Bottlenose dolphins around Aberdeen harbour, north-east Scotland: a short study of habitat utilization and the potential effects of boat traffic

Sini, Maria; Canning, Sarah J.; Stockin, Karen A.; Pierce, Graham J.

doi:10.1017/s0025315405012774

Cited by 31 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…If the animals in Broadhaven Bay were not directly attracted to the high concentrations of vessels during construction works but to high prey concentrations instead, there may still have been subtle responses to the high vessel traffic, such as changes in diving and breathing, surface or foraging behaviour or changes in vocalisations (e.g. Janik & Thompson 1996, Lesage et al 1999, Au & Green 2000, Nowacek et al 2001, van Parijs & Corkeron 2001, Hastie et al 2003, Buckstaff 2004, Foote et al 2004, Sini et al 2005, Lemon et al 2006. However, in our case, it was not possible to observe from the cliff any subtle behavioural differences between times of high and low vessel traffic.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Displacement responses of a mysticete, an adontocete, and a phacid seal to construction-related vessel traffic

Anderwald¹,

Brandecker²,

Coleman³

et al. 2013

Endang. Species. Res.

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Marine construction works often lead to temporary increases in vessel traffic, which, in addition to the construction activity itself, contribute to underwater ambient noise in the affected area and increase the risk of vessel collision for marine mammals. Using a 3 yr data set of cliff-based observations, we investigated whether the presence/absence of minke whales, bottlenose dolphins and grey seals varied with the overall number and type of vessels present during the construction of an underwater gas pipeline through a bay on the northwest coast of Ireland. Results from binary generalised estimation equations showed a positive relationship between the presence of bottlenose dolphins and the overall number of boats, as well as the number of construction vessels. However, the presence of the 2 taxa with higher hearing sensitivity at low frequencies -minke whales and grey seals -was negatively correlated with the total number of boats and the number of utility vessels (as well as the number of fishing boats in the case of minke whales). While bottlenose dolphins may have been attracted to either the vessels per se or high prey concentrations coinciding with construction activities, both minke whales and grey seals appear to have been displaced by high levels of vessel traffic, most likely due to noise disturbance. Careful consideration of mitigation measures, especially for taxa with low-frequency hearing, is therefore essential in the planning phase of offshore construction activities, which should also take local circumstances into account.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Displacement responses of a mysticete, an adontocete, and a phacid seal to construction-related vessel traffic

Anderwald¹,

Brandecker²,

Coleman³

et al. 2013

Endang. Species. Res.

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show abstract

“…Oceans (Lütkebohle, 1996;Mattson et al, 1999Mattson et al, , 2005Nowacek et al, 2001;Lusseau, 2003a, b;Constantine et al, 2004;Sini et al, 2005;Lemon et al, 2006). Underhill (2006) noticed changes in diving patterns and a dominant travelling behaviour in the presence of tourist boats in the Mediterranean region.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vessel traffic affects bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) behaviour in waters surrounding Lampedusa Island, south Italy

2011

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Since 2003, as part of the LIFE project 'Del.Ta.' (NAT/IT/000163) a bottlenose dolphin community has been studied in order to assess the impact of increasing boat traffic in the Pelagie Archipelago (Sicily, Italy). During the summer of 2006 and 2008, land-based surveys were carried out at Lampedusa, one of the Archipelago's Islands, at set hours from 6 locations (7 in 2008) in standard weather conditions. Continuous horizon scanning and focal group sampling methods were used to study dolphin presence and behaviour. Dolphin -boat interactions were recorded for each sighting. A total of approximately 559 hours were spent monitoring and 83 sightings were recorded. With regard to the different types of vessels, interaction with sailing boats was always neutral, whereas fast boats caused the interruption of all activities and avoidance behaviour. Positive interaction occasionally occurred with bottom trawling fishing boats. Interactions recorded when fishing and powered engine boats approached within 200 m predominantly resulted in a negative reaction from the dolphins (approximately 70%) and dolphin behaviour was affected in terms of occurrence and patterns. Behavioural analysis showed that the animals reduced the frequency of behaviours related to feeding, social and relaxing activities. The dolphins also increased informationgathering behaviour such as spyhopping. The use of Markovian chain models revealed evidence of disruptions in sub-sequences made up of behaviours often associated with feeding. After boat departures, the animals rarely restarted their previous activity and persistence of this effect could have long-term consequences as a result of non-habituation. Sighting duration also decreased in the presence of vessels. The possible negative long-term effect of the presence of boats may be indicated by the lower mean sighting duration in 2008, when the highest presence of powered engine boats was recorded. In view of the scenario outlined above, local authorities need to enforce the requirement of maintaining a distance of over 200 m away from the animals for all types of boat and also promote regular land-based surveys of vessel impacts for tourist boats and dolphin watching cruises.

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“…While habituation, when correctly understood, represents a learning process over time, the term is often misused to describe any observed moderation in wildlife responses to a human disturbance (e.g. Sini et al 2005, Griffin et al 2007, Holmes et al 2006. In many cases, however, the moderation in response will involve increases in individual tolerance levels to the disturbance, rather than habituation to it (Nisbet 2000).…”

Section: Principles For Interpreting Behavioural Responses To Human Dmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact assessment research: use and misuse of habituation, sensitisation and tolerance in describing wildlife responses to anthropogenic stimuli

Bejder¹,

Samuels²,

Whitehead³

et al. 2009

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

379

281

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Studies on the effects of anthropogenic activity on wildlife aim to provide a sound scientific basis for management. However, misinterpretation of the theoretical basis for these studies can jeopardise this objective and lead to management outcomes that are detrimental to the wildlife they are intended to protect. Misapplication of the terms 'habituation', 'sensitisation' and 'tolerance' in impact studies, for example, can lead to fundamental misinterpretations of research findings. Habituation is often used incorrectly to refer to any form of moderation in wildlife response to human disturbance, rather than to describe a progressive reduction in response to stimuli that are perceived as neither aversive nor beneficial. This misinterpretation, when coupled with the widely held assumption that habituation has a positive or neutral outcome for animals, can lead to inappropriate decisions about the threats human interactions pose to wildlife. We review the conceptual framework for the use of habituation, sensitisation and tolerance, and provide a set of principles for their appropriate application in studies of behavioural responses to anthropogenic stimuli. We describe how cases of presumed habituation or sensitisation may actually represent differences in the tolerance levels of wildlife to anthropogenic activity. This distinction is vital because impact studies must address (1) the various mechanisms by which differing tolerance levels can occur; and (2) the range of explanations for habituationand sensitisation-type responses. We show that only one mechanism leads to true behavioural habituation (or sensitisation), while a range of mechanisms can lead to changes in tolerance.

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Bottlenose dolphins around Aberdeen harbour, north-east Scotland: a short study of habitat utilization and the potential effects of boat traffic

Cited by 31 publications

References 12 publications

Displacement responses of a mysticete, an adontocete, and a phacid seal to construction-related vessel traffic

Displacement responses of a mysticete, an adontocete, and a phacid seal to construction-related vessel traffic

Vessel traffic affects bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) behaviour in waters surrounding Lampedusa Island, south Italy

Impact assessment research: use and misuse of habituation, sensitisation and tolerance in describing wildlife responses to anthropogenic stimuli

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