The research teams of Morigenos in Slovenia and Dolphin Biology and Conservation in Italy have successfully completed a key deliverable focused on estimating the overall population size of the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in the northern Adriatic Sea, specifically in the waters of Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Slovenia.
To achieve this, the research teams combined their respective datasets spanning six years into a shared analytical matrix, The joint analysis estimated total population sizes ranging between 570 (95% CI = 532–610) and 680 (95% CI = 636–728) dolphins in different years.
In the document, the authors discuss the reasons for what appears to be a low survival rate – an aspect that will be further investigated in future research.
The results highlight the importance of collaborative, transboundary approaches when assessing the abundance of highly mobile species, whose ranges extend beyond national borders.
By integrating data across the two regions, the project provides the first comprehensive and accurate population estimate of dolphin abundance in this area, based on individual photo-identification, providing a stronger scientific background for future conservation and management efforts.
