Sains Malaysiana 40(12)(2011): 1383–1392

Boat Effects on the Behaviour of Indo-Pacific Humpback (Sousa chinensis) and Irrawaddy Dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) in Cowie Bay, Sabah, Malaysia

(Kesan Bot Terhadap Tingkahlaku Lumba-lumba Putih (Sousa chinensis) dan Lumba-lumba

Empesut (Orcaella brevirostris) di Teluk Cowie, Sabah, Malaysia)

Nur Azeyanti Nor Hashim* & Saifullah A. Jaaman

Marine Mammal Research Unit, Borneo Marine Research Institute

Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Received: 19 January 2010 / Accepted: 21 March 2011

ABSTRACT

A series of boat surveys were conducted from April to September 2008. This work evaluated the effects of boats on Indo-Pacific Humpback and Irrawaddy dolphins. The types of boats, dolphins’ interactions towards various types of boat and vessel-dolphin distance under different intensities were measured. The absence of boats sailing in the bay was considered as control situation. There was a highly significant difference in the response of Indo-Pacific Humpback (x2 = 97.1, df = 8, p = 0.000) and Irrawaddy (x2 = 52.4, df = 8, p = 0.000) dolphins to different classes of boats. Analyses showed that positive behaviour was the most observed behaviour towards trawlers for both dolphin species. However, Indo-Pacific Humpback (H = 3.107, p = 0.540) and Irrawaddy (H = 4.208, p= 0.379) dolphins independently associated with negative behaviour while interacting with all boat classes. Irrawaddy dolphin tend to avoid boats using outboard <40 hp engine compared to Indo-Pacific Humpback dolphin (Z = -2.023, p = 0.043). In this study, these fast moving vessels often caused immediate stress and behaviour disruption on dolphin’s community especially on Irrawaddy dolphin. On the other hand, Indo-Pacific Humpback and Irrawaddy dolphins showed a high rate of neutral response towards trawlers. Even though there was no stress involved in slow moving vessels especially trawlers, there is still concern on how it will affect the animal’s feeding behaviour, as dolphins always show approaching behaviour during the presence of trawlers.

Keywords: Behaviour; Cowie Bay; marine mammals; Orcaella brevirostris; Sousa chinensis

ABSTRAK

Satu jaringan kajian tinjauan bot dijalankan dari April hingga September 2008. Kajian dijalankan untuk menentukan kesan bot ke atas tingkah laku lumba-lumba Putih dan Empesut. Jenis bot, interaksi lumba-lumba ke atas jenis-jenis bot dan jarak antara bot dan lumba-lumba dikenal pasti. Ketiadaan bot di kawasan kajian dikenal pasti sebagai situasi terkawal. Interaksi Lumba-lumba Putih (x2 = 97.1, df = 8, p = 0.000) dan Empesut (x2 = 52.4, df = 8, p = 0.000) ke atas jenis-jenis bot menunjukkan keputusan yang siknifikan. Analisis menunjukkan bahawa tingkah laku positif merupakan tingkah laku yang sering diperhatikan apabila kedua-dua spesis lumba-lumba berinteraksi dengan bot pukat tunda. Lumba-lumba Putih (H = 3.107, p = 0.540) dan Lumba-lumba Empesut (H = 4.208, p=0.379) tidak menunjukkan nilai yang siknifikan apabila berinteraksi dengan jenis-jenis bot. Lumba-lumba Empesut kebiasaannya cuba mengelak bot yang menggunakan enjin <40 hp jika dibandingkan dengan Lumba-lumba Putih (Z = -2.023, p = 0.043). Dalam kajian ini, telah dikenal pasti bahawa bot-bot yang bergerak laju menyebabkan tekanan kepada komuniti lumba-lumba terutama terhadap lumba-lumba Empesut. Di sebaliknya, lumba-lumba Putih dan lumba-lumba Empesut menunjukkan respon yang neutral terhadap bot-bot yang bergerak perlahan terutama bot pukat tunda, walau bagaimanapun, terdapat beberapa pihak yang prihatin atau mengambil berat terhadap tabiat pemakanan kerana lumba-lumba sentiasa tertarik dan menunjukkan respon yang positif terhadap bot pukat tunda.

Kata kunci: Mamalia marin; Orcaella brevirostris; tingkah laku; Sousa chinensis; Teluk Cowie

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*Corresponding author; email: commersonyanti@gmail.com