The first task our supervisor gave us was to prepare a licence application for a research method that the IWDG wants to try out this summer. My technique was microbiome sampling, it is a non-invasive technique that characterises the microbial community of different parts of the dolphin’s body to compare it with the one from healthy individuals. The easiest methods to sample this are the collection of exhaled breath when the dolphin surfaces and faecal collection. It can serve as a supplement to the monitoring efforts that are already applied to the Shannon estuary dolphins, i.e. the photo collection for identification purposes. This licensing application involved a literature study, a basic risk assessment and we had to fill out a form, this then all had to be sent to the National Parks & Wildlife Service via email.

Make sure to have a look at the background review and the form below if you want to learn more about microbiome sampling!