As part of our ongoing Interreg Italia-Slovenia research project “SeaInsights”, we achieved a milestone in understanding the connectivity between bottlenose dolphins in the Gulf of Trieste and in the waters off Veneto region. These communities have been studied independently for several years by Morigenos (Slovenia) and Dolphin Biology and Conservation (Italy). But now the information has been merged, and analyses are being conducted cooperatively.
The research teams shared their photo-identification catalogues to investigate the movements of individual dolphins across the region. Each match was carefully validated by team members from both groups. We found that a considerable number of dolphins occur in both areas, consistent with the hypothesis of overlap and long-range movements.
The research teams are currently mapping the movements of these “shared” individuals and analysing the available information on site fidelity and degree of residency in either area. Understanding patterns of habitat use and movement is crucial for assessing degrees of population connectivity and reliance on any given area, and for development of appropriate long-term conservation strategies.
