Atlantic Spotted and Bottlenose Dolphin Sympatric Distribution in Nearshore Waters Off Bimini, The Bahamas, 2003–2018

Abstract

Within nearshore waters off Bimini, The Bahamas, Atlantic spotted (Stenella frontalis) and common bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) dolphins are sympatric but separated spatially in different geographic areas and water depth ranges. Afternoon surveys during summer months across a 16-year period showed S. frontalis used the northern part of the nearshore area more, while T. truncatus used the southern area more. Generally, examination of geographic zones and water depth distributions of both species before and after construction of a pier in the study area suggested these dolphins were not impacted, long-term, by this anthropogenic activity. Still some differences in use of the nearshore area were identified. For water depth, S. frontalis varied use between 5–<12 m and 12–<20 m, depending on location along the coast. In contrast, T. truncatus consistently used the 5–<12 m depths. This difference may be related to how each species used the nearshore area, with T. truncatus feeding more and S. frontalis travelling and doing other activities. A small change in the distribution of S. frontalis by water depth off the northern coast of Bimini was found, specifically an increased use of deeper (12–20 m) water post 2014, which is unlikely an effect of pier construction as S. frontalis continued to use the 5–12 m depths as they had before pier construction. How this change might be related to an unprecedented 2013 S. frontalis immigration event, which might have disrupted the social structure, habitat/resource use, and distribution of both species, is discussed.