Tursiops truncatus (Common Bottlenose Dolphin) in Georgia are exposed to multiple natural and anthropogenic stressors. Here, we describe a case study of an adult, male Common Bottlenose Dolphin entangled in marine debris, that was temporarily captured, disentangled, sampled for health assessment, satellite tagged, and released. Photographic-identification history and short-term tagging data support that the animal, Z58, has long-term site fidelity to the estuaries of southern Georgia. Health-assessment results identified several abnormal health parameters, including anemia, which likely resulted from exposure to extremely high site-specific contaminants that are known in the area. This note provides a case study of the various stressors to which Common Bottlenose Dolphins in Georgia are exposed, which can be used to develop effective management strategies for at-risk populations.
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6 March 2019
Ranging Patterns and Exposure to Cumulative Stressors of a Tursiops truncatus (Common Bottlenose Dolphin) in Georgia
Brian Balmer,
Eric Zolman,
Jennie Bolton,
Deborah Fauquier,
Erin Fougeres,
R. Clay George,
Tracey Goldstein,
Michael Gowen,
Trip Kolkmeyer,
Carolina Le-Bert,
Blair Mase,
Terry Norton,
Jon Peterson,
Teri Rowles,
Jerry Saliki,
Gina Ylitalo
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Southeastern Naturalist
Vol. 18 • No. 1
February 2019
Vol. 18 • No. 1
February 2019
