Population Size and Habitat Patterns of Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins (Sousa chinensis) off Donsak, Surat Thani, Thailand

This study investigated the population size and distribution pattern of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Soasa chinesis) off Donsak, Surat Thani, Thailand. The field surveys were conducted along the coastline of the mainland and the offshore area of the Angthong Marine National Park. The populatio...

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Main Authors: Suwat Jutapruet", Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong, Siriporn Pradit
Language:English
Published: Science Faculty of Chiang Mai University 2019
Subjects:
Online Access:http://it.science.cmu.ac.th/ejournal/dl.php?journal_id=5529
http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/jspui/handle/6653943832/66832
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Institution: Chiang Mai University
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spelling th-cmuir.6653943832-668322019-09-17T08:55:04Z Population Size and Habitat Patterns of Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins (Sousa chinensis) off Donsak, Surat Thani, Thailand Suwat Jutapruet" Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong Siriporn Pradit Population size Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin Donsak-Surat Thani habitat patterns This study investigated the population size and distribution pattern of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Soasa chinesis) off Donsak, Surat Thani, Thailand. The field surveys were conducted along the coastline of the mainland and the offshore area of the Angthong Marine National Park. The population size was estimated by applying a mark-recapture model to the individual photo-identification records collected from field surveys. In total, 142 individuals were photo-identified using dorsal fin characteristics. The population size was estimated to consist of 160 individuals with a range of 152 – 178 at a 95% CI. Spatial (GPS data) and environmental information were recorded for distribution and habitat analysis. The most frequent encounters with humpback dolphins occurred, in decreasing order of magnitude, at Somserm Ferry, Raja Ferry, Som Island, Nok Ta Pao Island and Taled Bay. The present study showed that the humpback dolphins off Donsak were frequently found near the coast in close proximity to man-made structures, sea grass areas and mudflat habitats. Our study revealed that a distinct humpback dolphin habitat occurred at a specific off-shore distance, water depth and water transparency. Results of this study improves the better understanding of the humpback dolphin’s ecology and offers informed baselines essential for meaningful marine-mammal protection and management policies in the Gulf of Thailand. 2019-09-17T08:55:04Z 2019-09-17T08:55:04Z 2015 Chiang Mai Journal of Science 42, 1 (Jan 2015), 136 - 147 0125-2526 http://it.science.cmu.ac.th/ejournal/dl.php?journal_id=5529 http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/jspui/handle/6653943832/66832 Eng Science Faculty of Chiang Mai University
institution Chiang Mai University
building Chiang Mai University Library
country Thailand
collection CMU Intellectual Repository
language English
topic Population size
Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin
Donsak-Surat Thani
habitat patterns
spellingShingle Population size
Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin
Donsak-Surat Thani
habitat patterns
Suwat Jutapruet"
Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong
Siriporn Pradit
Population Size and Habitat Patterns of Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins (Sousa chinensis) off Donsak, Surat Thani, Thailand
description This study investigated the population size and distribution pattern of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Soasa chinesis) off Donsak, Surat Thani, Thailand. The field surveys were conducted along the coastline of the mainland and the offshore area of the Angthong Marine National Park. The population size was estimated by applying a mark-recapture model to the individual photo-identification records collected from field surveys. In total, 142 individuals were photo-identified using dorsal fin characteristics. The population size was estimated to consist of 160 individuals with a range of 152 – 178 at a 95% CI. Spatial (GPS data) and environmental information were recorded for distribution and habitat analysis. The most frequent encounters with humpback dolphins occurred, in decreasing order of magnitude, at Somserm Ferry, Raja Ferry, Som Island, Nok Ta Pao Island and Taled Bay. The present study showed that the humpback dolphins off Donsak were frequently found near the coast in close proximity to man-made structures, sea grass areas and mudflat habitats. Our study revealed that a distinct humpback dolphin habitat occurred at a specific off-shore distance, water depth and water transparency. Results of this study improves the better understanding of the humpback dolphin’s ecology and offers informed baselines essential for meaningful marine-mammal protection and management policies in the Gulf of Thailand.
author Suwat Jutapruet"
Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong
Siriporn Pradit
author_facet Suwat Jutapruet"
Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong
Siriporn Pradit
author_sort Suwat Jutapruet"
title Population Size and Habitat Patterns of Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins (Sousa chinensis) off Donsak, Surat Thani, Thailand
title_short Population Size and Habitat Patterns of Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins (Sousa chinensis) off Donsak, Surat Thani, Thailand
title_full Population Size and Habitat Patterns of Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins (Sousa chinensis) off Donsak, Surat Thani, Thailand
title_fullStr Population Size and Habitat Patterns of Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins (Sousa chinensis) off Donsak, Surat Thani, Thailand
title_full_unstemmed Population Size and Habitat Patterns of Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins (Sousa chinensis) off Donsak, Surat Thani, Thailand
title_sort population size and habitat patterns of indo-pacific humpback dolphins (sousa chinensis) off donsak, surat thani, thailand
publisher Science Faculty of Chiang Mai University
publishDate 2019
url http://it.science.cmu.ac.th/ejournal/dl.php?journal_id=5529
http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/jspui/handle/6653943832/66832
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