@article{,

title = {Conservation needs of the dugong Dugong dugon in Cambodia and Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam},

author = {Hines,E.,Adulyanukosol,K.,Somany,P.,Ath,L.S.,Cox,N.,Boonyanate,P.,Hoa,N.X.},

year  = {2008},

date = {2008-01-01},

journal = {Oryx},

volume = {42},

number = {386},

pages = {113-121},

abstract = {This research was conducted to assess the location of population groups and conservation issuesaffecting dugongs Dugong dugon along the eastern Gulf of Thailand off Cambodia and Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam.Interviews in fishing communities in 2002 and 2004 along the Cambodian coast revealed that dugongs aresporadically found in fishing nets and their body parts are sold for a relatively large profit. During 4 days ofaerial surveys in Cambodia in 2004 we saw no dugongs. We interviewed villagers in Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam,in 2002 and learnt that dugongs are regularly found and hunted, again for high profits. In both countrieswe recommend that legislation addressing threatened species be strengthened and enforced. In collaborationwith the Cambodian and Vietnamese governments and NGOs, we propose the exploration of alternative nondestructivefishing methods and the initiation of an education campaign based on conservation of marinewildlife and the nearshore environment. National and transboundary management and community-based conservationare required in conjunction with strategies to address overfishing and poverty.},

keywords = {aerial survey, conservation, dugong, education, location, management, marine, nets, population, survey},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {Feeding ecology of small cetaceans in the Sultanate of Oman},

author = {Ponnampalam,L.,Collins,T.J.Q.,Minton,G.,Baldwin,R},

year  = {2007},

date = {2007-01-01},

journal = {Poster presented at the 17th meeting of the Society for Marine Mammals in Cape Town},

number = {433},

abstract = {Beach surveys were conducted along the coast of Oman between 2000 and 2006 to locate and examine cetacean remains. This study examines the stomach contents of 11 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.), 5 Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) and 2 spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) that were found beach-cast along the Omani coastline. Across the three species examined, a total of 4796 fish otoliths and 214 cephalopod beaks were found, representing 36 species in 23 families. No crustacean remains were found. Prey item importance was calculated using the percentage by number (%N), and percentage by frequency of occurrence (%FO) methods, and a modified index of relative importance (IRI). Percentage similarity was also calculated to examine interspecific and intraspecific dietary overlap. All three species of dolphins examined here ate mainly fish. The fish families Apogonidae and Carangidae were the most numerically important prey in the diet of bottlenose dolphins. Sciaenidae was the most numerically important fish family for humpback dolphins. Mesopelagic fishes comprised the diet of spinner dolphins, with the myctophid Benthosema pterotum forming the bulk of the prey items. The cephalopod preys found in the stomach samples were represented by the families Sepiidae, Loliginidae and Onychoteuthidae. The frequency distribution of prey items indicate that the bottlenose dolphins fed in a wide variety of habitats, and may reflect the occurrence of at least two species or ecotypes of Tursiops in Oman. The humpback dolphin prey items indicate feeding in coastal, nearshore areas with soft substrate. Spinner dolphins appeared to feed in the upper 200m of the water column on nocturnal vertically migrating prey. Although most of the prey species do not appear to be of commercial importance, the findings of this study indicated that all three species of dolphins were feeding in areas where fishing occurs and this is likely to have conservation implications. },

keywords = {bottlenose dolphin, bottlenose dolphins, cephalopod, cetacean, cetaceans, conservation, diet, Distribution, dolphin, dolphins, ecology, feeding, feeding ecology, fish, habitat, humpback dolphins, occurrence, Oman, prey, Spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris, stomach contents, survey, tursiops},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {Mesoscale eddies, costal upwelling, and the upper-ocean heat budget in the Arabian Sea},

author = {Fischer,A.S.,Weller,R.A.,Rudnick,D.L..,Eriksen,C.C.,Lee,C.M.,Brink,K.H.,Fox,C.A.,Leben,R.R.},

