Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiyang Zhang, Dingyu Luo, Ri-Qing Yu, Zhenhui Xie, Lei He, Yuping Wu
Summary: The study revealed microplastic pollution in Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, with polypropylene and polyethylene fibers as the main components, mainly in white or transparent colors. Dolphins from urban areas showed higher microplastic abundances compared to those from rural areas, indicating the significant influence of human activities on microplastic accumulation in the Pearl River Estuary. The identification of different microplastic polymers suggested complex source scenarios, highlighting the need for further research on the potential impacts of microplastics on endangered species.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mingming Liu, Mingli Lin, David Lusseau, Songhai Li
Summary: Research in the eastern waters of Zhanjiang, China, shows that group size of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins varies with different seasons and years, but not with tidal phases. The presence of mother-calf pairs significantly increases group size, providing more protection, food, and resources for the dolphins.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Qiang Xie, Ronglan Yu, Duan Gui, Yuping Wu
Summary: This study analyzed PBDE bioaccumulation patterns in Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin samples from the Pearl River Estuary. The results showed that PBDE levels in these samples were the highest to date, with adult males and calves having the highest levels. The study also found a positive relationship between PBDE concentrations in calves and annual calf stranding death rates, suggesting that maternal exposure to PBDEs may contribute to the high death rates in calves.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Xiaoling Wan, Jia Li, Zhaolong Cheng, Mengxue Ao, Renmao Tian, Richard William Mclaughlin, Jinsong Zheng, Ding Wang
Summary: The study analyzed the intestinal bacteria of an Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin and found that the microbiome was dominated by Firmicutes. Additionally, potential pathogenic species were identified in the dolphin intestinal bacteria, which could pose risks to both humans and dolphins. The findings suggest new insights into cetacean conservation through microbial surveillance.
INTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mingming Liu, Mingli Lin, Xiaoming Tang, Lijun Dong, Peijun Zhang, David Lusseau, Songhai Li
Summary: Observer-based counts and photo-identification are common methods in cetacean studies, but potential errors exist in group size estimation. This study found that dolphin group size varied greatly, influenced by different geographic regions and a complex combination of methodological and biogeographical variables.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xian Sun, Lang Guo, Dingyu Luo, Ri-Qing Yu, Xinjian Yu, Yuqin Liang, Zhiwei Liu, Yuping Wu
Summary: Due to increased anthropogenic threats, the population size of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in the Pearl River Estuary has significantly decreased. Vessel collision, net entanglement, and pollutant bioaccumulation were identified as the major causes of dolphin mortality in the area.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiyang Zhang, Ronglan Yu, Yanqing Xie, Ri-Qing Yu, Yuping Wu
Summary: The study found that Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in the northern South China Sea have the highest levels of hepatic triphenyltin, with liver accumulating the highest OT concentrations compared to other tissues. Despite a decrease in butyltin levels, phenyltin levels have continued to rise over the past 20 years. The results highlight the lipid-disrupting effects of current OT exposure in humpback dolphins and emphasize the need for further efforts to eliminate contamination.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiyang Zhang, Fengping Zhan, Ri-Qing Yu, Xian Sun, Yuping Wu
Summary: The study focused on the placental transfer and congener composition of organic contaminants in Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins. The results indicated significant differences in the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners among different tissues, as well as variations in contaminant concentrations in different organs within the same individual.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Yun Ho, Pei-Ying Wu, Lien-Siang Chou, Wei-Cheng Yang
Summary: The population of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) in western Taiwan is designated as a subspecies and listed as Critically Endangered. Accurate identification and classification of human-induced injuries and skin lesions are crucial for the management of this declining population. The prevalence of skin marks is high and indicates the need for radical conservation measures.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiao-yan Wang, Ying Jiang, Zong-wei Liu, Chun-mei Yang, Bing-yao Chen, Lian-gang Lu
