Quantifying the Abundance and Survival Rates of Island-Associated Spinner Dolphins Using a Multi-State Open Robust Design Model
June 26, 2024
The first systematic mark-recapture effort to assess the abundance and survival rates of highly exposed dolphins, providing valuable insights for conservation and management.
Spinner dolphins occupy the nearshore waters of several Hawaiian Islands. Due to their limited behavioral pattern and genetic isolation, they are vulnerable to environmental threats. Their occurrence and behavior are well-described, yet a lack of data on their abundance and survival rates hinders optimal conservation action. Using design-based photo-identification surveys, this study estimated the abundance, apparent survival, and emigration of spinner dolphins off the Waiʻanae Coast of Oʻahu.
McPherson L, Badger J, Fertitta K. et al 2024. Quantifying the abundance and survival rates of island-associated spinner dolphins using a multi-state open robust design model Sci Rep 14.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-64220-3