Geospatial Analysis and Comparison of Habitat Costs for Resident Sarasota Bay Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

摘要: The Sarasota Dolphin Research Program (SDRP) studies a resident Florida bottlenose dolphin population that faces many threats from human activities. These dolphins concentrate in different areas seasonally, possibly response to changes the distribution of prey or predators. Movement one location another involves certain “costs” dolphins, which are defined this project as potential for negative environmental interactions (natural and anthropogenic). Using an updated habitat map SDRP study area geoprocessing model, cost analysis was performed order compare values eight primary types. Results indicated Mangrove Channel most costly, while Open Bay Pass least costly. I hypothesized will use habitats with lower costs more frequently than higher costs, but previous research photographic survey data show these dredged channels move between areas, at level they do not any type disproportionately its availability.