Summary: This study recorded underwater vocalizations of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins during foraging activities in the Beibu Gulf and identified three types of pulsed signal trains: clicks, burst-pulses, and buzzes. Buzzes and burst-pulses, previously unidentified in this species in China, were detected for the first time. The variations in inter-pulse interval and duration of the three vocalization types were found to be related to surface behaviors.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yongwei Guo, Duan Gui, Xiyang Zhang, Wen Liu, Qiang Xie, Xinjian Yu, Yuping Wu
Summary: The study found that Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in the Pearl River Estuary showed physiological responses to contaminant exposure and changes in food resources. For calves, cortisol levels were positively correlated with body length and annual calf mortality ratios, indicating high stress levels before death in years of high calf mortality. Diseased noncalves had significantly higher blubber cortisol levels, and there was a positive relationship between contaminant levels and cortisol levels in noncalves.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Yufei Dai, Watchara Sakornwimon, Rachawadee Chantra, Liyuan Zhao, Fuxing Wu, Reyilamu Aierken, Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong, Xianyan Wang
Summary: By analyzing the genetic samples of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, we found a strong genetic structure among populations, which may be attributed to factors such as geographic distance, environmental variables, anthropogenic interference, and social behavior.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chi-hung Lin, Hsing-Juh Lin, Jian-Ping Suen, Lien-Siang Chou
Summary: The study reveals that environmental factors such as watershed rainfall, runoff, and estuarine turbidity can significantly impact the sighting rate and behavioral activities of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Agathe Serres, Wenzhi Lin, Binshuai Liu, Mingli Lin, Mingming Liu, Songhai Li
Summary: Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins along the northern South China Sea coastline in China are affected by intense human activities. A study analyzing photographs from 2010 to 2021 in five locations found that 10.6% of the dolphins had human-induced injuries. Adults were more frequently injured, and the highest injury prevalence was observed in Jiangmen, Hainan, and Sanniang Bay. Further research is needed in less-studied areas like Jiangmen and Hainan, and dolphin watching activities in Sanniang Bay should be monitored and regulated. Additionally, 47% of dolphins had skin conditions, with orange patches being the most common (41.5%). The prevalence of orange patches and hyper-pigmented pink spots differed significantly between seasons and demographic groups. These findings provide insights into the potential impacts of human activities on Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins and should guide conservation efforts.
MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Acoustics
Zhongchang Song, Chuang Zhang, Weijie Fu, Zhanyuan Gao, Wenzhan Ou, Jinhu Zhang, Yu Zhang
Summary: Research has found that odontocetes have evolved special acoustic structures in the forehead to modulate echolocation and communication signals into directional beams, facilitating feeding and social behaviors. In addition, the presence of harmonics can enhance the directivity of the fundamental frequency.
JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhi-Tao Wang, Whitlow W. L. Au, Luke Rendell, Ke-Xiong Wang, Hai-Ping Wu, Yu-Ping Wu, Jian-Chang Liu, Guo-Qin Duan, Han-Jiang Cao, Ding Wang
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhi-Tao Wang, Douglas P. Nowacek, Tomonari Akamatsu, Ke-Xiong Wang, Jian-Chang Liu, Guo-Qin Duan, Han-Jiang Cao, Ding Wang
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Satoko Kimura, Tomonari Akamatsu, Liang Fang, Zhitao Wang, Kexiong Wang, Ding Wang, Ken Yoda
JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
(2016)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhi-Tao Wang, Tomonari Akamatsu, Douglas P. Nowacek, Jing Yuan, Lu Zhou, Pei-Yu Lei, Jiao Li, Peng-Xiang Duan, Ke-Xiong Wang, Ding Wang
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2019)
Article
Zoology
Vladimir V. Popov, Zhi-Tao Wang, Dmitry Nechaev, Ding Wang, Alexander Ya Supin, Ke-Xiong Wang
Summary: In this study, the effects of long-lasting sound stimuli on auditory evoked potentials in Yangtze finless porpoises were investigated. It was found that the porpoises are capable of quickly adjusting their sensitivity to different auditory scenes, allowing for rapid sensitivity recovery after exposure to loud noises, which is crucial for effective auditory orientation.
