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Sarasota Dolphin Research Program
Since 1984, Dolphin Quest has provided veterinary expertise in the field and, since 1997, financial support to the Chicago Zoological Society’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program. The program began in 1970 and it conducts the world’s longest running study of a wild dolphin population. This important study provides a better understanding of the dolphins residing in the Sarasota Bay area and can be used in comparisons to other populations around the world.
Website: http://www.sarasotadolphin.org
Annual Reports: http://www.sarasotadolphin.org/sources-of-information/publications/nicks-n-notches/
Health Assessment of Bottlenose Dolphins in Sarasota Bay, Florida
Project Investigators: Randall Wells
Affiliate Organizations: Chicago Zoological Society’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program
Project Started: 1970
Dolphin Quest Supported: 1997 – 2018
Project Description
- This program is an ongoing, long-term research assessment of health and life history of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Sarasota Bay, Florida
Marine Mammal/Conservation Benefit
- The primary contributions to science have been to gain a better understanding of the biology, behavior, ecology, health, and population dynamics of coastal bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
- In addition to compiling dolphin population life history and health data, this assessment is helping to evaluate the impact of oil spills and other environmental contaminants and biotoxins on dolphins
Images by the Chicago Zoological Society’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program NMFS Permit No. 15543-06
Health Assessment, Tagging, and Tracking of Dolphins over the West Florida Shelf
Species: Bottlenose dolphins
Project Investigators: Randall Wells, Andreas Fahlman, Michael Moore
Affiliate Organizations: Chicago Zoological Society, Oceanografic, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Project Started: 2018
Dolphin Quest Supported: 2018
Project Description
- We propose to test and refine our program’s developing capabilities to conduct deep-water capture-release for health assessment
Images by the Chicago Zoological Society’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, taken under NMFS Scientific Research Permit No. 20455
Marine Mammal/Conservation Benefit
- The proposed research will be the first-ever systematic tagging, tracking, and health assessments of dolphins in West Florida Shelf waters
- Monitoring and tracking dolphins in West Florida Shelf waters gives a better understanding of the species that travel or live in the area, establishing a health and behavior baseline
Image by the Chicago Zoological Society’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program NMFS Permit No. 15543-06
