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Published (Version of Record)CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Exposure of marine megafauna to cumulative anthropogenic threats in north-west Australia
Frontiers in ecology and evolution, Vol.11, 1229803
2023
Abstract
As the use of coastal and offshore environments expands, there is a need to better understand the exposure of marine megafauna to anthropogenic activities that potentially threaten their populations. Individual satellite telemetry studies are often hampered by small sample sizes, providing limited information on spatiotemporal distributions of migratory animals and their relationships to anthropogenic threats. We addressed this issue by synthesising satellite tracking data from 484 individuals of three taxonomic groups and six species; three marine turtle, two whale and one shark. The spatial overlap between taxa distributions and multiple anthropogenic activities was assessed as a proxy for the cumulative exposure of these taxa to anthropogenic threats (coastal modification, vessel strike, underwater noise, oil spill, bycatch, entanglement, and artificial light) across an area totalling 2,205,740 km2 off north-western Australia. Core exposure areas (top 50% of the distribution) encompassed ecologically important sites for all taxa, such as the Ningaloo and Pilbara regions, migratory routes for whales and sharks in offshore waters beyond Ningaloo Reef, and marine turtle nesting beaches at Barrow Island and Cape Lambert. Although areas of high exposure represented <14% of taxa distributions, we showed that no taxa occurred in the absence of threats and that even areas with existing spatial protections are experiencing high levels of exposure. Importantly, we developed a robust approach for documenting the potential exposure of marine species to a range of human activities at appropriate spatial scales to inform conservation management.
Details
- Title
- Exposure of marine megafauna to cumulative anthropogenic threats in north-west Australia
- Authors/Creators
- Luciana C. Ferreira - The University of Western AustraliaMichele Thums - The University of Western AustraliaScott Whiting - Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and AttractionsMark Meekan - The University of Western AustraliaVirginia Andrews-Goff - Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and WaterCatherine R. M. Attard - Flinders UniversityKerstin Bilgmann - Flinders UniversityAndrew Davenport - Center for Whale ResearchMike Double - Australian Antarctic DivisionFabio Falchi - Universidade de Santiago de CompostelaMichael Guinea - Charles Darwin UniversitySharyn M. Hickey - The University of Western AustraliaCurt Jenner - Center for Whale ResearchMicheline Jenner - Center for Whale ResearchGraham Loewenthal - Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, WA, AustraliaGlenn McFarlane - 1Conservation Volunteers Australia, Darwin, NT, AustraliaLuciana M. Möller - Flinders UniversityBrad Norman - Murdoch UniversityLauren Peel - 4Pendoley Environmental, Booragoon, WA, AustraliaKellie Pendoley - 4Pendoley Environmental, Booragoon, WA, AustraliaBen Radford - The University of Western AustraliaSamantha Reynolds - The University of QueenslandJason Rossendell - Rio TintoAnton Tucker - Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, WA, AustraliaDavid Waayers - 7Environmental Resources Management Pty Ltd (ERM), Perth, WA, AustraliaPaul Whittock - 4Pendoley Environmental, Booragoon, WA, AustraliaPhillipa Wilson - The University of Western AustraliaSabrina Fossette - The University of Western Australia
- Publication Details
- Frontiers in ecology and evolution, Vol.11, 1229803
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media S.A
- Identifiers
- 991005621190307891
- Copyright
- © 2023 Ferreira, Thums, Whiting, Meekan, Andrews-Goff, Attard, Bilgmann, Davenport, Double, Falchi, Guinea, Hickey, Jenner, Jenner, Loewenthal, McFarlane, Möller, Norman, Peel, Pendoley, Radford, Reynolds, Rossendell, Tucker, Waayers, Whittock, Wilson and Fossette.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.35 Zoology & Animal Ecology
- 3.35.796 Marine Mammal Ecology
- Web Of Science research areas
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