Australia's last great whale haven.pdf - Ningaloo Atlas

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Australia’s Last Great Whale Haven Appendix 1 – Species Profiles 52 Spinner dolphin Family Delphinidae Distribution and migration Records exist from Western Australia, as far south as Bunbury (33°19’ S), the Northern Territory (records of bycatch in the Arafura and Timor sea gillnet fishing industry 1981–85), Queensland and NSW. Not well surveyed in Australian waters, offshore distribution primarily assumed from incidental sightings, plus beach-cast and reported by-caught animals. Not known to be migratory, but seasonal movement and range extensions linked to oceanographic features (e.g. Leeuwin Current). Diet and behaviour Pelagic dolphins feed on pelagic fish (mostly myctophids), squids and shrimps from depths greater than 250m. May undertake long-term movements in response to changing availability of prey. Food-related diurnal movements, heading offshore at dusk to feed on deep-living organisms that migrate towards the surface at night. Stomach contents from northern Australia contained reef-living and benthic organisms. Diet overlaps with that of yellowfin tuna, leading to close association between these species and sea birds. Has resulted in large numbers of dolphins taken as bycatch by purse seiners. Information from the NW Region In October 2007 a survey conducted by the National Cetacean Sightings Program observed a pod of 30 spinner dolphins 120km north-west of Barrow Island (20°09’ S and 114°24’ E), Western Australia. One of the more common pelagic dolphins in the NW Marine Region; most common dolphin caught by the Taiwanese gillnet fishery. High density in James Price Point area. Seen from Cape Londonderry to the Lacepede Islands, and near Ashmore Reef. Scientific Name Stenella longirostris Habitat Primarily pelagic, possibly neritic in some regions. Occur in tropical, subtropical and occasionally temperate waters. Associate with tuna, pantropical spotted dolphins and sea birds under certain oceanographic conditions, such as well-defined, shallow, pelagic habitats about 100m deep. Pelagic and nearshore forms exist. In northern Australia, appear to be more closely associated with shallow water (less than 50m depth). Reproduction Sexual maturity: > 6 years, 1.5m (males), 4 years, 1.4m (females) in northern Australia. Maximum age: 22 years. Natural predators include sharks and several other cetaceans, including killer whales, false killer whales, pygmy killer whales and short-finned pilot whales. Parasitism may be a major factor in natural mortality. Calves born at 0.7–0.8m, and wean at 1–3 years. Calving interval 2–3 years. Gestation 9–11 months, no mating and calving seasons known. No calving areas are known in Australian waters. Population status Population unknown, but not considered rare. Potentially abundant in Australian waters. Appear split into near-shore and oceanic populations. No population trends can be calculated. Sources: Ballance and Pitman 14 , Bannister et al. 17 , Culik 46 , DEWHA 54 , DEWR 57 , DSEWPaC 61 , Gowans et al. 78 , Harwood and Hembree 82 , Jefferson et al. 94 , Mustoe 120 , Mustoe and Edmunds 121 , Perrin and Reilly 134 , Perrin et al. 135 , Perrin et al. 136 , Reilly 142 , Ross 144 , Wade and Gerrodette 173
November 2011 Appendix 1 – Species Profiles 53 Striped dolphin Family Delphinidae Distribution and migration Four or five stranding records known from Western Australia, including from Augusta, probably related to the southward flow of the warm Leeuwin Current. Two records from NSW, and two from southern Queensland. Not well surveyed in Australian waters, distribution is primarily assumed from beach-cast animals. Not known to migrate. Diet and behaviour Prey is small ( 25°C. Most frequently found in deep waters (> 1000m) with large seasonal changes in surface temperature and thermocline depth and with seasonal upwelling. Common and striped Dolphins tend to frequent the same areas, and may be seen with spotted and spinner dolphins, pilot whales and Risso’s Dolphins. Reproduction Sexual maturity: 11–12 years (declined from 9.7 years (1956 cohort) to 7.2 years (1970 cohort) in females off Japan, thought to be in response to decrease in numbers caused by the fishery. Length at physical maturity: 15–20 years (males), 13–18 years (females). Maximum age: 58 years. The calving interval ~4 years, with an annual pregnancy rate of 25%, and an ovulation rate of 0.401. The mating season unknown, and the calving season is prolonged. Gestation lasts about 12 months. Calves are born between 0.8 and 1.0m in length, and wean at 15–36 months and 1.7m in length. No calving areas are known in Australian waters. Population status Population size unknown, but not considered rare. 635,000 to 2,251,300 occur in the eastern tropical Pacific 173 . Potentially abundant in Australian waters. No population trends can be calculated. Sources: DSEWPaC 61 , Bannister et al. 17 , Calzada et al. 29 , Culik 46 , DEWR 57 , Forcada and Hammond 68 , Frantzis and Herzing 70 , Gowans et al. 78 , Jefferson et al. 93 , Jefferson et al. 94 , Perrin and Reilly 134 , Reilly 142 , Ross 144 , Wade and Gerrodette 173
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Australia’s Last Great Whale Have
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Page 5 and 6: November 2011 Executive Summary 3 E
Page 7 and 8: November 2011 Introduction 5 Introd
Page 9 and 10: November 2011 Cetaceans of the NW M
Page 21 and 22: November 2011 Threats 19 Threats Oi
Page 23 and 24: N November 2011 Threats 21 Cetacean
Page 25 and 26: November 2011 Threats 23 Cetacean H
Page 27 and 28: November 2011 Threats 25 Cetacean H
Page 29 and 30: November 2011 Threats 27 Pollution
Page 31 and 32: November 2011 Discussion 29 Discuss
Page 33 and 34: November 2011 Discussion 31 In addi
Page 35 and 36: November 2011 Recommendations 33 Re
Page 37 and 38: November 2011 Recommendations 35 Ha
Page 39 and 40: November 2011 References 37 Referen
Page 41 and 42: November 2011 References 39 55. DEW
Page 43 and 44: November 2011 References 41 105. Ke
Page 45 and 46: November 2011 References 43 160. Sl
Page 47 and 48: November 2011 Appendix 1 - Species
Page 53: November 2011 Appendix 1 - Species
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