The drop-off along the coast of Bonaire seems to be a hotspot for delphinid species in the area. Bottlenose, spinner, and rough-toothed dolphins are regularly observed from shore and face increasing anthropogenic disturbance. Little is known about their inshore occurrence patterns in this area.
This paper assessed the temporal patterns of the occurrence of delphinids along the coast of Bonaire on community, species, and individual level, using data from a shore-based citizen science project, Dushi Dolphin An Nou. The bottlenose dolphins are part of a resident population that has been around for well over a decade. They remained present year-round. Rough-toothed dolphins showed a peak in occurrence around January, but the reason is unclear. Spinner dolphins showed minimal signs of seasonality, but larger sample sizes are necessary for conclusive results.
The delphinids show minimal signs of interaction and each combination of species occurs on the same day less than expected by chance.
Recommendations are made for future research, including standardised data collection of group sizes, dolphin behaviours, and human activity to gain more insight on temporal variations in habitat use, and the threats the dolphins are facing. More in-depth analysis will be done, including photo ID for the other two species.
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