Document of bibliographic reference 321898

BibliographicReference record

Type

Bibliographic resource

Type of document

Journal article

BibLvlCode

AS

Title

Intra-annual changes in cetacean occurrence in the Western Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

Monitoring cetacean’s variability in presence and distribution over their large, mostly pelagic, range is extremely challenging. This paper investigates, during one year period (October 2012 - September 2013), the seasonal variations in occurrence of cetacean species over three ecologically different sectors (Sardinian-Balearic Seas, Bonifacio Strait, Tyrrhenian Sea) of the Western Mediterranean Sea Region. Data was collected by repeated surveys carried out from ferries regularly running between Italy and Spain and contributing to the Fixed Line Transect Mediterranean Monitoring Network. Analyses were performed on a grid cell basis of 100 km2, considered as statistical unit, on the Encounter Rate, calculated as sightings per km travelled on effort within each cell. Seasonal Encounter Rates of all cetaceans and of the six most sighted species were calculated within each sector and compared (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test). Almost 500 sightings of eight resident cetacean species of the Mediterranean Sea were recorded over 21,051 km of effort. Results showed high seasonal variations in cetacean presence and distribution in all the three investigated sectors, with general higher occurrence in spring compared to summer. Outcomes support the need for multi-annual studies to better understand the environmental and biological processes involved. The implementation of this systematic research can contribute to enhance the knowledge on poorly investigated areas and seasons, providing useful information to assess the effectiveness of conservation measures.

Bibliographic citation

Arcangeli, A.; Campana, I.; Di Clemente, J.; Paraboschi, M.; Crosti, R. (2016). Intra-annual changes in cetacean occurrence in the Western Mediterranean Sea. Annals of Marine Biology and Research 3(1): 1014

Is peer reviewed

true

Access rights

open access

Is accessible for free

true