Social and Genetic Structure of Coastal Dolphins

Population Structure and Dispersal Patterns of Bottlenose and Common Dolphins

This project is inferring historical and contemporary population structure of bottlenose and common dolphins in coastal waters of eastern Australia using both mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite markers. It is also investigating differences in the dispersal patterns of male and females. The data will help identify management units for these dolphins in NSW.

Sociogenetic structure of bottlenose dolphins

This project is investigating differences and similarities in the social and genetic structure of bottlenose dolphins living in different environments in the Hunter Coast, NSW – estuarine and marine embayment and open coastal waters.

Selected publications

Möller LM, Beheregaray LB, Allen SJ, Harcourt RG (in review) Association patterns, band membership and kinship in female bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) of southeastern Australia. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. in press

Möller LM, Beheregaray LB (2004) Genetic evidence of sex-biased dispersal in resident bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus). Molecular Ecology 13, 1607-1612.

Möller LM, Beheregaray LB, Harcourt R, Kruetzen M (2001) Kinship and alliance formation in wild male bottlenose dolphins. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 268, 1756-1762.

Möller LM, Beheregaray LB (2001) Coastal bottlenose dolphins from southeastern Australia are Tursiops aduncus according to sequences of the mitochondrial DNA control region. Marine Mammal Science 17, 249-263.