Population distribution and drivers of habitat use for the Burrunan dolphins, Port Phillip Bay, Australia.

ABSTRACT: Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops) populations, also described as the Burrunan dolphins, consist of a resident population of approximately 150 individuals in Port Phillip Bay (PPB), Victoria. Previous reports indicate distribution across a small southern region of PPB; however, little is known about their full distribution patterns across the entire PPB region. Here, we investigate the spatiotemporal distribution of the Burrunan dolphins across four zones representative of PPB benthic habitats and bathymetry to gain a better understanding of the potential drivers of the population's habitat use. Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Australia. One hundred and twenty-nine boat-based surveys were undertaken between March 2015 and August 2021, encompassing 181 sightings. Generalised linear models (GL

SUBMITTER: Beddoe J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10994984 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature