Behavior Patterns of Bottlenose Dolphins in San Luis Pass, Texas

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dc.acquisition-srcen_US
dc.call-noen_US
dc.contract-noen_US
dc.contributor.authorHenderson, EEen_US
dc.contributor.authorWuersig, Ben_US
dc.contributor.otherGulf of Mexico Scienceen_US
dc.date.accessioned2010-02-15T16:46:20Z
dc.date.available2010-02-15T16:46:20Z
dc.date.issuedDec. 2007en_US
dc.degreeen_US
dc.descriptionpgs. 153-161en_US
dc.description-otheren_US
dc.description.abstractCommon bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are behaviorally flexible cetaceans that have adapted to a wide variety of habitats. In the San Luis Pass area near Galveston, Texas, there are two populations of bottlenose dolphins, distinguished through long-term photo-identification studies, which use adjacent habitat in different ways. A small resident population makes use of the shallow bay system, while the larger, more transient population remains outside the bay along the Gulf of Mexico coastline. A 13-mo study was conducted to examine the behavior of these populations and to explore the hypothesis that although they overlap geographically, each population utilizes the area differently. The behavior of focal groups was assessed by instantaneous sampling, and a time budget of each behavior per unit effort was calculated. When these populations mix in Gulf of Mexico waters, social activity and travel were the primary behaviors observed. Resident dolphins foraged predominantly in the bays and pass, and displayed group foraging behavior. In contrast, Gulf dolphins were only observed foraging in coastal waters, and did so individually. These behavioral differences may reflect strategies based on habitat variation, but may also be indicative of distinct social structures between resident and Gulf populations. There was a seasonal component to behavior and group size, with larger mixed groups and more social behavior occurring in summer. Finally, resident dolphin behavior varied by time of day, with a peak in foraging in the morning and socializing in the afternoon. The results of this study suggest that these adjacent groups are distinct populations that have partitioned their habitat into separate niches, and thus should be treated separately in management decisions.en_US
dc.description.urihttp://gbic.tamug.edu/request.htmen_US
dc.geo-codeGalveston Bayen_US
dc.geo-codeSan Luis Passen_US
dc.history1-16-09 kswen_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1969.3/18554
dc.latitudeen_US
dc.locationNot available in house - Please contact GBIC for assistanceen_US
dc.longitudeen_US
dc.notesen_US
dc.placeen_US
dc.publisheren_US
dc.relation.ispartofseries10075.00en_US
dc.relation.urien_US
dc.scaleen_US
dc.seriesen_US
dc.subjectenvironment managementen_US
dc.subjectforaging behavioren_US
dc.subjectidentificationen_US
dc.subjectmarine mammalsen_US
dc.subjectnichesen_US
dc.subjectsocial behavioren_US
dc.titleBehavior Patterns of Bottlenose Dolphins in San Luis Pass, Texasen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
dc.universityen_US
dc.vol-issue25(2)en_US

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