Naslov
Reading biological parameters from stranded specimens and skeletal remains of Adriatic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Autori
Đuras Gomerčić, Martina ; Galov, Ana ; Gomerčić, Tomislav ; Lucić, Hrvoje ; Škrtić, Darinka ; Ćurković, Snježana ; Vuković, Snježana ; Gomerčić, Hrvoje

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
Marine Mammals of the Holarctic. Collection of scientific papers after the Fifth international conference / Boltunov, A. N. - Odesa, 2008, 215-217

ISBN
978-966-190-025-6

Skup
Fifth international conference of Marine Mammals of the Holarctic

Mjesto i datum
Odesa, Ukrajina, 14.10.2008. - 18.10.2008

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
dobri dupin
(bottlenose dolphin)

Sažetak
Stranded whales (Ordo Cetacea) are a source of valuable data on species abundance, distribution, morphology, diet, reproduction and health status. Complete or partial skeleton is often the only remain to be examined in a whale. These remains can contribute to the knowledge on important biological data such as species, age, sex, body length and body mass. The bottlenose dolphin has a worldwide distribution and diverse morphotypes, so morphological studies on local populations are highly encouraged. Our intention was to determinate external body and osteological measurements which correlate well with body length and body mass for their future use in body mass and body length estimation. Namely, these important biological parameters cannot be determined when only skeletal remains are found or in cases when no possibility for body mass determination exists. In our study we analyzed morphometrical values of 83 bottlenose dolphins (TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS) found dead in the period from October 1990 till December 2004 in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea. Post-mortem examinations included determination of sex, body mass, 22 external body measurements by Perrin (1975) and 153 skeletal measurements and meristic characters compiled from Perrin (1975), Walker (1981) and Wang et al. (2000). The correlations to total body length and body mass were determined in Microsoft Excel 2002. Our results show that 12 osteological measurement correlate well (r2>0, 9) with the total body length (Table 1). These measurements include ribs, vertebrae, sternum and flipper skeleton. Linear external body measurements, i.e. length to the umbilicus, anal or genital opening show also a high correlation to the total body length but they have a minor role in total body length estimation because they are measurable in specimens where also the total body length can be determined. Postcranial measurements show better correlations to the total body length when compared to the cranial skeleton. This fact confirms earlier statements that cranial skeleton ends its growth earlier than the postcranial skeleton (Perrin 1975). Some of the proposed measurements for total body length estimation can be used only if the whole skeleton is preserved because their exact position within the skeleton has to be known. On the other hand, measurements of humerus, radius, scapula and manubrium will surely find some application because these bones can often be found separately and are well recognizable. The correlation between body mass and external body and osteological measurements is lower then in the case of the total body length. Table 2 presents external body and osteological measurements with a correlation factor higher than 0, 8. Body mass is most accurately estimated with girth measurements while the thyrohyal and radius are the best bones for body mass estimations when an incomplete skeleton is found. As they are a lot of cases where body mass cannot be determined due to insufficient equipment all listed external body measurements, especially the total body length, are important in body mass estimation.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija, Veterinarska medicina

POVEZANOST RADA