Source - Journal of Northwest Atlantic Fishery Science, Volume 22: 27-36
ISSN-0250-6408

From 1 June to 2 July 1993, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Marine Mammal Investigation, Woods Hole, MA, undertook a shipboard survey on distributions and abundances of cetacean species on the eastern and southern edges of Georges Bank. During transects of the study area, concurrent physical and biological data were collected to examine characteristics of marine mammal habitat. Zooplankton communities were sampled by double oblique bongo tows. Odontocete sighting rates (animals per hour) and their mean group sizes within 20 km of bongo stations were compared with log₁₀ copepod density. Sighting rates of striped (Stenella coeruleoalba) and common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) increased with decreasing copepod density and increasing copepod diversity. Zooplankton community structure was found useful in understanding oceanographic characteristics of the habitat of odontocete species.