BDRI's BLOG - www.thebdri.com

Dear friends,

today is an important day for us. The following paper was published in the prestigious  journal: Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. This journal publishes articles dealing with quantitative empirical and theoretical studies in the analysis of animal behavior on the level of the individual, population and community. The level of this journal is showed by the high impact factor 2.316 (2006).

Marine aquaculture and bottlenose dolphins’ (Tursiops truncatus) social structure

Bruno Díaz López & J.Andrea Bernal Shirai

Abstract:

In this study, we investigate association patterns of 249 bottlenose dolphin feeding groups off Sardinia Island (Italy) from January 2000–May 2007 and describe how their association behaviour is related to their response to food patches created by a marine fin fish farm. We also tested the hypothesis that dolphins have different social structures with different feeding activities: Associations should decrease during opportunistic feeding behaviours as it is easier to capture prey, and cooperation is not as necessary. Sixteen individually identified bottlenose dolphins were observed participating in both opportunistic and not opportunistic feeding activities, with a mean of 30 ± 8 times and 9.6 ± 1 times, respectively. Bottlenose dolphins show non-random social behaviour during feeding and this behaviour differs depending on their specific foraging activity. Dolphin associations during feeding can be divided into three categories: acquaintances, affiliates, and feeding associates. Association behaviour during fish farm feeding is consistent with our hypothesis that during opportunistic behaviours, benefits from cooperation decrease, as it is easier to capture prey. Group size homogeneity in both feeding activities demonstrates that the number of dolphins engaging in foraging is not necessarily related with cooperation levels. Moreover, an adult dolphin may prefer to associate with a specific individual, independent of the sex, who shares the same foraging priorities. This study is the first to show how aquaculture is not only directly affecting marine predators but could also indirectly affect their social structure and behaviour.

Soon will be posted on our website www.thebdri.com

Posted by Bruno at 10:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Please see the announcement below. There are still places available.

Please note: further information can be viewed and printed out from the following website: www.thebdri.com
 
The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute - BDRI - www.thebdri.com offers comprehensive and intensive courses during the 2008 Winter Season for motivated individuals, who are seeking thorough training in approaches to the study of free ranging wild bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).

We invite you to join our ongoing study of the behaviour, habitat use and social lives of these amazing dolphins off the northeastern coast of Sardinia Island (Italy). These intensive educational courses provide experience in specialized non-invasive research techniques, consisting of field sessions and lectures. The courses will last 6 or 13 days, and - weather permitting - we will be out on the water at least during 4 or 8 of these days respectively.

Although our project focuses primarily on bottlenose dolphins, you will also experience the complex Mediterranean coastal ecosystem in which we live and work. BDRI field courses provide invaluable exposure to boat based field work, marine mammals research, intensive training and mentoring in marine ecology, and encouragement to work hard, have fun, and learn from the dolphins and each other. Learning, at its best, should be an active process, one in which the students are challenged on a daily basis with responsibilities that play a large part in the outcome of the research projects.

Working with us and our staff, you will rotate between tasks on land and sea. Onboard our research vessel (Spartana) you will work together with our team in search of cetaceans. To refine details of bottlenose dolphin population biology and responses to human activities at sea, we will take identification photos, observe behaviour, and monitor vocalizations using a hydrophone.

Research courses can be used for academic or vocational purposes, but students are solely responsible for making all arrangements for receiving relevant credit(s) as a result of completing the training course.

BDRI's courses give an insight into the workings of a research team, and provide experience in a wide range of areas including scientific data collection, analysis and presentation; giving public talks and much more. To be successful participants in this project,students should have open minds, flexibility in changing situations, and a desire to help and to learn.

All classes will be in a form of both (a) lectures that will lead to more "informal" discussion, hopefully ending with a constructive brainstorming on the specific topic, as well as (b) instructions with handon practical component, especially when it involves field techniques.

Course 1. Bottlenose dolphin: Field methods in the wild (1st Team: 28 January; 2nd Team: 24 March)

Course 2. Study of bottlenose dolphin behaviour (11 February)

Course 3. Bottlenose dolphins Photo-identification & Social structure course (1st Team 25 February; 2nd Team 31 March)

Course 4. Bioacoustics of bottlenose dolphins in the wild (10 March)

Further information, fees and how to apply can be found on our website (www.thebdri.com) or by e-mail at info@thebdri.com

Posted by Bruno at 05:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Dear friends,

here you can see a beautiful picture of a full leap of two dolphins along the Angola's coast. This picture has been sent for a BDRI's friend to share with you on the web.

