HAWAIIAN SPINNER DOLPHIN ABUNDANCE, DISTRIBUTION AND DEMOGRAPHICS
This project aims to assess the abundance and distribution of Naiʻa (Hawaiian spinner dolphins) throughout the main Hawaiian Islands and collect detailed population and life-history data on the dolphins of Oʻahu's Waiʻanae coast.
Background Information
Naiʻa or Hawaiian spinner dolphins are one of Hawaiʻi’s most familiar dolphin species. Despite their well known occurrence throughout the islands, little is known about the population size, age structure, or distribution of these dolphins. Understanding these population parameters is important for long term monitoring of the dolphins’ health and survival. This project will provide abundance and distribution information for spinner dolphins in the main Hawaiian Islands and determine specific population and age structure estimates for the dolphins of the Waiʻanae coast.
AIMS
The aims of the this project are to:
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produce abundance estimates for the Oʻahu / 4-Islands and Hawaiʻi Island spinner dolphin stocks
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investigate the distribution of dolphins throughout the target area using spatial models
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estimate the abundance and age-structure of the Hawaiian spinner dolphins offshore Oʻahu's Waiʻanae coast
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create a photo-identification catalog of distinctly marked individuals in the Waiʻanae coast population
research team
Lars Bejder - MMRP
Liah McPherson - MMRP
Claire Lacey - MMRP
Erin Oleson - NOAA/PIFSC
Marie Hill - NOAA/JIMAR
For questions, concerns, or more information about the project, contact the research team at mmrp.naia@gmail.com. We also invite you to download our double-sided trifold brochure by clicking the image below. Please feel free to print, fold, and distribute.
PROJECT BLOGS
