| Coastal Dolphin Survey Project |
| The Coastal Dolphin Survey Project (CDSP) was organized and initiated at the Marine Science Department of Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, California in 1978. |
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| Characteristics of the bottlenose dolphin (focus of this research effort). Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) average 0.9 to 1.2 meters at birth and weight only 8 - 9 kilograms. For adults, the maximum length reported is 3.9 meters with a maximum weight of 275 kilograms. Male bottlenose dolphin reach sexual maturity at 10 - 12 years, females between 5 - 12 years. Once reproductively active, females bear a single calf every second or third year. Gestation is about 12 months. Calves are nursed for a year or more. The maximum lifespan of bottlenose dolphins appears to be between 46 and 48 years based on tooth "growth layer group" analysis - both from wild and captive dolphin studies. This species appears to be "catholic" in their feeding habits, taking a wide variety of fish and invertebrates (based primarily on what is available. Adult bottlenose dolphin eat between 6 - 8 kilograms of food each day. The behavior of these dolphins, both during the day and at night, is very similar. They travel the coast both north and south. |
| Objectives and goals of the Coastal Dolphin Survey Project (CDSP) The objectives of CDSP include: 1. Through research determine the population dynamics, biology, and ecology of the coastal bottlenose dolphin population of Orange County, California. 2. Educate students of Orange Coast College about research methods, design, and operation. Involve these students in the dolphin research effort. 3. Utilize the knowledge gained from both of the previous objectives to educate and inform the human population of Orange County with regard to dolphin biology. 4. Figure out why dolphins are regularly entering Newport Harbor now and not in the past. |
| CDSP Director and Founder: (Photo Left) Dennis L. Kelly, Professor of Marine Science Department Chairperson Marine Science Department Orange Coast College 2701 Fairview Road Costa Mesa, CA. 92628 (714) 432-5564 dkelly@occ.cccd.edu |
| This website was created on 10/13/02 by Dennis Kelly. It it best viewed on Internet Explorer. The website was last updated 01/14/08. Website is best viewed on Internet Explorer! |
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| Other linked pages (double click): 1. Orange Coast College 2. Oceanography Class 3. Marine Mammal Class 4. Friends of the Sea Lion, MM Care Center 5. Marine Biology Class 6. Coastal Oceanography Class 7. O.C.C. Public Aquarium 8. Island Ecology Class 9. The National Marine Fisheries Service 10. The American Cetacean Society 11. Ecology of the Gray Whale Class 12. Rabbit Island 13. Dennis Kelly homepage 14. Captain Dave's Dolphin Safari 15. Intertidal Ecology Class 16. 17. Mariculture Class |
| Latest news! Hybrid "Woldphin" at Sea Life Park, Hawaii gives birth to calf - click here for more!! |
High school students and others who need to interview a Marine Biologist or scientist for a project, double click here for a career interview with Professor Kelly. |
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| This website is best viewed on Internet Explorer, not Netscape! |
| Latest CDSP Research News!! Click here! First whale watch cruise and dolphin sightings of 2008! Click here! |