Dolpin (1) Flashcards
Name three types of benthic fish that bottlenose dolphins feed on.
- Eels
- Flounder
- Sole
Why do harbour seals and Atlantic grey seals only occur casually in the English Channel?
Because their breeding grounds are far away.
List two midwater fish that are part of the bottlenose dolphin’s diet.
- Salmon
- Trout
During which months are bottlenose dolphins usually not seen along the south coast of England?
Between October and January
There are seven cetaceans that you sometimes see in the English Channel. Name them.
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- White-beaked dolphin
- Atlantic white-sided dolphin
- Striped dolphin
- Humpback whale
- Risso’s dolphin
- Sei whale
- Fin whale
Note that some of these have only been reported as strandings.
What are the most frequently observed cetacean species in nearshore and offshore waters?
Nearshore: bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus); Offshore: common dolphin (Delphinus delphis)
Where can you easily find bottlenose dolphins in Europe?
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Nearshore off the coasts of…
* Spain
* Portugal
* North-west France
* North-east Scotland
* South-east Ireland
* The English Channel.
What is the cetacean fauna of the eastern Channel characterized by in terms of numbers and diversity?
Poor numbers of animals and diversity of species
Bottlenose dolphins do occur offshore in the Atlantic. What species will they usually be found with?
Long-finned pilot whales
True or False: Both seal species in the British Isles breed in the English Channel.
False - their breeding grounds are located some distance away from the English Channel.
How many cetacean species have been recorded along the coasts or in nearshore waters of the eastern Channel since 1975?
Eleven species
- True or False: Some cetacean species have only been reported as strandings in the region.
- What does this indicate?
True. This indicates that some species may have died outside the region and were carried to shore by prevailng currents.
Globally, where does the bottlenose dolphin occur?
Worldwide distribution in tropical and temperate seas in both hemispheres.
Which species are considered regular seasonal visitors to the eastern Channel?
Bottlenose dolphin and common dolphin
Where do bottlenose dolphins often favor in coastal waters (3 Things)?
River estuaries, headlands or sandbanks.
Are groups of 15 or more bottlenose dolphins common in the English Channel?
No, they are uncommon.
What type of marine invertebrates do bottlenose dolphins consume (2 Types)?
Cephalopods and shellfish.
What type of research is mandated by Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive?
Research on conservation measures to prevent incidental capture and killing of cetaceans
What are the two seal species resident in the British Isles?
Harbour seal and Atlantic grey seal
What do photo-ID studies indicate about the exchange of animals between English and French populations of bottlenose dolphins?
No exchange of animals between the mainland English and French populations in Normandy
Where are bottlenose dolphins very common in the south of England (relative to the rest of the area - 2 places).
At Durlston Head in Dorset and between Jersey and Normandy
When do peaks in numbers of bottlenose dolphins occur off the Sussex coast?
Between April and August
- What types of bottom relief do bottlenose dolphins prefer in their habitats?
- What about tidal current strength?
- Uneven ocean floors
- Strong tidal currents.
“Bottom relief” refers to the topography or shape of the ocean floor, essentially describing the variations in elevation on the seabed.
How often have bottlenose dolphins been seen offshore?
They are rarely seen offshore
