Post-Katrina Gulf Coast Baby Boom for the Bottlenose Dolphin

Nearly five years after Katrina, the region is still in recovery mode but the dolphin population appears to be doing great.The city of New Orleans and the wider Gulf Coast region continue the slow march of recovery nearly five years after the disastrous storm unleashed its fury on the coast and its inhabitants. Those who earn a living from the sea took an especially hard hit as the storm wiped out an estimated 87 percent of the commercial fishing fleet according to Discovery News, who reports of a small, silver lining to be found in the ongoing challenges faced by Gulf Coast residents: the marine life has fared pretty well, and in particular, the dolphins.Jessica Marshall, writing for Discovery, reports that a marine biological survey study initiated prior to the 2005 hurricane revealed some striking differences when additional surveys were conducted after the storm. Biologist Lance Miller of the San Diego Zoo, then a graduate student at the University of Mississippi, found that subsequent to the storm, births of bottlenose dolphins have risen dramatically.Explanations for the increase point to some obvious suggestions: the steep decrease in boat traffic and fishing activities have resulted in a diminished impact on the ecosystem as well as in a much richer bounty of available food. Also possibly in play are the variable fertility capabilities of the animal itself. Dolphins are known to become and remain fertile for extended periods of time following the loss of a calf. A broad loss of young dolphins to the storm and might have led to a higher population of fertile females."What's great about this study is that it shows us some potential effects of this hurricane, and indirectly, potentially, effects of human disturbance," Miller explains to Discovery. "I think this allows us to look at some more specific questions: How does decreasing commercial fisheries intake affect dolphin populations? How does the number of boats or density of boats affect populations?"It remains unknown if the bump in dolphin births since Katrina is likely to lead to an overall dolphin population increase, or if it represents a short-term spike unlikely to be sustained over time. The increase in available food will likely back down as fishing activity picks back up, and if the greater number of youngsters did result from a mortality-induced increase in fertility, that too would likely ultimately be shown to be a short-lived change.For now though, these highly intelligent marine mammals are finding themselves living large in a Gulf of Mexico that was dramatically impacted by a storm whose effects continue to be felt.

Moko playing up, dolphin experts warn

Jill Austin with a younger Moko at Waikokopu Bay, Mahia, last year.

IN RECENT months a sub-adult bottlenose dolphin has become increasingly interactive with visitors and locals off the coast of Gisborne (as he was with people in the waters off Mahia last summer). This interaction is popular but there are concerns about the risks involved, for people and for Moko, the dolphin.

So, what's up with Moko, why is he seeking human contact and do we need to be concerned?

The bottlenose is one of several species of dolphin found in New Zealand waters. They are highly social animals that usually live in groups that have a hierarchy. This hierarchy is dynamic and changes over time as younger dolphins grow and as individuals interact with one another. An additional characteristic of this species (and indeed other social mammals) is that "play" is an important way animals explore and learn. Play has a function in developing and improving important skills – such as swimming, hunting and interacting with one another. Similarly, the motivation to explore and investigate (what we usually describe as curiosity) is also an important means by which dolphins learn to understand the world in which they live.

So, for younger ones developing independence from their mothers and transitioning to adulthood, play, exploration and testing strength are typical and important behaviours.

This is what we are seeing with Moko and it is normal developmental behaviour. He is becoming increasingly assertive and testing his strength and his ability to dominate his social cohorts but, of course, in this situation his social cohorts are people and not other dolphins. In essence, how a dominance hierarchy is tested and reinforced is by one individual being able to impose its will on another – this happens with access to food, desired objects, mating, and so on. So, when Moko is not letting swimmers return to the shore or keeping objects for himself, in effect he is testing his ability to dominate the interaction. This is entirely normal for Moko and should not be characterised as misbehaviour.

What is different about this dolphin is that he is not exploring, playing and socialising with other dolphins – he is doing this with humans. This is an unusual, but not unique, situation. There have been a number of cases of individual dolphins becoming "sociable" with humans in different parts of the world. Interestingly, the majority of these are bottlenose and most are sub-adult males. The consensus is that these individuals have separated from their natal group – the group they were born into – and, as a consequence, they have sought social interaction with others. When such exploration is encouraged by humans a pattern of increasing interaction can occur.

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Historically, there are at least nine cases of lone "sociable" dolphins in New Zealand. The most famous of these was Opo, also a bottlenose that interacted with people in the Hokianga Harbour during the summer of 1955/56. Unfortunately, Opo was found dead in early March of 1956 and, while no direct cause of death was confirmed, suspicions of human interference were raised. Other lone sociable dolphins have been documented at Napier in the late 1970s, at Whitianga in the early 80s, at Port Underwood in the late 80s and early 90s, at Onekaka near Takaka in the early 1990s, and off Kaikoura and the Marlborough Sounds over a similar time period.

In most cases these dolphins eventually move on from their regular interaction with people and presumably rejoin groups of other dolphins. However, there are cases where sociable dolphins have been injured – either deliberately or accidentally – by people and there are rare cases where people have been injured by sociable dolphins.

The risks of such injuries are much greater when there are large numbers of people seeking in-water contact with the dolphin. This is currently the case with Moko as the peak summer period approaches and he is near to people for many hours.

Although many will argue that this interaction is initiated by Moko, it is important we consider the potential implications of such contact for Moko's long-term health and independence.

Our view is that Moko needs to be given space and left alone. Although his social needs and desires are being met by humans, his motivation to seek out and interact with his own kind is lessened. He is not and should not be viewed as a playmate used for our entertainment and benefit. This is not in Moko's best interests. If people really care about this dolphin, they should put his interests and long-term welfare ahead of their own desires or happiness.

A local "Moko Minders" group is being established with the support of businesses and surf life saving club members in the Gisborne area. This group intends to monitor Moko's behaviour and to help educate and manage people's behaviour around him. We applaud this initiative and encourage people to support and follow the group's directions. With a responsible approach, the likelihood of Moko growing into adulthood and becoming a healthy, independent dolphin are greatly enhanced.

Mark Orams, PhD, is based at the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute at AUT University.

Rochelle Constantine, PhD, is from the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Auckland. The pair completed PhD research which looked at the impacts of human interactions on bottlenose dolphins and they have been involved in a wide range of research on marine mammals both in NZ and internationally.

Dolphin jumps into Marco woman's boat

Talk about your fish tales — and this one's even true.A bottlenose dolphin leapt into a Marco Island woman's deck boat Tuesday afternoon, triggering one of the strangest marine mammal rescues in recent memory at the Collier Boulevard boat ramp.Dee Boge, 66, was returning from lunch on Goodland with five friends when the dolphin leapt into her 22-foot Hurricane deck boat south of the Judge S.S. Jolley Bridge.Boge's friends, Marge and John Superits, their son Mark, and their two teen-aged grandchildren from Illinois, Nicole and J.T., were in the boat when she noticed a pod of dolphins nearby and piloted the boat for a closer look.As they enjoyed the show, one of the dolphins jumped out of the water, swirled around in front of the boat and came down on the boat's front deck, right in the aisle, she said."It was unbelievable," Boge said, still breathless hours after the close encounter. "We were like `Oh my god, oh my god, how are we going to get this dolphin off my boat."'Boge called SeaTow, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission called her back with advice to keep the dolphin wet and to roll it onto its stomach instead of on its side.The dolphin was thrashing around at first, but later calmed down, Boge said. It appeared not to have been injured except for a cut above its eye. No one on board was hurt, she said.Boge went to the Collier Boulevard boat ramp, where officers from Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, the Conservation Commission, Collier County Animal Control and the Collier County Sheriff's Office met her about 2:45 p.m.Rookery Bay staff took measurements of the dolphin, checked it for injuries, checked and timed its breathing and marked its dorsal fin with a water-resistant grease marker for future identification, Rookery Bay resources stewardship coordinator Jeff Carter said.Everything checked out OK, and workers used a stretcher to put the dolphin back in the water. Carter estimated the dolphin weighed about 120 pounds.The dolphin swam away, leaving Boge with a story of a lifetime."I still can't get over the shock of it," she said, back at home around 5 p.m. "It's a once in a lifetime thing. I hope it never happens again."Chances are it won't.More than 20 years in the marine patrol business, and he's never seen anything like it, Conservation Commission Capt. Jayson Horadam said."Fish, yeah. Tarpon, yeah. Barracuda, yeah, but never a very intelligent dolphin," he said.Still, officials urge boaters to stay a safe distance from dolphins when they are feeding.The federal Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibits harassing or harming dolphins, but Tuesday's incident didn't rise to the level of a violation, Horadam said."This was just a bad luck day for the dolphin," he said.marco news

Struggle to save beached whales in Australia

Volunteers on Monday joined rescue workers struggling to save the lives of dozens of whales and dolphins stranded on a beach on Australia's west coast, officials said.Around 80 false killer whales and bottlenose dolphins were found beached over more than five kilometres (three miles) in Hamelin Bay, south of the city of Perth."The mass stranding occurred early this morning and of the 80 found stranded only 25 false killer whales have been found alive," the Department of Environment and Conservation said in a statement.Staff and volunteers were working to stabilise the survivors while awaiting equipment to help return them to the sea, spokesman Greg Mair said."Our main priority is to ensure the welfare of the remaining alive whales before we herd them back out to sea," he said."When we will be assisting them back to sea depends on ocean conditions and the strength of the animals, at present ocean conditions are quite dangerous with rough seas and large waves."False killer whales are medium-sized whales with long, slender bodies and narrow, tapered heads with rounded snouts.It is not uncommon for them to strand, the department said, with mass beachings of the species occurring in Western Australia four times in the last two decades.The latest beaching takes the total number of whales stranded around southern Australia and Tasmania in the past four months to more than 400.Earlier this month rescuers saved 54 pilot whales after nearly 200 of the giant creatures beached themselves on King Island off Australia's southern coast.In November, more than 150 pilot whales died after beaching themselves on Tasmania's remote west coast and in January, 48 sperm whales died on a sandbar at the north of the island.The phenomenon of whale strandings and the causes remain the subject of scientific debate.

Rare pink dolphin in Louisiana

These are the stunning pictures of a rare pink bottlenose dolphin spotted swimming in a Louisiana lake.The mammal was pictured by local charter boat captain Erik Rue, who has been studying the dolphin since it first surfaced in Lake Calcasieu, an inland saltwater estuary, north of the Gulf of Mexico in Southwestern USA.Since it was spotted with its pod of normal coloured dolphins last year the animal has been wowing visitors on the lake.Capt Rue, 42, originally saw the dolphin, which also has reddish eyes, swimming with a pod of four other dolphins, with one appearing to be its mother which never left its side.(Stunning sight: The rare albino dolphin has been spotted by excited visitors to Lake Calcasieu in Louisiana)'I just happened to see a little pod of dolphins, and I noticed one that was a little lighter. It was absolutely stunningly pink', he said.'I had never seen anything like it. It's the same colour throughout the whole body and it looks like it just came out of a paint booth. The dolphin appears to be healthy and normal other than its colouration, which is quite beautiful.'The mammal is entirely pink from tip to tail and has reddish eyes indicating it's albinism. The skin appears smooth, glossy pink and without flaws. I have spotted it about 40 to 50 times in the time since the original sighting as it has apparently taken up residence with its family in the Calcasieu Ship Channel.'As time has passed he has grown and sometimes ventures away from its mother to feed and play but always remains in the vicinity of the pod.'Surprisingly, it does not appear to be drastically affected by the environment or sunlight as might be expected considering its condition, although it tends to remain below the surface a little more than the others in the pod.'The striking mammal is thought to be the world's only pink bottlenose dolphinCapt Rue added: 'I feel very fortunate to have seen this incredible mammal and lucky to be able to work and live in the area where such a fantastic creature frequents.'Our guests are always thrilled at the opportunity to spot such a unique mammal and we look forward to it being around for some time to come.'Regina Asmutis-Silvia, senior biologist, with the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, called the dolphin 'truly beautiful'.'I have never seen a dolphin coloured in this way in all my career', she said.'While this animal looks pink, it is an albino which you can notice in the pink eyes. Albinism is a genetic trait and it unclear as to the type of albinism this animal inherited.'It is a truly beautiful dolphin but people should be careful, as with any dolphins, to respect it. Observe from a distance, limit their time watching, don't chase or harass it.

Rare Sighting Of Threatened Bottlenose Dolphins In English Channel

On a crossing of the English Channel aboard the P&O Cruise Ferry, the Pride of Bilbao on the 5th of May, a large group of approximately 30 Bottlenose Dolphin was sighted by Clive Martin, Director for the wildlife charity Marinelife and senior Wildlife Officer for the Biscay Dolphin Research Programme।

The dolphins, which are threatened in UK waters, were recorded 4 miles off of St. Catherine’s point on the Isle of Wight – a truly rare occurrence.
Clive Martin said: “In over 10 years of research in the English Channel, Marinelife have never before recorded Bottlenose Dolphin in this location or in such large numbers in the central part of the Channel – it represents a significant sighting and together with other recent sighting, may indicate that the central part of the Channel is again becoming part of the territory for a range of dolphins.”
The English Channel is generally thought of as an area of coastline which is under populated or depleted of whales and dolphins, but whilst sighting tend to be sporadic, they are being recorded.
A small population of Bottlenose Dolphin are known to spend time within the Western portion of the English Channel and they are regularly sighting during Marinelife research trips from Plymouth to Roscoff aboard Brittany Ferries and by the Durlston Marine Project around Swanage. However, sighting of Bottlenose Dolphin in the central and eastern parts of the Channel are more unusual, but individuals are occasionally seen – these are thought to be adolescent males, which are known to roam over considerable distances and may spend considerable time in busy areas of coast or harbours, attracting much attention from people. An example was “Spinnaker”, the Bottlenose Dolphin which spent some time in Portsmouth harbour, before being accidentally killed in a tragic accident with a boat’s propeller.
Other recent sightings in the Channel include Common Dolphin, again seen off of the Isle of Wight and a young animal rescued by the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) in Eastbourne harbour. Risso’s Dolphin have been recorded at Torpoint in Devon, regular sightings of Harbour Porpoise and Common Dolphin have been made by Marinelife in the western portion of the Channel and Pilot Whale have been seen near Portland in Dorset recently.
Marinelife’s research will continue to monitor for these and other whales and dolphins in the Channel and beyond and this will help build greater understanding of their movements, distribution, abundance and threats.
Background Information
The Bottlenose Dolphin is one of the most threatened cetacean species in Europe, and consequently has extensive legislative protection at a European level. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES, Appendix II of the Bern Convention and Annexes II and IV of the EC Habitats Directive. It is also on Appendix 2 of the Bonn Convention and is covered by ASCOBANS. CITES is the Convention International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by Marine Life.

Bottlenose Dolphins do not Coerce Females To Mate

Mating strategies are straightforward in bottlenose dolphins, or are they? Much of the work carried on male-female relationships in that species to date show that males tend to coerce females who are left with little choice about with whom to mate.

This explains the complex relationships we observe in male bottlenose dolphins, which are only paralleled by human social strategies: the formation of alliances and alliances of alliances, also called coalitions. These alliances and coalitions are then used to out-compete other male bands to access females.
A population of bottlenose dolphins in Fiordland, New Zealand, may be rewriting the textbooks. In this population males form alliances and coalitions and have complex social relationships, but they do not coerce females into mating.
David Lusseau, in a study published this week in PLoS ONE, posits that the complexity of male social relationships in this population emerge to compete for female choice. Male coalition formation is observed during fights in this population. Usually coalition formation will be driven by short-term gains for the helper (for example access to females). But there do not appear to be any short-term benefits in coalition and alliance formation in this population. Instead one male band seems to spend much more time with sexually receptive females and females with new calves than others.
Lusseau says: "In a mating system driven by female selection being able to exclude other males from the vicinity of oestrus females means that individuals can be more readily picked as a favourite partner."
The old saying seems to hold true for these dolphins: "far from the eyes, far from the heart."

Texas dolphin die-off puzzles scientists

DALLAS (Reuters) - The stranding deaths of about 60 bottlenose dolphins on Texas beaches over the past three weeks has puzzled researchers and is a cause for concern during the calving season, a senior scientist said on Monday. "This is the calving season so we often have strandings at this time of the year. It's tough to be an air-breather born in the water," said Dr. Daniel F. Cowan, professor of pathology at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and director of the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network."But over the last few weeks we have had about 3 to 4 times the usual mortality," he told Reuters. Most of the carcasses were in an advanced state of decomposition, suggesting that they were carried to Texas beaches from areas further off or up the shore.Suspected causes include parasites, an outbreak of infectious diseases or red tide, an algal bloom prompted by fertilizers or other excess nutrients.Most of the dolphins have been too decomposed for a necropsy -- the animal version of an autopsy -- and so volunteers have been burying them on the beaches. Several of the dolphins which have washed up on shore have been young with umbilical cords still attached.