Research into the dolphins of Bunbury is the major objective of the South West Marine Research Program (SWMRP). Founded in 2007 on an initial partnership between the Bunbury Dolphin Discovery Centre and Murdoch University, with support from the South West Development Commission, the SWMRP is now composed of partners from industry, government, research and the community.

The impact of these partnerships is to empower a dedicated research team work-ing on a number of projects on dolphin biology and the ecosystem that supports them. Phase 1 (2007-2010) of the SWMRP has seen many achievements made possible by financial and in-kind resources provided by the partners.

Phase 1 is comprised of three PhD projects (dolphin population monitoring, prey dynamics and dolphin genetics). The initiative strives to assess the long-term viability of Bunbury’s bottlenose dolphin population. These projects will provide critical information for assessing the potential impacts of human activity on dol-phins and assist industry partners in planning their activities in the marine envi-ronment while minimizing their impacts on the local dolphin population.

This bulletin reports on the results by PhD candidate, Holly Smith, the first PhD student scheduled to submit her dissertation in 2011.

SWMRP Update

Current Research: Phase 1 Throughout Bunbury, SWMRP students are researching several diverse aspects of dolphin biology and ecology:

Holly Smith, PhD Candidate: Population abundance, social structure, ranging patterns and habitat use.

Claire Daniel, PhD Candidate: Conservation genetics.

Shannon McCluskey, PhD Candidate: Foraging ecology.

New research: SWMRP Phase 2 (2011-2013):

Kate Sprogis, PhD Candidate: Predictive habitat modelling and population dynamics.

Dolphin health via veterinarian and pathological investigations.

M a y 2 0 1 1

I n s i d e t h i s

i s s u e :

H o l l y ’ s P h D

R e s e a r c h

P 2

R e s e a r c h

O b j e c t i v e s

P 2

A b u n d a n c e

E s t i m a t e s

P 2

B i r t h i n g S e a s o n P 3

H a b i t a t U s e P 3

H o l l y ’ s

a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t s

P 4

S W M R P P h a s e 2 P 4

M U R D O C H U N I V E R S I T Y

South West Marine Research Program

With unique photos of the dorsal fins (much like a fingerprint identification),

Holly constructed a sighting history for each identifiable dolphin. This data

allowed Holly to:

1. Calculate accurate abundance estimates and determine how many dol-phins are in the Bunbury population.

2. Describe group composition, including each animal’s sex and age. 3. Investigate associations and interactions between dolphins. 4. Determine seasonal residency and extent of home ranges. 5. Identify benthic habitat types available to Bunbury dolphins.

From 2007-2009, the total number of dolphins varied, with high number of dolphins present in summer (123) and autumn (121), and less numbers in winter (75) and spring (93).

Holly Smith’s Research: First PhD Nearly Complete

Bunbury Dolphin Population Abundance Estimates

Holly’s PhD Research Objectives

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S o u t h W e s t M a r i n e R e s e a r c h P r o g r a m

Congratulations to Holly Smith, who is

finalising her PhD research findings.

From 2007-2009, Holly researched the

bottlenose dolphin population around

Bunbury. The primary goal of her

research was to examine the status of the

dolphin population to assist with long-

term conservation and management.

To collect her data, Holly drove the research boat along pre-

determined transect routes and took photographs of dorsal

fins from each dolphin that she

encountered. Dorsal fins are

individually recognisable because

of their unique markings (nicks

and notches). This allows each

dolphin to be tracked over time.

The study area covered 120 km2 of coastal waterways around Bunbury, from Peppermint Beach in the south to Binningup in the north. A total of:

217 boat-based surveys were carried out, 544 dolphin groups were encountered; and 196 different dolphins were identified and catalogued.

The number of dolphins in the study area varied seasonally. Therefore, not all dolphins are present in Bunbury throughout the year. Results show that more dolphins are present during summer than winter. During summer and autumn, there is an “influx” of animals.

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120

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Summer Autumn Winter Spring

Nu

mb

er

of

do

lph

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Season

Seasonal Number of Dolphins

Greatest number of

dolphins in summer

Potential threats to

dolphins include:

Coastal development

Water pollution

Entanglement

Adverse interactions

with vessels and people

Caption describing picture or graphic.

Dolphin Birthing Season in Bunbury

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M a y 2 0 1 1

Summer Autumn Winter Spring

In winter, the sighting density of female dolphins

was fairly evenly distributed and extended north

and south throughout the study area.

In summer and autumn, the density of female

dolphin sightings was concentrated in Koom-

bana Bay and at the mouth of the Leschenault

Estuary. Declaration of a dolphin sanctuary and

implementation of vessel speed restrictions

within portions of Koombana Bay, the Lesche-

nault Estuary and the passage between these,

could benefit the dolphin population and be a

positive move towards conservation and manage-

ment of the Bunbury population.

Female Dolphin Home Ranges and Habitat Use Through this research, we are understanding

more about the distribution, ranging patterns

and habitat use of dolphins, all of which are im-

portant for wildlife management.

Holly illustrated how the density, home range

and habitat preferences of adult female dolphins

changed seasonally throughout the study area.

Her results provide a unique insight into where

the associations of adult females are forming.

Some inshore dolphins had extremely limited

ranging patterns and stayed only within the estu-

ary and inshore waters.

Holly found that adult female dolphins in Bun-bury form nursery groups. These groups consist of mothers, calves and other juvenile dolphins. Between 2007 and 2010, Holly documented a total of 35 new dolphin calves, with a main calv-ing season that begins during summer and peaks during autumn months. The timing of this birthing peak highlights that this is a criti-cal time for the dolphin population. Newborn calves are very vulnerable to disturbance and this creates an important need for extra care when boating during this time period.

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Seasonality of dolphin births

The SWMRP is providing indirect benefits to the greater south-west, including: the presence of a tertiary

research institution (Murdoch University) in the region, a model for other state-wide marine research

initiatives, leverage of >$800,000 of external funding including four Murdoch University PhD scholarships

and staff salaries, national and international recognition as a credible source of quality government and non

-government information and the showcasing of partners in national and international media outlets.

PHASE 2 (2011-2013): We are delighted to move into Phase 2 of the SWMRP with the recent confirmation of

continued support and commitment from our partners. We are also pleased to welcome Newmont

Boddington Gold to Phase 2 of the partnership.

Dr. Lars Bejder

Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit

South West Marine Research Program

Dolphin Discovery Centre, Bunbury WA

SWMRP Phase 2

Holly’s future plans and acknowledgements

Holly feels very privi-

leged to have ob-

served the Bunbury

dolphins intensively

over the last few years.

Their fins have be-

come “familiar faces”.

Her greatest highlights include seeing calves a few

days old, battles between males competing for a

mate and their acrobatic displays and witnessing

feeding frenzies on octopus and colourful cuttle-

fish. Holly would like to thank all of the SWMRP

partners and those that have supported the project.

She will continue her career in nature conservation

with the Western Australian State government.

Holly will continue to follow the progress of the

research program

through close partner-

ship with the new stu-

dents continuing this

important work through

Phase 2 of the SWMRP.

Copyright photos: Bejder, Chabanne, Smith and Sprogis.

Phase 2 will include two main areas of research: 1) dolphin

population monitoring and habitat modelling; and 2) dolphin health

research via veterinarian and pathological investigations.

The SWMRP will continue to seek mechanisms to further engage

the people of Bunbury in understanding the research discoveries

and the value of science in the region.

www.cffr.murdoch.edu.au/mucru/

www.dolphindiscovery.com.au/

SWMRP PARTNERS:

Holly