Strong bonds and small home range in a resident bottlenose dolphin community in a Marine Protected Area (Brittany, France, Northeast Atlantic)

Louis, Marie; Buanic, Mickael; Lefeuvre, Cécile; Nilliot, Phillipe Le; Ridoux, Vincent; Spitz, Jérôme

doi:10.1111/mms.12419

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 35 publications

(69 reference statements)

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“…Conservation priorities cannot then be defined at the species level, but rather at the population level ( e . g ., Clapham et al 1999, Baker et al 2013, Gero et al 2016, Louis et al 2017, Richard et al 2018). Small-scale studies have therefore to be performed, taking into account and focusing on the local characteristics of the groups or populations.…”

Section: Importance Of Underwater Observations For Sperm Whale Conservationmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Importance Of Underwater Observations For Sperm Whale Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although many cetacean species are highly mobile, and show great dispersal capacities, their intraspecific diversity strongly vary, some species display local cultures and some populations may show high site fidelity (eg , Louis et al 2017, Richard et al 2018). Conservation priorities cannot then be defined at the species level, but rather at the population level (e.g., Clapham et al 1999, Baker et al 2013, Louis et al 2017, Richard et al 2018. Small-scale studies have therefore to be performed, taking into account and focusing on the local characteristics of the groups or populations.…”

Section: Importance Of Underwater Observations For Sperm Whale Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The long-term study of long-lived animal population often requires individual identification, e.g. for abundance estimation in mark-recapture surveys, social behaviour understanding and for conservation purposes (Hammond et al 1990, Würsig & Jefferson 1990, Gowans & Whitehead 2001, Möller et al 2006, Calambokidis et al 2008, Gero et al 2014, Cantor & Whitehead 2016, Augusto et al 2017, Louis et al 2017, Huisjer et al 2020, Sarano et al 2021. This identification may be challenging in the marine environment and cetaceans are no exception, spending only a limited amount of time at the sea surface.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Underwater photo-identification of marine megafauna: an identity card catalogue of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) off Mauritius Island

Sarano¹,

Sarano²,

Girardet

et al. 2021

Preprint

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The long-term monitoring of long-lived animal populations often requires individual identification. For cetacean populations, this identification is mostly based on morphological characters observable from a boat such as shape, spots and cuts of the back, caudal and dorsal fins. This is well suited for species easily displaying their caudal fins, such as the humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae, or those whose skin pigmentation patterns enable individual identification. However, for elusive or shier species such as the sperm whales Physeter macrocephalus, this approach may be more challenging as individuals display a rather uniform skin pigmentation. They also do not show very often their caudal fin that must be photographed perpendicularly to the water surface, vertically and fully emerged, uneasing the individual identification from a boat. Immature sperm whales that usually have a caudal fin without any distinctive marks may sometimes be excluded from photo-identification catalogues. Within the framework of the Maubydick project, focusing on the long-term monitoring of sperm whales in Mauritius, passive underwater observation and video recording were used to identify long-lasting body markers (e.g., sex, ventral white markings, cut outs of fins) to improve individual identification. A catalogue of individual identity cards was developed and 38 individuals were recorded (six adult males, 18 adult females and 14 immatures). This catalogue was used in the field and enabled observers to record some nearly-daily and yearly recaptures. Advantages and disadvantages of this method are presented here. Such catalogues represent a robust baseline for conducting behavioural, genetic and acoustic studies in marine megafauna social species. Benefits of such newly acquired knowledge are of first importance to implement relevant conservation plans in the marine realm.

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Section: Importance Of Underwater Observations For Sperm Whale Conservationmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Importance Of Underwater Observations For Sperm Whale Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Importance Of Underwater Observations For Sperm Whale Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Underwater photo-identification of marine megafauna: an identity card catalogue of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) off Mauritius Island

Sarano¹,

Sarano²,

Girardet

et al. 2021

Preprint

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show abstract

“…Bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ) generally have social group dynamics that follow the fission–fusion model [ 19 ] (i.e. the composition and size of social groups vary over time via the separation and re-association of subunits), but this does not preclude extremely stable groups from forming, such as that off Sein Island in the northwest of France [ 20 ]. Some migratory species establish temporary aggregations, and these could be strongly influenced by social and kin relationships, as demonstrated for beluga whales ( Delphinapterus leucas ) [ 21 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Kin relationships in cultural species of the marine realm: case study of a matrilineal social group of sperm whales off Mauritius island, Indian Ocean

Sarano¹,

Girardet

Sarano³

et al. 2021

R. Soc. open sci.

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Understanding the organization and dynamics of social groups of marine mammals through the study of kin relationships is particularly challenging . Here, we studied a stable social group of sperm whales off Mauritius, using underwater observations, individual-specific identification, non-invasive sampling and genetic analyses based on mitochondrial sequencing and microsatellite profiling. Twenty-four sperm whales were sampled between 2017 and 2019. All individuals except one adult female shared the same mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotype—one that is rare in the western Indian Ocean—thus confirming with near certainty the matrilineality of the group. All probable first- and second-degree kin relationships were depicted in the sperm whale social group: 13 first-degree and 27 second-degree relationships were identified. Notably, we highlight the likely case of an unrelated female having been integrated into a social unit, in that she presented a distinct mtDNA haplotype and no close relationships with any members of the group. Investigating the possible matrilineality of sperm whale cultural units (i.e. vocal clans) is the next step in our research programme to elucidate and better apprehend the complex organization of sperm whale social groups.

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Social structure and spatial distribution of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) along the Croatian Adriatic coast

Pleslić¹,

Rako‐Gospić²,

Miočić‐Stošić

et al. 2019

Aquatic Conservation

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Previous studies suggest that the common bottlenose dolphin population in the Croatian Adriatic Sea is structured into distinct local communities. However, their home ranges and levels of interaction remain unknown. Dedicated boat‐based surveys were conducted seasonally, in three adjacent study sites from 2013 to 2017. Photo‐identification data were used to identify distinct local communities by relating the social structure descriptors to the home ranges of individual animals, and to determine the community home ranges and identify the levels of interactions between them. The overlaps between the home ranges of individuals (50 and 95% kernel density estimators [KDE]) were positively correlated to association strengths between them. Three distinct communities were identified by the hierarchical cluster analysis. The individuals' 95% KDE home range overlaps and association strengths were significantly higher within the three communities than between them, indicating both social and spatial segregation. The 95% KDE home ranges of the communities showed very low to no overlap. The individuals ranged mainly centrally within the home range of their respective community. The probabilities of movement, expressed as lagged identification rates, were significantly higher within than between community home ranges. However, 37 out of 1024 identified individuals were observed in more than one community home range, indicating that the communities are not isolated. Four out of the six Sites of Community Importance currently in place within the Croatian Adriatic Sea lie within the home ranges of the three local bottlenose dolphin communities. Once these sites are declared as Special Areas of Conservation, the management scheme will need to accommodate for differences in the spatial and social ecology of these communities, and environmental and anthropogenic factors acting upon them. The results of this work provide baseline information for such tailored management.

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Strong bonds and small home range in a resident bottlenose dolphin community in a Marine Protected Area (Brittany, France, Northeast Atlantic)

Cited by 8 publications

References 35 publications

Underwater photo-identification of marine megafauna: an identity card catalogue of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) off Mauritius Island

Underwater photo-identification of marine megafauna: an identity card catalogue of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) off Mauritius Island

Kin relationships in cultural species of the marine realm: case study of a matrilineal social group of sperm whales off Mauritius island, Indian Ocean

Social structure and spatial distribution of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) along the Croatian Adriatic coast

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