中国沿岸小型鲸类误捕情况的调查

报道了１９９４ ～１９９５ 年对中国沿岸小型鲸类误捕情况的调查结果．调查表明,有误捕记录的小型鲸类主要有５ 种,即江豚（ Ｎｅｏｐｈｏｃａｅｎａ ｐｈｏｃａｅｎｏｉｄｅｓ） 、长喙真海豚（ Ｄｅｌｐｈｉｎｕｓ ｃａｐｅｎｓｉｓ） 、瓶鼻海豚（ Ｔｕｒｓｉｏｐｓｔｒｕｎｃａｔｕｓ） 、点斑原海豚（Ｓｔｅｎｅｌｌａ ａｔｔｅｎｕａｔａ） 和伪虎鲸（ Ｐｓｅｕｄｏｒｃａ ｃｒａｓｓｉｄｅｎｓ） ,其中以江豚的误捕率最高．１９９４ 年在山东、浙江、福建、广东、海南省和广西壮族自治区沿岸渔业误捕的小型鲸类约３０４５ ±２１２０ 头,其中江豚的误捕量约２１３２ ±１４８４ 头．误捕小型鲸类的渔具主要有拖网、刺网和张网．中国沿岸没有专门捕鲸的渔业方式．误捕的小型鲸类在沿岸居民的生活中不占重要地位,它们大部分被丢弃或廉价出售．目前尚不知道误捕对中国水域小型鲸种群影响的程度,但可能是造成数量下降原因之一．     

条纹原海豚mtDNA控制区序列变异分析

条纹原海豚( Stenella coeruleualba )是一种暖水性的小型鲸类,在50°N～40°S之间有分布,在其分布区内的许多水域,均受到渔业误捕或直接捕捞的影响(Jefferson et al .,1993).但由于缺乏该物种全面而系统的种群生物学知识,IUCN红皮目录将其保护生物学地位定为"不清楚"(Hilton-Taylor,2000),需要进一步开展保护生物学研究.     

两头人工饲养南瓶鼻海豚的病理解剖及死因分析

<正>南瓶鼻海豚(Tursiops aduncus)是我国二级重点保护的水生哺乳动物,属于鲸目(Cetacea),海豚科(Delphinidae),瓶鼻海豚属(Tursiops)(Mller and Beheregaray,2001;Wells and Scott,2002)。南瓶鼻海豚是人工主要饲养的鲸类品种之一(刘仁俊等,2002;Zhang et al.,2012)。2011年4月30日,厦门市小嶝岛休闲渔村从福建东山引进两头南瓶鼻海豚进行人工饲养。饲养池位于北     

东海水域瓶鼻海豚种群数量和分布的初步研究

运用截线抽样法调查了北纬２５°～３０°,东经１２５°以西的东海水域中瓶鼻海豚在夏季７～９月间的种群密度和数量,得出的最小估计值分别为０．１４００头／ｋｍ２和９９４０头。瓶鼻海豚在该水域的分布特点为：随纬度增加（由南向北）密度逐渐减少,而在经度方向上则没有明显的密度变化规律。     

中国水域瓶鼻海豚的mtDNA控制区序列变异性分析

测定了30头中国水域瓶鼻海豚（Tursiops sp.)mtDNA控制区5′端424bp的序列,结合已发表的中国水域其它瓶鼻海豚的mtDNA控制区序列,共发现54个变异位点,定义了37种单元型。中国水域瓶鼻海豚的两个形态型之间没有共享单元型,且具有8个鉴别位点。基于最大似然法和邻接法的系统发生分析均把单元型聚类为分别代表两个形态型的支系。形态型之间的核苷酸歧异度为5.58%,超过了其它海豚类种间的序列歧异水平,支持把这两个形态型划分为两个独立的种,即T.truncatus和T.aduncus的观点。虽然两种瓶鼻海豚的分布区在台湾海峡一带出现重叠,但相互之间缺乏基因流动,提示两者可能已出现了显著的生殖隔离。     

