Intertidal habitat use of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Bahía San Antonio, Argentina

dc.contributor.authorVermeulen, Els
dc.date.accessioned2017-06-27T10:35:13Z
dc.date.issued2018-08
dc.description.abstractVery little information is available on bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) habitat use in the South-western Atlantic. It is, however, essential in understanding their ecology and to improve conservation management. In this study, habitat use of bottlenose dolphins was examined in Bahía San Antonio, an area frequented by the species. Given the large tidal amplitude and extended intertidal zone in this bay, special focus was given to the intertidal vs subtidal habitat use patterns. Bottlenose dolphins were observed in only half of the surveyed area, with on average 1 dolphin group encountered per 100 km surveyed. All dolphin groups were seen in shallow waters <10 m deep. GLM analyses showed that especially during high tide, depth had an important effect on the dolphin encounter rate, with most dolphin groups encountered in the intertidal zone. While in the intertidal zone, most dolphin groups were observed to be engaged in surface feeding activities. The presented data indicate dolphins remained in shallow waters, and moved to the intertidal zone during high tide where they appear to find feeding opportunities. This information is believed to be of high value in understanding this population's ecological needs, and essential when aiming to improve marine conservation efforts at times of increased anthropogenic pressures in the area.en_ZA
dc.description.departmentMammal Research Instituteen_ZA
dc.description.embargo2019-02-01
dc.description.librarianhj2017en_ZA
dc.description.sponsorshipCetacean Society International and Trigon N.V.en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=MBIen_ZA
dc.identifier.citationVermeulen, E. 2018, 'Intertidal habitat use of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Bahía San Antonio, Argentina', Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, vol. 98, special issue 5, pp. 1109-1118.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1469-7769 (online)
dc.identifier.issn0025-3154 (print)
dc.identifier.other10.1017/S0025315417000856
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/61127
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherCambridge University Pressen_ZA
dc.rights© Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2017en_ZA
dc.subjectBottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)en_ZA
dc.subjectCoastal habitaten_ZA
dc.subjectEnvironmental variablesen_ZA
dc.subjectHabitat useen_ZA
dc.subjectIntertidal zoneen_ZA
dc.titleIntertidal habitat use of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Bahía San Antonio, Argentinaen_ZA
dc.typePostprint Articleen_ZA

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