Hello MARMAM community,
My co-authors and I are pleased to share our new publication in the Journal of
Cetacean Research and Management:
Krzewinski MM, McFee WE and Young RF (2024) Spatial and temporal trends of
Tamanend’s bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops erebennus) strandings in South
Carolina, USA, 2006-2020. J. Cetacean Res. Manage.
25(2024):31-48. https://doi.org/10.47536/jcrm.v25i1.941
Abstract:
Marine mammal strandings data contribute towards overall assessments of
cetacean populations, including seasonal, annual and life‐history trends which
result from both natural and anthropogenic causes. We conducted spatial and
temporal analyses of Tamanend’s bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops erebennus)
strandings in the waters of South Carolina, USA, over a 15‐year period from
2006 to 2020, with the following objectives: (1) to determine spatial and
temporal trends; (2) to analyse seasonal reproductive trends; (3) to determine
life‐history parameters, such as sex ratio and age class; (4) to determine the
extent to which human interaction contributed to strandings; and (5) to compare
stranding patterns with historical data from 1992–2005. A total of 837
strandings occurred over the study period, with a mean of 55.8 strandings per
annum. The season with most strandings was Spring (April–June), while March and
April had the highest number of strandings. A relatively equal number of male
and female dolphins stranded, and mortality was highest in neonates, first‐year
calves and adults. Neonatal strandings comprised 22.1% of all strandings and
were predominant in May. Ninety‐five human‐interaction (HI) cases were
observed, representing 22.9% of strandings where HI or non‐HI could be
determined. Confirmed crab‐pot buoy‐line entanglements were the predominant HI
category (n = 31). Density maps and hot spot analysis showed most strandings,
including live and neonatal strandings and HI cases, occurred in defined areas
of Charleston and Beaufort Counties. While many trends were similar to
historical data, some new trends emerged, particularly an increase of
strandings in March and April. Neonatal strandings decreased in November and
the historical spike during this month has essentially disappeared. The results
of this analysis serve as a tool to predict stranding rates and inform
conservation and management decisions to better protect bottlenose dolphins.
The article is available for open access here:
https://journal.iwc.int/index.php/jcrm/article/view/941
Please reach out with any questions.
Best,
Megan Krzewinski, M.P.S.
megkrzewin...@gmail.com
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