Dear colleagues, We are pleased to share that our paper "Dolphin Watching and Compliance to Guidelines Affect Spinner Dolphins’ (Stenella longirostris) Behaviour in Reunion Island" has been published in the *Animals *special issue *: Zoo and Wild Animals Welfare Assessments * https://www.mdpi.com/journal/animals/special_issues/Zoo_Wild_Animals_Welfare_Assessments
The paper is available in PDF format here: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/9/2674/pdf ABSTRACT: Marine wildlife tourism has rapidly developed in Reunion Island, due to a large demand for interactions with a resident population of spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris). The presence of dolphin-watching vessels close to dolphin groups can cause short-term impacts on their behaviour; cumulative incidences likely result in deleterious long-term impacts on the population. Using scan sampling, we collected behavioural data on spinner dolphins to evaluate the short term effects of dolphin watching on their behaviour. The dolphins were less likely to begin socialising or diving while travelling and more likely to stay travelling and milling in the presence of vessels. Additionally, activity budgets for resting and socialising decreased simultaneously with increased travelling and milling. Avoidance responses significantly increased with an increase in the number of vessels and non-compliance with the local dolphin-watching guidelines. These behavioural responses are likely to have energetic costs for the dolphins, which may lead to decreased survival and reproductive success at individual and population levels. More restrictive regulations, increased surveillance and animal-based measures are key tools to adapt the conservation efforts in Reunion Island. Further studies on the island’s resident dolphin populations are necessary to ensure the continuity of dolphin watching activities in a sustainable manner. Please feel free to reach out (belenquint...@cetdm-asso.org) with questions. Kind regards, Belén Quintana *Équipe Quiétude - Observation respectueuse des cétacés et tortues marines à La Réunion* https://cedtm-asso.org/quietude/ *>> Formez-vous à l'approche des cétacés sur omega.upilty.fr ! <https://omega.upility.fr>* *>> 100 Mesures pour dessiner l'avenir de l'activité d'observation des cétacés à La Réunion ? Découvrez, soutenez, participez ! <https://cedtm-asso.org/quietude/mesure/>* [image: CEDTM-quietude.png] *Centre d'Etude et de Découverte des Tortues Marines (CEDTM)* 19, Cité des Frangipaniers 97424 Piton Saint Leu, La Réunion Tel : (+262) 02 62 91 35 28
_______________________________________________ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
