Greetings all, on behalf of our co-authors, we are pleased to share our new open access publication: Habitat modeling of Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) in the Eastern Gulf of Thailand DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6023 Justine Jackson-Ricketts1, Chalatip Junchompoo2, Ellen M. Hines3, Elliot L. Hazen4, Louisa S. Ponnampalam5, Anoukchika Ilangakoon6, Somchai Monanunsap7 1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California 2Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Marine and Coastal Resources Research and Development Center, The Eastern Gulf of Thailand, Rayong, Thailand 3Estuary & Ocean Science Center, San Francisco State University, Tiburon, California 4NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Environmental Research Division/ Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Monterey, California 5The MareCet Research Organization, Shah Alam, Malaysia 6Maharagama, Sri Lanka 7Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Southern Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center, Songkhla, Thailand Abstract Aim: The Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) is an endangered cetacean found throughout Southeast Asia. The main threat to this species is human encroachment, led by entanglement in fishing gear. Information on this data-poor species’ ecology and habitat use is needed to effectively inform spatial management. Location: We investigated the habitat of a previously unstudied group of Irrawaddy dolphins in the eastern Gulf of Thailand, between the villages of Laem Klat and Khlong Yai, in Trat Province. This location is important as government groups plan to establish a marine protected area. Methods: We carried out boat-based visual line transect surveys with concurrent oceanographic measurements and used hurdle models to evaluate this species’ patterns of habitat use in this area. Results: Depth most strongly predicted dolphin presence, while temperature was a strong predictor of group size. The highest probability of dolphin presence occurred at around 10.0 m with an optimal depth range of 7.50 to 13.05 m. The greatest number of dolphins was predicted at 24.93°C with an optimal range between 24.93 and 25.31°C. Dolphins are most likely to occur in two primary locations, one large region in the center of the study area (11o54′18′′N to 11o59′23′′N) and a smaller region in the south (11o47′28′′N to 11o49′59′′N). Protections for this population will likely have the greatest chance of success in these two areas. Main Conclusions: The results of this work can inform management strategies within the immediate study area by highlighting areas of high habitat use that should be considered for marine spatial planning measures, such as the creation of marine protected areas. Species distribution models for this species in Thailand can also assist conservation planning in other parts of the species’ range by expanding our understanding of habitat preferences. Ellen Hines, PhD Associate Director and Professor of Geography & Environment Estuary and Ocean Science Center San Francisco State University 3150 Paradise Dr. Tiburon, CA 94920 415 338 3512, ehines@sfsu.edu<mailto:ehines@sfsu.edu> http://eoscenter.sfsu.edu/content/ellen-hines