Anthropogenic impacts on the population dynamics of a critically endangered marine mammal

Economic development often has dire consequences for wildlife and environmental conservation. In Taiwan coastal waters, a small dolphin population is being affected by large-scale habitat loss and degradation resulting from development projects, pollution, vessel traffic and a massive fishing industry. The research aims to identify the threats having the greatest impacts on different aspects of the population ecology and demographics of these long-lived mammals, both temporally and spatially, and to better understand how these animals may be affected by different scales of human activities. The research will then be applied in developing a conservation recovery plan for the species, which can used to help sustain the Taiwanese dolphin population and be applied in Canadian waters to help save endangered species with similar traits.

Faculty Supervisor:

Simon Bonner

Student:

Claryana Costa Araújo

Partner:

Ocean Wise

Discipline:

Biology

Sector:

Life sciences

University:

Western University