A CONTRIBUTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE CETOLOGICAL FAUNA IN THE WATERS OF WESTERN SARDINIA

tional observation methods were used onboard a 12 meter motorsailer. A zig-zag sampling of 584 kilo-meters and 65 hours of observation were done, during which 21 groups of cetaceans were sighted. Five species were observed: the fin whale (3 sightings), the striped dolphin (10 sightings), the com-mon...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Alexandre Gannier
Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
Format: Text
Language:English
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Online Access:http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.494.2881
http://fauna.dipbsf.uninsubria.it/atit/PDF/Volume10(2)/10(2)_3.pdf
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Summary:tional observation methods were used onboard a 12 meter motorsailer. A zig-zag sampling of 584 kilo-meters and 65 hours of observation were done, during which 21 groups of cetaceans were sighted. Five species were observed: the fin whale (3 sightings), the striped dolphin (10 sightings), the com-mon dolphin (6 sightings), the bottlenose dolphin and the sperm whale (1 sighting each). High sight-ing frequencies were obtained for the striped dolphin in the pelagic area and for the common dolphin in the slope area, suggesting that each species favours a distinct habitat. This study is in reasonable concordance with the few results already published on the subject. However more research must be done in this area. Key words: boat survey, cetaceans, sighting frequency, western Sardinia, common dolphins