Hi Folks, The following paper is now available online from Marine and Freshwater Research at http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/126/paper/MF08109.htm or by emailing me for the pdf (cfury@scu.edu.au): Abundance, site fidelity and range patterns of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in two Australian subtropical estuaries. Marine and Freshwater Research 59, 10151027. by Christine Fury and Peter Harrison Abstract Bottlenose dolphins are widely studied in marine habitats, but information on estuarine populations is very limited. The present study provides the first published data on bottlenose dolphins in Australian estuaries. Abundance estimates, site fidelity and individual ranging patterns were examined over a 3-year period for Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) inhabiting the Clarence River (CR) and Richmond River (RR) estuaries in northern New South Wales, Australia. Markrecapture analyses estimated 71 (6281 95% CI) dolphins utilised the CR whereas 34 (1949 95% CI) used the RR. Differences in site fidelity were observed between the estuaries, with 60% and 37% of identified dolphins determined as residents, 26% and 21% as occasional visitors and 14% and 42% as transients for the CR and RR respectively. Resource partitioning was apparent in both estuaries with the mean distance resident dolphins were found upstream from the river mouth being greater than occasional visitors and transients. The Clarence River sustains a larger, predominantly resident dolphin community compared with the Richmond River, which supports a relatively small dolphin community with lower site fidelity. Management of future increased anthropogenic disturbances is needed to ensure the long-term survival of these dolphin populations. Keywords: closed population, estuary, population size, ranging patterns, residency patterns Regards Christine Christine Fury ;-) Southern Cross University Whale Research Centre Southern Cross University P.O. Box 157, Lismore, N.S.W. Australia, 2480 Mobile 0408-264-330 Ph. +61 2 6620-3815 Fax. +61 2 6621-2669 Webpage: http://www.scu.edu.au/research/whales/christine.html