Reed Elsevier’s Earthwatch Volunteer Expedition

October 2008

Dr. Daniela Maldini and her field assistants, teams and affiliates have been studying the Monterey CA bottlenose dolphin and sea otter population for more than 10 years.

You might want to know …

Bottlenose Dolphin Distribution

Slide and comments courtesy of “California Coastal Bottlenose Dolphins, Sentinels of the Coastline”by Mark Cotter, Treasurer Okeanis.org ©

Okeanis.org headquartersMonterey, CA

Range Range ExpansionExpansion Before 1982

1982 - 2006

??

Historical range limited to the SCB;Historical range limited to the SCB; Skull >100 yrs. found in SF;Skull >100 yrs. found in SF;

Point Conception Point Conception 1982-83 ENSO event;1982-83 ENSO event; First sightings in MB (Wells et al.);First sightings in MB (Wells et al.); Current study started in 1989;Current study started in 1989;

Questions:Questions:

How many animals in population?How many animals in population? How many animals moved?How many animals moved? Is move permanent? If yes…Is move permanent? If yes… What is movement frequency N-SWhat is movement frequency N-S How far north did they go?How far north did they go? Does ENSO affect movements?Does ENSO affect movements?

Slide and comments courtesy of “California Coastal Bottlenose Dolphins, Sentinels of the Coastline”by Mark Cotter, Treasurer Okeanis.org ©

Surveys 7:00 am – Leave just before sunrise• Boat-based Weather check and take what you need for the day• Linear Sight Surveys 15 minutes survey recordings (“sitings” and stats)• Surf Zone 5 minute dolphin encounter recordings •Weather Conditions 3:00 pm head in, hose down, stow away, record stats,

prep for next day, go home tired and sated

Repeat daily until critical mass of data is recorded for analysis

A D

ay in the Life …

Pictures courtesy of “California Coastal

Bottlenose Dolphins, Sentinels of the Coastline”by Mark Cotter, Treasurer

Okeanis.org ©

Photo-IdentificationPhoto-Identification

SawSaw BirthmarkBirthmark

Wild WomanWild Woman TabaTaba

Ich Aav Noh MichIch Aav Noh MichKahunaKahuna EchoEcho

FemaleFemale

MaleMale

NumberTwentyOne

Ake’akamaiAke’akamai

Slide and comments courtesy of “California Coastal Bottlenose Dolphins, Sentinels of the Coastline”by Mark Cotter, Treasurer Okeanis.org ©

DOLPHIN PROJECT OBJECTIVES

DOLPHIN PROJECT OBJECTIVES

1.1. Population sizePopulation size Trends over timeTrends over time Age structure Age structure

2.2. Range, frequency and social significance of movementsRange, frequency and social significance of movements

3. 3. Social structureSocial structure Affiliation patterns and social structureAffiliation patterns and social structure Gender of known individualsGender of known individuals

4. 4. Habitat use and Foraging patternsHabitat use and Foraging patterns

5. 5. ThreatsThreats ContaminantsContaminants Diseases Diseases Coastal pollutionCoastal pollution Human/wildlife conflicts Human/wildlife conflicts

Project Objectives Courtesy of “California Coastal Bottlenose Dolphins, Sentinels of the Coastline”by Mark Cotter, Treasurer Okeanis.org ©