Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 222-253) Also available in print.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 61-65).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 165-[202]).

published_or_final_version / Biological Sciences / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 208-255).

Tsang, Yin Ting Anton. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 373-402). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.i / Abstract --- p.iv / 論文摘要 --- p.viii / Table of Contents --- p.xi / List of Tables --- p.xvii / List of Figures --- p.xxiii / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Who are “our dolphins and their MPA´ح？ - A general introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- What is a MPA? --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Why MPAs? --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- MPAs & Cetaceans --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2 --- MPAs & Marine Conservation in Hong Kong --- p.5 / Chapter 1.3 --- The Mascot of Hong Kong ´ؤ The Chinese White Dolphin --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Cetaceans in Hong Kong --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- History of the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Taxonomy of the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3.4 --- General Descriptions of the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins --- p.12 / Chapter 1.3.5 --- Distribution of the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins --- p.13 / Chapter 1.3.6 --- Conservation Status of the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins & Threats that They are Facing --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4 --- The “Dolphin Sanctuary´ح？ - Sha Chau & Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park --- p.15 / Chapter 1.5 --- Significance & Objectives of This Study --- p.18 / Chapter 1.6 --- Study Areas --- p.19 / Chapter 1.7 --- Organization of This Thesis --- p.21 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- "How are our dolphins doing in the MPA? - Abundance, behaviour and habitat use of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins within and outside the marine park" / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2 --- Methodology --- p.30 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Field Sampling --- p.30 / Chapter 2.2.1.1 --- Dolphin survey --- p.30 / Chapter 2.2.1.2 --- Collection of information on physical parameters --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Data Analysis --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2.2.1 --- Definition of parameters --- p.35 / Chapter a) --- Seasonality --- p.35 / Chapter b) --- Dolphin observation regions and areas --- p.36 / Chapter c) --- Standardization of effort --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.2.2 --- Statistical analysis --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results --- p.41 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Observability --- p.41 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Distribution of Dolphin Sightings --- p.42 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Number of Dolphin Sightings --- p.46 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Dolphin Sightings at Different Tidal Movements --- p.48 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Sighting Rate and Density of Dolphin Sightings --- p.49 / Chapter 2.3.6 --- Composition --- p.54 / Chapter 2.3.7 --- Group Size --- p.56 / Chapter 2.3.8 --- Dive Times --- p.59 / Chapter 2.3.9 --- Behaviours --- p.62 / Chapter 2.4 --- Discussion --- p.64 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Identifying “Hotspots´ح --- p.64 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Areas other than “Hotspots´ح --- p.71 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Is SLMP Effective? --- p.72 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- Seasonality of the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins --- p.75 / Chapter 2.5 --- Chapter Summary --- p.77 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- How is our MPA doing to the dolphins? - Factors affecting the abundance and behaviours of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.129 / Chapter 3.2 --- Methodology --- p.132 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Field Sampling --- p.132 / Chapter 3.2.1.1 --- Fish survey --- p.132 / Chapter 3.2.1.2 --- Traffic count --- p.133 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Data Analysis --- p.135 / Chapter 3.2.2.1 --- Definition of parameters --- p.135 / Chapter a) --- Food species --- p.135 / Chapter b) --- Regions and study areas --- p.136 / Chapter c) --- Standardization of effort --- p.137 / Chapter 3.2.2.2 --- Statistical analysis --- p.137 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.140 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Abundance & Biomass of Fish --- p.140 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Diversity & Species Richness of Fish --- p.153 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Distribution & Density of Vessel Traffic --- p.158 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Patterns of Vessel Traffic --- p.164 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- "Relationship among Dolphin, Fish & Vessel Traffic" --- p.166 / Chapter 3.3.5.1 --- Fish & dolphin --- p.166 / Chapter 3.3.5.2 --- Traffic & dolphin --- p.167 / Chapter 3.3.5.3 --- "Fish, vessel traffic & dolphin" --- p.173 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.174 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- How Was the Fish Doing to the Dolphins? --- p.174 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- How Was Traffic Doing to the Dolphins? --- p.179 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Is SLMP Effective? --- p.184 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Limitations of This Study --- p.187 / Chapter 3.5 --- Chapter Summary --- p.189 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- An example to follow or a lesson to learn? - The effectiveness of Sha Chau & Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park in conserving the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.275 / Chapter 4.2 --- Methodology --- p.279 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Source of Data --- p.279 / Chapter 4.2.1.1 --- Dolphin survey --- p.279 / Chapter 4.2.1.2 --- Fish survey --- p.280 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Data Analysis --- p.281 / Chapter 4.2.2.1 --- Definition of parameters --- p.281 / Chapter a) --- Years --- p.281 / Chapter b) --- Standardization of effort --- p.282 / Chapter 4.2.2.2 --- Statistical analysis --- p.283 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.284 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Comparison of Dolphin Survey Results --- p.284 / Chapter 4.3.1.1 --- Abundance --- p.284 / Chapter 4.3.1.2 --- Group size --- p.286 / Chapter 4.3.1.3 --- Behaviours --- p.287 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Comparison of Fish Survey Results --- p.289 / Chapter 4.3.2.1 --- Fish abundance & biomass --- p.289 / Chapter 4.3.2.2 --- Fish species & diversity --- p.294 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Trends of Dolphin & Fish --- p.297 / Chapter 4.3.3.1 --- Dolphin trends --- p.297 / Chapter 4.3.3.2 --- Fish trends --- p.299 / Chapter 4.3.3.3 --- Correlations between dolphin & fish trends --- p.301 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.302 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- How Were the Dolphins & Fish doing Throughout These Years? --- p.302 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Further Implications on Cetacean Conservation in Hong Kong --- p.306 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Is SLMP Effective? --- p.309 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Limitations of This Study --- p.315 / Chapter 4.5 --- Chapter Summary --- p.316 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- "How shall our dolphin MPA be doing? - Summary, conclusions & further recommendations" / Chapter 5.1 --- Summary & Conclusions --- p.358 / Chapter 5.2 --- Further Recommendations --- p.364 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Larger MPA for the CWD in the Pearl River Estuary --- p.364 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Fishing Management --- p.366 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Traffic Management --- p.367 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Developmental Management --- p.368 / Chapter 5.3 --- PLEASE ACT FAST!! --- p.369 / List of References --- p.373

