Krystan A. Wilkinson, Brookfield Zoo Chicago's Sarasota Dolphin Research Program
Jason B. Allen
Michaela A. Kratofil
Randall S. Wells
Michael J. Moore
Aaron A. Barleycorn
Dolphins are key apex predators in marine ecosystems and serve as sentinels for ocean health. However, beyond studies in bays, sounds, and estuaries, relatively little research has focused on dolphins inhabiting offshore waters. Lack of baseline information limits our ability to effectively conserve and manage both coastal and continental shelf dolphin species. To improve our understanding of offshore dolphin movement behavior, we deployed satellite-linked tags on 20 dolphins from three different species (14 Atlantic spotted dolphins, 5 bottlenose dolphins, and 1 rough-toothed dolphin) using catch-and-release and remote, pole-mounted Tag Attachment Device (TADpole) methods. The tagged dolphins were tracked for up to 128 days and 18 of the tags successfully transmitted location and behavior data for further analysis. Atlantic spotted dolphins and bottlenose dolphins showed similar levels of site fidelity, primarily ranging between Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor, and considerable distribution overlap (Bhattacharyya Coefficient = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.77-1.0). While bottlenose dolphin overall ranging areas (95% UD) were nearly three times larger than Atlantic spotted dolphins, this difference was not significant at α = 0.05, but the biological difference may be important. Atlantic spotted dolphins and bottlenose dolphins used habitats approximately 65 km from shore (ranges = 25.3-145.7 km, 20.1-144.6 km, respectively) and waters around 36 m deep (ranges = 17-71 m, 16-66 m, respectively). After accounting for individual variation, we found no evidence for an effect of species on distance from shore nor seafloor depth use. Dive depths and durations were similar for Atlantic spotted dolphins and bottlenose dolphins, but was less for the rough-toothed dolphin. All tagged animals exhibited dives throughout the water column, including to the seafloor. Our observations suggest more fine-scale stock structure may be present over the West Florida Shelf than previously recognized.