Echolocation clicks of free-ranging Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) in Trat Bay, the eastern Gulf of Thailand.

Abstract

Little is known about the vocalizations of Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) in the Gulf of Thailand. The present study first described the echolocation clicks of Irrawaddy dolphins in Trat Bay, in the eastern Gulf of Thailand, using a broadband hydrophone system. Over 2\u2009h of acoustic recordings were collected during 14-day study periods in December 2017 and December 2018. Several criteria were used to judge if a click was on axis or as close to the acoustic axis as possible. To calculate the distance of dolphins, a low-budget localization method based on arrival time differences between the direct and indirect signals was used in the present study. The clicks had a mean peak-to-peak source level of 192\u2009±\u20093\u2009dB re 1\u2009μPa, an energy flux density source level of 131\u2009±\u20093\u2009dB re 1\u2009μPa2s, a mean centroid frequency of 98\u2009±\u200910 kHz, a mean duration of 16\u2009±\u20092\u2009μs, and a -3\u2009dB bandwidth of 79\u2009±\u200913\u2009kHz. The click parameters of the Irrawaddy dolphins in Trat Bay were slightly different from the clicks recorded from the dolphins in Sundarbans, Bangladesh. The present study provided a basic description of the click characteristics of Irrawaddy dolphins in Trat Bay, which could contribute to the management and conservation strategies for local Irrawaddy dolphins, and a basic reference for the proper input parameters in passive acoustic monitoring and detection.