World Natural Heritage Site Research Articles

Great Barrier Reef World Heritage

The Great Barrier Reef is inscribed on the World Heritage List for its natural values, including an abundance of marine life and extraordinary aesthetic qualities. These and the enormous scale of the Reef make it unique and a place of ‘Outstanding Universal Value’. In the twentieth century, protection of the Great Barrier Reef shifted from limiting mechanical and physical impacts on coral reefs to managing agricultural runoff from adjacent mainland to minimise environmental impacts. By the early twenty-first century, it was apparent that threats to the Great Barrier Reef were no longer a local issue. Global warming, more frequent extreme weather events and increased ocean temperatures have destroyed vast swathes of coral reefs. Conservation scientists have begun trialling radical new methods of reseeding areas of bleached coral and creating more resilient coral species. The future of the Great Barrier Reef may depend on genetically engineered corals, and reefs that are seeded, weeded and cultured. This article asks whether the Great Barrier Reef can remain a natural World Heritage site or whether it might become World Heritage in Danger as its naturalness is questioned.

The Mechanism and Mediating Effect of the "Perception-Emotion-Behaviour" Chain of Tourists at World Natural Heritage Sites-A Case Study from Bayanbulak, China.

The pro-environmental behaviour intentions (PEBIs) of tourists is a popular topic in tourism geography research. Visitors are important stakeholders in the development and conservation of World Natural Heritage sites (WNHs). Based on the perspective of the Mehrabian–Russell (M-R) theory, to advance our understanding of the transmission mechanism and mediation effect of the “perception–emotion–behaviour” chain of visitors at World Natural Heritage sites, we introduced two variables, namely heritage genes perception (HGP) and environmental knowledge perception (EKP), combined with place attachment (PA) and pro-environmental behaviour intentions (PEBIs), and scientifically constructed the conceptual model of the “EHPP model”, consisting of EKP, HGP, PA and PEBIs. Taking the Bayanbulak Heritage Site as an example, the EHPP model was fitted and tested using the structural equation model (SEM). The results show that: (1) the EHPP model is applied to fit the “cognitive–emotional–behaviour intentions” chain of visitors in WNHs and passed the empirical test; (2) there were positive and significant effects of EKP on HGP, and EKP indirectly affects PEBIs via HGP and PA; (3) place dependence (PD) had a significant and positive influence on place identity (PI); and (4) compliance with pro-environmental behaviour intentions (CPEBIs) had a direct positive influence on pro-environmental behaviour intentions (PPEBIs). The findings of this study provide empirical references for stimulating the pro-environmental behaviour intentions of tourists at World Natural Heritage sites.

Synergizing a socio-ecological system: reflections on community-based natural resource management at the World Heritage Site of Mount Huangshan, China

Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) originally aimed to promote nature conservation through community empowerment, but this aim is not easy to achieve. To analyze the reasons and propose responses, this paper constructed an analytical framework for CBNRM based on the theory of socio-ecological system synergies. A mixed-method (questionnaires, interviews, and observations) explanatory case study of Feicui village within the Mount Huangshan World Natural Heritage Site in Eastern China was conducted. The research illuminates the complexity of the CBNRM initiative in Feicui village, which neglects socio-ecological system synergies, leading to a lack of connection between the benefits from and attitudes toward natural conservation and a loss of integrated resource management. This study responds to the incomprehensibility of CBNRM and provides important theoretical contributions to international debates on CBNRM by highlighting the essence of recognizing system synergies to avoid deviating from the original intent of CBNRM.

The content of heavy metals in the water of Lake Gusinoe (Western Transbaikalia) and its tributaries

Investigation of the transformation of substances in the basin of the Selenga River, the main tributary of Lake Baikal, due to anthropogenic impact under conditions of global climate change, is especially important for Lake Baikal which is a World Natural Heritage Site and the main source of fresh drinking water not only in the region, but also in the world. One of the key research objects in the Selenga River basin, which is subject to significant anthropogenic impact, is the ecosystem of Lake Gusinoe. This study presents the results of analysis of the physical and chemical parameters of the water mass of Gusinoe Lake basin. for the period from 2017 to 2020. Thus, the results on hydrochemical indicators for a long-term period of research of the lake show changes in the chemical composition of water and the concentration of main ions. In 2020, the content of almost all metals was higher than in 2017-2020, which may be due to the rise in the level of Lake Gusinoe and groundwater that began in 2019 and continued in 2020, as a result of rain floods that caused flooding of the coastal territories and the entry of pollutants into watercourses and the lake.

