Fine‐scale habitat use in Indo‐Pacific humpback dolphins, Sousa chinensis, may be more influenced by fish rather than vessels in the Pearl River Estuary, China. Issue 1 (26th November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pine, Matthew K.; Wang, Kexiong; Wang, Ding
• Is Part Of: Marine mammal science. Volume 33:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 291
• Page End: 312
• Publication Date: 2016-11-26
• Subjects: Indo‐Pacific humpback dolphin -- Sousa chinensis -- Chinese white dolphin -- acoustics -- habitat use -- Pearl River Estuary -- anthropogenic noise; Marine mammals -- Congresses; Marine mammals -- Periodicals; Marine mammals, Fossil -- Periodicals; Mammifères marins -- Périodiques; 599.5
• DOI: 10.1111/mms.12366
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0824-0469

Abstract

Abstract: Shifts in habitat use and distribution patterns in dolphins are often concerns that can result from habitat degradation. We investigated how potential changes to a habitat from human activity may alter dolphin distributions within Lingding Bay in the Pearl River Estuary, China, by studying the relationship between fish choruses, vessel presence and Indo‐Pacific humpback dolphin ( Sousa chinensis ) detection rates. Analyses revealed temporal and spatial variation within fish choruses, vessel presence and dolphin detection rates. After accounting for any temporal autocorrelation, correlations between fish choruses and dolphin detection rates were also found; however, no relationship between fish choruses and vessel presence or dolphin detection rates and vessel presence were observed. Furthermore, fewer dolphins were detected at sites where fish activity was less intense. Thus fish activity, rather than vessels, may be a key factor influencing the distribution of the dolphins within the estuary. These findings emphasize the risk of potential shifts in habitat use for Indo‐Pacific humpback dolphins due to detrimental changes to prey availability and dolphin feeding grounds from human activity, such as overfishing and coastal developments, within the estuary. This is a critical conservation issue for this dolphin population that is facing intense anthropogenic pressure.