Regional-Scale Patterns in Harbour Porpoise Occupancy of Tidal Stream Environments
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ICES Journal of Marine Science (2017), doi:10.1093/icesjms/fsx164 Regional-scale patterns in harbour porpoise occupancy of tidal stream environments James J. Waggitt,1* Holly K. Dunn,1 Peter G. H. Evans,1,2 Jan Geert Hiddink,1 Laura J. Holmes,1 Emma Keen,1 Ben D. Murcott,2 Marco Piano,3 P E Robins,3 Beth E. Scott,4 Jenny Whitmore,3 and Gemma Veneruso3 1School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge LL59 5AB, UK 2Sea Watch Foundation, Ewyn Y Don, Bull Bay, Amlwch LL68 9SD, UK 3Centre for Applied Marine Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge LL59 5AB, UK 4Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, UK *Corresponding author: tel: þ44(0) 1248 388767; e-mail: [email protected]. Waggitt, J. J., Dunn, H. K., Evans, P. G. H., Hiddink, J. G., Holmes, L. J., Keen, E. Murcott, B. D., Piano, M., Robins, P. E., Scott, B. E., Whitmore, J., Veneruso, G. Regional-scale patterns in harbour porpoise occupancy of tidal stream environments. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, doi:10.1093/icesjms/fsx164. Received 24 March 2017; revised 19 June 2017; accepted 25 July 2017. As harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena are abundant within tidal stream environments, mitigating population-level impacts from tidal stream energy extraction is considered a conservation priority. An understanding of their spatial and temporal occupancy of these habitats at a regional-scale will help steer installations towards locations which maximize energy returns but reduce the potential for interactions with populations. This study quantifies and compares relationships between the presence of harbour porpoise and several hydrodynamic charac- teristics across four tidal stream environments in Anglesey, UK—a region that has been earmarked for extensive industrial development. Within sites (0.57–1.13 km2), encounters with animals were concentrated in small areas (<200 m2) and increased during certain tidal states (ebb vs. flood). In sites showing relatively high maximum current speeds (2.67–2.87 msÀ1), encounters were strongly associated with the emer- gence of shear-lines. In sites with relatively low maximum current speeds (1.70–2.08 msÀ1), encounters were more associated with areas of shallow water during peak current speeds. The overall probability of encounters was higher in low current sites. It is suggested that the likeli- hood of interactions could be reduced by restricting developments to sites with high maximum current speeds (>2.5 msÀ1), and placing tur- bines in areas of laminar currents therein. This study shows that a combination of local and regional hydrodynamic characteristics can partially explain variations in occupancy patterns across tidal-stream environments. However, it was found that such hydrodynamic character- istics could not comprehensively explain these occupancy patterns. Further studies into the biophysical mechanisms creating foraging oppor- tunities within these habitats are needed to identify alternative explanatory variables that may have universal applications. Keywords: cetacean, environmental impact assessment, foraging ecology, hydrodynamic model, marine renewable energy installations, marine spatial planning, shore-based surveys. Introduction 2016). In particular, this understanding could help the envi- There is an increasing exploitation of marine resources for ronmentally responsible management of anthropogenic activi- commercial and recreational activities, which could have neg- ties by; (i) predicting the distributions of vulnerable ative impacts on cetaceans. Consequently, understanding spa- populations, and then (ii) constraining activities to times and tial and temporal distribution has become increasingly locations which collectively reduce the likelihood of interac- important for conservation purposes (Evans and Anderwald, tions (Waggitt and Scott, 2014). VC International Council for the Exploration of the Sea 2017. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: [email protected] Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article-abstract/doi/10.1093/icesjms/fsx164/4101444/Regional-scale-patterns-in-harbour-porpoise by University of Wales Bangor user on 01 September 2017 2 J. Waggitt et al. The emerging tidal stream energy industry is an example of harbour porpoise was recorded using standardized shore-based where environmentally responsible management is needed. surveys (Evans and Hammond, 2004) over 2 weeks in June 2016. Exploitable resources are found around headlands/islands and These datasets were then combined to address three questions: through narrow channels where currents accelerate (Lewis et al., (i) Are spatial and temporal occupancy patterns within sites ex- 