Review of Small Cetaceans Distribution, Behaviour, Migration and Threats
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Review of Small Cetaceans Distribution, Behaviour, Migration and Threats by Boris M. Culik Illustrations by Maurizio Wurtz, Artescienza Marine Mammal Action Plan / Regional Seas Reports and Studies no. 177 Published by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). Review of Small Cetaceans. Distribution, Behaviour, Migration and Threats. 2004. Compiled for CMS by Boris M. Culik. Illustrations by Maurizio Wurtz, Artescienza. UNEP / CMS Secretariat, Bonn, Germany. 343 pages. Marine Mammal Action Plan / Regional Seas Reports and Studies no. 177 Produced by CMS Secretariat, Bonn, Germany in collaboration with UNEP Coordination team Marco Barbieri, Veronika Lenarz, Laura Meszaros, Hanneke Van Lavieren Editing Rüdiger Strempel Design Karina Waedt The author Boris M. Culik is associate Professor The drawings stem from Prof. Maurizio of Marine Zoology at the Leibnitz Institute of Wurtz, Dept. of Biology at Genova Univer- Marine Sciences at Kiel University (IFM-GEOMAR) sity and illustrator/artist at Artescienza. and works free-lance as a marine biologist. Contact address: Contact address: Prof. Dr. Boris Culik Prof. Maurizio Wurtz F3: Forschung / Fakten / Fantasie Dept. of Biology, Genova University Am Reff 1 Viale Benedetto XV, 5 24226 Heikendorf, Germany 16132 Genova, Italy Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] www.fh3.de www.artescienza.org © 2004 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) / Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. UNEP would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this publication as a source. No use of this publication may be made for resale or for any other commercial purpose whatsoever with- out prior permission in writing from the United Nations Environment Programme. DISCLAIMER The contents of this volume do not necessarily reflect the views of UNEP or contributory organizations. The designations employed and the presentations do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP or contributory organizations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area in its authority, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Copies of this publication are available from the UNEP / CMS Secretariat United Nations Premises in Bonn Martin-Luther-King Str. 8 53175 Bonn, Germany Tel (+49 228) 815 24 01/02 Fax (+49 228) 815 24 49 E-mail: [email protected] www.cms.int ISBN 3 – 93 74 29 – 02 – 6 Review of Small Cetaceans Distribution, Behaviour, Migration and Threats UNEP/ CMS Foreword Dr. Klaus Töpfer Unfortunately, all cetacean species face a number of threats. Some of these are from natural causes such as predators but the majority of threats facing cetaceans today result from either direct or indirect human impacts, including bycatch in fisheries, habitat degra- dation, marine pollution, acoustic disturbance and competition with fisheries. As highly mobile species with individual ranges covering vast areas of ocean, these marine mammals present special challenges for their conservation. Public outcry over the plight of marine mammals has Small cetaceans are also covered by two regional motivated the international community to protect agreements of the Convention on Migratory Species them at national, regional and international levels. (CMS): the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Greater priority was also given to the protection of Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Seas (ASCOBANS) the unique creatures by the United Nations in the and the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans early 1980s. Seeing an opportunity to organize coll- of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous ective efforts into one global conservation effort, the Atlantic Area (ACCOBAMS). Similar CMS initiatives UN brought governments together which resulted in are being developed for the South Pacific, South- a Global Plan of Action for the Conservation, Manage- East Asia and West Africa as well. In addition, CMS ment and Utilization of Marine Mammals. This Action supports important activities such as field surveys and Plan serves to generate consensus among governments training, technical workshops and conferences, as well on basic policy related to marine mammal protection as scientific publications like this one. and management. It integrates research on such issues as the creation of sanctuaries, prohibition of access to This publication is one result of the collaboration breeding areas and setting of catch limits. between UNEP and CMS on the plight of marine mammals. Compiled by