scholarly journals Assessing the Influence of Environmental and Physiographic Parameters on Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tusiops truncatus) Distribution in the Southern Adriatic Sea <sup>†</sup>

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurelie Muckenhirn ◽  
Aylin Akkaya Bas ◽  
Freddie-Jeanne Richard
Keyword(s):  
Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
Adriatic Sea ◽  
Common Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
Physiographic Parameters

Mid-distance re-sighting of a common bottlenose dolphin in the northern Adriatic Sea: insight into regional movement patterns

2015 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 909-914 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tilen Genov ◽  
Valeria Angelini ◽  
Ana Hace ◽  
Giuseppe Palmisano ◽  
Boris Petelin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
Adriatic Sea ◽  
Animal Movement ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Movement Patterns ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Northern Adriatic Sea ◽  
Northern Adriatic ◽  
Common Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
Insight Into

Understanding animal movement patterns is not only important for providing insight into their biology, but is also relevant to conservation planning. However, in aquatic and wide-ranging species such as cetaceans, this is often difficult. The common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is the most common cetacean in the northern and central Adriatic Sea and has been the focus of long-term studies in some areas. All of the studied local populations show a relatively high degree of site fidelity, but their movements, ranging patterns or connectivity are not well understood. On 24 and 26 April 2014 a single adult bottlenose dolphin was observed and photographed alive off the Slovenian coast. The same individual was found dead on the shores of Goro, Italy, on 5 May 2014, about 130 km from the two sighting locations. The well-marked dorsal fin made the identification straightforward. The dolphin was found freshly dead, suggesting it had died very recently prior to being found. This indicates that the reported movement was a real one, rather than an artefact of currents. Although single cases cannot provide the basis for making population-level inferences, our observation shows that northern Adriatic bottlenose dolphins can make substantial movements in short periods of time and suggests that such movements could be more common than currently documented. Comparisons among photo-ID catalogues and stranding events can be highly informative, as they can provide useful information with implications for the cross-border conservation of mobile marine predators.

scholarly journals On the behaviour of an under-studied population of bottlenose dolphins in the Southern Adriatic Sea

2018 ◽  
Vol 99 (4) ◽  
pp. 1017-1023 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flavio Affinito ◽  
Cristobal Olaya Meza ◽  
Aylin Akkaya Bas ◽  
Deborah Brill ◽  
Guy Whittaker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Group Size ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
Adriatic Sea ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressure ◽  
Social Predictors ◽  
Dolphin Population ◽  
Autumn And Winter ◽  
Effective Conservation ◽  
Study Monitoring

AbstractPerhaps the world's best-known cetacean, the bottlenose dolphin shows considerable variation in behaviour between and within populations in relation to differences in natural and anthropogenic conditions. Drivers of behavioural variation need to be identified to understand the dynamics of wild dolphin populations. Little research has been published on the bottlenose dolphin population found in the Southern Adriatic Sea. Using a set of spatial, temporal and social predictors, we aimed to investigate what variables are related to the behaviour of an under-studied population of bottlenose dolphins along the coastline of Montenegro. We present the results of a year-long study monitoring the behaviour of bottlenose dolphins along coastal Montenegro. We considered the effect of topography, seasonality and group size. A large proportion of travelling (55%) small groups (mean 4, range 1–9) in shallow waters (<50 m) was observed. We showed that seasonality alone explained behaviour best, with surface-feeding and socializing-resting increasing in autumn and winter. Group size was found to be a result of behavioural choice. We suggest seasonal changes in environmental conditions and anthropogenic pressure may explain the recorded behavioural pattern. This research points to the necessity of increased collaboration in the region to help understand complex patterns in behaviour and habitat use of local dolphin populations if effective conservation measures are to be developed.

scholarly journals Long-term monitoring for the surveillance of the conservation status of Tursiops truncatus in an EU Natura2000 site in the Mediterranean Sea. A pilot study in the Tuscan Archipelago

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANTONELLA ARCANGELI ◽  
ROBERTO CROSTI ◽  
ILARIA CAMPANA ◽  
LARA CAROSSO ◽  
MARTINA GREGORIETTI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
Tursiops Truncatus ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Habitats Directive ◽  
Common Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
The Mediterranean

A pilot study, using the dataset from the research network ‘FLT Med Net’, which regularly monitors transborder regions in the Mediterranean Sea using ferries as platform for systematic surveys, was undertaken to assess common bottlenose dolphin range and population trends within the Natura 2000 EU marine site “Tutela del Tursiops truncatus”. The site was recently designated by the Tuscany Region (Italy) within the requirement of the EU Habitats Directive. In order to evaluate the conservation status of bottlenose dolphin according to the surveillance scheme of the Directive, two six-year periods (2007-2012; 2013-2018) were compared to assess trends in distribution-occurrence (range); Sightings Per Unit of Effort and Density (population). In total, 18146 NM were surveyed along two fixed transects, recording 90 sightings of Tursiops truncatus and a total of 268 specimens. Between the two periods, slight but not statistically significant differences were assessed, with decreasing trend in range and population  of the species; no variation was detected in mean group sizes. Travelling was the most common behaviour, and juveniles were present in 20% of the sightings, concentrated during spring and summer. The consistent FLT Med Net dataset was found to be appropriate to evaluate important parameters for the assessment of trends in the conservation status of Tursiops truncatus at the Natura2000 site scale. 

scholarly journals Observations of cetaceans off southern Sri Lanka, April 2007–2013

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-25
Author(s):  
R. C. Anderson ◽  
A. Alagiyawadu
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
Sperm Whale ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Sperm Whales ◽  
Spotted Dolphin ◽  
Common Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
Westward Movement ◽  
Number Of Individuals ◽  
Blue Whales

