Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network
Distribution And Social Structure Of An Estuarine Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops Truncatus) Population In Northern South Carolina, Jamie L. Brusa
Distribution And Social Structure Of An Estuarine Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops Truncatus) Population In Northern South Carolina, Jamie L. Brusa
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Information regarding habitat preference of apex predators may pinpoint areas dense in resources such as prey species. Knowledge of how animals use their habitat can enable the classification and targeted management of important habitat features. This study was conducted to determine the distribution and social structure of an inshore population of bottlenose dolphins within the North Inlet-Winyah Bay estuary in northern South Carolina. Photo-identification surveys were conducted along defined transect routes. Home ranges of individual dolphins were calculated using the minimum convex polygon method and the fixed kernel density method using Geographic Information System (GIS) software. Mean group sizes and …