Trekking in Golfo Aranci

Trekking in Golfo Aranci

Usually we take a day off on Sunday and if the weather conditions are adequate and we have extra energy ;) we like to have a trekking day (after a week at sea the best way of disconnect is doing a trekking itinerary).

Our study area in Golfo Aranci contains wonderful, almost untouched hills terrain and coastal land. It can be compared to a marvellous transatlantic ship ready to take to sea but that has been held up in the shipyard. Depending on the side or area you want to explore, you will come across hills (Capo Figari and Monte Ruju), grassland, rocks, valleys, forests, beaches and fantastic cliffs. All this amazing variety can be seen in Golfo Aranci area itself. Om a clear day you can see the fantastic mountains of Corsica.

The isolated conditions so typical of an island have led to a number of species and subspecies of animal and insect life that can only be found in Sardinia. The Papilio hospiton butterfly, for example, is on the list of endangered Italian butterflies. There are a number of native species of reptiles, mammals (as mouflons, Sardinian fox, wild boar, etc) and abundant birdlife (several species of Falco, hawks, Passeriformes and marine birds).

See you,

BDRI's Environmental Policy

Dear friends,

please find bellow our updated 2009 Environmental policy:

As a marine science research team, BDRI researchers have witnessed first hand the effects global warming and climate change have on our planet. We are committed to the implementation of proactive measures to help protect and sustain the local and global environment for future generations. The BDRI aim to achieve the objective of improved environmental performance through pollution prevention and continuous improvement.

1. BDRI seeks to conserve natural resources by ensuring the responsible use of energy, water and materials by the continual implementation of the 3R's (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle).

2. We know the importance of reduce the energy consumption derived of the use of polluting fossil fuels, promoting the use of renewable energy. In order to reduce noise and air pollution derived of the use of our research boats, BDRI is supporting renewable energy through the
equipment of our principal research vessel with solar panel.

3. “BDRI Carbon Free expeditions”: To neutralize cruise related greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming, the BDRI will calculate the amount of carbon emitted by each research cruise itinerary it offers then divides that by the number of volunteers cruising each year. In turn, when a volunteer participate in our project, BDRI contributes a portion of the volunteering fee to buy solar panels to produce renewable energy and reduce the air pollution
associated with electricity production during our research. Furthermore, “BDRI Carbon Free Expeditions” campaign has no effect on the price of its volunteering opportunities in any way. In other words, the cost of the campaign is not passed onto the volunteer.

4. BDRI will continue to take steps to minimise any detrimental impacts on the environment caused by the operation of their researchers and volunteers. BDRI aims specifically to minimise the adverse environmental impacts associated with effluent discharge, water use, emissions to both air and water, and waste generation through best available techniques as they emerge in order to prevent pollution and also to maintain water quality.

Please if you have any question do not hesitate to ask to us!

info@thebdri.com

BDRI projects and Spanish newspapers

Dear friends,

if you understand spanish! (or not...) You can read a newspaper article about one of our last research projects on:

http://www.publico.es/ciencias/206183/decibelios/espantar/flipper

Best regards,

February report - Field research

Dear friends,

during the last month of February things have been crazy due to the really bad weather conditions. During the first two weeks the weather was horrible, windy days and a lot of rain... But from the third week of February the weather changed drastically and we were able to spent 12 days at sea to conduct opportunistic photo-identification surveys and bioacoustical studies in good conditions. Evidently the bad weather days we were working hard with lab-work (finishing 2008 photo-id catalogue and new scientific papers).

During February also we started a new research project, "BSD" a test of acoustics deterrent devices to reduce the risk of dolphins bycatch, to carry out from February to June 2009 in partnerships with engineers working for the Spanish goverment. Since the use of acoustic deterrent devices does not is efective in most waters of the Mediterranean sea we will analyse the acoustical characteristics of a new deterrent device in order of indentify the physical characteristics and behavioural effects on bottlenose dolphins.

Here you can see some pictures...

Best regards,

Summer Internships

Hi everyone,

on behalf of the Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI , I am pleased to announce that there are still places available for our 2009 Summer Internships (a minimum of 7 weeks of participation between June - September) in Sardinia Island, Italy. The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI is a marine science and education centre committed to conserving the diversity and integrity of marine life to meet the needs of current and future generations.