三刺网在淡水豚捕捞中应用

我国沿海及长江流域有误捕海豚、长江江豚和白豚的记录[2 ,3] 。所有近岸和沿岸误捕等渔具中 ,以刺网的误捕率最高。自 80年代始 ,我国鲸类研究人员就努力尝试在长江中围捕淡水豚 ,1 986年中国科学院水生生物研究所用两条渔船正、反捆绑构成若干个放网船和若干个驱赶船 ,采用声驱网捕在长江中游捕获过 2头白豚[1 ] 。本文根据铜陵白豚养护场 (1 989— 1 997年 )在安徽江段先后组织 8次大规模长江江豚围捕实践活动 ,通过对豚类活体捕获网具和方法加以改进 ,旨在提高豚类活体捕获成功率。1　材料和方法1 .1　捕豚网具1 .1 .1　围网　系…     

误捕及其对海兽种群的影响

几乎在全世界都有误捕海兽的记录．有误捕记录的海兽有鲸目１４科６２种,鳍脚目３科１２种,海牛目２科２种及食肉目１科１种．误捕海兽的渔具包括刺网、拖网、围网、张网、插网和陷阱等．误捕可导致种群数量的下降及生活史特征的改变．我国需要开展这方面的研究工作．     

瓶鼻海豚的精液采集训练

作者从1990年10月开始,对四头瓶鼻海豚(Tursiops aduncas)用诱导和奖励的方法进行采精训练,经过2年时间,所有海豚已先后成功地、稳定地获得高质量的精液。       

黄渤海产中小型齿鲸类的调查

作者于1959—1963年参与海豚试捕工作时,对黄渤海几种中小型齿鲸的生态习性进行了观察,于1962年对北方沿海三省产小型齿鲸类的分布作过调查了解,还走访了南方沿海重点渔区。现将调查资料整理报道如下。 一、江豚Neomeris phocaenoides 江豚俗称江猪,辽宁沿海标本体长1.16—1.80     

厦门水域中华白海豚出现于围头湾

厦门海域的中华白海豚是一个受威胁的种群。以往有关该种群的调查范围主要集中在厦门以及邻近的南部漳州海域。为了获得厦门岛东部海域（包括晋江围头湾、小嶝岛以及大嶝岛部分水域）白海豚的分布和数量等信息,本文于2013年6—8月对该水域进行了船基样线法调查和照相识别研究。调查期间共目击到白海豚26群,照相识别白海豚个体27头。所有照相识别的白海豚个体均与厦门中华白海豚个体识别数据库中的个体匹配,表明厦门中华白海豚的分布区至少向东延伸至围头湾。本文白海豚遇见率为5.8群/100km和24.8头/100km,均要高于以往在厦门水域的调查结果,表明大嶝岛—围头湾水域是厦门中华白海豚的重要栖息地之一,值得优先保护和管理。     

Subsurface behavior of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) interacting with fish trawl nets in northwestern Australia: Implications for bycatch mitigation

Most studies of delphinid‐trawler interactions have documented the surface behavior of dolphins feeding on discarded bycatch, but not their subsurface behavior around demersal trawl gear. Using video cameras mounted inside trawl nets, we recorded the subsurface behavior of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in a demersal fish trawl fishery in northwestern Australia. Footage from 36 trawls across the fishery was analyzed to determine the extent of dolphin‐gear interactions and the behavior of dolphins inside the nets. Interaction rates were high, with dolphins present inside and outside the nets during 29 and 34 trawls, respectively, and for up to 99% of the trawl duration. The proportion of foraging behaviors exhibited inside the nets was higher than the proportions of traveling and socializing behaviors. Twenty‐nine individuals were identified inside the net, seven of which returned repeatedly within and between trawls and fishing trips, but were observed primarily in the same localized areas in which they were first recorded. Our results suggest that entering trawl nets may be a frequently occurring, yet specialized behavior exhibited by a small subset of trawler‐associated dolphins. We propose that gear modifications, not spatial or temporal adjustments to fishing effort, have the greatest potential to reduce dolphin bycatch.     

