Oceanic Cetaceans and Associated Habitats in the Western Solomon Islands

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Oceanic Cetaceans and Associated Habitats in the Western Solomon Islands See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275894391 Oceanic Cetaceans and Associated Habitats in the Western Solomon Islands. In: Green, A., P. Lokani, W. Atu, P. Ramohia, P... Technical Report · May 2006 CITATIONS READS 0 33 1 author: Benjamin Kahn APEX Environmental 14 PUBLICATIONS 136 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects: Banda & Ceram Seas Marine Mammal Survey, east Indonesia: 5-15 November 2016 View project Oceanic Cetaceans in the Solomon Islands View project All content following this page was uploaded by Benjamin Kahn on 06 May 2015. The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. All in-text references underlined in blue are added to the original document and are linked to publications on ResearchGate, letting you access and read them immediately. June 2006 TNC Pacifi c Island Countries Report No 1/06 Solomon Islands Government Chapter 8 Oceanic Cetaceans & Associated Habitats Solomon Islands Marine Assessment Benjamin Kahn APEX Environmental 445 Published by: The Nature Conservancy, Indo-Pacific Resource Centre Author Contact Details: Benjamin Kahn: P.O. Box 59 Clifton Beach, Cairns 4879 QLD Australia. e-Mail: [email protected] Suggested Citation: Kahn, B. 2006. Oceanic Cetaceans and Associated Habitats. In: Green, A., P. Lokani, W. Atu, P. Ramohia, P. Thomas and J. Almany (eds.) 2006. Solomon Islands Marine Assessment: Technical report of survey conducted May 13 to June 17, 2004. TNC Pacific Island Countries Report No. 1/06 © 2006, The Nature Conservancy All Rights Reserved. Reproduction for any purpose is prohibited without prior permission. Design: Jeanine Almany Artwork: Nuovo Design Cover Photo: © Benjamin Kahn, APEX Environmental Available from: Indo-Pacific Resource Centre The Nature Conservancy 51 Edmondstone Street South Brisbane, QLD 4101 Australia Or via the worldwide web at: www.conserveonline.org 446 Oceanic Cetaceans & Associated Habitats CONTENTS Executive Summary............................................................................................................................................448 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................452 The Cetaceans of the Solomon Islands..............................................................................................................452 Solomon Islands Cetacean Species and Habitats............................................................................................ 453 The Solomon Islands Marine Assessment’s Contribution to the ‘Cetacean Data Gap’.....................454 Limitations of the SI Cetacean REA.................................................................................................................. 455 The Goals for the SI Cetacean REA................................................................................................................... 455 Survey Methods................................................................................................................................................... 456 Visual Cetacean Assessment..................................................................................................................................456 Acoustic Cetacean Assessment .............................................................................................................................457 Cetacean Activities and Other Solomon Islands Marine Assessment Components...........................458 Passages Between Sites – Visual Cetacean Survey .........................................................................................458 Long Passages Between Sites and Islands – Visual and Acoustic Cetacean Survey.............................458 Anchored on Site – Canvassing of Local Community Knowledge on Cetaceans.................................459 Other Activities - Large Marine Life Sightings (Non-Cetacean) .............................................................459 Results and Discussion................................................................................................................................... 459 Visual Survey Results...............................................................................................................................................459 SI Cetacean REA Results Corrected for Active Survey Effort - Time and Distance..........................463 Acoustic Cetacean Survey Results .......................................................................................................................463 Cetacean Species Associations – Multi-Species or Mixed Groups...........................................................465 Environmental Conditions During the Si Cetacean Rea ........................................................ 465 Sighting Conditions .................................................................................................................................................465 Acoustic Listening Conditions .............................................................................................................................465 Non-Cetacean Sightings........................................................................................................................................ 466 traditional Dolphin Hunters of Malaita.........................................................................................468 The Fanalei and Bita ’Ama Communities .......................................................................................468 Other SI Cetacean REA Activities ...........................................................................................................475 SI Cetacean REA visit to the Gavutu captive dolphin facility ....................................................................475 International live dolphin export trade..............................................................................................................476 Potentially Significant Cetacean-Fisheries Interactions: The SI Purse Seine Tuna Fishery............477 Potential for Cetacean Watching in the Solomon Islands .................................................. 478 Recommendations ..............................................................................................................................................479 Capacity Building for Improved National and Local Cetacean Expertise ..............................................479 Addressing the Knowledge Gap on SI Cetaceans – A National Approach...........................................480 Short-Term Projects to Address the Knowledge Gap................................................................................... 481 Identifying Important Cetacean Habitats for Protective Management.................................................. 481 Conservation Options – Marine Corridors and Local Dolphin Resting Lagoons...............................482 Traditional Dolphin Drives - Fanalei.................................................................................................................484 The Case for SI to Become a Signatory State of CITES..............................................................................485 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................................... 487 References...............................................................................................................................................................488 Tables ..........................................................................................................................................................................491 Figures.......................................................................................................................................................................497 Appendices................................................................................................................................................................510 447 Solomon Islands Marine Assessment Technical Report Executive Summary The Solomon Islands Marine Assessment – Oceanic Cetaceans and Associated Habitats was conducted from 10 May to 16 June 2004. Because of the broad and multi-faceted nature of the Solomon Island Marine Assessment’s activities and goals, this program was not designed as a dedicated cetacean survey. As such the Solomon Island Marine Assessment could not address certain species- or habitat-specific conservation and management issues for cetaceans – such as the estimation of relative abundances (which can only be estimated through more structured and periodic surveys). Instead, this program was structured as a Rapid Ecological Assessment on Solomon Islands’ oceanic cetaceans and associated habitats (the SI Cetacean REA) and included the following activities: 1. To conduct a visual and acoustic survey on Solomon Islands’ whale and dolphin species diversity, distribution, ranking of total individual count and their associated habitats (near shore, yet deep-water); 2. To canvass community knowledge on local cetacean sighting patterns, strandings and cetaceans’ role in cultural heritage and folklore; 3. To conduct an on-board capacity building program on cetaceans for local scientists and marine conservationists; 4.
Recommended publications
  • The Naturalist and His 'Beautiful Islands'
    The Naturalist and his ‘Beautiful Islands’ Charles Morris Woodford in the Western Pacific David Russell Lawrence The Naturalist and his ‘Beautiful Islands’ Charles Morris Woodford in the Western Pacific David Russell Lawrence Published by ANU Press The Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200, Australia Email: [email protected] This title is also available online at http://press.anu.edu.au National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Author: Lawrence, David (David Russell), author. Title: The naturalist and his ‘beautiful islands’ : Charles Morris Woodford in the Western Pacific / David Russell Lawrence. ISBN: 9781925022032 (paperback) 9781925022025 (ebook) Subjects: Woodford, C. M., 1852-1927. Great Britain. Colonial Office--Officials and employees--Biography. Ethnology--Solomon Islands. Natural history--Solomon Islands. Colonial administrators--Solomon Islands--Biography. Solomon Islands--Description and travel. Dewey Number: 577.099593 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Cover image: Woodford and men at Aola on return from Natalava (PMBPhoto56-021; Woodford 1890: 144). Cover design and layout by ANU Press Printed by Griffin Press This edition © 2014 ANU Press Contents Acknowledgments . xi Note on the text . xiii Introduction . 1 1 . Charles Morris Woodford: Early life and education . 9 2. Pacific journeys . 25 3 . Commerce, trade and labour . 35 4 . A naturalist in the Solomon Islands . 63 5 . Liberalism, Imperialism and colonial expansion . 139 6 . The British Solomon Islands Protectorate: Colonialism without capital . 169 7 . Expansion of the Protectorate 1898–1900 .
