Rapid habitat fragmentation and niche shifting of an estuarine dolphin driven by coastal urbanization
Estuaries are critical habitats for many marine species, but are also experiencing rapid human-induced environmental change, posing great challenges for conservation. However, lack of assessment of specific habitat changes caused by anthropogenic disturbance limits effective conservation management...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Global Ecology and Conservation |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989425000496 |
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| author | Yuke Zhang Qianhui Zeng Samuel T. Turvey Liyuan Zhao Liming Yong Xixia Lu Xianyan Wang |
| author_facet | Yuke Zhang Qianhui Zeng Samuel T. Turvey Liyuan Zhao Liming Yong Xixia Lu Xianyan Wang |
| author_sort | Yuke Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Estuaries are critical habitats for many marine species, but are also experiencing rapid human-induced environmental change, posing great challenges for conservation. However, lack of assessment of specific habitat changes caused by anthropogenic disturbance limits effective conservation management for marine species in estuarine habitats. Here, using the Chinese white dolphin (Sousa chinensis) in Xiamen Bay as a case study, we used species distribution models to simulate Chinese white dolphin habitats during the late 1990s, early 2010s, late 2010s and early 2020 s, using historical occurrences and environmental variables interpreted from Landsat images. Over this time period, the Chinese white dolphin population experienced substantial habitat fragmentation and niche shifting. Driven by anthropogenic disturbance, the Chinese white dolphin population moved away from river mouths during 1994–2019, resulting a temporary increase in 50 % kernel density estimation (KDE) and habitat in early 2010s, followed by a decrease in the late 2010s. However, the population’s hypervolume decreased gradually to 32.1 % in early 2010s and 7.7 % in the late 2010s, reflecting loss of estuarine resources of the Chinese white dolphins. By early 2020 s, the 50 % KDE and habitat further decreased while the hypervolume increased to 58.2 %, probably due to availability of new estuarine habitats when the population colonized the northeast and southwest of this area. In conclusion, Xiamen Bay has gradually transformed from a refuge into an ecological trap for the Chinese white dolphin. In order to reverse this negative population trend, protected areas should be adjusted to include habitats in the Jiulong River Estuary, Weitou Bay, and the waters between them. Immediate interventions should be conducted to reduce anthropogenic disturbance and improve habitat quality. Ecosystem-based management and long-term monitoring are strongly recommended to avoid potential extinction of many other estuarine species caused by coastal urbanization. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-433cafa4666949b18a14af9f006ce8bf |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2351-9894 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| spelling | doaj-art-433cafa4666949b18a14af9f006ce8bf2025-08-20T03:15:16ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942025-04-0158e0344810.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03448Rapid habitat fragmentation and niche shifting of an estuarine dolphin driven by coastal urbanizationYuke Zhang0Qianhui Zeng1Samuel T. Turvey2Liyuan Zhao3Liming Yong4Xixia Lu5Xianyan Wang6Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Xiamen 361005, ChinaKey Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Xiamen 361005, ChinaInstitute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London NW1 4RY, UKKey Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Xiamen 361005, ChinaKey Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Xiamen 361005, ChinaKey Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Xiamen 361005, ChinaKey Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Xiamen 361005, China; Corresponding author at: Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, ChinaEstuaries are critical habitats for many marine species, but are also experiencing rapid human-induced environmental change, posing great challenges for conservation. However, lack of assessment of specific habitat changes caused by anthropogenic disturbance limits effective conservation management for marine species in estuarine habitats. Here, using the Chinese white dolphin (Sousa chinensis) in Xiamen Bay as a case study, we used species distribution models to simulate Chinese white dolphin habitats during the late 1990s, early 2010s, late 2010s and early 2020 s, using historical occurrences and environmental variables interpreted from Landsat images. Over this time period, the Chinese white dolphin population experienced substantial habitat fragmentation and niche shifting. Driven by anthropogenic disturbance, the Chinese white dolphin population moved away from river mouths during 1994–2019, resulting a temporary increase in 50 % kernel density estimation (KDE) and habitat in early 2010s, followed by a decrease in the late 2010s. However, the population’s hypervolume decreased gradually to 32.1 % in early 2010s and 7.7 % in the late 2010s, reflecting loss of estuarine resources of the Chinese white dolphins. By early 2020 s, the 50 % KDE and habitat further decreased while the hypervolume increased to 58.2 %, probably due to availability of new estuarine habitats when the population colonized the northeast and southwest of this area. In conclusion, Xiamen Bay has gradually transformed from a refuge into an ecological trap for the Chinese white dolphin. In order to reverse this negative population trend, protected areas should be adjusted to include habitats in the Jiulong River Estuary, Weitou Bay, and the waters between them. Immediate interventions should be conducted to reduce anthropogenic disturbance and improve habitat quality. Ecosystem-based management and long-term monitoring are strongly recommended to avoid potential extinction of many other estuarine species caused by coastal urbanization.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989425000496Chinese white dolphinHabitat changeAnthropogenic disturbanceNiche shiftingEcological trapConservation management |
| spellingShingle | Yuke Zhang Qianhui Zeng Samuel T. Turvey Liyuan Zhao Liming Yong Xixia Lu Xianyan Wang Rapid habitat fragmentation and niche shifting of an estuarine dolphin driven by coastal urbanization Global Ecology and Conservation Chinese white dolphin Habitat change Anthropogenic disturbance Niche shifting Ecological trap Conservation management |
| title | Rapid habitat fragmentation and niche shifting of an estuarine dolphin driven by coastal urbanization |
| title_full | Rapid habitat fragmentation and niche shifting of an estuarine dolphin driven by coastal urbanization |
| title_fullStr | Rapid habitat fragmentation and niche shifting of an estuarine dolphin driven by coastal urbanization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rapid habitat fragmentation and niche shifting of an estuarine dolphin driven by coastal urbanization |
| title_short | Rapid habitat fragmentation and niche shifting of an estuarine dolphin driven by coastal urbanization |
| title_sort | rapid habitat fragmentation and niche shifting of an estuarine dolphin driven by coastal urbanization |
| topic | Chinese white dolphin Habitat change Anthropogenic disturbance Niche shifting Ecological trap Conservation management |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989425000496 |
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