REPRODUCTIVE SEASONALITY OF WESTERN ATLANTIC BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS OFF NORTH CAROLINA, U.S.A

We describe reproductive seasonality of bottlenose dolphins in North Carolina (NC), U.S.A., using strandings data from the entire coast of NC and sighting data from Beaufort, NC and by estimating dates of birth of known females. We found a strong peak of neonate strandings in the spring (April-May), and low levels of neonate strandings in the fall and winter. The distribution of neonate strandings was significantly different from a uniform distribution (P < 0.001, K = 3.8). We