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Fine-scale population structure of estuarine bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus) assessed using stable isotope ratios and fatty acid signature analyses.
- Source :
- Marine Biology; Jun2014, Vol. 161 Issue 6, p1307-1317, 11p
- Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- Stable isotope ratios and fatty acid signature analyses were employed to examine the fine-scale population structure of a year-round resident population of 600-800 bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus) in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), Florida. The IRL, a 250-km-long estuary running along the central east coast of Florida (28.0°N, 80.6°W), is comprised of the northern and southern IRL, Mosquito Lagoon (ML), Banana River (BR), and St. Lucie Estuary. Samples of skin and blubber were collected from dead stranded ( n = 61, 1994-2004) and live dolphins ( n = 153, 2002-2007, 2010, 2011) from throughout the IRL and surrounding environs. Using stable isotopes (SI), dolphins could be assigned to a ML subpopulation, a St. Lucie Estuary subpopulation, and an IRL subpopulation. Fatty acid signature analysis (FASA) allowed for finer resolution, detecting ML and BR subpopulations, a separation of northern and southern IRL subpopulations, and a St. Lucie Estuary subpopulation. Differences between sexes were detectable within subpopulations using FASA, but not using SI. This may indicate that males and females are foraging in similar locations at a similar trophic level (detected using SI), but are varying in the types or proportions of specific prey (indicated by FASA). The combination of these complementary analyses results in a powerful tool for assessing fine-scale population substructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00253162
- Volume :
- 161
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Marine Biology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 96202516
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-014-2420-z