Tursiops truncatus

With four decades of data on a population of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) resident to Sarasota Bay (SB), The Sarasota Dolphin Research Program offers an unparalleled platform for ground-truthing stable isotope data and exploring bottlenose dolphin ecology in a natural setting. We explored carbon isotope value fidelity to habitat utilization by comparing delta13C data from whole teeth and muscle to

Amaç: 2007 - 2015 yılları arasında arazide karşılaşılan, hakkında kısıtlı da olsa veriler edinilen memelilere ilişkin bilginin paylaşılması mevcut çalışmanın amacını teşkil etmektedir. Bu veriler, fotoğraflar, kısmen düzenli olarak kaydedilmiş veriler ve kısa notlar olarak sunulmuştur. Bildiriye numaralandırılmış bir isim verilmesi sayesinde çalışmaların tekrarlı hale getirilmesi amaçlanmaktadır.
    Gereçler ve Yöntemler: Çalışma kapsamında, karşılaşılmış 9 memeli organizmanın (Sciurus vulgaris, Sus scrofa, Vulpes vulpes, Martes sp., Tursiops truncatus, bir Chiroptera üyesi, Erinaceus concolor, Lutra lutra ve Meles meles), 3 ilde (Aydın, Denizli ve Muğla) bulundukları yerler harita üzerinde gösterilmiş, karşılaşma tarihleri, koordinatları, bulunuş şekilleri ve birey sayıları kaydedilmiştir. Ayrıca her organizmaya ait görsellerle çalışma zenginleştirilmiştir. İhbarlarla gelen bilgiler sayesinde veriler desteklenmiştir. Aktif saha çalışmalarının gerçekleştirilmesinde hem profesyonel fotoğraf makinalarından hem de fotokapan kullanım yöntemlerinden yararlanılmıştır.
    Sonuç: Çalışmanın çıktıları değerlendirildiğinde, türlerin bulunuşlarının zorluğu dikkat çekmektedir. Ayrıca Meles meles gibi bazı türlerin ölü olarak bulunması gibi sorunların varlığı göze çarpmaktadır. Bu bakış açısı geliştirildiğinde, ülkemizde yapılacak kapsamlı mamalojik çalışmaların önemi ön plana çıkmaktadır. Bu çalışmalara ait sonuçların, söz konusu organizmalarla iç içe yaşam süren yöre insanları ile paylaşılması bilim insanlarının yükümlülüğüdür.

El grupo de los mamíferos marinos está constituido por tres órdenes: 1) los cetáceos, que a la vez se subdividen en odontocetos (ballenas con dientes) que son los delfines y marsopas, y los misticetos (ballenas verdaderas o con barbas), que son las ballenas; 2) los sirenios, que son los manatíes y los dugongos (especie parecida al manatí, que habita en las aguas poco profundas del Indo-Pacífico), y 3) los carnívoros, que incluyen las nutrias, osos polares y el suborden de los pinnípedos que son las focas, los lobos marinos y las morsas.

México cuenta con 3.8 millones de kilómetros cuadrados de mares patrimoniales (Semar, 2008), en los cuales se encuentra una gran diversidad de especies de mamíferos marinos. De las 121 especies que existen en todo el mundo, en nuestros mares podemos encontrar aproximadamente 46 especies, incluyendo ocho de misticetos (Aurioles-Gamboa, 1995), lo cual representa el 61 % de todas las especies que existen en el mundo. Incluso, una especie de marsopa, la vaquita marina (Phocoena sinus), es endémica de nuestro país.

Cabe destacar que para el Golfo de México, por lo menos en la parte mexicana y en particular para el estado de Veracruz, los cetáceos prácticamente no han sido estudiados. En contraste, para los manatíes sí se han hecho varios estudios, aunque la mayoría de éstos se han llevado a cabo en el Caribe mexicano, específicamente en las costas de Chetumal.

Man-made endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) range across all continents and oceans. Some geographic areas are potentially more threatened than others: one of these is the Mediterranean Sea. Levels of some xenobiotics are much higher here than in other seas and oceans. In this paper we review the final results of a project supported by the Italian Ministry of the Environment, in

There is a need for biological information to support current stock designations of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Gulf of Mexico. The existence of many inshore, resident “communities” raises questions as to the relationship these dolphins may hold with dolphins inhabiting neighboring inshore and coastal areas. In this study, population subdivision was examined among four resident, inshore bottlenose dolphin stocks (Sarasota Bay, FL, Tampa Bay, FL, Charlotte Harbor, FL and Matagorda Bay, TX) and one coastal stock (1–12 km offshore) in the Gulf of Mexico. Evidence of significant population structure among all areas was found on the basis of both mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequence data and nine nuclear microsatellite loci. Estimates of relatedness showed no population contained a significantly high number of related individuals, while separate AMOVAs for males and females indicated that both sexes exhibit a significant level of site philopatry. Results presented here provide the first genetic evidence of population subdivision between the coastal Gulf of Mexico and adjacent inshore areas along the central west coast of Florida. Such strong genetic subdivision is surprising given the short geographical distance between many of these areas and the lack of obvious geographic barriers to prevent gene flow. These findings support the current, separate identification of stocks for bottlenose dolphins inhabiting the eastern coastal and inshore areas of the Gulf of Mexico.

