Habitat integrity and conservation ecology of a coastal delphinid: The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin in anthropogenically degraded environments
Grant Data
Project Title
Habitat integrity and conservation ecology of a coastal delphinid: The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin in anthropogenically degraded environments
Principal Investigator
Dr Karczmarski, Leszek
(Principal Investigator (PI))
Co-Investigator(s)
Dr Huang Shiang-Lin
(Co-Investigator)
Duration
36
Start Date
2015-08-03
Amount
976759
Conference Title
Habitat integrity and conservation ecology of a coastal delphinid: The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin in anthropogenically degraded environments
Presentation Title
Keywords
Coastal cetaceans, Conservation ecology, Habitat integrity, Landsat satellite images, Sousa chinensis
Discipline
Ecology
Panel
Biology and Medicine (M)
HKU Project Code
17100015
Grant Type
General Research Fund (GRF)
Funding Year
2015
Status
Completed
Objectives
1 Extent of Habitat Destruction -- With the use of long-term Landsat satellite data, determine the extent of degradation of subaqueous features and loss of dolphin preferred habitat due to land reclamation and coast modification, measured by Habitat Integrity Index (HII) derived from habitat loss percentage, in Hong Kong, Pearl River Delta and off Taiwan west coast in the past four decades. 2 Habitat Integrity Degradation vs. Dolphin Distribution -- Quantify, model and compare standardized sighing records (historic, recent, and current) of humpback dolphins relative to the extent of habitat loss as measured by the Habitat Integrity Index. 3 Conservation Models -- Quantify spatiotemporal changes of habitat integrity under anthropogenic pressure of coastal development and model spatio-behavioural pattern of habitat use of humpback dolphins in Hong Kong and Pearl River Estuary as empirical tool for the formulation of habitat conservation and management strategies for Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in a complex coastal ecosystem.