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Site Fidelity Assessment of Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) Following Large-Scale Emigration of Sympatric Atlantic Spotted Dolphins (Stenella frontalis) in the Bahamas

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Date Issued:
2017
Summary:
Two sympatric species of dolphins (Atlantic spotted dolphins, Stenella frontalis and Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus) have been long-term residents to Little Bahama Bank. This study assessed whether there was a change in residence patterns or diurnal foraging depths of bottlenose dolphins following a large emigration event in the resident spotted dolphin community on this sandbank. Photo-identification was used to identify individual bottlenose dolphins and compare pooled years before (2010-2012) and after (2013-2015) the spotted dolphin emigration. The identified community size and overall residency of the bottlenose dolphins remained similar, although two bottlenose dolphins emigrated over deep water to the site spotted dolphins emigrated. Bottlenose dolphins diurnally fed in shallower water but remained in the same geographic foraging locations. Reasons remain unknown for this depth change, but potential changes in the productivity of primary bottlenose dolphin foraging habitats or reduction of spotted dolphins from shallower depths remain possibilities.
Title: Site Fidelity Assessment of Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) Following Large-Scale Emigration of Sympatric Atlantic Spotted Dolphins (Stenella frontalis) in the Bahamas.
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Name(s): Kuhn, Sommer L., author
Herzing, Denise L., Thesis advisor
Hughes, Colin, Thesis advisor
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Department of Biological Sciences
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Created: 2017
Date Issued: 2017
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 98 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Two sympatric species of dolphins (Atlantic spotted dolphins, Stenella frontalis and Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus) have been long-term residents to Little Bahama Bank. This study assessed whether there was a change in residence patterns or diurnal foraging depths of bottlenose dolphins following a large emigration event in the resident spotted dolphin community on this sandbank. Photo-identification was used to identify individual bottlenose dolphins and compare pooled years before (2010-2012) and after (2013-2015) the spotted dolphin emigration. The identified community size and overall residency of the bottlenose dolphins remained similar, although two bottlenose dolphins emigrated over deep water to the site spotted dolphins emigrated. Bottlenose dolphins diurnally fed in shallower water but remained in the same geographic foraging locations. Reasons remain unknown for this depth change, but potential changes in the productivity of primary bottlenose dolphin foraging habitats or reduction of spotted dolphins from shallower depths remain possibilities.
Identifier: FA00004927 (IID)
Degree granted: Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017.
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Includes bibliography.
Subject(s): Bottlenose dolphin--Habitat--Bahamas--Little Bahama Bank.
Bottlenose dolphin--Effect of habitat modification on.
Atlantic spotted dolphin--Habitat--Bahamas--Little Bahama Bank.
Dolphins--Atlantic Ocean--Geographical distribution.
Social behavior in animals.
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Sublocation: Digital Library
Links: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004927
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004927
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.