... Adam M. Schaefer,1 John S. Reif,2 Juli D. Goldstein,1 Caitlin N. Ryan,1 Patricia A. Fair,3 and Gregory D. Bossart1 ... Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus; West Nile virus; C. psittaci; and T. gondiiin dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida, and the estua-rine waters around ...

1Bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus are amongst the best-known cetaceans. In the Mediterranean Sea, however, modern field studies of cetaceans did not start until the late 1980s. Bottlenose dolphins have been studied only in relatively small portions of the basin, and wide areas remain largely unexplored.2This paper reviews the ecology, behaviour, interactions with fisheries and conservation status of Mediterranean bottlenose dolphins, and identifies threats likely to have affected them in historical and recent times.3Whilst intentional killing was probably the most important cause of mortality until the 1960s, important ongoing threats include incidental mortality in fishing gear and the reduced availability of key prey caused by overfishing and environmental degradation throughout the region. Additional potential or likely threats include the toxic effects of xenobiotic chemicals, epizootic outbreaks, direct disturbance from boating and shipping, noise, and the consequences of climate change.4The flexible social organization and opportunistic diet and behaviour of bottlenose dolphins may allow them to withstand at least some of the effects of overfishing and habitat degradation. However, dolphin abundance is thought to have declined considerably in the region and management measures are needed to prevent further decline.5Management strategies that could benefit bottlenose dolphins, such as sustainable fishing, curbing marine pollution and protecting biodiversity, are already embedded in legislation and treaties. Compliance with those existing commitments and obligations should be given high priority.Bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus are amongst the best-known cetaceans. In the Mediterranean Sea, however, modern field studies of cetaceans did not start until the late 1980s. Bottlenose dolphins have been studied only in relatively small portions of the basin, and wide areas remain largely unexplored.This paper reviews the ecology, behaviour, interactions with fisheries and conservation status of Mediterranean bottlenose dolphins, and identifies threats likely to have affected them in historical and recent times.Whilst intentional killing was probably the most important cause of mortality until the 1960s, important ongoing threats include incidental mortality in fishing gear and the reduced availability of key prey caused by overfishing and environmental degradation throughout the region. Additional potential or likely threats include the toxic effects of xenobiotic chemicals, epizootic outbreaks, direct disturbance from boating and shipping, noise, and the consequences of climate change.The flexible social organization and opportunistic diet and behaviour of bottlenose dolphins may allow them to withstand at least some of the effects of overfishing and habitat degradation. However, dolphin abundance is thought to have declined considerably in the region and management measures are needed to prevent further decline.Management strategies that could benefit bottlenose dolphins, such as sustainable fishing, curbing marine pollution and protecting biodiversity, are already embedded in legislation and treaties. Compliance with those existing commitments and obligations should be given high priority.

The amount of published data about cetaceans recorded on coastal waters of northern Chile is limited. Here we compiled 35 sightings of seven cetacean species obtained from 150 km2 waters around Isla Chañaral (29°01'S - 71°37' O), Humboldt Penguin National Reserve (HPNR), between 1988 and 1995. We sighted Ba/aenoptera physalus, B. acutorostrata, Megaptera novaeangliae, Orcinus orca, Tursiops truncatus, Globicephala meas

1.Nine cetacean species have been reliably reported to occur in the shallow northern Adriatic Sea since the 17th century. However, only two species were considered regular there until the 1970s: the short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).2.Short-beaked common dolphins have progressively disappeared from the northern Adriatic and are now rare in the region. The systematic culling campaigns and other takes that occurred between the second half of the 18th century and the 1960s, and habitat degradation in subsequent years are the most likely causes of their decline.3.Today, common bottlenose dolphins are the only regular component of the northern Adriatic cetacean fauna; however, they now occur at low densities, and their fragmented groups are facing significant anthropogenic threats.4.The future of northern Adriatic dolphins will depend on precautionary action to prevent further decline and on intensified research effort aimed at identifying the most effective mitigation strategies. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Nine cetacean species have been reliably reported to occur in the shallow northern Adriatic Sea since the 17th century. However, only two species were considered regular there until the 1970s: the short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).Short-beaked common dolphins have progressively disappeared from the northern Adriatic and are now rare in the region. The systematic culling campaigns and other takes that occurred between the second half of the 18th century and the 1960s, and habitat degradation in subsequent years are the most likely causes of their decline.Today, common bottlenose dolphins are the only regular component of the northern Adriatic cetacean fauna; however, they now occur at low densities, and their fragmented groups are facing significant anthropogenic threats.The future of northern Adriatic dolphins will depend on precautionary action to prevent further decline and on intensified research effort aimed at identifying the most effective mitigation strategies.

