Factors influencing the behaviour of Irrawaddy dolphins Orcaella brevirostris (Owen in Gray, 1866) in Brunei Bay, Malaysia

Abstract

The population of Irrawaddy dolphins in Brunei Bay, Malaysia is little studied. This study aimed at contributing information on how abiotic and other factors influence different aspects of their behaviour displayed at the water surface. Several behaviours, i.e. foraging, travelling, foraging behind trawler, milling and socializing were observed during boat-based line transect surveys (2013–2016). The behaviours of individuals and groups were filmed or noted, and the abiotic factors of the habitat were registered at the same time. The number of “travelling” individuals was negatively correlated with surface water salinity (p value = 0.04) and positively correlated with turbidity (p value = 0.01). Fisher’s exact test also revealed that the behaviours of dolphin groups significantly differed with the ranges of several abiotic factors, i.e. foraging behind trawler with depth (p value = 0.001), travelling with surface water salinity (p value = 0.05), travelling and foraging behind trawler with turbidity (p value = 0.04, 0.01). The results for foraging behind trawler differed significantly between the groups with calves and those without calves (χ2 test, p value = 0.04), where groups with calves were less likely to forage behind trawlers. Significant differences were observed among group sizes for travelling, milling and socializing (χ2 test, p value < 0.05), with large groups (11–20 individuals) more frequently foraging, milling and socializing, compared to smaller ones. The current study is the first behavioural observation for Irrawaddy dolphins in Brunei Bay and these findings will help researchers, conservationists, local marine park managers and policy makers in developing effective conservation and management plans for the area.