Monitoring of diversity, abundance, activity period and habitat use of wildlife species around the wildlife corridor that connects the natural world heritage site of Thailand

Abstract. This study on the monitoring of the diversity and abundance of wildlife around the wildlife corridor area on Highway 304, which passes through Khao Yai and Thap Lan National Parks, was conducted during September 2017 and May 2021 using camera traps to constantly monitor the area. A total of at least 51 wildlife species from 30 families, 14 orders were recorded. The species with the highest abundances were Sambar Deer, Wild Boar, Northern Pig-tailed Macaque, Gaur, Northern Red Muntjac, Siamese Fireback, Malayan Porcupine, Red Junglefowl, etc. The wildlife species recorded include 2 critically endangered species, 3 endangered, 10 vulnerable, 1 near threatened. In this study we also recorded images of a Fishing Cat, which is the first photographically record in this World Heritage Site. The evenness index indicates that the wildlife community in the area is stable. No significant differences in the diversity and abundance of wildlife before or after the corridor construction were seen. The wildlife in the area were active throughout the day. We also found that the highway is the main factor effecting the presence of wildlife. The study results show the importance of this area that the highway passes through. Building wildlife corridors between the two national parks is very important for maintaining the wildlife community as well as continuity. Suggestions from the study include management of human activity in the area including traffic, noise, vehicle speed and living activities in the area that may attract wildlife closer to the community and cause other impacts.

A Study on Optimal Agroforestry Planting Patterns in the Buffer Zone of World Natural Heritage Sites

As the protection layer of world natural heritage sites, the buffer zone should enable economic development while protecting the environment. To carry out agricultural activities in the buffer zone, it is necessary to balance agricultural development and environmental protection. In addition, the development of agroforestry has the benefits of developing the economy, maintaining biodiversity, and protecting the environment. In order to promote the coordination of environmental protection and community economic development, it is particularly important to scientifically select agroforestry planting patterns in the buffer zone of world natural heritage sites. This study utilized a mixed-methods research approach that included qualitative and quantitative research. Taking the buffer zone of Shibing Karst Heritage Site in southern China as an example, based on the seven agroforestry planting patterns surveyed in the buffer zone of the world natural heritage site, the four dimensions of net output value, carbon emission, environmental cost, and comprehensive livelihood score of different agroforestry planting patterns were calculated. The sorting scores of the values were calculated as Borda numbers. The sorting scores of the seven agroforestry planting patterns were B(A1) = 17, B(A2) = 18, B(A3) = 8, B(A4) = 8, B(A5) = 14, B(A6) = 12, and B(A7) = 7. The results showed that the priority sequence of seven agroforestry patterns was A2 > A1 > A5 > A6 > A3 = A4 > A7. A2 was the best among the seven agroforestry planting patterns, and A7 ranked last. The results can provide a quantitative evaluation basis for scientific optimization of agroforestry development planting patterns, and provide a reference for promoting the protection of world natural heritage.

Strong Genetic Structure Observed in Primulina danxiaensis, a Small Herb Endemic to Mount Danxia With Extremely Small Populations.

Danxia landform occurring sporadically in southern China is a unique type of petrographic geomorphology. It has nurtured about 400 rare or threatened plant and animal species, whose diversity, endemism, and conservation have called increasing scientific and public attentions. Among them, Primulina danxiaensis (W. B. Liao, S. S. Lin, and R. J. Shen) W. B. Liao and K. F. Chung is a tiny perennial grass species recorded only in Mount Danxia, a natural World Heritage Site as part of China’s Danxia. In this study, restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) was performed to investigate genetic diversity among these 12 populations of P. danxiaensis. A total of 432,041 variant sites were detected in 84,779 loci across 94 samples. The expected heterozygosity (H E ) ranged from 0.017 to 0.139. Bottleneck signals were detected in most populations, Tajima’s D tests showed that most loci could be under recent positive selection, and one of the six positively selected loci identified by BayeScan was annotated as tRNAGlu, which may contribute to the species’ adaptation to shady environment. STRUCTURE analysis and phylogenetic tree showed that the 12 populations of P. danxiaensis could be divided into four gene pools (clades) corresponding to their geographic locations, and significant correlation was observed between genetic and geographic distances. Our study demonstrated that P. danxiaensis maintained a middle level of genetic diversity and strong population structure; geographic distance could be an important factor limiting gene flow among populations of P. danxiaensis, which were only sporadically recorded in Mount Danxia.

