Local Community of Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus ponticus Barabash, 1940) in Waters of Southeastern Crimea: Number and Formation of Associations of Individuals in Groups

Abstract—This study was focused on the investigation of the spatiotemporal structure of the local population of the Black Sea bottlenose dolphins and the identification of stable relationships between individuals in groups. Observations and acoustic records were performed in 2014–2018 in the coastal waters of the southeastern Crimea from Cape Meganom to Cape Agir. The main method used for identifying individuals was acoustic identification on the basis of the compiled catalogue of signature whistles, signals with a frequency contour shape unique for each dolphin. The combination of visual and acoustic identification methods made it possible to accurately record the number and migrations of dolphins, as well as to identify their stable associations that form the social structure of the community.