biostudies-literatureGalili OMinistry of EnergyVarious sailing clubs in IsraelUniversity of HaifaAgreement for the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic Area328https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9952934biostudies-literatureUnknown12(2)Along the Mediterranean coast of Israel, two near-shore dolphin species are prevalent; <i>Tursiops truncatus</i> (least concern, IUCN) and <i>Delphinus delphis</i> (endangered, IUCN). Ship-board surveys and sporadic sightings over the last two decades have shown that the two differ in distribution-<i>T. truncatus</i> is found along the entire coast and <i>D. delphis</i> only in the south. The environmental and anthropological factors affecting these species' spatial distribution and determining their habitat preferences in this area are largely unknown. This work is a first attempt at summarizing 20 years of observations and studying habitat preferences for both species, by use of Generalized Additive Models. <i>T. truncatus</i> was found to be present in all areas of the continental shelfBiologyTwo Decades of Coastal Dolphin Population Surveys in Israel, Eastern Mediterranean.PMC9952934M.Sc. student stipendDonated sea-time on the club boatsGeneral funds for research in the south of Israel06/2019/LB 6401 A4Marco SMorick DRoditi-Elasar MZuriel YBigal EVardimon DGoffman OGalili OReininger DRatner EHaitovich YTchernov DScheinin AMevorach YMarkovich MHadar NfalseTwo Decades of Coastal Dolphin Population Surveys in Israel, Eastern Mediterranean.Along the Mediterranean coast of Israel, two near-shore dolphin species are prevalent; <i>Tursiops truncatus</i> (least concern, IUCN) and <i>Delphinus delphis</i> (endangered, IUCN). Ship-board surveys and sporadic sightings over the last two decades have shown that the two differ in distribution-<i>T. truncatus</i> is found along the entire coast and <i>D. delphis</i> only in the south. The environmental and anthropological factors affecting these species' spatial distribution and determining their habitat preferences in this area are largely unknown. This work is a first attempt at summarizing 20 years of observations and studying habitat preferences for both species, by use of Generalized Additive Models. <i>T. truncatus</i> was found to be present in all areas of the continental shelf2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Feb2025-05-29T19:43:03.509Z2025-05-29T19:43:03.509ZS-EPMC99529343682960310.3390/biology12020328