OBUKA ZA PROUČAVANJE MORSKIH SISARA
Obuka za proučavanje morskih sisara započeta je u septembru 2016. godine i predviđena je na godinu dana. Tiče se konzervacije, ekologije i ponašanja morskih sisara. Naglasak je stavljen na ispitivanje brojnosti i distribucije delfina i drugih morskih sisara, kao i na činioce koji ih ugrožavaju, što se ispituje kako sa kopna, tako i sa mora.
Program je namijenjen učenicima, studentima osnovnih, masterskih i doktorskih studija, kao i pojedincima koji su zainteresovani za marinsku biologiju ili bi imali želju da se oprobaju u terenskom radu namenjenom biološkim istraživanjima.
Na dan dolaska, učesnici su upoznati sa nadolazećim aktivnostima i relevantnom literaturom koju će koristiti. Drugi dan je bio namijenjen upoznavanju sa morskim sisarima uopšte, njihovim morfološkim karakteristikama, kao i vrstama koje naseljavaju Jadranski region. Predavanja su se dotakla projekta ’NETCET’, sporovođenog ranijih godina, takođe na temu morskih sisara. Posmatranje sa kopna se planiralo dva puta u toku nedelje, dok sa mora – jednom u toku nedelje.
Neka od održanih predavanja su se ticala popunjavanja terenskih formulara (u smislu zapisivanja osnovnih informacija o terenskom izlasku), kako se koriste skraćenice za posmatrane vrste, stil plivanja, tip grupe koja se posmatra, ponašanja i plovila u blizini morskih sisara. Nakon kratke pauze, učesnici su započeli sa popunjavanjem formulara u čemu su im pomogli vololteri sa više iskustva, i sa time se nastavilo do kraja tekućeg dana.
Narednog dana je započeto posmatranje sa kopna. Volonteri su upoznati sa osnovnim elementima rukovanja sa teodolitom kao što je određivanjem azimuta, referentne tačke i pronalaženja pokretnih plovila na morskoj površini u vidnom polju. Takođe, data su uputstva kako se fotografišu posmatrane vrste na terenu.
Nakon završene terenske obuke, prešlo se na davanje instrukcija za korišćenje Pythagoras kompjuterskog programa. Ovaj program je namijenjen unošenju i obradi podataka prikupljenih na terenu.
Volonteri su imali mogućnost da vježbaju popunjavanje terenskih formulara tokom sledećeg dana na posmatranju sa kopna. Instruktorka treninga je istakla razliku između ’focal’ i ’scan’ uzorkovanja i ukazala na osnovne infomacije koje moraju da se nađu u tabeli terenskog formulara (vrste, visina teodolita, geografska širina i dužina).
Osim terenskog posmatranja volonteri su se bavili aktivnostima koje su uključivale čitanje naučnih radova o delfinima i morskim sisarima, što bi omogućilo lakše praćenje obuke.
Ovaj projekat je obiljeležio početak saradnje između Društva prirodnjaka Crne Gore i Društva za istraživanje morskih sisara.
Tekst pripremile: Milana Đonović i Nataša Nikpaljević
MARINE MAMMAL TRAINING, ULCINJ 2016
Marine Mammal Training started in September 2016 and will continue throughout the coming year. It concerns the conservation, ecology and behavior of marine mammals. Therefore, the focus of the training is on measuring the abundance and distribution of dolphins and other cetaceans, as well as the threats that endanger them, through land and boat surveys.
The program is intended for students, undergraduates, graduates and individuals interested in Marine Science and Biology who would like to gain knowledge and experience in this field of biological research.
On the day of arrival, participants were provided with an overview of the upcoming activities and relevant literature. On the second day, volunteers had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with cetaceans in general, their morphological characteristics, and the species that inhabit the Adriatic region, so as to get a general overview of the matter studied. Above all, the lectures provided information on a previous research project conducted in the Adriatic region called ‘NETCET’. Land surveys were planned to take place once a week, while boat surveys were to be conducted twice a week.
Also, some of the lecture topics were focused on how to fill out field work evaluation sheets (in terms of writing down the basic information), how to use abbreviations for the species observed, swimming style, group type, vessels travelling near the observed cetaceans and their behavior. After a short break, the participants began filling out the forms, with the more experienced volunteers providing support. Volunteers were invited to fill out practice forms until the end of the day.
The next volunteering day, theodolite training was conducted. This is otherwise known as a ‘land survey’. Volunteers became acquainted with theodolite operation, such as setting the azimuth, the reference point and finding moving objects. As well, volunteers were given tips on how to take photographs of cetaceans in the field.
After finishing the land survey, participants went on to complete Pythagoras training. Pythagoras is a computer program which processes all the data collected from the field. Volunteers learnt how to set up the program and how to enter data obtained from the theodolite.
Volunteers were able to practice filling in data sheets in a field setting during the next land survey. The instructor of the training highlighted the differences between focal and scan sampling and showed participants what to write down in each of the cells of the data sheet (species, height, latitude, longitude).
Other than field work, participants were involved with indoor activities that included reading research articles about dolphins and other cetaceans. This helped build on existing knowledge that can apply during training.
This project marked the beginning of successful cooperation between the Natural History Association of Montenegro and Marine Mammals Research Association.
Milana Đonović & Nataša Nikpaljević
