[MARMAM] Marine Mammal Science Training Placements 2018 – Call for applications

[Bruno Diaz Lopez]

The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute (BDRI) , a 
marine science education centre, invites applications for research internships 
in a dynamic, international, and qualified research environment. 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION - The project is based in the North-western coast of Spain 
(Galicia), an important hotspot for cetaceans. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, 
and an important area of upwelling, Galicia is considered to be one of the most 
productive oceanic regions on the world. No fewer than 22 cetacean species have 
been recorded in Galician waters over the years. Some, such as common 
bottlenose dolphins, short-beaked common dolphins, harbour porpoises, minke 
whales, Risso's dolphins, long-finned pilot whales, humpback whales, fin 
whales, and blue whales have been recorded by the BDRI team in 2017. 

At BDRI, interns are an important part of the team always under the supervision 
and training of experienced researchers. BDRI is a place where students develop 
laboratory and field research skills and get hands-on experience working with a 
professional team of marine mammal scientists. Becoming part of our research 
team, you will get a unique perspective on our research work. This is more than 
just a training experience - it is a great opportunity to get your resume off 
to a marvellous start, have fun, and gain experience that will last a lifetime. 
As an intern, you will be encouraged to work hard and gain an insight of what 
it is actually like to work as a marine mammal researcher. Moreover, BDRI is a 
cooperative regional stranding network partner and works to respond to 
cetaceans, seals, and marine turtles strandings. 

Interns will be trained to participate with multiple research projects 
involving a combination of boat-based and land-based surveys, laboratory work 
(photo-identification, GIS, data transcription, bioacoustics, diet analysis, 
diving behaviour, video analysis, database work, etc), and strandings 
(response, rescue, necropsy, and data collection). The BDRI is a very 
international environment, and the everyday working language is English. 
Laboratory work days typically last six hours and field days typically exceed 
seven hours and occur approximately three-four times per week (weather 
dependent). There will be two days off per week. 

HOW TO APPLY – The internship is open to all applicants 18 years of age or 
older. An academic background in biology, veterinary or natural science, 
coupled with motivation, willingness to work hard and interest in field 
research make the most qualified individuals. Internship start and end dates 
are flexible but the position requires a minimum of 30 days continuous 
commitment sometime between 8th January 2018 through to end November 2018. 

Undergraduate and postgraduate student thesis projects can also be supported. 

The BDRI is a private and self-funded centre, hence, there is a tuition fee 
including the training, supervision, accommodation in an apartment, use of 
research equipment, use of facilities and research vessels, and other expenses 
derived of your participation (access to wifi in the apartment, kitchen 
utensils, electricity, taxes, etc). Successful applicants will be responsible 
for their own transportation expenses to and from the research centre (O Grove, 
Galicia, Spain). 

Interested candidates should submit an application with the following: 
- A cover letter including your availability (1 page only); 
- A resume describing training, experience and relevant skills (2 pages only); 
- BDRI's application form, you can download from 
 

Please send these items as e-mail attachments (PDF preferred) to: 
sever...@thebdri.com 

Approved applications are accepted on a first-come, first serve basis. 
Positions are open until filled. 

For more information about BDRI's research and conservation work, please visit 
 or our Facebook page. 

Best regards, and see you in Galicia!

This email is confidential to the intended recipient(s) and the contents may be 
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intended solely for the person to whom it is addressed. If you are not an 
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is your responsibility to scan the email and the attachments (if any). Thank 
you for your cooperation.

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[MARMAM] New publication on sponge carrying in humpback dolphins

[Simon Allen]

Dear MARMAMers,


My co-authors and I are pleased to pass on the details of our recent 
publication: Allen SJ, King SL, Krützen M & Brown AM 2017. Multi-modal sexual 
displays in Australian humpback dolphins. Scientific Reports 7: 13644. 
DOI:10.1038/s41598-017-13898-9.



The article can be accessed freely here: http://rdcu.be/w3tL


The abstract reads as follows:

Sexual displays enriched by object carrying serve to increase individual male 
fitness, yet are uncommon phenomena in the animal kingdom. While they have been 
documented in a variety of taxa, primarily birds, they are rare outside 
non-human mammals. Here, we document marine sponge presenting

associated with visual and acoustic posturing found in several, geographically 
widespread populations of Australian humpback dolphins (Sousa sahulensis) over 
ten years of observation. Only adult males presented marine sponges, typically 
doing so in the presence of sexually mature females, although social groups 
predominantly consisted of mixed age and sex classes. Male humpback dolphins 
appear to be using sponges for signalling purposes in multi-modal sexual 
displays. Further, based on limited behavioural and genetic data, we 
hypothesise that pairs of adult male Sousa form at least temporary coalitions 
or alliances. The use of objects in sexual displays by non-human mammals is 
rare and, moreover, cooperation between males in the pursuit of an indivisible 
resource is an evolutionary hurdle relatively few species have overcome. These 
findings suggest a hitherto unrecognised level of social complexity in humpback 
dolphins.


There was some nice coverage in Nat Geo too, FYI: 
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/10/dolphins-sex-mating-sponges-courtship/


Drop me a line if you have any trouble accessing the paper and, for those who 
attended SMM2017, safe travels home.


Best regards, Simon

~~
Simon Allen, PhD
School of Biological Sciences | Oceans Institute
University of Western Australia
Crawley WA 6009

Mob: (61-0) 416 083 653
Email: 
simon.al...@uwa.edu.au
Web1: http://www.sharkbaydolphins.org
Web2: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Simon_Allen2

[cid:E0E136F8-4C4A-4A2F-99B8-BF23063E8504]

Recent papers:
Abundance and fidelity of dolphins to an offshore trawl fishery (2017): 
http://rdcu.be/t5Y2
Alliance behaviour and mating access in an open social network of bottlenose 
dolphins (2017): http://www.nature.com/articles/srep46354
Bycatch and population structure of bottlenose dolphins (2016): 
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10./mec.13622/full
Demographics of the North West Cape humpback dolphin population (2017): 
http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/esr/v32/p71-88
Shark bites on inshore dolphins in the tropical Kimberley region (2017): 
http://rdcu.be/vavT

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