Skip to main content
WCS
Menu
Library
Library Catalog
eJournals & eBooks
WCS Research
Archives
Research Use
Finding Aids
Digital Collections
WCS History
WCS Research
Research Publications
Science Data
Services for WCS Researchers
Archives Shop
Bronx Zoo
Department of Tropical Research
Browse By Product
About Us
FAQs
Intern or Volunteer
Staff
Donate
Search WCS.org
Search
search
Popular Search Terms
WCS History
Library and Archives
Library and Archives Menu
Library
Archives
WCS Research
Archives Shop
About Us
Donate
en
fr
Title
Cetacean distribution in the coastal waters of the Sultanate of Oman
Author(s)
Minton, G.;Collins, T.;Findlay, K.;Baldwin, R.
Published
2010
Publisher
Journal of Cetacean Research and Management
Abstract
Small boat surveys were conducted between 2000 and 2003 in three main regions of Oman's coastal waters: Muscat, the Gulf of Masirah and Dhofar. Survey data were analysed to calculate relative abundances of the seven most frequently encountered species in these areas. These include (in order of frequency) bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.), long-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus capensis), humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris), Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis), Bryde's whales (Balaenoptera sp.) and Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus). Other species observed include false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens), blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus), rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) and unidentified beaked whales. Encounterrates per distance searched were plotted by 0.1 × 0.1 degree grid cell, giving an indication of relative abundances and key areas of habitat used by each of the seven most frequently encountered species. These plots demonstrate that the nearshore areas of the Gulf of Masirah, as well as the coastal waters of Dhofar, are areas of concentration for the Arabian Sea's recently designated Endangered subpopulation of humpback whales, as wellas Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, which are considered Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.1 The results presented here provide valuable baseline data for future research and help to inform conservation management efforts that are required to address the highly vulnerable status of the humpback whale and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin populations in question.
Keywords
Arabian sea;Blue whale;Bottlenose dolphin;Bryde'S whale;Common dolphin;Distribution;Gulf Of oman;Habitat;Humpback whale;Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin;Risso'S dolphin;Rough-Toothed dolphin;Sperm whale;Spinner dolphin
Access Full Text
A full-text copy of this article may be available. Please email the
WCS Library
to request.
Back
PUB14355