Use of chemical analysis of tissues to enhance understanding of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) feeding ecology and trophic relationships: stable isotopes. Final report.

Abstract

This report describes a study that examined the potential of using isotropic ratios to reconstruct the diets of bottlenose dolphins of known history, residing in Sarasota Bay, Florida, where long-term studies have been conducted. The research provides insights into the trophic level occupied by the dolphins and the dependence on selective primary producers for energetic pathways. The study also evaluated the importance of seagrass meadows as important feeding grounds for bottlenose dolphins in Sarasota Bay, based on long-term feeding history data.