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Huveneers C, Jaine FRA, Barnett A, Butcher PA, Clarke TM, Currey-Randall LM, Dwyer RG, Ferreira LC, Gleiss AC, Hoenner X, Ierodiaconou D, Lédée EJI, Meekan MG, Pederson H, Rizzari JR, van Ruth PD, Semmens JM, Taylor MD, Udyawer V, Walsh P, Heupel MR, Harcourt R. The power of national acoustic tracking networks to assess the impacts of human activity on marine organisms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Biol Conserv 2021; 256:108995. [PMID: 34580542 PMCID: PMC8457752 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2021.108995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 restrictions have led to an unprecedented global hiatus in anthropogenic activities, providing a unique opportunity to assess human impact on biological systems. Here, we describe how a national network of acoustic tracking receivers can be leveraged to assess the effects of human activity on animal movement and space use during such global disruptions. We outline variation in restrictions on human activity across Australian states and describe four mechanisms affecting human interactions with the marine environment: 1) reduction in economy and trade changing shipping traffic; 2) changes in export markets affecting commercial fisheries; 3) alterations in recreational activities; and 4) decline in tourism. We develop a roadmap for the analysis of acoustic tracking data across various scales using Australia's national Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) Animal Tracking Facility as a case study. We illustrate the benefit of sustained observing systems and monitoring programs by assessing how a 51-day break in white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) cage-diving tourism due to COVID-19 restrictions affected the behaviour and space use of two resident species. This cessation of tourism activities represents the longest break since cage-diving vessels started day trips in this area in 2007. Long-term monitoring of the local environment reveals that the activity space of yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) was reduced when cage-diving boats were absent compared to periods following standard tourism operations. However, white shark residency and movements were not affected. Our roadmap is globally applicable and will assist researchers in designing studies to assess how anthropogenic activities can impact animal movement and distributions during regional, short-term through to major, unexpected disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlie Huveneers
- Southern Shark Ecology Group, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Fabrice R A Jaine
- Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) Animal Tracking Facility, Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, NSW 2088, Australia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Adam Barnett
- College of Science & Engineering James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, 4878, Australia
| | - Paul A Butcher
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, National Marine Science Centre, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia
| | - Thomas M Clarke
- Southern Shark Ecology Group, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
| | | | - Ross G Dwyer
- Global Change Ecology Research Group, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Adrian C Gleiss
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Xavier Hoenner
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, CSIRO, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Daniel Ierodiaconou
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Warrnambool, VIC 3280, Australia
| | - Elodie J I Lédée
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Mark G Meekan
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | | | - Justin R Rizzari
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Queenscliff, VIC, 3225, Australia
| | - Paul D van Ruth
- South Australian Research and Development Institute - Aquatic Sciences, West Beach, SA 5024, Australia
| | - Jayson M Semmens
- Fisheries and Aquaculture Centre, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 49, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Matthew D Taylor
- Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Locked Bag 1, Nelson Bay, NSW 2315, Australia
| | - Vinay Udyawer
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Darwin, NT 0810, Australia
| | - Peter Walsh
- Fisheries and Aquaculture Centre, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 49, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Michelle R Heupel
- Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS), University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Robert Harcourt
- Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) Animal Tracking Facility, Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, NSW 2088, Australia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia
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Uribe-Palomino J, Pausina S, Gershwin LA. Two new species of Hydromedusae from Queensland, Australia (Hydrozoa, Leptothecata). Zookeys 2018:17-36. [PMID: 30275724 PMCID: PMC6160850 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.783.26862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 07/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Two new species of small hydromedusae were found during routine monitoring in coastal waters of eastern Australia and are here described. The first, Melicertissaantrichardsoni Uribe-Palomino & Gershwin, sp. n., from Moreton Bay, Queensland, is placed in its genus because of its possession of both cordyli and eight-fold symmetry. It differs from its congeners in two conspicuous features: firstly, having small, oval split gonads located adjacent to the base of the stomach, and secondly, in its extremely small size at maturity (2 mm bell diameter, compared to the next smallest species at 7 mm). Moreover, it possesses a unique combination of other characters. This species appears to be endemic to Moreton Bay. The second new species, Paraloveniayongalensis Gershwin & Uribe-Palomino, sp. n., from the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, is placed in its genus because of its two opposite normal tentacles and two opposite marginal clusters of cirri. It differs from its congeners primarily in a more rounded body than the others; the shape, length, and position of its short spindle-shaped, distal gonads; possession of subumbrellar nematocyst clusters; and possession of statocysts. These discoveries bring the total number of Melicertissa species to eight and the total number of Paralovenia species to three. The discovery of these two micromedusae underscores the need for further examination of the often-ignored minute and/or gelatinous fauna.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Uribe-Palomino
- CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere, Queensland Bioscience Precinct (80), 306 Carmody Road, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 4067 CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere Brisbane Australia
| | - Sarah Pausina
- CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere, Queensland Bioscience Precinct (80), 306 Carmody Road, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 4067 CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere Brisbane Australia.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia 4072 University of Queensland St. Lucia Australia
| | - Lisa-Ann Gershwin
- CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere, Castray Esplanade, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 7000 CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere Hobart Australia
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Norman BM, Whitty JM, Beatty SJ, Reynolds SD, Morgan DL. Do they stay or do they go? Acoustic monitoring of whale sharks at Ningaloo Marine Park, Western Australia. J Fish Biol 2017; 91:1713-1720. [PMID: 29023767 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 08/11/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Whale sharks Rhincodon typus were monitored via acoustic transmitters at the northern end of Western Australia's Ningaloo Marine Park to establish the extent to which the species inhabits the region beyond the whale-shark ecotourism industry season, which usually extends from March to August in each year. Despite the vast majority (c. 98%) of photographic submissions of R. typus from Ningaloo Reef being between March and August, acoustic detections from the tagged R. typus at Ningaloo were recorded in all months of the year, but do not preclude the occurrence of extended absences. It is concluded that as a species, R. typus occurs year round at Ningaloo, where it generally remains in close proximity to the reef edge, but that some individuals move outside of the detection range of the array for extended periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- B M Norman
- ECOCEAN Australia, Fremantle, WA, 6160, Australia
- Freshwater Fish Group & Fish Health Unit, Centre for Fish & Fisheries Research, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - J M Whitty
- Freshwater Fish Group & Fish Health Unit, Centre for Fish & Fisheries Research, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - S J Beatty
- Freshwater Fish Group & Fish Health Unit, Centre for Fish & Fisheries Research, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - S D Reynolds
- ECOCEAN Australia, Fremantle, WA, 6160, Australia
- Franklin Eco-Laboratory, The School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - D L Morgan
- Freshwater Fish Group & Fish Health Unit, Centre for Fish & Fisheries Research, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
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