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Immediate response of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins to high-speed personal watercraft in the Mississippi Sound

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 March 2008

Lance J. Miller ,
Moby Solangi  and
Stan A. Kuczaj II
Lance J. Miller*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive #5025, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5025, USA
Moby Solangi
Affiliation:
Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, PO Box 4078, Gulfport, MS 39502, USA
Stan A. Kuczaj II
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive #5025, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5025, USA
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Lance J. Miller, Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive #5025, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5025, USA email: lancejmiller@hotmail.com
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Abstract

Measuring the impact of anthropogenic factors on marine mammals is critical to the conservation of these species. Recently, the effect of personal watercraft on marine mammal behaviour and well-being has become a topic of increasing concern. The purpose of this study was to examine the immediate effects of high-speed personal watercraft on Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) behaviour. Opportunistic surveys were conducted from a research vessel in the Mississippi Sound (30º13′22.6″N 89º01′36.5″W) from September 2003 through to August 2005. The passing of a high-speed personal watercraft significantly increased dolphin dive duration, dolphin group cohesion and dolphin breathing synchrony. Additionally, in 47% of the encounters a dolphin group's behaviour changed within one minute of the presence of a high-speed personal watercraft. The most notable changes were an increase in dolphin travelling behaviour and a decrease in feeding behaviour following the boat's presence. The results demonstrated an immediate, short-term change in dolphin behaviour, suggesting that an increase in the frequency of high-speed personal watercraft in this area could produce long-term detrimental effects. Research on the long-term effects of boat traffic on marine mammals is clearly needed to assess and hopefully mediate any potential long-term effects.

Keywords

human disturbanceTursiops truncatuspersonal watercraftconservation
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 88 , Special Issue 6: Marine Mammals , September 2008 , pp. 1139 - 1143
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2008

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