Cetaceans were observed off the South coast of Sri Lanka in the month of April, every year over a seven-year period, 2007–13. During 48 days atsea a total of 290 cetacean sightings were recorded. Blue whales were abundant, accounting for 61% (n = 177) of all sightings. This concentrationof blue whales was predicted and discovered based on a migration hypothesis and there was evidence of the expected net westward movement inApril. Nevertheless, most blue whales seen were not obviously on passage and many appeared to be feeding. Mothers with calves and likelyreproductive behaviour (breaching and rushing) were also observed. There were five sightings of Bryde’s-type whales (B. brydei/edeni); four wereidentified as B. brydei, one was identified as B. edeni. Sperm whales were sighted 16 times within a narrow band centred just outside the 1,000misobath. Modal group size was 10–12; based on size most individuals appeared to be mature females or immatures. Spinner dolphin (n = 35 sightings)was the most abundant species, accounting for 67% of all cetaceans seen by number of individuals. They were frequently associated with tuna andseabirds. Risso’s dolphin was only seen once, despite being reported as common around Sri Lanka in the early 1980s. They were taken in largenumbers by local fisheries, which may have reduced local abundance. Other species recorded were: dwarf sperm whale (n = 3 sightings); shortfinnedpilot whale (n = 3); common bottlenose dolphin (n = 9); Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (n = 3); pantropical spotted dolphin (n = 4); andstriped dolphin (n = 4). Since the discovery of blue whales off southern Sri Lanka, commercial whale watching centred on the fishing port of Mirissahas developed rapidly, bringing new revenue to the region but also the potential for disturbance to the whales.

Taxonomy and distribution of bottlenose dolphins (genus Tursiops) in Australian waters: an osteological clarification

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (7) ◽  
pp. 461-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Jedensjö ◽  
C.M. Kemper ◽  
M. Milella ◽  
E.P. Willems ◽  
M. Krützen
Keyword(s):  
Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Large Sample Size ◽  
Type Specimens ◽  
Tursiops Aduncus ◽  
Common Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
Intermediate Size ◽  
The Common ◽  
Taxonomic Studies

Species relationships in the bottlenose dolphin (genus Tursiops Gervais, 1855) are controversial. We carried out a comprehensive osteological study of 264 skulls, including type specimens, and 90 postcranial skeletons of Tursiops spp. to address taxonomic uncertainties in Australia using two-dimensional (2D) measurements, and three-dimensional geometric morphometrics (3DGM), tooth and vertebral counts, and categorical data. Analyses provided support for the presence of two forms, aligned to the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus (Ehrenberg, 1832)) and the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus (Montagu, 1821)), including type specimens. The Burrunan dolphin (Tursiops australis Charlton-Robb, Gershwin, Thompson, Austin, Owen and McKechnie, 2011) fell well within T. truncatus for both 2D and 3DGM methods. Thirteen Tursiops spp. specimens, no T. australis specimens, were of intermediate size (2D) and could not be assigned to either species. For 3DGM data, there was a strong allometric influence and few non-allometric differences between species. Length and width of the cranium and rostrum were important discriminating variables. Tursiops aduncus was smaller, had more teeth, fewer vertebrae, and more erosion on the pterygoids and frontals than T. truncatus. Overall cranium shape was round in T. aduncus and angular in T. truncatus. Skull length of T. aduncus was smaller in low than in high latitudes. This study highlights the importance of large sample size, multiple analytical methods, and extensive geographical coverage when undertaking taxonomic studies.

scholarly journals Development and Validation of Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies for the Detection of Immunoglobulin G of Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus)

2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 465-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hendrik H. Nollens ◽  
Linda G. Green ◽  
Diane Duke ◽  
Michael T. Walsh ◽  
Beth Chittick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Polyclonal Antibody ◽  
Immunoglobulin G ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
Tursiops Truncatus ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Common Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
Circulating Antibodies ◽  
The Common

Antibodies directed against species-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) have a broad range of applications in serologic and immunologic research and in the development of clinical assays. Validated anti-IgG antibodies for marine mammal species are in short supply. The objective of this study was to produce and validate antibodies with specificity for IgG of the common bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus). Bottlenose dolphin IgG was purified using protein G. Two mouse monoclonal antibodies and a rabbit polyclonal antibody were developed from mice and rabbits immunized with bottlenose dolphin IgG. The specificity of the monoclonal antibodies and the polyclonal antibody for bottlenose dolphin IgG was first verified by Western blot analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). For further validation, both monoclonal antibodies and the polyclonal antibody were incorporated in an indirect ELISA for the detection of the immune response of bottlenose dolphins to a vaccine antigen. Three bottlenose dolphins were immunized with a commercial Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae vaccine, and serial blood samples were collected from all dolphins for measurement of levels of circulating antibodies. Seroconversion was observed in all 3 dolphins by use of both monoclonal antibodies and the polyclonal antibody. Circulating antibodies were detectable as early as 6 days after immunization in 1 dolphin. Peak antibody levels were detected 14 days after the immunization. The ability to detect seroconversion in all 3 immunized bottlenose dolphins firmly establishes the specificity of the monoclonal antibodies and the polyclonal antibody for IgG of the common bottlenose dolphin.

scholarly journals Laryngeal Snaring by Ingested Fishing Net in a Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Off the Israeli Shoreline

2009 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 834-838 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alon M. Levy ◽  
Ori Brenner ◽  
Aviad Scheinin ◽  
Dan Morick ◽  
Eliana Ratner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
Tursiops Truncatus ◽  
Common Bottlenose Dolphin
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