Seed production and storage for endangered Morus boninensis using an ex-situ living collection.

Meaningful conservation techniques for the endangered Morus boninensis require seed production and storage, since insitu purebred seed production is infrequent in Ogasawara Islands (World Natural Heritage Site) in Japan. Ex situ living M. boninensis specimens produced seeds by open- and artificial-pollination in a greenhouse. Seed desiccation tolerance and storage characteristics were examined. Open-pollinated seeds were dried at 75, 33 and 8% relative humidity (RH) for 5days then cryopreserved at -170°C. Artificially pollinated seeds were dried at 8% RH then stored cryogenically at -170°C and in freezers at -80 or -20°C for 6months. Germination rates were compared among seeds before and after drying and storage. Germination rates of undried seeds were 83% for open-pollinated seeds and 65% for artificially pollinated seeds. M. boninensis seeds exhibited the characteristic high desiccation tolerance of orthodox seeds and maintained a high germination rate after drying to a moisture content of approximately 4%. Cryopreservation of open-pollinated dry seeds with moisture contents of ca. 12, 7 and 4% maintained germination rates, while cryopreservation of undried seeds (moisture content ca. 44%) resulted in no germinability. Cryogenic and freezer storage of artificially pollinated dry seeds for 6months resulted in maintenance of germination rates comparable to undried seeds before storage. Seed production was enabled by ex situ M. boninensis collection. The present study also developed a method for low temperature seed storage. Ex situ living tree collection represents a feasible seed resource for reintroduction and restoration programmes for M. boninensis.

Sedimentary evolution of the Dawan travertines and their geological environmental significance, Huanglong, China

AbstractThe Huanglong travertine landscape, which is located on the eastern edge of the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau, is a World Natural Heritage Site with important tourism, aesthetic and scientific research value. However, no convincing travertine sedimentary age data have been reported for this area, and these late Cenozoic terrestrial carbonates have not been effectively included in studies of the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau geological environment. In this study, U‐series dating of the travertines was carried out using a multi‐collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer to determine a time series for travertine deposition in the Dawan Valley (only a mountain away from Huanglong). The analyses of the processes operating during travertine deposition as the trench system evolved are performed based on a comprehensive study of the geological setting, structure and glacial landforms. The results suggest that travertine deposition in the Dawan Valley started at ca 13 ka and had begun to wane by the early Holocene (ca 7 ka). At the same time, the Huanglong Valley travertines began to be deposited on a large scale in response to a hydrological transition event. This event might reflect tectonic activity in particular, or possibly earthquakes or glacial retreat caused by climate warming. The findings reported here provide age data for late Cenozoic geological and environmental events such as climate variations and continental activity on the eastern margin of the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau. It also presents new insights for research on glaciation, tectonic activity and seismicity; however, depositional breaks and forcing factors need to be explored further.

Protecting World Heritage and promoting eco-civilization

World Heritage is the common wealth of all mankind and protects natural areas and cultural relics of prominent value around the globe. Natural World Heritage sites crystalize nature’s most amazing creations over billions of years, carry the spiritual and cultural values of humanity and relate to the ecological security of the Earth. Since 1985 when China acceded to the Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage, it has actively fulfilled its obligations under the Convention, made solid progress in various areas, effectively protected precious and unique natural and cultural heritage and natural ecological environments, embarked on a path of world heritage sustainable development in the Chinese context, and contributed Chinese wisdom and resources to World Heritage protection.