    [Show full text]
  • Comoros Island Chain and Adjacent Reef Banks IMMA
    Comoros Island Chain and Adjacent Reef Banks IMMA Summary The area of the Comoros (Grande Comore, Mohéli, Anjouan), Mayotte and other reef banks under French jurisdiction (Zélée/Geyser complex and the Glorieuses) includes submarine canyons and a large Area Size number of seamounts located between the main 65,900km2 islands. Small resident populations of coastal dolphins occur around Mayotte, particularly Indo-Pacific Qualifying Species and Criteria bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) and Humpback whale – Megaptera novaeangliae. endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphins (Sousa Criterion A; B (ii); C (i, iii) plumbea). Throughout the archipelago, high densities Blue whale – Balaenoptera musculus. of oceanic delphinids have been recorded, Criterion A; B (ii); C (iii) particularly spinner dolphins, pantropical spotted dolphins and melon-headed whales (Peponocephala Sperm whale – Physeter macrocephalus. electra). Other common species include dwarf sperm Criterion A; B (ii) whales, Blainville’s beaked whales, sperm whales, Melon-headed whale – Peponocephala electra. short-finned pilot whales, and false killer whales. The Criterion B (ii) density of migrating humpback whales is particularly high off the south coast of Moheli, in the coastal Short-finned pilot whale – Globicephala macrorhynchus. Criterion B (ii) waters of Grande Comore and on the Geyser/Zélée complex. Finally, dugongs still occur in small numbers Spinner dolphin – Stenella longirostris. in the lagoon of Mayotte, in the Moheli Marine Park Criterion B (ii) (south coast), but this population has declined greatly Indo-Pacific Bottlenose dolphin – Tursiops over the past four decades. aduncus. Criterion B (i) Indian Ocean humpback dolphin – Sousa Description plumbea. Criterion A; B (i) The Comoros archipelago is located in the northern Mozambique Channel, in the southwest tropical Indian Pantropical spotted dolphins – Stenella Ocean.
    [Show full text]
  • Marine Mammals and Megafauna in Irish Waters - Behaviour, Distribution And
    Marine Research Sub-Programme Marine Mammals and Megafauna in Irish (NDP 2007-’13) Series Waters - Behaviour, Distribution and Habitat Use. Monitoring Spatial and Temporal Habitat Use and Abundance of Species Project-based Award Lead Partner: Galway Mayo Institute of Technology/ Irish Whale and Dolphin Group The Marine Institute is the national agency which has the following functions: “to undertake, to co-ordinate, to promote and to assist in marine research and development and to provide such services related to research and development that, in the opinion of the Institute, will promote economic development and create employment and protect the marine environment” Marine Institute Act 1991. Sea Change: A Marine Knowledge, Research & Innovation Strategy for Ireland Sea Change—A Marine Knowledge, Research & Innovation Strategy for Ireland 2007-2013—was launched in early 2007 and was the outcome of extensive analysis and consultation with government departments, state agencies, industry and the third-level sector. It outlines a vision for the development of Ireland’s marine sector and sets clear objectives aimed at achieving this vision, namely to: 1. Assist existing, and largely indigenous, marine sub-sectors to improve their overall competitiveness and engage in activity that adds value to their outputs by utilising knowledge and technology arising from research. 2. Build new research capacity and capability and utilise fundamental knowledge and technology to create new marine-related commercial opportunities and companies. 3. Inform public policy, governance and regulation by applying the knowledge derived from marine research and monitoring. 4. Increase the marine sector’s competitiveness and stimulate the commercialisation of the marine resource in a manner that ensures its sustainability and protects marine biodiversity and ecosystems.
    [Show full text]
  • Recommendations Against Dolphinaria in India 2013.Cdr
    Recommendations Against Dolphinaria In India 2013 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In the last two years a spate of proposals have been put forth by government departments and private promoters to set up Dolphinaria in India that showcase performances by live dolphins and other cetacean species as a way to promote tourism (annexed). “Dolphinaria” (such facilities have been known by different names including but not limited to dolphinarium, oceanarium, dolphin park, theme park etc, hereinafter collectively referred to as dolphinaria) are captive facilities that display and also use dolphins and other cetacean species in performances, for commercial entertainment. The only known case of dolphins kept in captivity for use in live performances in India was at the ‘Dolphin City’ facility in Chennai, Tamil Nadu in the late 1990s. Bottlenose dolphin performances used to occur thrice a day at this facility. Within six months of their arrival from Bulgaria, all four dolphins died. Consequently the Central Zoo Authority of India (CZA) refused them the mandatory recognition needed to continue operations. Since then no dolphin shows have existed in India for over a decade. These new proposals therefore are an alarming trend, especially as there is an increasing body of worldwide scientific research that highlights the negative impact of such captive facilities on the welfare of dolphins (family Delphinidae under order Cetaceans) and indeed all cetacean species. Today, there is a significant global movement against such facilities, due to the growing exposure of the cruelty meted out to dolphins and other cetacean species in the commercially exploitative captive industry. This document is to serve as a guide for government agencies and other relevant authorities by providing a brief overview of significant global research studies on the welfare of captive cetacean populations with special emphasis on bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.), that are held in Dolphinaria worldwide.
