30 



designations. Analysis of community structure is necessary to interpret 

 immigration, emigration, and transience relative to population size. Sample 

 sizes for examination of mt-DNA haplotype distributions in Charlotte Harbor 

 should be augmented through biopsy darting or capture-release efforts. The 

 genetics data should be supplemented with telemetry data on movements and 

 additional photo-ID efforts. 



• The accessibility of stranding data was highly variable from one responding 

 group to the next in Charlotte Harbor. Improved coordination of efforts and 

 availability of information would be helpful. Mote Marine Laboratory, Tom 

 Pitchford, and Bob Wasno provided excellent examples of cooperation and 

 assistance. 



• The correlation between increases in the number of dolphin strandings and the 

 occurrence of red tide blooms suggests that further investigation into the role of 

 red tide in dolphin mortality is warranted. 



Acknowledgments 



The National Marine Fisheries Service supported all five years of this survey 

 project. We would like to thank Dr. Bernd Wursig and Texas A&M University for 

 their roles in obtaining and administering this contract. Earthwatch and many 

 EarthCorps volunteers participated in and supported the project during its first four 

 years. The Chicago Zoological Society provided RSW and KWU with funding and 

 logistical support. Additional assistance was provided by the Dolphin Biology 

 Research Institute, Mote Marine Laboratory, and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna 

 Commission. Dr. Dan Odell, scientific coordinator of the SEUS Stranding Network, 

 provided stranding data summaries, and photographs of stranded dolphins were 

 provided by Jay Gorzelany of Mote Marine Laboratory, Bob Wasno of the Lee Counrv 

 Department of Community Services, Division of Marine Sciences, and Tom 

 Pitchford of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Dr. Susan 

 Shane shared dolphin identification photographs from her study area in Pine Island 

 Sound. We would like to thank Cannon's Marina, Mako Marine, Mariner 

 Outboards, Yamaha Outboards, West Marine Products, Captain Bill Joy at Palm 

 Island Resort, Mr. George Blechta, "Poppy'' Donoghue, Casey Silvey, and Jack and 

 Fran Wells for their crucial assistance with the logistics of the field work. Blair 

 Irvine and Paul Harrison were responsible for developing our Foxbase database 

 system and associated programming -- without their tireless efforts we would not 

 have been able to effectively process the large quantities of data collected. Erika 

 Beyer and Shawn Irvine helped in the production of our computerized mapping 

 capabilities. We very much appreciate the field and lab contributions of Yvonne 

 Boudreau, Kristi Brockway, Forbes Darby, Travis Davis, Yves Delpech, Elisha 

 Freifeld, Sue Hofmann, Tristen Moors, James Thorson, and Michelle Wells. Tim 

 Gerrodette provided excellent advice on the power analyses. Special thanks go to 

 our NMFS COTR, Larry Hansen, for his support and patience. This project was 

 conducted under Scientific Research Permits Nos. 638 and 805 issued by the 

 National Marine Fisheries Service. 



