Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to announce the publication of a new paper:
"Association patterns and population dynamics of bottlenose dolphins
in the Strait of Sicily (Central Mediterranean Sea): implication for
management"
Papale E., Ceraulo M., Giardino G., Buffa G., Filiciotto F., Grammauta
R., Maccarrone V., Mazzola S., Buscaino G.
Population Ecology DOI 10.1007/s10144-016-0566-x
A PDF version of the paper is available online at:
http://download.springer.com/static/pdf/1/art%253A10.1007%252Fs10144-016-0566-x.pdf?originUrl=http%3A%2F%2Flink.springer.com%2Farticle%2F10.1007%2Fs10144-016-0566-x&token2=exp=1479390338~acl=%2Fstatic%2Fpdf%2F1%2Fart%25253A10.1007%25252Fs10144-016-0566-x.pdf%3ForiginUrl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Flink.springer.com%252Farticle%252F10.1007%252Fs10144-016-0566-x*~hmac=3e88f2dee9b28ded73c3ef858d35c4be354c0d29c2a833cb8b535ae847ed5de0
or via email request to: [email protected]
ABSTRACT
An understanding of the population dynamics and social organization of
cetaceans is essential to manage the influence of anthropogenic
activities. In this study, the population size, site fidelity and
social interactions of bottlenose dolphins in the Strait of Sicily
(Italy) were investigated to provide recommendations for their
conservation. Mark-recapture analysis was based on the encounter
histories of 103 marked dolphins from 2004 to 2015. The POPAN
formulation of the Jolly?Seber model in MARK software was used to
estimate the size of the superpopulation. Site fidelity and social
organization were estimated for individuals re-sighted ?3 times. The
estimated population size was 140 (SE = 15.75; 95% CI = 106?164).
Dolphins had low site fidelity, and both adults and sub-adults move
outside the study area. Females with calves used the area longer than
other individuals. Based on our results, dolphins? home range likely
extended beyond the study area. The mean value of the Half-Weight
Association Index was low and the preferred association was by casual
acquaintance. However, we found a distinct aggregation of
post-parturition females during the final 2 years of the study.
Therefore, the pattern of association was apparently a response to an
ecological requirement, which was the possibility to breed in high
productivity waters. Whether these individuals are part of a larger
pelagic population is unknown; however, we can conclude that the
management of only coastal waters is insufficient for the conservation
of dolphins in the Strait of Sicily.
Best,
Elena
--
--
Elena Papale, PhD
Institute for Coastal Marine Environment
National Research Council
Via del Mare 3
91021 Torretta Granitola (TP)
Italy
[email protected]
[email protected]
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