During the months of July and August 2008 and 2009, vessel based surveys were carried out in Northern Ionian Islands waters, in order to asses the occurrence and distribution of cetacean species in relation to ecological and anthropogenic parameters. Surveys were carried out aboard a 12 m sailing vessel, covering an area of about 3.500 square km, located between Northern Kerkira and Northern Cephalonia, and characterized by a massive presence of pleasure boats during the summer. A total of about 2.000 nautical miles were travelled looking for cetaceans. Four species were sighted during the period of study, for a total of 29 sightings with a single species and 1 with mixed group, more in detail: bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) 17 sightings, striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) 5 sightings, common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) 3 sightings, and fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) 5 sightings. While during 2008 none of the recorded sightings regarded common dolphin, in 2009 the 21,43% of them reported the presence of the species in the study area: 2 sightings in single species groups and in 1 sighting in a mixed group with striped dolphins. Just one sighting was located in the area were the species was reported to be common before its drastic reduction of the last years. The other 2 sightings were located in the waters between the Islands of Kerkira and Paxos. During all common dolphins sightings calves presence was documented. The mean sighting frequency for the endangered species was of 0,01 (sightings/monitored hours). 2009 results highlight the need of investigate the movement of the species on a large scale in order to find how the distribution and the habitat use could have changed from previous years, as a reaction of prey reduction and of increasing boat traffic in the area comprised by Lefkada and the mainland.

2009 summer sightings of common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) in the Ionian Islands.

PAPALE, ELENA;GIACOMA, Cristina;
2010-01-01

Abstract

During the months of July and August 2008 and 2009, vessel based surveys were carried out in Northern Ionian Islands waters, in order to asses the occurrence and distribution of cetacean species in relation to ecological and anthropogenic parameters. Surveys were carried out aboard a 12 m sailing vessel, covering an area of about 3.500 square km, located between Northern Kerkira and Northern Cephalonia, and characterized by a massive presence of pleasure boats during the summer. A total of about 2.000 nautical miles were travelled looking for cetaceans. Four species were sighted during the period of study, for a total of 29 sightings with a single species and 1 with mixed group, more in detail: bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) 17 sightings, striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) 5 sightings, common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) 3 sightings, and fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) 5 sightings. While during 2008 none of the recorded sightings regarded common dolphin, in 2009 the 21,43% of them reported the presence of the species in the study area: 2 sightings in single species groups and in 1 sighting in a mixed group with striped dolphins. Just one sighting was located in the area were the species was reported to be common before its drastic reduction of the last years. The other 2 sightings were located in the waters between the Islands of Kerkira and Paxos. During all common dolphins sightings calves presence was documented. The mean sighting frequency for the endangered species was of 0,01 (sightings/monitored hours). 2009 results highlight the need of investigate the movement of the species on a large scale in order to find how the distribution and the habitat use could have changed from previous years, as a reaction of prey reduction and of increasing boat traffic in the area comprised by Lefkada and the mainland.
2010
24th European Cetacean Society Annual Conference
Stralsund, Germania
22-24 marzo 2010
abstract book, 24th Conference of the European Cetacean Society. Marine mammal populations: challenges for conservationin the next decade
Federal maritime and hydrographic agency
173
173
common dolphin; ionian islands; bottlenose dolphin; striped dolphin fin whale
PAPALE E.; GALLI A.; ANICHINI M.; GIACOMA C.; AZZOLIN M.
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Papale ecs 2010 abstract.pdf

Accesso riservato

Tipo di file: PREPRINT (PRIMA BOZZA)
Dimensione 7.76 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
7.76 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2318/68566
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact