Hi everyone, on behalf of the Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI (www.thebdri.com), I am pleased to announce that we are seeking four skilled research assistants for our research projects in Sardinia, Italy. Using study techniques that neither harm nor seriously disturb the animals, BDRI's researchers are engaged in the conduction of a long term study about the ecology and behaviour of a Mediterranean bottlenose dolphin population (Tursiops truncatus) along the north-eastern coast of Sardinia, as well as collecting detailed information about their environment. Long-term monitoring of a population is not viewed as exciting science, but is absolutely essential in order to estimate population trends and understand their causative factors. Pressures of commercialism and larger scale tourism activities are now increasing along the north eastern coast of Sardinia (Emerald Coast-Italy). The feeding opportunities for dolphins that are created by human activities have become part of their culture, part of their habitat requirements, although studied dolphins are capable of foraging on other food sources. The effects of fisheries management could influence in bottlenose dolphins behaviour and social structure, and dolphins’ responses to these closures should be investigated. Sardinia Island is a marine biologist's paradise and the dolphin behaviour you will witness is unsurpassed. You will work in teams on two boats, one concentrating on dolphin interaction with aquaculture and the other on behaviour and social structure. Behavioural data will be collected during surveys and focal group follows, including digital video samples. Internships are offered on a competitive basis, at cost and provide invaluable exposure to boat based field work, the Mediterranean coastal environment, dolphins research, intensive training and mentoring in marine ecology, and encouragement to work and play hard! Internships can be used for academic or vocational purposes, but interns are solely responsible for making all arrangements for receiving relevant credit(s) as a result of completing the internship. We are currently recruiting to fill 2 vacancies as Dolphin Research Assistants (DRA) for the 2007 Fall and Winter. There is no cost to participate in the research project. However, participants will be required to pay 200 € per week to cover accommodation and base food costs as both researches and volunteers cook communally. Moreover, it is necessary for research assistants to cover their own transportation to and from the research camp on Golfo Aranci (Sardinia Island), personal items, or special dietary requirements. We seek hard-working, team oriented people who play well with others. We are entirely weather driven and take every opportunity the weather provides, often going offshore early in the morning and coming in after dark. You should be comfortable with standing in a boat for up to 11 hours non-stop while looking for dolphins through binoculars and recording data. We may be stranded onshore for days on end during bad weather. You will also be expected to work endless hours identifying dolphins and entering data into a computer database. We will also send you a Photo-Id catalogue with over 60 dorsal fins and expect to learn to distinguish them before the study. There is no deadline to apply. However, approved applications are accepted on a first-come, first serve basis. Apply early! If you are interested and have the required experience and skills, please provide a CV and contact information for references and send your application to info@thebdri.com. Visit http://thebdri.com/resources/downloads/infointernships.pdf to download more information on dolphin research internships in Aranci Bay and how to get there. Recent selected scientific publications by BDRI: 1. Díaz López B. and Shiray, J.A., 2007. "Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) presence and incidental capture in a marine fish farm on the noth-eastern coast of Sardinia (Italy)" Journal of Marine Biological Association U.K, 87, 113-117 2. Díaz López, B. and Shiray, J.A., 2007. "Human activities and bottlenose dolphin's social structure". Oral communication presented at the 21st Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society, San Sebastián, Spain, 2007. 3. Underhill, K., Díaz López, B., and Shiray, J.A., 2007."Boat traffic effects on the diving behaviour of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Sardinia, Italy". Poster presented at the 21st Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society, San Sebastián, Spain, 2007. 4. Díaz López, B., 2006. "Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Predation on a Marine Fin Fish Farm: Some Underwater Observations". Aquatic Mammals 32(3): 305 - 310 pp. 5. Díaz López, B. & Bernal Shiray, J.A., in press. "Estudio multiescalar de la influencia de la acuicultura en la presencia de delfines mulares Tursiops truncatus (Montagu 1821)". CIVA, 2006, 282 - 290pp. 6. Díaz López, B., 2006. "Interactions between Mediterranean bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and gillnets off Sardinia". ICES Journal of Marine Science 63: 944-951 pp. 7. 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. 8. Bernal Shiray, J. A., Díaz López, B., Méndez Fernández, P., Bilbao Prieto, A. & Díaz da Silva, J.I., 2006. "Analysis of diving behaviour of a solitary male bottlenose dolphin in the inshore waters of Galicia (Spain)" 20th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society 2006 – Gdynia, Polonia. 9. Díaz López, B., 2005. Interactions between bottlenose dolphins with trammel nets in the Sardinia Island. ICES Document CM 2005/X 1. 10. Díaz López, B., 2005. Interaction between bottlenose dolphins and fish farms: could there be an economic impact? ICES Document CM 2005/X 10. 11. Díaz López, B., Marini, L., 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 (2): 53-58. 12. Díaz López, B. & Shiray, A., 2005. Analysis of diving behaviour on bottlenose dolphins studied in the inshore waters of Sardinia. Talk presented at the “6º Convegno Nazionale sui Cetacei e sulle Tartarughe Marine”. November. Comune di Sperlonga (LT), Italy. 13. Díaz López, B., 2005 & Shiray, A., 2005. A survey of anti-bottlenose dolphin control at marine fish farm. Talk presented at the “6º Convegno Nazionale sui Cetacei e sulle Tartarughe Marine”. November. Comune di Sperlonga (LT), Italy. Bruno Díaz López Research Biologist / Marine Zoologist Chief Researcher The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI V.Armando Diaz Nº4 07020 Golfo Aranci (SS) Italy http://www.thebdri.com info@thebdri.com Tel: + (39) 346 0815414