Montenegro is experiencing a rapid expansion in tourism, which is affecting the marine ecosystem and species of the region such as the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) population that is declining. In this study we want to investigate whether there is an overlap between areas of tourist activities and the bottlenose dolphin’s habitat. We created kernel density maps that we used to visually assess the extent of overlap and we also calculated the percentage of overlap between areas with different densities of tourism and dolphin distribution areas in different seasons of the year. We saw that overlap occurs during all seasons and with all areas of different densities of tourism activities. We have seen that in spring there are more dolphins close to the coast, resulting in more overlap with the coastal touristic areas, and that the entry to Boka Kotorska Bay, despite its high tourist density area, is an important region for Adriatic Sea bottlenose dolphins. The results of this study suggest that Montenegrin waters are of great importance for the Adriatic Sea bottlenose dolphin population and the understanding of the overlap between their habitats and the threats they face is vital for the recovery and survival of the species.
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