There are 14 species of dolphin found in Australian waters and there are a number of ways to identify between them.
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PROJECT TITLE: Urban waterways and coastal dolphins: health and status of Australian humpback dolphins in Moreton Bay, Queensland
RESEARCHERS: Elizabeth Hawkins & Justin Meager
LOCATION: Central and northern sections of Moreton Bay to encompass the area previously sampled by Corkeron between 1985 and 1987 and current surveys to allow for direct comparisons to be made between studies.
The newly recognised Australian humpback dolphin (Sousa sahulensis), ranges throughout the northern Australian tropical and subtropical waters from the Queensland/NSW border to Exmouth and north to Papua New Guinea1. The current conservation status of this species is unknown, however local populations of this species in Queensland are considered to be vulnerable to decline or localised extinction because of small population sizes, low population growth rates, high site fidelity and geographic isolation2,3,4,5.
This research will occur within Moreton Bay which has the most southerly resident population of humpback dolphins in Australia, which occurs adjacent to a major city. The field experimental design will be based on two sampling seasons, each with 30 vessel-based surveys over an eight week period, to complete a total of 60 surveys in 2015.
Within Moreton Bay this project aims to:
- Examine the trends in abundance of humpback dolphins in using mark-recapture techniques
- Determine the population and community structure of the humpback dolphin population
- Investigate the spatial and temporal habitat use of humpback dolphins and identify areas of core usage
- Establish an ongoing program that will identify and monitor risks to the population by biopsies of free ranging dolphins, necropsies and histopathology of stranded dolphins and historical data.
- Perform a spatial risk assessment to identify areas of concern and provide a tool for managers to aid in the conservation of the species
This project is supported by Sea World Research & Rescue Foundation, Department of the Environment and Sea World.
REFERENCES:
- Jefferson, T. A. & Rosenbaum, H. C. Taxonomic revision of the humpback dolphins (Sousa spp.), and description of a new species from Australia. Marine Mammal Science in press (2014).
- Parra, G. J., Corkeron, P. J. & Marsh, H. Population sizes, site fidelity and residence patterns of Australian snubfin and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins: Implications for conservation. Biological Conservation 129, 167-180 (2006).
- Cagnazzi De Biasi, D., Harrison, P., Ross, G. & Lynch, P. Abundance and site fidelity of Indo-Pacific Humpback dolphins in the Great Sandy Strait, Queensland, Australia. Marine Mammal Science 27, 255-281 (2009).
- Parra, G. J., Corkeron, P. J. & Marsh, H. The Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin, Sousa chinensis (Osbeck, 1765), in Australian Waters: A Summary of Current Knowledge. Aquatic Mammals 30, 194-206 (2004).
- Hale, P., Long, S. & Tapsall, A. Distribution and conservation of delphinids in Moreton Bay. Moreton Bay and Catchment. School of Marine Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane (1998).
Dolphin Population Assessment, Moreton Bay
In July 2014 the Sea World Research & Rescue team supported the Moreton Bay Dolphin Project run by Dolphin Research Australia (DRA). Following a prescribed route our boat Sea World Two moved throughout the Bay and recorded population distribution and behaviour of any dolphins spotted. Individual dolphins can be identified by their dorsal fin and as such photographs were taken from the boat of each dolphin, with the images from this trip added to the DRA database.
“Dolphin Research Australia’s Moreton Bay and Gold Coast study aims to obtain baseline information on the coastal resident and migratory cetacean species. This study will be the first study to quantify the population status, habitat use and ecology of the marine mammals that inhabit the southern Moreton Bay and Gold Coast region. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the resident species in this area includes the threatened Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis), along with bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus).” -Dolphin Research Australia
Research projects
Conservation genetics of two insufficiently known inshore cetaceans: snubfin and indo-pacific humpback dolphins in North East Qld waters
Geographical and temporal dolphin diet investigation by stable isotope analysis of Museum specimens.
A rare case of two alliance strategies in male bottlenose dolphins: stability, size and relatedness
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Conservation biology of inshore dolphins in tropical Queensland (Pilot Study)
Do captive and wild marine mammals in Australia have natural immunity to morbilliviruses?
Do captive and wild marine mammals in Australia have natural immunity to morbilliviruses?
Radio tracking bottlenose dolphins in South East Queensland
Management of coastal bottlenose dolphins: identification of distinct populations
Behaviour of bottlenose dolphins and their interaction with humans
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