply:* The student will have to be present from February until July 2013 at the research center in Seville (Spain). Previous experience in the topic is recommended. Housing and living expenses will not be provided. * * *CAUTION!* *Otolith identification of thousands of stomach remains with identification guides is a very demanding and sometimes monotonous or frustrating work, therefore the student should be prepared to long working days sitting in front of the computer and looking under the microscope. So the student should be highly patient, strongly motivated and not afraid by frustration.* * * *Supervision:* Renaud de Stephanis and Joan Giménez (EBD-CSIC) *Contact :* Joan Giménez, Email: joan.gimenez(at)csic.es * * *- Master thesis project 2: Abundance of bottlenose dolphins of the Gulf of Cádiz* * * *Host:* EBD-CSIC (Estación biológica de Doñana – Consejo superior de investigaciones científicas), www.ebd.csic.es * * *Background:* EBD-CSIC and CIRCE has studied bottlenose dolphins in the Gulf of Cádiz since 2001. Photo-Identification studies allow us to estimate its population size through natural marks on each individual. This project is included in the project “Abundance and distribution of top predators of the Gulf of Cádiz”, which is coordinated by EBD-CSIC, with the collaboration of CIRCE, and is part of the PhD of Joan Giménez in the EBD-CSIC. *Aim of the thesis:* The study will look at the abundance of bottlenose dolphins through different mark-recapture models.** * * *Content of the thesis:* - - Update the photo-identification analysis by manually matching new pictures with the existing catalogue (85% of the time). - - Training on Photo-Identification technique at sea (One week). - - Build mark-recapture models using the software MARK (15% of the time). * * *Conditions to apply:* The student will have to be present from February until July 2013 at the research center in Seville (Spain). Previous experience in the topic is preferred. Housing and living expenses will not be provided. * * *CAUTION!* *Manually matching thousands of pictures with the catalogue is a very demanding and sometimes monotonous or frustrating work, therefore the student should be prepared to long working days sitting in front of the computer and should be highly patient, strongly motivated and not afraid by frustration.* * * *Supervision:* Philippe Verborgh (CIRCE) Renaud de Stephanis and Joan Giménez (EBD-CSIC) *Contact:* Joan Giménez , Email: joan.gimenez(at)csic.es *- Master thesis project 3: Abundance, survival rate and population growth rate of bottlenose dolphins of the Strait of Gibraltar* * * *Host:* EBD-CSIC (Estación biológica de Doñana – Consejo superior de investigaciones científicas), www.ebd.csic.es * * *Background:* CIRCE has studied bottlenose dolphins in the Strait of Gibraltar since 1999. The fact that this population is resident all year round makes it a perfect candidate for long term monitoring. Photo-Identification studies allow us to estimate the population size, survival rate and population growth rate of naturally marked individuals. This project is included in the project “CETIDMED”, which will be coordinated by CIRCE, with the collaboration of the Fundación Biodiversidad, Alnilam, ANSE and EBD-CSIC. *Aim of the thesis:* The study will look at the abundance, survival rate and population growth rate of bottlenose dolphins through different mark-recapture models.** * * *Content of the thesis:* - - Update the photo-identification analysis by manually matching new pictures with the existing catalogue (85% of the time). - - Training on Photo-Identification technique at sea (One week). - - Build mark-recapture models using the software MARK (15% of the time). * * *Conditions to apply:* The student will have to be present from February until July 2013 at the research center in Seville (Spain). Previous experience in the topic is preferred. Housing and living expenses will not be provided. * * *CAUTION!* *Manually matching thousands of pictures with the catalogue is a very demanding and sometimes monotonous or frustrating work, therefore the student should be prepared to long working days sitting in front of the computer and should be highly patient, strongly motivated and not afraid by frustration.* * * *Supervision:* Philippe Verborgh and Pauline Gauffier (CIRCE). Renaud de Stephanis and Joan Giménez (EBD-CSIC) *Contact :* Joan Giménez, Email: joan.gimenez(at)csic.es -- *Joan Giménez Verdugo* *Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC) Applied Marine Ecology Group (GEMA) * *Department of Conservation Biology* Avenida Americo Vespucio s/n 41092 Sevilla Mail: joan.gimenez@csic.es Phone: 619176849