Spatial models of abundance and habitat preferences of Commerson’s and Peale’s dolphin in southern Patagonian waters

• Published in: PLOS ONE
• Main Authors: Dellabianca, Natalia A., Pierce, Graham J., Rey, Andrea Raya, Scioscia, Gabriela, Miller, David L., Torres, Mónica A., Viola, M. Natalia Paso, Goodall, R. Natalie P, Schiavini, Adrián C M
• Other Authors: University of St Andrews. School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews. Centre for Research into Ecological & Environmental Modelling
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: QH301 Biology; Medicine(all); Biochemistry; Genetics and Molecular Biology(all); Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all); DAS; QH301; Patagonia; South Atlantic Ocean
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10023/9740; https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0163441; http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84992672664&partnerID=8YFLogxK

This research was possible with the support of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). Funding for travel to and accommodation for NAD in Aberdeen, Scotland was provided by CONICET and Cetacean Society International. The work of NAD was part of a postdoctoral fellowship funded by CONICET. Commerson’s dolphins (Cephalorhynchus c. commersonii) and Peale’s dolphins (Lagenorhynchus australis) are two of the most common species of cetaceans in the coastal waters of southwest South Atlantic Ocean. Both species are listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN, mainly due to the lack of information about population sizes and trends. The goal of this study was to build spatially explicit models for the abundance of both species in relation to environmental variables using data collected during eight scientific cruises along the Patagonian shelf. Spatial models were constructed using generalized additive models. In total, 88 schools (212 individuals) of Commerson’s dolphin and 134 schools (465 individuals) of Peale’s dolphin were recorded in 8,535 km surveyed. Commerson’s dolphin was found less than 60 km from shore; whereas Peale’s dolphins occurred over a wider range of distances from the coast, the number of animals sighted usually being larger near or far from the coast. Fitted models indicate overall abundances of approximately 22,000 Commerson’s dolphins and 20,000 Peale’s dolphins in the total area studied. This work provides the first large-scale abundance estimate for Peale’s dolphin in the Atlantic Ocean and an update of population size for Commerson’s dolphin. Additionally, our results contribute to baseline data on suitable habitat conditions for both species in southern Patagonia, which is essential for the implementation of adequate conservation measures. Publisher PDF Peer reviewed