Marine Mammal Field Course 2019

The goal of this course is to introduce UVM students to the biology of aquatic mammals, their habitats, and the life and conditions of those human communities that rely on them economically. All this is done while they develop their independent research projects on topics ranging behavior, acoustics, spatial analysis, and conservation. Students face the 'real world' of field data collection and learn how to adapt and test their limits. Learn from some our students about their projects and what they bring home from this experience below.

Course Syllabus

Video by Betzi Perez our Panamanian Guest Scientist. Thank you Bet!

The Dolphin Pod of 2019

Interviews by Emma Gimbrere

All 16 students in the course shared their experiences in the field. Emma Gimbrere coordinated the sharing of these experiences as our Social Media and Science Communication coordinator. Emma coordinated the above interviews to the students to gain a better understanding what our UVM students are looking for when it comes to research experience. Emma is a skill communicator and photographer, photos accompanying the posts below are mostly hers.

Every day students participated in different types of data collection including photo-ID data collection. This is a traditional technique that uses natural marks on dolphins dorsal fins and body to identify individuals. James photographic skills were admired by all of us below in the section #1 Photographer are some of James pics.

Daily Posts (photo credit for most photographs to Emma Gimbrere)

Day 1

Today was day one of research! The students woke up early and separated into two boats- distribution survey and behavior survey. They had a great time being introduced to collecting photo ID, acoustic data, and focal follows. They stopped in the mangroves for lunch, enjoyed some shade, and met some feline friends. Afterwards, students continued to collect data and then we stopped for a quick dip where they got to snorkel. We observed 3 pods of dolphins in Dolphin Bay; one of these pods were very social with our boat! After a quick stop at sloth island, we were on our way back. Boat 2 ran out of gas and Boat 1 towed them back to the research station. The students ended their day watching the sunset on the dock and then were off to the lab to upload photos and download data from the day!

Day 3

On this cloudy, but much needed cooler day, students had another insightful day in the field. One boat travelled a further distance to record distributive data on a different dolphin population right outside of Bocas. The second boat travelled within Dolphin Bay to observe Bottlenose dolphin behavior when in the presence of tourist boats. A dolphin that we've known for over a decade, Bity (seen in the first picture), was spotted today with her juvenile offspring. A re-energizing lunch was had in the mangroves, and was followed by a visit to our sloth friends on Sloth Island. A high activity of tourist boats was observed today. Although we all want to get the perfect dolphin pic for our Instagrams, it's important to keep these regulations in mind while dolphin watching to ensure and maintain the population's safety:
-Maximum of two dolphin watching boats should be in the area at once
-Respect distance. Just like us, the dolphins need their space
-Maintain an equal velocity, or slower, to the animal. This is especially important when leaving the observing area
-Be mindful or whether feeding or socializing time is being interrupted. This can be detrimental to their survival
-If dolphins approach the boat, keep the motor in neutral and avoid abrupt velocity and directional changes

Day 6

The student researchers continued collecting data for their individual research projects. The first boat made their way over to Punta Caracol, where they saw a pod of about 10 dolphins. Bocas bottlenose dolphins tend to form smaller pods consisting of a mother, a calf, and a couple other adults, so seeing large pods like these is really exciting! The second boat also saw a large pod of about 7 dolphins in Cerro Brujo. There were three calves in this pod, and we were lucky enough to see them playing with each other and jumping out of the water. Mother-calf pairs often temporarily fuse with other groups because it is very important for calves to socialize and interact with other dolphins. This is especially true for male calves so that they are prepared to form male coalitions once they are weaned from their mother.
Fun fact: when the calves get excited, their underbellies turn pink! You can see this in the pictures below.

Day 8

Today the students continued to collect data for their projects; the distribution survey boat stayed within the archipelago and had a total of six sightings with many calves. The calves were seen playing together and swimming next to the boat, and were also jumping from the water! In addition to the dolphins, a sea turtle surfaced next to the boat. On the other boat studying behavior and acoustics, the students spent the nice, sunny day looking for dolphins. Three sightings occurred, all with some really cute calves! As a bonus, the students even saw some moon jellyfish. Data was collected for individual projects as they get underway, and everyone is continuing to learn quite a bit while collecting data on the water. At the end of the day, a howler monkey was spotted at the station.

Day 10

Day Today half the group stayed in the lab to work on their independent research projects while the other half went out on two boats to continue with the surveys. One group saw three males chasing a female and could hear her whistles from the boat! They also travelled to Laguna de Chiriqui and saw some oceanic dolphins. The second group stayed around the archipelago and started the morning off with four sightings. A large group of dolphins were spotted in Almirante and seen milling around and calves were playing! Tons of moon jellyfish were also floating around in the water (seen in the video below). Among the jellies there was also a lot of trash. It was a good reminder to be conscious of the waste we produce and be mindful of where it could end up! The long day continues with a trip to observe sea turtles come to the beach and lay eggs.

