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A zoologist who will spend the summer studying dolphins in the Bailiwick is looking for “eager and nature loving” volunteers to assist with her research.
Zuzanna Soltysiak, who is studying for a master’s degree in island biodiversity and conservation, will be in Guernsey for three months from mid-May to undertake research for her dissertation.
“I will be looking into areas including dolphin population size, group dynamics, habitat preference and distribution of dolphins in the Bailiwick of Guernsey,” she said.
“I’ll be centering my project around three dolphin species found in Guernsey: bottle nose, common and Risso’s. My research will be looking into the effects that factors such as tides, currents, temperature and human interactions have on the dolphins.”
Pictured: Common dolphins are found in Bailiwick waters.
Miss Soltysiak said she was looking forward to visiting the island.
“Guernsey is a beautiful place with lots of gorgeous biodiversity; there is already a dolphin identification programme running here and I aim to use this data to provide some more insight into the dolphin populations,” she said.
“I hope that my overall knowledge of dolphins and other marine life in the Bailiwick of Guernsey improves and that I can use all the skills I gain to go forth with my career in conservation. I’m also looking forward to getting to know Guernsey as an island and learning about its natural and human history.”
Pictured: Zuzanna Soltysiak is a student at the Jersey International Centre of Advanced Studies.
Miss Soltysiak will be working with Nicky Harris of the DolFin Project.
“I hope to carry out several boat and shore-based surveys to gather information on the groups of dolphins found within the Bailiwick,” continued Miss Soltysiak.
“I will be using data or sightings logged by members of the public as well as data that I log, hopefully with the help of some volunteers. I am looking for eager, nature loving volunteers to conduct surveys with me and would encourage anyone interested to email the DolFin Project.
“In addition to sightings, I will be analysing data from acoustic monitoring devices which pick up the high frequency clicks dolphins make in the water.”
Pictured: Miss Soltysiak is hoping that islanders will volunteer to undertake dolphin surveys as part of her three-month project.
Miss Soltysiak said it was “extremely important” for islanders to take an interest in marine life.
“The ocean covers over 70% of our planet and there are still so many things that remain unknown and we have left to discover,” she said.
“Marine plants and animals are crucial in maintaining the balanced ecosystem that we live in today and I believe that islanders who are surrounded by the sea will have to play an essential role in making sure that marine life remains protected in the future.”
To express an interest in volunteering email dolfinproject@outlook.com
Call for more data on dolphins
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