The Bottlenose Dolphin: Biology and Conservation

by John E. Reynolds III, Samantha D. Eide, Randall S. Wells

"This excellent introduction on the biology of the bottlenose dolphin also provides a review of conservation issues and outlines current knowledge of dolphins in general. . . . for students, professionals, and anyone interested in the bottlenose dolphin."--Charles W. Potter, National Museum of Natural History The Bottlenose Dolphin  presents for the first time a comprehensive, colorfully illustrated, and concise overview of a species that has fascinated humans for at least 3,000 years. After reviewing historical myths and legends of the dolphin back to the ancient Greeks and discussing current human attitudes and interactions, the author replaces myths with facts--up-to-date scientific assessment of dolphin evolution, behavior, ecology, morphology, reproduction, and genetics--while also tackling the difficult issues of dolphin conservation and management.  Although comprehensive enough to be of great value to professionals, educators, and students, the book is written in a manner that all dolphin lovers will enjoy. Randall Wells’s anecdotes interspersed throughout the work offer a first-hand view of dolphin encounters and research based on three decades working with them. Color photographs and nearly 100 black and white illustrations, including many by National Geographic  photographer Flip Nicklin, beautifully enhance the text.
 Readers of The Bottlenose Dolphin  will better appreciate what dolphins truly are and do, as well as understand some of the controversies surrounding them. While raising compelling questions, the book provides a wealth of information on a legendary species that is loved and admired by many people. John E. Reynolds, professor of marine science at Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida, is chair of the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission. He has written over 100 articles on marine mammal biology and conservation and is coauthor with Daniel K. Odell of Manatees and Dugongs  and coeditor of Biology of Marine Mammals . Randall S. Wells is a behavioral ecologist with the Conservation Biology Department of the Chicago Zoological Society and adjunct associate professor of ocean sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He also serves as director of the Center for Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Research at Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida, where he conducts the world’s longest running study of wild dolphins. Samantha D. Eide, a graduate student at the University of South Florida, is field leader for the Eckerd College Dolphin Project, St. Petersburg, Florida.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Animals

328 pages, Hardcover

First published September 3, 2000

Reviews

[M. Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is exactly what I was looking for in a book about bottlenose dolphins! Not only are the interesting aspects of bottlenose dolphin biology, ecology, and behavior covered, but a comprehensive description of the threats facing bottlenose dolphins and needs for better conservation of the species is succinctly expressed.

It was clear to me as I read the book that it was written by scientists more accustomed to writing journal articles than popular science books, but I still think the authors did a good job in limiting the scope of the topics they discussed to make their writing more accessible. Perhaps the writing itself could have been more engaging than it was, but the subject was enough to make the book hold my - and I’m guessing most people’s - attention.

I do wish there had been more accounts of positive interactions between bottlenose dolphins and humans, such as stories about dolphins saving human lives or humans befriending dolphins, but then I suppose such stories would be outside the scope of a book like this. Journalists would probably be more suited to seek out those sorts of stories than the scientists who wrote this book. Also, that might have confused the point that the authors were trying to make: we need to be doing more to protect this well-known and loved cetacean and humans have done more harm than help thus far, if we’re being honest.

[Valerie]

I can't really get myself to finish this even though I was looking forward to a highly technical overview of dolphins. The technical precision is there, but the author feels old school.

I tried to be open-minded when the author made critical arguments about releasing captive dolphins. I think there are scientists who would agree with him that without preparation, activists who release cetaceans are doing so ignorantly, albeit from an emotionally understandable perspective. However, it felt like the author(s) had a disdain for the people who support it at all, and I almost felt like he was arguing for/completely unphased by the captivity of cetaceans in general

I recently read Dinosaurs Rediscovered by Michael J. Benton and, like that book, this book is also scientific, non-sensationalist, and full of details which seemed to be well researched. However, I felt like Benton was both an expert on the animals and also truly passionate about them as beings. I felt like the author(s) of this book were only, or more so, the prior.