ABSTRACT: The reproductive output of wild bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus has extensively been investigated; nevertheless, it remains widely unexplored in the Mediterranean Sea. We investigated the reproductive history of female bottlenose dolphins in the Aeolian Archipelago (Italy). Thirteen years of photo-identification data were used to track the reproductive pattern of 7 females and their 16 calves. The birth period was accurately estimated within 1 mo for 6 calves (37.5%), peaking in June/July. The mean number of calves for females was 2.3 ± 1.1 (SD), ranging from 1 to 4. The mean interbirth interval was 3.5 ± 1.6 yr, ranging from 2 to 7 yr. The mean weaning age was 3.2 ± 0.6 yr, although 1 calf may have been weaned as late as its fifth birthday. Mother-calf postweaning associations were tracked for 9 calves and ranged from 4 to 10 yr of residence in the maternal group of the calf. The age of first pregnancy was 7.5 yr. The number of calves was influenced by the mean maternal group size, with females that were sighted in larger groups having more calves. However, the number of calves was not influenced by the strength of the associations of mothers with other females. Calf mortality by age 1 was high (12.5%). Two juveniles also died postweaning within 6 yr of their birth. Finally, 2 females may have died during the study, as they were not re-sighted at the end of the study. Our results highlight the need to implement urgent conservation actions to protect this bottlenose dolphin population.

中文翻译：

---

地中海宽吻海豚Tursiops truncatus种群中的女性生殖产量

摘要：野生宽吻海豚Tursiops truncatus的繁殖产量已被广泛调查；然而，它在地中海仍然未被广泛开发。我们调查了意大利风沙群岛雌性宽吻海豚的生殖史。使用13年的照片识别数据来追踪7名雌性及其16头小牛的生殖方式。准确地估计了6头小牛（37.5％）在1个月内的出生期，在6月/ 7月达到峰值。雌性的平均犊牛数量为2.3±1.1（SD），范围为1至4。平均生育间隔为3.5±1.6岁，范围为2至7岁。平均断奶年龄为3.2±0.6岁，尽管可能直到五岁生日才断奶了一只小牛。追踪了9头小牛断奶后的母犊，其在小牛母体组中的居住时间为4至10年。第一次怀孕的年龄是7。5年 犊牛的数量受母体平均大小的影响，在较大的群体中看到的雌性犊牛更多。但是，犊牛的数量不受母亲与其他雌性交往强度的影响。1岁时小腿死亡率很高（12.5％）。两名少年在断奶后的6年内也死于断奶。最终，有2位女性可能在研究过程中死亡，因为在研究结束时未对它们进行重新检查。我们的结果突出表明，有必要采取紧急的保护措施来保护宽吻海豚种群。1岁时小腿死亡率很高（12.5％）。两名少年在断奶后的6年内也死于断奶。最终，有2位女性可能在研究过程中死亡，因为在研究结束时未对它们进行重新检查。我们的结果突出表明，有必要采取紧急的保护措施来保护宽吻海豚种群。1岁时小腿死亡率很高（12.5％）。两名少年在断奶后的6年内也死于断奶。最后，在研究期间可能有2名女性死亡，因为在研究结束时未对它们进行重新检查。我们的结果突出表明，有必要采取紧急的保护措施来保护宽吻海豚种群。