year  = {2002},

date = {2002-01-01},

journal = {Deep-Sea Research Part II},

volume = {49},

number = {94},

pages = {2231-2264},

abstract = {Estimationof the terms in the upper-ocean heat budget from a moored array in the central Arabian Sea shows periods when a rough balance between the temperature trend and the horizontal advection of heat exists. Altimetry and sea-surface temperature imagery are used to demonstrate that these episodes of strong horizontal advection are associated with mesoscale features. During the wintertime Northeast (NE) Monsoon these are capped-off mesoscale eddy features generated during the previous summertime Southwest (SW) Monsoon and have little horizontal transport of heat within the mixed layer. During the SW Monsoon the major contribution is strong offshore export of coastally upwelled water in a filament with a strong surface presence. Temperature and salinity properties from the moored array and a SeaSoar survey during the formation of the coastal filament confirm the offshore transport of the upwelled water mass to the site of the moored array, more than 600 km offshore. Estimates of the filament section heat flux are several percent of the total estimated heat flux due to upwelling along the Arabian Peninsula, and remote sensing data show that similar mesoscale variability along the coast is enhanced during the SW Monsoon. This points to the importance of mesoscale-modulated transports in not only the observed heat budget at the moored array, but in the overall upper ocean heat budget in the Arabian Sea},

keywords = {Arabian Sea, budget, salinity, survey, temperature, trend, Upwelling},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {Phycoerythrin-containing picocyanobacteria in the Arabian Sea in February 1995: diel patterns, spatial variability, and growth rates},

author = {Sherry,N.D.,Wood,A.M.},

year  = {2001},

date = {2001-01-01},

journal = {Deep-Sea Research Part II},

volume = {48 },

number = {225},

pages = {1263-1283},

abstract = {The abundance of phycoerythrin-containing picocyanobacteria in the surface mixed layer was measured both along-shore and offshore between 8 and 23 February 1995 in the Northwestern Arabian Sea. Water samples from 3m depth were taken at 2-h intervals and picocyanobacterial abundance and frequency of dividing cells were determined by epifluorescence microscopy. Cell counts showed an average diel change from a mid-day minimum of ~50'103 cells ml-1 to an evening maximum of ~180'103 cells ml-1. The diel change was greater than the differences observed between physically and spatially discrete water masses. By counting the frequency of dividing cells (FDC) and using a novel approach to estimating the length of time required to complete cell division, growth and loss rates were both estimated to be ~2.9 d-1 with daily turnover being 140% of the mean standing stock. If differences in the intrinsic population growth rate (æ) and the net rate of change in cell number (r) are assumed to be due to grazing, then grazing occurred throughout the day at a relatively constant rate (reflecting phytoplankton loss rates of ~0.12 h-1). Cell division rates peaked in the late afternoon and early evening. FDC decreased throughout the night, suggesting that dark-inhibition of cell division is weak or nonexistent in the picocyanobacteria we studied. While all cell types included in this study would be identified as Synechococcus by flow cytometry because they were small unicells with bright phycoerythrin fluorescence, morphological variability suggests that the community was actually taxonomically diverse and included cells other than Synechococcus, including Synechocystis. Despite this diversity, the strong diel patterns we observed persisted throughout the study region, suggesting that great care should be taken when interpreting picocyanobacterial survey data and experimental results that do not account for the e!ects of time-of-day.},

keywords = {abundance, Arabian Sea, depth, diel, growth, length, population, survey},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {Oman's humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) },

author = {Baldwin,R.M.},

year  = {2000},

date = {2000-01-01},

journal = {The Journal of Oman Studies},

volume = {11 },

number = {316},

pages = {11-18},

abstract = {Data are presented on the general distribution and abundance of humpback whales off the coast of the Sultanate of Oman, with particular reference to observations made during an offshore seismic survey in the Arabian Sea in November 1997. Additional information is presented on seasonal occurrence, ecology and behaviour, external appearance, conservation, mortality, incidental capture, population status and identity of Oman's humpback whales. The data generally support the notion of year-round residency of humpback whales off the coast of Oman, but indicate the need for further research to establish whether the low frequency of positive records during summer months is a true reflection of seasonal distribution. Other research on humpback whales in the region is recommended.},

keywords = {abundance, Arabian Sea, behaviour, conservation, Distribution, ecology, Gulf of Oman, Humpback Whale, humpback whales, incidental capture, megaptera novaeangliae, mortality, occurrence, Oman, population, population identity, status, survey, whale, whales},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {The upper-ocean response to monsoonal forcing in the Arabian Sea: seasonal and spatial variability},

