METHOD TO STUDY A BOTTLE-NOSED DOLPHINS (TURSIOPS-TRUNCATUS) POPULATION LIVING IN A SPECIFIC AREA

From several works of research done on the Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in its natural environment during the last twenty years, the author sets out an analytic method to study such populations living in a specific area. Al the same time She compares this type of study with similar ones done in the land environment. The author shows the need to deeply study the area's characteristics to later establish references in the environment before beginning the observations. Later on the author explains how to collect datas and underlines the analysis important points (definition of home range and way of establishment, identification of animals, study of environment's parameters, animals' behaviour). Finally the author proposes a discussion of the results suggesting the comparison with other studies also done on the Bottlenose Dolphin in the natural environment.