Dear Colleagues,
On behalf of by coauthors, I am pleased to share our recent publication:
Ellis GK, Weir J, Bräger S, Heinrich S (2024) Hector’s dolphin distribution at 
Kaikōura before and after a major earthquake. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 748:175-190. 
https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14690
Abstract:
Catastrophic natural events can have major impacts on marine ecosystems, but 
effects on mobile predators, such as cetaceans, remain poorly understood. This 
study investigated whether the coastal distribution patterns of Hector’s 
dolphins Cephalorhynchus hectori hectori off Kaikōura, New Zealand, changed 
after the powerful Kaikōura earthquake in November 2016. Dolphin sightings from 
boat-based surveys conducted before (2013–2016) and after (2016–2020) the 
earthquake were binned into 18 sectors of 4 km length each. The dolphins’ 
occurrence across sectors was then compared during pre- and post-earthquake 
periods using generalised linear models. Areas of high and low occurrence 
probability were temporally stable for Hector’s dolphins from before to 1.5 yr 
post-quake. Historic sighting data (from the 1990s) matched with the observed 
high-occurrence areas, indicating decadal stability in distribution patterns. 
An increase in dolphin occurrence was noted in the final 2–4 yr post-quake 
period across most nearshore sectors. This was particularly noticeable in the 
historically low-use areas along the narrow shelf at the head of the deep 
Kaikōura Canyon. This observation could indicate increased population 
connectivity between dolphins using the northern and southern sections of the 
Kaikōura Peninsula. The dolphins’ occurrence patterns pre-quake at the sector 
level were broadly explained by water depth, distance to rivers, sea surface 
temperature and chlorophyll when explored with generalised additive models. We 
discuss scenarios that may explain the species’ persistent distribution 
patterns during natural perturbation events as well as synergies with other 
conservation measures.
Available at Inter Research » MEPS » v748 » 
p175-190<https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v748/p175-190/>
Please get in touch to request a copy of the manuscript, or with any queries
Kind Regards

-----------

Grant Ellis

PhD Student | Research Assistant

Sea Mammal Research Unit



Scottish Oceans Institute, East Sands
St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB



g...@st-andrews.ac.uk<mailto:g...@st-andrews.ac.uk>
www.smru.st-andrews.ac.uk<http://www.smru.st-andrews.ac.uk/>



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[cid:9965926f-0a07-40ca-af92-54b77fcc8fdb]



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