| Summary: | "This study assessed aspects of the status of three species of coastal dolphin – the Australian snubfin (Orcaella heinsohni), the recently described Australian humpback (Sousa sahulensis) and bottlenose (either or both Tursiops truncatus or T. aduncus) – in coastal waters of the Northern Territory (NT), Australia. Serendipitously, I also considered aspects of the status and distribution of the false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens), a delphinid species that uses NT coastal waters to a much greater extent than was previously known." - Abstract General introduction -- Analysis of mitochondrial DNA clarifies the taxonomy and distribution of the Australian snubfin dolphin (Orcaella heinsohni) in northern Australian waters -- Collation and review of sightings and distribution of three coastal dolphin species in waters of the Northern Territory, Australia -- Estimates of abundance and apparent survival of coastal dolphins in Port Essington harbour, Northern Territory, Australia -- False Killer Whales Pseudorca crassidens: regular visitors to Port Essington and Darwin Harbour in the Northern Territory, Australia -- A preliminary study of movement patterns of the false killer-whale Pseudorca crassidens in coastal waters of the Northern Territory, Australia -- Integration, conclusions and conservation implications -- Appendix 1 Multiple lines of evidence for an Australasian geographic boundary in the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis): population or species divergence? -- Appendix 2 Nuclear and mitochondrial patterns of population structure in North Pacific false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) -- Appendix 3 First report of a lacaziosis-like disease (LLD) observed in the Australian Snubfin Dolphin (Orcaella heinsohni) in Darwin Harbour, Northern Territory, Australia Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Charles Darwin University.
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