Why dolphin poo is being scooped out of West Wales waters
The 200-or-so bottlenose dolphins who frequent Cardigan Bay are the focus of an innovative research project.
Collecting of the dolphins' poo will give valuable clues about their diet and behaviour.
The samples are being collected by researchers from the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales before analysis by scientists at Aberystwyth University.
They are using the latest environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques to extract detailed data on the animals' diet.
The researchers have to move quickly to catch the dolphins defecating. (Image: Dr Sarah Perry, Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales.)
As well as showing what prey the dolphins have been feeding on and where, the tests will help build individual profiles for each one.
These profiles will enable the project team to identify the dolphins' gender, the relationships between family members, population size, breeding potential and movement patterns.
They will also attempt to match and compare each unique profile with individual photo ID records of bottlenose dolphins which have been gathered by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales over several years.
The new information will inform future marine conservation efforts in Cardigan Bay and help protect the area's rare population of semi-resident dolphins.
The 'Dolphin Diet Detectives: Unveiling Dolphin Diets and Engaging Communities for UK Conservation' project is being led by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales in collaboration with Aberystwyth University, with support from the Welsh Government's Nature Networks Fund.
The project's Dr David Wilcockson and Dr Sarah Perry. (Image: Aberystwyth University) Dr Sarah Perry, Marine Conservation and Research Manager at the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales said: "We are thrilled to be leading this groundbreaking project, which covers an area of research that we have aspired to embark on over the past decade or so.
'We are excited that it has come to fruition at a time when it is even more important that we build on our knowledge of the species in the waters around us.
As part of the project, a series of community science days will give local people opportunities to find out more about the research study and help collect additional data about Cardigan Bay's dolphin population.
This family of dolphins was spotted off New Quay. (Image: Sarah Michelle Wyer/Dolphin Spotting Boat Trips)
Dr David Wilcockson from the Department of the Life Sciences at Aberystwyth University said:
'What is really exciting for us, aside from finding out more about what dolphins are eating and their behaviours, is the fact that we are involving the public in this work.
'They are the 'dolphin detectives' and we hope this will provide another pathway by which they can feel more connected to their local environment and encourage conservation activities beyond the project.'
The project is funded by the Nature Networks Programme. It is being delivered by the Heritage Fund, on behalf of the Welsh Government.
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