Use of a geographic information system (GIS) to examine bottlenose dolphin community structure in southeastern North Carolina
- UNCW Author/Contributor (non-UNCW co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Courtney Leigh Hanby (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW )
- Web Site: http://library.uncw.edu/
- Advisor
- Ann Pabst
Abstract: From June 1987 to April 1988 an epizootic of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
occurred along the eastern coast of the United States from New Jersey to Florida. As a result of
this mortality, the mid-Atlantic “coastal migratory stock” of bottlenose dolphins was identified
and estimated to have been reduced by more than 50%, which resulted in its classification as
“depleted” under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act. Since that time, researchers have
documented the existence of multiple coastal stocks of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, which are
believed to include a complex mix of residents, seasonal inhabitants, and transient animals. One
of these putative stocks occurs approximately between Beaufort, NC and Myrtle Beach, SC; 40
of the animals belonging to this stock were the focus of this study. Sighting histories for these
40 bottlenose dolphins have been compiled over the past nine years as part of an ongoing photoidentification
study near Wilmington, NC.
Two hypotheses were tested for dolphins in the Wilmington, NC area: (1) a single
community of dolphins exists and (2) dolphins exhibit no preference for specific locations within
the study area. To account for survey effort, a weighted index was developed to standardize the
data. To investigate dolphin community structure, a variety of area use methods were tested
using a Geographic Information System (GIS). Most common in the literature are the adaptive
kernel estimator (ADK) and the minimum convex polygon (MCP) methods, which have become
standards in animal movement studies. Conversely, geographers and statisticians have
developed point pattern and density estimation techniques. These approaches were compared,
and the geographically-based interpolation methods were found to most accurately represent the
dolphins’ distributions. Based upon the area use results and dolphin association values (CoAs),
Use of a geographic information system (GIS) to examine bottlenose dolphin community structure in southeastern North Carolina
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Created on 1/1/2009
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- A Thesis Submitted to the University of North Carolina Wilmington in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science
- Language: English
- Date: 2009
- Keywords
- Bottlenose dolphin--Behavior--North Carolina--Southeastern, Geographic information systems, Marine sciences--Geographic information systems
- Subjects
- Geographic information systems
- Bottlenose dolphin -- Behavior -- North Carolina -- Southeastern
- Marine sciences -- Geographic information systems