Age and Length at Sexual Maturity, Calving Interval, and Ovarian Activity of Female Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops erebennus) in South Carolina Waters

Graeff, Jori E.; Krzewinski, Megan M.; McFee, Wayne E.

doi:10.1111/mms.70006

i

Age and Length at Sexual Maturity, Calving Interval, and Ovarian Activity of Female Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops erebennus) in South Carolina Waters

2025
By Graeff, Jori E. ; Krzewinski, Megan M. ; McFee, Wayne E.

Details

Journal Title:

Marine Mammal Science
Personal Author:

Graeff, Jori E. ; Krzewinski, Megan M. ; McFee, Wayne E.
NOAA Program & Office:

NOS (National Ocean Service) ; NCCOS (National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science)
Description:

Tamanend's bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops erebennus) face population and environmental stressors that influence the age and length at sexual maturity (ASM and LSM, respectively) and calving interval, which are life history traits used to assess population status and health. We provide initial estimates of the ASM, LSM, and calving interval, as well as descriptions of ovarian activity of female Tamanend's bottlenose dolphins that stranded in South Carolina waters. ASM and LSM estimates were approximately 10 years and 215 cm, respectively. Analysis of carcasses sampled over a three-decade period (1992–2022) indicated temporal variations in maturation, possibly related to unusual mortality events and/or periods of poor animal health. Stranding location did not appear to influence maturation. The calving interval estimate averaged between 2 and 4 years. Corpora counts relevant to age supported previous findings of corpora accumulation in bottlenose dolphins. In mature females, the left ovary accumulated more corpora and generally weighed more than the right ovary, suggesting asymmetric ovarian activity. To support the conservation of this newly recognized coastal and estuarine species, we suggest continued monitoring of the onset of sexual maturation and calving interval.
Keywords:

Bottlenose Dolphin Ovaries Bottlenose Dolphin Age At Sexual Maturity (ASM) Calving Interval Length At Sexual Maturity (LSM) Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphins Tursiops Erebennus
Source:

Marine Mammal Science, 2025; 0:e70006
DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.70006
Format:

PDF
Document Type:

Journal Article
Place as Subject:

South Carolina
License:

https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
Rights Information:

CC0 Public Domain
Compliance:

Submitted
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha-512:38d2325888670c69a8df280bcd772e4ac7dd63ed3d645b32bd4e9af18847f276ad59a4f158811d465c6414adf5ad248c0aa46276c72c4bf0f19ce62e4d9b2d0f
Download URL:

https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/70088/noaa_70088_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 551.78 KB ]

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