Since 2001, DCP has been studying a group of Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) in the waters around Bimini, a small Bahamian island along the Great Bahamas Bank. Each field season has been extremely successful and, as we continue to collaborate with Bimini Undersea, we now have 79 individual dolphins in our Photo-ID catalog.

The purpose of DCP’s research on this group of spotted dolphins is to analyze the group dynamics of Atlantic spotted dolphins found on the Great Bahamas Bank, north of Bimini. Identification of individual dolphins and examination of their association patterns provides details and insight into their social structure and behavior. We will continue to examine if any of the identified dolphins match those individuals observed farther north, along the White Sand Ridge. To read more background information, click here.

The 2007 Bimini field season is once again being conducted by DCP Research Associate Kelly Melillo. Kel, a Master’s candidate at Alaska Pacific University, is in her sixth summer season in Bimini. This year, she will be joined by two DCP interns, who will spend part of their summer in Bimini, and part assisting in the DCP office in Connecticut. As always, we are extremely excited about this year’s research.

As always, Kel will be keeping folks around the world up to date on the research by posting regular field reports. Click on a posting below to see what we (and the dolphins) have been up to! Current (summer) field reports can be found below the January reports.

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