Bottlenose dolphins in Slovenian and adjacent waters (north Adriatic Sea) in 2002-2008

This dataset comprises the work carried out by Morigenos in Slovenian and adjacent waters of the north Adriatic Sea, between 2002 and 2008. A local population of bottlenose dolphins (<i>Tursiops truncatus</i>) in Slovenian and adjacent waters was studied using boat-based surveys, land-based surveys and standard photo-identification procedures. A total of 120 sightings were recorded and 101 well-marked dolphins photo-identified. Resighting rates within and between years showed a relatively high rate of site fidelity for some individuals. The group size ranged from 1 to 43. Offspring were present in 53.3% of the groups. Mark-recapture abundance estimates indicate that between 40 and 100 bottlenose dolphins use this area annually.<br><br>

Research in the territorial sea of the Republic of Slovenia has been carried out by Morigenos under the permit issued by the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Slovenia, numbers 35701-2/2004 and 35701-67/2004. Research in the territorial sea of the Republic of Croatia has been carried out by Morigenos, in cooperation with the Blue World Institute of Marine Research and Conservation, under the permit issued by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia, numbers UP/I 612-07/04-33/247, UP/I-612-07/06-33/984 and UP/I-612-07/08-33/024.