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Dredging displaces bottlenose dolphins from an urbanised foraging patch.
Enrico Pirotta1, Barbara Eva Laesser, Andrea Hardaker
1Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, UK.
Marine Pollution Bulletin
|July 3, 2013
Summary
Human population growth drives marine habitat modification. Dredging for coastal development disrupts marine life, causing bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) to avoid heavily dredged areas, impacting foraging behavior.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Environmental Science
- Conservation Ecology
Background:
- Industrial development and population growth necessitate coastal modifications like harbour expansion.
- Dredging is a key activity in modifying marine environments for shipping and energy, with known impacts on invertebrates and fish.
- Effects of dredging on large marine vertebrates, such as dolphins, remain understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of dredging on the site usage of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).
- To model the relationship between dredging intensity and dolphin attendance in an urbanised foraging habitat.
Main Methods:
- Monitoring dolphin attendance at Aberdeen harbour, a recently urbanised foraging site.
- Utilizing statistical modeling to assess the effect of dredging operations on dolphin site usage.
Main Results:
- Higher intensities of dredging were associated with reduced time spent by dolphins in Aberdeen harbour.
- Dolphin avoidance occurred despite the area being an important foraging patch with high baseline disturbance levels.
Conclusions:
- Dredging activities significantly influence the habitat use of common bottlenose dolphins.
- Intense dredging operations can lead to displacement of marine megafauna from crucial foraging grounds.
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