Changes in habitat use patterns by bottlenose dolphins over a 10‐year period render static management boundaries ineffective. Issue 5 (8th May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hartel, Elizabeth F.; Constantine, Rochelle; Torres, Leigh G.
• Is Part Of: Aquatic conservation. Volume 25:Issue 5(2015)
• Page Start: 538
• Page End: 547
• Publication Date: 2014-05-08
• Subjects: Aquatic ecology -- Periodicals; Conservation of natural resources -- Periodicals; Aquatic resources -- Periodicals; 333.95216
• DOI: 10.1002/aqc.2465
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1052-7613

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <p> <list id="aqc2465-list-0001" list-type="order"> <list-item id="aqc2465-li-0001"> <p>Bottlenose dolphins (<italic>Tursiops truncatus</italic>) in northern New Zealand range widely and their coastal distribution increases their risk of exposure to a variety of threats.</p> </list-item> <list-item id="aqc2465-li-0002"> <p>Marine protected areas (MPAs) are increasingly used to protect species but there is a paucity of studies examining their efficacy.</p> </list-item> <list-item id="aqc2465-li-0003"> <p>In the Bay of Islands, New Zealand (35°14'S, 174°06'E), dolphin distribution and habitat use patterns were examined between two time periods: 1996–2000 and 2007–2010. In addition, dolphin use of tourism exclusion zones designed to protect the dolphins were assessed.</p> </list-item> <list-item id="aqc2465-li-0004"> <p>Spatial distribution was analysed using kernel densities and Mantel tests.</p> </list-item> <list-item id="aqc2465-li-0005"> <p>Broad‐scale distribution patterns remained constant between the two periods but fine‐scale dolphin distribution patterns shifted considerably.</p> </list-item> <list-item id="aqc2465-li-0006"> <p>The exclusion zones that were established based on results from the 1996–2000 study were rarely used in 2007–2010, and therefore no longer provided dolphins protection from tourism.</p> </list-item> <list-item id="aqc2465-li-0007"> <p>This research demonstrates the plasticity in dolphin habitat use patterns through time and the importance of re‐evaluating the efficacy of static protected areas, especially for wide‐ranging species.</p> </list-item> </list> Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</p> </abstract>