Linking Use of Ship Channels by West Indian Manatees (Trichechus manatus) to Seasonal Migration and Habitat Use
Research on marine mammal occurrence in ship channels often focuses on large cetaceans in offshore shipping routes, while nearshore research largely addresses small vessel strikes. Marine mammals, such as the West Indian manatee, that reside in or migrate through nearshore areas, have potential to t...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2019-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2019.00318/full |
| _version_ | 1828527036099985408 |
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| author | Carl S. Cloyed Elizabeth E. Hieb Merri K. Collins Kayla P. DaCosta Kayla P. DaCosta Ruth H. Carmichael Ruth H. Carmichael |
| author_facet | Carl S. Cloyed Elizabeth E. Hieb Merri K. Collins Kayla P. DaCosta Kayla P. DaCosta Ruth H. Carmichael Ruth H. Carmichael |
| author_sort | Carl S. Cloyed |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Research on marine mammal occurrence in ship channels often focuses on large cetaceans in offshore shipping routes, while nearshore research largely addresses small vessel strikes. Marine mammals, such as the West Indian manatee, that reside in or migrate through nearshore areas, have potential to travel through a wide range of channel types, encountering a greater diversity of vessels than previously recognized. We tested the extent and conditions of ship channel use by manatees along the north-central Gulf of Mexico (nGoM) coast by combining data from telemetry-tracked individuals, opportunistic citizen-sourced sightings, and environmental attributes linked to manatee movements. Manatees used both nearshore boat channels (130 and 300 m wide) and open water fairways but used nearshore channels much more frequently, consistent with habitat requirements. Satellite-tracked individuals swam faster and moved more directly in all channel types, indicating use of these channels as migratory and travel corridors. Accordingly, generalized additive models revealed that manatees used channels most often during spring/early summer and fall and at temperatures coincidental with entry to and exit from the nGoM during migration. Manatees also occurred in ship channels when freshwater discharges were low, likely because timing of peak manatee occurrence in the nGoM coincides with seasonally low discharge periods. Expanding shipping activity world-wide is likely to increase interactions between marine mammals and a variety of vessel types, and these effects may be particularly impactful to migratory animals like manatees that use nearshore habitats at the interface of recreational boating and commercial shipping. Linking near- and offshore ship channel use to migration and habitat use will better aid risk-assessment for vessel collision and other shipping related activities for migratory marine species globally. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T21:33:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ba65e9d66c3d44ca805028336172548a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T21:33:26Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-ba65e9d66c3d44ca805028336172548a2022-12-22T00:50:05ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452019-06-01610.3389/fmars.2019.00318455071Linking Use of Ship Channels by West Indian Manatees (Trichechus manatus) to Seasonal Migration and Habitat UseCarl S. Cloyed0Elizabeth E. Hieb1Merri K. Collins2Kayla P. DaCosta3Kayla P. DaCosta4Ruth H. Carmichael5Ruth H. Carmichael6Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, AL, United StatesDauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, AL, United StatesDauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, AL, United StatesDauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, AL, United StatesDepartment of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, United StatesDauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, AL, United StatesDepartment of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, United StatesResearch on marine mammal occurrence in ship channels often focuses on large cetaceans in offshore shipping routes, while nearshore research largely addresses small vessel strikes. Marine mammals, such as the West Indian manatee, that reside in or migrate through nearshore areas, have potential to travel through a wide range of channel types, encountering a greater diversity of vessels than previously recognized. We tested the extent and conditions of ship channel use by manatees along the north-central Gulf of Mexico (nGoM) coast by combining data from telemetry-tracked individuals, opportunistic citizen-sourced sightings, and environmental attributes linked to manatee movements. Manatees used both nearshore boat channels (130 and 300 m wide) and open water fairways but used nearshore channels much more frequently, consistent with habitat requirements. Satellite-tracked individuals swam faster and moved more directly in all channel types, indicating use of these channels as migratory and travel corridors. Accordingly, generalized additive models revealed that manatees used channels most often during spring/early summer and fall and at temperatures coincidental with entry to and exit from the nGoM during migration. Manatees also occurred in ship channels when freshwater discharges were low, likely because timing of peak manatee occurrence in the nGoM coincides with seasonally low discharge periods. Expanding shipping activity world-wide is likely to increase interactions between marine mammals and a variety of vessel types, and these effects may be particularly impactful to migratory animals like manatees that use nearshore habitats at the interface of recreational boating and commercial shipping. Linking near- and offshore ship channel use to migration and habitat use will better aid risk-assessment for vessel collision and other shipping related activities for migratory marine species globally.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2019.00318/fullmovement ecologycitizen sciencegeneralized additive modelssatellite telemetrynorthern Gulf of Mexicofairway |
| spellingShingle | Carl S. Cloyed Elizabeth E. Hieb Merri K. Collins Kayla P. DaCosta Kayla P. DaCosta Ruth H. Carmichael Ruth H. Carmichael Linking Use of Ship Channels by West Indian Manatees (Trichechus manatus) to Seasonal Migration and Habitat Use Frontiers in Marine Science movement ecology citizen science generalized additive models satellite telemetry northern Gulf of Mexico fairway |
| title | Linking Use of Ship Channels by West Indian Manatees (Trichechus manatus) to Seasonal Migration and Habitat Use |
| title_full | Linking Use of Ship Channels by West Indian Manatees (Trichechus manatus) to Seasonal Migration and Habitat Use |
| title_fullStr | Linking Use of Ship Channels by West Indian Manatees (Trichechus manatus) to Seasonal Migration and Habitat Use |
| title_full_unstemmed | Linking Use of Ship Channels by West Indian Manatees (Trichechus manatus) to Seasonal Migration and Habitat Use |
| title_short | Linking Use of Ship Channels by West Indian Manatees (Trichechus manatus) to Seasonal Migration and Habitat Use |
| title_sort | linking use of ship channels by west indian manatees trichechus manatus to seasonal migration and habitat use |
| topic | movement ecology citizen science generalized additive models satellite telemetry northern Gulf of Mexico fairway |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2019.00318/full |
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