Valutazione dell’influenza delle variabili ambientali ed antropiche sulla distribuzione di tursiope e stenella in Grecia Ionica

Bottlenose and striped dolphin distribution was investigated in relation to environmental and anthropogenic variables in an area of the Ionian waters (Greece) interested by intense boat traffic especially in the summer period. The analysis of data elaborated with Arcgis 9.3 and Maxent allowed to highlight significant relationships with environmental variables and to elaborate prediction models of distribution for the species. In the study area a high overlapping was highlighted between the presence of Tursiops truncatus and boat traffic. Behavioural analysis showed a high percentage of positive interaction with boats. Overlapping with Stenella coeruleoalba instead is not significantly relevant because the pelagic areas in which the species is more distributed are less interested by commercial and tourist traffic.