Monitoring and assessment of endangered UNESCO World Heritage Sites using space technology: a case study of East Rennell, Solomon Islands

Space technology offers effective tools to monitor the status of World Natural Heritage sites. East Rennell Island, which covers approximately 37,000 hectares (ha) and a marine area extending three nautical miles into the sea, was added to the list of endangered World Natural Heritage sites in 2013. Deforestation and natural disasters have increasingly threatened sustainable development on the island. Based on analyses of multi-source time series of remote sensing data (e.g., MODIS and Worldview), the forest cover change on Rennell Island from 2000 to 2020 and its future trends were mapped and analysed using Sen + Mann–Kendall and Hurst index models. A land cover classification system derived from high-resolution Worldview images was developed as a baseline for monitoring and analysing future forest cover changes on the island. Our results showed that (1) the areas of vegetation degradation and improvement were basically equal from 2000 to 2020. (2) The forest cover change trend had weak continuity, and significant improvements could be achieved in areas with damaged vegetation given sufficient protection measures and financial input. (3) This heritage site has a strong vegetation regeneration ability, and human activities such as mining, logging, and road construction, which could greatly disturb the unique ecosystem, should be restricted.

Assessing changes to ecosystem service values at large geographic scale: A case study for Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

Climate change is impacting numerous natural world heritage sites – the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) being just one. There are calls for interventions to help sustain reef values in the face of climate change and while there are numerous techniques for assessing impacts on non-market values, most struggle to generate robust estimates for large and complex systems. This complicates the assessment of potential benefits of reef interventions. Focusing on corals in the GBR, we develop and apply a systematic, evaluative framework that combines insights from a coral-reef simulation model with those from research on reef-related ecosystem services (ES). We estimate the market and non-market benefits of complete control of coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS) and global climate mitigation. By comparing the present value of ES with and without interventions, we can assess their potential benefits: between $5b and $28.5b depending on intervention and discount rate. Our empirical insights are specifically relevant to the GBR. Our generic approach to assessing the potential value of CoTS control at large scale and in data/knowledge-poor environments can be developed further and adapted to other interventions.

Can Edible Insects Complement Conventional Livestock? The Desirability of Insect Nutrition for Food Security of a World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve

Background: Insects have formed a part of the human diet since pre-historic times. Entomophagy has garnered recent attention due to its increased role in food security as nutrient-rich alternatives of conventional livestock. Methods: We have made an effort in this paper to study the edible insect composition of Manas National Park, a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve, located in the Indo- Burma biodiversity hotspot of Southern Asia. Edible insect variety was determined through a field reconnaissance while the nutrient composition (macronutrient and micronutrient) of each edible insect species was computed through biochemical analyses with a view to explore the possibility of promoting them as food/feed or as a base for nutritive products. We conducted nutrient profiling using the Nutrient Value Score (NVS) model and UK Ofcom nutrient profiling (NP) model. Results: Hymenoptera and Orthoptera were found to be the dominant orders with 4 species each, followed by Hemiptera with 3 species, Lepidoptera with 2 species, Mantodea, Blattodea and Coleoptera with 1 species each. The nutrient analysis shows that insects have a rich nutrient composition that is comparable with typical livestock. Conclusion: As realised during COVID-19, insects may prove to be an alternative, sustainable, and cheaper sources of nutrients necessary for ensuring global food security.

Adaptive Heritage: Is This Creative Thinking or Abandoning Our Values?

Protected areas, such as natural World Heritage sites, RAMSAR wetlands and Biosphere Reserves, are ecosystems within landscapes. Each site meets certain criteria that allow it to qualify as a heritage or protected area. Both climate change and human influence (e.g., incursion, increased tourist visitation) are altering biophysical conditions at many such sites. As a result, conditions at many sites are falling outside the criteria for their original designation. The alternatives are to change the criteria, remove protection from the site, change site boundaries such that the larger or smaller landscape meets the criteria, or manage the existing landscape in some way that reduces the threat. This paper argues for adaptive heritage, an approach that explicitly recognizes changing conditions and societal value. We discuss the need to view heritage areas as parts of a larger landscape, and to take an adaptive approach to the management of that landscape. We offer five themes of adaptive heritage: (1) treat sites as living heritage, (2) employ innovative governance, (3) embrace transparency and accountability, (4) invest in monitoring and evaluation, and (5) manage adaptively. We offer the Australian Wet Tropics as an example where aspects of adaptive heritage currently are practiced, highlighting the tools being used. This paper offers guidance supporting decisions about natural heritage in the face of climate change and non-climatic pressures. Rather than delisting or lowering standards, we argue for adaptive approaches.

