RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

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. The main purpose of this dolphin research program is to contribute towards a more detailed understanding of the relationships between wild bottlenose dolphins and human activities.

By knowing more about the presence and distribution of wild dolphins it enables us to make more informed and wiser decisions about dolphin conservation and management of this dolphins population.

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.

If the results of our research projects to date (see our Publications) are any indication, then projects in progress should be very productive, both in terms of our own enlightenment about the life of these free-ranging dolphins and in producing information bearing directly on the conservation and management of this dolphin species and others.

Our research results are disseminated and utilized 

Disseminating the information from the BDRI is as important as collecting it in the first place, so that it may benefit as many dolphins as possible. The BDRI is dedicated to this goal, having produced numerous scientific and general publications, and through frequent public and professional presentations since 2000 (Please find enclosed the our last scientific publications and reports). Graduate student thesis research and training programs for scientists, students and volunteers help to spread the information and techniques world-wide.

Our  field reports, thesis and scientific publications resulting from our projects reach a wider audience in the environmental sector. Results of our projects will allow us to publish several and prestigious scientific papers in different areas (mammals’ social structure, ecological modelling, mammals’ behaviour, cetaceans’ by-catch, aquaculture-fisheries and bioacoustics). Additionally, results are shared and disseminated online, locally (with public presentations in Sardinia, articles in local newspapers), nationally (presenting results to the Italian Cetacean Society conference, national magazines and newspapers), internationally (with scientific journals, International Whaling Commission reports, ACCOBAMS workshops, and presenting results to international marine science conferences and more).

Previous and current research projects:

Please visit our section Publications to download the articles related with these projects.