title: A framework for the assessment of the spatial and temporal patterns of threatened coastal delphinids.
abstract: The massively accelerated biodiversity loss rate in the Anthropocene calls for an efficient and effective way to identify the spatial and temporal dynamics of endangered species. To this end, we developed a useful identification framework based on a case study of locally endangered Sousa chinensis by combining both LEK (local ecological knowledge) evaluation and regional boat-based survey methods. Our study investigated the basic ecological information of Sousa chinensis in the estuaries of eastern Guangdong that had previously been neglected, which could guide the future study and conservation. Based on the statistical testing of reported spatial and temporal dolphins sighting data from fishermen and the ecological monitoring analyses, including sighting rate, site fidelity and residence time estimations, some of the current Sousa chinensis units are likely to be geographically isolated and critically endangered, which calls for much greater conservation efforts. Given the accelerated population extinction rate and increasing budgetary constraints, our survey pattern can be applied in a timely and economically acceptable manner to the spatial and temporal assessment of other threatened coastal delphinids, particularly when population distributions are on a large scale and traditional sampling methods are difficult to implement.
authors.affiliation: Marine Biology Institute, Shantou University, Guangdong 515063, China.|College of Ocean, Qinzhou University, Guangxi 535000, China.
authors.forename: Jingzhen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Marine Biology Institute, Shantou University, Guangdong 515063, China.
authors.forename: Yingting
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Marine Biology Institute, Shantou University, Guangdong 515063, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Marine Biology Institute, Shantou University, Guangdong 515063, China.
authors.forename: Yuelin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Marine Biology Institute, Shantou University, Guangdong 515063, China.
authors.forename: Lianjie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Marine Biology Institute, Shantou University, Guangdong 515063, China.
authors.forename: Derun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Tangtian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Marine Biology Institute, Shantou University, Guangdong 515063, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Marine Biology Institute, Shantou University, Guangdong 515063, China.
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Marine Biology Institute, Shantou University, Guangdong 515063, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Marine Biology Institute, Shantou University, Guangdong 515063, China.
authors.forename: Wenhua
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004289:Dolphins / Q000502:physiology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D056727:Endangered Species; D011157:Population Dynamics