Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation On-transect Sightings

Charlotte Dunn

doi:10.15468/tbknk3

Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation On-transect Sightings

Citation

Dunn, C. 2013. Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation On-transect Sightings. Data downloaded from OBIS-SEAMAP (http://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/328) on yyyy-mm-dd. https://doi.org/10.15468/tbknk3 accessed via GBIF.org on 2025-06-24.

Description

Original provider: Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation Dataset credits: Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation Abstract: The Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation has a long-term study that has been documenting the occurrence, distribution, and abundance of marine mammals around the islands of The Bahamas since 1991. With more than 1,900 marine mammal encounters in the Bahamas, we are providing the only comprehensive documentation of the marine mammal fauna in this part of the world. Our research is based on the use of systematic boat-based surveys for describing the distribution and habitat use of different marine mammal species. We employ photo-identification techniques for the recognition of individual whales and dolphins, and we have developed new statistical approaches for using these data to determine abundance estimates and occupancy patterns. This photographic sampling is complemented by the collection of skin and faecal samples for molecular genetic analysis, which are being used to assess levels of genetic diversity and investigate the structuring of marine mammal populations.

The dataset presented here includes only marine mammal sightings, and other sea turtle sightings and marine mammal strandings and sightings are included in separate datasets in OBIS-SEAMAP. The dataset presented here is a subset of 444 marine mammal sightings between 1988 and 2005, including sightings reported from the public. This dataset also is a subset of 1,934 BMMS vessel encounters with marine mammals between 1991 and 2005, comprising 20 different species, with the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin representing 60% of all encounters. The entire dataset includes 89 stranding records between 1944 and 2005, including 15 species with Cuvier's beaked whale being the most common. In addition, the entire dataset includes 101 sightings of turtles comprising 3 different species between 1991 and 2005. Supplemental information: A sighting is is when our vessel was unable to close in on the group of animals while an encounter is when closing was successful and photographs / video recording of the animals were obtained. The dataset includes both encounters and sightings on transect as well as reports from the public. Off-transect sightings and encounters (opportunistic) are provided in a different dataset.

Use this dataset along with transect tracklines.

Purpose

Not available

Sampling Description

Study Extent

NA

Sampling

NA

Method steps

NA

Additional info

marine, harvested by iOBIS

Taxonomic Coverages

Scientific names are based on the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).

Tursiops truncatus
common name: Common Bottlenose Dolphin rank: species
Tursiops truncatus
common name: Common Bottlenose Dolphin rank: species
Stenella frontalis
common name: Atlantic Spotted Dolphin rank: species
Mesoplodon densirostris
common name: Blainville's Beaked Whale rank: species
Ziphius cavirostris
common name: Cuvier's Beaked Whale rank: species
Kogia sima
common name: Dwarf Sperm Whale rank: species
Orcinus orca
common name: Killer Whale rank: species
Mesoplodon
common name: beaked whales rank: genus
Stenella attenuata
common name: Pantropical Spotted Dolphin rank: species
Kogia breviceps
common name: Pygmy Sperm Whale rank: species
Grampus griseus
common name: Risso's Dolphin rank: species
Globicephala macrorhynchus
common name: Short-finned Pilot Whale rank: species
Physeter macrocephalus
common name: Sperm Whale rank: species
Hyperoodontidae
rank: family
Delphinidae
common name: dolphins rank: family
Kogia
common name: pygmy sperm whales rank: genus
Cetacea
common name: cetaceans rank: order
Cetacea
common name: cetaceans rank: order
Cetacea
common name: cetaceans rank: order

Geographic Coverages

Oceans

Bibliographic Citations

Contacts

Charlotte Dunn
originator
position: Primary contact
Charlotte Dunn
email: None

OBIS-SEAMAP
metadata author
Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University
A328 LSRC building
Durham
27708
NC
US
email: seamap-contact@duke.edu
homepage: http://seamap.env.duke.edu

OBIS-SEAMAP
distributor
Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University
A328 LSRC building
Durham
27708
NC
US
email: seamap-contact@duke.edu
homepage: http://seamap.env.duke.edu

Charlotte Dunn
owner
position: Primary contact
Charlotte Dunn
email: None

Charlotte Dunn
administrative point of contact
position: Primary contact
Charlotte Dunn
email: None