Hi all, we are happy to offer this open source publication:

Line transect estimates of Irrawaddy dolphin abundance along the eastern Gulf Coast of Thailand

Ellen M. Hines^1*, Samantha Strindberg², Chalatip Junchumpoo³, Louisa S. Ponnampalam^4,5, Anoukchika D. Ilangakoon⁶, Justine Jackson-Ricketts⁷ and Somchai Monanunsap⁸

· ¹Department of Geography and Environment, Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies, San Francisco State University, Tiburon, CA, USA

· ²Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, USA

· ³Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Eastern Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center, Rayong, Thailand

· ⁴Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

· ⁵The MareCet Research Organization, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

· ⁶Independent Researcher, Maharagama, Sri Lanka

· ⁷Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA

· ⁸Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Southern Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center, Songkhla, Thailand

Effective conservation of coastal marine mammals is largely dependent on reliable knowledge of their abundance, as well as the ecological and human factors driving their distribution. In developing countries, lack of resources and capacity frequently impedes research needed to estimate abundance and to determine the ecological requirements of coastal marine mammals and the impact of threats related to coastal development and fisheries. Over the course of 5 years, we developed practical research methods and trained local scientists in Thailand to use accepted line transect distance sampling methods for abundance assessment. The study focused on a little-known coastal and freshwater species found throughout Southeast Asia, namely the Irrawaddy dolphin, which has been sighted regularly along the coast of the eastern Gulf of Thailand. During 5 years of line transect boat surveys in Trat Province, the eastern-most province in Thailand, we found an average of 423 dolphins distributed within 12 km of the coast. Compared to other abundance estimates of coastal Irrawaddy dolphins in Southeast Asia, this is a relatively large number. This population could extend into the northern coast of Cambodia, where surveys are currently being planned. The Thai government has begun talks with Cambodia about a transboundary marine protected area that would include areas in both countries where coastal Irrawaddy dolphins are found. Collaboration between scientists in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam is further needed to determine dolphin movement and habitat use across borders.

Here is the link:  http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2015.00063

Best, Ellen

Ellen Hines, PhD

Associate Director & Professor of Geography

Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies

San Francisco State University

3150 Paradise Drive

Tiburon, CA 94920 USA

1 415 338 3512

Fax: 1 415 338 6243

ehines@sfsu.edu

http://rtc.sfsu.edu/research/in_hines.html