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ALEJANDRO'S PAGE
Alejandro Acevedo-Gutiérrez, one of the scientists featured in
Dolphins, is particularly dedicated to providing an opportunity for
children to learn about dolphins and their environment. "When I was young,
I was fascinated by nature specials on marine life," says Acevedo. "I
remember wishing that I could meet those scientists--a close encounter rather
than a distant one. I credit such experiences as important in shaping my goals
in life. I know that many children will be deeply touched by this film, and
some, like me, will make science their career."
As a scientist, Acevedo believes he is obligated to generate new information
and share that information. In Dolphins, he works closely with Kathleen
Dudzinski and Bernd Würsig, his Ph.D. advisor, conducting research on the
behavioral ecology of marine vertebrates: their foraging strategies, group
structure, mating systems, and interspecific interactions with other species.
As we witness in Dolphins, Acevedo focused his research in Patagonia
on the dusky dolphins' feeding technique of herding of anchovies into a
tightly spinning "bait ball." The herding dolphins doing the herding
signal to other dolphins—with their leaps in the air and with squawks and
whistles.
Raised in Mexico City, Acevedo received his Licenciatura en Biologia Marina
(equivalent to a B.S. in marine biology) at Universidad Autónoma de Baja
California Sur, and came to the United States to complete his graduate studies
at Texas A&M in 1989. In September 1997, Acevedo successfully defended his
doctoral dissertation on the feeding behavior of dolphins and their interactions
with sharks.
Through his work, Acevedo introduces the general public to scientific field
research, specifically marine biology and the fascinating life of marine
mammals, fish, and birds, while at the same time offering a view of the ecology
and beauty of different, and often remote, locations.
Acevedo's ultimate message? Although science is an exhausting and
arduous profession, it is also an exciting, enriching and rewarding endeavor.
And through Dolphins, more people will get the opportunity to hear his
message.
Getting up close and personal with Alejandro:
Lives with: a mountain bike, a harmonica, a guitar.
Typical exclamation: "Awesome!"
Physical attributes: gentle, bear-like, graceful one moment, a stumbling
klutz the next.
Writes poetry: "only for love."
Least favorite college course: one he called "mass extinction" in
which students collected and killed "specimens."
Scar on nose is from: attempting to smell a poisonous sea anemone during mass
extinction class.
Attitude toward people with unscientific ideas about dolphins: "If
someone says a dolphin cured their arthritis, who am I to tell them that's
impossible."
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