THE GENETIC ASSESSMENT OF TWO MERGING ATLANTIC SPOTTED DOLPHIN (Stenella frontalis) COMMUNITIES ON GREAT BAHAMA BANK

After an unexpected displacement of Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) from Little Bahama Bank (LBB) to Great Bahama Bank (GBB) in 2013, the LBB immigrant and GBB resident spotted dolphins were observed socially merging and initiating courtship despite previous segregation on GBB post-displacement. This project assessed the genetic integration between them. Through microsatellite analyses and genetic differentiation, reciprocal gene flow appears to be occurring between the two communities. One male was confidently assigned paternity and six males were selected as the most likely candidate males of calves. Three mottled males were designated as the most likely candidate males of calves, indicating that younger males may be reproductively successful.