Hydrological ecosystem changes and impacts after the Zonag Lake outburst in Hoh Xil of Tibetan Plateau

After the iconic outburst of Zonag Lake in Hoh Xil of Tibetan Plateau (TP) in 2011, the causes of the collapse and its impact on the volume of water contained by the downstream lakes have highly been concerned, but the overall changes of the hydrological ecosystem and its impacts on the basin are yet not clear. This paper analyzes the hydrological system (lake area and hydrological connection) and ecosystem (sandstorm activity and vegetation growth status) changes and their impacts on the regional ecological environment after the outburst event, based on remotely sensed images from 2000 to 2020, meteorological observations, and field surveys. The results show that the outburst of Zonag Lake has not only changed the regional hydrology and ecosystem pattern but also caused a trend of degradation in the ecological environment of Zonag Lake Basin. Some lambing areas and active areas of Tibetan antelope in the area are being buried and eroded by the sandstorm. The downstream Yanhu Lake has risen to the highest level and overflowed through the emergency diversion engineering. These impacts are continuously threatening the health of the ecological environment of the world natural heritage site in Hoh Xil, the safety of Qinghai-Tibet highway, Qinghai-Tibet railway, and other engineering facilities, as well as the stability of fluvial geomorphology in the northern most sources of Yangtze River.

제주 세계자연유산 3개소에 대한 공공시설물 색채현황 - 한라산천연보호구역, 성산일출봉, 거문오름 용암동굴계 만장굴을 중심으로

Mt. Halla Protected Natural Area, Seongsan Sunrise Peak, and Geomunoreum Lava Tube System of Jeju were inscribed on the World Natural Heritage List and have got a global recognition. Since the inclusion on the World Natural Heritage List, the annual number of visitors to Mt. Halla, Seongsan Sunrise Peak, and Manjang Cave- outstanding tourist sites of Jeju- has been more than 4 million. With this in mind, a study on the color trends of these public facilities was conducted. Public facilities are significant in that they show the general image of public space and the colors of public facilities show one integrated image of public space. In line with this, the continuous preservation of World Natural Heritage sites of Jeju, sharing better experiences with visitors, and the promotion of Jeju are essential. The objective of this study is to do research on the color trends of public facilities in World Natural Heritage sites and improvement methods. The study space included 3 sites; Mt. Halla Protected Natural Area, Seongsan Sunrise Peak, and Geomunoreum Lava Tube System- World Natural Heritage sites of Jeju. The study contents were existing public facilities. After a field study, the colors of public facilities were analyzed. As for study methods, the general status of public facilities (location, materials, construction date, construction method) was reviewed. Then, a current condition examination and check lists for the color study of facilities were done. 163 public facilities were reviewed and their pictures were taken. After excluding overlapping colors, 40 colors were drawn. They were GY, YR, Y, G, PB, B, BG, and R colors. Most public facilities showed mid brightness and mid-high saturation tones. In order to apply the color of public facilities in harmony with surrounding landscape, the structure, characteristics, and location of facilities should be considered at the public facilities design plan stage. Moreover, the color design in harmony with surrounding landscape is necessary.

In Focus: Travelling through space and time: Remote sensing of natural World Heritage sites

Humankind has already been using Earth observation satellites as a tool for over 50 years, and observation data archives provide valuable information to fill in the gap due to lack of documentation and statistical records in the past. For example, the Earth observation data archives are available to the public right from the earliest images taken from 1960 to 1984 by the very first USA photoreconnaissance satellite CORONA, to the data acquired today by the latest satellite constellations. Recognizing the socio-economic value of this information, several satellite data providers are offering open access to their archives, which makes it possible to monitor natural and cultural heritage sites and assess their condition. As countries are relaxing their policies towards the use of drones, collecting aerial images is coming within everyone’s reach and would complement the Earth observation data collected from space.

Linguistic diversity and conservation opportunities at UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Africa.

