Abstract
Group characteristics, activity patterns, and the occurrence of recognisable bottlenose dolphins were documented from boat surveys conducted in Jervis Bay between May 1997 and April 1998. Bottlenose dolphins were found to occur in the bay year-round, with group size ranging from a single animal up to 64 individuals (x = 15.3, SD = 14.2; median = 9, interquartile range = 18). Calves were observed during all seasons, and group size was positively correlated to the number of calves in the group. Newborns were observed only in summer and autumn. Group size was significantly different according to activities, being smaller during feeding, and larger during socialising. The most frequently recorded group activity was travelling, followed by feeding, milling and socialising. The frequency of activities changed according to season, with an increase in travelling from winter to summer and autumn, and an increase in feeding in winter and spring. A total of 103 individual dolphins were identified, with most seen in the bay either year-round or only within one season.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 181-189 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales |
| Volume | 1998 |
| Issue number | 120 |
| Publication status | Published - 1998 |
Keywords
- activity patterns
- behaviour
- bottlenose dolphins
- Jervis bay
- photo-identification
- population structure
- site fidelity
- social dynamics
- southeastern Australia
- tursiops truncatus