Spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) resting habitat in Samadai Reef (Egypt, Red Sea) protected through tourism management

Abstract

The daily presence of spinner dolphins,Stenella longirostris, inside a small reef offshore the Red Sea coast of southern Egypt was monitored from January 2004 to January 2006. Observations indicated marked seasonal and daily variations in the use of the reef as a resting and socializing area by the dolphins, consistent during the two years of monitoring. Overall, the mean number of dolphins present in the reef at any day was 39.2 (SD = 39.34, range 0–210), with the lowest presence in February to April and the highest in June. Similar to other populations of this species in other oceans, dolphins entered the reef between daybreak and mid-morning, and started exiting during the afternoon hours. Although calves were seen in all seasons, a sharp peak was observed in June. Monitoring data provided indications relevant to governmental management efforts, which were implemented in 2004 to ensure that the dolphins could continue using the reef for their resting needs while a sustainable, respectful tourist activity is allowed in a designated zone of the reef adjacent to the dolphins' core habitat.

Predictive Modeling of Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) Resting Habitat in the Main Hawaiian Islands

“…This diel behavioral pattern appears common to spinner dolphins throughout tropical Pacific Islands (e.g., American Sāmoa, Moorea) [25], [26], occurs in other oceans [27] and has been most extensively studied in the Hawaiian Archipelago [28], [29], [30], [31]. Within the main Hawaiian Islands, the habitat use of spinner dolphin resting bays has been best documented on the west coast of the island of Hawai'i, and similar patterns of habitat use have been documented along O'ahu and in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands [29], [30], [31].…”

Habitat selection of two island-associated dolphin species from the south-west Indian Ocean

“…This preference for flat areas at the outer part of the shelf, close to open waters, might be related to the species' ecological needs. Spinner dolphins generally use sheltered coastal or reef-associated habitat during the morning for resting and socializing and travels to deeper waters later in the afternoon where it forages at night (De Lima Silva and Da Silva, 2009;Gannier and Petiau, 2006;Kiszka et al, 2011;Lammers, 2004;Norris et al, 1994;Notarbartolo-Di-Sciara et al, 2008;Thorne et al, 2012;Tyne et al, 2015). It has been hypothesis that selecting resting habitat at close proximity to deep waters could be a strategy to reduce travelling time and energy costs during transit between oceanic and coastal habitats (Norris et al, 1994;Thorne et al, 2012;Tyne et al, 2015).…”

Population ecology and the management of whale watching operations on a data‐deficient dolphin population

“…This species is particularly vulnerable to WW activities (Johnston, ; Tyne et al, ) because of its exposure in critical resting areas (Norris et al, ), sensitivity to associated disturbances (Courbis & Timmel, ; Fumagalli et al, ; Heenehan et al, ; Lammers, ; Timmel et al, ), and lack of resilience to disruptions (Tyne et al, ). In the Egyptian Red Sea, the rapid growth of a commercial WW industry at Samadai Reef in the early 2000s (O'Connor et al, ) generated serious concern among the local stakeholders, resulting in the prompt implementation of a precautionary, site‐specific management plan (Notarbartolo di Sciara et al, ), and dedicated research efforts (Cesario, ; De Montpellier, ; Fumagalli, ; Fumagalli et al, ; Notarbartolo di Sciara et al, ; Ponnampalam, ; Shawky & Afifi, ; Shawky et al, ). The management plan in Samadai Reef substantially reduces behavioral disruptions caused by human interactions, which are instead documented as pervasive and severe at the nonmanaged resting area at Satayah Reef (Fumagalli et al, ).…”