Bahamas Dolphin Research

Grand Bahama.  As the first Oceanic Society Research project, this study has now been tracking spotted dolphins for 14 years.  Dolphins in this now-famous site are subject to a variety of disturbances including fishing traffic and ecotourist visitors, and their habitat in this shallow bank is subject to extensive on-going exploration for shipwrecks.  Adding to these factors, a spotted dolphin was among the 15 cetaceans that stranded not far from this study site apparently in relation to US Navy active-sonar experiments. 

Our research has tracked the lives of individual dolphins with the use of photographic identification to generate basic population parameters such as birth rates, mortality rates, and the strength of social bonds over time.