[MARMAM] post-doc position on effect of pingers on behavior of captive dolphins

[Sandro Mazzariol]

Dear collegues, this email is to share with you the opportunity of a 
post-doc position on the effects of pinger on behavior of captive dolphins

The post-Doc research program aims at integrating ongoing projects on 
the effects of acoustic devices on marine fauna. In particular, the 
proposed activities are implementing the LIFE Project “Dolphin 
Experience: Lowering Fishing Interactions” (LFI).

LFI aims at investigating animal behaviors associated to the use of 
acoustic deterrent devices (pingers) to keep animals away from fishing 
areas and reduce the unwanted bycatch of cetaceans drown incidentally in 
fishing nets. The LIF project is evaluating the effects of a new 
generation of pingers (Dolphin Interactive Deterrent; DID) that are 
activated only if dolphins are present, thus reducing acoustic noise 
pollution and habituation to the acoustic signal in the target species. 
A behavioral study will integrate already planned in field evaluation 
with experimental evaluation conducted on under human care dolphins. 
More specifically, the study will determine whether new available DID 
has any effect on the behavior of bottlenose dolphins under controlled 
conditions and the variability of possible effects when background 
motivation is manipulated.

The project is coordinated by experts in marine fauna and the complete 
results of the present research are planned to be achieved in two years. 
The activities of the first year are focused on the design and 
validation of the methods to be applied on the dolphin under human care 
during the second year. Methods will be implemented at the Laboratory of 
Applied Ethology (Dept. of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, 
University of Padua) and based on evaluation of animal's behavior during 
and after the exposure to acoustic devices.

For this study the candidate must be acquainted with basic procedures 
employed in ethological research (behavioral data collection, 
video/audio equipment) and have an inclination for activities aimed at 
training animals for the experimental procedures (i.e. associative 
learning and habituation). The candidate must also be familiar with the 
most widely used video-analysis software, sound analysis procedure and 
statistical analysis software. A proficient use of the English language 
(both in speaking and writing) is compulsory. Moreover, the candidate 
must possess good relational skills and good predisposition for 
teamwork. International experiences are desirable.

For any information you can contact directly the following address

marinemammals.bca at unipd.it


Best regards

-- 
Prof. Sandro Mazzariol, DVM, PhD
Dipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata e Alimentazione (BCA) - Università degli Studi di Padova
Cetaceans strandings Emergency Response Team (CERT)
Centro Interuniversitario per la Ricerca sui CEtacei (CIRCE)

AGRIPOLIS - Ed. Museo
Viale dell'Università 16
35020 - Legnaro (PD)

tel.: +39 049 827 2963
fax:  +39 049 827 2973
skype: smazzariol

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