Distribution patterns of Yangtze finless porpoises in the Yangtze River: implications for reserve management

Animal ConservationVolume 16, Issue 5 p. 509-518 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Distribution patterns of Yangtze finless porpoises in the Yangtze River: implications for reserve management X. Zhao, X. Zhao Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China China Three Gorges Corporation, Beijing, ChinaSearch for more papers by this authorD. Wang, Corresponding Author D. Wang Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China Correspondence Ding Wang, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China. Tel: +86 27 68780178; Fax: +86 27 68780123 Email: [email protected]; [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorS. T. Turvey, S. T. Turvey Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, UKSearch for more papers by this authorB. Taylor, B. Taylor NOAA Fisheries, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, CA, USASearch for more papers by this authorT. Akamatsu, T. Akamatsu NRIFE, Fisheries Research Agency, Kamisu, Ibaraki, Japan Japan Science and Technology Agency, CREST, Tokyo, JapanSearch for more papers by this author X. Zhao, X. Zhao Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China China Three Gorges Corporation, Beijing, ChinaSearch for more papers by this authorD. Wang, Corresponding Author D. Wang Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China Correspondence Ding Wang, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China. Tel: +86 27 68780178; Fax: +86 27 68780123 Email: [email protected]; [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorS. T. Turvey, S. T. Turvey Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, UKSearch for more papers by this authorB. Taylor, B. Taylor NOAA Fisheries, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, CA, USASearch for more papers by this authorT. Akamatsu, T. Akamatsu NRIFE, Fisheries Research Agency, Kamisu, Ibaraki, Japan Japan Science and Technology Agency, CREST, Tokyo, JapanSearch for more papers by this author First published: 16 January 2013 https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12019Citations: 27 Editor: Karina Acevedo-Whitehouse Associate Editor: Rob Williams Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstract The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) is a highly threatened cetacean endemic to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River that has suffered a dramatic decline in recent decades. We characterize and quantify recent distribution patterns of porpoises in the Yangtze River in order to facilitate strategic management of existing in situ cetacean reserves and maximize effective utilization of limited conservation resources. We calculated porpoise relative abundance (encounter rate) using a 1-km moving average along the Yangtze main stem based on a combined visual and acoustic survey conducted in 2006. We then evaluated conservation priority areas based on encounter rates along the river. High-porpoise density areas (> 0.20 porpoises km−1) cover approximately one-third (33.9%, 599 km) of the survey area and contain approximately two-thirds of the porpoise population, making them priority areas for porpoise conservation. In contrast, low-porpoise density areas (≤ 0.05 porpoises km−1) cover 28.8% (509 km) of the survey area but contain only 4.5% of the porpoise population, and may already be of little value for porpoise conservation. Five high-priority porpoise conservation sites and five sections that now contain few or no surviving porpoises are identified. Proposed spatial modifications to existing reserves and associated conservation recommendations are made for five existing protected areas along the Yangtze main stem, and we emphasize that some additional river sections should urgently be designated as new protected areas given their high porpoise density. 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