Fetal creases

A newborn bottlenose dolphin. Fetal creases are still present.

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

Marked flukes

A bottlenose dolphin's highly marked flukes.

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

Dolphins and clouds

A bottlenose dolphin group travels under a beautiful cloudy sky.

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

Wave riding 2

Striped dolphin riding the small wave created by a passing boat.

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

Wave riding 1

Striped dolphin riding the small wave created by a passing boat.

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

Apsifia

Bottlenose dolphin near the island of Apsifia, Galaxidi, Greece.

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

Confrontation

A bottlenose dolphin confrontation.

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

In between

A newborn striped dolphin surfaces between socialising adults.

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

Red buoy

Seagull on red fish farm buoy.

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

Bottlenose dolphin morning

Bottlenose dolphins in the morning light.

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

Feather

Feather on a flat sea surface.

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

Wannabe marine biologist

Giovanni in the summer of 1986: a wannabe cetacean scientist on board the oceanographic research vessel 'Bannock'.

A short recollection of those days can be found in the blog post below:

Dolphins, Photography and Dreams

(Photo by B. Cavalloni, Mediterranean Sea)

Striped dolphin portrait

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

Checking sea state at dawn

Silvia checking sea state conditions from the hill.

(Photo by G. Bearzi, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

Cetaceans of the Gulf of Corinth

Overview of cetacean fauna of the Gulf of Corinth, Greece (numbers indicate point estimates), based on our recent publication:

Bearzi G., Bonizzoni S., Santostasi N.L., Furey N.B., Eddy L., Valavanis V.D., Gimenez O. 2016. Dolphins in a scaled-down Mediterranean: the Gulf of Corinth's odontocetes. Advances in Marine Biology 75: Mediterranean Marine Mammal Ecology and Conservation. ISSN 0065-2881. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/bs.amb.2016.07.003

ABSTRACT – The Gulf of Corinth is a 2400-km² semi-enclosed inland system (a mediterraneus) in central Greece. Its continental shelf areas, steep bottom relief, and waters up to 500–900 m deep offer suitable habitat to neritic and pelagic species. We used photographic capture–recapture, distribution modelling, and direct observations to investigate the abundance, status, habitat preferences, movements, and group size of four odontocete species regularly observed in the Gulf, based on five years (2011–2015) of survey effort from small boats. Striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) are more abundant (1324 individuals, 95%CI 1158–1515) than was determined from previous estimates. Striped dolphins appear to be confined to the Gulf, where they favour deep and oligotrophic waters, and were encountered in single-species and mixed-species groups. Short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) (22 individuals, 95%CI 16–31), individuals with intermediate pigmentation (possibly striped/common dolphin hybrids) (55, 95%CI 36–83), and a single Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) were only encountered in mixed-species groups with striped dolphins. Short-beaked common dolphins constitute a discrete conservation unit (subpopulation), and based on the current estimate, would qualify as Critically Endangered according to International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List criteria. Common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) (39 animals, 95%CI 33–47) occur in single-species groups; they prefer continental shelf waters and areas near fish farms in the northern sector, and several animals appear to move into and out of the Gulf. Additionally, we contribute records of marine fauna and an assessment of the fishing fleet operating in the Gulf. Our study shows that the importance of this vulnerable marine environment has been underestimated, and management action must be taken to mitigate human impact and ensure long-term protection.

The 35-page publication may be requested to the authors by email: admin@dolphinbiology.org

Silvia and Chrisoula

Silvia with our friend Chrisoula at Hotel Ganimede.

(Photo by G. Bearzi, Galaxidi, Greece)

Intimate contact

Striped dolphins in intimate contact.

(Photo by G. Bearzi, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

Seagull and seabass

This young seagull found a dead seabass near the Galaxidi fish farm.

(Photos by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

Dolphin and sailing boat

Bottlenose dolphin bowriding a small sailing boat.

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)