2015; Robins et al., 2015). These tidal stream environments at- plained by relationships with local hydrodynamic characteristics; tract harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena (Benjamins et al., (ii) can maximum current speed explain any variations in these 2015)—a species that is considered vulnerable to negative impacts relationships among sites; (iii) is the overall probability of en- such as collisions with moving components of turbines (Wilson countering harbour porpoise correlated with maximum current et al., 2007a) and displacement from foraging areas. Reducing the speed? likelihood of interactions between harbour porpoise and installa- tions could be seen as a conservation priority during industrial expansion. Studies investigating spatial and temporal occupancy Methods patterns within individual sites (<2km2) have shown encounters Study site and period to increase during particular tidal states or areas (Benjamins Shore-based surveys were performed between 10 and 25 June et al., 2015). However, the tidal state and characteristics of the 2016 at four sites in north Anglesey, UK: Point Lynas (53 25.0100 area associated with increased encounters differ among studies N, 004 17.1580 W), Middle Mouse (53 25.6310 N, 004 26.1520 (Benjamins et al., 2015). Moreover, spatial and temporal occu- W), Carmel Head (53 24.2180 N, 004 34.4150 W) and South pancy patterns could differ greatly among neighbouring sites Stack (53 18.2580 N, 004 41.6020 W) (Figure 1). Sites covered <10 km apart (Gordon et al., 2011; Benjamins et al., 2016). As it areas between 0.57 and 1.13 km2 (Supplementary Table S1). cannot be assumed that occupancy patterns persist across regions These four sites: (i) are characterized by current speeds exceeding (10–100 km2), selecting a suite of development sites and turbine 1.5 msÀ1 during certain tidal states, making them suitable for locations which reduce the likelihood of interactions with animals tidal stream energy extraction (Robins et al., 2014); (ii) have dif- is problematic. An ability to predict variations in occupancy pat- ferent maximum current speeds, with values generally higher terns at a regional-scale would have an important role in mitigat- within western than eastern locations (Robins et al., 2014); ing negative impacts on populations (Waggitt et al., 2017). (iii) have a relatively high number of encounters during summer Hydrodynamic characteristics influence occupancy patterns in months, based upon analyses of previous shore-based surveys tidal stream environments (Hunt et al., 1999; Benjamins et al., (Evans et al., 2015); (iv) are spaced almost equidistantly across 2015). Harbour porpoises often aggregate in shear-lines found 40 km of the coastline (Figure 1). between fast laminar and slower eddying flows in the wake of headlands/islands (Johnston et al., 2005; Jones et al., 2014), where intense turbulence disorientate and/or break-up shoals of prey Shore-based surveys (Liao, 2007). Circular currents associated with shear-lines aggre- Shore-based surveys consisted of a series of visual scans using tri- gate these shoals (Wolanski et al., 1988; Johnston and Read, pod mounted Opticron Marine-2 binoculars at seven times mag- 2007) and decrease searching time (Elliott et al., 2009), whereas nification. A total of 528 scans were performed: 125 at Point relatively fast current speeds help to transport prey from sur- Lynas, 150 at Middle Mouse, 133 at Carmel Head and 120 at rounding waters (Zamon, 2001). Friction between these currents South Stack. Scans were undertaken at 15-min intervals during and the seabed in shallow areas also generate complex vertical surveys that lasted between 30 min and 3 h. Attempts were made currents characterized by standing waves and fine-scale turbu- to divide scans equally between ebb and flood tides. Although lence, which further increase foraging efficiency (Hunt et al., some biases occurred, a satisfactory amount of scans were per- 1998; Waggitt et al., 2016a). However, despite these advantages, formed in both flood and ebb tides at each site (Supplementary animals may avoid areas of particularly strong or complex cur- Table S1). In most cases, two people were present during each rents due to high swimming costs or prey-handling difficulties scan—one to perform the observations with the binoculars, and (Heath and Gilchrist, 2010; Waggitt et al., 2016b). Such avoid- the other to record any sightings. ance could be particularly evident in animals exploiting prey on During scans, the distance and angle to sightings of harbour or near the seabed, due to the lengthy searches associated with porpoise were recorded using binocular reticules and compass, capturing these items (Butler and Jones, 1997). respectively; this enabled their positions to be estimated. If the Local topography and the diurnal tidal cycle mean that hydro-