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Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) Occurrence in the Moray Firth, Northeast Scotland: Incidental Sightings,Behavioural Observations, and Photo-Identification

The article reports on the killer whale, known as Orcinus orca and its occurrence in the Moray Firth, Northeast Scotland. Topics discussed include the incidental sightings of this species, its behavioural observations, and photo-identification. Also being discussed are the white-beaked dolphins called Lagenorhynchus albirostris, and annual pupping season of the common seal called Phoca vitulina

The total number of individuals, number of reproductive female bottlenose dolphins and the number of calves recorded in the outer southern Moray Firth study area from 1997 to 2016 inclusive.

<p>The total number of individuals, number of reproductive female bottlenose dolphins and the number of calves recorded in the outer southern Moray Firth study area from 1997 to 2016 inclusive.</p

Female reproductive success and calf survival in a North Sea coastal bottlenose dolphin (<i>Tursiops truncatus</i>) population - Fig 2

<p>Photographs of female bottlenose dolphins from the Moray Firth with first-year calves: (A) one of the highly successful mothers (ID#065) with a new-born calf; (B) and (C) cooperative female groups with calves of similar ages in tow.</p

Map of northeast Scotland showing the position of the survey area along the southern coastline of the outer Moray Firth, to the east of the Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

<p>Dedicated boat surveys for bottlenose dolphins were conducted between May and October 1997 to 2016 using selected routes within the core study area, between the coastal ports of Lossiemouth and Fraserburgh.</p

The reproductive parameters of female bottlenose dolphins estimated from long-term mark-recapture studies in the southern outer Moray Firth from 1997 to 2016 inclusive.

<p>Weaning age for survival was considered to be to two years of age, after which calves were regarded to be fully independent of their mothers. See text for information on how RS, calving rate and fecundity were calculated.</p

The range of IBIs documented for female <i>T</i>. <i>truncatus</i> in the outer southern Moray Firth study area, relative to previous calving success and possible gaps in reproductive histories.

<p>The range of IBIs documented for female <i>T</i>. <i>truncatus</i> in the outer southern Moray Firth study area, relative to previous calving success and possible gaps in reproductive histories.</p

Individual variation in reproductive success observed in female bottlenose dolphins from the Moray Firth study population for mothers with ≥3 documented births of known fate.

<p>Unless already deceased, any calves born towards the end of the sampling period (in 2016) were not included, as they had not reached the minimum weaning age.</p

The seasonality of bottlenose dolphin births in the outer southern Moray Firth and the average monthly sea temperatures measured during encounters.

<p>The seasonality of bottlenose dolphin births in the outer southern Moray Firth and the average monthly sea temperatures measured during encounters.</p

Fish prey species sampled from individual feeding events (n = 95) of adult and juvenile minke whales between 2002 and 2017.

Fish prey species sampled from individual feeding events (n = 95) of adult and juvenile minke whales between 2002 and 2017.</p