author = {Lee,C.M.,Jones,B.H.,Brink,K.H.,Fischer,A.S.},

year  = {2000},

date = {2000-01-01},

journal = {Deep-Sea Research Part II},

volume = {47},

number = {398},

pages = {1177-1226},

abstract = {Observations from four towed profiler surveys undertaken between December 1994 and October 1995 examine the seasonal and spatial variability of the upper ocean response to the Monsoon cycle in the Arabian Sea. Although observed atmospheric forcing agrees well with modern climatologies, cross-basin patterns of mixed-layer depth and water properties observed in 1994-1995 are not entirely consistent with an upper-ocean response dominated by Ekman pumping. During the winter monsoon, the mixed-layer deepens dramatically with distance offshore. Surface cooling intensifies with offshore distance, and a one-dimensional response dominated by convective overturning could explain observed wintertime mixed-layer depths. Except for waters associated with a filament extending o!shore from the Omani coast, mixed-layer depths and water properties show only modest cross-basin contrasts during the Southwest Monsoon. Filament waters differ from surrounding mid-basin waters, having shallow mixed-layers and water properties similar to those of waters upwelled near the Omani coast. In September, following the Southwest Monsoon, waters within 1000 km of the Omani coast have cooled and freshened, with marked changes in stratification extending well into the pycnocline. Estimates of Ekman pumping and wind-driven entrainment made using the Southampton Oceanographic Center 1980-1995 surface flux and the Levitus mixed-layer climatologies indicate that during the Southwest Monsoon wind-driven entrainment is considerably stronger than Ekman pumping. Inshore of the windstress maximum, Ekman pumping partially counters wind-driven entrainment, while offshore the two processes act together to deepen the mixed-layer. As Ekman pumping is too weak to counter wind-driven mixed-layer deepening inshore of the windstress maximum, another mechanism must act to maintain the shallow mixed-layers seen in our observations and in climatologies. Offshore advection of coastally upwelled water offers a mechanism for maintaining upper ocean stratification that isconsistent with observed changes in upper ocean water properties. Ekman upwelling will modulate wind-driven entrainment, but these results indicate that the primary mechanisms acting inshore of the windstress maximum are wind-driven mixing and horizontal advection.},

keywords = {Arabian Sea, depth, survey, Upwelling},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {Cetaceans of the Western Tropical Indian Ocean: Distribution, Relative Abundance, and comparisons with Cetacean Communities of Two other Tropical Ecosystems},

author = {Ballance,L.T,Pitman,R.L.},

year  = {1998},

date = {1998-01-01},

journal = {Marine Mammal Science},

volume = {14},

number = {321},

pages = {429-459},

abstract = {We conducted a cetacean survey in the pelagic western tropical Indian Ocean (WTIO) aboard an 85-m research vessel from March to July 1995, covering 9,784 linear km. Using 25x binoculars and line-transect methods, we recorded 589 sightings of 21 species. Stenella longirostris was the most abundant cetacean, in terms of number of individuals sighted, by an order of magnitude above any other species, while Physeter macrocephalus was the most frequently sighted, in terms of number of schools. Twelve species were widespread, seven were rare, and two were localized; our sightings include new distributional records for 12 species. Significant observations included the following: (1) Delphinus cf. tropicalis was abundant off the coast of Oman (16 sightings) and readily distinguishable in the field from D. delphis and D. capensis, (2) Balaenoptera musculus was fairly common and localized in the area of the Maldives (17 sightings), and (3) three sightings were made of an unidentified bottlenose whale tentatively referred to as Indopacetus (i.e., Mesoplodon) pacificus. We recorded 26 mixed-species cetacean schools, 43 schools with which seabirds associated, and 17 schools associated with tuna. Notable among these were mixed aggregations of Stenella attenuata, S. longirostris, yellowfin tuna, and seabirds. The cetacean community of the WTIO was similar to that of the eastern tropical Pacific (ETP) and the Gulf of Mexico (GM) in several respects. First, differences in abundance rank of individual species were small, with the result that common species were common and rare species were rare, regardless of ocean. Second, these differences in abundance were due primarily to differences in encounter rate, which varied with ocean by as much as 3,000%, and less so to school size, which generally varied less than 100%. Third, regardless of ocean, three species comprised the majority of cetaceans in the community, Stenella attenuata, S. longirostris, and S. coeruleoalba, representing 62%-82% of all individuals for all species. However, the rank order of abundance for these three species differed with ocean. Most notably, S. attenuata was abundant in the ETP and GM (abundance rank = 2 and 1, respectively) but much less common in the WTIO (abundance rank = 6). Although habitat preferences for S. attenuata appear to overlap considerably with those of S. longirostris in the ETP, our results suggest there may actually be significant differences between these two species. Detailed analysis of oceanographic correlates of distribution will be necessary in order to understand fully the habitat requirements of these pelagic dolphins, often the most conspicuous elements of tropical cetacean communities around the world.},

keywords = {abundance, cetacean, cetaceans, Distribution, dolphin, dolphins, Gulf of Mexico, habitat preference, Indian Ocean, Maldives, Mexico, Oman, relative abundance, seabirds, survey, whale},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {Cetacean observations from the Somali Democratic Republic, September 1985 through May 1987},

