Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

Table of Contents - 2007 - Volume , Issue 01  



FOOD & FEEDING

Using blubber biopsies to provide ecological information about bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) around the Azores

M.J.  Walton a1c1, M.A.  Silva a1a2, S.M.  Magalhães a2, R.  Prieto a2 and R.S.  Santos a2
a1 Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, Scotland
a2 Departamento de Oceanografia e Pesca (DOP), Universidade dos Açores, 9901-862 Horta, Açores, Portugal

Article author query
walton mj   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
silva ma   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
magalhães sm   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
prieto r   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
santos rs   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 

Abstract

Fatty acid profiles were used to investigate aspects of bottlenose dolphin populations around the Azores archipelago. Biopsy samples were obtained from 70 dolphins during the period 2002–2004. No statistically significant differences in profiles were found between different island groups, between sexes or between year of sampling. Thus no evidence was seen for island group fidelity, in contrast to bottlenose dolphins found around similar island groups such as the Hawaiian archipelago or the Bahamas. The findings are consistent with concurrent genetic and photo-identification studies on dolphins in the Azores.

(Published Online February 26 2007)
(Received May 25 2006)
(Accepted September 14 2006)


Correspondence:
c1 Corresponding author, e-mail: mjw6@st-andrews.ac.uk