    [Show full text]
  • South Pacific Destroyers: the United States Navy and the Challenges of Night Surface Combat
    East Tennessee State University Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University Electronic Theses and Dissertations Student Works 8-2009 South Pacific esD troyers: The nitU ed States Navy and the Challenges of Night Surface Combat in the Solomons Islands during World War II. Johnny Hampton Spence East Tennessee State University Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.etsu.edu/etd Part of the Military History Commons Recommended Citation Spence, Johnny Hampton, "South Pacific eD stroyers: The nitU ed States Navy and the Challenges of Night Surface Combat in the Solomons Islands during World War II." (2009). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 1865. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1865 This Thesis - Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Works at Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. South Pacific Destroyers: The United States Navy and the Challenges of Night Surface Combat in the Solomons Islands During World War II ____________________________ A thesis presented to the faculty of the Department of History East Tennessee State University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts in History ____________________________ by Johnny H. Spence, II August 2009 ____________________________ Dr. Ronnie Day, Chair Dr. Emmett Essin Dr. Stephen Fritz Keywords: Destroyers, World War II, Pacific, United States Navy, Solomon Islands ABSTRACT South Pacific Destroyers: The United States Navy and the Challenges of Night Surface Combat in the Solomons Islands during World War II by Johnny H.
    [Show full text]
  • Thomas S Bean 2012
    HABITAT PREFERENCES OF SYMPATRIC COASTAL CETACEANS AT CONTRASTING SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL SCALES: HABITAT PARTITIONING OF BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS ( TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS ), HARBOUR PORPOISES (PHOCOENA PHOCOENA ), AND MINKE WHALES ( BALAENOPTERA ACUTOROSTRATA ) IN THE OUTER SOUTHERN MORAY FIRTH, NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND Thomas S Bean 2012 “A project submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Bachelors Degree in Animal Conservation and Biodiversity for the University of Greenwich”. ACADEMIC SESSION: 2011-2012 PROJECT DECLARATION “This project report is the result of the independent work of Thomas Stephen Bean. All other work reported in the text has been attributed to the original authors and is fully referenced in the text, and listed in the Reference section”. This project was conducted In association with the Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit Student Name: Thomas Stephen Bean Student Signature: . Date: . ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project was only possible with the help and support of the following people. Special thanks go to Kevin Robinson for introducing me to the cetaceans of the Moray Firth in 2010 and then welcoming me back to the CRRU research team as a volunteer and friend in 2011. I am so grateful for the support, feedback and knowledge you shared which kept me on track. Many thanks go to my project supervisor, Pam Worrall for all the help and advice, and for suggesting opportunities to expand my horizons. Additional thanks must be expressed to Ben Forbes who gave extensive commitment to helping me apply GIS to this project. It wouldn’t have been possible without your input. I would also like to thank Kerry Williamson for her patient support with statistics and Colin Macleod who gave prompt and clear replies by email in regards to the use of GIS and cetaceans.
    [Show full text]
  • The Evolution of the US Navy Into an Effective
    The Evolution of the U.S. Navy into an Effective Night-Fighting Force During the Solomon Islands Campaign, 1942 - 1943 A dissertation presented to the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy Jeff T. Reardon August 2008 © 2008 Jeff T. Reardon All Rights Reserved ii This dissertation titled The Evolution of the U.S. Navy into an Effective Night-Fighting Force During the Solomon Islands Campaign, 1942 - 1943 by JEFF T. REARDON has been approved for the Department of History and the College of Arts and Sciences by Marvin E. Fletcher Professor of History Benjamin M. Ogles Dean, College of Arts and Sciences iii ABSTRACT REARDON, JEFF T., Ph.D., August 2008, History The Evolution of the U.S. Navy into an Effective Night-Fighting Force During the Solomon Islands Campaign, 1942-1943 (373 pp.) Director of Dissertation: Marvin E. Fletcher On the night of August 8-9, 1942, American naval forces supporting the amphibious landings at Guadalcanal and Tulagi Islands suffered a humiliating defeat in a nighttime clash against the Imperial Japanese Navy. This was, and remains today, the U.S. Navy’s worst defeat at sea. However, unlike America’s ground and air forces, which began inflicting disproportionate losses against their Japanese counterparts at the outset of the Solomon Islands campaign in August 1942, the navy was slow to achieve similar success. The reason the U.S. Navy took so long to achieve proficiency in ship-to-ship combat was due to the fact that it had not adequately prepared itself to fight at night.
