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Fine-scale habitat selection of foraging bottlenose dolphins tursiops truncatus near clearwater, florida

Publication ,  Journal Article
Allen, MC; Read, AJ; Gaudet, J; Sayigh, LS
Published in: Marine Ecology Progress Series
November 5, 2001

Previous studies have proposed that seagrass habitats, by supporting diverse and abundant fish assemblages, are preferred by foraging dolphins in coastal systems. To test this hypothesis, we (1) examined the fine-scale behavior of bottlenose dolphins in relatively pristine and developed inshore sites near Clearwater Harbor, Florida, USA, and (2) used an otter trawl to sample potential fish prey in non-seagrass and seagrass habitats. In the pristine site, dolphins preferred dredged channel and spoil-island habitats, while least preferring shallow seagrass habitats. In the developed site, foraging dolphins preferred the natural channel habitat, but exhibited little further selection. Therefore, the hypothesis that dolphins prefer seagrass habitats while foraging was rejected. Feeding frequency was significantly associated with diel state, with foraging peaking at dawn and decreasing throughout the day. Dolphin group size was negatively correlated and nearest neighbor distance positively correlated with feeding frequency. Analysis of trawl data focused on the pinfish Lagodon rhomboides which dominates the diets of dolphins in west Florida. The relative abundance of pinfish was significantly greater and standard lengths significantly less in seagrass than in non-seagrass habitats. Dolphins therefore forage in non-seagrass habitats where fish prey is both larger and perhaps more available. Although seagrass habitats support greater abundance of smaller fishes, they also provide a structural refuge which obscures fishes both visually and possibly acoustically. Thus, the importance of seagrasses to the health of coastal dolphins is probably indirect, as seagrasses support fish populations on which dolphins rely.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Marine Ecology Progress Series

DOI

ISSN

0171-8630

Publication Date

November 5, 2001

Volume

222

Start / End Page

253 / 264

Related Subject Headings

  • Marine Biology & Hydrobiology
  • 4102 Ecological applications
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0608 Zoology
  • 0602 Ecology
  • 0405 Oceanography
 

Citation

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Allen, M. C., Read, A. J., Gaudet, J., & Sayigh, L. S. (2001). Fine-scale habitat selection of foraging bottlenose dolphins tursiops truncatus near clearwater, florida. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 222, 253–264. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps222253
Allen, M. C., A. J. Read, J. Gaudet, and L. S. Sayigh. “Fine-scale habitat selection of foraging bottlenose dolphins tursiops truncatus near clearwater, florida.” Marine Ecology Progress Series 222 (November 5, 2001): 253–64. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps222253.
Allen MC, Read AJ, Gaudet J, Sayigh LS. Fine-scale habitat selection of foraging bottlenose dolphins tursiops truncatus near clearwater, florida. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 2001 Nov 5;222:253–64.
Allen, M. C., et al. “Fine-scale habitat selection of foraging bottlenose dolphins tursiops truncatus near clearwater, florida.” Marine Ecology Progress Series, vol. 222, Nov. 2001, pp. 253–64. Scopus, doi:10.3354/meps222253.
Allen MC, Read AJ, Gaudet J, Sayigh LS. Fine-scale habitat selection of foraging bottlenose dolphins tursiops truncatus near clearwater, florida. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 2001 Nov 5;222:253–264.
Journal cover image

Published In

Marine Ecology Progress Series

DOI

ISSN

0171-8630

Publication Date

November 5, 2001

Volume

222

Start / End Page

253 / 264

Related Subject Headings

  • Marine Biology & Hydrobiology
  • 4102 Ecological applications
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0608 Zoology
  • 0602 Ecology
  • 0405 Oceanography