Lauren Rodriguez, Michigan State University

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Abstract:

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are wide-ranging marine mammals that live in open-ocean habitats as well as coastal areas. However, little is known about their seasonal occurrence within the Chesapeake Bay, U.S.A, a highly urbanized region. The goal of this study was to determine the spatial and temporal distribution of bottlenose dolphins in the Chesapeake Bay using geospatial and statistical modeling techniques. Two years (2017-2018) of observational dolphin sighting data from a citizen-science initiative, Chesapeake DolphinWatch, was mapped using ArcGIS 10.5 to visually characterize dolphin occurrence. Sightings were then integrated with water quality data to identify factors significantly influencing dolphin occurrence in this area. We found a distinct seasonal occurrence pattern with dolphins being most commonly sighted in July. Using a generalized additive model, the probability of dolphin presence was found to be significantly affected by the tidal phase, water temperature, salinity levels, and dissolved oxygen. These results provide a better understanding of the geographical distribution and seasonal occurrence of bottlenose dolphins in the Chesapeake Bay. The relationship between dolphin occurrence and environmental conditions can be used to support conservation efforts and inform population management.