Africa contains much of Earth's biological and cultural-linguistic diversity, but conserving this diversity is enormously challenging amid widespread poverty, expanding development, social unrest, and rapidly growing human population. We examined UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Natural World Heritage Sites (WHSs) on continental Africa and nearby islands-48 protected areas containing globally important natural or combined natural and cultural resources-to gauge the potential for enlisting Indigenous peoples in their conservation. We used geographic information system technology to identify instances where Natural WHSs co-occur with Indigenous languages, a key indicator of cultural diversity. And, we compared the geographic ranges for 4 taxa and selected freshwater species with occurrence of all Indigenous languages within Natural WHSs and subsections of WHSs covered by the geographic extent of Indigenous languages to measure the correlation between linguistic and biological diversity. Results indicated that 147 languages shared at least part of their geographic extent with Natural WHSs. Instances of co-occurrence where a WHS, a language, or both were endangered marked localities particularly deserving conservation attention. We examined co-occurrence of all languages and all species, all languages and endangered species, and endangered languages and endangered species and found a correlation between linguistic and biological diversity that may indicate fundamental links between these very different measures of diversity. Considering only endangered species or endangered languages and species reduced that correlation, although considerable co-occurrence persisted. Shared governance of government-designated reserves is applicable for natural WHSs because it capitalizes on the apparent connection between culture and nature. Natural WHSs in Africa containing speakers of Indigenous languages present opportunities to conserve both nature and culture in highly visible settings where maintaining natural systems may rely on functioning Indigenous cultural systems and vice versa.

Hydrochemical Characteristics and Controlling Factors of Typical Dolomite Karst Basin in Humid Subtropical Zone

The hydrochemical characteristics and variation rules of water in karst areas are important for the basic research of karst field. Because only a few researches focused on the hydrochemical characteristics of humid subtropical dolomite karst basins in the past, the Shanmuhe Basin and its subbasin Huangzhouhe Basin in Shibing Dolomite Karst World Natural Heritage Site in China were selected as the study area. A total of 215 water samples were collected and analyzed. It was found that the hydrochemical type of subtropical dolomite karst basin is HCO3-Ca·Mg type, which is different from that in limestone areas and shale districts, which is HCO3-Ca type for both; EC, Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3-, Mg2+/Ca2+, and Mg2+/HCO3- have similar spatial variations, which are lower in allogenic water in the upstream in the northwest of the basin and become higher when the water enters the dolomite karst area in the mid and downstream of the basin, and SIC and SID of the allogenic water in the upstream are below zero, while those become saturated after entering the dolomite area in the mid and downstream; the monthly variation of hydrochemistry shows that the seasonal variation of ion concentration is not obvious, and there is a dilution effect in rainy seasons, but the variation of ion concentration is small and relatively stable; higher HCO3- concentration and Mg2+/Ca2+ in the pure dolomite basin are higher than those in the impure dolomite basin; the main influencing factors of the hydrochemical features are geological background especially the lithology, and the water chemistry is mainly controlled by rock weathering and water-rock interaction; rainfall import is low and the low concentrations of K+, Na+, NO3-, Cl-, and SO42- in water indicate that human activities have little effect on the hydrochemistry in the study area.

Seasonal and diel changes in cetacean vocalizations monitored by passive acoustic methods in Nemuro Strait adjacent to the Shiretoko World Natural Heritage Site

AbstractUNESCO World Natural Heritage sites are established to ensure the long‐term conservation of natural areas. Nemuro Strait in northern Japan is adjacent to the Shiretoko World Natural Heritage Site, and attracts various trophic levels of marine species, including marine mammals. Although the coexistence of humans and marine mammals is an important issue in this area, the temporal habitat use of cetaceans in this area is unknown. Here, we document seasonal and diel changes in cetacean vocalizations collected using passive acoustic recording devices during November 2012–March 2014. Killer whale calls occurred in spring and summer, and sperm whale clicks were detected in summer. Pacific white‐sided dolphin calls were recorded in summer and late fall. No cetaceans were recorded during the sea ice period in February and March. The dolphin calls and unknown click trains were significantly more frequent at night. In contrast, marginal diel changes in killer whale calls were detected. Our results suggest that the majority of cetaceans utilize Nemuro Strait at night during the ice‐free period, and we provide new insights into the habitat use and diversity of marine mammals in the Strait.