The Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea are two very productive water masses that support a diversity of cetaceans. This project aims to look at the distributional ecology of cetaceans, particularly small cetaceans in the Sultanate of Oman. The distributions of these cetaceans, relative to biological and oceanographical parameters, will be compared along different stretches of coast in Oman. Another focus of the project is to calculate the absolute and relative abundances of the cetaceans encountered in the study areas. Species which are the focus of this thesis include the spinner, common and bottlenose dolphins. All aspects of their ecology (behaviour, feeding, mixed-species associations) are being investigated. The findings of this research will be used to assist in conservation and management plans for cetaceans in Oman.
This study is integrated within the programme of the Environment Society of Oman and we work in close association with colleagues in the Oman Whale and Dolphin Research Group.
Publications
Ponnampalam, L.S. (2008) Ecological studies and conservation of small cetaceans in the Sultanate of Oman, with special reference to spinner dolphins, Stenella longirostris (Gray, 1828). Ph.D. Thesis, University of London.
