SC Dolphin Project - Powered by Anecdata.org

Christi Hughes; Meghan Galipeau; Albert George; Sara McDonald; Jane Disney; Cait Bailey; Ashley Taylor; Alexis Garretson

doi:10.15468/9zrzjd

SC Dolphin Project - Powered by Anecdata.org

Citation

Hughes C, Galipeau M, George A, McDonald S, Anecdata.org Contributors, Disney J, Bailey C, Taylor A, Garretson A, South Carolina Aquarium (2024). SC Dolphin Project - Powered by Anecdata.org. Version 1.1. The Community Environmental Health Laboratory at MDI Biological Laboratory. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/9zrzjd accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-12-12.

Description

About this project Calling all dolphin lovers – and citizen scientists! Help researchers monitor dolphins along the South Carolina coast by contributing data and photos whenever you spot a dolphin. Together, we can determine where dolphins frequent and act in favor of dolphins and healthy habitats. Project goal To document the movements and behavior of dolphins in South Carolina's coastal waters. What participants do Photo document all sightings of bottlenose dolphins at any location in South Carolina. Dolphins are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It is illegal to feed or harass dolphins. Do not approach dolphins within 50 yards (150 ft). Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are apex predators that live year-round in South Carolina’s coastal waters. These charismatic marine mammals are key indicators of the current health of our shared marine environment. Data regarding dolphin habitat use, movements, and behavior can serve as a barometer of water quality in our region. Monitoring how coastal areas are used by dolphins will provide a better understanding of the connections between animals, people and their shared environment. Researchers have been monitoring the health and status of a population of ~450 dolphins in Charleston Harbor for decades. However, very little is known about dolphins throughout most of South Carolina. So, what can we do? With your help, we can collect data to establish a baseline for dolphin populations throughout the state and inform dolphin conservation activities. Join dolphin researchers in monitoring the real-time distribution of these marine mammals throughout South Carolina’s waters. By contributing your data, you’ll aid in protecting the overall health of our shared local waterways. HOW TO PARTICIPATE: Photo document all sightings of bottlenose dolphins at any location in South Carolina. Please be respectful - do not approach, harass, or chase dolphins. Note if the observation is from land or boat, as well as the number of dolphins seen. Contribute your data using either the South Carolina Aquarium Citizen Science app (on iTunes & Google Play) or the project website.

Sampling Description

Study Extent

About this project Calling all dolphin lovers – and citizen scientists! Help researchers monitor dolphins along the South Carolina coast by contributing data and photos whenever you spot a dolphin. Together, we can determine where dolphins frequent and act in favor of dolphins and healthy habitats. Project goal To document the movements and behavior of dolphins in South Carolina's coastal waters. What participants do Photo document all sightings of bottlenose dolphins at any location in South Carolina.

Sampling

With your help, we can collect data to establish a baseline for dolphin populations throughout the state and inform dolphin conservation activities. Join dolphin researchers in monitoring the real-time distribution of these marine mammals throughout South Carolina’s waters. By contributing your data, you’ll aid in protecting the overall health of our shared local waterways.

Method steps

HOW TO PARTICIPATE: Photo document all sightings of bottlenose dolphins at any location in South Carolina. Please be respectful - do not approach, harass, or chase dolphins. Note if the observation is from land or boat, as well as the number of dolphins seen. Contribute your data using either the South Carolina Aquarium Citizen Science app (on iTunes & Google Play) or the project website.

Taxonomic Coverages

Tursiops truncatus
rank: species

Geographic Coverages

United States

Bibliographic Citations

Contacts

Christi Hughes
originator
position: Project Administrator
Anecdata.org
homepage: https://anecdata.org/user/ChristiHughes/

Meghan Galipeau
originator
position: Project Administrator
Anecdata.org
homepage: https://anecdata.org/user/Meg_G/

Albert George
originator
position: Project Administrator
Anecdata.org
homepage: https://anecdata.org/user/ForrestLabAlum/

Sara McDonald
originator
position: Project Administrator
Anecdata.org
homepage: hthttps://anecdata.org/user/sara_mcdonald_1/

Anecdata.org Contributors
originator
position: Data Contributors
Anecdata.org
homepage: https://anecdata.org/

Jane Disney
originator
position: Associate Professor of Environmental Health
MDI Biological Laboratory
159 Old Bar Harbor Rd.
Bar Harbor
04609
ME
US
email: jdisney@mdibl.org
homepage: https://mdibl.org/faculty/jane-e-disney-ph-d/
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4869-9802

Cait Bailey
originator
position: Systems Developer
MDI Biological Laboratory
159 Old Bar Harbor Rd.
Bar Harbor
04609
ME
US
email: cait@mdibl.org

Ashley Taylor
originator
position: Community Manager
MDI Biological Laboratory
159 Old Bar Harbor Rd.
Bar Harbor
04609
ME
US
email: ataylor@mdibl.org

Alexis Garretson
originator
position: Community Environmental Health Laboratory Manager
MDI Biological Laboratory
159 Old Bar Harbor Rd.
Bar Harbor
04609
ME
US
email: agarretson@mdibl.org
homepage: https://alexis-catherine.github.io/
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7260-0131

Alexis Garretson
metadata author
position: Community Environmental Health Laboratory Manager
MDI Biological Laboratory
159 Old Bar Harbor Rd.
Bar Harbor
04609
ME
US
email: agarretson@mdibl.org
homepage: https://alexis-catherine.github.io/
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7260-0131

South Carolina Aquarium
originator
position: Project Organizer
South Carolina Aquarium
100 Aquarium Wharf
Charleston
29401
SC
US
email: information@scaquarium.org
homepage: https://scaquarium.org/

Alexis Garretson
administrative point of contact
position: Community Environmental Health Laboratory Manager
MDI Biological Laboratory
159 Old Bar Harbor Rd.
Bar Harbor
04609
ME
US
email: agarretson@mdibl.org
homepage: https://alexis-catherine.github.io/
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7260-0131

Jane Disney
administrative point of contact
position: Associate Professor of Environmental Health
MDI Biological Laboratory
159 Old Bar Harbor Rd.
Bar Harbor
04609
ME
US
email: jdisney@mdibl.org
homepage: https://mdibl.org/faculty/jane-e-disney-ph-d/
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4869-9802

Cait Bailey
administrative point of contact
position: Systems Developer
MDI Biological Laboratory
159 Old Bar Harbor Rd.
Bar Harbor
04609
ME
US
email: cait@mdibl.org

Ashley Taylor
administrative point of contact
position: Community Manager
Anecdata.org
email: ataylor@mdibl.org

Anecdata.org
administrative point of contact
Anecdata.org
email: anecdata@mdibl.org
homepage: https://www.anecdata.org

Community Environmental Health Laboratory
administrative point of contact
position: Community Environmental Health Laboratory
MDI Biological Laboratory
159 Old Bar Harbor Rd.
Bar Harbor
04609
ME
US
email: CEHL@mdibl.org
homepage: https://mdibl.org/faculty/jane-e-disney-ph-d/
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4869-9802