    [Show full text]
  • THE REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY of FOUR SPECIES of SOUTH AFRICAN DOLPHINS THESIS Submitted in Fulftlment of the Requirements for the De
    THE REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF FOUR SPECIES OF SOUTH AFRICAN DOLPHINS THESIS Submitted in fulftlment of the requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE of Rhodes University by KASTURI REDDY January 1996 'DoCpliins are incestuous, tliey (iK? to ao relations I guess tliat means, scientifically, tliey're kinky and cetaceans. 'Iliey scan you witli a sonic 6eam, tliey're often ratlier raucous Sometimes tliey ream 6y accUknt, 6ut otlier times, on porpoises (cringe). 'By ~6ert 'Day 11 ABSTRACT Seasonality of reproduction in common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), bottlenosed dolphins (Tursiops aduncus), striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) and humpbacked dolphins (Sousa chinensis) was examined using standard light microscope techniques. In the males four stages of testicular development could be identified. Individuals less than 2.26m in length and 105kg in mass had testes that contained sma1l seminiferous tubules (0.048mm ± O.Olmm in diameter) and were .classified either as juveniles (gonocytes present) or inactive (no gonocytes). Adults whose testes contained spermatozoa were said to be in late spermatogenesis while those whose testes contained no spermatids or spermatozoa were referred to as being in early spermatogenesis. In the males of D. delphis, T. aduncus and S. chinensis, late spermatogenesis occurred throughout the year and there was no significant difference in the monthly mean seminiferous tubule diameters (p > 0.05) within species. I conclude therefore that in these three species spermatogenesis is aseasonal. No conclusions about seasonality of spermatogenesis could be made for S. coeruleoalba owing to the small sample size. Large Graafian follicles occurred in the ovaries of all four species in most months of the year.
    [Show full text]
  • Dolphin Facts-FKB-Ze
    Dolphin Facts Dolphin By Zehnya Bruckert Dolphin Facts Early Non-Fiction Series Published by Red Sky Ventures Created by Zehnya Bruckert © Oct 2018 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ This text is free for non-commercial distribution and use. No part of this text may be reproduced for commercial use without express permission of the author. Use of this material must be attributed to: Zehnya Bruckert – https://freekidsbooks.org/author/zehnya-bruckert/ Contact the CREATORS at: [email protected] Or [email protected] More books like this one are available at http://www.freekidsbooks.org The most common dolphin is the oceanic dolphin. The oceanic dolphin's scientifc name is Delphinidae. This is where the name Dolphin comes from. Most people think pink dolphins don't exist but they do. They live in the Amazon and Orinoco rivers and they eat pirañas. If you ever go swimming there and see one they are very friendly (but watch out for the pirañas!) Dolphin are very smart and marine parks often teach dolphins to do tricks and perform in shows. Killer whales are also part of the dolphin family, but dolphins don't eat seals, killer whales do. Killer whales are very cute but don't go to close to them! Dolphin breathe through a hole close to the dorsal fn. It is said that if you rub a dolphins tail and make a wish it will come true. Bottle nosed dolphins are called bottle nosed because their nose is shaped like a bottle.
