Population viability analysis of coastal bottlenose dolphins targeted by dolphin-watching boats in the Archipelago of Bocas del Toro, Panama
Jones, Amanda
Jones, Amanda
Citations
Altmetric:
License
License
Abstract
The resident bottlenose dolphins of the Archipelago of Bocas del Toro are targeted by the largest dolphin watching industry in Panama. The combination of a high number of boats interacting with the dolphins and a lack of compliance to national regulations have resulted in the deaths of 12 dolphins due to boat collisions and a significant decrease in foraging time, raising concerns about their future. Using photo identification capture-recapture data, we model changes in population size over time and in response to dolphin-watching boat traffic. The government of Panama has declared this bottlenose dolphin population as vulnerable and is currently evaluating the establishment of a marine protected area to preserve their habitat. Understanding how dolphin-watching activities affects this dolphin population can help the Panamanian government to implement management strategies directed at enforcing regulations and controlling for boat numbers within critical dolphin habitat.
Description
Date
2020-01-01
Student Status
Undergraduate
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type of presentation
Poster Presentation
Collections
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Citation
DOI
Advisor(s)
Department
Program/Major
Biological Science
College/School
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Organization
item.page.researchcategory
Biological Sciences