Acciones concretas que busquen aumentar la calidad educativa en el

4.9.1 Quadrants

When making observations it was sometimes difficult to determine which quadrant a dolphin was approaching or leaving from. Observations over the ocean, particularly in rough or windy conditions, made any observations at distances greater than 20 metres difficult to gauge. For this reason any observations, which were not clearly in one quadrant or another were dismissed for the purpose of analysis. In reality at least 10 degrees either side of each quadrant were not recordable at a

m

clear, calm days it wa

Weather and ocean states played a vital role in data collection. When the boat was under sail and generally heading in one direction in a straight line, one could mark from which direction the dolphins appeared and approached the vessel. Once associated with the vessel it was obvious which quadrant the dolphins were associated with. However, the engines were not always running and often stopped to allow passengers to view dolphins.

.9.2 Observations

ular time intervals or over standard time periods as would ormally be preferred. Due to the nature of the animal under observation, standardising

n this is not always possible, especially where animals have freedom to ove out of observational view. If we were to restrict observations to a particular time for particular duration observations would be minimal. There were occasions where trips of -3 times a day would result in no observations for up to two weeks. Other occasions sulted in successful observations throughout the day and observations ceased only ecause the tour operator had to work to a schedule. For this reason, the numbers of bservations per month were treated as a sampling replicate in order to give an overall picture of dolphin observations, and any quadrant preferences.

4.9.3 Volunteers

Unfortunately, many volunteers resulted in disappointment because, after being trained, they took advantage of the trust placed in them and proceeded to take friends onto the tour boats under the guise of research, but did not actually collect data. Some volunteers collected data but it was not of sufficient quality to be rendered usable. This was determined by comparing data collected by volunteers and data collected by me as already outlined in Chapter 3. The problems were always addressed immediately and No alteration was made to take this into account due to a dolphin’s ability to swim and manoeuvre to any position around the boat. For example, if the boat was moved by ocean currents or wind and the dolphins stayed in the position observed, it would be expected that the dolphins would become randomly distributed in all quadrants. As the boat moved, the position of dolphins changed accordingly. However, if dolphins were not equally or randomly distributed in all quadrants, then there was an assumption that there was some preference to a particular quadrant to which they swam.

4

Observations were not at reg n

observation times or observation time durations were not possible. There are no guarantees of dolphin presence for durations of 10 minutes, for example, from 2 pm to 2.10 pm, or that observations be successful on every trip. It may be argued that data must be collected in this precise systematic way to minimise biases but when working with wild populatio m a 2 re b o

ensure the moti them to rise at 5 also imposed re boats (Appendix

volunteers whos Acknowledgements).

cknowledgements

Graham Copp, for sharing his 50 years of skipper experience, advice n ocean states, weather, and for ensuring that everyone adhered to boat safety and water than 1% in Season 2. These problems became apparent very early on in the research and as a result a volunteer manual was produced along with an application form. In order to ve of new volunteers training was conducted at Timaru, thus requiring am and be ready to depart Christchurch by 6am. Strict guidelines were garding behaviour, dress and timekeeping while aboard either of the tour E). As a rule, most volunteers were excellent candidates and dedicated e input, time and energy were invaluable (see

A

To retired skipper, o

regulations, and the volunteers who rose at 5am ready to commence observations. Often the trips resulted in nights away from families and for this sacrifice I am very appreciative.

ht at Timaru over a six month period between September-Febuary 1999- 000. Due to intense vessel traffic, working docks, a busy port, and regularly conducted dolphin watching tours at Lyttelton in comparison to Timaru, which is relatively quiet and ats run intermittently and infrequently, it was expected that dolphins would ow differences in behaviour between sites and between boats. Quadrant and swimming dire

yacht a

the num occurred and time data included the duration over which the h

higher boat an

5.2 Int

addition to investigating dolphin behaviour solely between tour boats at Lyttelton and imaru, an additional study was conducted which investigated dolphin behaviour in the presence of a private yacht, which was then compared to dolphin behaviour in the

Chapter 5 – Behavioural Response of