‘THE DOLPHIN DIEOFF; LONG-TERM EFFECTS AND RECOVERY OF THE POPULATION
Gerald P.Seot, Douglas M. Bi
and Larry. Hansen
NOAA, National Mate Fisheries Service, Souteast Faeries Cener, Mami Laboratory
"75 Vega Beach Dive
‘Miami, Florida 33109,
ABSTRACT.
“The 1987-8 mortal ofbotesos doping (Tusions neat) long
US, Alantc coast was an order of magnitod greater than the prie tees
year average primarily due Loan apparent ducase epidemic Althoughboth
‘oulal and ofehore xock of dolphins are believed to innbit the waters
‘ofthe east cout, population surveys bloga samples fomslranded
Sod Hveeaptare animals suggests ta he observed moray was prin-
‘Spal Irom a d-Alatic costal migratory ck of dolphing. Ava
date sogest a dectn ofa leas 53% inthe stock sbundance may have oc
‘cttred. I this degree of reduction has ocurred and thi stock proves 0 DE
eprodactvely lated, thes the stock i tly below its opm sur
{alnable population (OSP) lve ad this a depleted stock Population
\rajectrlestroma 53% reduction lve! were simulated using arange of ital
rate and otbor demographic parameter valves. Under the parameter a
‘sttptious wed for ealebltons no combinations resulted is tajectories
ward extinction. The reauing distributions of ecovery inet the lower
Tit of OSP were soagl skewed. Inthe abeonce of human-induced mor
tality, the median Lie to recovery was32.5 yr (ange, 1650 7). Under the
‘ssumpionof a contat human iodeced mortality rte equal Coesimates
‘of pretenses, the timc to recovery estimates ranged Lom 18 to 100+
yr Wiha ein inet covery of 505 yf oce than 20% of he cases
‘Smolted with human-induced mortality, recovery wasnt achive within
Mo ys
1, INTRODUCTION
{In th United Stats, marine mammal population are managed under the
legislative autboriy ofthe Marine Manial Protection Act (MMPA) of
1972 (as amended). The management goal defined ia the MMPA is op
‘ism sustainable population (OSP) eel, which hasbeen defined to be
population levels at or greater than these that produce maximum net
productivity (MNP) tothe eepystem carrying eapacin. Population stocks
‘use of OSP (below MIN) ae defiaed as depleted, Removal of animals
(Gackdemal bycatch fie-captute, et) ex be legal authorized rom 203°
depleted stocks
‘Although there i considerably more iaformation on btdenose dolphins
than mos other cetacean species, forte mos par iformation necessary
for determation of stock state relative to OSP levels is inadequate
Generally, log, consistent indices of population production and abun
dance are aocetary to determine OSP. However, there are caes where
‘uastophicchangesia populations cancer, thereby allowing asesrent
ofthe degre of change and status relative o OSP. The recet mative de-
‘ff ofboltlensse dolphins along the east coast may be such a case,
‘During tbe summer and fal of1987 andthe winter of 988 an apparet dis:
ease epidemic eslied i the death ad stranding ofan tnsualy large
sumber of Atlante botlesos dlp (Tursions ouncats) long ibe US.
eas coat fom New Jersey to ceiral Porida In response this anomaly,
‘mul-agency team was formed to ineigate the causes and efecto be
morality ees This pape is directed atthe second eamposcat ofthe in
‘eagation:ssessmest ofthe eet ofthe mortality even. The saab
{aformation on the biology and status ofthe affected bottlenose dolphia
population is presested in si sections spaial and temporal dseibuton,
‘Hock dlflereataoa, change i population levels, estimates of human a.
‘duced mortaliy, OSP, abd estimates of recovery
2. SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION
‘Botuenote dolphins are dntibuted throughout US. Gulf of Mexico and
USS Atlantic waters. In he US. Allan this opecies is dstrbuted long
the coat fom Long Island, NY tothe Florida Keye (1,2) North of Cape
Haeras, NC this pecies demonstrates adsjueldtebution, with con-
Figue 12) Diyibuional ange of ttenaze dolphins along the US. Alan
tie coat 8) Ares of major concntationsof cotta miatorys0ck of
Daalenase dolphins daring sumer and winter
‘zatraoas of animals scarshore (io embayments and within several
Hlometers of the coat) and oltboe,ecar the contizenal self margin,
tou 6 to 20) kan from the coast. Suh of Cape Hatlerag, he ne3!-
shorelotsbore dissibtion pattern is less distinct and there appear to be
Initial casters of animal conceatratin rather than the longitudinally
50% (b
n= 534%).
5, ESTIMATES OF HUMAN-INDUCED MORTALITY
‘The present take of bolenase dolphins in US. waters comes from the he
capture fishery for public dspay, incidental atch in other aberies, and by
‘ober dzec human actions (9). Lire-capture removals for public display
‘re not autborize forthe coastal migratory stock of dofpins affected by
the lscase epidemic. Tee magnitude of annual morals fom this sock
secto ince ac end ies reed buan eae at wel os.
‘Marine maf stranding data provide information wel for estimating
tap inder of human-induced mortality of cetaceans isthe US. Gull of
“Merico and alongibe US, Alaniceoat Maay ofthe etaceans tha strand
are examined for causes of moral, Burs and Scott (20) examined the
srandigg dats provided by the SithucsanLstituton (12) for evidence of
human-induced moralityinbotleaoee dlphins, tla of386botlesosed
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