    [Show full text]
  • Halsey, Admiral William F
    HALSEY THE FIGHTER Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr., U.S.N., Commander, Thi~d Fleet, has held a fighting command against the Japanese virtually with­ out interruption since the outbreak of war. During that three -year period, under command of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, U.S.N., he conducted the highly successful campaign in the South Pacific and the subsequent operations by the Third Fleet leading to the occupation of the Philippines. It was his drive and audacity that accounted, in large measure, for the success· of these forces. Admiral Halsey has peen described in an offi~ial citation as" a forceful and inspiring leader." In World War I, he was awarded the Navy Cross for destroyer service and cited for his "vigorous and unremitting" prosecution of offensive and defensive action. In this war he has been cited for "brilliant and audacious attack"; for "invincible determination to destroy the enemy," and "daring initiative and superb tactical skill." Admiral Halsey's own formula for war is: "Hit hard, hit fast,hit often." He insists on full flexibility in carrying out a miSSion, without adhering to rigid, written plans conceived before the tactical situation develops. "I believe in violating the rules," he says. "'vVe violate them every day. We do the unexpected -- we Bxpose ourselves to shore -based planes. We don't stay behind the battle with our carriers. But, most important, whatever we do -- we do fastl" Long before the outbreak of this war, Admiral Halsey appreCiated the military significance of the airplane. That accounted for his decision to take up aviation.
    [Show full text]
  • Exploring Dynamics of Abundant Dolphin Populations Under Uncertainty
    fmars-08-606932 February 12, 2021 Time: 18:55 # 1 ORIGINAL RESEARCH published: 18 February 2021 doi: 10.3389/fmars.2021.606932 Minding the Data-Gap Trap: Exploring Dynamics of Abundant Dolphin Populations Under Uncertainty Erin Ashe1*, Rob Williams1, Christopher Clark2, Christine Erbe3, Leah R. Gerber4, Ailsa J. Hall5, Philip S. Hammond5, Robert C. Lacy6, Randall Reeves7 and Nicole L. Vollmer8 1 Oceans Initiative, Seattle, WA, United States, 2 Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, United States, 3 Centre for Marine Science and Technology, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia, 4 Center for Biodiversity Outcomes, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States, 5 Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom, 6 Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield, IL, United States, 7 Okapi Wildlife Associates, Hudson, QC, Canada, 8 Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, United States Preventing declines in common species is key to sustaining the structure and function Edited by: Karen A. Stockin, of marine ecosystems. Yet for many common marine mammals, including oceanic Massey University, New Zealand dolphins, statistical power to detect declines remains low due to patchy distribution Reviewed by: and large variability in group sizes. In this study, population viability analyses (PVA) were Adriana Vella, University of Malta, Malta used to model the dynamics of four oceanic dolphin populations off the United States Pierre Pistorius, West Coast: eastern North Pacific long-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis Nelson Mandela University, capensis), short-beaked common dolphins (D. delphis delphis), Pacific white-sided South Africa dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), and “offshore” common bottlenose dolphins *Correspondence: Erin Ashe (Tursiops truncatus). We calibrated the PVA with life-history tables, studies on proxy [email protected] species, and stock assessment reports.
    [Show full text]
  • The Dolphin Diploma « an Activity Pack for Teachers
    Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society WDCS is the global voice for the protection of whales, dolphins and their environment » The Dolphin Diploma « An activity pack for teachers It’s the Year of the Dolphin Time to become a dolphin expert ! Dolphins in danger ! Dolphins are really special animals, with lots of wonderful species living in the world’s oceans and seas, even rivers and lakes. For hundreds of years, they have captured the imagination of people in many countries and have inspired poets, artists, musicians and others. But, sadly, they face a number of threats that make their survival difficult. In 2006 the world lost its first dolphin species due to mankind, the Yangtze River dolphin, and world-wide others are close to extinction. They need clean and quiet oceans, protected areas and people who care. WDCS (NA) | 7 Nelson Street | Plymouth | MA 02360 | tel: west coast - 480 678 7977; east coast 508 830 1977 | email: [email protected] 1 Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society WDCS is the global voice for the protection of whales, dolphins and their environment So what is a Dolphin Diploma? A Dolphin Diploma is an award for children. It shows that the participant has a good knowledge of dolphins, and certifies that he / she has been actively involved in the protection of dolphins. We think this is worth honoring. How are Dolphin Diplomas awarded? It’s simple and it’s fun! To receive a Dolphin Diploma, children need to correctly answer all the questions in our Dolphin Quiz and then carry out an activity that will help whale and dolphin conservation – we’ll provide lots of ideas to help! 1.
    [Show full text]