https://doi.org/10.82144/5059bd0b https://www.gbif.org/dataset/4882feee-cd07-447e-8203-2d1bcee5811a https://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/798 https://obis.org/dataset/b03e45b9-d481-46ea-87f4-d79869c608ed zd_798 Eric Ramos The Graduate Center, City University of New York & Fundación Internacional para la Naturaleza y la Sostenibilidad Primary contact eric.angel.ramos@gmail.com OBIS-SEAMAP Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University

A328 LSRC building Durham NC 27708 US

seamap-contact@duke.edu https://seamap.env.duke.edu OBIS-SEAMAP Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University

A328 LSRC building Durham NC 27708 US

seamap-contact@duke.edu https://seamap.env.duke.edu distributor Eric Ramos The Graduate Center, City University of New York & Fundación Internacional para la Naturaleza y la Sostenibilidad Primary contact eric.angel.ramos@gmail.com owner 2025-09-24 eng Original provider: Oceanic Society Dataset credits: Oceanic Society, CUNY Hunter College Abstract: In 1992 Oceanic Society began a study aimed at documenting the abundance, distribution, and behavioral ecology of bottlenose dolphins (<i>Tursiops truncatus</i>) in Belize. Our study site is Turneffe Atoll, a non-volcanic carribbean atoll ~40km east of Belize City with more than 200 mangrove cayes and surrounded by fringing coral reef. The atoll encloses a brackish lagoon whose shallow waters are the home to a population of bottlenose dolphins. To date more than a 175 dolphins have been identified in this region through photo-identification methods on surveys and follows. Studies on their abundance and distribution, habitat use, side-fidelity, and social affiliations have been conducted over the years since our work began.<br><br> From 1997 to 2001 researchers at OS conducted a study of the population of bottlenose dolphins located at the Drowned Cayes 8 km off the coast of Belize City. The close proximity of these regions suggested the possibility of overlap, yet only 3 were matched to both sites spurring more questions about the home ranges of dolphin populations in Belize. All research is conducted from small boats inside the atoll. Occurrence GBIF Dataset Type Vocabulary: http://rs.gbif.org/vocabulary/gbif/dataset_type.xml Observation GBIF Dataset Subtype Vocabulary: http://rs.gbif.org/vocabulary/gbif/dataset_subtype.xml Marine Biology Visual sighting Vessels Sightings Bottlenose Dolphins Marine Mammals N/A This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC-BY-NC) 4.0 License. https://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/798 Eastern Pacific -88.14255 17.612833 17.612833 17.14728 2000-01-30 2011-07-28 Scientific names are based on the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). species Globicephala macrorhynchus Short-finned pilot whale subspecies Trichechus manatus manatus Antillean manatee species Tursiops truncatus Common bottlenose dolphin Photo-identification methods are used to track sightings of individuals who are recognizable through dorsal fin scarring. Some of our current research goals include the study of social and acoustic behavior in the dolphin population in this atoll conducted from small boats Of particular interest is the subset of the population classified as residents who demonstrate a side fidelity of nearly 20 years.<br><br> Located at the southernmost tip of Blackbird Caye researchers and partners of OS engage in scientific research on various aspects of the ecology and biodiversity of this complex and productive habitat. Some research has included the study of abundance and distribution of American crocodiles (<i>Crocdylus acutus</i>), sea turtles presence and nesting sites, and monitoring coral reef health. Antillean manatees (<i>Trichechus manatus manatus</i>) are also encountered in certain regions of Turneffe Atoll. Oceanic Society is partnered with researchers who conduct boat and aerial surveys for manatees.<br><br> Much remains to be understood cetacean abundance and distribution in this region as other cetaceans including Short-finned Pilot whales (<i>Globicephala marcorhyncus</i>) and Atlantic-spotted dolphins (<i>Stenella frontalis</i>) are occasionally sighted beyond just at the bounds of Turneffe Atoll. annually Eric Ramos The Graduate Center, City University of New York & Fundación Internacional para la Naturaleza y la Sostenibilidad Primary contact eric.angel.ramos@gmail.com NA NA NA Eric Ramos owner NA 2025-09-24T18:10:30-04:00 dataset Ramos, E. 2012. Oceanic Society's Marine Mammal Sightings in Belize 1992 - 2011. Version 1.0.0. Dataset published in OBIS-SEAMAP. https://doi.org/10.82144/5059bd0b. Campbell, G.S., B.A. Bilgre and R.H. Defran. 2002. Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Turneffe Atoll, Belize: Occurrence, site fidelity, group size, and abundance. Aquatic Mammals28(2):170-180. OBIS-SEAMAP Dataset Page UTF-8 Interactive map https://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/798 FGDC Metadata UTF-8 XML https://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/798/fgdc EML Metadata UTF-8 XML https://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/798/eml OBIS-SEAMAP zd_798 zd_798