BDRI's researchers are engaged in the conduction of a long term study about the ecology and behaviour of wild bottlenose dolphins and the potential effects of human activities (fisheries, aquaculture and tourism) in their distribution and behaviour. An internship period with the BDRI offers an invaluable exposure to boat based field work,marine mammals research, intensive training and mentoring in marine biology. Undergraduate and postgraduate students can present their BDRI's personal research project as their Thesis. Internships can be used for academic or vocational purposes, butstudents are solely responsible for making all arrangements for receiving relevant credit(s) as a result of completing the internship.

Interns can expect to participate in and learn a variety of facets of marine mammal research as research assistants in two diverse research projects:

1. Mediterranean bottlenose dolphins societies project: We will take and analyse identification photos, study group structure and composition to refine details of dolphin societies and responses to human activities at sea. Volunteers assist with data collection onboard helping to locate, photograph and keep track of bottlenose dolphin groups. Back at the lab volunteers restock field supplies, analyse photos and transcribe data collected.
2. Effects of man-made noise pollution on dolphins’ communication and behaviour: We will examine acoustic characteristics of bottlenose dolphins’ vocal signals and we will compare these characteristics with those of man-made noise in order to investigate effects of noise exposure on the dolphins’ behaviour and communication. Internships will actively participate in data collection onboard and monitor dolphins vocalizations. Back at the lab volunteers restock field supplies, analyse and transcribe acoustical data collected.

Internships will stay in an apartment on Golfo Aranci. There is an internships cost of 35€-40€/day and BDRI will provide housing and all associated field costs during the internships period (training, use of materials, electricity, gas, boat trips, etc). The apartment has a full kitchen and a full set of cooking utensils. There is no compensation for these internship positions and successful applicants will be responsible for their own transportation expenses to and from the research camp (Sardinia, Italy).

There is no deadline to apply. However, approved applications are accepted on a first-come, first serve basis. Apply early! Start and end dates are flexible. Positions are open until filled.

Please download the internships general information at:
www.thebdri.com/resources/downloads/internships.pdf
and the application from:
www.thebdri.com/resources/downloads/applicationinternships.rtf

Send cover letter or inquiries by email to the Research Chief, Bruno Diaz Lopez, at info@thebdri.com. Please indicate in your cover letter the dates you are available.

Selected scientific publications by BDRI:

1. Diaz Lopez, B and Shirai, J.A., 2008. Whistles characteristics and repertoire of wild bottlenose dolphins in Sardinia Island, Italy. RIMMO 16 ème Conférence Internationale sur les Cétacés en Méditerranée, Nice France, 15 November 2008.

2. Diaz Lopez 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.

3. Diaz Lopez, B., Shirai, J.A.; Bilbao Prieto, A. & Méndez Fernández, P., 2008. Diving activity of a solitary wild free ranging bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Journal of Marine Biological Association U.K. 88(6): 1153-1157.

4. Diaz Lopez B. and Shirai, J.A., 2008. Marine aquaculture and bottlenose dolphins social structure. Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology 62(6): 887-894.

5. Diaz Lopez B. and Shirai, 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.

6. Diaz Lopez, B., 2006. "Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Predation on a Marine Fin Fish Farm: Some Underwater Observations". Aquatic Mammals 32(3): 305 - 310 pp.

7. Diaz Lopez, B., 2006. "Interactions between Mediterranean bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and gillnets off Sardinia". ICES Journal of Marine Science 63: 944-951 pp.

8. Diaz Lopez, B., 2005. Interactions between bottlenose dolphins with trammel nets in the Sardinia Island. International Council for Exploration of the Sea Document CM 2005/X 1.

9. Diaz Lopez, B., 2005. Interaction between bottlenose dolphins and fish farms: could there be an economic impact? International Council for Exploration of the Sea Document CM 2005/X 10.

10. Diaz Lopez, B., Marini, L., Polo, F., 2005. The impact of a fish farm on a bottlenose dolphin population in the Mediterranean Sea. Thalassas 2005, 21(2): 53-58.

Bruno Diaz Lopez

Research Biologist / Marine Zoologist

Chief Researcher

The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI

V. A. Diaz Nº4 07020 Golfo Aranci (SS) Italy

http://www.thebdri.com/

info@thebdri.com

tel: + (39) 346 0815414