Using telemetry units in hospitals to monitor patient health is standard practice. Now, a similar approach is proving to be invaluable for dolphins, too.
Using telemetry units in hospitals to monitor patient health is standard practice. Now, a similar approach is proving to be invaluable for dolphins, too. Researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute and collaborators have conducted the most extensive radio-tracking effort of bottlenose dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) using radio-telemetry. Findings from their study reveal new and surprising information about how they use their habitats, how they spend their time, and how they interact with their own species.
A population of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) consider the IRL along the Atlantic Coast of Florida their “home sweet home.” Yet, little is known about their short-term movements, association patterns, activities, and habitat use — factors that are critical to understanding and managing animal populations. Moreover, these long-lived, top-level predators are impacted by ecological changes following large-scale environmental shifts including seagrass loss, fish kills and algal blooms.
Although IRL bottlenose dolphins have routinely been monitored via photo-identification surveys, this method only provides an intermittent evaluation. Radio-telemetry – on the other hand – enabled the researchers to consistently observe, track and monitor the dolphins in close proximity over time. The study, recently published in the journal Aquatic Mammals , emphasizes the value of radio-telemetry as an important method to evaluate seasonal ranging patterns and provides essential baseline data on habitat preferences.
Read more at Florida Atlantic University
Photo Credit: PublicDomainImages via Pixabay
