NWSSRP Theme 3 - Protected and Iconic Species Movement, Distribution and Threats

• Other Authors: AIMS Data Centre (distributor), AIMS Data Centre (pointOfContact), Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) (hasAssociationWith), Dr Michele Thums (hasPrincipalInvestigator)
• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: Australian Institute of Marine Science
• Subjects: oceans; Blue whale
• Online Access: https://researchdata.edu.au/nwssrp-theme-3-distribution-threats/1329553

Maintenance and Update Frequency: asNeeded Statement: Trip6844 Deployed 10 satellite tags on hawksbill turtles in the Dampier Archipelago Deployed 10 satellite tags on hawksbill turtles from the Lowendal Islands. Genetic samples and measurements collected Trip6880 Deployed 10 satellite tags on green turtles in the Dampier Archipelago Deployed 10 satellite tags on green turtles on Middle Island Genetic samples and measurements collected Trip7217 Satellite transmitter attached to pygmy blue whale Noise loggers recovered from site Sonobuoy recordings of pygmy blue whales Trip 7649 Satellite transmitter attached to pygmy blue whale Credit Funding Body: Santos Ltd Australia's North West is home to some of our most iconic marine animals. To manage potential threats, we need to understand where the populations are, where they move and the key areas they use to breed and feed. The objective of this theme is to use a combination of proven and innovative methods to elucidate pygmy blue whale, hawksbill turtle and green turtle distribution and quantify the risks to these, and other, iconic megafauna posed by vessel movements, industrial infrastructure and activities on the Northwest Shelf of Australia. This project is tracking whales using three methods: satellite tracking; acoustic surveys using hydrophones attached to sea gliders; and analysing water samples for their DNA. To understand where green turtles and hawkbill turtle roam, researchers will follow them by attaching satellite tags to individual turtles. These tracks identifiy the areas they use, and will be compared to the areas of human activities, highlighting where both overlap.