Ranging Patterns and Exposure to Cumulative Stressors of a Tursiops truncatus (Common Bottlenose Dolphin) in Georgia

Tursiops truncatus (Common Bottlenose Dolphin) in Georgia are exposed to multiple natural and anthropogenic stressors. Here, we describe a case study of an adult, male Common Bottlenose Dolphin entangled in marine debris, that was temporarily captured, disentangled, sampled for health assessment, satellite tagged, and released. Photographic-identification history and short-term tagging data support that the animal, Z58, has long-term site fidelity to the estuaries of southern Georgia. Health-assessment results identified several abnormal health parameters, including anemia, which likely resulted from exposure to extremely high site-specific contaminants that are known in the area. This note provides a case study of the various stressors to which Common Bottlenose Dolphins in Georgia are exposed, which can be used to develop effective management strategies for at-risk populations.