New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts
Abundance, residency, and habitat utilisation of Hector's dolphins
(Cephalorhynchus hectori) in Porpoise Bay, New Zealand
LARS BEJDER
Department of Biology
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4J1
Canada
STEVE DAWSON+
Department of Marine Science
University of Otago
P. O. Box 56, Dunedin
New Zealand
email: steve.dawson@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
+Corresponding author.
Abstract Theodolite tracking and boat-based
photo-identification surveys were carried out in the austral summers of 1995/96
and 1996/97 to assess abundance, residency, and habitat utilisation of Hector's
dolphins (Cephalorhynchus hectori van Beneden 1881) in Porpoise Bay, on
the south-east corner of the South Island of New Zealand. Data are consistent
with the model of a small resident population that is visited occasionally by
members of neighbouring populations. Mark-recapture analysis of
photographically identified individuals, along with data on the proportion of
animals bearing identifying marks, indicates a local population of 48 dolphins
(95% CI = 44-55) in 1996/97. Dolphins spent a large proportion of their time in
a small area inside the bay. Dolphin sightings were more congregated in
successive time periods from early morning to late afternoon. No pattern of
diurnal movement into and out of the bay was observed.
Keywords Hector's dolphin; Cephalorhynchus hectori;
abundance; residency; habitat utilisation; New Zealand; theodolite;
photo-identification
M00008
Received 18 February 2000; accepted 20 October 2000
New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 2001, Vol. 35:
277-287
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (1183K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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