Sighting frequency and relative abundance of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) along the northeast coast of Margarita Island and Los Frailes Archipelago, Venezuela

The study of local cetaceans in Venezuela has a very recent history, and few efforts have been made in the assessment of coastal populations based on field research. The occurrence of whales and dolphins along the northeast coast of Venezuela has been documented through sightings and stranding records. Given the underwater topographical features and the influence of upwelling processes, this area is considered a very productive coastal ecosystem. Our objective was to establish the sighting frequency and relative abundance of bottlenose dolphins in the area. Sighting records were gathered on bottlenose dolphins and other cetacean species occurring along the northeast coast of Margarita Island and Los Frailes Archipelago through direct observation during land-based (6 surveys, 48 hours of observation) and boat-based surveys (24 surveys, 121 hours of observation, 1295 km covered). A sighting frequency was calculated using two methodologies and then compared, considering: 1) a mean effective observation time (4.27 hours), and 2) distance covered with cetacean sightings (1108 kin). A third method is proposed relating a mean effective distance covered with cetacean sightings and expressed as a percentage. The abundance index was calculated using the mean effective observation time. The sighting frequency of Tursiops truncattus in the study area was 3 - 4 sightings per day of 4.27 observation hours, or by 185 kilometers covered. The relative abundance was calculated as 35 dolphins in the study area, so a total population of less than 60 dolphins could inhabit the proposed range. Tursiops truncatus is the dominant species in the northeast coast of Margarita Island and Los Frailes Archipelago with 70% of all the sightings, so this locality could be termed as the distribution range of a possible local population of bottlenose dolphins.     

Selection of critical habitats for bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) based on behavioral data,in relation to marine traffic in the Istanbul Strait,Turkey

Marine traffic is a significant source of disturbance to the bottlenose dolphin population in the Istanbul Strait, Turkey. To determine the importance of this threat, behavioral data together with sighting data of both dolphins and marine vessels were assessed for 2012. The current study suggests that the Istanbul Strait is used mostly as a foraging ground for bottlenose dolphins. Nonetheless, in the same area there is intense marine traffic as well as increase of industrial fishing activities in autumn. The findings of this study indicated that high‐speed ferries and high‐speed boats were the most significant source of disturbance. Moreover, increased densities of fishing vessels resulted in a drastic decline of dolphin sightings. This study highlights that vessel type, speed, distance, and density have a cumulative negative effect on dolphins. In order to mitigate the impacts of vessels, it is necessary to establish managed areas in the Istanbul Strait. Such proposed areas should limit speed and density of marine traffic and have specific restrictions on vessel routes. We propose three different seasonal managed areas according to their values as critical habitat for bottlenose dolphins in the strait.     

Where to catch a fish? The influence of foraging tactics on the ecology of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Florida Bay,Florida

Observations of bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ) in Florida Bay, Florida, between 2002 and 2005 revealed the use of three distinct foraging tactics. The goal of this study was to identify ecological correlates with tactic use and describe the impact of foraging specializations on the overall habitat use and distribution patterns of this dolphin population. Foraging tactics showed strong association with contrasting environmental characteristics, primarily depth. Locations of two of these tactic groups were spatially repulsed. Analyses of sighting histories of individual dolphins observed at foraging events determined that dolphins which employed one tactic never employed the other, and vice versa . Although bottlenose dolphins have plastic foraging behaviors, dolphins in Florida Bay appear to specialize in one tactic and subsequently limit their overall distribution patterns to coincide with habitats that facilitate success using that foraging tactic. This study demonstrates how foraging behavior can be an ecological determinant of overall dolphin habitat use patterns and works to create spatial structure within a population due to consistent mapping of tactics onto environmental variation. These foraging specializations potentially impact the social and demographic patterns of this dolphin population. The possible evolutionary mechanisms behind this intraspecific variation, including resource limitation and social learning, are considered.     

Genetic isolation between coastal and fishery‐impacted,offshore bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops spp.) populations

The identification of species and population boundaries is important in both evolutionary and conservation biology. In recent years, new population genetic and computational methods for estimating population parameters and testing hypotheses in a quantitative manner have emerged. Using a Bayesian framework and a quantitative model‐testing approach, we evaluated the species status and genetic connectedness of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops spp.) populations off remote northwestern Australia, with a focus on pelagic ‘offshore’ dolphins subject to incidental capture in a trawl fishery. We analysed 71 dolphin samples from three sites beyond the 50 m depth contour (the inshore boundary of the fishery) and up to 170 km offshore, including incidentally caught and free‐ranging individuals associating with trawl vessels, and 273 dolphins sampled at 12 coastal sites inshore of the 50 m depth contour and within 10 km of the coast. Results from 19 nuclear microsatellite markers showed significant population structure between dolphins from within the fishery and coastal sites, but also among dolphins from coastal sites, identifying three coastal populations. Moreover, we found no current or historic gene flow into the offshore population in the region of the fishery, indicating a complete lack of recruitment from coastal sites. Mitochondrial DNA corroborated our findings of genetic isolation between dolphins from the offshore population and coastal sites. Most offshore individuals formed a monophyletic clade with common bottlenose dolphins (T. truncatus), while all 273 individuals sampled coastally formed a well‐supported clade of Indo‐Pacific bottlenose dolphins (T. aduncus). By including a quantitative modelling approach, our study explicitly took evolutionary processes into account for informing the conservation and management of protected species. As such, it may serve as a template for other, similarly inaccessible study populations.     

Habitat and resource partitioning among Indo‐Pacific bottlenose dolphins in Moreton Bay,Australia

Investigating resource partitioning among mobile marine predators such as cetaceans is challenging. Here we integrate multiple methodologies (analyses of habitat use, stable isotopes and trace elements) to assess ecological niche partitioning amongst two genetically divergent sympatric subpopulations (North and South) of Indo‐Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in Moreton Bay, Australia. Comparisons of the mean locations (latitude, longitude) and environmental variables (distance from sandbanks, distance from shore and water depth) observed at sightings of biopsy‐sampled individuals indicated that the North subpopulation occurred in the northwestern bay in significantly deeper water than the South subpopulation, which was found in southeastern nearshore waters and closer to sandbanks. Ratios of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in skin samples suggested that North dolphins foraged on higher trophic level prey in relatively more pelagic, offshore habitats, while South dolphins foraged on lower trophic prey in more nearshore, demersal and/or benthic habitats. Habitat partitioning was also reflected in higher blubber concentrations of most of the 13 measured trace elements, in particular lead, in the coastal South compared to the more pelagic North dolphins. These findings indicate that genetic subpopulations of bottlenose dolphins in Moreton Bay are adapted to different niches.     

Fine-scale population structure of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Tampa Bay, Florida

Some populations of coastal bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ) comprise discrete communities, defined by patterns of social association and long-term site fidelity. We tested the hypothesis that bottlenose dolphins in Tampa Bay, Florida, form a single community. The longitudinal study of dolphins in Sarasota Bay, adjacent to Tampa Bay, allowed us to ground-truth the definition of community and test whether our approach was robust to small sample sizes of resightings. We conducted photo-identification surveys in Tampa Bay during 1988–1993, and identified 102 dolphins with 10 or more sightings. We used hierarchical cluster analysis to examine the locations and association indices of these dolphins. We used analysis of variance (ANOVA) to test for differences in mean locations and determine whether mean coefficient of association (CoA) values within a community were higher than among communities. Dolphins in Tampa Bay clustered into five putative communities differing significantly in location and CoA values. Kernel estimates of the ranges of these five communities exhibited little overlap; some communities had no overlap at all. We conclude that five discrete communities of bottlenose dolphins exist in Tampa Bay and that such fine-scale structure may be a common feature of bottlenose dolphin populations throughout the southeastern United States.     

