Distribution and habitat modelling of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in the eastern North Atlantic
Abstract The eastern North Atlantic (ENA) has many highly productive areas where several species of cetaceans have been recorded, with the common dolphin ( Delphinus delphis ) being one of the most frequently sighted species. However, its spatial and temporal distribution in high seas is poorly know...
Published in: | Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom |
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2019
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0025315419000249 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0025315419000249 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0025315419000249 2024-09-09T19:56:22+00:00 Distribution and habitat modelling of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in the eastern North Atlantic Correia, Ana M. Gil, Ágatha Valente, Raul Rosso, Massimiliano Pierce, Graham J. Sousa-Pinto, Isabel 2019 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0025315419000249 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0025315419000249 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom volume 99, issue 06, page 1443-1457 ISSN 0025-3154 1469-7769 journal-article 2019 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0025315419000249 2024-08-28T04:03:45Z Abstract The eastern North Atlantic (ENA) has many highly productive areas where several species of cetaceans have been recorded, with the common dolphin ( Delphinus delphis ) being one of the most frequently sighted species. However, its spatial and temporal distribution in high seas is poorly known. The study presents the results from 5 years of cetacean monitoring in the ENA (2012–2016) aboard cargo ships that follow the routes from Continental Portugal to the Macaronesian archipelagos and north-west Africa. Common dolphin was the most frequently sighted cetacean with 192 occurrences registered on effort and an overall encounter rate of 0.36 sightings/100 nmi. The species was distributed in coastal and offshore waters, but absent from the Canaries and Cape Verde islands. Statistical ‘habitat’ models were developed to describe and explain the occurrence of sightings of the species: variables affecting detection of dolphins had a small impact and there were clear spatiotemporal distribution patterns, influenced to some degree by environmental variables. Predicted probability of occurrence was highest in coastal waters of continental Portugal and around the Azores. The models, combined with maps of distribution, were useful to identify important areas for the species, which could be the focus of future conservation efforts. Common dolphin presence was related to depth, distance to coast and seamounts, seabed slope, chlorophyll concentration, sea-surface temperature and sea level anomalies; the possible ecological significance of these relationships is explored. Article in Journal/Newspaper North Atlantic Cambridge University Press Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 99 06 1443 1457 |
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Open Polar |
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Cambridge University Press |
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crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
description |
Abstract The eastern North Atlantic (ENA) has many highly productive areas where several species of cetaceans have been recorded, with the common dolphin ( Delphinus delphis ) being one of the most frequently sighted species. However, its spatial and temporal distribution in high seas is poorly known. The study presents the results from 5 years of cetacean monitoring in the ENA (2012–2016) aboard cargo ships that follow the routes from Continental Portugal to the Macaronesian archipelagos and north-west Africa. Common dolphin was the most frequently sighted cetacean with 192 occurrences registered on effort and an overall encounter rate of 0.36 sightings/100 nmi. The species was distributed in coastal and offshore waters, but absent from the Canaries and Cape Verde islands. Statistical ‘habitat’ models were developed to describe and explain the occurrence of sightings of the species: variables affecting detection of dolphins had a small impact and there were clear spatiotemporal distribution patterns, influenced to some degree by environmental variables. Predicted probability of occurrence was highest in coastal waters of continental Portugal and around the Azores. The models, combined with maps of distribution, were useful to identify important areas for the species, which could be the focus of future conservation efforts. Common dolphin presence was related to depth, distance to coast and seamounts, seabed slope, chlorophyll concentration, sea-surface temperature and sea level anomalies; the possible ecological significance of these relationships is explored. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Correia, Ana M. Gil, Ágatha Valente, Raul Rosso, Massimiliano Pierce, Graham J. Sousa-Pinto, Isabel |
spellingShingle |
Correia, Ana M. Gil, Ágatha Valente, Raul Rosso, Massimiliano Pierce, Graham J. Sousa-Pinto, Isabel Distribution and habitat modelling of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in the eastern North Atlantic |
author_facet |
Correia, Ana M. Gil, Ágatha Valente, Raul Rosso, Massimiliano Pierce, Graham J. Sousa-Pinto, Isabel |
author_sort |
Correia, Ana M. |
title |
Distribution and habitat modelling of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in the eastern North Atlantic |
title_short |
Distribution and habitat modelling of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in the eastern North Atlantic |
title_full |
Distribution and habitat modelling of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in the eastern North Atlantic |
title_fullStr |
Distribution and habitat modelling of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in the eastern North Atlantic |
title_full_unstemmed |
Distribution and habitat modelling of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in the eastern North Atlantic |
title_sort |
distribution and habitat modelling of common dolphins (delphinus delphis) in the eastern north atlantic |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2019 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0025315419000249 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0025315419000249 |
genre |
North Atlantic |
genre_facet |
North Atlantic |
op_source |
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom volume 99, issue 06, page 1443-1457 ISSN 0025-3154 1469-7769 |
op_rights |
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0025315419000249 |
container_title |
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom |
container_volume |
99 |
container_issue |
06 |
container_start_page |
1443 |
op_container_end_page |
1457 |
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1809927046056378368 |