Using signature whistles to investigate population dynamics of locally threatened bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Namibia / Jack Ferry; Simon Elwen; Saha Dines et al.

Includes references

Current research methods for studying dolphins rely heavily on boat-based surveys using photographic identification (photo-ID) of individual’s unique features such as scarring and marks on dorsal fins. By building up a sightings history of individuals, we can apply mark-recapture statistical methods to investigate ranging patterns, survivorship, and population abundance.However, these boat-based methods are inefficient for small, widely spread populations such as the Namibian coastal bottlenose dolphins which range over at least 400 km between Lüderitz and Walvis Bay. Therefore, we aim to develop a framework using biological sounds and a spatial capture-recapture approach (Borchers, 2012) to assess population density and abundance of Namibian bottlenose dolphins, contributing to long-term monitoring of this population.