Dear colleagues,
The
following paper was recently published:
Tourism
affects the behavioural budget of the common dolphin (Delphinus sp.) in the
Karen A
Stockin, David Lusseau, Vicky Binedell, Nicky Wiseman and Mark B. Orams (2008)
Marine Ecology
Progress Series:355, 287-295
ABSTRACT:
Common dolphins Delphinus sp. are
frequently targeted by tourism operations in New Zealand waters, yet there is a
paucity of data on potential impacts faced by this species. Transition matrix
models, used widely in population ecology, have recently been applied to
behavioural transitions in order to provide successful management guidelines.
We detail the use of Markov chain models to assess the impact of tourism
activities on the behavioural state of common dolphins in the Hauraki Gulf, New
Zealand. First-order time discrete Markov chain models were used to describe
transition probabilities in both control and impact scenarios. The effect of
boat interactions was quantified by comparing transition probabilities of both
control and impact chains. Foraging and resting bouts were significantly
disrupted by boat interactions to a level that raises concern about the
sustainability of this impact. Both the duration of bouts and the overall time
spent in these 2 behavioural states decreased. Foraging dolphins took
significantly longer to return to their initial behavioural state in the
presence of the tour boat. There was also an increased preference to shift
behaviour to socialising or milling after tour boat interactions. Impacts
identified in the present study are similar to those previously reported for
bottlenose dolphins, a coastal species typically considered to be more
susceptible to cumulative anthropogenic impacts.
PDF requests
available from Karen Stockin at k.a.stockin@massey.ac.nz
Best wishes,
Karen
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Karen A Stockin
Research Officer
Coastal
- Marine Research Group
Institute of
Private Bag 102 904
Tel: + 64 9 414 0800 Ext 41127
Fax: + 64 9 443 9790
Cell: + 64 21 146 5511
Email: k.a.stockin@massey.ac.nz
http://wildlife.massey.ac.nz/people/staff_ks.asp
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