Day 12

The students last day in Bocas was spent participating in an outreach activity working with 2 local schools around Dolphin Bay. The children at these schools did many activities including an echolocation game, identifying dolphin dorsal fins, listening to dolphin whistles, calls, and buzzing, and looking at a dolphin skull. Betzi even brought her biopsy rifle to show the kids how she retrieves a biopsy sample. Our program spends a lot of time protecting the dolphins of Bocas del Toro, so it was nice to see first hand the communities that surround these dolphins.
Tomorrow students pack up and leave bright and early to head to Panama City for a night where the day after they will say their goodbyes and fly home.
It has been an amazing experience working with these dolphins and observing the community of Bocas del Toro.
The students would like to say thank you to Dr. Laura May-Collado, Betzi-Perez, and Heather Daszkiewicz for their endless guidance, support, and knowledge throughout this trip. We would also like to give a special thanks to the Bocas community and all the staff at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Finally, thank you to all the dolphins of Bocas del Toro for letting us study them and gasp from a distance at their magnificence. They are beautiful creatures who deserve to live happy, healthy lives in their beautiful home, Bocas del Toro. Hopefully some of the research we have done in these past 2 weeks and teaching the youth of Bocas del Toro about the dolphins that live in their backyards will help conserve these animals for a very long time.

Day 2

Among many interesting things, shown below is Betzi, doing a biopsy to collect a sample of blubber. After following a group of 16 dolphins, she shot a near miss. On the other boat, a group of students saw many types of behavior including different foraging techniques, mother-calf interactions and, a dolphin playing toss with a stick. Now, students are gathered in the research lab writing up proposals for their project ideas! Tomorrow we will begin collecting data for their projects. Betzi Perez is a Panamanian guest researcher that has experience doing biopsies and has permits by the Panamanian goverment and an AICUC protocol by Smithsonian in Panama

Day 4

Today the students began collecting data for their independent projects. Despite the rain, students were able to observe interesting wildlife and behaviors, like thousands of jellyfish found around Drago. Over the past few days, a lot of calves have been spotted all over Bocas! In addition, in the evening we listed to a presentation by the CARES group (Conservation veterinarians), also working at the Smithsonian Research Station in Bocas del Toro. Fellow interns presented on their collaboration in with a local veterinarian. In addition, they are running a hot line where local community members can call in if they spot wildlife in need. They are in Bocas del Toro until August helping Dr. Gloria with wildlife emergencies. The information for this is included in this post! Please call at 6513 5777 for veterinary services. Overall, an informative and successful day.

Day 5

Today, the student researchers began their days by going to Bird Island. Several miles off the coast is a small, uninhabited island home to many species of bird like brown boobies and red billed tropicbirds. Then, the boats set sail in search of more dolphins. One boat went to Laguna Chiriqui to find oceanic dolphins. Unfortunately, they spent 5 hours searching before seeing any at all. However, at 1:30 they found a pod of approximately 10 dolphins (they were still the coastal ecotype). Betzi attempted another biopsy, but she shot a near miss.
On the other boat, researchers set off to Dolphin Bay. They saw Supermessy a local favorite who was seen with a calf! This is exciting because she is one of the most reproductive females of the core population, and had not been seen yet on this trip. She has had at least three babies in the past 10 years, when the average for the population is 1 baby every 5 years. Overall, it was a good day in Bocas del Toro!

Day 7

This video was shot the other day from some of our UVM students on Boat 2!! It was very exciting to see these dolphins after a 5 hour wait with no dolphin sightings (video by James Grant). All photographs and video were taken with Research Permit SE/A-27-19. Scientist have special permits to approach the animals following careful protocol. Tour operators should comply with Mi Ambiente regulations mantaining a distance of 100 m from the dolphins: DM-0530-2017 del 13 de Octubre de 2017.

Day 9

The students split up into two groups, with one boat headed for Costa Rica to not only see Bottlenose, but also Guiana dolphins (Sotalia). These two species are similar, but the Guiana are smaller and more elusive, while the Bottlenose are social with boats. Unfortunately, rain and large waves prevented the Costa Rica trip today, but the students didn’t let bad weather stop them from collecting data in the local area. The behavior boat had multiple sightings and was able to capture acoustic data of the dolphins clicking and whistling. You can see in the pictures below a Hydrophone placed off the side of the boat that will pick up bioacoustics in the water. Hopefully this information can be used to learn more about how dolphins communicate.
On the second boat, the students found Cristal, Almostclean, and Topnotchy, all with juveniles or calves! This is great for the population, as these mothers produce most of the new calves! Although the babies are cute, remember to keep 100 meters away from them. Most of the calves that die result from collisions with propellers, mother-calf separation, or entanglement from fishing nets. Please remember to keep your distance and pick up any trash or fishing lines/nets that you may see in the water. We know you love the dolphins as much as us, so let's work together to keep them safe and healthy!

Day 11

Today students finished their time researching in the field! Half of the students stayed back and worked on their research papers, while the other half did distribution surveys and mapped the sea floor of Dolphin Bay. This will help us discover why dolphins frequent this location so often. We spotted Bilbo today, a dolphin who has a flat top dorsal fin (seen in the 2st picture) along with 5 other dolphins who were very playful. Students returned early from the boats and finished up some final details on their papers. Some students took a quick break and smashed open some coconuts around the research institute for coconut water and meat. Tonight, students who weren’t able to help with turtle conservation last night will help out by walking the beach, looking for nesting turtles. Students in the lab have the cool opportunity to help prepare tanks for frogs and help measure them.