ORCID Profile
0000-0002-0563-3136
Current Organisation
University of Tasmania
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Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2011
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 09-01-2013
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2008
DOI: 10.1071/MF08109
Abstract: Bottlenose dolphins are widely studied in marine habitats, but information on estuarine populations is very limited. The present study provides the first published data on bottlenose dolphins in Australian estuaries. Abundance estimates, site fidelity and in idual ranging patterns were examined over a 3-year period for Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) inhabiting the Clarence River (CR) and Richmond River (RR) estuaries in northern New South Wales, Australia. Mark–recapture analyses estimated 71 (62–81 95% CI) dolphins utilised the CR whereas 34 (19–49 95% CI) used the RR. Differences in site fidelity were observed between the estuaries, with 60% and 37% of identified dolphins determined as residents, 26% and 21% as occasional visitors and 14% and 42% as transients for the CR and RR respectively. Resource partitioning was apparent in both estuaries with the mean distance resident dolphins were found upstream from the river mouth being greater than occasional visitors and transients. The Clarence River sustains a larger, predominantly resident dolphin community compared with the Richmond River, which supports a relatively small dolphin community with lower site fidelity. Management of future increased anthropogenic disturbances is needed to ensure the long-term survival of these dolphin populations.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-02-2011
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2012
DOI: 10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2011.11.056
Abstract: We report on the incidence of poxvirus-like lesions assessed by photographic identification in two estuarine populations of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in Australia over a 3-year period. Poxvirus infections of odontocetes are characterized by pinhole or ring-like skin lesions that appear as solitary or coalesced circular gray blemishes. Environmental and physiological stressors are believed to contribute to their manifestation (Van Bressem et al., 2009b). A total of 187 boat-based surveys were completed from October 2003 to September 2006 in the Clarence River (CR) and Richmond River (RR) estuaries, with 720 dolphins sighted. Forty-six in iduals, including calves, were identified in the CR and 23 in the RR. We investigated the temporal relationship between four flood events that occurred in the region during the study period and the occurrence of poxvirus-like skin lesions. Dolphin poxvirus-like lesions were not observed in these populations prior to 2004. Following flood events in 2004, 2005 and 2006, a total of 10 new cases were observed, 6 in the CR and 4 in the RR. Our data suggest that the occurrence of dolphin poxvirus-like lesions may be an indicator for climatic events such as flooding. Long-term follow-up of these estuarine populations is required to further clarify the factors leading to 'outbreaks' of poxvirus infections.
No related grants have been discovered for Christine Fury.