Dear all, We are pleased to announce the publication of the following article:
Louis M., Gally F., Barbraud C., Béesau J., Tixier P., Simon-Bouhet B., Le Rest K., Guinet C. 2015. Social structure and abundance of coastal bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, in the Normano-Breton Gulf, English Channel. Journal of Mammalogy. DOI: 10.1093/jmamma/gyv053 Abstract A large, but poorly studied, bottlenose dolphin community, Tursiops truncatus, inhabits coastal waters of Normandy (Normano-Breton Gulf, English Channel, France). In this study, the social structure and abundance of this community were assessed using photo-identification techniques. Like other bottlenose dolphin communities worldwide, this resident community has a fission–fusion social structure with fluid associations among individuals (half-weight index = 0.10). Association patterns were highly variable as indicated by a high social differentiation (S = 0.95 ± 0.03). The majority of associations were casual, lasting days to months. However, individuals exhibited also a smaller proportion of long-term relationships. A mean group size of 26 was large compared with other resident coastal communities, and variable, ranging from 1 to 100, which could be the results of ecological conditions, in particular resource predictability and availability. Analyses also showed that the community was organized in 3 social clusters that were not completely isolated from each other. Abundance was estimated at 420 dolphins (95% confidence interval: 331–521), making this coastal community one of the largest identified along European coastlines. Because human activities in the Gulf are expected to increase in the upcoming years, longterm demographic monitoring of this dolphin community will be critical for its management. The article can be download from: http://jmammal.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2015/04/30/jmammal.gyv053 or you can email me for a copy. Best wishes, Marie
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