Nineteen species of cetaceans (families Balaenopteridae, Kogiidae, Physeteridae, Ziphiidae and Delphinidae) occur in the Costa Rican Pacific Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Based on data recorded from the EEZ by the Southwest Fisheries Service Center, Cascadia Research Collective, and CIMAR between 1979-2001, we mapped the distribution of 18 cetacean species. Our results suggest that the majority of the cetacean species use primarily oceanic waters, particularly those species within the families Balaenopteridae, Kogiidae. Physeteridae and Ziphiidae. Members of the family Delphinidae showed a wide variety of distribution patterns: seven species are widespread throughout the EEZ, four appear to be exclusively pelagic, and two are primarily coastal. Overall, three cetacean species appear to have populations concentrated in coastal waters: Stenella attenuata graffmani. Tursiops truncatus, and Megaptera novaeangliae. These three may be more susceptible to human activities due to the overl...

A widespread problem in the study of animal vocalizations is evaluating the acoustic similarity of signals both between individuals of a social group and between social groups. This problem becomes especially salient when classifying the narrow-band frequency-modulated signals, such as whistles, found in many avian and mammalian species. Whistles are usually characterized by their relative change in frequency over time, known as whistle ‘contour’. Measuring such a characteristic is difficult as it is not a single measurement, such as the mean frequency or duration of a signal, but several associated measurements of frequency across time. This paper reports on a new quantitative technique for determining whistle types based on whistle contour similarity and an application of this technique to the whistles of bottlenose dolphins to demonstrate its utility. This ‘contour similarity’ technique (CS technique) uses cluster analysis to group the correlation coefficients of frequency measurements from a data set of signals. To demonstrate the efficacy of this CS technique, three data sets were analysed, two using computer-generated signals and a third using adult bottlenose dolphin whistles, to (1) examine the efficacy of correlation coefficients for grouping signals by their similarity in whistle contour and (2) determine the viability of this technique for categorizing bottlenose dolphin whistles. Measured actual frequencies and correlation matrices from the four simulated signal types and a correlation matrix from the whistles of five captive adult bottlenose dolphins were each subjected to K-means cluster analysis and the resulting signal types were evaluated. Results indicated that the technique grouped actual frequencies according to the amount of shared actual frequencies and grouped correlation coefficients successfully according to signal contour. This result endured even if contours differed in overall duration or actual frequency or were expanded or compressed with respect to frequency or time. The results suggest that this approach is a viable method for assigning whistle contours to categories in bottlenose dolphins or any other species with narrow-band, frequency-modulated signals.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and chlorinated pesticides: dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs), chlordanes (CHLs), dieldrin, and hexaclorobenzene (HCB) were detected in the blubber and liver of 11 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the Canary Islands (North Atlantic Ocean). Samples were obtained from stranded dolphins over the period 1997–2005. Among the organochlorines analyzed, PCBs and DDTs were predominant in the two tissues, followed in decreasing order by chlordane, trans-nonachlor > cis-nonachlor > dieldrin and HCB. The sum 11 PCBs in the blubber ranged between 301 and 33,212 ng g−1 ww (990 and 136,679 ng g−1 lw). Highly chlorinated PCBs such us CB153, CB180, and CB138 were the prominent congeners, accounting for 51% of the total PCBs. The sum DDT concentration in the blubber ranged between 147 and 21,050 ng g−1 ww. (490–105,250 ng g−1 lw) The main DDT metabolite was p,p′-DDE, representing 83% of DDTs in the blubber. In general, the levels of PCBs and DDTs detected were similar to those found in bottlenose dolphins in the North of Europe. The 2,3,7,8-TCDD toxic equivalent (TEQ) in blubber and liver was calculated for the toxicity assessment of mono-ortho substituted PCBs congeners (CB105, CB118, CB156). It is important to mention that TEQ values and p,p′-DDE concentration in adult male specimens are approaching the levels associated with adverse effects found in marine mammals. The information provided represents the first tissue loads of organochlorine compounds in small cetaceans from this area. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2008.

Infanticidal behavior (i.e., the intentional killing of young) is common in the animal kingdom. Common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) engage extensively in intraspecific agonistic behaviors, and infanticidal behavior has been documented in many dolphin populations. However, these behaviors remain poorly understood in dolphins as descriptions of these events remain rare. Here, we report on an event involving agonistic intraspecific behavior of multiple bottlenose dolphins directed towards of a young calf at Turneffe Atoll, Belize. Boat-based surface observations, brief surface video, and photo analysis were used to identify individual dolphins. All dolphins were confirmed as part-time and long-term residents by matching dorsal fins to the long-term photo-ID catalog of local dolphins. Multiple dolphins displayed agonistic and likely injurious behavior towards the calf, including ramming and flipping it into the air and forcefully submerging it. Vocalizations recorded in surface video (whistles and burst-pulses) coincided with calf surface times. The repetition of a downsweeping contour was possibly associated with its distress.