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Rai A, Bashir T, Lagunes – Díaz EG, Shrestha B. Modeling Ganges river dolphin distribution and prioritizing areas for efficient conservation planning- a range-wide assessment. Ecol Modell 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2023.110362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
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Bonizzoni S, Gramolini R, Furey NB, Bearzi G. Bottlenose dolphin distribution in a Mediterranean area exposed to intensive trawling. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 188:105993. [PMID: 37084688 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.105993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The Adriatic Sea is one of the areas most exposed to trawling, worldwide. We used four years (2018-2021) and 19,887 km of survey data to investigate factors influencing daylight dolphin distribution in its north-western sector, where common bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus routinely follow fishing trawlers. We validated Automatic Identification System information on the position, type and activity of three types of trawlers based on observations from boats, and incorporated this information in a GAM-GEE modelling framework, together with physiographic, biological and anthropogenic variables. Along with bottom depth, trawlers (particularly otter and midwater trawlers) appeared to be important drivers of dolphin distribution, with dolphins foraging and scavenging behind trawlers during 39.3% of total observation time in trawling days. The spatial dimension of dolphin adaptations to intensive trawling, including distribution shifts between days with and without trawling, sheds light on the magnitude of ecological change driven by the trawl fishery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Bonizzoni
- Dolphin Biology and Conservation, via Cellina 5, 33084, Cordenons, PN, Italy; OceanCare, Gerbestrasse 6, Postfach 372, 8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland.
| | | | - Nathan B Furey
- Dolphin Biology and Conservation, via Cellina 5, 33084, Cordenons, PN, Italy; Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Spaulding Hall Rm 276, Durham, NH, 03824, USA
| | - Giovanni Bearzi
- Dolphin Biology and Conservation, via Cellina 5, 33084, Cordenons, PN, Italy; OceanCare, Gerbestrasse 6, Postfach 372, 8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland; ISMAR Institute of Marine Sciences, CNR National Research Council, Arsenale Tesa 104, Castello 2737/F, 30122, Venice, Italy
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Syme J, Kiszka JJ, Parra GJ. Habitat partitioning, co-occurrence patterns, and mixed-species group formation in sympatric delphinids. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3599. [PMID: 36869065 PMCID: PMC9984456 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30694-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Numerous species have been reported to form mixed-species groups, however, little is known about the interplay between niche partitioning and mixed-species group formation. Furthermore, it is often unclear whether species come together by chance due to overlapping habitat preferences, by shared attraction to resources, or by attraction between them. We assessed habitat partitioning, co-occurrence patterns, and mixed-species group formation of sympatric Australian humpback (Sousa sahulensis) and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) around the North West Cape, Western Australia, with a joint species distribution model and temporal analyses of sighting data. Australian humpback dolphins preferred shallower and more nearshore waters than Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, yet these species co-occurred more often than expected by chance given shared responses to environmental variables. Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins were sighted more often than Australian humpback dolphins during the afternoon, however, we did not find any temporal patterns in the occurrence of mixed-species groups. We propose that the positive association in the species' occurrence indicates the active formation of mixed-species groups. By evaluating habitat partitioning and co-occurrence patterns, this study provides direction for future work which should proceed to investigate the benefits that these species may gain from grouping with each other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Syme
- Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Lab, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
| | - Jeremy J Kiszka
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
| | - Guido J Parra
- Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Lab, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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Pratt EAL, Beheregaray LB, Bilgmann K, Zanardo N, Diaz-Aguirre F, Brauer C, Sandoval-Castillo J, Möller LM. Seascape genomics of coastal bottlenose dolphins along strong gradients of temperature and salinity. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:2223-2241. [PMID: 35146819 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Heterogeneous seascapes and strong environmental gradients in coastal waters are expected to influence adaptive divergence, particularly in species with large population sizes where selection is expected to be highly efficient. However, these influences might also extend to species characterized by strong social structure, natal philopatry and small home ranges. We implemented a seascape genomic study to test this hypothesis in Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) distributed along the environmentally heterogeneous coast of southern Australia. The datasets included oceanographic and environmental variables thought to be good predictors of local adaptation in dolphins and 8,081 filtered single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) genotyped for individuals sampled from seven different bioregions. From a neutral perspective, population structure and connectivity of the dolphins were generally influenced by habitat type and social structuring. Genotype-environment association analysis identified 241 candidate adaptive loci and revealed that sea surface temperature and salinity gradients influenced adaptive divergence in these animals at both large- (1,000s km) and fine-scales (<100 km). Enrichment analysis and annotation of candidate genes revealed functions related to sodium-activated ion transport, kidney development, adipogenesis and thermogenesis. The findings of spatial adaptive divergence and inferences of putative physiological adaptations challenge previous suggestions that marine megafauna is most likely to be affected by environmental and climatic changes via indirect, trophic effects. Our work contributes to conservation management of coastal bottlenose dolphins subjected to anthropogenic disturbance and to efforts of clarifying how seascape heterogeneity influences adaptive diversity and evolution in small cetaceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor A L Pratt
- Molecular Ecology Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, 5042, South Australia, Australia.,Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, 5042, South Australia, Australia
| | - Luciano B Beheregaray
- Molecular Ecology Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, 5042, South Australia, Australia
| | - Kerstin Bilgmann
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, 2109, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nikki Zanardo
- Molecular Ecology Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, 5042, South Australia, Australia.,Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, 5042, South Australia, Australia.,Department of Environment and Water, Adelaide, 5000, South Australia, Australia
| | - Fernando Diaz-Aguirre
- Molecular Ecology Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, 5042, South Australia, Australia.,Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, 5042, South Australia, Australia
| | - Chris Brauer
- Molecular Ecology Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, 5042, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jonathan Sandoval-Castillo
- Molecular Ecology Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, 5042, South Australia, Australia
| | - Luciana M Möller
- Molecular Ecology Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, 5042, South Australia, Australia.,Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, 5042, South Australia, Australia
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Hunt TN, Allen SJ, Bejder L, Parra GJ. Identifying priority habitat for conservation and management of Australian humpback dolphins within a marine protected area. Sci Rep 2020; 10:14366. [PMID: 32873830 PMCID: PMC7463025 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69863-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing human activity along the coast has amplified the extinction risk of inshore delphinids. Informed selection and prioritisation of areas for the conservation of inshore delphinids requires a comprehensive understanding of their distribution and habitat use. In this study, we applied an ensemble species distribution modelling approach, combining results of six modelling algorithms to identify areas of high probability of occurrence of the globally Vulnerable Australian humpback dolphin in northern Ningaloo Marine Park (NMP), north-western Australia. Model outputs were based on sighting data collected during systematic, boat-based surveys between 2013 and 2015, and in relation to various ecogeographic variables. Water depth and distance to coast were identified as the most important variables influencing dolphin presence, with dolphins showing a preference for shallow waters (5-15 m) less than 2 km from the coast. Areas of high probability (> 0.6) of dolphin occurrence were primarily (90%) in multiple use areas where extractive human activities are permitted, and were poorly represented in sanctuary (no-take) zones. This spatial mismatch emphasises the need to reassess for future spatial planning and marine park management plan reviews for NMP. Shallow, coastal waters identified here should be considered priority areas for the conservation of this Vulnerable species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim N Hunt
- Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Lab, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Sturt Road, Adelaide, SA, 5042, Australia.
| | - Simon J Allen
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Stirling Highway, Perth, WA, 6109, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
- Department of Anthropology, University of Zurich, Rämistrasse 71, 8006, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lars Bejder
- Aquatic Megafauna Research Unit, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, South Street, Perth, WA, 6150, Australia
- Marine Mammal Research Program, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Manoa, HI, 96734, USA
| | - Guido J Parra
- Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Lab, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Sturt Road, Adelaide, SA, 5042, Australia
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Assessing the impact of climate change on the spatio-temporal distribution of foot-and-mouth disease risk for elephants. Glob Ecol Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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