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GROWTH OF BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS ( TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS ) FROM THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON SYSTEM, FLORIDA, U. S. A.
Author(s) -
Stolen Megan K.,
Odell Daniel K.,
Barros Nélio B.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
marine mammal science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.723
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1748-7692
pISSN - 0824-0469
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-7692.2002.tb01042.x
Subject(s) - gompertz function , cetacea , bottlenose dolphin , fishery , geography , population , biology , ecology , demography , mathematics , sociology , statistics
A bstract Gompertz growth models were fitted to total lengths and ages from tooth sections of 199 stranded bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ) from the Indian River Lagoon system, eastern Florida. Based on the model, dolphins from this population are estimated to be born at 119 cm and reach asymptotic length at 250 cm. No apparent pubescent growth acceleration was noted for either sex. Males appeared to grow to slightly longer lengths than females. There were small size differences between Indian River dolphins and those in Texas and Sarasota, indicating general size similarities between North Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico bottlenose dolphins stocks.