MARINE MAMMALS IN THE WATERS. OF EAST COAST JOHOR. SAIFULLAH A.
JAAMAN, Ph.D. Associate Professor. FACULTY OF MARITIME STUDIES ...
SAIFULLAH A. JAAMAN, Ph.D Associate Professor FACULTY OF MARITIME STUDIES & MARINE SCIENCE UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA TERENGGANU Tel: 09-6683225 HP: 019-9835147 Email:
[email protected]
MARINE MAMMALS IN THE WATERS OF EAST COAST JOHOR
Outline INTRODUCTION MATERIALS & METHOD RESULTS DISCUSSION CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT REFERENCES
INTRODUCTION
In 19491949-1950, C. A. GibsonGibson-Hill published “two popular accounts of whales, porpoises and dolphins recorded from Malayan and Sarawak waters…in the hope of arousing local interest in the group, and so leading to further records”. Little has been achieved – esp. on the status of marine mammals (MM) in nearshore waters of Pen. Malaysia. Interest on MM has grown high in recent years, difficulty in getting funding remains one of the major limitations to conduct reseach in Malaysia (Jaaman Jaaman,, 2010). UMT--INOS HICoE Program – is focusing on the UMT population ecology research of MM (MES) in the South China Sea – Bay of Brunei & Pahang/Johor MPs.
Pen. Malaysia harbours 17 of the total 27 MM species confirmed in Malaysian waters (Ponnampalam, 2012). Around Tioman Island & East Coast Johor waters, 9 MM species have been recorded (Gibson-Hill, 1949; Mansor et al., 2000; Nadarajah, 2000; Affendi et al., 2007; Jamal-Hisne & Ponnampalam, 2011) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9.
Dugong (Dugong (Dugong dugon dugon)) Long--beaked spinner dolphin (Stenella Long (Stenella longirostris longirostris)) Long--beaked common dolphin (Delphinus Long (Delphinus capensis capensis)) Indo--Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops Indo (Tursiops aduncus aduncus)) Indo--Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa Indo (Sousa chinensis chinensis)) Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella (Orcaella brevirostris brevirostris)) False killer whale (Pseudorca (Pseudorca crassidens crassidens)) Pygmy killer whale (Feresa (Feresa attenuata attenuata)) Balaenoptera sp. (Omura’s (Omura’s whale? Bryde’s whale?)
UKM & DMPM East Coast Johor Scientific Expedition (ECJSE) 2012. Focused on the status of coral reef and water quality. Also, an opportunity to collect data on the diversity and distribution of MM in the area – UMT was invited, thanks thanks Though opportunistic in nature, the survey was important for adding on to the knowledge base of MM in Pen. Malaysia, which at present remains relatively small. The paucity of information makes it impossible to advocate conservation measures and may also lead to MM being left out of consideration during ERA and EIA in areas targeted for development or human activity.
Tioman Island & East Coast Johor waters – possibly a MM “hot“hot-spot” with high species diversity??
MATERIALS AND METHOD
East Coast Johor Scientific Expedition (ECJSE) 21--30 May 2012, onboard MV BLACK PEARL. 21 Coral reef and water quality survey. Marine mammal searches were conducted: Most upper openopen-deck, ≈ 3m height, 360o view. Daylight observation (naked eyes + FUJINON 7 x 50 mag binocular) and sea states Beaufort 00-3. Within 3 hrs after sunrise/before sunset. Vessel sailing (max 18km/h), stopping & anchored. Position/ Position/trackline trackline - GARMIN 60CSX. UMT Cetacean Sighting Form.
RESULTS
Survey Effort: Effort: 9 survey days (Beaufort < 3). Average distance per day = 32.0km (12.2 – 68.3km). Average time per day = 6.6hrs (4.6 – 8.6hrs). Average effort per day = 224.1km.hrs (56.1 – 587.4km.hrs). Num. of sightings = 2, average 0.2 sighting per day. Sighting rate = 0.1 per 100km.hrs. Num. of species = 1 – long long--beaked common dolphins (Delphinus (Delphinus capensis capensis). ).
Date
21/5/2012 22/5/2012 23/5/2012 24/5/2012 25/5/2012 25/5/2012 28/5/2012 29/5/2012 30/5/2012 TOTAL min avg max
Distance surveyed (km) 21.5 32.1 23.4 40.2 23.7 37.5 12.2 29.5 68.3 288.4 12.2 32.0 68.3
Time Survey effort surveyed (km.hrs) (hrs) 7.4 159.1 5.5 176.6 6.7 156.8 6.6 265.3 5.6 132.7 7.3 273.8 4.6 56.1 7.1 209.5 8.6 587.4 59.4 2017.2 4.6 56.1 6.6 224.1 8.6 587.4
Num. of sighting 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0.0 0.2 1.0
Sighting rate (per 100 km.hrs) 0.63 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.78 0.00 0.00 0.10
Long--beaked common dolphins Long (Delphinus capensis)
Slender body, narrow long beak and an hourglass pattern on the side – D. c. tropicalis Sighting 1: 1: 08:30am 21 May 2012 (Monday)
Location N2o 27.693’ E104o 29.302’ (Pulau (Pulau Aur – Lang). Observed using nakednaked-eyes < 5 minutes. Distance < 50m, 2 adults swimming fast in variable direction.
