[MARMAM] Bottlenose Dolphin Photo-Identification Internship Summer 2025 Positions Available

[Jessica Taylor]

Bottlenose DolphinPhoto-ID Internship Positions for Summer 2025

The Outer Banks Centerfor Dolphin Research (OBXCDR)/Nags Head Dolphin Watch are 
currently acceptingapplications for the 2025 summer season. The research season 
is May 5th-October18th. Four internship positions are available for the 
followingdates: May 5th-September 27th, May 5th-August16th, May 19st-September 
27th, and June 9th– October 18th. Start/end dates are flexible but 
successfulapplicants must be able to commit for the entire internship period. 

The Outer Banks Centerfor Dolphin Research is a 501 c(3) non-profit 
organization dedicated to theconservation of bottlenose dolphins in the Outer 
Banks of North Carolina. Ourprogram’s goal is to gain an understanding of the 
population dynamics, movementpatterns, and behavioral ecology of coastal 
bottlenose dolphins in the soundsand coastal waters near the Outer Banks. The 
OBXCDR conducts a long-term photo-identificationmonitoring study of bottlenose 
dolphins in Roanoke, Croatan, Albemarle, Pamlicoand Currituck Sounds. Data is 
collected via dedicated small boat surveys aswell as opportunistically from a 
local dolphin watch. Information from themonitoring study is used to examine 
annual population trends, habitatutilization, social associations, and ecology 
of the dolphins as well as aid inefforts to examine bottlenose dolphin stock 
structure and movement patternsalong the U.S. Atlantic coast. Interns will gain 
experience in field datacollection, photo-identification of dolphins, and 
environmental education. Formore information about the OBXCDR, please visit: 
obxdolphins.org. 

The internshipposition will consist of bottlenose dolphin 
photo-identification,opportunistic/dedicated field research, and environmental 
education.Responsibilities include:

§  Mate/naturalistduties aboard the Nags Head Dolphin Watch: This involves the 
implementation of educational programs,including public speaking aboard the 
eco-tours (using a microphone andone-on-one) to educate others about local 
dolphin biology and marineconservation, as well as additional mate duties. The 
mate/naturalist will alsocollect opportunistic sighting data aboard the 
eco-tours (measuringenvironmental parameters, and recording sighting data) and 
assist in generalmaintenance of field equipment.  For additional information 
about the NagsHead Dolphin Watch, please see www.nagsheaddolphinwatch.com (70% 
of time) 

 
§  Photo-identificationof dolphins in the lab:This includes photo sorting, 
grading, and matching, sighting data entry, andassisting in maintenance of the 
long-term OBX catalog using the programs finFindRand FinBase. This work will be 
completed remotely through a remote login to ourlab computer. (20% of time) 
§  Boat-basedphoto-identification: The intern willassist with dedicated 
boat-based photo-identification surveys to contributionto the examination of 
site fidelity and stock structure of bottlenose dolphinsin northeastern North 
Carolina sounds. Responsibilities may include operating asmall vessel during 
transect surveys and sightings, assisting withphoto-identification, collecting 
sighting data for dolphin groups, and generalmaintenance of field equipment. 
(10% of time)
 This internshiprequires a minimum commitment of 36 hours per week, consisting 
of eco-tours,lab photo-identification, and dedicated surveys. The intern will 
carry outmate/naturalist duties aboard the Nags Head Dolphin Watch for 3-4 days 
per weekthroughout the field season while 1-2 days per week will be spent 
conductingphoto-identification using FinBase and finFindR. Dedicated surveys 
will beconducted 2-3 times per month from May through October.
Salary:  Thisinternship is a paid position. Applicants will receive an hourly 
pay of $15/hr.for the naturalist position on the dolphin watch portion only. 
(Lab workand dedicated surveys are not included) Tips aboard the dolphin tours 
areexpected, but not guaranteed. 

Housing: Housing is offeredat a cost of $800. per month for a private room 
including all utilities.Interns are responsible for their own transportation to 
and from the OuterBanks as well as to and from the field sites and lab.