Thanks Heitor!

Posted by Bruno at 11:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Dear friends,

yesterday thursday 16th November our Chief Researcher was on the radio talking about dolphins and communication. The interview was done by a Demmark radio. We have to consider that dolphins are highly social animals with fine abilities in sound reception and production. Dolphin sounds are divers and complex. Dolphins use sounds to locate food, receive information about the environment and to communicate with other dolphins.

Sounds produced by dolphins can be divided in three structural types: echolocation clicks (biosonar), whistles and burst pulsed sounds (for communication). BDRI's research on dolphins vocalizations is focused in two main sounds related with the communication: whistles and burst pulsed sounds.

Echolocation clicks are broadband pulses and short duration used to determine the characteristics of the surrounding environment based on the returning echoes.

Whistles are frequency modulated sounds. Whistles can be defined relatively unequivocal, as they clearly contrast to other sound types. The burst pulsed sounds are more complicated, they are discrete packets of clicks and receive names as squawks, barks, cries, chirps, etc.

Posted by Bruno at 09:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Hi everyone,

on behalf of the Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI (www.thebdri.com), I am pleased to announce that we are seeking Dolphin Research Assistants / Thesis work Students for our 2008 Winter (January-March) season in Sardinia, Italy.

Undergraduate and postgraduate student research projects can be supported with boat time and office space. An internship period with the BDRI offers an excellent opportunity for qualified and motivated individuals to obtain field and laboratory training in marine mammals' research methodology and analysis under the mentorship of experienced bottlenose dolphin researchers. Learning, at its best, should be an active process, one in which the students are challenged on a daily basis with responsibilities that play a large part in the outcome of the research projects.

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.

Interns are required to complete a research project on an assigned relevant topic, to be written in collaboration and supervision with the BDRI's thesis advisor. Undergraduate and postgraduate students can present this personal research project as their Thesis (Bachelor, Master, Diploma, DEA, etc). Internships can be used for academic or vocational purposes, but students are solely responsible for making all arrangements for receiving relevant credit(s) as a result of completing the internship.

BDRI internships provide invaluable exposure to boat based field work, marine mammals research, intensive training and mentoring in marine ecology, and encouragement to work hard, have fun, and learn from the dolphins and each other. Working with us and our staff, you will rotate between tasks on land and sea. Onboard our research vessel the "Spartana" you will work together with our team in search of cetaceans. To refine details of bottlenose dolphin population biology and responses to human activities at sea, we will take identification photos, observe behaviour, and monitor vocalizations using a hydrophone, etc.

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 Visit our website www.thebdri.com to download information on Dolphin Research Internships and/or Thesis work in Aranci Bay and how to get there.


Recent selected scientific publications by BDRI:

1. Díaz López B. and Shirai, J.A., In press. Marine aquaculture and bottlenose dolphins social structure. Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology.
2. Díaz López B., Bunke, M. and Shirai, J.A., In press. Marine aquaculture off Sardinia Island (Italy): ecosystem effects evaluated through a trophic mass-balance model. Ecological Modelling.
3. Díaz López, B., Shirai, J.A.; Bilbao Prieto, A. & Méndez Fernández, P., In press. Diving activity of a solitary wild free ranging bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Journal of Marine Biological Association U.K.
4. Díaz López 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.
5. Díaz López, B. and Shirai, J.A., 2007. "Human activities and bottlenose dolphin's social structure". 21st Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society, San Sebastián, Spain, 2007.
6. Underhill, K., Díaz López, B., and Shirai, J.A., 2007."Boat traffic effects on the diving behaviour of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Sardinia, Italy". 21st Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society, San Sebastián, Spain, 2007.
7. 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.
8. Díaz López, B. & Bernal Shirai, J.A., 2006. "Estudio multiescalar de la influencia de la acuicultura en la presencia de delfines mulares Tursiops truncatus (Montagu 1821)". CIVA, 2006: 282 - 290pp.
9. Díaz López, B., 2006. "Interactions between Mediterranean bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and gillnets off Sardinia". ICES Journal of Marine Science 63: 944-951 pp.
10. Díaz López, B. & Bernal Shirai, 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.
11. Bernal Shirai, 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.
12. Díaz López, B., 2005. Interactions between bottlenose dolphins with trammel nets in the Sardinia Island. ICES Document CM 2005/X 1.
13. Díaz López, B., 2005. Interaction between bottlenose dolphins and fish farms: could there be an economic impact? ICES Document CM 2005/X10.
14. 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.
15. Díaz López, B. & Shiray, A., 2005. Analysis of diving behaviour on bottlenose dolphins studied in the inshore waters of Sardinia. "6º Convegno Nazionale sui Cetacei e sulle Tartarughe Marine". November. Comune di Sperlonga (LT), Italy.
16. Díaz López, B., 2005 & Shirai, A., 2005. A survey of anti-bottlenose dolphin control at marine fish farm. "6º Convegno Nazionale sui Cetacei e sulle Tartarughe Marine". November. Comune di Sperlonga (LT), Italy.
17. Díaz López, B., Marini, L.. and Polo, F., 2004. "Evolution of a bottlenose dolphins population in the Noth-Eastern waters of Sardinia (Italy)". In: European Research on Cetaceans - 15 (Ed- P.G.H. Evans). European Cetacean Society, pp 70-73. Cambrigde, UK.
18. Polo, F; Díaz López, B.; Marini, L. & Brovelli, M., 2002. "Fast ferries influence on the bottlenose dolphin presence and social structure in waters of North-eastern Sardinia". 16th Annual Conference European Cetacean Society. Liege 2002.
19. Díaz López, B.; Marini, L.; Polo, F. & Brovelli, M., 2002. "Photoidentification of bottlenose dolphin in waters of north-eastern Sardinia". Poster presented at the 16th Annual Conference European Cetacean Society. Liege 2002.
20. Díaz López, B., Polo, F. and Marini, L., 2001. " Feeding Behaviour of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) along the north-eastern coast of Sardinia. 29th Annual Symposium EAAM. Genova 9-12 March 2001.


