Underwater Eavesdropping: Burrunan dolphins of Corio Bay
Generously supported by GeelongPort, the Marine Mammal Foundation’s “Underwater Eavesdropping: Burrunan Dolphins of Corio Bay” project aims to develop a deeper understanding of the presence, or otherwise, of the Burrunan dolphins in Corio Bay, and support an appealing and healthy Corio Bay environment through targeted marine research!
Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Australia, is one of few locations in which the newly described and Critically Endangered Burrunan dolphin (Tursiops australis) has an established, but isolated and genetically distinct resident populations. Limited boat-based surveys conducted in Corio Bay, coupled with citizen science reports, indicate this region is also significant to the Burrunan dolphin, however we have limited information on their regular presence in the area, much less their behaviours whilst utilising this habitat.
The Marine Mammal Foundation is all about conducting applied research with real conservation outcomes. We use many different tools to assess the endangered Burrunan dolphins (Tursiops australis), including dolphin acoustic repertoire and marine soundscape assessment.
Outcomes from this project could help conserve a small and threatened population that are subject to increasing anthropogenic disturbance. This project will aid in the generation of information necessary for species acoustic identification, identify Burrunan dolphin presence in Corio Bay and identify areas of high biological importance. The results can inform state and national conservation management directives.
Special thanks to our partner, GeelongPort!
“GeelongPort is proud to partner with Marine Mammal Foundation to learn more about the species of local critically endangered Burrunan dolphins that call Corio Bay home. The program that records the vocals of marine mammals via a non-invasive method, will collect information that is critical to the Burrunan dolphin existence. The work MMF is doing enhances conservation, protection and greater community awareness of mammals and will not only help us better understand the life and movements of the dolphins, but also help create a safer environment for all creatures – great and small – that use Corio Bay.'“
GeelongPort has been an integral part of the economic and social fabric of Geelong for 150 years and is committed to supporting the local community. Learn more about our new partnership here!
The Marine Mammal Foundation is incredibly proud of our recent partnership with GeelongPort in using PAM to study the critically endangered Burrunan dolphin population found in Corio Bay. Click below to hear MMF’s Dr Kate discuss the discovery of the Burrunan dolphin, the impacts of underwater noise, and the Corio Bay Dolphin Project with ABC Radio!
how will we conduct this research?
Dolphins rely heavily on sound production to navigate, locate prey and communicate. As social animals, being able to recognise familiar individuals and maintain group cohesion is essential for their survival, depending largely on their ability to communicate with each other. Compounding this, the marine environment is under increasing threat from natural and anthropogenic disturbances. It is critical to develop an understanding of the marine environment to correctly measure and manage the degree of disturbance.
The Marine Mammal Foundation (MMF) uses many different tools to assess the Burrunan dolphin populations, including behavioural focal follows, individual dolphin identification, geospatial mapping, and MMF’s most recently adopted research technique, Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM). PAM allows us to continuously monitor the underwater world and eavesdrop on our amazing marine mammals, including the critically endangered Burrunan dolphin. PAM is an effective, lower-cost, non-invasive technique that efficiently collects long-term data, enabling the detection of environmental change over time in the marine soundscape, that is, the chorus of sounds present in the marine environment. MMF’s PAM method for detecting dolphin presence and marine soundscape assessment has been trialled via deploying ‘SoundTrap’ autonomous recorders in strategic locations throughout Port Phillip and the Gippsland Lakes.
SoundTraps are underwater microphones on a self-timer, recording 5 mins in every 20 mins, 24 hours a day, for months at a time. Excitingly, marine soundscape data can be also recorded when fieldwork is not permissible, including during the night, thus bridging the gap in knowledge of dolphin activities between evening and morning. It is incredibly exciting to hear for the first time how the Burrunan dolphins are using different areas on a 24-hour basis, and enables a greater understanding of Burrunan movement patterns, as well as highlight areas of high biological importance.
The Marine Mammal Foundation is incredibly proud of our recent partnership with GeelongPort in using PAM to study the critically endangered Burrunan dolphin population found in Corio Bay. MMF’s Matt spoke with Nine News about why this study is so important, and about how our findings will help us better protect and conserve this critically endangered species.
If you would like to help us get on the water and continue to conduct our research, consider a donation! As a small not-for-profit organisation, every little bit goes a long way.