Fifers asked to help with dolphin research project

The ‘Citizen Science’ project, launched by a team from the university, aims to help understand changes in movements of the dolphins along the east coasts of both Scotland and England.

Since 1989, researchers have used photographs to identify individual dolphins based on the nicks, notches and other natural marks on their dorsal fins.

Knowing when and where animals are allows the team to estimate how many dolphins there are in the population, their birth and natural mortality rates, and to learn about their movements up and down the coast.

The ‘Citizen Fins’ project invites members of the public to submit photographs of bottlenose dolphins taken in areas south of St Andrews area currently not systematically surveyed. These photographs should show the dolphin’s dorsal fin so that animals can be identified and matched to the population’s catalogue of individuals. They can be recent or taken in the last few years.

Identifying which animals are seen in those areas further south will help to improve understanding of the movements of animals. This will provide important information for monitoring the population, contributing to its continued protection.

To find out more, including how to submit photos, visit the website – synergy.st-andrews.ac.uk/citizenfins.