BIOACOUSTICS-THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SOUND AND ITS RECORDING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhi-Tao Wang, Tomonari Akamatsu, Peng-Xiang Duan, Lu Zhou, Jing Yuan, Jiao Li, Pei-Yu Lei, Yu-Wei Chen, Yi-Ning Yang, Ke-Xiong Wang, Ding Wang
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2020)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Zhi-Tao Wang, Jiao Li, Peng-Xiang Duan, Zhi-Gang Mei, Fu-Qiang Niu, Tomonari Akamatsu, Pei-Yu Lei, Lu Zhou, Jing Yuan, Yu-Wei Chen, Alexander Ya Supin, Ding Wang, Ke-Xiong Wang
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY A-NEUROETHOLOGY SENSORY NEURAL AND BEHAVIORAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Zhi-Tao Wang, Peng-Xiang Duan, Tomonari Akamatsu, Ke-Xiong Wang, Ding Wang
MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lu Zhou, Xu Chen, Peng-Xiang Duan, Ding Wang, Zhi-Tao Wang, Ke-Xiong Wang
Summary: The study found that the biosonar activity of Yangtze finless porpoises was stronger in non-shipping channels compared to shipping channels, while noise levels were higher in shipping channels. In non-shipping channels, porpoise feeding activity indicators, buzz numbers and buzz ratios, were higher at night, while noise levels were higher during the day. These findings may be associated with the noise avoidance strategies of porpoises in response to busy shipping on the Yangtze River.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Jing YUAN, Zhitao WANG, Pengxiang DUAN, Yousheng XIAO, Hongke ZHANG, Zhixiong HUANG, Ruichun ZHOU, Hua WEN, Kexiong WANG, Ding WANG
Summary: The study investigated the geographic variations in dolphin whistles of different populations, revealing significant acoustic differences among populations and tonal types. The frequency parameters in Sanniang Bay were significantly higher than those in the Pearl River Estuary and Leizhou Bei. There was a smaller difference between Pearl River Estuary and Leizhou Bei compared to the difference between these populations and Sanniang Bay. The recent recordings showed a consistent pattern of increasing whistle frequency parameters in both Leizhou Bei and Sanniang Bay populations, possibly due to rising noise pollution.
INTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhi-Tao Wang, Peng-Xiang Duan, Tomonari Akamatsu, Yu-Wei Chen, Xue An, Jing Yuan, Pei-Yu Lei, Jiao Li, Lu Zhou, Ming-Chao Liu, Yi-Ning Yang, Fei Fan, Ke-Xiong Wang, Ding Wang
Summary: The Yangtze River exhibits high levels of underwater noise pollution, exceeding thresholds for cetacean responsiveness and temporary threshold shift. Fish with physostomous swim bladders and Weberian ossicles are more significantly affected by noise pollution, although reductions in noise levels have been observed in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. The ongoing construction of green shipping in the Yangtze River Economic Belt may contribute to alleviating underwater noise pollution, but further noise mitigation efforts are needed to protect local porpoises and fish.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhi-Tao Wang, Alexander Ya Supin, Tomonari Akamatsu, Peng-Xiang Duan, Yi-Ning Yang, Ke-Xiong Wang, Ding Wang
Summary: Highly concentrated live mass stranding events of dolphins and whales occurred in the eastern coast of China between June and October 2021. A study using non-invasive auditory evoked-potential technique found that a stranded melon headed whale showed significantly higher hearing thresholds compared to its phylogenetically closest species, likely due to severe hearing loss caused by anthropogenic sonar or chronic shipping noise exposures. This hearing loss could have contributed to the observed clustered stranding events, highlighting the need for noise mitigation strategies for marine mammals in China's coastal areas.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Zhi-Tao Wang, Peng-Xiang Duan, Mo Chen, Zhi-Gang Mei, Xiao-Dong Sun, Zhi-Wen Nong, Mei-Han Liu, Tomonari Akamatsu, Ke-Xiong Wang, Ding Wang
Summary: This study recorded the vocalizations of Bryde's whales in the Beibu Gulf, China, and found repetitive and diversified calls. Repetitive calls may serve as contact calls between whales, while diversified calls are likely associated with acoustic exchanges among conspecifics. The frequency band of Bryde's whale vocalizations overlapped significantly with background noise.
MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Letter
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhi-Tao Wang, Peng-Xiang Duan, Ke-Xiong Wang, Ding Wang
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xue An, Pengxiang Duan, Weilun Li, Jing Yuan, Yuwei Chen, Fei Fan, Xiaojun Deng, Yousheng Xiao, Xi Chen, Ding Wang, Zhitao Wang, Kexiong Wang
Summary: The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge has caused underwater noise pollution in the Pearl River Estuary, affecting the distribution of local humpback dolphins. A year-long study using passive acoustic monitoring found that dolphin biosonar signals were detected on 88.5% of days. There was a significant temporal pattern in dolphin biosonar activity and in anthropogenic noise, with higher activity at night and more noise during the day. The study also revealed seasonal and tidal variations in dolphin activity and noise levels.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)