Nicks 'n' Notches Online
October 2016

Welcome to Nicks 'n' Notches Online, the enewsletter of the 
Sarasota Dolphin Research Program.
RESEARCH, CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION SINCE 1970.
The Sarasota Dolphin Research Program (SDRP) is a collaboration dedicated to dolphin research, conservation and education.   
 
It began in 1970 at Mote Marine Laboratory when Blair Irvine and high school student Randy Wells started a pilot tagging study to find out whether dolphins on Florida's central west coast remained in the area or traveled more widely. In 1974, with a contract from the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission, they were joined by Michael Scott and expanded the study with radio-telemetry.
 
Their subsequent discovery of long-term residency set the stage for today's efforts by demonstrating opportunities to study individually identifiable dolphins throughout their lives in a natural laboratory setting.   

Our work is conducted under the name "Sarasota Dolphin Research Program." This name ties together several organizations dedicated to ensuring the continuity of our long-term research, conservation and education efforts in Sarasota Bay and elsewhere.

The SDRP has been operated by the Chicago Zoological Society (CZS) since 1989. 

"Dolphin Biology Research Institute," is a Sarasota-based 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation established in 1982. It provides logistical support with research vessels, towing vehicles, computers, cameras, field equipment, etc. 

Since 1992, the program has been based at Mote Marine Laboratory on City Island in Sarasota Bay, with office, lab, storage and dock space and easy access to boat launching ramps within the home range of the Sarasota Bay resident dolphins.
 
Notes from the Field and Lab...
   Randall Wells, Ph.D., Director
We've been busy this month with a number of ongoing programs to learn about and help protect and conserve wild dolphins both locally in Sarasota and in other parts of the world. So here's a quick roundup on some items we've shared with you over the past few months:

Red tide:
An important part of conserving wild dolphins is understanding how changes in their environment impact their population. A strong red tide moved into the region in the latter half of September and has continued in October, resulting in large fish kills.

Previous research conducted during and after a severe and prolonged red tide in 2005-2006 showed that dolphins changed their ranging and social patterns when prey availability declined. They also interacted more frequently with humans -- trying to take bait or catch from fishing lines.

It's too early to say if this red tide will be as severe or have any impact on the Sarasota Bay dolphin community. (For red tide bulletins and updates see visitbeaches.org, myfwc.com/REDTIDESTATUS or tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/hab/)

Bermuda dolphins:
We're working with the Oceanographic Foundation in Valencia, Spain, and Dolphin Quest on a project to study deep-diving dolphins and compare their behavior, ecology and physiology with Sarasota Bay dolphins.

We've tagged four dolphins with satellite-linked tags and have been following their travels, with unprecedented findings. We've documented dives to more than 1,000 meters -- more than half a mile! We've also seen one dolphin circumnavigate Bermuda through the Sargasso Sea. You can see our weekly tracking summaries online.

A bottlenose dolphin near Bermuda.
Photo copyright Dolphin Quest.

Happy birthday -- to us!
In October, the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program celebrated its 46th anniversary... that's 46 years of learning about, protecting and conserving wild dolphins. It's been a rewarding journey and I'd just like to thank you all for being so interested in our mission of research, conservation and education.

Here's wishing you fair winds and following seas on your own journeys!


Randy Wells
Fin of the Month...
Name: FB15, nicknamed Nicklo
In this 2012 photo, from left to right, are Nicklo, Blacktip Doubledip, calf F286 and Eve. Eve is Nicklo's daughter and F286 is Eve's son. F286 is Nicklo's only known grand-calf. Blacktip Doubledip and Nicklo were frequently seen together until 62-year-old Blacktip Doubledip disappeared within the past year.
Age: 66 
Sex: Female
A Dolphin's Life: In honor of our anniversary, we thought we'd introduce you to Nicklo, the oldest known bottlenose dolphin in the world.

Nicklo was born in 1950 and was seen as recently as this month during our monitoring surveys. She's been sighted more than 820 times since 1982.

She gave birth to her last calf at age 48. That calf, nicknamed Eve, gave birth to her own calf in 2012.

As with most of our long-lived Sarasota Bay residents, Nicklo's life highlights that the bay is their home over many decades and multiple generations. It's also interesting to think about what she has seen over her lifetime, especially changes in coastal development and boat traffic.
 

In this 2014 photo, taken when she was 64, Nicklo was still leaping and socializing.
 
Sarasota Dolphin Research Program
708 Tropical Circle
Sarasota, FL  34242
941.349.3259
info@sarasotadolphin.org 


Dedicated to dolphin research, conservation  and education since 1970.

Dolphin Biology Research Institute (DBA Sarasota Dolphin Research Program) is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to research and conservation of dolphins and their habitat. Employer Identification No. 59-2288387; Florida Charitable Contributions Solicitations Registration No. CH1172. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL FLORIDA REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE OR AT WWW.FRESHFROMFLORIDA.COM. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. THIS ORGANIZATION RETAINS 100% OF ALL CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED.