Responses of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) to construction of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge

作者：Zhixiong Huang, Liang Fang, Wen Hua, Kui Zhang, Xinxing Wang, Tao Chen · 发表于：Frontiers in Marine Science · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.3389/fmars.2024.1407937 · 被引用次数：4 · 研究领域：Marine animal studies overview、Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior、Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies

The location of offshore and coastal marine engineering projects often shows considerable overlap with the foraging and breeding grounds of marine mammals. Lingding Bay, located in the Chinese Pearl River Delta, is home to the world’s largest known population of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins ( Sousa chinensis ). The bay is also the site of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge mega-engineering project. This study assessed the responses of the dolphins to the bridge construction. Data were collected on dolphin sightings by survey vessels following standard line-transect tracks, with surveys conducted during the pre-construction (2005–2006), construction (2015–2016), and post-construction (2020–2021) phases. The dolphin distribution patterns, density, group sizes, and presence of calves were compared across these three periods. Additionally, the range patterns of the dolphins were analyzed following the identification of individuals during the post-construction phase. The average distance at which humpback dolphins were sighted from the bridge was significantly shorter after the completion of the bridge than during the pre-construction and construction phases. Furthermore, the density of humpback dolphins in the southern region of the bay—where the bridge is located—was significantly higher post-construction compared with that recorded during the pre-construction and construction phases. A noticeable increase in dolphin group sizes post-construction may indicate a shift in foragin...