Transcript Photo-Identification Presentation - Outer Banks Center for Dolphin

2016 Photo-Identification
Training
Outer Banks Center for Dolphin Research
Outer Banks Center for
Dolphin Research
• 501 c(3) non-profit organization
• Promote the conservation of bottlenose
dolphins in the northern Outer Banks
through research and education
• Obxdolphins.org
• Facebook: Onion, A North Carolina Dolphin
Outer Banks Center for Dolphin Research
The Bottlenose Dolphin
• Coastal and offshore
• 400-600 lbs, +9 ft.
Long!
• Eat small fish and
squid
Strand feed
Kerplunk
Biological Indicators
• Bottlenose dolphins are important
indicators of coastal environmental health.
• Long life span
• Top predators
• Concentrate
contaminants
Conservation of the
Bottlenose Dolphin
• Protected species under the Marine Mammal
Protection Act of 1972
• “Optimum Sustainable Population”
• If not => conservation plan
• GA Permit (OBXCDR)
1987 Die off
• Massive die off 1987-1988
• 742 dolphins stranded from NJ to FL
• Ten-fold increase of stranded dolphins
• Why?
Stock Structure Hypotheses
• Coastal Migratory Stock
• Multiple Stocks
Bottlenose Dolphin Management
Units
• Northern North
Carolina Estuarine
System Stock
(NNCESS) (sound
and ocean)
• 823 dolphins in
the NNCESS
• Overlap with
other stocks?
K Urian, 2009
North Carolina Bottlenose
Dolphin Stocks
2013 Unusual Mortality Event
• Unexpected
• Significant die-off (+1650)
• Immediate response
• Declared July 2013
• Cetacean Morbillivirus
• Affected the NNCES stock
Effects of the UME on NNCESS
Dolphins
• 3 confirmed losses to our seasonally
resident population
Threats to Bottlenose Dolphins
• Pollution
www.nwf.org
• Entanglement
• Disease
Boat Surveys
• Roanoke Sound: Population
dynamics, seasonal movement, skin
lesions
• Albemarle and Croatan
Sounds: Exploratory
Field Responsibilities:
Boat Driver
•Operates vessel during surveys and
sightings
•Maneuvers around dolphins to minimize
disturbance
•Keeps track of dolphins at all times
•Assists data recorder with GPS
Field Responsibilities:
Data Recorder
•Records time, GPS for each
sighting
•Records group size
estimates, individuals,
activity state
•Measures and records
environmental data during
sighting
Scanning for Dolphins
Look for this!
Scanning for Dolphins
Watch out for crab pot floats, diving birds!
Photo-Identification
• Non-invasive mark-recapture
• Dorsal fin photographs
• Environmental measurements
FinBase Catalog
The Outer Banks Dolphins
ONION
MOHAMMED
ARTEMIS AND CALF
SEQUOIA
BUDDHA
SKYLAR
SCARLET
708
FATLIP
Through long-term photo-id
studies, we can learn about…
• Movement/migration patterns
• Population Abundance
• Calving Rate
• Habitat Use
• Social behaviors
• Health Status
Seasonally Resident
“Onion’s Group”
• Summer in Nags Head
• Winter in Beaufort, NC
Life History
• Calves stay with
moms for 3-6 years
• Leave moms to join
juvenile groups
•Males live 40-45
years, females live
50-55 years on
average
Adults
Males
10-12 years
Females
7-8 years
Boys and Girls
• Male pairs
Onion and Pinchers
708 and Sequoia
• Nursery groups
Double Scoop and Little Scoop
Fatlip and newborn
Skin Lesions
• At least 7 types of skin lesions occur on
Outer Banks dolphins
• In 2012, 46% of sample population
had lesions, most in the spring
Using Field Research for
Conservation
• Data available to environmental managers
through MABDC
• Collaborate with other research
organizations
• Publish in journals
• Present at scientific conferences
• Local outreach programs and publications
Mid-Atlantic Bottlenose
Dolphin Catalog
• Collaborative effort of east coast scientists to
examine movements of dolphins along the
coast
• Match OBX catalog to other contributor’s
catalogs at:
http://seamap.env.duke.edu/photoid/mabdc
Volunteers
• Research volunteers
• Photo-Id surveys
• Outreach Volunteers
• Environmental Education
• Fundraising
• Student Internships
Fundraisers
• Adopt a Dolphin ($50)
• Salty Paws Cookies ($1/each)
• T-Shirts ($18 adults/$15 youth/toddler)
• Shrimp Cookoff
(November 6th, 2016)
Adopt A Dolphin
• Personalized adoption
certificate
• Bottlenose dolphin fact
sheet
• T-shirt
• Bumper sticker
Boating Safety