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

Posted by Bruno at 06:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I am proud to announce a new BDRI's scientific paper in the prestigious journal Ecological Modelling related with mass balance models and the Aranci Bay ecosystem. This study demostrates the importance of the top predators (i.e. bottlenose dolphins) in the entire marine ecosystem and how the coastal ecosystem is influenced by human activities.

Title: Marine aquaculture off Sardinia Island (Italy): ecosystem effects evaluated through a trophic mass-balance model

Authors: BRUNO DÍAZ LÓPEZ, MANDY BUNKE AND JULIA ANDREA BERNAL SHIRAI

Journal: ECOLOGICAL MODELLING. DOi: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2007.10.028
Total text pages: 12; Tables: 5; Figures: 3

Abstract
Marine aquaculture is an important growing worldwide industry. An ecosystem approach to study the effects of aquaculture on the Aranci bay (Sardinia, Italy) was implemented by using a trophic mass-balance model in order to estimate the potential effects of finfish aquaculture and, therefore, to identify the species playing a key-role in ecosystem. Additionally, this study was used to evaluate the conflict between top predators and aquaculture. Mass-balance models were built using Ecopath software to characterise and compare the present state of the ecosystem versus a reconstructed past model representing the bay before the start of aquaculture activities. This modelling approach to the study of the fish farm activities in Aranci Bay has shown its appropriateness to describe the modifications induced, at an ecosystem level, by the nutrient loading into the area. Increased nutrient loading into the fish farm area may result in greater biological activity and may induce a strong coupling between the pelagic and benthic subsystems. Based on the results, the possible effect of top predators in the fish farm activities is not substantial. Furthermore, the use of mass balance models can provide important additional information, complementary to the normal environmental assessment impact studies, before starting fish farm activities in an area.

Keywords: Mass-balance model, aquaculture, Ecopath, top predators.

Regards,

Posted by Bruno at 06:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Dear friends,

as you can see we will try to update frequently our blog to inform you about our activities. These days are crazy because we are very busy transforming our new research vessel, a classic wooden boat, to a perfect research vessel...Modern and classic...

During these days the dolphins are visiting the area (we sigthed them from the beach and fish farm workers and fishers sighted them frequently during these days) but as we spent a lot of time working in the harbour we have not collected information about their presence. Also the mistral wind is very strong and the sea conditions are not good to sail.

In few days our new Training courses briefing will be ready to inform you about our new 2008 activities!

Regards,

Posted by Bruno at 09:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Dear BDRI's friends,

I am proud to present you our new website and our new Blog. Here you will find updated information about our research and educational activities, marine mammals meetings, scientific publications, etc.

Most scientific papers, info about our educational and research programs, and more general info about our institute are up in our new website and we will be adding some archives later. We’d appreciate any comments or suggestions– positive or negative that you’d like to make.  We built it, so spot the deliberate mistake(s).

All the best, 

Mr. Bruno Díaz López

BDRI's Biologist & Chief Researcher

Posted by Bruno at 11:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)