Common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) behavior in an active narrow seaport

The Galveston Ship Channel (GSC) is a narrow, congested waterway that supports large-scale shipping, commercial fishing, dolphin tourism, and recreation. Human activity and common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) converge in the GSC with potentially negative consequences on the dolphins. Elevated land-based tracking and behavioral observation of dolphins and vessels were conducted along the GSC in June-August 2013 using a digital theodolite. Positional information was used to calculate dolphin movement patterns and proximity to vessels. Log-likelihood ratio and Chi-square contingency tests were used to assess behavioral states, and generalized additive models were used to analyze movement patterns (i.e., swimming speed, reorientation rate, and linearity) relative to endogenous and exogenous factors and vessel presence. Dolphins regularly use the GSC to forage (57% of observed behavioral states) and socialize (27%), and it is not a travel corridor for accessing other favorable si...

加尔维斯顿航道（Galveston Ship Channel，GSC）是一条狭窄且通航繁忙的航道，承担着大规模航运、商业捕捞、海豚观光及休闲娱乐的功能。人类活动与普通宽吻海豚（Tursiops truncatus）在该航道内共存，可能会对海豚产生潜在负面影响。2013年6月至8月期间，研究团队依托数字经纬仪沿加尔维斯顿航道开展了高密度的海豚与船舶地面追踪及行为观测。研究人员利用采集到的定位信息计算海豚的运动模式及其与船舶的相对距离。本研究采用对数似然比检验与卡方列联表检验评估海豚的行为状态，并通过广义可加模型分析海豚运动模式（即游泳速度、转向速率与直线性）与内源性、外源性因素及船舶存在的相关性。海豚常利用该航道觅食（占观测行为状态的57%）与社交（占27%），且该航道并非海豚前往其他适宜栖息区域的迁徙通道……