E-Mail: dudzik@public.sdsu.edu
In 1992, after receiving my degree, I decided I wanted to gain more experience in the field before attending graduate school. I wrote letters to about 70 different researchers and organizations around the world who were studying any aspect of animal biology ranging from armadillos to zebras. The basic content of my letter said, "I have a B.S. in Zoology and a desire to learn more. I will work for room and board." From the 70 letters sent out, I received only two responses of which one was a definite "no". The second response came from Dr. Alejandro Acevedo-Guterriez who, at the time, was in the middle of his Ph.D. research studying the social structure and feeding habits of resident bottlenose dolphins in Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica. He needed a research assistant to come down and help with all aspects of his study I spent four months at Golfo Dulce during which time I learned to drive and maintain a 5 m Zodiac inflatable boat equipped with a 25 hp engine, photograph dolphins of the genus Tursiops and Stenella, identify and record a variety of behaviors, record position using triangulation with a hand-held compass, test for water salinity, and record water temperature. The rest of my time was spent coordinating Earthwatch volunteers, teaching research techniques, learning Spanish, and enjoying Costa Rica.
Upon completion of the research in Gulfo Dulce, Alejandro asked me to continue as his assistant on Isla del Coco, an island located 500 km off Costa Rica’s west coast. Here we duplicated the previous study in order to compare and contrast the population of inshore dolphins in Golfo Dulce with bottlenose that frequent the offshore waters surrounding Cocos Island. A total of fourteen months was spent on the island with a three-month break in the middle during rainy season. I spent my time honing research skills and learning about the ecology of the island by observing predatory fish such as sharks, tuna, wahoo, and billfish, watching seabirds and their feeding and nesting habits, diving the reefs and rocky outcrops where hammerheads, manta rays, and reef fish were encountered, and hiking on the island itself learning about the rainforest plants, how feral pigs, goats, rats, and cats affect the environment, and its rich history of pirates, whalers, and unsuccessful colonists. The natural beauty of the island made it easy to tolerate fourteen months of muddy showers, rats in my tent, ants in my food, and cockroaches in my bed. After leaving the island I was ready to supplement my "real world" education with the academic world of graduate school.
Current Education and Research I began attending San Diego State University in the fall of 1995 in order to obtain my Master’s Degree in Animal Behavior. My research in the Cetacean Behavior Lab, under the direction of Dr. R.H. Defran, involves analyzing the population dynamics of the Pacific coast bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Mark-recapture photoidentification data will be used to estimate the number of bottlenose dolphins utilizing the nearshore waters of the Southern California Bight. Survival rates will be estimated in order to provide an estimate of the longevity of adult dolphins, and recruitment rates will be estimated to determine the rate at which new dolphins enter the population through births and immigration.To learn more about new techniques in understanding population dynamics, I attended a five-week workshop held at the University of Wyoming presented by Dr. Ken Pollock (North Carolina University), Russell Alpizar-Jara (North Carolina University), and Dr. Trent McDonald (West Incorporated). The workshop presented an in-depth coverage of capture-recapture techniques, closed and open population models, understanding model assumptions, and interpreting bias. The knowledge I gained by attending the workshop has helped me create a highly analytical and statistically sound thesis project.
Other Areas of Interest Since 1997, I have been employed by the San Diego Zoo in the Animal Behavior Management Department where I have specialized in environmental and behavioral enrichment for captive animals. Our aim is to mentally and physically stimulate the animals in order to improve their mental health and quality of life, and to provide avenues for captive animals to express species-typical, natural behaviors. These enrichment goals are achieved in a variety of ways including hiding food, adding scents (i.e., perfumes, lotions, spices, animal fur), and providing objects for manipulation or play. Any animal can benefit from enrichment, and therefore, I work with large and small carnivores, reptiles, hoofstock, primates, and birds.I have also been a lecturer for Elderhostel for the last three years. I have developed slide show presentations on cetacean stranding and cetacean conservation issues, such as whaling, gill netting, and tuna fishing. My presentations give Elderhostelers a chance to learn more about the serious issues affecting marine mammals today and our discussions often lead to ideas on how they can help preserve and protect these animals.
Last updated on 12/16/99. 