The successfulapplicant would ideally have the following qualifications:

§  Minimum of 18 years of age and recentlygraduated with an undergraduate 
degree in marine biology, biology, zoology, orrelated field

§  Strong interest in the marine environment andconservation

§  Ability to swim

§  Basic proficiency in MS Access, Word, Excel,and Picture Manager as well as 
digital photography

§  Enthusiasm, attention to detail, responsible, independent,focused, and 
dedicated

§  Works well in a team environment as well asindividually

§  Experience in boating and marine field datacollection prefered

§  Experience in environmental outreach preferred

§  Experience in photo-identification preferred 

§  Adequate strength and agility to performduties necessary to dock 45 ft. boat

§  First AI

[MARMAM] Aquatic Mammals Issue 51.1 available online

[Kathleen Dudzinski]

Dear MARMAM Subscribers, 
 
The first issue of volume 51 (51.1) of Aquatic Mammals journal is available 
online and officially published Wednesday, January 15th.
 
Further information about the journal can be found at: 
http://www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org/
To submit a manuscript for publication consideration, please visit: 
http://am.expressacademic.org/actions/author.php
 
With regards,
 
Kathleen M. Dudzinski, Ph.D.
Editor, Aquatic Mammals Journal
busin...@aquaticmammalsjournal.org 


Articles with ** are open access:

Lucía Yaffé, Damián G. Vales, Enrique A. Crespo, and Valentina Franco-Trecu. 
(2025). Feeding Habits and Individual Specialization in Adult Female South 
American Sea Lions (Otaria flavescens) in Patagonia. Aquatic Mammals, 51(1), 
1-12.
 **Ronald A. Kastelein, Lean Helder-Hoek, Laura Van Acoleyen, Linde N. 
Defillet, John M. Terhune, and Nancy Jennings. (2025). Temporary Hearing 
Threshold Shift in California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) Due to a Noise 
Band Centered at 40 kHz and Comparison with Shifts Due to Lower-Frequency 
Sounds. Aquatic Mammals, 51(1), 13-30.
 
**Gabriela M. Ochoa, Eric Angel Ramos, and Daniel Gonzalez-Socoloske. (2025). 
Predation of a Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) by Killer Whales (Orcinus 
orca) in Guanaja, Honduras. Aquatic Mammals, 51(1), 31-36.
 
**Gonçalo N. Marques, Rita Barny, Joana S. Guerra, Miriam Leal, Nuno Urbani, 
and Carla Flanagan. (2025). A Suggested In-House Respiratory Fungal Culture 
Protocol for Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Aquatic Mammals, 
51(1),37-45.
 
Karen Ankersen Sønnichsen, Niels Madsen, Sussie Pagh, Aage Kristian Olsen 
Alstrup, Charlotte Bie Thøstesen, Line Anker Kyhn, and Trine Hammer Jensen. 
(2025). Causes of Mortality in Harbor (Phoca vitulina) and Gray (Halichoerus 
grypus) Seals in Denmark. Aquatic Mammals, 51(1), 46-61.
 
**Sean Todd, Jooke Robbins, Mason T. Weinrich, Natasha Pastor, Dan Dendanto, 
Per J. Palsbøll, and Ann M. Zoidis. (2025). Examination of Isotopic Signals to 
Determine Trophic Dynamics and Diet of Gulf of Maine Mysticetes Prior to an 
Oceanographic Regime Shift. Aquatic Mammals, 51(1), 62-78.
 
**Ronald A. Kastelein, Lean Helder-Hoek, Laura Van Acoleyen, and John M. 
Terhune. (2025).  Temporary Hearing Threshold Shift and Testing the 
Equal-Energy Hypothesis in Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina) After Exposure to a 
One-Sixth-Octave Noise Band Centered at 8 kHz. Aquatic Mammals, 51(1), 79-95.
 
Ambrosine L. Clark, Francesca Fusar Poli, and Vidal Martín. (2025). Whistle 
Characteristics of the Rough-Toothed Dolphin (Steno bredanensis) in the Canary 
Islands. Aquatic Mammals, 51(1), 96-104.


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[MARMAM] Hiring 1 Whale Rescue Technician to join our team on Campobello Island, New Brunswick

[Natasha Hynes]

Hi there,



We are hiring a Whale Rescue Technician to join our team on Campobello Island, 
New Brunswick. Details are provided online at: 
https://www.canadianwhaleinstitute.ca/opportunities.



Cheers



Natasha Hynes (she/her)

Research Associate







https://www.facebook.com/CanadianWhaleInstitute | 
https://www.instagram.com/canadianwhaleinstitute/ | 
https://twitter.com/canwhaleinst___
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