Connectivity in the network macrostructure of Tursiops truncatus in the Pelagos Sanctuary (NW Mediterranean Sea): does landscape matter?

The bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus Montagu, 1821) is a regularly observed species in the Mediterranean Sea, but its network organization has never been investigated on a large scale. We described the network macrostructure of the bottlenose dolphin (meta)population inhabiting the Pelagos Sanctuary (a wide protected area located in the north-western portion of the Mediterranean basin) and we analysed its connectivity in relation to the landscape traits. We pooled effort and sighting data collected by 13 different research institutions operating within the Pelagos Sanctuary from 1994 to 2011 to examine the distribution of bottlenose dolphins in the Pelagos study area and then we applied a social network analysis, investigating the association patterns of the photo-identified dolphins (806 individuals in 605 sightings). The bottlenose dolphin (meta)population inhabiting the Pelagos Sanctuary is clustered in discrete units whose borders coincide with habitat breakages. This complex structure seems to be shaped by the geo-morphological and ecological features of the landscape, through a mechanism of local specialization of the resident dolphins. Five distinct clusters were identified in the (meta)population and two of them were solid enough to be further investigated and compared. Significant differences were found in the network parameters, suggesting a different social organization of the clusters, possibly as a consequence of the different local specialization.     

HABITAT USE PATTERNS AND RANGES OF THE BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN IN THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA, MEXICO

Abstract: I studied behavior and range patterns of individual bottlenose dolphins during 1984 in the mid-eastern Gulf of California, Mexico. Dolphin sighting rate was significantly higher in areas close to estuary mouths, 0.306 sightings per hour compared with 0.155 sightings per hour in areas distant from estuary mouths. Dolphins used these estuarine areas to feed; 61% of all behavior observed near estuaries was feeding as compared with 23% elsewhere. Traveling comprised 61% of all behavior observed in areas distant from estuary mouths. Estuaries are sites of large concentrations of nutrients which support great numbers of filter-feeding zooplankton and fish. Bottlenose dolphins may specialize on esmarine prey, or they may feed in estuarine areas simply because of the abundance of potential prey that these systems support. In either case, data on relative numbers, distribution patterns, behavior and diet indicate that this is a general trend in habitat use for many coastal populations of this species in the Pacific and Atlantic.
Ranges of a few individuals spanned a minimum of 65 km of coastline, and animals were not permanent residents of a monitored bay. In contrast, dolphins off the coast of Sarasota, Florida, have been reported to be year-round residents with smaller ranges. This difference in degree of site fidelity may be related to habitat differences. The west coast of Florida is dotted with numerous and large estuarine systems which may host permanent prey populations and support resident groups of dolphins. The Gulf of California coastline contains few estuaries; most are small and perhaps support prey resources which are ephemeral, requiring dolphins to range over larger distances in search of food.     

SHARK ATTACKS ON BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS (TURSIOPS ADUNCUS) IN SHARK BAY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA: ATTACK RATE, BITE SCAR FREQUENCIES, AND ATTACK SEASONALITY

Shark predation may have been a central factor influencing the evolution of sociality in dolphins, as well as a determinant of dolphin habitat use and behavior. To understand the role of predation in driving interpopulation differences in behavior and sociality, it is important to quantify differences in predation risk among populations. This study describes the frequency of shark-inflicted scars and estimates the shark attack rate on bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops aduncus ) in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Shark bite scars were found on 74.2% (95 of 128) of non-calves, and most of these scars were inflicted by tiger sharks ( Galeocerdo cuvier ). Although there were no differences among age/sex classes in the frequency of scarring, significantly more adult males than adult females bore multiple scars. The rate of unsuccessful shark attack was estimated to be between 11% and 13% of dolphins attacked each year. Large sharks (>3 m) were responsible for a disproportionate number of attacks. However, bites from small carcharhinid sharks on 6.2% of dolphins suggest that some of these small sharks may be dolphin ectoparasites. Both the scar frequencies and attack rate suggest that Shark Bay dolphins face a greater risk of predation than bottlenose dolphins in other locations.