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Chronic exposure of Hawaii Island spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) to human activities.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Tyne, JA; Christiansen, F; Heenehan, HL; Johnston, DW; Bejder, L
Published in: Royal Society open science
October 2018

Habitat selection is strongly influenced by spatial variations in habitat quality and predation risk. Repeated exposure of wildlife to anthropogenic activities in important habitats may affect habitat selection, leading to negative biological consequences. We quantified the cumulative human exposure of a small, genetically isolated and behaviourally constrained spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) population, off Hawaii Island, and exposure effects on their daytime cumulative activity budget. Dolphins were exposed to human activities within 100 m for 82.7% of the daytime, with a median duration of 10 min between exposure events. Individual dolphins spent on average 61.7% (s.d. = 6.5) of their daytime resting. Of their total rest time, greater than 90% occurred inside sheltered bays. Despite high levels of human exposure, we did not observe an effect on dolphin resting behaviour. The short intervals between exposure events probably prevent dolphins from returning to a natural resting state before the next event. Consequently, 'control' observations may represent a resting behaviour of a more vigilant nature. Chronic levels of exposure to human activities could lead to rest deprivation, displacement from preferred resting habitats and ultimately negative population level effects. These results have implications for new proposed legislation aiming to reduce dolphin exposure to human activities.

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Published In

Royal Society open science

DOI

EISSN

2054-5703

ISSN

2054-5703

Publication Date

October 2018

Volume

5

Issue

10

Start / End Page

171506
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
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MLA
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Tyne, J. A., Christiansen, F., Heenehan, H. L., Johnston, D. W., & Bejder, L. (2018). Chronic exposure of Hawaii Island spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) to human activities. Royal Society Open Science, 5(10), 171506. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.171506
Tyne, Julian A., Fredrik Christiansen, Heather L. Heenehan, David W. Johnston, and Lars Bejder. “Chronic exposure of Hawaii Island spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) to human activities.Royal Society Open Science 5, no. 10 (October 2018): 171506. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.171506.
Tyne JA, Christiansen F, Heenehan HL, Johnston DW, Bejder L. Chronic exposure of Hawaii Island spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) to human activities. Royal Society open science. 2018 Oct;5(10):171506.
Tyne, Julian A., et al. “Chronic exposure of Hawaii Island spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) to human activities.Royal Society Open Science, vol. 5, no. 10, Oct. 2018, p. 171506. Epmc, doi:10.1098/rsos.171506.
Tyne JA, Christiansen F, Heenehan HL, Johnston DW, Bejder L. Chronic exposure of Hawaii Island spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) to human activities. Royal Society open science. 2018 Oct;5(10):171506.
Journal cover image

Published In

Royal Society open science

DOI

EISSN

2054-5703

ISSN

2054-5703

Publication Date

October 2018

Volume

5

Issue

10

Start / End Page

171506