author = {Small,J.A..,Small,G.J.},

year  = {1991},

date = {1991-01-01},

journal = {CEtaceans and Cetacean Research in the Indian Ocean Sanctuary: UNEP - Marine Mammal Technical Report No.3},

number = {476},

pages = {179-210},

abstract = {Two vessels operated along the Gulf of Aden and northern Indian Ocean coasts of Somalia from Aug. 1985 through May 1987.  Their fishing activities carried them on a routine basis from Djibouti to the Horn of Africa and, on many cruises, into the Indian Ocean as far south as 8øN.  The frequent and regular presence of these vessels afforded a unique opportunity for research since few previous surveys along the Somalian coast were transitory and/or of short duration.  There were 398 sightings of cetaceans representing at least 14 species: blue whale, Bryde's whale, sperm whale, melon-headed whale, false killer whale, killer whale, short-finned pilot whale, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, common dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, Risso's dolphin, spotted dolphin, striped dolphin and spinner dolphin (NO humpback whales!!).  Sightings locations and related environmental data are discussed. Some trends between years were seen in the occurrence and location of blue, killer and short-finned pilot whales.},

keywords = {Antarctic, Blue whale, bottlenose dolphin, Bryde's whale, cetacean, cetaceans, Common dolphin, dolphin, false killer whale, Gulf of Aden, Humpback Whale, humpback whales, Indian Ocean, killer whale, location, marine, megaptera novaeangliae, melon-headed whale, migration, occurrence, Oman, Pacific Ocean, Risso's dolphin, sanctuaries, Southern Hemisphere, sperm whale, Spinner dolphin, spotted dolphin, stocks, Striped dolphin, survey, trend, Upwelling, whale, whales, whaling},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {A shore-based survey of upwelling along the coast of Dhofar region, southern Oman},

author = {Savidge,G.,Lennon,J.,Matthews,A.J.},

year  = {1990},

date = {1990-01-01},

journal = {Continental Shelf Research},

volume = {10},

number = {471},

pages = {259-275},

abstract = {A shore-based survey of hydrographic variables along the southern Oman coast between 16ø55'N, 53ø55'E and 170Z3'N, 55ø17.5'E was carried out between August and November 1985 during the southwest monsoon season and the succeeding period marked by the onset of the northeast winds. During the monsoon season strong evidence of upwelling based on temperature and nutrient data was apparent for the eastern half of the survey area which was distinguished by severe coastal relief and a steeply shelving bathymetry. The upwelled water appeared to be advected westwards into the shallower waters of Salalah Bay which comprised the western part of the survey area. Maximum stratification as inferred from increased temperatures and decreased nutrient concentrations was recorded at the western end of Salalah Bay. Marked increases in chlorophyll a were apparent within the Bay at the boundary between the stratified and upwelled water but concentrations were low within the main bodies of the two water types. The upwelling process was discontinuous in time but the intensity of the upwelling was not apparently related to variation in wind strength; only minimal variations in the velocity of the prevailing southwest wind were recorded during the major part of the survey period. Regular diurnal changes of variable amplitude were observed for all properties sampled with the exception of salinity.},

keywords = {bathymetry, chlorophyll, Oman, salinity, survey, temperature, Upwelling},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {Cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) recorded off Sri Lanka, India, from the Arabian Sea and Gulf, Gulf of Aden and from the Red Sea },

author = {De Silva,P.H.D.H..},

year  = {1987},

date = {1987-01-01},

journal = {Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society},

volume = {84 },

number = {357},

pages = {505-525},

abstract = {Cetacea is a highly specialized oceanic group of mammals with several of its species undertaking long migrations, often exceeding thousand miles during a single journey. During these migrations from cold polar and subpolar seas to warmer tropical and subtropical waters and their return to polar seas in summer both individual and mass strandings have very often occurred in many parts of the world, including Sri Lanka, India and the Arabian Gulf. The Cetacean records dealt with in this paper are of countries which lie at the extreme southern margin of the vast land mass of Asia with no land other than a few islands and vast stretches of the Indian Ocean between them and the Antarctica. Sri Lanka, in view of her geographic position at the southern extremity of this vast land mass (5ø 55' and 9§51'N latitude and 79§41' and 81§ 54' E longitude) has become a passing point in the movement of oceanic species including the larger whales. It has been suggested by Deraniyagala (1945, 1960b) that the movement of larger species towards the tropics from the southern temperate zone is partly associated with the periodic influx of Antarctic water toward the tropics. It is however, now fairly established that several larger species such as the Blue whale, the Fin whale and the Humpback whale show a regular migratory cycle. The majority of strandings recorded in this paper deal with individual strandings. Nevertheless there have been instances of both mass stranding and of apparent suicidal behaviour. This paper deals with 30 Cetacean species from the region. Of these records, records from Sri Lanka total 23 species, from India 24 species, from Pakistan 17 species, from the Gulf of Oman 10 species, from the Arabian Gulf 9 species, from the Gulf of Aden 6 species and from the Red Sea 7 species. Reference is also made to a skull of Delphinus tropicalis van Bree in the Colombo Museum (Skull No. 15 B) which appears to be its first record from Sri Lanka. Mention is also made of a specimen of Neophocaena phocaenoides (G. Cuvier) collected from the Wadge Bank by the Smithsonian Carangid Survey Team in March 1970 and of two incomplete skeletons of Balaenoptera physalus (Linn‚) (probably mother and calf) in the Zoological Museum, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. All these specimens were identified by me. It is evident from this study that our present knowledge of the Cetacean fauna of the Indian Ocean is far from complete and that much could be accomplished by scientific institutions in the countries in the region by diligently maintaining proper records of sightings and strandings (with photographs) and by undertaking joint study surveys. It is gratifying to note that Sri Lanka, in recent years has been making much headway in this regard. During the last few years the Tulip Expedition led by Dr. Hal Whitehead has been studying the larger whales, especially the larger whales off the east coast and Dr. Stephen Leatherwood Of Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute (Marine Science), San Diego, California has recently published (1985) a summary of available information on the Cetacea of the Indian Ocean Cetacean Sanctuary on behalf of the National Aquatic Resources Agency for Sri Lanka. It is hoped that the present paper will further stimulate interest among the scientific institutions in the region and help to increase our knowledge of a group of remarkable animals at least as far as the species which inhabit and visit our seas.has become a passing point in the movement of oceanic species including the larger whales. It has been suggested by Deraniyagala (1945, 1960b) that the movement of larger species towards the tropics from the southern temperate zone is partly associated with the periodic influx of Antarctic water toward the tropics. It is however, now fairly established that several larger species such as the Blue whale, the Fin whale and the Humpback whale show a regular migratory cycle. The majority of strandings recorded in this paper deal with individual strandings. Nevertheless there have been instances of both mass stranding and of apparent suicidal behaviour. This paper deals with 30 Cetacean species from the region. Of these records, records from Sri Lanka total 23 species, from India 24 species, from Pakistan 17 species, from the Gulf of Oman 10 species, from the Arabian Gulf 9 species, from the Gulf of Aden 6 species and from the Red Sea 7 species. Reference is also made to a skull of Delphinus tropicalis van Bree in the Colombo Museum (Skull No. 15 B) which appears to be its first record from Sri Lanka. Mention is also made of a specimen of Neophocaena phocaenoides (G. Cuvier) collected from the Wadge Bank by the Smithsonian Carangid Survey Team in March 1970 and of two incomplete skeletons of Balaenoptera physalus (Linn‚) (probably mother and calf) in the Zoological Museum, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. All these specimens were identified by me. It is evident from this study that our present knowledge of the Cetacean fauna of the Indian Ocean is far from complete and that much could be accomplished by scientific institutions in the countries in the region by diligently maintaining proper records of sightings and strandings (with photographs) and by undertaking joint study surveys. It is gratifying to note that Sri Lanka, in recent years has been making much headway in this regard. During the last few years the Tulip Expedition led by Dr. Hal Whitehead has been studying the larger whales, especially the larger whales off the east coast and Dr. Stephen Leatherwood Of Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute (Marine Science), San Diego, California has recently published (1985) a summary of available information on the Cetacea of the Indian Ocean Cetacean Sanctuary on behalf of the National Aquatic Resources Agency for Sri Lanka. It is hoped that the present paper will further stimulate interest among the scientific institutions in the region and help to increase our knowledge of a group of remarkable animals at least as far as the species which inhabit and visit our seas. A key to the identification of the species recorded from the region is given in Appendix. },

keywords = {Antarctic, Arabia, Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, behaviour, Blue whale, cetacea, cetacean, cetaceans, Delphinus tropicalis, dolphin, dolphins, fin whale, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Humpback Whale, India, Indian Ocean, mammals, marine, migration, Neophocaena phocaenoides, Oceanic, Oman, Pakistan, Porpoise, Red Sea, sanctuaries, skull, Sri Lanka, stranding, Strandings, survey, whale, whales},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}