|Scientific Name:||Sousa chinensis (Eastern Taiwan Strait subpopulation)|
|Species Authority:||(Osbeck, 1765)|
See Sousa chinensis
The Eastern Taiwan Strait (ETS) subpopulation of Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphins was only recently discovered (Wang et al. 2004a). Dolphins from this subpopulation have pigmentation that differs consistently from that of nearby subpopulations along the coast of mainland China (specifically those of western Taiwan Strait/Jiulong River Estuary (= Xiamen/Chinmen) and the Pearl River Estuary (=Hong Kong/Guangdong)) (Wang et al., in review, but also see Jefferson 2000, Jefferson and Hung 2004, Wang et al. 2007b).
|Red List Category & Criteria:||Critically Endangered C2a(ii) ver 3.1|
|Assessor(s):||Reeves, R.R., Dalebout, M.L., Jefferson, T.A., Karczmarski, L., Laidre, K., O’Corry-Crowe, G., Rojas-Bracho, L., Secchi, E.R., Slooten, E., Smith, B.D., Wang, J.Y. & Zhou, K.|
|Reviewer(s):||Brownell Jr., R.L. & Cooke, J. (Cetacean Red List Authority)|
The total population (all ages) was estimated at about 100 individuals in the mid-2000s and the extent of occurrence is only a small stretch of coastal waters off western Taiwan (estimated to be ca. 515 km2). Given the number of development projects that are underway or proposed, and the fact that only minimal or no conservation measures are in place to reduce the probable impacts of the various threats (e.g., bycatch in net fisheries, severe reduction of freshwater flow to estuaries, land reclamation), a continuing decline in the subpopulation is projected. Although there is no prospect of obtaining a long enough time series of data to show a decline over the last three generations (about 60 years; see Taylor et al. 2007), a decline almost certainly has occurred (at least since the beginning of Taiwan’s rapid industrialization about 30 years ago) and there is no reason to believe that the causes have stopped, or even slowed. Therefore, it is reasonable to project a continuing decline and this subpopulation meets criterion C2a(ii) for Critically Endangered (total of fewer than 250 mature individuals, projected continuing decline, and at least 90% of mature individuals in a single subpopulation). This subpopulation also may meet criterion D for CR because the total number of mature individuals may be close to (or fewer than) 50 (depending partly on the value used to estimate percent mature – 60% from Jefferson (2000) or 50% from Taylor et al. (2007)).
The primary range of this subpopulation consists of coastal western Taiwan from the estuaries of the Houlong and Jhonggang rivers (Miaoli County) in the north to Waishanding Zhou (a large sandbar off Chiayi County) in the south (see Figure 1 in the Supplementary Material). However, one sighting of about 20 dolphins has been confirmed from the inshore waters of Tainan County and a dolphin, almost certainly a “stray,” was observed at the mouth of Fugang Harbour (Taitung County) where adjacent waters are deep and oceanic (i.e., clearly not the preferred habitat of this species). All sightings have been within 3 km off shore with the exception of the mud flats/littoral zone in the Changhua County, the central part of the distribution, where extensive oyster mariculture structures and associated activities likely exclude dolphins physically (Wang et al. 2007b). The distribution is linear, i.e. similar to that of a riverine species. Most of the dolphins in this subpopulation have been sighted in and around the two main estuaries of western Taiwan (Dadu and Joushuei rivers of Taichung, Changhua and Yunlin counties) (Wang et al. 2007a, b).
Native:Taiwan, Province of China
|FAO Marine Fishing Areas:||
Pacific – northwest
|Range Map:||Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.|
The subpopulation was estimated to number 99 individuals (CV=51.6%) in the mid-2000s (Wang et al. 2007a). By analogy with the Pearl River Estuary subpopulation of S. chinensis, mature individuals constitute about 60% of this subpopulation (Jefferson 2000), or about 60. Using a default value of 50% percent for this species (Taylor et al. 2007), however, would suggest only about 50 mature individuals. Almost all individually recognizable dolphins were novel in 2002 but by 2004, most had been photographed in previous years (Wang et al. 2007a); the catalogue of recognizable dolphins numbered fewer than 30 at that time (J.Y. Wang pers. comm., December 2007).
|Current Population Trend:||Decreasing|
|Habitat and Ecology:||
The ETS dolphins appear to be year-round residents of the coastal waters of central western Taiwan where dedicated surveys have resulted in sightings from April to August (Wang et al. 2007a). Opportunistic sightings have been made in other months; as of December 2007, the only months with no confirmed sightings were January, February and March, when conditions and opportunities for observations are poor (J.Y. Wang pers. comm., 13 December 2007). In late winter and early spring, grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) fishermen report seeing humpback dolphins near their nets (trammel and gill nets that are commonly used as encircling nets as well). Recreational shore fishermen report that the dolphins are seen most commonly in the winter months in the Dadu River estuary. Although reports by fishermen need to be viewed skeptically because of the possibility of misidentification, other species of dolphins are generally not present in the near-shore waters of western Taiwan so the chances of confusion are relatively small in this instance (Wang et al. 2007b). All sightings have been in waters less than 25 m deep, most in less than 15 m and within 3 km of shore. The few measurements of sea surface temperatures at sightings have varied from about 24 to 30oC (Wang et al. 2007a).
Schools of dolphins often patrol parallel to the coastline just off the surf zone and large sandbars. Estuaries are likely where most of the foraging occurs. Feeding behind active trawlers (as in Hong Kong and Australia) has not been observed but dolphins move along the length of set trammel or gill nets, possibly searching for injured or net-entangled fish. In general, they appear to be indifferent towards boats (at least the research vessels that have been used to study them – a fishing boat and a large raft made of plastic tubing).
Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins appear to be opportunistic feeders. They take a wide variety of nearshore, estuarine, and reef fishes. They also eat cephalopods in some areas, although crustaceans appear to be rare in the diet (Jefferson and Karczmarski 2001, Ross 2002, Ross et al. 1994). Little is known about the specific feeding habits of the ETS subpopulation but these dolphins have been observed feeding on croakers (Sciaenidae), mullets (Mugilidae), threadfins (Polynemidae) and herring (Clupeidae) (Wang et al. 2007b).
This population is not known to be hunted presently but is likely to have been hunted at least opportunistically in the past. Entanglements of humpback dolphins in gillnets have been recorded in coastal waters of the
Habitat Degradation and Reduction
Reduction of freshwater flow and other kinds of degradation of estuaries and adjacent coastal waters (e.g. land reclamation) are almost certainly having an impact on this dolphin population, and there are continuing proposals for large-scale industrial development projects involving land reclamation (e.g., offshore wind farms, steel factory of the Formosa Plastic Group, Chinese Petroleum Company’s petrochemical factory within the animals’ restricted habitat) (Wang et al. 2004b, 2007b). Besides the physical removal of habitat, activities associated with land reclamation, such as pile-driving, can cause disturbance or even direct harm to the dolphins.
Pollution (industrial, agricultural and residential discharge with minimal to no treatment) poses a risk to humpback dolphins via the consumption of marine prey species (Clarke et al. 2000, Parsons 2004). Spills of oil and other toxic substances by commercial ships could be catastrophic for a population so small and limited in its distribution.
Parsons (1997) estimated that a humpback dolphin in
Sousa spp. are listed in Appendix I of CITES.
Efforts are being made to characterize this dolphin population and the threats it faces, and to integrate relevant information into
Clarke, S.C., Jackson, A.P. and Neff, J. 2000. Development of a risk assessment methodology for evaluating potential impacts associated with contaminated mud disposal in the marine environment. Chemosphere 41: 69-76.
IUCN. 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 5 October 2008).
Jefferson, T.A. 2000. Population biology of the Indo-Pacific Hump-backed Dolphin in Hong Kong waters. Wildlife Monographs 144: 1–65.
Jefferson, T.A. and Hung, S.K. 2004. A review of the status of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) in Chinese waters. Aquatic Mammals 30: 149-158.
Jefferson, T.A. and Karczmarski, L. 2001. Sousa chinensis. Mammalian Species (American Society of Mammalogists) 655: 9pp.
Parsons, E.C.M. 1997. Sewage pollution in Hong Kong: implications for the health and conservation of local cetaceans. Final report to Friends of the Earth, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.
Parsons, E.C.M. 2004. The potential impacts of pollution on humpback dolphins – with a case study on the Hong Kong population. Aquatic Mammals 30: 18–37.
Ross, G.J.B. 2002. Humpback dolphins Sousa chinensis, S. plumbea and S. teuszii. In: W.F. Perrin, B. Würsig and J.G.M. Thewissen (eds), Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals, pp. 585-589. Academic Press.
Ross, G.J.B., Heinsohn, G.E. and Cockcroft, V.G. 1994. Humpback Dolphins Sousa chinensis (Osbeck, 1765), Sousa plumbea (G. Cuvier, 1829) and Sousa teuszii (Kukenthal, 1892). In: S.H. Ridgway and R. Harrison (eds) Handbook of Marine Mammals. Volume 5: The First Book of Dolphins, pp. 23–42. Academic Press, London.
Taylor, B.L., Chivers, S.J., Larese, J. and Perrin, W. 2007. Generation Length and Percent Mature Estimates for IUCN Assessments of Cetaceans. Administrative report LJ-07-01 available from Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 8604 La Jolla Shores Dr., La Jolla, CA 92038, USA.
Wang, J.Y., Hung, S.K. and Yang, S.-C. 2004a. Records of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, Sousa chinensis (Osbeck, 1765), from the waters of western Taiwan. Aquatic Mammals 30: 189-196.
Wang, J.Y., Hung, S.K., Yang, S.C., Jefferson, T.A. and Secchi, E.R. Submitted. Population differences in the pigmentation of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, Sousa chinensis, in Chinese waters. Mammalia.
Wang, J.Y., Yang, S.-C. and Reeves, R.R. 2004b. Report of the first workshop on conservation and research needs of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, Sousa chinensis, in the waters of Taiwan. National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Checheng, Pingtung County, Taiwan. 25-27 February 2004, Wuchi, Taiwan. 43 pp (English) + 37 pp (Chinese).
Wang, J.Y., Yang, S.C. and Reeves, R.R. 2007b. Report of the Second International Workshop on Conservation and Research Needs of the Eastern Taiwan Strait Population of Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins, Sousa chinensis. 4-7 September 2007, Changhua City, Taiwan. National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Checheng, Pingtung County, Taiwan. 62 pp (English) + 54 pp (Chinese).
Wang, J.Y., Yang, S.C., Hung, S.K. and Jefferson, T.A. 2007a. Distribution, abundance and conservation status of the eastern Taiwan Strait population of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, Sousa chinensis. Mammalia 71: 157-165.
|Citation:||Reeves, R.R., Dalebout, M.L., Jefferson, T.A., Karczmarski, L., Laidre, K., O’Corry-Crowe, G., Rojas-Bracho, L., Secchi, E.R., Slooten, E., Smith, B.D., Wang, J.Y. & Zhou, K. 2008. Sousa chinensis (Eastern Taiwan Strait subpopulation). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T133710A3873928. . Downloaded on 29 May 2016.|
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