Populations of the humpback dolphin in Natal, South Africa, are subject to increasing pressures including capture in the shark nets and habitat degradation, and concern has been raised about the status of the population. A minimum of 95 humpback dolphins were caught in the shark nets during the period from 1980 to 1992. Capture and sighting records of the Natal Sharks Board revealed a relatively high occurrence of humpback dolphins at Richards Bay. Elsewhere, in southern Natal, the infrequent sightings and captures were attributed to a seasonal occurrence of dolphins, possibly due to temporary movements away from resident areas. Sighting rates reported by the Natal Sharks Board has decreased by 55%from 1984-86 to 1990-92 and may reflect a decrease in the population. In a photo-identification study, searches took place in ten search areas in Natal. The sighting rates in the different areas revealed a relatively high density of humpback dolphins occurring in north central Natal, from the Tugela River to the St. Lucia estuary (including Richards Bay). This distribution correlated significantly with the turbidity of the water and the width of the inshore continental shelf, and was inversely related to the density of bottlenose dolphins. Within the northern Tugela Bank region, higher densities of dolphins were found surrounding the five river mouths and estuaries. The Natal population was estimated to be between 161 to 166 animals (95% confidence limits 134 to 229). The annual mortality due to shark net captures approximates 4,5%of the population. Various evidence, including a high mortality rate and a decrease in the annual sighting per unit effort reported by the Natal Sharks Board suggest that the humpback dolphin population in Natal is vulnerable and may be decreasing in size. A proposal is made to reduce the capture rate by relocating shark nets away from the Richards Bay harbour. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, 1994.

published_or_final_version / Ecology and Biodiversity / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

Whales and dolphins, especially small cetaceans which inhabit rivers and coastal waters, are under the threats from environmental change, habitat destruction, and pollution. Since previous studies haven¡¦t deeply explored the relationship between marine mammal conservation and fishery catches, in this study, we focused on the objective is on the correlation between fishery catches and feeding sources of Chinese white dolphin. About 17 years (1993-2009) of fish catch data from fishery annual reports in the six counties (from Miaoli to Tainan) along the western coast of Taiwan, was used as the data source of the meta-analysis, which set four major prey categories of Chinese white dolphin, i.e., primary prey fish, secondary prey fish, potential prey fish and other prey fish. The study showed the following nine results. First of all, the change of total amount of fish production in six counties was changing irregularly¡Fin recent years, the amount of potential prey fish and other prey fish catches were increasing. Secondly, the decline of primary prey fish was due to the reduced production of Mugilidae . Thirdly, the secondary prey fish catch formed the major catches during 1999-2004 while Sparidae species was the dominated species. The potential prey fish amount was consistent, except in 1994 when Chanidae production was extremely high, making it the major components species. In accordance with Chinese white dolphin distribution hot spot, north hot spot primary prey fish families were Sciaenidae and Trichiuridae. In addition, the amount of south hot spot was irregularly distributing during 1999-2004. For the non-hot spot in the Changhua¡¦s coast, the prey fish production of Mugilidae was decreasing year by year and the non-hot spot in the Tainan¡¦s coast, the prey fish was mainly composed of other prey fish after 2002. However, in these 17 years, the number of fishing vessels increased, yet the total catch decreased. This may imply that the coastal fishery resources is depleted. The discussion on improvement about the fishery annual report and prey resources investigation were also made. At the last, we proposed two suggestions on the issues about hot spot management and enhancing fishery resources restoration.