Journal article
Predictive modeling of spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) resting habitat in the main Hawaiian Islands
PLoS ONE, Vol.7(8), e43167
2012
Abstract
Predictive habitat models can provide critical information that is necessary in many conservation applications. Using Maximum Entropy modeling, we characterized habitat relationships and generated spatial predictions of spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) resting habitat in the main Hawaiian Islands. Spinner dolphins in Hawai'i exhibit predictable daily movements, using inshore bays as resting habitat during daylight hours and foraging in offshore waters at night. There are growing concerns regarding the effects of human activities on spinner dolphins resting in coastal areas. However, the environmental factors that define suitable resting habitat remain unclear and must be assessed and quantified in order to properly address interactions between humans and spinner dolphins. We used a series of dolphin sightings from recent surveys in the main Hawaiian Islands and a suite of environmental variables hypothesized as being important to resting habitat to model spinner dolphin resting habitat. The model performed well in predicting resting habitat and indicated that proximity to deep water foraging areas, depth, the proportion of bays with shallow depths, and rugosity were important predictors of spinner dolphin habitat. Predicted locations of suitable spinner dolphin resting habitat provided in this study indicate areas where future survey efforts should be focused and highlight potential areas of conflict with human activities. This study provides an example of a presence-only habitat model used to inform the management of a species for which patterns of habitat availability are poorly understood.
Details
- Title
- Predictive modeling of spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) resting habitat in the main Hawaiian Islands
- Authors/Creators
- L.H. Thorne (Author/Creator) - Stony Brook UniversityD.W. Johnston (Author/Creator) - Duke UniversityD.L. Urban (Author/Creator) - Duke UniversityJ. Tyne (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityL. Bejder (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityR.W. Baird (Author/Creator) - Cascadia Research CollectiveS. Yin (Author/Creator) - Pacific Islands Photo-Identification Network, Honolulu, Hawai'i, United States of AmericaS.H. Rickards (Author/Creator) - Pacific Islands Photo-Identification Network, Honolulu, Hawai'i, United States of AmericaM.H. Deakos (Author/Creator) - Pacific Islands Photo-Identification Network, Honolulu, Hawai'i, United States of AmericaJ.R. Mobley (Author/Creator) - Marine Mammal Research Consultants, Honolulu, Hawai'i, United States of AmericaA.A. Pack (Author/Creator) - Pacific Islands Photo-Identification Network, Honolulu, Hawai'i, United States of AmericaM. Chapla Hill (Author/Creator)
- Publication Details
- PLoS ONE, Vol.7(8), e43167
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science
- Identifiers
- 991005543020507891
- Copyright
- © 2012 Thorne et al.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Note
- This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.35 Zoology & Animal Ecology
- 3.35.796 Marine Mammal Ecology
- Web Of Science research areas
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