Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

2017

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Herzing, Denise L.

Thesis/Dissertation Co-Chair

Hughes, Colin

Abstract

Two sympatric species of dolphins (Atlantic spotted dolphins, Stenella frontalis and Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus) have been long-term residents to Little Bahama Bank. This study assessed whether there was a change in residence patterns or diurnal foraging depths of bottlenose dolphins following a large emigration event in the resident spotted dolphin community on this sandbank. Photo-identification was used to identify individual bottlenose dolphins and compare pooled years before (2010-2012) and after (2013-2015) the spotted dolphin emigration. The identified community size and overall residency of the bottlenose dolphins remained similar, although two bottlenose dolphins emigrated over deep water to the site spotted dolphins emigrated. Bottlenose dolphins diurnally fed in shallower water but remained in the same geographic foraging locations. Reasons remain unknown for this depth change, but potential changes in the productivity of primary bottlenose dolphin foraging habitats or reduction of spotted dolphins from shallower depths remain possibilities.

Extent

98 p.

Comments

Includes bibliography.|Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Includes bibliography.

Identifier

FA00004927

Format

pdf

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