Standard Presentation Australian Marine Sciences Association Annual Meeting 2023

Investigating Dolphin Connectivity in South-East Queensland, Australia (#148)

Georgina Hume 1 , Alexis Levengood 1 , Kathy Townsend 1 , Bonnie Holmes 1
  1. University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia

Dolphin studies in south-east Queensland (SEQ) are sparse, with research efforts previously focused on Hervey Bay (HB) and Moreton Bay (MB) populations. Despite this, 14 dolphin species have predicted ranges extending across SEQ waters; including the unprotected waters of the Sunshine Coast, which remains data deficient. Whether the two embayment’s are home to distinct populations of dolphins or if spatial overlap and gene flow occur across the Sunshine Coast has not yet been ascertained. Wildlife stranding’s data and boat-based surveys were used to investigate which dolphin species were present, their current distribution, and spatial connectivity throughout SEQ. Stranding’s data indicated at least seven dolphin species inhabit SEQ waters which was further confirmed by initial sightings results; finding two resident species the Indo-Pacific bottlenose (Tursiops aduncus) and common bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) inhabiting Sunshine Coast waters,  with less frequent sightings of Australian humpback dolphins (Sousa sahulensis). These results indicate there is likely spatial connectivity several dolphin species across SEQ, which has implications for their future management outside of marine park protected waters.