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Summary

DOI: 10.3354/esr00783

Description

The potential for stranded dolphins to serve as a tool for monitoring free-ranging populations would be enhanced if their stocks of origin were known. We used stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur from skin to assign stranded bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus to different habitats, as a proxy for stocks (demographically independent populations), following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Model results from biopsy samples collected from dolphins from known habitats (n = 205) resulted in an 80.5% probability of correct assignment. These results were applied to data from stranded dolphins (n = 217), resulting in predicted assignment probabilities of 0.473, 0.172, and 0.355 to Estuarine, Barrier Island (BI), and Coastal stocks, respectively. Differences were found west and east of the Mississippi River, with more Coastal dolphins stranding in western Louisiana and more Estuarine dolphins stranding in Mississippi. Within the Estuarine East Stock, 2 groups were identified, one predominantly associated with Mississippi and Alabama estuaries and another with western Florida. δ15N values were higher in stranded samples for both Estuarine and BI stocks, potentially indicating nutritional stress. High probabilities of correct assignment of the biopsy samples indicate predictable variation in stable isotopes and fidelity to habitat. The power of δ34S to discriminate habitats relative to salinity was essential. Stable isotopes may provide guidance regarding where additional testing is warranted to confirm demographic independence and aid in determining the source habitat of stranded dolphins, thus increasing the value of biological data collected from stranded individuals.

Document Information

Document Type
Journal article

Document Format
Acrobat Portable Document Format

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Please contact the owner organization (SEFSC) for inquiries on this record.

Item Identification

Title: Assigning stranded bottlenose dolphins to source stocks using stable isotope ratios following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Status: Completed
Abstract:

The potential for stranded dolphins to serve as a tool for monitoring free-ranging populations would be enhanced if their stocks of origin were known. We used stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur from skin to assign stranded bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus to different habitats, as a proxy for stocks (demographically independent populations), following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Model results from biopsy samples collected from dolphins from known habitats (n = 205) resulted in an 80.5% probability of correct assignment. These results were applied to data from stranded dolphins (n = 217), resulting in predicted assignment probabilities of 0.473, 0.172, and 0.355 to Estuarine, Barrier Island (BI), and Coastal stocks, respectively. Differences were found west and east of the Mississippi River, with more Coastal dolphins stranding in western Louisiana and more Estuarine dolphins stranding in Mississippi. Within the Estuarine East Stock, 2 groups were identified, one predominantly associated with Mississippi and Alabama estuaries and another with western Florida. δ15N values were higher in stranded samples for both Estuarine and BI stocks, potentially indicating nutritional stress. High probabilities of correct assignment of the biopsy samples indicate predictable variation in stable isotopes and fidelity to habitat. The power of δ34S to discriminate habitats relative to salinity was essential. Stable isotopes may provide guidance regarding where additional testing is warranted to confirm demographic independence and aid in determining the source habitat of stranded dolphins, thus increasing the value of biological data collected from stranded individuals.

Other Citation Details:

Hohn AA, Thomas L, Carmichael RH, Litz J and others (2017) Assigning stranded bottlenose dolphins to source stocks using stable isotope ratios following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Endang Species Res 33:235-252. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00783

DOI (Digital Object Identifier): 10.3354/esr00783

Document Information

Document Type: Journal article
Format: Acrobat Portable Document Format
Status Code: Published

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Author

CC ID: 1232331
Date Effective From: 2017
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Hohn, Aleta
Address: 101 Pivers Island Road
Beaufort, NC 28156
Email Address: aleta.hohn@noaa.gov
Phone: 252-728-8797
Fax: 252-728-8784
URL: Aleta Hohn Google Scholar Page

Co-Author

CC ID: 1232379
Date Effective From: 2017
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Sinclair, Carrie
Address: 3209 Frederic St.
Pascagoula, MS 39568
Email Address: carrie.sinclair@noaa.gov
Phone: 228-549-1606
Fax: 228-769-9200

Co-Author

CC ID: 1232332
Date Effective From: 2017
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Litz, Jenny
Address: 75 Virginia Beach Drive
Miami, FL 33139
Email Address: Jenny.Litz@noaa.gov
Phone: 305-361-4224
Fax: 305-365-4102

Distribution Information

Distribution 1

CC ID: 1232385
Start Date: 2017
End Date: Present
Download URL: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00783
Distributor:

Catalog Details

Catalog Item ID: 69887
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:69887
Metadata Record Created By: Lee M Weinberger
Metadata Record Created: 2023-05-11 01:54+0000
Metadata Record Last Modified By: SysAdmin InPortAdmin
Metadata Record Last Modified: 2023-09-27 12:04+0000
Metadata Record Published: 2023-05-11
Owner Org: SEFSC
Metadata Publication Status: Published Externally
Do Not Publish?: N
Metadata Last Review Date: 2023-05-11
Metadata Review Frequency: 1 Year
Metadata Next Review Date: 2024-05-11