Patterns of association and distribution of estuarine-resident common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in North Carolina, USA from Jan 8,2018 to Jan 26, 2018

The NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center conducted surveys within the southern North Carolina estuarine system from 2018-01-08 to 2018-01-26 to provide an updated estimate of abundance for the Southern North Carolina Estuarine System Stock (SNCESS) of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) using photographic-identification capture-mark-recapture (photo-ID) techniques. The surveys were strategically planned for winter when little overlap in distribution with the Northern North Carolina Estuarine System Stock (NNCESS) or coastal migratory stocks of bottlenose dolphins was expected. Because the sighting histories of individual dolphins have been an important tool for identifying or confirming stock membership, we also compared dolphins that were photo-identified during the 2018 surveys to dolphins that were included in a long-term photo-ID catalog dating back to 1995-07-10. Using the 2018 photographs and the long-term photo-ID catalog, we also evaluated the use of differences in Xenobalanus globicipitis infestation captured in photographs among individuals and groups as support for stock definition. This dataset contains the spatiotemporal sighting histories, photographs, observations of Xenobalanus globicipitis presence/absence, and environmental data for common bottlenose dolphin groups observed during the 2018 surveys. Data for individual dolphins observed during the 2018 surveys that were previously included in the long-term photo-ID catalog were provided as a subset with corresponding photographic matches. The sighting history and photographs of individuals matching from the long-term catalog are included with the exception of those dates indicated as capture events, as such photographs were not digitized.

Tags: 0254384, 2018, 254384, 779-1633, abundance, animals - group - number in group, animals/vertebrates, atlantic ocean, bathymetry/seafloor topography, biological classification, biological data, boats, bottlenose dolphin, camera, cameras, cetacean, cetaceans, continent, doc/noaa/nesdis/ncei, doc/noaa/nesdis/nodc, doc/noaa/nmfs/sefsc, earth science, garmin gpsmap 942xs, garmin gt21-tm transom mounted transducer, garmin gt23m-tm transom mounted transducer, gps, gps receivers, in situ, laboratory analysis, latitude, longitude, mammals, marine mammals, marine species inventory, mark-recapture, national centers for environmental information, national marine fisheries service, national oceanographic data center, nesdis, noaa, north america, north atlantic ocean, north carolina, ocean, ocean salinity, ocean surface salinity, ocean temperature, ocean waves, oceans, photo-identification, photo-identification techniques, photograph, protected resources marine mammals (beaufort), salinity, salinity/density, sea state, sea surface temperature, social network, social structure, socprog, southeast fisheries science center, species abundance, stock structure, survey - biological, tursiops truncatus, u.s. department of commerce, united states of america, visual analysis, visual estimate, visual observation, visual observations, water depth, xenobalanus globicipitis, ysi - handheld multi-parameter instrument
Organization: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce