Dear colleagues, I am pleased to announce my new publication in the journal Behavioral Ecology about the influence of human activities on the social interactions and demographic parameters of bottlenose dolphins. Diaz Lopez, B. 2018. “Hot deals at sea”: responses of a top predator (Bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus) to human-induced changes in the coastal ecosystem. Behavioral Ecology. doi:10.1093/beheco/ary162
Understanding how the effects of human-induced changes in the ecosystem cause changes in the behaviour of top predators is an ongoing challenge in animal ecology. This study reveals how human activities are related to a significant upward trend in density of dolphins and a reduction of the social interactions associated to a temporal switch to the food sources provided by these activities. These changes can have effects on gene flow and the degree of inbreeding and, hence, the amount of genetic variability and population viability. Abstract. The main response of top predators to human-induced environmental changes is often behavioral. Although human activities regularly impose a disturbance on top predators, they can also be a source of reliable and concentrated food resources for species with a high degree of behavioral plasticity. This study represents the first assessment of the influence of these resources on migratory patterns and social interaction of a marine top predator, the common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus. Pollock’s closed robust design models and association analyses were applied to data collected over 9 consecutive years of research in a coastal area subject to significant use and pressure by humans. Photo-identification data were collected year-round during 955 boat-based surveys, resulting in 1638 common bottlenose dolphin group encounters. Results of this study revealed a significant upward trend in density of bottlenose dolphins, preferences for a coastal area with higher human pressure, and a reduction of the social interactions associated to a temporal switch to the food sources provided by human activities. The observed link between human activities and changes in common bottlenose dolphin behavior aim to contribute to a better understanding of the ecology of a marine top predator and provide some of the needed baseline data, from which effective management and conservation strategies can be designed. Please do not hesitate to ask me for any question regarding my study or to request a PDF copy of the article: br...@thebdri.com Bruno Diaz Lopez Ph.D Chief biologist and Director The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI Avenida Beiramar 192, O Grove 36980, Pontevedra, Spain www.thebdri.com 0034 684248552 Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Instagram. Mention us on Twitter. This email is confidential to the intended recipient(s) and the contents may be legally privileged or contain proprietary and private informations. It is intended solely for the person to whom it is addressed. If you are not an intended recipient, you may not review, copy or distribute this email. If received in error, please notify the sender and delete the message from your system immediately. Please note that neither the Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI nor the sender accept any responsibility for any viruses and it is your responsibility to scan the email and the attachments (if any). Thank you for your cooperation.