marine biologist Prof. Dr. Boris At the regional level the Marine Mammal Action Plan Culik, for the Bonn Secretariat of CMS, it summarizes has helped to enhance the technical and institutional the available knowledge on toothed whales distribu- capacities for the conservation and management of tion, behavior, migration and threats. marine mammals in several Regional Seas programmes, particularly those of Latin America and the Caribbean, We hope this comprehensive review will encourage Eastern Africa, West and Central Africa, the Black Sea greater public awareness of the importance of marine and South-East Asia. conservation and the benefits for marine biodiversity, and will improve our understanding of threats to these Several international partners of this Action Plan, threatened species. It offers an opportunity to reinforce notably the IWC, CMS and CITES and NGOs such our commitment to marine mammal conservation and as Greenpeace, IFAW and WWF play an important management, and to revitalize our 20-year partnership role in the conservation of small and medium sized to implement the Marine Mammal Action Plan. cetaceans. Only recently, the Irrawaddy dolphin, was transferred from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix II to Appendix I, which forbids all commercial trade. This is an example of binding management actions in regard to small and medium- sized cetaceans taken by a global convention. Dr. Klaus Töpfer, Executive Director of UNEP Foreword Robert Hepworth Small cetaceans are at the centre of marine mammals conservation within the Convention on Migratory Species. The important role of CMS’ Regional Agree- ments, ACCOBAMS and ASCOBANS, is being reflect- ed in their enhanced collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). They con- tribute to implementing the Joint Work Programme between CMS and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). As such they play a vital role within the preparation and implementation of national biodi- versity strategies and action plans. This reference book is intended for experts in the field The study was published for the first time on the CMS of marine biology, students, and conservationists as website in 2001. Readers were invited to submit com- well as for interested laypersons. No comparable ency- ments to the author. Since then the publication has clopedia on whales has been published so far. With the been continuously amended and supplemented up to exception of the sperm whale, all 72 species of toothed and including 2004. The fact that experts were given whales that migrate across the oceans are covered. the opportunity to review the study before printing is What is new about this review is that it is based on quite unique and ensures its high scientific value. With the most recent literature available and compiled by a the results of the most recent research undertaken this single author and not by a variety of experts. It high- publication makes a valuable contribution to seeking lights the threats whales are exposed to. A description efficient conservation strategies for cetaceans. and a picture are dedicated to each species. A detailed list of references to every single species adds particular I would like to thank the Division of Environmental value to the study. The most up to date maps available Conventions of UNEP for publishing this important illustrate their distribution. Population size, biology, review. It heralds the revitalisation of the Marine migration patterns and threats are dealt with in further Mammals Action Plan where I hope that CMS will chapters. These new findings on distribution, behaviour work with related Conventions, UNEP’s Regional Seas and migration will facilitate the application of targeted Programmes, NGOs and others towards the conserva- action plans and threat mitigating methods. tion of marine mammals. Robert Hepworth, Executive Secretary of CMS Table of Contents 1 Preface . 1 2 Summary and Recommendations . 2 3 Geographical Grouping of Species . 10 4 Taxonomy of the Toothed Whales (72 Species) . 12 5 Species Accounts. 15 5.1 Berardius arnuxii Arnoux´s beaked whale . 16 5.2 Berardius bairdii Baird's beaked whale . 19 5.3 Cephalorhynchus commersonii Commerson's dolphin . 23 5.4 Cephalorhynchus eutropia Chilean dolphin . 27 5.5 Cephalorhynchus heavisidii Heaviside's dolphin . 30 5.6 Cephalorhynchus hectori Hector's dolphin . 33 5.7 Delphinapterus leucas White whale . 37 5.8 Delphinus capensis Longbeaked common dolphin . 49 5.9 Delphinus delphis Common dolphin. 52 5.10 Delphinus tropicalis Arabian common dolphin. 62 5.11 Feresa attenuata Pygmy killer whale . 64 5.12 Globicephala macrorhynchus Short-finned pilot