Wang Xinxing, Li Min, Fang Liang, Chen Tao, Liu Wenhua
South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China.
Marine Biology Institute, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China.
Animals (Basel). 2024 Nov 24;14(23):3381. doi: 10.3390/ani14233381.
Marine mammals near coastlines are highly vulnerable to human activities like rapid industrialisation, port construction, and sea reclamation, which can alter their habitat use. This study examines changes in the habitat use of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in the western Pearl River Estuary (WPRE) by employing a kernel density estimation model that considers physical barriers. Sighting records from systematic surveys in 2007-2008 and 2019-2020, along with remote sensing data, were used to analyse changes in shorelines and areas affected by maritime projects since 1973. Approximately 552.98 km of water was permanently lost to reclamation between 1973 and 2020. In 2007-2008, dolphins preferred natural shorelines, while reclamation drove them away from artificial ones. By 2019-2020, their core habitat had decreased by two-thirds, with some areas disappearing, likely due to aquaculture expansion. These results highlight the importance of adopting improved environmental assessment methodologies in the planning and regulation of aquaculture activities in the WPRE to better protect the dolphin habitat.
海岸线附近的海洋哺乳动物极易受到快速工业化、港口建设和填海造地等人类活动的影响，这些活动会改变它们的栖息地利用方式。本研究通过采用考虑物理屏障的核密度估计模型，研究了珠江口西部（WPRE）中华白海豚栖息地利用的变化。利用2007 - 2008年和2019 - 2020年系统调查的目击记录以及遥感数据，分析了自1973年以来海岸线和受海洋项目影响区域的变化。1973年至2020年间，约552.98公里的水域因填海造地而永久消失。在2007 - 2008年，海豚更喜欢自然海岸线，而填海造地使它们远离了人工海岸线。到2019 - 2020年，它们的核心栖息地减少了三分之二，一些区域消失，这可能是由于水产养殖扩张所致。这些结果凸显了在WPRE水产养殖活动的规划和监管中采用改进的环境评估方法以更好地保护海豚栖息地的重要性。
