title: Demographic clusters identified within the northern Gulf of Mexico common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncates) unusual mortality event: January 2010-June 2013.
abstract: A multi-year unusual mortality event (UME) involving primarily common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncates) was declared in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GoM) with an initial start date of February 2010 and remains ongoing as of August 2014. To examine potential changing characteristics of the UME over time, we compared the number and demographics of dolphin strandings from January 2010 through June 2013 across the entire GoM as well as against baseline (1990-2009) GoM stranding patterns. Years 2010 and 2011 had the highest annual number of stranded dolphins since Louisiana's record began, and 2011 was one of the years with the highest strandings for both Mississippi and Alabama. Statewide, annual numbers of stranded dolphins were not elevated for GoM coasts of Florida or Texas during the UME period. Demographic, spatial, and temporal clusters identified within this UME included increased strandings in northern coastal Louisiana and Mississippi (March-May 2010); Barataria Bay, Louisiana (August 2010-December 2011); Mississippi and Alabama (2011, including a high prevalence and number of stranded perinates); and multiple GoM states during early 2013. While the causes of the GoM UME have not been determined, the location and magnitude of dolphin strandings during and the year following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, including the Barataria Bay cluster from August 2010 to December 2011, overlap in time and space with locations that received heavy and prolonged oiling. There are, however, multiple known causes of previous GoM dolphin UMEs, including brevetoxicosis and dolphin morbillivirus. Additionally, increased dolphin strandings occurred in northern Louisiana and Mississippi before the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Identification of spatial, temporal, and demographic clusters within the UME suggest that this mortality event may involve different contributing factors varying by location, time, and bottlenose dolphin populations that will be better discerned by incorporating diagnostic information, including histopathology.
authors: National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America.
authors: Stephanie
authors: S
authors: Venn-Watson
authors: National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Miami, Florida, United States of America.
authors: Lance
authors: L
authors: Garrison
authors: National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Miami, Florida, United States of America.
authors: Jenny
authors: J
authors: Litz
authors: National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of America.
authors: Erin
authors: E
authors: Fougeres
authors: National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Miami, Florida, United States of America.
authors: Blair
authors: B
authors: Mase
authors: NOAA Affiliate, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Miami, Florida, United States of America.
authors: Gina
authors: G
authors: Rappucci
authors: NOAA Affiliate, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Miami, Florida, United States of America.
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Stratton
authors: Dauphin Island Sea Lab and University of South Alabama, Dauphin Island, Alabama, United States of America.
authors: Ruth
authors: R
authors: Carmichael
authors: Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, Melbourne Beach, Florida, United States of America.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Odell
authors: Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, Gulfport, Mississippi, United States of America.
authors: Delphine
authors: D
authors: Shannon
authors: Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, United States of America; Marine Wildlife Response, Esther, Florida, United States of America.
authors: Steve
authors: S
authors: Shippee
authors: Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America.
authors: Suzanne
authors: S
authors: Smith
authors: Gulf World Marine Park, Panama City Beach, Florida, United States of America.
authors: Lydia
authors: L
authors: Staggs
authors: Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America.
authors: Mandy
authors: M
authors: Tumlin
authors: Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.
authors: Heidi
authors: H
authors: Whitehead
authors: National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America.
authors: Teri
authors: T
authors: Rowles
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D061006:Bays; D050681:Bottle-Nosed Dolphin; D003710:Demography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D060851:Gulf of America; D009026:Mortality