Social organization and distribution patterns inform conservation management of a threatened Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin population

Abstract

From August 2010 to December 2013, field photo-identification surveys were conducted to explore the social organization and distribution patterns of a threatened Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) population in Xiamen Bay, China. Out of 58 photo-identified dolphins, 56 dolphins that were sighted at least 2 times were used for social structure analysis. The association pattern among individuals was divided into 2 discrete communities with strong geographic adherence: 27 dolphins assigned to an eastern community (EC) and 29 dolphins assigned to a western community (WC). Among the WC individuals, 9 dolphins formed mixed groups with EC individuals at Tongan Bay and the mouth of Tongan Bay, leading to low-level intercommunity association. The 50% kernel density estimate and minimum convex polygon of each community were calculated, with the core habitats presented here differing substantially from those reported in previous studies. We propose that the geographical segregation of these 2 communitie...