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Saudi Arabia blockades Yemeni ports as expats try to flee.

Saudi Arabia blockades Yemeni ports as expats try to flee.

Coral reefs are the most diverse of all marine systems. They are however, threatened by global change and we can only predict how it will impact these reef systems if we first understand how they work.

Coral reefs are the most diverse of all marine systems. They are however, threatened by global change and we can only predict how it will impact these reef systems if we first understand how they work.

A SEVEN-year-long research project has revealed most tagged white sharks off WA tend to cruise up and down the coast while only some of them venture c...

A SEVEN-year-long research project has revealed most tagged white sharks off WA tend to cruise up and down the coast while only some of them venture c...

Le continent de plastique existe-t-il vraiment ?

Eight countries come together to protect Bay of Bengal.

El Niño in the Pacific has an impact on dolphins over in Western Australia.

Bitten by a great white shark: survivors on their near-death experience.

Cottesloe set to get world-first electromagnetic shark cable.

Superpods of 600 dolphins are gathering off the coast of South Africa.

Ancient Aboriginal stories preserve history of a rise in sea level.

Australia's Other Great (and Threatened) Coral Reefs.

Constance Halaveli Preserving the Pristine Environment of the Maldives.

Shark Attacks in WA Inspired Surfing Scientists

Giant octopus suffocates foolhardy dolphin that tried to eat it.

Australian bodyboarder survives bump from shark.

Assessments of species distributions are crucial for informing conservation and management action. In this study, we used ensemble modelling to explain the distribution of Near Threatened Indo-Pacific (IP) bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in coastal waters at the North West Cape (NWC), Western Australia (WA), an area encompassing a marine protected area (MPA) and adjacent unprotected coastal waters. Analyses used dolphin sighting data collected during boat-based surveys conducted from 2013 to 2015 and 2018 to 2019. Overall, the distribution of IP bottlenose dolphins was best explained by distance to coast (up to 2,000 m) and distance to boat ramp (up to 7,000 m). Areas of high probability of occurrence for dolphins extended from the tip and down the eastern side of the NWC and overlapped with designated sanctuary zones as well as waters beyond the boundaries of the Ningaloo Marine Park (NMP). Distribution and habitat preferences varied slightly with season. In autumn, dolphin distribution was best explained by distance to coast and water depth with a higher likelihood of observing dolphins 1,000-2,000 m from the coast and in water depths of 7-10 m deep. During winter months, distance to coast (1,000-2,000 m) and sea surface temperature (SST) (21.5-23.5°C) were the most important explanatory variables, with presence in coastal lagoons to the west of the NWC more likely than other seasons. During spring, areas of moderate to high probability of dolphin occurrence were mainly located outside the NMP, with marine park zone (outside the NMP and Sanctuary zones within the NMP, the two zones with the highest probability of IP bottlenose dolphin occurrence) and water depth (waters 7-13 m deep) best explaining dolphin distribution. This study highlights the importance of inshore areas of the NWC for IP bottlenose dolphins and the potential vulnerability of this species to increasing and cumulative anthropogenic stressors associated with these areas. Results

Kangaroo Island: pioneering research examines health of sea lions - in pictures.

Great White Sharks in Australia Get a Concert from KISS. But Will the Sharks Care?

Researchers have found a new way to use satellites to monitor the Great Whirl, a massive whirlpool the size of Colorado that forms each year off the coast of East Africa, they report in a new study.