Sighting 2: 2: 09:15am 28 May 2012 (Monday)
Location N2o 19.039’ E104o 06.915’ (Pulau (Pulau Tinggi – Tg Tg.. Gua Hujan). Hujan ). Observed using binocular < 5 minutes. 1.5--2km to NE, 6 adults swimming fast in N direction. 1.5
Map of Study Area, with tracklines and dolphin sightings
Long-beaked common dolphin, D. capensis
Short-beaked common dolphin, D. delphins
Long-beaked common dolphin, D. capensis
DISCUSSION
LOW num. of sighting & rate (ECJSE (ECJSE 2012): Highly likely caused by the survey design. Dedicated pre--determined transect lines survey covering the pre whole area may yield a higher sighting rate? Also may be due to the environmental conditions (weather?) and ecological factors (prey/fish season?). season?). Sighting rate 0.1 per 100km.hrs ≈ cetacean survey in Tioman (Jamal (Jamal--Hisne & Ponnampalam Ponnampalam,, 2011). Relatively lower than cetacean surveys in the SCS of Sabah & Sarawak (Jaaman et al., 2008; Bali et al., 2010; Jaaman Jaaman,,
2010).
LOW species diversity (ECJSE (ECJSE 2012):
Known MM spp in East Coast Johor waters:
Species
Dugong dugon Stenella longirostris Delphinus capensis Tursiops aduncus Pseudorca crassidens Feresa attenuata Sousa chinensis Orcaella brevirostris Balaenoptera sp.
Tioman
1 1 1, 2 2
Sibu
Tinggi
Pemanggil Endau- Sources Mersing mainland
1, 2, 3
1, 2, 3
1, 2 1
2 2 2 1
B, C, D C A, E E E E E C E
1 – sighting, 2- stranding / skeletal remain, 3 – by-catch in fisheries A (Gibson-Hill, 1949), B (Mansor et al., 2000), C (Nadarajah, 2000), D (Affendi et al., 2007), E (Jamal-Hisne & Ponnampalam, 2011).
LOW species diversity (ECJSE (ECJSE 2012): In Tioman Tioman,, 92% of 43 tour boat operators, fishermen, and dive operators interviewed in 2010 – dolphins are quite common & have seen dolphins while they are out at sea (Jamal Jamal--Hisne & Ponnampalam Ponnampalam,, 2011). Recently, a group of actively swimming melonmelonheaded whales were recorded near Tioman – the 1st. record in the area (Dr Lee Jennie, pers. comm.). Dedicated MM surveys conducted during fishing season – may give a high MM sighting rate & may prove that the area is a MM “hot“hot-spot” with high species diversity?
CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION
Only longlong-beaked common dolphins were observed near Pulau Aur and Pulau Tinggi Tinggi.. Num. of sightings, sighting rate & cetacean diversity are low – highly likely caused by the survey design and may not represent the actual status. Dedicated and periodically boat and aerial surveys for marine mammals are needed in the East Coast Johor waters to determine species diversity. to understand the seasonality, habitat use, and social interactions of the marine mammal populations. Findings useful for marine park and fisheries authorities: to plan conservation management strategies. to promote marine mammal conservation through ecoecotourism activities.
Spinner dolphins in Sarawak
Acknowledgement
Department of Marine Park Malaysia, Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment (grant). School of Environmental & Natural Resource Sciences, UKM. Faculty of Maritime Studies & Marine Science, UMT. Master & crews of MV BLACK PEARL.
References
Bali, J., Jaaman Jaaman,, S. A., Ganyai Ganyai,, T., Tisen Tisen,, O. B. Meling Meling,, P. and Musel Musel,, J. 2010. An Offshore Boat Survey on Cetaceans in Sarawak, Malaysia. Paper presented in the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) 10th. Hornbill Workshop: Managing Ecosystem for Sustainability, Mega Hotel, Miri Miri,, 1515-17 December 2010. Gibson--Hill, C. A. 1949. The whales, porpoises and dolphins known in Malayan waters. The Gibson Malayan Nature Journal 4:44 :44--61. Jaaman,, S. A. 2010. MARINE MAMMALS IN EAST MALAYSIA: Distribution and Interactions Jaaman with Fisheries. Fisheries. VDM Verlag Dr. Muller Aktiengesellschaft & Co. KG., Saarbrucken, Germany. ISBN: 978978-3-639 639--22208 22208--1. 284 pages. Jaaman,, S. A., Bali, J., Lah Jaaman Lah--Anyi Anyi,, Y. U. and Pierce, G. J. 2008. Cetacean Distribution in the Waters of East Malaysia and Their Relationships With Environmental Factors. Paper presented in the 7th IOC IOC--WESTPAC International Scientific Symposium 2008, MOSTIMOSTI-UMS UMS--UNESCO, Magellan Sutera Harbour, Kota Kinabalu Kinabalu,, 2121-25 May 2008. 2008. 39pp. Jamal--Hisne Jamal Hisne,, F, I. and L. Ponnampalam Ponnampalam.. 2011. Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Program: Tioman Island Survey 2010. Final Report to Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) & University of Malaya (UM). Mansor,, M. L., A. Ahmad, M. R. M. Kushairi and H. Marsh. 2000. Dugongs in Peninsular Mansor Malaysia. Department of Fisheries Malaysia FRI Newsletter Vol. 5 No. 1: 1: p4p4-5. Nadarajah,, C. 2000. Breaking the Surface: A Study of Whales, Dolphins and Dugongs in Nadarajah Peninsular Malaysia. WWF Malaysia Report, April 2000. 116pp. Ponnampalam,, L. S. 2012. Opportunistic Observations on the Distribution of Cetaceans in the Ponnampalam Malaysian South China, Sulu and Sulawesi Seas and an Updated Checklist of Marine Mammals in Malaysia. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 60 60(1): (1): 221– 221–231.
